Chapter Seven: Arrival
Disclaimer: See Chapter One
Hey everybody,
I must be crazy, two chapters in such a short amount of time? Don't get used to it. Had the urge to write. Last time, was the ride back to Coruscant. Now we see how things start to rock.
Enjoy.
As the shuttle touched down in the Temple Hanger, they were met by a full contingent of Temple Guards, led by Master Cin Drallig. Along with a full squadron of Clones led by Rex and Cody. When word had returned to the Temple that Darth Sidious had been captured, the Temple had been put on full alert. Younglings were shepherded back to their wing of the temple and put under heavy guard, Rex and Cody, who had been on the planet, brought up men of the 501st and 212th to support the Jedi. Whatever Masters and Knights were there were in strategic positions around the temple to ensure things went smoothly. However, no one could have been prepared to see who walked down the ramp. Kenobi and Maul came down first, followed by an anti-grav litter with a Zabrak corpse on it.
"The mighty Darth Maul, I hear you are quite the duelist," Cin said.
"I am one of the best, Jedi," Maul sneered at the Battlemaster.
"Well, too bad you will not get to prove it," Cin said to him. He turned to Master Kenobi.
"Cathartic for you, Obi-Wan?" the older Jedi asked.
"Not until he faces justice for Master Qui-Gon's death," Obi-Wan said. Cin nodded in understanding and motioned for two Temple Guards to take Maul to the cells, and the body of his brother too.
When Master Yoda descended the ramp, Cin breathed a sigh of relief at seeing the Grand Master, as well as his own master having made it home safe. However, nothing could prepare him for seeing who Skywalker and Windu escorted down the ramp. Chancellor Palpatine in full, dark, Sith robes, being perp walked into the Temple Hanger. "The Chancellor is Darth Sidious?"
"Deceived, by a lie, we all were," Yoda said.
Cin and the rest of the Temple Guard, with yellow lightsaber pikes activated, led the former Supreme Chancellor toward the cells. Anakin and Obi-Wan checked in with Rex and Cody before Obi-Wan went to the Halls of Healing to get checked after his battle with Sidious. Yoda headed for his quarters, while Windu accompanied Cin to the cells.
"So the Chancellor was an agent of Dooku?" Rex asked, recalling Pong Krell on Umbara.
"Worse, Rex. Dooku is an agent of Sidious. Palpatine is the Sith Lord we have been looking for since the Battle of Naboo," Anakin explained.
"Palpatine masterminded the War to seize power, including creating the GAR," Kenobi told them.
Both Clone Officers were shocked to hear that they were bred to be pawns in a game between Sith Lords. Cody, being a master strategist was able to piece it together a bit quicker, having run through the clone contingency orders in his head. "I think I know why we were made. When the time came, we would eliminate the Jedi, leaving the Galaxy in the hands of the Sith."
"How?" Anakin asked.
"Order 66, General," Cody said. Rex became uncomfortable with discussing this.
"Wasn't Order 66 put in place to be used in case a Jedi goes rogue, but only for their troops?" Kenobi asked, as that was the understanding that the Council had.
"Clone Order 66 labels all Jedi as traitors of the Republic and marks them to be removed from command by lethal force. After which, command of the GAR would return to the Supreme Commander until a new command structure is established. It can only be issued by the Chancellor," Cody explained, to the Generals' horror.
"He really planned it all out, didn't he?" Anakin asked, arms crossed.
"So, now what, General?" Rex asked.
"We win the war," Anakin answered. He then helped Obi-Wan to the medical wing of the Temple.
Elsewhere in the Temple
As Darth Sidious was marched down the halls of the Temple, a particular Mirialan Jedi Knight had a realization when she laid eyes on him from her post. Barriss had been pondering the Jedi's place in the war. The voices in her head telling her to turn against the Jedi, to even go so far as to bomb the Temple to send a message. Now, a new voice that was not hers was assigned to those thoughts. She had been a fool. She thought she had resisted the Dark Side on Drongar, but it seemed that the Dark Lord had found a way in. It was confirmed to her with Sidious doing a quick double take with his eyes at her. The reason why the Republic was failing was because the Sith were controlling it, and the Jedi were not the villains in the conflict, but unwitting pawns.
She needed to speak with Master Yoda, now. Once Sidious was safely past her area, she headed for the Grand Master's room. Arriving at the door, she hit the chime to alert him that she was there. "Come in," his voice came from the other side. Barriss hit the button to open the door and it slid open and she walked in. "Knight Offee, good to see you. What troubles you?" He could sense that something was bothering Barriss. He was tired from his duel on Mandalore, but he knew that he was not going to get much sleep that night.
Both sat on the cushions in the Grand Master's quarters. "I have to confess something, Master Yoda. I have been influenced by the Dark Side." Yoda's brow arched in question and concern. In the eyes of the Order, Barriss was a kind, and gentle soul. A gifted healer by choice, intelligent, observant, steadfast, selfless, willing to lay her life down if need be. An all around ideal member of the Order, and to hear that she had been tempted was concerning.
"Tell me, young one," Yoda's voice was kind, and welcoming. To him, this meant that Barriss wanted help.
"I thought I had resisted it when I earned my knighthood on Drongar, with the Bota incident, but I think Darth Sidious got in my head. I have been questioning the Order's place in all this." Barriss was unsure herself if it was Sidious or her own misgivings about the Order's place.
"Been questioning things, many Jedi have. This does not mean you have fallen," Yoda said, with compassion.
"I have been thinking that the Order had fallen from the light that we swore to defend, that the Council only believes in violence, being Generals. That we are the villains responsible in this war," Barriss said.
"Precarious position the Sith have put the Order in, young Knight. War, temptation it is. Agree I do, that the leanings of the Council have moved away from peacekeeping, as leaders in war. Members of the Council have become more aggressive in their suggestions like one advised sending someone to assassinate Count Dooku. Not the Jedi way, this is, but it is the duty of a Jedi to end a conflict as quickly as we can to protect the innocent," Barriss processed what the Grand Master said. The issue was that the Sith were dragging out the war so as to make the Jedi look bad in the eyes of the Galaxy. Her fellow Jedi were suffering from war fatigue. It is not that they fell, it's just that they are conflicted about their roles as peacekeepers. She understood this well, she had a streak of preferring to negotiate with a lightsaber in hand as a padawan. Something her friend, Knight Skywalker would call 'Aggressive Negotiations.'
After letting her process what he said, Yoda asked her about her thoughts. "Something is still bothering you, Knight Offee. Your thoughts speak of actions that you wished to take, tell them to me, so that understand, I may."
Barriss bit her lip in an attempt to stop herself from speaking her mind, but then broke down, "I wanted to bomb the Temple to send a message to the Council, and frame my friend, Padawan Tano." He put her head in her hands in shame. Yoda's face grew reserved in thought,
"Disturbing, this is. Glad you told me, I am. Taken any steps to carry this out?" He asked, concerned.
"No, Master Yoda. I have realized that it was not my own thought as when I saw Sidious being marched down the hall, I realized that we have all been unknowing pawns. He must have gotten into my head, as the voice in my head changed to his voice." Barriss had some tears running down her face in shame for her action. "Also, Master Yoda, Master Luminara is also to blame. In her effort to live as close to the Code, she has forgotten how to show compassion. During the second battle of Geonosis, she nearly gave up on trying to find me, when I was still alive in that tank. She nearly let me die without trying to save me. I only lived thanks to Master Skywalker's connection to Ahsoka." Yoda could tell that Barriss was hurting from this encounter. Yes it was a teaching to a Master to let their student go when the time is right, but also Padawans are the future of the Order. Perhaps Master Luminara jumped to conclusions or perhaps not.
"Yes, I was okay with dying at the time, because we saved lives elsewhere by destroying the factory, but I thought that she was looking for me, and not immediately giving up on me. I found out from Ahsoka later what Anakin told her about the search operation. Ever since, I have been growing distant from her." Yoda took this information in stride, wanting to hear everything to be able to understand why a promising Knight like Barriss wanted to go down such a path.
"Also, in the wake of Ziro the Hutt getting away, remember that shuttle crash? That family that was ruined? Master Luminara basically left those kids without any help after they were orphaned and homeless. It is things like this that make people hate us." Barriss was crying a bit. Yoda sighed in sorrow. Barirss was right, at the time they did justify it as the greater good, having avoided a populated platform, but they should have at least done something, like taken them to a shelter or something.
"I don't know why I wanted to blame my potential actions on a close friend, but that is the worst part about this. Ahsoka is one of my closest friends, the same with Anakin, why would I want to hurt them?" She asked the Grand Master.
"Learned something on Mandalore, we did. Sidious wanted Knight Skywalker to be his apprentice. Padawan Tano, along with Master Kenobi, being among his closest friends would be problems for him. Know, he probably did, friends you are with them. Use you to remove a thorn in his plans, perhaps," Yoda told her, trying to comfort her mind. "Take comfort, things are going to change. Need to remember that we are people too, and need methods of support, we do. Talk with Padawan Tano, you should. Help you, it may. Spend time with friends, respite, I grant you." Yoda smiled, glad that Barriss came to talk with him, and that they avoided losing a promising Jedi to the Dark Side of the Force. His age and weariness from his Duel overcame him. "Rest, I need, Knight Offee. Lot to think about, you have given me. Need to work some stuff out, the Council does. You and Luminara, session, we will have, afterward."
"Yes, Master. Thank you for listening to me." Barriss stood and left the room to let the Grand Master rest. Yoda knew it was too late to sleep as the Sun would be rising in a few hours. He entered into a deep meditative state to recover his strength.
Next Day
The Order knew they had to do something soon, because the absence of the Supreme Chancellor during a time of crisis would not go unnoticed. They also knew that they had to be tactical about how to announce that they had arrested the elected leader of the Republic. Yoda, Windu, Kenobi, and Skywalker, as the ones that made the arrest, were discussing the had already decided that Senator Organa would handle the Senate for the way back. Anakin decided that he should be the one to go inform Senator Organa as well as go talk to Padme about multiple issues.
"Masters, if you don't mind, I am going to the Senate to inform Senator Organa to call for a special session of Congress," Anakin said it that way to not totally give the secret away to anyone that was not on the shuttle.
"I am coming with you, Anakin," Obi-Wan said, firmly.
"Yes, Master," Anakin sighed. At least it was just Obi-Wan tagging along. Not like he could stop his former Master from tagging along. Obi-Wan was a bit of a stickler when it comes to Anakin doing anything.
Both Jedi headed to the hanger and got into Anakin's speeder and headed for the Senate. Both riding in silence, for multiple reasons.
Galactic Senate
As they disembarked, "Senator Amidala first, Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Yes," was all Anakin answered. The air between them was a bit cold due to Obi-Wan finding out about Tatooine. The Jedi walked the halls of the Senate toward Padme's office, looking about, unsure who among the Senators and Representatives were in Palpatine's pocket.
"Up here," Anakin gestured toward the office. Anakin and Obi-Wan walked into Padme's office, to her surprise. She had been expecting to see her secret husband that week, but not that both he and Obi-Wan would be walking into her office.
"Anakin, Obi-Wan. What a good surprise to see you," Padme greeted the two Jedi, trying to keep up appearances.
"Good to see you too, milady." Obi-Wan greeted.
"Obi-Wan, we have been friends for many years. You can drop the formalities with me," Padme told him. Obi-Wan smiled at her.
"As you wish, Padme," Obi-Wan said.
"Master Anakin, Master Kenobi, I am quite glad to see you have returned safe and sound," Threepio greeted.
"Good to see you too, Threepio," Anakin half smiled at the droid he built. Obi-Wan.
"Sit, both of you." Padme offered the two chairs in front of her desk and motioned to 3PO to give the Jedi something to drink. "So, what can I help the Jedi with?"
Taking a sip from the Naboo wine that 3PO brought, it was Anakin that broke the news to her.
"Padme, he knows, they know, about us," Anakin said plainly. Padme's eyes went wide in horror about the fact their secret marriage was out in the open.
"Relax Padme, Anakin is not in trouble for marrying you." She breathed a sigh of relief. "I have to say, you too have not exactly been subtle with your affection for each other."
"To be fair, that is due to the fact that there is a war going on, and we hardly see each other," Anakin said.
"Fair point, however, it is an open secret around the Temple that you too were in a relationship of some kind. I remember in the wake of the First Battle of Geonosis, a certain Naboo Senator at the gates of the Temple, demanding to see an injured Padawan of mine who had just lost an arm," Ob-Wan's voice was dripping with his usual brand of sarcasm. Both lovers shook their heads in memory of that. "I pretended that I didn't know what was going on, and I am happy for you both." Obi-Wan smiled at them, easing their concern. Well, her concern, Anakin knew what was coming.
"Well considering you knew exactly where to find me on Naboo when we had some time off recently," Anakin said. Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. Anakin never let him live that down.
"How did you find out, Obi-Wan?" Padme asked, curious as to who else knew about their marriage.
"In general or that you two married?" Obi-Wan wanted to be clear about what he was being asked.
"Second one," Padme clarified.
"Chancellor Palpatine told me," Obi-Wan answered.
"How did he…" Padme looked at her husband for explanation.
"I didn't tell him, apparently Captain Panaka found out somehow and told him." Anakin shrugged, not sure himself.
"Panaka? If I was still Queen, I'd have him sacked for that," Padme remarked. Padme noticed that the two Jedi seemed to need to tell her something that was not about her marriage to Anakin. "What is it?"
"Chancellor Palpatine is the Sith Lord, Darth Sidious, we have been looking for the past decade. He's been behind everything, including the War." Obi-Wan decided that it was better to just tell it straight.
"Palpatine? A Sith Lord?" It sounded crazy and yet it made sense. The recent legislation that had been passed in the Senate granting Palpatine more executive powers and more power over the government than he really should have, it all made more sense, in a sinister way.
"Is the Order in danger?" Padme asked in concern for her husband's life and the life of a good friend of hers.
"No, Padme. We arrested Palpatine on Mandalore, along with Darth Maul." Obi-Wan told her. Why the Chancellor was on Mandalore was unknown to her, but she did remember Maul from the Battle of Naboo.
"So, what is the plan?" She asked the Jedi.
"We need Senator Organa to call for a special session of the Senate, to try Chancellor Palpatine for crimes against the Republic and civilization," Obi-Wan said.
"I can handle talking to Bail for you, if you wish," Padme offered.
"Thank you, Padme. Be careful, though. We don't know who else is in league with him," Obi-Wan said. "I hope you are okay with your marriage becoming public," he warned them.
Anakin reached across the desk and took his wife's hand in support. "It was going to happen sooner or later, Obi-Wan. I will deal with the consequences as they come," she told him.
"Padme, there is one other thing. While Anakin is not in trouble for marrying you, there is another matter that he is in trouble for, and a matter that could decide his future in the Order." Obi-Wan's voice got a bit stern. Anakin knew this was coming.
"What did you do, Anakin?" Padme asked him, with a tone of accusation in her voice.
"They know about Tatooine," was all he said. Padme's eyes went a bit wide in recollection. "Oh, that. You're going to banish him aren't you?"
"It is up to the will of the Council to decide his fate in the Order. However, I will do what I can to aid him in his trial before them. However, I get the sense that the will of the Force is that Anakin will stay a Jedi. We must now return to the Temple." Obi-Wan stood to leave.
"I'll see you at home, dear," Anakin let go of his wife's hand and followed Obi-Wan out. Padme needed another glass of wine to fully calm down from what she had been told. When done with her glass, she went and found Bail Organa of Alderaan and Senator Mon Mothma, her closest friends in the Senate to inform them of the fact that the Chancellor had been arrested by the Jedi and that he was behind the War.
Back On Mandalore
Bo-Katan was tossing and turning in her bed, dreaming of days of the past. One particular day in fact. It was the day that the rift between sisters came to a head.
The Great Clan Wars ended a few days ago, Satine and the New Mandalorians had won, by convincing multiple chieftains and warriors to switch sides. Ones who were tired of constant battle. In an attempt to ensure that a war would not ravage their world again. Satine had ordered the exilement of any remaining warriors that would not lay down their arms and accept peace.
This was the last straw for Bo-Katan, who had fought in the war alongside others that had sworn loyalty to Clan Kryze when Duke Adonai Kryze was still alive. Knowing that Satine was at the family home, Bo confronted her sister.
"How could you, Satine? There are men and women that fought and gave their lives for this Clan and you are going to spit on their heritage, our heritage." She pointed a finger into Satine's chest, "your heritage."
"A heritage that has brought nothing, but death and wanton destruction to our planet and our people," Satine said, set in her path of peace.
"Father died to defend our ways," Bo argued.
"Father died, because he held to tradition that brought pain and misery to the galaxy," Satine said. Bo got angry and struck her sister in the stomach. She did regret it immediately, as Satine's bodyguards grabbed her. "Very well, Bo-Katan Kryze, you leave me no other choice. Henceforth, you are not welcome in this home, and you are exiled from Mandalore. The last transports are departing for Concordia this afternoon. You will be aboard one of them. Also, you are forbidden to set foot in the castle on Kalevala." Satine's words stung like a blaster bolt to the couldn't believe it, her own sister was kicking her out of both of their homes, and making her leave the world she was mostly raised on, simply for believing that Satine was wrong to abandon their heritage. She was marched out of her hom to a speeder to take her to the landing pad.
Bo-Katan awoke in a sweat. It took her a moment to realize where she was. It was her room in the house that Clan Kryze had on Mandalore. She checked her chronometer for the time. It was the middle of the night. She knew she was not getting back to sleep any time soon. She figured that she would get up and get some fresh air. As she moved through the still house, her thoughts were racing. Granted, all that happened the past few days was a lot. From the take over, Maul killing Vizsla and nearly her sister, the new civil war, the duel against the Chancellor, was a bit overwhelming in this moment of peace. Bo realized that she was not the only Kryze awake at that hour as she stepped onto the balcony, as Satine was already there.
"Trouble sleeping?" Satine asked her sister.
"Yeah, it seems Korkie is the only one getting any real rest tonight. I am used to it though, between constantly moving around to being on guard duty, to some things, just sticking your mind, some deeds that you regret." Bo remarked as she sat next to her sister.
"What was it tonight? If I may ask?" Satine asked.
"The day you kicked me out," Bo-Katan answered.
"Ah," it was not surprising to Satine that it would be on Bo's mind, considering her reaction to seeing the house again the other day.
"You?" Bo-Katan asked.
"My near assassination the other day," Satine answered.
"Yeah, facing death is a hard thing. Just something you get used to, I guess," Bo tried to explain it. A moment of silence fell between them.
"You want to tell me about Carlac?" Satine broke the silence.
"I need either a strong cup of Caf, or more Ki'gree for that discussion," Bo tried to stall that talk.
"Bo," Satine's voice got stern. There was no way out of this talk for Bo-Katan, and they were having it now.
Cutting right to the chase, "Pre killed the tribe leader's granddaughter with the Darksaber and then we kind of burned the village down, as an initiation for Lux Bonteri," Bo-Katan explained, unable to look Satine in the eye..
"The Republic Senator for Onderon?" Satine asked, confused.
"He came to us to help get revenge on Count Dooku for the murder of his mother, Confederacy Senator Mina Bonteri of Onderon," Bo-Katan explained.
"Did you kill any innocents yourself on Carlac?" Satine's voice was hard.
"Not that I know of, I may have set a few buildings on fire, but not innocent people intentionally, I think." Bo was a bit concerned about how Satine was going to react, now that she has embraced her warrior side.
"This is what I want to change about our ways, no more scare tactics like that. No more slaughtering innocents. Death Watch is behind us, the Crusaders are behind us. Understand?" Satine's voice left no room for doubt of her intentions.
"Understood," Bo said, not wanting to be exiled again.
"I will temper your lust for conflict, if it is the last thing I do." Satine said.
"Yes, sister," Bo-Katan said.
Switching topics, Bo looked over shoulder back at the house for a moment. "Speaking of the Darksaber, I should find that thing in our stuff when I get the chance."
"What is the symbolism behind it? I know it is important to Clan Vizsla, and that it was stolen from the Jedi Temple at some point." Satine recalling what she heard Pre Vizsla say on Concordia.
"Not surprising that you don't know it. Legend tells that it was created over a thousand years ago by Tarre Vizsla, the first of our people to be accepted into the Jedi Order. During the Republic and the Jedi's wars against the Sith, Vizsla became the steadfast Jedi defender of the sector, creating Clan Vizsla by taking a wife and adopting others into the new clan. Taking the title of Manda'lor, succeeding Mandalore the Uniter, he rallied many clans and led them against the Sith," Bo-Katan spoke of the legend of the Darksaber.
"If my Republic history lessons are correct, he would have been a Jedi Lord, correct?" Satine asked. The Jedi Lords were Jedi that had become wardens of entire sectors when the Republic was ineffective in dealing with the Sith, and became Barons and Lords with families.
"The last of the Jedi Lords, as it were. Since by that point, all of the others were descendents of the original Lords of their sectors. Tarre sort of wanted everything that came with sector defenders quickly, though that was his heritage wanting to do so. When the Seventh Battle of Ruusan came, Vizsla was not there. He was tied up with other fronts. When the Reformations came through, and the Order began dismantling the Lordships, Tarre made a deal with the Order, as one of the only Lordships to last until his death." Bo continued the tale.
"What happened to him?" Satine asked.
"History says there was a peacekeeping mission with other Jedi in the still relatively unstable years after the wars' end that he was assigned to, that he did not return from. The surviving Jedi took his body back to the Temple and burned it, keeping his weapon in the Temple in memory," Bo answered.
"Which explains why it was there to be stolen by his Clan, during some fall of the Old Republic?" Satine was recalling what she heard Pre Vizsla said on Concordia.
"Now, as for stealing it during the Fall of the Old Republic? That is more just some exaggeration on Clan Vizsla's part. They did sneak in and steal it, but it was during the age of Peace that followed the Reformations," Bo-Katan said, dispelling some of the statement that Vizsla said. "Does his statue still stand?" Satine nodded in answer. "It is a symbol, whoever rightfully holds it, has the right to lead Mandalore. One day, you will bear it, Satine."
"Yeah," Satine didn't know what to say about it, considering she was nearly impaled on it the other day. As they talked, it became more apparent just how much they missed each other, and how close they were to losing each other..
Both sisters broke down and hugged each other, grateful that the other was still alive and that they were finally on the same side again. "I'm sorry," Bo said.
"No, I am sorry, sorry that I pushed you away." Satine said, as she held her sister tight.
When they broke their hug, the first hints of first light were showing through the bio-dome. A New Dawn for both of them, and for Mandalore.
Hehehe, that chapter kind of went places. Barriss was a thing I needed to address considering the episode of S5 of TCW we are deviating from is right before this arc, and I wanted her to stay in the order. That conversation will come up again later. Also, if you listen to what Barriss said during her confession, it seems that things work out a hell of a lot in Sidious' favor, just not the way he thought at first. Also, she's a healer in Legends, it is ine of thise things I never liked about TCW that they changed her fate.
As for Mandalore, a beautiful headcanon idea of mixing Canon and Legends in perfect blend. If you know your lore, it makes a hell of a lot of sense.
Next time, probably the trial of the century.
The Emperor is Out. Peace.