FROM THE ASHES

Chapter 18

"Senator! Come here, we have a transmission concerning Senator Amidala you will be interested in." An aide called, hurrying down the vast columned hallway.

"What is it?"

"Come, you must see the hologram, it is most disturbing." Bail Organa turned to follow as fast as he could in his dignified manner.

"May we see it?" Anakin asked.

"Of course. You're involved, too. Right this way."

Anakin and Obiwan jogged behind the Senator from Alderaan as he made his way to the hologram viewer. Entering the room, all of the other representatives from Naboo were gathered, with solemn and glum expressions. Even Binks had returned to work, with a cane and a seeing eye creature. "Meesa can't see this but it sounds soooo sad." He said, shaking his large head. Anakin was too interested and upset to even acknowledge his old friend.

"Play it again, now!" He demanded. His agressive voice was understandable considering it was his wife in danger.

Everyone was silent as it played again. Anakin watched the hologram materialize. It was Padme! She began to speak. "It is I, Senator Padme Naberrie Amidala. As a public declaration before the entire galaxy, I hearby announce that I was wrong about Gerapaline, denounce all action taken against him, and insist he be allowed to return to his home, his fortunes and freedom restored, with full honors and citizenship. I demand this in the name of Naboo and the Imperial Senate." Her face was like a droid's, frozen in one expression and emotionless.

"Shesa can't mean it!" Binks cried. "Shesa knows what he did to me. Ani, you knowsa Padme don't mean it."

He walked over to Jar Jar and touched his arm. "I am with you, Jar Jar. She hates him! She is against everything he did to you, to me, to everyone he has hurt in many ways. I know she is not doing this of her own free will. I hold much fear for her, surely she is being coerced, even threatened." He looked over at Obiwan, who of course agreed.

"Obiviously. How can he expect anyone to be fooled by this? He kills her father and kidnaps her and her mother and children and now he expects us to believe she is serious? I hate to think what he has done to her to make her say this."

Anakin's eyes turned cold and scared and his face pale. "Me too. He must be using blackmail and threats to the babies against her. There is no way she would consent to this, even if she herself were being tortured. At least that means the babies are still alive."

"Anakin, do you think this, feel it, or sense it?" Obiwan asked.

"Maybe all of those."

Organa stood quietly with and drummed a finger against his own chin. "Are you quite certain she's a hostage?"

"What?" Anakin and Obiwan said loudly, almost in unison. Anakin stared in surprise at the Senator. "What are you saying, that she is with him of her own free will?"

Binks also spoke on her behalf. "Nooo, shesa not do that. Shesa mad, she the one who turned him in. Shesa hate Gerapaline! Hesa the terror of Naboo!"

"Thank you, Jar Jar!" Anakin shook his hand. "I was thinking, did you ever find out who was behind your acid blinding?"

Jar Jar lowered his long head and swung his neck. "Somebody who blamed meesa for da war."

"Are you sure?" Anakin inquired. "Was he never caught? I think Gerapaline may have been behind it."

Binks was surprised, his head turning back and forth in his own darkness, unable to face Anakin. "Yousa may be right Ani! Hesa want business for his evil rehab place, get a high profile Gungan of Naboo to getsa publicity!"

"Exactly!" Anakin pointed to him, though he couldn't see it.

"Wesa need to find out."

"We need to find out quite a bit more than that." Organa added. "We need to find out exactly what role Padme played in all of this."

Anakin was stunned. "You are not insinuating Padme is with him of her own free will?" Organa glared back at Anakin, but didn't answer. Anakin didn't want to start a scene, but he could feel his anger growing. He turned his back and walked away. As unhappy as he had been with her lately, he knew she was not capable of being involved with a scumbag crime kingpin she hated so deeply all her life, or being involved in a plot involving her own parents and babies. With a glance of disapproval at Organa, Anakin turned and walked outside. He had to get outside for some fresh air.

Seeing how upset Anakin was, he spoke to Obiwan. "I'm sorry he feels that way. After the business with Chancellor Palpatine pulling what he did on us for so long, I must admit I don't trust anyone anymore."

"Senator, will all due respect, there is no chance Senator Amidala is anything other than an unwilling hostage."

"I would like to be so sure."

"Meesa so sure." Binks butted in. "Shesa innocent victim of bad, bad man."

"Thank you, Jar Jar." Obiwan told him. "Would you like me to help you back to your office?" He agreed, and Obiwan took his arm to lead him back down the hallway. On the way, they met Anakin on his way back to find Obiwan.

"I'm sorry I overreacted there, Master. I couldn't believe what he said."

"Meesa either, Ani." Binks said.

"Here you are, Jar Jar. Is there anything you need for me to get you? You going to be okay?" Anakin asked as he led him to his desk chair. "Meesa will. Meesa on your side, Jedi. Weesa gonna find out everything."

"Thanks for your support, you're a good friend." They bid him goodbye and turned and walked out of the Senate building side by side. Once they were outside, Anakin whispered to Obiwan, "He doesn't trust Padme, I am starting to think there is something else behind this. Could he be involved in something he's trying to hide, or frame Padme for?"

"Anakin, it's Senator Organa, how could you? He himself said after Palpatine everyone is overly suspicious of everyone's true motives."

"This is sad, and I don't see it changing anytime soon. But still, I wonder what he really meant." Then his eyes lit up as he turned back to Obiwan. "I have an idea. Did they try to trace the source of that transmission?"

"I will ask the Senator."

"No, don't. I am now suspicious of him. We must find another way." Once they were back at the Jedi temple, Anakin contacted Jar Jar and asked him if there were some way he could have it traced and let him know in private. He said he would be right on it and get back to them with any news.

"You did very well, Senator Amidala." Gerapaline smiled.

"No one is going to fall for that." She snapped.

They might. I have spies out there now spreading nasty rumors about you, it will be you who are ruined now, it is my revenge."

"YOUR revenge? After what you have done to my family? After all the lives of those on Naboo you ruined over the years?"

"You mean like that buffoon Representative Binks? Ha, he is good publicity, isn't he?"

"You blinded Jar Jar on purpose?"

"Yes, I did." He smirked at her. "High profile people bring the most response. You have no idea how much I wanted to take the eyes of your strong, handsome Jedi husband. I am most displeased you took him away before I could take him to my center for the blind. But no bother, as soon as he comes looking for you, he will lose his eyes anyway, if not his life first! That ever present sidekick of his too, what's his name, Kenobi?"

"You are disgusting!" She screamed in anger.She very much regretted ever thinking Anakin had deserved to be blind for punishment.

Gerapaline only laughed at her, beckoning his mother to bring the babies into the room. He put a blaster to each of their mouths, pretending to pull the trigger. Padme ran forward, but he then aimed the blaster at her. "I have killed your parents, I have nothing against wasting you as well. The only reason you still live is because you are still of use to me. And you will be. That message wasn't all I want from you. You will do my bidding, or the babies will die."

"NO!" She screamed and cried, pulling at her hair in frustration.

"Then you will do as I ask. Get down on your knees."

"Never."

"Do it, or I will kill them!"

Breathing heavily, with a look of total fury on her face, she complied. Looking up from her knees, she growled at him "I hate you!"

He only laughed. "Now, Senator Amidala, Queenie, you are ready for your next mission."

Anakin lay in his chambers at the temple, head buried in his pillow. He had considered going back to the apartment, it was empty now, but just as full of unpleasant vibes and sad memories. He might as well stay on at the temple, he had gotten used to being here, all except for the parts he avoided for what he had done there. In the night, Anakin had another nightmare. He saw the babies crying, hovered over by a dark image he could not get through. In the background he'd hear Padme screaming how much she hated someone, was it him she hated? Or the dark gloomy person between her and the babies? This unsettled him very much. He got up and started to pace the floor, and never got back to sleep. First thing in the morning, Jar Jar Binks called and asked him to come to his office and to bring Obiwan, there was important info on the transmission of Padme. Anakin, not wanting to run into Organa, asked Jar Jar if he could tell him now. He was afraid of beng overheard himself. He had done this as a special favor, it was not known by all. Anakin ran to get Obiwan, telling him they must go to the temple immediately.

When they arrived, they went straight to Binks' office, avoiding Organa. Binks informed them that the transmission had indeed come from Naboo. They were still there! He had such a deep syndicate on Naboo, but he had never really gotten a strong foothold on any other planet, so he decided to stay home. But where? It was still a big planet to have to search! Anakin hoped he'd be able to sense them once he was there. Jar Jar wished them luck, and Anakin and Obiwan walked down the hall toward the exit. Before they were able to get away free, Organa called out to them. Anakin stopped and closed his eyes, not wanting to deal with Organa and his suspicions.

"I'm sorry, Anakin, General Kenobi. There is another transmission on Padme, and it is not good news."

Anakin's heart jumped as he turned around. "What is it? She's not dead, is she? The babies.."

"No, it's not like that. Come with me." He showed them back to his holoviewer, and there they witnessed a sad thing. It was Padme, no question, carrying a large blaster, aiming it at everyone in the room as she passed! Padme was helping to rob a bank! She was on the wrong side of the law! Anakin was speechless and practically in tears. Obiwan closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Hostage, you say?" Organa commented. "Looks like she's going with them willingly."

"Padme would not do that!" Anakin defended. "They must have her brainwashed or threatened."

"I know you love her, but you must consider that she is going along with this because she wants to."

"Oh Senator Organa, no, we've all known her too long." Obiwan added.

Organa looked at him, then Anakin, then back at him again. "You thought you knew Anakin, didn't you? How did you know he would turn on you?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Let's say I know more than you would like me to. There are things you may think are hidden and forgotten, that may not be."

Anakin hung his head in shame. He knew he was talking about Order 66 and was going to use it against him. He hadn't known Bail had been at the temple that night.

Obiwan rolled his eyes. "Look, Senator, you don't understand about the force, it was the dark side of the force, not him personally."

Organa didn't seem impressed. "You're right, I don't know much of the force. I try to trust you Jedi, but now that Palpatine, a force user has done so much wrong, I wonder about what others may be capabole of."

"Yes, yes, we know how his betrayal has destroyed all of your faith and made you suspicious and paranoid." Obiwan told him.

"Paranoid? With good reason! I am going to put out an all points bulletin. Arrest Senator Amidala."

"NO!" shouted Anakin. "She can't be guilty, there has to be an explaination!"

Obiwan tried to calm him. "At least if she is arrested by proper authorities, she will be out of the hands of Gerapaline."

"You're right, Obiwan. In he meantime, Senator, we will continue with our efforts to locate her, the babies, and this Gerapaline on our own."

"As you wish." Organa said in a cold voice. "Report to me what you find."

After he left, the two Jedi went to see Binks, who gave them the exact location of the bank the hologram security picture came from. Organa was withholding this from them, which they found strange. It was a good thing they had an old friend still in contact with the right people on Naboo. They thanked Jar Jar and hurried away. "Obiwan, we have to get there before she strikes again. We must secure a ship large enough for both of us, and hopefully Padme, her mother and the babies to travel home in." Hearing this, Jar Jar called them back. He offered them his Naboo ship, which was much like Padme's. Thanking him again, they gathered supplies, notified Yoda and made their getaway for Naboo before anyone found out.