A/N: I do not own Anakin, Padmé or other characters, all rights reserved by Lucasfilm. I write stories just for fun and for free.
This story takes place long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away ...
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Coruscant
Anakin's period of office as Vice Chancellor lasted much longer than anticipated. During this time, he skillfully steered the decisions and votes of the Senate to gain more authorizations for his style of goverment. Just like his uncle, Padmé didn't miss it, but Obi-Wan trusted him.
War had broken out in several sectors of the Outer Rim. Of course, as always, it was about personal interests.
The trade routes were established thousands years ago, minor changes have taken place in between, as well as new routes were added or extended out and always in such a way that everyone got benefit.
This time it was about the main Hydian Trade Route. Almost exactly where the Hydian Way crosses the Rimma Trade Route there is Planet Eriadu, which belongs to the Seswenna Sector. Vivenda Sector would suffer only disadvantages from the route change between Eriadu and Clak'dorVII , as would Planet Sullust . This intensified the conflict between the Sectors Vivenda and Mayagil.
To resolve this conflict, Anakin summoned a delegation of six known Senators and sent them to conduct the negotiations. The efforts remained without result.
With a Senate debate followed by a vote, Anakin dispatched half the fleet to bring about peace. His deputy in Military Stuff was dispatched as Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet, with precise instructions on how to proceed, in his suitcase.
"General Sonsin, don't come back without acceptable results for us. Here are the orders."
"Yes, sir."
To make matters worse, some planets from the Core Worlds, Caamas and Alderaan as well as Kiribi and Arkania from Colonis thought the route could be changed in their favor as well. Anakin lost his temper here. He called the Senators of that planets and told them to sit down...without asking.
"Honoured Senators, the planetes you are representing are in Colonies and Core World, all rich planets with all resources and opportunities to enable their citizens to live a good life. In your sectors, the trade route has been as it is now for thousands of years, to everyone's benefit. If the route should be changed according to your wishes, other planets such as Velusia, Borleias, Aargau or Alraxes would suffer only disadvantages. Exactly 950 standard years ago, your taxes were reduced for agreeing to confirm the route on the millennial cycle. In fifty standard years the negotiations will take place again, but you won't be alive by then. That's why you're trying to get as much out of it now, aren't you. This kind of greed and recklessness will not be tolerated. The applications you have submitted will be withdrawn or you will wait until I reject all of them. The military is monitoring your troops' activities on the ground and in the air, and should we deem it necessary, we will dispatch the fleet to solve the problem...like we are doing now in the Outer Rim."
"But Anakin...ugh, Your Excellency, that's a threat." Bail Organa protested.
"This is merely an announcement of necessary actions to maintain peace in the galaxy, Senator."
"I'm speechless."
"A speechless senator cannot represent the interests of his planet. I could put this issue on Queen of Alderaan's agenda."
Bail Organa was shocked, not even Palpatine treated him like that.
"It won't be necessary. I will take care of the applications immediately."
"I expected no less, Senator...and what will be your efforts, Senators?" He looked at the others.
"We will follow Senator Organa's example."
"Then, thank you for your cooperation and I wish you a productive day."
Padmé came out of the private room beside Anakin's office, to which the door wasn't completely closed. "You deal despotic with democratic elected representatives of their worlds. Would you treat me like that too?"
"…if you would also make such intolerable applications, so yes, I would. Padmé, we have an unstable peace. I must take action to prevent further escalation. You can't let the galaxy sink into chaos. Nip the conflicts in the bud is now a priority."
"The way you govern as Vice Chancellor, that's not democracy."
"What do you prefer: democracy in war, or orderly peace."
"Orderly peace is a nice euphemism for dictatorship."
"I give you a month to solve the conflicts in your democratic way."
"I can't do that, something like that takes much longer."
"...and as long as the war rages on and spreads like wildfire, people die. Is that the point of a democracy?"
"It is impossible to talk with you."
" This sentence always comes to your mind if you run out of arguments."
"You are the Vice Chancellor, you decide, do as you see fit."
"That's exactly what I intend to do, Padmé, and it will work."
General Sonsin, who was sent to Outer Rim, reported back after two standard weeks with news of mission success. This has been completed. The new Senators of the formerly hostile sectors were appointed. Peace reigned again.
"At what price, Anakin?"
"For the price of a bunch of corrupt politicians and their greedy supporters."
"And the destruction of the infrastructure?"
"They will recover quickly with promised help of the republic ."
"And the many dead?"
"Collateral damage."
"I'm appalled at your callousness."
"Padmé, if you think no one should harm an ant, then you're not cut out to be a politician."
"People are not ants."
"True, but if you're not willing to sacrifice a few to save billions, then you're not suitable for a leadership position."
"Anakin, I'm scared for you. You are falling more and more into the dark side of Force."
"No Padmé, I just want to leave a stable Republic behind, when I go."
"What will be left for you?"
"Jedi and military."
"Can you arrange this with each other?"
"Sure and very good, don't worry and I'll still have enough time for you and our children."
"I hope that time comes at all."
Anakin worked from dawn to dusk every day, sometimes coming home without being able to see the twins before bed. It hurt him, but the moment of the Galexis story took its toll.
A few days before Jedi Council Chairperson Obi-Wan Kenobi set the date for a new Supreme Chancellor election, Bail Organa fell ill and Mon Mothma died unexpectedly.
This was very suspicious to Padmé, so she demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances of Mon Mothma's death. It turned out that Mon Mothma had been poisoned. It was a substance not found in the native galaxy, it was of extragalactic origin. This was the reason why this substance was not initially detected in the standard post-mortem testing procedure.
It was searched in the archives in which neighboring galaxies the substance was to be found, until Anakin came up with the idea of checking whether this substance, called cyanide, could be of terrestrial origin...and bingo! It was necessary now to find out how the cyanide found its way into our own galaxy. Anakin, Obi-Wan and Adi Gallia certainly didn't bring it with them.
Logically, they started investigating the only spaceship they had for intergalactic travel. The spaceship was entered for maintenance at the Corellia shipyard after the voyage to Milky Way. Nobody checked whether the data was correct. The spaceship was never on Corellia, it was on its way back to earth, the data in the ship's computer revealed everything that was needed to identify the pilot as well. It was Captain Noris, Tarkin's adjutant.
Led by Jedi, Tarkin's adjutant was interrogated...and he had much to tell.
Tarkin had been serving a life sentence with no prospect of parole, and now his adjutant was keeping him company, not literally, of course. He also got life imprisonment.
What was also learned was that Bail Organa was also poisoned, only he happened not to take a lethal dose. Now they knew how to treat him... but the neurological damage will remain and it was questionable whether he would ever return to politics. Well, he couldn't stand for election as Supreme Chancellor and good Obi-Wan, always looking ahead, couldn't imagine seeing any incompetent candidate on the list. Actually….. all were incompetent and… he harbored a grudge against Count Naberrie. Consequently, the new elections will have to wait until maybe one day Padmé has enough experience to...or the beautiful Duchess of Mandalore...
Count Naberrie unexpectedly resigned from his post as Senator, ostensibly for health reasons, so the Queen of Naboo had to appoint a new Senator. She asked to serve Padmé and she couldn't refuse. She was very busy, almost like her husband, and they didn't have as much time for the twins. Jobal helped where she could.
Anakin was given some responsibilities by the Jedi Council, giving him some more time for the Senate and family.
At the age of five, Luke and Leia started the school, but not just any school, it was Jedi Elementary School. Both were exceptionally good in all subjects, and they mastered Jedi teaching to perfection. The parents were as proud of them as they could be.
Obi-Wan took great care of their Jedi training. The twins enjoyed the lessons, although at times Obi-Wan felt he wasn't getting the respect he deserved, after all, he was their Master. To Luke and Leia, he was still Uncle Obi.
There was nothing left but to talk to the parents to steer the two in the right direction. Padmé couldn't be strict, she loved her children and, having so little time for them anyway, didn't want to spank them. So Anakin always had to use a word of power.
The sixth and seventh days of the standard week were off, although Padme very often worked through the sixth day, mostly at home, but Anakin was so busy that sometimes seven days of the standard week wasn't enough for him to get the work done. Still, Anakin has made it a point to be home for at least the seventh day.
At lunch and between the soup and roast, he asked children about their progress and classes.
"How about classes with your Master, practice and theory, Luke?"
"We're doing well in training...and the theory is interesting as well."
Ah yes, always political, like his mother, Anakin thought.
"When we attack together in sparring, Obi-Wan can't always focus on our thoughts. We try to trick him by thinking in the opposite direction than we act...and then he skids, so to speak. It's such a funny prank."
Aaa, here we are, my daughter.
"Well...you know Leia, I was also an apprentice to Obi-Wan..."
"Yes, we know and you haven't always been as well-behaved as you want to tell us now."
"No, I wasn't such an angel like your mother is..." He smiled at Padmé..." ...but I never played pranks on Obi-Wan. I may have played pranks on one or the other padawan..." and he immediately thought of Ferus Olin...".. but never on my Master and especially not during the sparring. This is very dangerous, so you can hurt each other. You wouldn't want anyone distract you while wielding your lightsaber, would you?"
"No, Daddy."
"You know how hard it is to focus when someone's distracting you, huh?"
"Well, not exactly...I..."
"I can show you, will you? After dinner, when you've rested, OK.?"
"Good... and Luke?"
"Both of you, in the sparring room."
After the meal, the twins jumped and went to their rooms with the joy of competing with their father later.
"I know what you're up to, Anakin, and I wonder if it really necessary getting them burned to learn what's wrong and what's right."
"I won't burn or hurt them, Padmé. It'll be like a smack on the butt, only they won't feel like a smack, it'll be part of the training."
"Well, I do not know…"
"You remember how you reacted after a hard day when Leia said she thinks your job is a bullshit? You were about to slap her across the face and if I hadn't grabbed your hand, she would have gotten the slap. She would have taken that as punishment, Padmé, and it might have left a mark."
"Damn Anakin, why do you always find words to disarm me?"
"Maybe because I'm a better politician than General and Jedi Master?" he winked.
In the sparring room, Leia and Luke have been waiting for their father, small lightsabers in their hands.
"Are we ready?"
"Yes sir." They replied in duet.
Their much shorter blades met Anakin's long blade, pushing him back with combined strength. Anakin marveled at how much progress they made since the last time. He let them lead for a while, making them feel like they were his equals. The twins liked that and got cocky. Anakin lifted a chair with the Force and slammed it against the wall. Luke and Leia were terrified and distracted at the moment, so Anakin was just able to land a blow on the twins' buttocks with the tip of his blade, set to sparring level.
"Ouch, that wasn't fair." Leia yelled, Luke stayed calm and rubbed the spot that had been hit.
"Why unfair? That was just the distraction."
Anakin repeated the trick several times. Leia deactivated her lightsaber, as did Luke.
"Daddy, we've learned the lesson." Leia said.
"Good. We're going into the garden now and kick the ball. Mom has prepared a large portion of ice cream."
He kissed his children, took them by the hand and went into the garden.
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Best regards from Germany