Chapter 9: Negotiations
When they woke up that morning, Padme found it increasingly difficult to say goodbye to him. She wanted to hug him and never let go, to hold him close and whisper that she loved him, but they both had responsibilities. They reluctantly said their goodbyes, and Padme picked up the twins who were waiting for her and Ahsoka in the Coruscant plaza.
"Are you married to Anakin?" Obi-Wan said, sitting down on the couch in his apartment.
"I'm sorry, Obi-Wan, please don't tell the Council. I really love him."
"I know he loves you. I know you were together. Many sense it. What I can't believe is that you're even married," Obi-Wan said, looking at the four in front of him.
"Don't look at me. I only found out when they arrived," Ahsoka defended herself.
"I can't judge them," Obi-Wan sighed, but no one understood why.
They briefed Obi-Wan on the entire situation and the plans. At first, he didn't agree, but after telling him what his future self had said about his mistakes, he decided to accept and promised to help.
"My mission will be to prevent the dark side from consuming him," Obi-Wan said. It was a complicated mission, but I would do it for Anakin. "I can do it."
"Thank you, Obi-Wan," Padme smiled.
Obi-Wan looked at Coruscant, and pain filled his heart. The look on Padme's face was the same loving gaze that Satine had often given him. Padme loved Anakin, and Satine had loved him. If he had one more second with her, he would have kissed her, told her how much he loved her, held her in his arms, and never let her go.
"What's wrong, Master?" Ahsoka asked.
"It's nothing," she smiled. It was late. It was better for everyone to return to the temple and leave Senator Amidala at the Senate.
"I'll go with you, Senator," Ahsoka said, and everyone nodded. If Ahsoka had to act as Padme's trusted Jedi, it was better to start now.
"Oh no," Luke and Obi said. Wan asked what was happening.
"Leia was supposed to go clothes shopping today. Anakin will never believe yesterday's lie if she doesn't come up with something. Mom even lent us credit for it," Luke said, terrified at the thought.
"We'll do what we have to do," Obi said. Wan swallowed heavily while Leia just laughed. They would also buy something for Luke. He had to leave that stupid black suit he always wore behind.
It was past noon when everyone arrived at the Jedi temple.
"Where were you?" Anakin asked, frowning. "Where's Ahsoka?"
"With Padme, she had something to do at the Senate. Don't ask me why, because I don't know. And she asked for Ahsoka's company," Obi-Wan said.
"You seem irritated; that's unusual for you," Anakin said. "What happened?"
Obi-Wan placed a hand on his shoulder. There were a few words he wanted to say. "I accompanied your daughter for two hours shopping for clothes." "Then she tried on more clothes for your son." It was hell. He wanted to yell at him, but he managed to control himself.
"Padme wasn't there to accompany Leia shopping for clothes. She decided it was a good idea to buy clothes for Luke too." Obi-Wan smiled, and Anakin burst out laughing.
"Oh, come on, Obi-Wan, at least you didn't have to accompany Ahsoka in your free time."
"It's not something I want to repeat," Obi-Wan said, while Leia looked at him indignantly. A princess should always look good.
"You're all complaining about something. Do you know what it's like to have your sister dress you?" Luke asked, and they all burst out laughing as Anakin led them toward the training grounds. The twins' stunned looks were the poem Obi-Wan needed as revenge that day.
"Are we really training at this hour?" Luke asked.
"Oh yes," Anakin replied, and Luke knew it was because of yesterday's events. He still hadn't forgiven him for being in Padme's room. "She's my mother," he wanted to shout at her, but after a while, he forgot his tiredness and realized that training with his father was a dream he'd had since he was a child, and now it was finally coming true.
"I'll be gentle with you, Princess," Obi-Wan teased, but Leia wasn't gentle with him.
"I'm a fast learner," Leia smiled, attacking with her lightsaber, making Anakin feel strangely proud.
"I can tell," Obi-Wan said, impressed by how well Anakin had taught her, and how quickly the princess had learned.
In the Senate chamber, the Chancellor waited intrigued for Senator Amidala's visit. He felt a presence in the Force. Curious, he thought it was Anakin, only to realize it was his chosen one's young Padawan. What were they doing together? Were they suspicious of him? He wondered.
"Chancellor," Padme greeted with a smile she secretly hoped would stab the chancellor in the heart.
"Senator Amidala," she greeted respectfully. "Padawan," she greeted, and Ahsoka bowed respectfully.
"Chancellor, I'd like to speak with you alone," Padme whispered.
"Of course," the chancellor said, intrigued, signaling for the guards to leave. "What is it?" he asked.
Padme sat down in one of the armchairs, while Ahsoka stayed behind, pretending to be a faithful Jedi protector.
"Chancellor, I'm afraid I'm very confused," Padme said, taking the chancellor's hands as the man, pretending to be fatherly, approached her.
"Confused?"
"You know of my growing opposition to the creation of clones."
"That is a matter that should be discussed in the Senate," the Chancellor said, annoyed. "You know, my dear, that I cannot support you at this time with your opposition. The war is at its peak, and my vision has changed; more clones are necessary."
"Chancellor," Padme said, looking at him pleadingly. "I understand more than ever. I am confused because my ideals go against my desires," Padme sighed.
"Against your wishes?"
"I know more clones are necessary, but I cannot change my political ideology," Padme said, and the Chancellor looked at her, terribly surprised.
"Do you think clones are necessary?"
"Don't get me wrong, even though the reasons that led me to change my mind are personal. Padawan Ahsoka Tano is my most trusted friend. As you know, I defended her when she was on trial," Padme spoke, and the Chancellor nodded.
"Ahsoka, sometimes you tell me about the horrors of war, the losses, and the fear of what's to come. The Separatists are growing more powerful. I fear the Jedi and the clones won't be enough to stop them. I fear they'll die," Padme said, a tear falling from her eyes. It wasn't a lie. She always feared the Jedi would lose and her beloved Anakin would die.
"What do you mean by that, my dear?" the chancellor asked, stroking Padme's shoulder.
"I want to support him, but I represent Naboo. You know I'd never be allowed to support anything that would go against peace."
"Do you want to support me?" the chancellor asked. He was genuinely surprised. He never thought Amidala would support him. Her marriage to Skywalker would definitely be beneficial. It would bring Skywalker to the dark side and make Amidala no longer a hindrance to his plans.
"I wish for the creation of more clones," Chancellor, Padme lied shamelessly, happy to know she was achieving what she wanted. "But you know I can't change my political rhetoric; I could even be expelled from the Senate."
"I understand, my child," Palpatine said, standing up. If Amidala wanted to help him, which was quite convenient, perhaps she could give him information about possible senators who could help him. "Perhaps there is something you can do, but trust me, Padme," he said, calling her by name. "Is this about Ahsoka and Skywalker?" the Chancellor asked, and Padme looked at him in terror, pretending to be terrified and surprised.
"What do you mean, Chancellor?" she asked, looking away, blushing.
"They're your friends. I'm not suggesting anything else," the Chancellor said, looking at Ahsoka, who pretended to be surprised as well. So the little Padawan also knew. That was much more convenient, if the young Padawan was so close to Amidala. as if to be her confidant, it was possible that he might even be able to extract information from her.
"That's why," Padme said, standing up and taking his hands again. "Chancellor, I know that as a politician I must think for the Republic, but they are my friends, Master Kenobi too. They saved me when I was Queen. I die every day knowing that my ideals make me go against what would be safest for them," she said, and in this she wasn't lying. She knew that opposing the creation of clones was much worse for Anakin; they could outnumber them, and he might even die.
"We are human, Padme," the Chancellor smiled. "It's normal to have those feelings for our friends. I have always admired you. You defend your ideals and the well-being of Naboo with a strength that not even I could muster.
"I could never be better than you, Chancellor. You have earned the full respect of the Senate.
"Thanks to you, Padme," the Chancellor reminded her, and she fell silent, hating herself inside because it was true: all of Palpatine's power had been his fault.
"What should I do, Chancellor?" I want to help him. I want the bill to pass, but I can't change my vote.
"There's something you can do," said the chancellor. He would test Amidala. He knew the names of some neutral senators. He wanted to see if Amidala was telling the truth. She was a good politician. If he gave him the names, he would be sure Amidala was telling the truth. "Do you know any senator whose opinion is neutral and who could support me?"
"I know them," Padme said, hating herself for what she would do. She gave him the names she knew Palpatine wanted to hear, and when she saw him smile, she knew she had made the right choice.
"If I can convince these senators, we'll likely win the bill, Padme," Palpatine smiled. "You won't have to change your vote. Nor will I say that you were the one who gave me these names."
"Thank you very much, Chancellor. Honestly, you've been the best thing that's ever happened to the Senate," Padme smiled, and the chancellor smiled proudly.
"Padawan," the Chancellor said to Ahsoka, "I trust you to keep this between us. You can't say anything to Anakin. I suspect he won't agree that Padme made this decision just to protect you and Obi-Wan."
"My lips are sealed, Chancellor," Ahsoka said, and the Chancellor nodded.
"I trust Ahsoka with my life. She's my confidant," Padme smiled.
"Padme, I want you to know that I will do everything possible to pass this law. The Jedi will be safe. We will win this war against the Separatists."
"I don't care about all the Jedi, Chancellor," Padme said, and Palpatine thought he saw darkness in her gaze. "I only care about three."
"What are you saying, girl?" " Palpatine asked, feigning awe.
"I'm sorry to be selfish, Chancellor, but the bonds of love... friendship," he corrected himself, smiling at Palpatine's face. "I can't help it. It wouldn't be the same for me if Master Luminara, or even Master Yoda, were to die," Padme said, pretending to be embarrassed by her feelings.
"These three are really important to you, aren't they?"
"Especially Anakin. He protected me on Geonosis. I feel I need to return the favor," Padme said with renewed tears in her eyes, purposefully giving herself away. The Chancellor, for his part, was happy. This was much better than he expected. He knew that pairing Amidala with Skywalker would bear good fruit.
"What would you be willing to do to help him?" the Chancellor asked directly, and Padme looked at Ahsoka and sighed.
"This is so new to me, this feeling," Padme said, touching her chest. "I can't give you that answer right now, Chancellor," Padme said, and Palpatine nodded.
"But I can give it to you in a few days when I've sorted out my feelings," she replied confidently.
"I'll eagerly await your answer," the Chancellor smiled. He needed Amidala's answer. She was a powerful and apparently manageable ally, just as she had been when she was queen. Using Amidala would ensure victory over the Republic. "Perhaps you should take a vacation to think, my dear, about your true ideals, and not the ones you have to pretend."
"My father knows him," Padme smiled as the chancellor nodded. "He's ill. In fact, I was thinking of traveling to visit him for a while. All this lying about my ideals makes me sick. Watching the Holonews, I need to think about my response, Chancellor," Padme said. "But I'm almost certain he knows what I'm capable of for them," she concluded, and Palpatine smiled broadly. This was good news, and he hadn't even had to make an effort to achieve it.
"I'll let the Senate know about your trip. I'll speak to the senators you told me about. Rest, my child, think everything through. You can always count on me," the chancellor said, saying goodbye.
"Thank you, Chancellor," Padme said, hugging him, and he reciprocated. Padme was trying to hold back the urge to kill him.
"Padawan," Palpatine said, feeling powerful thanks to the respectful look Ahsoka gave him.
They knew Palpatine was watching them, so Ahsoka pretended to comfort Padme on their way back to the ship. Even when they took the ship and lost sight of the council, they continued like that until they knew they were safe from prying eyes. They burst out laughing; it was the only thing they could do.
"You fake it so well, you scare me," Ahsoka said.
"I told you it would work. My answer is I'll do anything, but not the way the chancellor expects." Padme smiled, and Ahsoka led her to her apartment. Leia was already there, and Luke would wait for Ahsoka at the temple.