From a distance, the Republic's capital city of Coruscant looked like a lone mountain on the coast. Thousands of years of constant habitation of the peninsula have led to countless new layers being built atop old ones. As one would expect, the richest citizens live at the highest levels, surrounded by gleaming white stone, while the destitute live on the deepest levels, lucky if they ever see the sun. The city's sheer size and its placement on an easily defended rocky peninsula have cost many a would-be invader victory over the Republic.

It was early dawn when the royal corvette emerged from the Hyperion gate. The lights from the rich upper levels gave the mountainous city the appearance of an erupting volcano. The corvette's captain smiled when he saw the twin white fires of the Great Harbor. They were safe in these waters.

The Great Harbor was an enormous horseshoe shaped harbor capable of holding hundreds of even the world's largest ships. At either end of the harbor's arc sat a magnificent lighthouse whose white fires could be seen from almost the horizon. At the base of the lighthouses were titanic winches with a mighty chain connecting them, each link made of enough metal to armor a thousand knights. For most of the time, the chain sat on the bottom of the harbor, but if the ever Coruscant's harbor needed to be closed, the chain could be raised.

The corvette's captain went down to the communication room and hailed the port authority to request docking permission.

"Hello, captain," said the silver woman from the port authority. "Your priority docking request is granted. Please proceed to the fifth dock in the section lit by yellow flames."

"Understood. Thank you." Seconds after ending the communication, the captain hailed the Chancellor's office to inform them of the Queen's arrival.

"Excellent," replied the horned Vice Chancellor. "I shall have Chancellor Valorum and Senator Palpatine meet you at the dock."

The captain returned to the bridge and informed the helmsman where to go. By the time the ship had navigated through the busy harbor traffic and into the designated dock, the passengers were awake, dressed, and on deck, ready for their respective duties in the capital.

Anakin was awestruck not just by the sheer size of the city, but also by how clean everything was. The early morning light made the white stone seem to glow. The air smelled clean and the cries of gulls came from every direction. This is what he had imagined sailing was like.

On the dock, Chancellor Valorum and Senator Palpatine arrived just in time to watch the dockworkers tying the ship's mooring ropes. They had come from the Senate building by winged reptiles colloquially known as shuttles. They and their entourage watched patiently as Queen Amidala and her own entourage descended the gangplank.

Senator Palpatine held out his arms in greeting. "It's a great gift to see you alive, your Highness. The loss of communications had us worried beyond belief. I'm anxious to hear your report on the situation." He gestured to the Chancellor. "I forget myself. May I introduce Supreme Chancellor Valorum."

The Chancellor gave a polite smile. "Welcome to Coruscant, your Highness. It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person."

"Thank you, Chancellor," Queen Amidala replied in her monotone way.

"I must relay to you how distressed everyone is by the current situation. I've called for a special session of the Senate to hear your position."

"I thank you for your concern, Chancellor."

"Your Highness," began Palpatine, as he guided the royal entourage towards his shuttle. "There is a matter of procedure, but I'm sure we can overcome it."

As Senator Palpatine and Queen Amidala walked away, Qui-Gon stepped towards Chancellor Valorum. "I must speak with the Jedi Council immediately, the situation has become far more complicated."

"Very well, I shall call out a shuttle to take you there at once."

Anakin looked to Qui-Gon, unsure of where to go. Qui-Gon looked down at him. "For now, it would be best if you and Jar Jar went with the Queen. We'll send for you later."

"Y-yes, sir."

Anakin followed the Queen onto the large multi-seated leather saddle on the shuttle's back. He took a seat next to Padmé, and Jar Jar next to him. The shuttle turned its elongated head to look back at the passengers and gave a soft whistling call. The pilot gave a quick pop of the reins and the shuttle opened its large leathery wings and lifted off, the gusts scattering a flock of gulls which flew away crying out in alarm.

The Senate building was a massive dome shaped structure at the city's highest point. The building was so large that it could qualify as a city in its own right. At the building's center was the cavernous Senate chamber, filled with enough speaking platforms for each of the world's nations to have a place to represent themselves. All around this chamber were the Senate offices and the Senators' apartments. At the apex of the dome sat the Chancellor's office. From his windows, he could see the entire city laid out below him.

Queen Amidala's temporary apartment was quite a luxurious one. Every piece of furniture was upholstered with red suede and the cloth furnishings were made from the finest red velvet. Anakin couldn't stop running his hand over the soft material of the chaise longue he sat on, while Jar Jar inspected a case of glass animal figurines. In the background, Queen Amidala and Senator Palpatine discussed the situation.

"...There is no civility, only politics. The Republic is not what it once was. The Senate is full of greedy, squabbling bureaucrats. There is no interest in the common good." Palpatine sighed. "I must be frank, your Highness, there is little chance the Senate will act on the invasion."

"Chancellor Valorum seems to think there is hope."

"If I may say so, your Highness, the Chancellor has very little real power. He is mired by baseless accusations of corruption. As a result, the bureaucrats are in charge now."

"What options have we?"

"Our best choice would be to press for the election of a stronger Supreme Chancellor. One who could control the bureaucrats and give us justice... You could call for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum."

"But... He has been our strongest supporter."

Palpatine frowned. "Our only other choice would be to submit a plea to the courts."

"The courts would take even longer to settle this than the Senate. Our people are dying, Senator. We must do something quickly to stop the Federation."

"To be realistic, your Highness, I think we are going to have to accept Federation control for the time being."

"...That is something I cannot do."

The Jedi Temple was an imposing cubic building of polished alabaster with a tall tower at the center and a shorter one on each corner. Each side of the temple was aligned with a cardinal direction, with the east serving as the front. Around the temple's base and flanking each of the four sets of entry steps were huge statues of Jedi masters past. The central tower atop the building housed the Jedi Council chamber, where all great decisions of the Jedi Order took place.

In the Council chamber, Qui-Gon met with the Jedi Masters in an emergency meeting to inform them of everything that had transpired since he and Obi-Wan had left for Naboo. The most disturbing aspect he had left until last, the attack on the Tattooine shore. "He was trained in the Jedi Arts. After careful meditation, my only conclusion can be that he was a Sith Lord."

"Impossible," said Master Ki-Adi-Mundi, a native of Cerea, known for their tall heads. "The Sith have been extinct for a millennium."

Master Mace Windu, a bald human with dark skin nodded. "I do not think the Sith could have returned without our noticing them."

Master Yoda, a diminutive green creature with long pointed ears stroked his wrinkly chin. "Hard to see, the Dark Side is." His voice was gravelly, not unexpected for someone as ancient as he.

Master Windu turned back to Qui-Gon. "We will use all our resources to unravel this mystery. We will discover the identity of your attacker. May the Force be with you."

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan bowed and Obi-Wan made to leave. Qui-Gon stayed at the center of the room. "Master Qui-Gon? More to say, have you?"

Obi-Wan stopped and turned around to watch while his master addressed the Council again. "With your permission, Master. I have encountered a vergence in the Force."

"A vergence, you say?"

Master Windu raised an eyebrow. "Located around a... Person?"

Qui-Gon nodded. "A boy. His blood has the highest concentrations of Midichloria I've ever encountered in a living thing. More even than you, Master. His mother told me the boy had no father. It's possible he was conceived by the Force itself."

Murmurs erupted through the Council chamber. Yoda raised a hand to still them.

Master Windu's eyes were wide. "You're referring to the prophecy of the One who will bring balance to the Force? You believe it's this boy?"

"I don't presume to-"

Master Yoda interrupted. "But you do. Revealed, your opinion is."

"I request the boy be tested, Master."

"Ohh, trained as a Jedi, you request him to be, hmm?"

"Finding him was the Will of the Force, I believe that with every fiber of my being."

The Council silently contemplated how to proceed until Master Ki-Adi-Mundi spoke up. "If he is the Chosen One then that would mean that there is a great age of darkness on the horizon. The reappearance of the Sith would reinforce this. I for one support Master Qui-Gon's wishes in this matter."

Master Windu took a deep breath. "Bring him before us, then." Master Windu had many issues with Qui-Gon's fanaticism, but Master Ki-Adi-Mundi made a good point. They had to at least test the boy.

Qui-Gon bowed and he and Obi-Wan stepped into the elevator to leave the Council tower.

In the Senate apartment, Anakin had just woken up from a nap. He rubbed his eyes and saw that besides himself, the only one present was a snoring Jar Jar. Confused, he opened the front door. A Senate guard, clad in polished blue-black armor stood either side of the door.

One of them looked to him. "Oh, hello."

"Hi," said Anakin. "Do you know where everyone went?"

Through the T-shaped face slot on the guard's crested helm, Anakin saw him smile. "Of course, son. Queen Amidala and her handmaidens have gone to Senator Palpatine's office. She's preparing to give a speech before the Senate."

"Thank you!" Anakin took off running down the hallway. Then he stopped. "Which way is his office?"

On his way to Senator Palpatine's office, Anakin was stopped by a page who told him a Jedi named Qui-Gon Jinn was looking for him and that he could be found at the primary shuttle roost. Anakin asked the page to tell Qui-Gon he'd be there as soon as he said goodbye to Padmé.

At the door to Senator Palpatine's office, a guard entered with Anakin behind him. "Milady," he said to the Queen, "there's a boy here to see Padmé."

"Ah, Anakin. Padmé isn't here right now, I sent her on an errand."

"I'm on my way to the Jedi Temple to start my training, I hope. I may never see her again, so I came to say goodbye."

"We will tell her for you," the Queen said. "We are sure her heart goes with you."

Anakin bowed. "Thank you, your Highness."

The Senate chamber was abuzz with the chattering of the delegates of thousands of nations. It had been several years since a special session had been called. Many rumors floated around, some more true than others. At the center of the chamber sat the Chancellor's pulpit, at which stood the Supreme Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor.

The Vice Chancellor called for order and following the usual formalities, the session was opened. "The Chair recognizes the senator from The sovereign nation of Naboo."

On one of the platforms, from whose railing hung the flag of Naboo, Senator Palpatine addressed the assembly via a broadcast crystal. "Supreme Chancellor, delegates of the Senate, a tragedy has occurred. It started with the taxation of trade routes and has now engulfed our country in the oppression of the Trade Federation."

The senior member of the Nemoidian delegation spoke out. "This is outrageous! I object to the senator's accusations!"

"The Chair does not recognize the senator from the Trade Federation at this time!"

Senator Palpatine continued. "To State our allegations, I present Queen Amidala, recently elected ruler of Naboo, who speaks on our behalf."

Palpatine stepped away from the crystal as Queen Amidala stepped towards it. "Honorable representatives of the Republic, I come to you under the gravest of circumstances, Naboo has been invaded by the automaton armies Trade Federation-"

Again, the Nemoidian senator interrupted. "I object! There is no proof! This claim is incredible. We recommend a commission be sent to Naboo to ascertain the truth."

"The Congress of Malastare concurs with the honorable delegate from the Trade Federation," came a voice from a different platform. "A commission must be appointed."

"The point-" began Chancellor Valorum, before the Vice Chancellor pulled him aside to speak with him.

Senator Palpatine huffed in disgust. "Enter the bureaucrats," he whispered to the Queen. "The true rulers of the Republic. And on the payroll of the Trade Federation, might I add. This is where all of Chancellor Valorum's strength will vanish."

Queen Amidala looked out at the Chancellor, full of disappointment. She tried to hold out hope that he would do the right thing, but if he didn't, she knew what needed to be done.

Chancellor Valorum concluded his discussion with his Vice Chancellor. He sighed defeatedly. "The point is conceded. Will you defer your motion to allow a commission to explore the validity of your accusations?"

"I will not defer." Despite trying to maintain her neutral tone, there was an edge to the Queen's voice. "I've come before you to resolve this attack on our sovereignty now. I was not elected to watch my people suffer and die while you discuss this invasion in a committee!" By the end of the sentence, her measured tone was gone. The frustration and disgust towards this broken system had boiled over. "If this body is not capable of action, then I suggest new leadership is needed... I move for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum's leadership."

The Senate exploded into murmurs which rapidly gave way to shouting. Chancellor Valorum staggered backwards, stunned. From another platform, a voice called out. "Bail Organa of Alderaan seconds the motion."

Around the Senate chamber, the shouting transformed into an angry chant of "Vote now! Vote now!"

The Vice Chancellor banged his gavel. "Order! Order!"

Senator Palpatine turned to Queen Amidala. "Now they will elect a new Chancellor. A strong Chancellor, one who will not let our tragedy continue."

Queen Amidala looked around the Senate chamber. She desperately hoped he was right.

In the Jedi Temple, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan walked down the Hall of Tapestries, a grand gallery which held hundreds of heroic tales woven into vibrant pictures. High above them, the Jedi Council tested Anakin's abilities.

Obi-Wan was doubtful of his success, and couldn't help but voice his concerns to his master. "I do not believe the boy will pass the trial, he is too old."

"Anakin will become a Jedi. I made a promise."

"Master, please don't defy the Council. Not again."

"I shall do what I must, Obi-Wan. The Force guided us to him for a reason. If they do not train him, I will."

"Master, if you followed the Code, you would be on the Council."

"I do as the Force tells me. Sometimes it guides me against the teachings of the Code. I will not go against what the Force wills me to do."

Obi-Wan sighed. "Still, I feel they will not side with you on this."

"There is still much for you to learn, my Padawan. Things that will come with time."

Meanwhile, Anakin stood in the middle of the Council chamber. Each master scrutinized his thoughts and feelings. Master Windu held an ancient set of cards made from thin slices of ivory, each with a different simple image carved into it. Anakin had so far been able to correctly identify each of the images by only reaching out through the Force. Only four cards remained.

One by one, Anakin described what he saw through his mind's eye. "A ship... A cup... A ship... A horse..."

After Anakin had finished, Master Windu wordlessly straightened the cards and returned them to their sandalwood box. Master Yoda carefully eyed the boy. "Hmm. How feel you?"

"Cold, sir."

"Afraid, are you?"

"No, sir."

Yoda gave a slight frown. "See through you, we can. Be mindful of your feelings."

"Your thoughts dwell on your mother," said Master Ki-Adi-Mundi.

"I miss her..."

Yoda raised his eyebrows. "Afraid to lose her, I think, hmm?"

"What has that got to do with anything?"

Yoda stretched his arms wide. "Everything! Fear paves the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering." He looked carefully at Anakin before shaking his head. "Much fear, I sense in you."