Chapter 11: Back On Coruscant
Grandmaster Yoda has been disturbed lately with the state of the Jedi Order. The loss of Skywalker has turned a lot of people of the public against the Republic and the Jedi Order.
There was so much evidence against him the Jedi couldn't ignore it. But they always acted as if he was the enemy. He, the child they had taken from his enslaved mother and raised to fight for an Order, an Order who wanted to only use the Chosen One prophecy for him.
He pleaded innocent, told them he could figure out who did it, but they didn't listen. And then they expelled him from the Jedi Order. Why? So they could please the Republic.
Admittedly, though he will never reveal it, Yoda would have left the Order as well if he was placed in Skywalker's position.
Before the Temple bombing and the framing of Anakin Skywalker, there was doubt about the Jedi, but the doubt was minimum, however, now the Jedi Order's public view is lost and more Younglings and Knights want to leave the Order because of what happened to Skywalker at least a couple of months ago.
The Jedi are receiving more negativity from the Republic, backlash, and doubt. None of the people are sure they want to fight for peace and only crave increasing their power in the Galactic Republic, especially the members of the Jedi Council. Although the Chancellor has managed to convince the Shock Troopers, led by Commander Fox and Thire, to keep people from getting inside of the Jedi Temple, things were thrown and spats were remarked.
While the things from outside of the Jedi Temple were horrible, the result inside of the Order was horrifying.
Padawans were sulking the halls of the Jedi Temple, beginning to doubt themselves as true Jedi since they now feel like the Council has become villains in conflicts and only wanted to send children out into the thick of battle so they can throw out their lives like soldiers. The Knights are going out on the battlefield and losing their lives, meaning more Jedi are dying by the day. Even some on the Jedi Council are beginning to doubt their position and wondering if they should follow Skywalker outside of the Order and live their own lives, but none had dared to leave as they had no place in the galaxy anyhow.
The decision to expel Anakin was a political one: the Jedi Council feared antagonizing the Senate and the population of Coruscant, and so they sacrificed Anakin. It underlines again how much the Jedi had lost their way throughout the Clone Wars.
The feeling of betrayal has been crushing. Not just for Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, but also for Anakin, and truthfully Yoda as well.
Knight Tano has thrown herself towards the war completely, taking up all assignments since she can't face the Jedi Council as she had snapped at the Council or gave them glares with eyes that can kill, but it was obvious the Togruta miss her Master.
The tragedy is complete when later when the Jedi learn that Anakin was innocent. The Council finally - too late - realize they have treated their Chosen One horrifically. They offer to reinstate him, not just as a Knight once again, but as a full Jedi Master. As for all that has happened, they try to reframe it as proof of his maturity and readiness since he had combat what was soon discovered as a corrupt trial.
Grandmaster Yoda walked through the halls of the use to be calming Temple, his head cast downwards, and eyes conflicted, feeling like he'd allowed all of this to happen, had allowed the Republic to nearly convict Kenobi's former apprentice, had allowed the Jedi inside of the Temple to further doubt the ways of the Jedi Council and had allowed the failure of the Jedi.
Through the Force, however, Yoda could sense the dark side rising across the galaxy. Another Sith has been born, but through its aura, this Sith is unlike anything that Yoda has ever sensed before, guilt, sadness, and remorse; but there are also features about this new Sith that is like the Sith of before, fear, anger, hate, and suffering.
Yoda knew that the Jedi Council Members likely sensed it too as Master Windu had called for an emergency meeting. The Council has been more set on tracking anything that sorts with the darkness and brings it in the eyes of the Council so they could be permanently confined so they wouldn't flee and pose a danger in the future.
Looking around the Jedi Council Chambers, he'd felt the dark side of the Force had grown stronger, and the Grandmaster knew that it was coming from none other than the Sith Lord that had been able to infiltrate the Galactic Senate, acting as a Senator and Politician.
This was another victory for the Sith over the Jedi.
Theories have spread from the Jedi Council about who the Dark Lord of the Sith could have been, but they could never come to the right conclusion.
Yoda went to his seat slowly, feeling all eyes of the Jedi Council on him. As he sat down, Yoda hadn't spoken like usual, almost shocking the Jedi Council, but Windu decided to speak.
"Lately," Master Windu began, "the dark side of the Force has grown stronger within the Republic, but through the Force, I can sense the rise of another Sith. The last thing we need is for another Sith to threaten the safety of the Galactic Republic. This Sith probably knows the identity of the secret Sith Lord."
"And how can we track this Sith Lord down if we don't know where we can investigate?" Kit Fisto inquired.
"We don't even know this Sith's description," Shaak Ti pointed out.
"Is it so odd that after the Chosen One left the Order another Sith has rise?" Coleman Kcaj added onto his fellow Council Member's statements.
Obi-Wan's eyes shot to Kcaj in horror before his eyes cast downwards and he had realized another vision was forming inside of him. He felt his surroundings flickering out around him and he had seen a hooded figure of his former apprentice, but something was off about him.
He watched a lightsaber blade flick into the shot, cutting down first one Padawan, then the other. He watched the brisk stride of a caped figure who hacked through Drallig's shoulder, then stood aside as the old Troll fell dying to let the rest of the mysterious soldiers who he couldn't recognize blast the children to shreds.
Obi-Wan's expression never flickered.
He opened himself to what he was about to see; he was prepared, and centered, and trusting in the Force, and yet...
Then the caped man turned to meet a cloaked figure behind him, and he was—
He was—
Obi-Wan, staring, wished that he had the strength to rip his eyes out of his head.
But even blind, he would see this forever.
He would see his friend, his student, his brother, turn and kneel in front of a black-cloaked Lord of the Sith.
His head rang with a silent scream.
"No!" Obi-Wan shouted, alerting all in the Council Chambers and causing all of the Masters to turn to him. "My condolences, masters, I just can't believe Anakin would ever fall to the darkness."
Master Windu frowned. "We have to consider him as a possible threat." Windu's face became sympathetic as he stares at Obi-Wan. "I once believed the same of Dooku, and he has fallen to the dark side. A Jedi such as Skywalker poses an even higher threat to the Jedi Order and the Republic, especially if he joins the Sith. Listen, Obi-Wan, I understand that he was once your apprentice. But yet, time changes people. Some of the Order's greatest Masters and Knights has been consumed by the dark side."
"Anakin would never turn to the dark side, Master. You weren't there when he was down the Temple steps," he said. "You didn't see his face. I think we have done a terrible thing. He is not of one who wants vengeance but is of one who wants help. I believe Anakin has simply left Coruscant so he could find help."
"It's best if we question Senator Amidala. She likely knows of Anakin's whereabouts as a close friend and she can tell us and we can track him down and question him." Plo Koon said, obviously wanting to get the strain off his old friend, his masked gaze falling on Kenobi, and sympathy ringed through the Force. "If Anakin is innocent, we would let him go. It's just too risky right now, and we will have to consider all possibilities."
"I'm not too trusting of including Senator Amidala about this subject. We have all witnessed their friendship before, and the likelihood of her concealing his location from this Council is high." Master Windu proclaimed.
"What choice do we have?" Saesee Tiin asked, turning to face Windu for a moment before he turned to the rest of the Jedi Council. "Besides, we have to consider the possibility that even if this Sith isn't Skywalker, they could target the ex Chosen One."
The Jedi Master reverted a glare onto his Council Member, "Oh, so now that Anakin's no longer a Jedi, he isn't the Chosen One anymore?"
"Master Kenobi, I mean no offense to you nor your former apprentice, but the prophecy of the Chosen One was an ancient Jedi legend that foretold the coming of a powerfully Force-sensitive being, a Jedi, who would restore balance to the Force." Saesee Tiin replied defensively, raising his hands up in front of him. "The prophecy was one of the hundreds of obscure legends maintained by the Jedi Order, though its origins remain unknown. It was thought to have been created by the earliest Jedi philosophers, after the creation of the Galactic Republic but before we assumed an active role in it. Skywalker is no longer a Jedi so unfortunately the title falls away."
"Yeah, all because the Council refused to do enough," Obi-Wan gritted out, anger in his eyes as he glared downwards. His voice was a mutter but was still audible for his fellow Council Members to hear.
"Obi-Wan, I give the word of the Council that if we apprehend Anakin, rather if he's the new Sith or not, we will treat him with caution and respect regardless." Shaak Ti spoke up, feeling sympathy for Obi-Wan but also wanting to break up a potential argument between Kenobi and Tiin.
The words encouraged nods of agreements from all of the masters in the Council, including Master Windu, which was surprising. Perhaps the Council did learn their mistake. Either way, the truth ringed through the Force.
"Not to mention, we're not saying Anakin Skywalker is this new Sith, however, we have to secure all possibilities," Depa spoke up, having been faced with the darkness before but yet she was saved by her Master. Depa is strictly in the light now, however, despite Yoda's rambling about 'If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will.' she had believed one can turn away from the darkness with the help of companions.
"I believe we should have done more with the conflicting Jedi of the past. Why don't we opened our eyes first? We'd failed Count Dooku. We'd failed Asajj Ventress. We'd failed Barriss Offee. We'd failed Anakin Skywalker. Who else are we going to fail?" Shaak Ti inquired solemnly, head cast downwards. "We are practically handing all of our Jedi to the ways of the Sith."
"We did all we could with the others, but some aren't destined to be Jedi. You know we have no choice when it came to Skywalker, Shaak. We were trapped and was in a lose-lose situation." Windu replied.
"Hope, we will, that Skywalker is not among the Sith Order now," Yoda proclaimed.
The Council was silent for several minutes after that.
When her handmaiden Moteé awakened her with the word that C-3PO had announced a Jedi was waiting to see her, Padmé flew out of bed, threw on a robe, and hurried out to her living room, a smile breaking through her sleepiness like the dawn outside, hoping Ahsoka was here as she would visit her whenever Anakin was out and they would have their own time which was rare as she prefers to remain off Coruscant, however, she still spent time with her—
But it was Obi-Wan.
The Jedi Master had his back to her, hands clasped behind him as he drifted restlessly about the room, gazing with abstracted lack of interest at her collection of rare sculpture.
"Obi-Wan," she said breathlessly, "has—" She bit off the following has something happened to Anakin as she could practically see his racing heartbeat. How would she explain why this was the first thing out of her mouth?
She and Anakin didn't want a big marriage as they had rather not want to be swarm by the holo news since Anakin didn't want to answer questions of the Jedi and the Republic after their betrayal but their marriage is legal and they are officially married now so they don't have to lie to themselves anymore.
"—has See-Threepio offered you anything to drink?" He turned to her, a frown clearing from his brow.
"Senator," he said warmly. "So good to see you again. I apologize for the early hour, and yes, your protocol droid has been quite insistent on offering me refreshment." His frown began to regather. "But as you may guess, this is not a social call. I've come to speak with you about Anakin."
Her years in politics had trained her well; even as her heart lurched and a shrill. How much does he know? Echoed inside her head, her face remained only attentively blank.
A primary rule of Republic politics: tell as much truth as you can. Especially to a Jedi. "Obi-Wan, what's happening?"
"Has he been here to see you?" Obi-Wan inquired, closing his eyes and attempting to sense him inside of the apartment with the Force, yet his Force Signature wasn't visible.
"Several times," she said evenly. "Something is wrong, isn't it?"
Obi-Wan tilted his head, and a hint of a rueful smile showed through his beard. "You should have been a Jedi."
She managed a light laugh. "And you should never go into politics. You're not very good at hiding your feelings. What is it?"
"It's Anakin." With his pretense of cheer fading away, he seemed to age before her eyes. He looked very tired and profoundly troubled. "May I sit?"
"Please." She waved him to the couch and lowered herself onto its edge beside him. "Is he in trouble again? Did you find him on a mission or something?"
"No. This is more... a personal matter." He shifted his weight uncomfortably. "The Masters had sensed a disturbance through the Force, and most of them believe Anakin is the cause of it."
Her heart shrank; he must know, and he'd come to confront her—to bring their whole lives crashing down around their ears. She ached for Anakin, but her face showed only polite curiosity.
"What is this about?" she asked delicately.
"Is Anakin here? Please don't deceive me." he replied with a vaguely apologetic tone.
She inclined her head. "No."
"Well, I've been a bit worried about him. I was hoping we could have talked." Obi-Wan replied, hoping that Anakin would have just remained with Padmé so he wouldn't have done something that is now possibly his fall to the dark side of the Force.
"Why would I know about his whereabouts?" She favored him with her best friendly-but-skeptical smile but there was pain in it. "Anakin has disappeared after remaining in my apartment for the last two months." She had to be careful here as she had kept contact with Obi-Wan, and not to mention he would probably sense her deception.
"Senator—Padmé. Please." He gazed into her eyes with nothing on his face but compassion and fatigued anxiety. "I am not blind, Padmé. Though I have tried to be, for Anakin's sake. And for yours."
"What do you mean?"
"Neither of you is very good at hiding feelings, either."
"Obi-Wan—"
"Anakin has loved you since the day you met, in that horrible junk shop on Tatooine. He's never even tried to hide it when he was a Jedi, though we did not speak of it. We... pretended that I don't know. And I was happy to because it made him happy. You made him happy when nothing else ever truly could." He sighed, his brows drawing together. "And you, Padmé, skilled as you are on the Senate floor, cannot hide the light that comes to your eyes when anyone so much as mentions his name."
"I—" She lurched to her feet. "I can't—Obi-Wan, don't make me talk about this..."
"I don't mean to hurt you, Padmé. Nor even to make you uncomfortable. I'm not here to interrogate you; I have no interest in the details of your relationship. Anakin is no longer a Jedi, and thus the rules don't apply to him. Besides," a small teasing smirk formed on his lips, "the awkward stares between you two were the first signs of red alarms in my mind and the poor excuses Anakin given on our missions was a giveaway."
There was no humor on the Senator's face. She turned away, walking just to be moving, barely conscious of passing through the door out onto the dawn-painted veranda. "Then why are you here?"
He followed her respectfully. "The Council can sense the rise of a new Sith in the Outer Rim. Through the Force, the Council can sense this Sith is powerful but has limitations that hold them back."
She blinked as though he'd slapped her. "What does this have to do with Anakin?" Realization slowly dawned as she begins to tremble, "You're not saying-"
"Padmé, you have to understand. I have to track Anakin down and we need to talk. If not, the Council will..." he paused and stared down, and she could have sworn she had spot a tear slipping down his blue eyes, "they will send someone to track him down and would bring him in injured or uninjured. Please, tell me, Padmé, I just want to talk with him, not to fight him or hurt him. These words will go unspoken by the Jedi Council from my lips." He edged closer and grab her arm and turn her to him so she could see the pain in his eyes. "Where is Anakin?"
"He's not here, Obi-Wan," Padmé replied in a monotone voice. "Besides, Anakin isn't destined to fall. Isn't he the Chosen One and is the one to bring balance to the Force?"
"My Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, believed that it was the will of the Force that Anakin should be trained as a Jedi—and we all have a certain, oh, I suppose you could call it a Jedi-centric bias. It is a Jedi prophecy, after all. The Council believes that when he left the Order, the prophecy has fallen away from Anakin." The Jedi Master replied.
"But the will of the Force—isn't that what Jedi follow?" Padmé asked.
"Well, yes. But you must understand that not even the Jedi know all there is to be known about the Force; no mortal mind can. We speak of the will of the Force as someone ignorant of gravity might say it is the will of a river to flow to the ocean: it is a metaphor that describes our ignorance. The simple truth—if any truth is ever simple—is that we do not truly know what the will of the Force may be. We can never know. It is so far beyond our limited understanding that we can only surrender to its mystery." Obi-Wan responded apologetically as he stared down, "Such proof spotted as when Anakin was believed to bombed the Jedi Temple."
"Why do you want to speak to him now?" She swallowed, but her voice stayed tight and thin. "If I even knew where he was located, how do I know you won't tell the Jedi and stormed inside my apartment just to apprehend Anakin and drag him away from me against his freewill?"
Thoughts of the Jedi coming to 500 Republica with intentions to make an arrest of Anakin invaded her mind. Thoughts of the Jedi storming inside of the 500 Republica and demanding for him to come with them invaded her mind. Thoughts of them attacking him and a few keeping the Senator back while the others grabbed him by his hands and feet and dragged him by force to face his judgment which would likely be wrong once again invaded her mind.
And at last, which is the most horrifying upon her thoughts, thoughts of Anakin being a Sith Lord and wrongfully harming innocent beings invaded her mind.
"Padmé, as I just told you, the Council believes Anakin has turned to the dark side," Obi-Wan replied softly. "If Anakin is the Sith, I have just been asked to speak with him and peacefully bring him in so he could go in front of the Council. We are not villains nor do we have intentions to harm anyone, including the enemies of the Jedi."
"That's a lie—" She pushed him away forcefully, and Obi-Wan could only regard her with an expression that matched sadness and pity. "You... Jedi harmed Anakin Skywalker! And for your information, he could never... he could never... not my Anakin... he will never join the dark side." She stared at Obi-Wan with anger now. "Obi-Wan, your Council assumed this before about Anakin when the Temple was bombed! Don't make another mistake!"
Obi-Wan's voice was soft and slow. "I just want to talk with him. Padmé, please."
"You are just going to kill him if you find out he has become a Sith Apprentice since Sith are supposedly the Jedi's enemies and must be wiped out yet we are so full of ourselves and can't accept responsibility or blame! You and your Council would do anything to remain in the Order, and as always, you will place blame on Anakin if he's the Sith! You could have followed him outside of the Order to protect him from the hands of the Sith if you had cared so much, Obi-Wan!" Padmé accused, her brown eyes flashing with anger.
"Padmé, you know that I would never maim or kill Anakin. At the time that he had left the Order, I could have sense Anakin wanted his own path. If I knew he was going to possibly become a Sith Apprentice, I would have followed him outside the Order or wouldn't have allowed him to leave." Obi-Wan retorted, standing up and begins walking towards the door.
"I thought he meant something to you. Although you never stated it, you look at him as if he was a brother-your brother. Do you even care? Did you care about him then?" Padmé snapped, but her voice was trembling, showing that she was losing that Politician phase.
With a small sigh of sadness, Obi-Wan turned around and crossed his arms across his chest. "I did, and still do, but I cannot allow my feelings to cloud my judgment if he is this new Sith Lord. The Sith have been threatening the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic for years. They must be stopped."
"Even if it means you kill him if he's this new Sith?!" Padmé cried. "You just confessed that you've loved him and wouldn't ever hurt him yet you are willing to execute him! You are just being so confusing!"
"I would do what I must if it comes to it," Obi-Wan replied, attempting to be impassive but it was a failure. "I don't want to hurt him, but if I have to choose between the galaxy and Anakin, I will choose the galaxy as I'm certain you would do."
"So you would have allowed for him to be executed by the Republic if the suggestion of Tarkin came to pass?" Padmé snarled, narrowing her eyes at Obi-Wan and raising her eyebrows.
"I wish I known that answer, Padmé, but I shall remain loyal to the Jedi Council," Obi-Wan declared with a sigh, walking towards the door once again before coming to a halt.
"Now, I understand why Anakin doesn't trust you, Obi-Wan! You failed Anakin because you tried to do everything by the book, which is why the Council favors you over Qui-Gon and that's where you went wrong with Anakin! You were trying to teach the ways of the Force in a very orthodox manner to a very unorthodox Padawan! It was clear that Anakin lacked a certain amount of respect for you and doesn't trust you because you refuse to accept the fact that there are flaws in your precious Order and especially that Council of idiots! You would try to scold him when Anakin was reckless but since you two are so close in age it didn't have much effect on him! You believe Anakin would listen to you but you always have him answer to the Council! You Jedi failed Anakin by enforcing your dogmatic rules on him and disrespecting him! They were frightened of Anakin's potential! If Anakin has fallen to the dark side, you Jedi are largely responsible!" Padmé snapped, glaring at the Jedi Master, not regretting a word nor was going to take it back.
With a defeated sigh, Obi-Wan walked out and left behind the shaken woman, sensing her thoughts through the Force to confront Anakin, but unfortunately, her thoughts wouldn't betray where he's at. Anakin must have taught her how to produce a Force Shield and to ensure no one could completely read her thoughts. She is Force-Sensitive, but she's way too old to be considered for training as a Jedi.
The Jedi never allow adults to join them for the last few generations. The Jedi preferred moving towards Jedi Training starting during childhood for a long time but they have shown they are willing to allow adults in the past; one such example being the Jedi in the time of Darth Revan after they had stopped the Sith Lord and rid him of his memories.
Yet, they certainly wouldn't do that for a Senator who has defended the Jedi more than once, despite her Force-Sensitivity. And she probably doesn't want any part as a Padawan, Knight, nor Master in the Jedi Order, especially after the mistreatment of Anakin Skywalker.
"You are going to truly lose him one day if you continue to listen to that Council full of idiots, Obi-Wan! As much as you don't want to admit it, Obi-Wan, you are a slave to the Jedi Council and it's going to stab you in the back when you least expect it one day! As Qui-Gon freed Anakin from his chains of Watto 13 years ago, you can do the same with the Council and do what you know deep down is right!"
As much as he had resented in admitting it, the back of his mind had known that she was right; he was a Jedi Master, loyal to the Jedi Council first and foremost and shall serve the will of the Force, but every urge in his being was telling him that Padmé was right and that the Jedi Council would eventually drag him down along with them if they go down that path, yet his Jedi instincts tell him, that surely, the Council wouldn't ever make a similar mistake again.
For a moment, the Jedi Master wanted to appropriate a Mind Trick against the woman so he could track his former student down, but he had known that was inappropriate for a Jedi.
He'd known that the Council would likely question Padmé as she would be the only one who knows of his location.
Had Padmé not been rigorously clear with Obi-Wan? She wasn't going to give Anakin's location away, and she had made sure to employ Anakin's training of her to compose her thoughts as she walked through the halls of the Jedi Temple, swearing that she had felt the eyes of over thousands of generations staring at her. It was of no concern to the Senator as she had been angry with the Jedi and had sworn to cut all ties with them for how they had treated her husband, well all of them except Obi-Wan and Ahsoka.
Padmé hadn't been too pleased with the Jedi and their ways, and she didn't linger to conceal her anger as her face was held high. To her, it was explicit that they are losing their way if they haven't already. They have become completely willing to cast her husband out, claimed that he was a Sith Lord, blaming him for problems again, and now they dare to damn near command her to report to their Council Chambers like she was a damn youngling!
She could sense the Masters' uncertainty and skepticism at the sight of the Chosen One's... well to them... ex Chosen One's... dearest female friend in the Senate. It was clear that they had known there was something going on between Skywalker and Amidala, far more than friendship, but it was of no concern as for the moment as there are more pressing matters to attend to.
If asked about how far Skywalker and her relationship is by the Jedi, she would tell them to kriff off! It was none of their business! It's not like they cared for Anakin anyway, not the way she does!
She had made the choice to accept Anakin's proposal and, as a result, she had to deal with a distraught man who had nightmares of clone troopers aiming guns at him after being given the death sentence and shooting him down, or being given the life sentence and never seeing his closest friends or family, or fearing he would harm someone close to him! All of those vile nightmares, and she had placed full blame on the Jedi Council!
The doors to the welcoming lift opened and she stepped in, waiting patiently until she'd reached top level, and she had wondered why the Jedi had immediately assumed Anakin could be this new Sith Lord that they spoke of, and her nerves increased. The last time they had made a mistake with Anakin, it had left a broken man, and suddenly, she was all but thankful she had allowed for Anakin to go on Tatooine so he wouldn't have been blamed for accusations again!
The doors to the lift opened once again, and she stepped out and approached the Jedi Council, and she had to resist the urge to pull out her blaster and shoot down a few of the Jedi Council Members, however, she maintained herself as she would be charged for manslaughter, and the last thing Anakin needs to hear when he returns is that his wife had murdered some of the Jedi Council Members. That would push him over the edge.
She could see the Jedi Council Members giving her dubious looks the moment she had stepped inside. She came to the center of the room, closing her eyes and attempting to maintain what to Anakin said as her politician mask.
"What is the meaning of commanding me into a Council meeting, Masters?" Padmé demanded, skipping the pleasantries as these bastards deserve nothing but sharpness except a few Jedi Masters.
It was obvious that the Council Members were shocked by her straightforwardness and coldness to them, but they had decided not to comment on it.
"We need to know Skywalker's whereabouts. Since he trusts you most besides the Chancellor, we know that you are aware of his location." Master Luminara spoke first, staring at her with calculating eyes.
"Hmm, and why are you searching for Anakin when you didn't hesitate to cast him out of the Order not that long ago?" Padmé snarled, giving each of them glares, including Obi-Wan as they were all Council Members and it's the principle of the whole thing.
"We were wrong... to cast Skywalker outside of the Jedi Order..." Master Windu confessed, his outside expression portraying indifference and unaffectedness, though she could have sworn there was an ounce of remorse from the Korun Master's voice which was surprising.
"But there is the fact that the Sith are dangerous. From the beginning of the Jedi time onward, the Jedi are committed to the destruction and extermination of the Sith. The Sith themselves committed to the corruption, destruction, and elimination of the Jedi and peace and harmony. There is a possibility that Skywalker is among the Sith Order. We have to find him and test him." Master Mundi added to his fellow Council Member sentence.
"And let me guess, the second he shows emotion like a normal human being always do, he is automatically guilty. That's all you condescending people care about is that the second someone shows emotion, they are doom to fall to this so-call dark side. You people believe emotions are immoral which is why you don't allow members to marry and why you took them so young to keep them from forming attachments to their families." Padmé declared, crossing her arms across her chest as she didn't have to be Force Sensitive to feel the Council Members obviously getting irritated. "So no, I shall not tell you Jedi Anakin's location because he entrusted me with his secrets and I shall not betray his trust."
"Why not?" Windu asked irritably.
"Because the last time you had sentenced Anakin, you each decide that Anakin was guilty of a crime he did not commit," a small unexpected chuckle came from her lips as she shook her head.
"Senator, this is hardly a laughing matter," Kcaj stated angrily.
"Oh, I'm not laughing at that, I'm laughing because you fools believe anything that feels emotion of any kind is immediately a threat to the Order. Anakin told me you each condemn politicians. I thought we politicians are not to be trusted so why should I answer any of your questions? I was the one who had to help Anakin after the trauma you all put him through. I was the one who had to convince him that he is worth living. I was the one who convinced Anakin not to hurt himself intentionally or accidentally. And for the suffering you had placed on him, you all cold so-called keepers of the peace 'ought to be ashamed of yourselves." It was blunt honesty as she scowled at the Jedi Masters, glaring at each of them, giving Windu, Rancisis, and Kcaj the longest glares before turning her glare onto the others.
A surprise stirred through the Council Chambers as Senator Padmé Amidala has never been so blunt and so severe with the Council Members, despite the fact that they have made a few mistakes with her in the past. It was now apparent to each of them that she was more than a friend with Skywalker.
"We offer him assistance, but it was he who decided to leave," Oppo Rancisis countered heatedly.
"Really, Master Rancisis? I thought as an adept strategist and tactician, was a Thisspiasian male who abdicated the throne of his homeworld in favor of becoming a Jedi Master, the Blood Monarch of Thisspias, and apprentice to Master Yaddle, and the suppose one of the mediating figureheads in the Jedi Order, you would have been compassionate for the pain he went through, but of course not, you are all the same." She stared at each of them, sneering. "You self-righteous people like to misjudge everyone. Trust me, if I ever have children, you will have to take them from my cold dead hands because I would never allow you to corrupt them to become emotionless beasts and droids in this corrupt Order." Padmé growled, beginning to turn around and walking to the turbolift and pressing the button that will take her back to ground level, ignoring their glares and shocked looks.
The Jedi Council members knew that if Padmé Amidala ever does have children, they would be heavily Force-Sensitive due to her alone, and they would be extremely powerful, almost as powerful as Ahsoka Tano's Force-Sensitivity, and she has taken the role of her Master as the strongest Knight in the Order after throwing herself completely to the Clone Wars and is barely seen on Coruscant anymore.
If Ahsoka Tano was that strong and powerful with her parents being Force Sensitive, Padmé Amidala's children would be stronger as she had been shown to have abilities only Jedi should have.
"Senator Amidala, we are keepers of the peace, not soldiers. It is our responsibility to ensure the Sith doesn't rise to power and threaten the state of the Galactic Republic, despite how much he may have been your friend at one point." Master Luminara declared.
Padmé sighs in irritation, seeing that they aren't accepting reality. This was growing frustrating and now she has to use her years as a Senator to not truly unleash a tirade on the Jedi Council.
"Oh, here we go again with you people not accepting reality. You call yourselves keepers of the peace, but according to Senators and lawmakers, you're all a bunch of soldiers with the blood of many children on your hands for sending them out in a kriffing war as teenagers and not completing their training to adulthood. Let's be honest here, Masters, you haven't been keepers of the peace for the past four years, and you probably even lost your way before then as well."
Padmé was livid. She cannot believe she was silent while the Jedi continue to dig themselves in a corrupt Republic. The Galactic Republic is corrupt. Many of its Senators and bureaucrats are corrupt. That became clear when the Senate didn't lift a tentacle to save Naboo from attack by the Trade Federation when its people were dying. The Jedi knew the Republic is a democracy in name only, and that it is hopelessly corrupt. It was corrupt centuries before. They knew the inner worlds became wealthy by oppressing the outer rim worlds. This oppression led to many outer rim worlds breaking away from the Republic to create the Confederacy of Independent Systems.
She had felt ashamed for what she'd allowed the Republic to become, and although she cannot change the Galactic Republic, she was determined to find ways after the war... if the war ever truly does end as the Republic appears to be the driving force to the Separatists and is the oppressors.
"Senator, we mean no offense to you or Skywalker-" Shaak Ti tried once again to mend the tension that was rising as many Council Members are growing frustrated with how the Senator is scoffing at their code. She didn't like the Senator's tone but there was rights and wrongs on both sides.
Padmé respectfully ignored the Council Member and continued, not wanting to vent her frustration accidentally onto the Togruta Jedi Master who always defended Anakin since she had become a Council Member.
"The corruption is just being revealed now and it's going to sunk you people in a black hole that you won't be able to return from. Your entire Order is corrupt by your own teachings and believing you are infallible when in reality a mere bounty hunter can kill Masters. You're supposed to follow the "Will of the Force," yet you didn't and that's why you lost Anakin Skywalker and what's worse you still don't. You people only follow your stringent Jedi Code which shall lead to the demise of your corrupt Order. Any organization has to be flexible, able to change, and according to my backup knowledge, the Sith had been able to do this, but over the millennia, even several millennia, the Jedi remained the same. So, in conclusion, you are corrupt by yourselves and by your outdated teachings. That's probably why Anakin was viewed as a "black sheep," because he viewed things differently and actually had emotions and is not an emotionless droid like most of you are or pretend to be. Peacekeepers are what you supposed to be but haven't been in the past four years." Padmé snarled, seeing that they are appalled but she didn't care as she turned and stared at Obi-Wan in particular with narrowed eyes, her eyes asking, 'Why do you stay when you know they are corrupt?'
"Senator Amidala, we must know where he..." Master Kcaj tried one last time.
"And I have already told you, Master Kcaj, that I said no. No means no. Do I need to spell it out for you?" She interrupted, not even turning to face them, almost addressing them like they were a disrespectful security guard or handmaiden who she had taught to never question her in the past. She pressed the button to the turbolift once again as she had felt this turbolift is too slow and waited impatiently before speaking once again, "You Jedi are walking a thin line. If you do one more thing that shall offend me, I shall cut my Senatorian ties with you all and not protect you from the public eyes any longer. Stay away from my husband. Good day, Master Jedi."
As she finished, the turbolift's door finally opened, signifying the arrival of the turbolift, and she walked in, knowing her words have left an impact on the Council Members as the doors closed and the angry Senator begins her stride home.
After the Senator left, the Council Members sat in silence for several moments, some dumbfounded by the Senator's attitude and the revelation of Amidala being married to Skywalker like Oppo Rancisis and Coleman Kcaj whereas others recognized her position like Depa Billaba and Shaak Ti, though they too were shocked.
"They are married!" Windu cried angrily. "Skywalker has disregarded the code for Senator Amidala! He should face judgment from the Jedi Council for his blatant disregard of the Code!"
"He is emotionally compromised and unscrupulous. Regardless if he's a Jedi or not, he should face the judgment of the Jedi Council. He should know that attachments leads to the dark side." Ki-Adi-Mundi agreed, sighing heavily.
"Anakin is not a Jedi anymore so the rules don't apply to him," Shaak Ti countered, glaring at Mundi and Windu. The Togruta Jedi Master was increasingly growing infuriated with her fellow Council Members.
"We have more pressing matters to be concerned with," Obi-Wan declared, beginning to doubt his role and position in the Order, particularly his role on the Council even further.
"Correct, Master Kenobi and Master Ti are. No longer a Jedi, Skywalker is, so free to marry the Senator of Naboo publicly or privately, he is able to. Probable that they did marry privately with witnesses, it is." Yoda said, not completely shocked by the revelation as much as he should be as he had remembered Amidala hugging Skywalker in the hanger of Geonosis, the fact that she had to be swiftly removed from Skywalker when he was in a healing trance and was recovering, and not to mention the feeling of bliss whenever Skywalker and Amidala are in each other's presence.
"We cannot push Senator Amidala for the location of Anakin Skywalker. She is diverging from us, and the loss of her would provoke Bail Organa and many other Senators who are friends to the Jedi to abandon us. I also find it hard to believe that Skywalker could become a Sith." Kit Fisto voiced, secretly agreeing with the Senator as he was one of the Council Members who voted against Skywalker's banishment months prior.
Ki-Adi-Mundi sighed, though he knew that they were correct. "There is no evidence of him being this Sith nor are we accusing him of being the Sith but he's one who left the Jedi Order with high hatred and fear. I agreed with Master Windu; Skywalker posed and still do pose a high risk to the Jedi Order."
"And what do we do when we find him and if he is indeed this Sith?" Obi-Wan inquired angrily, remembering the Senator's words from earlier and knowing he wasn't exactly being truthful about killing Anakin if he has to. Now, he could see why Padmé is growing weary of the Jedi Council.
Yoda too could see where the Senator is coming from and had to admit that he was growing quieter in Council Meetings, the failure of the supposed Chosen One hitting a core deep in his mind.
"We would give him medical attention and do what we can do, but remember, Obi-Wan, once one starts down the dark path, forever it will dominate their destiny." Master Windu reminded him grimly. "Even I had trouble controlling it when I had begun my Vaapad form, yet I was able to emerge victorious with the darkness. I fear Skywalker won't be able to do the same."
"I have a sinking feeling that Anakin has gone back to his homeworld of Tatooine for what is unknown to me," Obi-Wan declared, placing a hand on his chin in deep thought. It was obvious the Jedi Master missed his friend. "Isn't Master Ferroda on a mission there? Perhaps he would be able to track down Anakin and will give us a progress report and bring him before the Jedi Council." He thought out loud.
"Hmm, I shall contact him and report to him that there is possibly Anakin Skywalker on the planet and he has possibly fallen to the dark side and is to be brought before us alive if he does show any signs of being a rival to the Jedi," Windu stated, his voice becoming blunt on the last statement. To him, anyone who even touches emotions that are dangerously close to the darkness should be brought to their secret Jedi prison.
Leaning forward, Saesee Tiin begins speaking, "Let's just hope we can track him down so we can interrogate him and we can only hope he hasn't turned to the dark side or the Sith may prove to be victorious."
All the Council Members can do, especially Obi-Wan Kenobi, merely hope is that they haven't truly forced the former Chosen One down the path of the dark side and given the Sith Order another victory.
Arthur's note: I can't lie. Padmé ranting on the Council Members and revealing their marriage was the most fun for me. I try to keep the characters like their Canon counterparts as much as possible in each story involving the Clone Wars when it's too late to change the Jedi ways and I hope I succeed where Padmé and the Jedi Council are concern.
I always have beefed with Canon Obi-Wan as he had made even more mistakes in Canon than Legends. This is why I love Legends Obi-Wan more than Canon Obi-Wan despite loving both. Legends Obi-Wan is more of a Rogue Jedi, knew about Anakin and Padmé's relationship, and openly went against the Council's decisions multiple times. As the Clone Wars both 2003 and 2008 show, Canon Obi-Wan is outright a slave to the Council, refuses to challenge them, and do questionable things. While I love Canon Obi-Wan, Legends Obi-Wan is better. Padmé is right about him. Obi-Wan will do anything just because the Jedi Council told him, next to no questions asked. Just look at the Clone Wars season 4 episodes 15 to 18. What Obi-Wan and the Council did just... irk me.
Tragically, I feel much the same for Windu in Legends. In Legends, he's less of a dick to Anakin, if not at all. It's made more clear that he's coming across as mean to him in ROTS because he's under a bunch of stress, between the Senate voting for Palpatine's extra emergency powers, the hidden Sith Lord they've been trying to capture for months, and the war just keeping on, corrupting more and more of the Jedi's principles… too much pressure. But overall, he praises him when needed, he's by his side when Obi-Wan almost dies. If Obi-Wan is Anakin's father or his brother, Mace is his uncle. Finally, in Legends, he actually sits down with rebelling and hesitating Jedi who is against the war, he listens to their opinions, then explains why the Jedi being in the war is a necessity despite being a terrible thing, which he acknowledges it is. And most of those hesitating Jedi saw that he was right: the situation was shit, the Jedi were compromising on their teaching… but there was no real alternative. And so they got back to fighting the good fight. In Canon, Windu had an attitude that leads to stuff like Barriss bombing the Jedi Temple. He's more hardened in Canon, at the time of the war. He's not wrong about the Jedi ways, but he's just pulling rank aka irritating and inefficient in the long run which had led down to Prosset Dibs punching him. The confrontation with Windu will put him in a mindset where after the war, he becomes an Inquisitor, the Tenth Brother. If Mace had been less of a douche, at that moment, the Order 66 survivors would've had to deal with one less Inquisitor hunting them. And sure, they're on a mission, so it's not exactly the right time for Windu to sit down and talk about ideals with Dibs, and tell him why he's wrong. Fair enough. But "are you finished" isn't the right answer to give either and the longer the war goes on, the easier it becomes for Mace to act this way, which is just irresponsible. I hated Windu for so long before I found out his Legends counterpart was actually a kind dude and want for him to become more like that when it's appropriate.
The Canon version of the Council is sad but that's the tragedy of the Clone Wars. The Clone Wars changed the Jedi Council, including Windu and Kenobi.
Tell me everyone which version of the Jedi Council do you prefer? Canon Jedi Council or Legends Jedi Council? I prefer both and tend to mix them up in different stories, but which one I like more is Legends. Legends Jedi Council doesn't make me feel the urge to break my phone or computer.
Also, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
May the Force be with you all always.