Chapter 2: Successors
Rumors were swirling around the great club that was the Senate. Vicious rumors; vile, unbelievable things that were neither confirmed nor unconfirmed. Padmé'd gotten the gist of them from Senator Bail Organa. She could hardly believe that her friend, a former Senator of her home planet could be a traitor.
Word was that Palpatine had been arrested for treason by the Jedi Council.
According to gossip reports, a few Senators swore they knew the man was no good. Some were on the fence, and they were suspicious of Palpatine on one hand, but also incredibly wary of the Jedi. A few were downright convinced of a Jedi conspiracy to overthrow the Republic.
Padmé herself didn't know what to believe. She wouldn't accept anything until after this meeting of the Senate came to a close. It was nighttime on Coruscant, and it was really quite late. One of her handmaidens had woken her up to deliver her an urgent message from Bail Organa.
He'd given her the rumors, and informed her of this emergency Senate meeting.
Dazed, confused, and irritated, she'd slipped on the most formal looking gown she could find that both hid her pregnancy and didn't take three hours to put on and headed for the Senate.
She arrived quickly along with her trusted aides and boarded her pod. The chamber was almost entirely full and it was deathly silent.
That was highly unusual.
Maybe there was truth to these allegations against the Chancellor.
Padmé did not want to believe them. Especially the darker whispers… accusations against Palpatine, speculation about exactly why the Jedi had had to step in to arrest him and not the clones. Her husband was a Jedi, so Padmé was better versed in their lure than the average Senator. She knew the significance of the title Sith Lord, and she was absolutely petrified that there was even a sliver of truth to the rumors saying Palpatine was one.
He couldn't be.
That would not only make him an enemy to the Republic, but also an enemy to the Jedi. A sworn foe. A mortal danger to Anakin, her Anakin.
That chilled her to the very bone.
It might've been hours, or perhaps days, but finally the floor at the very bottom of the Senate chambers opened. It was so quiet one could even hear the hydraulics driving the pieces of the floor apart. The central podium rose slowly and more noisily than Padmé ever remembered.
Three figures stood on it. Master Windu was in the Chancellor's usual place. Yoda flanked him on the right, Ki-Adi-Mundi on the left.
The Senate held their breath, waiting for one of the Jedi to speak.
Someone coughed on the other side of the chamber. It echoed loudly.
Tension was tangible.
"Senators of the Galactic Republic," Mace Windu addressed deafeningly. The floating cameras broadcasting live to the HoloNet ambushed him, each vying for a good angle on his face.
"Many of you are probably already aware of the rumors regarding Chancellor Palpatine," the Jedi Master continued. "We've called this meeting to address your concerns and inform you as to what exactly is going on."
Mace paused for a moment. One of Padmé's aides shifted uncomfortably.
"Chancellor Palpatine," Yoda grunted, "a Sith Lord, he is. The one we've been looking for."
"EVIDENCE!" roared some nameless Senator.
His pod bolted forward, zooming straight for the central podium.
Around her, Padmé could see other Senators stiffening, poised for something. Who knew what? Something horrible….
"We have evidence," Windu said calmly. "A confession."
The entire room went dark.
Some Senators grunted nervously, several gasped when a massive image of Chancellor Palpatine appeared above the central podium. He appeared calm, collected, and very professional. Padmé hastily scanned him for any wounds or lacerations that might indicate he was forced into this 'confession'. She didn't find any.
What she saw as far worse.
Palpatine's face was horribly disfigured. Mutilated would be a proper adjective to describe it. He was hardly recognizable.
Many Senators gasped in horror. Several cried out in protest.
Silence reigned again when he holographic Palpatine cleared his throat and smiled warmly.
But it was more of a grimace than a smile.
"Do not be alarmed by my appearance, Senators," the Chancellor said. His voice was a deep, guttural growl. "The Jedi attempted to arrest me, and these scars are the product of my resistance. I am not being forced to address you in any way. It is very unlikely that these fools could force me in to anything. I tell you now that I am the Sith Lord the Jedi have been hunting. My title is Darth Sidious.
"My mask is gone now. You all see me for what I truly am. I am the cleanser of the Republic's filth. It was I who lead the Separatists from humble beginnings stemming from the Trade Federation. I invaded Naboo, and I attempted to murder Queen—now Senator—Amidala."
Padmé shivered involuntarily with fear and revulsion and also fury.
"We are too weak to last. Without my regime, we would have torn ourselves apart. I have built us up stronger than we have ever been in order to dissolve our democracy, and form it in to a more perfect monarchy. But I have failed to do this peacefully."
Padmé narrowed her eyes at the word 'peacefully'. It was more like stealthily; traitorously. By the sound of it, several other Senators shared her sentiments.
"I have failed in my quest, and I've been arrested by the Jedi. I shall have to rely on the Separatists now. Fear not, Senators, even though I am unable to lead them, they will not fall. They will emerge the victors in this war. Very soon, you will all be bowing to me and giving me your thanks! I will—"
The image of Palpatine's horribly disfigured face disappear, and the lights returned. It was silent again. The Senator who'd demanded evidence sat dumbfounded in his pod.
"A confession from the Sith Lord himself," said Mace, breaking the quiet. "If you are still unconvinced, I have a video to show you of his arrest. It will be hard to watch, but you must all see it. Before that, however, there are a few matters I'd like to present. First is the election of a new Chancellor which will have to begin as soon as possible. Until then, the Jedi Council will serve as the governing body of the Senate. Also, at this very moment Generals Kenobi and Skywalker are moving to apprehend General Grievous on Utapau. Once they do, this war will be over. The Separatists will neither have a strong political figure, despite their council, and they will not have a military leader. I promise that this crisis will be resolved soon. Now… to the footage of the Chancellor's arrest.
"I will ask you to watch this and vote as a body on whether you think the Chancellor is guilty of treason or not as the Constitution states is your duty…."
The evidence was indeed overwhelming and the verdict was unanimous:
Guilty.
Sorry for lack of editing and length, but this needs to be up….
