Midnight in the Garden

Chapter 12: To Save Him

Two weeks flew by much faster than any of them wanted. Anakin used his ploy very successfully in the next Council meeting, and did indeed manage to wheedle Vaapad teaching out of Master Windu. Sereine had said a servile attitude was the best course to take, and she was right.

Sereine began sending Anakin up to Palpatine's office alone at night for the threefold purpose of getting more information about exactly what Sith "proficiency" training entailed, what Palpatine's ultimate goal might be, and, oddly enough, encouraging Palpatine to have some fun.

"I can't do it anymore," she said. "Once this would have been my job, but he hates me now, so it falls to you. Anything that might help his mood helps us. It's important that he has some time off from gnashing his teeth over this and worrying about how it's all going to come out. This is when you're going to have the most leverage with him, so use it to remind him what companionship feels like. I want him to have at least some evidence that we're doing this because we're his companions, and not because we're his enemies."

Palpatine loved the game of firepath, and Sereine had a small board, so they decided that Palpatine should be asked to teach Anakin to play. It was unlikely that he would refuse, for the foresight and skill level involved in the game made it a good testing and training ground for Anakin, one Palpatine would be likely to want to take advantage of.

Playing games with him was weird. He behaved toward Anakin exactly as if it were a month ago ... or even a year ago. As if he were still the sweet, concerned, kindly Supreme Chancellor and Anakin only a favored protegee ... and the revelations of the last weeks only a dream. The muffled quiet of his darkened office soothed just as hypnotically. The amber gleam from Palpatine's desk lamps and the starry speeder lights outside shone as warm and lovely as before, turning Palpatine's favorite vintage a ruby glow in its glass.

Yet, he'd sit moving his game pieces and giving Anakin wry comments on his strategy, or chatting amiably about a show he was attending at the Galaxies next week -- and Anakin would look up to meet a cold, evaluating blue stare that went right through him. One night the Chancellor ended an otherwise pleasant discussion by finishing the last of his wine, placing his glass back on his desk, and looking straight into Anakin's eyes with a quiet, "This may be pleasant, but you do know, Anakin, you must make a decision. You know that."

Anakin didn't look away. "Yes. I know that," he said. But he could not stop the shiver that ran down his spine.

He was getting nervous about Padmé. She of course wondered what Valorum was doing in her house, and it frustrated and upset her that neither of them would tell her. But Anakin begged her to be patient, assuring her he'd tell her when the time was right, and she was waiting. For now.

It happened toward the end of the second week. The three conspirators met at midday at Padmé's while Sereine was supposed to be at lunch. Sereine didn't like leaving her Chancellor unsupervised, but it was the only way the three of them could meet without Padmé present.

"Have you thought about your questions?" Sereine asked him.

Anakin carried her plastic printout flimsy around with him, but for some reason kept forgetting about it. He pulled it out of his pocket and looked at it.

What makes me happy? What activities, what possessions, what daily actions - however small - fill me with delight, make me feel energized and optimistic? What actions make me feel as if I count in my own eyes?

There was more in the same vein, but for some reason it made Anakin almost angry to read the flimsy. It seemed stupid and silly, and he had to fight the urge to say so.

"It's okay," said Sereine in a gentle tone. "It will all come to you one day."

Valorum wasn't even greeting his wife at the door any more. He sat across from Anakin, hardly looking at Sereine, and said, "Tell me. Has the Council discussed what they plan to do with the Sith master any further?"