Come Undone
Chapter 20
Anakin arrived at the busy Theed center and quickly secured a small privet transport.
"Where to Sir?" the driver asked, a little in awe of his uniformed passenger. Anakin smiled, he felt as if a huge weight had been removed from his chest the moment they had entered Naboo's airspace. There was a lingering disquiet, but he assumed it was merely the anticipation of seeing his beloved.
"Sir?" the man repeated, a little anxiously.
Anakin, startled out of his momentary daydream, apologized and gave the man the address, asking him to hurry. "My wife," he explained. "It's our first child, I haven't seen her in a while..." he trailed off, a little wistfully.
"Have six of them myself, boys and girls. First one's off to the academy next month. The wife and I are very proud..."
Anakin nodded absently. Something just didn't feel right. He had wanted to surprise Padmé and so he had not sent a message announcing his return but he was beginning to wish that he had. He sighed and settled back into the chair, he would be home soon enough, and could put these disquieting feelings to rest.
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On Coruscant, in the Jedi Council chambers, Master Yoda broke himself out his meditation, sensing that Mace Windu and Obi-wan were waiting outside of the door.
He bade them to enter, a scowl on his wizened features. Mace sighed; it was an expression that seemed to be perpetually on the Jedi masters face these days.
"Before it could be stopped, a transmission was sent. Made to its destination, part of it did." Yoda said sternly.
"What transmission?" asked Mace, genuinely perplexed? "To where?"
"Naboo..." Obi-wan murmured, and he swore softly. "Do you know how much she told him?"
"About the boy child, for sure. The girl is still unknown to him if what the Senator told us still holds true." Mace grimaced, "Until we know for sure, we must consider their safety."
"Masters," Obi-wan began, confused. "We don't know for sure if my Padawan has... has..." He couldn't finish. The idea that Anakin had gone over to the dark side seemed unimaginable to him. "I don't believe it." He said finally.
Yoda pursed lips thoughtfully. "Notwithstanding Obi-wan, prepare the worse we must. We need to see for ourselves as resigned by hologram he did. No one has seen your apprentice for several weeks and no knowledge of his whereabouts the Chancellor's office claims to have."
Mace nodded, "We must discuss the evacuation of the children in any case, Obi-wan..."
"The Senator will not like the idea of them being hidden from their father," said Obi-wan thoughtfully.
"Never the less," Yoda stated resolutely "Until the truth is known, to our decision, she must confer. The choice is not hers to make."
Obi-wan grimaced, but said nothing.
Mace threw him a look. "Obi-wan, do not overstep your involvement in this matter any further, it was enough that you brought her here and allowed the deception to take place. We will decide what is best in this situation, and if that means removing the children and their mother, than so be it." He gave Obi-wan a dismissive wave and turned his attention to the traffic outside, indicating that for now, the conversation was over. "Perhaps you should go and see to the arrangements."
Obi-wan gave a quick nod and turned to leave. He paused at the door and regarded the two masters. "If he has turned, Masters, then what do we do? His power is formidable..."
"Always in motion is the future Obi-wan," Yoda reminded him gently. "We cannot assume anything."
"Yes Masters," Obi-wan agreed but in his heart, he wasn't so sure anymore. About anything. He bowed and left the two Council members alone in the room.
After a he was gone, Mace turned to Yoda and regarded him carefully.
"And if he has... There aren't enough Jedi, none that would be strong enough to take him if the Chosen One has joined the Sith. All would be lost "
"No... Not lost, Master Windu," said Yoda sagely. "Hope, there always is."
