FORESIGHT and SCOPE: BOOK TWO

C H A P T E R F O R T Y-T H R E E

Though the shadows on the Kaminoan's aged face deepened with distaste for my outburst, I saw her large upturned eyes transition into full of lament. Her raspy voice slowed as she sighed. "I suspected an attack was imminent. Lama Su was arrogant. He was too confident his clones were a necessity to the Empire. But none of us are."

"Did Admiral Rampart divert the funds?" Riyo brought the discussion full-circle.

"You already know the answer. But, yes."

"You must testify to that in front of the Senate tomorrow. He cannot continue to get away with what he's done."

"Rampart is a mere cog in the machine." Burtoni waved her hand at Riyo's plea. "And my word won't do you any good..." Unfortunately, I agreed with the disgraced former senator... "You need concrete proof."

"I need both." Riyo released some desperation in her voice: "And I'm running out of time..."

"What the senator is saying," I placed a comforting hand on my friend's shoulder. "at this point, it doesn't matter what reputation you have with the Senate. If you agree to testify what you know, it won't matter if no one believes you— you will at least set course for an open investigation on your 'accusation.' That is enough for Senator Chuchi. Enough for us."

Burtoni glared at me with those bitter orbs. Her thin lips tightened as her ovaled head quivered. Our staring contest lasted a solid twenty seconds before she sighed in defeat. "One shall not say I backed down from justice, when justice must be served."

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Eventually, as dawn began to break, Omega and I received a call from Rex, informing he and Echo were on their way with the intel. For a moment, I honestly couldn't believe the boys pulled it off. When their speeder zoomed up at our exchange point and screeched to a halt, I was present and ready for them. The captain reached down and handed me the data package. "It's about time!" I joked. My smile couldn't stretch any farther.

"Hurry, Fern." Rex nodded. "Run like the wind when you reach the Senate Building."

"Actually, Fern, could you—" I heard Echo start calling for me, but the urgency on time and my adrenaline both kicked in and I had already boarded my and Omega's own speeder before he could finish. Whatever he needed to tell me, it could wait until after we prevented the phasing out of all clones in the galaxy.

I did as Rex instructed. Once the speeder, driven skillfully by one of Riyo's guards, suspended at the foot of the grand staircase, I bolted up and through the glorious corridors, leaving Omega to catch up on her own. My flexibility and agility allowed me to sprint swiftly without breaking a sweat until I reached Senator Organa's pod. However, my abilities could not deter my pumping heart in my chest as the voices of outraged senators grew louder the closer I arrived.

"Senator!" I cried, stepping up right at his waiting outstretched hand. Once his fingers clutched the data package, he smiled at me and nodded, "Very well done, Fern." I sighed with relief as he detached his pod, floated over to Riyo's, and delivered the crucial intel. I was not too late. I had made it just in time... As I collasped against the wall and slid down into a seating position, hugging my knees close to my chest, Omega appeared around the corner, heaving deep breaths. Our eyes met and I confirmed our success with my arms open wide to her. She did not hesitate to slide into them, embracing me around my neck and burying her face in my thick braid.

We then watched from afar as Riyo present the evidence high above her head. "I have here in my hand the recovered command log from Admiral Rampart's Venator. Which indicates his own ships caused the destruction of Tipoca City." The entire chamber clamored as the Pantoran inserted the intel chip in her pod and projected the holographic scene of the bombardment on the Kaminoan facilities. The thunder of laser cannon blasts and blaring alarms from the recording echoed off the metallic walls. Vindication swelled up inside me and Omega while the senators of the galaxy cried out in shock and outrage. The image was paused, but the storm inside the Great Senate Chamber brewed louder and louder.

Suddenly, a different, high-pitch alarm sounded off. I noticed all the politicians' eyes falling downward. I did the same and saw the floor's center panels split and a pod holding two individuals rose to face the entire council, who all eerily hushed in unison at his presence...Chills sliced down my spine and arms when the newcomers finally arrived at my eye level, and I gently pushed Omege's back against the wall, shielding her from any possible view. "What is it, Fern?" she whispered. I silently shushed her with a finger to my lips. "Stay here. Out of Sight." I breathed, then carefully gazed over the edge to see him in all his glory...

Emperor Palpatine...

I also recognized the Chagrian next to him: Mas Amedda. He addressed everyone with a smooth, yet booming voice. "It would appear that Senator Chuchi's horrific assertions are correct." A collective gasp resounded across the chamber. "This unprovoked attack on Kamino was a cowardly act by Admiral Rampart to further his own agenda."

"Murderer!" Someone shouted.

"Guards, arrest and detain the Admiral." Mas Amedda ordered. From where I hid, I could not see Rampart's pod, but I could imagine his own shock—it was at this moment I realized what was truly occuring; the Empire was covering up their own conspiracy and betraying Rampart as a pawn. Halle Burtoni was right...The vice admiral was merely a cog, following his orders, and now being replaced when rendered useless and infected to the grand design.

"Order!" Mas Amedda pounded his staff. "We shall have order!" I watched Emperor Palpatine calmly rise to his feet and again, a hush swept across the vast room. At the start, when Mas Amedda was speaking, he had virtually no body language; he'd almost disappeared into the background When he looked around him before speaking himself, I felt a mental sense of authority radiate off the man, however, despite him making very little movement. And yet, somehow, he had made the room his...

"I am deeply troubled by this recent revelation." His raspy voice was slow, deep, and personal. "My gratitude to Senator Chuchi for exposing a rogue element within our ranks. Many lives have been lost, but I assure you, Admiral Rampart will face the consequences for his treachery. However, he did not act alone. The fact that the clones under his command so blindly followed orders, inflicting such carnage without hesitation, gives me pause. Perhaps, it is time for a change. Now, more than ever, building a strong galaxy requires protection and security. Due to the nefarious actions of Admiral Rampart, and the immediacy of the bill on the floor today, it is my opinion that this legislation is our future. With this momentous act, we shall usher in a new era. Heralded by the Imperial stormtrooper."

I could not believe it...Palpatine used his voice to comfort the entire Senate during this uneasy, but pinnacle moment. The calmness he exhibited...it made his listeners feel emotionally connected and cared for, and made him, the speaker, seem steady and trustworthy. Every single politician present was stressed and shocked by the horrendous truth of Kamino's fate, and the Emperor eased their minds like you would do with a child who had a bad dream. He was not another person giving orders—he was a mentor, a therapist, and a friend, comforting them during a rough moment...

I also noticed how he presented himself—for one, he stood proud and did not protect his organs. When one is nervous or insecure, one holds their arms close to their torso to protect their vital organs, because the brain senses danger... Palpatine held his arms open and away, which showed confidence and dominance, and the vast majority of the senators subconsciously inclined to submissive and cooperative behavior, soaking in to his reasoning, feeling pacified, and willing to cooperate. The acuminous leader incorporated credibility, morality, appealment to his audience's emotions (fear, the need for comfort and security, and at the end, a sense of victory, hope, and perseverance), reason, and logic in his words, leaving no room for argument.

Thus, he correlated the most effective speech my ears have ever heard.

And furthermore, we had failed...