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CHAPTER 22: A REPUBLIC, IF YOU CAN KEEP IT

In the end, with the fear of the Emperor dissipated with his demise and replaced with an uneasy mixture of uncertainty, fear, and perhaps even morbid curiosity toward his usurpers: the Emperor's ruthless apprentice (until half an hour ago) Anakin "Lord Darth Vader" Skywalker, the exiled and questionable Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the once-Queen-turned-Senator-turned-Rebel Leader Padmé Amidala.

Most in the Empire's headquarters generally didn't know what to make of it and there was very little resistance at all to their coup, perhaps because of the way the Emperor's leadership style of incredibly chaotic evil was hard to stomach at times, or perhaps because everyone was just used to following orders without question by now, and Anakin was the late Emperor's protégé, after all.

Some short time later, however, Anakin, Padmé, and Obi-Wan found themselves standing at the head of a table of Empire generals who seemed very uncomfortable in their seats, perhaps wondering if they'd all be off-ed now, or allowed to continue on as scheduled, or something in-between. The unknowns were the most discomfiting part, it appeared.

"As you know, we have overthrown Emperor Palpatine," said Anakin, calling the meeting officially to order. "Can any of you venture to guess why?"

There was some milling about among the generals; perhaps they weren't used to being able to express their opinions, unsure whether they might be force choked or lightning-ed to death.

"Because he turned the Republic into an Empire," said Padmé, as if that was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Also he ordered a genocide," mentioned Obi-Wan.

"At least one genocide," agreed Padmé.

"There were more," said Anakin, scrutinizing the generals, who looked even more uncomfortable.

"Interestingly enough, that's usually what happens under a dictator," said Padmé. "Any dictator. Honestly, the dictator historical record of 100% of them doing at least one genocide, you would think, would be enough to stop people from falling for dictatorships. But, here we are."

"Fear causes people to fall for a lot of unthinkable things," said Obi-Wan. "Unfortunately."

Anakin leaned his hands on the table and addressed the generals.

"We are now going to turn the Empire back into a Republic," he said. "If any of you prefer we didn't, then you are free to go."

"Because we're going to do it," said Padmé.

"I hear there are some places in the outer rim where feudalism and slavery still carries on," offered Obi-Wan. "You can go there."

No one seemed inclined to go to the outer rim.

"Otherwise," said Anakin. "All of you remember how a Republic functions, correct?"

"It certainly hasn't been that long," said Padmé.

"There was a bit of malfunction previously with the Republic, however," said Obi-Wan.

"You're quite correct, Master Kenobi," agreed Padmé. "If the power structure had been set up properly, there would have been no way for someone like Sheev Palpatine to overthrow the whole thing."

"Do tell us your thoughts, Senator Amidala," smirked Anakin, who was still staring down the generals in an intimidating fashion. "What do you propose?"

"A balance of powers," she stated. "Three branches of power, each of equal weight, so that no single branch can overthrow the others, but over different structures of government. They can each veto the other; if one gets too big for its shoes, the other two can check it and maintain stability."

"What might those three branches be?" inquired Obi-Wan, though he seemed to have some suspicions.

Padmé paced a few steps beside the table as she addressed the generals, feeling entirely in her element of politics. This had been on her mind for months as she'd wracked her brain for what went wrong in the Republic for it to be so easily overthrown, and even before then the seeds had been planted in her subconscious while she'd spent so much time with Anakin and Obi-Wan – it solidified when she beheld Anakin as he had become now; it all clicked into place and she knew it. Perhaps it was the force; perhaps it was something else. Perhaps it was the force and her own reasoning and experience combined.

"Obviously, we must reinstate the Senate to create legislation, with representatives from each of the planets to create the laws. There's one branch. The military should be the second to execute and enforce the law, and all of you would, of course, be in that branch if you so choose. And third, a house of judges to settle disputes within the law and to keep the other two in check."

"A house of judges?" inquired a general, who had forgotten to be terrified with this new idea. "Who would that be?"

"I know an entire order of people who have dedicated their entire lives to the fair, impartial pursuit of justice and also mercy," said Padmé with a smile.

The generals became restless as they suspected what she might mean, and she felt Obi-Wan's surprise through the force.

"The Jedi," she announced, and they erupted in dispute.

"But the Jedi would-" one began to object.

"Would what?" she interrupted over him, and he faltered, perhaps not really knowing for sure what the Jedi might do. "Have you ever known a Jedi? Or have you just killed them?"

Several of the generals had the good manners to at least look embarrassed.

"Are any of you educated in what the actual Jedi Order stands for?" she asked, looking around. "Or have you gone off hearsay only? Perhaps you were just following orders. I would suspect some of you were just trying to keep your heads attached."

There was some murmuring.

"Here's what I can tell you, and perhaps this will be convincing, perhaps not," she said. "But were the roles reversed, the Jedi would not kill all of you on the orders of an Emperor, simply because it's not the right thing to do. In fact, they would themselves be exterminated before they would turn their backs on what is right and just. In double-fact, you have witnessed this and the proof is before you; that is the very reason they had to be exterminated by Sheev Palpatine – they would not be corrupted and the Emperor's Empire could only be executed through corruption and the unjust. They were incompatible with the Empire's values, which were not 'values' at all, but corruption and fear."

The generals had gone quiet for the most part, and Padmé went on.

"Consider it for yourselves; you have been here and have seen it," she said. "You've witnessed the inner workings of the Empire. You've witnessed injustice and corruption in the name of power and control and so-called 'safety'. You watched the Chancellor seize his 'emergency powers' and you know he never intended to give them back. You also know that if you didn't follow blindly, you would die. You know that he ruled in fear. You know that he ordered whole groups of people murdered without charge or trial; you know he seized all communication; he only allowed the people of the Empire to have access to his propaganda. You know that most of the Empire is worse off and that the people are restless. Perhaps you even know that an eventual full-scale rebellion is inevitable if the current course is stayed, one that would be far bloodier than if you offer your cooperation now."

"If you don't believe me about the Jedi, then come and see for yourself," she said. "I can say the Jedi are much more capable of impartially acting in wisdom and goodwill than many would be despite the destruction they have faced under the hand of the Emperor. Observe and see; that will speak for itself. But for now, you will have to place your trust in what we three know until you've had the chance to do so."

She glanced at Anakin.

"If we wanted to grab power for ourselves, we would do the easy thing and declare me as the new Emperor, for example," said Anakin, and then he shrugged. "I could do that."

"But that is not our concern," stated Obi-Wan, stepping forward. "What we desire is for the Republic restored - stronger, fairer, and more balanced than ever."

Obi-Wan's soft, pliant power, his love of the Republic, and his depth of wisdom on display made Padmé bite her lip in affection.

"Now, if any of you would like to leave, you may do so," said Anakin, eyeing those present. "Otherwise, you will be part of the New Republic. You may now decide."

The generals seemed to be assuaged to the degree to where they seemed to be withholding outward objection for now, and perhaps considering the idea, perhaps letting it sink in for further contemplation. The bottom line is, they seemed appeased and moderately cooperative, though definitely not enthusiastically so. They did, as a whole, seem cautiously agreeable and had a general feeling of wait-and-see about them. None of them left the room, but they remained to entertain further proposals.

Padmé had no delusion about the probability of dissent in the ranks; but she had hope that, through reason and persuasion, that the Galactic Republic may, at last, be saved.

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It seemed to take forever before the three of them were able to be alone and converse in the way that Padmé suspected they had all been desperate to do since the reveal that Anakin had been a double agent the whole time, but finally they stole some moments alone in a windowed office that once belonged to the Chancellor. Outside, the sun was beginning to set and blazed golden sunlight across the chrome and neon structures of Coruscant; the sky was blue, bluer than she could remember it ever being. Perhaps that was her optimism at play.

Anakin collapsed into Chancellor Palpatine's desk chair with exhaustion, Padmé groaned and flopped onto a couch, and Obi-Wan stood in front of the window and stared at the gloaming sunset.

"I can't believe this is working," said Padmé.

Anakin laughed. "I know!"

She could see Obi-Wan smile in response as he watched Coruscant.

"Anakin," he said, turning his back to the window to face Anakin, who was still limply half-lying in the chair and staring at the ceiling. "I am incredibly curious about your… journey."

Anakin half-smirked at the ceiling, then roused himself from the chair and faced Obi-Wan. Padmé sat up on the couch as well, feeling just as curious as Obi-Wan, she suspected.

"You remember, in lower Coruscant, after the explosions, that I had to go, right?" asked Anakin.

"Of course I do," replied Obi-Wan, as if he could never forget being separated from his padawan.

Anakin looked down and shifted his weight, then said, "I've never had to trust the force more than I have since I left you, Master."

"You don't have to call me Master, anymore," said Obi-Wan gently, shaking his head a little.

"You'll always be my Master," he said, and Padmé could tell he meant it.

"You've moved beyond what I could teach you, Anakin," replied Obi-Wan.

"You taught me what I needed," said Anakin. "If you hadn't, I couldn't have done what I did. I wouldn't have been able to do it."

"Then tell me what you've done," requested Obi-Wan.

"I learned from the Emperor," said Anakin. "He'd always taken a special interest in me, anyway. I suppose he sensed my, uh, unusualness. He was thrilled when I came to him – I suppose he was in the market for an apprentice."

"And you, the chosen one," said Obi-Wan. "What a bargain."

"Don't call me that," said Anakin, seeming irritated by the title, perhaps not feeling worthy to be called such.

"I do not believe that anyone else could have done what you've done," said Obi-Wan. "If that isn't the epitome of a 'chosen one', then I don't know what is, Anakin."

"Anyway," said Anakin, who seemed to want to avoid the whole 'chosen one' argument, "He taught me to use the dark side of the force."

Anakin shifted his weight as if the discussion was uncomfortable, despite its necessity. Obi-Wan observed him quietly and with patience, carefully withholding judgment.

"I… had to do things I'd prefer to forget," he said. "But I had to – it was the only way for me to gain his trust. I had to make him believe that I was his loyal servant, at least enough for him to let down his guard long enough for me to… well, you saw what I did to him."

"That must have been quite difficult," said Obi-Wan. "The Emperor was capable of sensing many things; he was more powerful than me in the force. How did you keep your mind your own?"

"Through immense effort and practice," said Anakin, huffing out a breath wryly.

Padmé recalled Anakin's impenetrable wall of ice; she couldn't even imagine how to get through it. Perhaps Palpatine couldn't either. Perhaps he simply thought that's just how Anakin was, and as long as he was a willing tool in the Emperor's hands it didn't matter.

"And Darth Vader?" asked Obi-Wan, though she felt a shiver in the force from him as he said it, "Are you a Sith Lord, Anakin?"

"Do I look like one?" he asked.

"Well, no," said Obi-Wan.

"That's your answer," said Anakin. "I'm not."

"Do you use the dark side of the force?" asked Obi-Wan.

"Yes," said Anakin, but then he was quick to add, "But I also use the light."

Obi-Wan didn't seem to know what that meant, or how a person could do that.

"I don't know why I can use both, maybe that's why I've been called… that," he said, meaning 'the chosen one' and faltering a bit. "But it's as if I need to use both and cannot be balanced with just one side. You know I was never complete with the Jedi teachings only."

"No, you weren't," said Obi-Wan, considering.

"I was always missing something," said Anakin, though he seemed at a loss for how to describe it better than that.

"You do seem more stable, now," said Padmé, and they both looked at her. "You were like an atom missing an electron before, like an ion… always unstable and searching, and now you seem… well… complete and balanced."

"I do wonder if that is what 'bringing balance to the force' meant in the prophecy," mused Obi-Wan.

"You also seem a lot more powerful," said Padmé.

"Ah, I think that just comes from focus," said Anakin, deferring and being strangely humble about it.

"I have not seen anyone as powerful as you," said Obi-Wan. "Not even close. I daresay you were more powerful than your Sith Master."

"Perhaps," said Anakin vaguely.

"And certainly more powerful than me," said Obi-Wan.

Anakin just shrugged a bit.

"Perhaps even moreso than Grand Master Yoda," mused Obi-Wan.

"Can we stop talking about this?" said Anakin, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of being compared to everyone.

"Where is your old lightsaber?" asked Obi-Wan.

"In my quarters," said Anakin as he rested his hand on his new lightsaber. "This one, well… I learned how to make one the other way."

"What was that like?" asked Obi-Wan, who seemed genuinely curious.

"It was interesting," he replied honestly.

"Oh," said Obi-Wan, not sure how to take that.

"Anakin, I'm dying to know how you found us," said Padmé.

Anakin grinned at her. "No guesses?"

Obi-Wan considered and ventured, "Um, the force?"

"Nah," said Anakin.

"Er, amazing detective work?" guessed Padmé.

Anakin gave her a flat look.

"Have I ever actually been good at detective work?" he asked her blandly.

"No, not really," she said.

"You really don't know?" he asked.

"Ugh, Anakin, stop making us feel dumb and just tell us!" she said.

"You know that little droid I gave you?" he grinned.

"Oh my stars!" cried Padmé, realizing. "You little creep! You mean you were spying on me the whole time? I kept that by my side because I missed you!"

Anakin laughed and Padmé couldn't help laughing, too.

"I hope you didn't, um, observe too much," Obi-Wan said, shifting his weight slightly, and being a very private man by nature.

"Eh, don't worry," replied Anakin. "I obviously didn't have time to sit and listen to you every hour of every day."

However, he suddenly squinted at them both: "But I know enough."

"Ah, hah… ha," remarked Padmé awkwardly, and Obi-Wan cleared his throat.

"I told you two to behave while I was gone," chided Anakin. "And you didn't."

"I can definitely assure you we tried," said Padmé.

"Oh, whatever," said Anakin. "I kept the casualties at the rebel base at a minimum, by the way, which wasn't easy, especially since I had to make it look like I wasn't doing exactly that."

"How?" asked Padmé.

"I had my forces take out the power grid on the base first and then kept fire off the shipyard so the maximum number of rebels could escape. Once the power was out none of the rebels were keen to stay since they couldn't do anything from the base anymore, so most of them got out. There wasn't a lot of resistance at that point and Palpatine knew the real purpose of the attack was to apprehend you two. You were a couple of highly desirable prisoners, believe me," said Anakin. "The Emperor was very interested in me bringing you both to him."

"Why?" asked Padmé.

"He believed if I killed you both I would complete my training to become a Sith Lord," said Anakin. "And he was a demented arsehole so he wanted to see me do it."

"I suppose that's Palpatine in a nutshell," said Obi-Wan.

"He was getting a little impatient with me, to be honest," said Anakin. "He didn't know why my eyes weren't turning yellow, or whatever, I guess. Or I guess I wasn't chaotic enough or something."

Anakin shrugged.

"Or just like everyone else in the galaxy, he couldn't fully understand you," said Padmé.

"Yay," said Anakin flatly. "But anyway, I had to gain his trust as much as possible before I brought you here. I suppose to increase our chances of making it out alive."

"I can't believe it, Anakin," said Obi-Wan. "I can't believe what you've managed to do. It's incredible."

"You saved the Republic," smiled Padmé and, noticing Anakin's obvious discomfort, she went on, "So thank you, and that's all I'll say about it."

He seemed relieved.

"I am grateful for your ability to listen to the force," remarked Obi-Wan. "And allowing it to guide you."

"I had to … every moment of every day," said Anakin, looking a bit strained.

"And look how strong it has made you," said Obi-Wan, giving his former padawan a small smile. Padmé could tell Obi-Wan was proud of Anakin, which she found quite beautiful.

"Well, moving on," said Anakin, waving a hand. "When are you two getting married?"

"Married?" exclaimed Padmé and Obi-Wan at once, in unison.

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Padmé's wedding dress was an elaborate affair; the people of Naboo wouldn't have it any other way, not for a beloved former queen and the current Chancellor of the Reformed Senate of the Galactic Republic. No expense was spared; it was for the people. Had it been only for her, she likely would have worn a plain shift on a beach with three witnesses; however, there was a Republic to bolster and the elaborate ornamentation of Chancellor Padmé Amidala the Bride was a party everyone seemed to be able to get behind.

Ivory satin and gold filigree, painstaking constellations of crystalline beads, a train for days that required four handmaids to bear her forward, and tiny pale spring blossoms pinned throughout her dark, flowing hair, like stars in the night sky. A firm bracework was attached to her waist, cleverly hidden, allowing a grand spread of ivory gauze embroidered with gold to flare out behind her like rays of glory from a celestial being. She was accustomed to this kind of overzealous ornamentation; she'd been doing it since she was 13, and she always knew it was not for her glory or her vanity. It was for them.

"Them" included the thousands upon thousand of citizens of the Republic thronged all around the flower and gauze-lined walkway and trellis, with erected columns of white and rows upon rows of seated dignitaries lining the blood red carpet that flowed towards the pale ornamented dais that was her end design, where stood the object of her other half; the serenity of her mind, the pale blue gaze, the soft power, the endless depths, her greatest wish – her greatest blessing.

He was, to those who didn't know him personally, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, Chairman of the House of Judges in full formal Jedi robes, his lightsaber at his waist as a formality – no one expected it to be needed at this joyous occasion, but it was a badge of honor for him to wear, a sign of who and what he was. The general public didn't seem to wonder or care that a Jedi was getting married; perhaps it made him seem more like a person. Perhaps it made him seem more real. Perhaps it made him more human. Perhaps after all of the disasters of the overthrow, death, war, and the Empire everyone had a different perspective, and some things were fine to change.

Standing beside Master Kenobi on the dais, as his witness, was the Grand Major General of the Executive Order, Anakin Skywalker, also known as Lord Vader, dressed neatly in stylish black with red accents and standing with an almost menacing stillness and astounding quiet power, his lightsaber strapped to his side as well. He was not a Jedi, and no one knew what he was, as would likely be the case forever for Anakin Skywalker. When he caught her eye, though, he gave her his trademark half-smile of knowing (though it was kept reserved to maintain his mystique for the people) and she felt joy.

On her side of the dais, as her witness, was the willowy Senator Jamillia in fluttering ivory, who Padmé had been beside herself with happiness to know had been able to escape the attack on the rebel base and find her way back to the Senate with Ruwee. Their time together trying to piece together something from nothing - shreds of civilization - the barest of governments – the desperation and the endless necessary renewal of hope at the rebel base was something that could never be replaced by anyone else she would ever know. She felt like they were war veterans together, battle sisters, but instead of physical fights, their war had been politics. The bond was as deep as blood, regardless.

Mal was there, too, sitting in a row with Senator Ruwee; Obi-Wan had been quick to drag him out of obscurity and into contact with Anakin, though the rigidity of military life wouldn't quite suit him; the general public didn't know what he did, nor did they know who he was. This was because his role was to not exist; he performed Special Ops and that suited him just fine.

Near the horizon, the colors slightly paled by distance, could be seen the metal scaffolding of two reconstructions amongst the chrome and stone of Coruscant: the Senate Pavilion and the Jedi Temple, though the temple would be called the House of Judges, now.

Pale petals fell across her view as she arrived at the dais, and she was captured by Obi-Wan's clear blue gaze. He took her hand and guided her with a gentle warmth to stand beside him, to face Grand Jedi Master Yoda, First Judge of the House of Judges, who was standing upon an extra dais of his own. Yoda took them both in with his piercing, knowing eyes, and she felt known and assumed Obi-Wan probably did, too.

It had been a source of much anxiety for Padmé and Obi-Wan, the idea of requesting Yoda's blessing upon their desire to marry. It was simply something that had not been done. It seemed, however, as if Yoda already knew what they were going to ask before they even asked it.

"Senator Amidala and Master Kenobi are here to see you, Master Yoda," the padawan had said as he'd led them into Yoda's temporary chambers while the new temple was being built. Padmé and Obi-Wan had gone in, and before they could speak, Yoda began.

"Wish to marry, you do," he had said in his unique, crinkly way.

Padmé had glanced at Obi-Wan, who shared her look and seemed as thrown off-balance as she was. Yoda simply looked at them expectedly.

"Y-yes, Master Yoda," said Obi-Wan, showing deference. "I know it is not usually acceptable, but-,"

"Knew this on Endor's moon, I did," said Yoda, humming and nodding to himself.

"Ah… yes?" said Obi-Wan, given pause, perhaps feeling betrayed by his own uncontrollable feelings on the moon of Endor. "I am sorry, Master Yoda, I-,"

"Tsk," said Yoda, as if he were chiding a child to quiet down. He waddled closer to them and pointed his tiny wooden crook at Padmé. "What say you?"

"I love him," said Padmé.

Yoda nodded thoughtfully. Then he looked up at Obi-Wan, pointed his crook and said, "What say you?"

"I… love her," he said, helplessly. "I will always love her."

Yoda gazed at them in turn, his mysterious force ability humming around them both, perhaps weighing them, perhaps sizing them up, perhaps simply observing them.

"Normal, this is not," said Yoda, finally. "But normal times, these are not. A new being, Anakin Skywalker is. A new Republic, we have. A new order are the Jedi. Judges, we will be."

He hummed at them for a long moment.

"From the ashes comes the change," he said, and then he nodded slowly, thoughtfully. "My blessing on you will I give."

Obi-Wan released the breath he seemed to have been holding, and Padmé felt a light laugh of joy escape her.

"Thank you, Master Yoda," expelled Obi-Wan, looking exhausted by the ordeal.

"Try this, we will," said Yoda with a mysterious smile, and he left it at that.

Now, standing before the knowing gaze of Yoda, she wondered if Obi-Wan felt as humbled as she did – and suspected he did. Yet there was a strong strain of gratitude which hummed through the force between them.

"Wisdom, the force is," declared Yoda and everyone fell silent. "Knowledge it is also."

He looked over Obi-Wan and Padmé, and then smiled his particular warm, wizened smile.

"Mysterious, it is too," he said, his smile crinkling into an impish grin, and there was a rumble of chuckling from the assembly. "Inevitable, change is… destructive, it can be. Inside the whirlwind, you might be, but the wind may take you where, before, you could not go."

"Do not fear change," said Yoda. "Do not fear troubles. Look for the new to rise from the old, from the troubles, from the change, you will."

"This, will I also do," said Yoda with a grin. "As should we all."

"Forget this not, you will?" he asked kindly.

"We will not forget, Master Yoda," said Obi-Wan, bowing his head a little.

Yoda took them both in for a moment.

"Become one, you will," he said. "Never part, you will. Weather all things, you will."

After moment, he kindly inquired, "Yes?"

"Yes," they replied.

"Listen to the force, you will?"

"Yes," they agreed.

"Have many offspring, you will?" he asked.

Padmé coughed slightly and Obi-Wan cleared his throat. A soft wave of laughter swept through the assembly.

"Yes, you will," said Yoda, a knowing look on his face.

"Y-yes," stammered Obi-Wan, and Padmé followed awkwardly with her own assent. The crowd seemed to be enjoying their embarrassment thoroughly, however.

"Perfect, it is!" declared Yoda with a big smile, seeming to now be satisfied by the union. "Husband and wife, you are."

"May the force be with you," blessed Yoda, and the wedding party erupted in cheers.

Yoda nodded his head and intoned sagely, "Kiss, you will."

Padmé, relieved it was over, turned to sink into the deep blue eyes she wanted to sink into every day for the rest of time, and she would.

"I love you," he confessed, his voice soft, serene, sincere, and only for her - and she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him to within an inch of his life.

THE END

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