Chapter 9: A hidden secret and what our hearts want
Coming out of hyperspace in Jedi starfighter, Obi-Wan's eyes widened when he arrived at the believed "missing" planet of Kamino. Disengaging from the hyperspace ring, he took his ship down to Tipoca City, the capital of Kamino. The storm was heavy, and it was raining hard as the ship landed on an empty platform. "This is certainly nice weather. Wouldn't you agree, Arfour?" Obi-Wan's voice was laced with sarcasm.
The astromech beeped and chirped in response.
"Time to get some answers," stepping out of his starfighter, Obi-Wan put up his hood as the rain continued to fall.
The Jedi Knight walked toward the entrance of the building, and once the doors slid open, he removed his hood and wiped off some of the raindrops from his forehead. As he entered the building, one of the natives approached him. The Kaminoan was tall, slender, had a long neck, and wore a white uniform that showed she worked in the medical field.
"Master Jedi," she greeted Obi-Wan with a small nod. "I am Taun We. We have been expecting for some time now."
"I was being expected. . ." Obi-Wan looked at her with curiosity. Was there something going on that he didn't know?
"Of course." Taun We replied. "The prime minister, Lama Su, is anxious to see you. After all these years, we were beginning to think you weren't coming. Now, please come with me," she began to walk in a direction with the Knight behind her.
Obi-Wan was playing it cool despite the several questions running through his mind. What did she mean by after all these years? Why was the Kaminoan prime minister expecting him?
Taun We led him down the brightly lit corridor, which, to Obi-Wan's surprise, felt strangely comfortable and a little warm. The facility looked like it was regularly cleaned and polished. Quickly pushing those thoughts from his mind, he followed as she led him to a door while passing by a few Kaminoan workers. Then, when she waved her hand, the door slid apart, and he entered at her request, coming face to face with a slightly taller male Kaminoan. Given his attire, he figured this must be the prime minister who had been expecting him.
"May I present Lama Su, Prime Minister of Kamino," the male Kaminoan and Obi-Wan exchanged pleasant bows with one another. Taun We then went to introduce the Prime Minister, "this is Jedi Knight. . ."
"Obi-Wan Kenobi," he finished for her and gave the Prime Minister a warm smile.
"I trust you're going to enjoy your stay," he responded in a neutral voice before beckoning him to take a seat in one of the chairs. "Please. . ." taking a seat himself. "And now to business. You will be delighted to hear that we are on schedule. 200,000 units are ready, with a million more on the way."
"That's good news," Obi-Wan felt uncertainty crept inside of him.
"Please tell your Master Sifo-Dyas that his order will be met on time."
"I'm sorry, Master—" That really got Obi-Wan's attention, as Master Dyas had died some years ago.
"Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas is still a leading member of the Jedi Council, is he not?" Lama Su enquired.
"Master Sifo-Dyas was killed almost ten years ago," the young Knight informed. A multitude of questions were racing through Obi-Wan's mind. Master Sifo-Dyas had placed what appeared to be an order for an army? Did the Council know this?
Lama Su blinked his large eyes at the news. "Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. But I'm sure he would have been proud of the army we built for him," he offered a quick condolence before explaining what they have been doing for the past ten or so years.
"The army?"
"Yes. A clone army and, I must say, the finest we've ever created," the Prime Minister laminated.
This was possibly another puzzle as he never would have expected Master Sifo-Dyas to place an army of clones. Something was amiss, and a sense of dread crept up his back as the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. "Tell me, Prime Minister, when my Master first contacted you about the army, did he say who it was for?"
"Of course he did," Lama Su replied, flattening his uniform. "This army is for the Republic."
He needed answers and figured it would be best to play along for the time being until he could learn more. "Ah, yes, I remember now," Obi-Wan rubbed his eyes with his hand, brushing a faux amount of tiredness. "Forgive me, Prime Minister, my memory is a little foggy, as I haven't been sleeping well these past few nights."
"That is perfectly understandable," a small smile appeared on Lama Su's face. Obi-Wan internally smiled as he bought the lie. "But you must be anxious to inspect the units for yourself."
"That's why I am here." Lama Su took that as his cue and stood up when the Jedi Knight spoke and gestured for him to follow him and Taun We out of the room.
The two Kaminoans took the Jedi Knight on a tour through their facilities, explaining everything about their history and how they started working on the clones. Obi-Wan made sure to hold onto everything they were saying as they walked through a clear tube-like tunnel overlooking the hatchery. "Very impressive," he commented as it became clear that they were technologically advanced.
"I'd hoped you would be pleased," Lama Su smiled in gratitude at the Jedi's comment. "Clones can think creatively. You will find that they are immensely superior to droids. We take great pride in our education and training programs," proudly boasting on their effectiveness.
He led him to a screen overlooking a large class that filled hundreds of cadets, all in seats in orderly rows. Observing their postures and mannerisms told Obi-Wan they had been trained well. "This group was created about five years ago," said Lama Su, who looked at the class filled with young clones.
"You mentioned growth acceleration."
"Oh, yes, it's essential," the Kaminoan Prime Minister replied. "Otherwise, a mature clone would have taken a lifetime to grow. Now we can do it in half the time."
"I see."
He was then taken to the cafeteria, where they observed the young adult clones eating. "They are totally obedient, taking any orders without question. We modified their genetic structure to make them less independent than the original host." Lama Su explained while unaware of Obi-Wan's discomfort.
"And who was the original host?" He had a feeling that whoever provided the DNA to the Kaminoans was somehow involved with the assassination attempt on Senator Amidala.
A bounty hunter called Jango Fett," offering without the slightest bit of hesitation.
"And where is this bounty hunter now?" Feeling like something was about to click.
"Oh, we keep him here," the Prime Minister turned to Obi-Wan. "he resides here in our facility, though he is free to come and go whenever he pleases. Apart from his pay, which is considerable, Fett demanded only one thing in return: an unaltered clone for himself. Curious, isn't it?"
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean unaltered?"
"Pure genetic replication," the Prime Minister explained. "No tampering with the genetic structure to make it more docile, and no growth acceleration."
"That is indeed very curious," Obi-Wan commented. Despite the number of clones the Kaminoans made, why would the bounty hunter choose to have one unaltered? Stilling his resolve. "Would it be possible for me to meet this Jango Fett?"
"I would be very happy to arrange it for you," Taun We said.
Coming up on the end of the tour, they arrived at a balcony where Obi-Wan looked over the thousands of clone troops. They all looked ready for war, marching in parade style to one area or to stand in a military-ready position. Obi-Wan's mind was plagued with questions as he looked over what Master Sifo-Dyas had ordered for the Republic. "Magnificent, aren't they?" Lama Su stood next to him while he, too, looked over his people's work.
(0^0)
It had been two weeks since Anakin and Padmé arrived at the country's Lakehouse. As Padmé said, the place was beautiful, and Anakin felt at peace. Because of his life as a slave and living at the Temple, he became an early riser, meditating and practicing his lightsaber skills. Though with all that, he couldn't stop thinking about the kiss he shared with Padmé. His rational mind told him it was a mistake, but his heart told him it was right. A large part of Anakin wanted nothing more than to be with her, but he was aware that Jedi are not supposed to have romantic attachments.
Whenever the two would get near and talk, they would feel awkward. Sometimes, they would steal glances at each other, though on Padmé's part, it was more of a struggle. She was doing her best to keep her mind and heart straight but found it difficult as she could not stop her attraction nor feeling for her Jedi protector from surfacing. But there was one thing she was positively sure about: she deeply cared for Anakin and wanted to be with him. Resolving herself, she found him looking over the crystal blue lake with the wind blowing past his face.
"Hey, Ani," he turned around to face her with a grin that made her heart flutter a bit. "Would you like to have a picnic in the meadows? The flowers are in bloom season, and it's near the waterfalls."
"I would like that," he replied with a grin, turning to a smile. Being on this planet and near Padmé made him feel more relaxed than ever before. "We can leave whenever you're ready."
A smile crossed Padmé's lips. "Would you like anything in particular?"
"Anything you pick out will be fine with me."
Later on, Padmé had dressed in an off-the-shoulders yellow floral dress. Part of her hair was mostly down, but the rest was held up by a matching headband with twin buns on either side of her head. As they sat on a blanket in the luscious field, the two had spent the last couple of hours talking about their respective careers and things they did when they were allowed some downtime. But mainly they were enjoying each other's company. Padmé carefully stole subtle glances at Anakin while picking some of the flowers. She saw the effect of being in the luscious field had on him as he felt more at peace and completely carefree. Simple joy and a sense of freedom washed off of him, and she could tell he needed it.
She could not remember the last time she had ever seen him so relaxed or carefree. However, she was careful not to let him know that she was stealing subtle glances at him. Padmé had never felt this way before, but being around him made her feel alive.
For the longest time, she had believed that falling in love would be a waste of time, and her past relationships never truly felt right. They only viewed her as a way to improve their stances or to get something that would normally be difficult to achieve. But these past two weeks and the kiss she had with Anakin made her think differently. With him, she felt like she belonged and had a purpose. She could see in his eyes that he really did view her as a person rather than someone who had power or could give something to someone. Moreover, she would get the feeling that he had feelings for her, too, though he was reluctant to press the issue.
That is why when the topic of the kiss and her past relationships came up, she hesitated and tried to play it off. "I don't know," she said dismissively, picking at the flower beside her.
"Sure you do. You just don't want to tell me," Padmé gave a hapless laugh and rolled her eyes at his reply.
"You gonna use one of your Jedi mind tricks on me," she enquired with a little tease laced in her voice.
"They only work on the weak-minded," Anakin chuckled. "And you are anything but weak, at least I hope so," he teased back.
Padmé shot him a playful look before throwing a piece of grass at him. "All right. I was twelve. His name was Palo. We were both in the Legislative Youth Program," she narrowed her eyes, wanting to tease him a little further. "He was a few years older than I. Very cute. Dark curly hair. Dreamy eyes."
"All right, I get the picture," Anakin said with a small touch of jealousy in her voice. Padmé had to resist the urge to laugh when she heard the small amount of jealousy in his voice. "Whatever happened to him?"
"I went into public service, and he became an artist."
"Maybe he was the smart one."
"You really do not like politicians, do you?" Her eyes became sharp, narrowing at him for his comment.
"I like a few," Anakin said. "But I'm not really sure about one of them. The woman is as fiery as she is beautiful and can brighten up even the darkest cave," he said in a teasing voice. The wash of jealousy in Padmé's eyes vanished as soon as it appeared, and the two smiled before chuckling. "I don't think the system works."
"How would you have it work?" She enquired, curious about what his response would be.
"One where they'd sit down and discuss the problems, agree what's in the best interest of the people, then do it." He explained his thoughts on the matter.
"That's exactly what we do," came an immediate response from Padmé. She then added, "the trouble is that the people do not always agree."
"Probably because they have so much power and freedom to do what they wish. They believe themselves above the law and everyone else; it also doesn't help that several people within the Senate are corrupt. The only way most of them agree to change is if it benefits them in the process."
"That's very true," Padmé agreed with him. "It's rather sad that there are so few who value democracy and are willing to do their best to preserve it."
"Like you, for instance," Anakin's words caused her to stop. "You are one of the Senators who actually believe in democracy and are not corrupt. A lot of them could learn a thing or two from you if they actually pulled their heads out of their ass."
"Really?" calming down the warmth she was feeling in her chest. "Why would you think I would be able to help many of them change?"
He smiled at her. "In addition to being very beautiful. You have a very strong and passionate voice and are respected by many of the senators and the people you represent. But more than that, you actually speak to the people and try to improve their lives either on Coruscant or here."
Padmé gave a grateful laugh. "Glad to see there's someone outside of the Senate who thinks that and values democracy." She then went to change the topic. "What about you? Who was your first relationship with?"
"Never had one," Anakin replied.
"Really?" Surprised and relieved at the same time. "There are no females within the Order or outside that you found attractive or thought would be a potential partner?" She gave him a curious look. "Come on. Fair is fair."
"All right, fine, you got me," holding his hand up in surrender. "Since Jedi are not allowed to have romantic relationships, there's no rule saying we cannot think about a person that way. Throughout my life, there are only two people whom I have found attractive or have considered forming a relationship with."
Padmé inclined her head for him to continue. "I was fifteen. Me and Obi-Wan had resolved a dispute on Corellia. While there, we met with the Senator and his daughter Sena. She may have been attractive, but her personality was not something I liked."
"What about the other person?"
"This person I have known for quite a while," he replied in a suggestive voice. "She's breathtakingly beautiful, incredibly smart, pretty feisty, and stays true to her goals. Where if the code allowed it, I would pursue a relationship with her in a heartbeat."
"She really meant that much to you?" Padmé glared at him. From the way he spoke of the woman, it sounded like he deeply loved her.
"You can say that. I dare say she's even grown more beautiful. . ." Anakin smirked when he finished. He gazed into her eyes, his smirk turning into a sly smile, telling her he was either playing or talking about someone.
The two soon started laughing. "You're making fun of me," Padmé said while laughing.
"No," shaking his head. "No, I'd be much too frightened to tease a Senator, especially one like you."
"You're so bad," she reached down to grab a piece of fruit and threw it at him. When he caught it, she threw another and another. All of which he caught in his hands.
"You will have to do better than that, m'lady," smirking at her. When it looked like she was about to throw another piece of fruit at him, his head went straight up as the fruit was thrown into the air. "I think your aim is a little—"
Padmé didn't give him a chance to finish as she threw herself on top of him, pinning him to the ground, and started to mercilessly tickle him. "Do you admit defeat?" She continued laughing while tickling him.
"Never," before flipping her over, so she was now under him and started doing what she did to him.
The two continued playing their little game, rolling through the grass, laughing and tickling each other. In the end, Anakin conceded after Padmé pinned him to the ground. "Fine, you win," he said, completely breathless.
"That's right," she rolled off of him. This was the most fun she had in a long time. "Looks like even a Senator can triumph over a Jedi. Wouldn't you say?"
"You won the round, not the war," Anakin smirked. "Better be prepared, as this Jedi will get you when you least expect it."
Padmé playfully tapped his shoulder. "You wouldn't do anything to this poor, defenseless young lady, would you," she playfully teased, giving him a small pout.
Leaning closer to her ear. "Maybe I will, or maybe I won't. Why, what do you want me to do?" His question sent a shiver down her back. What she wanted him to do was kiss her again.
"You are such a rebel," Padmé replied, pushing her thoughts away.
"I have my moments," he casually commented, sitting up. An idea then came to his mind, and hopping to his feet, he looked at the many Shaaks that were tilling the land, eating grass. Figuring that since no one except the two of them was here, Anakin decided to show off a little.
Padmé watched as Anakin ran toward one of the Shaaks. The normally passive creatures soon ran in different directions when they saw him running towards them. However, one, in particular, was running in circles, and much to her surprise, Anakin managed to jump on its back. She clutched her stomach, laughing hysterically as he hesitantly stood up on the beast, trying to maintain his balance. What made it even more ridiculous was that he was waving at her as he rode on the Shaak's back.
Force, she was laughing so hard at his antics. The Shaak attempted to throw him off by galloping through the fields. It eventually succeeded, throwing Anakin to the ground with a final jump. Padmé's laughter and smile faded when he collapsed back on the ground when he tried to get up. Assuming he might be injured, she ran over to him.
"Ani! Ani, are you all right?" She knelt down beside him and turned him around to see if he was hurt. But when she rolled him to see if he was injured, her concern changed when he started laughing. "You, ass!" She smacked him across his chest before laughing herself.
Before she could smack him again, he grabbed her hand, pulled her close, and the two started rolling in the grass entwined. This time, it was Anakin's turn to have her pinned down. Their two bodies were so close, and they stared into each other's eyes when they stopped laughing. Padmé felt a surge of warmth inside her since his body was pressed up against hers, and a light blush appeared on her face when he leaned down. "Looks like I win this round."
"You cheated," she found it hard to be angry at him as her lips formed a big smile. Their faces were mere inches from each other.
"Still won, though," rolling off of her. She conceded to that and rested her head on top of his shoulder. "This is the most fun I have had in a long time."
"Same here," she said, enjoying the warmth coming from his body.
(0^0)
Back on Kamino Taun We had escorted Obi-Wan to the barracks within Tipoca city, where she pressed a button on the door panel to alert the people inside that they had guests waiting. A young boy who was an exact replica of the children he had seen earlier. He must have been the unaltered clone the Kaminoan prime minister was talking about.
Boba, is your father here?" Taun We asked the ten-year-old boy.
Boba carefully studied the Jedi standing beside Taun We before responding. "Yep."
"May we see him?"
"Sure," giving Obi-Wan a suspicious look before turning around and leading them inside. "Dad, Taun We's here," he called out.
Jango walked in a few seconds later, wearing a loose shirt and some trousers. Obi-Wan mentally observed the man as he appeared in the room. He definitely looked like the clones, albeit a little older, and had a few scars on his face. Obi-Wan then gave a small bow in greeting.
"Jango, welcome back. Was your trip productive?" Taun We asked.
"Fairly." The man casually said. He narrowed his eyes slightly at the Jedi.
"This is Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. He's come to check on our progress?" Her tone was light, like she was trying to absolve some of his tension.
"Your clones are very impressive. You must be very proud," Obi-Wan offered in a soft, even voice.
"I'm just a simple man trying to make his way in the universe," he nonchalantly replied.
"Ever made your way as far into the interior as Coruscant?" Asking bluntly while at the same time scanning the room to see if there were any other clues.
"Once or twice."
"Recently?"
Jango's face became a little suspicious. "Possibly."
"Then you must know Master Sifo-Dyas," Obi-Wan enquired while looking behind the man in the open room, where he saw a familiar grey armor in the closet. He silently observed the man's micro-expressions and body language, though when he moved and spoke to his son in a different language, his eyes narrowed a bit at the armor. Just then, Boba had closed the door.
"Master who?" Jango asked, with a subtle amount of hesitation, pretending he didn't know anything.
"Sifo-Dyas. Is he not the one who hired you for this job?"
"Never heard of him," taking a few steps toward the Jedi. Boba intently watched the interaction between his father and the Jedi.
"Really?" Obi-Wan could tell that Jango was hiding something by the tone in his voice and had a feeling he would soon make a move.
". . .I was recruited by a man named Tyranus on one of the moons of Bogden," Jango said. "Do you like your army?"
"I look forward to seeing them in action."
"They'll do their job well. I'll guarantee that," Jango said.
"Thank you for your time, Jango," Obi-Wan gave him a slight bow. He then went to leave with Taun We.
"Always a pleasure to meet a Jedi," the man said, though Obi-Wan got the feeling he meant something else. Almost like it was a veiled threat.
He could also tell that Jango was the one who killed Zam and that he was the one who attacked Senator Amidala. Though he was not going to call him out on it, he opted to relay what he heard to the Council.
When the two were out, Jango thought for a few minutes as things were not going as intended. A Jedi Knight coming to check on the army was one thing, but questioning him like that could only mean one thing. That he was onto him. His thoughts were interrupted when Boba spoke.
"What is it, Dad?"
Above all else, Jango cared for his son the most and resolved to take him away to meet up with his employer. "Pack your things. We're leaving," he said in a no-nonsense tone of voice.
Heading to the entrance, Taun We explained that the first battalion of clones was ready, and if the Republic wanted additional troops, it would take time for them to grow. Obi-Wan thanked and bowed to her before pulling his hood up and stepping out into the rain to head toward his ship. Nearing his ship, Obi-Wan motioned for his astromech to look at him.
"Arfour. Scramble code five to Coruscant, care of the old folks' home," the droid beeped and whistled in compliance.
On Coruscant, Mace and Yoda were sitting on the meditation pads of Master Yoda's apartment when they received the transmission from Obi-Wan.
"I have successfully made contact with Lama Su, the Kaminoan prime minister. They are using a bounty hunter named Jango Fett to create a clone army," the hologram of Obi-Wan said. Then went to add. "I have a strong feeling this bounty hunter is the assassin we're looking for."
"Do you think these cloners are involved in the plot to assassinate Senator Amidala?" Mace asked in a serious voice.
"No, Master. There appears to be no motive."
Mace looked at Master Yoda when he said. "Do not assume anything, Obi-Wan. Clear your mind must be if you are to discover the true villains behind this plot." Yoda advised.
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan said. "Prime Minister Lama Su told me that Master Sifo-Dyas placed an order for a clone army at the request of the Senate ten years ago. He also told me that the first battalion of clones consists of a million clone troopers and that they are ready for delivery. If the Republic requests additional troops, they have a million more on the way."
The normally stoic Korun Jedi Master was surprised at the information and shared a look with Master Yoda, who looked equally disturbed. They listened as Obi-Wan continued. "I was under the impression that Master Sifo-Dyas was killed before that. Did the Council ever request an order for a clone army?"
"No," Mace said without any hesitation. How blind had the Council become that they couldn't see this happening? More importantly, how did this happen without their knowledge? "Whoever placed that Order did not have the authorization of the Jedi Council."
"This was not a discussion or topic the Council had. Obviously, it was done in secret without our knowledge," Mace released a long sigh. "This mystery is becoming more and more complex, as there are answers that have yet to be revealed."
"Bring the bounty hunter here. Question him, we will," Yoda said in a firm voice.
"Yes, Master. I will report back when I have him," Obi-Wan then instructed R4 to cut the transmission.
"Blind we are if the creation of this clone army we could not see," a grave expression washed over Yoda's face and fell off his voice.
Mace sucked in a breath, "if this is revealed to the Senate, then it will only justify that war will soon be upon the Republic. As Jedi, we are keepers of the peace, not soldiers."
Yoda gave him a nod. "Hard to see the dark side is. Being led to a dark path we are," he said in agreement. "Only the dark lord of the Sith knows of our weakness. If informed, the Senate is, multiple our adversaries will be. Prepare the Jedi within the Order for what is to come we must."
(0^0)
Adult content in this section. Read at your own discretion.
Later on, Naboo, Padmé, and Anakin were having dinner. Padmé had spent nearly an hour looking through her closet, looking for a dress to wear to dinner, until she finally settled on the black corset dress she had packed. Dormé was most insistent that she bring this dress with her to entice Anakin while they were on Naboo. The night before she and Anakin left her parents' house, Sola practically demanded that she wear this dress while at the Lake Country with Anakin, telling her that he would be unable to keep his eyes off her when she wore this dress. Truthfully, Padmé had been all for it as she wanted to make his heart flutter a bit, and there was no telling how long they might have left until Master Kenobi discovered the person behind her assassination attempt. Or when she would have to return to Coruscant.
Her dress fit her body beautifully, hugging and cupping her curves in all the right places. The corset had a black decorative strap that fastened around her neck, leaving her shoulders exposed. It also gave a good view of her chest because it was low cut outfit, and she wore a pair of matching heels. She wanted to know what he really thought of her and wondered if he felt the same way. Earlier in the meadow, when under him and his face so close to hers, she silently wished he pressed his lips against hers. Before rolling off, she caught the look in his blue eyes and could tell he was struggling to maintain control over himself. She saw deep love and longing for her in his eyes and could tell that he wanted her just as much as she wanted him. However, she wanted to be sure.
When she entered the dining room, his eyes immediately went open, as did his mouth, which almost hit the table. Turns out bringing this dress was the right move. It had the desired effect on him, and she could tell that his heart was indeed beating rapidly. Throughout most of the dinner, the two talked with Anakin, explaining a few of the missions he'd been on with Mace and Obi-Wan.
Once they were through, the waitresses brought over the dessert and some fruit. "And when I got to them, we went into, um. . ." a plate of fruit was brought to him. "Aggressive negotiations. Thank you," he said to the resort's waitress.
"Aggressive negotiations? What's that?" Curiosity washed over Padmé as she listened to his story.
"Uh, well, negotiations with a lightsaber," he explained with a wry grin.
"Oh," Padmé laughed, then grabbed her fork and eagerly went to dig into her dessert.
Before she could stab it with her fork, the shuura levitated in the air; looking up, she saw Anakin waving his fingers and summoned it to his plate. He gave her an innocent smile, which she returned. He cut the fruit into several slices with his fork and knife.
"If Master Obi-Wan or Force forbid Mace caught me doing this, they'd be very grumpy, and I never hear the end of it." Reaching with the Force, one of the pieces into the air levitated into the air and slowly glided back to Padmé.
She smilingly caught it with her fork, then took a bite. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," he grabbed one of the slices and took a bite of the pear.
At night, after dinner, the two retired to the sitting room, where they sat close together on one of the sofas near the fireplace. The only light in the darkroom came from the roaring fire. Side by side, they sat in silence while looking into each other's eyes until Anakin broke the contact, feeling they were about to enter forbidden territory. He reminded himself that she was a Senator and that he was a Jedi Padawan who needed to complete his training. Despite his feelings for her, he knew that they both had obligations to the Republic. As much as it killed him inside and made his heartache, he knew they could never be together.
When he felt her place a soft hand on top of his, he turned to see that she was leaning closer to him, and he unconsciously did the same. Only when their lips were millimeters apart did his eyes snap open, and he pulled away. "Padmé, wait," stopping her. "We cannot do this."
"What do you mean?" She asked him.
"I mean, whatever this is between us," there was sadness in his voice, but he pressed on. "From the day I met you all those years ago, not a day has gone by that I haven't thought of you. And now that I am here with you again, I'm in agony," he said, bearing his heart out to her. "I know that you probably have a lot of suitors lining up. They can give you anything and everything you ever wanted in life. But there is something I want you to know. I love you from the bottom of my heart. I always have since the day I met you at Watto's Shop all those years ago."
"Ani I. . ." Padmé felt her heart soar at what he said. There was no trace of deception in his voice as he spoke the truth. But he held up a hand.
"Please let me finish. While I would like nothing more than to be with you. I cannot. We can't," standing up, he found it hard to look her in the eyes upon seeing the pain and sadness in her eyes, though he did so even if it tormented him. "It would not be possible for us to be together."
"That's not true." Padmé denied shaking her head. She to stood up, "I love you too, Ani. Please tell me why we cannot be together."
"You know exactly why," he replied. "We live in reality with you being a Senator and me training to be a Jedi. If we were to be together, then it would destroy us, and we would be in constant danger."
Tears began to roll down her eyes. Rationally, she knew he was right. Being a Senator meant that she was constantly in the Republic's eye, and he would be expelled from the Jedi Order. But deep in her heart, she knew he was the one for her. Not caring about what others might think, she spoke. "Are you sure we cannot be together? Can we not pretend one night that we are neither a Senator nor a Jedi?" She walked forward until she was standing in front of him with her hands lightly grabbing onto his tunic. "Can we not be nothing more?"
Blue eyes met brown eyes as he contemplated what she said. His heart cried out to her. He struggled to find his voice, "Padmé I—"
She silenced him by bringing a hand up to his mouth. Tears were still coming down her eyes. "Please answer this one question. Do you really love me?"
How could she ask him that? Of course, he loved her. He loved more than anything. Abandoning his rational mind and forgetting the fact he was a Jedi, he leaned down to capture her lips with his. He kissed her with all the love and passion he had for her. This might have been wrong, but Anakin didn't care, as the woman was everything to him, the Jedi code be damned. Padmé wrapped her hands around his neck and eagerly reciprocated the amount of passion and love he had for her with her own. She kicked her heels off when their tongues met, and she let out a low moan. As their tongues continued to battle for dominance, Anakin picked her up and spun her around. A few minutes later, they had to separate because their lungs needed air.
"We shouldn't . . .be doing. . .this," Anakin breathlessly said, looking into her chocolate eyes and could see nothing but love in them.
"I know, but. . ." Padmé silenced when he brought his lips back to hers. His strong arms wrapped around her lithe body, bringing her closer to his.
"I love you, and I want you," Anakin said after placing a final kiss on her lips. "Padmé, you are my angel. The most beautiful woman in the galaxy."
"And you are my handsome and sexy Jedi," Padmé smiled. Standing on her toes, she brought her lips to his; this time, the kiss was more aggressive as their tongues explored one another's mouths. Padmé felt hot when he started trailing kisses down her neck, and she felt like she wanted more of him. "Anakin, please take me," her breathing appeared to be rigid, and she looked into his eyes when he stopped kissing her neck and pulled away. "Take and make me yours."
"Padmé, I love you. I love you too much and don't want to pressure you into doing something you don't want. I'm willing to wait until you are ready," he promised her.
"Yes, I know, but I am telling you now that I am ready. You're the only man that I will ever want or need. All those other relationships I had meant absolutely nothing to me, and I never felt this way for anyone other than you. I want to be with you body, mind, and spirit."
Then, with the green light, Anakin picked her up once again and carried her bridal style to her bedroom while simultaneously kissing her furiously. When he arrived near her bed, he set her down and continued his actions by trailing kisses down her neck while unzipping her dress and undoing her braided hair. Meanwhile, she was working on his tunic until finally, she was able to remove the top part of it, leaving him in only his pants. The two lovers soon fell onto the bed with Padmé underneath him, her fingers tracing across his muscular chest. She suspected that he had an athletic figure but never one such as this, as he looked like a male model. Padmé could not help but blush as his eyes scanned her nearly naked body once her dress was completely off. The only thing she had left on was black panties.
"You are beautiful," Anakin said. A soft moan escaped her lips as his mouth fell onto her right boob. He kissed, sucked, and kneaded her breast, making her moan in pleasure.
"Oh, kriff. . ." Padmé moaned in pleasure as he moved onto her left boob, repeating the same actions; his tongue traced around her nipple, and his hand worked its magic on her right. Anakin wanted her to enjoy the experience to the fullest. "Anakin. . .I," her breath got caught in her throat as she continued to moan at his actions.
The beast within Anakin jumped for joy the more she moaned. Deciding to move things along, he left her breast be and kissed down her stomach with his hands sliding down until his fingers reached her panties. He smoothly removed and tossed them while simultaneously kissing down her stomach until he reached her nether regions, sending a jolt of pleasure throughout her entire body. Padmé sat up, rubbing her fingers through his hair while he pleasured her. "Anakin. . .please. Oh. . .God," feeling like she was about to reach the stars as his tongue entered her deeply. Anakin certainly knew what he was doing as her pleasure levels were rising. ". . . Don't. . .stop."
Anakin plunged his tongue deeper into her the more she chanted his name and moaned in ecstasy. She arched her back, feeling like she was about to cum right then and there. "Shit. . .yes. You're so. . .good. Kriff. Kriff!" Wrapping her smooth, slender legs around his head, she knew she wouldn't last much longer. "Ani, please. . . I'm so. . .close." Unable to hold back any longer, she screamed and came.
Licking his lips clean of her juices, he removed his pants and maneuvered himself forward until he was looking into her eyes. What he saw in her brown eyes was a burning desire. "Are. . .you sure you want me to continue?"
"Yes. . .please make love to me." She wrapped her hand around his neck. "My body craves your touch, and I want you. My love is now and forever yours. I have no regrets being with you," she passionately replied.
Anakin kissed her deeply as she backed her head onto a pillow. "This is gonna hurt a little," he bluntly said. "If you need me to stop, then tell me ok." She gave him a quick nod. Soon, a sharp pain ran throughout her body as he slowly entered and destroyed her hymen. Despite not being fully in her, she had to take a second to adjust to his length and width since his thing was stretching her more than she ever thought possible.
"This is my first time, so please go slow until I can get used to it," Padmé said. He gave her a nod, then slowly started to thrust into her, and was amazed at how tight she was.
"Force your tight," Anakin said as he continued to slowly thrust into her.
Padmé wrapped her arms around his neck, hanging onto him for dear life while gasping and moaning while he kept hitting her sensitive spot. Having gotten used to it, she wrapped her legs around his waist to make him go faster. "Kriff Ani! F-faster!
That was all he needed to hear as he pulled back until his tip was the only thing still inside her before slamming hard back into her. Padmé found herself moaning and screaming as he was thrusting harder and faster into her. "Force Padme! Y-you feel amazing," he groaned in pleasure.
"Oh, oh! Ah. . .kriff Anakin. Just like. . .that," she screamed in utter bliss, nearly approaching her limit while he continued pistoning in her and kissing her neck.
Anakin felt her tightening around him and knew she was close. The same could be said for him. Bringing his lips to hers in a deep kiss, he continued to thrust in and out of her. Her moans grew louder as her nails raked along his back. "Anakin!" she screamed as her walls tightened around him as she climaxed. After a few more thrusts, he groaned and climaxed, releasing deep inside her before collapsing on top of her.
"That was. . . I have no words for. . ." Padmé tried to finish but needed to regain control of her breath.
"Out of this world," finishing for her. Anakin rolled off her upon recapturing his breath and rested beside her with his arm around her. The two snuggled closer to one another. "I love you, my angel. My heart is yours."
"And I love you, my Jedi. Always and forever," lifting her head so their lips could meet in a slow yet passionate kiss.
The two lovers eventually fell asleep after a few minutes.
Padmé felt safe, secure, and complete for the first time in a long time. She was with the man she loved. Even when asleep, a soft smile appeared on her lips as she laid her head on his chest.
End of Adult content!
A/N: Obi-Wan has found the lost planet of Kamino, where he met with the Prime Minister Lama Su and another Kaminoan Taun We. Much to his surprise, he discovers that a clone army had secretly been commissioned ten years ago by the dead Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas. He also discovers the identity of the person who killed Zam and who had been trying to kill Padmé. When he informed Mace and Yoda to report his findings, both were equally surprised as they had no knowledge of what was happening. Nor did they know that one of their own had commissioned a clone army for the Republic.
On Naboo, Anakin and Padmé have finally admitted their feelings for one another. That night, near the fireplace, instead of pushing her feelings away, she told him what was in her heart. Anakin tried to resist his love for her and remain rational but found it difficult as his love for her was stronger.
Next Chapter: Welcome to Geonosis