Chapter 4 On Anakin's Trail

Anakin walked with determination toward Palpatine's private living quarters at Five Hundred Republica. The Chancellor may not himself still be there, but perhaps Anakin would be able to sense where his friend had gone from there. It was the only way now; Obi-Wan had taken Padme from him, Palpatine would help him get her back. And when he had Padme back, he would kill Obi-Wan.

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"He's growing up, your Zak." Ferri repeated Anakin's words as they stood in the empty dining hall.

Obi-Wan and Zak stood silently waiting as Ferri turned and then followed as he headed out of the dining hall, down the corridor toward the youngling classrooms where he sat down and proceeded to talk for a moment, as Anakin did, to the empty room before going to the meditation rooms; apparently meeting Master Yoda along the way.

"Use your help with the younglings I could." Ferri murmured the last part of Anakin's conversation with him just before they reached the room where Ferri had been waiting, "I'll think about it."

For a moment, Ferri seemed to ponder actually entering the meditation room and then shook his head and went down the hallway toward the speeder bay, "Good morning, Master Windu." Ferri said, although Mace was not in the corridor, "Nearly noon, Master Skywalker." Apparently, Anakin had seen Mace in passing, "Yes, I suppose it is; I'm going to meet Padme for lunch, but I will return later to take my children home." And then, "Very well, I will see you later then."

Obi-Wan and Zak followed at a short distance and when they reached the speeder bay, Ferri headed without hesitation to an empty berth. "Is it all ready to go?" Ferri asked, "Yes, Master Skywalker; be sure not to scratch her up this time." "I'm crushed; I'm always very careful."

Obi-Wan could not help but smile at that apparent exchange between his good friend and a fellow Jedi and then he sighed wondering what could have happened to him.

"We have to go to the Senate Complex now." Ferri announced, "That's where he went next."

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"Mommy, where's Daddy?" Leia asked as they walked toward the dining hall.

Padme hesitated, not knowing what to tell her, "Mommy?" Leia persisted.

Obi-Wan had advised her to tell the children, if they asked, that Anakin was on a mission; he said it would be better for them not to know that their father was missing and in grave danger. Padme had hoped that it would not be necessary to say anything to them about it, but now that it was necessary, she was beginning to have doubts about Obi-Wan's advice.

"Whatcha hidin', Mommy? Whatsa matter with Daddy?" Luke asked suspiciously.

In the end, though, she could not bring herself to frighten them with the truth…or what little she knew of the truth, "Daddy is on a very important mission; and he wants us to stay here until he finishes it so that we will be safe." She lied.

"Is it dange'rus?" Luke asked.

Again, Padme hesitated before answering, "I don't know; but I think it must be." She finally told them.

"Will he be alright?" Luke wondered.

"Yes, I'm sure he will be alright." Padme answered, trying to sound confident.

"Will he be back soon, Mommy?" Leia asked.

"I hope so, honey." Padme answered, truthfully.

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Anakin rounded the corner and his destination loomed in front of him; with a feeling of relief, he entered the lobby of the building, went to the lift that would take him to Palpatine's rooms at the top of the building and started to enter the code that would allow him access to the private lift, "May I help you?" A voice behind him inquired.

"No, I'm just going to visit a friend." Anakin answered without turning around.

"I think you must have the wrong address, Son; there's no one living there any longer." The voice informed him.

Anakin whirled around to face a Mon Calamari, "You don't know what you're talking about; the Supreme Chancellor lives up there." He replied.

"Well, one did some time ago, that's true enough; but not for more than two years now." The alien answered.

"What are you talking about? I just saw him here a few days ago." Anakin insisted.

"You're mistaken; the current Chancellor has only been here once since he took office." The Mon Calamari corrected.

"NO, he lives here. I've visited him here on many occasions; I was a just here a few days ago." Anakin claimed.

"I told you; the Chancellor does not live here; no one has lived here since Chancellor Palpatine was killed." The Mon Calamari told him.

"No; no, no, no; that can't be…why are you all lying? It's the Jedi, isn't it; they told you to lie to me. They want to take over and they kidnapped him, haven't they. And now they're trying to make me think I'm crazy by telling me lies. Did you know they've taken my wife? I have to find Chancellor Palpatine before they do something to her." Anakin said.

"Look, if it will make you feel any better, I'll let you in so you can have a look around; but I'm telling you, there's not much left up there." The alien replied.

"I'd like to have a look all the same; if it's alright." Anakin answered with a sinking feeling that there would be nothing to find; the Jedi, or the puppets they controlled, had already removed all trace of his mentor.

The Mon Calamari nodded, entered the code into the security panel and the lift door opened.

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Ferri sat at one of the tables in the Senatorial dining room for a few minutes, again repeating some of the conversation that had gone on between husband and wife while Zak and Obi-Wan observed from another table. Before Ferri was finished, they were joined by Bail Organa, who had been informed by the security guard at the main lobby desk that they were there.

"What is he doing?" Bail whispered, not wanting to disturb whatever Ferri was attempting to do.

"Ferri is post cognitive; he can retrace a person's movements. That's how he knew where they were holding Boba Fett on Myrkr." Obi-Wan explained in a low voice, "Right now, he is trying to track down Anakin Skywalker."

"I just discovered that Anakin was here earlier; apparently, the guard in the lobby did not recognize him and sent him away. I was very disturbed when I found that out." Bail informed them.

"Anakin came back here? Why?" Obi-Wan wondered.

"He said he was looking for Chancellor Palpatine." Bail answered.

"Blast! I should have known he'd come back here. How could I be so stupid?" Obi-Wan exclaimed, trying to keep his voice low.

"I also received a complaint from former Chancellor Valorum's servant. The former Chancellor lives in Padme's old Senate suite; and it appears that someone went looking for her there, insisting that he had just seen here there earlier in the day and claiming she lived there. I did not put two and two together until I found out Anakin was here earlier. From the description the servant provided, it appears that Anakin was there as well." Bail continued, "What has happened to him, Master Kenobi?"

"I'm not sure exactly; I know that he is injured and, for some reason, he seems to be living out his nightmares. I had a brief connection with him until he cut me off; he believes most of the Jedi are dead and that Palpatine is still alive." Obi-Wan answered.

"I'll see you soon, my love." Ferri said and then stood up and walked to the door, paused for a moment to look back, and then exited the room.

"That's our cue; if you will excuse us, Chancellor." Obi-Wan said as he stood up.

"Yes, of course; let me know if there is any news, and I will contact the Temple if any of my people spot him." Bail replied, "I am just sorry one of my guards made such a foolish mistake; he failed to review the alerts for the day, and let Anakin slip away. I have commanded that guard to stand down, and he will no longer have charge of the lobby; this kind of thing will not happen again, I promise."

"What's done is done; and cannot be changed. We must now focus on finding him." Obi-Wan told him, following Ferri out into the hallway.

"Master Skywalker, how are those beautiful babies of yours?" Ferri asked, "Settling in; I think they are going to like living on Coruscant."

Bail listened to Ferri bantering to himself for a few minutes before heading in the opposite direction, "Don't forget to call me." He reminded them before entering an open lift.

Ferri finished his 'conversation' and went out the door, started to cross the roadway and then collapsed; in a flash Obi-Wan had the boy in his arms and started to carry him to the safety of the walkway, "I know what happened to him." Ferri gasped.

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Anakin sat on the rich red carpet in the middle of the main sitting room; his worst fears had been realized, the room was completely empty, and he could find no trace of his friend and mentor, Chancellor Palpatine. In a last ditch effort to find him, Anakin reached out through the Force looking for a sign from his new master; only a faint hint, an old trace, remained. He shook his head from his seat on the carpet; how could that be? It made no sense; even if the Jedi had only removed the Chancellor's furniture, how could they remove his psychic trail, or alter it to appear older than it was? What new trick was this that the Jedi had held back from him? Bitterness crept into his heart, they had kept so many secrets from him; he was glad they were dead….all except Obi-Wan, and he would fix that soon enough. But now, now, he must focus on finding Palpatine; Palpatine had the information he needed, only through Palpatine could he have any hope of saving Padme's life.

"Son, how much longer are you going to be? I really should lock this place back up." The Mon Calamari said from the doorway.

"Just a few minutes; I need to think." Anakin answered.

"Alright, I tell you what; you do whatever it is you want to do here, I hope I can trust you not to vandalize anything, and stop by my office when you're finished so I can lock it back up." The Mon Calamari proposed.

"Fine, fine; just leave me alone so I can concentrate." Anakin replied.

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"Mommy, are you sure Daddy's not sick?" Leia asked.

"No, honey; why? What's the matter?" Padme asked.

"Cuz he feels funny." Leia answered.

"You can feel him right now?" Padme asked, suddenly concerned.

"Kinda; but differnt, ya know?" Leia replied.

"Different? How, Leia?" Padme wondered.

"Dunno; can't splain it; just differnt." Leia told her.

"Well, I'm sure he's fine. Are you finished eating? It's about time the two of you had your nap." Padme said.

"Alright, Mommy." They said in unison.

When the twins were settled back in the nursery, and Hadrian had been changed and fed, Padme went to Yoda.

"Different, they say? Hmmm…feeling him again they are." Yoda surmised.

"But why can they feel him now? I thought he was shielding himself." Padme asked.

"Difficult it is to say; concentrating on something else, he may be; for that, much energy is needed." Yoda guessed.

"But what, Master Yoda?" Padme asked.

"Know that, I do not; but a good thing it probably is not." Yoda told her which brought her to tears, "Here now, despair you must not; hope for him yet there still is; his brother he has."

"I know." Padme answered, but Yoda could tell the thought gave her little comfort.

"Be strong you must, Lady Padme; for yourself, for your children and for the Chosen One. Love, understanding and comfort he will need when over this finally is." Yoda instructed.

"I'm trying." Padme replied.

"Do this, you can; powerful your love for him is and draw your strength from that you can." Yoda said.

Padme thought about that for a moment, "Will that be enough?" She asked.

"More than enough, hmm." Yoda assured her, "If you concentrate on this love, reach him it might; and bring him back to us it will."

"Is that what Obi-Wan is doing?" Padme asked.

"Yes; powerful his love is as well…and share Force love they do, even though forgotten this, Anakin Skywalker has." Yoda explained.

"Excuse me, Master Yoda." Mace said from the doorway.

"Master Windu? News you have for us?" Yoda asked.

"I would speak with you in private." Mace replied.

"In private you say?" Yoda asked and as he looked intently at Mace before nodding, "Think on what we discussed, Lady Padme; bring you comfort it will."

"Yes, Master Yoda; thank you." Padme answered and stood up to leave.

"Welcome to stay here, you are, until found Anakin is." Yoda assured her.

"Thank you, Master Yoda." Padme said before exiting.

"Now, what so important was that speak with me alone you must?" Yoda asked as Mace settled himself on one of Yoda's cushions.

"It appears that Obi-Wan has defied the Council and has taken Ferri to help him find Anakin." Mace informed him.

"Hmm…interesting this is." Yoda replied

"Interesting? He's gone against the Council, Master Yoda." Mace reminded him, "It would have been bad enough for any Jedi to do that; but Obi-Wan is himself a Council member."

"And so punished you think he should be, hmm?" Yoda asked.

"He has violated the Code by doing this; the Council made the decision not enlist Ferri's help because we could not trust him. Now, we cannot trust one of our own Council members to abide by the ruling of the Council." Mace answered.

Yoda shook his head, "So blinded by your own mistrust you have been, Master Windu, that deaf to the voice of the Force you are." He said.

"What?"

Yoda sighed, "Listen to the voice, Obi-Wan did; when he defied the Council." Yoda told him.

"Master Yoda, with all due respect; Obi-Wan is so attached to Anakin that I…" Mace started.

"Attached, Obi-Wan is? Think that do you?" Yoda asked.

"Yes, Master; I think it's apparent. He does not want to lose Anakin and so he will do anything, including defying the Council, to save him." Mace answered.

"Wish to save the Chosen One, you do not then, hmm?" Yoda asked.

"I didn't say that." Mace replied.

"Then do everything to find him we should, hmm?" Yoda asked.

"Well, yes, but…." Mace began.

"And doing that Master Kenobi is; deny that can you?" Yoda asked.

Mace sighed and shook his head, "No, but we must not forget that he defied the Council in doing it." He countered.

"Then right the Council was in refusing Obi-Wan's proposal?" Yoda asked, "So sure are you that Ferri cannot be trusted?"

Mace sighed again, "Well, maybe he could be; but Obi-Wan should have readdressed the Council instead of openly disregarding our decision." He answered.

"No time, was there for another meeting; young Skywalker's life, in peril it is." Yoda replied.

"Then you think he did the right thing by deliberately going against us?" Mace asked.

"Necessary to do that it should not have been." Yoda answered, "Many sessions Master Skywalker and I have had with young Cortis; know his mind better than any of you I do and yet, listen to my counsel on this you did not."

"Then you're saying the Council made a mistake?" Mace asked.

"Yes." Yoda confirmed.

"How is that possible?" Mace wondered.

"Master Windu, infallible the Council is not; always a possibility to make a mistake there is. A Council meeting we should call now to discuss this mistake, hmm?" Yoda suggested.

"Master Kenobi has left the Temple and will not answer his com." Mace replied.

"No, certain I am that he would not because force him to abandon his search you would; face the Council he will willingly do after his brother he finds." Yoda answered.

"Then we must wait until he returns?" Mace asked.

"Our failing this was; discuss that without him we can." Yoda told him.