Sweeping into the Senate building, Macavity glanced over to security. "I have a couple of people for the Chancellor to see," he said, mind tricking the guards along the way.

Having access to the building as Senators, Mistoffelees and Pounce broke off, heading down a different hallway.

Coricopat fell into step a pace behind Macavity to his left, glancing down the hall that Misto and Pouncival took.

Pounce kept pace with Misto, "So how are we thinking to set this up?"

"I'll figure that out as soon as I find the control room," Mistoffelees murmured, nodding pleasantly to some assistants working late. "And hope that I can pull this off. I haven't tried in several years."

"You've tried this before?"

"When I was nineteen," he murmured. "I used to keep occupied doing stuff like this as a teenager."

Pounce blinked at that, "Wow, sides to you I never knew about. Alright then. Control room's just around that corner I think."

"Oh you have no idea," Mistoffelees murmured, poking his head around the corner and slipping down the hall, unlocking the keypad and slipping inside. That late at night there was only one guard who he stunned and gently settled on the floor out of the way.

Pounce slipped inside with him, "What do you need me to do?"

"Watch the current tape feeds," Mistoffelees replied. "The guard, and the door. I need to get into the memory banks, and make sure what's happening now is taping to somewhere where we can make sure it's safe." The other Senator nodded positioning himself so he could keep an eye on all three things. Fingers going over the console, Mistoffelees glanced over, never very good at forcing himself to focus on only one thing. "I used to pod race, you know," he said softly, still hitting keys rapidly.

Pounce's brows shot up, "Podracing, really?"

"For years," he said, eyes scanning the old news feeds. "I don't know, I suppose it just occurred to me despite everything how little I've ever told you."

"Interesting. So, I'm probably going to feel really dense depending on your answer, but is there something going on between you and Jedi Coricopat?

Choking slightly, Mistoffelees stopped for a moment before he managed to restart his brain enough to continue his task. "Speaking of the biggest thing I've never told you... yes."

Pounce nodded a bit, "I guess that explains it then."

"Oh," Mistoffelees managed. "Explains what?"

"The fact that you were able to tell me more than a general location for where he was? The fact that you left the Senate meeting the second I told you he and Master Yoda were at the Temple?"

"Well, the entire Jedi order has been all but decimated. My inclination to hide has all but bottomed out," he murmured, shrugging slightly. "Might regret that later."

"So how did you two meet?" Pounce asked.

"Their ship broke down," he murmured. "Almost ten years ago. I won them the parts they needed in a podrace, and followed them off planet."

"So you were quite the podracer then, hm?"

"I had an edge most people didn't," he replied. "And a really good motivation to win. It's why I'm such a good pilot, though I've been weaned of my more reckless impulses when it comes to that."

"Good to know." He glanced at the screens, "Do you think they'll actually be able to pull this off?"

"Only race I ever won," he murmured, glancing over at Pounce's screen as well, seeing the three Jedi going down the hallway toward the Chancellor's private office. "And I only hope so."

o.o.o.

Finally reaching the Chancellor's office, Macavity stopped, looking the other two Jedi over once before pushing the door open and striding in.

"Ah, Macavity," Deuteronomy said, looking up. "Did you deal with the last of the separatists?"

"Yes," he replied and the Chancellor's expression turned cold as his eyes drifted behind the Jedi.

"And you brought what, prisoners?"

Coricopat glanced at Master Yoda before bringing his eyes front again, letting Mac run this. He trusted his partner with his life, and it was becoming more and more necessary that day apparently.

"Prisoners, we are not," Yoda replied, stepping forward. The Chancellor frowned at him.

Coricopat stepped up to stand at Macavity's side, his grey eyes taking in the room and considering the terrain that they would have to deal with. "Your plans seem to have flaws in them, Chancellor."

The Chancellor raised a brow at that. "Oh?" he all but drawled. "And what sort of flaws might that be?"

"The heart, you forgot," Yoda said.

"I used his damn heart," Deuteronomy snapped.

"Used it, yes, but in such a way that the emotion you attempted to manipulate was a gentle one that only needed coaxing to come to the forefront," Coricopat responded.

The Chancellor's expression darkened again and he looked at the auburn haired Jedi. "So that's it, you've changed sides?"

"That would require me having been on yours to begin with," Macavity replied, finally drawing his lightsaber.

Coricopat withdrew his own lightsaber, watching the Chancellor warily, "He thinks with his emotions, but he's extremely loyal to what he believes. You should have known that."

"You shouldn't have come here," the Chancellor replied, lunging suddenly, going for Yoda who was in the front of the group.

Coricopat glanced at Macavity, nodding to the right as he circled left, his eyes seeking an entrance.

The Chancellor snarled and suddenly threw the force out, catching both Macavity and Coricopat and sending them toward the broken window. However, Macavity was prepared enough to manage to catch Coricopat as well as the ledge of the window.

Yoda, suddenly finding himself mostly alone with the Chancellor charged, small lightsaber whirling.

Coricopat gripped Mac's wrist, muttering under his breath something that sounded remarkably like 'stupid mistake.' He glanced up at his partner, "We end up in this position a little more than I like."

"Dangling off things?" he offered, hearing the sounds of battle. "Can you reach my rope? We might have to go in through the window you're hanging in front of and make our way back up."

"I should be able to reach it. Just don't let your grip slip at all." He grimaced, reaching up and finally getting hold of the rope, "There we go, got it."

"Not slipping," Macavity assured, aware of the double meaning there. "Got it? Good. Care to get us off this ledge?"

Cori worked quickly, getting the rope secured, "Alright, we're set." He kept hold of the free end of the rope, making sure the window he was hanging in front of would be a possible entrance.

"You ready?" Macavity asked.

Up top, Yoda and Deuteronomy continued to whirl around each other, sabers flaring as the Chancellor pushed the Jedi down, accidentally hitting his chair, and sending both of them into the main Senate chambers.

"As I'll ever be," Coricopat replied.

"Good, let's get this done."

They entered the Senate building through the window, Coricopat glancing around, "We need some sort of plan. Some way to actually deal with him."

"Blazing in with sabers bared ain't gonna do it for you?" Macavity asked, smoothing his hair back from his face.

"We can try that, but I doubt it would work. Though I have to say the element of surprise would be an advantage then."

"The element of surprise in a suicide attack you mean?" Mac asked with a grin.

"Pretty much."

"So, you have any plans? Or any way of contacting your boyfriend with that brain on him?"

"Don't get killed? And no. We've both fought his apprentices, we just need to deal with the fact of the strength of his power. What can you tell me about him, Mac?"

"He took out Munkustrap and the other masters that went after him. It's the only time I've seen him fight. He uses tricks."

"Tricks? What sort?" Coricopat asked, mind already working.

"Deception you could say," Macavity replied. "He plays the weak old man before striking."

"Good to know." He paused for a moment, "Mac, Jedi way or not, we kill him. The opportunity comes and we kill him, alright?"

Macavity nodded. "We kill him. I made that mistake last time, and it ended with the Masters' deaths."

Coricopat nodded, "He's got nothing to lose but power, we have our lives to gain. We take it as it comes, but do every damn thing we can to keep ourselves and each other alive. Just like always."

"As always," Macavity agreed, reaching out and gripping Coricopat's shoulders.

Coricopat offered his friend a wan smile, his hands moving to rest on his friend's arms, "Let's end this."

The other Jedi nodded and headed back up for the battle, tracking it to the Senate chambers in time to see Yoda knocked off the Chancellor's chair to tumble down to the floor.

Coricopat hesitated at that, glancing at Mac and nodding, stepping a bit further into the chambers. This place was going to be hell to fight in.

"Use the terrain," Macavity murmured, looking up.

"You mean the hundreds of holes that we're just as likely to break a leg in if we hit the edge just right as anything?" Came the wry response, "Best see how much advantage we can gain from this."

"We can hope he breaks his leg," Macavity replied, stepping forward, blade snapping to life. Coricopat nodded his agreement as he came to stand by his partner, his own lightsaber at the ready.

The Chancellor turned down to them, laughing. "You really think you can win?"

"We're going to damn well do so," Macavity replied, making his way up there.

Coricopat began his ascent, carefully making his way up via a slightly different route than his partner.

The Chancellor shook his head at the two Jedi. "I took out your Masters council and you think you'll be able to stop me?"

"We're expecting you," Macavity replied.

Shaking his head again, the Chancellor rose up several of the Senators' boxes, sending them hurtling out toward the Jedi. Coricopat managed to avoid the Senate boxes, utilizing just enough power to divert them away. "The solitary battle you choose to fight is a weakness, Chancellor."

"You think I can't take the pair of you?"

"I never said that, but I also think you over-estimate yourself," Coricopat replied.

The Chancellor snorted. "Certainly, Jedi. If you believe that," he flicked another box at Coricopat as Macavity finally reached him.

Coricopat ducked into another box to avoid it, sending it away as he continued his ascent. He finally reached the same level as the Chancellor. His gaze briefly flickering to his partner. Macavity nodded and slipped around the Chancellor, who raised his blade, bringing it down hard on Macavity's. Coricopat swept his blade toward the Chancellor, aiming for his back. Anything to cause enough damage to catch him off-guard.

For being an old man, the Chancellor moved quickly, lashing out at Coricopat, accepting a kick to his side from Macavity and sending the other Jedi tumbling down again. Cori narrowly blocked the blow from the Chancellor's weapon, backing enough to take stock, still tense and at the ready.

For a while the battle continued that way, the two Jedi kept on opposite sides from each other but unable to cause any damage.

Coricopat tried once more, as close to in tandem with Mac as possible, hoping to be able to actually cause at least some damage. His energy was beginning to fade and if he had to guess, Mac wasn't at his peak performance either. Between the Jedi temple, Mustafar, and worry over Victoria, Macavity could feel himself begin to flag.

This needed to end and soon. Cori moved quickly, his lightsaber sweeping in toward the Chancellor's side.

The Chancellor blocked it again, swirling his saber up around, hitting Macavity in his mechanical arm. Coricopat continued to press the offensive, hoping that at some point the Chancellor had to slip up.

"Hey!" a voice shrieked from down below. The combatants paused, and Mistoffelees gestured with something down below. "You might as well give up now!" he yelled up. "We have all the evidence that you're a Sith and set everything up yourself."

Coricopat froze completely at that. His gaze was locked on Mistoffelees. If they made it out of this he wasn't entirely sure what he was going to do or say to his lover, but several things flickered through his mind in rapid succession.

The Chancellor growled. "You, you've been annoying my plans for far too long," he seethed, snapping the smaller form toward him with the force, pulling hard at his neck. Macavity didn't even spare a glance for his partner, trusting him to attack at the same time while the Chancellor was distracted, throwing his blade toward him.

Twice in one day. Damn it to hell, Coricopat thought. Macavity's expectation was correct however, as Cori whirled, slashing downward with his blade, taking advantage of the Chancellor's distraction.

Just as suddenly Mistoffelees was dropped, curling up on the floor and coughing as the Chancellor fell.

Cori glanced at Macavity, but quickly made his way down to Misto's side, kneeling beside him, "What the hell were you thinking?"

The Senator glanced up at him, still coughing. "It worked, didn't it?"

"And nearly got you killed!"

"It's a habit I thought I'd broken myself of," he murmured, Macavity making his slower way down.

Coricopat ran a hand over Misto's hair, "I'm sure we had a conversation about you never doing something like that again!"

"Several," he said, leaning slightly into the touch. "But you were getting tired and making no progress. I was watching the footage as we taped it. I didn't actually expect him to attempt to snap my neck."

"What did you think he would do? Hold a reasonable conversation?"

"Not entirely known for thinking things through," Mistoffelees said, finally sitting up with another small cough.

"Careful," The Jedi shifted enough to support him.

"Is it over?" Mistoffelees asked, glancing up at Macavity, who nodded.

"Thank goodness." Cori murmured. He glanced around, "You're due at the hospital, Mac."

He nodded, turning and left. Yoda finally picked himself up as well, vacating the area. Once Mac was gone, Mistoffelees swallowed again, reaching out for Cori and burying his face in his shoulder. "They're having twins, by the way," he said softly.

Cori blinked at that, looking down at the younger man, "Twins? Do they know that?"

"No idea," he murmured, pressing a bit closer. "Didn't sound like it."

"Then they're in for a surprise," Cori wrapped his arms tightly around the other, holding him close. "We made it..." The smaller man let out a breath that could have been a sob. "Shh, we're alright. We're both alright..." His voice was slightly shaky.

Drawing back slightly, Mistoffelees reached forward, taking Coricopat's face between his hands and pulling him down hard, kissing him on the floor of the Senate chambers, broken walls scattered around them.

Cori's arms tightened around the other, drawing him closer as he leaned down into the kiss, reassuring himself that the other was in fact alright.

"We still have to deal with an inter-galactic crisis," Mistoffelees murmured. "I think I'd much rather kiss you than think about it though."

"We don't need to worry about that for a few more minutes at least."

"Good," he murmured, leaning back up into the kiss.

o.o.o.

Macavity made his way into the hospital, not bothering to change and somewhat battered. However, he brushed aside anyone asking him if he needed any help, finally making his way to where Victoria was.

The queen opened her eyes and offered him a wearily relieved smile as he came into the room she was in, "Thank goodness. Is he...?"

"We won," he replied. "What happened? Are you alright?"

"I'm alright, just exhausted. The babies are alright too."

"Babies?" Macavity paused, tilting his head slightly.

She nodded, "Twins. Apparently I was pregnant with twins."

"How did we not know about that?" he asked, voice shocked.

"We were concerned about other things?"

"But... twins!"

She bit her lip to hide a smile and nodded, "Yes, twins."

He shook his head. "But they're alright? And you're alright? Did the doctors check for the... other thing?"

"Yes, and yes they did. It's gone. Completely," she assured him, relief evident in her own voice.

"He really did it? How the hell did he do that?" Macavity marveled.

"I don't know, but I'm glad he did." She reached out to take his hand.

"So am I," he murmured.

"I love you, Mac."

"I love you too," he murmured, leaning down and kissing her temples. "I really, really do."

"I'm so very glad."

"So am I," he murmured. "Can I stay or will they try and kick me out, do you think?"

"I'd like you to stay as long as you can." She replied, "And you can always come again tomorrow."

"How long do you think you'll be here?" he asked softly.

"Well, the doctors want to make sure everything is alright, so...I'll probably be out some time tomorrow."

"Can I pick you up?" he managed.

"Please do," she offered him a smile.

"Then I will," he murmured, and the relief mixed with the feelings that somehow this was really all rather anti-climatic... and he honestly didn't mind.

Victoria sat up very slightly, pulling him down enough to kiss him lightly.

Leaning down, he returned the gentle kiss. "How much of a scandal are we going to cause," he laughed softly.

"Less of one than if I wasn't already stepping down as Queen?"

"Are you still gonna?" he asked, surprised.

"I have two children to raise and I'd rather not leave Coruscant for any prolonged period of time in the near future, so yes?"

He blinked at that and finally nodded. "If you're sure you want to."

"I've been in politics for a very long time, and I'd prefer to step down."

He nodded. "Hey, it works for me, so long as you're happy with the decision."

"I am. I'm very happy.

"Good," he said, leaning down to kiss her lightly again.

Domestic bliss was not what you were expecting, hm? And Mistoffelees lied: he's never been weaned off his more reckless impulses.