The Grand Army

Ten long years had passed since the liberation of Naboo, and Lelouch was finding it hard to contain the extreme annoyance he felt within him. 

As he approached the Chancellor's chambers, the doors suddenly slid open, revealing a formidable assembly of Jedi Masters. Their presence was a stark reminder of the bureaucratic and mystical obstacles that stood in his way. The Jedi, once mere obstacles, had become a focal point for his ambitions and frustrations. 

'Hard to find something that gives a better jump start to a Sith's heart that.' Lelouch thought to himself. 

"Master Yoda, Master Windu, Jedi Masters... forgive me if I am not familiar with many of your names." 

"Slow down... You should..." 

"Work so much... You shouldn't..." the old Master continued, his words underscored by the wisdom of countless years. 

"Master Yoda is correct. Your dedication is admirable, but you are still young, and your father has everything under control. It would be a waste to burn yourself out unnecessarily," Master Windu interjected, his voice tinged with an uncharacteristic note of concern. The Jedi Masters around him exchanged glances, a silent questioning of the intent of Windu's words. 

To say Lelouch was well liked would be an understatement. The now young man, made friends everywhere he went, and he had garnered respect for dealing even with the most troublesome of characters... and this had long since worried Mace Windu. 

"The son of the chancellor, so this is the so-called White Prince of the Republic." 

At 24 years old, Lelouch had become a striking figure of remarkable elegance. His chiseled features and slender build were accentuated by the white garments he favored, which contrasted sharply with his inky black hair. His unique, almost hypnotic purple eyes drew admiring glances wherever he went, ensuring that he was never without a cadre of admirers. 

Later this earned him the title of White Prince of the Republic. While it did serve him well on more than a few occasions and it would serve him even better later, he was still tempted to fry the ones who came up with it. 

"Please, simply Lelouch is enough. I can't even go for a walk without someone pointing anymore. If you'll excuse, i really can't afford to miss this meeting." 

As Lelouch excused himself within the confines of the chancellor's office, Mace spared one final glance at the young man. 

"Troubled... you are..." 

Master Windu deliberated on that for a moment before he spoke to the Jedi Masters as they continued walking. 

"He is a shatterpoint. Tattering on the edge. I deliberately prepared to attack once, the moment my hand touched the lightsaber the shatterpoint reacted dangerously. It was unclear but the consequences would be catastrophic... however no matter how i approach it other than hostile, it never falls to the complete opposite. It merely stays where it is, as if on the edge. I can't pull it away, the best i can hope for is for it to stay where it is and not tip it over." 

"Meditate on this... we should... solve everything... violence cannot..." 

"Trivial matter... it is not..." - The old Jedi Master said as he slowly made his way outside followed by the others. 

"Senator Amidala, I hope you have been well." 

Amidala turned around and smiled lightly. 

"Thanks to your exploits, our work can still be salvaged. The loyalists are losing ground and allies, but your actions have mitigated that somewhat." 

Palpatine gave him a nod and a smile that he returned in kind before moving to stand on his side. 

"Ah, almost forgot, since you missed our Jedi friends, Anakin and his master will be returning shortly to serve as the Senator's bodyguards. I would like for you to accompany them during their travel and make sure they want for nothing." 

"Of course, father. Master Obi Wan Kenobi and Ani have gone above and beyond for Naboo. It's the least I could do." 

The meaning was not lost to Anakin. Separate the Master from the apprentice and make sure Anakin stayed with the Senator. 

--------------------- 

*HISS* 

"...Mesa tell you Queen so happy to..." Anakin heard as the doors opened to reveal Jar Jar speaking with a tall young man, excluding elegance, dressed in white, with black hair and striking violet eyes. 

As he turned to look at Anakin he smiled. 

"Nice to see you again Anakin. It has been quite a while... you too, Master Obi Wan." 

"Obi? OBI!!!" Jar Jar exclaimed as he trotted towards the Jedi Knight. 

"Hello Lelouch. It's really good to see you." 

As he saw Jar Jar smothering Obi Wans attention, Lelouch placed a hand on Anakin's shoulder and smiled. 

"Now now, don't show your disappointment so openly that I'm not a certain female Senator of Naboo." 

The look on Anakin's eyes, the sweat on his palms as he tried his best to wipe them quickly and the blush on his face was all that was needed. 

Before he could try and make any stupid attempts at an excuse, Lelouch interrupted. 

"She's inside. I will keep your master for a few minutes. Thats the most I can do." 

"... Thank you." Anakin said as numerous thought and looks passed him in a flash. 

As Kenobi sidestepped Jar Jar, he came face to face with Lelouch. 

"Master Kenobi, I understand there are some new arrangements to our schedule I should be made aware of." 

"...Indeed. I have been tasked with overseeing your security as well. Master Windu has put forth the concern that since you would be traveling with us, the likelihood that we will be targeted by more parties or more than one party is increased." 

"I see. I have many people with connections to unsavory individuals and organization from mid-rim and beyond." 

The questioning look Kenobi threw him was immediate 

"A necessity when your duties take you there. I need to know of potential groups or individuals who... well… don't really want me to stick my nose in their business." 

"I understand." 

"I doubt it Master Kenobi… I highly doubt it… but that's okay." Lelouch said as he leveled Kenobi a blank look. 

"You remind me of a certain individual I met in my travels Master Kenobi... his dedication shone just as bright as yours. Do you mind if I ask you the same question, I once asked him?" Lelouch asked him, the same blank look on his face. 

Kenobi could see it. The young man before him was reliving that previous moment. For him, Kenobi might as well not be there... but he answered nonetheless. He was also curious of this character. 

"Ask away." 

Lelouch stared into Kenobi's eyes, into his very soul as he asked his question. 

"What do you do when there is an evil you can't defeat by just means? Do you stain your hands with evil to destroy the greater evil, or do you remain steadfastly just & righteous even if it means surrendering to evil?" 

Kenobi stared back hard at the young man. He could see the undeniable underlying smirk on his face. 

"I choose justice and righteousness." 

He could swear he heard a scoff from Lelouch. 

"Just two peas in the pod. He answered just the same. I am willing to bet that the entire Jedi order would answer just the same. Do you want to know what happened to him Master Kenobi?" 

Lelouch continued without waiting for his input. 

"He lived a long and happy life... or at least so I presume, he certainly survived the conflict and settled down by the time I left." 

Now that surprised Kenobi. He was expecting some unfortunate end, or something of the sort. He eyed Lelouch questioningly as the young man revealed a patronizing smile. 

"Others stepped up where he couldn't... where he wouldn't... His happy life was built upon the corpses of the ones willing to make the sacrifice he wasn't. Willing to taint their very souls with evil so others wouldn't have to, but someone of his devotion..." of your devotion went unsaid. "I'm sure he doesn't even really bother to think such things in detail... Ignorance really is bliss." 

Kenobi's eyes widened and his heart nearly stilled at the underlying message in those words. 

It wasn't long before Jar Jar returned, breaking the silence between the two men and leaving together with Lelouch. 

--------------------- 

It was the next day that Kenobi was leaving the Jedi Temple, that he saw Lelouch waiting at the end of the stairs with a smile in his face. 

"Master Kenobi." 

"It is not safe for you to be outside in the open at this time." 

"Ah yes, I heard about Padme's unfortunate encounter. Thankfully i have a fully qualified Jedi bodyguard near me. Though after hearing about her, a beardie told me you are currently missing a planet." 

Kenobi's eyes widened at that. 

"Am I to assume you have information regarding it?" 

"I have information regarding the inhabitants, and glad to say, you'll have to take me with you." 

Kenobi leveled a stare at him. 

"I beg your pardon?" 

"The Kaminoans are famous for being very tight lipped unless you have money, power or both. The Jedi influence was not what it was 100 years ago. And any funds they can allote to your investigation are... well... no need to poke where it hurts." Lelouch said as he gave Kenobi a glance from head to toe. 

Kenobi looked down at his robes before looking Lelouch up and down. 

He had to hold back a sigh, as next to him, he did have the look of a beggar, and the quality was painfully visible even at a distance. 

He also had to concede that Lelouch wielded political power second only to the chancellor himself but as for financial power... 

"I never heard of politics paying well..." Kenobi probed. 

"Money is the lowest type of currency within the senate. Officially I have pebbles to my name. Unofficially, I could fund a fleet and an army. I hold so many favors in my pockets, many would love to pay it back to me in credits." 

"... Ah... I see... let us take our leave then..." 

--------------------- 

Lelouch and Kenobi approached the planet as the cruiser made to land. 

"I still can't believe you were able to convince them to lend you a fully manned Consular-class light cruiser for our investigation." 

"As I said, I have many favors, and unlike you, I have no space magic to guarantee my head stays on my shoulders, so brute strength should be enough to compensate." 

As they made landfall, a Kaminoan was quick to approach them. 

"Master Jedis, the prime minister is expecting you." 

Lelouch and Kenobi shared a look. 

"We are expected?" 

"Of course. He is anxious to meet you. After all these years... we were beginning to think you weren't coming. Now please, this way." 

They slowly made their way towards the meeting room, coming face to face with the Kaminoan prime minister. 

He stood up to greet them as their escort introduced them. 

"May I present Lama Su, prime minister of Kamino." 

"And this is Master Jedi..." 

"Obi-Wan Kenobi and Lelouch Palpatine." 

"I trust you are going to enjoy your stay... please" he gestured toward two seats that lowered from the ceiling. 

"And now to business... You will be delighted to hear that we are on schedule. 200,000 units are ready with a million more well on their way." 

"Thats... good news." Kenobi said as he shared a look with Lelouch who was looking at him questiongly. 

"Please tell your master Sifo-Dyas... that his order will be met on time." 

"I'm sorry. Master..." 

"Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas is still a leading member of the Jedi Council, is he not?" 

"Master Sifo-Dyas was killed almost ten years ago." 

"Oh... I'm so sorry to hear that, but I'm sure he would have been proud of the army we've built for him." 

"The army?" 

"Yes, a clone army, and I must say... one of the finest we've ever created." 

"Tell me prime minister, when my master first contacted you about the army... d-did he say who it was for?" 

It wasn't Lama Su who answered but Lelouch. 

"For the republic... am I right?" 

"Indeed... but you must be anxious to inspect the units for yourself." 

"That's why we're here." Kenobi continued. 

As they approached an observation deck, Kenobi's mind was focused on Jango Fett, and the numerous possibilities on what had exactly transpired, both known and unknown. 

But Lelouch had no need to dwell on it. While Sidious may have been stingy with details, as allowing a monstrously powerful Sith capable of bending minds to his will anywhere near his most important chess pieces was the height of foolishness, even more so if said Sith was his own apprentice... it was not hard for him to assume what had gone down. 

Stopping on the observation deck, Kenobi's mind was clouded with possibilities, unable to catch the wide smile on Lelouch's face. 

'You have been searching for it high and low for years now, boy, and it only cost you some years of your life, millions in credits, billions in resources and favors, and one award winning blind Jedi.' The voice in his head cackled together with Lelouch in his mind as his eyes flashed a deep yellow.