Windu couldn't consistently determine the significance of the structures he perceived. That is how it was most of the time, but with the darkening cloud upon the force that had risen with the rebirth of the sith, and more recently, it made it harder and harder with each passing day.
The presence of shatterpoints was always clear.
On the day of Palpatine's election to being Chancellor of the Republic, Windu had seen that Palpatine himself was a shatterpoint of great significance...
A man who had the fate of the entire galaxy in his palm.
Now he saw all of these prominent and powerful people together at once, and the intricate network of cracks, fissures, and stress fractures that bound them together was beyond measure. The twisted and contorted structures were beyond his comprehension.
Anakin, Kit Fisto, Count Dooku, Commander Cody, Obi Wan, and Padme were all pivot points. Cadus was the lever, the fulcrum of the lever, its support, that was Shaak Ti, and Palpatine was the one with his hand on the lever...
The galaxy was right in the middle of them all.
And, yet, Anakin and Cadus both had many cracks.
Like they could break away entirely, and they would become a shatterpoint by themselves.
The dark cloud in the force prevented his perception from reaching further into the future, so he pulled himself back slowly.
The balance was always delicate.
He could never guess the outcome in his perception. If his focus went towards a particular person or crack, if he tried to trace it back to its source, if he tried to find the finer fault lines, it would cause everything to distort in his perception.
More faces and people would appear. More cracks would link them together. If he wasn't careful he would see the entire galaxy as a fault line in of itself. It happened before. Anything could happen. Anything at all. Everything was in motion. Nothing was set. Nothing was certain. Nothing was fixed or predetermined.
Everyone here could become a shatterpoint...
They were shatterpoints.
But, somehow Palpatine was the crux of the whole thing. He was the one who would jam the lever or break it completely. He would snap the pivot point. He was the center of gravity. All of these people were connected to him somehow-somehow Palpatine was the glue keeping all of them together.
Windu felt a trace on his perception and lifted his head, eyes flicking upwards, picking out the flicker of durasteel that signaled the Jedi shuttle was now near.
It came into view, smoothly accelerating towards them through the darkening evening.
"I'm afraid peace is out of the question while Grievous, Ventress, and anyone else associated with this man is free in the galaxy to continue their acts of cruelty and genocide. The CIS will only rally under them, if worse comes to worst. San Hill, Nute Gunray, Rune Hakko, Poggle The Lesser, Rute Gunray, Wat Tomblar, and all of those slime are just funds. However if they are pressed even they can do serious damage with that army as they have proved time and time again." Palpatine said with finality.
He walked up to Dooku, brushing his hand sharply on the man's cut Corellian nano-silk. Anakin had been vicious in delivering this stroke, a last attempt...
Palpatine dared to say.
Or, had Anakin held back?
"This defeated man here...Is the only one who can keep Grievous's thirst for blood and mayhem under wraps, even Ventress isn't as bad as that monster, and yet Dooku kept her in line as well when it came to her murderous fanaticism with the Jedi, now she is without a leash or collar. With Dooku in our custody, those savages could very well unleash a rampage across the entire galaxy from the Outer Rim all the way to the Core. More of Dooku's minions trained by him can attack from the shadows. The CIS Leadership will make things difficult. I'm afraid that this far from being over. This war is about to get a very great deal worse and things will become pitiless I am afraid. Jedi could be killed even more than they are now."
Anakin stiffened briefly. "As much as I want this war to end...I am not a murderer, the Jedi are not murderers and we are not soldiers that will wipe out entire planets. We can't do that, sir."
"Yet, you fight alongside the GAR."
Anakin stiffened a little more.
"And what of the sith?" Obi Wan asked, more out of thought than anything. "I feel like the dark side hasn't changed."
Windu walked towards the dock where the Jedi shuttle would land, and the others followed behind him with even strides. "The sith lord will reveal himself in time. They always do."
"He could be hiding right under our nose. He could be right next to you or in the Senate Hall right now giving a fine speech. He could be playing around like a nocturnal creature and moving underground or through the underworld of Coruscant. He could be right under our Jedi Temple laughing right now as we speak at the sheer ignorance and stupidity of the Republic and the vanity of the Jedi." Cadus added.
"All speculation. But, I do admit that is a little insightful." Palpatine said with a smile.
Cadus looked into the night and softened his gaze. "Hiding in plain sight as politicians and star-ship builders, influential people who play to the Senate so not even Jedi can do anything. These sith do not wear armor and swing blades. They are schemers...They work the Senate...Who knows...The one who oversees all..."
"Are you suggesting that one man, even a sith could hold that much power? Over me no less?" Palpatine asked, tone not quite condescending, but it was pointed.
"A sith lord can easily achieve such a thing."
"I don't believe that."
"Until things start to fall in line and people make small, but very stupid mistakes. Like a child trying to force push and getting upset they are doing a force pull instead. They are trying to do one thing, but are ultimately achieving another thing. This sith lord has the big corporations like the Commerce Guilds and Techno Union backing him, so it is not a matter of believing or not believing. Sith dine with the richest and most influential beings in the galaxy, that is how they spread their influence. But, because he has all of these businesses that are not run by humans, I believe that the goal is to alienate, even commit genocide on species that are not human, then those corporations will be absorbed and a war machine will come into the picture."
Palpatine smiled easily, looking at Cadus with half lidded eyes. "That may all be true, but this is still the Republic. No one is above the law, not even a sith lord. Although technically speaking, one should not be persecuted for their personal beliefs, even if they don't fall in line with certain groups of people own beliefs, and let us not forget that speciesim is forbidden and it is frowned upon."
"A bait being thrown or the quarry being allowed to return?" Cadus questioned.
"Sometimes one doesn't need bait or quarry."
"Playing the angle is enough."
"A talk for another time, Master Cadus. We do not discuss the wiles of politics." Windu interjected.
It was almost as if, these two men were arguing about ideals, but it felt more personal than that. Each word was like a feint and jab, a slash and stroke-these men were battling with words. Cadus was on offense and Palpatine was on defense.
"Regardless of who the master or apprentices are or is, Dooku being captured has dealt a severe blow to the CIS. We may be able to relax briefly."
Windu hoped with that being said, Cadus and Obi Wan both would take the hint and shut up about the matter for the moment. There wasn't even a little desire on Windu's behalf to speak about this investigation around or near Palpatine.
The less Palpatine knew, the better off the Jedi were as a whole.
"Indeed, no doubt the morale of those rabble must be at an all time low. A more interesting puzzle than a sith lord is why the CIS became so fixated on Senator Amidala and Naboo. Though we are all happy that you and Naboo were unharmed, one cannot help but wonder why Nute Gunray and Rune Hakko would go through such troubles. They even brought Ventress along." Palpatine said in thought.
"Maybe someone was twisting their arms. Fear can always be inserted if one doesn't fear already. I assume that Nute Gunray and Rune Hakko wanted to take me and my world as hostages, or make me some martyr for the people. Maybe they wanted more resources. I cannot say for sure because their behavior has always been erratic and they may get worse now that Dooku is in our custody." Padme said.
"Perhaps the Separatist Council can restrain these beasts with chains that Dooku trained, and not lead themselves to doom...In exchange for certain..." Windu's stared past Palpatine.
"Considerations or agreements to streamline the process, if it is possible." Obi Wan finished, clearing his throat gently.
"We make a concession for the greater good." Padme added.
"Absolutely not! That will never happen."
"Chancellor, we can make them agree to our terms. I captured Dooku. I thought that is why I..." Anakin trailed off, almost at a loss.
"A negotiated peace will lead to the recognition of the CIS as the legitimate government of the rebellious systems that are trying to break away from the Republic. We would be losing the war on principle alone! The Republic would be no more! No, Master Windu. No, Senator Amidala. All of you, I say no! No! This war will only end with unconditional surrender and nothing less. While the likes of Grievous, Ventress, and every other unsavory within the CIS lives, that will never happen."
"That is impossible, Chancellor. The CIS has already been ratified, and they will certainly rally their armies and lead a direct attack on Coruscant to rescue Dooku if they are hotheaded enough. We need to press our advantage while they are scrambling." Padme's tone was firm.
"If it leads to such an attack we will handle it...I will handle it."
"There are not enough Jedi and the GAR is thin." Cadus tried to be amicable, but annoyance was creeping into his tone.
"I will not let this Republic that has stood for the last twenty five thousand years to be nothing but a husk before my eyes when there is much that can be done. Ever since the Ruusan Reformations we have always made it our goal to keep the peace and order, to make unity our priority."
"Those foolish Reformations and the decisions made by that Indolent Jedi Master and Chancellor then are the reason we are in this current situation in the first place. This war has gone on far too long already...What was Anakin supposed to do after taking Dooku's hands? What did you expect me to do? Behead them? Kill them in cold blood?"
Cadus's expression remained flinty, eyes fixed on Palpatine.
Palpatine stared Dooku in the eye, glad the man was so humiliated and furious he couldn't speak.
"If you and Anakin did do that, it would have simplified things a great deal. It would have showed me your loyalty and dedication to ending this war, and not...Well, before I digress on that topic, I am not going to call for a peace treaty. Their deaths would only be the precursor to the end of this war. Now...This development could only complicate things and turn things into a state of barbarism all across the galaxy."
"With all due respect, Chancellor. What you are saying is pure madness. Are you suggesting that you would even have the entire CIS Council slaughtered?" Padme pressed, eyes narrowed.
"This is war, Senator Amidala. They wouldn't hesitate to do it to us."
"We can end the war right now."
"There will never be a truce!"
Padme firmed her jaw.
"So, are you telling me that I brought this man here for nothing? You just..." Anakin trailed off, looking Palpatine square in his eyes.
You used me...
The realization came, taking the air from his lungs.
You...Just used me...
Windu leaned close to Palpatine more than aware of the sudden shift in atmosphere, his voice low and filled with piercing intensity.
"Very well. If you feel that strongly about it than the Jedi will make the capture of General Grievous, Asajj Ventress, and anyone else allied with them our first and foremost task. We will find them. This war will end. There is no question or dispute. It is final. This was will end and will not stretch on."
"As long as certain people don't prolong it for their own agenda." Padme said, tone calm and cool.
Palpatine eyed the two like a hawk.
"I have no doubt about that. The Jedi always prove how useful they can be, and that you have standouts in your ranks. You have always proved how fervent you are in your duties, Padme. But, we must remember to never underestimate the despotic leaders and treachery of the Separatists. It is possible that even the Clone Wars have been only one further move...In some greater game for control of the galaxy."
Cadus entertained the man-who knew Palpatine was so versed in Dun Moch and Projected Fighting.
"It could be a plan to wipe out the Jedi Order as a whole. To take the Jedi Order down it would have to be felled from within. Take advantage of their vanity and blind obedience they have to the Republic. We would have to be made out to be the enemies of peace and justice, rather than the guardians of peace and justice. Even if the Jedi survived a purge they would be forced to go into hiding. There would need to be extreme care and meticulous scheming in order not to turn the Jedi into martyrs. By doing so, beings in the galaxy will turn their back to the light and the sith can thrive. I would say it is working, most of the galaxy hates us, and the only thing missing is a purge commencing...The timing couldn't be better than it is right now."
Windu would have stopped cold in his movement, but because he was powerful, stoic, and composed, he kept walking despite the storm erupting inside of him.
"A...Jedi Purge?"
"The Jedi would merely fade into obscurity and antiquity. And, what of the Republic? Who would protect it?" Palpatine mused aloud, eyes on Cadus while a trace of his perception kept Windu lined up.
Cadus wasn't looking away from him.
Shaak Ti put a hand on her chest. "That fills me with dread. How much more must we lose for everyone in the galaxy to understand we suffer as well? Must the Jedi Temple fall? Must there be a purge?"
Windu clenched his teeth.
Jedi Purge...
"Let us hope that is not the case and it never happens. One can never be certain in times like these. In times of war, those with a hothead often go to extreme measures and do not think things through fully-the formation of the CIS is evidence of that. Let us hope the Jedi never suffer another purge! Without them who would safeguard the Republic and guide the Clone Troopers-if the Jedi were gone, those Clones would show their true colors."
Cadus nodded, remaining calm. "Something like...Contingency Order Sixty Six."
"Oh, you know of it?" Palpatine posed the question unassumingly.
"I am informed of everything. The Commandos that fight by my side are only ones I explicitly trust because of their high independence. Do not think for three seconds that I would trust my back to Cody, Bly, Galle, Deviss, or anyone else in those ranks." Cadus's tone broke no argument.
Windu's heart stopped.
"Order 66 is set apart from the other contingency orders. It does not take into account other sources of command authority. Vice Chair. The Senate Security Committee. The Jedi Council. The GAR High Command. This can only be issued by the GAR Supreme Commander—in this case..." Cadus paused.
"Palpatine." Anakin finished.
"The Security Council or a Senate majority are not needed or taken into account to declare that the Jedi are acting against the Republic's interests. Palpatine alone has the power to make that determination. GAR commanders are not required to authenticate the order. They don't have to report it to any other command authority either. If the order comes directly from Palpatine, using specific command phrasing and over specific communications channels pre-approved by himself for this express purpose..."
"This is all the authentication the clone commanders need." Anakin found himself trailing off as well.
"And, lastly...There is no rescinding the order. Once this order is given, it has to be followed. I think...The person who holds supreme power is the most dangerous. Palpatine, in my eyes, you are the most dangerous man right now."
Palpatine looked at Cadus, eyes tracing onto Anakin.
"You must trust me to do the right thing."
"I think you are going to execute this order, Palpatine." Cadus's tone made it clear this thought was final.
Windu's blood turned to ice.