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THE WATER RIPPLED GENTLY AS THE SOFT BREEZE BLOWS OVER NABOO. The sweet fragrance of citrus trees and different arrangements of flowers drifted with the wind, leaving a peaceful and calming environment. It was ironic, really, because far out from the lake was the Palpatine residence, which was seemingly abandoned since the sinister man's death. That was far from the truth, Astrid and her people had realized because inside the dark and rotting home was a sight she would never be prepared to see.
Despite the light and airy atmosphere around it, the Palpatine home reeked of death and taint. It was like the pollution the ferries would exhale when traveling across the water, slowly ruining the area around it. The greenery around it seemed to be swallowing up the house, leaves and stems climbing up the white walls, and the outlook of the lake filled with moss and trees.
Astrid hums lowly, her eyes hyper-focused on the house and any signs of life. There was nothing she could note, but she knew the true discovery would be inside where Palpatine was undoubtedly waiting for her. She knew why he wanted revenge on her specifically—she was the reason for his demise and why his loyal apprentice had turned his back on him. Now, he wanted her dead, and that would leave Anakin dead along with her, and then he could train Maya in the ways of the Dark side.
"The perimeter is clear, General," Rex's voice comes from the comm in her ear. Her eyes flicker over to Padme, who tries to hide the effect that his voice had on her. Upon seeing Rex again, she was furious and hurt. She had spent years grieving over his death only to find him alive and well. It had led to a heated argument, which was rather one-sided, Padme spitting out most of the words and Rex just taking it. Soon, they had to leave to begin the mission, but the tension still hung in the air between them.
"Moving in. Meet me at the southwest wall," Astrid responds back, eyes meeting Padme's. The two nod at each other and slowly creep down from the large tree they were situated in. Her fingers grip from branch to branch before she lets go and lands on the ground with a quiet thud. Astrid pulls out her modified handgun, a silencing tip at the front for stealth. They tiptoe through the small forest and make it to the southwest wall where Anakin and his men stood. They had a military-grade IT specialist hack into the camera and create the illusion of serenity.
"Split up into groups of five. Take one exit, and leave two to guard it that way all entry and exit points are blocked," Astrid explains, ignoring the loving gaze Anakin was giving her. If she saw it, her guard would soften and she couldn't have that. But she knew Anakin would force her and Padme to be with him so he could make sure they wouldn't get hurt. The reunion between Anakin and Padme was an odd one. Despite Padme's biting words, she ended up giving him a shove out of anger, then a hug out of relief. The whole meeting itself was a sort of oxymoron—anger and familial love.
"Astrid, Padme, Jesse, and Fox—you're with me," Anakin says, his hand subtly moving to the small of Astrid's back. His fingers gently rub the muscles there in an attempt to get her to loosen up a bit. And she does, her muscles relax and her jaw unclenches. She was thankful that he was here, it gave her unlimited resources and comfort.
The team splits up into their groups and makes their way to an entry point. Their group got to the upstairs foyer that was open. Astrid finds a strong vine on the side of the house and makes her way to the roof, followed by Anakin, Padme, then Jesse, and Fox. Once they make it up, they creep forward to the small staircase leading down. From the enhanced heat scan that they had done, there were only five people inside the building. It made sense, Palaptine had more enemies than allies.
"I'll go first, Astrid and Padme, follow behind me," Anakin whispers, looking at the group, "you boys, stay up here and keep looking out."
"Got it, General."
They open the door quietly and slowly, guns and lightsaber aimed. Before anyone could blink, Anakin slices the guard at the door in half. From the head to the end of his torso. Padme gasps, not used to Anakin's newfound violence and lack of care for life. Astrid, although she was aware of his fighting techniques now, was still a tad bit shocked. The guard didn't stand a chance—he hadn't even turned around to face them before Anakin had killed him.
Astrid lets out a breath of air, eyes glued to the corpse, "okay, that was—wow, okay."
Anakin turns around to see the shocked faces of the two girls and scratches the back of his neck, "oops." He then turns back around and keeps moving forward when he sees the look of nausea on Astrid's face. She was so close to her mother, he understood why she was so eager and nervous. He whispers into one of his comms, "one guard down. Keep your eyes open, boys."
Once clearing the second floor of the home, they meet up with Rex's group and make their way down the stairs. Anakin felt obligated to be first. He felt guilty for not being able to kill Palpatine. If he had made sure the man was dead, none of this would've happened. Reaching the last step, everyone felt their breath get knocked out of their lungs.
The room reeked of blood and darkness. Astrid felt her heart speed up and her jaw clench. Her fist shook with something so intense. She felt sick and angry. Her eyes narrowed on Palpatine who casually grins sitting in a mechanical wheelchair. From what she could tell, he was paralyzed from the waist down. His unusually pale skin is tainted by light pink scars and indents from Anakin's lightsaber. He was grotesque. Like a fairytale monster that came to life.
Without realizing it, Astrid had taken a step forward. She was side by side with Anakin, palms curling and uncurling as if she was getting a feel of throwing a proper punch. Her chest rose and fell fast as her eyes moved over to her mother. She helplessly dangled from the chain forcing her upright. Her face was partially covered with a mixture of dry and wet blood from the wound on her forehead, hair was matted from the crimson substance. Both of her eyes were swollen shut, a red and purple bruise forming around them. Her body too was littered with wounds and blood.
Words didn't do justice to how angry she felt. Her stomach churned violently with a fiery rage and she couldn't contain it. Her lips purse, eyes twitching ever so slightly, and her fist shaking. She was high on her rage. Anakin felt it too. He had never seen or felt Astrid's anger to this extent. And he too felt angry, both at himself and Palpatine.
"Come in, I've been expecting you," Palpatine casually says, lifting his hand to gesture to the white couches around him. His hand was shaky as if he struggled to keep it raised. Astrid takes a wary sweep of the room. It was frustratingly clean and normal if you don't take into account her mother hanging where the TV should be. There were plants for decoration, a rug, and a coffee table—it was a normal living room, and it only pissed Astrid off more. "I hope you enjoy my entertainment, it was a shame how hard it was to acquire it."
He spoke of her mother as if she were just a game, an object. Her anger was coming to a boiling point and it was just a matter of time before she launched herself at him. She no longer wanted to kill him right then and there. She wanted to make it slow, make him suffer with every breath, bewitch him with such pain that he would beg for the mercy of death.
"I don't want to kill him right away," Astrid whispers to Anakin, her eyes locked on the disfigured man, "I want him to suffer with each breath, prolong his death so long he pleads for me to kill him."
Anakin looks over at Astrid, a proud grin finding a way to his lips. She truly was the wife of Darth Vader. His voice was grim as he spoke, "anything for you, your Highness."
He lunges forward, and as expected Palpatine tried to use the Force to push Anakin back but it didn't work, because Anakin was stronger. And in a matter of seconds, Anakin's precious blue eyes glow amber. Guards come rushing in, but the three Clone troopers and Padme spring into action. Astrid, however, moves towards her mother.
Her hands fumble over the chains on her mother's wrist, unclipping them as she chants 'mom, can you hear me?' Her mother falls limply into her arms and she gently places the woman down on the ground. Astrid gently shakes her mother, eyes glossing over with tears, "mom? Mom, please respond to me. Mom?"
A small sob breaks her throat as she presses her ear against her mother's chest. She strained to hear a heartbeat, even if it was faint—she needed to hear something. She forced herself to ignore the fighting going on around her and listen to her mother's heartbeat. She struggles to control her sobs and sniffles, but she forces herself to stop.
Her ears strained, and strained, and strained. All she wanted was a slight indication her mother was alive. Just a slight heartbeat, one to show that she was in fact alive. She couldn't lose anyone. Not anymore. Her lips parted, "please, mom, give me something."
But there was nothing. Not even a faltering heartbeat. Nothing.
She couldn't hold back anymore. Her tears slid down her cheeks and her throat let out heart-wrenching sobs. Her heart ached, physically—as if her heartbreak was literal. She had lost her brother, father, and now, mother. She hated it. Life just took and took and took from her. She was angry and in agony. Her lips parted as she struggled to inhale breath. "No, no, no, no. Mom, why? Please, mommy—please."
But still, nothing.
Soon she felt herself lift herself up. Her watery eyes move over to Palpatine who lay helplessly on the floor, grinning at her. Anakin had stopped attacking, knowing Astrid wanted to make him hurt, but it didn't seem right. She was Astrid, the kindest, most selfless, and anti-violence person he knew. But she looked different now. Her glossy eyes showed her bloodlust, her jaw clenched together, her fist clutching a knife. And before he knew it, she had launched herself onto Palpatine, bringing the knife down right at his chest.
She didn't stop. She stabbed and stabbed and stabbed and stabbed. Her face got splattered with blood, getting her hair and suit, but she didn't care. She wanted to hurt him, maul him, make him unrecognizable. Her sobs filled the otherwise silent room, along with the crude noises each stab made. Hot tears stream down her face, collecting some of the blood splats on her face.
Anakin silently dismisses everyone from the room. He knew how much she hated showing her vulnerability to anyone, so for her, he made them leave. His eyebrows crease in worry as she uses all of her energy to stab the corpse of Palpatine. Her breathing was uneven and she was growing tired, he could tell, but she didn't look like she was going to stop anytime soon.
He was gentle when he wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her off of Palpatine. She tries to fight his hold, but she has used most of her energy. The bloody knife slips from her hands and a frustrated scream escapes her lips. She didn't feel better, she wanted to hurt him more. Astrid's body shakes with each sob as Anakin pulls her to his lap. He falls to sit on the floor, holding Astrid and rocking back and forth. His eyes move to Astrid's mother, or what remained, glossing over.
Astrid blabbers nonsense, in too much distress, to say a full sentence. Anakin holds her, wiping the blood and tears off of her face with the sleeve of his robe. She lays limps against him, twitching ever so slightly, eyes glued to her mother. She looks up at Anakin and the man can swear his heart is shattered at how broken she looks. Her eyes are red, her nose and cheeks have a natural rouge, and her lips quivering. Her eyes were swollen from the intense cries she let out. "What are w-we going to t-tell Maya?" Astrid shakily and unstably asks.
"Let's worry about that later, my sweet girl," Anakin whispers, caressing her cheek, "just rest for now. I'll take care of everything."
"I need to hold a funeral for mom," Astrid ignores Anakin, her eyes wide with panic, "and then schedule my coronation and Maya's—"
"Angel," Anakin cuts her off with a slight frown, "I'll take care of everything, okay? I just need you to let yourself grieve and let your body and brain relax."
Astrid lets out a shaky breath of air and nods slowly. Her heart ached and her head pounded. There was no way she would be able to fall asleep by herself. She leans into Anakin more, "I don't think I'll be able to go to sleep by myself. Could you do the sleep thing you used to do on Mustafar?"
Anakin felt like the air was knocked out of his lungs. He looks down at her questioningly, "are you sure? We can find some melatonin gummies—"
"No," Astrid shakes her head, "please, Ani."
"Alright," Anakin nods, pressing a kiss on her forehead, "sleep tight, my love." And then he presses two fingers against her temple. Her eyes flutter shut and her breathing regulates. She was asleep. Anakin stands to his feet and whistles quietly. Rex walks in at the signal, eyes immediately falling on Astrid who lay unconscious in Anakin's arms. "Get the Queen. Make sure her body remains as it is, and keep it out of sight from the crew."
"Yes, sir."
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𝐡𝐞𝐲, 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲'𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠?
𝐢 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲'𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐜 𝐢 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭
𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐢'𝐦 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤. 𝐢'𝐦 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡. 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦, 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐮. 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲'𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤.
𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭!
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