Chapter 46 – Interlude

Author's Note: In which a very important interlude occurs. Also, enjoy this peak into Barriss' mind! :D

~ Amina Gila

They think she's loyal to Sidious, and they aren't exactly wrong. She is. Barriss won't regret that either. When she was here on Rattatak, after she was first captured by Skywalker, she had been resistant. She hadn't wanted to listen to him, to let his words manipulate her. But she couldn't deny the seeds of doubt which he had planted in her mind. She couldn't unhear what she had heard. When he put the Sith mask on her, any attempt at reaching out to the Force was met with the Dark Side and visions of terror and death.

Barriss knows that what she saw wasn't really real, but it's jarring all the same. Sometimes, she wakes up from nightmares even now, mind replaying things that she witnessed while there. The most effective way of breaking a Jedi is by breaking their mind not their body. She does not think of herself as broken. She is not broken. She is complete. The Dark Side is merciless and unforgiving, but it also shows the truth. There are no comforting lies in it, only the cold, harsh truth, and she has become accustomed to it by now.

While imprisoned, she had seen visions of her master dying at the hands of the Sith, of the Jedi falling to their own army, of the Sith rising supreme and drowning the galaxy in darkness. And Barriss knew that while the Sith mask on her face had been intentionally dredging up her deepest fears and insecurities, it had not lied to her. It only shown her a reality which could have been. By joining the Sith, by Falling the way she did, she averted the possible future she had seen, or so she hopes.

Even if she didn't, it doesn't matter to her anymore. The Jedi are complacent and corrupt. They are no longer the beacons of light and peace and hope which they once were. They are… arrogant. They think themselves infallible, and they are blind to the truth that they are already falling. By obeying the Senate, they have fallen victim to the manipulations of Sidious himself. They can't back out anymore, and their ever action draws them irrevocably deeper into the web.

Their best option would be to back out entirely and do something drastic, but Barriss already knows that they'll never do that. There will be no peace so long as the Jedi continue to exist. They are an evil which needs to be eradicated and destroyed. They are lost. She is not, though. She can still act. She can still make a difference and being in Sidious' favor will only make it easier for her. In time, she can become his apprentice, and from there, she can usurp him and take the throne of the galaxy for herself. Empress Barriss Offee has a nice ring to it, and she won't misuse her power the way the Jedi are, the way Sidious is and will.

No, she will bring peace, true peace, to the galaxy. That is still a long way off, of course, so in the meantime, she will bide her time and be patient. She will earn the Dark Side and become powerful. She will learn all of her new master's teachings, and she will turn them against his disloyal followers, especially the ringleaders: Dooku and Skywalker. Ahsoka, perhaps, she might leave alive. Ahsoka is young, and she still has much to learn about the galaxy. It is not at all impossible that Barriss might be able to convince her once-friend of the truth. Ahsoka can join her. They can rule together. Supreme.

In the meantime, until her dreams and aspirations can become a reality, Barriss will wait. Sidious wants her to torture and break Windu, so she will. It will be a challenge for her, of course, because Windu is a Jedi Master. He won't break easily. Sidious means this to be a test, and she won't fail it. She won't let him down. What the Sith Master wants with the Jedi, she doesn't know, and nor is it her place to ask.

Still, she has her suspicions. Time may prove her right, or it may prove her wrong. Sidious has always seemed to be one step ahead of everyone else. That's why he's alive, despite Dooku and Skywalker's planned treachery. She can continue to spy on them all as she has been – though she has admittedly found little of note – and she'll continue to wonder why Sidious is even leaving them alive when he knows what they're planning. He has his reasons, and it is not her place to question him, not now and not when he had her murder Mina Bonteri in her sleep.

Barriss stalks through the underground halls to the cavern-like cell where Windu is being held. It's the same cell where she herself was held until she… accepted the truth. Skywalker had been right in everything he said to her. Now, if only he would recognize the futility of fighting their master. Sidious might be maniacal and power-hungry – not really unlike any of them though, she had to admit – but he's the only one in a position to do anything. If he dies, all of this falls apart. That seems to be something that Dooku and Skywalker haven't realized. Or perhaps they simply don't care.

And Barriss doesn't want this to fall apart. The galaxy needs change. It needs to grow. The Jedi must fall, and the Republic along with it. There is a certain wisdom to Sidious' actions. The Dark Side never lies, and it has been showing her the importance of letting nature take its course and allow an Empire to rise in the Republic's place. Sidious is the best person to do that, and Barriss does not think she's being egotistical in thinking that she might be the best person to continue it. Sidious trusts her more than he trusts Dooku and Skywalker. She knows how to play the game, how to act and when the best time to rebel would be. She, unlike the others, is a true Sith.

It is normal for the Sith apprentice to betray the master, but not for the apprentice to put the master's plans in jeopardy, plans which generations of Sith have orchestrated. Now that the Sith are finally approaching the culmination of their plans for a millennium, Barriss doesn't understand why any self-respecting Sith would try to thwart those plans. It is time for the Sith to rise once more, and she will be there when they do.

**w**

Whatever plans Siri had for continuing her investigation into Vader's identity are upended by Windu's capture a little more than a week after her return to the Temple. He had gone to Ryloth to retake the planet from the Separatists. The mission was a success, but he is now a prisoner. And chances are high that they'll never be able to find him. Jedi have already been dispatched to locate him, and she's still close with many of the Jedi Masters on the Council. Her own former master, Adi Gallia, has been keeping her appraised of the situation.

After her second week of leave time was over, she was immediately dispatched to a far corner of the galaxy to chase down a lead of Windu's possible location. She found nothing. Not on that mission and not on the next two, either. It seems as through Windu is truly gone, and that is… unsettling to say the least. Windu has been on the Council for years, and he is one of the best duelists in the Jedi Order. Having him gone is a huge blow to the Jedi, and Republic as a whole.

In the meantime, Agen Kolar has been temporarily appointed to the Council in Windu's place, because like it or not – and Siri doesn't – the war and life are still going on. None of them can afford to be stuck on the hope that Windu will come back. Hopefully, he will, but there is no guarantee of that. Whatever fate the Separatists and Sith have in store for him, Siri knows it will be nothing pleasant.

She hasn't had time to talk to Padme over the past four weeks, but she's heard that the former Senator is now on Naboo again, staying with her handmaid and best friend, Sabe, who had nearly been killed in the attack on Padme's apartment. She hopes to speak with Padme again sometime soon to check in on her, because she thinks of her as a friend, and besides, Padme could probably use someone else around for a short while, given everything that's happened.

With the chances of locating and rescuing Windu dwindling rapidly, Siri is using her free time on Coruscant to continue the investigation which Master Yoda entrusted to her what feels like a lifetime ago. And so, she is in the barracks with the 501st and her former Padawan, Ferus.

"You've spoken to Captain Del before," Ferus says to her, before looking at the clone. "Captain, Master Tachi is investigating a matter. I would appreciate it if you would be forthright and honest with her about it."

Siri can feel the way Del tenses in the Force. "Of course, sir," he replies. Somehow, she doubts this will be any more productive than before, but she has to try again. She already spoke with him and a few other clones here about Vader. It can't hurt to try another approach though, right?

She withdraws a holodisk, activating it to show a frozen holoimage of Anakin from a security recording from the incident when he rescued Gunray from them. His eyes are glowing yellow, and his lightsaber is poised mid-deflection of the blaster bolts the clones were shooting at him. "Do you recognize this man, Captain?"

Del is unfazed, betraying no emotion, even in the Force, which is truly impressive. "Yes, ma'am," he answers as she knew he would. "He is Anakin Skywalker, the legendary Hero with No Fear among the Separatists."

"He has caused much harm to the Republic," Siri tells the clone. "We need to locate him and to do that, we need information."

Del hesitates. "Why are you telling me this, General? What do you want?" There's a hard edge to his words, and Siri suspects that he'll continue to tell her nothing. But she has to try.

"I want the truth," she answers plainly. "Is he or is he not Vader?"

"I cannot answer that."

"Cannot or will not?" she challenges. "This man has been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of clones. He does not care about you. He will not hesitate to kill any of you to get what he wants. He's dangerous, and it is our duty to stop him."

Del wavers, something almost like… guilt or remorse flickering into the Force for a moment, but he shakes his head. "I'm sorry. I cannot help you."

It's not really a confirmation, but his reticence tells her enough. He is blindly loyal to Vader – as are the rest of the 501st, for whatever reason – and he won't say anything which could hurt him. He can't lie either, because the Jedi would sense it, so he refuses to tell them anything.

Siri takes her leave, going straight to find Master Yoda. She needs to appraise him of the situation, and they need to act. And fast. The longer they wait, the more time the Sith Master will have to carry out his nefarious plans. By learning more about Anakin, they might learn enough which will lead them to the Sith. Or so she can hope.

Yoda is quiet when she finishes telling him everything, and she waits patiently, mind racing through the various possibilities. Is there any way for them to get information out of one of the clones? Perhaps, but she doesn't think that's the way to go about it. If they forcibly question the clones, it could cause problems, especially if the others find out what they did. Besides, they have no reason to employ such heavy-handed techniques. There are other ways, undoubtedly, for them to obtain the necessary information.

"Disturbing this is," Yoda says at last, ears twitching. "Suspected, I did, that Skywalker is Vader. More information we must obtain as to the identity of the Sith. Learn we must how get ahold of the boy the Sith did."

"I agree, Master," Siri murmurs, "But the clones are not being forthcoming. I don't know to whom we should go." Not the Chancellor, that's for sure. Not only is he emotionally tied to Anakin – his demand that the Council rescind the kill-on-sight order was not unexpected, but it's still aggravating nevertheless, since they were forced to comply – but also, the Council doesn't trust him. Siri is not one of them any longer, but she doesn't either. She suspects he might know more than he's letting on.

"To Skywalker's mother we must go," Yoda decides. "Have information that will help us she does. Bring her to the Temple we should. Discuss this with the Council I will."

"As you say," Siri agrees. "I can bring her in with a squad of clones. Just let me know when."

"Clones?" Yoda echoes. "Think it so serious, do you?"

She shifts uneasily. "I don't know," she admits, "But I have a bad feeling about it. The Force is… troubled." If only she could find a way of arranging a meeting with Obi-Wan again. If she does, she would be able to find out everything they need to do. But alas, they don't have that kind of time, and Anakin's mother is a far more easily available source of information.

"Mm… agree with you, I do. Great care we must take." Yoda's expression is grave, and Siri wonders how much he's able to sense. The Dark Side might be clouding everything, but Yoda has always been able to see more clearly than the rest of them. Whatever happens next, Siri knows that bringing in Anakin's mother will change everything. Preferably for the better.

**w**

"Knight Olin is here to see you, Chancellor."

Sidious schools his expression, telling his secretary to usher the young Jedi in. Olin is a useful tool and nothing more, but the Dark Side is restless. There are things going on which he doesn't know, and he doesn't like it. Perhaps this Jedi can shed some light on it.

Olin enters, bowing. "Your Excellency," he says politely.

"Ah, Ferus, my boy, it is good to see you," Sidious greets him with a grandfatherly smile, resting his arms on the desk and turning his full attention on the Jedi. "What brings you here?"

Even before the Clone Wars began, Sidious had known Olin. Theirs was a loose acquaintanceship, which he had carefully fostered, knowing how useful it could eventually be. He has no intention of turning the Jedi; Olin is far too stuck with his Jedi ideals, but it's been enough for Sidious to worm his way into the Jedi's confidence. For all that Olin pretends and tries to be a "good Jedi," he still feels emotions, and he is… disillusioned by the war. He doesn't really agree with it, and it makes him uncomfortable and unhappy.

Also, Olin is struggling with the recent revelations that his clones are loyal to the mysterious Vader, something which the Jedi confided in him. Sidious is glad that he has been cultivating their relationship, especially now, because while Olin will not come to him about everything, and nor will he tell him all the Jedi secrets, he will speak of some things. Hopefully, now is another one of those times. Sidious would very much like to know what the Jedi are up to.

"We have been searching for the identity of the Sith Master behind this war ever since it started," Olin relates.

Sidious nods. "I am aware. Have you found something then?" He injects a note of hopefulness into his voice, even though he already knows the answer. Olin wouldn't be here if he was under suspicion. Still, if they have a lead, he needs to eliminate it immediately.

"No, sir." He shakes his head. "Not yet, but we have a… possibility."

"Oh?" Sidious raises an encouraging eyebrow, silently prompting Olin to go on.

The Jedi hesitates. "I… It's Jedi business. Nothing… important."

He can't help but frown a little at that, though he's careful to keep his seething rage hidden. "Then why are you here, may I ask?"

Olin lets out a breath. "I just thought you should be appraised of the situation, Your Excellency."

Apparently, whatever "lead" the Jedi have is one which they don't want to share with him. With some careful prodding though, he might be able to figure something out. "I must confess, I am curious about how you managed to uncover something about this… Sith. I thought you had no leads, what with Anakin being unavailable."

Olin opens his mouth, pauses, and then nods. "I know it must be hard for you, and since you're asking… do you know of anyone other than Dooku with whom Skywalker had contact?"

Sidious shakes his head with a feigned regret. "I do not. I have yet to find anything. I have spoken to Shmi about it, and she, too, knows of nothing which might help."

Something akin to disappointment flickers through Olin's eyes. "It's a pity, but I suppose the least we can do is confirm that. Double-checking everything, you know?" He freezes a moment later, as if he said something he shouldn't have.

Sidious turns the words over in his mind, suspicion rising. A lead indeed. "Of course," he agrees pleasantly, not giving any indication that he figured out the Jedi are planning to go speak with Shmi. He cannot – will not – be able to permit such a conversation to occur. Shmi is clever and smart, and if she gets the chance to betray him, even at the cost of her own life, she'll do it. Worse, he imagines she could do it in such a way that he might not even realize it until it's too late. Oh, he has all of his contingency plans in place, but if the Jedi team up with Dooku… there will be little he can do.

He can use the clones against them. The droids too, perhaps, if he still has the ability. And he might be able to bring down the Republic – not that it could even be attributed to him anyways, because it's already falling. The risks now outweigh the benefits, and Shmi is a liability.

How unfortunate.

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