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DO WHAT YOU MUST. Araminta believed she had, but a part of her she had yet to shed still played different images in her head, a cold hand on her right shoulder reminding her what she was truly capable of. A scenario where she had killed Vindi before the platform had even risen all the way. One where she had amputated his arm and grabbed the falling vial while he writhed. One where she had pushed him over the edge and left the lab to seal itself and the virus in a tomb.
But she had done what she needed to do, she told herself. She hadn't needed the violence she had once acted with, the violence she knew she was capable of. Vindi had been stopped and now they could question him on the science and an antidote, the Council would not frown upon her more, and she had followed her orders through. Anakin had made some remark she took to heart, and Obi-wan had given her a nod in acknowledgement as he had joined them and shackled the doctor.
Had she needed to, Araminta knew she would have killed the doctor. She had killed for far less in the past than the fate of the universe. But Anakin had been right– she had trusted him. She had given up the control for a split second because she had needed to, given the situation, but no matter she had placed her life in someone else's ability other than her own.
The realisation cut into her like a knife, and then Octavian gripped it by the handle and twisted it as he whispered in her ear.
Araminta sheathed her bloody knife, having not released her hold on it since Vindi had been removed from under her boot, watching him like a hawk. Blood was crusting on his upper lip, the purple bruising almost blended in with his skin tone, and the glass of his helmet crunched under their feet.
The assassin swallowed back her doubt, moving forward as Anakin looked at her with a small smile. She ignored him as she took her usual place at Obi-wan's side.
"That was close," Anakin remarked as he returned from shackling Vindi inside the ship.
"Yeah, too close," Araminta agreed, crossing her arms over her chest.
"If that virus had escaped, everyone on Naboo would be dead now," Anakin pointed out.
Obi-wan shrugged. "Oh well, just another boring day saving the universe," he said, dryly.
Anakin sighed. "Alright, let's take this sleaze back to Theed so we can help Padme and Ahsoka clean up down there."
Obi-wan nodded, turning to his bodyguard. "Araminta, go on. We'll be down soon."
Araminta slumped at the command, looking back into the ship where Vindi was sitting with his back to them. "If he tries anything he's a dead man," Araminta said, firmly.
"I have no doubt," Obi-wan responded with a slight teasing note in his voice.
Araminta scoffed and pulled away, heading back towards the landing platform, which was cracked open to let them in and out. She jumped down a few levels before climbing down the ladder and plopping down at the bottom, glancing briefly up at the sunlight filtering through.
