"You have to be impressed, Skywalker. He saved her many times already, so this was just bound to happen", Kit Fisto told the still-mumbling form of Anakin.
"This isn't right! Han is a smuggler while she is the leader of the Rebel Alliance! He'll sell them out for credits, just for sure!", Anakin reasoned out while some members of the audience could see his visible worry for the Princess.
"Come on, Master. If he did have an ulterior motive, he would've sold out the Alliance to the Empire long ago", Ahsoka chimed in. "So Han is loyal to them by bond, not credits. So you don't have to worry about that!"
Per Vader's orders, the Imperial fleet moved into the asteroid field. The heavily armored destroyers could easily stand up to the pelting assault of the space rocks, for the most part. Vader himself stood on the deck of his flagship before a trio of holograms, the captains of the other ships.
"And that was the last time they appeared in any of our scopes." The middle hologram said, as the one on his right winked out. "Considering the amount of damage we've sustained, they must have been destroyed."
"No, Captain. They're alive." Vader said firmly. "I want every ship available to sweep the asteroid field until they are found."
"While I get that he wanted Luke for what did to the Death Star, his obsession could risk the lives of those who serve under him", Mundi said with a frown towards the Dark Lord, clearly stating his disapproval.
"The Sith are known to pursue their goals no matter the cost", Windu added. "Even if it meant risking the lives of their allies"
The two holograms bowed to him as they winked out, to reveal Piett walking up to Vader. "Yes, Admiral. What is it?" Vader said casually. "The Emperor commands you to make contact with his." he said.
Vader wasted no time. "Move the ship out of the asteroid field so that we can send a clear transmission."
"They're already on it, my Lord."
"Good."
"The Emperor? Could it be Count Dooku?", Plo Koon suddenly spoke up in anticipation. The Jedi's ears perked upon hearing the head of state of the Empire.
"We are to witness who he is.", Windu said, his chest beating in an increasing rate. "Once we do, we apprehend him as soon as we finish the rest of the presentations"
Vader returned to his chambers as the ship left the field and stepped onto a small holo-platform behind his meditation pod. He knelt on the platform and spoke with reverence as the image of the Emperor flickered to life before him.
"Is that-?", Anakin began, his heart skipped a beat at what he couldn't see that was possible. "No...it can't be..."
The Jedi widened their eyes in both horror and of dismay, having a similar mindset as Anakin.
"What is thy bidding, my Master?"
The holographic face before him may have once been called venerable, now it was anything but. The eyes were sunken into his face, only his yellow eyes. His white slicked-back hair was covered by his black hood and his white skin was wrinkled.
What the audience saw was like a tidal wave crashing down their senses. All of them could not find the strenght to comprehend the sight in front of them, with some feeling that they are like having a heart attack. They all had a mixed reaction of shock, outrage, anger, dismay and disbelief.
Anakin's mind almost shattered at what he was seeing in front of him, denying the truth that was presented right in front of him. He couldn't...not ever...
The Jedi fared no better. From all the wisdom and experience they had through the Force, what they thought that was not possible, became their worst nightmare.
All this time...the answer was just right below their noses. But their arrogance, their unwillingness to believe the Sith had returned, and the war had blinded them into following him unwittingly. Like pawns at that matter.
"PALPATINE?!", shouted almost everyone inside the chamber. They couldn't believe what they saw next, not when the face of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine was shown in front of them, who was now Emperor the Galactic Empire.
"It...it can't be...", Kit Fisto spoke, barely uttering the words to the sight front of him. "He...is the Emperor?"
"By the Force...", Ki-Adi spoke, breathing heavily out of shock of the revelation. "Have we been...blind this whole time?"
"Chancellor Palpatine...", Shaak Ti began, trembling at the sight. "...is a Sith Lord?"
"The one Dooku had told me at Geonosis...", Obi-Wan muttered, not taking this news as well. "The one who had control over the Senate..."
Anakin trembled before he fell to his knees, holding his chest in pain emotionally. The man who was like a father to him, was the very being he had sworn to destroy. He slammed his fist to the floor out of frustration, now knowing what the Chancellor's true colors are.
Padmé covered mouth with her hands, seeing that her mentor turned out to be something else, one that is bent on putting the galaxy on his thumb. She now knew why he convinced her to put a vote of no confidence to Chancellor Finnis Valorum.
Rex however, looked at the screen with a blank and obedient look. Ahsoka nudged the Clone Captain by the elbow to try and get him back to reality, but it looked as if he was hypnotized at this point.
"There is a great disturbance in the Force." he said, his voice calm and powerful.
"I have felt it.""We have a new enemy; the young rebel who destroyed the Death Star. I have no doubt this boy is the offspring of Anakin Skywalker.
"How is that possible?"
"Search your feelings, Lord Vader. You will know it to be true. He could destroy us."
"Palpatine...you better not get near Luke...", Anakin warned the screen, using every fiber of his body to restrain himself and end the Chancellor there and now.
"He is just a boy. Obi-Wan can no longer help him."
Said Jedi Master clenched his fist. "I will protect him, even beyond the grave...", he growled as Luminara held his shoulder to calm him down.
"The Force is strong with him. The Son of Skywalker must not become a Jedi."
"If he could be turned, he would be a powerful ally." Vader suggested.
Anakin glared at the Dark Lord in front of him. "Stay away from Luke, you monster!", he shouted, after he had seen what had happened to Ahsoka and to Obi-Wan.
The Emperor considered the idea briefly. "Yes. He would be a great asset. Can it be done?"
Vader bowed. "He will join us or die, Master."
Mace Windu paused the holovid all of a sudden and stood up. "Master Windu?", Luminara inquired worriedly.
"If the Republic and the Jedi are going to survive, we must act quickly", he declared, his eyes filled with anger that was not mustered before.
"You have my aid, old friend", Kit Fisto seconded, preparing to join the Korum master. His dismay was replaced by frustration and anger, miffed that the Chancellor used the Jedi for his own ends.
"Master, if you may, I want come with you", Anakin requested, also standing up. "The Chancellor, for all I knew was like a father to me. But to him, I was nothing more than his tool. I wish to confront him"
Mace, and the rest of the Jedi looked at him They knew that Anakin had a close relationship with the Chancellor, and this revelation weighed upon him heavily.
Yoda spoke up, shaking his head. "Approve of this decision. I do not"
The Jedi turned towards at him, gobsmacked at what they just heard. They know who Palpatine is behind that kindly visage, so why doesn't he want to act now.
"Master Yoda, with all due respect", Mace began in a pleading tone. "The survival of the Republic and of the Jedi is at hand. We must act quicky before he and Vader could destroy the Jedi"
They now knew that Palpatine was Dooku's Master. But to what had actually happened during the end of the war is still unclear to them.
Yoda shook his head. "Rash as always, my apprentice", he said before giving them a firm look. "Sent these holovids, the Force have, to know what wrong we had done. Jeopordize the future because of impatience, you could."
All the Jedi looked at one another and saw Yoda's point. If they acted now without knowing what Palpatine had in his sleeve, it would put the Jedi in a dire state than it is now.
Shaak Ti spoke up. "I concur with Master Yoda. If we act now without any evidence or any proper jurisdiction, the Jedi could be branded as traitors."
She then gasped in realization. From what elder Ahsoka told them, the Jedi were accused of the crime and was likely the result when they found out about his identity and rushed towards him. And it may serve as the basis for Palpatine to declare them traitors. The rest of the audience got wind of it as well.
"Master, are you sure about this? We simply can't let Palpatine go free", Anakin asked, anxious of their next move and worried for Luke's safety.
Obi-Wan lowered his head. He knew that Palpatine had a close relationship with Anakin. And if that could say anything-
'NO!', Obi-Wan thought to himself. There is just no way. It could have been that Anakin resisted Palpatine, and that is where he sent Vader as a mole, thus causing the death of the Jedi and of Anakin as a whole.
"Always wise, the Jedi are not", Yoda admitted. "An example is, Padawan Tano's trial. Wrong to convice her we were. Out of impatience, should we act now, destroy the one chance to change the future it could."
All the Jedi looked at one another and obliged to Master Yoda's wishes, and those who stood up returned to their seats. Anakin held his temples as he couldn't believe it, as Palpatine proved to be no better than the Jedi for all that he had done.
'Once we know the truth, I will come after you, Palpatine. Even if I were to die by your hand, I'm taking you with me!', Anakin proclaimed mentally.
"Commander? What happpened?", Rex asked Ahsoka, who held his shoulder.
"I don't know Rex, it looked as if you hypnotized at the sight of the Chancellor", Ahsoka told him, but couldn't help but wonder. Why is Rex acting like this? What does Palpatine's appearance had to do with it?
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