"Amidala!" Obi Wan greeted his friend. Then concern. He felt her unease.
"Mon Mothma has filled me in on the situation," she explained. She sat in the seat he offered her. "Obi-Wan, it's like the world has turned upside down overnight, and only a few of my friends have been left in reality."
"At least you know now why the holo-news has been beating you so mercilessly."
"Yes. I did not know that they were so blatantly biased in favor of Palpatine."
"My dear, they have been for years, but you didn't notice, because you . . ."
"Because I benefitted from it," Amidala finished for him.
He was embarassed, but let his silence be assent.
"And I walked right into the trap," she said glumly.
"There's no trap. The only real danger is when you do not know who your enemies are. Now you do. Take strength from it and fight back with truth."
"Which is what Senator Mon Mothma is planning. She wants you to meet with Senator Luke Organa and myself."
Without warning, Amidala's vision blurred. The stress was getting to her. She did not hide it as she could show a weakness in front of Obi-Wan and not be afraid of his reaction. He sensed it and took her hand, squeezing it, trying to give her strength.
"Looking back, would you have done anything differently?" he asked, his intense eyes on her face.
An image flashed before her mind. A 14 year-old girl calling for a vote of 'no confidence.' She commented, "Politics is a very ruthess arena."
"That's not an answer," Obi-Wan observed gently.
Amidala drew away, "What answer can I give? I only know that I have not done anything against Palpatine. I have always been his supporter."
"That is the issue which bothers you?"
"I don't know." Amidala began wringing her hands. "Obi-Wan I came to you for help. I trust you more than anyone, and . . ."
Obi-Wan grabbed both hands and gently silenced her, his face showing concern, "I am always your ally, Amidala." She smiled in response.
Obi-Wan felt it then, that same feeling when he was making the decision of Anakin's training. It was as though he was at another turning point. More than his help was needed. "Amidala, do I have your permission to speak of these matters before the Council?"
She shook her head, "No. We just need you, first. You should meet with Mon Mothma and Senator Organa."
"Just tell me when."
-----------------
Obi-Wan got off of the taxi at Kister and Anakin's place. Kister met him at the entrance. The young man was intimidated by the Jedi and nervously led him to Anakin's rooms, or rather workrooms. There was not an inch of space that was not covered with spare parts, droids, or models. Obi-Wan waded through the junk and finally found Anakin under what looked like a motor-speeder, but he couldn't be sure.
"Things are getting tense, buddy," Anakin commented, still stuck under his speeder, using the Force to read Obi-Wan's thoughts. Obi-Wan took it in stride.
"I know." He sat down and picked up a hydro-spanner.
"Will this really lead to war?" Anakin ducked out from under the speeder, his hand held out. Obi-Wan put the tool into his hand without needing to be asked. They always worked well together.
"Perhaps," Obi-Wan answered the question calmly.
"Wouldn't it be easier if the Jedi just let it blow over?"
"No."
Anakin slid out, wiping his hands on his pants, "You know I've always stayed away from politics. My loyalty is to the Fleet," turning to him, "and to my friends. I'm not going to let politics get between them." He threw down the hydro-spanner.
"What about Chancellor Palpatine?" Obi-Wan impulsively asked.
Anakin bristled, "You know I respect him." Shaking his head almost violently, "No! We won't talk about it. Don't make me choose, buddy!"
Obi-Wan nodded and both friends sat quietly. Suddenly Anakin seemed to come to life and grinned, "Want to test her out?" jerking his thumb toward the motor-speeder.
"Uh . . . no!"
"Don't trust me, eh?"
"Ani, that thing looks like it'll come apart any second!"
"It won't," he replied confidently.
"The thing that makes me sick is that I believe you are right."
"You know what we used to say in the Academy, Obi? About sitting and spi---"
"Ani, you're talking to a Jedi!" Kister exclaimed from the door.
"Well, right now I'm talking to a friend," Anakin answered. Kister shook his head, and went back to his room.
"One thing I do know, Obi-Wan. I know what Amidala needs." He laughed at Obi-Wan's shocked expression. "Get your mind out of the gutter, Jedi Obi-Wan!
"I didn't say a word!"
"Ah, but see through you I can," Anakin went into his dead-ringer Yoda impression, causing them both to erupt into laughter. Then serious, "Obi-Wan, I may not be a super-Force follower, but she is. I behave with her."
"I didn't ask."
--------------------
There was a message for Amidala, "I sense a grave disturbance in the Force," a mockingly serious voice said. "The Queen of Naboo is taking life far too seriously and not having any fun. Meet me for dinner, and we'll remedy that."
-------------------
The lights of Coruscant slightly illuminated the path as Anakin and Amidala walked along the river on the cobblestone streets, hand in hand. They were in an oasis which had been built into the city. In many ways, it resembled Theed. Amidala's hair was down, pulled back from her face with a modest ribbon. The rest of her hair was frizzy and curly, falling down her back, over her navy blue gown and pink transparent cape. Anakin's hair was cut short now, as befit one from the Fleet. In contrast to his companion, he had no cloak or hat. Amidala wore a diamond bracelet that Anakin had given her for her birthday. Her 27th.
"I feel about twice that age," she sighed to Anakin.
"You don't look it," he grinned.
"Appearances can be deceiving," she said wrily, "but I am glad that the occasion was celebrated with little fanfare."
"Except for me."
"You had the honor, Captain,"
"Ooooh. I like the way it sounds when you say that. Say it again!"
"Nope. Only once a night," she smiled, her face flushed.
"It's good to see you smile. You haven't a lot lately."
"With good cause."
They had stopped and were sitting on the stone wall by the artificial river. Moonlight shimmered over the lapping water.
"I feel so brain-dead sometimes," she said quietly.
Anakin smiled, "Let's talk of something else then," his hand tightened on hers and Amidala saw it so clearly that she nearly shouted 'No!' Instead she jumped up.
"No what?" Anakin asked, he could sense her thoughts.
"Ani . . ."
"Ami, we've been best friends, companions, everything to each other and . . ."
"No!"
Quietly, "What's holding you back?"
How could she explain to him that despite everything, her first duty was to the arena of public office? She had yet to find how she could reconcile that with what Anikan was proposing. More importantly, how did she know that he was man enough to be a partner in her life's work?
She said simply, "Ani, you're so young and . . ."
Ice-cold water could not have striken Anakin's face so. She had said the wrong thing. "What I meant to say was . . ."
"What does age have to do with it?" He snapped looking away, propping one foot on top of the wall, his lips a thin line.
"Ani, you know how different our experiences have been . . ."
"Nobody complained when you were 14 and ruling a planet, or Senator Mothma was elected at 19 and," darker, "nobody talked of age when the gossip mongers got wind that you were alone with Obi-Wan on the bridge."
Amidala sighed. That again. He always had to dredge up the past.
Anakin went on, "Everyone was expecting your engagement, and he's ten years older than you!"
How to face this? Obi-Wan. Her strength, friend, trusted ally, her. . .
Anakin's head jerked up.
"Curse the midochlorians," Amidala cried aloud, not needing to confirm what Anakin knew.
"Now she blasphemes," his voice was getting dangerous.
"I can't explain this to you, I know you won't listen. When you get like this, reason flies out the window, but I will speak. Yes, I love him."
"You've led me on quite nicely then!"
"And you've just confirmed what I said. You're too young to know the kind of love that can develop. . ."
"Oh please!"
"Yes. Not passionate, nor the kind that builds marriage. That kind is a choice, and I do not choose him, nor he me." Breathing, "But it's powerful, and I won't deny it because ignoring it would be like betraying a part of myself."
The last part of the sentence was lost in the crash that came when Anakin kicked the wall down and stormed away.
"You'll have to pay for that!" she yelled, while at the same time thinking what an idiotic thing it was to say.
---------------------
Anakin didn't hear Amidala's shouted response. He knew only one thing. He wanted to smash in Obi-Wan's pretty face.
--------------------
Obi-Wan opened the door to his quarters, "Hello I--uhhgh" as Anakin decked him. Obi- Wan stepped back, stunned. Then he pulled back his arm and returned the blow. Anakin flew back against the wall, knocking down a small statue which he picked up and hurled at Obi-Wan who easily deflected it with the Force.
"Ah, I can play that game," Anakin thought. He picked up a chair with the Force and flung it into back of the Jedi. Obi-Wan was not expecting this and was felled by the blow. Soon the entire room was flying about with objects: the bed, the covers, the mirror, even Obi-Wan's numerous books and paintings. In between each thrust of the Force, the men pummeled each other, slipping through the debree, kicking, smashing. Finally Obi-Wan delivered the final blow, a kick to the head with a simultaneous push with the Force, breaking through Anakin's untrained mind.
Obi-Wan stood over by Anakin sweating, catching his breath, "Jedi have tempers too," he panted finally. More heavy breathing. "Ok, now tell me why we've been kicking the living daylights out of each other!"
"You know!"
"Uh, let me think," shook his head, "no, I don't. My good buddy who spent a pleasant afternoon with me has just come back from a date with his girlfriend and tried to kill me! You tell me why!"
"Amidala, she told me that she loved you."
"Yes. So? I love her too. What of it?"
Anakin threw up his arms and shouted, "Am I in some insane alternate universe or something? You all are declaring love to each other and acting like I'm the weird one for being ticked off!"
Obi-Wan sighed and pulled up a broken chair, sat on it, "Anakin, let me tell you something. There was a time when I was thinking about making Amidala my wife. But the Force had other things in mind. She's not for me, kid." Thinking, "I've felt this for some time. Anakin. I am a Jedi. True we can marry, but it's something most of us choose not to do anymore. It's as though, I don't know. The Code won't explicitly forbid it, yet one cannot serve on the Council while being married. If you want to go full way, you must remain single. I believe that I am called to the absolute submission to the Force and the Jedi order. I can't explain it . . . you see . . ."
"You and Ami have developed the same vocabulary!" Anakin sneered.
"Ani," Obi's voice was getting lower, as he struggled to contain his anger, "I like you a lot. You've been like a little brother to me, but so help me if you keep up this chip-the- size-of-the-senate-chamber-on-your-shoulder attitude, I'll leave you to it, and Ami too. You can't be a complete jack-ass your whole life and expect anything in return!"
Anakin was silent under the rebuke.
"Perhaps it is not fair," Obi-Wan conceeded, more kindly, "for Amidala and I to continue to express our affections. Were she married, we could not be so free. Perhaps we all need to evaluate our behaviors." He stated simply, "We're not kids anymore."
"I never knew that you ever were one," Anakin said, attempting a smile, "But at least now your quarters look a little more like my place!"
----------------------
Rabe buzzed, "Are you still awake your Highness?"
Amidala's voice was muffled against her pillow where she was lying awake, "Yes. What is it?"
"It's Anakin Skywalker."
Amidala quickly threw on some old clothes and went into her sitting room. Anakin was facing the window, a little less self-assured now. He turned and she saw the bruises on his face. "You didn't . . ." It was more an accusation than a question.
"We worked it out."
"I can see that!" She shook her head, furious, "I can't believe it . . ."
"Listen, I was wrong. I know it. Obi-Wan and I did work some things out. It was a very good experience."
"Men!" she spat the word.
"I'll let that go for now," Anakin said. "What I came here to do was apologize."
Cautiously, "Accepted."
Anakin couldn't help ask, "But do you still. . .?"
"Ani," she interrupted affectionately, walking over to him, her wrath melting. She stood on her tip-toes to smooth his hair. "We settled this a while ago. You and Obi-Wan too. Why must you keep re-visiting the past and keeping old fears alive?"
"Fears?" He placed his hands on her shoulders, tight, "Ami, sometimes I think of losing you, and . . . and it nearly kills me."
"Well, get over it!" Amidala exclaimed sternly, pulling back, "because you can lose someone at any moment, and smashing in people's faces won't change that!"
He was stung and walked away from her.
"I have seen you," she called from her place at the window, "the emotions that crop up now and then. Anakin, I am a follower of the Force and as a follower. . .," a breath, "There are certain things I will not tolerate." Silence. "One of them is these outbursts of anger."
She walked over to him, slipped her hand into his, "You have a career ahead of you. That is what you need to focus on. You can do a great deal of good in your position, and, and . . ." She had not wanted to bring this up, but she didn't feel that there would be a better time, "And knowing me may not be good for you right now. I don't want our friendhip to paralyse your advance in the Fleet."
"What?"
"You know what I'm talking about," She said sharply, and again Anakin saw the pain in her eyes. He felt ashamed, knowing how much she endured without help or complaint. Yet, he had never seen her take out her anger on others, as he did.
He embraced her, burying his head in her hair, "I told Obi-Wan. I don't care about politics. I see what it's doing to you." She allowed his embrace stiffly, "I'm sorry."
"It's better we don't see each other soon, for now." She pulled away.
----------------------
Obi-Wan met Amidala for stim-tea in the coffee house for the Senate chamber. The friends had a ritual of meeting every Monday morning for this break whenever they were both on Coruscant. The conversation was not as light-hearted as it usually was.
Amidala asked, "Does he have to act like that?"
Obi-Wan grinned, "Ami, I'm no angel either."
"Like you need to tell me!" Amidala exclaimed.
"Hey, watch it. Neither are you!" She made a face, "Don't be too hard on the kid, Ami, and don't make too much of it. There are a lot of things that you don't know about us men. For me and Ani, it's already blown over."
"But it's me whom he cares about, Obi-Wan. And therefore it's those feelings that make him most vulnerable and . . ."
"Ami, I prescribe one thing for you," looking at the circles under her eyes, "Rest this afternoon. Let it go. The galaxy will continue without your attempts to hold it up single- handedly. And I sense that you may need some rest for what is coming."
"Starting tonight."
"Yes, tonight."
----------------------
Obi-Wan, Luke, Amidala, and Mon Mothma were meeting in Mon Mothma's quarters. Cups of coffee went around to all. It would be a long night.
They came to the conclusion. "The Senate will not listen to reason. Emotion is the only thing that speaks to them," Mon Mothma said.
"Then let's beat them at their game," Amidala replied.
"We need to find someone to do that. I suggest, " Luke hesitated, "Anakin."
"Anikan?" Amidala asked.
"He has something we do not--charisma with the popular culture. Remember, it is often not WHAT is said, but WHO says it that makes an impression anymore. Truth is truth, but coming from Anikan, it would be impossible for the holo-press to ignore. "
"And he could give a highly charged emotional speech, having once been a slave himself," Obi-Wan added, "Emotions, you have to get their emotions. It is sad but true."
"Who to do it?" Mon-Mothma asked.
They all looked around. "Not me," Obi-Wan replied, "for a Jedi to approach him?"
"And Amidala is too personally involved with him," Luke commented.
"And I'm the Queen's senator," Mon Mothma added.
"That leaves . . ." Obi-wan said, his eyes resting on Luke.
"Great, just my luck."
"We know that you are up for the task," Mon Mothma smiled.
-----------------------
Anakin was in the mess hall of the Republic's Naval Academy. As a new captain, he was automatically cut off from the other cadets and lower-ranking officers, but he felt a need to hang out in their hall. He was beginning to think it was a mistake however. The tables around him were tense, and people were surreptitiously watching him. He was in the public's eyes, alright. Once famous you can't go back. He was thinking of an excuse to leave when his comlink beeped.
"Skywalker here," Anakin said.
"There's someone to see you, captain," the ensign replied.
"Be right there."
There was a slight skip to his step. The only people who came to see him were Amidala or Obi-Wan, and both of those were good prospects. He was therefore a bit taken aback when he saw Senator Luke Organa in his ready room.
-----------------------
"Uh, and this is my fighter. I've done some intense modifications of it."
Anakin was nervous. Why would such a high-ranking member of the Senate come to see him? Especially a rather unpopular one.
Luke was doing his best to make small talk. Asking Anakin about his commission, the squadron he was putting together, his droids. Anakin replied in turn with questions about Luke's wife. Finally the men went back to the ready room. Anakin said impulsively what he had been sensing.
"Hey, let's quit this stupid little dance step. I'm no Jedi, but I'm more Force sensitive than most of them. I know that you didn't come here for some male bonding."
"You're right, Captain."
"You can call me Anakin."
"Alright then, Anakin. You know about the debate in the Senate right now?"
Anakin groaned, "Yes I do. And I want to stay out of it! Will anybody listen to me already!"
"I know how you feel, and so does Amidala."
"I should have known that she sent you."
"In a way. But this is coming from me. Amidala didn't want any emotional blackmail to come against you. You say you want to stay out of politics, but don't you know that evil only triumphs when good people keep quiet?"
"What the Senate is propsosing isn't evil. There have very good reasons for their positions."
"Good reasons don't make an evil action right. Anakin this is akin to slavery!"
"Hey," Anakin said testily, "you said you weren't going to use emotional blackmail!"
"I'm not. I'm speaking the truth."
"Truth can come from different points of view," Anakin retorted.
"Now who taught you that bull?"
Anakin remembered a tall Jedi who had been a father figure to him.
"Think through what you say, don't just make a bunch of one-liners," Luke entreated him.
"Senator, I am a captain in the Republic's Fleet. I can't come out against our Commander in Chief."
"It's not coming out against anything," Luke replied, "it's standing for something. We are not trying to tear down, we want to build. All we ask is that you testify to the fact that no good is worth the price of someone else's freedom." Anakin was silent. "You do believe that, don't you, Anakin?"
Anakin was pensive. This kind of stuff came straight from the Jedi Code, something he had done his best to not think about for years. It made him too mad. He never had evaluated what he believed. If push came to shove where would he stand? What was his foundation? Amidala? No, it's more than that. Why did he want to become a Jedi in the first place? For adventure? Yes. But . . . there was always something more, something whispering. A call. One that he had deliberately shut out since that time 10 years ago when he lost his mother. True, he often used the Force for his own ends, for sensationally showing off, occassionally for defense. But the real Force, the heart of the Force . . . he had ignored it. Maybe this was wake-up time. He couldn't live his life drifting around with nothing absolute to hold on to. Amidala was right, that absolute could not center on one person. You can lose anyone at any time. And, as Luke said, there did come a time when one had to stand up for something. He hated slavery more than enything else.
"Gee, Luke, here I always thought you were some rich sissy who had his daddy make him senator and didn't know anything!" He bit his tongue. "Uh, what I meant was . ..uh, sometimes I speak before I think . . . and . . ."
"It's OK," Luke reassured him, "I know what people say about us aristocratic hot-shots."
"You're a good man," Anakin said, suddenly solemn. "I'd be proud to stand with you."
------------------------
"So young Skywalker has joined forced with his precious band of friends?"
"The betrayal is difficult to deal with," Tarkin commented.
"The Queen knows what she is doing." Palpatine cursed, then calmed a minute, getting in touch with his anger. "I don't want to give them a forum," he determined, "they shall not. To publically have them speak against us could be catastrophic. It could sway people."
"But what's our alternative?" Tarkin asked.
"We want those clones, and the war, but I see," the dark side was warning Palpatine, fear began to rise in his veins. "This turn of events is unfortunate. I have won the support of the holo-news and the public. That is what I need more than anything else now. If I lose that, I lose everything. I can continue without the clones, and I may still have my war."
Palpatine meditated then, asking that spirit he made up in his mind for guidance, the answer came. "It's time for me to have a change of heart. But I'll need to word it just well enough that people will not see that I have done, as the young people say, a '360.' I was on the side of life all along, right?" He gave a crooked grin that Tarkin returned.
'Most importantly the people will not become what I fear the most: an ally of the Queen,' Palpatine told himself silently.
---------------------------
The holo-news reported something shocking. New evidence has convinced Chancellor Palpatine that he had to change his position on cloning. Of his own accord, he had sought out Captain Anakin Skywalker. Together they reviewed the young hero's plight as a slave and they concluded that they must do everything in their power to prevent such a practice from re-surfacing in the Republic. And yes, cloned life was real life.
The Chancellor said so.
----------------------
Luke threw down the report on the table at which Amidala and Obi-Wan were sitting.
"What do you make of that?"
"The Chancellor came to his senses?" Amidala suggested.
"Or rather, he pre-empted our attack!" Luke said angrily and pulled up a chair.
"And was able to call the position of life his own," Obi-Wan continued the line of thought. "That way we couldn't get the credit for the human rights angle."
Amidala was not convinced, "If that were truly so, how then did he know that Ani was working for us?"
Eyes went all around, Obi-Wan spoke up, "I can vouch for this: nobody here gave him the tip. I can sense it."
Amidala let that pass, "In any case, what's done is done. We've won the battle."
"But not been given the credit," Luke insisted.
"So we weren't given the credit," Amidala retorted. "That was not our goal. We were seeking what was right."
"True, but credit would have helped our image!"
Obi-Wan added, "Perhaps it could have restored our respect."
Amidala shook her head, "Too late. We can't concentrate of what could have been." Looking around at the men, "Can't we accept this as a victory? Why must you always look for something negative?"
Silence, then "Amidala, it's just that . . ." Luke stopped, "No, I don't . . ."
"Say it, Luke" Ami ordered.
"I don't think we've won anything. The Chancellor could still change his mind and go back."
"Luke. Why would he do that?"
"Think on it, Ami, this man is elusive. There's no logic in his actions, good or bad. At least with some opponents we can pin-point the areas of the policy. We can know that something makes them tick, even if we disagree with them. But this man . . .
I believe that the only reason he changed was because he sensed public sentiment would go with Skywalker, and then with us. He would have stayed with cloning had the winds blown the other way. I see no foundation to his decisions. The only constant I can see is that he'll always do what makes him popular, and that is a dangerous person to have in control of our Republic."
"I refuse to see him in that way," Amidala repeated stubbornly.
Obi-Wan stayed clear of the conversation and Luke gave up.
They did not speak any further on the matter.