This story takes place long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away ...
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Coruscant
A few days after Anakin made the decision to run for elections, he went to tell Obi-Wan about it.
"I met Padmé in the Senate yesterday, she looked pretty depressed. Have you decided to run for Supreme chancellor?"
"Yes, I made my choice. She wasn't thrilled but I feel like I have to do this, this is about peace in the galaxy and as this is only one legislature, I have an idea."
"I hear."
"Korkie Kryze."
"What about him?" Obi-Wan looked at him with raised eyebrows.
"He is a remarkable young man with a strong sense of justice and a great fighter against corruption, he is intelligent and hardworking, just like his…his aunt. If I hire him as my personal assistant, in five years he would have learned enough to run for the highest office in the next election. What do you think?"
"A good idea and who should I put on the list for Vice Chancellor?"
"Perhaps the Senator of Corellia. He's been a senator for a long time, has experience, isn't corrupt, maybe he doesn't have a complete overview...but I don't know anyone better. If something were to happen to me, he would just about be able to cope."
"Good. How do you intend to conduct your election campaign, Holonet?"
"No, I'm personally heading to some important points in the galaxy."
"Dangerous."
"I'm a Jedi."
"Good, you have half a year."
"I have to go now, duty is calling. May the Force be with you, Master."
"May the Force be with you too, Anakin."
After a month it was official, the race for the chancellorship had begun. Obi-Wan's list wasn't long, only the ablest could get there. In this galaxy there were no political parties that nominated their candidates, it was the supreme authority that assembled a roster of capable senators with political experience. This list could be short or long, depending on the case.
Anakin didn't have that much time for the campaign, he still had to do his job. It seemed that the other candidates had an advantage in this respect, they could visit any place they wanted to win voters.
Anakin has studied his uncle's diary and found some useful. Was that legal? Maybe not, but the others didn't play clean either.
He had many spies who provided him with services in the military sector. He has now used it. He sent them wherever the candidates were holding their campaign meetings and they sabotaged them by asking questions that couldn't be answered truthfully without compromising themselves, and then they were convicted of lies on the spot. Anakin had a complete résumé and record of each of them.
His opponents didn't have such a possibility, but Anakin had nothing to hide, there was nothing to discover. He was a Jedi, a general known as Hero with no fear, who fought countless battles for the Republic, who saved the galaxy from invaders, the chosen one who killed the Sith Lord, and for three years now a leader who had only successes to show. He didn't really have to fight for votes, but he wanted to present himself a little more humanely.
Within six months, he visited five major planets that he needed Senate approval for. The first stop was Aargau in Core Worlds, as well as Alderaan, Chandrila and Corellia, in MidRim Naboo. He took his family with him on every trip he undertook. Padmé was afraid for the twins, but Anakin insisted he was a Jedi, he could protect them.
Chandrila
The first port of call was Chandrila, where Anakin feared the most rejection, with some blaming him for getting rid of their Senator Mom Mothma. The evidence told otherwise, but the story circulated. The event was big and Anakin was able to convince with his program for the next five years.
Aargau
Aargau was not a beautiful but important planet. There sat the money of the galaxy. Maintaining good relationships was a benefit, making everyone feel like they mattered.
Alderan
On Alderaan, Anakin had great support, his mother and stepfather. This was an influential, rich man who gathered all the influential families on the planet who have a good relationship with the electors at the campaign rally. Queen Breha of Alderaan was also there, as was her husband Bail Organa, whom she pushed now in the hover chair. He never recovered from the poison attack. He could just about hold a conversation, but mostly sat absent in his chair. Anakin regretted the former senator's condition, even though he would have been his biggest competitor in good health...but if Bail Organa had still been in good health, there was no reason for Anakin to run. Senator Organa was an able politician, admittedly stubborn at times.
Corellia
Corellia was an economic factor that Anakin couldn't forget on his campaign trip. The shipyards on the planet were the important point for the repairs and maintenance of the Republic Fleet. Again, Anakin announced his program and promised that nothing would change in the future, and that the Republic Fleet would continue to rely on them.
Naboo
Now on Naboo, Anakin had an easy time of it. He and Padmé were Nabooians, Padmé was their senator. The Queen and the whole planet was on its feet. The reception was overwhelming and the event was a complete success. Where else could you hope for such support if not on your home planet.
Padmé and children were already tired from traveling but knew their father needed the support.
Despite the tight schedule and busy calendar, they found a full weekend for Padmé's parents, who retired to Varykino after Count Naberrie's retirement.
"Daddy, can we stay on Naboo?"
"Someday."
"When?"
"Seems like that day never comes." Padmé was frustrated and didn't want to hide it.
"That day will come, when each of us has done his job."
As Luke and Leia went to bed, Count Ruwee Naberrie couldn't help but remind Anakin of the conversation they had several years ago.
"Everyone has a job to do, just some of you are getting more and more, aren't you Anakin? The job of elected Supreme Chancellor had to come on top of that, it's never enough. Are you there now?"
"I can't evade this task at the moment, there's nobody who could do it. You retired."
"I'm sick, Anakin, my heart can't take it anymore."
"You don't look sick, you just wanted to bring Padmé forward to slow me down. Who is so scared of me?"
"A lot, considering who Sheev Palpatine was."
"I'm not him. I've been in office as Vice Chancellor for three years, I could easily have declared myself Emperor if I'd wanted to. I have the Jedi and the army under my control, but I have no interest in that title. I want peace and since I have ruled there has been peace."
"Padmé could have run as well."
"Obi-Wan disagreed."
"He represents your opinion."
"Certainly not, he has been my master...and I still respect him as such one. He is highly intelligent and always has a goal in mind. You should know him well. He feels that Padmé is not a leader, she is incapable of cracking down when the situation calls for it and after Palpatin is gone we have too many situations like that. She sticks to solving everything diplomatically, which isn't always possible, or when you're dealing with a bunch of corrupt politicians who are only interested in lining their own pockets and defending their own interests. Such politicians must be removed from office."
"You can't always have the evidences."
"I always have evidence, I know everything about everyone."
"Then you have to use a spy on every senator. How many senators are there? Aside from being a surveillance state in that case, how much does it all cost?"
"No more than these senators would steal from the treasury."
"This is how a dictator rules."
"I don't agree with you, but you can call it what you want."
"Yes…..and Padmé is staying here, she's on vacation, a few weeks."
"I don't know anything about it, I didn't sign an application."
"I'll ask that one first, Anakin, I need a vacation. We've been traveling a lot lately."
"Well, if that's the case, you have vacation, but I'll take the twins with me."
"They are on vacation, they can stay..."
"No !"
It was no longer discussed.
Ruwee saw how Anakin was so determining with Padmé and felt sorry for his daughter. He wondered if she would have had it better as Princess of Scipio and he worried about Anakin, what has become of him, what transformation he has undergone and why. Power is an addiction and you are willing to do anything or anything just to keep it.
On the seventh day of the week, Anakin said goodbye to the Naberrie family, kissed his wife on the forehead, boarded the Naboocruiser with the twins, and left the planet.
Padmé was left sad, which was not lost on her parents. Ruwee told his wife to talk to the daughter, woman to woman, maybe they'll learn more that way if there's anything to learn.
"It's a pity that he took the children with him, they could have enjoyed the beach and swimming here and we would have them longer."
"They still have Jedi classes in the Temple and lightsaber training, they had to go back... I assume."
"You accept?"
"Yes, Anakin is responsible for their training."
"Don't you have anything to say there?"
"I left that to him, now I don't have to renegotiate."
"And what about this vacation now...how long and he doesn't know anything about it. Is something wrong with you?"
"Everything is fine, there is only a strict separation between private life and work."
"You are so passive, darling."
"Oh really? I was supposed to be passive when I got married to Prince Clovis, that was expected of me and now you don't like it."
"No, I'm just wondering about his behavior to you. You fought so hard for your love and now he's dominating you. Does he treat you well, I mean, is he… violent?"
"No. He is loving and tender."
"In the bedroom?" when Padmé nodded, her mother continued to ask. "Are you using that to get what you want?"
...and then Padmé told her mother what they are like in the bedroom, what in front of the children and what in the Senate.
"Have you ever thought about refusing him?"
"I can not do that."
"Why?"
"I love him too much."
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Best regards from Germany