Saga Children of Circumstance (AOTC A/P story ) A story about Anakin, his love and his path

Wow, you really have Palpatine's creepy-ness pegged geo... *shudders* He's very strange, very er... let's just say I really dislike palpy, even more, after reading that. You're excellent with his thought pattern..

and Obi-Wan? *laughs* Ten long years, eh? *snicker* Poor Obi-Wan! He only wants to do his duty and Anakin's kinda messing him up *shakes her head* Excellent job, minor characters, but no less accurately written.

 

Your descriptions of Palpatine were chilling.


[huge voice] GO AWAY PALPY! [/huge voice]

"It had been a very long 10 years" - definitely, though for more than 1 person!

Great post, geo3

starwoid

 

Hi everyone and thanks for your always kind comments. I thought we'd move on quickly with some angst, then some action over the weekend.

P.S. does anyone know how to make the letters in the title bar come out bold?

Chapter 9.1 Siege


Padmé was silent as she walked toward her stateroom with her ever-present protector by her side, turning the situation in which they found themselves over and over in her mind. It was not a peaceful silence.

?What is it?? Anakin asked, sensing her feelings without being able to attribute them.

Padmé didn?t answer. When they reached the stateroom Anakin ushered her inside and made sure the door was secure. He checked both rooms to make certain they were alone.

?Have I done something wrong?? He asked. Her silence was unnerving.

?You are.... remarkable, Anakin,? she said shortly when she finally did speak. ?You constantly surprise me.?

?Sometimes I surprise myself,? he admitted.

Padmé yanked off her veil and flung it onto the nearest chair. The force of feeling that radiated from her took Anakin aback.

?Is it the D?laians?? He couldn?t remember having seen her like this.

Padmé stood in the center of the stateroom with her arms crossed as though she were holding herself together. He was sure that whatever was wrong was his fault.

?What?s wrong?? He persisted. ?Tell me.?

?I?m angry at myself,? Padmé finally said. ?I feel like a fool.?

?You are anything but a fool,? he said, needing to protect her even from herself. ?It is a difficult situation.?

Padmé took a deep breath. ?It?s not just the D?laians,? she said. ?It?s everything.? She was holding on to herself tightly. Anakin took a step toward her but hesitated, uncertain.

?I?m sorry,? he said awkwardly. ?If I have done something to upset you ? something I shouldn?t??

?Oh, Anakin,? Padmé said, her voice shaking slightly. ?I?m here in the middle of a political crisis. My ship, my people and now possibly my planet are in danger. I have to face the fact that I have shown very poor judgment.? She looked at him, taking in the hesitant, guilty look on his face and finished heatedly, ?I cannot afford to be distracted.?

?I distract you?? Anakin asked, completely crushed. ?I thought I was helping.?

?You?re not helping!? she burst out. ?We have been betrayed and are about to be attacked and yet all I can think about is you!? She glared at him as if vehemence could keep her from going under. ?What are you doing in my thoughts, anyway??

Anakin suddenly found himself very confused. ?You?re angry because ? because? - he went on tentatively because he could barely believe what he was hearing - ??you love me??

?To distraction,? she said furiously. ?I can?t think when you?re standing right next to me.?

Anakin was out of his depth. Nothing in his upbringing among the sedate and mindful Jedi had prepared him to deal with outbursts of contradictory logic ?unless they were his own, which were never tolerated. All his pride would allow him to hear was that he had disappointed her in some way.

?Do you not want me near you?? He asked uneasily.

Padmé buried her face in her hands. She had a horrible feeling she was about to cry. Or laugh. She didn?t know which.

?Anakin.? She tried again. ?I don?t know how to do this. I don?t know how to be the person I was before and to be in love with you at the same time.?

This can?t be happening, he thought as dark tendrils of doubt crept into the center of his being. It felt like an abyss was opening in front of him.

The moment she saw his face Padmé regretted her words. She felt him withdraw from her and it hurt like a physical ache.

?Anakin, I?m sorry. I didn?t mean it like that??

She stopped at the look on his face.

?I?m sorry that it?s so difficult to love me,? he said stiffly, backing away.

?Don?t, Anakin.? Padmé wished she could take back everything she had said since leaving the meeting. He ought to just take me in his arms and tell me everything is going to be all right, sh

 

Fabulous!

What Padme is facing is so real -- love, especially the stage their in, does take you out of focus in everything else. It controls you. You do such a great job of describing why, to her, especially in her current situation, that's bad.

And why, to him, it's nothing but good.

I am so glad I know how your story ends or I would be screaming bloody murder at you for leaving it off this way...

Once again, fantastic characterization, so true to where the personalities of these two young people are after Geonosis. It's such a hard thing to do. (Why do you think I'm writing an AU? )

 

Wow, incredible... and there are some priceless lines in this part *laughs*

My fave:

?What are you doing in my thoughts, anyway??

hahahaha! Perfect

 

Anakin shouldnt just leave her and wlak out the door. He really should just hold her and tell her eevrything would be allright.

I dont get this couple they are so complicated. You either love or odnt love. theres no but.

 

Oh, poor Padme.


Though I must admit that if I was distracted with thoughts of Anakin I wouldn't consider it to be a bad thing.

Great post!

starwoid

 

Wow. I came home to find you had all been reading....

Darth_Lex - Thank you. *blushes* When I started this story it was with the goal of keeping it entirely within AOTC and making it plausible...

Jade_Max - I thought it might be unnerving to develop a kind of telepathy on top of everything else...

jedi scholar - *hands jedi scholar a tissue* don't worry - this is AOTC

JediCami - love can be rough sometimes but it gets better...

starwoid - Me, too. *big sigh*

 

OMG! I got all teary eyed on that post!!!!!!

I cant wait for more!

 

Brilliant!! WOW!

I love "angsty posts"... Of course he doesn't understand... and she has soooo many problems, and he just adds some more- conclusion: they do belong together!

And wonderful characterization - both Padmé and Ani!

 

From the "awards thread"

MY post...

EDIT:
? Readers? Choice Interpretation of a Male Canon Character

Geo3

Children of Circumstance
I am torn between her Anakin and Palpatine...

Anakin is clever, passionate yet still longs for guideance... Geo's Palpy (from hints here and his grand vigggy) is fatherly and slimey at the same time... Palpy could SO easliy be writen as the "Take over the world" type evil genius he becomes in Jedi, but at this point... Geo has captured this wonderfly....

Because it missed the deadline, unfortunately this fic is technicly disqualified from an actual award...
(I would have loved to see it in the vignet catagory as it would have rocked!!) but this piece serves as a wonderful intro to Geo's work...

Step into My Parlor



Deliciously creepy and belivable portral of Paplatine
*****************************

There will be more.... That's all I can say now...

 

Wow. I honestly don't know what to say.

Anakins_Goddessand LadyZ, thank you for your warm responses. There is a bit more angst in this story to come, I promise!

Darth Breezy I'm truly, deeply moved by your support. (If I put it that way, you know it has to be true!)Thank you sincerely for encouraging me to post this story on these Boards when I was too scared and for being my one and only reader at first. Thank you for your nominations. There is a special place reserved in the Force for people who encourage new writers....

The only thing I can think of to do in response is to keep posting. When I started I was afraid to post if I wasn't three of four chapters ahead because I write slowly and painstakingly. I'm getting more comfortable now so we are rapidly approaching the point where I need to get moving a bit faster. How about if we carry on with Chapter 9 now and tomorrow, and I'll do some really fast writing (hah) over the weekend...

Love to you all.

 

Chapter 9.2 Siege


When Anakin moved, he moved fast. When he was angry, so did everything else. Jumping out of the way to avoid a hatch that slammed shut of its own accord in the young Jedi?s wake, Captain Typho wondered whether working with a Jedi who was in full operations mode was always like this. Things seemed to be banging and flying around everywhere.

Still, he thought. Under the circumstances it was pretty useful to have him on board. The boy had shown up at the last minute with a face like a Malastarian funeral mask, but with his efficient help the Nubians had prepared for hostilities in record time and with a satisfying level of secrecy.

To outward appearances the ship still seemed more or less the same in terms of the distribution and activities of the Nubians aboard. But weapons had been distributed and hidden around the ship, maintenance ducts mined with sensors and everyone knew more or less what to expect.

The Queen?s staterooms had been secured with guards posted inside the door and above each room in the ducts.

It was a typical, civilized, peace-loving Nubian plan: sit tight and wait for help. They just needed to hold out until the promised Republican fighting force arrived.

Anakin thought Typho?s approach was disastrous, and said so. Knowing what he did about the D?laians he was certain that a more aggressive, pre-emptive response was required. He would have liked to see all the D?laians on board disarmed and captive before either one of the fleets arrived.

Typho had refused. He wasn?t willing to take the necessary risks with so many civilians on board.

If Obi-Wan were here they would do everything his way, Anakin thought resentfully. But he kept quiet after that and resigned himself to a role as babysitter. He resolved not to speak up again.

Typho was very surprised when Anakin did not argue about his post assignment. The Senator really must have really given it to him, he thought. He?ll think twice before overstepping his boundaries again.

The Jedi?s last task in the little time remaining before the crucial meeting resumed was to escort Vespé and Balé to the Queen?s staterooms. Typho had determined that they would be safest there.

Balé threw herself at him the moment she saw him.

He could feel her anxiety. Poor little one, he thought, this is not the first time she has been through something like this. He squatted down on the floor in front of her so that they could see eye to eye.

?Don?t worry,? he said. ?Nothing bad will happen. Not this time.?

?Will you stay with us?? She said, holding him around the neck. He could feel her unquestioning trust flow between them. It touched a deep, deep hunger in Anakin and made it very difficult to maintain the layers of icy shielding he had wrapped himself in since leaving Padmé. He thought if he stayed with her any longer he would crack.

?I can?t,? he said, gently disengaging himself from her and standing up, ?but I will be nearby.?

He brought the girls to the stateroom, handed them over to Dormé and left for his assigned post without a backward glance.

 

Oh, you have these characters so dead-on.

If Obi-Wan were here they would do everything his way, Anakin thought resentfully. No, if Obi-Wan were there, he'd agree with Typho.

Very nice portrayal of Anakin's anger without actually expressing it -- he's holding it inside. Why do I have a bad feeling Wolan's going to bear the brunt when it's unleashed?

 

Oh wow. I'm with Lex on this one, awesome portrayl of Anakin's suppressed anger... and his thoughts! LOL! So typical Anakin... I don't know how you do it geo, but wow!

I love Anakin's interactions with Balé, it's so sweet!

 

Padme please tell Anakin that you want to be with him or I will!

 

Thanks for sending me the link to your story geo3. I am truly enjoying your writing. It has gripped me and now I look forward to reading it with pleasure. You have captured the characters well!!

 

Gosh.

Darth_Lex - Well, yes. Absolutely. Yes.

Jade-Max - Thank you!! I'm so glad you are enjoying it!

Dana28 - Welcome!!! I'm working on it....

quinkgauk - I'm so glad you stopped by. I had an inkling that it might be up your alley....

Jedi Scholar - YES!! EXACTLY!! *retrieves tissues from AG, above....*

 

this is great! more soon?

~LS~

 

Chapter 9.3 Siege


Captain Typho stood in front of the door to the large conference room and checked his timepiece. On cue a veiled figure appeared in the corridor, accompanied by her ever-present Jedi alter ego. Typho nodded and disappeared into the maintenance duct just before the D?laian delegation arrived from the other direction.

Nothing made a D?laian warrior happier than conquest. For the members of the delegation on the Nubian Yacht the promise of victory was almost enough to make up for the endless, tedious hours of negotiations they had to endure for the past weeks. Now it was just a matter of settling the score.

Anakin could feel their pleasure like warm waves. He took note of the fact that neither Wolan nor his posse had joined their delegation in the room. A quick head count came to five D?laians and five on the Nubian side, including him. And of course Typho, hidden above.

Anakin expected the D?laians to be armed. Their elaborate clothing would certainly provide some convenient hiding places for weapons.

This is a bad plan, he thought.

The D?laian Foreign Minister opened the meeting.

?We have consulted with our leaders. The sovereign government of D?lai cannot accept your proposal.?

?Then we have nothing more to discuss,? the Nubian delegation leader responded firmly. I declare these negotiations to be officially ended.?

?That may be, Minister,? his D?laian counterpart said with open delight, ?but it is our duty to inform you that this is not the end of our association.? He surveyed the room with what on D?lai must have passed for a beneficent gaze. To the Nubians it looked predatory. ?I am afraid that our position has changed. It is our view that an association with Naboo is in our planet?s interests. However, that association must and will be of our own devising.?

He rose. All the members of his delegation rose with him.

?Your ship is being boarded as we speak, and our fleet has arrived. I am afraid you are all now our prisoners until we arrive on Naboo.?

The veiled figure stood up.

?I think not, Minister,? she said firmly, and touched the COM link that lay on the table by her hand.

Every last one of the D?laians grinned.

The delegation leader shook his head happily and took out a weapon that was probably a blaster. It was hard to tell because of its showy design. The remainder of his party followed suit. ?Communications have been blocked, I?m afraid, Senator. Both internal and external.?

The D?laians had obviously been busy. But Typho had heard that, Anakin guessed, and was on his way to doing something about it.

This is completely unnecessary, Anakin thought. We should have dealt with them all before this. He stretched out his awareness. There were more D?laians in the corridor outside the conference room. They were clustered so he couldn?t get an accurate count. He was beginning to seethe with impatience although he did a creditable job of remaining outwardly impassive.

He hated playing out this farce. It was beneath his dignity. Ten seconds, Anakin thought. Maybe twelve. I could get all five of them.

?Where do you intend to hold us?? Asked the veiled figure. ?This is a diplomatic vessel, not a military one.?

The D?laian waved his blaster. ?In the Salon. Now.? Wonderful, Anakin thought. We can sit in the Salon and wait to be rescued. We could even have tea while we?re waiting.

The conference room door opened and as the Nubians filed out of the room the D?laians who had been waiting in the corridor searched each captive for weapons.

Anakin was the last out. He had taken care to wear his cloak, which at least partially hid his light saber, but hoped fervently that someone would attempt to take it from him. The D?laians unfortunately had the sense to approach him cautiously. No one touched him.

?Hand over your light sword, Jedi,? one of them demanded.

Anakin looked at him levelly. ?You must be joking.?

Another D?laian, probably a superior offi

 

You write Anakin so well. I was screaming at the screen this entire post -- the impatience, the anger, the loss of focus. It's all so perfect.

"Patience. Use the Force. Think." Obi-Wan may be a rule-following putz, but he never would have made these mistakes, Anakin. Argh!!!!!!!

And yet again, I will let the cliffhanger slide because I know how this ends. Otherwise you would see an angry rant here. (Of course, that would only be a sign of admiration. )

 

Hi, little_Skywalker, and welcome!

Darth_Lex - there is a reason why I put up the time frame of the story at the beginning! I disagree with you about Obi-Wan's character. He is going to enter the story much more centrally soon. Let's see what he is like.

Posting schedule for this week as follows:

Chapter 10 (part 1) Sunday(Action)

Chapter 10 (Part 2) Monday or Tuesday (Mush)

That's much of a teaser as you will get from me!

 

AUUUURG can't wait!!!!!