Disclaimer: It's George's sandbox. I just play here, because it's fun!
AN: Here's chapter 29! Thanks for all the great reviews!
Never Gone
Chapter 29: Dark Plot
Anakin and Obi-Wan were up early the next morning. They arrived at the Temple and were admitted to the council room, as that morning's meeting began. Anakin looked around, trying to put the names to the faces of the Council members. Currently present in person were Yoda, Mace Windu, Shaak Ti, Pablo Jill, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Adi Gallia and Kit Fisto. Those were the only ones Anakin recognized, as the others were communicating by holocom and Anakin had never seen them in his time on Coruscant.
"You have both asked to be allowed to come before us, because you believe you know something we should know about. You have the floor," Mace said. Obi-Wan nodded.
"Anakin, tell them about your vision," Obi-Wan nudged.
"A vision you have had young Skywalker?" Yoda asked.
"Yes master Yoda. The night before the verdict was supposed to be read," Anakin replied.
"What did you see in this vision?" Shaak Ti asked, with much interest.
"I didn't really see anything master Ti, I only heard a voice. I could tell the person was evil though, I could feel it. They said quote "Do not fail me, Ventress," Anakin stated.
"That's it?" Mace asked.
"Yes master Windu," Anakin replied.
"Anakin and I believe that this Ventress is responsible for the murders of the twelve jurors. And we also think that it was the Sith Lord speaking," Obi-Wan replied.
"Do you have proof?" Pablo Jill asked.
"No master Jill, but we believe that it was a warning from the Force hoping to lead us in the right direction," Obi-Wan replied.
"So you have nothing but this little bit of information. A small vision like that hardly warrants an investigation," Mace replied.
"I know what I heard. It was the Sith Lord, I felt the dark tremor. It was close...on Coruscant. The Sith Lord is on Coruscant," Anakin insisted. Some of the council members shared skeptical glances.
"Anakin, the Sith Lord would never be so foolish as to hide himself right here on Coruscant. We would have surely sensed him, don't you think?" Mace replied.
"No, I don't. I think he's gotten so good at hiding that he's able to mask himself from you," Anakin replied truthfully.
"But he can't mask himself from you? A boy that has barely any training," Pablo Jill retorted.
"A boy that has a midichlorian count of nearly twenty-seven thousand, mind you. If Anakin is the chosen one, like I and my old master believe, then it makes perfect sense that the Force would choose to impart such information to him," Obi-Wan replied. Mace Windu and some of the other masters couldn't help but scoff.
"We must be open minded. Perhaps Anakin is correct. Perhaps the Sith Lord is right under our noses, as we would never have suspected it," Shaak Ti reasoned.
"Please Shaak, you aren't going to believe this emotional boy? Everyone in this room can clearly sense what an emotional storm he is. He wears his feelings and emotions on his sleeve," Adi replied.
"Adi, I don't think that is fair," Shaak replied. Pablo Jill stepped in.
"No? The boy is here trying to get some sort of investigation started into what could very well lead to a dead end. And all because his strong attachment to his wife is leading his emotions," Jill reasoned.
"Might I remind you Master Gallia that this emotional boy is responsible for ridding this galaxy of scum like Grevious, Sing, and Fett. His instincts are well placed and the Force has led him well. Why are you so quick to dismiss us? Could it be, that you do not want to admit that the Sith Lord might be right in front of us? I can see where that might be quite embarrassing," Obi-Wan said.
"You are out of line Obi-Wan. You're just like him! You threw away all your training for attachment as well. I think your opinion hardly qualifies as valid," Jill spat.
"Enough!" Yoda called, pounding his gimmer stick on the floor.
"Argue anymore, we will not. Valid young Anakin's vision may be," Yoda said.
"Possibly, but without physical evidence, an investigation cannot be warranted by this council or the Senate," Mace replied.
"Investigate the Jedi will not. Obi-Wan, you and Anakin will. Report your findings to me, you will," Yoda said. Obi-Wan nodded and motioned for Anakin to follow him out of the council room.
"That didn't go well. Most of them wouldn't even listen to us," Anakin said.
"Yes, well, we expected that," Obi-Wan replied.
"I know. They're so blind Obi-Wan!" Anakin ranted, as they got into their speeder.
"Then we will just have to open their eyes," Obi-Wan replied. Anakin nodded, as they left to go back home.
Padme rubbed her stomach thoughtfully. She hadn't started to show yet, but she would soon, especially carrying twins. She had been a little sick in the mornings, but after that she was fine for the most part. She smiled, as she saw Obi-Wan speeder land on the veranda.
"Lea, they're back!" Padme called. Anakin stepped inside and Padme wrapped her arms around his waist.
"How did it go?" she asked. Anakin's frown told her all.
"That bad?" she asked. He nodded.
"They won't help us investigate. But Obi-Wan and I will do that ourselves. They're so blind Padme. They don't want to believe that there could be a Sith right in front of them," Anakin said.
"No they don't, but like I told Anakin, we will find this Sith Lord and open everyone's eyes," Obi-Wan said, as he stood with his arms around Lea. Anakin smiled and nodded.
"How are you feeling?" Anakin asked. Padme smiled at his tenderness.
"I feel just fine my love. Though, I am craving chocolate covered shuura," she said, biting her bottom lip playfully. He smiled and kissed her softly.
"Say no more angel. I'll run to the market on our way home from the Senate building tonight," Anakin replied.
"Thank you sweetheart. But...hurry home tonight, because I'm craving you too," she gave him a sultry gaze and his body went hot with desire. He forced himself to pull away and gave her a sexy half smile. He kissed her quickly, before following Obi-Wan to the speeder.
"Oh Ani, don't forget the whipped cream and extra chocolate sauce," Padme called.
"Yes angel," he called.
Once at the Senate building, Anakin and Obi-wan split up. Obi-Wan went about like it was a normal day, stopping to some people here and there, all while probing the Force. As he opened himself completely to it, he could indeed sense a subtle darkness. But what amazed him was the fact that while subtle, the darkness was strong. Anakin was right to believe that the Sith Lord was indeed on Coruscant. But right here in the Senate building? The very thought made him shudder. How had the council not sensed this? Obi-Wan wondered in horror. The lives of billions of people could be at stake, yet they could not see the danger. While Obi-Wan went about his business, Anakin snuck around the building, using stealth and the Force to mask his presence. He looked around to make sure no one was looking and went to the entrance of Tarkin's office. He opened the panel and overrode the access code. The door slid open and Anakin slipped into the vacant office. He really didn't know what he was looking for, but he rummaged through the various datachips on Tarkin's desk, but found nothing of interest until he came across an unmarked one. He placed it in the small holo imager. An image of what looked like a design for some sort of space station came up. Anakin didn't know why it seemed important, but he would remember to mention it to Obi-Wan. Unable to find anything else, Anakin quietly slipped out.
As the Senate session ended for the day, so did Anakin and Obi-Wan's investigating. They left for the day and Anakin told Obi-Wan about the interesting plans he had found in Tarkin's office. After a quick stop at the market, Anakin and Obi-Wan were on their way back home. Obi-Wan chuckled, as he saw Anakin set the sack in the backseat.
"What?" Anakin asked.
"She's only a month along and she already has you running out to get her whatever she desires. You're in a lot of trouble," Obi-Wan laughed.
"I'll remember that for when you're in my position," Anakin replied. Obi-Wan frowned thoughtfully.
"Don't you and Lea plan to have children someday?" Anakin asked. Truthfully, Obi-Wan had never thought about it up until very recently. As a Jedi, it hadn't even been a possibility, but now that it was, perhaps he and Lea needed to talk.
"Truthfully, I hadn't really thought about it," Obi-Wan replied. Anakin nodded, as they started home.
Later that evening, after a relaxing bubble bath together, Anakin and Padme laid on their bed clad only in their robes. Anakin fed Padme another piece of chocolate covered shuura topped with whip cream. She giggled, as he kissed and licked the cream from her lips.
"You're so beautiful," he said in a husky whisper, as his lips moved to her neck.
"You're sweet, but I won't be so beautiful in a few months," Padme replied, as she patted her stomach, which would soon begin to swell with their children.
"You'll always be beautiful. And I'll never stop desiring you," Anakin said, as he kissed her softly at first. Their kisses quickly grew more intense, as the fires of passion consumed them...
Palpatine stood in his office, looking out over the Coruscant sky as the sun peeked over the horizon.
"You asked to see me?" Tarkin asked, as he entered.
"Yes, come in my friend," Palpatine replied.
"What is it your excellency?" Tarkin asked.
"Skywalker and Kenobi have been poking around far too much," Palpatine replied.
"Do you think they will find anything?" Tarkin asked.
"We cannot take the chance that they might. But I have a plan..." Palpatine said, with an evil smile.
"What do you plan to do?" Tarkin asked.
"You shall see, my friend," Palpatine replied.
Padme hummed to herself, as she scrolled through a data catalog, looking at baby furniture. She had already ordered a double hover stroller and two bassinets for when the twins first arrived. A speeder landing on the veranda caught her attention. She looked up and froze in fear, as a bald woman clad in black stepped out. Padme stood up, as the woman entered her apartment.
"Senator Amidala," the woman said.
"Who are you!" Padme cried.
"My name is Asaaj Ventress and I've been ordered to capture you. Don't worry though, I won't be hurting you...yet," Ventress said. Suddenly, Lea walked into the room. Ventress' head shot toward her and she Force pushed Lea against the wall. Lea screamed, as she impacted hard and fell unconscious.
"LEA!" Padme screamed.
"Come now Senator," Ventress said, as she grasped Padme's wrists tightly.
"No!" Padme screamed and struggled. Ventress knocked her down and backhanded her across the face. Tears fell down Padme's cheeks, as the evil woman bound her hands and stuffed a cloth between her teeth, before tying it around at the back of her head.
"Anakin!" Padme screamed silently, hoping that he would hear her. Ventress threw Padme into the back of her speeder and flew off, heading for the nearest ship port.
"Anakin!"
Anakin suddenly fell to his knees, as terror gripped his heart.
"Padme..." Anakin uttered.
"What is it Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Padme, she's in trouble!" Anakin said, as he darted for his speeder.
"Anakin, wait!" Obi-Wan cried, as he hopped in the speeder with him.
Once they arrived home, they found the apartment in shambles. Obi-Wan rushed to Lea's unconscious form and tried to shake her awake.
"Lea...Lea, wake up," Obi-Wan said frantically. She moaned in pain and opened her eyes.
"Obi-Wan?" she asked.
"Lea, what happened?" he asked, as he helped her sit up.
"I don't know. I remember seeing this horrible woman barge into the apartment. Then she used the Force to throw me against the wall," Lea replied. Anakin picked up the small holo imager that was left behind and pressed play. An image of an unattractive, bald woman appeared.
"Greetings, Anakin Skywalker. My name is Asaaj Ventress. If you are seeing this, then I have your precious wife. If you ever want to see her alive again, you will come to the palace on Naboo. My esteemed colleagues and I will be taking the palace for our own soon. Be there in twenty four hours, or she dies..." the transmission ended. Tears streamed down Anakin's cheeks and his jaw was set in determination.
"Artoo, get the ship ready," Anakin said, choking back a sob.
"It is most certainly a trap Anakin," Obi-Wan told him.
"I don't care!" Anakin yelled, as he left for the ship. Obi-Wan looked down at Lea.
"Lea, I'm going with him. It would probably be best for you to stay here," Obi-Wan replied.
"No, I'm coming with you. Naboo is my home and Padme is my cousin. I'm coming," Lea replied. Obi-Wan sighed.
"Blasted stubbornness," he complained. A few moments later, the Sapphire Angel, Anakin and Padme's personal cruiser, blasted out of the Coruscant atmosphere with three passengers and two droids aboard. The course was set for their home planet of Naboo where they weren't sure what was waiting for them...