Chapter 59
Secrets
A column of smoke billowed up into the night sky…
Flashes of light… Blaster fire? Lightsabers?
Screams of agony… Screams of fear… Screams of children…
Endless rhythmic marching of armored boots…
Death and destruction and terror…
He was running, running so hard, but the Darkness just kept spreading, and he couldn't stop it. Darkness everywhere, rising, smothering, drowning, choking–
Vader tumbled out of bed with a yelp, crashing painfully into the floor. Disoriented, it took him a few minutes to realize he was no longer asleep, trapped in the Dark embrace of the nightmare. Even when he did recognize the dim confines of his room in the Jedi Temple, it still felt like the clammy Darkness had its claws in him, still felt like there were invisible eels sliding against his skin.
Panting harshly, he curled up on the floor, soaked in sweat and shaking. He felt terrible, scared like he hadn't been scared since his early flight from the Count. Adrenalin burned through his veins, making his heart and mind race just beyond his control. He started to feel sick to his stomach.
I don't want to see anymore! He wailed. I don't want to see! I just want to sleep!
After the nightmare of the opera house meeting, he'd had serious trouble getting to sleep. Then when he did manage it, he'd suffered the nightmare again. And now he was feeling quite done with sleep for the time being.
Swallowing hard, he slowly got up from the floor and staggered out of his room to the refresher. A nice hot shower would help calm him down. And besides, he felt all sweaty and disgusting.
He shed his sleep-clothes and stepped into the shower stall, cranking on the hot water and just letting it wash over him. Vader had no idea what time it was, it could be two in the morning or two in the afternoon for all he knew. But instead of worrying about the time he simply fixed all of his attention on the wonderful feel of the water.
Obi-Wan got up early, as usual, and did a little stretching before leaving his bedroom. When he'd gone to bed, Vader had still been out. What he was doing, Obi-Wan had no idea. But hopefully he'd be back and able to explain his whereabouts.
To his immense surprise, Vader was already awake. The young man's hair was still damp from the shower and he sat slumped forward on the couch, his face buried in his hands. Obi-Wan sensed a muted sort of distress emanating from him and, based on previous experience, came to a conclusion about the possible cause.
"Did you sleep with Senator Amidala again?" Obi-Wan asked warily.
"Huh?" Vader groaned, peeking up through his fingers at Obi-Wan.
"Did you sleep with her again?" Obi-Wan repeated.
Vader stared at him, uncomprehending, then started to laugh. "Oh I wish!" He chuckled bitterly. "I wish that's what happened."
"Oh?" Obi-Wan frowned. "What happened then?"
"The Supreme Chancellor called me up, told me to come see him at the Galaxies Opera House." Vader sighed, rubbing tiredly at his eyes. "He gave me some information on General Grievous, but I'll save that for the Council session. What really bothered me was what he said after that…"
When Vader trailed off and fell silent, Obi-Wan was forced to prod him a bit. "And?"
"He began spouting some total nonsense." Vader scowled. "He told me that he believes that the Jedi Council is planning to betray him; that they plan to take control of the Republic."
"What?" Obi-Wan gasped.
"Oh it gets worse." Vader groaned. "I-I sort of…played along with him, just to see what else he'd say to me. He went on to compare the Jedi to the Sith and claimed that the Jedi are just as power-hungry. And then he told me a story, a Sith legend he said, about some old creep called Darth Plagueis 'the Wise' who had the power to cheat death."
Obi-Wan's jaw was somewhere in the vicinity of the floor at this point. "He said…what?"
"And it just wasn't what he said," Vader continued, "it's how he said it. The way he spoke of the Sith, it was like he admired them." He shuddered. "At one point, I insisted that the Jedi used their power for good, and he responded by telling me that good is a point of view. What sort of person says something like that?"
Obi-Wan found that he had no reply to that. He sat heavily down on the couch beside Vader and tried to absorb it all. He had never liked or trusted the Chancellor, but he never dreamed that the man was this bad. He'd only thought him an ambitious, corrupt politician, not a Sith sympathizer and possible ally or pawn of the Dark Lord.
"You need to tell this to Master Windu." Obi-Wan managed at last.
"I know," Vader mumbled.
Glancing over at the almost despondent young man, Obi-Wan noticed how exhausted he looked. "Did you get to sleep at all last night?"
"Yeah, but then I had that nightmare again," Vader muttered. "So I gave up on trying to sleep."
"You're just having a bad week, aren't you?" Obi-Wan remarked after a moment.
"Mm-hm," Vader nodded.
Obi-Wan sighed. "Well, I'm going to take a shower." He announced. "Why don't you start the tea?"
"Sure," Vader agreed with a weak smirk. "I get to pick the flavor!"
Vader sat slumped in his new seat on the Jedi Council. The meeting would start in a few minutes, as soon as a stable connection could be acquired for the Masters who would be attending via hologram. His mind was parsecs away though.
An hour before the meeting, Obi-Wan had brought him to see Master Windu. They used Master Yoda's meditation chamber, even though the diminutive Master was away on Kashyyyk now and unable to participate. And then Vader had recounted his conversation with Palpatine from the previous night to the best of his ability.
Master Windu was, of course, shocked by what he heard. And he was rather annoyed that Vader hadn't denied that he was spying on the Chancellor. But what was done was done and after much thought, Master Windu directed him to continue acting the part he'd improvised in the opera house.
Vader reluctantly agreed. He didn't have much choice. He'd sealed his own fate last night, and now he had to deal with the consequences.
He was jolted out of his dreary musings by the start of the meeting. After the opening formalities, business began. And the first order of business was revealing the information he'd received on General Grievous.
"Palpatine thinks that General Grievous is on Utapau?" Master Ki-Adi-Mundi inquired, sounding a little surprised.
"A partial message was intercepted in a diplomatic packet from the chairman of Utapau." Vader explained.
"Hm, act on this we must. The capture of General Grievous will end this war. Quickly and decisively we should proceed." Master Yoda decided.
Vader took a deep breath and relayed the other thing Palpatine had wanted him to say. "The Chancellor has requested that I lead the campaign." I don't want to face Grievous, but really, anything to get me away from the Chancellor!
"The Council will make up its own mind on who is to go," Master Windu declared firmly, "not the Chancellor."
"A Master is needed, with more experience." Master Yoda stated gravely.
"I concur," Master Mundi agreed, "Master Kenobi should go."
"I agree." Master Yoda nodded.
"Aye." Master Plo Koon added.
"Aye." Master Windu agreed, giving the third and final vote needed to make it so. "Very well," he said when there was no disagreement, "Council adjourned."
When the time came for Padmé to host the next meeting of their little delegation, she found herself wishing for a protocol droid. Because of the secrecy that was demanded, she had had to send all of her Handmaidens away after they helped dress her. Moteé and Ellé had been worried, Sabé had been suspicious, but they had done as she requested and would return after lunch.
Now she had to set everything up herself. Thankfully her apartment was always kept very clean and her furniture was set up perfectly for a group meeting. But she had no server to offer drinks or refreshments, hence her wish for a protocol droid like Bail had.
Just before her guests were scheduled to arrive her mind shifted back to the past for a moment or two. Anakin had been building a protocol droid, and while it had lacked coverings, she found it to be an interesting character. If she ever did get around to acquiring a protocol droid, she hoped to get one like C-3P0.
Then the time for reminiscing of simpler times was over as the other Senators arrived. Bail, Mon, Fang, and Giddean had returned, but Terr did not appear. Instead, two new Senators came in her place.
There was Bana Breemu, Senator of Humbarine. Her world, and the entire Humbarine Sector, had suffered greatly during the war with many of the worlds in the sector ruined or captured by the Separatists. Many in the Senate no longer listened to her as they saw the entire Humbarine Sector as something of a lost cause.
And the other new face was Chi Eekway, a Rutian Twi'lek from Wroonia. It was difficult to tell that she was a Twi'lek as she was completely swathed in robes that reflected her deep Wroonian spirituality and left only her blue face visible. She hailed from a frontier sector at the edge of the Mid Rim where bending or skirting of the law was almost a common practice.
After greeting them all, she led them to her common room and saw them settled in. Once she herself had carefully taken her own seat, the discussion began. It didn't take long for their talks to get a little heated…
"We cannot let this turn into another war!" Padmé insisted.
"Absolutely, that is the last thing we want." Bail agreed.
"We are hoping to form an alliance in the Senate to keep the Chancellor from further subverting the Constitution," Mon assured, "that's all."
"I know a Jedi I feel we should consult." Padmé declared.
She'd thought a lot about it earlier in the day and it made sense. Obi-Wan was a wise man and a member of the Jedi Council, he would give them good advice. But if for some reason he was unavailable, she was even willing to risk contacting Vader to either get his opinion, or get into contact with another Jedi, like Master Windu.
"That could be dangerous." Bana Breemu cautioned.
"We don't know how the Jedi fit into all of this." Mon pointed out.
"I only wish to discuss this with one." Padmé replied. "One I trust."
"Going against the Chancellor without the support of the Jedi is risky." Giddean stated.
"I'm sure that the Jedi are not any happier about the situation than we are!" Padmé added firmly. I know what Obi-Wan thinks of politicians and I doubt the Council is happy with this business with the Chancellor's representative.
"Patience Senator." Chi Eekway advised Padmé calmly.
"We have so many Senators on our side," Fang reminded them, "surely that will persuade the Chancellor."
"When we present the petition of two thousand to the Chancellor, things may change." Bana suggested optimistically.
"Well then, let us see what we can accomplish in the Senate before we include the Jedi." Bail decided.
Everyone nodded their assent to this, Padmé did so only reluctantly. She briefly considered consulting with the Jedi anyway, but dismissed the idea. She had promised to keep this secret and speak of their group's intentions only to those that they all agreed should be involved. And she would keep that promise.
At least consulting with the Jedi hasn't been completely ruled out, she consoled herself. If the petition doesn't have the effect we wish it to, we will reconsider speaking with them. But I hope we speak with them, and sooner rather than later…
Vader fought a rising surge of anxiety as he accompanied Obi-Wan to his Star Destroyer. His Master was going to face the monster, General Grievous, alone. And he would be stuck here with the creepy Sith-loving Chancellor. It wasn't fair.
"You're going to need me on this one Master." Vader frowned as they reached the boarding ramp that led into the docked Star Destroyer.
"Oh I agree. However it may just turn out to be a wild Bantha chase." Obi-Wan nodded cheerfully.
Vader laughed a little at that, but his humor died quickly. Dread rose up inside him, leaving him feeling cold, alone. It suddenly came home to him that Obi-Wan could very well fall to Grievous. The deadly cyborg general had already almost killed another Council member, Jedi Master Adi Gallia.
"Master," Vader swallowed hard, "I've disappointed you." I must have. "I haven't been very appreciative of your training." Really, when did I ever tell you thank you for everything you've done for me? For putting up with me all these years?
Obi-Wan looked a bit taken aback by this sudden outburst. "You haven't disappointed me," he smiled reassuringly. "You are strong and you are wise, in your own way, and I'm very proud of you. I have trained you since you little more than a paranoid street urchin. I have taught you everything I know. And you have become a far greater Jedi than I could've ever hoped you would be."
Vader gaped at his Master, not quite able to believe what he'd just heard. His eyes drifted down to stare at the gray, featureless duracrete under his boots. Swallowing hard he tried to make sense of things.
He thinks I'm strong, I'm wise? He's proud of me? He thinks I'm a good Jedi?
His Master patted his shoulder and started to leave to board his ship, but Vader caught him by his sleeve without looking up. Obi-Wan stopped and patiently waited to see what else Vader wanted. It took him a few minutes for him to gather himself and say what he wanted to say.
Vader raised his head to look Obi-Wan in the eye. "My name is Anakin Skywalker."
Obi-Wan's expression barely changed, but Vader – Anakin – could feel the depth of his Master's surprise. The Jedi Master studied him for several minutes. And then he smiled and cheerfully shook Anakin's hand.
"Well hello Anakin, it's nice to finally meet you." Obi-Wan teased.
"Yeah," Anakin grinned weakly. "And when you come back, I've got a story or two for you." He winked.
"I shall take care of this errand speedily then." Obi-Wan promised and then walked up the boarding ramp.
"Obi-Wan!" Anakin called when Obi-Wan had reached the halfway point. "May the Force be with you."
"Good-bye old friend." Obi-Wan smiled warmly. "And may the Force be with you!"
Anakin smiled back and watched Obi-Wan disappeared into the Star Destroyer. Once Obi-Wan had vanished from his sight, his smile faded as his expression grew troubled. Obi-Wan was leaving and soon he would be alone.
Hurry up and come back Obi-Wan…before the Chancellor drives me crazy.
Anakin sat beside a small trickle of a waterfall in the Room of a Thousand Fountains, alone. Obi-Wan had only been gone for a half an hour, and already he felt lonely. The bond between them was stretched so thin by the growing distance that now he had trouble feeling it. He could still feel it, it wasn't broken or blocked, he just couldn't feel much of Obi-Wan through it.
He really began to regret not forging closer ties with other Jedi. Sure there were some he would occasionally spend time with like Ferus and his crew, A'Sharad Hett, or even Barriss Offee. And there were others he might go to for advice like Master Yoda or Master Windu. But he wasn't particularly close to any of them. Obi-Wan was the only Jedi he truly counted as a friend. The rest were just all allies, acquaintances.
I could go see Padmé, he realized. I should. I'm going to, he decided. His mind made up, he stood and–
"Ah ha!" Someone cried. "Found you!"
No… Anakin groaned as he caught sight of Darra striding towards him. No, not her! "I wasn't hiding," he insisted.
"Sure," Darra grumbled disbelievingly as she closed the distance between them. "I need some things cleared up."
Oh boy… "Like what?" Anakin inquired somewhat nervously.
"The Supreme Chancellor has supposedly placed a personal representative on the Jedi Council, but no one seems sure just who that is." Darra crossed her arms over her chest and studied him rather suspiciously. "So tell me, who is it?"
"What makes you think I know?" Anakin asked to try and side-step her question.
"Your former Master is on the Council, of course you know." Darra frowned in annoyance.
Hmm, I think she's still unhappy with me for shutting the door in her face… "Right… Um, the Chancellor's representative on the Council…is…me." He admitted with great reluctance and unhappiness.
"You? You're the Chancellor's representative?" Darra blinked disbelievingly.
"Yeah," Anakin shrugged, "I am."
"He picked you?" Darra muttered, still stuck in disbelief.
"Crazy, I know," Anakin nodded uncomfortably, "but yes."
"Why?" Darra asked.
"That's what I asked him," Anakin sighed. "And he told me it was basically because I saved his life on the Invisible Hand. I don't know whether I really believe that or not."
"Oh wow," Darra murmured. Her lingering annoyance towards him began to fade as she processed this and the awe and admiration began to flicker once again in her eyes. "So–"
"Darra!" Ferus called, jogging over to them. "Hey, how are you?"
"Oh, I'm fine." Darra sighed, annoyed at the interruption.
"Good," Ferus smiled, "I was worried with all the reports Master Tachi and I were hearing from Coruscant."
"Oh relax Ferus," Darra snorted, "like anything bad will ever happen here in the Temple!"
"Well no one ever thought that the Separatists would attack anything in the Core, let alone Coruscant itself." Ferus pointed out.
"That's different," Darra dismissed, "the Jedi Temple has stood for thousands of years. It'll never fall. At least not in our life times."
"Uh-huh," Anakin muttered. That's a very arrogant statement.
"It won't," Darra insisted, casting a frown in his direction.
"I didn't say that it would," Anakin grumbled defensively.
"Let's not talk about this anymore. Why don't we go to the cafeteria and get something to eat?" Ferus suggested.
"Good idea!" Anakin grinned. He wasn't particularly hungry, but Darra wouldn't dare try anything with Ferus around in the middle of the cafeteria.
"Oh, alright," Darra agreed, albeit reluctantly.
"Okay," Ferus smiled, looking rather relieved.
However, before they left for the cafeteria, Anakin's comm-link decided to buzz for attention. "Damn it," he muttered, retreating a few steps to answer it in private. "Hello?"
"Good afternoon," The Supreme Chancellor greeted cheerfully. "Could you please come down to my office as soon as possible?"
Damn it! "Of course Chancellor." Anakin agreed. "I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Splendid!" Palpatine replied. "Good-bye!"
Thankfully the connection cut before he had to say good-bye in return. Hooking his comm-link back onto his belt, he looked back at Ferus and Darra. They both looked rather shocked.
"Was that the Supreme Chancellor on you comm-link?" Ferus sputtered.
"Yeah," Anakin sighed. "Ask Darra about it. I have to go."
If they said anything else, he didn't hear it. He strode off, fighting with his rising frustration. He never seemed to have any time to himself anymore.
Blast it all, I was going to see Padmé! He scowled. And I still don't know what Ferus was going to tell me! Force this job sucks!
Padmé willed back her rising anxiety by submerging herself in her stoic Senator persona. She's first developed the particular frame of mind during her two terms as Queen. The only change she'd made to it since becoming Senator was that she dropped the monotone accent and the use of the royal 'We'.
Taking a deep breath, she led the chosen representatives of the Delegation of Two Thousand (as they had now decided to call themselves) into the Supreme Chancellor's office. At the end of the meeting that had been held in her apartment, she had been selected to lead those who would present the petition to Palpatine. Now the time for their appointment to meet with him had come.
With her were five other Senators. Fang Zar was the only one who had come that had been present at the other meetings Padmé had attended. Jar Jar Binks had also come, both as part of the Delegation and as a friend and supporter.
Meena Tills was a new presence. He was the Mon Calamarian Senator for Mon Calamari. While he worked side-by-side with the Quarren Senator, Tundra Dowmeia, his fellow Senator wasn't concerned enough to join Meena in the delegation.
Malé-Dee was another Senator of the delegation. He was the Human Senator of Uyter who had replaced his predecessor, Lexi Dio, after her assassination. Padmé didn't know much about him, but she found his brightly colored Mohawk hairstyle to be very interesting.
And then there was Nee Alavar. This last new addition was the Human Senator for Lorrd of the Kanz Sector. She, like the rest of her people, was talented at gaining information from subtle, unconscious body language, and to prevent others from reading her own posture, she wore heavy concealing robes.
For this presentation, Padmé had changed into her most concealing dress. She personally found it ugly, but the heavy, dull red dress covered practically everything but her face perfectly. It disguised every curve she possessed, not just her pregnant belly, and turned her into a pyramidal pillar of fabric. Out of the entire Senate, the last person she wanted to have suspecting her pregnancy was the Supreme Chancellor.
The instant she set foot inside Palpatine's red-and-black-themed office, she was hit with an unpleasant surprise. Vader was there. He was all business as he stood at the corner of Palpatine's desk. His face was locked in the typical stoic Jedi expression that barely wavered when he caught sight of her.
Managing to keep her composure, she strode over to the front of Palpatine's desk with her colleagues close behind her. She greeted Palpatine with polite formality and carefully took her seat. Jumping straight to the point, she presented him with their petition and sat back to see what he would do with it.
"I understand your reservations completely Senator," Palpatine assured her after he thoroughly examined their petition, "and I assure you that the appointment of Governors will in no way compete with the duties of the Senate."
"May I take it then that there will be no further amendments to the Constitution?" Padmé asked hopefully.
"I want this terrible conflict to end just as much as you do my lady, and when it does I guarantee an immediate return to democracy." Palpatine promised.
"You are pursuing a diplomatic solution to the war then?" Padmé inquired.
"You must trust me to do the right thing Senator. That is why I am here." Palpatine replied.
"Surely–" Fang Zar began.
"I said I will do what is right." Palpatine responded sharply, cutting off whatever Fang had been about to say. "That should be enough for your…committee." He practically spat the word 'committee' out as if it were a dirty word.
Padmé felt her heart sink at this reaction. She knew then that they would get nowhere with him. Their petition was nothing more than an annoyance to him, one that he would most likely ignore. It was time that they took their leave.
She stood up and took a small step towards the Chancellor's desk. "On behalf of the Delegation of Two Thousand, I thank you Chancellor." Padmé replied as politely as possible.
"I thank you, for bringing this to my attention Senator." Palpatine smiled kindly.
Padmé stood there for a moment and regarded the calm, smiling Chancellor. Then she shifted her gaze as subtly as she could to take in Vader. His expression was blank, but he looked uncomfortable and he looked away from her when he spied her watching him.
With no more reason or desire to stay, Padmé turned and left. Her colleagues followed her without a word. As she walked through the halls of the office building, she resisted the urge to touch her stomach in response to the movement she felt.
You are a little Jedi, aren't you baby? Padmé thought with some despair. You knew that your father was there.
The entire time she'd been in Vader's presence, the baby had been moving…
Anakin was…annoyed…with the Supreme Chancellor. He'd originally been summoned to the man's office to, of all things, play holo-chess. Of course he played along, being the obedient little Jedi servant that he now was.
After a few games, which Anakin had lost miserably, the Chancellor announced that he expected to be meeting with a delegation of Senators. He invited Anakin to stay and observe. Though from the way he said it, Anakin felt it was more like a command. So when the delegation arrived, he was patiently waiting for them just behind and to the side of Palpatine's desk.
To his surprise, Padmé was there. She was dressed in perhaps the ugliest dress he'd ever seen her wear, which was probably all for the best. He couldn't afford to be distracted by her beauty and let his stern Jedi posture slip.
She appeared to be just as surprised to see him there, but she hid it well. The only clue he saw was the slightest hesitation in her step when she spied him. And through the Force, despite her strong emotional control, he could feel her spike of surprise, and then strangely a stab of anxiety.
Padmé seemed to be the leader of this little delegation and after exchanging some greetings with the Chancellor, she presented him with some documents. As the Chancellor studied them, Anakin took the opportunity to examine all the Senators present. He used both his eyes and his Force-senses to try and get a read on them, see what they might be about.
Aside from Padmé, Jar Jar Binks was the only other being he recognized. There was also a Mon Calamari Senator present, the rest were all Humans. There was a woman wrapped up in wooly-looking gray robes, a man with a stripe of bold reddish hair, and an old man with droopy eyes and a wild frizzy white beard. They all sat or stood quietly, nervous, hopeful, and determined. As far as he could tell, nothing was amiss with this group.
The Chancellor gave his response to the petition and Padmé began asking him some pointed questions. Palpatine shrugged off her concerns smoothly, though his answers to her inquiries bothered him. And then when the Chancellor snapped at the old man, his opinion of the Republic's leader somehow managed to sink even lower.
Padmé took that as her cue to leave and politely thanked the Chancellor for seeing them. Before leaving, she eyed the Chancellor, and then eyed him searchingly. Feeling uncomfortable and nervous at her attention, he looked away and prayed she didn't try and make an appeal to him.
She didn't though. Moments later she was gone and Anakin relaxed. But only slightly. He was still trapped in the Chancellor's shiver-inducing presence.
"Their sincerity is to be admired." Palpatine commented. "Although I sense there is more to their request than they are telling us."
Us? What 'us'? "What do you mean?" Anakin asked warily.
"They're not to be trusted." Palpatine declared.
"I'm sure that Senator Amidala and her colleagues can be trusted." Anakin frowned slightly.
"These are unstable times for the Republic; some see instability as an opportunity." The Chancellor pointed out. "Senator Amidala is hiding something." He added coldly. "I can see it in her eyes."
"I'm sure you're mistaken." Anakin replied calmly. She was only a little surprised to see me, and a little nervous, that's all. He hadn't probed very deeply though, anything more than a light scan without someone's permission was rude, a violation of privacy. There was no need for that here.
"I'm surprised your Jedi insights are not more sensitive to such things." Palpatine frowned.
"I simply don't sense betrayal in any of them." Anakin shrugged.
The Chancellor gave him a hard look, but Anakin returned it calmly, refusing to flinch.
"As you say," Palpatine said dismissively. "Come, let us play again." He commanded, returning to his little holo-chess board.
Anakin swallowed a sigh of frustration and boredom as he took the other side of the board and prepared to lose again. As he moved his pieces around the board, trying to look like he knew what he was doing, his mind kept drifting back to the delegation. He was very intrigued by what they had wanted.
As soon as he lets me go, I'm going to visit Padmé. Anakin decided. I'll track her down and find out what this whole Delegation of Two Thousand is about. With how wary the Council is of Palpatine, I'm sure they'll be interested to hear about some Senators who share some of their concerns…
…And I want to see Padmé.
Padmé brought the delegation back to her apartment building. One floor above the main lobby was a sort of common area for building residents. They could host large meeting or small quiet parties here if there were more people than their apartment suite could comfortably hold. She made use of it now.
Other Senators of the delegation who hadn't gone to present the petition were already there, waiting. Bail Organa was there, as was Mon Mothma, Terr Taneel, Bana Breemu, Chi Eekway, Giddean Danu, and a few others Padmé had not officially met as part of their group. Some had been sitting, others had been standing, but they all quickly came to silent attention as she and her group returned.
"Well?" Bail prompted hopefully.
Padmé shook her head wearily. "His manner was polite and friendly, but he was not at all receptive to our requests."
"Hesa did promise ta return democracy after da war." Jar Jar reminded her hopefully.
"Yes, Jar Jar, but I feel he only said that to try and placate us." Padmé sighed.
"His manner of speaking and moving, especially near the end of our meeting, certainly indicated that." Nee Alavar agreed.
"This is…most disappointing news," Bail murmured at last. "Though not entirely unexpected."
"The petition has failed, now it is time to make other plans." Mon stated calmly.
"So now are we to contact the Jedi then?" Giddean Danu inquired.
"I do not think that would be a wise move just yet." Malé-Dee frowned worriedly. "There was a Jedi present with the Chancellor and I would like to know why."
All those assembled began to mutter worriedly to each other, but Bail quickly silenced them with a calming gesture. "This Jedi was mostly likely the Chancellor's chosen representative," he theorized. "Did you recognize him or her?"
"No I did not," Malé-Dee replied.
"Nor did I," Nee Alavar responded.
"He didn't look familiar to me," Fang Zar frowned.
"I can't say I've ever seen him before," Meena Tills answered.
"Um…hesa was…familiar," Jar Jar muttered uncertainly.
"I recognized him," Padmé sighed. "He was Master Kenobi's former apprentice."
"Oh, messa remember him now!" Jar Jar chirped cheerfully. "He look so different from the last time messa see him!"
"Really?" Bail blinked in surprise. "I never would've thought he'd be chosen for the position. Outside of meeting him one time early in the war I haven't heard a word about him."
"How odd," Mon commented.
"I think I may have heard of him," Giddean offered. "I was once consulting Master Tachi some months back and she seemed rather distracted. I asked her why and she told me she was bothered by the apprentice of one of her colleagues, I believe she said it was Master Kenobi, and she said there was something rather mysterious about him that didn't sit well with her."
"Oh?" Padmé frowned a little worriedly. "Did she tell what was so mysterious about him?"
"She gave me no details," Giddean replied apologetically, "though she was rather agitated when she spoke of him."
"What do you know of this Jedi, Senator Amidala?" Mon asked curiously.
"He is very private, wary of people he doesn't know, but is friendly to those he is acquainted with. As far as I can tell he is very talented, however he has little contact with the Senate and seems to have a great dislike of public attention." Padmé replied carefully. "In the Chancellor's office he looked rather uncomfortable to me, like he would much prefer it if he were elsewhere."
"Even so, I don't like this," Bana Breemu frowned. "The Jedi are difficult for outsiders like us to understand, we cannot say for certain which side they will take."
That's ridiculous, of course they'll side with us! Padmé frowned and was about to argue that, but was interrupted.
"I think this is enough for today," Bail decided. "We all have a lot to think about. I propose we meet again in my office in a few days." When no one disagreed, the plan became final. "I shall see you all in the Senate then."
After politely bidding each other farewell, the Senators began to disperse. Jar Jar stayed a while longer and chatted with her, but then he too left. Alone, Padmé stepped into the lift and gratefully rode it up to her penthouse.
She'd been on her feet for too long and her feet were killing her…
Anakin was in a good mood. After a few more rounds of chess, Palpatine had finally let him go. And after a quick stop back at the Temple to report to Master Windu on the Chancellor's handling of the Delegation of Two Thousand, he was now on his way to find out more about the group of politicians that Palpatine seemed to so deeply dislike.
The sun was beginning to sink behind the distant skyscrapers by the time he reached Padmé's building. He almost felt like skipping as he entered the lobby and headed for the lift. He was away from the Chancellor, hopefully for the rest of the day, he had no pressing business back at the Temple, and now he was finally going to visit with Padmé. Really, what could ruin that?
Near the lift that he needed to take, he spied Captain Typho. The one-eyed security man was talking to someone vaguely familiar. The man looked like a Senator, but which one was he? Did he live in this building too? Or was he just visiting someone who did live here?
"…well I heard – oh, hello!" Captain Typho blinked in surprise as he caught sight of the approaching Jedi.
"Hello captain!" Anakin smiled and waved.
The other man turned around and Anakin finally recognized Senator Organa. Bail didn't appear to recognize him and looked rather anxious to see a Jedi. Anakin was puzzled by the odd reaction, but shrugged it off quickly.
"Hello Senator Organa," Anakin bowed politely.
"Good evening Master Jedi." Bail replied neutrally, though Anakin could still sense that he was anxious.
It's so weird when people call me 'Master Jedi'… "I hope I wasn't interrupting anything important." Anakin apologized.
"No, we were just exchanging rumors about the Senate." Captain Typho cheerfully informed him. "What brings you here this evening?"
"Loneliness mainly," Anakin shrugged. "Master Obi-Wan was sent off to Utapau to catch General Grievous and they made me stay here." He complained.
"Really? Why did they keep you here?" Captain Typho frowned in puzzlement.
"I have to baby-sit the Chancellor," Anakin sighed, not caring that he was speaking this way in front of Senator Organa. He rather liked Bail Organa and had picked up that he didn't seem to approve much of the Chancellor either. "It's the worst job ever."
"Oh?" Bail inquired with a raised eyebrow. Anakin sensed that the Senator was starting to remember him now.
"Yeah, I'd rather clean up after the animals in the Temple menagerie than be the Chancellor's 'representative.'" Anakin grumbled.
There was a sort of small zoo in the lower levels of the Jedi Temple. A small assortment of exotic species from across the galaxy were kept there, mainly for educational purposes. A few of the animals had been received by various Jedi as gifts of gratitude, including a Kybuck Master Yoda had gotten from a thankful Wookiee chieftain after the tiny Master had helped heal his sick daughter.
"You're the Chancellor's Jedi representative?" Typho muttered in surprise.
"Unfortunately," Anakin shrugged.
"Vader?" Bail blinked.
"Yes?" Anakin replied, struggling not to cringe at the name. I'm so sick of being 'Vader'!
"Oh my goodness I didn't recognize you at all!" Bail gaped. "What, with that scar and all, you look completely different!"
Anakin shrugged a bit uncomfortably. "Yeah… Captain Typho, is Senator Amidala home?" He asked, ready to get on with the true point of his visit.
"Yes," Typho replied, though now Anakin sensed that he was the one who was anxious.
Okay, this kinda is weird… "Oh good, I was hoping to catch her. She's not busy is she?" Anakin asked curiously.
"No," Typho shook his head and his anxiety increased.
This is really weird. "Okay." He turned. "Senator Organa, it's been nice seeing you again." He bowed politely.
"And it has been nice seeing you." Bail replied, his earlier anxiety totally gone.
Anakin then hopped into the lift and pressed the key to Padmé's apartment. When prompted, he entered his security code, the lift's computer accepted it, and the car rose up the shaft towards the towering penthouse. It felt like the ride took forever, though in actuality it only took five minutes.
When the lift doors opened, he scampered out and hurried to the common room where he knew she would be. Now that he was so close to seeing her, and seeing her in private where he didn't have to act like a stiff Jedi, he was excited. It had been a long time since he'd enjoyed her company, roughly six months according to his count.
He found her sitting on her couch. She looked tired as she slumped in her seat, studying a small portable datapad. She was still wearing the ugly dress she'd had on in the Chancellor's office, though the headdress thing had been removed, letting her curly brown hair loose down her back and shoulders. He sensed that she was alone, all of her Handmaidens seemed to be out.
Considering his options for a moment, he paused in the entranceway to the room and watched her for a minute. Making a decision, he quietly crept over to her side and slowly sat down so that she didn't notice that he was there. And then he reached over and took the little 'pad from her hands so he could read what was on it.
"Ah!" She yelped in surprise when she suddenly discovered there was another person next to her as he took the 'pad from her. "Vader?" She blinked, clutching at her chest and panting from the shock.
"Yes?" He smirked as he scanned the information on the little screen. It seemed to be financial reports.
"You scared me!" She snapped irritably, smacking his arm as she recovered herself.
"I know," he chuckled, passing the small datapad back, "I'm sorry."
"No you're not," Padmé grumbled, snatching the 'pad back.
"Someone's a little cranky," he teased.
Padmé made no reply to that, she simply continued working on the datapad and studiously ignored him. Anakin didn't really mind. He simply settled back in the couch and relaxed while he waited for her to calm down a bit.
Her presence had always been soothing to him, and he really needed some soothing right about now. With all the stress from the nightmares, being stuck with Palpatine, and with Obi-Wan light-years away and probably in danger, he felt like just taking Padmé away with him, maybe to Naboo, and enjoying a long vacation. He couldn't do anything like that so he endeavored to just take advantage of the opportunity he had now.
However the longer he sat there, drinking in her presence, the tenser she seemed to become. The anxiety he sensed in her seemed to be similar to what he sensed in Captain Typho, which confused him. And there was something else, a subtle difference in the feel of her Force signature that he couldn't quite put his finger on.
Abruptly, Padmé set down the datapad and turned to face him. "What do you want?" She asked sharply.
Anakin was a bit startled by her mysterious poor mood. "You don't seem very happy to see me," he frowned.
"Things have been hectic lately," she replied, "especially today."
"I guess," he murmured. "What else did you do besides meet with the Chancellor?"
"Lots of meetings and hours of planning," she responded evasively. "So…you're Chancellor Palpatine's personal representative to the Jedi Council?" She asked, changing the subject.
"Yeah," Anakin sighed. Thanks for reminding me. "I tried to get out of it, encouraged him to pick someone else more suited for the task, but he wouldn't have any of it. I was the Jedi he wanted, and he got me." He scowled at the memory.
"Oh," her expression softened a little. "I see."
"So," Anakin spoke again after a moment, "how have you been?"
"I've been well," she replied simply.
Anakin cocked his head slightly as he sensed…something. It wasn't a lie, but somehow her answer seemed to be…lacking, incomplete. It felt like perhaps there wasn't something she was telling him.
…Senator Amidala is hiding something…
Bah! Anakin shivered slightly as the Chancellor's words hissed at the back of his mind. That's crap! Maybe she just got over a cold or something and doesn't want to tell me about it… Or something.
Firmly pressing the Supreme Chancellor's paranoid assertions from his mind, he shifted the conversation to a neutral topic – the weather. After a while, Padmé seemed to loosen up a bit. He even got her to smile and laugh.
It was almost like nothing inappropriate had ever happened between them, he reflected. Though every now and then he got the feeling that she was leaving something out when she answered a question or related a little story to him. He let it go though. If she didn't want to tell him, it really wasn't any of his business.
He stayed for nearly an hour and a half before reluctantly realizing that he should leave soon. He thought about telling her of the Chancellor's suspicions of her, but he refrained. Master Windu wanted to think this over for a little while and consult with some other Masters before warning the Senators. Anakin decided to save Padmé from the worry that the Chancellor had his eye on her and just tell her the next time he came over.
"I've got to go," he sighed, reluctantly getting up off the couch.
"Alright," she nodded and stood up slowly and carefully.
Anakin frowned worriedly. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yes, I was just on my feet too much today," Padmé assured him.
Again he felt that she was omitting something, but he didn't call her on it. She followed him to the lift as she always did though she moved a bit slower than usual. When he paused at the lift doors to say good-bye, she moved to hug him, but stopped and held her arms at her sides.
"What, no hug?" He pouted a little.
Padmé looked a little startled. "Well it…it always seemed to make you so uncomfortable before." She explained a tad lamely.
Anakin blushed a bit. "Yeah, well, that never stopped you before," he shrugged.
"I have no desire to make you uncomfortable," Padmé insisted. "I'm sorry about before."
"Don't be sorry," he swallowed a tad nervously. "I like hugs," he shrugged, "you're just a little intimidating."
"Intimidating?" Padmé blinked in confusion.
"Yeah, you're an intelligent, strong, very beautiful woman." Anakin explained. "What man wouldn't find that a little intimidating?"
"Oh you…" Padmé looked away, blushing. "You're teasing me!"
"Oh no, I'd be much too frightened to tease a Senator!" Anakin smirked playfully.
"You are teasing me," she sighed, her hand reaching up to unconsciously play with the Japor necklace he'd given her.
Anakin only chuckled a bit in response.
Behind his grin, though, he was uneasy. Padmé had been acting strange from the moment she knew that he was in her apartment. She was anxious, evasive, and now unaccountably shy.
Talk about role reversal. Anakin mused. She's kind of acting like me, and I'm acting more like she usually does…
Pushing his thoughts aside for the moment, Anakin chose to act. He wanted his good-bye hug and he intended to get it. He'd be quick. She wouldn't mind.
Taking two quick steps forward, he closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms around her. She went very still, but made no move to push him away, or return the embrace. He blushed at his own boldness and gave her a quick squeeze. He was about to release her–
What the hell? He frowned in confusion. Her conical dress didn't seem to have nearly as much give to it as it should. What sort of dress is this?
His hands slowly drifted down from her back, slid around her sides, and came to rest on her stomach. In doing so, he discovered that her stomach was not flat as it should be. In the time he'd been away, it seemed to have expanded outwards into a spherical shape.
Anakin backed up a few inches to stare down at Padmé, to demand an explanation for what he was feeling with a look, but she wouldn't meet his gaze. Her eyes were fixed firmly on the floor. The slight unease he'd felt when confronted with her odd behavior now began to grow in leaps and bounds.
What the hell is going on here! He thought furiously. Why is she…is she…she's–
And then it hit him like a herd of stampeding Banthas. No, it hit him harder than that. It was more like getting hit in the head by a falling meteorite.
"Padmé?" He whispered hoarsely.
"I'm sorry," was her faint response.
He felt dangerously lightheaded. His vision developed a gray haze around the edges. Silence roared in his ears.
No… Please no… Padmé…oh Padmé… She-she can't be pregnant!