Chapter 31 - Tipping Point

Author's Note: We're still crawling towards the climax! ;)

To Plague: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! And as for what will happen with Anakin and Padme... wait and see. :)

To Jayden: Ooh, I'm happy to see a review from you on this fic! :D I... don't remember hearing anything about what Piell thought about Anakin becoming a Jedi before. If I'd known that, I would definitely have included more in this chapter.

To Guest: Thanks for reviewing! :)

~ Amina Gila

"Report," Anakin requests, rubbing his face and trying to dispel his tiredness – Vader can sense it acutely through the Force. He and Vader have been up all night since the gala, giving out orders and reading through the reports. It was a publicity stunt alright, and it was wildly successful, far more than Vader had fathomed when he first came up with the idea. But now, they need to get a good read on the situation and figure out what their next actions should be.

Crosshair and Tech are the only members of Clone Force 99 who are present. The others submitted written reports, but Anakin thought that they should speak to the sniper in person, since his enhanced eyesight has given him the ability to see things that others might not. And Tech is here to add any additional insight.

"I watched Kenobi," Crosshair answers, helmet held loosely in one hand. "He is… conflicted, I think. He hates the Emperor –" Vader doesn't react to those words only because he expected them; that doesn't mean it doesn't sting anyway, "– And…" The sniper falters for a moment, contemplative. "I believe he is jealous."

"Jealous?" Anakin splutters. "Why – why would he be…?"

"It is quite probable that he is experiencing such emotions," Tech interjects. "This is a time of great turmoil for the galaxy, and the Jedi, in particular, given that a Sith is in control, and you are well aware that the Jedi view them as enemies. It is true that the Jedi are instructed to let go of their emotions, so they do not cloud their judgment, but from what I witnessed, and from the reports that I have seen, I am uncertain if the Jedi, at least those who were present, are actually following that particular directive. Crosshair witnessed many of them displaying various emotions throughout the entire time, many of which were negative in nature."

Vader tilts his helmet towards Anakin, and they silently exchange looks. In truth, he had expected as much.

"I believe the Jedi are planning something," Crosshair says into the silence, "And soon. What do you want us to do?"

It's such a simple question, but it means – it means everything. Vader, in his past, fought with Crosshair and the rest of his squad briefly, and though he doesn't know them well, it means so much to him that they are so willing to stand by and listen to his orders, trusting him to lead them. Clone Force 99 has always been rogue, and for them to submit to his leadership is… it means a lot to him, more than they probably even realize.

"Stay on alert," Vader answers, "And protect Omega."

The sniper smirks slightly. "Already on it," he drawls. "Wrecker has not left her side since the gala, and Hunter is staying close."

"Technically," Tech interrupts, "Hunter is watching over Wrecker and Fives and hoping that they don't blow anything up. Echo is not helping."

"Good." It's Anakin, this time, who speaks, though he's visibly amused by the words – Vader would like to know how Echo and Fives ended up becoming so instantly close with the Bad Batch, but… some things are just meant to be, he supposes. "I don't think the Jedi would fall low enough to attack Ahsoka or Omega, but we cannot take any chances."

"I am planning an announcement for tomorrow," Vader tells them, "Once the initial chaos surrounding this has dissipated a little. If the Jedi are making plans, I will pressure them. I will push them to see if they reach a breaking point even sooner. In their desperation, they will be rash."

Anakin sighs. "It's a good plan… if it didn't mean you would end up at risk." Vader just looks at him, and he rolls his eyes. "I'll contact Rex, Cody, and Fox now. Tell them to up security."

"I can run additional security measures," Tech offers, "So you will know if there is any type of unauthorized perimeter breach ahead of time."

"Keep your eyes open and stay sharp," Vader instructs, looking between the two clones. "That is all."

"My eyes are always open," snips Crosshair, saluting as he and Tech leave the office.

There are a view minutes of silence as Anakin types on his comm, brow furrowed. "Everyone has been notified," he says at last, looking up. "I guess it's just a matter of waiting now."

Vader pushes back from his desk, pacing to the window and staring out at the Coruscant skyline, at the first rays of sunlight creeping up over the horizon. "Indeed."

Anakin moves to stand next to him, and Vader can feel the way he's mulling over something. "Do you think Crosshair is right?" he asks finally, "About Obi-Wan being… jealous?"

He twitches at the words, no matter that he had expected them. Truly, he is conflicted about it. "I… do not know," he admits, "But… I want to believe it is impossible, because I have always viewed Obi-Wan as a perfect Jedi. And yet, I think of how I would feel if another version of me appeared, when I did not know him, and Obi-Wan took him in and… adopted him." This is not the first time he's thought about it, trying to understand how his once master might feel and regard the situation. He has never fully succeeded, even now, since Obi-Wan is an enigma to him.

Anakin presses against his side, their emotions – confusion, hurt, longing, affection – looping together. Suddenly, though this is not the first time, Vader doesn't feel nearly as dark as he once did. He does not feel like a Sith ought to. He just feels… tired.

"I would be upset," Anakin says after a few moments, dully, "And yes… maybe even jealous. But… Obi-Wan –"

"It is as hard for me to imagine it as you," Vader admits.

"Maybe I need to talk to him again." The words are quiet, low, but Vader can feel how much Anakin wants to do anything but. Though he hates the thought of Obi-Wan being hurt, he hates the idea of being hurt by him even more.

"I do not think it would be very productive," he answers, clasping Anakin's shoulder, "And at any rate, we have other things that require our attention. I know you spoke to Padme."

Anakin shakes himself, drawing on the Force, probably to push away his exhaustion, and nods, turning to look at Vader. "Yes, I did," he replies. "She was… surprisingly amiable. She wanted us to go somewhere to talk sometime, so we could catch up and… be together. She said she wishes to understand why I support you so much."

Once, Vader would have only felt relief. Once, he would have told Anakin to immediately act on that. But he is not that foolish anymore, or perhaps time has merely made him more cynical. "I wish to believe that she is genuine," he says slowly, "But I cannot." The Force is… strangely tense, and elusive as well. Neither made him at ease. "I sense… something. We must be cautious. I do not wish to distrust her, but this is a very different attitude from before. Speak to her but be prudent. Do not be alone with her right now."

He catches the flicker of resignation in Anakin's eyes, though he hides it well. "Of course not," he assures. "I will take care. It… I wish this could be different. We were… happy together. … Weren't we? What I remember of the past now, sometimes seems so much at odds with what I see now."

Vader can relate. Majorly. "None of this is easy. It will only continue to be increasingly difficult as time goes on as we take actions which turn the Jedi against us… or bring them fully onto our side. The time to act is now, no matter the consequences. We must be careful and trust in the Force… and each other and… our family."

Anakin offers a weak, half-hearted smirk, nudging him, though Vader hardly feels it. "That sounded very much like a me thing to say, y'know, not a you thing to say."

"Is that so," Vader deadpans.

"Maybe you're finally starting to understand my meaning about the Dark Side," Anakin offers with feigned cheer.

"I… thought about it," he confesses, "What you said about the Dark."

That instantly gets Anakin's attention. "And?"

"You have a point," he agrees grudgingly, "But I do not know if I am… capable, or ready, to make that step. Not yet." Maybe not ever.

Anakin touches him through their bond, light, fleeting, gentle. "It's okay. I understand." He is so good. (Vader stubbornly pushes away the little voice that whispers of how he's capable of the same, if he only tries.)

There's a pause of comfortable silence between them before Anakin shifts, sighing. "What are you planning to do, with the Jedi? How certain are you that this won't backfire?"

"I will push them," Vader tells him, just like he'd said earlier. "I need them to hurt just enough to make them react. I know they are planning something, and it will be worse for both of us if they are able to lay out their schemes." He pauses, gathering his thoughts as he expresses the plan that's been formulating in his mind ever since earlier tonight – well, last night, actually. "I will ban them from taking anymore younglings from their parents, and I will order them to set up a program that allows those still in the creche to have contact with their birth families – except under the most extenuating of circumstances, where the parents were abusive."

Anakin nods, following the train of thought. "And the Jedi will be vehemently against it, since it goes against everything they've ever taught."

"Yes," Vader agrees, "For the sake of keeping peace, the Council will agree, albeit reluctantly, and the Order will fracture, the hardliners, those who pose the most risk to us, will break away. Our potential enemies will be revealed. It will shake the Order."

The younger man ponders it, turning it over in his mind before asking, "Do we have the support to carry out such a move?"

"More and more people by the day are rising up in support of us," Vader replies. He's been watching the public opinion carefully – he has an entire group of clones on it, reporting back to him so he can plan and act accordingly. "Many Republic systems are fully behind us, as are many of the former CIS systems. They see what we are doing, how we are distributing aid and making it easier for them to rebuild their worlds. They are grateful, and they will support us, no matter what we do. The CIS planets have no love for the Jedi after the war. This may increase their support of us, when they see that I do not show favoritism to the Jedi, despite where you and Ahsoka come from."

Anakin huffs out a laugh. "I am continually impressed by your brilliance and ability to play the entire galaxy."

Vader is very tempted to roll his eyes, but he doesn't, if only because Anakin won't see him do it. "If things do not go according to plan, I still have Grievous and the droid armies on standby. While many of the droids have been demobilized, I can change that rapidly should it come down to it."

He's a strategist. That means he'll take risks when he thinks they're necessary, but he'll also have a backup plan in case they don't, and he needs an emergency exit. Vader is nothing if not prepared, especially after seeing how Sidious dealt with everything. Maybe he doesn't like politics, but he can still play the game to achieve the desired end result.

"Are you certain it's wise to change the Jedi so fundamentally?" Anakin queries quietly. "I know that they are corrupt like the system and need to change, but…" He trails off, uncertain, and Vader reaches out to him, taking his hand, even if he himself cannot feel it.

"We were raised by a loving mother, Anakin," he answers, "And when I look at you, and the person you've become, I see someone who is better than the rest of the Jedi. Having a parent changed us, for the better, no matter how much we may have struggled when we were younger, trying to fit in at the Temple. Certainly, we struggled with attachment, and the shadows of the Dark, but that was not because of her."

His lips part, and he shakes his head. "Of course not. And… you're right. We are who we are because of her."

"The Order needs to change," Vader states firmly, "And this is the best way I see to make it do so of its own while rooting out the elements that will cause us harm in the long run."

"So much has changed, because of the war," Anakin states slowly, thoughtfully. "The Jedi were always meant to be peacekeepers, negotiators, but more and more, that has ceased to be the case."

"The Senate have seen the Jedi as their own personal lapdogs, and the Council did nothing to dissuade that," Vader agrees. "It is time for the Jedi to return to their roots."

Anakin leans against the window frame, turning towards him. "How's the reintegration process going, with the Republic and the CIS systems?"

"It is… complicated," Vader answers. "Both sides are upset at the other, and there is much conflict. However, it is better than it was in my time. They are no longer openly fighting, and the CIS have accepted me as their rightful ruler. Individuals on both sides are hopeful for peace, even if they are not particularly keen on having to work peacefully with their erstwhile enemies."

"They want more consequences," Anakin realizes, and Vader inclines his helmet. "Are the Jedi… helping? Settle things, I mean?"

"It is slow progress," Vader replies, "But progress nevertheless." He turns away from the window, returning to his desk. "I need to prepare the statement I will make tomorrow. Perhaps you should plan for your meeting with Padme."

Anakin hesitates. "I can comm her, and we can arrange something for tomorrow, after your announcement. Maybe I can gauge how she feels about all of this at the same time."

"It is a sound plan," Vader answers slowly. "Perhaps you will get a clear idea of what her intentions may be."

"I hope so," he murmurs, moving closer and resting a hand on Vader's shoulder for a moment before leaving the room. The respirator cycles rhythmically, no matter how much Vader wishes he could sigh right now. He's tired, and he has so much work to do.

Being the Emperor is hard. How did Sidious ever manage it?!

**w**

Ahsoka would be lying if she said she wasn't impressed at the courage Vader has as she scrolls through news reports. It's been a couple days since the gala, and only hours ago, Vader released a statement that has shocked the galaxy to the core, in both good and bad ways. He's banned the Jedi Order from taking Force-sensitive younglings, though they may be trained at home with their parents' permission. And all younglings in the creche are supposed to become part of a program to put them into direct, frequent contact with their birth families.

It's a move that will definitely shake the Order to the core, and Ahsoka is admittedly curious to see the chaos that will be unfolding. She doesn't remember her own parents or a life before she became a Jedi, and the knowledge that she could, in fact, try to find them and get into contact with them again is… it is. She has very mixed feelings about it, and she doesn't know if she actually wants to, but she can. Maybe later.

She doesn't really know how she feels about the changes Vader has instituted, but he must know what he's doing, and she has to agree that the Order needs to change.

"Commander?"

Ahsoka looks up at the sound of Echo's voice. He and Fives – and Clone Force 99 – have been sticking close to her and Omega at all times, even though they're safely inside the Emperor's residence. It's almost annoying.

"There's someone here to see you," he tells her, and she pushes herself upright from where she was slouched across the couch. "A Jedi."

"Send them in," she replies, wondering who it could possibly be.

She only has to wait for a minute before Echo ushers Barriss into the room.

"Barriss?" Ahsoka splutters, jolting to her feet and approaching her friend. "What are you doing here?" Of all the people it could have been, she would have guessed Obi-Wan or Plo or… just not Barriss. Wouldn't she have been warned not to have any interactions with Ahsoka by now?

"Ahsoka," Barriss replies, nodding, "I needed to see you."

"What is it?"

"I know you've heard the Emperor's announcement," she says, glancing around the room, almost nervously, "And I needed to talk to you. I – I'm not supposed to be here, but I had to see you."

Ahsoka gestures her to the couch, taking a seat. "So, talk to me."

Barriss sits on the edge, radiating nervous anxiety into the Force. She's fidgeting, and Barriss never fidgets. "The Council is planning something," she says in a low whisper. "I don't know what, but I've heard whispers. There are many in the Order who think that we should start an uprising and storm the Senate to kill the Emperor and your master."

Despite herself, Ahsoka winces. She had expected as much, but hearing it is worse, somehow. "And you don't agree?" she guesses, based on her friend's behavior.

Barriss shakes her head. "We were always meant to be peacekeepers, and our Emperor is letting us step back into that role. He's helping us, even if many in the Order can't see it. I don't want anything to happen to him. I don't want to keep fighting."

"He'll be fine," Ahsoka assures. "He has a lot of protection."

"I know, but that's not why I'm here." Barriss straightens, looking at her seriously. "After his recent announcement, the Order is splitting. Within a few days, after the Council reacts to the news, I think there will be a schism, and I think that the group who walks away will try and kill the Emperor right after. We can't let that happen. I won't let that happen. I'm going to go with them and pretend to be on their side. I won't be alone, don't worry. There are many other Padawans who agree with me. We'll do what we can, Ahsoka, but you need to warn him, and you need to be careful. All of you."

Ahsoka nods, caught off guard by the words. "We'll be careful," she promises, reaching out to take Barriss' hand, squeezing it. "Thank you for the warning."

"Of course," her friend answers, squeezing back before rising and practically running from the room. She's radiating relief into the Force. Relief and hope.

Ahsoka waits until she's gone before reaching for her comm. She needs to talk to Anakin. Both of them. A schism in the Jedi Order. Force, it doesn't even seem real, but Barriss was telling the truth. The galaxy is changing all around them, and Ahsoka has no idea at all how to feel about it now.

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