Heyyyy guys!
Sorry I'm a bit late with this chapter and I appreciate those of you who checked up on me. Lots of busy things happening in life.
However, I'm very glad to have released this before Thanksgiving, as I will be with friends and family and won't have much opportunity for writing. Right off the bat, I will say this chapter has the least amount of fluff out of all the post climax chapters. But the tone needs to reflect the atmosphere of what's going on.
In any case, I also have one more thing to say. This site has been glitching for awhile now. People don't get alerts through their emails. I'm getting notifications that my own email is disconnected from site alerts. And I haven't received proper story stats for two months. In other words, the lifespan of this site looks bleak.
I love and will continue to post here as long as I am able. But when and if it becomes nonfunctioning, I invite all of you to A03. This fic is posted there as well. Just in case the worst happens.
Anyway, leave those reviews and comments! And enjoy:)
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."- The United States Constitution of 1787
Chapter 49. Union
Four months later…
"-undermines the principles of good governance. Not to mention the peace, union, and happiness of this galaxy!"
A series of shouts and finger pointing followed.
"Order! Representative Baldo please keep your voice to an appropriate volume while speaking in this chamber. The floor recognizes Representative Avi Singh from Raxus Secondus."
The noise dissipated enough to allow the Senator's words to carry over.
"The Senator from Commenor fails to remember that a huge portion of the worlds from the Outer Rim suffered greatly from neglect and the general avarice that plagued this body for decades. Those lucky enough to be within sight of Coruscant were happy to benefit from this arrangement. But I tell you now, sir- it will NOT happen again! And under current conditions, we cannot ratify this document."
More uproar. Padme Amidala blew a frustrated sigh. Normally a vociferous part of any debate, she found herself lacking the energy for it.
"Senator Singh! You are belaboring the point which has already been made," a white haired, elderly human at the center of the Convocation Chamber thundered. With tufty hair, sharp blue eyes, a pointed nose, and thin frame, Alton Randyke had the look of a sky hawk. But being the last respectable Supreme Court Justice before Palpatine took over, he was temporarily elected to the position of Vice Chair, a ceremonial role that only gave him the power to moderate the floor. It was one of the few things that members of the convention could agree on.
"The Republic was founded by those same worlds you carelessly demonize, Senator," Baldo seethed. "A former traitor should be more careful with his words."
"Who was a traitor?" Singh shot back. "When each of our respective sides was controlled by the same damn person!"
To say that there had been tension between loyalists and former Separatists understated the grievances of both. Many had answered the call, but not everyone celebrated. Some of Padme's Core World colleagues had secretly hoped that the ex-Confederate worlds would stay away, ensuring their continued dominance of the new government taking shape.
Of course, nothing in politics was ever straightforward. Especially when creating an entirely different Constitution.
"Representative Singh you will cease!" boomed Randyke, slamming down his rod. Unlike Mas Amedda (currently incarcerated for his role in Palpatine's scheme and awaiting trial), the ex Chief Justice commanded real authority, not deceptive sleight of hand used by his predecessor.
"Goodness gracious, I'm too old for this," he murmured before a pod from his upper left detached, floating in to calm the fray.
"Vice Chair," said the voice of Giddean Danu. "Perhaps it's best we defer the motion for the time being. There are still several clauses yet to be codified, including executive authority."
"Agreed. Senators, will you defer your motion on proportional representation?"
Randyke's tone didn't leave much room for dissent. Singh and Baldo gave no objection.
"The chair recognizes Senator Danu from Kuat."
Danu bowed before continuing. "Fellow citizens, I-"
She was only half listening to the debate. Fatigued, bloated, and more than a bit irritated, the Senator glanced down at her swollen belly and placed two hands on it. Love flooded her heart. A reminder that this work was for them. Padme wanted the twins to be born into a galaxy far better than the one she and Anakin had been raised in.
I love you, was her internal message.
A gentle kick followed. Having been pregnant for what seemed like an eternity, Padme already felt as though she knew her children. Light, happy kicks almost always meant Luke.
"Senator Amidala, yousa doin okay?"
Jar Jar had leaned over and in a rare instance of tact, showed concern in those normally unfocused, childlike eyes (he'd also decided to whisper instead of shout).
"Yes, Jar Jar. Just the babies."
"Oooo, moi moi dast bombad. Yousa actually feelin dem?"
Padme couldn't help but smile. She was aware that to Jar Jar, an amphibious Gungan, human reproduction must have been a novel concept. Of course, he was also lucky that Anakin hadn't pushed him out of an airlock when an investigation revealed that he had unknowingly provided her poisoned tea courtesy of Palpatine.
"Yes, I can," she said in a low voice while the debate went on. "Feel for yourself."
Jar Jar appeared eager, though he hovered his hand over her midsection, as if afraid he might ignite some clumsy accident by touching it. Padme gave an encouraging smile.
"Ooo!" he shrieked. Several Senators in nearby pods shot him dirty looks. "Mesa feels a big big kick!" She pressed a finger to her lips to quiet down her companion.
Leia, Padme thought to herself with some amusement. The strongest, most aggressive kicks were usually from her, often in the presence of unflattering company. A little fighter.
Speaking of unflattering people, Orn Free Ta had entered the debate, which usually meant nothing good. Or a long winded speech that went nowhere. Bail had to restrain Mon from assaulting the man after Palpatine's death.
"-this is crippling the executive branch. Sith Lord or not, Palpatine had a firm hand. Strong leadership is needed when the galaxy can barely hold itself together."
Even a broken clock was right twice a day. Padme admitted the obese twi'lek had a point. When Bail dissolved the legal status of the Old Republic, it temporarily increased the likelihood things would fall apart all over again. The only thing standing between anarchy and order was this squabbling assortment of politicians. Not exactly a ringing endorsement.
"The Office of the Chancellor must be able to take on some degree of power during emergencies!" Free Ta boomed.
That prompted a fierce reprisal from Garm Bel Ilbis.
"Nonsense!" The Corellian fired back. "It's because we gave Palpatine too much power in the first place that we're in this mess. The Chancellorship should be more of a ceremonial role than an active one."
"Then the Outer Rim is doomed," came the voice of a Senator she vaguely recognized as from the planet Aragonar, a Separatist world. "Again at the mercy of a government that does not care for it. The Senate will go back to what it was before the war!"
"Do you want to fight another one!?"
It was then that Padme decided to make her move. Though a being of passion, as she had learned from Mon, sometimes it was more advantageous to say nothing in a heated debate until the exact moment. She arose and pressed the main button in her pod, detaching it from the rotunda.
"Excuse me, Senators."
Randyke boomed his rod down thunderously. "The floor recognizes Senator Padme Amidala of Naboo."
"I move we take a break from these proceedings and enter a recess."
It was a sabacc card she seldom played, being the 'frail woman'. But in this case, it provided cover for an alternate purpose: to regroup and give themselves more time to tweak the document that was due for a vote.
She saw the sympathy in the eyes of her colleagues, full of brimming concern for a heavily pregnant woman that had been poisoned by a Sith Lord. Randyke especially.
"Does any Representative have an objection?"
When no one voiced any, Randyke slammed down his rod."This Senate is now in recess to be reconvened later this rotation at seventeen hundred."
Pods retreated back to their stations. Padme glanced up at Chandrila's spot to the upper left and Mon gave a nod. They'd need to meet with Bail immediately. Jar Jar blinked with confusion.
"Mesa no get it, Senator. Whaten yousa doin?"
"Strategy, Jar Jar."
She was helped to her feet by a pair of handmaidens and made a mental note to tell Threepio not to prepare any dinner. This was going to be a long night.
Padme only hoped that Anakin was having an easier time on his mission. She sent a prayer to the universe to bring about the safe return of her beloved husband.
As it turned out, ending a war, even a contrived one, was quite messy.
Anakin Skywalker clenched his fingers and then unclenched them. He'd been doing this several times over the past couple of hours. A habit picked up when stressed or emotionally strained. A man of action, he found the itch to always be doing something. Staying idle when decisiveness was needed got people killed, a belief formed from personal experience.
Yet as he stared out the window of the Venator Class Cruiser into the deep vacuum of space, the Redoubt, Anakin privately acknowledged there were situations beyond his capacity to control. It was the worst feeling in the world and he hated every second of it.
Navymen moved about and buzzed to each other various readings on the deck. Admiral Yularen hung back, engaged with Commander Cody over a holomap. Obi-Wan stood by, not too close but not too far. He understood when his brother desired personal space and when to enter that space. Sometimes it was best to let Anakin make the first move.
"Has anything come back yet?"
"No, Anakin. Not yet."
"He should have checked in by now. At least sent an update of some kind."
Obi-Wan moved to join Anakin by the edge of the bridge, though he still maintained a four foot distance.
"Captain Rex is one of the most capable soldiers in the entire army. Let's have a bit of faith he will complete his mission."
"We should just bombard the planet to ashes and leave."
Obi-Wan raised a concerned eyebrow. "First of all, the planet is already on fire. Second, how would that look to the Senate currently in the process of writing a new constitution?"
"Not good," Anakin snapped. "I don't care. Gunray should die for everything that he's done."
Obi-Wan placed a hand over his beard, a habit whenever he was immersed in thought about anything."You're right. Gunray does deserve death. Probably far worse. But it's imperative we do this the right way, Anakin. The legitimacy of this new government will be undermined if it simply blasts people out of the way."
Bail Organa had insisted on taking the rest of the Separatist leaders alive to put them on trial. It gave him political cover as an otherwise peaceful man recognizing the need for military dominance in certain instances. Someone willing to take on the source of the greed that plagued the Old Republic.
But it also put Anakin and Obi-Wan in a near impossible bind. Gunray, though a coward, was not above using violence to get what he wanted. The GAR had to be cautious in their approach, while the Nemoidian had dug in with a sizable force on Mustafar. Compounding all of this was the need to take him into custody before ratification, as the public expected an official end to the war and would not have an appetite for extended conflict with corporate guilds.
Anakin stood silent, continuing to stare out the window in an act of personal defiance. Mustafar was a planet that had little significance to most people, a fiery hellish world at the very edges of civilization. But to him it would always carry the memory of his greatest failure. A reminder that he once committed the unthinkable.
This kriffin sucks.
"Admiral, send another transmission to Rex and his squad."
"Yes, sir."
The mission required stealth to be sure, but it wasn't like his Captain to go radio silent for this long. Standard protocol dictated a signal should have been sent out upon reaching the planet's surface.
The Force gave an unpleasant lurch. Something wasn't right. He sensed that much.
"So, how is Padme?"
Anakin normally might have brushed off Obi-Wan, but he recognized the attempt at a positive distraction. "She's fine…I guess. We talked yesterday."
It still took some getting used to not having to use the 'spot checking gear' excuse with Rex anymore in order to talk to his wife. Or not having to hide said wife from Obi-Wan. He elaborated a bit more.
"She's uh…a bit stressed from all the politics."
"Quite understandable. I do hope they're close to reaching an agreement."
Anakin shrugged. He mostly ignored all this stuff and didn't trust politicians in the best of times. But this was also Padme's profession, the one she excelled at. If anyone could help make the galaxy a better place, it was her (and maybe Bail Organa).
"She can't give me a lot of detail but I think it'll be soon."
Obi-Wan nodded before switching gears. "And how are the babies?"
Luke and Leia. Anakin's stomach pitched forward in a somersault. Force, he loved them so and they weren't even born yet. He wanted nothing but the best for his future children…and yet the meanest part of himself was always whispering dark taunts. That he wasn't worthy of them…that he'd hurt them just as Vader had.
Anakin could grit his teeth and ignore most of that. But then bad dreams started to come back. They were like holovideos on a constant loop being played in his head- a red lightsaber slicing off the hand of a young man with blond hair…the screams of a woman in white being poked and prodded by sharp, cruel instruments…
"Anakin?" Obi-Wan jolted him back from his spiraling.
"They're healthy," he said, forcing a smile to his face. "Doctor said they should be due soon. Twins tend to be born a little bit earlier than nine months."
His heart yearned for Padme, her soothing words and gentle touch were the only things keeping him sane. Stars, couldn't they be done with this? Three weeks of blockading this godforsaken planet and Gunray refused to surrender or go anywhere. They should collect Rex and-
"Sir. We're receiving a transmission."
"Is it, Rex? Has he landed on the surface?"
Anakin detected the bleak tone in Yularen's voice immediately.
"No, General. The source of the transmission is from the Klegger Corp Mining Facility headquarters."
"Put it through," Obi-Wan ordered, though both Jedi knew who would be on the other end. Sure enough, the image of a familiar, grubby looking Nemoidian appeared over the holotable at the center of the bridge.
"Jedi Masters Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. How…expected."
Anakin was prepared to return the barb, but Obi-Wan beat him to it. "Have you decided to surrender, Gunray? A wise choice."
The viceroy curled his lipless mouth. "Hmph, the arrogance. No, Master Jedi I will not be surrendering today. In business, you must have insurance. And now…I have the ultimate insurance policy."
Anakin's heart dropped a thousand feet when Captain Rex was pulled into view, armor removed and binders slapped across his wrists.
"Tell Bail Organa to reverse the decision to liquidate my company and drop all charges. Then, I will consider leaving your friend and his squadron in one piece."
"You are making a grave mistake, Viceroy."
It was a bold move for someone as soft as their fleshy, insectoid body. But Gunray was a bug without much to lose and everything to gain.
"On the contrary. This is an investment that's sure to pay off."
Between the Nemoidian's distinct accent, the obnoxious headgear and all the injury Gunray had ever inflicted on his family, Anakin's temper snapped.
"You will regret this," he snarled, pointing a gloved finger at the hologram. "If so much as a single hair on his head gets touched, they'll never find your body."
Obi-Wan flinched at the sound of Anakin's voice turning into a menacing growl. Gunray did too but recovered enough to taunt them one last time.
"You have my demands. If you try to rescue your men, they will die."
The transmission ended and Obi-Wan's hand moved from his beard to the edge of his hairline.
"Contact Chancellor Organa. It seems things just got a lot more complicated."
Everything is political.
A rare instance of an original thought. Bail Organa had studied under numerous teachers: Finis Valorum, Bail Antilles, even his own father. He was an indirect and direct descendant of multiple royal lines and married into another, forsaking his own surname. Over the course of half a lifetime, he held numerous titles including Viceroy, First Chairman, Governor, Senator, and Acting Chancellor. All this experience taught him no issue could go unexploited.
"Sir, we need to make a decision. The galaxy cannot function without a legal foundation."
Bail pressed two hands together and put them against his nose. Surrounding him in his personal office (he still preferred not to use the Chancellor's suite) were an assortment of allies, Senators, aides, and even a Jedi: Master Yoda. All beings with varying opinions and life experiences. Navigating them was an act of politics in itself.
"I'm aware, Dram."
"Then let's call for a vote and get this done. I've had my people do polling. The numbers are there and when elections are called it will be the same in the Senate."
"If we attempt to do so now, there's a real chance the Outer Rim will vote no en masse. Without unanimity, this new constitution will be nothing more than a scrap of paper to a significant portion of the galaxy."
Another Senator, this one from Dowut, leaned forward against his desk. A tall man with black, slick back hair and a sharp nose by the name of Pendo Ramon.
"We've conceded enough already. A line item veto on any bill that funds a development project without full consent of native governments on Outer Rim worlds. Enshrined collective bargaining rights. Guaranteed postwar reconstruction money. What more can they ask for?"
"Everything you mentioned can be watered down depending on which political party has the majority," Mon Mothma pointed out. "Which gives said party the power to appoint whoever they want to committees, bring legislation to the floor, and approve judges to sector courts. All of these institutions were and are controlled by members of the Core Worlds."
"That's the price of democracy," Dram Hockner sniffed.
Senator Yarua bellowed in protest, its intention all too clear even for those who didn't speak the Wookies tongue. 'A rigged democracy.'
Bail sighed. Juggling the interests of the powerful Core and the Outer Rim had been a perilous project for hundreds of Chancellors since the Ruusan Reformation a thousand years ago. Further complicating matters, a good chunk of the Core Worlds who had opposed Palpatine towards the end and made the strongest push to defend democracy, had also the most to lose if the balance of power shifted. That they could not see the hypocrisy of their position just added to the general list of problems.
Padme Amidala raised herself up, swollen belly and all, lifting the hem of her long skirt.
"Senator Yarua is correct. If the Outer Rim and the former Separatists feel we're shortchanging them, it will not be long until another war breaks out. And there's every chance the next person leading it will be worse than Palpatine."
In truth, it was hard to fathom anyone worse than a psychopathic Sith Lord leading a conflict in which both sides answered to him. But the warning was well placed. And it had the effect of cooling some of the hotter tempers in the room.
Master Yoda had said nothing so far, a trend the old Jedi had continued for the past four months. The old toad sat in silence, deep in thought.
Dram Hockner, in dramatic contrast to the Grandmaster, continued to prattle. He looked like a religious vicar preaching on some faraway world in black robes with a high white collar.
"Senator Amidala, the Outer Rim seeks nothing more than the subversion of the state in favor of tyranny-"
Bail held up a hand and gave the man the sharpest stare he could muster. Hockner fell silent like a child being reprimanded. He found he had to do this more often as the seat of power grew more comfortable. Leaders should not be authoritarian but there were times they had to be authoritative.
"Enough, Dram." He pressed a button calling for TC-71 and stood from his chair. "I'd like to discuss this privately with Senators Mothma, Amidala, Bel Ilbis, and Master Yoda. Please have your aides take a headcount of who is currently in favor of ratification and who isn't."
When only the aforementioned five remained in the room, the Acting Chancellor gestured for them to sit. He looked out at the sunny skies dominating the Coruscant horizon, wishing that he could experience Alderaan's mild weather. Toniray grapevines would be in season right about now.
Knowing what had happened in the future, he vowed never to take his homeworld for granted again. "It seems there is one more impasse to clear before reaching the finish line," he said to his colleagues.
"Two, technically," Bel Ilbis grumbled, sinking into his elegant, black chair. "No one can agree on what the role of the Chancellor should be, how much power they should have, or even what happens if a dictator threatens democracy again. Some have suggested doing away with the position altogether."
Mon Mothma bristled.
"That is a violation of the separation of powers. I despised Palpatine with every fiber of my being, and yet there is a need for some type of executive authority."
"This isn't about reason or logic," Padme emphasized to everyone in the room. She had opened her mouth just as Bel Ilbis was about to reply. "The fact of the matter is, the Outer Rim doesn't trust the old guard enough to endorse this new constitution."
Bail looked at her intently but not in the same way he'd done with Dram Hockner. He felt real pride in witnessing his protege, heavily pregnant and exhausted, devote every ounce of her being not already in service to her unborn children, help establish a government the galaxy deserved.
"This is why people lost faith in the first place and put that faith in a man like Palpatine. Whether he accomplished anything is irrelevant…they perceived him as someone sympathetic to their concerns. Someone who listened and didn't wait to take action."
"Couldn't we implement some sort of system to prevent another Sith Lord from infiltrating the Senate?" Bel Ilbis was often too quick to speak in his haste to solve a problem. "Master Yoda, is there not a way to discern whether someone is of the Force?"
The irony of the question almost caused Yoda to smile in a sad sort of way, a sadness illuminated by his response.
"If foolproof our sight was, detect Sidious from the beginning we would have."
"But there are tests, no?" the Corellian said, gripping his chair tightly. "I've heard blood samples can be scanned for the Force."
Yoda closed his eyes for a few seconds, and opened them. He let out a soft 'hmmm.' "To a potentially dark place this could lead us. The Force is within all things and all beings. Intent, a test does not reveal."
"And there is the fact that being a Sith is still not illegal," Mon said, shooting a frustrated glare at the Corellian. "Despite numerous attempts to do so, too many in the Senate feel that would constitute a selective ban on one religion, of which there are millions in this galaxy."
"And what else can we do, if not that? For star's sake we're in the position of writing and codifying a whole new damn document. When has there ever been a better time to outlaw a dangerous cult?"
Bel Ilbis, passionate as always, was almost out of the chair by now. TC-71 could not have come at a better moment, tottering in with a tray full of refreshments. Bail gratefully took his: a Balosar scotch. He'd needed quite a few of them lately.
"Gentleman and ladies, this is not merely about what we can pass. If that were the case, there would be no point in this convention. The anti-Palpatine faction could write any new law it wanted. No, this is about messaging. And we must send a message that the galaxy is unified and whole again. Anything less is unacceptable."
"People have suffered too much for too long," Padme added. "Whatever follows the Old Republic will be imperfect, but it has to be more competent than what came before. It has to care."
If anyone had a right to emphasize the point of morality, it was the young woman from Naboo who's personal journey had taken her from the sands of Tatooine to the seediest depths of Coruscant's underworld. She'd been poisoned, infected, and had her home blockaded by a corporation who dared to operate as a legal political entity on its own.
Padme turned to Yoda with a spark of an idea.
"Master Yoda, would the Jedi be willing to step in when necessary? Say, in the event of a Chancellor or Senator who refused to give up power."
Yoda hummed. Bail had noticed a change in the Grandmaster's demeanor in the aftermath of the battle in Palpatine's office. He was more…subdued, less grim, offering wisdom in specific moments, but not unless prompted. Dare he say it, there was more twinkle dancing about those green orbs.
"Approval from the Council, I would need. For that kind of power…dangerous to have it is."
"The Jedi would be the only independent institution left in such a scenario," Mon argued. "The only one opposing parties could trust."
"And yet, trust the Jedi many do not. For great power we once had. Control of the military, millions of enslaved soldiers, deciding life and death itself. And yet part of a game we could not see, went astray we did…" his ears twitched as he gazed around the room, breathing in the Force.
"It would only be during emergencies and for a limited time." Bail leaned forward in his chair. It was a good idea and he hoped Yoda would see the wisdom in it. "We could legally establish that precedent by writing a clause in the Constitution."
"At this point that's probably the one compromise the Outer Rim might accept," Bel Ilbis conceded, catching on. He drained his own beverage filled with brown liquid and gave a rough cough. "Otherwise, I'm going to need a few more of these."
"It still might not be enough," Mon said, setting aside her water on the clear, glass table in front of them.
Bail rifled through his thoughts and came to a stop on an idea he'd been saving for some time. One he hoped to avoid but that seemed inevitable now.
"We can guarantee representation on committee assignments," he said at last. "At least two seats. That way Outer Rim worlds can have more influence in legislation brought to the floor."
Even that made Mon Mothma uneasy. He perceived why. Chandrilan's were notorious sticklers for protocol and procedure.
"Committee assignments are decided by the governing coalition," she said a bit stiffly.
"It doesn't have to undermine the majority party," Bail said smoothly. "Remember that the Outer Rim is not a monolith. That region represents a diverse group of species and interests. Whoever has control of the Senate will simply have to represent a larger portion of their constituents than just the wealthy."
No one said anything. No one wanted to throw cold pessimism on a spark of hope. Yoda sensed this more acutely than anyone, for he voiced aloud what politicians were often good at hiding: their true feelings.
"Unsure and uncertain are you."
"Master Yoda…" Bail hesitated to ask but mustered the gall to do so anyway. "Can you see what will happen in the future depending on what's decided here tonight?"
He'd only ever been a part of the Senate when the Jedi's vision had been clouded and neglected to mention it, a fact many Senators were still sore about. Now that the darkness had been defeated, perhaps that had changed.
As usual the Grandmaster was more cryptic than straightforward.
"Misunderstood a Jedi's knowledge of the future is. True, we can see many turns events might take. True, we can anticipate actions before they occur. But to rely on this entirely, folly it is. Even with the retreat of the dark side, foresee all we cannot."
And then Yoda gave the smallest of smiles. "Many paths you can walk. But which one? Harder to answer. Sometimes, better it is to stay in the present than the future."
"It is precisely because of the future we're here debating these topics," Bel Ilbis said somewhat impatiently.
But for once, Bail thought he had a glimpse of understanding. Risks were a part of the job they had been elected to do. Compromise and the belief in this new document that had been haggled over and written by people with sound minds and good hearts.
"I think it will work," Padme said with absolute conviction. "If we add the language within the next rotation, I think we can put it up for a vote. Master Yoda, do you consent to the Jedi taking temporary control of the government until a new Chancellor or government is elected?"
"Consent from the Council I will need," he said. "But in principle…yes, I agree."
The Alderaanian's heart began to beat with anticipation. He looked towards the Chandrilian.
"Mon? Do you have objections?"
She shook her head gently. A good sign.
"Have our staff on the legal committee get to work on writing those two additions. Take a roll call and start canvassing the Outer Rim representatives to see how many would vote yes. Reach out to the press corps and have a spokesman give them the news."
Bail stood up and tightened the collar on his robes.
"We're getting this done tonight."
No one in the room needed any official dismissal, even the heavily pregnant Padme Amidala hoisted herself up and made with great speed in the effort to finish this process at long last. But he could have sworn Yoda gave him the smallest of winks.
"Master Jedi," he called out.
Yoda stopped and slowly rotated around. "Hm?"
"I believe I have decided on a new name for our new galaxy wide nation: the Democratic Union…or the Union for short."
Yoda only nodded, slow and deliberate. "So it shall be."
He lumbered out of the chamber leaving Bail to his thoughts and the rest of his drink, crackling loudly from the ice swirling in the glass. But the momentary peace was not to last. A button flashed red on his desk with a soft beep.
Upon pressing it, the images of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker appeared.
"Greetings, generals," he said. "How may I be of service?"
He could already tell whatever they wanted wasn't anything positive judging by their expressions. The thin line in Obi-Wan's beard and the chewing grimace in Anakin's jaw said as much. The former spoke first.
"Chancellor, we have a problem."
As a person, Anakin liked Bail Organa. But as a matter of principle he never liked the way politicians spoke about broad topics as though they were so complicated. Even Padme did this sometimes. Saving lives and doing right by people shouldn't boil down to a negotiation.
And yet somehow, it always did.
"We wanted to consult you before doing anything," Obi-Wan finished after explaining their dilemma in full. Both men shared a lift that led down to the hangar bay. "Gunray is more desperate than ever to avoid prison and his list of demands is further proof of that."
"That is…unfortunate," Organa said with a sigh. "But it doesn't surprise me. Ratification is close Obi-Wan, very close. Once that happens, I cannot spend any more political capital in using military force to continue this conflict, even a reduced one. To be frank, if we're going to capture Gunray, the time is now."
"We understand."
Speak for yourself, Anakin thought bitterly.
"Chancellor, Captain Rex isn't just a soldier, he's a valued friend and leader. We can't just throw his life away like that."
Visibly uncomfortable, Obi-Wan put a hand to his mouth, not wanting to reprimand his protege out of instinct.
"What I think Anakin means to say is that Captain Rex would be a tremendous loss, especially at this stage when we are so close to peace."
The lift dinged and they exited to the sight of their men, both 212th and 501st, preparing for battle as they always did. Endlessly loyal even when faced with a planet that belched out lava and smoke like clockwork.
"Do whatever you can to get Captain Rex back safe and sound," Organa said, and Anakin heard real empathy in his tone. The man didn't lack scruples. He just had to set them aside more often than most due to his profession.
"And if Gunray continues to hold him hostage?"
"Then you have my permission to use deadly force, come what may."
Such an endorsement did not come lightly from a pacifist. Even Anakin recognized that. It didn't make any of this easier. He could sense the darkness from Mustafar even from the confines of the ship acting as a kind of amplifier, intensifying negative emotions, stoking his fear…
But to save Rex, he'd go straight into the depths of hell itself.
"Very well. We'll keep you updated, sir." Obi-Wan pocketed his personal transmitter and gave Anakin a cautionary glance. "Are you quite alright?"
Anakin didn't look at him. They both knew the question already had an answer.
"I share your contempt for the planet we're about to set foot upon. But for the institution we serve…for Rex…we have to endure it."
A flicker of annoyance passed through the twenty-two year old.
"I know."
Obi-Wan stopped in front of him. His eyes found Anakin's and they held the same parental intent they did when the pair were twenty-five and nine respectively.
"That battle never happened. That time does not exist any longer nor does it matter. I'll be with you every step of the way."
Anakin bit his tongue. He didn't need Obi-Wan to revert to some half older brother, half father figure. He needed to get Rex, fly back to Padme, and leave this hells forsaken place behind. Darth Vader couldn't have his soul. Not now.
He took a deep breath and let it out. I am not that man in those memories, he internally said to himself. Satisfied he was back in control, Anakin gave a quick whistle to a group of officers.
"Vaughn, Jesse."
Both clones snapped to crisp attention. "Sir."
"Tell the men standby is over. We're going in. I'll transfer my briefing notes to your datapads and give a full prep to the non coms five minutes before takeoff."
"Yes, sir…" Jesse hesitated before asking the delicate question. "Who will be leading the battalion with Rex being held hostage?"
"Captain Vaughn is senior, but you're one of the most experienced soldiers in the 501st, Jesse. I want you two working together as much as possible."
When they were dismissed and began assembling the rest of the men, Obi-Wan uncrossed his arms and placed a finger underneath his chin.
"I better find Cody and give him the news. We'll need top notch coordination on this mission in order to rescue Captain Rex, so send me whatever you have and we can look it over together."
"Yes, Master."
No longer High General of the GAR (he'd resigned from that post in favor of his old commission months ago), it fell to Obi-Wan, the ranking officer, to approve any official battle plan. In truth, this was a formality and the two had been equal collaborators for quite some time. So the stiff, formal response struck an odd note between them.
Wisely, Obi-Wan did not push further and went off in search of his second in command, leaving Anakin alone with his increasingly anxious thoughts.
A small bump against his leg interrupted them.
"R2?"
The droid whistled and beeped as if to say "Quit moping you wuss. Rex needs you."
Anakin gave the smallest of smiles. "You're right, buddy. Go on ahead and get the engines ready. I'll be there soon."
The smile vanished as soon as R2 wheeled out of sight. For once, Anakin did not feel the usual warm rush that came with the anticipation of a fight.
Only fear.
When history is made, seldom do people realize at the time. Ripples and ramifications are thought of in hindsight not during the moment. A slight turn, a simple choice, and the entire galaxy can change. But sometimes, an event is too large to ignore its significance.
Padme never forgot where she was that day nor the second she voted 'yes' to ratify the new Constitution.
"The Senate will come to order," boomed Alton Ramsdyke as various species moved into their pods. "The chair recognizes Mon Mothma of Chandrila."
He boomed his staff and pressed a button at the center of the central pad upon which he stood. A blue holo screen popped up, showing the outline of a multi page document. The one they'd worked so hard to forge.
New language had been added. Senator Singh from Raxus Secondus agreed to the concessions and rallied his caucus behind it. Satine Kryze convinced other neutral systems to get on board. No Core or Middle Rim world had submitted a last second objection or deferment to go back to committee. Master Yoda delivered the final piece of critical news: the Council was in favor of their reformed role in the Union. Everything was in place.
Mon Mothma's pod detached from her station, and she gave one of the strongest speeches Padme had ever heard. Most bills were debated between the majority and oppositional factions. There would be no dissent on this occasion.
"Sentients of all sectors and species, we have come together for a simple reason: to give our people a government they deserve. Through many long hours, rotations, and months, we have bickered and fought but have crafted a document worthy of every citizen. I can say with confidence that our Constitution is not only an improvement over the previous one, but will create a prosperous peace that will last for years to come. The cruel and insidious cannot divide us nor prevent our hard earned achievement. This… is our time."
Though short, the declaration's power moved many to tears, including Padme.
"I move to vote on ratification of the new constitution and a subsequent declaration of the Democratic Union," Mon Mothma said at last.
"Seconded!"
Roll call always went by alphabetical order and a special tabulation system was used to mark who was absent and who was present in under five minutes. Then the voting commenced. In the past, Senators would often skip votes they deemed unimportant. But no one missed this one.
Padme Naberrie Amidala pressed the green button signaling 'yes'. So did everyone else. Other than the birth of her children and wedding night, she would later remember this day as the greatest of her life.
Master Yoda had adjourned the Jedi Council after they agreed to become the watchful guardians of a new democratic republic. Powerful but only when needed.
This prompted the need for meditation. He'd found a secluded spot in one the Temple's many private chambers to reflect on the decisions they'd made that day. The Force was alive with energy, and though the taint of the dark side, a thin smoky haze hovering above Coruscant, was still there, it could no longer hide echoes of the future. The Light side of the Force felt like a deep breath of fresh air, a friend returning from an extended absence. Breathing that in brought peace.
Yoda had studied the nature of time during his youth under the watchful eye of elders who'd witnessed the last great Jedi-Sith War (and a big part in how he knew of the technique Luke used to traverse the World Between Worlds). Time operated much differently than the Force, specifically the future. There was no light or dark element to the things that may or may not happen, only a kind of gray neutrality that symbolized its own mercurial nature. The past stood largely immovable, solid, and distant. The present acted as a barrier and a vantage point to both. The future, however, was always unpredictable. The Force might illuminate it in the form of visions, but imperfect beings still had to interpret them.
As a result, mindfulness of the future formed a central core of his philosophy. All Jedi on some level were supposed to maintain that mindfulness. However, the old Master took greater stock in the subtle tickles, pinches, hints, and warnings of the Force whenever means foreshadowed certain ends. Being a Jedi of unrivaled power (save for Anakin), it had been a useful skill over his long life span.
But as he'd come to realize, mindfulness of the present was just as important as the future.
'Hello, my old friend.'
Yoda did not open his eyes or move from his zen pose upon hearing Qui-Gon's voice a third time.
"Qui-Gon."
'My presence has become more familiar to you.'
"Always present you have been."
Yoda could almost see the whiskers on Qui-Gon's face transform into a smile.
'Good, good. You're learning.'
"The Force. Coming back into balance it is. But the future, still uncertain. Many possibilities, both joyous and terrible, there are."
'That is the nature of the future.'
"Know what happens from here, do you?"
He didn't necessarily mean today or even months from now. The new constitution would pass sooner or later, with Bail Organa becoming Chancellor and instituting new reforms, that much was easy enough to foresee.
'You speak of time itself. If Luke Skywalker's travels will harm as much as they've helped.'
"Yes."
'I am not omnipotent Yoda, though I have a perception of the past, present, and future that is…more expansive. What I can tell you is limited. The actions of Luke's future self have altered the state of events permanently and the original timeline no longer exists. Therefore, what is to come is not immediately clear.'
Yoda exhaled a breath and took another one in. This didn't surprise him. Uncertainty was a part of life. Yet a strong sense of destiny hung about, especially in Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, and even Senator Amidala. But the Force also did not reveal what it had in mind for them.
'Patience, my old Master. As the galaxy marches away from darkness, things will become less murky. For now, the survivors of Sidious's war have to decide their own path.'
"Indeed. Learn from our mistakes we must."
He hoped the Jedi Order was doing an adequate job of that. Right on cue, Qui-Gon seized on that thought.
'Worry not. You have already taken several positive steps in changing the Order. The omens point in the right direction. The key is to follow the Force wherever it leads.'
The vast expanse of the Force already pointed to a familiar person, or rather now a family: the Skywalkers. Many Jedi were increasingly attuned to the growing double presence inside Padme Amidala's womb. A unique premonition abounded that the children of Anakin Skywalker would go on to do incredible things.
"I sense much wisdom you have to impart, Qui-Gon."
Again, Yoda could have pictured that wry, somewhat mischievous smile from his former pupil, glowing from possession of knowledge the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order did not have. A small bit of payback for all the lectures received when Qui-Gon was a boy.
'There are many things I intend to teach you, Master. And when they are ready, I will also do the same with Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka. But not yet. They must live the fullness of life before turning their attention to what lies beyond.'
Deep affection welled within the old Master.
"Rejoice your life as well as your death, I do. The best of us, you were." Yoda felt a shift. A slight vergence nowhere near as large as the one that brought Luke to the past. But a vergence nonetheless.
'The moment calls. We shall speak soon, Master.'
"Indeed, my old padawan."
The automatic door opened to reveal a Temple Guard just as Qui-Gon's spirit drifted away.
"Master."
"Yes? What news?"
"We've received a transmission request from the Judiciary Detention Center. Do you wish to accept?
Yoda instinctively knew it to be significant. "Transfer the message you may."
"But-"
"Aware I am of the prisoner who wishes to contact me."
The Temple Guard left and within two minutes, the monitor on the holotable flashed orange twice before a blue hologram of Count Dooku appeared. Another former pupil decided to drop in for a visit. How amusing.
"My former Master."
"Wish to speak to me, you do?"
Normally taciturn and thoughtful, Yoda found himself eager to hear what Dooku had to say.
"There has been another movement in the Force."
"Yes, felt it I have."
Notably, neither one of them used the word 'disturbance'.
"There can be no doubt that the former Republic is no more and something else has taken its place. A new era is here."
Dooku's imperious gaze held a distinct gleam. Not malicious but resigned. Yoda had not seen or sensed that level of inner peace in a very long time. Even before his fall.
"As such, I have requested that this vital information be transferred to the Jedi Order."
A small series of beeps indicated the computer had begun to upload a large file of some kind. Then it popped up on a second smaller screen underneath the hologram in a series of random letters and numbers.
"The shutdown key," Yoda said immediately.
"Yes. The time has come to end the old and embrace the new. To allow the galaxy a chance at peace…if they can keep it."
The endorsement came with a warning. Dooku never failed to prophecize and issue thunderous proclamations about all manner of topics. But in this instance, he was right.
"Thank you," Yoda croaked.
Dooku did not say anything in response. He merely bowed, deeply, and gave one more bearded frown, which conveyed a simple message: don't screw this up.
Spitting ash, boiling lava, smelly brimstone, toxic sulfur, and roaring fumes. Mustafar really was the embodiment of hell.
Excess sweat plastered damp, wavy locks to Anakin's forehead. The inside of his robes were already sticking to his skin and the heat was unbearable. But bore it he did anyway, for there was no choice when hundreds of battle droids lumbered forward blasting away at you.
"Forward!"
From his peripheral vision, Obi-Wan was on his left flank leading the 212th into a frontal assault on the mining complex where Rex was being held hostage. The brilliant Captain had managed to pinpoint Gunray's exact location and sent it before capture, Force bless him.
Unfortunately, that meant they couldn't bring in a full battalion. The platform leading to the inside of the facility was too small for more than four gunships to land, so each Jedi could only rely on a platoon. Bombing from the air was also out of the question given the structure of the complex.
So they had to enter the old fashioned way. And as the intensity of the battle increased so did the dark side energy that marred the planet and thus Anakin's fear and anger, for he recognized where he was.
'Stop! Please! Come back! I love you!'
'LIAR!'
Visions swam across his eyes, threatening to pitch him into madness.
'You turned her against me!'
'You have done that yourself!'
Echoes of future's past refused to leave him be.
'You were the Chosen One! It was said that you would destroy the Sith, not join them! Bring balance to the Force! Not leave it in darkness!'
'I HATE YOU!'
It squeezed at any equilibrium Anakin still had. Without realizing it, he'd lurched downward, bent over in agony.
"Sir! Sir! Are you alright?!"
A B2 rocket exploded, damaging one of the gunships. Anakin saw it was Fives looking down at him, protecting his general from incoming fire. But that wasn't right, Anakin was the one supposed to be leading from the front.
I'm not going to lose any of my men. Not now.
"I'm fine. Come on, let's go!"
Gritting his teeth, Anakin churned his legs and made them move properly. He would not let this cursed planet send him over the edge. Rex had to be rescued, Padme was waiting for him back home, the twins…
I. Will. Not. Listen.
Heedless of personal injury, he reached the first droid and plunged his lightsaber into its torso. He then gave a mighty swing and sliced off the head of another. Obi-Wan caught up and began doing the same. They worked in a magnificent tandem, becoming a two headed whirl of blue allowing the clones to pick off any stragglers while they made easy work of the skeletal drones.
Obi-Wan being close by helped him keep the darkness at bay and a rush hit Anakin squarely in the chest. He could do this. He would do this. Of course, B1 and B2s were not the end of their troubles.
"Look out! Crab droids!" Cody shouted.
The Trade Federation did not create or manufacture this nasty line of clankers. But evidently, Gunray had snagged some for an occasion such as this. The 'muckrakers' as clones nicknamed them, were cumbersome and couldn't fire above their own heads, making them vulnerable to fire from above. But in a closed space, they could do real damage. And there were half a dozen crawling towards them.
"Get some rocket launchers up here!" Captain Vaughn yelled into the rear of his battalion. "Hardcase, Dogma! Pronto!"
Anakin squared himself and prepared to jump into action and take out the damn things himself if need be. But then a miracle happened. As if they'd become rag dolls, the droids' internal systems powered down and began to fall to the floor in a heap.
"What the-"
Every B1, B2, and crab droid became as lifeless as a doorknob. Spare parts for the scrap heap or reprogramming for some other function. Just as quickly as it began, the battle was over.
Cody bent down and prodded one of the fallen droids with a foot, blaster rifle ready in case it was some sort of trap. But Boil was more bold, picking one up and checking the harddrive located in the back of its exoskeleton.
"Dead," he announced dryly.
"How is that possible?" Jesse asked.
Anakin thought for a second and he saw Obi-Wan doing the same. Battle droids were no longer powered by a central computer like they were back in the day and were given the ability to think somewhat independently (depending on one's definition). But they still answered to the same programming as any other droid and every single one had a shutdown mechanism.
He saw the gears in Obi-Wan's mind coming to the same conclusion. Unlike Threepio and R2, the shutdown mechanism came from an external source not an internal one…and that meant…
The whites of Anakin's eyes opened wide at the same time Obi-Wan's did. Then they narrowed into a terrifying storm of rage.
"Anakin wait-"
Like a gash, the dark side of the Force ripped open his self control and unleashed the dragon that had been chained for so long. He knew exactly where Gunray and Rex were.
Long strides had him crossing the rest of the platform in seconds. He slashed the door lock leading into the center of the mining facility. Instinct and no small degree of familiarity guided his steps.
'Welcome Lord Vader, we've been expecting you.'
Anakin retained a special hatred for Nute Gunray for multiple reasons. Not the least of which included the attempted murder of Padme multiple times throughout history. The Nemoidian was a slippery worm but without an army of battle droids protecting him…he was as helpless as an infant womp rat.
'No! Nooo!'
As more visions came and went, the young Jedi Knight no longer felt distressed by them. He'd been here before somehow.
'The war is over. Lord Sidious promised us peace. We only-AAH!'
The images of slaughter pleased the dragon. And why not? After all, they deserved it. Anakin intended to inflict tremendous pain on Gunray for everything he'd done.
Sure enough, Nemoidian guards were the only ones left to defend the facility. He made short work of them as he passed through a foyer and into a large chamber containing the inner control panel which controlled the day to day aspects of the mine, including its shielding against volcanic activity.
Anakin's lightsaber hummed as one by one, the guards were eliminated without pity or remorse- beheaded, slashed across the chest, cut to pieces as though they were made of wood.
Upon reaching a not so secret door leading to the command center, he tried overriding the controls with another slash of the saber. Sealed. But not a problem. He could practically smell Gunray's fear inside and relished the thought of being the source of it.
"Anakin slow down!"
Numerous troopers and Obi-Wan ran towards his position. But he had no patience, no desire to wait. Anakin stabbed his cyan blue blade into the door and carved a man sized oval. With an almighty Force powered kick, he sent it careening through the other side.
Stepping through, a grisly but predictable scene came into view. Rex and four other troopers were on their knees, upper armor removed, surrounded by Nemoidians with sharp pikes. Gunray stood at the center, and he was pointing a blaster pistol directly at the back of the Captain's head.
"Take one step further and they are as good as dead, Jedi."
Gunray's words would have sounded fierce on paper but his voice wavered and the tacky headdress atop his skull wobbled. Anakin sensed him trembling and couldn't resist a snarl.
"Release them! NOW!" he screamed, trying to hold back his own blood lust.
Like the roar of a nexu, Gunray seemed paralyzed before regaining his nerve.
"Back away, Jedi. I will shoot!"
"You have five seconds to let them go…or I'll kill you where you stand."
Rex shifted uncomfortably. Gunray's dark green skin turned a nasty lighter mucus color and his bulging red eyes bulged out further. It was reckless and Anakin's shrinking voice of reason told him so. But he didn't care.
One Force pull. One swing. That's all it would take.
Before he could make good on his threats, Obi-Wan and the rest of the men caught up, the clones immediately forming a semi circle around the hostage takers and their prisoners. Cody signaled for every blaster rifle to be put on stun.
"Anakin!"
Obi-Wan's voice tugged him back towards the light but the dark tightened its ironclad grip. The dragon would not be denied its prey.
"Anakin…" his brother could feel the intense anger and the drive to kill inside of him. Bravely, a hand was placed on his shoulder.
"I'm here…calm down…breathe."
He tried. He tried to let go the way a good Jedi was supposed to but old wounds refused to heal.
"Ahh, Obi-Wan Kenobi," Gunray wheezed. "At last, someone reasonable. Maybe now we can strike a deal."
The Great Negotiator looked nauseated at the thought of treating with Nute Gunray, but unlike Anakin, kept his composure.
"I think you're severely overestimating the amount of leverage you have." His voice was quiet but carried a glint of steel. "Do everyone involved a favor: surrender now and you will receive fair treatment and a trial."
Gunray hmphed dismissively and he inched his blaster closer to Rex's head.
"Fair treatment? Trial? I'm not that stupid, Kenobi. I know Bail Organa wants my head on a plate."
"That can be arranged," Anakin spat. He ached to kill this leech as the raw taste of bile flooded the back of the throat and the temptation to choke the life out of him until there was nothing left surged…
Obi-Wan held him back.
"We're not leaving until our men are back in our hands, safe and sound."
"Don't worry about me, sir!" Rex yelled for the first time. "I'll be fine!"
"Silence!" Gunray's order sounded more like a squeak than a viable threat but that blaster still hovered near his skull all the same. The longer this standoff endured, the more Anakin desired to end Gunray's slimy existence.
A wave of affection came from Obi-Wan. Fight it, it said but the dragon roared, demanding to be satiated with blood.
"Anakin," Obi-Wan said again, this time grabbing both of Anakin's shoulders. "You are strong, you are wise, don't give into this."
"My patience is wearing thin," the Nemoidian called out. Obi-Wan wheeled around attempting one last go at deescalation.
"Sidious is dead, Gunray. He betrayed your fellow associates and likely would have killed you at the end, but he's gone now. The new government has different intentions."
"Government?" Gunray sneered. "There is no government to speak of. Just more of the usual bureaucrats and as you know, bureaucrats can be bribed."
The room had become as explosive as the planet itself. One errant spark would set it alight. Anakin wondered why Obi-Wan seemed to be so calm about this. It briefly subdued his anger but returned in full force when Rex and the other four men were slammed down to the floor.
"Last chance, Kenobi."
"No Gunray, it's yours."
Anakin was a half second away from decapitating the Nemoidian with a quick hurl of his lightsaber. Commander Cody had his arm raised to signal the attack. Obi-Wan too ignited his lightsaber and took a non-Soresu stance…something he rarely ever did…and the dragon urged him to take revenge…Kenobi was useless…he'd take his children just like he did once before…
"Echo, Fives! Now!"
Two ARC Troopers came crashing down through two screen vents from the ceiling, and with deadly precision they killed the four Neimoidian guards. Too slow and too late, Gunray didn't see Commander Cody's shot until after it had fired.
Seeing Gunray stunned and defenseless, Anakin pounced, charging forward with such ferocity he looked more beast than man. He was ready to drive his blade straight though the kriffing bastard's heart and then some.
"Sir, stop!"
Rex, by now free and seeing his general lose control, stepped in front of Gunray. It had the intended effect. The black dragon coiled around Anakin's heart released it. Like poisonous vapor, the dark side vanished into nothing and the red on the edge of his pupils gave way to ivory white.
Breathing heavily, his lightsaber retracted upon seeing the pathetic, whimpering form of the galaxy's formerly most powerful businessman. Cody wasted no time in cuffing Gunray in binders and began to read him his rights.
Obi-Wan had come up to him, deep concern in his eyes but relaxed upon seeing that his brother's rage had subsided. Both men switched their attention to the rescued clones.
"Get the medics down here to evaluate them," Anakin said to Jesse. "Rex, are you hurt?"
"Fine, sir. Barely a scratch. Gunray was too cowardly to do anything other than throw me in the brig."
"Be that as it may, you've been through enough, Captain," Obi-Wan said kindly. "Let's get you out of here."
Anakin saw Echo and Fives assist the other four men- Brag, Slip, Dusty, and Duke- up to their feet. Rex was being led away by Hardcase and Zeer, each man more concerned with the other than themselves. Then he was filled with such shame he could barely stand. He'd nearly lost control…again.
"Cody, take our new guest back to the holding cells and scan the area for any more droids, just in case. We don't need any more nasty surprises."
Cody saluted crisply and went to work while Obi-Wan turned to Echo and Fives.
"Excellent job, gentleman."
"All in a day's work, General."
It occurred to Anakin that his master had a plan all along and executed it perfectly…and he…well that was self explanatory.
I almost got my second in command killed.
"Anakin?"
Obi-Wan cast that parental look of concern again and he could hardly bear to look back.
"Anakin?" he said again, much softer this time.
He shook his head and placed it directly into his left hand.
"I-I have to get off this damn planet. Now."
Obi-Wan nodded, comprehending in milliseconds his brother's pain.
"I concur," he muttered, giving one more apprehensive glance in and around the room. "It's time to leave."
Anakin allowed himself to be piloted back to the gunships. But it could not ease the obvious truth. Every waking second on this nightmare of a world only served to remind the Slayer of Sidious that while everything else around him appeared whole, he remained irreparably broken.
A/N #1- No, Anakin is not going to become a villain or a Sith. This chapter is just to highlight that he faces enormous challenges even with Sidious dead. This is going to be increasingly addressed in the next three chapters. There is an explanation for what happened on Mustafar that will be talked about later.
A/N #2- Some of the political stuff may have sounded vague or simplistic. But I based it on what I know about our own real life institutions and some personal views on what actual reform might look like should it actually happen. A bit of wishful thinking combined with pragmatism.
A/N #3- A lot of prequel fics that have the good guys win simply keep the Republic or have someone like Padme or Bail Organa become Chancellor and institute a bunch of reforms. I opted to do something different to illustrate that Senators like Padme and the Jedi are actually trying to solve the root causes of what enabled Sidious in the first place.
A/N #4- We're going to be seeing things accelerate a lot more quickly from here. And much more fluffiness :3
So I can safely say that the next chapter will be out before Christmas. It's going to be a big one and I can't resist telling you the title: Rebirth.
Rock on, everyone!
~The Wasp