Chapter vi
Zak arrived back at the Jedi Temple when his comm-link beeped. He pulled it off his belt and spoke into it. "Master Ronan here."
"Master Ronan, you are needed in the council chambers immediately. Please get here as soon as possible, " came Mace Windu's voice.
"Of course. I just got back to the temple. I was about to head there anyway," Zak said.
"Understood," Mace said.
Zak clicked the comm-link off and put it back on his belt. As he made his way to the council chambers his mind wandered back on Padme. He could keep her shawl? He didn't understand this, but he wasn't going to question it. He stopped by his room on the way to the council chambers and placed the shawl inside on his bed. He'd worry about that later. He had to focus on what he needed to do right now and that was getting to the council chambers.
As he neared the doors to the council chamber the doors slid open to let him in. The only people in the room were Mace Windu and Master Yoda. Zak was instantly confused. "You called Master Windu?"
"Yes. We have just heard a rumor," Mace said.
Zak, looking confused still, stayed silent.
"A disturbing rumor it is too. About Anakin Skywalker it is," Yoda said.
"What about him Master?" Zak asked calmly.
"The rumor is that he has been killed out on an outer rim planet. We aren't sure though," Mace said.
"Well... wouldn't the whole council have felt something? Isn't that what happens when a Jedi is killed? Besides, Anakin and I have been friends since he was young. I would know," Zak said, sounding slightly confused.
"Unknown it is at this point in time. Waiting for you to get here we were before contacting his troops," Yoda said.
"Well what are we waiting for? Lets get to it," Zak said quickly and took the seat opposite Yoda. Zak was starting to feel apprehensive. Yoda looked at him.
"Clear your mind must be for this Master Ronan, if we are to find the truth about what is going on," Yoda said.
Zak took a deep breath. "Sorry Master Yoda. He is not only my friend, but I consider him a brother, as I'm sure Obi-Wan does."
"Understandable this is. But clear your mind you must," Yoda said.
Zak nodded and closed his eyes for a moment, then nodded once more. "I'm ready."
Mace pushed a button on his chair and a moment later there was a hologram of a clone troop. "Trooper, where is Anakin Skywalker?"
"I don't know right now sir. Last we heard is that he was off trying to push back some resistance forces this planet already had in place on it. We are sending out a battalion of troops to search that area for him. Would you like me to keep the communication line open while we do this?" the trooper asked.
Yoda nodded. "Yes. Go along with you we will."
"Alright. We are nearly to the spot now," the trooper said.
Off to where Zak, Yoda, and Mace couldn't see they heard a voice. "Over here sir!"
They heard another voice, but it wasn't a clone. "Ah. Thank you for getting out here. I don't think I could have survived another wave of them. Is there someone on your communicator?"
"Yes sir. Master Yoda, Master Windu, and Master Ronan," the troop said.
The communicator image shuffled around and then an image of Anakin Skywalker appeared. "Masters. I'm alright. I assume you somehow got word that I was dead or something? Well here I am," Anakin said, catching his breath.
"Good to see you alive and well it is Skywalker," Yoda said.
"Anakin, I know you just barely escaped death, but we need you to go to Cato Neimoidia with Master Kenobi. He knows the rest of your mission there. Just meet him there and he'll explain," Mace said.
"Understood Master," Anakin said.
"I'm glad to see you're ok Anakin. Be careful on Cato Neimoidia. That place is dangerous," Zak said.
"I will Master. Skywalker out," Anakin said, then his image faded out.
Zak looked at the space where the hologram once was, then looked to Yoda and Mace. "What is this mission on Cato Neimoidia? Why didn't you send me?"
"Need you here we do. To guard Senator Amidala we need you. Afford to lose you we can't," Yoda said.
"But you're willing to sacrifice a 22 year olds life? He's just starting in his life with the Force," Zak said.
"We will decide on what is needed to be done, not you," Mace said.
Zak shook his head then looked back at the two masters. "Can I be excused?"
Yoda nodded. "Excused you are. May the Force Be With You."
Zak didn't say anything, just turned and walked out. As he walked down the hallway he couldn't help but think the council was making a bad choice on sending Anakin and Obi-Wan there. But then again... it could be his feelings getting in the way. Anakin had a child on the way and wife that he needed to worry about. Zak sighed and decided to forget about that for now. Zak's comm-link beeped. He pulled it off his belt and said, "This is Master Ronan."
The voice that came through was that of Padme's. Her soft voice made his worries go away. "Zak its Padme. Would you like to sit in on the senate meeting?"
Zak stayed silent for a moment then finally spoke up. "Yeah. Sure. I'll be there in a minute. I'm on my way to the speeder platform. I need to tell you something when I get there though."
"Alright. I'll be waiting at the Naboo box," she said.
"Alright. Zak out," Zak said, turning off the comm-link and placing it back on his belt he walked down to the speeder platform, got into his and sped off towards the Senate building.
Padme stood outside her box waiting for Zak to get there. 3PO was standing by her. "I hope he gets here in time," Padme said.
"Oh don't worry ma'am! I'm sure he'll be here before you know it," 3PO said.
Padme was feeling apprehensive. Zak said he had something to tell her. Was he going to tell her that they were wrong for doing what they did this morning? It was just a kiss. A very passionate kiss... but its not like they... Her mind suddenly stopped. What if it was about Anakin? What if Anakin was killed and he was coming here to tell her that? She didn't know if she could handle it. Especially since she was carrying Anakin's child. Now she began regretting inviting Zak to the council meeting.
"Oh! He's here Miss Padme! I told you he would be here!" 3PO said cheerfully.
Padme nodded. She didn't want Zak to be here now but it was too late for that. "Hey Zak. I want to know what you need to tell me before we go in to the meeting," she said softly.
Zak looked at her, then looked around. "Alright. Come over here for a moment," Zak said pulling her to a corner by a plant. "Look, when I got back to the Jedi Temple Yoda and Mace wanted me to come to the council meeting chambers. They told me there was a rumor that Anakin had been killed," he said.
Padme's eyes begin to well with tears. "What?"
"No no! No its ok! He's alive. Everything is ok. He's fine and he's on his way to Cato Neimoidia with Obi-Wan," Zak said.
Padme let out a sigh of relief and then out of no where she smacked Zak on the arm.
"Ow! What was that for?" Zak said.
"For not telling me that right away! Don't do that ever again!" Padme said.
Zak chuckled for a second, then saw that she was crying slightly. He reached forward and took her hand. "Hey I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I should have said the part about him being alive first. I'm so sorry," Zak said.
Padme shook her head. "No. Its ok. I was just worried about him." She looked behind her at her box. "Well come on. We need to get in there before they start," she said.
Zak nodded. "Yeah."
They walked into her box and took a seat. Behind them the door to the box closed.
In the center of the very large auditorium was the stand where the Chancellor would stand to address the people. Chancellor Palpatine stood on it and began to address the Senate.
"Dear friends of the Republic I come to you with no new news of the war. I can assure you that things are progressing as fast as they can with what little power I have," Palpatine paused.
Zak looked to the Chancellor. He wasn't trusting what he was saying. Then another voice spoke up.
"We, the representatives of the planet Malastare move to give the needed power to the Chancellor to see to that this war is ended!" said the delegates from Malastare.
Zak looked at Padme. "What are they doing? They might as well hand him the complete control of the Republic."
"No. No this is good! If the Chancellor is given more power then he can see to it that the war is ended! This can be a very good thing!" Padme said.
Zak just nodded in agreement. He didn't trust this move. It didn't seem right.
"Should it be voted, that I receive more power, I promise to use everything at my disposal to end this wretched war. I promise you this!" Palpatine said.
The whole room began chanting in unison, "Give him the power! Give him the power!"
After a few moments of this chanting, Palpatine spoke up. "That settles it! I shall use everything in my power to end this war for the good of the Republic!"
A wave of applause erupted through out the auditorium. Zak shook his head. This was a bad idea and he could sense it. There no reason to award the chancellor more power. Zak shook his head and looked at Padme, who was clapping right along with it.
"The Senate meeting is adjourned," said one of Palpatine's aides. Everyone began filing out of the room. Zak stood and let Padme go first then he followed her. When they were out in the hall, Padme looked at Zak. She could see that he was troubled.
"What is it? This is a good thing. And if he returns the power after the war is over then there is nothing to worry about!" Padme said, trying to reassure him.
"You know I have to inform the council about this right? They won't interfere but they have to know," Zak told Padme.
"I know. I'm sure that they would like to hear this news," Padme said.
"I'll walk you to your transport back to your apartment then I have to head to the Jedi Temple," Zak said.
"Alright," Padme said.
They walked to the landing platform in silence. Zak couldn't stop contemplating on why the Chancellor would need more power. He could be plotting something. That wasn't for Zak to decide. It was the council's to decide. When they reached the landing platform Zak stopped and looked at Padme. "I don't trust this Padme. I don't trust the reasoning behind what Palpatine is saying," Zak said.
"I know. I can tell. Go talk to the Jedi. Maybe they'll convince you otherwise," Padme said. With that she gave him a small kiss on the cheek then boarded her transport. Zak watched it take off then walked to his speeder. The council wasn't going to like hearing that the Chancellor had more power now.