[Disclaimer: All Star Wars LucasArts characters are owned by George Lucas and LucasArts.]
[Final chapter of four released in one package. I will be making major tweaks, fixes and updates over the next month. Reread the whole story once Chapter 13 is released, as I will be going back to keep all the continuity working. Chapter 11 is a little touch-and-go, so I may revamp the whole chapter, but I will be working on interesting things for the future.]
[One little hint to keep you hungry for more: a new Order will be introduced that will affect Padme, Anakin, Obi-Wan, Etain and all the clones, especially Delta squad, Omega squad and the Nulls. Watch out for a chapter called Palpatine's Late Revenge.]
Obi-Wan arrived at the Temple before Padmé and I, as he should have. Padmé and I walked in together, finding our way quickly to the High Council chambers.
"Greetings, Anakin, Senator Amidala. Thank you for your prompt arrival," Master Windu began.
I frowned very slightly: Master Windu had never thanked me for arriving promptly. I glanced quickly at Obi-Wan and he shook his head, telling me to dismiss it. I turned back to Master Windu. Padmé nodded. "Has there been a development with our situation, Master Windu?" she asked.
He shook his head. "No, there hasn't."
"Called you before us to discuss the late Chancellor, we have," Yoda continued.
Padmé nodded, her face not betraying anything. "What is there you wish to discuss?"
"Senator, you and the late Chancellor were born on the same planet, is that right?" Ki-Adi-Mundi asked.
She nodded. "Yes. He was my predecessor as Senator. While I was Queen, he was voted in as Chancellor and after my term ended, my successor as Queen asked that I take his vacancy."
"Did you know him well?"
She shook her head. "As well as a former queen and a former senator did. We only ever discussed Nubian and Senatorial matters."
"You never thought he wasn't all he seemed?" Plo Koon asked.
She turned to look at him. "No. As I said, he never discussed personal matters with me. I did think it was a little odd, how close to the vest he played his personal life, but as we only shared a working relationship, I didn't think much of it."
"Senator, please don't think we're accusing you of anything. We're simply trying to see how far his influence spread, and as he was exceptionally close to your husband"- Master Gallia began.
Padmé turned to her, interrupting: "You wanted to find out if myself or Anakin had any inkling or were influenced by the Sith Lord controlling the Senate, and the Republic."
"Senator, Palpatine was a dangerous man and he managed to hide his abilities, true agendas and his connection to the dark side of the Force from the entire Jedi Order. As I've told you, Coruscant police and the Jedi are interrogating anyone close to him. We need to know if there's any more to his plots that could still come to fruition after his death." This time Obi-Wan spoke up.
Padmé looked at him for a long moment. "I know, Obi-Wan. We've all had our egos bruised and we're all wondering how he managed it. When Anakin told me, I kept going through the many meetings I shared with Palpatine, trying to find anything that would corroborate Anakin's story. But it seems that he was able to fool all of us."
"Except those he confided in," I added, thinking of Mas Amedda and Palpatine's other aides.
Master Windu nodded. "Indeed. We apologise if our questioning has been aggressive, Senator."
I suddenly wondered why they hadn't addressed me. Perhaps they were leaving their questioning of me until Padmé left.
"Were there any further questions?" Padmé asked.
Obi-Wan looked around the room and shook his head. "No. Thank you, Senator. Anakin, please remain."
Padmé looked at me and I nodded. She hesitated before leaving quickly. She must have been late for a meeting. I turned back to the Council. "Masters?"
Master Windu shifted in his chair. "Skywalker, you knew the late Chancellor better than those seated here. Tell us, in your honest opinion, who he was. Don't leave anything out."
I glanced at Obi-Wan uncertainly. "I first met Palpatine when I was nine, directly after the Battle of Naboo, in the celebrations. I was just a kid, and he said that he'd have to keep an eye on me. After that, he made a point to keep in contact with me. Sometimes he would call me into his office for a little chat. Other times, he'd ask me for advice, or he'd give me advice. Looking back, I can see the signs that he knew more than he let on about the Force."
I stopped and looked at Obi-Wan.
"He gave me advice that I wanted to hear, rather than the better advice my Master gave me. I began thinking that Palpatine understood me better. I think he was trying to make me sympathise with him." I looked at Master Windu. "I believe he started that soon because he was trying to get me to stop the Jedi that came for him once he had revealed his identity."
Yoda nodded. "Incredible foresight, he appears to have possessed."
"To begin work on a child that young, he would have to have foreseen many events. It is very likely that he had contingency plans in place should he or Anakin fail," Obi-Wan noted.
I knew that he would want to talk privately after the Council session.
"I never told him about my marriage to Padmé, or our unborn children, but somehow he seemed to know anyway. Anything I didn't tell him about me, he seemed to know anyway."
Obi-Wan nodded. "He was a powerful man."
"Skywalker, you have been very cooperative, understanding and humble: traits that I'm proud to see in you." I turned to look at Windu. "I understand that Obi-Wan has already informed you and your wife that Palpatine's influence extended even to her old security as queen?" I nodded. "Tell the Council, please."
"Of course." I glanced around, feeling surrounded as I always did when before the Council. "Obi-Wan informed myself and Senator Amidala prior to coming here that Master Windu was looking into Palpatine's old friends and contacts on Naboo." I hesitated. "While my wife was queen of Naboo, her chief of security was a man named Panaka. Master Windu found out that Panaka informed Palpatine of my marriage to Padmé."
Obi-Wan nodded. "I remember Panaka. He was a proud man, very stubborn and determined to protect his charge at all costs. As the queen's life was in danger for much of mine and Qui-Gon's mission, Panaka had the idea that one of her handmaidens would pose as her for everything except for those instances where it absolutely had to be the real queen. This was a secret between Panaka, Amidala and the handmaiden chosen. It was not revealed until we had returned to Naboo and were asking the Gungan chief for assistance against the droids of the Trade Federation."
I nodded. I didn't comment on Panaka's character because I didn't think much of him when I was nine, and I never saw him after I joined the Order.
"Been interrogated, has this Panaka?" Yoda asked.
Obi-Wan shook his head. "No. According to Mas Amedda, Panaka was given orders by Palpatine that should he not hear from him by this morning, he would disappear. I believe that Panaka was given information and other orders to carry out Palpatine's contingency plans."
"Where would he go?" I asked.
Obi-Wan shook his head. "That was something only Panaka would know. Amedda said that he would only surface if he knew Palpatine was looking for him, or the next phase of Palpatine's orders were to be actioned. We don't know enough about Palpatine's intentions to guess that."
I began thinking quickly on how we could catch him. "Padmé's chief of security now that she's a senator is Panaka's nephew, Captain Gregar Typho. We could question him."
"Interesting. We'll have to follow up on this Typho," Ki-Adi-Mundi mused.
I nodded. For the first time since he left the Jedi, my thoughts turned to a former Padawan I had been at odds with before he left: Ferus Olin. He had been Siri's Padawan, and his by-the-book antics had rubbed me the wrong way many times. "Masters, I would like to ask if there's been any word from a former Padawan that has since left the Order."
Obi-Wan frowned briefly before realising who I meant. "I don't think there's been any word from or of Ferus, Anakin."
I nodded. "I wondered if perhaps he could help. He was a very observant boy from what I remember."
"As do I. With the permission of the Council, I will look into his whereabouts." Obi-Wan looked to the rest of the Council.
No one voiced their objections. Yoda nodded. "Of some assistance, Ferus could be." He looked at me. "Return to your Senator, you should. Insight, she may have, about Panaka."
I nodded. "If I find anything out, about Panaka or Palpatine I will inform you."
Master Windu nodded and dismissed me. As I reached the turbolift, I heard my name called from behind me. I turned to see Obi-Wan run up. "Anakin, why did you think of Ferus?"
"I don't know. His name just suddenly popped into my head and he could help."
"Anakin, do you remember the circumstances of his leaving the Order?" Obi-Wan asked, concern in his eyes.
I nodded, the memory flooding back to me. I shook my head, clearing it of the memory. "I do. He believed he was responsible for Darra's death."
"When it was your failure to inform them that they needed to double-check the lightsaber because of a repair you had done on it before."
I nodded, still feeling shame for that decision. It had been petty and all because Tru had asked Ferus to fix his lightsaber instead of me. "Why do you ask?"
"Because although it has been five years, Ferus may not have gotten over that. I want you to understand that he may still harbour bitterness toward you," Obi-Wan replied.
I nodded. "Obi-Wan, I've grown past that. I know now that my rivalry with Ferus was due to arrogance: arrogance that I'm still struggling past. I won't allow my past feelings toward Ferus, or Tru, affect my judgement or my actions, especially in the event that we find Ferus."
"Good. I'm glad and I'm proud of you, Anakin." He hesitated. "You went to Palpatine for advice?"
He didn't show it, but I could tell he was hurt that I went to Palpatine for advice more than I went to Obi-Wan. "I did. I'm sorry. He made me feel like he understood me, whereas there were times when I thought that you wished Qui-Gon had never freed me from Tatooine."
Obi-Wan's eyes widened briefly. "Anakin, I have never wanted that. I didn't understand a lot of things Qui-Gon did, but they always had a reason. You're my brother, Anakin. I would never… I wouldn't wish slavery on Tatooine to my worst enemy, let alone my brother."
"I know that, now."
He nodded. "I know. I wish I'd been more open with you. In the beginning I was trying to be like Qui-Gon, but it became harder and harder until I realised I had to be me. You didn't need Qui-Gon, he was gone. You needed me."
I smiled. "Thanks, Obi-Wan. You've been there for everything. Even through this," I sighed. "You were the one I should have told about my marriage and children, and even though I didn't, you're defending me without hesitation."
"I know you Anakin. You are arrogant sometimes, and there are definitely times when you allow your emotions to control your thoughts and actions, but that is a result of your mother's influence. She raised you to be you: a passionate, loving man. Use those Jedi as role models: don't let your love force you to the dark side, Anakin. Palpatine may be dead, but the temptation of the easy way out is always there."
