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stephanie_ficsTitle: Destiny Can Wait
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
stephanie_fics
Time Frame: Between RotS and ANH.
Characters: Padmé, Obi-Wan, Kornell, and Captain Panaka.
Genre: AU, Drama, Action
Rating: Adult
Summary: Padmé answers the Queen's call to help the Padawans.
Warning: There are dark and violent scenes. Reader discretion is advised.
Chapter list.
When there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
One more son
If you can hold on
If you can hold on, hold on
Chapter 14 - The Padawans
After Queen Apailana and Captain Typho departed her home Padmé dressed in the disguise of a Holy Woman and went to visit Obi-Wan. On her way to the seminary she contacted Barriss and Kornell to meet her there. The queen had asked that Padmé only tell her husband and Obi-Wan of the Padawans, but she felt that the children would need a healer and a doctor to examine them. They had no information on how the Padawans escaped Order 66, where they had been hiding for over a year, or how long their ship was stranded in space.
As Obi-Wan welcomed Padmé into his modest quarters she excitedly bursted out, “You will not believe the news I have.” She noticed Kornell had already arrived, but he came alone. “Where is Barriss? This is an emergency,” she said with some annoyance.
The doctor was shocked by her outburst and confused by her question. “She’s on Coruscant,” he glanced at Obi-Wan, “with Anakin.”
Padmé looked back at Obi-Wan, who looked at her with guilt in his eyes. “What’s going on?”
“She and Anakin are breaking into the Jedi Temple to find information on Darth Avel,” Obi-Wan confessed.
Padmé was seething with anger. She had been worried about Anakin going to Coruscant. Before Anakin left he assured her he would be extra cautious not to let his presence be known. Now he was walking right into the krayt dragon’s den. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Anakin promised to lay low but they planned this all along-”
Obi-Wan interjected, “To be fair, they did not plan anything. Anakin wanted to go alone and yesterday Barriss insisted she was going too.”
She threw her hands up into the air. “Oh yes, that makes it all better. They’re risking their lives for nothing. I doubt the information they want is there. What if they get captured? What if they’re shot on sight?”
“Padmé,” Kornell interrupted, “why don’t we just discuss the emergency you called us about.” He offered her a chair and poured a cup of tea, hoping she’d calm down. He did not want to think about the possibilities that awaited Barriss. Padmé’s news could be a distraction from his constant worries.
Padmé took the seat and leaned her forehead against her palm. Anakin doesn’t really think that Avel was that careless with the Jedi Archives? There is something he wants. Something he didn’t tell her or Obi-Wan about. As for Barriss, what is she looking for?
There was nothing she could do about her husband’s suicide mission now so she put her thoughts aside for later. After taking a few breaths Padmé explained, “In a few hours we’re to meet Captain Panaka, who is hiding twelve Padawans on his ship.” Both men sat down at the table and listened intently as Padmé continued, “We don’t know much but Queen Apailana instructed that we bring them to the orphanage in Volterra. Captain Panaka found their ship drifting and disabled so they’ll probably need medical attention.”
Padmé watched as the color drained from Obi-Wan’s face. “What is it?”
“A couple of days ago I sensed a disturbance in the Force. I could hear many voices calling out for help. I meditated seeking the source but as the day went on the voices slowly became silent. I didn’t know what to make of it.” Obi-Wan then whispered, “These are dark times.”
Padmé felt a shiver crawl up her spine. “That does not sound promising.”
Obi-Wan shook his head. “We can only hope Captain Panaka got to them in time. Why does the queen want us to bring them to an orphanage?”
“It’s safe there. It’s in a small village in the mountains, run by the Holy Order. They’ll give them all the care and nurturing they need as they have experience taking in many children who are refugees or war orphans.”
“We’re to bring twelve injured children to their doorstep and tell them what false story?” Obi-Wan pointed out.
Padmé considered his question, then responded, “We won’t bring them there right away. We’ll wait till they have recovered. Their cover story will be they’re war orphans being transferred from Theed. We can procure fake documents for them-”
Obi-Wan interrupted her, “What if they’re adopted? They are not just war orphans, Padmé, they’re Force sensitive children being hunted by the Empire, by the Sith.”
Padmé understood that Obi-Wan was worried about the Padawans’ well being but he was getting ahead of himself. “We can talk about alternatives when we have a better understanding of their situation.”
Kornell brought the conversation back to the immediate issue, “Do you know the extent of their injuries?
“No. The queen can’t trust anyone in her cabinet so communications with Captain Panaka were minimal. The best I can tell you is be prepared for anything.”
-x-
Without wasting anymore time they made their way to the Lake Country in a medical transport Kornell secretly borrowed from Doctors Around the Galaxy, equipped with bacta tanks and other medical supplies.
They arrived at a spaceport in the mountains, privately owned by Queen Apailana, just as Captain Panaka landed the Royal Nubian Spacecraft and the damaged personal starship towed behind.
As the occupants departed the vessel, Panaka separated from them to greet Padmé and Obi-Wan, and was introduced to Dr. Kornell Divini. After Panaka made sure everyone else departed the spaceport he began to explain, “Queen Apailana instructed the crew and security to go back to Theed and not make any reports of this incident without my approval. They don’t know the children are Jedi.” Panaka turned to make his way back to the Nubian ship and gestured for Padmé, the Jedi, and the doctor to follow.
“I don’t understand. How do you know they are Jedi if everyone else aboard do not?” Obi-Wan asked.
“I’ll start from the beginning in a moment. First the surviving children need immediate medical attention.”
“The surviving children?” Kornell asked with sadness.
“Unfortunately we were too late for most of them. Only two of the twelve were alive when we found them.” Panaka led them to the medical bay where two small children, a human boy and a human girl, both about seven years old, were wrapped in thermal blankets and wearing oxygen masks. They were stable and already being treated for hypothermia. Kornell instantly began to check each child’s vitals and examine them for other injuries. There were several gashes and bruises on their arms, torsos and legs.
Padmé looked down at the boy and gently brushed her hand across his forehead sweeping his blonde hair aside. He opened his blue eyes but couldn’t keep them open long enough to focus on the woman standing above him.
“He looks a little bit like Luke. Doesn’t he?” Obi-Wan noted.
Besides the same color hair and eyes Padmé didn’t really see a resemblance but she nodded and went to see the girl. Her dark blonde hair was like straw and swept up into a messy pony tail. She did not wake as Padmé brushed her forehead.
Panaka continued, “The life support on their ship failed and the others died from hypothermia. These two are the youngest. We were speculating that the older children gave them a better chance of survival by encircling them. That’s how we found them, all huddled together and wearing oxygen masks.”
“You can investigate their ship later for answers. Right now we need to get them onto the medical transport. They have some injuries that need immediate treatment.” Kornell said.
-x-
Leaving the doctor with the children the other three began to investigate the badly damaged personal cruiser.
Panaka started at the beginning. “We had escorted Senator Baltar to Coruscant. He ordered us to return to Naboo without him. While in hyperspace we received a collision warning and dropped out of lightspeed. The ship was drifting, clearly in critical danger. We hailed them, got no response. There wasn’t even a distress signal. We concluded their com system was down.”
Walking along the permitter they saw the carbon scoring and laser marks that bruised the body of the ship. Part of the hull was blown away from what looked like an indirect missile strike. Without looking at the schematics it was hard to tell if the shields failed or if it didn’t have shields at all.
“Their attackers?” Obi-Wan asked.
“There was no trace of them. We’ll get more answers from the ship’s logs, if they survived the damage.”
Padmé took a steady breath. “Shall we go inside?”
They walked up the ramp into the belly of the ship that was still in tact. The walls were defrosting but it was still cold inside and they had to bring their own glow lamps because the electrical system was offline.
“When we boarded we found them all huddled here.” Panaka pointed to one of the sleeping quarters. Then Panaka led them to the main lounge. “The crew trained in emergency medicine brought the two who were unconscious aboard our ship, and the rest of us, including myself, laid the other children down like so.” He gestured to the ten bodies laid on floor in two rows of five and covered with white sheets.
Padmé sucked in a breath. Panaka and Obi-Wan asked if she was all right. “This is…” she trailed off. There were too many words to describe it. Distressing. Tragic. “Who could have done this?”
Obi-Wan slowly and with respect removed the sheets from their faces. They were between thirteen and seventeen years old and were a mix of species. Their clothes showed evidence that they were of different cultures and social statuses.
“You can see they’re not dressed like Jedi, and they don’t have those braids you would wear. None of us would have guessed, but I found him,” Panaka pointed to the eldest, a human, “wearing this around his wrist.” He took two severed braids out of his pocket. “Back on the ship I noticed the younger boy who survived was also wearing his braid around his wrist. I removed it before anyone else noticed, I hope. Of course we already had contacted the queen and told her what happened, but after I discover who these children really were I contacted the queen again, on our private channel.”
Padmé took the braids and softly rubbed them between her fingers. Two beaded clasps held the braids together at the ends like a bracelet. She would keep them with her until the small children woke up.
Obi-Wan brought his fingers to his lips in sudden recognition. “I remember who this boy is. He was Master Jocasta Nu’s Padawan.”
“Do you recognize anyone else?” Padmé asked.
“I don’t.” Obi-Wan said with sad frustration, but then he had a thought. “He was studying to become a librarian and was obsessed with the archives. He loved pouring over ancient teachings, different cultures, and all the journals from the Jedi. We should check to see if he kept a journal himself.”
They began to search the sleeping quarters and hidden compartments. They were empty. Everything was littered about the main lounge like a sand storm had hit it. They looked through clothes, personal belongings, and found some notebooks but they were filled with schoolwork. They organized everything into piles to ease their search, but still did not find a holocron or data pad.
Panaka then knelt down near the boy and whispered an apology before he searched the pockets of his clothing. Inside one of them was a slightly weathered leather bound journal. “Good thinking, Master Kenobi,” he said as he handed it over.
Obi-Wan opened the cover. The penmanship was clean and written in Standard Basic. Obi-Wan began to read out loud.
“My name is Jin-Lo Rayce and I survived the Jedi Purge.
I would have liked to record my accounts in a holocron but they are difficult to construct, even for a Jedi Master, which I am not. I don’t trust the security of a data pad, so for now I must tell my story in the ancient way.
It was my Master, Jocasta Nu, who helped me and two Jedi Initiates escape. We - Sors Bandeam, Jeswi Ele, and I - escaped the Temple through the service corridors.”
Obi-Wan stopped reading. “At least we know the younglings’ names.” He continued to skim Rayce’s entires. There were sixteen months to read about.
He and Padmé would read all of the journal later but what they learned now was that only the two small children came from the Jedi Temple. The others were Force adepts Jin-Lo Rayce met on his travels. They were banding together to build a new order and he called them the Agents of Ossuss.
Obi-Wan skipped to the last entry and frowned. “It was written two standard weeks ago. They were traveling to Ossuss but there’s nothing about what happened there.” He closed the book and put it in the pocket of his robes.
“Let’s go to look at the data and travel logs.” Panaka said.
Besides some of the sleeping quarters the cockpit was the only other area they could get to from the main lounge because of the hull breach. The area beyond had been sealed off as soon as the damage ripped the ship apart.
Panaka brought an external power generator to activate the controls and began to scroll through the information. “The name of the ship is Jocasta. The travel logs jump from different Core and Mid Rim planets. The last few stops were in the Outer Rim. The last entry had them leaving from Ossuss in the Outer Rim Territories bound for Chandrila.”
“Why go all the way to Ossuss?” Padmé asked.
Obi-Wan explained the shortened version of history every Jedi studies as a Padawan, “Five thousand years ago the Great Jedi Library was constructed there. It was the largest archives in the galaxy, but it was destroyed during the Great Sith War. The Jedi were forced to evacuate the planet and some of the knowledge was transferred to Coruscant, but most of it was lost forever.”
“Maybe he got the same idea in his head that Anakin did and went looking for answers at a dead end.” Padmé murmured, clearly still upset.
“What has Skywalker done now?” Panaka asked.
Padmé sighed, “Long story.” She nodded towards the console, “What else does it say?”
Panaka continued to recap the data feed, “This is a personal cruiser from Alderaan. Their shields were not strong enough to defend them from an attack. There are no weapons so they couldn't fight back and they fled by going to lightspeed, but with their hull breached and their systems failing they dropped out of hyperspace in the middle of nowhere and had no choice but wait to be found. They were drifting for 48 standard hours.”
Padmé rested her forehead in her hand while fighting to hold back tears. Obi-Wan laid a hand on her shoulder.
They turned when they heard Kornell enter the ship. When he entered the cockpit he gave his report, “They don’t have any internal injuries. I stitched up their gashes and they should keep the bacta patches on for twenty-six hours. Their body temperatures are back to normal and I gave them a mild sedative. They need to rest.” What he didn’t say was that he really wished Barriss was here. With her Jedi healing abilities she could repair their superficial wounds faster than bacta could.
“I’m glad to hear they’ll recover.” Padmé said with a choked up voice.
Kornell asked what they found and after they filled him in he said to Panaka, “I’m not a coroner but I would like to examine the other children. I know from the looks of things you came to a conclusion about their cause of death, but we don’t know what happened and I rather leave no stone unturned.”
“I think that is wise.” he replied.
Kornell made detail notes stating their species, gender, approximate age and injuries. They all had the same external injuries as the younglings. He also took a small sample of their blood for a toxicology screening that he would have to test at the lab.
With the children out of danger they had to make a decision about what to do. Given the circumstances and all that they had yet to discover they all agreed bringing the younglings to Volterra today was not a good decision. That left one option, they would stay with Padmé.
The other children would stay where they were until they could arrange a funeral. The queen’s spaceport would be kept cold and locked up until then. Captain Panaka would bring the Royal Nubian Spacecraft back to Theed where he would have a briefing with his queen and with the officers and crew that witnessed the events.
Padmé had left Sola with the twins in the late morning and it was late into the night when she returned with Obi-Wan, Kornell and two new sleeping guests.
Staying longer than she anticipated, Sola was now joined by her husband and her daughters. They were surprised by the news but were quick to help. Before they departed they set up an air mattress in Luke’s room for the younglings to sleep in.
Kornell said he would be back in the morning and left for the camp. Padmé offered the guest room to Obi-Wan and he accepted, though he didn’t end up sleeping at all.
Instead he went to the kitchen and began to read Jin-Lo’s journal. Opening the leather cover the aroma of an old book filled the air. Obi-Wan turned to the first page and felt the smooth texture of the parchment between his fingers. These sensations made him feel closer to Jin-Lo, like their thoughts were one.
Ji-Lo wrote about his escape from the Temple with the younglings. He was teaching the clan second year math when he heard the Clone Troopers attacking. He evacuated the class but they were cornered in the Archives as the troopers advanced. Jin-Lo defended the younglings to the best of his ability, but sword fighting was not his forte and it was clear the Jedi were outnumbered. He knew the troopers’ blaster shots were getting past him and he could sense the lives of the younglings become one with the Force.
Salvation came when Master Jocasta arrived and she killed the clones with great stealth and skill. She gave her Padawan a map of Coruscant’s underworld along with a data chip.
She told Jin-Lo to take the remaining younglings, Sors and Jeswi, through the service corridors and hide in the underworld. Jin-Lo pleaded with her to come with them but Master Nu refused. She had to protect the beacon or the Jedi who were not at the Temple would most likely return and fall into a trap.
Jin-Lo knew she didn’t succeed. He felt her death before he and the children were out of the secret tunnels beneath the Temple. He wanted to go back and would have if not for Sors and Jeswi depending on him. They were already distraught and Jin-Lo had to comfort and calm them before they could go on.
Obi-Wan had to stop reading. Placing his face in his hands he let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding and it came out as a jagged sob. When he was able to compose himself he picked up Jin-Lo’s dark braid and ran it between his thumb and forefinger. How heartless does one have to be to kill even the younglings? Did all the Clones turn on them? Would Commander Cody have turned on him?
It took some time and a few cups of caff before Obi-Wan picked up the journal again. When he did he couldn’t stop.
For a couple of months Jin-Lo, Sors and Jeswi hid in the underworld of Coruscant. He didn’t reveal any details about how they survived day to day and would only explain how he used the Force to conceal their presence from the Inquisitors and Clone Troopers.
Most of Jin-Lo’s entries during those months were more reflective and emotional. Knowing he was more book smart than street smart he was scared out of his wits to be on his own and taking care of two six year olds. While studying to become an Archivist he didn’t spend much time outside the Temple on missions. From time to time the Council would send him with a Jedi on a mission to get some hands on experience. There was only so much he could learn from the journals of others, they would say.
When the Clone Wars started and many of the Jedi left to fight, Jin-Lo’s responsibilities outside of the Archives increased. He was assigned to become the instructor of many academic classes: math, Basic grammar, and his favorite, Jedi history. He never once fought a battle in the Clone Wars. Though the war was over his battles were just beginning.
In order to spare the children and himself a life of crime in the Underworld they had to leave Coruscant. Jin-Lo made money by selling the best skill he had to offer - information. Eventually his payment came in the form of a personal cruiser -most likely a stolen one, but the ship from Alderaan got him and the children off Coruscant and to Chandrila. Jin-Lo knew that was his place of birth and he had it on good authority that the people there were Jedi sympathizers. They would turn a blind eye even though they no longer looked or behaved like Jedi.
On Chandrila he got a respectable job as a freelance researcher at a news publication. The hours were flexible so that he could stay at home with Sors and Jeswi as he continued their academic lessons and comforted them when they had nightmares.
Now that had his own data pad he could see what was on the data chip Master Nu had given him. It contained the profiles of the children in the Republic who were Force sensitive but their parents didn’t give the Jedi permission to raise them. Only the Masters on the Council and Master Nu had access to these records. He guessed that she wished for him to find them by tracking their last known locations. At first Jin-Lo felt it was too risky, but it was the sudden appearance and new found fame of Darth Avel that inspired him to act. On his free time he searched for those on the list who were about his age, but he had to be careful. He and the children were still fugitives. So he only asked those who had lost everything during the war and were looking for a better situation than the one life dealt them.
Some of those who decided to join his quest had been addicted to spices and death sticks. Jin-Lo was helping them through their withdrawal and to fight their addiction.
He then began to teach them the ways of the Force, as well as school work. Most of them were war orphans or runaways and their education had been neglected. Instructing them was difficult though without the resources of the Jedi Archives. It was in those entires that Jin-Lo expressed how much he missed the tranquility of the place and the excitement of discovering something new there. It wasn’t just the place he missed but his Master:
“I know it is not the Jedi way but I miss Master Jocasta. I miss our discussions and debates. I miss her presence as we sat quietly and read the ancient journals while eating biscuits.”
Master Jocasta took pride in the Archives. It wasn’t often, yet she was still teased about it, that she would tell a Jedi if the information wasn’t in the records it didn't exist. In truth she knew it paled in comparison to the Great Jedi Library. She spent her life maintaining and adding to the Archives on Coruscant, hoping that one day, even after she was one with the Force, it would be as grand.
In his last entry Jin-Lo wrote about Ossuss and the journals of the Jedi who went there on a retreat. It was once again habitable centuries after Exar Kun destroyed it, though not many people knew that. It was a forgotten planet in a forgotten part of the galaxy. Jin-Lo and his new family could rebuild a new Jedi Order there in secret. They would be The Agents of Ossuss. After a few months of finding other Force sensitives he felt it was time to make Ossuss their new home.
Obi-Wan wasn’t ready to part with Jin-Lo and so he read the last few lines over and over again.
“This is not the first Jedi Purge. We will survive this. We will overcome our plight, we will learn from our past mistakes and build a new Jedi Order.”
As Obi-Wan closed the journal and set his hands on the cover with respect and deep admiration. Jin-Lo Rayce grieved, survived and took on a huge responsibility of caring for the younglings and dared to establish a new order. His plan to go to Ossuss sounded like it could have worked. Where did it go wrong?
Obi-Wan couldn’t help feel that the last sixteen months of his life had been too idle. He was grateful to the Holy Order and enjoyed the humanitarian work he did with them, but it was not enough anymore. Perhaps it was time to slowly build and plot a rebellion against the Empire.
It was close to dawn when Padmé entered the kitchen. She stood in the doorway, still in her sleepwear, and watched Obi-Wan looking out the window. When he turned to her his expression was pensive and she thought that he may have been crying.
“You’re up early,” he said softly.
She took a seat adjacent from him. “It’s difficult to sleep in an empty bed.” She began to play with the Japor snippet, rubbing her fingers along the smooth edges and over the runes. She looked up to find Obi-Wan watching her.
Before she entered the kitchen she noticed the bed in the guest room had not been slept in. Pointing to Jin-Lo’s journal she asked, “You read all of it?”
Obi-Wan nodded. “He wrote a very detailed account about the attack on the Temple. Reading about that night,” he paused because he got choked up, “I feel Anakin may have been right. That we should have gone back.”
Padmé looked at him like he had lost his mind. He held up his hand to stop her from speaking. “They were so overwhelmed and I doubt I would have survived. But reading a first hand account, I feel like we did abandon them.”
This was so unlike Obi-Wan to look back on the past and think of other scenarios. He continued, “It wasn’t because I was afraid for myself. At the time I felt we had to leave to protect your children. That was more important. But also, I was protecting Anakin. I know he thinks I hold him back but I know that if we stayed on Coruscant he’d seek revenge. He would have fought with anger and fallen to the Dark Side. That is not how we’re going to defeat Darth Sidious.”
Padmé thought of her dream from the night before of Anakin as a Sith. There was still much anger and fear in him, and maybe some resentment. How many times did she or Obi-Wan talk him out of taking revenge on Sidious? Perhaps, that is partly why he is taking such a monumental risk while on Coruscant. “Is that why you encouraged him to go to the Temple now?” Padmé asked.
“He would have gone even if I tried to persuade him not to. I’m just sorry I lied to you.”
Padmé thought of the lies she and Anakin told, “We’re even. Are you also curious as to what they’ll find?”
Obi-Wan nodded, “Of course.” Then he laughed, for this was very un-Jedi like, when he realized he missed the adventure of being on a mission with Anakin. “I wish I were with them.”
“Why didn’t you go?”
“I offered to but he begged me to stay here and watch over you. Also, I had a feeling that Barriss was planning to follow him.”
Padmé sighed and rubbed her belly, then encircled her arms around it, “I hope they succeed. I’m too young to be a widow.”
-x-
The sun had risen and was shinning into Luke’s room and across the faces of the sleeping children. Sors and Jeswi opened their eyes to find themselves sleeping on a light and bouncy mass. Sitting up they bounced in place and giggled as the inertia made them feel like they were on a cloud.
When the novelty wore off the moment turned somber. Picking at their bacta patches they remembered the explosion, the freezing cold, and the sense of death. They couldn’t sense Jin-Lo presence anymore.
Looking around the serene room they noticed they were surrounded by toys and a crib draped in bright yellow and green shimmer silk. Peaking between the bars they saw the baby inside was still sleeping and neither of them dared to wake him up.
“Where are we?” Sors asked.
“I don’t know. But it feels…safe.” Jeswi answered. Standing very still for several seconds they waited for a sound to give away their location. It was silent. Looking towards the door Jeswi asked, “Should we see what’s outside?”
“Not yet. I like it in here.” Sors responded as he looked around the shelves full of toys.
Jeswi walked around the room to observe the holos placed on the walls. The sleeping baby was in all of them and with people she assumed was his family. There was another baby, a girl he seemed to be very close with. In another holo the two babies were with two older girls, an old man and an old woman at what looked like a celebration outdoors. Jeswi didn’t recognize the location. There was a great big lake and mountains in the background.
The last holo made her gasp, “Sors, look! It’s Master Skywalker! He’s alive!”
Sors abandoned the boring toys meant for babies and came over to see the holo of Master Skywalker standing next to a beautiful woman with dark, flowing hair and they were each holding a baby. They were richly dressed and they all had a dot of paint on their cheeks and lips.
While it was reassuring to see Master Skywalker had survived it was the woman he was with who captured the boy’s attention. “I think that woman was in my dream last night.”
“Maybe you didn’t dream of her. Maybe you saw her,” Jeswi said. “Do you think Master Skywalker rescued us? Maybe this is his house.”
Just then there was a knock at the door and a head poked in, “Good morning,” said Master Kenobi.
Falling back into old habits the children stood at attention and said in unison, “Good morning, Master Kenobi.”
Obi-Wan chuckled and said, “There is no need to be so formal. You can call me Obi-Wan.”
The children looked at each other in confusion. They would never dream of being so casual in front of a member of the Jedi Council. After a few nervous steps they relaxed and introduced themselves.
“Did Master Skywa- ugh- Anakin rescue us?” Jeswi asked.
“No. Someone else did. This is Anakin’s house though, and this is his son, Luke.” Obi-Wan pointed to the boy who was sleeping soundly. “His daughter Leia is asleep in the next room. Would you like to see her or would you rather eat first? I can hear your tummies growling.”
“Eat,” they said in unison.
As they followed Obi-Wan down the hallway to the kitchen they looked at more family holos. Most of them looked like they took place at Master Skywalker’s wedding or at various celebrations with cake. The thought of cake made their stomaches grumble more.
It was strange but comforting to see Master Skywalker with a wife and children. For the first time since traveling to Ossuss they had a renewed sense of hope.
As they entered the kitchen the younglings saw the woman from the holos placing two plates of food on the table. “Hello,” she said.
“Sors, Jeswi, I’d like you to meet Padmé,” Obi-Wan said.
They greeted her shyly. As they went around the table to take their seats Sors and Jeswi noticed Jin-Lo’s journal and the Padawan braids on the counter.
The four of them began to eat their breakfast in silence. Then Padmé asked, “How are you feeling this morning?”
They shrugged. “These patches are itchy,” Jeswi said as she picked at one.
“Yes, I know, but you can’t take them off yet. The doctor who treated you will come by later to give you both a check up.”
“How did we get here?” Sors asked.
Obi-Wan explained how Captain Panaka rescued them and brought them to Naboo.
The younglings looked at each other and then at Jin-Lo’s journal. “Only us?” Jeswi asked.
Obi-Wan said solemnly, “I’m afraid so.” The younglings had stopped eating and were just pushing what was left of their food around their plates.
Obi-Wan took the Padawan braids from the counter and handed them to Sors and Jeswi. Sors tried to clasp his braid around his wrist and Jeswi tried to do the same with Jin-Lo’s braid. They were having some difficulty so Padmé and Obi-Wan helped clasp them on.
“Do you want to talk about what happened?” Padmé asked.
The younglings just shook their heads. Padmé looked at Obi-Wan with worry but he motioned to her to be patient. When they were ready they would tell their tale.
“Okay then,” Padmé said. “How about I introduce you to our droids and then we can get dressed and brush our teeth?” Neither child protested.
They said their goodbyes to Obi-Wan. He was going back to the seminary to get some sleep but promised to return later that day.
At first the younglings didn’t want the Jedi Master to leave them but as soon as they were introduced to Threepio and Artoo they instantly liked them. The bickering droids actually made the children smile.
The younglings were not too keen about Luke or Leia and mostly ignored them. As Padmé dressed and fed her twins she was bombarded with questions about Master Skywalker. Where was he? When would he be back? The younglings then went on to ask about all the holos around the house. Padmé patiently answered their questions telling them all about her wedding to Anakin, about the twins’ blessing ceremony, and the birthdays they have had with her family. Padmé knew they were diverting the attention away from themselves. So she had an idea.
By the late afternoon when Padmé put her children down for their nap in Luke’s room she brought Sors and Jeswi to Leia’s room with the droids. She gave them data pads and stylists, then left them alone for a while.
-X-
“Hello, Kornell,” Padmé welcomed the doctor into her home and led him to the kitchen. “Obi-Wan said he is on his way. I think we should wait for him before we begin.”
Kornell nodded. “Where are the children?”
“They are taking a nap in my room.”
Kornell took a seat at the table and noticed Jin-Lo’s journal was open to where Padmé left off and two data pads with child like drawings displayed on the screens. They were so abstract it was difficult to understand. Red, yellow and black explosions of color splattered one of the screens, the other displayed abstract faces in agony.
“How are they doing?” he asked.
“I really can’t say,” Padmé replied. “They haven’t spoken about it, but I noticed they feel more comfortable with the droids and earlier they drew these. I have been reading Jin-Lo’s journal to see if correlates to what they drew. It could be the purge at the Temple or it could be what happened on the ship. I just can’t tell.” Padmé then sighed and shut the journal. “I’m sorry. Can I get you some caff? You look like you haven’t had any sleep either.”
“That would be great, thanks. I was up most of the night running toxicology tests.” Kornell opened the journal to flip through the pages, looking to place names for the teens he ran tests for. “It was a distraction. It’s not like I can sleep.”
“Worried about Barriss?” Padmé was amused by the look he gave her that said “obviously.” She handed him a mug full of caff. “I completely understand.”
After taking a sip Kornell said, “I did something really stupid. Really hasty and stupid.”
Padmé raised her eyebrows in surprise and curiosity.
Kornell continued, “Out of nowhere Barriss said she was following Anakin to Coruscant and they were getting into the Temple. I panicked. I got so scared that I proposed.” He groaned and squeezed his eyes shut as he replayed the scene in his head. “That is not how I envisioned asking her. She hasn’t even met my family yet. I haven’t even carved her a ring.”
“What did she answer?” Padmé asked sympathetically.
“No, of course. Because I was an idiot and blurred it out in the most unromantic way possible in the history of the galaxy.”
She almost laughed at his dramatic outburst. “It couldn’t have been that bad.”
“Trust me, it was. I know she loves me, but she…” he paused to take a breath and compose himself. “After our mission on Naboo is over our contracts with Doctors Around the Galaxy will be up. By that time we will have been with them for two years. I will not be renewing my contract. I plan to go back to Tatooine. I haven't seen my family since before the war began. That makes five and half years that I haven’t seen them. They’re doctors and have a very successful practice in Anchorhead. I plan to work in their practice for a while before figuring out what I want to do next. But,” he choked on the word then continued, “Barriss said she defiantly does not see a future with me on Tatooine. She wants to find more Jedi who survived.”
Padmé with compassion but without pity said, “I’m so sorry.”
Kornell stared out the window at the autumn colored trees. “What if while she’s at the Temple she realizes she’s still a Jedi and falling in love with me was a mistake? What if she never returns to Naboo and goes on her quest? I don’t want our last memory to be-” he pushed his hand out as if to keep the embarrassing memory away, “that.”
“Barriss wouldn’t do that. She will carry out the obligation of her contract. As for her relationship with you, I don’t believe she will think that what you two have was ever a mistake. Maybe you can figure out a way to have a future together, or maybe it wasn’t meant to be. You’ll have a lot to discuss when she returns.”
He looked to the ceiling and whispered the name of a deity. “I hope they don’t get caught.”
Luckily the door chimed and neither one had to sit and worry. Now that Obi-Wan had arrived Kornell told them the results of toxicology tests.
The three of them matched the names from the journal with Kornell’s notes. The two female Rodians, named Laueua and Tiziana, still had small tracings of spice in their system. Other than that the results indicated that they had all died from hypothermia.
Obi-Wan sensed the children peaking out from the hallway and called to them, “Hello there.” He motioned for them to enter the living room and sit with them. “Don’t be afraid. This is Doctor Kornell.”
Kornell pulled out two chocolate lollipops from his shirt pocket. “I bet you’re really itching to get those bandages off?”
Jeswi approached first and took the lollipop greedily. Sors followed with more caution.
Voicing their exact concern in unison Padmé and Threepio protested. “At least wait until after dinner,” Padmé sighed just as Threepio called out, “No, Doctor Divini, you must not spoil their dinner!”
“Nonsense. It’s an appetizer.” Kornell said, but Sors was already putting his back in the wrapper. Jeswi just giggled at Threepio’s dramatic antics.
Kornell laughed with the girl then said, “Ready to take those bandages off? You can help.” As the doctor helped them remove the bandages they saw the yellowed bruises and faint pink scratches that were once gashes. For the children it brought back memories of when the hull of the ship was blown away. The adults were eager to know what happened but remained patient.
“They have healed well.” Kornell reported. “It’s best not to let these scar so we’ll put on these new bacta patches for one more day. Okay? So, no scratching.”
Jeswi had already started to drag her nails across the cut on her arm. Kornell placed his hand over hers to still it. He pointed to the pink line that looked like a mouth and the surrounding yellow bruise. Two darker bruises above the cut resembled eyes. “Look, that one looks like Threepio. You wouldn’t want to hurt Threepio.”
“Well!” Threepio exclaimed. “Doctor Divini, I have never been so insulted!”
Artoo expressed a sardonic response and ready to list all the examples to the contrary.
“No one asked for your input, you bucket of bolts!”
The comedy duo provided a distraction for the children as Kornell cleaned and patched up the remaining wounds.
Afterwards they had a lively dinner. The twins were being difficult and Padmé was at her wits end. Jeswi was hopped up on sugar and not sitting still, but once the meal was finished and the kitchen was clean the children had calmed down. After the twins were put to bed the adults felt it was time to broach the subject to Sors and Jeswi.
“Padmé showed me some of your drawings earlier.” Kornell scrolled through the data pad and stopped on a page that displayed spiky green lines and brown boulder like shapes. “I like this one.”
As Jeswi was playing with her new bracelet she whispered, “We were going to Ossuss to live there. With Jin-Lo and all the new Padawans.”
It took some time to hear the whole story. They were still young children and didn’t understand all the details and often told the sequence of events out of order. However, by the end the adults pieced together what happened on Ossuss and why they had to leave.
Jin-Lo was very confident in his plan and they were all excited to live on Ossuss. It was going to be their new, permeant home where they could learn to be Jedi again. No one anticipated that the ruins of the Great Jedi Archives would be crawling with Imperial archeologists. Padmé believed that is what the younglings meant when they called them “the bad people who dug stuff up and put it in crates with the Emperor’s symbol on it.”
Instead of living in the town near the old archives they moved to the capital city nearby. They would wait until the archeologists were finished and left the planet. Jin-Lo was very angry by their presence and everything they were stealing from the ruins. He and a few of the other older children would often spy on them to find out why there were even there in the first place.
About a week after they arrived they were forced to abandon Ossuss. What they didn’t know was that two of their newest companions, the two female Rodians, had angered Jabba the Hutt. Their bounty was worth more if they were killed. Jin-Lo and the others then learned that Laueua and Tiziana used to not only smuggle spice for Jabba, but slaves as well. The Rodians did not deliver their shipment of slaves and instead set them free.
Laueua and Tiziana were discovered by a bounty hunter while they were in the capital city on Ossuss. Fear and panic spread among their group and they escaped Ossuss. However, the bounty hunter pursued them through space.
They were attacked with missiles but could not fight back. With their shields failing they had to quickly calculate a jump to lightspeed. Right before they made the jump their hull was blown away. Sors and Jeswi were in their quarters when the hull was breached but they were not strapped in and were thrown around the room. Outside their quarters they could hear the muffled screams as the vacuum of space sucked everything out of the ship. Then the sound of doors slammed but the screaming continued.
They were thrown across the room again when the ship went to lightspeed, but it was a short trip. A final toss across to the other wall told them they were abruptly pulled out of hyperspace. Then everything went dark.
Jin-Lo came to get them and brought them oxygen masks, thermal blankets and glow sticks.
Everything was offline and there were no habitable planets near by. Some wanted to send out a distress signal and others said it was too risky. It didn’t matter in the end when they found out the communications system was fried.
The fear and panic had reached its peak. Tempers flared and blame was thrown around. Most of the blame was directed at the Rodians. Some felt they should have just escaped on their own and they cursed Laueua and Tiziana for getting them into this mess. The chaotic shouting soon cooled down as they had to huddle together for warmth.
Then it became very cold and very quiet, and it was like that for a very long time.
-x-
Recounting their story had taken an emotional toll on Sors and Jeswi. Padmé and Obi-Wan consoled them. After some time had past their tears subsided and they had exhausted themselves.
Obi-Wan and Kornell helped Padmé put the children to bed. Padmé offered them the guest room but they insist on sleeping on the air mattress in Luke’s room because it was “safe there” and “the colors are pretty.” Padmé noted that it was also closer to her bedroom.
After the children were sound asleep the three adults quietly discussed what they just learned.
“I am not surprised the Emperor knows about Ossuss but what the blazes is he looking for there?” Obi-Wan asked.
Padmé just shook her head. “I’m more concerned about the Rodians. Why did they let the slaves go? Should we look into it?”
Obi-Wan took a moment to think. Padmé and Kornell waited as he closed his eyes and meditated. With a deep breath and then meeting Padmé’s eyes he answered, “We should wait until some time has past. There could still be a price on their heads and snooping into their past will only draw attention to us. But it is not something we should ignore.”
Padmé nodded, “I agree. Tomorrow morning we are going to inform Captain Panaka and the Queen about all of this. This is much bigger and more complicated than anything we could have imagined.”
“And we need to arrange a covert funeral.” Kornell added.
-X-
Two days later they did have a funeral. It was early morning in the Lake Country. Obi-Wan, Kornell, and Captain Panaka transported the bodies of the Agents of Ossuss to the beach at Varykino. Being the middle of autumn it was too late in the season for residents to be at their lake retreats. The flames and smell of a massive pyre on the beach would not draw attention to Padmé’s neighbors. Today the weather was good for the occasion, sunny, cool, and not much of a breeze.
Padmé arrived with Sors and Jeswi. They were dressed in midnight blue, the color of mourning on Naboo. She guided the children to the shore and softly instructed them on what to do.
As the men placed each body on the pyre Padmé handed lotus flowers to Sors and Jeswi to place in the water. Padmé lit the candles in the center of each lotus and the children whispered to the wind the names of the deceased. They said Jin-Lo’s name last.
Sors took Jeswi’s hand and watched as the current carried the flowers out further and further away. He let out a sob then whispered, “The Force will be with you. Always.”
-X-
The calm and melancholy weather of that day took a violent turn at night. Sors and Jeswi had not been sleeping for long when the storm woke them. The wind was howling outside and the bare tree branches were scraping against the window.
Sors and Jeswi watched the moving shadows on the walls. Crooked arms with long, crooked fingers reaching down to grab them as the rain began to patter on the glass.
They looked at each other as the strength of the wind picked up and their fear intensified. It sounded like it did when the hull of their ship was ripped apart and everything was sucked out into the void of space.
“I want to go to Miss Padmé’s room,” Sors whispered.
Jeswi threw off her covers, “Me too.”
Sors followed her, “What about her babies?”
Jeswi looked behind her friend and saw the twins were climbing out of the crib. “They’re coming too.”
Opening the door to Padmé’s room they found her already asleep. She was not afraid of the howling wind nor the trees that will grab you in the night and hurl you into space.
Climbing up into the big bed they got under the covers and startled Padmé. “Are you two scared?”
They nodded.
“Are the twins awake?”
“They’ll be here soon,” Jeswi said.
“What!” Padmé turned on the visual display of the baby monitor to see both Leia and Luke climbing down onto the soft carpet. Somehow they had managed to lower the bar of Luke’s crib. Padmé sprang out of bed to grab them before they could fall onto the floor. With a baby on each hip and getting back into bed she exclaimed, “My little daredevils.”
Padmé was sandwiched between her children and the younglings, though she didn’t mind. The bed was too big without Anakin besides her. “Only for tonight,” she promised. “Shall I sing to you?”
Padmé sang “Little Bird,” the same Nubian lullaby that always put the twins to sleep. It was about a scared child that transforms into a small but fierce bird of prey to defend him or her self from the scary monsters.
-x-
Padmé awoke in the morning to the sun shining in her face and someone poking her stomach.
She was wearing one of Anakin’s shirts, one that she asked him to wear before he left so that it would smell like him. Through the thin grey cotton material it was visible to see her small baby bump. Sors, sensing the life inside her through the Force, was poking her belly with his tiny finger, “There’s something in there.”
Padmé laughed, “Yes, there is. It’s a baby.” She lifted the hem of her shirt and placed the boy’s hand flat on the bump. Padmé had only started to feel her child quickening and doubted Sors could feel any movement.
Jeswi sat up and placed her hand next to Sors’. Suddenly their little hands were being slapped and pushed away by two hands that were even smaller.
Padmé grabbed Luke’s and Leia’s hands and with a stern voice said, “Be nice. No hitting and no pushing.” They listened to their mother, for now.
Sors and Jeswi kept their hands to themselves. “How did a baby get in there?” the girl asked.
Padmé contemplated a simple answer a seven year old would understand. “Magic.”
Their eyes widened with wonder. “Does it feel funny?” Sors asked.
“A little. Want to know what’s funnier? Having two babies inside you.” They didn’t believe her. “These two were once kicking me and each other.” Padmé took turns picking each twin up above her head, repeatedly kissing their cheeks and blowing raspberries on their tummies. Leia and Luke shrieked with laughter.
Then they settled down and snuggled into her side as Padmé sunk back into the bed. She was so tired and just wanted to lay there all day. Sors had scooted to the lower portion of the bed to lay beside her legs. Padmé felt him slip his hand into hers where the twins couldn’t see. She gave it a tiny squeeze.
Jeswi was sitting besides Padmé’s head and braiding her hair. There were already several messy and inconsistent strands scattered on her pillow. “May I braid your hair?” Padmé asked.
The girl nodded and Padmé told her to bring her the brush from the vanity. As Jeswi searched the table top she noticed an open jewelry box and inside was a blonde Padawan braid and a carved Japor snippet.
Jeswi brought the brush to Padmé and sat on her lap. As Padmé began to run the soft bristles through her hair Leia’s jealously lashed out again when she pulled Jeswi’s hair. It wasn’t hard enough to hurt her, but it was Leia’s intension to do so.
“Leia! No!” Padmé warned her daughter, “If you don’t behave you’re getting a Time Out.”
Leia grabbed her mother’s sleeve and began to cry, “Mama, no!” It wasn’t long before Luke was crying too.
“It’s ok, Miss Padmé, you don't have to braid my hair,” Jeswi said softly as she took her hair in her hands and played with the ends.
Padmé disagreed, “They have to learn to share my attention.” She let the twins cry themselves out as she braided Jeswi’s hair. She thought of how Jeswi never had her mother braid her hair. Where was her mother now? She thought of all the families that sent their babies to become a Jedi and how they must have mourned their loss a second time after the Purge. She took a deep breath and cursed her hormones for making her emotional. She wouldn't cry in front of the children. She tied off the end of Jeswi’s long braid and looked over at Sors’ shaggy hair. Padmé asked him if he wanted a turn too, but fearing retaliation from the twins he shook his head.
The twins were just starting to calm down from their temper tantrum when Threepio walked in with Artoo trailing behind him. “Goodness gracious me! What is the commotion?” The children’s faces lit up when they saw the droids.
“I have it under control, Threepio. Can you please set the table for breakfast?”
“Certainly, Mistress Padmé.” The children followed the droids to the kitchen skipping along side them.
When Leia’s tears subsided Padmé took her into her lap and gave her two little braids that looked like antennas on top of her head. Luke was then begging for his turn too.
Padmé hugged them tightly, said she loved them and then asked that they behave themselves. They would not.
-X-
The house became a war zone. Leia and Luke would no longer tolerate their mother dividing her time between them and the two new strangers. The twins took toys away from the children and would often pull Jeswi’s braid. With guilt in her heart but also not knowing any other alternative Padmé punished her babies with a Time Out. There were tears and no lessons learned. With no idea how to proceed she swallowed her pride and contacted her parents.
Ruwee and Jobal came by and said they would come around more often to help out until a decision was made about the children’s future. In the meantime Jobal had some opinions to voice to her daughter, “This behavior cannot continue. With a new sibling coming in a few months they’ll have to get used to another child to share with.”
Holding back the attitude as much as she could Padmé said, “I know, mom.”
“I don’t think you do,” Jobal snapped back. “Have you ever noticed they have trouble sharing even with their cousins? They need to learn social skills. Have you and Anakin ever discussed enrolling them into daycare?”
Padmé sighed. She was too tired to argue with her mother. Especially when her mother looked so menacing while chopping vegetables. As Padmé seared the steaks she put on her most diplomatic voice, “I’ll discuss it with Anakin when he returns.”
“Good.” Jobal hoped she meant it. “Now that your father and I are here you don’t have to worry. The twins will behave.”
They did not. Now the twins also had to share the attention of their grandparents and that was the last straw. Before the twins never protested their healthy diet. Now they wanted cookies for dinner.
Were “the terrible twos” starting early? First Padmé demanded they eat then resorted to bribery. They would each get a cookie after they had their mixed vegetables.
Then the animosity escalated and a battle broke out. Sors and Jeswi couldn’t cut their meat, so Jobal and Ruwee stepped in to help. That was when Luke threw his jar of mushed vegetables right at Jeswi’s head. The green goo splattered all over the girl and Jobal. Leia followed suit throwing her jar at Sors and used the Force to spill both cups of fruit juice on Sors and Jeswi’s laps.
The kitchen erupted into a whirlwind of shouts, cries and more objects being Force thrown at the children. Threepio couldn’t watch and left the room with Artoo trailing closely behind him.
Ruwee broke through the chaos and he did not need to shout, “Enough.” Everyone, except for the twins, became silent and turned to him. “Jobal, give the children a bath. Padmé, put the twins in a Time Out. Threepio and I will clean up in here.”
Padmé brought the twins to Luke’s room and sat them in different corners of the room. Padmé stood outside as a guard and waited until they calmed down from their temper tantrum.
Their thrashes and wails turned to sobs, then into hiccups.
After a few minutes she walked back into Luke’s room and knelt down onto the floor. First Luke, then Leia walked over to her and they buried their faces into her shirt. Making them stand in front of her she lifted their chins so they would look into her eyes. “Listen to me. That was very bad. You do not throw food and spill drinks. Ever. Be nice to Sors and Jeswi. I still love you both with all my heart.”
She hoped they understood her when they made their way back into her arms and nestled into her side. Moving to the rocking chair Padmé sat them in her lap. She showered them both with kisses and pushed the chair back and forth. They grabbed onto her shirt and buried their faces. They were not usually so clingy with her and she’d only seen Leia behave this way with her father. Burning stars, if Anakin were here she was sure her twins would have started throwing knives at their rivals.
She was sure their behavior was a result not just of jealousy but because they felt their father’s absence. What was she going to do?
Her mind wondered as she thought of Coruscant the last time she was there and remembered the Jedi Temple engulfed in flames. What did it look like now? Padmé said a silent prayer for her husband’s safety, and one for Barriss too.
Sensing her mother’s thoughts Leia asked, “Da-dee?”
Padmé stroked their hair and placed a kiss on each of their heads. “He’ll be home in a couple of days. Do you miss him?”
They nodded.
“Me too.” To lighten the mood Padmé put on some music. She chose an upbeat and rhythmic song from one of her favorite bands. She set the twins down and watched them dance. The scene was too cute and she couldn’t help but laugh.
It wasn’t long before Sors and Jeswi, wearing clean pajamas, came running in to join their dance party. Padmé found her holo recorder to capture this moment. Finally, all four children were having fun and getting along.
Setting down the device she joined in, taking turns with each child dancing silly movements and singing along to the lyrics. Ruwee and Jobal walked in on the scene and could not contain their laughter.
-x-
Eventually it was bedtime for all the children and Padmé could finally have some time to herself. Laying back in the bath she inhaled the eucalyptus scents and let the tension leave her muscles. It wasn’t helping. Too many worries occupied her mind.
The song was now stuck in her head so she embraced it by singing the chorus and tapping her foot.
That didn’t help her relax either.
-x-
“Padmé, this frequency is airing the Engineers Convention Closing ceremony,” Ruwee said as he pointed to the HoloNet receiver.
Padmé took her place on the sofa and saw the launch of a squadron of TIE fighters. The crowds were massive and their cheering was almost as loud as the sound of the ion engines. Part of her wished to see Anakin among the crowds, just to know he was safe. Of course that was an impossible wish. He wouldn't dare to be caught on a holocam broadcasting all over the galaxy.
Padmé’s mind started to wander as she watched (but didn’t really pay attention to,) the stylized formations the TIE fighters displayed. Such spectacles were more impressive in person and when they weren't Imperial ships.
Padmé was about the change the frequency when a ball of fire shot into the air and knocked the TIE fighters out of their flight path.
Jobal and Ruwee gasped in horror and Padmé jumped out of her seat.
The flames and screaming lasted no more than five seconds. The live transmission cut out and was replaced with the Empire’s insignia. Padmé dashed to the receiver to shake it. “What? No!” she gasped.
Shocked silence and disbelief filled the room. Padmé was so worried about Palpatine discovering Anakin’s presence and feared for his life while at the Jedi Temple she didn’t think of the possibility of anything else going wrong.
No official report, no other program replaced the feed. Only the ugly, menacing insignia stared back at Padmé.
“I have to contact Barriss and Obi-Wan,” Padmé said.
-x-
Obi-Wan was not aware of the attack on Coruscant but as soon as Padmé informed him he rushed over.
“Have you heard from Barriss yet?” Obi-Wan asked as Padmé opened the door.
“No,” Padmé bit out.
“I received a message from Barriss this morning that they made it out of the Temple and with information. To get through all that and have this happen on his last day is unbelievable.”
Obi-Wan followed Padmé to her bedroom where he saw Jobal running back and forth from a traveling case to the closet with clothes in her arms.
“Mother! Stop unpacking!” Padmé demanded.
“You are not going to Coruscant. It is too dangerous. You’re pregnant and the children need you here,” Jobal commanded.
“Anakin is in trouble and needs my help.” Padmé grabbed her clothes from her mother and put them back in her traveling case.
“You don’t know that,” Ruwee said. He stood up from the edge of the bed and wrapped an arm around his daughter’s shoulder. “Wait until you have news from Barriss.”
“No, something is wrong,” Padmé shook her head and placed her hands over her child. “I can feel it. I have been feeling it all evening.”
Ruwee looked over Padmé’s head at Obi-Wan. The Jedi frowned and looked out the window. He too sensed something ominous.
The silence was broken when Padmé’s data pad chimed. Padmé grabbed it and immediately ran Barriss’s message through the decryption program.
Padmé let out a sigh, “Anakin’s alive. He was admitted to a medical facility and is being treated for critical injuries. She’ll have more details in a few hours.”
Jobal’s shoulders relaxed. “See? He’ll be alright and Barriss can keep an eye on him.”
Padmé shot an incredulous look at her mother. “I’m still going.”
“Padmé,” Jobal said through clenched teeth. “Trust Barriss. If it makes you feel better Obi-Wan will go to Coruscant.”
Ruwee just shook his head in defeat. Both he and Obi-Wan saw the look in Padmé’s eyes.
Padmé made up her mind. She had been thinking about what Sola said to her. That she has been living in fear. That fear had been a bad omen. Where was the brave and determined woman who went to Geonosis to help her friend? Where was that bold and daring woman who broke the rules to marry a Jedi? She was going to Coruscant and bringing her husband home.
-X-
Author’s Note: Lyrics from “All These Things That I've Done” by The Killers.
Author:
stephanie_ficsTime Frame: Between RotS and ANH.
Characters: Padmé, Obi-Wan, Kornell, and Captain Panaka.
Genre: AU, Drama, Action
Rating: Adult
Summary: Padmé answers the Queen's call to help the Padawans.
Warning: There are dark and violent scenes. Reader discretion is advised.
Chapter list.
When there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
One more son
If you can hold on
If you can hold on, hold on
After Queen Apailana and Captain Typho departed her home Padmé dressed in the disguise of a Holy Woman and went to visit Obi-Wan. On her way to the seminary she contacted Barriss and Kornell to meet her there. The queen had asked that Padmé only tell her husband and Obi-Wan of the Padawans, but she felt that the children would need a healer and a doctor to examine them. They had no information on how the Padawans escaped Order 66, where they had been hiding for over a year, or how long their ship was stranded in space.
As Obi-Wan welcomed Padmé into his modest quarters she excitedly bursted out, “You will not believe the news I have.” She noticed Kornell had already arrived, but he came alone. “Where is Barriss? This is an emergency,” she said with some annoyance.
The doctor was shocked by her outburst and confused by her question. “She’s on Coruscant,” he glanced at Obi-Wan, “with Anakin.”
Padmé looked back at Obi-Wan, who looked at her with guilt in his eyes. “What’s going on?”
“She and Anakin are breaking into the Jedi Temple to find information on Darth Avel,” Obi-Wan confessed.
Padmé was seething with anger. She had been worried about Anakin going to Coruscant. Before Anakin left he assured her he would be extra cautious not to let his presence be known. Now he was walking right into the krayt dragon’s den. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Anakin promised to lay low but they planned this all along-”
Obi-Wan interjected, “To be fair, they did not plan anything. Anakin wanted to go alone and yesterday Barriss insisted she was going too.”
She threw her hands up into the air. “Oh yes, that makes it all better. They’re risking their lives for nothing. I doubt the information they want is there. What if they get captured? What if they’re shot on sight?”
“Padmé,” Kornell interrupted, “why don’t we just discuss the emergency you called us about.” He offered her a chair and poured a cup of tea, hoping she’d calm down. He did not want to think about the possibilities that awaited Barriss. Padmé’s news could be a distraction from his constant worries.
Padmé took the seat and leaned her forehead against her palm. Anakin doesn’t really think that Avel was that careless with the Jedi Archives? There is something he wants. Something he didn’t tell her or Obi-Wan about. As for Barriss, what is she looking for?
There was nothing she could do about her husband’s suicide mission now so she put her thoughts aside for later. After taking a few breaths Padmé explained, “In a few hours we’re to meet Captain Panaka, who is hiding twelve Padawans on his ship.” Both men sat down at the table and listened intently as Padmé continued, “We don’t know much but Queen Apailana instructed that we bring them to the orphanage in Volterra. Captain Panaka found their ship drifting and disabled so they’ll probably need medical attention.”
Padmé watched as the color drained from Obi-Wan’s face. “What is it?”
“A couple of days ago I sensed a disturbance in the Force. I could hear many voices calling out for help. I meditated seeking the source but as the day went on the voices slowly became silent. I didn’t know what to make of it.” Obi-Wan then whispered, “These are dark times.”
Padmé felt a shiver crawl up her spine. “That does not sound promising.”
Obi-Wan shook his head. “We can only hope Captain Panaka got to them in time. Why does the queen want us to bring them to an orphanage?”
“It’s safe there. It’s in a small village in the mountains, run by the Holy Order. They’ll give them all the care and nurturing they need as they have experience taking in many children who are refugees or war orphans.”
“We’re to bring twelve injured children to their doorstep and tell them what false story?” Obi-Wan pointed out.
Padmé considered his question, then responded, “We won’t bring them there right away. We’ll wait till they have recovered. Their cover story will be they’re war orphans being transferred from Theed. We can procure fake documents for them-”
Obi-Wan interrupted her, “What if they’re adopted? They are not just war orphans, Padmé, they’re Force sensitive children being hunted by the Empire, by the Sith.”
Padmé understood that Obi-Wan was worried about the Padawans’ well being but he was getting ahead of himself. “We can talk about alternatives when we have a better understanding of their situation.”
Kornell brought the conversation back to the immediate issue, “Do you know the extent of their injuries?
“No. The queen can’t trust anyone in her cabinet so communications with Captain Panaka were minimal. The best I can tell you is be prepared for anything.”
Without wasting anymore time they made their way to the Lake Country in a medical transport Kornell secretly borrowed from Doctors Around the Galaxy, equipped with bacta tanks and other medical supplies.
They arrived at a spaceport in the mountains, privately owned by Queen Apailana, just as Captain Panaka landed the Royal Nubian Spacecraft and the damaged personal starship towed behind.
As the occupants departed the vessel, Panaka separated from them to greet Padmé and Obi-Wan, and was introduced to Dr. Kornell Divini. After Panaka made sure everyone else departed the spaceport he began to explain, “Queen Apailana instructed the crew and security to go back to Theed and not make any reports of this incident without my approval. They don’t know the children are Jedi.” Panaka turned to make his way back to the Nubian ship and gestured for Padmé, the Jedi, and the doctor to follow.
“I don’t understand. How do you know they are Jedi if everyone else aboard do not?” Obi-Wan asked.
“I’ll start from the beginning in a moment. First the surviving children need immediate medical attention.”
“The surviving children?” Kornell asked with sadness.
“Unfortunately we were too late for most of them. Only two of the twelve were alive when we found them.” Panaka led them to the medical bay where two small children, a human boy and a human girl, both about seven years old, were wrapped in thermal blankets and wearing oxygen masks. They were stable and already being treated for hypothermia. Kornell instantly began to check each child’s vitals and examine them for other injuries. There were several gashes and bruises on their arms, torsos and legs.
Padmé looked down at the boy and gently brushed her hand across his forehead sweeping his blonde hair aside. He opened his blue eyes but couldn’t keep them open long enough to focus on the woman standing above him.
“He looks a little bit like Luke. Doesn’t he?” Obi-Wan noted.
Besides the same color hair and eyes Padmé didn’t really see a resemblance but she nodded and went to see the girl. Her dark blonde hair was like straw and swept up into a messy pony tail. She did not wake as Padmé brushed her forehead.
Panaka continued, “The life support on their ship failed and the others died from hypothermia. These two are the youngest. We were speculating that the older children gave them a better chance of survival by encircling them. That’s how we found them, all huddled together and wearing oxygen masks.”
“You can investigate their ship later for answers. Right now we need to get them onto the medical transport. They have some injuries that need immediate treatment.” Kornell said.
Leaving the doctor with the children the other three began to investigate the badly damaged personal cruiser.
Panaka started at the beginning. “We had escorted Senator Baltar to Coruscant. He ordered us to return to Naboo without him. While in hyperspace we received a collision warning and dropped out of lightspeed. The ship was drifting, clearly in critical danger. We hailed them, got no response. There wasn’t even a distress signal. We concluded their com system was down.”
Walking along the permitter they saw the carbon scoring and laser marks that bruised the body of the ship. Part of the hull was blown away from what looked like an indirect missile strike. Without looking at the schematics it was hard to tell if the shields failed or if it didn’t have shields at all.
“Their attackers?” Obi-Wan asked.
“There was no trace of them. We’ll get more answers from the ship’s logs, if they survived the damage.”
Padmé took a steady breath. “Shall we go inside?”
They walked up the ramp into the belly of the ship that was still in tact. The walls were defrosting but it was still cold inside and they had to bring their own glow lamps because the electrical system was offline.
“When we boarded we found them all huddled here.” Panaka pointed to one of the sleeping quarters. Then Panaka led them to the main lounge. “The crew trained in emergency medicine brought the two who were unconscious aboard our ship, and the rest of us, including myself, laid the other children down like so.” He gestured to the ten bodies laid on floor in two rows of five and covered with white sheets.
Padmé sucked in a breath. Panaka and Obi-Wan asked if she was all right. “This is…” she trailed off. There were too many words to describe it. Distressing. Tragic. “Who could have done this?”
Obi-Wan slowly and with respect removed the sheets from their faces. They were between thirteen and seventeen years old and were a mix of species. Their clothes showed evidence that they were of different cultures and social statuses.
“You can see they’re not dressed like Jedi, and they don’t have those braids you would wear. None of us would have guessed, but I found him,” Panaka pointed to the eldest, a human, “wearing this around his wrist.” He took two severed braids out of his pocket. “Back on the ship I noticed the younger boy who survived was also wearing his braid around his wrist. I removed it before anyone else noticed, I hope. Of course we already had contacted the queen and told her what happened, but after I discover who these children really were I contacted the queen again, on our private channel.”
Padmé took the braids and softly rubbed them between her fingers. Two beaded clasps held the braids together at the ends like a bracelet. She would keep them with her until the small children woke up.
Obi-Wan brought his fingers to his lips in sudden recognition. “I remember who this boy is. He was Master Jocasta Nu’s Padawan.”
“Do you recognize anyone else?” Padmé asked.
“I don’t.” Obi-Wan said with sad frustration, but then he had a thought. “He was studying to become a librarian and was obsessed with the archives. He loved pouring over ancient teachings, different cultures, and all the journals from the Jedi. We should check to see if he kept a journal himself.”
They began to search the sleeping quarters and hidden compartments. They were empty. Everything was littered about the main lounge like a sand storm had hit it. They looked through clothes, personal belongings, and found some notebooks but they were filled with schoolwork. They organized everything into piles to ease their search, but still did not find a holocron or data pad.
Panaka then knelt down near the boy and whispered an apology before he searched the pockets of his clothing. Inside one of them was a slightly weathered leather bound journal. “Good thinking, Master Kenobi,” he said as he handed it over.
Obi-Wan opened the cover. The penmanship was clean and written in Standard Basic. Obi-Wan began to read out loud.
“My name is Jin-Lo Rayce and I survived the Jedi Purge.
I would have liked to record my accounts in a holocron but they are difficult to construct, even for a Jedi Master, which I am not. I don’t trust the security of a data pad, so for now I must tell my story in the ancient way.
It was my Master, Jocasta Nu, who helped me and two Jedi Initiates escape. We - Sors Bandeam, Jeswi Ele, and I - escaped the Temple through the service corridors.”
Obi-Wan stopped reading. “At least we know the younglings’ names.” He continued to skim Rayce’s entires. There were sixteen months to read about.
He and Padmé would read all of the journal later but what they learned now was that only the two small children came from the Jedi Temple. The others were Force adepts Jin-Lo Rayce met on his travels. They were banding together to build a new order and he called them the Agents of Ossuss.
Obi-Wan skipped to the last entry and frowned. “It was written two standard weeks ago. They were traveling to Ossuss but there’s nothing about what happened there.” He closed the book and put it in the pocket of his robes.
“Let’s go to look at the data and travel logs.” Panaka said.
Besides some of the sleeping quarters the cockpit was the only other area they could get to from the main lounge because of the hull breach. The area beyond had been sealed off as soon as the damage ripped the ship apart.
Panaka brought an external power generator to activate the controls and began to scroll through the information. “The name of the ship is Jocasta. The travel logs jump from different Core and Mid Rim planets. The last few stops were in the Outer Rim. The last entry had them leaving from Ossuss in the Outer Rim Territories bound for Chandrila.”
“Why go all the way to Ossuss?” Padmé asked.
Obi-Wan explained the shortened version of history every Jedi studies as a Padawan, “Five thousand years ago the Great Jedi Library was constructed there. It was the largest archives in the galaxy, but it was destroyed during the Great Sith War. The Jedi were forced to evacuate the planet and some of the knowledge was transferred to Coruscant, but most of it was lost forever.”
“Maybe he got the same idea in his head that Anakin did and went looking for answers at a dead end.” Padmé murmured, clearly still upset.
“What has Skywalker done now?” Panaka asked.
Padmé sighed, “Long story.” She nodded towards the console, “What else does it say?”
Panaka continued to recap the data feed, “This is a personal cruiser from Alderaan. Their shields were not strong enough to defend them from an attack. There are no weapons so they couldn't fight back and they fled by going to lightspeed, but with their hull breached and their systems failing they dropped out of hyperspace in the middle of nowhere and had no choice but wait to be found. They were drifting for 48 standard hours.”
Padmé rested her forehead in her hand while fighting to hold back tears. Obi-Wan laid a hand on her shoulder.
They turned when they heard Kornell enter the ship. When he entered the cockpit he gave his report, “They don’t have any internal injuries. I stitched up their gashes and they should keep the bacta patches on for twenty-six hours. Their body temperatures are back to normal and I gave them a mild sedative. They need to rest.” What he didn’t say was that he really wished Barriss was here. With her Jedi healing abilities she could repair their superficial wounds faster than bacta could.
“I’m glad to hear they’ll recover.” Padmé said with a choked up voice.
Kornell asked what they found and after they filled him in he said to Panaka, “I’m not a coroner but I would like to examine the other children. I know from the looks of things you came to a conclusion about their cause of death, but we don’t know what happened and I rather leave no stone unturned.”
“I think that is wise.” he replied.
Kornell made detail notes stating their species, gender, approximate age and injuries. They all had the same external injuries as the younglings. He also took a small sample of their blood for a toxicology screening that he would have to test at the lab.
With the children out of danger they had to make a decision about what to do. Given the circumstances and all that they had yet to discover they all agreed bringing the younglings to Volterra today was not a good decision. That left one option, they would stay with Padmé.
The other children would stay where they were until they could arrange a funeral. The queen’s spaceport would be kept cold and locked up until then. Captain Panaka would bring the Royal Nubian Spacecraft back to Theed where he would have a briefing with his queen and with the officers and crew that witnessed the events.
Padmé had left Sola with the twins in the late morning and it was late into the night when she returned with Obi-Wan, Kornell and two new sleeping guests.
Staying longer than she anticipated, Sola was now joined by her husband and her daughters. They were surprised by the news but were quick to help. Before they departed they set up an air mattress in Luke’s room for the younglings to sleep in.
Kornell said he would be back in the morning and left for the camp. Padmé offered the guest room to Obi-Wan and he accepted, though he didn’t end up sleeping at all.
Instead he went to the kitchen and began to read Jin-Lo’s journal. Opening the leather cover the aroma of an old book filled the air. Obi-Wan turned to the first page and felt the smooth texture of the parchment between his fingers. These sensations made him feel closer to Jin-Lo, like their thoughts were one.
Ji-Lo wrote about his escape from the Temple with the younglings. He was teaching the clan second year math when he heard the Clone Troopers attacking. He evacuated the class but they were cornered in the Archives as the troopers advanced. Jin-Lo defended the younglings to the best of his ability, but sword fighting was not his forte and it was clear the Jedi were outnumbered. He knew the troopers’ blaster shots were getting past him and he could sense the lives of the younglings become one with the Force.
Salvation came when Master Jocasta arrived and she killed the clones with great stealth and skill. She gave her Padawan a map of Coruscant’s underworld along with a data chip.
She told Jin-Lo to take the remaining younglings, Sors and Jeswi, through the service corridors and hide in the underworld. Jin-Lo pleaded with her to come with them but Master Nu refused. She had to protect the beacon or the Jedi who were not at the Temple would most likely return and fall into a trap.
Jin-Lo knew she didn’t succeed. He felt her death before he and the children were out of the secret tunnels beneath the Temple. He wanted to go back and would have if not for Sors and Jeswi depending on him. They were already distraught and Jin-Lo had to comfort and calm them before they could go on.
Obi-Wan had to stop reading. Placing his face in his hands he let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding and it came out as a jagged sob. When he was able to compose himself he picked up Jin-Lo’s dark braid and ran it between his thumb and forefinger. How heartless does one have to be to kill even the younglings? Did all the Clones turn on them? Would Commander Cody have turned on him?
It took some time and a few cups of caff before Obi-Wan picked up the journal again. When he did he couldn’t stop.
For a couple of months Jin-Lo, Sors and Jeswi hid in the underworld of Coruscant. He didn’t reveal any details about how they survived day to day and would only explain how he used the Force to conceal their presence from the Inquisitors and Clone Troopers.
Most of Jin-Lo’s entries during those months were more reflective and emotional. Knowing he was more book smart than street smart he was scared out of his wits to be on his own and taking care of two six year olds. While studying to become an Archivist he didn’t spend much time outside the Temple on missions. From time to time the Council would send him with a Jedi on a mission to get some hands on experience. There was only so much he could learn from the journals of others, they would say.
When the Clone Wars started and many of the Jedi left to fight, Jin-Lo’s responsibilities outside of the Archives increased. He was assigned to become the instructor of many academic classes: math, Basic grammar, and his favorite, Jedi history. He never once fought a battle in the Clone Wars. Though the war was over his battles were just beginning.
In order to spare the children and himself a life of crime in the Underworld they had to leave Coruscant. Jin-Lo made money by selling the best skill he had to offer - information. Eventually his payment came in the form of a personal cruiser -most likely a stolen one, but the ship from Alderaan got him and the children off Coruscant and to Chandrila. Jin-Lo knew that was his place of birth and he had it on good authority that the people there were Jedi sympathizers. They would turn a blind eye even though they no longer looked or behaved like Jedi.
On Chandrila he got a respectable job as a freelance researcher at a news publication. The hours were flexible so that he could stay at home with Sors and Jeswi as he continued their academic lessons and comforted them when they had nightmares.
Now that had his own data pad he could see what was on the data chip Master Nu had given him. It contained the profiles of the children in the Republic who were Force sensitive but their parents didn’t give the Jedi permission to raise them. Only the Masters on the Council and Master Nu had access to these records. He guessed that she wished for him to find them by tracking their last known locations. At first Jin-Lo felt it was too risky, but it was the sudden appearance and new found fame of Darth Avel that inspired him to act. On his free time he searched for those on the list who were about his age, but he had to be careful. He and the children were still fugitives. So he only asked those who had lost everything during the war and were looking for a better situation than the one life dealt them.
Some of those who decided to join his quest had been addicted to spices and death sticks. Jin-Lo was helping them through their withdrawal and to fight their addiction.
He then began to teach them the ways of the Force, as well as school work. Most of them were war orphans or runaways and their education had been neglected. Instructing them was difficult though without the resources of the Jedi Archives. It was in those entires that Jin-Lo expressed how much he missed the tranquility of the place and the excitement of discovering something new there. It wasn’t just the place he missed but his Master:
“I know it is not the Jedi way but I miss Master Jocasta. I miss our discussions and debates. I miss her presence as we sat quietly and read the ancient journals while eating biscuits.”
Master Jocasta took pride in the Archives. It wasn’t often, yet she was still teased about it, that she would tell a Jedi if the information wasn’t in the records it didn't exist. In truth she knew it paled in comparison to the Great Jedi Library. She spent her life maintaining and adding to the Archives on Coruscant, hoping that one day, even after she was one with the Force, it would be as grand.
In his last entry Jin-Lo wrote about Ossuss and the journals of the Jedi who went there on a retreat. It was once again habitable centuries after Exar Kun destroyed it, though not many people knew that. It was a forgotten planet in a forgotten part of the galaxy. Jin-Lo and his new family could rebuild a new Jedi Order there in secret. They would be The Agents of Ossuss. After a few months of finding other Force sensitives he felt it was time to make Ossuss their new home.
Obi-Wan wasn’t ready to part with Jin-Lo and so he read the last few lines over and over again.
“This is not the first Jedi Purge. We will survive this. We will overcome our plight, we will learn from our past mistakes and build a new Jedi Order.”
As Obi-Wan closed the journal and set his hands on the cover with respect and deep admiration. Jin-Lo Rayce grieved, survived and took on a huge responsibility of caring for the younglings and dared to establish a new order. His plan to go to Ossuss sounded like it could have worked. Where did it go wrong?
Obi-Wan couldn’t help feel that the last sixteen months of his life had been too idle. He was grateful to the Holy Order and enjoyed the humanitarian work he did with them, but it was not enough anymore. Perhaps it was time to slowly build and plot a rebellion against the Empire.
It was close to dawn when Padmé entered the kitchen. She stood in the doorway, still in her sleepwear, and watched Obi-Wan looking out the window. When he turned to her his expression was pensive and she thought that he may have been crying.
“You’re up early,” he said softly.
She took a seat adjacent from him. “It’s difficult to sleep in an empty bed.” She began to play with the Japor snippet, rubbing her fingers along the smooth edges and over the runes. She looked up to find Obi-Wan watching her.
Before she entered the kitchen she noticed the bed in the guest room had not been slept in. Pointing to Jin-Lo’s journal she asked, “You read all of it?”
Obi-Wan nodded. “He wrote a very detailed account about the attack on the Temple. Reading about that night,” he paused because he got choked up, “I feel Anakin may have been right. That we should have gone back.”
Padmé looked at him like he had lost his mind. He held up his hand to stop her from speaking. “They were so overwhelmed and I doubt I would have survived. But reading a first hand account, I feel like we did abandon them.”
This was so unlike Obi-Wan to look back on the past and think of other scenarios. He continued, “It wasn’t because I was afraid for myself. At the time I felt we had to leave to protect your children. That was more important. But also, I was protecting Anakin. I know he thinks I hold him back but I know that if we stayed on Coruscant he’d seek revenge. He would have fought with anger and fallen to the Dark Side. That is not how we’re going to defeat Darth Sidious.”
Padmé thought of her dream from the night before of Anakin as a Sith. There was still much anger and fear in him, and maybe some resentment. How many times did she or Obi-Wan talk him out of taking revenge on Sidious? Perhaps, that is partly why he is taking such a monumental risk while on Coruscant. “Is that why you encouraged him to go to the Temple now?” Padmé asked.
“He would have gone even if I tried to persuade him not to. I’m just sorry I lied to you.”
Padmé thought of the lies she and Anakin told, “We’re even. Are you also curious as to what they’ll find?”
Obi-Wan nodded, “Of course.” Then he laughed, for this was very un-Jedi like, when he realized he missed the adventure of being on a mission with Anakin. “I wish I were with them.”
“Why didn’t you go?”
“I offered to but he begged me to stay here and watch over you. Also, I had a feeling that Barriss was planning to follow him.”
Padmé sighed and rubbed her belly, then encircled her arms around it, “I hope they succeed. I’m too young to be a widow.”
The sun had risen and was shinning into Luke’s room and across the faces of the sleeping children. Sors and Jeswi opened their eyes to find themselves sleeping on a light and bouncy mass. Sitting up they bounced in place and giggled as the inertia made them feel like they were on a cloud.
When the novelty wore off the moment turned somber. Picking at their bacta patches they remembered the explosion, the freezing cold, and the sense of death. They couldn’t sense Jin-Lo presence anymore.
Looking around the serene room they noticed they were surrounded by toys and a crib draped in bright yellow and green shimmer silk. Peaking between the bars they saw the baby inside was still sleeping and neither of them dared to wake him up.
“Where are we?” Sors asked.
“I don’t know. But it feels…safe.” Jeswi answered. Standing very still for several seconds they waited for a sound to give away their location. It was silent. Looking towards the door Jeswi asked, “Should we see what’s outside?”
“Not yet. I like it in here.” Sors responded as he looked around the shelves full of toys.
Jeswi walked around the room to observe the holos placed on the walls. The sleeping baby was in all of them and with people she assumed was his family. There was another baby, a girl he seemed to be very close with. In another holo the two babies were with two older girls, an old man and an old woman at what looked like a celebration outdoors. Jeswi didn’t recognize the location. There was a great big lake and mountains in the background.
The last holo made her gasp, “Sors, look! It’s Master Skywalker! He’s alive!”
Sors abandoned the boring toys meant for babies and came over to see the holo of Master Skywalker standing next to a beautiful woman with dark, flowing hair and they were each holding a baby. They were richly dressed and they all had a dot of paint on their cheeks and lips.
While it was reassuring to see Master Skywalker had survived it was the woman he was with who captured the boy’s attention. “I think that woman was in my dream last night.”
“Maybe you didn’t dream of her. Maybe you saw her,” Jeswi said. “Do you think Master Skywalker rescued us? Maybe this is his house.”
Just then there was a knock at the door and a head poked in, “Good morning,” said Master Kenobi.
Falling back into old habits the children stood at attention and said in unison, “Good morning, Master Kenobi.”
Obi-Wan chuckled and said, “There is no need to be so formal. You can call me Obi-Wan.”
The children looked at each other in confusion. They would never dream of being so casual in front of a member of the Jedi Council. After a few nervous steps they relaxed and introduced themselves.
“Did Master Skywa- ugh- Anakin rescue us?” Jeswi asked.
“No. Someone else did. This is Anakin’s house though, and this is his son, Luke.” Obi-Wan pointed to the boy who was sleeping soundly. “His daughter Leia is asleep in the next room. Would you like to see her or would you rather eat first? I can hear your tummies growling.”
“Eat,” they said in unison.
As they followed Obi-Wan down the hallway to the kitchen they looked at more family holos. Most of them looked like they took place at Master Skywalker’s wedding or at various celebrations with cake. The thought of cake made their stomaches grumble more.
It was strange but comforting to see Master Skywalker with a wife and children. For the first time since traveling to Ossuss they had a renewed sense of hope.
As they entered the kitchen the younglings saw the woman from the holos placing two plates of food on the table. “Hello,” she said.
“Sors, Jeswi, I’d like you to meet Padmé,” Obi-Wan said.
They greeted her shyly. As they went around the table to take their seats Sors and Jeswi noticed Jin-Lo’s journal and the Padawan braids on the counter.
The four of them began to eat their breakfast in silence. Then Padmé asked, “How are you feeling this morning?”
They shrugged. “These patches are itchy,” Jeswi said as she picked at one.
“Yes, I know, but you can’t take them off yet. The doctor who treated you will come by later to give you both a check up.”
“How did we get here?” Sors asked.
Obi-Wan explained how Captain Panaka rescued them and brought them to Naboo.
The younglings looked at each other and then at Jin-Lo’s journal. “Only us?” Jeswi asked.
Obi-Wan said solemnly, “I’m afraid so.” The younglings had stopped eating and were just pushing what was left of their food around their plates.
Obi-Wan took the Padawan braids from the counter and handed them to Sors and Jeswi. Sors tried to clasp his braid around his wrist and Jeswi tried to do the same with Jin-Lo’s braid. They were having some difficulty so Padmé and Obi-Wan helped clasp them on.
“Do you want to talk about what happened?” Padmé asked.
The younglings just shook their heads. Padmé looked at Obi-Wan with worry but he motioned to her to be patient. When they were ready they would tell their tale.
“Okay then,” Padmé said. “How about I introduce you to our droids and then we can get dressed and brush our teeth?” Neither child protested.
They said their goodbyes to Obi-Wan. He was going back to the seminary to get some sleep but promised to return later that day.
At first the younglings didn’t want the Jedi Master to leave them but as soon as they were introduced to Threepio and Artoo they instantly liked them. The bickering droids actually made the children smile.
The younglings were not too keen about Luke or Leia and mostly ignored them. As Padmé dressed and fed her twins she was bombarded with questions about Master Skywalker. Where was he? When would he be back? The younglings then went on to ask about all the holos around the house. Padmé patiently answered their questions telling them all about her wedding to Anakin, about the twins’ blessing ceremony, and the birthdays they have had with her family. Padmé knew they were diverting the attention away from themselves. So she had an idea.
By the late afternoon when Padmé put her children down for their nap in Luke’s room she brought Sors and Jeswi to Leia’s room with the droids. She gave them data pads and stylists, then left them alone for a while.
“Hello, Kornell,” Padmé welcomed the doctor into her home and led him to the kitchen. “Obi-Wan said he is on his way. I think we should wait for him before we begin.”
Kornell nodded. “Where are the children?”
“They are taking a nap in my room.”
Kornell took a seat at the table and noticed Jin-Lo’s journal was open to where Padmé left off and two data pads with child like drawings displayed on the screens. They were so abstract it was difficult to understand. Red, yellow and black explosions of color splattered one of the screens, the other displayed abstract faces in agony.
“How are they doing?” he asked.
“I really can’t say,” Padmé replied. “They haven’t spoken about it, but I noticed they feel more comfortable with the droids and earlier they drew these. I have been reading Jin-Lo’s journal to see if correlates to what they drew. It could be the purge at the Temple or it could be what happened on the ship. I just can’t tell.” Padmé then sighed and shut the journal. “I’m sorry. Can I get you some caff? You look like you haven’t had any sleep either.”
“That would be great, thanks. I was up most of the night running toxicology tests.” Kornell opened the journal to flip through the pages, looking to place names for the teens he ran tests for. “It was a distraction. It’s not like I can sleep.”
“Worried about Barriss?” Padmé was amused by the look he gave her that said “obviously.” She handed him a mug full of caff. “I completely understand.”
After taking a sip Kornell said, “I did something really stupid. Really hasty and stupid.”
Padmé raised her eyebrows in surprise and curiosity.
Kornell continued, “Out of nowhere Barriss said she was following Anakin to Coruscant and they were getting into the Temple. I panicked. I got so scared that I proposed.” He groaned and squeezed his eyes shut as he replayed the scene in his head. “That is not how I envisioned asking her. She hasn’t even met my family yet. I haven’t even carved her a ring.”
“What did she answer?” Padmé asked sympathetically.
“No, of course. Because I was an idiot and blurred it out in the most unromantic way possible in the history of the galaxy.”
She almost laughed at his dramatic outburst. “It couldn’t have been that bad.”
“Trust me, it was. I know she loves me, but she…” he paused to take a breath and compose himself. “After our mission on Naboo is over our contracts with Doctors Around the Galaxy will be up. By that time we will have been with them for two years. I will not be renewing my contract. I plan to go back to Tatooine. I haven't seen my family since before the war began. That makes five and half years that I haven’t seen them. They’re doctors and have a very successful practice in Anchorhead. I plan to work in their practice for a while before figuring out what I want to do next. But,” he choked on the word then continued, “Barriss said she defiantly does not see a future with me on Tatooine. She wants to find more Jedi who survived.”
Padmé with compassion but without pity said, “I’m so sorry.”
Kornell stared out the window at the autumn colored trees. “What if while she’s at the Temple she realizes she’s still a Jedi and falling in love with me was a mistake? What if she never returns to Naboo and goes on her quest? I don’t want our last memory to be-” he pushed his hand out as if to keep the embarrassing memory away, “that.”
“Barriss wouldn’t do that. She will carry out the obligation of her contract. As for her relationship with you, I don’t believe she will think that what you two have was ever a mistake. Maybe you can figure out a way to have a future together, or maybe it wasn’t meant to be. You’ll have a lot to discuss when she returns.”
He looked to the ceiling and whispered the name of a deity. “I hope they don’t get caught.”
Luckily the door chimed and neither one had to sit and worry. Now that Obi-Wan had arrived Kornell told them the results of toxicology tests.
The three of them matched the names from the journal with Kornell’s notes. The two female Rodians, named Laueua and Tiziana, still had small tracings of spice in their system. Other than that the results indicated that they had all died from hypothermia.
Obi-Wan sensed the children peaking out from the hallway and called to them, “Hello there.” He motioned for them to enter the living room and sit with them. “Don’t be afraid. This is Doctor Kornell.”
Kornell pulled out two chocolate lollipops from his shirt pocket. “I bet you’re really itching to get those bandages off?”
Jeswi approached first and took the lollipop greedily. Sors followed with more caution.
Voicing their exact concern in unison Padmé and Threepio protested. “At least wait until after dinner,” Padmé sighed just as Threepio called out, “No, Doctor Divini, you must not spoil their dinner!”
“Nonsense. It’s an appetizer.” Kornell said, but Sors was already putting his back in the wrapper. Jeswi just giggled at Threepio’s dramatic antics.
Kornell laughed with the girl then said, “Ready to take those bandages off? You can help.” As the doctor helped them remove the bandages they saw the yellowed bruises and faint pink scratches that were once gashes. For the children it brought back memories of when the hull of the ship was blown away. The adults were eager to know what happened but remained patient.
“They have healed well.” Kornell reported. “It’s best not to let these scar so we’ll put on these new bacta patches for one more day. Okay? So, no scratching.”
Jeswi had already started to drag her nails across the cut on her arm. Kornell placed his hand over hers to still it. He pointed to the pink line that looked like a mouth and the surrounding yellow bruise. Two darker bruises above the cut resembled eyes. “Look, that one looks like Threepio. You wouldn’t want to hurt Threepio.”
“Well!” Threepio exclaimed. “Doctor Divini, I have never been so insulted!”
Artoo expressed a sardonic response and ready to list all the examples to the contrary.
“No one asked for your input, you bucket of bolts!”
The comedy duo provided a distraction for the children as Kornell cleaned and patched up the remaining wounds.
Afterwards they had a lively dinner. The twins were being difficult and Padmé was at her wits end. Jeswi was hopped up on sugar and not sitting still, but once the meal was finished and the kitchen was clean the children had calmed down. After the twins were put to bed the adults felt it was time to broach the subject to Sors and Jeswi.
“Padmé showed me some of your drawings earlier.” Kornell scrolled through the data pad and stopped on a page that displayed spiky green lines and brown boulder like shapes. “I like this one.”
As Jeswi was playing with her new bracelet she whispered, “We were going to Ossuss to live there. With Jin-Lo and all the new Padawans.”
It took some time to hear the whole story. They were still young children and didn’t understand all the details and often told the sequence of events out of order. However, by the end the adults pieced together what happened on Ossuss and why they had to leave.
Jin-Lo was very confident in his plan and they were all excited to live on Ossuss. It was going to be their new, permeant home where they could learn to be Jedi again. No one anticipated that the ruins of the Great Jedi Archives would be crawling with Imperial archeologists. Padmé believed that is what the younglings meant when they called them “the bad people who dug stuff up and put it in crates with the Emperor’s symbol on it.”
Instead of living in the town near the old archives they moved to the capital city nearby. They would wait until the archeologists were finished and left the planet. Jin-Lo was very angry by their presence and everything they were stealing from the ruins. He and a few of the other older children would often spy on them to find out why there were even there in the first place.
About a week after they arrived they were forced to abandon Ossuss. What they didn’t know was that two of their newest companions, the two female Rodians, had angered Jabba the Hutt. Their bounty was worth more if they were killed. Jin-Lo and the others then learned that Laueua and Tiziana used to not only smuggle spice for Jabba, but slaves as well. The Rodians did not deliver their shipment of slaves and instead set them free.
Laueua and Tiziana were discovered by a bounty hunter while they were in the capital city on Ossuss. Fear and panic spread among their group and they escaped Ossuss. However, the bounty hunter pursued them through space.
They were attacked with missiles but could not fight back. With their shields failing they had to quickly calculate a jump to lightspeed. Right before they made the jump their hull was blown away. Sors and Jeswi were in their quarters when the hull was breached but they were not strapped in and were thrown around the room. Outside their quarters they could hear the muffled screams as the vacuum of space sucked everything out of the ship. Then the sound of doors slammed but the screaming continued.
They were thrown across the room again when the ship went to lightspeed, but it was a short trip. A final toss across to the other wall told them they were abruptly pulled out of hyperspace. Then everything went dark.
Jin-Lo came to get them and brought them oxygen masks, thermal blankets and glow sticks.
Everything was offline and there were no habitable planets near by. Some wanted to send out a distress signal and others said it was too risky. It didn’t matter in the end when they found out the communications system was fried.
The fear and panic had reached its peak. Tempers flared and blame was thrown around. Most of the blame was directed at the Rodians. Some felt they should have just escaped on their own and they cursed Laueua and Tiziana for getting them into this mess. The chaotic shouting soon cooled down as they had to huddle together for warmth.
Then it became very cold and very quiet, and it was like that for a very long time.
Recounting their story had taken an emotional toll on Sors and Jeswi. Padmé and Obi-Wan consoled them. After some time had past their tears subsided and they had exhausted themselves.
Obi-Wan and Kornell helped Padmé put the children to bed. Padmé offered them the guest room but they insist on sleeping on the air mattress in Luke’s room because it was “safe there” and “the colors are pretty.” Padmé noted that it was also closer to her bedroom.
After the children were sound asleep the three adults quietly discussed what they just learned.
“I am not surprised the Emperor knows about Ossuss but what the blazes is he looking for there?” Obi-Wan asked.
Padmé just shook her head. “I’m more concerned about the Rodians. Why did they let the slaves go? Should we look into it?”
Obi-Wan took a moment to think. Padmé and Kornell waited as he closed his eyes and meditated. With a deep breath and then meeting Padmé’s eyes he answered, “We should wait until some time has past. There could still be a price on their heads and snooping into their past will only draw attention to us. But it is not something we should ignore.”
Padmé nodded, “I agree. Tomorrow morning we are going to inform Captain Panaka and the Queen about all of this. This is much bigger and more complicated than anything we could have imagined.”
“And we need to arrange a covert funeral.” Kornell added.
Two days later they did have a funeral. It was early morning in the Lake Country. Obi-Wan, Kornell, and Captain Panaka transported the bodies of the Agents of Ossuss to the beach at Varykino. Being the middle of autumn it was too late in the season for residents to be at their lake retreats. The flames and smell of a massive pyre on the beach would not draw attention to Padmé’s neighbors. Today the weather was good for the occasion, sunny, cool, and not much of a breeze.
Padmé arrived with Sors and Jeswi. They were dressed in midnight blue, the color of mourning on Naboo. She guided the children to the shore and softly instructed them on what to do.
As the men placed each body on the pyre Padmé handed lotus flowers to Sors and Jeswi to place in the water. Padmé lit the candles in the center of each lotus and the children whispered to the wind the names of the deceased. They said Jin-Lo’s name last.
Sors took Jeswi’s hand and watched as the current carried the flowers out further and further away. He let out a sob then whispered, “The Force will be with you. Always.”
The calm and melancholy weather of that day took a violent turn at night. Sors and Jeswi had not been sleeping for long when the storm woke them. The wind was howling outside and the bare tree branches were scraping against the window.
Sors and Jeswi watched the moving shadows on the walls. Crooked arms with long, crooked fingers reaching down to grab them as the rain began to patter on the glass.
They looked at each other as the strength of the wind picked up and their fear intensified. It sounded like it did when the hull of their ship was ripped apart and everything was sucked out into the void of space.
“I want to go to Miss Padmé’s room,” Sors whispered.
Jeswi threw off her covers, “Me too.”
Sors followed her, “What about her babies?”
Jeswi looked behind her friend and saw the twins were climbing out of the crib. “They’re coming too.”
Opening the door to Padmé’s room they found her already asleep. She was not afraid of the howling wind nor the trees that will grab you in the night and hurl you into space.
Climbing up into the big bed they got under the covers and startled Padmé. “Are you two scared?”
They nodded.
“Are the twins awake?”
“They’ll be here soon,” Jeswi said.
“What!” Padmé turned on the visual display of the baby monitor to see both Leia and Luke climbing down onto the soft carpet. Somehow they had managed to lower the bar of Luke’s crib. Padmé sprang out of bed to grab them before they could fall onto the floor. With a baby on each hip and getting back into bed she exclaimed, “My little daredevils.”
Padmé was sandwiched between her children and the younglings, though she didn’t mind. The bed was too big without Anakin besides her. “Only for tonight,” she promised. “Shall I sing to you?”
Padmé sang “Little Bird,” the same Nubian lullaby that always put the twins to sleep. It was about a scared child that transforms into a small but fierce bird of prey to defend him or her self from the scary monsters.
Padmé awoke in the morning to the sun shining in her face and someone poking her stomach.
She was wearing one of Anakin’s shirts, one that she asked him to wear before he left so that it would smell like him. Through the thin grey cotton material it was visible to see her small baby bump. Sors, sensing the life inside her through the Force, was poking her belly with his tiny finger, “There’s something in there.”
Padmé laughed, “Yes, there is. It’s a baby.” She lifted the hem of her shirt and placed the boy’s hand flat on the bump. Padmé had only started to feel her child quickening and doubted Sors could feel any movement.
Jeswi sat up and placed her hand next to Sors’. Suddenly their little hands were being slapped and pushed away by two hands that were even smaller.
Padmé grabbed Luke’s and Leia’s hands and with a stern voice said, “Be nice. No hitting and no pushing.” They listened to their mother, for now.
Sors and Jeswi kept their hands to themselves. “How did a baby get in there?” the girl asked.
Padmé contemplated a simple answer a seven year old would understand. “Magic.”
Their eyes widened with wonder. “Does it feel funny?” Sors asked.
“A little. Want to know what’s funnier? Having two babies inside you.” They didn’t believe her. “These two were once kicking me and each other.” Padmé took turns picking each twin up above her head, repeatedly kissing their cheeks and blowing raspberries on their tummies. Leia and Luke shrieked with laughter.
Then they settled down and snuggled into her side as Padmé sunk back into the bed. She was so tired and just wanted to lay there all day. Sors had scooted to the lower portion of the bed to lay beside her legs. Padmé felt him slip his hand into hers where the twins couldn’t see. She gave it a tiny squeeze.
Jeswi was sitting besides Padmé’s head and braiding her hair. There were already several messy and inconsistent strands scattered on her pillow. “May I braid your hair?” Padmé asked.
The girl nodded and Padmé told her to bring her the brush from the vanity. As Jeswi searched the table top she noticed an open jewelry box and inside was a blonde Padawan braid and a carved Japor snippet.
Jeswi brought the brush to Padmé and sat on her lap. As Padmé began to run the soft bristles through her hair Leia’s jealously lashed out again when she pulled Jeswi’s hair. It wasn’t hard enough to hurt her, but it was Leia’s intension to do so.
“Leia! No!” Padmé warned her daughter, “If you don’t behave you’re getting a Time Out.”
Leia grabbed her mother’s sleeve and began to cry, “Mama, no!” It wasn’t long before Luke was crying too.
“It’s ok, Miss Padmé, you don't have to braid my hair,” Jeswi said softly as she took her hair in her hands and played with the ends.
Padmé disagreed, “They have to learn to share my attention.” She let the twins cry themselves out as she braided Jeswi’s hair. She thought of how Jeswi never had her mother braid her hair. Where was her mother now? She thought of all the families that sent their babies to become a Jedi and how they must have mourned their loss a second time after the Purge. She took a deep breath and cursed her hormones for making her emotional. She wouldn't cry in front of the children. She tied off the end of Jeswi’s long braid and looked over at Sors’ shaggy hair. Padmé asked him if he wanted a turn too, but fearing retaliation from the twins he shook his head.
The twins were just starting to calm down from their temper tantrum when Threepio walked in with Artoo trailing behind him. “Goodness gracious me! What is the commotion?” The children’s faces lit up when they saw the droids.
“I have it under control, Threepio. Can you please set the table for breakfast?”
“Certainly, Mistress Padmé.” The children followed the droids to the kitchen skipping along side them.
When Leia’s tears subsided Padmé took her into her lap and gave her two little braids that looked like antennas on top of her head. Luke was then begging for his turn too.
Padmé hugged them tightly, said she loved them and then asked that they behave themselves. They would not.
The house became a war zone. Leia and Luke would no longer tolerate their mother dividing her time between them and the two new strangers. The twins took toys away from the children and would often pull Jeswi’s braid. With guilt in her heart but also not knowing any other alternative Padmé punished her babies with a Time Out. There were tears and no lessons learned. With no idea how to proceed she swallowed her pride and contacted her parents.
Ruwee and Jobal came by and said they would come around more often to help out until a decision was made about the children’s future. In the meantime Jobal had some opinions to voice to her daughter, “This behavior cannot continue. With a new sibling coming in a few months they’ll have to get used to another child to share with.”
Holding back the attitude as much as she could Padmé said, “I know, mom.”
“I don’t think you do,” Jobal snapped back. “Have you ever noticed they have trouble sharing even with their cousins? They need to learn social skills. Have you and Anakin ever discussed enrolling them into daycare?”
Padmé sighed. She was too tired to argue with her mother. Especially when her mother looked so menacing while chopping vegetables. As Padmé seared the steaks she put on her most diplomatic voice, “I’ll discuss it with Anakin when he returns.”
“Good.” Jobal hoped she meant it. “Now that your father and I are here you don’t have to worry. The twins will behave.”
They did not. Now the twins also had to share the attention of their grandparents and that was the last straw. Before the twins never protested their healthy diet. Now they wanted cookies for dinner.
Were “the terrible twos” starting early? First Padmé demanded they eat then resorted to bribery. They would each get a cookie after they had their mixed vegetables.
Then the animosity escalated and a battle broke out. Sors and Jeswi couldn’t cut their meat, so Jobal and Ruwee stepped in to help. That was when Luke threw his jar of mushed vegetables right at Jeswi’s head. The green goo splattered all over the girl and Jobal. Leia followed suit throwing her jar at Sors and used the Force to spill both cups of fruit juice on Sors and Jeswi’s laps.
The kitchen erupted into a whirlwind of shouts, cries and more objects being Force thrown at the children. Threepio couldn’t watch and left the room with Artoo trailing closely behind him.
Ruwee broke through the chaos and he did not need to shout, “Enough.” Everyone, except for the twins, became silent and turned to him. “Jobal, give the children a bath. Padmé, put the twins in a Time Out. Threepio and I will clean up in here.”
Padmé brought the twins to Luke’s room and sat them in different corners of the room. Padmé stood outside as a guard and waited until they calmed down from their temper tantrum.
Their thrashes and wails turned to sobs, then into hiccups.
After a few minutes she walked back into Luke’s room and knelt down onto the floor. First Luke, then Leia walked over to her and they buried their faces into her shirt. Making them stand in front of her she lifted their chins so they would look into her eyes. “Listen to me. That was very bad. You do not throw food and spill drinks. Ever. Be nice to Sors and Jeswi. I still love you both with all my heart.”
She hoped they understood her when they made their way back into her arms and nestled into her side. Moving to the rocking chair Padmé sat them in her lap. She showered them both with kisses and pushed the chair back and forth. They grabbed onto her shirt and buried their faces. They were not usually so clingy with her and she’d only seen Leia behave this way with her father. Burning stars, if Anakin were here she was sure her twins would have started throwing knives at their rivals.
She was sure their behavior was a result not just of jealousy but because they felt their father’s absence. What was she going to do?
Her mind wondered as she thought of Coruscant the last time she was there and remembered the Jedi Temple engulfed in flames. What did it look like now? Padmé said a silent prayer for her husband’s safety, and one for Barriss too.
Sensing her mother’s thoughts Leia asked, “Da-dee?”
Padmé stroked their hair and placed a kiss on each of their heads. “He’ll be home in a couple of days. Do you miss him?”
They nodded.
“Me too.” To lighten the mood Padmé put on some music. She chose an upbeat and rhythmic song from one of her favorite bands. She set the twins down and watched them dance. The scene was too cute and she couldn’t help but laugh.
It wasn’t long before Sors and Jeswi, wearing clean pajamas, came running in to join their dance party. Padmé found her holo recorder to capture this moment. Finally, all four children were having fun and getting along.
Setting down the device she joined in, taking turns with each child dancing silly movements and singing along to the lyrics. Ruwee and Jobal walked in on the scene and could not contain their laughter.
Eventually it was bedtime for all the children and Padmé could finally have some time to herself. Laying back in the bath she inhaled the eucalyptus scents and let the tension leave her muscles. It wasn’t helping. Too many worries occupied her mind.
The song was now stuck in her head so she embraced it by singing the chorus and tapping her foot.
That didn’t help her relax either.
“Padmé, this frequency is airing the Engineers Convention Closing ceremony,” Ruwee said as he pointed to the HoloNet receiver.
Padmé took her place on the sofa and saw the launch of a squadron of TIE fighters. The crowds were massive and their cheering was almost as loud as the sound of the ion engines. Part of her wished to see Anakin among the crowds, just to know he was safe. Of course that was an impossible wish. He wouldn't dare to be caught on a holocam broadcasting all over the galaxy.
Padmé’s mind started to wander as she watched (but didn’t really pay attention to,) the stylized formations the TIE fighters displayed. Such spectacles were more impressive in person and when they weren't Imperial ships.
Padmé was about the change the frequency when a ball of fire shot into the air and knocked the TIE fighters out of their flight path.
Jobal and Ruwee gasped in horror and Padmé jumped out of her seat.
The flames and screaming lasted no more than five seconds. The live transmission cut out and was replaced with the Empire’s insignia. Padmé dashed to the receiver to shake it. “What? No!” she gasped.
Shocked silence and disbelief filled the room. Padmé was so worried about Palpatine discovering Anakin’s presence and feared for his life while at the Jedi Temple she didn’t think of the possibility of anything else going wrong.
No official report, no other program replaced the feed. Only the ugly, menacing insignia stared back at Padmé.
“I have to contact Barriss and Obi-Wan,” Padmé said.
Obi-Wan was not aware of the attack on Coruscant but as soon as Padmé informed him he rushed over.
“Have you heard from Barriss yet?” Obi-Wan asked as Padmé opened the door.
“No,” Padmé bit out.
“I received a message from Barriss this morning that they made it out of the Temple and with information. To get through all that and have this happen on his last day is unbelievable.”
Obi-Wan followed Padmé to her bedroom where he saw Jobal running back and forth from a traveling case to the closet with clothes in her arms.
“Mother! Stop unpacking!” Padmé demanded.
“You are not going to Coruscant. It is too dangerous. You’re pregnant and the children need you here,” Jobal commanded.
“Anakin is in trouble and needs my help.” Padmé grabbed her clothes from her mother and put them back in her traveling case.
“You don’t know that,” Ruwee said. He stood up from the edge of the bed and wrapped an arm around his daughter’s shoulder. “Wait until you have news from Barriss.”
“No, something is wrong,” Padmé shook her head and placed her hands over her child. “I can feel it. I have been feeling it all evening.”
Ruwee looked over Padmé’s head at Obi-Wan. The Jedi frowned and looked out the window. He too sensed something ominous.
The silence was broken when Padmé’s data pad chimed. Padmé grabbed it and immediately ran Barriss’s message through the decryption program.
Padmé let out a sigh, “Anakin’s alive. He was admitted to a medical facility and is being treated for critical injuries. She’ll have more details in a few hours.”
Jobal’s shoulders relaxed. “See? He’ll be alright and Barriss can keep an eye on him.”
Padmé shot an incredulous look at her mother. “I’m still going.”
“Padmé,” Jobal said through clenched teeth. “Trust Barriss. If it makes you feel better Obi-Wan will go to Coruscant.”
Ruwee just shook his head in defeat. Both he and Obi-Wan saw the look in Padmé’s eyes.
Padmé made up her mind. She had been thinking about what Sola said to her. That she has been living in fear. That fear had been a bad omen. Where was the brave and determined woman who went to Geonosis to help her friend? Where was that bold and daring woman who broke the rules to marry a Jedi? She was going to Coruscant and bringing her husband home.
Author’s Note: Lyrics from “All These Things That I've Done” by The Killers.
