Strange World • New World by TruView
Brief Note by The FanFiction Writer of this story: In this accounting of events, Anakin experiences being uncomfortably grilled by his erstwhile mentor in front of what is likely to be his life-long rival a Chiss Admiral, Mitth'raw'Nuruodo a.k.a. Thrawn. The sensation is not a novelty, but it is rare. T
Star Wars_The Darkside III_Debriefing (Anakin)
[In the private chambers of the Chancellor, Anakin learns a thing or two about talent]
So I'm trying to look like I'm not trying but I can't tell how far I'm selling it or if anyone's buying because of the long silence. What is this? What's going on here? Okay, I'm clearly the last man out but, we all can't stay like this forever. Can we? I notice the Chancellor sigh wearily, puckering his thin lips and leaning back in his lush chair. He regards me distantly before speaking at length.
"At your insistence I allowed you to go and meet with the rebels on that rock to ascertain the extent of their waywardness. Inspired by the Separatists, they too have desired to breakaway and form their own sordid version of our beloved Republic. Ideally, you were suppose to talk them down from these delusions or force their compliance. We committed a small escort fleet to your plan and a Star Destroyer. You did not come back with either one. You were not successful but was roundly..."
The Chancellor, 'my good friend', was clearly upset by my apparent failure but more than anything, he was disappointed. Even so, I do not enjoy being belittled in front of other men probably because I am NOT like other men. I'm not even like other Jedi; I am a Jedi Master of the High Counsel. Why am I standing, while these two sit?
He continued, "...defeated. Skywalker, you were-"
"What was that?" I asked. I was somehow caught in a daze. Ahsoka's image flashed in memory along with her verbal warnings, which I of course ignored. How was she so much stronger than me all of a sudden? The Chancellor's last couple of words yanked me back to the present, particularly that single word, defeated.
"I said. You were roundly defeated." He paused to regard me cooly. And this time, so did the Chiss officer. What was his name Na rodo, Na rudo,? Who is he to look upon me so? I can't tell what he's thinking. Excellent Sabacc-poker face.
"It's a bit more complicated than that, Chancellor." I try to explain to no obvious benefit.
"Ohh," Smiling, he almost laughs. "You assured me that it wouldn't be. Do you recall?"
"Yes, I do actually." I answer tersely. I was sitting in this very seat, thank you very much.
"Skywalker," He sounded too familiar, "It is not usual for the Republic (you mean, YOU) to trust missions of this nature to Jedi, however elevated they might see themselves. After all, they are peacekeepers. Is that not so? However, I decided on you because you've shown a great deal of promise in the past and because of your exceptional gifts as a force-sensitive. In Chiss culture, the admiral here tells me that certain children likewise possess a very similar gift of foresight. It allows them to steer their military war cruisers as specialty navigators helping to clear a path through the immense starscape to a set destination. Unfortunately, the magnitude of this gift fades precipitously with age, especially at the onset of adolescence. By then, it is little more than a whisper rendering them all but useless. I ask myself, could this be the case of Young Jedi Knight, Anakin Skywalker…"
"It's…Jedi Master now." I rectify.
"They," The old man looked around curiously pretending to be confused,"subsequently promoted you for that failure?" Palpatine waited too long for his last sentence not to be confused as rhetoric.
"They did not. I was a Master prior to… that…" My sheepish response came in slowly. Doggit! This was another moment where my ego further compounded the humiliation.
"If you didn't know, Master Skywalker," The Chancellor slowed his pronunciation of the word 'Master' more as insult than out of respect for it my proper title. "That's even worse. Anyway, I still have a good deal of faith in you. We all have bad days. And it's quite possible that you might not be entirely to blame. You were after all, a product of the Jedi Academy, which as I understand it, also suffers from major defections, including that of Grand Master Yoda?" Palpatine simply shook his head in negation checking the chronometer. "His departure speaks volumes."
"We have Grand Master Windu," I begin, "...the real guiding light and backbone of the Jedi Academy and High Counsel. And Master Yoda's departure is more of a stepping down. He's very old and his time on the Counsel goes back for centuries."
"That may very well be the case, Master Skywalker, but that's not the interpretation in the greater community of governance. Those in the Senate, across the fleet, and in other centers of power will be moving to cut away more of your participation as an apparatus of governance. You'll need to trust me on this Skywalker. I have my ears to the ground on this one."
It dawned on me then, was that why, the Admiral was here? Was he trying to diminish our influence on behalf of the fleet or was something else afoot?
"But let's not get sidetracked. Please explain for us, Master Skywalker, how your very own padawan and a small collection of rebels you once helped back on Onderon got the better of you managing to even MAIM you in the process? A good portion of this interaction had been circulated by their General Saw Gerrera, a man you have clearly underestimated. I almost wish he was one of my generals."
So he knew, almost everything. He knew I had both my limbs cut off at the forearms. He knew the shared history of both myself and Saw Gerrera. Cleverly coloring the narrative might actually work against me. Truth might be my only avenue left to me. Maybe so, but I'm not going to stretch this out anymore than is necessary.
"You two have seen the videos. And you have the backdrop apparently. Simply put, they got the better of us." I reluctantly admit.
"They got the better of us, you say." Palpatine sounded incredulous. "I'm afraid a bit more explanation is required of you Master Skywalker. Don't you think? Operationally, they were prepared for you. By that, I mean they had no intention of following through on whatever demands you were to put forth. It also means we have leaks within our martial network, otherwise their plans for countering the presence of the escort fleet – which they couldn't have known about – couldn't have been so effective."
I simply nodded in agreement not wanting to say anything potentially self-incriminating, that is, anything that would make me appear even more inept.
"Here's a question, so you are the 'Chosen One', how was it that this Togrutan female, who was once subject to you, able to take your weapon and keep it from you at will? Several times you tried to recall it using the force with no success."
"I and Kenobi have been pondering that question since our return. We haven't worked out how she was able to pull it off."
"Speaking of Kenobi," The Chancellor added, "I understand that he too has since left Coruscant for the Jedi home planet of Typhon."
"Yes, that's correct Chancellor."
"These things do not bode well for your Knights Master Skywalker. This, along with your failure to bring the Trifectan rebels to heel will hurt their standing among so many others vying for more responsibility and recognition. But I do think there is room enough for you personally."
What does he mean by that – room enough for me? And what of my Knights?
"In any case, for now until further notice, whatever future assignments I task you with will be supervised by this man, Admiral Nuruodo. I'm not sure how familiar you are with the exploits of his distinguished military history but it is quite impressive to say the least. Like you, he seems to possess a knack for strategy, but its wellspring has not run dry…"
What a poor analogy, I thought. Mine has not run dry either. I just caught a bad break. Does this Nuruodo ever make mistakes or misread people that he once trusted? Probably!
"...I think you can learn a lot from him. If you can put your ego to the side. He's not a force-sensitive but his unique insights into the mind of the enemy could prove to be a boone to your learning-curve."
When I looked over at the Chiss officer, I found him regarding me intently with an icy stare. And then his eyes closed suddenly with the gentle dip of his pointy chin before opening again. They seemed more welcoming but who can say for sure with such crimson-colored eyes? He's not even one of us.
"Chancellor Palpatine, you've been a gracious host. I however, have pressing business elsewhere. Fleet matters." Said the Admiral. He stood and it was clear he was telling the truth because his own personal com device was flashing yellow, an indication for surplus messages. The Chancellor nodded.
"Very well, Admiral. In two days, Master Skywalker will accompany you and hopefully prove useful."
Useful?!
"I think he will. In two days then." He bowed slightly acknowledging both of us before setting off.
I was tempted to sit finally but my anger was flaring and I was even more anxious to leave. Sheev Palpatine just looked up at me, expression on unreadable.
"I think I'm gonna head out also, Chancellor. Jedi business."
"Speaking of which," He sounded cheerful. "There is something I want you to see before I let you go."
Before you… let me go?!
"Of course Chancellor, please"
He played with a few controls before an ocean blue holographic display of Saw Gerrera appeared over his desk. The RWT General whose attire was immaculate wore a stern expression that eased into a self-congratulatory grin. He became serious again by the time he spoke. In his hands, he carried an intricately well-crafted box – doubtless of Onderonian craftsmanship.
"Greetings Chancellor Palpatine, I am sending you this small token of my disaffection. It is one that will most accurately convey my sentiments regarding your Fallen Republic, which is in point of fact an Empire. Your life-long appointment as Chancellor is a strong testament to that. Which brings me to the contents of this elegantly designed box you see here of my home planet. It was actually my sister's before she... Anyway. Inside, are the hands of your mightiest warrior, Jedi Anakin Skywalker, along with the sacred weapon of his religious sect, the venerable light saber. Let it be a sign to you and others that I will meet any challenge on the road to freedom and self-determination. You nor your misguided lackeys will dissuade me from that noble task. All those who try can expect a similar fate, including death. Keep your Armada out of our regions, and we'll all be the better for it. General Saw Gerrera out."
The Chancellor got up slowly and reacquired that same box setting it on his desk. He took a few steps back and motioned for me to open it. I was immediately assaulted by the pungent fowl odor of rot and decay. The dead flesh of my water-fat hands was now frail and coming to pieces symbolically representing a reordered Republic somehow according to his own lewd interpretations. Saw Gerrera could have encased them in a special type of resin that would have perfectly preserved them almost indefinitely but I guess he was trying to make a statement. It did bother me.
Palpatine approached me reaching into the box and taking up my light saber. He made his way to the far end of the office chambers and then ignited the blue weapon. Turning back toward me he said.
"Take it."
I immediately start for his location and the old man just shakes his head no. Again he orders me to take it. He meant that I should use the Force. Folks love a good spectacle, I suppose. Thus obliged, I extend my left arm and the blade lifts easily enough from his open palm but is stopped immediately. In naked surprise, my eyes find his full of glee. He taunts me further.
"Come on Skywalker. How can a Jedi Master still not be able to reclaim his weapon?" He cackles.
The light saber disobeys me retreating to the open palm of it's new master. However, just before he accepts, Palpatine quickly pulls out his own crimson-colored saber and chops mine down the middle sending it to the ground in two pieces.