Anakin slept with difficulty as he reached Naboo. He became agitated and annoyed with his duties. The Imperial Shuttle exited Hyperspace and landed easily on the planet's surface.
Padme walked out to greet him as he stepped down. They embraced enjoying their company for the short while they could. "I have heard so many wonderful things about you, how you got rid of the corruption," Padme said pleased.
"It wasn't easy," Anakin told her drained.
Padme frowned in concern as the job of Chancellor was taking a toll on her husband. "Let's go inside," she suggested.
Inside the Theed palace Padme made a room for herself with the twins. Nurses carefully looked over the twins when Padme was gone. Anakin stared at the two twins. "They're so small, so helpless," Padme observed.
"Yet I can feel their presence wherever we go," Anakin said.
Padme and Anakin walked through the valley, leaving behind civilization. "Binks is performing well in your absence," Anakin told her.
"I should get back to the Senate," Padme admitted.
"You could stay here, away from all the politics and fighting," Anakin suggested.
"It wouldn't be fair to the people who elected me. We could both go back to Coruscant, raise the children there," Padme suggested.
In truth Anakin wasn't happy with Padme in the Senate, many of his policies she might personally oppose. "All right, the Jedi Temple should be reconstructed within a few months, the children can be raised to be like Jedi," Anakin relented.
"We're not giving them up are we?" Padme asked fearfully. It was common for parents to never see their children again after joining the Jedi.
"No, I will change that rule. It's the bonds we have that make us stronger," Anakin reasoned.
When everyone was asleep Anakin set up a hologram projector in the Theed palace. "Yes Admiral Thorn," Anakin answered.
"The Fleet is ready to conduct your operation," he told him.
"Good, make sure they do not escape," Anakin told him.
"Very good sir," the Admiral said disappearing from view.
"What was that about?" Padme yawned entering the room.
Anakin turned to face her surprised to see her. He hadn't sensed her coming. "The Hutts have enslaved many worlds for their own profit, I have called upon the fleet to intervene on the native's behalf," Anakin answered.
"Will many be killed?" she asked. Whenever it came to the military Padme became suspicious of their motives.
"Casualties will be minimal," Anakin assured her.
Prototype Tie fighters screamed through the atmosphere as they sent laser fire on selective areas of Nul Hutta. Tanks and troops poured into the capital city.
"There's one," a Storm trooper radioed in. The troops immediately overwhelmed the Hutts shooting them as much it was necessary to kill them.
Admiral Thorn watched passively as his fleet ripped into the Hutts' shuttles, transports, space stations, and satellites. What remained was destroyed by a wave of Tie fighter attacks.
In other areas of the Outer Rim captains turned on their territories killing Hutts wherever they could be found. Admiral Thorn turned to his map of the sector. Ships had successfully blockaded Nar Hekka, Ylesia, Sakiya, Kintan, and Nyrvona.
From Naboo
"The missions has been a success, the Hutts have been driven from the planets, the natives of each planet have been liberated," the Admiral told him.
"Allow the natives to form their own governments, soon they will elect their own Senators," Anakin instructed.
"Sir, these planets are responsible for shipping raw materials for the fleet," the Admiral observed.
"I can assure you admiral that the shipping will resume as appreciation," Anakin assured the admiral.
A week later Padme, the twins, and Anakin took the Imperial Shuttle to Coruscant. Upon arriving the family moved into Padme's Senate room. "I will be taking over from here," Padme told Jar Jar Binks.
"As yua wisha," Binks responded.
"You have done an excellent job, you will make your people proud," Padme complimented.
"The delegation of 2,000 wantsa to meet with you," Binks told her.
"That will be all," Padme said.
Binks bowed in front of Padme and went on his way.
"Delegation of 2,000?" Anakin questioned.
"We organized against the Chancellor Palpatine's dictatorship and the way he was handling the war," Padme explained.
"So why does it still exist?" Anakin asked.
"I don't know, I have been gone for some time," Padme excused.
"I can't have any more opposition, Padme," Anakin said with more force.
"This is a democracy, your going to have arguments and criticisms," Padme reasoned.
Stumped Anakin decided to work with his staff on his speech to the Senate. When Padme was away on her meeting with the Delegation Anakin ordered scans on her data pads and computers as well as wire taps in the room.
"Anakin Skywalker has taken unilateral action against several planets owned by the Hutts. This show of force against Republic planets is not legitimate and sound policy," one Senator declared.
"I have prepared a motion for the Senate to have full hearings and investigation into the matter," Senator Organa said.
"I will second the motion," another Senator said in agreement.
"We will begin our work of lobbying the other Senators to agree with this motion," Mon Mothma said. "Not a word of this should be said outside these chambers," she added.
During the meeting Padme felt very uncomfortable. "I don't know if I should attend these meetings anymore," she told Organa.
"Just the opposite, you are closest to Anakin, make him listen to reason. I trust you," he said.
When the meeting was over Imperial agents gathered their information and went to meet Anakin. He considered the information sent to him. Frustrated he called his advisors for a meeting right before he was about to speak. He created his first cabinet using Palpatine's criteria. Sate Pestage, Janus Greejatus, Sim Aloo, Ars Dangor and Kren Blista-Vanee all walked into his office ready to serve his will.
After the meeting it was decided that a new police force was needed to regulate Coruscant. In order for the Senate to approve the measure it couldn't be seen as a police force but merely a security committee that would report to the Senate committees, corruption in the Coruscant government.
Third Session
Anakin walked into the Senate dome greeted by many freshman Senators who agreed with his aggressive stance against injustice and corruption. Anakin shook their hands and smiled feeling at ease. Taking his seat as Chancellor he addressed the Senate.
"Several planets were liberated by the tyrannical Hutts. The Hutts enslaved entire races to satisfy their own greed and used Republic subsidies to continue their operations. But now justice has been served," Anakin announced.
A loud cheer could be heard. Encourage by this Anakin went a step forward. "We will begin new elections on these planets where the people of these planets will finally have their voice heard. No longer will the Senate allow entire peoples to be used as slaves for another," Anakin said.
Before Anakin could continue the Justice recognized the Senator from Sern Prime. Anakin frowned at the interruption but was not surprised. "I would like to pass a motion that there be a Senate committee to investigate usage of the Imperial fleet in this manner," he said.
Many of the Senators around him booed and hissed but he stayed his ground. "I second the motion," Senator Organa said.
Immediately the Senate buzzed, Organa was a respected member of the Senate and not to be taken lightly.
"There is no need for a vote, I will appoint a committee to look into any wrong doing," Anakin said.
Senator Organa frowned not satisfied with the concession. "We have a list already set up for the committee," he told Anakin.
"Would you accept the motion of having half of the committee appointed by me and half appointed by you," Anakin allowed.
Senator Organa considered, he knew he didn't have the votes to ask any further. "I would agree to that," he said.
"In order to stem corruption on Coruscant a new task force will be given charge to seek out and report crimes committed against the empire. It will be called the Internal Security Bureau," Anakin announced.
"I will also appoint the most qualified people to the Commission for the Preservation of the New Order," Anakin told them.
Despite objections from the pacifists the two bills passed without much debate. As Anakin exited the Senate dome Padme stopped him. "Many Senators are concerned that you're turning the Republic into a police state," she said.
"I don't want that. The two bills will be up for another vote when a new chancellor is elected," Anakin assured her. "I will be with you shortly, I have some business to do at the Jedi Temple," he told her.
Inside the Jedi temple many had applied to be Anakin's first students. Anakin had recruited and ordered a team of Grey Jedi to supervise the Jedi Temple when he was not around.
"A man strong in the force has asked to join," one of them told him.
"I will see him then," Anakin answered.
A man in dark robes paced as Anakin entered the room. "Lord Vader," he addressed.
"Who are you?" Anakin asked.
"I am Sa Cuis, with the Emperor dead I am at your service," he said.
"Show me your power," Anakin ordered taking out his light saber.
Sa Cuis obeyed taking out his double blade light saber, one glowed red, the other white. Anakin had never fought a double blade before. Taking his red light saber he clashed with Sa. Sa twirled his double blade avoiding Anakin's strikes. After several moments Anakin kicked Sa to the ground his double blade still in hand. Sa got back to his feet but not before Anakin sliced his light saber in half.
Using his remaining red blade Sa tried to take the advantage whirling the blade at Anakin. Anakin matched his moves and twirled Sa's light saber out of his hand. Anakin now had his blade at his throat.
"In time you sit on the Jedi Council, but you have much to learn," Anakin said. Sa nodded stunned by Anakin's attacks. "Fix your light saber, and remember as I have given you mercy you will give it to others," Anakin said.
"I will be leaving to Byss, inform me if necessary," Anakin instructed his aides.
Sly, Anakin, and Sa entered the shuttle. The Imperial shuttle took off from Coruscant and flew towards Byss.