AN: I hope everyone is ready for the next chapter, and as always, thanks for all of your support! I love hearing what you all think, good or bad, so that I can continue to improve this story. Special thanks to Tracyn and FractionalSith for helping to beta this story.
MaySail199 - Thanks! I guess you'll just have to keep reading on how things will change or not. Glad you appreciate the dialogue and banter. I could use more at times, but well, sometimes the story just doesn't allow it. I'm also happy to see you enjoy Kastor, his backstory, and how his presence is slowly changing other characters and storylines. It's definitely a balance using Legends material while trying to also use stuff I did really like from new canon, like Baylan Skoll and Caleb Dume, but I hopefully will show that it is very possible to honor both and make them work together at times. Again, thanks for the review and kind words!
Chapter 57 - Uncertainty and Deception
As soon as they arrived at the Chancellor's office, Obi-Wan and Anakin were ushered in to see him. He stood at the large window behind his desk, ready to receive them.
"Sly Moore tells me this is urgent," he said. "She is not accustomed to such vehemence. I hope it's not bad news."
"Well, that depends," Obi-Wan said. Quickly, he filled Palpatine in on what they had discovered and what they suspected. "Naturally," Obi-Wan concluded, "the best thing to do is to cancel the ceremony."
"I think not," Palpatine said. "This fund has been the result of years of steady work on the part of many worlds. It is a tribute to the very ideals the Galactic Senate was founded upon originally — cooperation and benevolence. I hardly think that canceling the ceremony would help us in any way."
Anakin wasn't surprised, and neither was Obi-Wan.
"Then security must be increased," Obi-Wan said.
"I assure you, the best measures are already in place," Palpatine said. "And I have every confidence in the Jedi's abilities to forestall these villains."
"Then the water system should be shut off in that quadrant."
"And disrupt thousands of lives?" Palpatine looked impatient. "We will monitor the system, of course. Place guards on the entry points. That won't be difficult. If we know there will be an attempt, we will be able to foil it. Now, I have the distasteful task of having to attend a procedural hearing with Senator Divinian." Palpatine directed his gaze at Obi-Wan. "May I borrow your apprentice? I think it could be a valuable experience for him."
Obi-Wan nodded, thinking the situation through. "I'll return to the Temple and talk to Master Windu and Siri," he told Anakin. "Keep in contact."
Anakin watched Obi-Wan stride out of the office. He would rather be leaving with him, but he had asked to be included in the Chancellor's meetings, so he had to go.
"Capturing this Omega is important to your Master," Palpatine remarked as they left the office and started down the hall.
"It's important to the galaxy," Anakin said. "He's a dangerous enemy."
"Yes, but not the most dangerous enemy," Palpatine said. "From my experience, the most dangerous enemy is the one you can't see."
They drew up in front of a hearing room and walked inside. It was small and private. A long table took up most of the room, with seats equipped with repulsorlift motors that could adjust to the differing heights of many species. Bog sat in a seat at the center of the long table, with Bail Organa opposite him.
Bog spoke into his data recorder in a low tone. "The Supreme Chancellor arrived. Meeting will start on time."
Chancellor Palpatine sat at the head of the table and indicated that Anakin would take a seat behind him. Bog half-rose, then sat again, as if uncertain what protocol to follow.
"I am here as the head of the Senate investigating committee on Jedi Order abuses," Bog began. "The committee has entered its findings and has delivered an official petition to ban the Jedi from future Senate business. We request from the Supreme Chancellor an override of Senator Organa's counter-petition to stall our petition in a separate committee. We believe it must be debated in the full Senate and acted upon immediately."
Palpatine turned. "Senator Organa?"
"Senators from two hundred planets have signed a protest and request to investigate the petition committee for undue bias in its deliberations," Organa said. "Until that investigation is concluded, the Senate can hardly debate the recommendations of the committee. Let alone vote on the issue."
"I have reached a ruling," Palpatine said.
Bog and Organa both looked surprised.
"Th-the Supreme Chancellor has hardly had enough time to consider . . . I have not had a chance to refute . . ." Bog stammered in confusion.
Palpatine held up a hand. "Relax, Senator Divinian. I rule that you may enter, debate, and vote on the petition to bar the Jedi Order from any further action on behalf of the Galactic Senate."
Palpatine rose, as Bog looked pleased and Bail Organa looked stunned.
"The vote should take place quickly — " Bog urged.
"I agree. The debate and vote shall take place tomorrow after the All Planets Relief Fund ceremony," Palpatine said.
Bog stood and bowed. "Thank you for your ruling, Supreme Chancellor. I assure you it is in the best interests of the Senate."
"I assure you that the best interests of the Senate are always my first concern," Palpatine replied, and swept out.
Anakin followed him hastily. He was surprised and dismayed by the meeting. He had expected to hear a spirited debate, and hoped to see the justly renowned Bail Organa in action. But he never expected that Palpatine would rule for Bog.
"You look lost, Anakin," Palpatine said with a slight smile as Anakin swung into step beside him.
"Well, I have to admit I'm surprised. Why did you allow Bog to win?"
"I gave Bog what he wanted because I am sure he will fail," Palpatine replied.
Anakin was suddenly struck. Wasn't this what he had suggested to Obi-Wan earlier? He had wanted to do the same for their enemy, Omega. How much risk was too much risk? Who was able to make that decision?
"Bog doesn't know it, but he just destroyed his career," Palpatine said.
Palpatine wasn't gloating. That would be beneath him. But he did look satisfied. Palpatine understood Bog and had used it against him. He was taking a risk, but one he felt was easy to take. Anakin wondered if his Master would agree. Obi-Wan was much more cautious. He had been surprised a bit that Obi-Wan hadn't seemed displeased with Anakin's initial idea, since upon further review, Anakin thought Obi-Wan would not be happy with it, but he'd ruled against it, saying it was too risky for the payoff. Omega's capture was tantamount though, so what was too much risk?
Anakin glanced at Palpatine, admiring how he moved through the Senate halls. He did not exaggerate his power but he did not diminish it. He accepted it and used it as he felt it was needed. Palpatine clearly could wait for events to unfold because he'd already foreseen how they would. That was real power and wisdom, in Anakin's opinion. That was something worth learning, but he wasn't sure he could learn it from his Master. He was confident he could learn it from Palpatine though.
*The Will of the Force*
"Where are you leading me, dad?" Allara asked in amusement.
"To see an old friend, and see if he can help you with an issue," Kastor responded with a smile.
"An old friend of yours?" Allara asked in interest.
"And yours," Kastor said, and Allara frowned in confusion.
Kastor led her through the halls and he smiled as he saw a dawning realization occur of where they were going. He guided her into a large chamber which glittered from thousands of crystals that were in alcoves in the walls. For every glittering kyber crystal was another alcove where a lightsaber was prominently displayed.
Every crystal or blade represented a Jedi that had fallen, whether in battle or from natural causes. These were the blades or crystals that had been recovered. Some blades were burned in the funeral pyre, but the crystals were not. It often was up to those who knew the Jedi best, or in some cases like Master Giett so many years ago, the Jedi had stated beforehand their desire for their blade to be added to the Hall.
"The Hall of Remembrance," Allara said quietly.
"Yes, indeed," a voice said. "It's good to see that your time in that casket didn't dull your memory. You always were a bright, if somewhat impetuous, student. Something you shared with both your mother and father."
Allara smiled and turned to the ancient droid that was approaching.
"Huyang, I didn't realize you were still around to remember every Jedi's youthful faults."
"Someone has to, and unfortunately you young Jedi never heed my advice," Huyang remarked. "I just keep hoping that if I remind you of your faults you'll eventually learn."
Allara's smile widened and she laughed.
"So, does that mean you won't tell me more of my dad's faults?" Allara asked, and Kastor glanced at her in surprise.
"Hmm, it's time to focus on your own faults, young one," Huyang replied. "Your father's faults are not your own. Though, you did always enjoy my stories, and of course, embarrassing stories of your father's youth were plentiful."
"Hey!" Kastor complained, and Allara laughed.
"What brings you to my humble abode?" Huyang asked.
"Allara's lightsaber has been lost," Kastor said. "I was hoping we could see if one of the crystals here would call to her."
Allara glanced at him in surprise.
"Ah, yes," Huyang said. "Well, let us waste no time. If none should call to you, then a journey to Ilum is in order."
Kastor gestured for his daughter to move to the meditation circle at the center of the room. Allara moved forward and sat down, crossing her legs, and breathing slowly, entering a meditative trance.
Kastor closed his eyes where he was, feeling into the Force, reveling in the presence of his daughter, who shined brightly in the Force to him. He smiled. He waited patiently, feeling the Force flowing through the room, and starting to circle his daughter.
He opened his eyes as a bright crystal left its alcove, floating towards Allara, and at the same time, a lightsaber did as well. Kastor let out a slight gasp seeing exactly what crystal and what lightsaber flowed towards his daughter.
Allara opened her eyes and held out her hands, the crystal falling slowly into one, while her other hand grasped the lightsaber. She eyed both, and he saw her eyes widen in surprise as well, clearly recognizing both.
"My, my," Huyang said. "It has been millenia since your ancestor found that crystal, and in that time, no other has connected to it."
"The Mantle of the Force," Kastor murmured.
"And mom's lightsaber," Allara murmured, eyeing the lightsaber they both knew well.
"She would want you to have it," Kastor said quietly, smiling. "Make it your own, but clearly the two crystals call to you. Your mother's yellow Dantari crystal and the Mantle of the Force. Her blade should also still have the green krayt dragon pearl I gifted her . . . on our wedding day."
"It does," Allara said quietly, and she used the Force to disassemble her mother's lightsaber, rearranging her mother's crystal and the krayt dragon pearl to the ancillary positions allowing the Mantle to take the primary position. She reassembled the blade before it returned to her grasp and she ignited it, and they all admired the brilliant green blade.
"Very well done, Master Shan," Huyang complimented. "Now, let's take this to my workshop and we can compare your mother's design to your own prior design to see best how to fit this blade to your preference."
Allara nodded slowly, and Kastor moved next to her and put a comforting arm around her shoulders as she deactivated the blade.
"It seems right, that you use your mother's blade," Kastor said. "She would enjoy knowing that her blade continues to be of service and that it might very well save your life."
"More like she would enjoy knowing her blade helps me stay out of trouble," Allara said, with a small smile.
Kastor laughed. "That too, love. That too."
*The Will of the Force*
Obi-Wan, Siri, Rhys, Kastor, Allara, Adi, Fay, and Asuna continued to pore over the schematics for the water delivery system and a laser map of the sector.
"We've got Senate security forces at each access point, disguised," Siri said.
"Mandalorians and Antarian Rangers are patrolling the streets in intervals, looking for the Slams, Zan Arbor, or Omega," Asuna added.
"Jedi teams as well," Adi added.
"We have everything covered," Siri said.
"And yet you don't feel confident," Obi-Wan remarked.
Siri's eyebrows knit together. "No."
"Nor do I."
"Omega has been quite successful in being unpredictable," Kastor agreed. "We need to work in shifts, patrolling the streets. I'll rest well after the ceremony."
"I'll rest well when Omega and Zan Arbor have been captured," Obi-Wan replied, and Kastor nodded.
"Fay and I will take the first shift," Allara said, and Kastor glanced at his daughter and lover who was giving Allara a curious glance, but nodding in agreement.
"Ferus and I will join you," Siri said.
"Very well," Adi said. "Everyone else should get some rest."
Obi-Wan glanced at Kastor, and Kastor met his eyes curiously.
"Can we talk?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Of course," Kastor said, and fell into step with him as they made their way out of the room. "What's on your mind, Obi-Wan? Your plan for Astri tomorrow? Omega? Zan Arbor?"
Obi-Wan chuckled sardonically. "All of the above, of course," he said.
"And yet something else as well," Kastor said, and Obi-Wan nodded, unsurprised at his perception.
"Yes, something that Tyro mentioned, oddly enough," Obi-Wan said hesitantly.
"Oh?" Kastor said. "What did our young Svivreni friend say that got your mind running."
"It was near the end, right after Siri called me about Omega's possible hideout," Obi-Wan said. "Tyro told me to go to my partner-of-heart, and that it was clear I treasured her."
Kastor smiled.
"All very true, Obi-Wan," Kastor said, amused.
"Then he told me to invite him to the ceremony," Obi-Wan said with a sigh.
"Ah, the heart of the issue," Kastor muttered, and Obi-Wan sighed again.
"I love Siri with everything I have," Obi-Wan said. "Anything more than what we have now was beyond anything I could ever have hoped for . . . but the Order is changing . . . has changed. Even what we have now is beyond anything I ever hoped for . . . but I want more."
"You want to show your commitment," Kastor said in understanding. "You want everyone to know that you belong to her and she to you, that you have a bond that can't be broken."
"Yes," Obi-Wan admitted wryly. "I figured you'd understand."
"Of course I do," Kastor said with a nod. "Marriage is a wonderful thing. What do you want from me?"
"Will the Council approve it?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I think they will," Kastor said with a nod. "The Order already has some marriages, even if those were previously exceptions for various reasons, but now that those Jedi are able to properly commit and bond to their spouses and children, they are proper marriages. I don't see why that can't extend to you and Siri."
Obi-Wan smiled before he asked, "What . . . what was your marriage ceremony like?"
Kastor chuckled. "Very Jedi. It was very simple. Few truly supported our union, so we only had our family and closest friends. We wore our Jedi robes. My sister officiated it for us. Simple vows, pledging ourselves to each other while in service to the Force."
"Did you exchange rings?"
"No," Kastor said with a shake of his head. "We thought about it, but with our undercover work, we didn't want to have to take them off, and we didn't want to develop habits of wearing or playing with them, habits that could get us killed. We did exchange gifts though . . . and carved our names into each other's lightsabers, at the bottom."
"Very Jedi indeed," Obi-Wan said with a chuckle. "What gifts did you exchange?"
"I gave Elena a green krayt dragon pearl for her lightsaber. She gave me . . ." Kastor said with a grin, "Revan's holocron."
Obi-Wan blinked in surprise.
"How did she get it?"
Kastor chuckled. "She stole it from the Temple. To say Satele was horrified – and perhaps a bit impressed – was an understatement. Still, she let me keep it . . . and never notified the Temple."
Obi-Wan laughed with Kastor.
"How did you ask her?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Ha, not in any romantic way, if you were hoping for some inspiration," Kastor responded with a nostalgic smile. "Much like our current times, the Order was spread thin, everyone was constantly being sent on missions, and we never knew what was going to happen. So, one day I just told her I loved her, told her I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her, and then asked her to marry me." Kastor laughed. "I was so nervous that it came out a bit rushed and honestly sounded more like a demand rather than a question. Thankfully my wife knew me better than anyone. She gave me that confident, smug smirk that I loved and hated and told me that of course she would marry me, and that in her eyes, we'd been married for years."
Obi-Wan smiled. "I think you're selling yourself short, Kastor."
"Maybe," Kastor said with a nod. "Elena did love telling that story for years to come. My advice is just to ask her when it feels right. You can't worry about what's going on. As Jedi, there is always some mission or threat. You can't let that dictate your relationship."
Obi-Wan nodded. "Thank you, Kastor. For everything."
"No thanks necessary, Obi-Wan," Kastor said, and then winked. "Just be good to my daughter."
"I think you should be worrying about my safety more than hers," Obi-Wan said dryly.
"Oh, I do," Kastor agreed with a wide grin. "Now, let's get some rest. We've got a long night, and then we have a friend to help out tomorrow morning."
*The Will of the Force*
The next morning Anakin and Obi-Wan walked into the Temple, having just finished a patrol. Waiting for them was Soara and Darra. Anakin hurried forward to greet his friend, and Obi-Wan moved forward himself to greet his other friend, and ensure everything had gone on without a problem.
"Thank you for coming so quickly," Obi-Wan said. "Is everything . . ."
Soara nodded. "They're having breakfast at the moment. Master Alann is with them."
Anakin overheard and shot his Master a curious look, but Obi-Wan merely said, "Meet us at Dexter's Diner at the prearranged time."
Anakin joined Obi-Wan. He raised his eyebrows in a question.
"It's time to help Astri," Obi-Wan said firmly. "It's time to try and take that fear away from her."
It took some persuading, but Astri agreed to meet him. Obi-Wan waited outside Dexter's Diner. When he saw her approach, he walked forward to greet her.
"Obi-Wan, I can't interfere with Bog, even for you," she said before he could speak. "I'm a Senator's wife now."
"Why can't you meet my eyes, Astri?" he asked softly.
"Don't be ridiculous," she said, but her gaze kept moving.
"Are you afraid you were followed?"
"No. I took precautions." Astri saw her mistake. She bit her lip.
"You are afraid," Obi-Wan said. "Don't worry, you weren't followed. There are Jedi watching your every move now. And yet you still can't meet my eyes."
All he could see was the top of her head. The dark curls that once tumbled down her back were now cropped close against her skull. He remembered when she had shaved off her hair in order to impersonate a bounty hunter. Astri had never had much vanity. She was a pure spirit.
"I am ashamed," she said quietly. "That is why I can't meet your eyes."
He took her arm and led her into the shelter of the diner overhang.
"There is no need for shame, Astri," he said softly. "We have been through worse together."
She shook her head. "No. We have not." She looked up, and he saw that her deep green eyes glistened with tears. "Now I have a child."
"And Bog has threatened him."
"He will take him away. He is so young, Obi-Wan. I cannot let that happen. No matter what. Even your friendship, even the entire Jedi Order is nothing to me in the face of that. I know that making a choice for one life against so many lives is wrong, but I cannot help myself." This time, she did not drop her eyes.
"Astri, that is not a cause for shame. I understand it. Of course that is what you must do."
"You understand that I couldn't help you?"
Obi-Wan nodded. "And you must understand that I must help you."
"There is no help for me. Even from the Jedi."
"Look."
He took her by the shoulders and spun her around. Now she could see inside the diner. Her father, Didi, was comparing recipes with Dexter, Kastor, and Fay. Lune, her son, was sitting on a stool, swinging his legs as Darra teased him, making him laugh. Siri was on the boy's other side, assisting Darra, a soft smile on her face. In front of the boy was a pile of Dex's cakes. Rhys and Asuna sat in a booth near the doorway, watching for any threat that might come.
Astri put a hand on her heart.
"I had Soara and Darra bring them. We can arrange to have them back before anyone knows they are missing, if that is your choice. But there is another."
Astri waited, her eyes drinking in the sight of her son.
"You can leave Bog. The Jedi will offer you protection."
She was already shaking her head. "He will find me. He will win." She turned. "You don't understand, Obi-Wan. He's not as stupid as he appears. He is cunning. I didn't realize . . . I didn't know . . . the lengths he would go. He got one taste of power, and it corrupted him. He has aligned himself with the worst in the galaxy. It started so softly. A favor for the Commerce Guild. Then another. And soon he was approached by another Senator — "
"Sano Sauro."
"Yes. He sold his honor. Well, the honor I thought he had. And now there is someone else, someone so powerful he does not say his name."
"Granta Omega. And with Omega, Jenna Zan Arbor. Did you know that?"
Astri looked away. "Yes. I knew that. And still I did nothing."
He slipped his hand into her cold one and squeezed it briefly. "You were alone. Now you are not. You still have me. You still have Kastor, Rhys, Siri. You're family, Astri, and we will always help you."
Tears leaked down her face.
"F-family?"
"Yes, family," he said, cupping her cheek softly. "Something I should have told you long ago. Then, perhaps we could have been there for you like we should have been."
"Bog was never a strong man," she said with a shudder. "How strange it is to fear him now."
She reached into the pocket of her tunic and handed several disks to Obi-Wan.
"What is this?"
"Bog's data recorder. For his memoirs." She made a face. "I copied them secretly. He says it only keeps a record of meetings, but that's not true. He is too vain to hide what he thinks of as his accomplishments. There might be something on these."
Obi-Wan slipped them into his tunic. "You didn't know I had brought Lune and Didi here. Why did you bring the disks?"
"I've been carrying them with me. Seeing you, seeing Kastor, Siri, Anakin, Rhys . . . I felt so guilty, going along with Bog. I thought, there must be a way to help somehow. Bog is involved in something terrible. It is more than scheming against the Jedi in the Senate. There is some kind of plot, a takeover that will net him more power. He can't resist boasting to me. Soon we'll be able to afford whatever we want. A luxury cruiser for our trips to Nuralee. A villa by the Sea of Translucency on Dremulae."
"Dremulae?"
"Yes, he saw an image of the perfect spot, he said."
'Yes,' Obi-Wan thought, 'in Omega's safe house.'
"He has these grand plans, and he's questioned me closely about the details of what will take place during the Relief Fund ceremony. I was on the planning committee. I can't imagine what that means."
"I can," Obi-Wan said. "Astri, I promise you, after today you will not have to worry about Bog Divinian."
She looked up into his face. Something came over her, some jolt of courage or certainty, and she nodded, still a bit tearfully. "Thank you, Obi-Wan."
"And now," Obi-Wan said in a lighter tone, putting a comforting arm around her shoulders, "it is time to greet your son. I think he's almost out of cakes."
Astri gave a watery chuckle and leaned into his side. Obi-Wan smiled, happy that at least one thing had worked out.
*The Will of the Force*
Everything was in place. Secret security milled in the crowd. There were infrared sensors on the gravsled with the treasury. Droids buzzed overhead as thick as flies. Jedi teams were both open and disguised throughout the crowd.
Obi-Wan stood to the side. In his ear was an earpiece in which Bog Divinian's voice droned on. Bog's recordings were filled with the dullest details, from when he took a tea break to the compliment paid him by the visiting ruler of Teevan. Obi-Wan noted that he even planned how late to be for the Senate hearing on the anti-Jedi petition. Six minutes. Short enough so that no one would be offended, long enough to demonstrate his importance, Obi-Wan guessed.
None of the information had been useful or valuable or even insightful, but Obi-Wan continued to listen, intending to not leave any stone unturned. He had given a copy to Tyro, but he wanted to hear for himself.
The speeches on the platform were only slightly more interesting. One Senator after another came up and thanked the others and Palpatine, even while managing to convey that it was through his or her own early support that the idea really took off.
In his ear, Bog worked on a speech. Obi-Wan could even hear his footsteps as he paced.
"In this time of great grief and sorrow. No. In this perilous time, we look to a leader who can take us from strong to stronger…No, that's not quite the tone. More… leader-like. Now only one of us can lead us through the valley of fear to the mountaintop of solidarity . . ."
'What time of grief and sorrow?' Obi-Wan thought. 'Omega's plan?'
Obi-Wan switched off the recorder. Chancellor Palpatine was speaking, which meant the ceremony was almost over.
"I accept this treasury on behalf of the Senate, and thank all the generous worlds that contributed," Palpatine said, with one hand on the armored repulsorlift wagon that held the glittering gold boxes of vertex. "This is the dawn of a new age. An age where help will arrive when and where it is most needed. Thank you all."
Palpatine, at least, had learned the value of brevity and modesty, Obi-Wan noted.
He watched as the Supreme Chancellor stepped back and entered his personal transport. He sped off towards the Senate, with the other Senators following. The possible ban on the Jedi from the Senate debate was set to occur soon.
The Blue and Red Guards slowly guided the vehicle with the vertex to the great open doors of the vault of the Core Bank. Obi-Wan heard a murmur go through the crowd, all eager to see the great fortune. Yet, still there was no sign of trouble.
Obi-Wan reached out through his bond to Siri, and glanced at her in the crowd. She shrugged. Anakin's focus had shifted to the wall, his interest in the ceremony and threat having faded, now that it was over.
Obi-Wan's comlink signaled. It was Tyro. "Anything?" Obi-Wan asked.
"That speech he's practicing . . . did you get to that yet? Any impressions?"
"He needs a speechwriter."
"Yes, it's awful, but did you get the subject?"
"No, I couldn't figure out what he was talking about."
"That's what worries me."
Obi-Wan watched the Guards move into the building.
"Because it sounds like he's preparing a speech for a major tragedy," Obi-Wan said.
"Exactly," Tyro agreed. "I could be off base, but . . ."
Obi-Wan noticed that one of the Blue Guards had a torn hem. Unusual for these guards. They took their position as personal guards to Palpatine seriously.
'Torn hem. Blue thread.'
"Later, Tyro." Obi-Wan snapped his comlink shut and vaulted through the crowd. Anakin caught his movement, and Siri felt his alarm through their bond.
"The guards!" he bellowed.
And then they were all moving — Anakin, Siri, Ferus, Kastor, Fay — as the durasteel doors began to slide shut on the vault. Obi-Wan leaped. He slammed against the vault door, then squeezed himself inside, nearly leaving his foot behind as the door clanged shut. Anakin managed to squeeze in above him, his leap having taken him higher.
Obi-Wan landed on the floor and tackled the Blue Guard in front of him. The helmet was knocked off, and he looked into the face of Roper Slam.
"Not you again!" Slam groaned.
Anakin tackled the next guard, revealing Valadon.
"This was supposed to be easy!" Slam yelped.
Valadon struggled to release herself from Anakin's grip. "What happened to that Zone? We weren't supposed to meet any resistance!"
"We've been double-crossed," Slam said. He didn't struggle with Obi-Wan. He sat cross-legged on the floor, then tried to rip off the robe in angry frustration.
Siri, Ferus, Kastor, and Fay ran in through the interior door of the vault, followed by anxious-looking officials and part of the security force.
"It's all right," Obi-Wan said. "You can take them into custody."
"There wasn't even an attempt to hit the water system," Siri said.
"You see? Double-crossed," Slam said, slumping down.
"Another two minutes and we would have been out of here with the vertex," Valadon said.
"Everything depends on minutes, Val," Slam said. "We live and die on minutes."
'Minutes,' Obi-Wan thought. 'Bog is going to be six minutes late for the debate. To make himself more important? Or was there another reason?'
He thought of Bog's speech, Tyro's worries, and then the truth blazed a path inside his brain. Bog was practicing a nominating speech. A speech he would deliver sometime today. It was a nomination speech for Sano Sauro to take over as Supreme Chancellor after Palpatine was assassinated.
Siri felt his understanding only a hair slower than him, having felt it secondhand through his own mind.
"To the Senate building," Obi-Wan said, and Kastor, Fay, Anakin, and Ferus all hastened to follow him and Siri out the vault, into the Core Bank, and then out the front door.
Obi-Wan hopped into the pilot's seat of a speeder, Siri took the seat next to him, and the rest of the Jedi hopped into various open seats behind the two of them.
"What's up?" Anakin asked easily.
Obi-Wan took the speeder through a sharp dive to avoid an airbus. "I think Omega's real goal is to use the Zone at the Senate and assassinate Palpatine. I've already tried to call Senate security, but I can't get through. All of the security is caught up in the ceremony."
"Which is probably what he's counting on," Anakin said.
While they were talking, Siri and Kastor were both contacting Mace Windu and Asuna, to alert them to the situation and get more aid to the Senate building.
Obi-Wan took the speeder into another sharp dive down to the platform for the Senate building, landing roughly, and they all jumped out, and ran into the Senate building.
"How do you think they'll do it?" Anakin asked as they ran along the elevated walkway leading to Palpatine's private office.
"They'll use the Zone to impair the opposition Senators. They will have figured out a way to target them somehow, maybe by inviting them to the meeting first. That's why Bog is going to be late. Then they'll call for a vote and oust the Jedi Order. In the meantime, they'll assassinate Palpatine."
"So they will have eliminated Jedi interference and Palpatine in one day," Anakin said.
"And Sano Sauro will be Supreme Chancellor, and Omega will wield great influence over the Republic," Kastor said grimly.
They raced into Palpatine's outer office. Sly Moore gazed at them forbiddingly, her pale eyes showing her disapproval. "Not another emergency meeting. The Supreme Chancellor is busy."
"This is life or death," Obi-Wan told her.
She hesitated a fraction of an instant. "He has already gone to the Jedi vote in the Senate. He took the South Corridor!" she shouted after them as they ran.
They raced down the hallways. Ahead they saw Palpatine walking. Obi-Wan skidded up to him and pushed him into an empty meeting room. When he touched his arm, he was shocked at how thin the Supreme Chancellor was. Yet his arm was like a braiding of durasteel, ropy and strong.
Something clanged along Obi-Wan's nerves, some feeling, some instinct that made him want to recoil. He felt dread well up in him, and he wondered if he was too late, after all. Perhaps there was something he had not seen. It fed through his bond to Siri, and she frowned.
"Master Kenobi, what is it?" Palpatine asked. He had moved his arm away quickly and was now adjusting the high collar on his cloak.
"An assassination plot against you, Supreme Chancellor," Obi-Wan said. "Granta Omega is behind it. I am sure of it. Sano Sauro would be nominated by Bog Divinian as your successor."
Palpatine thought this over. A small smile crossed his thin, bloodless lips. "Of course. That would be the inevitable next step."
"You don't seem very concerned about your potential assassination," Anakin said.
Palpatine waved a hand. "My personal safety ceased to be an issue the moment I took on this position. I'll order a lockdown," Palpatine said. "That means every door will open only with a retinal scan."
"Omega and Zan Arbor are probably already in the building," Obi-Wan said. "My guess is that Teda got them past security."
"I have monitors on the water system," Palpatine said. "There are no reports of sabotage."
"I advise you to shut down the entire system," Obi-Wan said. "We can't take a chance."
Palpatine hesitated. Then he got out his comlink, notified Mas Amedda, and gave the order.
"And now I will go to the assembly," he said.
"But Supreme Chancellor, you can't," Obi-Wan argued.
"But Master Kenobi, I must," Palpatine said softly, and the Jedi all sensed a hint of anger before a red light began to glow on Palpatine's comlink. "The most serious alert," he murmured, and accessed it. He listened for a moment, then shut it down. "It could be nothing. A valve in a water tunnel won't function. They wouldn't have noticed it, but when they shut down the water system, the valve came up as non-functioning."
"Where?" Obi-Wan asked.
Palpatine gave him the coordinates, and Obi-Wan turned to Anakin.
"Stay with the Chancellor."
"But Master — "
"Anakin, there's a large chance that we're missing something. I trust you to foil the attack and save lives if I am wrong."
Anakin's protest fell, realizing that it was all about Obi-Wan trusting him to handle what he might not be around to handle himself. Obi-Wan was putting his faith in him.
"Ferus, stay with him," Siri said. "With the two of you together, I'm confident the Chancellor will be safe."
"Contact Asuna," Kastor ordered, as they started to run off. "Anakin, you know them best. You're in charge."
"Understood, master," Anakin called after them.
Palpatine studied him and Ferus.
"You can go too, if you want, Anakin. One Jedi is plenty."
"No, my master is right," Anakin said. "We have underestimated Omega before. He likely has some way to get to you that we didn't think about. It's best that I stay."
Ferus nodded in agreement.
"If you insist," Palpatine said simply. "Now, let us walk. I still must preside over the vote on Senator Divinian's proposal after all."
"Wouldn't it be wise to postpone the vote?" Ferus asked hesitantly, and Palpatine focused on him as Anakin frowned slightly.
"The work of the Senate goes on," Palpatine continued as they began to walk. "To keep going on, no matter what the obstacles — that is what a leader must do. I have learned over the course of my political career, one important thing: I cannot let anyone get in the way of my service. In the beginning, I doubted myself. Who am I, I asked myself, to decide fates, to make rulings? Then the answer came to me. I must do it because there is no one else who can do it better."
Palpatine chuckled.
"Oh, I'm not saying I'm keeping the Republic together single-handedly. But fate has thrust me into this position — and I would be untrue to myself as well as the galaxy if I did not utilize everything I have and everything I am in order to succeed at it. Caution has its place, but I can't bend to it in the Senate. I cannot let someone else dictate my path, and since I now have two Jedi as bodyguards, I will use you to show that I have strength and will not be intimidated."
Anakin could admire that mentality. Obi-Wan's level of caution got on Anakin's nerves at times, but at the same time, Obi-Wan's level of caution was usually backed by logic and experience. Anakin didn't always agree, but he didn't have to. His place was to follow his master's instruction, and someday, he would be a Knight and it would be him making the decisions.
Obi-Wan was trusting him to follow his directions, and he wasn't going to fail. He wanted to be there for the confrontation with Omega. Everything in him was telling him that there would be one, maybe even the final one, and he knew that he understood Omega and wouldn't underestimate him.
However, he also knew that Obi-Wan, Siri, Kastor, and Fay wouldn't either. They were four of the most powerful Jedi he knew . . . and this was one of those times that he was able to take a step back, like Kastor recommended, and recognize that ego was playing into his desire to run after Omega. Obi-Wan and Siri wanted him and Ferus here in case they missed something. If he ran after them and they were right, his gamble could very well cost the life of a man he respected greatly . . . and it would break the trust his master had in him.
No, this was not a time for ego. This was a time to trust that his master knew what he was doing.