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Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight, was sitting in the Coruscant apartment that he was starting to call home. He walked to the large window that covered one half of the room and looked out at the lights that were starting to cover the planet as the suns set. Anakin started to pace, a graceful yet dangerous movement, and tried to calm his excitement. Obi-Wan Kenobi, his mentor, would chastise him for being overly emotional, not being able to hold in his feelings, but it was difficult here. The planet was seething with emotion, caused by the treaty negotiations of the ending Clone War, and the Senate was in an uproar, trying to agree on the terms. The door chime announced the arrival of Padme and Anakin turned and smiled. His wife was as beautiful as ever. Long dark hair in curls to her waist, classically beautiful face, dark, compassionate eyes. And a loving smile as she saw her husband. "Ani, you're home. I missed you." She ran into his arms and laughed as he swung her around. "And I missed you, Senator Amidala." He replied, kissing her lips hungrily. She gasped, laughing still, and pulled away, "How did your mission to Camino go?" she asked seriously. He sighed, "Come on, business already, can't we enjoy a night at home, no missions, treaties, negotiations??" "Ani, it's important." Padme chided gently, she knew her impulsive husband's moods and tried not to aggravate them but she had a clearer view of where priorities for them both lay. "They were successful, okay?" he replied, his tone sullen. His face changing into that same look he'd had since Padme had first seen him as a little slave boy. That frown that said something or someone was frustrating him. "Anakin.." She remonstrated softly, placing a hand on his arm. "Don't be like this." He turned, his eyes glittering with a spark warning Padme to back down a little, so she did. "Fine, we'll discuss it later. I need to bathe and have a rest. I'm exhausted." She said, turning to the bedroom. "Padme! Now!?" Anakin almost shouted. She looked at him in disbelief and he noticed suddenly how weary his wife looked, the dark circles under her eyes, the air of futility in her bearing. "Anakin, I've been in the Senate for 3 days. Resting only for an hour here and there. I have been arguing with delegates who have no clue what is going on, and only want the credits and contracts that the Trade Delegation is promising for an expedient settlement. I am tired!" she said angrily. Anakin bowed his head for a moment, like the chastised little boy again. "I'm sorry, Padme. I just missed you, and I thought we could do something together tonight. I don't know how long I'll be home for." Anakin answered slowly. Padme sighed. It was impossible to resist Anakin when he was just trying to be with her, and be so sweet. "I know, and I'm sorry. Look, I'll bathe, have a quick nap, then whatever you want to do. How would that be?" Padme said, reaching up and placing her soft hand against his cheek. He smiled brilliantly, "That sounds great! I'll go report to the Jedi Council and the Supreme Chancellor, and give you time to rest." "Thank-you, Ani." Padme reached up and kissed her husband, marvelling at the shivery thrill it still gave her. Anakin held her tight in his arms, then ran out, exuberant and laughing again.
In the Jedi Council Audience room an hour later, Anakin wasn't laughing. "Report to us first, then to the Chancellor, then your other concerns may take precedence. You know this, Jedi Skywalker." Jedi Master Mace Windu remonstrated, his dark face showing annoyance. "The mission was a success. I did transmit that from the Camino. The details aren't important." Anakin replied. "Not important, are they? Know you all that we deem important?" queried Master Yoda, his impassive face searching Anakin's. "No, Master Yoda, I simply meant that the details weren't imperative to know. I apologize. Will you hear them now?" Anakin said quietly. "Hear them we will." Yoda answered. But he frowned, feeling the anger bubbling beneath the surface of Anakin's mind. Anger at being censured.
"Camino will continue to build the Clones for as long as we need, using the new host body. The Clones that they deliver this year will number 3 million. They are willing to increase this order if we request it. I looked over the original request logs. It was not clear, at least to me, whether it was Master Syphodias that made the order or someone else. It remains a mystery." "Do you believe, after speaking to the Supreme Chancellor that more Clones will be ordered?" Master Windu asked slowly. Anakin paused, then, "I do not believe so, he didn't say anything about that to me, he seemed to think that the 3 million, plus our existing army of 10 million would be enough." "Very well, thank-you for your report, and may the force be with you, Jedi Skywalker." Windu dismissed. Anakin bowed and left the audience chamber. A door slid open to the left almost immediately to reveal the bearded form of Obi-Wan Kenobi. He moved to his chair and faced the rest of the council. "What think you of your apprentice, Master Kenobi?" Yoda asked. "He's lying, or rather, he knows more than he's saying. Anakin is very attuned to what Chancellor Palpatine is doing. The Chancellor confides in Anakin and encourages him in ways that are not Jedi. And Master Yoda is correct in one other thing. Anakin's control is still tenuous at best. He needs to meditate more, and it is obvious he isn't." "Have you spoken to Senator Amidala?" Windu questioned. "No, and I think it prudent not to until Anakin is off-planet again. Perhaps he could be sent to the Base on Sullust with messages for the command there." Obi-Wan replied. "He is jealous, not wanting any by her but him. This is not the way of a Jedi." Yoda said slowly. "He is Jedi, Master, he just needs more control. I just don't want to antagonize him unduly. I will speak to the Senator, and I'm sure she will help. She cannot help but see how his temper is starting to get the best of him again." Obi-Wan reassured. "Very well, Skywalker shall be sent, two days from now. It will not take long, this trip, so be ready." Yoda assented. And the council meeting was ended.
Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight, was sitting in the Coruscant apartment that he was starting to call home. He walked to the large window that covered one half of the room and looked out at the lights that were starting to cover the planet as the suns set. Anakin started to pace, a graceful yet dangerous movement, and tried to calm his excitement. Obi-Wan Kenobi, his mentor, would chastise him for being overly emotional, not being able to hold in his feelings, but it was difficult here. The planet was seething with emotion, caused by the treaty negotiations of the ending Clone War, and the Senate was in an uproar, trying to agree on the terms. The door chime announced the arrival of Padme and Anakin turned and smiled. His wife was as beautiful as ever. Long dark hair in curls to her waist, classically beautiful face, dark, compassionate eyes. And a loving smile as she saw her husband. "Ani, you're home. I missed you." She ran into his arms and laughed as he swung her around. "And I missed you, Senator Amidala." He replied, kissing her lips hungrily. She gasped, laughing still, and pulled away, "How did your mission to Camino go?" she asked seriously. He sighed, "Come on, business already, can't we enjoy a night at home, no missions, treaties, negotiations??" "Ani, it's important." Padme chided gently, she knew her impulsive husband's moods and tried not to aggravate them but she had a clearer view of where priorities for them both lay. "They were successful, okay?" he replied, his tone sullen. His face changing into that same look he'd had since Padme had first seen him as a little slave boy. That frown that said something or someone was frustrating him. "Anakin.." She remonstrated softly, placing a hand on his arm. "Don't be like this." He turned, his eyes glittering with a spark warning Padme to back down a little, so she did. "Fine, we'll discuss it later. I need to bathe and have a rest. I'm exhausted." She said, turning to the bedroom. "Padme! Now!?" Anakin almost shouted. She looked at him in disbelief and he noticed suddenly how weary his wife looked, the dark circles under her eyes, the air of futility in her bearing. "Anakin, I've been in the Senate for 3 days. Resting only for an hour here and there. I have been arguing with delegates who have no clue what is going on, and only want the credits and contracts that the Trade Delegation is promising for an expedient settlement. I am tired!" she said angrily. Anakin bowed his head for a moment, like the chastised little boy again. "I'm sorry, Padme. I just missed you, and I thought we could do something together tonight. I don't know how long I'll be home for." Anakin answered slowly. Padme sighed. It was impossible to resist Anakin when he was just trying to be with her, and be so sweet. "I know, and I'm sorry. Look, I'll bathe, have a quick nap, then whatever you want to do. How would that be?" Padme said, reaching up and placing her soft hand against his cheek. He smiled brilliantly, "That sounds great! I'll go report to the Jedi Council and the Supreme Chancellor, and give you time to rest." "Thank-you, Ani." Padme reached up and kissed her husband, marvelling at the shivery thrill it still gave her. Anakin held her tight in his arms, then ran out, exuberant and laughing again.
In the Jedi Council Audience room an hour later, Anakin wasn't laughing. "Report to us first, then to the Chancellor, then your other concerns may take precedence. You know this, Jedi Skywalker." Jedi Master Mace Windu remonstrated, his dark face showing annoyance. "The mission was a success. I did transmit that from the Camino. The details aren't important." Anakin replied. "Not important, are they? Know you all that we deem important?" queried Master Yoda, his impassive face searching Anakin's. "No, Master Yoda, I simply meant that the details weren't imperative to know. I apologize. Will you hear them now?" Anakin said quietly. "Hear them we will." Yoda answered. But he frowned, feeling the anger bubbling beneath the surface of Anakin's mind. Anger at being censured.
"Camino will continue to build the Clones for as long as we need, using the new host body. The Clones that they deliver this year will number 3 million. They are willing to increase this order if we request it. I looked over the original request logs. It was not clear, at least to me, whether it was Master Syphodias that made the order or someone else. It remains a mystery." "Do you believe, after speaking to the Supreme Chancellor that more Clones will be ordered?" Master Windu asked slowly. Anakin paused, then, "I do not believe so, he didn't say anything about that to me, he seemed to think that the 3 million, plus our existing army of 10 million would be enough." "Very well, thank-you for your report, and may the force be with you, Jedi Skywalker." Windu dismissed. Anakin bowed and left the audience chamber. A door slid open to the left almost immediately to reveal the bearded form of Obi-Wan Kenobi. He moved to his chair and faced the rest of the council. "What think you of your apprentice, Master Kenobi?" Yoda asked. "He's lying, or rather, he knows more than he's saying. Anakin is very attuned to what Chancellor Palpatine is doing. The Chancellor confides in Anakin and encourages him in ways that are not Jedi. And Master Yoda is correct in one other thing. Anakin's control is still tenuous at best. He needs to meditate more, and it is obvious he isn't." "Have you spoken to Senator Amidala?" Windu questioned. "No, and I think it prudent not to until Anakin is off-planet again. Perhaps he could be sent to the Base on Sullust with messages for the command there." Obi-Wan replied. "He is jealous, not wanting any by her but him. This is not the way of a Jedi." Yoda said slowly. "He is Jedi, Master, he just needs more control. I just don't want to antagonize him unduly. I will speak to the Senator, and I'm sure she will help. She cannot help but see how his temper is starting to get the best of him again." Obi-Wan reassured. "Very well, Skywalker shall be sent, two days from now. It will not take long, this trip, so be ready." Yoda assented. And the council meeting was ended.