Padme and Bail had spent the last week working on cultivating their new alliance. So far, they had managed to get a few of the more timid Senators to agree to their coalition by showing them that Padme wasn't dead, that the attack launched on them was ordered by Palpatine and that the Jedi were most certainly not destroyed and were hitting back and hitting back hard at the Empire. This gave those Senators who were worried about reprisals from Palpatine the demonstration they needed to see that he wasn't all powerful. Plus the assurances given by Bail, Padme and the Jedi that they were not calling for open insurrection. At least not yet. The work was tiring, but they had managed to convince nearly 50 Senators to join them.
Ironically, it was the ones calling for open opposition to Palpatine that were the most difficult to convince. While they would certainly be invaluable when the time came to move into the open, that would only be the case if they were still alive then. And the way they were going, Palpatine would have them killed long before then. Getting them to agree to a more deliberate pace and convincing them to tone down their rhetoric was something of a minor victory. All in all, both Padme and Bail were very pleased with what they had accomplished. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
Anakin and Ahsoka had been busy as well. In the last week, they had managed to find nearly forty children from three months up to six years that were all Force Sensitive. Fortunately for the Jedi, rumors had begun to circulate of Force Sensitive individuals disappearing on a number of worlds and many of the parents were extremely worried about their children. Each and every family agreed to send their child with Anakin and Ahsoka to be trained. Mainly it was out of concern for their children. But a few recognized Anakin as the Hero with No Fear and imagined their children performing similar feats and practically begged the Jedi to take their child.
They had also found another eighty or so older individuals who were also Force Sensitive and proceeded to shield them to hide their Force Sensitivity. The Jedi were actually very pleased with what they had accomplished in their time on Alderaan. Towards the end of their time on the planet, they also spent time mediating several disputes that had come up. By helping normal, everyday people with their issues and being as approachable as they were, they managed to increase the Order's reputation immeasurably. There was still a great deal of work to do, but it was good beginning and something they could be proud of.
On the ship heading to Naboo, Anakin and Ahsoka were sitting with the children they had gathered and were beginning their basic training. Helping them to touch the Force for the first time. For both of them, seeing the children's faces light up as they felt that first exhilarating touch of the Light was more fulfilling than anything either of them could imagine. It also brought back fond memories of when they first consciously touched the Force. Even for Padme, who had barely touched the Force, it brought a warm feeling to her seeing them. This trip had also answered some questions about her Force Sensitivity. While she could still feel the Force, it had slowly receded into the background till it was just a whisper for her. Still, this was more than she had ever felt before going to Tython. Or, maybe she just knew what to listen for now. Either way, she was pleased with it.
Upon landing on Naboo, Anakin and Ahsoka quietly spirited the Children into a safe house that was set up by the Queen, who was a close friend of Padme. It had been decided while they were on Alderaan to send a message to Tython asking for several additional Jedi to come to Naboo to help them with the Younglings. The Council had responded that they would send three Knights with their Padawans. Knights Huulik, Zubain Ankonori and Nuhj along with their Padawans, Whie Malreaux, Bene and Kyr Zzarn arrived on Naboo shortly after Padme and Anakin. They were tasked mainly with watching over the children as they didn't want their presence to become too widely known.They had already pushed their luck on Alderaan and had no desire to push it farther.
Anakin and Padme met quietly with the Queen to build more and stronger ties with Naboo and expand their alliance. Like he did on Alderaan, Anakin gave what could best be described as the Order's Mea Culpa to the Queen for her to relay to those she trusted. She could use it to show that the Jedi knew where they had failed, acknowledged their failure and swore to correct it. He likewise requested permission to look for Force Sensitive children and adults on the planet, which was given after brief consideration by the Queen.
As they did on Alderaan, the Jedi scoured hospital records and used the Force to find children who were suitable. They ended up finding twenty-five such children. Of these, twenty of their families consented to their being given to the Jedi. Of course, Anakin made sure to alter the records of all twenty-five children and to shield those that stayed with their families. They also found a number of adults that they shielded as well. Though not as successful as their mission to Alderaan (Naboo had never been particularly known for Force Adepts), Anakin and Ahsoka were still quite happy with the results. They were bringing back sixty new Younglings to the Temple to train as Jedi. Their only concern was making sure the Empire didn't find out about it.
"I'm really not comfortable with leaving the families behind like this Master," Ahsoka said once they had returned to their safe house.
"I agree with you Snips. I don't like it either," Anakin told her. "But until the Council says otherwise, we don't really have any other option. Maybe we can speak to the Council when we get back. See if there's anyway we can take their families with us."
"Good. I really think we should."
"Ok. You're so sure this is the right thing to do, convince me."
"What?"
"You heard me. Convince me." Calling over the three Knights with their Padawans, Anakin looked at Ahsoka. "Pretend we're the Council. You have to convince us that taking the families with us is the right thing to do. What would you say to make your case?"
Gulping, Ahsoka launched into her arguments. "Well, first off, leaving the families behind allows the Empire to exact reprisals against them."
"But shouldn't our changing of the records prevent that?" asked Zubain Ankonori.
"In theory, yes. But only if no one notices that the records have been changed and only if the families never say anything about their children being taken by the Jedi, even accidentally. This is a government ruled by the Sith. I doubt due process of law will be very important to them."
"A valid point," responded Huulik. "But I still believe the measures we are taking will be effective in that regard."
"What of their neighbors, though? Surely some of them will notice that the children the family next door had are suddenly gone. I doubt they will buy the 'we gave them up for adoption' bit. Not to mention, what if one of them saw us take them? It doesn't take a hyperspace motivator designer to know what's going on. One message to an Imperial patrol, and Stormtroopers will descend on that family like a ton of durasteel."
"Now, that, is a good argument to make Padawan Tano."
"What of the prohibition on attachment?" asked Nuhj. "Master Skywalker's exception not withstanding, attachment is still prohibited by the Order."
"That is true. But this is a unique situation. What kind of beings would we be if we allowed innocent beings to be tortured or killed simply because Jedi are not supposed to have attachments?" Growing slightly heated at this, Ahsoka continued, "It was by being that cold in the first place that got us into this mess to begin with."
"Padawan," said Anakin. "While you may be right about that, that is most definitely not an argument Iwould suggest you put before the Council. No matter how accurate it is."
"I'm sorry Master."
"Understand, I'm not trying to censor you. But there is a time and place to make that argument. And while you're trying to convince the Council to do something is neither." Unable to maintain his stern look any longer, Anakin's face breaks in to a grin, "though I would like to see the looks on their faces if you did tell them that."
Grinning back at her Master, Ahsoka replied, "I understand, Master."
"PadawanTano," said Knight Ankonori. "I would like you to elaborate on why you feel the restriction on attachments should be loosened. This has been a tenet of our Order for thousands of years."
"Yes it has. But for thousands of years before that, it was not. I'm not trying to argue that the restriction should be done away with permanently. But considering the circumstances we find ourselves in, and the extreme danger that the families of Force Sensitive children could find themselves in, I strongly believe it is our duty as Jedi that we should do more for the families than simply change a few records on the holonet. We're supposed to be the Galaxy's protectors and Keepers of the Peace. How are we either of those things if we let these families suffer just because their children are Jedi?"
"That was very well said Snips," Anakin told her as he beamed at her. To all those in the room, it was very obvious he was extremely proud of his Padawan.
Leaning over next to Anakin, Huulik asked him, "Remind me again, why is she still a Padawan?"
Laughing Anakin could only shrug his shoulders and tell him, "Beats me."
Ahsoka could only smile widely at the praise she was receiving. She did wonder sometimes why she was still a Padawan, when Master Koon had all but told her she was worthy of being a Jedi Knight before. But, she did like working with Anakin. So there was that. There were definitely things worse than being the Chosen One's Padawan.
Anakin, as head of the mock Council, called for a vote. It was unanimous. Every Jedi present felt that they should get the families out of harms way as well. Anakin, Huulik, Ahsoka and Bene all wished they could do it right away. Even discussed what options they would have if they did decide to. In the end though, it was decided to report the matter to the Council and try to sway them. There really wasn't anywhere on Tython to house that many people anyway.
"You know," said Anakin, thinking out loud. "I've been thinking. The older children that we've found and the adults. What if, instead of training them to be Jedi Knights, we train them to serve in the Service Corps? The Corps are always complaining, or rather, they have been complaining, that they aren't getting enough personal to fulfill their mission. This would seem to be an ideal way to swell the Service Corps while ensuring the ranks of the Knights grow as well." Looking at the other seven Jedi present he continued, "I want your opinions."
Judging by the shocked and somewhat surprised feelings Anakin was getting through the Force from the other Jedi, he figured their reaction was much like his when the idea had popped into his head: why hasn't anybody ever thought of this before? The discussion that followed confirmed it.
Padme's time on Naboo had been every bit as productive as the Jedi's. Old contacts had been remade, new contacts had been established. A number of intelligence resources had been secured. Not because anybody doubted what Bail was telling them, but because it was always a good idea to be able to independently verify what you're being told. Just in case someone decided to stage a leak and set a trap. While Anakin and Obi-wan were big fans of springing traps that had been laid for them, she was a bit more circumspect on the issue. On the other hand, she couldn't use a lightsaber like they could, so that probably had something to do with it.
The one downside to her trip to Naboo was that it had been made in secret. No one outside of the Queen, Captain Panaka and a handful of very trusted people even knew she was there. She couldn't even see her family. And it really pained her to know that they believed she was dead. Oh, she agreed with the reasoning behind it. It was definitely safer for them this way than if they thought she was still alive. She wouldn't put it past Palpatine to use them to get to her or Anakin, or their children. The thought of Luke and Leia brought a smile to her face. If she really concentrated, she could almost imagine that she could feel them connected to her in the back of her mind. Maybe this increased Force Sensitivity thing wasn't all bad after all.
The day they left to head back to Tython, Padme, Anakin and the three Knights were saying goodbye to the Queen when a messenger arrived. Judging by the look on the messenger's face, it was bad news. Tensing for the worst, the Jedi were, shamefully, relieved to learn that it had nothing to do with them. Rather, it was official notification to the Queen that the Senator from Naboo, Jar Jar Binks, had been accidentally killed when he tripped over a mouse droid and was electrocuted when he landed in an open electrical circuit that was being worked on at the time. Expressing their sympathies and regretful that they would not be able to stay they were about to leave when the Queen informed them of the rest of the message.
"Due to Senator Binks being from his Excellency's home world, His Royal Highness the Emperor will be in attendance at the State Funeral."