Chapter 17. A Matter of Trust

When Anakin finally arrived at Padmé's apartment, hours after he had said he would come, he suffered an onslaught of very unexpected greetings. To begin with, Sabé opened to door to him with a big smile, grabbed his arm and practically pulled him inside.

"I'm so glad you're here!"

Anakin looked at her suspiciously while allowing himself to be carried along.

"You have been sorely missed," Sabé said with the utmost sweetness. Anakin assumed Padmé was the one who had missed him and glanced over to find her standing quietly by the wide window, and therefore reacted a fraction of a second too late to avoid being temporarily winded by a kind of flying bludgeon that caught him squarely in the stomach.

"Oof," he grunted, catching the small terrorist and lifting her up onto his arm to prevent further attacks. She threw her arms around his neck, making him reflect that being strangled was not a much better alternative.

"Hey," he gasped. "If I can't breathe, I'm no good to you."

Balé eased off immediately and pulled back enough for him to look at the grinning child. She seemed to be partially covered with an odd powdery substance, and his trained Jedi mind quickly deduced that by now he probably also was covered with it. He looked down at himself and gave his robes a desultory brushing.

"Flour," said Sabé very, very helpfully, having noticed the gesture. "Balé has been waiting for you all morning. We've been baking to pass the time."

Ah. His failure to arrive in a timely fashion was manifest, and Sabé certainly knew how to point it out. At least on that front things were normal after all. Anakin was almost relieved.

"You look like a Jedi again," Balé said, scrutinizing him. She was a tireless observer of his appearance.

"Is something burning?" Anakin asked to distract her long enough so that he could make contact with Padmé, who was watching the scene looking as though she wished that she could throw herself at him too. They hadn't really talked to since their tense discussion on the landing platform while waiting for Balé's shuttle, and Anakin wished fervently that she would. But with Captain Typho lounging on the sofa restraint was called for.

Balé looked at her favorite playmate dubiously, but then scrambled down and ran to the kitchen just to make sure. Anakin reckoned he had about a minute and a half before the next assault, and used it to greet Padmé silently in a way that made it abundantly clear to her that he felt exactly the same way. Anakin took in the fact that she was dressed formally, as for a meeting or a session of the Senate.

"Skywalker!" Captain Typho called Anakin over. "Just person I need to see."

That makes a change, Anakin thought, suspicious again. He knew the good Captain blamed him for failing to protect his beloved mistress and getting her tangled up in the Battle at Geonosis. For some reason Typho's manner toward him had become even colder after his last visit to Naboo. Anakin approached him with his senses on alert.

"I have a message for you," the Captain said, a bit stiffly. "I did not have the opportunity to give it to you upon our arrival, for which I apologize."

Anakin frowned. "From whom?"

Typho shrugged. "It's a diplomatic packet that came sealed directly from the Office of the Queen. I am merely passing it on."

Anakin thanked him and took the odd, old-fashioned parchment packet into his hand and scanned it through the Force, this time managing to maintain his focus even when assaulted once again by a determined child. He caught Balé before she could catch him and swung her up onto his back, never taking his eyes off the message. It seemed as though Typho's hands were the only ones that had handled it, and the holoseal was the original one. He suspected it was from Obi-Wan. Odd.

"Can you play with me now?" Balé begged over his shoulder as Anakin moved closer to the window and to Padmé, who still had not said a single word.

"I am here at the command of Senator Amidala," Anakin said to the child, all the time looking warmly into the Senator's eyes, "who has requested my presence for a meeting. When she is finished with me, I'm all yours."

Balé slumped dramatically on his back. "Oh, no," she moaned. "Not talking again."

Padmé smiled at her. "I'm sorry, Balé. But I do need to borrow him. I should be finished by the time your cake is done."

However reckless her behavior with Anakin, Balé was much more judicious with Padmé, and she slid obediently back down to the floor.

"It will be done very soon," she said meaningfully and headed reluctantly back to the kitchen. Sabé grinned and followed her.

"Do you mind if I read this first?" Anakin asked quickly.

Padmé shook her head, looking at him intently. "Are you all right?" she asked quietly.

"Why?" he asked, startled.

"I don't know. You seem…" She couldn't think of the right words. "Cloudy. As though something is weighing on you."

Anakin shrugged. There was no point in telling her about the dreams right now. I slept alone last night, he pointed out.

Padmé smiled and walked over to sit next to Captain Typho to allow Anakin to read his message in private.

He turned it over in his hands once more and broke the seal to find a finely written page folded over a strange device.

It was from Obi-Wan, and Anakin couldn't believe that his supremely cautious former Master had entrusted this message to this route.

And he tells me not to trust anyone.

The message was again written in riddles and it would take longer to work out every detail. But in essence Anakin was given to understand that Obi-Wan was now on Naboo, that the planet was the location for much illegal activity, of which the Naboo themselves were largely unaware, and that Anakin was to study the enclosed device carefully and take care never to fall prey to one like it.

Anakin looked at the object in his hand. It was a small, rounded metal box with two long prongs emerging from one end, and appeared to be designed to fit comfortably into the palm of a hand. He turned it over and over, intrigued and wondering about its inner workings. The motion or a touch must have triggered a switch or a sensor because in the space of half a heartbeat he was doubled over with pain. The device was in his living hand. He dropped to the floor like a stone and with his last strength managed to bring his now vibrating right hand over to it and find a way to turn it off. Anakin lay crumpled on the floor gasping while Padmé and her Security Chief rushed toward him.

Anakin suddenly had a very clear picture of how the device worked and of its intended purpose. He could imagine vividly the effects it could have if the prongs had entered his body. The pain it had caused was the very, very familiar result of severe Force disruption.

Padmé got to him first, reaching out for him in wordless shock.

Typho reached out for the device, but Anakin managed to clench his hand to prevent him taking it.

"Don't," he gasped. "Dangerous."

Typho pulled his hand away while Padmé cradled Anakin's head.

After a few more minutes of concentration on his breathing Anakin managed to sit up, still holding the now quiescent device with great caution.

"What happened?" Padmé whispered, terrified. Seeing Anakin like this brought back too many dreadful memories.

"Stupidity," he groaned. "Complete, inexcusable stupidity."

"What is that thing?" Typho demanded impatiently.

Anakin took a few more stabilizing breaths before answering. "It's a weapon. A specialized weapon designed to kill the Force-sensitive quickly and easily, provided you can get close enough." He rolled forward and flexed his legs. They seemed to be functioning. "It's very effective."

Padmé shuddered. "Why?" she wondered out loud. "Who?"

Anakin stretched his arm out to Typho, who helped him up.

"This one," Anakin said when he had his balance back, "apparently came from Naboo."

Padmé and Captain Typho glanced hurriedly at one another. Anakin caught the look.

"Is this what we need to talk about?" he asked.

Padmé guided him over to one of the sofas.

"Captain Typho has brought disturbing news," she said.

"My Lady," the Captain said hurriedly, "I'm not sure this information should be shared…"

"Well, I am," Padmé snapped more sharply than she had intended, and the Captain fell silent.

Anakin made himself lean forward to place the device gingerly on a nearby table, then uncharacteristically allowed himself to sink back into the cushions to ease the ache. He was grateful when it brought a little relief.

All three of them stared at the innocuous-looking device in silence for a moment.

Balé stuck her head around the corner. "Are you finished yet?"

"No!" Chorused the three adults simultaneously. Startled, she disappeared again.

Padmé looked at her Security Chief. "Perhaps, Captain, you had better begin."

Typho sat down reluctantly and addressed Anakin.

"As you know, Naboo has been host to a large garrison of the Army of the Republic since… well, since you were there. As you can imagine, we have not been happy about hosting this force."

Anakin nodded. He knew all right. Padmé's fury at having the garrison imposed upon Naboo had been a constant in his life for some time.

"In order to safeguard out autonomy and… well, our sovereignty," Typho went on uncomfortably, "we keep a close eye on the activities of this Republican Army outpost." Anakin remained silent and attentive, so Typho continued. It was obvious that he was deeply uncomfortable discussing these matters with an outsider. Even a Jedi.

"Our… observers…  have reported a number of disturbing facts that, pieced together, have led us to the conclusion that there is a great deal more going on from that base that simple protective patrols."  Captain Typho's mouth had a bitter twist, as though it had cost him a great deal to say those words.

"Go on," said Anakin, knowing that there had to be more to cause the Captain this much distress.

"We have reason to believe… " Captain Typho went on, and then stopped, as though he couldn't continue. Padmé put her hand over his to encourage him. "We have evidence," Captain Typho soldiered on, "indicating that Naboo is being used as a base for raids carried out by the Army of the Republic on our allies in the sector. In effect, the Army is carrying out pre-emptive raids on planets within the Republic."

Anakin frowned. How could that possibly be happening? 

"Why?" he demanded, a bit sharply. "Why would they do that?"

"There is a great deal of evidence to support this assertion," Typho insisted, seeing Anakin's expression. Then, when Anakin did not respond, he turned to Padmé. "My Lady, I don't see the point of sharing this very sensitive information…"

Padmé gently placed her hand on her Security Chief's arm to silence him and continued the explanation herself.

"Anakin, we believe they are carrying out these raids on any planet they suspect of harboring Separatists, and that they are doing it secretly, bypassing diplomatic channels, and without the express consent of the Senate."

Anakin absorbed this devastating assertion for a moment before replying.

"So that the Republic will have an excuse to occupy those planets in the same way that they occupy Naboo?"

Padmé and Typho nodded.

Anakin didn't want to believe it. If it were true, it would mean that the Chancellor had authorized the raids. No actions of that scope would take place without his knowledge or consent. "That's illegal," he frowned. "Why would the Republic do that?  The Chancellor wants to end this war. He only wants peace."

"Anakin," Padmé said gently, "you and I have discussed that fact that the official information provided to me as Senator, and perhaps to all Senators, is incomplete, if not downright false. You said you would help me to get to the bottom of this. I need your help more than ever now."

Anakin leaned forward and rested his arms on his knees, stretching his back in the process. The pain was beginning to subside.

"Do you have an idea which planets are being attacked?" he asked, still reluctant to believe Typho's story.

"We have a list," Typho said shortly.

This is my day for lists, Anakin thought, staring at the floor.

"I have a list, too," he said. Well, I will shortly. "A list of planets suspected of having Separatist leanings."

Padmé looked at him in surprise.

"New information," Anakin explained. "I haven't had a chance to tell you."

Captain Typho looked from one to the other, weighing their conversation carefully.

"I'd like to compare them," Padmé said with a flinty edge in her voice.

"We will," Anakin assured her. It was the only way to get to the bottom of this. Perhaps the Naboo were mistaken. Then he caught sight of the folded parchment that lay on the table next to the force-disruptor weapon. Obi-Wan had spoken of illegal activities on Naboo.

Typho couldn't contain himself any more.

"If what we suspect is true, and if anything we have said here today gets out – a breath, a hint, even a suspicion, we the Naboo could be accused of treachery and suffer a terrible fate." He glared at Anakin with pent-up displeasure and distrust of long standing. "Any slip or betrayal on your part could cost Senator Amidala, and the rest of us, dearly."

Why does everyone assume I am going to fail?  Why does no one trust me?  Anakin thought angrily, still bristling from having his competence questioned by the Jedi Council.

Before he could answer Padmé took both of Anakin's gloved hands in her own and looked into his eyes, making Captain Typho squirm uncomfortably.

"Anakin has all my faith and all my trust," she said softly to the Captain while never taking her eyes off Anakin's. "He will never let any harm come to me, or to us." 

Anakin's bitterness dissolved like ice in a warm rain.

"We will get to the bottom of this," he said, brimming over with gratitude. "I promise you."

"Now are you done?" Balé's voice called out from the vicinity of the kitchen.

Anakin glanced at Padmé, who nodded. "It depends," he called back toward the kitchen, "on whether there's cake."

There was a giggle followed by a muffled flurry of activity.

"Are you all right now?" Padmé asked Anakin. Captain Typho couldn't help noticing that she was still holding both of the Jedi's hands in her own.

Anakin smiled a little. Your touch is healing, he told her in a wave of thanks. The Force is strong with you. It wasn't just his body that felt better with her touch. The hazy feeling that still lingered from last night's dreams was leaving him too. For the first time since waking up he felt centered.

Aloud he said, "I just need cake."

I miss you, Padmé informed him in no uncertain terms, making it clear that it wasn't just a night's closeness she missed; that she longed to include Anakin in every part of her life, all the time. She wanted him by her side in everything.

"Can you stay with Balé this afternoon?" she asked out loud. "Chancellor Palpatine has called an emergency session of the Senate. I have to go. Captain Typho will escort me, and Sabé has other duties."

"Why an emergency session?" Anakin was suddenly alert. He hadn't heard anything about it.

"No one knows. No one seems to have received an agenda."

"Of course I'll stay with her," Anakin said warmly. "But I have to stop by the Senate as well." To get the list, he added privately. Now that the conversation had turned somewhat more mundane Padmé relinquished her hold on Anakin's hands, leaving him feeling disconnected. But he seemed to have recovered from the effects of the Force disruptor. "Perhaps we can meet you later."

Balé emerged from the kitchen triumphantly, carrying a large platter with an equally large cake. Sabé was right behind her carrying smaller plates and keeping a close eye on the wobbling platter in the child's hands. Balé shrieked when the plate suddenly slipped from her hands, rose into the air, and floated safely to the table between the sofas. Under cover of the excitement Anakin carefully wrapped up the Force disruptor weapon in the parchment and stowed it safely away in his belt.

Once she realized she hadn't dropped the cake after all Balé laughed and jumped feet first onto the sofa next to Anakin, more like a back street ruffian than a lady of Naboo.

All at once Padmé wondered what kind of mischief was going to take place in her absence. She wished passionately that she could stay with them – not to stop the mischief, but to enjoy it. For some reason the idea of this afternoon's Senate session filled her with dread.

"Yes, why don't you pick me up at the Senate this evening?" she agreed. It will give me something to look forward to.

* * * * *

The cake was ceremonially served and duly praised. Captain Typho sat quietly eating his portion and watching the domestic scene with a troubled mind. He was proud to enjoy the confidence of one Jedi Knight – the one who had given him the packet and to whom he readily had given his solemn vow that he would reveal nothing of the origins of the message, the Knight's presence on Naboo or his role in their investigations. Master Kenobi had accepted his vow and thereby entrusted his life to Typho, an honor the Captain held sacred. But Anakin still troubled him, and the Senator's obvious, almost heedless devotion to this particular Jedi worried and grieved the devoted Security Chief.

Typho was convinced of the Supreme Chancellor's involvement in the activities they had uncovered. He just didn't know where Anakin fit in.

* * * * *

There go two more, Dar Wac thought to himself as another pair of unhappy-looking Delegates scurried past his desk looking as though they couldn't wait to be out the door. His Master had been in a foul mood all day, and it was spilling over into every area, even those in which Palpatine normally kept his legendary outer calm.

Sure enough, he was summoned into the inner office.

"Cancel my appointments until the special session," Chancellor Palpatine said. "I have business elsewhere."

The Rodian knew better to ask where his Master was going. His job was to keep the Chancellor's office running and give no information at all about his Master's whereabouts or activities when he didn't wish to be found. Not that he was privy to any aspect of the Chancellor's life that took place outside of the Senate building itself. Gathering his courage, he did venture one tiny question.

"Will there…will there be an agenda to distribute for the Special Session, My Lord?"

"No!" his Master barked, making the Rodian flinch. "It is not required for an emergency session. Let them wait to hear what I have to say."  He paused for a moment's thought. "When my guests arrive, have them wait in my inner office until I send for them."

Dar Wac bowed most submissively. "Yes, My Lord. Will you require a guard?"

"I'll take the two that are standing outside," Palpatine growled. "Have my pilot report to my personal transport immediately."

"Yes, My Lord." Dar Wac scurried away before there was an opportunity for him to become the target of his Master's ire.

Without further delay Chancellor Palpatine got up and moved toward the door of his office. The two Elite Senate Guards fell into step with him, one in front, and one at the rear.

"You will escort me to my personal shuttle and then leave me," the Chancellor said, and then fell into a stony silence.