-8-

Bail Organa.

Anakin watched and followed the duo. He knew them both, but he was more familiar with Senator Organa than he was with Senator Mothma.

"Have you heard anything from any surviving Jedi?" Mon Mothma asked quietly, keeping a close eye on her surroundings with a signature haughty edge, but Anakin sensed she was truly nervous. He couldn't blame her, after what he had learnt about this Empire, they had every reason to be worried someone might overhear them. And from what he had found out, the Empire did not tolerate treachery.

Organa shook his head, "I've heard some Jedi have survived Order 66, but I'm just amazed someone so brazenly attacked that group on Naboo," he said, "But I've spoken with some of my contacts. They don't know who it is, but one of them confided in me, telling me they sensed a disturbance in the Force."

"What does that mean?" Mothma asked with the tone of someone very patient when it came to the Force.

"I don't know, but whoever this Jedi is, it's surprised them."

Senator Mothma was silent for a moment while they passed through a group of stormtroopers; Anakin carefully probed them all to see if they were Force-sensitive but found they weren't, to his relief because he applied more shields to his aura and used the Force to go unnoticed by the troopers as they passed.

Senator Mothma and Senator Organa both waited until they were in a fairly large area, and they began speaking quietly together; Anakin made sure to stand close by, using a continuous mind trick to go unnoticed and to keep them talking. Everything they were saying was important.

"Have you tried asking our contacts on Naboo to find this Jedi?" Mothma was asking.

Anakin rolled his eyes and wondered if the rest of Padme's friends were this stupid.

Organa seemed to share his thoughts, but he was too noble and polite to say it so bluntly. "I have," he nodded grimly, "but they haven't found anything at all."

Mothma scoffed in annoyance. "They must have escaped after sending up that flare," she said in irritation. "Despite being very stupid," it was lucky she didn't know how personally Anakin took that remark, "they've done wonders for us; dozens of people have joined the Rebellion and I've heard it said other groups are using the footage of the Jedi on Naboo to rally the cause."

"I know, but I hope it lasts a while; in the meantime, Palpatine is going mad. He's already issued a crackdown on dozens of worlds," Organa said.

Anakin's insides chilled.

Obi-Wan had always told him his impulsiveness caused problems, and now it looked like he was right. To Anakin's relief, Senator Mothma left Organa after a few more minutes of conversation; it wasn't much, just mundane trivia, but at the same time Anakin learnt that Palpatine had stripped the Senate of more powers. He remembered how Padme had complained about Palpatine's decisions, taking more power; she had needed to choose her words carefully, knowing how he supported the Chancellor, but now he knew what Palpatine really was, Anakin knew Palpatine was seeking greater power, using what he had gotten from the Clone Wars to help him now.

At the same time, Anakin was not surprised some people were fighting back; that was the trouble with Sith Empires, they were so oppressive that they inspired rebellion. A part of him wanted to go back to the Temple, and kill Palpatine, but the Force was telling him to learn more it was urging him on, implying his future depended on him understanding more.

Anakin might be impulsive, but the Jedi Knight couldn't resist feeling that there was more going on than what he had found out, and he wanted to know more about what had happened to Padme, Ahsoka, and the Jedi.

Waiting for the right moment, Anakin followed Organa back to his speeder, using the Force to go unnoticed. When he was sure the Alderaanian senator was alone, Anakin got his attention, "Senator Organa?" He called, making sure his hood was up.

Organa yelped and whirled around, taking out an ornate but still serviceable and powerful blaster, "Who are you?" He demanded, spotting a cowled figure standing nearby, and he wondered how he'd been missed.

Anakin brushed his robe, showing the gleam of his lightsaber before he pulled down his hood. "It's me, Anakin Skywalker."

Organa gaped in surprise before anger clouded his face. "YOU! YOU'RE A TRAITOR!"