What Are We Coming To?

Galactic Senator Padmé Amidala had just returned from a tiring debate. It seemed to her that more and more days were spent in arguments that never amounted to anything. That, and the constant votes to give Chancellor Palpatine even more emergency powers. Strangely, the latter was the only thing that worked efficiently. She was in fact beginning to suspect that the elderly man's motives weren't that altruistic after all.

The Nabooian tore off her cumbersome senatorial gown, a contraption which she endured for the sake of her office, but secretly disdained, and went into the kitchen to brew some caf. She of course had handmaidens that could do that, but she preferred to withhold from abusing their services. And in any case, it was her opinion that to always have your favourite brew, you should let no one do it but yourself.

Steaming mug in hand, she settled down on one of the form couches and turned on the holovid. It was more a force of habit rather than a genuine desire to watch the news, as she knew what she would hear, but old practices tended to stick, and she had nothing better to do.

The HoloNet Entertainment channel's familiar logo flashed on followed by the opening theme and vid for the six-hourly news. The anchor, a Zabrak male, perfectly centred before the vidcam, with the Coruscant skyline stretching to either side of him, began with the dramatic announcement of, "Citizens of the Republic, we at HNE have uncovered breaking news in the Jedi Temple Bombing matter…"

The bombing, she had a sleepless night when it was first discovered. Contrary to what many might think, she was not so worried about her husband, he had told her of his mission to Cato Neimodia and was away from the Temple. Nay, her troubles came from dealing with the public relations disaster which arose from the incident and moderating the more radical suggestions presented by the Militarists, namely the votes to bring the Jedi Order under direct military oversight.

"Barely two hours ago, the Coruscant Guard had arrested Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano for the murder of the primary suspect in the bombing. Unfortunately, thanks to her Jedi tricks she managed to escape her high security cell, in the process of which she killed five loyal clone troopers. The valiant efforts of Commander Fox and his elite shock troopers were not enough to catch the fugitive, who used guile and treachery to escape several encirclements and evade pursuit. It is strongly alleged that the Padawan used her lightsaber in spite of the clone troopers using stun bolts to apprehend her. Her Master, General Skywalker, was unable to talk her into surrendering and she fled into the underworld. The Jedi Order has refused to comment officially, however an anonymous source has hinted that more Jedi could be going rogue, like the infamous Pong Krell, than the Jedi High Council would like the public to believe. Admiral Tarkin of the Republic Navy has commented that General Skywalker could have taken more steps in stopping his wayward apprentice. Here is what he had to say…" The scene changed, this time showing the courtyard of a military base. Wilhuff Tarkin, in Padmé's strictly personal opinion, was a conniving wretch with ambitions to rival the worst Hutt and a temper equally as distasteful.

"It is my belief that General Skywalker is losing his touch. He is renowned as a fierce warrior on the battlefield, however he could not stop a child six years his junior. My examination of the helmet recordings of the pursuing clones show that in several instances he ordered the troopers to use stun shots. Had the teams been allowed to exercise lethal force, the fugitive may have been brought down. I am afraid that General Skywalker's emotional connection to his apprentice has clouded his judgement to the point of dereliction of his duty to bring his murderous Padawan to justice! Who will she strike next? Our beloved Chancellor? Or perhaps she will assassinate the fleet Admirals, leaving us open for a separatist invasion!"

Padmé was a stalwart woman, not many things could set her off balance, this report however was one of the rare few. She could not believe it, Ahsoka a traitor? A murderer? That little insecure girl who she played dejarick with? Or that brave and loyal Padawan that saved her from assassination at the hands of the second most notorious bounty hunter in the galaxy? The apprentice who nearly gave up her life for the Jedi, the Republic, and most important – at least to the Senator – her, Padmé's, husband! No, there must have been some misunderstanding, some mistake! Maybe it was a plot by the Sith to ruin Anakin's – or even worse – the Order's credibility.

Feeling in definite need of a talk, Padmé pulled a comlink from her sleeve. This device was unique, as it only had one frequency, that of her husband's astromech unit, Artoo. The signal was automatically bounced through several relays to hide its origin and destination, all courtesy of Anakin's singular mechanical and cyber skills. "Ani?" she hailed when the line was open.

"Padmé? I'm a little busy here, I've only got ten minutes before the Council wants me…" Contrary to other people's popular belief – if they knew it, that is – Anakin, though deeply in love with his wife, did not emphasise the point twenty-four five, as the saying went. He did not flaunt his feelings, and he certainly refrained from uncouth activities every day. ** His nickname only came out in playful teasing and reminiscing of old times. And they certainly did not flirt, over comms or in person.

"I just watched a report on the HNE. Anakin, what really happened with Ahsoka?" She made sure to emphasise the 'really'. As the war progressed, or maybe as Palpatine's power grew, the HoloNet had turned into an extremely bias media magnate that skewed facts in the Senate's favour and constantly played propaganda vids that showed the GAR always winning, the Separatists killing civilians, and impassioned speeches uttered by Senators in front of their elections or Admirals before the quarterly review. In short, she knew better than to trust what was said.

A hiss came from the other side, clearly distinguishable as the real article and not an artefact of static. "Letta Turmond wanted to see her, so she went. She asked to stay alone in the cell. Sometime during the conversation, the prisoner began to choke. The vidcams show Ahsoka waving her arms, but if I was to say my piece, it does not look like moved associated with a Force Grip. I should know… So Tarkin had her arrested. She knew she was innocent, so she somehow escaped. The clones outside her cell were unconscious, I checked myself. Fox spooked her, and she ran off. Then we found three dead clones, though I don't think she did it. She respects them like brothers, and they treat her like one of their own. I told the clones to use stun shots, but Tarkin kept on relaying orders to use lethal force. I chased her into a pipeline, I begged her to come with me, but she told me that I needed to trust her now. Then she jumped. Rex and I watched as she fell on a speeder and rode off."

Padmé was shaken, she had discovered that over the years, Ahsoka became like a niece to her, nay more like a daughter. And she did not like when her family was threatened. She did not like it during the invasion of her home world. She did not like it when Obi-Wan, Anakin's brother for all intents and purposes – though neither admitted it – was captured on Geonosis. It was hard when she cared for Ahsoka when she had succumbed to the Blue Shadow virus or when she was unsure of her place in the galaxy without guidance. Force knew it, she was going to fight for them, for her daughter.

"What I don't get," Anakin interrupted her musings, "is why she did not come with me? I would have protected her!" The fire in her husband's voice was there, the protective fury of a parent, but Padmé was older than him, though only by five years, and was less naïve.

A part of her mind wanted to spit, 'And what would happen if Palpatine told you to give her up? You'd rush to do it with a sweeping bow!' She shook her head to clear it of that strange thought, though she could not deny the merit behind it. "Maybe," she ventured instead, "…she was afraid that she would be extradited to a Republic facility, like what happened with Turmond. And we know how easily accidents happen in prisons…" Padmé did not say it outright, but she did not have to. The implication was there, and Anakin got it.

"Sorry Padmé, but the Council is expecting me a minute ago. I'll contact you if anything else happens." Anakin signed off, again without the misconceived extravagance and Padmé Naberrie Amidala was left to her thoughts, which were decidedly grim.

To Be Continued….

**Author's note: Yes I did just say that. A normal married man does not eff his wife every waking moment!

Happens to be my first attempt at a plotless, emotional fic. I think the next installment will be slightly more ... will be of slightly better quality. Mind you, I generally dislike emotional things, and this is my first venture into this realm.

May the Fiction Be With You, ~~CC-645