Jedi Angel001: Thanks for the continuing interest in this story, I'm really glad you liked that last chapter. Hopefully this one gets the whole thing moving again!
Obi-Wan looked down at the freshly pressed uniform he now found himself wearing. How had it come to this, that he was sitting next to Anakin looking out across the Coruscant skyline from the window of their transport, Boba sitting in front, next to Dooku. By now Padme and Assaj were approaching the Jedi Temple where Yoda and Mace waited to help them escort as many of the Younglings as quickly and quietly out of the capitol as possible. There was so much risk to the plan, but they had little choice now that Sideous had been revealed to them. Everything from Anakin's vision screamed that this was the time to act, there would be no other time when Sideous would be this close to absolute power and yet so completely vulnerable to the collapse of his own plans.
Boba scratched at the collar of his slightly oversized tunic. He was extremely nervous, his part in the proceedings crucial to the chaos they wanted to avoid. It was clear that they had one shot at delivering his message to his brothers simultaneously over the broadcast of the joint statements of the very different sides in this conflict. His test with Dexter Jetster had left him confused and worried. He and Boba had picked a world in the outer rim to test his message on a small patrol of two Clone Troopers, and the results had not been anything he had expected.
Dex hid behind the rock and gestured for Boba to go ahead, just as the two man patrol came over the ridge. At first the two men raised their blasters in surprise of the figure in front of them.
"Crickey, Kid, you almost got your head blown off!" called the first, raising his weapon when he recognized the face of a young cadet in Boba.
"State you name, Cadet, and your unit," said the other a little more coolly. Boba swallowed, or at least tried to with his suddenly very dry mouth. His first attempt at communication ended in a slight cough as the dryness prevented the words from coming out.
"Are you alright, Kid?" asked the first, sounding more concerned. And he moved to Boba's side.
"Are you sure you should be getting that close?" asked the second with suspicion. The first looked back to him.
"Boyle, he may be a Cadet, but he's still a kid! And he looks pretty out of it, something happened to his unit, must have for him to be out here on his own." He turned back to Boba and knelt beside him, handing him his canteen.
"Here you go, kid, just take a couple of sips and try again." He took off his helmet and set it beside him while Boba composed himself and took a few gulps of the water.
"He didn't say take it all, Kid!" said Boyle and he came in to swipe the canteen away as Boba handed it out to him.
"I didn't, but thanks for that," said Boba and the second stopped Boyle from being too aggressive with his grab for the canteen.
"What's your name, Kid?" he asked, "I'm Waxer and this charming trooper is Boyle."
This was it, now or never, thought Boba and he took a deep breath.
"OK then, well my name is Boba and Boba says 'mana whiriwhiri'." He squinted, not sure what to expect from the delivery of the message.
The reaction wasn't immediate, both Clones having frozen in place for a moment. Boba was thankful Waxer had removed his helmet so that he could see the man's face, the look of shock and slight awe traveling over the familiar looking, if completely bald, head. How Boba missed his dad right now, this was not the job for him. He could stare down a Sith Lord from a hundred paces, but this was different, this was family, and he hated seeing his brother looking so lost. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. The two men should be leaping for joy, free from the bonds of their slavery, ready to follow Boba to Kamino and free their father. Waxer turned slowly to look at the still helmeted Boyle, who slowly took his helmet of at this point. They exchanged a puzzled look and then both turned back to Boba, faces full of questioning looks.
Speaking in his father's ancient tongue, Waxer asked "Are you sure this is from Boba?"
The response was automatic, and later Boba realized this had also been part of the programming Jango had set up, as confirmation of his words.
"From father to son to brother, the choice is yours." The lyrical forgotten language seemed to make the words fill the air around them.
After a tense moment, Waxer breathed out a huge sigh of relief. Boyle just started laughing, a very disconcerting feeling descending over Boba.
"Is..is that OK?" he asked, completely unsure of the situation. Boyle grabbed him into a bear hug and swung him around in the air before setting him down.
"Boba, this is, well, so unexpected, to say the least!" said Waxer.
"Now, this happens now?" said Boyle, still chuckling and gripping his side.
"What do you mean?" asked Boba, not sure what was going on.
"I was just getting to like this dump, and now I have the chance to leave! Permanently!"
"We can't leave," said Waxer turning to him. Both Boba and Boyle stared in disbelief.
"You did hear what he said, right? It's Boba, it's actually him, we're free, Waxer, don't you see that!" he moved to Boba's side, helping him to his feet. "Come on, Kid, let's go get Dad." Boba beamed at him, this was what he had been expecting, the release of his brothers to go get their father and leave this crazy conflict behind. "You too, Waxer."
"No," said Waxer quietly, also standing, "I'm not leaving."
"What? Are you just totally crazy these days? I know it's a strange climate here, but the suit really should compensate for that you know!"
"I've been given a choice, and my choice is to stay. I'm not stopping you, but I'm not leaving this place and abandoning my post, or the Jedi."
"Now I know you are crazy! We're cannon fodder for those generals and you know it. Do you see them off on patrols into enemy territory? Or fronting the assaults that decimate our numbers against endless droid battalions?"
"Yes, I have, and so have you, or are you so quick to forget their role here. I am a soldier, it may be only programming, but it's still who I am, and I have some loyalty to our commanders even if you don't."
"Don't question my loyalty, Waxer, I've proven myself on the field more than once. But this boy is our means of securing freedom for every brother we meet."
"And every one of them will have the same choice we have here today, and some of them will choose to go back, as I am doing. That's what choice is, Boyle, you can't take that from me, it's what I've just been awarded. If you have any respect for me or this chance we are being given, you have to let me make this decision for myself, just as I am letting you make your decision. We are soldiers and we have a job to do, I am choosing to finish it."
"It's not our war, we didn't sign up for it. We were specifically grown to fight when others were too afraid to and every moment across this galaxy our brothers are paying the price. How could you not want to see them all free, we have the means to do that now."
"It was not fear that had us grown, it was need. You've seen the natives of this world. Without our presence do you really think they would last an afternoon with the droid forces pounding this planet? Sometimes the strong must protect the weak, and we are nothing if not strong, my brother."
He smiled at the conflicted look on Boyle's face and he laid his hand on the man's shoulder.
"It's alright, Boyle, I respect your decision, I really do. When this is all over, I'll look you up and take that drink of Coruscant Ale we always promised ourselves we'd have. But I'm not turning my back on these people, or the Jedi here to help them."
He looked back to a horrified Boba.
"This isn't right!" exclaimed Boba, "You're free, I don't understand, come with us."
Waxer knelt next to Boba again, a warm smile heartbreakingly like his fathers. "Boba, it's been an honor to meet you, and I can never repay the gift you have bestowed on me this day, and my choice reflects that. I hope that one day you will understand this."
"No," said Boba shifting from under Waxer's hand, "I can't, I won't. Do you have any idea what I've been through to give this 'gift' to you! "
"I can't begin to imagine, Boba, but I know this has been a hard road. But you must have realized what your gift would mean." He looked into the eyes of this child who was close to tears from his frustration, and Waxer's face softened even more. "My goodness, how could you, child?"
Boba was going crazy, this was just what Dex had warned him about and he had walked right into it, believing this situation to be unthinkable and so he really hadn't afforded it the attention it had deserved. Now his mind was flipping, trying to think of any way to convince his brother to come with him.
Boyle had rejoined them, listening intently to Waxer's words.
"You really won't be swayed in this, will you?" he asked of his best friend, his closest brother. Waxer was right, of course, and it wasn't just a sense of loyalty born of programming that was coursing through their veins. Boyle knew in his heart the right thing to do, no orders this time, no higher authority demanding he take action, but the realization that he could use his strength to protect the vulnerable. This wasn't about the corps or the Jedi, or even his other brothers at this instant in time. Waxer was showing him the real choice. Could he live with himself if he abandoned the people here to the droid army?
"Take care of the kid," said Waxer, rising and clasping Boyle's shoulders. "He's going to need your protection if he's going to reach us all eventually."
"What do you mean, eventually?" asked Boba, "Take me back to your base, the others here need to hear this, now that I know it works. I have to keep going." This man was a unique case, surely. His other brothers would rally to his side. Let the people here take care of their own problems, the Seppies weren't all that bad, right?
Dex came out from his hiding place behind the rock when he heard Boba's desperate statement. They had agreed to test the phrase and report back to Obi-Wan, and now the boy was going off script, so he had to step in. The Clones instantly raised their weapons again, Boyle standing in defense of Boba. Dex ignored their heightened aggression and addressed Boba.
"Boba, that wasn't the plan and you know it. We tested things and now we know, so now it's time to tell Ben, right?" Perhaps by reminding Boba of his friend would help bring the boy back from the edge.
"But this isn't working, you heard him," he said indicating Waxer.
"You know this Baselisk?" asked Boyle, already in a protective stance in front of the two other Clones present.
"Yes, he's a good friend, he got me here and helped me find the key to free you all."
Both Troopers dropped their weapons, although Boyle still eyed him with suspicion as Dex moved to Boba's side.
"I warned you what might happen. And here we see it played out, just as I predicted. We have to think about the consequences of our actions here, Boba. Ben needs to know about this."
"Why? These aren't his brothers, this isn't his problem."
"I do believe you are his problem and he takes his responsibilities very seriously."
"Oh, yeah, he leaves them behind, right?"
"Boba, you know that's not true."
"Yeah, well it still feels like it. I mean, I'm the one risking my life out here with this key in my head while he suns himself on Tatooine with his force fancy friends."
Waxer and Boyle backed away from the verbal sparring taking place between the two and began discussing their predicament between them while the storm of words continued between Dex and Boba.
"You know why he's still there, Boba, the man is a walking hospital visit! Goodness knows how he's managed to survive this long, but survive he has to repay the loyalty his friends afford him. And he deserves to hear what's gone on here."
"So he can find an excuse to put off helping me again with freeing my father, no doubt."
"You honestly believe he is doing that? Or maybe he's with the one group of people with the power to actually pull of a real rescue, not just for your father and brothers, but for the whole darned galaxy, did you ever think about that?"
The two were almost touching noses, the tension between them as thick as the planet's atmosphere. It was suddenly broken by Boyle's quiet words.
"I'm staying too," he said, as Waxer replaced his helmet. Boba immediately turned on him, his face full of disappointment and disbelief.
"No! You can't, this isn't happening, it just isn't happening." He leapt at Waxer and began pounding on the armor, using the unarmed tactics Ben had shown him. Before Waxer knew what was happening, Boba had knocked hi m to the floor and was about to continue the assault when Waxer stopped him.
"Is this what you really want?" he asked the startled Boba, " do you want brother fighting against brother, because that is what you'll get if you free us at this moment, here in this world. I know for a fact that there will be those who wish to leave and those who will wish to stay and the chaos will tear them all apart. This will only allow the Separatists to win."
"Seppies, Repos, what's the difference who wins?" asked Boba, "This is not our war, don't you see that?"
"Maybe I do," said Boyle, sadly, "but other brothers will not. We all feel it intensely when one of us dies, but not one of us has died at a brother's hand. Could you live with yourself if, as a result of this action, we start killing each other? There has to be a better way."
"And you know if there's anyone who can come up with it, it will be that crazy Jedi friend of yours," cut in Dex.
"Ex-Jedi," said Boba, about as sadly as Boyle had sounded. The last thing he wanted was to see the Clones at conflict like this and he reached down to offer Waxer his hand to help lift him to his feet.
"I'm so sorry I did all this," he said waving his hands around as if they would encapsulate the whole afternoon's conversation.
"Don't ever be sorry for opening our minds to this, Boba. It's going to be hard, but freedom often is, I believe!" said Waxer, brushing the dirt from his armor. "I would just ask one thing of you," he said looking suddenly very serious. Boba looked up into the face of his father, his brother, his adulthood. The stern features softened again to a warm smile. "Could you show me that move you did to get me on the floor, it was brilliant!"
Boba chuckled remembering Waxer's request. He felt Obi-Wan's hand on his shoulder.
"Everything OK, Boba?" he asked, the concerned father voice still new to Ben and a little uncertain.
Boba turned to look at him, the visor still down over his eyes, as was the visor on Ben's helm. It still unnerved him to look on the clean shaven chin of his friend, although not quite as bad as when the helmet was removed completely. By shaving his face, Ben had lost about ten years of age and his eye had gone from piercing blue to a deep ocean swirling blue that didn't so much pierce your soul as completely open it up and bare it to the sky! Glad to know the man was his dear friend and not his enemy, he smiled up, grateful for the relieved smile that was returned.
"I'm fine, Ben, really, just thinking about something else."
"Well, keep your mind on your mission here, young man," came the cold tones of Dooku at his side. Boba snapped his head round to put on the face of stoic resignation, but he still felt comforted by Ben's hand on his shoulder.
"He knows what he has to do, Count, he won't let us down," said Obi-Wan, immediately in Boba's defense. Dooku sighed heavily, Obi-Wan the only one capable of making Dooku seem humble.
"Yes, of course, I must apologize, young Boba. I know you will do your best, for Ben." His emphasis on the word 'Ben' was not lost on Boba and he wondered if his Jedi friend had picked that up. Of course he had, what was Boba thinking! Nothing seemed to slip past Ben's keen senses, well except maybe weaponry! That had Boba almost chuckling again, but he knew better than to release it this time. Focus, Boba old man, he could almost hear Ben say in his head. You don't want to mess up the most important message you've ever sent in the history of your short life!
Obi-Wan dropped his hand from Boba's shoulder and looked back out of the window as the Senate building loomed large ahead of them. Not long now, he thought to himself and he looked to Anakin beside him. It had taken a great deal of his force abilities to help hide the true identities of the group around the Count. Both he and Anakin were posing as the Count's personal bodyguards assigned by the Count's family after his election. It had not been difficult to suppress his own force presence back to where it had been for his Latterie years, but training Assaj and Padme had been difficult and for Assaj it had been pretty much impossible, so he had managed to create, with the help of Anakin, a force bubble around her that Padme had been trained to open should the need arise. They had had little time to perfect the techniques, but it would last for as long as their purposes needed, and as long as the plan went smoothly, neither of them would be anywhere near Sideous.
Now it was Obi's turn to pull at his collar, the fabric suddenly feeling rather itchy. He'd done covert work before, but this was a little different. He'd been in the presence of Sideous before as well, but not only was Sideous aware of who he was, the sith lord was bound to be on edgeand so his senses would be even more heightened. Obi-Wan doubted that Palpatine could have foreseen this happening and Dooku's presence was sending rippels through the dark force energy that had cocooned this section of the planet's surface. Dooku's evidence of who Palpatine was had come from a series of sources, not least of which was Assaj's mind and Obi still shuddered at that every time he had to look on the Count. But the problem was that none of that evidence was permissible in a court, or Dooku would have immediately submitted such evidence to the Jedi. It would have to be up to Boba to strip Sideous of his control of the army so that the threat against the Jedi could be taken out from under him and they could take him down before he could agitate the Senate into false action. The fact that no tangible proof against Palpatine existed had been a sore point when Anakin and Obi-Wan had confided in Padme with their plans.
"He has no proof!" exclaimed Padme as they continued to debate their next move. "How can you so quickly assume Dooku is telling the truth? He has given you no proof and I hardly think that a slight emphasis on a name over a broadcast is evidence enough for anything." She was terrified it was all true, of course, and deep down in her heart she could feel the truth of it rising within her soul. Outside the small homestead they had found to shelter in, the sand storm raged around them, fueled by her fear and anxiety. Anakin tried to comfort his wife, but Padme was too shaken by the revelation to be able to receive such attention. He looked to Obi-Wan, who rose and spoke with the familiar command his former employment with her had afforded.
"My Lady, what's done is done, as you quite clearly pointed out to me, and we must move on from this to bring about the end of his reign here."
"Do you know how close I came to revealing our plans of seclusion to him? I thought him to be like a second father to me, I truly believed he had our best interests at heart. I gave him that office on a silver platter! I am the cause of all this misery." She threw her hands to her face and sobbed openly into them, shaking uncontrollably and Anakin swept his arms around her, throwing the force around her also, like a protective cocoon to absorb her grief and undulating guilt. He helped her guide her swelling feelings out through the force and Obi watched and felt the dark waves tumble from them and a grateful living force hurried them away from the pair. Padme's sobs became the quiet cries of one too exhausted to continue any coherent thought and Anakin scooped her up and carried her to the simple bed space of the small place.
Although obviously abandoned some time ago, the place was relatively undamaged and was certainly a welcome change from the Tusken tents they had been spending so much time in, Obi had to admit. Perched on the top of a hill on the southwestern edge of the Dune sea, it consisted of a single large room divided into a living area, a raised kitchen, and bathroom. Obi suspected there was a cellar beneath, but their stay wasn't intended to be extensive, just for the duration of the storm, which was already quieting down.
Anakin made Padme as comfortable as possible on the shelf bed in the tiny homestead. She held onto him and quietly sobbed into his shoulder for a moment as the final waves of guilt washed through her.
"Oh, Anakin, how could I have been so misled?"
"Dear heart, he did this to us all, there was nothing you could have done. He has played the Jedi order, the senate, the entire galaxy for all this time."
"And you intend to depose him, don't you. You and Obi-Wan have decided already what will happen next. Your vision is coming true, isn't it?"
"I do hope we can avoid as much of it as possible and removing Palpatine will change everything. We are so close to ending this all, Padme."
"I know, my love, and I see why it has to be you, but please promise me you won't underestimate Palpatine the way I have. I'll follow your lead in this, but make sure you have a way out should things go wrong. Please, for me."
It had been uncomfortable for Obi-Wan to overhear their conversation. It must have been a similar conversation they had had after Geonosis, the only difference being the subject. Padme had managed to hide it well, but there was a sadness that hung around her presence now, stemming from the loss of Latterie, not Palpatine. As the Senate building loomed large ahead of them, he was exceedingly glad she was not with them.
So it had been decided that Obi-Wan would contact Dooku and offer assistance. It had been a smug looking Count who had first appeared on the view screen to greet Obi-wan.
"I'm so glad to see you looking so well, Obi-Wan," he had said in that cool aloof tone of his, trying to hide his affection for the former security chief, but Obi-Wan could feel the man's emotions towards him and it still unsettled him.
"We need to talk, the situation is a lot more complicated right now."
The smug smile had quickly faded and a meeting had been set up between Dooku, Obi-Wan and Anakin, although Anakin was clearly not wanted by Dooku. Obi-Wan had insisted and once again the boy was indulged by his surrogate grandfather, hoping this would mean Obi-Wan was willing to join his cause. However, what he heard from Anakin quickly had him changing his plans.
"So this boy could cause the whole Clone army to lay down its weapons?"
"I didn't say that, but we do have an opportunity here to save a great many lives, clones and Jedi alike. This broadcast of which you speak would deliver Boba's message to almost every clone stationed in the galaxy, and with the separatist army shut down by your previous actions and the cease fire holding, Sideous has no excuse to instigate the fatal order. I'm sure by now he's aware of your knowledge of who he is and this will make him desperate. All you'll need to do is ask for a closed session, just you, him, his trusted aides and your trusted aides. He'll acquiesce believing we'll take each other out and he'll have an easy shot at you. That's when we reveal ourselves and it will be three against one. I believe the odds will be in our favor."
"Don't underestimate him, Skywalker. This isn't some petty tyrant on a ragtag world you former master would assign you to depose. He wields great power, and never forget his apprentice. We have no idea if he will be close in this crisis. How can you even be sure Palpatine will rise to your bait?"
"Because you will help raise the stakes yourself with your speech."
"I prefer to keep out of such gravely hostile situations, young man."
"Fine," said Obi-Wan, "Anakin and I will take him down, you sit in the antechamber and read a good holo-novel while we dispose of him," and with that he started for the door.
"Wait!" called Dooku to him, "don't act so rashly, dear boy. Of course I'll assist in the take down. You're going to need my help, but realize the consequences here. He's still the Chancellor of the Republic and it will be difficult to explain your actions to the senate."
"He's right," said Anakin, thoughtfully, "we have to get him to reveal who he is out in the open."
Obi-Wan looked over at him.
"This was your plan!" he said surprised.
"Yeah, but I never said it was a good one! We really don't have a lot of time to come up with something, right?"
The three men remained quiet for a moment as they thought on the predicament.
"Ideally we want him to reveal himself during the address when the whole republic will be watching," said Anakin.
"He'll be most on his guard at that moment, however," said Dooku, "and expecting something from me."
"He won't be expecting me," said Obi-Wan quietly, "I don't think you boys can help."
"What do you mean?" asked Dooku, once again concerned for his grandson.
"He and I share something neither of you have a great deal of experience in."
Both Anakin and Dooku looked puzzled at each other and then back to Obi.
"Force suppression," said Obi, "it's a technique he must be using to hide his true nature, and if he can do that, I can push him further into that suppression, just as I've been doing with Assaj to hide who she is. Now that I'm aware of whom he is and what he's been doing, I can push back onto that barrier and crush his abilities in on himself."
"That sounds risky," said Anakin.
"This whole situation is risky!"
"We can't underestimate him, as Dooku says," said Anakin, "that's been our error this whole time. Once he's aware of what you're doing, he'll fight back, with a vengeance!"
"That's what I'm counting on. Once he starts to push back against me, he'll have to start stretching himself. I'll hold him back as long as I can so that when I release my hold, the pressure he's built up trying to break through will suddenly be unleashed all at once."
Dooku cringed when he heard Obi's plan.
"No, my boy," he said, shaking his head, "he's far too powerful for you, he'll break through as soon as you begin."
"You have no idea what I'm capable of," said Obi-Wan darkly and both Anakin and Dooku were taken aback by his shadowed expression. Anakin moved to his side, sensing Obi's aggression towards the Count and with his back to Dooku he moved in close to Obi-Wan.
"Careful, Obi-Wan," but Obi held Dooku's gaze.
"I know what I'm doing," he said, still with the coldness hanging in his words. "I can hold his force presence down long enough for him to panic into action. Until I release my hold, he'll be unable to sense the rest of the room, and a man who prides himself on controlling any situation will surely wish to regain that control. The easiest way to do that will be to break through the hold I have on him and the longer I can keep him subdued the angrier he will become. That's why you can't help with this, you're both going to be needed when I release him. Count, you'll need to keep the speech going, I'm sure you'll find something to talk about! And Anakin, once Sideous is free, he's going to be at a heightened sense of force connection, so he'll know we're all here, it will be up to you to engage him first while I recover and Dooku can shift from politician to warrior!"
"I don't like it," said Dooku.
"You don't have to, can you play your part?" asked Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan scratched his freshly shaved chin as the group made ready to disembark the shuttle onto the senate landing pad. Sensing his agitation, Dooku turned to him and surprised the former security chief with a smile of stoic assurance which turned to an expression of grim determination as the ship settled on the pad and the doors opened in front of them. After he turned back to face the assembled crowd, Obi-Wan realized there had been so much of Qui-Gon in that expression he almost felt his former master was there, standing in front of him. The forward guard moved off the ship, closely followed by Dooku and Boba, with Obi and Anakin falling into step behind them. The crowd present erupted into applause as Dooku stepped from the ship and he raised his arm in acknowledgement of the warm reception. Flags of the Separatist and Republic movements inter-mingled together as they were frantically waved about by the enthusiastic crowd. The war had only last a matter of weeks, but it had shocked the galaxy which had been at peace for so long, few remembered how brutal war could truly be and it had galvanized both sides to seek a swift and peaceful resolution.
The tight nit group moved quickly over the concourse to a platform set up where Palpatine and his group waited to greet the Count. Both Anakin and Obi-Wan could already sense Sideous' subdued presence, and Obi-Wan continued his mental preparations to begin just as Dooku began his speech. He didn't want to risk the Chancellor disrupting Boba's message, so he would hold back on his attack until after that had been delivered.
"Welcome, Count," said Palpatine as difficult to read physically as ever, but there was a subtle hint of tension in his voice. Good, thought Obi-Wan, I can use that.
"I trust you had a pleasant flight in?" he asked, keeping the small talk light.
"It felt good to come back for such an important purpose, Chancellor, I can't thank you enough for this opportunity to speak to the Republic and the Senate."
"This war has shaken is all, Count, and I am pleased I can be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem."
"Indeed," replied Dooku as Palpatine moved to the speaker array that had been set up. The moment he moved to the podium, the holo-camera's that had been floating around studying the crowd and their reactions, all focused on Palpatine with varying angles and distances from the platform, but none getting too intrusive.
The crowd was finally stilled by Palpatine's presence at the podium, his hands at his sides, his physical stance tall and commanding.
"People of the Republic, people of the galaxy, we stand on this day, within the shadow of our great Senate building, with the hope of peace in our time." The crowd screeched and hollered in approval of Palpatines words and his fake smile almost had Obi-Wan convinced of his sincerity. The Chancellor pretended to chuckle his own approval as he once again controlled the crowd with his mere presence.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, my friends, we have much to discuss inside, but I am hopeful we can bring about a permanent solution to our grievances and remove the threat of conflict from our galaxy for another thousand years!"
Once again the crowd threw up its own arms and the flags were rigorously swept over heads. Obi-Wan had to admit it was intoxicating to see the crowd react in this way, pulled through the scene by Palpatines expert hands. But he had to focus on his task and missed completely the unease of the Republic guard who was standing slightly to the side and behind him.
The guard, who had been watching Obi-Wan from the moment he stepped onto the platform, was now drawn even more to the physical presence of the Count's personal bodyguard, and once the guard figured out why this figure was so familiar, he was going to confront him, but for now he would do as he had been trained, and observe the newcomer until he was certain of his identity.
"And now, my friends, I know you will join me in greeting our honored guest here today, a man who shares my desire for peace, a man who has fought tirelessly to achieve this meeting, the man who we owe the foundation of our success here today, Count Dooku."
He gestured for Dooku to approach the podium, and Dooku and Boba moved forward. The hushed crowd murmured in slight confusion at the site of the old man and the young boy approach the microphones.
"First, my young friend here has asked to say a blessing over these proceedings in his own tongue, if you would allow it?" asked Dooku, looking over at Palpatine.
The Chancellor looked confused for a moment, but the look was gone in an instant, wanting to save face with the crowd and sensing no threat from the boy, so he nodded his consent, as though it was all part of the plan.
Boba gave a quick, hesitant look to Ben, who nodded ever so slightly, his lower face still passive, his eye still shielded by the visor.
Boba carefully removed his helmet, the brilliant Coruscant sun blinding him for just a moment as his eyes adjusted, and he held the helmet close under his arm.
"I can do this, Ben, I can," said Boba as he and Ben travelled from Dex's station to Soreno, before either Anakin or Ben had had the chance to speak with Dooku. Boba and Dex had broken the news over the clone key to Ben, who had been shocked they had risked themselves in such a way and he had had some choice words with Dex about it, but once he realized this was what Anakin had been talking about he had calmed down somewhat, although Anakin's plan for Boba was not sitting well with him.
"Well, I don't like it, I don't like the thought of you so close to that man." The plan would have Boba at the joint meeting with Palpatine and Ben wanted Boba as far away from Sideous as possible.
"This is the chance, Ben, I can reach all my brothers. We all saw Dooku's broadcast, it was on every holo-net projector in the galaxy and this meeting will be no different. Instead of talking to just one or two men at a time, we will get all of them, it will be fantastic!"
"Or horrific! I just don't like it."
"You're going."
"That's different, Boba and you know it."
"Why, because you're a force thingy and I'm not?"
"Partly, yes!"
"Please, let me do this, Ben, you promised you would help in any way you could. Besides with you there, what could happen!"
They stared at each other and burst out laughing.
"About everything that can go wrong!" said Ben through his laughs. He managed to control his laugh down to a slight chuckle as he knelt in front of Boba.
"I swear, Boba, you've grown a foot since we last met!" his sparkling smile soothing Boba's fears.
"More than likely, Ben!" he replied as Ben settled in front of him.
"But seriously, Boba, you don't have to do this, we can find another way to get your message out, how about a holo-vid or something sent out from another building?" It was obvious he was grasping at straws and now it was Boba's turn to smile.
"No, I know" said Ben, sadly shaking his head, "the Chancellor would never go for that, it has to be as much a surprise as we can make it so he can't counter it with something. Just promise me you'll get clear and to Dex as soon as things get dicy, OK?"
From his position at the podium, Boba could immediately make out the Baselisk in the crowd, a Republic flag in one hand, a Separatist flag in the other and his other two hands hidden from view, probably fingering the pistol he'd managed to get through the security. How he'd managed that, considering how tight the security was, was beyond him, but Dex was no stranger to concealment tech, and he saw Dex wink at him through the crowd.
Boba shifted a little in his place, taking the deepest breath he had ever taken in his life, it seemed to take an age to clear his lungs. He opened his mouth, ready to speak. His father's final words to him, before they had been parted, rang clearly and confidently in his ears.
"I love you, son."
And with that, Boba opened the lock.