Murder the Dawn: Chapter Twenty: Unexpected Solace.

[ladyofleithian]

In which Anakin and Padme talk for the first time, and Obi-Wan and Satine embark on the rescue mission.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's Notes: This was another one of my favorite chapters to write. I just love the interaction between Anakin and Padme in this chapter. Also, on an RL note, transferring from the psychology test was surprisingly easier than I expected. The good sort of surprising, that is.

Also, warning for mentions of torture. It's best you turn back if that stuff bothers you.

Time seemed to go by all too slowly. It seemed like hours, days, perhaps weeks, in this desolate cell, only punctuated by Dooku coming in to attempt to convert him using the Dark Side as well as other means – even now, feeling the lightning rage through him, even feeling Dooku roast him, it took all of Anakin’s willpower not to scream in agony – and the girl, Padme, coming in to help him. To bring him food, or to tend to the wounds from the electrical whip that Dooku used. It was after one particularly brutal beating that she let him down – it wasn’t like he was going to run away. He was too weak, too drained to do so.

“Don’t be afraid,” she said.

Even now, he looked at her, almost in surprise. “What?”

“That’s what the Code says. Your Jedi Code. Don’t be afraid.”

He snorted, jarred out of his surprise for a moment. “I’m not afraid.”

“But you are. You’re afraid you’ll fail her, aren’t you?”

Silence.

“Do you love her?”

“As a friend,” he said, but even that was almost a lie. Even as a small child, he was captivated by Satine Kryze’s grace and bravery and kindness, her integrity. Even now, thinking about Satine possibly being hurt again if the information reached the Republic too late…

But Satine was safe on Mandalore. There was nothing to fear there, was there?

Padme continued to dip the cloth in the cool water, soothing the sting of the wounds. Only for her to dip the cloth in the fluid as well, applying it to his wounds, making him hiss in pain. She grimaced, if only in sympathy.

“I know you don’t like it,” she said, “But it’s just so the wounds won’t get infected.”

Anakin snorted again. “I don’t think Dooku would use a whip that – ’’

“The cuts are pretty deep. He was pretty thorough with you.” She said it almost as if she was talking about the weather over a cup of tea with the Chancellor. Even that made Anakin shiver.

“You’re not at all like the others,” he said.

“Dooku crossed the line with the torture. He was meant to merely convert you, not wound you – I honestly thought he killed you yesterday when he turned up the voltage too high.” Padme’s voice seemed to darken with anger, not fiery anger, but anger merely as cool as ice. “I tried to get him to put you in a cell with more humane conditions.”

“It didn’t succeed, did it?”

“No,” she said, almost sadly. “He said Sidious’ orders were clear.”

“So he was lying to me,” Anakin said, more sourly. “I should have known.” A pause. “What does Sidious want with me, anyway?”

“Your abilities, I assume. After all,” Padme said, “The prophecy of the Chosen One is sought by many, Jedi and Sith alike. You could be one of the most hunted men in the galaxy, even long before you were born.”

“That’s something I don’t want to think about.”

“I know. But it is the truth.”

Beat.

“What about you, Padme?” Anakin said, after a long while. “What do you want?”

“What do I want? Justice, I assume. The Jedi are noble, I will give them that, but they’re not…competent in terms of enforcing that justice. Keeping the people safe.”

“You are right on that front,” Anakin said, “They seem more concerned with petty politics than keeping the people safe. I mean…they do their best, but even so – it’s not enough. Not that anyone would really…appreciate my saying that.”

“Why?”

“Well, because according to the Jedi,” Anakin said, smiling ruefully, “There is no why. There’s merely the Force.”

“It’s almost the same here as well. Perhaps the Jedi and the Sith aren’t that dissimilar.”

Silence.

“I…I’ll admit I don’t know. I just…you ever considered just making a run for it? I mean…you’re not at all like the others.”

“Going to the Jedi, you mean?”

“Not really,” Anakin said. “Just leaving.”

Silence. Padme seemed silent, sad, almost far-away, more of a vulnerable young girl than the Sith apprentice he had seen in his dreams.

“I don’t know,” she said. “I didn’t have a choice. When I was a girl…they took me.”

“What do you remember?”

“Fire.” Her voice seemed to break. “Fire and smoke.”

Even looking at her, Anakin wanted to reach up, to comfort her – if it were Obi-Wan, he would have consoled him with a gentle touch to the shoulder (not a straight-up hug. His master, being a Jedi in every sense of the word, wasn’t quite used to such enthusiastic displays of affection) and a reassuring word. But even now, he wasn’t sure if Padme wanted to be touched.

“One could say that Lord Sidious…saved me, in a way. He trained me as his apprentice. He taught me how to fight, how to survive – and yet at the same time, it was like a secondary prison. Sidious…he tells many lies,” Padme said, softly, “And the architecture is often difficult to see.”

Even now, Anakin could still remember the Masters’ discussions about how “clouded” the Force had become – could Sidious be influencing it? They hadn’t discussed it in front of him, but occasionally, he had caught…snippets.

“I know I technically should not be telling you this,” Padme said, “But he’s operating inside the Senate. You need to be careful.”

“I…I’m guessing you’re not lying about that.” But in the Force, there was no “guessing”. She wasn’t lying. Not in the slightest.

Footsteps. Padme looked towards him in panic. “Lord Tyrannus is coming,” she said, “Quick!”

Even as she readjusted chains and cuffs and used the Force to make sure his arms didn’t dislocate in the process, even as she took her position near him as Darth Tyrannus (Count Dooku) approached, Anakin could already feel the chill come over him again. There was a glitter of triumph in the Count’s eyes, making his haughty, almost sculpted features appear almost…bestial.

“Apprentice,” Count Dooku said, in his deep, refined voice, “Why are you here? Should you not be at your post?”

“This is my post,” Padme said, calmly, almost as if stating what should be a fairly obvious fact.

“Don’t play games with me, apprentice. You were helping him escape, weren’t you?”

“I was taking care of him,” Padme said, “Your whip did more damage than necessary.”

“The ‘damage’ was necessary, my apprentice. It appears the Jedi have already found out about our clone army – Master Yoda was kind enough to attempt to negotiate your release. No matter. They head towards Geonosis into a trap. Indeed, the Clone Wars have already begun.”

Even hearing Dooku’s words, Anakin felt as if an airlock had opened in his stomach. Satine, oh Satine…I am so sorry…

“Everything has proceeded according to plan. And indeed, your friends, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Satine Kryze are also on the way.”

Even long after Dooku had left, Anakin turned to look at Padme, who seemed quiet and calm as always – it was only then that he realized that she was trying not to look at him. Guilt seemed to pour out of her in waves, guilt over, no doubt, causing a galactic conflict that would take many lives.

“Padme…” he began, trying to comfort her, only for Padme to stop him.

“I am still a child of Naboo, Anakin,” she said, softly. “I never wanted it to come to this. And especially not over a desire for a corporate criminal to reclaim his lost dignity.” Her voice hardened then, sharp and angry.

“Don’t worry,” Anakin said, “It will be all right.”

She gave him a sad smile. “I don’t know. I just don’t know.”

***

Whatever original plans they may have had in mind were quickly swept out the window -- at least in regards to how they were going to rescue Anakin, preferably discreetly -- when the Geonosians attacked. Even now, as the two of them did their best to fight, to defend themselves, it seemed that more seemed to keep coming the deeper they moved -- as well as testing droids. Finally --

“Don’t move, Jedi!”

Even now, Obi-Wan sighed, almost resigned, holding up his hands, as a bounty hunter arrived, dressed in blue and white armor, wrist launcher activated as if to fire. “Very well. We surrender.”

“Good. Take them away.”

Obi-Wan sighed, turned to look at Satine even as they were led along by Geonosian guards. “This went slightly more off-kilter than I would have liked.”

“Nothing that you can’t find a way out of,” Satine said. “I doubt you need to worry.”

Even now, though, being escorted to the carts, Obi-Wan could not help but be worried. It was not death he was worried about -- if he died in service to the Jedi, there was no need to worry. But there was so much he meant to say to Satine, so many things left unsaid, that he could not help but worry.

He cared about Satine. More than life.

And if he told her none of it -- what would happen to the both of them? 

Comments

[imhilien.livejournal.com]

A good chapter... poor Anakin. I did like the interaction between him and Padme.

[ladyhadhafang.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D And yeah...poor Anakin. :(

[angel-in-tears.livejournal.com]

I love your Padme. I love how her anger is cold as ice, and how reasoned she is. I loved the interaction between her and Anakin!

And poor Obi-Wan ♥

[ladyhadhafang.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D And yeah, poor Obi-Wan. I agree.

[pronker]

I liked this chapter and the interplay of similar thoughts about Satine that Obi-Wan and Anakin had - admiration for her and the attraction they both feel.

this one isn't tagged 'murder the dawn'

[ladyhadhafang.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :D

And thanks for pointing that out. Good catch. :) Will fix.