Obi-Wan looked towards Padme in awe, gazing at the Sith Holocron. The room got heavier and more tense. Jedi looked at one another in discomfort.
"But I thought we had an entire inventory on Sith Holocrons," Ahsoka started, "How did he get a hold of this one?" Other Jedi nodded in agreement. Yoda grunted.
"Many Jedi deserters, we have had. Possible, it is, that our security was breached." He replied, looking down.
"This and that holodisk should be enough to prove to the Senate as to who Palpatine really was. A new system can be put in place and the Republic can take new steps towards peace and prosperity." Master Windu spoke up.
"Then decided, it is." Yoda said, "inform the Senate, we must."
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Padme walked into her chambers and plopped onto her bed. This was the first time in a week that she was able to lie in her own bed. Even before she left for Mustafar, she couldn't sleep, so she just buried herself into her work. She slowly closed her eyes and almost drifted to sleep. But her moment of peace was interrupted, as she felt the bed move, as if someone was sitting on the other side. She jumped up and grabbed the blaster she kept on her side of the bed.
"Woah! Woah!" Anakin yelped, holding his hands up. "Don't shoot! It's just me!"
"Anakin Skywalker!" Padme exclaimed, throwing the blaster aside, "I swear I'll get you for that." Anakin threw his head back in laughter. Padme couldn't help but smile at the sound of his joy. It had been so long. Anakin walked over to his wife and pulled her into his embrace. He placed his chin on the top of her head and closed his eyes, still smiling, happy to have her in his arms again. Padme thought the same as she hugged him tighter. Anakin pulled away.
"Just think, Angel. This war is over, and there will be peace." he said smiling, looking at her thoughtfully, "and maybe the time will come for us to be a real family." Padme looked up in shock.
"Ani. You mean you-?" she could barely even get the full sentence out. "You'll tell the Order?"
"If it means being a true husband to you, then yes." he replied. "But it'll have to wait until everything has been arranged, with the new Republic. There will be a lot of change, and-" Padme interrupted him, laughing.
"Haven't you figured it out yet, Skywalker? I'm not going anywhere. We're in this together, and if that means we have to wait a little longer until we tell everyone, so be it." she grinned. There was a sudden knock at the door, earning an eye roll from Anakin. He backed away from Padme as C-3PO waddled into the bedchambers.
"Oh! Mistress Padme, I have just received an announcement requesting your presence at an emergency meeting at the Senate, and-" the golden protocol droid continued to drone as Padme turned to look back at Anakin.
"I should get ready." Padme said. Anakin nodded.
"Yes. And I should get back to the Temple. The Jedi are going to want me there." Anakin walked back over to Padme and quickly embraced her, giving her a kiss on her cheek. He then left the room.
"Okay, Threepio. Have Captain Typho ready my speeder." Padme sighed, disappearing into her large closet.
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Anakin, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, Yoda and Mace Windu stood in the Chancellor's office with Mas Amedda, who was still uninformed of the Chancellor's death.
"I don't understand, Master Jedi." the Vice Chancellor stated firmly, frowning slightly.
"Explain everything, we will, Vice Chancellor." Yoda replied, looking to Anakin. "Ready, are you, young Skywalker?"
"Yes, Master," Anakin nodded, ready to give his full report on his time at Mustafar. He had never been one for public speaking like this; he always preferred his "aggressive negotiations", but he knew this is what had to be done. Yoda, Mace, Mas Amedda, and Anakin stepped into the lift that would bring the group up into the center of the Senate Chambers. Ahsoka and Obi-Wan turned to take their places in one of the balconies to watch. Before the door slid closed, Ahsoka turned around to get another look at Anakin. This past week had changed him, she noticed he wasn't as angry or tense. She sent an encouraging smile to him, which he graciously returned. Thanks, Snips, Ahsoka heard from their bond. The door slid shut and the lift rose into the main chambers.
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Even with every Senator of almost every system present, there was total silence once the group of four appeared before everyone. Camera droids flew around, at the request of the Jedi. They needed just about everyone in the galaxy to hear this news.
"The Jedi will now speak!" Mas Amedda declared, stepping aside. Mace Windu stepped forward.
"Thank you, Vice Chancellor." he started. "Senators, citizens. We have some disturbing news to share with you today. First, I must announce that Chancellor Palpatine has died." At that news, yells from all sides of the senate broke through. Mas Amedda stepped forward again, waving his staff.
"Order!" he yelled. And just as soon as the noise had started, it ceased.
"Over the past week, more and more evidence has been presented that the Chancellor was not who he said he was. We have found that Chancellor Palpatine was the Sith Lord that the Jedi have been searching for." Windu was interrupted again with cries of protest. He continued, though, his voice growing more forceful.
"I now introduce Jedi General Anakin Skywalker to expand on the subject." Windu nodded to Anakin, prompting him to step forward.
"Thank you, Master. I was captured one week ago on Naboo by Count Dooku in order to strike a prisoner trade for General Grievous, which was denied. I was then taken to Mustafar and tortured for information." Anakin retold his story of his plights, though it was the short version. He could only hold a politician's attention for so long. The Senate listened intently as the young Jedi finished his story. Mace Windu stepped forward once again.
"Not only do we have General Skywalker's story, but we also have a series of transmissions the Chancellor sent courtesy of a friend of the Chancellor." He pushed the button to show various hologram transmissions sent by the Chancellor: his communications with Mas Amedda (causing the Chagrian to shuffle around in discomfort); communications with Separatist leaders such as Nute Gunray and General Grievous; and the most convincing messages, his communications with Count Dooku. Gasps and whispers filled the chambers as senators looked at one another in shock.
"Not only was he a traitor to the Republic, but also a Sith Lord. This was found in a base in the Dacho District here on Coruscant." Mace continued, holding the Sith Holocron before him. "This is presumed to have been stolen from our Jedi Archives, possibly years ago." More cries rang out as more senators expressed distress over the issue. Padme stood up in her pod, and moved the pod in front of the Chancellor's stand.
"With this evidence," she started, "How can we trust Mas Amedda when he knew of Palpatine's plans? He is the immediate successor of the Chancellor, but I believe he is an unfit ruler!" she exclaimed. Senator Mon Mothma's pod moved forward.
"I agree with Senator Amidala. I believe it is time for a new chancellor to be elected in this time of turmoil. We need a new leader." she stated. Cheers of approval echoed around the hall. Padme smiled, knowing everything was about to be changed for the better. Peace was now in reach of the long broken Republic.