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Author	Topic: Purgatory (Anakin/Padmé-AU Angst/Action/Romance) Chapter 19 *11/12
MoAngel Registered: Jul '05	Date Posted: 10/7 12:40am Subject: RE: Purgatory (Anakin/Padmé-AU Angst/Action/Romance) Chapter 16 - *10/05
	A long awaited chapter that delivered. But seriously, don't leave us dangling on the edge of this cliffie forever. You know how fast us fans can be climbing up your back, sorta like Yoda on a Wookie! BTW, your 'hell dimension' is truly chilling and endless. -----signature----- 'It's just like the Sith Lords, man, there's always only two of them' 'Did you just Star Wars us'? Booth on Fox's Bones
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penpadme Registered: Jul '06	Date Posted: 10/7 8:52pm Subject: RE: Purgatory (Anakin/Padmé-AU Angst/Action/Romance) Chapter 16 - *10/05
	I actually starting reading this on ff.net and just became captivated. I got back on this site for the first time in about a year and found this fic and read chapters 15 and 16 and just couldn't stop reading. This is very much one of the best stories I have ever read and your description of the third world was truly frightening. I can't wait to see how Padme and Anakin manage to get out of this one. For all the terror they found in this horrible place and with the Narzgh on their tail, Anakin and Padme reaffirmed their love in the midst of it and that is just fantastic. Can't wait for more. Excellent Job Helen!
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VaderLVR64 Title: Fan Fic Manager in Combat Boots Registered: Feb '04	Date Posted: 10/8 7:16pm Subject: RE: Purgatory (Anakin/Padmé-AU Angst/Action/Romance) Chapter 16 - *10/05
	EVIL EVIL cliffie in ch. 16. I think I'm only ONE chapter behind now! -----signature----- If you have to choose between tears and laughter, remember that laughter burns more calories. Army Mom! HOOAH! Adopt a soldier: http://soldiersangels.org/
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Sen_Padme_Amidala Registered: Apr '07	Date Posted: 10/10 9:24pm Subject: RE: Purgatory (Anakin/Padmé-AU Angst/Action/Romance) Chapter 16 - *10/05
	First, let me reassure you that this chapter did not feel rushed at all. It still had the quality of writting that you usually do, so call your confidence back. Again I must commend you on how you write Sidious. I don't remember who said it a while back. but I agree that you write him so well that even when he has been defeated he sounds even more dangerous when he is musing over his plans and how to learn from his mistakes. He makes me nervous though with those plans of his. Great job! (I hope that made sense) I really like how you describe the Third World. It has the mystery quality to it, but also a chilling one. shudders I am very intrigued and want to know more about it. When you wrote Anakin chasing the Narzgh, I could literally feel his desperation, determination, and fear for Padme and to get them to safety. Again, great job! I am so gald that Anakin has realized that Padme still loves him and that they were able to reconnect despite the situation they are in. This was a wonderful update, with an evil cliffie I might add, abd I can't wait for more! P.S. Thanks for the PM. -----signature----- "I am capable of keeping my mouth shut, I just don't want to" - Siri Tachi Duct tape is like the Force. It has a Dark side and a Light side, and it holds the universe together.
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ratna Registered: Mar '07	Date Posted: 10/11 10:52am Subject: RE: Purgatory (Anakin/Padmé-AU Angst/Action/Romance) Chapter 16 - *10/05
	erm ... i don't even know if i dare read further -----signature----- Ou n'a tu pas tellement aime quelqu'un que tu avais peur de l'aimer au peur des souvenirs?
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Lisbev Registered: May '08	Date Posted: 10/12 10:44am Subject: RE: Purgatory (Anakin/Padmé-AU Angst/Action/Romance) Chapter 16 - *10/05
	I’m relieved Anakin found Padmé. Their tender moment was so wonderful, just hope they’ll get out without getting too hurt. The descriptions of the third world was so very creepy and chilling, sounds like the perfect home for Sidious. Awesome as usual. -----signature----- Dutiful Padawan of Darth_Leia_6669 Forever - A/P Fluffy Vig - http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28887666/p1 OS - V/P AU - http://boards.theforce.net/a/b10476/28479731 SB - Aotc/Rots AU - http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28579788
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ROTSFan Registered: Jul '06	Date Posted: 10/13 9:00pm Subject: RE: Purgatory (Anakin/Padmé-AU Angst/Action/Romance) Chapter 16 - *10/05
	Sidious in charge of the middle world; that is so not good. How to get him out of power now? I guess the guy wasn't lying when he said he could toy with immorality. His own heart wanted to burst. Anakin tried to speak and found he couldn’t. Instead, he ducked his head to capture her lips in a kiss that was fraught with all of the feelings he couldn’t vocalise. Only when her fingers cupped and stroked his jaw did the kiss gentle, becoming soft and treasuring. This time there was no holding back or denying the urgency of need. Their breath mingled with each lingering brush of lips, relearning taste and texture. What we've been waiting for. -----signature----- Fics in profile; ask me to unlock ~I did nothing. I did absolutely nothing, and it was everything I hoped it would be." - Office Space
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LadyZ Registered: Jun '00	Date Posted: 10/14 2:38am Subject: RE: Purgatory (Anakin/Padmé-AU Angst/Action/Romance) Chapter 16 - *10/05
	Chilling, powerful update! * third world* I loved the idea that Anakin and Padme had to work together to stop the powerful Narzagh- and the game is still on! So the Good Father of Junga Roth is also manipulating the barrier- I like this idea- I was worried that someone might get the idea that the town was defeated by the enemy only because Padme had tried to save her fallen lover- and risking everything- destroyed the barrier. Now I can't wait for the next update!!! -----signature----- Proud member of Clarus' Club Sap One of Wrenga Jixton's Virtual Blondies 1. ROTS 2. AOTC 3. ESB 4. ANH 5. ROTJ 6. TPM Flash - Silence - TWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAANNNNNGGGGG
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Helen_Taft Registered: Mar '08	Date Posted: 10/14 9:34am Subject: RE: Purgatory (Anakin/Padmé-AU Angst/Action/Romance) Chapter 16 - *10/05
	AUTHOR RESPONSES randomangel22 – You’re very welcome for the PM. Thank you for the comments g. I suppose that if there is a time when it becomes impossible to hide your feelings, it is straight after a period of major angst and/or when you think you may have run out of time. FitJedi – I would be nervous too g In fact it is tough enough just writing it shudders eridani – Originally I was thinking along the lines of the atypical hell, but while trying to find a description that would be suitable for a family friendly site, hit on this instead. I’m so relieved to read that you still find it chilling. As for the moment between Anakin and Padmè, that was entirely unplanned g. I just sort of slid itself in there. I will post an update as soon as I can. Thanks for the comments! KELIA – I know I’m totally horrible for leaving it there grovels I guess I’m getting far to cliff-hanger happy. I’ll have to fix that Jedi_QueenBee – LOL we’ll have to wait and see. nabooqueen2008 – I’m sorry about the delay hangs head in shame I’ve been a little anxious myself. g Hideous Sidious is definitely an apt label. JediMasterRev – Aw! Thank you, Rev, as ever your reviews make my day. I’m so reassured to know that you found the third world chilling—I was really unsure about it, and I wasn’t kidding when I wrote that a large part of me didn’t feel like posting this chapter, so thank you so much for the reassurance all round. I’m sorry about the cliffie—I do seem to have left off a number of recent chapters with one. hides Anakins_kiss – Me too! LOL Thank you! More soon. Lady_Skywalker87 – Constantine is a really scary movie, but it wasn’t on my mind when I wrote this chapter. There version of hell was very shudder-worthy though. Thanks so much for the comments! I will honestly try to update as soon as I can! Jedi_Master_Cazz – Thank you! I’m tickled to read that Purgatory has hooked you so much. I will definitely keep writing it and will update as soon as I can. MoAngel – Hey Mo! Sorry to have taken so long. RL was being a total pain and I’m hoping for a settled period prays earnestly. Yoda on Wookiee LMAO! I definitely don’t want that. Chapter 17 is begun and I will honestly post it as soon as I can. penpadme – Hi there! Aw! Thank you so much once again for posting on both sites. I’m so glad you found us here and that you’re enjoying the story so much. It’s wonderful to know. You’ve honestly totally made my day with your review. hugs VaderLVR64 – It was a very definitely evil cliffie—sorry hun! Sen_Padme_Amidala – You’re very welcome for the PM! Thank you for a lovely review. It’s a huge relief to know that the darker elements have impact, especially since they are so important to the story (E.g Sidious and the third world). I promise there will be more on the third world is upcoming chapters. Thank you again! ratna LOL I hope you will decide to stick with it. Lisbev – Hugs you! Thanks, Lisi, it was a really, really tough chapter to write (the worst so far) and it’s great to know that it hit the right notes with you. Although, as I confessed above, the tender moment between A and P was entirely unplanned and just snuck up on me. g ROTSfan – I know Sidious is always tough to get rid of once he’s got himself some power. EEP! I’m so glad to know that you enjoyed the chapter. LadyZ – Yay! Another one who finds the third world scary—phew! I was really worried about that. I can see exactly where you’re coming from on the point of who is responsible for the barrier, but I can assure you that Padme losing it accidentally never occurred to me LOL (Darn!) Only Kidding! Thanks for the review! XX Thank you to everyone for the comments and support. I’ve had a pretty rough month and a half with RL, but I’m hoping praying that things are settled down now. Chapter seventeen is begun and will be up as fast as I can get it -----signature----- Purgatory (A/P AU) - http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28225076/ I Asked An Angel If I Could Fly (SPN) - http://boards.theforce.net/non_star_wars_fan_fiction/b10808/28873939/p1/?0
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Lord_Redav Registered: Apr '05	Date Posted: 10/18 10:04am Subject: RE: Purgatory (Anakin/Padm¨¦-AU Angst/Action/Romance) Author Replies - *10/14
	Thanks for the PM and update Helen_Taft. As for the support, it's nothing. Grabs a chocolate bar and gobbles it up Jabba-style. Besides, it was soooo well-deserved. I don't see any lack of confidence or dullness in this chapter. It's as great as ever. Seems as though the balance between DRL and fanfic has finally been regained. Alas, we rejoice!! I can a lot of love going on between Anakin and Padme, let's just hope they can survive long enough to enjoy the mush. And it seems that the cliffes you leave us with are even more evil than ever. nasty evil cliffe!
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HandmaidenVeme Registered: Jun '04	Date Posted: 10/18 8:39pm Subject: RE: Purgatory (Anakin/Padmé-AU Angst/Action/Romance) Author Replies - *10/14
	I'll just focus on the happy stuff and that is that their feelings for each other are finally known!! The other stuff will give me nightmares... -----signature----- Angel #1 the "Mischievous" one "Anakin Skywalker's Towel Girl" Team Edward!
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Helen_Taft Registered: Mar '08	Date Posted: 10/23 1:16pm Subject: RE: Purgatory (Anakin/Padmé-AU Angst/Action/Romance) Author Replies - *10/14 - Date Edited: 10/23 2:17pm (2 edits total) Edited By: Helen_Taft
	MORE AUTHOR REPLIES: Lord_Redav – You’re very welcome for the PM! I’m so glad that you enjoyed the chapter. I’m not kidding when I say it was horrible to write. Anyways, more is below and more on the way as soon as I can get it written. Thank you so much for the comments! HandmaidenVeme – LOL I know what you mean. I hope it didn’t give you nightmares. I’ve had a few real doozy’s of nightmares recently, reminding me they ain’t fun. shudders Note (1) – Once again I have to mention the movies that have been my inspiration for the third world, namely: Serenity, Event Horizon and I Am Legend. Note (2) – Also credit to LadyZ for giving me an idea in her last post following chapter sixteen g I’m sure she’ll know what I mean. Note (3) – I don’t know if powerfulforce is still reading, but that scene that I promised a way back should come to fruition in the next chapter. Chapter Seventeen “Anakin!” Anakin was keeping Padmè so close to him that he felt rather than heard her scream of warning. He looked back and what he saw in the flashlights beam went beyond a nightmare. Animated corpses with gouged-out eyes, flayed, burnt skin and howling mouths stretched wide to show their fangs filled his vision. There were more Narzgh than he could keep track of—there wasn’t an inch of surface free from the swarming demons. They had perhaps seconds before being overtaken. In the heartbeat it took to realise their danger, he also realised that their only option was to try and outrun it. Padmè needed no persuading. Adrenaline spiked, oiling muscles and pumping oxygen to smooth out already laboured breathing. Together they sprinted for the exit and the red glow that constituted daylight in this world. As they did, Anakin prayed that it wasn’t a dead end or a sheer drop. He didn’t want to even think about how many thousands of meters below them the surface of this world might be. Grimly, he thought it would probably be preferable to plunge that height to their deaths than find themselves at the mercy of demented beasts that had none. At least it would be quick and they’d likely be unconscious when they hit the ground. Fighting the Narzgh so often had meant being close enough to sometimes see into what was left of their minds, and there was no way in this hell that he was going to let that happen to either Padmè or himself … They burst through the exit and onto a crude skywalk. It was nothing like the smooth silvery skywalks of Junga Roth with their clear transparisteel canopies, but seemingly made up of the same organo-technology as the buildings and open to the elements. Racing across it, Anakin was hit with a desperate plan. He adjusted his pace to fall back, letting Padmè take the lead and ignited his lightsaber. He didn’t need to look behind him to know that the Narzgh were closing on them fast. He could almost feel their hot fetid breath on the back of his neck. Worse, now that they were outside the eerie screaming was muted and he could hear the grunts and snarls of the pursuing horde. Icy sweat slid down his spine. He had to time it right. He couldn’t be too early, and definitely not too late. Waiting until they were half way across, he spun on his heel, slashing down and around with the blue blade in a wide arc, praying that the bridge would be no more resistant to the super-heated energy that the building they’d just escaped from. It wasn’t. The blade went through without trouble. The skywalk shuddered but held. It had been a calculated risk that had luckily paid off. Still pounding after Padmè, Anakin waited until she was only a meter from the end to repeat the spinning manoeuvre, slicing into the skywalk once again. Just as the lightsaber cleared the last inches of the surreal construction, the closest Narzgh lunged, claws extended to rend cloth and flesh. Not a moment too soon a large chunk of the bridge fell away into the darker abyss below, taking hundreds of yowling demons with it and leaving a gap that would be impossible to jump. Those Narzgh not caught in the impromptu trap howled their frustration at being thwarted. Having taken care of any immediate pursuit, Anakin then sped up to catch up with Padmè. White-faced, she rose from her crouch at the end of the skywalk where she’d intended to cover him with her blaster if it proved necessary. Her grip on the pistol was so hard that her knuckles were bone-white and still failed to hide the tremors running through her. “Now what?” she asked when he stopped, panting for breath in front of her. “They’ll find another way to get at us. If there aren’t more of them in there,” she added with a jerk of her head to the second tower that was now their only possible route. Her voice was hoarse with horror and there was an underlying desperation in her dark eyes that made Anakin’s heart clutch. “I don’t know.” He wished he had a better answer for her, but he couldn’t bring himself to lie. He had to force himself not to drop eye contact and so keep hidden his own dread and uncertainty. “All we can do is keep going and find some means of getting back home.” It sounded pathetic even to his own ears…dangerously so. He wanted to make her a promise that he would find a way—the same sort of promise that he’d made so many times in the distant past, but couldn’t frame the words. Perhaps because he had made them, and never kept them. Expression stark, she nodded once, an acknowledgment of his honesty. Anakin only felt worse, because he hadn’t yet told her that he had no Force-abilities whatsoever. While they’d been searching through the alien dark for a way out he hadn’t been able to block the fear that, in a very real sense, he was less fit to protect her than the rawest recruit—whose skills wouldn’t be founded on a binding, living energy field that was completely missing—a fact that leeched away every drop of assurance no matter how hard he tried to shore it up. One galling thought kept circling his mind. He was nothing without the Force. When she turned to enter the tower first, Anakin reached out to stop her. She gave him a quizzical look that spoke volumes about her opinion of delays. Anakin opened his mouth, compelled by some nameless impulse to apologise. Once again, the words tumbled on his tongue but didn’t pass his lips. ‘Padmè, I’m so, so sorry!’ His throat closed, compressing with misery, guilt and shame. Their kiss might never have happened—he didn’t deserve even those few brief moments of joy. The way he saw it, if she hadn’t tried to rescue him from the consequences of his own evil, Padmè wouldn’t now be stuck in the third world and suffering this pitiful attempt of his to rescue her in return. A fist of fear, one of many he’d suffered over the last few days, squeezed his guts. A single Narzgh had defeated him—almost killed him—what chance did they stand against thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands? Oh yeah, that’s wonderful thinking. Very positive. Are you crazy? If you say any of that you’ll only make things worse for her. Is that what you want? Are you so ready to give up? He’d hesitated too long. Padmè frowned up at him. “What is it Anakin?” “Nothing,” he finally said, and tugged her behind him. “I’ll go first.” o~o~o Dawn in Junga Roth brought no relief from the horrors of the night to the inhabitants of the Core. The barrier that had protected them from attacks by the underworld for so long was now ensuring that their torment was unending. In a bizarre and abrupt reversal of fortune, those in the Outer Rim who had managed to evade the invading Narzgh found themselves temporarily safe under a blazing sun. The general consensus was, however, that sundown would equalise all. Many of the survivors who had crawled and scrabbled out of hiding places considered the forests outside the city the safer haven now. There was a stampede for the huge perimeter gate. It was pandemonium and the crush of vehicles and wild-eyed, panicking people, merciless. It became a battle of the biggest and strongest against the smallest and weakest, with inevitable results. In the melee, no one noticed an old man garbed in sand-coloured tunic and pants and a flowing brown cloak thread through the edges of the throng. More astonishingly, no one noticed that during the time it took to reach the last of the evacuees his hair had gone from white to reddish-blonde. The blue grey of his eyes remained sharp and intelligent, but the skin of his face smoothed to that of a much younger man. On his left, dark, brooding and impenetrable, the Core remained locked down tight, keeping victims within rather than locking them out as was usually the case. The irony wasn’t lost on Obonè, but it didn’t mitigate the horror she felt for those trapped inside. The evidence of what they would be suffering was all around her. The temple in Whores Hole was serving as an emergency clinic. Having staggered here herself after a narrow escape, she’d ended up as a draftee nurse as her injuries had been far less acute than most. She’d tended to horrific slashes and jagged, gaping bites, all the while crooning softly to her traumatised charges. They didn’t seem to notice if every now and then her voice broke. She didn’t need medical training to know that many would not make it to nightfall. Darkly, she wondered if perhaps they weren’t the lucky ones. More than once, she’d considered following the long straggling line of refugees as they headed into the forest, but found she just couldn’t do it. She couldn’t banish the knowledge that millions of her city’s citizens were facing an unspeakable ordeal. Hellish stories were already circulating of cannibalism, torture, rape and mutilation glimpsed by those fortunate enough to escape to the Outer Rim before it was sealed off and all communication ceased. Obonè had seen a few transmissions herself that would forever give her nightmares. Bile spat up into her mouth as she remembered what had happened to Selona Vere right in front of the camera—dragged out of sight and leaving only a frozen background image of the city under attack, the reporter’s frenzied screams had sounded barely human, as if they were being ripped from her throat. The third world had truly been unleashed upon Junga Roth. Obonè knew that she wasn’t the only one wondering how long it would be before it was their turn. They had nowhere to go and no refuge to seek. Help was gone. Padmè and her Jedi were gone … everyone was suffering and dying. The part of her that was worn down and grieving wondered what would be the point of leaving. It was over anyway. Or soon would be. Numbly, she lifted a sheet and draped it over the blank, slack face of the last in a long line of patients who had been broken in ways that no creature should ever experience. Once the body was decently covered, she braced her hands on the side of the gurney, letting her bare, bald head bow as if under a great weight. Minutes later, she still hadn’t moved when she caught the tell-tale soft scrape of footfalls behind her. She didn’t raise her head or turn to see who it was. “A few of us think its past time to start planning what we do next,” said a female voice. “As the only member of the council left we reckon you ought to have some say in it.” More footfalls, more people. As the only member of the council left. The words were like knives in her heart. All the others were gone or captured. All of her friends and colleagues were likely dead. Along with some she truly cared for—her family— Saber and Padmè. Pain spasmed and along with it Obonè felt a bone-deep exhaustion drop over her like a ton of ferrocrete. Still, she kept her head bowed and eyes closed, if for no other reason than to hide the bleakness she felt. When she spoke her tone was carefully civil—too careful. “Thank you for thinking of me, Jazz but I don’t have anything useful to add. You all go ahead.” Tiredly, she lifted her head enough to gesture at the rows and rows of injured being tended to by overwhelmed and inexperienced carers. “As you see, I have more than enough to keep me busy here.” “The dying are pretty much dead and the injured are slowing to trickle with most folks heading for the forest,” reasoned a deep male voice. “Personally, I’m not much of a tree lover and I figure the same goes for you, Councillor or you wouldn’t be here. You were in Skywalker’s inner circle, we need your input.” It was the wrong button to push. She saw red. “Well that just too bad because I’ve got nothing to say.” Whipping around, she finally faced Jester and his bounty hunters, throwing up an arm so sharply a few of those seasoned hunters took a backwards step. “Except to point out that we may have brought this on.” That possibility had been eating at her for hours and it all came pouring out now. With fire in her eyes and her face twisted with self-recrimination she raged on. “Have you considered that in messing with the city’s security we paved the way? I knew that plan was plain crazy, but I agreed to it anyway. Maybe we triggered something we shouldn’t have done.” Her chest was heaving. Guilt closed in on her. Eyeballing the Besalisk, she didn’t see a stranger join the group. “What if it was us who shut down the barrier—?” Hands fisted, she cut off the last because she couldn’t bear to finish. Those close enough to have overheard stopped what they were doing, frozen at what they were hearing. Even the air inside the old temple seemed to hold its breath. Into this silence, the stranger spoke and his voice carried easily. “You had nothing to do with the barrier ceasing to operate or the Narzgh attack. You were betrayed by Petris Lyonides. He, along with a one-time Sith Lord called Darth Sidious, planned it all.” o~o~o Lyonides couldn’t bear to look, think or feel. The Premier of Junga Roth was sitting completely naked in an armchair in his luxuriously appointed apartment. He also couldn’t bear to wear any clothing, all felt tainted by the putrid stink of what was going on all around his city. In the last few hours he’d taken so many showers that his skin was raw and still he felt…abominable. Every single source of light in the apartment was set on maximum power and the window screens were on full black-out mode, blocking the view. Lyonides couldn’t block out the sound though, not when some of it was coming from his holotranceiver. On his knees, Natar was pleading incoherently. His colourless eyes were bugging out with terror and sweat dripped down his face to darken the neck of his already sodden robes. “You have to help me. They took my men. I barely got away. You said...you never said…you promised. They’re here. You can’t leave me like this. Why do they want me? You must have told them not me? I don’t understand this…” If possible his voice went an even higher pitch and his eyes were all but wheeling in his head. The pleading morphed to hysterical demand. …I’ve dedicated my career to you. The things I’ve done have all been for you. I helped you shore up your power. I helped you kill your father. You owe me! Lyonides’ blank expression didn’t change. “They’re trying to get in right now. I can’t get them to understand that they should leave me alone—that I’m not like the others.” A noise to the right of the recording made Natar jerk his head around to stare with absolute terror at something out of range of the holocam. “They’re almost through. You need to call them off. Call them off. Call them off NOW! That was the last clear word out of Natar’s mouth. The rest were garbled, petrified screams of denial and strangled pleading for mercy. Lyonides’ fingers twitched spasmodically where they rested on the armrest, but he otherwise showed no reaction to the unspeakable images playing out in front of his reddened and sunken gaze. When it was finally over, he permitted himself to shut those same eyes, if only to lessen the sensation of them having been skewered. It didn’t help. The flashbacks that ran across the back of eyelids were so full of perversion and horror that mere seconds passed before he jerked them open again. He wanted to get drunk, but even the desire for insensibility couldn’t overcome self-preservation. It was the same sense of self-survival at all costs that had induced him to form an arrangement with Sidious, and he felt its effects no less now. It couldn’t matter that he hadn’t realised just how bad it would be, that this new deal would be so much worse than the first. Lyonides had realised long ago that he’d gone too far to change his mind—that his very life depended on serving and pleasing a demonised galactic emperor. That realisation had turned him into a true servant of darkness. Everything he’d done, and was still willing to do, boiled down to a single unassailable fact—one thing terrified him more than any Narzgh, and that was dying. Fear closed his throat and his mind skittered away from such thoughts. Madness was preferable and, sitting naked and isolated, he welcomed the insanity brewing in his brain. Purposefully, he activated the playback function and watched Natar’s last few minutes all over again. o~o~o Padmè’s skin was crawling. She tried to tell herself that the sensation of being watched was just her mind playing tricks on her. On the plus side, if it could be called that, was her certainty that a Narzgh wouldn’t just sit back and watch their prey from a distance. Such restraint was beyond them. Still the feeling persisted. Anakin’s confession about not being able to feel the Force here hadn’t helped. That had been a blow of truly galactic proportions and his tortured expression when he told her had given her a glimpse of how lost he felt without it. Feeling panic rise at that line of thought, Padmè forced her mind back to the present. The flashlight beam continued to light their way and so far they’d managed to avoid dead-ends, meaning the building wasn’t screaming. In fact, it was eerily quiet. So quiet that it would have been silent if not for their breathing and steady jogging. It wasn’t the only difference between this and other parts of this surreal and nightmarish city. Padmè could feel that there were differences, she just couldn’t pinpoint what those differences might be. It was colder, but she might even be imagining that. She only knew that she was even more spooked than ever. “Anakin.” “What?” He kept his voice as hushed as hers. “I’m not complaining, but don’t you think it’s odd that we haven’t encountered any more Narzgh?” “Very,” he conceded shortly, confirming that he felt equally as uneasy. For some reason the bottom fell out of Padmè’s stomach. “We haven’t seen one for over an hour. I thought our luck had run out back in that second tower—they had us surrounded and then they just disappeared, falling back without rhyme or reason.” She hated not knowing why. “It’s as if something or someone scared them off.” Having spoken it out-loud, Padmè realised that she desperately wanted Anakin to tell her that she’d imagined it, that such a scenario was ridiculous—to joke about what could possibly scare a horde of demons. “I got the same impression, and, if we’re right, I hope we don’t meet whomever or whatever it was,” Anakin returned grimly. “But that’s not the only thing that has me wondering. I want to know why there are so few Narzgh. We’ve seen a few hundred, maybe a thousand tops—where are the rest of them?” “Perhaps they have some predators of their own?” ventured Padmè, and shivered. “Another cheerful thought, but I don’t buy it. The raids on Roth were at least double the size of what we’ve encountered so far. It makes no sense that there should be so few of them in their own world.” “It’s only been a few hours. Maybe the raid in Roth isn’t over yet. They could still be there.” Even as she said she felt icy cold drip through her veins. Those poor people… She felt rather than saw Anakin’s shrug. “Maybe.” He didn’t sound convinced though. By mutual, silent consent they both sped up, not liking the idea that thousands more Narzgh might be dropping in on them at any minute. They rounded a corner, tensing until they had a clear view and found the corridor ahead as empty as the others they’d run down in the last hour. This one had a light source right in the middle though. It was the same red glow as before; after so long in the darkness it seemed brighter than she remembered it. It was a balcony. Together, they stood and stared down at the cityscape spread out before them. They were still hundreds of meters up from the ground and it was their first opportunity to really study where they were and try and find a way out. So far they’d been passing from building to building, level to level, trying to find their way down to ground level without benefit of turbolifts. It took a few seconds for Padmè to realise why she felt a nagging sense of familiarity. When it hit her, she blinked, stunned. “Anakin, do you realise what this is?” He glanced at her with a frown and then back at the view. “No. What?” In answer, she raised a shaking finger, pointing into the distance. “Does that look like the palace to you? And there, to the right, it’s the exact same size and shape as the Temple of Atonement.” She pointed further to the left, “And there, I’d swear that’s the Library Rotunda and next to it my apartment building.” Anakin’s frown dug deeper. “What are you saying?” Padmè hardly knew how to put it without sounding insane. “This place … this whole city … it’s like some deranged, dreadful mirror-image of Roth.” It took him a moment longer to make the same comparisons. Baffled disgust dropped over his features. “I see what you mean. Only instead of being built it almost seems to have been grown, or moulded.” Gingerly, Padmè laid a hand on the enclosure and then swiftly removed it with a shudder. “It’s not vegetation though—more like flesh and bone, only icy cold instead of warm.” Like a corpse, she thought and felt sick. “Whatever it’s built from, I’ve never come across it before.” “Why would the Narzgh build or grow a city that looks so much like ours?” said Padmè. “It makes no sense.” “Maybe reflection is only a part of what allows them to rip through the veil,” suggested Anakin. “Perhaps they had to replicate where they want to break through to first.” Opening her mouth to agree that was possible, something else caught her eye, a flash of white that made her jerk her head around and bring the flashlight back up. “Did you see that?” “See what, where?” Anakin whipped around too. Heart pounding, Padmè trained the flashlight back on the archway to the corridor. “Just there, I thought I saw someone.” Without preamble, Anakin grabbed her hand and dragged her over to the opposite side of the balcony, inching them both back towards the archway and making very sure that they had the best view possible of both sides of the corridor. “I can’t see anything.” The corridor was empty. “No. Neither can I, not anymore.” “No more lingering. We need to go.” Keeping hold of her arm, Anakin got them moving again with even greater urgency. A meter from the end of the corridor, Padmè saw it again—a small, slight figure and a face that was gone again in a flash. “There, did you see that. Gods! It’s a child!” “What!” Padmè sped up, refusing to wait to explain, “Anakin, it was a child. I saw him. He was right through there. He looked scared.” “Padmè! Stop!” Anakin swore under his breath and caught up with her, yanking her to a standstill before she could hurtle through the door. His face was grimmer than ever. She could feel his frustration at her foolhardiness. “What are you thinking of racing off like that?” he snapped, glaring. “What if there’d been a pack of Narzgh waiting for you?” “Anakin, the child!” “Think about it. When was the last time you saw a child?—the living world.” Scowling, he shook his head at her. “Younglings don’t come here, or even to the second world. Not little ones anyway. You know that.” He was right, but Padmè was certain. She glared right back at him. “I know what I saw Anakin.” He let her go, but those hard blue eyes didn’t soften. “Tell me how he could possibly have survived being here?” “I don’t know.” “It’s impossible for an adult to survive long in this hell and you know it. A child would have no chance. There’s no technology, people, food or water here. It’s just a grotesque wasteland pretending to be something more. You must have imagined him. There’s no other explanation.” Knowing she was being dangerously stubborn, Padmè still refused to drop her eyes or give in. The boys face was imprinted on her mind. He’d looked about six years old. “We need to make sure.” Seconds ticked by when she was certain Anakin was going to refuse. She wasn’t sure how she’d handle it if he did. Finally, he sighed, scrubbed his face and offered a grudging compromise. “Fine, we’ll look for him and a way out of here at the same time.” Still frowning, he turned away to take the lead, muttering sarcastically, “Force knows I like to be busy, but this is getting ridiculous.” o~o~o The lack of food that he’d cited as a reason why a child could never survive here was a real worry for Anakin, for them, and one that made getting out of this hellish city even more imperative. They’d found plenty of bizarre rooms and chambers filled with odd shapes and lumps that might have been some twisted lunatic’s idea of furniture, but not a scrap of anything edible. As for water, he was hoping for another downpour when they eventually reached terra-firma. “Maybe we took the wrong turning back there,” fretted Padmè “It’s been too long and we haven’t seen him.” “We’re not backtracking,” Anakin replied firmly. He wished he could see her face, but the flashlight was needed to sweep ahead for dangers and stray figures. “I’m sorry Padmè, but perhaps it’s time you considered—” The words died unsaid when he saw a ghostly flash of white ahead that crossed his line of sight for a split-second. Sensing his sudden rigidity, Padmè zigzagged the beam of light in a desperate search. “What is it? Did you see him?” “I don’t know. I saw something up ahead just for a second. There must be a junction there and I saw it or him when he crossed it.” They started to jog faster. “Did it look like a small child?” persisted Padmè. Anakin shot her a look of bemusement that she couldn’t see in the dark. “No. The figure was way too tall. It must have been a man.” “That’s not possible. How can there be two people here?” Anakin figured he deserved that for his reaction to her ‘sighting’. “No idea, but I swear it was too big for a youngling, and definitely not a Narzgh.” They reached the junction and fell silent to search. Hurriedly, Padmè swept the flashlight down all three corridors that fed off the junction. “I don’t see anybody. Do you?” “No—wait!” Anakin took a few steps down the first corridor. He didn’t have the flashlight but there was something. He squinted, trying to make it out. “Padmè, I need the light.” She didn’t reply and before he could turn around to find out why, a figure appeared only a few feet in front of him. Anakin reared back, eyes growing wide with shock. “Obi-Wan! What—?” He was dumbfounded. This wasn’t the old man he’d killed on the first death star, but his one-time Jedi master, young and yet so wise and unflappable. “Greetings, my friend,” Obi-Wan said with a smile and even his voice was a laser bolt into the past. He was dressed in pure white and he seemed to give off a strange glow. Anakin couldn’t think why Obi-Wan might be here, but he was aware that down deep inside his heart was singing for joy. A grin formed on his lips and Anakin opened his mouth to return the greeting … Except he felt a rush of air behind him, right between him and Padmè. Forgetting Obi-Wan, he spun to find her, only to find his way barred instead. Every drop of blood drained from his head. He slapped his hand against the wall that had appeared out of nowhere, yelling her name, “Padmè!” He recalled his lightsaber, grabbed it off his utility belt and ignited it in one smooth movement. “PADMÈ!” Anakin braced himself, the glowing blue blade poised over his shoulder to plunge and pierce the damnable wall that was keeping him from his wife. He didn’t get to make the thrust. Something latched onto the lightsaber blade with ferocious strength. Twisting around, but not letting go of the hilt, Anakin stared in shock at the sight of a bare hand holding the energy blade as if it were mere plasto. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. The skin and bone should have been cut through the second contact was made. Speechless, Anakin’s gaze jerked upwards and encountered a face from his nightmares. Obi-Wan’s eyes appeared to have been gouged out. Fresh blood was still seeping from each dark socket—yet he was still smiling. “What the kriff are you?” Anakin asked it, trying to tug his weapon free from that unaccountable grasp. He recognised the trap too late and his terror for Padmè knew no bounds. Whatever this thing was it wasn’t Obi-Wan—and he’d been right that it wasn’t a Narzgh—it was far more intelligent and evil. “I’m what you made me,” was the brief, rasping reply. The next moment, Anakin found himself airborne for a brief dizzying flight that ended with him crashing into another wall. TBC Note (4) – Sorry for leaving you once again with a cliffie. I’m afraid these scene set in the third world are sort of built around them. Helen ducks missiles Note (5) – There are a few on my PM list who didn’t open the last PM. To avoid being banned from sending any (this happens after 5 unopened to individuals or 100 altogether for me to have to change to another username) I won’t be sending any more to these particular readers until they do open their PMs. Just thought I’d let you know so you aren’t left wondering. HUGS! I hope you enjoyed the chapter. More should be on the screen soon—ish. -----signature----- Purgatory (A/P AU) - http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28225076/ I Asked An Angel If I Could Fly (SPN) - http://boards.theforce.net/non_star_wars_fan_fiction/b10808/28873939/p1/?0
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Jedi_QueenBee Registered: Sep '08	Date Posted: 10/23 1:35pm Subject: RE: Purgatory (Anakin/Padmé-AU Angst/Action/Romance) Chapter 17 - *10/23
	is the whole obi- wan thing for halloween ? if so , it creeped me out . Where did padme' go? -----signature----- Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they will be called Sons of God. Matthew 5:9 Wishing on a shooting star. Hoping for a better day. Is anybody there? =0
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aliceandjasper Registered: May '07	Date Posted: 10/23 2:20pm Subject: RE: Purgatory (Anakin/Padmé-AU Angst/Action/Romance) Chapter 17 - *10/23
	i have to agree with what was said above, this whole Obi Wan thing sounds very Halloweenish. You certainly are in the right season. Anyhow, the chapter, and the one preceding it, was brilliant. Anakin matured greatly and I like it how you manage to show how he now really thinks through every decision he makes. I hope they get out of the third world soon, it´s too dark for my tastes.
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randomangel22 Registered: Feb '06	Date Posted: 10/23 4:20pm Subject: RE: Purgatory (Anakin/Padmé-AU Angst/Action/Romance) Chapter 17 - *10/23
	Well, a hellish looking Obi-Wan wasn't something Anakin really wanted to see in the thir world. Once again Padme has to be kidnapped...Why is it that the Narzgh are so obsessed with kidnapping her? I mean it only makes Anakin's job of finding a way out of there harder. Great post and thanks for the PM! -----signature----- I think the worst time to have a heart attack is during a game of charades...or a game of fake heart attack. --Demetri Martin Yeah that would suck now wouldn't it?
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