The rebellion had fully returned to Coruscant. Padmé had contacted the Queen of Naboo, and just as she had expected, the Queen hadn't hesitated to join her; after all, they had already discussed it on Naboo. Even the Gungans were in agreement.
Everything had been prepared on Alderaan; the moment had finally arrived.
The Jedi had also returned to Coruscant. Each had gathered their squads, carefully selecting only those soldiers whose clone chips had been removed. Unfortunately, it was a little less than half of the troops. The Jedi deeply regretted not being able to bring everyone from their squads; they were their brothers, their friends. But the rebellion had to begin. In battle, they would try not to seriously injure them so they could be sent to Kamino and have their clone chips removed. There would be other ways to recover the clones as well.
Only two squads had been fully recovered: the 501st and Obi-Wan's squad. Both squadrons were on Naboo, awaiting instructions from their generals.
Many Jedi cruisers had been taken to the Outer Rim; they belonged to the Republic, but they could keep some without being noticed.
The Republic or the Empire had a much greater military capacity. They had destroyed a large part of the factories, but some remained. However, now that they would no longer be working in the shadows, they could access the military might of all the planets that had joined the Rebellion, and if negotiations went well, perhaps they could even ally themselves with some Separatist planets.
Bail Organa and Satine had been tasked with organizing an emergency meeting with the Senate.
Padmé was with Palpatine for the last time. Anakin had refused to allow it, but Padmé had promised it would be the last time.
"Senator Amidala," Palpatine said, observing her seriously, "Will you explain why you haven't contacted me in a week?"
"I was following your orders, my lord," Padmé smiled defiantly.
"I suppose the meeting Bail Organa has called is to discuss this," the chancellor smiled.
"Of course, my lord," Padmé said. "If you'll excuse me, I must take my leave." She wanted to leave quickly.
"Just hope you remember that we must not betray our allies," the chancellor said, and Padmé closed her eyes as Palpatine's power once again descended upon her, though less intensely than before.
"I will remember, my lord," Padmé said, leaving the room.
Anakin awaited her with their children in the box from which she would speak. Satine was also there, along with Bail Organa and Mon Mothma.
"Angel, are you alright?" Anakin asked, seeing her tired face.
"I'm fine," Padmé smiled, and Anakin clenched his fists in anger, knowing she was lying.
"He hurt you, didn't he?" he demanded furiously.
"It was the last time, Ani. You need to calm down," Padmé pleaded, and after a superhuman effort, Anakin managed to compose himself. How he would enjoy it when he could finally kill him.
"Everything is ready, Padmé. The Republic will try to stop us, but the ships are waiting for us," Mon Mothma said.
At that very moment, the Jedi Temple was being evacuated. The Council watched with longing, but they would return, stronger than ever. It was only temporary, Master Yoda thought, closing his eyes as the temple doors closed.
"We must be prepared," Mace Windu said, looking at Mara.
"Yes, Master," Mara said, walking toward one of the ships that would rescue the senators if they were attacked. Ahsoka was already at the Senate waiting with another of the ships. Ayla Secura, Luminara Undulli, Kit Fisto, and others were also there.
The Chancellor began the meeting with a huge smile. Finally, Bail Organa would stop pressuring for peace, all thanks to his new ally. Perhaps he had been too harsh with her that afternoon.
"Senator Amidala, you have the floor," the Chancellor said, smiling.
Padmé stepped toward him. She felt Bail Organa's hand take hers, encouraging her, and she took a deep breath.
"My name, Chancellor, is no longer Senator Amidala," she said, looking him directly in the eyes when she saw the man's confusion. "I will adopt my husband's surname. From now on, my name is Senator Skywalker," Padmé said as the murmurs of those who didn't yet know arose.
"That's certainly a surprise, Senator," the Chancellor said, confused. It was presumptuous. How could she expose herself like that? He would certainly pay for that, Palpatine thought, until he saw Anakin and two Jedi watching him from the balcony. What was this?
"I thought Jedi were forbidden from marrying," said a senator who supported Palpatine, and voices against Padmé rose up.
"Jedi no longer forbid attachment," Padmé smiled, observing the chancellor's surprised expression.
"I haven't been informed of this," said the Chancellor. "Have the Jedi decided to withhold secrets from the Republic?" he asked, sensing several voices rising in his favor. Was this his ally's plan? She should have consulted him first.
"No, Chancellor," Padmé smiled. "You have deceived us all, but the secrets are over," she said, and Palpatine glared at her.
"Speak clearly, Senator Skywalker," said a confused senator, calling her by her new surname.
"The Jedi have fought bravely in the war against the Separatists, but they are not our true enemies," Padmé said, and angry shouts could be heard. She had expected this. "Chancellor Palpatine is."
"But what are you saying, Senator?" Palpatine attacked. "What kind of betrayal is this?"
"I regret betraying you, my lord," Padmé smiled cynically. "I've spent months pretending to be your ally, months creating false treaties," she said, looking at Satine with a knowing smile. "All to have the truth in my hands, no matter the price to pay." Padmé smiled as Sidious's face contorted with pure rage.
"Traitor!" some shouted. "She's allied with the Separatists!" others yelled.
"Here's the proof," said Bail Organa, who, without authorization, had already begun playing the recording in which Palpatine admitted to being Lord Sidious.
The audience fell into complete silence. Lord Sidious torturing the pregnant senator, Lord Sidious who was, in reality, Palpatine.
"I was willing to pay that price," Padmé said, raising her voice above the silence, "because we have been deceived, because this man has deceived us and deceived the Separatists, all for the creation of a galactic empire dominated by the dark side."
"Padmé," Lord Sidious growled furiously, seeing all the faces on her face. It was a clear threat.
"The Sith are our true enemy. Lord Sidious is the one controlling Count Dooku. The Separatists have been deceived, just like us, and we have enough proof to know that they will be destroyed when this man comes to power," Padmé said. This message wasn't just for the Republic senators; it was also for the Separatists.
"The Separatists are our enemies. It's better to be ruled by a leader with unlimited power," said a senator loyal to Palpatine. Many agreed, but they wouldn't surrender.
The senators belonging to the rebellion advanced to one side of Padmé; there were several dozen of them.
"We will not fight against the separatists," Padmé said firmly. "We will fight against our true enemy, and we are prepared to welcome anyone who wishes to join our rebellion."
After a few seconds of complete silence, several dozen more senators advanced toward Padmé, but more than half remained loyal to Palpatine. Leia and Luke had already warned her that many planets supported the Empire out of fear or for economic security. The leaders of the Trade Federation were completely silent.
"The rebellion begins today," Padmé said, smiling defiantly at Palpatine.
Palpatine's anger could be felt throughout the Senate. The mask had fallen. Anakin felt the power of the dark side surge. Palpatine looked at the one he had considered his ally, the damned, stupid girl who had been able to deceive him. She would not live to organize her stupid rebellion.
Senator Organa grabbed Padmé and quickly shielded her with his body as Palpatine's Force lightning blasts were aimed at her, but they missed.
Padmé opened her eyes only to see Anakin stopping him.
"Will the Jedi also betray the Republic, Anakin?" the Chancellor asked. "I trusted you, boy," he said, feigning betrayal. They had to believe he still wanted what was best for the Republic.
"The Jedi will never join the dark side, Darth Sidious," Anakin said defiantly.
"So be it," he smiled. "Arrest them!" he shouted, and hundreds of troops were heard arriving at the scene.
"We must get out of here," Mon Mothma said, and Padmé gave the order to her allies.
Palpatine continued trying to harm Padmé, but Anakin leaped toward him, wounding his defenders.
"So be it, Skywalker," said the chancellor, drawing his two crimson lightsabers.
"You will pay for what you did to my wife," Anakin said, attacking him furiously. It was only a distraction; he wouldn't win, not yet, not with hundreds of troops coming for him. As much as he wanted to finish him off, he had to hold back until the right moment.
They began to fight. Palpatine's power was impressive, but Anakin Skywalker was one of the most powerful Jedi, the Chosen One. Fearfully, the Chancellor realized he had the strength to kill him; he had to distract him. He attacked Padmé as she ran, and Anakin leaped to his wife's side to protect her. Anakin glanced around at the other Jedi present—Obi-Wan, Mace Windu, Mara, Luke, and Leia—protecting the senators. He couldn't put them at risk now; he would have another opportunity later to kill Palpatine.
They fled the area quickly, pursued by hundreds of soldiers.
"Execute Order 66!" echoed throughout the Senate, and the clones immediately began attacking the Jedi.
However, many of the senators knew how to fight, so even Padmé began firing at the now-enemies.
They managed to escape with minimal losses. Padmé remained by Anakin's side, along with their children. Only they remained; everyone else was already safe.
"This way, Master!" Ahsoka shouted, positioning herself beside her master and running toward Han's ship, which was waiting for them.
"We're in a bit of a hurry," Han shouted.
"It's done," Padmé said, boarding the ship.
They fled quickly, joining the other ships at lightspeed.
Mace Windu had boarded the ship along with Mon Mothma and Bail Organa; the rest of the senators had fled to the star cruisers escorted by the Jedi.
Obi-Wan and Satine were also on the Millennium Falcon. Mara had run to embrace Luke. Ahsoka had made sure Luke boarded one of the ships safely. Leia was sitting behind Han, indicating the coordinates of the other ships.
"Are you alright, angel?" Anakin asked, embracing his wife. He had almost lost her.
"Thanks to you," Padmé smiled, kissing him. "It's done, Ani."
"I could have killed him. I should have," Anakin said, feeling guilty.
"Remember, a Jedi shouldn't be concerned with personal desires," Obi-Wan reminded him. "What you did today was what you had to do. You protected Padmé, you protected the rest of the senators. If you had stayed, they would have killed you. They executed Order 66. We are officially fugitives," Obi-Wan said.
"Do you think today's message will reach the Separatists?" Luke asked his father.
"It will reach the entire galaxy. We will have new enemies and new allies," Anakin said, and Obi-Wan nodded.
"However, now we fight our true enemy," Padmé said, looking up at the stars. Several ships were beside her, carrying her allies. They had all officially abandoned the Republic. Now a new chapter was beginning.
"What are the coordinates, Lady Skywalker?" asked one of the admirals loyal to the Rebellion, who was commanding one of the cruisers.
"Dantooine," Padmé smiled. "That's where they would build the Rebellion's bases."
"Dantooine." The order was issued to all ships, and the rebellion marched toward Dantooine.
The Senate was in chaos, which Palpatine quickly quelled through fear and the power he offered to his loyal followers.
Padmé took Anakin's hand, and together they set sail for their new destiny.