Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. It's all owned by George Lucas.
AN: Here's chapter 5! Enjoy!
A Matter of Trust
Chapter 5: The Council's Decision
"What do you have to report?" Mace Windu asked, as Obi-Wan and Barriss stood before them.
"They have refused to separate," Barriss reported.
"Then we have no choice but to expel him," Adi said.
"What feel you, Master Kenobi?" Yoda asked.
"I believe that perhaps we should allow them to be together masters. There is an interesting connection between the two. She seems to ground him and keep him focused," Obi-Wan said.
"Perhaps you are blinded by your affection for your former padawan," Adi suggested. Obi-Wan looked at her sharply.
"I don't think so. I know him very well. And I know attachment is forbidden, but perhaps an exception should be made for Anakin. He is not one that is able to keep himself unattached. His attachments define who he is," Obi-Wan said.
"Then perhaps he should not be a Jedi," Master Windu replied.
"How do you feel Barriss?" Luminara asked her former padawan.
"I believe that we should make them separate," Barriss replied. Obi-Wan's head turned to her the second those words left her mouth.
"That would only be a destructive move. We wouldn't be able to keep them apart. And it would destroy the progress that Anakin has made lately," Obi-Wan replied.
"Progress?" Plo Koon questioned.
"Dampened his anger has become. Controlled it is as of late. No longer blames anyone, not even himself, for his mother's death he does," Yoda said knowingly.
"Then if he can learn to control his anger, he can learn to control his passion," Adi said. Obi-Wan sighed, defeated.
"Make our final decision we will once spoken to them we have. Until then, meditate on this I will," Yoda said, effectively adjourning the council meeting.
Barriss Offee entered her quarters and noticed that her padawan was waiting for her. The girl actually wasn't more than a few years younger than her, but her master was recently killed in the clone wars. In fact, she would have been killed too, but Anakin had saved her from the violent explosion that had killed her master and three other Jedi. The council had entrusted her to complete the gifted padawan's training. She was very skilled with a saber and commanded a powerful force presence. Zara Caelan was very attractive, with long black hair and coal black eyes. She was fiercely competitive and an expert in the arts of hand to hand combat. Lately, her anger at her master's death had begun to worry Barriss. The girl was becoming very aggressive in her training. So much so, that some of the masters had to interfere when she was sparring with the other senior padawans.
"Is it true what they're saying about Anakin?" Zara asked.
"Yes, I'm afraid so Zara," Barriss replied.
"What is the council going to do about him?" she pried.
"They haven't made their decision yet. I want you do some meditation exercises before evening meal," Barriss told her, as she left for her room. Zara nodded and settled herself down on the floor.
She knew that jealously and hatred were wrong, but those were emotions she was feeling toward Senator Amidala right now. She knew that attachment was forbidden, but ever since Anakin had saved her life, she had been drawn to him. And apparently, the rule of against attachment meant nothing to Skywalker. She couldn't be in love with him! She just couldn't be!
She had even talked to master Offee about it and surprisingly, Barriss had not scolded her as hard as she had thought she might. Barriss had told her that many Jedi experience emotions of infatuation, often towards another fellow Jedi. She had told her that she herself experienced similar feelings when she and Anakin were still padawans. She had said it was hard not to feel attracted to Anakin, for he was very handsome after all.
But she warned against letting the infatuation turn in to anything more, because it could lead to the dark side, especially if her affections were not returned. And now she knew that her affections weren't returned, because Anakin loved another. He loved a Senator, a politician, a force blind weakling woman! He had been assigned to be her protector and the senator had probably seduced him. Hopefully, the council would set it all right. Through her meditations, Zara tried to calm the storming emotions within her...
In his office, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine's head shot up from his datapad, as he felt the feelings of anger, hate, jealousy, and even love being released into the force. He closed his eyes and reached deeply into the force to find the source. He was successful in finding the source and he opened his eyes, a wicked smile spreading across his face...
Obi-Wan waited patiently for the door to open.
"Oh, hello master Kenobi, come right in," 3PO greeted.
"Thank you 3PO," Obi-Wan replied, as he stepped in.
"Hello master," Anakin greeted.
"Hello Anakin, it smells absolutely wonderful in here," Obi-Wan said.
"That would be Padme's cooking, you're in for a real treat. Let me take your cloak," Anakin offered. Obi-Wan took it off and handed it to 3PO.
"Take a seat master," Anakin gestured.
"Can I do anything for you master Ani?" 3PO asked.
"Maybe see if Padme needs any help in the kitchen 3PO. She shouldn't be lifting anything too heavy," Anakin replied.
"Of course master Ani," 3PO replied obediently. A few minutes later, Padme called them into the dining room and they sat down for dinner. After the main course, 3PO served them Shuura fruit for desert and their conversation turned serious once they retired to the sitting room.
"So what did the council say?" Padme asked. Obi-Wan set his drink down and folded his hands.
"They are very divided. When you come tomorrow, expect a lot of questions, some perhaps even personal. But you will have to answer in order to make your case," Obi-Wan told them.
"Master, it is me that they are concerned with. Maybe we don't need to drag Padme in to this," Anakin suggested.
"No, I'm going with you. We're facing this together," Padme insisted, laying her hand on his.
"I just don't want to put you under any more stress. It's not good for you or the baby," Anakin replied.
"We'll be fine Ani," she insisted. Obi-Wan smiled surely. He hadn't been sure when he had come to see them earlier, but now he was positive that he was sensing two force signatures inside of Padme. He was surprised Anakin hadn't sensed it, but he figured the stress he was under wasn't allowing the force to flow clearly around him.
"You mean children," Obi-Wan said. Anakin and Padme stopped talking to each other and faced him, their mouths ajar.
"Children?" Anakin asked.
"Clear your mind Anakin and you can clearly sense two force signatures inside Padme," Obi-Wan said. Anakin exhaled and closed his eyes, while placing his hand on Padme's stomach. Anakin smiled and opened his eyes after a few quiet moments.
"He's right Padme, we're having twins!" Anakin exclaimed.
"Oh Ani, could you tell if they were boys or girls?" Padme asked, as she hugged him.
"No, I just saw their heads, but they're beautiful Padme," Anakin said tenderly, as he brushed some of her curls away from her face. Obi-Wan studied them and clearly sensed the change in Anakin and he was very curious as to why. What had master Yoda seen? Was Anakin's future clearer than it had been in the past?
"Back to your question Padme, I think you'll find that the council is very divided on this matter. Some think Anakin should be expelled. Some think the two of you should be forced to separate. And a few think that we should make an exception for you. Master Yoda has told me that he senses that you no longer blame the Jedi or yourself for your mother's death. I must ask how this change has come about," Obi-Wan questioned. Anakin and Padme exchanged glances with Anakin, as he got up and retrieved a data pad from the desk drawer. He handed it to his former master and Obi-Wan began to look over the information...
"I...I guess I don't understand. Anakin, you told me your mother was abducted and killed by Tuskan raiders," Obi-Wan said.
"She was killed by them, but this proves that someone else set her death up to hurt me," Anakin replied.
"The Sith," Obi-Wan replied knowingly, as he stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"Padme, how in the world did you stumble upon this information?" Obi-Wan asked.
"By accident really. I saw an encrypted file in the budget database and I wanted to know what it was. Artoo's encryption chip unlocked it for me and what I found make me sick. I couldn't believe that anyone would do this to my Ani. The next morning, I was going to visit Chancellor Palpatine. I wasn't planning on telling him what I knew, but I wanted to try and get a feel for what he knew . There's a lot of stuff on that datapad that isn't encrypted and I could think of a lot of better places for those funds to be going. When I got there, the Chancellor's guards were dead and Dooku was kidnaping him. That's when he captured me too," Padme explained.
"I won't let them turn me to the dark side," Anakin insisted.
"I'm glad to see that you're finally recognizing how dangerous your anger can be if you do not control it," Obi-Wan chided his former padawan.
"I do master. I realize that I can't blame anyone but the Sith, not the Jedi and not myself anymore. I finally feel like I'm healing," Anakin replied. Obi-Wan smiled at him.
"The truth shall always set us free Anakin," Obi-Wan reminded him. He stood up and retrieved his cloak.
"It's getting late. I'll see you both at the council meeting tomorrow morning. We shall just have to hope that they see things our way," Obi-Wan said.
"Wait Obi-Wan, there's one more thing we need to ask you," Padme said, as she glanced at Anakin. He smiled and nodded.
"Anakin and I want you to be our children's godfather. You're like a brother to both of us," Padme said. Obi-Wan smiled at them both.
"I would be honored. May the force be with you both," Obi-Wan said.
"May the force be with you too master," Anakin bid him good night.
Anakin enveloped her in a hug and she melted in his embrace.
"I'm scared about tomorrow Ani," she told him.
"I know my love, but no matter what they decide, we'll be together always. I promise," he replied. They shared a passionate kiss, before retiring for the night...
The next morning
Jedi Knight Barriss Offee and Padawan Zara Caelan waited nearby, as Anakin landed the speeder on the docking bay. He hopped out and went over to help Padme, who was having trouble getting in and out of the speeder these days, due to her condition. Arm in arm, Anakin and Padme approached the two Jedi and both bowed respectfully.
"Barriss, Zara," Anakin greeted. Barriss and Zara nodded and motioned for them to follow.
"We are to escort you to the council chambers," was all Barriss said to them.
Once they arrived, they were ushered inside and the doors slid shut behind them.
"Welcome Skywalker, Senator Amidala," Mace greeted, as he ushered them to sit down in the two chairs that were centered in the middle of the room. Mace motioned that it was okay for Barriss and her padawan to remain.
"Obi-Wan and Barriss have told us that you refuse to separate. Do you both still stand firm on this decision even if it means expulsion from the order?" Mace asked. Husband and wife exchanged glances and nodded.
"Yes master Windu," Anakin replied.
"Obi-Wan has claimed that he believes you can perform your duties as a Jedi even with your marriage to the Senator. Can you back up this claim Anakin?" Kit Fisto asked.
"Yes master, I believe I can. I have been performing my duties to the Republic these past three years, just as Padme has in the Senate," Anakin replied.
"But you cannot say your duty is the most important thing to you. As a Jedi, your duty must be first and foremost," Luminara stated.
"Yes master Unduli, Padme and our children are the most important things to me. But I can assure the council that I will still perform my duties to the best of my abilities, because protecting the Republic will ensure their safety," Anakin replied. Obi-Wan smiled to himself, pleased by Anakin's rational answers and calm demeanor. He was finally growing up and while Obi-Wan wanted to take the credit, he knew that a large part of that credit should be allowed to Padme.
"Senator Amidala, attachment is forbidden for a Jedi. Why would you pursue such a relationship?" Adi asked.
"We fell in love Master Gallia. And the fact that it was forbidden did not make us love each other any less. I will never regret marrying Anakin, he is my life," Padme told her.
"So you admit to seducing him away from the code of the Jedi," Adi replied.
Padme jaw clenched.
"I did not seduce Anakin, no matter how much all of you would love to believe that," she retorted. Anakin squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"Master Gallia is concerned, because such an attachment could lead to the dark side," Plo Koon interjected.
"I will not turn to the dark side," Anakin insisted.
"And what makes you so sure Skywalker?" Adi asked.
"Because Padme has saved me from the dark side," Anakin stated.
"And how has she done that?" Mace asked skeptically.
"I can back Anakin up on this master Windu. Padme did discover a startling revelation concerning dealings in the Senate," Obi-Wan replied.
"Share this information with us, you must," Yoda told Padme.
"I discovered an encrypted file late one night among various budget files I was looking through," Padme started.
"Why were you searching through the budget files?" Adi asked.
"I wanted to know where all the funds were going. Believe me, I think of better places for funds to be going than where the Senate is putting them. Anyway, my curiosity got the better of me and using Artoo's encryption chip, I decoded the file. And what I found make me sick. Someone in the Senate, I don't know who, paid an unknown bounty hunter to kidnap Shmi Skywalker. The bounty hunter then made it appear that Tuskan raiders took her, which in reality she was really abducted by the bounty hunter and given to the Tuskans who were responsible for killing her. Someone tried to turn my husband to the dark side and I believe it was the Sith," Padme explained.
"Yes, master Yoda has sensed a change in you Anakin. He says that you are indeed learning to control your anger. If you can do this, why is it that you cannot control your passion?" Adi questioned.
"My love for Padme is not something that can be controlled. Love is boundless and unconditional," Anakin replied.
"The council is enlightened by this revelation of the Sith. We will be keeping a much closer eye on the Senate now. But the matter of what we will do about your situation is still at hand. The council has discussed several options and we will now present them to you," Mace said. Anakin and Padme nodded.
"Your first option, of course, is a separation. This is what the council prefers that you would choose," Mace said. Anakin shook his head negatively.
"No Masters, that one is not an option. Separating us would only destroy us both," Anakin refused.
"Very well Anakin, if you do not except the second offer, then we will have no choice but to expel you," Mace said.
"What is the second offer, master Windu?" Padme asked.
"We make an exception for you both, but only on one condition," Mace stated. Anakin stiffened at the word condition. He did not have a good feeling about this condition, but Mace proceeded.
"You allow us to take custody of your twins and raise them to be Jedi here in the temple," Mace stated stoically. Padme couldn't suppress a gasp.
"I would get to see them, wouldn't I?" Padme asked. Mace Windu stared at her with his coal black eyes and she had to fight the urge to shiver.
"No. You would not be allowed contact with them, nor would they be allowed to know of their true parentage," Padme covered her mouth with her hands.
"If you choose this option, we would need to take the twins right after they are born," Mace said. Padme shook her head and grasped for Anakin's hand.
"No deal, I won't allow you to take our children from their mother," Anakin said firmly.
"Anakin, you have to realize that even if you don't give up the twins to us, that they're midichlorian counts will have to be taken at six months anyway. And if they are high enough, you will have to release them to the temple. It is Republic law after all. Senator Amidala should know that. Do you both really want to get attached to them? It will only make it harder," Adi replied coldly.
"I said NO.Do you have any idea what you're asking us to do! You want us to just give our children up like it's no big deal! You will not take them from us," Anakin insisted.
"You have not chosen either of the two choices, so we have no choice, but to enforce the third. Anakin's jaw clenched and he nodded.
"Anakin Skywalker, you are hereby expelled from the Jedi order. Hand over your lightsaber," Mace ordered. Anakin undid the weapon and tossed it to Master Windu, catching a glimpse of Obi-Wan's shocked expression.
Anakin helped his wife up and put his arms around her waist. She was struggling hard to keep her composure, which was normally very easy for Padme when she was in public. But being six months pregnant was not helping her fight down the torrent emotions whirring inside of her. Calmly with his wife by his side, Anakin Skywalker walked out of the council chambers, not looking back.
Mace Windu, Adi Gallia, and Plo Koon looked confident in the decision that had been made, truly believing they had done what they must. Kit Fisto, Ki-Adi Mundi, and Luminara Unduli didn't look so sure. They had been rather cold in regards to the Senator's feelings, and it was leaving a sense of wrongness within them. Obi-Wan looked very distraught and quietly left the council chambers to see off those he considered as family. Yoda sat quietly in the center of the room, his expression unreadable as usual and his own feelings quietly concealed to himself. No one was sure what the little green master felt of their decision...only time would tell.
Obi-Wan approached the couple that was standing by their speeder.
"Obi-Wan, can you please stay with Padme for a few minutes. There are a few things I need to get in my quarters," Anakin said.
"Of course Anakin," Obi-Wan said, as he watched Anakin walk back into the temple.
Anakin didn't have much in his quarters, for Jedi were not allowed possessions. He packed the few holos he had of he and Obi-Wan from over the years. He packed a few other belongings in the bag and clasped it shut. As he was going to leave, he saw Zara in the doorway.
"Hello Zara," he said.
"How could you Anakin? You were the chosen one. We all looked up to you," Zara said.
"I'm sorry that you feel that way Zara, but I will not be sorry for loving my wife," Anakin replied.
"I just hope you don't regret your decision," Zara said.
"I could never regret being with Padme. Goodbye Zara," Anakin replied, as he left for the docking bay where Padme was waiting. Zara watched as he left, those familiar feelings of jealousy beginning to nip at her again...
Anakin and Padme arrived home and Padme could no longer hold back her tears. Anakin wrapped her in his arms and let her cry.
"Everything's going to be okay angel," Anakin said, as he stroked his hands through her curls.
"Oh Ani, please don't let them take away our babies," she cried.
"Never Padme, never. We'll find a way to keep that from happening, even if we have to hide ourselves away. I promise they will not take them from us," Anakin told her. She looked up at him, suddenly very proud of him. He was angry at the council, but he was controlling it. She sniffed and buried her face in his chest again, as he continued to slowly rock her.
Early the next morning...
Anakin stood on the veranda, attempting to meditate as Coruscant's sun began to peek onto the horizon. Normally, he found this time of morning especially perfect for his meditation exercises. But not this morning.
"Good morning master," Anakin said, as Obi-Wan approached.
"I hope you don't mind, 3PO let me in. We didn't get a chance to speak last night after the council meeting," Obi-Wan replied.
"You'll always be welcome in our home Obi-Wan," Anakin stated, without turning to him.
"I'm truly sorry for everything that was said at the meeting last night. I never knew such things would be said," Obi-Wan apologized.
"I know master, Padme and I don't blame you," he replied.
"Anakin, I know you're angry. It may be righteous anger, but I just want you to be careful," Obi-Wan chided gently.
"My wife cried herself to sleep last night Obi-Wan. I have every right to be angry with those that caused that," Anakin replied. Obi-Wan winced, thinking about what Padme must be going through.
"I agree with you," Obi-Wan added.
"How could they master? How could they be so heartless?" Anakin cried, his eyes misting. Obi-Wan silently put a hand on his former padawan's shoulder.
"How can they stand their stoic and tell a mother-to-be that they are going to take her children away from her the moment after she gives birth to them!" Anakin yelled. Obi-Wan squeezed his shoulder in reassurance.
"I won't let them take our babies. If we have to hide for the rest of our lives, they won't take them!" Anakin promised.
"Anakin, I know that I've always been a staunch supporter of the code, but I want you to know that I am behind you and Padme on this," Obi-Wan replied.
"Thank you Obi-Wan, that means a lot to me," Anakin sniffed. Obi-Wan patted his shoulder and handed him a small case.
"What's this?" Anakin asked.
"It's a new crystal. You should have everything you need to build a new saber," Obi-Wan said.
"I'm not a Jedi anymore," Anakin replied.
"No, but you're a husband and a father to be. You have a family to protect," Obi-Wan replied.
"Thank you Obi-Wan," Anakin replied.
The two heard soft footsteps behind them and turned to see a crestfallen Padme. Anakin opened his arms and she dove into them. He wrapped them tightly and protectively around her and just held her. Obi-Wan silently walked back inside, leaving the young husband and wife alone...