After an uncomfortable night in a hard bed and having to get up several times just to keep the fire going, they will not be really rested. Luckily, they didn't have to hurry and rush early in the morning. Well, it wasn't that early, it was 8:00 a.m. , but still dark, like in the darkest night.
Padmé stretched, looked to her right and looked at him. He was just stirring.
"Good morning, Dr. Skywalker."
"Good morning. Did you sleep well?"
"No. "The bed is terrible, I don't know what doesn't hurt."
"I see I'll have to do everything alone."
"I would like to thank you in advance and make you a delicious breakfast: eggs, bacon, peppers and…."
"Coffeeeee, yes please."
After they did their business, brushed their teeth and washed their faces in the warm room, they got dressed. Anakin placed the plates and cutlery set on the paper napkins and waited for Padmé to serve breakfast.
"Well, enjoy your meal. I hope it tastes good."
He put a piece of bacon in his mouth…"Mmmm, delicious. I could get used to it."
"It's always good when someone else does it."
"No, it is because you did it."
"A few flirt bubbles - and gone are your troubles. Stop it, it's unbearable."
"OK. I'll behave."
After they had comfortably drunk their coffee until the end, they put on their warm clothes and loaded the devices onto the trailer for assembly. Anakin took his Remington 700 and cartridges.
"I'm no weapons expert, but these boxes are not the same. These numbers mean caliber, or am I totally wrong?"
"That's right, they're not the same caliber. I'm thinking about what to take with. The .30-06 is sufficient to kill a wolf, but to kill a bear, you need something stronger, something like the one in this box, .340 Weatherby Magnum."
"How come you know things so well?"
"I was in the Marine Corps for two years. Did you forget?"
"Killing animals…no, I don't like that"
"Me neither. You shouldn't kill animals for fun, only in an emergency."
"It's getting light, we should go. Here are the coordinates, take it."
"Yes, Boss."
"Ugh, why did I take you as my partner for this expedition and not Aayla Secura?"
"…because you need my skills?"
"Have you used your skills to lock up the cabin?"
"Just like you said...now, get on."
Anakin put his rifle over his shoulder, it won't be as comfortable for her behind him, but it was necessary. Padmé still managed to grab hold of him, and he drove off.
Thanks to the correct GPS coordinates, they found the spot without any problems, and since there wasn't a lot of snow, it was easy to see.
They covered half and planned to install four gauges. Half an hour to assemble it, fifteen minutes to put it into operation, the time allotted was sufficient. They even had time for a short break and ate an energy bar that Padmé had packed.
Then she made the final moves. He watched her do the final run-through on her small laptop. When she was finished, she folded up the MacBook and stuffed it into the thick bag. He asked her unexpectedly:
"Why did you marry him?"
She was surprised by the question, but she didn't show it. His face was not curious, it was something else, something like ...sorrow and pain. She didn't want to hurt him, but she didn't want to talk about it either.
"It's a long story."
"We have time enough."
"I don't know if it's suitable for your ears."
"I wouldn't tell anyone about it, I promise."
"Good…and now, we go back."
With Anakin's driving style, they were quickly back in the trapper's cabin, leaving everything outside except the screwdriver and her laptop, and covered the rest.
"We have to make the fire quickly, but there may still be some embers left."
There were some embers, and when they put a lot of wood on, it became cozy and warm quickly. He placed a bucket on the stove top and filled it with snow and ice. As soon as it melted, he refilled it. Soon he had buckets full of warm water. He pulled out the tub that was under her bed.
"I've been sweating, I'll take a little bath now."
"OK. I turn my head away."
He wanted to say that it wouldn't bother him if she didn't, but he said nothing. He left his things on the bed and sat in the tub. There was no space for his long legs. Using a cup, he poured the warm water over his neck, arms, chest and back. With both hands, he spread the shower gel over the skin and rubbed. Just as he wet the skin, he washed the foam down. Then he stood up and did the same process with the lower part of the body.
Padmé sensed him standing and used the last ounce of self-control to stop herself from turning around. What might he look like? Just as she imagined him, or even better? A naked male body, nothing special, that's what she had at home...this nothing special, but Anakin must be something special, every female student on campus back then was talking about him. Did he have them all in bed, or were they just fantasizing, just like she was? Then flashback:...her fingernails digging into his back...her legs around his waist...no imagination...split of second and...gone.
"Tell me when you're ready."
"Soon." He dried himself, took off his angora underwear, and put on his pajamas over that. "Finished."
The whole room smelled like his Ax Ice Chill. Then he took the tub, carried it out, and poured the little water on the side of the cabin.
"I'm going to make a vegetable stew now," Padmé suggested.
"Excellent."
She took meat, onions, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, and carrots from the provisions box. Onions and meat were lightly fried, she added sliced potatoes, carrots, cabbage, tomatoes and salt, the water was poured in, and she let it simmer.
"We'll be able to eat in an hour and a half."
After a while, he couldn't take it anymore, "Is this long story longer than an hour and a half?" and temporarily slipped into his sleeping bag.
"I'll tell you the short version, but it stays between us."
"I swear."
"Well. The Naberries and the Palpatines have been friends for ages, over two hundred years. There was a particularly close friendship between Randolph Naberrie and Andrew Palpatine, both born in 1840, went to school together and even married two sisters. Randolph Naberrie had no children, his wife only gave birth to dead children, year after year. They were desperate. The large company threatened to remain without an heir. His good friend Andrew Palpatine already had five sons. When his wife gave birth to their sixth son at the age of forty, she died. Andrew brought the baby to his sister-in-law and best friend Randolph Naberrie, and told them to raise the child as their own, but it should not be forgotten that the Naberrie family is deeply indebted to the Palpatines. This is how little Preston Palpatine became Preston Naberrie. Every Naberrie generation was raised knowing that the Palpatines could claim this debt at any time."
Before she wanted to continue, Anakin opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something but closed his mouth again and let her talk.
"As you can see, technically I am a Palpatine, but so much time has passed since then, the genes have mixed so many times that I and Sheev are no longer considered related. Did you know that the Eastern Church, the Orthodox Church, prohibits marriage between relatives? Only from the fifth generation are you no longer considered to be related."
Anakin shook his head.
"For us Catholics, you can even marry your first cousin. Unhealthy, right? Did you know that Emperor Franz Joseph I. of Austria and his wife, Elisabeth von Wittelsbach, were the children of two sisters?"
Anakin shook his head again but said nothing.
"Well, I'm the last generation called Naberrie...and Sheev has been married before and has no children...for whatever reason. The ancient debt was claimed, I was called to duty, and so I became his wife."
Anakin looked at her in disbelief, disgust reflected on his face. "It's a terrible and at the same time a fascinating story, like something from the Middle Ages. I can't understand why you let this happen to you."
"Yes, but the consequences would be devastating. The entire Naberrie fortune would go to the Palpetines and Sheev is not as kind as his ancestors."
"If I understand it right, you have to give him an heir, right?"
"Yes."
"How...how can you...with him?"
"…sleep with him?"
Anakin nodded.
"Let's put it this way: if each of us, including you, would sleep only with the one we love….."
"…we would hardly have a sex life." He finished the sentence. "Does he treat you well?"
"Yes. First, we have a contract. I receive a generous allowance, but I am excluded as an heir. That's why I kept my name. …he gets five nights a month from me."
"My God, Dr. Naberrie, how can you...?
"Naberrie-Palpatine."
"Oh yes, how could I have forgotten his name after all that?" After a pause in silence, he asked indecisively, "Is there something, anything, I can help you with?"
"No. I have accepted my fate."
Anakin had never believed that Padmé married Sheev Palpatine for love, he didn't know her reasons, but now, from this account, he assumed that she must be a deeply unhappy woman. He loved her and couldn't do anything for her.
"As you said, he is not as kind as his ancestors. Is he really good to you?"
"Yes, really. He sticks to the contract, is correct, and is always attentive and considerate, he is a good…"
"Stop." He looked away, he knew what she wanted to say. It hurts.
"I think there was enough of the story. The food is almost ready." She put out the napkins, plates, and cutlery. "Are you hungry?"
"Actually, not that much anymore."
"Then we'll have some left for tomorrow, I won't cook then."
"You certainly don't cook at home, in your palace."
"No, but I sometimes wish I had someone to cook for."
"Don't they let you cook there?"
"Yes, but no one wants to eat it except me."
"I don't understand, you cook excellently."
"I'm glad you like it."
After they ate, Anakin cleaned everything up and cleaned the dishes.
"That's called teamwork."
"Professionally and also privately. We fit together well and are getting better. Don't you think?"
"Right, haven't flirted since this morning, huh?"
Before going to bed, she called Aayla Secura and Plo Koon to inquire how they were progressing with their tasks and was satisfied with the information.
..
Best regards from Germany