I don't own Star Wars: The Clone Wars or its characters, but I only own Nadia Aomori and my other OCs.

Enjoy!

Threads of Destiny

Chapter 70: Rising Tensions

Nadia and Ferus stood in the center of the High Council Chamber, where they were an equal distance away from each member.

Both of the Jedi Knights didn't understand why they were summoned alongside Anakin.

Did something happen?

"Care to tell why you've called us up here all the sudden?"Nadia questioned.

"You and Commander Olin are all here in secret because we want you to understand the severity of what we are about to reveal, Commander Aomori."Mace Windu declared flatly.

Nadia gives Mace Windu a small glare before Obi-Wan spoke up.

"Anakin was asked to be promoted by Chancellor Palpatine to be put on the council as his personal representative and to the rank of Master."Obi-Wan admitted.

Nadia and Ferus looked at Anakin with astonished looks.

"Hey."Ferus chuckled."That's great."

"Way da go, general."Nadia sneered."This calls for a celebration."

Anakin smiled at Ferus and Nadia.

"Hold on, Young Aomori."Master Yoda instructed."Allow this appointment lightly the Council does not. Disturbing is this move by Chancellor Palpatine."

"I understand."Anakin replied with a nod.

"You are on this council...but we do not grant you the rank of master."Mace Windu declared.

Stunned looks appeared on Nadia and Ferus' faces.

Did the Council just rejected giving Anakin the rank of Jedi Master.

"What? How can you do this?"Anakin demanded angrily."This is outrageous. It's unfair. How can you be on the council and not be a master?"

"Take a seat, young Skywalker."Mace Windu ordered.

Anakin made a visible effort to restrain his temper.

"Yes."Anakin responded."Forgive me, Master."

And Anakin sat in one of the empty chairs, his features still sullen.

"Don't worry, Anakin."Ferus assured with a smile."It won't be long until you get your wish."

Anakin gives his brother-in-law a small smile while Nadia remained silent.

"We have surveyed all systems in the Republic, but have found no sign of General Grievous."Ki-Adi-Mundi declared.

"Hiding in the outer rim, Grievous is."Master Yoda stated."The outlying systems you must sweep."

"We do not have many ships to spare."Obi-Wan reminded.

"What about the droid attack on the Wookiees?"Ki-Adi-Mundi questioned.

"It is critical we send an attack group there immediately."Mace Windu suggested.

"He's right."Obi-Wan agreed."It's a system we cannot afford to lose."

"Go, me and Young Olin will."Master Yoda stated."Good relations with the Wookiees, we have."

"Okay, Master Yoda."Ferus replied with a nod.

Nadia became a little hurt in the inside upon realising she was going to be separated from her boyfriend again.

"It's settled then."Mace Windu declared."Yoda and Ferus will take a battalion of clones to reinforce the Wookiees on Kashyyyk. May the Force be with us all."

After the meeting ended, Obi-Wan, Anakin, Ferus and Nadia were walking together in the hallway.

"What kind of nonsense is this?"Anakin complained."Put me on the Council and not make me a master? It's never been done in the history of the Jedi. It's insulting."

"I think because you are being put on the Grand Council at the age of early twenties."Nadia declared with a smug look."Then again, it is never mentioned in the books on the Old Republic of someone at your age being promoted to a Jedi Master."

"Nadia…"Anakin scowled.

"Calm down, Anakin."Obi-Wan instructed."Nadia has a point. You have been given a great honour. To be on the council at your age, it's never happened before. The fact of the matter is you are too close to the Chancellor. The Council doesn't like it when he interferes in Jedi affairs."

Obi-Wan, Anakin, Ferus and Nadia stopped walking in the hallway.

"I swear to you, I didn't ask to be put on the Council."Anakin stated.

"But it's what you wanted."Obi-Wan reminded."Your friendship with Chancellor Palpatine seems to have paid off."

Anakin frowned. "That has nothing to do with this."

"The only reason the Council has approved your appointment is because the Chancellor trusts you."Obi-Wan commented.

"And?"Anakin questioned.

"Anakin, I am on your side."Obi-Wan assured."I didn't want to put you in this situation."

"Huh?"Ferus said in confusion.

"What situation?"Anakin questioned.

Both Ferus and Nadia suddenly sensed guilt within Obi-Wan.

"Master, you might as well spill out what the Council wants Anakin to do."Nadia insisted.

"There is no point trying to hide it since we know the Council is capable of doing many mistakes."Ferus reminded with a frown.

Obi-Wan let out a sigh before looking at Anakin.

"The Council wants you to report on all the Chancellor's dealings."Obi-Wan admitted."They want to know what he's up to."

Anakin became shocked while Ferus and Nadia were also taken aback by this announcement.

The Council wanted Anakin to spy on Chancellor Palpatine?

"They want me to spy on the Chancellor?"Anakin retorted."But that's treason."

"We are at war, Anakin."Obi-Wan reminded.

"Why didn't the Council give me this assignment when we were in session?"Anakin questioned.

"This assignment is not to be on record."Obi-Wan declared.

"That is a pretty non moral and non Jedi-like move if you ask me."Nadia scoffed sarcastically.

Ferus nodded in agreement.

"The Chancellor is not a bad man, Obi-Wan."Anakin declared."He befriended me. He's watched out for me ever since I arrived here."

"That is why you must help us."Obi-Wan suggested."Anakin, our allegiance is to the Senate, not to its leader, who has managed to stay in office long after his term has expired."

"The Senate demanded that he stay longer."Nadia reminded.

"Yes, but use your feelings, Nadia."Obi-Wan instructed."Something is out of place."

Anakin frowned at Obi-Wan.

"You're asking me to do something against the Jedi Code."Anakin scowled."Against the Republic. Against a mentor and a friend. That's what's out of place here. Why are you asking this of me?"

"The Council is asking you."Obi-Wan admitted.

Obi-Wan then walked away, leaving Anakin, Ferus and Nadia by themselves.

Ferus began to walk away as well.

"Where are you going, Ferus?"Nadia questioned.

"I got to tell my sister that I'll be heading off to Kashyyyk with Master Yoda."Ferus stated."But hopefully, my return here will come immediately after Grievous' is defeated."

Anakin nodded at his brother-in-law as Nadia gave her boyfriend a small wave before he went out of sight.

Once Ferus was gone, Nadia glanced at Anakin.

"So what was it you wanted to talk about with me, Anakin?"Nadia asked.

Anakin was silent for a moment before he began speaking to his friend.

"Padmé and I are expecting our child very soon."Anakin admitted.

A happy gasp escaped from Nadia's mouth.

"Really?"Nadia chuckled excitedly."Congratulations."

"Yes. We are happy."Anakin agreed with a small smile."But…"

"What?"Nadia questioned.

"I had a vision that Padmé may die from childbirth."Anakin declared.

The smile on Nadia's face vanished and became a shocked one.

"Surely that won't happen."Nadia suggested."It must've been just a nightmare."

Anakin shook his head.

"I wouldn't think like that, Nadia."Anakin declared."I had the vision of my mother dying before I went back to Tatooine to find her and I ended up not saving her."

Nadia became disturbed at Anakin's declaration.

"I am sorry to hear that."Nadia apologised.

Anakin let out a sigh.

"Nadia, what do I do?"Anakin questioned with a frown."First, we return to Coruscant, only for me to become worried to lose Padmé and now the Council wants me to spy on the Chancellor even if it's against the Jedi Code."

Nadia scoffed and folded her arms.

"For all the Jedi's wisdom, the Council lack intuition and the ability to think clearly without the Force. It's like a game of chess and the Jedi didn't know they were playing."Nadia declared, her voice mixed with annoyance."But I guess that's the problem of the Jedi. We serve the people of this Republic."

Anakin gives Nadia a small smirk.

"How do you do it?"Anakin asked.

"Do what?"Nadia questioned.

"Still serve the Republic even though there are many people who don't trust you and still question who side you really are, Nadia?"Anakin said.

Nadia glanced at the window which showed the setting sun.

"Well…I may be a Jedi Knight who is fighting for good, but the only reason the Council doesn't trust is because I am related to an ancient Dark Side Nexus, who walked around as a Sith Shadow, absorbing the Light Side of the Force through the Jedi he drained. So think of me as one of those rare Force sensitive beings born from both the light and darkness."Nadia exclaimed and rubbed her arm."My older brother Jayden knew what kind of monster we were related to, but that didn't let him live his life in fear. Even though he later perished alongside my parents and his wife when…"

Nadia felt someone touch her shoulder and saw Anakin giving her a comforting smile.

"I understand, Nadia. Thank you."Anakin replied."You're a great friend."

Nadia gives Anakin a bittersweet smile.

Obi-Wan, Mace Windu and Master Yoda rode on a gunship as it heads for the Clone landing platform.

"Anakin did not take to his new assignment with much enthusiasm."Obi-Wan declared.

"It's very dangerous, putting them together."Mace Windu stated with a frown."I don't think the boy can handle it. I don't trust him."

Obi-Wan gives Mace Windu a small glare.

"With all due respect, Master, is he not the Chosen One?"Obi-Wan asked."Is he not to destroy the Sith and bring balance to the Force?"

"So the prophecy says."Master Yoda declared."A prophecy that misread could have been."

"He will not let me down."Obi-Wan commented."He never has."

"I hope right you are."Master Yoda stated.

After his conversation with Nadia, Anakin went to see Padmé in her apartment.

Padmé wore an iridescent purple dress decorated with scrollery and it was near the hem. The side of the dress was grayer,with swirling designs done in needlework as were the sleeves. She wore a purple full-shoulder pauldron decorated with swirling designs, clasped with an umber-colored disc. Under this was a dark purple cape with scrollery around the edges. The collar was studded with beads as were the ends of the inner sleeves. Her chocolate brown hair was done in a unique style with small buns on each side and a small loop beneath each of them. The rest of her hair was gathered up in a braid with a strip made out of slivery material braided in with it. An umber jewel-studded headband completed the outfit.

"How are you feeling?"Anakin asked.

Padmé smiled as she stroked her swollen stomach.

"He keeps kicking."Padmé remarked.

Anakin gives Padmé a bewilderment look.

"He?"Anakin said with a smirk."Why do you think it's a boy?"

"My motherly intuition."Padmé giggled.

Padmé puts Anakin's hand on her belly, only for the Jedi Knight to feel the baby's kick.

"Whoa."Anakin chuckled in amusement."With a kick that strong, it's got to be a girl."

Anakin and Padmé laughed lightly together.

"I heard about your appointment. Anakin."Padmé admitted."I'm so proud of you."

This caused Anakin's smile to drop a little.

"I may be on the Council, but they refused to accept me as a Jedi Master."Anakin declared.

"Anakin…"Padmé started.

"Sometimes I wonder what's happening to the Jedi Order."Anakin stated."I think Nadia is right. This war is destroying the principles of the Republic."

"Have you ever considered that we may be on the wrong side?"Padmé suggested.

"What do you mean?"Anakin questioned.

"What if the democracy we thought we were serving no longer exists and the Republic has become the very evil we've been fighting to destroy?"Padmé asked.

"I don't believe that."Anakin commented."And you're sounding like a Separatist."

"This war represents a failure to listen."Padmé stated."Now you're closer to the Chancellor than anyone. Please, ask him to stop the fighting and let diplomacy resume."

Anakin stood up from the sofa and took a few steps away.

"Don't ask me to do that."Anakin retorted."Make a motion in the Senate, where that kind of a request belongs."

Padmé noticed something was bothering Anakin.

"What is it?"Padme asked.

"Nothing."Anakin responded.

The Senator of Naboo slowly stood up from the sofa and went up to her beloved.

"Don't do this. Don't shut me out. Let me help you."Padmé begged."Hold me. Like you did by the lake on Naboo. So long ago, when there was nothing, but our love."

Anakin carefully wrapped his arms around Padmé to hug her.

"No politics, no plotting, no war."Padmé murmured.

In her private quarters within the Jedi Temple, Nadia spoke to Hal, Maybelline and RG-G1 about what recently happened.

"So that's what happened."Nadia declared."The Council refused to giving Anakin the rank of Jedi Master and want him to spy on the Chancellor like some kind of double agent."

"I can't believe this."Hal retorted."And they still act like a viable peacekeeping force even after that?"

Maybelline frowned and sat on a crate.

"Anakin is a hero of the Clone Wars and accomplished feats that most of that the Council never did and they still have the nerve to treat him that way."Maybelline pouted and folded her arms, feeling unhappy that her war hero didn't become a Jedi Master."That's not fair."

RG-G1 let out a disapproving beep while Hal glanced at Nadia.

"Did the Council give you a new assignment, Dia?"Hal asked.

"Master Ti asked me to train a Padawan class starting tomorrow."Nadia explained."So, it seems that I'll be out of the war zone like Anakin."

Maybelline became happy at her older half-sister's declaration.

"Yipeee!"Maybelline cheered in delight while waving her hands."That's great news!"

"But Ferus will be heading off with Master Yoda to take part in the battle of Kashyyyk."Nadia declared with a frown.

Hal folded his arms.

"Well, Ferus is a Jedi Knight as well."Hal commented."You won't always find him in the Jedi Temple."

Nadia smirked at her step-brother's declaration.

"I could say the same thing to you, lover boy."Nadia sneered."May told me you got yourself a girlfriend."

Hal became shocked and blushed furiously at Nadia's declaration.

"Uh…"Hal started.

"Relax, Hal."Nadia instructed with a smirk."I won't tell anyone. But at least we won't be talking about my love life anymore."

Hal glared at Maybelline, who gave him an innocent grin while RG-G1 let out a laughing beep.

Then Ferus came into Nadia's private quarters.

"Hi."Ferus greeted with a wave.

"Hello, Ferus."Maybelline responded."What's up?"

"I actually came to talk to Nadia."Ferus stated.

Nadia shook her head.

"Your conversation with me will have to wait Ferus."Nadia declared."Me and Anakin need to go to the Galaxies Opera House to meet up with the Chancellor."

This caused Ferus to become alarmed.

"The Chancellor wants to see you and Anakin?"Ferus questioned, his voice mixed with suspicion."What for?"

Nadia frowned. "Is there a problem?"

Ferus gives Nadia a fake bright smile.

"Nothing, Dia. Sorry."Ferus apologised casually."Have fun at the Opera."

Nadia smiled and gives Ferus a kiss on the cheek before leaving her boyfriend with her step-brother, younger half-sister and droid.

RG-G let out a beep.

"We heard that the Council refused to give Anakin the title of Jedi Master, Ferus."Hal informed."As well as his task to spy on the Chancellor."

Ferus lightly scoffed in respond.

"All this is actually messed up if you ask me."Ferus scowled.

Maybelline got off the crate she was on.

"What's the matter, Ferus?"Maybelline asked.

"I don't know why."Ferus said, being careful with his words."But I have a feeling that Chancellor Palpatine strategically made this move knowing the Council would deny Anakin the rank of master therefore creating a more division between him and the Jedi."

"You think the Chancellor is up to something?"Hal assumed.

"He gained more and more 'emergency powers' and shows no sign of retiring, even though his term has long since expired."Ferus reminded with a frown."His also strangely trying to get himself closer to Anakin and Nadia."

"Well, the Chancellor has been a good mentor to Anakin and Nadia, Ferus."Maybelline reminded."The Council, especially Master Windu, treats them like nothing but garbage."

Ferus frowned and looked down on the floor.

"Still I believe there is definitely something wrong with Chancellor Palpatine."Ferus stated.

At the Galaxies Opera House in the Uscru District, Anakin and Nadia joined Chancellor Palpatine in watching the Mon Calamari Aquatic Ballet performing Squid Lake.

The two Jedi Knights saw the Chancellor watching the ballet in his private box with Mas Amedda, Sly-Moore and Senator Sweitt Concorkill.

"You wanted to see us, Chancellor?"Anakin assumed.

"Yes, Anakin and Nadia."Chancellor Palpatine remarked."Come closer. I have good news."

Anakin and Nadia listened carefully what Chancellor Palpatine had to say.

"Our clone intelligence units have discovered the location of General Grievous."Chancellor Palpatine admitted."He's hiding in the Utapau system."

"General Grievous is in Utapau?"Nadia remarked.

"At last."Anakin chuckled."We'll be able to capture that monster and end this war."

"I would worry about the collective wisdom of the Council, if it didn't select you
for this assignment."Chancellor Palpatine admitted."You're the best choice, by far. Sit down."

Chancellor Palpatine glanced at Mas Amedda, Sly-Moore and Senator Concorkill.

"Leave us."Chancellor Palpatine ordered.

Mas Amedda, Sly-Moore and Senator Concorkill left, leaving Anakin and Nadia with Chancellor Palpatine.

Anakin sat on the chair on Chancellor Palpatine's right side while Nadia sat next to him.

Nadia's ruby red eyes watched in amazement at the giant anti-gravity water ball ballet being played at the Galaxies Opera House.

"It's beautiful."Nadia murmured.

"It's quite a scenery."Chancellor Palpatine agreed and brought his attention on Anakin."Anakin. You know I'm not able to rely on the Jedi Council. If they haven't included you in their plot, they soon will."

"I'm not sure I understand."Anakin stated.

"Neither do I, sir."Nadia commented.

"You both must sense what I have come to suspect."Chancellor Palpatine assumed."The Jedi Council want control of the Republic. They're planning to betray me."

Nadia felt butterflies in her stomach while Anakin glanced at Chancellor Palpatine.

"I don't think that-"Anakin started.

"Anakin. Search your feelings."Chancellor Palpatine instructed."You know, don't you?"

"I know they don't trust you."Anakin admitted.

"Or the Senate. Or the Republic."Chancellor Palpatine added."Or democracy, for that matter."

"I have to admit, my trust in them has been shaken."Anakin declared.

"Why?"Chancellor Palpatine asked."They asked you to do something that made you feel dishonest, didn't they? They asked you to spy on me, didn't they?"

Both Anakin and Nadia became utterly surprised that the Chancellor knew what the Jedi Council was up to.

"You…know about that?"Nadia asked.

"I don't know what to say."Anakin said.

"Remember back to your early teachings."Chancellor Palpatine instructed."All who gain power are afraid to lose it. Even the Jedi."

"The Jedi use their power for good."Anakin stated.

"Good is a point of view, Anakin."Chancellor Palpatine commented."The Sith and the Jedi are similar in almost every way. Including their quest for greater power."

Nadia looked at Chancellor Palpatine.

"I agree that there has been a lot failings of the Jedi, sir."Nadia replied with a small frown."But the Sith are always looking inwards, thinking only for themselves."

"And the Jedi don't, Nadia?"Chancellor Palpatine asked.

Nadia scoffed. "Well…some do."

"But there Jedi are that are selfless."Anakin stated."They only care about others."

There was silence for a moment before the Chancellor spoke up again.

"Did either of you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?"Chancellor Palpatine asked.

Anakin shook his head.

"No."Anakin replied.

"I have only read about Sith Lords from the tales of the Old Republic that included Darth Revan, Darth Sion, Darth Traya and…her apprentice, Darth Nihilus."Nadia stated."But never a Sith Lord under the name of Darth Plagueis."

"I thought not. It's not a story the Jedi would tell you. It's a Sith legend."Chancellor Palpatine responded before he began to tell the tale to the two Jedi Knights."Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith. So powerful and so wise, he could use the Force to influence the midi-chlorians to create...life."

A glimpse of surprise and confusion grew on Nadia's face as she and Anakin listened to the Chancellor's tale.

The raven haired girl heard of Dark Side powers, but not one that gave a Sith Lord the ability to create life.

"He had such a knowledge of the Dark Side that he could even keep the ones he cared about from dying."Chancellor Palpatine admitted.

This sentence caught Anakin's attention.

"He could actually save people from death?"Anakin questioned.

"The Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural."Chancellor Palpatine exclaimed.

Nadia fiddled with her hands a bit.

"That is true."Nadia murmured.

"What happened to him?"Anakin questioned.

"He became so powerful, the only thing he was afraid of was losing his power."Chancellor Palpatine exclaimed with a smile."Which eventually, of course, he did. Unfortunately, he taught his apprentice everything he knew. Then his apprentice killed him in his sleep."

A startled look appeared on Nadia's face for a moment before it was replaced by a neutral expression.

She had heard numerous times of Siths betraying one another in the past.

Darth Sion quickly grew impatient with waiting to fight the Jedi and the Republic more directly while Darth Nihilus more and more found himself needing to feed on the Force energy of other beings, which was not being satisfied by Darth Traya's strategies.

Though the Lord of Hunger was killed by the Jedi Exile, Meetra Surik and a reformed Sith Visa Marr, who was previously his own apprentice.

"It's ironic."Chancellor Palpatine sneered."He could save others from death, but not himself."

Anakin looked back at Chancellor Palpatine while Nadia looked down in thought.

"Is it possible to learn this power?"Anakin asked.

"Not from a Jedi."Chancellor Palpatine stated.

Now Nadia is getting suspicious about the Chancellor as well…

See you all in the next chapter and have a wonderful day!