Second Verse I
"You're going to Coruscant?" Sola asked incredulously. "Are you out of your mind? Padmé, how do you expect to be safe there when you'll be
out in the open? I don't want you to leave; I'm not ready to see you go." Padmé hugged her sister gently. "Sola, I'll be all right. I know you don't
understand right now, but I'm positive this is the right move to take next. I can't hide here forever, there's a life waiting for me in the Senate, in
Coruscant. There are people who are counting on me; decisions that need to be made." Sola turned to face Obi-Wan. "And I'm sure you back her
one hundred percent on this." There was a look in her eye that implied he better have a good answer. "Padmé is right, we can't keep her here
under lock and key. She needs to return to her life back in the Senate, and she won't be going alone. I plan on taking Captain Typho with us to
look after your sister. I assure you, she'll be taken care of." Padmé smiled at Sola, trying to convey the faith she had that she was making the right
decision. "I'm going to pack. Will you help me?" Her sister nodded and the two left Obi-Wan in the kitchen with his thoughts. He felt confident
but didn't want to be so sure until he cleared this with Typho. "Descending the back stairs out into the garden, he approached the captain.
"Excuse me Captain, but I wondered if I might have a word." As he had expected, Typho was more than willing to do what Obi-Wan suggested.
Three months had passed and Padmé was beginning to arrange for her wardrobe to conceal her pregnancy as long as possible. The one fear in
her heart was that Anakin would discover her secret and let his obsession with her rise again, to even newer heights. But being back in the Senate
eased her troubled mind and spirit. She relished in the feeling of being able to make the galaxy a better place for her unborn child. A place free
from the conflict and conspiracies that clouded the Republic more and more. Most troubling of all were the whispers and rumours of a Sith lord
infiltrating the Senate, perhaps even posing as a Senator himself. She knew that the Jedi were investigating these reports and that Palpatine was
now involved in the matter. Padmé found herself uncomfortable around the Chancellor. He would appear near her in the strangest places, almost
as if he knew where she was at any moment. What unnerved her most were these suggestions that she procure a bodyguard, however never
letting on why he felt she should do any such thing or any reasons she was in need of more than Captain Typho. Next time he approached her,
she would talk to Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan She thought sadly, I can't imagine living such a solitary life. After returning to Coruscant, she'd hoped that
they could continue on as they had done on Naboo, but the Separatists had risen to a greater threat over the last months. And many of the
reports she received informed her that he was on frequent missions sending him to great distances away from her. As was his duty, she knew that,
and it wasn't just him. She had her own duties to the Senate, current of which was working with Bail Organa attempting to cut off the funds to the
war that was increasing daily, engulfing worlds planet by planet. Both she and Organa were convinced that if the Trade Federation was thwarted,
the Separatists would be set back considerably. But on each lead they pursued in this matter, she and the Alderaanian senator were also somehow
halted mysteriously from further pursuing their investigations. Delegates vanished, promised documentation were never recovered, and worst of
all, a Sith apprentice was now a believed rumour in the halls of the Senate. This, if it were true, must be the core of the rift the galaxy suffered.
This Sith lord and now a apprentice, could this be the end of the Republic? Was there to be a new and greater darkness to destroy Democracy?
By now, Obi-Wan Kenobi felt a gut wrenching sense of dread every time he was summoned to the Council chambers. With an ache, he bitterly
remembered his promise to Padmé to watch and protect her. Yet these endless missions to distant systems, chasing leads of a Sith lord, this dark
Insidious man hovering around every Separatist and Republic conflict, making the demand on him to be always so far away from her a torment.
Now there was an apprentice. Blast! The last thing we need at this time. Obi-Wan stopped mid stride to the Council. Of course! Why hadn't he
given this consideration before? After he had returned to Coruscant with Padmé and Captain Typho, after getting her settled into her apartments,
second on his lists of wrongs to right had been to hunt down his own apprentice, but to his extreme frustration, Anakin was nowhere to be found.
Mace Windu had been the first to welcome him back to the Temple and Obi-Wan made no hesitation to express his haste to find Skywalker. But
even after meeting with Yoda and explaining Anakin's actions on Naboo, the Council had been unable to discover his location. But now it was all
becoming clear. Obi-Wan might not know the identity of the Sith lord, but something tugged in his mind when he searched for his young wayward
apprentice, something Dark. Could it be that this new Sith apprentice was in fact his very former one? Obi-Wan immediately thought of Padmé,
could this make her a target even more? This new thought strengthened his pace as he now hurried to meet with the Council. This could be the
key to unraveling the whole Sith mystery and possibly bring an end to the engulfing conflict in the Republic. He had only to convince the Jedi to
this new idea that the Sith apprentice and Anakin Skywalker were one in the same. The Jedi Council was all seated in the panoramic room that
overlooked the major center of the city planet. Obi-Wan reached out to the Force to calm himself and to relieve his mind of thoughts of Padmé.
Evidently, it was too late as Yoda's first words to him were, "On your mind, Master Kenobi, much there is. Troubled you are, as to your missing
apprentice, and fear you have, in concerns for-" Yoda paused and Obi-Wan steeled his expression, waiting for Yoda to sense were his thoughts
rested. "the Senate." The small Jedi master finished with an odd expression, and… a twinkle in his eye? Did Master Yoda just conceal Obi-Wan's
thoughts from the Council? Why would Yoda do such a thing? "Yes Master, I have had no luck in finding Anakin and now with this news I keep
hearing of an Sith apprentice, I believe that is the reason. I believe Anakin has joined the Dark Side with this Darth Sidious." There was an
exclamation of distress around the circle but Yoda's gaze on Obi-Wan's face never waivered. What he said next both worried and elated him.
"Verify this, can you Master Kenobi?" Obi-Wan paused but before he could respond, Yoda added, "On this matter, agree with you, I do. Go
explore, find what you seek, protect those you value. Clues there are, here on Coruscant. Dark rumours, many there are, the Sith included.
Remain you here, close and watchful." Mace Windu brought the meeting to a close. "A few Senators are working to undermine the Separatist
war by neutralizing the Trade Federation, but they've been unable to act on many leads because of suspected Sith forces. Work with Senators
Amidala and Organa to see what both the Republic and the Jedi are up against." Now, not only would Obi-Wan be staying on Coruscant, he'd
interact with Padmé almost every day. He would be allowed to honor his Jedi orders, and his promise to Sola to watch over her sister. He bowed
to the two Jedi masters and barely contained himself from running as fast as he could to the Senate building to tell Padmé the good news.
In her chambers, Padmé received a message from Palpatine expressing his continuing concern for her safety and his cloying pressing that she
needed a bodyguard was more than annoying, it was forewarning. As if the Chancellor knew something that might jeopardize her, yet wanted her
gullible as to what that might be. Padmé clicked off the message and began to call Typho when she heard a thud outside. Her door opened.
Anakin stood there. Anakin was there, in her room, she couldn't see Typho but she bet that was who made the thud. Padmé stood up instantly.
"I knew you'd be glad to see me." Anakin smiled at her awkwardly, as if he hadn't done it in a while. "I've missed you so much Padmé." Heart
racing, she turned away briefly to grab her heavy dressing robe to cover herself. Buttoning the last button, she stiffened as she heard his voice
purr in her ear. "Don't be so shy love. I've been away from you so long; all I want to do is hold you." He shifted her around to face him. Anakin
overshadowed the dim light above her. It was late and she'd forgotten how tall he was. His close-cropped hair had grown out at bit, giving him a
ruffled look. She couldn't make out his expression with the light behind him which made him seem even more sinister as he held her close to him.
The sound of her heart beating so out of rhythm had to have been noticed by him. But to her surprise and relief, he didn't say anything about it,
simply stroked her hair and rocked her gently. Padmé fought back tears as she racked her brain as to how to respond. She knew that she had to
fool him somehow. She had to keep him from being a threat to her and her… their child. This last fact stung her. He could never know about their
unborn child. Never. She had witnessed what Anakin could be like and there was no way he was fit to be a father. Padmé had one option. To
let him believe she reciprocated his feelings for her. Gulping back a sob, she brought her arms up to embrace him. "I, I missed you too." She
lied. Anakin slowed his rocking only briefly, then resumed. "We have to go." He whispered against her hair. "Pack your things, but do it quickly."
Obi-Wan was cursing himself for not sending a message to Padmé from the Temple about his assignment and that he was coming to her. Waves of
fear hit his heart like a Force push, and to his dismay, he realized it was Padmé. No. No, not when I'm so close! When he felt another presence
the dismay turned to horror. Anakin was there with her! Obi-Wan desperately tried to focus on getting to her as fast as possible instead of letting
his head be clouded by what might be happening to her. The last sprint down the hall to her apartments would have reduced any other man to
exhaustion, but Obi-Wan was fueled by the sense of urgency he felt with the Force. Not even paused to buzz himself in, he Force opened the door.
Laying sprawled across the floor was the captain. The lights were on; nothing was broken or indicated a fight. Nevertheless, this did not clear the
overall sense of panic still in the air. Padmé's inner chamber door stood ajar, a pale light spread across the carpet. He rushed into the room with
vehemence, illuminating it at once. Again, no sign of a struggle, but her closet was open, the missing suitcase and several items of clothing left an
empty space in it. Obi-Wan backed into the bed and sat down roughly. Anakin had taken her. The thought of Padmé with him was too heavy a
thing to bear. He buried his face in his hands, trying to fight off the despair and rage that threatened to overcome his spirit. Where would he take
her? Who would hide him? He heard grunting from outside. Typho was coming back to consciousness. Obi-Wan left Padmé's chambers to see if
Anakin had injured him beyond a blow to the head, but appearances seemed to be just that. Typho blinked a few times, then his gaze locked on
to Obi-Wan. "She's gone isn't she?" Obi-Wan knew it was more of a statement than a real question. "You know who has her?" Obi-Wan nodded.
"You go, you bring her back." Captain Typho pressed a hand onto Obi-Wan's shoulder. "I'll do what I can to prevent the Senate from learning any
of this. Senator Amidala was one of the few that kept this Senate going. The knowledge of her disappearance may cause some considerable
upheavals to the Separatists advantage." Obi-Wan nodded again, not ready to trust his voice. "I'll alert Senator Organa." Typho continued. "No
doubt he'll have plenty of resources at his disposal that can aid you in your search for her. And Master Kenobi," He looked Obi-Wan straight in the
eyes. "If-when you find her, tell her I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Typho's gruff, baritone voice cracked slightly. "Captain, I'm going to find her. I
swear to you now. Senator Amidala is brave and quick-thinking." Obi-Wan managed a weak smile. "By the time I find her, she may have already
escaped." He then bowed to the captain, and hurried away down the hall. He had no time to lose. But he also had no idea where Anakin might
run to. Stopping outside the hall, he forced himself to relax and draw upon the Force. He felt for any sign of Padmé or Anakin. Anakin's most
vacillating flaw was his inability to shield his emotions. Obi-Wan knew that with Padmé with him, his senses would be off the chart, and that would
eventually give him away. Even now, Obi-Wan could sense the excitement within his former apprentice, but also one word that puzzled him: safe.