A lot of the dialogue in this chapter comes from the Revenge of the Sith novel so credit needs to go where credit is due in that case.
Chapter 24
The Senate building was in an uproar when Padmé arrived the next day. Her mood had been significantly better than it had been since her fight with Anakin and she knew exactly why she felt more like she was floating rather than simply walking, and it had something to do with the man she loved more than life itself and just how wonderful it truly was to make up after a fight with him. But by the time she reached her office she was once again in a foul mood. There were whispers in the hallways that Palpatine was going to make some kind of important announcement during the secession and she was rather anxious to learn what it was.
She had barely settled in to her seat when Bail came storming into her office without giving her aids a chance to announce him. "Did you hear about this secret secession our dear leader held last night?" he asked, placing a data pad in front of her with the necessary information.
"That's illegal," she said, reading over the data pad and frowning more the deeper she got into it. "He can't have a legal Senate vote without the whole Senate convened."
"Well apparently those that were lucky enough to be here last night voted to give him even more power than he already had," he said.
"More power?" she asked incredulously.
"I have to hand it to that man, he is quite good at manipulating the system and turning everything in his favor."
She read over the data pad again and then placed it in front of her, studying her hands for a moment before she looked at him. "We need to do something about this. We can't let this stand as a full Senate vote if those he knew would oppose the vote were not there to even take part in it."
"It's already on record."
She sighed through her nose and sat back in her chair, arms folded across her chest. "We can't be the only ones that see how he's manipulating everything that this Republic has stood for for over a thousand years."
"I think you're hoping for too much from our fellow Senators," Bail said dryly. "They happen to be the most corrupt bunch of politicians ever to grace the Republic, at least it seems that way."
She pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. She could feel a headache coming on and that was the last thing she needed to worry about when the Republic was crumbling. "I put him in office Bail," she said weakly, opening her eyes to glance at him. "I helped put him there and look at everything he's done to undermine the foundations of democracy that he once stood for."
"This isn't the time to think like that," Bail said gently. He moved to her side and took one of her hands in his, drawing her gaze to meet his. "We're going to find a way around this. I have my staff working on it and we'll figure it out. Somehow we will."
"There isn't time. The secession is in an hour."
"Padmé, you should know better than to doubt me when I put my mind to it," he teased. "I'll comm you when I have more information."
"Right," she said, taking a deep breath and squaring her shoulders. "We can get through this."
"That's the spirit," he said.
The Jedi never truly saw it coming. Some had expected another declaration of war, this time directed at them, others had expected to be forced into exile. But none had expected the clones that had saved them on Geonosis would be used to attack them in their own Temple.
The day had started as any other in the Jedi Temple, the breakfast plates were being cleaned and the younglings went off to their classes while the Padawans and their Masters trained. The clones had come out of nowhere, marching up the steps to the Temple with their weapons at the ready, and as soon as they had entered the quite halls they had opened fire on the unsuspecting Jedi.
The attacks happened all over the galaxy, wherever there were clones stationed with Jedi on peacekeeping missions and none of the Jedi could have been prepared for the troops they trusted opening fire on them. All across the galaxy Jedi die, all at once the Order is destroyed with one swoop from an expert tactician and his years of planning.
The call for the Senate to convene came earlier than expected that day. Padmé found Bail hurrying towards her in the hall and together walked they through the crowded halls, listening to the conversations their collogues were having as they made their way to the main chamber. Bail slipped into her pod with her and they took their seats as Palpatine appeared, looking rather smug and pleased with himself.
"Senators please, we must have order," Mas Amedda called loudly, silencing the Senate chamber effectively.
"My esteemed colleagues, I have received some disturbing news about the Jedi Order," Palpatine began, look out from the center of the room, eyes scanning the faces of his Senators. This was his moment to finally claim what was his and he felt a sinister smile trying to form on his face when he saw the stricken expression on Amidala's face. "It has been brought to my attention that there is a plot within their Order to have me assassinated." A roar of shock went up around the room but he held his hands up to silence them. "It is with great regret that I must declare all Jedi potential enemies of the Republic and order that they be treated as such. At this very moment the grand Army of the Republic is marching against the traitors that have claimed to stand for democracy and peace for so long. I will personally see to it that every last Jedi is hunted down and treated to the same fate as their brothers for this grievous offence against the Republic. And those that choose to shelter any Jedi will be considered an enemy as well."
Bail reached for Padmé's hand where it sat clenched on her leg, giving it a reassuring squeeze even as everything they stood for fell all around them. She looked sick, her face pale and her eyes wide with fear, he had never thought that she could be so shaken but he knew it was more out of fear for her husband than anything else that had left her in this state.
"What do we do?" she whispered as Palpatine continued to speak. "We can't just let this happen but…"
"If we do something we'll be killed as well," he finished for her.
"This Jedi rebellion was our final test. It was the last gasp of the forces of darkness and now we will be able to leave that darkness behind us for good. A new day is dawning in the Republic," Palpatine continued. "Never again will we be divided. Never again will sector turn against sector, planet against planet, sibling turn against sibling."
"Oh no," Padmé said, realization hitting her full force as she realized just what was about to happen.
"To ensure that we will always stand together, that we will always speak as a single voice and act as a single hand, the Republic must change. We must evolve and grow. We have become an Empire in fact, let us become one in name as well. We are the first Galactic Empire!"
All around them the Senate cheered their approval.
"What are they doing? Don't they understand what they are cheering for?" Bail hissed.
"We are an Empire that will continue to be ruled by this body," Palpatine continued when the cheering died down enough. We are an Empire that will never again return to the political maneuverings and corruption that have wounded us so deeply. We are an Empire that will be ruled over by a single sovereign that is chosen for life. We are an Empire chosen and ruled by the majority. We are an Empire of laws, not politicians. An Empire dedicated to the preservation of a just society, of a safe and secure society."
The Senate again erupted into cheers, and chants of "Safety, security, justice, and peace!" echoed throughout the chamber. Beside him Bail could see a single tear make its way down Padmé's cheek.
"So this is how liberty dies," she said, her voice strangely devoid of emotion. "With thunderous applause."
"We can't let this happen," Bail said, suddenly lurching to his feet. "We can still enter a motion."
"No." Her hand gripped his arm with astonishing strength and a new sense of resolve was visible in her eyes. "Bail, you can't enter a motion, not against him at least."
"What are you talking about?"
"You need to vote for him. It is the only way that you can remain in a position to do anyone any good," she said. "Make Mon Mothma vote for him too. Be good little Senators, keep your heads down, mind your manners, and do not draw his attention for any reason."
"What about you?" he asked.
"I don't know yet, Bail," she admitted. "I may not be able to remain in the Senate now that Palpatine has gone after the Jedi. He knows I have ties to them but I don't know how much he knows beyond that."
The Senate session lasted for another hour during which Palpatine made promises about striving towards a better future that Padmé knew he would never keep. She grew increasingly anxious the longer the session went on and began to fret over Anakin's safety when she felt a wave of fear that she knew came from him. When the session was finally adjourned she rushed back to her office, desperate to try to make contact with her husband.
She secured the doors behind her and rushed to her desk, reaching for her comm. link, but halting when she saw Anakin and Obi-Wan step out of the shadows. They looked weary and broken, their eyes haunted by what they just lived through. She chose to ignore the presences of Master Windu and Master Fisto waiting behind her husband, they both looked displeased to be there and anxious.
"Anakin," she breathed, rushing to him and taking him into her arms before he could collapse. "Oh gods Anakin, I'm so glad that you're safe."
"I'm not," he whispered brokenly. "The clones, they came out of nowhere and started attacking us… Obi-Wan and I were able to get the younglings to safety but there were so many clones and so many Jedi were dying all around us." His entire body was trembling and she helped him into one of the chairs in front of her desk. He sat forward and buried his face in his hands. "I never thought he would actually attack the Temple."
"How did you make it out?" she asked, kneeling in front of him to hold his hands away from his face so that she could see his eyes.
"We had hidden hangars designed for mass evacuation," Obi-Wan said. "We were able to get most of the younglings out but… so many of the older Jedi were killed protecting the younglings. At least half the Jedi in the Temple are gone."
"Are you still planning to go after Palpatine?" she asked. "He just declared himself Emperor, he'll be untouchable."
"Master Windu and Master Fisto are on their way right now, I'm supposed to follow," Anakin said. "Yoda has ordered Obi-Wan to take the remaining Jedi to a rendezvous point in the Outer Rim."
She glanced over at the other Jedi where he stood guard at her door, giving them a moment alone. She touched Anakin's cheek gently and drew his eyes up to hers. "You're in no shape to fight," she said honestly and he reluctantly nodded his head in agreement.
"I know, but we have to at least try to end this today. I had to see you," he whispered. "I don't know if… I just wanted to see you before..." She pulled him into her arms, letting him draw what strength he could from her presence. She felt his tears against the side of her neck and held him even closer as she whispered meaningless words into his hair.
"You don't have to do this, Anakin. We could leave now."
"I've been training for this moment and it's our best shot at ending this. I have to try," he said. He slowly got to his feet, still slightly unsteady, and pulled her into his arms. She clung to him desperately, unwilling to let him go. "I need you to go with Obi-Wan. You're not safe here and I need to know that you're out of harm's way."
"I'm not going anywhere without you."
"I'll be there soon," he said softly. He lovingly framed her face between his hands and leaned forward to kiss her, pouring everything he felt into that one kiss. "I promise."
"Be careful, my love," she said, reluctantly letting him leave her embrace.
"I will be," he promised.
"May the Force be with you," Obi-Wan said, embracing his former student for what he feared might be the final time. "All of you."
"And with you," Anakin said. And then he was gone.
"Padmé, we don't have much time," Obi-Wan said. "We need to get off planet soon before the clones can track our transport."
"Of course," she agreed. Her determination was evident in her voice even as she wiped away a single tear that had made its way down her cheek. "Would it be too much to ask that we stop at my apartment so that I can gather a few belongings and arm myself?"
"Not if we hurry," he said, ushering her from her office.
"You're afraid, aren't you?" she asked as they hurried through the empty halls, avoiding as many people as they could.
"I'm not afraid," Obi-Wan said, but his eyes betrayed him and he knew that when he saw the skeptical look she gave him. "I'm just worried about Anakin. He isn't on stable ground right now, not after the attack on the Temple. But this is a dark day for every Jedi."
"You don't think he'll fall, do you?" she asked, suddenly panicking.
"No," he insisted. "Anakin is a far stronger person than he was when his mother died. He will be able to get through this without slipping to the dark side, I am certain of it."
"May the mother goddess protect him," she whispered and Obi-Wan gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
Anakin joined Mace and Kit just as they entered Palpatine's private office, having killed the guards that stood in their way. Palpatine was waiting for them behind his desk, his hand folded in front of him and a sinister smile plastered to his face.
"Emperor Palpatine, your rein has lasted far too long," Mace said
Palpatine cackled as he slowly got to his feet and suddenly a crimson blade leapt to life in his hand. "I have been looking forward to this moment for a long time, Jedi and I will enjoy it greatly," he hissed as the Jedi all ignited their own blades.