Obi-Wan watched Anakin pacing around the apartment.
"Please don't wear a path in the ground. I would very much enjoy getting the deposit back on the apartment one day," Obi-Wan commented.
Anakin shot him a look, "I'm sorry. I have nervous energy."
"Have you tried meditating?"
"I doubt that will help," Anakin huffed.
"Well, you can't speed up time just by walking quickly back and forth across our floor. That isn't how that works," Obi-Wan reminded him, "We have to wait for Rex, and you still have time before you have to meet Palpatine."
"I just... wasn't expecting it to happen today," Anakin explained, collapsing on the couch. He ran a hand through his hair as he looked at the ceiling before sitting up to face Obi-Wan. "The phone call came out of nowhere. I was simply waiting for you to return with Padmé and they just dropped this bomb on me."
Obi-Wan blinked, "Poor choice of words."
"Sorry," Anakin winced, "I heard it as soon as I said it."
"Sit in lotus," Obi-Wan instructed.
"But-"
"Sit in lotus," Obi-Wan repeated, raising a brow at Anakin.
Anakin sighed and complied. "Now what?"
"Close your eyes."
Anakin rolled them first.
"You can't worry about this meeting. If you keep getting worked up about it, you'll slip up. This isn't the time to be making mistakes. I need you to let go of your fears," Obi-Wan said evenly. "Breathe in the positive energy of the universe, and expel the negative fear and doubt that could cloud your judgment."
Obi-Wan watched as the tension in Anakin's shoulders slowly started to recede into a slump the more he breathed. "Better?"
"Better," Anakin nodded as he opened his eyes.
"Good," Obi-Wan smiled.
A knock sounded at the door and the brothers shared a look before Obi-Wan got up to answer it. Rex was on the other side, holding up a case.
"Are we ready to do this?" Rex asked, looking between the two of them.
"As we'll ever be," Obi-Wan replied for both of them.
"Tape me up, Captain," Anakin smirked.
"Only if you agree to never say that again," Rex said as he placed the case on the kitchen island and opened it.
Anakin stripped off his shirt, holding his arms out to the side so that Rex could tape everything down where it needed to be.
"Do you have layers?" Rex asked.
"Yeah," Anakin replied.
"Good. Wear a few of them so that the fabric conceals the recorder," Rex said as he placed batteries into the recorder and attached it to Anakin.
"Are you sure this is safe, Rex?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Kenobi, you're trying to get a crime boss to incriminate himself and get out without suspicion. Nothing about this is safe," Rex laughed.
Anakin pulled his shirt back on before throwing on a sweatshirt. "Well, I guess I should head over."
"We'll be in a hotel down the street," Rex told him.
"Romantic evening in, Captain?" Obi-Wan winked.
"You wish," Rex said, rolling his eyes.
Anakin took a deep breath before giving them a salute and heading out.
To avoid raising suspicion, Rex and Obi-Wan waited fifteen minutes before leaving separately to get to their headquarters. By the time they got to the hotel, Anakin had been waiting in the warehouse. The view from the recorder showed the decrepit containers littered around the warehouse.
"I'm getting nervous," Anakin murmured.
Obi-Wan sighed, "I wish I could be there with him."
"He'll be fine," Rex reassured him.
"No need to be nervous, my boy," a smarmy voice said as the owner walked into the room.
"Mayor? You're Sidious?" Anakin asked, faking surprise.
"Of course. Only someone as capable as uniting a community as I am could manage to control all these underworld ruffians," Palpatine said, practically spitting the word ruffians.
"But, how? Doesn't this go against everything you work for?" Anakin asked in confusion.
"Please, my boy, I'm a politician. We all only work for one thing, and that is power," Palpatine grinned, "After this next election, I'll have even more power to control the state, from then, perhaps the country."
"If you're so powerful then why do you need me?" Anakin asked.
"Even the most powerful people cannot enforce that power. I need other, capable, people to work for me."
"People like me," Anakin said slowly. "What would I get out of this, though?"
"Power, wealth... you name it, my boy, and it is yours. Aren't you tired of always living in your brother's shadow? Of never being taken seriously for the brilliant mind that you are?" Palpatine said, circling Anakin.
"He never takes me seriously," Anakin sighed.
Obi-Wan winced, hearing the words come over the channel.
"He's just stalling," Rex reminded him. "He doesn't mean it."
"Not anymore," Obi-Wan said, "But I know the words were rooted in truth once."
"Maybe that girl of yours will finally see you as a viable option," Palpatine added. "After all, you could get her places. If you stick with me, I'll make sure Ms. Amidala gets a prominent place in my entourage. She'll have no trouble climbing the ladder after that."
"You make a tempting offer," Anakin admitted. "How do you know you won't get caught?"
"Oh, I'm too good to get caught," Palpatine cackled, "I've been working under their noses for years. I own so many properties through a shell corporation to launder money for my own use. None of it can be traced back to me." He paused to lean in conspiratorially, "If they were to really pull the string, it would just lead them back to Dooku."
"So you've fooled the city. How do you fool the criminals?" Anakin asked in awe. "I'm sure they don't take orders from just anyone."
"Oh, I've simply bankrupted their businesses and bought them out. They have nowhere else to go. Their territory is all mine. If they wish to continue doing their business, I told them they may, provided they understand that they are under new management," Palpatine smirked. "So, what do you say, my boy? Are you in?"
Anakin took a deep breath before holding out his hand, "I'm in."
"Good," Palpatine smiled. "I can see this being a wonderful partnership. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an election to win and a speech to prepare."
"You're so confident that you'll win?" Anakin asked.
"My boy, I never leave things to chance. I know I'll win," Palpatine said seriously. "I'll be in touch. You've shown great promise."
Anakin nodded, watching as the other man left before collapsing against a crate and letting out a breath of relief.
Obi-Wan looked at Rex. "Did we get what we needed?"
"More than enough," Rex nodded. "Now, get out of here. He'll need you."
Obi-Wan nodded and left to go meet Anakin back at the apartment. He got there first, settling on the couch with two beers waiting. He flicked on the news and listened to the election totals roll in.
Anakin eventually got home and flopped onto the couch.
Obi-Wan handed him a beer. "You did good."
Anakin took it and took a swig, "I thought I wasn't old enough."
"It's an exception. Don't get used to it," Obi-Wan smirked.
"At least it's over," Anakin smirked, clinking his bottle against Obi-Wan's. The two of them chuckled in disbelief before turning back to the news on the screen.
The news room was in a commotion as the results came in. Palpatine won the race for governor.
