Disagreements and Arguments
Anakin Skywalker 'Tan' 'Hero with No Fear' 'The Chosen One' went to Padme's apartment building. He took the glove off his human hand and placed his thumb to the keypad, as the door 'swished' open filling Anakin with cool air. He looked around, missing Three-poi's annoying presence. How he would always welcome him, and greet him asking if he needed anything. "Sabe, are you alright?" he asked, seeing her visibly shaken. He reached out and felt his padawan getting her some water. Ahsoka passed the glass wordlessly to Sabe, who didn't speak but mouthed a thank you. Seeing what Barriss had done to him had shaken her more than he could have imagined.
Anakin regretted going to visit Master Dooku rather than seeking out Padme's handmaiden. There was something about Dooku lately, something that was drawing Anakin to him, the man was not entirely in the dark or the light, and he intrigued Anakin. Then, there was the revelation about himself and Master Qui-Gon, he wasn't sure whether to believe him or not, if only he could speak to Qui-Gon just once then he would know for sure. Anakin turned his thoughts back to the handmaiden in front of him. She was shaken even as she sipped from the water. "Ahsoka, how have you been? It seems days since we have spoken at length," Anakin said, looking into her blue eyes. As he spoke he sent waves of calm toward Sabe. She was so different in the Force than his wife, though she had been mistaken for Padme on many occasions just not by him, not since he had learned she was Queen.
"I am fairing well enough, Anakin," Ahsoka said, before sighing. "Barriss's attack felt personal, it may have been an order, but it felt like a personal attack against me," she said, sitting beside Sabe. Anakin sat down and propped his long legs up, smiling a familiar cocky grin.
"So you don't think it was a personal attack against me. Master Dooku says his Sith Master was behind it," Anakin said, a frown creasing his face.
"No, she believes I have a crush on you, she said as much in Master Obi-Wan's room," Ahsoka added. "What will the Jedi do with her?"
"I am sure she will be locked away as Master Dooku is. Remember Ahsoka, a Jedi does not attack an unarmed prisoner, he or she uses minimal force, it just seems in this war, it's not what it used to be. Dooku is not a Sith anymore. Much of the Darkness I sensed before has disappeared. Remember, Ahsoka, he was once a great Jedi."
"Then what went wrong?"
"Master Qui-Gon died at the hands of Darth Maul, and I was discovered, he thought he could end the Sith's rule, I was still a boy then, he thought to spare me my destiny, but the Force has other plans, indeed."
"If he intended to defeat them, Master, how did he become one?"
"That is a very good question, one that I fear we will not have the answer to until he reveals his master," Anakin said, before turning to Sabe, who seemed much calmer now.
"The same Count Dooku that tried to have milady assassinated, how can you support someone like that Master Skywalker?" she asked. Anakin frowned, flexing and unflexing his hand as he cocked an eyebrow at her.
"He didn't succeed, and he's not gone after her in quite awhile. Master Dooku was once a Jedi, and we stand behind our own. I will not see a Jedi abandoned to the Dark Side. What if it had been me who fell to the Dark Side?"
"You, Master? You could never fall to the Dark Side?"
"What I have learned is that everyone has a Dark Side, there are things I have done that no Jedi would do," Anakin said, standing and turning toward the window. "I wasn't the Jedi I should have been, but I'm getting there," he said with a smile putting thoughts of the Tuskans out of his mind. "In the right circumstances there is no doubt into how far a Jedi can go, Jedi do brush the Dark Side on occasion, and it's just a matter of what can bring them back…." Anakin said, looking serious.
"Master…"
"Many Jedi are lost, I don't believe as Master Yoda believes that they are lost in the darkness forever, I believe they can climb out of the abyss…they can find their way back to the light."
"I wouldn't have abandoned you to the Darkness, Master," Ahsoka told him. Anakin pulled her into a hug.
"I know, Snips," he said, with a smile, and then he turned to Sabe. "Sabe, I'm sorry you had to see me use the Force," he told her, his voice calm, cajoling. "I would never hurt Padme," he told her.
"Is this a Jedi mind trick?" she asked him.
"I have never tricked you or Padme," he swore to her. "I am a Jedi Knight, a member of the Jedi Order of the Republic; I would not use the Force against a civilian, especially one of Padme's handmaidens. I respect you, and I trust you to look after my wife when I cannot."
"What happened?" she asked, her voice still clearly distressed.
"Obi-Wan and I went out drinking last night to celebrate. Sometime today Barriss snuck into Master Obi-Wan's room, I thought she was Padme for a moment, when I realized she wasn't, my only thought was to get her off of me, yes, I used the Force against her, if that's what has you concerned, but only to get answers. I would never betray Padme, she is my reason for being, and do you think I would betray the mother of my children? Believe me," he told her, his blue eyes pleading.
"I'm sorry Master Skywalker; I don't know what to believe. I have already told Senator Amidala."
"You have done what you felt is right," Anakin said with a long sigh. "I will contact Padme immediately. You have no reason to fear me but I must ask why you are here? Why aren't you on Naboo with Padme?"
Sabe bit her lip and nodded. "Sabe, spoke with Viceroy Organo, and he explained why it was dangerous for her to be here, so she sent me instead to pose as her, to help ease the public's fears of a Jedi being married to a Senator, to speak to the Chancellor, to try and preserve democracy," Sabe explained, and Anakin laughed, it didn't matter where she was, Padme would always serve the people. Sabe excused herself, and Anakin looked at Snips, they exchanged a look and Ahsoka followed her, taking care of the handmaiden as she would Padme. Anakin went to their bedroom and contacted his wife via holocron.
"Three-pio for the last time, I am fine! I do not need to sit down!" she screamed at him, and Anakin became worried of his normally patient wife screaming at his droid.
"Three-pio means well," Anakin explained, "He's only trying to help, don't be so hard on him, my love." Padme looked back at him and despite herself she smiled at him.
"I know, Anakin, did you have to build him to be so.,..fussy?" she asked, trying to become mad at him, when he smiled at her like that, it made her heart flutter, and made her forget why she was angry.
"I built him to help my mother…besides I thought you liked Three-pio," Anakin said frowning slightly; it had been a devotion gift from him to her.
"I do," Padme replied, trying to smooth over the uneasiness she saw on his face. She put on her Senatorial mask, "I spoke with Sabe earlier today."
"Do I have to explain? I just got through explaining it to Sabe, and Master Dooku," Anakin added.
"And that's another thing, why are you supporting that poisonous traitor?"
"My love, Master Dooku was once a Jedi, this is a Jedi matter, it's not anything for you to concern yourself with, just know that he is no longer a Sith, and we cannot abandon our fallen Jedi to the Darkness. He is our link to the Sith Master, to fulfilling my destiny. If events had gone differently who is to say I wouldn't be as lost as he is?"
"Anakin, you are a good man, a good Jedi."
"You know that I touched the Dark Side," he reminded her. "Master Dooku was once Qui-Gon's master and you wish for me to turn against the man who trained him?" Anakin asked, raising an eyebrow at her in a gesture that was more of Obi-Wan than he would even know. "I cannot do that, Padme, don't ask that of me? Qui-Gon was my father," he whispered quietly, so quietly she almost didn't hear him.
"So this is why you are taking his side? For Qui-Gon?"
"Padme, I spared his life, we have become…well, not quite friends, but not enemies either."
"He took your arm, he started a war."
"Or Sidious did, Padme, I'm doing what I have to, I'm following my duty, but my duty will always be to my family first, to you, and to Luke, and Leia, he is not a threat, not locked up in the Jedi Temple."
"And Barriss is she not a threat either?"
"No, she's not. She doesn't have much skill with either combat or with the Force, I'm surprised the Sith would even want her. She was a good friend to my padawan before she turned. I wish there was a way to reach her, but I don't want her. I want you; I married you, my love, and my heart. Ask me for anything, and I will move planets to get it for you." Anakin's excitement over their love was contagious.
"Come home to me, leave Coruscent behind."
"I cannot leave the Jedi behind, it's part of who I am, would you leave the Senate behind?"
"It seems the choice has been taken from me," she said, put off.
"So this is what this is about? It's not about Master Dooku or Barriss; it's about you being secluded on Naboo. You sent Sabe wasn't that enough. I sent both her and Captain Typho to you, to alleviate your boredness; I want you to be happy, Padme. You have Jesse and Boil, you have your family, and you are still working in the Senate."
"You've been talking to Bail?"
"He sought me out Padme, worried for you after you ended your last transmission."
"Just because I'm a woman and don't have the Force doesn't mean I'm helpless Anakin Skywalker," she said.
"How are the twins?"
"They are growing every day, they miss you I think, and I miss you too."
"We won't be apart much longer, but I am needed here. Would you like for me to send Ahsoka to you? You've always enjoyed her company? What can I do?"
"Come home."
"I will be there within a fortnight. I love you," he said, disconnecting the transmission as a feeling of guilt settled upon his chest, he had abandoned his mother, was he now abandoning his wife and children? He wanted them to grow up in a peaceful galaxy and Dooku was the key to that. If Qui-Gon Jinn was his father, then he had mighty big shoes to fill, and he was intent on making him proud, after all Anakin was proud to call Qui-Gon his father, and even though he was one with the Force he would soon be a grandfather. Anakin smiled at the thought. Dooku and Obi-Wan were the closest people to his father and if he was to know him, he would need their help; his memories of the powerful Jedi that had made a difference in his life were so few. He would not allow that to happen with his children, he would be there for them. He would save them, no matter what it took, no matter whatever price he had to pay. Anakin decided not to go to the Temple tonight, Ahsoka and Sabe were already here, and he knew he and Obi-Wan would have to answer for their drunkardness in the morning. He settled in for the night, taking off his belt and boots, he placed his lightsaber on the side of the bed, where he could get to it if he needed to although he always had the Force, he doubted he would be attacked. He changed into a pair of black silk pajama pants Padme had gotten for him, and missed Padme's warm body next to his. He sighed and tossed and turned, not able to sleep as well in this big bed as with her.
Padme Amidala Naberrie Skywalker was having similar troubles sleeping. She could never sleep when she and Anakin were at odds with one another. She slipped from her bed and quietly awoke Captain Typho. "I'm going home to Coruscent, to Anakin, and your coming with me."
Captain Typho jumped up at the sound of his lady's voice. "Milady? But General Skywalker gave me stick orders to guard you."
"Well, I'm going to Coruscent, if you want to guard me, you'll just have to come along," she said, and he noticed that she had already packed a bag.
"What about the Clone Troopers?"
"What about them?"
"I have a bad feeling about this," he added as he followed Padme and Three-pio to the Nubian cruiser.
