A/N — Not much to say about this chapter other than that it's a two parter. I debated between putting up a triple-length chapter for the climax but decided 9000 words was too much in one go. So part 2 will come in two days. That's a promise.
Chapter XIII: End of the War, Part 1
•
"Why would you kidnap a Jedi Padawan?" Mace Windu asked him.
"I didn't kidnap her," Obi-Wan calmly replied. "Ventress did."
"Don't play games with me," Mace said darkly. "We know you're the rogue Jedi that ordered Ventress to do it. Why?"
"Know?"
"Master Qui-Gon Jinn has awakened from his coma," Mace reluctantly revealed.
"You have my congratulations," Obi-Wan said.
"He has revealed that the Force presence of the rogue Jedi he felt was yours."
"I see."
"You don't deny the accusation," Mace observed.
"Would a denial convince the Council?" Obi-Wan asked.
"No," Mace admitted shortly.
"Then you have your answer, though for the record I deny being a rogue Jedi."
Mace peered at him shrewdly. "Unfortunately for you I've been around Qui-Gon my whole life — to say nothing of Dooku — and those sorts of verbal tricks won't avail you of anything. Do you deny that you were present during this incident? And if you are not a rogue Jedi, what are you?" His eyes narrowed. "A Sith?"
Obi-Wan sat in silence for a moment. "What are you hoping to get from this, Mace?" he asked.
"A deflection," Mace pointed out.
Obi-Wan gestured. "I am a politician. It comes with the territory."
"So I've found," Mace observed dryly.
"The question was still valid," Obi-Wan said. "We both know that no matter what I am or am not this questioning will go nowhere, and not for the least reason that you can't hold me here. As far as I'm concerned, I'm indulging the questioning and imposing on the hospitality of friends." He paused. "After all, it would not be wise for the Jedi to arrest a Senator."
"Are you threatening the Order?" Mace asked sharply.
"Of course not," Obi-Wan replied. "You take everything in the worst way, Mace. It was merely an observation."
"The Jedi Order has full jurisdiction over all who are with the Force."
"The Order is also beholden to the Senate. From that perspective, arresting a Senator on your own authority might be seen as an… usurpation. You should thank me; I've saved your Order the political nightmare of arresting a Senator, presuming you release me soon."
"Your Order? Do you hear yourself, Obi-Wan? You were always one of us."
Obi-Wan's visage lost much of its warmth. "Were. I was one of you. It was not my choice to change that, but things are as they are."
Mace reclined slowly, and Obi-Wan knew he had caught the man by surprise. "How long have you felt this way?"
"You know exactly how long, Mace."
"But you've always been a friend to the Order," the Jedi prodded.
"I have, and I am still acting as one now, but you refuse to listen to me. Arresting a Senator will have repercussions beyond what you realize. And that's not"–– he said, holding up a hand to forestall Mace, who had opened his mouth ––"a threat but a simple reality. Terrorists attacked the Jedi Order, Mace, and did you see it was not uncommon to see a smile at the news?"
"So you've said, yet the facts remain," Mace stated, unwavering.
Obi-Wan sighed and passed a hand over his eyes. "I'm not the Sith Lord you've been looking for. You know there are only two, and do you seriously expect Dooku to bow to me? Do you think he came to Coruscant to fight me so we could reveal ourselves to Qui-Gon and Anakin?"
"It isn't impossible Dooku replaced the Sith Master of Darth Maul and that you are his Apprentice," the Jedi Master pointed out. "Perhaps you rebelled. Treachery is the way of the Sith."
"You know that's not the case. What sense would that make for a thousand-year revenge plan? You have yet to even feel the dark side in me."
"No," Mace admitted with great and obvious reluctance, "we haven't felt it, but as we have learned at great pain the dark side is not so easy to detect as it once was."
"So what do you plan to do? You won't believe a thing I say. I could tell you who the Sith Master is right now and not a thing would change. Your arrogance blinds you, and not even our friendship seems to sway you."
"Really?" Mace replied, unimpressed with the gamble. "Try me."
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. "The Sith Master is Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, of course."
"You're right," Mace replied. "I don't believe you. How could you know, if you yourself are not a Sith? It is impossible such a powerful Sith Lord could have been put in power under the watch of the Jedi. Even Master Yoda can sense no Force ability in the man. It's a poor lie." He folded his hands. "So what do you intend to prove with this, Obi-Wan?"
Obi-Wan shrugged. "What reason do I have to lie?"
"I don't know what your reasons are anymore," Mace replied, sadly. "It seems I never knew you at all."
Obi-Wan sat placidly, not showing how the comment hurt him. "So where does this leave us? All my merit and virtue has been made as nothing, so nothing I can say one way or another will convince you, lie or truth. It seems you and the Council have made up your minds already about what I am and what I must be, and merely wish me to go through the formality of acknowledging the veracity of your assessment. Would confessing my evil Sithly nature really satisfy you, Mace?" he asked. Mace didn't react. "Despite this, you have no evidence but the affirmation of one particularly mercurial Jedi Master, one with an emotional attachment to me, and that pointing to nothing but an unpleasant association or trifling complicity."
"The kidnapping of a Padawan is hardly a trifling complicity," Mace said scornfully. "And unfortunately for you such affirmation is all the Order needs."
"But not all the Senate and people will need to be satisfied," Obi-Wan said as Mace left the cell.
•
How had things become this way? When did everything stop making sense? He didn't know. This was supposed to be everything he had ever wanted. The war was coming to an end, his time when he could start a family with Padmé in peace was drawing closer, he was on the verge of being granted the rank of Jedi Master, and he was the most revered man in the Republic. So how was it that he was close to losing everything? His master, his wife, his apprentice, his place, his men, now his best friend… maybe even himself… maybe more…
Palpatine.
Chancellor Palpatine.
He still had trouble believing it.
His friend of ten years, his confidant and counsellor, the man who he thought had always wanted the best for him… was a Sith Lord. The Sith Lord. The same Sith Lord who was behind everything. Behind the war, behind Dooku, behind the Separatists… Just what else was he responsible for? What further deceptions and evils could he be behind? Was there a limit to the man who had deceived him so thoroughly as to think him completely and utterly deaf to the Force for ten years? Or was it an over-eager imagination, which saw Sith machinations behind everything, even the most natural and inevitable of events?
And the worst part of all was that he couldn't tell anyone.
What would he even say? Anakin wondered. 'Oh, by the way, the Supreme Chancellor is a Sith Lord.' 'How do you know this?' they would ask. 'Oh,' Anakin would reply, 'another Sith Lord hidden in the Senate told me. Could you arrest him now, please?' Yeah, that seemed like it'd go real well. No, until Palpatine revealed himself, Anakin could not tell a soul about his supposed friend's real identity…
And if he did reveal himself…
Did Anakin even want to?
Palpatine was his friend, just like Obi-Wan, and maybe he had manipulated, deceived, and coerced Anakin more than Obi-Wan ever had, but perhaps–––
"Anakin," a voice interrupted his thoughts, and Anakin glanced up to see the tired but smiling form of his old master, Qui-Gon, leaning on a cane. "May I come in?" he asked, gesturing to the doorway to Anakin's quarters in which he was standing.
"Oh," Anakin said. "Of course, I was just–––"
"Brooding?" Qui-Gon asked. Anakin scowled. It had been days since Obi-Wan's arrest and he hadn't been able to look at his former master. He couldn't exactly blame the man for turning in Obi-Wan, but that didn't stop a little (okay, large) part of him resenting Qui-Gon for putting the Order above loyalty; if not to Obi-Wan then at least to Anakin himself. He'd lost nearly everything, and yet Qui-Gon had ripped away one of his few remaining supports. He'd been so worried over Qui-Gon's survival — now, he realized, from an attack by Palpatine, and oh how that made his blood burn — and yet now that the man was standing before him the relief was mixed with bitterness.
"Meditating," Anakin said shortly in response, and Qui-Gon's smile faltered.
"Anakin," he said, putting a hand on the man's shoulder. "I know it's been hard…"
"Do you?" Anakin snapped. "My whole life is in shambles, so don't patronize me like I'm a child."
"Then stop acting like one," Qui-Gon said calmly. "This is some way to greet your old master just out of a coma."
Anakin grimaced. For so long he had worried about his old master dying, but now that he was here? It brought back everything the shadow of Qui-Gon's looming mortality had hidden. The two of them had always butted heads, and though Qui-Gon had been the father Anakin had never known in many ways, in many other ways he fell far short. And that was merely Qui-Gon's Jedi commitment failing Anakin, not Qui-Gon's numerous other, non-Jedi idiosyncrasies. Qui-Gon was a reformer, but he wasn't Anakin's reformer.
And for all that he was a maverick, Anakin doubted even Qui-Gon would accept his creeping doubts about the teachings of the Order.
Doubts that were becoming ever harder to rationalize away.
Qui-Gon finally broke the awkward pause. Maybe, Anakin thought with some cynical hope, he was finally starting to see Anakin wasn't a foolish boy anymore, prone to brooding and unreasonableness, and start taking him seriously. "The Council has requested to see you, my very surly former padawan." Or maybe not.
Anakin furrowed his brow. "What could they want to see me for? Is it about Obi-Wan?"
Qui-Gon's expression shuttered, but a moment later a playful smile returned, even if it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Don't tell anyone where you heard it, but there's a rumor you are being put on the Council."
"Qui-Gon, I'm not really in the mood for jokes," Anakin grumbled.
"It's no joke, my former padawan," Qui-Gon replied with a mischievous smile.
Anakin rolled his eyes but stood up. "Has there been a shortage of stuffy old masters I didn't hear about?" Qui-Gon shook his head exasperatedly. "What?" Anakin asked with a slow grin. "I'm serious."
Yet even as he smiled and followed his old master, Anakin couldn't quite forget the feeling of foreboding in his heart.
•
Obi-Wan sat in his cell, eyes closed and mind far away from the cramped conditions and dozen armed Jedi Knight-guards. While getting imprisoned in a Force-suppressing cell was a setback and certainly not something he had planned on happening, all things considered it could play into his plans. He had been allowed visits, and his Senatorial aides had informed him that the Senate was in chaos over what was being denounced as a blatant overstep of Jedi authority, which was no surprise. Some were even calling it a coup or a Jedi insurrection. Even less of a surprise was Palpatine playing it up, and though he was to all appearances a man playing the part of neutral moderator there was no doubt the Jedi were coming off the worst in the debacle.
He had also been told the Separatists were in shambles. Count Dooku had disappeared after his final battle with Anakin, a fight that only Anakin, Palpatine, and Dooku knew the full details of, and now the fledgling Confederacy was a husk held together by an army under the leadership of the rogue General Grievous. In fact it was being reported that Dooku was dead, but wherever he was — maimed and disfigured by Anakin — it was clear he was not part of the Sith plan anymore. No, Palpatine's plans were coming to fruition. All the pieces were in place…
All except Anakin.
Obi-Wan breathed deeply, descending far into the trance, before reaching out around the suppression of the cell.
•
"Ah, Anakin," Supreme Chancellor Palpatine greeted with a smile, "please, come in, my boy." Anakin shuffled inside the Chancellor's office awkwardly, taking the offered seat and sipping quietly at the tea a servant had set out in front of them, while Palpatine stared at him tiredly and concernedly. "I must say, I was glad to hear of your master's recovery. I understand his survival was in some doubt."
Anakin reflexively clenched at his cup. "Thank you," he grit out. "No one's happier about it than me."
Those old, familiar blue eyes were staring at him, and Anakin could see nothing but a friendly, almost parental concern in them. Could this man really be the ruthless Sith Lord that had done so much evil? "If I may," Palpatine started, "are you quite alright?" He chuckled, with a hint of self-consciousness about the gesture. "You just don't seem like yourself, my boy."
Anakin worked his jaw. "Fine," he replied shortly.
Palpatine clucked disapprovingly. "Now I'm quite sure that isn't true. You've been through quite a lot, and with the Jedi Council's horrendous request after all of that… Well, I can certainly see why you've been overwhelmed."
Anakin forced himself not to say anything. He already regretted letting slip the Council asking him to spy on Palpatine, but the man had just known. He wasn't any good at keeping secrets like that!
When he didn't seem to be forthcoming, Palpatine continued. "I understand this is a lot for everyone, but the War will finally be over soon. Please, Anakin, if there's anything at all I can do to help you get past these," he waved his hand airily, "little hurdles, you have but to name it. I can't have my best man not make it to the finish line, you know," he said teasingly.
"No, nothing," Anakin replied, trying to focus on the tea. "I'm just under a lot of stress."
Palpatine smiled at him reassuringly. "Would that I had the energies of youth like you, my boy," he chuckled. "I don't think I could have survived everything you've been through. Sometimes I wonder how you cope." When Anakin didn't answer, instead working his jaw, the other man took the opportunity to continue. "Still, we mustn't let ourselves focus on the negatives; despite it all, you do still have your wife, do you not? How is dear Padmé?"
Dammit, but how did the man know? Anakin knew, knew the man was not in his head, and yet somehow he knew. He took too long in answering. "She's still fine."
Palpatine's mouth quirked into an expression of concern. "Still? Forgive me, but…" he made a show of considering his words, "would it be wrong of me to ask whether you mean to tell me your… Jedi powers have given you… premonitions of some kind?" His eyes were searching. "I know little about the Force, but…" Liar!
"It's nothing," Anakin muttered. "Just nightmares."
"Yet they trouble you," Palpatine observed. "Please, Anakin, you are being so reticent with me. Am I not your friend? I only wish to help you, to unburden you. I know that you have had so many supports ripped away in a short time: please do not isolate yourself this way. It would break my heart." I'll break your heart, Anakin fumed. Then he felt guilty. Maybe Palpatine really did mean well. Sure, maybe he was a Sith Lord, but so was Obi-Wan. Palpatine had been his friend for ten years. Did that mean nothing?
"It's just…" Anakin began reluctantly. "Padmé is pregnant and I… I see her…" He choked. "I see her dying. I don't know how." He shook himself. "They're just nightmares."
"Are you quite sure?" When Anakin didn't answer, Palpatine gazed at him penetratingly. "You are troubled by more than just these nightmares, I sense."
Anakin looked sharply at him. "You sense?" he almost demanded, then internally rebuked himself.
Palpatine smiled enigmatically. "Merely a turn of phrase, my boy."
Suddenly it was all too much. "Excuse me," Anakin said hurriedly.
"But Anakin, you've only just arrived!" Palpatine exclaimed, all personal concern. "Are you feeling quite alright?"
"Fine!" Anakin cried, "I just have to go. Excuse me!"
"Well, please do return," Palpatine replied, sounding put out and wounded. "I do so enjoy the time we have together."
•
The chamber of the Jedi High Council was somber, as befitted the dark matters they were discussing. Amidst the other eleven, Anakin felt distinctly out of place, but this time it wasn't because of his junior status. Listening to the supposed wisest masters of the Jedi Order debate, Anakin could only ponder at how far the wisdom and insight of the Jedi had fallen. Alone among them all did he have a clear perception of what was going on, and that was merely because he knew events were afoot far beyond what any of them could deal with. It was as if he was the only one in the chamber able to recognize the sense of impending doom for what it was.
"The Senate is becoming completely uncooperative. They demand the release of Senator Kenobi unconditionally now," Master Unduli was saying, hologram flickering. She and Master Yoda were stationed on Kashyyyk and the battle was affecting the connection badly.
"Politicians have no say in Jedi matters," Windu immediately retorted.
"We have held him for months with nothing to show for it," Master Koon replied. "Obi-Wan has always been a staunch friend of the Order. Trained by a rogue Jedi or not, we have never had any cause to fear him before Master Jinn's revelation."
"Are we sure Qui-Gon sensed correctly?" Unduli asked.
"Doubt there is not," Yoda suddenly interjected. "Trained, young Obi-Wan has been. Started on the dark path, perhaps, yes. No longer a Jedi is he. Dominate his destiny, the dark side does."
"With respect, master," Unduli pressed, "while that may be true, and on the Jedi path he may not be, do we know for sure he worked with Ventress to kidnap my padawan?" There was silence and she looked around. There was no answer. She continued. "Then why do we keep him? Are we not to consider the future of our Order with the Republic? The Senate is threatening to disband us. We are in peril."
"Surely you are not suggesting we release a Sith Lord," Master Mundi asked, all surprise. "Merely for political expediency? The Order is an ally of the Republic; we are above such political games."
"No," Master Ti said unexpectedly. "She is suggesting we release a friend of our Order to avoid a split between the Order and the Republic. Such a thing would be disastrous. Surely you must realize this, Ki-Adi."
Mundi inclined his head. "Do any of us doubt he is a Sith Lord, however?"
"I have not seen anything to convince me," Koon said. "Hard has been his life, and his darkness — which I maintain is small — is therefore to be expected, but a Sith Lord? There are only two. Do we really suppose he can be the mastermind behind this war, this Darth Tyranus? If we believed he was a Sith Lord, why have we sent Masters Yoda and Unduli to Kashyyyk to lure out this mysterious Sith Master?"
The discussion continued in this way for some time, with little change of opinion. Anakin for his part said nothing and was called on to say nothing. The fate of his friend lay in the balance, and he was powerless to affect it. Eventually it was agreed that while Obi-Wan could not be proven to be a Sith Lord and danger to the Republic and Jedi Order he was still to be imprisoned for the remainder of the War, depending on the situation with the Senate. This was to the general dissatisfaction of all.
Finally they came to matters of the War. Anakin stood. "The Chancellor's spies have confirmed that General Grievous and the Separatist Council have fled to Utapau," he said. "A partial message was intercepted in a diplomatic package from their ruling council."
"Hmm," Yoda hummed. "Certain, this is?"
"Yes, master."
"Act on this, then, we must. A decisive stroke we can make, to end the war, if seize this opportunity we do."
It was his moment, but Anakin felt his throat suddenly close up. Though it was an honor and something he should be doing, something he was capable of, something he was the best pick for, he knew he couldn't leave Coruscant just yet. "The Chancellor has nominated me to lead this assault," he finally stated.
"The Council will make its own decisions in the execution of the war," Windu immediately replied, and Anakin felt doubt creep in. The Jedi were tasked with carrying out the War, yes, but the Supreme Chancellor was, ultimately, the head commander of the GAR. Why did the Council seem intent on keeping as much power as possible away from him and the Senate? Yes, they were worried about the power of the Chancellor, but did that count for the Senate too? Where were the democratic institutions everyone was supposed to be protecting? Was there really any difference between the Chancellor amassing power and stepping beyond his bounds and the Council doing it? Yes, Palpatine was the Sith Master, but only Anakin knew that, so what reason could the rest of the Council have to justify it? Could they even be acting in the interests of the Republic anymore?
"If this is truly to end the war the situation must be handled with delicacy," Mundi put in. Anakin took that to mean he was being ruled out for the job.
"But we cannot spare Master Windu or Master Yoda to defeat Grievous," Master Kolar said, confirming Anakin's thought. "If we do lure the Sith Master out, we shall need Master Windu here. Who else is capable?"
"Master Fisto," Master Tinn spoke up, looking towards the Nautolan Jedi. "You have defeated Grievous in combat before, have you not?"
Fisto inclined his head. "Once, when he was far less formidable, and he escaped. I do not know that I could capture him."
"Perhaps if Skywalker accompanied you," Koon suggested. "His skills against Grievous have not been measured, but he has proven himself the equal of Dooku, though the man was not what he once was. Between the two of you we may succeed in capturing Grievous and ending the war."
Anakin needed to step in. "I'm honored, master, but I believe my duties would prevent me."
Windu frowned in surprise. "I agree," he said after a minute. "Skywalker is integral to our maintaining the stability of the Republic here."
"Perhaps Master Ti then," Master Allie spoke. "She is one of the few to have survived Grievous multiple times and she is one of our most capable lightsaber masters."
Seeing the general agreement across the Council, Shaak Ti bowed her head. "As you will, masters," she murmured. "Master Fisto and I will begin coordinating the assault immediately."
Last edited: 2021/6