The Clone Wars: Path of the Force, A Star Wars Story

8

Anakin walked into the Jedi Council chambers, stood before the council, and folded his arms. He had felt a disturbance in the force and knew it was Padme's presence leaving the system. He looked out the large windows surrounding the council chamber and noticed a subtle color change encroaching on the dark, black sky. Dawn was coming. How much time had already been lost?

"Masters, we must launch a recovery mission to rescue Senator Padme Amidala," Anakin said, lowering his head and closing his eyes. There wasn't a jedi before him that he did not respect, most of all Masters Yoda and Windu, as well as his own former-teacher, Obi-wan Kenobi. Several other Jedi Masters sat, circled around him either physically present or projected in a life-size hologram. Anakin had a deep desire to be among them, belong with them.

Master Mace Windu spoke first. "Master Kenobi has explained the dilemma. It is disturbing to hear a member of the Senate could be kidnapped from under our very noses. Were you able to track any unregistered hyperspace leaps out of the system?"

"Yes, Master. Captain Rex was able to track a ship heading for the Cominis System."

"Cominis," Master Mundi said. The tall, long-browed Cerean looked about the Council with blue, thoughtful eyes. "The Cominis System is a part of the Council of Neutral Systems."

Master Windu leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "If Cominis is allowing the Separatists to hold Senator Amidala hostage, it would be a violation of their treaty to remain neutral," Windu said.

"Is there evidence that the kidnapping was orchestrated by the Separatists?" Mundi asked. "I thought it was a bounty hunter that took her."

"Count Dooku has been known to use bounty hunters in the past to carry-out his schemes," Obi-wan said, remaining seated back in his chair with one leg crossed over the other.

"However," Windu said, "if we invade Cominis and it turns out that the Separatists are not behind this, we will risk losing all the neutral systems to the Separatists."

Obi-wan brought his hand to his chin and looked down, away from Anakin. He had been worried that the Council would take this line of reasoning. He had seen it before. He could still feel the empty ache in his chest when he thought of Satine, and the disappointment remembering the Council's decision not to come to her aid. He did not want Padme to succumb to the same fate. He had known Padme since he himself was a padawan learner. They were friends, and Obi-wan could not deny that he cared deeply for her. In fact, if Obi-wan were to be completely honest with himself, there was only one person alive in the universe that he cared for more.

Obi-wan looked back up at Anakin. Anakin now had his arms at his sides, hands balled into fists, brow lowered.

"Separatists or no," Anakin said, his fury palpable, "I will not leave Senator Amidala in the hands of bounty hunters and kidnappers."

Then to Obi-wan's surprise, Anakin suddenly relaxed and said slowly, "She is more than just a Senator."

Obi-wan was about to speak up, afraid of what Anakin might say next, but it was Master Yoda that next commanded the Council's attention.

"Right, Skywalker is," Master Yoda said.

"That's not something you hear everyday," Obi-wan said, prompting Anakin to give his former master a quick sideways glance.

"Not a normal Senator, Padme Amidala is," Master Yoda said. The small but powerful, old Jedi Master sat cross-legged on a large cushion among the council's circle. His ears peaked with earnest, but his face was lined and creased with concern. "Go to the aid of Master Kenobi, she did. Alongside the jedi, she fought, in the battle of Geonosis. Risked her life, she has, in aid of the jedi and republic, many times."

"We must not let our personal feelings," Master Windu began, but stopped as Master Yoda raised his hand and looked around the Council.

"More on this matter, to say, I have," the small, green master continued, closing his eyes. "Kindness, goodness, and selflessness, Senator Amidala exhibits. Dutiful and courageous, she is too. These qualities, rare they are to find. Among the Senate, one-of-a-kind she may be. Crucial, she will be, to bring peace and unification back to the Galaxy."

"If what you say is true," Mace Windu said, "then we must help her. But, we also have a responsibility not to bring war where it is not, or break our treaties with the neutral systems."

"It must be an all volunteer force," Master Mundi said, raising his white eyebrows high. "The Cominis will not begrudge volunteers on a recovery mission."

Master Windu looked to Anakin still standing in the center of the Jedi Council. "Will you be able to find enough volunteers to overcome an ambush, if this turns out to be a Separatist set-up?" he asked.

"Yes, Master," Anakin said. "I am confident that volunteers from the five-0-first can succeed against any ambush."

"As well as the two-one-two," Obi-wan said standing to join Anakin and folding his arms before the Council.

"Very well then," said Master Windu. "But, for the sake of the treaty with neutral systems, the remaining Jedi Order will need to stay out this matter."

"Skywalker, Master Kenobi," Windu looked at each of them respectively. "May the force be with you."