Midnight in the Garden

Chapter 15: A Conspiracy of Nonviolence

The only other thing that relieved Anakin's gloom that week was Padme's surprise news that they were expecting twins. She had been so happy that tears streamed down her face, and Anakin nearly cried with her. And the information from Bant that twins were usually smaller than a single baby, and thus childbirth should be somewhat easier, helped his mood a little as well.

On Padme's first night home, the four of them gathered to view the holo of Palpatine's meeting with the Jedi Council, which Anakin had finally wheedled from Obi-Wan. They all sat in Padme's living room among dozens and dozens of bouquets and stuffed toys from well-wishers, not all of them Naboo -- people they didn't even know. Anakin's heart hurt at all the goodwill there was in the Universe -- goodwill Palpatine would no doubt have given some cynical explanation for. Messages in support of Anakin in his situation with the Jedi Council were arriving both here and at the Temple by the thousands; Threepio did almost nothing but sort mail these days. The Temple had had to assign three padawans to mail duty.

Sereine rose the instant the galaxy's master cynic entered the holoframe, and stared at him with all the narrow-eyed intensity of Cin Drallig putting a padawan through the Trials.

Palpatine stepped into the center of the Council chamber, fingertips touching, and gave Master Yoda and Master Windu a courtly bow. "My, my," said Sereine. "No puffed sleeves today."

"Good morning, my friends," he began, his throaty voice as pleasant and warm as Anakin had ever heard it. "I asked to speak with you today because ..." he faltered and stopped, swallowed, and began again. Anakin didn't think the look of pain that crossed his face was entirely genuine, and from Sereine's dissatisfied "Hmmph!" he guessed she didn't, either.

"... because I feel that relations between us have deteriorated terribly over the past year. And I fear that --" He bowed his head again and stopped to clear his throat. "That the fault is mostly mine. I want all of you to know that it concerns me, for there is nothing more important to me than your trust."

"Yes, I wonder why?" mewed Valorum.

There was a short silence. Sereine snapped out, "What color robe is that?"

Anakin shot her a look. "I don't know, I wasn't there," he said.

On the holorecording, Master Yoda spoke up.

"Felt this as well, we have. Close allies at the beginning of the war, we were. Most distressing has this been for us, for value our trusting relationship, we did."

"As do I," said Palpatine, and turned to face another part of the room. He lowered his hands to his sides. His sleeves were so long that his hands practically disappeared, and Sereine, seeing this, pointed.

"I know what robe that is!" she burst out. "That kriffing --!"

"What are you talking about?" said Padme.

"I picked that out for him years ago for the Tyread trade negotiations -- which he was talking to me about on and on that week. He basically got me to prep him for this meeting without telling me anything about it!" She shook her head, fuming. "Any and all trips down memory lane are definitely suspect after this!"

And then she sat down, put her hand over her mouth, shook her head, and laughed. "Palpatine, Palpatine!"

"Shh!" snapped Valorum.

On the hologram, Palpatine now faced Master Ki Adi Mundi, who spoke in a gentle tone. "All these extensions to your term limit, Sir. Such extensive emergency powers. You must understand ... we didn't know what to believe."

"Yes, we did," said Master Windu. "We didn't want to believe it ... but you left us little choice."

Palpatine turned around again. "I should hope my intentions are much more clear to you now," he said, with a graceful gentleness which stopped just short of pleading.