CHAPTER FIVE

Almost a year passed, and while Anakin never did fully accept the rules, he did very well with his training. His power and ability were very strong and he learned to use them the right way. He remembered when his temper alone could cause objects to fall, now he could direct it, and control it, and save it, the way he needed to. Though Master Windu had been against his training, he decided for awhile to train him as his own padawan, but the personality conflict was too strong. Windu hadn't had a padawan in years, and was beyond such training. He left him to Qui-Gon, and Obi-Wan. They were very good with him, and had made much progress. Windu, Yoda and the other council members were very impressed. So impressed, in fact, that they sent the trio on a very important mission- guarding the Queen of Naboo as she descended from the throne and made her way back into ordinary life, planning on a run for the Galactic Senate. Of course, no one was more excited by this than Anakin, who had been secretly admiring her for years. He knew once he saw her in person, experienced her with his own senses, he would be intoxicated by her. He also knew it was against the code to become attached to anyone the way he wanted to be attached to her, but he wasn't going to let that get in the way. He kept these feelings to himself for the time being.

Finally the day came when he got to meet HER. He could not deny his heart's racing and his adrenaline flow and nothing could stop the smile on his face when he finally saw her with his own eyes! She was beautiful! Her makeup was off, and her face was more gorgeous than he even imagined! He had to lower his head in the awe of her beauty and presence. He could hardly speak, but when the others introduced him, he was obliged.

"Hello, Your Highness." He blushed with a smile.

She smiled back. "You needn't call me that, after today that will be all over."

He couldn't understand this. Why would a person willingly give up power? When Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan left them alone to go report to the council, he told her so.

"Queen Amidala.."

"Padme, please, call me Padme."

"Okay, P-Padme. I was wondering something, about, you."

"It is not proper to ask personal questions."

"Oh, forgive me, but it's not of a very intimate nature, very general really, it could be you or somebody else."

"What is it, you may proceed."

"Padme, you are the Queen.."

"Not for long. Today is my last day."

"Why?"

"Because that's the way it is. I rule for six years, and I must step down so a new queen can be elected."

"Says who?"

"Anakin! The rules, society, the planet, the galaxy..."

"I don't accept that! If you are the Queen, then you can change the rules. You can make them listen to you! You can stay in power!"

"What, after my term is up? That would be wrong!"

"Why would it be wrong? How can you let them take your power from you? If you choose to remain queen, I will stand behind you."

"What are you speaking of? An uprising?"

'Well, yes, sort of."

"That's not the diplomatic way."

"I don't care about diplomacy. I care about power!"

"You are surely different than the other Jedi I have met."

"Yes, I am. I can't understand how they can fight, yet remain so docile, how they can have so much power and not use it."

"What do you want to use your power for?"

"I want to rule the galaxy."

Padme laughed. "My, your goals are lofty, young man!"

"Yes, they are. With my power and your position and experience, we can rule the galaxy and make things the way we want them to be!"

Padme looked stunned. She didn't even know if he was serious. She had not even thought this way before. In a way, he was right, she was queen, why did she have to give up her power? But that's the way things were and she didn't want to cause any trouble. For a split second, it did cross her mind- to rule the galaxy. Yes, then all the injustice she had seen would be wiped away. Such power could be used for good as well as evil. She quickly put it out of her mind. She just couldn't be so bold. Could she?

Anakin stared at her once more, deeply. "If you want to hold onto your position, I will help you."

She giggled nervously. "Please, you shouldn't even say such things. What if someone was listening?"

He lowered his head, a little embarrassed, and a lot disappointed. Someone was listening, right outside the door. It was Chancellor Palpatine, from Padme's home planet of Naboo. He smiled to himself as he heard the young man's speech and intentions. This could be very useful, he thought, very useful indeed. He would file this down in his mind for future reference.

"Oh, Chancellor, you are here to see the queen one last time?" Said Qui-Gon as he and Obi-Wan approached.

"You Jedi have left her only in the company of a padawan?"

"We trust him. He knows his job very well." Obi-Wan told him.

The Chancellor smiled. "Yes, he does." The two Jedi got an eerie feeling from this, but said nothing. They only exchanged glances. Obi-Wan opened the door.

"Well, padawan, I see you have gotten over your shyness."

"Quite well." Padme laughed softly. Anakin turned his head down and closed his eyes. Obi-Wan chuckled.

"Shall we go?" She said at last.

"Of course. You first, m'lady." Qui-Gon bowed and motioned for her to take the lead. She did, followed by Palpatine and the three Jedi.

Anakin was very sorry to see Padme go through with the ceremony which ended her reign. Soon after it was over, they followed her home and protected her as she was resumed her life with her family, and began her quest for a senate seat. Anakin was watching her the whole time, and Palpatine was watching Anakin. This time on Naboo would be very instrumental to events to come.

The three Jedi stayed with Padme all throughout her campaign as Senator. She had an easy victory. For her celebration, she took some time in the lake country. The Jedi went with her, though after a few days Obi-Wan was sent briefly on another mission, and Qui-Gon went to visit the Chancellor while he was also visting his home planet of Naboo. This left Anakin, except for the servants, alone with Padme. They had an idyllic time in the beauty of the lake country, and Padme began to feel herself strangely drawn to the young Jedi. Anakin sensed this, but felt it was not going to actually happen, so he kept his distance. Finally one day, they kissed, and there would be no turning back. Inside by the fire that night, they admitted their love for each other, but realized it could destroy them. She was the ex queen, and a senator, he the son of a slave- and a Jedi. Jedi could not have these kinds of feelings, though he did. He'd always had a lot of feelings that weren't befitting a Jedi, his lust for power, his unconventional way of seeing things, his distaste for being trapped by rules he could see how to step outside of. While Padme did not share these views, she admired his spirit, and his intelligence. She felt drawn to his warmth and love, and she was, though she had tried to deny it, deeply physically attracted to him. Their sojourn in paradise would last only a few more days.

Qui-Gon was becoming suspicous of the chancellor. He could sense something was wrong. He could feel the dark side in him. He could see it in his eyes. Things he said to him made him wonder, until there was no more doubt. This man was a sith lord. The one the Jedi had feared for so long, and here he was, running the galaxy! Terrible things would happen if he didn't stop him now. He knew he may not survive if he tried to attack him alone, so he kept the news to himself until he got back to the temple. When he did, he reported to Master Yoda and Master Windu his suspicions.

"A Sith Lord!" Master Windu snapped back. "Have you finally lost your mind? You have been a bit of a rouge, but we put up with you because you are a fine Jedi. But now, accusing our esteemed Chancellor Palpatine of being a Sith Lord, this is too much!"

Qui-Gon tried to argue his case. "Just hear me out, we have to explore the possibility!"

Master Yoda flew close in his floating chair. "No chance there is right you are. Disgrace to order you have become. Association with your wild ideas we cannot risk."

Master Windu agreed. "Master Yoda is right. You are hearby stripped of the rank of Master!" Yoda nodded in aggreement. No one on the council disagreed.

Qui-Gon stood and stared. He couldn't believe it. "This is an outrage. This has never been done in the history of the Jedi! It's an insult!"

They all stared at him. "Be grateful we are only bumping you back to ordinary Jedi knight and not padawan!" Kit fisto growled.

"Padawan? You have damaged my honor. I am leaving the order all together."

"Be as were the lost twenty, you will to us." Yoda waved him off.

Qui-Gon looked back one last time. "It is not I who am lost. I hope you will all meditate on this and see the truth before it is too late!"

No statement was ever issued as to any of this, the council agreed the accusation against the Chancellor was so serious it must remain a secret. It was only told that Qui-Gon Jinn had disappeared. He was banished from Coruscant and any planet of the Galactic Republic, including Naboo. He didn't even get to explain to Obi-Wan and Anakin. He took up residence in a cave on Tatooine, and lived as a hermit. Disappear, he must, until the time was right.

The battle of Genoisis took place, and after it, Obi-Wan and Anakin faced Count Dooku. Anakin lost his little finger in the battle, and Dooku presented the prize to his Master. Soon after, Padme and Anakin were secretly married.