Meeting Palpatine
Two days after Anakin had left, Jordana found
herself incredibly bored. Her master had ordered her take time off
from training because the last couple of times, Jordana had ended up
exhausted and beaten. She sat up in the Archives, reading , when she
felt Anakin's presence back in the Temple. She followed it to the
Council Chambers where she waited outside. Finally, Obi-Wan and
Anakin emerged from the doors. Obi-Wan looked somewhat surprised to
see Jordana there, but Anakin just smiled and ran towards his
friend.
"I thought you were supposed to be protecting Padme?"
she asked.
"Oh I am. Last night there was another assassination
attempt on her life. We stopped her in time, and chased her through
the city. As she was about to tell us who hired her, another bounty
hunter killed her. My master is going to track down the bounty hunter
while I'm taking Padme back to Naboo were she'll be safer." he
said somberly.
"Oh I see." She replied, looking down at the
ground. She tried to hide her laughter but was
unsuccessful.
"What?"
"Ani and Padme sitting in a
tree…"
"Jordie, don't!"
"K-I S-S-I-N-G!" she
said, louder. He tried to cover her mouth as they started
laughing.
"Why must you tease me with that?" She removed his
hand from her mouth.
"Because I'm your friend and I can."
She said. She hadn't realized how seductive her voice sounded when
she said that, and she decided to change the subject. "So how are
you planning on getting her to leave the Capitol?"
"I'm
going to ask Chancellor Palpatine to talk with her." He replied. He
was silent for a while before he got an idea. "Why don't you come
with me? I'm sure he'd love to meet you." Jordana thought about
it for a moment. She shrugged her shoulders.
"Sure, why not?
It's not like I've got anything important to do today." She
replied.
The Chancellor's office was on the top floor of
the Senate building. Anakin and Jordana were told that the Chancellor
was not available at the moment, but that they should wait in his
office. The moment Jordana entered his office she felt a chill run up
her spine. The walls and floor were a red-orange color. A large
window overlooking the city was behind his desk. Bronze and silver
statues of unfamiliar gods stood before the stairs in front of his
desk. They sat down in chairs in front of his desk. Jordana felt her
heart rate quicken. Her hands began to shake slightly. She was hoping
Anakin didn't notice, but he did.
"You have nothing to be
nervous about Jordie, Chancellor Palpatine is a good man." He said,
smiling at her.
"I know." His smile helped stop her hands from
shaking, but she could still feel her heart pounding in her chest.
She hoped the Chancellor would hurry up so she could leave this
place. As if her wish had been granted, the bronze doors off to the
side of his desk opened and Supreme Chancellor Palpatine entered. He
was an elderly man with thin gray hair and gray eyes. He wore an
eggplant purple robe with silver trimming. They both stood up as a
gesture of respect.
"Hello Anakin. Nice to see you again." He
greeted.
Again? What the hell is he talking about? Jordana
thought.
"It's a pleasure seeing you again your Excellency."
He turned to Jordana, "And this is my friend, Jordana Darai."
"So
you're the famous Jordana Darai? Well, I must say after so many
wonderful things I've heard about you, it's a pleasure to finally
meet you." He said in a warm, grandfatherly voice, extending his
hand.
"The pleasure is all mine your Excellency." She replied
calmly, shaking his hand.
"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of
this visit?" he asked.
"After the recent attack on Senator
Amidala's life, the Council feels she will be safer on her home
planet while Master Kenobi investigates this attack. The Council
recognizes that it will be very difficult to get her to leave the
Capitol, being the leader of the opposition, and they have asked me
to request that you speak with her on this matter." He explained.
He walked over to the window, and Anakin motioned to Jordana that
they do the same.
"I will talk with her. I know her well enough
to know she will not refuse an executive order, I can assure you of
that."
"Thank you your Excellency."
"So, they've
finally given you an assignment. Your patience has paid off."
"Your
guidance more than my patience." He replied. Jordana looked at him
in surprise, then quickly looked away so they wouldn't notice. They
began to walk away from the window, and she followed behind
them.
"You don't need guidance Anakin. In time, you will learn
to trust your feelings, then you will be invincible." He paused. "I
have said this many times, you are the most gifted Jedi I have ever
known. I sense you becoming the most powerful of all Jedi, even more
powerful than Master Yoda." Jordana, who had been looking at the
floor the entire time, looked up. She was scared now. What Palpatine
had just said scared the hell out of her. She felt the hair on her
arms stand up; her heart began to pound harder. She tried to steady
her breathing so she didn't hyperventilate. As if sensing this fear
in her, Palpatine turned around.
"So Jordana, are you going with
them?"
"I regret to say that I am not."
"Then this is
just a social visit?" he asked, smiling.
"Yes. I wasn't
doing anything important today and when Anakin asked me to come
along, and I agreed." She said. And now I wish I hadn't She
thought to herself.
"Well, I am most pleased that you did. From
what Anakin has told me, you are quite gifted yourself. I sense that
you too will become a powerful Jedi. I am truly honored to be in the
presence of, what I believe, is the future of the Jedi Order." He
said, oozing political charm that almost made Jordana
relax…almost.
"Thank you your Excellency." She said as they
walked towards the door.
"Well Anakin, I hope this matter is
resolved quickly."
"I do too, your Excellency."
"Jordana,
I do hope to see you again soon. Feel free to come and see me if you
have any questions about anything." He offered, smiling at her.
"I
will." She lied, knowing damn well she wouldn't step foot in that
office again by her own free will. They bowed and left the room. As
they walked to their speeders, Jordana's mind was racing with
questions; how long had Anakin been seeing the Chancellor? What did
they talk about? Why did he go to Palpatine for advice and not the
Council, or his master, or even her?…She didn't look at or say
anything to Anakin for a while and he began to think she was mad at
him.
"Jordie what is it?" he asked, stopping her and lightly
grabbing her arm.
"How long have you been meeting with him?"
"A
couple years now."
"And what exactly do you talk with him
about?"
"Anything that is bothering me, really." She sighed.
She trusted Palpatine about as much as she trusted a Hutt, but said
nothing.
"What's wrong?" he asked. She was going to tell him
her suspicions, but she decided not to, knowing he often thought
people were jealous of his powers and Palpatine kept fueling his ego.
"Nothing." She sighed and began walking away. He ran ahead of
her.
"Don't turn your back on me Jordie." He said, putting
his hands on her shoulders to block her.
"Anakin, in all the
years I've known you, have I ever turned my back on you?"
"No.
But you are pissed at me, I can tell."
"I only want to know
why you talk to him about stuff you won't talk to me or Master
Kenobi about?"
"Why is it such a problem that I do?"
"Because
I don't trust politicians!" she blurted out, almost without
realizing she said it.
Anakin sighed, "I'm sorry you feel that
way. You've probably never met a good politician."
Well
that's an oximoron. she thought.
"I have an idea. Why don't
you come with me to speak with Padme. That way, you can meet a truely
noble politician."
"Sure, why not?" Jordana was curious as
to what she was like, why the hell was Anakin so in love with her.She
stood by her speeder, looking up at Chancellor Palpatine's window.
She could have sworn she saw him up there, watching them.
Chancellor
Palpatine stood by his window, watching them leave. He felt Jordana's
uneasiness around him. She didn't trust him, he knew this, and if
he wanted to make Anakin his apprentice, he would have to figure out
how to handle Jordana.
"Very interesting…" he whispered.
