Chapter 11 – A New Mission

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

Author's Note: For those of you who have been waiting for Boba to show up again, here ya go! And Padme gets another moment on center stage too. :P

~ Amina Gila

The moment is broken when the door to the hallway opens, the bang echoing through the hall. "Why is he here?" Anakin perks up when he hears Boba's voice filled with indignation.

"You can ask him yourself," Dooku replies, stopping in front of his cell and opening the ray shield. Boba stands next to him, arms crossed, glaring at the shield until it disappears.

"Vader!" he exclaims happily, throwing his arms around Anakin.

Anakin snorts, ruffling his hair. "You're the only one who says that name with so much affection, you know that, vod?" he teases, hugging him back.

"Why're you here?" he demands, frowning. "You shouldn't be in here."

"Master's orders," Anakin tells him, meeting his dark brown eyes. "He's upset with me."

"But you didn't do anything!" objects Boba.

"I attacked a Jedi when I tried to save your father," Anakin reminds him, "I'm so sorry, Boba. I did everything I could."

The child stares down at the floor, scuffing his shoe on the metal. "It's not your fault," he says finally, though Anakin can clearly feel his grief in the Force. He wraps his arms around Boba, holding him comfortingly. "I want revenge," he mumbles.

"We'll get it," Anakin assures him. "I'll make that Jedi suffer for what he did. I swear it." He glances at Dooku who is watching them with an inscrutable look on his face. "You'll be going to stay with my mother," he tells Boba, "She'll take care of you."

"I want Dad," he whines, clearly struggling not to cry.

Anakin feels pain lance through him. He should have done better. He should have tried harder. He should never have let Jango die. Boba has been a lot like a younger brother to him. Over time, Anakin has come to enjoy spending time with him and teaching him how to fight. Now, the future is so uncertain.

"I know," he manages to say, "I know." He ruffles his hair gently.

Boba stiffens, gaze going behind him, and Anakin belatedly realizes that Obi-Wan just moved closer. Because of the dark, Boba hadn't noticed him before. "That's a Jedi. He came to Kamino," he states, face twisting with distaste.

"He was a Jedi," Anakin replies, "But he's not going to be one anymore." He gives Obi-Wan a stern look, silently ordering him to keep his mouth shut. "He's joining me."

"I don't like him," pouts Boba.

"He's nice," Anakin tells him gently. "I like him, and I think you would to, if you could talk to him. He never would have let your father die if he'd known." He runs his fingers through Boba's hair, keeping the boy calm. To his relief, the grief and pain don't convert to rage.

Dooku clears his throat pointedly, and Boba glances back at him, a silent conversation taking place. "I need to leave now," Boba says dejectedly, hugging him quickly. "I'll miss you, vod."

"I'll miss you too," Anakin assures him as he leaves the cell and heads down the hallway.

"I got a message from Sidious," Dooku murmurs, expression pained. "He wants you to make a recording and send it to him, so it removes any lingering suspicions from him."

"Pretending to be the dutiful son," Anakin mutters bitterly, expression twisting.

Dooku dips his head, putting out a datapad and holocommunicator. "Here. He wrote what he wants you to say." Anakin takes them gingerly, swallowing hard. Even now, his master's grip is tight. "You can send a message to Senator Amidala if you wish," Dooku offers.

Anakin brightens. He knows that Padme must be worried – if not upset – over everything. Maybe he can explain himself, so she won't hate him. "Thank you," he says gratefully, stepping back into the cell and sitting on the floor as he looks at the message on the datapad. He clenches his jaw, forcibly unclenching his mechanical fingers so he doesn't break it. How could Sidious dare ask him to say something like this?

"This – I – how can he do this?!" Anakin explodes, throwing it across the room hard enough that it would have broken had it hit the wall. Dooku catches it using a Force, a sigh escaping him.

"He knew it would not be well received, but he's testing you, Anakin," Dooku warns him, placing the datapad on the floor beside him. Anakin glares down at it, as though it's the machine's fault it contains such a message.

"How do I fake it?" Anakin mumbles miserably.

"How did you pretend to be neutral towards the Jedi when you were with Senator Amidala?" Dooku asks. "I know you can do it. I have faith in you."

Anakin lets his head thump back into the wall. "This is wonderful," he states flatly, ignoring Obi-Wan's concerned expression. "Well, carry on. Is there anymore news to deliver?" He waves an arm in Dooku's direction.

"No, but it would be better for all our sakes if you record that message sooner rather than later." He can sense Dooku's apprehension and is suddenly reminded of his vision last night.

"I – I had a vision," he tells him quietly, exhaling slowly. "We were planning something. All of us. You, me, Asajj, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka, but somehow Sidious figured something out. He attacked us, and I think we all died."

The ensuing silence is strained. "We can only trust in the Force," Dooku murmurs heavily. Anakin doesn't miss the startled look Obi-Wan gives him. Honestly, he's surprised himself. He knows that's a very Jedi-like philosophy. Sighing, he picks up the datapad and rescans the message, mentally preparing himself to make an authentic recording.

**w**

"Padme, I know everything that happened is a bit of a shock. I'm sure you're upset with me for having kept all this a secret. I wanted to tell you," Anakin confesses, shaking his head slightly, gaze going distant. "I wanted to tell you that I was trained so much, but I was scared. I was scared the Jedi would take me away from you. Dooku – he met me. He trained me. I didn't know he was planning to go against the Republic, or I wouldn't have accepted his offer."

He lets out a ragged breath, slumping against cell wall. "He was friends with the Chancellor," he continues, "When we met, I was so happy he showed an interest in me. He didn't reject me like the Jedi. He encouraged me to embrace my abilities and use them for good. Now, I can see that he only wanted me to be his apprentice, but he did teach me. He's been nothing but kind to me, and even knowing who and what he is, I still care for him."

"Angel, I – I love you so much, but I had to do what I did. I couldn't stand by and watch the Jedi do something as horribly immoral as murdering a father before his young son. I don't regret it, even if it's brought me a world of pain." And it's the complete and honest truth. He might regret many things but trying to save Jango isn't one of them.

"I don't know what will happen now or how long I'll have to stay in hiding, but I'll miss you every second I'm away. I could understand if you never wanted to see me again, but Force, I really hope that's not the case." He laughs mirthlessly, unable to even fake a hopeful look in his eyes. He knows what he looks like now. He's seen the broken, hopeless look on his face before, sometimes when he couldn't sleep after a mission, and he stayed up hiding in the 'fresher because he didn't want to face anyone.

"Never doubt that I love you, Angel," Anakin whispers. "That's the only thing I can promise I've never lied about. I truly and deeply love you, and that will never change." He ends the recording, numbly handing the datapad back to Dooku before sending the recordings to the recipients. His stomach twists painfully when he sends the message to Sidious, and he feels sick. How he managed to pull it off, he doesn't know. He can only hope that it was sufficient.

Please, please protect my mother and Padme, he silently begs the Force. If they remain safe, he can handle whatever Sidious throws at him. He shudders before passing the holocommunicator back to Dooku, unwilling to meet the older man's eyes, even as he takes the device.

"You did well, Anakin," Dooku tells him quietly. "I think Sidious will be happy."

"For once," Anakin spits out bitterly.

Dooku seems to be on the verge of speaking, but he sighs before activating the ray shield and leaving the dungeon. They'll be here until Sidious arrives. Who knows how many days or weeks – or dare he say months? – that will be? He distracts himself by thinking about Padme, wondering what she'll think when she gets the message. She won't be able to reply, since it was deliberately sent as untraceable, but maybe – there's a chance he might hear something. It's not as though his seeming betrayal of the Jedi is being ignored by the galaxy.

**w**

Padme keeps her expression impassive despite the waves of confusion and uncertainty nagging at her. She can worry about the message she received from Anakin later, after her meeting with the Chancellor. As hard as she tries, she can't seem to shake away the image of him. She's never seen such desperation in his eyes. He looked – he looked for a moment like he's seen all the horrors the galaxy has to offer, and she shudders to think of what that might mean.

Has he been mistreated? He said that Dooku was nothing but kind to him, but she doesn't know if she can believe that. Nothing in Anakin's body language indicated that he was lying though. Maybe he was telling the truth, and if he was, then who has been hurting him? She knows what that look meant, and she won't accept any denials. He was raised on Naboo. How in the name of the Force could he have been hurt there? Does the Chancellor know? Somehow, she doubts it. He always seemed to enjoy Anakin's company. He's not the type of person to hurt a child.

Around and around her thoughts fly, leaving her no closer to solving the mystery. Truthfully, she isn't sure how to feel about everything which has just happened. She's definitely hurt that Anakin kept such a secret from her. He knows how she feels about secrets, leading her to wonder if he had a good reason for doing so. Never doubt that I love you, Angel. What else could he have lied about? Everything? She doesn't know, and she's not sure she even wants to know.

"Senator," Chancellor Palpatine's voice breaks into her thoughts. She looks up, giving him a polite, yet welcoming smile as he motions for her to enter his office. "I'm so glad you're here, my dear," he adds warmly, though there's a strained note in his voice. "This has all been very disturbing to say the least."

"I'm sure," she murmurs moving inside, pausing with mild surprise when she sees two Jedi there. They're Masters Windu and Yoda if she remembers correctly. "I don't know what to make of the most recent turn of events," she confesses quietly.

He gives her a look, promising that they'll talk about it later before moving to his desk and sitting down. "Masters Windu and Yoda, I am glad you could join us," he declares as Padme sits down, waiting to see what he has to say. "I felt I should invite you here after I received a recorded message from my son." Padme stiffens when she hears his words. What did Anakin say to him that he felt he needed to share with the Jedi?

"Where did the transmission come from?" asks Windu.

"I have asked my security to trace it, but it appears it was sent through an encoded channel. I don't believe we will be able to find a location," Palpatine answers regretfully.

"Show us the message you should," Yoda tells him.

"Of course," Palpatine agrees, pushing a few buttons and leaning back in his chair as the holographic recording begins playing.

Padme can't help but lean forward slightly as Anakin's image appears. Outwardly, he looks the same as he did in the message she received, but as she studies his face, she gets the feeling that something is different. "Chancellor," Anakin tips his head slightly in respect, "I apologize for taking up your time, but I felt that I needed to apologize. It was not my intent to cause you trouble. I know you are deeply concerned for me, but I am safe."

Anakin pauses, looking down as though embarrassed. "I should have told you that Count Dooku was training me to be a dark sider," he admits. "After everything you've done for me, it was wrong to keep it secret. I didn't realize what he was planning until I saw him on Geonosis. I'm sure you've heard rumors about what happened, but please, do not believe them."

Padme glances briefly at the Jedi, who are watching impassively. "When I attacked that Jedi, it was not because I'm against them, but because what he was doing was wrong," Anakin continues, voice steady. "He killed an unarmed man with a young son. The Jedi are supposed to be protectors, and I fail to see how they could condone such cold-hearted actions. Seeing the kind of people their Order produces, I can declare with assurance that I am glad I am not one of them. Their actions were outrageous."

"And I want you to know that I kidnapped no one," he adds quietly, glancing at someone who isn't in the recording with a soft, genuine smile. "They're glad to be here with me. They want to be here with me." Looking at his expression, Padme senses that he's telling the truth, however unbelievable it is. She's heard, of course, that Anakin has been accused of kidnapping two Jedi in addition to killing another.

Anakin looks straight ahead again, an expression of resolute determination on his face. "I am loyal to the Republic, Chancellor. I want to help in any way I can. Dooku didn't just betray the Republic. He betrayed me personally, and that's not something I can forgive him for." He lets out a long, quiet breath as though he's trying to recall what else he needed to say. "When the time comes, I will be there to help you however I can."

With those final words, the recording ends, leaving the office in a subdued, yet thoughtful silene. "A grave mistake we have made," Yoda finally states, ears drooping slightly, "Trained the boy we should have."

"With all due respect, he has been far happier away from the Jedi," Palpatine interjects. "I know how much he loves his mother and Senator Amidala, and I have come to understand that you would not have permitted him to follow his heart."

"Exceptions we could have made," the Grandmaster insists, ignoring the sharp look Windu gives him. "Into the Sith's hands he has fallen."

"Master Yoda, are you saying that Anakin is in danger?" worries Padme. She finds it hard to accept the possibility, as though they're just words which have no baring on reality. There's a lot you don't know, things I can't very well tell you. Anakin's words on Geonosis enter her mind. Was he trying to tell her something?

"Yes. Yes. In grave danger young Skywalker is," insists Yoda.

"From himself," Windu clarifies coolly. "He was trained by a Sith, and we have no reason to believe that he is not a Sith as well. It would explain a number of discrepancies as well as reported sightings." He glances between her and Palpatine. "Skywalker murdered Master Unduli on Geonosis but spared her Padawan. When I fought him, he was drawing heavily on the Dark Side, and I cannot imagine he could be anything other than a Sith. He threatened to murder Padawan Tano. She is in grave danger as we speak, despite his denials."

Padme narrows her eyes, trying to ignore how hard it is to hear these things. Ani – sweet, brave, loyal Ani – couldn't possibly be a murderer at heart. No. She knew him when he was a child. He was so helpful, so determined, so caring. Those things do not make a murderer. As she considers the evidence, she begins to wonder with a sinking feeling if she hasn't missed something huge. That's the only thing I can promise I've never lied about. So, the million-credit question is, what else did he lie about?

"Is there evidence?" demands Palpatine, frowning. "There was a battle raging all around, and it would not be impossible to have misunderstood his intentions."

Windu is shaking his head even before the Chancellor finishes speaking. "Even if we were wrong then, there is other evidence. Several months ago, Jedi Knight Nahdar Vebb was killed, and someone caught a glimpse of the assassin." He meets Palpatine's gaze evenly. "The description matches that of your son. We have no doubt that he was responsible."

Padme blanches. An assassin? Anakin? It seems so wrong. Even Palpatine seems shaken at the news. "If you are so certain, then I can try to trust your judgement, but I must admit that I have serious reservations. I have trusted my son implicitly for years, and he has never let me down nor indicated any inclinations to do evil. He has shown nothing but compassion and understanding towards others."

"I must say that I agree," Padme interjects. "My fiancé has been nothing but caring towards me. The Trade Federation, which is part of the Separatist Alliance, wants me dead, and Anakin has protected me from the recent attempts on my life."

"Be that as it may, but there is still uncertainty as to his motives and allegiance," Windu points out. "We will be searching for him, and if he appears in any Republic territory, we must know."

"A grave danger young Skywalker has become," Yoda agrees, though there's a hint of reluctance in his voice. "A grave threat to himself and the galaxy."

Padme shakes her head, pressing her lips together. "I find it hard to believe," she demurs, "That Anakin would do anything as cold-hearted as you're saying. He cares for Padawan Tano. I saw it with my own eyes. He would never try to harm her."

"This entire situation has become extremely distressing to me," Palpatine murmurs. "My advisors have suggested that I take a short break for around a week to recover. I will, of course, continue my duties."

"That would be for the best, Chancellor," Padme agrees quickly. "When do you intend to go?"

"I was thinking in a couple weeks," he replies slowly, turning back to the Jedi. "It has been enlightening to speak with you. If you have any more concerns, please feel free to share them."

"Of course, Chancellor," Windu responds, bowing respectfully before leaving the office with Yoda right behind him. Padme watches them go with mixed feelings. She needs to spend some time considering what she has learned. If Anakin is really a Sith, then there's plenty she must rethink. She thought she knew him, but what if she didn't know him at all?