ten_fwd_meme | TEST DRIVE #16 - Turbolifts and Ten Forward

Option 001. Trapped in a Turbolift: This space travel thing is new to you, and you're starting to think the ship is purposely out to get you. A turbolift is just a grandiose name for an elevator, which should be the safest way to travel after all! But someone out there is out to get you, you're sure of it. Because the next thing you know, the lights flicker and the lift grinds to a stop. You're trapped, with whomever was unlucky enough to be in the lift with you.

It could be hours before you're rescued. These turbolifts span the entire massive ship, and don't just travel straight up and down. No, they can travel horizontally, vertically, sometimes even diagonally. You could be stuck between any deck now. There is a small access panel on one of the smooth walls, but how good are you with getting these things to work? Let's not forget that sudden stop tossed everyone around a little, and people could be hurt. Time to put your emergency thinking cap on, and make friends with the people beside you fast. You could be the only way back to freedom.

Conversely, you could slide that pack of cards out of your pocket and start a rousing game of gin rummy. Really it's up to you.

Option 002. Ten Forward: You have no idea what just happened. One minute you were home, minding your own business, and now you're on a spaceship in the middle of a crowded room! It looks like a bar. There are people eating and drinking, some in uniform, others not. Some are clearly aliens, and some of the food is looking rather strange too.

You've managed to land in Ten Forward. A long bar with barstools and a bartender span one side of the room, with a bank of strange computers on that same wall. It looks like people are ordering food and drinks from them. Tables are sprinkled throughout, and the far wall is nothing but floor to ceiling windows with a view out to space. It looks like a nice lounge, low conversation making the room hum.

Better ask some questions and find out where you are, or just tap the closest person on the shoulder and try to make friends. The bar is open.

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"Me?" he asked startled, and a small dark laugh escaped him. He shook his head. "You are the one in danger, Padmè. Not me. You are the one who.... who I won't let die." Yes, yes he did just change his sentence because he couldn't bring himself to say that she died, past tense, like it was a fact. Like it was unchangeable. She might see it as set in stone, but a lightsaber could cut through stone. Easily. He would save her. He would.

Yes. Him. He was the one who was going to go down a path that she couldn't follow, down a route where he would be alone. The information that Obi-Wan had told her, and what she had seen with her own two eyes... Of course it was him that she was worried about. "I just don't want you to lose yourself, Anakin."

"Losing you would be far worse," he said softly, taking her hand, needing to feel that contact, to feel her here, real, with him. "And if I have you, how could I ever lose myself? You'd be there to remember for me." He would not let this happen. He would not let her die. Would not.

Perceptions. Padmé knew that that played an important role in everything. Anakin had perceived her as the enemy, and had acted as he had, using the Force on her. He hadn't been himself though, had lost himself. Her fingers squeezed around his. "Sometimes it isn't that easy."

"Please..." he whispered, "Tell me what happened, exactly what happened, so if I go back, I can fix it. I can make sure it never happens."

How do you tell the man that you love that he turned to the dark side, and in doing so, strangled his wife? Her hands moved, to cup his cheeks, thumbs brushing against his skin. "If there is one thing, and one thing only that you should remember, Anakin, is that I love you so I would never betray you."

"Of course," he said, confused and thrown by what he felt was a change of topic. He lifted his hands to rest them over hers. "I know that. If there was anyone in all the galaxy I would never doubt, it is you." He means it. Having no clue what is coming, and having made the choice to believe her, he means it. Of course, what Anakin means, and what he feels in the next moment, with someone else whispering in his ear....

Anakin meant well, he always did, but he always had strings, and who was pulling them usually was a better predictor than anything else as to how he would react.

It wasn't, at least from her perspective, although she couldn't fault the look on his face. She could give him that much, couldn't she, without their world falling apart? "No matter what it might seem like, Anakin. Remember that, because it is important."

"Alright," he said, still confused. "But I don't understand why you won't tell me," he whispered. His head tilted towards hers, as his eyes drifted closed. "I just want to keep you safe," he said softly. "I want us to raise our family together. No more secrets, no more fear, just us. Together."

"... I don't want to hurt you, Ani." Because she knows that it will do just that. She had tried to get him to come away, to go with her, and he hadn't wanted to. No, he had been drunk on power. Anakin, who hated politics, had wanted to rule the galaxy.

Because of who had been holding his strings at that moment. Because he was always a puppet and he was being pulled along. "Why... why would it hurt me? Losing you is the only thing that could hurt me, and I wont let it happen, I'll find some way to stop it, to save you. I will. Somehow. I swear it."

"Because what happened was an accident. The truth wasn't black and white." He had done it, but it wasn't him. It wasn't the Anakin Skywalker that she had grown to love, who she had married, and whose children she had bore.

"It.... it was.... my fault?" he whispered, putting together the pieces that made a picture he hadn't wanted to see. How.... how could it be his fault? He had tried so hard, was trying so hard to...

No... wait... if it was his fault.... then he could... he could just... not do whatever he did, right? He could stop the accident from happening, he could be by her side and see her safely through. He had to save her. Had to.

"It's not that simple, Anakin." As, yes, it had been his action that had ended her up in the situation, but he hadn't been the one behind it. No, they had been puppets. She knew that now. "You were mislead, deceived."

"By.... By Palpatine?" he asked, trying to put it all together. "IF...If I just... don't listen to him or... or if he's not around anymore... then you'll be fine?" he whispered.

"... I don't know. You- none of it has happened for you, yet for me, it is the past, Anakin." Her perplexed look seemed to say it all, as she had no idea how it worked, or even if she should have told him any of this.

"Then I shall change your past. Tell me everything, and I will ensure it was no more than a bad dream. I'll change it, I'll save you. I promise. Whatever it takes."

"I don't even- Anakin, it's-" She probably has told him more than she should have. The complete truth though... To tell him everything...

He swallowed. He was upsetting her. He shook his head. He should have thought. Who could be happy talking about how they were hurt, how they died?

"I am being insensitive," he said softly. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." Never that, he never meant to. But it did seem to be one of his talents. He looked away, trying to figure out what he could do or say that would both fix this... and save her.

"Oh, Anakin..." She glanced up at him, shaking her head. "It's not- I just. I do believe that everything was orchestrated by Palpatine. Everything."

Which included what he had done. "You were just so confused, and not yourself. Not the man I love."

"How could I not be..." the man you love "myself?" he asked in a pain roughed voice. He knew she had not meant those words to hurt, that she was trying to make him feel - of all things - better. But he felt like she had run him through with a Lightsaber.

TEST DRIVE #16 - Turbolifts and Ten Forward

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Dear Anakin, you are not allowed to get suicidal, love me.

He better not >(

Oh dear. :D

No dear.

This is so much fun!

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