Brotherhood

Chapter 38 - Raxus

"So, this is the Separatist Senate," Ahsoka declares as she looks around the room with curiosity. "It looks different from what I expected for some reason."

"Well, I guarantee you that it is exactly as boring as you expected," Anakin replies dryly. He's in the shadows, arms crossed, hood pulled up, unlike Ahsoka who is leaning forwards with avid curiosity. They're both sitting in the place where visitors can observe the goings on, and their shields are raised as usual.

"How can Dooku stand it?" Ahsoka whispers, eyeing the Count who is standing at the podium in the front of the room. He rarely attends these sessions in person but given the motion that is about to be presented by Senator Mina Bonteri, it was necessary. Besides, Dooku took her and Anakin to speak with the Senator personally – not that she did anything other than chat with Mina's son, Lux. She's the first trained Force user he's met other than Dooku, and he was especially curious about the fact that she used to be a Jedi.

"Would you like to ask him?" Anakin deadpans, and she elbows him. He's being a lot more lighthearted than usual, probably because he's finally able to do something to help people. She has no idea what the ramifications of their support of clone rights will be, but she knows that they will be far beyond anything she can currently conceive.

They watch as Mina begins to give a speech, talking about the anti-slavery laws in the Republic, and how they have purchased clone troopers from Kamino who have been fighting for them. "We use droids," she declares. "We would never stoop so low as to enslave fellow humans or any species for that matter. In every battle, the Republic is sending these men who were bred, born, and trained for war to the front lines. They do not have a choice! What the Republic is doing is wrong!"

The Senator pauses, looking around the chambers as murmurs and whispers, both friendly and antagonistic, sweep through the assembled. "How many lives on both sides have to end before we see the futility?" Mina demands. "Surely there's room in the galaxy for Confederate and Republic planets to coexist. I move that we immediately open peace negotiations with Chancellor Palpatine on Coruscant."

Ahsoka jerks upright with a frown. "That wasn't part of the plan," she whispers to Anakin, who feels as unease as she must look. "What changed?"

Anakin's body is coiled and tense, and he shakes his head, eyes closing as he reaches out with the Force. Suddenly, he jerks, shock flaring, before he smothers it. "There's a Jedi here... and Padme is with them," he says grimly pulling out his commlink. "I'll tell security to lock down the building quietly so no one can get out."

"Okay, do you want me to tell Dooku?" Ahsoka questions.

He looks at her, glancing down to the podium. It wouldn't be that weird for her to slip down there; many will probably think she's a young aid or trainee. "Hurry," is all he says. Ahsoka rises, excusing herself as she walks behind the rows of seating and reaches a staircase in the back. She takes it down to the main level, entering the main floor and approaching Dooku. He's calling the Senate to vote on the bill, so she waits until the voting is done – the Senate supports Mina's calls to make a public statement about the immorality and illegality of a clone army as well as opening peace talks – before stepping up to the podium.

Anakin's urgency is ringing through their bond, and she can only imagine how he must be feeling. Why would Padme be here, and with a Jedi? It's illegal for Republic citizens or military officers to enter Separatist space, especially without permission or unless it's a military operation. None of this makes any sense, and she knows that as much as it might hurt Anakin, he is responsible for the security of the Separatist Senate, at least for today, and if their uninvited visitors will cause problems, they need to know. Besides, they don't have a right to be here in the first place.