Chapter 5 - Chancellor Sidious

DISCLAIMER: We (unfortunately) do not own Star Wars. :P

Author's Note: In which Anakin tries to avoid making Palpatine suspicious, and Ahsoka contacts them with more news... ;)

~ Amina Gila

Anakin was less than enthusiastic about going to the Chancellor's office, but as his official representative, he knows he needs to. He can't avoid Palpatine all day; that's too big a risk, especially if he is the Sith Lord. So, with great reluctance and no small amount of uncertainty, he finds himself entering the Senate, equipped with a tiny, invisible camera attached to his robes.

"I was surprised that Master Kenobi was not sent," Palpatine declares after greeting him. "We can only hope that the Council did not make a mistake. You were the best candidate for the job."

"The Council was sure of its decision," Anakin replies, shrugging slightly. "Master Windu is an excellent duelist, so I imagine that if anyone can defeat Grievous alone, he can."

The conversation is shelved when a delegation of Senators is announced. Anakin steps to the back of the room, the late afternoon sun filtering in the windows as the group enters, led by Padme. They express their misgivings, while Palpatine listens silently. Anakin doesn't even try to understand everything which they're discussing. Politics is not his forte.

"I understand your reservations completely, Senator, and I assure you the appointment of Governors will in no way compete with the duties of the Senate," the Chancellor assures Padme, smiling kindly at her.

"May I take it then, that there will be no further amendments to the Constitution?" Padme demands, her politician's mask firmly in place. She knows she might be talking to a Sith Lord, and Anakin is proud of her courage. She doesn't even bat an eye or show the slightest hint of wariness. If only he was as good as she is.

"I want this terrible conflict to end as much as you do, My Lady, and when it does, I guarantee an immediate return to democracy," Palpatine promises. The Force prickles with a warning of something, and Anakin stiffens slightly, but instantly forces himself to relax.

"You are pursuing a diplomatic solution to the war, then," Padme states, eyes narrowed.

"You must trust me to do the right things, Senator. That is why I am here," he replies firmly. His tone indicates that the conversation is at an end. Somehow, Anakin gets the impression that raising the issue right now was not the best decision, but the Force is vague as to why exactly that's the case. Much as he hates to admit it, he's beginning to think that Obi-Wan is right. If Palpatine isn't the Sith, then someone else near him is.

"But surely –" begins another Senator, cutting himself off when Palpatine looks at him. Based on his reaction, Anakin expects that he's aware of the suspicions.

"I have said I will do what is right, that should be enough for your… committee." There's nothing but finality in his voice when he speaks.

Padme gives Anakin a look which is equal parts frustrated and concerned before she speaks again. "On behalf of the Delegation of Two Thousand, I thank you, Chancellor."

"I thank you for bringing this to my attention, Senator," he replies kindly as the Senators make their way out of his office. Anakin tries to keep his senses as open as possible without tipping off the Sith, but though they're tingling with warning – which come to think of it might not be all that unusual when he's with Palpatine. Strange – he can't sense anything specific. It's completely aggravating. He wishes the Force could give more helpful advice sometimes.

"Their sincerity is to be admired, although I sense there is more to their request than they are telling us," the Chancellor murmurs after they're gone.

Anakin frowns, the warnings growing louder. "What do you mean?"

"They are not to be trusted," Palpatine elaborates.

"Senator Amidala can be trusted," Anakin states with complete conviction. The Force pushed him to entrust the truth to Padme, and he's glad he did. He knows he could never do this alone.

"These are unstable times for the Republic, Anakin. Some see instability as an opportunity. Senator Amidala is hiding something. I can see it in her eyes," Palpatine replies, unaffectedly. There's true concern in his eyes as he looks at Anakin. He means every word he says, and that disturbs Anakin further. Does he somehow suspect that they think he's a Sith?

"You're mistaken." Anakin tries to effuse his words with as much certainty as he can muster. He knows Padme isn't hiding anything, at least not from him. "Her and I are friends, and she would not hide something dangerous from me."

"I'm surprised your Jedi insights are not more sensitive to such things," the Chancellor frowns.

Anakin shakes his head. "If she was untrustworthy, I would be the first to know," he answers. The Force whispers something inaudible, but Anakin feels as though it's trying to pull him away from Palpatine, and he wants to resist it. Dangerous, it hisses, and a shiver runs down his spine. Is this his paranoia, or is he really picking up on the Dark Side?

Palpatine scrutinizes him silently for a moment. "I think you know the truth, but you don't want to admit it," he states finally. He's talking about Padme, but somehow, Anakin's first thought isn't about her, it's about him, and that sends a cold tremor of fear skating through his body.

For the first time, he thinks that Obi-Wan is right, that Palpatine is Sidious, and it hurts, maybe far more than it should, but he'd respected and looked up to the Chancellor. And it was all a lie. It was all to get Anakin to become a Sith. Now that he can recognize that, he can state with conviction that he will not Fall. No matter what happens, he won't leave Obi-Wan, Padme, their children, and Ahsoka. He'll accept whatever fate the Council delivers to him, but he won't turn against the Jedi, even if they've never been fair to him.

He leaves the office shortly thereafter when Obi-Wan comms him, asking him to return to the Temple. He tells his former master what he'd felt when there, and Obi-Wan seems even more worried than before. "I won't Fall, Obi-Wan, I promise," Anakin tells him fervently, and his best friend smiles at him warmly.

"I know you won't," he answers, and there's so much faith in his voice that Anakin is momentarily overwhelmed at Obi-Wan's complete trust in him.

While Anakin was at the Senate, Obi-Wan had filled in the rest of the Council about their suspicions. No one was surprised at the possibility that the Chancellor is a Sith, but they aren't sure how to deal with the situation if he is, so they decide to wait until Windu has defeated Grievous; he's already tracked down the droid general.

Ahsoka is waiting when Anakin arrives at the comm center with Obi-Wan. Yoda and Mundi are there via hologram as well. "I understand your mission was a success," Obi-Wan says to her as they step into the transmission area.

"Yes, I have Maul in custody," Ahsoka informs them. Though she's obviously relieved and pleased by her accomplishments, Anakin can sense an underlying tension. "I will escort Commander Rex when he delivers him to Coruscant."

"A great service to the Republic, you have done," Yoda praises.

"I did my duty as a citizen," Ahsoka answers.

"Not as a Jedi?" the Grandmaster questions.

"No. Not yet." There's something in her tone, something just below the surface, something she's not saying. Her gaze focuses on Anakin, and he sees a flicker of hope in them. "When I return, I wish to speak with you, General Skywalker."

"Of course," Anakin answers automatically. "Anytime you want."

"I have something of crucial importance to tell the Council." Now, her expression is filled with concern. "I – I spoke to Maul during our duel, and he told me that he had started the war on Mandalore with the sole purpose of luring Master Kenobi and Master Skywalker there. He – he confirmed that his master, Darth Sidious is Chancellor Palpatine."

Anakin can feel himself paling, the denials screaming in his mind, even as Ahsoka continues. "Maul said that Anakin has been being groomed to become the next apprentice of Sidious, and because of that, he wanted to kill Anakin to avenge himself upon Sidious."

The room is completely silent, and Anakin can almost feel the worry, the concern, the sorrow echoing in the air around them. Everyone is subdued at the news. "We have to arrest him," Anakin whispers. "We have to stop him. There's no way that he made his plans contingent on whether or not I would Fall. He – he must have other ways… Even if I Fell, there's no way I could destroy the Order even if I wanted to." He stops talking, unable to contemplate the reality that he nearly stepped into. It's a horrible, chilling realization that he could have become the very thing he'd sworn to destroy.

"Tread with caution we must," Yoda decides finally, and Anakin can't remember ever seeing the Grandmaster look so weary and discouraged. "When destroys General Grievous, Master Windu does ask the Chancellor to surrender his power we must. Refuse he likely will, so prepared for a fight you must be."

Anakin exchanges a look with Obi-Wan. There aren't many masters who are expert duelists aside from the two of them. Shaak Ti is in the Temple though, so they can bring her. Maybe Fisto, Tiin, or Kolar could come as well. Anakin almost regrets that Windu was sent to Utapau. He's not terribly fond of the Council member, but his abilities are to be admired. Well, they'll be ready. They have to be. The Republic depends on it.