Something was wrong. Anakin could feel it.

"The Council has a new mission for you," said Master Windu, his blue form flickering as Obi-Wan and Anakin shared a glance. "Senator Amidala has been kidnapped."

At the mention of her name, Anakin stiffened. If Obi-Wan had noticed, he didn't make any mention of it as his eyebrows furrowed.

"Do we know who was responsible?" he asked slowly, keeping his voice as calm as possible.

"No," said Windu before adding; "the Chancellor has requested yours and Kenobi's help in the investigation. You are to return to Coruscant immediately. We will share all that we know with you then."

Anakin was about to open his mouth and demand answers, but unfortunately, Obi-Wan cut him off before he could do so. "Of course. We will see you when we arrive. May the Force be with you."

"And with you," said Windu before his hologram flickered off, leaving the two of them alone once more.

Anakin glared at Obi-Wan, but his Master paid him no attention as he made his way out of the briefing room and onto the bridge, Anakin following after him.

"Set course for Coruscant," he ordered before adding; "the Council has given us a new mission."

At that, Rex and Cody shared a glance. "On Coruscant? Has something happened?"

"Senator Amidala was kidnapped," said Anakin, his voice low and calm. He almost didn't recognize it. "We are to return and investigate at once."

Rex blinked. "The Separatists?"

"Who else would be responsible?" asked Cody. "Although I have to admit, this is a bold move even for them."

"We aren't sure that it is the Separatists," said Kenobi before adding; "although I wouldn't be surprised if the Count was the one behind this. Senator Amidala has many enemies in the Confederacy of Independent Planets."

"Enemies who want her dead," sneered Anakin as he felt his fists curling at his side. He tried to keep his temper in check, especially around Obi-Wan and the others, but the thought of his wife being held captive at the hands of the Separatists, especially someone like Nute Gunray or Count Dooku was sickening enough.

"Anakin," began Obi-Wan, his eyes narrowing, "I know you and the Senator are good friends, but you shouldn't let your emotions get the better of you."

As much as Anakin wanted to glare at his former Master. He wasn't a Padawan anymore. He didn't need to be lectured by Obi-Wan. Especially not now that his wife had been kidnapped.

Your secret wife, he reminded himself. Now was not the time to make anyone suspicious of his and Padme's relationship.

"Of course," he replied dryly, then glancing at the others in the room, he squared his shoulders and set his jaw. "Excuse me. I'm going to go meditate."

With that, he made his way off the bridge. He could feel Kenobi's eyes on him, but he didn't care. He would meditate for now— or at least, he would try. The moment they were back on Coruscant, he would find out what happened to her and who took her. Nothing would stop him, certainly not the Jedi or Obi-Wan.

He would bring Padmé home safe.

And nothing would stop him.

It was raining when they arrived.

Master Windu was waiting for them when they arrived, his hood pulled over his head to protect him from the pouring rain as he watched both Skywalker and Kenobi make their way down the ramp.

"Welcome back to Coruscant," Windu said in his usual cadence. "I wish it was under better circumstances."

"Did you find out who the kidnapper is?" Anakin asked before Obi-Wan could start talking. "Have they made any demands?"

"Not yet," said Windu, turning around as they began to follow him. Even from where he stood, Anakin could see the apprehension in the Jedi's face. "As for their identity, that remains to be discovered."

"Separatist?" asked Obi-Wan as Windu shook his head.

"We aren't sure," he admitted. "We were, however, able to recover footage from the Senate Security databanks. The kidnapper was a Force User," he said as Anakin's eyes narrowed.

"Sith?"

"They had a red lightsaber," replied Windu.

Anakin couldn't help but stiffen at that, but if anyone noticed they didn't say anything as they continued on their path towards the scene of the crime.

Obi-Wan stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Surely if they have gone to such lengths to kidnap her, they must have some demands. Why else would they kidnap such a high profile Politician like Senator Amidala?"

"Are you sure it wasn't Dooku?" Anakin found himself asking, his voice betraying his calm demeanor at the thought of the former Jedi. It would be just like the Count to do something like this… He was certainly emboldened in that respect.

Windu shook his head, "this person was female."

"Ventress?" Obi-Wan dared to ask as Windu once again shook his head.

"No, she was human," he added, his shoulders tensing up even more than they usually were. Anakin could see the worry in the older man's eyes at the severity of what such a revelation meant for them. If it wasn't Dooku or Ventress, it meant that whoever this person was— whoever this dark sider was, they didn't know a single thing about them… Or what they were capable of.

The thought sent chills up Anakin's spine. He didn't like not knowing who his enemy was.

Anakin felt his eyes narrow. "Great. So we don't know anything about this person or what they want."

The words came out sharper than he intended; low and seething. Of all the ways this day could've gone, having his wife kidnapped by an unknown dark side user was not one that Anakin had been expecting.

"We should take a look at this footage ourselves," said Obi-Wan as he eyed his former Padawan. "I take it the Council has already reviewed it?"

"In-depth," Windu confirmed as they made their way into the Senate complex. Usually, the building was bustling with activity, but now it was nothing more than a crime scene as Clones and other law enforcement officers stand guard. Save for them, the place was practically empty. "The Chancellor has halted all Senatorial proceedings for now," said Windu as he noticed the look on Anakin's face. "At least, until we're done processing the scene."

"I can't imagine the Senate is pleased," commented Obi-Wan as Windu shook his head.

"They're more worried about what this could mean for them," said Windu before adding; "the Senate building has never been breached in such a manner until now. Everyone is on edge for good reason."

The Senate building was supposed to be the most secure building in the entire Republic. The fact that one person had managed to break in and kidnap a Senator— and a high profile one at that without so much as a blip would be enough to set anyone on edge. It certainly made Anakin uncomfortable.

They made their way to the docking bays where the actual kidnapping had taken place. There were even more Clones, all of them guarding the perimeter as the three of them stepped off the turbolift. Fox had been waiting for them, his red armor gleaming in the rain as he tilted his head in greeting.

"General Kenobi," he greeted before sending Anakin a glance. "Skywalker."

"Tell us what happened," demanded Anakin. Not unkindly, but the authority in his voice was present. He would be answered.

"The Senate had just gotten out of a meeting," began Fox. "Senator Amidala was in the process of leaving when her escort was attacked by an unknown assailant."

Windu opened the comm as the holo-footage appeared on loop. Despite the high-quality recording, Anakin could hardly see anything in the chaos. There was blaster fire as well as shouting, but then he could see the attacker. They didn't bother to hide their identity as Anakin stared at the young woman— definitely not Ventress or Dooku. She was dressed in dark robes and she was brandishing a glowing, red lightsaber.

"We did everything we could," Fox continued as they watched her deflect their blaster shots, her red lightsaber slicing and arcing through the air. Anakin watched in silence as she cut down a Clone, slicing them from neck to shoulder. "But we were unprepared. Whoever she was, she was efficient… And deadly. She killed three of my men and injured at least four others."

"What about Amidala's security team?" asked Anakin, his voice eerily calm.

"They faired better than us," Fox replied. "Two injured, one dead."

"Captain Typho?" asked Obi-Wan.

Windu shook his head as Anakin inhaled sharply, his metal fist curling at his side.

"So that brings the death toll up to four," commented Obi-Wan.

"The others are being treated at the Medcenter as we speak," said Fox as Windu shut off the holo recording before adding; "they're all expected to live, but some of them were pretty badly banged up. Mostly lightsaber wounds."

"Whoever our attacker was, she knew what she was doing," said Windu as he pointed at the alarms. "She managed to disable the alarm system as well as the communication channels. She also knew when the Senate Security would be changing shifts."

"But she didn't disable the holo-recordings," mused Obi-Wan, his brow furrowing in consternation.

"Maybe she forgot?" Fox offered, but Obi-Wan shook his head.

"Or she didn't care," said Anakin as Windu glanced at him.

"I think Anakin might be right," said Obi-Wan, thoughtfully. "Which begs the question, just who are we dealing with?"

"Clearly someone who doesn't care about hiding their identity," Windu replied, resignation lining his features as he stared at the scene. Anakin knew the look on his face- and it almost never meant anything good.

"Well, we know she can't be a Sith," said Anakin, trying to sound reassuring. "There's only ever two and we know who they are."

The words were supposed to be comforting, but they were anything but as Windu turned to look at him, his eyes shadowed and his lips pulled into a tight line. The Force around them churned, as did Anakin's stomach.

"The Force is clouded... Even more so since the arrival of this person," he shook his head. "The Rule of Two is clear, but I worry we may be dealing with someone even more powerful than Dooku or Ventress."

At that, Anakin and Obi-Wan shared a glance, not liking the sound of that one bit.

"Lovely," said Anakin, using sarcasm to mask his own fear. "Just when I thought this War wouldn't have any more surprises," he commented dryly. Then, squaring his shoulders as he looked back at the others, his jaw clenching in determination. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go see the Chancellor."

The atmosphere in the Chancellor's office was… Tense. Anakin didn't have to use the Force to know that as he, Windu, Obi-Wan, and Fox strolled into the room.

The Chancellor was there (of course) as well as Master Yoda and Master Gallia. Plo Koon was also there in holographic form as well as Senator Organa.

"Ah, gentlemen," greeted Palpatine. "Back from the front at long last. Although, I do wish it was under better circumstances," he stood, ushering them to take a seat. "I assume Master Windu has been filling you in on the details?"

"As best he could," confirmed Kenobi as he took a seat beside Master Koon. "But I'm afraid we are still very much in the dark about what occurred at the Senate building."

Palpatine sighed, "I'm afraid we all are, Master Kenobi."

"We were just in the middle of discussing who could be behind this," said Organa, nodding towards the newcomers before turning back to the Chancellor. "The Separatist would be the most obvious answer, however, they have yet to step forward and take responsibility nor have they made any demands."

"The Separatists would be the most likely culprits," agreed Windu. "However, we have no evidence to support that claim at the moment... Nor are we positive that it was them who was responsible."

Bail's eyebrows furrowed at that, "if not the Separatists, then who?"

"That is the question of the hour," said Palpatine as Master Koon shook his head.

"I do not know who else would be after the Senator," he began. "Organa is right. The Separatists would be the most obvious culprits, but I do not think it was them who orchestrated this," he shifted in his seat before adding; "have we considered the possibility that this person was working alone?"

"It is a possibility," agreed Windu.

"What does the Force tell you?" asked the Chancellor as Yoda shook his head.

"Hmmm, clouded the Force is," he said, his hands clasped around his cane. "Dangerous, this woman is. Separatist or not."

"Whoever she is," drawled Palpatine, his eyes falling on Anakin, "her appearance is a most unwelcome surprise… She cannot be allowed to get away with this. She must be brought to justice and Senator Amidala must be returned safely to us," he said before adding; "I fear for her life at this hands of this… mysterious woman."

"Rest assured, Chancellor," said Anakin before adding; "we will get her back."

"What my former Padawan means to say is that we will do our absolute best," Obi-Wan gave him a side glance that did not go unnoticed by the Chancellor, "but I'm afraid we are walking quite blind here. Is there any more information that could help us?"

"Does anyone know what ship she escaped on?" asked Anakin. "If we knew the make and model, we could send word to all the nearest Republic outposts to keep an eye out."

"We didn't get a clear look," said Fox before quickly adding; "however, there was a ship that made an unauthorized jump to hyperspace a few minutes after the attack on the Senate. When Traffic Controllers tried to contact them, they received no answer."

"And you think that was the ship she escaped on?" asked Obi-Wan as Fox nodded.

"They managed to lift the VIN number from their holo-recorders. From there, we were able to trace it back to a shipping yard on Corellia where it was stolen a few days ago by a woman matching our kidnapper's description," Fox explained as Obi-Wan nodded.

"What was the model of the ship?" asked Anakin.

"A Corellian YT-1300 light freighter," Fox replied as Anakin raised an eyebrow.

"Seriously?" he questioned. "A freighter?"

"What is it you always tell me?" asked Obi-Wan. "Never underestimate a ship or her pilot?"

Anakin snorted at that, "maybe so, but a freighter? They're transport ships... Not exactly known for its speed or combat readiness."

"She must be a very good pilot then," commented Obi-Wan as Anakin shook his head.

"Still, an odd choice for a ship," mused Anakin. "Everything that she's done appears to have been meticulously planned out. She disabled the Senate comms as well as the alarms. She even picked a day she knew security would be light… But then of all the ships she could've used, she picks a freighter?"

"Why is that odd?" asked the Chancellor. "How do you know she didn't just steal whatever was around?"

Anakin shook his head, "you're probably right, Chancellor. It's just… Weird."

"Right, you may be, Skywalker," said Yoda before adding; "but important, it is not. Know the model of the ship we do. Send out an alert, we must."

"You can question her taste in ships once we have her in custody," said Kenobi as Anakin's eyes narrowed. He had a feeling that arresting her was not going to be easy, but there was nothing that would stop him from making sure that his Angel was safe and alright. If she hurt Padmé… If she hurt his wife in any way, shape or form— well, getting arrested would be the least of her problems.

"Hopefully that will be soon," said Senator Organa before adding; "the Senate is in chaos. Everyone is on edge. The sooner this is resolved and Senator Amidala is returned, the better."

"Agreed," said the Chancellor. "And I trust the Jedi will get the job done. There is no one more qualified than Master Kenobi and Anakin in keeping our dear friend Padmé safe."

At that, he rose to his feet as everyone else did the same. "Soon, this will all be behind us and hopefully this woman will become nothing more than a blip in our collective memory."

Anakin wasn't entirely sure what the Chancellor had meant by that, but he didn't question it as he watched everyone begin to make their way out of the office, the meeting having officially come to an end so that the Jedi could continue with their investigation.

He was about to make his way out when he felt Palpatine grab him by the shoulder.

"Anakin, would you stay a moment?" he asked as he waved goodbye to the others.

Anakin sent Obi-Wan a glance, to which the older man responded with a curt nod before he too exited the room. Once they were alone, Anakin turned to face the older man, not failing to notice the tired look in his mentor's eyes.

"I know this must be very difficult for you," he said before adding; "you and Senator Amidala are such good friends. Surely this pains you as much as it does me."

Anakin swallowed, "I do worry for her safety."

It was a safe admission, he thought as he watched Palpatine nod.

"You fear for her," he said as Anakin frowned.

"Fear is not the Jedi way," he said, his words mechanical.

"Fear is a perfectly natural emotion, Anakin," he said before adding; "the Jedi may try to tell you that it is not, but they are wrong in that respect."

If Obi-Wan was there, he would tell him that fear was not an emotion fitting of a Jedi. But it was just the two of them, and Anakin knew that he could talk a little more… freely in the Chancellor's presence.

"I worry what this woman's plans for the Senator are," he said truthfully before adding; "the fact that she has yet to step forward and make demands does not sit well with me."

"Nor does it sit well with me either," said Palpatine in understanding before adding; "to think that one person could create so much chaos… Murder innocent Clones and abduct a member of the Galactic Senate, not to mention breach our capitol— the very heart of our great Republic. It makes me wonder what more she isn't willing to do to get her way."

"She won't get away with this," promised Anakin. "Whoever she is, she will stand trial for her crimes against the Republic."

"I know you intend to keep your word," said Palpatine. "But will happen after she is arrested? Surely you don't think someone like her could be safely locked up. You saw what she did to those Clones and to poor Captain Typho..."

Anakin had seen what she was capable of. And it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

Maybe Palpatine was right. Maybe she was too dangerous…

He shook his head, "it doesn't matter. She must stand trial."

"Of course, of course," Palpatine admonished. "You are right, Anakin. But I do hope that when the time comes, you will trust your feelings."

"Chancellor?"

"I know it is not the Jedi way," he continued. "But after everything that she has done… It if comes down to it, I know you will do the right thing."

"I should get going," said Anakin, squirming with anxiety at the look in the Chancellor's eyes. "Obi-Wan is waiting for me."

"Of course," he nodded. "I wouldn't want to hinder your investigation anymore."

"Goodbye, Chancellor," Anakin made his way towards the door before turning back to face the older man once more; "and thank you for the advice. I will take it to heart."

With that, Palpatine gave him a wry smile. "Of that, I have no doubt."

"Padmé ?" asked Anakin as soon as his form flickered into view. She could see the relief on his face as soon as he saw her as well as in his voice. He sounded almost out of breath as she felt her chest tighten.

She closed her eyes as she savored the sound of his voice. It hadn't been that long since she had seen him. Only two months, but it felt like a lifetime ago that she had last held him in her arms. Force, she had missed him.

"Padmé?" he sounded worried. "Are you okay? Where—"

"I'm fine," she answered, fighting back the tears. She wasn't fine, but she didn't want Anakin to know that. "Really, I'm fine. I just…"

"Where are you?" His voice was eerily calm… She almost didn't recognize it.

"I— I don't know," she said before adding; "She hasn't told me—"

"She?" Anakin demanded, this time his voice not betraying his true emotions. He was angry— no, scratch that. He was furious. "Where is she? Is she there?"

Padmé risked a glance over her shoulder at the woman. She had been watching the scene silently, her arms crossed over her chest and her eyes fixated on Anakin; watching him like a hawk that was on the hunt.

Padmé watched as she straightened out, her shoulders squaring and her jaw raising— she must've had political training, the Senator noted as she took a languid step into the projector view, her movements both elegant and graceful. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Anakin visibly tense as they stared at each other.

"I'm right here, Skywalker," she said, not bothering to spare Padmé a glance as she gives Anakin a cunning smile.

Padmé watched as the two of them stare each other down, neither one of them breaking the tense silence.

"My," the woman said, turning to address Padmé. "I seem to have rendered your husband speechless."

"What? How do you-" he blinked before he managed to regain his footing. "Who are you?" he demanded, his words barely above that of a snarl as he glared at her. He wasn't even trying to use his General voice— no, they were well past that point. There was a look in his eyes that Padmé hadn't seen since his mother died… And it scared her.

But the woman doesn't seem perturbed at all. She seems to be enjoying herself as she gives him a playful smirk. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Look," he jabbed a finger at her, his eyes narrowing. "I am not in the mood to play games. Tell me where you took Padmé-"

"Or what?" was the woman's sarcastic response. "You'll kill me? Good luck with that."

Padmé could see the anger swelling in Anakin, and she knows she has to do something. Despite them not even being in the same room— or even the same star system for that matter, Padmé knows that if they could, they would be dueling this out right now… And she doesn't even want to think about the implications of that.

"Anakin," Padmé was using her Senatorial voice now, and it was enough to grab her husband's attention as his darkened eyes snapped towards her. "You need to calm down. She's trying to—"

"Calm down?" he was almost vibrating at that point. "She kidnapped you— she killed Typho! And now you're telling me that I'm the one who needs to calm down?"

Padmé couldn't help but wince at that. It was true that she had killed Typho… Which was not something that she wanted to be reminded of. She could understand Anakin's anger, and she would be lying if she said she too wasn't angry. But Anakin didn't know what she knew, and he wouldn't if she didn't find a way to tell him.

"You should listen to your wife, Jedi," the woman drawled.

"Shut up," he snarled, earning a smile from her in return.

"Such anger," she commented. "I can see why Sidious wanted you."

"Sidious?" he seemed taken aback before he narrowed his eyes. "Is he your Master?"

"A Sith Lord may have only one apprentice at a time," she said before adding. "There should be. No more, no less. One to embody power, the other to crave it."

"But you know him," said Anakin. "You know who Darth Sidious is."

"He was my Master's Master," she said before adding; "but he was never mine."

"So what?" to Anakin, it feels as though she is talking in riddles. "You're Dooku's new apprentice?" he scoffed. "What happened to Ventress?"

She shrugged, "I never said I was Dooku's apprentice."

Anakin frowned, "then how—"

She rolled her eyes, "I cannot possibly answer all of your questions. That's not why I contacted you."

"What do you want?" Anakin was never particularly good at negotiations, especially when his patience had been thoroughly tried.

"I'm going to send you a set of coordinates," she said before adding; "I want you to meet me there. And by you, I mean just you. No Clones and certainly no Kenobi."

At that, Anakin couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "You expect me to come to some undisclosed location all by myself?" he scoffed. "No way."

"If you want your wife back, you will," she said before adding; "besides, this doesn't involve them."

"Doesn't involve them?" said Anakin before adding; "what are you talking about?"

"I have vital information that I would be willing to share with you," she said before adding; "information that might be able to put an end to this War."

"You'll tell us who Sidious is?" he asked, considering what such a revelation could do for the Republic… For the war.

She smiled. "I'll tell you that, and so much more."

Anakin considered her words a few moments. "And if I do this, you'll let her go?"

"Yes."

There was a moment of silence before Anakin said, "fine, I'll do what you want. But you should know. If you hurt Padmé... If you so much as lay one finger on her. I will kill you."

"I thought you might say that," was her honest response. "but I do intend to keep my word. I have no intention of harming your wife... That's not what I came here to do."

Padmé watched as her husband absorbed that information, twisting around his mind as he examined it with equal caution and suspicion. "You better keep your word," he said at last, the words grating against his teeth. "Or you'll find out just how angry I can get."

"Trust me," said her daughter as a haunted shadow crossed her features. "I already know."

AN: The next chapter will be posted this weekend, either Saturday or Sunday. I hope you enjoyed :)