Title: The Arrest

Author: sparky8me2

Summary: Still head spinningly AU. See the first chapter for the first summary.

Disclaimer: I still own no one at all.

Things have gotten drastically worse. Anakin's descent towards madness has continued, worsening despite all of our best efforts. Eventually, he came to my apartment to confront me regarding my friendship with Bail. I tried to tell him that he had no business dictating who I could or could not be friends with, but he said it was too late. I palmed the door to shut and as it slid closed, I could see him turn to leave with so much anger written all over his face. I've been afraid for Anakin many times, but that was the first time that I was ever afraid OF him and what he may do...

I had Artoo send a message, warning Obi-Wan of what had just transpired and very quickly- more so than I would have expected, I recieved a reply urging me to be very cautious around Anakin and consider not even opening the door to him. Not open the door to my own husband... How did this ever get so bad? I just wanted my Anakin back. I thought things couldn't get much worse.

Then they did. Drastically.

Anakin returned to the Temple when Obi-Wan contacted him and tried to kill him. And told him he planned on killing Bail too. I firmly believe if it wasn't for the Chancellor and Obi-Wan's efforts, he would still be locked away in the Temple, instead of just having his weapon confiscated and being placed on probationary duty. Perhaps that would have been for the best.

As weeks went by, more and more we watched the Senate and more and more now that we were aware of what we were watching for, we began to see signs of corruption. Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. I cannot speak for anyone aside myself, but I had begun to regret voting to grant him emergency powers. And putting forth the no-confidence vote in Chancellor Valorum to begin with...

So some of us began to gather on occasion and speak of what could be done, legally, if the Senate had decided that the use of these emergency powers were going too far. We knew there were more who felt as we did, but given that times were becoming dangerous, we could not approach anyone until we were certain. We needed time and more of it than we really felt we had. We couldn't risk our perfectly legal petition to be rooted out and halted before it even began.

Near the end of one of our meetings, Obi-Wan brought up the prospect of listening devices... Particularly one planted by Anakin. I knew Anakin would never do such a thing, then I remembered Anakin can no longer be trusted. My heart sank when I realized that when the others disagreed, they were right.

Oh, Anakin... How did this happen? How did things get so bad that not even my own husband is to be trusted?

The ramifications of Artoo joining in the conversation with a series of beeps and whistles didn't strike me right away. Not until Obi-Wan asked where Threepio was, did it occur to me. "I told them both to shut down..."

"A little walking recording device. Damn."

We discussed the matter and while we thought it would be a good idea to purge Artoo's memory, Mon Mothma disagreed. She said we should use the opportunity to test Anakin's loyalties. To see if he took the information Artoo had to the Chancellor. I don't think she realized how important it was Anakin the Chancellor not find out what we're discussing. I was afraid it would confirm what I already feared- that Anakin's loyalties no longer laid with us...

So I waited. I waited until Bail and Mon Mothma left to have Obi-Wan take Artoo to have his memory wiped. Although when he brought him back, he told me he was unsuccessful. And now that I was alerted to the fact that the little astromech might be spying on us, how close he stayed to Obi-Wan and I while we discussed it was particularly disturbing.

After Obi-Wan left, I got myself a cup of tea and went to relax with my notes, although soon I was sound asleep. The next thing I was aware of was a contingent of soldiers, led by Anakin bursting through my door, and Threepio asking if they had an invitation. I jumped up and demanded to know what was going on. And Artoo answered. Oh no...

"What do you mean they are arresting Mistress Padme? What do you know of it?"

Oh no, oh no... This can't be happening... My mind was whirling, even worse when Anakin came into the room, and only one thought entered my mind... Must warn the others... "Threepio! See to it the Jedi know about this!" It was my hope that they hadn't arrested Obi-Wan yet. That he could warn the others and get them to safety. After all, what we were discussing... working on a petition to remove the Chancellor from power, was not illegal. These arrests themselves were completely unjust!

As Threepio moved to do as I asked him, Anakin and I stared at each other. I think he was as stunned to see me as I was to see him. I couldn't believe my own husband would be sent to arrest me. He accused me of trying to bring down the Republic Of plotting against it. The Anakin I know and love knows I would never do such a thing. He said the Chancellor is a kind and just man and it took all of my self-control to try to reason with him- to try to make him understand what was happening and the importance of it,instead of snapping at him aboutbeingcompletely blind to the obvious and calling him Palpatine's Puppet. It didn't take very long for him to grow tired of our discussion and have me led away to Coruscant's detention cells.