The Force Wills - Chapter 36 (Patreon)

The Kote folded its wings into landing configuration and I felt the slight thump through the ship as it settled on the deck of the primary hangar bay of the Jedi Temple. My hands went through the shutdown and safety procedures with only half a mind’s attention, whilst the rest of me was probing the future to the best of my ability within the blasted miasma of the Shroud.

This was not going to be fun.

I didn’t need prescience to construct a number of scenarios how this meeting could develop and the various aftermaths. Funny side effect of having it was how adept you got at thinking about causality, and how events could flow, even without having ready access.

The last four days in hyperspace had been a roller coaster of emotion, planning and discussion with HK. I even considered contacting Mistress Gray on Hapes for extra help, but elected not to in the end. An active Holonet call was just too insecure on such short notice, but I did leave an electronic dead drop on the ‘net for her, as a bit of an insurance policy.

“Statement: Ship secure for landing, Master.”

I glanced at HK in the co-pilot seat. “And our other surprises?”

“Smug statement: Republic Intelligence will find the Kote’s computer system most inaccessible, Master. They’ll be limited to bugs hidden on the exterior of the ship for now.”

“Good, some privacy somewhere on this planet would be appreciated,” I grumbled in annoyance.

We left the ship via the passenger lift and I tapped a control on my vambrace, causing the lift to rise up again and seal the ship off.

The section chief responsible for ships in this part of the Temple hangars gave me a funny look, even as he directed his crew to rig piping and lines to the Kote.

“Sorry chief, no one goes on board without my say so.”

“But Padawan Tano -”

“That vessel is a Mandalorian diplomatic craft,” I gave the devaronian a hard look, even as I inwardly winced. It wasn’t easy to stare down a species that looked so like the stereotypical depiction of the ‘devil’ of my old life. He was a highly accredited civilian working in the Temple and I sensed nothing evil at all about him, he was actually a big softy in temperament and good at his job.

“I see, very well,” he said with a nod.

“Thank you, chief,” I bowed my head slightly and we walked off to join Anakin, who was waiting at the edge of the landing demarcation.

He was dressed in his more conventional half-armor tunic and robes for this, whilst I was in my full Aegis minus the helmet.

“Snips, HK, you made good time.”

We traded appropriate bows. “Master.”

“Perfunctory greeting: Hello Jedi. I heard you ended the nuisance of a fair number of pirate meatbags.”

“That we did,” Anakin nodded. “Duchess Satine’s already left for Mandalore using the Coronet by the way.”

“With no repairs? Those pods are still jammed into its hull?” I asked incredulously.

“The only work they did here was to fully repair all its guns and a bit of hull patching, but she didn’t want to wait the length of time a full repair would take. I think she was anxious to return home, there’s only so much governance you can do over a holo-connection.” He gave a look to his chrono. “We have to get going.”

“HK,” I prompted.

“Acknowledgement: On my way, Master.”

The droid walked off towards the elevators.

I fell in step with Anakin as we walked towards a nearby four seater speeder and hopped in.

He jumped into the driver’s seat, and started it up with a few button presses.

The speeder hummed to life, lifted into the air and after a brief wait for another ship to leave, we shot out of the hangar doors and into the Coruscant cityscape around the Jedi Temple.

He flew the speeder into the appropriate air lane and joined the flow of traffic.

“What was that about?”

I carefully probed the speeder with the Force before answering. “HK has a number of tasks. Most of which relates to this meeting, including a few contingencies.”

“You don’t think the enemy will actually try something so blatantly, Snips? I’m going to be with you every second you’re speaking with the Chancellor.”

“Master, this will not be a battle fought with lightsabers or even the Force, but one with words. The enemy is going to take my measure and based on what I say or don’t say, he will decide whether I need to have an accident or even more worryingly, whether he should plan for my… recruitment.”

Anakin gripped the steering yoke hard enough that I was worried he would crush it.

The question of whether old Sidious could actually find the right psychological levers to push me towards the Dark Side was uncertain. Palpatine was arguably one of the greatest practitioners of Dun Moch, the ability of spirit and will erosion but the technique lost a lot of its bite when you were prepared, knew it was coming and was a walking, literal outside context problem.

This would also be my greatest test of Mistress Gray’s teachings, and I was planning to don quite a few ‘masks’.

“Master, whatever I say in there, you must maintain your emotional equilibrium.”

“Figured that you would have a plan,” he said as he turned the speeder onto a new air lane to keep us going in the right direction.

“I have many plans, whether they survive first contact with the enemy, we’ll just have to see.”

I had to quash a slight feeling of guilt at this point. My woven deception to Anakin that Palpatine was a puppet of Sidious was still entrenched in his mind. There was no easy way to bring the actual truth to Anakin - when he was still so vulnerable to the enemy. Not to mention that he still held Palpatine in such high regard, given how the Chancellor had supported him over the years.

No, this was dangerous knowledge that could only be discovered by Anakin himself. His belief in Palpatine was great and the Sith’s fair persona had Anakin wrapped around his finger.

“So how did things go on Mandalore?”

“Everything that needed me in person is wrapped up, Master. My new duties to clan and the Blades can mostly be done remotely via holo. We can also expect a commando squad to join us soon on the Resolute.”

“Hope you’ve not been slacking off on training.” He gave me a gimlet eye.

“Absolutely not,” I replied emphatically. “If anything, I’ve stepped it up a notch. The Darksaber won’t tolerate being wielded by a slacker. I’ve incorporated a few things that it’s shown me from Tarre Vizsla’s days.”

“I look forward to sparring you with that blade then,” Anakin said with an eager glint in his eye.

We switched air lanes another few times and the sun was low on the horizon, giving a red wash over the upper cityscape. Ten minutes of flying finally brought the titanic curving mushroom shaped building, which housed the Republic Senate, into detailed view and nearby the dome of the Republic Executive Building.

Anakin entered his authorization into the speeder computer, then peeled off the air lane and headed for the access controlled landing zones. How far his authorization extended was next demonstrated when he went straight to the direct access docks on the rim of the Executive building itself.

Yeah, Palpatine didn’t want his favorite to be stuck in the queue with even the minor plebs, administrators and politicians. Only high ranking senators normally used this place.

Even so, we were greeted by the blue armored forms of Senate commandos, who scanned our IDs and sent us through a full security sweep.

Then we were inside the expansive halls, corridors and thousands of rooms of the Executive building. The total floorspace inside was just a tad under three million square meters and required just shy of fifty thousand full time workers with droid support just to staff the place. Then you had to add all the thousands of senators and their retinues on top of that. The size and logistics of it just couldn’t be appreciated or comprehended until you saw it in action.

Yet there wasn’t a single square meter that wasn’t richly appointed with carpeting, decorated walls, with traditional and holo paintings, statues and potted plants. Soft lighting that gave it a relaxed, airy feel. It felt like I was walking through a futuristic six star hotel and museum combination that wouldn’t be out of place in Riyadh or Doha on old Earth.

Anakin didn’t need a guide droid to walk us to the Chancellor’s office in this luxurious maze, which was filled with politicians of every species and description coming and going, usually with a protocol droid in tow.

The amount of people began to taper off as we took a few elevators and finally got off on a floor that was practically empty, with only the occasional senator or droid passing by.

Finally, we arrived in front of an expansively large door that automatically parted at our approach.

This was the Chancellor’s Suite.

Beyond was a large circular room, expansively padded and carpeted in rich red colors with contoured white durasteel construction. The perimeter had soft seating for guests to wait on, whilst the center held a circular desk, behind which the Executive Administrator for the Office of the Supreme Chancellor sat and worked. This position was currently held by a rodian with the name of Dar Wac, according to the small title plate that faced visitors entering the public area of the Suite.

Dar Wac himself was working on his terminal rather intensely and he was flanked on either side by two blue robed Senate guards visibly armed with electro pikes.

The rodian immediately looked up and his face turned into a friendly smile. “Ah, Master Jedi, welcome, welcome.”

“Hello Dar Wac, we’re expected I believe,” Anakin said, returning the smile.

“Yes, yes, you’re on time, not to worry. The Chancellor is just finishing up with some members of the Corellian trade delegation. Shouldn’t be long.”

Anakin nodded in thanks and we headed to the side of the room to take a seat.

Not one to be idle for long I took out a datapad and checked the newsfeeds. Most of it was dominated by details of the various pirate raids that had happened and were ongoing in some cases. Piracy was something that had been mostly limited to happening in the Outer Rim, Expansion region and Mid Rim before the war and even then it was sporadic. The nature of piracy and those who engaged in it meant that attrition among pirate bands was pretty high. The most common cause of death for a pirate was competition or action by another pirate.

It was the weequay pirate bands, who kept membership within their own species mostly, that were the exception to that general rule. Then there was the problem with becoming too successful and ‘overgrazing’ the slice of the galaxy the pirates were operating in.

A lot of those problems vanished or were reduced when you had a state actor giving you effective support allowing you to attack ‘virgin’ territory which would normally be suicide otherwise. Now it was just ‘dangerous’ and with the new weapons at your disposal, cargo and passenger ships that had been rated as having a suitable anti-piracy armament rating found themselves coming up way short.

The Coronet’s recent performance was an outlier - had there not been Jedi, Mandalorian Royal guard, and a clone recon squad and a very experienced ship’s captain aboard - it would’ve been rather easily taken.

Now the question came what could the Republic do to curb or stop the rampant CIS sponsored piracy. It was very easy for Palpatine to say, ‘track them down to their bases’. Actually doing that to pirates who had any sort of experience or a few brain cells to rub together was not easy.

The doors behind the receptionist’s desk split open and smoothly slid into their recesses, their thickness revealing them to be blast-proof. A group of humans in formal wear in mostly green and red, with tight pants in typical Corellian style emerged and were speaking to each other in a babble of Basic that I only caught every other word. Their general mood wasn’t happy, but neither were they angry. As usual with politics, a compromise of a sort had been achieved.

The moment they had passed us, Anakin and I stood and we walked past the two Senate guards into the Ceremonial Office. There was a short passage which smoothly flowed into the public facing office that the Chancellor used.

It was an elegant circular room, continuing the red and white theme, and your eye was immediately caught by the two statues of the Four Sages of Dwartii that you passed through on your way to the Chancellor’s desk, before having to climb a minor set of stairs, then reaching the four visitor chairs that were arranged in front.

The most impressive feature of the room was the absolutely breathtaking view it afforded of Galactic City. I had to wonder if the city skyline hadn’t been specifically engineered in that direction to look like a perfect mise-en-scène just for this specific window. I felt like I could stare at that view for hours and not get bored.

“Ah, Anakin,” Palpatine almost genially cheered in greeting as he got up from his chair, putting down a datapad he had been reviewing. That chair, now that I was this close, was made of a lanthanide duralium alloy at a thickness that would make it laugh at even a vehicle mounted weapon. Nothing generally man-portable or higher would make a dent in the back of that chair while Palpatine had his backrest to that window. Even then, I was sure there was also a shield generator in there as well.

Palpatine himself was in his stately fashion of a patterned brown robe, artificially wide shoulder padding, and a patterned red cloth flowing over his shoulders. His face was giving an old man type of smile, even though to my eyes he was actually a bit younger in appearance than what I remember of his portrayal in my old life. Anyone with enough wealth and access to the appropriate healthcare in this galaxy could live long lives and humans were no exception, though they tended to be on the shorter end of that spectrum.

“Excellency,” Anakin returned the greeting with a head bow, which I mirrored.

Palpatine briefly shook Anakin’s hand and patted his arm, “Good to see you again, with everything that’s happening in the galaxy, both our schedules don’t leave much time for our informal meetings anymore. I’m glad something could be worked out for today even if this is somewhat to do with business.”

“That’s all right, excellency. Life moves on. Speaking of which, allow me to properly introduce you to my padawan, Ahsoka Tano.”

The smile Palpatine gave me was… hard to decipher.

“Chancellor,” I bowed as per custom to him.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, my dear. Honestly, were it any other time, this meeting should’ve happened much sooner. Your master is a close friend and I would’ve enjoyed getting to know any padawan that was assigned to him and who by all reports, has flourished so spectacularly under his tutelage.”

“Master Skywalker has certainly been an interesting teacher, excellency,” I smiled, putting just the right amount of inflection and openly winking in a teasing fashion to Anakin.

“And she has been an interesting student,” he replied in a tit-for-tat fashion.

Palpatine chuckled, “Marvelous, half a year together and just by looking at you two for a few moments, I can see the Council has made a rare good match. Come, let’s retire to the Anteroom and get out of this stiff office.”

He led the way to a door on our right, through which was a small corridor that smoothly blended into a larger room, which had yet another firmly closed door on one end, that held beyond the Chancellor’s strictly private office.

This anteroom had individual armchair seating surrounding a low table, which was already sporting a tray filled with a variety of drinks and snacks. Palpatine took a seat and gestured for us to pick our own seating.

The moment we were comfortable he smiled and gestured at the tray, “Do feel free to both help yourselves.”

I smiled and grabbed a glass, pouring water for myself out of a jug, then picked up a sweet confection that reminded me of fudge but was colored an exotic blue. Anakin for his part, just poured himself caf from a thermos type kettle. Then Palpatine leaned over and grabbed some form of alcohol that I couldn’t identify.

I sat back and began biting at the fudge, even as I mentally reviewed my passive findings through the Force on the water and sweet in my hand. There was not a single thing out of place, no multi-stage poison, no nanodroids, nothing. It was exactly as it appeared. My senses also reported about Palpatine exactly what one would expect - a human of just over sixty years of age. His bearing of a grandfatherly persona with a resolve of durasteel beneath and the typical conniving cunning of a politician.

It was a mask of utter perfection and not a sliver of Force potential beyond the norm for a non-sensitive human.

My own mask for this early evening was a hybrid. I was young, a little naive in certain ways of the world, but experienced and jaded in other respects due to my experiences in the war. I also wore a weariness on my shoulders that came from recent responsibilities that had been thrust on me. My Force potential I had molded to reflect my publicly known accomplishments, it would be mighty suspicious if I purposefully downplayed that. I also threw a bit of sloppiness in the depression I made in the Force, occasionally even throwing out an active ‘searchlight’ in all directions - to reflect a hard won paranoia that came from the war. The masks below were no less detailed.

As I was munching on the sweet, my eyes caught on the opposite side of the wall a beautiful bas-relief sculpture that depicted a panoramic rolling scene from the ancient Great Hyperspace War. The one major war that is still remembered that truly set the stage for all that was to follow. The major galactic conflict between the Republic and the first Sith Empire, after it had been discovered by early Republic hyperspace explorers. Was this here during Valorum’s time or had Palpatine put it in?

“So my dear Ahsoka,” Palpatine began after a few sips of his drink, “may I call you that, by the way?”

“You are a mentor and even a father figure to my master, excellency,” I declared easily with a warm smile. Palpatine would know enough about how Jedi regarded such extended training relationships to easily infer that I regarded this meeting as if I was meeting a ‘grandfather’.

“Thank you for the privilege,” he nodded slowly with a pleased smile. “Tell me about yourself. Something that I wouldn’t get from the dry reports from the many sources available to me.”

“Surely my master has spoken to you of me, excellency?”

“He has, but all too briefly, our conversations of late are all business and we rarely get the time for lighthearted discussion.”

“I suppose if there’s one thing that defines me, then it’s knowledge, understanding and the quest for it,” I said easily. It was all so easy to just start rattling off pithy words, but I had to give a false rope to Palpatine here.

“Oh, on the Force?”

“Not just the Force, anything that is within this universe and in our experience. There are great mysteries, not just in the past, but also in the present. We must always seek out and learn, grow, challenge ourselves, never become complacent, at least,” I let my face darken a bit with embarrassment. “That is my belief and goal in this life.”

“Well, let it not be said you have no ambition, Ahsoka, with a goal like that,” Palpatine said with a grin and wide eyes to show he was pleased and impressed. “I’d imagine that the war has rather put a damper on the way you imagined your Jedi career would go?”

“Without the war, at this point I’d probably be a padawan to a master from the Council of First Knowledge, eventually doing scientific research, a bit of exo archeology and so on. Now… I’m a commander of clones and ships, fighting in a galactic war.”

“And do you resent that?” His tone was even and curious.

I sat back a little, chewing on the last bit of fudge, pretending to consider my answer a bit. “No. There are many pathways to knowledge. War, while regrettable, is a very quick and speedy path along it. The struggle breeds necessity, which in turn inspires innovation and advancement. The developments achieved during this war will filter down eventually to civilian spheres and improve the lives of people across the galaxy.”

“At a great cost, my dear,” Palpatine pointed out to me with raised eyebrows.

“Yes, but it is a lesser cost than would otherwise be the case.”

“You speak wisely and beyond your years, Ahsoka. I’m glad to see the report matches the reality. Naturally, without the war, you also wouldn’t have been apprenticed to Anakin and enjoy the complementary relationship you currently have.”

“Another reason I don’t resent the course of my career,” I confirmed.

“So is the war to you just an opportunity to gain knowledge?”

He’s digging. “I have a duty to the Republic as well and its people to defend them. We can’t exactly let the CIS march war droids up the steps to the Senate.”

“May that never come to pass,” he agreed easily. “I also understand that you don’t flinch in taking on new duties when the opportunity arises. Mandalorian Jedi… never thought I’d see the day when those two words were used in a sentence that didn’t involve a negative context.”

“Neither did I, excellency. The Mandalorians were on a path to fall completely under the sway of the CIS. I did what I had to, to show them the truth and bring them back into the fold, whatever the personal cost to myself.”

“Most people would not see it as you having endured any personal costs, Ahsoka.”

“Fortunately, excellency, I can see that you do not fall into that category.”

Palpatine interlaced his fingers and regarded me with narrowed eyes. “You’ve experienced it then?”

Another test. “The cost of power, excellency, yes. I’m sure it can’t even compare to what you’ve endured.”

His mouth quirked into a half-smile. “No, not in scale at least.”

I could just imagine the jollies I was giving him at the moment. My enemy had slaughtered his entire family to prove himself worthy of joining Darth Plagueis as his apprentice and gain tutelage in the power of the Dark Side he so desired. Palpatine had hated his father for a long time, due to the latter’s lack of ambition in moving higher in Naboo’s politics and society. His father, Cosinga Palpatine, had also opposed Naboo opening itself further to the greater galaxy. The late Plagueis had used this hatred masterfully and effectively manipulated the young Sheev Palpatine into that fatal confrontation. Then when it was done, all evidence was purged and a cover story invented for the disappearance of the extended family.

“Now, I so rarely am able to speak informally with any of the generals and commanders of the Grand Army. I’d like to hear from both of you, what problems are there in my army and what can I do to help?”

Anakin and I looked at each other.

“Well, excellency,” Anakin began. “Off the top of my head, our biggest problem is with the procurement department.”

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Despite it being the end of the day, Palpatine only had about half an hour in total to devote to the meeting and our talk of the problems in the Grand Army had to be cut short. He had also been especially curious for my ideas on how the Jedi Generals would be integrating the Mandalorian commandos, especially as the Clone Commandos were already in the Army.

It was rather simple. Clone Commandos were highly specialized task oriented units, which made them excellent at their job, but it meant their operational tempo and flexibility was low. Their ops were planned weeks in advance in concert with Republic Intelligence. It would’ve been amazing to have a Commando squad on Resolute for some of the crazy stunts and operations we’d pulled on short notice.

Therefore my idea was to have a Mando special operations squad on every major capital ship that had a Jedi aboard, to fill in that role of a rapid flexible response.

Whether he had liked that idea or not, I couldn’t fathom in the slightest. He just acknowledged it and moved on.

Our journey back to the Temple was made in silence but I could sense the deep worry that Anakin had across our bond.

Only when we were back in his quarters and after a general security sweep of the room, did we both sit down on the meditation mats and begin signing at each other.

“How do you think it went?” he asked.

“Not disastrously at least,” I signed with a weary look on my face. It was not feigned. Being in Palpatine’s presence, keeping up that many masks, keeping a passive watch on the probability lines, carefully weighing each word, nuance and emotion, but not excessively as that would be just as bad. “I won’t be having an accident but I have the enemy’s attention. He’ll be setting me tests soon.”

“I don’t like the sound of that.”

“I fully expect that I’ll have nice substantial bounty on my head, courtesy of the CIS and Dooku.”

“Bounty hunters we can handle.”

“Yes, then will come either Durge or Ventress.”

Anakin winced. “That will not be easy, but at least we have plans for Durge now.”

“I need to be able to handle Force Lightning, Skyguy. Ventress being capable of it is not a good sign.”

“We’ll make that a priority from now on,” he nodded. “So when you defeat all of that, you think the enemy will try to turn you?”

“Indirectly and eventually, he’ll probably have Dooku arrange it. We’re talking in a timeline of years. He’ll use you, my clan, perhaps even Master Plo Koon in some way. It neatly will also contribute to his greater plan to have you fall as well, Master.”

“The enemy doesn’t much care for the rules of his own order,” Anakin folded his arms unhappily with an angry look on his face.

“No, he does not. Not when they also get in the way of advancing his own agenda. He wants his own organization of Force Sensitives steeped in the Dark Side that can scour the galaxy, find and root out all who would oppose him. He will give them the name, Inquisitorius.”

“Would so many dark siders not be just as dangerous to him?” Anakin questioned.

“If they were properly trained and armed. They’ll be strong enough to hunt and kill Jedi, but they’ll be easily disposed of if they turn on him by design.”

Of course, I didn’t mention that the Inquisitorius, according to Sidious’ design, would have a fallen Anakin aka Darth Vader hovering over them, ready to easily kill at the first sign of treachery or failure. No, it would not come to that, but I could see Sidious rolling with the punches and redesign his schemes.

Critically, he also hadn’t identified me as the person behind the chess board, otherwise I wouldn’t have walked out of that office alive. To his mind I was now a talented and unconventional Jedi padawan who held intriguing views and goals, who was learning under his preferred choice of Sith apprentice. What a feather it would be in his cap if he could turn both Anakin and I to his side.

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The next morning I was eating breakfast and idly browsing my newsfeed when an article caught my eye about a Senate debate that was due to take place today.

Amended Clone Production Bill heads to the Senate Floor.

My fist slammed against the small kitchenette table almost on its own before I could stop myself. Rattling my cup of caf dangerously close to the edge. I pushed it further on the table to a more secure footing.

I speed read through the article before continuing to eat.

I didn’t have the numbers in front of me, but I didn’t need them. We were always outnumbered against the CIS droid armies on the ground and in the amount of clones we had to crew starships. All these months and the various battles, the pushing of the front line battlespaces in the north and the losses in the south, it all added up and the current production rate of clones wasn’t keeping up with the demand.

That was the commander and the realist in me speaking.

Another part of me wanted to burst into the Senate, tear that Bill up and burn it.

It should be a general mobilization bill! If the Republic wanted to keep its way of life, they should fight for it!

I browsed the article for who tabled the bill originally.

Of course, Senator Halle Burtoni, the bloody Kaminoans with their bought Senate seat.

Naturally, they’d want to see further clone production to keep the credits flowing. With her was a gaggle of the other warhawk senators, all who had either vested economic interest in war production escalating or had an extreme patriotic zeal. In the opposition camp, were all the pacifists and a number of CNS senators including Padme, Mon Mothma of Chandrila, Bail Organa of Alderaan and Onaconda Farr of Rodia.

I sometimes cursed that I had ever learned the Jedi mental techniques of memory recall.

None of my butterflies would affect the opinion and resolve of a young Rodian aide, who considered her boss to be a traitor and weak leader, who had sold out Rodia briefly to the Separatists.

Everything was still on course for her to murder Senator Farr and even more crucially, Senator Mee Deechi of Umbara, just because she suspected the latter to have had evidence to her original murder.

Deechi’s murder would see Umbara secede from the Republic and join the CIS.

Again, I was of two minds. If a world only remained in the Republic because of one man, was that world truly in the Republic at all. Yet Umbara was a major source of doonium in the galaxy, a key metal used in combination with dolovite in the production of the alloy shielding of hypermatter reactors. Take that source away from the Republic markets and the building of reactors in general became more expensive, the supply chain interruptions in war production wasn’t something that any general wanted. Umbaran technology, which they largely kept to themselves and was in certain respects more advanced than galactic standard, was also something that I didn’t want to see in CIS hands arrayed against me.

We needed the clones. We needed Umbara. We even needed Farr, who was by now the de-facto head of the CNS. His murder would see the CNS crumble.

I keyed my comlink.

“Statement: HK is ready to serve, master.”

“HK, I need you to contact Movers. I have a job for him.” I spoke in English.

“Disappointment: Really Master, why would you involve that scaly meatbag in any plan? Smug statement: Surely my perfection would better serve.” The droid replied in the same language.

“Yes, you would, but his skills are better suited to the results I’m after. Your contribution would be as a backup plan.”

“Reluctant agreement: Very well, master. What removal of irritants, organic or otherwise do you wish to perpetrate?”

“I need him to make two people rather deathly sick for a week or two, while you will act as an undercover bodyguard for Senator Mee Deechi. At some point it will be necessary for one of the two to peacefully pass away in her sleep.”

“Statement: Intriguing master.”

“Meet me in ten minutes near the training arenas of the Temple.”

“Statement: Very well, master. Logging you off.”

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“So Snips, how is your Tutaminis?”

It took a few moments to come up with the right words as I stood in the center of one of the ‘Danger Rooms’ with Anakin across from me as he calibrated a number of devices and machines that would help with this training.

“I’m now functionally immune to most stun level energies hitting me directly, but I’ve plateaued going higher.”

Anakin nodded thoughtfully and abruptly shot me with a DC15 pistol at its stun setting.

He had hidden his intentions very well but my own precog spotted it, so I allowed it to happen given what we were trying to achieve today.

The blue circular ring hit me right in the face.

No amount of training could override the slight flinch and the shutting of my eyes, but I managed to absorb, convert and channel the energy. Turning its purpose to a Force Push that I sent to a heavy circular sphere that was used as a TK training aid, until my Push sent it out of its cradle and rolling across the floor.

“Excellent,” Anakin smiled with approval. “That means you’ve got a good foundation. Since we’re going to focus on Force Lightning and defense from it I’m going to demonstrate the quickest form of reliable defense to learn.”

He walked over to a specific machine that almost looked like a large Repeater blaster, but mounted on a wide stand with a large interface touchpad on its side. He tapped on a few controls and buttons…

It started to hum ominously and I could sense its internal power buildup.

He walked ten feet away from the device, facing its business end. “That, my padawan, is a configurable energy projector. It’s generally what we use to simulate the various kinds of weapons a Jedi can encounter out there in the galaxy - which are many and varied. It has a setting which can simulate Force Lightning but there is a difference that you have to keep in mind. Can you tell me what it is?”

“It’s literally a gun that has a variability in its power setting, but it can’t simulate the way Force Lightning can be molded and directed by a dark sider?”

“Yes, the projector in its current setting will throw out a guidance laser, along which the electricity will flow. It is eminently predictable, but is useful to just at least demonstrate the technique. Open yourself to the Force, sense carefully what I’m doing.”

Anakin lit his lightsaber and shifted into a two handed stance with the blade angled across his body from left hip to right shoulder.

“Fire!” he commanded.

The projector, which probably at least had to have a droid level intelligence inside it, burst to life and in the blink of an eye, arcing and very loud crackling lightning shot across the intervening space.

He gave a minor tilt of his blade and the lightning was pulled directly into the glowing weapon, seemingly like it was almost hoovered up.

This only happened for a further three seconds but it was enough for me to see.

“Halt!” Anakin called and the projector stopped. I vaguely sensed also how he was juggling the energy for a bit then decided to copy me and juggle the levitation ball up and down a bit.

I really wanted to facepalm and groan at my own stupidity. Anakin naturally felt that and grinned at me. “So what have you realized, Snips?”

“It’s not just a matter of creating the physical effects needed to either shield, deflect or channel, there’s also an element of exerting power and control over the lightning itself as it comes in.”

“Precisely, that’s why even just learning this can be considered one of the major steps into learning how you can throw Force Lightning, which is why I had to ask Master Koon for permission before we could do this. In any case, taking control of the incoming energy from this projector is easy, there’s no opponent on the other side of this energy.”

“So it all depends on how well the enemy can keep control?”

“Yes, which gets progressively harder the further away the Force Lightning travels or in what situation both attacker and defender find themselves in. During our attempt to capture Dooku earlier this year, I was sliding down that escape chute, chasing after him. He tried to electrocute me with that attack as we slid. It was rather easy to deflect and control as he had to split his focus in controlling his descent and attacking me. When Ventress tried to ambush us on the Azure, she had both distance and her own inexperience with the technique working against her.” It was also a matter of Anakin utterly overpowering her control, given how OP he naturally was.

“The other thing to keep in mind, and Master Koon will tell you the same about his Electric Judgement variant of Force Lightning, is that it’s a costly technique. It’s exhausting and the consideration of whether to actually use it in the context of a long drawn out combat situation is a big factor.”

Of course, Sidious would be the exception to that. I stared rather apprehensively at the projector.

“How is this going to work, master?”

“Step by step, I’m going to demonstrate a few more times. Then you’re going to face it at a reduced power setting, enough that your own Tutaminis shouldn’t have a problem. Once you can do it without any issue, we’re going to add variables and increase the power level.”

“What variables?”

Facing this was not going to be easy. Electricity and the damage it could do was a bit of a personal fear of mine. This stemmed mostly from my old life, having seen and felt the damage it could do. Thanks to a nasty ‘prank’ from a friend in Grade 5 during a visit to a science museum and vids on the ‘net, but also of the long term personality warping effects it had. There was a reason electroshock was used as a tool of last resort by psychiatric hospitals when medicinal treatments failed. It probably was also a partial contributor for quite a few Sith Lords in history going totally loopy or insane after being subjected to it or inexpertly using it.

“We’re going to spar and then have the projector attack you at set intervals, then when you master that, it will attack you at random. After that, we’re going to have Master Koon come down in person and attack you with lightning. That is dependent on his schedule. So shall we begin?”

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The following two days would stick in my memory for a long time to come.

There were a number of occasions where I sincerely considered taking a lightsaber to that blasted projector or even crushing the thing to little pieces. My Tutaminis abilities got a thorough workout, especially when we began the latter parts of the training of being able to deflect lightning streams whilst dueling.

There were a number of times when my Tutaminis was insufficiently focused because Anakin had done such a good job putting on the pressure on me during our duels. The result being an extremely painful lightning jolt hitting me that I had to spend half an hour in a healing trance, working to undo the damage.

My other worry was the developing situation at the Senate.

As far as everyone knew, Onaconda Farr and his aide had fallen ill and had to be rushed to hospital.

The Clone Production Bill was still being debated, with Padme leading a spirited attack on the legislation. Now that there wasn’t the cloud of a murderer hanging over their heads, the various involved factions and senators were making much faster progress in advancing their agendas and garnering the required votes.

HK had also reported that no one had so far tried anything to kill the Umbaran senator.

That I feared, would be a constant worry in the coming months and years of the war. It only occurred to me later that an Umbaran conflict is something that Sidious might engineer anyway. Simply because he wanted the excuse to drive the GAR over that planet, to capture and bring the full Umbaran tech base into the Republic and under his control. He also couldn’t try to have Dooku order a Seperatist invasion of Umbara simply due to the current strategic positions of forces and the front line battlespaces were nowhere near it - though that could change with the fortunes of war.

It would take most of the north-eastern flank of the GAR collapsing and the CIS to advance all the way down the Great Kashyyyk Branch hyperlane, conquering systems all the way, including Kashyyyk itself before the Seperatists could even hope to invade Umbara.

“Snips.”

My eyes blinked and I emerged from the healing trance. Anakin and Plo Koon were looking down on me as I knelt in the middle of the Danger Room.

“Anything still wrong?”

“I’m okay, Master.”

I could sense Master Plo Koon in contrast was not feeling that great.

Throwing Electric Judgement at someone was never to be done lightly, even in training. A team of Healers were on standby just outside the room, ready to jump into action should something go catastrophically wrong.

“We’re going to have to end things here. A mission just came through that we’re being assigned.”

“Oh, where are we going?”

“It’ll all be in the briefing, get yourself some food and meet me in the command center at 1400.”

Anakin headed out of the room and began speaking to the Healers.

Master Plo held out his hand, which I took and he helped me to my feet. “Are you certain, you’re all right, little ‘Soka?” he rumbled through his mask.

“I’m fine, master. Please remember, I asked for this. It’s not your fault that I’m thick headed and not mastering this adequately.”

“Ahsoka, this is a skill most Jedi knights don’t even cultivate to this extent. Your perceived lack of progress is to be expected.”

“I’m not sure it’s something I can afford to take my time with, Master.”

He folded his arms. “Put Ventress out of your mind, Ahsoka. Do not train this just for her. Train this because you feel it’s your own path to becoming the Jedi you were meant to be. Then if you are confronted with her one day, then you will defeat her just because that is who you are.”

I felt the truth of his words and his sincerity, took a deep breath and let it out.

The fear I found in my mind at that moment surprised me.

Bloody Sidious. He had really lived up to the name Darth Plagueis had given him. It had been so subtle. Despite all my precautions he had actually managed to slip in a manipulation under my guard.

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings obliteration…

“Thank you, Master.”

He placed his hand on my shoulder and I felt his comforting presence, strength and his emotions for me through our minor bond.

“Force go with you, little ‘Soka.”

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“We have devised a strategy to begin striking back at some of these pirates that have been plaguing the hyperspace lanes,” Mace Windu declared.

The giant holotank rippled and flashed as it shifted and zoomed its view of the galaxy to focus towards the south, specifically the rough rectangle of hyperspace lanes where the Hydian, Corellian Trade Spine, Shipwright’s Trace and Harrin Trade Corridor all intersected.

“Unobstructed logistical supply flow through this area is going to be critical if we want to hold the battlespace in the south and prevent the proposed retreat to Pax from becoming a reality. Of course, the privateers and pirates are doing everything they can to harass shipping here. It’s an ideal place for such activity as there will always be a route down which they can retreat. All of our ships in the area have to hold the line at Vondarc and Malastare, they can’t afford to detach any units into the rear for dedicated anti-piracy operations.”

He turned to me and Anakin.

“To solve this conundrum, we are sending the Resolute to act as a roaming pirate hunter in this area.”

“This is an area that encompasses nine sectors of space, by the time we hear about an attack and respond, the pirates will be long gone,” Anakin pointed out the obvious.

“We know, that’s why a new ship will be accompanying the Resolute.” The holotank switched to show a long hulled frigate of about 130 meters in length, with a pointy fore section, and a bulky rear engine blister. My eyes took in the design and the stats for the ship which began to be displayed with flashing labels. IPV-2C SFRG? “This is an experimental stealth frigate, which you will be using to shadow a large cargo convoy which will be moving down towards the frontline battlespace in roughly a week’s time.

“Every cargo pallet in use in the convoy has been fitted with highly encrypted, low frequency tracking transponders, that will only broadcast at a specific time and with brief pulses of no more than three one second bursts. You will then use the stealth frigate to trace and follow the pirate’s course back towards their base of operations and conduct further recon. It’s highly likely that there are multiple such bases over a large area of space. Once that’s been mapped, you can call in the Resolute and use your fighter wings to destroy all their operations simultaneously.”

Anakin and I shared a look.

“What of any prisoners or hostages the pirates may have in those bases?” He pointed out.

“Another reason for the stealth frigate, you can use it to launch covert rescue operations and sabotage. You may proceed at your own discretion for this mission, Skywalker, but at the end of the day, we want these CIS sponsored pirates gone and out of our space. Similar operations to yours are going to be conducted in the northern areas of the galaxy. Understood?”

“Yes, Master Windu.”

“Good, Force willing, over the next month we’ll strike such a blow against piracy that we’ll have a generation or two of peace on the hyperspace lanes-” The holotank computer flashed a notification and Windu worked on its control panel in response. The rendering abruptly changed and was suddenly changed to a massive holo of the Senate, with the focus on the central chair and dias.

Palpatine stood and began speaking, “The final votes have been tallied. Let it be known, that with 56% of the vote, the Amended Clone Production Bill, has passed. The manufacture of clone troopers shall proceed as scheduled and be increased according to the stipulated amounts.”

The din that erupted in the Senate was mostly cheering but I could hear the jeering of the opposition quite clearly. What had I really achieved? The same outcome, but with narrower margins than in the Timeline-That-Was. Senators Farr and Deechi are still alive, the ripples of which I wouldn’t see yet and clone trooper production would continue.

All bought with the blood of one vengeful Rodian female aide called Lolo Purs, who was willing to murder her mentor for his mistake in trusting the CIS thinking he was following the path that led to least amount of bloodshed.

Palpatine continued, “As Chancellor, I speak personally for myself, that I would not have voted for this legislation. Yet, I can see both sides of this issue and can put aside my beliefs to address the reality of our situation. In speaking with the generals and commanders of the Army, the only conclusion I can come to is that the victory of the GAR, for now, is the only thing that can lead us to peace.”

Windu switched off the holo.

“I must admit that’s a relief,” Anakin commented.

“It will certainly help, but the next cohort of clone troopers from Kamino won’t reach us for another two months, Skywalker. We have to hold the line with what we have.”

“Masters, may I be excused? I’ll begin preparations for returning to the Resolute.”

“Go ahead, Ahsoka,” Anakin frowned at me with worry.

I left the command center, folding my hands behind me.

Accept it and move on, accept it and move on, I thought in a mantra, warring with the disgust and anger burning in my heart.

None of them could see.

Not Anakin, which was the height of irony, since he had been a slave himself.

Not Windu, who only saw the tools of war and victory.

Not a single senator, not even Padme. Not a single word or objection from them to the creation of more slaves to the grinding machine of this war. Even most of the pacifists only objected because of the economic cost and money.

There has to be a way.

There has to be…

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A/N: Fighting Sidious not easy, eh? Life hit me pleasantly with my 3yr old cousin's birthday on Saturday. This Festive Season will see a bit of variability in when chapters will come out. There's a bazillion birthdays and anniversaries in December in my family.