Disclaimer: I own nothing. All characters and quotes from Attack of the Clones belong to George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd.

I'm bringin' it back! Here comes the first chapter of the Republic High sequel: The Shackles of Servitude. I'm not gonna lie, it starts out pretty dark, but it does have a happy ending. So, for now, try to bear with me- the first chapter of Servitude is coming in hot! This is in Padmé's POV, first-person, present-tense. I'm still experimenting here, so let me know if it works out for you...

I'm taking a shot in the dark here, I'm a guy, attempting to write from a girl's perspective. I'm not sure how it's going to turn out, so any help you guys could give me would be much appreciated!

Here we go!

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...

The Republic is in chaos.

With the death of Palpatine's right hand man, Ruwee Naberrie, he has chosen ANAKIN SKYWALKER as the heir to his Empire.

Under the influence of Vader Anakin has committed many horrible crimes, including the murder of his girlfriend's father.

Horrified by his actions, the former student-council member, PADMÈ NABERRIE has fled the capitol city of Coruscant, to live with her mother in the relative tranquility of Naboo.

Disillusioned and alone, Anakin serves as Palpatine's personal enforcer, believing that Padmé will never forgive him for the atrocities he has performed at Palpatine's request.

Meanwhile, OBI-WAN KENOBI, MACE WINDU, and Anakin's cousin, AHSOKA TANO, travel to Naboo to flee from Emperor Palpatine's terrible reign.

Can our heroes put aside their differences, reconcile their pasts, and stop Palpatine once and for all?

_***SoS***_

I don't know what time it is when the nightmares finally release me; the bed is drenched in sweat and the sheets are piled at the bottom of the mattress. My hand fumbles for the lamp switch-it's beside my bed, it shouldn't be too hard to find.

I knock a bunch of pill bottles off my nightstand in the process, sending the containers to the floor with a sound like rain. I don't remember how many medications I'm on at the moment; the sound tells me it's a lot.

I can read the labels when the light comes on, and I look away from the cluster of orange cylinders in shame.

Most of the medications are anti-depressants, and anti-psychotics, with some meds just to help curb the side effects.

I don't want to need these things, but I do.

Because I'm broken.

He broke me.

And, try as I might, I just can't seem to put myself back together.

"Don't do this," His voice swirls around me, comforting and haunting at the same time.

I know he shouldn't be here, can't be here.

But, he is.

And I don't want to let him go.

I want this sick, demented little fantasy to go on and on and on. Forever and ever and ever.

Anakin brushes my hair out of my face, and kisses my lips tenderly.

"What?" I ask.

Anakin frowns. "Everybody needs a little help now and then, don't beat yourself up just because you have to take a few pills." he says firmly, almost chastising.

"Okay," I agree quickly, leaning forward for another kiss.

Anakin scoots back, out of my reach. "I'm serious." he says. The ghost of his crooked smile, his only-for-me smile, flickers across his face. "I want you to be happy."

"Then come back. I don't care about the things you've done. I forgive you! Do you hear me? I don't care anymore. I can't live without you...You can see that can't you? Every day we're apart...I'm in agony. If you're suffering as much as I am, please, tell me...Don't you miss me too?" I plead with him. He has to know how much it hurts to be without him.

Anakin's face contorts in a tortured grimace. "More than you can possibly imagine." He breathes. "I have to go...I'll see you soon." He says, and slowly begins to fade. "I love you." He blows me a kiss and gives me one last lopsided smile.

I reach out to him, grabbing, grasping, snatching frenetically for anything I can get my hands on.

Anything to make him stay.

But it's no use-he disappears, that same smile, my smile, on his face.

I look around the room and despair sets in; the bed looks exactly the same as it did when I woke up.

The sheets aren't even slightly out of place.

And then I understand.

Anakin was never here. Not really.

I shake my head, wipe the tears from my face, and reach for my anti-psychotics.

I inspect the bottle carefully, meticulously, searching in between the medical words that I don't understand, hoping an answer will magically appear.

But nothing happens. I didn't have high expectations, anyway.

Sighing, I return the bottle to the table beside my bed.

I don't need them. I tell myself. Those pills are for crazy people.

Right.

Crazy people.

I'm not crazy...

Am I?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. It's really short. This is more of a prologue anyway, the meat of the story comes in the next chapter. Let me know what you think!

May the Force be with you...

~Ink