Padmé hadn't meant to arrive so late to the Chancellor's office. She'd spent the night at the Jedi Temple and had been caught on her way out by Obi-Wan and she was still trying to process how that conversation had gone so wrong.
"Padmé, please be careful. I know you consider the Chancellor a great friend, but every day you return more angry and upset than the last. I'm getting worried."
Obi-Wan was wrong, and she knew that and was almost hurt by how little he trusted her to act in her best interest and recognize the Chancellor as a threat, but for now she was trying to push that out of her mind. "I'm sorry I'm late, Obi-Wan caught me on the way out from the temple, and it's difficult to move quickly when…" She indicated her stomach, which was considerably larger than she expected to be in her seventh month. It wouldn't be much longer until the Force failed her in her ability to keep herself looking and moving like she was vaguely not pregnant. It was likely she'd need to be removed from her mission soon.
"That's quite alright my dear." Palpatine offered her a chair, which Padmé gladly took. "I do have something I wish to talk to you about today, but I am in no rush if it means putting your own health at risk."
"Thank you for the concern, but I'm fine." She smiled, truly appreciative for all the concern he'd given her. "What did you want to talk to me about?"
"Do I have your trust, Padmé?"
She looked at him abruptly, her distracted thoughts now fully focused just on him. That hadn't been the direction she'd expected this conversation to go towards. Once more, Obi-Wan's warning played in her head, but just as she'd dismissed it when he'd first given it, she dismissed it now. "Of course I do." He'd given her advice, taught her about Naboo, and shown her so much kindness over the years. It was difficult for her to distrust him.
"I need your help." The look of distress on Palpatine's face...whatever he needed help for was a task he didn't want to ask, and something he wasn't fond of requesting. "I'm depending on you to be the eyes, ears, and voice of the Republic."
It took a moment for the Chancellor's request to process in her mind. Why would he want her to be all that? "Your Excellency, with all due respect, are you sure I'm the right choice for this position? I'm not…" She struggled for a moment to explain her thought process. "I'm a Jedi. While I have an interest in politics, it's not a field I'm trained to be a part of. The voice of the Republic should be somebody with much more experience."
"You misunderstand me, Padmé. I'm not looking for a Senator or representative of the government." Palpatine shook his head. "Perhaps, I should simply continue. Padmé, I would like for you to serve as my personal representative on the Jedi Council."
"Chancellor, I…" She was honored, truly. Being on the council had been a goal of hers for years, so to finally have the opportunity was a blessing, but that didn't mean she thought it would go over well with the Jedi. She expected the opposite, if she was being honest. None of the Jedi would be happy with Palpatine stepping in as he was by putting her on the council, and the few days would do nothing to reassure them that Palpatine wasn't trying to take over. "I'm grateful, truly I am, but they won't want this. Members on the council have always been an internal affair. To suddenly just put me on it…"
"I am aware of how this will look to the Jedi." The pleading look at her to accept his offer made Padmé falter for a moment. "But I'm afraid I don't have much of another option."
She remembered the theory he had shared about how Separatists may have invaded the Jedi and even found their way onto the council, and she hesitated for a moment when it came to rejecting his proposal again.
"Please, Padmé. I do not intend to overstep by doing so. You're a gifted Jedi and deserve that council spot already, and if not for the fact that they seem so insistent on punishing you for your…" Palpatine paused for a moment, as though trying to come up with the proper word, "Dalliances, I don't doubt you would be their choice on who to replace Master Ti. I'm only ensuring that's the case."
A part of her wanted to argue that that was unlikely to be the case, that she wasn't qualified to be a council member and that there were any older and more wise Jedi who might have gotten the spot instead of her.
But what if it wasn't? What if the Jedi really were so intent on punishing her over the fact that she had gotten pregnant that they were planning on keeping her off the council, a position that due to her experiences in the war she clearly deserved.
"If the council is willing to grant the position, I'll accept it." But if they weren't even she would not be able to override their will. Palpatine would have to understand.
"I'm sure they will, my dear. And I could not thank you enough for doing this." Palpatine turned to head back towards his desk, likely to resume his work.
Padmé smiled. "It's nothing. I'm glad I can help do something while I'm on Coruscant rather than do so little."
Palpatine nodded. "Of course, but do not sell yourself short, Padmé. I need you, far more than you know."
The meeting with the heads of the Delegation of 2000 couldn't have come at a worse time, if Anakin was honest. His wife's tendencies towards anger that reminded him scarily of himself were beginning to scare him, and he was starting to lose hope that it was simply a lack of sleep and pregnancy getting to her when he felt cold around her in the Force.
But the meeting couldn't be avoided. Bail and he had agreed shortly afterwards that the Chancellor had been taking on too much power, far too much power, and taking direct control away from the Jedi was definitely a step too far. Despite how close they were to ending the war, no attempts at finding peace with the Separatists had been made, and they had enough people in their party to stand a chance. It meant it was time to meet. Anakin had offered up his apartment and the seven of them had met up.
"If things continue as they are, then it may become more difficult to take Palpatine from power. He may very well succeed in transforming the galaxy from a democracy into something much worse." Mon sighed.
There was an oppressive silence in the room. After spending three years constantly fighting in a war, nobody here wanted another one as soon as the Clone Wars finished, yet that seemed to be the only way things could turn. "We can't afford another war." Bail spoke up. Of every one of them, he was the most insistent on peace. It was unsurprising he was so against another fight.
"We may not have a choice." Anakin banged his hands on the table, causing the glasses set upon it to shake. "I know all of us were against the formation of a military, let alone another war, but you can't tell me letting Palpatine continue to get away with this is the answer either."
No, it absolutely couldn't be. Anakin had always had a desire for a more streamlined government (a desire that had been made even stronger based on how much he had to fight in the Senate just to get Tatooine's voice even heard) but a dictatorship, let alone one under Palpatine, wasn't the answer. "The government is failing, and if we sit here and do nothing, we'll be just as much a problem as those that are trying to bring it down. If Palpatine won't listen to us, then we get ready to stand and fight."
Anakin's statement rang in the air. They were all suddenly aware of the fact that Anakin was a boy who at fourteen had led the slaves of Tatooine to take the planet, rather than just another senator like them. He was unafraid to fight another war, because another war would guarantee them what they wanted.
"Perhaps, rather than immediately jump into battle, we should focus on our cause now, and prepare for a battle only if Palpatine rejects the proposal." Bail compromise seemed to placate the Senators, for now.
Sola shook her head, but didn't say anything. "When will we be ready to confront him."
"Assuming nothing comes up, I've scheduled a meeting for us in a few days." The nothing Anakin was assuming coming up had everything to do with his wife going into labor early given she'd recently entered her seventh month and that was always possible, not that he could bring that up right now. "We'll have to be ready by then."
"Very well." Bail looked over the group. "Senator Skywalker, do you have anything planned?"
Anakin nodded. "I'd like to talk to a Jedi first, get a second opinion to make sure we aren't imagining things."
One of the other senators there frowned. "Are you sure we can trust the Jedi? They've been the lead fighters in the war, and they serve Palpatine loyally."
"You shouldn't have to be alone on Mandalore, Snips."
"Well, it's not like I had a choice, Padmé and Obi-Wan had to run back to Coruscant to rescue the Chancellor. They did what they could."
Anakin tried not to think about the brief conversation he'd had with Ahsoka when considering where the Jedi's allegiance lay. He knew they still stood for peace and justice, but it was clear that that opinion didn't hold the majority opinion, and some days, there were times that he even questioned it. How much had the war had turned the Jedi towards a group of military leaders rather than the peacekeepers they were supposed to be? Still, he knew that wasn't the case. "I know the Jedi aren't happy. I'm friends with them, and I've seen just how badly the war has been affecting them. They've had to watch their own suffer, watch friends and family die while we sit cozy in the Senate. They will not take the Chancellor's side." For now though, Anakin knew to concede the point. "That doesn't matter though, I don't want to talk to the whole council, I'm only asking one Jedi for an opinion, one I'd trust over all others to stand with us."
One who knew that the Chancellor had gone too far, that the powers he was giving himself were likely to destroy the Republic from the inside out. A loyal and trustworthy friend.
"Anakin, for now, we're best off not including the Jedi. If we bring them in, then we are asking them to get involved in a conflict they are not yet ready for and may not yet come to pass. We are best keeping this among ourselves for now, and if things get bad, then perhaps consulting with Padmé would be a good idea."
Anakin sighed. Bail was right, of course. "You're right, Bail. I'm probably getting too far ahead of...myself." He hoped his stumble didn't clue the Senators into the conflict he was suffering from as Anakin fell silent, letting the delegation continue their discussion.
When he'd been thinking of a Jedi he trusted, he hadn't been thinking about his wife at that moment, he'd wanted to keep her out of this altogether for more reasons than just the pregnancy.
The person he'd thought of to help the delegation make their plea was Obi-Wan.
If Obi-Wan had been told that this would be the Chancellor's plan for Padmé when he'd watched her go to the Senate Building this morning, he would have thought the person who did so was mad. It wasn't that he didn't think Padmé deserved a spot on the council, it was quite the opposite and he was sure that once she'd trained a Padawan into a Jedi Knight, Mace would be the first in line to offer it to her, but the idea that Palpatine would choose to force his will onto the Jedi Council in the first place was so unbelievable that there was just no possible way that he would do it.
Which, unfortunately, meant that despite having known about the request he would have to make of Padmé for a reason, he was completely blindsided when she'd come before the council and relayed his nomination and message for the council. Obi-Wan was sure he wasn't the only one either, given how silent the council fell. It was almost as though they were trying to comprehend the information they had been told.
"Allow this appointment lightly, the council does not." Yoda was the one to break the silence, to discuss just what they had learned. "Disturbing is this move by Chancellor Palpatine."
Obi-Wan watched as Padmé closed her eyes. "I understand. I was just as surprised when he'd nominated me as well." It was a small reassurance that Padmé hadn't wanted this.
"We do not accept this lightly, but you will be accepted among our ranks." Mace nodded to Padmé, who looked at them almost in numb shock. "But you will not be granted the rank of Master."
"What?" she mumbled under her breath, and it looked like she had so much more to say. Obi-Wan could see based on the way she'd stiffened that she felt sleighted, even though she had not expected the nomination to go through herself. Despite this and her tumultuous Force presence (an increasingly common occurrence) she still managed to keep an outwardly calm facade.
"Knight Naberrie, if you would take a seat, we have much to discuss." Made indicated the empty chair that had formerly belonged to Master Ti, and Padmé followed his direction to sit down. She caught Obi-Wan's eyes, and the look she gave felt piercing, as though she was upset with him for not attempting to remedy the sleight she was experiencing.
"We have surveyed all systems in the Republic, but have found no signs of General Grievous." Master Mundi began from wherever his mission had taken him, Ryloth if Obi-Wan remembered correctly.
"Hiding in the Outer Rim, Grievous is," Yoda responded. The news from Master Mundi certainly had not been a surprise. "The outlying systems you must sweep."
Padmé spoke up, something that surprised Obi-Wan greatly given how upset she was. "The fact that Grievous has been quiet for this long worries me. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he's taking so long to act for a reason. He's preparing something…"
"All the more reason for when we find him to be ready with our best Jedi prepared to take him into custody." Mace looked around at the group for a moment. "Master Mundi, please prepare ships to begin searching all worlds between Separatist and Republic space."
"A sweep like that will be difficult." Obi-Wan frowned, attempting to take into account the information Mace and Master Mundi were saying. "We do not have many ships to spare."
"What about the droid attack on the Wookies?" Master Mundi asked. Another concern they had. While Grievous had been quiet, a few worlds had been attacked by splinter groups of droids of Separatist cells.
"It is critical we send an attack group there immediately."
Obi-Wan nodded in agreement with Mace, more reasons why a scan for Grievous would be difficult. "He's right, it's a system we cannot afford to lose."
Yoda nodded. "Go, I will. Good relations with the Wookies, I have."
One by one, each member of the council (Padmé included) voiced their assent to allow for Yoda to leave. Once it was agreed upon, Mace nodded. "It's settled then. Yoda will take a battalion of clones to reinforce the Wookies on Kashyyyk. The rest of us will continue the search for Grievous as best as we can."
"The siege on Mandalore." Padmé's voice was quiet as she brought up her concern, but the Jedi still turned to face her anyway. "Are we planning to do anything to help them?"
Mace shook his head. "Padmé, by dividing the 501st to leave under Commander Rex's and the former Padawan Tano's command we've done all that we can. Have faith in your Padawan, I'm sure she'll be able to handle Maul, and Obi-Wan will let us know if the situation there gets worse so long as he's in contact with her." She nodded, satisfied by the answer. "If there are no other complaints, then we all have our missions. May the Force be with us all."
With that, the various Jedi of the council stood up from their chairs to follow the mission. Padmé smiled at Obi-Wan as he approached her, and his stomach filled with dread at the knowledge of what he would have to do. "Master."
"Walk with me, my Padawan, I do believe you have some things you'd need to get out." And Obi-Wan himself had a request to pass on to Padmé from the council. It would work.
They left the council room behind them, Padmé smiling uneasily, though it wasn't long before they stepped outside and her anger began, an uncomfortable feeling for Obi-Wan given how much more calm she had been before the war, and something he hoped was only due to her pregnancy. "I can't believe they denied me the rank of Master!"
"Padmé–"
"I get it, I broke the code by getting pregnant, but to just sit there in front of the whole council and tell me I can't be a Master when the only reason I don't have a Padawan as a Jedi Knight right now is because of their actions."
"Padmé–"
"I shouldn't be this upset, and I know I shouldn't be, but it's not fair to punish me over something so small. Jedi can have sex. Me being pregnant shouldn't make it that much more of a big deal. I didn't know–"
"Padmé!" Thankfully, Padmé stopped her frustrated ranting to listen to what he had to say. "Padmé, I understand you are upset, but being on the council is still a great honor."
Padmé sighed, and looked away, her cheeks flushed due to her embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Master, I just…"
"I know, but this is only temporary." Obi-Wan put a hand on her shoulders. "This wasn't done out of malice as a punishment, but rather because it's the only way in this situation that they can have some control over what's happened." That was a lie, but for now, it was the best reason he could come up with. Judging by Padmé's glance, she didn't buy it, but wouldn't push either.
Padmé sighed. "Just forget I said anything…"
Obi-Wan nodded. "Of course." Conversation between them fell silent. It was clear to Obi-Wan Padmé's sleep had not gotten easier, and she wasn't going to be able to handle small talk nearly as well as she once had.
There was a lot she couldn't handle as she once had...perhaps it was time to finally talk to Anakin for his support in helping Padmé. If there was anybody who knew his Padawan better than he did, it was Anakin.
Rather than wait for a conversation to resume, Obi-Wan decided to take advantage of the tsilence to tell her about the mission the council had. "The council wasn't happy about Palpatine's intervention in the council. They don't like it."
Padmé sighed. "I don't either." Obi-Wan gave her a startled glance, why would she dislike it? "I benefit from it, and I know I've done more than enough to earn the position, but…" She indicated her stomach. "I'm not in a position to be taking on any more responsibilities. I want this Obi-Wan, but I'm about to have a child. And that child is going to have to be my priority, at least until Anakin can take over full responsibility."
Above the council and above her job with the Chancellor, having known his Padawan so well, Obi-Wan would have been surprised if she thought anything less. He'd watched as Ahsoka had become one of the people she most cherished, a member of the family the two of them had patched together. It was true that Padmé would always choose her ideals over her family, but there was little else that meant as much as he, Ahsoka, and Anakin would. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by that, it just makes the mission I'm about to give you much harder to face."
Padmé showed no external reaction, but he could tell she was caught off guard by the request. "Mission? Obi-Wan, I'm supposed to stay on Coruscant until the baby is born. I can't leave before then in case something goes wrong."
"I know, and this mission will not take you off of Coruscant." Obi-Wan sighed. "I truly apologize for what I'm going to have to ask of you."
"Clearly if it's that bad that it couldn't be given officially during the council meeting." Padmé was on guard. "Obi-Wan, what's the mission?"
"The council wants you to spy on the Chancellor." She went tense, though didn't externally react. "We're worried that he might have something planned with how much power he's consolidating, we don't know if he's doing this maliciously."
"But you believe that if he's not doing this to overtake the Republic, that he's doing it because somebody else is and they're trying to force him to give them the power." Never before had Obi-Wan been so grateful for Padmé's political skills as he was in this moment, it saved Obi-Wan so much time in his explanations, and he could see the gears working in her head.
Obi-Wan nodded. "At Geonosis, Count Dooku told me of a Sith in the Republic Senate, we believe that they might be finally making their move."
Padmé remained silent, digesting this information. "Why me Obi-Wan? I'm not at my best, you know I'm not."
Obi-Wan put a hand on her shoulder. "I know, Padmé. If I had any other choice for somebody to send on this mission, I would." He hated that the council was putting her in this position. He didn't like the Chancellor, but he knew that Padmé placed some level of value in their friendship. Even if she did believe the council's motives, it wouldn't be easy. "But you're the only person among the Jedi that the Chancellor still trusts."
Obi-Wan had expected surprise at the statement, but instead found simply a quiet resignation. She had known that the Chancellor didn't trust the Jedi, or perhaps that the council no longer trusted the Chancellor to lead the Republic, something they had kept well under wraps.
It brought about several questions Obi-Wan was scared to ask. How much did she know, and how did she know it? He could address those concerns later, as Padmé simply bowed her head in acceptance of the mission. "I understand Obi-Wan, I'll do what I can."
Padmé left with a yawn, leaving Obi-Wan to wonder how it had come to this.
There was much of this conversation that had left him more worried than not for his Padawan's fate.
He would need to talk to Anakin.