Chapter 58
Conspiracies and Intrigues
A column of smoke billowed up into the night sky…
Flashes of light…
Screams of agony…
Screams of fear…
Screams of children…
Death and destruction…
He was running, running so hard, but the Darkness just kept spreading, and he couldn't–
Vader bolted upright and promptly fell out of bed. The shock of hitting the hard cold floor brought him to complete wakefulness, but he still was left disoriented and frightened. It took several minutes of sitting there panting and shaking before he pulled himself together enough to get up.
I hate nightmares! He thought angrily as he settled on the edge of his bed. I'd rather have naughty dreams about Padmé than nightmares about…whatever that was.
As his heart rate settled back down to normal, he puzzled over what he'd seen. The whole thing had been hazy, the sounds muted, like he'd been watching everything with cotton in his ears and a dark veil over his head. And even without the haze and muted sound, everything had seemed vague.
The emotions he'd felt though hadn't been vague. There had been terror, pain, horror, death, pretty much everything negative. And now he couldn't help but feel a rising sense of doom building up around him.
Shuddering, he glanced over at his alarm chrono and cursed softly. Ugh, it's two in the morning! Why can't I have nightmares at more convenient times, like six or seven in the morning?
Groaning, he flopped back down on his bed, burying his face in his pillow. It was far too early to be getting up so all he could really do was try to get back to sleep. Dreams, dreams go away, let me sleep until it's day…
Obi-Wan knocked on Vader's door. Normally the young man was able to get up on his own, but sometimes he needed a bit of help. Today seemed to be one of these times.
"What?" Vader grumbled when the door finally swung open after the fourth set of knocks. He looked rather tired and cranky.
"It's morning." Obi-Wan replied.
Vader looked back inside his room at his alarm chrono. "So it is," he sighed and wandered towards the refresher.
"Don't take too long in there," Obi-Wan warned cheerfully.
"Yeah, yeah!" Vader snapped back before closing the refresher door behind himself.
"Well someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning." Obi-Wan sighed and set about brewing up the morning tea.
When Vader reappeared, clean and ready to face the day, he accepted his cup of tea in silence. He sipped at it wordlessly, his eyes fixed on some imaginary point in space as he was apparently lost in thought. Something was troubling him and Obi-Wan decided to find out what that was.
"What are you thinking about?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Hm?" Vader blinked. "Oh, just some weird dream I had last night."
"A dream?" Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow.
"A nightmare really." Vader sighed. "It was really vague."
"What is it about?" Obi-Wan inquired.
"I can't say really," Vader shrugged helplessly, "but it wasn't anything good."
"Well why worry about it? It's just a dream…or nightmare." Obi-Wan wondered.
"I dunno…" Vader muttered hesitantly. "Some of my dreams have the habit of coming true. And it's always the bad ones that do." He pouted. "That's not really fair. Why don't my good dreams ever come true?"
"I don't know," Obi-Wan smiled slightly. "If this is really bothering you so much, why don't you go speak with Master Yoda? He's the closest person I know of that could be called an expert on visions."
"I just might," Vader mumbled thoughtfully. "Yeah…" And then he got up from the table and wandered off, presumably in search of Master Yoda.
Of course he runs off before the morning meditation, Obi-Wan sighed as he cleaned up the teapot and cups. Young people, he snorted as he made his way over to the little rug he preferred to kneel on while he meditated. But just before he could begin, his comm-link beeped for attention.
He sighed and answered it. "Yes?"
"Obi-Wan, is Vader there?" Master Windu asked.
"No he's not," Obi-Wan replied, "I believe he's gone to speak with Master Yoda."
"Really?" Mace murmured in surprise. "Well the next time you see him I have a message for you to pass on."
"Oh?" Obi-Wan blinked. "What is it?"
"Supreme Chancellor Palpatine requests a meeting with him and he should report to the Chancellor's office at his earliest convenience." Mace answered.
"Palpatine wants to see Vader?" Obi-Wan frowned, totally thrown. "Did he say why?"
"No, he refused to say." Mace replied, his tone worried. "Something is going on here. I suspect it may have to do with the new emergency powers that the Senate is expected to grant him today."
"Possibly," Obi-Wan sighed. "I'll tell him after the report on the Outer Rim sieges."
"Good," Mace responded. "I'll see you in this afternoon's session then. May the Force be with you."
"Yes, may the Force be with you also." Obi-Wan replied and cut the connection.
Hooking his comm-link back onto his belt, he sighed and returned to the task of meditating. It was a little more difficult that usual as his brief conversation with Mace continued to trouble him. What could the Chancellor possibly want with Vader?
Master Yoda was settled comfortably into one of his small padded stools in his meditation chamber, going through his morning meditations when he had a most unexpected visitor. There was a knock on his door that brought him back to the present. And then on the other side of the door was Vader, looking a little tired, and rather anxious.
"Welcome," Yoda blinked. "A surprise this is."
"Yeah, good morning Master Yoda." Vader nodded, taking a seat across from the aged Master.
Yoda wasn't sure what was more surprising about this spontaneous visit. The fact that it was Vader who was visiting him. Or the fact that he was here alone.
"What can I do for you?" Yoda inquired curiously.
"Well…um…I had this really weird dream last night that's been bugging me. And Master Obi-Wan recommended you so…" Vader shrugged. "Here I am."
"Ah," Yoda nodded thoughtfully. "So, this dream you have…?" He prompted.
"It's…kinda vague," Vader began uncomfortably. "But I remember seeing smoke and…there is fear, suffering, death…" He shook his head slightly as if to shake off the lingering feelings of the dream.
"Yourself you speak of, or someone you know?" Yoda inquired.
"I'm…not sure. Maybe…maybe it was a lot of people. I don't really know." Vader sighed.
"Hmm," Yoda grunted, "a simple dream this could be."
"Yeah, but…" Vader trailed off for a moment, struggling with some indecision. "There's something about this one…I don't know how to describe it, but… I've had dreams that have come true before. On Jabiim I dreamed of explosions and being alone just before Obi-Wan was captured. And when I disappeared before Ansion…that was because of some dreams I'd been suffering from that turned out to be true. This dream feels the same as those but…different somehow." He sighed deeply in frustration. "I really don't know how to describe it."
Yoda settled back in his seat and pondered this for several minutes. Vader seemed to be saying that he sometimes had prophetic dreams that came true shortly after he had them. Yet in all his meditations he hadn't seen anything that fit with Vader's descrition of his most recent dream…
"Careful you must be when sensing the future," Yoda cautioned, "always in motion it is. Meditate on this I will." He promised.
Vader didn't appear to be completely reassured. "Thank you Master Yoda." He nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."
"May the Force be with you," Yoda told him.
"And may the Force be with you," Vader bowed and left.
Yoda let out a weary sigh when he was alone once more. Vader's dream could be just that, a dream. Or it could be something more serious. The tiny Master decided to set all of his energies towards determining which it was.
Perhaps help from an old friend I will receive…
Ngh, tired… Vader fought the urge to yawn as he sat by the holo-display while Obi-Wan gave a presentation to some other Jedi Generals who were present on Coruscant. He didn't see why it had to take so long though.
I don't see why he has to go over all these details. All we need to know is that things are going our way. Saleucami has been taken care of and Master Vos has taken his forces on to Boz Pity. Really, how hard is that?
Thankfully though things seemed to be wrapping up. Obi-Wan finished giving his little presentation and all those assembled in the audience rose to depart. Vader finally let out the yawn that had been bugging him the whole time and began shutting down the holo-displays.
"Well that went well," Obi-Wan sighed when they were alone.
"Yeah," Vader agreed. Then he noticed that Obi-Wan appeared troubled. "Is something wrong?"
"The Senate is expected to vote more executive powers to the Chancellor today." Obi-Wan replied.
"So?" Vader snorted. "What else is new?" It seemed that every time they made it back to Coruscant, the Chancellor had gained (or would shortly gain) more power.
"He has also requested your presence." Obi-Wan added.
"Oh?" Vader blinked. Wait a minute… "What? What for?"
"He would not say," Obi-Wan shrugged, equally disturbed by this seemingly random request.
"This doesn't make any sense," Vader frowned. "I don't even know where his office is and he wants to see me?"
"That's what Master Windu told me this morning." Obi-Wan nodded. "All you have to do is go to the Senate building and ask one of the Senate Guard for directions."
"Right… Wait…you're not coming with me?" Vader swallowed anxiously.
"No," Obi-Wan shook his head unhappily. "He only requested you. You are no longer my Padawan, you're an independent Jedi Knight, so I have no real reason to go with you." He folded his arms within his sleeves. "Be careful."
"I will," Vader muttered worriedly. He turned and started to leave, but paused at the doorway. "Do I have to go?"
"Yes," Obi-Wan chuckled a little, "you have to go."
"Fine," Vader pouted, "I'm going."
"May the Force be with you!" Obi-Wan called at his retreating back.
Vader only waved over his shoulder. He headed for an exit that would take him near an airbus route, all the while feeling a vague sensation of impending doom building over his head. I have got such a bad feeling about this that it's not even funny…
Padmé couldn't honestly say what she thought was going to happen when she showed up for Bail's meeting in his office. So she just approached it with an open and curious mind. In the end, it still managed to throw her for a loop.
First there were introductions. She knew Bail already of course. But the others that were present were either very distant acquaintances or complete strangers.
Mon Mothma was someone she exchanged words with every now and then when they ran into each other in the Senate rotunda. The fiery-haired Human woman was the Senator of Chandrila. Padmé's main impression of the woman was that she was dedicated to her work, very serious, almost cold at times, but a good person.
Terr Taneel was another Human Senator, one who Padmé had seen a few times in the Senate, but had never actually met or spoken with before. She represented the world of Neelanon, a planet from the ancient Senex Sector. She was very quiet, a calm and cool presence that almost rivaled Mon Mothma.
Giddean Danu was the Senator for the Kuat System. His home was the source of much of the Republic's fleet, its shipyards churned out many Star Destroyers and other pieces of military equipment at great economic gain. However the dark-skinned Human seemed to be a very reasonable, practical man, though a tad bit stiff.
Fang Zar was easily the oldest one present. The aging Human Senator was the representative of Sern Prime, the political center of the Sern Sector. Despite his baggy eyes, white frizzy beard, and lazy-sounding voice, his mind seemed to still be quite sharp.
After everyone knew each others' names, Bail seated them all in the office chairs he had arranged in a circle. Padmé was especially cautious in taking her seat, careful to keep her dress from laying wrong and revealing her condition. As they all settled in, Bail's protocol droid, a model based off the basic form of a female humanoid, began offering them drinks.
Bail began the meeting with a rather shocking comment. "Now that he has the control of the Jedi Council, the Chancellor has appointed Governors to oversee all star systems in the Republic."
Padmé suspected the first half of his comment had to do with the newest powers that were up for the vote. Officially the new powers were to allow the Chancellor better communications with the Jedi Order, but Bail clearly thought they were something different altogether. Though the powers weren't yet in Palpatine's hands, they might as well be. She couldn't remember the last time the Senate had failed to increase his power. The second half of Bail's statement though…
"When did this happen?" Fang Zar asked in surprise.
"That decree was posted this morning." Bail informed him.
"Do you think he'll dismantle the Senate?" Padmé wondered worriedly.
"Why bother?" Mon Mothma sighed. "As a practical matter, the Senate no longer exists."
"The Constitution is in shreds," Giddean Danu added, "amendment after amendment."
"We cannot let a thousand years of democracy disappear without a fight." Bail quietly declared.
"What are you suggesting?" Terr Taneel asked cautiously.
"Suggesting? What – w-why I don't mean to sound like a Separatist!" Bail sputtered, a little surprised.
"We are not Separatists trying to leave the Republic, we are loyalists seeking to preserve democracy within the Republic." Mon insisted calmly.
"I cannot believe it has come to this." Padmé sighed tensely. "Chancellor Palpatine is one of my oldest advisors. He served my ambassador when I was Queen."
While she had lost some faith in the Supreme Chancellor and was certainly unhappy with how things were going, she really didn't want to think and speak so badly of him. The way these Senators were speaking of him painted him in a far worse light than she herself thought. But despite her protests, she found a good part of herself agreeing with what they said.
"Senator, I fear you have underestimated the amount of corruption that has taken hold in the Senate." Giddean frowned slightly.
"The Chancellor has played the Senators well. They know where the power lies and they will do whatever it takes to share in it." Mon declared.
"And we cannot continue debating this any longer." Bail got up from his chair and began to speak excitedly. "We have decided to do what we can to stop it. Senator Mon Mothma and I have been putting together an organization–"
"Say no more Senator," Padmé interrupted, "I understand. At this point, some things are better left unsaid."
Her mind raced at a feverish pace, outrunning Bail's little speech and drawing a good guess as to what else he would've said had she not stopped him. He was speaking of conspiracy, of forming a group that would oppose Palpatine, perhaps militarily. That was a very dangerous thing to voice, even in the safety of his own office.
"Agreed." Bail nodded, calming down. "So we will not discuss this with anyone without everyone in this group agreeing."
"That means those closest to you, even family." Mon added. "No one can be told."
Telling my family won't be a problem, Padmé mused. They're all the way over on Naboo… Moteé and Ellé won't be problems either. But Sabé and Typho…
She wasn't particularly close to her two newest Handmaidens and wasn't bothered at having to keep this secret from them. However Captain Typho and Sabé were a different story. She thought of them as friends and, even though she and Sabé weren't on the best of terms at the moment, she didn't want to hide this from them.
But this silence wouldn't last forever. When the time of plotting ended and the time for action came, she was sure she could tell them. They'd learn about all of this, just later.
"Agreed." Padmé decided firmly.
Vader chewed on the inside of his cheek nervously as he followed the directions he'd been given to the Supreme Chancellor's office. He really had no idea what to expect. And that worried him.
He reached the proper door all too soon and paused before pressing the door buzzer to collect himself. After taking a few calming breaths and locking his strongest mental shields in place, he pressed the buzzer and settled back to wait. Less than a heartbeat after letting go the button, the door opened to reveal the smiling Supreme Chancellor of the Republic.
"Ah, there you are! I've been expecting you." Palpatine smiled. "Come in, come in!"
Vader nervously stepped inside the spacious office. It was sparsely decorated, painted in black and crimson with few sculptures, paintings, and furniture. There were also several large windows, though in spite of the light they let in, some corners of the room remained dim and shadowy.
"You requested to see me, Chancellor?" Vader inquired politely, coming to the point as quickly as possible to get the whole thing over with speedily.
"Yes," Palpatine nodded, his cheerful smile fading into a worried, grim expression. "I need your help."
"With what?" Vader asked, doing his best not to frown.
"I need you to be the eyes, ears, and voice of the Republic." Palpatine informed him. "I am appointing you to be my personal representative on the Jedi Council."
Vader swore his jaw hit the floor with that pronouncement. "Why?" He asked before he could stop himself.
"Why?" Palpatine repeated. "Well why not? You are obviously very skilled and competent; you saved my life after all! And you seem to be a very bright young man."
Ah, this is insane! …Wait a minute. "I can't be on the Council. I'm only a Knight," Vader pointed out. "And besides, the Council selects its own members. They'll never accept this."
"I think they will." Palpatine declared confidently. "They need you. More than they know." He added in an almost ominous voice.
The air seemed to grow cold and heavy around him and Vader swallowed hard, tightening his shields further and struggling to order his thoughts. "I'm honored by your choice Chancellor, but I must respectfully decline. I am young and inexperienced. There are many others of the proper rank who can serve you and your needs far better than I." He said very carefully.
"The new amendment to the Constitution that grants me this new privilege makes no specific requirements of the Jedi I choose, and after much thought I have chosen you." Palpatine frowned. "I'm depending on you now to help me communicate more effectively with the Jedi Council and make sure the Republic's opinion is heard."
This is his new executive power? Crap! "You're sure of your choice? There's nothing I can say to change your mind?" Vader asked hesitantly.
"No, I am sure." Palpatine's frown deepened and he almost sounded insulted. "You are the Jedi I want for this position."
"Then I accept the position." Vader bowed humbly, hoping his agreement would soothe the Chancellor's mood. I'm doomed…
"Good," Palpatine nodded sternly. "Now take my decision to the Council. I shall call you when I need you."
Vader bowed again and forced himself not to bolt from the office, but to walk slowly and calmly. Once the door shut behind him, his shoulders sagged and he sighed deeply in growing despair. His steps began to drag as he trudged back towards the Temple.
I…am doomed…
Obi-Wan slipped into Master Yoda's meditation chamber just behind Mace Windu. Yoda and Mace had invited him to meet with them before the day's Council session and he had easily agreed. It was a great honor to be part of such a discussion with the two wise Masters and he was admittedly curious to see what it was all about.
Master Yoda was already inside, sitting on the circular stool in the middle of the room. Mace chose a seat in one corner, and Obi-Wan settled down in another corner. Yoda looked to be just coming out of deep meditation and he seemed to be deeply troubled with what he'd found.
"Moving to take control of the Jedi Council, the Chancellor is." Master Yoda proclaimed grimly, referring to the new amendment that had just been passed an hour ago.
"I sense a plot to destroy the Jedi." Mace added in a voice just as grim. "The Dark Side of the Force surrounds the Chancellor."
"There is a massive shift in the Force." Obi-Wan mused. "We all feel it."
Even just this morning during his usual meditation he'd felt it. The Force, once a calm river of Light and peace, was now a churning white-water rapid, full of 'whirlpools' and other sorts of violent currents. It was now impossible to see anything in it. And it was only getting worse.
"On theories such as these, speculation is all we have. Proof we need, before taking this to the Council." Yoda decided.
"The proof will come when Grievous is gone." Obi-Wan stated with confidence that he didn't entirely feel. At least I hope so…
"If the Chancellor doesn't end this war after the destruction of General Grievous, he should be removed from office." Mace declared darkly.
Obi-Wan inhaled sharply. "Arrested?" Is that really necessary?
But then he rubbed at his beard and thought about it. The Chancellor was gathering up power and seemed to have some connection to the Dark Side. If he didn't relinquish his temporary dictatorship, then…
"To a dark place this line of thought will carry us. Mmm, great care we must take." Yoda warned.
Mace and Obi-Wan both nodded in agreement. Merely contemplating the things thatthey were was very dangerous. Obi-Wan prayed they would never have to follow the line of thought that Master Yoda spoke of.
What is this galaxy coming to that we have to consider these possibilities?
Less than a half hour after his meeting with the Supreme Chancellor, Vader found himself standing before the Jedi Council. His sense of personal doom had not dissipated any; in fact it had only grown. They were going to refuse or fight this appointment somehow and he had the sinking feeling he was going to be stuck in the middle.
Taking a deep breath, he announced the Chancellor's decision to the assembled Masters. Once he finished, he waited for their reaction with mounting anxiety. Their response was not what he expected.
"Allow this appointment lightly, the Council does not." Master Yoda declared sternly. "Disturbing is this move by Chancellor Palpatine."
You're telling me! "I understand." Vader nodded respectfully.
"You are on this Council." Master Windu informed him. "But we do not grant you the rank of Master."
"Y-yes Master." Vader stammered in surprise. What the heck? They're actually letting me sit on the Council?
"Take a seat young one." Master Windu ordered, nodding towards a new, empty chair that had been pushed into the half-circle.
"Yes Master," Vader swallowed, walking over to the chair on legs that felt dangerously wobbly. He sat down and wrapped his arms around his chest as he struggled to shake off his shock. This is nuts!
"We have surveyed all systems in the Republic, but have found no sign of General Grievous." Master Ki-Adi-Mundi reported via hologram, moving on to other business rather abruptly.
"Hiding in the Outer Rim, Grievous is." Master Yoda determined. "The outlaying systems we must sweep."
"We do not have many ships to spare." Obi-Wan reminded them.
"What about the droid attack on the Wookiees?" Master Ki-Adi-Mundi asked.
"It is critical that we send an attack group there immediately." Master Windu stated.
"He's right." Obi-Wan agreed. "It is a system that we cannot afford to lose."
The Kashyyyk System was the gateway to one of the galaxy's spiral arms. Numerous hyperspace routes went through there. If the Separatists took the system, those routes would be severed and the Republic would lose all the systems beyond Kashyyyk.
"Go I will." Master Yoda decided after some deep thought. "Good relations with the Wookiees I have."
"It's settled then." Mace announced when there was no disagreement from the other Masters. "Yoda will take a battalion of clones to reinforce the Wookiees on Kashyyyk. May the Force be with us all."
When the Council session ended for the day, Vader left still feeling dazed by the utterly insane series of events. If someone had told him this morning that he would be appointed to the Jedi Council by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and the Council would accept it without any real resistance, he would've laughed in their face. Never in his wildest dreams had he ever thought something as insane as this would ever happen to him.
"This is crazy," Vader muttered under his breath. "This is completely crazy."
"I'm inclined to agree with you," Obi-Wan murmured.
Vader almost jumped out of his skin. He'd been so distracted and consumed by his thoughts; he hadn't realized that Obi-Wan was following him. He came to a stop in a pool of bright light let in through a large window, one of many such windows in this particular hallway.
"Why did the Council agree to this?" Vader demanded. "It's madness!"
"The Council doesn't have much choice in the matter." Obi-Wan shrugged. "The Senate has granted the Chancellor this power and we have no say in his choice. Refusing to accept his candidate would only cause problems the Order would rather avoid. For the moment, winning the war is our priority."
Vader shook his head and wandered over to lean against the edge of the window. "That's not all, is it?"
"No it's not," Obi-Wan sighed, moving to stand beside him. "I didn't want to put you into this situation." He sighed.
"What situation?" Vader frowned, feeling a surge of unease.
"The Council wants you to report on all the Chancellor's dealings." Obi-Wan explained. "They want to know what he's up to."
"They want me to spy on the Chancellor?" Vader sputtered in disbelief.
"As the Chancellor's representative, you are in the perfect position to do that." Obi-Wan shrugged.
"And…the Council trusts me to do that?" Vader wondered disbelievingly.
"They don't have much choice. Whoever the Chancellor selected would get this assignment, and that just happened to be you." Obi-Wan replied.
Vader almost asked why the Council hadn't given him this assignment earlier when they were still in session, but then he answered his own question. This assignment, like a lot of things that dealt with him, was to be off the record. So if he got caught, the Council could easily deny having anything to do with it.
"I don't like this," Vader grumbled. "I don't like him! I don't want to be anywhere near him, let alone be at his beck and call!"
"I know, I know," Obi-Wan nodded. "I would get you out of this if I could, but it is beyond my power."
"I know," Vader sighed, leaning his forehead against the cool transparisteel windowpane.
He stood silently for a few minutes, thinking. I could run away… But… He sighed deeply. Damn it! Stupid conscience…
"So is there anything specific that they want me to do?" Vader asked, feeling rather defeated.
"Just listen and observe, report what you see, hear, and sense." Obi-Wan instructed. "You don't have to sneak around and try to go through his things."
"Alright," Vader nodded, pushing away from the window. "I'll do that."
"The Council will appreciate that," Obi-Wan told him. "Now let's try and get some dinner before I escort Master Yoda to his Star Destroyer."
Obi-Wan barely managed to catch up to Master Yoda and Master Windu before they departed the Temple for the landing fields that serviced the Republic's Star Destroyer fleet. They all sat in the passenger compartment of a gunship, crewed by clones. Obi-Wan took this opportunity to report to the two other Masters how his charge was doing.
"He did not take to his new assignment with much enthusiasm." Obi-Wan sighed.
"This is dangerous," Mace grumbled. "I don't think the boy can handle it. I don't trust him."
"With all due respect, Master, if you trust him so little, why give him the assignment at all?" Obi-Wan frowned.
"We have no choice." Mace sighed in frustration. "We need more information on the Chancellor and he is the only one who can get it for us."
"What think you about this?" Yoda asked Obi-Wan curiously. "Will he succeed?"
"He will not let me down." Obi-Wan replied. "He never has."
Though Vader could be a pain, especially in the beginning, he had never truly been disappointed by him. Vader had always done his best and managed to make it through every challenge put before him, exceeding many of Obi-Wan's expectations. Even when he ran off, it was a rare event, and he always returned.
"I hope right you are." Yoda sighed worriedly.
The gunship arrived at their destination shortly afterwards. Master Yoda hopped out and hobbled towards a waiting Star Destroyer as clone troops milled about, preparing to leave. There was a towering Wookiee there also, Obi-Wan noted.
As the gunship took off again, returning himself and Master Windu to the Jedi Temple, he heard the Wookiee roar a greeting to the tiny Jedi. The Wookiee was an emissary from Kashyyyk who had come to plead for aid. And now they were getting that aid, courtesy of the Jedi's greatest Master.
Padmé lazily ran a brush through her hair and stared out her bedroom window at the darkening Coruscanti skyline. She really didn't see any of the beautiful view though. All her focus was turned inward as she thought long and hard about what she'd recently learned.
At the end of the meeting, Fang Zar had proposed a petition. It would be signed by all those involved in their group, a number that approached two thousand, and it would ask the Chancellor to lay down his powers, remove the Governors, and seek a diplomatic end to the war. After collecting all the signatures, they would present the petition to the Chancellor and plead their case.
It sounded like a good idea and Padmé had easily agreed to it. She even offered her own apartment up to house the next meeting to further discuss the petition. She hoped the long list of names would influence Palpatine to scrap his ridiculous idea of regional Governors and restore democracy. But if it didn't…
If it didn't, she'd throw her lot with Bail and Mon and their secret organization. She would do whatever they needed her to do. Because there was no way she would allow the Republic she served and loved to devolve into a dictatorship. She would not let democracy die without a fight.
But before she could be of any use to them, she would have to make some preparations. Setting her brush aside, she returned to her small darkened office and switched her terminal back on. Once it had loaded up, she opened a new document and began to make some lists.
Let me see… I need to get all my affairs in order. I need to get my will finalized, I need to finally set up those trust funds I meant to get for Ryoo and Pooja, I need to back up all of my records… Hmm, I need to get my finances in order, tuck as much as I can away for later…
As she typed up her lists, she could feel her son shift around inside of her womb. She paused briefly to pat her stomach until he settled down. And then, despite her growing weariness, she pressed on.
I hope this petition works, Padmé swallowed, feeling her eyes begin to sting a bit. Because if it doesn't, and the worst happens… Jedi or not, I won't be able to keep you. I'll be too busy to be a good mother, and things will be too dangerous for you. You deserve better…
Vader sighed and settled down in the Room of a Thousand Fountains. The soft sounds of flowing water were soothing and he immersed himself in it. Normally there would also be the faint sounds of children playing, but it was getting late and most of the Temple's children were settling down for the evening.
Sighing again, he flopped back onto the grass in one shady corner and just laid there. He did his best to meditate, let all the stress, tension, and anxiety bleed out of him and into the infinite currents of the Force. It actually ended up working a little too much and he started to drift off to sleep…
A high-pitched beeping broke through his drowsy state and he snapped up into a sitting position before he was completely awake again. He glanced around for a minute before he realized it was his comm-link that was beeping. Drawing a hand over his face, he unhooked the little device from his belt and answered it.
"Hello?" He greeted, wondering just who the heck was calling him.
"Good evening," the voice of an elderly man replied. "Am I interrupting anything?"
Crud, it's the Chancellor! "Oh, no," Vader answered.
"Good, I was hoping you could come down to the Galaxies Opera House and see me in my private viewing box. I have some information for you." The Chancellor informed him.
"I'll be there as soon as I can." Vader promised.
"Splendid!" Palpatine replied. "I'll see you soon then."
"I'll see you soon." Vader responded, struggling to keep his voice pleasant. Yeah, I'll see you soon…not that I want to.
The connection was cut and Vader hooked his comm-link back onto his belt. Groaning he reluctantly climbed to his feet and strode out of the Fountain Room. He really didn't want to see the creepy old geezer, but the faster he got there, the sooner he'd be able to leave and come back to the Temple.
When he stepped out of the Temple into the cool evening air, it really hit him how late it was getting. He glanced around at the glittering Coruscanti skyline and frowned thoughtfully. Something niggled at the back of his mind, something he was forgetting…
Oh shavit! I was going to go see Padmé today! Gah!
Vader sourly kicked at the duracrete with his boot as he stewed for a moment. With all the stuff going on with the Chancellor and the Council, he'd completely forgotten to try and find time to visit Padmé. It was too late now, she was probably in bed or getting ready for bed.
Stupid Palpatine, he grumbled, striding towards the Galaxies Opera House. It's all his fault! Grr…
Vader jogged into the Opera House, easily slipping through the front door and past the weak-minded doorman. Another soft-brained Opera House employee was perfectly happy to direct him to the Supreme Chancellor's private viewing box and then promptly forget him. And then, all too soon, Vader was there.
The Supreme Chancellor wasn't there alone. He was sharing his private box with three others. There was Mas Amedda the Chagrian Vice Chair; Sly Moore, Palpatine's Umbaran aide; and Zo Howler, the Anx Senator of Gravlex Med. They all sat silently, watching a performance of the Mon Calamarian ballet, Squid Lake.
"You wanted to see me Chancellor?" Vader murmured politely.
"Yes, come closer I have good news." Palpatine beckoned. Vader obediently approached and kneeled down beside the Chancellor's chair. "Our clone intelligence units have discovered the location of General Grievous. He's hiding in the Utapau System." The Chancellor whispered to him.
"At last," Vader sighed in relief. "We'll be able to capture him and end this war."
"I would worry about the collective wisdom of the Council if they didn't select you for this assignment. You're the best choice, by far." Palpatine commented.
Um, oookaaay… Vader struggled not to squirm in discomfort. Feeling uneasy, he tightened his shields…just in case.
"Hmm, sit down." The Chancellor invited. "Leave us," he instructed his companions. As soon as they had left, and after Vader had taken the now empty seat next to him, he continued. "You know, I'm not able to rely on the Jedi Council." He said suddenly.
"Oh?" Vader blinked, struggling to appear calm and not alarmed. "Why not?"
"If they haven't included you in their plot, they soon will." Palpatine shook his head and adopted a grim expression.
Whoa! What? "I'm not sure I understand." Vader replied slowly. Do explain this to me.
"You must sense what I have come to suspect." The Chancellor remarked, tearing his eyes away from the watery performance to study Vader. "The Jedi Council wants control of the Republic. They are planning to betray me."
"I don't think that–" Vader started to protest, but cut himself off, thinking furiously. This is insane! It's insane! What the hell is he up to? Making a snap decision, he chose to find out… "I know they don't trust you." He said anxiously, instead of defending the Council like he'd started to.
"Hmm," Palpatine nodded, still watching Vader curiously, "or the Senate, or the Republic, or democracy for that matter."
Vader did his best to just play along and give the Chancellor the replies he seemed to want to hear, firmly clamping down on his own emotions. "I must admit, my trust in them has been shaken." Not really, I'm just kind of annoyed I got stuck with this lousy job.
"Why? They asked you to do something that made you feel dishonest, didn't they?" Palpatine guessed. "They asked you to spy on me, didn't they?"
Oh shit! "I don't, uh–I don't know what to say." Vader swallowed anxiously. Crap!
"Remember back to your early teachings." Palpatine suggested. "All who gain power fear to lose it." He pronounced. "Even the Jedi."
"The Jedi use their power for good." Vader insisted. I do not like what you are insinuating!
"Good is a point of view," Palpatine countered. "The Sith and the Jedi are similar in almost every way, including their quest for greater power."
Vader didn't know how he managed to keep the shock from his face. 'Good is a point of view'? What sort of man are you? And what are you doing talking about the Sith? "The Sith rely on their passion for their strength." Vader mumbled, reciting the sparse Jedi teachings of the Sith. "They think inwards, only about themselves."
"And the Jedi don't?" Palpatine snorted softly.
"The Jedi are selfless," Vader frowned, "they only care about others."
The Chancellor fell silent for a while, turning back to watch the strange ballet. Vader took the opportunity to run through a quick, subtle meditation exercise to keep from breaking down into a panic. He had the horrible feeling that he was in over his head and only sinking deeper with each word.
"Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?" Palpatine asked suddenly, switching gears.
"No." Vader replied, trying not to sound as wary as he felt.
"I thought not," the Chancellor sighed. "It's not a story the Jedi would tell you. It's a Sith legend. Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith so powerful and so wise he could use the Force to influence the midi-chlorians to create…life. He had such a knowledge of the Dark Side of the he could even keep the ones he cared about from dying."
Vader was appalled. The way Palpatine spoke of this Darth Plagueis, it sounded like he admired the Dark Lord. And the powers the Chancellor claimed Plagueis had creeped him out.
He could create life? What kind of life? …Scratch that, I don't want to know.
"He could actually…save people from death?" Vader asked slowly, ignoring the creepier life-creating power.
"The Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some find to be unnatural." Palpatine told him.
"Wh-what happened to him?" Vader gulped.
"He grew to be so powerful that the only thing he feared was…losing his power. Which, of course, he did." The Chancellor explained quite matter-of-factly. "Fortunately he taught his apprentice everything he knew. Then his apprentice killed him in his sleep." He paused and smiled. "It's ironic. He could save others from death, but not himself."
Vader felt vaguely nauseous. He swallowed hard and squeezed the armrests of his chair until his left hand hurt. But somehow he managed to keep his face frozen in a neutral expression, and his shields remained solid.
"Is it possible to learn this power?" Vader asked once he was sure his voice wouldn't betray his true feelings on the subject.
"Not from a Jedi." Palpatine replied.
The Supreme Chancellor then shifted his full attention back to the suspended globe of water and the performers inside it. And Vader was glad beyond words that the old man seemed to be done talking. But he couldn't relax yet, he couldn't escape. The Chancellor hadn't released him and he didn't dare offend this man who had laid the words he did against the Jedi Order and spoken so highly of the Sith. All he could do was wait and pray.