Patrolling was quite boring, and there was plenty of free time. Naturally, they devoted it to their studies. The Master struggled to teach her how to use the Force Barrier, but the results were unimpressive—even she admitted that. Finally, during one of the training sessions, the Togruta couldn't take it anymore.
"Master, I don't think I can do it… I don't even understand why this is necessary—after all, we can deflect shots with our lightsabers!"
The man froze for a moment, then said:
"Bingo! I think I understand what the problem is. A lack of motivation!"
"Motivation?" Ahsoka asked.
"Exactly." The Jedi activated his comlink. "Tinman, go to the training hall."
When the droid arrived, the Master continued as if nothing unusual had happened.
"Ahsoka, stand here. Give me your lightsabers."
Then Vikt literally stunned her by ordering the droid,
"Tinman, shoot at my palm."
The droid calmly raised the blaster and pulled the trigger. The red bolt flew straight into the man's outstretched palm… and spread across an invisible barrier.
Ahsoka gasped, staring at her own hands, which she had instinctively raised in a defensive gesture.
"It… it seems to have worked…"
The man smiled.
"See? I told you—lack of motivation. Come on, Tinman, shoot again…"
***
As soon as Rayo descended the ramp onto the Senate building's landing pad, she was approached by a delegation of senators led by Lorian Maverick, senator from the planet Salliche.
"Rayo! Are you all right?"
"Senator Maverick! I'm surprised to see you here… But everything is fine, thanks to the brave guards and the Jedi."
"There was a rumor in the Senate that you had died," the woman replied.
"The rumors were not far from the truth. We barely escaped…"
"I am very sorry that your honeymoon was interrupted by such a tragic event. Still, allow me to congratulate you, Senator Cho."
"Thank you," Rayo smiled briefly. "We flew as fast as we could. What's the news in the Senate? Any developments in the war?"
"A major session is scheduled for today; it will begin shortly. It is already known that several regiments of clones will be sent to Pantora, along with additional ships, and a tracking station will be established on Ortho-Plutonia. The Chancellor will even give a speech on this matter. After that, the Jedi will present a report on the results of the last few months."
"Rayo, you need to attend this meeting," Cal Cho said as he approached them. "I'll take care of things here."
"Yes. Let's go," Maverick gestured invitingly toward the speeder.
"All right," the Pantoran replied.
***
The Senate building had been constructed nearly four thousand years ago to replace the old one, which no longer met the needs of politicians. New planets and entire sectors had joined the Republic, and the old building had simply become too small. The new structure was several times larger. Its most significant chamber was the Grand Convocation Chamber, which occupied most of the complex. It was a vast, funnel-shaped space more than a hundred meters high, filled with repulsor platforms—senators' boxes—arrayed along the walls.
Their design had changed: while in the old building they were hexagonal, resembling honeycombs, in the new one they were round. At the center stood a podium occupied by the Supreme Chancellor, the Vice Chair, and the Chief Administrative Advisor. From there, all of the Senate's repulsor platforms could be controlled.
There were over a thousand such platforms in the Convocation Chamber, accommodating all seven and a half thousand senators and delegates. When a senator spoke, their box detached from its wall mount and moved to the center of the chamber so that all could see the speaker. But the Chancellor's platform occupied the most prominent position of all. The speaker was clearly audible, thanks both to advanced audio systems and to the remarkable acoustics of the hall itself.
Palpatine relished the influence his voice exerted over the senators. Although he disliked long speeches—those drawnout, meaningless orations—when the occasion truly called for it…
"…The Jedi claim that they do not allow themselves to feel anger. But I am angry! Angry at those who trample on all laws, at those who exploit this war to plunder and kill with impunity! Now, when all our forces are focused on repelling Separatist aggression, pirates are carrying out increasingly daring attacks. They have nothing to fear—for the Jedi cannot be everywhere. They are consumed by the war, defending the foundations of our great state and democracy itself! The recent attack on Senator Rayo Cho of Pantora has finally convinced me that we must take decisive measures to prevent such incidents in the future. I assure you: we will bring peace to this galaxy, restore order, and live in safety! We will defeat both the CIS and the criminal underworld! This will be my primary goal for as long as I hold this position! Otherwise, all our sacrifices will be in vain—and I will not allow that to happen!"
The hall erupted in thunderous applause.
Certainly, these pirates, without realizing it, have given us an enormous gift—and even the Loyalist Committee has nothing to object to, Palpatine thought with satisfaction.
Meanwhile, the meeting continued according to protocol.
"Silence!" announced Mas Amedda. "The floor is given to Master Mace Windu of the Jedi Order!"
As soon as the Korun began delivering his report to the Senate, Palpatine sank into his own thoughts—though he still listened to the Jedi with half an ear, just in case something of interest arose. At that moment, however, his foremost concerns were his reflections on an entirely different meeting, one that would take place under a veil of secrecy…