lazypadawan | The Mercy Seat Part Thirteen

Part Thirteen

"The attempt on my life has left me scarred and deformed, but I assure you my resolve has never been stronger. The war is over. The Separatists have been defeated, and the Jedi rebellion has been foiled..."

Padmé leaned forward and listened intently, not quite believing Palpatine's bizarre story. It was like Anakin's narrative of what happened at the Temple. None of it made any sense. Many of her fellow Senators around her gasped when he revealed that the Jedi were planning to overthrow the Senate through a coup.

Suddenly, Bail Organa appeared beside her, apparently in so much of a hurry, he didn't spare the time to find the Alderaanian delegation's pod. "What's happening?" he asked, still adjusting his epaulets.

"The Chancellor is elaborating on a plot by the Jedi against the Senate," she said, deciding to wait until later to ask questions.

"In order to ensure our security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire...for a safe and secure society."

Empire?! Has he gone mad?! Padmé expected more power grabbing, but declaring himself Emperor? Abandoning democracy altogether? To her greater dismay, nearly everyone in the chamber cheered, many on their feet. Don't they understand what they've just done? "So this is how liberty dies," Padmé said, bitterness in her voice. "With thunderous applause."

"We have to stop this," Bail muttered in her ear as Palpatine continued his speech.

"We can't," Padmé whispered. "Look, most of the systems are on his side. If you try to stop it now, you'll be crushed. We must wait. One day, they'll realize this is all a terrible, terrible mistake."

Bail nodded. "You are right," he sighed. There was a haunted look in Bail's expressive eyes.

"What is it?" Padmé asked.

The Alderaani shook his head. "I'll be all right. This has been a difficult past few days. Mon Mothma tells me you plan to return to Naboo?"

"Soon," she nodded. Once Anakin returns, she thought.

"Whenever you return, you'll always have a trusted ally in me," Bail said.

"Thank you," Padmé said, tears in her eyes and her voice catching. "That means a lot to me."

Bail smiled wanly. "Be safe, Senator Amidala." He rose and patted her small shoulder before leaving the pod at the conclusion of Palpatine's speech. The standing ovations made it easy for him to slip out unnoticed.

The Mercy Seat Part Thirteen

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