6

Coruscant

Anakin ran into the briefing room, knowing that he was far too late for the report. Obi-Wan was alone when he got there.

"You missed the report on the Outer Rim sieges," Obi-Wan told him as he shut down the holoprojector.
"I'm sorry, I was held up," Anakin said.
"Where were you?" Obi-Wan asked.

"I went to Naboo," he said. "I'll tell you all about it, but first tell me what I missed."

"In short, things are going very well," Obi-Wan said. "Saleucami has fallen, and Master Vos has moved his troops to Boz Pity. How is Padmé?"

"She is pregnant, Obi-Wan," he told him. "But it's my child she's carrying. Children, actually. She's carrying twins."

Obi-Wan raised his eyebrows. "Well, that does complicate things, doesn't it?"

"It does," Anakin said. "But we have a plan. So don't worry."

"I'll do my best," he said. "But there is something else you need to know."

"What is it? What's wrong?"
"The Senate is expected to vote more executive powers to the Chancellor today," Obi-Wan said.
"Well, it will make it easier for us to end the war," Anakin said.

"Anakin, be careful of your friend Palpatine," Obi-Wan warned.

Anakin frowned, remembering the reason he'd gone to Naboo, the issue he'd wanted to talk to Padmé about. "There's something you don't know," he said. "Something Palpatine said when you were unconscious."

Obi-Wan frowned. "What did he say?"

"He…he encouraged me to kill Dooku," Anakin said, "even though he was unarmed by then. And when I did, he suggested that I had a right to exact revenge for Dooku taking my arm."

Obi-Wan said nothing as he considered this. "He has requested your presence, Anakin."

"What for?"
"He would not say."
"He didn't inform the Jedi Council? That's unusual, isn't it?" Anakin asked, growing uneasy.
"All of this is unusual, and it's making me feel anxious," Obi-Wan said. "You're probably aware that relations between the Council and the Chancellor are stressed."

"I know the Council has grown wary of the Chancellor's power," he said. "And I have to admit, he's been acting strangely. I'm not sure what to make of it, though. I can't determine his intentions, he's very hard to read."

"The Force grows dark, Anakin, and we are all affected by it," Obi-wan warned. "Be wary of your feelings. And tread very carefully where the Chancellor is concerned."

Anakin nodded. "I will," he said. "I'll go see what he wants and report back to you."

Obi-Wan nodded. "I'll be waiting for you."

Chancellor's Office

Palpatine was standing in front of the large curved window watching the traffic zipping past. Anakin watched him for a moment, trying to get a read for where his thoughts were. But Palpatine was excellent at shielding his thoughts. He turned and gave Anakin a smile.

"Thank you for coming," he said. "Anakin, this afternoon the Senate is going to call on me to take direct control of the Jedi Council."

Anakin was shocked. "The Jedi will no longer report to the Senate?"
"They will report to me . . . personally. The Senate is too unfocused to conduct a war. This will bring a quick end to things."
"I agree, but the Jedi Council may not see it that way," Anakin pointed out.
"There are times when we must all endure adjustments to the constitution in the name of security," Palpatine said.
Anakin began to grow uneasy. "With all due respect, sir, the Council is in no mood for more constitutional amendments."
"That may be, but in this case I have no choice . . . this war must be won."
"No one will disagree with that," Anakin said. "But I know that the Council will resist this, your Excellency. They don't like what they deem interference from the government."

Palpatine smiled. "Anakin, I've known you since you were a small boy. I have advised you over the years when I could ... I am very proud of your accomplishments. You have won many battles the Jedi Council thought were lost . . . and you saved my life. I hope you trust me, Anakin."

"Of course," Anakin answered automatically.
"I need your help, son. I fear the Jedi. The Council keeps pushing for more control. They're shrouded in secrecy and obsessed with maintaining their autonomy, their . . . ideals. I find this simply incomprehensible in a democracy," Palpatine said.

The pit in Anakin's stomach tightened a notch. "I can assure you that the Jedi are dedicated to the values of the Republic, sir," he said carefully.
"Nevertheless, I'm appointing you to be my personal representative on the Jedi Council," Palpatine said. "I need you on the inside, Anakin. I can trust that you will tell me the truth of what is going on within the Council."

Anakin was shocked. "The Council elects its own members," he reminded Palpatine. "They will never accept this."
Palpatine smiled, and Anakin felt a shiver go down his spine. "They really have no choice in the matter, my boy. No choice at all."

Anakin returned to the temple, and sought out Obi-Wan. He found him heading into the Council chamber.

"I need to talk to you," Anakin said.

"The Council is expecting us," Obi-Wan said.

"Us? So they know?" Anakin asked.

"I'm afraid so," Obi-Wan said. "And I can tell you, Anakin, they're not happy."

"I'm sure," Anakin said. "But what am I supposed to do? I can't say no to the Chancellor!"

"No you can't, not without raising suspicions at any rate," Obi-Wan said. "Still, this might work to our advantage," he said.

"How do you mean?"

"Come on, let's go to talk to the others," Obi-Wan said. "I think it's time you told them about your concerns regarding the Chancellor."

They entered the council chamber, and Anakin stood in the middle of the room. He was surrounded by the Jedi Council.
"Anakin Skywalker, we have approved your appointment to the Council as the Chancellor's personal representative," Mace Windu said.
Anakin bowed. "I will do my best to uphold the principles of the Jedi Order," he said.
"Allow this appointment lightly, the Council does not," Yoda said. "Disturbing is this move by Chancellor Palpatine."
"I understand," Anakin said. "I agree, Master Yoda."
"You are on this Council," Mace continued. "But we do not grant you the rank of Master."
Anakin was stunned, angry and embarrassed. "What? How can you do this? This is outrageous, it's unfair! How can you be on the Council and not be a Master?"
Mace frowned. "Take a seat, young Skywalker."
Anakin swallowed his anger, and did as he was told, glancing at Obi-Wan as he sat down. "Forgive me, Master."
"Before we begin, Anakin needs to share with the Council some of his insights regarding the Chancellor," Obi-Wan said. "Go on, Anakin. Tell them what you've told me."

Anakin looked around at the assembled Jedi Masters, and nodded. "Very well," he said. He began by telling them about what had happened when he had killed Dooku, about how Palpatine had encouraged him, and made him feel justified. He also told them about Palpatine's efforts to engage Anakin in idle gossip about Padmé, who, he explained, was a good friend of his. The council grew concerned.

"Why do you think he's doing this?" Ki-Adi Mundi asked via his hologram.

"It seems to me as though Palpatine is trying to provoke Anakin," Obi-Wan said. "Isn't that what you told me, Anakin?"

Anakin nodded. "Goading is the word I'd use," he said. He looked back at Yoda and the others. "He…he flatters me," he said. "He questions decisions the Council makes, and it seems as though he's trying to pit me against the Council. I've tried to read his intentions, but he isn't easy to read. Impossible, in fact. And I've tried."

Yoda nodded. "Disturbing this is," he said. "Watch him closely, you must Anakin," he said.

"He has asked you to spy on us for him," Windu said. "But we want you to spy on him for us."

Anakin frowned. "I don't like this," he said. "It smacks of treason."

"If Palpatine is using you to drive a wedge in this Council, then we need to know it," Obi-Wan said. "He has wrested authority from the Senate with this latest acquisition of power. As Jedi our allegiance is to the Senate, not to its leader who has managed to stay in office long after his term has expired."

Anakin nodded. He had his own misgivings about the Chancellor, and knew that he was the one who was in the best position to determine what he was truly after. "Very well," he said. "I'll do it, but I'm not happy about it."

"Now, on to our next mission," Windu said. "Master Mundi?"

"We have surveyed all systems in the Republic," Mundi reported, "and have found no sign of General Grievous."
"Hiding in the Outer Rim, Grievous is," Yoda said. "The outlying systems, you must sweep."
"It may take some time," Anakin said.

Obi-Wan nodded in agreement. "We do not have many ships to spare."
"We cannot take ships from the front line," Windu said.
"And yet, it would be fatal for us to allow the droid armies to regroup," Obi-Wan said.
"Master Kenobi, our spies contact, you must, and then wait," Yoda said.
"What about the droid attack on the Wookiees?" Mundi asked.
"It is critical we send an attack group there, immediately!" Windu said.
"He's right," Obi-Wan said. "That is a system we cannot afford to lose. It's the main navigation route for the southwestern quadrant."
"I know that system well," Anakin said. "It would take us little time to drive the droids off that planet."
"Skywalker, your assignment is here with the Chancellor," Windu reminded him, "and Kenobi must find General Grievous."
"Go, I will. Good relations with the Wookiees, I have," Yoda said.
"It is settled then," Windu said. "Yoda will take a battalion of clones to reinforce the Wookiees on Kashyyyk. May the Force be with us all."

Anakin and Obi-Wan left together, each of them contemplative.

"I don't like that we're being separated," Anakin said. "You're going to need me to capture Grievous."

Obi-Wan nodded. "I'll just have to muddle through on my own," he said with a smile.

But Anakin wasn't amused. "I hate this," he said. "I'm at my best when I'm on the front line, not playing politics."

"I know, and I understand how you feel, Anakin," Obi-Wan said. "But you must realize that you are the best candidate for this mission. You're closer to the Chancellor than most, he trusts you. What's more, he seems to have a singular interest in you that troubles me. Surely you've noticed it."

Anakin nodded. "I have," he said. "But I've always thought that he just …appreciated my skills, my talents. He's always told me how unique I am, has always encouraged me."

"He's been feeding your ego, Anakin," Obi-Wan said, deciding to be blunt.

"What are you implying?" Anakin asked. "That I'm arrogant?"

Obi-Wan smiled. "Yes," he said. "I'm sorry, but it's true. You're very powerful Anakin, a truly great Jedi; but you lack humility, which is crucial to being a Jedi."

Anakin's immediate reaction was anger. "Is it arrogance to know that my abilities are greater than any other Jedi's?" he retorted.

"To know it is one thing," Obi-Wan said calmly. "But to brag about it, to claim that others are jealous of your powers, that's a different thing altogether. They are dark thoughts, Anakin. I worry when I hear you talk that way."

Obi-Wan's words were provocative, and gave Anakin pause. He had often thought the other Jedi, including Obi-Wan, were jealous of him. He frowned when he thought of where this notion had come from. "Palpatine has told me that often," he said. "But you know yourself the Council is mistrustful of me, and that is because of my powers. You can't deny that, Obi-Wan. Windu has never trusted me. Why else would he refuse to make me a Master even though I'm now on the Council?"

Obi-Wan sighed. "I cannot speak for Master Windu," he said. "And perhaps you are right about the Council," he said. "But surely you know that I trust you, Anakin," he said. "I trust you with my life."

"And I trust you," Anakin said.

"Then please heed my words when I tell you to be mindful of your thoughts, particularly when you are with the Chancellor," he said. "I know you feel that he is a friend, but you must consider that he has an ulterior motive. You said yourself that you have begun to question some of his actions."

"I can't deny that," Anakin said.

"Then trust those feelings, Anakin," Obi-Wan said. "And measure his words carefully in light of them."

"I will," Anakin said.

Obi-Wan took Anakin by the shoulders. "Be careful, Anakin," he said. "I sense your anxiety, and I wish I could be here to guide you. You must trust that the Force will show you the way, and govern your actions."

Anakin nodded. "I will," he said. "Thank you for everything, Master," he said. "May the Force be with you."

Obi-Wan smiled. "And with you, my young padawan."

Anakin watched as Obi-Wan walked away, his anxiety level increasing as he considered what they were each facing.

"General Skywalker."

Anakin activated his comlink as he walked away from the hangar. "Skywalker here."

"The Chancellor requests your presence in his office immediately."

"I'll be right there," he responded. The knot in his stomach grew a little tighter.