AN. Just as a fun side-note, the three Senators who asked Fox's name were Padme Amidala, Bail Organa, and Riyo Chuchi. Once again, TW abuse/torture because Palpatine is a kriffing demagolka.

Enjoy!

Padme shook her head. "I don't believe there is enough evidence." Punch was shaking with rage.

"Not enough evidence?" he spat. "I'd called the scars on Fox's back, and the ones forming right now on River's evidence." Padme sighed.

"I'm sorry. Believe me, I would love to pummel the Chancellor into pulp as well, but speaking strictly as a lawyer, there is not enough evidence to prove it. There are scars, yes, but unless you have access to a security feed of Palpatine himself whipping Fox or River, then I'm afraid I cannot help very much. I'm sorry." Anakin thought for a moment.

"A security feed? Who has a datapad?" Obi-Wan tossed it to him, and he began frantically working on it. He did his best to stop his anger, but every time he thought of the marks on Fox's back, he felt like he was drowning. Rage seemed to be his only way to keep from sinking. He wondered with a sinking feeling if Palpatine had marked them. He still carried a deep web of scars in the shape of a "W" that Watto had long ago given him. He shook the thoughts aside and focused all of his attention on his task.

Obi-Wan looked at Padme. "If we do obtain evidence, what charges can we press?" Padme began to explain.

"It took a long time, too long, but we finally managed to have the Coruscant Guard acknowledged as Republic employees. Palpatine was getting a lot of heat from us about the matter, and I believe this was his way of trying to get rid of us. Technically, while the clones are property-" she practically spat the word. Fox was shocked at the sheer disgust she held for the fact.

Anakin growled, and the noise seemed to reverberate around the room.

"I was a slave for nine years! I thought the Republic would be better. But now I see the Republic is just as corrupted and horrible as the Hutt's Slave Empire. It's wrong. It's so wrong! They're people. People! And I told you. I told you!" he yelled. "I said they were slaves, but you wouldn't listen!" Tears ran down his cheeks. "I joined the Jedi to free slaves." he whispered. "But I became the very thing I swore to destroy. I-I'm a slaver."

His knees buckled, and Obi-Wan lunged to catch him. Padme moved forward instinctively, but seemed to realize something and stop. Obi-Wan carefully lifted Anakin off the ground, and helped him out of the Council Chambers without another word. Fox looked at Punch. Their esteem for Anakin had grown a lot. Fox understood why Anakin had reacted so strongly to the scars. He was jerked out of his thoughts as Padme continued,

"Yes, I completely agree with Master Skywalker that it is abominable, but sadly, Palpatine managed to convince most of the Senate otherwise. That means that if this had happened to any other troopers, we would have no legal action to take. However, as employees of the Republic, we can press charges of abuse." She sighed and looked over as Anakin and Obi-Wan walked back in a moment later. Anakin took a deep breath, the tears barely visible.

"I found it. Ahsoka, Rex, and Cody are on their way." He quietly took a his seat, and Obi-Wan stood next to him. Fox found himself wondering about the Jedi's past. Anakin looked up at him, as if reading his mind, and Fox took a half-step back in surprise. Anakin looked down again, and they all waited in silence for Ahsoka and the clones to get there.

When the three ran in, Ahsoka went to stand between her Master and Rex, while Cody and Rex went over to Punch and Fox.

"Are you alright?" Cody whispered.

"It's not me, it's River." Fox explained.

"It's him too." Punch interjected. Fox sighed and turned back to the Jedi as Rex and Cody shared a worried look. Anakin projected the feed in the middle of the room, and pressed play.

Palpatine's Red Guards dragged a terrified River into his office.

"I'm sorry, sir. I'm sorry!" River cried. Palpatine simply held out a hand, and one of his guards placed a whip in it. The same guard roughly pulled River's chestplate off. Palpatine began whipping the poor clone, who cried out in pain the whole time. The louder he cried, the wider Palpatine smiled. Rex, Cody, Fox, and Punch were standing side by side, fists clenched, as they watched Palpatine torture their vod'ika.

Eventually Palpatine stopped, as River kept crying. Fox's eyes were narrowed, and he was glaring at Palpatine. He was going to make Palpatine pay for this.

Palpatine sighed. "I don't think you've learned your lesson yet. You never talk to Senators." Padme gasped, and Anakin quickly paused it.

"What?" Padme turned to Fox.

"I'm so sorry, this is all my fault." Fox instantly tensed - if she had hurt his vod'ika, Senator or not, she would pay.

"What do you mean?" he growled. She sighed.

"He was on escort duty for me. I asked him what his name was, and when he told me his number, I asked for his real name. He told me his name was River. Palpatine was standing near me when I did so. He must not have liked River's response. I'm so sorry." Fox relaxed slightly. She hadn't been the one to hurt River.

"It's Palpatine's fault, not yours, Senator." She sighed and looked down.

"Still, I'm sorry." Fox was completely confused as to how to respond. No one had ever apologized to him, except for his batchmates- but that was years ago, back on Kamino.

"Um, thank you?" he offered awkwardly. Cody shot him a look, and he glared. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do with an apology! I don't remember the last time anyone apologized!" he whispered angrily. Cody's face fell slightly, and he put a hand on Fox's shoulder.

"Thank you for the apology, but this is no one's fault but Palpatine." he said firmly. Padme nodded, mostly unconvinced, but stepped back. Anakin hit play again, and the scene continued.

Palpatine continued whipping until River begged him, "Please. P-please, stop." Palpatine grinned down at the trembling clone, and handed a guard the whip, motioning for them all to leave. The young clone slumped, and Palpatine circled him, like a shriek-hawk about to strike.

"Do you know now what happens when you make a mistake?" River nodded frantically.

"Yes, sir. I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again, sir." Palpatine nodded, satisfied, and a small metal cylinder flew from his sleeve.

"See that it doesn't. And remember-" River, half unconscious, and in pain, was completely uncomprehending of what Palpatine held, but the Jedi recognized before he turned it on. A recognizable hum filled the air as Palpatine lit his saber and held the red point as River's throat. "Don't. Tell. Anyone."

It was silent in the Council Chambers for a minute before Ahsoka shrieked,

"PALPATINE'S THE SITH LORD?!"