Chapter Forty-Nine

Anakin

I sat outside the opulent palace of Lott Dod, feeling the weight of anticipation pressing down on me. The sun hung high in the sky, casting long shadows that danced across the ground. I could hear the distant hum of activity within the bustling city, but my focus remained solely on the task at hand.

R2-D2 wheeled up to me, beeping and whistling as he often did, his small frame a comforting sight. I smiled at him, grateful for his presence. "No, R2, you'll stay here. Mira said she would call me when they find something," I replied, my tone firm yet gentle. I didn't want to leave my astromech droid behind, but it was safer for him to remain out of sight, away from any potential dangers lurking within Dod's palace.

R2 beeped again, tilting his dome-shaped head as if trying to convince me otherwise. "I know, I know," I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "But we can't take any chances. If Clovis and Padmé are in there, we need to make sure we have a clear line of communication."

The droid let out a series of frustrated whirs, and I chuckled softly, trying to lighten the mood. "You're worried about them too, huh? I appreciate it, buddy. But you know how important this is. If Clovis is working with the Separatists, we can't afford to let our guard down."

R2 made a few more protest beeps before finally settling down beside me, a small sigh escaping his speakers. I knew he wanted to help, and in many ways, he always did. He was a loyal companion, and I relied on him more than I could express.

As I sat there, waiting for any word from Mira or Padmé, my thoughts drifted to the precarious situation they were walking into. Clovis was charming, yes, but he was also cunning, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he had ulterior motives. I trusted Padmé, but I had seen firsthand how easily someone could be manipulated by someone like him.

The minutes dragged on, and I found myself fidgeting, my mind racing with possibilities. I couldn't just sit idly by. I needed to know what was happening inside that palace. But the last thing I wanted was to walk into a trap, especially one set by someone as devious as Lott Dod.

Just then, my commlink buzzed to life. I quickly activated it, bringing it up to my ear. "Anakin," Mira's voice came through, clear and urgent. "We've found something."

My heart raced at her words. "What is it?" I asked, leaning closer to the commlink.

"Clovis is not just in talks with Dod; he's planning something bigger—something that could compromise the entire Senate."

I could feel the anger boiling within me. "What do you mean?"

"He's trying to broker a deal with the Separatists, and it involves information that could expose key members of the Republic," she explained. "We need to stop him."

"I'm on my way," I replied, my pulse quickening. I glanced at R2, who seemed to sense my urgency. "R2, let's go!"

With determination surging through me, I sprinted towards the palace entrance, ready to confront whatever Clovis had in store. The weight of the galaxy rested on our shoulders, but we wouldn't back down. I would protect Padmé and Mira, and I would do whatever it took to stop this threat before it escalated.

-

As I burst through the door, my heart sank at the sight before me. I found Padmé in the room, her face pale and drawn, worry etched into her features. But it was Mira who lay on Padmé's bed, her face obscured by shadows, as if she were merely resting.

"Mira!" I gasped, rushing to her side. I knelt beside the bed, desperately checking for any signs of injury or distress. "What happened?"

Padmé stepped back, her eyes wide with fear. "I—I think Lott Dod tricked her," she stammered, her voice trembling. "He lured us in under false pretenses. I didn't see it coming!"

A cold anger surged through me. I could feel the dark presence of betrayal hanging in the air, thick and suffocating. "What do you mean? Where's Clovis? What did he do?" My hands hovered over Mira, searching for any signs of consciousness, any indication that she was still with us.

Padmé clenched her fists, frustration mingling with fear. "Clovis played us. He used our trust to get closer to Dod. I was too focused on trying to uncover information about him that I didn't see the trap until it was too late." Her voice broke, and I could see the tears brimming in her eyes.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. "We have to get her out of here," I said firmly, brushing a strand of hair away from Mira's face. "We need to find out what Lott Dod and Clovis are planning."

As I examined Mira, I felt a flicker of hope. She was breathing, albeit shallowly, and her skin was warm to the touch. "Mira," I called softly, shaking her shoulder gently. "Wake up, please."

There was no immediate response, and my heart sank again. "Padmé, we need to move quickly. Can you help me get her up?"

Padmé nodded, determination replacing her earlier fear. Together, we gently lifted Mira, cradling her between us. I could feel my anger boiling just beneath the surface, not only at Clovis and Dod for this betrayal but also at myself for not being there to protect her.

"We need to alert the Council," I said as we began to carry her toward the exit. "They need to know what's going on."

As we stepped into the corridor, I glanced around, ensuring there were no spies or guards watching us. The palace felt like a cage, its walls closing in around us as we navigated through the maze of hallways.

"Anakin," Padmé said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm so sorry. I should have seen this coming."

I stopped for a moment, turning to look at her. "It's not your fault, Padmé. We're all caught in this web of deceit. But we have to focus on getting Mira to safety first."

Just then, I heard footsteps echoing down the hallway, and my instincts kicked in. "Quick! This way!" I led Padmé and Mira into a side passage, pressing ourselves against the wall as the footsteps grew louder.

I held my breath, waiting for the figures to pass. My heart raced, and I could feel the weight of the galaxy pressing down on me. We would not let this end in failure. Not now. Not when Mira's life hung in the balance.

Once the footsteps faded, I nodded to Padmé, and we continued our hurried escape, my mind racing with plans and possibilities. We would expose Clovis's treachery, save Mira, and stop Dod from executing whatever sinister plot was brewing.

-

As we finally reached the ship, relief washed over me. R2-D2 whirred and rolled around us, beeping frantically as if sensing the urgency of the moment. Just as I was about to board, a voice rang out behind us.

"Not so fast."

I turned sharply, my heart sinking as I faced Lott Dod. The Neimoidian senator stood with an air of arrogance, flanked by Clovis, who wore an expression of uncertainty. They looked as though they were both caught off guard, and for a brief moment, I sensed a flicker of fear in Dod's eyes—perhaps he didn't anticipate us escaping so easily.

"Hold your ground!" I spat, stepping protectively in front of Padmé and Mira, who remained limp in my arms. My lightsaber ignited with a snap-hiss, its blue glow illuminating the darkened corridor. "I won't let you harm them."

Dod's eyes darted back and forth, his facade wavering. "This isn't necessary, Skywalker," he began, attempting to feign calmness. "We only want to talk."

"Talk? You think I'm going to believe that?" I shot back, my voice low and threatening. I could feel the dark energy pulsing around him; he was lying, and I could sense the danger he posed. "You've done enough talking. I'm not interested in any more of your schemes."

Clovis stepped forward, his features taut with tension. "Anakin, listen! You don't understand—"

"I understand perfectly!" I interrupted, my grip tightening on my lightsaber. "You've been playing both sides, and I'm not going to let you get away with it."

Padmé whispered urgently beside me, "Anakin, we need to focus on getting Mira to safety. We can't let them distract us."

I nodded, feeling the weight of her words. "You're right," I said, though every instinct in me screamed to confront these two. But I couldn't let my emotions cloud my judgment. We had to get Mira out of here first.

"Move aside!" I commanded, stepping toward the ship's entrance.

Dod's eyes narrowed, and he exchanged a glance with Clovis. "You'll regret this, Skywalker. You can't just walk away from us."

"Try me," I said coldly, and with that, I pushed past them, guiding Padmé and Mira toward the ship.

As we hurried inside, R2 followed closely, beeping anxiously. I glanced back, sensing that the tension in the air was thickening, the threat of violence looming just behind us.

"Anakin, we need to secure the ship!" Padmé urged, her voice steady despite the chaos surrounding us.

I quickly jumped into the pilot seat, inputting the coordinates to take us far away from this place. "R2, lock the doors!" I shouted, and the droid whistled in compliance, securing the ship.

Just as I powered up the engines, I could see Dod and Clovis moving toward us, their expressions darkening. "You're making a grave mistake, Skywalker!" Dod shouted, his voice laced with venom.

But before I could respond, I felt a surge of urgency and fear for Mira. I turned my focus back to her, willing the Force to flow through me as I carefully laid her down on the ship's medical table. "Stay with us, Mira," I whispered, brushing a thumb across her cheek.

"Anakin!" Padmé called out, her voice filled with panic. "They're coming!"

"Just a few more seconds!" I replied, my heart pounding as the ship's systems activated. The engines roared to life, and I felt a rush of adrenaline.

"Get us out of here!" Padmé urged, her eyes darting between me and the doorway where Dod and Clovis loomed, their intentions clear.

With a final press of a button, I initiated the ship's takeoff sequence, feeling the thrusters engage. "Hold on!" I shouted, and we shot upwards, breaking free from the confines of the palace just as I felt a ripple of energy behind us—Clovis and Dod's frustration palpable in the air.

We were clear, but the threat still loomed ahead. I took a deep breath, glancing back at Padmé and Mira, and knew that this was just the beginning. We had to figure out what Dod and Clovis were planning, and I would do whatever it took to protect those I loved.