Padme staggered the best she could to the main entrance, trying to alert her security for help, to escape the lurking predator in the shadows.

Almost there –

Then she felt it, a direct shot of cold hitting her squarely in the back, halting her feeble escape. With arms outstretched, she reached for the entry pad only a few feet away, but it was too late. Her body seized as she felt her limbs lock and blood freeze.

Her only thought was to twist her body to avoid collapsing on her stomach as she crashed to the floor.

Her eyes faltered rapidly, and the blurred image of red eyes and a blue face greeted her as she slipped into unconsciousness

Ani….

Unexpected Hand

The council meeting finally concluded, the occupants in the room moving briskly towards their next destination or assignment, but all fully aware and prepared for the necessary measures that might need to take place – for worse case scenarios.

Many were still weary and dissatisfied with leaving Anakin the assignment of handling the sith master, but many were given reassurance that the unshakable Mace Windu would handle any complications that were to arise. After all, it was Mace Windu himself who perfected Vaapad, the deadly and ferocious seventh saber form known to jedi for its close association with the dark side. He would surely prevail from any dark influence or battle with a sith.

The chosen three gathered together, speaking few words as they agreed to sperate temporarily to prepare for the battle ahead.

Windu strode off without another word, as Anakin and Obi-Wan made their way to Obi-Wan's chambers to also prepare and discuss the earlier meeting.

"Well that went-"

"Better than expected. Then again, I expected a lot of things, good and bad. This outcome was both better and worse than I thought."

"Now it wasn't that bad," chided Obi-Wan.

Anakin only raised a brow, "Yes, they agreed to let us man this mission, but with one condition, a horrible one – Windu."

"You're the one who suggested and agreed to send another master."

Anakin glared at his former mentor, "Yes, but I didn't think they would send Windu! Out of all the masters they could have chosen, why send the one I am least compatible with! And I don't mean personality wise, I mean everything! You've seen us, we do not get along. At all." Worry creased his brow, "this is going to go horribly."

Obi-Wan frowned, "don't be so pessimistic. To be fair, you don't get along with many jedi, not just Master Windu."

Anakin stared at his friend, replying sardonically, "why, thank you, Obi-Wan, for the vote of confidence."

Sighing, Obi-Wan rephrased, "I would think this mission was of more importance than your intense dislike of the man however far back both your animosity lies."

The former sith's gaze darted to the far side, as their brisk walk tapered off to a stop in the long corridors of the jedi halls. With glazed eyes he whispered softly, voice laced with pain and far-away remembrance "…he was the first."

"Pardon?"

"He was the first jedi I ever killed…"

"Anakin," Obi-Wan's countenance softened as he tried reasoning, "you told me of how Sidious deceived you, made you think the only option was if he lived. He no longer has that power over you." Then he tried to console, "plus, you did not directly kill Mace Windu, Sidious did."

"But I had a hand just as much as Sidious did. If I'd had just let him end that horrid being then everything that happened in the past could have been avoided," he spat bitterly.

"Anakin," Obi-Wan tried again, "what is done is done, but you forget, that was in your previous past, not ours. We can do this. It won't happen again." He said with confidence.

Anakin quirked his lips to an almost smile as the two continued on their path towards their destination. As the duo neared the chamber, Obi-Wan perked as if in realization of some past occurrence forgotten and fumbled with his pockets, producing his commlink. The young jedi knight glanced curiously at the device as Obi-Wan checked through the data, quirking an eye in question.

"I received a call from my comm during the meeting." Supplied Obi-Wan, as his eyes scanned over the data. The eyes which were calm morphed to one of curiosity and mild concern as he brought the device closer for inspection muttering, "oh, dear." His eyes lifted and met his friend's while raising the device for Anakin to see. On the list of calls was Padme's name.

Anakin's face scrunched in confusion as he wondered why his wife had called Obi-Wan.

His friend voiced his confusion, "why did she call me? Did she call you too?"

Hands reached for his own device as Anakin checked, and true enough, Padme's name appeared in the caller ID as well.

"I'm sure she's just checking in."

But Anakin wasn't so sure. His wife would know not to call him, unless the direst of situations. He immediately called back.

The call did not connect. No one was picking up.

Worry escalated to panic as Anakin tried once more. Then another.

Still no answer.

"Something is wrong. Padme is in trouble – I need to go." The former sith started for the direction of the temple vehicles, mission quickly forgotten as the thought of his beloved in danger quicken his steps to a jog.

Obi-Wan followed trying to reign in his friend. "Anakin, Wait! The mission! Sidious!" His strong hand grasped the shoulder of his wayward brother. "Just hold for a minute. How do you know if she's in danger? Did you feel anything amiss?"

Anakin ran a hand shakily through his fair as he shook his head.

"How about we-"

"I need to see if she's alright. It'll just take a moment."

"Hold on. I'm sure we can ask Captain Panaka to check. Maybe her comm died unexpectedly?" But Anakin only shot his friend a withering incredulous look. Padme was never that reckless and absentminded. Especially not at a time as dire as this. Obi-Wan knew this, but the last thing he needed was for Anakin to run off in a mad dash without any plan or back up with little to no information. He needed his friend to remain calm.

So, call the trusted captain they did. No reply.

Now Anakin was truly on his way to panicking as his eyes darted back and forth, no doubt conjuring horrid scenarios.

"Something is wrong! I need to go back! I-"

This time Anakin's comm lit up with an oncoming message as he hastily went to check it. It was a coded message by R2.

Bewildered, he opened the message and read.

Obi-Wan could see the minute changes of his former Padawan shift from a myriad of emotions. Worry, fear, horror, anger; the emotions flickered in quick succession and looped to start once more. By the time he was done reading, Anakin was shaking all over. Obi-Wan was almost afraid to ask what happened for fear of his good friend, but ask he did.

"What happened?"

Anakin's grip on his comm tightened and trembled as he breathed out harshly in fear and anger. "She was taken!"

"How?" The former sith's eyes filled with pain, guilt, and a tinge of confusion.

"...Home invasion – I – I don't – how?" came the agitated reply.

"Where?"

"I don't know," was the broken cry.

"Who?"

At this inquiry he looked up, fury and death in his eyes. Eyes eerily familiar as those in his early days as a sith flashed dangerously. He uttered only a name, "Cad Bane."

"Excellent. I assume she and the child are unharmed?" The cloaked figure's small blue image flickered in the dank and dirty room, his question directed towards the seated man resting lazily on the ledge of the window staring out into the cracks of the blinds.

In the shadows of the room, the man nodded. "Wasn't easy." He turned and his profile lighted up from the soft glow of the holo-communicator. Azure skin and ruby red eyes stared back impassively, his worn and beaten hat tilted slightly to the side. "Usually when someone asks for a job, they want said person dead," he smirked, "not alive and unarmed. 'Specially not a pregnant one."

The figure in the hologram waved a dismissive hand, "I paid you to do a job, not to ask questions."

"I ain't complaining or questioning, just stating a fact. I did what you asked. Now where's my money?"

The hooded figure steepled their bony, withered hands together, what little of his lower visage shown was twisted in a satisfied cruel sneer, "Good, Good. The first half of the contract is being sent to you as we speak, however, I would like to alter our… transaction."

The blue man narrowed his eyes in suspicion and annoyance. He did everything that was asked. Capture the girl, then bring said girl to this location. And what he said was true, it wasn't easy. The young senator, although small and vulnerable in her pregnant state was by no means stupid or weak. Already taking out her security team took longer than anticipated, the pesky captain of the guard a much more cunning and experienced combatant than he expected. Truly the devotion of said captain was as nauseating as it was laughable. One would go so far as to say the man loved the senator. But no matter, he had ended that pathetic man, his last breath that of his beloved senator's name. But then his plans had been further foiled by the irksome droid. Oh, He remember that droid well. Where that droid went, Skywalker was not far behind. It was because of the R2 unit that the senator almost escaped. Truly, it was a much more difficult endeavour when you couldn't just kill off your target. But he did it, he had captured the senator just as he promised with moments to spare. If his employer was going to change the contract, there better be compensation. After all, He did nothing for free.

The hologram continued, "I will double your pay if you deliver the senator onboard the Invisible hand. And discretion is most advised. I want her in the ship within the next three hours. Do we have ourselves an agreement?"

He stared the hooded hologram down contemplating the offer given. It was risky, highly so. "You want me to deliver a highly prominent public figure, who is also heavily pregnant, to a dangerously active war zone in a time crunch, without injury" the azure man leaned back against the wall, crossing his hands in an unimpressed display of irritation.

"Oh? Having doubts about your ability? And here I thought the great Cad Bane could do anything as long as the price is right?"

He knew he was being goaded, he knew it. But what his employer said was true, he would do any job that came his way for the right price. After all, he was the best of the best, and he was known for that not because he backed out when the tough got going.

"Triple it, and we have ourselves a deal."

A sinister grin crept languidly onto the hooded figures visage, "deal, get it done." The transmission died.

Bane huffed out as he shuffled to his feet, stretching out with a satisfying groan as he glanced at the now awake and glaring senator. He grinned, "Ah, you're awake, senator. Have a pleasant nap?"

Cold. That was the first sense to greet her. A numbing chill in the stale air that rose hairs on the back of her neck and made her hazy mind jolt in panic. But it was not just the temperature of her surroundings that filled her with a sense of dread. No, as her consciousness came about, more of her senses awoke, most unpleasant and uncomfortable.

She felt awareness come into her body second by gradual second as sensations filled her being. It was not the awakening after a night of well-deserved rest, or that or restless slumber. This was the awakening of forced unconsciousness in the most abrupt fashion.

The chill that had crept upon her person, engulfed the young woman, as her eyes fluttered and her mind a foggy mass of confusion and trepidation. For what reason her hazy mind could not yet conjure, but she trusted her instincts honed from years of experience and training, she would not utter the moan of discomfort that formed on her petit lips, for what her sense were telling her, she was in danger. She needed to remain quiet. Instead, she focused all her remaining energy to opening her eyes, to discern where she was.

Assess the situation, her mind commanded.

Groggily, her eyes fluttered, and with great effort and a blurred vision, her eyes opened to a dark and unfamiliar setting. Blinking several times to rid herself of the fading effects of unconsciousness, Padme took stock of her surroundings.

The first thing she noted was that she was not alone. On the right of her, she heard a deep gravely somewhat familiar voice muffled by her bleary state. The figure remained obscured and hidden in the shadows. From the looks of it, he was discussing business of some sort. Most likely her capture.

Next, she took note that while her body was in great discomfort, she was lying on a soft surface on her side, a raggedy couch which had seen far better days. Padme tried to discreetly move, to search her surroundings better, but found to her dismay, that she could barely lift her finger much least her head. Her teeth gritted in frustration as she silently clawed the well-worn cotton of the couch, urging her unresponsive body to take action.

Her body remained stubbornly unresponsive.

All of her body remained still.

As well as her little angels who were unusually still in her womb.

Terror and alarm filled the young senator as she concentrated all her attention on her stomach. To feel, if anything, just a little flutter or kick, even the tiniest of sensations.

She felt nothing.

Her babies! Her precious babies! Why weren't they moving?

Padme wanted to cry out, to reach for her children with her loving arms, but they stayed useless at her sides. Tears began to form and trickle down her face as she dreaded the worst, yet was unable to accept the situation.

If only she didn't get caught! If only she had tried harder! She should have never have returned to Coruscant! She should have listened to Anakin! Now her babies were so very still.

Please, let them be alright! Let my babies be okay, oh force, please! She chanted this over and over in her head, silent sobs racking her body as her hands laid futilely by her sides, unwilling to respond and cradle what she held most preciously. Luke…Leia, my babies – I'm sorry – I'm so sorry – I –

And that was when she felt it, the smallest of flutters within her. A familiar feeling which she had experienced in the later stages of her pregnancy. At once unbridled joy and relief engulfed Padme as she thanked the force that she felt that miniscule kick. While it may not be the best indication that her children were well and truly safe, she took great comfort that they were at least responsive. If they didn't…she didn't want to think about that.

With great effort, she reigned in her meltdown as best as she could and blinked away her tears. She needed to escape! She needed to flee to safety and check the well-being of her babies.

With renewed effort and vigour, Padme struggled, forcing her body to move. Slowly, every so slowly, she shifted.

Damn! Why was it so difficult to move?!

She had been shot before, both by shots aimed to stun and kill, so why was it so hard to move?

Because you are vulnerable in this condition a condescending, yet kind voice echoed in her mind. Irritatingly, it sounded like Qui-Gon for some reason. You tried to prove you were as capable as you were before in your prime condition, but now you are only a liability. Your carelessness and pride are going to be your downfall.

Padme never liked to admit she was wrong, because she rarely was, but in this instance, she was suffering greatly for her overestimation of her abilities while in her pregnant state.

So, what do I do?

Padme mulled over her limited choices, and they were that, limited.

How was she supposed to escape undetected while her captor who was only a few feet away could realize she had awoken and was planning her escape?

She continued to analyse different scenarios when an audible groan was heard.

She turned towards the noise and finally saw who her captor was.

Cad Bane.

She should have known – or at least realized that he was a likely option as her kidnapper. The few times she had met him, all within horrid situations, were full of danger and deceit staring none other than the bounty hunter before her.

She glared coldly at the figure before her, not willing to show her utter fear and desperation. Now that she knew who her captor was, her limited options narrowed even further. Bane was skilled. One of the best. And while he was in peak performance, she was… less so.

He grinned, "Ah, you're awake, senator. Have a pleasant nap?"

Her glare intensified.

How dare he! Because of his actions she almost thought her babies to be… she didn't want to think of that. Not ever.

But Bane merely chuckled at her defiance, as if it were an adorably amusing but useless action.

He had all the power and he knew it.

"Who is your employer? I know you were hired, or else you wouldn't have bothered with all this trouble."

His grin remained as he scrutinized her under his gaze. After all, she would be a fool to think he kidnapped her for his own benefit. One thing Bane was known for was his willingness to do almost any job for credits. Lot of credits. And she wasn't a nobody. She had many enemies. Unfortunately, she had a sinking feeling that his current employer was much more acquainted with her than he knew. Hopefully she wasn't right.

He ignored her question. "So, you and Skywalker, eh? Honestly didn't expect that, then again, never cared. Didn't think those stuffy jedi had it in 'em." His eyes roved her figure, taking in her pregnant state.

"If you want credits, I can match what you're being given. I can even double it," she tried reasoning.

He snorted, as he continued to eye her as he gauged her offer. "Thanks, but no thanks. I'll think I'll stick to my original deal."

Padme frowned. Why did he have to be so stubborn and prideful? "Scared of your employer? Is he someone powerful enough the great Cad Bane is afraid?"

the with a sudden motion, he whipped a blaster at his side an aimed it at her head. "Whose to say I want you for myself?"

She almost rolled her eyes at this blatant show of dominance and intimidation. She wouldn't be harmed, she was very sure of that. After all, she was almost positive she was just a transaction. and loathe she to admit it, like all goods, damaged ones wouldn't sell for much.

She arched a brow if disbelief, "don't bother, bane. For we both know that is a lie."

He stared at her for a few more moments before rebolstering his weapon. "Such a feisty little thing you are. Smart too. Such a shame really, but worth so much. Tell me, how much do you think I'll get if this," he gestured to her protruding stomach, "were to be leaked to the holonet?"

Her heart thundered at his open threat as her teeth clenched, but she did not falter. She held her head high (in her weakened state) and looked directly into his blood red eyes.

"Who is your employer?"

"I don't think you're the one to be calling the shots, darling."

Her eyes narrowed at the use of endearment. She wanted to hurl insults back at him. To spit and curse this man for taking her. But she bit back the urge. She had two very small beings relying on her. She couldn't be selfish or stupid. But she needed answers.

"Who is your employer?"

He sighed in annoyance. What he once thought of as cute show of defiance was now getting old. Anyways, he had a job to do. He had wasted enough time.

"You know, it was a lovely chat, dear. But I'm afraid we must get on the road. Got places to be, people to see, and credits to collect." He neared her as his hand reached for something in his pocket and withdrew a menacing cylindrical object which he unscrewed as he continued to talk. "Be a good girl and be quiet, will you? I would really like to do this the easy way. After all, you're a package carrying other packages in you. Can't have them being damaged, now can we?"

Her eyes widened as she realized what it was.

He was going to drug her again.

Padme tried to back away, to avoid whatever he was going to inject her with.

She did not want to go with him. Wherever it is he was taking her and to whom. She forced her body to move, to run away from the clear blue liquid that was inching towards her, ready to be injected and force her into unpleasant unconsciousness and vulnerability. She wouldn't be able to protect herself if her was drugged. She wouldn't be able to protect her babies.

Her body managed to roll off the sofa, and she barely managed to twist her body to avoid falling on her stomach.

She needed to get away!

He was coming closer!

No!

No!

Padme batted his hands away, and the vile injection. She wouldn't. She couldn't.

But then she felt it. The sharp pin-prick and a flood of ice in her veins slowly taking her into oblivion. Her body slumped uselessly once more. What regaining strength she had now withering away. Her eyes grew impossibly heavy as her head lolled on the floor.

Luke…Leia