Glen, Styke, and Flora descended to the second floor. They were immediately greeted by a large factory. Robotic arms and equipment were creating droids in the style of the Clone Wars. "Droids," Style hissed.
"Let's get back to the ship," Glen suggested.
The three went back towards the ship and turned on the hologram device. "A droid army is being constructed on Mustafar, we need assistance," Glen said. The Jedi council listened as Glen gave them the details.
"Do not engage the droid army, wait for reinforcements," Anakin ordered.
"Yes master," Glen said turning off the hologram.
The factory alarms went off as soon as Glen was done talking. Gizor looked at his controls, a sub space transmission had been sent near by. "Spies," he clicked.
"They're on us," Styke said as the droid army ran towards them. The three took out their light sabers and deflected bolts. They proceeded to slice into the droids. Styke pulled back and sent electricity into the droids causing them to collapse. Glen used his Force disable to send the droids to ground. They began to retreat as the droids became too much.
Glen and Flora went into the control station and tried to shut the doors. Styke remained shredding the droids as they tried to enter the room. "Got it," Flora said, the doors closed. Styke backed away from the doors. Laser blasts pounded away at the door.
"That won't hold long," Glen said grimly.
"There is a ship here," Flora pointed out.
"It's outside," Glen said.
The three looked at each other. "No choice," Styke said.
Opening the door they went outside in the searing heat. They ran down the pathway to the hanger. The droids blasted their way through the door and went after the Jedi.
The three found the ship. "One person," Glen observed.
"Flora, get in," Styke said.
"What?" she asked.
"Get out of here, we can handle it," Styke said.
Flora stared at Glen and Styke and began to activate the controls. Entering the cockpit she flew the ship out of the hanger. The droids watched the ship fly away but turned to their original targets.
"Now what?" Glen asked.
"Time for some droid slicing," Styke smirked.
Glen and Syke avoided laser fire as they ran down the pathways and hallways of the compound. Glen force pushed some droids into the fiery lava below. Soon Glen and Styke were stuck surrounded by droids on a platform. Styke and Glen force pushed explosive canisters of fuel at the droids causing some to explode and others to back away. Styke and Glen were at each other's backs deflecting laser fire.
"This could be it," Glen speculated.
"It was a pleasure," Styke said sarcastically. He shot off his last lighting burst at the droids before having to rely on his light saber.
A droid shot a canister which exploded near Glen. Glen fell off the platform. Styke grabbed him as he was about to fall into the lava. The droids fired on Styke blasting holes in his back. Styke grunted in pain as they ripped into his robes.
Gizor suddenly stop the droids. "Only two of you," Gizor clicked and hissed.
"Imperial spies, Jedi no doubt," Gizor said with disdain.
"You might be more valuable alive," Gizor considered. In the pause Styke pulled Glen back onto the platform but was unable to do much else.
Gizor placed Glen and Styke in energy cages. Styke hung in the force field while Glen considered what to do.
"Are you awake?" Gizor touched Styke. He muttered something in return. "You will tell me what I want to know," Gizor stated.
"Tell me about the Death Star," Gizor demanded.
"I am not telling you anything," Styke said.
"You are a strong one, what if I torture your friend?" Gizor asked.
"Go ahead, I didn't like him anyway," Styke answered.
Gizor activated a machine that sent waves of pain through Glen's body. Glen yelled out in pain as the energy went through him.
"Will you tell me now?" Gizor asked.
Styke smiled. "As I said before, he means nothing to me," he spat.
"Perhaps I am talking to the wrong person," Gizor considered.
"Tell me about the Death Star, what does Vader want it for?" Gizor asked.
Glen shook his head. Immediately waves of pain went through Styke's body. Glen turned away as Styke yelled out in pain, his injuries already exhausting his will. Gizor continued more and more pain went through Styke.
"Okay," Glen said finally.
"It's a new type of ship, a star cruiser," Glen lied. In fact he knew nothing about the Death Star.
"No my friend, this is not a ship, it's a battle station," Gizor said sending another wave into Styke.
Styke couldn't take it any more. He shot lighting at the controls disabling them. He fell like a rag doll on the floor. Glen force pushed Gizor back and picked up Styke. Gizor got up and pushed a remote activating the droids.
Glen struggled as he carried a limping Styke towards the landing pad. "Leave me," Styke said as he could barely walk.
"We're a team," Glen said.
"Your funeral," Styke muttered.
Droids rushed them but before they could fire at them Storm troopers shot them down. A storm trooper took Styke out of the battle. Flora was in the mix slicing through the droids. She found Glen within the battle. "Glen!" she said embracing him. "You're alive, and Styke," she asked.
"He's okay," Glen said weakly.
The storm troopers destroyed the remaining droids and gutted the droid factory. They then found Gizor and killed him on the spot.
Chancellor Election
Padme Skywalker entered the race to become the next chancellor. Anakin's advisors insisted that he try to change the constitution so that he could serve another term. Anakin refused but told them he would be his wife's advisor.
With Anakin's endorsement and the backing of the Loyalist Padme faced the Delegation opponent Garm. The two former colleagues argued in spirited debates, but the election was already assured. Padme won easily in the polls.
"I now step down as your chancellor," Anakin announced.
"I love democracy; I love the Republic, and as a sign that stability has returned to the galaxy a peaceful transition of power will occur today. I introduce to you the next Chancellor, Padme Skywalker," Anakin said.
The Senate cheered as Padme in an elegant black dress took the Chancellor's position. She gave a powerful speech of a plea for unity in the Senate and promised to keep in place many of her husband's policies much to the dismay of the Delegation.
BBY 10
In the beginning of the year with Padme's formal inauguration she kept most of Anakin's advisors including the inner circle. Sate had misgivings secretly wanting the chancellor position for himself. Anakin became an advisor along with his duties as a Jedi Master on the Jedi Council.
Padme quickly made executive orders to terra form and repair damaged planets and to expand the Imperial military's presence in the galaxy by providing relief and medicines to impoverished worlds. While greatly assisting populations it also allowed greater control of the military.
Padme also celebrated the annexing of Maridun, Amanim, and Dressel into the empire although Padme liked to call the empire, the "Republic."
On a vacation retreat Padme and the family visited Travnin to see the swoop races. Nine year old Luke was in the swoop race, it was Anakin's idea. An excited Luke was loaded into the racer with C-3PO's assistance. "I remember when I helped master Anakin into his racer," he said.
Padme, Anakin, and Leia were given a special booth. Senator Organa was with them, the senator had become close to Padme in their political discussions. It was Organa's belief that reform could only start from the inside.
"Which one is Luke?" Leia asked using binoculars.
"It's the red one," Padme said pointing him out. She had objections to the racing but Anakin and Luke were both in agreement. This was the galactic tournament. "Set any bets?" Anakin asked Organa.
"Oh, I'm not a betting man," Organa said.
Behind the scenes mob leaders got together. "One of the racers is a Jedi," one of them said worried.
"He's only nine, I doubt he will win," another said.
"Let's make sure, detonate the track if he wins the first round," the mob leader said giving one of them the remote.
Luke pushed the accelerator as the lights flashed green. The racer had been built by Anakin himself, it was perfect in design. "I can't see him," Leia complained.
"Don't use your eyes," Anakin said taking her binoculars. "See through the Force," Anakin told her.
"Do you see now?" Anakin asked.
"Yes," Leia said happily. "He's winning," she said.
Organa stared at the young child, her abilities amazed him.
Luke sped past his competitors and went for the second pass. One racer tried to nudge him off the track. Luke flipped over the antagonizing racer and with a boost of speed completed the second pass. The track itself was suspended on pillars so that the crowd could see the race at eye level.
Luke past the third pass winning the race. Immediately Padme clapped for her son. Organa also clapped politely, he was impressed.
"The Second race will begin shortly," the announcer boomed through the stadium.
Once his racer was refueled Luke got back into his racer. "Ready for me to win another one?" Luke asked C-3PO. "Be careful master Luke," the protocol droid told him.
Luke put the visor over his head and grabbed the controls. The green light flashed, Luke took off at high speed. Suddenly there was an explosion underneath the track causing the pillars to collapse. Racers were flung off the track and went into the crowds exploding upon impact. Another racer lost control and was headed into the crowd near Anakin's booth. Anakin raised his hand to keep the racer from hitting the stands and laid it down safely.
This distraction made it impossible for Anakin to deal with Luke. Luke using all of his Jedi skills and reflexes flipped out of his racer as it exploded into a wall. His right hand used the Force allowed him to bounce off the track and give him a safe landing. Luke looked around and saw the track collapse around him. Luke fell underneath the track, the rubble fell on him.
"Luke!" Padme screamed as the track collapsed.
"I want people down there now," Anakin ordered.
The Royal Guard descended on the spot to find the so called "prince" of the empire. Luke using the Force threw off the rubble and walked toward the guards. He was dusty and his clothes torn, but otherwise okay.
Padme embraced her son once she got down to the bottom level. "How can you be so calm," Organa asked Leia off hand.
"I could sense him, he was never in danger," she said walking toward her father.
Organa shook his head not understanding. "Inquisitors," he called forth.
"Yes, your grace," two came to his aid. "This wasn't an accident, investigate it fully," he ordered.
"Yes sir," they said departing from him.
High Inquisitor Tremayne was in his office on Coruscant, a hologram appeared on his desk.
"We have found those responsible for the collapse of the track," they concluded. "Shall we arrest them?" they asked.
"No need, kill them immediately," Tremayne ordered.
Tremayne turned off the hologram and went towards the holding cells on Coruscant to interrogate a certain Jedi exile.