Call One Three-hundred, Anakin

Part I. Of Politics and Finance

"Order! Oder! Order in the Senate!" came Supreme Chancellor Palpatine's calm voice amidst the ruckus pervading the Great Convocation Chamber of the Senate Building. "My dear Senators, please, calm down, or this debate shall not yield us any results!" Somehow this managed to quieten the thousand-or-so yelling beings currently in the chamber. Or maybe the audio amplification cut-off switch achieved that effect, we shall never know.

Palpatine nodded to Mas Ameda who reactivated the audio systems and announced, "Senator Burtoni, you have forty-five standard seconds to make your arguments."

The Kamino System repulsorpod floated into the centre of the chamber and Halle Burtoni started up her sales pitch, "My esteemed colleagues, with our resent losses in the Mid Rim and the tragic murders of three Jedi Generals at Hypori, I propose that the Republic order an additional seven hundred thousand clones to combat the ever-increasing separatist war machine. With this new threat, Grievous, it is our duty to our constituents to–" The Kaminoian was thankfully cut off by Mas Ameda.

"Senator Organa, you have an objection?"

"Yes Vice Chancellor, thank you. Senators, if we fund this purchase of more clones then we will put severe strain on our infrastructure, social systems and even other military departments!"

And so it went on, the usual back-en-forth between the Militarists and the Loyalists. This was nothing unusual, not for the senate. At least, Master Windu remarked to himself, the Jedi Council isn't that bad.

Some insignificant five hours later the highest members of the Council were assembled in the Chancellor's Office. They were assembled, but many were in a different realm entirely. Councillor Windu for instance, while keeping his hood up, was peacefully dosing in the plush chair, Ki Adi was covering up yawns with liberal Force-suggestions and even Yoda was beginning to nod off on his gimer stick. Only Kenobi and Skywalker were wide awake. How could this pair not be? Some said that they never slept. Others joked that they dismantled Separatist fortresses in their sleep. Whatever the truth, it wasn't the case now.

"Master, stop trying to wheedle your way out of paying up. That was an Idiot's Array right there, I won fair and square. You owe me $40 credits. Now pay up old man!" Obi-Wan just sighed. He knew he should never have challenged his former apprentice to a game of Sabacc, after all he was the champion of the Underground Temple Tournament.

"Fine you rascal…" came the disgruntled response as Obi-Wan slapped the requisite chips into the proffered hand.

"Thanks Master, you're the best!" Anakin's smile would've fooled no one, but he didn't need to do so this time, "Oh look, old gramps finally decided to join us. Master Windu, wake up!"

Old gramps, a.k.a. Chancellor Palpatine, indeed decided to adjourn the Senate session and retire to his office; after all, he got the vote he needed. "Ah, Masters Jedi, come in. Come in!" he cheerily waved the group in, not noticing that they were already seated. "I have good and bad news gentlemen: the bad news is that I have bad news from the senate. The good news is that I also have good news…"

Anakin stopped listening to the elderly man's prattle. True, Palpatine was a close friend of Anakin, the keyword being was. Ever since the war began, the politician seemed to be going barmier more and more. The chap began to dish out advice to Anakin, things along the lines of "You are becoming the most gifted Jedi in the history of the Jedi…" or "I sense you will be great one day…" or even the most creepy one, "Trust your feelings Anakin, you will know that I am your father."

"Anakin, he's finished!" hissed the latter's Master, giving the younger man a jab in the ribs.

"—day's vote unfortunately didn't go in our favour. The senate chose to cut funding to the Jedi Order." Palpatine somehow managed to paste on an apologetic smile, though deep inside he was practically dancing in delight. "The good news, on the other hand, is that I have managed to reroute those funds to the Clone Army."

Good news indeed! Though Jedi of this generation were not meant for war, they still disagreed with Senators such as Mon Mothma of Chandrila or Padmé Amidala of Naboo, in that the war was impossible to stop diplomatically, and if the Order lost funding, then they were not able to lead their troops effectively. Master Windu decided to stress this point, to which the Chancellor simply replied,

"I understand my friend, but what can I do against so many people. It was hard enough to make sure that those funds didn't go into the greedy pockets of half the Senators. I'm afraid that the Jedi Order will have to devise a means of funding on its own."

Obi-Wan, still sore after his loss to Anakin, decided to jump in with a wicked plan for revenge on his former apprentice. "Why don't we use Anakin," he suggested stroking his beard, "After all, he's a Galactic Hero. The publicity we could get— …That's not to mention, if he started a business, we'd be shovelling credit chips by the bucketful." Anakin, predictably, glared. However, Yoda seemed to be rather fond of the idea.

"A great idea that is, Master Kenobi, do it you will, young Skywalker?"

Anakin shook his head frantically, "No not happening, I'm not voluntarily going on the HoloNet. Don't even think about it!" Suddenly he was brought up short at the sight of the gleam in Master Yoda's eyes.

"So sure are you, hmm? A council vacancy we have…" All heads in the room snapped to the green Jedi. As everyone's attention was on the Grand Master, no one saw Chancellor Palpatine's face contort with enough anger to melt Hoth.

"Well, in that cave I might reconsider my position…" Skywalker pronounced slowly, "After all, I have a duty to the Jedi Order."

Yoda knew he'd won, he just needed to cement it. "When fifty-million credits you reach, a master you will become. Deal do I have, hmmm?"

There wasn't a choice involved, for there was only one answer – yes. Ever since he became a Jedi, Anakin dreamed of going up the next step, master and then councillor. So what if he was going to do things a little bit differently?

After that was settled, and after exchanging farewells, the Jedi departed the Chancellor's office. Anakin was exuberant, Palpatine was nearly throwing a tantrum. How could this be? He, the Dark Lord of the Sith had a brilliant plan to turn the Chosen One into an ultimate weapon, and then comes that blasted green troll and upstages everything! Everything!

See you soon!