Chapter 6: An Uneasy Alliance
The starship's dim interior hummed with the sound of the hyperdrive as they make their way to Ahch-To, a rhythmic pulse that filled the space as Padmé and Ahsoka sat hunched over a holo-table, the ghostly blue projections of Imperial schematics flickering before them. The weight of what they were about to do hung thick in the air, unspoken yet impossible to ignore.
Padmé studied the schematics Hondo had provided. The grainy blue projections flickered, illuminating her face as they displayed multiple Imperial detention sites spread across the galaxy. Some were buried deep in the Outer Rim, hidden in remote, desolate locations where no one would think to look. Others were in the Core Worlds—fortresses of durasteel and imperial dominance, heavily fortified and near-impossible to infiltrate.
"There are too many possibilities," Padmé muttered, rubbing her temple. Frustration laced her voice. "If Anakin is in any of these, we'll never find him in time."
Ahsoka stood beside her, arms crossed, her sharp gaze scanning the shifting holograms. "We need to think like Palpatine," she said. "If Anakin's been frozen in carbonite all this time, this isn't just about keeping him prisoner. This is about possession. A trophy."
Padmé's fingers curled into fists on the table. The thought of Anakin, frozen in carbonite, trapped in some dark Imperial stronghold, made her sick. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to move faster, to get to him, to rip apart whatever chains Palpatine had bound him in.
"Then he's on Coruscant," she said flatly.
Ahsoka nodded, her expression grim. "It makes sense. Palpatine wouldn't risk losing control of something that valuable. He'd want Anakin close—somewhere he could gloat."
Padmé's grip tightened on the edge of the table. Coruscant. The place where everything had fallen apart. The heart of the Empire, where Palpatine sat on his throne of lies, ruling over the galaxy Anakin had once sworn to there felt like stepping back into a nightmare. But it also meant hope. It meant getting Anakin back.
Ahsoka seemed to sense her thoughts. "It won't be easy. Even if we find a way onto Coruscant, we'll have to hide. The entire planet is crawling with Imperials. We'll need a way to blend in."
Padmé's jaw tightened. "We'll figure it out. First, we need to make sure Luke and Leia are safe."
Ahsoka hesitated, crossing her arms. "Are we even sure Hondo's intel is good? He could have sent us on a wild chase, or worse, straight into a trap."
Padmé shot her a sharp look. "I don't trust Hondo, but I trust his greed. He wouldn't have given us useless information unless he saw profit in it. And he knows that if he crossed me, I'd make sure he regretted it."
Ahsoka frowned, exhaling slowly. "I just don't like relying on people like him. We're risking everything on this."
Padmé's expression softened. "I know. But it's all we have. And if there's even a chance this will lead us to Anakin, we have to take it."
"Then that's where we go," Ahsoka said with quiet resolve.
A mechanical voice interrupted. "Oh, dear. Coruscant? Must we?"
Padmé turned toward the doorway, where C-3PO stood, his golden plating slightly dulled from travel. He clasped his hands together in distress. "Mistress Ahsoka, I must protest. That planet is crawling with Imperials! Not to mention the underworld—oh, the dangers that lurk there!"
Padmé smirked despite herself. "Nice to see you again too, Threepio."
The droid straightened as if suddenly remembering himself. "Ah, Lady Padmé! If I had known you were here, I would have prepared a more appropriate welcome."
Padmé allowed herself a small smile before turning back to the schematics. "We don't have a choice, Threepio. If Anakin is on Coruscant, we have to go. But first, we need to make sure the twins are somewhere safe."
Luke and Leia were fast asleep, curled up beside each other in the ship's modest bunk. The soft rise and fall of their breathing was the only sound in the quiet cabin, their peaceful faces untouched by the burdens of the war raging outside their little world. In the dim glow of the overhead lights, Padmé could see every delicate feature—the way Leia's small fingers clutched at the fabric of Luke's sleeve, as if seeking comfort in his presence even in sleep. The way Luke's brow furrowed slightly, just like Anakin's always had when he was lost in thought.
Padmé sat at the edge of the bed, her heart twisting painfully. She reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair from Leia's forehead, then ran her fingers lightly over Luke's cheek. How many nights had she dreamed of this? Of holding them again, of watching over them the way a mother should? Yet, the cruel irony was that no sooner had she found them than she had to leave them behind.
Her fingers curled into the blanket as she fought the overwhelming urge to stay. Just stay. Forget the mission, forget everything—just take them and run, disappear into the stars, find a quiet place where the Empire could never reach them. But she knew better. There was no true safety as long as Palpatine ruled. And Anakin—Anakin was still out there, waiting for her.
The weight of responsibility pressed heavily on her chest. She had already lost so much time with them. What if something went wrong? What if she never saw them again?
A quiet shift in the doorway made her look up. Ahsoka stood there, arms folded, watching her with an expression that was both understanding and resolute.
"You're doing the right thing," Ahsoka said softly.
Padmé let out a shaky breath, turning her gaze back to the twins. "It doesn't feel like it."
Her voice was barely above a whisper, thick with emotion.
Ahsoka stepped forward, her presence grounding but gentle. "They'll be safe on Ahch-To," she reassured her. "C-3PO will watch over them. And R2 will be with us."
Padmé nodded, but the weight in her chest remained. Safe. That word felt so distant, so fragile. The galaxy had stolen their innocence before they could even understand it, and now she was entrusting their lives to a droid and the isolation of a distant world. It wasn't fair. It wasn't enough.
She leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Leia's forehead, then another to Luke's. They stirred slightly but didn't wake.
"I love you," she whispered, lingering for a moment before pulling away.
Ahch-To was quiet. The endless ocean stretched in every direction, waves crashing against the jagged cliffs of the ancient world. The T-6 touched down on a rocky outcrop, the wind howling around them as they stepped onto the damp stone.
The salty breeze carried the distant crash of waves against the cliffs as Padmé stood at the edge of the ancient temple ruins, watching Luke and Leia chase each other across the rocky terrain. The twin suns of Ahch-To hung low in the sky, casting golden light across the ocean, their reflections shimmering in the rippling waters below.
Padmé took a deep breath, willing herself to memorize every detail: the way Leia's laughter rang out like chimes in the wind, the determined look on Luke's face as he tried to keep up with his sister, the scent of the sea mingling with the damp earth beneath her feet. She wanted to etch this moment into her heart, to carry it with her as she ventured into the darkness of Coruscant.
C-3PO stood nearby, his golden plating dulled by the salty air. "Mistress Padmé, might I remind you that the ship is ready? The sooner you depart, the sooner you shall return."
Padmé smiled, though it barely reached her eyes. "I know, Threepio. Just a little longer."
Gathering her resolve, she walked toward the children, her steps slow, deliberate. Leia noticed first, turning to face her mother with bright, inquisitive eyes. She frowned, stepping forward. "You're leaving us here?" she asked, her voice steadier than Padmé had expected.
Padmé's heart ached at the hurt in her daughter's voice. She cupped Leia's face, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I have to, sweetie. Coruscant is too dangerous. I can't risk losing you."
Luke stopped beside his sister, frowning. "Do you really have to go?"
Padmé knelt before them, taking their small hands in hers. "I do. But I promise, I will come back." Her gaze softened as she cupped Luke's cheek. "I wouldn't leave if it wasn't important."
Leia, always perceptive, studied her mother's face. "Because of Father?"
Padmé's breath hitched for just a second before she nodded. "Yes. This is it. We're gonna bring him home."
Luke bit his lip. "And if you don't?"
Padmé stroked his hair, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "I will. I have to believe that. And so do you."
Leia set her jaw, determined. "We'll be strong. We'll wait for you."
A bittersweet smile tugged at Padmé's lips. "I know you will. And I will come back to you." She pulled them both into an embrace, holding them close, memorizing the warmth of their small bodies against her. "Until then, listen to Threepio, and stay safe."
Leia's lips trembled, but she nodded. "Promise you'll come back?"
Padmé pulled both of them into a fierce embrace. "I swear it."
Ahsoka stepped beside her, placing a reassuring hand on Luke's shoulder. "We'll be back before you know it. Just be patient."
As the T-6 lifted off, Padmé kept her eyes on the shrinking island until it disappeared into the clouds. The ache in her chest deepened, but she forced herself to focus. There was no turning back now.
The cargo freighter was cramped, its air thick with the scent of durasteel and fuel. Padmé and Ahsoka crouched behind a stack of supply crates, the dim emergency lights casting shadows across their faces.
"This is the worst plan I've ever agreed to," Ahsoka muttered, shifting uncomfortably.
Padmé smirked despite herself. "You got a better one?"
Ahsoka exhaled. "Just don't get caught."
The ship rattled as it entered Coruscant's atmosphere, and Padmé felt her stomach twist. The last time she had been here, the Republic had still existed. Now, the city-planet belonged to the Empire.
As the engines whined and the freighter settled onto a landing platform, they exchanged a glance. No words were needed. They had come too far to fail now.
Silently, they moved, slipping into the depths of the city, where the shadows would hide them.
Coruscant, the beating heart of the Empire, was both a beacon of power and a symbol of the darkness that had consumed it. The lower levels of Coruscant were a labyrinth, a place where the forgotten and the oppressed lived in the shadow of the Empire's towering spires. It was here that Padmé and Ahsoka hoped to find the allies Ahsoka had heard whispers of.
"Let's move quickly," Padmé said, her voice steady but tinged with unease. The air here was thick with the scent of oil and smog, the dim lights flickering as they stepped off the ship and into the underbelly of Coruscant. "We need to find someone who can help us."
Ahsoka gave a short nod, her expression focused. "I've heard rumors," she said as they made their way down the darkened alley, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the metal walls. "There's a small network of allies hiding out here. They've managed to stay off the Empire's radar, for now. If we can find them, they might know where Anakin is, or even better, help us get inside the Imperial Palace."
Ahsoka walked beside her, voice low. "There's a network of people down here—sympathizers, rebels, people who've managed to stay off the Empire's radar. If we find them, they might know where Anakin is. Maybe even help us get inside the Imperial Palace."
Padmé's mind raced at the thought. Getting to the Palace wasn't going to be easy, but the possibility of finding allies in the depths of Coruscant's underworld offered a sliver of hope.
"Do you trust these people?" Padmé asked softly, glancing at Ahsoka, her own senses extended through the Force. She could feel the faintest tremors of uncertainty in the air, the same unease that clung to Ahsoka.
Ahsoka hesitated for a moment before answering, and Padmé could sense her wariness in the Force as well. "I trust the Force. I trust my instincts. And I know they're out there. The Force is strong in these parts."
Padmé nodded, her own connection to the Force an anchor in the shifting uncertainty around them. They moved through the winding streets, passing by forgotten shops and darkened alleys where the faintest glimmers of life flickered behind grime-covered windows. The lower levels were a stark contrast to the pristine streets of the higher levels—the heart of the Empire was miles above, but down here, it was a world that had been abandoned, left to fester under the weight of oppression.
Padmé kept her senses sharp, her gaze constantly scanning their surroundings. She could feel the tension in the air—the risk of being seen, the ever-present danger of Imperial patrols. Every step they took brought them closer to a confrontation they knew could come at any moment.
As they walked, the murmur of voices around them grew louder—some of it familiar, some foreign, all of it a distant echo of the life they once knew. The deeper they went, the more the atmosphere seemed to change. It was as if they were moving through a veil, passing from one world into another. Ahsoka kept her pace even, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes.
After a few more minutes, Ahsoka came to a sudden stop. She tilted her head, brow furrowed as though she had heard something.
"Wait," she said quietly. "I... feel something." She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the Force wash over her, her senses stretching out into the depths of the city.
Padmé paused, watching her. "What is it?"
"I don't know." Ahsoka's voice was barely above a whisper. "It's like... something familiar. Someone... but I can't place it."
Padmé felt a knot tighten in her stomach. She too felt the presence, like a shadow moving in the Force—faint but undeniably there. "Do you think it's someone who can help us?"
"I'm not sure," Ahsoka murmured. "But we need to follow it."
The two of them exchanged a glance, and without another word, Ahsoka led the way, her movements swift but careful, her senses tuned to the presence she had felt. Padmé followed closely behind, her hand instinctively resting on the hilt of her blaster as they wound their way through the narrow streets. The presence in the Force that Ahsoka had sensed seemed to grow stronger, drawing them deeper into the underworld of Coruscant.
They turned a corner and found themselves in a narrow alley, the walls steeped in shadow, only the faintest light from a distant street lamp casting a dull glow across the path. Ahsoka stopped abruptly, and Padmé saw her stiffen, her body tensing as she focused on the Force. The presence was near, but it still felt... unfamiliar.
Suddenly, a figure stepped from the shadows—a young woman, hooded and cloaked, her expression hidden beneath the fabric. Her posture was tense, but there was something in the air, something about the way she carried herself, that made Padmé's heart race with recognition.
Ahsoka's eyes widened as the woman's face came into view. Her features were sharper than Ahsoka remembered, the soft edges of youth replaced with a hardened maturity. Her deep blue eyes, once so full of conviction, now carried something else—something heavy. A flicker of sorrow, buried beneath layers of wariness and restraint.
"Barriss?" Ahsoka breathed, taking an unconscious step forward.
The name barely escaped her lips, but it was enough. The woman—Barriss Offee—met Ahsoka's gaze with an unreadable expression. Then, something flickered in her eyes. Not regret. Not relief. Just something distant and cold, like a door shutting before Ahsoka could step through.
Barriss held her gaze for a long moment, tension stretching between them. When she finally spoke, her voice was measured, calm, but touched with quiet caution.
"Ahsoka."
The name sat between them like an old wound torn open.
Ahsoka swallowed hard, forcing herself to steady her voice. "Why are you here?"
Barriss hesitated. A fraction of a second, but enough for Padmé to notice. The Mirialan's gaze flickered between them, assessing, calculating. "Surviving," she said at last. "Why are you here? I would've thought you'd be smart enough to stay far away from this planet."
Padmé stepped forward, her voice careful but direct. "Barriss, we need your help. We need a way into the Imperial Palace."
At that, Barriss's expression darkened. The tension in her shoulders tightened, and for the first time, her mask cracked just slightly.
"The Palace?" Her voice was quiet, but there was a sharpness beneath it. "You have no idea what you're asking."
"We do," Padmé insisted. "And we don't have a choice. We need to get inside."
Ahsoka let out a bitter scoff. "You really think she'll help us?" Her voice was sharper than intended, but she didn't care. She turned her gaze back to Barriss, anger bubbling beneath the surface. "She turned me in once before."
Barriss's jaw tightened, her eyes flashing with something unreadable. "You think I don't regret that every single day?" she said, voice suddenly lower, quieter. "You think I don't replay what I did, over and over, wondering if there had been another way?"
Ahsoka's hands clenched into fists at her sides. "You betrayed me." The words came out before she could stop them, edged with something raw, something painful. "After everything—after what we went through—"
Barriss raised a hand slightly, eyes narrowing. "And you think I haven't paid for it?" she interrupted, voice suddenly sharp. "I know what I did, Ahsoka. I live with it every day."
"That doesn't change anything," Ahsoka snapped. "You turned against me. Against everything we stood for."
Barriss exhaled slowly, arms folding across her chest, her expression guarded. "And what do you stand for now?" she asked, voice quieter but no less pointed. "The Republic is dead. The Jedi are scattered or hunted. What makes you so different from me?"
Silence. A heavy, suffocating weight that neither of them could push away.
Padmé finally stepped between them, her presence an anchor in the storm. Her voice was calm but firm, cutting through the tension. "We don't have time for this. Barriss, we need help."
Barriss turned her gaze to Padmé, studying her carefully. "Why should I risk myself for you?"
Padmé met her eyes without hesitation. "Because we're trying to save someone." She took a breath, knowing this would hit harder. "Anakin."
Something in Barriss's expression flickered. A shift—brief, but undeniable. Then, just as quickly, she schooled her face into neutrality.
"Anakin Skywalker is dead."
Padmé shook her head. "No. He's alive. Palpatine kept him frozen in carbonite. We think he's here, on Coruscant."
Barriss stared at her, searching for any sign of a lie. When she found none, something deep in her eyes cracked, just for a moment. Doubt. Disbelief. Something else.
But then, just like that, her expression hardened again. "Even if that's true, do you have any idea how dangerous it is to go after him?" she asked, voice low. "The Empire will crush you before you get anywhere near the palace."
"We don't have a choice," Padmé said, her voice unwavering. "I won't leave him there."
Barriss exhaled sharply, glancing over her shoulder as if scanning the shadows. Her posture remained rigid, as if she were weighing the consequences, feeling the walls of a trap closing in.
"We can do this without you," Ahsoka said, voice cold. "But I'd rather not."
Barriss looked back at her sharply, searching for something in Ahsoka's face. If she found it, she didn't show it. She let out a slow breath, then spoke carefully. "It's not that simple. I have my own problems. There are eyes everywhere. If the Empire suspects me—"
"Then this is your chance to make things right," Padmé pressed. "You don't have to fight alone anymore. You can do something good."
A muscle in Barriss's jaw twitched. She hesitated, the weight of past and present colliding in her mind.
Then, finally, she exhaled, the tension in her shoulders loosening just slightly.
"Fine," she said, voice quiet. "But if we get caught, you're on your own."
Ahsoka and Barriss entered the hideout, while Padmé secured the perimeter. The hideout was dimly lit, the glow of the holo-table flickering against the durasteel walls. Dust hung in the stale air, undisturbed save for the faint hum of Coruscant's lower levels far beyond the walls. It was a quiet refuge, tucked away from Imperial patrols and prying eyes, yet thick with tension as Ahsoka and Barriss stood opposite each other, the silence between them heavier than the duracrete ceiling above.
Ahsoka's arms were crossed, her jaw tight as she took in the sparse interior—functional, unwelcoming, a reflection of the woman standing before her. "So this is where you've been hiding," she muttered, a sharp edge to her voice. "How quaint."
Barriss met her gaze steadily, her expression unreadable at first. But beneath the calm veneer, something flickered—regret, guilt, or maybe just exhaustion. "I never wanted this, Ahsoka. You know that."
Ahsoka scoffed, stepping closer, her presence radiating barely contained frustration. "I don't know anything about you anymore." She shook her head, arms tightening across her chest. "I'm just trying to understand why you think we should trust you now."
Barriss didn't look away, but there was a subtle shift in her posture, the weight of Ahsoka's words settling over her like a chain. "You still think of me as that person, don't you?"
Ahsoka's expression darkened. "The one who nearly had me executed?" The words were sharp, deliberate. "Yeah. I think it's hard to forget that."
Barriss inhaled slowly, and for a brief moment, something like pain crossed her face. "I never wanted to betray you, Ahsoka." Her voice was quiet, measured, but filled with something deeper. "But I was lost—furious at the Council, at the war, at the way everything was crumbling around us. I thought I was doing the right thing." She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "I didn't stop to think about how it would hurt you."
Ahsoka let out a dry, humorless laugh. "Liar! You didn't stop to think?" Her voice rose slightly, a bitter disbelief creeping in. "You framed me. You let me rot in a cell while the whole Order turned against me. You made me doubt everything I ever believed in." Her fists clenched at her sides. "You broke me, Barriss."
Barriss flinched but didn't look away. "I know." Her voice was barely above a whisper, and for the first time, there was no defense in her tone, no justification—only a raw, aching honesty.
Ahsoka shook her head, turning away as she ran a hand through her montrals, trying to push down the storm of emotions threatening to break free. "You don't get to fix what you broke," she muttered, her voice thick with something dangerously close to hurt. "You don't get to walk back into my life and act like nothing happened."
Barriss stepped forward, her voice quieter but steady. "I don't expect you to forget, Ahsoka." She hesitated, then added, almost hesitantly, "I just… hoped you could see the person I am now."
Ahsoka scoffed, shaking her head. "And who is that, exactly?"
Barriss held her gaze, her blue eyes steady. "Someone who regrets what she did. Someone who's trying to make things right." A pause. Then, softly, "Someone who never wanted to lose you."
Ahsoka's heart lurched. She forced herself to ignore it. Don't do this. Don't let her get to you. But the words hung between them, cutting deeper than she wanted to admit.
"Well, you did," she said, forcing the words out. "You lost me."
Barriss lowered her head slightly, her lips pressing into a thin line. For a moment, it looked as if she might say something more, but she didn't.
Padmé chose that moment to step inside, having quietly observed from the entrance. She glanced between the two of them, reading the tension as easily as the battlefields she once walked.
"Ahsoka." Her voice was firm but not unkind. "I know you have every reason to feel the way you do. But right now, we need to work together. If we're going to save Anakin, we need all of us."
Ahsoka exhaled slowly, her shoulders rising and falling with a controlled breath. She didn't look at Barriss, but her tone was less venomous when she spoke. "I'll work with her." A beat of silence. Then, coldly, "But don't ask me to like it."
Barriss nodded, her face unreadable. "I understand, Ahsoka. I don't expect you to. Just…" She hesitated, then finished softly, "Trust that I'm here to help."
Ahsoka turned away, pacing slightly before stopping with a sharp inhale. "I just don't get it," she muttered, half to herself, half to the room. "After everything, why now? Why do you want to help us?"
Barriss hesitated, then took a step forward. "Because I couldn't live with myself knowing I did nothing." Her voice was quiet but resolute. "I failed—I hurt people. I hurt you." Her hands curled into fists at her sides. "I can't undo that. But I can help now. I can do something."
Ahsoka turned to face her again, her expression wary, guarded. "And you expect me to believe that? Just like that?"
Padmé glanced between them, sensing the chasm that had yet to be crossed. "Ahsoka please, we can't keep going in circles," she said gently but firmly. "We need a plan."
Ahsoka sighed, the fire in her gaze momentarily dimming as she turned back to Barriss. A long silence stretched between them, charged with everything unsaid.
Finally, Ahsoka nodded curtly. "Alright. But you keep your distance." Her voice was firm, unwavering. "I'll focus on what's ahead, not what's behind."
Barriss held her gaze for a moment longer before nodding in return. "I can do that." Her voice was quiet, almost unreadable. Then, finally, she added, "I'm here for the mission, too. Let's just get Skywalker out of there."
Ahsoka didn't respond immediately, but she exhaled sharply, taking one last, searching look at Barriss. Then, finally—reluctantly—she turned back toward the holo-table.
"Fine," she said, her voice clipped. "Let's figure out how we're going to get in."
The dim, quiet room in Barriss's hideout was thick with tension as the group gathered around a small, worn table. The only illumination came from the flickering blue light of the holographic display, casting long, shifting shadows across their faces. Outside, the underworld of Coruscant hummed with distant repulsorlifts, muffled voices, and the occasional blaster shot—just another night in the lower levels. But in here, the weight of what they were about to do made the air feel heavy, each breath a quiet acknowledgment of the danger ahead.
Padmé leaned over the table, her fingers tracing the glowing edges of a holographic map depicting the Imperial Palace in crisp, blue lines. Her expression was set in determination, but there was a slight furrow in her brow as she analyzed every possible route. "We need to get in quietly. There are three major entry points we could use, but they're all heavily guarded and monitored. If we trip even one alarm, we won't make it past the first corridor. Do we have any alternatives?"
Ahsoka, standing across from her, arms crossed, nodded thoughtfully. "There's a passage I used to take with Anakin—one that most people don't know about. It's hidden in one of the lower levels of the Jedi Temple ruins. He showed it to me once during training."
Padmé glanced up, intrigued. "A passage?"
Ahsoka's gaze became distant for a moment, a ghost of a memory flickering in her eyes. "Yeah. Anakin used it whenever he wanted to slip in and out of the Temple unnoticed. It connects to the Underworld and was hidden even from the Jedi. He thought it was funny—how no one had found it after all those years."
A small, knowing smile touched Padmé's lips. "That sounds like Anakin. Always finding his own way, always one step ahead."
Ahsoka's expression softened, the memory of her former master flickering in her mind. "He never told me why he used it so often… just that it was a way to escape when things got to be too much." She exhaled sharply, shaking off the emotions that threatened to surface. "I'll lead the way. I remember exactly where it is."
Barriss, who had been silent up until now, shifted slightly, her arms folded. "Once we're inside, we need to split up. Padmé and R2 will head for Skywalker's holding chamber. Ahsoka and I will take care of the security systems."
Padmé's gaze flickered between them, nodding. "We'll have to disable the alarms fast. If the system picks up any anomalies, the entire Palace will lock down before we can even get close to him."
Barriss studied the map, her voice measured and calm. "Leave that to us. We'll find the security room, shut down the cameras, and make sure no one knows you're there."
Padmé traced a finger along the projection, her brows knitting together in thought. "The real problem is finding exactly where they're keeping Anakin. The Palace is massive, and we can't afford to waste time searching every floor."
Barriss's expression darkened, her fingers tightening around her sleeve as she considered the possibilities. "Palpatine wouldn't keep him in a normal cell. He'd want him hidden, somewhere only a select few could access. Somewhere secure, but personal."
Padmé's eyes narrowed. "Personal?"
Barriss nodded, her voice edged with certainty. "If Skywalker is a trophy to him, then Palpatine wouldn't just lock him in a standard prison block. He'd keep him close—but not somewhere obvious. Somewhere he could visit, whenever he wanted."
A realization dawned on her, and she gestured to a section of the map. "Here. The Emperor's vault. It's one of the most secure chambers in the Palace, hidden deep beneath the main throne room. It's where he keeps Sith artifacts, treasures, and anything he considers too valuable to be left unguarded. If Skywalker is being treated as one of his 'possessions'... that's where he'll be."
Padmé exhaled slowly, her fingers pressing against the table. The idea of Anakin being locked away like some relic in Palpatine's twisted collection made her stomach turn. But Barriss was right. It made sense. "That's where we go, then."
Ahsoka's lips pressed into a thin line. "The vault won't just have locks. It'll be layered with traps, alarms, maybe even droids. If Palpatine is keeping Anakin there, it means getting in won't be as simple as slicing a control panel."
Padmé glanced down at R2-D2, who whistled in response, his blue sensor light flickering. "R2, can you access the vault's security from the inside once we get through?"
The astromech gave an affirmative chirp.
"Good," Padmé said. "Once I have Anakin, I'll need a clear escape route. What do we think?"
Barriss studied the map for a long moment before pointing to a thin, barely noticeable corridor running beneath the Palace. "There's a maintenance shaft that leads to the lower levels. It's not well-guarded, and it'll get you out fast. If we time it right, you'll be able to disappear before they even realize what's happened."
Ahsoka considered it, then smirked slightly. "That's good… but we need a distraction. Something big enough to pull guards away from the vault and buy us time."
Padmé arched a brow. "What are you thinking?"
Ahsoka's grin widened. "I'll trigger an alarm in another sector of the Palace—maybe near the barracks. That'll send troopers scrambling in the wrong direction, giving us a window to get in and out without being noticed."
Barriss gave a small nod, her expression neutral but calculating. "That could work. If we do it right, they won't realize it's a diversion until it's too late."
Padmé exhaled, steeling herself. "Then that's our plan. We strike when Palpatine is at the Senate session tomorrow. He'll be distracted, and security will be stretched thinner than usual."
Ahsoka's expression darkened slightly. "We'll only have one chance. Once we move, there's no turning back."
Barriss met her gaze, her voice steady. "No mistakes."
Padmé straightened, her heart pounding as the reality of their mission settled in. They were walking into the heart of the Empire, into the domain of the most powerful Sith in the galaxy. But they had no choice.
Anakin was waiting.
The next day was spent in preparation.
Each of them checked their weapons, comms, and gear meticulously. Lightsabers were calibrated, blasters powered up, escape routes memorized. There was no room for error. Every second counted.
Padmé stood at the center of the room, her hands resting on the holo-table as she took in the plan one final time. The weight of everything pressed against her chest, but she didn't waver. She looked up at Barriss, then Ahsoka, her voice steady.
"This is it. We've got one shot at this. We cannot fail."
Ahsoka adjusted the straps on her gear, rolling her shoulders. She caught Padmé's gaze and gave a slight nod, a flicker of unspoken understanding between them. "We'll be ready. Trust us."
Padmé nodded back, grateful for the confidence in her voice. Despite the risk, despite the overwhelming odds, she refused to let doubt take hold.
She took a slow breath, feeling the quiet pulse of the Force inside her. "Let's bring him home."
Barriss stepped forward, gripping her lightsaber hilt tightly. "Once we move, we stick to the plan. No mistakes."
Ahsoka's gaze lingered on Barriss for a beat longer than necessary, her voice quiet. "No mistakes."
The three exchanged a final look, and then, without another word, turned toward the exit.
Padmé hesitated for a second, her gaze moving over the group one last time, feeling the strength of their unity. This wasn't just about rescuing Anakin—it was about stopping Palpatine and ending the Empire's grip on the galaxy. But it was also personal. She had come to know Anakin in ways that only a few could, and she couldn't remain without him no longer.
"We'll get him back," Padmé murmured to herself, as much to reassure herself as to anyone else.
Ahsoka, who had already moved toward the exit, called back over her shoulder with a smirk. "We'll get him back, Padmé. We're not leaving without him."
As the door closed behind them, the quiet of Barriss's hideout gave way to the noise of the underworld outside—distant engines roaring, the constant movement of life. The tension in the air was thick, but so was their resolve. They had come too far to back out now. The plan was set. The path was clear.
The rescue was about to begin.
Almost doneee!. Probably one or two more chapters left. The next one will be very cinematic let me tell you! Hopefully y'all like it. Again thanks for all the reviews and feedback. Let me know what y'all want to see in the next one and I'll see about incorporating it. Until Nextime.