Flying his Eta-2 interceptor around the Resolute II, Anakin kept his eyes on the Nu-class attack shuttle that Quinlan Vos rode towards a nearby Venator that was commanded by Jan Dodonna. While he would love to see the shuttle land at his own capital ship, he didn't have a say in the manner. This was especially frustrating since Dodonna would return to Coruscant, a destination that he wishes he could return to. He hopes that he'll get an opportunity soon. He had to admit that he admired Vos' willingness to do what was necessary to save the chair. In Anakin's mind, that was a risk worth taking and was something to be openly praised.
Risk-taking was something that Anakin was rather fond of doing. He would do anything if it meant helping the people he cared about.
It allowed him to become an expert Podracer at such a young age, such that if he continued, by twenty-one he would have been a galactic champion.
With or without Qui-Gon's or Watto's help, he would eventually have won the Boonta Eve race, and his reputation would have been made. He would have bought freedom for himself, his mother, all the slaves in Mos Espa, gone on to win the Grand Races on Malastare, been hailed in the gambling casinos on Ord Mantell and Coruscant. And while he wouldn't have been a Jedi he would have been able to fly loops around even the best pilots in the order and would have still been incredibly strong in the Force.
He had an uncanny sense for knowing what was going to happen; a certainty that he would become celebrated. He was different, chosen, long before the Jedi Order had bestowed the title. Mythical beings came to him, Jedi even Angels, and he excelled in contests in which humans weren't even meant to participate. And yet, even with an Angel and Jedi for guests in his home, he hadn't divined the sudden departure from Tatooine, the Jedi training, his marriage.
He was no longer an innocent little boy but a battle hardened man. Ever since the war started. Ever since the duel on Yavin. Ever since Nelvaan...
But Padme remained his Angel. She was comforting him on Anaxes, even off world. Something… something had changed. He knew it then but couldn't piece it together. His heart filled with longing for her. Even through the Force he couldn't clarify what he was feeling. He simply knew that he should be with her. That he should be there to protect her…
He flexed his artificial hand before letting it slacken.
Remain in the living Force, he told himself. It was a lesson that Obi Wan taught, and one that Qui Gon Jinn taught before him. A Jedi didn't dwell in the past. A Jedi surrendered attachment to persons and things that passed out of his or her life. A Jedi didn't fantasize, or think: What if? It was something Anakin never excelled at. Letting things out of his life willingly.
He cut his eyes to the three Z-95 headhunters that trailed the Nu-class shuttle. One of them seemed to have taken a hit from a Vulture droid. His craft swung right and he almost flew into the shuttle. These Z-95 headhunters were outdated and unreliable, and yet clones were still told to fly them. Was this clone losing control of the fighter, or was he a rookie barely flying at all?
"Be careful there! Watch where you're flying, trooper!" Anakin shouted on an open frequency. One of the clones must have picked up because he got a reply.
"Sir, with respect, you are not authorized to escort us."
Authorized?
Anakin pulled on the yoke of his starfighter and waved his ship forward, falling directly behind them. The clone's didn't register what was happening until the gap between them was starting to shrink. Then the same clone from earlier, perhaps the flight leader, spoke with strength. "
"Sir, the situation is under control. We are under strict orders."
"Well I outrank you, trooper" Anakin replied with a warning. "When I'm convinced you won't endanger the shuttle I'll back off."
"Look, your authorization-"
Anakin beetled his brows in anger and accelerated his starfighter, against R2's shrills. Anakin flew directly towards the faulty Z-95 and dipped his wing just under the starboard wing. Pressing the yoke ever so slightly, he pushed the pilot's craft away from the shuttle. Calling on the Force, Anakin seized control of the starfighter and began to order it away. The panicked clone tried to regain control to no avail.
The remaining pilots flew away from Anakin and the shuttle, dipping low and watching the sight unfold.
They're afraid of me. They've heard about me.
For an instant, their fear empowered him; then he felt shame, and realized what he was doing. He couldn't believe how quickly his emotions had gotten the best of him. Anakin relinquished control of the Z-95 and it wobbled for several moments before the pilot regained control.
"Take it easy, sir" the clone from earlier said. "He's just a little inexperienced. We didn't mean anything."
"General Skywalker, what's going on?" Quinlan Vos spoke, asking for why the Z-95s veered off course.
Anakin swallowed hard. "Nothing, Master Vos. Just letting the clones recognize the importance of their cargo. You're clear to proceed without me."
"I guess you did a thorough inspection, General" Vos spoke, with a hint of sarcasm. "If you don't mind, our ship is waiting."
"Of course, Master Vos."
Anakin watched as the shuttle and fighters flew off, his own ship flying back towards the Resolute II.
"General Skywalker!" Admiral Yularen spoke. "Everything under control?"
"Fine. Fine, admiral." Anakin spoke quickly. "Nothing to report. Just returning to the ship.
"Indeed. We have a transmission for you, from the office of the Supreme Chancellor."
"Okay, no worries, Admiral. I'll just take it from my ship. Patch it through to R2."
"If you insist" Yularen said with a sigh. "He'll be on display now."
Anakin reduced the power to his engines and let the starfighter fly idly with R2's guidance. He pulled out a miniaturized holoprojector and attuned it to R2's satellite dish. Within seconds, a flickering image of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine was resolving. When Anakin had positioned himself in the cockpit, Palpatine smiled.
"Congratulations, Anakin, on your victory at Cato Neimoidia."
"Thank you, sir" Anakin replied. "It was a team effort but we Jedi pulled through as always. I'm sorry to report that Viceroy Gunray escaped, and that fighting continues in the rockarch cities, but we're doing our part to clean up this mess."
Palpatine's smile faltered. "Yes, I was informed as much." It wasn't the first time Anakin had heard from Palpatine in the field. At Jabüm , Palpatine had ordered Anakin to retreat before the planet fell to the Separatists; at Praesitlyn he had praised Anakin for having saved the day. Still, the communications were often as awkward as they were flattering.
"What's wrong, my boy?" Palpatine asked.
"I sense that you're troubled about something. If it involves Gunray you have my word that he won't be able to hide from us forever. None of them will. One day you'll have your chance for complete victory and this war will be over."
Anakin wet his lips. "It's not about Gunray, sir. Just a small incident here that made me angry."
"What incident?"
Anakin was tempted to disclose the details of the discovery made by Plo Koon and Quinlan Vos, but Yoda had told him to remain silent about the mechno-chair. "Nothing important," he said. "But I always feel guilty when I become angry."
"I see. That's always a mistake," Palpatine said gently, his face raising an eyebrow. "Anger is natural, Anakin. You're only human. I thought we'd been through all this-regarding what took place on Tatooine?"
"Obi-Wan doesn't show anger-except, of course, at me" Anakin said with a slight chuckle. "Even then, it's more like… aggravation."
"Anakin, you're a passionate young man. That's what separates you from your Jedi comrades. Unlike Obi Wan and the others, you weren't raised in the Temple, where younglings are taught to conquer their anger by transcending it. You enjoyed a natural childhood. You can dream, you have imagination and vision. You're not some unthinking machine, some heartless piece of technology."
"Not a battle droid?" Anakin teased.
"Of course not," Palpatine added, smiling at the attempt at humor. "Not that I'm suggesting that the Jedi are, but for someone like you, any threat to someone or something important to you is likely to evoke an emotional response. It happened with your mother; it will happen again. But you shouldn't fight those responses. Learn from them, but don't fight them."
Anakin suppressed an impulse to reveal his marriage to Padme, as well.
"Do you think I'm immune to anger?" Palpatine asked.
"I've never seen you angry. Concerned perhaps, maybe prideful. But never angry."
"Well, perhaps I've grown adept at reserving my anger for private moments" Palpatine continued. "But it grows more difficult to do so, in the face of the frustrations I face with the state of the galaxy. The constant arguing in the Senate. With the way this war persists… Oh, I know that you and the other Jedi are doing everything you can… But the Jedi Council and I don't always see eye-to-eye on how this war should be waged. You know my love for the Republic knows no bounds. That's why I'm struggling so hard to keep it from falling to pieces."
Anakin forced a derisive breath, watching as his starfighter now flew towards Cato Nemoidia. He gave a quick signal to R2 and the ship entered the atmosphere. "The Senate should simply follow your lead. Instead, they block you. They tie your hands. It's as if they envy the power they gave you."
"Yes, my boy, many do. But many support me, as well. More important, we must abide by the rules and regulations of the Constitution, or else we are no better than those who stand in the way of freedom."
"But shouldn't some individuals should be above the rules," Anakin grumbled. "Sometimes the rules are barriers that need to be broken."
"A case can be made for it. And, indeed, you are one of those people, Anakin. But you must know when to act, and when not to."
Anakin nodded. "I understand." Lately, Anakin's sense of politics was cultivated on what Palpatine taught him. While it was boring at first, lately he's come to appreciate it. Looking down, he saw ruined cities that were besieged by war. Bridges that were shot down, buildings with smashed windows. Burning gardens and agricultural fields. Seared forests and mountainsides. Cities reduced to ruin by bombing runs. The sight was powerful and he had to shake his head to break away when he saw that the chancellor's transmission was breaking up.
"Sorry sir, give me a moment." Anakin said. "R2, if we fly lower will that boost the signal? When his astromech confirmed that the thickening clouds were causing interference, Anakin flew even closer to the besieged planet. When transmissions were clear he spoke to the Chancellor, "Sorry, sir. Interference. How is Coruscant? I miss it."
"Coruscant is as ever, a shining example of what life could be" Palpatine replied, not bothered by the moment of distruption. "But I'm far too busy to indulge in its manifold pleasures."
"Not visiting the local diners very often?" Anakin joked, trying to break the storm of thoughts on his mind.
"Sadly not. Though I have been attending opera shows. You should join me sometime, you might learn to appreciate the arts. I know quite a few to choose from."
Anakin searched for some way to frame the question he needed to ask. "I guess you've been meeting frequently with senators then. Like the Loyalist Committee."
"As a matter of fact, I have. A most treasured group of Senators, who value the high standards of the Republic as much as you and I do." Palpatine smiled. "Senator Amidala, for example. So filled with vigor and compassion, the same qualities she brought to her term as Queen of Naboo. She causes a stir wherever she goes." He looked directly at Anakin. "I'm so glad that you and she have become such dear friends."
Anakin swallowed nervously. "Your excellency, will you tell her… will you tell her hello from me?"
"Of course I will." An ensuing silence lingered an instant too long.
"Anakin, I will somehow see to it that you return from the Outer Rim soon," Palpatine said. "But we cannot rest until those responsible for this war have been held accountable for their crimes and eliminated as a threat to lasting peace. Do you understand?"
"I'll do my part, sir. We all will."
"Yes, my boy. I know you will."
The transmission came to an end and Anakin saw that he had flown deep into the mountainous terrain of Cato Nemoidia. He was so far that he didn't recognize where he was. The city that was besieged by conflict was nowhere in sight. Ahead, sheets of mist was blanketing the arches of moss coated stone. Turning his starfighter vertical, he climbed into the upper atmosphere and returned to the Resolute II, wondering if Obi Wan had returned with the Jedi masters.
In the reception area of the holding office, Bail Organa paced restlessly. He was preparing to vent his exasperation on Palpatine's appointments secretary when the door to the Supreme Chancellor's office opened once again, and his advisers began to file out between the imposing, red-cowled guards that flanked the opening.
Advisers Sim Aloo and Janus Greejatus; director of Intelligence Armand Isard; senior member of the Security and Intelligence Council, Jannie Ha'Nook of Glithnos; Chagrian Speaker of the Senate Mas Amedda; and staff aide Sly Moore, tall and ethereal-looking in her Umbaran shadowcloak.
Last to exit was Pestage. "Senators, you're still here, I see. Your quite persistent."
"We're nothing if not patient," Bail corrected.
"Good to know, since the Supreme Chancellor still has much to attend to. I'm afraid your persistence will not suffice for today."
Just then Palpatine himself appeared, glancing at Bail and the others, then at Pestage. "Senator Organa, Senator Amidala-all of you. What a delight to find you here."
"Supreme Chancellor," Bail said almost with exasperation,"we were under the impression we had an appointment with you."
Palpatine lifted an eyebrow and scanned the group of senators in its entirety. "Indeed? Why wasn't I informed of this?" he asked Pestage.
"Your schedule is so full, I didn't want to overburden you with...persistent visitors" Sate answered, trying to justify himself without hiding his sense of disdain for the senatorial collection.
Palpatine frowned. "My day is never so full that I can't take time to confer with members of the Loyalist Committee. Leave us, Sate, and don't allow us to be disturbed. I'll call for you when you're needed."
Stepping aside, he gestured Bail and the others into the circular office. C-3PO was last to cross the threshold, twisting his head to regard both of the motionless guards. Bail took a seat directly across from Palpatine's highbacked chair, which was said to house some sort of shield generator-necessary for his protection, as were the guards, though something that would have been unheard of three years earlier. Saturated in red, the windowless, carpeted office contained several singular pieces of statuary, as did Palpatine's chambers in the Senate Office Building, and his suite in the crown of 500 Republica. Rumored to work for days on end without sleeping, Palpatine seemed alert, curious, somewhat imperious.
"So, what matters have brought you here on such a glorious Coruscant afternoon?" he said from his chair. "I can't help but sense a certain urgency…"
"We'll come directly to the point, Supreme Chancellor," Bail said. "Now that the Confederacy has been chased from the Core and Inner Rim, we wish to discuss the abrogation of some of the measures that were enacted in the name of public safety."
Palpatine gazed at Bail over steepled fingers. "Our recent victories have made you feel so secure?"
"They have, Supreme Chancellor," Padme agreed, supporting Bail's claim.
"The Enhanced Security and Enforcement Act in particular," Bail continued. "Specifically those measures that permit the unrestricted use of observation droids, and searches and seizures without the need for warrants or due process."
"I see," Palpatine said slowly. "Unfortunately, my dear senators, the fact of the matter is that the war is far from won, and I, for one, am not entirely satisfied that traitors and terrorists are not a continued threat to public safety. Oh, I realize that our victories give all appearances of a quick resolution to the war, but as of this morning I was informed that the Separatists still hold many key worlds in the Outer Rim, and that our sieges there could go on indefinitely."
"Indefinitely?" Eekway said.
"Why not consider ceding some of those worlds," Fang Zar suggested. "Trade in the Core and Inner Rim has resumed almost to prewar standards."
Palpatine shook his head. "Some of those Outer Rim worlds were Republic worlds, taken by force. And I fear we risk setting a dangerous precedent by allowing the Confederacy to retain them. I believe, furthermore, that now is the very time to press our attack, until the Separatists no longer present a threat to our way of life."
"Is there not some other way than continued warfare?" Bail asked, not willing to let this crucial debate die in this meeting. "Surely Dooku can be persuaded to listen to reason now."
"You misjudge his resolve, Senator. But even if I'm wrong, suppose we decide to cede some worlds, as a conciliatory gesture. Who will choose which worlds? Me? You? Shall we submit the matter to a Senate vote? And how might the denizens of those ceded worlds respond to our gesture? How would the good people of Alderaan feel about being a Confederacy world? Should loyalty to the Republic count for so little? Such decisions were what prompted many worlds to ally with Count Dooku in the first place."
"But can we even triumph in the Outer Rim ," Eekway said, "with the army so reduced, the Jedi so dispersed? Might it not appear that the Jedi are deliberately perpetuating this war?"
Palpatine stood up and paced away from his huge chair, turning his back to everyone. "This has become a very regrettable situation-one we have attempted to correct, with limited success." He swung around. "We must consider how others view this war. A former Jedi at the helm of the Separatist movement; the clone army of the Republic led by Jedi… Many remote worlds see this war as an attempt by the Jedi to dominate the galaxy. To many , the Jedi were not to be trusted before the war-in part as a result of the aggressive negotiations they were constrained to undertake during the terms of my predecessors. Word reaches those same worlds that it was the Jedi who invaded Geonosis, all because two of the Order had been sentenced to death for espionage. We know better, of course, but how to amend the misinterpretation?"
Realizing that he had allowed the discussion to go off track, Bail said: "Returning to the matter of rescinding the Security Act-"
"I serve the Republic, Senator Organa," Palpatine said, cutting him off.
"Introduce a measure to repeal in the Senate" Bail suggested, almost pleadingly. Bail didn't know if this would work but it was worth trying. Before he knew it he was standing himself. "I will accept whatever outcome ensues from a vote."
Palpatine studied him carefully, his eyes revealing nothing. Red countered blue in perfect balance. "Will you remain impartial during the debates?"
"You have my word, Excellency," Bail answered, sighing into his chair.
"And these amendments to the Constitution," Mon Mothma started to say.
"I view the Constitution as a living_ document," Palpatine interrupted. "As such, it must be allowed to expand and contract according to circumstances. Otherwise, what do we have but stasis."
"If we can be assured of a certain… exhalation of power," Bana Breemu said "That would ease many senator's concerns."
Palpatine grinned faintly. "Of course."
"Then we've made a beginning," Padme said. "Just as I knew we would."
Palpatine beamed at her. "Senator Amidala, is that not the droid Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker constructed? It certainly embodies fine craftsmanship."
Padme looked at C-3PO. "Yes, it is."
For a moment it appeared that C-3PO was speechless-but only for a moment. "I am honored that you remember me, Your Majesty," he said.
Palpatine returned an abrupt laugh. "A title more fit for a king or emperor." He glanced at Padme. "I mention this because, in case you weren't aware, we are quite acquainted with one another. In fact, I have just spoken with him, Your Highness."
"Anakin?" Padme said in surprise.
Palpatine held her gaze. "Why Senator Amidala, I do believe you're blushing. We spoke just several hours ago. He wanted to say hello to you from Cato Nemoidia. There was some interference, however. I do hope nothing, unfortunate, has happened to him."
"What?" her voice quivered, the red in her face suddenly draining to white.
"Why, Senator?" Palpatine spoke, watching as the Naboo senator gripped her chair suddenly. Bail and several others watched her with concern before she reassured them that she was healthy. "You look unwell. Perhaps you would care for refreshment. Please, all of you, join me. I'm sure we will find plenty more to discuss."
Bail watched as Palpatine called for servicemen to bring a variety of refreshments to the Chancellor's suite. Padme clutched her head before shaking off a wave of dizziness. Padme smiled to Bail, saying something about a headache and that Anakin was a good friend. Bail was respectful but he saw something strange in her eyes, as if her thoughts were off world. As for Palpatine, he almost seemed to be grinning as he began to talk to each senator of the loyalist committee. Bail would watch how events in the senate unfolded, only hoping that he would still be able to help the Republic amidst this conflict.
While he still could, he feared.