Brotherhood

Chapter 42 - The Sand People

Author's Note: I'm so sorry for what happens to Anakin in here. This was not supposed to happen... but it did. ;-;

~ Amina Gila

"You wanted to speak to me?" Anakin queries, taking a seat in Dooku's office. A summons like this was unexpected, to say the least.

Dooku nods. "I did. There are two things, actually." He pauses, brown eyes studying Anakin in a grave silence. "First, I believe that Barriss might have been the one to assassinate Mina Bonteri."

Anakin stiffens. The news isn't exactly that surprising, he supposes, because Sidious would naturally have had a reason to want her dead. Still, it worries him that his master eliminated her without breathing a word to any of them and did so by the hand of the one Fallen Jedi none of them can trust. "She is a liability," he declares, narrowing his eyes. "We should eliminate her. I'm sure I can arrange something."

"I think we should wait," the Count cautions. "We don't want to alert Sidious to our plans too early, and certainly not before we're ready. I agree that Offee is dangerous, but... not yet. When the time comes, I'll let you know."

Personally, Anakin thinks that waiting will probably do more harm than good, because she could be used for many other objectives to which none of them are privy, but he doesn't object. He knows that Dooku is right. Sidious would become suspicious if they acted too early or killed a Fallen Jedi who is clearly in his favor. Given Anakin's recent defiance and refusal to kill Padme, Sidious might use that as an opportunity for a "lesson," and he shudders to think about what it might include. He cares for too many people now, and Sidious knows that.

Hatred twists in his gut, hot and fierce, but he smothers it, clenching his fists, and trying to focus on something else. "What is the second thing?" he questions.

"Please do try to remain calm," Dooku begins, and if that isn't ominous. "Senator Amidala has lost her position in the Senate, and upon her return to her apartment, she was attacked. There was an explosion, but reports are that she is uninjured. You would know if she were killed or seriously wounded." The Count gives him a pointed look, and Anakin reaches out to the weak link he has with Padme; it's still and bright the way it always has been.

"She's alright," he realizes, but that does nothing to relieve the increasing fear and panic within him. "Was it – Do you think Sidious was involved?"

"It is possible," Dooku allows, "And you should know that her two handmaidens, Dorme and Corde, were killed. Sabe is, by all accounts, still alive, though barely."

Anakin feels a pang shoot through him. He knew Sabe better than the others, and she and Padme are close. It would hurt his fiancée badly if she were to die. Their bond is not one he even understands himself, but he respects it. He's sick with worry and fear, and he wants nothing more than to go to his Angel's side. He can't though, and he hates that. He should be there, comforting and reassuring her in these times. All he can do is wait and hope. Their paths are separated for now, and he has to accept that. But it hurts. Oh, it hurts.

"She has many enemies," Dooku says, though it's not much of a reassurance. "She knows how to take care of herself. Now that she is no longer Senator, she won't be in the spotlight as much. It is safer for her like this."

He's right, and that stings in and of itself. Anakin had, once and very briefly, thought about what their lives would be like, free and away from the machinations of the Sith. He'd abandoned the thought almost instantly, because it would have meant living on the run and in hiding, being apart from anyone and everyone else whom they care for and consider family. And yet... it is a tempting daydream, especially now.