Hello everyone! It's been awhile! Thank you all so, so much for helping this story hit the 50 reviews mark! I mentioned in a review response a while back that we were around halfway through the story. However, this chapter actually marks what I am more confident is halfway through. Still aiming to finish by the end of the year!
Have a good read! Reviewer replies at the bottom. ~Marina
Chapter 18
By this time, Anakin had a new comlink, but he was starting to wonder if that had been such a great idea.
Beep!
It was Windu.
"Anakin, your briefing plans have been assembled and configured with R2-D2. Where are you?"
BEEP beep!
Commander so and so. Anakin couldn't remember what his number was. He was in charge of Krell's legion.
"General, the clock is ticking. We need to move out, right away."
BEEEP!
Padmé. That was a welcome one, at least.
"Good luck, Ani. Please be very careful. You really should try to sleep on the way there."
Beep.
Palpatine.
"There are several urgent matters I must speak to you about, my boy. Please meet me in my office right away!"
"Well, good thing I'm headed there first, then," Anakin grumbled to himself, lifting a hand to push the signal buzzer for Palpatine's office suite.
He glanced down at his hologram unit to see the time, and frowned. They were supposed to be out of here in less than an hour. The press of time made him feel jittery, but today, the soothing colors of the Chancellor's homelike suite did not settle his nerves.
Who cared what the Chancellor had to say to him now. He had something much more important on his mind.
"What was your assistant doing in a manhunt to assassinate my Padawan, Palpatine?" he spat, moving toward the desk with blood boiling within his veins.
The aged Chancellor, sitting at his desk with his fingers pressed together in thought, absentmindedly looked up at him. "I beg your pardon?"
"Firor, that Jimone," Anakin explained contemptuously.
"What about him?" Palpatine's forehead creased considerably.
"He's dead. I killed him. He nearly—and I do mean nearly—killed my Padawan. He was hunting down Ahsoka, Palpatine—and I know it was him!" he was shouting now, but the other man still appeared entirely unfazed, per usual.
"Anakin," he said carefully as he leaned forward, "are you saying that MY assistant, Firor the Jimone, made an assassination attempt on Ahsoka Tano?"
"Well, yeah, that's kind of what I just said!" Anakin suddenly felt lightheaded and had to sit down, ending his angry rant rather abruptly.
"Is she all right?" the Chancellor questioned with alarm.
"No," he replied, more weakly than he intended. "She's in the med bay. Barely made it here alive, Palpatine; what's going on?!"
"This is certainly urgent—I am so glad you came to me. Let me find out, if I can," Palpatine said immediately, picking up a comlink sitting on his desk. He brought it to his mouth.
"Excuse me, could you have my secretary bring up all records of Firor the Jimone, and any possible information on his current location, or affiliations? We seem to be having a sudden crisis involving him. Thank you," he set the comlink down, turning to Anakin.
"I would offer you revenge if you had not already taken it, Anakin, but this is indeed concerning news— despite the fact that Firor is no longer a threat. I may have other traitors in my midst—no," he shook his head sadly, "I know that I do."
Anakin shook his head wearily. "How could it have happened? Why on earth did he want Ahsoka?"
"I wish I knew, my boy," the Chancellor replied, sounding every bit as tired as the Jedi did. "I am surrounded by traitors, and your Jedi have failed you yet again; this time not even protecting a Padawan they owed an entire life debt to. It seems all we have to trust is each other. Anakin—" he seemed to hesitate for a moment.
Anakin looked up. "What is it, Chancellor?"
Reluctantly, Palpatine leaned in closer to where Anakin was sitting across from him. "Anakin, I have a very real fear at this moment that war is on its way to Coruscant itself."
The Jedi narrowed his eyes in concern. "Why is that?"
With a grim look, the Chancellor folded his hands over the desk and leaned even farther forward.
"I have received word from the Separatists."
"A threat message?"
"No, a warning from internal intelligence. About the uprising on Machibo. It is no coincidence that a far-off planet suddenly has a huge outbreak of civil war." His voice lowered to a hush. "The Separatist armies started it to attract the attention of the Jedi, and are now headed this way, straight toward Coruscant. It may be that we only have days before we are attacked—and this time, the Separatists are aiming to end this war once and for all."
Anakin felt his heart drop to the pit of his stomach. "That's massive intelligence," was the stupid thing he could only think of to say.
"Enormous," he agreed, growing even more sober. "Many Bothans died to bring us this information… it is most imperative that we act immediately to secure the planet. I'm sure I can rely on your assistance?"
Anakin gave a nervous laugh. "Well, actually—um, Your Excellency—"
The Chancellor raised a disapproving eyebrow and he cringed.
He took a deep breath. "Your Excellency, I've been assigned to go to Machibo. I leave in about half an hour!"
Palpatine's forehead creased. "In your condition, the Jedi assigned you to go to Machibo?"
Anakin shook his head. "If I may, Sir—I think you'd best warn the Jedi Council about this. They're the ones who can command forces to stop this invasion!"
"Anakin," the Chancellor looked completely lost—"you ARE on the Jedi Council. Did you, perhaps—not receive a formal initiation?"
Anakin blinked. "I am?"
The Chancellor groaned at his slowness. "As my personal representative, Anakin—you have as much authority as any Council member does. You have to stay, and help me make sure they don't ignore this problem until we have Separatists raining gunfire on our capitol!"
"I, uh—I don't see what I can do," Anakin shook his head. "Obi-Wan, on the other hand, really needs my help. He could die if I don't at least go there to warn him of the danger here and besides, whether that civil war was started by the Separatists or no, the inhabitants still need help to put an end to it! The other Council members are fully capable of handling this."
Palpatine frowned.
"If they need me, your Excellency, I have no doubt they'll call me back to assist." he swallowed hard, knowing his answer displeased his friend greatly, and also knowing he could be making the wrong decision. He hadn't exactly had much time to think about it.
"I can't trust the Council," Palpatine slowly made an exaggerated shrug, clearly making a great effort to remain calm and gracious with Anakin. "Any more," he explained to Anakin's beginning protest, "than I could trust Firor."
He sat back in his desk chair, allowing that idea to sink in. Anakin had to admit that he had a point, but he wouldn't believe the Jedi Council was incapable of handling the crisis. After all, if not them, then who would stop the invasion?
"Anakin," the Chancellor spoke up sharply, "Obi-Wan is not in need of your help. Be honest with yourself and admit the fact. He is fully capable of handling himself on the battlefield and, to be quite honest, is probably located on a safer planet than the one we are standing on right now."
"I'm not sure that's—"
The older man's eyes narrowed in concern. "Do you feel as if it is not your place to stay, not your concern to protect the capitol planet and the officials and citizens who live on it? Surely that is not the case; I know you far too well to assume such a thing! If you will not think of your own abilities to amend our situation, think of your family and friends; poor young Ahsoka, and the lovely Senator you married. Your future children—your political allies! Would you not stay, even for my sake? I'm afraid to admit to you—but frankly, my son, I at this moment am wondering how your condition is affecting your sanity!"
Anakin couldn't explain why he was still saying no. He wondered after his own sanity, too, but for some reason he had to leave. There was something wrong—though he couldn't for his life tell what exactly it was—and he couldn't listen to Palpatine any longer.
BEEP!
His comlink lit up yet again.
It was high time he left for Machibo.
"I'm sorry, your Excellency."
He couldn't believe he'd refused to listen to his best friend. He couldn't explain his own actions. Refusing to think about the possible fate of Coruscant, he stood to leave, head lowered in shame. He pressed the door opener and stepped through the frame, fully expecting to head straight for Machibo.
But Palpatine wasn't finished talking.
"At least," he called after the Jedi, "promise me you will send Senator Amidala and Miss Tano to the Naberrie family on Naboo, to keep them somewhat safe?" his voice dropped lower. "I am quite fond of them too, you know."
Anakin swallowed without turning around. "Yes, that's a good idea." he couldn't help but agree. He took another step and was interrupted again.
"Anakin." Palpatine's voice was low, pleading, desperate. "There will be bloodshed if you leave. Massive bloodshed. The streets will be soaked through with clone, Jedi, politician—Anakin, how could you live with that, ever?"
Anakin spun around and stormed back into his office, ignoring two more beeps on his comlink. "How am I any different from the entire remaining Jedi order that makes me so responsible for stopping this thing?" he barked, totally frustrated.
Palpatine held up his hands, trying hard to mask his relief and remain perfectly calm, as was his normal aura. He hesitated a moment before he motioned Anakin to lean in close.
The Chancellor whispered four words within inches of his ear.
"I have a plan."
I hope you all are screaming, "Nooooo!"
I am haha. I honestly didn't see the story going this way till two nights ago.
Replies:
.5851: I'm glad that came across (= There are several battles about to happen—Grievous is actually not much involved on Coruscant.
scottusa1: That will be coming shortly! Glad you find it interesting…it is high time we saw some action from Padmé's side of the fence.
Son of Whitebeard: Hopefully our people will stop him before he does too much! Grievous has arrived all right. I always thought he made such an interesting bad guy. Glad you like!
JACarter: You are happily obliged! Sorry it took so long—more coming later, I promise (=
ErinKenobi2893: Yep, I secretly transmitted a wifi signal to wipe your brain. I'm just that good. Lol! I know, right? Krell is just asking for trouble. He was created and invented to go to the dark side and now he gets his reward (not having a single word of dialogue in the entire story) haha.
General Ripper: Oh, thank you for pointing that out! My secret is that I actually missed that episode—I had started this story long before I found out what really happened to him. I simply heard about the character and decided he needed to be taught a lesson, ha. Hope you enjoy the story anyway! (=
