An Open Secret
A Star Wars fanfiction by Andrew Joshua Talon, Mandemon and others
DISCLAIMER: This is a non-profit fan based parody. Star Wars is the property of Disney and Lucasfilm Ltd. Please support the official release.
This takes place in the midst of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith...
In an instant, Anakin lashed out with the Force, flinging Barriss against the nearby wall. She tried to speak, tried to breath, as she clawed at her throat in desperation. Anakin's eyes narrowed as he made to approach her, his hand outstretched. He could feel the air in her lungs, the fear in her mind, his own anger surging through him-!
"Anakin, stop!" Padme grasped at her husband's arm.
"Master Skywalker, what is the meaning of this!?" The Chancellor rushed over to Barriss and pulled on her, trying to removed her as if she was a poster stuck with glue.
"Let her go immediately! That is a direct order from the Supreme Chancellor." Anakin looked at him, then Padme. He could see the fear in her eyes, the terror... He felt it. Cutting deep to his core. More than that, confusion... Anger...
Barriss fell to the floor with a thump, gasping for breath. Anakin lowered his arm, taking deep breaths. He looked at Padme and gasped her hand in his own. He felt her fear ebb, and he got his own feelings under control. He looked away to the Coruscant cityscape, finding his center.
"With all due respect Chancellor, get her out of my home before I kill her," Anakin growled.
"Anakin my dear boy, this is her act of redemption," Palpatine insisted. He helped Barriss up to her feet, and looked imploringly at Anakin.
"She killed hundreds of people and then framed Ahsoka. My padawan, and her 'best friend' ," Anakin spat in a tone dripping with sarcasm. He turned back, eyes narrowed but back to their blue color as he glared at Palpatine. "Forgive me if I don't trust her around my actual children."
"Is is not the way of the Jedi to forgive even their enemies?" Palpatine argued. "Why I can think of many Jedi Predecessors who made concessions to members of the Dark Brotherhood in efforts to eliminate the Sith through negotiation." Palpatine looked at Barriss in concern. "Are you all right my dear?" Barriss nodded but still rubbed her throat. He looked back to Anakin. "Shouldn't you, Anakin, show the same qualities those Ancient Masters did?"
"Doesn't matter, I'm not letting her near my family," Anakin growled. Padme's eyes narrowed as she assessed Barriss and Palpatine. She squeezed Anakin's arm again, reassuringly.
"What assurances do we have that she will not betray us or harm the children?" Padme asked. Anakin looked over at his wife, surprised but swallowing his immediate response at her expression.
Palpatine smiled and nodded to Barriss.
"Barriss, if you would." Barriss turned around and pulled part of her collar down to show a metal strip attached to her neck, one that made Anakin flinch. "A shock collar built for open prisons, with a tracking device." Palpatine reached into his robes, and extracted a small electronic padd. He slowly placed it on a table. "It is not lethal, only designed to stun, but activates when she pushes herself too far. It has a recorder and a micro droid brain to analyze any situation and not administer the defensive mechanism if she is in danger or the children are."
The Chancellor turned Barriss back around, but the girl never raised her eyes to the Skywalkers. "Master Skywalker, Senator... I an truly sorry for what I have done." Barriss dropped to her knees. "Please, let me atone. It is the least I can do."
Anakin looked at the Mirialan girl, looking at the strip of metal on her neck. He sighed and looked at his wife, who seemed unsure yet still determined, her body language begging her to kneel beside the disgraced Jedi and hold her close.
"Fine. We'll let her stay." He took the collar control from the table and hooked it opposite his lightsaber. "But I will keep this."
Padme glanced over at Anakin, looking grateful... Yet Anakin could sense something else going on with his wife. Something going on in her devious mind.
Palpatine chuckled in his grandfatherly way. "Oh Anakin, I just know this will be the best decision you could have made! I guarantee that when people see 'The Hero With No Fear' can put aside his anger at someone, the galaxy at large will follow suit. This war will soon end for the better."
"Yes," Padme said, "this we can agree on... Anakin? I'll find her a room."
Anakin made to object, but Padme held up the control device. "We'll be fine," she said gently. Anakin, surprised and impressed, nodded. She turned and walked up to Barriss. She smiled at her, and held out a hand.
"Come with me, Miss Barriss," she said kindly. Barriss slowly rose, looking at Padme in thanks and avoiding Anakin's gaze. The two women went up the stairs, leaving Anakin alone with the Chancellor. Anakin turned back to his friend and mentor, who continued to smile kindly. It was somewhat reassuring, and yet...
"You're asking a lot of me, Chancellor," he said finally. Palpatine nodded.
"I know... But I would not ask it if I didn't know you were capable of this task," Palpatine said. He smiled. "Besides... The Jedi Order is still... An unknown factor."
"Many are in the know already," Anakin argued. Palpatine nodded.
"True... But you know as well as I do that politics are a fickle thing. Especially given the standing orders the Jedi Council gave you."
Anakin grimaced, but managed a nod.
"Having allies is always valuable. And a Jedi rejected by the Order, who criticized it... Being redeemed, and proving the Council are not all knowing? Well... That could be very valuable," Palpatine said. Anakin's lips thinned.
"So you're using us as a wedge," Anakin said, eyebrows narrowed. Palpatine nodded, looking resigned.
"It is the dirty nature of politics, Anakin. I am so sorry it has come to this. You know yourself that sometimes unpleasant decisions must be made for the greater good. Sometimes you must incur a great price... To get what you want."
Anakin slowly nodded. "Is that in regards to-?"
Palpatine shook his head, smiling. "That... Is a conversation for another time. Have a good night, Anakin. And give Senator Amidala my regards." He turned and walked to the door. He soon vanished into the elevator tube, leaving Anakin to stand alone.
Padme soon came back down, her fingers knit over her belly. Anakin looked at his wife, sighing softly. Padme raised her eyebrows.
"Your friendship with the Chancellor continues to reap dividends, doesn't it Ani?" Padme asked softly. Anakin groaned, and rubbed his temples.
"Unfortunately," he sighed. He looked over at his wife, and pulled her into a hug with more than a little Force Pull behind it. She gasped, but hugged him back tightly.
"It's going to be all right, Anakin," Padme said gently. Anakin looked at her curiously. She was smiling gently, with a bit of mystery in her gaze.
"How do you know?" Anakin asked. Padme's smile grew just a bit.
"Because I brought in some help," she said, holding up a holocom. "Master Kenobi? Did you get everything?"
A miniature version of Anakin's master appeared on the disc.
"I did," Kenobi spoke. "Very interesting." Obi-Wan was frowning thoughtfully.
Anakin's eyebrows rose. "When did you do that?" He asked his wife.
"I'm a politician, Ani. I'm always recording things," Padme said with a smirk. Anakin looked alarmed. Padme kissed his cheek. "Don't worry, I never recorded anything intimate."
"Ahem? I am still here," Obi-Wan said. "There are certain things I'd like you to keep from me."
"Sorry Master Kenobi," Padme said. Anakin sighed and took a deep breath.
"I suppose we'll need all the help we can get," Anakin stated in flat but controlled anger. Padme hugged him, and he relaxed just a bit. "But we're finding another place for her as soon as we can."
Obi-Wan smiled. "Don't worry Anakin. We're on it. You two enjoy your night."
"We were going to," Anakin grumbled. Padme sighed, and squeezed his artificial hand.
"We'll have better nights after this reception is over. I promise," she said with a warm, syrupy tone to her voice. Enough to make Anakin blush. Obi-Wan coughed.
"Yes... Well, I'll leave you to that," Obi-Wan said. "I suppose it's good that Senator Riyo visited before. You seem to be on a good path towards a Tsu-No of your own. Enjoy."
The holocom flicked off, and Anakin grumbled.
"I'm going to get even with him for this, I swear," Anakin growled. Padme patted his arm.
"Oh Anakin... Don't worry. We both will..."
Barriss knelt down in the center of the guest room, sighing softly. She could feel the repressed anger of Anakin Skywalker, roiling right underneath her like a storm. She had felt it before, that protectiveness and fury. That intense feeling for those he loved and cared for.
She shivered at the power, the intensity...
Indeed... He is powerful, she thought, just as the Chancellor said. Just as I know.
That she could bring such rage and anger out of Skywalker spoke of the truth of his power. The power of the Force.
Yes, she had to learn from Skywalker. She had to be close to the center of power, to truly understand it. To be the focus of that storm.
She sensed the door open behind her, and breathed a soft sigh of relief. It was not Anakin. Just touching that power was overwhelming... She rubbed her throat in reflex.
"Senator Amidala," Barriss said respectfully, her eyes bowed. Padme appraised her thoughtfully.
"A Fallen Jedi seeking redemption," Padme said softly. Barriss slowly nodded.
"And understanding," she admitted. "Is it so unusual? For the Chancellor to take such a hand in the Jedi Order's affairs?"
"I suppose not," Padme said softly. "A Jedi being returned to the Light would be a great achievement."
"It's more than that, Senator," Barriss said earnestly. Padme raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"You are having Jedi children," Barriss said, her eyes on Padme's belly. "It's been thousands of years since any Jedi had children... And even now, I can feel them in the Force. Your children have the potential to shape the galaxy's future." Her eyes were bright. "And I can't just stand aside when the Jedi Order might twist them. You've seen what this war has done to them... What do you think they'll do to your children? I want to be on the right side-"
"With fellow Jedi rogues and renegades?" Padme asked. Barriss looked down at the floor.
"I admit to my mistakes... But whatever happens, I know... Through the Force... That your children are at the center of it all. And I must defend them." She looked up at Padme, defiantly. "Even if Master Skywalker will kill me for it."
"I... See," Padme said quietly. She reached out, and grasped her hands in hers. She smiled warmly at Barriss, who managed a small smile in return. "I understand how difficult this war has been on you. I understand you realize that you have made mistakes, and wish to make amends. And I appreciate that you wish to defend my children from anything that might happen to them."
Barriss bowed low, pushing her face into the floor. Padme then pulled her back up, her face stormy and enraged.
"Understand though, that should you endanger my children or my husband in any way, your suffering will dwarf anything the Sith could possibly devise in a thousand years!" She hissed, and Barriss felt terror like she never had before. "You will not die until I say so, no matter how much you beg. Got it?!"
"Y-Yes, Senator!" Barriss cried. Padme smiled, and let Barriss go. Barriss trembled as she shrank back from the suddenly happy senator.
"Good!" She said cheerfully. "I'm going to bed. Please help Threepio make breakfast in the morning..." Her eyes narrowed. "Or else."
"Y-Yes miss!" Barriss squeaked. Padme nodded, and headed off. The door slid open, revealing Anakin was trying to look like he wasn't eavesdropping.
"You want to intimidate her some more?" Padme asked with a low growl, "or do you want to go to bed?"
"Uh... Bed, please," Anakin managed. Padme nodded and smiled.
"Good! See you in two minutes." She walked off. Anakin watched her go, and looked over at the shocked Barriss.
Barriss looked up at Anakin, and looked aside. "Um... I am eager to redeem myself-"
"Save it, I'm not the one you need to apologize to," Anakin said, making Barriss wince. He let out a breath, and focused himself in the Force. She could feel the storm of his power calm and ebb, but not fade away entirely. "However... She did worse than I could," he said.
Barriss nodded frantically. It now made perfect sense why Anakin Skywalker would have been seduced by this woman. She was... Formidable.
Perhaps Supreme Chancellor Palpatine was right... Perhaps emotion is the way, she thought, after Anakin shut the doors on her. She nodded.
Yes... She had made her choice. She would undergo any humiliation and suffering, if she could help the future of the Force in any way...
It's getting a bit more serious than I wanted, but eh. Comedy will return next time.