The Queen's ship docked on the platform. Everyone started to move down the ship exiting through the hatchway. They stepped outside. Both Anakin and Jar Jar—especially the latter seemed overwhelmed by the place. Neither had ever seen anything like this before.
Ahead of them were two men in robes of office, along with a contingent of senate guards.
The Jedi, then Anakin and Jar Jar greeted the men with bows.
'It's a great relief to see you alive, Your Majesty.' Palpatine said. 'May I present, Supreme Chancellor Valorum?'
Valorum was a tall, grey haired human. He had a pleasant smile. 'Welcome Your Highness. It is an honour to finally meet you in person. Everyone is very distressed by the current events back on Naboo. I have called for a special session of the Senate that you may present your request for relief.'
The Queen nodded. 'I am grateful for your concern Chancellor.'
They spoke for a while. Air shuttles arrived for them to take them somewhere. Anakin hesitated but Qui-Gon nodded in his direction watching them board the air shuttle. Anakin glanced back seeing the Jedi standing with Valorum as soon as the air shuttle left, quickly disappearing from view. They went to Palpatine's own chambers landing nearby. They were shown through the doors, security checked as they entered.
Palpatine spoke with the Queen in an adjacent room, alone.
'The Republic not what it once was. The senate is full of greedy squabbling delegates who are only looking out for themselves and their home systems. No interest in the common good, only politics.'
'Chancellor Valorum seems to have hope.'
'If I may so, Your Majesty. The chancellor has only little power, he's surrounded by corruption.'
'What choices do we have?'
'Our best choice would be call for a new chancellor. A strong chancellor. You could call for a vote of no confidence.'
Amidala wasn't having any of it. 'Valorum has been our strongest supporter.'
'Our only other choice would be to put the matter to the courts—'
'I have no time for that. The courts take even longer. My people are dying. We have to stop the Trade Federation.'
Palpatine gave her a stern lock. 'To be realistic we might have to accept Trade Federation control for now then.'
'That is something I cannot do.'
The Jedi Temple was one of the oldest buildings going, having first being constructed in 4,000 BBY before being destroyed, then reconstructed before 1,000 BBY. The building stood over a kilometre taller than any of the surrounding rooftops of buildings. It had the appearance of a fortress located in the Senate District. But in reality it wasn't really a fortress.
The Jedi Temple was where the Jedi lived, as well as trained. Meditated. There were thousands of Jedi Knights, padawans, younglings and the like.
On the roof of the temple were spires that protruded out of it.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were currently in one of these spires. There were twelve members seated on chairs going around the room in a circle. Going from right to left, it was Plo Koon, Mace Windu, Yoda, Ki-Adi Mundi, Saesee Tiin, Yaddle, Even Piell, Oppo Rancisis, Adi Gallia, Eeth Koth and Depa Billiba. In the tenth chair, it used to be occupied by Yarael Poof. It was now occupied by someone else a Chadra-Fan that introduced herself as Adira Cha. It was unknown to both Jedi why she had been chosen.
Qui-Gon informed them all of the current situation, eyeing different members as he spoke, standing in a mosaic circle in the middle. He finally came to the end of the story, ending with a conclusion, that, 'The attacker on Tatooine was a Sith Lord and likely connected to the events on Naboo.'
Mace Windu exchanged a stern look with Master Yoda. 'A Sith Lord?'
'Impossible.' Ki Adi Mundi remarked.
'The Sith haven't been around for a millennium.' Plo Koon added.
A few faces looked towards Yoda. Yoda tilted his head slightly. 'Threatened the Republic is, if the Sith are involved.'
A little bit more silence. 'This is difficult to accept. I do not understand how the Sith would return without us knowing.'
'Hard to see the darkside is. Discover who this assassin is, we must.' Yoda said.
'Yes but if it is related to the Trade Federation and they escaped, then perhaps they will try again.' Ki Adi Mundi said, nodding at Qui-Gon.
'With this Naboo Queen, stay you must, protect her,' Yoda said.
'If what you say is true, then perhaps more is going on with the Trade Federation than we first thought.' Mace Windu said.
'Maybe more Jedi should go with you in the strong possibility that the Queen decides to go back to her home planet.' Plo Koon said.
Qui-Gon looked surprised but nodded. 'Who?'
'Jedi Master Summ Dim Phok and her padawan, Dria Hans. In fact they can help you anyway.' Mace Windu.
Qui-Gon felt his stomack sink a little.
He felt Obi-Wan's unease, and rightly so. Summ Dim Phok had the reputation of being the go-to Jedi master for students who are difficult cases, that have been born with difficulties similar to An'ya Kuro. But unlike An'ya, he wasn't the mos cleverest of Jedi. He once used a Force repulse but it hit his former padawan, a cousin of Dria Hans, Uno Hans, and blew his hand off in the battle. It stopped the opponent. Momentarily. It had just sent them flying off their feet. Uno Hans was killed in that fight in the end. Since then he has refused to use that Force power.
'I can also go with you but we don't want a show of force. It might push them away. Rather we want to try and draw them out. If possible.' Depa Billaba spoke up.
'The council permits you to go as well.' Mace Windu said.
Depa Billaba nodded.
Qui-Gon felt some relief now. He had at least someone he had gone on missions before.
'Make sure that if you are to leave, that you inform us. May the Force be with you.'
'May the Force be with you.' Qui-Gon said.
Obi-Wan started to walk away but then stopped as he realised that Qui-Gon hadn't moved.
'More to say, have you Qui-Gon?' Yoda said.
'With your permission, masters. I have encountered an unusually strong vergence in the Force.' Qui-Gon explained.
'Located around a person?' Windu asked.
'A boy he has an abnormally high midi-chlorian count. More than any I have ever seen in a life form.'
Qui-Gon glanced, studying the faces of the council members. ' It is possible he was conceived of midi-chlorians.'
There was a sudden silence.
A few masters exchanged looks.
'You speak of the prophecy?' Windu said. 'The one that will bring balance to the Force, you believe it is this boy?'
'I don't presume—'
'But you do!' Yoda snapped. 'Revealed your opinion is, Qui-Gon.'
'I request the boy be tested.'
'Bring him before us then.' Windu said.
'Tested, he will be.'
Amidala, Panaka, Jar Jar, Palpatine, and Anakin made their way the following day from Palpatine's chambers to the Senate chamber. Both Anakin and Jar Jar were taken in by the sheer size of the chamber. There must have been hundreds of floating pods. Each packed with species from all over the galaxy. He could only watch as Amidala, Palpatine and Panaka made their way to the Naboo floating pod. He heard Amidala and Palpatine talking. Palpatine was encouraging her to go for a vote for a new chancellor. But she seemed to supporting Valorum. He wished he'd understood all this better.
Within a few moments, Amidala's pod was floating up toward the supreme chancellor's pod.
'The chair recognises the senator from the sovereign system of Naboo.' Valorum said.
'Supreme Chancellor, delegates of the Senate,' Palpatine rose to his feet. 'A tragedy has arisen on my homeworld. An invasion. The Trade Federation has responsibility for this…'
The words settled and moments later a second pod came floating forwards, surprisingly a Neimoidian pod, occupied by Lott Dod and some other barons. 'This is outrageous! I object to these accusations!'
Valorum looked in their direction. 'The chair does not recognise the senator from the Trade Federation at this time. Return to your station.'
'To state our allegations in full, I present Queen Amidala the recently elected ruler of Naboo to speak on their behalf.' Palpatine said.
'Honourable delegates, I come to you under the gravest circumstances that Naboo has been not only blockaded but now invaded by the Trade Federation.'
'I object!' Lott Dod shouted. 'Where is the proof? I recommend a commission be sent to Naboo—'
'Overruled.' Valorum shot back.
Anakin watched on as they argued some more. Other pods, at least two came in support of the Trade Federation. He was starting to lose track until Queen Amidala finished with the words 'I call for a vote of no confidence in the Supreme Chancellor.'
Valorum stood speechless. He looked shell shocked. He was speaking to an alien called Mas Amedda, an unusual alien but worked with Valorum.
One of the alien pods, that were Bith, a species that Anakin did recognise floated towards the Trade Federation box and seconded the call for the motion.
'We shall have order!' Mas Amedda said. 'The Chancellor calls for a recess…'
When they were finished Anakin was taken back to the chambers, the Queen's antechamber in Palpatine's apartment looking for Padme. But she wasn't here. He frowned, looking towards the Queen.
'I wanted to tell Padme that I'm going to the Jedi Temple.'
'Ah. I'll tell her. I sent her on an errand.' The Queen said.
Anakin nodded, trying to swallow his disappointment. 'Okay.'
'Do well and good luck.'
Plagueis had been informed by Palpatine by a conversation he had with Dooku recently that Qui-Gon had apparently found a boy that was apparently a vergence in the Force. Qui-Gon supposedly believed he was the chosen one! He had to see it himself.
He made his way to Palpatine's apartment.
Outside however, Plagueis's alarm shot up as he saw two figures in what looked like Jedi robes. One was a large Ishi Tib, and the other was a smaller Gungan, both aquatic species. Both of them turned looking towards Plagueis.
'I'm Hego Damask,' He introduced himself.
'Oh of course,' The Ishi Tib said, nodding.
'I'm here to see Palpatine,' Plagueis lied.
The Ishi Tib's eyes blinked, dopily but he nodded and said nothing.
Plagueis stepped through unchallenged. He was expecting two Jedi to be a little bit more protective of the queen. They let me through as easy as is.
More disappointment. There was just one of the handmaidens that were present.
'I'm here to speak to a guest of Senator Palpatine, a human boy.'
'You mean Anakin?'
'Yes.'
'I'm not sure I should—'
Plagueis called upon the Force. 'You have my permission to speak.'
'I have permission to speak.'
'Where is the boy?' Plagueis said, keeping his voice low.
'I expect you can find him at the Jedi Temple, Qui-Gon just left with him.'
Plagueis found his mind suddenly reeling with thoughts. 'Oh right.' Was all he could muster. He turned and made his way out in a rush.
'Everything good in there?' The Ishi Tib said.
'Unfortunately, Palpatine isn't here.'
'Oh yeah. Sorry about that.' The Ishi Tib replied.
Fool, Plagueis thought.
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were waiting when Anakin was being tested. Obi-Wan saw it as a forgone conclusion. He wouldn't be taken as a Jedi.
'The boy won't pass the test.' Obi-Wan said finally breaking the silence.
'Anakin will become a Jedi, I promise you.'
'Don't defy the Council again.'
'I will do what I must, Obi-Wan.'
'If you followed the council's orders, you'd be on it already. You deserve to be there.'
Qui-Gon smiled. 'You have a lot to learn my young padawan.'
There had been more discussions in the senate, Amidala, Jar Jar came back to the chambers, while Panaka had stayed with Palpatine to update her on any news. They were now welcomed by two new Jedi as well, stood standing by that were both aquatic species.
'Yousa a Jedi?' Jar Jar said, staring at the other Gungan in the room.
'Yesa mesa am a jedi, mesa Dria Hans.' The Gungan did a bow. He looked like any other gungan except an outer robe. Beneath he could glimpse a lightsaber.
Queen Amidala looked amused watching them both.
'Yous think yous people are gonna die?' Jar Jar said, flapping his head in her direction.
Dria Hans also glanced her way.
'I don't know Jar Jar,' Amidala said.
'Gungans get pasted too eh?'
'Nosa desa can't die' Dria Hans said.
'I hope not.'
'We grand warriors. We gotta grand army.'
'Army?' Amidala said.
'Yesa.' Both Gungans said.
Amidala pondered that in her thoughts. She was going to ask questions about it but was interrupted when Panaka and Palpatine came rushing into the room.
'Your Highness, Senator Palpatine has been nominated to succeed Chancellor Valorum as Supreme Chancellor!' Panaka said.
Palpatine smiled. 'A surprise I'm sure, but a welcome one. I will certainly put an end to corruption and end the Trade Federation's influence—'
'Who else was nominated?' Amidala cut him off.'
'Bail Antilles of Alderaan and Aks Moe of Malastare.' Panaka said.
'The vote is tomorrow. I will be chancellor, I promise you.' Palpatine said.
'I fear by the time you have taken control of the bureaucrats, there will be nothing left of our cites, our home.' Amidala said giving them a stern look.
'I understand your concern Your Majesty, but at the time being they have control of our planet. Nothing we can do at the moment that can dislodge it.'
'Perhaps. With the senate in transition, there is nothing I can do here. This is your arena. I must return to my home.'
'Go back?' Palpatine's face paled. 'You will be in danger; they'll force you to sign the treaty!'
'My fate will be no different to that of my people.' She turned to Panaka. 'Captain, ready my ship.'
They started to make their way out of the chamber.
