Ok, a short chapter, especially following the last couple of posts. There are two chapters left, and I will get at least one of them posted by tonight, if not both. Again, thank you all for all of your reviews and kind words.

Chapter 16-Will of the Senate

Confusion reigned in the chamber as the Senators of the Empire emerged from their long hibernation. Even in the age of the Republic it had been a machine of corruption, and the purges of the Empire rid the body of mostly anyone with integrity and democratic values. What remained were the old Supreme Chancellor's most fanatic followers as well as a cadre of younger ideologues seduced by what seemed to be the unlimited supply of power offered by the Empire.

Bail Organa was one of the few uncorrupted ones who still held firm to his heart the ideals of the Old Republic, but unlike the extremists, he was a man willing to compromise for the benefit of the galaxy. A brilliant politician in his own right, Bail always preferred the power of righteous persuasion as opposed to the more popular method of manipulation. However, he knew that the presentation that he now gave preyed at the hearts gathered in the panicked room.

Even the most convinced followers of the Emperor had been shocked at the action that played out right before their eyes. To see their beloved Emperor fighting with a lightsaber with the quickness and agility of a young man disproved any held perceptions they had of him, but the dark lightning that poured out of his hands sent chills even down the bravest of souls. The more knowledgeable ones recognized those abilities as one belonging to historical Sith Lords, the realization striking a tender cord in their cognitive processes. The Sith were known to have been the sworn enemies of the Republic and many times came within only a few drops of fate from destroying it completely. Unfortunately, few made the connection that this new Sith Lord had succeeded, albeit briefly, where his predecessors had not.

The evidence offered by Senator Organa worked to seal the diminishing legacy of Palpatine. With the fact that the old Chancellor had been a Sith, there was no more need for Bail to present the evidence he had gathered on Yavin IV identifying Palpatine as the Dark Lord Sidious. Despite this, many of the Senators were not preoccupied with the ancient wars. They had made their marks and careers on the new ones, and even with what they just witnessed, they still harbored some aspects of admiration towards the Emperor as a wise leader who guided the Republic through the turbulent years of the Clone Wars. Perhaps he wasn't all bad, they now thought, but he was corrupted by power, a sentiment that the gathered were all too familiar with.

The last shards of that admiration shattered when it was established by the honorable Senator Organa that Palpatine had created the Separatist threat by himself in order to secure his hold over the ruling body. Even his original election lost its credibility as it was revealed that he had masterminded an invasion of his own planet in order to gain the sympathy votes.

With all their illusions vanished, the still traumatized members of the Senate awoke to a future that seemed even darker than the years that just recently had passed them over. Though they were barely a year into the Galactic Empire, there was already a complete dearth of leaders in the chamber who possessed any vision or initiative. Most of these men and women were drawn to their present occupations by the worship of power. Power for themselves, of course, but power from themselves, even more so. They were comfortable in the presence of one as powerful as the Emperor Palpatine as they were able to absolve whatever qualms they had about their own personal responsibilities, instead leaving it all into the hands of one who proclaimed his wisdom above all others.

Power was the key to unlock their hearts. Power was what these Senators needed to fill the holes in their souls. And to their relief, they had just witnessed the greatest display of power ever recorded in the history of sentience.

It began as a loud murmur even in the midst of Bail Organa's presentation. In the indecisive confusion that followed the murmur began to take its shape as the one true voice of reason. To the dismay of the honorable Senator from Alderaan, its momentum seemed to be gaining strength without end.

Padme had learned long ago to never be surprised by what her husband could do. There was no need to thank him for saving her life once again. She wanted to do so, but knew that he cared not for her gratitude as much as the simple fact that they were together.

It was over. The nightmare had passed. It felt like a great weight had been lifted off the shoulders of the galaxy, never to return its burden again. Padme felt free now, free of a feeling of dread that seemed to have haunted her all her life, a tingling feeling on her neck that always seemed to make her look around for the culprit, even though she could never find it. It was that feeling of doubt that made her question the choices she made late into the hours of the morning. It was the feeling despair whenever something in the Galaxy went wrong and she could do nothing about it. They were feelings that never crossed her conscious thoughts when they were present, but now were glaringly noticeable after they had been purged.

There was only the now, and it was magnificent. To be in her Anakin's arms, to bury her face deep into his shoulders, to feel his gentle hand stroke her hair and then finally, his lips in hers. She devoured them, knowing that her hunger would never be fully quenched in this lifetime. They were together. They were free. They were in love, and the entire galaxy was watching in adoration. All senses of privacy disappeared in a fleeting moment as Padme wanted to shout at the top of her lungs her happiness, to proclaim for the world their love, to tell everyone watching that the great Anakin Skywalker and his lips belonged to her and her alone. But she did none of all that. She only kissed him back in endless bliss. Words were not necessary, as their actions accomplished more than whatever speech they could give.

The burden of secrecy was finally over. Let the adoring galaxy share their love and fawn over their joy to their desperate hearts' content. Only her and her Anakin knew the secret, and that was that no mere galaxy was vast enough to contain their feelings for each other.

But the galaxy was a demanding mistress, and it soon forced itself in as a wedge in between their rapture. The galaxy demanded more of them, and the Senators demanded their new Emperor. It was an almost spontaneous coronation already set in stone even without the consent of the coronated.

And it was Padme's worst fear. To see her husband seduced again by the promise of unlimited power. As the chants grew louder, the action of ignoring the will of the mob was approaching impossibility. They withdrew from their kiss, and Padme saw her husband in deep concentration. She prayed with diminishing hopes that he would not accept the crown. If he were to do so then he would betray all the ideals that she had lived her entire life for. She wondered if she could coexist with the idea of a continuing Empire, even one under the rule of her husband. What did she fear more? The loss of democracy, or the loss of the man without whom she would regress to being an empty shell of a woman? What was the meaning of her life? The ideals she believed in, or the man that she loved?

Perhaps she could learn to accept the idea of an Empire, she reasoned. A new revelation came to her as she imagined what would happen to the galaxy if these Senators weren't appeased to their full satisfaction. She doubted that these former cronies of Palpatine would willingly revert the government back to the way it was under the old Republic. And even that Senate had been hopelessly corrupt. Could she really leave the galaxy in the hands of a decaying group of conscience-less dandies who cared nothing more than lining their own pockets with money and their own hearts with power? Without a leader they would drive the galaxy to disaster together and then tear each other apart. Or a new leader could emerge. Either the Senate would appoint another Emperor to fix the mess they caused, or a new despot would rise from the chaotic ruins of the Senate. At least Anakin was her husband, and she knew that she had his ear. Perhaps with her guidance he would become a truly wise ruler.

But how could Padme be sure that Anakin would heed her words. It suddenly became more and more certain in her mind that despite her husband's love for her, his taste of power would eventually take over his soul and push her out of his life. No, she decided. It wasn't that she and the ideal of the Empire could not coexist with each other; it was that in her husband's mind, she and his ideal of power could not coexist.

"Please Anakin, if you really love me, don't accept this. I beg you, don't." She grabbed both his hands and clutched them tightly to clarify her position.

Throughout all of her tortuous analysis Anakin had been examining her with a look of curiosity and what could have almost been eagerness. He kissed her forehead to reassure her and said simply, "I will do what is needed, my Angel." He released her hands and faced the Senate.