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Prompt 34 - Corruption
"So this is how liberty dies. With thunderous applause."
It was thunderous indeed. It echoed from all directions – above Padme, below her, from all sides, in front of her, behind her – it seemed like the only ones not applauding were the small group in Padme's senate pod.
How long had Palpatine been planning this? She had long ago suspected that he had used her all those years ago when he convinced her to vote for no-confidence in Chancellor Vallorum, but she had still believed that he had the galaxy's best interests at heart. She had thought that he intended to become chancellor because he genuinely thought it was the best way to make things better for the Republic.
And after all, hadn't he? Hadn't he made sure smaller worlds like Naboo were protected? Hadn't he always listened to all sides in disputes and come up with solutions that were fair for all involved? Hadn't he mentored her during her years in politics? Hadn't he been a beacon of hope during the war, a symbol that the Republic would prevail and democracy would win?
Democracy . . .
The will of the people spoken through their elected officials, but here were those elected officials applauding the change to a dictatorship.
Was that democracy?
Why were they applauding? Had the war simply frightened them so much that they thought Palpatine ruling as an Emperor was the only way to protect the galaxy?
Strength. Security. Of course. He was offering them a government so strong that no one would dare attack it again and there would never be a repeat of this war. If a few rights and freedoms were lost in the process, wasn't that a small price to pay to protect the people?
Maybe even Palpatine thought like that.
Here they were, the senators who had always spoken for freedom and rights, willingly surrendering freedom and rights in exchange for security and celebrating the act.
Democracy in action.