Chapter 5
Thankyou all so much for all the reviews! Means a lot!
Anakin stood at the centre of the Jedi Council nervously, surrounded by venerable Jedi; Mace Windu, Yoda, Eeth Koth, Obi Wan, along with the holograms of Plo Koon and Ki Adi Mundi. He had just told them of his appointment by Chancellor Palpatine. He really wasn't too sure how they would take this. He knew of the strained relationship between the council and Palpatine. There seemed to be a strong sense of mutual distrust between the two, and a part of him felt that this latest occurrence would only add to it.
"Anakin Skywalker," Mace said, in his deep baritone, "We have approved your appointment to the Council as the Chancellor's personal representative."
Anakin was relieved. So his mastership was approved. He could access the restricted holocrons. There might be a way to save Padme after all. He flushed with joy, and his mind was racing so far ahead he wasn't even listening to what the masters' were telling him.
All he could manage was "I will do my best to uphold the principles of the Jedi Order."
"Allow this appointment lightly, the Council does not," Yoda continued. "Disturbing is this move by Chancellor Palpatine."
Disturbing? Anakin thought blankly. How?
"I understand," Anakin said, though he didn't. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of what he would do immediately after the meeting, involving the holocron vault…
Mace interrupted his flow of thoughts.
"You are on this Council, but we do not grant you the rank of Master."
The words slapped him out of his thoughts. A surge of anger powered through him. How dare they? he thought. How dare they prevent me from saving my wife and my family? They are jealous. They fear my power.
"What ! " Anakin shouted. The room was eerily silent. "How can you do this? This is outrageous, it's unfair . . . I'm more powerful than any of you. How can you be on the Council and not be a Master?"
The silence continued, as Anakin realised he had just overstepped the line. He bowed his head in embarrassment for his outburst. But his outrage remained still.
Mace gave him a stern glare.
"Take a seat, young Skywalker," he said indignantly.
"Forgive me, master," he said, as he went and sat on an empty chair. But he wasn't sorry. His rage had subsided, but it had turned into disappointment and sadness. Sadness that the world seemed to be working against him. Sadness that, even with the news that he was going to be a father, he couldn't be happy, and Padme's life seemed to be draining away with each passing second.
The room was still shocked at his outburst. Ki Adi Mundi appeared in a hologram and started speaking.
"We have surveyed all systems in the Republic, and have found no sign of General Grievous."
Yoda answered this. "Hiding in the Outer Rim, Grievous is. The outlying systems, you must sweep."
"It may take some time…we don't have many ships to spare," said Obi Wan.
Anakin was barely listening to the conversation that was taking place. For once, he didn't care about General Grievous, or the Wookies, or anything to do with the Separatists. He was brooding on the utter helplessness of the situation with his wife. Whenever Obi Wan had something to say, he paid slightly more attention however.
"He's right, that is a system we cannot afford to lose. It's the main navigation route for the southwestern quadrant."
"I know that system well," Anakin said, finally speaking. "It would take us little time to drive the droids off that planet."
"Skywalker, your assignment is here with the Chancellor, and Kenobi must find General Grievous," Mace said curtly. Anakin was suddenly confused. Assignment with the Chancellor? When did this come about?
"Go, I will. Good relations with the Wookiees, I have," Yoda said.
"It is settled then. Yoda will take a battalion of clones to reinforce the Wookiees on Kashyyyk. May the Force be with us all, " Mace said conclusively, finishing the meeting.
Anakin stormed out of the chamber with Obi Wan, in a mixture of anger, disappointment and confusion.
"What kind of nonsense is this, put me on the Council and not make me a Master!? That's never been done in the history of the Jedi. It's insulting!" Anakin said furiously.
Obi Wan stopped and looked at him.
"Calm down, Anakin. You have been given a great honor. To be on the Council at your age . . . It's never happened before. Listen to me, Anakin. The fact of the matter is you're too close to the Chancellor. The Council doesn't like it when he interferes in Jedi affairs," he finished seriously.
"I swear to you, I didn't ask to be put on the Council !" Anakin said, feeling helpless.
"But it's what you wanted! Your friendship with Chancellor Palpatine seems to have paid off."
Anakin dismissed this, although a part of him told him it was true….
"Anakin, regardless of how it happened, you find yourself in a delicate situation," Obi Wan continued slowly.
"What do you mean?"
"I warned you there was tension between the Council and the Chancellor. I was very clear. Why didn't you listen? You walked right into it."
What else am I meant to do? I didn't ask for this! The chancellor gave it to me…
He didn't know what to say, so he just continued with something he suspected.
"The Council is upset I'm the youngest to ever serve."
Obi Wan sighed, his brows creasing.
"No. It is not Anakin. I worry when you speak of jealousy and pride. Those are not Jedi thoughts. They're dangerous, dark thoughts."
"I sense there's more to this talk than you're saying." Anakin had this suspicion ever since Mace had told him about his assignment with the Chancellor.
"Anakin, the only reason the Council has approved your appointment is because the Chancellor trusts you."
"And?"
Obi Wan gazed out at the city.
"Anakin, look, I am on your side. I didn't want to see you put in this situation."
Anakin glared at him. "What situation?"
Obi Wan suddenly looked nervous. He took a deep breath before continuing "The Council wants you to report on all of the Chancellor's dealings. They want to know what he's up to."
Anakin could not believe what he was hearing. The Jedi's plans seemed to have the foul stench of politics and corruption.
"They want me to spy on the Chancellor? That's treason!" .
Obi Wan looked at him deeply
"We are at war, Anakin. The Jedi Council is sworn to uphold the principles of the Republic, even if the Chancellor does not."
"The Chancellor is not a bad man, Obi-Wan. He befriended me. He's watched out for me ever since I arrived here." Anakin meant every word he said.
Obi Wan cast him a worried look "That is why you must help us, Anakin. Our allegiance is to the Senate, not to its leader who has managed to stay in office long after his term has expired.
"Master, the Senate demanded that he stay longer," Anakin said plainly.
"Yes Anakin, but use your feelings. Something is out of place," Obi Wan had felt it, but he wasn't quite sure if Anakin had. Something was out of place; there was an aura of foreboding and mystery in the force, yet he couldn't quite put a finger on what it was. It was something that he needed to discuss with Master Yoda.
Anakin evidently didn't seem to care about his master's thoughts.
"You're asking me to do something against the Jedi Code. Against the Republic. Against a mentor . . . and a friend. That's what's out of place here. Why are you asking this of me?"
Obi Wan couldn't meet him eye to eye.
"The Council is asking you," was all he could manage.
Anakin stepped out of the turbolift and walked into Padme's apartment. He saw her near the window gazing out into the beautiful sunset, in a long, dark blue dress. He carefully approached her and snuck his arms around her waist.
"Anakin! You're home !"
She turned in his arms and embraced him, then gave him a deep kiss. He kissed her back, feeling her soft, precious lips on his. He put his arm around her shoulder as they went and sat on the couch. She snuggled next to him, resting her head against his chest.
Anakin kissed her forehead. "How are you feeling?"
"He keeps kicking!"
"He?! Why do you think it's a boy?" Anakin asked, smiling. She's so cute! he thought.
"My motherly intuition," she said lovingly.
She took his flesh hand and placed it on her belly.
"Whoa! With a kick that strong it has to be a girl!" he told her.
They both laughed, enjoying each other's company. She looked up and quickly kissed him.
"I heard about your appointment Anakin! I'm so proud of you," she said, while he stroked her hair.
"Thanks Padme. But Im not happy," he said.
"Why not?" she asked
"They didn't grant me the rank of master," he said. He looked down, frustration evident on his face.
"Oh Anakin. I'm sure they will make you a master soon. You just have to be patient. "
"It's not that. I need to become a master. Now, not soon. "
Padme looked startled.
"Why love?"
He paused and gazed into her beautiful eyes. He wasn't sure if he should tell her this, but he continued anyhow.
"Only if I'm a master I can access the restricted holocron vault. That's where all their secrets lie, Padme. I might have a chance of saving you then using a force technique," he said, and he seemed on the point of tears.
Padme looked up at him, her eyes similarly watery. "Oh Anakin," she looked up at him, and showered his face with kisses, and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"You seem to be taking this far too seriously, Ani. I'm on Coruscant. Nobody dies in childbirth anymore. Nothing will happen to me, or our child, Anakin. Nothing."
Anakin brought her closer to him and gave her a kiss.
"You don't understand Padme. It was a force vision. I had one about my mother. My dream's come true!"
"Anakin," Padme said, looking at him seriously. "Listen. You had those force visions about your mother when something had already happened to her. She was being tortured by the Sand people as you dreamt! Is something happening to me? I'm fine! I'm perfectly healthy! Why are you worrying so much?"
He considered this for a moment. There was some truth in what Padme was saying. She was healthy, and she was snuggled up in his arms. But his dreams had to mean something! They were force visions! He knew they were. But her next question took him completely off guard.
"Are you sure the force visions are real? Or could they be fake?"
Review please!