The Senate

Padme POV

The senate building was crowded as every possible species was there from their representative planet. Shmi, Typho, and I had been here all day listening for when they would try Anakin, when finally we had gotten into the intergalactic judiciary hearings. Since Sidious and the other Siths could not be found yet, they were going to try Anakin soon.

"This is ridiculous," I said to Typho. "The reason that they found Anakin and not the other Siths is that Anakin is not a Sith. Therefore, the force has judged him innocent. Case closed."

"You are just saying that because he is your ex-husband an-"

"He is my husband, no ex. We never got separated or divorced. I just died. We are estranged now becau-."

"Are you going to be estranged when he is sentenced?"

Angry, I looked at him in shock and I contemplated hitting him. I didn't have to because Shmi slapped him on the back of the head.

"I will not tolerate that kind of talk about my son," she said.

"Neither will I," I echoed.

Suddenly, everyone got quiet as Mas Amedda got up to call the Senate to order. Then Chancellor Valorum got up from his seat.

"Everyone, we will now hear the case of Anakin Skywalker, also known as Darth Vader, who is charged on the count of treason."

A center platform opened up, and Anakin came up with two guards flanking him. He was looking around the senate quickly, as if trying to get his bearings.

"Anakin," Shmi and I screamed at the same time.

He turned to us and winked. Then he flashed that smile he had when he was up to something. He had some confidence that he was going to get out of here, or was at least faking confidence in order to throw off the judges.

"Order," called Mas Amedda. "We shall come to Order!"

We all sat down in our seats and I clutched Anakin's necklace. It gave me strength.

"You are Darth Vader?" asked Valorum.

"I prefer Skywalker now," said Anakin.

"At any rate, they are one and the same?"

"Yes."

"You were a Jedi Knight trained by Master Kenobi."

"That's correct."

"You betrayed the Jedi for the power to rule the galaxy with the sith and then killed the Jedi?"

"No."

"No? Well then can you tell me what happened in your own words?"

There was a hush that went over the senate. Anakin looked at me and started to talk, "All my life, I could see visions of the future that would come to pass. They helped me as a slave, as a Jedi, as a pilot, and as a General in the Republic Army. When I was about nineteen, I began to see visions of the ones I loved dying, and they also came to pass. I got so desperate, I was willing to do anything to keep them alive. When I was twenty three, I became close to a man who was a Sith Lord. He told me he could teach me to stop people from dying. I believed him and I became his pupil. I did all those horrible things in the name of saving those I love. But when it was all over, my loved ones were dead, and I was a monster."

By the time Anakin was done with his explanation, I was sobbing and so was Shmi. We grabbed each other's hands and held each other tight. I remembered Anakin eyes as he explained his plan of us ruling the galaxy together after he killed Sidious. He really had become a different person and I wished with all my heart there was something I could have done to help him.

"Why did you kill your master?" asked Vallorum.

"My master's plan was to turn Luke, my son, to the dark side. I went along with it because I thought there was no hope for us. But Luke was strong like my wife, and he resisted. So my master begin to kill him. Once I realized that, it was paternal instincts, I guess."

I laughed at Anakin's paternal instincts. It was really his old self. Anakin was always self sacrificing when he needed to be. When it came time to save Luke, Anakin did not hesitate.

"Well," said Vallorum. "That is all of my questions. But is there anyone who would like to speak on Skywalkers behalf?"

Suddenly the crowd got quiet as Bail Organa manipulated his platform into the center of the arena. With a clear, commanding voice he said, "Did not the senate vote to give the chancellor emergency power and then never take them back? Did we not cheer and applaud as he called himself the Emperor of our Republic? Did we not praise Darth Vader when he killed all of the Jedi when they were declared outlaws? Did we not let our own Senate be dissolved by the Sith when we had become useless because we were corrupted? We created Sidious, yet we are surprised Sidious created Vader. I tell you the man is the making of our own doing. Let whatever be done to him, be done to me and my own family."

The crowd roared with applause as many aliens from different planets stood up and cheered for Bail and his cause. I could not believe our good luck. If Bail had really saved my husband, then I owed him my first born.

"Vote now! Vote now!" came voices all around the amphitheatre.

Valorum stood up. "I believe we will hold it to a vote." he said matter of factly.

The screen clicked on with Anakin's picture and two buttons one for guilty and one for innocent. I taped the innocent one as fast as I could, and then the screen went dark.

"Do you think we get to vote twice?" asked Shmi with tears in her eyes. I held her hand and we both just started to cry softly. I closed my eyes as everyone put their vote into the system.

"Alright Everyone" came Valorum's voice. "Anakin Skywalker the Galactic Senate has found you… innocent. You are free to go."

Shmi and I got up and hugged each other, then we raced hand in hand to Anakin.