Each senator was quiet waiting for one of the others to speak. They all knew what they were about to do was treason and that they were risking their lives because of it. But none of them could stand to watch the republic they had all worked so hard for, fall farther from grace than it already had.

Padmé Amidala Skywalker sat in the middle of a white sofa surveying her hands. She had offered to host this meeting even though she had the most to lose. Her mind reasoned that it was worth it, and that a galaxy without freedom was no place to live, but her body said otherwise. The child within her wanted to live, and the instinct that made her its mother was willing to do anything to insure her baby's survival.

"You are probably wondering why I called this meeting with the six of us." Mon Mothma finally spoke up. All the other's attentions turned to her immediately and they remained transfixed on her downcast eyes. "The answer is simple." She smiled slightly and Padmé internally noted that it made her look younger. "I don't know who else to trust." She turned to her handbag beside her and pulled out several papers. "The Chancellor had released another amendment this morning. One that is uncannily thin and is easily lost in other paper work. I've brought copies, as you can see, and I think you will find it equally disturbing."

There were several moments filled with the rustling of papers and the small gasped that escaped the mouths of the esteemed officials. Padmé only half read what she was given and her own mouth hung open loosely.

"No..." Bail Organa exhaled slowly. He turned from Mon to Padmé and back again as if looking for some sort of explanation from his two best senate friends. Both women just cast their eyes back down to the papers in front of them. "This gives him full rights of

the military at all times!" Bail exclaimed. "This can't be right. When is the vote?"

Mon grimaced. "In one week."

This caught Padmé by surprise and she gasped, "One week?" She felt herself become passionate about her work and she looked defiantly at everyone around her. "No one will have time to decide, let alone read and discuss, in one week." She felt her face get flustered at her outburst and she calmed down slightly but held the intensity in her voice. "Not with all the larger issues of was and the separatists." She lowered her voice considerably, "He's doing this on purpose to distract the senators."

The senators nodded and Mon mumbled, "It would appear so."

Giddean Danu shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "One week is not enough time to raise a petition or any type of defense against this law. I believe this is the final straw."

Fang Zar grunted his agreement. The old man looked tired in Padmé's eyes, and his skin seemed to hand limply from his body. Padmé had a sudden erg to cook for all of her friends. Force knows, if she didn't have the baby in her making her eat, she would have been just as pail and worn as the rest of them.

"The republic is not designed to have this much power at its tip," Fang told them solemnly. "We have already seen the damage Palpatine's corruption is causing."

Shea Sadashassa, who had been quiet up until this point, nudged Padmé with her knee. She had always been a very quiet Senator and one of Padmé's greatest friends. She was known for her loyalty and her honestly and Padmé respected her greatly. "Would it be alarmist to ask if..." She paused and collected her thoughts. "Would the Jedi be able to protect the civilians if so many clone troops turned against us? I'm not suggesting the Chancellor would do such a..." She paused again and shrugged. "Actually I am."

"The Jedi have limited numbers," Padmé said forlornly. "Even if they could defend Coruscant...They could not defend the entire galaxy if it ever came to that."

"I fear it had come to that!" Mon exclaimed and Giddean put a hand on her for comfort. "This amendment could be the demise of this republic."

Bail nodded. "One thousand years of peace..." He crumpled the paper in his hand and threw it to the table in between the two couches. "He cannot stay in office."

Giddean winced. "I for one fear what would happen if he wasn't removed peacefully."

Fang sighed and stood up. He was not impressive in height, but his maturity and age gave him the authority in the room. "Removal is a very complicated process, Senator Danu." Giddean nodded. "And when you're as old as I am, you realize that sometimes 'peaceful' is always as option."

Padmé gasped at what he was implying. "We cannot be behind a plot against his life." She looked around wildly and unconsciously moved her hands to cup her stomach. "Even if he is overstepping his bounds… that would be high treason. I will not risk that." Her eyes pleaded with all her comrades but their faces told her they were not on her side in this argument. She tried a different tactic. "We would do the people no good if we, as their representatives, were locked away instead of helping them."

"The Chancellor is the most powerful man in the galaxy, Padmé." Bail said softly, though his tone was cold. "He defines treason. What we're doing right now...just speaking...is considered high treason. He instated that. Or have you forgotten?"

"I haven't forgotten." Padmé relented. There was a moment of silence where they watched the young woman struggle with her thoughts before she looked up and nodded to each of them, signaling her acceptance of what they said.

"Let us go to the Jedi," Giddean said finally.

"I thought of that as well," Mon dismissed. "But after their recent rescue of the Chancellor, I have reservations for which side they are on."

"Perhaps one that is not on the council," Shea supplied.

Padmé's ears perked up and she smiled dreamily at the thought of her husband. And before she could stop herself or ponder at why it might be a bad idea, she said; "I know someone."

Anakin Skywalker was enjoying himself immensely. It was one of those rare occasions where he was assigned a mission with his former master, and though he would not admit it, he had missed those. Of course when Obi-wan Kenobi had told the young jedi knight that their mission was on the other side of Coruscant, Anakin jumped at the chance to drive.

Obi-wan reluctantly let him do so, but was regretting it more and more with each passing second. "Watch out!"

Anakin expertly dodged the oncoming traffic as he went along. The speed of the vehicle was calming his mind and he glanced over at Obi-wan's terror stricken face with gentle amusement.

"Is something wrong, Obi-wan?" He smirked and focused his eyes back on the path ahead where he swiveled around a building and then a train.

"Your infuriating sometimes, did you know that?" Obi-wan said through clenched teeth. "I hate flying almost as much as I hate Sith." He gripped the seat of the speeder as Anakin took them straight down. "Sith!"

"Sorry, Obi-wan."

"You did that on purpose." His former master grumbled. Anakin smiled.

"It's part of my charm." And both he and Obi-wan laughed a little. It was true that Anakin had been less conceited then normal, lately. And his comments referring to himself were more for humor, lately, than show. "And besides…this is the only place I can talk to you."

"On a mission?" Obi-wan asked curiously.

Anakin should his head. "No. In a speeder." He maneuvered around several lanes of traffic that he felt were unnecessary and went into another dive for a tunnel.

"Now that we're racing at immeasurable heights and speeds, why don't you tell me something?" Anakin raised an eyebrow. "Well you did say you wanted to talk, didn't you?" Obi-wan reasoned. Anakin smiled mischievously.

"What's between you and Master Tachi?"

"What's between you and Senator Amidala?"

The conversation stopped and didn't resume for the rest of the ride.