Padmé awoke to the sound of the rain falling, softly, against the window of their bedroom. She had slept fitfully, at best; she had found it difficult to sleep without him beside her, even though, by some miracle or mechanism of the Force that she didn't understand, she had found that, as she lay quietly in the darkness, she could still feel his warm, comforting tremor in her heart. She didn't care how, or even want to understand; it had been there since that day on Geonosis, and she was just thankful that it was there.
It had taken her a long time to fall back to sleep after she had awakened, suddenly, a few hours before. She had dreamed that he was in pain, and the dream had been so real that it had frightened her, terribly, so much so that she had cried out and bolted up in their bed, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She had closed her eyes and told herself that it was just a dream, but that had given her little comfort until she had calmed down enough to sense that his tremor was still there, and, after a long while, she had managed to drift back off into a fitful slumber.
She rolled over slowly toward his side of their bed, and, as she opened her eyes, she smiled as she saw the single rose that rested on his pillow, along with a small, folded piece of paper. She reached over and gently picked them up, looking at the freshly cut rose with a sleepy smile as she closed her eyes and inhaled its fragrant scent; it was freshly cut, from her mother's garden, just as it always was.
Ever since that first morning when they had returned home, the day before their wedding, Anakin had never forgotten it. They had been married on the fourth day of the month, and, every month, on the fourth day, she always awoke to that single, simple gesture of love and devotion.
She laid the rose next to her on the bed, and opened the note that had been placed there with it. She smiled again as she recognized his handwriting; she wasn't quite sure how or when he had arranged this, but she felt her heart fill with warmth as she started to read the note that he had left her.
My Dearest Padmé,
I'm so sorry that I wasn't there to hold you last night, or bring you your rose myself. I asked Sola to bring it to you this morning so that you'd know that I was thinking about you.
You'll never know how much I love you. I miss you so much. I'll be home soon, my love. I promise.
I'll contact you just as soon as I can. Until then, know that my heart and my love are with you, and they always will be. Give our children my love and tell them I miss them, too.
I love you always,
Anakin
Padmé picked up the rose again and, closing her eyes, took another long, deep breath of its fragrant aroma. "I love you, too," she said softly, as she opened her eyes and looked at the rose with a smile.
She lay there quietly for a long time, looking fondly at the rose in her hand, until she heard the soft knock on her bedroom door. "Come in," she called quietly, as she lifted herself up in her bed and turned toward the door.
The door opened, slowly, and she smiled as she saw Ryoo's face peer through the doorway at her, sheepishly. "Aunt Padmé?" he asked, quietly. "Can I come in?"
"Of course you can, Ryoo," Padmé said, as she leaned back against her pillow. She smiled at him as he stepped through the door, still clad in his pajamas, and then quietly closed it behind him.
Padmé watched her sandy haired nephew as he walked, slowly and thoughtfully, toward her bed. "Come on up here," Padmé said, as she patted the bed next to her. He jumped up on the bed, landing on his stomach, and then crawled up next to her, as she pulled Anakin's pillow up behind him and placed her arm around his small shoulders.
"What are you doing up so early?" She said, as she squeezed his shoulders gently as he leaned close to her.
"I couldn't sleep," Ryoo said quietly, as he looked down at his small hands, as he clasped them tightly in his lap.
"What's wrong, Ryoo?" Padmé said, as she reached up and gently stroked his sandy blond hair. He reminded her so much of Anakin when he was younger, in so many ways.
Ryoo looked up at her; she felt her heart ache, as she saw his eyes glistening as he looked up at her. "I miss Uncle Ani," Ryoo said, quietly. "I'm scared, Aunt Padmé."
"Oh, Ryoo," Padmé whispered softly, as she pulled him close and hugged him tightly. "Don't worry," she said, as he put his small arms tightly around her. "Your Uncle Anakin is going to be just fine, I promise," she said, and she kissed him gently on the top of his head.
"Are you sure?" Ryoo said, looking up at her as she gazed down at him fondly.
"Of course I'm sure," Padmé said, gently brushing his hair out of his eyes. "Your Uncle Anakin promised me that he was coming home soon." She looked at him, reaching down and lifting his solemn little face so she could see him better. "Hasn't he always done everything he's ever promised us?" Padmé asked, softly.
"Yes," Ryoo said, as he looked up at her, listening intently.
"And," Padmé said, as she smiled at her nephew, "Uncle Anakin is a very powerful Jedi Knight, you know. You've watched him practice, haven't you?"
"Uh huh," Ryoo said, the hint of a smile spreading across his young face. "He fights with two laser swords," he said, his smile widening. "He's the best Jedi ever."
"Well, that's why he had to go with Master Obi-Wan," Padmé nodded. "The Jedi need his help, very much. It's very important that he be there, and we have to be brave for him while he's gone, okay?"
"Okay," Ryoo said as he nodded his head, and looked up at her thoughtfully. "But I still miss him."
"I miss him too, Ryoo," Padmé said, as she hugged him again, tightly. "Very, very much."
"I know," Ryoo said, looking up at as she held him in her arms. "I could tell you were really sad last night."
"It's only because I love him so much, Ryoo," Padmé said softly, as she laid her head gently on his.
Ryoo took a deep, thoughtful breath as Padmé rubbed his back, gently. "You can come hug me whenever you feel sad," he said quietly, after a long pause. "If you need to, until Uncle Ani gets home."
Padmé squeezed her eyes shut, as she hugged her nephew tightly. "Thank you, Ryoo," she whispered quietly, as he squeezed her tightly for a long moment. "I may need to, a lot." She looked down at him as he smiled at her, and then leaned down and kissed him on the cheek. "I know your Uncle Ani will be very proud of you," she said softly.
"I don't know how much help I'll be," Padmé said, as she brushed her hand through his hair playfully, "but why don't you and I see if we can work on your droid for a while tonight?" She smiled as she saw his face brighten. "Maybe we can surprise Uncle Ani when he gets home and have your droid say hello to him."
"Okay," Ryoo nodded, excitedly. "That'd be neat."
Padmé smiled again as Ryoo reached up and kissed her, quickly, on the cheek. She leaned back against her pillow, as she watched him climb down off the bed and start quietly toward the door. "See you at breakfast in a little while, okay?" she said, quietly, as he reached for the doorknob.
"Okay," Ryoo said, as he turned and looked at her with a smile. Very quietly, he opened the door and stepped out into the hall, and then pulled the door shut behind him.
Padmé lay there quietly for a long time, turning her rose over thoughtfully in her hand, as she listened to the rain continue to fall softly against her bedroom window.
"How was she this morning?" Jobal asked quietly, as she poured herself another cup of coffee, and then placed the pot back on the top of the stove. She picked up her cup, and then turned and walked carefully back to the small kitchen table as Sola took a sip from her own.
"She was sleeping the last time I checked in on her," Sola said, gently placing her cup back on the table as her mother sat down at the table next to her. "I could tell she'd been crying," Sola continued, as her mother looked at her with a deeply concerned expression.
"I'm so worried about him," Jobal sighed, as she picked up the spoon beside her and slowly stirred her cup, thoughtfully.
"He'll be fine, Mom," Sola said, as she tried to brighten her own worried countenance, reaching over and squeezing her mother's arm comfortingly. "Do you know what the last thing he asked me last night before he left was?"
"No, what?" Jobal asked, as she looked up from her cup.
"He asked me if I would be sure to give Padmé her rose," Sola said softly, as her mother smiled back at her. "He handed me a note that he had written for her, and asked me to please be sure to remember to give it to her with her rose so she'd have them this morning."
Sola's smile brightened as she continued. "He was so worried about it," she said softly. "He made me promise not to forget. It was so sweet." Sola picked up her cup and held it for a moment, gently blowing over the top of the hot coffee in it. "I left them on his pillow for her this morning."
"He's never forgotten, not once," Jobal sighed, as she stirred her cup another time or two, and then laid the spoon gently on the table.
"I remember when they had been married for just a month," Jobal said, looking back at Sola as she took a sip from her cup. "Anakin came and asked me, the night before, if I would mind if he cut a rose for her again from the garden," she said, as Sola listened. "I told him, 'honey, if you're cutting them to give to her, I don't care if you bring her the whole darn bush.'"
"You didn't know he would," Sola said, as they both laughed quietly together at the kitchen table.
"He has been, too," Jobal nodded, "a piece at a time. I had to plant three more rose bushes just to make sure he'd always have plenty to choose from."
"Padmé has every one of them, too," Jobal smiled, as she looked thoughtfully at Sola. "She's kept every single one of them."
"I don't think I've ever seen two people who love each other so much," Sola sighed, looking at her mother with a thoughtful smile. "I know this is hard on both of them."
"I know," Jobal said, nodding her head and placing her cup back on the table. "But they're facing it together, just like everything else," she said, with a long, thoughtful sigh.
They both sat quietly for a long moment, until they heard Padmé's soft footsteps coming down the hallway toward the kitchen.
They looked up, just in time to see her step into the doorway of the kitchen. "Good morning," Padmé said softly, as her mother and sister smiled up at her.
"Hey, baby sister," Sola said quietly, as she stood up from the table and met Padmé at the doorway, hugging her tightly. "How are you doing this morning?"
"I'm okay," Padmé nodded, and she smiled up at Sola as she released her from her hug. Padmé held her rose up where Sola could see it. "Is this your doing?" she asked, as Sola grinned back at her.
"No," Sola said, shaking her head and squeezing Padmé's shoulders tightly. "That was Anakin's doing. I just delivered it."
Padmé wrapped her arms around Sola's neck and hugged her again tightly. "Thank you, Sola," she said softly, as she squeezed her eyes shut tightly. "I don't know when you and Anakin planned that, but thank you so much."
"You didn't really think he'd forget, did you?" Sola asked softly, as Padmé smiled up at her.
"Are you hungry?" Jobal asked, as she stood up from the table and walked to the cabinet. "Sola and I were waiting on you to start breakfast."
"I am," Padmé said, and then looked down and rubbed her stomach with a grin. "At least," she said, looking back up at her mother and sister, "I think they are, anyway."
"Well, then," Jobal said, taking several large bowls down from the cabinet and placing them on the counter, "let's not keep those babies waiting."
"Ryoo's up," Padmé said, as she walked to the cupboard and fetched a cup for herself. "He came to see me a little while ago."
"He did?" Sola asked, as she turned and handed Padmé the pitcher of juice from the cooler. "What did he want?"
"He just came to check on me," Padmé sighed, as she poured herself a glass of juice. She sat the pitcher on the counter, and turned around and leaned back against the counter as she watched Sola take the container of flour from the cabinet and hand it to her mother.
"I think he was a little worried about Anakin," Padmé smiled at Sola, as she took a sip from her cup. "I think our little Jedi in training is planning on taking care of me till Anakin gets home."
"Well, you'll be in good hands, then," Jobal said, as she turned and nodded her head firmly.
"Have you seen Dad this morning?" Padmé asked, as she sat her cup on the kitchen table and started to help Sola and her mother prepare breakfast.
"Yes," Jobal said, as she carefully measured the flour, placing it in the large mixing bowl on the counter in front of her. "He got up early this morning to go into the workshop."
"Did he take Threepio with him?" Padmé asked. "He and Anakin had been talking about taking him in to help. Now's as good a time as any."
"Yes, I think so," Jobal replied with a nod. "They left about an hour ago. He wanted to get a head start today." She smiled up at Padmé as she handed her the bowl of flour that she'd just finished measuring. "He said it'll take the both of them all day to do what Anakin does in a morning."
"Well, hopefully," Padmé said, as she took the bowl and placed it on the counter in front of her, "they won't have to make do without him for long." Padmé reached down and took a large spoon from the drawer near her. "I thought I might go and help him for a while today," she said, looking back at her mother once more.
"I think that's a wonderful idea," Sola said, as she handed Padmé the container of cold milk that she had just taken from the cooler. "It'll be good for you to stay busy until he gets home."
"I just don't want to miss Anakin if he tries to contact us," Padmé said, as she took the container from Sola and sat it on the counter in front of her. "They should have made it to Coruscant a few hours ago," she said, quietly.
"Artoo's watching that transmitter 'round the clock," Sola said, as Padmé looked at her thoughtfully. "You can take the comlink with you, and if Anakin tries to call, Dad can run you home in a few minutes."
"Okay," Padmé said with a thoughtful smile, turning back to the bowl in front of her. She picked up the container of milk and, pouring it slowly into the bowl, she picked up the spoon and stirred the mixture slowly, as her thoughts drifted toward him, wherever he was, so very far away.
"Owwww!"
Obi-Wan looked through the doorway of the medical examination room, just in time to see Anakin slap the little medical droid, anything but lightly, right on the back of its smooth, metal head, as the sharp sound of his hand on the back if its head rang through the medical lab.
"That hurt, you little rust bucket," Anakin growled painfully, and the little droid hovered back away from him quickly, as Anakin reached down and gingerly rubbed his leg where the unfortunate droid had attempted to fasten the dermal generator just above his wounded knee.
"I'm sorry, sir," M-3B responded, sympathetically, as he approached him again, slowly, as Anakin looked at the little droid with a wary frown as he hovered near his side. "Perhaps we should give the anesthetic another moment to work before we proceed."
Obi-Wan smiled as he walked into the examination room. "Now, Anakin," he chuckled, grinning broadly, rubbing his newly mended arm gingerly as he walked slowly to Anakin's side, "it's going to take him a lot longer to get you healed up if you keep abusing him like that."
"Sorry, Master," Anakin said with a sheepish grin, as Obi-Wan walked up next to him. "How's your arm?" he asked, as he watched the little droid extend his slender, mechanical arms and, very gently, attempt to fasten the dermal generator to his leg again.
"It's a bit stiff," Obi-Wan said, as he swung it around a few times, gingerly. "But it's fine." He looked at Anakin, as he reclined back against the examination table. "Looks like they've just about got you mended up," Obi-Wan nodded, looking down at Anakin's leg as the skeletal regenerators moved, smoothly, up and down along his lower leg, bathing it in a soft, blue glow.
"Almost," Anakin said, as he watched the little droid switch the dermal generators on near the deep gash above his knee, their green lights flashing smoothly as they began to hum softly. His thoughts drifted, for a moment, to the last time he had heard that familiar hum, the night that Beru had tended Padmé's wounded shoulder. "Padmé wouldn't be very impressed with me right now," Anakin sighed. "She had four of these things on her at once, and she didn't have any anesthetic."
"Well, I won't say a word," Obi-Wan said, patting Anakin gently on the shoulder. "You came out a little worse for wear in that landing of ours than I did. It's only natural that it'll take them just a little longer to put you back together again."
"By the way," Obi-Wan said, as he looked at Anakin proudly. "That was an exceptional bit of piloting, bringing that ship in the way you did," he said. "You saved a lot of lives today."
"I'm just sorry we couldn't bring Dooku in for questioning," Anakin said with a resigned sigh, as he watched the little medical droid turn and putter across the examination room to the supply cabinet. "Or whoever it was that killed him."
"I know," Obi-Wan said, turning his own eyes toward the smoothly moving skeletal regenerators as they worked on Anakin's wounded leg. He took a long, deep breath, and stood quietly for a long moment.
"Anakin," Obi-Wan said, looking at his companion thoughtfully, "I've been thinking. It must've been Sidious who killed Dooku and took the Chancellor," he said, as Anakin looked at him intently. "It's the only thing that makes any sense."
Anakin sat quietly for a moment, as he watched the little medical droid return and gently begin to apply some medication to the gash above his knee. He winced, slightly, as the little droid applied the medication; it stung, but only a little. "Sorry, sir," the little droid replied quickly, drifting quickly away as he saw Anakin flinch.
"It okay," Anakin grinned, as he motioned for the little droid to continue. "And I'm sorry I slapped you a few minutes ago."
"That's quite all right, sir," the little droid replied, as he gently went back to work on Anakin's leg.
Anakin turned his mind back to Obi-Wan's theory. "I don't think so, Master," Anakin finally said after a long pause, as he turned and looked back at Obi-Wan. "Though I admit," he said, thoughtfully, "that would makes perfect sense."
"You don't think that's the case?" Obi-Wan said, looking at his former padawan intently as Anakin turned a deeply troubled face toward him.
"It's a perfect fit," Anakin said thoughtfully. "Sidious kills count Dooku so we can't interrogate him, and then escapes with Chancellor Palpatine while General Grievous keeps us busy."
"And then," Anakin continued, "we're left with nothing to go on except a huge mess in the Senate while the Separatists try to barter the Republic's surrender with Palpatine's life."
"Exactly," Obi-Wan said with an attentive nod. "So what's wrong with the picture?"
"Whoever it was that took the Chancellor, Master," Anakin said, looking at Obi-Wan, deeply thoughtful, "I don't believe he was Sidious." Anakin paused for a long moment, as he took a deep, thoughtful breath.
"But," Anakin said, his expression deeply troubled, "Sidious was in that room."
Obi-Wan listened to his young friend with rapt attention as he continued. "Just before we entered that room, when you were cutting through the door," Anakin said, "I felt that same tremor I felt the day I left the Senate building four years ago."
"Are you sure?" Obi-Wan asked, his own expression growing more troubled as he began to sense, instinctively, where Anakin's thoughts, and the Force, were leading him.
"Positive," Anakin nodded, firmly. "It was the same feeling that I've sensed since then, too, only much, much stronger."
"But if you're certain that Sidious was in that room, and that Dooku's killer wasn't Sidious," Obi-Wan said, looking at Anakin, his own expression growing more troubled by the second, "then that would mean..."
"Chancellor Palpatine," Anakin said, looking intently at Obi-Wan and nodding his head slowly.
Obi-Wan leaned back and took a long, deep breath, as the magnitude of what Anakin was suggesting to him began to take shape in his mind.
"I don't know how I know, Master," Anakin said as Obi-Wan folded his arms tightly over his chest and looked at his young friend intently, "but I'm sure of it. Chancellor Palpatine is Darth Sidious."
"I'm not doubting you, Anakin," Obi-Wan said, extending his hand and squeezing Anakin's shoulder firmly, "but if what you say is true, then obviously, whoever it was who killed Dooku would be working for Sidious."
"Agreed," Anakin said, nodding his head and looking back at Obi-Wan.
"But we saw the one who killed Dooku take the Chancellor from the room, quite forcefully," Obi-Wan continued, his brow furrowing as he tilted his head and looked at Anakin intently.
"We were meant to think that," Anakin said, looking back down at the medical droid as he continued to tend to his wounded knee. "Assuming that we managed to survive and get off the ship, that is."
"So that, if we did survive and returned to the Council," Obi-Wan said, quietly, "we would tell them that we had seen the Chancellor taken prisoner."
Anakin nodded and started to respond, but, just at that moment, Obi-Wan's comlink beeped loudly. He watched as Obi-Wan reached under his cloak, retrieving the small device from his belt, and pressed the button on the side.
"Yes," Obi-Wan said, still rolling the mind-numbing possibility that Anakin had suggested over in his mind.
"Obi-Wan?" Anakin heard Mace Windu's voice call over the comlink. "I trust that you and Anakin are receiving proper treatment?"
"Yes, Master," Obi-Wan said, as he looked back at Anakin with a grin. "I'm fine, and they're treating Anakin's leg as we speak."
"Excellent," Mace Windu replied. "I thought you might like to tell Anakin that not a single life was lost when the Imperial Hand went down earlier. We have his piloting skills to thank for that."
"That's wonderful news, Master," Obi-Wan said, as he saw Anakin close his eyes and nod, relieved. "I know that Anakin will be pleased to hear that."
"As were we," Mace Windu said. "How much longer until the two of you can leave the infirmary?"
Obi-Wan looked at the medical droid that tended to Anakin's leg. "At least another hour, sir," the little droid responded, turning his attention to Obi-Wan. "The fracture to his tibia was significant and needs to heal completely before he returns to active duty."
"At least another hour, Master," Obi-Wan said, turning his attention back to the comlink.
"Very well," Mace said. "You'll have to leave Anakin there for the time being, then. We need you to meet us as soon as possible at the Temple."
Anakin and Obi-Wan exchanged glances for a moment, and then Obi-Wan turned his attention back to the comlink in his hand. "Of course, Master," Obi-Wan said. "I can pick Anakin up later. What's going on?"
"We received welcome news only a few moments ago," Mace said. "Chancellor Palpatine has apparently escaped from the Separatists. The Council is meeting with him in half an hour. We need you to join us."
Obi-Wan turned and looked at Anakin, as he looked back at him, an expression of deep concern on his young face. "Escaped?" Obi-Wan said, turning his attention back to the comlink. "But how? Anakin and I saw him taken off of the Imperial Hand, or, at least we assumed he was, just before it went down." Obi-Wan paused for a moment, as he looked back at Anakin. "We weren't even certain he'd gotten off the ship."
"Apparently," Mace said, "the Chancellor managed to escape from his abductors and leave the ship via one of the escape pods."
Obi-Wan looked back at Anakin; Anakin said nothing, but shook his head slowly, clearly not believing what he was hearing.
"In either case," Mace Windu continued, as they turned their attention back to the comlink, "we feel the time has come to speak with the Chancellor about relinquishing his emergency powers and dismantling the Republic Army. Now that Dooku is dead, we feel that the Clone Wars may be coming to an end."
Obi-Wan and Anakin both listened intently as Mace continued. "Since Dooku's death, the Separatists have broken off their attacks," he said. "Only a few systems remain to be liberated. The violence may soon be over."
"Meet us in Master Yoda's chambers in thirty minutes," Mace Windu said. "We will go from there to the Chancellor's office."
"Understood, Master," Obi-Wan said, and he looked at the comlink thoughtfully as it beeped and fell silent.
"There's no way," Anakin said, shaking his head again as Obi-Wan looked at him intently. "The Sith that took him off of that ship was extremely well trained in the Jedi arts," Anakin said. "There's no way that Palpatine could have simply escaped from him."
"It all fits, Master," Anakin continued. "Dooku told you that the Senate was under Sidious's control," he said. "Maybe he was telling you the truth, since he knew that the Council would never believe it."
Obi-Wan nodded, slowly, as he returned the comlink to his belt and folded his arms over his chest thoughtfully. "The first thing he did, when the Senate granted him emergency powers was build an army," Obi-Wan said, looking back at Anakin.
"If you're right, Anakin," Obi-Wan said, "It's a fair bet that he's not going to want to relinquish that power, now that he has it."
Obi-Wan looked at Anakin intently; he knew how strongly the Force was with him now. Anakin was an extremely powerful Jedi, no longer the angry, ambitious young padawan he was so long ago. Anakin's life revolved around Padmé, yet he had been willing to leave her, to leave all that he held dear and loved, to come and help him. Even more, she had been willing to send him, at a time when she needed him most. He trusted Anakin now, as much, or more, than he trusted anyone.
"Anakin," he said quietly, looking at his former padawan with a deeply serious expression, "I trust your judgment. If you tell me you're certain of this, I believe you."
"I am, Master," Anakin said, nodding his head firmly. "The Force is telling me that Chancellor Palpatine is the Dark Lord of the Sith."
"And whoever it was who killed Dooku," Obi-Wan said quietly, "would take Dooku's place as his apprentice."
"Master Yoda always said that there were always two," Anakin said, looking at Obi-Wan intently. "No more, and no less."
Obi-Wan nodded his head, slowly, and then reached over and squeezed Anakin's shoulder firmly. "You stay here and get that leg tended to," he said, nodding his head. "I'll go and speak with Master Yoda and the other members of the Council before we meet with the Chancellor." He paused for a moment, and then smiled at Anakin approvingly. "And tell them what we believe."
Anakin smiled back at him. "Thank you, Master," he said, nodding at Obi-Wan respectfully. "Thank you for believing me."
"I'll be back soon," Obi-Wan said as he turned and tossed the hood of his cloak over his head.
"Be careful, Master," Anakin said, as he watched Obi-Wan turn to leave. "I sense something," he said, as Obi-Wan looked back at him. "Something doesn't feel right."
"I will," Obi-Wan nodded. "Don't worry. I'll be back soon as I can."
"While you're mending," Obi-Wan said, as he turned and looked back at Anakin with a grin as he made his way toward the door, "why don't you give Padmé a call and let her know you're all right? I'm sure she's worried about you."
"I will, Master," Anakin nodded.
"And for goodness' sake," Obi-Wan said, turning as he reached the door and waving his hand with a frown, "don't tell her I let you get banged up that badly. I'll never hear the end of it."
"No problem, Master," Anakin chuckled, as he watched Obi-Wan turn and walk out of the examination room. He looked back toward the medical droid as it continued to tend to his leg, and leaned back on the examination table, crossing his arms over his chest thoughtfully. He took a long, deep breath, as his mind drifted back to the dark, hooded figure he had encountered on the ship.
Hard as he tried, he still couldn't get that terrifying face out of his mind.
Obi-Wan walked briskly down the long ornate hallway, the sound of his boots echoing loudly off the smooth, arched walls of the Jedi Temple as he made his way quickly toward Master Yoda's audience chamber.
The cold realization of what Anakin had told him was still sinking in; if his young friend was right, and he truly believed he was, then what Dooku had told him so long ago was true, and the events of the past fourteen years began to take on a whole new, sinister meaning.
It all made frightening sense, the more that he thought about it, as he had rolled those events over in his mind. He only hoped, as he rounded the corner of the corridor and walked toward the tall, arching doors of Master Yoda's audience chamber, that he could persuade the senior members of the Council to see what he and Anakin now truly believed to be the dark truth about Chancellor Palpatine.
Mace Windu and Yoda turned from their position near the center of the room as the doors to Yoda's chambers opened, and they watched as Obi-Wan entered and then turned and closed the door behind him.
"Welcome back, Obi-Wan," Mace said, as Obi-Wan turned and walked toward him, tossing the hood of his cloak onto his shoulders as he walked.
"Thank you, Master," Obi-Wan said, stopping and bowing politely as he approached them. "I'm sorry if I've kept you waiting," he said, apologetically.
"Not at all," Mace said, and he reached over and squeezed Obi-Wan's arm firmly. "How's Anakin?"
Obi-Wan smiled as he took a long, deep breath. "He's doing fine, Master," he said, nodding his head and placing his hands on the belt at his waist. "Although, he was giving the medical droid that was treating him a bit of hard time just before I left him."
"Understandable, that is," Yoda said, as he rested his small hands on his cane and looked up at Obi-Wan with a nod. "Fortunate, you both were," he said, "that injured more seriously, you were not."
"Indeed," Ki-Adi Mundi said, as he walked across the room from his place near the window to join them. "It is a welcome relief to see you unharmed," he said, bowing his tall head at Obi-Wan approvingly. "When we first received news that the Imperial Hand had gone down, we feared the worst."
"If it hadn't been for Anakin," Obi-Wan nodded, "those fears would have been well founded."
"I look forward to seeing him soon," Mundi replied, and then he turned his attention back to Mace Windu. "The appointed time approaches," he said. "We must be on our way to the Chancellor's office."
"Masters," Obi-Wan said, as the three senior Council members turned their eyes and attention toward him, "before we go, there's something that we need to discuss."
"Can it wait until we return, Obi-Wan?" Mace asked, as Yoda and Ki-Adi Mundi considered him thoughtfully.
"No, Master," Obi-Wan said, shaking his head. "It's extremely urgent that we discuss it now, before the meeting."
Mace and Yoda looked at each other, somewhat curiously, for a moment. "Very well," Mace said with something of a sigh, as he turned and gestured to the small circle of chairs in the center of Yoda's chambers. Obi-Wan followed the three Jedi Masters to the center of Yoda's brightly lit chambers, and he took a seat next to Yoda, as Mace and Ki-Ati-Mundi took their places across from them.
Yoda leaned his small cane next to his chair; he turned and looked attentively at Obi-Wan, as he watched him lean forward in his seat, resting his elbows on his knees as he folded his hands in front of him.
"Something deeply troubles you, Obi-Wan," Yoda said, as he contemplated Obi-Wan's concerned expression for a long moment. "An urgent matter, this must be."
"Yes, Master, it is," Obi-Wan acknowledged, dipping his head slightly as he turned his attention to the tiny Jedi Master. "Very urgent, indeed."
"Miss Padmé," Threepio said, as he walked stiffly through the front door of the shop, the two large containers of parts balanced carefully in his metal arms, "the parts that Master Ruwee was expecting have arrived."
"Oh, good," Padmé said, as she looked up from the computer display where she worked and watched him as he walked slowly toward her. "Just take them in the back, Threepio," she said with a smile. "I think Dad's waiting on them."
Padmé watched him as he turned sideways and, very gingerly, worked himself and the two large containers through the narrow doorway and headed back into the shop where her father was working. She turned her attention back to the desk, picking up the small, handheld data pad and studying it closely, as she compared it to the large display that sat on the desk in front of her.
It had been quite some time since she had come in and helped Anakin and her father with the books, and it showed; she smiled to herself as she worked quickly, making short work of the huge backlog of paperwork, balancing transactions and correcting inventory logs. Anakin's skills as a repairman were unmatched, and her father was an accomplished salesman and quite handy in the shop himself, but neither one of them seemed to be able to remember to keep the books up to date. They had been a mess indeed, when she had arrived earlier this morning; she had found that she had her work cut out for her.
"Honestly, Dad," Padmé called, as she transferred several more transactions into the main system and reconciled them against their parts inventory, "I don't see how you and Anakin can manage to get these books so messed up."
"What's that, sweetheart?" Ruwee said, as he walked through the doorway and came and stood behind her, looking over her shoulder and squinting at the display as he wiped his hands on the greasy rag he had taken from his pocket.
"These books," Padmé said, looking over her shoulder at him with a playfully disgusted expression. "I don't see how in the world you and Anakin manage to make such a mess of them."
"Well, now," Ruwee said with a sheepish grin, as he watched her turn in her chair and look at him suspiciously, folding her arms across her chest, "it's not that we try to make a mess of them," he said. Padmé snorted, playfully, and she cocked her head and looked at him, the corner of her mouth drawn up in a sly grin.
"Now, don't look at me like that," Ruwee started to laugh, as he held his dirty hands up in front of him defensively. "You know that Anakin and I don't much care for all of that management and mathematical stuff."
"Oh, don't give me that," Padmé laughed back at him. "You've been a businessman all of your life, and Anakin can do more math in an hour than most people can do in a day!"
Ruwee chuckled, as he watched her shake her head and look back at the display in front of her; he could tell she was enjoying herself immensely, in spite of what she told him. He leaned down close to her with a grin, as she picked up the data pad and looked at it again.
"The truth is," Ruwee whispered softly by her ear, as she stopped and smiled as she listened to him, "is that you're just so much smarter and better at that management stuff than we are, so we just save it for you."
Padmé laughed loudly, as she touched the keypad and transferred another group of inventory records into the main system. "Don't forget, my dear father," she said, grinning broadly, never taking her eyes off the display, "that I was a senator in the Republic for a long time, and I know a con artist when I see and hear one."
"And the truth is," Padmé said, smiling brightly and turning her head so that she could whisper in his ear, "is that you're just as poor a con artist as Anakin is, and you're both just lazy when it comes to paperwork." She leaned over and kissed him quickly on the cheek. "But I love you both anyway."
"Yes, ma'am," Ruwee laughed as he stood up, patting her gently on the shoulder, and he turned around and started back into the workshop again.
Padmé had only been working for a few moments when she heard the telltale beep of the comlink in the pocket of her dress. She laid the data pad down on the desk, and quickly pulled the small, shiny device from her pocket and pressed the button.
She heard the quiet chirp as the com channel opened on the other end. "Padmé?" she heard Sola's voice call.
"Yes, Sola," Padmé said, listening to her sister's voice intently. "I'm here. What is it?"
"Artoo just came in the house, beeping and whistling like there's no tomorrow," Sola said excitedly. "I knew what he wanted, but we found the display in your room just to make sure," she said. "Anakin just called."
Ruwee walked back through the door and listened attentively as Padmé turned in her chair toward him. "What did he say?" she said, her expression a mixture of excitement and concern. "Is Artoo talking to him now?"
"Artoo says that Anakin said to tell you he's just fine, and that they're on Coruscant," Sola said. "Artoo told him where you were, and he said that he'd call again in just a little while."
Ruwee looked at Padmé and smiled as he saw his youngest daughter's face brighten. "So," Sola said cheerfully over the comlink, "your husband will be calling shortly, my lady. You might want to come on home," Sola chucked, "or would you rather I just tell him you're busy and take a message?"
"Don't you dare," Padmé laughed, standing up quickly. She turned and switched the display off, and placed the data pad in the drawer underneath the desk. "I'll be home in a few minutes. Tell Artoo to keep him online if he calls."
"Okay," Sola laughed in reply. "But be careful coming home. Anakin said that he'd give you plenty of time to get here, so take your time."
"I will," Padmé nodded. "I'll see you soon." She looked at the comlink as it beeped again and fell silent, and then returned it to her pocket.
Padmé turned and looked at her father, as he stood watching her in the doorway. "Go," he said, as he reached into his pocket and tossed her the enabler key for his speeder. Padmé caught it, and looked back at him with a bright smile. "Just tell Sola to come and pick me up in time for dinner," he said.
"Thanks, Daddy," Padmé said, as she walked quickly to her father's side. "I will, I promise." She leaned up and kissed him gently, and then turned and walked quickly toward the door.
"Oh," Padmé said, as she turned quickly and looked back at her father. "Could you and Threepio remember to bring home those parts I pulled for Ryoo's droid when you come home? I promised him I'd spend some time with him tonight," she grinned, as she turned back and reached for the door.
"I sure will," Ruwee nodded. "I'll box them up now and put them on the counter where we won't forget them."
"And tell Anakin I said he better be careful," Ruwee called after her, as Padmé opened the door; she turned and looked back at her father with a smile, and then walked quickly out of the door and toward the speeder.
"Well, Threepio," Ruwee said with a sigh, as he turned and patted the tall, silver droid on the shoulder, as he stood looking through the doorway behind him. "Box up those parts right quick for Padmé, and then let's get back to work. We still have a lot to do today."
"Yes, Master Ruwee," Threepio said obediently, and he picked up a small box from the floor near him, and then turned and followed Ruwee back into the workshop.
Mace Windu stood up, his countenance deeply concerned, as he walked slowly toward the window of Master Yoda's chambers. He looked out over the city for a long moment, watching as the transports and speeders wove in and out of the buildings and sky lanes below them.
"A great deal was happening on that ship, and in that room, Obi-Wan," Mace said, finally, as he turned and looked back at his friend as he sat next to Master Yoda. "Perhaps Anakin was mistaken."
"I don't believe so, Master," Obi-Wan said, shaking his head slowly. "Anakin said that he clearly sensed the Dark Lord's presence in that room."
"And we believe that he was," Mace said, as he turned and looked back out of the window. "Sidious must have been the one that killed Count Dooku. It's the only thing that makes sense."
"I agree that it looks that way on the surface, Master," Obi-Wan said, respectfully, "but Anakin confronted Dooku's killer before he escaped. He would have known if he were Sidious."
"If Chancellor Palpatine were the Dark Lord of the Sith," Mace said, turning and looking back at Obi-Wan, "we would have sensed it long ago."
"Hmmm," Yoda mused, turning a deeply thoughtful expression toward Master Windu, "difficult to see, the Dark Side is," he said, slowly. "Perhaps," he continued, "able to sense more of the Dark Side than we are, young Skywalker is."
"Count Dooku told me long ago that Sidious was in control of the Senate," Obi-Wan said, as the three Jedi Masters considered him as he spoke. "Palpatine used the Trade Federation invasion fourteen years ago to have himself installed as Chancellor, by manipulating Queen Amidala."
"Manipulating her?" Mace asked, regarding Obi-Wan with a puzzled expression. "How?"
"Padmé was young then, and relatively inexperienced," Obi-Wan said. "But she wasn't naïve; Chancellor Valorum was one of her strongest supporters. If Senator Palpatine hadn't persuaded her that calling for a vote of no confidence in Valorum would help end the Trade Federation's blockade, she would never have done it."
"Go on," Ki-Adi said, nodding his tall head slowly as he listened to Obi-Wan intently.
"Ten years later, as Naboo's senator," Obi-Wan continued, "Senator Amidala is one of the strongest, most outspoken supporters of using peace and negotiation to deal with the Separatists, opposing every resolution that comes before the Senate that even hints of a military solution."
"So, suddenly," Obi-Wan said, leaning back in his chair for a moment as he spoke, "Padmé finds her life threatened by repeated assassination attempts. They grow so frequent that Anakin and I are summoned to oversee her protection, and the only way we're able to guarantee her safety is for her to take a leave of absence so that we can place her in hiding."
"And if I remember correctly," Obi-Wan said, as he turned and looked back at Master Windu, "it was Chancellor Palpatine who insisted on providing her with extra security."
"Yes, I remember," Mace Windu said, folding his arms thoughtfully behind his back and taking a step closer to his companions. "She resisted his suggestion, but he was adamant that she comply and accept the additional security. He even specifically recommended you, since you and Anakin had been with her during the Trade Federation invasion."
"So, Senator Amidala's assistant, Jar Jar Binks," Obi-Wan continued, "one of the kindest, most naïve Gungans in the galaxy, is naturally appointed to take Padmé's place in the Senate during her absence," Obi-Wan said, as he watched Mace Windu's expression grow more concerned by the moment. "And, who happens to call for the amendment to grant the Chancellor the emergency power that he now has, the power he used to place the Clone Army into service for the Republic?"
"Jar Jar Binks," Mundi said, turning and looking back at Mace Windu, his thick, white eyebrows raised suspiciously as he spoke.
"No other Senator was willing to call for that amendment," Obi-Wan said, as they turned and looked back at him. "Indeed, had Senator Amidala still been there, she would have completely opposed even the suggestion of it."
"It's all too much of a coincidence, Masters," Obi-Wan said, as the three senior Council members listened to him intently. "Anakin goes to visit the Chancellor just before he leaves for Naboo, and senses something deeply disturbing on his way out."
"Now, four years later," Obi-Wan continued, "he senses the same thing in that room onboard the Imperial Hand, and he and I enter to find Dooku fighting with a mysterious Sith, who kills Dooku before we can capture him and escapes with the Chancellor."
"Anakin said that whoever it was who killed Dooku was extremely well trained and powerful," Obi-Wan said, looking at his companions, his expression deeply serious. "It just doesn't make sense that someone of Chancellor Palpatine's limited physical skills would be able to escape unaided from a Sith, especially if that Sith were the Dark Lord," he said. "And do so completely unharmed."
"If what you and Anakin believe is true," Ki-Adi Mundi said, thoughtfully, "then Dooku's killer would take his place as the Dark Lord's new apprentice."
"That's correct, Master," Obi-Wan said, nodding his head affirmatively. "I'm certain that we haven't seen the last of him."
"This is a serious accusation, Obi-Wan," Mace said, as he walked slowly across the room to join his companions where they sat. "I must admit, you paint a convincing picture, but we will need proof, if we are to bring this claim before the Council."
"Indeed," Mundi said, nodding his head. "If we go before the Senate and claim that the Supreme Chancellor is the Dark Lord without sufficient proof, it could cause as much damage as if he had been turned over to the Separatists."
"I agree," Yoda said with a thoughtful nod, from his seat beside Obi-Wan. "Proof we must have of this accusation," he said, "or confront the Chancellor, we cannot."
Obi-Wan sat quietly for a long moment. "You plan to ask the Chancellor to lay aside his emergency powers and begin dismantling the Republic Army, is that correct, Master?" Obi-Wan asked finally, turning his attention back to Master Windu.
"That is correct," Mace nodded. "Now that Dooku is dead, we believe that we have an opportunity to bring peace and negotiation back to the Senate to resolve the Separatist crisis."
"If Anakin and I are correct," Obi-Wan said, as his three companions listened intently, "then I'm willing to gamble that the Chancellor will resist our recommendation, or reject it completely out of hand."
"That would be a logical assumption," Ki-Adi Mundi said, turning his attention back to Mace and Yoda. "If the Chancellor truly does believe that peace and democracy are paramount, he should not resist us."
"And if he does," Mace said, nodding his head thoughtfully, "then we must bring this before the whole Council and attempt to find proof to back up Anakin's theory."
Mace sat quietly for a long moment, looking over the tops of his bridged fingers at his companions. "Very well," Mace Windu said, thoughtfully. "I believe that it is time that we go and meet with the good Chancellor."
"We must be cautious," Mundi said, as the four of them stood up, quietly from their chairs. "If the Chancellor is the Dark Lord, we do not wish to alert him to our suspicions."
"Agreed," Mace Windu said, adjusting his cloak on his shoulders. "We must bury our feelings, deeply," he said as he looked at his companions. "We do not wish to tip our hand to him if he truly is the Dark Lord."
"Obi-Wan," Yoda said, looking up at his friend thoughtfully as he rested his hands on his cane, "where is young Skywalker now?"
"He should be at my residence shortly, Master, if he isn't already," Obi-Wan said, as he adjusted his own cloak. "I contacted him on the way over here and suggested that he go there. He was going to catch a transport as soon as his treatment was complete." Obi-Wan looked at Yoda thoughtfully as he lifted his hood up over his head. "I told him it might be a good idea if he used the secure com system there to contact Padmé and let her know he was all right. I told him I'd join him later."
Yoda nodded his head, and then looked up at Mace Windu. "Go with you in my place, Obi-Wan will," Yoda said, as Mace turned his gaze toward the diminutive Jedi master. "Meet with young Skywalker, I will, and discuss with him what he has revealed to us."
"Very well," Mace said, as he tossed his hood up over his head. "We will contact you as soon as our meeting with the Chancellor is complete."
"May the Force be with you," Yoda nodded, as he watched his three companions turn and walk out of his audience chamber. He took a long, deep breath, and then walked toward the window, turning his deeply troubled countenance toward the bright, afternoon sky, gazing off into the distance.
He wasn't the only one now, it seemed, who had sensed the deeply troubling tremor in the Force. It hung, looming like a dark elusive storm, just beyond their sight, but it was there, nonetheless, and it was growing. He looked out of the window for a long moment, and then turned and walked slowly toward the door to his chamber, as his cane echoed lightly off the smooth marble walls as he made his way out of the room and down the long hallway of the Temple.
"Artoo?" Padmé called, as she walked quickly up the rear entrance deck of their ship and made her way toward the cockpit.
Artoo spun his sensor dome toward her, beeping and whistling excitedly at her from his place at the communications console. Padmé took the display from her pocket, and looked at it as she tossed her cloak onto the long, padded bench at the back of the cockpit.
Padmé smiled as she read the tiny display that she held in her hand as she walked over next to the little astrodroid. "Yes, I'm excited too, Artoo," Padmé said, as she looked at the little droid with a grin. "Did Anakin say when he'd contact you again?"
Padmé looked at the display again, as a long string of beeps and whistles ensued. "That should be any minute," Padmé said, as she reached into her pocket. "And yes," she said, "I have it right here."
She pulled the small, circular signal encrypter from her pocket that she had brought from her bedroom. "As soon as he signals, Artoo," she said, as she sat down on the bench and placed the encrypter in the slot on the holographic transmitter, "go ahead and open the com channel, okay?"
Padmé leaned back against the bench and took a long, deep breath, as Artoo whistled in reply. She had hurried home, as safely as she could, and she was anxious to talk to him and see his face; her dream from last night still bothered her, and she wanted to see for herself that he was indeed all right.
She looked quickly at the small translator display in her hand, as Artoo began to beep and whistle wildly as he swung his dome toward her again. "Well, hurry up," she said with a smile, as she nodded to the little droid. "Don't keep him waiting!"
She felt her heart begin to flutter excitedly as the lights in the ship's cabin began to dim, and then, with a bright flicker or two, Anakin's brightly smiling, green tinted image appeared above the holographic emitters.
The lights in Obi-Wan's quarters dimmed, bathing the room in a soft glow as her familiar, lovely image appeared above the holographic communication pad in front of him.
"You are, without a doubt, the most beautiful girl in the universe," Anakin said with a long, deep sigh, "even over a less than stellar com channel."
She laughed, as she leaned closer to the transmitter. "Hey, sweetheart," Padmé smiled back brightly at him, as he sat in the chair in front of Obi-Wan's com console. "How is everything? Are you all right?"
"Except for missing you terribly," Anakin smiled quietly, "I'm doing fine."
"I miss you too, Ani, very much," Padmé replied warmly. "I've been so worried about you."
"How are you feeling," Anakin asked, his face a little more concerned, "and how are our little ones?"
Anakin smiled, as he watched her pat her stomach gently. "Our little ones are just fine," she nodded. "They were quiet for a while after you left last night, but they've been making up for it today."
"They've been active today, huh?" Anakin asked, and he laughed as he saw her stick her tongue out playfully.
"Oh, yes," Padmé said, holding her round stomach playfully. "Ever since breakfast. They haven't stopped all day."
"We're going to have our hands full when they get here," Anakin laughed, "and I can't wait."
"By the way," Anakin asked, "did you have something waiting on you when you woke up this morning?" He smiled as he saw her face light up as soon as he asked.
"Yes, I did," Padmé smiled, softly. "And I needed it very much. Thank you, sweetheart. The rose and the note are by our bed so I can see them again tonight when I go to sleep. I'm keeping them there until you get home."
"Tell Sola I said thank you for remembering for me, okay?" Anakin replied. "I'm just sorry I wasn't there to give them to you myself." Anakin paused, as he looked at her lovingly for a long moment. "I miss you, Padmé," he said, softly.
"I know," Padmé replied with a deep sigh. "I miss you too, Ani, so very much. You'll be home soon, though."
"The sooner the better, as far as I'm concerned," Anakin said quietly.
"So," Padmé said, taking a deep breath, "what's been going on? Tell me everything, even the parts I may not like, like how badly you were hurt."
"Well, there's a lot..." Anakin paused for a moment, and looked at her, a puzzled smile on his face. "Wait a minute," he said, looking at her thoughtfully. "How did you know about that?"
"How do you think?" Padmé said, grinning back at him slyly. "But I knew you were, and we can talk about that in a minute. You start, from the beginning."
"Well," Anakin said, leaning back in his chair thoughtfully and propping his boots up on the console in front of him, "Quite a bit's happened. Do you have a while?"
"I've got a padded bench, an Artoo unit to keep the signal up, and all the time in the world for you, my love," Padmé said, and Anakin laughed as he watched her lean back against the bench of their ship.
"So," Padmé sighed, smiling brightly as she made herself comfortable on the soft, padded bench of their ship and folding her arms across her chest. "Start talking, sweetheart."
Our story continues shortly!...