Padme and Anaki landed in one of the starports on Coruscant, exiting the Bounty's Burden in their Bounty Hunter disguises. R2 followed, still disguised as a modified R4. Cyrus paid the crew for port costs, refueling, and relevant fees. He even tippeAnakin, My Dear Boyd the ground crew generously and promised them a bigger tip if his ship was treated well.
The tough-looking bounty hunters meandered through the complex streets and alleys of Coruscant until Cyrus was sure no one was following them. They dashed into an alley, and Cyrus revealed a key that unlocked one of the doors in the alley.
"Are you renting this place?" Padme asked.
"Yeah, part of the Jedi undercover operative package. Comes with safe houses and other amenities. You can change in that room, I'll change in the other room. Both rooms have refreshers. When you are done, bring your armor out, and I'll pack it up for you."
"I thought you said I could keep the armor," Padme pouted a little. It was unusual behaviour for her.
"You can, but I need to disguise it so we can get out of here without exposing our other identities.
"Okay." Padmen went to her room to change while Cyrus changed in his room. About thirty minutes later, Cyrus wore a fresh pair of clothes and quickly changed R2 out of his disguise. Returned to his original shell, R2 tweedled happily.
"Let's go to the Temple and report in. I'm sure everyone has missed us," Cyrus led the way. In the Coruscant streets, Cyrus found a porter droid and had him take their luggage to the Jedi Temple. It was raining, and all the trash was washed from the street, drifting toward the special drainage system. Cyrus bought an umbrella for him and Padme to share.
After stopping for dinner in a strange little diner, the two took a droid-driven speeder to the Temple.
"Oh, can we stop at the Senate building? I need to get some paperwork. I'm sure it's piled up, and I can use the time at the Temple to catch up on everything."
Cyrus considered it, "Fine, but let's try not to get seen by anyone. We need to keep our arrival a secret."
"No problem, there's a private entrance to my office, every Senator has one. It's for quietly disappearing when the media is after you," Padme thought this was amusing.
Cyrus understood it probably had other uses, "It figures."
Leading Cyrus to the hidden entrance, "Isn't this the Senate Office Building?" Padme put in her secret code, "Yes, I needed something from this office. It's a headache having an office in two different buildings."
"Isn't this the same building as the Supreme Chancellor's office?" He looked at Padme, who realized something.
"It shouldn't be a problem, we'll get these few things and leave."
"Make it fast," he said.
All three entered the roomy elevator that had a comfortable couch. Sitting on the couch, they waited until they finally reached her office. The hidden elevator didn't ding or open automatically. A screen on the door flipped between cameras within the office. It showed no one present.
"Sometimes, I prefer to rely on technology, rather than Jedi feelings," Padme said.
"Me too," he smiled.
"Stay here, I'll get what I need.
"No, I'll come with you, R2, stay.
The pair walked into the office, Padem turne on a light and sorted through the stacks of tablets.
"Here," Cyrus grabbed everything and shoved it in one bag.
"Hey!" Padme began to protest.
"He's here, you and R2 need to get to the Temple. Hurry!"
Trusting Anakin, Padme took the bag and rushed to the elevator, closing it and descending.
Cyrus turned off the light and walked toward the door, Cyrus opened it as Palpatine was about to knock.
At first surprised, Palpatine showed a look of genuine happiness, "Anakin, my boy, I didn't know you were back."
"We just got back, how are you Chancellor?" Cyrus walked into the hallway and closed the door behind him.
"What are you doing here?" Palpatine gave a puzzled look.
"I came to see you, but I didn't want to cause a fuss. Senator Amidala gave me her passcode."
"Where is Senator Amidala?" Palpatine looked around.
"She went to the Jedi Temple, the Masters called us back," Cyrus sighed wearily.
"You came to see me? Is there something the matter? Is it why the Jedi called you back?"
"I don't know why they called us back, but I came to find you for some advice...do you have time? Cyrus looked worried and he was worried, so it wasn't hard to sell it to Palpatine.
"For you, I always have time. Let's talk in my office," Palpatine placed a hand gently on Cyrus's shoulder.
The two walked quietly together, the Chancellor's guards were space every few feet.
"Has it gotten so bad that you must have so much protection?" Cyrus acted concerned.
Nodding his head, "I have had three attempts on my life this week alone. Last week, someone tried to kidnap me. You have missed out on quite a bit of excietment, but I'm glad you have been able to meet with your little sweet heart again." Palpatine teased Cyrus who acted embarrased.
"It's actually Pad--I mean Senator Amidala that I wanted to talk with you about. And also my mother."
"There's no need to be so formal with me, I know all about Padme and you, or have you forgotten all of conversations we've had about her over the years?"
"No, it's just that I'm expected to be a Jedi all the time. They expect me to be distant from her. It's exhausting," Strangely, Cyrus felt relaxed talking to Palpatine. It felt like he could trust him with his deepest secrets.
"I will never understand how the Jedi cand restrict something as fundamental as love. As you know, I am a widower, but although the loss of my wife hurts, I am glad I was able to be her husband. I also have children, thanks to her, and they are their own joy," Palpatine smiled kindly.
"You never talk about your family," Cyrus perked up.
"I don't like talking to them, it's the expected behaviour of a Chancellor. Unless I want my children dragged into politics, it's better to keep quiet about them."
"Do any of them have political ambitions?" Cyrus asked.
"Oh my no, I am far too wealthy for my children to have ambitions. At least, that's what it feels like." Plapatine was quiet for a few moments as if he became a little sentimental. "But we aren't talking about me, we're talking about you. Tell me what's happened between you and my former queen."
Arriving at the Chancellors doors, a guard opened the doors and closed them when they entered.
"We admitted are feelings for one another," Cyrus confided in the old man.
"Excellent! I knew the two of you were perfect for each other." Palpatine smiled as he sat in his softest sofa chair. Cyrus sat in his typical chair.
"I'm also excited, but it's complicated now. I don't know what I'm going to do, Padme says we should keep it a secret. Otherwise, the Jedi will try to break us apart. I can imagine Master Kenobi's disappointed face."
"Perhaps there is some wisdom in Senator Amidala's suggestion. People in power are often forced to keep many secrets."
"Do you have secrets?" Cyrus curiously watched Palpatine. This conversation had been strangely theruputic. Cyrus could feel that trust and warmth Anakin had toward Palpatine, even love.
Not hesitating at all, "Of course, haha, my boy, no politician is without their secrets, skeletons in the closet. I know you think highly of me, but don't forget, I'm a politician."
Cyrus was surprised by Palpatine. It was like he was openly bragging about being duplicitous and possibly corrupt, while brushing it off like it was only to be excpected. As he was marveling at Palpatine's boldness, he sensed something comeing from a place in the other room. Cyrus popped up from his chair instinctively placing himself between Palpatine and the unannounced visitor.
Activating his lightsaber, he was surprised to see Count Dooku appear! Apparently he was as shocked as Cyrus, while Palpatine smugly smirked. He suddenly acted in a panic, "Anakin, it's the leader of the Sepratists himself! Why are you here villain?"
Raising his guard he protected Palpatine behind him, "Hurry, get your guards in here. I'll hold him off!"
"Be careful," Palpatine began to run, but Dooku shot force lightning toward him hitting the running chancellor in the back. It was too fast for Cyrus to react.
Dooku turned to look at Cyrus, "I've been looking forward to this, for some time, young Jedi." Dooku didn't hesitate and ignited his own curved blade.
The ruby light blazed before Cyrus, "So, you are a Sith!"
It was Dooku who looked surprised once again, "You were suspicious?"
"Yes, I even hired some bounty hunters to follow you and find out. They gathered plenty of evidence against you. There's no where you can hide now, Dooku."
Not wanting to actually cross blades with Dooku, Cyrus acted aggresive but kept his distance.
Cyrus sensed something through the force, and apparently Dooku did as well. He wanted to leave, but that's wheny Cyrus attacked, "No, you can't leave, Dooku!"
Flustered, Dooku tried to dispatch Cyrus as quickly as possible, but then the Chancellor's door opened. Through the door rushed several Jedi, including Master Yoda, Windu, and Kenobi. Others, like Kit Fisto, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Depa Billaba and others.
Kenobi, Windu, and Fisto rushed to help Anakin. This time there weren't any droidekas coming to save him. Through the confusion, Palpatine pretended to be unconscious, but he felt something wasn't right. Master Yoda kept staring at him, his guard was up and he was wary of the chancellor. It was then that Palpatine knew, the Jedi discovered his secret.
Palpatine leapt from the floor brandishing his gold lightsaber and activating it with a snap-hiss. He immediately sliced through Ki-Adi-Mundi, who had his back to him. He died not knowing why he felt the scorching heat of the blade.
Not slowing down, Palpatine shot force lightning at other Jedi, clearing a path. Although Master Yod had been wary of Palpatine, the man moved too fast. He used the flailing Jedi to aid in his escape. Running between and around them, Yoda was unable to throw his lightsaber. However, he was able to knock the Chancellors lightsaber out of his hand.
Palpatine wasn't his biggest concern, he checked each of the Jedi. To the others he gave them a command, "Help remove Dooku, you will."
The remaining Council members rushed in, Anakin sensing the masters moved out of the battle circle.
"Where's Palpatinve?" Cyrus asked.
"Escaped he has," Yoda answers.
"Like hell," Anakin went to Palpatine's desk and found the communicator. "Captain of the Guard, this is Jedi Anakin Skywalker. The Chancellor has been assassinated by the Clawdite bounty hunter Zam Wessle.
The assassin is still disguised as the chancellor, it's very complicated. We are fighting Count Dooku, dispatch your men and run that changling into the ground!" Anakin listened for a minute, "Don't bother catching it alive! It killed the chancellor." The Captain asked other questions, "The guards here are all dead, stop asking me questions and get the assassin!" Anakin decisively cut off the communication.
Master Yoda gave a surprised and concerned look at Anakin who merely shrugged, "What can I do, you're the ones who couldn't keep one Sith Lord in the room. I've been chatting with him for fifteen minutes waiting for someone to come and save me."
Dooku heard Anakin's remarks and they stunned him enough to cause him to pause his defense, which cost him his head.
An hour later, the Captain of the Senate Guard brought a body on a stretcher into the room. He uncovered the head and it was Palpatine.
"I thought you said this was a clawdite, they typically change back to their original form when they're killed," The Captain looked at Anakin.
"Weird, Dooku must have fixed its changling abilities, it's happened before. Thank you, Captain, some Jedi will interview about this. You can expect a great reward and special commendations, you have avenged our beloved Chancellor. Even more, you've avenged a many I always thought of as a father." Anakin turned away to sell his emotional turmoil. The Guard Captain knew he and the Chancellor were close. He had seen Anakin visiting the Chancellor every so often since he was a child.
"I am sorry for your loss, you have our full cooperation."
"Captain, thank you we do, leave you may," Yoda walked toward Anakin.
"Much explained you have," Yoda studied Anakin.
"I know," Cyrus looked down toward the ground. Inside, Cyrus was exhaling a huge sigh of relief.