Chapter Twenty Four

A/N: Well, I must say I'm awed by the 15,000 hits this story has gotten so far. Here we see a few other characters not seen in the movies that happen to be personal favorites of mine. I don't own Infamous or Star Wars, and now we begin the final arc of this story.

Supreme Chancellor Palpatine bid a group of senators farewell and turned his seat to face the wide window facing the skyline of Coruscant, finally alone at last. In his mind the cogs were turning; the war was not going as he had foreseen or planned. That blasted Cole MacGrath had already destroyed countless Separatist forces and captured Dooku and possibly Grievous, as no one had heard from him in ages. Dooku's padawan Asajj Ventress had created the monster Savage Opress and was still not capable of leading the war effort. Worse still, his own apprentice had spilled the collective beans and was held under impenetrable security. Even someone as mastered as himself in the skills of politics and manipulation was having a very difficult time keeping the war together.

The Dark Side flowed around him, beckoning him to look into the future. What he saw was always the same: the Republic falling to an Empire and the Sith rising once more. Then, in the not-too distant future, the strong military would repulse the invasion of the galaxy by legions of Force-less aliens, saving the galaxy from genocide unimaginable in scope and efficiency.

All his plans hinged on Order 66, but the Separatist Council still stood in his way. How would he eliminate them without suspicion if he had no new apprentice to replace Dooku? He could not afford to have them be captured and possibly incriminate him or lead the Republic to an investigation: he had too many skeletons in his closet, so to speak. None of the Jedi were even remotely planning to kill the Separatist leaders, including one Dark Side hopeful who was no longer such a hopeful convert. Once again that blasted MacGrath had done something to put Anakin Skywalker on the true Jedi path. Whatever he had done eliminated the darkness in his soul and Palpatine's influence was brushed aside: the Jedi barely even met with the chancellor anymore and he brushed off the compliments and praises as if they were nothing.

He could still profit from all these setbacks; he only needed a way to separate the Jedi from the Conduits and turn the public against them. He would need to call a senate meeting soon enough and request extensions on his term and powers. The Jedi and their troops were almost in place for his executive order: all he needed now was for his lackeys on Coruscant to do their jobs.

"Those Jedi fools have no idea what I will do," he thought. "Now if only I could turn MacGrath to my side." The Conduit, if he had a connection to the Dark Side, would have made a very powerful Sith, possibly more so than any before him. As it was, Palpatine knew Cole would never forsake his friends or his troops for the One Plan: somehow, through his life, he had been permanently warped to Light Side of the Force. The only other thing nagging the back of his mind was his own growing frailty. To have such power in the Force and keep it under check at all times was taking its toll on his cells. It would take months for his clones to be ready, and if something happened before then, he would go the way of Plagueis and cease to be. He could not let that happen. His own death would set a series of events in motion that would likely lead to the destruction of the galaxy.

Meanwhile, in the Jedi Temple...

Cole and Anakin Skywalker stood before the Jedi Council, both unsure of why they had been summoned. Cole had sent Thrawn with his fleet and had instated him as a captain, though it seemed the Chiss would rise rapidly through the ranks.

"We have deliberated and discussed this for a long time," Mace Windu said. "It has finally come to the point where we agree on what to do."

"What is that, masters?" Anakin asked.

"Granted a seat on the council, you will be," Yoda said. "The rank of Jedi Master, though, you have not yet earned."

Anakin's jaw dropped in disbelief: he had been granted a sat on the council? When he asked them as to why, they gave answers that most certainly did not satisfy his questions. As he and Cole left the room after being dismissed, he couldn't even say anything else. The shock had not worn off when they reached a landing pad outside the temple.

"Don't worry," Cole finally said, patting him on the back. "I'm sure they'll make you a Master in no time."

Anakin looked up at him, annoyance and doubt etching his features. "I am the youngest Jedi ever to be on the Council. But why won't they grant me the title of Master? Have I not done enough for the war? Have I not sacrificed enough?" With that, he held up his mechanical arm, his first casualty of the war: his facial scars were plainly evident as well.

Cole shrugged his shoulders: he didn't want Anakin to know what Kessler had done to his own body of his own choice. "Don't sweat it, Anakin; I'm sure they have good enough reasons. You've sacrificed plenty to have gotten this far, and frankly I'm surprised people don't want you as a future chancellor. Just remember these words: good things come to those who wait. I had to wait a very, very long time to have the powers I do, and I can't even begin to describe some of the hardships I've gone through. But know this: looking back on what I've accomplished, it was all worth it. Someday, probably not far off, you too will become a Jedi Master: I know it."

Anakin smiled at his words and bid Cole a fond farewell. Cole knew he was going to see Padme, but the reason for the visit was unknown. He knew the Jedi liked her, but the extent of their feelings was still a bit of a mystery to him. Then again, it wasn't his place to interfere or snoop on their private life, so he would leave them alone for the time being. As Anakin's fighter sped off into the Coruscant skyline, Cole simply flew up into the air and started his way to a nearby Republic commando base. He had been summoned there by Yoda as part of training with a pair of commando squads: something about "city maneuvers and tactical assault".

"I wonder why?" Cole thought as the air gently rushed past him. He was so focused on flying he failed to notice a speeder fly out from behind a building and follow him through the air. Cole absentmindedly looked behind him and to his shock saw a rocket launcher pointing straight at him from the passenger window. With a burst of fire the rocket exited the shuttle's open window and made a beeline straight for him. Cole quickly flipped over and shot straight towards the ground, with the rocket trailing right behind him.

Thinking quickly, Cole slowed his descent and flipped backwards, planting his feet on the missile's body. Soon enough the tracking device in the rocket lost contact with him and started to fly around erratically. Luckily for Cole the shuttle had been following him. With a shock to his hand, he lassoed the rocket with a lightning hook and steered it at the enemy shuttle. With a spinning throw he jumped off and launched the rocket into the shuttle's cockpit. The resulting explosion obliterated the shuttle and the enemy occupants within; the debris fell to the distant ground.

"Suckers," Cole thought as he flew off. Unbeknownst to him another shuttle had been watching the entire time. With a zooming motion it flew out of its hiding space and headed off for parts unknown.

Within a few minutes of passing stunned speeder drivers and dodging traffic control droids alike, Cole found himself floating above a non-descript barracks, appearing to be the same as many others scattered throughout the planet. Cole, on the other hand, knew better: this was the location of some of the galaxy's finest clone commandos. Landing in front of the building, Cole walked through the doors to see four clones exiting a pair of doors dressed in full armor. An older man walked out behind them, but from the look of his build he was a long way from retirement.

"You must be General MacGrath," he said, walking forward and shaking Cole's hand. "The name's Kal Skirata, and this here is Omega Squad." He gestured at the four troopers standing there, each with a unique signature on their armor. Even with their enhanced and newly upgraded armor, they still stood out from the regular clone troopers: bigger, stronger looking, and from what the files said, more intelligent.

"This here is Fi, Atin, Niner and Darman," Skirata said, indicating each commando with a nod. In response each trooper nodded or gestured in some way.

"Pleased to meet you all," Cole said. "I was called here for a mission, but I still have not found out where or why." The Jedi had been mysteriously quiet as to what his mission would be about, so Cole naturally believed they either didn't know a thing or were hiding something from him.

"Ah, that remains... complicated," Skirata said, rubbing the back of his neck with a gloved hand. "I'm not at liberty to say, as I'm not technically a member of the Republic military. My boys here will fill you in on the way to the mission." The sound of a gunship landing outside the building greeted Cole's ears: the soft rumble could be felt by everyone, even through all that heavy armor.

"I hope they have my stealth armor," he thought with a hint of exasperation. They stuck out like sore thumbs and any fights would be rather sudden if they couldn't at least sneak up on the enemy.

A short while later, above the lights of Coruscant's southern pole buildings...

"There's a large group of terrorists gathering for a major strike on the Senate," one of the clones said, indicating a large building to the south of their position: Darman, from the color of his armor. Cole stood on the edge of the building, the wind barely affecting his composure.

"So how are you boys going to get down from here?" Cole asked, turning around. He saw each commando suiting up with a zip line. "Of course," he chuckled.

"See you guys at the bottom," he said, turning back to the building's edge. With a few steps he jumped off the side and fell towards the large duracrete slab marking the terrorists' roof, the wind rushing past his ears. Within seconds he slowed himself down with his flying and gently landed on the roof, touvhing down with nary a sound. Sitting down, he waited for the rappelling clones to catch up; eventually, they did.

The four commandos readied their weapons for the firefight that would surely commence. "See you guys inside," Cole said, activating his armor's cloaking ability. He watched his arms as they disappeared before his very eyes, the shimmer of light fading as he became as clear as glass. Running over to the edge of the building, Cole dropped down on several sets of crates before running up to an outside door.

A gruff-looking man opened the door and lit up what looked to be a cigarette; Cole crept up to his and blasted him in the back of the head. Catching the falling body, Cole dragged it out of sight behind a crate. Creeping up to the open door, Cole walked in and made his way through the warehouse.

An explosion lit up the other side of the warehouse: the commandos had begun the assault. Cole quickly ran through the building, frying or smashing everyone in his way. Jumping into the air, Cole landed on the back of a firing terrorist, knocking him out. The commandos were making their way to the center of the building, blasting every person in their way. Cole sent a lightning grenade onto the back of a terrorist with a large weapons pack. The explosion sent him flying into a wall, where he landed with a sickening crunch. Another two tried to swing their blasters at Cole: a graviton blast sent them high into the air, where they impacted the ceiling and eventually fell back to the floor. Within a minute of fighting all of the terrorists were either dead or incapacitated, with the survivors rounded up and detained by the commandos.

"Good work," Cole said as they scoured the area for information. Off near the back of the warehouse Darman was investigating a datapad. Holding it up to his helmet, his body tensed as he read the information on the screen.

"General, you may want to see this," he called out. Cole rushed over to find Darman holding a pair of datapads. "This is the list of benefactors channeling funds and supplies to this group; check out who's on top of the list." Luckily his helmet was on, or else the commando would have appeared very worried by this information.

Cole looked over the list, seeing the names of Separatists, high-end criminals and politically motivated wealthy people. He scrolled up to see a set of names he had not expected: the aides of Palpatine. Even worse, there were several personal messages detailing his involvement, signed in his own handwriting and orders on how to proceed with several plans. Of all the things he could have done, this was one of the worst: sponsoring terrorism against his own government was an act of high treason. He must have been doing things like this from day one, in order to keep his poll numbers at such a high percentage. Only this time he had finally slipped up and not gone through some third party affiliate. The calm Cole had felt after the battle vanished in an instant: it was replaced by something else entirely.

Rage.

"What should we do, sir?" Darman asked, slightly unnerved by the look on Cole's face. "It is regulation to hand over all records and enemy intel to our superior officers." He had seen fierce combat in nearly every corner of the galaxy, and this was the first thing he had seen that was truly frightening.

Cole looked up at him. "Nobody else will know we have this; as your commanding officer, bring me everything and return to your posts. Do not say a word of this to anyone: my life, your lives and the lives of countless others hang in the balance." Darman nodded as Cole walked over to a dead terrorist holding a rocket launcher, wondering if he had any other incriminating evidence on the chancellor. As he drew closer, the seemingly dead man sat up and aimed the missile at Darman. Before Cole could shoot the rocket went off, heading straight for the clone commando.

Cole had only seconds to act; he leaped in front of the missile. Upon contact the warhead exploded, sending Cole careening into the far wall of the warehouse. Slowly getting back up, Cole saw through the haze of pain the four commandos were standing around him, their body posture suggesting concern.

"No way," Niner said as Cole got back up, the open wounds in his chest closing rapidly.

"Never mind that," Cole said, waving off a medkit. "I'll be fine; just make sure you destroy anything of value to the enemy." With that he left the warehouse with the datapads Darman had given him. He didn't wait for the commandos to clear up the place as gunships arrived to carry off the evidence; there were more important things for him to do.

Back at the Jedi Temple...

The Jedi Council sat in silence, unsure of what to do. Cole's information was delicate in nature; they would need more concrete proof to depose the chancellor. However, the most damning piece of evidence was the transmission log between his office and the known bases of the Separatist leaders. If they could prove he was in the room when the transmissions were sent and received, his whole defense would crumble under the scrutiny.

"What will we do?" Cole finally asked when he could contain his curiosity no further. Mace Windu looked up from his concentration.

"If he does not step down when the war is over, he will be removed from office. The recent increases in his term length and power are clear examples of him overstepping the bounds of his authority. We will need to expose this truth to the senate in order to gain their trust; the most influential leaders will need to be notified."

"Such as senators Amidala, Organa, Iblis and Mothma?" Cole suggested.

"Exactly; we can trust them to be discreet," Kenobi answered, his hologram flickering for a second. "What will be most important is how many more we can turn away from the control of Palpatine. His influence is far and wide, as are his accomplices and agents. He has been in politics for a very long time: turning a majority of the senate against him will be a great challenge."

"This talk is treasonous," Kit Fisto replied. "But it must be done, as time is growing short to bring such charges against him. Our spies inform us that the war will likely be over soon."

"How so?" Cole asked.

"The Separatist Council; found, they have been," Yoda said, speaking up for the first time. "Assault their base, Kenobi and Skywalker will."

Obi-wan nodded. "Our forces are in position; with their capture, the Separatists will have no choice but to surrender."

"I will confront the chancellor with a team of Jedi," Windu said. "I suggest you come along, Cole, as a representative of your Conduit Order. It must appear that others beside the Jedi and a few senators oppose his rule, or he will turn everyone else against us."

"Yes Master Windu," Cole said, taking his leave from the council room. As he walked away, his comm chimed; it was Kuo.

"Kuo?" Cole asked. "Why are you on Coruscant? How did you even get this number? It's supposed to be classified."

"I have friends within the Conduit Order who know more about you than you realize. Never mind that: I need to tell you something in person," she said, seeming to be off in her own little world. "Where are you now?"

"I'll be on my way to the senate building shortly," Cole said. He didn't need to tell her his reason; it was still on a need-to-know basis. If word got out, and Palpatine got wind of it, he could mount a counter-attack politically and militarily, perhaps even ordering the arrests of the Jedi and Cole for treasonous actions.

"Excellent: I'll meet you there," Kuo said.

"No, Kuo, don't-," Cole said as she ended the transmission. "-meet me there," he finished, trying to call her again. Her comm wouldn't patch through; she was likely travelling through an area of high interference.

"Dammit," Cole thought as he pocketed the device. "Things had better stay civil in there."