A/N: Seeing as I'm now back on track with this, I decided to post this chapter a little early. These few chapters focus mainly on Sabé's involvement with the Rebel Alliance.

Chapter Forty-Four – In Pursuit of Knowledge

Several hours after their return from Cantham House, Padmé and Sabé were ploughing their way through red tape, occasionally speculating about the meeting that morning. Sabé was wholeheartedly on Senator Organa's side, but Padmé was hesitant.

She knew in her heart of hearts that he was right, but knowing of Anakin's firm friendship with the Chancellor tainted her opinion. She could not bear to align herself with a committee that opposed her husband's judgment, but neither could she abandon her commitment to democracy. She would simply have to bring the subject up with Anakin and see what he would say.

The opportunity for doing so presented itself late that afternoon. Sabé was the first to spot the young Jedi's speeder outside and hastily stood up. "I'm going to go out for a breather," she announced to the steadily working Padmé. "We need more milk anyway."

Padmé glanced up, suspicion etched on her face. "Ok."

Sabé retrieved her cloak and left the apartment, meeting Anakin on the way out. "She's downstairs," she said simply.

Anakin smiled and disappeared through the doorway. Sabé rode the turbolift all the way down to lower levels and stepped out into the small hanger where some of 500 Republica's residents kept their private speeders. Unlike some of the more ostentatious senators, Padmé only owned one. It was a classic model, slightly outdated, but Padmé valued it above a newer brand, as Anakin had tinkered with it and improved the engine. Sabé sat in the pilot's seat and pondered where to go. Obi-Wan was an obvious choice, of course, but she was never sure when he was busy with Jedi business. She punched in the code for his comlink and waited.

"Kenobi."

"Hello, Kenobi. Are you busy?"

His voice held a smile in it. "Sabé. Sadly, yes. I have to go and see Master Yoda off."

"Where's he going?"

"To Kashyyyk. The Wookiees are asking for help."

Sabé shook her head. "The war won't be won until Grievous is caught, will it?"

"I fear not. We're working on it. Pity the poor Master that will be dispatched to deal with him."

"Yes. Lets just hope that they'll succeed. But I'd better not keep you."

"No. I'll see you later."

"Count on it," she said.

He laughed. "I always do."

Sabé sat for several more minutes in the speeder, wondering what to do. The hanger felt very desolate now that the sound of Obi-Wan's voice had faded away. She thought over the topics that she and Padmé had deliberated about that day and made up her mind. She would have to break away from her cousin for the time being. Starting up the speeder, she flew out of the hanger and headed for Cantham House. Senator Organa seemed surprised to see her standing at his door, but let her in with a courteous smile.

"I know Padmé didn't want to know any more about your proposal, Bail," she began, "but I do."

"I see." He gestured to the chairs. "Please, sit down."

She did so, silently cursing the cone-dress for forcing her to sit straight-backed. A shapely serving droid brought them both drinks and Sabé took a sip before placing it on an absorbmat on the table. "What are you planning to bring up in the meeting tomorrow?" she asked.

"Mon Mothma and I have drawn up a petition, demanding an immediate return to democracy as soon as Grievous has been caught. We're calling it the petition of the Two-Thousand."

Sabé's eyes widened. "Is that how many signatures you have?"

"It will be, more or less, if the people who were at the meeting today sign it." He studied her expression. "Why? Are you going to sign?"

She nodded. "But you must understand that I act on my own belief, not that of Padmé. She will decide if she wants to sign as well."

"Of course. I know how much she values your input, she's not the only one. Tell me, where do you think the Jedi will come into all this?"

Sabé felt a sharp jolt of panic shoot through her. "Why are you asking me?"

"Because you often speak to Master Yoda. I wondered if you could suggest what he might think."

"Oh, I see. I imagine his first loyalty would be to the Republic and its people."

"But does that include the Chancellor?" Bail enquired.

Sabé bit her lower lip. "I don't know. Generally I would say he would do what was right for the good of the majority."

"I agree." There was a pause, then Bail went on to say, "Well, the matter of the Jedi is one that should be brought up tomorrow."

"Yes. They certainly can't be ignored. Padmé will no doubt say something about it. She believes, as do I, that they are not satisfied by Chancellor Palpatine's recent actions." She sighed. "What does Breha think about it?"

Bail smiled, thinking of his pacifist wife. "She just wants a peaceful life. She purposely won't get involved in politics because she knows it will just make her cross."

Sabé chuckled. "Perhaps she has the right idea."

Anakin had left by the time she returned home, and Padmé was quiet and subdued. Having occupied the handmaidens and 3P0 with busywork, the Senator reported that Anakin had not taken to the suggestion of an objection to Palpatine well.

"He's become secluded," Padmé said, dispirited, "since he had that nightmare."

Sabé glanced up with a frown. "What nightmare?"

"Last night he said he'd had a nightmare about me dying in childbirth. Like the dreams he had about his mother before she died."

"Are you worried about it?"

"Not directly. I'm worried about Ani being worried about it, if that makes sense."

Sabé nodded. "It makes sense."

Padmé glanced down at her hands, clasped tightly in her lap. "He's been given a place on the Jedi Council, but they didn't make him a Master."

"Why not?"

"Because it was on Chancellor Palpatine's order that he be appointed. The Chancellor wants a contact on the Council."

Sabé ran through the repercussions of that in her head. "Why would he do that? What's he up to?"

"I don't know," the Senator said with a sigh. "More and more I'm distrusting Palpatine."

"Join the club," Sabé muttered.

"But Anakin thinks so much of him."

"In the end, Padmé, you have to do what you feel is right."

Padmé wistfully placed a hand on her stomach. "I'll do what's right for my baby."

"Speaking of which, have you seen a med-droid yet?"

"No, and I'm not going to. It's too risky."

Sabé opened her mouth to disagree but promptly closed it again upon seeing her friend's determined expression. Instead she changed the subject. "Will you have a chance to speak to Anakin later?"

"No. He has an appointment with the Chancellor this evening. He won't be back until late, so he's just going to stay at the Temple."

"That's worth knowing."

"Why? Are you staying there tonight?"

"If I can. I didn't get to see Obi-Wan at all today. Perhaps it's good that Anakin isn't a Master, he seems to have more free time."

Padmé managed a sympathetic smile and jumped when the baby gave an unexpected kick. "It keeps doing that," she said blissfully. "I don't think I'll ever get used to it."

"Well, it's due in two months, then you won't have to be used to it anymore."

"That will be strange. I hope I can hide it until then. Ani and I were talking about it last night. I'm going to have the baby at home, at Varykino. No-one will know about it there. You can cover for me here and I'll leave Ellé and Moteé too. I'll tell Dormé and Saché and they can help me with the birth."

"That's a good plan," Sabé commended, "but what if you're premature?"

"Then you'll get to deliver it instead."

"You're all heart."

Padmé smiled. "I hope you and Obi-Wan will be godparents."

"Obi-Wan doesn't know. Are you sure Anakin would want to tell him?"

"Well, we'll just have to see. Either way, you would know about it."

"In that case, I would be honoured to be a godparent." Sabé hugged her friend and stood up, gesturing to the setting sun outside. "I should go and find out where I'm staying tonight."

Padmé nodded and headed upstairs to talk to 3P0 about something. Sabé dug her comlink out from its usual place in her boot, the only place where she knew it would stay put. She still kept a small blaster in a holster at her thigh. It was a habit that she had never given up. If anything, the war had encouraged her. Obi-Wan certainly approved of her having some kind of safeguard other than her basic self-defence training.

He answered his comlink almost at once with the characteristic, "Kenobi."

"Hello."

"Good evening. I thought it would be you."

"Is that a good thing?"

He laughed. "Of course."

"How was your day?"

"Busy. But at least it's over now."

That was his way of telling her that it was alright for her to go to the Temple. They were always careful when communicating through any method other than face-to-face speaking. With the growing corruption in the Senate it was best to be cautious.

"Yes. That's always a relief. Well, I have to go somewhere now. Talk to you soon."

"Glad to hear it."

Sabé signed off and headed up to her bedroom to change and fetch an overnight bag. She looked in on Padmé, who was busy listening to 3P0 whilst helping Ellé hang up clothes. Not wishing to disturb the droid's torrent of what was no doubt fascinating information, she simply nodded to her cousin and left the apartment.

Obi-Wan met her on one of the landing platforms and they made their way to his quarters, Sabé's brown robe helping a great deal in making her appear unremarkable. Once the door was sealed and the blinds drawn, they were free to hold each other. Lying on the bed in each other's arms, they took it in turns to narrate the day's events. Sabé went first, telling nothing of what had occurred at Bail's meeting. She wanted to, but she had promised and she always kept her promises.

Obi-Wan told her about Anakin's appointment to the Council. She pretended not to know about it. He also told her that Anakin had been asked to spy on Palpatine. Sabé took the news with surprise, but she did not blame the Jedi for trying to keep an eye on the Chancellor.

"If it came down to you having to choose between Palpatine and the Jedi, what would you pick?" Sabé asked.

"The Jedi, of course," he replied at once. "They serve the Republic."

"But so does Palpatine."

"The Dark Side of the Force encircles him. He's corrupt."

"What if the Republic is corrupting with him?"

He tilted his head to meet her eyes. "Why are you asking me this?"

"I have a reason. A very good reason, but I can't share it with you just yet. You must trust me, my love."

He reached up to stroke her cheek. "I have no strength for politics. I leave it up to you."

She smiled. "I'm hoping that I'll be able to tell you everything soon."

"Then don't say anything more. Just answer me this, is it to do with the meetings with Senator Organa?"

"Yes."

"Fair enough. He's a good man."

"Yes, and his cause is good too."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Well then, for the record, I serve democracy. If Palpatine completely breaks away from that, I no longer support him."

"Good. Because that's my view exactly."

He smiled and kissed the tip of her nose. "You're wonderful, did you know that?"

She hid a smirk. "Yes, but you can tell me again."

He laughed softly. "I'll tell you for years if you continue giving me reason to."

"I'll certainly try. It's good incentive."

"I thought it might be."

Sabé smiled at that and turned on her side so that she could lie with her head next to her husband's.

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A/N: Next chapter takes us up to the morning of the big day, Anakin's last day of being a good person, lol.