A/N - Well, as you can see by the title this chapter follows the events of RoTS. Some things are the same, most of them aren't. There was supposed to be one chapter only to cover all the events from the film, but it was growing too long so I've decided to split it in several parts. I'll try to post the rest by the end of the week, but I can't promise anything. Please enjoy and R&R. I'm really nervous about this one.
Chapter 8
Revenge of the Sith (Part I) - PLOTS
Skywalker held the two lightsabers. A blue blade and a scarlet one crossed against the Sith Lord's throat as he bowed defenseless on his knees before him. He was panting, it had been a strenuous battle, but he had won it. Dooku lost both his hands to his blade. He was defeated at last.
"Good Anakin, good!" he heard Palpatine's voice say in half a laugh. But his tone soon changed to something that sounded almost evil "Kill him, kill him now…" but what caught his attention was the look of surprise on the Count's face. He glanced questioningly into the Chancellor's way. Anakin cringed.
For some reason the Jedi hesitated for a moment, "Do it!" Palpatine demanded and all the hesitation was gone, as he heard the freezing cold tone on the voice that was usually so fatherly, he looked at the Chancellor with a frown and responded "I am no murderer Chancellor, he is an unarmed prisoner," he made the bold decision to disobey the most powerful man in the galaxy, withdrew the blades and tossed the red offending weapon to the side. He picked up the former Jedi by his elbow, pulled him up on a standing position and with a flicker of his hand the shackles that held the leader of the Republic captive opened. The Count of Serenno was putting his weight on him, his wounds were making his strength falter. Anakin actually though that the life was being sucked out of him too quickly, but he attributed it to his advanced age.
"But Anakin, he is too dangerous to be kept alive," the Chancellor protested.
"You mistake me, your Excellency; I take orders from the Jedi Council… not from you! Now come on, let's get out of here. You're coming with us, and I advise you to shut up for your own good," he warned the Sith, but with no need for injuries were far too serious; and the young man suspected he had other reasons to keep his mouth shut. For now he had his life, he probably wasn't keen on losing it anytime soon. As Anakin looked at the unconscious form of his former Master, he wondered how in the Force he was going to get all of them safely out of the dying ship. He forced the prisoner back to his knees and headed towards Obi-Wan to ascertain his condition.
"We must leave before more security droids arrive…" Anakin ignored the suggestion and continued checking his Master's pulse, meanwhile the Chancellor was already well on his way to the door, "Anakin, there's no time! We must get off this ship before it's too late," there it was: that cold, imperative tone again. Anakin didn't like it.
"He seems to be alright,"
"Leave him, or we'll never make it!"
"His fate will be the same as ours…" as he said this he picked his friend up and placed him around his shoulders and with a free hand he picked up Dooku from the floor again. The latter would soon have to be carried as well, he was well on his way to unconsciousness and as the four headed to the elevators, whilst Anakin carried Obi-Wan and half the weight of Dooku, he could hear the Sith Lord's mumbling pleas…
"Master….. master…." He said, struggling to get the two syllable word out of his mouth.
"The elevator's not working…" he announced as he produced his comlink with great difficulty. He finally found it, "R4, activate elevator 3224," but as he said it the ship began leaning over. Apparently the Republic fleet had been able to destroy its stabilizers. So Anakin did the only thing he could do and entered the now very horizontal elevator shoot. But it was not long before the ship resumed to its normal position and he grabbed the first cable he could touch with his mechanical hand and as he did he couldn't hold his prisoner and he fell down the deep elevator pit. The same plea he had been uttering came again but now in a cry of agony. For the last time Darth Tyranus called out for his Master. But Anakin's mind didn't have the chance to dwell on the subject for too long for much to his relief his Master soon woke up.
"Easy, we're in a bit of a situation here!" he informed him.
"Did I miss something?" Obi-Wan spoke as he held on to his former Padawan.
"Hold on" but as he said so the three heard the elevator racing towards them.
"What's that?" Obi-Wan offered needlessly.
"R4, R4 shut down the elevator…!"
"Too late! JUMP!" and they did so at the Jedi Master's orders, being able fit through one of the exits of the elevator unharmed.
Their journey to escape The Invisible Hand continued but after a confrontation with the feared General Grievous, who most stubbornly was able to escape in one piece again, and the successful crash landing of a ship that couldn't fly, they were safely back on Coruscant and their mission had been accomplished; they had saved Chancellor Palpatine. As they traveled to the Senate building Anakin couldn't help but think of the bitter aftertaste that their victory had left on his mouth. He thought of the Chancellor's behavior on the Invisible Hand and wandered whether Palpatine was really worth saving.
"At least Dooku is dead…" Obi-Wan commented as Anakin couldn't help but eye the older man suspiciously.
"Yeah…"
"You should be happy Anakin!"
"Yes, we are one step closer to ending the war," it was Palpatine's turn to comment. An innocent smile now adorned his features. How could a man have so many personalities?
Their transport finally stopped at the main hangar of the Senate building and Anakin left it, following the Chancellor. "Are you coming, Master?" he asked before going any further.
"Oh no, I'm not brave enough for politics. I have to report to the Council. Besides, someone needs to be the poster boy," he smiled, obviously proud of his former Padawan's brave deeds.
"Hold on! This whole operation was your idea!" the young one protested.
"Let us not forget Anakin that you rescued me from the buzz droids… and you defeated Count Dooku and you rescued the Chancellor carrying me unconscious on your back!" the Master reminded.
"All because of your training…"
"Anakin, let's be fair. Today you were the hero and you deserve your glorious day with the politicians,"
"Alright, but you owe me one. And not for saving your skin for the tenth time," Anakin said dryly. Spending a day with Senators was not as glorious as Obi-Wan made it look like.
"Ninth time! That business in Cato Neimoidia doesn't count. I'll see you at the briefing," Both shared an amused laugh remembering the episode and walked away from each other.
In reality Anakin had no interest on going to the Senate but one. He wanted to see Padmé. Otherwise he had no business there; he was in dire need of speaking to the Council. The constant presence of the Chancellor on their way there had disabled him to tell his Master of the events that had transpired during his unconsciousness. He certainly couldn't afford to speak of his suspicions of Palpatine when he was present. It was a shame that Dooku was dead, he had a feeling that the Sith had many interesting things to tell him. And he had also made an incredible discovery. Since they were children Jedi learned a very important lesson that was the Rule of Two of the Sith: there are always two, a Master and an Apprentice and Dooku was the apprentice. Who on the face of the Galaxy could be more powerful in the Dark Side of the Force than the Count? The thought alone scared him.
As he walked in the Senate he was approached by Senator Organa, who offered him some polite compliments. He liked him, in fact Anakin could honestly say that he was one of the few politicians in the Republic that he genuinely had some respect for. He emanated an aura of honesty and generosity that were rare in his profession. Anakin spoke to him with pleasure, he thought that if there was no war and he spent more time on Coruscant maybe they could have been friends. Above all, he knew Organa was reliable, if there was anything of good to come from the Senate, it would come from him.
He sensed her presence before he saw her through the corner of his eye. He excused himself right away, for there was nowhere else he'd rather be. She was half hidden under the shadow one of the Senate's enormous columns. Anakin ran towards her, because walking just wasn't fast enough. He held her close to him, as tightly as he could and kissed her. How he had missed her!
"Oh Anakin…" she called, her voice longing for him.
"I've missed you Padmé," the young Knight declared what was obvious.
"There were whispers that you've been killed," she said nervously making Anakin smile.
"I'm alright… It feels like we've been apart for a lifetime. It might've been. If the Chancellor hadn't been kidnapped I don't think they would've ever brought us back from the Outer Rim sieges…" he said as he kissed his lover.
"Wait Anakin, not here," she begged, fearful of being caught in her forbidden affair.
"You're right," the Knight apologized as he took a step back from her, "I don't like this deception, it doesn't feel right, Padmé,"
"I know, but no one can know… Maybe… just maybe one day we can be together," she asked more than anything else.
"After the war, Padmé! I promise! I'll leave the Order and we'll go far away and start over. But I just can't leave now… you know I can't. Not until we find Grievous," Anakin made a promise, a promise he fully intended to keep. He had been thinking about it for months now, ever since he was sent to the Outer Rim Sieges. He didn't want to go on living this lie and he remembered, so long ago when he was just a Padawan, when his Master told him he always had a choice. He was so set on not giving up the Jedi, but the war came and everything changed. He changed. He realized that maybe he could just choose to be happy. Didn't he deserve it after everything he went through?
"We could go to Naboo and live in the Lake Country," she responded with a smile. Anakin said nothing but he thought what a wonderful place that would be to raise a family.
"I must go now, the Council…" Anakin spoke sadly. He knew he didn't need to justify his exit any further, for she knew he wouldn't want to be anywhere else. But some things must be done, and her sense of duty could be even deeper than his.
"When will I see you again?"
"I don't know. Soon,"
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"Come on Master, hurry up!" he heard a familiar voice coming from the distance. He looked towards his front; the Council Room was before him. He had a strong grip on his ignited lightsaber, its blue blade was the only thing illuminating the room.
"Master Skywalker," the voice of the child spoke "There are too many of them! What are we going to do?" The poor thing was so afraid. The others were even scared more and hid behind their leader.
"Come on!" the voice from outside warned again, it came from behind the door and though he couldn't see the one who had spoken he recognized her. It was Jeswi.
Padmé was there, she ran a hand on the youngling's blonde hair, a single tear ran down her face. She suddenly looked up, straight into his eyes. She looked so scared, so afraid.
"Let her go!" she whispered first. She whispered it twice and walked towards him. He wanted to speak but he couldn't.
"LET HER GO!" she screamed in a desperate cry.
A ball of yellow and red and blue. It was beautiful, it was all beautiful but the scream, the agonizing scream calling out his name. Padmé's cry for help.
"Anakin!" she begged in one long hopeless breath.
The Knight woke up in a startle. He looked around him. The recognizable walls of his quarters in the Temple encircled him. He realized he was gasping for air, sweat beads had formed on his forehead. He stood, the familiarity of his surroundings gave him a sense of relief, but it was nothing if not brief. He thought of her… her screams were painful for him even if he knew they weren't real. Not yet…
But this time it was different. Was it real? He didn't know. He had to know! What was he going to do? He paced the room back and forth, he had to see her. He saw his robes lazily thrown on the floor.
He had to see her, make sure she was alright…
Anakin dressed in a haste and ran out of the Jedi Temple. He entered the apartment through the balcony. It was completely silent and the darkness was frightening. But he had never been afraid of the dark before. It was the middle of the night, she was probably sleeping unless…
Anakin tiptoed to her bedroom and as he opened the door the lights that sneaked from the city allowed him to see her sleeping form. She could see her chest rising and falling as she took each breath, a tranquil look upon her face. The Jedi Knight sighed in relief, even though the nagging feeling left from his dream refused to abandon him. He approached her, even though he knew it was a mistake, sat on the side of the bed and ran a hand through her naked arm. He didn't want to startle her, so he sent her waves of calm through the Force.
Her eyes finally fluttered open, and Padmé smiled as she saw him.
"You're here…" she said and Anakin nodded in response "Are you alright?"
"I don't know…" he looked sad.
"Did something happen?" she sat up and ran a hand down his face.
"I had a dream… a vision. It was about you,"
"What did you see?" he could hardly look in her eyes. How would he tell her he saw her death? How could he even admit it to himself?
"I don't know, if only the Force showed me things more clearly… But I think you were in pain," he decided to be less than honest. She didn't have to know the whole truth, it wouldn't matter anyway. He just had to try to stop it from happening. No, he couldn't just try, he had to succeed.
"I'm alright, Ani, it was only a dream," Anakin smiled, he liked the name. No one had ever called him that before.
"I'll never let anyone hurt you..." he whispered a promise. Padmé gave him a smile, leaned over her lover and offered him a kiss.
And that night was the first night that Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala made love…
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It was early when he arrived at the briefing room to hear the reports on the Outer Rim Sieges. He wasn't focusing on them though, his mind was occupied with his visions and all he could gather was that Saleucumai had fallen and that Master Vos moved his troops to Boz Pity. He thought that was the essential information, the rest didn't really matter.
The room emptied fast after the report was over. Obi-Wan was the only one left. The Master Jedi sensed his friend's unrest.
"You're troubled," he declared. Yes, he was troubled. He was troubled because Padmé was going it die, he was troubled because he'd die with her, he was troubled because he was so afraid to lose her, because he loved her. But he couldn't speak of this things… he just couldn't.
"Yes, many things trouble me as of lately," he replied simply.
"Yes. The Council was worried after hearing your recount of the Chancellor´s behavior in The Invisible Hand," Master Kenobi said pensively.
"It's not just that Master, I've been having visions… ever since I took Jeswi to Ilum," he finally admitted it. It had been months since they had started but he never really cared to speak of them.
"What did you see?" His Master seemed curious, but worse than that, he was apprehensive. He knew that his former Padawan was going to tell him something he wouldn't like to hear, and he didn't even need the Force to realize it.
"I'm not sure Master," he sighed. He didn't know what to say. He couldn't tell him about Padmé, it was far too soon. He had too much to do before telling Obi-Wan, he was still needed. If the accounts of his origins were true… while there were Sith, he would be needed. That thought made him anxious… there was too much at stake. No… he couldn't!
"It's here, at the Temple. It's not clear… There are younglings and screams… I don't know. But I'll figure this out, somehow," Anakin shook his head. He felt defeated. He should be happy now. He spent the night with her and yet, he felt like something was weighing down on him. Was that the weight of guilt, or of the lies he'd be forced to tell?
"I know you will," he felt his Master's reassuring hand on his shoulder and that gave him some comfort, but not nearly enough as he needed. "Anakin, the Senate is expected to vote more executive powers to the Chancellor today,"
"But that means the Senate will be virtually powerless…" he was growing ever more worried about the state of the Republic. Was this even still a democracy?
"Yes. I feel great disquiet about this. Furthermore, the Chancellor addressed the Council and requested your presence,"
"What for?" Anakin was at a loss. The Chancellor never had any scruple in contacting him directly. The Knight could only assume this would be no informal meeting.
"He wouldn't say," Obi-Wan ran a hand across his beard. He looked truly upset and his Padawan doubted he'd ever seen his Master like this before.
"But why go through the Council? Isn't that unusual?"
"All of this is unusual, and it's making me feel uneasy. The relations between the Chancellor and the Council have been degrading rapidly, as you are well aware," Obi-Wan made a long pause before he looked into Anakin's eyes, "The Force grows darker every day Anakin… can´t you feel it?"
He could feel it, and he knew the light was fading away…
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Soon Anakin found himself one more time inside the Chancellor's office. He had a heavy look on his face that day, he looked burdened and yet he was as regal as he always was. There was something about Chancellor Palpatine that caught people's attention. He wasn't a handsome man, though Anakin imagined he probably was in his youth, but he always looked taller than he actually was, and at first light there seemed to be an aura of goodness to him. When Anakin met him, many years before when he was a youngling fresh into his days as a Padawan, he thought it too. But now he could not, for there was something about him that the Knight couldn't figure out. When Skywalker entered the large office the usual pleasantries were exchanged, this time with more formality than what was usual. In silence the older man made him pace about the room, and he finally spoke to him, with a heavy semblance always brushing his features.
"I hope you trust me Anakin," he stopped for a moment.
"Of course," the Jedi lied. He didn't trust him, not really.
"I need your help, son…" such familiarity contrasted with the initial tone of the conversation. As to the ease of the tone, Anakin was beginning to get used to it.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm depending on you…"
Anakin was confused and he didn't wait for the Chancellor to finish. Of course the young man realized that he had made a long pause on purpose. It was like he was an actor, creating suspense, "For what? I don't understand?" he finally asked.
"…to be the ears, eyes and voice of the Republic," he smirked before he continued "Anakin, I'm appointing you to be my personal representative on the Jedi Council," and the smirk never left his face.
"Me? In the Jedi Council? I am overwhelmed Sir, but I couldn't possibly accept it. And, the Council elects its own members, they'll never accept this" the young man replied. He was shocked; he could never have predicted this. He didn't want to be on the Council… he didn't wish the responsability it would bring him. But he decided he wouldn't argue any further with the Chancellor, it would be best if he consulted with the Jedi first. He thought of what Padmé had told him months ago. They weren't just rumors after all. But the big question remained. Why?
"I think they will," his smirk widened "They need you… more than you know…"
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The Jedi Knight hastened as he left the Senate. This couldn't wait. There was something hidden behind the Chancellor's appointment. He couldn't be mistaken; he had sensed it through the Force. Deceit. And what a terrible feeling that was. He just didn't know why yet, what his intentions were. The Chancellor surely had an agenda. He needed to speak to the Council as soon as possible. They were wise, they would indubitably know what to do.
He ran inside the Jedi Temple and straight to the Council Room, opening the door. They were in session.
"Forgive me, Masters, I'll wait…" he apologized as he started to turn to leave.
"Stay Skywalker," Master Windu offered in is usual demanding tone. If one didn't know him they would think he was an evil man. But he was nothing of the sort, on the contrary. His lover was the Republic and he would do anything to save it; he would give his life, more so than any other Jedi, and without a doubt more so than him. For a moment Anakin felt guilty for breaking his oath, he felt guilty about his plans to leave the Order. How could he? He was too selfish; he had never learned to be selfless enough. It was his own fault too, he never really learned how to let go, how to give his life for something larger than him. And they called him the Hero With No Fear. How wrong they were! How misadjusted the Holonet title was. There was much fear in him, too much fear. And the great problem was he knew it, and despite recognizing his flaw he was never able to correct it.
"Speaking of your visit to the Chancellor we were. Tell us about your meeting, you must," Anakin bowed before his superiors and headed to the center of the room, the place where he had stood hundreds of times during the course of his life and yet he had never felt as awkward as today, not even when he had stepped inside for the first time, all those years ago. Oh how he missed the simplicity that his life was then!
"Masters, I am having difficulties understanding the Chancellor's intentions," he started and Yoda nodded giving him silent permission to continue. "He…" the Knight hesitated, "he appointed me to be his personal representative in the Jedi Council. I know this to be impossible, nor do I wish the position, but I sensed deceit. It's as if he wants to force me to be in collusion with him, for… whatever his plan is. I just… I can't figure out what," all the eleven Masters present just stared at him for a moment. There was nothing any of them could predict anymore; thr shroud of the dark side hung too heavily upon them. They shared glances with each other before the Grand Master of the Jedi Order spoke for all of them.
"Surround the Chancellor the Dark Side of the Force does," Yoda said, resulting in a general nod of agreement. "Disturbing is this move by Chancellor Palpatine. Allow this appointment lightly the Council does not," Anakin's eyes widened.
"You are on this Council," the stern Mace Windu declared.
"But Masters…"
"Take a seat young Skywalker,"
Little was decided on Anakin's first Council meeting. The only thing of significance was that Master Yoda would go to Kashyyyk to aide the Wookies against the Separatist attack. Other than that it was mentioned that Grievous was hiding in the Outer Rim; no surprises there, and that Cont Dooku's body had been discovered in the wreckage of the Invisible Hand, apparently he had been crushed by the elevator. Anakin thought that death by his hand would not only be more honorable, for Dooku had been a Jedi after all, but also less painful. The meeting ended quickly enough, much to the Knights' satisfaction. He didn't understand that decision. To give him a seat on the Council, at such a young age, him not even being a Master at all. It was confusing, to say the least. But then again everything was so confusing as of late.
Anakin found himself leaving the meeting accompanied only by his former Master, who had stopped for a moment to share a few whispered words with Masters Yoda and Windu. He soon caught up with Anakin; at least he was with someone he trusted. He scolded himself for not being completely open with Obi-Wan, but he knew he couldn't. It was of the essence that he would control himself, especially now that the war was so close to its ending.
He walked the corridor slowly, deeply immersed in his thoughts, but suddenly he felt the urge to speak. "How can this be, Master? Why would they put me on the Council? I'm not even a Master yet…" he sighed. He felt the burden on his shoulders becoming heavier and heavier by the second.
"You have been given a great honor Anakin," Obi-Wan added slowly, a slight grin of pride forming on his lips, "To be on the Council at your age, it's never happened before," he paused before continuing "Although, the Council doesn't like when the Chancellor interferes with Jedi affairs,"
"But it was him who requested my appointment? I swear to you, I didn't ask to be put on the Council," Anakin sounded puzzled.
"I know that. The only reason the Council approved your appointment is because the Chancellor trusts you…"
"And?" the young Knight did not know what to think anymore, he wondered where this conversation was leading.
"Anakin, I am on your side. I didn't want to put you in this situation," his Master added with a sigh.
"What situation?" he looked into his Master's eyes and he was sure he wasn't going to like what he was about to hear.
"The Council wants you to report on all the Chancellor's dealings. They want to know what he's up to," he said gravely, as if he was asking Anakin to do the most impure of things. Maybe he was. Anakin felt his heavy burden weigh him down even more. He thought about what Obi-Wan said to him as he watched him move towards a window, looking at the enormous city of Coruscant below them.
"The Council wants me to spy on the Chancellor?" he asked at last, as he followed his friend and realized the true implications of his request, "That's treason,"
"We are at war, Anakin," was that enough to justify what they wanted him to do? Perhaps, but he doubted it. He knew it was against the Jedi Code, but he had been breaking it so often, he couldn't really say they were leading him to his fall as a Jedi for he was doing a very good job of it himsel. Therefore he decided to stop discussing and just do what the Council was asking of him. As he put it to the Chacellor himself he took orders from the Jedi Council and not from anyone else.
"Why didn't the Council give me this assignment when we were in session?" he asked with growing puzzlement.
"This assignment is not to be on record," Obi-Wan said with a shake of his head. No words were needed between them for Anakin to realize the significance of his mission.
"I have my doubts about the Chancellor, I admit to that. But… he isn't a bad man, is he? He befriended me," he thought of all the calls the Chancellor has made him, all the visits he had summoned him to. Anakin might have found it confusing but he knew that Palpatine saw him as a friend, and he saw this as betrayal. Yet another betrayal…
"That is why you must help us," the look on his Master's face was almost regretful. He was asking this of him, but he knew Anakin wasn't prepared for such a mission. For a while now there had been something wrong with him. Obi-Wan knew it was the visions, but he also knew that there was more going on than his former Padawan was letting on. But there was no other choice. The Council's suspicions over the Chancellor's activities grew every day; the dark side of the force surrounded him. This had to be done, for the sake of the Republic. He continued calmly, "Anakin, our allegiance is to the Senate, not to its leader who has managed to stay in office long after his term has expired,"
"But the Senate demanded that he stayed longer," first Padmé's warnings, now Obi-Wan's. He was beginning to think that there was really something very wrong with Chancellor Palpatine. He couldn't deny the feeling of dread that his name was starting to give him every time it was mentioned.
"Yes, but use your feelings Anakin. Something is out of place!" Anakin breathed a heavy sigh and looked out the window.
"I will do what I must," he finally accepted his new mission.
He needed an escape. He needed to go somewhere where the war would not follow him. He wanted to run to his lover's arms. But he couldn't, not yet. He had other responsibilities. Anakin walked in a hurry to his chambers in the Jedi Temple. He found his Padawan concentrated on a Galactic History assignment. She had grown much and was now becoming a grown woman. She was fourteen years older now, and at least eight centimeters taller than she was when he had first taken her under his wing three years ago. She lifted her eyes from the datapad as he entered.
"Hey Master," she said with little conviction.
"Are you alright?" he asked sensing her discomfort.
"I just don't like this assignment. It's about the Rule of Two and I'm so tired of hearing about the Sith, especially now that the Dark Side's shadow spreads more and more," his smiled at his Padawan´s perception and nodded in agreement. He was tired too, so he dropped the subject.
"Why don't you finish that later? You could use some lightsaber training," he smiled. Maybe they both needed to channel their energy into something useful and more physical. At least physical required less thinking and Anakin was weary of thinking about things he shouldn't think of. Jeswi lifted herself from her seat eagerly, throwing the offensive datapad carelessly onto the table. She was content to follow her Master into one of the available training rooms.
Anakin had lately began introducing his Padawan to Form V. She had mastered the others and even though he doubted she adopted this one as her main preference, he knew it would be complementary to the others. He was leaning his back against the wall as he offered Jeswi the directions on the moves she would perform. She did everything with as much perfection that she could find, but she needed more work to achieve the grace that the form required. But she was still young, there was time. He predicted that within a year Form V would be perfectly assimilated by her, though it required much training. His thoughts drifted for a moment; maybe he wouldn't be here to train her a year from now and that was his only regret when he thought of his decision to leave the Order after the war, not being able to train his Padawan into her Knighthood. As the thought crossed his mind Jeswi looked at him with a puzzled expression. He was sure he had thought of it with no care to put up the barriers in their bond. He scolded himself; he was becoming careless. But fortunately, he wouldn't have to be confronted by this right now, because as Jeswi opened her mouth to speak the door to the training room slid open and a smiling Jax walked in.
"Hey Anakin! Hey Jes!" He smiled.
"Hello Master Pavan," responded Jeswi bowing respectfully to her superior.
"Congratulations," he opened his arms to hug his old friend, "The whole Temple is speaking of it,"
Anakin accepted the hug, but wasn't sure of what he was being congratulated for, "Congratulations? Is it my birthday?"
"No, you idiot! You're on the Council, remember?" he laughed.
"Oh, that! Thanks, I suppose,"
"Man you gotta tell me how you did it! But then again, I'm not the Chosen One, am I?" Anakin feigned amusement, but was not very convincing. Just the mention of him being the Chosen One made him feel nauseated. Jax realized it and cleared his throat before he spoke again, his smile wiped from his face. He knew Anakin well enough to know that he didn't want to talk about it, so he decided not to push it. Clearly this great event on his friend's career hadn't been voluntary.
"Well, I just came by because Master Kenobi asked me to hand this to you," he took a piece of flimsy from his pocket and handed it to him. Anakin thanked him but waited for him to leave before he read it. It was neatly folded, he realized.
"You're on the Council?" the young woman asked somewhat puzzled,
"Yeah, I suppose," he shrugged as he opened the flimsy. His Padawan was left dumbstruck. He finally read it, it was on his Master's handwriting; he would recognize it anywhere.
"Message from the Chancellor:
Request Anakin to join the Chancellor at Opera House at 900 hours pm.
May the Force be with you!
OW. Kenobi"
Anakin sighed. "You failed to mention that," Jeswi said when she found her voice again.
"Mention what?" he asked confused. It was already 500 hours according to the clock above the door. He still wanted to see Padmé today; he had a feeling that he should and even if he shouldn't he wanted it.
"That you're on the Council! What else?" she protested.
"Sorry Jes," he forgot to answer her question,"We're going to have to cut this short. We can go on tomorrow, go finish your paper," he didn't wait for her to speak and stormed out of the room.
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It was rush hour on Coruscant. It took him almost an hour to reach the 500 Republica apartment, so he left the speeder in a hurry and hastily entered the living room. Padmé had just turned off her comlink and looked back to see what the noise was about.
"Anakin, you're here!" she said with a big smile, a genuine smile, one he hadn't seen in so long. She approached him in long strides and hugged him closely.
"Yeah…," her happiness was contagious. He smiled genuinely. He hadn't remembered doing that ever, except when he was in this house, "You seem to be in good spirits,"
"I am," she said as she looked up at him, "I have brilliant news! Now that Count Dooku is dead and the Confederacy is out of leadership, with Grievous being on the run, they want to negotiate peace terms. I was just speaking to the Chancellor. Isn't it wonderful?"
He removed himself from her embrace and walked about the room, rubbing his bottom lip pensively, "The Chancellor told you that?" he finally asked.
"Yes… I thought you'd be happy. What's wrong?"
He finally stopped his pacing and regarded her carefully, "I am! It's just… it's an odd move for the Chancellor. He seemed so keen on not letting the war end before Grievous was captured and all of a sudden he changed his mind,"
"Maybe it's because the circumstances have changed. Now with Count Dooku dead there really is no leader to the Confederacy. They probably want to end the war before more blood is spilled. They must know that it's lost!"
"Maybe. But still, I find this suspicious…"
"Perhaps… perhaps I was wrong about the Chancellor… It's possible he is a better man than I thought he was, and that he really wants to end this war for the sake of the Republic. Oh Ani, I don't even mind admitting I was mistaken. These peace negotiations are the greater diplomatic development we have seen in years. I must get ready, I leave tonight," she started towards her room.
"What do you mean you leave tonight?" he followed her.
"The Chancellor asked me to represent the Republic in the meeting. It's to take place in neutral space. I travel to Mandalore in a few hours,"
"You can't go! It's too dangerous!" he said emphatically, he was almost mad at her for wanting to put herself in such risk. But she smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I'll be fine, Ani. I must do this. This is everything I've worked for over the last three years! It's not time to be afraid," she said and he knew there was nothing he could say or do that to change her mind. She was stubborn like that. They kissed and the next hour was for them and their love.
The ball had the colors of fire: red, orange and blue flames enveloped her as she desperately screamed for help… for his help. But the other her only whispered…
"HELP ME ANAKIN!" she cried.
"Let go Anakin…" she whispered.
As he woke up he felt he couldn't breathe and beads of sweat covered his skin. He looked around him and Padmé was nowhere to be seen, but he heard her voice coming from the living room making him sigh in relief. He realized he had fallen asleep, he shouldn't have. He looked at the clock on the nightstand. He was already late for the Opera.
To be continued…
