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Chapter Text

The dragon that had roared within his chest since as long as he could remember was silent, for just a moment. It basked in the vengeance it had been given. Blood repaid with blood.

Dooku lay dead amidst the remains of two B3 cortosis battle droids, a single cauterized hole through his chest; the evidence of a swift and brutal end to a fight that Anakin had dreamt of since the day he lost his arm on Geonosis.

The feeling of victory was nearly surreal for the few seconds it remained, before harsh reality set in. Before consequences set in. Anakin had killed a Sith Lord. But in doing so, the knowledge of the elusive Sith Master was lost. The blood in his ears quieted and his surroundings faded back in, adrenaline replaced with hard reality.

It smelled of smoke and ash and burnt flesh, mixed with the damp smell of mildew and trash ever-present in Coruscant’s lower levels. Not too far away, Coruscanti civilians milled just far enough to be safe from any danger, but close enough to view the free show that might come to shake the galaxy… and the war.

Night had set in on Coruscant. Not being too far into the undercity, you could still see rays of light from the surface slowly fade away, casting shadows across the alley.

Pale blue light was cast across the whole area, mixed together with the other fainter colors of the Coruscant underworld. Poor lighting and flickering lamps.

Now was not a time to sit and think. Looking around, he noticed Obi-Wan’s figure lying on the ground a few meters away. Still left form where Count Dooku had unceremoniously thrown him during the duel.

Suddenly, the dragon was back, roaring. Your master is dead, it said. Anakin’s chest tightened; ice dripped through his veins.

Please let him be alive, he thought. In all the times they joked about him saving his master, he’d never really thought of Obi-Wan as anything but invincible.

Anakin quickly ran over to where his Master lay. His footfalls leaving ripples in puddles of still water.

Good, still breathing. Obi-Wan was breathing slightly laboriously but was still alive. The dragon abated.

Count Dooku had thrown him with a particular nasty force push early on in the battle so that he could duel with Anakin alone. Obi-Wan’s tunic was scorched and torn in some areas, a cauterized saber wound in his left side that would leave a nasty scar but little else.

His commlink blinked twice.

He raised it to his mouth. “This is Knight Anakin Skywalker, I’m located on level 5118, not far from the Lyphon Ithorian hotel. We have stopped Count Dooku and need evac. Master Obi-Wan is unconscious and may need medical attention.”

A firm, familiar voice crackled through. “Message heard and received Knight Skywalker. I have a Republic Medical Gunship on the way. Is Count Dooku secure?” Mace Windu’s familiar deep voice was good to hear after the events of today.

“Count Dooku is secure...of a sort. You’ll have to see when you get here.”

“Heard. ETA 10 minutes. Over and out.”

Anakin breathed in a deep breath. He felt lighter than he’d ever had since the Clone Wars began. The events on Geonosis replaying over and over in his mind’s eye.

A twitch from his metal arm. It was certainly not Jedi-like but he was pleased with this. He’d gotten payback for what Count Dooku had done to him. Even years after the fact, his metal arm did not sit well with him. Maybe, now it would.

Glancing around, many of the people who had likely watched his duel with Dooku had left. Best not to stay around when Republic troopers and Jedi were likely on the way. Almost everyone down here has some sort of criminal record, let alone actively partaking in some sort of criminal activity.

He couldn’t hear anymore fighting happening across Coruscant. The insurrection must have been fully thwarted by now.

It still didn’t entirely make sense to Anakin.

Why would you attempt to attack the Jedi Temple? It just seemed like folly to him.

He’d been in the middle of investigating Cortosis shipments on Tattooine when he’d received the message. Coruscant is under attack, make your way back as soon as possible. He could barely believe it.

And when he’d returned—surprise surprise—the attack was composed almost entirely of B3 Cortosis battle droids, let by Dooku and his dark acolyte Trenox.

Cortosis was an alloy that was a member of a very exclusive group of metals. The alloys and metals that could resist a lightsaber strike. There was Neuranium, a metal so dense and heavy that it’s use was prohibitive on anything but quantum reactors, which could resist a lightsaber for short periods of time. Then, Mandalorian Iron, a metal almost completely resistant to lightsabers but jealously guarded by the Mandalorians, known as Beskar. Phrik, a metal expensive and rare, when combined with tydirium, was nearly indestructible.

Cortosis was perhaps the most common and most dangerous. It took effort to refine and was dangerous to touch. Once refined however, it could short out lightsabers on contact. Anakin had only barely discovered a weakness in their upper breastplate they had killed him on Tattooine.

Taking a quick second glance at Kenobi—still breathing—Anakin walked back over to Dooku’s body and quickly retrieved the Master of Makashi’s curved hilt and left the body for whatever sorry soul would have to deal with it.

Anakin placed the blade onto his hip, a trophy for as long as The Order would let him keep it. Likely only as long as it took for him to make it to the temple.

A familiar hum came soaring from the distance. A hum slowly replaced with a deep vibration of a LAAT’s repulsorlifts. Best to get ready then. Quickly, he made his way back to Obi-Wan, picking him up and placing him around his shoulders. Hopefully he’d wake in this position, another time he’d saved his master’s life, another time to tease him endlessly about.

The LAAT arrived, quickly offloading a squad of Coruscant Shock Troopers with bits of ash and scorch marks on their armor. They quickly spread out, taking stock of surroundings and the destroyed B3 droids a short walk away.

“Did you have all the fun while I was off saving the archives?” Ahsoka was still as sharp as her moniker suggested.

“Now, I wouldn’t say that Snips, you look like you’ve had nearly as much fun as I’ve had,” a grin easily found its place one his face.

She was just as covered in soot as the shock troops but that hadn’t seemed to have any effect on her smile or boisterous mood. Of course, something about the current situation slowly took that grin away.

“After you ran off to chase after Dooku, you left me to deal with Trenox. You’re lucky that you’ve taught me how to use a lightsaber.”

Anakin smiled. “Taught you to use a lightsaber? Last I remembered, you seemingly detested my lightsaber form for being, and I quote, too aggressive.”

“It is! I just mean you taught me how to duel an aggressive opponent.”

“Ah...that explains it.”

Ahsoka seemed to finally notice Obi-Wan around his shoulders.

“Master…” she tilted her head to see past Anakin and saw the still body of a Sith Lord behind him.

“Snips—”

That of course, would have to wait, as off stepped Master Mace Windu onto the city streets of Couruscant. He too, seemed to be covered in ash, with a pensive look on his face.

“Knight Skywalker,” he gave a pointed look to Obi-Wan, “where is Count Dooku?”

Anakin stepped out of the way. “He’s dead. I got him with a faint while switching between lightsaber forms.”

This seemed to shock Windu. “Dead—” he took a better look at Anakin, “forgive me Skywalker, but how?”

Anakin didn’t exactly have an answer to that.

Windu took in the silence for a moment. “Regardless, it’s done. What you’ve done today may have just ended the war years earlier than it’s natural conclusion. Without Dooku to keep the Separatist elements together, it’s only a matter of time before they fracture. Good job Knight Skywalker.”

Anakin was bewildered. There certainly wasn’t a smile on Windu’s face, never that, but there was satisfaction and though he was sure he was crazy to even think it, was that pride?

“How is Obi-Wan?”

“Uhh...” a pause. “Yes! Yes, he has some slight wounds and scorching, I think Dooku caught him in the torso with his blade. No serious damage, but certainly a nasty scar to remember it by. Dooku knocked him out early into our duel.”

Mace seemed to give that some thought. “Take no offense Skywalker, you are a very skilled young man, but even I had not expected this of you. Though it is unfortunate that we cannot ply Dooku for information, and I am saddened to see a former Master of ours killed by our own order, his fate was sealed the moment he joined the Sith.”

Now Anakin was certain something was wrong. Who was this man in the place of the sternest Master of the order? The one who at every turn seemed to doubt Anakin and his abilities, accepting—even wanting—the death of Dooku? He was almost certain that the council was going to berate him for the death of Dooku.

The council had never seemed to trust Anakin. Mace most of all had led the group that wanted to push Anakin away from rising through the order. That thought he wasn’t good enough. And now?

“Regardless Skywalker, I think your friend would appreciate being brought to the temple healers as soon as possible. I will deal with the situation here,” and that was all Windu needed to say.

Anakin wasn’t likely to admit it aloud. But it was a lot easier to run from something you don’t understand. That, or fight it. Which didn’t seem like a great idea concerning Windu.

“Snips! Hurry up, we got a master to heal. Even if just so we can tease him for needing saving again,” and so Anakin ran from what he did not understand.

Windu left a parting comment, “Skywalker. Time will come to speak on circumstances here. But for now? Well done.”

And all Anakin could think about was how Windu had never said anything about a curved saber on his belt.

Long meetings were commonplace within the Senate of the Republic. Grandstanding, speaking around issues, and just plain politics was the norm. Sidious of course, was well adept at navigating this field. He enjoyed the power of wrapping politicians and sycophants around his finger. Bending them to his will.

But what had just transpired had him more annoyed than enjoyed. Speaking with members within Padme Amidala’s faction was always a balance of truth and lie. Smart smiles, pleasantries, and promises that he never planned to deliver. The fools.

It seemed every time he turned around Senator Organa and Amidala were pushing for peace with the Separatists from a different direction. Every bill to increase the military. Every act to expand his emergency powers.

The game was certainly more fun with opponents. He could do without these particular ones, however.

If he was sure that it would push Anakin further towards the Dark Side, he would have killed Padme long ago. However, Anakin was unpredictable in a fashion that made long-term planning somewhat...difficult. One had to plan for his unpredictability. Place him in a box where the only way he could react would be to your benefit.

The perfect Jedi trap. If you play, you lose. His master had taught him well, the fool.

A short tune erupted from somewhere within the room. It could have been mistaken for a bird if not for the fact that this was Coruscant. His already annoyed mood turned decidedly foul.

He opened a cabinet in his desk. Filled with work to be signed and other meaningless scraps that could be useful in the day-to-day of the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. All useless, moved aside. Beneath these was a datapad. This too, was unhelpful.

With a slight bit of force, so minuscule you would never recognize such a thing, a lock clicked and the false bottom to the cabinet lifted to reveal a second, more conspicuous, datapad.

On it, was a single message: Shipments of Durian fruit were missing, the count is off.

A simple translation: The attack on the Jedi Temple failed, Count Dooku is dead.

This news was most unwelcome. Wrestling control of the CIS was always a lesson in patience. Entertaining the concerns of weak fools who could not find enough motivation outside of threats and wealth.

For all his age and weakness as a true Sith, Count Dooku had been a master at playing the politics of the Separatists. Sidious would need to...talk...with members of the Executive Separatist Council and ensure they were properly...motivated.

But perhaps even this could be used for the Great Plan. A vital piece had been lost but Skywalker could not have defeated Darth Tyrannus without dipping into the Dark Side of the Force. Perhaps.

Only one thing was for certain. “This… I did not foresee.”

The council had been speaking for nearly an hour since he had arrived. Left at the door until their discussion could complete.

It would seem that even killing a Sith Lord was not enough to open doors closed to him. Anakin hated it.

It had been strange to receive such compliments from Mace Windu, but things seemed to have slid right back into normalcy. He was waiting on the council to make decisions deciding his life, all the while he waited outside the doors like a child. Still, they didn’t trust him.

A hand landed on his shoulder, making him jump.

“Relax, my friend, we won’t make you wait any longer.” Obi-Wan had recovered fast enough for a council meeting.

“You know Master, I think that you may have been feigning unconsciousness so that I’d carry you back to the temple. Either that or you hit your head hard enough to want to go to a council meeting injured.”

Obi-Wan smiled a grin so unlike what Anakin was used to his Master presenting. “No, no, I would not have left you to fight the Count on your own. Though, now that you mention it, I do have a bit of a headache.”

Anakin gave him a serious look. “I’m sure. You know master, this is the fourth time I’ve saved your life. You still owe me.”

“Is it the fourth? I’m pretty sure it’s only the third.”

“You always say it’s one less time than it actually is,” Anakin was grinning now as well, “it makes you seem almost...less incompetent. What would the council say, a former padawan saving their master time and again?”

“I’m sure they would say. ‘Well done Obi-Wan. You have trained Knight Skywalker well.’”

Anakin’s grin evaporated.

Obi-Wan noticed his expression. “You have done me proud Anakin. Become a greater Jedi than I could ever hope to be. The council is not upset, simply dealing with the repercussions more than making any decision concerning you.”

Anakin didn’t quite know what to say to that. Thankfully, he didn’t need to. The Kel Dorian Master, Plo Koon, chose that moment to exit the chambers.

“Kenobi, I wish you luck in the task ahead of you,” greeted Plo Koon’s voice seeming somewhat strained.

“And I, you, my friend. Felucia is not a forgiving place.”

“Yes, I imagine Commander Wolffe will not be pleased with my assignment.” His voice was grim, as if Wolffe wasn’t the only one displeased with the assignment.

A voice called from within the Council chambers, “come in, Young Skywalker. Your story, I would like to hear.”

Obi-Wan rested his hand lightly on Anakin’s shoulder. “Well, no time like the present.”

Even as the Republic changed, there was a certain attraction to how the Jedi Order did not. The council chambers looked much the same as the first time he entered them when he was nine years old as well as every other time, he had entered them since.

One thing he could not forgive, was how the council placed those it spoke to in the center of the room. The room was circular, surrounded in windows, and placed equidistant from each other were 12 chairs fit for whatever creature used them on the council.

Obi-Wan left Anakin to stand in the middle as he found his own seat in the council. Standing in the center always made Anakin feel as if he had done something wrong. Being interrogated or scolded by the full council. All things considered, most of the time, it wasn’t far from the truth.

Only six members: Grandmaster Yoda, Mace Windu, Saesee Tiin, Adi Gallia, and Obi-Wan of the Jedi Council were present on Coruscant at the moment. Precisely the reason that Dooku thought he could get away with such a brazen attack on Coruscant itself, attempting to steal a holocron from the temple for some nefarious purposes. Ki-Adi-Mundi and Kit Fisto were holocomming in from elsewhere in the galaxy with the rest occupied with the war.

Windu spoke first. “We’d like your account of what occurred when you arrived on Coruscant up until I arrived after Count Dooku’s death.”

Besides Obi-Wan and Yoda, the other 4 members of the council seemed to shift uncomfortably at the mention of Dooku.

Anakin shifted on his feet. “Masters, as you are aware, I had been investigating the C-B3 Cortosis battle droids on Tattooine”

And hadn’t that been a journey in itself. Jabba the Hutt had been funneling cortosis to the Techno Union, involving himself in the Clone Wars. Quite disturbingly, trading with the Separatists wasn’t disallowed, per say, it was just unusual after Dooku’s actions towards the start of the war.

Anakin had firmly stopped that from continuing. There was little Jabba could do about a Jedi confiscating goods from a war rival. Wat Tambor could make his battle droids out of something not lightsaber resistant from here on, thank-you-very-much.

The only issue was how much cortosis had been funneled to wherever Wat Tambor was producing his new battle droid designs.

“We are now aware of the status of that mission Knight Skywalker,” a soft-spoken Saesee Tiin offered.

“Well, after I received the message from Obi-Wan about the attack on Coruscant, I rushed back as fast as I could. By the time I had made it to the surface, the attack was already underway.”

Anakin hadn’t really thought of the repercussions of that quite yet. Separatist action had occurred before on Coruscant, never before had there been a full-scale attack on the capital planet.

“I destroyed some of the cortosis droids and made my way to the temple where most of you had engaged the droids. In the archives, I found Dooku and his acolyte Trenox attempting to steal a Jedi holocron.” And Anakin would love to know what was so important about that Jedi holocron that Dooku was willing to endanger himself to steal. The council probably considered that information confidential. Typical.

“Dooku fled. Ahsoka engaged Trenox while Obi-Wan and I chased Dooku. We followed Dooku below the surface of Coruscant where we dueled. Obi-Wan was knocked unconscious and I killed Dooku during our duel.” This was the point that Anakin was sure the council would be displeased with.

And they were.

“Why did you not attempt to capture Count Dooku instead?” Ki-Adi-Mundi’s voice stated over holocomm.

“Dooku was too dangerous to attempt to capture him. I had one opportunity to end the fight and get Obi-Wan help, so I used it.” Anakin responded heatedly.

“Understandable, that is, young Skywalker. An honorable thing to protect Obi-Wan, it was. No blame, do we place on you.” And yet, Yoda still managed to sound disappointed at that.

And like that, Anakin was seemingly forgotten for the moment. Even standing in the middle of the council, they managed to ignore him for speaking on how this would affect the war effort.

“I am of the mind that without Dooku, the Separatist cause will fall apart,” Windu said.

“I am still searching for wherever General Grievous seems to hide when he’s not leading Separatist forces. Without him, the CIS military is leaderless.” Kit Fisto’s faded voice came in. Wherever in the galaxy he was, it didn’t seem to have good connection.

Obi-Wan rubbed his beard. “I am of the mind that we may be able to use Senators to reach out to the Separatist Senate. Without Dooku, many of the more...reasonable...senators in the CIS should be willing to treaty.”

“That, would be up to the Supreme Chancellor,” Mace seemed slightly perturbed saying this, “he seems to have pushed for escalation in nearly every situation since the war began.”

Anakin rushed to defend the Chancellor. “The Separatists have shown they can’t be trusted. They attacked every attempt at treaty. The Chancellor had to take action.”

The room was silent. The council had seemingly forgotten he was there for the moment.

Mace’s eyes were daggers. “Young Skywalker. This is a discussion with members of the Jedi Council. You may leave.”

“I’m just saying—”

“And I’m telling you to leave.”

One thing Anakin could never hope to win, was a staring contest with Mace Windu. So he left.

As per usual, the council threw him away as soon as he said something that contradicted their worldview. Weren’t they fighting this war too? How could they not understand?

He heard Yoda speak on his way out. “Hopeful, I am, that end the war quickly, we can. Captured, Grievous must be” Yoda’s final words to the council seemed more like an omen than a command.

No matter where in the galaxy he was, he was always reminded of home. Not the sandy, miserable place that he grew up on. But here, in Padme’s arms, her hands sifting through his long hair. Comfortable silence and a loving embrace. His love, his wife, his home.

He was home.

Perhaps the only good thing of being forcibly grounded on Coruscant was that he could be with Padme. He’d received word from the council that he was staying on Coruscant for the next week as the council members reassessed the state of the war.

That’s not to say that the rest of the Jedi would stop fighting. Just Anakin. Even Obi-Wan was being sent away in three days for a classified mission. It didn’t surprise Anakin, but it still hurt.

He was reminded of where he was. Padme had her head in the crook of his neck, reading some romance novel. Her favorite author had released another book. He didn’t entirely understand the attraction, but it made Padme happy and that was enough for him.

He sat, just enjoying her presence after so long apart. Watching the Coruscant sunset in the distance, in the cool night air, he breathed her in. She smelt of Naboo. Fragrances of flowers and the sweet smell of Naboo grass. Her soft skin was a stark contrast to he calloused hands. He was reminded of why he did what he did.

He fought the war out there, with lightsaber, pain, and blood. She fought the war here on Coruscant. Caring for the refugees, helping the citizens of the Republic. Before Dooku, Anakin secretly thought she had been doing a better job of it than he had.

Padme was probably the only Senator in the entire Republic that cared about the people she represented more than she did herself. While the other senators lied, cheated, and scammed their way through life, she gave herself up for her people. It was the reason Anakin had to protect her.

Even he wasn’t stupid enough to think Padme needed protection on her own. Her handmaidens from her time as Queen turned into her bodyguards and her own—not inconsiderable—skill with a blaster would mean she was never in direct danger. But her selflessness attracted many enemies.

He broke the silence first. “Did you know that Dooku has been killed?” Hmm...not exactly the best way to break the news.

Padme immediately sat up straight, turning and staring straight at Anakin. Her brown eyes seemed to search his soul. “Really?”

“Yes, well, he couldn’t take being a miserable old man anymore and decided it was time to go.” Anakin couldn’t ever remember being this lighthearted at the mention of Dooku. He supposed it was hard to hate the man he cut off his arm after the man was already dead.

“Ani!” He gave her a grin at that. “Stars, that’s amazing! I know we shouldn’t exactly be happy he’s dead, but, well, without their leader, the Separatist forces could surrender! We might be able to push talks through.”

And as per usual, Padme’s excitement instantly turned her sharp mind towards politics. Completely oblivious now to the fact that he was even in the room. Force, he loved this woman.

She was whispering under her breath now. No doubt thinking of innumerable plans she had to change, ideas she now had to push through the Senate.

“Padme,” his grin sobers for a moment, “I was the one to do it.”

She immediately looked concerned. “Ani, are you okay?”

Anakin couldn’t remember a time he had felt better than this. For just a moment the constant anxiety was absent. The war, the Force, the Jedi, all the expectations rested upon him felt like small worries drowned in an ocean of peace.

Dooku was dead. He had avenged himself for what Dooku had done to him. More than that, this meant the war was almost over. This meant that he might finally be able to be with Padme.

“Yes, Force, I’m better than I’ve been in years.” The smile he gave her was perhaps the truest since the day they married.

He let himself get caught up in this feeling. Caught up in Padme. With no assignment to find himself back on, he was able to stay the night for the first time in months.

Later, at night, in bed with Padme sleeping beside him, he dared to dream. He dreamed of a beautiful home on Naboo. Anakin was free to do however he pleased, to care for Padme. Living their lives peacefully and without a thought towards war and hurt. And perhaps, for just a moment, he dreamed of little figures running around the house and the love he felt for them.

Anakin cried himself to sleep. For once...not out of fear.

Perhaps one of the few enjoyable things about sitting in on a Senate session was hearing the Chancellor speak. It made Anakin remember what it was like when he believed that the Republic truly stood for morals. That they cared about corruption and what happened to the rest of the galaxy.

Sometimes, it felt as if the only good people in the entire Senate were Padme and Palpatine. It wasn’t much of a surprise when you considered that they both came from Naboo.

No matter how good his speeches, nothing would make him understand how the Chancellor put up with all the sycophants and politicians.

“Supreme Chancellor,” the Senator from Carida was laying it on thick now, “Carida is perfectly suited for the advanced training of Clone Commandos—”

Palpatine put a stop to the nonsense. “Yes, yes. I’m sure it will be a good decision for advanced training on Carida’s academy. Thank you, Senator Railok.”

The Carida pod slowly made its way back to its spot on the Senate wall. Palpatine stood to address the Senate.

“That brings me to our last point of order. The state of the war. This time, Master Windu of the Jedi Order has come to bring news to the Senate.” The Chancellor smiled to Windu, giving him a wave to bring his platform forward.

Mace Windu’s pod moved forward. His stern countenance broadcasted across the galaxy to the citizens of the Republic. This would be a defining moment in the war.

“I bring good news regarding the state of the war. Count Dooku has been killed. Dur-”

The applause was deafening, cutting Windu off mid-sentence. Yells and shouts of different members of the Senate slowly overtook any form of order that might have previously been held. How quick politicians were to act like the savages they pretended those below them were.

A shout. “How did he die?”

A sullustan joined the fray. “What does this mean for the Republic?”

Finally, “when will the war end?”

This caught most of the Senate’s attention. Soon after, nearly the entire Senate was demanding an answer to when the war would end.

“Order! I will have order in the Senate. One would think you wouldn’t make an old man yell.” Palpatine, as ever, seemed to quickly control the room. “Master Windu, continue your report, we can discuss any questions regarding it after you have finished.”

With this Palpatine gave a sweep of his head around the room. Even his political opponents seemed cowed at how they had reacted.

“As I was saying, Count Dooku was killed during the attack yesterday on Coruscant and specifically the attack on the Jedi Temple. Dooku and an apprentice of his, Trenox, infiltrated the Temple and attempted to steal from the Jedi archives. While the Jedi Masters dealt with the threat of the droids, Knight Skywalker and Master Kenobi fought Dooku.” Mace ended his report abruptly there, never the one comfortable with politics.

The Chancellor, however, didn’t seem entirely satisfied with that answer. “May I ask how he came to die, Master Windu?”

“During the duel, Knight Skywalker defeated Count Dooku.” Windu admitted.

Once again, the Senate was plunged into chaos again. Anakin was sure he heard yells of ‘Hero without Fear!’ from somewhere within the Rotunda. A moniker the Republic seemed to have fitted him with sometime during the war.

“Order! Now, that is considerably good news. Without the political leader backing the Separatist movement, we can finally start working on truly dismantling their military—”

This did not seem to satisfy Windu. “Excellency, shouldn’t the death of Count Dooku mean the end of the war?”

“Dooku may be dead, but the droid armies are led by General Grievous. Until such a time as he is captured or killed, the Separatists will not allow the war to end. Especially, after killing their leader.” Palpatine seemed somewhat troubled with this.

Anakin could understand that at least. For while it was nice for a time to enjoy how the war might change, Palpatine was right. The war would not end as long as General Grievous controlled the droid armies. The dragon within Anakin’s chest roared again, removing what peace he had.

“I am concerned about the response from the Chancellor concerning the end of the war,” ever the cautious one, Oppo Rancisis, spearheaded the entire council’s discussion.

“Hrmm. Led into another trap by the Sith Master, we must not be. The Dark Shroud over the force, no lighter, has it become,” Yoda added.

“I, have been quite concerned about that myself. What many of you may not know, is my shatterpoints in the force have given me some insight into the war and the state of the Dark Side,” Windu offered. At this, there were some concerned glances.

“Known about this, I have. Continue, you may,” and suddenly the doubtful glances were gone.

Windu took a deep breath, “My lightsaber combat and even some telekinesis has become easier as the war has drawn on. When Darth Maul fell, I felt no change. Similarly, now with Dooku’s death I have felt little beyond his passing. I fear that the Sith Master is still out there.”

This, of course, concerned Obi-Wan. Where was this supposed Sith Master? It was without doubt that Dooku was not the master, even without Mace’s testimony, the timing simply didn’t match with Dooku’s fall. Nor would Dooku have been satisfied to have someone like Maul as an apprentice. No matter his changes towards the end of his life, Dooku was never one to suffer a fool. Jedi or Sith.

Even his dark acolytes were little more than weak force sensitives given a red lightsaber and some parlor tricks. Dangerous to be sure, but no Sith.

He offered something that had been concerning him for some time.

“I fear that Dooku will likely be replaced by the Sith Master. I would say he has little time to train a new apprentice, but with so many Dark Jedi and Acolytes of Dooku running around, it wouldn’t be impossible for him to have a competent apprentice in little time.”

Windu looked like he had swallowed something awful at that.  “I concede that it is not unlikely Dooku’s assassins and acolytes might band together to take control of the Separatist military. Ventress and Sora Bulq are perhaps the most dangerous among them. After Sev’rance Taan’s death, Sora Bulq is known to be the leader of Dooku’s Acolytes.”

“Do not forget Quinlan Vos. Recent news has made it clear that he has fallen to the Dark Side.” Oppo Rancisis said.

Dooku’s many Dark Acolytes are hardly the problem here, Obi-Wan thought.

He said as much. “I fear that these Dark Side adepts are not the true root of the problem. As long as the Supreme Commander of the CIS lives, their military will continue to be a problem.”

“My search for Grievous has still yielded nothing beyond what little tracks we can find. My padawan is currently working on an idea of his. If we can locate and capture Grievous, we can stop the war before this Sith Lord can find a new apprentice. This will leave us in a more advantageous position,” Kit Fisto responded. He had holocommed in from his current assignment tracking down Grievous’ lair.

“Keep searching for him. He may be a coward, but he is a slippery one at that,” Obi-Wan said.

“shifted, this war has. No closer yet, it’s end draws,” Yoda said.

The omen sat dark and heavy over the council for a period of time. Each member thinking of the repercussions of Dooku’s death and how to fight this invisible Sith Lord. Obi-wan felt as if dark days still lay on the horizon.

“I must say, I am...concerned...with Knight Skywalker’s execution of Dooku. He continues to seem lost to emotion when in the middle of a fight,” Eeth Koth spoke for the first time, his communication from the Siege of Commenor shaky.

Obi-Wan himself was still concerned with how often Anakin was swept away by strong emotions. Even after so many years, he had never managed to temper Anakin to save his passion for the right place and time. But in this case, Obi-Wan thought Anakin was justified. “We have little knowledge of how his emotions felt during his duel with Dooku himself. From what I was conscious for, Anakin had kept a remarkably calm front. He likely knew, as I did, that this was our first chance since Geonosis to stop him.”

“That may be true...but do you think it very likely that Knight Skywalker has become powerful and disciplined enough so...quickly...as to defeat a Sith Lord?” Eeth Koth’s response was quick.

Obi-Wan had no answer for that.

“Hrmm. Become very powerful, young Skywalker has.” Yoda’s words rang true in the force itself.

This had the potential to be a disaster if not used correctly. While it had always been possible that Dooku could die at any moment within the Clone Wars, Sidious had liked to rely on his visions of the future for insight such as that.

One potential moment had been that first gambit on Geonosis. The Jedi had been unaware of Dooku’s true corruption. Only that he was leading a rival faction and seemed to be at odds with the Jedi. Count Dooku was more than a passable swordsman and would win any purely sword duel.

He could admit, of course, that if timing had worked differently, it was possible Yoda, Obi-Wan, and Anakin all would have faced Dooku at the same time. Still, plans had been made in the case of his death.

And plans were still in action. Ones with years of depth that could not be stopped or swept aside with the death of a single apprentice. Sith Lord or not. Darth Tyrannus may be dead but The Plan of generations of Sith was not.

For the time being he would need a new apprentice to work on. The war was salvageable for a time, as long as one key piece was...removed.

But removing such a piece was a dangerous act. Young Skywalker was not quite ready to fall. Years of plans set in motion and yet they were all too slow. Sidious was patient, he had schemed and planned for years for the little power he now held and yet...and yet he was not ready to wait decades longer.

Files would need to be encrypted. Plans hidden; agents spread across the galaxy.

It was time to take a risk. Sidious smiled.

Once more retrieving his hidden datapad, he sent a single message through the hidden back-channels of the HoloNet.

 Gone to Ground

Everything in his personal office encrypted itself. The datapad itself shut off, useless for the time being.

Bills for the future had not been passed. Emergency powers not quite all granted. The Supreme Chancellor did not have total control of the Senate and Grand Army of the Republic. But he was certainly close.

Time to remove a piece. For the time being of course, it shouldn’t take terribly long for the piece to come back with a new title and allegiance.

He sent a comm message to his Senate Secretary. “Request a meeting with Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker at his soonest convenience, my dear.”

The force twisted around him.

Anakin strode into the Supreme Chancellor’s formal office within the Senate Annex. This was a path he had treaded many times for one reason. Today, that reason would be the same.

“You requested to see me Chancellor?” Anakin looked to his mentor, a father figure in all but blood.

“I wanted to speak to you about the war Anakin. Come.” Palpatine was standing in front of the large window that dominated the office, looking out into the city of Coruscant, into the Republic.

Chancellor Palpatine had somehow managed to make a formal office a comfortable place even for those that had no business doing politics. Different artifacts, vases, and sculptures dominated the room and covered the walls. Paintings of old battles and decorated art pieces of renown. There was a Neuranium statue off near the center of the room that vibrated in the force as the metal typically did.

Anakin always felt both comfortable and uncomfortable in this office. Comfortable because of the familiar presence of his mentor in all things outside the Force. Uncomfortable for the widespread expressions of wealth and grandiose. It was not unlike the feeling Anakin felt when introspective around Senator Amidala’s personal rooms.

Wealth had always made him uncomfortable.

And yet, Palpatine seemed to wear it well and wear it without prejudice or malice. Perhaps the people of Naboo all treated wealth like this. Something to be enjoyed but never lorded over. Used to help as much as enjoy.

“I wanted to thank you for killing Count Dooku Anakin.”

Palpatine turned away from the window and stepped over to his desk, sitting down before Anakin.

“With what you’ve now done, you’ve likely shortened the war by a year or more, even if there is still much to be done. I am proud of you Anakin.” The smile Palpatine gave him honored Anakin.

Anakin was intensely reminded of how often this man had believed in him. It did not surprise him to learn that Anakin had killed Dooku as it seemed to surprise the council. The way it surprised Obi-Wan.

“Thank you, Chancellor,” Anakin said.

“I always knew you’d grow to be something extraordinary Anakin. Ever since I met you on Naboo so many years ago, when I was still a Senator,” he remarked fondly.

A blush took Anakin’s cheeks. Though he hated to admit it, he was still uncomfortable receiving praise from a figure like Palpatine.

“I have been meaning to ask you...how is Senator Amidala? I have spoken with her little since the war truly began. Us Naboo must watch out for each other and I believe I may have been doing quite a poor job of it.”

Anakin rushed to defend him, “No! You’ve been very busy helping keep the Republic afloat. I can’t imagine how busy you are. Padme is great. She was shocked to hear the news about Dooku, it’s given her hope that the war may finally end.”

Palpatine nodded at this. He seemed to gaze off past Anakin, deeply in thought.

“I’d like to have a serious conversation Anakin...”

A serious conversation? He was bewildered. “What about, Chancellor?”

Palpatine suddenly looked grimmer than Anakin had ever seen him.

“You know that I’d give you anything, right Anakin?”

Anakin wasn’t exactly sure what to say.

“I would be lying to say that I haven’t come to see you a bit as the son that I never had.”

Son he never had. It felt like the world had truly fell out beneath him. The Chancellor was a mentor to be sure, and Anakin had dared in his own thoughts to view him as a fatherly figure. But to know the Chancellor felt that way?

“I have become increasingly worried as of late. I am afraid after slaying Dooku, rightly so I must add, you will be targeted by a great many spies and assassins. I have no doubt you can certainly take care of yourself, but the people close to you?”

His heart skipped.

“Chancellor, surely you don’t mean?”

“Now, your friendship with the Senator of Naboo has become somewhat public in the past few years. You have met with her more often than any other Senator. She has certainly become a public friend of yours.”

He felt like he couldn’t breathe.

“But...I fear that one of my political enemies may know of that friendship you have and to my weakness, my feelings towards you. My enemies are truly vicious, and would no doubt be willing to consider any way to harm me. If they cannot hurt you...”

The room seemed to close around him.

“The Jedi likely won’t be able to keep her safe. They can hardly keep me safe after all the assassination attempts on myself...and I have perhaps the greatest security in the galaxy. I have spent the past few days doing...all that I can...to find a way to keep Padme safe. But...I have an idea.”

He could barely think.

“It’s not exactly to the benefit of the Jedi but now is not the time to speak of it. Go home, think of your friendship with Senator Amidala and those not within the order. Think of the things this war might take from you...then come to me once you decide.”

He sat, picking at the food on his plate. Brooding in a way that would make Obi-Wan jealous.

Life had never been so kind and cruel to Anakin.

He had been quite aware of the cruelties that life dispensed towards those who’s damning wish was to live.

Tattooine had been one of those cruelties. That dust ball of a planet itself was hell incarnate. Having traveled the galaxy, seen religions where hell was a world of fire and brimstone or one where the air itself frozen and shattered, he had learned.

That wasn’t hell. For Anakin had fought battles across planets with those very same characteristics and none captured hell like life on a backwater desert planet.

It wasn’t just the heat. It wasn’t just the crime or the slavery. It wasn’t the lack of water or food. The lack of civilization or any reputable people. It wasn’t the lack of standards.

In all honesty, it wasn’t any one thing. He’d like to blame the sand for sure, however that wasn’t truly the case.

It was the lack of hope. It was remembering that hell. Every time he set foot on a desert planet and especially the few times he’d had to go back to that damnable planet. He had to remember what had been done to him.

Had to remember hell. Had to remember the woman he left behind in it.

He had been angry for having been sent back to Tattooine. Now, he had to grapple with the fact that going to Tattooine had started the line of events with Dooku beneath his blade.

And Dooku’s death? It was a kindness for sure. It was quick, the one bone this galaxy threw to him. But the bone, of course, was a trick. He had killed Dooku and brought hell unto himself again.

He wasn’t going to let that hell consume another woman he loved.

Looking up from his plate, he met the eyes of Padme. She sat, food similarly untouched with concern in her eyes. Concern for him, he thought.

It shouldn’t have to be this way. He had become a Jedi to be powerful. To protect the ones, he loved. To save those he could.

Instead, he lost he ones he loved.

Losing Padme was unthinkable. The Chancellor’s words rung true in his very being.

Padme broke the silence first.

“Ani...what’s bothering you?”

“I...I’m worried about the consequences of what I’ve done. I’m happy to have stopped Dooku...but what if it wasn’t worth it?”

Padme seemed slightly bewildered by this.

“Wasn’t worth it? Anakin, with Dooku out of the way, we can finally draw an end to this war. The less aggressive elements of the Separatists will surely take power. We could start working towards peace.”

“People won’t be happy that I’ve killed Dooku. They may come after me. Come after the Chancellor—” He took a breath. Then quietly, “come after you.”

“Anakin, the Chancellor has always been a target. You are a war hero and though it scares me every time you leave, I know you—”

“But what about you?” He could hear the desperation in his voice, and he hated it.

“I can certainly handle myself. Besides, if I was in any threat, I’m sure you could petition the council.”

Anakin couldn’t understand how this didn’t scare her. It scared him.

“Padme...I can’t lose you.”

“And you won’t. I’m fine, Ani, I promise.”

Anakin knew she could handle herself. She had certainly gotten herself out of more messes than he’d like to think of over the past few years. She was perhaps one of the only Senators who enjoyed being near the frontlines.

Much to the dismay of himself.

He still was bewildered in how often a diplomat found themselves in the heat of battle. He wouldn’t have been surprised if she had racked up more destroyed battle droids than many clones.

But that inkling of worry didn’t leave.

“Perhaps with the war cooling down, the Chancellor will stop supporting these ridiculous bills. I’ve always known he’s had a more...aggressive...touch concerning his politics, but still.”

Anakin was confused. “What’s wrong with the bills he’s supporting?”

Padme sighed. “It’s not so much the bills that are the issue. It’s the powers he holds to push those bills. He’s not quite a dictator, but he certainly has a lot of power.”

“How can you say that? I thought he was your friend?”

“He is. Ani, there’s a reason you were never fit for politics. Chancellor Palpatine is my friend...but...he’s also one of my biggest political opponents. That’s just politics.”

“Wha- How does that make any sense? Palpatine’s political opponents are Separatists in all but name!”

“Anakin, Palpatine has a lot of political opponents. And certainly, a lot of allies. Not all of his opponents hate him, and they certainly don’t all have Separatist allegiances.”

This flew in the face of everything Anakin understood. He knew that he had stayed away from Padme’s work, but he hadn’t known Padme and the Chancellor were all but enemies. It was unfathomable.

Padme, being the politician she was, noticed this. Her face took on a bit of a wistful smile.

“The Chancellor is Naboo. We’ll always been kin in that way. Our political careers were very much attached for a long time, and I’d trust the Chancellor with my life in nearly every way. Every way besides our political leanings.”

“The Chancellor never mentioned that.”

“That was very kind of him. I know he’s been a mentor to you, and I respect him for not trying to drag me through the mud.”

For just a moment, he forgot about the concerns of attacks and assassinations. Learning that his closest mentor and wife were enemies was...earth-shattering.

And Padme just sat there. As if it was the most normal thing in the world to consider someone your friend and also your enemy.

“Anakin...why does this surprise you?” She seemed almost sorry for what she was about to say, “You know that I’ve never agreed with your thoughts on the war.”

Padme was still speaking. He didn’t seem to hear it.

He’d known Padme wasn’t fond with increasing the armies. She had old Senatorial friends within the Separatists. She was the most kind-hearted person he knew.

He’d seen her use a blaster. Fight battle droids just the same.

But opposing the war? A war that started with the attempted execution of herself, him, and Obi-Wan?

On a dusty, hot, sand-ball hell of a planet like Geonosis.

“Honestly, Ani, I know you look up to him, but he’s been attempting to bypass Senators that wish to promote peace since the war began.”

He got up from the table. Dinner untouched. His hands were shaking.

“I—Sorry. Give me a moment”

He seemed to have cut her off. He couldn’t find it in himself to care right now.

Walking out of their shared apartment, one thought dominated his mind. His very existence.

Was Padme a Separatist sympathizer?

Or perhaps even worse.

Was she right?

The Chancellor’s offer kept ringing in his head.

“I have spent the past few days doing...all that I can...to find a way to keep Padme safe. But...I have an idea,” he had said

What was his plan to keep Padme safe?

Could he convince the Council to let him be her bodyguard? Nobody would be able to hurt her with him around.

If he went to the Jedi Council, he might tip them off about his marriage with Padme. Or, at the very least, it would be a surefire way for them to attempt to limit his contact with her because of attachments.

If he went to the Chancellor, he might be able to find some way to protect Padme. Maybe he would put in a request for Anakin to protect Padme. The Chancellor had some say in the missions the Jedi undertook with some of the recent legislation.

But what about what Padme said? Did the Chancellor really use the war to consolidate power?

At the start of the war, he was given emergency powers until the end of the Separatist crisis, until the end of the war. He’d lobbied for the Clone army, pushed for the expansion of the Navy.

He’d taken the Republic from a peacetime government to a fully-fledged war-fighting system of rule. Was that a bad thing?

He’d certainly never thought so.

He still didn’t think so.

Where would the Republic be without the clones? Without the Navy. The Senate bickered and whined and slowed down the ability to stop the CIS. Without the Chancellor, would there still be a Republic?

He wasn’t sure.

But Padme’s words rung true as well.

The Chancellor had pushed for more emergency powers.

The military had become increasingly separated from the Jedi.

Before, when the Republic couldn’t even decide whether to have an army or not, the Jedi had taken on the Clone Army as their own personal force.

The Chancellor had then been able to use his emergency powers to push the Military Creation Act through the Senate.

Training of new army and naval officers had been spread throughout the core. Clones were completing their training on Carida, shipbuilding through the Chancellor’s allies in Kuat and Corellia.

Without the Chancellor, there’d be no Grand Army of the Republic.

And because of that, much of the military was loyal to him.

The clones trusted the Jedi implicitly. But the naval officers? The companies that supplied the army with weapons and ships?

Anakin had never really thought about it. Padme and the Chancellor held widely opposing views on war. On how to go about it. On how to stop it.

He’d privately agreed with the Chancellor.

Not because he didn’t believe Padme...but the Separatists were much less willing to treaty on the frontlines than in the Senates.

The CIS armies operated without insight. Under the command of very few, brutal, leaders. Ones that wanted war and destruction. Who were evil in their very nature.

They weren’t fighting a collection of corporations and planetary allegiances. They were fighting the Sith. The Dark Side itself.

You couldn’t make peace with that.

The Chancellor was certainly right on that account.

Maybe the Chancellor had manipulated the Senate. Pushed for more power. Done what he could to align the Republic to his vision. One that didn’t end in the destruction of the Jedi and the Republic.

Maybe the Chancellor was winning over support of the military.

His allies taking over the Senate.

Kuat and Corellia pushing for more aggressive and extravagant warships.

Kamino pumping out more clones.

Maybe he had done all these things. Not in the name of quick peace. Or empty platitudes.

But for strength. For survival.

Maybe he was right.

Maybe...it was time to hear the Chancellor out.

The walk to the Chancellor’s public offices was a long one.

Opulence hung in the corridors in the form of paintings and tapestries from across the Galaxy. Ithorian sculptures, Sullustan obsidian art pieces, Alderaanian artistic rugs, and was that a Gungan clothing in a display case?

Being the leader of the Republic came with certain benefits. Even Anakin knew that in the strange machinations of the Senate, appearances were everything.

For the Chancellor not to crown his offices and chambers in art pieces and wealth from around the known galaxy would be a sign of weakness.

There was a certain simplicity to the Jedi mandate on owning nothing, no matter how he sometimes detested it.

His short period of peace with Padme had worn off. The dragon was back. Your wife is going to die, it said.

No matter what he thought, he couldn’t seem to rid that thought entirely.

His wife was going to die. Or at least, she would if he didn’t do something.

The Chancellor’s office looked considerably different in the dark night of Coruscant.

“Ah, Anakin. I was just preparing things. I imagine I might be stuck here quite later tonight than usual.”

Palpatine’s wrinkled face held a smile and just the slightest bit of concern. He’d always been quite adept at reading Anakin.

“Come, sit down, I’m just finishing signing a new petition. You might come to hear of it in time soon.”

Palpatine had flimsy on his desk, one of the few relics of how the Old Republic used to operate. Signing petitions on flimsy instead of on datapads to denote significance and importance.

Anakin sat down just in time to see Palpatine sign the flimsy with an ornate pen made of what looked like ivory embellished with gold.

Suddenly, Palpatine pushed it away, his face focusing on Anakin. He seemed to peer into something more than just physical appearance. It was somewhat uncomfortable.

Anakin spoke. “I’ve given some thought to our last conversation.”

The Chancellor shook his head minutely.

“Let us worry about this here soon. You do not look well. Have you been sleeping?”

No, he had not.

“A little. It’s been hard with being shipped across the galaxy to maintain a functional sleep schedule.”

Palpatine smiled, his eyes far off, seemingly remembering something.

“That, I can certainly understand.” Palpatine seemed to come back to the present. “How have the Jedi reacted to Dooku’s demise? They seemed somewhat withdrawn during the Senate meeting.”

“They did not seem entirely pleased with your announcement to the Senate,” Anakin frowned. “With the death of Count Dooku, they were hoping that you would set aside your emergency powers.

This seemed to bewilder Palpatine.

“Set aside? For what reason? That the figurehead of the Separatists is dead? He may certainly have been leading them, but until General Grievous is dead, it is folly to pretend the war is won.”

“They believe that the CIS will dissipate now that Dooku is dead.”

Though he’d like to believe such a thing, he wasn’t entirely convinced.

“Ah, I see.” Palpatine seemed to have come to a realization. “Yes, that certainly makes sense. The Jedi would certainly see it that way.”

Whatever point that stood out to Palpatine obviously hadn’t occurred to him.

“You see, Anakin, it is more complicated than that.” He seemed to pause on that point.

“More complicated, sir?” Anakin said.

“Yes. Don’t you find it strange that the biggest players on both sides of this war were Jedi?”

“Jedi? Count Dooku was a Sith!”

“Ah, but Dooku was once a Jedi Master, wasn’t he?” Palpatine seemed to lean forward over his desk, “Now, I can’t say I know terribly much about the Sith but what little I do know suggests something quite interesting.”

Anakin couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“The Sith adopt a Sith name do they not? A Darth. A particular account recorded they had ‘yellow eyes, with hate, anger, and rage being their principal emotions.’

It made sense, Anakin thought. Why was Dooku not like the Sith he’d seen. Not like Darth Maul?

“Count Dooku seemingly had none of these things. He was quite calm and composed. I’m sure you can attest in nearly every time you met him.”

And he could. Count Dooku was many things. One thing he was not, was reckless. He was calm, cool, and collected.

“But why the red lightsaber you might ask?” Palpatine questioned. “Well. Though it is not terribly common knowledge, the Jedi store Sith holocrons in their vault.”

They did?

“The Sith knowledge is certainly known—not that the Jedi would do more than hoard it—but a Jedi Master would certainly have access to those. Holocrons that could teach one to, oh I don’t know, create a red lightsaber?”

“All I am saying is I find it quite strange.” Palpatine put upon an expression of a mouse tiptoeing around a trap. “Many in the Republic see no difference between the Jedi and the Sith.”

“How!? Count Dooku leads the Separatists against the Republic. He trains acolytes in the Dark Side of the Force and uses torture and attacks innocents!”

Anakin had literally fought an acolyte of Dooku not one week ago on Tattooine. Hate, rage, and strong emotions were perhaps the only thing that acolyte had felt.

“Yes, well, from the view of the uninformed. They wield lightsabers, have mystical powers, and lead the armies of war.”

In a sick sort of way, it made sense.

Palpatine’s expression was suddenly grim. “Before you killed Dooku, Republic sentiment has been slowly drifting. The people view the Clone Wars as a war between two ideological factions using the galaxy as their playground.”

Put like that, it was a little hard not to see their point.

“Hasn’t the HoloNet been blasting Obi-Wan and I’s accomplishments for the past year now? I doubt there’s a single citizen that doesn’t know the battles I fight by this point.”

“Yes, but the HoloNet has only been focused on you and your...Master...Besides you, the Jedi have started to become reviled.”

“How could they not understand what we’ve sacrificed?”

“They certainly understand what you have sacrificed. Many see the Jedi that don’t fight. And perhaps, they continue to see the Jedi interfere.”

“Interfere? I—”

“We’ve managed to get quite far from the original point.” Palpatine sighed. “All I meant to say is that even I have found it concerning have much the Jedi seem to intrude upon the Senate. It is quite simple; they do not understand the war and they certainly do not understand politics.

That was something Anakin had been saying since the beginning.

The Jedi weren’t willing to do what needed to be done to win the war. More than that, every member of the council seemed to give a different answer. Most were barely even truly tactically minded.

“And, with that off my chest, I suppose we can hear what you came here for.”

And suddenly the dragon was back. Roaring within Anakin’s chest.

“Yes sir. I wanted to know what you had in mind.”

“Yes, yes, I imagine you would.” Palpatine gave a resolute nod. “You have made many friends outside of the Jedi order. Senator Amidala being chief among them.”

Obi-Wan said Anakin’s impulsiveness would be the death of him.

“Chancellor, Padme told me that you were political opponents…” He trailed off, suddenly unsure of himself.

“Ha! Yes, that is indeed true.” Palpatine seemed untroubled by this fact.

“May I ask why?”

“Why? Well, Senator Amidala is a firm believer in peace. Negotiations. The good of other sentients.” Palpatine had a sad smile for Anakin. “I cannot say I feel the same. I wish I believed in the good of other sentients, but I have seen corruption and evil in all creatures.”

Anakin privately agreed.

“As I’m sure you’re aware. Peace is not always possible. I’ve found, often, that ‘Peace is a lie’, an old friend of mine once told me. He said, ‘There is only Passion.’ Perhaps a tad dramatic, it still holds weight.”

Peace is a lie?

“Senator Amidala is the idealized version of myself. I hope she never loses that faith. But we both know that isn’t how the world works, don’t we? Your time on the battlefield has shown you that well enough. How the Jedi, who pride themselves on peace, throw themselves into a war without abandon.”

There was a period of time the office was entirely still. A stark contrast to the last time Anakin was here. Shadows lurked at the corners of the room, no sunset, just night.

The city outside those windows was alive and bustling. Filled with all manner of sentients. And below them? In the undercity were the Coruscanti lying, scheming, and cheating their way through life. All the while, the rich and notable lived atop, unaware of the lives of any but their own.

That dichotomy was Coruscant. That dichotomy was the Republic. And though Anakin feared it wasn’t the case, that dichotomy was the galaxy.

“I told you before that I’ve seen you as something akin to a son. I had always hoped you would grow to trust me. I’ve always seen something of myself in you.”

Something of himself, Anakin thought. It was perhaps one of the greatest compliments Anakin had received.

“I’ve never truly trusted the Jedi.” Palpatine seemed truly somber now. “The things they’ve done for generations...only now do I see it.”

The mood of the room changed drastically again, and Anakin was thrown into the deep end.

“See what?”

“With Dooku dead, they must make their move. It will not be long before they take the Senate and oust—”

“Take the Senate? The Jedi serve the Republic!”

“Do they?” He was staring intensely at Anakin now. “Do they serve the Republic? Or do they serve themselves? If the Republic made a decision that went against the tenants of their sacred order, would they sit around and wait, or would they interfere? As they have always done.”

“I don’t understand—”

“No, that is obvious. Have you not seen what the Senators have been doing? Those that have allied and met with traitors behind our backs? Senator Amidala seemingly told you that she was my political opponent. That she didn’t trust me.”

Padme...?

“Allied with traitors?”

“Yes, the Jedi. They have met with senators to attempt to form a coalition against me. To take control of the Senate. To take control of the Republic.”

“She...Padme never told—”

“Of course, she wouldn’t Anakin. But tell me you haven’t sensed something like that.”

He hadn’t... had he?

“Was there never a time she avoided your questions? Seemingly pried for information no senator should know?”

“No...I—”

“I think you have. But you don’t want to admit it. That by betraying me. By betraying the Republic. She is betraying you. All the Jedi are.”

“She...” Anakin felt like he was drowning. He put a hand to his head to ease the dizziness. When was the last time he had eaten? He couldn’t remember. It was probably the last time he had slept. “She would never...”

“Of course, she would, my boy. It is simply politics is it not?”

What had Padme said? Chancellor Palpatine is my friend, but he’s also one of my biggest political opponents. That’s just politics. Padme said.

“There is no reason you two can’t still be happy together.”

“What—” The room seemed to darken even more than it already was. “What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean, Anakin. Let us not play games any longer. I have known for a considerable amount of time. I have always known. I let you keep your secret for comfort.”

Anakin grabbed the edges of his chair. “What—What do you know?”

“Anakin, do you think I am stupid? I am from Naboo. I have seen you and her dance around each other for as long as I have known you both. She was my Queen. I represented her to the Senate. Do you think me not suited enough to politics to see past a deception?”

“You—” Palpatine had known? The room seemed to squeeze around him. Nothing made sense anymore. “You said she has betrayed us—”

“That, my boy,” Palpatine said, “is entirely up to you.”

Anakin’s vision tunneled around him, focused entirely upon Palpatine. Dark shadows seemed to crest around him.

Palpatine’s voice seemed very far away when he spoke. “You look quite unwell, my boy. Would you like something to drink?”

“I—No, I’m alright. Just a little tired is all.”

“Not sleeping well?”

“No. I don’t think I’ve slept well since before the war began.”

“I quite understand that.” Palpatine rose and walked around the desk—standing a little to the side of Anakin—and leaned against the desk. “Anakin, we must stop pretending with each other. The final pieces are starting to connect. We must be completely honest with each other. No lies or mistruths. You must understand the very galaxy itself is in the balance.”

“I—”

“Anakin, what you say to me will never leave these walls. I promise that whatever is said I will keep. You do not need to fear repercussion from the Jedi on account of me. Anakin, have you ever had reason to doubt me? Have I ever led you astray? You have been able to trust my guidance at every turn throughout your life. I have seen in you what the Jedi, what your Master always failed to see.”

He stood straight now, ticking his fingers. “I have known about your marriage to Padme. You trusted me with the knowledge of your slaughter of the Sand People. Your attachments that fly in the face of the Jedi. You have never needed any reason to pretend when you are with me.”

Palpatine opened his arms out wide, as if preparing for a hug. “Tell me anything Anakin. Share with me your troubles. There is no need to pretend. To act as if you are perfect. Let yourself go, my boy.”

Anakin sighed. Isn’t this what he wanted? To not be the perfect Jedi? The chosen one that everyone wanted him to be. Even Padme expected something of him... didn’t she?

“I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

“It’s quite simple Anakin. Tell me what you want.”

Anakin was confused. “I don’t understand.”

“Of course, you don’t. The Jedi never taught you to think. Never taught you to want. They have always treated you as a slave. They have always told you what you were supposed to want. Never let you make any decisions for yourself. After being freed from slavery, the first thing they wanted you to do was call them master. They didn’t trust you because you loved your mother. Who they left on Tattooine as a slave. If they hadn’t done that, she might still be alive. No Jedi understands what they want. They are taught—brainwashed—from the moment they are taken from their families to not know what they want. You’re different. You had a life outside the Jedi, outside their doctrine. What do you want?”

“I still don’t understand.”

“Anakin. I would give you anything. I told you that before, didn’t I? It’s simple.” Palpatine said. “Ask for anything and it’s yours. A glass of water? A bag full of kyber crystals? Yours. Look out the window Anakin, point at anything, and it’s yours.”

“Are you joking?”

“The time for jokes has long past Anakin. I have never been more serious.” Beneath the darkness that shadowed Palpatine’s face, his eyes were like twin burning suns. Blazing out, beseeching him. “Pick anything. It’s yours.”

Anakin stood. “All right...” Anakin said walking over and looking out the window, not quite understanding. He looked for the most expensive thing he could see. “I’ll have one of those custom new SoroSub Speeders—”

“Done.”

“Do you know how much those cost? You could fully outfit a battle cruiser—”

“Would you prefer a battle cruiser?”

Anakin went perfectly still. The Dragon within his chest was silent.

“What about the Senatorial Apartments.”

“A single apartment?”

Anakin shook his head. His thoughts were drifting, his chest filled with ice. “No, the entire building.”

Palpatine didn’t blink. “Done.”

“It’s privately owned.”

“Not anymore.”

“You can’t—”

“Yes, I can. It’s yours. Is there anything else you want? Anything at all?”

Anakin gazed blankly at the sky. Looked up at the constellations that filled the night sky. “What about Corellia?”

“The planet...or the entire system?”

Anakin could barely breath.

“Anakin?”

“I can’t understand if this is some kind of joke.”

“I am deadly serious. I am trying to impress upon you something. Something I want...need...you to understand. I will give you anything.”

“What if I really wanted Corellia.”

“Then it’d be yours. I would give you the entire sector if you like. Do you understand now? Anything?”

It left Anakin dizzier than he already was. “What if I betrayed you. What if I wanted the war to end?”

“Would tomorrow be too soon?”

“How—” Anakin sat down again. “How could you do that.”

“We aren’t talking about how right now. We’ll get to that soon. We’re talking about what you want.”

The shadows around the room sharpened. All Anakin could see was Palpatine’s eyes. Boring into him.

“What would you want in exchange?”

“I’d want you to do what you want.”

“What I want?”

“Yes. The Jedi have never allowed you to think for yourself. You’ve been hampered and dragged down at every turn. I want you to think for yourself. That is all I ask. All I require in exchange. Do what you think is right. Not what the Jedi have made you believe. You’ve dreamt of leaving the Order for Padme. Do it. Have a family of your own. Based on love not on rules.”

“I...I can’t just leave.”

“Can’t you?”

Anakin couldn’t breathe.

He couldn’t think.

“You can have all of your dreams. Leave the Order. Become my student. My apprentice. Follow me on the path to power. To save those you love.”

“The Dark Side is a pathway to many abilities. Those that can save ones you care about from dying. Those that can save Padme. I know the key to keeping those from dying. Like my master before taught me.”

The puzzle pieces finally fit together. Without even understanding what he was doing. Acting purely on instinct. A bar of blue energy appeared before the Chancellor, casting light onto his face, distorting the shadows around the room. Anakin barely registered the lightsaber in his hands. Barely registered he was suddenly standing again.

“It’s you.” Suddenly Anakin was no longer dizzy. No longer tired. Everything was hyper focused. It all made sense. “It’s been you all along.”

From the light of the blue blade, Anakin stared at the fight of the man who had mentored him. The one who had looked after him kindly since he was nine years old. The same man who had a kindly-grandfatherly smile upon his face. A face he could barely even begin to recognize.

It was a mask. A lie. A trick. Padme’s words rung in his ears for the second time. He’s not quite a dictator, but he certainly has a lot of power.

Power.

“I should kill you.”

The smile never left his face. Alien as it was to Anakin. “For what exactly?”

“You’re a Sith Lord.”

“Yes. I am also your friend.”

Anakin’s lightsaber wavered.

“I have been for you on every single occasion throughout your life. I have never sought to manipulate you. I told you that I felt for you like a son. Do you remember that? It’s true. I have never wanted a single thing from you Anakin. Think back on that. Not once in your entire life have I ever asked you for anything...”

He seemed entirely unconcerned with the lightsaber at his neck. “...Until tonight. I’ve asked you to do what you want. I would give you anything Anakin. And if that means that you are going to...murder me over...ideological differences...than I will let you.”

He opened his hands at his sides. “When I told you I’d give you anything, my boy, did you think that didn’t include my own life?”

The rooms swirled and closed around him. The very air seemed to seep with confusion and doubt.

“You’ll just let me do it? You won’t even fight?”

Palpatine looked astonished. “Fight you? No, you only have to think about what will happen once I’m gone. What will happen to the Republic? What will happen to Padme...?”

“Padme...”

“She has aligned herself with traitors and liars. What do you think will happen to her when I am gone?”

“I... I don’t know what to do.”

“As I’ve told you before Anakin, do what you want. What you desire most. I’d do anything for you. I’m not evil, not like the Jedi have told you. I’ve only exposed and attempted to correct the galaxy for what it is. This war is regrettable, but I can tell you with certainty. Count Dooku was never my apprentice.”

The blue light flickered.

The Jedi started this war all on their own. To take control. I’ve done what I could to keep power from their hands. Wrest the control of the military away from them. What could we do with a united galaxy? A safe and secure society. We could end poverty, correct injustice. We could end slavery. Make sure what happened to you and your mother never happens again.

“I—”

Palpatine moved away from the desk suddenly, Anakin’s blade following as Palpatine turned his back. “The Sith are not what the Jedi have lied to you about. There are dangers to using the Dark Side that only those strong and powerful enough can manage. I know that you are strong enough for it.”

Palpatine didn’t turn around. Left his back for Anakin, if he chose. “My Master, Darth Plagueis, fashioned a way to keep people from dying. It works on those who aren’t force sensitive. You could protect Padme from death. You need not live in fear any longer.”

He turned completely around, arms spread wide, an offering. “My cards are all out on the table Anakin. With Dooku dead, the Jedi will be moving forward swiftly now. We can end this war, end the plot to overthrow the Republic. Leave the Order. Be with Padme. With you at my side, nothing would be able to stop us.”

Palpatine’s face was unreadable. His eyes twin stars that stared into Anakin’s very soul. “I would be honored, if you would join me Anakin.”