Chapter 7

The relationship Anakin had with Chancellor Palpatine had always been one Obi-Wan had been weary of. He didn't trust how the older man had taken such a keen interest in him nor how Anakin felt drawn to the man's fatherly treatment of him. In his youth, he had felt that perhaps such a connection would do him some good, that he might be able to help him transition from his old life to the new one he was living, before fading into obscurity. But, that hadn't happened. Instead the relationship grew, and Palpatine felt it appropriate to shower the young Padawan in praise that bolstered his pride and arrogance, traits that were frowned upon by the Jedi. Yet by the time Obi-Wan felt it necessary to speak his disapproval to Anakin, it was much too late. The relationship was too strong, and as war consumed more and more of the galaxy, Obi-Wan became even more worried for his former Padawan.

The Chancellor's office was one that he had been in many times standing along side the other members of the Jedi Council when important matters of war needed to be discussed. It wasn't often that Obi-Wan was summoned alone, even less often that the Chancellor wanted to speak nothing of the war. The first few moments were spent in casual formality, inquiring about the other, and expressing off-the-record feelings about how draining the war felt. But once that ended, the conversation focused only on Anakin and how he has been since his return. Obi-Wan felt uneasy about discussing Anakin with him. Despite Palaptine's kind smile and tone, he felt something in the Force that seemed to leak darkness. He kept his answers short, giving little or no information at all. He could sense the older man's disappointment and part of him felt almost proud for the small slight.

"In any case," Palpatine said as he cleared his throat, "I was hoping that, if he felt up to it, that Anakin might like to come pay me a visit. I know in the past our talks have helped him deal with difficult situations."

"I'm sure he appreciates the concern," Obi-Wan said, giving a polite smile he hoped seemed genuine, "But I think he is doing just fine for now. We're trying to keep things simple and predictable for him whilst he recovers. I don't want to change that until he is ready."

"Of course," He said, "Of course, I'm not one to stand in the way of progress," He said, bearing his teeth in a smile. "Though, I must inquire about Senator Amidala." Obi-Wan stiffened as he sat straighter in his seat. "She has been absent for some time now. I know she and Anakin have always been… close. Is there anything I should be concerned about?"

"She's helping," He said simply. "Once she knew we were planning to go get him back, she volunteered herself to help however she could."

He laughed and shook his head as he leaned back in his chair, "Of course she did," He said. "Bless her soul. I'm surprised the Jedi agreed."

His eyes narrowed, "Padme is a friend. She's well guarded, and her duty keeps her here on Coruscant. She is a constant presence, something we can't guarantee with the war requiring us to come and go often."

Palpatine nodded slowly, "So… that was the only reason?" He probed, "Nothing else?"

Obi-Wan clenched his fist as he leaned closer, "Is there something you're trying to get at, Chancellor?"

"Anakin never told you, did he?"

"Tell me what?"

Palpatine leaned forward on his desk, "You know how he feels about her," He said. Obi-Wan nodded slowly, "So do I," He sighed and let out a soft chuckle, "I'm sorry, I just had to be sure," He said. "It is good to know I'm not the only one to know they were married."

His jaw tightened as he tried to hide his shock. Married? How was that possible? It was against the Jedi Code! And he told Palpatine, of all people? Obi-Wan held his surprise and tried to play along as best he could under the circumstances, pretending that he too was a trusted keeper of the secret life Anakin had been leading up until the Chancellor was called to attend to his other duties and Obi-Wan was finally allowed to leave.

The Jedi Master let out a breath of relief as he finally allowed himself to breathe easy in the cockpit of the ship he had flown to the Senate Offices. Married. Anakin was married. To Padme. He'd always been aware of Anakin's deep feelings for the senator. And he knew after Geonosis that Padme returned those feelings. He'd warned them— warned her. Clearly they had disregarded his warnings. Duty compelled him to report this finding to the Council. But, how could he? Especially with Anakin so… wounded, how could he resolve himself enough to fulfill his duty to the Jedi and the code which governed them? Obi-Wan shook his head. He couldn't do that to Anakin, at least not now. Anakin needed the support of all those around him in order for him to recover properly. It was only a matter of time before he could stand on his own. And when that day came, then he would worry about his marriage.

The meditation chambers in the Jedi Temple were many and of vastly different environments. There were some that thrived off of nature and lacked any walls and offered only the shade and shelter of trees of various planets across the galaxy. Others were of a more minimalistic style. A few round meditation cushions, a window or two, and a light in the center of the room. It was the latter type that Master Yoda had called Anakin to visit. The younger Jedi sat facing the ancient Master who stared at him with such intensity it made him shift uncomfortably.

Yoda stroked his chin slowly as he watched his every move. "How feel you,?" He asked.

"Cold," Anakin said.

Yoda nodded, "Tell me of your experiences on Zygerria, you need not," He said, his eyes falling closed as he let out a pensive groan, "The Force… Protect you, it does… why, still I wonder…"

Anakin gave a shrug, "I don't know."

"Feel it," He guided, "Stretch your senses."

"I-I can't…" Anakin mumbled.

"Feel the Force flow around you…"

"I can't," He said again. "I don't feel anything. I haven't in a long time."

Yoda's eyes opened slowly as he observed the way his head bowed low and his body seemed to sink in on itself. "Eyes," He started, speaking slowly as he pointed one finger at him, "Close them, you will."

"Master, I—"

"Close them," He said again, more slowly this time as Anakin heaved a frustrated sigh, but complied. "A shield, the Force is. surround you it does. But block everything, it does," Yoda started. "Your chest. A door, imagine. Closed it is, keeping sight of the shield far from you it does."

Anakin remembered this lesson. It was from his early days training when he was only just starting to learn how to control the Force and access its power. When he had been on Zygerria and realized the Force had all but left him, he'd tried this exact lesson to try and regain access to it to no avail. It still prevented some of the pain when he was beat, and helped heal him slightly faster, but use of the more advanced skills, were impossible.

"Your doubt, I sense," Yoda said, his ears perked up when he spoke.

Anakin sighed, "I've done this before, Master. It doesn't work."

The older Jedi shook his head, "Access the Force, we are not," He said, "Protect you for a reason, it does. Seek the answer for why, we are."

"Isn't that obvious?" Anakin scoffed as he stood from his seat, "I understand that you want to figure out what's wrong with me but—"

"Sit, young Skywalker," He said firmly, pointing at the seat he had vacated, "Search myself, I will. Need you to open the door, I do."

Anakin bunched his fists into the sleeves of his robe and twisted the rough material in his hands before he gave a reluctant sigh and sat down. His eyes closed as he once more delved into himself, following Yoda's instructions as he guided him to first search for the Force that surrounded him. He didn't feel it entirely, but he knew it was there. He followed the instruction to imagine a door in his chest and opened it, creating an entry and exit point for energy to flow. Yoda then instructed him to hold his left hand out. He felt Yoda place his hand on top of his and briefly, he felt a jolt of energy pass through him. It was familiar, and calming, and just as quickly as it came, it was gone, only to open him up to the wider space around him. The energy of the Temple wafted over him. He could sense the other Jedi in the Temple, the life of the vibrant trees in the gardens and if he stretched out further, he swore he could also feel Padme's presence.

He felt a tear streak down his cheek, the feeling of the Force overwhelming him as it embraced him warmly before feeling it suddenly rip away. Visions, dark visions of blaster bolts cutting through the sky and lightsabers falling from the hands of fallen Jedi flashed before his eyes. It felt like death was all around him as smoke filled his lungs and choked him. And in the distance he could hear a voice. A laugh as Sith lightning felt like it was ripping through his entire body before Anakin roughly pulled back. His eyes shot open as Yoda let his hand drop, his green eyes narrowed in concentration. Had he also seen the visions? Anakin panted as he tried to calm his breathing, trying to focus on the Force around him to find balance, only to find that once more the Force was gone. He felt deflated and lost again as what hope he had momentarily felt to regain his abilities once more faded into fantasy.

"Curious, this is," Yoda said as he took in the startled appearance of the younger Jedi. "Foretell of a dark future, the visions do. Weary, we must be in the months to come."

Anakin nodded slowly, "Wha-what do they have to do with me?"

Yoda gave a small shrug, "Know not, I do. Meditate on this, I must," He said. "Meditate as well, you should. The Force, parted from you it may be, but still a part of you, it is. Peace it may yet help you find."

Not far from 500 Republica was a special building complex reserved for esteemed guests and visitors invited by the Senate. There had been a time where the building used to serve as temporary embassies for new systems welcomed into the Republic while official buildings were being built or remodeled. The war had made securing new systems a rather unappealing idea and often left the building empty. It was here where Miraj Scintel was given residence while the official apology was being prepared in the senate. Padme knew she shouldn't have come here. But she couldn't turn a blind eye to the convenience of the situation. She was no longer in a prison cell. No guards around every corner, and she could easily sneak a blaster inside. No one would question her if she was to visit. And if they did, she was a senator. There could be any number of reasons for her visit. Offering her own apology, discussing the political state of Zygerria, trade… but none of that was really her reason.

The Coruscant guard assigned to her door announced her arrival and disengaged the lock on the door to let her in. Miraj was lounging on the long plush couch, her arms stretched over her head as she arched her back elegantly as she let out a relaxed sigh before sitting up. Padme carefully placed a mask of kindness on her face as she approached the slaver queen.

"These rooms are quite to my liking," The Queen purred as she ran her fingers along the soft surface of the couch, "A great improvement to the prison cell. Though, the staff does leave much to be desired," She said.

Padme bit her tongue as she came to stand in front of her. "I'm glad it's to your liking," She said, more out of habit than anything else.

Miraj looked up at her leaned back against the couch, crossing her legs, "If you're here to apologize for my treatment here—"

"Far from it, actually," She cut in, taking the seat opposite her and letting all pretense of kindness give way. "I'm here not as a Senator in the Galactic Senate but as myself. And personally I think you deserve to be in that cell for a long time." Miraj's nails dug into the fabric of the couch with a loud pop as they broke through the surface. "Slavery itself is a reprehensible crime against all sentient beings. How it is still allowed to thrive is something that is unfortunately overlooked and a trend of behavior that cannot continue. But, cruelty for the sake of cruelty is something that you are equally guilty of."

Miraj let out a hiss as she retracted her hand from the couch cushion. "This isn't just about my planet's economy, is it?" She asked, her eyes narrowing as she looked Padme up and down, taking in every detail, "No, this visit is… of a personal nature."

"It is," She confirmed. "You've hurt people close to me. Hurt them in ways I can't find forgiveness for."

She laughed and shook her head, "Oh, I see," She said, "This is about my little pet." Miraj didn't miss her sharp intake of breath or the way hands bunched into fists. "He's missing me, isn't he?" She asked, "He misses all the ways I'd give him pleasure he could only dream of before," Her words rubbed salt into the still open wounds, and the Queen seemed to take delight in it. "Oh, the thing's I'd do to him… and the things he'd do to me… he's rather good. I'm sure you can imagine." Miraj glanced up in thought, "Padme…" She said, her eyes widening in realization, "So, you're the one he'd think about at first," She laughed more, "You know, at first it bothered me that he'd be thinking of another woman when he was with me. It was an easy enough habit to break. I trained him well. Now, he'll only say my name in the throws of passion."

She couldn't take any more of her words. Any coherent thought fled her, all logic abandoned her, as an unfamiliar rage overtook her and her fist collided with the slaver Queen's face. She wanted to do worse to her. Wanted her to suffer. This wasn't her normal line of thought. This wasn't the person she was. But, the anger, the pain, the sorrow, the… jealousy… it was all consuming. Padme hit her once, twice, three times… she hit her as many and as hard as she could, feeling almost prideful at the small bloodstains on her fist. It was small compared to the blood of her beloved she'd spilt, but it was at least something. Miraj was not someone to lay down and take it though. The Queen let out a grunt at the first blow but was quick to recover, her sharp nails bit into Padme's arms and slashed across her face, but she barely felt it. Guards had heard the commotion coming from the room and had pried the two women apart, and it was only then, when she realized what she'd done.