Brotherhood

Chapter 40 - Consequences

Before Siri even returns to the Temple, she knows that she's in a world of trouble with the Council. Not only did she break the law by going to Raxus, but also, she took Padme with her. She led a Republic Senator into what could have been a deathtrap. It was foolish and irrational, and Siri very much regrets her actions in retrospect. The entire galaxy now knows what she did, thanks to her capture.

And now, she finds herself torn, the words she overheard from Anakin bouncing around and around in her find. He is admittedly different from what she was expecting. She knows he's a Sith; she's seen what he's capable of. Somehow, she had thought that he would be... well, cold and ruthless without a shred of compassion or mercy. He's not like that though. When he spared Ferus, she had thought it was because he was simply playing a game, trying to mess with her head or otherwise confirm the validity of Obi-Wan's words to her. Now, she isn't so sure.

Anakin is nothing like what she had anticipated. He was far more emotional – and dare she say conflicted? – than she expected. Him declaring that he's not a good person doesn't really surprise her, except that she didn't imagine a Sith capable of such introspection. He knows that what he's doing is wrong, of course, but he's still doing it. More than that, though, Anakin was willing to be hurt – electrocuted, based on what Ahsoka said – to protect Padme. Is it all a ruse? Siri doesn't know, but she doesn't think so. Still, Padme's unusual reticence on the journey back to Coruscant makes her wonder.

What if it's all a lie? What if Anakin is using the Force to compel Padme into acting or feeling in a way which she doesn't? It's too ludicrous to contemplate for long. Siri felt how strongly Padme feels towards Anakin. She misses him constantly, and her love for him is deep and unyielding. If it was contrived, it would wane in Anakin's absence. So, no. Anakin is not controlling Padme, which means that the Senator sees something that she herself does not. What? What is it that Padme knows but isn't saying?

Admittedly, Siri hardly knows Anakin, but she is good at reading people. She's been on numerous undercover missions before and has met a wide variety of people all the way from criminals to their victims. Based on her experience – which is admittedly not nearly enough to make conjectures from – Siri would venture to say that Anakin acts less like a perpetrator, a power-hungry madman and more like... a slave.

Her mind hazes over at that comparison, and she has never before felt so confused, because that doesn't make any sense. Anakin was raised by the Chancellor himself! There's absolutely no reason for him to act in such a manner irrespective of his past. Siri would never want to accuse the Chancellor of nefarious, underhanded actions, especially when he's not only the head of the Republic itself but has also never had any such allegations in the past. Still, maybe it's worth looking into. Perhaps she needs to pay Anakin's mother an in-person visit to clear up a great many things.

Or if she runs into Obi-Wan, she can ask him to answer the myriad of questions spinning through her mind. Maybe she's reading too much into this. Maybe not. Even so, she'll follow her Jedi training and keep her senses alert. Master Yoda entrusted her with the mission to uncover who Darth Vader really is – she thinks she already knows, but she has no confirmation as of yet. She'll see it through, and she'll tell no one what she's planning. That way, if there is a traitor or criminal in unlikely places, she won't have to worry about the wrong person hearing the news.

The doors to the Council chambers slide open, and Siri steps inside, moving to stand in the center of the room as a Jedi, not as a Councilor. She can almost feel the disapproval in the room hanging heavily in the air. She might regret her actions, but that changes nothing. She made a choice, she was aware of the consequences, and she is willing to face them, whatever they may be. Hopefully it will be nothing too... serious.