Disclaimer: I do not own any of Star Wars, the right of ownership of Star Wars belong to Lucasfilm and I guess Disney too. The only thing I own is the characters you do not notice and the plot.
Chapter 36: Plans Heating Up
The next morning after training, Mark and Rachelle was eating breakfast. "You seen how I slash through those droid! They did not stand a chance, we need more advance droids." say Rachelle with proud lacing every word. "A Jedi does not underestimate their enemies. You should not be proud at the thought of taking a life. The thing is they are droids, but the part of the practice was to train your skills. Remember Jedi are not fighters, they are peacekeepers, but sometimes have to fight." say Mark.
"I know that, Master, but you have to admit, that is a new record for me." say Rachelle. Mark had to smiles at his Padawan enthusiasm, still she has a long way to go before even become a Jedi Knight, but there is nothing wrong to think highly of oneself as long as it does not go to their head. Rachelle might be 20, but she still acts like a teen. Mark have to remember when he was a teenager he was slightly like her, not as much but still similar.
"I do have to admit that, but remember, a Jedi do not use their knowledge for attack and gain. They use it for knowledge and peace." say Mark. Rachelle looks at Mark straight into his eyes. "Then what is with you planning to kill Palpatine." say Rachelle. "That is different. Remember sometimes in order to keep peace you might have to attack. There is a fine difference between a Jedi and a Sith on that matter." say Mark.
Rachelle nods she already knows the difference between the Jedi and the Sith. The Sith seeks to gain knowledge and power for themselves, while the Jedi seek to gain knowledge to learn and protect others.
"The Sith is full of betrayals that why all the empires they had made falls because they kill their own numbers." say Mark as he taps the table that is between him and Rachelle.
Rachelle was about to say something when she sense someone coming over to talk to them and also the fact that Mark hold up his hand to silence her right before she sense the approaching presence. Before the person could speak, Mark speaks.
"What can I do for you Anakin? I sense something is disturbing you." say Mark turning around looking at Anakin blue eyes. "I need to talk to you alone." say Anakin looking at Rachelle. "Do not worry, she also knows about you. Sure let find somewhere we may talk." say Mark as he got up.
Rachelle was going to follow Mark, but by his hand motion, he told her not to follow. Mark leads Anakin out of the temple and into the gardens. Mark used the Force to make sure no one can overhear them talking. "Explain." say Mark as he already knows what this is going to be about.
They sit down on a stone bench. Anakin put his elbows on his legs and look at Mark. "I have this nightmare…well I do not think it is a nightmare. It more like a vision." say Anakin. Mark looks back at him; Mark does not need the Force to tell him that Anakin is worrying about his secret wife.
"Go on." say Mark lightly. "I see…I see Padme…" say Anakin stumbling over his words to get to the point. Mark raises his eyebrow at him. "Padme, I am guessing it is something very bad." say Mark. Anakin nods to this as he looks down. "Yeah, I seen he died with Luke and Leia." say Anakin. Mark eyes widen at this, not for the fact that he seen Padme's "death", but that he says the twins death. Mark did not see that part.
"Anakin, I do not know what to tell you, but one thing remains, that I will be here. Just do not go in trust that vision entirely. As we speak, what people might saw happening in a vision that the Force gave us might not happen. Sometimes people make what happen in their vision come true because they are so concern to block it. Padme and the twins are in perfect health." say Mark looking at Anakin once more.
"You cannot expect me to stand here and let it happen. This is exactly what happens to my mother." say Anakin standing up looking at Mark. "I know that, but Anakin if there ever a time that you are confused and lost, which I sense might happen, remember you can always trust me." say Mark. He has been enforcing this thought for Anakin every time they talk. He does not want him to follow Palpatine blindly.
"What do you mean about this?" ask Anakin. "There always came a time that everyone is in a tough spot and they will seek the easy way out if they think there is no one or nothing to aid them on the difficult path. I just want you to know, that I am here for you if you ever find yourself in that position. Also keep your eyes out for those you trust; sometimes they might be misguiding you. Remember always use the Force." say Mark getting sick of those riddles he have to play. He wishes he can come out and say Palpatine is a Sith Lord to his friend, but he knows that will not go well.
"Mark, I know I always have you to come to, it just sometimes I forget and plus I am not use to you being here." say Anakin rubbing the back of his neck as he look at the sitting Jedi Master. Mark got up and grabs his shoulder. "Well do not forget it, when you in your toughest situation, you will always have me and Padme. If you do me that favor Anakin, I will try to get this Order to accept marriages." say Mark.
"Still you tell me ignore the vision." say Anakin. "That is the best way. Come Anakin use your brain and the Force. She is getting close to giving birth, and she still is healthy." say Mark taking his hand off Anakin's shoulders and throws his arms into the air.
Mark senses that he still trusts Palpatine a lot. He knows Palpatine is behind that vision, Anakin might had experience a natural vision of his mother's death, but he haven't experiences them enough to tell the difference between a real one and one that was made up by the Dark Side. Then again, his trust in Palpatine is blinding him from the fact.
"There must be something I could do to be assure it does not happen." say Anakin. "I promise you; Padme and your children will live to have a long life. That I am speaking naturally since your vision show her dying at childbirth. Trust me Anakin, just do so. That is all you can do in this position. Also remember this, Light side creates Life, Dark Side takes life. That is something I have learn in my universe." say Mark as Anakin walks away to talk to the Chancellor.
Mark walks into the other direction with his arms crossed. With the Force Mark can sense that Anakin is leaving the temple. Deep down inside of him, he is worrying. He is relaying his ability to be able to convince Anakin and be there to stop his fall to the Dark Side with the aid of Palpatine. Sometimes he wonders if he should just tell Anakin straightforward. The thing is, he is much smarter than that. He must not let his emotions get to him. Anakin needs to find out the hard way about this problem, and Mark have to make sure he is there to stop Anakin pulling off the stunt that will lead him down the path of darkness.
Mark turns around and looks to where he last saw Anakin Skywalker. With on last glance at the spot, Mark walks into the temple. He just hopes the Force is with him and not against him in the moment that he needs it most to aid him in his mission to protect this universe from Palpatine hands.
In the Senate Apartment Complex, Padme is setting up what she will say. Mark had decided it is time to hurt Palpatine lightly. They are going to start putting proof up about him. They are going to start lightly proving he had a hand in the Separatist movement to all the way up to proof of him being a Sith Lord.
She just recently has gotten the recording of Lama Su speech, and Amelia sent it to Bakura to a friend in their police force. They got it back, and with a report that it was proven the Lama Su were not lying. Bakuran police departments have one of the great law enforcement technology than almost any planet. It is one of the few planets that when something is proven it is taken seriously.
The report came back with the evidence; also include some of the best Law Enforcement that Bakura has to protect their Senator. A small group of protectors of a larger group surrounds Padme's apartment. There are outside the building along other buildings, they are through the halls.
"I was wrong when I thought Bakura was a peaceful planet. How deadly are those guards out there?" ask Padme looking at some of the guard that was station on roof nearby. "We train our troopers and Law Enforcement hard. We are peaceful, but we also want to keep a military and strong law enforcement, just in case. We are like Naboo, the only difference we take military and Law Enforcement a whole new step. Something you have to do when you are out in the Outer Rim. Out there it is hard to keep a peaceful standing." say Amelia.
"Lighten up, Amelia. I was joking. I can understand." say Padme as looking over the evidence to make sure everything is ready. "Yeah I heard most pirates are scared to try to take over Bakura. Even the Hutts does not want to do anything illegal there. That is saying something." say Padme.
"Does Naboo even have a military?" ask Amelia. Padme shakes her head lightly. "Not really it just our security teams that volunteer. I mean if we have a planet like yours invade, we would not be able to stand." say Padme as she bites her lips. "We only use our forces for defense or in the case we are in aiding the Republic. There are planets in the Outer Rim that have form alliances with us so we can protect them. Matter fact we think what Naboo does it great." say Amelia.
Padme smiles a bit at this. She can understand such a strong defense for a planet in the middle of the Outer Rims. It is not as safe as those planets in the Mid Rim and Core territories.
She looks down at her pregnant stomach and rubs it with a loving look. "I wonder who the next Chancellor would be of the Republic. Are you going to go for elections?" ask Amelia. "I do not know. I have these two to look after. I enjoy being a Senator, the chance to help my planet and the Republic. I do not think being a Chancellor so soon. Maybe after the kids are grown a bit." say Padme unsure of what she is planning on doing.
Before she became a Senator she was planning on retiring from the political life, then on the bequest of her queen, she took up the position of Senator. After while be able to try to help the Republic after her term of being Queen was a great thing for her. Now that she is pregnant, she does not know what she wants to do. She wants to be able to help the Republic, but she also wants to be a great mother for her twins.
"That is understandable. Back when I gave birth to Mark, I decide to leave the Senate for a couple years until he was grown. When he was old enough, he would travel back and forth from Coruscant and Bakura with me. He was my little helper in the office, when I took over as Senator again. Padme I have not been in the Senate a lot since you became a Senator, but I heard a lot about you. You are an amazing Senator. You are not corrupted or greedy as half as the Senate. You care about this Republic; you care about your people. You prove that when you was Naboo Queen. When I was younger, I never dream of being a Senator, but look at who I turned out to be." say Amelia with a slight smile. She knows that the Naboo Senator is confused at what she is going to do after the birth of her twins. Amelia thinks she should stay in the Senate. The Senate needs more people like her.
"The thing is, due to the Emergency powers, his term was extended. After he dies, we will have to wait four years until the term ends. So, there will be someone to fill in the rest of Palpatine's term, and then the election of the new Chancellor begins. Now if we can get his Emergency Powers away, then since he no longer needs them, he will have to step down right away.
"One thing I do agree with you a bit. I think it might be a good idea to wait. You started in 25 BBY as a Senator, no out many trust you, they might not trust that you are ready to become the Chancellor due to your age and lack of experience. I do not think you should give up on the Senate completely. There have been many times, Senators have gotten pregnant and gave birth who still serve." say Amelia.
Padme looks up at Mark's mother again when she heard this. "You think I am that good?" ask Padme with a slight smile on her face. "Yeah, I have learned it is not the age of someone to make them good. I am just trying to open your eyes slightly. The choose what to do rests on your shoulders." say Amelia with a smile.
After that conversation, they remain quiet as they went through all the evidence, planning on what to give out first. They know they will save Order 66 for later. They plan on starting out soft, just as Mark plan and then when the wound is applied, rip it some more. They figure the so called rumors made a big help, because even some members of the Senate does not trust the Chancellor fully anymore.
Palpatine is deep in thought as he was watching a play at the Galaxies Opera House. He just got done telling Anakin the story called: The Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise. The fact that Darth Plagueis could help prevent death have gotten Anakin's attention. He also told him how he thinks the Jedi Order is trying to take over the Republic.
According to the Force, he has sense that Anakin believe him, but not truly about the Jedi Order, due to Master Zane, a Jedi Master that Anakin trusts a lot. He was simply afraid to bring anything up, just in case if it screws up his plan. Master Zane has been a dangerous wound into his plan, and that wound must not get any wider. He barely is holding grip onto his plan as if.
It was not unknown to him, that the faith of the Senate and the Republic was damage because of the spread rumors about him. He knows that Mark's little group of Senator is going to do something big and drastic soon to damage his chances of making his Empire.
He knows it will be now or never that his plan will have to take action, because if he waits any longer, he might not be able to afford it. As soon as Grievous is dead, then his plan will start. That is if Master Zane does not get in the way once more.
Just to let you know, that tomorrow and Saturday I will not be able to post any new chapters up, because I leaving to see a family member, usually happens each other weekend. This might be the last chapter until Sunday or Monday. If I am able to get another chapter or two up. If Not have a nice weekend.
Also reminded there is still a poll on my profile page to vote for the next Chancellor will be. If you want a voice, go and vote. So far only few people vote and we have a 3 way tie. Need more votes to break this tie and to see who become. If the tie keeps going, I have more of an idea who will become the Chancellor. So please do vote.