Revelation: A Star Wars Fanfic

Chapter 3

"If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?"
—William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice (Act III, scene I)

I found myself oddly engaged in the politician's conversation. I had usually not cared much for the proceedings of the Senate, but I was interested in the tense delegations between the Senate and the rising Separatist movement.

I knew little about the finer details, but I could catch up on a lot of issues that these senators and ambassadors and governors talked about.

Senator Amidala had been kind enough to invite me to sit beside her. On my other side sat the Alderaanian senator, whose name I did not yet know.

I could admit that Senator Amidala, though she asked me to call her Padmé, was definitely older than I remembered. She was older than me by a few years, and she was far more experienced.

At first I felt underdressed as sat down in my Dark Jedi robes. Such robes were used for formal events and looked like a darker version of standard Jedi robes. I felt naked without my normal lightsabers attached to my belt, but I compromised by smuggling in parts inside my robe, ready to be assembled at a moment's notice.

Everyone in the Senate seemed to know of the current Dark Jedi situation, and that I was one, even though I was unaware of said situation.

The senator to my left smiled at me warmly. He had a trustworthy aura about him. "Tell me, Padawan Skywalker, as the receiving end of the growing Dark Jedi conflict, what is your stance on the matter?"

I raised my brow, setting down my fruit to look at him. "Perhaps it's because I am newly arrived on Coruscant," I mustered up as much formal speech as I could. "But I am not entirely sure as to what you're referring."

A nervous exchange of glances passed around the table. Even Senator Amidala gave me a surprised glance. They seemed to silently elect the Alderaan senator to explain.

He cleared his throat. "Many of the Jedi and... others... are opting for the removal of the Dark Jedi presence from the Republic."

I looked around, almost daring anyone to tell me that they were part of that push. "May I ask why?"

"To put it indelicately," he explained. "The general population are not aware of your existence. Many fear that their knowledge would create panic and fear throughout the Republic."

Somehow, I understood his meaning. I calmed myself, picking up my fork and picking at some foreign food. I needed to show level-headedness. "We were each gifted the ability of Dark Side usage by the Force. It is understandable that the Jedi do not agree with our philosophies and teachings, but we do not ask them to.

"We have sworn not to interfere with their culture." I continued. "Is it not hypocritical to try and change ours?"

A Chiss representative at the other end of the table spoke up. "Is it wrong to eliminate threats?"

"Can we not take necessary precautions?" Added a senator close to me.

A fat Twi'lek looked at me apathetically. "What if you lost control and hurt people?"

Though I had to admire the bravery of speaking against a Dark Jedi, I recognized the problem. These politicians didn't—couldn't—see us a human.

I knew what I had to do.

"When I was young," I started. "I was a slave in the Outer Rim." I waited for dramatic effect. "When I was three, my brother and I contracted Asharria. To those of you who don't know what that is, it's a Force-sensitive illness that can have a variety of effects. It wasn't until I was rescued by Jedi that I was well again.

"Mostly, it is the Dark Side that keeps Asharria at bay. It's not something you ever completely get rid of." I hoped I had appealed to whatever compassion the politicians had.

"I came to Coruscant to be with my brother again. We have a job in the galaxy. As much as you can, you must understand that there would be no galaxy without us. It is the Jedi that squander and mutilate the balance of the Force with their unnatural hate of the Dark Side. A half can never truly hate that which makes it whole, Senator, but somehow the Jedi have found a way.

"So what do I think about this 'Dark Jedi situation'? I realize now that saviours are rarely welcome, and those who do the most often get the most hatred for their necessary deeds."

I stopped, realizing that all eyes were on me. Many were shocked at my opinion. Most of them had probably hoped I was a fool to make small talk with. They had no idea.

I sighed. "We don't want or need praise. We don't want or need recognition. But it seems hardly fair that our efforts are forsaken and even shunned. Forgive us for maintaining the galaxy, then."

A hand touched my arm comfortingly. Senator Amidala's eyes met mine, full of pride and admiration. "Senator Organa has been working with Master Plo Koon as much as he can to include the Dark Jedi in the Jedi Council. It is because of his efforts that there is a Dark Jedi representative at all."

I looked to the Senator thankfully. "I am sorry, Senator Organa," I apologized. "I am not used to dealing here the way I am used to it back home."

He smiled intelligently. "Not everyone shares my views." He acknowledged. "But I believe that a voice like yours might help change that."

If he was inviting me to help him with Dark Jedi endeavors, I did not realize it. But I could tell that we would have some sort of partnership in the future.

Little did I know how influential Bail Organa would be.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

"Forgive me, senator." I asked. Senator Amidala had invited me to her apartment for a more informal visit. "I didn't mean to get as involved as I did."

Padmé was a polite host. She offered me a hundred different types of herbal tea and was genuinely interested about my well being. She wanted to know details about how I'd grown up and about my friends and making sure I was having jet lag from planet hopping.

When I finally got my opportunity to apologize, she just sighed. "Perhaps it was selfish of me, but I invited you so that you would be aware of the situation."

I looked at her skeptically. "Why would you care if I knew about all that?"

"Because," she admitted. "You are a smart girl. I could see as much when I met you. You couldn't communicate it, and I felt bad that you couldn't express as much as you would have liked. Perhaps I thought I could give you a chance now."

The language barrier would continue to haunt me for the rest of my life. Walls exist even after they're torn down.

I felt the need to defend myself out of modesty. "Thank you, but it was simply ignorance of the world." I continued before she could object. "How did you know I would be so opinionated?"

Padmé had a certain smile she would give whenever she was playing all of her cards perfectly. It was one of the few reminders I had that she was still a senator. "If you are anything like I remember your brother, then I had no reason to think you would be the same: just as curious and smart."

"Then I hope things play to your advantage." I said it half as a jest and half as a warning.

"Indeed." She agreed, sipping her tea. "Indeed."

[A/N:

My glorious readers!

Literally the only thing I want to do in this author's note is apologize for my politics.

I'M SORRY!!!

Love you all!

Peace, love, and
~Art