Back on Tatooine, everything seemed to be going just ok. More than ok, it was going swimmingly as it was, easily enough, the Jedi Order had assimilated into the Empyrean without too much struggle or push back.
Not that there weren't any Jedi that didn't like this and instead had left the capital of the Empyrean and had instead flown out into various spaces in space.
Yoda now kind of taking a back seat could finally get back to what he does best. Teaching or guiding others towards their respective paths in life, of course since his change in perspective, one could say Yoda is more balanced in his views.
While Yoda does not like the dark side still, he sees that it is a necessary force if the balance of the Force is to be kept.
Other Jedi members, specifically the Council were also still given the same level of respect so to speak within the Empyrean. They may keep their titles and stuff like that, but what they would be in charge of and what they could do would change.
Anakin thought it prudent that there be two sides, two councils, one representing the light and one representing the dark. There would also be one final addition to this light versus dark council, being a third council, or a few people that is to act like an intermediary.
The person for this job would be Anakin himself or others that have become what is considered grey, or the in-between. One such person being, of course, Anakin himself and another candidate being Eve, the Daughter that was balanced within the Force as he was.
Others may be approaching this point as well, but for now it was only really Anakin and Eve, given that the way the Force works, a total balance like the one Anakin and Eve has is really hard to achieve.
Let alone aligning oneself with just one 'side' so to speak.
After this is the political situation. Some sort of reformations have to take place to accommodate such a massive influx of systems and people wishing to join and come under the Empyrean because of the corruption at the core of this galaxy.
So, the most important things to handle first was some sort of inclusion or integration system to allow proper migration channels and all of that. Easily enough there was the teleportation devices spread throughout the Empyrean, now being built on other planets.
Of course some might consider this a risk, but Anakin and however else that was in control is able to shut these things down and make them unpowered. Hell, there is even an option to make those portals self implode, leading to no damage to where it was built and just destroying itself.
The idea behind this is to stop the approach of enemies that may use this against the Empyrean to get into their proper borders, which was expanding. So sections were created to get a better grasp of where in the Empyrean is considered better.
Just like with the Galactic Republic turned Empire, the Galactic Core World, Coruscant and its system is supposedly a pretty good planet to exist or be on. However, there were problems with that glittering world.
For the Empyrean, these problems are circumvented much better in not making these systems and planets specialize to much. Otherwise, that would really ruin things.
Then there was the government and all things related as such. Who rules what, monarchies, diplomatic states that elect their leaders, and all sorts of other problems.
Much like the Galactic Republic, the Empyrean would have to break this system down and reform it into something better.
The Republic began as a mutual protection and economic alliance among a number of planets in the galactic core. The Republic's greatest failing was its lack of formal organization.
Much of its operation was based on nonbinding constitutional conventions, which were more often ignored and undermined by corrupt and power-hungry politicians than heeded. Coalition governments were common, with special interests defining the legislative agenda.
The Senate, in the later years of the Republic, was so ineffectual that many politically connected corporations and informal blocs of ideologically like-minded planets could essentially do what they wanted; corrupt governmental bodies even made it possible for certain entities, such as the Trade Federation, to construct de facto sovereign and immense military forces.
However, the waning years of the Republic were a time of corruption and great social injustice. The Senate became divided between those who genuinely wished to uphold the values and ideals of the Republic and those who wished to further their own goals.
After a series of weak and ineffectual Chancellors and a crisis involving the invasion of the planet Naboo by the Trade Federation over a tariff passed in the Senate, the time had come for strong leadership to end the corruption.
Within the government, much of the bureaucracy was handled by the General Ministry.
Within this body were the Ministries of State, Intelligence, Commerce, Defense, Education, Finance, Licenses and Permits, Public Information, Science, Security and Intelligence, Internal Security, and Science and Education.
Anakin easily still held his power above everyone else, being the Emperor and all. Made especially easy by the fact that the Empyrean trusted him the most, if not more as people flooded in more and more.
Other factions or factors would be taken into consideration, but overall, Anakin had to break down other governmental systems, allowing them some form of relief but to make it better and without corruption, there were people chosen by himself.
People or beings that held great potential, and are very likely, like next to none in possibility of becoming corrupt. Of course, like all things, life is not guaranteed and even with Anakin's mindful selection, there would be some at least minor break down.
This is what happens when things get too big, and the structure becomes extremely complicated. To take care of this problem, Anakin would have to split his mind more and more to regulate such activity, also putting Siri in overtime to report things as well.
It was unfortunate that he didn't really have anyone else for the job, but also thankfully he didn't have to spend much time, if any at all for bureaucratic matters.
New divisions are made, people are selected for compatibility for said jobs to make sure they are effective and efficient and most of all loyal to Anakin and the empire.
What was the main driving factor behind his decisions was whether or not they were already citizens of the Empyrean. Time matters and candidates were overwhelming chosen from the people within his empire.
That in on itself may seem corrupt and it is, but Anakin needed stability, the Empyrean Empire needed stability. The innermost and some extended systems, he didn't have to worry about but that didn't mean those newly integrated wouldn't have some unsavory factions he needed to account for.
Even just Hutt space was still going through change, but that place was pretty much under lock and key as the Empyrean had to fix that place up the most. Even with the newly integrated states, Hutt space was still the most unstable and it had much to do with the way the Hutt's ruled over and created their own criminal empire there.
Anakin planned every system to be integrated into the main Empyrean culture, but he wouldn't just wash away the traditions of others so easily. Sub-cultures could be made and everything, and they can mostly keep things the same.
Changes would be made, yes, but Anakin focused on making sure the system was as unflawed as it could be.
The Force itself knows that Anakin and the Empyrean could still yet fall. Nothing is set in stone, and that is why he has things put in place, for the inevitable conflicts that would arise.
The economy is still good, even growing better as the days pass by. Not much else to say about that, except that Anakin is probably the richest, if he wasn't already, person in the known galaxy, and because of this symbol of fortune, his citizens also live rather nice lives themselves.
Of course, not everyone will live in luxury, but it was more than enough and as things continue and the standards of living increase, what was luxurious today, with become basic amenities of the future.
[]
"So, what was left over in that pit has started to control and manipulate those mutated creatures into itself? You said that it was absorbing their energies?" Mace asked the two in front of him, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan as Yoda and Anakin was joined along with them.
"Yes." Qui-Gon replied.
"Was there anything else? Anything else that could tell you as to what this is, or who that voice is, or to anything else going on?" Mace continued to ask, with Qui-Gon giving the same answer of there is nothing.
Nothing to indicate anything. No one taking responsibility, just yet and the motivations behind what is going on is currently not available as well.
"Oh. And I heard that Master Qui-Gon and Anakin here stole some valuable information from the Jedi archives." Of course, Obi-Wan had to also say this as well.
"I know that. What is more important right now is finding out just what is going on. The Jedi Order may be absorbed, but I still am of the practice and ideas of fighting off against the destruction and death of innocence. Especially in this case." Mace stated firmly.
Everyone was looking older now than their younger selves. "By the way, Kenobi. How are things going with Satine?" Anakin smirked as he asked this question, moving away from the rather grim subject for now.
"W-What do you mean? I have nothing going on with that woman."
"Sure..." Anakin said dryly. "You ain't no Jedi any longer. And it isn't like you aren't allowed to get some loving based on the tenants of the Jedi, right? Lighten up and enjoy yourself." Anakin was teasing Obi-Wan at this time, annoying Obi-Wan and Mace Windu as the two didn't wish to talk about this right now.
Of course, the two had different reasons. Obi-Wan because it was slightly embarrassing, while Mace wanted to get back to the topic at hand. "I think that is enough." Mace placed his hand on Anakin's shoulder.
"Sure, sure. Maybe you should find someone yourself. Wouldn't want to be getting any lonelier than you are, right Windu?" Anakin couldn't miss his chance to say this.
Qui-Gon and Yoda laughed while Obi-Wan was relieved. The tense atmosphere now dispersed, it made it easier to talk about the more important things without feeling suffocated. "Sorry about that. Let's continue then." Anakin added.
"Right, right. Anyway..." What they had discovered wasn't anything more than a marvel.
A mystery of sorts, even to their knowledge and senses. The Force is capable of many things and this isn't outside of the possibility of someone's powers. However, getting a proper sense of the situation would be harder than what one might of thought.
The suits made and designed to resist whatever corruption was happening hampered not only the corruption but also hampered a Force-sensitives abilities a bit. Anakin knows himself, having his own suit melded into himself.
The Sands of Time is good, but there is a price for others much greater than what Anakin had to pay. After all, it was only meant to be used as a training tool and a measure to seal Anakin's powers from becoming too much for others to handle.
"That is a problem." Anakin said as they all went silent, not having too much of a plan. "Patience seems to be the determining factor for now, but at the same time the corruption is still spreading. Maybe... Maybe we have to wait for whatever is happening to happen. If that pit is collecting energy for something, then maybe we have to wait."
"Waiting in this matter is probably not a good idea." Qui-Gon replied.
"However, forces at work, there is. Forced to stay our hand, we are." Yoda added as he seemed to be contemplating things as well.
"No one knows what else we could do. Maybe exposing ourselves to whatever influence it is, is the only way to expose it." Mace suggested, going for a rather extreme option and the only other option they have.
"I would volunteer myself, however I am currently melded with my armor, reducing the effects. And, we don't have anyone really strong enough to currently resist the corrupting effects." Anakin said, keeping out that there was one person that may be able to do the job.
However, why would he allow her to do so? She was his lover now, and it would be remiss of him to just expose her to danger.
Everyone thought and had no other solution to the problem. "The Daughter. Mortis God, she is. Is she not?" Yoda asked, seemingly coming up with the answer.
"Yes..." Of course now that it was exposed, Anakin wouldn't do anything. Not because he didn't want to, but because it was not his decision to make. It would be left to Eve, as to whether or not she would do something like this.
After all, Eve had been complaining to Anakin about the Force being strange and weird in that the corruption was forming some sort of veil. Eve probably felt it most, second to Anakin if he didn't have the suit.
"Ask her we shall, if that is ok with Skywalker?" Yoda looked towards Anakin as he said this, aware of their relationship.
"It is not my decision."