Heroes on Both Sides

Conflict with no end in sight. Across the galaxy, the quagmire of war continues. While clone troopers suffer casualties at alarming rates, the galactic senate convenes an emergency session to debate the true cost of the war.

Roxanne's POV

I'm with Ahsoka as we watch the senate debate about deregulating the banks in order to pay for more clone troopers. Padme has her booth fly forward to address the senate. "Do you hear yourselves? More money, more clones, more war" she states. "Say nothing of fiscal responsibility, what about moral responsibility? Hasn't this war gone on long enough?" she asks them. I agree the war should end.

"Senator Amidala, are you suggesting we surrender to the separatists?" another senator asks her.

"Of course not. But negotiation, might be a better course of action" Padme suggests. A few disagree, while others demand to vote now. I share a look with Ahsoka. Before we both focus back on the meeting below.

"Members of the senate, I suggest we table any emergency bill, until it is determined, whether or not deregulation, is the right course of action" Senator Organa declares. The motion to table the emergency bill for now is approved. The meeting ends. Ahsoka and I go to see Padme with Anakin. He and Padme immediately start to talk about the meeting.

"You must ask the Jedi council to speak with Chancellor Palpatine" she tells him.

"Don't involve me in this" he tells her.

"A peaceful solution is the only way out of this morass of war" Padme tells him.

"That's not my role, Padme" he tells her.

"Isn't it?" I ask. As the same time Ahsoka asks 'why not?'. We move forward to walk either side of him.

"Why isn't it your role? Aren't we Jedi knights? Isn't it our duty to speak our minds to advise the chancellor?" Ahsoka asks.

"Also, we were originally peace keepers. Shouldn't we advise on a peaceful end to the war?" I ask. Anakin sighs clearing his throat.

"I suggest you teach mine and Obi-wan young padawans a thing or two about politics" Anakin tells Padme. I roll my eyes, I know plenty about politics. Even if Obi-wan and my mother would agree I still have a lot to learn. Especially as a the future ruler of Mandalore.

"After today's debate, I was hoping they learned a great deal" Padme states.

"Truthfully, I don't understand any of it. I know the separatists are evil, but all anyone argued about was banking deregulation, interest rates, almost nothing about why we're fighting in the first place" Ahsoka states.

"There's no good and evil Ahsoka, the world isn't black and white. The Republic and separatists just have different ideals" I tell her. Anakin gets in front of us.

"War's complicated Roxanne, Ahsoka. But let me simplify it. The separatists believe the Republic is corrupt, but they're wrong, and we have to restore order" Anakin tells us.

"Maybe talking to the Jedi council isn't the role for you after all" Padme states. "Thanks for your help. Come on, Ahsoka and Roxanne" she says. We start to follow her.

"Hey!" Anakin says.

"You told me to teach them about politics. So I'm going too" Padme tells him. We left and go to her office. "If only I could talk to senator Bonteri" she says as she looks out the window.

"Who's he?" Ahsoka asks.

"He is a she" I correct her. My mum has spoken highly of her.

"She is a senator in the confederacy of independent systems" Padme adds.

"Your friend is a separatist? One of Dooku's pawns?" Ahsoka asks her surprised.

"The separatists used to be a part of the Republic" I remind her.

"I was close with many of the senators who left. I may not agree with them, but they're more than pawns" Padme tells Ahsoka.

"If you think negotiating is the right thing to do, let's talk to her" Ahsoka suggests.

"Easier said then done" I tell her.

"The senate's made it illegal" Padme states.

"Illegal?" we asks. I knew it'd be hard. But I didn't know it was illegal.

"They say official meetings would only legitimize the separatists" Padme tells us.

"Master Skywalker and I hold what we call aggressive negotiations all the time. It's a shame you can't hold more peaceful talks when you want" Ahsoka states.

"Shame my mum is neutral, otherwise she could speak to Bonteri" I state.

"You both just gave me an idea. You're a Jedi, which gives you special clearance" she says looking at Ahsoka. "And your the daughter of the leaders of neutral systems" she adds looking at me.

"Right" Ahsoka and I say together.

"And Jedi are allowed to travel to neutral worlds like Mandalore. Where we could then board a cargo ship to a separatist system" Padme states.

"Are you suggesting I use my status as a Jedi, to smuggle you behind enemy lines?" Ahsoka asks.

"I'm all for it and I'm sure my mum would agree. Anything to end this war, though we'd have to do it carefully" I state.

"It's just that you could get us through to meet with her, I haven't seen her or her family in so long" Padme states. Ahsoka agrees to help. I went to my room to pack and call mum. She agreed to help, but made me promise to be careful. I finish packing when there's a knock at the door.

"Enter" I say and Obi-wan enters.

"What's this I hear about you going on a trip?" he asks.

"Padme agreed to teach Ahsoka and I about politics. Anakin's idea" I tell him. "She believes she needs help, so we are going to Mandalore. Where mum will help teach us" I partially lie.

"Very well, but I expect updates daily" he tells me.

"Of course" I say bowing my head. He left. I grabbed my bag and meet the other two. We caught a ship to Mandalore with Q5. On the journey there, I changed into my princess attire and Padme dressed as a refugee. Ahsoka put on an new hooded cloak.

We reach Mandalore safely, then board the cargo ship to Onderon. We arrived safely. Senator Bonteri meet us and escorted us to her home. Where she introduced us to her son, Lux. Who tried to take Ahsoka's bag, but she refused his help. I allowed him to take my bag.

He showed me to our room. I thanked him and he left. There's a knock at the door. "Who is it?" I ask. The door opens and I turn. I gasp and Qui-gon covers my mouth.

"Shush" he says and I remove his hand.

"What are you doing here?" I ask him.

"You're on my turf now" he states and I roll my eyes. "So what brings you here?" he asks as he sits on one of the beds.

"A senator is looking for a peaceful solution to ending the war. The senate is in two minds about whether or not to escalate the war effort" I tell him.

"Our senate is in the same situation" he tells me. He goes to stand by the window.

"Do you think they'd be open to negotiations?" I ask him.

"I do not know" he admits and smirks. "Looks like Lux likes Ahsoka" he states. I come to stand by him and see Ahsoka below with Lux.

"Seems she likes him" I chuckle. "Not that it lead anywhere, just a new friendship and understanding between two former enemies" I state.

"Like us" he says and I smile.

"Like us" I say nudging him. My comm goes off, crap I forgot to call Obi-wan. "It's my master, be silent" I tell him and he nods. "Master Obi-wan, I was just about to call you" I lie.

"Really?" he asks.

"Honest" I tell him. "The lessons in politics are going well, Ahsoka and I learning a lot. Like there are multiple sides of the seem argument" I state.

"Well that's something" he states. "Do see hi to your mother for me, I mean the Duchess if you have the chance" he tells me. I smile.

"Of course" I say and end the conversation.

"Someones in trouble" Qui-gon sings teasingly. "When their dad/master founds out they have been lying" he states.

"I won't be in that much trouble, by the way you never said why you're here" I state.

"Dad wanted me to learn more about politics also. He thought Senator Bonteri would be a good teacher. I'm also a friend of Lux" he states. His comm goes off. "A meeting has been called, come no" he says grabbing my hand and leads me to the council chamber. I see Padme and Ahsoka in the stands across from us. I go join them as Bonteri speaks.

"I move that we immediately open peace negotiations with, chancellor Palpatine on Coruscant" Bonteri suggests, to many applause. Though there are a few who object. Saying the Republic would never allow peaceful negotiations.

"This is a democracy, and unlike the Republic, corporations do not rule us" another says. Dooku silences the crowd and calls for a vote. Which the majority agreed to hold negotiations.

"The ayes have it" Dooku declares. I smile and meet Qui-gon's eyes. Maybe we can be public friends now. Maybe he'll become a padawan and we can train together. This could be the end of the war. Padme, Ahsoka and I returned to Coruscant.

Once there, Padme had a meeting with the chancellor. I was back in my padawan clothes as Ahsoka and I were allowed in the room. The chancellor then called a meeting to put the proposal for negotiations to a vote.

However, as the votes were being cast. There was an explosion and power went out. We were under attack. But from what? It was investigated. Turns out a power generator was bombed. It was confirmed to be  separatist attack. But it made no sense, we were there. The separatists had agreed to peace.

"I'm afraid we've been given little choice. To insure the safety of the Republic, We must  deregulate the banks" the chancellor declares. Padme then returns Ahsoka and I to Anakin.

"I'm sorry your talks with Bonteri failed" Anakin states.

"How did you know?" Ahsoka asks him.

"Does Obi-wan know?" I ask him.

"We have eyes and ears everywhere, Ahsoka" he tells her. "Yes, he does and expects you once we return to the temple" he tells me and I groan. I am so grounded.

"You do the same all the time" Ahsoka argues.

"This was to much" he states.

"Maybe so" she agrees. "But I did realize something. The politics of this war, are not as black and white as I once thought they were. Like Roxanne said" she states and I smile. We return to the temple. I go to Obi-wan's room and kneel before him.

"I'm sorry for deceiving you, I just wanted to see if Padme could find a peaceful solution to end the war" I state.

"I understand that Roxanne, you distaste villainous more then me. But it was reckless to go to a separatist controlled planet without telling me or the council" he states. "No more solo missions until I believe you are ready" he tells me.

"Yes master" I say. He dismisses me. I go to my room and unpack. Before deciding to meditate. Hoping it'll help me understand why the bombing happened and why the separatists would attack if they wanted to negotiate peace.

A/N

Picture above of Mina and Lux Bonteri.