Threads of Destiny
Chapter 25: Heroes on Both Sides
Cross the Galaxy, the quagmire of war continues.
While Clone Troopers suffer casualties at alarming rates
The Galactic Senate convenes an emergency session to debate the true cost of the war.
Flashback...
A six year old girl with shoulder-length black hair tied in two pigtails and ruby red eyes, she wore a simple blue dress with a white dress shirt beneath it.
The man next to her had the same black hair and grey eyes, also he wore green jedi clothing.
"Father, did you hear that?"She asked.
"Yes, Nadia."Rostek replied. "It calls to you, you must enter the cave, alone."
"But it's so dark, I'm frightened..."Nadia said nervously.
Rostek put his hand on his daughter's shoulder.
"Control your fear, Nadia."Rostek stated. "This cave is strong in the dark side, you must be tested..."
Nadia looked at the Cave. "What's in there?"
"Only what you take with you."Rostek replied.
Nadia nodded with a deep breath, she started walking into the Cave.
"Your final test is at hand, Nadia."Rostek said. "Trust in the Force."
Reality...
A fifteen year old girl with black hair sat in her bed in deep thought.
She slowly went up to her large box and opened it.
Inside were photos of her childhood memories a few books and...a mask.
She picked up the mask and looked at it.
It was a facial mask that was ghost white and had one red vertical stripe above each eye piece.
She immediately put the mask back in the box remembering a painful memory and slammed it shut.
She rested her face on the box as a few tears went down her eyes.
It was Nadia.
Afterwards in the Senate...
Anakin, Ahsoka and Nadia were listening to the Senators conversation.
"Order! Order!"Mas Amedda stated. "Let Senator Saam finish."
"This is a matter not of philosophy."Senator Saam said. "More troops are needed, the Republic cannot afford to let the separatists gain any more ground."
"Our generals inform us that troops in the field continue to perform valiantly."Bail said. "What we cannot afford, is to be irresponsible, the Republic is near bankruptcy due to the cost of this war."
"Bankruptcy is not necessary, my friends."Lott Dod said. "If we pass Senator Saam's bill to open new lines of credit, we will gain access to the needed funds."
"Won't this bill essentially deregulate the banks?"Mon Mothma asked with a frown.
"A small price to pay ro finance the war, is it not?"Senator Burtoni said.
A few senators agreed with Senator Saam's bill and shouted to keep the war going.
"Members of the Senate!"Padme called out as she moved her pod next to Bail's. "Do you hear yourselves? More money, more clones, more war, say nothing of fiscal responsibility, what about moral responsibility? Hasn't this war gone on long enough?"
"Senator Amidala, are you suggesting we surrender to the Separatists?"Senator Saam asked.
"Of course not."Padme replied. "But negotiation might be a better course of action."
"You can't negotiate with those animals!"Senator Mot-Not Rab protested. "Keep the war going, vote now."
The Senators started chanting 'vote now'.
"Members of the Senate, I suggest we table any emergency bill until it is determined whether or not deregulation is the right course of action."Bail admitted.
"Very well."Mas Amedda replied. "We shall let calmer heads prevail."
Afterwards in the Hall...
Ahsoka and Nadia were walking with Anakin, Ferus and Padme.
Nadia wore a green tunic that had gold line patterns and black leggings underneath. She wore long fingerless dark brown gloves and matching green boots. A brown belt was around her waist that held her two lightsabers, she also had a matching green hairband on her hair. (Basically her outfit is like Satele Shan's.) Her raven hair was long and her padawan braid was dangling.
Also her second lightsaber contained a Solari crystal, which was one of the oldest and most powerful lightsaber crystals of the Jedi Order.
"You must ask the Jedi Council to speak with Chancellor Palpatine."Padme said.
"Don't involve me in this."Anakin stated.
"A peaceful solution is the only way out of this morass of war."Padme admitted.
"That's not my role, Padme."Anakin replied.
"Why not? Why isn't it your role?"Ahsoka argued. "Aren't we Jedi Knights? Isn't it our duty to speak our minds to advise the Chancellor?"
"Uh, I suggest you teach the young padawans a thing or two about politics."Anakin said.
"After today's debate, I was hoping they learned a great deal."Padme replied.
"Honestly, I don't understand any of it."Nadia admitted. "I know the Separatists are evil, but all anyone argued about was banking deregulation, lnterest rates, and, well, almost nothing about why we're fighting in the first place, none of it has any sense."
"War's complicated, Dia."Anakin replied. "But let me simplify it, the Separatists believe the Republic is corrupt, but they're wrong and we have to restore order."
"That's obviously true."Ferus admitted.
"Maybe talking to the Jedi Council isn't the role for you after all."Padme replied. "Thanks for your help, come on, Ahsoka, Nadia."
Padme, Ferus, Ahsoka and Nadia started walking away.
"Hey."Anakin said.
"You told Pad to teach them about politics."Ferus reminded.
Ahsoka and Nadia smirked at Anakin as they followed Padme and Ferus.
"So I'm going to."Padme said.
Later that Evening in Padme's Office...
"If only I could talk to Senator Bonteri."Padme said.
"Your former mentor?"Ferus asked.
"Who's he?"Ahsoka asked.
"He is a she, a senator in the confederacy of independent systems."Padme replied.
"Your friend is a Separatist?"Nadia asked in disbelief. "One of Dooku's pawns?"
"The Separatists used to be a part of the Republic."Padme said. "I was close with many of the Senators who left, I may not agree with them, but they're more than pawns."
"Sis, if you think negotiating is the right thing to do, let's talk to her."Ferus admitted.
"The Senate's made it illegal."Padme replied.
"Illegal?"Ahsoka asked.
"They say official meetings would only legitimize the Separatists."Padme replied.
"Well, Master Skywalker and I hold what we call aggressive negotiations all the time."Ahsoka said.
"Same with me and my master."Nadia said. "It's a shame you can't hold more peaceful talks, when you want."
"You two just gave me an idea."Padme admitted.
"Really?"Ahsoka asked.
"You three are jedi, which gives you special clearance."Padme said.
"Right..."Nadia said.
"And Jedi are allowed to travel to neutral worlds like Mandalore, where we could then board a cargo ship to a Separatist System."Padme said.
"Are you suggesting we use our status as Jedi to smuggle you behind Enemy Lines?"Ferus asked with a smirk.
"It's just that you could get us through to meet with her and I haven't seen her or her family in so long."
"Relax."Ahsoka said. "We'll help you besides, Master Skywalker said you should teach me about politics."Ahsoka said.
Ferus chuckled. "That is true."
"You know, you two have more in common than you think."Nadia admitted teasingly. "It's no wonder you get along."
"Huh, of course."Padme said with a nervous look and smiled.
"So where are we heading?"Ahsoka asked.
"Raxus."Padme replied.
A Few Hours Later...
After a quick stop in Mandalore, the four were on a Gozanti Cruiser flying over Raxus capital, Raxulon and towards the Separatist Senate Building.
Padme wore a orange dress with a hood while Ahsoka and Nadia slipped on a white robes that went just below their knees.
Ferus wore dark grey clothing and sprayed the white streak in his hair brown.
They grabbed their suitcases before exiting the ship with a few other passengers.
"Move along, please, move along." a droid commander told them as they started walking.
"Identification, please." a battle droid asked another passenger as the three friends walked around them.
Another droid was about to approach them when a woman stopped it
"Excuse me, is this Platform B?"She asked.
A woman with short blonde hair walked up to the four and led them away.
"This way."She said quietly.
They walked up to a woman with short brown hair as she turned around with a smile.
"Hello, old friend."She greeted Padme warmly.
"Ahsoka, Nadia, this is Mina Bonteri."Padme said. "She was my mentor when I was growing up on Naboo."
"Nice to meet you."Nadia said kindly.
"You're a separatist?"Ahsoka asked with a small frown.
"Well, of course, my dear, what were you expecting?"Mina asked. "Now, come, I have a transport waiting."
The four and the maid followed her.
A While Later...
They arrived at Mina's home in her private H-2 executive shuttle before landing.
Senator Bonteri's home was a palatial estate.
They exited the shuttle and the three Jedi notice a dark brown haired boy around their age wearing light blue clothing and leaning against a lamp post at the top of the stairs leading into the house and watching them.
"Whoa...he's kinda cute..."Nadia thought.
"Lux, come down here and help our guests with their luggage, please."Mina called out.
Lux pushed off the post and started waking down the steps.
"Padme, it's so good to see you."Mina said as she hugged the younger senator.
"Yes."Padme said. "How things have changed since the last time we met."
"Let's go inside."Mina said. "There's much to discuss."
"Please, allow me."Lux said as he walked up to them as Padme handed the suitcase to him before the two women continued walking.
Ferus gave Lux a short wave, while he and Nadia followed the two senators.
Lux looked at Ahsoka. "May I?"
"I can handle it."Ahsoka replied holding her suitcase before she continued walking.
Inside...
Ferus, Ahsoka and Nadia stood near the door as Mina walked up with two glasses in her hand and gave one to Padme.
Nadia was impressed the inside of the building looked like.
It was just like living in a castle.
"He's grown so much, Mina."Padme said.
"Time won't stop, even if we are at war."Mina replied. "And I'm afraid the events Are shaping his young life."
"With all due respect, as a Separatist, didn't you create this war?"Ahsoka asked.
"Ahsoka!"Ferus snapped.
"It's all right, Ferus."Mina reassured and looked at Ahsoka. "That's a very polarized point of view, my dear, would it surprise you to know that many of the people, you call Separatists feel the same way about the Republic And the Jedi? Lux's father was like that."
"Maybe I could speak with him."Ahsoka said.
"If only you could."Mina replied. "A year ago next week, he was setting up a base on Aargonar when clones attacked, my husband fought bravely in self-defence...but was killed."
Padme looked at her.
"That's how Scerra felt when father was killed..." Nadia thought in sadness.
"Excuse me."Ahsoka admitted. "I think I'll get some air."
She the left the room.
Afterwards...
Nadia walked around the garden admiring the trees and the fresh air.
It was so peaceful like Corellia.
"Enjoying the moment?"Ferus asked as he walked
"This place reminds me a bit of my home planet Corellia."Nadia said. "And we say 'The bigger the galaxy, the sweeter the homecoming."
"Nice..."Ferus admitted. "Sounds a lot like Bellassa."
"Bellassa?"Nadia asked.
"Yeah, my former home, it's a thriving, peaceful world."Ferus said. "The capital was Ussa, a pleasant city with seven large, tranquil lakes."
Nadia chuckled as she leaned against a tree. "Sounds great, would be nice to go there in peaceful times."
"I don't think it would be possible for us, jedi."Ferus said.
"Hey, I'm only half Corellian, remember?"Nadia smirked while folding her arms.
"Then what's the other half?"Ferus asked.
Nadia's smile vanished and looked down. "I don't wish to say it."
Ferus picked up a daisy placed it on her hair and stroked her cheek.
"Hey, when I look at you, I only see the good not the bad."He said.
Nadia blushed and smiled at him.
Meanwhile...
Ahsoka walked down the the steps leading to the yard and noticed Lux sitting on the stone railing.
"You're a Jedi, aren't you?"He asked.
They stopped near the bottom and turned to face him.
"Yes, why do you ask?" Ahsoka asked.
"Before the war, I was always told the Jedi were good."Lux replied.
"And now?"Ahsoka asked before he hopped off the railing and onto the steps.
"I don't know anymore."He admitted before joining Ahsoka as they walked down the remaining steps.
"There are a lot of terrible things happening, a lot of killing."Lux said. "And now my friends are saying the Jedi are to blame."
"I'm one of the first Jedi you've ever met, aren't I?"Ahsoka asked.
"Well, um... yes."Lux admitted.
"Look at me, I'm not so bad are we?"Ahsoka asked, crossing her arms and smirking at him.
Lux's eyes trailed from her feet and back to her eyes before he smiled.
"No, not bad at all."He said.
Ahsoka rolled her eyes. "Ugh, well it seems boys are the same whether they're Republic or Separatist."
She started to walk away.
"Wait, how many Separatists have you met?"Lux asked as he catches up to her.
"What?"Ahsoka asked.
"Well, I mean, you think we're all the bad guys."Lux said. "But how many of us have you actually met? And droids don't count."
"Well, other than military officers like Grievous and Ventress."Ahsoka admitted. "None, I guess, you and your mother are the first."
"Well, look at me."Lux said with a smile. "Am I so bad?"
Ahsoka didn't answer and just looked at the ground as they sat on the edge of the small fountain.
Inside...
"I sense Dooku's dirty hand ln all of this."Padme said.
"He's just the leader of the senate."Mina said. "He's not the leader of the entire universe."
"Oh, I forgot."Padme said with a small frown. "You actually admire the man."
"We'll never entirely agree on Dooku, my old friend, but we can agree on the need to stop this war."Mina admitted. "The question is how."
"That is why it was so urgent that I speak with you."Padme said. "The Republic senate is holding a critical vote on whether or not to escalate the war effort, however, many of the delegates are undecided as to what to do."
"How interesting."Mina said. "You would find the separatist parliament in a similar dilemma."
"I am certain if you could convince your representatives to extend an olive branch of peace towards the Republic, there might be enough sympathy ln the senate to finally open negotiations."Padme said.
"I admire your spirit, Padme."Mina said. "I can at least put the motion on the floor."
"Thank you, Mina."Padme said with a smile. "That's all I ask."
Mina raised her cup. "To peace, then."
Padme notice Lux talking to Ahsoka and then looked at Mina, while raising her cup.
"To hope."
In the Separatist Senate...
Padme and the three padawans watched as Mina attempted to persuade the other senators for peace between them and the Republic as a hologram of Dooku watched on.
"How many lives on both sides have to end before we see the futility?"Mina asked. "Surely there's room in the galaxy for confederate and Republic planets to coexist. I move that we immediately open peace negotiations with Chancellor Palpatine on Coruscant."
"The corporate alliance will never allow this to happen."A green-skined female senator with four horns on her head said.
"This is a democracy and unlike the Republic, corporations do not rule us."An Alien Man said.
"Quiet."Count Dooku stated. "In accordance with the bylaws of independent systems, a voice vote is required, all in favor of initiating peace negotiations with the galactic Republic, say aye."
Mina and other three Senators say Aye.
Aye!"A Leyakian male agreed.
"Aye!"A male Siniteen agreed.
"Aye!" the bald senator agreed.
"Aye!"Mina agreed as a few more agreed as well.
"All those opposed."Count Dooku said.
"Nay!" the green horned woman disagreed.
"Nay!" A female amphibian species disagreed as a few more did as well.
"The ayes have it."Count Dooku replied.
Mina smiled at Padme and the three hooded jedi.
Afterwards...
It was time for Padme, Ferus, Ahsoka and Nadia to leave.
"Well, this is good-bye."Padme said with a small smile.
"I've been disappointed before and yet, I almost feel as if this time the tide has turned in the war."Mina said and put Padme's hood up for her. "You should hurry, goody-bye, young ones."
"You really believe the Republic will vote for peace?"Lux asked.
"I hope so."Ahsoka said with a smile. "I wouldn't want to meet you on the battlefield, for your sake."
Lux smiled at her.
"Go, you four, quickly."Mina said.
Later that Night in Coruscant...
Padme wore her Senator clothing again, while she and the three jedi were in Chancellor Palpatine's Office.
"Well, well, well."Palpatine said. "This is quite a stunning development."
"Your excellency, we would be remiss, if not irresponsible, to reject the separatists proposal."Padme said.
"Of course."Palpatine said. "An end to the fighting, would mean there's no need to borrow money for more clones, I can see why you would want so badly to believe That the Separatists desire peace."
"I don't understand."Padme admitted.
"In the past, whenever we've reached out our hands in peace, they've been slapped away."Palpatine said. "Can we believe that they're ready to sue for peace so easily?"
"If I might speak with you confidentially, I know that this is sincere."Padme said. "I've been in contact with my old friend Mina Bonteri and the origin of the proposal is with her."
"Bonteri?"Palpatine asked with a frown. "How was the dialogue established?"
"Does it matter, chancellor, if the result is an end to the war?"Padme said.
"I see your point, my child."Palpatine replied in agreement. "Then we shall put the vote to the floor."
In the Senate...
Ferus, Ahsoka and Nadia watched as Padme made her speech.
"Given that the separatists have put a call for negotiations on the table, the need for additional troops seems ill-timed."Padme said.
"Which means there is no need to deregulate the banks."Bail said.
"I say we vote that down now."Senator Farr stated.
"There is a move to vote on the proposed bill to lift regulations on the banking clan."Amedda said. "You may enter your vote."
Senators started to press a button on there pods, but before they finished the lights suddenly went out and a second later the emergency power came on to give them a dim red light to see and allow their pods to keep working.
Nadia hopped down between Ahsoka and Ferus.
"What's going on?"She asked.
"Don't know, but I have a pretty good idea who caused this."Ferus replied.
"We're under attack!"Senator Free Taa said in panic before the senators still hovering moved their pods back to the places they had entered with Padme moving hers back to the spot the three Jedi were standing.
"The bombing of the generator has been confirmed as a Separatist attack!"Saam stated. "They must pay for what they have done!"
"But it was the Separatist congress that issued the bill of peace!"Padme protested.
"Obviously a tactic to lower our defenses and launch this attack."Amedda argued.
"No! that's not true!"Padme argued.
"I move to immediately deregulate the banks."Halle suggested.
"We need a bank loan to get more troops now!"Rab called out.
"What are we waiting for?"Senator Paulness asked.
"I'm afraid we've been given little choice."Palpatine replied. "To insure the safety of the Republic, we must deregulate the banks."The Chancellor said.
The senators cheered in agreement.
Padme sat in her pods seat and shook her head sadly.
Afterwards...
Padme and the three padawans walked up to Anakin.
"I'm returning the padawans."Padme said.
"I'm sorry your talks with Bonteri failed."Anakin admitted.
Nadia's mouth dropped in shock.
"How did you know?"Ahsoka asked.
"We have eyes and ears everywhere, Ahsoka, Nadia."Anakin said. "That was dangerous and careless, going to Raxus, not to mention illegal, you went too far this time."
The five started walking
"You would do the same."Ferus argued. "You do the same all the time."
"This was too much."Anakin stated.
"Maybe so, but I did realize something."Ahsoka said. "The politics of this war, are not as black and white as we once thought they were."
"Looks like the Separatist were right about the corruptive part afterall."Nadia thought.
The five continued walking in the dark hallway of the Senate.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter
Feel free to review what you think so far
Next is the Mortis Episodes
YAY:)