Thank you for your reviews! THIS IS IT! This is the chapter you've all (hopefully) been waiting for! But I won't spoil the suprise and tell you what it is! Read, review, and you'll find out! Thank you!
Black's Phoenix: Thank you! I quite agree with you. After all, we can't NOT have Anakin and Padme in here!
Hopeless4life: You would like to know what happens next? OK, here we go! Thank you for your review!
Chapter... blast, I forgot AGAIN!
Disclaimer: See chapter one (The X-Men ARE in this, they haven't disappeared, just to let you know!)
OOH! Before I forget to tell you, I found out Logan's real name! It's James Howlett! And they're most likely going to make another movie after X3 called 'Wolverine', which is all about Logan trying to find out his past. Pretty awesome, huh?
Mace Windu walked down an upper corridor and met Yoda, who was sitting on a ledge overlooking the Senate chamber. Inside the great rotunda, the uproar was even louder. Opposing senators yelled furiously at one another.
"Order! Order!" Mas Amedda cried.
Finally, the uproar died.
Palpatine cleared his throat. "In the regrettable absence of Senator Amidala, the chair recognizes senior representative of Naboo, Jar Jar Binks," he said.
Amid the conflicting storm of cheers and boos, Jar Jar, with two Gungan aides, floated on his pod to the middle of the vast space. He looked at Palpatine nervously, and the Chancellor nodded. Jar Jar cleared his throat. "Senators, dellow felagates..." There was laughter and jeers, and poor Jar Jar blushed.
"Order!" Amedda fairly shrieked. "The Senate will accord the Representative the courtesy of a hearing!"
When he said that, there was comparative quiet. Jar Jar gripped the edge of the podium. "In response to the direct threat to the Republic mesa propose that the Senate give immediately emergency powers to the Supreme Chancellor," he spoke up. There was a sudden uproar, and Jar Jar looked a little sheepish. Brief silence, then a rolling wave of applause came. Jar Jar beamed and bowed.
Palpatine rose. "It is with great reluctance that I have agreed to this calling," he said. "I love democracy... I love the Republic. But I am mild by nature, and I do not desire to see the destruction of democracy. The power you give me I will lay down when this crisis has abated, I promise you. And as my first act with this new authority, I will create a grand army of the Republic to counter the increasing threats of the separatists."
At this, everyone clapped. Mace glanced at Yoda. "It is done, then," he said quietly. Yoda nodded. "I will take what Jedi we have left and go to Geonosis and rescue Obi-Wan," he continued.
"Go to Kamino, I will, and see these cloners who have created this army," Yoda replied. "But first, go to Dantooine, I will, and speak with the Professor."
Mace raised an eyebrow. "Why?" he asked. "Do you think that he has some mutants who will be able to help us?"
"Let us hope that he will," Yoda answered, and turned back to the Senate. "Need the mutant's help, we will."
Anakin and Padme were standing in the center of what looked like a courtroom. Seated before them in a tall, boxed-off area was Poggle the Lesser, Archduke of Geonosis. He was accompanied by his underling, Sun Fac. Off to one side the Separatist Senators Po Nudo, Tessek, and Toonbuck Tora. Next to them were the Commerce Dignitaries, Shu Mai, Nute Gunray, Passel Argente, Wat Tambor, and San Hill of the Intergalactic Bank Clan. Along the wall about a hundred Geonosians waited eagerly for a verdict.
"You have been charged and found guilty of Espionage," Sun Fac declared smugly.
"Do you have anything to say before your sentence is carried out?" Poggle questioned, stepping forward.
Padme glared at him. "You are committing an act of war, Archduke," she said. "I hope you are prepared for the consequences."
Poggle laughed, and Count Dooku simply smiled. Padme tried to hold in her anger at this, and Anakin sent a wave of calmness to her.
"We build weapons, Senator... that is our business!" Poggle exclaimed. "Of course we're prepared!"
Oh, I doubt it. Padme thought. You have no idea of the Forces out there that can crush you into tiny pieces, along with your Federationbattleships.
"Get on with it," Nute snapped. "Carry out the sentence. I want to see her suffer."
Poggle nodded. "Your other Jedi friends are waiting for you, Senator," he said cruelly. "Take them to the arena!"
Four guards took hold of Padme and Anakin, and they were escorted out of the chamber to the sounds of chuckling.
Just a few minutes before they were to be placed in the arena, Obi-Wan and Serena were thrown in a steel cell, their hands and feet unbound. Serena glared as they shut the door, cackling evilly. "Oh stuff it," she muttered, and leaned against a wall.
Obi-Wan stood there for a moment, simply staring at her thoughtfully. It appeared he was having a strong inner conflict. She looked at him. "What is it?" she asked.
He said nothing, but came over to her, and she stood up and walked towards him, puzzled. He took her hands gently in his own, and she looked down at them, startled at this movement.
"Serena, there is something you must know," he began, staring deep into her eyes. "Ever since we met, I have felt something with you, a special bond, that simply would not leave. When you came back, it came back with you more strongly than before, and finally I realized that I can't hide the truth from you any longer. I love you, Serena."
She stared at him, wide-eyed, and he continued. "I know that I'm a Jedi, and Jedi aren't supposed to feel this way..." he gazed at her pleadingly. "But I can't help it. I'm in love with you, and nothing is going to change that." His eyes searched her for an answer.
"I...I..." she stammered, not knowing how to respond. A single tear fell down her cheek. "I love you too, Obi-Wan," she finally answered, and he smiled, about ready to burst with joy. He gently wiped the tear off of her face and brought his hand to the back of her head. She closed her eyes as he suddenly brought his lips to hers, and she wrapped her arms around his neck; he pulled her in closer and the kiss deepened, as he put his arms around her waist. When they finally pulled gently apart, she looked at him curiously. "But what about the Council? You're still a Jedi," she said.
He smiled at her cheekily. "That is why I am going to become a mutant, so the Council will allow me to marry you," he said, gazing at her fondly.
"Oh Ben!" She exclaimed happily, and pulled him in for a hug, which he returned. She pulled back and studied his face, which made him smile again roguishly. "Can't tear your eyes away from my good looks?" he questioned mischievously, and she blushed, embarrassed. "Yes! Well, no, I mean..." she began, at a loss for words, but he silenced her by pulling her into another passionate and slow-moving kiss. He couldn't believe how incredibly happy he was. Serena was an amazing girl: brave, loyal, fierce, kind, humorous, and also alluring and incredibly beautiful. He knew he was the luckiest man alive to have her.
FINALLY! It's about time! For those of you who didn't understand the sentence about becoming a mutant, I'll explain. Eariler in the story, which had been deleted because I accidentally put something in there that shouldn't have been, Serena showed the entire Jedi Council and some other Jedi that the mutants had created a machine that could turn regular Jedi into mutants. It's kinda hard to explain, if you want me to put in a flashback from that part, I will. Thanks!