[Legacy of the Jedi] - 02(35)

Obi-Wan noted Anakin’s start. He knew Anakin and Padme had forged a friendship. Although he liked PadmŞ and knew she’d be an asset on the mission, he wished the Chancellor had picked another Senator. It wouldn’t do Anakin good to be around her too much.

“I have to object,” Anakin said.

Mace raised his eyebrows. He was always surprised when someone disagreed with him. Beings rarely did.

“This mission could be dangerous,” Anakin went on. “We already know that there have been attempts on Senator Amidala’s life. We would be putting her in harm’s way.”

“It does not seem to me that the Senator turns away from danger if she sees a need to act,” Mace said.

“And we could also be drawing the opposition. No doubt they are watching her every move.”

“I have no doubt that we will be able to maintain secrecy,” Mace said drily, “thank you though, Anakin, for the reminder.”

“I just think there must be a better choice,” Anakin said. Obi-Wan wanted to give him a hint to stop, but he didn’t think it would have any effect. “Senator Bail Organa from Alderaan, for example - “

“This is the Chancellor’s decision. Not the Jedi’s. We cannot forbid her to go. Especially,” Mace added sharply, “when we welcome her help.”

If Anakin felt the sting of the rebuke, he gave no sign of it. There was no graciousness in his manner as he inclined his head, only a reluctant assent.

The passion in his Padawan’s voice sounded an alarm in Obi-Wan. It stirred a memory. What had it felt like, to connect to a woman, to want to protect her?

He tamped down the memory as it rose.

I am not going to look back, not once.

The doors to the Council Room slid open, and Siri strode in. Since her Padawan, Ferus Olin, had left the Jedi Order years before, she had never taken another.

“I see that being at war hasn’t helped your punctuality,” Mace said severely.

“No,” Siri admitted freely. “It’s made my tardiness worse. There’s so much more to do. But perhaps my excuses are improving.”

Mace frowned. He didn’t care for levity in the Council Room. “I have already briefed Obi-Wan and Anakin on the mission. It involves someone you may remember. Talesan Fry.”

There was no reaction on Siri’s face. No involuntary movement of her body. Her gaze stayed clear, her chin lifted. She did not look at Obi-Wan.

Ki-Adi Mundi went on to describe the mission. Siri listened impassively.

It was as though she had no memory of what had happened. As though she had wiped it clean.

She had buried her memories better than Obi-Wan had. He would follow her lead.





CHAPTER 22


Anakin strode along the walkway to the Senate. A speeder would have been faster, but he needed to feel the thud of his boots on the permacrete and hope the air would cool his temper. So far it grew with the pace of his walk.

He shouldn’t have challenged Mace. He knew that. But he had been so stunned when Mace had told him PadmŞ would be on the mission that he had spoken without thinking. How could PadmŞ agree to this without telling him? Why would she agree at all?

Anakin thought he’d made some valid arguments, but Mace hadn’t even listened, as if Anakin was still a youngling. Mace hadn’t considered that he might be right, that putting a Senator in danger was a stupid idea. Their support in the Senate was crumbling by the day. Why should they risk losing such an important ally?

Of course, the reason he didn’t want Padme to go was more personal than that. She’d nearly been killed several times by an assassin. Why would she deliberately risk her safety? Anakin shook his head. He did not understand his wife. He only knew he loved her. Hungered for her. Needed her. And he could not let anything happen to her.

He had one last chance. Chancellor Palpatine had urged him to come share with any problem, no matter how small. Anakin knew that if Mace found out he’d gone around him, his momentary annoyance would change to anger, but he couldn’t help himself. Palpatine was the only one who could order Padme not to go.

The Blue Guards were standing at attention when he walked in. Sly Moore walked forward, her shadow robe moving with her gliding walk. She pressed a button on the wall. “You may go right in,” she told Anakin.

Some Senators waited days or weeks until Palpatine could find a spot for them in his crammed schedule. But Palpatine had given a standing order to Sly Moore that when Anakin came, he would be seen immediately.

The Supreme Chancellor rose when Anakin hurried in.

“Something is wrong, my friend,” he said, coming around the desk and approaching him with concern. “What can I do to help?”