Chapter 25 - Infiltration
DISCLAIMER: We do not own Star Wars or any of the characters in it, though we wish we did. xD
Author's Note: Half way through the book now! :D And I know. I'm mean. This chapter has a cliffhanger. xD
~ Amina Gila
"I think the entrance is straight ahead," whispers Anakin, crouching out of sight of the Senate guards beside Obi-Wan and Dooku. They all have hoods up to conceal their identities as much as possible. Even though Obi-Wan and Anakin won't be in trouble if they are seen, they want to avoid recognition if possible.
"You think?" hisses Obi-Wan, "Don't move anywhere unless you know."
Anakin closes his eyes, touching the Force gently. "That's the right way," he decides. Unlike Obi-Wan and Dooku, Anakin isn't keeping his Force presence carefully masked. He's not the one hiding from Sidious. They are.
Anakin reaches out to the Force, creating a noise on the other side of the platform. One of the guards goes to investigate, while the others watch him. Quickly, Anakin darts forward, staying close to the ground. He reaches the exit and uses the Force to get it open. After stepping inside, he motions Obi-Wan and Dooku to join him. Hastily, they do before the guards look back.
Looking around in the hallway, Anakin soon finds what he's looking for. A maintenance doorway. He pries it open and steps in. Dooku follows him with Obi-Wan in the rear.
"I hope you know how to get to a location near the Chancellor's office," whispers Dooku as soon as they're safely inside, "Because the building is huge, and we don't have time to get lost."
"Actually, I don't," confesses Anakin, "I was planning to just trust in the Force. We need to move up, so anything that leads up is a good place to start."
"Be careful of security mechanisms," warns Obi-Wan, "There may not be many, but we still must be cautious. I'll feel through the Force as best I can."
Nodding, Anakin continues forwards, up the first shaft, deeper into the heart of the Senate building. Thankfully for them, the Force provides advance warning of security which Anakin successfully disables. Many minutes later, they crouch inside the shaft nearest the Chancellor's office. It was much easier to get there than they'd initially expected.
"Now we wait," murmurs Obi-Wan, settling into a more comfortable position.
"For another hour," adds Anakin, checking the time, "I'll worry about the Senate guards nearby when I have to. Let's just hope we aren't discovered in the meantime." Not very reassuring, but hope is all he – they – have right now. It will have to be enough.
"Are you ready to play your role in front of Sidious?" questions Dooku, looking at Anakin with some concern.
Anakin shifts, still tense. "I'll have to be," he replies, not glancing at Obi-Wan when he moves closer to him. Anakin knows what Obi-Wan is doing, and he appreciates it. Just being next to his brother will give him a sense of calm which he'll desperately need when facing a manipulative Sith Lord. He knows it, and Obi-Wan knows it too.
Fifteen minutes before the arranged meeting, Anakin moves towards the exit of the shaft. "May the Force be with you," Obi-Wan whispers as Anakin cautiously pulls back the opening and climbs out, dropping to the floor of the Senate. The hallway is quiet; no one is around that he can see. He slips along the hall, pulling up his hood to conceal his face as much as possible. He senses the approaching Senate guard too late to hide.
"What are you doing here?" demands the guard, pointing a blaster at him.
Taking a quick breath, Anakin reaches out with the Force, pushing against the guard's mind. "Sleep," he orders, raising his right hand. The guard's mind resists the suggestion, so Anakin pushes harder. Suddenly, the guard's legs buckle, and he collapses to the floor in a deep sleep. Hopefully, it will last for several hours. Using the Force, Anakin drags the body into a concealed place, leaving it there before trying to reach Palpatine's office once more.
When he's in the last corridor, he pulls out his commlink, realizing it will be easier to tell Sidious he's here than trying to sneak past the several guards. "Chancellor," he speaks when the transmission connects, "I entered the Senate undetected, but I would appreciate it if you could tell your guards to let me pass."
"Certainly, Anakin," replies Palpatine, not questioning for a moment why Anakin is sneaking into the Senate. He grimaces, hoping the Sith Lord doesn't suspect anything.
After waiting for another moment, Anakin steps boldly around the corner and heads towards the Chancellor's office. The Senate guards look at him with a touch of suspicion but don't stop him. Once he's inside the office, he pushes back his hood.
"Leave us," Sidious instructs his guards, watching with veiled satisfaction as they withdraw to the outside of the office.
"I must say that I really don't see how that was necessary," muses Palpatine, turning to Anakin and looking him over.
Anakin is careful to keep his expression grim, gently projecting a feigned depression into his Force signature. Everything is done discreetly; even so, he can only hope he keeps Palpatine fooled. "Chancellor," Anakin bows, "It probably wasn't, but I didn't want to risk the Council discovering my whereabouts."
"I was not aware of any tension between you and the Council," points out Palpatine, frowning. Only now Anakin can see the dark gleam in his eyes. He's enjoying it.
Anakin forces himself to nod, before staring down at the floor. "I'm upset over how they made me think Obi-Wan was dead," he admits, "I don't know what to do about it, and now, I've heard how he was kidnapped." He doesn't have to fake his rising frustration. He is still upset at the Council for their actions, even if he's forgiven Obi-Wan.
"I was surprised too," agrees Palpatine, nodding sympathetically, "They really need to trust you more. Do you see now how little trust they have for you?"
"Yes," nods Anakin, "I just – I don't know what to do or who to trust anymore." He looks at Palpatine with what he hopes is a pleading expression. "I'm so worried about Obi-Wan, but what he did – it – it hurts so much. I can't just forgive him, even though the Jedi would say I should. I – It's not something I can forget so easily."
"The Jedi don't really understand you," suggests Palpatine, "Maybe you simply aren't meant to be a Jedi."
Anakin doesn't need to fake his shock at the statement. "But – but I've spent my whole life working towards being a Jedi. I want to be one!"
"I know," agrees Palpatine, his expression becoming at once thoughtful and caring, "But is it not possible that the Jedi are mistaken? They don't understand your emotions, and Anakin, all sentients have emotions. It's not right to deny part of your humanity for an Order that doesn't even trust you."
More than anything, Anakin wants to kill him right then and there. He's talking so smoothly, planting all sorts of suggestions. It's no wonder he was slowly turning to the Dark Side without even realizing it. He was never getting guidance from this man. It was always about manipulation. What Sidious wants. What Sidious needs. It's purely selfish.
"Maybe you're right," Anakin mumbles finally, a troubled look on his face as he reaches out to the Force waiting for the right moment. Very soon, he'll call Obi-Wan to join him with Dooku so they can attack Sidious. "But I don't know where I would go."
"You've always wanted something more significant than the life of a Jedi," Palpatine notes, "Something where you actually matter. Something where you can make a difference. I think that perhaps the Jedi are mistaken about more than one issue. I still trust them to help the Republic, but as the war goes on, I must confess I'm having doubts about their loyalties." He walks to the window and stares out.
"Surely, you're wrong," protests Anakin, following him, "The Jedi would never betray the Republic!"
"They would not tell you even if they intended to," demurs Palpatine, "You're not like the rest of them. You know this is true."
The Force ripples slightly, giving Anakin the warning that he's been waiting for. He reaches out to his bond with Obi-Wan and nudges his brother briefly. He quickly pulls back, waiting only long enough to know that he got the message. Anything more would not be safe.
"I – yes, I suppose," Anakin replies slowly, "But I still don't know what I should do about Obi-Wan. I can't bear the thought of him being in Sith hands." He carefully lets a feigned surge of fear into his Force signature.
"The Council will never let you search for him alone, but I trust you will do the right thing," Palpatine answers slowly, "Follow your heart, Anakin." The smile on the Chancellor's face no longer seems real. He's looking at the man through a new perspective, wondering how he could have been so fooled but knowing that it was so easy. Why wouldn't he have trusted the politician who took an interest in him and always seemed to understand him?
"Thank you, sir," Anakin murmurs, "I – I'll see if I can reach him through our bond. I want to help him, despite what he's done to me."
"And you will succeed," Palpatine says simply, "You are very powerful. I've said this in the past. You will be the strongest Jedi the Order has ever seen."
Anakin can sense Obi-Wan and Dooku making a fast approach, so he decides to keep the conversation going a little longer to ensure the Sith Lord remains distracted. "Your support means a lot to me," he responds, letting a small smile appear for a moment, "But if I do not help the Jedi defend the Republic, I don't know what I would do."
"That would be for you to decide," the Chancellor tells him after a moment, "I cannot tell you what you should do with your life."
Anakin hears a noise behind him as the pair enter the office. Palpatine whirls much more quickly than anyone would expect for his age and supposed lack of Force sensitivity. Anakin turns to see Dooku standing slight in front of Obi-Wan, a satisfied smile on his face.
"Greetings, Chancellor."