By My Side

Chapter 30 - Downward

Author's Note: Everyone deals with the aftermath and fallouts. :)

Next chapter will be on October 19th. 

~ Amina Gila

To say the Senate is in chaos is an understatement, Padme decides. She should have suspected something like this would happen. Why didn't she? Anakin was involved, and of course, he did something incredibly chaotic that led to this. It will be good in the long run, because Sidious has been outed, but Padme has no idea what it'll take to settle down at this rate.

In short, everything is in sheer mayhem. Mayhem, she thinks, is actually an understatement. Many people claim the information was forged. Just as many are claiming it's proof that the Jedi are helping Dooku, which she has to admit, it could somewhat imply. That's the worst part.

The only thing that is quite obvious, is that Palpatine was involved in some very nefarious things, though exactly what is not entirely clear.

She doesn't think the Jedi expected this kind of response when they released the information. Padme never would've, either. If she didn't know better, she'd think someone else was instigating it, but that shouldn't be possible. Right? There's been at least a hundred systems that've already left the Republic in favor of the Separatists, claiming that this is clear proof the Separatists are in the right.

Frankly, she doesn't know what to think about it herself. Why didn't Anakin talk to her about this? She'll admit to having questions about the realness of the information. She corners Obi-Wan in the Senate building the moment she sees him to ask, just in case. "Is it real?" she demands, unable to help if her voice is a little too sharp.

"Yes, it is," he confirms, "I assure you, I was as surprised as you were. No one was anticipating this reaction."

"Now that we have it, what are we doing?" she throws back.

The Chancellor's leave time is already past what it should be. No one knows what happened to him, or if he's returning.

"We can hope someone more trustworthy is put in power," he replies dryly, "But considering the level of corruption there, I find it unlikely."

"We must believe it possible," she answers, silently begging the Goddesses that it be true. There must be hope left for the Republic, even amidst this chaos.

"Yes, we must," he agrees.

They get no farther than that when Padme gets a message announcing an emergency Senate meeting – because apparently, Dooku is finally resurfacing and is telling the galaxy his own twisted version of events.

Padme truly has no idea what parts are and aren't lies, but she suspects most of it is. Because Anakin was working on his own to end the war because the Council was clearly incapable. Frankly? She thinks he's just doing this to paint himself out as some perfect hero, and she'd be tempted to roll her eyes about it if not for the number of people who seem to believe it.

Or the number that insist this is farther proof that the Jedi are villains. It's outrageous is what it is, and now that there's no Chancellor, all anyone can do is yell at each other without resolving anything. All they're managing to do is give her a raging headache, thank you, all of you.

Bail steps forwards to try convincing everyone that this is probably just another Separatist lie – except then, of course, that instigates another long argument about whether any of it was real and...

The chain of command is... off because of the war, which isn't helping either. The Vice Chancellor presumedly cannot be trusted either, though he does temporarily take control. How deep the corruption runs is anyone's guess, though by the time Captain Tarkin interjects – apparently, it's his place to speak on this, as part of the military in a democratic government system?? – she's on the verge of either screaming or crying.