Time seemed to freeze around him.
The words took a second to sink in.
For a heartbeat, silence rippled through him. Followed by a wave of roaring that drowned out nearly every thought, every instinct. He could barely hear over that bellowing in his blood, his bones.
Padmé was pregnant…
Pregnant.
For a moment, Anakin felt as though the floor had dropped from beneath him, sending him hurtling through the spaceless panic. Such horror, joy and abject terror warred for total dominance in his heaving chest, shredding every hope of composure until nothing remained to shield his emotions. "She... Padmé's pregnant?" He nearly choked on the words.
Sabé nodded, tears slipping down her pale face. "Yes. She found out a few weeks after you left. I – I know how excited she was to share the news with you in her own way. She couldn't wait but she was… worried too. The war, the Senate, the Council… she was afraid it was all too much for you."
Anakin's breath caught and he dropped back onto the bed, staring at the wall as though it might anchor his racing thoughts in one place. Padmé is carrying my child. The realization hit him with no small amount of horror, the words settling like a blow to the chest, intensifying the fear already clawing at his bleeding heart. She's missing… and pregnant.
His gaze swept up to Sabé again, panic rising. "She needs me. She's in danger, she's – force, why didn't she tell me sooner? I would have come back! I would have been here!" He buried his face in his hands, trying to steady the wave of emotion surging within him. "I… I could've… "
The esteemed Senator of Naboo. Revered by some, despised by others. In one corner of the galaxy, her voice was a beacon of hope, a champion for peace while in others, it was an obstacle – a barrier to power and corruption. Anakin had always known some people wished harm upon Padmé, but she was no stranger to danger. She had taken steps to protect herself in his absence, doubling her security, surrounding herself with vigilant handmaidens and decoys, and falsifying flight plans whenever she left Coruscant. She'd thought of everything.
Except for this.
If anyone discovered her secret – that she was married to him, a Jedi Knight, and carrying his child – it would become the most powerful piece of information in the galaxy. The thought made Anakin's stomach churn. Such knowledge wouldn't just be leverage, it would be a weapon, one that could devastate them both. Some people would kill for it. People who would spend obscene amounts of credits to possess Padmé and the potential of their child.
Enough to fuel a bidding war…
The growl that escaped his throat was low, guttural, and feral. His hands clenched into fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The imagining of someone exploiting Padmé – of using the consequences of their love as a tool for power – made his blood boil.
Why didn't she just tell him? Why did it matter how he found out? Screw the war, the Senate and the Jedi Order! If he'd known, if she'd just trusted him with the truth, he would have dropped everything to return to her. He'd have left the Order in an instant, thrown his lightsaber at Master Yoda's feet without a second thought, and been at her side for every moment. Didn't she believe that? Hadn't he proven that his love for her was greater than any desire for power or recognition?
But then doubt crept in, cutting through his fiery fury like a blade of ice. Or was all this just Padmé being Padmé – dutiful to a fault, always putting the needs of the galaxy before herself? Always sacrificing her own desires and well-being for what she believed was the greater good. Anakin's hands shook as his rage and heartbreak collided. He wanted to find her and shake her until she finally saw reason, until she understood that nothing – not duty, not war and certainly not politics mattered more than their love. Their… family.
And then he wanted to kiss her. Kiss her until her resolve crumbled, until every thought about the Senate or the war evaporated and she finally let herself be his.
"What were you thinking, my love?" Anakin muttered under his breath, his voice raw. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, steadying himself.
"Please don't be angry with her," Sabé whispered. Some emotion guttered in her eyes. Her throat bobbed and she shut her eyes for a moment, breathing in sharply. "She planned to tell you the moment you came back. It just… everything happened so quickly. She had a lot of decisions to make and not very much time to truly think anything through."
She was alone and pregnant... The idea of Padmé dealing with everything in secret, carrying the weight of her responsibilities and concealing a child, all while he was off in the Outer-Rim, twisted his stomach. She must have been so afraid… Anakin's heart wept softly as he imagined his angel trying to hide her pregnancy from the eyes of the galaxy and carry on. She was always determined to be so strong, to take the weight of everyone else on her shoulders without a care for herself. A fresh wave of intense guilt crashed over him, and if he hadn't already been sitting, he knew he'd be toppling to the carpeted floor right now with how his legs were shaking. Why hadn't he sensed something? Why hadn't the force told him in a dream or vision?
Anakin clenched his fists. I've failed her… again. The knowledge pressed on him like a durasteel weight being dropped on his chest, crushing him. If I'd come back sooner, if I'd only listened to my instincts and put her first… A thousand agonized what-ifs tumbled through his mind and he gritted his teeth, rage and sorrow crashing like colliding starships in his chest.
His eyes flicked to the old holo on the nearby table – Padmé in full ceremonial attire after being elected senator, standing proudly with her family at her side. Could it have been different if I'd left everything behind to be with her? Power, titles, even the respect of the Council – none of it mattered as much as her. As them. Anakin swallowed, a bitter taste rising in his throat. I traded precious time together for more missions, for the chance to prove myself, and now…
He closed his eyes, trying and failing to rally his strength. Padmé had to be so far along by now if she'd found out mere weeks after he left. She could even be close to birth! A profound sense of loss raked through him, wondering if none of this had happened, if Dooku hadn't taken Chancellor Palpatine, forcing the Council to call him from away from the Outer-Rim, he might've come home one day to find her cradling a newborn, the baby looking up at him, with eyes that mirrored Padmé's, without a clue who or what Anakin was. The image shredded him. I could have missed everything.
Anakin's fists began trembling. They took her from me. They took them from me. The thought ignited something dark and molten in his core, a white-hot fury that seared through the dread and guilt. He drew in a sharp breath, trying to remember all the Jedi teachings about anger leading to the dark side, but at this moment, he couldn't care less. His wife – his pregnant wife – had been stolen and these people thought they could walk away unscathed?
He growled, a low, animalistic sound in his throat that surprised even himself and Anakin threw himself to his feet, rushing across the room to slam his flesh-fist into the wall. The painful impact reverberated through the room and his body and he heard Sabe's startled gasp somewhere behind him. They have no idea what they've unleashed. Pure fury flared in his veins, giving him a twisted sense of clarity, allowing him real focus. No more waiting. No more helpless pacing or tears. He was going to tear apart every level of Coruscant – every corner of the galaxy, if he had to. And when he found her, he would ensure that those responsible regretted their own birth.
A soft step sounded behind him. He didn't need to look to know it was Sabe, hesitant, reluctant to intrude on his raging thoughts. For a moment Anakin couldn't speak, his emotions were threatening to boil over and he didn't trust himself. Then he inhaled, trying to muster a shred of composure for her sake.
"Are… are you all right?" She asked gently, though she surely knew the answer.
Anakin swallowed, flexing his aching knuckles, wincing as the slight wetness he felt was likely blood, but this sting was nothing compared to what Padmé must be feeling right now. "No," he said truthfully, voice shaking with rage and heartbreak as he glanced at the hole left in the wall in his wake. "But I will be if it means I can find her."
Sabé nodded, sympathy and determination mixing in her gaze. "We should gather as many leads as we can. The Council, the Naboo delegation, everyone is moving. The vigil tonight – "
"Vigil," Anakin spat bitterly, the word tasting foul on his tongue. "Why are they acting like she's already dead? She's not dead!" He took a trembling breath, forcing the anger back under some semblance of control. "She's alive! She… they… are alive and I'm going to bring them home!" His head was pounding and tears were threatening to rise again, but he willed them away. Padmé didn't need his tears, she needed him to be strong. Strength meant finding her. Strength meant letting the fury drive him to do the impossible. He'd done it before and force knew he'd do it again for her.
Sabé nodded, tears brimming in her own eyes. "I'll do whatever I can to help." She stepped forward, laying a tentative hand on Anakin's arm, then squeezed gently in solidarity. "She's strong, Anakin. She won't give up."
He closed his eyes, remembering Padmé's steadfast courage, how she'd always push on, no matter the odds. A shaky exhale left his lips and he ran a hand through his hair. "I know," he said, voice low. "That's the only thing keeping me going."
With that, he moved to leave, glancing around the apartment filled with reminders of the life he and Padmé had only just begun to build together. He'd be damned if it ended here. With grim resolve, Anakin stepped toward the door, Sabé and Artoo following close behind. Her presence, so similar to Padmé's only spurred his determination further.
They stole my family, he told himself, fury thundering through his veins, and they're going to pay for it.
Anakin strode toward his speeder, Artoo racing ahead, adrenaline already coursing through his veins, when his commlink beeped sharply. He snatched it up, answering with a clipped, "Skywalker."
Captain Typho's voice bled through the device's speakers, laced with urgency. "General, I've found something. There's an address linked to Tiaba on the lower levels – Level 1-1-3, to be exact."
Anakin's steps slowed, his heart thudding. "Go on," he said, gripping the commlink tighter. Finally – something he could follow, a lead which might take him to Padmé's whereabouts! His heart surged with hope, his blood stilling for a moment in his veins as he waited.
Typho cleared his throat. "According to census data, Tiaba and a man named Sian Kiles have been listed as residents there for approximately two years."
"Sian Kiles?" Anakin repeated, the name foreign to him. "Who is he?"
There was a pause before Typho continued, his tone cautious. "The husband, I'm presuming. According to the data I've found, he was once a doctor on Naboo – a specialist in childbirth, actually – but he was stripped of his qualifications and rights to practice in all core systems after being caught stealing equipment and medications."
Anakin froze in mid-step, his stomach dropping. A chill raced down his spine as an ominous realization began to form in his mind. "What kind of doctor did you say he was?" His voice cracked as he utterly dreaded the coming answer.
"Obstetrics," Typho confirmed grimly. "He was well-regarded in the field at one point, but his fall from grace was… steep."
Anakin's blood ran cold. His Padmé, pregnant and vulnerable, in the hands of someone with a background in childbirth and a history of stealing medical supplies… The pieces clicked into place with horrifying clarity and he felt a wave of nausea roll through him. His legs wobbled treacherously as the world spun around his head. How did this continue to get worse? Every corner he turned, some fresh nightmare awaited.
He gritted his teeth, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl. "Send me the coordinates, Captain. Now."
Typho hesitated. "I'll notify Master Kenobi and law enforcement – "
"Send them!" Anakin barked, cutting him off. "I'm not waiting for backup. I'll find her myself."
"General – "
"Just send me the coordinates, Typho!" He snapped, already leaping into his speeder. The commlink buzzed again a second later, the coordinates flashing onto his display. Without another word, Anakin jammed the throttle forward, sending the speeder hurtling into Coruscant's labyrinth of skytraffic. The city blurred around him as he weaved dangerously through lanes of vehicles, the glow of passing speeders and neon signs flashing across his face. His reckless manoeuvres drew angry honks and swerves from other drivers, but he didn't care. Every second mattered. Padmé needs me. The child – our child – needs me.
His mind spun with the darkest possibilities. If Tiaba and this Sian Kiles had harmed her – or worse – he didn't trust himself to keep his rage in check. The mere thought of Padmé being operated on or experimented upon by someone like Kiles made him feel sick. What if I'm already too late? The question stabbed at him, but he shoved it aside for now. He couldn't afford to think that way right now.
"Hold on, Padmé," he muttered through clenched teeth, his fingers tightening around the controls. The coordinates on his display guided him toward a crumbling, industrial section of Level 3-1-3, far removed from the shimmering opulence of the upper levels. The air grew thicker, the light dimmer, as he descended into the depths of Coruscant's underworld. The speeder screeched to a halt in front of a decrepit building, its façade grimy and rust-streaked, the faint flicker of a broken sign casting eerie pink shadows as Anakin leapt out, his lightsaber already in hand, its heavy weight reassuring even as his heart pounded. He scanned the area, reaching out with the force, desperate for any sign of Padmé.
The building loomed before him, dark, unwelcoming and sealed by a heavy, metal door blocking any casual entry. He took a steadying breath, letting his anger simmer just below the surface, ready to be unleashed if necessary. I'm coming for you, he thought, his determination burning hotter with every step. With a sharp flick of his wrist, he ignited his lightsaber with a hiss, its blue blade casting an ethereal glow across the grimy walls. He moved toward the entrance, his senses on high alert, ready for whatever lay ahead. They took my family, he thought, his grip tightening on the hilt. And they're about to pay.
His heart was pounding so fiercely in his chest that he was sure it was about to burst free. There was no time for finesse or stealth right now, not with Padmé's life on the line and… the baby… His baby. Gritting his teeth, the Jedi ignited his lightsaber in a blaze of blue light.
Sweat beaded on his brow as he plunged the blade into the thick metal, sparks flying and metal hissing in protest of his entry. He had to lean his whole weight into it, guiding his lightsaber in a painstaking arc until the searing steel finally let out a groan of defeat. With a harsh crash, the still-glowing arch of molten edges fell inward, leaving a jagged opening. Anakin surged through the breach immediately, breath ragged in his throat. The place was dark, lit only by the flickering azure glow of his weapon. As his frantic eyes darted across the interior, a chill rippled down his spine as he realized what exactly lay before him – a makeshift hospital, or something close to it anyway. Dingy equipment lay scattered across tables, machines he didn't recognise stood lifelessly, their monitors switched off. The air around him was stale, tinged with antiseptic and desperation.
Anakin tried to swallow the rising horror inside him. They brought Padmé here? Why? This was hardly an appealing location for such a high-risk auction, he doubted the rich scum who wanted to participate would be willing to step foot in a place like this. He took another step forward, every nerve on edge when movement at the far side of the room caught his eye. A dark figure darted into view, slipping between the equipment so fast he almost doubted he'd seen it at all. In an instant, his adrenaline spiked. He raised his lightsaber, the azure glow revealing a patchwork of shadows and medical gear. Someone was here – and they were running!
Caution warred with urgency in his mind, but the thought of Padmé in this nightmare pushed everything else aside. Steeling himself, he hurtled after the figure through the darkness. He lunged forward, heart pounding as his footsteps thundered in the chilling silence. As his anger surged, Anakin's voice tore through the darkness ahead. "Stop!"
But the hooded figure ignored him, darting between equipment and half-assembled med-tech he didn't know the purpose of. His eyes narrowed, every ounce of his focus trained on the swiftly retreating silhouette. They ignored him, darting between cots and half-assembled med-tech. Anakin's eyes narrowed, every ounce of his focus trained on the figure ahead. He vaulted a tipped-over gurney with ease, the force lending him unnatural grace and speed. Loose cables and hoses whipped around his ankles, but he rushed onward, boots skidding on slick tiles. Suddenly, the figure grabbed a metal tray strewn with blades and syringes. In a single fluid motion, they hurled it over their shoulder with enough force to send sharp steel raining toward Anakin's face. He gasped, just barely managing to fling out his hand, the force rippling through the air. The lethal instruments clattered mid-flight before zooming aside, embedding themselves in a nearby wall. He let out a ragged, breathless sound of relief – but the jolt of near-disaster only stoked the flames of his anger.
His fury swelled, fuelling every stride. He recognized the threat this person posed and there was only one person it could be… Her. The puppeteer behind Padmé's abduction and this monstrous bidding war. The woman was trying to steal everything Anakin loved. His voice, raw with desperation and rage, roared through the hallway. "Tiaba!"
His shout reverberated off the sterile walls, but the hooded figure didn't so much as glance over her shoulder. She burst through a narrow back door, disappearing into the murky depths of Coruscant's lowest streets. Anakin bounded into the alley after her, boots splashing through oily puddles as he caught a glimpse of Tiaba's billowing cloak vanishing around the next corner. Without a second thought, he gave chase, the thought of Padmé and the child she was carrying drove him onward like a man possessed.
He rounded a corner into a crowded thoroughfare, fluorescent signs humming overhead and a thousand conversations creating a dull roar around him. Tiaba wove through the press of bodies, more agile than he was expecting. Anakin, far too large and frantic to slip through as seamlessly, resorted to shoving startled pedestrians aside to pass. Indignant cries and curses chased after him as he forced his way through.
"Hey!"
"Watch it, Jedi!"
"What in blazes – ?!"
Each shout only spurred him faster, fury coiling around his heart. He latched onto Tiaba's fleeting silhouette – a flicker of fabric in neon lights and launched himself forward, narrowly dodging a speeder that drifted too close to the sidewalk. The driver leaned on the horn, but Anakin barely noticed. All that mattered was bringing Tiaba down.
She ducked into a rickety flight of steps leading into a towering structure. Once inside, the world transformed into a grim labyrinth of flickering overhead bulbs and half-finished corridors. The whir of vent fans and the echo of distant machinery rattled in the stale air. Anakin charged after her, ignoring the twinge of pain in his legs as he leapt two steps at a time. When she tried to slam a metal security door behind her, he hurled it open with the force, the impact ringing in the confined space.
By the time he burst through, she was darting across a narrow catwalk strung between two buildings, a dizzying drop on either side. Exposed to Coruscant's sprawling lower city, Anakin felt a blast of polluted wind lash his face. Gritting his teeth, he sprinted along the swaying metal walkway. Tiaba glanced back – just once – her hood slipping enough that he caught a hint of green eyes flashing with something desperate… It only stoked his fury. What right did she have to feel scared after all she'd done?
"You can't run forever!" Anakin yelled, voice reverberating in the open air.
But Tiaba didn't slow. She dropped down a short ledge, landing on her knees in a neighbouring building. She cried out, cradling her chest – was she wounded? Maybe it would slow her down enough to take her down. Anakin followed suit, his own knees barking as he hit the unforgiving duracrete. He scrambled to his feet in time to see her vanish through the rooftop door. With a growl, he rushed inside, plunging into gloom and stale air.
The chase spilled onto yet another bustling street a moment later. Tiaba charged out into a swirl of pedestrians, robed travellers and stray droids. She knocked over a market stall in her wake, sending fruit and containers tumbling into Anakin's path in a desperate bid to slow him down. He vaulted the debris, slipping once on the rolling produce before reclaiming his footing. Ahead, Tiaba cast another frantic glance over her shoulder, then darted down a dark side corridor.
Anakin's pulse throbbed in his ears, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "Tiaba, stop!" He bellowed again, but still she evaded him.
He tore around the corner, breath ragged, eyes wild as he finally spotted a flash of Tiaba's billowing cloak. He pushed himself, intending to close the last few steps – but a heavy speeder suddenly lurched down into view, its repulsors humming ominously as it blocked the narrow alley. Piled high atop the craft were massive crates of furniture, precariously tilting with each jolt of movement. "No!" He snarled, skidding to a halt before crashing headlong into the speeder. The driver, oblivious to the chase, continued forward at a crawl, inching through the tight corridor.
Desperate, Anakin tried to manoeuvre around, but the towering cargo swayed dangerously, threatening to topple. He roared at the workers on the speeder. "Move! Get out of my way!" They glanced at him, eyes widening at the sight of a frantic, furious Jedi, but the driver only managed a startled shrug, still slowly rolling forward. Caught between the speeder's flank and the alley wall, Anakin's frustration exploded.
With a metallic whine, he slammed his gloved mechanical fist into the nearest crate. The impact sent the four top boxes tumbling off the stack, crashing onto the dermacrete with a deafening clatter. Furniture fragments and packaging spilled across the alley. Shouting erupted around him in a language he didn't understand as the workers scrambled for cover. In the confusion, Anakin forced his way through the narrow gap between the speeder and the wall, stumbling over scattered wreckage. But by the time he broke free on the other side, his lungs burning, Tiaba had vanished in the labyrinthine streets ahead.
He searched for any hint of her, but the hooded figure was nowhere to be seen. Only endless shadows and flickering neon lights met his furious gaze, mocking him with their emptiness. "No!" His roar of pure rage shook the air, a feral sound echoing down the filthy street.
A blind, searing anger boiled over and Anakin ripped his lightsaber from his belt and hurled it across the street in a deadly, spinning arc. It crashed into the side of a parked speeder, tearing into the green hull. Sparks flew as the metal melted under the saber's heat, alarms shrieking in protest. Nearby civilians screamed and dove for cover, scattered by panic. For a moment, Anakin stood frozen, chest heaving, mind reeling with fury and fear. He'd been so close – yet Tiaba slipped away and with her went his hope to find Padmé and their child.
"Fuuuck!" He howled up into the darkening sky. He was breathless with rage, trembling with it. He was so damn close! How could she have just got away like that? The force was supposed to be on his side – why was it letting idiots get in his way? Anakin stood trembling in the wreckage-strewn street, his teeth clenched so tightly it felt as though his jaw was about to crack. Sparks were still sputtering from the damaged starship, alarms wailing angrily into the night. Around him, people retreated in silent horror, keeping their distance from the enraged Jedi.
But a flicker of movement caught his eye – a woman standing just a little too close, a datapad raised in her hands, capturing the aftermath of his outburst and fury ignited in his chest all over again. She thought she could use his rage to make a quick handful of credits? He didn't think so! Anakin lunged forward, snatching the device right out of her hands. Before she could manage a protest, he hurled it to the ground, smashing the device into a hundred tiny shards.
The woman cried out in terror and bolted. For a split second, Anakin considered lashing out further, venting his pent-up terror and anger on everyone and everything around him. His mechanical hand clenched into a fist just begging to smash through something. He could feel the force swirling chaotically within him, desperate for release.
But then a flash of white lace flickered in his mind – Padmé's precious keepsake. This wasn't about him or his feelings – her life was in danger. His child's life was hanging in the balance. He couldn't afford to lose control now, not when every second counted. Reaching out, he summoned his lightsaber from where it still protruded from the starship's hull, its handle smouldering hot. The hilt whipped across the distance, slapping into his open hand and extinguishing with a hiss. His breath whooshed from him, lungs still raw from roaring, lips dry and chapped from the chase. He needed water – and a seat. Badly
Tiaba was gone, but there might still be answers back at that makeshift hospital, somewhere in the dark corners he hadn't yet explored.
Shoving the guilt and fury down, if only for a moment, Anakin turned his back on the terrified onlookers. He strode away from the chaos and the ruined datapad, forcing himself to focus. If he was going to find Padmé and their baby, he needed to keep his head clear…and find whatever trail Tiaba had left behind.
A/N:Poor Anakin... This just keeps getting worse for him, doesn't it?
Next time: Padmé's peril hits home as Anakin uncovers the brutal evidence of Tiaba's actions. Shocking revelations and unexpected reunions upend everything, while Tiaba and Sian's scheme spirals into something far more dangerous than they ever imagined.