Chapter 5 A Plan, Some belief, and a little trust...
Jacen and Jaina lay curled up against their mother on the picnic blanket, fast asleep. The twins had had a good lunch getting the almost full attention of two people, and tired out because of it. However, both Leia and Padme knew they'd be up soon, rearing to go again.
So mother and daughter spoke in hushed tones so as not to wake them.
Leia filled her mother in on what was going on at the senate, including what she called the greatest mistake the Senate was making. Leia explained that the government was planning on getting rid of the Jedi.
Padme seemed surprised by her daughter's announcement, but kept quiet until she had finished. Leia's concern for what looked like a failing Republic was truly touching. It reminded Padme of herself.
"I don't understand, mom," Leia continued. "The Senate seems certain if they just stomp their feet, and make diplomacy sound good, then everyone will just want to come together. But it won't work."
"Not if they feel threatened," Padme agreed.
"And they do," Leia assured her. "I can see it in their faces.
Many of the planets are starting to feel that the Republic is just another rising empire."
Her mother nodded and thought for a moment.
"I don't know what to do..." Leia sighed.
"The senators, how many for each planet?"
"One."
Padme frowned. "Just one? How were they elected?"
"That's part of the problem," Leia fumed. "They weren't elected. They were chosen."
"No wonder the people feel as if this is an empire. They have no say in the matter." Padme sighed. "Has anyone considered re-electing senators?"
"Yes, I have. But no one will listen to me. They say, I'm too young...That I don't know what I'm talking about and that it will just turn more away."
"They're wrong."
Her daughter stared at her. "Mom, even if we could re-elect senators, it could take months. Who's going to run the republic? We can't suspend everything for months."
"Have the senate elect a small committee to do so. Another committee will be chosen to oversee the elections.
The vote would be secret. No one could be pressured that way."
Leia stared at her. "That... Would that even work?"
Padme smiled at her. "Yes, Leia. I don't see how it wouldn't work; unless the people themselves are against a Republic, which you say they are not."
"How do we make sure the elections are free? We can't rely on the military. They could be partial. We can't trust the politicians."
"Give that task to the Jedi," Padme smiled. "They are keepers of the peace."
"Mom, there are not enough. There's Luke, Mara... and two apprentices. That's it."
"There's more, Leia." Padme smiled. "There's always more."
Obi-Wan sat across from Han in the Millennium Falcon, asking as many questions as seemed appropriate. Han seemed a little unsure who he was and nothing the Jedi said would change the matter. Obi-Wan had tried to assure him that he was who he claimed to be, but Han just replied that Luke would know.
The Jedi had to give him that. If anything, the trust between Han and Luke had grown considerably and Obi-Wan was confident that Luke would indeed know him. Even if he didn't recognize him, force signatures were impossible to mistake. They could be hidden, yes, but never faked. Not even the Sith could do that.
Han explained to him that what he called 'a poor excuse for a Republic' was not working. He mentioned how it was really upsetting Leia, and that caught Obi-Wan's attention. It took a moment for it to register. "Ha yes... You two are married."
"Yeah," Han snapped. "Yeah, for like three years now."
Obi-Wan raised his hands in surrender. "I'm sorry, Cap--General Solo. I have been a little, well... out of sorts, lately."
"Dead."
"Exactly."
Han eyed him for a moment. "What exactly do you plan on doing once you find Luke?"
Obi-Wan nodded. It was a fair question. "To be perfectly honest with you, I'm not entirely sure. I know I have been sent back for a reason, but truthfully, I'm not sure what that reason is." I would love to say, I know exactly what the Force wishes for me to do, but that would be a lie."
The other man just eyed him. "I called you 'fossil' huh?"
"Yes, my hair was white, so was my beard."
"And Luke introduced us," Han probed.
"No actually, you met us at the same time. We hired your ship to rescue Prin--or Senator Leia now," Obi-Wan smiled. "But of course, you knew that. You were just checking my story."
A smile came up on Han's face. "Yeah well, you'd have done it."
Obi-Wan nodded. "I most certainly would have."
Chewie came into the room and growled at Han.
"Ah, Chewie says-"
"We're about to land on Naboo," Obi-Wan finished. "I know. I speak Wookie."
Han snapped his fingers together. "Yeah, that's right. You did."
He rose and headed towards the cockpit before stopping and looking back. "Alright, one last thing."
"Yes?"
"I've got a question for you, something only about five people know. You were one of them. Who is Luke's father?"
Obi-Wan's brows creased together. "His father is Anakin Skywalker, my padawan. But you once knew him as Darth Vader."
Han's eyes cleared and suspicion was gone. "I believe you... Man, fossil. You sure look good for a guy who's been for five years."
Obi-Wan laughed lightly. "Thank you, Han."
Dooku cleared his thoughts. "Are you offering to allow me to kill Palpatine? All I have to do is help you?"
Anakin raised his eyebrows. "All you have to do? Oh, no. You'll do what I tell you to."
"But you'll let me get my revenge? You'll let me kill him."
For a moment, Anakin didn't answer. "Yes, I will." He said it slowly, but firmly.
"The other Jedi won't like it; thought you were supposed to be one of them."
Anakin turned away then, his face hidden from view. He walked towards the lava and for a moment, the memories of that day, twenty-five years ago, washed over him. 'I don't know if I can ever be one of them...' he thought.
Dooku watched him nervously.
"Do we have a deal, Dooku?" Anakin asked, not turning.
The count nodded. "We've got a deal."
"Good."
He turned back around. "I take it you came on a ship?"
Dooku shook his head. "I wish. I was dropped off."
"Palpatine's got a ship."
"Carrier really."
"How many?"
Dooku paused.
"Tell me."
"I'm thinking," he defended himself. "Only one that I know of. But there could be more."
"He didn't want to tell you much, did he?" Anakin offered.
Dooku looked away. "Knew I'd be dead soon. Didn't see the point."
"Palpatine probably showed you just enough to prove how strong he was and nothing more," Anakin continued, more to himself then to Dooku. "He wanted you to fear him, to feel like you had no choice but to do as he said."
The Sith paled. "You seem to understand him very well, since you are once one of us..."
"I am not one of you!" Anakin cried.
Dooku glared back at him. "Really, what would you call it? Faithful Jedi? Prodigal son?"
"Be careful, Dooku," he warned. "I'm not sure if whether or not I'm above changing our agreement."
"You wouldn't."
"Don't tempt me."
Dooku fell silent. "Fine. What do you want to know?"
"Operatives."
"Don't know any."
Anakin studied him to be sure he was telling the truth. After twenty-three years as a Jedi and twenty more as a Sith, he knew the truth from a lie. That wasn't one.
"Palpatine's plan."
"Restore the Empire, defeat the Jedi once and for all, and have the entire Galaxy under Sith control."
Anakin glared at him. "That's original."
Dooku shrugged. "It's efficient."
"Apprentices."
The count thought for a moment. "There's one possibility. Palpatine has a Twi'lek, named... Actually, I don't know her name. She's blue and very, very beautiful."
Anakin just stared at him, ignoring his insistence on her beauty. "She's an apprentice?"
"I don't think so. He seems to want her around, but I don't think it's to stare at."
"Jedi?"
Dooku paused. "Possibly." He stood up and waited for Anakin to make a move. "Now what?"
For a moment, Anakin stared him down. Uncertain, if he should ask more of him, but he finally relented. Anakin nodded and turned. "I have to get in touch with Obi-Wan. Then you and I are going to see the Mustifarians."
"For what exactly?"
Anakin smiled, his back turned to Dooku. "A ship. We're going for a ride."