Way of the Sith

Chapter 9 - Aftermath

Padme doesn't even know what to think by now. Her entire life has changed so dramatically in the past few hours, and it isn't until now that she's sitting alone in the room she was given at Jabba's former palace does she truly have time to let her guard down and start thinking it through a little.

The Republic was literally just turned into an Empire, or at least they're trying to turn it into an Empire. Would the Senate really agree to that? She doesn't want to believe it, but something tells her that the Sith wouldn't be so certain it would work if it wouldn't. And she has no idea what to do about it.

All of her life's work revolved around democracy – even her home planet elected their queens – and this is entirely different. She can't stand for it. She has to do something about it, but she doesn't know what or where to start.

And nor does she know where she could even begin, if the Sith literally replaced her with an identical look alike in the Senate. If she escaped from here and told the public what really happened, it would throw a lot of questions on everything and the Emperor – or Empress? – might be removed. Maybe. Or it could make it worse.

Regardless, even if she tried to do damage control now, she doesn't know how much good it would do. The claim that there's another version of her impersonating her is so outlandish, it's hard to say how many people would believe it anyway.

But none of that matters unless she can find a way out of here. A way past the two teenage Sith guarding her, who are apparently her children. Well, not hers, but biologically they would be.

Luke and Leia.

The names fit perfectly, exactly like those she can imagine her and Anakin choosing for their own children, if they ever had any. She'd be lying to say she doesn't want it, but with their jobs, it's impossible. Their marriage would be discovered, and even if it wasn't, she wouldn't have time to raise children. Anakin wouldn't either, not when he's gone so much because of the war.

Still, now that she saw the two children, it reminded her again of how much she wants that. And she can't quite shake the thought from her mind, no matter how hard she tries.

***

Anakin knew Palpatine's death was going to have enormous ramifications on the public, but he never would have expected to return to Coruscant to find out that the Republic was turned into an Empire.

And apparently Padme is the Empress?! Elected by the Senate?!

He... doesn't know what to feel about that. After seeing so much of how the Republic truly operated, he had admittedly begun to question if it could work. In the end, he thinks an Empire actually is going to be much better at keeping the galaxy in order. The Senate is not doing what it's supposed to be – it's far too corrupted – and the only way to do anything about that is by having someone who has some control over them who can do something – someone who isn't corrupted themselves.

He definitely agrees Padme is the perfect option for that, though he's surprised and confused on why she would agree to such a thing. He knows how much democracy means to her. It doesn't make sense. Something is clearly wrong.

Somehow this is definitely connected to the Siths' plans, but he doesn't know how they got her to agree. Or maybe she doesn't actually realize it, and they used her to do it somehow? He doesn't know, but he can talk to her about it later. All he can think of is if the Sith did something to her, but... he doesn't want to believe Obi-Wan is willing to hurt her.

The Council doesn't seem to share the same opinion of the situation whatsoever, though.

"We cannot allow this," Mundi declares, anger clear in his voice.