The Clone Wars: Path of the Force, A Star Wars Story

2

Nights like these were rare. So when Anakin Skywalker lay down to sleep with his wife, he did not take it for granted. He held her next him until sleep quickly overtook him. Sometime during the night though, Padme always ended up on the other side of the bed. Anakin could be a restless sleeper.

Anakin and Padme both heard the loud boom and simultaneously sat up in bed. The remnants of an explosion rang loudly in their ears and shook the senatorial apartments.

Padme looked at Anakin. "What was that?"

Anakin closed his eyes, reaching out into the force. He could not feel any immediate danger to Padme or himself. He could not feel anyone in immediate danger.

"I don't know," he said, pulling his shirt over his head and attaching his lightsaber to his waist.

Padme got out of bed and headed downstairs to the balcony of her apartment. Anakin followed, not without admiring the view behind his wife as her light, barefoot steps tugged her silky nightgown around her curves.

"Ugh, I was sleeping so good," he said. "No dreams."

"No rest for the weary," she said, turning to smile at him. She knew him well enough to know that despite his complaints, he actually reveled in having the power to do something about explosions in the middle of the night. She briefly wondered if their banter at 'times like these' was a sign they had been in more than their fair share of 'times like these', or if it was just a part of who they were. But, her attention was quickly diverted back to the matter at hand as they reached the balcony.

A bright red glow engulfed the first floor of the Senate building opposite them. Thick, black smoke rose in a column, towering ominously over Coruscant's largest buildings. Blue and red lights flashed throughout the street-level and upper speeder lanes as emergency vehicles made their way to the scene.

"Chancellor Palpatine's apartments," Anakin said looking at Padme. "Stay here. I'm going to see if anyone needs help."

Padme nodded and Anakin jumped off the balcony. She watched him land soundlessly on the roof of the Senate Chambers nearby and kept her eyes on him until he disappeared into the smoke.