V.2-C.69│War Never Changes I│

"Welcome to the temple? I think I have decided to start calling this either a temple or academy. I prefer academy, but for convenience sake, welcome to the temple." Anakin said to the group as they now entered the large structure.

It was a bit off from where the rest of the main city of Tatooine was, but it wasn't so far that they would be unable to catch some rides there.

"An academy? What do you mean by that?" Mace asked given that it wasn't that good to try and have Yoda speaking all of the time.

"Well, you see that I dont really do things the way you guys do things here." Anakin looked all over the place, signaling to various areas that wasn't of the usual design or setup for the Jedi. "I didn't really like that you took children away from their families, so instead, I have made it similar to education."

"So this place is like a school?" Yaddle questioned thinking that the idea was and is novel.

"Yes." Anakin confirmed and answered her question with both of his words and nodding his head.

The group of 5 people would travel through the academy, even coming across some of the rogue Jedi that had been accepted into this place. They were of course tested, physically, mentally and medically in other areas or factors that Anakin considered were of importance.

Like age, as placing people within their own age range is usually for the best. Then there was also the fact that he had to take into account peoples knowledge and capabilities and further categorize where they should be and learn.

Their talents in particular, and he also had to take in account what their own wants or desires were.

It was alot of work to make sure that they were both best utilized and were also happy, as this would maximize the gains they would recieve, but it would also maximize his gains as well.

There was a fine line between what somewhat was good at doing, and what someone wanted to do and Anakin wanted to find the line for everyone that came in. He didn't want to dictate their paths and would instead train them in what their talents were at the best for.

Obviously he didn't want people to have weaknesses as well, as that would mean he had hyper focused on wanting the best of the best. That is not how people work and there are some that would perform better if they were doing something they loved.

Forget all of that, 'do a job that you like to do,' or something like that. Instead you would have to compromise alot of the time, just like the rest of life.

No one will ever get all of what they want and if they do, then they would want more. It is only how people work and because of this, Anakin made sure people put their skills to good use, but at the same time also had a good time utilizing their skills.

There are outliers that dont fit into the range of having something they both like and are good at. For these people, Anakin considered trying to direct them into doing the things that they were good at, but in the end it was always that persons choice.

"What do your students learn here exactly?" Mace asked as he had seen some questionable things, things related to the dark side of the Force.

Anakin wouldn't hide this however, as they both couldn't do anything here and didn't have the political power to do so as well. "Everything."

"Everything?" Mace further questioned.

"Yes, everything. Everything from the light side of the Force, to the dark." Anakin responded, knowing that Mace would probably either have an outburst or would be calm enough to question him instead.

"So, you mean to tell me that you have people here being tempted by the dark side daily?" It would seem like it was the former.

"Yes." Anakin answered.

"Are you crazy!?" Mace didn't shout but it was an exclamation at Anakin's supposed calm about the situation.

Sighing, Anakin stops everyone and can see that the three Jedi were looking at him funny. They were not outright aggressive or anything like that, but they were looking at him as if he was taking the wrong path.

Well, it was more like Yoda was doing that while Mace seemed to have a look that couldn't be deciphered, while Yaddle didn't seem to care all that much.

"Look. I know that the Jedi have it out for the Sith and I understand that." Anakin pauses so they would be prepared to soak in some information. "What you all think of the Force is both right and wrong."

Anakin didn't really want to debate or argue with them but he knew that he was slowly whittling away at their views of the world, of the galaxy and the Force as a whole. It had all started with him leaving and Anakin did this exactly for this reason.

Among other things.

"Speak more, you must." Yoda was interested in hearing another perspective, not that he was the best person when it came to being tolerant of ideas on the Force outside of the Jedi way. It was because Anakin was so special that he was willing to listen.

That and it seemed like ever since Anakin's decision to leave, their abilities to foresee things was starting to clear up. Yoda wanted to know why exactly this was so, and knew that it wasn't Skywalker's fault for that veil existing as it did.

But it was exactly his leaving that had unraveled whatever this veil was obstructing the Jedi's view. No, his view.

"I think you remember that code back on that planet, right Yoda?" Anakin didn't address Yoda as a master, as he wasn't his teacher, not within the Jedi and he wasn't his 'master' outside of the Order as well.

Anakin was still willing to address Qui-Gon and Mace as master, since they had been the two to help him learn and advance himself. It wasn't like he actually thought of them as his masters, but instead it was sort of a term that he would use to address the two out of a sign of respect.

"Remember hearing, I do." Yoda confirmed that he remembered.

"I remember that as well." Mace was also present but Yaddle was the only one confused within this group. Well, Yaddle and Padme as she hadn't exactly seen through the entirety of Anakin's mind and went through his memories.

"Just as a recap, here I go again." Anakin would then recite the code he had come up within the crystal caves of Ilum. "Flowing through all, there is balance. There is no peace without a passion to create. There is no passion without peace to guide. Knowledge fades without the strength to act. Power blinds without the serenity to see. There is freedom in life. There is purpose in death. The Force is all things and I am the Force."

Anakin finished as he could see Yaddle's and Padme's eyes light eye, especially more so for Padme as she was still mostly new to all of this magic stuff.

"Well, what do you all think about that? It was something that I had discovered and come up with a long time ago, exactly within the caves of Ilum." Anakin continued.

"Now that you put it like that, it does sound pretty appropriate..." Padme said as she nodded her head. She had only ever heard of the Jedi code or the Jedi way when she was stalkin-she means doing some research into Anakin.

"I can see the reasoning behind your code, but..." Mace started before leaving off as he really couldn't find a proper flaw within it and instead it would all come down to preference.

It wasn't like Anakin said there could only be those balanced within the Force as he knows that there will always be extremes within anything that has a scale.

"But?"

"But, I dont like it." Mace responded, not having any other argument.

"And that there is another problem with the Jedi Order. You all think of emotions as something that would get in the way and I know that you mostly refer to negative emotions, but that still doesn't change the principal problem with the Jedi code." Anakin didn't hold back any punches.

"Do you guys not understand the scale of what the Jedi ways could do to a person, especially with no system in place to give council." Anakin continued.

"But, council is usually given by a master..." Yaddle started not quite understanding.

"Again, I dont mean council from someone that you have connected or bonded to but instead a proper therapist. Don't you think that sending the Jedi, even young Jedi into the war is something dangerous and would most likely result in the deaths of those young Jedi or of those that they are trying to protect?"

"Yes, but-" Mace was going to say something only to be interrupted.

"Then there is the whole child taking thing. I dont understand why exactly this is done, even when I know of the reasoning. It comes off as indoctrination, something that only cults would do to young malleable children..." Anakin said another one of his thoughts.

"Ok, Ani. I think that is enough for now. I think they get it." Padme decided to stop Anakin from saying anything more.

"I apologize. I just believe and others would agree that there are too many problems within the Jedi Order. Don't even get me started on the Republic as well..." Anakin left off there because he had another appointment to get to. "Padme can help show you guys around some more. I am going to be showing within the senate today through a holographic meeting."

"Yes, I can show you three the rest of what you want to look at." Padme directed them as Anakin was off into another direction.

[]

"Greetings, people of the senate. I apologize for my tardiness, as I was dealing with something else." Anakin made himself known through the Holographic form he had taken and could see the rest of the senate himself through a screen.

"Yes, we know of your visitors so there is no need to apologize and we completely understand." Palpatine, ever the politician just had to add his own two cents into the situation, not only because he wanted to get a better impression of himself for Anakin but also for the rest of the senate as well.

It does well to take on a kind and caring position for a potential potential ally.

"Now that the Empyrean's Emperor is here, I would like to announce that the discussion as to whether or not we should agree with his deal, begin!" Palpatine said and this got the ball rolling as many a discussion was taking place.

Most of the time there was some deliberation back and forth between various factions. Some that wanted to continue the war effort, while there were those were staunch in their position of the Republic winning with what they had.

Which really wasn't all that much to begin with as the Galactic Republic was made up of somewhat peaceful factions and they would all compete peacefully.

Or, that is at least what they would tell you because there was much more going on both openly and behind the scenes.

Politics was a game, a game in which one had to be quite the manipulator and also had to have the money to pull off some rather impressive stunts.

"What do you mean inconsiderate! The kind Emperor of the Empyrean has decided to lend us his aid, out of the kindness of his heart because he could see that we are starting to lose the war due to the lack of a standing army." A voice called out over the many other voices shouting at each other as this long deliberation was beginning again.

Of course, it wouldn't last so long and a vote would be cast by the end of this day.

"Are you stupid! The Empyrean's Emperor is obviously doing this for more than just helping us out as he will also benefit out of out fighting!" The voice called back.

"That is only natural when it comes to trade deals like this! You cant expect the Emperor to just give us these things for free, with no gain of his own!" It would seem that some people were becoming quite wild thinkers.

Or it was that they always knew about the corruption from within and didn't have to do anything and just sit back and relax.

"Preposterous, I dare you say that directly to the Emperor's face!" More rabbling went on but the gist of the situation was this.

1, Anakin would be sending droids, both combat and medical to help out the Galactic Republic against the CIS.

2, Anakin would be doing so while not breaking the non-aggression pact with the CIS and would not be becoming a part of the Galactic Republic.

3, Anakin would want something in exchange, and the first thing he had brought up was better access to various trade routes throughout the Republic. Something that was most agreeable to those within the Senate.

It wasn't like he hadn't already started dominating the public market through Skywalker Industries.

4, Anakin wanted the planet of Naboo. Some people speculated that this was because of many things, and probably the most important factor was probably Anakin doing this for his wife.

Of course he was, but that wasn't the only reason as having a way to expand from Naboo was great for him. Both politically, economically and through other factors, like increasing his influence and control of the sectors of space surrounding the Empyrean.

5, Anakin did also ask for some small payments when it came to wanting materials. It was only natural with this condition as well, because he would need the materials to cover the costs of production.

6, Anakin wanted control over the planet of Issor. Something that was blocking the way for his expansion, the expansion of the Empyrean and the people here were able to quickly gather upon this information. Thankfully, it would seem it wasn't of much importance to them and Anakin was like an ally, so this went through.

What the Republic wanted in return didn't count as they were desperate. Even Palpatine was desperate at this point as it would seem weird for the CIS to not continue their attack, aggressive or otherwise.

He couldn't order Dooku to keep holding everyone back because sooner or later they would get impatient. He also could afford to keep sending out people from the Republic and it wasn't like they were just going to raise an army out of nowhere.

After a long deliberation, the voting session had finally come.

Everything at this point would be anonymous as this would best mitigate any hate sent anyone's way. Palpatine didn't want too much infighting at a precious moment like this.

"The vote is in favor of the trade agreement." Palpatine's voice was heard as he announced the results.

A few here would believe that the results was completely fair, but most of them knew that the voting system was rigged from the start.

It always has been.