9

Anakin smiled at Padmé. A real smile, something that had become rare in the week since his return from Tatooine. Seeing it made her heart warm, and combined with the fact that she was full from a hearty dinner, all prepared by her hands, she had never felt so content in years.

And there was the simple fact that Anakin consistently came over to visit her.

She could not deny that she enjoyed it, no matter how she tried.

"Now you're just trying to be mean!" Padmé protested his comment on her cooking. "I've told you more than once that I am not a cook!"

"No, you should know Jedi are not mean." He tried to keep a straight face but failed as the corners of his lips turned up. A small chuckle escaped him.

Frustration welling in her, Padmé struggled to from some sort of comeback. It seemed she was never able to win these verbal duels of theirs. Finally she shot back, "Yeah, sure. Breakfast boy. You can cook next time, then."

Anakin merely laughed. "I won't be breakfast boy for long. As soon as I become a Knight, that business ends. And you should know the dining hall is empty when I'm on duty."

Padmé scowled at him.

He really does think he's something. I'll just have to show him!

Without further delay, Padmé fished out a cube of ice from one of the cups sitting empty on the counter after the meal. Before Anakin move away from her she dashed behind behind him. He reached behind him to stop her, he knew what she was going to do, and failed. Ice slipped down the back of his robes.

"Oh, you did not just do that," Anakin squealed as the ice slipped down his back. "You did not just do that."

He contorted as he tried to keep the ice from coming into contact with his skin. Ice made the perfect weapon against him – she knew he never would get over how cold ice was, as he came from such a warm planet as Tatooine.

Padmé giggled as she watched him twist around, slipping away from him.

"You are an agent of evil, twisted by the dark side," he said. His eyes narrowed at her.

Padmé tried to stop laughing. Feeling slightly guilty for tormenting him so, she clapped a hand over her mouth. He still glared at her, but she could see his eyes were still dancing. Knowing that he was not angry only made her urge to giggle stronger.

After one final attempt to find the ice he forced himself to go still. Padmé watched him carefully, not sure of what he would do. She knew he was concentrating on something – something sneaky with the Force. Anakin's face gave away nothing of his intentions, however.

A soft tinkle caught her attention.

Out of one of the cups on the counter three pieces of ice leapt into the air. It teetered for second, almost tipping over. Without further sound all three ice cubes made their way to Padmé.

"No you don't!" Padmé put her hands up defensively and darted away from the three frozen bombs.

Trying to keep a straight face, Anakin moved the ice after her. She yelped and ran from them again.

Putting ice down a Jedi's back. Not one of my more brilliant moves, she thought to herself from the safety of the main sitting room.

The cubes danced ominously around her head for a few seconds.

"Alright, Master Jedi, you win."

Anakin moved the ice again as if he were going to put them down the back of her tunic, but just at the last second he pulled them back to the kitchen where they plopped into the sink. Cautiously, Padmé walked back so she stood next to him again. Anakin raised his hands in an "I'm innocent" gesture and she stepped past him to finish washing the dishes.

"And don't call me that," he said, blushing slightly.

"What?"

"Master Jedi. I'm not a Master," he tried not to smile at her, "your Highness."

"And don't you call me that."

"Yes, m'lady."

Padmé chuckled and splashed some water onto him. "Don't call me that either."

Anakin turned his face and blinked his eyes to avoid the soapy water, but it landed on the front of his tunic. He looked straight at her, saying, "You are just bent on tormenting me, aren't you?"

"Maybe."

She watched him. That smile of his…her heart fluttered. He looked so handsome, standing there with an exasperated but amused look on his face. He caught her staring at him and looked her in the eyes.

Those eyes. So blue. They held her gaze, looking deep into hers. Padmé felt a strong urge to look away, to break the connection, but she forced herself not to do so. Her heart sped up and her stomach curled into a tiny knot as she suddenly became very aware of the fact that she had not cleaned the apartment in days, she had been so distracted, thinking of other things –

"I –" Anakin started.

Padmé jolted out of her train of thought and waited for the rest of his thought. Two words screamed inside her head. He was going to say them, she knew he would.

Tell him you feel the same way, you know, you've always known – say anything you stupid, stupid woman. It's not right, but you can't deny it!

"What, Anakin?" she whispered instead.

"Nothing. I don't know."

He shook his head, his eyes darting down at the floor. After a second he looked back up at her and tried to smile. Disappointed, she shrugged and went back to washing the dishes. As she got done with them he dried them and put them away using the Force.

When they were done, Padmé turned to him. "You just have to show off don't you?"

Anakin shrugged. "Obi-Wan would have killed me for that marvelous display."

"Why?"

"Jedi aren't supposed to use the Force as a crutch like that. There's more to the Force than just show. It's complicated. The Force is complicated."

"Life's complicated."

Anakin smiled.

"Yeah, it sure is." He sighed and went silent. His eyes went out of focus as he looked past her. His right hand clenched into a fist at his side several times over and his jaw set.

His mother. He's thinking about his mother.

"She loved you, Anakin."

At Padmé's words he turned sharply to her.

"What?"

"Your mother…she loved you very much," Padmé said.

"How'd you know…?"

She shrugged. "I just had a feeling that's what you were thinking about. You're usually thinking of her when you get that distant look in your eyes."

Not knowing what to say, he halfheartedly smiled.

"She'd be proud of you, Anakin. And I'm sure that wherever she is now she still is. Even I'm proud of you. I mean, you've changed so much…you've become a wonderful Jedi – a wonderful person, regardless of your being a Jedi."

Padmé stepped over to him and put her hands on his arms. It was hard for her to do, everything inside her screamed that touching him was wrong.

"Thanks," Anakin said, blushing. "I just do what comes naturally, what should be done for the greater good. Even still, you and Obi-Wan are the only people I have left."

"What do you mean? You've got the rest of the Order. They–"

"I never fit in with any of the other trainees. Since I started so late, I was outcast from them. It was like they wanted to prove something about themselves because I'm supposed to be the Chosen One. If I had the choice to go back…no matter what, I wouldn't give up what I have to still be a slave."

His eyes went down to the floor and he crossed his arms tightly across his chest as if he were stripped of everything he had, left only with a broken spirit too weak to protest the crimes against it.

The sight of him made Padmé's heart stop – he looked so fragile. Tentatively she stepped close to him and put her hands on his arms, looking him in the eyes.

"No one's asking you to give it up, Anakin."

Anakin wrapped his arms around her, holding her as close as he could. After a second she looked back up at him, knowing he was comforted by her words. And the feeling of him holding onto her –

She never wanted him to leave. She didn't care whether it was proper or not. They understood each other, they cared about each other. The Jedi Order could do nothing about their friendship.

Except you know you want more than that.

And she did.

She buried her face against his robes, taking in the comfort of his embrace. Breathing him in brought to mind all of the things she associated with him: compassion, understanding, comfort. With another breath she noticed something completely different under the lingering manufactured smell of his robes.

Him.

Subtle yet sharp at the same time, it was unlike anything else. She knew it was unique only to him – nothing in the rest of the galaxy would have this scent.

Drawn to him even more, she pressed herself against him and squeezed him tightly. She took a couple more deep breaths to take in all of him that she could. Warnings screamed inside her head but she ignored them.

She was not about to give this up. She was not about to give him up.

Padmé glanced up at him, nervous about looking at him for a reason that she could not understand.

"I know," he said.

Anakin looked her in the eyes.

Those eyes. She couldn't get away from them.

They looked through her – understanding more about her than she knew herself. Padmé fought the urge to divert her eyes so that he would stop studying her.

But she could not look away from those blue eyes. Just as he had been a few minutes ago, she was now before him, defenses to keep people out stripped down. Her heart sped up as she held the gaze, fearing conclusions that he would come to about her –

Gently, Anakin reached up and put his hand on the side of her face. The soft touch calmed her nerves and let her breath out slowly. He pulled her closer to him and she dared not think about what was to come next.

He kissed her.

She knew it was coming, she knew she wanted it. Ever since that first kiss she doubted that it had happened. Not to her. Not a Queen of Naboo.

And here he was, lips pressed against hers. A simple action meaning so much. Padmé's fingers tightened in their grip against his back, wanting him closer. The only thing she was aware of was the connection she had to him – nothing between them.

He broke the kiss, looking at Padmé. A few seconds passed then he kissed her again a little more earnestly.

Padmé pulled away from him and leaned against him. Her voice muffled against his robes, she spoke.

"Anakin…we can't do this. You said so yourself."

"I know, I know," he said, closing his eyes and resting his chin on top of her head. "But I can't help it when I'm around you. I just want to be with you."

"What about the Jedi? I thought you'd get expelled from the Order. I can't just let you throw away your dream for me."

"I'm not throwing my dream away." Anakin squeezed her. "Jedi were allowed to love, at one point. And when I'm with you…I can't explain it. I feel the Force in a way like never before, and I know it's a good thing. It just doesn't make sense for a Jedi not to love, not when we're taught to have compassion and unconditional love for all things."

"But you just can't go keeping something like this from them – especially Obi-Wan."

"Obi-Wan…doesn't get it, nor will he," Anakin said.

Those words were a little hard for Padmé to believe.

"I don't like it."

"Trust me. You'll see. It'll all work out; things always work out the way they're supposed to. We just have to be careful, that's all."

Padmé searched his face. There she saw the determination to keep her on his handsome face. She knew he truly cared about her, and after all, she was all alone in the galaxy now. Not to mention, her own feelings for him…were unbecoming of a member of the Naboo royal family. Back in Naboo, she probably was expected to marry someone of equal importance.

There was the slim chance that she might be able to persuade her parents because he was a Jedi –

But none of that mattered. They were not on Naboo, they were here. She had no parents that she needed to convince.

Anakin was still a Jedi. And whether they were on Naboo or not, that was something that had to be contended with. Despite all the possible repercussions, she did not think she could stand to loose him.

After all, if that kiss doesn't prove what I want then I don't know what will.

Padmé nestled up against him and squeezed him tightly. For several more minutes they held on to each other, both of them almost covered up in the dark Jedi robe Anakin wore. It seemed as if no time had passed since he arrived earlier that evening.

Finally Anakin forced himself to say goodbye and leave, giving Padmé another kiss before he did so. Padmé shut the door after him. After he left, she leaned against it, wishing there could be a time when he would never have to leave.

The next morning Anakin woke up with a large smile on his face. Padmé's face hovered in the background of his mind the whole night, even while he slept. The Queen might be nervous about the whole where things between them were going, but he was confident – he nearly even said those three little words to her. It was a gross error that the Jedi were not allowed to love. Anakin just could not conceive how the Masters thought it wrong.

Love was true connection to the Force.

True connection brought true understanding of the Force and its will.

Having gotten himself some breakfast and glad he did not have to work in the kitchens that morning, Anakin made his way up through the Temple to one of the meditation rooms. Sitting down, he crossed his legs and sank in to the Force. Instantaneously he felt Padmé's presence without having to reach beyond the Temple.

Which was odd because it meant she was not in her apartment.

What in the blazes is she doing here? Anakin wondered. For a second a trill of excitement went through him as he thought she might be coming to visit him. He reached out again, only to be disappointed.

Padmé was surrounded by confusion.

Refugees.

Focusing a little harder, he could sense their angst, having been displaced from their homes as more and more systems succumbed to the Separatists. Those she came into contact with were soon calmed, and it was easy for Anakin to understand why – she had the same effect on him. He smiled to himself as Padmé's sense of accomplishment coursed through him. For a second it almost seemed as if she could sense he was watching her through the Force, but as soon as it came the feeling passed.

Leaving her to her work, Anakin moved further out. And there it was:

That nagging presence of darkness.

He pushed towards it with concern. Today it was stronger than before, shrouding more in its cloud. The darkness covered everything around it. It dulled any presence of the light side of the Force.

What especially concerned Anakin was that it covered the Senate. The governing body of the Republic was never hard to feel since it was a hotbed for anxiety and stress that radiated through the Force. Lately, the youngest trainee could find the Senate with ease. But today it was a vacuum. He couldn't find anything but the darkness.

Something pushed Anakin away.

Frowning, Anakin pushed back.

The dark pushed him away even harder.

Anakin thought about Padmé, gathering as much strength as he could through the Force. He reached out to her, to make a connection, and the Force jolted through him. Holding on to it and keeping Padmé in his mind's eye, he probed back to the darkness. Sweat broke out on his forehead from the effort, he was almost there; he could almost see who was blinding the Republic…

Everything exploded in his mind's eye. Part of him was dragged away, lead by the Force, and the other half was violently shoved away by the dark. For the first time in his life, Anakin felt split into two different people.

Both parts of him were looking down on the Temple –

And everything was wrong.

Instead of standing at its kilometer height, the Temple was a pile of ruins. A shrouded figure stood on the top of the pile, beckoning to Anakin. He knew it was the darkness clouding the galaxy. The figure watched the skies, finally noticing Anakin. A black gloved hand reached out for him.

"Anakin Skywalker…"

The hand waved to him, beckoning him to come.

No! Anakin thought to himself. I'm not going down there!

"Yes…here is your destiny…"

Desperately, Anakin fought to stay as far away from the dark shadow as he could. Despite his efforts, part of him went – he was getting closer and closer to the dark figure.

NO! I – WILL – NOT–!

The connection to the Force broke

Anakin's eyes flew wide open and he gasped for breath. The vision vanished along with any sense of the Force. Shocked, Anakin could not move. Never before had he simply lost the Force. It was always with him. Looking to his right, finally able to move, he got another surprise.

Obi-Wan sat next to him, his own robe pulled around him, watching his Padawan with great interest.

"Master…" Anakin sputtered between breaths. "You scared me!"

Obi-Wan studied him for a second before he said anything.

"I apologize…I didn't mean to startle you. I just couldn't help but feel that surge through the Force coming from you. What where you doing?"

Anakin shook his head, more concerned about what he felt in the Senate. "Master, what is the Senate doing today?"

"What?" Obi-Wan said in confusion at this sudden change in topic. "I think they were discussing something about the Separatists. Anakin, you've been spending far too much time away from the Temple. The Republic expects an attack on one of its systems sometime soon. The Senate is supposed to discuss what actions to take to prevent this. I would not be surprised if they debated it today. Why?"

"There's something horribly wrong. There's a Dark Jedi here – he's controlling the Senate."

"Anakin, don't be ridiculous."

"It's true. I felt it when I was meditating…that's what I was trying to find."

Obi-Wan shook his head. "If there was a Dark Jedi controlling the Senate we would know about it, especially if he were here on Coruscant."

The image of the dark figure on top of the ruined Temple flashed through Anakin's mind, making him seriously doubt that fact.

"And honestly, what kind of Dark Jedi would want to put himself so close to the Order?" Obi-Wan tried to joke, but Anakin just got an irritated look on his face.

"I know what I felt," he said stubbornly. That was definitely not something to joke about right after the vision he had.

Tell him about the vision.

Or better yet, just let them find out the hard way when that guy is standing on top of the Temple. See if they laugh at you then, another part of Anakin reasoned.

Instead, he said nothing. Obi-Wan eyed him for a second.

The determination on Anakin's face did not go away, and he grunted, "There's something evil here. I know it. The rest of the Masters just don't see it."

"Be careful Anakin," the Knight advised his Padawan. "Not even Master Yoda has felt any sort of disturbance like that. You're not a Knight yet – you still have many things to learn."

"I haven't forgotten I'm not a Knight because you won't let me forget," Anakin muttered under his breath. His fist clenched and his eyes glanced down at the floor.

"Excuse me?" Obi-Wan said sharply.

"Maybe Master Yoda doesn't feel it because the dark is dampening his senses."

"Perhaps it would be a good idea for you to spend more time at the Temple, especially with the Masters," Obi-Wan threatened, which only succeeded in making Anakin bristle. "If you did, you might have a little more sense. Things are getting dangerous, Anakin. We might have to fight soon, and if we do I'm going to need you. You can't be spending too much time with Padmé, and your feelings have already started to get in the way of your duties."

"You wouldn't know anything about my feelings for Padmé."

"I know more than you think, my very young apprentice," Obi-Wan emphasized the words, the stress of restraining his emotions showing in his voice. He only used the phrase when he neared anger with Anakin; it was a habit he had picked up from his own Master, Qui-Gon Jinn.

In return, Anakin narrowed his eyes at Obi-Wan. His right hand was still balled into a fist, his knuckles beginning to go white.

"In fact, I'm forbidding you from seeing her today," Obi-Wan said.

A surge of anger went through Anakin and his ears felt as though he were stuck in the vacuum of space, unable to hear anything. He said forcefully through his set jaw, "You're what?"

"First of all, Padmé's busy helping with the refugees. She doesn't have time to gallivant all around Coruscant with you. Second, as I said, you have your commitments here. And third, if you don't start to be careful, I will go to the Jedi Council."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Anakin…" Obi-Wan warned. "I will do what I have to in order to remind you what being a Jedi means."

"You don't know what a lot of things mean," Anakin spat out. "You're so blind to everything, you and all the rest of the Masters."

Anakin glared at Obi-Wan. He could not believe that Obi-Wan had threatened to go before the Council. It was the Council's fault he was in this mess.

Frustrated beyond belief, Anakin got off his meditation cushion. Without a word, he stormed past Obi-Wan. Just because of that threat, he would go see Padmé.

But would that solve anything?

Obi-Wan was right, she was working to help the refugees right now.

The fact that Obi-Wan was correct about something incensed Anakin even more. He stopped in his tracks, wondering where he could go.

Then it came to him.

Normally Anakin wouldn't want to be around the man, but for now the thought of talking to someone that wasn't a Jedi, even if it was Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, was all that Anakin wanted.

"Anakin!" Obi-Wan yelled after him. "Come back here!"

However, Anakin did not turn around. He heard Obi-Wan exclaim "Blast, that boy…" which did nothing to improve his mood.

Fine, if that's how Obi-Wan feels about me! Well if I'm such a burden then he should have just dumped me back on Tatooine all those years ago and said to hell with it! At least I'd be wanted there!

The anger emanating from Anakin got him several strange looks as he made his way out of the Temple. He even glared back at one Jedi who looked too closely at him. Not paying attention to his surroundings outside the Temple he walked through the maze of buildings until he came to the Senate building.

Entering the top-rounded building, he noted that the Senate was not in session at the current moment; senators wandered about, talking in a rushed manner. That meant that Chancellor Palpatine might have the time to talk to him.

At Palpatine's chambers, he heard voices inside so he stopped. There was plenty of time for him to wait. However, it only took a few minutes before the Malastarian stormed out of Palpatine's office, throwing Anakin a bitter look.

"Master Anakin! What a surprise!" Palpatine said, startling him. Apparently he ushered his guest to the door despite the bitter attitude of the other being. With a smile, Palpatine continued, "I was just about to call Master Kenobi, and some of the other Jedi! It seems you've beaten them here though! What can I do for you?"

"Um…" Anakin shifted on his feet.

"Well, come on in, my boy! There's no need to be nervous!"

Palpatine turned around and headed to take a seat behind his grand desk. Anakin hesitated for a second then followed him.

"So what's bothering you?" Palpatine looked him in the eye as he sat down. "Please, Anakin, take a seat."

"Oh, sure. Thanks." Anakin crossed his arms, buried in the big sleeves of his Jedi robe, and sat down. He looked down at the floor as he spoke. "Not much…really. Master Obi-Wan and I had a fight, and I didn't have anywhere else to go. I just had to get out of the Temple."

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he wanted to snatch them out of the air and stuff them away so the Chancellor could not hear them. Was it possible for him to sound any more stupid – any more juvenile?

I'm sitting in front of the man who has the most power in the galaxy and "Obi-Wan and I had a fight" is the best thing I can come up with? Anakin cursed to himself.

"I'm sorry to hear that…Obi-Wan Kenobi can prove to be rather difficult at times."

"Yeah," Anakin replied, not quite sure what the Chancellor meant by the statement.

"What happened between the two of you? It must have been pretty bad to upset you like this."

"He's just so restrictive. I have to sit around all day and do everything that he and Master Yoda and Master Windu want, when they want it. Sometimes I don't feel much more free than when I was a slave. And then, everything with my mother…"

Anakin trailed off and glanced up at the Chancellor. While he was nervous at first about talking to him, now that he was getting some of his frustration off his chest he felt better.

"I've been spending a lot of time with Padmé, and it's been the only thing that's kept me going," he said, not even realizing that the Chancellor might not know his Queen was still alive. "Obi-Wan tells me that I can see her and get away from the Jedi Temple, and then today he turns around and tells me I can't see her. It's like he wants me to be miserable."

Anakin's face twisted up in an expression of frustration.

"You're not the only Padawan I've heard who's gotten frustrated with the Jedi," Palpatine said with a smile. "Despite all their good intentions, they can cut themselves off from true emotions and understanding. Did you know that they are against helping me and the Republic?"

"What?" Anakin stared at him in disbelief.

"It's true…I need them to fight for the Republic. The Separatists are going to attack soon. There are whispers they are going to make a major offensive. The only hope the Republic has are the Jedi. We're building military facilities to gear for war, but the only ones who can really save the Republic are the Jedi."

"I…I had no idea," Anakin stammered, at a complete loss for words.

Palpatine looked at Anakin with a hopeful glint in his eyes. "Perhaps you could help me…I know you and Master Kenobi are quite close, maybe you could help persuade him that this is the right course of action. He might then be able to convince the others."

"Oh…I don't know…I really don't have that kind of influence, and plus…"

"Anakin, you may well be the one who can save the Republic if you do this."

At those words, Anakin squirmed in his seat. Now he wished he had stayed at the Temple instead of spending so much time with Padmé. If he had, he might have a better idea of what Palpatine was talking about. However, he was bound to help the Republic because of his status of being a Jedi, and he was in the Chancellor's debt for at least getting him the chance to try and see his mother…

Anakin shifted again.

"And, if you help me out on this, the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic will owe you a favor. You never know how handy that could turn out to be," Palpatine said. "As I said, I have to talk to the Jedi today. Watch them, Anakin. You will see what I am talking about."

"Oh, okay. Sure," Anakin agreed.

This sounded like something he could handle, and if there was a problem with the Masters then maybe he could help out the Chancellor thus helping the Republic. Looking at it from that angle it didn't seem too bad.

Anakin took a closer look around the Chancellor's chambers as Palpatine contacted the Temple. The room was decorated simply, with elegant Nabooian statues by the door and a couple of extra chairs in each corner of the room. A beautiful painting hung on one wall, of what looked like a part of Naboo – possibly the Chancellor's native village. Almost blending into the seamless room were two personal bodyguards, dressed completely in red. A chill went down Anakin's spine as he thought about how deadly they had to be, he instantly felt sorry for someone if they attempted to harm Palpatine.

Palpatine finished speaking to Yoda and turned back to Anakin.

"They'll be here shortly. Don't worry, Anakin. I'm sure you and Master Kenobi will work things out…despite everything."

"Yeah, I hope so. He's the only thing close to family I have left."

"Ah, in that case I am all the more sure of it. And even if things may not turn out exactly like we all hope, Master Kenobi will still be the one who helped you become the man you are today."

Anakin blushed deeply as he muttered a "thank you."

"He's done a wonderful job training you, despite his misgivings. If I were a Jedi, there are a few things I would have done just a little differently, but it's of no consequence."

"Oh? Like what?" Anakin said. His interest piqued at what the Chancellor had to say.

"For starters, I would have let you take the trials already. I think you have proven yourself to the Jedi more than once. I would have also let you see your mother, and of course I wouldn't have been so quick to…Oh, if you'll excuse me for just a second – it seems the Jedi have arrived!"

Palpatine stopped talking and got up to respond to the knock at his door. Anakin stood up too, feeling nervous that he was already here. It felt like he was caught trying to sneak food from the kitchens.

"Welcome, Masters!" Palpatine said. He opened the door so the Jedi could enter.

Yoda, Mace and Obi-Wan made their way into the office, stepping past Palpatine.

Out of respect, Anakin bowed to the three older Jedi. Obi-Wan stopped in his tracks for a second as he looked from Anakin to Palaptine back to Anakin. Something passed between the two Jedi as Obi-Wan realized that his Padawan had gone to the Chancellor rather than one of the other Jedi for help.

Struggling to keep the feeling of betrayal from showing on his face, Obi-Wan took a deep breath and sat down in the chair Anakin previously occupied.

Unsure of what to do Anakin stood behind Obi-Wan, feeling slightly uncomfortable. He knew Obi-Wan had taken it personally that he went to Palpatine – the brief look of shock that flashed across his Master's face told him all he needed to know.

"So what did the Senate decide today, Chancellor?" Mace asked respectfully.

"We're going to try and fight off this attack," Palpatine said. "We have no other choice. Our advances on Carida with respects to the naval training center have been remarkable, given the short amount of time it's been. But we still do not have enough of an army to defend ourselves on our own. We need the aide of the Jedi."

"Know how the Jedi feel about this, yet still persist you do," Yoda spoke up.

"I don't understand why you oppose this so much. You claim that the clones are an abomination, and yet you do not stand to fight to rid the galaxy of them," Palpatine countered.

Yoda shook his head.

"Chancellor, we are not your army. We would better serve you to make an agreement with the Separatists. You have made the motions to create an army, now use it," Mace said with an edge of warning in his voice.

"I would use an army, if I had one, Master Jedi," Palpatine hissed. "I am trying to tell you that right now I do not have the means to protect this Republic, so I turn to you – the sworn protectors. I'm merely asking you to defend one of our systems."

Sithspawn, Anakin thought, the curse coming to mind; left over from a habit picked up from his peers. It was something that no one ever said in the presence of a Master but was common among older trainees.

Palpatine's right. What's wrong with the Masters?

Lost in thought, the conversation soon faded out of his focus.

I'm the only one who can sense that darkness; maybe it's even clouding their judgment…

Taking a deep breath, Anakin reached out to the Force.

There was nothing there. He couldn't feel anything.

Confused, Anakin tried to push out as hard as he could, but there was nothing there to draw on. He came out of his concentration to hear Obi-Wan speaking. Palpatine glanced at Anakin out of the corner of his eyes then turned back to Obi-Wan.

Despite the lack of the Force, Obi-Wan was still quick and he noticed the glance that Palpatine gave his apprentice. He looked over his shoulder at Anakin, and Anakin made a slight shrugging gesture.

"I see. If you still refuse to fight then I'm afraid I will have to use the droid army of the Trade Federation. That or I can push a vote through the Senate giving me full military command over the Jedi."

"That's not possible," Obi-Wan growled and he stared angrily at the Chancellor

"I love democracy. I love the Republic. And I will do whatever I have to do to preserve them both. I assure you I can make it happen, if you leave me no other choice."

Palpatine looked at all of the Jedi in turn. Anakin could read the anger on all of their faces. Suddenly Mace stood up, robes swirling about him.

"In that case, we are done here today." Mace sounded truly agitated, his face set with a stony expression. He turned to leave.

Yoda looked to Palpatine, saying, "A sad day this is, that you would have to make such a threat. Bad for the Republic it is."

The small green Jedi turned and followed Mace, leaving only Anakin and Obi-Wan. Without a word Obi-Wan got up and headed for the door

"Let's go," he muttered to Anakin, who nodded in response and fell into step behind his master.

As he walked out, Anakin took one last look at Palpatine, and swore that he could see the making of a smile on the Chancellor's face.