Chapter 48

Galactic Court of Justice Building – Coruscant

Palo was brought into the courtroom under heavy guard. Having spent the past several days in detention, he was rather quiet and humbled by his circumstances. But seeing Anakin Skywalker sitting in the courtroom with the Chancellor, he grew angry.

Anakin simply watched Palo as he was brought in, merely the sight of him making his whole body tense. Padmé sat at his side, watching Palo brought in with an impassive expression on her face.

"Would the counsels please approach the bench," the judge said once everyone had taken their seats.

Dane and the lawyer representing Palo stood up and walked to the judge's bench.

"I thought this was just a sentencing," Anakin commented.

Padmé nodded. "Perhaps they're just deciding how to proceed," she said. "They will be calling us to speak, won't they?"

"I think so," Anakin said. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see."

The judge turned to address the courtroom, as the lawyers took his seat. "I'd like to remind the court that the accused has confessed to the defamation he has been charged with," she said. "We are simply here to hear testimonies from the two victims, and to decide upon an appropriate sentence for the accused. Mr. Mendicino, please call your first witness."

"Thank you, your honour," Dane said, standing up. "I'd like to call Anakin Skywalker to give testimony."

Anakin looked at Padmé and then stood up and approached the witness box. After being sworn in, Anakin sat down.

"Please state your name for the record," Dane said.

"Anakin Skywalker."

"Could you please describe your encounter with the accused," Dane said.

"Well, I first met him at the Chancellor's office," Anakin began. "We were both there as contributors to the Chancellor's charity auction."

"And did you speak to the accused?"

"Briefly, yes," Anakin replied.

"What did he say to you?"

"Well, he was surprised that I was there, that I had anything to contribute because I'm a Jedi," Anakin said. "He was condescending."

"Objection, that's speculation," the defense lawyer protested.

"Your honour, the witness is a Jedi Master," Dane countered. "He has the ability to know the emotions of others; it is not speculation."

"Sustained," the judge said. "Continue please."

"You encountered the accused on another occasion, didn't you Master Skywalker?"

"I did," Anakin said, glancing briefly at Palo. "It was at the gala."

"Could you describe that conversation?" Dane asked.

"We had a disagreement," Anakin said. "He alleged that I wasn't smart enough to appreciate his art," he continued. "And was very insulting. He also accused me of being jealous of him," he added with as smirk. "Yeah, that's possible," he muttered.

"Things got quite heated, didn't they?" Dane asked.

"Yeah, unfortunately they did," Anakin said. "I punched him in the face."

Dane nodded. "He must have made you quite angry," he commented.

"He did," Anakin said. "He seemed to be determined to get me angry."

"But you apologize to him, didn't you?"

Anakin nodded. "Yes, at the behest of the Chancellor, I apologize to him for punching him. She and I wanted to clear the air, and set aside the bad feelings that had been created between us."

"And how did the accused react to your apology?" Dane asked.

"He told me and the Chancellor to go to Hell," Anakin replied, looking directly at Palo. "Then went to the media and told them lies about us."

Dane nodded. "I have no further questions."

"You may step down, Master Skywalker," the judge said.

Anakin left the witness box, and gave Palo an icy look before joining Padmé.

"Do you have any other witnesses?" the judge asked Dane.

Dane nodded. "I'd like to call Chancellor Amidala to the box," he said.

Padmé stood up and walked over to the box, avoiding eye contact with Palo. After being sworn in, she sat down.

"Your Excellency, I only have a few questions," Dane began. "And I thank you for being here today. Madame Chancellor, could you describe the impact the news article had on you personally," he asked.

"It was extremely upsetting," Padmé said. "I had difficulty sleeping after it aired."

Dane nodded. "And yet, you and the accused were once friends, weren't you?"

"Yes, we knew one another as children," Padmé replied.

"So, this level of betrayal must have been especially distressing," Dane said.

"It was," Padmé said. "Very much so."

"And you made an earnest effort to make peace with him, didn't you?"

"Yes, Anakin and I both did," she said.

"And yet he rebuffed your overtures to peace," Dane remarked.

"He did," Padmé said, looking at Palo for the first time. "He was very rude to us. I won't repeat what he said."

"Of course, I understand," Dane said. "Tell me, has he apologized for speaking to you, the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, in such a crude and malicious manner?"

"No," Padmé said. "Under duress, he withdrew his lies, but no, he has not apologized."

Dane nodded. "I have no further questions."

"You may step down, Madame Chancellor," the judge said.

Padmé stood up and walked back to sit beside Anakin.

"Having heard the testimonies of the victims, I am prepared to sentence the accused," she said. She looked at Palo. "Would the accused stand."

Palo and his lawyer stood up.

"Palo Jamabie, you are sentenced to 5 years in detention," the judge announced. "In addition, you are forbidden from returning to the capital for an additional 5 years." She rang the bell on her desk. "Court is dismissed."

Palo frowned, and glared at Anakin before being led out of the courtroom.

"Well, that's done," Anakin said, watching Palo. "10 years, that's pretty good."

Padmé nodded. "I suppose so," she said. "I just hope I never have to see Palo again."

"I will make sure of it," he said as they walked out together. "I'm going to say goodbye to the kids," he said. "Do you want to come home?"

Padmé had work to do at the office, but felt it could wait. "You're leaving soon?"

"Yeah, Obi-Wan is waiting for me," he said.

"I'll come with you, then," she said.

Padmé's apartment – a short time later

"Now, you be good for Mommy while I'm away," Anakin said as he held Luke and Leia on his lap.

The twins looked up at him, not really understanding what he was saying, but sensing that he and their mother were a little sad for some reason.

"How long do you think you'll be gone?" Padmé asked him.

"Hard to say," Anakin said. "With so few of us now, these sorts of missions take longer. I just hope it's not a waste of time."

Padmé nodded. "Will you be able to contact me?" she asked.

"Yes," Anakin replied. He sensed that Padmé was on edge, not herself. "You okay?"

"Yes," she answered. "I haven't been sleeping well."

"I noticed," he said. "Were you worried about Jamabie?"

"I suppose on some level," she replied. "I'm worried about you too, Ani. I hate the thought of you going out there."

Anakin frowned. "Why?"

"What if there are still clones out there? Clones who haven't heard the directive?"

Anakin smiled. "Angel, it's been months," he said. "Nothing is going to happen to me, I promise."

Padmé smiled. "All right, Ani," she said. "I'll try not to worry."

Padmé's office – later that afternoon

Padmé was rather emotional when she returned to her office. Anakin had been away on missions many, many times; so why am I so emotional about him leaving? She reasoned that she and Anakin's relationship was still, in some ways, unstable. They were lovers, but they weren't living together, they weren't committed to each other, not officially. But he loves me, I know he does…so why am I still so insecure?

Padmé was not a woman given to anxiety, but she found herself beset with it. Was it the fact that Julie Banks was still out there? Did she pose an actual threat to her relationship with Anakin? Forcing herself to focus on her work, Padmé pushed thoughts of Anakin from her mind for the time being.

Rayna was busy at her desk, making appointments for the Chancellor, answering correspondence, and a multitude of other tasks. While she was engrossed in her work, her commlink sounded. Rayna, a consummate professional, never answered her personal communication device while at work. She had children, 2 school-aged sons, but had instructed their school to contact their father if there was an emergency. Leaving the person contacting her to go to her voicemail, Rayna continued with her work, making a mental note to check her messages when she had her break later.

Jedi Temple

"Well? Was the outcome satisfactory?" Obi-Wan asked Anakin as they met up in the hangar.

"I think so," Anakin said. "He got five years in detention, and then after he's released, he can't come to Coruscant for another five years."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Seems about right," he said. "How does Padmé feel?"

Anakin frowned. "She's stressed out," he said. "I thought seeing that sleemo might alleviate her stress, but it didn't. I guess she's just adjusting to the demands of her new job."

"Well, she has a lot of responsibility," Obi-Wan pointed out. "And knowing what a perfectionist she is, she's taking it very seriously."

"You're right," Anakin said. "Plus, two babies at home."

"She's more than capable of handling stress, you know that," Obi-Wan said.

"I know," Anakin replied. "I'm just glad we don't need to worry about Jamabie anymore."

"Yes, I'm sure," Obi-Wan said. "Shall we be off, then?"

"Yes, let's go," Anakin said. "Everyone else already gone?" he asked as they walked to their ship.

"Well, Ahsoka left with her padawan early this morning," Obi-Wan said. "Quinlan and Ka-Moon just left an hour ago. I believe the others are leaving this evening."

"Let's hope we find some good candidates," Anakin said. "We need numbers if we're going to have any real impact on the Republic."

"Agreed," Obi-Wan said. "Shall we be off?"

Anakin nodded. "Let's go."

Dr. Marta Welsh's office

Padmé sat in the doctor's office, hoping that her wait wouldn't be too long. Deciding that she needed to get a check up, she'd called her personal physician, who agreed to see her that very afternoon.

"Padmé, it's good to see you," Marta said as she entered the examination room. "How are the twins?"

Padmé smiled. "They're wonderful," she said. "Growing so fast, reaching so many milestones."

Marta nodded. "They'll be a year soon," she commented. "How is that possible?"

"I have no idea!" Padmé said. "It's gone by so quickly."

"It usually does," Marta said. "So, what brings you here today?"

Padmé frowned. "Well, I've been feeling very stressed lately," she said. "There's been a lot going on in my life, and I guess it's just catching up with me."

"I saw all that business on the news," Marta said with a frown. "Unbelievable."

"It's been very upsetting," Padmé said. "I'm not sleeping well, and was hoping you could give me a supplement to help me sleep."

"I can, yes," Marta said. "But I think we ought to run some tests to rule out any underlying reasons for your insomnia. Sometimes a lack of something in your diet, or too much of something can affect your sleep."

"That makes sense," Padmé said. "Sometimes I don't eat as well as I should."

Marta smiled. "I've heard that before," she said. "I'll have my droid take some blood samples, and we'll see if there's something going on that we can address."

Rayna's apartment

"Come on boys, wash up for dinner," Rayna called to her sons as they played in their room.

The two young boys did as they were told, and had Rayna had just started setting the table when her doorbell rang. She frowned, annoyed that someone was at her door just as she was about to start dinner. But then she remembered the message she'd received from her niece earlier, and went at once to answer the door.

"Aimee," Rayna said. "Come on in. Have you eaten?"

"No," Aimee said, giving her aunt a hug.

"Good, come on in," Rayna said. "We were just sitting down."

Dr. Marta Welsh's office

"Are you sure?" Padmé asked.

Marta nodded. "No doubt about it," Marta said. "You seem surprised," she commented.

"I…I am," Padmé stammered. "I'm not even sure how this is possible."

Marta raised her eyebrows. "No? Come now, Padmé, surely you must have some idea."

Padmé smiled. "Well, obviously," she said embarrassedly.

Marta laughed. "Well, you're definitely pregnant, Padmé. No doubt of it."

Padmé nodded. "I was taking birth control…how is this possible?"

"No birth control is 100 percent fool proof," Marta said. "And besides, all it takes is one time without protection."

Padmé thought back to the first night she and Anakin had resumed their physical relationship. I wasn't on the pill …I didn't start until after that night… "I…I can't believe it," she said.

Marta smiled. "Are you …it's Anakin, isn't it?" she asked.

Padmé nodded.

"How do you think he'll react?" Marta asked.

Padmé sighed. "I have no idea."