[ A tired smile. ] I haven't been forced to carry as much.
[ Leia's feelings toward him, Obi-Wan's disappointment, being forced to leave the Order or leave her. On top of the strain of two and a half more years of war that he has endured that she hasn't yet. ]
[ She leans into his touch, looking at him with sad eyes. ]
Being called the Chosen One since you were a child and living with those expectations... maybe that's why you try to carry so much and soldier on alone. But you're always Anakin to me. And I will always help you carry your burdens.
[ Quietly: ] I told Leia that we would have given anything to watch her and Luke grow up.
[ He makes a disgruntled noise at that -- the Chosen One. What a joke. He nose through her hair again and mutters. His eyes close for the moment. ]
You are an angel.
[ He should- he knows he should just tell her what he plans to do but gods, it's peaceful at the moment. And he would so much rather be content here then talk about that. ]
What if we did give everything, and this is how it turned out anyway?
[ He doesn't say anything comforting to reassure her. He doesn't take it back either. This is what he knows: he loves her enough to watch a rotten system go to waste. ]
We are going to fix everything. None of us will have to sacrifice anything.
[ "We" meaning him and Obi-Wan. She's irritated that they didn't consult her or bother telling her anything until after they've made a plan, but that's not the point right now. (They're getting her input whether they ask for it or not anyway.)
[ He goes through, roughly outlining what he plans to do. And quickly, too. Obi-Wan's involvement is minimal. Which should be telling of how much Obi-Wan even approves of this plan, though their hands are tied. ]
Obi-Wan knows about the night my mother died. That'll be enough to expel me from the Order. I'll be free to collect evidence against him and his moves contributing to the fall of the Republic. But most of all, I will have to make it abundantly clear that the Jedi Order are free of any possible acts betrayal.
[ That was... a lot to dump on her at once and it takes her a moment to gather her thoughts.
Palpatine is a Sith. Palpatine is a Sith. How is that even possible? She's known the man for years. Him tearing down the Republic is unthinkable, yet...
Yet not impossible. She believes Anakin and Obi-Wan. And she knows how clever Paplatine can be. She feels... well she's not sure what to feel. Disbelief, shock, betrayal, anger. For a moment, the anger bubbles up and threatens to boil over. But she holds it back. For now.
As he talks, her posture shifts until her elbows are resting on her thighs and one of her hands is covering her face. Telling Obi-Wan about the Tusken Raiders, being expelled from the Order when he'd already agreed to leave on his own, getting close to a Sith to gather evidence.
Once he's finished, she sighs sadly and uncovers her face so she can look at him. ]
[ He puts it simply. There is a wry determination set in his spine and a fearful doubt that shakes his hands. ]
If it means that our future will be ours, it's a risk I'm willing take again and again.
[ He can feel her anger, her apprehension, her sadness. It was everything he was trying to keep her from. He wants her to tell him it's alright, she needed to know but he push that aside and pleads for another case instead. ]
Don't you see, Padme. We can be with Luke and Leia when they grow up.
[ He's being reckless. He should know that this plan is insanely flawed. But Padmé recognizes his state of mind-- scared, anxious, angry, anguished. It's a reflection of her own. He wants to rush forward, take all the risk, and get the entire thing over with.
She can't let him. (She can't lose him to this.) ]
And if he finds out? He could kill you, Ani. This isn't... we have to think this through.
What else can we do, Padme? You know who he is, what he is. The Republic admires him, the clones are in his command, everything we've been fighting for has been a cover up for his plans. If we don't end this as quickly as possible, if we don't take a risk--
[ This has to succeed if there's any chance of changing the fate of the Republic. And, although she doesn't acknowledge it herself, his betrayal is personal. ]
[ He thanks her with a squeeze of her hand in his and a small hopeful smile. He continues her line of thought. ]
And it can't be the Jedi who presents it.
[ He paused, knowing that what he asks of her next will put her at risk. In front of it, directly. He drops his eyes and stares at their joined hands, refusing to show the tinge of guilt for not being enough to keep her out of danger. ]
The Jedi can't look like we're getting too involved in the politics of the Republic. It'll look like a coup, even though we know it's a matter between the Jedi and the Sith. We'll need... you and trusted Senators to open a case against him to the rest of the Republic. But you can utilize the Jedi meanwhile, that and any information I can gain from being close to him.
[ She gives his hand a comforting squeeze. Padmé expected him to protest, and she's very glad he didn't. This isn't the time to fight amongst themselves. ]
I can also get a feel for how other senators feel about Palpatine. There may be some that are ambivalent toward him or perhaps outright distrust him. I won't tell them anything, but I can keep them in mind for when we bring him up on charges. The trick will be ensuring a fair trial-- his influence reaches further than we know, I'm sure. I'll root out as much as I can without being noticed, but I can't say I'll get far.
Although, if we back him into a corner, it will make him desperate. And dangerous.
[ It had just been a loose train of thought, which is why she doesn't protest when he dismisses it. She has time to think and no worry of Palpatine finding out here. ]
How will we communicate? Nobody can know.
[ A rogue ex-Jedi and a Senator. The senate would tear her apart and ruin their plan. And Palpatine might suspect that Anakin isn't as invested in Palpatine's plan as he's going to pretend to be. ]
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[ Leia's feelings toward him, Obi-Wan's disappointment, being forced to leave the Order or leave her. On top of the strain of two and a half more years of war that he has endured that she hasn't yet. ]
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I don't know if I'm forced to carry it, or if I'm forcing myself to. It feels like everything is hinging on me to do something about it.
[ He leans back and looks at her, a fingers soft against her cheek ]
I don't want our children to grow up not knowing their parents.
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Being called the Chosen One since you were a child and living with those expectations... maybe that's why you try to carry so much and soldier on alone. But you're always Anakin to me. And I will always help you carry your burdens.
[ Quietly: ] I told Leia that we would have given anything to watch her and Luke grow up.
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You are an angel.
[ He should- he knows he should just tell her what he plans to do but gods, it's peaceful at the moment. And he would so much rather be content here then talk about that. ]
What if we did give everything, and this is how it turned out anyway?
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We probably did. [ They're both dead, aren't they? ]
It kills me to know that the Republic will crumble. The sacrifices will be for nothing.
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He whispers, confesses: ]
I would sacrifice the whole Republic if it meant I wouldn't lose you.
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You know I wouldn't want that.
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We are going to fix everything. None of us will have to sacrifice anything.
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[ She doesn't know so much as believe. Padmé has no intention of accepting fate. She will stop the rise of the Empire or die trying. ]
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[ He reluctantly pulls away and hunches over his knee. ]
We ...have a plan.
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She sits back and watches him carefully. ]
What's the plan?
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Obi-Wan knows about the night my mother died. That'll be enough to expel me from the Order. I'll be free to collect evidence against him and his moves contributing to the fall of the Republic. But most of all, I will have to make it abundantly clear that the Jedi Order are free of any possible acts betrayal.
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Palpatine is a Sith. Palpatine is a Sith. How is that even possible? She's known the man for years. Him tearing down the Republic is unthinkable, yet...
Yet not impossible. She believes Anakin and Obi-Wan. And she knows how clever Paplatine can be. She feels... well she's not sure what to feel. Disbelief, shock, betrayal, anger. For a moment, the anger bubbles up and threatens to boil over. But she holds it back. For now.
As he talks, her posture shifts until her elbows are resting on her thighs and one of her hands is covering her face. Telling Obi-Wan about the Tusken Raiders, being expelled from the Order when he'd already agreed to leave on his own, getting close to a Sith to gather evidence.
Once he's finished, she sighs sadly and uncovers her face so she can look at him. ]
It's too risky, Anakin.
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If it means that our future will be ours, it's a risk I'm willing take again and again.
[ He can feel her anger, her apprehension, her sadness. It was everything he was trying to keep her from. He wants her to tell him it's alright, she needed to know but he push that aside and pleads for another case instead. ]
Don't you see, Padme. We can be with Luke and Leia when they grow up.
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What happens if he figures out you're a double agent? What if he makes you prove your allegiance by forcing you to do something horrible?
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[ A dry chuckle. He is pitying himself for placing so much trust in the man, but it's not time for that so he stops. ]
Then I won't. Whatever he comes up with, we can use it against him.
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She can't let him. (She can't lose him to this.) ]
And if he finds out? He could kill you, Ani. This isn't... we have to think this through.
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[ He rubs his hand over his face and jaw. ]
I'm afraid he'll destroy everything we hold dear.
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[ He's not going to like it, but since when does he like when she gets involved. ]
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[ This has to succeed if there's any chance of changing the fate of the Republic. And, although she doesn't acknowledge it herself, his betrayal is personal. ]
You'll need people to present the evidence to.
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And it can't be the Jedi who presents it.
[ He paused, knowing that what he asks of her next will put her at risk. In front of it, directly. He drops his eyes and stares at their joined hands, refusing to show the tinge of guilt for not being enough to keep her out of danger. ]
The Jedi can't look like we're getting too involved in the politics of the Republic. It'll look like a coup, even though we know it's a matter between the Jedi and the Sith. We'll need... you and trusted Senators to open a case against him to the rest of the Republic. But you can utilize the Jedi meanwhile, that and any information I can gain from being close to him.
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I can also get a feel for how other senators feel about Palpatine. There may be some that are ambivalent toward him or perhaps outright distrust him. I won't tell them anything, but I can keep them in mind for when we bring him up on charges. The trick will be ensuring a fair trial-- his influence reaches further than we know, I'm sure. I'll root out as much as I can without being noticed, but I can't say I'll get far.
Although, if we back him into a corner, it will make him desperate. And dangerous.
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No.
[ He shakes his head mildly and unconscious of the way his hand tightens. ]
No. Focus on rallying the Senators that can be trusted. If there's anyone that will be against us, I'll know before you do.
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How will we communicate? Nobody can know.
[ A rogue ex-Jedi and a Senator. The senate would tear her apart and ruin their plan. And Palpatine might suspect that Anakin isn't as invested in Palpatine's plan as he's going to pretend to be. ]
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