The Republic ships were returning to Coruscant. Anakin sat alone with a serious expression and head bowed. Obi-Wan entered the room and walked up to him.
Obi-Wan:How are you feeling?
Anakin:Tired.
Obi-Wan:Me too...but we did...we took back Naboo.
Anakin:what were our casualties?
Obi-Wan paused before answering.
Obi-Wan:20,000 on the surface, another 5,000 in orbit.
Anakin:plus all of the Gungans.
Obi-Wan:Yes I heard...Sorry.
Anakin:This has to stop.
Obi-Wan:remember what Master Yoda said. The dark side feeds on war, and war feeds on all of us, and he's right. The most challenging state for a Jedi to be in is one of prolonged conflict.
Anakin:That's why I agree with the should negotiate a truce with the keep they're territory,we keep ours, but a least this fighting stops.
Obi-Wan:If they honor their side of the agreement which I doubt they would, and even if they do, we're not just fighting the Separatists, we're fighting the Dark side. Their led by a Sith. If we agree to a truce that would create an imbalance where the dark side could grow even stronger. That's why we need to press on until the entirely galaxy is wiped clean.
Anakin:And in the meantime every living thing in the Galaxy has to pay the price.
Obi-Wan:Anakin...The Dark side is like a raging fire. It's not enough to mostly extinguish it. If there's a few sparks left it could ignite again. We have to sacrifice today if we want to have a tomorrow.
Obi-Wan looked at Anakin intently.
Obi-Wan:How many of your men died?
Anakin looked down at the floor.
Anakin:All of them
Obi-Wan:what
Kenobi spoke the word loudly in surprise. Anakin looked at him almost angrily.
Anakin:Yeah...like you said. I just hope its worth it.
Anakin rose up. The shuttle they were in landed. He walked towards the entrance. Obi-Wan followed. the two walked out form the platform. A few men in blue military uniforms approached turned to Anakin.
Obi-Wan:Give my regards to your friends.
Anakin:I will.
Obi-Wan followed the uniformed group.
Kenobi stood in a large square shaped room. There was a large open area in the center which showed a hologram of the galaxy, with many red points throughout it. On the left side were Master Yoda and Mace Windu. to the farthest wall was Prince Organa among others. Kenobi shook hands with each of the military personnel who congratulated him and bowed to the Jedi present. He pressed something down on the consoles and the image of the spherical weapon came into view.
ELSWHERE
In a sealed off area, Asajj Ventress held two Sabers. A magma guard charged her,a rme with an electric staff. She swung an edit block but the clash sent the drod flying. Another approached from behind and she ducked turning to slash it with her saber. Darth Maul stepped into the room, accompanied by his droid.
Maul: Very Good. You've improved greatly.
Ventress deactivated her sabers.
Ventress: I just think of them as being that Jedi.
Maul: You're time will come. The Dark side will deliver him to you, and you will have your revenge.
Ventress: You've heard of Naboo.
Maul:Of course, by now the plans would have reached Coruscant.
Ventress: Will he believe that we are getting ready to build the Death Star without him?
Maul:He will need confirmation before he moves on it, but we should ready ourselves to make our final move on him.
Ventress:do you think we could do it? Kill Sidius?
Maul:Maybe. With great Difficulty., but now that he's seen the plans we are going to have to make a move before he does.
Ventress: against him? I'm much better with a saber now, but he doesn't even use a Saber.
Maul: I know but we always knew it was going to come down to him or us. We'll have to ready ourselves nonetheless.
CORUSCANT
On Coruscant, Anakin looked out towards the Sunset, watching the speeders go by. He closes his eyes, trying to meditate, make the scenes of war disappear. His thoughts were interrupted by hims ending a presence. He turns around and sees Palpatine stepping out to the balcony accompanied by two guards clad entirely in red.
Anakin:Chancellor Palpatine.
Palpatine:Welcome home, my young friend, I'm greatly relieved to see you have returned safely. How are you feeling?
Anakin:ummm...
Anakin was about to speak but a few Jedi walked by and he looks nervous, staring at them until they leave. Palpatine also looked.
Palpatine:I have transportation waiting for us if you'd like a ride somewhere?
Anakin:Yes. thank you.
the two walked away, accompanied by the guards in red. There was an enclosed area which had a makeshift hangar. Just outside the Window was a more elegantly designed shuttle. Three tie fighters hovering near it. Anakin and Palpatine entered the shuttle, the inside was spacious with delicate furniture placed about. Anakin seemed to collapse form exhaustion onto the table, falling like a heavy object. Palpatine presented a black box from the seat next to him, placing it on the table between them and gently nudging it forward to took it and opened it. the case was filled with vials of a bright blue liquid. Anakin reached towards one of the vials. His hand was trembling and Palatine looked nervously at the hand. It grabbed one of the vials. Anakin drank it reached immediately for another one with his hand still shaking but then his hand stopped. Palpatine could see it steady until it stopped moving.
Palpatine:We need to keep you healthy my young friend.
Anakin looked at Palpatine with a more composed manner, and calm closed the black box before sliding it back to Palpatine.
Anakin:thank you.
Palpatine smiled back at him., his hand slowly pushing the box back to Anakin.
Palpatine:You know Anakin. I heard that you agree with my suggestion to form a peace treaty with the Separatists.
Anakin:Yes I do, but I suppose the council has good reasons for why they disagreed with your proposal.
Palpatine:disagreed?
He seemed confused at the word but changed his tone to almost being sarcastic.
Palpatine:Oh well I suppose that's what we called it publicly.A more accurate description would be that they "blocked" the proposal.
Anakin"blocked?
Palpatine:hmm...yes. Though most of the Senators were willing to sign a peace treaty, they never got the chance to because it was blocked by the Jedi council before it could be voted on.
Anakin:They can do that?
Palpatine:oh yes, since the council is intended to be a safeguard against corruption one of the powers afforded to them is to block legislation. They can block anything they don't agree with, including the peace treaty. They did the same thing when I first proposed the Republic should have an army, which of course they did. Relented I mean, we have an army now.
Anakin:I heard about that.
Palpatine:Thankfully they eventually came around and now we have our army, but waiting for them to come around certainly came at a price.
Anakin:yes...It has.
Palpatine:I fear that if we wait for them to come around this time, It may cost us more than we can afford.
Palpatine pressed a button at a console and a hologram of the spherical station appeared. It's appearance caused Anakin to sit up, looking at it.
Palpatine: Master Kenobi found these Naboo. It's a weapon capable of destroying an entire planet, and the Separatists are getting ready to build it. If they succeed it's all over. We need to end the war now. Not later, but now.
Anakin sat back stunned.
Palpatine:You understand that what I'm about to tell you must be kept in the utmost confidence?
Anakin:of course.
Palpatine:What of I told you there were those among the Separatists who also desired peace with the Republic? Most of the systems under Separatist control are being saddled with having to provide equipment for the war, others only joined out of fear. It puts quite a strain on them and they're more than a little tired of it. We've been in contact with a high ranking Separatist leader,who is willing to make a deal with us.
Anakin:Who is he? Which leader?
Palpatine:His name is Tarkin
Anakin:Moff Tarkin? He's one of Darth Maul's inner circle. Why would he be willing to make a deal with us?
Palpatine:Because of this.
He pointed to the still activated Hologram of the spherical weapon.
Palpatine:Tarkin is not a stupid man he knows if Maul builds this weapon it could be used just as easily on his home planet as it could one of ours. We'd like to avoid that. You see we didn't find these plans on Naboo by left them their for us.
Anakin smiled faintly.
Palpatine:You see where this is going yes?
Anakin:He could help us capture Darth Maul,
Palpatine:exactly, my young friend.
Anakin and Palatine were both smiling at the prospect of victory and an end to the war.
Palpatine:With Maul out of picture, he will rise to the position of Grand Moff Tarkin and take the position of leadership, from then he can come to us with an offer of peace.
Anakin:And the war ends.
Palpatine:And the war ends. In fact we've already agreed on many details of the peace treaty. first one being, the return of Alderaan.
Anakin looked at him startled.
Palpatine:It was deemed logical that we select a planet to be neutral so that the two sides could meet together in peace to negotiate,and what better planet then Alderaan. We will be holding negotiations course Maul has escaped our grasp before and we will be setting a trap for him and Ventress at the gathering.
Anakin:You'll be using the Peace treaty as bait to lure him out.
Palpatine:It's the best way of capturing him. Once the treaty is signed he will have nowhere to hide and no allies. Of course I selected the perfect Jedi for the job.
Anakin:Obi-Wan and myself.
Palpatine:Obi-Wan fought both of them and with how strong you've become you will be perfect. If we succeed then we win the war, assuming of course you accept the mission.
Anakin:I absolutely accept.
The Shuttle slowed to a stop and descended down to ground level in the street.
Palpatine:Are you sure you want to be dropped here?
Anakin:Yes I'm meeting some friends.
Palpatine:Well don't stay up too leave first thing in the morning.
Anakin:thank you Chancellor.
Palpatine:No, my young friend, thank you.
Anakin left the shuttle, which took off. He walked into a busy cantina, where he looked around and spotted Padme and her sister Beru. They were enjoying a blue foamy liquid. Padme slid a drink over to Anakin.
Anakin:Thank you
Padme:It's on me.
He looked around.
Anakin:there's a lot of people out tonight.
Beru:Everyone's celebrating the liberation of Naboo.
A droid waitress approached their table carrying a tray full of many drinks, intended for the group.
Beru:We didn't order that.
Droid Waitress: Compliments of the patrons over there. for your service to the Republic.
The table looked over to another table in the shadow. they could not be seen, only their silhouettes, clearly not all of them were human. They seem to be looking at them and and raised their glasses in toast at the group. Anakin gestured a thank you back at them.
Beru: we should come out drinking with you more often.
Anakin:Maybe I should change clothes before I go out next time.
Beru: It wouldn't matter. Everyone already knows your face.
Padme:You're the savior of Alderaan.
Anakin:yeah...
He looked down.
Anakin:Force willing you'll be home again soon.
Padme raised her glass.
Padme:the force willing.
Beru: Even if we do get to go back things will never be the same. Somedays I wish we never got involved.
Anakin:We didn't have a choice about getting clones came down whether we liked it or not.
Anakin finished drinking.
Anakin:I have to go. I should go over strategy for tomorrow, when we'll be acting as your bodyguards.
Padme pulled out a box from a bag.
Padme:Do you think you have time for a game?
Anakin smiled
Anakin: sure.
the two walked to an empty booth. Padme opened the box, revealing a chess board which she placed in the center of the table. Several holographic monsters came up on the board. It was a game of Chess. Anakin pressed a button and a small yellow creature jumped form one square to another. He looked at Padme and they both smiled slightly.
MAUL'S BASE
Maul stood on the base of a ship with his droid near him, looking out onto the surface of the planet below. Off train entered the room, wearing a blue and red uniform with the separatist emblem on the sleeve. His arms were crossed. Maul did not turn to face him.
Maul:what is it Tarkin?
Tarkin: My workers at a Gentane mine came across something I thought you'd be interested in.
Maul:which is?
Tarkin:Mandalorian Iron.
Maul turned his head slowly.
Maul:You're certain?
Tarkin: Our machines couldn't could through had to cut around it. I presume you'd wish to inspect it yourself to make sure.
Maul:Is it your workers or clones at the mine?
Tarkin: My workers.
Maul:tell them to leave one is to enter that mine again until I arrive.
Tarkin:Very good. I have a squadron of soldiers nearby that can provide security for would you like to leave?
Maul walked passed him.
Maul:Now.
the droid followed Maul. Tarkin smiled to himself.
Tarkin:Yes my lord.
CORUSCANT HANGAR
Anakin and Obi-wan along with other Jedi were walking to their ships. Anakin was speaking with Obi-Wan.
Anakin:Honestly I'm a little nervous going up against Maul. I imagine you would be too after last time.
Obi-Wan:The Chancellor and the Council both have faith in you, and so did Qui Gonn. Maul's primary skill is with the blade, but a lightsaber isn;t everything. After all Master Yoda is one of the greatest Jedi Masters, yet he doesn't carry a Saber.
"Anakin Skywalker!"
The voice was shouted by someone down the hall behind them. The two Jedi turned to face the newcomer. It was a chubby man in a pilot's outfit with a bit of untrimmed hair on his beard.
"By the force you're Anakin Skywalker!...I saw you're Podrace. It was absolutely inspirational! It made me want to become a pilot...Are you escorting this ship?"
the newcomer pointed to the nearest ship.
Anakin smiled a bit while rubbing the back of his head, Obi-Wan looked at him with a smile of his own and a raised eyebrow.
Anakin:actually yeah...I...am.
The Pilot made gestures with his hand as if trying to speak but continuing to move around.
"By the force! I never thought in my wildest dream I'd be flying side Anakin Skywalker! the hero of Alderaan!"
The pilot held out a presumably sweaty hand.
"My name is Owen Lars"
Anakin smiled and shook his hand.
SPACE ABOVE CORUSCANT
Anakin and Obi-wan sat beside each other on consoles. Anakin was looking over the holographic chess. Obi-wan looked over.
Obi-Wan:Is that a different game between you two.
Anakin:No it's still the same one.
Obi-Wan:That has to be the longest game in history.
Anakin:I don't understand it. I can plan actual battles and win but when it come stop playing against her?
Obi-Wan:she's very good. I heard she was one of the very best back on Alderaan. No one was willing to play her anymore she wipes them out in a manner of minutes.
Anakin:well I've survived this long so I must be doing something right. You're pretty you can give me some pointers.
Obi-wan leaned over, inspecting the game.
Anakin:I thought I had her cornered a few times but she always manages to get away.
Obi-wan:You...thought...you had her cornered.
He put emphasize on the word "thought".
Obi-wan:but that's just it. It's all a game of deception.
Obi-Wan went quiet as he looked at the screen.
Anakin: the Chancellor didn't tell me that Master Windu was coming on the mission as well. He made it sound like it was gonna be just the two of us.
Obi-Wan:Yes well it was supposed to be but the council decided to send him with us.
Anakin:It makes will have his sister with him so if there's two of them. It's better if there's three of us.
Obi-Wan:It would be better if there were four or five of us, but this is a war that has many fronts. we don't even know if Maul will be there.
Anakin:He WILL be there. I know it.
A trooper entered.
Trooper:we've gone into Hyperspace. General wind will be briefing the men in five minutes.
Obi-Wan:We'll be there.
The trooper leaves and Obi-wan moves to the door. He turned to Anakin.
Obi-Wan:shall we?
Anakin:Wait a second the game?
Obi-Wan:oh right, the ...you don't need to worry about losing.
Anakin:What do you mean?
Obi-Wan:Well form what I can see she's had plenty of opportunities to beat you but she never seems to take them.
Anakin:why not?
Obi-Wan:I told 's all a game of old Padawan. Looking like you're after one thing but you're really after something else. It's pretty clear from what i can see: It's not the game she's interested in.
Anakin reacted in surprise.
Obi-Wan slapped him on the back.
Obi-Wan:ah cmon. We have a war to fight you know.
Obi-Wan was about to exist when he paused and turned around.
Obi-Wan:You may have graduated from being my apprentice, but that doesn't mean I still can't teach you things.
A light heart jingle played in the 's surprised look slowly turned into a grin.