Hey folks, Grubkiller here.
Here's part 12.
Hope you all enjoy.
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Coruscant. Senate Building.
The sun is setting as the lights come on in the massive Senate Office Building. The sky is red and orange.
Palpatine listens to a delegation from the Senate, which includes Padme and several other Senators, including Jar Jar Binks, Nee Alavar, Fang Zar, Maledee, Sweitt Concorkill, Riyo Chuchi and Lux Bonteri. Anakin stood next to Palpatine, behind his desk.
"I understand your reservations completely, Senator, and I assure you the appointment of Governors will in no way compete with the duties of the Senate," he said reassuringly.
"May I take it then, that there will be no further amendments to the Constitution?" Padme asked with concern.
"I want this terrible conflict to end as much as you do, My Lady, and when it does I guarantee an immediate return to democracy," Palpatine said while smiling.
"You are pursuing a diplomatic solution to the war, then?" Padme asked, sternly.
Palpatine's smile began to fade away in response to Padme's question.
"You must trust me to do the right things, Senator. That is why I am here," Palpatine said to his old friend.
"But surely Chancellor, you'd..." Fang Zar immediately tried to say.
The Chancellor turned on Fang Zar and cut him off.
"I have said I will do what is right..." Palpatine said, cutting off Senator Zar, who immediately stifled himself. "...that should be enough for your...committee".
Anakin was listening to the meeting. But he snuck glances at his beautiful wife. he also made sure to kep an eye on Lux Bonteri. Lux was a new senator. A former Separatist Junior Senator, who's parents joined the Separatist movement before the War. He wasn't very popular with the old guard of the Republic senate, especially Palpatine. Even Anakin had reservations about Lux, mostly because he was dating his former apprentice.
All of the senators stood in silence as their chancellor stared them down for what felt like an eternity.
Padme was the first to break the ice.
"On behalf of the "delegation of two thousand," I thank you, Chancellor," She said with a cold, emotionless stare.
"I thank you for bringing this to my attention, Senator," he said with a slight bow of his head.
The members of the delegation of 2000 began to file out of the room. But before she left, Padme gave Anakin a frustrated look before she turned to the exit with the other senators.
When they all left, Palpatine turned to Anakin.
"Their sincerity is to be admired, although I sense there is more to their request than they are telling us," Palpatine said with skepticism.
"What do you mean?" Anakin asked.
"They are not to be trusted," Palpatine said.
"Surely Senator Amidala can be trusted?" Anakin asked, trying to defend the woman that he was secretly married to, and who was carrying his child.
"These are unstable times for the Republic, Anakin. Some see instability as an opportunity. Senator Amidala is hiding something. I can see it in her eyes," The old politician said.
"I'm sure you're mistaken," Anakin protested.
"I'm surprised your Jedi insights are not more sensitive to such things," Palpatine commented.
"I simply don't sense betrayal in Senator Amidala," Anakin said.
Palpatine studied Anakin carefully and gave him a skeptical look.
"Yes, you do, but you don't seem to want to admit it. There is much conflict in you, Anakin," Palpatine said.
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Jedi Temple. Later that same day.
Ki-Adi-Mundi, Anakin, Yoda, Mace, Clone Commander Cody, and Aayla Secura talk via holograms.
"Master Windu, may I interrupt? General Kenobi has made contact with General Grievous, and we have begun our attack. We're moving to assist Kenobi as we speak," Cody said.
"Thank you, Commander," Mace turned to Anakin. "Anakin, deliver this report to the Chancellor. His reaction will give us a clue to his intentions".
"Yes, Master".
Anakin leaves the room. Commander Cody's hologram disappears right after.
When Mace was sure that he was only speaking to the Jedi, he spoke up. "I sense a plot to destroy the Jedi. The dark side of the Force surrounds the Chancellor," he said.
"If he does not give up his emergency powers after the destruction of Grievous, then he should be removed from office," Ki-Adi suggested.
That got him some surprised looks.
"That could be a dangerous move ... the Jedi Council and the Grand Army would have to take control of the Senate in order to secure a peaceful transition for another candidate. Perhaps Dalyell..." Mace Windu said.
"...and eventually replace the Congress with Representatives who are not driven by greed and corruption," Ki-Adi continued.
Yoda was still on Kashyyyk during all of this. But his wisdom was still as effective as it would've been if he were in the same room.
"To a dark place this line of thought will carry us. Hmmmmm. . . . great care we must take," Yoda said, being naturally cautious about planning a hostile takeover of the Government.
These were dark and chaotic times indeed.
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Chancellor's office. Sometime later.
Anakin walked through the ornate halls of the Senate Building to reach the Chancellor's office.
He walked through the door to his office. Anakin found Palpatine in a private room that was adjacent to the main office. Palpatine's chair turned away from a red hologram image of something. It looked like an eye-ball, but the hologram disappeared just as Palpatine turned to face Anakin.
"Chancellor, we have just received a report from Master Kenobi. He has engaged General Grievous," Anakin said.
"We can only hope that Master Kenobi is up to the challenge," Palpatine said.
"I should be there with him. I should be on Mandalore helping my old padawan," Anakin said, clearly not liking how everyone he's close to was out fighting, while he was stuck here. Although, at least he had Padme.
The Chancellor noticed the disappointment in Anakin's eyes. "It is upsetting to me to see that the Council doesn't seem to fully appreciate your talents. Don't you wonder why they won't make you a Jedi Master?" He asked.
"I wish I knew. More and more I get the feeling that I am being excluded from the Council. I know there are things about the Force that they are not telling me," Anakin said
"They don't trust you, Anakin. They see your future. They know your power will be too strong to control. Anakin, you must break through the fog of lies the Jedi have created around you. Let me help you to know the subtleties of the Force," Palpatine said as he got up and led him into the hallway.
They walked for a few moments.
"How do you know the ways of the Force?" Anakin asked, confused.
"My mentor taught me everything about the Force . . . even the nature of the dark side," Palpatine said.
This got Anakin's attention.
He stopped in front of the chancellor. He turned around to face him. "You know the dark side?!" The young Jedi pressed.
"Anakin, if one is to understand the great mystery, one must study all its aspects, not just the dogmatic, narrow view of the Jedi. If you wish to become a complete and wise leader, you must embrace a larger view of the Force. Be careful of the Jedi, Anakin." Palpatine paused. Then he continued. "They fear you. In time they will destroy you. Let me train you," Palpatine said.
"I won't be a pawn in your political game. The Jedi are my family," Anakin said, holding his ground.
"Only through me can you achieve a power greater than any Jedi. Learn to know the dark side of the Force, Anakin, and you will be able to save your wife from certain death," Palpatine said.
"What did you say?" Anakin asked, dumbstruck by how Palpatine knew about his wife.
"Use my knowledge, I beg you . . ."
Anakin took a step back and ignited his lightsaber before assuming a defensive stance. It was cloudy outside, so the gray clouds blocked out the sun, cutting off the natural light. The blue light from his blade illuminated the dimly lit hallway.
"You're the Sith Lord!" Anakin exclaimed, with venom in his voice.
"I know what has been troubling you . . . Listen to me. Don't continue to be a pawn of the Jedi Council! Ever since I've known you, you've been searching for a life greater than that of an ordinary Jedi . . . a life of significance, of conscience," Palpatine continued.
"You're wrong!" Anakin shouted.
Palpatine took a step away. His back was turned to Anakin, who still had his blade out, although his stance was becoming less defensive, and more aggressive.
"Are you going to kill me?"
"I would certainly like to," Anakin hissed.
"I know you would. I can feel your anger. It gives you focus, makes you stronger," Palpatine said with his eyes closed.
Anakin raises his lightsaber to Palpatine's neck. There is a tense moment, then Anakin relaxes, and then turns off his lightsaber. "I am going to turn you over to the Jedi Council," Anakin said.
"Of course you should. But you're not sure of their intentions, are you? What if I am right and they are plotting to take over the Republic?" Palpatine said.
"I will quickly discover the truth of all this," Anakin said.
"You have great wisdom, Anakin. Know the power of the dark side. The power to save Padme," Palpatine said.
Anakin stares at him for a moment.
The Chancellor turned back and moved to his office.
"I am not going anywhere. You have time to decide my fate. Perhaps you'll reconsider and help me rule the galaxy for the good of all . . ."
Anakin just stared daggers at him before turning away. He walked out of the office, the door sliding shut behind him. Palpatine sat back down behind his desk.
A devilish smile spreads across his face.
"You'll come to your senses," Palpatine said to himself.
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That was part 12 folks.
Part 13'll be right around the corner
Until next time, as always, this is Grubkiller, over and out.