Chapter 44

Padmé's apartment

Padmé had just climbed into bed when her commlink sounded. She considered briefly letting it go to her messaging system, but thought better of it and got out of bed to answer it.

"Padmé? I'm sorry to wake you up, but I need to see you right away," Anakin said without preamble.

"It's okay, I wasn't sleeping," she said. "What going on, Ani? What's wrong?"

"Plenty," Anakin said. "I'll be there in 2 minutes."

"Okay," she said as he closed the transmission. She frowned, and put on her dressing gown before leaving her bedroom. She walked into the darkened apartment, her heart starting to race as she tried to imagine what it was that had Anakin so rattled. She didn't have long to wait for him to arrive.

"Anakin what's going on?" she asked as they sat down.

"Palo has gone to the media," he told her. "He's slandering us both, Padmé. It's all over the news."

Padmé's eyes widened in shock. "What is? What did he say?"

Anakin told her about the news bite he'd seen while he was at Dex's Diner, as she sat in horrified silence.

"Oh my God," she said. "What have I done? This is my fault! I never should have invited him to come to my office when the twins were there! Anakin what are we going to do?"

Anakin took her hands in his to steady her. "You didn't do anything wrong," he assured her. "You thought you could reason with him, but clearly, he's beyond reason. He's a vindictive, jealous bastard and I won't let him get away with this, I swear it!"

"But…what are you going to do?" she cried.

"I'll tell you what," Anakin said. "He wants to involve the media? Bring it on," he said. "I'll have him slapped with a lawsuit so fast it will make his head spin. He thinks he's going to mess with our family? He has no idea what he's unleashed, Padmé."

Padmé shook her head as her tears came. "Ani, I feel so foolish," she said.

Anakin pulled her into his arms. "Don't," he said. "Padmé, you have nothing to feel foolish for. You gave him the benefit of the doubt, you thought you knew him but clearly, he's not the person you thought he was."

Padmé tried to take solace in his words, and simply took comfort in his strong arms.

The next morning

Julie had just started listening to the office messages when the door opened. She was delighted to see Anakin, but when he was followed by Padmé, she was far less so.

"Good morning," Julie said. "Can I help you, Anakin?"

"Yes," Anakin said. "We need to talk to Dane immediately," he said.

"Is this about the article on the news last night?" Julie said as she stood up. "I saw it and couldn't believe it!"

"Yes, it is about that article," Anakin said.

"I'll let Uncle Dane know you're here," she said and went into the office.

Padmé frowned and looked up at Anakin. "Did you see how she ignored me?" she asked.

Anakin nodded. "I did," he said. "Rude, I know," he said. "I'll deal with her later."

"Uncle Dane said to come right in," Julie said as she returned to them.

"Thank you," Padmé said as she walked into the office with Anakin.

"Your Excellency, General Skywalker, please, sit down," Dane said as he stood up to greet his most famous clients. "What can I do for you today?"

"We are here to engage your services," Anakin said. "We want to sue someone."

Dane nodded. "I think I know what this is about," he said. "I saw the news. I was…utterly shocked by what they were saying."

"It was slanderous," Anakin said. "Utterly slanderous."

"So…you two don't have children together?" Dane asked carefully.

"We do," Padmé spoke up. "But we were married when they were born."

"Our children are not illegitimate," Anakin said. "The way they spoke about us made our relationship sound sordid, illicit and dirty," he said with a frown. "Padmé is the Chancellor, and the way they spoke about her is disrespectful."

"Well, I'd say that you have a legitimate case," Dane said. "Slander is a serious matter, particularly when you are dealing with someone as high profile as you both are."

"So, you'll take our case?" Padmé asked.

"I would be honoured to, Milady," he said. "But might I suggest that you address the press yourselves to clear up these lies?"

Padmé and Anakin looked at each other. "What do you think?" he asked her.

"I think it's a good idea," Padmé said. "The sooner we discredit his lies, the better."

"I wholeheartedly agree," Dane said. "Let's get this started."

Office of the Chancellor later that afternoon

"Thank you all for coming today," Padmé said, addressing the small group of reporters who had been invited into her office. "I've asked you here today to discuss allegations that were made in a news article last night," she began. She looked up at Anakin, who stood by her side. "First of all, we want to make it quite clear that our children, our twins, are not illegitimate," she said. "Master Jedi Skywalker and I were married for years, and our children were born during this time. Our marriage was, because of the Jedi edicts at the time, a secret one, but it was a genuine, legitimate union. We will now take a few questions."

"Chancellor Amidala, are you and General Skywalker still married?"

"No, we are not longer married," Padmé said.

"What happened? Why are you no longer married?"

"That's not your concern," Anakin spoke up. "And is irrelevant to this situation."

"Is there anything else that you've kept hidden from the public, Madame Chancellor?"

Padmé frowned. "I will not dignify that with an answer," she said.

"Chancellor Amidala has been a tireless champion of democracy her entire career," Anakin spoke up, annoyed with the question. "Her integrity is beyond reproach, and her dedication to this Republic is unimpeachable."

Padmé looked up at him, appreciating his support.

"Madame Chancellor will you be pressing charges against the station that aired that defamatory piece?"

"We will be pressing charges," Padmé said. "Rest assured, we will not let this insult go unpunished."

Palo's hotel room

Palo was quite pleased with the media furor he had created. He had always loved a juicy bit of gossip, and having been the one to offer it up had been exciting. Since the story had aired, he'd been contacted by other media outlets wanting to speak to him. He was contemplating a way to use his new found notoriety to sell his art when the door chime to his suite sounded. He was expecting lunch, so he went to the door to let the serving droid in. But when he opened the door, it was not a serving droid standing there, but rather two Jedi knights.

"Palo Jamabie?" Ahsoka said.

"Yes," Palo said, looking nervously from Ahsoka to Obi-Wan who stood at her side. "May I help you?"

"You may," Obi-Wan said. "Come with us if you please."

"And if I don't?" Palo said.

Obi-Wan smiled. "Come now, Mr. Jamabie," he said. "Surely you're smarter than that," he said.

Palo grew alarmed by the comment, even more when he noticed that there were four armed clone troopers standing in the corridor. "I don't know what this is about," he said, trying to maintain his cool, "but since I respect you, General Kenobi, I will come with you. Please let me put on my overcoat."

"Oh, surely you know what this is about," Obi-Wan said.

Palo froze as a thought struck his mind. This is about the news article…he thought as he slowly donned his coat. "I honestly don't," he said meekly.

Ahsoka frowned. "Slander against the Chancellor of the Republic is a rather serious matter, don't you think?" she asked.

Palo's eyes widened. "I beg your pardon? Slander? I've slandered no one!"

Obi-Wan and Ahsoka looked at one another in exasperation.

"Come along," Obi-Wan said, starting to see why Anakin had punched this man in the face. "You can explain yourself to her and her and the Jedi Council.

Palo did his best to hide his fear, but was not successful; and when the clones formed ranks around him, he truly began to understand just how much trouble he was in.

At the Chancellor's office

Yoda, Anakin and Padmé waited for Palo to be delivered by his Jedi and clone escort. Anakin was fighting to keep his temper under control, and paced in the office as they waited. Padmé watched him, knowing how angry he was. She only hoped he was able to master his ire when Palo arrived.

"Your Excellency, they're here," Rayna announced on the intercom.

Anakin stopped and looked at Padmé.

"Let them in," Padmé said. She stood up and walked over to Anakin. "Are you okay?" she asked.

Anakin nodded. "Don't worry," he said. "I'm not going to punch him again, as much as I'd like to."

Padmé smiled.

"Madame Chancellor," Obi-Wan said formally, bowing to Padmé as he and Ahsoka entered the office. They were followed closely by the prisoner, who was being guarded closely by the clones.

"Thank you, Master Kenobi, Master Tano," Padmé replied. "Please be seated."

Obi-Wan and Ahsoka took a seat with Yoda, as Anakin stood behind them. The four of them were the Jedi Council, and as such, had the power to judge and even convict anyone threatening the safety and security of the Chancellor.

Palo looked at the Jedi, and, finally, realized just how much trouble he was in. He noted how Anakin looked at him with sheer loathing, and was too intimidated to hold his eyes. He looked at the floor beneath his expensive shoes while the clones stood by, blasters at the ready.

"Palo, do you know why you're here?" Padmé asked as she sat at her desk.

"Because I told you to go to Hell?" Palo said, not looking up at her.

"That's not the real reason, though that in itself was offensive and hinted of treason," she said.

"Treason? Are you serious?" Palo asked, looking up at her.

"Hold your tongue," Anakin snapped. "You will be silent unless asked to speak. Do you understand?"

Palo looked at him, hating him utterly. He simply nodded.

Padmé stood up and walked around to face her accuser. "This goes far deeper than that, Palo," she said. "You went to the media and told them things about me, about my family," she said. "You spread lies and hateful gossip about me, about my family," she went on.

"You have no proof that I told the media anything," Palo countered, ignoring Anakin's warning. "From what I understand, the media simply cited a source, but did not name them. So, if that is what this is all about, then I'm afraid you don't have a case, Your Excellency," he said snootily.

"Oh, but we do," Anakin spoke up. "You must realize that there are security cameras everywhere on the capital, particularly around the Senate building," he said. He walked over to Padmé's desk and brought up a security holo. It clearly showed Palo speaking to the reporters, and his words were heard quite clearly. Palo watched as the colour drained from his face. "Spare us your denial, Jamabie," Anakin said. "We have proof of your actions, of your slander."

"What slander are you referring to, Master Jedi?" Palo asked scornfully. "There was nothing false in the information that I provided."

"You insinuated that I had an affair with Master Skywalker," Padmé said. "And that our children were illegitimate. None of this is true. Anakin and I were married, our children a result of our marriage. There was nothing …illicit about our relationship, and yet you did your best to represent it as sordid and dirty. Surely you intended on defaming me with such lies. My reputation has been damaged by your venomous attack, Palo. And for that, I am charging you with slander."