“Obi-Wan is trying to turn you against me,” Anakin said darkly.
Padme shook her head. “He cares about us.”
“Us?”
“He knows.” Padme paused a moment, then said, “He wants to help you.”
“And you.” Anakin’s voice was full of jealousy now. “Don’t lie to me, Padme. I have become more powerful than any Jedi dreamed of, and I’ve done it for you … to protect you.”
“I don’t want your power.” Padme pulled away from him. “1 don’t want your protection.”
Anakin drew her back to him. “Is Obi-Wan going to protect you?” he demanded. “He can’t … he can’t help you. He’s not strong enough.”
Padme’s head fell, and she was silent for a long time.
Perhaps R2-D2 had attuned his communications routines to Luke’s moods over the years, because he seemed to sense the dread in Luke’s presence as clearly as Jacen did. The droid took advantage of the long silence to whistle a long, worried-sounding question.
“He’s afraid this is going to overload your circuits,” Ghent reported. “And I know we’re stressing his. Do you hear that warble in
his interrogative pitch?”
“Keep going.” Luke’s tone grew a little softer. “It’s all right, Artoo. I’m fine.”
Jacen nodded his approval. There was an irrational and dangerous edge in Anakin’s voice, and Jacen understood why R2-D2 had been so reluctant to show these holos to Luke. But pain was only dangerous when it was feared-that had been one of Vergere’s first lessons. Luke needed to see the end of the holo. He needed to embrace the pain.
After a moment, Padme raised her head again in the holo.
“Anakin, all I want is your love.”
“Love won’t save you,” Anakin snarled. “Only my new powers can do that.”
“At what cost?” Padme demanded. “You’re a good person. Don’t do this.”
“I won’t lose you the way I lost my mother.” Anakin’s face belonged to someone else now, someone angry and frightened and selfish.
Padme did not seem to see the change-or, if she did, she remained determined to bring the other Anakin back again. She reached for him.
“Come away with me,” she said. “Help me raise our child. Leave everything else behind while we still can.”
Anakin shook his head. “Don’t you see? We don’t have to run away anymore. I have brought peace to the Republic. I am more powerful than the Chancellor. I can overthrow him, and together you and I can rule the galaxy … make things the way we want them to be.”
“I don’t believe what I’m hearing!” Padme backed away, stumbling as though she had been struck.
Luke sighed audibly, clearly dismayed at the arrogance that had led his father down the dark path of the oppressor. But Jacen found himself responding to his grandfather far more sympathetically, almost
with admiration. Anakin Skywalker had understood his own strength, and-at one time, at least-he had tried to use that strength to bring peace. Vergere would have approved. Power unused was power wasted, and whatever had happened to him later, Anakin Skywalker had at least attempted to use his for a good end.
For a moment, R2-D2’s hologram began to flitter, and everyone held their breath. Then the droid gave a click and a whir, and the scene continued.
Padme had stopped retreating from Anakin.
“Obi-Wan was right,” she said. “You’ve changed.”
“I don’t want to hear any more about Obi-Wan!” Ana-kin started after her. “The Jedi turned against me. The Republic turned against me. Don’t you turn against me.”
“I don’t know you anymore,” Padme said. “Anakin, you’re breaking my heart. I’ll never stop loving you, but you’re going down a path I can’t follow.”
Anakin’s eyes narrowed. “Because of Obi-Wan?”
“Because of what you’ve done! What you plan to do!” Padme’s voice grew commanding. “Stop now.” She was silent for a moment, then her tone softened. “Come back. I love you.”
Anakin’s gaze shifted, and he seemed to be looking over Padme’s shoulder toward the cam. “Liar!”
Padme spun around, and for the first time it grew clear just how advanced her pregnancy was. Her jaw fell in dismay. “No!”
“You’re with him!” Anakin’s gaze had returned to Padme. “You’ve betrayed me!”
“No, Anakin.” Padme shook her head and started toward him again. “I swear … I-“
Anakin extended his arm, his hand shaped into an arc. Padme cried out, then grabbed her throat and began to make terrible gurgling sounds.