Five

The sleek Noobian cruiser was a near-perfect mirror for its surroundings as it maneuvered with precision-like grace through the heavy Coruscant traffic and broke away, decelerating rapidly into a near hover when it approached the landing pad. It settled on the tarmac gently and the whirring engines were cut, but it was another minute before the door opened and a hooded figure stepped out, flanked by helmeted guards and began descending the ramp. From a small fighter parked on another part of the pad to the side, Captain Typho watched the procession nervously with the disguised senator at his side, his gaze searching the nearby roof tops for danger. He wasn't taking the mysterious warning he'd been sent of an impending assassination attempt lightly but, even so, he didn't see any sign of the assassin until the platform was rocked by a massive explosion, throwing the senator off her feet. She recovered quickly and, seeing the cruiser aflame and the ramp blown to shards, she ran towards the fallen forms of the decoy and guards.

Typho was at her side although he was wildly looking about them for the attacker, and she knelt beside the body of the decoy, turning it over to reveal a burnt and twitching protocol droid. Normally, Corday would have been her decoy but, certain of the threat, Typho had ordered otherwise and Padmé was unspeakably grateful for that now as she saw what would have become of her friend. The droids- including those that had posed as the guards- might be salvageable, but she doubted it and she felt Typho's hand around her slim arm, pulling her up and urging her to leave.

"If we hadn't gotten that warning... Corday!" was all that she was able to articulate, stunned at the wreckage. She at last allowed herself to be turned and quickly fled the landing pad, glancing back as she neared the entrance to the building to see the smoking cruiser tumbling off the edge of the platform.

SWSWSW

She was here. Anakin's breath caught in his chest, his heart pounding as he was flooded with her presence through the Force. She was far away and, in reality, her signature was faint, but it resounded through him and consumed his being like a sonic charge; his Padmé, his beloved wife, was here, alive and unharmed. He had to restrain himself from acting on the urge to run to her and throw his arms around her in a crushing embrace that he would never release her from, instead rooting himself to his place in the Jedi Temple in one of the exercise rooms.

He'd just finished a sparring round with Obi-Wan and the distraction of suddenly becoming aware of Padmé's presence had nearly caused him to lose, but he'd recovered in the end and quickly finished the battle. Now Obi-Wan was staring at him, clearly knowing something was going on with him but hesitating to question it. Despite his assurances that he still trusted Anakin, he no longer seemed to know how to act around him and often seemed wary, but whether that wariness was from the abrupt alteration in Anakin and the parameters of their relationship or uncertainty of his character, Anakin wasn't sure. It bothered him but, for the time being, he couldn't bring himself to force the subject.

"Anakin, are you alright?" Obi-Wan inquired, his head tilted in concern.

Drawing his attention back to his former master, he nodded. "Padmé's arrived on Coruscant." he answered, needing to give no further explanation; Obi-Wan knew the significance of the statement.

Obi-Wan deactivated his lightsaber and clipped it back onto his belt. "We should prepare to see the Council."

Indeed, Anakin could sense a messenger already on his way to relay the Council's request for their presence and he likewise deactivate his lightsaber and put it away, walking over to a bench to retrieve a towel to dab the sweat on his forehead with. They might have time to change their clothes, but showering was out of the question, unfortunately. At least he'd taken his shirt off before sparring so he was able to wipe off the worst of the sweat that glistened on his chest and torso, the sight of his fleshly body still slightly novel and pleasant to acknowledge. He quickly scrubbed under each arm pit and put his shirt back on in time to turn around and regard the youngling that Master Yoda had sent to summon them.

"Master Kenobi, Padawan Skywalker, the Council has requested your presence. They are waiting for you now." the youngling informed them.

Obi-Wan nodded. "Thank you, we'll be there immediately."

The youngling walked off and the two Jedi finished putting on the rest of their outer garments, Obi-Wan stopping Anakin just as they were about to leave to turn and ask him, "Are you ready for this?" There was concern in his voice and eyes, and Anakin wondered briefly which of them needed to be asked that question more.

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be." Anakin replied honestly. Nonetheless, Obi-Wan studied him for a moment, searching through his padawan- his former padawan- with the Force. He sensed faint anxiety, uncertainty, and fear, but the negative feelings were reined in by control and firm resolve, his facial expression serious. Instead of being reassured by this, Obi-Wan felt a twinge of regret and agitation, troubled as ever by Anakin's sudden transformation. The Anakin he knew was reckless and disorganized, flying on the moment and taking absurd risks on a whim, not this serious and focused man who was so rarely jovial or playful. Obi-Wan knew he should be pleased by Anakin's new-found maturity, but the leap was disconcerting on many levels and left the elder Jedi feeling like he'd lost his best friend.

Accepting the answer, they left the sparring room and made it to the Council Chamber, bowing before the circle of masters when they arrived.

"Know why you have been brought here, you do." Yoda stated, opening the dialogue.

"Senator Amidala has arrived." Obi-Wan replied with a glance to Anakin, indicating the source of his knowledge. The majority of the masters followed his gaze and Anakin endeavored not to show his discomfort under their intense scrutiny.

Mace, in particular, seemed to be trying to peel off Anakin's skin. After a moment, however, the master sighed and put a hand to his mouth contemplatively. "This presents many grave troubles to us." he said at last.

Obi-Wan's eyes widened. "Then an attempt was made on the senator's life?" he clarified, knowing it would be proof that Anakin's claims were true.

"Just as Padawan Skywalker foretold." Ki Adi Mundi confirmed with a tone of marvel and approbation. Such was not Obi-Wan's reaction, nor that of most of the Jedi in the room.

"What were the casualties?" Anakin pressed, ignoring the surrounding awe and consternation.

Mace glanced at Yoda, communicating something between them, before regarding the Chosen One again with a wry look. "It seems someone warned them beforehand of the attack; as a result, only a few droids were destroyed. No biological life-forms." There was no need to wonder who the intel had come from.

Anakin breathed a small sigh of relief, but he stopped himself from being too elated by the news; the attack on the landing platform was a miniscule problem compared to the ones they were going to be facing imminently. Thus far, Anakin had managed to avoid seeing Palpatine, but the longer he put it off, the more suspicious the Sith was likely to become.

"To meet with Senator Amidala in the Chancellor's office, we are." Yoda continued. "If follow your vision we do, then assigned to protect her you will be."

Obi-Wan nodded, reflecting on what Anakin had told him was to come; Kamino, the cloners, Jango Fett, and Geonosis. Meanwhile, larger matters would be proceeding here on Coruscant. "Anakin will have to protect the senator on Coruscant the entire duration of the mission if we are to prevent Palpatine from gaining emergency powers." he pointed out. "Once we diverge from the vision's path, we can't be certain what will happen, including further attempts on the senator's life."

"It's a risk we have to take." Anakin stated beside him, not waiting for a consensus from the council. "Changing nothing will only lead to the overthrow of the Republic. I can protect Padmé."

"So certain are you?" Yoda inquired, surprised by Anakin's evaluation of his abilities and worried it was arrogance. Obi-Wan would have been too, except he'd spent too much time sparring with him not to realize just how much his abilities had grown.

Anakin was unfazed. "I'm not the Padawan I used to be, Masters." he reminded. "I have memories of fighting in many battles, of being a Knight with a Padawan of my own and of being a General commanding troops. My skills have not lessened now that I've returned to my own life and I, more than anyone else, know just how much is at stake if I fail my mission." Here it was clear he was speaking, not merely of protecting Padmé, but of a much larger mission.

The Masters slowly shifted their gaze off from Anakin and over to Obi-Wan, silently seeking his opinion. "Anakin's powers were never lacking to begin with," Obi-Wan supported, "but they have easily quadrupled since he had the vision. It might be profitable to view the vision as being- in part- a training ground. None of the knowledge he gained can be dismissed, be it of future events or of the Force." he stressed.

Not all of the Masters were comfortable with this, but it was a line of reasoning they had to accept.

"Then protected by Knight Skywalker on Coruscant, Senator Amidala will be." Yoda declared with a wave of his hand.

It wasn't lost on anyone that the Grand Master had called Anakin "Knight" without any of the formal trials or even a final council vote on the matter, which had been discussed earlier. Mace was bound to disagree and several others as well, challenging the decision, but the person who should have been most affected by this decision- Anakin- was stunningly apathetic. Or, perhaps not so stunningly, Obi-Wan reflected, gazing at his former apprentice; after all, he'd graduated to the rank of Knight long ago in his perspective and, moreover, had no view to remain in the order longer than necessary To Anakin, the appointment was, in a word, futile.

In the elevator going up to Padmé's apartment, both men were tense, their minds occupied with many different things, and endeavors to relax were failing. Obi-Wan could feel the wild mixture of emotions churning in his former padawan, but the difference in realities was that this time Anakin could sense that Obi-Wan was also anxious and deeply perturbed. They glanced at each other furtively, wondering which of them would speak and which of the thousand of things weighing on their minds would come out first. While there were monumental problems on a galactic scale to be dealt with, Anakin currently could hardly think passed his imminent reunion with Padmé, the sheer impact of seeing her again and being rushed with memories- memories she couldn't share- and he didn't know how he'd end up conducting himself. The power of self-command was sure to be almost entirely lost to him, but he couldn't throw himself at her as the other version of himself had done. Even if he could justify the distraction when the entire galaxy was counting on him, the idea of potentially putting her in harm's way was not to be borne.

"Anakin," Obi-Wan's voice broke him from his inner turmoil, "I've been meaning to ask: how much do you think we should tell Senator Amidala?"

It wasn't lost on Anakin that Obi-Wan was deferring to him even though Obi-Wan was accustomed to treating him as an apprentice. "Senator Amidala isn't a security risk and we will need her cooperation to achieve our goals," he answered after a moment's contemplation, "but I believe that it's better that we only tell her what she absolutely needs to know for the time being, so as not to overwhelm her."

Obi-Wan considered the advisement and slowly nodded his agreement. "Not having experienced your vision and not possessing the same intimate knowledge of future events, I'll let you take the lead in all disclosures." he stated, again surprising his former apprentice by the confidence being placed in him.

"Thank you, master." Anakin murmured. He wanted to confide in Obi-Wan about his anxieties regarding seeing Padmé but, before the words could pass his lips, the elevator stopped and the doors opened. Immediately his chest seized and he swallowed hard, unable to breathe and his heart hammering wildly against his ribs, and he followed Obi-Wan autonomously into the apartment. As before, Jar Jar greeted the two Jedi with spastic enthusiasm, but Anakin was barely aware of him, his voice a muffled hum in the background and his touch irrelevant sensory information. Every fiber in Anakin's being was focused on Padmé. She stood behind Jar Jar in the den, talking to Captain Typho and not yet acknowledging the arrival of the Jedi. She was just as he remembered her, as if perfectly frozen in time; an ethereal creature of unsurpassing beauty that radiated pure light into his heart. Anakin was outside of himself, disconnected from all things trite and fugitive, beyond the grasp of time and all things corporal. At once he was filled with ineffable joy and indescribable sadness. He wanted to run to her and hold her forever; he wanted to flee and permanently protect her from the tragedy and destruction that surrounded him.

Instead, he stood motionless and silent as she walked toward him and Obi-Wan.

"Master Kenobi, it's been far too long." Her voice- a song! Anakin was instantly lost in her, in her being, wrapped in her Force presence. Memories rushed him- of rolling with her in the fields of Naboo; of tender caresses and passionate kisses; of her looking over her shoulder at him as she rested a hand on her swollen stomach; of making love to her, their bodies and hearts merging until it was all but impossible to distinguish themselves. Once more he was brought back to that heaven that existed only between them- a world of green fields, warm breezes, and crystal waterfalls- and suddenly the crushing burdens suffocating him were forgotten and the darkness stalking him was gone out from the universe. Where there was his Padmé, there was light. He thought his soul could soar no higher, but then her eyes shifted and she looked at him, throwing him into new ecstasy

"Ani?" she exclaimed in a combination of wonder and pleasure. "My, how you've grown!"

His heart pounding so ferociously he thought it might actually explode in his chest and his body shaking even worse than in the alternate reality at that same moment, Anakin struggled for words. "My lady, you cannot imagine what seeing you again means to me." he managed at last, though his voice trembled and somehow sounded distant to him in his ears.

Obi-Wan could feel his agitation and, with a glance, he stepped forward, leading them all towards the couches in the apartment den. Anakin's attention to the familiar conversation faded in and out, his mind unsettled and being tossed from one thought to another as he slowly mustered a degree of control and composure, but he was ready to join in when Padmé got to the point.

"I don't need more security; I need answers!" she declared vehemently.

"Answers we have, m'lady." he stated softly, earning a surprised look from her. "The difficulty that we face is far greater than you can imagine."

Padmé waited expectantly for an elaboration, her focus shifting again to Obi-Wan who, with a prompt through the Force by Anakin, warily obliged. "A few weeks ago while on Ansion, Anakin fell into a deep meditative state from which he was unable to awake for several days. When he did awake, he revealed something most extraordinary... and horrific." Obi-Wan paused here, silently communicating with his former apprentice as Padmé's questioning eyes flickered between the two men. Assured that Anakin wished him to proceed, he continued the narrative. "When meditating, he'd unintentionally become connected with another mind- his own, from a parallel reality exactly like our own in every aspect, save one: their relative flow of time was accelerated. In this manner, Anakin was able to experience an entire lifetime in a matter of days, never knowing it was not his own until he awoke. I know this is difficult to believe, Senator, but it is the truth."

Padmé shook her head, trying to absorb the bizarre story, before the implication dawned on her. "You're saying that Anakin already knows the identity of the assassin and who's behind it, because he's lived it?"

It was Anakin who replied. "Yes, and far more besides that. The situation is very precarious, m'lady." he informed, reminding himself how to address her and forcing himself to focus on the topic at hand and not be led astray by the sensations bombarding him.

"It was you, who sent us that warning." Captain Typho stated with sudden realization.

Anakin slowly nodded. "I would have liked to have been more specific, but I took a chance sending you that communication as it was. Besides which, it may not have made a difference." he explained, for the time being forgoing the lecture of the danger of an outcome being arrived at by the very means one sought to circumvent it. He was sure it would come up later but right now there were bigger issues to address.

"If you know who was behind the attack, tell us." Padmé implored earnestly, disregarding her doubt.

Obi-Wan glanced at Anakin. "My knowledge is second-hand; I think it would be better if you explained." he reasoned, deferring what normally would have been his responsibility.

Silently acquiescing, the younger Jedi took a moment to consider where to start, leaning forward on the couch with his elbows resting on his legs. "At this moment, Count Dooku is attempting to create an alliance with several major organizations, one of which being the Trade Federation. However, Viceroy Gunray wont sign the agreement until you're dead, therefor Dooku has directed a bounty hunter under his employment to hire an assassin. The assassin's identity itself isn't of great importance; what is important and what no one else realizes, is that Dooku himself is taking orders from another." Up to that final sentence, everything he'd told her might have been guessed, but now Padmé and Captain Typho looked at each other and straightened with intrigue.

"Who?" she pressed, her tone indicating a certain amount of incredulity.

This was the dangerous point, and Anakin hoped he wasn't making a grave error. Security checks and his own Force-sweep of the room had detected no breaches or threats, but it was still possible that the room could be bugged with microphones or cameras and that Sidious was watching. If he was, then their advantage would be lost and everything could be thrown into disarray... But, Anakin reminded himself, Palpatine had a flaw, and that was his hubris; he believed himself to be powerful enough and to have clairvoyance enough not to need the aid of machines to keep track of his pawns. Most likely, the room was secure. Most likely.

Anakin drew a breath, then dove. "A dark lord of the Sith. That is, a Force-user- as powerful and as adept as a Jedi, but corrupt, evil, and unscrupulous. Because of this, the Sith and Jedi are natural enemies. For a millenia, it was believed that the Sith had been wiped out, but they've returned- and they're set on revenge."

As interesting as this was- and worrisome- Typho was getting tired of the roundabout route of the conversation; Senator Amidala's safety was his priority and he needed to know who was threatening her. "So what's the name of this 'dark lord of the Sith?'" he demanded, refusing to listen to a history lesson for a minute longer.

"His Sith name is Darth Sidious... but to the Republic, he's known as someone else. Now, what I'm about to tell you cannot leave this room, for reasons that will very soon become apparent." Anakin warned, scanning his listeners for their concession before continuing. "He's Chancellor Palpatine."

As was expected, Padmé and Captain Typho were resistant to the notion but, after much convincing- which included the revelation of several things Anakin hadn't intended on disclosing at that point- they reluctantly accepted the probability of the Chancellor's guilt. More than the proof they offered to support the claim, Anakin believed Padmé was convinced by the source of the information; she had faith in the Jedi, and in him and Obi-Wan in particular. She hadn't forgotten the service they'd done for her and Naboo ten years ago or Anakin's selfless generosity on Tatooine, and she could ill believe either of them would lie or were capable of sedition.

They briefly discussed with her their plan of action and succeeded in acquiring her cooperation. Padmé then retired to her room, the hour having grown late and her mind stormed with much to think about, and Anakin found himself free to watch her on the security cameras as she prepared for bed, at last able to stare at and absorb her with all the hunger that he felt. It was a fire in his chest, spreading all the way through to his fingertips, and now that business had been dealt with it took a degree of self-control he hadn't imagined himself capable of to restrain himself from running into the room, sweeping her into his arms, and devouring her. In the end, only the knowledge that she would reject him stayed him.

After a minute, he was aware of Obi-Wan walking up behind him and Anakin glanced over his shoulder at his old master.

"It must be very difficult." Obi-Wan sympathized kindly. "She is Luke's mother, isn't she?"

Unsurprised at Obi-Wan's insight, Anakin nodded slowly. "Yes. Or, at least another version of her was." he answered softly, riddled with regret. "The memories that are so precious to me... She has no idea."

Had this been a mere month ago, Obi-Wan would have chastised him for his attachment; now, he was trying to think of a way to encourage Anakin. "You'll have your own memories with her in time, memories that you will share. You have seen what you can have with her; that is not a loss." he counseled.

Anakin appreciated the effort, but he shook his head. "Being with me can only jeopardize her. I can't do that. And yet," he continued, "I don't think I can do this without her. And, if we're not together, our children will never exist."

Obi-Wan nodded his understanding of Anakin's plight. "Luke played a significant role in the fall of the Empire, did he not?"

"Yes." Anakin nearly whispered, reflecting that he would have been lost without his son. "I don't know what to do." he stated, turning to regard Obi-Wan fully for the first time. His blue eyes were large and imploring, and it hurt Obi-Wan to see him in such turmoil.

"You believe that it is the will of the Force that you and Padmé be together?" he questioned. Receiving a silent affirmative, he went on. "Then trust the Force, Anakin. It will not lead you astray." He put a hand on Anakin's shoulder, squeezed it compassionately, and walked away, leaving Anakin to consider what he'd said.