Shadow of Trust

Chapter 19 - Escape?

Chapter 19 – Escape?

The only thing Padmé felt was exhaustion. The day had been long, but the night would become unbearable. Temperatures were dropping rapidly, and it seemed that fatigue would soon overcome her. The streets were only sparsely lit, and it was raining pitchforks. And yet they were not empty. Everywhere creatures of all species walked around and went about their business.

Padmé walked leisurely through the alleys, unobtrusively matching the pace of her passers-by. Soon she would have to find shelter. Not easy with all the Corsucant Guard clones patrolling Coruscant's most criminal levels here. There were at least two guards on every street corner, careful not to erupt in the crowds.

Padmé tried to avoid the tall men in their white armor as much as possible. And from one moment to the next everything was different. Now she could no longer avoid the soldiers. When the young senator got to the next street corner, she was too busy thinking about a good place to sleep to pay any attention to the datapads in the Stormtroopers' hands.

But now she had accidentally looked up when she heard her husband's name. Padmé's eyes widened in shock as she realized what was happening in front of her eyes. On the datapad of the trooper who addressed a Twi'lek a few yards to the right, Anakin's head was depicted! Panting, she stopped and was immediately bumped into from behind. Several curses could be heard. Padmé, despite her panic, forced herself to continue as before. She had no other choice.

A few blocks away, she spotted another face on one of the datapads: Obi-Wan. Of course, they had been the heroes of the Clone Wars, people like that weren't easy to forget. Of course, the first thing they did was put a bounty on their heads. Although it would be very difficult to catch one of them ...

Padmé could hardly breathe. She had encountered many Jedi: Master Yoda, Mace Windu, Plo Koon, Shaak Ti and even Ahsoka among them!

The young senator had never thought about Anakin's power. Of course, she knew how strong he was. He was thought to be the chosen one. But she had never realized how much Anakin had been under Palpatine's influence. He had never denied his interest in him. She herself had seen Palpatine as a good man. She couldn't believe that Palpatine had actually proclaimed himself Emperor. If he had, he would be a dictator. And yet the Senate was still standing. So, after all, Palpatine would decide with the Senate how the galaxy should be run. Or not? She didn't know.

Suddenly a hard hand grabbed her shoulder and pulled her to the side. Padmé started and looked up into the face of a clone. She staggered back in panic. Now it was over. Now they had caught her and would bring her back to Palpatine. But instead of arresting her, the trooper held something in front of her.

"Excuse me ma'am. I just have a quick question for you. Have you seen that man?"

What's going on here? Doesn't he know who I am? At that moment, Padmé remembered that the man in front of her couldn't see her face because of the hood. She breathed a sigh of relief.

"Have you seen him now or not?" came the harsh question from the trooper, who was now eyeing her angrily.

Padmé quickly rushed to realize what he was holding in front of her face. The shock went through her bones. She wasn't able to speak. She couldn't move. It wasn't a young man's face that made her react the way she did. But the bounty that was set for him. Higher than any sum she had seen as a senator. Higher than her annual income in 20 years.

A horrified gasp escaped her. She couldn't prevent what was happening now. She took a step backwards. At the same moment, a strong draft swept through the streets and violently tore the hood off her head.

The Stormtrooper 's facial expression changed abruptly. Anger gave way to realization.

Padme continued to back away.

The clone recognized her. She. Former Queen of Naboo. Senator in the Galactic Senate. Wife of Anakin Skywalker.

One more step back.

The man in gleaming white and red armor, with the mark of the Galactic Senate on his chest (typical of members of the Coruscant Guard), dropped the datapad and drew a blaster rifle from his back.

oOo

"There's no other way," Obi-Wan decided. "I will follow my vision."

Anakin, walking beside him, eyed him skeptically, "I don't think that's a good idea, Master. What are you going to do once you reach Naboo?"

"I don't know," he admitted.

The two Jedi paced the temple corridors restlessly, finally reaching Obi- Wan's quarters.

"Are you sure you really want to go through with this?" Anakin asked.

Obi-Wan opened the door and stepped inside, and his former Padawan leaned against the door frame. "Yes, Anakin, I'm sure." Obi- Wan's voice was determined.

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