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“Allow this appointment lightly, the council does not,” Yoda says, “Disturbing is this move by Chancellor Palpatine.”“I understand,” Anakin replies.“You are on this council, but we do not grant you the rank of master,” Mace Windu says.“What?” Anakin looks around at the council, betrayed, “How can you do this? This is outrageous. It’s unfair. How can you be on the council and not be a master?”Mace Windu stands, “Go to sleep, young Skywalker.”Anakin’s face flashes with confusion before his eyes roll back and he falls to the ground, unconscious.Obi-Wan winces, “You’re positive this is a good idea?”“No,” Windu replies, “But it’s too late to change plans now.”“And it has to be me?” Obi-Wan asks.“Know him best, you do,” Yoda says.Obi-Wan sighs, “Let’s get the painful part over with then, I suppose.”Obi-Wan, now dawning Anakin’s face, voice, and clothes, steps out to face Windu and Yoda.“Well, how do I look?” He asks.“Awful,” Windu jokes.“Ah, so all is well, then?” Obi-Wan laughs in reply.“Meet with the chancellor, Anakin is expected to,” Yoda interrupts, “Go, you must.”“You wanted to see me, Chancellor?” Obi-Wan asks.“Yes, Anakin, come closer. I have good news,” Palpatine replies.Obi-Wan kneels by Palpatine’s side.“Our clone intelligence units have discovered the location of General Grievous. He’s hiding in the Utupau system,” Palpatine explains.“At last,” Obi-Wan replies, “We’ll be able to capture that monster and end this war.”Palpatine pauses, “I would worry about the collective wisdom of the council if it didn't select you for this assignment. You’re the best choice, by far.”Obi-Wan stares. What is that supposed to mean?“Sit down,” Palpatine commands Obi-Wan, then turns to the others occupying the area, “Leave us.”Obi-Wan moves to take the seat next to Palpatine, wondering what he could possibly have to say that requires everyone else to leave.“Anakin, you know I’m not able to rely on the Jedi Council. If they haven’t included you in their plot, they soon will,” Palpatine says.“I’m not sure I understand,” Obi-Wan admits.“You must sense what I have come to suspect. The Jedi Council want control of the Republic,” Palpatine turns to Obi-Wan, “They’re planning to betray me.”Obi-Wan panics, “I don’t think that-”“Anakin,” Palpatine cuts him off, “Search your feelings. You know, don’t you?”Obi-Wan tries to think of what to say next.“I know they don’t trust you,” He lands on.Palpatine murmurs in agreement, “Or the Senate. Or the Republic. Or democracy, for that matter.”Obi-Wan tries not to wrinkle his face in confusion. That’s just not true. But Anakin wouldn’t say so, would he?“I have to admit, my trust in them has been shaken,” Obi-Wan replies.“Why?” Palpatine asks, “They asked you to do something that made you feel dishonest, didn’t they?”Wait, what?“They asked you to spy on me, didn’t they?” Palpatine asks.Obi-Wan’s confusion grows. How could he possibly know that?“I don’t, uh,” Obi-Wan shifts uncomfortably, “I don’t know what to say.”“Remember back to your early teachings,” Palpatine instructs, “All who gain power are afraid to lose it. Even the Jedi.”“The Jedi use their power for good,” Obi-Wan scoffs.“Good is a point of view, Anakin,” Palpatine says, “The Sith and the Jedi are similar in almost every way, including their quest for greater power.”Obi-Wan’s head snaps in Palpatine’s direction. What?“The Sith rely on their passion for their strength. They think inwards, only about themselves,” Obi-Wan replies.“And the Jedi don’t?” Palpatine asks.Obi-Wan’s brow furrows, “The Jedi are selfless. We only care about others.”There’s silence between the two for a moment.Palpatine is the first to speak once more, “Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?”What the fuck.Obi-Wan turns slowly to face the chancellor once more, “No.”“I thought not,” He replies smugly, “It’s not a story the Jedi would tell you.”What The Fuck.“It’s a Sith legend.”What. The. Fuck.“Darth Plagueis was a dark lord of the Sith so powerful and so wise, he could use the force to influence the midi-chlorians to create life,” Palpatine explains, “He had such a knowledge of the dark side, he could even keep the ones he cared about from dying.”“That’s… not possible,” Obi-Wan says.“Oh, but it is, the dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural.”“What happened to him?” Obi-Wan asks. How have the Jedi not heard of a Darth Plagueis? And how is it the chancellor has this knowledge?“He became so powerful, the only thing he was afraid of was losing his power. Which eventually, of course, he did,” Palpatine smiles, giving Obi-Wan chills, “Unfortunately, he taught his apprentice everything he knew. Then, his apprentice killed him in his sleep. It’s ironic. He could save others from death, but not himself. You, my boy, could learn this power. Though, not from a Jedi.”Suddenly, everything clicks in Obi-Wan’s head.“Chancellor Palpatine is the Sith lord!” Obi-Wan runs into the council room, which at the moment holds only Mace Windu and Yoda.“A Sith lord?” Mace Windu asks.“Yes. The one we’ve been looking for,” Obi-Wan replies.“Troubling news, this is,” Yoda says, “Face him, we must.”“Anakin, my boy! And Masters Windu and Yoda, to what do I owe the honor?” Palpatine stands.Mace Windu draws his lightsaber, “In the name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic, you are under arrest, Chancellor.”Yoda and Obi-Wan activate their sabers as well.“Are you threatening me Master Jedi?” Palpatine asks, “Anakin, have you really let them drag you into this? Surely, you don’t agree with them?”Obi-Wan doesn’t reply, just glares at the Sith.“Decide your fate, the senate will,” Yoda declares.“I am the senate,” Palpatine replies.“Not yet,” Windu says.A lightsaber appears in Palpatine’s hand, “It’s treason, then.”He snarls as he throws himself at the Jedi. They battle, traveling throughout the floor.The three manage to corner him against a window, which Windu breaks. He kicks the Sith’s lightsaber from his hand into the city below.Palpatine gasps, as the three’s lightsabers point to his throat.“You are under arrest, my lord,” Windu says.“Anakin, I told you it would come to this,” Palpatine pleads, “I was right. The Jedi are taking over!”“Never return, the oppression of the Sith will,” Yoda declares, “Lost, you have.”“No. No, no, you will die!” Palpatine shoots lightning at Windu and YodaThe two manage to block it with their sabers.“I have the power to save the one you love, Anakin,” Palpatine begs, “You must choose! Don’t let him kill me!”The lightning reflecting from the lightsabers back to Palpatine deforms his face.“He’s too dangerous to be left alive,” Windu says.“Indeed,” Yoda nods.Palpatine’s eyes widen as he looks to Obi-Wan, “Anakin, please, you can’t let them do this!”Windu kicks him out the window. The three lean over the edge and watch as he splats against the ground below.A wave of dark energy explodes through the air, causing people to scream from below, though after a few moments, the chaos stops.“You think he’s really dead?” Obi-Wan asks.“Yes,” Yoda replies, “Gone, the Sith lord is.”Anakin stirs awake.“Wha- what happened?” He asks.“A lot,” Obi-Wan laughs, “You were out quite some time. What’s the last thing you remember?”“I- the chancellor said I was going to put on the Jedi council,” Anakin wracks his brain, “But after that… I don’t remember.”“Anakin, this is going to be hard to hear,” Obi-Wan admits.Anakin’s eyes widen, “What? What happened?”“The chancellor was a Sith lord,” Obi-Wan says.“What? No, that’s not- that can’t be- wait, was?” Anakin asks.“He was defeated. We’ve won the war,” Obi-Wan explains.“Force, how did I never realize?” Anakin puts his head in his hands, “I should have noticed, I spend so much time with him!”“It’s not your fault, Anakin, and it’s in the past now,” Obi-Wan says, “We’re safe.”“Where’s Padmé?” Anakin asks.“In the med bay,” Obi-Wan answers.Anakin sits up, panicked.“What? What happened? Is she hurt?” He demands.Obi-Wan laughs, shaking his head, “She’s fine, Anakin. Though, it appears you may have some explaining to do to the council. Congrats on the twins.”Anakin’s eyes widen“Shit.”