A/N: My thanks to Alice (glad you liked the tie-in, it did make sense, didn't it?) for reading this over as well as credit has to go to Jurious for the quote given by Palpatine in this chapter on how he came to power. Thanks to you both!
I'm hoping Shaak Ti doesn't come across as too out of character. I think any Jedi would be hard pressed to keep calm, but she, especially did a lot in the defense of the Chancellor, so she's allowed to vent a little.
There are mild references to The Phantom Menace, The Clone Wars Cartoon Series and a certain video game.
Mace and Shaak Ti confront Palpatine.
Any comments or constructive criticism, please review then.
Darth Sidious, Dark Lord of the Sith, settled himself back in the interrogation chair, waiting for the drama around him to unfold. The room he'd been held in was Spartan, with a single one-way transparisteel mirror taking a good portion of the opposite wall from where he sat. This…was an unexpected – though possibly advantageous – turn of events. He thought he'd calculated every possible outcome when he revealed himself to young Skywalker. He'd anticipated the arrival of the Jedi, had thoroughly enjoyed liquidating several of them, and had drawn out the fight with Mace Windu long enough for the arrival of 'the Chosen One.' Yes, he'd known the young man would come and he'd have to make a decision as to where his loyalties were: to the Jedi, or to the one who could help him the most. He'd felt a surge of triumph when he caught Anakin's hand sliding towards his lightsaber – he'd known then and there that all the years of planning and secrecy were coming to an end.
What he had not counted on, however, was Skywalker's powers of persuasion – or should he say, Master Windu's capacity for mercy. It had momentarily surprised him that the Jedi Master would go so far as to spare him. He had also caught the same look on Anakin, as well as something like relief. Skywalker had still needed him, had still hungered for his knowledge on how to stave off death. He was momentarily uncertain, and almost took it as a way to lower whatever defenses he had left. Before attempting anything, he could hear the Force whisper to him, telling him that this was all but a detour to his plans.
Palpatine had said not a word as they all waited until the aircar Windu had called for arrive right outside his window. They had all ridden in silence towards their destination. Even with a sizzling lightsaber so close to his person, Palpatine hadn't been able to suppress a surge of excitement as he had watched the Jedi Temple, symbol of everything his Order had despised. As Supreme Chancellor, he had in the past visited many times – he had just never thought he would be arriving at the Temple to be incarcerated.
As they approached, the beginnings of a new plan began to coldly unfold in Palpatine's mind. The Sith Order had survived one thousand years of hiding from the Jedi. One reason for this was the ability to plan for nearly all possible contingencies. Even a Sith would have to admit that there was no such thing as a 'perfect plan', but sometimes opportunities arose that, if played right, could reap far greater benefits than had originally been planned for. Already, the first steps had already been taken. There was, Palpatine thought, certain definite advantages to being the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. Everything had still hinged on one person – one who just might need some added encouragement.
Sidious smiled thinly, regarded the mirror before him in the interrogation room and waited for his Jedi 'captors' to make the next move.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Mace Windu stared through the one-way partition at the member of an order that, before ten years ago, had once been considered extinct. The thought that the head of the entire Republic – and before that a Senator of Naboo – had been able to achieve such power right under the collective noses of the entire Jedi Order was too staggering to comprehend. A small voice in his head wondered that if Palpatine had been able to keep his powers hidden for so long, especially in front of the Jedi's best, Master Yoda, what did that say as to the power he truly wielded? Mace shook his head from such dark thoughts, though he couldn't help a nagging feeling that sparing the Sith Lord might not been the right thing to do.
Turning back, he faced all the remaining masters available in the Temple who stood around him in a side room next to the interrogation area. To his right was the Jedi sword master and instructor Cin Drallig, whose deep blue eyes, set in a thin face and framed by long silver hair, gazed out at the prisoner. Although not a member, his proficiency with a lightsaber was on par with almost everyone on the Jedi Council. Taught by Master Yoda, and then having taught Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, Drallig's perspective would be much needed by Mace. Next to the instructor, stood the Chief Librarian, Jocasta Nu. Having once served on the Council for ten years, she'd only taken up the mantle of Librarian for the Jedi Archives just some years before the Clone Wars. She now simply stood with her arms crossed and staring out at Palpatine with a keen look in her eye. Lastly, Shaak Ti stood to Mace's left. Having recently recovered from her injuries from her role in the Battle of Coruscant, Ti now looked on edge as she stared, tight-lipped past the mirror at the occupant sitting in the interrogation room. For his part, Mace wished there were more masters around, but at the time that the Clone Wars 'ended', Jedi were still far-flung across the galaxy finishing off battles with their respective clone armies.
"It's simply incredible," Cin Drallig said with a shake of his head. "Even now I find it hard to believe: the Supreme Chancellor…a Sith Lord?"
"Trust me, I almost didn't survive my encounter with him," Mace said, the deaths of the other master's still fresh in his mind.
Jocasta Nu, ever the seeker of knowledge, said, "To think what he must know…after a thousand years of secrecy…imagine the Archives his Order must have?"
"With respect," Mace started, "but I have more pressing issues: Does he have another apprentice somewhere or what were his plans once the war had ended?"
"Why didn't you," Shaak Ti asked quietly, "kill him, I mean?"
Everyone looked at Master Ti, Mace especially catching something in her voice.
"Skywalker…made an irrefutable argument," Windu replied.
Master Ti blinked. "Argument?" she repeated hollowly. "Master Windu, I fought against General Grievous on Hypori and then just recently here on Coruscant. Do you want to know what the Chancellor was doing during the Separatist attack and just before Grievous attempted to kidnap him? Do you?" She turned and looked each and every one of the Jedi around her, her dark eyes flashing.
"The leader of the Republic was doing nothing more…than drinking tea, while mere miles away hundreds of clones and many Jedi were dying to keep the hordes of battle droids at bay. I and two other Jedi fled all across this planet, while protecting that man," – she pointed out the mirror – "and trying to flee the droid general and his bodyguards. I would have laid my life down for him and now I can't help thinking that throughout the entire…joke of a rescue, we were being laughed at." The Jedi Master's tone was quiet, almost casual, but none around her could mistake the sheer frustration in her profound statement. If not by her words, some could tell by her lekku twitching in anger. "How many times have we or the entire Jedi Council stood before Palpatine, not once having the slightest inkling as to what he was and following his orders, sending many of us to our deaths while thinking we were doing something in the name of the Republic?" Shaak Ti shook her head and stared out at Palpatine. "It may be that you have done more harm than good by letting him live, Master Windu."
No one said anything since, deep down, he or she felt something similar. Mace gently placed a hand on the other's shoulder.
"Shaak Ti, we have all lost something and someone during this war and there are none alive who can say that this conflict has left them unscathed. None feels it more – with the exception of Master Yoda – than I. Palpatine stood only feet away from me when we all paid our respects to Master Jinn when he fell to the Sith back on Naboo – I even remember specifically asking Yoda who had been destroyed: the master or the apprentice? Also, we were all there, three years ago, when we told the Chancellor that we were servants of the peace, not soldiers. Even Yoda could not see if it would come to war, due to the clouding of the dark side." Mace sighed. "Who knew the source of it all was the man before us?"
Shaak Ti brought a hand up and squeezed Mace's, then she turned her orange and beige colored face to face him.
"I'm sorry, Master Windu, I let my emotions control me for a moment."
Mace shook his head, a tired smile gracing his features. "No apologies are needed. Considering what we've all just found out, I think even Yoda would excuse a lapse in control. Now then," he said looking around at the others, "what are we to do, now?" All four once again regarded the man seated quietly in the table.
Cin Drallig shook his head, his waist long hair moving slightly. "The question is: what can we do? We don't have a full Council available. Master Kenobi is mopping up on Utapau and Master Yoda is still on Kashyyyk, to name a few."
"Have you tried contacting them?" Mace asked.
"We've tried, but for some reason nothing is getting through."
Mace frowned. He didn't like the idea of the Temple being cut off from the rest of the Jedi. It was possible that the Separatists were at fault, but then again…
"There is, if memory serves, a precedent to this," Jocasta Nu slowly ventured. "There are references in the Archives of the Jedi Council capturing a Sith Lord some four thousand years ago during the Jedi Civil War. Although close to death, she was revived and her memory was readjusted and given a completely new personality so that she could help the Jedi of the time to find and defeat her apprentice."
"Such techniques have not been done for hundreds of years," Master Ti said. "And even if we wanted to attempt it, we could not since we would need the combined talents of all Council members."
Chief Librarian Nu simply gave a small shrug. It was her duty to provide information; it fell onto others to do with it as they will.
Master Windu straightened. "Get to the communication center and keep trying to contact Master Yoda," he said, looking at Master Drallig. "Master Nu, please awaken and gather all the younglings at a place of your choosing. I would not be surprised if one or all may start sensing what we may be holding here. The last thing we need is confusion or panic. Go."
Both masters left and Mace then turned to Master Ti, whose eyes flickered from Palpatine to him.
"You're going to question him," she said quietly.
Mace nodded. "I was going to go alone, but after what I remember back at his office, I'd like you as backup. Masters Drallig and Nu have no battle experience outside of their fields, but you, among other things, have survived two encounters with General Grievous."
"Barely," Master Ti said in a self-effacing tone.
Mace gave a tight-lipped smile, but quickly turned solemn. "I need you focused, Ti. We may be talking with the last living member of the Sith, but that makes him no less powerful. Are you ready?"
Shaak Ti took a deep breath and nodded. Satisfied, Mace turned and punched a key code next to a door, which opened. Both walked into the room.
Mace entered quietly. Both he and Shaak Ti noticed that Palpatine paid neither any mind as his eyes were closed, almost as if he were in a state of deep meditation. Only when Mace pulled a chair noisily away from the table, did the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic open his eyes. He looked across at the seated master as well as Shaak Ti standing behind and to the left of Windu.
Master Ti couldn't quite suppress a wave of revulsion as she watched those eyes look over and through her. Standing so close to this man, she still couldn't stifle a slight thrill of anger when she remembered how she'd sent her fellow Jedi away with Palpatine as she held off scores of Grievous' personal bodyguards. The Chancellor had even gone so far to say that her sacrifice would never be forgotten and that she would be remembered in the Jedi Archives. She shook herself mentally, once again reminding herself that Palpatine had, up until now, all of them fooled.
As if reading the Jedi Master's mind, Palpatine face broke out into a smile – a smile that may have once been charming and guileless, but was now a sickening parody of its former self.
"Master Windu," he said, with a regal nod, "and Master Shaak Ti. How are you, my dear? Hopefully all recovered from your injuries received during our…'flight' across the planet?"
Yes, he did know which buttons to press. Shaak Ti said nothing, keeping her face impassive.
Palpatine glanced down at the force binders. "I must admit, though, to feeling somewhat reminiscent given my current circumstances. Although, I do confess," – he glanced around at the room – "that the view was far more interesting on General Grievous' ship."
Mace laced his fingers before him and leaned forward. "Your comfort should be the least of your worries, my lord." Windu couldn't help making a scornful emphasis on the Sith's title. "We need to know which senators you have influence over? Also…is there another apprentice out there?"
"Ah," Palpatine drew out that one syllable. "So, it's to be an interrogation, is it? Please excuse my memory, but I was under the impression that under the Articles of the Constitution, kidnapping a Republic official – let alone the Supreme Chancellor – is a capital crime?"
Mace's eyes narrowed. "You are not the Chancellor, you are a Sith Lord. Your very existence is to corrupt and ultimately topple the Republic."
Palpatine blinked at this statement and then he, after a moment and quite unexpectedly, began to chuckle.
"Oh, Master Windu, I had no idea you had such a developed sense of humor." He chuckled for a few moments longer until he shook his head at the two Jedi. "Do you truly believe that the Sith are completely responsible for the state of corruption in the Republic? Although flattering, you attribute far too much to the Order. The Galactic Republic has been in a downward spiral for the last thousand or so years." Palpatine's eyes flashed. "The Jedi were just too blind to see it. I, on the other hand, came along to speed up the process to mitigate as much of the damage as possible."
"Mitigate the damage?" Master Ti repeated incredulously. "This war has touched millions of lives, scores of worlds – and you have the nerve to say it's helping the Republic?"
Palpatine looked up at the Togruta Jedi Master and adopted a tone of someone talking to a slow-learning child. "As I have said, the Republic is far beyond help. Within a few years, or perhaps a hundred, a war would have inevitably occurred. As to your other statement: With all due respect, I would have to argue that I am, indeed, the Supreme Chancellor. We are, of course, a democracy and I was elected into office. If there is anyone to truly blame for me as well as the political situation – " He negligently waved his hand, indicating the world at large, or more to the point, the public.
"Is there another apprentice?" Windu said, not liking the tangent the conversation had taken.
Palpatine looked to consider the question, and then said, "Dooku was the last." He then smiled and shook his head. "He played his part so well – unwittingly, actually. So easy to turn and just as easy to discard. You should have seen the look on his face just before he died."
Mace had to consciously keep his fist from clenching. Before Dooku had left the order, Mace had admired and respected the elder Jedi Master. While he had never truly seen eye to eye with Dooku, even after he left the Order, it had still shocked Mace to see his fall to the dark side. But what made him almost pity the man was that while Dooku may have thought he was to be part of some new order, he'd never known that he was simply being manipulated all along.
"What was to happen once the war ended?" Mace asked suddenly.
Palpatine smiled at the question. "Ah, now that is a question I'm afraid I cannot answer."
"Can't or won't?"
The Chancellor shrugged. "The answer would not do you much good, and I highly doubt you will stoop so low as to torture me, since that as well is forbidden by Republic law." He stopped and smiled his goading smile once more. "Unless you plan on using a droid so as to not soil those sanctimonious robes of yours?"
Mace narrowed his eyes. Even if he wanted to entertain such a…barbaric idea, his only recourse with such a creature before him would be to use techniques involving the Force. Again, however, if Palpatine could have stood in plain sight in front of the entire Jedi Council with no one the wiser, then his powers of deceit and obfuscation might just be on par to challenge their greatest.
Abruptly, Mace stood and beckoned Shaak Ti to follow. Once the door slid behind him he said, "Keep an eye on him and don't leave for any reason."
Master Ti nodded. "What will you do?"
"There's one more person I need to talk to before I decide anything with regards to Palpatine," Mace said grimly, before turning and heading for the nearest turbolift.
-Continued-