A/N The opening of this chapter takes place as the chancellor is being captured in ROTS. I hope the time jumps are not too jarring.
Darth Sidious sat in his office chair watching as the Separatists destroyed their last forces on a fruitless attack on Coruscant. Flanking him on either side was two of his apprentices. Xeraph and Ceres (after leaving the order she joined Sidious' security team).
"Leucosia should be arriving soon." Sidious hissed. His two Sith nodded in reply.
"How many Jedi has she brought with her master?" Xeraph asked always eager to finish off a few Jedi.
"Leucosia has brought four Jedi with her." Sidious said calmly.
"They are arriving." Ceres hissed. "Chancellor. It is of supreme importance that you move to your bunker!" Ceres shouted in the role of Ahsoka Tano.
"I refuse to abandon my people to these Separatist scum," Sidious replied fitting very well into the role of the stubborn leader of the republic.
"With respect Chancellor your people will be in a must worse state if are killed or captured. For the good of the republic I will forcibly take you to your bunker if you refuse to be escorted." Leucosia said. The Jedi around her nodded in agreement.
"My security would stop you." Sidious said confidently.
"Good joke sir. Your safety is our top priority and we would be pretty crappy security if we left you in an unguarded location." Xeraph said. "As head of security it is my duty to do whatever it takes for your safety and if that includes forcibly taking you down to your bunker then so be it." Xeraph said. Nothing would give her more pleasure than carrying her master down to his bunker. Who knows? She could 'accidently' drop him along the way.
"Very well my friends. If you insist I will follow you." Sidious said dropping the pointless argument. Suddenly a clone's voice crackled through the comm attached to Xeraph's wrist.
"Commando droids are scaling the side of the building. Prepare for an assu-" The clone shouted before his voice was cut off by a blaster bolt. Right on queue commando droids broke the windows in the Chancellors office. Immediately clone troopers opened fire on the droids and Xeraph drew out a force pike to help fight them back.
"Ahsoka! Get Palpatine to safety. Now!" Xeraph shouted as she stabbed a droid.
Seeing the urgency of the situation the Jedi escorted Sidious to safety out into the previously empty corridor. Immediately Ceres stopped before turning to Leucosia.
"Droids are coming. I will hold them off. Take the secret passage." Ceres said waving her hand, which opened up a door, which was previously hidden.
"Thank you Ahsoka. Take two Jedi to help you." Leucosia said knowing how much Ceres wanted some Jedi blood. After that, Leucosia, Sidious and two Jedi knights ran into the hidden door whilst Ceres and the other knights waited for the droids to arrive. Ceres could have killed them now but there were a lot of droids coming and she might as well use them for all they were worth.
When the droids came down the corridor they were easily dispatched. For the last group of commando droids instead of using her blaster (no one knew Ceres still had light sabres (let alone red ones) Ceres drew her twin red sabres. Both blades were blood read as Ceres held them in her normal reverse grip. Rushing forward with insane speed Ceres cut down the remaining droids with a savage ferocity. Then she turned to the two horrified Jedi.
"You're a Sith!" One of them exclaimed.
"Correct. And, soon you will be dead." Ceres said savagely lurching towards the two Jedi. Immediately a duel began. The two Jedi obviously were adept at working together as they attempted to prevent Ceres from attacking only one of them. At one point in the duel the two Jedi performed downwards slashes at Ceres forcing her to block both sabres at the same time. This was awful for Jar'kai users as it meant they could not dedicate their strength too one attacker. But, Ceres had a neat little trick to deal with this.
She deactivated one sabre letting the Jedi stumble slightly and then with a force push she shoved the Jedi into his partners sabre. Ceres watched in amusement as the Jedi's shocked face quickly turned to anger.
"What's wrong? Did you slip your sabre. You really should be careful you know. Those things are dangerous." Ceres said mockingly only going to provoke the Jedi further.
"You're a monster!" The Jedi shouted slashing wildly.
"Be careful. Anger is not the Jedi way you know?" Ceres chided.
"I'll kill you!" The Jedi shouted not heeding Ceres' mocking but valid warnings.
"Funny. I was about to say the same thing to you." Ceres said as she deflected a clumsy swing and stabbed the Jedi through the chest. "Please do come again. It was incredibly amusing cutting you and friend down."
"Darth Ceres. Why did you not leave any for me?" Grievous said walking into the scene.
"Oh I'm sorry Grievous. Are you upset that I ruined your sport for the sake of the operation." Ceres said sarcastically. "Here take their sabres. You can add them to your collection of partial achievements." Ceres said throwing the dead Jedi's sabres to Grievous. "During your fight with the Jedi you slashed the secret door." Ceres said. "It was very bad luck. You also knocked me out but did not have time to check if I was dead." Ceres said slashing the secret door to the bunker.
"Very well" Grievous said before knocking Ceres out cold.
The chancellors bunker
There was a loud thump emanating from the chamber outside the bunker.
"Perhaps we should go and investigate." One of the Jedi suggested.
"That won't be necessary." Leucosia said.
"Why is that Shaak?" The other knight asked.
"Because, your both about to be dead." Leucosia snarled killing both the Jedi with blinding speed.
"Efficient as ever Leucosia." Sidious said as Grievous entered the chamber.
"I would appreciate it if your Sith did not ruin my fun lord Sidious." Grievous said. Before Sidious could reprimand Grievous Leucosia beat the Sith master to the chase.
"Oh Grievous. I would never dream of running your 'fun.'" Leucosia said gently stroking Grievous' metallic face. "But, I think it is for the best of the mission that we do not waste time playing with the Jedi. Speaking of the mission I believe you took the Chancellor hostage meaning I could not capture you; another cowardly move from the droid general of the Separatists. You then used the hostage to escape Coruscant despite my desperate attempts at stopping you." Leucosia said explaining the plan too Grievous in the kind of patronising way that every being hated.
The capture went out exactly as Leucosia explained. With two sabres at the chancellor's throat the republic (and its finest Jedi masters) could do nothing but watch as their leader was taken into space.
After Sidious' 'rescue'
Ceres heard a faint beeping before a shout from a near by nurse. She's alive! The nurse shouted. If it weren't for the fact that it was blatantly illegal (although, not for long) Ceres would have incinerated every nurse in the ward for even daring to touch her. Ceres hated hospitals and she hated being kept in the same place against her will. It reminded her of her short time in jail after being framed by the pathetic Barris.
"How much longer until I can be out?" Ceres asked the nearest nurse.
"I'm very sorry ma'am but you've got another week in here at least." The nurse said nervously knowing Ceres' reputation for hating hospitals. Ceres waved her hand.
"You will sign my release papers now."
"I will sign your release papers now." The nurse replied in a daze.
"After that you will jump out of a speeder to your death." Ceres said already re-growing her malicious streak. After the nurse repeated her other order in a daze she signed Ceres' release papers and left the hospital.
Taking a police speeder Ceres headed back to Sidious' office. After observing Xeraph's smug grin Ceres was certain that the more senior Sith had set her up.
"The chancellor has a mission for you. Unless your too weak to walk that is." Xeraph said.
"Not as weak as you will be after I'm through with you." Ceres replied before walking into her masters office.
"Ah Ceres. Good to see you. Now I believe you are aware of senator Amidala?" Sidious said.
"I know of her."
"Very good. But, do you know her husband?" Sidious asked. Instantly Ceres believed that it would be another basic black-male case. But the identity of Amidala's husband was what surprised Ceres the most.
"Her husband is none other than Anakin Skywalker." Sidious stated already playing on Ceres' crush on Anakin. Instantly Ceres' interest was spiked.
"What do you wish me to do with her master?" Ceres asked already with malicious intent in mind.
"She is pregnant. I want you to cause as much harm to her and her children as possible without any of it showing up on her body. I know that you will be able to effectively my apprentice."
"Your wish is my command master." Ceres said leaving the office.
Padmé's apartment
As Ceres rang the bell to begin her first bout of 'fun' with Amidala she let her jealousy form and brood for a second or two. How was it fair that a fucking politician had caught Anakin's eyes yet Ceres with all of her talents had not? Ceres was still a teenager in many respects. And, her childish crush on Anakin had developed into a full-blown lust and desire for her to possess him; or for him to possess her.
As Padmé opened the door to the apartment her face broke into the classic politicians smile.
"Ahsoka. How may I help you?" Padmé asked.
"Cut the crap senator. I know you are married to Anakin Skywalker." Ceres said already wanting to get down to her fun.
"How do you know? Did Ani tell you?" Padmé asked genuinely concerned. Ceres' rage flared at the sound of a pet name.
"It's called the Sith Amidala!" Ceres shouted. "And, you call me Ceres. Not Ahsoka!" Padmé backed away in fear and made to press her panic button but Ceres stopped Padmé.
"You wouldn't want to do that senator. One more step and your children are dead." Ceres hissed.
"What do you want from me?" Padmé asked in fear.
"Its simple really. I love Anakin more than you do. And, unlike you I actually deserve him." Ceres shouted with her self-centred rage.
"What?" Padmé asked genuinely confused.
"Now then Senator, allow me to explain how this will work. First I will begin by showing you visions. They will show your precious 'Ani' become the Sith he always meant to be. Then they will show you me at my rightful place. By his side." Ceres said.
"Your insane!" Padmé shouted.
"No. I merely want Anakin to be with a being that actually cares about him. After showing you what will happen in the future I will work away on your children. I will make sure to fuck up your internal system so badly that the odds of them even being born with a mother a miniscule. And, if the force somehow decides to spare your pathetic twins." At this point Padmé's mouth opened in shock at having twins but that was hardly the most surprising development of the day. "They will be so tainted by darkness that they will become everything you hate. They, will be powerful and if you are somehow alive to see it. Well, I can only say that I will watch with pleasure as they tear you apart for the dark side." Ceres said finally finishing her monologue.
The Jedi council chamber
"But, what about the droid attack on the Wookies?" Ki adi mundi said. Leucosia could barely contain her scoff at the thought of protecting the walking carpets known as the 'Wookies' Mace Windu interjected.
"Skywalker. What's wrong?" Mace Windu asked pointedly.
"I don't know. But, I have suddenly felt an overwhelming pain inside my head master." Anakin said not knowing that the pain was being caused by Ceres' torture of Padmé. Another flash of pain caused Anakin to collapse on the floor.
"Get too the med bay skywalker!" Mace shouted.
"I will go with him master. I have some experience dealing with mental issues." Leucosia said. Mace nodded in reply. Honestly he always felt something off about Shaak after the death of Kitnandor. He was always grateful to have her out of the council chamber.
A few hours later
"So, Skywalker. Who do you love?" Leucosia asked as Anakin recovered from his mental attack.
"What are you talking about master Ti? I love no one. Attachment is forbidden after all." Anakin said not wanting to give away his wife to a council member.
"Lying is not good Skywalker. I know you love someone. I know because I see the signs myself." Leucosia said.
"What kind of signs are you talking about master?" Anakin asked curious as too how he could disguise his relationship with Padmé.
"Oh a lot of things really. The fact that you disappear from the temple most nights, the fact that you're evasive when it comes to the code's statements on attachment and every time you arrive in Coruscant a certain Senator from Naboo clears her schedule." Seeing Anakin's shock at being figured out so easily Leucosia quickly move in with the second part of her plan.
"Don't worry Skywalker. Your 'secret' is safe with me. I know what you're going through. After all, I pulled similar shit with my husband back in the day." Leucosia said.
"Really?" Anakin asked meekly. There was nothing more surprising than knowing that a renowned Jedi master also was married at one point.
"I tell you your story if you tell me mines?" Leucosia asked.
"Agreed. I will start." Anakin said. He then proceeded to explain how his relationship with Padmé started and his current fears about her dying in childbirth. Then Shaak relayed her own story (placing more emphasis on the cruelty of the Jedi) with a message at the end.
"Enjoy your time with Padmé Skywalker. I know I did not with Kitnandor as much as I should have. Once they are gone you will never get them back. And, if you find a way to save them; grab it with two hands. Saving the one you love is worth selling your own soul." Leucosia said subtly pushing Anakin closer to the dark side.
"Thank you master." Anakin said. "I will consider your words. It is good to have someone to confide in."
"Likewise. If you ever need a chat I will always be listening." Leucosia replied.
Sidious' office
Sitting in his chair Sidious meditated as he watched all his peaces slowly slide into place. It was like a game of Chess. The Jedi (his opponent) were blissfully unaware of the checkmate that Sidious was about to pull off. First Sidious would use Grievous to draw Kenobi out and then use Levi to pin one of the most effective Jedi in place. The sacrifice of Tyrannus had drawn Skywalker into the open and once that peace fell he could begin a general assault on what few Jedi were left. Skywalker would be the jewel in Sidious' new empire. The apprentice that was able to master every Sith technique. Looking into the future Sidious could see a Sith more powerful than any other (which Sidious presumed to be Skywalker). By this Sith's side was a Togruta (obviously Ceres somehow managed to win Skywalker's affections). His order would dominate the galaxy forever. He had won. All he had to do was wait for the force to serve him up Skywalker on a silver platter. The Jedi would soon fall. At this thought Sidious let off a great evil cackle. Soon the galaxy would be his.
A/N Damn this is a long on. Anyway I hope you enjoyed this, as we swing into the second part of ROTS in the next chapter (including the rise of Darth Vader). I hope you enjoyed and please leave a review!