Chapter Ten: Advice
Chancellor Palpatine always seemed to have time for him. At first, they only saw each other when the Chancellor indicated he needed Jedi help. But after a while, it became clear that Palpatine saw the same potential in him that Qui-Gon had. He watched Anakin's career, gave him advice when he needed it, and just listened at other times.
It had always been easier to talk to the Chancellor than Obi-Wan, which was strange, since the Chancellor was an imposing man, of the highest rank in the Galactic Senate and Obi-Wan was his master, the man he was supposed to be closest too. But the Chancellor *listened*, where Obi-Wan corrected. Palpatine agreed where Obi-Wan rebuked.
Anakin poured out his failure, his worries, his anger in a long speech, during which Palpatine listened, occasionally nodding his agreement in Anakin's judgment or belief. "I failed, my lord. I was to be the greatest Jedi ever. Now…" Anakin bowed his head. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I never felt like this before. Hopeless. But its not my fault!"
"I know," Palpatine said quietly. Anakin looked to him, puzzled. "Your failings, Anakin, are not failings at all. Pride, anger, hatred, even… they are not wrong emotions. They give power and conviction. It was anger toward the Trade Federation which guided Amidala to save Naboo fourteen years ago. It was hatred toward the corruption in the Senate that placed me in a position to *do* something about it. The guidance of your Jedi Masters is worth nothing. They don't understand your power, Anakin. You will surpass them all someday."
Anakin knew his words were wrong. He felt it inside, a twisting in his gut, a cry in the Force that told him not to listen. But his mind absorbed the words. They gave him hope. Perhaps Yoda and the Masters were wrong. Perhaps *he* was the most powerful of them. Perhaps anger and hate didn't lead to a bad place, a wrong place. Perhaps it just led to power. Anakin bowed to the Chancellor. "Thank you for your advice, my lord."
"It is a pleasure to guide you, Anakin," Palpatine said, and smiled.
*
Dooku had gotten away again. They'd had him cornered at what had been the royal palace of Huispa and nearly captured him, but he'd known they were coming and managed to head them off with a unit of droids. Their clone troopers were more than a match for the mechanical soldiers, but Dooku had slipped away during the fray.
Obi-Wan and Bail led the troops back to camp for the night, and had each gone to their quarters when Bail knocked at his door. Obi-Wan called for him to enter.
"Obi-Wan," he said, taking the seat across from the Jedi. "I've been speaking with Chancellor Palpatine."
"About the situation here?"
"Among other things, yes. You know that the Jedi have no official rank in the Republic army."
Obi-Wan spoke the words softly, from memory, "We are not warriors. We fight when we must, but desire peace above all else."
"Nevertheless, you are here in command of troops. Chancellor Palpatine feels that in light of the situation, it would be beneficial for you to be given official command," Bail paused, smiled, "General Kenobi."
Chancellor Palpatine always seemed to have time for him. At first, they only saw each other when the Chancellor indicated he needed Jedi help. But after a while, it became clear that Palpatine saw the same potential in him that Qui-Gon had. He watched Anakin's career, gave him advice when he needed it, and just listened at other times.
It had always been easier to talk to the Chancellor than Obi-Wan, which was strange, since the Chancellor was an imposing man, of the highest rank in the Galactic Senate and Obi-Wan was his master, the man he was supposed to be closest too. But the Chancellor *listened*, where Obi-Wan corrected. Palpatine agreed where Obi-Wan rebuked.
Anakin poured out his failure, his worries, his anger in a long speech, during which Palpatine listened, occasionally nodding his agreement in Anakin's judgment or belief. "I failed, my lord. I was to be the greatest Jedi ever. Now…" Anakin bowed his head. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I never felt like this before. Hopeless. But its not my fault!"
"I know," Palpatine said quietly. Anakin looked to him, puzzled. "Your failings, Anakin, are not failings at all. Pride, anger, hatred, even… they are not wrong emotions. They give power and conviction. It was anger toward the Trade Federation which guided Amidala to save Naboo fourteen years ago. It was hatred toward the corruption in the Senate that placed me in a position to *do* something about it. The guidance of your Jedi Masters is worth nothing. They don't understand your power, Anakin. You will surpass them all someday."
Anakin knew his words were wrong. He felt it inside, a twisting in his gut, a cry in the Force that told him not to listen. But his mind absorbed the words. They gave him hope. Perhaps Yoda and the Masters were wrong. Perhaps *he* was the most powerful of them. Perhaps anger and hate didn't lead to a bad place, a wrong place. Perhaps it just led to power. Anakin bowed to the Chancellor. "Thank you for your advice, my lord."
"It is a pleasure to guide you, Anakin," Palpatine said, and smiled.
*
Dooku had gotten away again. They'd had him cornered at what had been the royal palace of Huispa and nearly captured him, but he'd known they were coming and managed to head them off with a unit of droids. Their clone troopers were more than a match for the mechanical soldiers, but Dooku had slipped away during the fray.
Obi-Wan and Bail led the troops back to camp for the night, and had each gone to their quarters when Bail knocked at his door. Obi-Wan called for him to enter.
"Obi-Wan," he said, taking the seat across from the Jedi. "I've been speaking with Chancellor Palpatine."
"About the situation here?"
"Among other things, yes. You know that the Jedi have no official rank in the Republic army."
Obi-Wan spoke the words softly, from memory, "We are not warriors. We fight when we must, but desire peace above all else."
"Nevertheless, you are here in command of troops. Chancellor Palpatine feels that in light of the situation, it would be beneficial for you to be given official command," Bail paused, smiled, "General Kenobi."