When You Leave

Chapter 12: Exoneration

Anakin was officially dead, and he knew it.

Padme had argued citing how loyal Anakin was to the Jedi order despite some disagreements he'd had with them, and how he always protected the innocent and never once fell to the dark side.

Tarkin of course argued otherwise, citing the footage for one, and Anakin's temper. He also cited the fact that Anakin was the only one on the cell with Letta at the time of her death.

Padme pointed out that the footage had no sound, which had raised a few brows, why did the footage have no sound?

She questioned if the footage had even been verified, and Anakin could've sworn he saw the Chancellor smirking.

Tarkin confessed it had not been verified before he saw it, causing an immediate uproar.

Ultimately it was all for nought, a majority still clearly sided against him, even if this had swayed a few more senators.

Now Palpatine received a pad, the verdict clearly in.

But he looked almost angry for a moment before returning to a more neutral expression.

"Anakin Skywalker my boy, by an overwhelming count of..."

But then the doors to the chamber opened.

"Chancellor!"

He recognized the voice of Barriss, as he turned around to see her, Nahdar, Melik, and a few temple guards, who seemed to be surrounding someone.

Palpatine looked to them, but, was that relief in his tone?

Not that he should be surprised about that given he and the Chancellor were close.

"I trust you have a reason for bursting into our proceedings, knight Offee?"

Barriss nodded and spoke loudly and clearly for everyone to hear.

"We are here with evidence and a confession, from the person responsible for all the crimes Anakin has been accused of."

Good, they caught them, but who was it?

The Jedi council was clearly confused, good, they'd get embarrassed for their earlier 'judgement'.

"Flora Vizsla, member of the Jedi order, and traitor."

From the circle of guards, Flora stepped forward, looking down in some shame.

Anakin was perplexed again.

She'd done this to him? But, he had considered her a friend.

Could he trust no one now? Was everyone just waiting to stab him in the back?

He looked at her with hurt in his eyes, though he knew her master would be destroyed.

"Flora, is that true?"

Barriss turned to her with narrowed eyes and a dangerously low tone.

"Tell them the truth."

Flora sighed and stepped forward, all cameras now on her.

"I did it, because I've come to realize what many people in the Republic have come to realize, that the Jedi are the ones responsible for this war. That we've so lost our way that we've become villains in this conflict, all of us! And my attack on the temple was an attack on what the Jedi have become, an army fighting for the dark side. This Republic is failing, it's only a matter of time."

Nahdar pulled her back and gestured her to be silent now as the confession and speech sank in.

Well, she was right in a way, the Jedi had lost their way, the council's recent situation just proved that. Plus the Republic was a democratic institute that was slowly just crumbling in on itself.

Even so, Flora's betrayal made Anakin unsure of how to feel about the Jedi now, and his future with them was now very uncertain.

Palpatine frowned, clearly angered by what she had done.

"Take her away."

His tone was oddly stern and colder than normal, but again, he and Anakin were close, so no surprise he'd be so angry.

Flora gave Anakin one final look before the temple guards took her away, but Anakin couldn't bring himself to look at her now.

She had shaken his faith, but also his trust in others, and he was already having difficulties trusting anyone given his status as the chosen one.

Barriss and Nahdar seemed relieved, though hurt by Flora's betrayal, Melik was completely despondent, and then the council.

Obi-Wan looked relieved and shocked.

Plo and Shaak Ti seemed more angry with their fellow council members than before.

Mace just shook his head, clearly expressing his disappointment in the council.

Shadday, Mira, and Kit all looked very regretful, all had their heads bowed in shame.

Yoda looked the same, but even more so than the rest.

Ki-Adi and Eeth Koth exchanged looks, though otherwise their expressions were unreadable.

Ahsoka looked hurt that one of her other friends had done all this, and didn't even acknowledge Flora's presence during her speech.

One thing was certain, things were about to get very interesting.