13

Darth Annhil bowed low before the holoprojection of Darth Sidious. The glowing hologram stared down at his creation with a twisted smile.

"Master, the Council has decided that they will stay put until we make some kind of movement."

"The Jedi have always been cautious," Sidious hissed. "We will set another trap for them. They're far to righteous to resist our ruses."

"What is our next move, my Lord?"

"You will find out soon enough. Stay on Coruscant. I shall arrive shortly."

"Yes, my Lord."

Anakin waited patiently for Padme to return to her apartment. He stood next to the golden form of C-3PO, staring downward through the window.

The echoes of Padme's presence surrounded him, filling him with a mix of warmth and longing. Every second he was away from her was a moment in agony. He thought of her face, her beautiful smile, her gait as she walked. He was lost in love. In the last few years, he had fallen so deep in the forbidden mandate of love, he could never return.

"Master," 3PO started dryly. "May I offer you some refreshments while you wait?"

"That's okay, 3PO." He turned to the droid. "How has Padme been? It's been so long since I've had time to be around her."

"Well, Master, she's been a bit busy with the recent appointment to Supreme Chancellor."

The door behind them hissed open, and Padme stepped in. She was adorned in a beautiful crimson robe that flowed gracefully with her down the stairway.

"Padme!" Anakin ran to her, wrapping his arms around her petite form.

She put her lips against his cheek, kissing him softly. When they were withdrawn, red lipstick smudged across his face. "I've waited so long to see you."

"It's been so long, my love."

He guided her to one of the lounge sofas. "I found the key to my dreams. Since then I haven't had a single nightmare."

She smiled, enveloping Anakin in her warmth. "Things are back to normal finally."

He grinned and moved closer to her. "I have something to tell you, Padme."

Her smile wavered. She wasn't sure what was next out of his mouth. "What is it, Annie?"

Anakin let his hands fall to her stomach, rubbing gently. "You're going to have twins."

She gasped. The medical droids had yet to find another heartbeat. All along she thought it was a single child!

He continued. "A boy and a girl, and everything is going to be perfect. All worry about you dying has disappeared."

They embraced, enjoying the moment of bliss. "I'm afraid I have to go, Annie. Since I've been appointed Chancellor, things have been rushed. I have a parade tomorrow celebrating the New Chancellor."

Yoda and Mace Windu sat in the council chambers reviewing a transmission that had arrived. The transmission was weak and voice only. It only spoke one broken sentence. "Jedi...attacked...dead... Sith attack...Malastare."

They reviewed it again and again, searching through it with the force. Nothing could be made from the frightened words.

Yoda leaned heavily on his gimer stick, mulling over the transmission. "Have only one choice we do," He stated ominously. "Attacked the Jedi outpost on Malastare, the Sith have."

Windu dropped his head into his hands. "It will take all of our strength to stop the Sith, especially if Sidious has adopted another apprentice."

"We must go to Mustafar," Windu paused, glancing out the window to the darkening skyline. "We have to call another session."

The Council was convened again, but due to the status, no one even took a seat. They all stood in the round room with wearied faces.

Anakin paced around his chair, pondering over the transmission that had been played. He showed no signs of worry, but within, his heart was pounding. The thought of facing a Sith didn't bother him, but the idea of being away from his beloved did. It had been so long since he had a chance to simply hold her. He silently prayed something would alter the situation.

"You have heard the transmission," Windu spoke. "And we have only one choice. We must travel to Malastare and head off the Sith attack." He stopped, watching the faces of the fellow Masters. "But, Master Yoda has brought up the fact that it may be a trap, so we are nominating Anakin and Obi-Wan to remain her on Coruscant."

Anakin's heart skipped a beat. He was going to be able to stay! The two nodded in agreement.

Mace continued. "And you will remain here in the Temple."

His heart skipped again, and then dropped. He was going to be held from seeing Padme. A slight amount of anger began to penetrate him, but then faded away. He would still be on the same planet, and that quelled the burst of fury.

Anakin and Obi-Wan, surrounded by a small group of Jedi Younglings watched as the small cruiser lifted from the landing pad. The repulsors whined and howled into the wind, pushing the craft higher into the air. In a final blaze of cerulean, it blasted off into the golden dawn.