Title: Birth of Tyranny
Author: ewan's girl

Chapter 13:

Palpatine watched through a window as the air force landed in the hanger. He watched as Anakin exited his ship, when he saw the expression on the boy's face he smiled to himself. Obi Wan ran up to meet Anakin as he climbed down from his ship. He smiled, and tried to shake Anakin's hand, but he was met with a cold stare.
"Great job Anakin. I knew you could do it." Obi Wan smiled, but Anakin just kept staring. "Where's Dooku?" Obi Wan asked when he noticed Dooku was not in Anakin's ship.
"Dooku is dead." Anakin simply answered.
"What? I thought the order was to bring him back?" Obi Wan said sternly.
"Well master..." Saying master sarcastically. "Things don't always go according to plan."
Obi Wan was taken back. "Are you alright?"
Anakin turned to leave. "I'm fine, I'm just tired." He then walked away from a baffled Obi Wan Kenobi.
Palpatine hobbled his way down a ramp with the aid of a cane. He headed for Anakin. "I knew it Anakin. I knew this day would come." He smiled at Anakin.
"What day is that?" Anakin asked snidely.
"The day you pass your trials, the day you prove to be the greatest." Palpatine put a hand on Anakin's shoulder.
"What about master Obi Wan? I mean you asked him to be your general." Anakin asked, hurt.
"That's true I did. But I have much bigger plans in store for you my young Skywalker." The Chancellor said as he began to walk away.
"If you don't mind me asking, what kind of plans?" Anakin asked, forcing him to stop.
"You will know in time Anakin, wait for me here, I have something to discuss with your former master." With that he left Anakin behind and walked towards Obi Wan. Obi Wan bowed when he noticed the Chancellor walking towards him. "Well done general Kenobi." The Chancellor clapped as he approached.
"Thank you your excellency." Obi Wan answered.
"Now we can return to Courascant and discuss our next plan of action." The Chancellor continued.
"What? With all due respect Chancellor I want to go back to the Jedi as soon as possible." Obi Wan protested.
"I understand Obi Wan, it's just the Republic has many enemies still, and I have many plans for my army and I need someone trustworthy to lead it." Palpatine tried to reason with Obi Wan. "And you promised that you would protect the Republic and lead my army, I thought a Jedi was a man of his word?"
Obi Wan looked past Palpatine, and watched Anakin walk up the steps leading to the palace. "I am a man of my word your excellency." Obi Wan looked at Palpatine, who smiled when he heard that.
"Excellent." He said and turned towards Anakin who was waiting at the top of the stairs.
Obi Wan watched the two leave together and a chill ran down his spine.
**
Anakin stormed into Padme's quarters, he looked around for her, and saw that she was not around. He fell to her bed, feeling incredibly tired. Then without notice he began to cry. He looked at his light saber, and in a fit of rage threw it across the room, breaking a mirror. Just at that moment Padme entered with Dorme behind her. Both women were confused to see the Jedi on her bed with tears coming down his cheeks.
"Anakin?" Padme asked, concerned. "Dorme, leave us." She turned to her hand maiden, who bowed and left. "Ani what's wrong?" Padme asked, moving towards him.
Anakin looked at her, and shook his head. They sat in silence for a moment. Padme walked into the room, and began to remove her jewelry. "I received a message from your brother today. He says your step father died, and was wondering if we'd come for the funeral."
He looked at her, with anger in his eyes. "I'm never going back to Tatooine, ever!" He said in a very commanding tone. "Nothing in this entire galaxy will make me step foot on that place ever again."
She looked at him with compassion in her eyes. "What is it Ani? You can tell me." He stretched out his arms calling her to him, she obeyed and took him in her arms. He sat there for a moment before speaking. "I killed him."
Padme looked down at him, worried. "Killed who?"
"Dooku. I killed him, and my orders were to bring him back." Anakin buried his face in Padme's stomach.
"Dooku was an evil man, he deserved it." Padme tried to make him feel better. "Master Obi Wan understands that, he'll forgive you." She ran her fingers through his hair as she spoke.
Just then Anakin rose to his feet, shoving Padme away. "Yes, the great Obi Wan, the all forgiving powerful Obi Wan." Padme looked at him curious. He sat in silence a moment before he spoke again. "But will I be able to forgive him?"
"Forgive who?" Padme looked at Anakin worried.
Anakin looked back at his bride, his heart melted a little at the sight of her. He walked back towards her. "Hold me." He whispered. She then wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. As he began to kiss down her neck, she looked around the room with a very worried expression on her face.

**

Obi Wan was back on the beach that the battle had occurred. There still were Troopers finishing cleaning up the broken droids. His mind was racing, he didn't know what to think about his position of general, and worse he knew something had happened to Anakin. He heard someone coming up behind him, he turned and saw She-ar-ah walking through the sand. She was wearing a loose fitting purple dress that hung off her shoulders, and her hair was done in two simple braids, it was a simple fashion, but to Obi Wan she had never looked more beautiful. He smiled when he saw her. He outstretched his hand to her, she took it and he kissed her hand. She looked at him and smiled, then looked at the battle ridden beach.
"Are you alright?" She asked him.
"Yes I'm fine, I'm just tired." He answered.
"Lying was never your strong point." She said with a smile. "Tell me, what's troubling you?"
"Something happened with Anakin, I feel responsible for sending him after Dooku alone." Obi Wan looked towards the ground.
She-ar-ah sighed. "Ben, everyone is responsible for their own destinies you need to worry about your own, stop making everyone else's destiny your responsibility as well."
"The Chancellor has asked me to stay on as general. He says there still is much to do to rid the Republic of it's enemies." Obi Wan said with a sigh, changing the subject.
"And you would rather not stay on as general." She-ar-ah stated, not questioned.
"I promised the Chancellor I'd protect the Republic, but something about this doesn't feel right." He looked at her, he made a face that looked like he was afraid to say the next part.
"There's something else." She-ar-ah looked at him.
"Master Yoda has offered me a position on the council." She-ar-ah looked away almost hurt.
"My father's position?" She asked, and he nodded. She turned away from him, and began to walk away, he chased after her.
"She-ar-ah! I haven't given master Yoda my answer yet." She stopped and looked at him. "I could tell him no, then we could be together." He took her in his arms, and kissed her.
She looked up at him, and shook her head. "No. I won't be the reason the galaxy is without a great Jedi." Tears began to fill her eyes. "The galaxy needs you more than I do." He looked at her and reluctantly nodded. "Perhaps when we are old, you can retire from the Jedi, and we can live out our lives together." She smiled hopefully.
He smiled back. "I would love nothing more."
"Promise me then." She-ar-ah looked into his eyes.
"I swear on my life as a Jedi, when all of this is over I will be yours." They kissed again, and She-ar-ah pushed herself away, and walked away from him, trying to supress her tears.

**

They returned to Courascant the next day. Palpatine had called a special hearing of the Senate. Even Bail Organa had made the journey to Courascant to hear what the Chancellor had to say to the Republic. Obi Wan took his place behind Chancellor Palpatine, he looked around the senate. He felt uncomfortable there around so many politicians. He looked up and noticed a familiar form standing in one of the door ways. Anakin was also there, and was staring down at his former master, his padawan braid had been cut off, signifying that he had passed the trials. Obi Wan reluctantly took his eyes off Anakin as the Chancellor started the meeting.
"My fellow delegates, I have just returned from quite an exhausting ordeal." The Chancellor raised his voice so all would hear him. "And thanks to a fantastic army, and leaders such as General Kenobi; Count Dooku and his army are no more." The whole senate ripped in applause. Anakin grew angry that they were applauding Obi Wan. "But I fear the threat to the Republic is not over." The Chancellor continued. The applause died down, and murmurs were now heard. Padme threw a glance at Bail Organa. "I believe there are those who wish to rebel against those things that we hold dear in this Republic." Padme looked at the chancellor, confused. "That is why I have decided with the suggestions of several of you that I should take on full responsibility for the Republic." Organa looked at Padme, worried. Obi Wan threw Palpatine a worried glance also. "I have decided with great reluctance to elect myself Emperor of this galaxy."
Padme, Organa, Obi Wan, all had the exact same look on their faces, jaws dropped and appalled. Few senators cheered, while others booed. Palpatine looked around the room with a grin on his face.
Organa stood up. "The Republic is a democracy! You cannot do this!" He shouted at Palpatine. "What about the Senate's vote?"
Palpatine looked at him. "As long as I have emergency power, I can make any decision without the approval of the Senate." Palpatine smiled as he stated this fact.
Padme shot an angry look at Jar Jar Binks, who was trying to hide behind his ears. "Your excellency, you can't do this." She pleaded with him. "If you do this then I will call for a vote of no confidence." She looked at Bail, who smiled at her.
"Unfortunately Senator Amidala, that will prove to be powerless, since I now hold all the power of the Senate." Palpatine smiled. "And those who I feel pose a threat to this new Empire, they will be handled by my general and his army." Palpatine motioned towards Obi Wan who had a look of shock on his face. "Isn't that right General Kenobi?"
Obi Wan rose from his seat, and looked around the room. He looked at Bail Organa, and then Padme. "No your honor. I will not." Palpatine looked at him with anger in his eyes. "I am a Jedi, a guardian of the peace, a keeper of the Republic." He faced down Palpatine. "The old Republic." He then began to walk away with many senators cheering him. Palpatine watched him leave, a wicked smile began to cross his lips.
"I will lead the army!" A voice rose from the back of the room. Obi Wan looked up and noticed Anakin making his way towards him, and towards the Emperor. Anakin looked Obi Wan in the eyes. Padme looked at her husband in horror. Anakin looked at Palpatine, and bowed. "If you'll have me your excellency, I will protect and honor this new Empire."
Palpatine smiled at Anakin. "I would be more than honored to have the most talented Jedi in the entire galaxy lead my army."
Anakin never took his gaze off Obi Wan. "I swear I will hunt down any and all enemies of the Emperor."
Obi Wan looked at him. "Anakin, think about what you are saying."
Anakin walked past Obi Wan and knelt before the Emperor. "I am at your command."

**

Padme, Bail Organa, Jar Jar Binks, several other senators, and Obi Wan Kenobi sat in Padme's apartment in the senate building. Obi Wan stood away from the group and stared out the window.
"What are we going to do?" Aldi Moldar of Dantooine asked, breaking the silence.
"There's not much we can do." Padme said in a defeated tone.
"All we can do is try and overthrow Palpatine." Bail answered.
"But that would mean go against his army." Aldi said, almost scared.
"What is the Jedi's position on this?" Bail turned to Obi Wan who was still staring out the window.
"The Jedi are keepers of the Republic, and as far as I'm concerned a dictatorship is not the Republic." Obi Wan answered in a serious tone. "I have spoken to the council, we will do all we can to bring back the old Republic." He looked at the senators, who seemed to grow happy at this news. "But remember, there are very few of us left." The senators held their excitement after that statement.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Captain Typho answered, and Anakin stormed in. "I see we are having a secret meeting." He said when he looked around the room.
"Anakin, you can't do this." Padme rushed to him.
"I'm sorry senator Amidala, but I have orders to stop all who try to fight the Emperor." Anakin Said, moving into the room.
"Anakin." Obi Wan stepped forward. "You will be expelled from the Jedi order if you do this. The Jedi do not agree with Chancellor Palpatine."
"Emperor Palpatine." Anakin corrected.
"You must stop this." Obi Wan commanded.
"You cannot tell me what to do Obi Wan. I am no longer your student." Anakin smiled when he said that.
"No, but as a Jedi you have to listen to the council." Obi Wan shot back. "And as a council member, I order you to stop this right now." Obi Wan moved closer to Anakin.
"What?" He looked at Obi Wan. "They put you on the council?" Anger rose in his body. "Why? Because you convinced them? Because you couldn't handle not being able to tell me what to do anymore?"
"Anakin you know that's not the reason." Obi Wan tried to calm him down.
Anakin stared Obi Wan down, then backed away. "No bother. I have discovered a power much more powerful than the council." He smiled at Obi Wan.
"Anakin, you're talking about the dark side." Obi Wan grew worried.
"Call it what you will Obi Wan. But if only you knew the true power it held, then perhaps you'd be unstoppable like me." Anakin then turned to leave. "I have given all of you my warning, I do hope you are smart enough to listen." He then exited the room.
Obi Wan stood there for a moment, then without turing to his collegues he finally broke the silence. "You must all leave Courascant now. The Republic is no more."