Prophecy of the Force: Part 8

Part 8

“Senator, unnecessary your outburst was. Calm, you must be, before made, our decision will be.” Spoke Yoda. He didn’t show it, but he was just as surprised at this outburst as Anakin was. “Your fate, we will not decide. But this development, complicated it is. Affected you will be, when young Skywalker’s fate, we decide.”

“I meant no disrespect to you or your council, Master Yoda. I apologize, but not for what I said, but how I said it. I beg of you, don’t do this. You know that he’s the most powerful Jedi you have. I know we broke the rules, but it’s just as much my responsibility as it is his.” By this time, Padmé had gotten angry again, and suddenly felt a sharp pain in her belly. She doubled over in pain, but before she hit the floor, Anakin had caught her. Without asking leave of the council, he ran out of the chamber and rushed her to the medical facility.

“We must decide what to do. The longer we wait, the more complicated things will become.” Mace was upset at the council’s inaction on the matter so far. “We will let Anakin take her down to the medics, but while he is there, we must decide this now.”

“But Padmé could be in danger. I’d like to make sure she is alright before we decide to change their lives more than it already is being changed. If we make this decision now, and something happens to Padmé, Anakin would never forgive us. We can’t afford to lose him after all that we have already lost.” Obi-Wan seemed to be the only voice of reason in the chamber that day. He knew what had happened, and what was still at stake, but he also knew Anakin better than anyone else there and was well aware of what his former padawan could do.

“Agree with Master Kenobi, I do.” Despite his harsh outburst at Obi-Wan earlier that day, he knew Kenobi was right. They couldn’t afford to be hasty in this decision.
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By the time that Masters Yoda, Windu, and Kenobi had reached the medical facility, Padmé and Anakin were already in the birthing room. They could hear her screams as she was in labor. One of the medical droids approached them.

“How is she doing? Is everything alright?” Obi-Wan was very concerned, and regardless of who was in his presence, he showed it.

“The senator has gone into premature labor, but the babies will be fine. Miss Padmé has a hard labor coming, but she will be alright. Our medics are with her right now. If you will take seat sirs, we will let you know when it is time to see them.” Obi-Wan hated how these droids operated without emotion, despite the current situation.

The droid was on its way back to the birthing room when Master Windu spoke up. “You said babies. You mean to say that she is carrying more than one child?”

“Yes sir, she is carrying twins. I will speak with you later, I am needed inside.” With that, the droid disappeared into the room.
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Anakin sat next to his wife holding her hand. He could feel her pain through the force. He couldn’t bear the fact that she was in so much agony and he couldn’t do anything about it. The medical droid that had been out with the other Jedi had just come back in. It was time. Another medical droid was positioned at the end of table where Padmé lay, waiting to deliver her children. All Anakin could think of was his nightmares. He knew that Master Windu had done the right thing in eliminating the Sith, but how was he supposed to help her. He jolted back out of his thoughts when Padmé let out another deafening scream. He put his hand on her forehead and stared at her. All he could do now was wait. Suddenly, he heard another sound, but it didn’t come from her. It was a cry, a babies cry. He smiled at his beautiful bride. He was a father.

“We have a child.” He gathered his son in his arms. “He’s beautiful. What should we call him?” Anakin bent down to show Padmé her new child. She had never seen anything so amazing in her life.

“Luke. Let’s call him Luke.” Just then, she let out another piercing scream. Anakin was confused. The medics had not told them that they were expecting twins. A few moments later, he heard that beautiful sound again. It was another child, this one, a daughter. Padmé saw her other child and smiled. “Oh Anakin, she’s so beautiful. Can we call her Leia?”

“Luke and Leia. We’re parents. I never thought I could be so happy.” All of the pain and anguish and worrying that he had felt in the Jedi Council Chambers had vanished. He no longer worried what would happen to him. He didn’t care. Padmé was alive and safe, and he had two beautiful children with her. Nothing could change that now, no matter what the council did.