Disclaimer: I do not own either Star Wars or Mass Effect. They're just two of my favorite franchises and I wanted to play in the sandbox.

Chapter Twenty-Four: Easy Apologies

Anakin settled into a few moments of meditation, finally feeling calm again. After returning from the Normandy and setting course for Coruscant, he contacted Obi-Wan in the hopes that his master could help him gain perspective on the present situation with Captain Shepard's insubordination. No, insubordination was too strong. Technically she didn't disobey orders, she exploited a loophole. So what was it? Willful disobedience? Strategic defiance?

"You mean she did what you would have done, she just didn't tell you about it first?" Obi-Wan had said with more than a touch of satisfaction.

It wasn't the point he necessarily wanted to hear, but it was a truth he needed to accept. It really shouldn't have surprised him. He knew from their initial meeting he and Shepard were of similar minds and they often were in agreement on a course of action. They came from similar backgrounds and bonded during their meditation sessions, but it still came as a shock that she chose to defy the Coucil without including him in the plan. He trusted that Shepard knew what she was doing. That her actions had a clear intention. But he didn't understand what those intentions were and he had to know.

Unfortunately, he wasn't the only one that needed to speak to with her before arriving on Coruscant. Rex immediately marched from Resolute's airlock to the lift upon their return from the Normandy. The man had been a churning sea of emotional unrest for several rotations and Anakin knew they weren't just talking. Regulations didn't explicitly restrict their amorous activities, because it was assumed this situation wouldn't happen when the Grand Army waa created, but the couple agreed they'd keep it professional on ship. The present encounter was an exception and under the circumstances he could hardly blame them. Had it been Padmé, he would have felt exactly the same way.

Reaching out with the Force, the lower hangar seemed still. Activating his comm, he called Shepard and requested she come to his quarters. He went about preparing tea, as Obi-Wan had taught him. Several minutes later, his door chimed and he called her in. To his surprise, she was dressed in her full armor kit, with the exception of her gloves, which were stuffed into her helmet tucked under her arm. As he poured their tea, he invited her to sit.

"Respectfully General, standing seems more appropriate." She stiffly declined.

Anakin felt a steeling wall surround her. "Shepard, are you expecting a lecture from me?"

"Actually sir, in these situations 'ripping me a new one' is usual turn of phrase we use."

He thought on the colloquialsm and shook his head, "No. Shepard, no that isn't what this is. Please sit. I just want to talk."

She stiffly sat and set her helmet on the floor. The skepticism was etched into her face as she gingerly accepted the steaming cup of tea. He immediately noticed the simple band across her left ring finger as well as the developing marks just below the hairline of her neck. Indeed, they had been busy. Looking away before before noticed his observations, he seated himself across from her. Steady silence grew between them. Clearly she was waiting for him to talk.

"How long will it take for the Normandy to arrive in your sector?" He started.

"About two rotations."

"The Normandy is quite a ship."

"Is this really what you wanted to talk about?" She sharply asked, setting the untouched cup aside.

"No, it isn't." He paused. "I'm sure you can understand my surprise at what happened after you left Boz Pity."

"I can." She agreed but did not elaborate.

Anakin felt internally flustered by her guarded replies. "Did you push to have Tol'Breko returned to Rannoch?"

"Yes, I did." She unabashedly replied.

"Why?"

"I had several reasons, actually." She paused just long enough to make him think she wasn't going to elaborate before continuing. "Chief among them was that the crimes he committed against the Geth far outweigh any charges that can be levied against him in the Republic."

"How can you say that? He was conspiring with Count Dooku, aiding the Separatists."

"He was not more conspiring with Dooku than you are. He's already confessed everything he knows. Tol'Breko is a pawn. The other reason I argued to have him sent back is that keeping here is a death sentence, even if he gets life in prison.

"What do you mean?"

"Quarians are an unknown species here and their biology is complicated due to their weakened immune systems. A suit breech or malfunction in the cornucopia of pathogens of a prison on would kill him in a matter of hours. As much as I deplore what he did to the Geth, that's cruel and unusual punishment. And sending him home doesn't mean he's going to get away with it. He'll likely be found guilty by the Quarian Admiralty and banished from Rannoch. From there, he'll be charged by the Citadel Council for illegal use of Reaper tech. Trust me he'll face justice."

Anakin gave her a parental look. "I wish you would have told me your plan. It's something I would have supported, would have done myself had I been in your place. I thought we trusted one another."

Shepard sat pensively quiet as she contemplated her response. She wasn't sure if she could find a way to tell him she believed the Supreme Chancellor, a man he all but revered, was responsible for the bad intel, Order 66, and in fact the entirety of the Clone Wars. Not only did he hold Skywalker's close confidence, she suspected he was the perverbial serpent whispering in Adam's ear. In a word that always made her heart shudder and her skin crawl, Sheev Palpatine was grooming Anakin for something. The problem was she had no idea what the end goal was, nor did she possess any proof of her suspicions. With no other options, she held steady and continued the game until she found irrefutable proof.

"I trust you, Anakin."

"Then why not tell me all this before the rendezvous?"

"Anakin, I enlisted with the Alliance when I was seventeen years old. I wasn't much older than you when I received my spec ops commission and I graduated N7 at the top of my class. I've spent my career working with intel. I know the difference between good intel and a false lead." She hoped her catalog of experience would mean as much to the General as it meant to Rex.

"Yet you stayed quiet in the briefing."

"Sometimes is easier to apologize than ask permission." She replied but paused to plan her words. "What bothers me is that you immediately decided the Normandy's intel - my team's intel - was inaccurate. You didn't even hesitate."

"You found Geth on Boz Pity. Can you really call that bad intel?" He defended.

"Those Geth were planted for us to find."

"How can you know that? Where's your proof?"

"Do you have my report on hand?"

Anakin collected a holopad from his desk and pulled up her report from Boz Pity.

"If you study the photos, you'll see inconsistencies. The Chancellor's intel said a Geth signal was found there, leading us to this canyon. The placement of the platforms indicated they were caught in a fire fight and sending a distress signal." She selected a wide shot of the canyon tunnel where the first Geth platform was found. "The tracks in the sand didn't look like there had a battle. And look at the scorch marks in the canyon walls."

He studied the picture and began to see what she did. "There aren't many blaster marks. Battle droids aren't that accurate."

"I also didn't find any signs of returned fire. Even if they didn't have weapons, they still had Omni-Tools programmed into their platforms and had defensive capabilities." She set the datapad aside. "As for the signal, I'm not sure how it was sent, because those platforms had no transmitters. They had no means of sourcing a signal from that location. And the serial numbers from the Geth we found are on the inventory manifest recovered from Mustafar."

"You're right." Anakin contemplated. "Tol'Breko said Dooku had been pushing to finish the project. If you hadn't gone to Mustafar, the Geth would still be in Separatist hands. When we arrive on Coruscant, we need to see the Chancellor immediately. If one of his contacts is working for the Separatists, this is a huge security problem."

Internally Shepard screamed in frustration. Externally, she calmly drank from her cup of tea. She was treading into a sensitive subject. If she negotiated her point well, she might, just might, be able to get Skywalker to see the Chancellor as she does or at least gain his trust enough to start asking questions. Knowing it was going to take more than one conversation to pull him from the cave, started slow.

Setting the cup aside again, she leaned in, resting her elbows on her knees. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you of my concerns about the intel. I admit there are dynamics at play in the politics of this war that I am still trying to sort through. It is quite different than what I've experienced before. One thing I especially struggle to grasp is the nature of your relationship with the Chancellor."

Skywalker squared his shoulders just slightly. "What do you mean?"

"As I understand it, the Supreme Chancellor took an personal interest in you and your training as a padawan. That the two of you often spent time together and in many ways he's a mentor to you."

"The Chancellor has become a close friend and confidante. You've described your superiors in much the same way."

"There's a difference." She gently clarified. "Yes, both Admirals Anderson and Hackett became mentors to me in my career, but they were fellow Alliance officers. It's akin to your relationship with Obi-Wan. Someone with greater experience guiding you as part of the next generation within the same group. The Supreme Chancellor is a politician and his interest growing padawans doesn't seem to extend beyond you. He had no reason to involve himself in your development. I am compelled to wonder why he has."

"It's perfectly innocent." He reassured.

Her gut told her to let it go for now, but nevertheless she persisted. "How can it be innocent if there's an inherent imbalance of power?"

"What are you talking about? There's no imbalance of power."

"You call him a confidante. Has he confided in you or have you only confided in him?"

Anakin didn't respond. Maybe she was getting somewhere.

"You know my past. I saw a lot of these sorts of relationships. An older person of authority takes a shine to a wide eyed youth under the guise of investing in their future. Providing a helping hand. But in reality, the vast majority of these relationships are one sided, where the older person of authority holds sway over the younger, due to their inherently trusting nature and lack of life experience. You aren't friends with Sheev Palpatine. You're friends with the Supreme Chancellor. Those are two different relationships, Anakin."

"That may be how things are where you're from, but things are different here. The Chancellor had always told me the truth." His defenses flared.

"Has he told you the truth or what you want to hear?" She paused for a beat before trying one last push to reach him. "Do you trust him so much because he knows you're secretly married to Padmé?"

Shepard was suddenly swept backward out of the seat. After a moment of weightlessness, her body slammed into the wall. Crushing pressure spread across her chest to her limbs. Her feet dangled several feet off the floor. She couldn't move.

Too far. I pushed too far.

Rippling waves pulsed through her, electrifying her nerves. Biotics flared involuntarily around her body. It wasn't long until her Omni-Tool began flashing that her amp was reaching the red line. Pain ripped through her head as she struggled to breathe, like a hand choked around her throat.

"P-pl-ease." She choked. "List-en..."

Darkness began creeping from the edges of her vision. All she saw was Skywalker's angry face and burning eyes. After another moment, he seemed to return to himself and abruptly released her. She dropped to the floor in a gasping heap. Coughing, she pushed herself to her knees. As her vision cleared, she saw him standing over her, saber in hand.

"Explain how you know." He demanded through gritted teeth.

"Or what, you'll kill me?" Her voice was gravelly. "Good luck explaining that."

She looked up at him with defiant eyes, daring him to strike. Her Omni-Blade glowed, ready to fight back. After a deep breath, he returned his saber to his belt and offered a hand to help her up. Though angry, Shepard accepted the assistance, deactivating her blade. Leaning against the wall she steadied herself through the oxygen deprived dizziness, splitting migraine, and surge of adrenaline. Several deep breaths later, she collected herself and stood tall.

"I know because I'm not blind. I know because I've been in secret relationships before and once you've been intimate with someone, especially when it's a forbidden intimacy, no matter how hard you try, you can't act like it never happened. The little glances? The touches when you think no one is watching? Someone is always watching. And to be honest, she's hell of a lot better at hiding it than you are."

"How long have you known?"

"Remember when Rex told me about the Krogan and you and I went to see Hondo?"

"Thst was almost six months ago. Why haven't you said anything to the Jedi Council?"

"Because it isn't my business." She paused and eased the sharpness of her tone. "Does the Chancellor know?"

With some reluctance, he nodded. "Yes, he knows."

"Anakin, men like him collect secrets like currency to be used when it most suits them. I know there are still dynamics in the Republic that are beyond me, but human nature is universal."

"If the Council finds out, I'll be thrown out of the Order."

You think he doesn't know that?!

She held back the harsh words. Belittling wasn't going help.

"Would that be so bad?" She gently asked instead. "Living a life of your own with the woman you love? Have a family. Have peace and freedom. I've seen pictures of Naboo, it's a paradise."

"It isn't that simple. I know how it feels to be let down by a padawan. Ahsoka leaving..." he paused as his voice fractured. "Obi-Wan is like a father to me. I can't do that to him."

"Ahsoka did what she felt was best for her. I know you feel disappointed by her decision to leave, but can you at least respect that the choice was hers to make? After everything she went through, would you have wanted her to stay if she didn't feel it was where she was supposed to be?"

He sighed heavily and sat. "No. She needed to follow her own path."

Shepard righted the overturned chair before pulling to close and sitting. "Wouldn't Obi-Wan want the same for you?"

"I...I don't know. He fell in love once but chose the Order."

"Just because that was his choice, doesn't mean it has to be yours. Anakin, your life will have moments where you will have to make a decision. Sometimes you'll have days or weeks to make the decision. Sometimes you'll have fractions of a second. Those moments can have far reaching consequence tied to them and leave someone hurt and disappointed no matter what you do. The thing to keep in mind is that when it's all over, when everything else fades away, you're the one left with your decision as you fall asleep at night. Only you can choose what's best for your own life."

Through his eyes, Shepard felt the torment in his heart he covered up everyday. She couldn't imagine the burdens his young soul carried that the Jedi Order demanded he simply release and rise above. Trauma left untreated. Pain left unspoken. Guilt and shame stuffed down into the pit of his stomach to thrash in the darkness until it consumed him.

She ran her thumb across her new ring while she thought for a moment. "There's something I'm going to tell you that I've never told anyone before. Not even Rex."

"Okay." He said softly.

"When my body was burning up in the atmosphere of Alchera, my last conscious thoughts weren't about my duty or being a good soldier. I thought about the things I hadn't done with my life. I thought about how, up until that point, I never loved anyone without fear. I hadn't found a partner, hadn't started a family... I spent my entire adult life hiding behind my duty to keep anyone from getting close. And for all the energy I spent protecting myself, I ended up dying alone on a desolate, frozen, wasteland thinking about a life I wanted, but never took the chance to try. I was lucky and got a second chance. Most people don't."

"How can I bring balance to The Force if I'm no longer a Jedi?"

"How is there balance if light cannot exist without darkness? You need both or neither to achieve balance." They looked at each other in silence for a moment before she shrugged the question away. "Maybe I'm just an faithless cynic, who doesn't believe in anything."

"How will I know which choice is the right one? When should I choose?" His eyes were filled with the confusion of a young man left adrift in a sea of other's expectations.

"You'll feel it in your gut and it won't have anything to do with prophesies or destiny. It will be the decision you're making for your own life. Either way, you will experience pain and loss, Anakin. Hag used to remind me that pride goes before destruction. By trying to keep both, I'm afraid you'll lose everything in the end.

"As for when that's up to you, but I can give you two pieces of advice from my own experiences. First is that once you reveal your secret, it will no longer have power over you. Nor will anyone that knows it, so the sooner the better. Second is that it's better to disappoint someone, especially someone you look up to, with the truth than a lie. I'm sure Obi-Wan will struggle if you choose to leave the Order, but with time he will understand and forgive you, just as you have with Ahsoka."

Anakin's brows were knitted in a mix of worry and confusion. "Do you really think the Chancellor will use this against me?"

"Every man like him I've known wouldn't hesitate to use this to manipulate you into doing unspeakable things. You are a powerful Jedi, yet he holds your fate in his hands for as long as you keep your marriage a secret."

"I guess you've given me a lot to think about. This isn't the conversation I was expecting when I called you in here."

"Well, you should have just ripped me a new one when you had the chance." She said lightly.

He chuckled at the much needed levity. "I'll remember that for next time. Are you okay?'

She shrugged, "Splitting headache and my nerves feel like they're on fire, but I'm sure it'll pass."

"Sorry for that."

"I'll be fine. Kind of good for me to know what that feels like. Sorry if I crossed a line."

"Major Alenko told me I should trust your instincts about people. That you're rarely wrong."

"I genuinely hope I'm wrong about this."

"Me too. Thank you, Shepard."

"Anytime, Skywalker." She squeezed his shoulder in her hand reqssuringly for a moment and stood at attention. "Will there be anything else, General?"

He followed suit, "No, Captain. That will be all."

Shepard stood patiently next to Anakin. Vod was just off her right shoulder and a step back. Two rotations after returning to Coruscant, they had been instructed to report to the Chancellor's office. At present, they watched as the most powerful man in the Republic reviewed her mission report. His brows rose and fell as his eyes skimmed over the datapad. After several minutes more, he took a deep breath and set the pad aside.

"My, my. That was quite the adventure, Captain. My pulse is racing just reading your report. It boggles the mind how you young people manage such situations." He praised warmly.

She returned his friendly banter. "Oh, just another day at the office, sir. That wasn't the first facility collapsing into a river of lava I've escaped, doubt it will be the last."

"I'm glad to see your sense of humor didn't get singed." Palpatine chuckled. "And I must apologize for the inaccurate counter intelligence. I will have the matter thoroughly investigated immediately. Such traitors to the Republic cannot be allowed to jeopardize the war effort."

"I'm sure it will be resolved quickly, Your Excellency." Anakin replied.

"I must say I'm am quite fascinated to see this Geth up close." He rose from his desk and glided to Vod. "When you first described them Captain I wasn't sure what except, but it is quite a specimen to see."

"Their name is Vod." Shepard clarified. "And respectfully sir, they are not a specimen. They are a member of my team."

He stepped back and dismissively returned to his desk. "Of course I meant no disrespect. General Skywalker informed me of your request for...Vod...to accompany you on missions. I will defer to his judgment in these matters."

"Thank you, sir." She said

"I do hope your excursion to Mustafsr hasn't caused a delay our campaign in Ringo Vinda." There was a cutting bur to his tone. "I would hate to think your unscripted actions would cause greater troop losses."

"Actually, Your Excellency," Anakin stepped in, "if anything, Shepard's split second decision to go to Mustafar will benefit the our campaign. According to Tol'Breko, Dooku was pushing him to have his project finished just before our planned assault on Ringo Vinda. We suspect the goal was to have the Geth on the station as part of the Separatist forces."

"And do you also agree with allowing Tol'Breko to return to his home planet?" The Supreme Chancellor asked, flicking an icy gaze at her.

A chill pricked down Shepard's spine. His voice was charismatic and disarming. If she hadn't already known a dozen men just like him by the time she was in high school, she'd have likely fallen for his charms as Skywalked had. Part of her wondered if the young man had truly taken her words to heart or if the politician's spell over him was rooted too deeply.

"Yes sir, I agree with her decision. This mission has only further proven to me that Captain Shepard's capability as a leader and tactician. I fully trust her judgment." He looked at her with a confident smile. "I can also report the Council's satisfaction with the outcome of her mission."

"That is most reassuring to hear." The Chancellor said with practiced false happiness as he sat at his desk. "Well, I won't keep you any longer. Captain Shepard, I wish you safe travels on your next mission. Anakin, do keep me informed of the upcoming campaign."

With a waved hand, they were dismissed.

"My next mission?" Shepard asked once the door sealed behind them.

"Yes." He continued down the corridor to the lift. "Senators Amidala and Organa are traveling to several neutral systems on a diplomacy mission. I want you to accompany them as part of their security detail."

"Guard duty as penance?" She arched a brow at him in question. "Am I being pulled from Ringo Vinda?"

"No, you'll be backing time." He quietly clarified. "I'm trusting you to keep Padmé safe."

She nodded once and looked him in the eye. "I will protect her with my life."

They arrived at Senator Amidala's office. She was dressed in practical clothes for traveling: trousers, boots, tunic, and vest. Her hair was tied back in an intricate braid and looping bun. To Shepard, the sight was a welcomed break from the typical layered robes and heavy gowns she typically saw around the government building. Providing security for a politician was usually a task she loathed, but this turn could be a pleasant one, in addition to being a significant step in gaining Anakin's trust.

"Captain Shepard, thank you for agreeing to be my escort." She greeted warmly but flicked Anakin an annoyed glance. "General Skywalker and I have a difference of opinion in the necessity of extra security. I'm sure your impressive skill set could be put to better use elsewhere."

"Not at all, Senator. Being asked to protect you is a privilege. My skill set going unused would be the preferred outcome."

"Thank you for seeing it that way, Captain." Anakin countered with an equally pointed tone. "Senator Amidala regularly disregards legitimate security concerns. Often at her own peril."

Padmé crossed her arms over her chest and pushed back. "Perhaps Senator Amidala isn't going to live in fear and hide behind an army while trying broker peace to end this war."

Shepard could see the fight brewing between them, or a prior fight continuing.

And this is why secret relationships don't work...

"General, if that will be all, I should go prepare my gear and meet you at the landing platform."

"I've already put Fives to task on that. He said he knew your typical kit and would make sure you had all the supplies you'd need. The Senator will be ready in a minute."

"Excuse me, the Senator can speak for herself." Padmé pointedly replied.

Thick silence filled the room. Shepard flicked her eyes to Vod, who's head plates were shifting, indicating discomfort at the situation. Just as she was about to speak, the doors mercifully opened and Senator Organa strolled in.

"Padmé, are you ready?" He asked as he walked in but stopped in his tracks when he felt the tension of the room.

"Senator Organa," Shepard jumped in. "Perhaps we should go to the ship."

"Excellent idea, Captain." He agreed and the trio made a hasty departure.

Only when they were in the shuttle and on their way to the landing pad did he speak. "What are they fighting about this time?"

"They have different opinions about needing extra security." She neutrally answered, unsure how much he knew.

"You really think that's all this is about?" He asked, giving her a knowing glance.

"I'm don't take your meaning, Senator." She bluffed.

"Captain, you have a great many attributes. Ignorance does not seem to be one of them. Surely you take my meaning."

Shepard opened her mouth to reply, but pressed it into a line instead. It was enough confirmation for Organa that she also knew the truth.

"This is not the first argument they have had recently. General Skywalker seems to believe the Padmé should remain on Coruscant until the war is over. She doesn't appreciate being told how to do her job. I'm sure you can determine the source issue."

"Irrational over protection and distrust does come with a cost." She conceded. "Have there been any credible threats?"

"The Chancellor seems to think we're at risk, but there have been no direct threats. I am glad you will be with us, but I also respect Padmé's protests. Your mission was arranged without her involvement."

"Skywalker arranged it with the Supreme Chancellor behind closed doors." She concluded.

He nodded as the shuttle landed. As promised, Fives was waiting outside the ship with her kit. She double checked the contents and praised his work. Rex descended the ramp, casually talking with the Commander Thorn. After proper introductions were made, she was shown to her quarters and where she could store her equipment.

"How did it go with the Chancellor?" Rex asked quietly, nuzzling into her neck after verifying they were alone.

Shepard sighed softly at his touch. She'd much rather savor the last moments of his affection than talk politics. "Better than expected. Skywalker had my back about the decisions I made."

"Good. I'm glad he agrees with you." He trapped her ear lobe between his teeth and smoothed a gloved hand across her buttocks.

"Captain, two can play at that game. I don't have nearly as much to lose with poor decorum." Her fingers crept along the upper edge of his cuisse.

Rex pulled back slightly because he heard approaching footfalls, knowing better than to call her bluff. A smug smile crossed her face, believing she had bested him. Just before the approaching person reached the open door, he quickly imparted a passionate kiss on her lips and stepped away with a smirk. Red bloomed across her face as Seantor Amidala stopped in the doorway.

"Captain Shepard, Captain Rex. I hope I'm not interrupting." She arched a brow at them.

"Not at all, Senator. Just getting settled." Shepard answered, praying the crimson in her cheeks had gone unnoticed.

"I hope your quarters are satisfactory. Now that I'm finally here, we can prepare to take off."

"And that's my cue to go. Best of luck, Senator." Rex gave his love a parting kiss on her hot cheek and whispered in her ear. "Stay safe, cyare."

"I will get even for that." She hummed back.

"Looking forward to it." He winked, donned his bucket and left.

Padmé watched him go with a smile. "Captain, would you kindly join me?"

"Of course, ma'am"

"It's hard to believe it's been almost six months since I first saw Rex blush like that over you." She quipped as they walked down a short corridor to the door of her quarters. "And I heard he finally proposed. Congratulations."

"He did, thank you." Shepard grinned with embarrassment. "I'm not surprised you knew he planned to."

Padmé closed the door and took a measured breath. "Anakin told me you're aware of our marriage and have been for some time. I appreciate your keeping confidence."

"Unless one of you is in danger and breaking your confidence is the only way to stop a catastrophe, it isn't my secret to tell."

"He also told me of your advice to him." Her voice was firm.

Shepard tensed slightly. "Have I overstepped my boundaries?"

She held a pause. "No. Actually I want to thank you. We've been together three years. The secrecy is getting exhausting and it's been a source of tension recently. Maybe he'll heed your advice. At least I hope he does."

"I hope so too."

They felt the engines engage and the ship rise from the deck. Padmé glanced out the window. "Now that we're under way, I suppose I should tell you the true intention of this trip."

"We aren't rallying support for the Republic?"

"In a way, we are. Have you heard of the Delegation of 2,000?"

"No, I can't say that I have."

"We are a group of senators who have become concern with the power increase the Supreme Chancellor has gained during the war and are are forming a petition to demand he restore the balance of power immediately. The hope is that with the added support of neutral systems pledging to return to the Republic once the war ends, we can tip the balance and allow diplomacy to end the war rather than fighting."

"That's a risky move, bordering on treason." Shepard commented.

"I'm afraid we're long past safe maneuvers. The war shows no sign of slowing down nor the Chancellor any sign of giving up his power."

"I don't mean to sound impertinent, but didn't you help facilitate his rise to power?"

"Unfortunately, you are right. I did. At the time I was fourteen. A newly elected queen, facing an invasion of my planet. The collective eyes of the Senate were on me as I plead my case. Foolishly, in my inexperience I listened to him." She signed heavily. "I ran for office at his encouragement. I trusted him as a advisor. I couldn't have known back then what his true intentions were, but I certainly wish I had."

"So now you're trying to make it right."

"Maybe not right, because there is still widespread corruption, but I'm trying to restore the balance we had."

"Does General Skywalker know about this delegation?"

"No, he does not. And I'd prefer it stay that way. Anakin and I have...differing opinions regarding the war and the Supreme Chancellor."

"Something you and I have in common then. And of course I will keep your confidence."

"Thank you." She took a deep breath. "If you'll excuse me, I need to lay down. Thank you for your time, Captain."

Shepard nodded crisply and departed the cabin. Returning to her own, she studied the destination report and readied her kit. After finding a stray holopad with a delightfully risqué picture of her new fiancé tucked into her bag, she loaded an extra biotic ration kit into her belt and went in search of Commander Thorn to discuss the security plan. Padmé's concerns replayed in her mind. Part of her was relieved there was a degree of unrest among the Senators about the reach of the Supreme Chancellor's authority. But she worried it was coming too late to make a difference.