Anakin had just awoken from one of the best nights he ever had with his secretive wife Padme Amidala, who was still resting with the Coruscant sunshine seeping through the blinds of their bedroom apartment. The previous night was truly a highlight in their relationship thus far, with Anakin preparing a wonderful meal from the ingredients in which he had picked up from the Mon Calamari salesman in the Coruscant market that afternoon. Anakin seldom ever found the time to be able to be with his wife, considering the new and emerging conflict of the Clone Wars having commenced just a few months ago, so it was truly a treat to finally spend time with the one had loved since they met all that time ago on Tatooine.
*Anakin glanced over in Padme's Direction*
"She's still the same angel that entered Watto's shop that day" Anakin repeated in his consciousness
Anakin slowly leaned over to Padme and graced her with a gentle kiss on the cheek, being mindful not to wake her from her slumber.
He then proceeded to arise from the bed and prepare himself for the day ahead, procuring his War garment attire, complete with the Jedi emblem on the shoulder armor plate.
He entered the living room and gazed out towards the Coruscant skyline. The planet city sprawling with activity, never ceasing to amaze him just as it had 10 years ago when arriving with Obi Wan and Qui-Go-
Anakin's expression then shifted to one of somber and recollection.
"Qui-Gon" Anakin repeated to himself
He still remembers the short time they had spent together and had frequently thought of him as of late, particularly wishing for guidance and advice on how to cope and manage with the new brand of warfare he was not fully acquainted to. Anakin had hoped to forge a father-son like bond with Qui-Gon, but fate and the force would see it differently.
As he contemplated about the past, a warm presence was soon felt by him, a small, smooth, and gentle hand had extended and touched his shoulder.
Padme: "Good morning Ani, I wanted to thank you for last night, I never knew how great of a cook you were! Did the Jedi Temple ever provide cooking lessons?
Padme's joyful and exuberant expression and demeaner soon shifted to one of concern as she gazed upon Anakin's face as he turned to face her
Padme: "What's wrong Anakin?"
Anakin, who was hesitant at first, finally mustered the courage to express his feelings with her.
Anakin: "I was pondering on the past once again Padme, more specifically Qui-Gon."
Padme: "Anakin, I truly miss him as well, if not for him I truly doubt my home planet of Naboo would have ever been liberated from the separatist blockade, but the process of reconciling with your feelings of remorse and regret will only make you stronger as a person and progress you further to becoming a wiser Jedi"
Anakin: "He was so wise Padme, he really understood what it meant to be a Jedi, the council are too solitary and nomadic in their approaches sometimes...he told me that becoming a Jedi involved risks in order to help those less fortunate and vulnerable, but the council contradicts that notion time and time again and I truly wonder if they will ever think beyond the code. The more I play it over and over in my head, the more I see why he had such untrusting sentiments of the Jedi council".
Padme quickly gave him a warm hug of embrace, surprising the young Jedi at first, but then he quickly wrapped his arms around her.
Padme: "Anakin, I believe Qui-Gon would be so proud of the man you are becoming and I am too, but please try to find the rationale behind the Jedi Council's ways. The war has completely changed perceptions of how we view the galaxy and its decisions, and we are all trying to adapt to it, no matter how difficult it can become".
Anakin glanced over to the Coruscant skyline once again, but a reactionary palm soon turned his face to glance back at a set of glimmering brown eyes.
Padme: "Hey"
*Soon their eyes were locked in a trance of one another, unbound by the upwelling of emotions they had for one another*
Padme: "Regardless of whatever the future holds in store for the both of us, I will always love you. And although our paths of Senator and Jedi are mutually exclusive from each other, we share a common goal of seeing good triumph over evil, and the preservation of Justice and Liberty not only in the galaxy, but the Republic.
Anakin: "And I promise you senator, as long I am here, no harm will ever come to you"
Padme: "Ani I-"
Before another word could be expressed, Anakin had initiated a passionate kiss.
Anakin: "Oh, and for your information, the Jedi Temple does not keep archives on cooking unfortunately"
*Padme let out a chuckle*
The couple continued to embrace one another in a warm hug, when abruptly Anakin's holoprojector had an incoming transmission waiting to be answered.
*Anakin sighed*
Anakin: "It must be another assignment, I got to take this"
Anakin briskly walked over to the table at which his transponder laid and answered the transmission. Three figures had appeared on the projector: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, and Master Yoda.
Padme quickly rushes to the master bedroom as to not appear on the projection screen
Mace: "Skywalker, there is an urgent matter that has just come to our attention from the garrison stationed on Mygeeto"
Anakin: "I'm listening"
Obi-Wan: "We believe we have found a possible lead to the incident that occurred on Kamino a month ago"
Anakin: "Master we repelled that attack remember? The droid army was unable to annex the planet and destroy the cloning facilities"
Obi-Wan: "You would be right on that Anakin, but it seems we missed a crucial piece of intel, as well as the exact motive of the separatist army. The primary objective indeed was to cripple the facilities and our forces, but it seems the separatists had a backup in case a head on attack failed to succeed.
Anakin: "What?"
Mace: "The CIS was able to dispatch a droid reconnaissance team undetectable by our long range scanners, and they had gained access to an archive sequence of the DNA replication format of Jango Fett in one of the main Cloning facilities"
Anakin: "That doesn't sound good"
Obi-Wan: "Indeed it does not, which is why the council is dispatching us to deal with the threat posed by the Separatists, and an even greater concern is what they could devise or sabotage with such critical information"
Soon another familiar figure had entered the transmission
Chancellor Palpatine: "Greetings everyone, sorry for interrupting, I trust we understand the current situation regarding the new intelligence recovered by the Kaminoans?"
Mace: "We were actually in preparation and disclosing the details to Skywalker"
Anakin: "Greetings, Chancellor"
Chancellor Palpatine: "Good to see you again too my friend, I wouldn't have picked a better Jedi for this particular task"
Obi Wan: "Chancellor if I may interrupt? We shouldn't waste any more time than we already are, time is of the essence in ensuring that the separatists do not find a way to turn the tide of war"
Chancellor Palpatine: "Yes of course, I understand. Good luck gentleman, may the force be with you"
Palpatine's transmission soon fades, leaving the four Jedi to conclude their conversation
Mace: "Skywalker, rendevouz at the Venator platforms where we will be embarking"
Master Yoda: "The shroud of the dark side continues to envelope around us. Trust in the force in these uncertain times, we must. Stop these nefarious plans, we will."
Mace: "It is settled then, may the force be with us all"
The transmission soon cuts and Padme slowly creeps out from the bedroom where she was hiding
Padme: "That sounded pretty drastic Anakin, you had better hurry"
Anakin: "I promise I will come back to you"
Padme: "I know you will my love"
And with one final embrace, Anakin Rushed to his Jedi Starfighter where C-3PO and R2-D2 were waiting.
C-3PO: "Do be careful master Anakin, especially you R2!
R2 beeped with reassurance and anticipation
Anakin: "Don't worry 3PO, we'll be fine!"
(If you have across the stars compatible with your device, please press play)
As Anakin fired the thrusters and engines in the cockpit of his starfighter, he gazed one last time over towards the window of Padme's apartment suite window. Both locked each tightly in their gaze unwilling to break away. Padme slowly placed her palm on the window, with Anakin soon mimicking the interaction on his cockpit window.
Slowly the fighter ascended from the platform.
Anakin once again entered deep thought as he flew in the direction of the Venator platforms
"New day, same life threatening war"
*END OF CHAPTER*
