Chapter 4

"You seem exceptionally quiet today, my boy," Chancellor Palpatine addressed Anakin as a group of Senators left his office. Strangely, the Chancellor had requested Anakin specifically to act as security for the meeting, rather than the conventional clone troopers or royal guards.

Anakin sighed. "Yes, Your Excellency. I'm not sure why you called me in here today, but I'm glad you did. I have some news for you."

"I could sense something was troubling you," Palpatine said slowly, concentrating on placing some papers in a drawer as he spoke. "I wanted to talk. As I take it, you do as well?"

Anakin was a little confused at the word, 'sense'; it sounded a bit Jedi-ish for the Chancellor; but he answered the question. "Yes. I'm afraid that some things have forced me to leave the Jedi Order. I will be gone next week, and I don't expect to return." He watched Palpatine's face.

"It is indeed unfortunate," Palpatine responded, slowly and articulately, "that you plan to leave. The Jedi Order is indeed becoming more and more a controversial subject. I can't say that I blame you. Your Master; surely he has not been told yet?"

Anakin shook his head, wondering why that would be a problem, but relieved that the Chancellor felt the same way. If Palpatine also believed that Obi-Wan should not be told, then how could it be all that wrong to keep it secret?

"Good," Palpatine continued. "He would be little more than a heartbreak and an interference to you at this point, wouldn't he?"

Anakin could only nod. As much as he tried to leave his Master out of this, it wasn't as easy as it had at first seemed.

"But tell me," Palpatine went on, "what other reasons do you have? Such a radical move on your part makes me concerned for your welfare. You have never been on your own outside of the Jedi. How will you make a living? Will you and I still be able to remain friends?"

Anakin almost smiled at Palpatine's concern. How was he to explain that it was completely futile?

"I'm sorry, Your Excellency. It's—it's not like that at all. I'm not leaving because of the Jedi's beliefs—"

"Are you sure?" Palpatine suddenly interrupted, turning to him with eyebrows raised.

Anakin's forehead wrinkled. "I—I think so."

Palpatine returned to sorting papers as Anakin nervously drummed his fingers on the edge of the desk.

"You've been—a good friend to me, Your Excellency, I and didn't want to have to tell you this, but I suppose I ought to," Anakin said finally. Palpatine stopped to listen.

"I was recently attacked by a Durrown, a bounty hunter, during a—a mission some time ago." He didn't want to draw the connection to Palpatine's near-kidnapping during the same event. The good-hearted man might feel that he was to blame. "The Temple med experts have given me several months to live."

Palpatine started up, shocked. "A—Durrown!" he stammered, obviously recognizing the species. "Oh, my boy—I am so glad you came and talked to me!" he took Anakin's shoulders in his hands, his face filled with emotion. "You mean to say you have given up on life just because current medical practice has no obvious solutions? What were those Jedi meds ever thinking!?"

Anakin swallowed hard and shook his head, unsure of what the Chancellor was talking about. "Your Excellency, please—"

"Anakin, you don't understand!" he continued excitedly. "My medical research program, enhanced by some personal insights I have been privileged to offer, developed a cure specifically for Durrown poison only several weeks ago! It is a rather unpleasant process; at least it has been with the last several test subjects; but so far it has already saved several lives. It could absolutely save yours!"

Anakin's head spun and he collapsed into the chair. "What?" he said in disbelief.

Palpatine was shaking his head. "Oh, Anakin, how could you put your life in the hands of the Jedi yet again? You know their solutions care more about maintaining the system than on the people themselves!"

Anakin still found himself speechless.

Palpatine stood. "Quickly, my boy, come with me. We can arrange a meeting with my researchers at once!"

He looked about ready to dash out the door. Anakin, feeling totally overwhelmed, held up a hand. "Wait, wait, Chancellor; are you saying that you HAVE the cure for Durrown poison two floors below us?!"

Smiling from ear to ear, the Chancellor looked directly in his eyes. "Yes, Anakin. Oh, and by the way, I have a proposition for you, seeing that you won't be leaving the Jedi Order just yet," he grabbed Anakin's arm, moving him out of the chair and across the office in his excitement. "I have been doing some research on the history of the Jedi Code—you see I have many scientific and historical hobbies—and I have found many of the same errors you have." Palpatine quickly ushered him out of the office and into the turbolift as he spoke.

"Wait—I talked to you about my research on the Jedi Code?"

"Yes, yes, of course, my boy! I don't recall the exact date, but you were the one who got me interested in the subject. The errors and additives have simply botched the entire document! I am shocked that you have been the first to discover them! It just goes to show what a vital role you play in the Force-Faith community, and I congratulate you for it most heartily."

Anakin started to say something, but Palpatine interrupted again as they plunged down the turbolift. Anakin had to grab onto the railing to stay upright—the poison's effects threw off his balance in these confounded turbolifts. Palpatine completely ignored any sign of his weakness.

"Anyway," he rattled on, "I have been thinking about the strength of the Order overall and I wanted to do something to try to increase its accountability to the rest of the citizens. Coming into the Order at an older age, as you did, lends itself to make you almost like one of those citizens, and you have brought accountability already. I would like to see the Order redefined and opened up to the input of citizens, besides having the Code rewritten to be more all-inclusive. You come to my mind as the most obvious choice of an individual who could take charge of the program to make public the doings of the Jedi. I will let you know right now…" he gave him a proud smile as they exited the turbolift, "that I am about to appoint you as my personal representative on the Jedi Council, if you agree."

"I—I don't know that I heard you correctly…"

"Of course you did, Anakin! It's a fantastic opportunity! And the more influence you have over the Council's decisions—just think, all the new ideas you've shared with me over the years could now become part of the actual system! The alternative uses of the Force that have so often been shrouded in mystery and disgrace, such as the influence of Sith teachings, could be brought new meaning, the meanings you've discovered!"

"Wait, what?"

"And best of all, I would ensure you were no longer discriminated against if you chose to make your marriage public at last. It would be—"

Anakin jumped forward at that. "Whoa, whoa, Chancellor, I KNOW I didn't tell you about that one! How in the galaxy did you find out that we were—"

His voice trailed off when he saw how surprised Palpatine looked at his outburst. "Oh, my. Anakin, I was sure we had discussed the matter before! I am so sorry if I have just trod on your privacy—I've known for so long, I assumed I'd heard it from you. It was probably just a bit of Nubian gossip I picked up some time ago while visiting my homeworld." He cocked an eyebrow worriedly. "It is accurate, is it not—?"

Anakin rubbed his eyes, trying to will away the splitting headache and process everything the Chancellor was telling him. "Well, yes, I suppose it is. I'm sorry, Your Excellency, you just surprised me, that's all."

"Well, good that we have that cleared up now." Palpatine smiled. They walked down the hall and entered the door to the Republic's medical research office, with Anakin still trying to remember everything that was said. It was normally hard to keep up with the Chancellor's occasional bouts of rambling, let alone now that he felt so disoriented from the poison.

He knew a few research projects were actually performed at the facility, although its main purpose was to regulate the ethical standards of other scientific universities across the galaxy. "I do hate having conflicts with my closest friends," Palpatine continued rambling. "The Senate is full of arguing with political colleagues, but I enjoy knowing that there are some who share my opinions without a doubt."

Before Anakin could respond, Palpatine was engaged in conversation with a Jimone native, who was sitting at the desk. The Jimone looked gruff, with his long nails so long they almost crossed each other over the desk and long facial hair that nearly covered his face. His piercing orange eyes caught Anakin's, and some flicker of remembrance crossed the Jedi's mind. He seemed familiar, but he couldn't remember where he would have seen him before. Scowling, the Jimone, whose name was Firor according to the label sitting on his desk, turned back toward Palpatine and continued talking in his native language.

"Excellent!" Palpatine exclaimed in a moment. "Anakin, my researchers can treat you as early as tomorrow morning!"

"Wow," was all Anakin could choke out. Palpatine headed for a back door and directed him into a dimly-lit lab with several hospital cots and quite a few pieces of equipment. The Chancellor continued to lead him through until they came to a large row of shelves that ran along the back wall of the lab. He pulled a small bottle of a gold-colored substance off of the shelf. "This is what they must inject into you to stop the poison, Anakin," he said gravely. "It is not an easy experience. If they injected the entire bottle at once, it would probably kill you, so they do it a little at a time. The reaction between the poison and antidote is very violent, and it will be extremely painful. But," he shrugged, "as there is no alternative…"

"Chancellor Palpatine," Anakin stammered, as the truth of this gift finally sunk in, "How can I thank you for this? You just saved my life!"

Palpatine laughed. "No need to thank me, my boy. Although," his eyes sparkled with amusement, "I would be honored if you would agree to be my representative, as we discussed earlier. Only think of the good we could accomplish together!"

Anakin laughed shortly, trying to even remember what it was Palpatine had said. He'd rattled off about so many things in a short elevator ride it was hard to even think—

"Come now, Anakin," the Chancellor said in a fatherly tone, "I must make my reports tonight. There's no way you could go wrong; and I'm—" he squinted at his watch, "Oh, dear, I'm late for a meeting. Can I write you down as a yes?"

Anakin laughed again, feeling overwhelmed. "I suppose—"

"Excellent!" he exclaimed. "The office will contact you tomorrow about treatment. I will speak with you shortly, Master Skywalker."

He rushed out, leaving Anakin to try and remember why he was calling him 'Master'.