God Save the Queen Book 2: Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Three Treasons, One Grace

“That is all the more reason she should be allowed to defend herself,” Obi-Wan said. “We are not Republic Magistrates, to pass sentence in absentia!”

Anakin, at least, looked as though he agreed with Obi-Wan. He didn’t seem eager to speak against Qui-Gon and Dooku; however, and that was a state that Obi-Wan could well recall. This was far from the first time Obi-Wan had disagreed with his own master, but it was the first he could recall so stridently giving voice to his objections.

“Your commitment to justice does you credit, Obi-Wan.” Dooku folded his hands behind his back, looking now every one of his years. The weight of this choice, however, had not dissuaded him from making it. “Were the stakes any lower, I would agree. But informing Queen Amidala of her connection to the Sith Lord would reveal your involvement, even if she is not his creature.”

“His creature?” Obi-Wan asked. “Master Qui-Gon, surely you cannot agree with this? Padme has worked tirelessly for the betterment of the Republic. Even if she is a catspaw, better to have it revealed now so that we can turn to the true threat.”

Qui-Gon said nothing, thumb resting against his bottom lip.

“Damask will not be so easily cornered,” Dooku replied. “While he moves openly through the Republic, I have examined his movements and discovered that he is almost never found in the presence of a Jedi.”

Obi-Wan grimaced. “There are too few of us. But surely with the aid of the council—”

“Alas.” Dooku shook his head. “I fear they will not be so easily swayed.”

“The council will hear you out,” Qui-Gon said.

“Yes, as they heard you just over half a decade prior.” Dooku placed a hand on Anakin’s shoulder, and the boy jumped. “You have the makings of a fine Jedi, young Skywalker, but by the council’s will that path would have been closed to you.”

Obi-Wan stepped forward. “Surely, Master Yoda will listen to what you have to say.”

“My old master will doubtless listen.” Dooku sighed, withdrawing into himself. “But the rest of the council will be more difficult to convince, specifically Masters Windu and Kia Adi Mundi.”

“Master Windu was the one who said I was too old,” Anakin said.

Again, Obi-Wan felt the planet slipping out from beneath him.

“My evidence is circumstantial at best,” Dooku confessed. “The existence of the Sith you fought at Naboo, so unlike Damask, works against us. The council will find it unlikely that even the master of such a ragefilled maniac could so easily hide themselves in the Force.”

Qui-Gon’s head turned towards his erstwhile master. “How are you certain, then, that this Hego Demask is the Sith Lord?”

At this Dooku’s expression turned pained, lines wearing deep into his face. “He revealed himself to me.”

Obi-Wan jerked.

“Revealed himself?” He took a step forward. “You speak of Padme as if she’s nothing more than a pawn, but you were approached by the Sith directly?”

“Peace, Obi-Wan, peace.” Dooku raised a hand. “I rebuffed him, ready to die by my skill with the blade if need be, but the Munn only laughed at my so called ‘arrogance’.” The lines deepened into what Obi-Wan would uncharitably call anger. “He admonished me not to inform the Jedi Order of his existence, or else the consequences would be most dire.”

“Oh, well, I’m glad he saw fit to warn us then,” Obi-Wan said. “Now that we’ve all agreed to do the Sith’s bidding, shall we—”

“Obi-Wan!” Qui-Gon said.

That jerked Obi-Wan to a stop, but he gathered his fortitude and pushed his uncertainties into the force. “Master Qui-Gon, you cannot agree with this! Whatever consequences lie in wait, surely they are better than allowing this Sith to move freely throughout the Republic. To say nothing of alienating one of our most powerful allies!”

“On the surface, it would appear so,” Qui-Gon replied. “However, even if the entire Order were to mobilize, it is uncertain that we could so easily corner a Magister of the Banking Clans.”

Anakin hissed out a breath. “Ships…”

“Indeed.” Qui-Gon nodded. “The Jedi do not have a fleet. An astute enemy would need only to vanish into Hyperspace—not unusual for Magisters—and the Order would disgrace itself chasing after a man who does not even deign to appear before us. It would be best to inform the Council secretly, but if the Sith Lord approached Master Dooku openly…”

“We are under surveillance,” Dooku said, voice grave. “Already, I have uncovered several operatives embedded in my staff, but there are doubtless more.”

“All the more reason to seek Padme’s assistance,” Obi-Wan replied. “She has the ships to run him down, and the men to get a message to Coruscant without being observed.”

“And ask her to turn on her largest creditor? Would the fleet remain under her control if she were to make such a move unilaterally? No, better to go through other channels.”

Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes. “What other channels?”

Dooku began to pace. “My plan, as it stands, is thus. You are correct, Obi-Wan, when you say that Padme Amidala may be entirely blameless, or worse, an unwitting victim of Damask’s schemes. But if she is a pawn or player, she must be removed.”

Obi-Wan crossed his arms. “Master Dooku, I believe you are avoiding my question.”

“Patience,” Dooku replied. “During the tour, we will have a chance to evaluate her. If she is not part of Damask’s schemes, we will naturally bring her into confidence. But if she is compromised…then the Naboo still may be of great aid to us.

“I have been in quiet contact with Admiral Triani Laeon of the Naboo Second Fleet. She is a respected member of the military and also of Naboo’s Conservative party.” Dooku’s lips quirked. “Though, perhaps Anti-Monarchist would be a better term.”

“A coup,” Obi-Wan said. “You’re talking about a coup against your own ally?”

“No.” Dooku swished a hand through the air. “A peaceful transfer of power, by the Naboo’s own laws. Admiral Tritani has informed me that support for Amidala is not all encompassing. If, and I truly do mean if, Amidala overreaches, if she reveals herself to be a Sith proxy, then we can ensure that revelation is used to remove her from power. After which, the Conservatives will no doubt be quite eager to turn their attention to the Banking Clans, and the man responsible for corrupting their beloved monarch.”

“Master,” Obi-Wan said, “You cannot agree with this.”

“There is one other consideration,” Qui-Gon said. “Padme Amidala is without midi-chlorians.”

“What?” Obi-Wan gapped. “Then she would be dead! Or a void in the Force, certainly.”

“The Force is greater than we know,” Qui-Gon said. “But, a Sith adept at cloaking their presence in the force, and a Queen without midi-chlorians? It is…troubling.”

“I can’t believe this.” Obi-Wan shook his head. “I cannot believe this.”

“You forget, Obi-Wan, that Qui-Gon was once my student as you were his.” Dooku waved a hand through the air. “He understands the gravity of the situation.”

Obi-Wan wanted to keep arguing, but he knew Qui-Gon well in turn. His master had come to his decision, and would not be swayed, no matter how specious the evidence against Padme was. The two of them had decided to test her. He could reject their decision, but to break faith here would leave the three of them fighting each other, instead of the far greater threat.

Obi-Wan took a deep breath, and released the frustration into the force. “When she passes your test,” Obi-Wan said. “I will inform her that only I trusted her.”

“If she passes our test,” Dooku replied. “You will be welcome to.”

~~*

Tritani Laeon came by her dislike of Amidala honestly.

At least, honestly as a politician could.

House Laeon had connections with the Nabierre, Amidala’s birth name, as well as most other houses of note. And while House Nabierre trended towards liberal policies, and on occasion produced a theoretician instead of a politician or justice, Tritani and her family trusted that the Nabierre knew the game and knew how it was played.

Then Padme Amidala succeeded King Veruna after his tragic demise, and Tritani learned that the girl knew nothing at all.

Increased military spending was acceptable. It betrayed a shiftless fear of greater galactic instability, but every Monarch had a vanity project that they funneled back into Naboo. Even a planet of pacifists could not escape the military industrial complex.

Tritani should have seen the moves for what they were, setting the stage, bandying about absurd trade deals, and devaluing Naboo industry. The Trade Federation blockade was all but guaranteed at that point. But where defeat and subjugation to a galactic conglomerate would have been all but unconscionable, victory had somehow become even worse.

Naboo welcoming in barbaric Mandalorians, who wore rusted armor as if it conveyed status. And the blasted matriarch of Clan Wrenn… Even now Tritani had to expend effort to control her expression at the thought of that blasted woman.

And it would not do to betray anything here.

“As you can see, Senator Palpatine, Queen Amidala’s excesses have not slowed, only accelerated after her recent ‘victories’.”

The good senator, on the other hand, wore his disquiet plainly on his face. The flickering holocall showed the lines of fatigue clearly. “I did not wish to believe it, Admiral, but the evidence…”

He was easily swayed by notions of Naboo unity; it made Palpatine a poor politician in many regards, but he had other uses.

“Count Dooku of Serenno has assured me that he will provide evidence of a scandal.” Should such a scandal occur, but Tritani saw no need to burden Palpatine with that rider. “While I doubt it will shake many of her own ministers in Parliament, the Conservatives are ready to push for a motion of no confidence…provided we can count on your outspoken support.”

Palpatine swallowed, a hand coming up to touch his collar. “Is that truly necessary, Admiral?” he asked. “Surely, a few words in the right ears—”

“That is not how these things happen, Senator.”

He blinked rapidly, and was that a hint of anger hidden behind his thin eyelids? Perhaps he was not entirely gormless. “I was only suggesting that it might be more prudent to wait out the rest of her term, instead.”

Thus, absolving him of any need to act. Tritani scoffed “The plebians will still flock to her in droves, especially her outworlders.” A sizable voting block. “While you and I see the dangers of Amidala’s policies, the masses see only bread and circuses.”

It had been easier to argue against Amidala’s planned expenditures five years ago as well, but now?

Her investments were paying dividends, both in trade and in connections, even if Naboo would soon be paying credits to secure the entire outer rim. That would perhaps be more acceptable if Amidala wasn’t woefully naïve. The dividends were enjoyed by the plebians, and the influence squandered on equitable partnerships that rarely improved Naboo’s position on the galactic stage.

With each passing cycle, Tritani could feel the edifice of Naboo corroding under Amidala’s overbearing reforms.

“The time for waiting is past,” she continued. “We must act now, before it is too late.”

Palpatine tugged on his collar again, glancing away. “What…is it that you require of me?”

Tritani raised an eyebrow. “I believed I was quite clear. When her next indiscretion materializes, no doubt concerning primitive dirtball she’s considering garrisoning, I expect a statement, moved by a sudden attack of sense.” She waved a hand. “Have your speech writers draft it, if you cannot summon the necessary emotion yourself.”

“That…that will not be necessary,” Palpatine replied. “I will be quite moved if this scandal does materialize as you say.”

“It is all but guaranteed,” Tritani said. “If not here, then somewhere else. She continues to grasp beyond her reach.”

And what her hands found, she allowed to slip away without proper exploitation.

“It is time for Naboo to have a new monarch, a just monarch,” she finished.

“If Padme does overreach, you shall have my voice.” Palpatine sighed. “As much as it pains me to see a young woman I helped nurture come to this.”

“It is for the good of Naboo,” Tritani said.

“Yes…the good of Naboo.”

She leaned back in her chair, satisfied in every line. “We will reach out to you at the proper time. Do not contact me on this channel again.”

Palpatine cut the connection without another word.

Tritani snorted. “Pissant.” She would ensure that he was replaced after Amidala. Naboo could not afford its voice in the Senate to be so easily swayed.

~~*

Slowly, Sidious relaxed his grip and let the mangled commlink clatter to his desk in small pieces.

That insipid creature would not outlive her usefulness.

With a breath, Sidious mastered himself. Even with his Sith foci, it was not easy to conceal the Dark Side this close to the seat of the Jedi Order. Once he had settled his presence, he brushed the mangled remains of his holocom into the incinerator chute. As politician or as a Sith, it did not pay to leave evidence.

Sidious eyed his ‘display piece’, a red-corrundrite ritual censor. Sometimes though, evidence could pay dividends in other ways.

Reaching into his robes, Sidious pulled out another, sleeker commlink, one with state-of-the-art encryptions and biometric locks that could not even be accessed without using the Force. He thumbed it on with a flick of his wrist. No need to input any information, this device was quantum linked to a single other.

Momentarily, his master’s face appeared above the commlink.

“My dear friend.” Plagueis smiled past his metal jaw. “How kind of you to reach out.”

“My master.” Sidious lowered his head, concealing the rage glowing in his eyes. “Did you appreciate the Jedi I sent your way?”

“Please, my apprentice, are we not past such formalities?” Plagueis waved a hand. “And you did send him intentionally? I had wondered.”

Sidious stiffened. “I would not make such a mistake.”

“Your pet berserker revealed our existence to the Jedi,” Plagueis replied. Sidious worked his jaw silently. “It is of no moment. This Dooku of Serenno was easily led. I imagine I will orchestrate his fall before his return to Coruscant. And using Amidala to do so as well…” The Munn chuckled.

“I thought you would have killed him,” Sidious said.

“And rob myself of such a thoughtful diversion?” Plagueis shook his head. “I imagine his own paranoia will drive him right into my hands. Then perhaps I’ll acquire a pet Sith of my own.”

Sidious seethed silently. Each little needle only stoked the fires of his hatred, and soon it would come time to unleash it upon his ‘master.’

“I needed a distraction from my research, in any case.”

Sidious let out a breath. “Still, the answer eludes you?”

“Patience, patience,” Plagueis chided. “Immortality will soon be within our grasp, and then all things will come in time.”

“A long delay regardless, for one who was so close five years ago,” Sidious remarked lightly.

“Is that tone, I hear?” Plagueis narrowed his eyes slightly, only to continue before Sidious could scramble for a reply. “And five years ago, I discovered an impossibility, a living being without midi-chlorians. It revealed a flaw in my understanding, and since then I have realized that we are further from our goal than I anticipated.”

A tinge of annoyance colored Sidious’s rage, but he masked them both. “All things will come in time as you say.”

“Indeed.” Plagueis nodded. “This new Jedi offers an opportunity, with his closeness to Amidala. We could quite easily split the Republic now, with just the right push.”

“But the clones…” Sidious began.

“Inconsequential, beyond pricking the Jedi’s temper with it,” Plagueis replied. “Our new Separatists come with an army of their own, so the Trade Federation and the Banking clans can render aid to the Republic instead.”

Sidious grit his teeth. “It would be easier to start our war, if we removed Amidala for another ‘leader’,” he offered. “One easier to control.”

“And where did being easy to control land that little Nemodian brat?” Plagueis asked. “No, I think I am enjoying pieces that think for themselves. It makes the game…bracing.”

Sidious bit back his first response, and his second. Then, he tried, “It will make it more difficult for me to be declared Supreme Chancellor should Amidala become our Separatist leader.”

Plagueis waved away that concern. “Corporations and inbred slugs playing at politics. The dichotomy would be lovely, but it matters little compared to the power of the Dark Side.”

“Even still,” Sidious continued. “Her support on Naboo is not monolithic. I have uncovered a plot within the military to remove her from power, and should that occur after war breaks out…”

“Quite detrimental, yes.” Plagueis paused, glancing away. “I must depart. But it is good that you have found this plot. You will quash it.”

Sidious paused. “In what capacity? If I simply removed the conspirators…”

“Do not be so pugnacious,” Plagueis said. “As Senator of Naboo.”

“Some actions would compromise my position,” Sidious wheedled. It burned him to even feign weakness, but ever since Amidala had ruined his bid for the Chancellorship, she had been a thorn eternal in his side. “The opposition has been organizing for quite some time. At a certain point, my master, it would be easier to slay them all.”

Plagueis sniffed once, harsh and metallic. “I suppose if she cannot maintain control even with your support, she would be useless to us anyway.”

Sidious hid is grin. “My thoughts exactly.”

“Much like that pet berserker of yours; whatever happened to it? Oh, and do what you must regarding Amidala. I trust you to handle the situation.”

“Of course, Master.” Sidious allowed himself to relax. “And it is as you said, it outlived its usefulness.”

“A fascinating experiment. We should discuss it further, but I really must leave.” Plagueis stood. “I do enjoy our chats, Sidious.”

“As do I.” He forced a different kind of smile, even as he realized that he would be forced to bear his master’s attention more often. The only good thing about Sidious’s inability to leave Coruscant was that Plagueis could visit only rarely. “I shall inform you of any pressing developments.”

“Do.” The connection cut.

Sidious clenched a fist. This commlink he could not crush, so instead he tucked it carefully back within his robes. The meeting, at least, had gone to plan. With his cover secured, he could remove Amidala. Then, finally, the plan could continue.

His master was blinded in his search for immortality, but Sidious knew that power was the real prize. Once he had secured the power, all else would come.

But for now, he had to bow, and scrape, and beg, and he did so hate each and every one of those things.

Fortunately, he had something with only one use remaining to it.

Sidious exited his office, striding through his apartments towards the private lift. With a flex of the force, the lift hurtled down, into the darkness beneath this layer of Coruscant. There was no true ground for yet miles, but bury things deep enough in the undercity, and they never resurfaced.

Sidious stepped out of the lift into one such room: dark black stone, shielded, bereft of adornment. Several doors stood open, and one shut.

He folded his arms behind his back, affecting an air of disdain as he walked through closed door.

The thing on the other side lay slumped against the wall, surrounded by stains of blood and other, less sanguine, fluids. Still, it had the temerity to glower and snap at him. Sidious did so enjoy the muted expression of defiance. Almost as much as he enjoyed wiping them away.

Sometimes he gloated, sometimes he mocked. Today he had the patience for neither.

Darth Sidious raised a hand and lightning poured out across the black stone until only screams could be heard.

And on the ground, the one once called Darth Maul writhed and writhed and writhed.

~~*

Satine was in a dark place when her commlink pinged again.

She snatched it up. “For the last time, Bo the answer is—!” She paused, blinking. Then, like as a whisper, “…Obi?”

Obi-Wan blinked at her, half smiling awkwardly. Force, even with longer hair and a beard, he still looked…so young. So bright. Satine swallowed once, mouth working uselessly.

“Is this a bad time?” Obi-Wan asked. “Are you alright, Satine?”

“Yes, I. No—that’s.” She shook her head once. “My sister just contacted me. For the first time since her betrayal became public knowledge. She…wanted me to invite Amidala to Mandalor. Can you imagine it?”

“Ah.” Obi-Wan nodded. “It seems I did call at a bad time.”

“What do you mean?” Satine asked.

This time it was Obi-Wan who made to speak, and then said nothing. After a moment, he shook his head. “Think nothing of it, Satine. I wouldn’t dream of burdening you more. It would be unconscionable.”

“Obi-Wan.” She smiled. “Still a knight in shining armor.”

“Duchess,” he said. She laughed. It was what he had called her, all those years ago. Before, in fact, she was a Duchess.

“Tell me,” she said. “I command it.”

“Well, if my lady is certain.” Obi-Wan’s smile turned, dare she think it, roguish. “Fair warning, however, I am currently on Serenno, and I did intend to speak with you about a woman you have no doubt just heard a great deal about.”

And like that, her good mood had vanished again.

“She got to you as well, then. Did she?” Satine asked.

“Of course not.” Obi-Wan shook his head. “Padme Amidala in no way pushed me to reach out to you. Though, I now know why she looked distracted and despondent at dinner this evening. She must have heard of your refusal.”

Obi-Wan had spoken to her of Serenno before, so she was not surprised to hear of him dining with the Count and his guests.

“Then why are you contacting me on her behalf?” Satine raised a brow archly.

Obi-Wan looked off into the distance, a sourceless light outlining his nose, his cheeks. Satine’s eyes traced them. “Because right now she is adrift and does not even know it, and she could use a friend.”

“Friend?” Satine laughed, covering her mouth with one hand. “Me? We agree on nothing.”

“She agrees with you on that, actually,” Obi-Wan replied. “But actually, I had the opportunity to speak with her recently, and she speaks quite highly of you.”

Satine shook her head. “Somehow, I find that difficult to fathom.”

“I would never lie to you,” Obi-Wan turned his gaze back to her. “Like me, she holds a deep regard for your uncompromising character. Though she disagrees with you, she confided that she wishes you were right and she wrong.”

This time Satine looked away. “She has a strange way of showing it.”

“I do not think that Queen Amidala believes in the goodness of living things as you do. As I do,” Obi-Wan said. “But she wants to.”

Satine closed her eyes slowly, before opening them again. Blast this wonderful man. “And what would I do, if I did invite her to make a pilgrimage to Mand’alor?”

“Do?” Obi-Wan blinked. “I don’t imagine one must do anything on a pilgrimage. But perhaps she would be more willing to listen to your advice, in that setting.”

“She doesn’t strike me as someone particularly easy to convince,” Satine said.

“Neither are you, Duchess.”

She scoffed. “Compared to that woman, I am the epitome of decorum and grace.”

“I think.” Obi-Wan stroked his chin. “That she would agree with you on that as well.”

This time she laughed. “So, we are not so different, her and I?”

“Oh, no, you are as different as the stars and the void,” Obi-Wan said. “But both are needed, for the galaxy to keep spinning…even if I sometimes wish it would do so less quickly.”

“You’ve become old, Obi-Wan,” she teased. Then, before he could reply, “If I invite her to Mand’alor, would you be there?”

“Duchess,” he said. “You already know my answer.”