Author's Note: Yikes! Another week squeaked by me! I'm sorry! But I have another update for you, never fear! Elmthesmartypants – I know, it was an evil cliffie – you'll have to bear with me because I think that may be how it goes from here on out! RavenRulzRF – You're right – definitely not good! Thanks for reading! Jedi X-man Serena Kenobi – Hmm.. The Chancellor certainly doesn't seem to popular around these parts! Hellish Red Devil – Your review was great! I loved that you seemed so into the last chapter. Thanks for the dash of confidence. Hopeless4Life – Unfortunately, the update wasn't ready as soon as I'd hoped, but here it is! Meandmysharpie – Me too! I am totally scared of the munchkins – and the oompa loompas in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory too. Aughhh! Help! The Strawberryish One – I'm so glad you've joined us – and even happier that you're enjoying it! Thanks! Eriks Leadinglady – Happy Birthday, my dear! Hope it's wonderful! And guess what? I saw "Tristan and Isolde" this weekend – it was very, very good. Let me know what you think if you get a chance to see it! All – I'll be back as soon as possible with more. Thanks for your patience!
As he had anticipated, the crowd was stunned into silence by the pronouncement, utterly captivated by the scene about to play out before them. He knew it was time to seize his destiny during this quiet moment, where his every word would be heard...
...Especially since he would be taking the Chancellor's audio enhancer momentarily.
He stepped out of line of guards and started forward, his cloak hiding his features from view. The remaining guards moved towards him, but were halted as a trail of mist appeared, pinning them in place.
"I'll be with you in a moment, gentlemen," the figure promised politely. He turned back to face the angry Jedi, allowing the hood to fall away from his face.
"Jarrick," Anakin spat.
"Hello, my friend. It's been far too long," Jarrick responded, his tone pleasant.
Anakin stepped in front of Padme protectively, but directedhis next comment to the Chancellor who was looking paler by the moment. "Please, sir, move away from him. He will harm you."
"What?" Palpatine looked dazed. "Anakin? Is it really you? What are you doing here?"
Jarrick made a noise that was a cross between a laugh and a dismissal. He turned to the elderly politician. "My good man, you deal with politicians every day. Surely you have an infallible ability to recognize a fraud?"
Palpatine narrowed his eyes. "Knight Skywalker has served the Republic bravely for many years. I have no reason to doubt him. I remain certain he is here for a legitimate reason."
Jarrick put a hand to his head, pretending to be overcome with dismay. "Oh dear, I hate to see shortsightedness from such a distinguished man! Well, I'm sure it will come as no surprise that he is not in this alone. What would a fraud be without a faithful accomplice? Master Obi-wan Kenobi - won't you please step forward?"
Obi-wan flanked Anakin, putting himself between Jarrick and Siri, the latter of whom let out an irritated growl at the chivalrous gesture. The only other sound in the Arena was a collective gasp as the crowd realized the true identity of their beloved Dake.
"Master Kenobi, you are here too?" The Chancellor looked like he had just stepped into another dimension.
"Yes, Chancellor," Obi-wan replied tightly. "We can explain. I assure you, the traitor is not amongst the Jedi-"
"No, I do not believe we should listen to your version. We've been listening to Jedi propanga for ages and I, for one, am tired of it," Jarrick interrupted. He snatched the audio enhancer out of Palpatine's grasp and prowled around the group like some sort of wild predator. "People of the Republic, it has come to my attention that the Jedi are using these Holo-programs to further their own agenda. It has given them the means to investigate planets without the stifling oversight of the Republic, all the while charming the viewing public. It seems to me that these would be two very important things one would need to overthrow a government: knowledge and support. And what a cleverly innocent way to go about it... entertainment."
Anakin felt his anger begin to build but tried to keep it suppressed. The cameras were still on, which meant this travesty was being streamed to billions of beings throughout the Galaxy. Perhaps he could use it to his advantage by keeping Jarrick talking until he slipped up. Some of the strongest Jedi in the Order were in attendance - once Jarrick was exposed as a liar, they'd be able to take the evil man in custody.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Artoo just outside the rink wall. The small droid's top cover was already retracted, positioned to eject the light sabers it concealed at his signal. He would simply have to be patient. The situation had the potential to turn ugly quickly and he did not want the public to believe Jarrick's lies.
"We do not want any bloodshed here tonight," Anakin insisted. "Turn yourself in, Jarrick, and we can resolve this peacefully."
"Peace?" Jarrick groaned dramatically. "You do not know the meaning of the word, Skywalker. Your entire life has been spent in turmoil. First, your boyhood spent as a slave, then the rigors of being trained as a Jedi. It must have been difficult to be so far behind your peers, knowing they were wondering what type of blubbering bantha had declared you the Chosen One."
"I'm warning you-" Anakin ground out, barely feeling Obi-wan's restraining hand on his arm.
Jarrick continued, feeding off the young Jedi's mounting anger. "And then your beloved Mother died, right before your eyes. A lot of good that Chosen One nonsense did you there. You would think that would have been enough excitement for you. But no - you still didn't stop. To further complicate your so-called peaceful life, you just had to run off and marry Senator Amidala. Or should I call her, Liri?"
This time, the crowd did not stay silent. A buzz began to circulate until it grew into a roar.
"Now, now," Jarrick soothed. He gestured with his hands, much as a teacher would do to a classroom of younglings. The technique worked, however and the whispers began to subside. "Please know I have no desire to tarnish the Senator's fine reputation. I merely bring your attention to her presence for one reason. Motivation. Why else would a powerful Senator ignore her duties to the Republic, if not to work for some sort of underground Rebellion? I mean no disrespect, but I daresay it's not just for the free room and board that comes along with being a participant on these shows."
Padme ducked around Anakin, her brown eyes flashing. The train of her brilliant costume swished silently, reflecting the brightness of the spotlight. Despite her odd garments, she looked every inch the regal Queen she had been.
"I normally do not respond to such ridiculous accusations, but I will make an exception in this case," she declared.
"I am flattered, my lady." Jarrick smirked flirtatiously and Padme fought a wave of nausea even as she ignored him.
"I was asked to assume an undercover identity for one reason alone... safety - mine and the Republic's," she insisted. Her hand closed into a fist as she turned to face the audience. "You should know that this man has tried to wipe out the Jedi Order, even going so far as to design a weapon that was meant to target them exclusively. Thankfully, we were able to break into the Divided Systems main control center and destroy it, effectively ending the true threat to the Republic."
"Wherever did you get such unreliable information, my dear Senator? Although, if this so-called weapon actually existed, it might prove useful in protecting the Republic from the power-hungry Jedi," Jarrick mused, his eyes a study in concerned innocence. "Although I do hope it won't come to that."
"I can assure you," Padme shot back coldly. "It will most certainly NOT come to that."
The crowd murmured uncertainly, not sure which side to believe. After all, the Jedi and the Senate were the backbone of the Republic - surely they were trustworthy. However... why in the world would such important figures subject themselves to such trivialities as reality shows? Could there really be a grain of truth in the stranger's claims?
Anakin's hand was nearly trembling in desperation for the familiar hilt of his light saber. But years of working at Obi-wan's side had taught him that it never paid to be the aggressor, especially in circumstances when the stakes were high. So he had to be patient... allow the enemy to make the first mistake.
And then he would make sure it was his last. And he would enjoy every second of it.
Siri did not miss the look of aggression on Anakin's face and she felt a twinge of fear at what the young Jedi might attempt. She had seen that look before, but never on a Jedi. Worried, she sidled over to Padme just as the Chancellor did the same. Great, she thought humorlessly. Now I have to protect two of the most important politicians in the Galaxy.
She was well aware that the Jedi's mandate had always been to set the Chancellor's safety about all else. But the friendship she had developed with the Senator over the past weeks sang to her as clearly as the Force itself - and now they even shared the unusual bond that had enveloped the group in its splendor.
If anything happened to Padme - or the baby she was carrying - Siri knew she would never forgive herself. The rule about attachments might be there to protect the Jedi's frame of mind, but she realized that there was another aspect to it that could work in their favor.
It would make them fight more passionately than ever before. Because now they were a family - one of the most honorable things in the Galaxy to defend.
If it came down to it, she would do her best to protect the Chancellor, even going so far as to lay her life on the line for him... But she could only do so if she knew for a fact that Padme, Obi-wan and Anakin were safe.
Master Windu, this would be a really nice time to make your presence known- Siri thought bitterly. Or, I don't know... Perhaps to send in the gigantic team of Jedi you had covering this blessed event!.
But the esteemed Jedi Master continued to stay hidden, apparently not wanting to blow his cover just yet. She could sense his presence somewhere behind the far rink wall. Judging by his intense concentration, he was fiddling with something, but she couldn't tell just what it was.
"Siri," Obi-wan mumbled, his eyes never leaving Jarrick. "Get Padme out of here."
Jarrick laughed and Siri's attention snapped back to him. Her brief nightmares had given her a unique sense of him and she used it to study him. His Force signature was burning like a torch, flickering and shimmering with power. Yet on the outskirts of the darkness and anger, there was... fear? Regret? Uncertainty?
She didn't have time to dwell on the unusual discovery as he lobbed his next verbal attack towards her.
"Yes, Master Tachi," Jarrick purred. "It's your turn now. Master Kenobi left you once before - why not turn the tables? Let him see what it's like to be deserted when you most need that special someone."
The audience was abuzz with the implications. Kenobi and Skywalker - easily the most famous Jedi in the Order - were both breaking the revered Code? And with a Jedi and a Senator? What was happening to the Order? Could it be that the shadowed man was speaking the truth?
"You will not touch one hair on either of their heads," Anakin warned. "Or you will answer to me."
"I do not wish to harm the women," Jarrick promised. His voice was smooth as silk and the audience relaxed, lulled by the hypnotic tone. "In fact, perhaps it would be best if they left the rink altogether, since I fear you are about to turn this little discussion into a full fledged battle. To further prove my good intentions to the Republic-"
He turned towards Palpatine. "The Chancellor may accompany them."