Chapter 5. Starting from this chapter Ahsoka has aged up and has that new outfit she gets halfway through Season 3 and Anakin and Obi-Wan are close to looking like they do in Revenge of the Sith along with the clones now in their Phase II armor. I will explain Revan's new outfit as best I can.
CONFLICT WITH NO END IN SIGHT!
ACROSS THE GALAXY, THE QUAGMIRE OF WAR CONTINUES.
WHILE CLONE TROOPERS SUFFER CASUALTIES AT ALARMING RATES, THE GALACTIC SENATE CONVENES AN EMERGENCY SESSION TO DEBATE THE TRUE COST OF THE WAR.
It had been a month since his Knighting and Revan was currently walking through the Temple is his new outfit, which consisted of light-brown hooded robe that stopped at his knees and was left open in the front to show off his Jedi Guardian chest armor from the Old Republic days, he had covered his mechno-arm in a black Mandalorian iron and ultrachrome covering, this way he could grab a lightsaber blade and stop blaster bolts with his hand. He also slipped on some Phase II clone armor knee-length boots and one single elbow-length glove for his flesh arm, with his outfit's sleeves ending at elbow but just enough to completely cover any skin on his arms. He also got new black pants that were similar to his old ones but only more resilient to being ripped and a black neck-high skin-tight shirt to go underneath his armor, leaving only the flesh of his jaw visible. And to top it all off, a replica of his ancestor's mask.
After what happened outside the Council chamber, Ahsoka had been avoiding his gaze out of awkwardness and when forced to be around one another she avoided his gaze. 'I don't mind it really. Besides it allows me to admire her beauty in that new outfit.' he smiled from behind his mask. His feelings for her had come back twice as strong since his breakup with Barriss. Unlike last time when he planned on outright telling her, for which he was glad he was too scared, this time he would bide his time and wait for the right moment while easing into it.
The two Knights and padawan walked into the Senate Chamber and watched as senators argued. "Order! Order! Let Senator Saam finish." Mas Amedda called out from the middle podium he and Palpatine were in. "This is a matter not of philosophy. More troops are needed. The Republic cannot afford to let the Separatists gain any more ground." Saam argued. "Our generals inform us that troops in the field continue to perform valiantly. What we cannot afford, is to be irresponsible. The Republic is near bankruptcy due to the cost of this war." Bail said.
Lott Dod flew his repulsorpod up next to Saam's. "Bankruptcy is not necessary, my friends. If we pass Senator Saam's bill to open new lines of credit, we will gain access to the needed funds." he suggested with a smirk. "Won't this bill essentially deregulate the banks?" Mon Mothma questioned with a disapproving frown. "A small price to pay to finance the war, is it not?" the Kaminoan senator, Halle Burtoni asked. A few senators spoke up in agreement at Saam's bill and to keep the war going. "Members of the Senate." Padme called out as she hovered her pod next to Bail's.
"Do you hear yourselves? More money, more clones, more war. Say nothing of fiscal responsibility, what about moral responsibility? Hasn't this war gone on long enough?" she asked them before Saam turned his pod to face her. "Senator Amidala, are you suggesting we surrender to the Separatists?" he asked her. Padme turned her head to face him. "Of course not. But negotiation might be a better course of action." she suggested. "You can't negotiate with those animals! Keep the war going! Vote now!" Senator Mot-Not Rab called out before some of the senators started chanting 'Vote now!'. "Members of the Senate, I suggest we table any emergency bill until it is determined whether or not deregulation is the right course of action." Bail suggested. "Very well. We shall let calmer heads prevail." Amedda said before the Senators took their leave.
The Jedi and Padme walked through one of the Senate hallways after meeting up with her. "You must ask the Jedi Council to speak with Chancellor Palpatine." she said to Anakin. "Don't involve me in this." he said. "Revan?" she asked. The young Knight sighed quietly. 'Figures i'd start getting asked more things now that i'm a Knight.', "I'm with Anakin on this." he replied. "A peaceful solution is the only way out of this morass of war." she argued. "That's not my role, Padme." the older Knight said back. "Why not?" Ahsoka asked, stepping beside Padme. "Why isn't it your role? Aren't we Jedi Knights? Isn't it our duty to speak our minds to advise the Chancellor?" she asked.
Anakin cleared his throat. "Uh, I suggest you teach my you padawan a thing of two about politics." he suggested to Padme. "After todays debate, I was hoping she learned a great deal." the senator replied. "Truthfully, I don't understand any of it. I know the Separatists are evil. But all anyone argued about was banking deregulation, interest rates, and well, almost nothing about why were fighting in the first place." Ahsoka said before Anakin stood in front of them. "War's complicated, Ahsoka. But let me simplify it. The Separatists believe the Republic is corrupt. But they're wrong, and we have to restore order." he explained before Padme crossed her arms.
"Maybe talking to the Jedi Council isn't the role for you after all. Thanks for your help." she said walking past him. "Come on, Ahsoka." she called out to the padawan. "Hey." Anakin called out as the two kept walking. Ahsoka turned to the side as she kept walking and gave him a one shoulder shrug with a smirk. "You told me to teach her about politics. So i'm gong to." Padme said without looking behind her. "Wait!" Revan called out as he caught up to them. "I'm coming with you." he said, receiving a nod from the senator as the three kept walking.
The two Jedi and senator entered her office as the sky was pink from the sun setting. Padme sighed. "If only I could talk to Senator Bonteri." she said as Revan relaxed in one of the seats in front of her desk and Ahsoka inspected the fingernails on her left hand. "Who's he?" the padawan asked, rubbing her left index fingernail with her right index finger and without turning around. Padme turned to face her back. "'He' is a she, a senator in the Confederacy of Independent Systems." she replied before Ahsoka rested an arm on the desk and looked at her as she looked back outside again. "Your friend is a Separatist? One of Dooku's pawns?" Ahsoka asked, checking if she heard right as Revan sat properly in his seat from hearing what the senator said.
"The Separatists used to be part of the Republic." Padme reminded. Revan gave a quiet snort of non-amusement. "Yeah, they sure are some real good buddies." he said with sarcasm, Padme turned around and shot him a small glare before looking back at Ahsoka. "I was close with many of the senators who left. I may not agree with them, but they're more than pawns." she explained. "If you think negotiating is the right thing to do, let's talk to her." the padawan suggested. "The Senate's made it illegal." Padme said, placing her hands on the top of her chair.
"Illegal?" Ahsoka asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion before Padme turned around and looked out the window again. "They say official meetings would only legitimize the Separatists." she answered. Ahsoka walked over to the front of the desk on the other side as she spoke. "Well, Master Skywalker and I hold what we call 'aggressive negotiations' all the time. It's a shame you can't hold more peaceful talks when you want." she said before Padme turned to face them "You just gave me idea. You're Jedi, which gives you special clearance." the senator said as a smirk appeared on her face. 'Uh, oh. I don't like where this is going.', "Right." Ahsoka confirmed. 'Here it comes…', "And Jedi are allowed to travel to neutral worlds like Mandalore, where we could then board a cargo ship to a Separatist system." Padme said. "Are you suggesting we use our status as Jedi to smuggle you behind enemy lines?" the padawan asked with a small grin.
"It's just that you could get us through to meet her and I haven't seen her or her family in so long." Padme said. "Relax, we'll help you." Ahsoka assured with a grin before the two girls looked at Revan, who looked at each of them before sighing in defeat and nodding. 'I've got a bad feeling about this…' Ahsoka looked back at Padme. "Besides, Master Skywalker said you should teach me about politics." Ahsoka added with the smile still on her face. "Right." the senator said before walking out from behind the chair and over to them. "You know, you two have more in common than you think. It's no wonder you get along so well." Ahsoka said. "Of course." Padme replied with slight nervous look and a smile. Revan smirked. 'If only you knew.', "So. Where we heading?" the padawan asked. "Raxus." the senator replied before the three left the room.
A few hours later and and after a quick stop on Mandalore, the three were now on Gozanti Cruiser flying over Raxus' capital, Raxulon and towards the Separatist Senate Building. Padme had switched into different clothes with a hood while Ahsoka slipped on a white robe that went just below her knees, they grabbed their suitcases before exiting the ship with a few other passengers. "Move along, please. Move along." a droid commander told them as they started walking. "Identification, please." a battle droid asked another passenger as the three friends walked around them. Another droid was about to approach them when a woman stopped it task it something before another woman with short blonde hair walked up to them and led them away. "This way." she said quietly before they walked up to a woman with short brown hair as she turned around with a smile. "Hello, old friend." she greeted Padme warmly. "Ahsoka. Evan, this is Mina Bonteri. She was my mentor when I was growing up on Naboo." Padme told them. "You're a Separatist?" Ahsoka asked. Mina chuckled a bit. "Well of course, my dear. What were you expecting? Now, come. I have a transport waiting." she said, gesturing them to follow.
A little while later they arrived at Mina's home that looked like a small castle, in her private H-2 executive shuttle before landing. They exited the shuttle and Revan noticed a boy his and Ahsoka's age in fancy clothes, leaning against a lamp post at the top of the stairs leading into the house and watching them. "Lux, come down here and help our guests with their luggage please." Mina called up to him. Lux pushed off the post and started waking down the steps. Ahsoka barely spared a glance at him. Revan however glared at him. 'This is something i've worried about for a long time. Meeting another guy our age who doesn't follow the Jedi Code. As long as Ahsoka continues to barely pay him any attention. I won't have to worry about getting jealous and murdering him. Time to play the "subtle territorial boyfriend" card.'
"Padme, it's so good to see you." Mina said, giving the younger senator a one armed hug as the four walked towards the steps. "Yes. How things have changed since he last time we met." Padme replied. "Let's go inside. There's much to discuss." Mina said, letting go of her as Lux walked up to the two senators. "Please, allow me." Lux said kindly, as Padme handed the suitcase to him before the two women continued walking. "May I?" he asked Ahsoka. Revan quickly stood between them. "I can handle it." she said to Lux over her friend's shoulder. Revan heard a quiet 'thank you' before the two Jedi followed the senators 'Ha! Take that you son of a bitch.' Revan smirked.
A few minutes later the Jedi and Padme were in the living room while she looked out the window at Lux, Ahsoka and Revan stood near the door as Mina walked up to her friend with two glasses in her hand and gave one to Padme. "He's grown so much, Mina." the younger senator said. "Time won't stop, even if we are at war. And i'm afraid these events are shaping his young life." Mina replied, looking out the window as Ahsoka took a few steps forward. "With all due respect. As a Separatist, didn't you create this war?" she asked. "Ahsoka." Padme scolded. "It's alright." Mina assured her friend before turning to the padawan and walking towards her.
"That's a very polarized point of view, my dear. Would it surprise you to know that many of the people you call Separatists feel the same way about the Republic and the Jedi? Lux's father was like that." she said taking a few steps away. "Maybe I could speak with him." Ahsoka suggested as the older senator stopped. "If only you could. A year ago next week, he was setting up a base on Aargonar when clones attacked. My husband fought bravely in self-defense, but was killed." Mina replied, lowering her head a bit. "Excuse me. I think i'll get some air." Ahsoka said, leaving the room with Revan.
The two Jedi walked down the the steps leading to the yard and noticed Lux sitting on the stone railing, the two paid no mind as they walked past him. "You're Jedi, aren't you?" he asked. They stopped near the bottom and turned to face him. "Yes. Why do you ask?" Ahsoka asked him. "Before the war, I was always told the Jedi were good." he replied. "And now?" she asked before he hopped off the railing and onto the steps. "I don't know anymore." he admitted before joining the other two as they walked down the remaining steps. "There are a lot of terrible things happening, a lot of killing. And now my friends are saying the Jedi are to blame." he said as they reached the bottom.
"We're the first Jedi you've ever met, aren't we?" she asked. "Well, um... yes." he admitted. "Look at us. We're not so bad are we?" Ahsoka asked, crossing her arms and smirking at him. Lux's eyes trailed from her feet and back to her eyes before he smiled. "No, not bad at all." he said. Ahsoka rolled her eyes. "Ugh. Well it seems boys are the same whether they're Republic or Separatist." she said, continuing to walk. Revan was clenching his hands and seething as he walked a step behind her. 'If it weren't for the fact that Ahsoka's right here and Padme and Mina are probably still watching. I'd murder the little shit right now!' Lux quickly caught up to them and walked beside her.
"Wait. How many Separatists have you met?" he asked her. "What?" she asked. "Well, I mean, you think we're all the bad guys. But how many of us have you actually met? And droids don't count." he asked. "Well, other than military officers like Grievous and Ventress. None, I guess. You and your mother are the first." she admitted as they stopped. "Well, look at me. Am I so bad?" he asked with a smile. Ahsoka didn't answer and just looked at the ground. "Yes." Revan mumbled under breathe. As much as he hated this guy, he didn't want to start something that would probably turn into a fistfight. At least not in front of Ahsoka. 'If i'm going to win her heart, i'm going to have to start curbing my dark tendencies in public.' Revan levitated a few potted plants out boredom while droning out Lux and Ahsoka's talking as they sat on the edge of the small fountain.
A little while later the Jedi and Padme were in the Separatist Senate watching as Mina attempted to persuade the other senators for peace between them and the Republic as a hologram of Dooku watched on. "How many lives on both sides have to end before we see the futility? Surely there's room in the galaxy for Confederate and Republic planets to coexist. I move we immediately open peace negotiations with Chancellor Palpatine on Coruscant." Mina suggested as some of the senators cheered in agreement. "The Corporate Alliance will never allow this to happen!" a green-skined female senator with four horns on her head disagreed.
"This is a democracy. And unlike the Republic, corporations do not rule us." a bald blue-skinned male senator said to her before the room erupted again. Dooku raised his arms to quiet them. "Quiet! In accordance with the bylaws of Independent Systems, a voice is required. All in favor of initiating peace negotiations with the Galactic Republic, say 'aye'." he said. "Aye!" a Leyakian male agreed. "Aye!" a male Siniteen agreed. "Aye!" the bald senator agreed. "Aye!" Mina agreed as a few more agreed as well. "All those opposed." Dooku said. "Nay!" the green horned woman disagreed. "Nay!" a female amphibian species disagreed as a few more did as well. "The 'ayes' have it." the old man called out before Mina looked to the three with a smile.
The next morning the three accompanied by Mina and Lux, headed back to the landing pad they arrived at the other day as a cruiser waited for them. "Well… this is goodbye." Padme said to Mina with a small smile. "I've been disappointed before, and yet. I almost feel as if this time the tide has turned in the war. You should hurry." she said to Padme, pulling her hood up for her. "Goodbye, young ones." she said to the Jedi. "You really believe the Republic will vote for peace?" Lux asked Ahsoka. "I hope so. I wouldn't want to meet you on the battlefield, for your sake." she replied with a small smirk. "Agreed." Revan said holding his mechno out to shake. Lux grabbed it with his hand and the Knight squeezed hard for a split second, causing the other man to hiss in pain. "Oh, sorry. Hard to control the strength in this one." he said. While he sounded sincere, the teen was anything but. Evident by the dark smirk behind his mask. "It's fine." Lux assured with a smile while cradling his hand. "Go you three, quickly." Mina urged with a smile. The three turned around and walked onto the ship.
By the time they arrived back home it was night on Coruscant. Padme changed back into her Senate clothes and the three made their way to Palpatine's office. "Well, well, well. This is quite a stunning development." the Chancellor commented. "Your Excellency, we would be remiss, if not irresponsible, to reject the Separatists proposal." Padme said to him. "Of course." he agreed. "An end to the fighting, would mean there's no need to borrow money for more clones." she replied before he lead her a few feet away. "I can see why you would want so badly to believe that the Separatists desire peace." he said. "I don't understand." she replied confused.
"In the past, whenever we've reached out our hands in peace, they've been slapped away. Can we believe that they're ready to sue for peace so easily?" he asked. "If I might speak with you confidentially, I know this is sincere. I've been in contact with my old friend, Mina Bonteri. And the origin of the proposal is with her." Padme said quietly. "Bonteri? how was the dialogue established?" he asked her. "Does it matter, Chancellor, if the if the result is an end to the war?" she asked. "I see your point, my child. Then we shall put the vote to the floor." he replied in agreement.
A while later Padme changed back into her normal clothes before the Chancellor called for a meeting in the chamber. Ahsoka sat on a small section above a door and Revan remained standing as the two Jedi watched. "Given that the Separatists have put a call for negotiations on the table, the need for additional troops seems ill-timed." Padme said to her fellow senators. "Which means there is no need to deregulate the banks." Bail said. "I say we vote that down now." Rodian senator, Onaconda Farr suggested. "There is a move to vote on the proposed bill to lift regulations on the banking clan. You may enter your vote." Amedda said.
Senators started to press a button on there pods, but before they finished the lights suddenly went out and a second later the emergency power came on to give them a dim red light to see and allow their pods to keep working. Ahsoka hopped down beside Revan. "What's going on?" she asked. "Don't know, but I have a pretty good idea who caused this." he replied. "We're under attack!" the Twi'lek senator, Orn Free Taa said in panic before the senators still hovering moved their pods back to the places they had entered with Padme moving hers back to the spot the two Jedi were standing. "The bombing of the generator has been confirmed as a Separatist attack! They must pay for what they have done!" Saam demanded after the Senate received the report on what had happened.
"But it was the Separatist congress that issued the bill of peace!" Padme argued. "Obviously a tactic to lower our defenses and launch this attack." Amedda argued back. "No! that's not true!" Padme argued again. "I move to immediately deregulate the banks." Halle suggested. "We need a bank loan to get more troops now!" Rab called out. "What are we waiting for?" senator Zinn Paulness questioned. "I'm afraid we've been given little choice. To insure the safety of the Republic, we must deregulate the banks." the Chancellor said as the senator cheered in agreement. Padme sat in her pods seat and shook her head sadly.
The three exited the room and made their way through the hallway before walking up to Anakin as he finished speaking to Mon Calamari senator, Eekar Oki who took his leave. "I'm returning your padawan." Padme said to her husband as he folded his arms. "I'm sorry your talks with Bonteri failed." Revan froze. 'Busted.', "How did you know?" Ahsoka asked sounding surprised. "We have eyes and ears everywhere, you two. That was dangerous and careless, going to Raxus." he scolded. Revan would've snapped back at the older Knight for scolding him but didn't since he had made a good point. "Not to mention illegal." Anakin added, looking at his wife. "You went too far this time." he chastised his padawan as the four started walking. "You would do the same. You do the same all the time." Ahsoka argued. "This was too much." he replied. "Maybe so. But I did realize something. The politics of this war, are not as black and white as I once thought they were." she admitted as they walked out into Coruscant's darkened city with fire in the distance...
Chapter 5 is done. And now onto the first of three special chapters.