Chapter 17

Anakin straightened his robe nervously before pushing the controls for the door. He started to step inside, then stopped in surprise. He had expected all of the Council to be assembled to met out his punishment, but only three figures were in the massive room. Mace Windu and Yoda, they were expected, but it was the third person that caught Anakin's attention. The dark features and trimmed goatee were the familiar form of the Senator from Alderaan.

Mace broke the silence. "Please come in, Anakin. Senator Organa has something important to share with us." Anakin knew then that he was not to be punished. Though Mace's tone was guarded, he was not angry. Anakin took a steadying breath and walked to the center of the room. Yoda nodded at him slightly then turned to Bail Organa.

"Your story we will now hear."

The Senator bowed deferentially, then began. "Honored Masters, I have some concerns. I think it may be beneficial to the Jedi, and indeed the Republic, if someone investigates these questions. I have asked Jedi Skywalker to be here because I know that he and Master Obi-Wan know Senator Amidala quite well." Anakin stiffened slightly at the mention of Padmé. Mace Windu and Yoda glanced at each other curiously. He continued, "I am sure you have heard the rumors that the Senator has been seen on Corusant." Anakin looked quickly to the Masters to see their reaction and was surprised to see their calm agreement. It was only then that he frowned, wondering why anyone would know that Padmé had left Naboo. Bail kept speaking, "She had been seen talking with the Supreme Chancellor and has been spotted in other parts of the city." At the encouraging, even pressing looks from the three Jedi he continued. "Her presence has been confirmed by - well, by a very reliable source." Anakin slumped slightly. There was no chance now that Padmé could remain on Corusant unnoticed. He had told her to stay out of the public eye, but for some reason she had even gone to see the Supreme Chancellor.

Yoda broke into Senator Organa's halting tale with a sigh. "If important news you have to share, do so, Senator. If not, we have other matters to attend to. Political gossip interests us not."

Bail Organa recognized the not-so-subtle hint and apologized. "I'm sorry to take up your time, Masters. If you will allow me to finish, though, I do believe that my news bears investigating." He paused and looked as Windu nodded encouragingly. "My 'reliable source' is myself." Yoda's big ears and Mace's and Anakin's eyebrows shot into the air. Now this was interesting! "Senator Amidala visited Representative Binks in his apartment two days ago. I have been puzzling over it ever since and at last decided to come here. I do not have much to go on really," here his tone was once again apologetic, "It's just what you might call a hunch. The Senator acted very strangely."

Anakin stirred uneasily as Mace asked, "Strangely? How so?"

Senator Organa frowned as he tried to put his feelings into words. "She was very - brusque. She did not act as genteel as she usually does. She even snapped at me when I asked her how she felt about the army. Nothing she did in particular stands out to me, there was just something about her that didn't - feel right." He finished helplessly. Then he made a small movement as he remembered something. "She still plans to remain hidden. She will tell Representative Binks what to do. That is odd."

Anakin spoke before he realized what he was doing. "I told her to." Only when he saw the looks from the other three did he realize his mistake. "That is - when I took her back to Naboo - I told her to remain hidden -" His voice trailed off and he knew that no one was fooled by his lie. At last he spoke again. "I saw her a few days ago. She was getting off of a shuttle. I helped her to a secret hiding place and told her not to reveal herself." That at least was true. Still, he knew they would not be happy.

Mace frowned. "And you did not bother to tell the Council of her presence?"

Anakin moved his head side to side as he thought. "No, the Senator did not wish anyone to know she was here. That is, since I am an old friend, she knew I wouldn't tell. I mean, since I saw her she couldn't hide-" He stumbled over his words, but the others seemed to believe him.

Yoda seemed to have a permanent frown these days, and it deepened at this bumbled explanation. "When will she learn to trust us? Hidden her we have. Protected her we have. Found her killers we have. Yet still trust us she will not."

Anakin spoke quickly. "People want her dead. Can you blame her?" Perhaps he was pushing too far. After all, they must not suspect the depth of his emotional attachment to Padmé. He calmed himself and spoke again. "I'm sorry, Masters. Perhaps I should have alerted you of her arrival, but I thought it best to do things her way."

Bail nodded and spoke. "Then you know where she is? You can find her?"

Anakin looked at his feet for a moment, then lifted his head and nodded at the other three. "Yes, I know where she is."

Yoda and Mace Windu were still obviously disconcerted that the Padawan had kept this secret, especially when they thought of his recent outburst. Yet they sighed in resignation. They could see no real reason to look into Senator Organa's thoughts, but Anakin was doing nothing anyway, and it was the job of the Jedi to protect the Republic. At last Mace lifted his hands to his chin and spoke. "We will allow Jedi Skywalker to visit the Senator and find any problems that she has." Bail Organa relaxed visibly.

Anakin smiled a bit. This was a mission he would enjoy. He bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Masters. I won't fail you."

Yoda smiled one of his frightening prophetic smiles and his eyes widened. "No. You won't young Skywalker. Of that I am sure."