Dramatis Personae
C-3P0 (droid - masculine programing)
Dooku; Count (human male)
Grievous; General (kaleesh cyborg)
Obi-Wan Kenobi; Jedi Master (human male)
Beru Lars (human female)
Owen Lars (human male)
Mon Mothma; Senator (human female)
Sabé (human female)
Sola Naberrie (human female)
Bail Organa; Senator (human male)
Palpatine; Supreme Chancellor (human male)
R2-D2 (droid - masculine programing)
Anakin Skywalker; Jedi Knight (human male)
Padmé Amidala-Skywalker; Senator (human female)
Mace Windu; Jedi Master (human male)
Yoda; Jedi Master (unknown male)
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...
The war between the Galactic Republic and the Separatists has left
worlds in ruin. In desperation, the Separatists have begun to hire
privateers to battle the formidable clone army.
The Senate continues to vote more executive power to Supreme
Chancellor Palpatine and after a recently foiled kidnapping attempt on
the Supreme Chancellor, the majority of the Senate has decided that
this war cannot afford to drag on any longer. As clones continue to
increase the ranks of the Republic Army, a few of the Jedi are
beginning to feel that Chancellor Palpatine's interests might not lie
with their own.
Meanwhile, Anakin Skywalker, now a full Jedi Knight, has yet to reveal
his liaison with Senator Amidala. As he returns to Coruscant after a
brief vacation spent on Naboo he wonders what the Council's reaction
will be...
CORUSCANT
The dark nondescript Republic shuttle slid through the atmosphere of
the capital planet. Among the wide variety of passengers that begun to
gather their things for departure, a cloaked figure hovered by the
exit. As the ship landed on a platform, various beings could be seen
waiting for the passengers. The cloaked figure waited for the others
to brush past and then silently followed. A man with a scruffy brown
beard moved forward to greet him. The cloaked figure pulled his hood
back to reveal the handsome face of Anakin Skywalker. Jedi Knight
Obi-Wan Kenobi smiled at his former student, and nodded his head in
greeting. Anakin had been in dire need of a break from the unrelenting
war they were in. He had certainly earned it after helping Obi-Wan
foil General Grievous, the terrible cyborg who lead the Separatist's
army, in his attempt to kidnap the Chancellor.
"It's good to see you again, Anakin," Obi-Wan said, slapping his
friend on the shoulder. Anakin gave a slight smile, and for a fleeting
moment Obi-Wan felt an odd tinge to his sense, but it passed in an
instant.
"You too, Master." The two Jedi then turned to pass through the
laughing crowd around them.
The Senate was especially unruly today, and it had taken Chancellor
Palpatine several tries to calm the group. Finally, the shouts were
reduced to murmurs between aids. Palpatine swept his piercing gaze
across the room, his brow furrowed as if he was trying to read the
minds of the senators.
"I do realize that the separatists are a growing threat that concerns
us all, but our army of clones is more than enough protection," he
smiled, as if he believed that his words would calm any twitches of
doubt.
It almost worked.
"These clones are indeed an impressive force. Though I'd like to know
where we got them all in such a short amount of time?" Senator Bail
Organa spoke up. The tall dark man was a much respected politician,
and Palpatine knew he would have to keep an eye on him.
"You'd be surprised at how much our technology has progressed in the
past decade. What was once deemed impossible is now commonplace,"
Palpatine countered.
Bail appeared to accept this, but there was still a slight look of
suspicion on his face. Palpatine smiled again. Yes indeed, someone
worth watching...
Jedi Masters Yoda and Mace Windu were waiting for Anakin and Obi-Wan
as they entered the temple. Anakin's gaze flickered briefly from their
faces to the floor. Yoda tapped his gimer stick.
"Finally adjusted to new arm, you are?" Yoda asked casually, moving
forward to inspect the clearly mechanical replacement, Anakin had. The
young Jedi clenched his fist in response.
"Yes, Master Yoda, I'm no stranger to machines," he said softly.
"Is there anything you'd like to report to us?" Master Windu inquired.
His face wore its usual blank expression, although he seemed to be
regarding Anakin intently. The young Jedi Knight swallowed, and shook
his head.
"No, Master, everything is fine," he answered slowly, trying to keep
his nerves steady. Anakin could feel Obi-Wan's sense relax slightly,
but Windu and Yoda remained rigid. If they suspected anything, they
held their peace. Yoda nodded, and hummed low in his throat.
"Good to see you again, young Skywalker."
With that, Yoda and Windu brushed past Obi-Wan and Anakin. Left alone,
they silently studied each other carefully. Their bond had not been
mended in their month apart.
"How's Senator Amidala?" Obi-Wan asked. Anakin shrugged.
"She's fine."
"Your feelings reveal you, Padawan. They have not changed," Obi-Wan
admonished him.
Now that they had a moments peace together, he wanted to have a long
talk with his Padawan. "Let's go..."
NABOO: THEED
The administrative offices of Theed Palace were spacious and
splendidly decorated. This particular office was a pale green colour,
and had a few family holos scattered on the walls. In the room's four
corners, a cheery plant was placed. And in the center of the floor sat
an elaborate wooden desk, along with a dark haired woman seated at it.
Behind her a large glass window let in the sunlight and allowed her a
magnificent look at her world.
Padmé Amidala (Skywalker) was sorting through a large pile of
paperwork when her sister Sola, burst into the room. Her usual tidy
appearance was in disarray, and she was trying to catch her breath as
she collapsed into a small chair before Padmé.
"I... got your message," she puffed. "What's going on?"
She glanced up at her sister. Her brow was furrowed with a deep
concern. Padmé felt an ache develop inside her - why couldn't she have
informed her family sooner?
"Sola, I want to talk about Anakin," she said, getting to her feet.
She was beautifully dressed, as always, in a flowery yellow dress with
matching hair piece – it was Anakin's favourite. Her sister began to
smile. When she had taken the then-padawan Jedi to meet her family over a
month ago they had welcomed him with open arms.
"Ah, you need any tips?" Sola's worry had vanished, replaced by her
customary cheerfulness.
"No, I want to confess something,"
Padmé turned away from her, to face the large open window. It revealed
to her all the glorious splendor of Naboo. Her home, her wonderful
home.
"Anakin and I. We-" She took a slow, deep breath. "We're married."
She could feel her sister's stunned silence wash up against her back.
She tortured her lower lip with her teeth and waited for the
astonished exclamations to begin. To her surprise, they didn't. Sola
got up from her seat and moved over beside Padmé, resting a slender
hand on her shoulder.
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"Because it's forbidden for a Jedi, and since I am such a public
figure..." she trailed off, her pain showing in her voice and the
tears that began to well in her soft brown eyes. She faced her sister.
Sola's expression read hurt and sympathy.
"They always talk of love being the most powerful emotion," Sola
whispered, trying to offer some advice, or comfort. Padmé dabbed away
at her tears.
"I tried to tell myself that it would be foolish, and even now I know
that it is. We were talking one night and I told him it would destroy
us." The senator felt an emotional shudder ripple through her body.
"It will. Our love is a terrible thing."
"No!"
Padmé jerked in surprise at the force in her sister's voice. Sola
looked furious at Padmé's words.
"How can you possibly say that? There is no such thing as a terrible
love; rather it's a precious gift that too few out there enjoy. You
can't tell yourself that, and personally, I think it's wrong for the
Jedi to put such binders on their disciples."
At this, Padmé gasped. How could her sister say such things about the
Republic's protectors? Though, her sister was on a roll and continued
speaking.
"You can't force yourself to feel something for a person, you can't
just say to yourself 'I will love, or not love, this person'."
"I..." For one of the few times in her life, Padmé was speechless.
"Anyway, this Anakin seems like he's a very special person."
Sola moved to hug her sister. Padmé gratefully embraced her and agreed, "He is."
They were silent for a moment, basking in the sun's warm glow. Here,
it didn't seem possible that the evils in the galaxy above could ever
touch them.
"Cherish what you have together," Sola said, pulling gently away and
looking out the window towards the sky. "I have this feeling that
you're not going to have much peace for a while yet."
CORUSCANT: JEDI TEMPLE
Master Yoda was sitting in a darkened room, meditating. The small
green Jedi was definite proof that you should never judge by
appearances. Strange images flashed through his mind, many possible
futures.
Skywalker... Fire... Pain... Darkness...
But, the light - the incredible light!
He twitched.
Choices...
He opened his eyes, to pinpoint Master Windu and Jedi Kenobi both
sitting on flat, cushioned seats across from him. Waiting patiently,
they were regarding Yoda oddly.
"What do you see?" Windu asked calmly.
However, buried deep inside, he felt a dark apprehension. Things were
happening much too fast in the galaxy for his liking; one wrong move
and terrible things could befall them. Yoda sighed. The Jedi relied on
his voice too much, rather when they needed to make their own
judgments.
"Much I see, many paths that could be taken," he said.
"Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked. His devotion to the young Jedi was, of
course, admirable. A trait he inherited from his late Master, Qui-Gon
Jinn.
"I see much pain in store for him," Yoda admitted, "and much darkness."
Windu looked startled at this. It had not occurred to any of them that
the Dark Side could touch the one of the prophecy.
"He will not fail," Obi-Wan insisted, passion flooding into his voice.
"Anakin is the Chosen One. His destiny has been cast to fulfill the
prophecy!"
Yoda shook his head, not so much with denial than with worry.
"Not always certain, is the future."
"But the prophecy-" Obi-Wan began, when Yoda interrupted him.
"So certain are you, of what the prophecy is?"
He slapped his stick against the floor, and gave the Jedi Knight a
stern look. Obi-Wan bit his lip and held his peace. The prophecy was a
sore point between many Jedi. It was obvious that Master Yoda didn't
want to start a confrontation of beliefs. Obi-Wan sighed, subjected to
the great weight of stress upon his shoulders. Now that it had been
revealed that Dooku, an ex-Jedi and former student of Master Yoda's no
less, had been seduced, seemingly unknowing, by the Dark Side.
Dark times were fast approaching, and the thing was, no one seemed to
be able to stop it. Obi-Wan looked out the window to the chaotic swarm
of vehicles speeding through the airways.
Anakin, what is your true power? What is your destiny?
Anakin Skywalker was not a particularly patient person, especially
when it came to his Jedi abilities. He had challenged Master Windu to
three lightsaber battles in the past standard week, and lost them all.
The fact that he might not be as good as he thought he was irritated
him immensely. Intense sessions of practicing between the duels didn't
appear to have helped much. Then again, what was he doing wrong?
However, Obi-Wan had spouted a seemingly endless array of 'helpful' suggestions.
Anakin sighed.
Perhaps he should try harder with his Master – could he be correct
about these few things?
He unconsciously clenched his mechanical fist. Before, he had been so
sure that he could handle anything easily, but now, well, life was a
lot more uncertain. He smiled slightly, thinking of Padmé. She was
someone he could tell anything to; he could count on his angel for
anything.
Nevertheless, when he needed her, she wasn't here, and he needed
someone to talk to.
He stood and headed for the door.
CORUSCANT: SENATE OFFICES
Chancellor Palpatine loved the large window in his office. He would
frequently stand there and gaze out at the passing people - physical
evidence of the power he had. He lifted a hand to stroke a long finger
down his cheek.
That wasn't the only physical evidence he'd obtained. He turned as his
office door slid open, and smiled at the young man who strode in.
"Welcome, young Skywalker," he greeted him, clasping his hands behind
his back. "What brings you here today?"
"I need your advice," Anakin blurted.
Palpatine took his seat behind his desk, and motioned for Anakin to do
the same. The young Jedi Knight complied and stared off distraught
into space. He needed help, and he always felt comfortable around the
Supreme Chancellor, who seemed to understand him well.
"If I can advise, I shall," Palpatine replied, leaning back in his
seat. This should be interesting.
"I broke one of the most important rules imposed by the Jedi Council,"
he admitted. "I believe I followed my heart, but I'm afraid to talk to
the Council."
"What did you do?"
"I'm married. To Pad—Senator Amidala," he confessed, and after a
moment, added quickly, "I love her."
Anakin half-expected Palpatine to reel back in shock, but the old man
just sat there, his face impassive. The Republic Chancellor regarded
the Jedi silently for a moment, before he gave judgement.
"I see, and you think the Jedi would not approve?"
"No, they never approve of anything about me, or anything that I do.
It was pure luck that they accepted me as a Jedi. Originally, they
thought I was too old." He sighed, slumping into the seat.
"I think you should keep this a secret," Palpatine said, sitting up,
and addressing him carefully.
Anakin blinked in surprise at his puzzling mentor. Not tell them?
Could you keep secrets from the Masters? Well, he probably could.
"Anakin, I care about your well being - do you really want to risk
your Masters' wrath? This little secret can't possibly hurt anyone."
"I guess, but-"
"Do you want to take the risk that they might make you leave Senator Amidala?"
That sent such a ripple of alarm through Anakin that it became
reflected on his face. That hadn't occurred to him - his mind was made
up now. He rose and gave a shallow bow to Chancellor Palpatine.
"I thank you for your guidance, sir," he said, respectfully. With
that, he marched out.
Palpatine smiled, everything was going smoothly...