Chapter 12 - Coruscant

DISCLAIMER: We (unfortunately) do not own Star Wars. :P

Author's Note: In which Anakin and Vader go to Coruscant. ;)

~ Amina Gila

When Anakin brings himself back under control, Vader spares only a moment to ensure that their prisoners are secured before leaving the facility with Anakin at his side. Neither of them speaks as they take a shuttle to Admiral Trench's fleet which is orbiting around the planet while waiting for them, before making the jump to hyperspace, taking the Nexus Route to arrive at Coruscant. The attack will be sudden and unexpected, and with the sudden chaos in the wake of Palpatine's death, it should be relatively easy to take control.

Anakin knows and accepts that there is no chance of restoring peace in the galaxy without far more drastic measures, especially being as the Republic Senate will likely never agree to open peace talks. The war will only drag on, and even if it ends, the Republic is still teetering on the brink of collapse. What Vader is planning will allow them to reshape and restore the Republic while eliminating the corruption. It will keep the entire system from shattering into thousands of pieces in a completely uncontrolled collapse.

No one else will see it that way, Anakin knows, at least very few will, and he is not at all looking forwards to it. Once the fleet has made the jump to hyperspace, Vader joins Anakin in the cabin he's been hiding in since arriving on the Star Cruiser. Maybe he's not actively falling apart, but he still feels very… fragile, as if he might collapse again any moment. He still needs to ask Vader more about his own past, but he's not ready for the emotional ramifications of that yet.

The respirator cycles rhythmically as Vader stands inside the door, staring at Anakin's back. He finally turns away from the viewport and the swirling blue and white to look at the elder. "I… apologize," Vader says, his uncertainty and awkwardness echoing through their bond. "I was not thinking when I tried to make you embrace the Dark Side the way I learned it."

Anakin is – well, taken aback would be an understatement. "I thought I needed to learn to embrace it," he points out, somewhat confused.

"I thought so too," Vader answers, sounding strained somehow, even with the vocoder, "But I – I cannot… do that to you. I thought it would be… easier for you if you accepted the power that I have… but it is wrong. I see that now. I apologize for the harm it caused you."

Anakin blinks at Vader in a confused stupefaction. This was literally the last thing he expected to hear from the Sith Lord. Truthfully, he no longer knows if he wants to embrace the Dark Side, at least to the extent that Vader has been talking about, but he gets the feeling that even if he did want to become a full Sith, Vader would object and refuse to teach him. Maybe that's not a bad thing, because Anakin doesn't think that it can be normal for Sith to learn to use the Dark Side through such a deep, intense self-loathing. Is that normal? Or is it simply something that Sidious did to Vader because it was easier?

Maybe that isn't a question he wants answered anyways. "It's okay," Anakin replies, knowing he needs to say something to reassure Vader. "We learn from mistakes, and if I hadn't… done that… well, it taught us something." There's a brief flare of hatred directed inwards, but Vader doesn't react visibly, though he does take a few steps closer.

"I – I am sorry about everything which I have done to you," Vader says, and Anakin mentally braces himself for what is probably going to be a long discussion of him reassuring Vader that he's fine. "I know you are struggling. I took you away from your family."

"They're your family too," Anakin murmurs, feeling tears sting his eyes. He wishes that Obi-Wan could be half this considerate and worry about his feelings the way Vader is. They wouldn't have had nearly as many problems if he did. Oh, Anakin knows that he never meant to hurt him most of the time, but he did. And is. More than that, it hurts to feel Vader's pain, to know that he's suffering the loss of his own family, whatever happened to them. He's here now, in the past, and these are not the people he knew. They never will be.

Vader is silent for one respirator cycle. "Not anymore." His words echo Anakin's thoughts, but it still makes him ache for Vader. He can't begin to imagine what it would be like to be doomed to an eternal loneliness of that nature. "I… was not thinking clearly. I – looking back, I see that I did not need to obtain your assistance. You could have remained with your family, and nothing would have changed."

Anakin can feel the horror rising in him at the mere thought of fighting with Vader and trying to kill him. It makes him sick to think about, especially when he knows how easily it could have happened. If he hadn't known who Vader was, if Vader hadn't sought his help, they would have fought. Anakin would have tried to kill him, because he would have genuinely believed that the Jedi are right about the Sith, that the Sith are evil and need to be destroyed. He would have wanted vengeance for Palpatine's death. Oh Force.

"No," he manages to say, shaking his head, "No, I – I would have been blind to the truth, to the flaws in the Order, the Republic. I wouldn't want that. I – being ignorant to the truth doesn't make it any less real. There is no where I would rather be than with you, Vader."

He feels a complicated swell of emotions from Vader, and his fists clench, but he says nothing, struggling with himself internally. "If you are sure." The disbelief in Vader's voice is audible even with the vocoder.

"I have never been more certain of anything in my life," Anakin answers firmly. He waits for one respirator cycle, before asking the question that he's been wondering. "You had a flashback – right? – back during the fight at the Citadel. What… happened?"

He feels a lot more settled down, the calm within the storm that is Vader. He doesn't really like what happened, but he is at peace with it, at least as much as he can be. The most important thing for now is for them to keep moving, to work towards their end goals. They have to stay together, because if they don't, they'll have no one. It hurts, but Anakin is alright with that. If his family can't accept and understand him after he's explained himself then… perhaps it's better like this.

Now that he's calmer again, he registers how badly his shoulder is hurting. It still hasn't fully healed from the blaster bolt which hit it back on Serenno. He should never have been fighting with it for so long because he knows that it might not heal right. The best he can do now is let it rest and put bacta on it. He can take care of that once he finishes speaking to Vader.

"Fighting Obi-Wan… it reminded me of – of Mustafar," Vader replies haltingly. "It was… sudden, and his appearance… is almost the same."

Anakin understands, and he doesn't know what he can even say to Vader. He wishes that they could find a way to make Obi-Wan and Ahsoka understand as well, but he doesn't know how. One thing at a time, he reminds himself. He can only handle so many things at once, and the galaxy comes first.

"Did you strain your shoulder?" Vader inquires suddenly.

Anakin grimaces. "Yes? I'll put bacta on it again, don't worry," he reassures him, looking around the cabin. There's probably a medkit here somewhere; it is meant for organic beings, after all. "It'll be fine. I shouldn't need to be using it once we arrive."

Vader's silent, hopeful agreement echoes into the Force between them. They don't always need to talk to convey thoughts, for which Anakin is grateful. Sometimes, it's easier not to talk.

**w**

Anakin joins Vader on the bridge when the Star Destroyer jolts out of hyperspace. When he arrives, Vader is closing a communication link, and Anakin knows that he's probably issued orders to the clones, so they don't attack them. One of the many orders programmed into their minds forces them to support an outsider in taking control over the Senate. Sidious really prepared for everything, and Anakin finds that as impressive as he does sickening.

Really, this whole situation isn't pleasant. Neither of them wants to use the clones in this manner, but it's preferable to slaughtering thousands – not to mention the civilian casualties – in a bid to take control over the Senate and cement their power. With the clones supporting them, the few Jedi on the planet are not nearly enough to cause a problem or stop them from flying down to the Senate with an escort of droids and clones both.

The Jedi clearly realize that they are outnumbered, because they do not fight as Vader lands the shuttle on the Senate landing platform. He has, Anakin thinks, already contacted Mas Amedda and ordered him to call an emergency meeting. This is not what Anakin ever thought would or could happen, and it still seems so surreal. But it's happening, and its only Vader's presence that keeps him grounded.

The 501st Legion are the ones accompanying them, Rex walking only feet behind them. He says nothing if he recognizes Anakin beneath the hood covering his face, and Anakin doesn't know if he would – or could – anyways, given the inhibitor chip. It hurts, and it makes him sick. As soon as they're secured the Senate and established an Empire, Anakin intends to have all the chips removed from the clones. They deserve better, and if they support the Empire, they will do so willingly, because they want to, not because they're told to.

The Senate feels… different, an almost pervasive air of uncertainty and dread permeating the air. Anakin instinctively reaches out to find Padme, locating her amidst all of the other living presences nearby, checking to ensure that she's alright. She's stressed, he can feel, but she's okay. It will have to be enough, because she will be furious when she knows that Anakin is supporting Vader. Anakin loves her, but she is… an idealist. She is determined to fix the Republic, and she refuses to accept that the system is too far gone to be repaired. It has to be remade, and that's not something which can be done while it's still a democracy. Not anymore.

No one stops them as they enter the main chamber, the central podium rising, the one which the Chancellor has always stood in. Anakin tries not to think about how he can still feel the residue and echoes of Palpatine's presence, about how he actually misses the man that was grooming him to become his apprentice, the man who tortured and broke Vader. It's completely messed up, and he knows he shouldn't feel that way, but he does.

The murmurs begin almost instantly when the Senators see Vader there; they recognize him, of course, as the new leader of the Separatists, and for many of them, their fear is tangible. Vader lets the silence linger for a moment, helmet turning as he scans the many individuals here.

"I hate politicians," he sends to Anakin through their bond, his loathing and disgust obvious.

Anakin sends him a wave of support and affection in response, and only then, does Vader speak up. "You know me, I assume, but for those of you who might not, I am Darth Vader, current leader of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. And seeing as I am standing here, it seems I have won this conflict."

There are angry voices and protests, but Vader only lifts a hand to cut them off, not even bothering to listen. "I am not here to argue with you," he continues. "I am here to tell you that the war has gone on long enough. People have died. Thousands, millions of people have died and are continuing to suffer in each passing day. The damage to the galaxy is monumental, and you refuse to listen to the people and work in the best interests of everyone. Had you not been so fearful of losing your power, this war might never have begun."

He isn't wrong, and Anakin knows that there are many Senators who will support his calls for an end to the fighting. The trick is to sway the vast majority of them in their favor. It won't be easy, but once Vader has said his part, Anakin will step forwards and pledge support to Vader. The knowledge that a Jedi, one revered as a hero, is supporting Vader publicly will be enough to sway even more Senators to their side.

"Of course, let us not forget the small fact that the late Chancellor Palpatine plotted the start of the war with the late Count Dooku," Vader adds, the sarcasm in his voice unmistakable. "It might be hard for you to hear, but it is the truth. Palpatine sought power, and because of the outbreak of the Clone Wars, the Chancellor's office obtained innumerable powers. By playing both sides, Palpatine ensured that, whatever the outcome, he would win, because he could twist it to his own best interests."

The rise of angry and disbelieving murmurs increases, and Anakin wonders if Vader mentioned that tidbit of information too early. Speaking out against Palpatine and making such seemingly outlandish claims without evidence might work against him. Perhaps, he thinks sardonically, he is more of a politician than he thought, but oh, he hates this game. There is too much falsehood and deceit for him to ever be comfortable here.

"I will provide evidence, I assure you," Vader speaks over the rising voices. "You need not accept my word for it. I would not expect you too, anyways. But my point still stands: the war has gone on for long enough. Regardless of the myriad of reasons behind it's start, the fact remains that many people have suffered and are continuing to suffer the longer it goes on. The galaxy has seen enough bloodshed and chaos. We need to bring peace. There is too much division, too much corruption. I am not the only one who holds these views."

He steps back, gesturing to Anakin to step forwards and take the podium. He does, pushing back his hood to what feels like a collective gasp from the assembled Senators. "Darth Vader is right," he declares, his voice echoing throughout the chamber and getting as much attention as Vader's was only a moment ago, perhaps even more, for his face is well-recognized. As much as he hates his fame, in this moment, he is glad, because he can use it for the betterment of… everyone.

"Vader is a Sith, and for many centuries, their Order has been diametrically against the Jedi," Anakin explains, "But now, we are working together for the greater good. I see no reason that the Republic and Separatists cannot do likewise. We stand on the threshold of a new beginning. We can reunite the galaxy here today if we only have the courage to take that step."

The crowd is captivated, hanging on Anakin's every word, and Vader takes over the speech again without missing a beat, their hearts and minds working synonymously to achieve to the desired outcome. Anakin can feel the way Vader is bending the Force, making his words echo with a tendril of listen to me, imbuing his words with an underlying you must accept this. Maybe it's cheating, but it's not as if Sidious hasn't done the same for years, and they aren't doing this for themselves; they're doing it for the people.

"We will never again have to be divided, never have to face the pain of internal war and conflict and strive, never have to fight each other," Vader intones, and this time, Anakin can hear some of the cheers which are ringing out. Politicians are so easily manipulated. "The Republic needs to change. It must evolve. It must grow. In order to ensure our security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire, for a safe and secure society which I assure you will last for ten thousand years."

Is he quoting Sidious? He certainly might be. It would be the absolute irony, using Palpatine's own moves to steal away the Empire he had wanted for his own.

The Senate cheers wildly, a thunderous applause echoing throughout the chamber as if they've really forgotten who is speaking to them. "The Empire will continue to be ruled by this body, and it will have a sovereign ruler chosen for life. We will never again return to the political maneuvering and corruption that have allowed the Republic to degenerate to this point. We will be ruled by the majority, and we will work for the betterment of everyone, for the preservation of a safe and secure society!"

Vader gestures to Mas Amedda, and Anakin knows that he's telling the former vice-Chancellor to submit a vote to the Senators, though he has little doubt as to the outcome from how wildly they're cheering. The results come back as Anakin knew they would: affirmative. The majority of the Senators present voted in favor of forming a Galactic Empire. Now, the hard work begins.

"I am willing to accept the title of Emperor from the Senate," Vader says, a submissive humility in his tone, "And I shall do my utmost to bring security and stability to the galaxy." He pauses dramatically, respirator cycling twice before he turns his helmet, looking straight at Anakin. "I, Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, Emperor of the Galactic Empire hereby do claim Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight, General of the 501st Legion of the Galactic Army of the Empire to be my son and heir."

Wait. What?!

The crowds cheer wildly, screaming in support of the both of them, and all Anakin can do is stare numbly at Vader. Since when? Since when was that part of the plan? He never knew. Vader never told him, and he's completely overwhelmed, the knowledge that he legally has a father now overwhelming him. He wants – he wants to embrace the Sith and never let go, but not here. The silent sharing of comfort and affection is one best left for private.

"I accept, my Emperor," Anakin says quietly, bowing low to Vader, knowing that the gesture – and words – are important for the public to see.

Vader touches his mind through their bond, conveying in a single touch the depths of his affection and happiness. He's being powered by the feelings of the assembled, and it's exhilarating. They did it. They really did it.

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