Twenty-Five

Padmé watched her husband as they ate lunch at a restaurant downtown. She could see that he was still thinking about the conversation they'd had with Obi-Wan Kenobi earlier, and she had to wonder what was going through his mind.

"You're very pensive," she commented at last.

Anakin looked up at her. "I suppose I am," he replied.

"Want to talk about it?" she offered.

Anakin sighed, a slight frown creasing his brow. "I'm just thinking about what Kenobi asked me," he said. "He asked me if I'm not a Sith, then what am I."

Padmé nodded. "And you don't quite know yet, do you?"

"No," he replied. "I don't. The darkness is still there, Padmé; I cannot ignore it."

"I know," she replied. "But it is not as much a part of you as it was, surely you can see that."

"You're right," he concurred. "Having you and my mother in my life has done that. I miss her," he added.

"Why don't we bring her here to live with us?" Padmé suggested. "She would love to be close by when the twins arrive."

Anakin smiled. "She would," he replied. "But I'm not sure it's safe. If Palpatine found out that she was in my life, she could be in danger."

"He doesn't need to know who she is," Padmé replied.

"Then how would we explain her presence in our home?" Anakin asked. "Palpatine dismissed your handmaidens, remember?"

Padmé nodded, frustrated. "I suppose we can't," she replied.

Anakin reached out and took her hand. "Thanks for trying, though," he said. "I know you miss her too. Once Palpatine has been dealt with, then we will bring her here. She'd be a great help to you when the twins are born."

Padmé smiled. "Lots of diapers to be changed," she remarked.

Anakin nodded. "Yes, no doubt," he said with a smile. He hesitated before continuing. "Do you really think the Jedi Council will believe what we have to say?"

"Yes I do," she replied at once. "Obi-Wan did, so why won't they?"

"I suppose," he conceded. "It's probably wise that we don't go to them," he added. "I'm sure somehow Palpatine would find out, and that would be impossible to explain."

"Yes it would," she said. "Meeting in our home is the perfect solution. Obi-Wan seemed to think that they would be most anxious to speak with us," Padmé continued. "Perhaps we'll see them tonight."

"Perhaps," Anakin replied. His comlink sounded, and he activated it. It was Palpatine. "Yes, my master," he said dutifully.

I trust I'm not interrupting anything, came Palpatine's voice.

"No, of course not," Anakin replied.

I need to see you at once, Lord Vader, Palpatine said. Come to my office immediately.

Anakin glanced up at his wife. "As you wish, my master." He switched off the device. "I guess I'm going to the Chancellor's office," he commented.

"So it seems," Padmé said with a frown. "You don't think he suspects we've been talking to the Jedi, do you?"

Anakin sighed. "I hope not," he said, standing up. He bent to kiss his wife. "I'll see you later, Angel. Don't worry; I'm sure it's nothing to be concerned about."

Padmé nodded, hoping he was right. "Be safe, Ani," she said.

"Of course," he replied. "I'll be home later on."

Padme watched him leave, a feeling of unease growing within her.

"You summoned me?" Anakin asked as he entered Palpatine's office a short time later.

Palpatine stood looking out the large window in his office, his hands clasped behind his back. "Yes," he said without turning. "I need you to go to Kamino."

Anakin walked toward the Chancellor. "Kamino?" he asked. "Why?"

Palpatine turned to face his apprentice. "Since when do I need to give a reason for my orders, Lord Vader?" he snapped.

Anakin fought to keep his cool, which he did with some effort. "I merely meant, what is my mission there?"

"I want you to check on the progress of our clones," Palpatine replied.

Anakin had suspected that Palpatine had been quietly creating a clone army, but until this moment had not known for certain. "As you wish, my master," he replied at last with a bow.

Palpatine watched his apprentice as he left. He wanted Anakin off world when the vote was taken, wanting the Lady Vader the opportunity to prove her loyalty. And if she fails to do so…then she will no longer be a useful tool.

After a workout and a shower, Anakin headed for the home. He was anxious to talk to the Jedi Council now that he had the proof he needed. Now that they knew Palpatine was creating an army, it would be an easy task to have him charged with treason.

"Angel? You home?" Anakin called as he entered the enormous foyer of their home.

"Lord Vader is there something I can…"

"No," Anakin said, cutting the droid off. "Where is my wife?"

"Lady Vader is with visitors," the droid replied. "They are …"

"Never mind," Anakin said, "I can find her."

The droid looked askance at the young man as he walked away.

Anakin found Padmé in one of the mansion's many parlors; with her sat Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, and Yoda. They all looked up at him as he entered the room.

"Good, you're here," he said without preamble. "I've just learned something rather significant. Palpatine has a clone army waiting for activation on Kamino. He has sent me there to check on its progress."

The three Jedi sat and stared at Anakin for a moment, his words shocking and surprising them.

Standing there under their scrutiny, memories flashed through Anakin's mind as he was reminded of a day long ago when he had come into their midst…

Good, good, young one. How feel you?
Cold, sir.

Afraid are you?
No, sir.
Afraid to give up your life?

I don't think so.

See through you, we can.
Be mindful of your feelings...
Your thoughts dwell on your mother.

I miss her.
Afraid to lose her, I think.
What's that got to do with anything?
Everything. Fear is the path to the dark side... fear leads to anger... anger leads to hate.. hate leads to suffering.
I am not afraid!
A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind. I sense much fear in you.
I am not afraid.
Then continue, we will.

Anakin shook the memories from his mind, the thought of that day threatening to make him lose the control of his emotions he had.

"Obi-Wan has told us all about your suspicions about the Chancellor," Mace Windu spoke up at last.

"Shocked we were, to hear it," Yoda commented with a shake of his head.

"Do you believe me?" Anakin challenged, looking at each of the Jedi in succession.

Yoda and Mace Windu exchanged a look, giving Anakin reason to think that perhaps they did not.

"You have been this man's right hand for ten years, and now you expect us to trust you?" Windu challenged.
Padmé looked at Anakin too and then back at the Jedi. "Anakin has changed," she said at this point, seeing where the conversation was heading. "The fact that I am still alive is proof of that. Palpatine sent him to kill me."

"Spared your life, he did?" Yoda asked the incredulity clear in his voice.

"Yes he did," Padmé replied, looking at Anakin.

"Why?" Windu asked.

Anakin looked at Padmé, wondering if he ought to reveal his true reasons for refusing to kill her. The Jedi placed no importance on love, or emotional attachment of any sort.

"I realized that the Chancellor was wrong about Senator Amidala," he said at last. "I knew that she couldn't possibly be a traitor as he claimed."

"The Chancellor thinks you're a traitor?" Mace Windu asked. "None of this makes any sense! Why would he? Why would he try to have you killed?"

"Palpatine is behind every attempt on my life," Padmé replied. "Including the explosion on the landing platform. He wants me out of the way so his plans to create a Republican army can go ahead without further opposition."

Yoda nodded, as the truth of what Padmé was suggesting started to dawn on him. "Emergency powers, a war would give him," he said. "Ultimate power would be his."

"That's exactly what he wants," Anakin said, looking from one Jedi to another. "And you know why, don't you?"

Yoda nodded once more. "A Sith," he said simply. The other Jedi looked at him in shock.

"You mean to say that the Chancellor of the Republic is a Sith Lord?" Mace Windu asked incredulously.

"That's exactly what I'm saying," Anakin said. "He's trained me to be one as well. He saw in me what Qui-Gon saw all those years ago."

"Only he didn't train you to be a Jedi," Obi-Wan pointed out.

"No," Anakin replied. "Of course not. But when the Council refused to train me, I had no where to go. I was a boy of nine, how was I to know that he was only using me for his own ends?"

"You couldn't have known, Anakin," Padmé put in. "You were a kind, trusting boy. You had no way of knowing that Palpatine was using you."

"Is that why you've come to us, Skywalker?" Windu asked. "Out of a sense of revenge?"

Anakin smiled. He had never liked Mace Windu, even when he had been a child; he sensed great arrogance in the Jedi Master, and an inherent dislike for him. That had certainly not changed.

"I'd be lying if I said revenge wasn't one of my motives," he admitted. "But it is not my primary reason for coming here. It is mostly because of Padmé that I am here. She has convinced me that Palpatine is a danger to the galaxy, and I feel a sense of obligation to do what I can to stop him." He stopped and looked at Padmé, not caring if they knew the truth. "I love her," he declared. "And I won't let him do anything to hurt her, even if it means killing him myself to prevent it."

The Jedi all exchanged a look of surprise at this unexpected twist.

"What do you suggest, Anakin?" Kenobi asked.

Anakin tore his eyes from Padmé to look at him. "I should think that would be fairly obvious," he replied. "Arrest the Chancellor for attempted murder, for being a Sith Lord."

"And what about you, Skywalker?" Windu responded. "What about your part in this? I don't think I need to ask what became of Jedi Knight Fisto if you were sent to kill Senator Amidala."

"Fisto is dead," Anakin replied, shocking everyone, including Padmé, with the coldness of his statement. "He was killed trying to protect the senator."

"So let me see if I have this straight," Mace Windu spoke up. "You killed one of our own, you willingly went to kill an innocent woman," he numerated, "on top of who knows how many other crimes you've committed; and yet you expect us to trust you now?"

Anakin had to bite back the first response that jumped to his mind. Instead he looked at Padmé. She could see his frustration clearly in his eyes.

"Master Windu," she spoke up. "You have no choice but to trust him. Don't you realize what a serious threat Palpatine poses to the galaxy? Yes, Anakin has made many mistakes; but his lot in life has not been an easy one. This Council must take some responsibility for that. If you had not refused to train him when he came to you as a boy, Palpatine would not have had Anakin's tremendous power at his disposal all these years."

Her words were provocative, and they started a heated discussion amid the normally calm Jedi Masters. Padmé turned to Anakin, realizing that their task was more daunting than either of them had realized. He smiled at her, and reached out to take her hand.

"Unexpected, this is," Yoda said at last, looking intently at Anakin. "But trust you, I do. Qui-Gon Jinn called you the Chosen One, Anakin. Perhaps the Chosen One you are after all."

Anakin nodded, grateful for the ancient Jedi's confidence in him. "I don't know if I am or not, Master Yoda," he replied. "But I know that my destiny is more than merely being a servant to Palpatine. I owe it to the memory of Qui-Gon to try to fulfill the destiny that he foresaw for me."

Padmé felt a surge of pride and love for him as he spoke.

Anakin's words had surprised everyone in the room, including himself.

"You won't regret this, Master Yoda," Padmé said at last. "None of you will. Anakin is the Chosen One. Of that I have no doubt."

"We will trust you on this, Senator," Windu spoke up. "And trust that Skywalker has not led you and all of us astray."

Anakin realized that at this point this was the best he could hope for, and he accepted it. "I was thinking that perhaps something ought to be done about this clone facility on Kamino," he said.

"Like what?" Windu asked.

"Like an unfortunate accident," Anakin replied.

Kenobi smiled. "That would be unfortunate indeed," he commented. "Imagine the Chancellor's disappointment to learn that his army has been destroyed before it was even made official."

Anakin couldn't help but smile. "Yes, disappointment is an understatement."

"Can you do it?" Windu asked.

"Perhaps with some help," Anakin replied, looking at Kenobi.

Obi-Wan nodded. "I can help," he offered. "I know a little something about…accidents."