Chapter 63
"He was falling … falling through darkness into an abyss below. Around him he saw bursts of fire and flame, like the molten bowels of hell he had heard described in the theology of many worlds. Still he fell, aware that only death awaited him below should he continue his descent."
The small group of younglings moved nearly in unison, Jedi master Cin Drallig voicing commands as he walked through the crowd. Some were children only visiting, their parents on retreat or business with the elders. Others were permanent residents of Dantooine. One stood out from the rest, well practiced despite his young age with near flawless form and bubbling energy.
Siri watched the exercise that Obi-Wan had gone through with Bren'an it seemed like countless times. She had been content to just sit back and watch father and son step through the kata side by side. To see their son now in the midst of the future of the Jedi Order brought back thoughts of simpler times when it was her among the younglings, when somewhere beyond this room, just as now, the burdens of the Force and the galaxy and matters of dark and light, were left to the masters and seasoned knights. Somewhere on Coruscant her husband and those she counted as closest to her were preparing for an attack, not of weapons, but of words and gossip and reputation. And then her father had left earlier in the morning, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead as he told her not to worry, which only meant that she should. Why was she here able to enjoy her son's childhood when everyone else was in danger?
"Looks much like his father he does."
Siri jumped, a blush creeping into her cheeks. She had been so absorbed in her thoughts that she had completely missed that one of the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy was sitting at her side.
"Master Yoda," she said, nodding her head as she offered a soft smile. "You startled me."
"Hmph." The Jedi master studied her, thin lips pursed together. "Distracted you were if sense me you did not."
"Distracted is a good word." Sleepy eyes widened slightly inviting her to continue. Accepting the inevitable, she pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs like an insecure little girl. "I don't suppose you will tell me where my father went?" No answer came. The ancient master's ears drooped as he let out a deep sigh. "He went to Telos, didn't he?" It wasn't a question as much as an accusation.
"Help those on Coruscant most we can by finding the identity of the Sith Master. Leads your father has." Siri closed her eyes and released a rush of anxiety into the Force. They had lost several good knights on Telos already.
"A master's presence is needed," Yoda explained softly. "Alone he is not."
"Obi-Wan said that the Senate adjourned for two days. After that, the matter of the clone army will be brought before the entire body. It is hard to be here," Siri admitted. "I feel like I am hiding."
"Wise it was not to break you two apart. Needs you Obi-Wan does," the ancient master said.
"I can't take Bren'an back. Xanatos wanted to take him as an apprentice …"
"Stay here Bren'an can. The extra lessons, time with his agemates, do him good it will."
The senators filling the arena all took their seats. It took discipline for Anakin to remain focused as he sat to the right and slightly behind Padme in her Senate pod. She had worn her hair up high again, and he had a good view of the long arch of her neck. Her perfume tickled his senses. He squeezed his eyes shut and focused on the room through the Force. The Senate arena was the nexus of darkness, which left no doubt in his mind that the Sith master was in the Senate. As one of the most powerful Jedi – the Chosen One – shouldn't he be able to snuff the presence out? Looking for darkness within the darkness, however, was the problem. The fear and corruption that ran rampant in the Senate was a perfect shroud. Suddenly, someone nudged roughly at his shields. Anakin pushed back strongly through the Force, sensing the surprise of the mysterious individual. A chill ran up his spine. The Sith master was sitting in this very room, watching him.
"Order!" Mas Amedda. "This session will come to order."
The Vice Chairman yielded the floor to Chancellor Palpatine. The politician wore a grim expression, his face contrite as he began. "It has come to my attention through recent audits that there has been a violation of procedure within the Senate. It seems that several years ago, one of our esteemed colleagues who once sat on the budget committee secretly contracted and funded a clone army for the Republic."
The arena paused in stunned silence, but it was only the calm before the storm.
"You're about to see ugly," Padme whispered.
"This body has a right to know who has done this," Senator Taa bellowed as his pod made its way to the center of the arena. Other voices chimed in with their agreement. "This individual should answer for such a breach of trust."
"Sadly, Olin Kitab of the Yopurgan delegation passed away many years ago." Palpatine paused, bowing his head for a moment. "He cannot answer for his actions."
"Yopurga," Senator Aak of Malastare began. "Is that not the delegation attempting to block the Military Creation Act. What are they trying to hide?"
"We are trying to hide nothing," Obi-Wan said, his pod moving forward, senators Windu and Charay at his side. "We had no knowledge of this."
"I find that hard to believe," Taa sneered. "You were Senator Kitab's aide and protégé.
"All I can say is that our delegation has agreed to an inquiry and has already cooperated in this investigation by turning all relevant records over to the Chancellor's office."
It was the plan that Windu had suggested - show they had nothing to hide by full cooperation.
"This settles the debate over The Military Creation Act," Aak chimed in again. "An army, and I say we put it to use."
Anakin felt a whoosh of repulsors as their pod headed from the middle of the fray. "We still must actually put use of this army to a vote," Padme said with avid determination. So much for distancing herself from Obi-Wan, but Anakin wasn't about to say anything. Obi-Wan needed help whether he wanted it or not.
"Why am I not surprised to see you, Senator Amidala," Taa said with sarcastic pleasantness.
"This is absurd," Aak shot back. "We have an army."
Several more pods raced into the center, side arguments breaking out as senators took sides.
"Use of this army will lead us to a war we do not want," Obi-Wan said, raising his voice over the growing uproar.
"Then tell me, Senator Kenobi. Is the galaxy safe?" Aak barked out. The clamor died down momentarily, many seeming interested in Obi-Wan's answer. "You sent your wife and son away, no doubt to a much more secure location on your homeworld," Aak continued.
"An attempt was made on their lives," Obi-Wan explained calmly.
"So we are not safe!" Aak exclaimed triumphantly, others chiming in with him.
"We are politicians and security comes with our position," Obi-Wan insisted. Anakin was unsure how his friend remained so calm. "A standing army will not make us any safer than we are now." The argument was falling on deaf ears, or rather no ears at all. The senate had dissolved into utter chaos.
"Order!" Mas Amedda called out.
As Anakin scanned the pandemonium surrounding him, he briefly caught sight of Chancellor Palpatine. The man was seated in his pod, seemingly undisturbed by the state of the senate. In fact, a slight smile played across his face as he watched Mas Amedda to continue his plea for order.
Obi-Wan felt weary as he approached the door to his apartment. Qui-Gon would scold him for staying late to work again when what he really needed was sleep, but chances were that sleep would be elusive. The nightmare had visited him every night - the one where he was falling, nothing else, simply falling. It was likely just a manifestation of stress. At least Bail had been appointed to head up his inquiry. That at least kept the investigation fair.
The door closed behind him. It was odd that a light was on. Apparently, he had forgotten to shut it off before leaving for the day. He started for his room, unbuttoning his shirt as he went. A slight flicker in the Force suddenly told him he wasn't alone.
"Siri," he whispered.
A head nuzzled into his neck from behind in response. He turned around and pulled her close, weariness draining from his as he held her in his arms.
"You were supposed to stay on Dantooine," he chided gently.
"I'm happy to see you too," she mumbled.
"You and Bren'an aren't safe …"
"I came alone. Bren'an is still on Dantooine with Master Yoda and Shmi," she interrupted. "I will go back in a couple of weeks."
Obi-Wan started to speak, but Siri pressed a finger to his lips.
"I thought you might need me, and I didn't want to be away anymore." A mischievous smile stretched her lips, and Obi-Wan was suddenly worried. "That and there are the rumors circulating in the media that you sent me away because you and Padme are having an affair."
Obi-Wan groaned. "That one made it all the way to Dantooine?" He let out a chuckle. "The media obviously doesn't know you or Anakin very well. I would be a dead man if I even entertained such thoughts."
"Damn right you would be," Siri said before pressing her lips against her husband's.
Anakin carefully slipped down the hallway. Yong and Tao Windu had agreed to watch over Padme for the evening. At first he had resisted the idea of entrusting her to anyone else's care, but anyone who had survived being raised by Mace and Jun Windu certainly would have no difficulty with a Sith. Besides, this transmission was important and he didn't want to chance making it from Padme's apartment.
Anakin passed Qui-Gon's door. If the relaxed presence in the Force hadn't confirmed that the Jedi master was asleep the abhorrent snoring did.
Anakin stopped at the communications' console and entered the frequency for Dantooine. He didn't have to wait long for Yoda to appear.
"Master." Anakin let out a sigh of relief. He missed his master, missed his mother, and his Jedi family on Dantooine.
"How go things on Coruscant?"
"Honestly, I am worried about Obi-Wan. He has been under a lot of pressure," Anakin said.
"In good hands he is," the aged master replied.
"Master?"
"Returned to Coruscant Siri has." Yoda bowed his head and smiled in a way he often did when satisfied with a situation, and usually the role he had played in interfering in that situation. "But called to talk about Obi-Wan you did not, I think. Troubling you something is, Young One."
"Yes, Master," Anakin admitted. "Something concerns me about the Supreme Chancellor."
"Think he is the Sith Lord do you?" Yoda questioned. "A grave accusation that is."
"I don't know, Master. I have nothing but a feeling that something is not right," Anakin explained.
"Deceive you feelings can, Padawan."
"I know, Master." What his master said was true, still the feeling of unease was strong. He could not ignore it. "But I can't help but think that he stands to gain much by having an army loyal to him."
"Perceptive you are. Discussed this the elders have. Look for evidence we shall," the Jedi master assured him. "Now to sleep you should go."
"Master, I am not a boy anymore," Anakin offered with a grin, glad that he was separated from that walking stick by light years. "I know when I need sleep."
"Of no use are you if exhausted," Yoda chided. "Too sleep with you."
"Yes, Master." Anakin bowed respectfully as the holographic image of his master faded away.
"He was falling … falling through darkness into an abyss below. Around him he saw bursts of fire and flame, like the molten bowels of hell he had heard described in the theology of many worlds. Still he fell, aware that only death awaited him below should he continue his descent.
"Wake up, Obi-Wan," Siri called.
He stirred, her arms wrapped around him keeping him from falling off the bed.
"You were dreaming," Siri said softly, reaching up to stroke her hand through his hair.
"I'm sorry," he mumbled. "I was falling."
"Falling?"
"Falling," he whispered sleepily.
"Please try to catch yourself if you fall," Siri said as she snuggled up close to him again, glad that at least it wasn't another vision. "Promise?"
There was no answer. Content in his wife's arms, Obi-Wan had already drifted back to a deep sleep.