10 minutes later
Ilum, Jedi camp
Status: Hopeful
Obi-Wan looks over the camp and smiles. He chose Ilum as a base because, as a part of Wild Space, it is not under the jurisdiction of the Republic. It is also a sacred sight for the Jedi, but that is only the crystal cave. So, as long as they pitch their tents outside the cave, they are completely fine legally, and they didn't even have to buy any land. Of course, they still have rights to enter the cave, so if anyone needs a lightsaber, they still have access to the crystals.
They have an absolutely massive camp of tents, containing most of the Jedi Order, before it split. Though many of the younger Jedi were incapable of understanding Mace's evil, they have a good percent of the older ones. Almost all of the knights, and all but a few of the padawans are with him. The Younglings are their major weakness, and he knows that they have no right to take babies into their Order. The only way for them to continue their line is when Jedi have children, so it is lucky that they are allowing it. In addition, they have all the Council, except for Windu and... Anakin.
It hurts him to think that Anakin is not with him. Currently, Anakin is on the fence, simply not sure who to side with. But Windu has become more sly recently, so perhaps he will be able to corrupt Anakin. However, the thought of fighting Anakin, or simply working against him is to much to bear. It would never happen. Anakin would never fight him. It does not matter how any higher deity would spin history, how they would change it, he would never fight Anakin. It will not happen in this life, and it would not happen in any other.
He looks at the "Council," currently gathered in one of the makeshift tents. There are currently only nine of them, since Yoda, Mace and Anakin are not present. So, it is currently him, Qui-Gon, Kit, Shaak, Ki-Adi, Coleman, Luminara, Plo, and Stass. Some of the Knights have crowded around the tent, but only so many can crowd around it.
"I think it is time we get started," he finally says. It is time for the Jedi Order to get started. Taking a deep breath, he says, "I, Obi-Wan Kenobi, found this Jedi Order. We will uphold to all the principles and ways of our old former Order, but not submit to the reforms of the Sith Lord Mace Windu. We will stay stay separate from the Republic that he will no doubt corrupt, but we will still serve the galaxy as a whole in every way we can, and protect justice. This will include, should it come to it, fighting against this Sith, if he brings injustice to the citizens of the citizens of the galaxy."
Applause rings out from the camp, and the Council rings out nothing but affirmatives, and positive comments. Then, a Jedi Knight comes in, and says, "Masters, we have a holonet reporter looking to ask some questions."
This will definitely be a good opportunity to earn a bit of a voice, before Mace gets out all of his lies to the public. Apparently he hasn't censored the holonet just yet. "Send him in. I would be glad to talk with him."
20 minutes later
Official Republic Military and Senatorial Hospital
Status: Overjoyed
Anakin grins with joy as he looks to the baby in his arms. He is a boy, though the white gown that he wears offers no proof of it, as opposed to the traditional blue given to baby boys. He is beautiful, so calm, so peaceful. Despite this, he can already feel the boy's power. Even as a baby, he is curiously poking at Anakin's mental shield, and he can assume that he is doing similar to Padmé.
A medical droid comes over, confirming what Anakin already knows. "He has very high midi-chlorian count. Approximately 21,000 per cell." Anakin smiles, as that is almost exactly the same as his own. But, he feels more life. Life inside... Padmé?
Then Padmé, covered in sweat, says, "Anakin, I am feeling the pain again... I... Arrggh!"
1 minute later
Official Republic Military and Senatorial Hospital
Status: More overjoyed?
Anakin smiles, looking at the other baby, a girl. Like the boy, she is dressed in all white. She looks so happy, especially as the Medical Droid hands her over to Padmé to hold. Padmé, also smiles. They are both so cute. "She is healthy, just like her brother. In addition, she has high midi-chlorian count, as well. She has approximately 12,000 per cell." Anakin frowns in surprise. Definately not as good as Luke, but she will still make a powerful Jedi, and he has no doubt that she will make him proud. "It's okay. Midi-chlorian count isn't everything," Padmé says.
"Yes, I know. I am just surprised," he explains.
"What should we name them?" Anakin asks, looking carefully at the boy in his arms, and the girl in Padmé's.
"She... should be Leia," Padmé offers, and Anakin nods. It sounds good.
"It sounds good. What do you think of Luke?" he asks, considering the boy.
"Yes. Luke is a fine name," she says, nodding as she looks at the boy.
"They will serve us well," a voice says from behind them. Anakin turns around, and sees Mace Windu.
How did he not sense him? Mace is becoming more powerful, and it is somewhat unsettling. Why did he have to hide his presence from him. Perhaps Windu is simply showing off his new power. Then, seeing Anakin's surprise, he says, "I am assuming you want them trained as Jedi?" Mace says, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, of course, but the question is which Jedi. Keep in mind, I am still completely on the fence right now. I still have yet to make a decision. However, either way, I have made a decision in one thing. I think I definitely need to stay with Padmé for now, so please, send someone else on the mission against the CIS remnant," he says, hoping that that will send Windu away. Right now, the last thing he wants is to talk business.
"Thank you, Anakin. I think that I have an idea for who will go in your place," Mace says, as he leaves. Anakin smiles. Now, he can spend time with just Padmé, Luke, and Leia. Though the other type of Jedi have a leader that he does want to talk to. Obi-Wan is practically family to him, so it is only fair that he be told. Padmé is already contacting her family.
Ilum, Jedi camp
Status: Relieved
Obi-Wan smiles. As great as it was to have a reporter bring their story to the holonet, he never liked talking to them, as it always stressed him. So, as the reported takes off, away from their camp, he is quite happy. Even so, another problem can always arise. This time it is Plo Koon who come up to him, saying, "Master Kenobi, we have an incoming transmission. It is for you, and you alone."
"Who is it from?" he asks, somewhat confused.
"Skywalker," Koon says, and that is all it takes to have Obi-Wan sprinting toward the holo-transmitter. He presses the button to accept the communication, and what comes up is quite a surprise to him.
First, it is not only Anakin, but Padmé is also with him- in a hospital bed? The communication is somewhat slow, and lagged, so figure start to appear slowly, one at a time explaining the answer to his questions. First, a baby appears in Anakin's arms, then one in Padmé's. Why are they holding two babies? He is sure that Anakin said "baby."
Then, several more beings pop up. They are human, and he doesn't recognize them. Still, he finally realizes that they look like people that could be Padmé's family. So, Padmé had her baby, and apparently two.
"Padmé, your babies are so cute!" one of the unrecognized people says, smiling. She looks to be her mother.
"They are, and they are quite a nice thing to feel in the Force," Anakin says. "They are both so calm and content."
"I can even feel it over the holonet," Obi-Wan says, as he tries to sense them in the Force.
"You must be Obi-Wan Kenobi," a man says, who looks like he is her father.
"Yes, I am. Anakin is like a son to me in some way, and in others, a brother," he says, explaining to help the somewhat confused looks on the faces of Padmé's family.
"And what did you name the children?" Padmé's mother asks, looking at them with a keen eye.
"This is Leia," Padmé says, gesturing to the girl in her arms.
"And this is Luke," Anakin says, turning to show everyone the baby.
"Also, perhaps we have some introducing to do, beyond the children, as well. I feel like we need to get to know eachother better, since we are family, after all. We have barely even met Anakin, and you are pretty much a stranger," Padmé's mother says, a warm smile spreading across her face.
"Yes, indeed. I would love for us to meet in person, but, as the holonet may reveal to you soon, I am somewhat busy here on Ilum. It is a rather confusing situation, and it is quite a long story," he says, after he realizes that explaining what has happened with the Jedi recently would be a very long story.
"Yes, indeed," another person, who looks to be a sister, says. "Now, I am..."
The next day, mid-morning
Senate Chambers
Status: Unsure
Normally, when something morally questionable is done in the war, a human woman known as Senator Amidala brings the Naboo pod forward, and passionately speaks about it, trying to convince the Senate to not do it. In this case, something morally questionable is being done, but now, a Betty Droid known as SG-248 brings the Naboo pod forward, and, via live audio relayed from Senator Amidala, passionately speaks about it.
Even in the hospital, Padmé simply could not let such an issue slip by, when Anakin explained to her what they mission that Mace talked about was. She is glad that Anakin did not agree to do it, but she does not want the Republic to do such a thing. Bombing the city may get rid of the CIS remnant with minimal casualties, but it will kill hundreds of thousands of innocents civilians, maybe even millions.
Of course, Mace says that those citizens are hardly "innocent," and by joining the CIS, they deserve what is coming from them. With that, like a pet trying to please its owner, plenty of the Senators agree with that, and as such, it looks like the move will get passed after all. "Do you even care about these people! Have you completely forgotten who you are fighting for? These are innocents, don't kill them!"
She immediately hears the response back in the comm. "They joined the CIS. They are not innocents. How many times do I have to tell this to you, Senator?"
"So they deserve to die?" she asks rhetorically, desperately hoping to convince the other Senators.
"Fine. I never wanted it to come to this, but I will do what I must. Right now, the Senate is too choked up by things like weak Senators, and bureaucrats. Nothing ever gets done, just endless debates. My Jedi are in position, and simply waiting for the go-ahead. As such, I choose to pick back up the emergency powers that were given to the position of Supreme Chancellor. I wanted to forget about these, but now I see that it isn't possible. They are needed.
With this, I choose to deny any decision made by the Senate. As Supreme Chancellor, I will order them to attack."
She can do nothing but shake her head sadly, and even that is not seen by the Senators. All they can hear is her voice, and for that, she has nothing. She looks to her babies, Luke and Leia, sadly, saying, "We live in a corrupt galaxy, and I am doing everything that I can."