Part 20 (1/2)
”It is settled then,” Mace said. ”May the Force be with us all.”
And as the holopresences of Plo Koon and Ki-Adi-Mundi winked out, as Obi-Wan and Agen Kolar rose and spoke together in tones softly grave, as Yoda and Mace Windu walked from the room, Anakin could only sit, sick at heart, stunned with helplessness.
Padme-oh, Padme, what are we going to do?
He didn't know. He didn't have a clue. But he knew one thing he wasn't going to do.
He wasn't going to give up.
Even with the Council against him-even with the whole Order against him-he would find a way.
He would save her.
Somehow.
”I am no happier than the rest of you about this,” Padme said, gesturing at the flimsiplast of the Sector Governance Decree on Bail Organa's desk. ”But I've known Palpatine for years; he was my most trusted adviser. I'm not prepared to believe his intent is to dismantle the Senate.”
”Why should he bother?” Mon Mothma countered. ”As a practical matter-as of this morning-the Senate no longer exists.”
Padme looked from one grim face to another. Giddean Danu nodded his agreement. Terr Taneel kept her eyes down, pretending to be adjusting her robes. Fang Zar ran a hand over his unruly gray-streaked topknot.
Bail leaned forward. His eyes were hard as chips of stone. ”Palpatine no longer has to worry about controlling the Senate. By placing his own lackeys as governors over every planet in the Republic, he controls our systems directly.'''' He folded his hands, and squeezed them together until his knuckles hurt. ”He's become a dictator. We made him a dictator.”
And he's my husband's friend, and mentor, Padme thought. I shouldn't even be listening to this.
”But what can we do about it?” Terr Taneel asked, still gazing down at her robe with a worried frown.
”That's what we asked you here to discuss,” Mon Mothma told her calmly. ”What we're going to do about it.” Fang Zar s.h.i.+fted uncomfortably. ”I'm not sure I like where this is going.”
”None of us likes where anything is going,” Bail said, half rising ”That's exactly the point. We can't let a thousand years of democracy disappear without a fight!”
”A fight?” Padme said. ”I can't believe what I'm hearing-Bail, you sound like a Separatist!”
”I-” Bail sank back into his seat. ”I apologize. That was not my intent. I asked you all here because of all the Senators in the galaxy, you four have been the most consistent-and influential-voices of reason and restraint, doing all you could to preserve our poor, tattered Const.i.tution. We don't want to hurt the Republic. With your help, we hope to save it.”
”It has become increasingly clear,” Mon Mothma said, ”that Palpatine has become an enemy of democracy. He must be stopped.”
”The Senate gave him these powers,” Padme said. ”The Senate can rein him in.”
Giddean Danu sat forward. ”I fear you underestimate just how deeply the Senate's corruption has taken hold. Who will vote against Palpatine now?”
”I will,” Padme said. She discovered that she meant it. ”And I'll find others, too.”
She'd have to. No matter how much it hurt Anakin. Oh, my love, will you ever find a way to forgive me?
”You do that,” Bail said. ”Make as much noise as you can-keep Palpatine watching what you're doing in the Senate. That should provide some cover while Mon Mothma and I begin building our organization-”
”Stop.” Padme rose. ”It's better to leave some things unsaid. Right now, it's better I don't know anything about . . . anything.”
Don't make me lie to my husband was her unspoken plea. She tried to convey it with her eyes. Please, Bail. Don't make me lie to him. It will break his heart.
Perhaps he saw something there; after a moment's indecision, he nodded. ”Very well. Other matters can be left for other times. Until then, this meeting must remain absolutely secret Even hinting at an effective opposition to Palpatine can be as we've all seen, very dangerous. We must agree never to speak of these matters except among the people who are now in this room. We must bring no one into this secret without the agreement of each and every one of us.”
”That includes even those closest to you,” Mon Mothma added. ”Even your families-to share anything of this will expose them to the same danger we all face. No one can be told. No one.”
Padme watched them all nod, and what could she do? What could she say? You can keep your own secrets, but I'll have to tell my Jedi husband, who is Palpatine's beloved protege . . .
She sighed. ”Yes. Yes: agreed.”
And all she could think as the little group dispersed to their own offices was Oh, Anakin-Anakin, I'm sorry . . .
I'm so sorry.
Anakin was glad the vast vaulted Temple hallway was deserted save for him and Obi-Wan; he didn't have to keep his voice down.
”This is outrageous. How can they do this?”
”How can they not?” Obi-Wan countered. ”It's your friends.h.i.+p with the Chancellor-the same friends.h.i.+p that got you a seat at the Council-that makes it impossible to grant you Mastery. In the Council's eyes, that would be the same as giving a vote to Palpatine himself!”
He waved this off. He didn't have time for the Council's political maneuvering-Padme didn't have time. ”I didn't ask for this. I don't need this. So if I wasn't friends with Palpatine I'd be a Master already, is that what you're saying?”
Obi-Wan looked pained. ”I don't know.”
”I have the power of any five Masters. Any ten. You know it, and so do they.”
”Power alone is no credit to you-”
Anakin flung an arm back toward the Council Tower. ”They're the ones who call me the chosen one! Chosen for what? To be a dupe in some slimy political game?”
Obi-Wan winced as if he'd been stung. ”Didn't I warn you, Anakin? I told you of the . . . tension . . . between the Council and the Chancellor. I was very clear. Why didn't you listen? You walked right into it!”
”Like that ray s.h.i.+eld trap.” Anakin snorted. ”Should I blame this on the dark side, too?”
”However it happened,” Obi-Wan said, ”you are in a very . . . delicate situation.”
”What situation? Who cares about me? I'm no Master, I'm just a kid, right? Is that what it's about? Is Master Windu turning everyone against me because until I came along, he was the youngest Jedi ever named to the Council?”
”No one cares about that-”
”Sure they don't. Let me tell you something a smart old man said to me no so long ago: Age is no measure of wisdom. If it were, Yoda would be twenty times as wise as you are-”
”This has nothing to do with Master Yoda.”
”That's right. It has to do with me. It has to do with them all being against me. They always have been-most of them didn't even want me to be a Jedi. And if they'd won out, where would they be right now? Who would have done the things I've done? Who would have saved Naboo? Who would have saved Kamino? Who would have killed Dooku, and rescued the Chancellor? Who would have come for you and Alpha after Ventress-”
”Yes, Anakin, yes. Of course. No one questions your accomplishments. It's your relations.h.i.+p to Palpatine that is the problem. And it is a very serious problem.”
”I'm too close to him? Maybe I am. Maybe I should alienate a man who's been nothing but kind and generous to me ever since I first came to this planet! Maybe I should reject the only man who gives me the respect I deserve-”
”Anakin, stop. Listen to yourself. Your thoughts are of jealousy, and pride. These are dark thoughts, Anakin. Dangerous thoughts, in these dark times-you are focused on yourself when you need to focus on your service. Your outburst in the Council was an eloquent argument against granting you Mastery. How can you be a Jedi Master when you have not mastered yourself?”