The Will of the Force

Chapter 1: A Nexus in the Force

"I know there's still..." were the last words that Padme Skywalker spoke before the darkness claimed her. It wasn't that she'd lost the will to live – no, she had two innocent, sweet babies and a husband who needed her, she wanted so desperately to remain living – but the life drained from her body almost as if someone was helping it along.

To her surprise, the blackness faded after a short while and she found herself in a pure white room. 'Padme.' The voice of Qui-Gon Jinn greeted her and turning she saw the Jedi master, looking exactly as he had the last time she saw him.

'Qui-Gon!' she exclaimed in delight before she paused and said quietly, 'I'm dead aren't I?'

'Yes, unfortunately so my dear.'

Padme nodded as she scanned her surroundings and another question occurred to her. 'Where are we? It doesn't look like any afterlife I've ever heard of.'

'This is a waystation of a sort. A nexus in the force, somewhere those with unfinished business come to complete their affairs before becoming one with the force.'

'What unfinished business do I have?' Padme enquired. As far as she knew, Obi-Wan had the twins and he would take them to Anakin so that he could raise them... she went cold. 'What happened to Ani? Obi-Wan wouldn't tell me!' She felt horrified that she hadn't immediately asked after her husband and demanded to know of his welfare.

Qui-Gon looked grave as he waved his hand – a bench appeared from thin air and was set down beside him. 'We have much to discuss Padme, sit.'

With a growing feeling of dread, she sat on the bench and Qui-Gon joined her.

'Serious events transpired after Anakin force-choked you...'

Padme went cold as she recalled the feeling of her windpipe being crushed and then, surprisingly, she felt her temper spike. 'That wasn't his fault, it was Obi-Wan's! Ani was dealing with significant psychological turmoil and Obi-Wan's appearance was simply too much. If he wasn't there, Ani NEVER would have choked me!' She took a deep breath and continued. 'He SHOULDN'T have even BEEN there. I told Captain Typho that I was going alone and I didn't wish to be followed! What-'

Qui-Gon held up a hand to forestall her tirade and she fell silent. 'We have much to get through Padme. As much as I understand and share your outrage at how things unfolded, I would appreciate it if we could just lay out the events before you get angry,' he hesitated and added, 'There will be worse before we are done.' Padme nodded, though inwardly she wondered what could be worse than Obi-Wan showing up on Mustafar, and Qui-Gon continued.

"While you were unconscious, Obi-Wan and Anakin dueled. They ended up on rocks floating in the lava river and Obi-Wan jumped onto the bank. Anakin, fueled by rage, arrogance, and concern about you, rushed to follow. Obi-Wan sliced off his legs and remaining arm.' He paused, gathering his thoughts before resuming. 'With only his prosthetic arm remaining, Anakin was unable to stop himself from sliding down the bank towards the lava and... he was burnt alive, quite badly. Obi-Wan left him there, wanting to get off the planet quickly as the Emperor was arriving. Palpatine sensed Anakin's peril through the force and he took him to medical facilities on Coruscant.'

Padme was numb with shock as she digested what Qui-Gon told her. Anakin was severely injured and was now in the hands of the Emperor. Her hands clenched and rage boiled inside her as she realized that it was all Obi-Wan's fault. He provoked Anakin. He cut off Anakin's limbs. HE had left Anakin to burn to death when he was perfectly capable of helping him. She looked at Qui-Gon and pleaded, 'I need to see Anakin, I need to help him. He didn't deserve to burn. Obi-Wan didn't even try to redeem him, he just tried to kill him. There's good in my husband, I just need to help him.' She was well aware that she had been repetitive and that it was not her most eloquent speech but was more concerned with getting to Anakin – if that was even possible now she was dead – before the Emperor did him any more harm.