First Post Sampler Thread

This is Chapter two from my fic Mother of Destiny: Shmi's Story

A mechanical thundering assaulting her ears, Shmi awoke to the zing of blaster fire and
the metallic thump of landing gear. The ground vibrated as she tried to set her feet on the
floor. Her head ached from the noise and her stomach turned as the walls of her room
rattled.

She stumbled to her window and froze in horror. The devastation of her home became
clear in the blink of an eye. The park had been destroyed by the landings of several
miscellaneous ships of assorted sizes, patchworked with ill-repair. Men with blasters
spread like a virulent, violent disease from the boarding ramps, firing at the helpless
people of her colony. Her people defended themselves with make-shift shields and
rusting weaponry. They used what they had to, to fight but it wasn?t enough. The extent
of the devastation from the attack was made obvious by the smoke rising from homes in
the distance, and the cries of fear coming from all directions.

The attackers were using stun bolts to bring down the women and children. Shmi could
see the fallen victims strewn across the streets and gardens, mothers still clutching their
children though they lay insensate on the ground. The anger and adrenaline of the
colony?s men only grew with the felling of their loved ones. This was not an attack, it
was a hunting party stalking human prey. These were pirates of the worst kind: slave
traders.

As she realized the danger, a chill went down Shmi?s spine, and agitated every bone and
nerve in her body. She shook with violent fright, seeing the constant advance of the
slavers, the all-consuming progress they maintained. The destruction was scattered across
her home and the bodies of unconscious and injured people, friends and families whom
she had known all her life, made her heart convulse. She felt a flash of fear that she was
locked there, that the stare she held with her ravished world would grip her in fearful
captivation until the attackers reached her. She could not stand paralyzed until she was
consumed along with her home.

She blinked. The world around her became crisper and more vivid. The very sound of her
breath echoed in her mind. She could still feel the floor under her feet rock with the force
of poorly landed ships, and hear the blaster fire, but the sensations no longer numbed or
overwhelmed her.

Suddenly, the sounds muted themselves to highlight one lucid cry. Loora screamed from
her room, the scream of a child who has no definition of emotion but can only feel. It was
the cry of a child who is feeling the grip of fear.

Shmi ran across the hall to her infant niece?s bedroom. She found her on the floor, sitting
upright next to the unconscious body of her mother, who lay on her side near the window
with a red bruise on her neck where a stun bolt hit.

The young girl fell to her knees and turned her sister onto her back, shaking her to try and
wake her up. Loora?s cries filled the air as Shmi shook Disha and slapped her, all to no
avail. She could hear the blaster fire getting closer: she was running out of time. Shmi
rose and quickly strapped the baby to her front with a sling from her crib. She grabbed
Disha under the arms, dragging her out of the room and down the stairs.

They reached the kitchen and Shmi hauled her sister to the wash bin, praying silently that
this wouldn?t do more harm then good. She dunked Disha?s head into the water and held
it there until her sister?s body started to move. Shmi pulled her head out of the water and
watched as Disha?s face convulsed. She was choking but she was awake, and with any
luck, would survive.

Once she had roused sufficiently, it took only a wordless glance between the sisters and
the continued noise of the assault outside to explain the situation. Disha took the baby
from Shmi, and grabbed the young girl?s hand, leaving the house and running as fast as
they could manage away from the dang

 

This is the first post of my upcoming short story. Most of it is a flashback, and it centers on Padmé and Palo (Padmé's first 'boyfriend'). But the first post is just an interpretation of the meadow scene in AotC.

Here we go...

************************************


The Lake Country on the peaceful planet of Naboo was the perfect place to forget all worries. It was also the perfect place to remember things long past, and to create memories to be cherished in future times.

The sun rose on this idyllic place to begin a day like any other. A gentle breeze flowed through the air to accompany the rising sun. The meadow was filled with life as the day began. A herd of shaaks grazed contentedly on the Nubian plant life. The roar of the falls in the background was comforting to the ear, and gravity?s simple trick on the water was pleasing to the eye. Amidst all of this, a couple lounged, enjoying the effects of their delightful setting.

The magic of the Lake Country had cast its spell over the couple. The young man, dressed in dark brown Jedi robes, sat comfortably on part of the blanket he had laid out. His expression was carefree, and he seemed at ease when interacting with his companion. She was dressed in a simple yellow skirt, and a matching embroidered bodice. The sleeves flowed from her arms, and came together at her wrists. Her curly brown tresses ran down her back as she rested on her arms. The sun washed over her face as she tilted back to meet its warmth.

Padmé drank everything in, fully allowing herself to enjoy her surroundings. It was rare occasions like these when she could forget about politics, war, and other worries, so she wanted this moment to last. But pangs of guilt still stabbed her. For six years, she had been working to gather support and respect as the Nubian Senator. The last two of those six years, she had been furiously working to defeat the Military Creation Act. As a highly esteemed senator, Padmé had gathered a lot of followers on this matter. And now, when the fate of this law was finally being decided, she hid away. Jar Jar stood in for her as Senator of Naboo, and Obi-Wan was working with the Jedi to uncover the assassination plot. And she, Padmé Amidala, was hiding away on Naboo, indulging in her pleasures. She acknowledged the pangs of guilt and selfishness. True, it was all for her own protection, but to Padmé, there were many things more important than her safety. Realizing she could do nothing, Padmé sighed, and forced herself to bury those feelings. She held her face up to the sky, and basked in the sun?s glow.

The silence stretched on, and when Padmé became aware of it, she turned toward her companion.

As soon as she did, she wished she hadn?t.

Anakin was studiously measuring and memorizing everything about her. His ice blue eyes skimmed over her every feature, finishing their journey by coming into contact with her own chocolate orbs. They locked gazes, and Padmé found herself falling deeper into his eyes, her composure failing her with each passing second.

I will not give in to this?

Padmé forced her gaze away from Anakin, and busied herself with studying a nikana bloom. Upon seeing this, Anakin smiled warmly.

?Tell me about your first kiss, Padmé.?

Padmé?s eyes shot wide open as she turned to regard Anakin, her brows knitted together, and her mouth formed into an ?o?, signifying surprise. To her amazement, Anakin looked as surprised as she did. Flustered, even! Padmé fought down the giggle that threatened to surface, and settled for a smile as she turned back to the nikana bloom. Senators did NOT giggle, what was wrong with her? However Padmé found that she secretly enjoyed her time spent with Anakin, even if it meant chatting about her first kiss. She found it strangely refreshing to follow her heart, instead of her head.

I will not give in to this?

?I don?t know,? she drawled, hoping to drop the subject then and there. No such luck.

?Sure you do,? Anakin encouraged,