Chapter 5 Discoveries

Kimmy figured the best place to find Anakin was with the Supreme Chancellor. She didn't like him; he gave her the creeps. She didn't like his name either. In her mind she called him The Supreme Pulp.

Sure enough, Anakin was with The Chancellor in his box at the Galaxies Opera House. They seemed to be having a serious discussion, so Kimmy crept closer, staying in the shadows.

"…able to rely on the Jedi Council. If they haven't included you in their plot, they soon will." Palpatine was saying. Kimmy perked up her ears.

"I'm not sure I understand." Anakin said.

That makes two of us. Kimmy mentally muttered, using the Force to catch every word.

"You must sense what I have come to suspect. The Jedi Council want control of the Republic; they're planning to betray me."

Kimmy resisted the urge to snort.

"I don't think . . ." Anakin stuttered.

Kimmy stared ant Anakin incredulously. He wasn't actually taking this guy seriously, was he?

"Anakin, search your feelings." Palpatine coached. "You know, don't you?'

"I know they don't trust you."

And with good reason from what I'm hearing.

"Or the Senate, or the Republic, or democracy for that matter." Palpatine finished.

"I have to admit my trust in them has been shaken." Anakin said hesitantly.

Anakin!

"Why? They asked you to do something that made you feel dishonest, didn't they?"

Kimmy's heart stopped. He knew; he must. But how?

Anakin looked away.

"They asked you to spy on me, didn't they?" Palpatine continued in his soothing voice that made Kimmy's flesh crawl.

"I don't know. I don't know what to say." Anakin finally said.

"Remember back to your early teachings, Anakin. 'All those who gain power are afraid to lose it.' Even the Jedi."

"The Jedi use their power for good." Anakin protested.

Thank you. It's about time you came to your senses. Kimmy thought.

But Palpatine wasn't daunted. "Good is a point of view, Anakin. And the Jedi point of view is not the only valid one. The Dark Lords of the Sith believe in security and justice also, yet they are considered by the Jedi to be. . ."

"…evil." Anakin said firmly.

"From a Jedi's point of view. The Sith and the Jedi are similar in almost every way, including their quest for greater power. The difference between the two, is the Sith are not afraid of the dark side of the Force. That is why they are more powerful."

Kimmy didn't know whether to be shocked or disgusted. That was a horrible comparison. Just as light and dark are opposite, so the Jedi and Sith were. And just as light could not be both light and dark so the Jedi and Sith could not both be good. Unfortunately, she was still spying, so she couldn't blurt that out like she would have loved to.

Thankfully Anakin gave an attempt at a defense, "The Sith rely on their passion for their strength. They think inward, only about themselves."

"And the Jedi don't?"

"The Jedi are selfless; they only care about others."

Palpatine smiled in a way that gave Kimmy goosebumps.

"Or so you've been trained to believe." He said, unfazed. "Why is it, then, that they have asked you to do something you feel is wrong?"

"I'm not sure it's wrong." Anakin said in an unsteady voice.

"Have they asked you to betray the Jedi code? The Constitution? A friendship? Your own values? Think. Consider their motives. Keep your mind clear of assumptions. The fear of losing power is a weakness of both the Jedi and the Sith."

Anakin didn't answer.

In the corner, Kimmy was fuming.

Palpatine continued, "Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis 'the wise'?

"No."

"I thought not. 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 that he could even keep the ones he cared about from dying."

Anakin seemed to perk up. "He could actually save people from death?"

"The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural." Palpatine said simply.

"What happened to him?" Anakin asked after a pause.

Anakin, don't. Stay away from even curiosities of the Sith.

"He became so powerful; the only thing he was afraid of was losing his power, which eventually, of course, he did. Unfortunately, he taught his apprentice everything he knew then his apprentice killed him in his sleep. Plagueis never saw it coming. It's ironic he could save others from death, but not himself."

Yeah, ironic. That's the difference between the Sith and the Jedi, twerp.

"Is it possible to learn this power?" Anakin asked.

No!

"Not from a Jedi." Palpatine said.

Anakin was silent.

"Anyway, I was wondering if you would spend tonight in the Senate building? I have many early morning meetings that I want you to be present for." Palpatine continued.

For some reason Anakin seemed exceedingly happy with this. But he only said, "Of course."

Palpatine nodded and Anakin left.

Kimmy stayed and watched the Chancellor. He seemed ordinary enough, but there was something deeper about him. And that conversation… Kimmy shivered. There was definitely something going on. She would tell the Jedi in the morning, after doing a little more snooping.

That afternoon Jesse went out to get a better look at the ship landing. His heart jumped at the sight of the Jedi disembarking below.

Of all the Jedi in the galaxy. He inwardly groaned, watching Obi-Wan Kenobi converse with one of the administrators, Tion Medon. He quickly snuck down to get a closer look and to hear better.

"He is here!" Tion said in a hushed voice. "We are being held hostage. They are watching us."

"I understand." Obi-Wan said in the calm sure voice he always had.

"The tenth level . . . thousands of Battle Droids . . ."

"Tell your people to take shelter. If you have warriors, now is the time." Obi-Wan said.

From the conversation, Jesse figured Obi-Wan was here todeal withGeneral Grievous. As Obi-Wan started back toward his Starfighter and began speaking to his Astro Unit, Jesse pondered both leaving and stepping forward. Finally he did the latter. Might as well join forces.

Obi-Wan turned to look at him with the same calm collection that he had used with Tion. Both waited for the other to speak.

"Here to take down Grievous?" Jesse finally said.

"As a matter of fact I am. And you?"

"Same." Jesse glanced up at the cliff. "We're being watched at the moment, just so you know."

"I see." Obi-Wan turned back to the droid. "Geenine, take the Fighter back to the ship. I'm staying here. Tell Cody I've made contact."

The astro droid beeped a reply.

Jesse went inside and waited for Obi-Wan to follow.

"Do you know where Grievous is?" he asked.

"Sure." One thing Jesse was grateful for, Obi-Wan didn't waste time talking about the past when the future was prevalent. "This way."

Oooh, the plot thickens. Is this chapter longer? I think it is. It's a lot more interesting. At least, I think so.