As Ahsoka left to gather the survivors, wounded or otherwise, Padme returned to the main camp to provide medical aid to those already there. She first made sure the more critical patients were taken care of and stable enough to be put in the few bacta tanks they had before seeing to the less seriously wounded.
One thing Padme was always sure to do whenever she received a new batch of clones was to make it perfectly clear that they were allowed to leave, and that she would defend their honor and dignity with a ferocity unmatched in the galaxy. Almost none of them ever did, either because of the… brainwashing on Kamino or because of the clones resilient loyalty to their brothers. The latter being a trait she greatly admired of them, and why she so desperately wanted to protect them with all her strength. She loved them like younger brothers, and she wanted to break and weep over each clone that gave his life for a war that made no sense.
Padme had been admonished more than once by certain members of the high council on this behavior. It had apparently even reached the Chancellor, who tried to admonish her as well, but she would have none of it. She got the feeling he didn’t like her, not that she had helped it any by getting sassy with him, and the feeling was absolutely mutual. Something about Palpatine just felt scummy to her, though she chalked it up to just her natural aversion to politicians inherited from her old master. She could not understand what Anakin saw in him.
When Ahsoka returned with what wounded she could find, Padme got straight to work healing. One lone medical droid assisted, injecting healing stims and seeing to scanning patients within the bacta tanks to monitor their conditions. By now, Padme would be exhausted, but her bond with Anakin kept her strong. She didn’t like relying on him so much, but he was so strong and resilient in the Force, let alone their bond, that it was difficult not to fall back on his strength.
Padme offered her young apprentice a small smile of reassurance, wrapping an arm around the young girl to pull her into a comforting embrace. Her hand rubbed against Ahsoka’s arm as she held her close.
“They’ll get here,” she said with confidence, her eyes growing distant and her expression turned affectionate. “Anakin is with them. He’ll get here in time. He always does.”
The young togruta leaned into the embrace with a sigh, soaking up her master’s comforting aura like a flower soaked up precious sunlight. Padme was like a lighthouse upon a stormy sea, guiding her people to the safe harbor of her careful watch. Ahsoka could also feel her master’s exhaustion, a deep fatigue that went beyond what had taken root in the rest of them over the past few days. She turned a little bit of that sunshine back towards Padme, willing her master to take some strength, however little, from her padawan as well.
Ahsoka might be young, but she wasn’t blind. She knew there was something going on between Master Naberrie and Knight Skywalker… but as far as she was concerned, whatever it was was their business and no one else’s. Padme seemed more vibrant, more alive whenever Anakin was around, anyways, and Anakin burned like a supernova. Surely that couldn’t be a bad thing?
If Anakin was going to be their reinforcements, then the clankers didn’t stand a chance. Still, though, they had to survive long enough for him to swoop in and save the day.
“We’ll have to disable the Seppies’ anti-aircraft turrets, or else their larties won’t make it through. Skyguy’s fancy flying might get him through, but none of the Clone pilots have that kind’ve skill.”
