Star Wars

The Supreme Commander

Chapter 9

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Ahsoka had no trouble sneaking into Padme's apartment. Padme was not there yet, but she was sure the former Queen of Naboo would be okay with her unannounced visit. The apartment was a lot different since the last time she had seen it. Holos of Anakin were on the walls, and she caught a glimpse of a room that appeared to be for a baby.

"Anakin didn't mention anything about a baby," Ahsoka said suspiciously as she walked into the nursery. There was no baby, but it did appear to have been just made. She heard a click behind her head.

"You are not authorized to be here," said a stern, male voice.

Ahsoka raised her hands over her head and slowly turned to face Captain Typho, Padme's personal bodyguard. His visible eye opened in shock and he quickly lowered his blaster.

"Miss Tano," Captain Typho said apologetically, awkwardly rubbing the back of his head, "my apologies, I didn't know it was you."

"No worries, I'm used to it at this point in my life," laughed Ahsoka as she lowered her hands. She looked back at the crib that was next to her, "is Padme pregnant?"

"Yes and it should be coming within the next few weeks. For whatever reason it is late, but healthy. I'm not sure what it is waiting on," laughed Typho with a hint of uneasiness in his voice.

"Probably something to do with the force," Ahsoka murmured as her gaze fell upon a rocking chair across the room.

"The force seems to have its own way of doing things. It confuses me," Typho admitted as he turned to leave the room. When he reached the door he turned and looked back at Ahsoka.

"Yes, I'm sure," Ahsoka said as she followed Typho out of the nursery. Picking up on the fact that he probably wanted her out of the nursery.

"Don't take this the wrong way because I enjoy seeing you, but why are you here?" Asked Captain Typho, taking on a more serious face. "Right now, you're a wanted woman, and Coruscant is no place for you."

"I have an urgent message for Senator Amidala from Anakin," Ahsoka revealed hesitantly.

"It seems this is serious stuff," Typho said, noticing the hesitation in her voice, "she will be walking in here any minute now with an entourage of senators for the Delegation of 2000."

"What is that?" Ahsoka asked.

"The Delegation of 2000 is a committee of senators who wish to see the Chancellor relinquish his emergency powers," Typho explained, "I'm sure you can talk to her before or after her meeting."

An idea dawned on Ahsoka and she smiled, "No. I need to talk to her during the meeting. The message isn't just for Padme, it's hard to explain but it will help this delegation."

"I'm sure Padme would let you speak," Typho said right as the door swung open and people started to pile in. Senator Mothma, Senator Organa, Senator Tills and various others poured into the room, not noticing Ahsoka standing beside Captain Typho.

"Looks like she's back," Ahsoka said. She slowly began to make her way over to the door and in walked Padme followed by-

"Ahsoka?"

She froze in place. She had not expected to see the senator from Onderon whom she had grown so close with.

"No Ahsoka isn't in the order anymore, we'll need council member-," Padme continued unaware that Ahsoka was off to the side.

"No, I mean Ahsoka is right there," Lux interrupted, pointing to where Ahsoka was.

Padme looked over to her and froze for a second. A smile slowly crept onto her face and she ran over and hugged the former Togruta Jedi. "Ahsoka what are you doing here?"

"I, uh," Ahsoka said struggling to form her words, she kept looking over at Lux who was smiling warmly at her. She had never had a feeling like this come over her before.

"Ahsoka are you okay?" Asked Padme.

"Yeah, I just have a message to show you," Ahsoka explained, regaining the focus she needed for this task.

"Tell me Ahsoka," Padme said softly as she kept her hands rested on Ahsoka's shoulders.

"Anakin sent me to show you a video. But I need you to guarantee that everyone here can keep this information to themselves. It's incriminating information about the Chancellor," Ahsoka whispered.

"Ok, you can deliver this information before I address everyone. This is obviously important," Padme said as they hurried over. All eyes turned as Padme and Ahsoka made their way to the head of the table. "Members of the delegation, this is former Jedi and Grand Army Commander Ahsoka Tano. She has some important information about the Chancellor for us."

Ahsoka stood sheepishly in front of all the senators but the importance of what she was about to say overpowered any emotions of fear she might have felt. "Before the Battle of Coruscant, I was dispatched to Mandalore to capture the renegade Sith Lord, Darth Maul. During the process, we came to an understanding of each other and he provided me proof of the Sith Lord's identity."

"Is this the Sith Lord that is behind the Separatist movement," Bail Organa asked.

"Yes, but I'm afraid it's more than that," Ahsoka said, "I have a holo to show you all."

With Padme's help, she played the holo. The Senators were confused to be watching a video of Count Dooku and a hooded man that many assumed to be the Sith Lord she was referencing. Ahsoka watched as Sidious moved ever so slightly, revealing his entire face and the Senators gasped.

"Is that the Chancellor," Ahsoka heard Senator Tills ask.

She stopped the recording and faced the crowd, "Yesterday, members of the Jedi Council, Supreme Commander Skywalker, and Mandalorian Command met and discussed the legitimacy of this recording. The recording is found to be legit, and we are moving our forces against the Chancellor."

"The Clone Army will certainly take the side of the Jedi and the Senate," Padme said, "it will be easy to remove him from power."

"It's not so simple," Ahsoka sighed, "the Clones have inhibitor chips. Using executive order sixty-six, the Clones will be in a sort of trance and gun down their Jedi Generals. Without the Jedi, there will be no opposition to the Chancellor."

The Senators were shocked. They had never imagined that a situation like this was possible. Many started whispering to each other. Ahsoka saw Lux in the crowd speaking with Senator Mothma and Senator Organa.

"How are we going to combat this Ahsoka," Padme asked.

"Currently, the Jedi Council has disabled around thirty-five percent of the Clones inhibitor chips. The Clone units we control will hold their stations across the galaxy. Supreme Commander Skywalker will move his fleet to Coruscant to blockade the planet and essentially invade the capital district with other Jedi Fleets arriving soon after. Before that happens though, Anakin will deliver a speech and we will reveal the video to the public."

"So you are going to try to turn the public opinion against the Chancellor?" asked Senator Mothma.

"If we do not turn the public opinion against the Chancellor, he will make it seem as though the Jedi led an uprising against the Republic and tried to take control. He would use that as a means to wipe out the Jedi. We're going to need public support in order to win this war."

"So what can our delegation do to help?" Asked Senator Organa.

"If the war gets drawn out, we may need ships and men to bolster our fleets. Currently we have the support of the Mandalorian's and their forces, but we only have thirty-five percent of the Clone Army. We are going to need widespread support throughout the major systems for this to work."

"This completely changes everything," Senator Organa said, "this is no longer a delegation. This is a rebellion. We cannot let a Sith Lord control our government."

"When does Anakin plan on moving on the Chancellor?" Padme asked.

"Tomorrow," Ahsoka answered and she could feel the unease in the room. The Senators did not expect these revelations and when war came, they weren't sure if they were ready. Being apart of this delegation put targets on their backs.

As the delegation wrapped up and Padme went to speak with Senator Mothma and Senator Organa, Ahsoka was making her way over to the kitchen when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and was no face to face with Lux Bonteri.

"Ahsoka," he said, "I wish we could have reunited under better circumstances."

"As do I Lux," she said, she then smiled, "but when have we ever met under good circumstances."

Lux chuckled, "well I don't think Carlac was that bad."

"That was probably the worst situation," scolded Ahsoka. Carlac had been what started Lux and Ahsoka's friendship. Ever since then she had always had a special spot for the former Separatist.

Lux smiled, "but there were moments I enjoyed."

"Yeah well that single moment was just to get me to not reveal I was a Jedi in front of the Mandalorians," reminded Ahsoka.

Lux shrugged, "it doesn't have to be just that."

Ahsoka paused, "is that so?"

Lux stuttered a little bit, "I, uh, enjoyed it. I wanted to do it for a long time and I got the opportunity on Carlac."

Ahsoka was speechless. The truth was she felt the same way about Lux, but didn't pursue it because at that time she was a Jedi. But now that she was no longer a Jedi, she was free to live the way she wanted to live.

"You probably don't feel that way, but I just had to get it off my mind. Goodbye Ahsoka," Lux said, a little embarrassed. Ahsoka grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back.

"I feel the same way," Ahsoka admitted rather awkwardly. She had no experience with this sort of thing, and it felt awkward to say, but she couldn't let Lux go this time. When she saw him on Onderon, she had those feelings, but it seemed like he had moved on to Steela. She remembered how even Anakin worried about her emotions during that mission, and she had a feeling he had sensed her attraction to Lux.

Lux smiled down at her. After all the pain and loss he had experienced during this war, he was glad that he had Ahsoka. He never imagined this was how the conversation would go.

Ahsoka smiled, "Lux, I-,"

"Ahem," came a voice next to them and they both turned to find Padme standing before them.

"Senator Amidala, we were just-," Lux tried to say but Padme cut him off.

"Save it Bonteri," Padme said with a smile, "I have ears and a brain."

Not even her orange tone could hide the redness that appeared on Ahsoka's face. Leave it to Padme to call the two out. Ahsoka wasn't sure what all of this meant, but she was happy that her master sent her to Coruscant.

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As Master Yoda and Master Plo arrived back at the temple, they were met by the rest of the Jedi Council eager to hear the news of what they had discovered on their journey.

"Master Yoda, Master Plo," greeted Master Windu as they made their way down the ramp of the ship, "i'm glad to see you made it back safe and sound. What did Skywalker want?"

"Clear the hanger," Master Plo ordered. Master Windu was about to remind him that he didn't take orders like a Clone when he noticed the expression on Master Yoda's face.

He turned to his former apprentice who had returned early from a siege in the outer rim with her padawan, "Master Billaba, can you clear everyone from the hangar?" She nodded and began rounding up the Jedi within the hangar.

"Learned a lot on our journey, we did," Master Yoda said, "time to change, for the Jedi, it is."

"What do you mean?" Master Windu asked.

"Bring on balance, we must. Leaned too far to the light, we did. Struck back, the force has."

"Are you suggesting we embrace the dark side of the force," Master Windu asked, taken aback by what the Grandmaster of the order was implying.

"Use both sides, we must, but never let one side dominate us, can we," Yoda said.

"On Mandalore, we found Ahsoka Tano, Maul, Obi-Wan, and Skywalker," explained Plo-Koon, "we briefly spoke of what the balance meant. We believe that it's time for the Jedi to end, and something new to rise."

"You met with a Sith Lord and merely talked about the force," cried out Master Windu, "what has gotten into you two?"

"Not so black and white, is the force. But fighting a larger evil, we are. Discovered who the Sith Lord is, we did."

"Who," said Master Windu, now curious and deciding to let the philosophical argument wait.

"Chancellor Palpatine," answered Plo Koon grimly.

"Chancellor Palpatine is a… Sith Lord?" Master Windu asked in disbelief. "Then our worst fears have been realized."

"We made a plan on Mandalore. Footage of Skywalker will play across the galaxy explaining the situation and showing the footage we saw proving Palpatine is the Sith Lord. At that moment, Skywalker's fleet, along with the fleets of all Jedi Masters whose Clone's are loyal will appear out of hyperspace and blockade the planet. From there, it's Anakin's plan, but we do have some things we can do. For one, we have to raise the shield around the Temple and prepare for the Coruscant Guard to attack the Temple. We're going to put Master Drallig in charge of the defense. Select members of the Council will infiltrate the Senate building and meet up with Anakin and Obi-Wan when they land at the Senate building."

"Who will be arresting the Chancellor?" Master Windu asked.

"Go, you and I must," Master Yoda said to Master Windu.

"Do you think that will be enough to take down the Dark Lord of the Sith," Master Windu asked. He wasn't doubting their abilities, but they didn't know what Palpatine had up his sleeve. For all they knew, he could be more powerful than Master Yoda.

"Certain of this, I am," said Master Yoda with a new sense of determination. He had never felt stronger in his life. With his new realization of the force and the determination to protect the people he cared so much about, he was more ready than he'd ever be.

"We'll make preparations in the morning and await Skywalker's arrival," Master Windu said as they walked back to their quarters to prepare to get some sleep.

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A/N: Little bit of a short chapter to set up the next chapter. I'm excited with where this story is going. I'm having a bit of trouble with the transition into where I intend to go with this. Mainly my ideas conflict with the morals of certain major characters. Hopefully this chapter doesn't have any formatting issues.