April 4, 2013
A/N:
Hello! 8D
Thank you for reading this!
Thank you so much each and every reviewer (old or new), your reviews are so wonderful! Thank you last chapter's reviewers: JourneyRocks13, Jedi Master Misty Sman-Esay, Zireael07, Alpacino, Alexa Skywalker, LadyMarissaGarmadon, NightSisters, Hermya Dawson, and sheildmaiden19. Your encouraging words are locked in my mind and heart. Thank you again. 8D
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So, here is Chapter 12: Business. Back to Jedi and Sith (and of course Anakin and Padme ;)! Please enjoy! :)
Chapter 12: Business
The Jedi Council was shocked. Positively shocked.
This emergency meeting delivered news beyond the stretch of their worst imagination.
How could such a malevolent-man have lived right under their noses?
No, not even a man, a creature. A sick, slithering creature.
The meeting-room's silence haunted each member, but no-one could speak.
Did the force betray them; have they been doing things wrongly?
How can they escape these woven snares?
Yoda's holo-graphic image flickered as he took initiative, "Failed we have," he sounded their grave thoughts, "Run we must, to Sylvantar."
The room stirred.
Sylvantar? A most sacred planet to the Jedi. Ancient temple-fortresses and humble means. Only during the most private times did Jedi go there. No one or thing outside of the Order knew about the prehistoric preservation.
But if the Grand Master wanted this course of action—
"If you believe it to be the right move, Master Yoda," Ki-Adi-Mundi soberly stated.
"Believe right move, I do," he bowed his head, ears even drooped, "Dark time for the Jedi, it is. Very dark…"
They, at any moment, could become "traitors to the republic" and terminated by their own clones.
Master Obi-Wan Kenobi hung heavy with solemnity. How could it come to this?
After the situation settled, "We should call in all Jedi; we can't risk having them on any missions. Especially Knights and Masters. Losing them would cause being unable to defeat The Chancellor, and that is something we mustn't allow." Master Mace Windu said with no apparent emotion.
Almost all masters nodded in unison.
'Anakin certainly won't like this,' Obi-Wan reflected, almost amused, almost.
As if the masters read his mind, "Where is Skywalker? He disappeared recently; do you have any idea where?" Ki-Adi-Mundi's question held so much more weight than he knew.
Kenobi attempted to hide his discomfort on this issue, "He is protecting Senator Amidala."
Confusion raised in the chamber. Obviously they hadn't assigned him to this job.
Not too surprising, he has a way of being aloof with rules.
However, he had an… attachment to the woman, and that is unacceptable for a Jedi, much less the Chosen One.
Even worse, young Skywalker had left them in a moment of need for a woman without reason. Unless there is one; then it is different—partially.
"Done this, why has he?" Yoda asked. Kenobi could swear a bit or mirth hung in the little Master's eyes.
Impossible; he must be wrong.
An uneasy shift of weight. How to handle this, how to handle this. He doesn't handle hiding-the-truth's pressure very well, Kenobi had finally decided. Not well at all, "The daughter of the senator had an assassination attempt, initially from Sidious himself."
Something besides mourn and pain swept through the Jedi: startle and suspicion.
"The Senator has no child," a projected image of Master Koon echoed everyone's mental words.
A breath, "She does now. Twins, to be more accurate."
The Council knew this woman well, and have known her for closer to two decades than one. This news was not just shocking, but strangely joyous. Considering Jedi's detached way of handling things.
Maybe it was because the news was of life, and not death.
"After the child, why is Sidious?" Yoda queried, surprisingly calm about the new development. Almost as if he knew about the facts.
Oh force! He can't know… can he? No, he can't. "I don't know. That's why Anakin is assigned to her."
Among other things.
"Self-assigned," Mace flatly added. He's usually upset with Skywalker, now more than usual.
"Take into consideration that her child, quite possibly children and herself, need protection. Also, since a sith is involved, more than just any guard," he became more comfortable. Negotiation is natural for him.
"Skywalker and the Senator have worked together before, and his skills are quite established," some members swayed in their resolves. Obi-Wan's title of 'The Negotiator' was quite properly entitled. "We would have assigned someone from the Order to her, correct?" members nodded, "He's a perfect candidate for that."
Most members agreed with him, odds are the Council would have chosen him besides.
"But we didn't assign him, he has assigned himself. And in the greatest time of need for him. If he is indeed The Chosen One, he must destroy this sith, thus bringing balance to the force as prophesized," Windu added.
Not many would argue with that.
"His responsibility is to the Jedi Order, not to the Senator and her children he has no place with."
Oh, if only they knew...
"We will summon him back, along with everyone else," Mace continued.
No, they will not be left alone and practically defenseless. "What about the senator? She obviously needs protection."
"A padawan will have to suffice. Since the senator is, as I assume, in isolation and thus out of the sith's reach, she will not need anything more than a padawan. The Jedi are Skywalker's main concern, not Amidala and/or her children."
How do they know only a padawan can fill the roomy shoes?
Why would Palpatine go after Leia in the first place? Especially, how did he even know she was born?
Anakin said he had erased everything that proved their existence, and knowing his former padawan, he had done a thorough job.
To the galaxy, the twins don't exist.
This didn't sit right with Obi-Wan. Something was quite amiss here.
Plus, Anakin is not going to like this. His family entrusted to an in-training youth? Not good. He'll have to contact him and forewarn...
At least they're receiving someone, however.
"I agree with Master Windu and Master Yoda," another blue holo-image, this one of Master Luminara Unduli, sounded.
She, as always, being elegantly reserved and resolved; which is customary for her and her species. "We must call all Jedi to one location, and we cannot allow Skywalker as an exception; especially with him breaking the rules… again," she added.
"I believe it is decided," Mace began, "We must contact all Knights and Masters immediately and evacuate immediately as well."
"No," Yoda spoke, "Move slowly, we must. Careful we must be. Prioritize Jedi, we ought. Jedi on front lines, first should be. Ones out of danger, later. Aroused suspicions, otherwise. And lose lives, we could."
Jedi took head to his wisdom, all agreed with these new steps of action. Slowly but surely, the Jedi will fade away like drops in an ocean.
Sidious would wait. The right moment will come, he assured himself. There isn't any other option.
Darkness always wins; he's certain of it.
He'd just need to wait.
Though patience was a Jedi's weak virtue, a true sith knows when the time to act is. Not to pounce while prey are clicks away; but until right in front of you.
It isn't patience, but a skill.
An all too well mastered skill for Sidious. Hundreds of years he's crept about, and soon, no more.
No more fake "smiles" and "kind gestures", but revenge and unlimited power.
He knew the darkside will tell him exactly when to act.
The right time to play dead.
The right time to find his apprentice-to-be and that pathetic woman and brats he clings to.
If only Skywalker knew the sensations of true power, of true control— that woman and his offspring wouldn't be in the picture. And if only he knew that love is nothing but mere weakness, and only fools feel it.
And he would know, or he will be made to.
So for now, the sith must count the drops of the constant rain. No weather could please him, but rain was right under sunshine and snow.
A hail-thunderstorm was more his "favorite".
Destruction, cold, powerful.
Which is exactly what he will bring to the galaxy, after this waiting.
Anakin knew his wife was nervous. Though anyone else wouldn't see anything wrong, he could tell.
They both sat in a sitting-room. In bassinets, which Skywalker took the liberty to set up, were two little babies.
The plan? Well, her family will come in and she will, as vaguely as possible, explain. She'd already done that with the housekeepers. They weren't what she expected. Instead of harsh and angry with twins "out of wedlock", they were overjoyed with the two little gems.
Happy.
Hopefully, her family will feel the same.
Hopefully…
The Senator doesn't like being still, and moved to a window, her husband following.
This couple was a current. No stiff moves and jerks, but a flowing movement with the other. Forever swifting and swirling together without thinking.
Padme looked at their unexpected guest work with Teckla's husband, Jettam, in the ever-needing garden.
The child was almost unrecognizable with a shower and good night's sleep.
She grinned, Han insisted he should work and that wanted to help anyway possible. Maybe feeling guilty about the half-eaten bowl of shurra fruit...
From what she saw, Solo was enjoying himself.
A soft sensation made its way up her forearm and back down again. A comforting gesture. Soon arms wrapped around her and a chin rested on the top of her head. No objection given as she leaned into him.
She knew hiding the truth from her family was worth it for all of his love.
The late-night talks while she wrote bills, how he helped proof and make suggestions for them after months on front-lines.
How he made her feel alive and herself, not just a senator drowning in a sea of faces.
The way he made her smile first thing in the morning, and how he could get her to laugh no matter what.
How his touch lingered on her body and his lips affectionately worshiped her.
The way his strong arms held her and nothing in the galaxy could ever hurt her.
How he cradled their children and did all the nightshifts that didn't requiring feeding, even then he was up.
The way his 'I love you' was the most beautiful song sung to her.
How he would bring her gourmet-food and be with her at the office, knowing she always forgot to eat.
The beautiful Nubian blooms he sent her whenever on Coruscant, always keeping her apartment smelling of her dearly missed home-planet. She still didn't know how he'd get the credits, and then find the rare blossoms.
And all the other countless things he did just to help and make her happy. Always taking care of her and protecting her.
Padme would never go back, never regret; and hiding some things from her family, at least for today, was such a small price to pay for all the joys he brings to her doorstep, for she would miss them otherwise.
Entirely worth it.
Her husband shifted his weight, "They're landing," he kindly let her go. "You can tell them the truth, Angel," he looked down, "I don't want you to feel ashamed of the truth."
Ashamed?! "Ani, I'm not ashamed of us."
He looked up, confused; he thought he had hit the target.
"I've just built this moment up so much over the years, now that it is finally here, I'm afraid I'll mess up."
Of course— only Padme.
His kind hand brushed her cheek, "You do perfectly, my love. You won't mess up."
She shook her head, "I'm not perfect," she grumbled.
Another affectionate stroke, "You are to me," he said with firmness, unbreakable firmness.
Padme almost laughed, "I think love has blinded you." She joked about a previous discussion months ago, after he returned to her from five agonizing months apart.
"I told you it wasn't what I meant," he teased remembering the moment perfectly.
They made their way to the entry-room and got distance.
She smiled with a laugh, nerves releasing.
He turned to her, "Do what you makes you happy, Padme. I don't care if they know." His truthfulness glittered his eyes.
She looked down in thought.
Padme never suspected he'd mind, but also never thought she would ever tell her family the truth.
She was so prepared for speech she had planned. Now, she was torn straight in two.
Were they safer knowing?
Will they be happy knowing?
She must find a resolve, and fast.
Quite a decision for her to make last-minute.
To be continued…
A/N:
Oh boy, does Padme have a choice to make! The next chapter will be about some family drama (and Han, and NABOO*heart*)! :P
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God Bless :)