"It's going to be a beautiful day today," Padmé said, looking out of the window above their kitchen counter as she placed her plate and cup in the sink. She reached up and brushed her soft, curly brown hair from her eyes and sighed contentedly, looking out of the window and watching as the brilliant morning sunlight filtered through the thick canopy of the trees that surrounded their small home, cascading through the gently swaying ocean of bright green leaves in an ever changing pattern of shimmering shafts of light.
Anakin sat there just a step or two away, his elbows propped up on the kitchen table. "I was hoping it would be," he said, picking up his cup and taking a long, thirsty swig. "You were planning on spending some time outside today on your exercises, weren't you?" he asked, as she turned from the window and walked across the kitchen to join him. Even at this hour of the morning, it never ceased to amaze him how beautiful she was; he watched her sit down in the chair beside him again, her long brown hair cascading over her shoulders as she nodded her head and smiled back at him.
"Yes, Master," Padmé grinned, as she reached over and took his hand in hers, squeezing it tightly. "I'm going to spend some time with that stupid stone of yours again," she groused playfully, drawing a chuckle from Anakin as he reached over and handed Leia her cup. Leia sat there beside him, quietly picking at her breakfast as she always did. "Just like you asked me to."
"I know you hate that thing," Anakin chuckled, as he looked across the table at Luke, watching his son as he grinned back at him. "But it's for your own good, you know that."
"No, I love that thing," she grinned back at him. "I just hate using it. And I know, you're right," Padmé sighed, following Anakin's gaze and watching Luke as he picked up another bite of his breakfast with his small, food-covered fingers; she shook her head slowly, laughing quietly to herself, as she watched more than half of it miss his small mouth and fall to the floor beneath his chair.
"I think I liked it better when they were nursing," Padmé sighed, as she surveyed the mess in the floor around their small, round kitchen table.
"That's not what you said when they still were," Anakin laughed, tossing her a sly grin as she turned her head and smiled back at him, her deep brown eyes gazing up at him through the wavy brown hair that hung over them.
"I can't wait till they're both ready to eat solid food," Anakin said, laughing under his breath as he raised his voice and mocked her as best as he could, reaching up with his hands and rubbing his chest gingerly as he spoke; he laughed again, somewhat painfully, as he failed to dodge her outstretched hand as she slapped him playfully on the arm.
"Oh, ha, ha, you are so funny," Padmé laughed, standing up and grinning back at him as she watched him laugh and rub his arm where she'd slapped him. "Isn't it about time for you to be going to work, Master?"
"As a matter of fact, I think it is," he chuckled, reaching down and picking up the last bit of bread on his plate with his fingers as he pushed his chair back away from the table.
"Are you sure you had enough?" Padmé asked, as he stuffed the last bite of his breakfast into his mouth; it never ceased to amaze her how much he could eat in one sitting.
"Mm,hmm," Anakin mused, nodding his head as he chewed; she stepped back and watched him as he stood up from his chair, and she closed her eyes and sighed contentedly as he wrapped his arm snugly around her waist and kissed her gently on the cheek.
"No, no, just leave those," she said, tugging him back away from the table as he started to pick up his plate. "Threepio and I can clean it up later," she said, nodding her head as he looked back at her. "You need to get to the shop," she said, rubbing his shoulder affectionately as he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek again. "You've got a busy day ahead of you today."
"It shouldn't be too bad," Anakin said, as he walked over to the table to where his children sat. Padme watched him affectionately, as he leaned down and kissed each one of them gently on the cheek in turn.
"'Bye, you two," he said, rubbing each one of them gently on the shoulder as he kissed them. "Be good for Mommy today. Love you both."
"I better get going," Anakin said, turning his attention back to Padmé again as the twins went back to their breakfast. "Artoo's probably waiting on me in the speeder already."
"Be safe, and take your time," Padmé said, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him close to her. "See you later tonight, okay?"
"Okay," Anakin replied, nodding his head as he wrapped his arms around her waist and smiled down at her. He closed his eyes, as she leaned up and kissed him, very tenderly, for a long moment.
"I love you, baby," she said, opening her eyes and looking up at him. "Have a good day, okay?"
"I love you, too," Anakin grinned, as he leaned forward and kissed her once again. "I'll check in after lunch," he said, taking her hand tightly in his as he started toward the kitchen door.
"You guys be careful today," he said, as he opened the door; he took a deep, contented breath, as he felt the cool, fresh morning air touch his face. Padmé was right; it was shaping up to be a beautiful day.
"Have fun with your exercises," he said, a sly grin on his face as he turned and kissed her gently on the cheek.
"I will," Padmé laughed, rubbing his shoulder affectionately as he stepped through the door out onto the stoop. "Bye."
"Bye," Anakin called over his shoulder, as he started down the path that led to the hangar below their house; she stood quietly in the doorway, watching him for a long moment as he walked down the long, winding path, whistling happily to himself. She raised an eyebrow, as she saw him stretch out his hand toward the apple tree that stood a short distance from their workshop, and she laughed out loud as she watched one of the bright red apples suddenly fly of the tree toward him.
"I saw that!" she yelled, laughing almost hysterically, as he snatched it from the air, and then turned around and grinned at her sheepishly, laughing almost as hard as she was.
"I thought you might," Anakin laughed, as he took a big bite out of it. "I love you!" he called again, munching contentedly as he waved back at her.
"You're a terrible example, you know that, right?" Padmé laughed, shaking her head as she waved back at him once more. "And I love you too!"
Still laughing quietly to herself, she turned and, sighing and chuckling contentedly, she closed the door quietly, and turned her attention back to her two small children again, as she heard them begin to chatter and squeal loudly to one another.
She walked quickly to the counter and picked up the small towel that rested near the sink, as the loud, happy chatter filled their small kitchen; she turned around and sighed, laughing quietly to herself, watching her children fondly as they bounced in their small chairs and grinned at each other.
It was their normal morning routine and, while it could be trying at times, she wouldn't have it any other way. Playtime always seemed to start as soon as the two of them decided that they were finished with their breakfast, and, just like this morning, it was usually only a few moments after their father left for the workshop.
"Okay, you two," Padmé said, wiping her hands on her towel as they both looked up at her. "Are you finished with your breakfast?" she asked, tossing the towel onto the counter beside the sink; she placed her hands on her hips and watched them both for a moment, as they both looked at each other.
They both nodded their little heads as they grinned up at her, their faces still bearing the remains of their breakfasts on them. "Okay then," she said, walking quickly over to the table and picking up the damp rag she had placed there earlier this morning. "Let's get you cleaned up."
"Threepio?" she called loudly, looking over her shoulder toward the living room as she mopped their laughing, squirming faces off with the rag. "Can you come in here for a few minutes?"
"Coming, Mistress Padmé," she heard him call; she looked back over her shoulder as she heard the familiar sound of his metallic feet as he shuffled quickly toward the kitchen.
"Okay, little ones," she said, picking each one of them up from their chairs in turn and lowering them to the floor. "Out," she said firmly, swatting them both playfully on their backsides as she shooed them out of the kitchen, watching them as they both started to squeal happily again as they ran past Threepio and through the door that led to the living room.
"Oh, my," Threepio exclaimed, barely managing to turn himself sideways in the doorway quickly enough to make room for the two small, excited children. "Good morning, Master Luke," he called after them, as they ran through the living room. "And you too, Mistress Leia."
"Threepio," Padmé said, as her tall, silver droid shuffled quickly into the kitchen to join her, "would you mind helping the two of them get cleaned up and dressed this morning?" she asked, as she picked up the children's breakfast dishes and carried them to the sink.
"I promised Anakin that I'd spend some time on my meditation exercises this morning," she said, as she placed the dishes in the sink and grinned back at him. "You can clean up the kitchen a little later."
Padmé smiled again, as she watched Threepio nod and wave his arms excitedly; she knew that, deep down, he loved it when she asked him to look after the children – even if it was for something as simple as this.
"Why, of course, Mistress Padmé," Threepio replied, his electronic voice laced with excitement, as Padmé put the last few dishes in the sink. "I'd be most pleased to do so."
"And see if you can get them to sit down for story time this morning," she called, tossing the towel in her hands onto the kitchen counter as she watched him shuffle quickly across the kitchen; she laughed quietly to herself, as she watched him stop, and then turn slowly to face her again.
"I'll be happy to try, Mistress Padmé," Threepio said, his voice laced with a readily detectable hint of trepidation; he stood quietly for a moment, as he turned his head and looked over his shoulder toward the living room, listening intently to the children's excited squeals as they filled the house.
"It may present a bit of a challenge this morning," he sighed, as best as a droid could, as he turned his attention back to Padmé' again. "Young master Luke settles down quite easily, but I'm afraid that little Mistress Leia can be a little strong willed at times," he said. "If you take my meaning, of course."
"I know," Padmé half laughed, half sighed, as she walked across the kitchen and patted Threepio comfortingly on the shoulder. "She'll listen to you, though," she said, reassuringly. "She likes your stories, a lot more than you think she does."
"I hope so," Threepio said, shuffling to the side a bit as Padmé stepped past him and headed through their open, spacious living room toward the hallway that led to their bedrooms. "I'm afraid I'm a little new at this storytelling business," he said. "But I do try to make them interesting."
"You do great, Threepio," Padmé called, as she disappeared down the hallway out of sight. "Just call me if you need me, okay?"
"Yes, Mistress Padmé," Threepio called, and then he shuffled down the hallway after her, as Luke and Leia's happy chatter continued to fill their very modest, yet very happy, home.
The bright eyed, dark haired boy reached up and brushed his hair from his eyes, as he leaned back and admired the freshly cleaned engine housing with a satisfied grin; he'd been working on it all morning, and he reached over and wiped the freshly cleaned plasma vents that rested atop the pristine housing one more time with a clean rag for good measure.
It had been a tough job, and it had taken him all morning; yet he knew, deep down, that was why his master had given it to him. He didn't really understand why, but over the past months that he had worked for him, he found that he took as much pride now, perhaps more so, in pleasing him as he did in pleasing himself.
He had come here looking for work that day; he had lived in this small town all of his life, and the bright, busy workshop seemed inviting, and a good place to start his search. He remembered how he had stood there in front of that counter that day, fidgeting nervously, as he watched the tall, blond haired young man behind it eye him silently for a long moment.
He couldn't really put his finger on what it was about the man he now worked for that had so mesmerized him that day; he had greeted him, quite pleasantly, when he had walked through the doorway into the small shop, and he had listened, with keen interest, as the lad had asked him, somewhat apprehensively, if he needed help. Yet, there was something about his new master that had left him almost speechless, as he had stood there, watching those brilliant, piercing blue eyes look down at him; he seemed, in that instant, to almost be able to look through him, past his disheveled hair and dusty clothes, clear into his heart.
You're a good kid, his master had told him after a long, quiet pause, nodding his head slowly as he walked around the counter and extended his hand to him. You're hired. My name's Anakin, he had said, as he took the young lad's hand and shook it firmly. What's yours?
"Guyton?" Anakin called, as he stepped through the door at the back of the shop. "You out here?"
"Right here, Mister Ani," Guyton called, turning quickly and looking over his shoulder; he watched, as Anakin stepped through the door and walked toward him.
"How's it coming?" Anakin asked, squinting as he stepped into the bright sunlight and made his way through the maze of vehicles, machines, and parts over to where the little dark haired boy knelt on the ground.
"Just finished it now," Guyton said, looking back at the engine housing proudly as Anakin stepped up next to him and pulled a grimy rag from his back pocket. "Did I do a good enough job on it, Mister Ani?"
Anakin surveyed the lad's work for a moment, nodding his head as he wiped his hands slowly on the rag he had retrieved from his pocket. "You sure did," he nodded, looking down at the proud smile that spread across Guyton's grimy face as he looked up at him.
"Looks good as new," Anakin said, as the lad wiped the housing over one more time with his rag as he watched. "Now, if I can just get that injector installed this afternoon, we'll be ready to send this one back where it belongs, two days early," he said. "And that means you'll get that bonus Padmé promised you."
"Wahoo!" Guyton shouted, raising his arms over his head and looking up at Anakin with a wide grin. "Really?"
"You bet," Anakin replied, nodding his head firmly as he extended his hand to the boy and helped him up to his feet. "But, first things first," he said, as he dusted off the back of the boy's shirt with his hand. "I need you to run an errand for me."
"Sure," Guyton replied, bending over and slapping the knees of his dirty pants several times, sending a small cloud of dust into the air around them. "Is Miss Padmé coming to eat with us today?" he asked, looking back up at Anakin as he stood up and dusted his small, grimy hands.
"Not today," Anakin replied, placing his hand on the young boy's shoulder and nudging him back toward the workshop. "She's got a few things at home to take care of," he said, as he tucked the rag back into his pocket and pushed the door open with his left hand. "Looks like it's just going to be us and Artoo today."
"Here," Anakin said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out an assortment of small gold coins; he picked through them quickly, and then looked back down at his young friend as he placed them in his outstretched hand. "Run down to the diner and tell Leeza to fix up two of the usuals," he said, watching as Guyton tucked the coins securely in the pocket of his dusty pants.
'Yes, sir," Guyton replied, turning on his heels and trotting quickly toward the front of the shop.
"And take Artoo with you," Anakin called, as he tucked his hands into his pockets, looking over at his little round astrodroid as he worked quietly on the terminal console where he had parked himself early this morning. "He needs to get out for a while," he said, watching with a grin as Artoo swung his sensor dome toward him and whistled brightly. "He's been cooped up in here all morning."
Anakin smiled, as he watched Guyton trot over and slap Artoo on the top of his sensor dome several times. "Let's go, Artoo," he said, looking over his shoulder and watching as the little droid turned quickly and began to follow him toward the front door, whistling happily to himself.
Anakin watched them both for a moment, as the little twelve-year-old boy held the door open for Artoo, chattering happily with him as he rolled through the doorway and out onto the sidewalk to join him.
He really is a good kid, Anakin thought to himself, as he walked back over toward his workbench and took a long, deep breath, sighing deeply. He had sensed it, from the first moment that he had walked into his shop that day, and Guyton had proven to be a hard, dedicated worker, with a bright, pleasant demeanor that pleased not only him and Padmé, but everyone that came into their shop as well.
Guyton's parents weren't much older than he and Padmé, and they had become quite good friends in the six months that their son had started working for them; his mother, Alana, had befriended Padmé since their first meeting, and it wasn't unusual for Anakin to bring Guyton home with him at the end of the day, as his mother stopped by frequently to visit with Padmé and the children.
Anakin sat down at his bench and picked up the injector assembly he'd been working on all morning. He turned it slowly as he checked it over carefully one more time, but then paused, frowning again as he felt that nagging feeling return.
He still didn't know what it was that was bothering him, but it unnerved him more than he cared to admit. He'd first sensed it early this morning, not long after he'd come to work; he closed his eyes, stretching out toward Padmé and the children with his feelings again. He felt himself relax, just a bit, as soon as he felt their familiar tremors through their bond; they were there, just as they always were, and he knew that all was well at home. Not to mention, if something were amiss, Padmé would have called to him long ago, and she wouldn't have needed the comlink.
But somewhere, somehow… something was wrong.
Anakin sat there for another moment, quietly probing the Force that flowed so powerfully through him. Whatever it was, it was distant, elusive, and reluctant to reveal itself. He knew, as much as he hated to admit it, that he would just have to wait until the Force, in its wisdom, decided to reveal it to him.
Anakin took another long, deep breath and then, a little reluctantly, picked up his logic probe and went back to work.
The mid morning sun shone down, bathing her bare, golden shoulders with a gentle warmth as the breeze tugged lightly at her pale yellow sundress, tossing her dark, flowing curls gently around them.
Anyone who'd seen her would have thought she was asleep; she sat there completely motionless, her eyes closed, her bare feet tucked beneath her as she sat on the blanket she'd brought down into the meadow with her. Her hands were folded in her lap, and in her open palms rested a single, smooth object.
Again, anyone who'd seen her would have though she was asleep – almost anyone.
But, had that passerby been a Jedi, or one schooled in the knowledge of the Force, they would have instantly known otherwise. In every outward way, Padmé appeared to be asleep, or in some kind of trance; but in reality, she was more aware of her surrounds at this moment, more in tune with what was going on in the world around her, than most people would be with their eyes wide open.
She took a deep, slow breath, immersing herself deeper and deeper into the living Force around her. She smiled, her eyes still closed, as she suddenly sensed the small, furry animal that took a few steps out of the adjacent woods, eyeing her suspiciously. It raised its long ears and sat up on its hind legs, its nose twitching as it sniffed the air and watched the strange young woman who sat there, several dozen meters from it.
"So," Padmé whispered, the corner of her mouth curling into the hint of a grin as she watched, with unseen eyes, as the small, furry creature's life force shimmered as clearly as if she'd seen it with her own brown eyes. "So you're the little thief who's been stealing my vegetables," she whispered, realizing that she'd finally solved the riddle of the freshly dug potatoes that had been mysteriously disappearing off her back stoop for several nights before.
"It's okay, go ahead," she whispered, as she watched the little creature bound out into the meadow and toward the stream that gurgled lazily between them; it had obviously understood the message she'd willed to it through the Force, as it began to drink from the cool, clear water without a care in the world.
It always amazed her that it was the simpler creatures, the ones that had always been thought of as less intelligent, that needed no schooling in the ways of the Force. She giggled softly to herself as she watched the little animal for another moment, and then turned her attention and focus back to the gold-hued gem that rested in her hands. She took another deep breath, drawing her focus in on the stone, and immersed herself deeply into the soothing flow of the living Force.
She'd been practicing with it for some time now, and Padmé would have been the first to admit that the Mandarian meditation stone that Obi-Wan had given her had frustrated her on many occasions. While she knew full well the purpose of the stone – and how difficult it was to use it – she'd found her failure to do more than make the stone glow brightly, and move a bit on occasion to be something of a disheartening thing. But, Anakin had assured her that her perceived failures were indeed triumphs – especially for one who hadn't trained any longer than she had, and he'd encouraged her to keep trying. And, as usual, Anakin's heartfelt words of encouragement had given her just the right boost she needed, and it had been with a profound sense of determination that she'd fetched the little golden orb and brought it down to the meadow with her for her morning exercises.
Today's the day, she'd told herself, and she was bound and determined that today would be the day. This stone would sing today, and levitate – if it was the last thing she ever did.
She frowned a bit, as she searched for the stone in the Force around her. It was a confusing sensation and, though she could feel it resting in her palms, she couldn't see it. Every other object in the field around her – the grass, the rocks, the little long eared animal that still drank from the stream near her – they all gave off a vibration, left a shimmering ripple in the Force as it flowed over them.
But not this thing. It was – for all intensive purposes – damn near invisible.
Padmé took a deep breath and held it; her long, curly bangs swung loosely over her eyes as she cocked her head, her brow deeply furrowed as she delved into the Force, searched for the tiny, nearly undetectable ripple that the Mandarian mediation stone left in the living Force.
Finally. There it was.
It was faint, nothing more than a whisper in a gale, and she took a slow, measured breath as she locked her focus on that tiny tremor; she knew instantly that she'd found it, because the moment she had, a faint, three-toned note reached her ears. Though she still didn't really understand how the strange, amber-colored material reflected the Force energy she was directing at it, she knew that the pleasant, faint sound meant that she was on the right track.
It was getting louder now, and Padmé felt herself begin to let go, to let the Force guide her efforts. Though her eyes were still closed, she could see the stone now, and its ripples were growing stronger, shimmering like brilliant waves of liquid silver as they echoed through the Force.
As it rested in her open palm, the translucent golden orb began to glow; it was very faint at first, but, as the song it sang began to increase, the stone at last began to burn with a fire that came from deep within, as it responded to the Force energy its new master directed toward it.
It was no small effort; Padmé's eyes were squeezed shut tightly now, and it was taking every bit of control she could muster as she tried to 'balance the stone', as the Jedi called it. She'd been manipulating objects for some time now, yet, where a simple stone three times the size of this orb felt as light as a feather, this thing felt like a three meter slab of Durasteel. She lifted, as hard as she could, wrapping the Force energy she commanded around the small object. Come on, she thought, as her hands began to tremble slightly. Move.
Padmé felt herself jump, and her breath caught in her throat; the corner of her mouth slowly turned up into a smile as, for the first time since she'd begun to practice with it, she felt the stone suddenly leave her palm.
The little rabbit sat back up on its haunches, sniffing the air curiously as it turned its attention back to the young woman who sat across the stream from it. Somehow, it knew, as it sensed the waves of energy in the Force around it, that it had nothing to fear from this young woman, and it watched curiously as the stone's song began to fill the meadow around them.
The stone glowed with a brilliant fire within as it lifted slowly from Padmé's motionless hands, first an inch, then two, then finally came to rest about six inches from her open palms. It spun slowly, the fire within it flickering brightly as it obeyed her, responding – for the first time since Anakin had used it that day on Deyer, before they'd returned home – to the beautiful young Jedi who now commanded it.
The feeling was almost overwhelming; never before had she felt the Force so strongly. As she watched, in her mind's eye, as the stone's echo rippled through the Force around her, she was keenly aware of everything that was going on around her. Her doorway to the Force was open, fully; and, as so often happens, when a door opens...
Unexpected things sometimes come in.
She frowned, and she felt the stone bounce, its steady trill wavering, for just a second as she suddenly heard a familiar voice through the Force. Still humming, the golden, glowing orb settled slowly back down into Padmé's open palm, as shifted her focus to the troubling tremor that now had her attention...
Where is she? Where could she be?
Padmé's frown deepened, as she suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of despair and panic travel to her through the Force that she was so keenly attuned to at this moment...
Owen, I know something awful has happened. What are we going to do?
"Beru?" she said, instantly recognizing the troubled, terrified voice as she heard it call her brother-in-law's name.
She took a long, deep breath, as she felt the troubling tremor began to fade away as quickly as it had come. She opened her eyes, very slowly, watching as the fire within the stone began to fade and, as she pulled herself fully back into the mundane world around her, the fire within it flickered, along with its song, and it finally rested silently in her hand.
Padmé frowned again, deeply troubled by what she'd just felt. She was used to sensing people's feelings, as the gift of empathy was one of the Force gifts that had been bestowed up on her when the latent abilities within her had finally awakened. Yet, never before had she sensed something so clearly, from so far away.
Something was wrong, of that much she was sure. She didn't know exactly what it was, but she knew one thing, as she closed her eyes and reached deeply into the bond that bound her to her husband...
Something was wrong with Shanda, and Anakin needed to know.
Ani, something's wrong. I need to talk to you.
Anakin looked up from his work, dropping the probe onto his workbench, as he felt the fabric of the bond that bound them vibrate strongly; it was akin to a spider's web, in some ways. All it took was a pluck on one end, and the vibrations instantly travelled to the other, wherever they were in the great web of the Force. He closed his eyes, reaching deeply into that Force, as he tuned himself to that precious bond, and his soulmate on the other end.
Over the last two years, he and Padmé had truly come to appreciate the gifts that their bonding, or the Dyad, as Yoda called it, had given them. Space, time, distance... none of these mattered any longer. When their dyadic relationship had initially manifested itself, they could sense one another's feelings, and hear unspoken messages they willed to each other, almost as clearly as if they'd spoken them out loud. But, as they had practiced together, and their bond had grown stronger over the past six years, they found that they could transport themselves, through the Force, across and through these boundaries with barely an effort. One one occasion in particular, Anakin had even managed to pass Padmé's japor snippet to her through their bond, allowing it to physically cross from the ethereal realm of the Force into reality. It was something they both treasured, as it allowed them to see, hear, and touch each other at any time, and at a moment's notice. Sometimes, one traveled to the other, and sometimes, it was the other way around; yet, wherever they were, though the world around them appeared to shimmer and sparkle as they traveled through the Force to one another, to them, their life-Force was as real as if they were physically standing in the same room together.
As he opened his eyes slowly, Anakin found himself standing in the meadow behind their home, and he reached down and took Padmé's hands as he helped her up to her feet. "What's wrong, Padmé?" he asked, as she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him, tightly; he could see, and sense, that she was upset.
"Ani, I just felt something very, very troubling," she said, holding his arms tightly as she gazed up at him, worriedly. "I was practicing, with my stone," she said, nodding toward the small box that lay on the blanket behind her. "Things were going really well, and all of a sudden, I swear, I heard Beru's voice."
Anakin nodded his head slowly, his own countenance growing more concerned; he knew that, since Padmé was practicing with the meditation stone, that she would have been highly attuned to the Force at that moment. The odds that what she'd sensed was real were high, indeed. "What did you hear her say?" he asked, taking her hands tightly in his.
"She kept saying, 'where is she', and 'where could she be'," Padmé frowned, shaking her head. "Ani, I got the distinct feeling that she was talking about Shanda."
Anakin's frown deepened. "Shanda is supposed to be on a mission with Obi-Wan right now," he said. "They were due to be back early this morning."
"I don't think they made it back, Ani," Padmé said, shaking her head once more, her worried eyes searching his as she gazed into them. "I heard her ask Owen what they were going to do. I think she may be in trouble."
Anakin took a deep, thoughtful breath, and then nodded his head. "I'll have Guyton look after the shop for the afternoon," he said, giving her hands a squeeze. "I'll be home in just a bit," he paused, then nodded again. "And we'll check on them. Okay?"
"Okay," Padmé sighed, nodding her head. She smiled up at him, and then leaned up and kissed him tenderly. "Thank you," she said, very softly. "Thank you for believing me."
Anakin smiled back at her fondly, as he caressed her cheek. "Why wouldn't I believe you?" he asked, as she returned his affectionate gaze. "We're a team, remember?"
"I'll see you shortly," he nodded, and, releasing her hands, he took a step back and, smiling at her once more, he closed his eyes.
Anakin opened his eyes, and as he found himself back in his workshop once again, he took a long, deep breath, allowing the Force energy he had summoned to dissipate quietly back into the world around him, from where it had come. He stood up, quickly, and started back to the front of the shop.
"Guyton," he called, as he reached over to the wall and grabbed the keys to his speeder from the nearby hook. "Come here, buddy," he called, as he made his way through the doorway as quickly, but calmy, as he could. "I need your help with something."
Padmé opened her eyes, slowly; she gave herself a moment, as the shimmering Force energy around her began to quietly disperse. "Okay, Padmé," she sighed, doing her best to calm and center herself as the here and now began to come back into focus once more. "Easy, girl. It's okay," she whispered, nodding her head slowly as she reached over and picked up the small box beside her. She picked up her meditation stone and, turning it thoughtfully in her hands, she placed it back into the box and closed the lid.
"Anakin will be home in a little while, and then we'll get to the bottom of this," she said; she stood up and, with her free hand, picked up her blanket and flipped it over into the crook of her elbow. She closed her eyes once more and, as she took several long, slow breaths, she wiggled her bare toes down into the thick, green grass, allowing its cool, comforting feel to ground her even further. Though she and Anakin had Force-travelled, as they had come to call it, many times, it took a great deal of focus and energy, and it could still be a bit unsettling when they returned from the immaterial to the material world. Especially when they did it on such short notice, with little preparation.
Padmé opened her eyes once more, and she turned and started to walk, very slowly and casually, back to the house. "Everything is going to be okay," she nodded, and, as calmly as she could, she made her way back up to the warm, familiar home that waited on the hill just above her.
Padmé had never seen her like this; indeed, in the six years that she and Anakin had been together, since that first day when she had met her, she had rarely seen her face without its usual, radiant smile.
But that smile was gone now, and she felt her own heart ache along with Beru's, as she listened to her agonized sobs as they echoed through the cabin of their ship.
Padmé placed her hand gently on his shoulder, as she came and stood by his side; Anakin looked up at her, turning his attention away from the com station in the center of the ship's main console for a moment, and she instantly sensed what he was feeling, what he was thinking, as his eyes met hers.
It was concern that she sensed now, as she gazed into his eyes and sat down quietly beside him; she could sense the worry and compassion that tugged at his heart, as he turned his troubled eyes slowly back to the com station again, where Beru's transparent, blue-green image hung only a few centimeters above the holopad in front of them.
"Beru, I know you're upset," Anakin said, as comfortingly as he could as he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, watching his sister-in-law's image as it flickered again above the holopad. "Just try to calm down for a minute, and tell me again exactly what happened."
Padmé squeezed Anakin's shoulder gently as she watched Beru nod her head slowly, and then take a long, halting breath. "I'm sorry," Beru said, her voice catching in her throat as she reached up and wiped away the tears that tracked down her cheek. "I'm just so frightened. They've never been gone this long before."
"I know you are," Anakin said softly, as he folded his hands and rested his chin on them thoughtfully. "But we'll find them. How long did you say they've been overdue?"
"It'll be two days, at first light tomorrow morning," Beru replied, as she reached up and slowly wiped her hand across her other cheek. "They were supposed to be back early today."
"It's just not like her not to let us know they're okay, Anakin," Beru continued, turning her pain-filled eyes toward him as she spoke. "They've been late a couple of times before, but Shanda's always let us know that they're okay. Something's happened," she said, her voice trembling as she looked down at her hands as she wrung them nervously in her lap. "I know it."
"How many children were they taking on this trip?" Anakin asked, lowering his folded hands in front of him as he looked at Beru's image on the holopad intently.
"Two," Beru replied; she paused, as she took another deep, halting breath. "A little boy, about eight years old, and a girl about the same age."
"Has Andar tried to contact the pilot they were supposed to meet?" Padmé asked, as Anakin and Beru both turned their attention to her. "Has he been able to find out anything?"
"Yes," Beru replied. "And that's what makes it even worse. Andar said that the pilot told him Obi-Wan and Shanda never arrived at the rendezvous point at Anchorhead."
"Andar's as worried as we are," Beru continued, as her image flickered again on the holopad. "Something has to have happened to them, or they would have been there on time."
Anakin and Padmé both looked at each other, as Beru sat quietly for a long moment. "Anakin," she said finally, watching them as they both turned their attention back to her again, "I hate to ask so much of you, and I know that you and Padmé aren't supposed to leave Naboo right now, but…" she said, her tone growing much softer, almost apologetic, as she paused and sat quietly for another moment.
"But could you please come and look for them?" she asked, turning her pleading, pain-filled eyes back up to his again. "You're the only one who would even begin to know where to start looking."
Padmé squeezed his shoulder tightly, as she watched him close his eyes for a moment and take a long, deep breath.
"Beru," Anakin said softly, as he looked back up at her image again. "You know I want to come and help, but I can't leave Padmé and the twins here right now," he said, shaking his head slowly as he spoke. "Especially not with everything that's been going on."
"They could come with you," Beru replied, her tone growing brighter as she pleaded with him. "We've got plenty of room, you know that."
"We could do that," Padmé said softly, watching as Anakin turned his troubled eyes toward her as she squeezed his shoulder again affectionately. "Beru's right," she said with a nod, as she smiled weakly at him. "You're the only one who can go and look for them. If they try to send anyone else, or if they go themselves, then they run the risk of tipping off the bounty hunters."
"It's the bounty hunters I'm worried about," Anakin said, shaking his head slowly. "If something has happened to Obi-Wan, then there's a chance they may have found out about the children, and traced them back to Andar," he said, turning his attention back to the holopad again.
Anakin glanced up at Beru again, watching her as she turned away from the console for a moment; as she did, he reached over quickly toward the com station, and Padmé watched as, with the tap of his finger, he switched off the outgoing audio.
"Or worse yet," he whispered, as he turned his troubled eyes to Padmé again, "They may trace Shanda back to Owen and Beru. If they do, I damn sure don't want you and the twins to be anywhere near there."
"I know, but that's all the more reason for us to go," Padmé replied, watching him as he looked down and shook his head slowly. "Owen and Beru could be in danger, too. We can't just sit here and wait for something to happen to them."
"This could all just be a big misunderstanding," Padmé said, reaching down and taking Anakin's hand in hers as he looked back at her again. "It's probably nothing, and Obi-Wan and Shanda will be back before we even get a chance to get there."
"But if it isn't," she said, looking deeply into his eyes as she spoke, "then you're the only hope the two of them have," she said, shaking her head slowly as her eyes searched his. "We can't just sit here and wait, Ani," she said softly. "We've got to go and try to find them."
"You know what Master Yoda will say," Anakin sighed, nodding his head slowly. "He's not going to like this one bit."
"I know," Padmé sighed, nodding her head in agreement. "And I know you're a member of the Council now, and you can't just break rules the way you used to," she said, the corner of her mouth curling into the hint of a smile as she spoke.
"But you were going to have to contact him anyway, to talk about my trials, right?" she asked, raising her eyebrows thoughtfully as she looked back at him. "Just tell him the truth, and everything that's going on," she said. "He respects your opinion, Ani," she said, nodding her head slowly. "Just tell him what you think, and ask him what he thinks we should do."
Anakin knew she was right; he knew in his heart, just as she did, that they couldn't just sit here and hope for the best. He looked down at her hand, squeezing it tightly in his for a long moment as he took a long, thoughtful breath. "Okay," he said, nodding his head slowly as he looked back up at her again. "I'll let Master Yoda know what's going on, and tell him what we want to do."
"We'll go with what he tells us," he said, watching her as she nodded her head slowly in agreement. "If he tells us to stay put, we stay put, no arguing. Agreed?"
"Okay," Padmé nodded. "Agreed."
She watched him, as he reached over and reactivated the outgoing audio on their com signal. "Beru," Anakin said, watching her image on the holopad as it flickered again in the soft cabin light. "I'm going to contact Master Yoda and let him know what's going on. If you don't hear differently from us in say, an hour," Anakin said, as he glanced over at the time display on the ship's main computer console, "then we'll see you on Tatooine at first light. Okay?"
"Oh, thank you, Anakin," Beru said, her tone brightening significantly as she closed her eyes and sighed deeply. "I know I'm asking a lot of you, but thank you so much."
"You're family, Beru," Anakin said quietly, as he smiled up at her image on the holopad again. "You're not asking anything, and we're just as worried as you are. I just need a little time to let Master Yoda know what's going on, that's all."
"Let us know if you hear from them before we get there," Anakin said, reaching over and locking the ship's receiver onto her incoming carrier signal. "I'll keep the channel open in case you try to call. We'll be there as soon as we can, okay?"
"Okay," Beru said, nodding her head firmly. "I'll let Owen know you're coming."
"Him and only him," Anakin cautioned, his tone growing much more serious as he spoke. "Don't even tell Andar we're on our way," he said. "We'll contact him when we get there. Understood?"
"Understood," Beru said. "Thank you, Anakin. We'll see you all soon."
"See you soon, Beru," Anakin said, as he reached over and switched off the com station; he and Padmé both watched, as Beru's image flickered again, and then faded quickly from the ship's holopad.
Anakin looked up at Padmé, as she stood up from her place beside him. "We shouldn't be gone more than a day or two," she said, as she squeezed his hand tightly. "I'll go pack our stuff and get the twins ready while you contact Master Yoda."
"Okay," Anakin sighed, nodding his head slowly as he stood up slowly beside her. "Guyton and Artoo should be back any minute," Anakin said, turning his thoughtful, troubled face to hers again. "Send Artoo out to the ship as soon as he gets here. We'll need him to get the ship ready," he said, glancing around the cockpit for a long moment.
Padmé followed his gaze, as he looked around the shiny new cockpit and sighed deeply. "I guess we're long overdue for a shakedown cruise anyway," he said, looking back at her with a troubled smile. "I guess now's as good a time as any."
Padmé smiled up at him reassuringly, as she placed her hand gently on his cheek. "Don't worry, Ani," she said, as she leaned up and kissed him softly. "I'm sure it's nothing and that Obi-Wan and Shanda are both fine," she nodded. "They'll probably be home by the time we get there, and we'll just have a nice visit and be back in no time. You'll see."
"I know," he sighed, nodding his head slowly as he returned her smile and watched her, as she turned and walked quickly back through the ship toward the Destiny II's entry ramp.
She's probably right, he thought to himself, as he sat down in the pilot's chair and tapped the control pad on the com station, as he prepared to bring up the tiny Jedi master's carrier signal frequency. Obi-Wan and Shanda were probably just fine, and this was all a big misunderstanding.
Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. And he didn't like the place that nagging feeling was taking him.
The sharp edged, rusty shackles bit deeply into his wrists as the muscles of his body tensed, half in anticipation, half in response to the incredible pain as the man's huge fist slammed into his bloody cheek again, sending another explosion of stars cascading behind his eyes as his head struck the wet stone wall once again.
Obi-Wan could feel the warmth of his own blood as it mingled with the cool water that cascaded down his cheek from the continual shower that came down from the stone ceiling over his head; he slumped down against the wall, his knees buckling as his legs gave way again, and he grimaced as he felt those sharp, rusty shackles dig further into the flesh at his wrists as his full weight fell onto his arms, and the chains that bound him fast to the wall.
He blinked his eyes several times in the gloomy darkness, his breath coming in ragged, labored gasps, as he reached into the Force and tried to push back the mind numbing pain that coursed through his body. He shook his head, very weakly, as he tried to shake his soaking, matted hair from his face as he blinked back the rivulets of water that cascaded down his face and into his eyes, blurring his vision as he looked up at the two men who stood before him in the gloomy darkness.
He closed his eyes and grit his teeth hard, again, as he saw the huge, burly man draw his hand back once again, steeling himself as best he could for yet another crushing blow from the man's huge, rock hard fist.
"Enough!" he heard a dark, deep voice shout; he opened his swollen left eye very slowly, looking through the haze of water that coursed over his face, as he watched the tall, silver haired man to his left reach up and seize the huge man's fist, just as it started to crash down on him again.
"You're going to kill him, you idiot, if you keep that up," the silver haired man said, as he shoved the large man's fist away, motioning for him to step back. "He's of no use to us dead."
Obi-Wan watched, as best he could through the haze of blood, water and pain, as his enormous attacker took several steps back, and then watched in silence as the tall, slender man took several steps toward him. "And let me be perfectly clear on this," he growled, as he eyed the exhausted, badly beaten Jedi carefully for a long moment, and then turned his glaring eyes back to his associate. "If he dies, so do you."
"My apologies, master Jedi," the tall man said, as Obi-Wan looked up at him. "You'll have to forgive my associate's manners," he said, turning and gesturing toward the dark, massive silhouette that stood a short distance away. "He's a bit of a brute, and not well schooled in the social arts of hospitality," he said, looking back at Obi-Wan with a wide grin, his bright white teeth gleaming in the gloomy darkness.
"I… never would… have guessed…" Obi-Wan stammered, his breath coming in long, labored gasps as he looked up at the mysterious man's silhouette, as he tried to lift himself to his feet again.
He grimaced with pain, as he felt the shackles that bound his wrists bite hard into his flesh again as he pulled himself up by the thick chains that bound him; he groaned, loud and painfully, as he managed to stand up and, leaning back against the wet, hard stone wall, he shifted himself so that he could get a better look at the man who stood before him.
He was a tall, muscular man; his long, silver-white hair was combed neatly back over the top of his head, where it hung loosely over his broad shoulders. His sharp, green eyes looked down the bridge of his chiseled nose at Obi-Wan as the unfortunate Jedi looked up at him as he surveyed his features; he was a regal, elegant man, one who looked supremely out of place in this dark, damp dungeon where Obi-Wan now found himself.
"What have you done… with the children?" Obi-Wan panted, as he looked down and surveyed the unusual pair of blasters that hung on the belt at the man's narrow waist. "So help me," Obi-Wan growled, as he looked up through the haze of water and blood that flowed over his eyes, "if you've harmed any of them, I'll…"
"Come now, master Jedi," the man snorted, as he grinned down at Obi-Wan and surveyed him for a long moment. "We're both educated men," he said, as he reached around behind his back with one hand as he spoke. "There's no need for empty threats or displays here."
"Besides," he said, looking back at Obi-Wan with a sly grin as he held Obi-Wan's lightsaber out in front of him, watching with a keen sense of satisfaction as he watched the Jedi Knight eye it angrily. "Without this, and in your current condition, I'd dare say you don't pose too much of a threat at the moment, my friend."
"The children, and your young female associate, are fine for the moment," the man continued, reaching behind his back and securing Obi-Wan's weapon again out of sight. "I'm sure that you'll be pleased to know that they will very likely stay that way," he said, looking back at Obi-Wan as he folded his hands thoughtfully in front of him, taking another step closer to the badly beaten Jedi Knight. "As long as you cooperate."
"What is it… that you want with me?" Obi-Wan sputtered, struggling to catch his breath and shaking his head as another torrent of water flowed over him as he looked up at the mysterious man who stood before him, eyeing him carefully in the pale light.
Obi-Wan watched, as the man turned and took a few steps away from him, folding his hands behind his back thoughtfully as he walked. "I'm sure you're aware of the new Empire's edict concerning those of your kind," the man said, turning once again to face Obi-Wan again. "A Jedi, such as yourself, is a rare and valuable commodity these days, indeed."
"Especially you, Master Kenobi," he said, eyeing Obi-Wan coldly as he walked slowly toward him again. "The most sought after Jedi Knight in the galaxy," he said, his grin widening as he walked up to Obi-Wan and seized a handful of his wet, matted hair.
Obi-Wan groaned with pain, as the man jerked his head up so that he could see his face better. "Do you have any idea how big of a price the Empire has put on your head?" he said, looking back at Obi-Wan with a sinister grin. "You'll make me quite wealthy indeed, as soon as I turn you over to Lord Vader and his agents."
"Quite frankly, I don't really care what they want with you," the man said, releasing Obi-Wan's hair and turning away quickly, the sound of his boots mingling with the sounds of the water that sprayed onto the wall where Obi-Wan was bound as he paced slowly in the dark, cold cell. "I'm simply in this for the money. What I want from you, my friend," he said, "is for you to behave yourself and do as instructed."
Obi-Wan watched him, as he walked slowly across the cold, dark room again, and then turned to face him once more. "In return for your obedience," he said, taking a step closer to Obi-Wan, "I'll guarantee the safety of your young associates, at least for the time being. Is that understood?"
Obi-Wan nodded his head jerkily, sputtering as the water continued to cascade over his face. He looked up, through a blur of pain and water, watching as the mysterious, silver-haired man walked quickly toward him.
"Forgive me," he said, nonchalantly, as he leaned close to Obi-Wan, reaching around to a small compartment on the back of the Jedi Master's belt. "I almost forgot something."
Obi-Wan felt a sinking feeling deep in the pit of his stomach, as he watched the mysterious man pull a small blue disc from his belt and tuck it into his pocket. He looked up, astonished, as his eyes met the smirk on the man's face. As bad as he hated it, Obi-Wan could tell he'd been delighted by the astonished, bewildered look on his face.
"Take him back and put him in the cell with the others," he said, looking back at Obi-Wan with a grin as he gestured for the large, burly man to join him. "And remember, Master Kenobi," he said, placing his hands on the belt at his waist as he eyed his helpless captive for a long moment. "I expect you to be on your best behavior."
"It would be a dreadful shame if I were to have to punish those innocent children for your disobedience," he said, watching with a profound sense of satisfaction as Obi-Wan glared up at him, shaking his head as the continual torrent of water cascaded down his face. "Or that lovely young girl who had the misfortune of traveling with you."
Obi-Wan watched, the sick, sinking feeling that gnawed at his stomach growing ever stronger, as the mysterious man stepped out of the cell and slammed the heavy metal door hard behind him.
He cried out once more, as the painful shackles bit into his wrists yet again as his boots slipped on the wet stone floor, sending his full weight back onto the chains that bound him as he fell. He struggled to pull himself up, shaking his head hard again as the torrent of water blurred his vision again.
He was in trouble this time; no weapon, no clue where they were, and no idea who it was that had him, or what it was he was up to. He grunted again, as the large fellow jerked him unceremoniously to his feet and began to unfasten the shackles that held him to the stone wall.
This was a tight spot indeed, as tight as any that he had ever faced; and he didn't know how he was going to get out of this one.
Anakin sat quietly in the pilot's chair, his eyes and attention focused as tightly on the small, flickering hologram as his senses were to the Force around him.
"Hmm," Master Yoda mused, his blue-green image flickering as he paused for a moment; his weathered brow was deeply furrowed, and Anakin could see him turn his cane slowly in his hands – as he often did when he was worried and thoughtful.
"A troubling turn of events this is, Anakin," Yoda said, frowning deeply as he turned his eyes back up to his young friend. "How long, did you say, Obi-Wan and his apprentice have been missing?"
"Almost two days now," Anakin replied, watching as Yoda sighed deeply and hung his head once more. "Beru said they were supposed to be back yesterday morning."
"Unlikely it is, that failed to contact us, Obi-Wan would," Yoda said, shaking his head as he looked up once more.
"I know, and I agree," Anakin replied with a nod. "And Shanda's never failed to let Owen and Beru know where she was. Something must have happened to them, Master," he said, shaking his head as he watched Yoda nod slowly in agreement.
"Any clues, have you, as to where they might be?" Yoda asked.
"Beru said they were supposed to meet the transfer pilot in Anchorhead," Anakin replied, leaning back in the pilot's chair as he rolled what he knew from his conversation with his sister-in-law over in his head. "We know they made it to Mos Espa, because Shanda called her from there to let her know they'd crossed the Jundland Wastes and made it back from Andar's," he said, turning his eyes once more to the little holopad. "I guess that would be as good a place as any to start looking."
"Hmmm," Yoda sighed, shaking his head slowly. "Divided and quarrelsome, the New Council has become. Difficult it will be, with all that is happening, to convince Master Kuro and the others that a rescue is needed. Stretched thin, we are already," Yoda said, shaking his head. "To attempt a rescue, in such a dangerous place," he paused, shaking his head slowly. "Resist that, they will, unless no other option there is."
Anakin's gaze hardened, and he felt that tiny flicker of anger growing deep inside of him. "Well, to be completely honest, I don't much care for Master Kuro anyway, Master," he said, making little effort to conceal his feelings about the tall, mysterious woman who now sat on the Council with them. "She and I…" Anakin paused, taking a deep breath as he carefully chose his words. "She and I don't see eye to eye on a lot of things."
Yoda studied Anakin quietly for a moment. One thing he'd come to respect about Anakin was his open candor, and he couldn't help but smile as he realized how much like a former Senator he'd become over the last few years. He made little effort to hide his feelings and thoughts on a matter, and Yoda had come to rely on the fact that he could always count on Anakin to give him an honest, heartfelt answer – regardless of how unpopular or politically incorrect that answer might be. Just as Padmé now shared Anakin's formidable Force abilities, it seemed that Anakin now shared quite a bit of her tenacity and brashness. The door between them, it seemed, did in fact swing both ways.
"Master," Anakin sighed, glancing down at his clasped hands as he leaned forward a bit in his chair, "Beru has asked that I come to Tatooine and look for them," he said. He looked up, and then nodded his head slowly. "With your permission, I'd like to go."
Yoda took a deep, thoughtful breath, then sat quietly for a moment as he considered Anakin's request. "Troubling, it is, to consider that Obi-Wan and Shanda might have fallen into danger," he said, shaking his head slowly as he looked back up at his young friend. "And even more troubling, the thought of sending you to Tatooine at this time."
"I know, Master," Anakin replied with a nod. "But I don't know what else we can do. We have to look for them, and I'm not willing to just give them up and hope for the best. Besides, I know Tatooine even better than Master Obi-Wan," he added, obviously doing his best to present a convincing argument. "Beru knows that, that's why she called me and asked me to go and look for them. I can find them, Master," Anakin said, nodding his head confidently. "I know I can."
"Agree with her, I do, that best equipped to look for Obi-Wan and young Shanda you are," Yoda replied, turning his large, round eyes back up to Anakin once more. "But like it, I do not. A dangerous place, Tatooine is. And even more dangerous, with the Emperor's forces there."
"I know, Master," Anakin replied; he paused, and then shook his head slowly. "But we can't just abandon Obi-Wan and Shanda."
Anakin sat there quietly, watching and waiting as Yoda took another long, deep breath, then sighed deeply. "I agree. Very well – go then, to Tatooine, and attempt to ascertain quickly what has happened to Obi-Wan," he said, nodding his head. "But, unsanctioned this attempt will be," he said, waving his hand slowly. "No help, can you expect, from the Council, until proof you can find of what has happened to Obi-Wan. Only your padawan, and what you take with you, will you have to help you."
"Master," Anakin asked, folding his hands thoughtfully in front of him as he carefully considered his words. "Padmé has been preparing for her Trials, and I think she's ready," he said. "It think she was planning on staying with Beru and the children, but with your permission…"
Yoda eyed Anakin thoughtfully for a long moment; he knew what he was preparing to ask. "Many different forms, the Trials may take," he said, his large ears wiggling as he cocked his head and looked back at Anakin. "Only know you, Anakin, if your padawan is truly ready for such a mission," he said, nodding his head slowly. "Defer to your judgement, on this matter, I will. If feel you that ready she is," he said, pausing as he took a long breath and sighed deeply, "then accompany you on this mission, she will."
"Thank you, Master," he replied, nodding his head slowly. "Padmé and I will leave right away."
"Very good," Yoda replied, his small hand reaching out toward the controls of his holoprojector. "Contact me, as soon as you reach Tatooine. Go carefully," he said, nodding his head at the young Jedi Knight. "And may the Force be with you both."
Anakin watched as Yoda's image flickered for a moment, and then faded into nothingness. "May the Force be with us all, Master," he sighed quietly, as he leaned back in the Destiny II's pilot's chair. He reached over and powered down the transmitter, and he sat there for a long moment, staring quietly out of the window.
He knew what he had to do; he knew what he should do. There was only one nagging question, though, as he stood up and glanced quietly around the ship's cabin for a moment, then slowly made his was toward the back of the ship.
Would he be strong enough to do it?
"Mistress Padmé," Threepio said, turning and watching Padmé from his place beside her bed as she walked across their bedroom to Anakin's closet again, "I know that you and Master Ani are both quite knowledgeable about such things, and I certainly don't mean to question your judgment," he said, as he watched her open the closet door and glance back across the room toward him.
"But are you absolutely certain that traveling to Tatooine right now is a good idea?" he asked, his luminous yellow eyes shining brightly in the soft light of their bedroom as he watched her pick up several of Anakin's tunics and place them into the crook of her arm.
"What's the matter, Threepio?" Padmé asked, pausing and turning a puzzled, somewhat amused expression toward her electronic friend. "You don't think this is a good idea?"
"Oh, I don't mean to question your reasons for going, Mistress Padmé," Threepio said, turning slowly and watching as she walked over beside him and laid Anakin's clothes on the bed beside their travel case. "But I'm afraid that the whole notion of space travel unnerves me at the moment."
The actuator motors in the tall, slender droid's body whined smoothly as he moved; he was quite animated, more so than usual, and he watched her intently as she stood by their bed, her attention fixed on the large, brown travel case in front of her.
Padmé reached up with her free hand, sweeping her long, wavy tresses back over her shoulder, and then went back to her work. She was lovelier than ever, Anakin was fond of saying, and Threepio would have had to agree with him, though he had no real knowledge or understanding of what physical beauty actually was. The electronic mind that Anakin had given him so many years ago was quite nimble, remarkably resilient, and he understood a great many things; yet physical beauty was something that was keenly dependent on the person making the assessment of it, a fact that he had come to understand, even though he still couldn't perceive how it actually worked. The best that he could do, he thought to himself as he watched her quietly pack their clothes neatly into the case, was compare how she had appeared when he had first met her so long ago with how she appeared now, something that was quite simple for him to do, as he quickly pulled the oldest images of her from deep inside of his electronic memory.
Her appearance had changed quite a bit over the past few years, and even more so since Luke and Leia had been born. She was still quite petite and slender, much as she had always been; yet training to become a Jedi was difficult, not only from a mental and spiritual sense, but a physical one as well, and the rewards of her labor and dedication were just as evident in her appearance as they were in the strong tremor that issued forth from her into the Force around her.
She had always commanded a strong presence, from her earliest days as Queen of Naboo, and she still did; yet now, that deep, inner strength was complimented by a physical one, one that worked in perfect harmony with its inner counterpart. Her muscles and body were as toned and fit as her mind was sharp, and the many hours she had spent out in the sun training with Anakin and spending time with her children had imbued her skin with a warm, golden tan. The curl in her hair had become much more prevalent over the gradual passage of time, and its color was a bit lighter, bearing the telltale golden highlights of so many hours spent outdoors. She no longer looked like the soft, ivory skinned China doll that had worn those ceremonial robes and senate gowns so long ago; no, like Anakin, she now looked much more like the warrior that she had become, as the Force had worked its influence in her life.
Greater still, though, was the change wrought on her by what was, without a doubt, one of the strongest forces in Nature. Yoda had noticed it, almost immediately, when he had first seen her together with her newborn twins on Deyer. It was a new experience, as he had watched her tenderly care for her two tiny children, not only for Padmé, but for the venerable, aged Jedi Master as well; motherhood was something that the Jedi Order had never experienced, and Yoda would have readily admitted that even he had no idea how this foray into such uncharted territory would turn out.
They had all taken a gamble that day in Master Windu's chambers, when they had blessed Anakin and Padmé's union. Love, especially romantic love, was an extremely powerful force, one that held a sway over a heart and mind that few things could equal. That was, for the most part, the reason that the Order had passed the edict against it, and had held to it so strongly, for so many generations. It wasn't that the Order disapproved of love in and of itself; no, quite simply, they had intended to prevent ever placing a Jedi in a position of having to choose between his duty and his mate. They knew the power of love, and they understood it far better than many would have believed; even the wisest and strongest of them, were they placed in the position of making such a choice, would have found it an almost impossible decision to make.
Anakin and Padmé's love had been even stronger, and the Force, for whatever reason, had seen fit to join the two of them together in a way that, before they had seen it themselves, had only been passed down from ancient legends. Yet one thing was clear to him; the two of them were meant to be together, and Yoda had watched, with keen interest, as the Force had worked so strongly in both of their lives, as the dyadic bond between them had continued to strengthen and grow.
But even Yoda, with all of his wisdom, could never have foreseen how motherhood, and the undying love and dedication that came with it, would have affected her. Padmé had become fiercely protective, as the months had passed, of her two children, and of Anakin as well. Her life revolved around them, just as Anakin's revolved around hers; yet her fierce devotion to her family had permeated every aspect of her life, and, as her strength and oneness with the Force had grown, she had learned how to use it to her own advantage.
She had never forgotten the words that Yoda had spoken to her, that day on Dyer when she took her first steps into this strange new world as Anakin's padawan. Indeed, hardly a moment of any day passed when she wasn't aware of them, wasn't in contact with their familiar tremors that flowed so strongly through the Force. He had told her that someday, somehow, it would fall to her to protect them, and she had worked tirelessly to make sure that, when that day came, she would be ready.
Padmé looked up from the case in front of her, as she heard her droid address her again. "I think I should just prefer it you and Master Ani could find some way to avoid going to that dreadful, arid place," Threepio said, turning his nimble, electronic mind from his thoughts back to her, not making much effort to hide the tone of worry in his electronic voice. "Are you both quite certain that there's no other way to help?"
The soft smile on Padmé's lovely face widened, and Threepio watched as she raised her eyebrow and looked at him curiously. "Come on, Threepio," she said with a grin, cocking her head as she stood up straight and placed her hands on her slender hips. "You've been to Tatooine with us lots of times. You've never had any qualms about going before," she said, reaching down and picking up another of Anakin's tunics from the bed beside her. "Why so worried now?"
"I'm sorry, Miss Padmé," Threepio said apologetically, as he watched her place the dark brown tunic in the case next to her own clothes. "But with everything that's happened in recent days, and now with poor Master Kenobi and Miss Shanda missing," he said, shuffling around a bit and following Padmé with his electronic eyes as she went back to Anakin's closet again, "I'm just understandably concerned for your safety."
"Well, that's sweet of you to say, Threepio," Padmé said, as she picked up the rest of Anakin's clothes and tucked them into the crook of her arm. "But let's not jump to conclusions just yet," she sighed, as she walked back over to the bed beside him again. "We're just going to check on them, and there's a very good chance that they'll have already gotten back by the time we get there," she said, tucking the clothes in her hands neatly into the large case beside the others.
"It's just that, in light of what happened last week," Threepio said softly, taking several shuffling steps toward her as he watched her stop and look up at him thoughtfully as he spoke, "I can't help but be concerned about your safety, and Master Ani's," he said. "And the children's."
Threepio had never quite relinquished the task that Anakin had given him that night, two years ago, when he had bade him watch over her as he and Obi-Wan had departed for Coruscant. Indeed, he had taken that request to heart, or whatever internal maze of circuits and synapses comprised a droid's equivalent, and he still tended to watch over her, almost as keenly as she watched over Luke and Leia. Padmé smiled, as she looked up at him; she had grown rather fond of his doting, over-protective habits, even if they could be trying at times.
She took a deep breath, as she stood silently for a moment; her expression grew a bit more somber as she let her mind drift back to the awful news they had received only a few days ago. "I know you're worried, Threepio," she said, nodding her head slowly as she reached down and picked up another of Anakin's tunics from the bed where she had placed them.
"And what happened on Coruscant last week was a terrible, horrible tragedy," she said softly, as she ran her fingers across the soft, well-worn material, very thoughtfully, as she took a long, deep, troubled breath.
"But there was nothing that Yoda, or Anakin, or anyone else could have done to stop it," she said, turning her troubled face back to Threepio as she placed the tunic in her hands in the case and smoothed it gently with her own. She stood quietly for a long moment; Threepio watched silently, as, for just a brief moment, her usually bright and cheerful face suddenly carried a deep, heavy burden; she looked, for that instant, much like she had so many years ago, when she had carried the troubles and burdens of an entire planet on her young shoulders.
"Besides," she sighed, as she finally managed to coax the smile back onto her face and walked over to Anakin's closet again. "The Destiny II's a good ship, even better and faster than her namesake," Padmé said, as she reached over to the hook just inside Anakin's closet door and retrieved his weapon vest.
"Even with the stepped up patrols," she said, looking back at her metal friend as she walked over and laid the dark brown leather vest on their bed beside the case she'd been packing, "we should be able to get there without anyone detecting us."
"So let's not get ourselves worked up into a panic just yet, okay?" she said, smiling at him reassuringly as she reached up and placed her hand gently on his metal shoulder for a moment. "I'm sure everything's going to be just fine."
"I'm sure you're right, and I really don't mean to be a bother, Miss Padmé," Threepio said, turning his attention quickly to their bedroom door as he heard it begin to open. "And I know this sounds selfish, but… I can't help but wonder what would happen to the children if some sort of ill fortune should befall you and Master Ani."
Padmé watched him, curiously, as he paused for a moment and looked down at the floor in front of him. "Not to mention, what might become of myself and Artoo," he said quietly, as he looked back up at her.
Padmé closed her eyes and sighed, shaking her head slowly as she suddenly heard Anakin's voice behind her. "I'm not intruding, am I?" he asked, peering around the doorway as he pushed it open.
"Of course not, sweetheart," Padmé replied, her face brightening as he stepped into the room to join them. "Threepio and I were just having a conversation, that's all," she said, smiling warmly at their droid as he stood there between them. "He was just expressing his concern for our well-being," she said, exchanging a knowing glance with her husband as she watched him pat Threepio soundly on the shoulder.
"You don't have a thing to worry about, Threepio," Anakin said, as reassuringly as he could. "If you don't mind," he said, seizing an opportune moment as Threepio turned his yellow eyes up to him, "how about running down and giving Artoo a hand with the ship? He could probably use your help."
"Of course, Master Ani," Threepio chimed, standing up straight as he nodded his head firmly. "I'll see to it, right away," he said, and, nodding respectfully to his mistress once more, he turned and shuffled off down the hallway.
"How's the packing coming?" Anakin asked, watching as Padmé tucked his weapon belt neatly into their travel case.
"Good," she nodded, as he came and sat down on the bed beside her. "I've only got a few more things to pack, and we should be ready to go. What did Master Yoda say?" she asked, looking at him curiously as she sat down on the bed next to him.
"He wants us to go," Anakin nodded; he paused, then took a long deep breath and sighed deeply, his eyes searching hers. "And he wants you to come with me."
Anakin could sense the trepidation that suddenly gripped her, as she squeezed his hand tightly, then began to nod her head slowly. "This will be your first real mission," he said softly, cupping her hand tightly in his. "This isn't practice, or training," he said, shaking his head as she swallowed hard, then nodded again. "This is for real."
They sat there quietly, hand in hand, for a long time. His words had struck her like a stone, and she realized that she suddenly felt something she hadn't anticipated; for the first time since she'd begun her training over two years ago, the hard, harsh reality of just what she'd been training for hit home, and it struck with the fierceness of a white-hot saber blade.
This was for real. And so was the danger.
It took her a moment to find her voice, to push back the cold wall of fear and reality that had struck her. "I'm ready," she whispered, nodding her head as she gave his hand a gentle squeeze. So immersed, was she, in her own feelings, that it caught her off guard somewhat as she heard Anakin's reply, as soft and weak as her own.
"I'm not."
She looked back at him; the wave of trepidation and fear that she'd felt a moment before was replaced by one of concern, as she looked at his ashen, pale-white face; he was as pale as a ghost.
"Anakin, what's wrong?" she asked softly, wrapping her arm tightly around his shoulders as she sensed what he was feeling; it had overtaken him as quickly as her own feelings had overcome her. She sat there, rubbing his shoulder gently, until he finally spoke.
"Twice in my life," Anakin said finally, his voice trembling, "I've stood there, not more than ten meters from you, and watched something terrible happen to you," he said, slowly turning his face to hers again.
Padmé felt the last of the fear in her heart melt away, as she saw the pained, anguished look in her husband's eyes as they searched hers quietly as he continued. "The first time was in that Tusken camp," he said, very softly. "And the second was on that catwalk on Mustafar."
"Both times," Anakin said, hanging his head and closing his eyes again, "I was right there with you, and there wasn't anything I could do to prevent what happened to you."
Padmé squeezed his hand tightly, pulling him close as he continued. "I know you think I'm strong, Padmé," he said, shaking his head as he sat quietly beside her on the foot of the bed. "But I'm not strong enough."
"I almost lost you, twice," Anakin said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I can't lose you again," he said, turning his troubled eyes back to her again. "I'm not strong enough."
Padmé closed her eyes, as she pulled him close to her and laid her head gently on his shoulder; they both sat there silently, for a long time, holding tightly to one another, until Padmé finally spoke again.
"I guess neither one of us was as ready as we thought we were," she said softly, as she lifted her head from his shoulder and placed her hand gently on his cheek, turning his face toward hers. "I know why you're afraid, and so am I," she said, nodding her head gently as her eyes searched his.
"And I love you, so much," she said, a soft smile spreading across her face as she reached out to him with her feelings. "But we both know that this is the path we chose," she said, nodding her head as her eyes searched his. "And we chose it together, remember?"
"I know," Anakin replied, nodding his head slowly as he took her hand and closed his eyes, turning his face back down the floor again. "And I know it's time, and that you're ready, I really do."
He smiled, somewhat painfully, as he looked back up at her again. "I guess I'm just having a hard time letting go," he said softly, as he squeezed her hand tightly.
"I don't want you to let go, and you don't have too," Padmé said, as she leaned over close to him; she closed her eyes, as she kissed him tenderly on the cheek for a long moment. "I want you to hold on to me, very tightly, just like I'm going to hold on to you," she said, as she opened her eyes and looked into his deep blue eyes again. "I can't do this by myself," she said softly. "And I don't ever want to try."
"But I want to do it, Anakin," Padmé said, nodding her head firmly as she looked back at him. "I have to. It's what I've become, and what I'm supposed to be, I know that," she said, looking at him reassuringly as she squeezed his hand tightly. "It's what we're supposed to be."
"I know," Anakin said softly, nodding his head as he looked back down at the floor in front of him again. "I've known for a long time," he sighed, and he paused for another moment, sitting quietly on the bedside as he held her hand tightly in his.
Padmé smiled, as she heard him finally speak again. "I want you to promise me that you'll listen to me, and that you'll do exactly what I tell you to," he said, as he turned a resigned, serious expression to her again. "Can you do that?"
"Of course I can," Padmé replied, nodding her head firmly as she grinned back at him. "You always listened to Obi-Wan, didn't you?" she asked, smiling slyly at him as she watched him close his eyes again and shake his head slowly.
"Very funny," he chuckled, as he stood up, then pulled her up beside him. She watched him as, letting her hand slip free, he walked over to their dresser and retrieved her weapon belt and lightsaber from the drawer where she kept them.
"Let's get the rest of our things packed," he said, offering her a reassuring smile as she took her weapon from him. "We need to get going."
Anakin's boots echoed loudly through the ship's central cabin, as he walked quickly up the entry ramp; he reached the top in only a few steps, and he turned quickly and pressed the control switch on the panel near the bulkhead.
He turned and looked over his shoulder toward the cockpit, as he suddenly heard Padmé's voice call to him. "Did you find the satchel I was talking about?" she called, her voice echoing through the cabin over the smooth hum of the ramp as it closed behind him.
"Yep," Anakin called loudly, turning his attention to the control pad again as he heard the ramp close with a solid thump. He reached up and tapped the control pad again, watching as the yellow indicator flashed twice, and then lit up solid green as the ramp's locks engaged.
He shifted the heavy, bulky satchel on his shoulder as he turned and walked quickly toward the cockpit. "What in the world does she have in this thing?" he grumbled, as he wrapped his hand tightly around the thick, corded strap, turning himself carefully to make room for the sizeable satchel that hung across his back as he stepped through the narrow bulkhead doorway.
"How are we looking, Artoo?" Anakin asked, as he glanced across the large, oval-shaped cockpit to the main control terminal; he watched, as he lowered the heavy satchel from his shoulder, as Artoo began to whistle brightly, as his data probe spun the control wheels quickly.
"Artoo says that everything seems to be in order, Master Ani," Threepio said, looking back at Anakin as he stood quietly at Artoo's side. "He says that we should be ready to depart in just a few moments, as soon as the main plasma igniters complete their warmup sequence."
"Good," Anakin replied with a nod, as he placed his left hand on the ship's bulkhead and watched as Artoo swung his sensors toward him. "Go ahead and bring the engines online, as soon as the igniters are ready."
"Yes, Master Ani," Threepio replied, turning his electronic eyes to the small display in front of the little astrodroid. "If Artoo's calculations are correct, we should make orbit around Tatooine in four point seven three hours," he said, turning to look at Anakin again. "Baring any sort of problems or mishaps, of course."
"Well, let's try not to have any of those," Anakin sighed, as he turned his attention to the passenger bench beside him.
"Here," he said with a grunt, grinning down at Padmé as she knelt beside the long, thickly padded bench that ran along the anterior wall of the ship's cockpit. "Take this thing," he said, as she reached up and took it from him. "It weighs a ton. What's in it, rocks?"
"Just the essentials, Daddy, nothing more," she said, looking back at Luke and Leia with a grin as she placed the large satchel on the ship's deck beside her, and then went back to securing them into their seats.
"Sit still, Leia," Padmé said, frowning at her daughter as she wiggled and squirmed on the bench as her mother fastened the thick belt across her small lap. "You won't have to wear this long, I promise," she said, watching her daughter as she pulled on the strap that bound her to the bench and whined unhappily. "Just till we get into orbit and Daddy turns on the inertial dampers."
"You need some help?" Anakin asked, watching her as she grinned up at him.
"No, I think we've about got it now," Padmé said, as she turned her attention to the satchel he'd brought her; Anakin watched as she reached into the satchel and took out two small toys. "Here," she said, smiling softly at her two children as she handed a toy to each of them, and then kissed them both gently on their happy, beaming faces. "This should keep you two busy for a while."
Anakin looked down at his son, as he suddenly heard his small voice fill the cockpit. "We onna see Berwu?" Luke said, his eyes twinkling brightly as he looked back at his mother and squeezed the toy she had given him tightly in his small hands.
"Yes, baby, we are," Padmé laughed, reaching up and rubbing Luke's stomach playfully, as he pulled the toy in his hands to his mouth, giggling quietly to himself as he beamed back at her. "Are you looking forward to seeing Aunt Beru again?"
"Uh,huh," Luke replied, nodding his head firmly, his fine, sandy hair flopping over his eyes as he grinned up at his father. "Onna sit wif Daddy," he said suddenly, holding his arms out to his mother and turning his attention back to her again.
"Not right now, baby," Padmé replied, shaking her head gently as she glanced up at Anakin with a grin. "Daddy's got to fly the ship right now," she said, as she watched her son stick his lip out and begin to pout as he flopped back against the bench where he and his sister sat.
Anakin chuckled to himself, as he watched her lean forward and kiss him firmly on his tiny lips. "Oh, what a sad, pouty face," she said playfully, laughing quietly to herself as she watched him laugh, and then push her away.
"You can both sit with me and Mom in the pilot's seats," Anakin said, watching as his two children looked up at him from their seats as their mother checked their harnesses one last time. "As soon as we get going. I promise."
Padmé looked up at Anakin, as he extended his hand to her; she took it, squeezing it tightly as he helped her up to her feet.
"Did you get in touch with Guyton?" she asked, looking up at him curiously as she reached down and dusted off the knees of her dark brown pants.
"I did," Anakin replied, nodding his head firmly. "I told him we were going to have to go away for a few days, and he's going to keep an eye on the shop while we're gone."
"Will he be okay?" Padmé asked. "He's never had to handle it by himself before, not for more than just a few hours."
"Oh, sure, he'll do fine," Anakin replied, as he reached down and took her hand gently in his again. "We'll be back in no time, anyway."
Padmé cocked her head and looked back at him, a curious smile on her face as he looked at her, quietly, for a long moment.
"What is it?" she asked, grinning back at him as she felt him squeeze her hand tightly as he studied her silently in the cockpit's soft light.
It was the first time he had seen her new Jedi attire, or at least that he'd seen her wearing it; she had made it herself, and, though he had seen each part of it as she'd worked on them, she had steadfastly refused to let him see her try it on. She had used her old flight suit, most of the time, when they were training, and while he liked that one, he had to admit that this new uniform that she had constructed was a vast improvement.
"I like it," he grinned, as he watched her reach up and toss her neatly braided ponytail over her shoulder. "It looks good," he said, watching the bright smile that spread across her face as he nodded his head approvingly. "You did a really good job."
"Do you really like it?" she asked, as she let go of his hand and took a step back, so that he could see her better. "I tried to make it look a lot like yours," she said, looking back over her shoulder at him with a grin as she turned around slowly in front of him. "How'd I do?"
Anakin smiled, as he looked at the form-fitting, brown and black outfit that she wore; it did indeed resemble his, very much so, even down to the dark brown, black-trimmed sleeveless leather vest that covered her brown tunic and pants. Her weapon belt was fastened securely around her narrow waist, and he smiled again as he watched the hilt of her new lightsaber swing gracefully from its place on her right side.
"Hey," he said, his eyebrow lifting curiously as he suddenly saw the smaller, unusual weapon that rested snuggly in a pouch on her belt, just at the small of her back. "I see you finished the other one, too."
"Mmm,hmm," Padme nodded, as she turned round to face him again. "While you and Threepio were checking the fuel cells," she said. "I want you to check it when we get to Tatooine, though, and make sure the emitters are adjusted right."
I'm sure it's fine," Anakin replied. "You look great," he said, nodding his head again firmly as she giggled quietly to herself and bounced several times on the toes of her tall, black boots. "Masters Yoda and Obi-Wan will be impressed."
Padmé's smile softened, as she watched him take a step closer to her; she looked down and watched, as he took her hand gently in his again and pulled her close to him.
"Listen, when we were talking earlier," Anakin said softly, turning his eyes down toward the ship's deck in front of him as she looked up at him. "I want you to know that I didn't think for a moment that you weren't ready for this," he said, looking back up into her deep brown eyes as he turned a deeply apologetic face to her. "I never meant to imply that…"
"Shhh," Padmé shushed, reaching up and placing her finger gently on his lips as she stopped him in mid-sentence. "I never thought that, not for a minute," she said, as she reached up and gently caressed his cheek. "I know exactly what you were trying to say," she said, nodding her head slowly as she smiled up at him.
"And to tell you the truth," she sighed, as she grinned up at him, "I feel the same way about sending you into duty again," she said, her eyes twinkling brightly as she grinned up at him. "But at least this time I get to go with you."
"That is a definite improvement over last time," Anakin smiled, closing his eyes and sighing contentedly as she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly for a long moment.
Padmé closed her own eyes, sighing contentedly, as she felt his strong arms wrap tightly around her; she giggled quietly to herself as she suddenly heard his voice, as he pressed his cheek close to hers and whispered softly in her ear.
"I love you," Anakin whispered softly, rubbing the small of her back affectionately as he held her close. "You do know that, don't you?"
Padmé looked up at him; she placed her hand gently on his cheek again, as she looked deeply into his eyes for a long moment. "Of all the things I know in this world," she finally said, nodding her head slowly, "that's the one I'm most sure of."
They both looked over at the ship's main console, as they heard the ship's new engines begin to whine slowly as Artoo fired the injectors and brought plasma coils online. "So," Anakin said, as she turned her attention back to him again as he held her in his arms. "You want to take her out for her maiden voyage?"
"Really?" Padmé said, her face beaming brightly as she grinned up at him. "Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure," Anakin said, nodding his head firmly as he took hold of her shoulders and turned her toward the pilot's chair. "After all," he said, smiling at her slyly as she grinned back over her shoulder at him. "She's your ship, remember?"
"Our ship," Padmé corrected, as she turned the copilot's chair to the side and took a seat in it. "I just named her, remember?" she said, as he stepped up beside her and took a seat in the copilot's chair.
Anakin turned and watched as she reached over and pressed the button on the main console beside her. "Okay, Artoo," Padmé said, reaching up and pushing her bangs out of her eyes as she looked over at their little round companion. "Transfer all engine controls to the main pilot's station," she said. "And you'd probably better take a seat, too, Threepio," she said, watching as he shuffled quickly over to the bench where Luke and Leia sat, watching them quietly.
"It's been a long time," Padmé said, looking back at Anakin with a wide grin as she wrapped her hands tightly around the control yoke in front of her. "I hope I remember how to do this," she sighed, raising her eyebrows as she reached over and wrapped her right hand firmly around the ship's main throttle controls. "I guess we'll find out soon enough, huh?"
"Oh, my," Threepio said, turning and sitting down on the bench beside Luke as he felt the engines begin to whine, louder and louder, as Padmé reached over and pushed the throttle forward smoothly, bringing them quickly up to speed. "I've never really cared for space travel, Master Luke," he said, looking down at the tiny boy beside him as he fished around quickly for the safety harnesses where he sat. "Especially when your mother is at the controls."
"Engine plasma mix is at ninety three percent, and holding steady," Anakin said , as he glanced over at Padmé'. "Looks like Artoo's done his job," he said, looking over at his little round friend as he reached over and switched on the Destiny II's running lights. "Now the rest is up to you."
"Everybody hold tight," Padmé sighed, as she reached over and engaged the ship's maneuvering thrusters. "Here we go!"
The grass in the field behind the hangar began to wave excitedly, as the hot gas from the Destiny II's thrusters whipped out from the open hangar door as Padmé maneuvered the sleek, silver ship out into the open. It's flashing yellow running lights illuminated the wildly waving grass, over and over, as the ship cleared the hangar, and the bright light of the larger of Naboo's moons shone brightly on her smooth, silver hull as the ship paused for just a moment, and then began to turn slowly toward the house on the hill above it. It hung there, perfect still, for a long moment, its thrusters keeping it in perfect station as the main engines began to whine and glow brightly.
The bright yellow running lights traced the path up the hillside to their home, as the ship suddenly surged forward; their brilliant, amber glow only illuminated the roof of their now dark, quiet home for a brief instant, as it surged up the hillside and passed over it's roof, and then sped up into the clear, evening sky and disappeared into the wispy clouds high above.
For the first time in two years, the small house sat dark and silent, much as it had before they had found it and made it their home, with nothing but the soft sounds of the meadow around it filling the cool, evening air.
Our story continues shortly!...