Welcome back, friends.
As I mentioned, here is my August update. Look at me keeping my promises XD
Speaking of promises it's time to do another mailbag.
The Unlettered Writer- I do love those pesky cliffhangers, don't I? As for Luke's violation let's just say their might be more than one element to it.
RobsingtonOK- The ironies of time travel are numerous. Including the crucial saying: the more things change the more they stay the same. The timeline is altered but the trajectory seems to be going along the same path...or is it? Thank you for your support as always:)
Natman717- Not quite but you're on the right track.
MountainBookSage25- I wouldn't say Luke is in any immediate danger of turning unlike Anakin. He's had years of practice, meditation, and skill in keeping the dark side at bay. But that doesn't mean he isn't susceptible to fear or rash judgments.
DS2010- Luke certainly does have the Skywalker ability to pop off at a moment's notice haha. His temper is much more like Padme's, however, in that grave injustice is the trigger point. Anakin has an anger problem. Luke does not. But I think every single one of us has wanted to tell off the Council on our movie screens at some point haha.
edboy4926- Thank you!
ThyDevoutBeliever- You'll see ;)
Ander Arias- Thank you! It's a joy to see it become as popular as it has. I do hope that it takes that final leap at some point. And yes, I do love time travel reversals. Anakin is a Master but not on the Council. This was indeed Luke's attempt to minimize the damage but he'll find soon enough that trying to counter Palpatine is borderline impossible. He closed off one avenue but Sidious has other ways of getting what he wants. And if Luke really desires to save the galaxy, it will require sacrifice he hasn't contemplated yet. As for his violation, you'll see.
Guest- As a matter of fact, yes.
Wandering Scion- I'm glad you caught onto that opener. It was meant to show that despite Anakin's strides, the root of his problems still haven't been addressed properly. He's still ruled by fear and is vulnerable to manipulation appealing to his sensitive ego. Luke has a mind to address that. But as you pointed out, he's trying to herd cats. So many different directions, including the Senate, Order 66, etc. You'll see that stress steadily go up. As for his issues with the Council, let's just say they've only begun. Thank you again for your support!
Guest- Palpatine has his methods of getting his way even when the initial plan doesn't work out.
Avimo- Good to see a fellow New York fan among us! 3
TiaMaria710- Luke probably does need to tell someone. Whether he gets to do that or wants to do that, is another matter. You must learn patience, young padawan ;)
UnOriginal2Tall- Haha when I meant calm down, I meant...physically. I acknowledge your point about the Council. But really, there aren't any good choices to make except the least awful one. They deny Anakin the rank of Master but then put him on the Council to spy on the Chancellor? Disaster? Deny him both? Disaster. There never was unconditional trust between the Council and Anakin in the movies or the TV show. So to throw Anakin a bone is the best Luke can hope for even if Anakin still isn't emotionally stable. I thank you for your comments as always.
The Rhombus- Plans within plans? Now my own brain hurts lol. But you have rightly detected Luke's outburst will likely come back to bite him at some point. His basic problem is walking the tightrope between revealing too much and too little. Because at some point, he will have to throw caution to the wind in order to beat Palpatine. The question is, when and how to act?
Also this story has now reached 400 reviews! No small feat and I thank each and every one of you for the comments, feedback, and support.
Onwards!
"An ambassador is an honest man sent abroad to lie and intrigue for the benefit of his country."- Sir Henry Wotton.
Chapter 24. The Din of Politics
"Look alive, troopers! Today is inspection day. And I want this place to look as clean and polished as a shiny's armor. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Sarge!"
"Good. Now, hup to!"
Officially, the barracks of the 501st were known to be a place of training, sparring and continuous drills. Unofficially, it acted as a rest stop, a reprieve during those precious few rotations they found themselves with free time. A home away from home when unable to reconvene on Kamino. The men played sabacc, relaxed, and took leave to make trips into the city, which almost always meant 79s.
But on rare occasions, actual grunt work needed to be done. And the talented, handpicked men of Anakin Skywalker's battalion took after their commanding general: unorganized and chaotic.
A flurry of activity went into action as various clones mopped, washed, and tidied as best they could before ranking officers showed up. This perplexed Fives a great deal.
"Appo what's with the big fuss over a standard inspection? We've done these a million times."
Being an ARC Trooper put you outside of the usual rank and chain of command. Which allowed him to engage the First Sergeant as equals. More or less anyway.
"Because this time, the General is the one leading it and I don't want a poor performance," Appo replied with a slight hint of unease.
"General Skywalker actually cares about inspections now?"
"The other General in our legion, Hardcase," Appo corrected. "Now get back to cleaning your bunk. I can see contraband hanging over the side."
"Sir."
Fives resisted chuckling. Hardcase couldn't resist keeping a stash of pretty women tucked away. What a minor miracle it was it hadn't been confiscated by now.
"Point still remains, though. General Luke hasn't even done an inspection before," Echo noted. "He hates paperwork even more than General Skywalker."
"I don't know what to tell you," Appo said with a tired sigh. Fives did not pity the man's job. A First Sergeant always had to play the role of the bad guy. "Captain Rex offered to do it instead but the General refused to delegate. So I'm expecting you as ARC Troopers to set an example."
"We're on it."
As Appo walked off, barking away at two of the newer recruits, Fives climbed to the top of the bunk to sort out any wrinkled sheets or unfluffed pillows. Echo organized the bottom. They'd been doing it this way since both were cadets on Kamino. It brought a sense of comfort and familiarity…being the last two living members of Domino Squad created a kind of unspoken bond only they could understand.
"I guess this won't be so bad," Echo mumbled to himself as he went. "We're usually dead last in these inspections compared to other divisions in the GAR. What's the harm in keeping a clean house?"
Fives gave a small laugh. He wasn't like other soldiers in keeping all sorts of trinkets or objects from missions and the personal austerity meant he passed these sorts of things no problem even if cleaning wasn't his strong suit.
"You would see the bright side in all this."
Privately, the ARC had his own questions as to what this might be about. Jedi Generals didn't simply 'drop in' unexpectedly. In his experience, they almost never did anything without purpose or reason. General Luke was beloved and well respected by the men not only because he did things in a similar fashion to General Skywalker- leading from the front, creative military strategies- but his personal care and investment in them as individuals. Very few, if any, Jedi Generals put in the same effort. He'd been the driving force behind their emancipation after all.
Maybe he just wants to sharpen us somehow
"Attention, General on deck!"
The men finished their last second adjustments and scrambled into an organized, unmoving line at the edge of their bunks. Not a single clone moved a muscle such was their discipline. Fives shoved a lone spare boot underneath the bottom of Echo's bed which earned him a scowl but he could deal, the kriffin neat freak. No way the General saw it anyhow.
Captain Rex came through the automatic doors followed by the familiar brown robed and tunic clad figure of General Luke Ahch-To. Both wore faces of impassive neutrality, giving nothing away. Rex always looked stern but as the blond's baby blues scanned the room, Fives wondered again what the purpose of this exercise was.
"At ease," the General told them breezily.
The room visibly relaxed but perhaps a little less so than they would at target practice. An inspection was an inspection. No one wanted to be the guy caught with a soiled uniform or an unmade bed.
Rex kept a close eye on every man. Fives loved their Captain but knew that intense, steely eyed focus when it came to every man doing his duty. It was the same as it was the first time they met on the Rishi Moon.
Heh. Still got my eel to prove it
For his part, General Luke made a few stops. Checking up and down at various stations, made a few ambiguous noises of satisfaction…or perhaps dissatisfaction. It was hard to tell. He observed the right side of the barracks, then the left and said nothing.
"I'd like to see the following troopers in my office: Boomer, Del, Coric, Ridge, Kix, Tup, Hardcase, Fives, and Echo. Captain Rex will send you in as needed. Dismissed."
From across the room, Jesse shifted his eyes at Fives in a questioning manner but truth be told, he was just as puzzled as anyone else at the General's peculiar behavior. He hadn't chewed anyone out or indicated anything appeared out of the ordinary. Even Rex's mouth puckered in curiosity.
As the chatter resumed and the inspection concluded, Echo sent him a minor glare.
"Nice going, idiot. He saw the boot underneath the bed. Now we're going to have to explain to the General why our bunk was messy."
Somehow, Fives suspected he wasn't being called in about a failed inspection.
Luke Skywalker did not enjoy lying. His Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru always could tell when he broke something or failed to finish all his chores. Something in the body language he suspected. Parents knew their children well enough to know when they were hiding something.
But on a fundamental level, lies never sat well in the pit of Luke's stomach. It wasn't in his nature. Many commented in his younger years about his kind, sweet disposition. The strong moralist in him emphasized the importance of honest living. He liked being friendly and open with people.
However, the Last Jedi was no longer a precocious youth and had long learned the value of a lie. Or rather, not disclosing the whole truth. For if one sought to outwit the most cunning, intelligent Sith Lord in a thousand years, playing the game became a matter of life and death.
Which is why he'd called in a bogus inspection day. They couldn't know its true purpose: digging for any clue or sign of Order 66.
Such a deception didn't have to be sinister. On the contrary, Luke thoroughly enjoyed slinging the hash with his soldiers, trading stories, asking about their needs, mixed in with a well placed joke here and there. Which is why he let each and every one of them know from the get go they weren't in trouble. He just wanted to do a general checkup on the welfare of the men and picked troopers at random.
Well…not totally at random. Another lie. Or in this case, lack of transparency.
He made sure to pay attention to each and every detail. Boomer operated one of the RT walkers and had been part of his squadron since near the beginning of the war itself. A steady veteran and savvy mechanic to boot.
Del was a Staff Sergeant in Torrent Company who'd seen quite a bit of action. His squad had seen heavy casualties to the point where he was the only original trooper remaining. Luke sensed a heavy weariness at the loss of so many brothers and made a mental note to remind Rex to have the man given an extended vacation.
Coric had been originally part of T Company but placed in charge of a platoon in another after the battle of Umbara. Indeed, Umbara seemed to pop up quite a bit and Luke learned more and more details of the abuse inflicted by General Pong Krell. If ever a being could challenge his Jedi code of never taking life out of anger…the Besalisk was surely one who could have.
He'd seen the casualty reports and studied the tactics used. A giant mess. Especially after his father's departure. The sabotage enabled the campaign to last two weeks longer than it needed to. That they were able to take the airbase and hold it at all was something of a miracle.
Yes, all roads led back to Umbara. He could feel the scars grooved in the souls of these valiant soldiers, so brave and so loyal only to be used for evil purposes against their control. Clones were extraordinarily tough. The Kaminoans may have engineered them to be less independent than the original host, but they all inherited Jango Fett's inborn tenacity and durability. However, even the strongest of men couldn't avoid the traumas of war. Of betrayal.
Ridge. Still a private after nearly three years but unlike some of his comrades, appeared happy with that status. No underlying ambition or hankering for promotion. Content to follow orders as needed. But also kind and generous. He spoke with great difficulty about Umbara, especially the part where the 212th and 501st were deceived into attacking the other. Luke didn't press him too hard.
Tech Sergeant Hardcase needed no introduction. Jokes about the clone's growth chamber springing a leak were so commonplace, Luke accepted them as factually accurate. The first one to charge into battle and the last to retreat, chomping at the bit to light up those kriffin clankers (he had to suppress a laugh at the sheer amount of Huttese swear words he knew. A gift from his father).
"Umbara was the toughest campaign I've ever been a part of and that's saying something. But we got the job done even despite that traitor Krell."
"General Skywalker told me of your efforts to bring down the Separatist supply ship using the enemy's own fighters. That must've been quite the gauntlet."
Hardcase couldn't hide a triumphant grin.
"Not as difficult as it looked, sir. Jesse, Fives, and I learned how they worked before we took off. And General Skywalker told us the secret: hitting the ship's reactor from the inside."
Of course he told them that
"Seems like you and the General have a lot in common when it comes to blowing up giant ships."
Luke couldn't resist a laugh this time.
"Yes, the similarity is not lost on me."
"It was pretty touch and go there for a while. I had to get out of my ship and destroy the reactor manually. But Fives pulled me back just in time."
Hardcase finished regaling the story and exited soon after. Tup was next. A good soldier with a trademark man bun. Eager to please and one of the more recent additions to the 501st. Luke also knew that this was the soldier who'd first shown signs of deterioration due to complications involving the inhibitor chip and later died because of it. If there was any person who could unlock the door to discovering this despicable plot, Tup provided the key.
"How does the war treat you, Corporal?"
The clone gave a casual shrug.
"Fine, I guess. No different than anyone else I suppose. We all have our ways of dealing with it."
"Naturally," Luke said with a nod. "You'd be surprised at the methods Jedi will use to keep trauma at bay. Some are not always for the better."
"I didn't realize Jedi could be affected that way."
"We are beings with thoughts and emotions just like anyone else. I realize as your Generals, it's necessary for us to appear near invincible. But if we are susceptible to battle fatigue, so are the soldiers that live through it almost every day. You deserve that courtesy."
He could feel just how touched Tup was at the gesture. But the moment of vulnerability offered a chance for Luke to probe the soldier's mind for unusual abnormalities. Nothing violating. A light, feathery touch scanning to find aberrations, decay, a tumor, even post traumatic stress disorder- any sign of significant emotional harm.
Alas there was nothing. Whatever mental training the Kaminoans had put these men through, it held up as staunchly as a duranium wall. Far from wanting to cause any undue stress to his men, the campaign on Umbara provided an opportunity to see if the chip might be activating prematurely or if it could be triggered by a stressful or damaging event.
Having gleaned as much, Luke pressed team medic, Kix, for further information on the well being of the troops. But the clone had no reports of night terrors, combat related stress or any odd behavior. Only physical injuries and casualty numbers.
That just left Echo and Fives. Two ARC Troopers with some of the highest standing in the entire GAR. He had them both come in at the same time, figuring it easiest to kill two birds with one blaster.
Upon entry Luke immediately sensed the strong bond between. The kind shared only by those who have fought in combat together side by side for years on end. It went beyond brotherhood. He respected and cherished such camaraderie.
"Welcome, ARC Troopers. Please have a seat."
Echo looked uncertain as Fives held steady.
"Sir," the former said slowly. "We're not suffering any demerits because of an unclean station are we?"
"For Kriffs sake, Echo…"
Luke put those worries to bed straight away.
"Fear not. Officially you are here because of an unclean station-"
"I knew it-"
"-unofficially, I've called you in for another purpose."
The blond had reached the end of his limited list of options. If Umbara or post traumatic stress were out of the question, another small seed required planting.
"What do you need from us, sir?"
"Tell me, what do you know of Admiral Wilhuff Tarkin?"
The two brothers shared a quick glance which only confirmed what Luke already knew.
"Well, we actually rescued him from the Citadel believe it or not. Stealth mission into one of the most secure, dangerous Separatists prisons," Echo explained. "Captain Tarkin memorized information to secret hyperspace lanes. We couldn't risk letting that intel fall into Dooku's hands."
"And what was your impression of him?"
"Honestly, sir. Not my favorite person. A bit stuffy and more than a little arrogant."
"Yeah, try an absolute prick."
"Fives!"
"Pardon my language, sir," Fives quickly amended. "But he was constantly disrespectful to the Jedi. Complained the whole time."
"So you would not say you think of him fondly?"
"No, sir. A nasty piece of work if there ever was one. And we know he arrested General Tano on faulty evidence and tried to have her kicked out of the Jedi Order."
Luke smiled. They'd passed the first test. Anyone who thought ill of Tarkin could be trusted or at the very least, counted on to follow ethics.
"This Citadel experience sounds like it was risky business."
"An understatement, sir. We almost didn't make it. I had to drag Echo from the wreckage of the shuttle we came in on."
"You certainly like to remind everyone about that."
Luke embraced the amusement but he took note of the story and again thought back to the timeline. Everything done up to this point played a role in altering it. This new revelation baffled the time traveling Jedi. He remembered his father's Force ghost telling him of Fives' role in exposing the chips and the subsequent tragedy that occurred as a result. Echo, he vaguely recalled, had gone missing halfway through the war, turned into a lab experiment by the cruelties of the Techno Union. He'd later resurfaced as part of a Clone Force known as the 'Bad Batch' who were responsible for instigating the first real rebellion against the fledgling Empire.
Has my coming back to the past caused a ripple effect beyond the present, but the past as well?
No use dwelling on that now. Despite the importance of the past, it was the present that needed utmost attention.
Do not look back or too far ahead, came the wise words of ghost Obi-Wan Kenobi. For it is in the moment that our destinies are shaped
"Echo, Fives," he stated after ending his private deliberation. "I need your help for an even greater task."
Both clones immediately stiffened attentively.
"Name it, sir."
"There is increasing evidence of a plot by the Sith to compromise the Grand Army of the Republic."
Their shock and horror were predictable. Luke kept a stern expression to underscore the seriousness of the situation and to make the half-lie, half truth more believable.
"The Sith?"
Clones knew little of the Force but had been around Jedi long enough to know of the ancient enmity between the two organizations…and that the leader of the Separatists happened to be one.
"Unfortunately, little is known in terms of finer details. What I can tell you is that the Sith seek to use the clone troopers for galaxy wide domination. They will turn you and your brothers against the Republic…and against the Jedi."
"Criminy."
The hushed whisper from Echo and the low growl from Fives highlighted just how frightening such a prospect was to them. Luke sighed and placed his hands on the desk, fading memories of the past returning to trouble an already troubled mind.
"I've been in many conflicts. There is always a price to be paid. Not just in loss of life but peace of mind. The longer they go on, the heavier the toll is. And the reason for fighting in the first place becomes blurred…lost to the fog of war."
"What can we do, General?" Fives asked in a tone so urgent Luke thought he might rocket into the ceiling.
"As of now, I do not have the evidence to take this public. Which is why I'm counting on you two. Your mission is simple: report any oddities among the men in the 501st."
"Yes, sir." Fives paused, debating whether he wanted to ask the potent question before doing so anyway. "Do the other Jedi know about this?"
Intertwined between intrigue and truth, Luke struggled between saying too much and too little.
"This is information I've uncovered alone. Hence, this assignment is to be off record. Report to me and no one else. Not even Captain Rex. The war is at a critical juncture and it would be unwise to undermine public confidence before I'm one hundred percent certain. When the time is right, I will take it to the Council and military authorities."
That seemed to satisfy the two ARC Troopers presently as each understood the confidence their General had placed in them.
"Are there any clues we should look for? What do the Sith plan on doing?"
"To put it simply: mind control," Luke told them with no small amount of grimness. "Symptoms include high amounts of stress, unusual aggression, night terrors…hostility to the Jedi. If any of these occur, you must inform me as soon as possible."
"Yes, sir. We won't let you down."
Luke nodded and stood up to signal the end of the conversation.
"Remember. This is a mission for you two alone and it goes beyond standard protocol."
He handed them each a single fob with a blue button in the middle.
"One press of that will alert my comlink on a secure channel. Be well, gentlemen."
Echo and Five gave crisp salutes before leaving the office, leaving Luke to ponder once more the possible fallout and or benefit of his actions.
"Well Uncle Owen. I didn't lie."
Not fully anyway. Everything he'd said to them was all true: that the Sith did in fact plan on using them to take control of the government and against the Jedi against their will. But to speak of the darker details- namely who Palpatine truly was and the nature of the inhibitor chips- that would arouse too much suspicion and too many questions he could not prove without alerting Sidious.
Baby steps. They're on the lookout now.
Hopefully, they could catch Tup or any other trooper who showed signs of mental deterioration early enough to head off disaster. That would leave him and Ahsoka to focus on Padme and…
"Well, well. If it isn't the inspection master himself."
Speaking of. His father had a habit of bursting in at the most incidental times. But thankfully, the private interrogation of the 501st was over. Anakin's presence guaranteed a more jovial, energetic mood.
"Just finished it up," he said, storing away a couple of datapads in one of the cabinets.
"You know you didn't have to go through all that, right? Men are men. Sometimes barracks get messy. Just as long as we get the job done and have our priorities straight."
"Like beating my kill count?" he joked, which caused Anakin to grin unabashedly.
"Something like that."
"In all seriousness, I was happy to do it. Spend a little more time with the troops and ignore all the politics that goes on around here. Simple things do wonders for the soul."
Anakin nodded and that toothy grin shifted into a hard line of irritation.
"Don't blame you there. I assume you heard what happened at the last Council meeting."
"I did. Congratulations, by the way, Master Skywalker," he said with a short bow, which Anakin waved off.
"Save that for the Council. Truth is, they wouldn't have promoted me if it weren't for the Chancellor."
An anvil suddenly dropped straight into Luke's stomach. The stewing, boiling resentment inside Anakin Skywalker came into view as though one were looking into the base of a volcano. An already feeble trust shaken further by the earthquake of evil caused by Sheev Palpatine.
Unsalvageable? Far from it. He sensed that the damage done was not to a point of no return. Personally, he didn't care one way or the other if his father liked or disliked the Council. Fondness for those such as Mace Windu held no bearing on a person's morality. The inner compass took priority.
"But you earned it all the same."
Luke could see Anakin considering this idea behind those stormy blue eyes. Eyes which contained so much emotion it was a wonder he kept the rising tide at bay.
"They gave me that promotion reluctantly. And denied me a spot on the Council."
"Do you truly care about being on the Jedi Council? A group of beings who often make frivolous decisions to begin with?"
That gave Anakin further pause as he sputtered to explain himself.
"Yeah…I mean-no. I don't know."
"Plenty of brave and powerful Jedi Masters don't sit and never have sat on the Council. Master Unduli, Master Secura…Master Qui-Gon," he added with a refernce to the man who set him free from slavery.
"Yeah…I guess you're right. It's just, how can they look me in the eye and call me the 'Chosen One' and still not trust me?"
A fair point. One Luke agreed with. But his father's insecurities and incessant drive to prove doubters wrong was a potentially fatal flaw never properly addressed by the high minded, dogmatic Jedi Order. He placed a hand on top of Anakin's black vested shoulder and used the Force to channel gentle warmth into the body. A steady current of calm. It was a trick he'd invented when assuaging one of his students.
"Personal prestige in the grand scheme of things matters very little," he explained. "What embodies a Jedi Knight is courage, fighting on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves, compassion for life, and love."
He placed two fingers near the edge of Anakin's heart and smiled.
"You have all these attributes and more. That's what makes you a great Jedi and a good man. Go about this way every hour of your life, and the rewards will come such as you could never imagine."
Within seconds he was enveloped in a restrictive squeeze so tight, the blond thought a lung might pop (His father's strength and body considerably surpassed his own). But he didn't let go. The inner child inside Luke Skywalker cried with joy at the embrace of a father never known but ached to embrace as any son should. Unconditional love. This. This is what he'd wanted for so long…
Temporarily forgetting himself, Anakin broke away awkwardly and gave a false cough.
"I…um…I'm sorry. That was uncalled for. It's just-"
"Never apologize for being human."
Anakin stared at him for a half moment as though he were a strange fish out of water.
"What?"
"Nothing, it's just…for a second you reminded me of someone."
Luke could guess who that was but chose not to veer too close to that particular subject. Anakin's fondness for Palpatine needed to be nipped in the bud and fast.
"As for the Chancellor, something tells me his appointment wasn't purely altruistic."
Anakin frowned and crossed his arms.
"What do you mean?"
I need to tread carefully here
One wrong word. One slip up and their tender moment could be rendered moot. His father's trust in the secret Sith Lord had been built on a foundation of manipulation, affirmation, and lies. The twisted grooming of a young man all too eager to embrace everything he wanted to hear. What the Jedi refused to give.
"He had to be aware that appointing you to the Council was a breach of Jedi protocol."
"The man isn't of the Force. He doesn't know all of our rules."
Oh, father, were you really that naive?
"Palpatine is a politician. An extraordinarily powerful one whose authority increases daily. Every arena of Republic life is being brought under his thumb."
"You sound like Obi-Wan," came the impassioned defense. "And he's not just another politician. Everything he does is for the Republic. Luke, maybe you missed a lot during those years in the Unknown Regions, but this government was failing before Palpatine came along. He put things right and now we're closer to victory than ever."
Luke resisted countering with a sardonic 'You have no idea.' Instead he took a different tact. Kriff, his father saw things in very stark terms. It was the only political language he understood.
"What's the most important thing that we do as Jedi?"
"We keep the peace," Anakin answered automatically.
"Exactly. Defending the innocent from tyranny. Except that tyranny isn't just external. It comes from within as well."
"Then the Council are hypocrites," the brunette almost sneered. "You haven't been here as long as I have, Luke. You don't know how many times they've lied and schemed to get what they want."
"I don't disagree. War makes hypocrites of us all." He made a mental note to thank Bail Organa for that quote. "Especially those leading it at the highest level."
"How is the Chancellor a hypocrite? He's the only one who actually tries to keep his promises."
"The promises he made to bring peace to the Republic? Or that he would abide by term limits? Or give back his emergency powers? Ask yourself why a man who claims to love democracy so much has essentially erased any trace of it throughout the galaxy."
"Just a necessity of war," came the weak response.
"Or perhaps Palpatine is the biggest schemer of them all."
Anakin blanched but he did not grow angry or defensive. Luke could see the wheels of his mind turning for any reason to excuse the man considered to be a surrogate grandfather to him.
But before the debate could continue, Captain Rex entered the room and raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, my apologies, Generals. Am I interrupting?"
"Not at all, Rex. Just having a spirited debate," Anakin said with a good natured chuckle. "What can I do for you?"
Rex, content not to know the personal dealings of his superiors, wasted no breath and minced no words.
"Actually, it's about General Luke. He's been requested to the Executive Building by Senator Organa."
Anakin turned with a barely concealed smirk.
"So much for avoiding politics," he teased.
Luke rolled his eyes.
"Trust me, I had nothing to do with this."
"Well don't keep him waiting. See what he wants."
He gave a smile and the Skywalker men gave two respectful bows before parting.
His father, for all his simplistic reasoning at times, was right about one thing: no one could avoid the din of politics. He was the son of a Senator and the brother of another raised by one of the most prominent political families in the galaxy. The head of which he was about to meet with.
Time travel ironies never ceased.
Disappointment in politics as air is to an Alderaanian nightbird: inevitable. At least that was the common saying Bail Organa learned from his father many years prior. The Art of the Possible required skill, patience, diplomacy, and a knack for reading a room full of self interested bureaucrats. It presented a game. One that no one could win every time, but worked to perfect in the name of the common good. That's how democracy worked in action.
How sad the day should come where those lessons no longer meant anything.
"Thank you all for coming. I realize that the circumstances are not ideal and that we tread on shaky ground even broaching this topic. But we all share the same values and the same concerns."
He gazed around the room at the host of beings privy to the discussion- Tendau Bendon of Ithor, Bana Breemu of Humbarine, Giddean Danu of Kaut, Lux Bonteri of Onderon, Riyo Chuchi of Pantora, and of course Mon Mothma and Padme Amidala. The wide, expansive office symbolized luxury and pomp. The kind of easy living most Senators were accustomed to having on a constant basis.
Beneath the elegant attire and plush decorations lay a deep unease. The kind of dread that exists only when one knows they have foolishly ignored a problem too late to stave off the consequences. Luxury gave no peace here.
"Our Republic stands on a precipice. With each passing day this government becomes increasingly unrecognizable. Where there was once rule of law, there is now greed and chaos. Militarized police patrol the streets as opposed to the civil authorities. Instead of the Senate advancing legislation, we sit and approve executive orders initiated by the Chancellor. My fellow Senators, these are not the characteristics of a free society."
Nods and murmurs of agreements. Some, however, looked intimidated, no doubt wary of openly opposing Palpatine.
"Can we not hope for the Chancellor to relinquish his emergency powers once the conflict ends?" Chuchi offered with no small amount of anxiety.
Bail paced the floor slowly, wishing very much he could affirm such a statement.
"That hope appears more and more unlikely. With the banks now annexed by the executive, almost all aspects of economic, civilian, military, and political life are simultaneously under the control of one person. A person who shows little eagerness in giving that up."
"I agree," Danu concurred. "The constitution has been ripped to shreds. How many times have we willingly given away our own prerogative in favor of the Chancellor's?"
"Many among our colleagues felt that the war required drastic measures," Breemu tried to reason. "And who can argue with the results? The victory on Scipio and successful defense of Coruscant have put us in a prime position to end the Separatist threat once and for all."
Mon Mothma, ever the soft spoken ambassador for justice, narrowed her ice colored specks of blue. Her voice dripped with disdain.
"Do not pretend that our peers have enabled Palpatine out of selflessness. They know where the power lies and want to share in it."
"War profiteering is rampant. Blood money taken from the countless ruined worlds that now dot our galaxy," Bendon with a depressive note. "Those such as Orn Free Ta claim they are aiding the war effort. A pitiful excuse to line their own pockets."
"It seems that our government has become even more corrupt than it was before the war. Not less. That makes us little better than the evil we fight against."
Mon Mothma's choice of words was particularly damning but necessary to hear. Bail Organa took in all of these valid truths and tried to coalesce them into one, coherent argument. A coalition that could turn the tide in their favor.
"Your points are all well made. Which is why, ladies and gentlemen, I am proposing that we take measures while there is still time and power afforded to us."
He opened up a small holopad and out popped the Republic standard but with an added addition.
"It is the symbol of our new party. The Liberal Caucus," Organa expounded. "And the cornerstone of our platform: justice, liberty, peace, and honor. We do not seek power for power's sake but to change the lives of those we represent and love."
"Here, here," Mon Mothma said, swelling with pride. The other Senators also gave their approval even if some appeared more convinced of its merit than others.
"Very clever," Bonteri said, studying the holo symbol closely. "The stars symbolize the separation of the three branches but emphasizes the unity shared under the Republic. May I ask what the fourth star represents?"
"The people," Bail answered simply. "The forgotten casualties of this war which has already taken far too many lives."
He closed the holopad with a small *click and blew a small sigh of disappointment.
"Of course, we were failing them for far longer."
"Bail, I do not disagree with the sentiment of this new party," Chichu said with a heavy hint of caution. "But the Chancellor's supporters are far more numerous. They have at least sixty percent of the vote. Perhaps more. What can we do?"
"Realistically speaking, not much," Bail admitted. "But we can raise awareness as to what's happening. There are those sympathetic to our cause even if they do not voice dissent openly."
"And what if our efforts are cast as treason? Hampering the war effort?"
Breemu's concerns were valid. With Palpatine's popularity at an all time high, to be seen as openly against his bully pulpit would be unwise at least for the moment. But things changed fast in politics.
"Our position is pro democracy, not anti-war. We must take great pains to emphasize that. Which is why I'm proposing we file a petition in the Senate stipulating the return of the Chancellor's emergency powers."
He rubbed his goatee, a habit Breha was quick to point out when he thought deeply about something.
"That might save us from backlash but you said yourself Palpatine is unlikely to give up said power. What then is our recourse?"
Bail appreciated Mon for just these types of discussions. She often had a knack for asking the tough questions and sorting through difficult decisions. Firm without the need to be obnoxious.
"Our recourse is something I never thought possible even a month ago. The time has come to seriously consider implementing Order Sixty Five."
The room's silence spoke louder than any word or audible gasp. Everyone knew the potential consequences of such a move. Danu visibly swallowed and clasped both hands together in front of his forehead.
"Bail, that measure hasn't been used in over five centuries."
"There's a reason why it's rarely invoked," Bendon added. "Only a very special set of circumstances allow that kind of vote. They are very few and far in between."
"Who here would deny that such circumstances exist?" Mothma said with a bit of exasperation. "This is precisely why the people lost faith in us in the first place. Too much legal jargon and not enough results. Is it any wonder that Palpatine continues to amass more power?"
Breemu placed a hand on the Childralian's arm.
"Mon, please be reasonable. No one is denying the situation but to remove the Chancellor from office has almost no chance of passing." She turned back towards the Alderaniaan. "Even you must admit that, Bail."
"Normally, I would. But there are solutions to be had, my friends. There is yet one institution among us that has not fallen under the Chancellor's grip."
"Who or what would that be?"
"The Jedi."
The room erupted in a fresh argument. All except Padme who stayed quiet, which Bail thought quite odd. She hadn't said a word and seemed…tired. Lacking the typical vigor someone of her age possessed.
"Are you serious?"
"It must be done!"
"Lunacy!"
"Bail," Breemu said again in a much calmer tone with an underlying hint of anxiety. "What you suggest is akin to a coup."
"My esteemed colleagues, please listen before jumping to conclusions. I do not suggest that the Jedi should physically overthrow the government. Merely throw their own considerable weight behind our efforts."
"Their popularity has taken a serious hit ever since the Temple bombing," Bendon was quick to highlight. "It could have the opposite effect with the public."
"We do not have a mandate for anything you've mentioned thus far," Chichu added with a heavy degree of skepticism.
"Is a mandate required to save our democracy?" Mothma pushed back.
"If our actions are seen to be seen as legitimate? Yes."
"I know plenty of Jedi, personally," Lux Bonteri piped up. "They care as much as we do about the fate of the Republic. I don't see the harm in exploring their potential interest."
"You are a recent addition to our Senate, Bonteri and have yet to learn all the nuances of Coruscant. They are an apolitical organization. A religion. Self proclaimed peace keepers."
Bonteri bristled at the patronizing dress down.
"I do not need longevity to know that those such as Ahsoka Tano are friends and deserve our respect and trust. We'd be foolish to close off that avenue."
Bail decided that the arguing had gone on long enough. Reading the room, he could tell things were tense and it threatened to break them apart if petty squabbling continued to eat away at their unity.
"Senators, please," he said just loud enough to quiet the grousling. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Refocus. Who is in favor of creating a reclamation bill restoring power to the Senate?"
At least that was unanimous. Then, Padme Amidala spoke at last.
"With your permission, Senator Organa. I'd like to propose we open a dialogue with Chancellor Palpatine to see if any compromise can be reached."
Bail, doubting the effectiveness and wisdom of such a motion, did not openly speak against it. Instead, he nodded. All voices must be heard even in opposition.
"All in favor?"
Again, unanimous. Even Mon raised her hand despite guaranteed misgivings.
"I think we've accomplished what we can for today. Start placing as many feelers as you can for more allies. We'll reconvene next week."
Everyone left the room in an orderly fashion. All except Padme Amidala, who remained seated. Despite her noticeable fatigue, Bail could guess the reason she stayed behind.
"You look exhausted," he said, sitting down beside her. "May I offer you a refreshment. A biscuit, perhaps?"
"Something with caffeine," she accepted. "I'm not very hungry these days."
He ordered one of the aides to grab them something. Once beverages were in hand, the assistant left. It afforded them the opportunity to speak alone.
"Are you quite alright?"
"Yes, just a bit of fatigue and the occasional bout of nausea. I'm sure it's nothing some rest couldn't fix."
"Your health is paramount. Not the least because I need you."
Weariness crept into that youthful face normally so full of fire and passion.
"Somehow I get the feeling you are not totally on board with our plan."
"That's not it, Bail. It's just…"
She lost her train of thought, another oddity from the woman whose eloquence never ran dry.
"...Chancellor Palpatine's actions lately may seem suspect, but we owe it to him to try and talk things out."
"We've been too complacent these past three years," he reasoned back at her. "You know the man as well as I do. He can talk his way out of anything."
"I do know him, Bail. We share a home planet and he's done a great deal to help me even since the time I was an inexperienced, fourteen year old queen on Naboo. He's not an unreasonable person."
Bail studied the young woman he'd personally taken under his wing since the time of her orientation. Being a politician meant one learned the skill of parsing through the hidden meanings of words people used as a cover for their true motives.
"Is this your opinion? Or somebody else's?"
Yup, definitely influenced by a third party. The swarming doubt behind those chocolate brown orbs confirmed as much.
"I only think of the Republic. And the Jedi. Bringing them into this may not be a sound idea…"
"It was a Jedi who pointed out all the wrongs we've been ignorant of. They may be apolitical but not amoral."
"Did Luke tell you that?"
There it was. That sharp deduction Padme Amidala often employed on friends and rivals alike. No point in hiding the truth.
"Indeed it was. In fact, I've already invited him over to my private quarters to discuss further options. He can be our liaison to the Council and Master Yoda."
"Bail, you can't."
The request was even in its volume but he discerned a level of maternal protection underneath it.
"Padme…I know you've taken a liking to him but I'm going to say something to you I could not to that group back there: we need the Jedi. Luke Ahch-To has opened my eyes to the level of danger we're in and what it may take to defend our democracy. Even if it means removing Palpatine by force."
Padme finished off the last of her drink before responding, savoring the energy with relish.
"I'm not ignorant of our plight. I don't even disagree about using Order Sixty-Five but it must be done legally using our own initiative."
Bail again tried to explain his point of view.
"Diplomacy does not always work, Senator Amidala."
"Look, just please leave Luke out of this," she almost pleaded. "Let me talk to the Chancellor personally. See if I can't get him to agree on some of what we proposed today. If not…"
She stopped talking once more, the implication being enough. Bail thought the world of this woman despite her relatively young age. At the very least, he owed it to her to try.
"Alright. I'll cancel the meeting. But don't be surprised if your attempts to break ground with Palpatine end up going nowhere. I've found lately that smile he uses so disarmingly on so many is quite…perfidious."
She nodded, understanding her mission and what it entailed. Before leaving, Bail offered one more soft word of care.
"Please, Padme. Take some time to rest as well."
Feeling strong enough to stand up, she kept a tight lip on her walk back to the office. For it was precisely the love for one Jedi that would cause Padme Amidala enough pause to compromise her own principles.
"So Bail bailed on you?"
Ahsoka couldn't resist grinning at her own pun while Luke resisted the urge to use the Force to seal her mouth shut.
"Yes, I'm not sure why. He personally assured me it was a scheduling conflict. I sense the reason stems from another source."
"You're probably right."
As they walked through the docking bay amidst shouts and preparation from the 104th, Luke pondered the source of Organa's hesitance. The man was clever enough to know how to evade scrutiny. After all, he'd dodged the Empire for years while secretly forming the seeds of an organized rebellion behind the Emperor's back and in the process raised the secret daughter of Anakin Skywalker.
So there had to be another explanation.
"I'll have to contact him in some other manner," he mused. "In the meantime, don't do anything crazy on Ord Mantell."
Ahsoka suddenly stopped and spun in a 180 degree turn. Her eyes bore deep into his in a familiar manner that indicated disapproval.
"Alright what's with the face?"
"A face?" Ahsoka falsely pondered while tapping her cheek.
"It's the kind my sister Leia used to give me when she thought I was being stupid about something."
"Your sister has good sense," the Togruta said with a sly smirk. "But seriously Luke, the day has come. You said yourself the Sith were always two steps ahead. Now it's time for us to gain the advantage."
"You want me to tell the Council."
It wasn't a question.
Ahsoka opened her mouth then closed it, perusing for the right words to say on such a delicate topic. This was Luke's mission. His fight. His family. That didn't mean he had to do it alone.
"Tell Obi-Wan. Tell Master Yoda. They were your masters in the future. You share a connection with them."
"They told me I'd know the right moment to reveal myself. This doesn't feel right."
"When is there another opportunity?"
Luke debated that very same question. Yoda warned him not to expose himself unless the need was dire. He'd originally been in favor of telling the Jedi Council right away.
'But they have to be warned. It was the ignorance of Darth Sidious and his plot that caused the Jedi to be caught unawares.'
'Reveal your identity when the time is right. Until then, no one can know your true self. Remember, jeopardize your existence, it might.'
The ghosts of his future explicitly warned about the consequences of meddling with time and to let the Force be his guide. So why did it not call to him in this instance? It gave no approval or warning as it had with Sidious.
Could I just be paranoid? Have I been hanging on to my secrets for too long?
"Alright," he relented. "But only Obi-Wan and Yoda. I can show them my past in a way that would be impossible with the rest of the Council. After that, we'll go to Senator Organa and start making contingency plans."
"And then Anakin…"
"Right."
The marked hesitancy in Luke's body language struck Ahsoka as odd. Even fearful. Luke Skywalker almost never showed that emotion. It was something else. Something he'd failed to mention up to this point.
Another presence interrupted them before the conversation could be continued. She straightened at the entrance of Plo Koon.
"There you are little Soka. I see Knight Ahch-To has come to see us off."
"You know I'm not so little anymore, Master Plo," Ahsoka said with a smile. Luke could tell it was earnest but also designed to throw off any suspicion the Jedi Master might have. Of all the members of the Council, only Yoda surpassed his perception and emotional sensitivity.
"Forgive me," Koon apologized with a humble bow. "It is not easy for an old master to let go of old perceptions. Especially regarding former padawans."
"No apology, necessary," Ahsoka said with equal forbearance.
"I imagine she'll be quite tall someday," Luke added with a bit of humor granted by his future knowledge. She shot him an annoyed look in response.
"General Luke. I've also been instructed to inform you that the Council requests your presence later this evening."
He resisted looking at Ahsoka at the risk of Koon catching on to their internal workings. But their bond hummed with anticipation. Indeed, the time had come.
"Did they give a reason?" he asked politely.
"It was not revealed to me," came the cryptic response. Luke gave no physical reaction but kept his own counsel on the noticeable lack of warmth from the Kel Dor.
"In any case, I came to say that the troops are accounted for and the fleet is ready for take off. Our departure is imminent."
"Then I wish you the best," Luke said, smiling towards his friend and companion. "May the Force be with you, Ahsoka. And you Master Plo."
Ahsoka reciprocated the longstanding Jedi phrase of goodbye. Worryingly, Plo Koon did not. He merely nodded and walked off with his protege in tow.
Luke had long mastered his own tendency to overthink social interactions. Sometimes the simplest answers were exactly that. Best not to complicate meaningless interactions.
But he hadn't become Grandmaster by being stupid or unware. And as the Force gave a nasty jolt, the Last Jedi sensed there was far more to Koon's words that met the eye.
Round two with the Jedi Council might prove to be less fruitful than the first.
Alright so we have a big chapter coming up. Not necessarily in size but in impact. And guess what? It's going to be released in a week! Yes, this chapter was originally going to be much longer but I had to split it up again. Can't do another 10k word chapter so soon lol.
So expect another update in mid August and hopefully another by the end of the month as well.
Quick A/N: Some of you have wondered why Hardcase and Echo are involved in this case when one is dead and the other a lab experiment for the Techno Union. It was partially due to a personal desire to see some of my favorite clones alive and well again. Not my best choice as an author. But I realized I had to come up with an explanation. There isn't an exact science about time travel (obviously) but there is an idea that ripples in time don't merely affect the present but the past as well. There is also the idea of multiverse theory. In a nutshell: when you travel back in time, you're not actually going back in a linear fashion but to an entirely different parallel universe. Now that's not the concept I'm using, but the ripple effect is basically why Hardcase and Echo are still in the 501st.
Anyway, as always, leave those reviews! I love feedback:)
Rock on!
~The Wasp
