Chapter Seven: Divide and Conquer
Anakin and Padme watched the ship lift off and disappear into Coruscant's lightening sky. As soon as it was out of sight, Anakin took a quick look around. After assuring that no one was watching, he pulled Padme into his arms and kissed her. "I missed you, my love."
"So did I." Padme smiled, as Anakin took her hand in his good one and they began to walk to Padme's transport. "You and Obi-Wan seemed to be getting along better."
Anakin nodded. "We talked. His disbelief is his failing, not mine. I will pass the Trials, Padme."
"What then, Anakin?" Padme asked.
Anakin started up the speeder. He concentrated on pulling into morning traffic, then answered, "I don't know. I love you, and I know I will love our son more than anything in this world. But I cannot give up my commission."
"I thought we decided it was going to be a girl," Padme whispered.
Anakin smiled at her. "You have your hopes, I have mine."
"Perhaps the Masters will make an exception. After all, they cannot afford to lose a Jedi in such a dangerous time."
"I broke the Code, and it cannot be unbroken. Their only recourse will be to expel me from the order." Anakin shook his head. "There has to be another way."
"Pregnancy is hard to hide. In a few months, it will be there for all to see. I am a married woman, Anakin, I should feel no shame."
He sighed, lowering the speeder to the official residence of the Naboo senators. "But you do." He bowed his head, knowing that they were probably being watched. "Good day, milady."
She stepped out of the transport with a wistful smile. "Good day, Master Skywalker."
*
It was strange to be alone.
His entire life, someone had been with him. First it was Yoda, who taught him when he was but a youngling in the Bear Clan. After that, when he was thirteen, it had been Qui-Gon. For twelve years, he had spent nearly every day with his Master. His death had been like a killing blow, knocking all feeling but sorrow from him.
Still he had not been alone. Anakin had been there, eager and quick, a constant amusement and, at times, annoyance. Even when he was not present, their bond had always connected them, so neither was alone in the galaxy. Now that bond was as thin as a thread, stretched by distance and age and a resentment neither of them had ever been able to fully get past.
Obi-Wan sighed. At least they had parted on good terms.
He rose gracefully and walked to the door of his quarters. The ship was by no means small, and his stateroom was quite luxurious, but he didn't want to sit still any longer.
He nearly ran into Organa in the corridor. The senator smiled politely and said, "I was just coming to get you, Master Kenobi. We land on Dantooine in less than an hour, and I thought it wise to go over our plans."
"That's a good idea," Obi-Wan said, and followed Organa into the ship's large lounge. A map of Dantooine had been set up on the large table, with holographic markers showing where enemy troops were believed to be.
"Dooku's forces are amassed here," Organa said, pointing to the North sector on the map. "They're army is comprised of droids, and a lot of them. They've taken control of Huispa, the capital city," he said, lightly touching the red spot on the map that was Huispa. A more detailed map of the area sprung to life. "We will land here." He gestured to a spot south-west of Huispa. "Other than the forces we have, there is another unit on the east side."
"Are you planning on attacking both sides of the city at once?" Obi-Wan asked.
Organa nodded. "I assume you've heard the saying divide and conquer." He smiled, but Obi-Wan felt a chill go through him at the words. He didn't have time to ponder it though; Organa was going on. "When the Separatists control of Huispa weakens, we can crush them and capture Dooku."
He nodded. "It's a well thought out plan, Senator."
"Just Bail, please."
"Then I am Obi-Wan."
Organa nodded just as his comlink buzzed. "Yes?" he asked.
"Sir, we're coming out of hyperspace in the vicinity of Dantooine," the captain's voice said.
"Thank you, Captain." Organa smiled. "Looks like we're about to land."
Anakin and Padme watched the ship lift off and disappear into Coruscant's lightening sky. As soon as it was out of sight, Anakin took a quick look around. After assuring that no one was watching, he pulled Padme into his arms and kissed her. "I missed you, my love."
"So did I." Padme smiled, as Anakin took her hand in his good one and they began to walk to Padme's transport. "You and Obi-Wan seemed to be getting along better."
Anakin nodded. "We talked. His disbelief is his failing, not mine. I will pass the Trials, Padme."
"What then, Anakin?" Padme asked.
Anakin started up the speeder. He concentrated on pulling into morning traffic, then answered, "I don't know. I love you, and I know I will love our son more than anything in this world. But I cannot give up my commission."
"I thought we decided it was going to be a girl," Padme whispered.
Anakin smiled at her. "You have your hopes, I have mine."
"Perhaps the Masters will make an exception. After all, they cannot afford to lose a Jedi in such a dangerous time."
"I broke the Code, and it cannot be unbroken. Their only recourse will be to expel me from the order." Anakin shook his head. "There has to be another way."
"Pregnancy is hard to hide. In a few months, it will be there for all to see. I am a married woman, Anakin, I should feel no shame."
He sighed, lowering the speeder to the official residence of the Naboo senators. "But you do." He bowed his head, knowing that they were probably being watched. "Good day, milady."
She stepped out of the transport with a wistful smile. "Good day, Master Skywalker."
*
It was strange to be alone.
His entire life, someone had been with him. First it was Yoda, who taught him when he was but a youngling in the Bear Clan. After that, when he was thirteen, it had been Qui-Gon. For twelve years, he had spent nearly every day with his Master. His death had been like a killing blow, knocking all feeling but sorrow from him.
Still he had not been alone. Anakin had been there, eager and quick, a constant amusement and, at times, annoyance. Even when he was not present, their bond had always connected them, so neither was alone in the galaxy. Now that bond was as thin as a thread, stretched by distance and age and a resentment neither of them had ever been able to fully get past.
Obi-Wan sighed. At least they had parted on good terms.
He rose gracefully and walked to the door of his quarters. The ship was by no means small, and his stateroom was quite luxurious, but he didn't want to sit still any longer.
He nearly ran into Organa in the corridor. The senator smiled politely and said, "I was just coming to get you, Master Kenobi. We land on Dantooine in less than an hour, and I thought it wise to go over our plans."
"That's a good idea," Obi-Wan said, and followed Organa into the ship's large lounge. A map of Dantooine had been set up on the large table, with holographic markers showing where enemy troops were believed to be.
"Dooku's forces are amassed here," Organa said, pointing to the North sector on the map. "They're army is comprised of droids, and a lot of them. They've taken control of Huispa, the capital city," he said, lightly touching the red spot on the map that was Huispa. A more detailed map of the area sprung to life. "We will land here." He gestured to a spot south-west of Huispa. "Other than the forces we have, there is another unit on the east side."
"Are you planning on attacking both sides of the city at once?" Obi-Wan asked.
Organa nodded. "I assume you've heard the saying divide and conquer." He smiled, but Obi-Wan felt a chill go through him at the words. He didn't have time to ponder it though; Organa was going on. "When the Separatists control of Huispa weakens, we can crush them and capture Dooku."
He nodded. "It's a well thought out plan, Senator."
"Just Bail, please."
"Then I am Obi-Wan."
Organa nodded just as his comlink buzzed. "Yes?" he asked.
"Sir, we're coming out of hyperspace in the vicinity of Dantooine," the captain's voice said.
"Thank you, Captain." Organa smiled. "Looks like we're about to land."