I'm back finally. I know it was a really long time, but I had to push myself to do this chapter, because I feel like this is sort of a go between chapter and I hate those. I feel like it will be really boring or really confusing at parts. I had to work through it in my head for a while to make sure that it will all make sense to someone else besides me. Most of this stuff is the same as the movie with a few changes. Hope you all enjoy it. I will try to update more often. Please review and let me know your thoughts on this chapter.
Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
Forbidden
Chapter 33
Tangled Webs
Despite Anakin's pride he chose to go speak to Yoda about his dreams. If anyone could tell him what to do it would be Yoda. He wouldn't ask Obi-Wan, he was a Jedi Knight; he didn't need his Master anymore. Anakin was sitting across from Master Yoda in a meditation room.
"Premonitions? Premonitions. Hmmm…." Yoda trailed off. Anakin chose to be very vague about his dreams and not mention whom they were about. He knew he couldn't lie, because Yoda would see right through it. "These visions you have," Yoda continued.
"They're of pain, suffering," Anakin strained to say, trying to block out the memory of his dream, "Death."
"Yourself you speak of, or someone you know?" Yoda asked. Anakin focused all his energy on restraining his emotions and blocking his thoughts.
"Someone," Anakin simply replied.
"Close to you?" Yoda pressed. Anakin couldn't lie and lowered his head to hide the emotion he knew Yoda could read through his eyes,
"Yes."
"Careful you must be when sensing the future, Anakin," Master Yoda warned, "The fear of loss is a path to the dark side." Anakin didn't care about the risks,
"I won't let these visions come true, Master Yoda."
"Death is a natural part of life," Yoda said, "rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force. Mourn them, do not. Miss them, do not. Attachment leads to jealousy. The shadow of greed that is." As Yoda continued Anakin sensed that Yoda might know exactly whom his visions were about. Anakin decided to pretend he didn't notice,
"What must I do, Master Yoda?" Yoda gave him a gentle smile,
"Train yourself to let go…of everything you fear to lose." Anakin lowered his head in defeat.
After his meeting with Master Yoda, Anakin realized that he was running late for the report on the outer rim sieges. As he approached the doorway he was stopped suddenly by a voice.
"Anakin?" He turned to see one of the most beautiful sights he had ever seen. She had gotten more beautiful while he was away. Amidala smiled, "I'm glad to see you got back in one piece. I'm surprised Calle has let you go, she missed you so much."
"I missed you Ami…Senator," Anakin quickly covered as several Jedi started coming out of the room. Anakin grimaced slightly when he realized that he had missed the meeting. Amidala saw his reaction,
"I made you late, I'm sorry."
"No I was already running late, I went to go meet with Master Yoda." Amidala tensed slightly when he said that,
"Is something wrong?" Anakin met Amidala's eyes and saw that she was trying to read his thoughts and emotions. She knew that most Jedi's didn't go to Master Yoda unless something was seriously wrong. Anakin quickly threw up a block; he didn't want to worry her,
"No I just wanted to ask if there were any new promising padawans that he would like me to train." Amidala raised her head slightly, she didn't believe him, but decided to let it go. Just then Obi-Wan came out and saw Amidala who with raised eyebrows nodded in Anakin's direction. Obi-Wan's mouth settled into a firm line,
"You've missed the report on the outer rim sieges."
"I'm sorry. I was held up," Anakin replied, "I have no excuse."
"I'm afraid I was partly to blame for that," Amidala said, "Anakin was about to go in when I caught him up in conversation." Anakin furrowed his brow slightly,
"Were you waiting for someone, you don't come around the Temple very often." Amidala tensed slightly,
"Well I'm just curious how this war is going, I want it to be over soon. I don't enjoy raising my son in a war." Anakin inwardly grimaced at the mention of her son. When he found out that Amidala was pregnant he couldn't bear it. He hid it from his Master and his wife. He knew they wouldn't understand why he was so upset. Amidala was his first love and the thought that someone had touched her that way almost drove him mad. Speak of the devil.
"Mommy!" A small voice cried out. The trio looked over to see Amidala's son running towards his mother with arms outstretched. She scooped him up as his small arms wrapped around her neck.
"I also came to pick up my little youngling." Anakin forced a smile.
"You know Senator, in the future, I would be happy to bring him home for you so you don't have to come all this way to get him." Amidala smiled,
"That's very sweet Anakin, but I like to spend as much time as I can with him. These are the best years of their lives. Which I'm sure you'll learn soon enough." Anakin nodded. Obi-Wan knew what they were discussing but chose to act oblivious,
"What do you mean." Amidala chose to answer,
"Calleah is pregnant." Obi-Wan turned to Anakin,
"Really?" Anakin nodded,
"She's very happy and seeing her happy makes me happy. She is one of my dearest friends." Amidala smiled and nodded at him letting him know that he covered well. Obi-Wan looked at him still confused that Anakin was reacting so calmly,
"But aren't you…" Amidala cut him off,
"So how are the outer rim sieges going?" Obi-Wan knew that was Amidala's way of telling him to drop the subject,
"In short, they are going very well. Saleucami has fallen, and Master Vos has moved his troops to Boz Pity."
"What's wrong, then?" Amidala asked. The two men looked at her confused. She smiled, "I've always been good at reading people, and it is only enhanced by the Force." Obi-Wan crossed his arms,
"The senate is expected to vote more executive powers to the chancellor today." Anakin looked at him confused,
"Well, that can only mean less deliberating and more action. Is that bad?" Anakin looked from Obi-Wan to Amidala, "it'll make it easier for us to end this war." Obi-Wan leaned forward slightly and whispered,
"Be careful of your friend Palpatine." He then passed both Anakin and Amidala. She turned to catch up to him,
"I can assure you that although Calleah and I can't actively oppose giving him more power we plan on voting against it." Obi-Wan nodded,
"I thank you and your cousin for that Senator." He paused, "Did you get a chance to visit Master Yoda today?" Anakin caught up to them,
"You were going to visit Master Yoda, what for?"
"I was going to ask how my son was doing, and if there was anything I should be doing at home to further advance his training. But I chose not too, it was silly, if there were any problems I surely would have been notified." An understanding passed between Obi-Wan and Amidala's eyes when they met. Anakin nodded then turned to face Obi-Wan,
"What did you mean, 'be careful of my friend Palpatine.'? Be careful of what?" Obi-Wan continued to walk with Amidala on his left and Anakin on his right,
"He has requested your presence."
"What for?" Anakin and Amidala asked simultaneously. Anakin looked at her and she turned away to face forward.
"He would not say," Obi-Wan said.
"He didn't inform the council?" Anakin asked, "That's unusual, isn't it?" Obi-Wan turned to face him,
"All of this is unusual. And it's making me feel uneasy." They continued walking down the hallway.
"I should go, I shouldn't keep the Chancellor waiting," Anakin then turned and left. Amidala and Obi-Wan watched him go.
"I do hope he knows what he's doing," Amidala said. Obi-Wan looked at her,
"What do you mean?" Amidala met his eyes,
"I know for a fact that the Chancellor is very good at getting what he wants by manipulating people and using their emotions against them. And we both know that Anakin is very susceptible to his emotions," Amidala paused, "The Chancellor could be very dangerous company for him." Obi-Wan's eyes then turned to look in the direction that Anakin just left,
"I see your point, but I know my brother. He'll be alright."
"I hope you're right," Amidala sighed. The two walked in silence for a while. Obi-Wan broke the silence,
"So why didn't you speak to Master Yoda like I suggested?" Amidala smiled and looked at him,
"I realized you were right that it was just a silly dream and I shouldn't worry about it. Anyway you said that the outer rims sieges are going well so this war could be over sooner than we hoped. I feel better already. If I start getting worried again I could always speak to him later. At the moment I think he has enough to worry about." Obi-Wan nodded. Amidala then focused her eyes forward again.
When Anakin arrived at the Chancellor's office he saw the Chancellor standing by the large window behind his desk. He invited Anakin to join him and made a comment that he supposed this is what it feels like to be on top of the world. Anakin thought that was a strange comment to make, but quickly dismissed it as the Chancellor stepped away from the window.
"I was told you requested my presence, Chancellor, is something wrong?" They continued walking side by side for a few more steps when the Chancellor stopped and turned to him,
"I hope you trust me, Anakin."
"Of course," Anakin replied. The Chancellor sighed and gave Anakin a slightly vulnerable look,
"I need your help, son." Anakin was slightly stunned; he couldn't imagine how he could help Chancellor Palpatine, probably the most powerful being in the universe.
"What do you mean?" Anakin asked. The Chancellor turned and started to walk forward again with Anakin on his right.
"I'm depending on you," he said.
"For what? I don't understand," Anakin said still confused by what help the Chancellor needed from him.
"To be the eyes, ears, and voice of the Republic," the Chancellor paused, "Anakin. I'm appointing you to be my personal representative on the Jedi Council." Stunned Anakin froze at the top of the stairs,
"Me? A master? I'm overwhelmed, sir," Anakin then walked forward to meet the Chancellor, "But the council elects its own members. They'll never accept this."
"I think they will," the Chancellor said in a strange tone, "They need you. More than they know." The way the Chancellor said this gave Anakin an uneasy feeling, but at the thought of being a Master and being on the Jedi Council encompassed his thoughts.
After her conversation with Obi-Wan she brought her son home and tried to reassure herself that Obi-Wan was right, that Anakin would not be manipulated by the Chancellor. After a few hours Obi-Wan came home and removed his brown outer robe. He tossed it onto the back of the couch. Amidala could sense something was wrong. Normally Obi-Wan would fold his robe and gently rest it on the back of the couch. Amidala picked up the robe and folded it in half then in half again. She sat on the couch and stared at her husband's back,
"What's wrong?" Obi-Wan turned to her,
"The Chancellor has requested Anakin to be his personal representative on the Jedi Council."
"What?" Amidala asked horrified, "He's trying to control the Jedi Council now?" Obi-Wan came over to comfort his wife,
"Ami, calm down. Anakin is only one man, one man cannot control the Council."
"But one man can decide a vote and you and I both know that there are several members on the council who are loyal to the Chancellor and everything he is doing. This could turn out really bad."
"You shouldn't worry so," Obi-Wan took his robe from her hands and stood up from the couch, "Anakin will be on the Council, but he will not be a Master."
"But how can he be on the Council not being a Master?" Amidala asked.
"It's not unheard of. The Council believes that Anakin hasn't earned the title yet," Obi-Wan paused, "he is very young."
"True," Amidala agreed still worried. Obi-Wan noticed her expression and decided to slightly change the subject,
"Have you ever considered the possibility of joining the Council?" Amidala's eyes shot to meet his with a shocked look,
"That's not funny Obi-Wan."
"I'm not trying to be funny, Amidala, I believe you would be a great addition."
"I wouldn't be able to serve on the Senate if I was on the Council," Amidala said.
"Why not?" Obi-Wan asked confused. Amidala stood and approached him.
"Because firstly then everyone would know I was a Jedi and secondly they would view me as the first stage of the Jedi Council trying to take control of the Senate."
"The Jedi would never dream of trying to take control of the Senate."
"I know that, but there are several senators who are wary of the Jedi. Finding out that a Jedi had been serving in the senate for the past seven years could spark them to make a motion to declare the Jedis enemies of the Republic. Even a senator having a Force-sensitive child caused a little bit of an uproar." Obi-Wan took a deep breath,
"I forgot about that," he shook his head slightly, "of course they would panic if they found out that you, and Calleah, were Force-sensitive." Amidala let out a sigh,
"I better prepare myself and Calleah for another uproar after her baby is born." Obi-Wan nodded in agreement. Amidala stepped closer and took the brown robe from his hands, "Speaking of children, I think you should go in and talk to your son. You should praise him for doing so well in front of Uncle Anakin. You know, not referring to you as Daddy and such." Obi-Wan nodded,
"You're right he did extremely well."
"I already told him how proud I was, but I think he'd like to hear it from you as well," she paused as he leaned in and gave her a quick kiss, "now go on he's in his room playing with Dorme." Obi-Wan walked past her into the hallway that led to their son's bedroom. Amidala watched him go before she placed his robe on the back of the couch as she made her way to the comm station. After she entered a few numbers Bail's face appeared on the screen.
"Amidala, to what do I owe the honor?"
"Bail, can I ask you a huge favor?"
"Anything," he replied without hesitation.
"Can you contact senators Mon Mothma, Fang Zar, Terr Taneel, Giddean Danu, and Calleah and tell them to meet me in your penthouse tomorrow afternoon?" Bail looked at her confused,
"Of course, but I don't understand."
"You'll understand completely tomorrow. I'm doing something that someone should have done two years ago."
All right that is all for now, this chapter wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, I got to add some little scenes of my own, which I always enjoy. I'll try to get the next chapter up soon as I can. Please review, it lets me know that people are still reading and enjoying this fic. It pushes me to actually sit down and punch out another chapter. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter and don't hate me for leaving you hanging for so long.
PR1