The jungle planet of Teth was the site of a fierce battle between the Republic and the Separatists. The dense forests and steep cliffs made it difficult to move troops or equipment, but the 501st was able to gain a foothold. Near the top of a high ridge stood the old B'omarr monastery, now damaged by blaster fire and explosions. Rotta the Hutt, the son of Jabba, had been kidnapped and brought to this location. Separatist forces were using the monastery as a stronghold, guarding it with droids and heavy weapons. Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano and the 501st Legion had been sent to rescue Rotta. But after they rescued the Hutt, they were ambushed by waves of battle droids. The cliffs made retreat impossible, and the clones were forced to hold their ground under constant fire.
At the barricade's edge, Clone Sergeant Hawk of the 501st braced his DC-15A blaster rifle against a toppled statue, his helmet's rangefinder flickering as he squeezed the trigger in bursts. Blue bolts streaked out, one punching through the lead B1 battle droid's optic sensor. Sparks erupted from its cranium as the droid staggered mid-stride, skeletal arm flailing as it fired a bolt that grazed Hawk's pauldron. The plastoid melted inward, sending a jolt of heat down his nerves. Hawk pivoted on his heel, his boot grinding into the stone, and fired again. Two shots hit the droid's torso joint. The machine toppled forward, its photoreceptor shattering against the ground as it fell.
"General, we're getting swamped out here. Droids are pouring in from the east flank!" Hawk barked into his comm as another wave of B1s crested the rise.
"Hold the line, Hawk. Redirect fire to the heavies. Viper, suppress those B1s before they pin you down," Anakin replied through the comms.
Behind Hawk, trooper Viper slammed a fresh power cell into his rifle just as three B1s advanced. His first shot clipped the middle droid's knee joint, buckling its leg. It pitched sideways, clawing at the air until a follow-up bolt vaporized its elbow, severing the limb. The flanking droids adjusted and started firing towards thr clone. Viper ducked, bolts sizzling past his helmet and scorching the air inches from his head. He countered from a crouch, rolling to the side as the ground erupted where he had been. Rising into a firing stance, he loosed two bolts, one shattered the left droid's shoulder plate, exposing sparking circuits, the other severed its neck servos, sending its head lolling backward on frayed cables before it collapsed in a heap.
The victory was brief. Dozens more B1s shambled forward replacing those who had been destroyedd, each one firing a volley of blaster bolts. A bolt struck Viper square in the chest, punching through his plastron and burning through his body. He gasped once, a wet rattle through his helmet, before collapsing forward. His rifle clattered into the ground.
"Viper's down! They're flanking us!" Hawk yelled, hauling his brother's body aside with a grunt.
The line buckled as super battle droids lumbered into the battle, their hulking frames shrugging off glancing hits. One pivoted its wrist cannon, unleashing a crimson heavy blaster bolt that tore through trooper Echo's thigh. His plastoid armor vaporized in a flash, exposing bone and charred muscle. Echo screamed as he toppled, dragging his ruined leg while firing one-handed from the mud. His bolts ricocheted uselessly off the droid's reinforced chassis. The super droid advanced, and its next shot cored Echo's head. His skull turned to slurry inside the helmet. His body went rigid, then limp.
Hawk lunged to cover the gap. "Echo, hang on—medics!" But there were no medics left. The last had been vaporized minutes earlier in a rocket barrage.
"Fall back to secondary positions. Ahsoka, cover the right, don't let them breach the gate!" Anakin's voice cracked over the comms.
"I'm on it, Master, but there's too many. We need air support now!" Ahsoka replied.
Overhead, vulture droids shrieked through the canopy. One dove wnd fired, their laser cannons spitting crimson bolts into a cluster of clones mid-reload. The first bolt caught Trooper Razor square in the groin, erupting his lower body in a spray of cauterized tissue and plastoid shards. Razor convulsed, clawing at the blackened crater where his manhood had been. "Sarge... it burns..." he rasped, before a follow-up shot blew a hole through his abdomen, snd ending his suffering. His hands pawed weakly at them before his body arched in a final seizure.
The survivors scattered. One trooper flipped backward over a wall. Another sprinted in a zigzag, boots slipping on stone, only to have a bolt shear his Achilles tendon. He pitched forward, helmet cracking as he rolled, then came up firing. His wild shot clipped a B1's, sending it spiraling into the ground, he then shot another and another before he was finally shot from behind.
At the gate, Anakin Skywalker anchored the defense. His lightsaber ignited with a snap-hiss, blue plasma humming as he cut down incoming bolts. A B1 lunged from the smoke but he bisected it before it could even fire. Anakin's blade arced upward, catching the shot and sending it back into the droid's chest, burning a hole through its torso. He surged forward in a lunge, piercing its abdomen panel and twisting free in a flourish that split the chassis apart.
But the kill gained no ground. A squad of B1s flanked him, their volleys forcing him into a defensive position. For every droid he dropped, three more filled the gap.
"Ahsoka, link up. Push them back toward the cliff!" Anakin called, parrying another volley.
At his back, Ahsoka Tano jumped into the fray. A droideka uncurled in front of them and started firing at them. Ahsoka vaulted high, corkscrewing over the dome. Mid-air, she twisted her wrists, blades crossing to deflect an incoming bolt. Dhe landed in a crouch behind the droideka, and drove her blades into its generator and stabilizing legs. Sparks erupted as the shield flickered and collapsed. The machine bucked, only for her to plunge both sabers through its midsection, melting its core until it imploded in a burst of ruptured capacitors.
"Got it. Skyguy, watch your left. Dwarf spider incoming!"
The ground trembled as the dwarf spider droid scuttled onto the cliff, eight legs gouging furrows. Its missile pods swiveled and fired, detonating near the E-Web nest. The shockwave hurled the repeater skyward, the operator shredded mid-air before crashing into the cliffside. The explosion chain-reacted through stacked ammo crates, fireballs consuming dozens of troopers. One staggered from the inferno, half his face seared to bone. "For the Legion," he croaked, lobbing a thermal detonator before a bolt felled him. The grenade went off short, scorching the spider's leg but barely slowing it.
"Hawk, get your men out. Evac to the monastery interior!" Anakin shouted.
"Negative, General, we're cut off. Droids are in the the way!" Hawk replied, his salvaged repeater glowing red-hot as he poured fire into the breach. A super battle droid broke through, cutting down three troopers in quick succession before Hawk disabled it with concentrated fire. As it fell, it triggered a detonator from a dead clone's belt. The blast tore Hawk's arm off at the shoulder. He collapsed screaming, blood and bone spraying as he clawed futilely at the wound.
Anakin sensed the threat through the Force and hurled his saber into the spider's optics. The droid reeled, firing blindly, missiles tearing into the monastery walls and burying men alive beneath rubble. Ahsoka closed the gap in a few leaps, landing atop the spider's hull and severing one of its pods, but the explosion flung her aside, cracking ribs and slicing open her arm with shrapnel.
Anakin vaulted a corpse and drove his saber into the spider's underbelly, severing its legs in a spray of hydraulic fluid. The machine toppled sideways, one leg snaring Ahsoka's ankle. She severed it, landing rolling as Anakin smashed into the spider with a Force-charged blow that buckled its frame.
But the reprieve ended as the horizon filled with reinforcements. Hundreds of B1s, backed by supers, droidekas, and vultures, advanced in waves. Missiles hammered the barricade, reducing it to slag and vaporizing even more of their men.
"Snips, we can't hold. Fall back inside the walls. All units, retreat to the monastery interior!" Anakin yelled.
Ahsoka staggered to his side, blades a blur though blood dripped freely from her wounds. "Master, they're not stopping. If we go we'll be trapped inside."
"Protect the package first,"" Anakin snapped, shoving her toward the gates.
From the failing comms came a final transmission. "General... it's been an honor... they're through..." Static swallowed the rest. The battle outside the monastery had become nothing more than a graveyard of clones.
Meanwhile Anakin and the others sealed the massive stone doors and trapped themselves inside the monastery. Blaster fire hammered against the exterior, the impacts thudding like distant thunder but the walls held for now. Anakin extinguished his lightsaber with a snap-hiss, the sudden silence ringing in his ears as he leaned against the wall, his chest heaving. Ahsoka did the same, her shoulders slumping, the green blade's glow fading from her grip. She sheathed it at her belt and bolted toward R2-D2, who was beeping frantically beside a makeshift cradle holding the squirming, gurgling form of Rotta the Huttlet. The infant slug writhed weakly, his pudgy green limbs flailing, his tiny mouth bubbling with sickly mucus.
"Hey, little guy," Ahsoka cooed, kneeling to check his vitals with a portable scanner, R2 extending a probe to interface with the device's readout. "How you holding up? We're gonna get you home soon." R2 whistled a worried tone, his dome swiveling as the scanner beeped; elevated temperature, irregular heart rhythm. Ahsoka's face drooped slightly, her hand gently stroking the Huttlet's slimy back.
Across the chamber, Anakin paced toward Captain Rex, the clone's helmet tucked under his arm, his faceplate scarred from a glancing bolt. "Comm status, Rex? Still jammed?"
Rex nodded grimly, wiping sweat from his buzzed head. "Solid blackout, General. Seppies have the whole system locked down, jammers on every frequency. But we might punch a distress signal through on a tight-beam burst."
Anakin clapped him on the shoulder. "Might as well try. We are in a pretty tight spot here." He activated his wrist comm, the holographic recorder flickering to life. "This is General Anakin Skywalker, 501st Legion, broadcasting on all Republic emergency channels. We're pinned down on Teth. We are under Heavy Separatist assault, and have a critical civilian asset. Request immediate reinforcements. Repeat: we need backup now." He sent the burst, hoping it would be picked up by someone.
Ahsoka straightened and rushed over to Anakin. "Master! Rotta's burning up, his fever's spiking. If we don't get him medical attention soon, he won't survive the extraction."
Anakin glanced over, his jaw tightening, a flicker of impatience crossing his features but he nodded curtly. "Keep him stable, Snips. He's our ticket to Jabba's good graces. We neee to keep him alive, do whatever you can."
Anakin then turned to R2. "Hey buddy can you get me a scan of the monastery and the surrounding area," he asked. R2-D2 wheeled forward, his scanners whirring as he projected a holographic map of Teth's terrain. The astromech chirped urgently, cross-referencing escape vectors: ship remnants, hidden tunnels, anything off this mountain.
"Master what are we going to do?" Ahsoka asked as she knelt next to the Huttling.
Anakin rubbed his face, his eyes scanning the flickering holo. "We're in a pretty tight situation, Snips. Doors won't hold forever, and that signal might not get through.... but we can only hope someone comes along."
...
In the heart of the Separatist command camp on Teth, hidden beneath thick jungle canopy and surrounded by tangled undergrowth, ghe commanders of the Separatist assault on Teth were based. Rows of reinforced tents stood among the trees, packed with consoles and droid assembly lines. B1 battle droids waited in neat ranks, sll waiting to be sent as reinforcements. Inside the central pavilion, Asajj Ventress knelt before a holographic emitter. Her lightsabers hung at her sides as she waited for the hologram to activate. The close-fitting black suit clung to her pale skin and convered a good amount of her body.
On either side of her knelt Kern and Ror, her fellow dark acolytes. Both were broad-shouldered and scarred from battle, their dark cloaks pushed back to reveal matching lightsabers, both were Zabraks of Dathomir. Which should've made them her brothers in a way, but the mere sight of them disgusted her.
The hologram flared to life. Count Dooku's image shimmered into view, a stern expression already on his face. Ventress bowed her head, but only slightly. "Master. The ambush worked. The Jedi are trapped inside the monastery. They are trapped like rats, it's only a matter of time before we break inside."
Dooku gave a faint nod, lips curling into a thin smile. "Well done Ventress. You continue to exceed expectations." He said in a firm voice. "If possible, deliver Rotta alive. But if that's not possible... kill the child. His death will turn the Hutts against the Jedi."
Ventress didn't hesitate. "Understood." Her eyes gleamed for a moment.
Dooku turned his gaze to Kern and Ror. "You are here to support Ventress. You will follow her lead. Without question."
"Yes, Master," they replied together, heads bowed lower.
Dooku returned his focus to Ventress. "Take the monastery. Eliminate every Jedi and clone. Leave no one alive but the Hutt. Once secured, bring him to Tatooine. Let Jabba see who truly defends his blood."
"It will be done." Ventress stood in a smooth motion.
Dooku gave a final warning. "Do not fail me."
His image faded, the tent dimming as the projector powered down. Only the red lights of the command displays remained. Ventress's fingers closed around her lightsaber. She thumbed the activation switch, and the crimson blade sprang to life with a sharp hiss. Kern and Ror stood beside her, igniting their own weapons.
Outside, the droid army began to move. Lines of B1s and B2s clanked into position. Vultures powered up with rising whines. The jungle floor trembled as the assault force mobilized, marching toward the cliffside monastery with one purpose.
Destroy everything.
_____________________________________
Aubrie wiped a streak of grease from her forehead with the back of her hand. She tightened the coolant line with a hydrospanner, the tool's click signifying it was secure. SD8 stood nearby calibrating the warp core's matrix chamber while Scout crouched beside a sparking relay panel, her small frame half-swallowed by the machinery.
Zule lounged against a bulkhead with a bored expression on her face. She toyed with a loose bolt, flipping it between her flesh fingers while her cybernetic arm rested idle on her lap. "He's off playing hero again," she said with a slight tinge of annoyance though it was easy to see she was worried for him. "Stubborn bantha. We should've chained him to the bunk."
Aubrie straightened and tossed the spanner onto a workbench with a clatter. Her athletic build shifted under her oil-stained jumpsuit, the fabric zipped low enough to reveal the valley between her breasts. Sweat beaded along her collarbone in the stifling heat. "I know. I tried talking him out of it. But once Jaden's mind is set..." She trailed off, worry creasing her brow as she glanced at the others.
Scout wriggled out from under the panel, her face smudged. She sat back on her heels and wiped her hands on her thighs. "We should've done more to stop him. We could've grabbed his saber or locked the ramp. I could've spiked his drink? Or Zule could've chocked him out?"
Zule snorted, though no real humor touched her words. She pushed off the bulkhead and stretched her arms overhead. The motion lifted her top just enough to bare a sliver of midriff, her lean abs flexing subtly. "He's stubborn, and once he's made up his mind, he won't change it. You know that."
Scout chuckled and leaned against the console with a grin. "Sounds like someone we know."
Aubrie burst out laughing shot. Zule's eyes narrowed playfully. She flicked the bolt she'd been toying with straight at Scout's head. Scout's hand snapped up without a glance. She snatched it mid-air between her fingers and stuck out her tongue. "Nice try," Scout said. She twirled the bolt before pocketing it.
Zule rolled her eyes, but a faint smirk tugged at her lips. The laughter faded quickly. Aubrie's expression sobered as she crossed her arms. The motion pushed her breasts up slightly. "I'm still worried. This plot... I sense something bad."
SD8's head tilted. "If statistical projections are of comfort, there is a 24.7 percent chance the mission will proceed as planned. This assumes standard Hutt variables and Separarists interference."
Scout groaned and slumped against the bulkhead. "Not helping, SD."
"However," the droid continued undeterred, "there is a 92 percent probability Master Jaden will survive the endeavor intact."
Scout perked up a fraction. "Well, that's... nice. Kinda."
"Indeed," SD8 affirmed. "His survival odds are markedly higher than our own projected metrics."
"Wait, what?" Scout straightened.
"Current analysis indicates a 65.9 percent chance of hostile incursion while we remain docked on Coruscant."
Aubrie's eyes widened slightly. Her hand absently traced the zipper of her jumpsuit. "And us?"
"72 percent probability of collective survival," SD8 replied matter-of-factly.
"This is getting morbid," Scout commented. She rubbed her arms as if chilled, though the engine room's heat was stifling.
"It is," Aubrie agreed.
Zule stretched again, her full chest rising with a frustrated breath. "Are you guys done yet? This conversation is depressing."
"Yeah, just about," Scout said. She sealed the panel with a final twist of her tool. "Relays are patched. They should hold till we snag those parts."
"Good," Zule replied. She headed for the ladder. "I'm going up to the cockpit."
They all filed out after her and climbed the access shaft up until they reached the main deck. Ehen they emerged they nearly collided with Vaylin. She stepped out of her quarters clad in a simple black tunic.
"What's all the commotion?" Vaylin asked. "And where's Jaden?"
Aubrie exchanged a glance with the others. "He went off planet with Padmé. She's delivering evidence to Jabba about Ziro's plot. Jaden's escorting her and making sure nothing happens."
Vaylin's expression darkened. Disturbance flickered across her features like a shadow over water. Her fingers twitched as if itching to crush something. "Why? Why did no one went with him? He's walking into a trap. Hutts, Separatists... they're all scum."
Zule shrugged. Her cybernetic arm whirred as she leaned against the wall. "He didn't want us to. He said we'd get dragged back into the war, and he wouldn't let that happen."
"He's protecting us even if we don't need it," Scout added with a sigh.
Vaylin's jaw tightened. "What are you doing then?"
Aubrie nodded toward the viewport. "Taking the ship out for parts and droids to fix her up. Padmé pulled some string and got us access to a supplier, the same ones that supply the republic military."
"First, though," Scout reminded, slinging her tool kit over her shoulder, "we need to pick up Master Fay from the Temple. She's expecting us."
"Right..." Vaylin murmured. Her eyes drifted distant. She fell into step with them as they headed to the cockpit.
Scout slid into the pilot's seat. Her hands danced over the controls as she activated the engines. The Vengeance lifted off the landing pad smoothly. Repulsors flared as it banked away from Padmé's apartment tower. It wove into the traffic lanes. Coruscant's glittering expanse fell away below.
Aubrie then set a course for the Jedi temple, and watched as they flew over the sparkling city.
...
Chancellor Palpatine stood at the window of his office, Coruscant unfolding below him, this was his Kingdom. He had his hands clasped behind his back, fingers held in a gesture of contemplation. A disturbed shadow etched his lined face, he was not happy, he felt his composure unravelling as plans that were decades in the making threatened to fail.
He had felt their arrival the moment the Vengeancem breached the atmosphere, two presences in the Force, distinct as lightning strikes amid a clear sky. He could sense Jaden and Vaylin, the former doing nothing to hide his presence while the latter purposely tried to hide. Vaylin should not have had access to her force abilities, only her split personality Darth Tenebra did. The fact that she does and the fact that she is purposely trying to hide meant that the loyalty that he had burned in her had broken and she was free.
How such a fracture could occur defied his meticulous designs. Her subservience should have been absolute, woven into the very fabric of her cloned essence through layers of Sith alchemy and neural imperatives; loyalty etched into her soul like chains forged in the fires of Malachor. Yet the Force, seem to have intervened once more.
It was change incarnate, chaotic in its whims, a tempest that bowed to no master's hand. He had seen it betray his own teacher, Darth Plagueis. Now it turned its fickle gaze upon him, eroding the foundations of his grand design. The force was supposed to be his to control it was his power yet it still fought him. Both of his creations were now free, both now able to get stronger and oppose him.
Vaylin posed a problem of exquisite peril. He did not yet know the extent of her memories. But if she pieced it together, if the floodgates opened... she would see him unveiled. Palpatine and Sidious, the mask and the monster, one seamless truth that could shatter his ascent before the throne was fully claimed.
Worse still, she wielded the potential to become a rival Sith Lord in truth—she was a scion of Valkorion's bloodline, one of thr most powerful Sith Lords in history. Unchecked, she could carve her own empire from the ashes of his downfall. She needed to be dealt with, excised like a malignancy before it metastasized. And there could be no mistakes.
He would do this himself.
The game demanded a king's gambit, and he would play it without mercy.
_____________________________________
Padmé's fingers danced across the controls of her Naboo royal cruiser as she guided the ship away from Coruscant, the planet's glittering spires receding below. Jaden occupied the copilot's seat beside herHe monitored the readouts on the console, "Shields nominal, atmospheric pressure dropping. All systems green for orbital exertion."
She nodded, a faint smile touching her lips as the stars sharpened into pinpricks against spacee. With a final adjustment, she engaged the sublight thrusters, the cruiser slipping free of the gravity well. Jaden's hand moved to the hyperdrive lever, his eyes flicking to the navicomputer. "Coordinates locked. Jump in three... two... one." The stars stretched into luminous streaks, and the ship leaped into the swirling blue tunnel of hyperspace.
Padmé released the controls and leaned back, her white shirt shifting softly against her skin. She turned to Jaden, her dark eyes warm with gratitude. "Thank you for coming with me. I know it must have been difficult, pulling away from your crew like that. But I appreciate it more than I can say."
He met her gaze, his expression softening. "I couldn't let you do it alone. You've helped me so many times before, it's thr least I can do."
She giggled. "There's no debt between us, Jaden. You healed me when Collan stabbed me during the pretrial. Remember? I'd say that more than clears any debt between us."
Jaden shook his head, a rueful smile tugging at his lips. "I still feel like I owe you."
"Well, how about we just call this a favor between friends?" Padmé suggested with a beautiful smile.
He nodded, the weight in his shoulders easing slightly. "I'd like that."
She stood then, smoothing her tunic with a graceful motion, and Jaden rose to follow her. They stepped out of the cockpit and walked down the corridor. Jaden glanced around, his fingers trailing along a control panel as they walked. "This ship's beautiful," he said as he looked at everything in detail. "I thought vessels like this were reserved for Naboo royalty."
Padmé glanced back at him, her hips swaying in her fitted pants. "It was my ship during my time as Queen. After the Separatist blockade, for my actions they allowed me to keep it once my term ended. I made some modifications, though. Turned the old throne room into a lounge, much better that way, plus I used to hate sitting on that thing."
Jaden took it all in the design was very sleek and neat for lack of a better word. "It's pretty advanced," he said, his voice carrying a note of admiration as he peered into an alcove where holographic displays flickered idly.
"It was the royal cruiser," Padmé replied, a touch of pride coloring her words. "It had to be top-of-the-line, in case the queen needed to escape alone or the crew fell in battle."
Jaden's mind raced ahead, envisioning upgrades he could make; the warp core integration, reinforced shielding, perhaps a hidden photon array. A smile crept across his face as they continued, the possibilities unfolding like a blueprint in his thoughts. He paused midway down the hall, realization dawning. "For a ship this big, though... you'd need a full crew to run her properly. How do you manage without one?"
Padmé stopped and turned to him. "There are nearly two dozen droids aboard, all specialized for crew tasks and maintenance. They're programmed for everything from navigation to repairs. A safeguard, really, in case the queen had to flee on her own, or disaster struck the organic crew."
Jaden chuckled, shaking his head. "If I didn't love my ship so much, I might ask for a trade."
Padmé laughed, the sound drawing them closer as they entered the lounge. The space unfolded before them, a converted sanctum of plush Nabooian divans arranged around a table, viewport walls offering a mesmerizing view of hyperspace. Jaden's gaze drifted downward despite himself, drawn to the sway of Padmé's ass in those fitted pants.
She glanced over her shoulder, catching the tail end of his stare, but said nothing of it. Instead, she gestured to a side console stocked with crystal decanters. "Thirsty? We've got Toniray or something stronger if you prefer."
"Yeah," Jaden admitted, tearing his eyes away as he sank onto a divan. "Toniray sounds good."
Padmé poured two glasses, the liquid shimmering like starlight, and handed him one before settling beside him. Her thigh brushed his, a fleeting contact that sent a spark through the fabric between them. She sipped, then set her glass down, her fingers lingering on the rim. "After the mission... what will you do? Head back to the Unknown Regions?"
Jaden shrugged, swirling his drink as he leaned back. "I'm not sure. I've been trying to access Rakata Prime, but every attempt so far has failed."
Padmé's eyes widened, awe softening her features. "Rakata Prime? The Infinite Empire's cradle? That's... incredible. No one's charted it in millennia."
"I didn't go there," Jaden clarified, a wry edge to his voice. "The whole system's unstable. Any ship that flies through gets disabled. We've come close to drifting ourselves a few times, scavenging just to limp away."
She leaned forward,. "If anyone could figure it out, it's you. You've always found a way through the impossible."
Jaden met her eyes, gratitude warming his chest, but something deeper simmered beneath it—a tension that thickened the air between them. Her lips parted slightly, breath quickening, and he felt the pull.
He looked away first, breaking the moment as he took a longer sip of his drink. "How's the Senate been? Still the same circus?"
Padmé sighed. "A nightmare. This war has shown people's true colors. Friends I once trusted... they're scumbags now, more interested in power than the people they were meant to serve."
"How do you mean?" Jaden asked, turning back to her.
"So many Republic worlds in the Mid and Outer Rim need help. They're starving, Jaden... their crops failing, supply lines have been severed. We have the resources to aid them, but the entire focus is on the war effort. No one wants to divert trade ships; they'd need escorts, and that's 'too costly' for the damn vultures in the chamber."
Jaden shook his head, disgust curling his lip. "Power hungry fools."
"That's why I'm doing this," Padmé continued, her voice gaining fire. "With the treaty in place and access to the Outer Rim secured through Hutt space, we can start helping. If those lanes become safe, we can flood the Rim with relief convoys and start helping those worlds again."
Jaden nodded, admiration swelling in his chest. "What you're doing is admirable. But you shouldn't put yourself in this much danger."
She knew he was right she had been doing numerous dangerous missions since the war started. Yet she met his gaze defiantly. "It's war, Jaden. We're all in danger if the enemy wins."
He grinned, the tension easing into something warmer. "You could still be a little less reckless."
Padmé giggled, the sound bubbling up like relief, her hand brushing his knee in playful retaliation. "You're one to talk."
She fidgeted then, her fingers twisting in her lap, the movement drawing his eye to the way her tunic clung to the soft curve of her breasts, nipples faintly outlined against the fabric. She looked up at him, vulnerability softening her resolve. "Maybe... after the mission, you could stick around a bit. Before you leave for the Unknown Regions again."
Jaden held her gaze, the air thickening once more, charged with the unspoken pull between them. "Padmé... I..."
"Not to get involved in the war," she hurried on, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink that spread down her neck, tinting the exposed skin above her collar. "But... it would be nice to see you more. To have you around."
Jaden's breath caught, his hand reaching out to cup her cheek, thumb tracing the line of her jaw. She leaned into the touch, her eyes fluttering half-closed, and he closed the distance. Their lips met softly at first, a tentative brush that ignited like dry tinder. Padmé sighed against him, her hands sliding up his chest to grip his shoulders, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened. Tongues met in a slow, exploratory dance, her flavor flooding his senses.
Jaden's restraint shattered. He shifted, guiding her back against the divan, his body covering hers as he pressed against her . She arched beneath him, her legs parting instinctively to make way for his hips, the cradle of her thighs warm through their clothes. His hand slid down her side, fingers splaying over the soft swell of her hip, tracing the curve of her ass as he ground against her, the hard length of his cock straining against his pants, pressing into the heat between her legs.
Padmè gasped into his mouth, her nails digging into his back, urging him on as she rocked up to meet him, the friction drawing a low moan from her throat. He trailed kisses down her neck, nipping at the pulse point where her heartbeat thundered, his free hand cupping her breast through the shirt.
Her hands fumbled at his belt, eager fingers brushing the bulge of his erection, sending a jolt through him that made him thrust harder, the divan creaking under their weight. He captured her lips again, tongues tangling as he slipped a hand under her tunic, palm gliding over the smooth plane of her stomach to the damp heat of her core—her pants already soaked, the fabric clinging to the swollen lips of her pussy. She bucked against his touch, a whine escaping her as he rubbed slow circles over her clit through the barrier, feeling it throb under his fingers.
*BEEP*
Padmé froze beneath him, her breath ragged, then pushed gently at his chest. "The... the console."
Jaden groaned, pulling back with effort, his cock aching as he sat up, adjusting himself discreetly. Padmé straightened her tunic, cheeks flushed crimson, nipples still straining visibly against the fabric, her thighs pressing together as if to quell the lingering ache. She crossed to the terminal, activating the playback.
Anakin's voice crackled through the hologram. "This is General Anakin Skywalker, 501st Legion, broadcasting on all Republic emergency channels. We're pinned down on Teth. We are under Heavy Separatist assault, civilian asset critical. Request immediate reinforcements. Repeat: we need backup now."
Padmes face paled, worry etching deep lines around her eyes. "We have to go to them."
Jaden stood, running a hand through his hair, frustration warring with duty. "What about the mission? We need to get this data chip to Jabba."
She shook her head, already inputting new coordinates. "There might not be a mission if Jabba's son dies. Even with the evidence, we were the last ones to have custody of Rotta if he dies under our care it won't matter what Ziro and the Separarists did."
"Shit," Jaden mutteredHe thought about it for a moment thinking of any solution before he gave up. "Fine. Let's go. Where's the distress beacon coming from again?" He did hear the message the first time, but he was too concerned with trying to control the erection in his pants that he wasn't listening entirely.
"Teth," she replied.
Jaden nodded, moving to the cockpit with her. "I'll set a course." Then he would punch Anakin in the face for not waiting twenty more minutes alone with Padmè.
(AN: So Jaden was cockblocked by Anakin, or perhaps it was just the will of the force. Anyway. Danger! Jadens girls are on Coruscant and Palpatine has his eye on them. Could this be another death? Which one of the girls is going to die? Could it be Aubrie? Or Zule? Or the best girl SD8? Anyway hope you enjoyed.)
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