SW Ep II (Insert Pretentious Title Here) - FINISHED 11/07

Lol! the last line was funny! I still love this story!

 

Just a short one tonight...

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Amidala stole surreptitious glances at her handmaiden and the Jedi Padawan as she talked with Senator Antilles and Bail Organa. //They certainly seem to be enjoying each other?s company.// She couldn?t help feeling a stab of jealousy. Sabé had the freedom to show herself off, to dress as the attractive young woman that she was. Amidala?s first instinct when Anakin had offered to escort her this evening was to say yes and send Sabé out dressed as the Queen while she herself went out as Padmé. What would it be like to step out in that slinky green gown and be admired as a woman, not just as the Queen?

Watching the easy way Anakin held Sabé as they danced, Amidala felt another jab of envy. She recalled the heat of his lips on her fingers and the little shock of pleasure she felt when he looked in her eyes. Like he was peering into her soul. She was suddenly impatient for Anakin to ask for his dance. What would it feel like to have his arms around her? Not in a platonic hug, but pressing her against his body, his lips on hers--.

//Get a grip, Padmé,// she chastised herself. What was it about Anakin that made her feel like a giddy teenager? He had grown up to be very handsome ? //okay, gorgeous,// she admitted ? but she was often around attractive men, and none of them affected her this way. Not even Bail, and he was considered one of the galaxy?s Most Eligible Bachelors. And Anakin was her friend; perhaps her best friend besides Sabé. And he was too young for her.


(You?re just a little boy)


Her heart jumped when she saw him watching her from the dance floor. //He?s all grown up now.//


(I won?t always be)


?Your Highness??

Senator Antilles? voice pulled her out of her reverie. She saw him and Bail looking at her with concern.

?Are you all right, Amidala?? Bail asked. ?You seem a bit distracted.?

//You have no idea.// ?I?m fine, Bail. But I could use some air.?

?Let?s go out on the verandah,? Bail suggested, offering his arm. ?Senator, if you will excuse us??

 

Man, this is really reaaaally goooood. I likes it

 

omg please more and soon

 

Another shorty - not a happy one for Ani!

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The song ended and they applauded the orchestra. Anakin lead Sabé off the dance floor, then said, "Why don't you go rescue Obi-Wan while I make Her Highness keep her promise to dance with me?"

Sabé nodded and squeezed his hand in encouragement. "I thought I saw her go out onto the verandah." She smiled as Anakin kissed her cheek and hustled off. //I hope she doesn't break his heart.//

Anakin stepped out onto the verandah and looked around. Spotting a flash of her golden gown, he started toward it, then jerked back into the shadows. She wasn't alone.

Jealousy coursed through him as he saw Queen Amidala and Bail Organa talking quietly. They were standing close to one another, and though he could not hear their words, he could sense their affection for each other. Anakin watched with barely controlled anger as Organa took Amidala's hand in his own. When he raised her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers, Anakin tore his lightsaber from his belt. He was on verge of activating it before his common sense caught up with him. Angry, hurt, and on the edge of tears, he spun on his heel and left the verandah.

Behind him, Bail Organa gasped and put his hand to his throat. He sputtered and coughed a few times.

"Bail, are you all right?" asked Amidala.

"Yes," he answered. "That was strange. It felt like someone grabbed my throat."

Back inside, Anakin grabbed a drink from a passing waiter's tray and downed half of it in one swallow. He leaned back against the wall, his breath coming in great gulps as he fought back his tears. //I'm such a fool.//

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Up

 

This is so good!
I like that last part--a wonderful foreshadowing of what Anakin will become.
Now I just hope Ami can set him straight about her feelings for Bail and for him. (Assuming she's got them sorted out herself, that is.)

Great post!

 

Thanks, sari!

 

Must have more!! I love this fic!!

 

Poor Ani!!!! And though I am loath to say this, poor Bail! Ani's gonna be calling for his head on a silver platter!!

This is great Jedi-Jae!!! I love it! Keep up the great work!

AngelQueen

 

Keep it coming, J-J!

 

OMG!! Please post!! You don't know me, but dear gawd you can write!!! pwease post more!! Soon?

Amethyst

 

<<indicates vision/dream>>

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Obi-Wan stalked into their quarters with murder on his mind. His apprentice?s abrupt departure from the reception was not only a serious breach of propriety, it was also incredibly rude to Sabé. Obi-Wan had ended up escorting the handmaiden back to the Naboo apartments and apologizing for Anakin?s behavior. He thought that she would have some choice words on the matter, but Sabé had uncharacteristically brushed it off, her emotions shaded with anger and disappointment. He had a feeling that she knew why Anakin had left so suddenly, but she wasn?t talking.

In truth, he didn?t really care why. Anakin was old enough to understand his responsibilities and carry them out, without letting his personal concerns get in the way. Sometimes his immaturity was incredible.

Obi-Wan sighed and pushed his hand through his hair. He debated whether to wake Anakin now or wait to torture him in the morning. Then he spotted the empty bottle on the kitchen counter. He picked it up, then grinned evilly. Corellian brandy. He would definitely wait until the morning. That bottle had been nearly full. //He?s going to feel like bantha poodoo.//

Obi-Wan tossed the bottle in the trash, feeling a bit mollified. He was going to have to explain his Padawan?s behavior to the Council, but making Anakin train with a hangover would almost make up for it.

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<<The armored soldiers marched through the rubble. Behind them, smoke billowed over the city?s graceful white skyline. Anakin looked behind him at the gathered defenders, a ragtag band of local police and surviving soldiers. He activated his lightsaber and prepared to fight the invaders.>>

<<?Anakin!? a woman?s voice came. He lowered his saber and looked around, oblivious to the flying energy bolts. ?Ani, help me!? No one else seemed to hear it. He left the battle and ran through a maze of buildings and debris, searching for the voice. ?Hurry, Ani, hurry!? it urged him.>>

<<He burst into a gutted building, straining to see in the semi-darkness. ?Ani,? the voice came again, weaker this time. He lit his saber, throwing its light across the room. A figure lay on the floor, its hands outstretched. ?Ani??>>

<<?Mom!? he heard himself scream. He started to run her, but he couldn?t move. Something was holding him back. He jerked desperately against the unseen force, but was unable to break free. Turning, he saw a hand clutching his cloak in an iron grip. The owner was hidden in the shadows. ?Let me go!? Anakin cried. He screamed as crushing pain enveloped his torso. Finally, he slipped out of the Jedi cloak, leaving it hanging in the mysterious fist. He ran to his mother, only to have her disappear in front of his eyes. He threw back his head and howled, ?Noooooooo!?>>



Anakin jerked himself up panting, his head pounding. He looked around his darkened room, wondering if he had screamed aloud. The vision was more vivid than ever before, and more urgent. It was driving him in some way. Pushing aside his sweat-soaked covers, he swung his legs out of bed and reached for his clothes.

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I hate not having italics!!

 

OOoooOO...This is good.....

Amethyst

 

Up!

 

Up!

 

Hey, I really appreciate all you guys reading this! Your feedback is very encouraging. I've started to archive this over at ff.n, with some editing. Thanks for reading!


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Yoda sat by the waterfall, in almost the exact same spot Anakin had been a couple of days before. He sensed Obi-Wan's approach, feeling the younger man's worry. The Jedi Master's ears drooped as a wave of profound sadness washed over him. They stood at a divide in the path of things to come and he could not see the destination along either way. For the first time in his long life, Yoda feared for the future.

"Master Yoda." Obi-Wan stepped into the clearing and knelt beside the tiny Jedi. "Anakin has left-"

"Know where he is going, I do," interrupted Yoda. "Unfortunate, this is, but not entirely unexpected. Reckless is he. His fear is driving his actions."

"Master, I must go after him-," Obi-Wan began.

"No," Yoda interrupted him again. "You cannot." He held up a hand to stop any further argument. "This ordeal must be Skywalker's alone to face. Chosen to act before he is ready, he has. You cannot help him"

Obi-Wan struggled to control his rising anxiety. Anakin had always followed his heart, trusting his feelings and allowing the Force to guide him in whatever direction it chose to lead him, even when it differed from the course desired by his masters. In that way, the young man was much like Qui-Gon Jinn. But he had never disobeyed Obi-Wan or the Council in a matter of this importance, and Obi-Wan suddenly feared for his Padawan in a way he could not explain.

"Told you where he was going, did he?" Yoda asked.

"Not directly, Master. He left a message," said Obi-Wan, his voice tinged with sadness. "He said that the he felt driven, that the situation was too urgent to ignore. He apologized, saying that I deserved a more obedient Padawan."

Yoda was strangely heartened by that news. "Shame he feels in his actions, then, not defiance. He could not face his teacher with his disobedience. Knows he is wrong, he does." He chewed his gimmer stick thoughtfully. "Perhaps he will choose wisely."

At Obi-Wan's puzzled expression, he continued, "Several paths lie before young Skywalker. His own destiny will he choose. His own future. And that of the Jedi." He sighed heavily, a grunting sound. "Arrogant we have become, Obi-Wan. So sure we are of our own place in the way of things. Change our thinking we must, if we are to fight the coming darkness."

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"A private communication for you from the Jedi Temple, Your Highness," reported Sabé from the doorway of the Queen's bedroom.

Padmé turned from her dresser, where she sat patiently while Rabé styled her hair for her meeting with Chancellor Palpatine. "Transfer it back here, please, Sabé," she said. Maybe it was Anakin, calling with an explanation for his sudden exit from the party the night before. He hadn't claimed his dance or even said goodbye.

"Just a moment, Rabé." Padmé got up and pulled a robe on before stepping over to the terminal. She activated it, but instead of Anakin, she looked into the grim countenance of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

"I apologize for disturbing you this morning, Your Highness," he began.

Padmé waved her hand in a dismissing manner. "It's all right. What's wrong, Obi-Wan?"

"Anakin is missing, Your Highness," he said.

"What?!" Her eyes widened. "Does this have something to do with last night?"

The corners of his eyes crinkled slightly. "Sabé could probably tell you more about that than I can. I think she knows, but she wouldn't tell me." He sobered quickly. "When I got in last night, he was passed out drunk on his bed. When I went to get him this morning, he was gone. He left me a message saying that his mother was suffering, and he could no longer wait on the Jedi to help her. He went to Tatooine, probably to try to free her and the other slaves."

 

This is interesting! I like how you are setting this up.

As always, looking forward to more!

 

Up!

 

up, Up, UP!!!

 

Just catching up on what I missed. Lovely posts!!

 

Welcome back, Sara! Glad you're enjoying it!

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The grizzled freighter captain glanced nervously over his shoulder at the hooded figure standing behind him. This was his passenger?s first appearance in the cockpit. In fact, it was his passenger?s first foray out of the small cargo hold he was using as a cabin, and it made the old spacer distinctly uneasy. The traveler appeared to be little more than a boy, but the sheer size of the kid and his surly demeanor had prompted the captain to keep his distance.

Anakin smiled grimly beneath the hood of his cloak, his arms crossed over his chest. He had used the Force to keep the old man on edge for the entire trip. He didn?t want any interaction with anyone; he just wanted to get to Tatooine. The only reason he was up here now was because they were getting ready to drop out of hyperspace.

?Comin' up on Tatooine,? said the captain, reaching for the hyperdrive controls.

?Take us down to the Mos Espa spaceport,? ordered Anakin. These were the first words he had exchanged with the pilot since Coruscant, when he had pressed all of his money into the man?s fist and demanded passage. He had only enough credits to get him to Tatooine. He wasn?t worried about getting back. //There?s nothing to go back to.//

He felt a strange tingling in his Force-sense. Something was not right. ?Drop us to sublight now!? he shouted.

?But--? protested the other man.

?Just do it!? yelled Anakin, stepping toward the pilot.

The captain pulled back on the hyperdrive lever, dropping them back into normal space. The Force-tingling grew stronger. Anakin peered through the cockpit window. ?I have a bad feeling about this,? he murmured.

?I don?t see anything,? protested the captain.

?There,? said Anakin, pointing. A large dark cruiser, barely visible against the starry backdrop of space, hung over the dirty brown orb of Tatooine.

?What kind of ship is that?? the captain asked.

Anakin?s reply was cut off by two small triangular craft flashing by the cockpit. A moment later, the ship rocked from the concussion of several near-misses. //Fighters//, Anakin thought as he regained his balance. Then the realization struck him: the Mandalorians were here! He fought back his rising panic.

The captain swore viciously and clutched the controls. He punched new coordinates into the navicomputer and started to bring the freighter about.

?What are you doing?? Anakin demanded.

?What?s it look like I?m doin?, kid? I?m gettin' the hell outta here!? The old pilot continued to turn the ship as a wave of fighters burst from the cruiser and headed their way.

?Turn this bucket around,? Anakin ordered coldly. ?I paid you to take me to Tatooine and that?s what you?re going to do.?

?Are you nuts?!? exclaimed the captain. ?I don?t have any weapons! We could be killed going up against those fighters!?

Anakin pushed his hood back and pinned the captain with an icy blue gaze. ?If we face those fighters, you only *might* be killed.? He ignited his lightsaber and held it inches from the old man?s face. The shimmering green blade cast a sickly glow across his features. ?If you don?t turn around, you *will* be killed.?

Quailing in the face of Anakin?s fury, the captain turned back to the controls and swung the ship back toward Tatooine. He mumbled something about a Jedi and an immovable object under his breath as his hands danced across the panel.

Anakin straightened up in satisfaction. The feeling was only momentary, as he quickly realized that the captain was not a skilled enough pilot to take on the fighters, especially with no weapons. The ship bucked under the withering fire. Lights flashed and alarms blared as the laser blasts began to take their toll on the freighter?s shields.

Anakin jerked the captain out of the pilot?s chair and tossed him unceremoniously to the floor of the cockpit. Taking over the controls, he yanked the safety harnesses across his body before throwing the freighter into a mad spira

 

whoa!! Anakin seems to be a bit tense, I'd say!

*MORE*!!!

 

btw, if you guys want something a little lighter, I'm doing a RR with Clarus and excal called Once Chance - An AU that will eventually have Anakin Skwalker. It's pretty humorous.

http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=1473673

 

Yikes! I missed a couple posts there! They were great, Jedi-Jae!
I can't wait to see what happens on Tatooine!