Chapter 7 - Interrogation

Their first kiss. A long time had passed since. He had been a Padawan back then. Without any rationality, she had returned it. At the time she had wondered if it was a mistake. Now she knew it had been right.

They hugged each other. Anakin ran across the soft grass. Padmé stood further away and laughed. When he tried to provoke a Shaak, it ran after him. The Shaak sprinted after Anakin and caught him with his head against his back. He landed hard in the grass and didn't move again. Padmé called out to him in desperation. "Anakin! Anakin wake up!" No Answer.

Suddenly the grass around them blurred. Another place became visible. It was the hallway in front of their shared apartment in the temple. Anakin lay on the floor, hit by a stun shot. Now she heard her own desperate cries for help again. He had to wake up. But he didn't. He lay motionless, lifeless.

She woke up screaming from the nightmare. Where was she? What happened? A wave of memories was unleashed. Anakin had fallen to the ground unconscious, and she had been screaming at him like crazy, but had been dragged away by Jedi guards and locked in this cell.

Oh Anakin, she thought. Where are you? Padmé was feeling lonely. What was actually played here? Why was she captured? Would she ever see Anakin again? She began to sob quietly. She loved him too much to let him go. After an indefinite time, she became tired and fell asleep. Her last thought: Anakin.

Eventually she woke up again, fell asleep again and woke up again. If there had been a clock, the young senator would at least have been able to get her bearings. She had probably been locked up for several days. Until finally a guard stood in the door.

Glad to see another person, Padmé sat up from her narrow bunk. And looked intently at the visitor. But he only brought her something to eat and then disappeared again. Should that really be something edible in front of her? A flabby yellowish broth with a glass of water. Nothing more. Even the food in the Jedi canteen was better, although Anakin also often bought food in downtown Coruscant (which always worried Padmé). But until now he was never discovered.

After sniffing it a few times, she decided not to eat it. But she drank the water quickly. She fell asleep again. After about three more days, as Padmé had guessed, her stomach was growling. Was she put on withdrawal? Did they want her to lose weight?

Suddenly the door opened, and several guards entered the cell. They took Padmé in the middle and left the cell. "Where are you taking me?" Nobody answered. They walked down gray corridors. Several radiation shields were deactivated as soon as they were seen coming.

This was a kind of reception, only with four walls that were partially covered with glass. A burly man nodded to the guards. They continued to drag Padmé to the elevator that had taken her to the prison block. They started up to the surface. When Padmé was brought here, she hadn't realized how far down they had driven. As soon as the elevator opened, she realized they were back in the normal hallways of the temple.

"Where are you taking me?!" Padmé asked more forcefully now. Again no answer.

Eventually she was brought into a room with only a small table and a chair on each side. Padmé was shocked to find that Mace Windu had already taken his place and was grinning at her. Now she knew what always bothered Anakin about the Jedi Master.

"Senator Amidala, please sit down," came his voice. Padmé did as she was told and looked at him with her 'political mask' on.

"You know that it is against human rights to hold a person captive for no reason and starve them in the process!"

Windu feigned innocence. "We did give you something. But a senator isn't used to such food, is she? Did you seriously think that we would serve you luxurious food in prison? And you weren't imprisoned without a reason either!"

"Then give me that reason," she said sardonically, glaring at Windu. What was actually played here?

"It's nice that you're talking about it! Now we can start the interrogation straight away." Mace Windu, the proud Jedi Master, looked at her defiantly and let a little time pass. Meanwhile, Padmé's thoughts turned to Anakin. Why wasn't he here? Was he actually still alive? She felt the pang in her heart. She had such a longing for him. "So Senator, I will now explain to you why you were arrested. However, you will only listen without interrupting, you will have enough time for talking at the trial."

When the young woman nodded across from him, he continued, as he was dead certain that she was the one who had passed certain information on to Palpatine. He could also sense her restlessness. So Mace began, "Strictly confidential information has been leaked to Palpatine. Information that few Jedi knew about." He paused poetically, but then continued. "Skywalker was one of them. At first I didn't even consider you, since you always worked for peace and for the end of war. But when I investigated more closely, I realized that it could only have been you ." Senator Amidala looked at him blankly. Does she think she can fool me? She might have succeeded with Skywalker! But that won't be the case for me. Although, Skywalker is also a very naive man, thought Windu. He was, after all, a member of the Jedi Council. A member for life. Only the big ones could do that. "Now let's move on to the evidence."

Padmé had no doubt that Master Windu wanted to put her on trial. He would probably be the judge or even the one who represented the Jedi Order. Who was supposed to represent her? Everyone would take his side. He's a Jedi. And she just a senator, except for Anakin, nobody respected her anyway. Aside from Obi-Wan maybe, and of course Ahsoka too.

"Palpatine and you knew each other before you were elected queen. That's true, isn't it?" Padmé nodded. Palpatine and she had known each other for a very long time. But she had never expected him to be a Sith Lord. She had thought that impossible. "Well, when you were Queen of Naboo, you helped Palpatine rise to the position of Supreme Chancellor by motion of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum. That's correct, isn't it?" Another nod from the senator.

Oh Ani, where are you? I need you! Padmé had never forgiven herself for helping Palpatine become Chancellor.

"You've always had a very good relationship with Palpatine. Don't friends help each other? Or is it more than just friendship with you?"

Now she grew angry. He was accusing her of not loving Anakin? Of course she loved Anakin and he knew it too. There was more behind it. "I'm sorry, Master Windu, to disappoint you, but Palpatine and I were friends. And there was nothing more than friendship."

Mace laughed. Did he laugh at her? At himself? What was he laughing at? "Very well," he finally said. "I'll be honest now: I don't believe you. But that doesn't matter at all, because your trial has already been arranged anyway."

Padmé considered. If he didn't believe her, he should at least give more information. "How long was I actually locked in the cell?"

Mace looked at her with slanted eyes. But he answered her. "Exactly one week. Your trial is supposed to take place if I'm not mistaken ... uh ... ah yes exactly! Your trial is supposed to take place in three days. If you don't have any more questions, I would release you to your cell."

But Padmé had one more question. She had to ask that question. Because without this information, she would probably torture herself to death. "What about Anakin? Where is he and is he alright?"

Now Mace showed interested. He hadn't expected her to ask about Skywalker. "He's still in the Halls of Healing. The Jedi Sentinel's stun shot was dosed higher than planned. When he'll awake is a mystery ... but his stats are stable."

Anakin was alive and well! Now Padmé could also explain why he hadn't visited her. But if he woke up, how would he react if someone told him what had happened? Everything would work out in time. At least Padmé hoped so. "Senator, I release you into the custody of the Wardens. I'll see you on the day of the trial."

She nodded, still angry at him. He had torn Anakin and her apart . She would never forgive him for that. When would they see Anakin again? Or would they ever see each other again?

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See you

Skyllen :)