The Traitor

Chapter Three: Coruscant and the Jedi Council

Without further delay they had decided to return to Coruscant to report both of their findings to the Jedi Council; Padmé couldn't help being nervous as they boarded the transport to take them back to Coruscant.

Her ploy might have worked on Obi-Wan and Anakin, but she was beginning to have her doubts if it would work.

Darth Sidious had happily explained to her that he had come quite close to the Jedi and that they never even so much as suspected him of anything. When he said this to her she had been puzzled, and still didn't know what ploy he was using to infiltrate himself into the heart of the Jedi.

"Padmé?" asked a male voice, jolting her out of her thoughts.

She turned to her right and found herself staring into Anakin's intense eyes. "Yes," she answered quickly.

"You, uh…you seemed so lost in thought," the Jedi replied.

Padmé realized at that moment that she'd have to avoid thinking about her plan too often, lest she should slip up.

"I was just thinking about Coruscant," Padmé said, answering Anakin's unanswered question. "I've never been there before so it'll be quite an experience to enter the Jedi Temple!"

Anakin nodded knowingly. "That's exactly how I felt when I first came here with Master Kenobi and Master Jinn," he almost choked the last words out for he remembered the loss of the man who had taken him away from his bondage in Tatooine.

They continued to talk for hours and Obi-Wan silently observed this, and was slightly amazed by their connection. Even though he no longer held doubt about whether or not she could be trusted, he knew that if she was a spy, the Jedi Council would surely sift her out.

CORUSCANT

When the trio finally landed on Coruscant and arrived at the Jedi Temple, a young Jedi told them that the Council were expecting them.

Padmé's stomach churned within her as the three made their way to meet the Jedi Council—if she failed this task, then all would be lost.

The doors slid open and they formally greeted the eleven seated Jedi Masters.

"Greetings," Yoda began. "Returned soon from Tatooine you did, yes; returned soon you did," and turning his eyes on Padmé he said, "Identify yourself."

Padme held her composure surprisingly well. "I am Padmé Amidala—the one who informed you of Grievous' activity."

Yoda and the rest of the Jedi Masters surveyed her from head to foot.

"So certain she can be trusted, are you, Master Kenobi?" he suddenly asked.

"Yes Master Yoda, her tale is very trustworthy—and she led us to the site where Grievous was operating."

Adi Gallia decided to step into the conversation. "And what did you find?"

Obi-Wan's eyes sparkled when he recalled their findings, for it showed that the Jedi were not far behind Grievous. Step by step he recounted the events in Tatooine. Padmé even retold her story.

"We must listen to what the Force is trying to tell us if we are to find General Grievous," said Mace Windu.

"Stay here in the Temple all three of you will," Yoda said. "Trustworthy you seem, Jedi Amidala."

Padmé wanted to beam at what Yoda said: She had fooled the Jedi Council!

As they left, Anakin, who had not uttered a single word in the chamber, still battled inwardly within himself—for he knew that his feelings for Padmé were forbidden by the Jedi Order, his eyes fell on her once again and he wondered if she had felt the same way when she first saw him. He quickly scolded himself, though. "This is not the Jedi way," he reminded himself.

Padmé had noticed the way that Anakin acted around her, she couldn't help but smile at his blatant stupidity, yet she knew that if she could somehow manipulate those feelings, it would be easier to turn him to the dark side of the Force.

000

Meanwhile, in one of the massive hallways of the Jedi Temple Adi Gallia and Saesee Tiin were in a deep and important discussion.

"I am not certain that she can be trusted," Saesee said firmly. "I was getting mixed feelings."

Adi nodded. "I sensed the disturbance; yet I'm uncertain of how Master Yoda, Master Windu and our other fellow Council members missed it."

Saesee scratched his hairless chin in thought, wearing his usual grim face, the humanoid came to a decision. "We have nothing but our feelings to back up our claims, I say that we watch Amidala a little closer—maybe the Force is trying to tell us something."

Adi nodded. "I couldn't agree more, hopefully we have no reason to suspect her, but one cannot be certain."

000

In Korriban, lord Demetrius awaited a hologram from Sidious; he had gone about his necessary training and had even investigated a possible sighting of Jedi—he had, of course, done this with his fellow Sith.

As he lay on his neat bed with his arms folded behind his head, the hologram flickered to life; he instantly sat up and awaited the message.

A black hooded figure revealed itself and he knew this to be Darth Sidious.

"Greetings, lord Demetrius," Sidious began. "I have long been thinking about whether or not to send you for fear that you might…endanger the mission."

"Of course not, lord Sidious, I want nothing more than to have the Jedi annihilated from the galaxy!"

"Ah, but I fear that your feelings for Lady Zorah might get in the way, but nonetheless, I should like to have an extra pair of eyes and ears…you too shall come to Coruscant and will take up you role as-"

"A Jedi in the Jedi Temple?" Demetrius asked in a hope filled voice.

"No," Sidious scolded. "You will take up residence with me at my office—you will pose as my bodyguard."

Demetrius didn't dare show his disappointment. "Yes my lord," he replied dutifully. "When do I leave?"

"Today," Sidious cackled.

Before he could say anything else, the image flickered, and then disappeared.