(A/N) Sorry for the long delay, school is freaking crazy all month long. I'm exhausted. But hey, this was a nice way to blow off some steam and creative energy! Please R and R, let me know what you think!
He felt sick. He felt like he had to lie down, to sit somewhere in the dark where no one could see him. He felt the burning, horrible urge to cry. And yet, he could do none of those things. He watched the Senate meeting unfurl, heard the testimony. He had been through Rex's testimony, he had heard what the clone had said about their time on Kadavo, and then on Serenno. He had thought he would be ready. There was no way to be ready for this.
He had stared straight ahead, even though he could feel Padme's eyes on him the entire time from where she was seated behind Obi-wan. He could the worry emanating off of her, but he could not look at her. Instead, his hands had tightened around the armrest of his chair, as they pulled out of Obi-Wan every anguished detail of what had happened. Some of it triggered the horrible images he had inside of Dooku's mind, the smell of blood and infection when he had pulled him down from the wall, the depravity of seeing Obi-Wan mutilated and injured. There was no peace at this hearing, not until that section was over and the entire Senate sat in corrugated, horrified silence.
The Sith were dead now, but here was living proof of their cruelty, of the pain they were so close to inflicting on the galaxy. He felt Ahsoka hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort him, but being honest with himself, Anakin found more comfort in Rex, sitting on his other side, in much the same state. The fact that he wasn't the only one affected this way by the testimony was a sick sort of comfort, but a comfort nonetheless.
"The Senate at large has asked me to ask another question of you, Master Kenobi." The interrogator was at it again, drawling heavily his words in the most uninterested tone he could muster. Although Anakin could tell the difference now. The humanity in him had gotten the better of him. The edge of cruelty was gone from his words as he regarded Obi-Wan, whose face was drawn with the memory of his torture.
"I accept the request." He said, leaning back in his chair.
"In regards to the new leadership of the Senate, a new Chancellor is to be nominated. With the recent issues with the selection of a Sith Lord as Chancellor, many felt it was best to involve the wisdom of the Jedi Council." Obi-Wan arched his eyebrows. He had not been able to attend every council meeting as of late, he had spent most of his time back in the hospital, or in recovery. "When this request was made, Grand Master Yoda said that you should speak on behalf of the Council."
Anakin wasn't surprised, and neither, it seemed, were the Senators, who instead of beginning a murmuring, stayed quieter than Anakin had heard them in a long time. The only one who seemed surprised by this news was Obi-Wan, whose eyes widened with shock as he took in the meaning of the words. "Who then, General Kenobi, is your recommendation for nomination for Chancellor?"
The room seemed to hold its breath as Anakin watched Obi-Wan's mind work. Anakin himself had no idea what Obi-Wan would say. His master despised politicians, or, with the first bit of comic relief he'd had all day, as he glanced at the pod that held the Duchess of Mandalore, most politicians. "I would say that in this situation, the corruption of the Sith could run quite deep, Senator. It is operative to chose someone who has opposed the war, and all attempts to advance it, since the beginning."
"And who, in your opinion, do you believe this person to be?"
"There are two that come to mind, really. A Chancellor, and a First Aide to the Chancellor, perhaps."
The interrogator was getting agitated again at Obi-Wan's discrepancy. His voice was slowly hardening, and it was Anakin's new belief that whoever the new Chancellor was, should definitely find someone to replace this man. "Who then, are they?"
"I would think the choice would be obvious." Obi-Wan took in a breath before continuing, and the whole room, full of the most influential beings in the galaxy, seemed to be holding its breath. "the only two I can think of that have consistently argued against all wartime legislation that did not protect the civilians of the Republic and seized planets are Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan." The Senator, seated on the same platform as Senate, seemed to rise in his chair in complete shock as the room's eyes fell on him.
"And Senator Padme Amidala of Naboo."
Obi-Wan weaved his way through Senators, several of them touching his arm as he passed between them, whispering words of apology or thanks. Others stared coldly at him, as his announcement of whom he thought would best serve as head of the government now came to fruition. Padme had gently gripped his arm, careful not to aggravate his still-healing body, but through her own shock, could think of no words to say to him. He had smiled gently at her, "It is right." And then had disappeared into the hallway behind the Senate Chambers.
He longed for some quiet. He was tired of testifying, his head now was overwhelmed with his own memories. His back was hurting, he could feel where one of his still-slightly open wounds had re-torn, and was bleeding slowly into his bandages. Another thing to fix. He had not been expecting this. He had not expected the Council to pass on such a great task of wisdom to him. He had followed the force, but he knew that the decision he had made had been clear and true. He was honored they thought so highly of him. But he was still startled, and he didn't know how many more surprises he could deal with.
"Obi-Wan!" He heard him name be called, shortly followed by a surge in the force as Anakin came up behind him right as he turned to face him.
"Anakin." And the man fell into step beside him as he gave him a gentle smile, moving towards the turbo-lifts.
"I'm just…well I didn't expect you to nominate Padme." Anakin typically cut right to the chase, and Obi-Wan had to sigh. He didn't know what his apprentice thought, he had hoped he hadn't upset him. He didn't sense any anger, only surprise form the man next to him.
"She and Bail have done an exceptional job consolidating the Republic effort to maintain humanitarian goals. She is strong, and deserving. There is no one better for the job." Anakin was silent, and, in a small undercurrent, Obi-Wan could feel the pride that slowly replaced the surprise, and he had to smile.
"Where are you going now? Did oy want to get food or something?" Anakin finally asked as they stepped d-into a turbo-lift. "Ahsoka could meet us there." It did sound nice, and he didn't want to refuse him when they had gotten to spend so little time together recently, but his back was starting to irritate him further, and tiredness was pulled all the way down to his bones.
"I would, Anakin, but I need some rest." He could feel the small curve of disappointment. "Why don't we go to Dex's tomorrow?" He stepped out of the lift onto his floor, which Anakin lived a few more up. "Padme can come as well." Anakin nodded as the door shut, his lips pulled upwards in a smile. In his room, he practically collapsed, barely having eh energy to pull the bandage off, clean his wound, and replace it, before his bed seemed far to inviting to resist.
He drifted into sleep, his mind swirling with haunting images of Dooku, Palpatine, Anakin, himself…and perhaps most strangely, his old Master, seized in the moments before death. And the dark figure that had haunted Obi-Wan's thoughts ever since then.
"How will they not know it is us?" She hadn't liked Savage's voice. She despised his brother's. Dooku's voice had always been tinged with cruel arrogance, this was simple rage, twisting his words until each sounded like a command. "Have Kenobi come to us, witch. We had a plan."
"Do not call me that." She spat at him, and he half-growled at her until Savage placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Mistress knows what she is doing, brother." The yellow Dathomirian sat behind them, watching the gleaming of hyperspace in front of them as they approached Coruscant. "They will not find us."
"It is easy to disappear in the Core worlds." And normally that was true. But now, looking over the pair of them, monstrous, Maul's new legs clanking against everything they touched, she had her doubts of their anonymity. She would have to, as always, believe in their own abilities to keep them successful. "We will have help this way. Obi-Wan Kenobi will not come to us, his precious temple is loath to let him leave at the moment after Dooku almost killed him. We need surprise on our side."
Maul was contemptuous, but no longer spoke, instead choosing to levitate a metal sphere in his clawed fingers before crushing and deforming it in his fist.
"Besides…" The planet came into view as they pulled out of hyperspace, beginning their descent. "Kenobi's precious Order is here, to harm them is to harm him. He will not let them die for him." He seemed intrigued by her words now, his fingers on his own foreshortened lightsaber. "And," She thought of all she knew now of the political unrest and fear on Coruscant as the war was coming to its close. "Here, we will have the help we need."
