Chapter 6
Well, the Senate Meeting is here, but first, let me explain where this story'll go.
So, the previous chapters were like ROTS, but from this chapter, it won't go at all like the movies, from this chapter, almost everything will be different from the movies, except for a few core elements like a Jedi turning to the Dark Side, and the Clone Army (Which are still on Kamino), killing the Jedi.
Silence was expected for a Senate meeting, after the word 'Order' had been shouted out. The Chancellor then moved his mouth, as Qui-Gon scanned the Force around him, it was dark, tremulous, conflicting, as if going straight into the eye of a storm.
"Senators. Despite the defeat of General Grevious, the Separatists are regrouping." Murmurs of concern went at that opening, then the Chancellor continued, "The Separatists must not be allowed to do that."
There were applauses of agreement, which were quickly silenced, as the speech continued.
"Time… an essential element to the war, as one Senator Damask stated three years before, 'This war is an exceptional time, one in which too much time taken debating instead of acting would lead to disaster'. And I realised, that this is true." The Chancellor paused.
Gasps erupted in the chamber, the Chancellor that supported Democracy with his entire being, supported this? Qui-Gon narrowed his eyes in suspicion. Dooku rubbed his beard thoughtfully. Was the Chancellor really going to propose Emergency Powers, since that was the result of the time Senator Damask said those words.
All their musings ended, as the Chancellor continued, "I love the Republic, and Democracy itself, but this war has taken far too much from us!" The entire Senate, including the two Jedi in the room, applauded, everyone agreed with that part. The Chancellor's final part was what shocked everyone, "So, for that reason, I propose Emergency Powers, to the Office of the Chancellor."
Qui-Gon was absolutely shocked, while Dooku looked very thoughtful, Plagueis smiled. The Senators were either cheering or booing, while the aide in the Chancellor's pod was desperately trying to calm everyone down.
"I disagree with this motion!" A female voice formally exclaimed, but with a tinge of disgust, Qui-Gon recognised that elderly voice to come from the woman in front of him, the Chameta pod went forward.
Announced it was, "The Senator of Chameta may speak now."
"Emergency powers are the last thing we need for this war. Emergency Powers, yes, they did keep the Republic from crumbling entirely, but more emergency powers are not needed now, since, as stated, General Grevious has been defeated. But the Fetts are being tracked by the Jedi, and a Jedi I know are tracking the Sith." Bethrillia informed everyone, Qui-Gon clicked his tongue, this was not going to end well.
"How do you know we can trust the Jedi for all this?" One male Senator asked, in both fear and anger for the powerful group.
"Everyone makes mistakes, even the Jedi. The Jedi have made mistakes, that does not mean that our trust for them should go!" Bethrillia exclaimed
Senator Damask's pod came forward, as everyone paused whatever they were doing, because of the intimidating presence that they all sensed, two of the most intimidating men, Damask and Dooku, in one pod.
"Yes, the Jedi have made mistakes." Damask calmly agreed, then he suddenly shouted, "Mistakes that almost destroyed the Republic!", cheers and applauds went after that statement.
Qui-Gon frowned, in anger, anger that he wasn't supposed to feel. He made his most disapproving glare at Damask. Dooku looked at Qui-Gon in shock, as he saw him glare at Damask, standing beside Senator Da'atarka.
But before Dooku could think on it, Damask continued, "Had it not been for the military the Chancellor had created, the Republic would have been destroyed entirely!"
Many Senators agreed with the line, Qui-Gon nodded his head sadly, the Republic had fallen into a trap, he knew that. But he wanted to get as many people out of that trap, sadly he wasn't a politician, not that he wished to be one anyway…
Seeing Qui-Gon nod his head in sadness was another thing, in Dooku's opinion, he agreed with Damask. He sensed Qui-Gon's feelings of denial, mourning and the motivation to do something about it. The feelings were stronger when Qui-Gon briefly glanced at Dooku and bobbed his head once.
No matter how much explaining, Qui-Gon had always shunned Senator Damask. Qui-Gon was compassionate and loving to everyone, except for the evil, the only exception was Senator Damask. In Dooku's eyes, Damask was a good man trying to fix the Republic, but Qui-Gon always disagreed with him, and instead took to Senator Da'atarka's stead.
Jealousy coursed through his veins right then, he was jealous yes, of Senator Da'atarka, Qui-Gon had always listened to her, Dooku witnessed that Qui-Gon possessed some key traits she also did, the wise air to him and the dedication to serve the people and the foundations of all itself, the selflessness, the disagreement for anything selfish, those traits all came from Da'atarka.
And what came from the Jedi Master that taught him for eight years? His unorthodox way of doing things.
Dooku glanced at Qui-Gon, who's expression was now unreadable, looking at all the Senators.
"Tell me, what would you do, if your mistakes almost destroyed the Republic? This war represents a failure to see. To see that everyone makes mistakes, it was mistakes that led to the war in the first place! Not just the Jedi's mistakes, but the mistakes of the entire galaxy!" Bethrillia exclaimed, trying to sway the opinions of everyone in the room, Qui-Gon and a few Senators were.
"The Senator of Chameta is no longer authorised to speak in this meeting!" The Chancellor shouted over the voices of everyone, who then gasped in shock, how could have the Chancellor changed like this overnight?
Qui-Gon looked at the Chancellor, who was frowning at Bethrillia, as the Chameta pod retracted. Qui-Gon glared at Damask, who was actually smiling in superiority! The audacity!
Qui-Gon glared at Damask, moving his lips, and had they made the sound, he would have said, "I'll get you for this. I know you did something.", Dooku spotted this, and sighed
Plagueis smirked, and mouthed out the words, "Try me."
Bethrillia saw Qui-Gon looking at Senator Damask, and sighed, it was all pointless, and now, she needed to walk out of here, she wouldn't stay where she wasn't needed.
But then, she saw that she was needed, as the Vice-Chancellor then said, "We shall take this to a vote."
Bethrillia, when the vote came on, immediately voted against the motion, but she knew who the winner would be, Qui-Gon frowned, knowing this was a failure. The motion was passed, and the Chancellor would gain emergency powers.
"The votes have been counted, motion passed!" The sentence rang across the room. Damask smiled, as first, the people in the Chameta pod left first, with a disappointed Bethrillia and a suspicious Qui-Gon.
Qui-Gon followed his elderly friend, across the corridors, which had lot of memories for him, in fact, but he wasn't in the mood for recalling, as seeing that democracy had immediately faded in one meeting.
"Do you think we're headed into a trap, Qui-Gon?" Bethrillia suddenly asked
"Yes. In fact, I know were already headed into a trap." Qui-Gon replied, firmly believing it.
"And those bull-headed…" Bethrillia started ranting, before realising where and who she was, she then apologised, "Sorry. I just so feel like my 14 year old self again, trying to handle all the bullies in school."
"I understand, if I were in your place, I'd feel the same." Qui-Gon replied.
A smooth voice was heard, from behind the two, "I would like to talk to you privately, Qui-Gon."
"Dooku." Qui-Gon uttered.
"Go Qui-Gon. I'll walk myself home." Bethrillia ushered Qui-Gon to Dooku.
Dooku and Qui-Gon were silent for a moment, as Bethrillia walked ahead, and left in her own speeder, then Dooku glanced at Qui-Gon, frowning.
"What are you up to, Padawan?" Dooku asked, both curious and disappointed
"Can I not see a friend?" Qui-Gon argued
"You can. But I sense there's something more to this." Dooku argued back, he then continued when Qui-Gon was silent, "Why else would I sense mourning from you when the Senate applauds?"
"I don't want this government to be turned into a dictatorship. This is a kriffing democracy." Qui-Gon firmly answered
"Maybe a 'dictatorship' is better then, since more emergency powers means less talking, and less talking means more action which is needed for the war." Dooku immediately said, without thinking, Qui-Gon gasped, horrified, as Dooku realised what he had said.
Qui-Gon immediately ran out of the place, despite Dooku's insistent calling, until he decided that they would figure it out soon, he hoped…
Qui-Gon couldn't believe it all, the Chancellor that previously supported Democracy… wanting Emergency Powers, his Master, who came from a very noble family that supported the Republic and was a Jedi… supported him.
He needed to go to the Council immediately, he looked up to see that it was noon, a good time. He saw a airbus stop. That would not be a good place, but waiting was the only solution. Waiting for a taxi.
To sum up, the Senate meeting ends with the now-manipulated Chancellor gaining emergency powers from the Senate, while Qui-Gon and Dooku start to have a growing mistrust. Anyway, you can all guess what the next chapter is going to be about. So, bye.