Padmé Amidala finds out that her husband led his entire battalion of clones in a mass defection when several members of the Jedi Council enter Palpatine's office unannounced in the middle of a crucial meeting between the Chancellor and the committee for the Executive Power Reallocation Act, of which she is the chair. Palpatine raises a hand when the Jedi enter, cutting Bail Organa off in the middle of a word. "Masters. What can I do for you?"
"Urgent matters to discuss with Senator Amidala, we have," Yoda says.
Padmé is irritated already; this is not the first time the Council has intruded on her personal meetings and while they generally have matters of certain urgency to discuss, she feels that this meeting cannot be postponed again, or worse, continued without her. "What is it?" she asks, ignoring the implicit suggestion that perhaps this is something that should be discussed in private. Everything in her life these days is behind closed and locked doors and something, something needs to be out in the open.
There is a pregnant pause. Ki-Adi-Mundi speaks up, finally. "Knight Skywalker took his battalion and task force and deserted with them this morning," he says.
Padmé resists the urge to bury her head in her hands. As her mind struggles to process everything in that sentence, some wry, humorless voice points out silently that this is not the kind of thing she wants out in the open. "And this affects me why?" she says cautiously.
"He trusts you," Mace Windu says. Padmé wonders if the odd note in his voice indicates that he knows there is more than just trust to that relationship, or if she is imagining that. "We thought you might be able to offer some insight into where he might have gone."
It's with significant ire and complete candor that Padmé responds, "I'm afraid I have no idea, Master Windu. He certainly never discussed any plans of this sort with me, if that's what you're asking."
"We don't think it was planned," Windu says. "You're sure you don't know of any favorite haunts of his, or goals?"
"Why would I know that?" Padmé asks, and her voice is sharp now, warning. "I am afraid I cannot help you, Masters."
It's at this point that Palpatine speaks up, surprise coloring his voice like she's never heard it before. "Anakin deserted?" he asks. "Whyever did he do that?"
Windu's voice is cold. "With respect, Chancellor, this is an internal affair."
"But he took an entire battalion of Republic troops with him," Palpatine says. "It doesn't sound like an internal affair." He sounds suddenly more at ease.
The Jedi Masters exchange glances. "Claimed the Republic was unnecessarily endangering his troops' lives, he did," Yoda says.
"And so he abandoned the Republic." Palpatine's voice is mournful. "Are you certain that he made this decision, well, by himself?"
"Are you suggesting someone might have influenced him to do this?" Ki-Adi-Mundi says.
"It's a possibility we cannot ignore," Windu says.
"Unfortunately I am going to have to issue a warrant for his arrest," Palpatine says. "Regardless of the circumstance, we are talking about, well, treason."
"Unwise, this is," Yoda says. "Betrayed by the Republic, young Skywalker feels. If offered amnesty is, return on his own, he might."
"But what kind of image will that promote?" Palpatine asks. "The people are already accusing the Jedi of starting this war and profiting from it. What will they say if we pardon an act of high treason out of hand?"
"I disagree," Windu says. "If we issue a warrant for one of our own we will be accused of petty infighting."
"I highly doubt General Skywalker's reasons had anything to do with treason," Padmé says.
"My dear, we are not talking about his reasons. We are talking about his actions," Palpatine says.
"His actions?" Padmé snaps. "He defended the rights of the clone troopers under his command - and I have repeatedly brought a bill for enhanced clone rights before the Senate and been shot down - and then he took soldiers under his command to the task force he was assigned, just as he has a thousand times before. His actions do not appear treasonous in the slightest."
"He ignored repeated orders to return to orbit as he was leaving," Windu says.
Obi-Wan, who has been standing by the door in silence, speaks up. "He also said that the Republic and the Jedi are evil." His face is troubled, and his hand strays to his chin as he speaks.
"Interesting," Palpatine says. "I'm afraid I cannot take any risks. It sounds as though he might be dangerous."
For the first time, Bail dares to intrude upon the conversation. "If the Republic issues a warrant for Skywalker's arrest," he says, "the Jedi order will be expected to expel him."
"A serious thing, expulsion is," says Yoda. "Not to be done lightly."
"Serious indeed," Palpatine says. "But I am afraid, given the situation, necessary."
Everyone looks somber. "You cannot be serious," Padmé says. "You can't expel him without even giving him a chance to explain himself."
"If he were here, then he would have that chance," Palpatine says, and for a moment Padmé thinks he sounds unfriendly.
Something chimes on Palpatine's desk. Mas Amedda leans forward. "Chancellor, the Kaminoan delegation is here for their appointment."
"Oh, show them in," Palpatine says. "I am afraid we will have to continue this discussion at a later time, gentlemen."
"Chancellor," Bail says, "forgive the intrusion, but you have yet to finish reviewing our proposal. We must have your signature before we present it to the Senate."
"I am sorry, Senator Organa," Palpatine says. "You know how the Kaminoans are if they're kept waiting. I'll have to reschedule it."
Padmé suddenly finds herself alarmed for a very different reason. "We had to wait months for this meeting!" she objects. "We cannot just reschedule it. This bill is time-sensitive."
"I assure you, the Kaminoans also had to wait months, Senator. Rest assured our appointment will be of the highest priority."
Padmé isn't sure how she winds up outside Palpatine's office with her small committee and the Jedi, but she does. The Jedi leave without speaking. Bail looks after them the way a bounty hunter looks at someone they haven't been paid to kill, but who just cost them a payday, and then produces a datapad and begins trying to reschedule their meeting with Palpatine. "I'm going to retire to my apartment," Padmé says, and he nods.
"I'll send you the details once I have the meeting scheduled," he says.
The walk back to her apartment is too long and gives her time to think, to wonder, and to rationalize. Why had Anakin just left? Why hadn't he told her? What did he hope to accomplish? Surely he knew that there wouldn't be a safe place in the Galaxy to hole up with twelve thousand clones? If he had deserted over the clones' treatment, then whatever the catalyst had been must have been serious. The Galaxy is not friendly toward Republic clone troopers.
She enters her apartment, silent and still, and activates her holoprojector. She hails the Resolute II but is greeted only by a message slowly rotating above her projector that the holoreciever she is trying to reach has been disconnected, and to contact her local maintenance center if the problem persists.
It's then that it really sinks in for her that Anakin is gone. As idiotic as he can be, he's not stupid. If finding him was as simple as tracing one of the many beacons installed in every Republic warship the Council wouldn't have come to her. He doesn't want to be found. She shuts the holoprojector down and steps out onto her balcony, wrapping her arms around herself as she stares out across the Coruscant skyline to the Jedi Temple.
"Mistress Padmé, you have a visitor," says C-3PO from behind her.
"Not now, Threepio," she says.
"I think you might want to speak to him. It's Master Kenobi."
Padmé stares in the direction of the Jedi Temple for a few more seconds before turning her back on it. "You're right," she says as she strides across her balcony and back into her sitting room. "I do want to speak to him."
She's surprised to see that Obi-Wan is not alone; Ahsoka Tano stands behind him, and Padmé doesn't need the Force to see that she's angry. "Master Kenobi, Padawan Tano," she says. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"
Obi-Wan catches on to the hint of sarcasm in her tone and has the gall to look upset. "I thought you and Ahsoka both deserved to know the whole story," he says.
"That's surprisingly generous of you," Padmé says. "Well, what happened?"
Obi-Wan sits down on her couch. Ahsoka remains standing, arms crossed over her chest. "One of Anakin's clones was being recalled for reconditioning," he says slowly. "I'm not sure of the details myself, but he - well, he threatened Senate troops with his lightsaber."
Padmé tries to imagine Anakin holding his lightsaber to the throat of a Senate commando. It's a ridiculous image, but not entirely improbable.
"The Council summoned him and he became angry almost immediately."
"So business as usual, then," Ahsoka says, and despite the grim circumstances Padmé stifles a laugh.
"He accused us of not caring for the clones' lives." Obi-Wan forges ahead, looking troubled.
Padmé cuts him off before he can continue. "What exactly is 'reconditioning'?" she asks.
Obi-Wan manages to look more troubled. "I'm not sure," he says. "The Kaminoans keep their cloning practices very secret, including, well, maintenance."
"Why was he being recalled?" Padmé asks. Perhaps there is an insight in the official notice.
"Unfortunately we don't have access to that information, and Anakin didn't say," Obi-Wan says. "The only files we have on individual clones are their service records. We don't even know which clone it was. Most of the 501st have black marks on their records after their last mission."
He doesn't offer any further insight into this last mission, and Padmé doesn't ask. She instead gives voice to a more urgent objection. "You don't have access to that information?" she says in disbelief. "How do you not have access to that information? You're their commanding officers, aren't you?"
"We are generals, Senator, nothing more. The clones serve the Republic directly. It's standard procedure -"
"It is not standard procedure!" Padmé says in horror. "All licensed militaries conduct disciplinary action through the commanding officer. It's required."
Ahsoka speaks up. "I think what Master Obi-Wan meant to say is that it's standard procedure for clones," she says. Everyone in the room knows the unspoken implication of that statement.
"The Jedi support your bids for clone rights, Senator," Obi-Wan says, but he's choosing his words carefully. "We all hope that after the war -"
"After the war," Padmé snaps back. "Do you know how long that will be, General Kenobi? And how many clones will die in it without even being given a choice? I think I understand the whole story. Thank you for your time."
Obi-Wan takes the hint that it's time for him to leave and stands to leave. He pauses by the door and half turns to look back at her. "I assure you, if the Jedi were a political body we would support you unwaveringly on the clone rights bills."
"But you aren't," Padmé says. "In fact, these days, it seems like you're set on being a military one."
Obi-Wan leaves in silence. Ahsoka follows. Padmé sinks down onto her couch and wraps her arms around herself. The explanation has left her with more questions and most of them start with why. Why hadn't Anakin come to her? There might have been something she could have done. Why had he deserted? He was proud to serve the Republic. Oh, he had told her several times that he didn't think the system worked, but since the war had broken out he had devoted himself to defending the Republic with fierce loyalty. He's good friends with the Chancellor. Why hadn't he gone to the Chancellor?
Why doesn't he trust her?
Outside, in the building's hallway, Ahsoka wraps one hand around her upper arm, looking at the floor sadly as she speaks. "I think I understand why Anakin did what he did, but I'm still… well, I'm still hurt."
"I think we all are," Obi-Wan says. "Don't worry, I doubt he meant to hurt you when he made his choice."
"Well, he did," Ahsoka says. "It's just, we do everything together! Well, not everything, but everything big."
"Yes, you made that quite clear when you followed us to the Citadel," Obi-Wan says. "Bear in mind, if you had gone with him you would also be facing expulsion now."
"That's the thing!" Ahsoka says. "I don't think I'd have gone with him. I belong in the Jedi Temple. It's my home. I don't think the clones are treated fairly, but leaving isn't the solution." She pauses as they stop in front of an elevator. Obi-Wan presses the button and a soft chime sounds to indicate that the lift is on its way. "It's just… Why doesn't he trust me?"
Obi-Wan raises his eyes to the elevator door, still closed tight as he waits for the lift to arrive, and doesn't answer.
So, uh, I've never written Ahsoka before. I think I've got a solid grasp on her personality, but I'm still in the toddler stages, so bear with me while I figure her out. It doesn't help that I'm trying to capture a very complicated emotion here, when you understand why someone acted the way they did but still think they're wrong.
Archive of Our Own user seraf pointed out to me on the last chapter that there actually is a canon resource that explains reconditioning at least a little bit, The Essential Guide to Warfare. I haven't read this book, though I'll pick up a copy as soon as I can afford to. I do try to follow canon as closely as I can (I say as I write a major AU), but Star Wars is such a huge canon and I definitely have not read everything. (Also a lot of my "canon knowledge" is still EU canon and not current canon.) So if I get anything wrong please do correct me.
Anyway in this chapter I've taken the liberty of assuming that the Jedi don't know exactly what reconditioning entails. I'm not sure if this is true or not but I am going to stick with that assumption for the purposes of this fic, because otherwise I can't really justify the way the Council behaved in Chapter 1.