Note 1: Star Wars and its affiliates do not belong to me, only the contents of this Verse.

Note 2: Thank you to my betas authorwithissues, T-man626 and Young at Heart21.

Chosen: Restoration

Chapter 22: Preparation

By WrittinInStone

It definitely wasn't the easiest meeting that they had ever had with the Jedi Council.

Obi-Wan allowed his gaze to wander over the members of the Council, hoping fervently that his inability to meet any of their eyes went noticed.

Beside him, standing tall and silent, was Anakin. The young Knight had allowed Obi-Wan to do most of the talking, choosing instead to portray a tired young man drained of his energy and vitality; it wasn't difficult. He looked terrible. It was less his physical appearance and more the difference they felt in his Force signature: It was not the bold, sweeping, all encompassing sensation that usually accompanied the Knight's presence. Rather, it was a flickering aura reminiscent of a bright light that waned by the minute.

Obi-Wan could sense the consternation on the faces of the Council as the meeting progressed. He understood their feelings. It was more than a little disconcerting to realize how truly strong Anakin was in the Force, how terribly present he was, and how empty the atmosphere felt now; how the absence of Anakin's Force presence was almost a physical pain.

The Knight's obvious fatigue was both a good and bad thing: good because it was the first time the Council was able to see exactly what it was doing to him; bad because it meant that Anakin was getting sicker, that the illness was progressing faster.

Both facts worked together to grant them exactly what they wanted from the Council: leave to do whatever was necessary, within reason, to complete their mission.

The order had been unanimously agreed upon by all the members of the Council—even the more conservative ones such as Master Windu. That came as a pleasant surprise; Obi-Wan would have thought that the Korunnai, of all people, would hesitate to grant such leeway.

Focusing his thoughts on the situation at hand, the Jedi Master addressed the Council. "Anakin and I plan to leave for Taris tomorrow. I am currently in the process of preparing for our journey, as he is unable. We will continue to update you on all pertinent information."

Master Yoda nodded. "Very well, that is. Be vigilant and careful, you must. Dark is the road ahead. Stick together, you two must."

"I don't think that'll be a problem," Anakin finally spoke up, a small smile appearing on his lined face. "That's what we do best."

"Good, that is," Yoda replied, the ancient Jedi's arms crossed over his cane. "Leave immediately you may."

"Thank you, Masters," Anakin and Obi-Wan said in unison, bowing to them and turning to leave.

"There is one more thing," Master Windu spoke suddenly, his voice ringing through the chamber. "We just received word that Senator Amidala is missing."

For a moment, Anakin thought he had heard wrong.

"What?" he asked stupidly before cursing himself for his less than intelligent response.

Obi-Wan remained silent, merely staring at them with wide eyes.

The small, green, sentient being nodded, his ancient, wisdom-filled eyes missing nothing. "Contacted me, the Queen of Naboo did. Worried about the senator, she is. After investigating, find her we could not."

"Do you have any idea where she might be located?" Master Windu asked, gazing carefully upon Anakin's face. "Has she contacted you at all?"

"No, sir," the Knight said, meeting the dark man's testing eyes with his own unwavering gaze. "But I wish to look for her immediately."

"You cannot," Kit Fisto, answered him, shaking his head, head-tresses swaying at the motion. "You must find this cure, Knight Anakin. You cannot afford a delay. We are well aware of your friendship with the Senator, which is why we thought it best to inform you. But there are Jedi here who are quite capable of locating her."

Anakin gazed at the Nautolan Jedi for a moment before nodding. "I would like regular updates on the status of the investigation."

"That is not unreasonable all things considered," Master Windu answered, his gaze piercing the Knight. "It shall be done."

"Thank you, Master Windu," Anakin replied, allowing relief to color his voice.

The older man nodded.

"Now go to Taris, you must," Yoda announced. "Hope, we will, that answers you will find. Go, and may the Force be with you."

"Thank you, Master." Anakin and Obi-Wan bowed to the Council once more before taking their leave.

The Council chambers were silent for a long moment after the two Jedi left. Finally, Master Windu spoke. "Anakin is hiding something about Senator Amidala. He knows where she is. Not only was he unsurprised, but there is no way he would have been that calm if her whereabouts were unknown to him. My question is this: If he knows, why didn't he just tell us? What is he hiding?"

"Right you are, and important questions those are," Yoda agreed solemnly, eyes closed as he leaned his chin against his cane. "Meditate we must on what steps to take next. Clouded is the Force on this mater, spread the darkness does. Centered around Young Skywalker and Master Kenobi it is."

"But not just around them," Shaak Ti murmured. The Togruta straightened slightly as she regarded her fellow Council members. "It surrounds another person as well, our missing person: Senator Amidala."

"Should we send a Jedi to watch them? It would not be good form; indeed it could have potentially devastating effects. How would it look to other Jedi if the Council had two decorated and seemingly devoted soldiers followed?" Ki-Adi-Mundi murmured. He frowned as he mulled over his own words. "Although it is as you have said, and the Dark Side seems to swirl around them, I sense no evil in them, only darkness circling them."

"Their destinies are connected," Stass Allie said quietly, speaking for the first time since the meeting began. "I can feel it. Perhaps it is not wise to interfere for now, even with our lack of knowledge about this whole situation. We should move when there is evidence of wrongdoing but not before."

"Right Master Allie is," Yoda replied. "But impartial we must be in our dealings with them, so watched they must be. An agent will we send to follow them on their journey to Taris. Hope and trust in the Force, we must, that nothing untoward will be found."

#*#*#*#*#

The two Jedi were silent as they flew toward 500 Republica, both reflecting on what had occurred in the meeting.

"I'm sorry, Obi-Wan," Anakin said finally, after a long silence, staring out the window of their speeder. "I messed up badly in there. They know that I was lying to them."

"I know," Obi-Wan answered grimly. "It was obvious by their faces. Not only that, they actually agreed to keeping you posted. I'm more worried about the fact that they didn't call you out on it."

"That concerns me too," the Knight admitted. "What is their game?"

"It's not as though we haven't given them a good reason not to trust us," Obi-Wan reminded him, sensing the younger man's growing ire. "It has been my experience that the Council does not react well to duplicity. We will have to be more alert now than ever."

"Yes, Master," Anakin responded tiredly, leaning his head against the glass. The meeting had not gone as well as expected, not at all. He knew it wasn't a game or a war, but he still felt as though he had lost. Anakin would not say anything as cliché as, "It couldn't have gone much worse", because he knew it could have.

But the day was still young and there was plenty of time for everything to go to into a much lower depth of hell.

He could only hope that it would refrain from doing so.

#*#*#*#*#

"Ani, are you alright?" Padmé asked, worry in her voice. "Do you need me to help you?

Anakin gritted his teeth as he braced himself against the wall of the 'fresher, trying with all his might to remain upright. He had decided to bathe after Obi-Wan had taken his leave, only to find himself so tired as to be unable to move. Padmé arrival had only served to make him panic more. He had remained in the same position for another ten minutes before Padmé had returned to inquire about him.

"I'm fine," he answered, trying to keep his voice steady. "Just had a minor accident, nothing to worry about."

There was silence on the other side of the door before his wife spoke, "Anakin… please… just… please."

The Knight tried to swallow around the lump that had suddenly developed in his throat. After returning to 500 Republica, he had been unable to do anything but rest after the exhausting meeting at the temple. He had awoken a few hours later, only to find his body unresponsive to his commands. It had horrified him—scared him—and taken all his considerable training to remain calm, to force his weak limbs into compliance with his mental orders, to make his way slowly to the 'fresher.

After finding him absent, Padmé had known something was wrong. She has successfully traced his steps, and now stood at the entrance of the fresher door, pleading with him to allow her to help. But how could he make her understand that he couldn't allow her to see him this way? He was supposed to be the strong warrior, the protector in their relationship. How would she view him now if she had to help him to wash, to use the kriffing 'fresher?

He pulled himself to the mirror and gazed at his reflection. His normally shiny, golden hair was dull and fell limply to his shoulders. His eyes, always so bright, now shone with sadness and a growing sense of helplessness.

Looking into the mirror, Anakin despised what he saw there. It was weakness; it was a nameless enemy stealing his youth, his strength.

When I find General Grievous, when I find this Sidious, I will destroy them for what they have done to me, he thought, impotent rage building within him. This wasn't supposed to happen, this was not the way he was supposed to die.

He weakly looked over his shoulder as the door to the fresher opened. There in the doorway stood his wife.

She gazed at him silently for a moment, taking in his pallor, the way his limbs shook as he held himself against the wall.

He looked away from her as she neared him, his shame rising up in his throat, threatening to choke him. Moments later, he felt her arm slip around his waist. Unwillingly, but unable to do anything other, he allowed his weight to rest against her.

But instead of moving him toward the bedroom, she maneuvered him toward the 'fresher seat. Pushing him down without a word, she went to the tub and turned on the water.

Anakin frowned as he watched her. "Padmé," he began.

"Shh…" she murmured, shaking her head. "No talking. I gave you the opportunity to talk to me and you didn't. So, for now, please be silent.

He blinked and then said nothing, acquiescing to her demand.

He watched as she added liquid soap to the water, dipped her hand into it to check the temperature. Moving to his side, Padmé grabbed him around the waist and assisted him to his feet. Anakin gritted his teeth as his legs threatened to release him, but his wife did not let him go.

Bracing himself against the wall, he closed his eyes as Padmé began to undress him. When naked, she grasped him again and guided them to the water. It took more time than it should have to lower him in.

As soon as the hot water hit his body, Anakin released a content sigh. The warmth felt utterly divine, melting away the ache and relaxing taut muscles. He watched Padmé through eyes opened at half-mast as she pulled lowered herself to her knees beside to the tub, making sure her rounded, extended belly did not press too solidly against its side.

After a few moments of adjusting her blue, silk nightgown, she took a nearby cloth, and, dipping it into the water, began to gently bathe him.

Anakin felt his body relax as the tension trickled out of his body. Finally, after a long silence, she spoke.

"I know what you've been thinking, Anakin," she said softly as she began to run the cloth over his chest. "It's so easy to see it on your face, to see it every time your limbs give out on you. You have so much pride in your abilities, that this sickness is killing you in more ways than one." He didn't have to see her face to know that her eyes were nearly overflowing with sorrow.

"Is it that obvious?" he asked jokingly, a sad smile spreading across his solemn features.

"Only to those who love you," she said, returning his solemn smile. "Anakin, I don't know what you're going through; I cannot even begin to fathom it. But I am your wife. I want to hear what you're thinking, how you're feeling. I want you to talk to me."

She dipped the cloth in the water again and then began to rub it against his neck. "Do not lose hope, my love. Do not lose faith. We will find this cure. You will see the birth of your children; you will be alive to love me. If you don't trust in my words, trust in the Force. It would not lead us astray."

"It's so hard to believe, Padmé," he whispered. "I… I'm scared. I don't want to die."

"I know, and you won't. We both have to believe that," she replied with a determined nod. "But I want you to know something, Ani. Even if I had to do this every day," she said quietly as she squeezed the sudsy water into his hair. "Even if I had to give up everything, I would do it for you as you are now. I didn't marry you because you're beautiful, or because you're strong. I married you because you made me happier than I had ever been in my life. And guess what?"

She gently grasped his chin and turned his face to meet hers. His lip trembled as he gazed into her eyes, as hot tears began sliding down his ashen cheeks.

"You still make me happy, Anakin Skywalker. Don't ever doubt that." She leaned over and pressed her lips against his cheeks, tasting the salty tears there.

"Padmé," he said, desperately grasping her arm, pulling her closer, wanting to be a part of her. "Don't ever leave me, okay? Don't ever leave me."

He could feel her smile against his skin. "I know you like to think you love me more, Master Jedi," she said playfully, haughtily. "That simply is not the truth. You're my whole world."

He smiled, feeling all his anxiety and bitterness fall away.

"I don't know if it's healthy for us to love one another this much," he said, nuzzling her neck.

"Oh?" she teased, pulling away to gaze at him. "Then you'd better start loving me less!"

"Never," he said, suddenly serious. "Never."

Her smile faded as she met his intense gaze. Nodding, she leaned over the edge of the tub and wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his skin, eyes flitted close, loving the steady beat of his pulse.

And as Anakin ran his fingers through her hair, he thanked the Force with everything inside of him that he had Padmé by his side.

#*#*#*#*#

It had been nagging at him ever since the meeting with Obi-Wan two nights ago.

Anakin's face was a mask of stoicism as he stood on the veranda of 500 Republica, facing the Jedi Temple, sinking deep into a meditative state.

He had awakened suddenly in a body drained of strength. The bath had helped, but it was only a temporary measure. He was getting worse; this illness was moving quicker, invading every healthy part of him, destroying the energy and vitality that made him Anakin Skywalker.

He had been able to cover it up before, although he had known that both Padmé and Obi-Wan were aware of his declining state. But now… now, it had taken everything he had to remain upright. He needed to find a cure and soon. He knew that Padmé had faith, and he knew that hers would have to carry them both, because he could not help but fear that he might not live long enough to see the birth of his children.

The thought chilled him to his core, stealing all the warmth from his body. He was soon to be a father, yet was so sick that it was becoming difficult to breathe. It was at these times that he struggled to avoid the creeping of doubt and fear that threatened to invade his mind; fear that he would die before finding a cure, doubt that there even existed a cure…

Instead, he turned his attention to the occurrences of the meeting two days ago, the only thing that competed with his failing body in his thoughts.

There was something about the whole situation that simply did not sit well with the Knight.

It was the clones.

The thought of Chancellor Palpatine controlling the clones on the ship disturbed him. So greatly did it trouble him that upon awakening, he had moved his weak body from beside his wife, unwilling to disturb her, but wanting nothing more than to clear his head of the lingering worries there.

What had begun as a simple errand to put his fears to rest, quickly upgraded to a full on Force meditation.

It had snuck up on him, grabbed him from behind, and he had had little choice but to sink into its embrace. The Force was trying to tell him something, but it was difficult to see. It was so clouded; he could not see for the fog of the Dark Side.

Yet he persisted, he could not let it go. There was something about the clones…

Vaguely, he felt his wife's presence behind him. It allowed him to calm down as it always did; Padmé's presence was so soothing, brushing aside all anxiety. It helped to decrease his agitation, to clear his mind, allowing him to objectively ponder the problem.

How was it possible that Palpatine could control the clones on the ship? It would have to be more than mere blackmailing or threats; neither method would be effective as they were clones.

So how? How could a person control a genetically modified being whose existence they didn't know about until they were discovered during the conflict at Geonosis? And how could the Chancellor control beings that were designed to be loyal to the Republic? Palpatine would have had to have a relationship with the Kaminoans prior to everything happening, because, with such complex engineering, the clones would almost need to be indoctrinated or even genetically programmed to follow anyone's orders but the Republic's…

In his trance, Anakin heart stuttered as he slowly repeated the thought. The clones would have to be programmed to follow anyone's orders but the Republic's. Programmed.

It was at that precise moment that he felt a shift in the Force, confirming his terrifying suspicions. It was true; the clones were programmed to follow the Chancellor's orders. But was it just the clones on the ship or…?

Anakin inhaled deeply as he felt the Force wash over him like a tidal wave. All of them? Palpatine controlled all of the clones? But if that were true, that would mean that Palpatine had to have known about the clones before for years! But why… how?

The Knight shook his head, covering his face as possibilities went through his mind. Finally, he sank to the floor, placing his forehead against the cold stone of the veranda, hoping it would lower the heat he felt building under his skin.

This was simply too much right now. He had no clue what it all meant, why the Force was revealing this to him now. He turned to smile at his wife as she rushed to his side, wrapping her arms around him, trying to reassure her that everything was fine.

But it wasn't.

Anakin found it ironic that he had evaded uttering a trite overused phrase, the day before, and that it had somehow kept the many problems that they had at bay. Yet perhaps he had been a bit hasty; he didn't think it had helped at all, because somehow he knew one thing for sure; things had just gotten much, much, worse.

End of Chapter 22: Consistent updates mean consistent reviews so… review! =]

Chapter 23: Taris: The gang arrives on Taris.

Attribution: Thank you to Wookeepedia for the Star Wars facts.

A/N: If you liked this fic, then please read my other two. Also, reviews for the latest update of TS&TS were really low. So if you've read that, please go back and review. They are quite important with that story as I have not quite formulated what I'm going to do with it.

As of now, there have been several reviews that have cleared up a lot of the haze. (The one about Darth Maul is the most pertinent to date, so thank you to the one who brought that question in their review.) Your reviews have meaning, so please leave one.

A/N2: Thank you to Glee Plane for all the lovely reviews. She reviewed so much that I almost felt obliged to update. They were also great reminders. Thank you so very much. Authors need encouragement too and you provided just that. =]

A/N3: As of now, I have decided to move the majority of my stuff to my LiveJournal account most especially TS&TS which will be quite explicit. Whether I will continue to update on is up to your guys and how proactive you are (i.e. reviews). So if there are no updates on this site, please check my LiveJoural as it will be there. Any question, please look at my twitter, email me, or PM me. I will still answer those. Thank you.

WrittinInStone's LiveJournal: http: / writtinenstone .livejournal. com/