Assignment
Anakin's POV
Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and I were headed towards the Jedi Council. Yoda had summoned a meeting with an unknown agenda, and I had a bad feeling about it. Ashoka was excused from the meeting so she, Padme, and my mom were spending the day shopping for baby clothes. I was worried that Padme was going to get too tired, but I knew my mom and Ashoka would take care of her. I wished I was with them. Obi-Wan gave me no inclination to what this was about and Qui-Gon was deep in thought. It was putting me on edge.
When we finally got to the entrance to the Council chambers, we were told to go right in. That also was bad news because it meant that I had done something that got them so mad they wanted to deal with me right away. When we walked in, I saw all of the council members seated with grim faces. I glanced over to Depa for reassurance, but she had the same bleak expression.
We bowed as was traditional, but no one spoke. Finally, I could not take it anymore.
"Whatever I did, I am deeply sorry. It was an accident," I said in my most sincere voice.
Based on the disapproving look from Obi-Wan, that was the wrong thing to say. Kit Fisto actually busted out laughing and took a minute to collect himself. Windu rolled his eyes and let his face fall into his hands, but I saw Shaak-Ti smile. The other masters were expressionless.
"You have done nothing, Anakin. This is about a different matter," said Depa.
I nodded. "Okay, then what is going on?"
"On the rise, Darth Sidious is," said Master Yoda.
"But I defeated him on Moriband," I said.
"He has recovered, and he is on the move," said Mace Windu.
Panic rose in my chest, and I suddenly felt like I was drowning. Sidious had already recovered? I had defied him and he was going to enact revenge. We were in danger! Padme and the twins were in danger. He would not rest until he had tortured us and I was at his mercy.
A hand came on my shoulder and shook me out of my panic. I looked into Obi-Wan's clear blue eyes and saw concern. I closed my eyes and tried to center myself in the Force. Doing what I had to in order to keep my sanity, I gave Padme and our unborn children to the will of the Force. I felt a rush of calming strength come through my veins, and opened my eyes.
"Skywalker, are you with us?" asked Windu.
"Yes Master," I said. "You must forgive me. I am fighting my impulse to try and control my family's fate. I had to release them into the force. I must confess the process is still difficult for me."
"I fail to recall a young Skywalker who was so humble and honest about his shortcomings," said Plo Koon.
"After release them into the force you did, how feel you?" asked Yoda.
"Better. The Force will not betray me."
"Get what you want, you may not. Control it, you can not."
"I understand, Master." I took a deep breath, time to get down to business. "So Sidious, how do we find him?"
"I think we should let him make the move. In order to see what he is doing," said Ki-Adi-Mundi.
"If we do that, innocent people could get hurt. There will be less casualties if we bring the fight to him," I said.
"That would only be true if we are strategic and precise. If we go in guns ablaze, the casualty count is still high," said Obi-Wan pointedly.
"To do that, we need reconnaissance," said Plo Koon.
"How we do that?" I ask.
"Meditation," said Yoda.
I sighed. We have been doing that. It has taken months and it has gotten us nowhere! I looked to Obi-Wan, suddenly angry and frustrated. He glanced at me and made a small gesture for me to calm down. I glanced around the room, and saw that Windu and Depa were watching me, waiting for me to get angry. I took a deep breath through my nose.
"Master," I said respectfully, "that will take time we do not have."
"Rashness will not serve us well either, Skywalker," said Stass Allie.
"But Anakin is right," said Obi-Wan. "Palpatine's goal is to rule the galaxy. Maybe with the help of another Sith. We can not just sit back and wait for that to happen."
"Double edge sword, we must have. Meditate and search through the force, we must. Attack Sith targets on reconnaissance, we must also."
"Are we starting another war?" asked Adi Gallia.
"War, it is not. But left unchecked, grow the Sith will. Then come war will," said Yoda.
"Anakin's family must be protected. If Sidious gets a hold of them, they will get a hold of Anakin," said Qui-Gon.
"Agreed. Become protective guardians of the Skywalker family, you will be, Qui-Gon Jinn," said Yoda.
"Anakin, are you comfortable with this?" asked Depa.
I locked eyes with Qui-Gon and a sense of peace settled over me. "Yes, Qui-Gon is more than capable of taking care of my family, and he loves them. I trust him completely."
"Then, travel to the Ziost system, Obi-Wan and you will, and search for the Sith."
We all bowed and left the room. When we had gotten out, we all walked in silence for a short time until we got out of the temple.
"When do we leave?" I asked.
"As soon as possible," said Obi-Wan.
"Well, we are finally taking the fight to them. Let's hope we can take that monster down!"