Chapter 28 - The Council
DISCLAIMER: We do not own Star Wars or any of the characters in it, though we wish we did. xD
Author's Note: For those of you who did join my Discord server, I'm posting an excerpt from a later chapter there. Yes, it'll kill you with suspense. No, I won't tell you what's happening. :) xD
~ Amina Gila
Anakin is practically a nervous wreck by the time they reach the door to the Council chambers. He feels guilty over everything he's done contrary to the Code, touching the Dark Side being highest on the list. He doesn't even know how he'll be able to look at them, much less talk to them. Obi-Wan's presence isn't helping nearly as much as it has in the past, probably because Anakin knows what happened is his responsibility alone.
He almost Fell. He touched – and used – the Dark Side to fight Sidious. He left to join Dooku before Obi-Wan. He was given the title Darth Vader. Having a Sith name – when he's not a Sith Lord – wouldn't bother him if not for the fact that the Council knows about Vader. He has no delusions that they will discover that he's Vader. Most of all, he's terrified that they'll expel him. Being a Jedi has been his biggest dream since he was a child. The realization that it could be taken away from him – it's bothering him immensely.
"Relax, Anakin, they won't kill you for touching the Dark Side," admonishes Obi-Wan, resting a hand on his brother's arm, "Struggling with the Dark Side is something that every Jedi faces – even me."
Anakin gives him a dubious look. Surely that's not possible. Obi-Wan is the perfect Jedi. He's the best Jedi in the Order! How could he struggle with the Dark Side? A chuckle escapes when Obi-Wan catches the look. "Yes, Anakin, I have touched the Dark Side before. When Qui-Gon was killed," he explains, his expression becoming more solemn. Oh. Anakin had not known that.
Inhaling slowly, Anakin tries to dispel his nervousness, reminding himself that it matters more that they defeat Sidious, then that he remains a Jedi. He agrees with Dooku's opinion that the Jedi have begun deviating from their original path, but that doesn't mean he wants to leave the Order. He steps towards the doors, trying to control his mounting fear and shielding himself as much as possible. If they sense his fear, they'll grow suspicious of him. That would be even worse because they may think he's hiding something.
"Anakin, whatever happens, just know that you've become a far greater Jedi than I could ever hope to be, and I'm very proud of you," Obi-Wan speaks, his tone both sincere and gentle.
A feeling of warmth washes through him, and he looks down at the floor. He's unused to praise from Obi-Wan. Palpatine only ever said what he knew Anakin subconsciously wanted to hear. It's different coming from Obi-Wan because Anakin knows that he means it. He would never say something unless he truly means it.
"I – I don't know what to say," Anakin finally gets out.
"Nothing," Obi-Wan replies simply, "We have a Council meeting to attend unless I'm much mistaken." He raises an eyebrow questioning at Anakin who finally relents.
"Alright, fine. Let's go."
The doors to the Council chambers open, and Obi-Wan and Anakin walk inside. The murmurs of surprise begin immediately. Though the Council had heard they were there, it's clear that no one was ready to believe it until they saw the truth with their own eyes. Anakin can't blame them. He probably would have felt the same in their places. They bow, remaining standing in the center of the room.
"Glad to see you both, I am," Yoda is the first to speak.
"We are understandably confused about what's happening," Windu informs them, eyes darting between them, "Skywalker, you were thought dead. Kenobi, you were kidnapped by the Sith." He leans back in his seat waiting for them to speak.
An almost panicked expression on his face, Anakin gives Obi-Wan a look, which he knows his brother will understand. Unless it's absolutely necessary, Anakin wants Obi-Wan to handle the conversation.
"Before I go into the details about what happened to us, I need to inform the Council of something we have uncovered," begins Obi-Wan, resolutely meeting everyone's eyes, "Chancellor Palpatine is the Sith Lord known as Darth Sidious, the one who started the Clone Wars."
Whispers of shock circle in the room. "Are you certain, Obi-Wan? These are serious accusations," Windu questions sternly, a note of skepticism in his voice.
"I am," Obi-Wan affirms, "We confronted him, and after a long duel, he escaped the Senate. No doubt he has already fled the planet and gone to join the Separatists."
"You fought with him without asking the Council?" demands Windu, clearly upset.
Anakin admires the way Obi-Wan looks at the other Masters without backing down. "It was necessary. We did not confront him alone. Count Dooku was with us. He has grown disillusioned with Sidious' actions and asked us to help him destroy his master."
"And you agreed?" queries Mundi, seeming surprised.
Obi-Wan nods, "He was being honest. I could sense it in the Force."
The Jedi Masters exchange looks, and Windu pushes some buttons on a datapad of some sort.
"Explains the war, this revelation does," Yoda intones, looking around, his ears twitching slightly, "Stopped Sidious must be."
"And fortunately for us, we have Count Dooku to help us," Obi-Wan adds.
"We can't trust him!" exclaims Windu, "He is a Sith Lord!" Anakin shifts, suddenly hard pressed to remain silent. For an inexplicable reason, he wants to defend the Count and explain his motives. With the exception of Obi-Wan and himself, no one really understands the man.
"Sith Lord or not, his information will be invaluable," counters Obi-Wan.
"You're right," agrees Fisto, "If Dooku can provide us with information, we can capture Sidious and end the war."
"How can we be certain you aren't working for Dooku?" questions Windu, his eyes narrowed.
"We're not working for Dooku!" cries Anakin, outraged at the insinuation, "We wouldn't betray the Jedi like that! We're not traitors!"
"Anakin," Obi-Wan warns. That word is enough to make Anakin fall into a sullen silence once more. His former master's tone said everything that needed to be said.
"No one suggested that you were," replies Master Adi Gallia, soothingly, "But we have a right to be suspicious. Obi-Wan was kidnapped by the Sith."
It's Plo who raises the question Anakin was hoping no one would utter. "And what of Dooku's apprentice, Vader?"
Utter silence meets his inquiry. Anakin resolutely keeps his mouth shut, suddenly no longer interested in talking. He hopes that no one can feel his fear skyrocketing out of control. Obi-Wan is still looking at the Council, and he seems to be trying to formulate a response but is at a surprising loss of words. He would normally tell the truth, but that could seal Anakin's fate quicker than anything else could. And that – Anakin suspects – is why he's hesitating.
"Much darkness I sense in you, Skywalker," Yoda suddenly says, his eyes focused on Anakin.
For a moment, Anakin can't breathe, his fear shooting completely out of control. He reaches out touching Obi-Wan's Force signature briefly to regain a semblance of calm. He notices that his brother seems tenser than before.
"You know something you aren't saying," accuses Master Eeth Koth, a Zabrak. He frowns, "What is it, Obi-Wan?"
Anakin gets the feeling Obi-Wan is forcing himself not to glance at Anakin. Doing so might suggest they're keeping secrets – which they are – and would not end well for either of them. After another moment of silence, Obi-Wan seems to reach some sort of internal agreement. Straightening almost imperceptibly, he coolly meets everyone's gazes.
"Anakin has been struggling since I went on my undercover mission," he admits bluntly, "It was something we should have foreseen. He should have been informed."
"You know why we couldn't tell him," argues Windu, "It would have been too risky."
"It was riskier not to tell him," Obi-Wan replies, his voice hard, "If he had known, he wouldn't have faced the risk of being manipulated by Sidious, who was simply waiting for the opportunity. I have no doubt that he would have convinced Anakin to go after me and try to kill me in the name of justice. That's what he wanted. He wanted me dead."
"We see that now," agrees Plo, "But we had no way of knowing that the Chancellor was a Sith at the time we made our decision."
"But you knew – or should have known – how much my death, fake or not, would affect him," points out Obi-Wan. In this moment, Anakin truly admires how Obi-Wan is standing up for him. He understands Anakin's feelings, he really does, and that fact – it means a lot to him.
"It's an attachment," Windu reminds everyone brusquely, "We cannot encourage them."
"But you can't ignore them if they exist," counters Obi-Wan. Anakin has never been so grateful that Obi-Wan was his master. He doubts that any other master would have been willing to support him through all of this. And he's suddenly grateful for Obi-Wan negotiation skills. It seems the question about Vader has all but been forgotten.
Suddenly, the doors to the Council chambers open, and a Jedi steps inside, bowing to the Council. "Masters, you instructed me to bring you the security footage from the Chancellor's office. I have it here with me." He steps forward, passing a device to Windu.
Windu nods, accepting it. "Your haste is appreciated. I will speak with you later." Nodding, the Jedi bows once more before leaving the room.
Anakin is frozen. He can't move. Or think. The Council will see the whole fight? They'll see him using the Dark Side? He gives Obi-Wan a desperate, pleading look. His brother meets his gaze, silently communicating with him through the Force.
"I'm sorry, Anakin. There's nothing I can do." He's right. Force, Anakin should have known this would happen. Of course, the Council would want to see the footage. That does little to calm his racing heart, or mounting fear.
"I will ask you to remain outside, Skywalker," Windu informs him. Anakin nods, and leaves the room in a daze, almost missing the final glance Obi-Wan gives him.