Two Jedi Starfighters in Deep Space
En Route to 'Serenno'
"Anakin, when we get closer to the planet make sure not to make any disturbances. We are under strict orders to not pursue anyone until we have a probable clause."
Anakin Skywalker, a bit annoyed with his master after a two hour flight looked over at the starfighter flanking him and said, "That's insulting master. I do read the briefings as much as you do."
"And I believe that," said Obi-Wan, "But what I do doubt is your ability to do as your told the first time. Even the Twi'leks noticed that you were off when you went in the wrong cave. I told you to turn left!" Obi-Wan was referring to their latest scuffle in Ryloth where they were suppose to investigate and uncover a massive amount of separatist smugglers and arms dealers.
"Even you knew that left turn would have been tricky to maneuver through. And besides we were able to stop the deal from taking place." Said Anakin. Obi-Wan scoffed before proceeding to quicken the pace of his starfighter to mirror Anakin's.
"Easy there Anakin! This is the last chance we're going to get to expose these criminals."
In their last offense in Ryloth they had been tremendously close to discovering who was behind the separatist power of this war. The Jedi counsel had gotten information from several natives that there was one person with distinguishing class, money, and know how that was donating weapons to Count Dooku for the separatist cause. Had Obi-Wan and Anakin discovered this person in Ryloth and brought them to justice in Coruscant then Anakin would be able to see Padme once more. He hadn't seen her in nearly three months and he was growing tired of the Jedi counsel constantly toying with him on the matter. They would promise him a return to Coruscant after every battle but were quick to deny it to him when they needed him and Obi-Wan in certain stations to keep the peace. He was growing home sick for Padme, he needed to be around his wife. The war was chaotic enough to gather his attention for several days and hours on end but there were quiet moments when he thought of his wife. There were experiences that he couldn't wait to share with her and the things he saw made him long for some some type of human interaction with the only person that genuinely understood him.
But every night despite any type of situation he was in he always dreamt of Padme. Their anniversary had come and gone and still he hadn't seen her, he was afraid of sending her a hologram with Obi-Wan always around and he couldn't exactly look at any of her messages without arising suspicion amongst the other Jedi he was surrounded by. The only visions he had of Padme was those of their honeymoon where they had made love twice before the counsel quickly summoned him into his first mission. He had been in agony leaving her then as he had experienced the biggest pleasure in his life and had to leave before fully expressing devotion to the woman who had remained a part of him for years.
"Anakin! Slow down!" Shouted Obi-Wan.
This seemed to pull Anakin from his trance when he noticed that he was already lingering in the atmosphere of Serenno, the home planet of Count Dooku and the only place where they would be able to arrest the separatist scum that was responsible for the war.
Both Obi-Wan and Anakin entered the planet quietly and gracefully, landing they're starfighters in a discreet and hidden piece of steroid debris. Today Anakin was certain that he would do anything in his power to catch the culprits responsible for the war and get back to his wife.
"Something doesn't feel right," said Obi-Wan.
"No," Anakin agreed, "this seems too easy...where's their security?"Just as Anakin spoke a legion of fighters dove from the sky and began to fire at the two Jedi rapidly.
"That's more like it," said Anakin as they both leaped out of their starfighters and used their lightsabers to deflect any shots at them while they ran.
They were headed anywhere with an open escape route in the planet's hilly terrain, or anywhere where they could be hidden by trees which was quiet impossible. Just as they continued to run with fighters trailing behind them they fell into an invisible cave disguised as a hill. Suddenly the light from the outside diminished and they landed inside cold dark earth.
'Coruscant'
Press Room in the Senate Building
Nightfall (After Hours)
Padme stared at the figure of her husband about to enter his starfighter after shaking hands with the general of Ryloth. The media frenzy surrounding Anakin was beginning to be second nature. Everyday the announcements became more disturbing. Different planets, new missions, more injuries. The media seemed to have become obsessed with reporting on the war stories and there was Anakin in the center of it all. At some point the media just learned to follow the Jedi because that's where all the news seemed to unfold, of course the news was slow and only gained knowledge of events weeks after they occurred. And there was only so many times Padme could rely on the knowledge of Chancellor Palatine before her asking started to look apprehensive.
Her only outlet was the senate. She distracted herself with bills and proposals, so much so that between work and the worries of her husband's job she was in the brink of insanity. At times her work would require her and other members of senate to watch news regarding the war, and Anakin would always be there either looking triumphant or busy in which ever planet was simulated. Padme couldn't help but think they had reached different periods in their lives. She was nearing twenty-six and wondering what she had gained from so many years of knowledge and no years of personal life. She had a secret wedding for a secret marriage, all with a person she could never have children with while other women her age were on their third child. She could never speak to Anakin about this, he was without a doubt too young to be troubled with any talk of legacy, he was a twenty-two year old Jedi with a determination to become the youngest master on the council. She could remember at that age how passionate she was about extending her job resume. Kids were the last thing she thought about then.
"Senator Amidala? Would you support the the new defense act in Naboo?"
Padme looked at the reporter that directed the question to her. She was suppose to be in a senate press conference to discuss what Naboo is willing to cut back on to accumulate more revenue for the war efforts. Although, more and more citizens of Naboo were beginning to demand a stronger military and that would displace some money they were trying to save.
"If our people want a stronger sense of security there's nothing else we can do but oblige. We must remember who we are representing and I'm sure a few Jedi wouldn't mind being stationed in Naboo for a few months until our people can feel safer." Announced Padme.
"Then passing the bill would require a stronger capital punishment on those that cause a major domestic crime." Challenged the reporter.
"Naboo has never held any type of capital punishment and I believe that if we were to acquire one with this act, the boundaries for it would be difficult to decide."
The reporter seemed satisfied with the response and stepped down so that one young timid reporter in the far back could inch closer.
"Senator, do you feel that the Jedi have been overused as soldiers in this war?" Asked the shy reporter.
Everyone in the room went silent as the hologram recorders were now aimed drastically at the Senator. This was the question that all citizens of the republic had been curious to know. Since the start of the war everyone had been shocked to notice how frequently the Jedi were being used on other planets. The other senators in the meeting turned to Padme, they all seemed uneasy of the direction the questions had taken.
Finally she spoke, "Jedi are keepers of the peace, they are not meant to be fighting in a full scale war."
The crowd buzzed at this and the unsure reporter gained a bit of confidence.
"So do you think that Anakin Skywalker should not go into battle against separatist attacks in other planets?"
"I believe that the republic already has a sufficient amount of clones to defend our beliefs and fight our battles. Skywalker should be a mercenary of peace, not of death."
At this all the onlookers and reporters in the room went wild, the senators fidgeted in their seats wanting to intercede but not finding the words to. Never did they think they would catch Senator Amidala say something so controversial.
"Senator," continued the reporter, "it has been reported that when Jedi Anakin Skywalker was last in Coruscant he was spotted in your city apartment and in one of the moons of Raazk he was spotted sharing a tent with the princess of Conzo. What do you have to say to that?"
Everyone in the room stared between Padme and the reporter in disbelief. The underlining message in the reporter's questions seemed to want to ruin the credibility of the Anakin.
"I have known Skywalker since he was a little boy. When my life was threaten he served as my security adviser and yes, he does keep up an cordial relationship with me as I am the only one who can properly educate that Jedi in politics."
The crowd let out a chuckle while Padme started gathering her things to leave the room. Everyone seemed calmer at hearing her response but Padme was left brooding with suspicion on the inside.
'Coruscant'
Approximately Five Days Later
Chancellor Palpatine's Office
There was a glorious pink incandescent hue that hung from the skyline of Coruscant. Every type of speeder congested the sky as they raced to get to separate places in the uncontrollable traffic. It was a motivational sight to many.
It had been several days since the political press conference had been broadcasted in nearly every screen in the republic and aired in all galactic holograms. Citizens were still confused about the allegations made by the amateur reporter and while the majority believed the relationship between the senator and the Jedi was merely friendly, the rumors of a princess in the tent of a soldier during war times was some what scandalous to them.
Padme had been left bothered by the questioning of the reporter, yet she pitied him. He held the appearance of a youth that wasn't looking for feathers to ruffle, he was merely doing his job. Although, his questions would now a cause for worry. She knew it was unconventional for Anakin to be seen leaving and entering her apartment frequently and the reporter had only mentioned the incident happen once but she felt paranoid nevertheless. She felt that the Jedi would be keeping an eye on her now despite the fact that her response to the reporter was believable by many standards.
She accounted for the findings of the reporter by hiring more security on her apartment floor but she couldn't help but be furious about her situation with Anakin in the meantime. She hadn't seen her husband in months, she had thought he was out in the galaxy making advancements that could possibly help win the war but he had also shared his tent with a princess in the process. The media usually didn't report on things so trivial and Anakin never got into the details of his missions when he returned home. And though Padme knew that she could trust him unconditionally, it was hard not to be jealous of the Conzo princess that got to spend a couple hours with her husband while she yearned for only minutes. She could still very vividly recall their last encounter...
"You must really be enjoying this." Whispered Padme while a half dressed Anakin soothed her with a trail of slow intentional kisses down her neck to her collarbone.
He pulled away, looking at her and cupped her face with both hands. She did not flinch at the feel of the cold robotic hand on her flesh. She was sitting up and wrapped up in a series of blankets, her chest fully exposed, her hair a wavy pinned up mess. Her delicate arms clung to his waist and he secured her face in his hands, not daring to let her escape.
"I want to remember you just this way." He glanced over at the untidy bed sheets they had undone and added, "tonight you have made me the happiest man alive."
The intense stare he was manipulating her with made her blush.
"You sound as if you never expect to come back to me." She replied as her thoughts drifted to the newly unleashed war.
"For you, I'll make an exception." He smiled.
"Good because I only desire to be married once." She declared while she prepared to get off the bed and held the blankets to covered her chest.
"Then lets make the best of it while we still can Mrs. Skywalker."
He grabbed her waist and pulled her down to the bed where forced the blanket back down her chest so that he could continue ravishing her.
"Ani," she whimpered when she felt his tongue, "your going to be late!"
"Let them wait." He whispered into her skin.
And in a matter of hours he was gone.
Being away from him for so long was beginning to worry her. She needed her husband. Needed the comfort that only he could offer. Need his touch. It had been so long since she felt like she belonged to him. No amount of senate distractions ever took away from the fact that even in a marriage she was frequently left alone but that is her burden.
"I am sorry to inform that the present location of both Jedi Knights is unknown even to the Jedi counsel at this time. There was a loss of contact as of two days ago."
Chancellor Palpatine straightened his robes and with that said he paced back to his chamber's desk where he proceeded to sit and lead the meeting.
"I urge," continued Palpatine, "that all all senate meetings continue for the defense bill so that if the Jedi return with more war criminals they can be tried as such."
This caught Padme's attention for the first time that evening.
"May I ask which Jedi Knights your referring to?" She questioned.
"Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi," answered Senator Bail Organa, "They were given a mission to find and arrest a person that is responsible for giving Count Dooku resources to use in the war."
Palpatine nodded, "I believe he goes by the name Palo Hemour."
"Of Naboo?" Questioned Padme.
"You know him?" Asked Organa in disbelief.
The senators in the room where now intently listening.
"If it's the Palo I recall then I remember entering a legislative youth program with him...but he left within a couple months and went to pursue a different passion."
Chancellor Palpatine and Senator Organa only stared and seemed to measure her for a short while.
"It seems as though we are referring to the same person." Was the flat reply of Palpatine.
"That can't be possible. Palo was the farthest thing from a separatist, he was second in his class and always gave feedback on the workings of a democracy." She stated in shock.
"Paolo wasn't raised a separatist. Though we do have insight that tells us he left that program to be mentored in arts of gambling. Somewhere along the way it seems that he amounted a fortune and has been supplying Count Dooku the monetary funds he needs to have this war. Capturing him and bringing him to justice could mean a difference in the outcome of this conflict." Explained Chancellor Palpatine.
Padme couldn't presently wrap her mind around this information. The galaxy was beginning to feel small to her. Palo, the friendly freckled boy she knew holding this much negative power over the republic and her Jedi husband on the verge of uncovering him and arresting him. The situations hardly seemed real.
"Padme," spoke Senator Organa, "I think this would be a great opportunity for the defense bill to begin taking effect. Perhaps when Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi return with Palo you can think of a fair and lawful punishment as established by the bill."
"I don't feel comfortable doing that."
"You must," spoke Senator Mon Mothma for the first time, "Senator Amidala you are the only politician that most citizens of the republic trust openly. I know it would be difficult because Palo Hemour is a past acquaintance but we are not asking for a capitol sentence, just one that can be deemed fair and would get criminals to recognize this new bill."
"And you are senator that has influence over sentencing matters." Added Organa.
Padme was about to deny the opportunity once more but was interrupted by Palpatine instead.
"It's settled then. Senator Amidala you will be summoned the moment we hear of any movement regarding the Jedi's and Palo. Please take this time to consider some possible sentencing decisions."