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Author's Notes: I am so sorry for not updating in so long! Life got in the way. The transition to online learning apparently meant a blur between college hours and the relaxing hours, increase in assignments, and a plethora of other responsibilities. So, anyways, here is the chapter, hope you all enjoy it!
Chapter XVI
"…the Republic is not what it once was. The Senate is full of greedy, squabbling delegates who are only looking out for themselves and their home systems. There is no interest in the common good…no civility, only politics…it's disgusting. I must be frank, Your Majesty, there is little chance the Senate will act on the invasion."
Padme's heart falls a bit listening to her Senator. The Senate was her best bet at removing the Federation from Naboo and freeing her people. Is there no-one in the Senate who would be willing to look past their own self-interest for the greater good?
"Chancellor Valorum seems to think there is hope."
Palpatine sighs, "If I may say so, Your Majesty, the Chancellor has no real power anymore. He is mired down by baseless accusations of corruption. A manufactured scandal surrounds him. Quite honestly, the bureaucrats are in charge now."
"The Jedi feel that the Chancellor has done the best he could."
"He may have done so, your Majesty, but it clearly isn't enough."
Padme mulled this over. She did have the proof with her about the blockade. But she had to be ready to face the fact that maybe even armed with sufficient proof, the Senate may delay the aid Naboo clearly requires.
"What other options do we have?"
"Our only hope would be to submit a plea to the courts."
Even before Palpatine had finished speaking, she was shaking her head. "There is no time for that," she said grimly, "The courts take even longer to decide things than the Senate. Our people are dying Senator…more and more each day. We must do something quickly to stop the Federation. Is there no other way?"
"Apart from that, our best choice would be to push for the election of a stronger Supreme Chancellor. One who will take control of the bureaucrats, enforces the laws, and gives us justice. You could call for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum."
Padme bit back an agitated retort. None of those options were going to help her people. Chancellor Valorum had been their greatest supporter in the Senate, if he himself is a lost cause as her Senator says then, she doesn't know what to do.
No, she cannot lose hope yet. There has got to be Senators out there who would be sympathetic to Naboo and armed with sufficient proof she should be able to get their support. But what if that wasn't enough either, she wonders glancing at Palpatine who continued his spiel of corruption in the Senate.
There surely wasn't time to narrow down such systems and have a talk with their representatives.
The most likely outcome against her planet's plight would be that the decision would be delayed. It would not be outright ignored that is for sure, after all, she did carry proof and that ought to warrant at the least some action.
Obi-Wan had warned her regarding the Trade Federation's Senator's rebuttal but given the circumstances, she didn't really care about the Federation at all. Okay, Padme, keep a calm head.
"The meeting is about to start." Captain Panaka says. "Very well, shall we, Your Majesty?" Palpatine asks.
Padme takes a deep breath; she could do this. "Let's go."
-x—x—
This is it.
"I object! There is no proof—"
"Pardon me Senator, but if you had waited for me to finish, you and everyone in this Senate would see that I do not accuse without proof. Chancellor, if I may?" Padme speaks loudly and authoritatively.
Getting the all clear, she requests her R2 to ready the two recordings. "I present before the Senate two recordings. One captures the illegal blockade the Trade Federation has around the peaceful Naboo and how in exiting the planet, our ship was attacked. R2, if you may." She waits as the Senate looks onto the recording trying to judge their reactions. She also risks a glance at the Senator for Trade Federation, Lott Dod, if she remembers correctly. His face looked pinched while his eyebrows were drawn together in a frown. Good. She thought before raising her head high.
"The second recording which I present before the Senate is that of my Governor Sio Bibble." She remains silent, trying to gauge the reaction of her audience as the recording plays out. She chances a look at the Chancellor, and sees a grim yet determined look. It fills her with hope.
The recording ends, and she brings the focus of the Senators on her again, "Senators, Naboo needs your help to end this illegal blockade—"
"Those recordings could be fake!"
What the kriff.
"They are not—" but her voice was cut off by the sounds of Senators agreeing with the Lott Dod. She looked around but the cacophony surrounded her from every corner.
A sense of helplessness filled her. A hand rested on her shoulder and she turned her head to see Palpatine giving her a pitying look. She turned ahead; she couldn't stand to bear it. Her hands curled into fists.
What is it? What is it that makes the words of a Senator from Trade Federation carry so much more weight than that of a sovereign ruler armed with proof?
All at once, Palpatine's spiel about corruption came to her mind, and she turned sharply to look at Valorum. Would he do something?
Mas Amedda silenced the Senate. She saw Valorum straighten and his voice echoed, laced with authority, "Esteemed Senators, I believe that the recordings do warrant at the least an investigation. We shall send an independent investigative team on the behalf of the Republic."
"The only investigation those recordings warrant is that of its legitimacy! The Trade Federation shall not stand for such allegations."
"Senator, please. The investigative team will do just that."
Padme silently fumed. "Chancellor, Senators! It is not investigation but decisive action that Naboo requires. The Trade Federation must remove its blockade or face repercussions." Another pod came forth.
"The chair recognizes the Senator Bail Organa from Alderaan."
"Esteemed Senators, Queen Amidala has provided us sufficient proof to be given the benefit of doubt. The matter of the fact is- we will not know whether the blockade is legal or not without proper investigation but the people of Naboo shall and should not suffer for it considering the recordings provided by the Queen. I entreat you to vote for ordering the Trade Federation to remove their blockade!"
Padme found herself fighting back a smile. She caught the eye of the Senator of Alderaan, Bail Organa, she recalled, and gave him a nod of gratitude. He returned the gesture before both of them looked towards Valorum.
He was in deep conversation with his aides. "Enter the bureaucrats, the true rulers of the Republic, and on the payroll of the Trade Federation, might I add." Palpatine whispers to her.
She gritted her teeth. Senator Organa had made good points and surely the Senate would listen now. Chancellor Valorum promised her he would do his best but it felt he wasn't trying enough.
She got her head out of her thoughts when the Chancellor spoke, "The points of both the parties have been heard and taken into account. It is after careful consideration that I shall stay my original course of action. The point is conceded in favor of the Senator of the Trade Federation. Section 523A take precedence here. Queen Amidala of the Naboo, will you defer your motion to allow a commission to explore the validity of your accusations and that of your proof?"
It took all of her diplomatic training to not let her mouth fall open in surprise. All at once she felt a surge of anger. "I will not defer! I have come before you to resolve this attack on our sovereignty now. I was not elected to watch my people suffer and die and will not do so while you all sit and discuss it in a committee." Padme turns towards Valorum, "If this body is not capable of action, I suggest new leadership is required. I move for a Vote of No Confidence in Chancellor Valorum's leadership."
In the bedlam that follows, no one pays attention to the smirk on Senator Palpatine's face.
Padme sits back. Her work here is done although it is far from over. She only pays enough attention to know that Senator Organa supports her decision and then shifts her thoughts to the next plan of action.
She counts her allies, people she knows will definitely help her and her planet out – Jedi master Qui-Gon Jinn and Padawan learner Obi-Wan Kenobi. She lets out a barely audible sigh. While the Jedi could accomplish many extraordinary feats, they couldn't possibly take out an entire army of droids. But—
—they didn't have to. She thinks with sudden clarity.
"Oh, and remember unity among the people is one of the strongest weapons of any planet during a crisis. Think about it, perhaps you may find any unlikely alliance that can help us win this crisis."
Obi-Wan had told her that while they were cleaning up R2; right before Jar-Jar had come in. But…could it be? The Gungans and Naboo they didn't get along, to put it simply. However, if the Trade Federation threatened Naboo, in the end it would reach the Gungans as well. Come to think of it, the Gungans had an army as well.
An army to fight an army.
"-lady, milady." "Huh?" "It is time to leave, milady." "Of course." Padme steps out of the pod without glancing back at the Senate. They couldn't help her planet now. Her planet had to stand up for itself.
-x—x—
"Master Windu!" The Korunn Master looked to his right from where Padawan Kenobi was down the hallway his way.
He waited until the Padawan had reached him, "Yes Padawan?"
Kenobi straightened and Mace had to blink back a sudden headache. There were…shatterpoints around Kenobi that hadn't been there before.
"—request to make."
He really needed to get his head out of his thoughts. With the appearance of the boy Qui Gon claimed to be the chosen one, he was already sporting one from the Council meeting.
He motioned for Kenobi to follow and they start walking. "What's it about?"
From the corner of his eye, he sees Kenobi staring straight ahead, taking in a deep breath, and feels anxiety being released into the Force.
It probably is something about the boy- Anakin Skywalker, if I remember correctly.
"Master Qui-Gon believes Anakin to be the Chosen One."
Mace nods along, "You believe otherwise?"
Obi-wan is silent for a moment and says, "It is not a matter of what I believe him to be Master. He may very well be the Chosen One, or he may not be. Either way, it doesn't matter to my request."
"Which is?"
"Anakin should not be present before the Council when the Council delivers it decision to train him or not."
He sees Obi-wan look at him for a brief moment before adding, "If Anakin is indeed the Chosen One, and he is to be trained as a Jedi, it will unnecessarily put a burden on his shoulders to excel and may alienate him from his age-mates. If he is not, he may lose a bit of his confidence."
Mace waited for him to speak for a while before asking, "What if he wasn't to be trained?"
Obi-wan hums and adds, "Well, then I feel we should leave it to his mother or Qui-Gon to break the news gently to him, no offense to the Council."
"Not you?"
"Oh, ah, Anakin isn't as comfortable around me as the other two."
And yet here you are trying to spare his feelings. Mace hid a smile.
"So you say."
Obi-wan grimaces.
"Very well, Padawan, I agree. Although, the boy must learn to not let his feelings cloud his judgement."
"And as he grows older, Jedi or not, I am sure he will get a grasp of it, Master."
The conversation was effectively over, but Obi-Wan still followed him, something on his mind. "Anything else, padawan?"
"Uh, no, Master. I will take my leave." Obi-Wan bowed and went his own way.
Well, time to prepare for Skywalker's test.
-x—x—
Anakin exited the Council Chamber and let out a deep breath. By the Force, that was hard.
Seeing Yoda, Mace, Plo Koon, and honestly all the Council Members was tough. They were sickeningly Light. And Anakin may have forgone the Dark Side, but so much of the Light at once still burned him.
There was a reason after all he was not opening himself completely to the Force.
This time Yoda hadn't questioned him on his fear. Instead, he had asked him about his drawn countenance. He had blamed that on the long journey and the upheaval but…they had sensed his shields. He was sure of it.
He wasn't sure why they hadn't called him out on it. Force willing, he could pass them on as natural shields due to years of slavery.
There was also the matter of the bond that they had questioned him extensively upon. He had answered some of those questions while feigned confusion for the rest. Well, not really feigned, he honestly, didn't know what was up with this Force bond business.
Yoda had looked at him strangely, as if he knew exactly what was going inside Anakin's head. Wait. Was there a possibility that he could have time travelled too? Because why not, right? One from the Dark, another from the Light. Were they supposed to have an epic duel?
He snorted. But if Yoda, could it be any other member of the Council too? Windu? Ti? Mundi? Anakin rubbed his face.
By the Force, I will go insane at this rate. But again, maybe that is the very reason I am stranded here. Out of place, and out of time.
"Ani!"
Huh?
He looked ahead to find Obi-Wan and his mom waiting for him near the turbo-lift. Why were they still waiting here? Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had already had their meeting with the Council and so had his mom. He was the last to be entered and it was only for him to be tested.
He put on a smile and waved at his mom. He jogged the rest of the way and hugged his mom. He smiled up at Obi-Wan who smiled back but his eyes were tensed.
He let his smile slip, "Is something wrong?" Obi-Wan looked surprised for a second before he shaking his head, "Nothing's wrong."
"How did your test go?"
"It was good, Mum." He recounted his experience in the Council Chamber to his escorts as they entered the lift.
-x—x—
He hadn't foreseen the Queen bringing evidence. For a few excruciating moments in the Senate chamber, he had thought that was the reason of his headache for the past few days and he would have to execute plan B.
In the darkness of his office, Darth Sidious let out a low chuckle.
He really should have put more stock in the stupidness of the Senate. His plan had gone splendidly. Naboo's plight would instate him as the Chancellor due to the sympathy votes and an important step to the execution of his plan for galaxy domination would be taken.
But then if this was not the reason for the disturbance in the Force, what was?
He cast his presence around his office. No one was nearby and unlikely to disturb him for a while. He entered into a light meditation.
Immediately, the Dark Side showed him the faces of two people.
Interesting.
It was a Jedi padawan. He was pretty sure he was on the landing platform where Amidala's ship had come in. The padawan was sporting a look of hatred. Ah yes, it was fleeting but Palpatine had caught it, if not at that moment, then now through the Force.
Now, that is intriguing.
What would give this Jedi a reason to hate Palpatine? It could be a general disgust for politicians but this, he was sure was targeted at him specifically.
"Senator Palpatine, the voting is about to start."
Opening his eyes, Darth Sidious gave one last smile before Palpatine took his place, "I will be there in fifteen minutes, thank you."
Normally, he would have played with the Padawan, see if he could be of help to further Palpatine's plans, as a pawn, if not as an apprentice in the Dark Side; but the circumstances now were crucial.
Besides the message from the Force was clear: Kill the Jedi now or he would interfere with the plan.
Darth Sidious put in the number of a bounty hunter. Ten minutes later, Palpatine exited his office, confident of his Chancellorship and the death of one Jedi Padawan.
-x—x—
Well, it turns out, Obi-wan could look Mace into his eyes—
— for approximately 5 seconds.
At least, Mace had acquiesced to his request.
They had convened in the Council Chambers after two hours– Shmi and Anakin asked to wait outside. Qui-Gon had talked about the Sith, re-emphasized that Anakin was the Chosen One and told them about the force bond between his Padawan and Anakin.
Which had put him in the spot of answering the very Council members' questions he had wished to avoid, not that it could be helped. So, he stared through the large window straight ahead, careful not to meet anyone's eyes especially Yoda's, knowing that it made his mannerisms seem weird, but Qui-Gon already thought so, so what were 13 more people, right?
He had answered truthfully regarding the bond – he had no idea why it was forged – reforged- and what it meant for the future and Anakin.
He carefully avoided Mace's eyes staring at him when he admitted to the bond between him and Anakin.
He gave his inputs on the Sith along with his Master. Then came the news of the Vote of No-Confidence. Obi-Wan gritted his teeth. He had been so lost in making sure that Palpatine does not set his eyes on Anakin, that he had not given much account into Palpatine climbing the political ladder.
He wondered on how it happened, the Senate should have listened to Padme now that she had proof. Perhaps, Palpatine was just that good.
That just means I will have to be that much more careful.
Other than that, the meeting went on well, and he was thankful of the tall stature of his Master that he could at least pretend to hide behind, infinitely glad that he had the opportunity to indulge in it a second time.
They had exited with Shmi, while Anakin went in, Qui-Gon showing a pleasant surprise on having learned Shmi was so aware of her options and even more when she had told it was all because of Obi-Wan. He had been rewarded a smile of gratitude then and an affectionate tug on his Padawan braid before his Master went on his way to get some stuff sorted out before their return to Naboo.
I had forgotten how that felt. Seemed funny when I used to do it but now…not funny anymore.
Now, Anakin had chattered away most of the way back to their rooms but Obi-Wan couldn't stop thinking on his next steps now that Palpatine would be elected Chancellor. Sure, the voting was still underway but Naboo would get enough sympathetic votes to ensure his victory.
"Obi-wan?" He blinked as a hand came into focus shaking in front of his eyes.
"Yes, Anakin?"
"Are you okay?" It was Shmi who asked.
"Yes, quite fine. Just thinking."
He saw both of them nod, and glanced through a window, on their way back. It was still afternoon and they would probably leave at night. That was a lot of time to kill.
"Say, Ms. Skywalker and Anakin, would you like to go and explore Coruscant? We have still got some time before the results for Anakin's test will be revealed."
On receiving enthusiastic agreements from both, he smiled and told them about Coruscant's markets, recalling facts from his childhood.
Besides, I could use a change of scenery.
Tbc…
First of all, let me again apologise for the delay. Got college, covid and all simultaneously, and it were a busy few months.
yiggdrasill: Thank you! We will see Shmi's POV as to what transpired in the Council and discussions in the next chap. Hope, you liked this one! I had never considered it before as well. But now, I get it. Its like having the best thing ever happen to you by being told that you are someone special (when all you have ever been seen as a slave) and you have made a big sacrifice for that, but when you are just about to achieve it, the people do not accept you and deny you a place. The uncertainty and rejection and the sacrifice make it so hard that it would have weighed really heavily on a nine-year-old boy. This behaviour of Obi-Wan the way he didn't let his emotions control him, is one of the many reasons why he is my favourite character :D
MMM73181: I have got to say, that sounds like a fantastic idea. Qui-Gon dying or not, is an idea I have been toying with. But the rest of the idea about how Obi-Wan goes to Naboo and all is pretty awesome. Thank you for some major ideas! I absolutely love hearing from you because you always give me such good ideas. I have always found it funny y'know, how Obi-Wan is such a good pilot and likes flying but put him with Anakin and suddenly he doesn't like it all that much xD
Grammarosprey: Yes, it seems like a good alternative and probably the reason not thought of in canon was because Obi-Wan had promised Qui-Gon to train the boy as a Jedi. Thanks, I thought it would be a better transition for her as well. A new place and new way of life, it would be hard of her to let go of Anakin (although she can if the need arises as we saw in the movie). This way, they both can feel a little closer to each other.
Rilme Caatl: Thank you! It is so funny, I wonder how long they can keep it up! Hope you liked this chapter?
Courtesy Trefflin: Thank you, you made my day! Please forgive me for so much delayed updation. Yep, they care so much for each other, that is why the RotS hits so hard. As to where the story leads to, you will have to read ahead (seriously, the story completely changes itself on its own in a few weeks :I ) Please keep on reading, I won't abandon this story.
Nightshade's sydneylover150: Hey, I didn't cover the Council scene in detail in this chapter but it will be detailed as flashbacks. THE council scene however, will probably come in the next chapter. Let us hope for Qui-Gon's sake, he does not repeat the same mistake he did the last time. Till then, hope you liked this chapter and sorry for the delay!
RyuuShadow: xD I am glad you liked Shmi's concerns in the previous chapter. I added it as something hilarious when Anakin finds out that the reason his mom is acting strangely around Obi-Wan is because she is suspicious the way Anakin was acting around Obi-wan xD Thank you, and I am sorry for the delay!
Fizzicks01: Well, I am sad to hear you didn't like the story. The story was admittedly started to explore a few major scenes, but its not entirely based on them. But I have taken into account what you have said, and will ensure, it does not drag on. That being said, if you have any constructive tips to offer, I'd be happy to hear them and improve my writing.
gammaxmen80: I have been watching the Clone Wars during the lockdown, and I absolutely love her character. I didn't have any plans for Ahsoka to feature in this story as a major character but plans change, don't they? Let's see where this story takes us.
IthilwenofIthilien: Thank you! Sorry I took so long to update this :( I totally get your point. And this is quite late, but I hope your grandparents are safe and you have been able to relax :) Stay safe and May the Force be with you all. Hope you liked this chapter!
Anonymous: Thank you :D I love time travelling fics too! I know right xD? Soo oblivious smh. I hope you like the way the story is going!
Destiny: Really sorry for the delay! Won't abandon the story, life just got in the way. Hope you liked this chapter!
rainingsun2811: Thank you so much! Hope you liked this chapter as well!
LordEngineer: Thank you! Sorry for the delay! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
ichigo urahara Shihoin: Thank you :)
Celeste McCoy: Thank you for your comment! I am glad you liked the story, hope this chapter met your expectations.
So, thank you all of you who stayed even during the long break in updation. I really appreciate it and promise it won't happen again!
Happy New Year! Stay Safe!
As always, please read and review!