I would just like to thank everybody for the reviews and comments. They are very much appreciated and it's always nice to know people are enjoying your stories. I hope you all like these last few chapters…
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or anything Star Wars related.
CH. 9
"NEGOTIATIONS"
Bail Organa stood firm and proud as a group of battle droids swarmed into his office and surrounded him. Keeping their blasters trained on him, they moved aside and allowed an imposing figure to step through the already opened doors.
General Grievous.
The bionic Separatist leader stood several feet taller than the human Senator and had a much broader build, but his menacing presence did nothing to dissuade his new hostage from speaking as if he were dealing with nothing more than another of the countless politicians he had dealt with in the past…he would not be intimidated.
"General Grievous, I presume," Bail addressed the advancing General with a neutral expression.
"Senator Organa," Grievous scowled, stopping in front of his prisoner and glaring down at him. "It is over. The Republic will surrender all power to me and grant me unconditional control of the systems within its jurisdiction or suffer the consequences."
"The Senate will not be bullied into doing anything of the sort, General. We will not bend to the whim of a dictator. I offer the Trade Federation the opportunity to surrender to the Republic," Bail retorted without hesitation. "If you order the immediate cease and desist of any further action and relinquish your command over the Separatist army without resistance, the courts may be lenient and allow you a trial by jury for the war crimes you have committed."
"Believe me, Senator…" Grievous arrogantly replied. "I have no intentions of disbanding my army."
"That is most unfortunate for you," Bail said as he skeptically glanced around at the droids gathered in the room. "Tell me, General, are all of these soldiers really necessary? Let us be civil about this. Can we not discuss the matters at hand like gentlemen?"
A deep chuckle sounded from Grievous' throat before he turned his back to the Senator and started out of the office. "The time for talking is over."
Bail glanced over his shoulder with obvious irritation after being nudged in the back by a battle droid.
"Move it," the droid ordered, keeping the barrel of its blaster pressed against the curve of his spine.
Obi-Wan swiftly deflected the onslaught of blaster fire flying in his direction. Droid after droid dropped to the ground as he sent their own shots sailing back at them, pressing forward and growing closer to the center of the relentless group moving in on him. The assault seemed like it would never end. Battle droids flooded the streets of Coruscant and more of them just kept coming – making it impossible for the Jedi Knight to gain any ground.
Slicing through several of his attackers with the glowing blade of his lightsaber, he realized he was grossly outnumbered and had no hope of stopping the invasion by himself. It would be impossible for him to stop all of them on his own. However, he knew he had to hold them at bay or innocent lives would be lost and that was not something he was not willing to let happen.
He expertly flipped through the air and cut down more droids while he attempted to come up with a plan.
I am not left with a whole lot of options, he thought. Either I keep defending these people or they all die. There is no one else here to protect them.
Looking around for the first time since the start of the battle, Obi-Wan noticed that most of the pedestrians had all gone. The streets were practically devoid of any life other than the Separatist forces and himself.
Well, I'm in quite a situation now, but at least they were able to escape. With any luck I will be able to do the same. I will need nothing short of a miracle to get out of this one…
Just then – as if the Force itself had heard his silent pleas for help and decided to answer his call – the battle droids were suddenly stormed by a squad of clone troopers and their numbers immediately diminished.
The armored guardians of the Republic fearlessly charged into the mass of cybernetic soldiers and rapidly opened fire, skillfully and tactfully taking them out of the battle. Obi-Wan continued to lend his assistance and fought alongside them until the enemy threat had been eliminated.
He let out a sigh of relief as he inspected the droids that were no longer left standing. "I must say, you have impeccable timing."
Deactivating his lightsaber, he wiped the sweat from his brow and saw a familiar face rushing through the group of troopers towards him.
"Padme?" he asked in shock and confusion. "Padme, what in blazes are you doing here? It isn't safe to be out in plain sight – "
"Obi-Wan, listen to me," Padme cut him off before he could finish his protest. "We have to get to the senators as soon as possible."
"The senators?" Obi-Wan questioned, clearly not understanding the meaning of her urgent statement.
"Captain!" she called out to a nearby trooper. Within a matter of seconds he was at her side. "Tell Master Kenobi what you told me."
"The Separatists have rounded up numerous senators and representatives of the Republic residing on Coruscant," the trooper explained. "We have pinpointed their location and are awaiting our orders."
"General Grievous has been spotted on planet," Padme added.
Obi-Wan stroked his bearded chin while he lost himself deep in thought. "Grievous? I wouldn't think he would oversee this attack personally. What is he planning?"
"I don't know, but we have to stop him before it's too late," Padme quickly replied, watching the perplexed Jedi while he contemplated what to do next. "If he succeeds in whatever it is he came to do, it could very well mean the end of the Republic."
"You're absolutely right," Obi-Wan finally said as he clipped his lightsaber back onto his belt. "We had better hurry. Lead the way, Captain."
"Yes, sir."
Anakin tightly gripped the controls of his starfighter and struggled to maintain his path. An enemy fighter had managed to graze his wing, his R4 unit screaming in surprise as the blast violently shook the hull of the ship.
"Take it easy, Artoo, it's only a scratch," Anakin assured the small droid.
It let out a series of indignant whistles at the use of the improper name.
"Sorry, old habit."
Swooping out of the path of another attempt to hit his starfighter, he whirled around and caught his pursuer in his direct line of fire.
"You could use some practice," he remarked in triumph, peering out of the cockpit of his fighter at the scattered debris left in the wake of the explosion his proton torpedo had created. "If they keep this up – "
Suddenly, a powerful tremor in the Force hit him, almost leaving him breathless. His R4 unit curiously beeped and chirped.
"Nothing, I'm fine," he replied.
What was that? he asked himself, not sure what to make of the troubling disturbance. Something is wrong…but what?
Then it dawned on him.
"Arfour, set a course for Coruscant!" he exclaimed as he instinctively turned his starfighter around and soared away from the full scale battle he was engaged in. "We have to get back as soon as possible!"
The obedient droid voiced an affirmative and plotted the course for their new destination without delay.
Bail intently studied the frightened faces of his fellow politicians while they nervously waited. Senators were lined along either side of the long table that rested in the center of the dimly lit room, two of Grievous' bodyguard droids standing at the head of it with electrostaffs in hand. The third stood at the door that led into the unsettling room – its metallic frame illuminated by the glow of the energy that coursed through its own weapon.
All eyes turned to the door when it hissed and slid open.
General Grievous drifted through them and purposely strode towards the table. "Senators, I thank you all for coming."
"What is the meaning of this, General?" Bail impatiently questioned.
"Allow me to explain," Grievous said as he looked over the occupants seated at the table. "The Republic will rule no longer. I have conquered your allied forces; your futile attempts to stop me have failed. I give you the option of honorable surrender…or death."
"You cannot seriously expect us to agree to these outrageous terms," one of the senators shakily spoke up.
"You will agree or you will die," Grievous retorted. "All traitors to the new empire will be executed under charges of treason and will be punished by the full extent of the law."
"You will never – "
The senator began to reply, but was instantly silenced as one of the bodyguard droids impaled him with its staff.
"You are far too negative, Senator," Grievous commented, satisfied to see the politicians limp body slump down in his seat. The lethal droid stepped back and once again resumed its position at the head of the table. "From now on you will not speak unless spoken to. It would be very unfortunate to – "
Now it was the Separatist leader who was interrupted. He snapped to attention as the window to the room shattered and a familiar Jedi emerged from the outside of the building.
"General Kenobi!"
Bail Organa stared at his friend in awe from the chair he sat in.
"This has gone on long enough," Obi-Wan declared, igniting his blue blade.
He patiently stood in a defensive stance and awaited the bodyguard droids that predatorily drew closer…