With the help of the Jedi Council and bounty hunters loyal to Padmé, they had managed to destroy several of Palpatine's factories. The bounty hunters acted as fake spies to justify their source of information; the Chancellor was informed about the factories, and, true to form, he reluctantly authorized their destruction. The battles were undoubtedly difficult, but the Jedi's strategies were mostly planned in advance. The Separatist troops—or Palpatine's troops, to be precise—put up a fight, but they were no match for the Jedi. Undoubtedly, the losses in the war were considerable, but now the Jedi generals had reason to send their wounded squads to medical bases, or sometimes just for checkups. Once there, thanks to Padmé, the medical droids removed the chips that would force them to carry out Order 66. In just under a month, a large portion of the clones no longer carried these chips, which would provide the Jedi with a significant numerical advantage at the time of the final battle.
Luke and Leia had earned their place both on the front lines and in the Senate; they were completely committed to their mission.
Luke fought in his father's squadron, even though Anakin had initially refused to expose him to danger. Yoda and Obi-Wan managed to convince him after much discussion. Another important reason Yoda had for sending him with Anakin was that the boy was the Chosen One's son; he needed to learn from his father. The Force was strong in both him and his father, and there would be no better teacher for him.
Something similar happened with Leia. She wasn't passionate about being on the battlefield, except when necessary, just like Padmé. Therefore, her role in the creation of the Rebellion was extremely important. She was Padmé's voice in the secret meetings with the senators who were joining, while Padmé was in charge of deceiving the Chancellor more and more each day. Padmé was getting closer and closer to the senator confessing his true identity. The destruction of the factories, which he couldn't prevent, had changed the Chancellor's passive demeanor; he appeared worried and sometimes even angry. Padmé knew it was only a matter of time before he trusted her enough to tell her; she had remained his unwavering ally, and he suspected absolutely nothing.
Another case was Mara's situation with Mace Windu. She had never known any master other than Palpatine, a cruel and ruthless man who didn't hesitate to use pain against her when training didn't go as planned. However, Mace Windu was a patient master, and although Mara's technique was anything but bad, it had improved immensely under her new teacher. Mace Windu was teaching her Vapaad, a technique that, after much practice, he was the only remaining Jedi who could master. This technique involved using the Jedi's dark energies—such as anger, pain, and suffering—to enhance attacks. According to Mara, it was very similar to the Sith technique, but Mace Windu taught her that the difference lay in the fact that these energies were used to transform them into a power of light. The Council had warned Mace Windu that Vapaad was a dangerous technique for Mara, because, unlike other Jedi techniques, it sought to destroy the opponent rather than... To harm him or prevent him, but Mace Windu knew of Mara's doubts about the dark side and the light side. He had seen it as soon as she returned with Padmé from that risky mission on Kamino, and he knew that the only way to keep Mara on the light side would be to teach her to channel the anger and hatred she had been trained with all her life into good. As a respected master of the council, he was right, and Mara had begun to accompany him in battles. Everyone watched them with admiration; they had become an incredible duo. Mace Windu had even suggested to Mara that she accept her true feelings for Luke Skywalker, but she didn't want to, not yet, even though Luke was one of the main reasons she had joined the Jedi.
Han, who was neither a Jedi nor a politician, hadn't understood his past mission until Anakin, likely driven by a strong desire to keep him away from his daughter, found the perfect use for him. Jedi often needed supplies that weren't readily available, so acquiring weapons, medicine, and provisions and transporting them quickly and safely was the perfect job for a smuggler like Han, who loved being useful, even if he wouldn't admit it.
Satine had managed to restore much of the order to Mandalore. Interestingly, the Republic's aid was peaceful, as the squadrons they sent were commanded by Obi-Wan, which pleased her completely, since he had respected her ideals of peace.
Padmé's pregnancy was progressing rapidly; the Chancellor already knew and had congratulated her. But Palpatine had other plans for Padmé's children. The children were the children of the Chosen One; the Force was strong within them. At last, he could begin his plan anew, the one that Anakin and his Padawan had thwarted in the past: to create an army of the best spies initiated into the Force. The Chosen One's children would be the first on the list. He was certain that Padmé would not refuse. The girl had proven to be his best ally. In matters of politics, the peaceful senator no longer existed; she was completely consumed by her love for Anakin.
"I fear that the war is becoming increasingly brutal, Padmé," the chancellor said, speaking to the woman.
"Chancellor, please remember that I am on your side," Padmé said, sitting down across from him. "I will do whatever it takes to stop this war."
"The Jedi's deep fear of the dark side has clouded their judgment," said the Chancellor, feigning defeat. "Padmé, they control the Republic. They have won the hearts of the people. They will destroy democracy, they will destroy us, they will destroy Anakin," he said shrewdly, and Padmé hid her face in her hands.
"Chancellor, forgive my words, they are not meant to offend you," Padmé said boldly. "What if the Republic is the very evil we wish to destroy?"
"Your words would never offend me, my child," said the Chancellor. "I've known for a long time that the Republic is not what we fought for. The Jedi have corrupted it," he added.
"Chancellor, what if the Separatists are right?" Padmé asked, showing no sign of nervousness.
"Do you think so too, my dear?" Palpatine asked, genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected to move so quickly with her. He had planned to corrupt her slowly, to make her suffer every time her husband went on missions, terrifying her with the thought that he might die. But she was simply lost. Padmé Amidala was almost dead; the peaceful senator no longer existed.
"Have we been wrong all this time, Chancellor?" Padmé asked. "Do you want me to change my votes in the Senate?" she inquired.
"Of course not, my dear," said the Chancellor. "That would be problematic. I need your votes to always be against me. They will never suspect that you are my best ally," Palpatine said, and Padmé smiled inwardly.
"What will you do then, Chancellor?" Padmé asked. "You know my reasons for hating the Jedi."
"What if I told you that the Separatists are no different from us?"
"I would believe it, Chancellor," Padmé said with a genuine smile.
"I know I have your absolute loyalty," said the Chancellor, placing a hand on Padmé's back. She sighed; he was frightening her. He was closer to the truth than ever before.
"You have my complete loyalty, Chancellor. I owe you everything," Padmé said without moving an inch.
"Could I trust you?" "Shall I entrust you with my most secret plans?" Palpatine asked, touching Padmé's neck.
"Chancellor, you are my mentor. I respect no one more than you. Of course you can trust me," Padmé said seriously.
"You know the truth, don't you, Senator Amidala?" Palpatine asked, and Padmé managed to control the fear in her heart. He knew nothing more; she couldn't let him into her mind. This was a test.
"Why else would I entrust my husband's life to you, Chancellor?" Padmé asked with an almost Machiavellian smile. "Why else would I pretend to support a republic that risks the life of the man I love every day?"
"I sense anger in you, I sense hatred," Palpatine said, smiling.
"Don't think I'm a child fighting for love, Chancellor," Padmé said, taking Palpatine's hand and removing it from her neck. "Why else do you think I trusted you blindly when I called for a vote of no confidence against Chancellor Valorum?" I knew someone with your power could liberate Naboo, but now it's not Naboo I'm worried about. Could I trust someone less powerful than you? - Padmé said, approaching the smiling chancellor.
"Speak plainly, Senator Amidala."
Taking advantage of Palpatine's momentary distraction, Padmé approached him, and with a sly smile, reached in to grab one of the hidden lightsabers Palpatine carried within his clothing. The chancellor smiled arrogantly; this would be the final test. Padmé smiled, taking the weapon in her hands, demonstrating that it wasn't the first she had handled. She ignited it, and the beautiful crimson glowed in Palpatine's dark office. With a cunning smile, Padmé pointed the lightsaber at Palpatine's neck, who looked at her with a smile.
"Will you kill me, Padmé?" the chancellor asked, sitting down in the chair, threatened by Padmé.
"Are you scared, Lord Sidious?" Padmé asked, and the chancellor's face shifted to a serious one, though his arrogant smile remained.
"So you know."
"I always knew," Padmé smiled.
"Will you tell me the story before I take my place?" Palpatine asked, feeling the lightsaber inches from his neck.
"I wasn't the youngest queen ever chosen," Padmé smiled, tempted to do something foolish. She could kill him; it would be her only chance, but she knew she wouldn't succeed. He would never have been so confident if she'd had any chance. "However, I was the most powerful," Padmé smiled with feigned arrogance.
"They even wanted to change the constitution to extend your reign."
"But I wanted more," Padmé said with a wicked smile. "I wanted the power that only the Senate could give me."
"You manipulated the queen to grant you that power," Palpatine said with a surprised smile.
"Don't be condescending, Lord Sidious. You influenced it. You wanted the frightened girl who would become a senator. You wanted to use the power I would have for your plans, but you were wrong. You didn't need an ally to support your plans; you needed someone stronger, someone capable of deceiving even the most powerful Sith Lord."
"You're more cunning than I thought, Padmé," the chancellor flattered.
"I always knew that being the chancellor's lapdog would only make me more enemies. On the other hand, if I pressured him—I, who was the one who put him in power," Padmé said arrogantly—"many would believe my decisions were wrong, many would support him even though I was against it. My pacifist beliefs would be what led them to support you in this war."
"Now that you've told your story, Senator Amidala," the chancellor smiled, "will you kill me? Will you take my place now that you can?" Palpatine asked, rising to his feet.
"It's not his place I want," Padmé smiled. "It's power."
"Power and love don't go hand in hand, sweet girl," the chancellor retorted, and Padmé threatened him with her lightsaber.
"Don't they?" Padmé laughed an evil laugh. "Have you seen who my husband is?" The night Qui-Gon mentioned that his midi-chlorians were higher than Master Yoda's, I knew he had to be mine. He would give me the power I needed. He would fall in love with me, Padmé said.
But as the powerful boy grew, you made a mistake. You fell in love with him, Palpatine said, and Padmé's expression turned serious.
Perhaps love doesn't lead to power, Padmé smiled. But I have fallen in love with the most powerful Jedi of all. I am on the side of the most feared Sith Lord in the galaxy, Padmé smiled. My children will be the children of the Chosen One, and all of this has happened because of me, Padmé smiled arrogantly, and Palpatine smiled. It was true; the girl had put him in power.
Take the power you need now, then, Palpatine smiled. You know you wish to pierce my neck and take my place.
Padmé took a deep breath. She could go through him now and end it all, but she couldn't win.
"Never," Padmé said, kneeling and handing the lightsaber to Darth Sidious. "I am not Force-sensitive, but I have more power than a Jedi. You need me on your side in politics. Accept me as your ally, and I will make all your enemies fall," Padmé said, playing her last card.
"What do you ask in return, Senator Amidala?" Palpatine asked, taking his lightsaber.
"I want Anakin Skywalker. I want his power. I want to be by his side when you make him your apprentice, and together you will rule the galaxy," Padmé said, her eyes almost dark.
"Why don't you have that power?" "—Palpatine asked shrewdly.
—Because I will have that power—Padmé smiled. —The power, Chancellor. It's not about everyone fearing you, respecting you for what you are capable of doing. Power goes beyond that. You taught me that—Padmé smiled.
—What is power then?—Palpatine asked, the last question for his ally. If she failed, he would kill her.
—The power to control everything, regardless of the form. I don't care about pretending to be a defenseless senator. I don't care about having to pretend in the future to be the poor woman betrayed by the monster you will create. My hands could be covered in blood to achieve that power, but no one would ever know—Padmé said, smiling, and she knew she had succeeded.
"Well done, Padmé," Palpatine smiled. "Well done."
"Too many words, Chancellor," Padmé said, feigning boredom. "What will our next move be?" she asked.
"I need Anakin to become my apprentice. He believes in the Republic, he believes those lies. Tell him the same things you've told me. Seduce him with the power of the dark side. Tell him that the Republic is the evil we want to destroy," Palpatine said, and Padmé smiled.
"Seducing him might be easy," Padmé said boldly. "Perhaps I have better tricks than you to corrupt him."
"Bring him to me, weak and without options. He will be my apprentice, and he will be yours forever," Palpatine said, giving his ally her first order.
"Anakin Skywalker will be your apprentice, my lord," Padmé smiled, walking toward the exit.
"No, his name will not be Anakin Skywalker," the Chancellor smiled. Everything would be easier than he had thought. "His..." His name will be Darth Vader.
"A powerful name, it will certainly feel good to pronounce it on my lips," Padmé smiled, opening the door.
But Palpatine used the Force to pull her toward him, roughly. She stifled a scream, pain consuming her body. It was a test; she had already been informed of Palpatine's cruelty in subduing his allies. She didn't scream. When the pain coursed through her body, her children would be safe; he needed them. When the pain was so intense it felt like her skin was on fire, she thought of Anakin's beautiful blue eyes, his promises of love. Everything would be alright; he was succeeding in his plan.
"You want power, and I can give you that power. Make the Chosen One my apprentice, and you will be my successor," Palpatine said, thinking that with this he could have even more control over Padmé. She would dream of his power, but she would never possess it, for he would be immortal.
"The chosen one will be yours, my lord," Padmé said, closing her eyes against the pain. It was just a test, she thought before fainting, but for Palpatine, this was not just a test; it was a way to use his new ally to bring Anakin Skywalker to the dark side more quickly.
Anakin Skywalker was returning from a mission in the Outer Rim when a mysterious call from the Chancellor startled him.
"Anakin," the Chancellor called, sounding worried. "My office has been attacked, but I wasn't the one injured," the Chancellor said.
"What happened?" Anakin asked, fear in his heart.
"Senator Amidala, she was waiting for me in my office. She's been attacked. They were truly cruel to her," said the Chancellor, relishing the look of pain on Anakin's face.
"Who did it?" Anakin asked, anger almost consuming his heart, but he mustn't fall to the dark side. He couldn't. The Chancellor, almost surprised, glanced at Obi-Wan and another Jedi who were with Anakin. He'd been careless.
"Who attacked, Chancellor?" Obi-Wan asked, and the Chancellor almost hated his presence there. He'd forgotten that wherever Skywalker went, Kenobi was always there.
"Bounty hunters. They wanted to kill me. This war is putting many innocent people at risk, like Senator Amidala, I'm afraid," said the Chancellor, feigning regret. "It's a shame, given her condition."
"How is she?" Anakin asked, piloting as fast as he could.
"Is she?" "He's at the medical base on Coruscant," the chancellor said. "I hope the council can focus on the security of the Republic." He looked at Obi-Wan and hung up.
"It was him!" Anakin said, slamming his fist on the ship's dashboard. "It was him!" he shouted, hatred blazing in his eyes.
"Father," said Luke, who was with him. "Please, you must calm down. Mother is fine." Luke was following Yoda's advice; he had to prevent Anakin from falling to the dark side, whatever the reason.
"Anakin, Padmé will be alright," Obi-Wan said. Even he felt anger at what had happened.
"Why did he do it?" Anakin asked, a tear welling in his eye.
"Mother has managed to gain my trust as an ally. It was Sidious and Vader's way in the future: torturing their allies to ensure they would never betray them."
"Mother has managed to gain my trust as an ally. It was Sidious and Vader's way in the future: torturing their allies to ensure they would never betray them."
"I'm not going to let her go." "I'm going to kill him the moment I see him," Anakin said, but Luke tried to calm him down again.
"Mother did it," Luke said, trying not to be upset about what had happened to his mother. "Everything is going according to plan. I never thought he would do that to her," Luke said, and Obi-Wan felt the tension in the Force.
"I knew it wasn't a good idea to let her risk herself," Anakin said, cursing all the way to Coruscant.
Uncertainty consumed him. What had happened to Padmé? What had Sidious done to her?