Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or anything Star Wars related.

CH. 3

"CALM BEFORE THE STORM"

Senator Organa walked down the hallway towards Yoda's quarters. He thought it quite peculiar that he had been summoned back by the old Jedi Master only minutes after the last conversation they had shared. From what he had gathered from the call, he guessed it was a matter of some importance and urgency. He quickened his pace as he rounded the corner and caught sight of the doors to the room in which his arrival was being anticipated.

After a courteous knock he pushed the doors open and stepped inside. "You wanted to see me, Master – "

He immediately fell silent when he spotted a familiar Jedi turned Sith Lord sitting in a nearby chair.

"Vader!"

An expression of displeasure covered Anakin Skywalker's face, but it vanished just as quickly as it had come. "Senator."

"Take a seat, Senator Organa," Yoda said as he gestured for him to sit in the empty chair beside him. "Much, we have to talk about."

"What's going on here, Master Yoda?" Bail asked, skeptically glancing back over at the former Emperor.

"Come to help Obi-Wan, young Skywalker has," Yoda answered. "Please, sit…"

The Senator warily stared across the room at Darth Vader – traitor to the Republic and the Jedi -- as he moved to sit in the vacant chair. "I was not expecting to hear from you again so soon, but I can see that you had good reason for calling me."

Yoda nodded his head in agreement and turned his attention back to Anakin.

"What is the meaning of this?" Bail questioned.

"He already told you," Anakin spoke up, glaring at the other man. "I'm here to find Obi-Wan."

"So now you want to save your Master?" Bail sarcastically replied. "Last I heard you were trying to kill Master Kenobi, along with the rest of the Jedi Order. Not to mention the Republic."

"Not here to condemn Skywalker, are we," Yoda interjected, deep sorrow evident in his features. "A change, I have felt in him."

"You can't expect us to simply forgive him after all he has done," Bail protested. "He almost put an end to democracy with his Empire! Countless Jedi have been lost!"

Yoda firmly continued to press his point. "Trying times, these are, for all of us. The word of Master Qui-Gon, we will trust."

"Qui-Gon?" Bail raised a puzzled eyebrow. "What are you talking about? Master Jinn has been dead for years."

"Wrong, you are," Yoda corrected him. "One with the Force, he has become. Maintain contact, he still does."

Senator Organa was obviously shocked by this new revelation. "What? How can that be?"

"He came to see me. He told me you needed my help," Anakin began to explain. He was clearly not fond of the politician, but he managed to suppress his aggravation – keeping his expression neutral. "Trust me, Senator, I don't expect or want your forgiveness. You have my word that once I have done what I came to do I will be on my way."

"And just how do you plan to save Master Kenobi?"

"I'm going to infiltrate General Grievous' ship and rescue him," was Anakin's simple response.

"You think you can just waltz into his fortress and break Obi-Wan out?" Bail questioned in disbelief. "That is absurd! The only thing you'll accomplish is getting yourself killed."

"And you would miss me?" Anakin asked mockingly as he rose from his chair. "The rest of you can sit around and do nothing, but I'm not going to wait…I'm going with or without your assistance."

Sith and Senator glared at each other for a long moment. Finally, Bail sighed in frustration and stood from his seat as well.

"Fine. I won't guarantee anything, but I'll see what I can do. If I can supply pilots, Lord Vader, you had better go through with it. The only reason I am even considering this is because Master Kenobi's life is at stake."

He spared Yoda one last glance before brushing past him and exiting the room.

"How long will he take to get everything organized?" Anakin growled, furiously glaring at the door as it shut.

Yoda thoughtfully studied his angry face. "Much rage, I sense in you."

Anakin's feelings of hatred for the Senator immediately faded away at the older Jedi's words.

"I'm sorry, Master, I am trying," Anakin said, suddenly ashamed of his spiteful thoughts. "I'm doing my best to keep my emotions in check. I can control them…"

An uncertain and disapproving grunt was the only response he got from his Master.

It was pure chaos. Clone troopers and Jedi fought relentlessly, blaster fire and explosions tearing the room apart. Then she spotted him among the carnage unfolding before her eyes…Anakin. Or was it Darth Vader now?

She watched in stunned silence as what appeared to be electricity shot from his hand and clashed with Obi-Wan's lightsaber.

"Anakin!"

Her frantic call seemed to have caught his attention. His confused eyes searched the area until they finally settled on her. He seemed to be contemplating what to do for what seemed like hours.

She watched as his face abruptly turned cold and emotionless…she could see him, but she no longer knew who he was.

Turning his attention back to a desperate Obi-Wan, his expression turned to one of pure, unbridled hatred…

Padme jolted upright in her chair when she heard the door to her office open.

"Oh, Senator Amidala, I'm sorry."

"No, that's alright," Padme assured her secretary, doing her best to stifle a yawn and failing miserably. "I was just resting my eyes."

Like she's going to believe that, she thought.

Apparently, she had fallen asleep while she had been working. It wasn't entirely surprising – she had been getting very little sleep lately and it was clearly beginning to take its toll on her. Not only was stabilizing the new Republic a job of its own, but she had plenty of other pressures and worries weighing on her shoulders.

Noticing that her secretary was very uncomfortable, Padme smiled warmly at her and pushed her troubles out of her mind. They can wait, she told herself. I haven't been giving my job as Senator my full attention. I have a responsibility – I can't let anybody down.

"Did you need something?" Padme asked, hoping to put the girl at ease.

"Yes, milady," she replied. "I was told to inform you that a rescue effort is being sent out after Master Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"Thank the stars," Padme said as a sigh of relief escaped her lips. "I'm glad to hear that. Thank you for letting me know."

"Of course, Senator."

Padme leaned back in her chair and a faint smile of satisfaction crept onto her face. "I am glad they finally saw fit to do something about his situation. Do you know who is leading the mission?"

"Believe it or not, Senator, they say Lord Vader is heading the team."

"Vader!" Padme exclaimed, nearly jumping out of her seat. "What do you mean Vader is heading the team?"

Her secretary was obviously startled by her sudden change of mood and stuttered as she answered. "Th-they said he returned to Coruscant earlier this evening. He is expected to depart any time now with a fleet of starfighters."

Wasting no time, Padme dashed out of her office – leaving her dumbfounded secretary alone -- and started for the hangar she knew the mission would be launched from.

Can he really be here? she asked herself, praying and hoping it could be true. Can Ani really be here?

When Padme reached the hangar there was very little activity. It in no way appeared as if a rescue team was preparing to move out. She called out to a nearby clone soldier and rushed over to him as he turned around to face her.

"Where are the men being sent after Obi-Wan Kenobi?" she asked, trying to catch her breath. The jog from her office left her slightly winded and she was now panting from the trip.

"You just missed them," the trooper replied. "They are inbound to their destination."

"Was Lord Vader with them?" she hesitantly questioned. She wasn't completely sure if she actually wanted to know the answer.

"Negative."

She raised a puzzled eyebrow at the trooper. "Then who is leading the mission?"

"General Skywalker was put in charge for the time being."

Padme's eyes widened and her heart began to pound at the mention of his name. Anakin really was back…