Chapter 4

Padme got up and went down to the Room of Thousand Fountains. She hoped to find Anakin there, so that way, they could meditate together; and to also ask him why has he been avoiding her for the past couple of days. She has been wondering why she has a feeling that Council has something to do with his not talking to her. Walking into the room, she looked around and the only person that she saw was Obi-Wan, who was sitting on the ground and meditate.

" Good morning, Padme." Obi-Wan said, without opening his eyes.

" Oh, good morning, Obi-Wan. Sorry to disturb you, but I was wondering, if you have seen Anakin?" Padme coming over to him and sat down beside him.

" I see. Well, I hate to tell you this, but I have not seen him either. I was about to come to you and ask if you have seen him." Obi-Wan stretched out his legs.

" I see. Well. I'm a little worried about him. He was acting a little strange on our way back here, from our last mission." Padme said, hearding a couple of Padawans come into the room and sitting down on one of the benches.

" I see. He did seem a little upset about something, when he came to talk to me, after your guys' debriefing. He told me that he knows that something is going on, and that you guys were being lied to." Obi-Wan stretched his arms up to get the kink out of his back.

" Yeah, I got the same thing too. We knew they were lying to us, because the person we were talking to the whole time we were there, did not want to look at us in the eyes, every time we talked." Padme said, as a few more people came into the room, so they could meditate.

" I see that you guys seemed to have left that out in the debriefing. You want me to let the council know what you just told me?" Obi-Wan asked, as the breakfast bell rang.

" Sure, if you want to. Well, I better go to the dining hall and get something to eat, before going over to the Senate building and sitting in one of the boring meetings." Padme said, getting up from the ground and helping Obi-Wan up. They both walked out of the room together, but went their separate ways at the turbo-lifts.

Obi-Wan got on the lift, while Padme went further down the hallway, until she came to the lift that will take her down to the dining hall. Stepping on to the lift, she hit the down button, just before the doors shut. Once the lift stopped, the doors opened up and Padme stepped off and began heading in the direction of the dining hall. Stepping into the room, she looked around to find an empty table. Luckily, she did and it was closer to the back of the room. Going over to the food stations, she picked up a tray and began looking at the different kinds of food that was sitting out and over to the hot food station, before heading over there to see what was there to eat. Finding the food that she wanted to eat, she went over to the Caf machine and grabbed a cup, before putting it under the spout and hitting the tea button. After it finished, she grabbed the cup and headed towards the table. Once there ,she put down the tray, before pulling out the chair and sitting down. She started eating her breakfast, when two of her friends and ex-Clan Mates came up to the table and sat down.

" Hey, Padme. What is up? You seem to be a little out of it today?" Robyn said, as she taking her spoon and began eating her cereal.

" Hey, Robyn. Hey, Tery. Sorry, I'm just thinking, is all." Padme said, looking up at her two friends and giving them a weak smile.

" So, who are you sitting with in the Senate today?" Robyn asked, as she began eating her breakfast.

" I am with Senator Amidala. You guys?" Padme said, as she saw the surprised look came across the two girls' faces.

" Oh, is she not your sister?" Robyn said, taking a sip of her Caf.

" Yes, she is. So, who are you with?" Padme asked, as she took a sip of her tea.

" I am with the Senator from Alderaan. Man, I cannot remember his name." Robyn said, as she was trying to remember the Senator's name.

" Senator Organa. He is great person." Padme said, as she began looking around the room some and hoping to see Anakin.

" Oh, do you know him?" Robyn asked, as she watched Padme look around the room and had a feeling that she knew who she was looking for.

" Ye,s I know him and his family. He is really good friends with Amidala." Padme picked up her cup and began taking another sip of her tea.

" I have Senator Mon Mothma from Chandrila. Um... Padme, who are you looking for?" Tery asked, as she saw Padme looking around the room again.

" Oh, sorry. Senator Mon Monthma is a nice person too. Um... I was hoping that Anakin would come to breakfast. I have some questions to ask him." Padme looked at her two friends and could tell that they knew something.

" Um... Padme, Anakin is not here." Tery said, as she picked up her cup and took a sip over her tea.

" What do you mean, he is not here?" Padme had a shocked look come across her face.

" Anakin is not here. We saw him two days ago, when we came back for our mission. He was heading for his ship." Robyn said, watching tears well up in Padme's eyes.

" Um... excuse me." Padme said getting up from the table and dumping her trash, before she hurried out of the room.

" Oh man, something happened. I really think we should not have said anything about seeing him." Robyn said, as she went back to eating her breakfast.

" True, but she has to know that is he is not here. Who knows, he could in a secret mission and does not want anyone to know." Tery said, as she finished up her breakfast.

" From what I saw, it did not look like he was going on a mission. It looked more like he was leaving and for good too." Robyn said, also finishing up her breakfast.

Padme ran to the turbo-lift, hit the button and waited for the lift to come to the floor, hoping that she doesn't start crying, while she was standing there. The lift doors opened up, Obi-Wan and Master Windu stepped off the lift. Padme bowed her head to them, but tried to keep her eyes downward, so they would not see the tears coming to her eyes.

" Um... Padme, are you ok?" Obi-Wan turned around and came over to her.

" Um... yeah... no." was all she could say.

Obi-Wan nodded over to Master Windu, who nodded back to him and continued towards the dining hall.

" What is wrong, Padme?" Obi-Wan asked, as they stepped onto the lift and the doors closed.

" I just heard that Anakin left two days ago. Do you know if he went on a mission?" Padme wiped a tear away that had rolled down her cheek.

" Oh, no. Um... no, I have not heard anything about him being sent anywhere on assignment... Damn it... I think I know what has happened. I have a feeling that Windu is involved with Anakin's leaving." Obi-Wan said, as anger filled his voice.

" Really? I always knew that he did not like Anakin and he would do anything to get rid of him, and find some way to kick him out of the Jedi Order." Padme said, as she too began to feel anger and hatred towards the Jedi Master.

" I will go and look into this. I also have a feeling that even Master Yoda does not know about this." Obi-Wan said, giving Padme a hug, before the doors open up.

" Thank you, Obi-Wan. You are a great friend. Sorry to interrupt your breakfast." Padme hugged the Jedi Master back.

" You are welcome and you are great friend too. It is no problem. I will go and see Yoda after breakfast and see what we can do, to find out what happen to Anakin." Obi-Wan said, as the doors opened up and saw two Padawans waiting for the lift.

" Thank you. Um... see you later then, Master Kenobi." Padme bowed her head in rescept and walked passed the two Padawans, who bowed their heads to Padme and she returned their bows.

Walking down the hallway to her quarters, she keyed in the code. Going into the room, she had to get ready to be at the Senate building in thirty minutes, before the Senate began their arguments over stupid bills and it sounded like nonsense. Once Padme was dressed, she left her room and went down to the hanger bay, where there was speeders. Getting into one, she raced off towards the dome shape building of the Senate building.

Padme landed the speeder, got out and headed to the box seat that belonged to delegates of Naboo. She looked across room and saw Tery sitting with Senator Monthma. Then, she turned to her right and two boxes over, she saw Robyn sitting with Senator Organa's aide. She heard voices coming from behind her. She turned around to see her sister and Senator Organa talking, before Amidala entered her box.

" Padme, hey, sis. It is so great to see you. Are you ok?" Amidala came over to Padme and gave her a hug.

" Hey, Amidala. It is great to see you too, and no, I am not ok. I just found out that Anakin is gone, and I have a feeling that he left the Jedi Order." Padme looked up to her sister and tears began coming to her eyes again.

" Oh, Padme. I am so sorry to hear that. I really do like Anakin and I always believed you two made a great couple." Amidala said, just as the Chancellor Palpatine showed up and he called everyone to order and the Senate began.

The two sisters sat there and listened. It was mostly the bickering between the delegates from the Trade Federation and Corellia. Five hours later, Padme left with Amidala, went to her apartment and had dinner there. She also called the Temple and let both Obi-Wan and Master Yoda know that she would be spending a couple of days with Amidala. Padme climbed into her bed, after having a long talk about what was going on Arkania and the feeling that Master Windu could behind Anakin's disappearance. Amidala had informed Padme that she really does not like Master Windu. She believes he is trying to take over Grand Master Yoda's place in the High Council. Padme laid her head down and closed her eyes. She felt tears welling up in eyes, as she just laid there and cried herself asleep. radimersky on