Chapter Eleven: The Realization
General Kenobi and General Organa had led their troops to victory.
The news was whispered through the city in the morning, no one daring to believe the gossip. But then, a scarce hour past noon when the Senate convened, it was declared by a jubilant messenger. The cheers erupted immediately. Another battle won, the once great army of the Separatists cut down to nearly nothing. All that was left was to capture Count Dooku and the victory would be complete.
Senator Amidala smiled and reached down to press a hand to her stomach. Her daughter would grow up in a safe world, a democratic world. Her career, and Anakin's, were both created for this purpose: so children could grow up safely. Next to that, nothing else really seemed to matter.
Jar Jar was hugging her, she realized with a start. It was highly improper, but she hugged him back, glad that the war would soon be over and things back to normal. The Chancellor could relinquish his emergency powers, the army could be disbanded, and perhaps she could find time to simply be a wife and mother.
Palpatine was speaking. Padme shook off her thoughts and focused on his words. "The war is not over. But perhaps it will be soon. With help from the Kaminoan cloners-" there were cheers, she noted, in corners where previously there would have been jeers- "and the Jedi." There was far less applause at the naming of the Jedi, Padme realized with a shock. Had support and faith in the Jedi dwindled so low?
She was about to find out, for Palpatine declared, "There is one more order of business. The chair recognizes Senator Orn Free Taa from the sovereign system of Ryloth."
Taa's platform glided into the middle of the hall. "Esteemed colleagues, despite the recent victory on Dantooine, losses on Melida/Daan and other Outer Rim territories have prompted many, including myself, to wonder about the competency of our so-called peacemakers, the Jedi. No doubt they have been of service in the past, but should we be so forgiving of their current oversights? Lest we forget, Count Dooku, who now threatens to tear our Republic apart, was once a 'noble' Jedi Master. I call for a review of the Jedi order, an immediate examination of their practices!"
Padme and Jar Jar exchanged a look. But before they could object, cheers rang out through the chamber. "It's not possible," she murmured. "The Jedi, under review? The most noble order in the galaxy, taken under evaluation? Who could think them corrupt?"
"Everyone in the Senate, apparently," Dorme whispered behind her.
The motion was carried by an overwhelming vote, then Palpatine adjourned the session. Padme exited in a daze. The Jedi… How could it be possible?
Thoughts of the Jedi inevitably led to thoughts of Anakin. He wouldn't take the news well. None of the Jedi would. They would comply, of course; it was their duty as servants of the Republic. She had to tell him, before he found out from one of the Masters or the holo-news. Thinking of him, she realized she hadn't seen him in days, not since the morning of Obi-Wan's departure. She made her decision in that instant, to go to their apartment. She turned around to head back in that direction, when she was stopped by a worried Sullustan, Pudav Puric. "Senator Amidala, we need to speak," he said softly in accented Basic.
She blinked. "What is this about, Senator Puric?"
He cleared his throat. "A group of us are meeting in Senator Jasan's office. If you'd join us, we'd be indebted to you." She saw the worry, the urgency, etched into his face. She nodded. He looked immediately relieved. "We wouldn't inconvenience you if it wasn't urgent," he said, taking her elbow.
She allowed herself to be led back into the Senate building. Kacher Jasan was the senator for the Alans system, a small, Outer Rim territory. Padme was barely acquainted with her, but she knew the tiny Alan on sight. She was unmistakable, with her ultra-pale skin and the wings that stretched out from her back. Inside Jasan's office, most of the Loyalist party sat or stood, all looking mildly uncomfortable. "What is it?" she asked, looking from face to face.
"Chancellor Palpatine." La'ang Hahon, the pale, blond senator from Hoth, spoke in a gentle whisper.
"We understood the emergency powers. Dooku was going to attack with his droids, and we needed an army. The clones were convenient. But the review of the Jedi is too much!" Garm Bel Iblis, the Corellian senator, spoke, his voice not so mild as Hahon's had been.
"He's power hungry," said a girl Padme recognized as Mon Mothma. She was the youngest in the Galactic Senate, barely seventeen. She stood tall, imperious, a wisdom beyond her age in her dark blue eyes. "He's not going to give up his dictatorial powers."
"What do you suggest, Senators?"
Kacher Jasan finally spoke, her voice worried. "A vote of no confidence would never carry. The Senate trusts him."
Bel Iblis shook his head. "We have no recourse but common sense, Amidala. Please, talk to him. Get him to overrule the review, get him to promise to relinquish his powers. He's known you nearly since birth, he'll listen to you."
Mon Mothma spoke again, her voice strained. "If he has not grown too corrupt."
*
Dooku was hiding out in the Northwest corner of Huispa. It was the first sector they had conquered, and they hadn't searched it since. It was the perfect place to hide. The news of his location came just before dawn, and before the sun was fully up, Obi-Wan and Bail had gotten their squad and headed out to capture him.
There were no more droids for Dooku to hide behind, but there were plenty of humans, Dooku's hired men. He hadn't been without them for years, since he had surfaced as the political idealist nearly fourteen years before.
He was in their view; they actually *saw* him this time. But it wasn't enough. They were tied up in fighting the small battalion of bodyguards and Dooku had enough time to slip into his ship and take off.
Most of the bodyguards were killed in the skirmish, but the leader was caught. Obi-Wan's lightsaber was at his throat in an instant. His own intensity scared him, but the lightsaber stayed in position, close enough to singe the guard's skin. "Where is Dooku headed?"
The guard stared down at the 'saber. He breathed shallowly, afraid to let his Adam's apple get too close to the glowing blade. "Look- I- I don't know!"
"Where?" Obi-Wan demanded again, the blade going just a fraction of a centimeter closer.
"I don't know! I'm just a guard he picked up on a Bogden moon!"
Obi-Wan froze. He lowered and powered down his 'saber. The guard fell into the arms of a waiting clone trooper. "Bogden," he murmured, pieces of a ten year puzzle falling into place.
Bail looked over at him. "What is it?"
"Jango Fett was recruited on one of the moons of Bogden."
"You think Dooku…"
"Dooku hired Jango."
General Kenobi and General Organa had led their troops to victory.
The news was whispered through the city in the morning, no one daring to believe the gossip. But then, a scarce hour past noon when the Senate convened, it was declared by a jubilant messenger. The cheers erupted immediately. Another battle won, the once great army of the Separatists cut down to nearly nothing. All that was left was to capture Count Dooku and the victory would be complete.
Senator Amidala smiled and reached down to press a hand to her stomach. Her daughter would grow up in a safe world, a democratic world. Her career, and Anakin's, were both created for this purpose: so children could grow up safely. Next to that, nothing else really seemed to matter.
Jar Jar was hugging her, she realized with a start. It was highly improper, but she hugged him back, glad that the war would soon be over and things back to normal. The Chancellor could relinquish his emergency powers, the army could be disbanded, and perhaps she could find time to simply be a wife and mother.
Palpatine was speaking. Padme shook off her thoughts and focused on his words. "The war is not over. But perhaps it will be soon. With help from the Kaminoan cloners-" there were cheers, she noted, in corners where previously there would have been jeers- "and the Jedi." There was far less applause at the naming of the Jedi, Padme realized with a shock. Had support and faith in the Jedi dwindled so low?
She was about to find out, for Palpatine declared, "There is one more order of business. The chair recognizes Senator Orn Free Taa from the sovereign system of Ryloth."
Taa's platform glided into the middle of the hall. "Esteemed colleagues, despite the recent victory on Dantooine, losses on Melida/Daan and other Outer Rim territories have prompted many, including myself, to wonder about the competency of our so-called peacemakers, the Jedi. No doubt they have been of service in the past, but should we be so forgiving of their current oversights? Lest we forget, Count Dooku, who now threatens to tear our Republic apart, was once a 'noble' Jedi Master. I call for a review of the Jedi order, an immediate examination of their practices!"
Padme and Jar Jar exchanged a look. But before they could object, cheers rang out through the chamber. "It's not possible," she murmured. "The Jedi, under review? The most noble order in the galaxy, taken under evaluation? Who could think them corrupt?"
"Everyone in the Senate, apparently," Dorme whispered behind her.
The motion was carried by an overwhelming vote, then Palpatine adjourned the session. Padme exited in a daze. The Jedi… How could it be possible?
Thoughts of the Jedi inevitably led to thoughts of Anakin. He wouldn't take the news well. None of the Jedi would. They would comply, of course; it was their duty as servants of the Republic. She had to tell him, before he found out from one of the Masters or the holo-news. Thinking of him, she realized she hadn't seen him in days, not since the morning of Obi-Wan's departure. She made her decision in that instant, to go to their apartment. She turned around to head back in that direction, when she was stopped by a worried Sullustan, Pudav Puric. "Senator Amidala, we need to speak," he said softly in accented Basic.
She blinked. "What is this about, Senator Puric?"
He cleared his throat. "A group of us are meeting in Senator Jasan's office. If you'd join us, we'd be indebted to you." She saw the worry, the urgency, etched into his face. She nodded. He looked immediately relieved. "We wouldn't inconvenience you if it wasn't urgent," he said, taking her elbow.
She allowed herself to be led back into the Senate building. Kacher Jasan was the senator for the Alans system, a small, Outer Rim territory. Padme was barely acquainted with her, but she knew the tiny Alan on sight. She was unmistakable, with her ultra-pale skin and the wings that stretched out from her back. Inside Jasan's office, most of the Loyalist party sat or stood, all looking mildly uncomfortable. "What is it?" she asked, looking from face to face.
"Chancellor Palpatine." La'ang Hahon, the pale, blond senator from Hoth, spoke in a gentle whisper.
"We understood the emergency powers. Dooku was going to attack with his droids, and we needed an army. The clones were convenient. But the review of the Jedi is too much!" Garm Bel Iblis, the Corellian senator, spoke, his voice not so mild as Hahon's had been.
"He's power hungry," said a girl Padme recognized as Mon Mothma. She was the youngest in the Galactic Senate, barely seventeen. She stood tall, imperious, a wisdom beyond her age in her dark blue eyes. "He's not going to give up his dictatorial powers."
"What do you suggest, Senators?"
Kacher Jasan finally spoke, her voice worried. "A vote of no confidence would never carry. The Senate trusts him."
Bel Iblis shook his head. "We have no recourse but common sense, Amidala. Please, talk to him. Get him to overrule the review, get him to promise to relinquish his powers. He's known you nearly since birth, he'll listen to you."
Mon Mothma spoke again, her voice strained. "If he has not grown too corrupt."
*
Dooku was hiding out in the Northwest corner of Huispa. It was the first sector they had conquered, and they hadn't searched it since. It was the perfect place to hide. The news of his location came just before dawn, and before the sun was fully up, Obi-Wan and Bail had gotten their squad and headed out to capture him.
There were no more droids for Dooku to hide behind, but there were plenty of humans, Dooku's hired men. He hadn't been without them for years, since he had surfaced as the political idealist nearly fourteen years before.
He was in their view; they actually *saw* him this time. But it wasn't enough. They were tied up in fighting the small battalion of bodyguards and Dooku had enough time to slip into his ship and take off.
Most of the bodyguards were killed in the skirmish, but the leader was caught. Obi-Wan's lightsaber was at his throat in an instant. His own intensity scared him, but the lightsaber stayed in position, close enough to singe the guard's skin. "Where is Dooku headed?"
The guard stared down at the 'saber. He breathed shallowly, afraid to let his Adam's apple get too close to the glowing blade. "Look- I- I don't know!"
"Where?" Obi-Wan demanded again, the blade going just a fraction of a centimeter closer.
"I don't know! I'm just a guard he picked up on a Bogden moon!"
Obi-Wan froze. He lowered and powered down his 'saber. The guard fell into the arms of a waiting clone trooper. "Bogden," he murmured, pieces of a ten year puzzle falling into place.
Bail looked over at him. "What is it?"
"Jango Fett was recruited on one of the moons of Bogden."
"You think Dooku…"
"Dooku hired Jango."