Fic: White Rabbits (Star Wars, 25/?)

[butterfly]

Title: White Rabbits
Chapter: 25/?
Author: Diana Michelle (butterfly)
Warnings: Spoilers for Revenge of the Sith.
Pairings: Anakin/Obi-Wan; Leia/Han.
Rating: PG/PG-13.
Summary: Anakin isn't fond of most politicians.
Disclaimer: Not Lucas, don't own a thing, not making any money.
Chapter Index

Chapter Twenty-Five -- The New Republic

To be honest, Anakin had been expecting a bigger building.

 

“This is the headquarters of the new Republic?” he asked. It was vaguely square, with two high towers at the back corners. The cab had dropped them off on a walkway a short distance from the entrance and there seemed to be relatively few people coming and going from the building, and those people all moved quickly, and with purpose. Even in the midst of the war, Anakin had rarely seen politicians so much as break into a brisk walk. They’d always seemed to prefer strolling – it was easy for them to talk that way, he guessed.

 

“It’s the current base of operations,” Luke said, handing something over to the air cab driver. It looked like hard currency, and that was… different for Coruscant.

 

And that made everything seem real in a different way than the Temple. The Temple had been an obvious break with reality as Anakin had known it, but in many ways, now that he was away from it, it seemed like one of his nightmares. This smaller thing, using currency instead of credits, it emphasized the truth of what Luke was telling them – the universe had changed a lot in a very short span of time.

 

Currency was for Outer Rim planets and underground operations, things that operated under the Republic’s radar. Not for the heart of Coruscant.

 

“It’s just… well, the Senate building is a lot bigger,” Anakin said. “And it’s still standing, we passed it on the way here. So, why not just use that?”

 

“Because, I suspect, the Empire used it,” Obi-Wan said. “And this new Republic doesn’t want the general public to associate this government with that one.”

 

“We are trying to do things differently,” Luke said, with a nod. “From both the Empire and the Old Republic.”

 

“Do you have fewer Senators?” Anakin asked, idly. “That was part of the problem. Too many screaming voices.”

 

“The Senate was actually only officially dissolved four years ago, so apparently it was relatively easy to get the system back in place,” Luke said, heading towards the building. “Though not all of the planets have joined the New Republic yet. There’s a lot of lost trust that needs to be won back.”

 

As he followed Luke, Anakin glanced over to see Obi-Wan looking pensive and thoughtful, putting this new information into its proper place in what they already knew. It was interesting, that the Senate had survived past the Republic, though Anakin wouldn’t dare to guess what it could mean. Politics were, well, tedious and they seemed so pointless most of the time anyway.

 

Politics hadn’t saved Padmé when her planet had been threatened by the Trade Federation. She'd had to do that herself.

 

In fact, Anakin couldn’t think of a single useful thing that the Senate, as a whole, had ever accomplished. Mostly, they just argued and deliberated. Anakin would be the first to admit that he had his share of issues with the Council, but they did, at least, get things done.

 

Getting closer to the building didn’t make it any more impressive. It was boring, made of grey duracrete. It had no warmth, no grandeur. On the other hand, maybe working in an ugly building meant that people actually worked instead of feeling that they needed to be polite and elegant to match their surroundings. Still, it was a disappointment when the inside of the building was much the same – every part of it monochrome and sterile. Anakin couldn’t imagine spending his life in a place like this. He’d go crazy inside a week.

 

Probably sooner.

 

Luke led them up to a desk and starting talking quietly to the Mon Calamari stationed behind it. Anakin could have attuned his senses and listened in, but didn’t bother. He doubted that it would tell them anymore about how to stop the Order and the Republic from falling. Honestly, he thought that they knew enough now and should just start concentrating on how to leave. But he had the feeling that Obi-Wan wouldn’t agree.

 

Obi-Wan always did have to insist on being difficult.

 

It wasn’t too long before Luke wandered back to them, saying that they’d be able to see Minister Mothma in a few minutes.

 

“That was fast,” Obi-Wan said.

 

“Part of the reason that we came here was because I was going to meet with her anyway,” Luke said. “Not a scheduled appointment, as such, just an unofficial meeting after the close of the day.”

 

“About the Order?” Obi-Wan asked.

 

“Yes. I want to establish a system for finding and training potential Jedi. Minister Mothma told me that she would be willing to help,” Luke said.

 

“Generous of her,” Obi-Wan said, almost under his breath, as they followed Luke down a wide corridor.

 

Mothma’s office seemed a little out of the way for the person that Luke had called the ‘leader’ of their organization.

 

And that impression remained when they went inside – the room was not large and the entire back wall was a window into the city, and Anakin could see the old Senate building from here, glittering in the moonlight as if it was still the center of Coruscant.

 

There was a pale green rug on the floor, the only touch of color in the room, including Mothma herself, who was rising to greet them. She looked stunned but also pleased. Anakin wasn’t sure that he liked either reaction.

 

“When Princess Leia told me that you were planning on resurrecting the Jedi Order, I had not thought she meant it so literally,” Mon Mothma said, her resonant voice filled with wonder. Now that he’d heard her voice, Anakin remembered her – she’d had more than one talk with Obi-Wan about how the Order should be a more positive influence for the people of the Republic. She’d had a data slip full of helpful suggestions that she’d wanted Obi-Wan to present to the Council. “How is this possible?”

 

“You recognize them, then?” Luke asked.

 

“General Kenobi and I have spoken on a number of occasions, both before the fall of the Republic and even after,” she said. “And I do not believe it would be possible to forget the many HoloNet reports about Kenobi and Skywalker, the great heroes of the First Clone War.” She turned her gaze to Obi-Wan. “But the last time that I spoke with you, sir, you were quite a bit older.”

 

“It is a pleasure to see you again, milady,” Obi-Wan said, bowing. Anakin inclined his own head as well, though he didn’t go to the extremes that Obi-Wan did. “Sadly, I don’t have any answers for your questions.”

 

“I do believe that the Force was involved,” Luke said. “They seem to have been pulled from their own time, one from before the fall of the Republic, and placed into ours.”

 

Mothma looked carefully at Anakin and Obi-Wan, and Anakin found himself reluctantly impressed by the strength in her eyes. She looked pale and overworked, but the glow of conviction that surrounded her made it clear why she’d been chosen to be this new Republic’s version of a Chancellor.

 

“Then, perhaps, this is a reward from the Force for our success at the Battle of Endor,” she said. “Perhaps they were sent here to help us rebuild the Republic.”

 

“Do you believe that we could be useful?” Obi-Wan asked.

 

“There are many who would recognize you still, and who remember you fondly,” she said. “Even many of the Senators who believed that the Jedi had tried to murder Palpatine did not believe that you could have been involved. And when Palpatine was questioned by the Senate on the matter, he told us that he did not believe that either of you were aware of the Jedi’s plans to assassinate him.”

 

“He didn’t think he could sell us as assassins,” Obi-Wan said.

 

“The only people that he could have convinced would have been the Trade Federation’s lackeys,” Mon Mothma said. “Out of the entire Jedi Order, you two are the only ones that were not tainted with the word ‘traitor’. More than that, since many believed that you were killed during the war, Palpatine’s filth will not cling to you. You can help us unite the factions of the Republic that have been hesitant to rejoin.”

 

“We don’t actually know how long we’re going to be here,” Anakin said. “We don’t know just how this all happened yet, so we don’t know if we’re actually meant to stay in this time.”

 

“Of course, you are,” she said, firmly. “Why else would you have arrived just when you did? Next week is the one-year anniversary of the Empire’s fall. It’s the perfect opportunity to reintroduce you into the public eye.”

 

“We will do what we can to aid the Republic,” Obi-Wan said. “But only so long as it does not conflict with the will of the Force. And we do not yet know what that will has planned for the future.”

 

“That is not a no,” she said.

 

“You’re quite right,” Obi-Wan said.

 

“Then I will trust in the Force.” Mothma smiled at Obi-Wan, joy tempered with experience. “As I did during the long, dark years of the Emperor’s rule.”

 

“We are honored by your faith,” Obi-Wan said, inclining his head gracefully. “And I do give you my word that I will help you if I can.”

 

“You lighten my heart. This is a very great day for us all. To have the Negotiator among us is a blessing we had not known to hope for,” she said. She paused, glancing at Luke for a moment before returning her attention to Obi-Wan. “Unfortunately, the hour grows late and I still have much to do this evening. General, we would be honored if you would pass the night in one of our guest suites, and if you would grant me the chance to speak more with you in the morning.”

 

“I welcome the opportunity,” Obi-Wan said, bowing deeply. “My thanks, Minister.”

 

“None are required,” she said. “I’m sure that our Master Skywalker would be more than willing to give you a tour. I will inform my aide to prepare a suite.”

 

Obi-Wan bowed again, and the three of them left Mon Mothma’s office.

 

“Why just one?” Luke asked, when they were standing in the near-empty hallway.

 

“What do you mean?” Obi-Wan asked.

 

“Why didn’t she request two rooms to be made up?” Luke asked.

 

Anakin blinked. The question never would have occurred to him, and clearly hadn’t to Obi-Wan as well.

 

“She’s familiar with the habits of the Jedi Order,” Obi-Wan said. “For us to use two rooms, when we can make do perfectly well with one, would be wasteful.”

 

“So, you two share rooms often?” Luke asked.

 

“Yes, of course,” Obi-Wan said, turning a considering look onto Luke. “And until Anakin’s Knighting, we shared an apartment at the Temple as well.”

 

“You really spend a lot of time together,” Luke muttered.

 

“We’re partners,” Anakin said, sharply. Obi-Wan didn’t look at him, but Anakin could feel the weight of his disapproval regardless. Anakin sighed, reaching for a way to work through his anger that wouldn’t annoy Obi-Wan. “Luke, are there any rooms around here big enough to use for ‘saber practice?”

 

“There are plenty of large rooms, they just all tend to be full of tables,” Luke said. “The roof might work, though. The right side is used by official Republic air traffic, but most of the left side is an artificial garden with a lot of open space. At this time of night, there shouldn’t be anyone there.”

 

“That sounds perfect,” Anakin said. He waved a hand. “Lead the way.”

~end chapter twenty-five~