As Jim Kirk sat at the table with Chancellor Valorum and Leonard McCoy, he considered how he could get Palpatine to show who he truly was. He did not think it was safe to try and have a meeting alone with him. It would definitely make hi think they were suspicious of him. Jim just hoped they could discover some of his associates.
"Chancellor," Jim said. "Where is the Viceroy of the Trade Federation being held?"
"I left that up to Palpatine," Valorum answered.
Jim frowned. "Palpatine? Where would he put him?"
"Well, we do have prisons."
"Was the Viceroy questioned?"
"The Chancellor is not usually involved with such tasks. Those tasks are up to the Senate."
Bones looked at Jim. "The Senate, who is under the control of a Sith lord," he said.
"The Chancellor cannot interfere in those matters," Valorum replied. "I would be accused of bias or having too much sympathy. There's always something."
"So, they can just do whatever they see fit without your knowledge?" Jim asked.
"They report to me."
"But you don't know where the Viceroy is located?"
"He's in holding until his case is heard, perhaps on house arrest."
"Maybe someone needs to look into that."
"Jim, that could be really dangerous," Bones declared.
"The Jedi could request to see him…or if there's someone in the Senate that you know you can trust."
Valorum considered that a moment. "There is on," he said. "Senator Bail Organa. He is truly honest and has been quite upset by the actions of the Senate, and the growing hatred toward the Jedi. He's even suspected of being in league with the Separatists."
"Shouldn't he know what has become of the Viceroy?"
"Senator Organa has returned to Alderaan for now, but he should have some knowledge."
"Alderaan."
Bones frowned at the thought of that planet's fate. "Jim, what can we actually do to change this?" he asked. "And who are the Separatists?"
"I don't know what we can do but we're gonna keep trying until we figure out something…Chancellor, do you believe it would be safe to inform Senator Organa of the investigation?"
"I do," Valorum replied. "And the Separatists are a group of wealthy, manufacturing groups that don't want to be controlled by the Republic but they want to have free trade on their own terms. We don't know who their leader is as of yet."
"You think they're causing all this?" Jim asked. "Being used by Palpatine to cause trouble in the galaxy?"
"I don't know, but they've certainly made plenty of trouble."
"Can you contact Senator Organa and have him come back to Coruscant? Meet us at the Jedi Temple?"
"I can relay the message. I assume you would like it to be a secure message. I would also like to be informed of your actions."
Jim nodded. "I don't know how we got into this but I intend to do everything we can to help. I also think you need Jedi here for security. Be careful who you trust."
Chancellor Valorum scowled at that warning. He had known things were getting worse all the time, but would he have to fear for his life now? "If I die, Palpatine will gladly step in," he said. "His only competition would be Senator Organa, but if he is what you say he is…"
"He'll be unbeatable," Jim finished.
"Yeah, and he could have us questioned about why we're here," Bones added.
"I think we have to work fast." Jim looked at the Chancellor. "Work with us, and we'll do our best to figure this out."
Chancellor Valorum was silent a moment but then he nodded. "I will let you know when I find out something," he said. "Not because of me but because of the Republic."
Jim nodded. They all left the dinner table. The two Jedi who had escorted them there were still waiting. "Do we have to go back in that speeder?" Bones asked quietly.
"Sure," Jim answered. "You wouldn't want to walk, would you?"
"No. There's always the transporter."
"Remember, Bones, we don't want everyone around here to know about that."
They were soon on their way. Chancellor Valorum stood and watched as the speeder left. All the things they had discussed had assured him that the captain was telling the truth and that he wanted to help. It also assured him that his life was in danger even more severely than he first thought. He went to his office and sealed the door. He would open a secure channel to Alderaan. He had a private channel that no one else knew the codes.
Bail Organa had just finished dinner himself and stood on the balcony outside. Alderaan was a peaceful and beautiful planet. They had decided long ago to leave weapons out of their home world. Tonight, a gentle rain fell on the green forest below. They had chosen this location for the palace because of its beauty. The view was spectacular with the majestic birds, green forests, and the meadows beyond where herds of nerfs grazed. Tonight, most of this was not visible as darkness had fallen, but the smell of the rain was pleasant.
"Senator."
Organa turned to see Jayda, his assistant, had come onto the balcony. "Yes," he said.
"You have a secure call from Coruscant, Sir," Jayda replied.
"Thank you."
Organa hurried to his office. A secure call? He had only gotten those calls from the Jedi, so he was surprised to see Chancellor Valorum on the screen. He looked at Jayda who sat at her desk. "Jayda, you're dismissed for the night," he said. He had learned long ago not to trust those who simply overheard conversations.
Jayda looked rather surprised. "Yes sir."
Organa watched and made sure everything was shut down and the door was secured. "Chancellor, I am sorry to keep you waiting," Organa said.
"It is alright, Senator," Valorum replied. "This conversation is highly confidential."
"Has something happened?"
"I am afraid the conspiracy we suspected is all too real."
"Have you found new information?"
"The beings from the other galaxy have gathered clues, but I have a question to ask: where is the Trade Federation Viceroy being held?"
"House arrest, Sir," Organa replied, not sounding pleased with that fact. "I suggested that he be held in the prison like anyone else awaiting a hearing, but I was outnumbered."
"And who suggested house arrest? Or need I ask?"
"As a gesture of attempting to make peace with the Trade Federation, and perhaps negotiations could work."
Valorum sighed and shook his head. "Yes, he can always come up with a good, solid, unsuspicious reason."
"What have you found out, Sir? You know that I am on your side."
"There is definitely a plot, even a plan to have an army created for the Republic."
Organa was surprised by that news. "Created?"
"Yes. A clone army. Ever heard of Kamino?"
"Only briefly. Who authorized this?"
"That is not clear, but it was made to look like Master Sifo-Dias authorized it, and they have recruited a subject. Too bay the Jedi is not here to defend himself."
"Convenient. What do you intend to do about it?"
"Nothing at the moment. There is a very secret investigation going on,a nd you are the only one in the Senate that I trust right now. I would like you to come back to Coruscant as soon as possible. You must find out what you can about the Viceroy."
"Yes sir."
"I don't think I have to tell you the danger."
"No sir. I will be there."
Valorum ended the transmission. He wondered what would happen when they attempted to bring all this out into the open. He had been informed of the rumors that had gone the rounds, and how the public was being turned against the government because of news reports. It would not be easy to convince them.
A hooded figure stood in a non-descript area as he opened a secure channel to his master. "The Chancellor had a private meeting and a private dinner with the visitors," Tyrannus said.
"So it was told to me by my informant," Sidious replied. "He was unable to glean any information from that meeting. The Chancellor has also made a secure call. It is unknown whom he called. They have also moved the young 'chosen one' to an unknown location as well."
"Obi-Wan Kenobi has been watching the archives library. I was unable to complete my mission."
An angry, almost hiss, came from the hologram. "Is it possible that they have discovered our plot?"
"How could they? They trust me implicitly."
"So you say. What have you learned from our other informants?"
"Nothing. Only that there are a lot of secret meetings occurring."
"Perhaps that can be used to our advantage if these meetings are made to be suspicious. Has the bounty hunter left for Kamino?"
"Yes, Master, but he is at our disposal."
"He should not be discovered there. Bounty hunters are not to be trusted."
"What about the visitors?"
"We will deal with their interference."
"They are being protected by the Jedi. What would you like me to do?"
"We will form a plan which will eliminate them from the opposition, and allow us to obtain their technology."
"Yes, Master."
Jim and Bones arrived back at the Jedi Temple even more troubled than they were when they left. They met up with Spock who had been on his own mission. "Captain, I am pleased that you have returned safely," Spock said.
"I have a feeling that we're getting in deeper every day," Jim replied.
"The informants that we talked to have seen secret meetings between two hooded figures. They meet at a place they call the ship graveyard."
"But they don't know who they are, I assume."
"No."
"I tell you, I've never heard of people who could do all this sneaking around and no one knows who they are," Bones blurted. "Doesn't anyone get suspicious of anything in this galaxy?"
"Apparently not," Jim replied. "But at least we have an idea who it is."
"If only we had heard his name before," Bones said. "You think this kid, Skywalker, has anything to do with this?"
"No now," Jim replied. "But in the future. I mean, they claim he is some chosen one. Does that mean he's more powerful than the others?"
"Captain, I would not dismiss things which I do not understand," Spock said. "From what I have seen the Jedi have a reason for believing this prophecy."
"I know but if it is him, why would he turn to the dark side? Especially since he is going to be taught by the Jedi?"
"Your father was a respected Starfleet officer, as was your mother…yet you chose to frequent bars, get into brawls, and be promiscuous. One cannot see everything that will influence a child in the future. However, we do not know how events have changed since our arrival."
"He's right about that," Bones agreed. "Who would have thought you would become a respected Starfleet captain?"
"You guys always want to point that out every chance you get, don't you?" Jim asked.
"Yeah," Bones replied without hesitation.
"Captain, I was merely making the point that children do not always follow the way they are raised," Spock said. "Since we know the young man in the future was also a Skywalker, it is logical to believe that they are related, perhaps even father and son."
"That might explain why he was on Tatooine like that and being watched over by Obi-Wan," Jim suggested. "And then there was Leia…Organa. But she was from Alderaan."
"Yes, but that does not mean that she was not also being protected."
"Wow. If I had known we would end up here, I would have gotten more of that story. I guess we have to wait to hear from the Chancellor or the Senator. In the meantime, we should get all our facts together and make sure we all know who we're going to trust, and figure out what to do next."
"I agree, Captain," Spock replied. "What about the rest of our crew?"
"We'll inform them as much as we can."
As they made their way down the long lighted corridor, their stalker was watching. He had heard some of their conversation, which was odd. Did they know about the future? The past? He would have to tell his master about this. He believed there was more to this than a simple trip between galaxies.
