Anakin Meets His Match
Chapter IV
"What now, my love?" Carrie asked Anakin as they both stared out at the city that they now owned.
"We rule, dear. No one can stop us."
"Are we supposed to set up a government or something? I don't know anything about that."
"I always hated politics. The Senate is dissolved. We are Emperor and Empress, and only our word stands. We will make an announcement to let everyone know this."
They walked to a hologram projector and stood in front of it, setting it to announce to every single hologram receiver it could possibly reach. The fuzzy image of the two young conquerors appeared. "This is Anakin Skywalker. My companion, Carrie White and I have eliminated the government and now rule the entire galaxy. Do not attempt to oppose us, our power is great, the armies of the former Republic are at our disposal. The false war perpetuated by the two faced "Chancellor" is now over. There will be no more wars that we instigate. I suggest you all go on about your lives as usual, and do not make us do anything we don't want to do."
They both stared menacingly as the messaged ended. All over the galaxy, beings saw this and heeded the warning while they wondered about the future. In a ship on its way to Dagobah, a little green man named Yoda felt the disturbance in the force, and checked the holonews. "Surprise, this is. When did it happen? Failed, Obi-wan has, as have I. Succeed Anakin and this girl did where I have failed, gone is the Sith Lord. Anakin trust I do not, taken the vows of the Sith he has. Over it is not." He contemplated returning to Coruscant to face them, but after his recent failure he felt it best to lay low and watch until the time was right. He contacted Organa, who had seen it all and was gathering the old 2000 members for a secret meeting to discuss what could be done next. One of those members, Senator Amidala, was far away, in the hospital, as was Kenobi.
"What do you mean, there is another? Another what?"
"I'm sorry to tell you Padme, but Anakin has taken another woman."
"This cannot be! After all the times he accused me of being unfaithful, it was he who betrayed me!"
"He doesn't see it that way. He feels YOU betrayed HIM by not taking him up on his offer to rule the galaxy. He has found someone who was interested."
"Who is she, why, I'll ..."
"Calm down, Padme. Save your strength. Remember, the Anakin you loved is gone, replaced by Lord Vader."
"I do not believe that. There is good in him, I know it." She puckered up and began to cry.
"It's too late, Padme. Let him go, you can get on with your life and be better off without him."
"We share children, surely he will come back.."
A human orderly came screaming down the hallway. "What is it?" All the patients asked from their beds.
"The galaxy is under new management. Anakin Skywalker has killed Chancellor Palpatine. The government has fallen to him and his female companion. Pretty little blonde thing she is." Each patient turned on their hologram or vidscreen viewers, where they saw replay of the announcement and discussion by various commentators. In Obi-Wan's room, he and Padme started speechless as they watched and listend. Suddenly, the broadcast was interrupted, and the images of Anakin and Carrie filled the screen. "We now control the media as well. Any broadcast not favorable to us will be terminated immediately." The plug was pulled.
Padme turned to Obi-Wan. "Oh, no, he did it, he really did it! He told me he was more powerful than the Chancellor and he could overthrow him."
"The Chancellor was evil, Padme. Yoda went to kill him himself, but failed. It is not a bad thing he is dead and gone."
"Does this mean Anakin did a good thing?"
"That remains to be seen."
Padme was crying. "Who is this girl, what, why?"
"I sense she is strong in the force, but not the same way the Jedi are. She is not of this galaxy, but her power is great."
"Well, I guess Anakin has everything he wants now, he has power, and a woman who feels the same way he does about dictatorships. Oh, I was always whining about diplomacy. He got so annoyed. It's my fault, it's mine, I should have tried to help him.."
"I feel I should have seen the signs earlier myself, Padme. I can't believe we let Palpatine hoodwink us. If only Anakin had been able to tell me what was going on in his mind, before it was too late."
Padme broke down in tears, laying her head on Obi-Wan's chest. He comforted her with soothing strokes to her head, using the force to soothe her mind. He knew it wasn't going to be enough, for her, or for him. He had to get out of this hospital bed and go find Anakin and confront him. He must try to negotiate with him, or if need be, face him. It wasn't going to be easy now that he had a partner in crime. He would consult Yoda, and seek out Anakin. It was the only way.