CHAPTER II
It was a silent walk with Padme to her apartment after the appointment. Padme looked at Zak. She couldn't help but think that something was wrong with him, because he had not been the same since she told him she was pregnant. As they neared her apartment, she grabbed his arm and stopped him. They exchanged a long look into each other's eyes for what seemed, to Zak, a lifetime. It was as if he was drowning in her beautiful eyes. Zak's thoughts returned to him when she spoke. "Zak...what's wrong? You haven't seemed right since we left the doctors office. What's wrong?" she asked him in a kind and caring voice.
Zak was taken slightly aback at this question. He studied her for a short moment, then spoke. "Nothing is wrong. Really Padme, I'm fine."
"No you aren't Zak. I can tell. Something is wrong...what is it?" Padme asked, her tone turning to a concerned one.
Zak sighed and shook his head. "It just wouldn't be proper if I told you. Thats all."
Padme doubted this reply from Zak. They were friends. They had become friends during the ten years she had not seen Anakin. She knew Zak better than that. "Zak come on. You can talk to me. What's wrong?"
Zak looked into Padme's beautiful eyes and took her hand. "Padme...I just can't. Its not something I can get into...not right now anyway." He looked at her for another moment. He knew if he told her right now that it would take away the nagging feeling he had, but it would also damage their friendship. He knew the Force would tell him the right time. "Padme...if you cherish our friendship, then you'll wait to hear what I have to say."
Padme considered Zak's words for a moment. He had a point and she knew it. "Alright Zak. I can wait." She paused and looked back at her apartment door. "Thanks for walking with me Zak. I'll see you for dinner tomorrow night ok?" She gave Zak a gentle kiss on the cheek, turned, and walking into her apartment, closing the door behind her.
After Padme had shut the door, she leaned her back up against it and let out a deep sigh. She feared she knew exactly what he was thinking.
"Excuse me ma'am, but are you alright? Did you have a nice doctor's visit?"
"What?" Padme turned her head to see C-3PO stand there looking at her.
"The doctor's visit ma'am, how did it go?" 3PO asked.
"It went fine 3PO. Now listen, you must let me tell this to Anakin when he gets back...I'm pregnant," Padme said.
"Oh my! You? Pregnant? We must inform Master Anakin of this immediately!" 3PO exclaimed.
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Zak walked down the corridor towards the landing platform. His thoughts were wandering. He knew that he could never tell her how he felt as long as she was married. Also, he was a Jedi. He couldn't get emotionally attached to anyone. But...that was the problem, he was attached to someone already. Padme. This wasn't a good time to be attached to her with the war going on at the present point in time. Perhaps if the war was over he could deal better, but...that wasn't the case and he knew it.
Zak's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his comm-link alarm. Zak pulled it off his belt and spoke, "Master Ronan here."
"Master Ronan, needed at the Jedi Temple you are," came the familiar voice of Jedi Master Yoda.
"Yes Master, I am on my way," Zak said, and placed the comm back on his belt.
Zak walked out onto the landing platform, got into his speeder, and sped off towards the Jedi Temple, his thoughts half on what he needed to do, and the half on Padme.
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As Zak entered the Jedi Temple twenty minutes later he saw Jedi Master Yoda and Jedi Master Mace Windu awaiting him. Zak wondered what could be going on. "Master Yoda. Master Windu. What can I do for you my Masters?" he asked.
"Good of you to come on such short notice, Master Ronan. A Council meeting, we have called," Yoda said, turning to look at Mace.
"Is the situation serious?" Zak asked.
"We'll discuss it at the meeting. Shall we?" Mace said, gesturing his hand towards the Council Chambers.
They three walked to the Council Chambers where the other Masters were waiting, including Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. Yoda and Mace took their seats, while Zak stared around the room for a moment, then sat down in his chair. As he looked around, Zak could see the various Masters. In the chair where Ki-Adi-Mundi would normally sit was, instead, a hologram of him. He was away from Coruscant on a mission for the Republic and communicating from afar.
"Called you here, we have, on an important report from Master Obi-Wan on Separatists factions. Attacking Coruscant, they will in less than a month," Yoda announced. Immediately there was murmuring and whispers flying around the room.
"How is the Republic going to deal with this?" Saesee Tim whispered to Plo Koon.
"Will the Chancellor be granted more power?" Kit Fisto said aloud.
A tapping sound could soon be heard, followed by Yoda's voice. "Calm yourselves, you will. Saw this coming, we all did."
"Master Yoda is right. We all knew this was going to happen sooner or later." Mace said.
"Are we going to aide them in the fight?" Zak asked Yoda.
"Help we are indeed. Clone troops handle this alone can not." Yoda said.
"But do we know exactly when they will attack?" Obi-Wan asked.
"As you reported, it is all we know. We do not know the exact day but within the next month as you said Master Kenobi," Mace said.
"Meditate on this we will. Until the time comes, May the Force Be With You," Yoda said.
Yoda didn't have to say the meeting was over. All the Masters knew it. Zak walked out of the Council Chambers and waited outside the door for Obi-Wan. When he came out, Zak spoke. "Obi-Wan. I need to talk to you."
"Yes Zak? What is it?" Obi-Wan said.
"This new threat...are you sure you don't know when its going to happen?" Zak asked.
Obi-Wan shook his head. "No. All I got from my source is that they are planning for an attack to happen in a month."
Zak thought for a moment. "Your source has to know more. Did you use mind tricks?"
Obi-Wan smirked slightly. "Of course. Thats the only way to get truthful information."
Zak smiled. "True." There was a long pause then Zak spoke up again. "Are you leaving to go gather more info about the attack?"
"Yes. I have to go check a lead in Separatist territory. It shouldn't take long," Obi-Wan said.
"Alright then. Be careful my friend. May the Force Be With You," Zak said.
Obi-Wan nodded. "And with you." With that, Obi-Wan turned and walked off down the corridor.
Zak found his thoughts wandering again. He began thinking about Padme...and how much he loved her. Zak sighed and walked down the corridor to the landing platform. He got into his speeder and sped off into the falling night.