Anakin shifted slightly as he and Obi-Wan arrived at the Senate Dome. "Is it a bad thing that I hope you're wrong? I mean, if you're right, we might be able to end the war sooner. But if you're right…"
"No, Anakin, it's not bad," Obi-Wan said. "I hope I'm wrong too. I don't want to…"
Anakin felt another one of those flashes of protective fury, quickly controlled.
He'd been feeling them off and on since they'd first realized what the fact that Palpatine felt like Anakin now did might mean. It was… nice. It was proof that Obi-Wan cared about Anakin and didn't want anything bad to happen him. Including whatever a Sith Lord would do if he had the trust of a young Jedi Knight.
Anakin had been trying not to think about that for the past few days. He'd trusted Palpatine. And if Palpatine was a Sith Lord trying to get his trust, then he couldn't believe anything the man had ever told him. And even if he wasn't, Anakin was starting to wonder just why the politician had befriended a young Jedi Padawan.
They left the troop transport and headed to the Arena area. Just before they got there, they were intercepted by a small group of Senators. "Senators," Obi-Wan said as they both bowed. He smiled after a moment. "It is good to see you again, Senator Organa" he added.
"Master Kenobi, Knight Skywalker," Bail Organa said. "I know you both know Senator Amidala, but this is Senator Mon Mothma of Chandrila. She was just elected and has only been on Coruscant for a few months."
"Lady Mothma," Anakin bowed over her hand. He smiled his most charming smile. "It's an honor to meet you."
Obi-Wan contented himself with a simple bow.
"We do know why you are here today," Padmé added. "Knight Skywalker, congratulations on your victory."
He nodded. "Thank you, Senator Amidala. I was lucky." He hated having to pretend to be formal around her, but they were in public.
"Anakin, don't play down your accomplishment," Obi-Wan said. "He was amazing, Milady, and I think any Knight in the Temple would have been hard pressed to match his skills."
And Anakin felt a slight flush in his cheeks. It always embarrassed him when Obi-Wan praised him like that. And hadn't Obi-Wan embarrassed him enough last night?
Bail glanced at him and smiled slightly. Perhaps recognizing that Anakin really didn't want to talk about it like that, he changed the subject. "We were just heading toward the Arena, would you care to join us in the Alderrannian Pod?"
Obi-Wan shook his head. "Thank you, Senator, but we're speaking from the Council's Pod today."
Bail nodded. "Of course," he said. "We will see you in session, then."
Anakin had to force himself not to watch them walk away. "Let's head in, Anakin," Obi-Wan said. He was clearly hiding a worried frown. "I…"
"We're going to figure this out, Master," Anakin said. "I…"
Obi-Wan nodded. "Let's hope I'm wrong," he said.
Anakin nodded as they reached the entrance to the Council Pod. Master Yoda was already waiting for them. "Ready, you are?" he asked.
"As ready as we can be, Master," Obi-Wan said.
The three of them entered the Pod, and took their seats. Anakin and Obi-Wan flanked Yoda and glanced at each other. Anakin nodded and Obi-Wan looked down at the smaller master. "Master Yoda," he started. "Do you think this feeling is reliable enough?"
"Know enough, I do not," Yoda interrupted. "Believe you, I do. Believe you, most Jedi will. But enough for the Senate, if what you believe is true, it will not be. Proof we must find, beyond your own feelings."
"I was afraid of that," Obi-Wan sighed.
"So was I," Anakin admitted. "The Senate doesn't view Jedi in a very favorable light."
"Like you and Obi-Wan, they do," Yoda pointed out.
"But not the Jedi as a whole," Obi-Wan mused. "Perhaps it's the Sith's influence."
"If he has influence," Anakin said. They couldn't begin to believe that Obi-Wan was right, not yet.
"I suspect, even if I'm wrong, the Sith Lord has a lot of influence in the Senate."
Anakin nodded. "And if you're wrong, I hope we can find them."
"Me too," Obi-Wan said. "Well, the feeling is quite distinctive," he said. "I doubt anyone who else would have it."
"And we already know that we can't hide it from each other," Anakin said, referring to some experiments they'd done the night before.
Obi-Wan nodded. "And it wasn't anyone we met on the way in," he said. "Thankfully."
Anakin smiled faintly. "I'm glad," he said. He and Obi-Wan exchanged brief smiles.
Yoda ignored their talk, instead focusing on the slowly filling Senate Pods. "Check those already here, you must," he said.
Anakin sighed and closed his eyes for a second, sweeping out with the Force to feel the presence of the people around him. The only one with that twist in the Force was Obi-Wan. He felt Obi-Wan doing the same. "Nothing," he reported as he opened his eyes.
"He's right," Obi-Wan said. "If the Sith Lord is in the Senate, he's not here yet."
Anakin sighed and shook his head. The suspense was what really worried him. He just wanted to know, one way or the other.
"Anakin," Obi-Wan said. "If it's really him, you need to be able to pretend you don't know," he said.
"I know," Anakin said. "I'll do my best."
"That's all I ask of you, Anakin," Obi-Wan said.
Anakin swept through the Force presences once again. He was too nervous. He wasn't even worried about the report he would have to give on Dooku's death. No. He just wanted to know if Obi-Wan was right or not. And Anakin didn't really see how Obi-Wan could be wrong. He wanted his old Master to be wrong, but he didn't think he was. It made too much sense.
Anakin suddenly realized he already half believed the Chancellor was the Sith Lord, without even any proof. All it had taken was Obi-Wan's suspicions and Anakin started questioning everything.
The low chime that indicated the session was about to begin rung, and Anakin and Obi-Wan glanced at each other and swept the Arena once more. Still nothing.
The central column rose and the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, and two guards entered the Arena.
Anakin focused on the Chancellor and felt Obi-Wan do the same beside him. Almost immediately, Anakin knew.
Anakin stared at the Chancellor, trying desperately to hide the horror he felt. It was true. Obi-Wan was right. Chancellor Palpatine was a Sith Lord.
Considering that last line hasn't exactly been a surprise to Star Wars fans for... oh, 33 years or so, I don't know if I can call this a cliffhanger.