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Post by queennaberrie on Feb 21, 2007 22:38:44 GMT -5
Chapter 16
Senate Building – Palpatine’s Office
Palpatine was sitting at his desk congratulating himself on a job well done when the holographic image of Anakin appeared before him with his dark hood covering his face. “The Separatists are taken care of, My Master.” Anakin told him, trying to put up a mental shield to prevent Palpatine from suspecting his disloyalty. Well…in a matter of speaking.
Darth Sidious got an evil grin on his face. “It is finished, then. You have restored peace and justice to the galaxy. You have done well, Lord Vader.”
“Thank you, My Master.” Anakin answered with a bow.
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Anakin, on his end of the conversation, was still standing in the control room on Mustafar as they continued their transmission. He was looking at the hologram of Darth Sidious as Sidious continued to speak. “Send a message to the ships of the Trade Federation. Tell them the Separatist leaders have been wiped out. Grievous and Dooku have been destroyed. All droid units must shut down immediately.”
“Very good, My Lord.” He responded and then the image of Sidious was gone. Whew. Anakin sighed. I don’t now how much longer I can keep up this charade.
Just then, the counsel in front of Anakin started to beep, alerting him to an approaching ship. Anakin recognized the type of ship immediately. A Jedi fighter. Thank the Force. It must be Obi-Wan. Anakin thought to himself as ran out to meet the Jedi fighter on the landing platform.
Obi-Wan flew the ship towards the landing platform and started to touch down. He looked in awe as he noticed Anakin approaching his ship with his hood down and a smile on his face. “What the…?” He’s a Sith and he’s happy to see me? I’ll have to be careful.
Obi-Wan set the ship down, causing Anakin’s cape to flap in the breeze the engines were creating. Obi-Wan then cautiously opened the canopy and climbed out of the fighter, never taking his eyes off of Anakin with a look of suspicion on his face. When he saw Anakin approaching him, he immediately unhooked his lightsaber from his belt and ignited it, causing Anakin to jump back and put his hands up as if he was trying protect himself. He then gave Obi-Wan a look of disbelief and shock. “Obi-Wan! What are you doing?” He asked him.
“The question is, Anakin. What are you doing?” Obi-Wan said as he put himself in a defensive stance, holding his lightsaber in front of him.
Anakin gave him a guilty look, still holding his hands up in front of him as they started circling each other. “I see you found the security hologram. I can explain.”
“Explain what, Anakin? Why you felt it justified to kill younglings.” He looked at him with so much hurt and disbelief. “How could you, Anakin! They were your family!”
Oh blast! He thinks I’ve really turned. “I didn’t kill any younglings, Obi-Wan. Did you actually see me killing them on the security holograms?”
Obi-Wan straightened up and lowered his lightsaber a bit. “Well…no.” He paused as he thought a moment. “But there were a lot of images deleted. How do I know that you didn’t kill them and then deleted the images to cover your tracks?” He said as he raised his lightsaber again and started circling again.
“Obi-Wan…think about it. If I had killed any of them, wouldn’t some of them been killed by a lightsaber. Did you find any killed by a lightsaber?”
Obi-Wan stopped again. “No. Actually, come to think of it, Yoda and I found none that were killed that way.” He blinked. What the blazes is he up to?
“Obi-Wan…Look. Luke and I rescued about 35 of the younglings and padawans and Luke is taking them to Tatooine as we speak. I had to delete the security holos so Sidious wouldn’t know about it, so I could buy time for them to escape and be able to stay hidden. If Sidious thinks they’re all dead, he won’t be looking for them.”
Obi-Wan stood up straight and looked at Anakin with puzzlement. “You mean to tell me that you are playing Palpatine because you are trying help Jedi to escape?”
“Yes. Also, so Padme and Leia could get away too.” Anakin answered him.
Obi-Wan looked at him suspiciously and started circling again. “How do I know this isn’t a trick of some kind? Why are you here? What did you do with Separatist leaders? Did you kill them when they were defenseless?
“No. I didn’t.” Anakin told him. “Come on. I’ll show you if you don’t believe me.” He said as he motioned his right hand towards the main control center.
Obi-Wan stopped and stared at Anakin. I want to believe him. He certainly isn’t acting very much like a Sith. “Ok.” He finally said, lowering his lightsaber a bit. “Show me.”
Anakin nodded. “This way.” He said as both men headed back into the main control room, stepping over the droids that Anakin had destroyed as they entered. He then walked over to a security counsel and pushed a button. An image of all the Separatist Leaders locked in a small room with scared looks on their faces, came up on the screen. Anakin turned to look Obi-Wan in the eye. “Do they look dead, Obi-Wan?” Anakin said as he pointed to the screen with his right hand.
Obi-Wan looked at the screen and then back at Anakin with disbelief. “No.” He didn’t turn He couldn’t have.. He thought to himself as a smile came onto his face and he extinguished his lightsaber. He threw his arms around Anakin, pulling him close in a brotherly hug. “Anakin, thank the Force. When Yoda and I found that security holo, we both thought the worst.”
Anakin patted Obi-Wan on the back, returning the embrace, and then they backed out of their hug. Both men smiled at each other. “Thank you, Master. It’s nice to know you care.” He said as they both laughed. “You know I’m really glad you found my clue on where to find me because I really have no idea what to do with the Viceroy and his entourage here.” He said pointing at the screen again.
“What do you mean?” Obi-Wan said looking at him with surprise.
“Think about it, Obi-Wan. Sidious wants them dead, so we can’t just turn them over to the Empire for a trial; and we can’t just let them go either.”
“Hmm.” Obi-Wan said as he crossed his arms in front of him and started stroking his beard with his right hand. “You have a point. We’ll have to think about this one.”
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Chancellor’s Office
Yoda entered the Chancellor’s office and, using the Force, he threw the two red guards against the wall, knocking them unconscious to the floor. Darth Sidious turned with surprise at the intrusion and turned his chair towards Yoda. Mas Amedda is standing behind Sidious's desk, watching with awe.
Yoda glared at Sidious and took a defensive stance, holding his gimer stick in front of him with both hands on top of it. “I hear a new apprentice, you have. Emperor,” He paused. “…or should I call you Darth Sidious.”
“Master Yoda, you survived.” Sidious said with a smarmy voice.
Yoda raised an eyebrow. “Surprised?”
Darth Sidious sneered. “Your arrogance blinds you, Master Yoda. Now you will experience the full power of the Dark Side.” He said as he raised his arms, sending Force lightening towards Yoda, surrounding him with it. The Force lightening caused Yoda to be thrown across the room until he hit a far wall and slid down it in a crumpled heap. Darth Sidious started to chuckle.
Mas Amedda was leaving the room as Palpatine approached a stunned Yoda. “I have waited a long time for this moment, my little green friend. At last, the Jedi are no more.”
Yoda started to stir and slowly got to his feet. He looked back at Sidious with determination. “Not if anything I have to say about it, Lord Sidious.” Yoda said as he used the Force to throw a surprised Darth Sidious back across the room knocking him head over heels across his desk on to his chair, causing it to tip over. Darth Sidious sat on the floor in a heap as Yoda continued. “At an end your rule is and not short enough it was, I must say.”
Darth Sidious gets to his feet and flies through the air, cape flapping behind him as he headed toward the exit.” Although at the last second, Yoda flew in front of him in the doorway and stopped the Dark Lord from escaping. “If so powerful you are, why leave?” He said as he ignited his green lightsaber.
Darth Sidious growled at him. “You will not stop me. Darth Vader will become more powerful than either of us.” He said as he ignited his crimson lightsaber.
“Faith in your new apprentice, misplaced may be, as is your faith in the Dark Side of the Force.” Yoda responded to him as their lightsabers clashed together, and their battle became extremely fast and furious as they spun around each other, striking with their sabers at every opportunity.
They continue fighting as Palpatine made his way to the vast senate chamber where he got into the Chancellor's Podium. It started to rise up into the Arena as Yoda made a giant leap onto the pod as well. Their lightsaber fight intensified as a result of their confined space.
Yoda continues the ferocious assault on Palpatine, which almost caused him to fall over the edge of the pod that was now high up in the air. The Dark Lord dropped his lightsaber, but recovered with as he sent Force lightening towards Yoda, but this time Yoda deflected Sidious’ assaults with this hands with the help of the Force. This caused the Force lightening to arc back onto the Sidious, making Yoda believe that perhaps the fight with the Dark Lord is at its end. “Destroy you I will, just as Master Kenobi, your apprentice will destroy.” Yoda told him.
But then Palpatine managed to escape Yoda’s attack and sent an attack of his own back at Yoda, causing him to jump to a lower Senate Pod. Sidious reached out with one hand, causing a Senate pod to come detached from its mooring and head straight towards the Podium. He then used the Force to hurl the pod at Yoda, who ducked just in time and jumped from one flying pod to another.
Yoda leaped away from the pods and then he, too, used the Force to hold one of the pods that had been sent flying at him suspended in air. He then started to spin the pod until he hurled it back at Palpatine, who leaped out of the away at the last moment.
Yoda followed him by leaping after him, but Palpatine quickly turned and aimed full Force lightening bolts directly at the little green Jedi. It caught him in mid-air and threw him back hard against the Podium, causing him to drop his lightsaber. Yoda then blocked the Force lightning again and then turned it back on Palpatine, throwing him backwards off the podium.
Palpatine then manages to knock Yoda off the Podium, who falls several hundred feet to the bottom of the Podium, losing his cape on the way down and crashing to the floor, rolling to a complete stop. Yoda groaned in pain as he lost consciousness.
Sidious tried to maneuver a pod to search for any sign of Yoda, but Yoda had already regained consciousness and was now squishing his way through a mass of wires in a small chute. He stopped and took out his comlink. “Hurry. Careful timing we will need.”
Bail Organa, who was waiting in his speeder outside, responded. “There aren't many troops on this side. Activate your homing beacon when you're ready.”
Back in the Senate Arena, several cloned troops in a pod floated up to where Mas Amedda and Palpatine were waiting in the central podium. “There is no sign of his body, sir.” The clone commander told them.
“Then he is not dead.” Mas Amedda told them.
“Double your search.” Palpatine commanded.
“Yes sir. Right away, sir.” The cloned commander said.
Palpatine turned to Mas Amedda. “Tell Captain Kagi to prepare my shuttle for immediate takeoff.”
“Yes, Master.” Mas Amedda answered him as he bowed.
Palpatine paused like he was trying to reach out into the Force. “I sense that something is not right with Lord Vader.”
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Bail Organa was cruising along in his red, open cockpit speeder. He flew along next to the huge Senate Building, homing in on Yoda’s beacon signal. He slowed and moved closer as Yoda’s signal became stronger. Suddenly, he saw Yoda fall out down from the building, landing into the passenger seat of the speeder and then Bail gunned it, heading away from the Senate Building at lightening speed.
Yoda straightened himself out and turned to Bail. “Into exile I must go. Failed, I have.” Yoda said as they flew off into the city.
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Mustafar
“You know…” Anakin said with a devilish grin on his face. “We could just take them to Tatooine with us and turn them over to the Hutts. I’m sure they would just LOVE to get their hands on them.” He said with his arms crossed in front of him.
Obi-Wan looked at him with shock. “Anakin! You wouldn’t.”
Anakin laughed. “No, I wouldn’t.” He grinned at Obi-Wan. “But I’d like to.”
“I’m sure you would.” Obi-Wan answered with a laugh. “But maybe you have something. And that’s what we should do for now.”
Anakin turned back to Obi-Wan with a start. “You mean turn them over the Hutts?”
Obi-Wan looked at him with disbelief at his naivety. “NO. Take them to Tatooine with us until we figure out what to do with them.”
Anakin laughed. “I know. I just wanted to get a rise out of you.”
“Oh, Anakin.” He grinned at his former padawan. “You never change.” And both men laughed, enjoying the camaraderie between each other.
But then Anakin became serious all of the sudden, like he was sensing something in the Force. Obi-Wan, of course, noticed Anakin’s sudden change in mood and looked at him with concern. “What’s wrong?”
Anakin looked Obi-Wan in the eye. “Palpatine is coming.”
“What!” Obi-Wan looked at him with shock. “What do you mean he’s coming?”
“He’s coming here.” Anakin said with shock, but looking up at the ceiling like he’s trying to see something that’s not there. “I sense it.” He then looked directly at Obi-Wan. “We can’t let him find us here with the Separatists still alive. I told him they were taken care of.”
“You’re right.” Obi-Wan responded and folded his arms in front of him. “Do you have a plan?”
Anakin got a smile on his face. “How good of an actor are you?” He asked his former Master.
Obi-Wan got a confused on his face. “What?”
Anakin grinned and then paused, swallowing hard. He then looked away and then back at Obi-Wan with seriousness in his voice. “We have to convince him that you killed me or we killed each other or he’ll keep hunting us.”
Obi-Wan looked at Anakin with awe, unfolding his arms and dropping to his side, thinking about what Anakin had just said. “You’re right. What do you have in mind?”
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Post by queennaberrie on Feb 21, 2007 22:39:49 GMT -5
Chapter 17
Anakin started walking across the control room. “Come on.” He motioned to Obi-Wan to follow him.
“What are we doing?” Obi-Wan asked him as he followed him, practically running to catch up with him until they were walking side-by-side down the hallway. “Are you going to let me in on this brilliant plan of yours?”
Anakin stopped in front of a door and turned to Obi-Wan, pulling his hood up over his head and unhooking his lightsaber from his belt. “The Separatists still think I’m Lord Vader and are terrified that I’m going to kill them. So…we use that to our advantage and move them to their ship, locking them in a room somewhere.”
Obi-Wan crossed his arms in front of him. “And?”
“And...” Anakin continued. “We erase all the security holos here and replace them with our own.”
“With us fighting, right?” Obi-Wan finished.
“Right.” Anakin said as he smiled from underneath his hood and then turned towards the door.
“Wait!” Obi-Wan said reaching out for Anakin’s arm with his right hand. Anakin then turned back to face him as Obi-Wan returned his arm to where it was, crossed in front of him. “If you’re suppose to be Lord Vader, then who am I?” Obi-Wan asked him out of curiosity.
Anakin paused in thought and then grinned back at his former master. “Why you’re MY apprentice and you can to call ME Master.”
“WHAT!” Obi-Wan said in shock as he started to uncrossed his arms and Anakin started to laugh. Obi-Wan then crossed his arms in front of himself again and glared mockingly at Anakin. “Oh…you think that’s funny.”
“Yes. I think so. It’s about time you find out who’s really boss around here.” Anakin told him as he continued to laugh.
“Oh really.” Obi-Wan said and then he started to laugh with Anakin. But then Obi-Wan stopped laughing and got a serious look on his face as a thought occurred to him. “Wait! How can a Sith apprentice have an apprentice?”
Anakin stopped laughing and then also became serious. “You’re right.” He paused in thought and then shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m making this up as I go along, you know. Do you have a better idea?”
“How about I’m just your friend.” Obi-Wan suggested mockingly.
“Sith don’t have friends.” Anakin retorted, now crossing his arms in front of him.
“Well…nobody’s perfect.” Obi-Wan replied with a sheepish grin.
“How about you’re my servant?” Anakin suggested with a grin.
“You’re servant? I think that’s worse than being your apprentice.” Obi-Wan came back as both men started to chuckle. “Oh…alright, Anakin. I’m you’re servant. I certainly can’t think of a better reason for me to be here.”
“Good. And that’s Master to you.” Anakin replied with a snicker as he turned back towards the door.
“Don’t push it.” Obi-Wan came back as they both laughed. “But what are you going to call me?”
Anakin turned back to Obi-Wan and paused in thought again. “How about I just call you…General Kay?”
Obi-Wan thought about it while stoking his beard. “Sounds good to me. Ok…Let’s do this.” He said as he also raised his hood over his head and unhooked his lightsaber from his belt. He then nodded to Anakin who punched in the code to open the door. Both men ignited their lightsabers and entering the room.
A collective gasp came from all of the Separatist Leaders as the two hooded Jedi entered the room and Nute Gunray nervously stepped forward. “Lord Vader, what are you going to do with us?”
“Viceroy, this is General Kay and we are going to take you to another planet until I decide what to do with you.” Anakin replied in the most evil tone he could muster. “My Master wants you dead, but I think you might become very useful to me when I decide to overthrow him.” All the Separatist Leaders looked at each other, mumbling to each other, as Anakin continued. “But…don’t think I won’t change my mind and kill you anyway.”
Obi-Wan was trying to suppress a snicker as he watched all the Separatist Leaders gasp again and huddle together in fear. Anakin is having WAY too much fun with this. He thought to himself.
“General Kay.” Anakin addressed Obi-Wan and then turned to him. “Will you please help me escort these gentlemen to their ship?”
Obi-Wan bowed to Anakin. “With pleasure, Lord Vader.” Obi-Wan responded as he turned to the Separatist Leaders. “This way.” He commanded them as he motioned them to move towards the door with his lightsaber.
“And don’t try anything.” Anakin added as all the Separatists filed out into the hallway in front of them and started down the hallway to the exit. Both Jedi smiled at each other from under their hoods.
When they reached the Separatist’s ship, Anakin walked over to Nute Gunray and grabbed him by the arm, practically dragging him to the ramp. “Now…Viceroy. The code to open the ramp, please.” Anakin told him as he glared into his eyes.
Nute looked back at him with fear. “Nute 359.”, the Viceroy said and then the ramp started to lower.
“Good.” Anakin sneered. “I knew we could get along.” He told him and then led him up the ramp as soon as it came to rest on the ground. He was still gripping Nute’s arm and holding his lightsaber in his right hand. Once inside Anakin stopped and turned to Nute again. “Now where’s the brig?” He asked him coldly.
“Um…um…On Level 3 up, My Lord.” Nute answered him with fear in his eyes.
Anakin then turned back towards the entrance and shouted to Obi-Wan. “General Kay!” Obi-Wan came to the bottom of the ramp and looked up at Anakin and Nute. “Bring the rest of the prisoners and take them to the brig. The Viceroy, here, says it’s on Level 3.” He then turned back to Nute. “And if he’s lying…you know what to do.”
“I-I’m not lying, my Lord. I swear.” Nute interjected but Anakin ignored him, keeping his gaze on Obi-Wan.
“Yes, Lord Vader.” Obi-Wan responded and bowed. He then turned to the other Separatist Leaders. “You heard him, now move!” Obi-Wan commanded and they all came up the ramp with Obi-Wan right behind them. After they had all passed Anakin and Nute Gunray, Obi-Wan stopped in front of Anakin. “Anything else, my Lord?”
Anakin pushed Nute towards the others. “Go with them.” He commanded Nute and the viceroy joined the others in a huddle. Anakin then turned to Obi-Wan and whispered to him. “Once you have them locked in the brig, come back down here and we’ll put the rest of our plan in motion. I’m going to go start deleting security holos.”
Obi-Wan bowed to Anakin. “Yes, my Lord.” He answered him with a smile and then turned back to the prisoners. “Ok, you Separatist scum. Let’s go!” Obi-Wan said as he led them down the hallway to the turbo lift.
Anakin smiled and shook his head. I think Obi-Wan is starting to enjoy this WAY too much. He then proceeded down the ramp and went over to where R2 was waiting by his Jedi fighter. “Come on, R2. I need you. This will go faster if I have you’re help.”
R2 gave an excited beep and followed Anakin into the complex.
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Emperor’s Shuttle
Emperor Palpatine was sitting in his shuttle trying to reach out to Lord Vader, but only ran into mental shields when he tried touching Anakin’s mind. How dare he shield me from his mind. What are you up to my young apprentice? He thought to himself and then turned to look at the pilot. “How much longer until we reach Mustafar, Captain?”
The captain turned around. “Less than two hours, Sir.”
“Good.” Palpatine answered. And I better find Lord Vader doing what I asked him to do or he’s going to pay dearly for disobeying me.
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Mustafar
Obi-Wan, with his hood now down, re-entered the control center and saw Anakin, who also had his hood down, sitting at the security counsel and R2 plugged into the side of it. “Were you able to delete all the security holos you don’t want Palpatine to see?”
Anakin turned to look up at Obi-Wan just as his former master came up behind him and put his right hand on the back of Anakin’s chair. “Yes. With R2’s help, it took a lot less time than at the Jedi Temple.” He said as he turned back to finish what he was doing.
“Good.” Obi-Wan responded while smiling and then became serious. “But, Anakin, I’ve been meaning to ask you. If you deleted all the security holos at the Temple, then why didn’t you disable the code warning message that said that ‘The war is over. Return to the Temple?’”
Anakin turned around again and gave Obi-Wan a guilty look. “Sorry Obi-Wan. Luke and I picked up that message on the way to the Temple and I meant to disable it, but then Palpatine showed up.”
Obi-Wan put his right hand on Anakin’s shoulder. “It’s ok, Anakin. I recalibrated it to warn all surviving Jedi to stay away. So it’s not a problem now. I was just curious.”
Anakin sighed in relief. “That’s a relief. Thank you, Obi-Wan.” He told him as he continued to set up the security holos for the next phase of the plan.
“Well, let’s just hope that Palpatine doesn’t show up before we finish what we’re doing.” Obi-Wan told him.
“I know.” Anakin said as he stood up and then turned to R2. “Thank you R2 for your help. Now go get on the Separatist’s ship and wait for us.” R2 unhooked himself from the computer counsel and gave an affirmative beep. He then happily wheeled himself towards the exit. Anakin then turned to Obi-Wan. “Ready for Phase 2?”
Obi-Wan smiled at him. “Ready whenever you are.”
“Ok. Let’s get started.” Anakin responded with a smile.
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Aldraanean Star Cruiser
“Obi-Wan, this is emergency code nine thirteen. Read me do you?” Yoda said as he tried to broadcast but static was his only reply. “Obi-Wan, read us do you?” Yoda tried again but there was still static as Yoda’s eyes started to fill with sadness.
“Perhaps he’s still in a confrontation with Anakin Skywalker.” Bail Organa suggested.
“Perhaps.” Yoda answered and then turned to look at Bail. “Or failed he has, as I have.”
But then a garbled image appeared on the holocom. “Master Yoda.” Came a garbled female voice.
Yoda turned back towards the holocom. “Master Yoda, this is.” He responded while the pilots tried to boost the signal.
“Master Yoda.” The image of Leia finally appeared on the screen. “This is Leia. Senator Amidala and I just intercepted your message. It’s good to see that you’re alive.”
“Also, glad to see you I am; and that Senator Amidala safe she is.” Yoda responded. “With you Luke is?”
“No, he went with Anakin Skywalker to the Temple to rescue as many Jedi as they could.” Leia responded. “We were all supposed to meet on Naboo.”
“Impossible that is. Saw Anakin Skywalker as Sith apprentice to Palpatine, we did.” Yoda responded. “Obi-Wan gone to face him he has. If Anakin Skywalker knows to Naboo you go, then go you should not.”
Leia looked at him in horror and got a vacant look in her eyes. “That’s impossible. He assured us that he wouldn’t turn to the Dark Side again…” She said as she trailed off and looked away with tears starting to fill her eyes.
Yoda looked at her with shock. “This you knew, Leia? And tell the Council, you did not?”
Tears started forming in her eyes as she looked back at the screen. “Yes, we knew. But we decided to talk with him in private about it.”
“Leia?” Padme’s worried voice was heard from behind her and then her image appeared next to Leia as she sat down next to her. “Did I just hear you say that Anakin has turned to the Dark Side?” She asked as tears started to flow down her cheeks. “It’s happening anyway, isn’t it?” Padme said with fear evident in her voice as she looked into her daughter’s eyes.
Leia turned to meet her mother’s eyes and put her arms around her to comfort her as Padme laid her head on her daughter’s shoulder. “I’m sure they’re mistaken, Mother.”
“Mother?” Yoda and Bail responded in unison as both sets of eyes rested on Padme’s very swollen belly.
Leia looked back up at the screen in shock at her slip and got a guilty look on her face. There’s no hiding it now. It was then that she also noticed the image of her adoptive father, Bail Organa, who was now sitting next to Yoda. This gave her a start and, not taking her eyes off of Bail, she answered their question. “Yes, I suppose there’s no denying it at this point.” Leia sighed and then continued. “Luke and I are Senator Amidala’s children.” She finally said while looking away.
“Hmm. Young Skywalker’s children too, I sense.” Yoda responded. “Now understand why wanted to talk to him in private, you did.”
Padme looked into the screen with tear-filled eyes. “Master Yoda. Are you absolutely sure?” The tears were now freely flowing down her cheeks. “Please…tell me there’s some hope that he hasn’t turned. I love Anakin with all my being. I-I can’t live without him.”
Yoda and Bail both swallowed hard and felt Padme’s pain as Leia continued to comfort her mother. “I’m sorry, Senator Amidala. No mistake there is. Saw security holo myself I did. Bowed to Palpatine and called him master he did.” Yoda answered her with a heavy heart.
Padme burst in to tears and wept on Leia’s shoulder as tears also started to come down Leia’s cheeks. “Shh. Mother.” She said, trying to comfort her mother as well as herself.” And what happened to Luke? Leia thought to herself. Father wouldn’t have killed him. He couldn’t have. She continued to cry, pulling her mother closer and as they continued to cry on each other’s shoulders.
“Sorry to tell you this, I am.” Yoda said. “But to Naboo, you should not go.”
Leia and Padme looked at the screen with tears still flowing down their cheeks. “Then where should we go then?” Leia asked.
“Oh Anakin…Why?” Padme said as she wept even more. And then, in an instant, she started to clutch her belly in pain. “Owww.” She said as she bent over, pain clearly evident across her face.
Everyone looked on in shock. “Is she going into labor?” Bail asked.
Leia looked down at her mother who was now rubbing both hands across her stomach. “Mother, are you alright?” She asked her.
“Owww.” Padme said in pain as she clutched at her belly again. “I think it’s time.” She said as she looked up at her daughter.
“The Polis Massa Medical Center, nearby it is.” Yoda responded with concern. “Meet you there we will.”
Leia looked back at the screen and shook her head. “Yes. We will meet you there.”
Padme continued to cry as she continued to hold her belly and stroking it to try to ease the pain. Anakin, I can’t live without you. Why? Why did you do it? She said to herself as she continued to weep in Leia’s embrace.
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Post by queennaberrie on Feb 21, 2007 22:41:31 GMT -5
Chapter 18
Tatooine
Luke arrived on Tatooine with no incident and decided it would be best to land the Jedi transport not far from his old home, setting it down in the shade of the rocks near the Dune Sea.
As soon as he touched down, he immediate turned on the holocom deciding that it was safe, now that they were far away from Coruscant, to try to send a coded message to his sister and mother to find out if they made it to Naboo alright.
He tuned holocom in the direction of Naboo and commenced sending the transmission. “Leia, this Luke. Can you read me?” All that met him was a blast of static. Concerned but undiscouraged, he tried again. “Leia, please come in. This is Luke.” But he was still met with static…which then began to worry him. I would think they could answer if they could.
Luke sat back in the pilot’s chair and brought his right hand up to his chin in thought. Perhaps they had to make a stop somewhere else. I’ll widen the field. He said to himself as he widened the field of his transmission and then tried again. ”Leia, this is Luke. Please come in.” Again more static…and he was starting to lose hope of them escaping capture when he heard the garbled voice of someone familiar. Luke sat back up straight in his seat.
“Master Luke?” Came a garbled voice and image of a very familiar looking gold droid. Luke boosted the signal. “Master Luke, is that you?”
“3PO!” Luke said with excitement. “Oh, thank the Force. Is Leia there?” Where are you? I couldn’t reach you on Naboo.”
“Oh dear.” 3PO responded and a feeling of dread came over Luke with the all familiar tone from 3PO that usually meant trouble. “Mistress Padme was starting to feel very ill, and we had to stop at the Polis Massa Medical Center.”
Luke looked at 3PO with shock and concern. “Ill? Is she alright? What’s going on?”
3PO tilted his head to the side. “I’m afraid I don’t understand all the specifics, Sir. I’m only trained in protocol and not very good at understanding these type of things. But she seemed to be experiencing a great amount of pain.”
Luke became worried and then sighed, knowing he wouldn’t get much more than that out of the droid. “Well, is my sister, Leia, there? Can I to talk with her.”
“No, Sir. I mean she’s not on the ship. Mistress Leia went with Mistress Padme into the Medical Center.” 3PO responded.
Luke was now beginning to become a little annoyed with the droid as his patience started to wear thin with worry. “Well, can you get her, please? I REALLY need to talk to her.”
3PO nodded in compliance. “Yes, Sir. I will get her right away.”
“Thank you, 3PO.” Luke said and then paused in thought. “Wait! Transfer this call to the medical center so she doesn’t have to come all the way out to the ship.”
3PO bowed. “Ok. I will do that, Sir.”
“Thank you 3PO…and hurry.” Luke said impatiently.
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Polis Massa-Medical Center
Within the medical center, the Polis medical droids were examining Padme within a glass domed operating room. Yoda, Bail and Leia looked on, nervously waiting for them to conclude their assessment of her condition and report it to them.
It was very clear to all of them that Padme was starting into the early stages of labor; but they were afraid that the news of her beloved Anakin turning to the Dark Side had brought it on earlier than it should. This thought troubled them all deeply; and they, especially Leia, were hoping that history wouldn’t repeat itself.
Upon finishing its examination, the medical droid came out of the operating room with a solemn air about him, a trait most often found in medical droids to give them more of a human feel when they were about to deliver sad news. The medical droid paused in front of them. “Medically, she is completely healthy. For reasons we can't explain, we are losing her.”
“She's dying?” Leia said as she put her right hand up to cover her mouth and tears started coming down her face.
The medical droid looked at Leia. “We don't know why. She has lost the will to live. We need to operate quickly if we are to save the babies.”
Yoda looked up at Leia and then turned back to the medical droid. “Save them, we must. They are our last hope.”
Leia, without even thinking, moved over to Bail and leaned up against his chest, putting her arms around him for comfort like she had done as a little girl. Of course, Bail didn’t understand the significance of this. But after hearing her story of traveling into the past and finding out that Padme was Leia’s mother, he could only feel her pain and felt the paternal urge to try to comfort her. He put his arms around her and allowed her to continued to cry on his shoulder.
But then the doors to the medical center opened and they heard the click, clacking of 3PO’s feet as he approached them. “Mistress Leia?”
They all turned to face the protocol droid and Leia took herself out of her adoptive father’s embrace and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Yes, what is it, 3PO?” She asked him, trying to regain some composure and hold back the tears of grief.
“Mistress Leia, Master Luke just called and requested that I transfer his signal here to the medical center.” 3PO told her as a smile came across her face. “He wishes to speak with you.”
“Luke? He’s ok?” Leia finally said.
“Yes, Misteress. And he seems very worried about you and Mistress Padme.” 3PO responded.
“Thank you, 3PO.” She said as she turned to the medical droid. “Where is the comm station?
“Across the hall, madam.” The droid answered her.
“Thank you. She said as she ran out of the room and across the hall to the comm station and shut the door for privacy. She quickly ran over to the counsel and flipped a switch, causing the image of her brother to appear on the screen. “Oh, Luke. You’re ok. We were so worried about you after we heard what happened with father from Master Yoda.”
Worry came across Luke’s face as he saw the tears in Leia’s eyes and at the words she expressed about their father. “Leia, what’s going on? Is Mother ok? And what happened to Father?”
Leia broke down into tears and collapsed into the chair at the counsel. But then she finally regained her composure again, so she could answer her brother’s question. “Luke…Mother is dying.” Luke gasped and tears started filling his eyes as well. “Master Yoda said he saw father kneeling before Palpatine and calling him Master. Oh Luke, he’s turned to the Dark Side anyway…and…and…Mother’s going to die because of it. It devastated her and now the medical droids are saying that she’s lost the will to live.” She started weeping again, then looked up at her brother again who had a look of disbelief on his face and was utterly speechless. “Luke, we’ve failed. Why did we even try to attempt this? I think we’ve just made things worse because we now haven’t even heard from Obi-Wan. Master Yoda said he went to face our father, Luke. He could be dead too now because of us.” She finished as she started to breakdown into tears again, covering her face with her hands.
Luke couldn’t believe his ears. How could this be? He promised us he wouldn’t turn again. But then he remembered what his father had told him before running off to buy them some time to escape. “No matter what you hear…know that I am NOT turning to the Dark Side.” Luke then started to perk up a bit at the memory with a small glimmer of hope forming in his eyes. He closed his eyes to reach out into the Force, trying to sense his father and still sensed an intense light coming form his aura. A smile came across his face and then he looked back at his sister. “He didn’t turn, Leia.”
Leia looked up at Luke abruptly. “What do you mean?”
“I sense it.” He paused. “Through the Force. Father and I both saved some younglings and padawans; and, when we reached the hanger in the Jedi Temple, father ran off to try to buy us some time to escape. He didn’t tell me exactly what he was up to, but before he left he told me, ‘No matter what you hear…know that I am NOT turning to the Dark Side.’” He paused again and sighed, looking at his sister’s now hopeful face. “You see. This is some kind of ruse. It has to be!” Luke tried to assure her.
“But Luke. Master Yoda seemed so certain and he’s a such great and powerful Jedi master. You would think he would know these things.” Leia challenged.
“But Leia, Father is very strong in the Force too.” Luke paused. “If Master Yoda was fooled, then perhaps he’s succeeding at fooling Palpatine as well.” Luke continued to smile at his sister. “Whatever he’s up to must be working, but I don’t think he counted on this happening.”
Leia looked at him with shock and then Luke heard another beep coming from his comm station.
“Leia, I’m getting another call coming in. Maybe it’s Father. Stand by.”
Leia watched eagerly, as the screen temporarily went blank, while Luke answered the other comm call.
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Tatooine
“This is Luke.” Luke responded as the images of Obi-Wan and Anakin came on the screen. “Oh thank the Force!” Luke let out a sigh of relief. “Father! Obi-Wan! You’re both alright! What’s going on?”
“What’s the matter, Luke?” Anakin said. “You look upset about something.”
Anakin listened as Luke explained the situation that Leia had revealed to him about Master Yoda believing that he had turned to the Dark Side and that his beloved wife was laying on an operating room in the Polis Massa Medical Center, possibly dying. That she believed him to be lost to her and was dying because she lost the will to live. Tears instantly came to his eyes as he began to panic. “It wasn’t supposed to happen this way.” He finally managed to say as both Luke and Obi-Wan looked on with concern. He ran his fingers through his hair. “I can’t lose her. My plan was only suppose to fool Palpatine.”
“But, Father, you couldn’t have foreseen everything that would happen as the result of your plan.” Luke tried to assure him.
Obi-Wan put his left arm around his former padawan. “Luke’s right. There’s no way you could have known this would happen.”
“But I should have known.” Anakin said as he looked at Obi-Wan with anguish. “And she could die because of my thoughtlessness.”
“All hope isn’t lost yet, Father.” Luke tried to assure him. “I have Leia standing by. She can tell Mother otherwise. I already told Leia what you had told me before we parted, so she already knows that it was all just a charade. She can assure Mother of that also.”
Anakin looked up at his son with a glint of hope his tear-filled eyes. “Yes, go. Tell her and tell her we’ll be there as fast as we can.”
“I will Father.” Luke said and then they ended their transmission. Poor Father…What anguish he must be going through. He then immediate turned his attention back to his sister’s call, pushing the button to get her back.
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Polis Massa Medical Center
Leia was sitting at the comm station with her head in her hands, covering her eyes. She was anxiously waiting to hear if the comm call Luke had received was, in fact, from their father; and this was all just a farce to fool the Emperor as Luke seemed to sense. She wanted to believe him and knew Luke had established a bond with their father. But hope started to drain from her the longer she waited. She looked again at the screen, hoping that she would hear back from him soon before it was too late and their mother died of a broken heart again.
Then the image of her brother appeared on the screen again, which caused her to sit up and anxiously wait what he had to say.
“Leia?” He said with a hopeful look on his face, which eased some of her sorrow and allowed the hope that had just drained away to gradually seep back into her being.
“Luke, who was it? Was it Father?” Leia asked him as she waited in hopeful anticipation.
Luke got a huge smile on his face. “Yes, it was and Obi-Wan is with him.” He paused. “He’s fine…They’re both fine and Father is definitely still on the Light Side of the Force.”
“Oh, Luke. That’s wonderful!” Leia said as she broke into tears of happiness.
Sadness then came over Luke as he continued to look as his sister. Leia became concerned as he began to speak again. “How is Mother? Father was extremely upset at himself when he heard of her condition. They are trying to get there as soon as possible.”
Leia sighed. “I don’t know. I’ve been in here all this time, but I’d assume she’s the same.” She paused looking down and then back up at the screen. “I would hope someone would have come get me if anything had changed for the worst.”
Luke looked down and then back up at the screen with a sense of urgency. “Well, then you better go tell her the good news!”
Leia nodded with a smile and then instantly stood up. “I will. May be the Force be with you, Luke.”
“And with you.” Luke said as they ended their transmission.
Leia frantically opened the door to the comm station and ran back across the hall to the operating room where her mother was. Yoda and Bail turned to look at Leia as they heard her re-enter the room. She looked at them with happiness on her face. “It was Luke. And Luke talked to both our father and Obi-Wan. Our father hasn’t turned to the Dark Side.” She told them abruptly, not waiting for an answer as she ran passed them and entered into the operating room.
“Right I hope she is.” Yoda said with hope in his eyes as he looked up at Bail.
Bail nodded. “Let’s hope so.”
Leia walked up to her mother’s bed and then pulled a chair up next to it. Her mother seemed to be delirious as her head started flopping back and forth and tears filled her eyes. ”Ani, no. No Ani.” She was saying out loud, not noticing her daughter’s presence.
“Mother.” Leia said as she put her left hand on her mother’s forehead. “Mother, it’s me. It’s Leia. I just spoke with Luke. Father hasn’t turned to the Dark Side. He’s coming here.”
But Padme didn’t hear her. She was in such a deep state of delirium, it brought tears to Leia’s eyes. “Ani!” Padme cried as she broke into more tears and then became unconscious.
“Mother? Mother!” Leia yelled and she stood up, almost knocking the chair over as the droids came over to examine her.
The medical droid checked her vitals as Leia anxiously looked on and then turned to Leia. “She is alive…but weak.”
Leia nodded, not taking her eyes off her mother as tears started rolling down her face. “Can I stay with her?” She asked the droid.
“She needs rest before we deliver her babies. It’s best that she isn’t disturbed.” The droid told her as it coaxed her into leaving the room.
Leia nodded and reluctantly conceded as she left the room, looking back at her mother’s still form the entire time.
As she exited the room, Bail Organa came over to her and put his arms around her again, to comfort her. “Perhaps she’ll be more responsive once your father arrives.” Bail tried to assure her.
Yoda watched the scene with tears in his eyes. Right I hope young Luke is about his father and in time Anakin Skywalker arrives. Or lose Senator Amidala we will.
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Post by queennaberrie on Feb 21, 2007 22:42:15 GMT -5
Chapter 19
Anakin and Obi-Wan had flown the Separatist ship to Polis Massa in record speed and were now on approach. Obi-Wan opened a comm channel to ask for clearance. “Polis Massa, this is Obi-Wan Kenobi requesting permission to land.”
Anakin and Obi-Wan waited somewhat impatiently as their request was being processed. “This is Polis Mass Command. Welcome Master Kenobi! We have been expecting you and Knight Skywalker. You have permission to land.” The comm operator then paused and then became grim. “Although, you better hurry. I’ve been told that they are prepping Senator Amidala for delivery of the young ones as we speak.”
“Thank you.” Obi-Wan said as he gave a concerned glance at Anakin. “I’m sure she’ll be fine, Anakin.” He told him, trying to relieve his former padawan’s fear.
Anakin turned to Obi-Wan and weakly smiled. “I sure hope so. At least, we made it here before the delivery of our children.” He paused and looked away, fighting back the tears, then turned back to Obi-Wan. “I only hope we got here in time and Leia’s news helped Padme to hang on.” Anakin answered him as they proceeded to land the ship within the hanger bay of the medical center.
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The medical droids had given Padme something to induce labor and it had already started to take effect. Bail, Yoda, Leia and 3PO looked on with worry as the droids were preparing for the delivery and could see that Padme was starting to experience quite a bit of discomfort despite the pain medication that she was also administered.
They had tried stalling for as long as they dared; but finally the medical droids insisted that they proceed now or risk losing the babies as well, something which they definitely could not allow to happen.
“Ani! Where are you? Why aren’t you with me?” They heard cry out in grief as they medical droids were starting to encourage her to push.
Bail held Leia close as they and Yoda looked on, starting to wonder if Anakin and Obi-Wan would get there in time to bring her out of the grief stricken delirium she had placed herself under.
Leia had tried many times to get through to her mother that her husband, Luke’s and her father, had not turned to the Dark Side. But her delirium continued and it was becoming apparent that the only person who might be able to bring her out of it was Anakin Skywalker himself. But, at this point, they weren’t even sure if Anakin being there would be enough to bring her out it.
Just then, Anakin, followed by Obi-Wan came running into the room. “Are we too late?” Anakin asked his startled audience. “Well?”
“Father.” Leia managed to get out as she released herself from Bail’s arms and fell into her real father’s embrace, putting her head on his chest and continuing to cry. “I tried to tell her, but she’s been delirious. I-I wasn’t able to get through to her that you haven’t turned to the Dark Side.” She managed to get out between sobs.
Anakin looked down at his daughter in anguish and kissed her on the top of the head. “I know you tried your best.” He tried to assure her.
But then they heard Padme scream again. “Ani! Where are you?”
Anakin then immediately let go of his daughter, kissing her on the cheek, and then practically ran into the operating room, dropping to his knees at the side of her bed and took Padme’s hand in both of his hands. “I’m here, Padme. I’m right here. Don’t give up on me, Angel.” He pleaded with her as a tear started flowing down his cheek and he brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it.
Padme winced from the pain again and before long the medical droid was holding a baby in its arms. “It's a boy.” The medical droid said as Anakin got up with a bittersweet smile on his face while looking at his baby son for the first time.
Anakin reached out as the droid handed him his son and he took baby Luke in his arms. “Hi there, Luke.” He said with a smile as he looked down at his son. “I’m your daddy.” He then walked over to Padme, looking at her with a smile along with another tear rolling down his cheek. “Look Padme. It’s our son, Luke. Do you see him?”
“Luke?” Padme responded with a faint smile and then struggled to touch her son’s forehead. Then, in the joy of seeing her baby son for the first time, it seemed to break her out of the delirium long enough to notice who was holding him. “Ani?” She said in shock and then smile got bigger.
“Yes, Padme. I’m here. I didn’t turn to the Dark Side.” He told her as he cradled Luke in his right arm and took Padme’s hand again in his flesh hand, caressing her hand with his thumb. “Stay with me, Padme. Don’t leave us. We need you.” He pleaded with her as he became more serious, causing more tears to come down his cheeks.
“Ani!” She said again. “Please don’t leave me.” She pleaded back to him as she winced again at the sign of their baby daughter now wanting to make her entrance into the galaxy. She grabbed Anakin’s hand tighter as she let out another scream of pain and then the droid was holding another baby.
“It’s a girl.” The droid said as Obi-Wan then entered the room with a smile on his face and took baby Leia in his arms.
“Leia.” Padme said as she smiled through tears at her baby daughter and then looked up at Anakin. “Our children are so beautiful, Ani. We’re a real family now.”
Anakin looked lovingly at his wife for a moment, who he noticed had become extremely pale from the ordeal. He then became serious and looked at the medical droid. “How is she?” He asked it cautiously.
The medical droid examined Padme and then checked her vitals. “Despite her weakened condition from giving birth to twins, her vitals are improving.” The droid responded, almost as if in surprise.
“Then she’s not dying now?” Anakin asked eagerly.
“I don’t see that happening now, Sir.” The droid answered him matter of fact.
“Ani.” Padme said as she looked up at him and Anakin turned to look down at his wife. “I love you, Anakin. I’m not leaving you. I promised you I wouldn’t die in childbirth.”
Anakin beamed and bent down with baby Luke still in his arms to kiss her lightly on the lips. He didn’t care that there were two Jedi Masters and the Senator of Alderaan watching. He backed out of the kiss and looked into her brown orbs. “I know and I promise you that I won’t ever leave you again.”
“Eh..hem.” Obi-Wan started causing both Padme and Anakin to looked at him. “So…Do these children get to call me Uncle Obi-Wan or do I have to beg?” He said with a grin as Leia started to fuss in his arms.
Anakin and Padme laughed. “I don’t think Leia likes that idea.” Anakin said with a snicker and then all three of them started to laugh.
“Who says?” The adult Leia said as she entered the room while looking at her father with a devilish smile, then turned to Obi-Wan and kissed him on the cheek. “I certainly wouldn’t mind calling him Uncle.” She told them as they all laughed and then she got a bizarre look on her face as she looked at herself as a baby. They all gave Leia a weird look and, sensing their eyes on her, she looked back up at her audience. “This is just a little weird for me.”
“It is for us too.” Anakin told her as Leia then looked over at her brother as a baby in their father’s arms. She smiled up at her father and then down at baby Luke.
“I’ll say. I just wish Luke could be here to see all this.” She said as she continued to look at little Luke. She then turned to her mother and then bent down to kiss her on the forehead. “And I’m glad that you’re ok. You had us worried there for awhile. You were quite delirious?”
Padme gave her a shocked look. “Was I?”
“Yes, you were.” Anakin answered her. “For a moment, I wasn’t even sure if you’d recognize I was here.” He told his wife as he smiled down at her and then little Luke started to fuss. “Uh oh…now he’s going to start to fuss too.”
“Maybe he wants to see his mother.” Padme said as she reached both arms up to take Luke in her arms.
Anakin gently placed baby Luke in her arms and Padme smiled down at him. Then Anakin turned to Obi-Wan who was still holding baby Leia and getting rather attached to her, cooing at her. “Um. Uncle Obi-Wan. Any way I can hold my daughter?” He asked him with a teasing smile.
Obi-Wan looked up at Anakin with a sheepish grin on his face and then his face became red. “Sure.” He said as he then handed baby Leia over to her father and Anakin took her in his arms.
“There’s my beautiful little girl.” Anakin said to her as he smiled down her and rocked her in his arms.
Leia just started shaking her head, watching both of these two Jedi making fools of themselves over the babies and then left the operating room to greet the mesmerized faces of Yoda and Senator Organa. “Oh no. Not you too?” She asked them with a smile and then they looked at her with startled looks on their faces.
Yoda then turned to look back in the operating room. “Jedi Code been broken it has.” Yoda said seriously and then turned to look at Leia with a smile. “But attachments in this case, did not lead to the Dark Side but kept Anakin Skywalker on Light Side of Force they did.” Yoda then looked down. “Will have to rethink Jedi Code on no attachments, we must.”
Leia and Bail just laughed as a weak smile formed on Yoda’s face.
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A short time later, everyone but Padme and the babies, who were all now sleeping, entered a small conference room within the medical center and sat around a large conference table. They were there to discuss what they were going to do next to keep all the young Jedi safe until the time was right to resurface. And also to discuss the problems they now face with Palpatine being the Emperor.
The seriousness of this situation as the result of their continued failures to bring Palpatine down did not escape everyone’s thoughts as they talked about what their options are, which are not many. They knew with his cloned army and any allies Palpatine has, that it will be difficult to get to him right now. Their only hope is to hide and wait until the time is right to strike back.
“It will be dangerous to keep all the Jedi padawans and younglings together.” Obi-Wan said. “We’re going to have to separate them some how.”
“Right you are, Obi-Wan.” Yoda agreed. “If in one place they are found and killed, the end of the Jedi Order it will be.”
“And we must make it appear that Padme and our children have perished as well or Palpatine will hunt them down.” Anakin told them. “I propose they we set up a mock funeral for her on Naboo and make it appear that she was still pregnant when she died. Palpatine knows of Padme’s pregnancy and of my dreams of her dying in childbirth, so this shouldn’t be too hard to convince him of.”
Leia, who had her arms folded on the table in front of her, turned to her father with concern on her face. “Has Mother agreed to this?”
Anakin looked at his daughter with returned concern. “I did discuss it with her. But she’s not too happy about it, though. She wants her family on Naboo to know what’s going on, but I think it will be too risky to let them know that she and our children are still alive?”
“Agree with you, I do?” Yoda interjected. “Less people know, better we will be.”
“Obi-Wan and I have already set things in motion for Palpatine to believe that Obi-Wan killed me, or should I say…killed Darth Vader.” Anakin said with a smile. “So that part of it is already taken care of…We hope.” They all gave Obi-Wan and Anakin suspicious looks.
“What exactly did you two do to try to convince him of that?” Leia asked them. “Can’t he sense your presence?”
“And what to the Separatist leaders, did you do?” Yoda asked.
Obi-Wan and Anakin, who were both leaning back in their chairs with their arms crossed, in front of them, just smirked at each other. “Oh, the Separatist leaders are taken care of for the moment. They’re on the ship we arrived on, locked in the brig.” Obi-Wan informed them.
“Really?” Bail asked with surprise. “How did you manage that?”
Obi-Wan and Anakin smirked at each other again and then turned to look at Bail. “Oh, we have our ways.” Anakin finally answered him.
Leia then became concerned, still not convinced that they could so easily fool Palpatine into thinking her father was dead. “Are you absolutely sure that Palpatine is going to fall for whatever you two have planned for him?” Leia asked with her arms now crossed in front of her.
Both Anakin and Obi-Wan then got serious looks on their faces and looked back at Leia. “Well…we hope so.” Anakin admitted. “Fooling Sith Lords of ones death isn’t something we do every day.”
Obi-Wan looked over at Anakin with a start. “I thought you said your plan was fool proof?”
Anakin got a guilty look on his face. “Well…I thought it was. But now I’m not so sure.”
“Why?” Bail asked.
Anakin looked at Bail. “Well…I didn’t plan on Padme thinking I turned to the Dark Side and, luckily it turned out ok…But she almost died.”
“Hmm.” Yoda said. “So now only hope the other part of your plan is successful, you do? Learned much, young Skywalker, to not underestimate the Dark Side, you have.”
Anakin and Obi-Wan just looked at each other again and then Anakin looked at Yoda. “Well, something like that.” Anakin responded. Oh Force, please let my plan work.
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Post by queennaberrie on Feb 21, 2007 22:43:12 GMT -5
Chapter 20
Mustafar
Palpatine’s shuttle landed on the platform outside the main control room complex for the mining facility on Mustafar and the ramp lowered, coming to rest on the landing platform. Where are you my young apprentice? Why don’t I sense you any more? Palpatine thought to himself as he walked down the ramp of the shuttle with two red guards not far behind.
Palpatine paused at the bottom of the ramp, looking around at the lava covered planet and thought about what had occurred on the trip there. At one point during his journey to Mustafar, Palpatine had doubled over in pain as he felt an abrupt disconnection from Vader through the Force. He couldn’t explain it. It was like Vader was there and then suddenly didn’t exist anymore. What happened here? He thought to himself as he rubbed his temples. Sidious then returned his hands to his sides and turned to the red guards. “Wait here.” He said and then turned to continue walking towards the complex.
Still reaching out with his senses and still not sensing what had occurred on this Force-saken planet, he entered the complex and walked down the hall to the main control room. When he reached the control room, Palpatine paused and looked around at the disastrous condition of the room. There are definite signs that a battle occurred here, but with whom? Of course, Vader said he had taken care of the Separatists…but I sense more occurred here afterwards.
It was then that Sidious saw a flickering screen out of the corner of his eye, coming from a consol on the side of the room. “What is that?” He said out loud as he moved closer to the flickering screen. A security consol. Of course. Perhaps the security holos will answer my questions.
Palpatine pushed a button on the consol and immediately two holographic forms appeared in front of him in the center of the large holo table. He turned to look up at them. The figures were circling each other within the control center. Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi. So the Negotiator found his padawan. He thought to himself as he continued to watch and listen to the holos.
Obi-Wan looked at Anakin with sadness. “Anakin, why are you doing this? Why have you turned on the Jedi? Killed younglings? They were and are still your family. We all care for you.” He sighed. “And I love you like a brother, Anakin.”
“Liar! You never cared for me Obi-Wan! No one at the Jedi Temple did!” Anakin yelled at his former master in rage. “And you turned Padme against me too, didn’t you? I’ve seen the way you two have been looking at each other lately. You have been conspiring against me, turning my wife against me all along.”
Obi-Wan looked at Anakin with despair and determination, as they continued to circle each other. “No, Anakin, I have not. You have done that yourself.”
“You will not take her from me!” Anakin yelled as he threw off his cloak, letting it fall to the floor.
“Your anger and your lust for power have already done that.” Obi-Wan replied as he flung his cloak to the floor as they continued to circle. “You have allowed this Dark Lord to twist your mind until now…until now you have become the very thing you swore to destroy.”
Anakin glared at Obi-Wan with contempt. “Don't lecture me, Obi-Wan. I see through the lies of the Jedi. I do not fear the Dark Side as you do. I have brought peace, justice, freedom, and security to my new Empire.”
“Your new Empire?” Obi-Wan asked in dismayed shock.
Palpatine paused the image. That little ingrate. His Empire, indeed. If I find him, I’ll show him whose Empire it really is. He’ll regret that declaration he made to Obi-Wan Kenobi. He thought to himself as he angrily pushed a button to resume the images.
Anakin sneered. “Don't make me kill you.” He said as he unhooked his lightsaber from his belt.
“Anakin, my allegiance is to the Republic…to democracy!” Obi-Wan exclaimed as they continued to circle.
“If you're not with me, you're my enemy.” Anakin answered him angrily.
Obi-Wan sighed and sadness overcame his features. “Only a Sith Lord deals in absolutes. I will do what I must.” He told Anakin as he unhooked his lightsaber from his belt and ignited it.
Anakin sneered at him again. “You will try.” He told him as he also ignited his lightsaber. He then came at Obi-Wan in a full frontal attack as their lightsabers clashed and they began to ferociously fight, parrying back and forth. Anakin used the Force to throw containers at Obi-Wan, to try to distract him, as they continued to fight there way around the control room.
Anakin then kicked Obi-Wan, sending him flying into a consol and then to the floor. The view screen on the consol exploded as Anakin came at Obi-Wan with his blue blade, but instead struck the equipment as Obi-Wan ducked and rolled out of the way. The fighting continued to be intense as Obi-Wan became on the defensive as he jumped up onto the table view screen in the center of the room.
“Don't make me destroy you, Master.” Anakin warned him. “You're no match for the Dark Side.”
“I've heard that before, Anakin…but I never thought I'd hear it from you.” Obi-Wan replied with anguish in his voice.
Anakin then jumped onto the conference table as Obi-Wan slid across the table towards Anakin, knocking him over and causing him to drop his lightsaber.. But Anakin surprised him by kicking him, as Obi-Wan tried to get back on his feet, and then Obi-Wan also lost his lightsaber as it fell to the floor. Anakin summoned his lightsaber back into his hand using the Force and got to his feet while Obi-Wan was still lying down on his back, stunned. Anakin reached over his head to deliver the final blow, but Obi-Wan regained his awareness and summoned his own lightsaber back into his hands in time to stop Anakin’s blade from coming down on him.
Obi-Wan managed to get back up to his feet after, kicking Anakin’s legs out from under him, sending him hard on his back, on top of the table. He then put his hand out and used the Force to push Anakin away as Anakin tried to get to his feet. But then Anakin also put his hand out to block Obi-Wan until the intensity of the Force between them became so great that is caused them both to be thrown away from each other, each being sent flying across the room, causing them to crash into equipment and consols.
They both shook it off and then got to their feet, coming at each other again as they battled around the room until they reached the exit that leads to a balcony. Once they disappear out the exit, Palpatine could only hear the continued sounds of sword play from outside the control room.
Sidious stopped the security holo. Perhaps I can find the images from the balcony security holocam. He thought to himself as he tried to change the images he was viewing to those of balacony holocam feed. But all he got was a lot of static and some garbled images and sounds that he could make no sense of. He then tried other holocam feeds, but all the others were the same. Blast! The feeds from the other holocams must have been damaged during the fight.
Sidious then gave up trying to find another holocam feed and went back to the one from the control room. Perhaps I can still ascertain what happened from the images on this single holocam recording.
Palpatine continued to hear the crashing of what sounded like objects flying through the air and crashing to the floor and against the walls of the facility. He also heard the hum and clash of lightsabers as the two former friends and allies continued their battle. Shouting could be heard again as Palpatine strained to hear what was being said, but he still couldn’t hear them so he turned up the volumn as far as it went. There was a slight hum emanating from the recording, but he could at least now faintly make out what the new enemies were saying.
“I have failed you, Anakin. I was never able to teach you to think.” He heard Obi-Wan tell Anakin.
“I should have known the Jedi were plotting to take over…” Anakin retorted.
“From the Sith! Anakin, Chancellor Palpatine is evil.” Obi-Wan responded.
Ugh! Jedi scum. Palpatine thought to himself as he continued to listen.
“From the Jedi point of view!” He paused. “From my point of view, the Jedi are evil.” Anakin told his former master.
Good Vader.
“Well, then you are lost!” Obi-Wan came back with sadness in his voice.
“This is the end for you, My Master. I wish it were otherwise.” Anakin’s voice could be heard telling Obi-Wan and then the sound of lightsabers hums and gravel resounded from the recording for several minutes as Palpatine became tense, not know what was going to happen next.
“It's over, Anakin. I have the high ground!” Obi-Wan shouted.
“You underestimate my power!” Anakin shouted back with arrogance.
Always the arrogant one, aren’t we?
“Don't try it!” He heard Obi-Wan warn Anakin.
The next thing Sidious heard was the slash of a lightsaber, a scream of pain from Anakin and a huge thud. A look of horror actually fell across the Sith lord’s face and then he regained his composure as he continued to listen to final outcome.
“You were the Chosen One! It was said that you would, destroy the Sith, not join them!” Obi-Wan paused. “It was you who would bring balance to the Force, not leave it in Darkness!” He heard Obi-Wan finish telling the obviously injured Anakin as Sidious continued to hear the cries of pain.
“I hate you!” Anakin screeched at Obi-Wan.
“You were my brother, Anakin. I loved you.” Obi-Wan told his former padawan with sorrow evident in his voice.
Oh, how touching. Palpatine thought to himself sarcastically as he heard more substantial screams of pain came from Anakin, causing Palpatine to start to panic a little. Vader must have been greatly injured by Obi-Wan. He will pay dearly for this.
But then he heard the screams of pain ceased abruptly and the sound of foot steps approaching the control room. He then saw a weeping Obi-Wan return to the control room and drop to his knees, with Anakin’s lightsaber in his right hand. With is still in his hands, he brought both hands up to cover his eyes. “Anakin. Why? I never wanted it to end like this.” Obi-Wan said with tears coming down his cheeks as he looked at the ceiling. “And now I’ve lost you forever, my brother.” He paused, brushing away the tears from his cheeks with the hand in which he held Anakin’s lightsaber, then got to his feet again. “Good-bye, my friend.” He said now looking around the destroyed control room and then back up at the ceiling. “I hope you will be able to find the peace in the after life that you weren’t able to find in life.”
NOOO! Vader can not be dead! I need him to complete my plans.
Palpatine then watched as Obi-Wan slowly regained his composure enough to think what to do next. He then walked over and picked up both of their cloaks, pausing to look over sadly Anakin’s cloak, and then turned to leave the control room. The security holo ended just as Obi-Wan left the room.
Palpatine turned off the security holo in shock. What happened to Vader disturbed Sidious more than he could ever imagine. But not because he cared for Vader, no. It was because he lost the Chosen One as his apprentice, which greatly diminished the power he could hold over the galaxy. It’s all that meddlesome Kenobi’s fault. Palpatine thought as his right fist came slamming down on the consol.
He then sighed and regained his composure. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Time for Plan B.. Palpatine declared to himself then reached down and flipped a switch on the consol. The face of the shuttle’s captain appeared on the screen.
“Yes, your highness.” The captain asked.
“Captain, contact Dr. Cornelius on Coruscant and tell him that we need to execute Project Montauk right away.” Palpatine sneered.
“Yes, sir.”
“And tell him…” Sidious continued. “…that I will want to see him as soon as we land on Coruscant.”
“I will, sir.”
Sidious walked out onto the balcony over looking the lava flows. I will have my apprentice…even if I have to defy the laws of physics to do it.
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Polis Massa Medical Center
Anakin entered the hospital room where Padme and the babies were still sleeping soundly. He smiled at his wife’s sleeping form as he crossed the room to where the twins’ matching bassinettes sat near the view port. Walking slowly and quietly, as to not waken them, he looked down into the bassinettes and smiled lovingly down at his and Padme’s two sleeping angels.
Looking at Luke first, he reached down into baby Luke’s bassinette with his flesh hand and put his hand gently on his son’s stomach, feeling his son’s chest expand and contract as his tiny lungs kept his breathing steady. What a little miracle he is. He then moved his hand up to his son’s blonde head and ran his hand over the top of it, through his peach fuzz blond hair. He smiled again and then bent down to kiss his son’s cheek.
Anakin stood back up as he continued to smile down as his son, but then turned his attention to the bassinette where their baby daughter, Leia, was asleep. He looked down at her with the same loving eyes that he had just given Luke and marveled at how much he could already see a lot of Padme in her features, the most distinct feature at the moment being her chocolate brown hair. He ran his flesh hand gently though her thick, soft hair and then ran his fingers down her cheek. He was bending down, also giving Leia a kiss on the cheek, when he heard Padme stir in her bed.
“Ani?” He heard Padme’s sleepy voice as he stood back up and turned to look lovingly at his wife who was giving him a sleepy smile.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.” Anakin told her as he walked over to her bed and sat down on the edge of it. He bent down and kissed her lightly on the lips, then looked into her eyes.
“You didn’t wake me, Ani.” She tried to assure him as she stared back into his sparkling blue eyes and then sighed. “I love you and I’m so happy that you made it here in time to see Luke and Leia come into the galaxy.”
“Me too. And I love you also, Padme.” Anakin replied as he sat back up, still smiling at her. “But you need your rest.” He told her as he patted her leg and stood up. “So I’ll leave you for now.”
“No.” Padme said as she reached out and grabbed his right arm. “Please stay.” She pleaded. “After all that’s happened, I’d feel better having you near me.”
Anakin smiled down at his wife again. He didn’t really want to leave his wife either. “Ok, then. I’ll stay.” He said as he sat back down on the edge of the bed. “I don’t want to leave either. I almost lost you and…” He looked away and then back at her with a smile on his face. “…but I didn’t and we’re together now…the four of us.”
Padme smiled at her husband. “Yes.” She told him as tears of joy started to fill her eyes. But then the thought of their future as a family being clouded by the events of the last day caused her to become serious. “Anakin…What are we going to do now? I understand the importance of Palpatine thinking that our baby and I died during the childbirth, but I still don’t like the idea of also deceiving my family on Naboo into believing I’m dead. I can’t do that to them, Ani.”
Anakin took his wife’s right hand in his left hand and brought it up to his lips and kissed it. “I know. I feel bad about causing your family this grief as well. But the others agree that this is the only way. The less people know, the better off everyone will be.”
Padme turned her head away on the pillow and looked at the wall, biting her lower lip. He’s right…I know he is…but how can I learn to accept this. She thought to herself and then turned her head back to look at Anakin with a tear coming down her cheek. “I understand, but I still don’t like it.” She sighed, looking down at their interlocked fingers and then back up at Anakin. “But what are we going to do after the mock funeral? Where are we going to live?”
Anakin looked down at their entwined hands and put his right hand on top of hers. He then looked back up at her. I hope she agrees with me that this is for the best.
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