Chapter 35 - Uncomfortable Realities

DISCLAIMER: We do not own Star Wars or any of the characters in it, though we wish we did. xD

Author's Note: For anyone who was missing Padme, this chapter is all with her! :D And also, we've started releasing two Marvel fanfics. I'd love if you were interested in checking them out. :P

~ Amina Gila

Whispers are flying around the Senate, faster than the speed of light. The Chancellor has disappeared. Kidnapped, perhaps? It doesn't look that way from his office. Everything is showing signs of a fierce struggle. The Jedi did something, some people are murmuring insistently. Padme ignores them, as she always does.

She knows that the Jedi would never attack the Chancellor. Why would they? They are loyal to the Republic. They wouldn't betray them like this. Regardless, Palpatine is gone, and now the Senate is left leaderless. Even if they can elect a new leader, this will be a delicate time for the Republic. A time ripe for exploitation by the Separatists. She shudders to think of it.

"We must make efforts to discover the whereabouts of the Chancellor," argues Bail Organa, looking around at his colleagues.

"Of course," Padme agrees, "But we cannot let everything else come to a standstill until he is found."

"Excuse me, Senators," an aide steps into the room, "But the Jedi Council has sent two representatives to speak to the Senate about the most recent occurrences. Your presences are requested."

Padme exchanges looks with Bail, a feeling of foreboding twisting inside her. For some reason, this doesn't sound good. Why would the Jedi Council know when no one else does? She's heard rumors that Anakin and Obi-Wan had been spotted in the Senate building, but she's not sure if she should believe them. It could be a lie, especially in this tumultuous time. Are the Jedi really involved in everything after all?

She follows Bail and the other Senators to the main chamber. Up on the podium, Windu and Yoda step forwards, an air of solemnity wrapped around them in an almost tangible manner. "We have uncovered some troubling information which will severely impact the future of the Republic," Windu begins, his voice emotionless as it often is. Padme suspects that he'll do all the talking. Yoda is usually simply present to represent the Jedi as a whole.

"Two of our best Jedi have discovered the truth about Chancellor Palpatine's identity," the Jedi Master continues. Padme narrows her eyes as she listens, noting that he hesitated imperceptibly on the word Jedi. So, are they Jedi or not?

"The Chancellor is the Sith Lord responsible for starting and prolonging the Clone Wars," Windu continues, pausing when the entire Senate erupts into exclamations of shock and vehement protests. Padme can barely restrain the gasp that slips from her mouth. Palpatine a Sith Lord? It would laughable if not for the identity of the informants.

"That's impossible!" a Senator yells from the other side of the Senate, "The Chancellor is concerned with the Republic!"

"The Jedi are trying to impose themselves on us again!" protests another.

"Who gave you this information?" demands a third.

When the Senators are finally quiet again, Windu doesn't speak immediately. He glances at Yoda as though quietly communicating with him. "Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi brought this information to us," he admits, "They confronted the Chancellor along with his former Sith apprentice who wants to stop his master from destroying the Republic. Palpatine fought back and escaped. We do not know where he has gone, and we have started a search for him."

A surge of shock renders Padme incapable of feeling anything else. She's oddly numb as the realization sinks in. Was this whole war solely to destroy the Republic? Could Palpatine really be so devious? Yes, she realizes, he could be. He was. It's a bitter truth. The man she'd respected, who had helped her so much when she was still a young queen, is really a Sith Lord.

And his former apprentice? That must be Dooku. Just what are Anakin and Obi-Wan doing with him? And where are they now? She intends to talk to them as soon as she can. She needs to know how Anakin is doing. It's been too long since she's talked to him, and when she last saw him, he was not in a stable state of mind. And if her suspicions about Vader are right, then Anakin is in everything much further than she realized before. Why didn't she suspect that he'd try something so reckless?

She's snapped back to the present when a number of Senators begin demanding proof of the allegations. "Of course," Windu is saying, "We are more than happy to show you some of the security footage demonstrating the Chancellor fighting the Jedi as a Sith."

Padme can't see what he's doing from her position, but it's clear he's turning on something for everyone to see. The holoprojector in front of her comes to life. The images show Anakin and Obi-Wan fighting side by side, pushing back against Palpatine, wielding a red lightsaber. Even though she'd accepted it to be the truth, she can't hold back the startled gasp that escapes. She watches with mounting horror as Obi-Wan is thrown across the room, and lightning arches towards him from Palpatine's left hand. The footage cuts off right as Obi-Wan is hit by it.

No one seems to have any more denials. The proof is right before their eyes. Padme doesn't know much about lightsaber dueling, but she has to admit that Palpatine looked very powerful. Despite her best efforts, she can't hold back a sliver of worry. Did everyone escape the fight unharmed? Surely not. Pushing her worries aside, Padme turns her focus back to sorting out what steps the Senate should take next.

"Are the Jedi taking control of the Republic?" an either very brave or foolish Senator demands.

Windu shakes his head immediately. "No," he replies, "The Jedi have no desire to lead the Republic. We will remain as defenders of liberty, and we will solely focus on capturing the former Chancellor so he can be brought to justice. It is up to the Senate to decide the fate of the Republic."

With those words, he turns and leaves the podium. A recess is called so everyone has a chance to ponder the options ahead of them. Padme immediately goes to find the Jedi Masters, hoping to speak with them before they leave the Senate. Clearly, there was more that they were unwilling to say, and she's determined to find out what.

She catches up with them before they've gone far. "Master Jedi, might I have a word with you?" she asks, falling in step next to Windu.

"Certainly, Senator Amidala," Windu replies graciously.

"Come to my office," she suggests, knowing what she has to say would be better kept a secret.

They follow her, and in a few minutes, they're seated on chairs in her office. Padme looks between them both, carefully choosing her words. "I was deeply troubled to hear what you shared with the Senate, but I get the feeling you're not telling everything. Is there a particular reason for that?" It's a diplomatic as she can get.

The Jedi share a look. "It's for the safety of the Republic," Windu answers at last, "We're not willing to pass along speculation. Right now, there's too many unknown factors."

"Something is troubling you," Padme notes as she studies his body language. Yoda seems completely serene, almost as though he doesn't have a care in the world, but she knows better. The way his ear twitches is a sure sign that she's onto something.

"The Order is not in a good place," Windu admits grudgingly after receiving a pointed look from Yoda, obviously encouragement to tell her. "We have experienced a disagreement with some of our members."

She raises her eyebrows in surprise. "Why are you telling me this, and what does it have to do with the Republic?"

Yoda chuckles, "Pretend do not, Senator. About you and Skywalker, we know." What? How?

"Skywalker has been expelled from the Order on account of some… disturbing revelations that came to light when he was speaking with the former Chancellor," Windu explains, something akin to irritation in his eyes.

"You did what?!" demands Padme, aghast. There's no way that they could be saying what she thinks they are. Anakin had told her many times that the Council would certainly expel him if they discovered his marriage, but she'd assured him they probably wouldn't act so rashly. Could she have been wrong?

"He was expelled from the Order," repeats Windu, his voice becoming colder if that's even possible, almost although he blames her for what happens, "Not only did he break the Code, but he is getting to close to the Dark Side."

Padme can't suppress the surge of anger that rises in her. She's not only upset on behalf of herself, but she's outraged for Anakin. How can they do that?

Arrogant. That's the best word she can find to describe Windu right now. She respects the Jedi – true – but there is simply no excuse for their behavior. "I see," she replies tightly, "You decided that expelling him, destroying his life's dream, and leaving him in the hands of a Sith would bring him back to the Light Side? That's hypocritical. Even for you."

"Agreed with this decision, I did not," Yoda interjects, "A serious mistake it was." He gives Windu another pointed look.

"Given the circumstances, it was our only option," Windu retorts, his expression as close to glaring as she's ever seen, "He would have become a bad influence on the other Jedi if all his crimes had come to light and it became known we allowed him to remain in the Order."

Those words completely push Padme over the edge. "I thought," she grinds out, carefully enunciating each word, "That Jedi helped people? How can you help others if you can't help your own?"

After giving him a fierce glare, she continues a bit less antagonistically, "It might not be my place to say this, but I feel obligated to point out that you don't know how to deal with emotions in a healthy manner. What happened with Anakin could have happened to anyone. You didn't care about him enough to give him the help he's so badly needed. And what did he do? He came to me! You act like it's wrong for him to have feelings. Every sentient has feelings for others, but you act like you Jedi are above normal emotions. It's no wonder that Anakin listened to his heart instead of your teachings. I'm sure he's not the only one either."

Her expression is practically daring either of them to contradict her. They don't. Windu seems to have been rendered speechless. It's Yoda who replies to her. "Hmmm… perhaps correct you are. Helped young Skywalker enough we did not, but alone he is not. With Kenobi and his Padawan he is. Friends he has. Guiding him the Force is."

Windu looks completely scandalized for a brief moment, before fixing Padme with a stony expression. "You don't understand, Senator," he replies loftily, "Giving in to his emotions and marrying you has made him more susceptible to the Dark Side."

"I don't think he would agree," she snaps coldly, "And if you will only be justifying yourself, perhaps you should leave."

"Wise that would be," Yoda interjects before Windu can open his mouth again.

Bowing, the two Jedi Masters depart from Padme's office, leaving her with a sense of outrage, which soon fades to concern. Oh, Ani. What have they done to you? How are you handling this? Please be okay. Don't do anything stupid.