Okay. No comments really. I'm on break at school and I don't have the time to explain. All I have to say is enjoy and don't kill me for the ending.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Chapter Seven
Anakin patiently waited for Obi-Wan to finish speaking with Master Windu. After talking with Padmé they had both agreed that perhaps this information was not something that just they alone could handle.
Now that he thought about it, he couldn't believe he hadn't wanted to tell Obi-Wan before. Being from under Palpatine's influence was like a breath of fresh air. Sure Obi-Wan had been raised in the jedi temple since birth, and maybe he wouldn't completely understand why he had broken the code. But Obi-Wan was his former master, friend, brother. How could he have ever thought he wouldn't be able to trust him?
"Knight Skywalker," Mace said nodding to him and walking past.
Anakin bowed to him and then Obi-Wan as he approached him.
"Anakin," he said smiling. "We've seen so little of each other lately I'd almost say we were both on separate planets."
Anakin grinned. "Well with this mission it hasn't given Ahsoka and I much time to socialize."
"How is Ahsoka?" Obi-Wan asked.
Anakin rubbed the back of his neck. "That's kind of what I want to talk to you about among other things…"
"Oh?" Obi-Wan asked stopping while crossing his arms. He was making Anakin feel like a young padawan again when he had done something wrong.
"Yes," Anakin said. "But not here. Meet me at Padmé's apartment this afternoon."
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow and Anakin already knew he had a hunch what was going on. But Obi-Wan got a lot more than he bargained for. By the force! He needed a really strong drink right then. Forget the fact the alcohol dulled his force senses and impaired his judgment.
"You're married," he said surprised. Obi-Wan expected that there was something between Padmé and his former student. Anyone close to them could see it. Only a blind fool wouldn't. But he hadn't anticipated that their relationship was this deep.
"Yes. Since after Genosis. We could no longer deny our feelings for each other and decided to get married," Anakin admitted holding Padmé's hand.
"That would put it at about three years now," Obi-Wan muttered. "Anakin, you broke the code, the code of the life you chose for this."
Padmé, as if trying to comfort Obi-Wan, spoke up.
"Obi-Wan, this isn't a relationship based on some fling we had on Naboo or some lust for each other. We really do love each other. If we hadn't, I don't think either one of us would have been willing to risk our careers for this."
Obi-Wan sighed. "I know that Padmé. You and Anakin aren't like that. You wouldn't go into this without some kind of commitment." He turned to Anakin. "So you're the father of Padmé's child?"
Anakin raised his eyebrow. "You knew she was pregnant?"
"It's impossible not to. The child is like a beacon of light in the force in these dark times. I'm afraid it's possible that it will be a target of the sith when it's born," Obi-Wan said grimly.
"That's the other thing we want to talk to you about," Anakin started. "We're afraid that the chancellor might be being manipulated by the sith. Padmé has gathered very convincing evidence and I'm worried."
"About this war?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Not the war. Ahsoka," Anakin replied.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ahsoka couldn't believe it. Not only had Anakin made up with Padmé and understood why she was hiding something like this, he was losing faith in the chancellor as well. He had started to warn her to guard her feelings from the chancellor, to be wary because sinister forces were at work. Senator Amidala, that whore, she was turning her master against her and everything she stood for.
"Manipulative skank," Ahsoka snapped headed the council room where her master was waiting for her. The council wanted to see them.
She bowed to them when the door opened and stepped in the middle next to her master.
"Report you have from the chancellor yes?" Yoda asked.
"Forgive me master," Anakin says. "But it appears that my padawan has more knowledge of what the chancellor has to offer to you than I. It appears he prefers to deal with her rather than me."
Yoda looked up at Anakin and then to Ahsoka. Something about that wasn't right. For as long as he could remember, very close to the chancellor, Anakin was, despite the council's disapproval. The reason he permitted that he and his padawan become the liaison between the jedi and the chancellor, it was, in hopes that instill more trust of the council in Knight Skywalker, perhaps it would. It had, but foreseen, he had not as a result of Padawan Tano becoming closer to the chancellor it would be instead. Out of jealously, it was not, this sudden caution for the chancellor Knight Skywalker had developed. Disturbing this was.
When Ahsoka gave the report, Yoda dismissed her from the room and asked Anakin to stay. He remained passive on the outside, but inside he was curious as to what Yoda wanted.
"Conflict I sense in you," Yoda began. "Like to share, would you?"
Anakin frowned and then said, "I worry about the closeness of my padawan to the chancellor. Recently my faith in him has been shaken, and I worry of his influence on her."
"Mm," Yoda said. "Disturbing this is. Trust the chancellor, the council does not. Wanted you to spy on chancellor, we did. But in light of recent events perhaps Padawan Tano it is, who should spy."
Anakin looked up. They couldn't. "Masters please don't ask me to tell her to do that. As much as I disapprove of her closeness with the chancellor, I can't ask her to betray someone she considers a friend."
"It is for the best Knight Skywalker," Mace said. "You said it yourself. The chancellor cannot be trusted, and we must take the necessary precautions. Unless you think you can get close to Chancellor Palpatine again to do this task yourself, we must ask your padawan to do so."
"Do this, will you?" Yoda asked.
Anakin reluctantly nodded. "Yes masters."
"You are dismissed," Mace said and Anakin left the room.
Inside he was battling with himself. He didn't want to disobey the council, but something was telling him that asking Ahsoka to do this would have detrimental consequences to them. He did not approve of the relationship Ahsoka had with Palpatine, but he didn't want her to feel like she had to choose between the jedi and Palpatine.
"Anakin," Obi-Wan said trying to catch up with him.
Anakin stopped. He hadn't realized he was walking so fast until he noticed Obi-Wan was almost running to keep up with him.
"I just want you to know that I tried to convince the council not to ask you to do this," Obi-Wan said sincerely.
"I figured that. I just feel like by asking her to do this will do more harm than good. I feel like I'm losing her to something I can't control lately. I figured I'd just let it take its course. I know better than anyone the more you try to force someone in one direction, the more they'll resist. And she hasn't necessarily had an easy time with the jedi. I was glad she found someone else to talk to. But now…" Anakin trailed off and shook his head.
"I can't do that to her Obi-Wan even if I think the sith may be controlling Palpatine. Maybe… Maybe you can ask her for me."
Obi-Wan crossed his arms. "Are you sure? She might very well take it better from you."
"No," Anakin replied. "Something tells me I'd just make it worse."
"Alright Anakin. I'll tell her. You enjoy these brief moments of relaxation. I fear that since you have no use on Coruscant right now, the council may deem you ready for another mission," Obi-Wan said patting him on the back.
"I hope not," Anakin said dryly. "I would hate to miss the birth of the baby."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"They're still together. That senator is more of an influence on my master than I thought she was," Ahsoka said to Palpatine.
"I should have known. I fear that Anakin is too much under her control now Knight Tano," Palpatine said.
Ahsoka laughed at the slip of the tongue. "I am not a knight yet sir."
"Excuse me dear. It's just very hard to remember you're still a padawan when you're so talented and obviously skilled and wise beyond your years. How close are you to becoming a knight?"
Ahsoka sighed. "I am not sure. It depends on when my master deems fit for me to be ready for the trails. And even if he does agree, the council would have to approve."
"How long have you been training with Anakin dear?"
Ahsoka shrugged. "Only three years so far, give or take a few months. They probably won't even start talking about it for another three years or so."
"But you are already so far ahead of many of your peers dear," Palpatine replied. "Perhaps I can be of some help to you. I'll have my secretary put together a letter suggesting your immediate knighting or eligibility for the trails."
Ahsoka looked up at him. "You would do that?"
"Of course for a friend. We should hurry your career along. No time to waste," Palpatine said coming his secretary with the desired information.
"But what about my master?"
"I'll have you give him one as well," Palpatine said.
Ahsoka nearly skipped out of Palpatine's office that day with two datapads to give to her master and the council. Surely if the chancellor thought she was ready, her master and the council would approve. She was so excited that she wasn't enraged at the sight of Padmé at her apartment when she went for dinner, but that didn't stop her surprise at seeing Obi-Wan there too.
"Master Obi-Wan," she said politely. "Why are you here?"
"Padmé and Anakin invited me. I'm guessing that they invited you as well?"
"I'm actually here quite often," Ahsoka said keeping the displeasure she had for being here out her tone.
"Ah so Anakin wishes to make you apart of his small family as well. It appears I've been made Uncle Obi," Obi-Wan said rolling his eyes.
Ahsoka laughed and headed to the dining room where her master was helping Padmé set the table.
"Oh good. You're here," she said. "We can get started."
Ahsoka positively loathed sitting at the table with Padmé as it was, but today she was sitting next to her. She was finding it hard to resist reaching over to choke the senator. Mentally she was berating herself though. Padmé was such a nice person and had done nothing but good for her except for the fact that she was married to her master. That one action outweighed all the good she could ever do for her. She ignored the force trying to tell her that Padmé didn't marry Anakin to purposefully spite her.
"You seem in good spirits today Snips," Anakin said. Ahsoka's mood was lighter than it had been lately. "What's got you so happy?"
Ahsoka had almost forgot about the datapad Palpatine had given her. She passed one to her master.
"Palpatine told me to give you this," she said.
Anakin opened it and scanned over it frowning as soon as he saw what it was about. He put it in his lap and looked down at his plate.
"So Palpatine thinks you're ready to become a knight?" he asked his padawan.
Obi-Wan who had just been about to take a sip of wine stopped. Since when did the chancellor interfere in the affairs of the jedi when it came to the training of a padawan?
"Yes. He thinks I'm wise and talented beyond my years and requested that I take the trials so that I can be of better service to the republic," she said forgetting to keep the pride out of her tone.
Anakin shook his head. "I don't think so. It'll be at least another two years."
Ahsoka didn't know why she was angered or surprised for that matter. She had just told Palpatine the same thing in his office.
"But Palpatine thinks I'm ready. Why not?"
"If you were half as ready for the trials as Palpatine thought you were, you wouldn't have fallen so easily for his obvious flattery of you," Anakin replied calmly.
Ahsoka rolled her eyes. "That's so hypocritical of you. You're just mad because he isn't as confident in you anymore."
Padmé gasped dropping her fork in the process. That was a bold statement coming from Ahsoka, and she could sense that her husband was just as shocked as she was. Now she was very concerned for Ahsoka.
"That was before, but my eyes have been opened to some things lately that make me not so sure that Palpatine's intentions for giving you this are as innocent as you think," Anakin replied in a low tone. If he hadn't been so shocked and disgusted by Ahsoka's sudden change in behavior, he would have been more concerned about it than anything. Ahsoka was always jesting with him about certain things playfully. It was part of their somewhat unorthodox master and padawan relationship. But the tone of anger and malice that she had said it in told him she was really trying to cut him where she thought it might hurt.
Obi-Wan sensed the sudden tension and displeasure between the two. He would have stepped in, but this was a matter between a master and padawan. He had seen the two argue before, but not like this. Something wasn't right.
"I bet it was something your precious senator told you. You believe everything that comes out her mouth," Ahsoka snapped back. She instantly regretted saying it, not that she regretted what she said. She had meant every word. But she generally tried to keep her disdain for the senator hidden from others, particularly her master.
Anakin sat up straight and glared at her with cold blue eyes. It was a look she had never been on the receiving end of because he usually saved it for his enemies.
"You mind your tongue. And if this is what the influence of the chancellor is doing to you, I'd suggest to the council to pull you off this mission. But unfortunately, you're needed there," Anakin said regretfully.
All this was just getting out of hand. This war, Palpatine, it was tearing him and Ahsoka apart. He just wished that he could take Padmé and Ahsoka and get out of here. It would be the selfish thing to do, but he didn't want to risk his family for a war that very well may be going nowhere.
"Go ahead and tell them to pull me off the mission. It's not like they need me to spy on him or something. Get another person," Ahsoka muttered just above a whisper so that everyone heard her.
The silence that gripped the room caught her attention and the feelings of guilt coming from her master and Anakin told her why.
"The council wants me to spy Palpatine," she stated more so than asked. She didn't need to ask. She felt the answer through the force.
"Yes. Obi-Wan was going to tell you. They asked me to but-."
Ahsoka cut her master off by standing from the table. "Excuse me," she said and left the dining area.
Anakin started to go after her, but Padmé stopped him.
"I'll go talk to her. I don't know much about what goes on with the jedi, but maybe I can help," she said.
Anakin nodded as Padmé went to find Ahsoka.
Anakin sighed and leaned back in his chair. He wondered if this was how Obi-Wan had felt when he gave him a hard time as a padawan. Anakin rubbed his head. He was too young to be dealing with hormonal teenagers and padawans. How could he deal with them when he was just like that not too long ago?
"Ahsoka just may be the death of me one day… my early death that is," Anakin said and next to him Obi-Wan chuckled.
"Funny. I remember saying the exact same thing about you."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I know it's a cliffy. I didn't intend it, but that was the perfect break. Please don't kill me! Anywho, things get interesting in the next chapter. Padmé and Ahsoka have a little talk and some things are laid out in the open between them.
