Chapter 4: Death Watch

The moment Vader woke, he saw there was a message for him. He had the suite's computer play it for him and heard the voice of Satine telling him they needed to discuss their strategy for hunting down the Jedi he was searching for. He radioed back they could come and talk to him immediately. He got out of bed and quickly put on his Sith robe and mask.

Satine and her aides arrived just a moment later. He smiled over the realization they had just been waiting around to talk to him. Satine took a deep bow to greet him, which he didn't return.

"We have run our assessment of every criminal organization on the planet and have concluded that the Jedi is most likely seeking out Death Watch," Satine said.

"They are a hard-core terrorist organization, are they not?" Vader asked.

"Yes, one of the most deadly and dangerous. Lately, they have been carrying out attacks on a very regular basis."

"And do you really believe the Jedi, who are known for peace, would be conspiring with a terrorist organization such as Death Watch?"

"The Jedi are no longer a peaceful organization, it doesn't matter what their history is, they have been labeled a terrorist organization by the Empire." Satine talked slowly as she appeared hesitant to answer. "Their situation has changed. The only organizations that would be willing to work with them now are the hard-core criminals, like Death Watch."

"That is exactly the thought I had. Do you have a plan for investigating them and seeing if the Jedi is with them?"

"I was going to send out our security forces to start questioning known cells of the organization."

"You are allowing known cells of a dangerous terrorist organization to roam free on your planet. Why are these criminals not already in jail?"

"Um, here on this planet, every citizen has certain rights. We can only follow the law." Satine stammered as she had not been expecting a question like that.

"As of now, the law is whatever I say it is. The people only have the rights I say they do. Round up every known cell of Death Watch and imprison them. If you don't find the Jedi among them, I will start the interrogations of the people you bring in. Now leave, and have your people report back to me if they find the Jedi. Tell them they are not to engage her if they don't have to. Have them keep their eyes on them as much as possible so they can guide me to them.

"Yes, Lord Vader."

...

Thrawn stood outside the Senate hall. He had just arrived on Coruscant and came right down to the capital building to speak with Palpatine and inform him of his plan to leave the Empire. While he knew the Senate would be in session and Palpatine would be busy, he still raced down to witness the session as he wanted to get a feel for the current political situation. Once he left, any news from the Empire would be minimal, so he wanted to make sure the assessment he left with was as accurate as possible. From his perch, he couldn't quite see everything inside, but he could hear everything, and that was all he needed. Bail Organa was giving a speech, praising the Emperor for his bold leadership. Thrawn knew every word the man was saying was bullshit, but he sounded authentic while saying it.

The sound of Palleon's boots hitting the metallic floor caused him to miss a few things Bail said. "Did you meet the Emperor's secretary and schedule our meeting?" Thrawn asked him.

"Yes, and he was astonished we would even bother with an appointment. As Grand Admiral, you have a direct line to Palpatine you can take advantage of at any moment."

"And did you inform him I had electronically filed my resignation, effective immediately?"

"Yes, I did, and he said that shouldn't matter, but he went ahead and made the appointment, telling us to come by once the Senate session ends." Palleon pursed his lips as there was more he wanted to say, but he didn't feel like talking out in the open. Thrawn understood his aide-de-camp enough to know that there was more he wanted to say. Unlike Palleon, Thrawn felt they were alone enough to avoid any eavesdropping. He knew anyone around would be paying attention to Bail, and not them.

"Is there more you wish to say Lieutenant?" Thrawn could feel Palleon was still hesitant to answer. "Everyone is listening to Bail; we can speak freely."

"I just don't see the need to give up some of the privileges we have. Despite our resignations, we are still going to be doing some important work for the Emperor. Should we really be making things difficult for ourselves by giving up many of the privileges we have?"

"Yes, we should. While we have important work to do for the Emperor, it is imperative that we not be seen as working for the Emperor. We need to show everyone we are normal civilians and are just attending to business before we leave the Empire for good. No one will think anything of what we are doing if we are seen as simply gathering information."

"What about this speech?" Palleon asked. "Are you learning anything useful from it?"

"Yes, I am. Bail Organa is giving a sterling speech on the need to embrace the Emperor so that calm and normalcy might be allowed to return to the galaxy."

Lieutenant Palleon was skeptical of what he was hearing. He went ahead and took a moment to listen to Senator Organa and heard him say how politicians of all different stripes could work together under the Emperor. He was talking about the way he had been a vocal opponent of Palpatine's actions but had now changed his mind when he realized the Emperor did not have to be the enemy that he thought he was. He accepted that they were in a new age, with a new system of governance. It was going to take them time to construct a system that would provide the galaxy with order and stability but do so in a manner that protected everyone's civil rights. He knew the Emperor was committed to the same causes that he was and was willing to work with him in order to make the new system work.

"Is he telling the truth about anything?" Palleon asked Thrawn.

"Of course not, he's a politician. He is still opposed to the Emperor, but he is now willing to play the long game. Right now, he is pretending to be an ally of the Emperor, while trying to work against him behind the scenes. He is hoping that over time he will be able to find allies to join him in his opposition to the Emperor. As you know, he was greatly involved in all the events that saw Palpatine ascend to the chancellorship in the first place. Many of Palpatine's greatest critics are skeptical of him for that very reason. He realizes Palpatine has the wind at his back now, but he won't forever. He thinks he can gradually win the trust of the growing opposition as it develops."

"Is the Emperor really going to let Bail work against him like that?"

"The Emperor is more than happy with the situation. He knows there is going to be an opposition movement against him, and he believes it is best for him to know who it is centered around. Bail Organa may not realize it, but Palpatine is going to do everything he can to make sure he becomes the focal point of all opposition activities. It will be a way for him to monitor the opposition."

Palleon continued to listen to Bail as he finished his speech. He was highlighting all the areas he was now working with the Emperor. He spent a lot of time discussing the initiative the two of them were taking with settling all the war refuges scattered throughout the galaxy. This was an initiative that was very close to his heart, as Alderaan had originally been settled by war refuges looking for a peaceful home to avoid the chaos that had engulfed the galaxy over a thousand generations ago. It was an initiative dear not just to him, but to all the citizens of his planet. Many of his advisors had traveled to refugee centers on other planets to welcome those coming in from outside the Empire.

Hearing about the massive displacement of citizens because of the war, Palleon was reminded that Padme Amidala was out there, somewhere. Thrawn had sent her a message telling her it was now okay for her to return to the nation. He wanted her to take part in any opposition to the Emperor.

"Are you expecting Padme to try and join up with Bail when she makes her way back from wherever she is hiding?" Palleon asked.

"Yes, I am."

"You wanted her to be a thorn in his side. Is that really going to happen if she joins the Emperor's controlled opposition?"

"Yes, it will. Remember, I merely want the Emperor kept occupied enough so that he can't try and expand into my region of the galaxy. I want an opposition that will be difficult for him to eradicate, but also one that will largely be ineffective. That is why it is perfect for the primary opposition to be led by high profile people who once played a major role in elevating Palpatine to his current station. The leaders are going to be too high-profile for him to easily eliminate, but they are also going to be too close to the Emperor for many dissidents to be willing to join them. That will keep the opposition disparate, with the formation of any kind of alliance of the various rebel groups unlikely."

Bail finished with his speech, and as that was the last item on the docket, the session was adjourned. As the legislators started filing out, Thrawn and Palleon made their way to the Emperor's office for their scheduled meeting with him.

...

When Thrawn and Palleon reached Palpatine's office under the Senate Hall, they had to wait for him. They had only been in their seats for a few minutes when he came in through his private entrance from the Senate Hall.

"Welcome, Grand Admiral Thrawn," the Emperor said as he walked over to greet them. Both Thrawn and Palleon stood so they could shake the Emperor's hand.

"I must correct you on one point," Thrawn said as he stood. "My resignation was tendered just an hour ago. I am no longer a Grand Admiral, I am now just Thrawn, or, as you first knew me, Mitth'raw'nuruodo."

The Emperor laughed heartily as he reminisced about the moment when the two first met. To Palleon, he appeared nostalgic and emotional in a manner he had not believed was possible. "Ah, yes, I remember you trying to tell me your name when we first met. That meeting is a moment of history that should be celebrated throughout my new Empire, if the citizens would ever be able to handle the truth about how it came to be. It was a momentous day that changed the course of the galaxy." Palpatine saw the need to correct himself as he remembered who he was talking to. "It changed the course of this region of the galaxy. You had come here to study us because the chaos of the falling Republic was starting to spill over into your region. The minute you came here, you saw the chance to do more than simply study our world. When I met you, I recognized how extraordinary you were and how valuable you would be to my mission to overthrow the current regime and bring order to the nation. I still can't believe that you bought my sales pitch and joined me. Doing so proved just how brilliant and astute you are. I am truly saddened to see you go. I am just thankful you stayed long enough to assist me in getting to this point. My empire has been established, and while I could use a man like you to hold on to power and maintain order, I believe I have the necessary parts in place to do so without you."

"Yes, I have seen most of these. . .parts, and I have to agree with you."

"You're speaking of Lord Vader, are you not?"

"Yes, I am." Thrawn hesitated to answer, and Palpatine got the sense he had been lying and was really thinking of something else.

"He is a very powerful warrior, who has done extraordinary things," Thrawn continued. "The elimination of the Jedi is at hand, and I would be concerned about Vadar's actions once that occurs. Men with his power and ambitions do not handle idleness well."

"I understand what you mean. I have more than enough plans for keeping my apprentice occupied. I also think this law you are going to try and help me pass will do much to keep him neutered."

"And how do you think that is going to work?" Thrawn was skeptical of what he was hearing.

"The Grand Moffs I am looking to appoint will have equal footing to Vader, at least that is the way it will appear initially. Their powers will all be the same as his, but they will have assigned territory to control, while he will have nothing. The Grand Moffs will build up power in their regions and develop relationships with the leaders under them. Vader may try and usurp them, but he will eventually find himself their underling if he tries to do that."

"I can see how that would occur, but do you really believe Vader will be that naïve?"

"The man is powerful in the Force, but when it comes to politics, he clearly shows he was raised on a backwater planet. He will not realize what has happened until it is too late for him to do anything about it."

Thrawn was still skeptical of what he was hearing. "I know you think everything is coalitions and politics, but I believe raw strength and power still rules everything. Vader is powerful in the Force. In my time here I have learned enough about the Force to know the power he possesses is immense. It is enough to strike fear into everyone. It is enough to counter all the political relationships you believe will keep him neutered."

Palpatine smirked. "While I have come to greatly admire your knowledge and ability to assess a situation, I should remind you the Force is one area where you will forever be ignorant. I will keep my own council on how to deal with Vader's power."

...

"I think this will do," Padme said as she looked herself over in the mirror. Over the past couple days, she and Beru worked on giving her a new look so she wouldn't be so recognizable when she returned to the Empire. They cut her hair short, dyed it brown, and had her inject a dye into her eyes that would change the color for at least a month. "People would only know my face through the news vids, when I was always well dressed. Given the way I look now, and taking into consideration I will be dressing poorly and keeping myself dirty, I don't think anyone will recognize me."

"It will also help that the entire galaxy thinks you are dead and won't believe it is really you even if they do notice the resemblance," Beru pointed out.

Padme felt uneasy being reminded that she was assumed to be dead. It made her reconsider for a moment whether she was doing the right thing. She was living in peace and anonymity. She didn't have to worry that anyone was hunting her or her children. She was putting all that at risk by leaving and attempting to find Anakin, but she felt she had no other choice, the galaxy needed her to try to redeem him.

Looking down, she saw that Leia had crawled over to her and was starting to pat her leg to try and get her mother's attention. Beru and Padme had left the twins to play by themselves. She apparently had enough of her brother and crawled over to see if her mother wanted to play.

"Do you want to play with mommy?" Padme said in a baby voice as she picked up her daughter. When Padme rested Leia against her hip, she noticed Leia was looking at her strangely. It took Padme a moment to realize Leia was confused by her changed appearance. Her chin started to quiver as it appeared she was going cry.

"It's okay sweetie, it's still me. I'm still your mommy." Hearing the familiar voice of her mother soothed her enough to keep her from crying, but she still looked horribly confused.

"Where'd Luke go." The fear in Beru's voice was palpable as she looked at the spot where they had originally left the twins. While Beru ran out of the room frantic, Padme knew the boy had to be okay, she would have felt if he had an accident. Besides that, she found it hard to believe the boy could have done much in the minute he had been out of their sight.

"There you are." Beru was greatly relieved as she saw Luke had simply crawled out into the hallway. She picked him up and brought him back. "Just like always, you seem to be trying to escape from us." She gave Luke a kiss as she held him close.

"You haven't put the babies to bed yet?" Owen said asked as he walked by. Both Padme and Beru glanced at the clock on the wall.

"I didn't know it had gotten so late," Beru replied to her husband. "Padme and I were working on her disguise for her journey. I guess we lost track of the time."

"It's nothing to be worried about," Owen replied as he walked away. "Just something I was wondering about."

Beru and Padme hurried to get the kids in their beds, as they worried the longer they kept them up, the longer it would take them to get to sleep. Once they were done, they had the conversation Beru had been anxious to have with Padme.

"Are still going to take one of the children with you?" she asked bluntly.

"Yes, after speaking with the captain I feel it is more imperative than ever. He feels the authorities are going to be greatly worried about impostor refugees with fake identification trying to fool the Empire. As I fit into that category, I need to look authentic. Having a child with me will do that."

Beru swallowed hard before she asked the question she really wanted answered. "Have you decided which one you will be taking with you?"

"Yes, I will be taking Leia with me." The look of joy on Beru's face was evident to Padme. "I know you have grown especially fond of the boy."

"Thank you," Beru said as she embraced Padme. As they embraced, Padme wondered if she should bring up a subject she had been wanting to bring up ever since she arrived. She had refrained from doing so as she knew it had to be a sore subject for the woman, but Padme didn't want to leave without saying something about it. When she broke the embrace, she looked Beru in the eye as she started to tear up.

"I am under no illusions what might happen to me. There is the real possibility I may never come back. If that were to occur, Luke would be yours to raise." Padme paused for a moment as she choked up. "I know how much it has meant to you to have the twins around for the past year. When I first came here after fleeing my planet, I didn't spend a lot of time with you, but I felt I got to know you well in what little time we shared. I never forgot how you told me you were unable to have children. It pained me that because you were once a slave, your ability to have a family had been forever taken from you. Ever since I gave birth to the twins, I have been overjoyed to provide you with a sense of family that I know was lost to you. The look of joy I have seen on your face whenever you are with one of the babies has heartened me. You have shown the children great love, love that is equal to mine. I know if you were to raise Luke, you would cherish him and show him all the love that any mother would. When I am away, I know I will not have to worry at all about how Luke is doing back here. That is how much I trust you."

Beru looked like she wanted to say something, but she was crying too much to do so. Padme embraced her again, and simply clutched her tight.