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Forbidden Longing	By : PyramidHead316 Category: Star Wars (All) > General Views: 4286 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: George Lucas owned Star Wars, which is now owned by Disney. This is merely a work of fan fiction. We make no profit off of this fic.

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
- 13
Chapter 12: Confrontations at the Temple
Anakin sat dejectedly on the bed he shared with his beloved wife. He had a towel around his waist, having just showered. He must have become so lost in his thoughts that he’d lost track of how long he’d been sitting there. Padme came out in her robe and placed her hand on his shoulder.
“Ani?” she asked, snapping him out of his daze.
“Huh? Oh…sorry angel,” he apologized. Padme looked at him with a mixture of concern and love.
“You were in the shower for almost an hour,” she mentioned.
“Uhh…yeah. It just seemed like no matter how hard I scrubbed, I couldn’t get clean,” he said. Padme sat next to him and pulled him into a hug.
“Everything’s going to be okay Ani. We’ll be away from here forever in just a few hours. Are you nervous about meeting with the Council?” she asked.
“A little…but I’m more anxious than nervous. I just want to leave here with you…and hope that I never have to see him again,” Anakin said. He knew that would never happen though. Obi-Wan was walking down a dark path and Anakin knew he would hunt them for the rest of his life. He just hoped he and Padme could keep one step ahead of him. They had to, for he could not let Obi-Wan harm her. There was a tap on their door.
“Miss Padme, everything is packed and loaded on the ship. Artoo has performed all the necessary checks on the ship and everything is in order,” Threepio spoke.
“Thank you Threepio. We’ll be leaving for the Temple soon,” Padme called. She addressed her husband with a concerned stare.
“Are you sure Obi-Wan can’t harm you there?” she asked. It was odd, since this was her idea, after all. But she couldn’t stand the thought of unwittingly sending her husband to more abuse at Kenobi’s hands.
“I’m positive. It’s like you said. He can’t lose his temper without jeopardizing our secret in front of the Council.”
“Okay. Be careful anyway.”
“I will,” Anakin assured her. She wrapped her arms around him, giving him a tightly comforting hug. “I love you,” she whispered in his ear, just before planting a gentle kiss on his temple.
“Are you sure you want to come? Maybe you should stay here with Captain Typho and his guards,” Anakin said eventually.
“Why?”
“I don’t think it’s such a good idea, going to the Temple like this,” he replied. The Temple didn’t usually allow unannounced visitors, and he knew some on the Jedi Council were going to take his resignation very badly. Bad enough that Obi-Wan would be there, when Anakin wanted him as far away from her as possible…he didn’t want Padme to suffer any kind of retribution from the Jedi who were surely not going to be happy to see him leave.
“I’m going with you. I’m not going to let you face them alone. Even if I stay on the ship, I’ll feel much better knowing I’m there with you,” Padme said with absolute resolution. And that was that. Never mind his concerns, Padme was adamant about this. She was not going to let her husband march into that place on his own, like a prisoner waiting for his sentence.
“Okay,” Anakin conceded with a sigh, knowing Padme wasn’t going to change her mind about this.
“What are you going to tell them?” she asked.
“The truth. That you and I are in love, and we want to retire to a quiet life,” Anakin shrugged. “Just like you told me, minus the part about us being married,” he added.
“You don’t think they’d take well to that?” Padme asked sarcastically. Anakin had to smile.
“They’ll be angry enough as it is. No need to throw it in their faces that I broke the Code a long time before this,” he said. “Although, it would make Obi-Wan look bad.”
He chuckled a bit. Padme smiled; it was nice to see her husband’s spirits lifted, even for a moment. He turned serious, though, when he spoke. “It’s funny. I would have enjoyed doing that before. But now…I just want to home, with you.”
Padme gave him a hug. “And we will my love, soon.”
Anakin basked in the feeling of being in her arms, before standing up to get dressed. He put on his Jedi uniform, or “Jedi blacks” as Padme called them, feeling a twinge of regret as he did. This would be the last time he wore them to the Temple as a member of the Order. Oh well. Maybe she would let him keep them to wear around the house. He would always be a Jedi in her eyes, no matter what anyone said.
He clipped his lightsaber to his belt. It would look suspicious if he showed up without it. And even if Obi-Wan would not dare to attack him at the Temple, he might need the threat of the lightsaber to ward him off anyway. Once he was finished, he sat on the bed, needing a few moments to collect his thoughts. Padme placed an arm around him.
“Will you be long?” she asked.
“No, I’ll just go in there and give it to them straight,” Anakin replied. Padme had a pensive look on her face.
“What? What is it?”
“It occurs to me that this is the last time you’ll ever see these people in person. Maybe you should consider leaving more of an impression. You know, show everyone that you’re not the irresponsible Jedi they think you are,” Padme suggested.
“…I hadn’t thought of that,” Anakin said, thinking it over.
“Just consider it.
It didn’t take him long to decide. “Don’t have to. I like it!”
Padme smiled at his enthusiasm. Suddenly, Anakin remembered something he had forgotten about entirely.
“Palpatine.”
“What?”
“The Chancellor, Padme. I have to say goodbye to the Chancellor,” Anakin explained.
Padme suddenly got bad a feeling, the same one she always got whenever Palpatine and Anakin were thought of in the same conversation. “I don’t know, Anakin. Can’t you do that from the ship?”
Anakin stared at her incredulously. “Padme, this man is one of my closest friends. He’s been like a father to me. I’m not going to send him a message from orbit telling him we’re never coming back.”
Padme sighed. She really didn’t want to start an argument right now. “Okay, but I’m coming with you.”
“Padme, you don’t have to do that,” Anakin said.
“I’m coming with you, Anakin. No arguments,” she insisted.
“What about Typho and the others? Don’t you have to pick them up?” Anakin inquired.
“I’ll just have them rendezvous with us at the Executive Building,” Padme said, and that was final. Anakin knew he wasn’t going to win this one.
“Okay. I guess it won’t hurt to have you waiting there already. At least we’ll be able to leave quickly,” he relented. “We should get going.”
“Good luck,” Padme said. She gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Padme…”
“I know, I know. There’s no such thing as luck where a Jedi’s concerned,” she said, rolling her eyes at the old mantra.
“That’s right,” Anakin smirked. Padme was thrilled when he captured her lips in a gentle kiss. It was nice to see his spirits cheered. She only hoped the meetings awaiting him wouldn’t dampen them again.
~*~
Inside the Jedi Council chamber, Master Windu brought the session to order.
“Our first order of business this morning pertains to Knight Skywalker. He has asked to come before us this morning to discuss something important,” Mace said. Obi-Wan masked his emotions with an impenetrable wall. He didn’t like the sound of this.
“What are you up to, young one?” Obi-Wan asked his Padawan mentally.
“You’ll find out soon enough, Master,” was the reply, as Anakin entered the Council chambers.
“Be careful what you do, Padawan. Remember who you belong to,” Obi-Wan reminded him.
“Anakin, what have you come to discuss?” Shaak Ti asked kindly.
Mace held up a hand. “Before that, Master Ti, there’s something I want to address. First and foremost, are you ready for your mission, Knight Skywalker?”
“I can’t stop thinking about last night. How I long to make you scream like that again,” Obi-Wan taunted Anakin, knowing how concerned his pupil was about said mission. Anakin clenched his teeth and walled up his emotions, before finally speaking.
“No…I’m not,” he replied. Several eyebrows rose in response.
“Why not?”
“That pertains to what I came here to discuss,” the other replied. “Masters…I have come today to formally…resign my position as a Jedi,” Anakin said calmly.
A ripple of astonishment went around the Council chamber. Needless to say, everyone in the room was shocked.
“What?” Obi-Wan exclaimed. Mace held up his hand.
“Obi-Wan,” the Korun Master warned him. Obi-Wan settled back, clenching the sides of his chair.
“May I ask why you’ve made such a sudden decision?” Mace inquired.
“I have fallen in love…with Senator Amidala,” Anakin informed him, once again sensing the waves of shock in everyone. They had had their suspicions that his ‘friendship’ with Padme was not what it seemed, at least some of them, but to have it confirmed in this way was utterly astounding.
“I am leaving the Order to be with her,” he continued. “She too is resigning, and we are leaving Coruscant today.” Anakin stood back and let them absorb what he had told them. Most in the room looked disappointed or angry…except Shaak Ti. She smiled softly at him.
“We will miss you Anakin,” she said. He knew that she would, but the others wouldn’t.
“Thank you Master, I shall miss you as well,” Anakin replied.
“So, this is why you’re leaving us all of a sudden?” Mace Windu spoke at last. “Because you’ve developed an attachment to this senator? It seems rather foolish to leave the Order on a whim, don’t you think?”
Anakin restrained the urge to snap at the man. “Master, this isn’t a whim. I’ve felt this way for a long time. I just haven’t had the courage to admit it to myself until now,” he responded, quite proud of himself for reacting so calmly.
“Masters, this war has taken its toll on everyone. To be honest, I just can’t deal with it anymore. It’s too much, being away from home all the time, taking part in those Force awful battles, while our comrades die all around us…it’s too much. And yes, I do worry about Padme the most. It’s hell not being together with her, or being there to protect her like I should be.” Anakin shook his head, clearing away the sense of guilt he felt at that.
“I know the Code doesn’t allow attachments, and I would never ask you to make an exception for me. I can’t be a Jedi and a lover to Padme. I know that now.” He sighed. “So rather than force you to make that decision, I’ve decided to do the right thing. And that is to resign. I’m sorry I’m leaving you at this critical junction in the war. But I truly have no choice.”
The Council was silent as they contemplated that. Nobody had ever heard Anakin talk this way amongst the Jedi. This was not the brash, reckless youth who earned himself the nickname “the Hero with No Fear”. This was a calm, collected man who stood before them declaring his intent to leave. He almost sounded like a different person. His display of control did not go unnoticed by Shaak Ti, or by Yoda, for that matter.
“Hmm…thought this through, have you?” Yoda questioned.
“Yes Master, for a very long time. I belong at her side and I leave of my own free will,” he said.
“Then stop you, we cannot.”
“Nor would I want you to. This is something I have to do for myself,” Anakin answered wisely.
Mace sighed deeply. “Then you leave us no choice. Surrender your lightsaber,” he stated.
Anakin placed his lightsaber into Yoda’s awaiting hand. Taking one last look around the room, he turned his direction towards his former Master.
“Obi-Wan…thank you for training me all these years. I’m sorry I couldn’t be the Jedi Knight that you wanted me to. But if it means anything to you, I have faith that you will defeat General Grievous and end this terrible war,” Anakin said, knowing that those words would spur a storm of indignation in his former Master. He was leaving on his own terms, not on Obi-Wan’s, and that was about as great a release as he could expect from this situation.
Bowing before the Council, he left without looking back.
For a while the Council was silent, each member pondering the enormity of what just happened. All save one. Obi-Wan sat motionless in his chair, jaw slacked in disbelief. Of all the things Anakin could have said, of all he could have done, nothing had prepared him for this. He was shocked.
Gradually the rage began to build inside him. He kept a tight lid on it so as to not alert the Council, but it was there. Bubbling under the surface, waiting to explode in a torrent of anger…
Before he was fully aware of what he was doing, Obi-Wan had stood up from his chair. Without so much as a warning, he took off suddenly in Anakin’s direction. He heard Master Windu’s voice calling to him, telling him distinctly to get back to the Council chamber. He paid it little mind. The Council could wait. So could General Grievous.
Anakin already had a head start. He would just have to hope that he reached his old apprentice before his departure.
Obi-Wan was not letting him get away with this.
~*~
Anakin strolled quickly through the halls of the first floor. He had done what had to be done. And for the first time since this whole sordid mess began, he felt an enormous sense of relief and pride. Finally, he was free.
Other Jedi Knights gave him curious stares as he passed. Little did they know that this would be the last time they saw Anakin Skywalker in the halls of the Jedi Temple.
He sensed a presence fast approaching from afar. The young Jedi clenched his fist in subdued anger. He knew without having to check who his pursuer was. It was Obi-Wan. Anakin held back a curse. He should have known Kenobi wouldn’t let him go without a fight.
Anakin! Obi-Wan called through the Force. Anakin could hear the incensement in his Master’s ‘voice.’
He continued walking as though nothing were amiss. If Obi-Wan wanted to talk to him, then he was going to be sorely disappointed. Once he got on that ship with Padme, Anakin would forever leave behind the life of a Jedi Knight. There was nothing for him here. Obi-Wan didn’t deserve his loyalty, nor would Anakin allow him to bully him into submission once more. He had nothing to say to him.
“Anakin!” His Master’s angry voice came at him. Anakin stopped to look back, and sure enough, there was Obi-Wan sprinting towards him. Anakin sighed deeply. It looked like he would have to deal with this, whether he wanted to or not.
“Anakin…” His former Master caught up with him. He placed his hands on his hips, staring at Anakin with a face carved from stone. Obi-Wan was furious; Anakin had never seen him this angry before. His aura smoldered with rage, threatening to explode in a powerful display of fury. Only the barest amount of Jedi restraint held him back.
Anakin thought back to Padme’s words that morning. “Be strong Ani. Don’t let him intimidate you.”
“What do you think you’re doing?” Obi-Wan asked dangerously.
“What I should have done at the beginning of this whole mess. I won’t be your slave anymore,” Anakin replied.
Obi-Wan was about to retaliate with a nasty retort when he noticed that Anakin’s mechanical right hand was clenched at his side. He took a deep breath, calling on his many years of discipline to assuage his rage. The last thing he needed was a fight with his old Padawan right here in the Jedi Temple. Then his secret would certainly be exposed.
“What are you doing here anyway? Don’t you have a Council meeting to attend?”
“You know this is more important. I couldn’t let you go without some resistance,” Obi-Wan said.
“Really?” Anakin asked dryly. It was a little surprising that his former Master would rush out of a Council meeting like this, but given everything Kenobi had done over the past several days, Anakin guessed he shouldn’t be surprised.
“Remember our agreement, Padawan. So long as you cooperate, Padme will remain safe,” Obi-Wan stated.
“Don’t call me that! I’m not your Padawan anymore,” Anakin retorted viciously. “You can’t order me around like some child under your wing, and I won’t allow you to do this to me any longer. You have no right.”
“Don’t take that tone with me, Anakin. I gave you your life. You owe me!” Obi-Wan declared.
“I owe you nothing!” Anakin countered. “The only reason you trained me in the first place was because Qui-Gon asked you to. And I think he would have reconsidered that request if he had known what you would end up doing to me!”
Obi-Wan’s eyes narrowed. The subject of Qui-Gon had always been a sore spot between them. Anakin had never forgotten the reason Obi-Wan insisted on training him, and Obi-Wan had never let himself forget the pact he made with his dying Master. For years it was the source of a permanent underlying resentment between them. Anakin was all too aware his Master didn’t really want him in the first place, something that kept him from bonding too closely with the older man. Likewise, Obi-Wan was not fond of the burden that had been thrust upon on him by his dying mentor.
They cared about each other, and valued their friendship, but they were never ignorant of the circumstances that had brought them together. They were tied to each other by the wishes of a murdered man, not because they genuinely wanted to be with each other.
Eventually they learned to grow beyond that, forming a relationship that was respectable in its nature, if not as open as it could be. Nonetheless, neither man ever forgot that were it not for Qui-Gon’s death, they would never have been together and Master and Padawan. Anakin would have chosen as Qui-Gon’s new Padawan, and Obi-Wan would have been the jealous old apprentice cast aside in favor of someone younger and more powerful.
At least, that was what Anakin thought at first. Eventually he came to realize that it was wrong to wish that had happened. Qui-Gon would not have abandoned Obi-Wan that way, nor did he desire to hurt his Padawan’s feelings when he introduced Anakin to the Council. It was just an error on his part, albeit one that came at the expense of his current Padawan’s pride. Despite the first impression he gave Anakin, Qui-Gon was not perfect. He was just a man, as prone to mistakes as anyone else. In the rush to have the Council accept Anakin as the Chosen One, Qui-Gon had inadvertently sealed the fate of the future relationship between Anakin and Obi-Wan.
That error was later made worse when he failed to tell Obi-Wan how proud he was of him before he died. Later on, Obi-Wan conceded that his Master had been proud of him, and that he probably did believe that Obi-Wan was ready for the Trials. The signs had been there long before they came across the gifted young boy from Tatooine. It was just the way he presented that belief, as an afterthought to Anakin’s training, that haunted Obi-Wan the most. It hurt to know that he had not been the foremost thing on his Master’s mind at the moment of his death.
It was the one time Obi-Wan confided in his Padawan about his true feelings on their circumstances. Anakin understood his Master’s pain, although not nearly to the same degree – he had barely known Qui-Gon, after all. And yet, that breakthrough failed to erase the tension between them. What was done was done, and no amount of talking could change that.
No doubt that was a reason why his Master did not hesitate to put him through this. Whatever was affecting Kenobi in such a terrible manner, it had clearly brought to light that old resentment from years past. Even so, surely Obi-Wan realized the truth: that Qui-Gon would be horrified at what he was doing. He was just too lost in himself to admit it.
“I guess it’s time I had a talk with Senator Amidala then,” Obi-Wan remarked, grasping for the last possible way of manipulating his Padawan.
“Go ahead and try. Because you’ll never get anywhere near her,” Anakin dared him.
The two men glared at each other.
“We had an agreement, Anakin,” Obi-Wan spoke in a clipped tone. “As long as you obeyed me without question, Padme would remain unharmed. I promised you she would be safe.”
“And I was a fool to ever believe that. She will never be safe as long you’re around. No matter what I do or what I let you do to me, you’re always going to want to kill her. And eventually you’re going to try, whether you have me under your control or not,” Anakin said, partly realizing the truth for the first time. He had been a fool to trust Kenobi to such an agreement.
“Well I’m not waiting around for you try and murder her. From now on, any agreement we had is off. Any partnership we have is over. From now on, we have no ties to each other. If I see you near Padme even once, I’ll kill you.”
Anakin’s words were delivered with the utmost seriousness. The bravado lacing them was false, but the intentions behind them were genuine. Whatever this man standing before him was, it was not Obi-Wan Kenobi. Anakin’s old Master was gone, replaced by this loathsome excuse for a human being. And he would die before letting this monster get anywhere near his angel.
He turned to leave, but Obi-Wan’s voice stopped him once again.
“I will kill her, Anakin. Do you understand me? I will kill her. Snap her fragile little neck just as I promised,” Obi-Wan declared, in a low, icy tone.
“The only way you’ll get to her is over my dead body,” Anakin replied. He paused, thinking of another way to deter his Master. “And I’d be careful about making such threats. I wouldn’t want to have to inform the Chancellor that you’re threatening one of his top senators.”
He expected Obi-Wan to be angry. Much to his surprise, his Master started laughing – a disturbing, unstable sound that sent shivers down his spine.
“Is that what you think?” Kenobi asked, chuckling with amusement. “That the Chancellor is on your side? Let me tell you something about your precious Chancellor Palpatine. He’s not nearly the friend you think he is.”
Anakin said nothing.
“As a matter of fact, I had a little talk with the Chancellor the other day. I must say he sounded very concerned about your ‘relationship’ with Senator Amidala. It appears he and your wife are not on very pleasant terms nowadays.” He gave Anakin a vicious smirk. “In fact, I daresay he hates her almost as much as I do.”
Anakin remained quiet. Inside though, he was taken aback at Obi-Wan’s remarks. No, this couldn’t be possible. Obi-Wan had talked to the Chancellor about Padme? And the old man agreed with him? This had to be a lie. No way could the Chancellor go behind his back like this.
“You’re lying,” he said firmly, trying to sound more certain than he was. Kenobi was not impressed.
“Maybe, maybe not. Believe what you want, Anakin. It doesn’t change the facts,” Obi-Wan told him.
“I don’t believe you,” Anakin said. But there was a tremor in his voice that wasn’t there before. The idea that Palpatine could, in any way, be conspiring against him with Obi-Wan was enough to shake him to the core.
“Like I said, believe what you want Anakin. It doesn’t change the truth. I know what happened during that conversation.”
Somehow Anakin managed to find his voice. “Be that as it may, I’ll never let you harm Padme.”
Before Obi-Wan could respond, the light on his comlink went off. Locked in a death stare with his Padawan, he allowed the comlink to keep beeping.
“Are you going to answer that?” Anakin asked. Finally Obi-Wan had enough.
“Kenobi,” he answered it with a growl.
“Master Kenobi, return to the Council chamber at once. Now…” Mace Windu’s voice came over the comlink, sounding as stern as Anakin had ever heard him.
“I’ll be right there,” Obi-Wan replied. He shut the comlink off. “So that’s it? You’re just going to throw away your career and your reputation for some whore?” he challenged his former pupil, daring him to respond aggressively. “We’re not done with this Anakin. Not by a long shot.”
“Yes we are,” Anakin answered. Turning his back, he resumed his departure.
“Goodbye, Obi-Wan.”
And with that, he knew that the Team of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi had finally reached its end. He was never coming back here.
Obi-Wan watched him go with a feeling of helplessness he had rarely felt before.
It felt foreign to him, to be at the mercy of Fate after everything he’d been through in the past few days. And then, the anger took over. When he was sure no one was around, he smashed his fist against the wall, leaving a hand-sized hole in the duracrete construction.
Anakin would not get away with this. However long it took him, Obi-Wan would find a way to bring him back under his control, where he belonged.
So absorbed in his anger, he failed to sense the figure lurking in the shadows, who promptly ran off as quietly as possible. Had anyone been around to sense it, they would have felt an awful dread building in her stomach, in response to the conversation she had just witnessed.
~*~
Anakin entered the cockpit of Padme’s Nubian ship.
“You’re back!” Padme exclaimed, greeting him with a hug. “What took you so long?”
Anakin’s face said it all. “What’s wrong?” Padme asked him.
“I ran into Obi-Wan in the hallway,” he admitted.
“Oh no. Are you all right?” she asked, concerned.
“I’m fine. It’s just…he was really angry about my leaving,” Anakin replied.
“What did he say?”
“Oh, the usual. He threatened to kill you. He said I was making a huge mistake, throwing away my career. I didn’t really listen to him,” Anakin replied quietly.
“Well, that’s good. Because you’re not making a mistake. Anakin, being a Jedi is fine and all, but not if this is what you’ll have to put up with. No being should have the right to control another in this way,” Padme said resolutely.
“I know. I’m just glad it’s finally over,” Anakin said.
“Don’t worry, my love. Just one more stop and we’re finally finished here. We can leave this place behind forever,” Padme remarked. She leaned into his embrace, before he pulled back with a concerned look.
“About that…Padme, I think you should go back to the apartment,” Anakin said. Padme shifted out of his arms.
“What? Anakin, we discussed this before. I’m going with you,” she declared.
“I know. It’s just…Padme, it’s not safe.”
“Why? You don’t think he’d follow you again, do you?” Anakin was silent. “Ani, you didn’t tell him where you were going, did you?” she asked sternly.
“No, of course not. I’m not that stupid,” he replied.
“Then what’s the problem? Anakin, we’re going to the Executive Building. There are Senate guards everywhere. If you so much as tell the Chancellor he’s a threat, they’ll be on him before he knows what hit him.”
Padme’s words were reasonable, Anakin had to admit that. Obi-Wan couldn’t possible risk hurting him at the Executive Building. It was the Chancellor’s place of office, surrounded by his private guards. And yet, there was the fact that Padme didn’t know the full aspect of what Obi-Wan told him. He didn’t want to believe the Chancellor could be capable of such deception. And yet, the idea of Padme being anywhere near him left him rather uneasy.
“I know. But…”
“But what?”
Obi-Wan’s words were ringing in his ears. “In fact, I daresay he hates her almost as much as I do.”
“Nothing,” Anakin replied, defeated. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m just a little paranoid after that talk. I know we’ll be leaving soon. It just makes me concerned me that he’s so intent on killing you,” he said, only halfway truthful.
There was no way he could tell her the other reason for his hesitation. Padme was already suspicious enough of the Chancellor. Any hint that he might be in league with Obi-Wan would be enough to spark a full-on protest against him going, one that Anakin knew he would not win.
“I know. I’m worried too. But we can’t let that fear control us,” Padme replied, taking his hand in hers.
“We’re better than that, Ani. You’re better than that. We can’t control what Obi-Wan does or thinks. But we can keep a close eye on things, and make sure that he never has the opportunity to try this again,” she told him, willing the courage she knew he had to the surface.
She hated seeing him like this, doubting himself because of what that…that bastard did to him. Apparently it worked, because Anakin soon brightened.
“All right. We do this together,” he agreed. As they settled down in their seats, something else occurred to him.
“Did they give you any trouble?” he asked, in reference to the Jedi occupying the hangar bay.
“No. A few of the Padawans came to look, but nobody asked any questions,” Padme responded.
“Good. I’m sure they must been shocked to see Anakin Skywalker come out of Senator Amidala’s personal transport,” Anakin said.
“And get back on it, too,” Padme pointed out.
“That’s right,” Anakin smirked.
“Let them wonder then. They’ll find out from the Council soon enough,” Padme said.
“Hmm. I like the way you think,” Anakin stated. They shared a brief kiss as they took off for the Chancellor’s suite at the Executive Building.
~*~
“Chancellor Palpatine? There’s some here to see you,” Palpatine’s secretary told him over the comstation.
The Chancellor was surprised. He wasn’t expecting any visitors at this time. “Who is it?”
“Anakin Skywalker, sir,” the secretary answered.
Palpatine furrowed his brow. Skywalker? He stretched out with his senses, and sure enough, there was Anakin’s bright presence in the Force waiting beyond the door. The Chancellor frowned to himself. He should have sensed the boy coming. An oversight on his part, he supposed. He would have to be more careful about that in the future.
“Send him in,” he replied.
Moments later, Anakin entered the Chancellor’s formal office.
“Anakin? My goodness, what a surprise!” Palpatine greeted him, exuding politeness and mild astonishment. The two men shook hands.
“I’m sorry I didn’t alert you, your Excellency. I hope I’m not intruding,” Anakin said.
“No, of course not. You’re always welcome here, Anakin,” Palpatine waved away his apology.
“I must say this is a very unexpected surprise. I wasn’t expecting to see you anytime soon. Tell me, what brings you to my office today?” the Chancellor asked, as they walked towards the vista overlooking the city.
Anakin sighed, unsure of how to tell him. He has come with the intention of saying a quick farewell, but now he was finding it unnervingly difficult to do so. Palpatine picked up on his troubles.
“What’s wrong? Is there something you need my assistance on?” the older man inquired.
Reluctantly, Anakin reached a conclusion. He decided to give it to him straight. “Actually, I came to say goodbye.”
“Oh? Have you been assigned to a mission already? I was under the impression that your leave was for two months,” Palpatine commented.
“No, Chancellor…” Anakin took a deep breath. “I’ve resigned from the Jedi Order.”
“Resigned?” Palpatine repeated, genuinely shocked.
“Yes. The Council wanted me to go on a mission to Utapau, to find and capture General Grievous,” Anakin admitted.
“That sounds like something right up your alley.”
“Normally it would be. But now…”
Anakin paused, wondering what to say. He couldn’t tell him the truth obviously, and yet, he found he couldn’t outright lie to the man either. He decided to go for a half-truth instead; a bit of the truth with just enough vagueness thrown in for good measure.
“Lately I’ve just been feeling…burned out. I just don’t find it enjoyable to be a Jedi anymore. I know this war is important and capturing General Grievous could end it, but…I just can’t go out on that battlefield again. I feel like I’ll go insane if I do. I can’t do much good for the Jedi like this – it’ll be my head that Grievous ends up sending back on a platter, not the other way around. And I can’t stay here. The Masters barely tolerate me as it is. There’s nothing for me to do except teach the other students, and they’d never allow me to get off that easily. And then there are the problems with Obi-Wan…”
“Oh? Things haven’t gotten better in that regard?”
“On the contrary, they’ve gotten worse. I feel like I barely know him anymore. It’s too much, and I think the best thing I can do is resign now, while I still have some sanity left in me,” Anakin finished his explanation, quite proud of what he’d told Palpatine. He hadn’t lied to the Chancellor – all those things were emotions he was feeling right now. In a way it was the truth, from a certain point of view. It just wasn’t the whole truth.
Palpatine stared curiously at the young man. There was something there he didn’t like at all. He reached out with his senses to peer into Anakin’s soul, and what he found left him shocked. Anakin was destroyed. The beast that had been building inside him was gone, diminished to the point of virtual non-existence. The anger was there, but it was barely enough to make him into a suitable agent, never mind a fully trained Sith Lord. Palpatine was appalled. What in the Force’s name happened? How could this happen without him noticing it?
He probed deeper into Anakin’s mind and was rewarded with some astounding images. Being thrown against a wall, screaming, fighting as Obi-Wan took him by force…obviously the unthinkable had happened: Obi-Wan had claimed the boy as his own. And the damage that had done to Anakin’s psyche was devastating. Palpatine couldn’t believe his ‘eyes’. Obi-Wan had done what countless battle droids, assassins, and his own dark minions failed to do. He had destroyed Anakin Skywalker, leaving him a battered shell of his former self.
It took Palpatine several moments to recover from the shock. Finally, he trusted his voice enough to speak.
“I see. What will you do?” he asked, in response to Anakin’s statements.
“Senator Amidala’s agreed to let me stay on Naboo, until I figure out where I want to go,” Anakin replied, not wanting Palpatine to know he was actually staying with the Senator. He offered a shrug. “Who knows? There are probably plenty of opportunities for someone with my skills. I could be a mechanic, or a pilot.”
“Indeed. If it makes you feel any better, I believe you can accomplish anything you set your mind to,” Palpatine remarked.
“Thank you, Chancellor. I appreciate that,” Anakin smiled. An unforeseen thought occurred to him. “Maybe I’ll go back to Tatooine and free all the slaves.”
“I believe that would be a very noble endeavor, Anakin. Your mother would be proud,” Palpatine stated with a smile.
“Thank you, Chancellor.”
“So, you’re certain of this?”
“Absolutely.”
There was a note of silence as both men contemplated what, if anything, to say next.
“Well,” Palpatine said at last, “you must do what you must do. Far be it for me to stop you.”
“Thank you, your Excellency.” He paused, suddenly feeling a slight lump in his throat. “Thank you for understanding, Chancellor. I know it must not have been easy for you to hear this,” Anakin said. Palpatine placed a hand on his shoulder.
“You have my confidant for many years. But…all things come to an end. If this is what you to have to do, then it is your path to follow. I cannot stand in your way,” the Chancellor said wisely. “You will be missed, of course.”
“I know.” The Chancellor clapped him on the back, before giving him a brief grandfatherly hug.
“Then I bid you a fond farewell,” Palpatine said. Anakin started to leave, but turned when he heard the older man’s voice.
“Oh Anakin?”
“Yes?” Anakin looked back warily.
“At least you are free of the strict Jedi guidelines now, am I correct?” the Chancellor asked. At Anakin’s nod, Palpatine gave a sly grin. “Does this mean you might plan to pursue a more…friendlier relationship with Senator Amidala?”
Anakin was taken aback.
“Come now, Anakin, you don’t really think I don’t notice the connection between you? I’ve seen the way she looks at you. And for that matter, the way you look at her.”
“Uh…Chancellor, I…” Anakin stuttered, feeling his throat going dry.
“I’m not blind, Anakin. She’s a very beautiful woman. Why not go for it, now that you have no responsibilities?”
For a moment, Anakin seriously considered telling him that he had gone for it, and won.
The Chancellor seemed so honest. He remembered Obi-Wan’s words about Palpatine despising Padme. But how could that be so, when he had given Anakin no indication of that? And here he was all but encouraging Anakin to pursue a relationship with her. It just didn’t add up.
His relationship with Padme was nothing to be ashamed of, especially now that he had finally confessed their long-kept secret to the Council. So maybe there would be no harm in telling the Chancellor of their union.
And yet, something held him back. Maybe it was the fear of Obi-Wan harming the Chancellor for knowing their secret. There was no indication of when or if the Council would release this vital info to the press. Probably not for a long time – he hadn’t thought of it at the time, but it would be a major embarrassment to the Order to admit their greatest Knight had left them for a senator. And in his current state, who knew what Obi-Wan might do if he learned Anakin had told the Chancellor about Padme. Whatever the reason, something warned him not to share the status of their relationship with Palpatine.
“I’ll, uh, I’ll keep that in mind,” Anakin managed, suddenly wanting to get out of this office ASAP. “Goodbye, Chancellor.”
“Goodbye, Anakin,” Palpatine said softly. When Anakin was gone, the Chancellor frowned to himself. This threw an unexpected kink into his plans…
~*~
Padme’s entourage of handmaidens and bodyguards had already rendezvoused with the ship by the time Anakin’s meeting with Chancellor Palpatine was over. When Anakin arrived, he was surprised to see Master Ti waiting for them.
“Master Ti?” Anakin asked.
“Hello Anakin, Senator,” Shaak Ti greeted.
“What are you doing here?” Anakin asked.
“After your bombshell at the Temple, I felt I needed to talk to you. I figured you’d be at the Senator’s apartment, so I went there to talk to you. Instead I found the Senator’s entourage, getting ready to leave. I came with them,” Shaak Ti explained. Anakin was surprised that she had gone through so much trouble for him.
“Hello Master Ti, but please call me Padme. As you probably know, in a few hours, I will no longer be a Senator,” Padme replied.
“Of course, Padme. I just came to wish you both a long, happy life together. Though I will miss your presence at the Temple, Anakin,” Shaak Ti said.
“Thank you Master, you’re one of the few that I will miss there. I’m sorry it has to be this way, but Padme and I love each other, and we’re doing the right thing,” Anakin said.
“Yes, I believe you are. You have so much love inside of you for it not to be shared with someone. You are lucky to have each other,” Shaak Ti said.
“Thank you Master. I have to say I’m a little surprised,” Anakin replied.
“Don’t be. The Council’s not right about everything, Anakin, and I think this may be one of them. Between you and me, I was never very fond of that part of the Code,” the Togrutan stated. “Oh, and I also have something to give you.”
She retrieved a small black case from where she’d set it nearby. Opening it up, Anakin was surprised to see his lightsaber.
“Master? I don’t understand,” he said, confused.
“I asked Master Yoda to give it to me. It doesn’t matter what the Council says, Anakin. You’ll always be a Jedi at heart. Besides, you have a loved one to protect now,” Shaak Ti remarked, handing him the lightsaber.
Anakin took it gratefully, truly touched that she had done this for him. There were so many memories tied to this device, both good and bad. It was more than just a weapon, it was a symbol of the life he’d lived for twelve long years. It would have been a shame to leave it in the hands of the Council, to collect dust in some display.
“Thank you, Master,” he said, smiling at the Togrutan master. She returned the gesture, until she felt compelled to ask something she had been wondering about.
“Anakin…is there another reason you’re leaving?” Shaak Ti inquired.
“What…what makes you think that?” Anakin asked.
“Well, some may have not noticed, but there seems to be a great amount of tension between you and Obi-Wan,” she stated. Anakin and Padme glanced at each other nervously.
“Um…he’s just not very happy with me. He thinks that Padme has seduced me away from the Order,” Anakin said.
“Yes...well, I’m sure Master Kenobi will realize in time that you two belong together,” Shaak Ti said.
I wish, Anakin thought to himself.
“Well, I don’t want to keep you any longer. I wish you both well and I would love it if you keep in touch,” Shaak Ti said.
“We’d like that too, Master Ti. Thank you for your kindness and understanding,” Padme replied.
“You’re both very welcome,” Shaak Ti said, as she watched the young couple and the Senator’s entourage board the Nabooan Royal Cruiser. She watched as it lifted off, carrying Anakin and Padme away to their new life. But her foreboding feeling did not leave her. She knew there was more than just bad blood between Obi-Wan and Anakin. Something had happened to make Anakin and Padme leave so suddenly…and Shaak Ti knew Obi-Wan had something to do with it. And she intended to find out exactly what it was.
~*~
As Anakin manned the controls of the ship, Padme decided to bring up the subject that had been gnawing at her for a while.
“So how did he take it?” she asked. Anakin knew who she was talking about.
“He took it pretty well,” he said, offering a shrug. “Obviously he was saddened that I had to leave.”
Yeah, I’m sure he was, Padme thought sadly, knowing that the Chancellor would the opportunity to manipulate her husband further. But she kept her thoughts secret, knowing that this wasn’t the time or place for them.
Anakin knew what she was doing by not commenting further, and he grateful to her for doing so.
When Anakin first went to say goodbye to the Chancellor, he hadn’t planned on staying for more than a few minutes. In fact, he felt a strange reluctance to go at all, despite his earlier insistence. But then he recalled Obi-Wan’s accusation about the Chancellor and knew he had to check it out for Padme’s sake. And now he was glad that he had. It left his mind at ease to know that Obi-Wan was probably lying about the whole thing. He had sensed no deception at all on Palpatine’s part. The Chancellor had responded with nothing but kindness and affection, and he was genuinely sad to see Anakin go. Anakin doubted that would be the case if he were secretly plotting against him.
“You think Shaak Ti suspects something about Obi-Wan?” Padme asked suddenly.
“I’m not sure. I wouldn’t think so, since she didn’t question me about it. But then again, some Masters are more sensitive than others,” Anakin replied.
“I almost wish she did. It would be easier to keep track of him if we had an ally in the Temple,” Padme said. Anakin looked at her, wanting to reassure her, for once.
“He won’t be a problem anymore, angel. If he tries to harm you, I’ll protect you to my very last breath. I won’t hold back anymore, like I did in that duel.” Anakin’s words carried a touch of bravado that he didn’t truly feel.
Padme cupped his face in her hands. “And if he tries to harm you, I will protect you, to my very last breath,” she said, meaning every word of it. She would die before letting her Ani go through this again. What Obi-Wan had done…words were not enough to describe how horrible it was. She could only hope that Obi-Wan would eventually be exposed for what he was, so that somebody could give him the punishment he deserved.
If it were up to her, she would have her personal guard hunt him down and drag him to the Council chamber to confess, after giving him the beating of his life. It was nothing less than he deserved. But Padme respected the justice system too much to do that. Revenge never solved anything. Justice however, was a different matter, and one way or another, she vowed to make Obi-Wan pay for what he did someday.
Anakin focused on the controls, while Padme manned the co-pilot seat. And they were off, ready to build their new lives on Naboo.
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Forbidden Longing