Anakin stared at the comm unit, waiting for a message from Siri. She knew what was at stake here. He doubted anything really immediate would come of the gala – nothing really could unless things went even more KUBAR than normal and Palpatine outed himself – but in the best case scenario, this could honestly make or break any plans they had for the chancellor in the future. He supposed Siri didn't need to respond, or really know a play-by-play, even, but just getting an 'ok' and a well wish would have calmed his nerves.
But he also knew that not everyone could return a call or a text on a mission. He knew she was fine, if focused right now, but it still worried him.
"Anakin," a familiar voice broke through his thoughts and he looked up to see Obi-wan's concerned face. "Are you ready to go?"
Anakin took a deep breath and shoved the comm into the pocket of his particularly nice set of white and cream-colored initiate robes. "Yes."
To Obi-wan's credit, he didn't ask if Anakin was sure. (He wasn't. He was so nervous about this…)
Together they made their way down to the ground floor where all of the initiates and padawans would meet. It seemed they were the last to show up as most of Anakin's friends were there already. Since Tru and Darra were both in the program as well, they'd asked Hik'te and Hale, respectively, to accompany them. Someone had even asked Thoran to come, much to the bothan's excitement. Maelee and Coira were also there, likely to see them off.
"Anakin!" Hik'te said loudly, waving him over. He decided he wouldn't mind a bit of a distraction, and the kids would probably provide a small one, so he acquiesced. As he approached the group, he could swear he sensed a spark of amusement from Obi-wan, so he shot the knight a glare.
"Do not say a word."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Obi-wan responded blithely.
Anakin snorted, rolled his eyes and joined his friends, all dressed in their finest and fidgeting excitedly. Except Maelee, ever the picture of calm.
"Hey, Ani," Hik'te said with a grin, although his eyes flicked to Obi-wan and back. "I was wondering who you asked to come. I thought you'd choose Maelee."
No, why would he… wait… Maelee was a calm presence with a good head on her shoulders. Had… he offended her by not asking? (And why did he have to ask that question even after more than forty years of social interactions, forced or not?)
He… should probably introduce them to Obi-wan. "Oh, this is Jedi Knight Obi-wan Kenobi. He found me and brought me to the Temple. He's also Ferus' Master."
Yeah, he probably shouldn't have said that as everyone flinched, even Obi-wan. The knight recovered quickly, though. "It's a pleasure to meet all of my padawan's friends."
"Master," the initiates all bowed or nodded respectfully.
"I wanted to bring Obi-wan because I'm an ambassador to the Chancellor," Anakin said. "I didn't want to put that kind of pressure on any of you." He turned to Maelee. "I did not mean to make you feel excluded."
"You didn't," she assured him, although he did notice that she seemed a little less tense after his words.
"And you, Coira," Darra added on.
The girl in question glanced at Anakin pointedly for a moment, then snorted. "I'm glad I don't have to go, actually. I always thought it sounded boring."
Truthfully, Anakin didn't want either girl anywhere near Palpatine. Even if Maelee didn't know everything (well, Coira didn't know everything either, but still), he didn't trust them anywhere near the Sith Lord. It was just too dangerous. Coira knew that, and Maelee had probably guessed something along those lines. Coira was creative and Maelee, utterly pragmatic and intelligent. Either one of them would make terrifying Sith… and that was in and above wanting to keep the information they knew safe.
"Still sad you can't come," Darra said with genuine remorse.
"It's fine," Maelee said.
"Promise," Coira agreed.
Their reassurances seemed to encourage the other initiates. And that was Anakin's opening.
"So, each of you have your assignments for the drop-offs, correct?"
They all nodded, sobering quickly.
"And all of you received the special package from Master Yoda?"
Another affirmative.
Very well. "I cannot impress how imperative it is that you give the correct data stick to the correct Senator. Please bring them out."
The children did so, presenting the data sticks, three for each pair, two of which had blue dots on the top end, the third for each set had a red dot.
"Who does the red stick go to?" he asked, pointing to each pair.
"Senator Mothma," Darra said.
"Senator Organa," Hik'te said.
"Senator Bontari," Thoran said. "And don't worry, I'm going to be holding onto the data sticks the whole time."
Anakin nodded. "Good."
Tru, Anakin noticed, was biting his lip, looking troubled. He frowned. "Tru, is there a problem?"
"This just seems really… weird," he said, gaze turning to Obi-wan for a moment before looking back at Anakin. "There's more going on here than we know, isn't there?"
These kids were honestly too smart for their own good.
"Yeah," Thoran said as he put the data sticks away. "If it's so important, though, then why us? I mean, we're just initiates."
"Unfortunately," Obi-wan said calmly, "we can't answer that. Just know that we have the utmost confidence in you."
Anakin watched as everyone finished putting their sticks away, and frowned. "What's on the blue ones?"
The other kids looked surprised.
"You don't know?" Darra asked.
"A day in the life of a Jedi from an initiate, a padawan, a knight and a master's point of view," Hale said quietly.
"Master Yoda said it was so people could understand what Jedi are like," Tru continued.
"He said the rest of the universe has a hard time understanding Jedi, and this should help," Coira said with a grin.
Anakin just blinked at them. Huh. So the old troll was hitting two hawkbats with one stone. Impressive. Perhaps he'd underestimated the Grandmaster.
Before he could say anything else, though, Master Windu and Master Yoda himself walked (and floated on a hover-chair respectively) into the room.
Windu spoke first, addressing the children by saying how he expected them to be on their best behavior, to not forget their manners or their drop-off assignments. He also told them that him, Master Yoda, Knight Kenobi and at least three other knights would be there if necessary. Anakin tuned him out pretty quickly, focused only on trying to calm his own nerves. After several seconds with only some success, he felt a hand on his shoulder and glanced up to see Obi-wan, eyes fixed on the Masters of the Order, but he didn't remove his hand. Instead he squeezed Anakin's shoulder reassuringly.
Part of him wanted to say he didn't need it… but part of him was more than grateful.
Stupid dichotomy that always seemed so much stronger when Obi-wan was involved.
"Very well, please board the transport," Master Windu said, gesturing to the Temple doors and everyone began to shuffle out.
"Will you be okay, Anakin?" Obi-wan asked quietly.
Anakin took a deep breath and nodded determinedly. "Yes, thank you."
"You're welcome," Obi-wan said with a smile, patting Anakin's shoulder before releasing it.
The time-traveler appreciated it, but he couldn't really answer that question any other way. There were no two ways about it. He'd be okay tonight because he had to be, and that was all there was to it.
Ten minutes later, they were well on their way to the Senate's Annual Gala.
xXx
In all of the stress and preparation, Anakin realized he'd forgotten one thing as soon as he walked through the door and saw the many senators and their entourages.
He hated parties. Well, parties like this where everyone dressed up like a Darskus Show-bird and strutted around like no one else mattered. All the verbal sparring and passive-aggressive comments hidden behind flowery language…
He shuddered.
As Vader, Palpatine had forced Anakin to these things more than once, likely just to get a kick at seeing him squirm and try to melt into the background… which wasn't likely because he was Darth Kriffing Vader. Before that, he'd attended his fair share of these things when with Padme or just as a Jedi and… no, he'd never liked them. Ever. He honestly couldn't understand why some people did.
"Anakin," Obi-wan's calm voice came from behind him and he realized he'd frozen just inside the door. His friends stood around him, looking worried. He blinked.
"Oh, right. I just… crowds," he said, gesturing to their surroundings. Even the implication wasn't untrue. He didn't like crowds, especially like this. Too easy to sneak up and kill someone.
"Will you be alright?" Hik'te asked, voice low and calm for once.
For a moment, Anakin looked around at all the worried faces of the initiates – not all of them even from his friend group. So young and yet they were willing to make sure he was alright. To go out of their way to do so, even.
He didn't like the Order.
But he found he liked many of the members.
So he smiled. "I shall be fine. I was merely… surprised."
A sigh from Hik'te, who shook his head fondly.
Anakin frowned. "What?"
"You're doing it again," Darra said with a giggle. "Talking all proper."
Wait… was he really? He examined his words and blinked again. Oh. "It seems I am."
"Well," Obi-wan said with a warm smile, "we didn't come here to block the door. Why don't you all go meet your Senators. I promise I'll take care of Anakin."
The children seemed hesitant, but at Anakin's nod, they wished him good luck and turned to disappear into the crowds. Once they'd gone, Obi-wan drew Anakin aside.
"Will you be alright," he finally asked – yet again – tone serious.
Anakin sighed and glanced around. "Yes. I just… dislike events like this. I'd forgotten just how much."
Obi-wan snorted. "I can see why we got along, then."
The time-traveler frowned. "But you're great at these things."
The taller man raised an amused eyebrow. "That does not mean I have to like them."
Ah. That… actually made a lot of sense.
Then Obi-wan's mirth vanished and he looked up, "Are you up to this?" Anakin followed his gaze and saw Palpatine discussing something with Mas Amedda happily. He even laughed. Such an actor.
"Yes," the former Sith said with a nod, then glanced up at Obi-wan. "Let us be a distraction."
"Indeed," Obi-wan replied. Together they made their way through the gala crowd, projecting a mild 'don't look over here' feeling through the Force that should discourage most people from approaching them. They only stopped once they reached the area where the Chancellor stood, already talking to a group of Senators, glass of something alcoholic in one hand (likely mild, the Emperor had never been one to indulge in that sort of thing) while he waved his other hand gracefully to emphasize something he said.
All too soon, he noted Anakin's presence.
"Ah, Anakin, my boy! Glad to see you made it!" he said magnanimously. Then his eyes lifted to Obi-wan and his smile dimmed only the slightest bit. Huh, had that happened in the first life and Anakin just hadn't noticed? Likely. "And who is this?"
Obi-wan bowed. "Jedi Knight Obi-wan Kenobi," he introduced himself, turning on the full charm with that welcoming smile.
"He found me and brought me to the temple," Anakin said, trying to sound as childish as he could without making it over-the-top. They'd practiced this, and he was glad for it. "So when we were told we could bring someone else, I thought of him!"
"I was given permission since I've just come off of medical leave. This is a simple mission, close to home." Obi-wan chuckled and glanced out at the crowd. "Watch the children. Come with a friend." His tome was warm and honest as he put a hand on Anakin's shoulder.
"So you're the little Jedi that's been helping the Chancellor!" someone Anakin had never met before said a little too loudly. They were humanoid and had rather rosy cheeks. Likely drunk. "You're adorable!"
Adorable.
For the first time in a long time, he reminded himself that he couldn't kill random people for being ridiculous.
"Ah, yes," Palpatine said, and it was only because Anakin knew him so well that he saw that spark of annoyance in his eyes. "Senator Rothak Molae from Utrost."
The man certainly looked like he came from a core world, with the blue and green finery he wore, and his hair in an… interesting hairdo that likely cost more than what most people spent on food in a month.
"A pleasure to meet you," Anakin and Obi-wan said more or less at the same time.
The guy cooed at him.
He'd known this would be a long night. He just hadn't known how bad it would be.
The evening wore on like that for the next couple of hours with Palpatine introducing Anakin (and by extension Obi-wan – Palpatine seemed very annoyed that Obi-wan managed to charm more or less anyone he came across) to different Senators or other people of import, up to and including the Trade Federation representatives. It wasn't Nute Gunroy this time. Anakin wondered what happened to him as he hadn't heard anything about the nemoidian, but he was thankful. He actually suspected the viceroy (former?) and his second-in-command had run away if Palpatine didn't know Anakin's identity yet. Maybe they were living in the unknown regions or something. Would serve them right.
(And he was particularly lucky if that was the case… oh Force. Or… was that the Force at work? Because Sidious should have been able to get to them… Anakin suddenly decided he needed to find out where they did go because he knew his former Master was this close to figuring out his identity, if he hadn't already…
And Anakin really needed to stop jumping to the worst conclusions.)
He was so distracted (not from Sidious, he wouldn't be stupid enough to not know exactly where the Sith Master was at all times) that he didn't notice the man flipping a switch. He did notice the strange force-field that rose, mainly because he happened to be standing right next to it.
He jerked back for a moment, half ready to attack something… but nothing had attacked him. He sensed no malicious intent… Frowning, he tentatively went to touch the area that had changed and he felt a prickling, but saw nothing and his hand went through whatever it was… a force field? Why would anyone…?
But then he realized where he stood. As far as Galas went, they tended to require a lot of standing, something most senators weren't tolerant of. Also, they needed privacy to strike deals or even just talk, so several comfortable rooms had been built around the large ballroom for delegates to retreat to. The Chancellor had one as well, but as tradition dictated, it had to be within public view. So the Chancellor's sitting room had been built at the head of the ballroom. It was a small area on a dais of sorts with three fourths of the sides covered by a circular wall, all decorated in Palpatine's favored deep red and gold, with pops of bright red and black here and there. Sith colors, of course. A couple of armchairs and a small couch had been set up around a short table in the center.
"It's rather ingenious, isn't it?" Palpatine said when he noted Anakin's attention. The time-traveler stiffened, turning to him. "Here we are, in front of the entire Senate, and no one can hear a word we say. No signals can get in or out. Complete audio privacy and nobody will suspect much, because I'm just an old man who needs to relax his poor, aching joints every now and then."
The initiate said nothing, standing stiffly, eyes flicking to the force field and Obi-wan just behind it, speaking with several senators.
"Now, you can walk out of here at any time," Palpatine said as he sat down, every inch the picture of an old man taking a break, "or perhaps you'd care to hear me out."
Anakin immediately threw up the old walls he'd been so used to using as Vader, shoving all of his panic behind them and trying to mask himself in the Force. Then he swallowed and forced himself to open his mouth. "Why here? Why now? In front of everyone?" Because people could still see them.
Palpatine looked amused. "After our most recent meeting, I had the feeling something would arise and you would have had to, sadly, drop out of the ambassador program."
Well, he wasn't wrong. Anakin had even spoken with Master Xio, Girth and Yoda about it. (It was scary, just how right the man was, actually, but then, it was Sidious.)
Anakin did not want to stay. This… this was the Sith Lord he faced, not the Chancellor. The man still couldn't actually do anything without outing himself (that may very well have been a concession on Sidious' part), but it put Anakin in a similar situation. No one could hear them, as long as Palpatine didn't attack him, no one would believe him if he said anything. Probably wouldn't even be able to prove Palpatine had any sort of force field up at all.
But he could just walk out.
He could but…
Then what? He was here to play distraction. He had to keep all of the man's attention on him. Which meant…
Feeling a spike of worry from Obi-wan, he turned to see the man looking up at them, tensing as if to rush in. They couldn't have that. No, they had to give Palpatine what he expected. So he shook his head at Obi-wan, sent him a smile and reassurance through his bond before turning to Palpatine.
"I'm listening."
The man smiled. It wasn't a Palpatine smile, or a Sidious smile, but something in between. Just enough Palpatine to not put anyone who may be watching on alert, but just enough Sidious to let Anakin know who he was dealing with.
"Firstly, answer a question for me, will you? I'm curious. Why didn't you take the opportunity I presented in the office the other day. I could tell you wanted to."
Anakin tried not to panic and shoved that behind his walls too. He'd have to deal with it later. Preferably with Master Xio's or Girth's help. Right now, he needed to answer.
"Offer, sir?" he asked.
Palpatine's expression dried out. "Don't play stupid," he said, although he didn't move his lips… avoiding someone lipreading, probably. "It doesn't suit you." Funny, the Emperor would always lord the fact that Anakin wasn't on his intellectual level over 'Vader's' head. "We both know what offer I meant."
He was talking about killing Orn Free Taa.
Fine, if he'd taken his mask down, then Anakin needed to give him what he expected. He let his own expression cool.
"I don't make it a habit to in-debt myself to… men such as yourself."
Palpatine actually chuckled at that. "Speaking from experience, I assume."
Most definitely. "In a manner of speaking."
More laughing. "Oh, you are good. I can see why you were 'chosen' as my Ambassador. Did you know from the beginning, or did you find out along the way?"
Oh, he knew about Anakin's true identity. He definitely knew. This could go so badly. He could hold so much over Anakin's head! And what could that do to the Temple's reputation! His mind screamed 'mayday' and 'abort' so loudly he almost physically heard it.
He wasn't going to give Sidious any information he didn't have to though, so he stayed quiet. The man must have realized he wouldn't get anything out of Anakin because he nonchalantly poured himself another drink.
"No matter, I suppose. Tell me, does the Temple know about you?"
Anakin tried not to panic even more. Master Yoda and Windu couldn't do anything for him if Palpatine outed him now! That was if they even wanted to. They had a lot of sway with the Council, but they were still just two people.
Palpatine took his silence as its own answer and cackled, hiding the cruel expression with a sip of his drink.
"Such skill and brilliance. Such potential. It's a pity you've chosen to waste it." He paused. "Or have you? You didn't have a choice in coming here, did you?"
No. He really didn't. He'd had to take Palpatine out. That meant Anakin had to be here. Had to go through his old life all over again. If it hadn't been for a few people – Girth, Master Xio, Siri… Yoda, even – it would have destroyed him.
"I wonder what he has over you."
Anakin blinked, shoving his puzzlement behind his shields and struggling to keep his face neutral. He only succeeded because even if he'd had a mask for decades, that didn't stop the Emperor from sensing his emotions through the Force. If he could keep his face in check, it helped with his emotions, if only by giving him something to focus on.
But he was out of practice.
"How is he, by the way? Your Master?" He paused and took a sip of his drink again, hiding his face. "Vader, was it?"
Anakin could only stare at him in shock. Because what? Wait… he didn't… he didn't know Anakin was Vader? (Or used to be.)
He didn't… know something?
"I would so like to meet him," the older man said as he lowered his glass and sent an endearing smile at Anakin, all the creepier with him knowing exactly what lay behind it… but that's what Palpatine wanted this time. This was still carefully calculated.
And he didn't know.
Anakin still shoved his relief behind his shields before he could really feel it. But… it was difficult. He was so used to Palpatine just knowing so many things – figuring it all out. It hadn't occurred to him that they would succeed in keeping any information from him. It just…
Kriff. He'd been putting the man on a pedestal again. And he hadn't even seen it until Palpatine had more or less outed himself. An oversight he could not afford to repeat. He'd gotten lucky this time, but next time…
He could still work with this, though.
Rule number one of manipulating manipulators: give them exactly what they expect.
So what did the Sith Lord expect. Either an informant or an apprentice infiltrating the Jedi on behalf of Vader – a reluctant infiltrator. And still a former slave.
He could do this.
"He doesn't contact me… often," Anakin finally admitted reluctantly. "Even if he did I… doubt I could convince him to set up a meeting."
"Why ever not?" Palpatine asked, playing the doting grandfather again. Did he want to drive his skill and acting home, or did he think Anakin would buy into the act?
The initiate was facing the Chancellor, away from the crowd or anyone who could read his own lips. Excellent.
"It's only 'tell me about' this or 'information' that." He could channel his frustration towards Obi-wan from his own padawan days – frustration he was in the process of letting go, and realizing he hadn't had the proper context to understand, but it was still something he could refer to easily. "He doesn't listen to me! The moment I came here it's like he saw me as tainted or… or something."
"After you've done so much and put yourself in such danger?" Palpatine asked. Okay, he was likely assuming Anakin had bought into the 'sympathetic ear' routine… as he had the first time around.
"Exactly! The Jedi can't find out who I am! They'll kill me!" An all too real fear, even if one he did not think would happen anymore.
"And who are you?" Palpatine asked, eyes once again sparkling with that hungry glint that unnerved Anakin so.
That, too, went behind the shields.
"I don't have a name yet," Anakin muttered, looking down, mostly out of worry but hopefully Palpatine would take it as shame.
"But, are you not his apprentice?"
What would he say if they were talking about Obi-wan back then…?
"Exactly! It's like he's holding me back!"
"He's afraid of you."
Oh, it really was the same old song and dance routine again. That was exactly what he'd said about Obi-wan the first time.
(He'd been so manipulated. It was almost embarrassing at this point.)
(Girth was going to tear him a new one for thinking that later.)
How to respond? Give him what he expects… an infiltrator, spurned dark apprentice, former slave.
"H… he can't be afraid of me," Anakin protested. "I mean he… he's…"
"Powerful?" Palpatine snorted. "So powerful he sent you to spy on me instead of coming himself?"
"I…" Anakin started, unsure of what to say next.
Sidious took that uncertainty in stride. "I'm actually very disappointed in him. He's been so thorough, but he lacks such vision if he cannot see your potential and nurture it."
Oh, here it came.
"I would not make the same mistake."
Yup.
Kriff.
Anakin could only stare. This was getting too uncomfortable. He really wanted to leave… It was getting hard to breathe…
(That went behind his shields too.)
"Are you…"
"Offering to train you?" The old man said that behind his wine glass. "Of course, my boy."
"But… how would that work?" Anakin blurted out because he was genuinely curious.
"Well, first you'd remain in the Ambassador program, and I would teach you when you came to the Senate. After the program ends, well, it isn't unthinkable to remain friends. And I'm sure those fools over at the Temple would love to have an 'in' with the Chancellor."
His grin was just a little too sharp and Anakin couldn't help but laugh, a little hysterically.
Palpatine frowned and Anakin sobered immediately. He'd kriffed up! What—
"He told you I'd kill you, didn't he."
Wait… oh… right. Rule of two. Sith.
"He… he said your… philosophy was that there were only two… and you'd kill all the others."
Sidious' eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "Others?"
Oh, he could play this off as a different Sith line! A hidden culture!
"I'm… pretty sure there are others he's teaching," Anakin muttered. It wasn't difficult to put in his own jealousy and disdain. Just think of Obi-wan teaching Ferus… yeah, that worked. (He may have to address that with Girth.)
"Well, he isn't wrong," Palpatine conceded. "But why ever would I take that out on you?"
Anakin blinked at him.
"I'm actually in the market for a good apprentice right now," he said (once again behind his wine glass, kriff him, he was too good at this). "And he seems to have dropped one right in my lap. Perhaps we should show him how wrong he is?"
"I…" Anakin started, shifting from foot to foot. He didn't know what to say next.
"Why don't you think about it, my boy? After all, unlike some people, I won't force you into something you do not wish to be a part of."
Lies. Or perhaps a truth from a certain point of view, because Palpatine would just trick people into doing what he wanted.
But, why was he letting Anakin go? He wouldn't do so unless he had a way to get to Anakin and ensure that he said nothing… or regretted saying something. Well, he was under the impression that the Temple knew nothing about 'the infiltrator' he'd projected. And the child Anakin had been acting as would likely be too afraid (had been too afraid in a previous life) to approach the Jedi. If he did, Palpatine would take Anakin down with him… or so he thought.
Had their plans and acting actually worked? Seriously? What had he overlooked? None of his plans ever worked like that.
"In the meantime," Palpatine went on, "if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them."
"How do you do it?" Anakin blurted out, his mouth once more getting the better of him. He blamed it on his child brain (and couldn't wait until he actually grew up… again).
Palpatine raised an eyebrow, once again the doting grandfather. "Do what, my boy?"
Well, in for a credit…
"I know who you are, and yet I just see… this," he gestured to Palpatine, who suddenly looked highly amused. "Just… how. Even when I know what I'm looking for it's so hard to see."
"Well, that is the point," Palpatine said, taking another sip from his wineglass. "But for me, it is merely a matter of motivation. I know what I want, I know what will get me there. I never let that leave my mind. That gives me the motivation to do what I must."
Anakin blinked. Was it honestly that simple?
And what would a young, impressionable boy who feels trapped ask now?
"Um… what do you want?" Was that good enough? He hoped it was.
Sidious snorted softly and brought the glass to his lips again. "What does your master want? What does anyone want? Power."
He smirked at Anakin as he lowered the glass. "I'm simply better at achieving it."
Something behind Anakin drew his attention and his smile dropped a little. "I believe your Jedi guard is getting antsy. Last minute change in plans, I assume?"
What would a hidden, infiltrating Sith Apprentice do? Probably complain.
Anakin could complain.
"He's the one who 'found' me, but he still thinks something's… off." Anakin grinned conspiratorially. "I think he wants to keep an eye on me."
Sidious snorted again. "Typical Jedi. Such incompetence."
That was something Anakin could agree with… or, well, he had experience agreeing with in any case. He didn't quite believe that anymore, even if the Order did need to change. (To be fair, it was changing, he just hoped it was enough.)
So he nodded emphatically. "It has been… frustrating, if amusing."
Palpatine grinned, behind his glass because that was all Sidious. "You and I will get along very well." He lowered his glass and gestured for Anakin to leave. "You should probably return to him, before he concludes that you're here to assassinate the poor, old Chancellor."
It was the time traveler's turn to snort.
"Oh, and I'm sure I don't have to say it, but speak of this to no one. I am a magnanimous man, but even I have my limits."
Oh, he didn't have to tell Anakin that.
"Yes, sir. Of course, sir."
Rot on Byss, sir.
"The force field won't harm you. You can step through it whenever you wish."
Somehow, that didn't make Anakin feel any better. The only reason he trusted Palpatine's word at all at this point was because he wouldn't out himself in front of the entire Senate.
"Of course, sir. I will… consider your offer."
With that, Anakin stepped through the force field, noting how much louder the room suddenly sounded.
"Anakin," Obi-wan said with a forced smile. "Did you enjoy your talk with the Chancellor?"
No. "Yes. It was… very informative."
The taller man blinked in puzzlement and looked back up at the sitting room, where Palpatine was already speaking with another party. He still sent a smile to the two jedi.
"He has excused me for the night, if you feel now is a good time to leave."
"I did just receive a call from Master Yoda saying that we should return to the Temple soon," Obi-wan said as he typed something out on the comm he held. Was probably sending that to Yoda so he could actually issue that message. Everyone should have dropped their packages off by now. He certainly hoped so.
Because he was very much done and needed to get away from Palpatine (and people), try and figure out exactly what was going on and the implications of everything that had just happened.
"Good," was all Anakin could bring himself to say.
The rest of the night passed in a blur, but eventually they got through the crowds and back to the door of the Senate, where the initiates had gathered. Master Windu led them out the door once everyone was accounted for, and onto the transport. Anakin did scan it with the Force – twice – before they got on, but found nothing. Thank the Force for small favors.
The ride back to the Temple felt more like hours along the Hydian Way and by the time Anakin returned, he only wanted to confirm that everyone had dropped their packages off and go to bed. To his relief, all three pairs of younglings returned an affirmative when it came to the red-dotted data sticks.
Anakin congratulated them – he was pretty sure his pure relief surprised them – and then he retreated to his room, where he would sleep and he may very well not get up the next day. Because it was done. He'd finally gotten the information where it needed to go. Now all they could do was wait.
Wait and prepare. Because this was most definitely not the end.
xXx
AN: Yeah, so everyone thinking this would be the big showdown... nope. We still have some things to address first. LOL Hope you liked the extra-long chapter!
Thank you to Hidden50, Quathis and Khalthar for their help on this chapter! Much luv, guys!
Discord: discord. gg/xDDz3gqWfy (no spaces)
