Hello everyone, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for not putting up a new chapter for so long. The past few months have just been a rollercoaster for me. I wish I could say more, but I really can't. I will tell you though that it started with that amazing character Anakin Skywalker, and my first story "Last Night of Innocence". I'll tell you folks keep writing and write to people that review your work. You never know who is reading your story. You never know what can happen when you put your work out there.

This chapter was originally going to be longer, but since I've been battling with a bad case of writers block. I have decided to post these scenes as chapter 9, and continue the rest into chapter 10. Once again I'm sorry it's taken me this long to put up a chapter.I hope you enjoy it, there is one scene in particular I really loved writing. I had a lot to say and I said it. Now onto chapter 9.

Chapter 9: Unexpected visitor

Two weeks had gone by since the fiasco at the Senate building. Padme studied her bedroom ceiling with dark circles, and tears in her eyes. Her mind felt like it was going to split in two. The tension and pain throbbing through her head was a constant reminder of the stress building with-in her. She had tossed and turned through many sleepless nights worrying, and thinking about Anakin and Obi-Wan. She had not heard a word regarding their mission. Padme knew she probably would not receive any answers until Anakin returned to her. The distraught young woman attempted to dry her eyes when she heard her handmaiden call for her.

"My lady, are you here?" Dorme asked as she searched through the apartment.

"Yes Dorme, I'm in my bedroom." Padme weakly called back to her handmaiden.

"Oh sorry, I didn't realize you were still in bed." Dorme said as she sat beside Padme.

"Well I felt like staying in bed late today." Padme replied avoiding eye contact with her handmaiden.

"My lady you look exhausted. You didn't get any sleep again?"

Padme said nothing for a few moments. "Dorme please, call me Padme. I really need a friend right now." Dorme attempted to comfort her friend by putting her arm around Padme's shoulder. Padme cried hysterically in Dorme's arms for a while until she wore herself down to soft sobs.

"Is this about Anakin? Did something happen, did you hear anything yet?"

Padme shook her head. "No nothing, I'm so worried about him, and many other things."

"What's wrong Padme? You can tell me."

Padme began to dry her face with her embroidered handkerchief. "Thank you, you're a good friend. I will share with you everything that's been making me so miserable.

But right now I need to ask a favor from you."

"Of course whatever you need."

"I need you to accompany me someplace. I have a visit to make that is long overdue."

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On the tenth level of Utapau's largest sinkhole-city found a bounty hunter who was tired of running to try to protect his most prized possession. He was losing his patience with the dark jedi.who stood before him as a holograph image.

"My Master is sending the powerful bounty hunter Durge as a reinforcement to Muunilinst, along with an army of IG Lancer Droids. Durge thirsts for blood, especially Jedi blood. The Jedi will be over whelmed, and annihilated." Count Dooku replied back to the bounty hunter Jango Fett.

"Are you sending any back up to Utapau?" Fett asked.

"Yes I am, bounty hunters: Aurra Sing and Boushh will be arriving at Utapau shortly to assist you with back up. Aurra Sing is trained in the Jedi arts, but never completed her training. She was abandoned by the Jedi, and has found her path with the dark side.
She has great hatred towards the Jedi, relishes in killing them, and collects their lightsabers as trophies. Bounty hunter Boushh shows no value towards life. When he was young he murdered, and ate his father. You will see that my Master has chosen these warriors well. "

"Who is your Master Count Dooku? I think I have a right to know. I should have never taken on your mission to kill Senator Amadala. I realize now that it was far too risky. The Jedi are hunting me down, and they won't stop until they've killed me. I'm worried about my son. What will happen to him if I'm gone?" There was a tone of fear in his voice as Jango Fett asked this question.

"My Master goes by the name Darth Sidious; he is wise, powerful, and is determined to purge this galaxy of the Jedi. As for your son, I'm sorry, that is something you will have to figure out on your own. I must go now; your backup will be arriving soon." The image of Count Dooku flickered and faded away.

------

In the late afternoon on Coruscant Jedi Masters: Ki-Adi-Mundi, Shaak Ti, Agen Kolar, along with Mace Windu, and Yoda are all gathered in the Jedi Council room. They are there to discuss the latest news on the war that has grown more grueling, and complicated.

Master Windu began to inform the rest of the Council. "We've just been contacted by General Plo Koon and Commander Fisto. They along with Jedi Masters: Oppo Rancisis, Even Piell, and Saesse Tiin are attempting to make their way towards the enemy command center with ARC Troopers backing them. From the beginning they have battled a strong line of resistance from the separatists at Muunilinst. The separatists are putting up a strong fight with their fleet of battle droids. They were well prepared for this attack. Our team is now headed towards the enemy control tower in the cities center. The next step is to destroy the cannon at the foot of the tower, and take position there to gain more control over the situation."

Yoda nodded. "Very good, very good."

A hologram popped up of an anonymous Jedi announcing a visitor who wished to speak with them.

"Who is here to speak with us?" Master Windu asked.

"Senator Amadala of Naboo and her handmaiden." The Jedi replied.

"Send them in." Master Windu ordered softly.

Padme and Dorme entered the sunset lit room, and bowed to the Jedi Council.

"What brings you before us Senator Amadala?" Master Windu asked in a soft tone.

"Jedi Masters, I have some important matters to discuss with you."

"And what might those be?" Master Windu asked, while touching the pads of his fingers together.

Padme turned to Dorme. "Thank you Dorme for coming here with me, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to speak to the Jedi Masters alone."

"I understand my lady. I'll be right outside."

Padme took her friend's hand for a moment, smiled at Dorme, and mouthed "I'll be fine." Dorme then turned, and left the room.

Padme closed her eyes, touched her hand to her forehead, and took a couple of deep breaths. She felt light headed, clammy, almost at the point of being faint.

"Feeling well are you not?" Master Yoda asked. He stretched out with the force to try to read her feelings.

Padme continued to hold her hand to her forehead. "I haven't been getting a lot of sleep lately."

Shaak Ti walked over to Padme, and led her over to an empty chair to sit down.

"We'll get you some water. Please rest Senator Amadala till you are feeling well again."

Shaak Ti said to Padme with a gentle sweet voice. Master Ki-Adi-Mundi handed Padme a glass of water.

Padme took a few sips of the water. "Thank you that's very kind of you."

A few moments went by as the Jedi Council watched Padme finish her water. Padme felt strength and courage again to continue her conversation with them.

"May I ask Masters, if you have any information in regards to the mission that Master Kenobi and Padawan Skywalker are away on?"

"We do not wish to share that with the Senate at this time."

"Master Windu, I am not asking as a Senator. I'm asking as a friend."

"A friend did you say." Master Yoda replied in a curious voice.

"Yes, they are my friends. Their welfare, and safety deeply concerns me."

They did not answer her. A cold silence filled the room.

"Please, I must know if they are all right," she asked raising her voice.

Master Yoda and Master Windu looked at each other for a moment. "Master Kenobi, and his apprentice are safe for the moment. They've been tracking down Jango Fett from each star system that was indicated on the tracking device Master Kenobi had placed on Fett's ship. Apparently, Jango Fett has managed to deactivate the tracking device, but we are confident that we are close to discovering his current whereabouts. It should not be long now before they have captured him." Master Windu replied back to her.

"When was the last time you heard from them?" Padme asked with obvious worry.

"Today." Master Windu simply answered.

Padme nodded. "Can you tell me where they are now?"

"Share that we cannot. I sense great pain, and confusion in you Senator." Yoda replied back to Padme.

"Master Jedi, I'm sure by now the order is aware of the venomous gossip, and rumors concerning Padawan Skywalker and I. It has spread throughout Coruscant. As a result, I suffered through a humiliating, and insulting ordeal with the Senate."

Master Windu nodded. His eyes boring into her. "Unfortunately, we're quite aware of all of it."

"I want to apologize for any embarrassment, or grief the Jedi Order has had to endure."

"Thank you Senator Amadala for your deep concern." Shaak Ti replied back.

Padme stood from her seat, and walked into the middle of the room. Somehow she felt more control standing before them.

"Jedi Masters, I ask for your compassion, and understanding to what I am about to tell you. Padme paused for a moment, and took another deep breath to calm her nerves.

"Anakin and I have fallen in love, we're engaged to be married, and." She paused again. "I'm…carrying his baby."

Yoda nodded his head. "Sense that new life force we did," he said while pointing to her.

Padme felt like a specimen under a microscope from their constant silent staring.

"Our relationship is not something we planned on."

"But Padawan Skywalker did give into his emotions. An action banned by the code; which he is well aware of. You understand Senator that this breech of the code reserves us the right to expel young Skywalker." Master Windu replied back.

"Please don't do that, it would kill him, and me. I couldn't bear to watch his dreams be crushed. You're wrong about love. You see it as burden, a distraction, but it's not.

What Anakin and I feel for each other is good, and pure. It should not be looked upon as something immoral or shameful." Padme looked directly into the eyes of Master Windu and Master Yoda.

"Attachment is forbidden." Ki-Adi-Mundi replied quietly. Padme turned around to look at him.

"Attachment leads to jealousy. The fear of loss is the shadow of greed. Fear leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering." Master Yoda pointed to her again.

Padme was losing her resolve quickly; her voice rising in agitation. "How can you all be so cold, so unfeeling about this. Why can't you look into your hearts to try to understand our situation?"

"It is necessary for the survival of the Jedi Order. These rules were set to protect the Order, and the Republic." Master Windu replied back calmly.

Padme shook her head. "Rules are made to be broken, and improved. Why can't you except change?"

"The code has remained the same because it has been proven correct time, and time again." Ki-Adi-Mundi replied quietly.

"Anakin and I will prove it wrong; you will see. We are good people who both serve the Republic. We deserve to be able to raise our baby in peace. I ask for you to consider my plea. Please give us your blessing, and allow Anakin to continue his work to become a full fledged Jedi."

"Does Anakin know about this child?" Master Windu asked.

Padme shook her head. "Anakin doesn't know. I just found out a few days ago."

"And he will not know until he returns with Master Kenobi. It is imperative Senator for young Skywalker to stay focused only on his mission, is that understood?" Master Windu asked her.

"Yes, I do not want him to be distracted, or worried. I don't want to put him or Obi-Wan in any kind of danger. I promise I will not attempt to contact Anakin."

"In the meantime, the council will discuss this complicated situation. Our decision will be announced to Padawan Skywalker when he returns."

Padme was taken back, and very disappointed with their announcement. "All right, good day to you Masters."

Hope you enjoyed my update. I promise I will try to have chapter 10 finished soon, and I appreciate your reviews.