The truth ringing out brings the universe to a stand still. Obi-Wan freezes, staring down at Ezra in the kind of shock that wipes the expression of all feeling. It's Palpatine. Palpatine, the Sith Lord. The man that ruled the Senate, the Republic. The man who has always been outspoken about ending the war, who asked for the Jedi's services as personal protection. The man that Anakin considers his good friend. The shroud behind Dooku and the Separatists — there would never be an end to the war, unless it ended the way Palpatine wanted it to.
And he'd been right in front of them the whole time. Not a single one of them on the Council could notice. Dooku was right, he thinks, bewildered.
"That..." can't be, he thinks, still not quite seeing Ezra as his mind scrambles to put the pieces together. But even as he says it, some intrinsic part of him knows Ezra to be telling the truth. Electing for emergency powers, interfering with the Jedi Council. Obi-Wan takes a sharp breath, sounding like he's been punched in the gut.
Ezra lets out a breath slowly. Master Kenobi is clearly struggling with all the implication, which is more than understandable, but Ezra can feel that the Jedi Master believes him. That's one huge hurdle down.
"I...don't know. Aside from, there's clearly ways for Darksiders to hide what they are, if they bother. Palpatine is smart; he must have planned this all for a long time. He's stayed in power as Emperor my entire life."
His shoulders slump. "People fight back, but if anything the Empire seems to be getting stronger and stronger."
Obi-Wan turns away, giving his back to both Ezra and the troopers near the door who are shifting uncomfortably, despite their professionalism. He covers his mouth with one hand, reaching for the sense of calm he is always trying to achieve. It feels impossible in the moment; both Palpatine and the Clone Army. How could any of them survive such a violent betrayal?
Moreover, he is not second guessing his decision to take Ezra back to Coruscant. If the Chancellor catches wind of him...
This is when the door hisses open and Obi-Wan turns to look up at Cody in full armor but without his helmet. He pauses in the door, as though sensing the tension in the room, but seems to remember himself and nods at Ezra before focusing on Obi-Wan. "General, you're receiving a call from the Jedi Council."
Ezra nods back to Cody and offers a strained smile. His impressions of Cody so far have matched his pretty high expectations, and honestly it just makes the conclusion he'd come to, that in his time Cody had long been ground up in the machinery of the Empire, so much worse.
He can only imagine he's going to meet more and more good people long lost by his time.
"Master," Ezra breaks in. "I'll stay here, go with you, go along with whatever story you come up with. Whatever you think is best. Only - can we even trust the comms?"
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And he'd been right in front of them the whole time. Not a single one of them on the Council could notice. Dooku was right, he thinks, bewildered.
"That..." can't be, he thinks, still not quite seeing Ezra as his mind scrambles to put the pieces together. But even as he says it, some intrinsic part of him knows Ezra to be telling the truth. Electing for emergency powers, interfering with the Jedi Council. Obi-Wan takes a sharp breath, sounding like he's been punched in the gut.
"How could we not notice?"
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"I...don't know. Aside from, there's clearly ways for Darksiders to hide what they are, if they bother. Palpatine is smart; he must have planned this all for a long time. He's stayed in power as Emperor my entire life."
His shoulders slump. "People fight back, but if anything the Empire seems to be getting stronger and stronger."
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Moreover, he is not second guessing his decision to take Ezra back to Coruscant. If the Chancellor catches wind of him...
This is when the door hisses open and Obi-Wan turns to look up at Cody in full armor but without his helmet. He pauses in the door, as though sensing the tension in the room, but seems to remember himself and nods at Ezra before focusing on Obi-Wan. "General, you're receiving a call from the Jedi Council."
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He can only imagine he's going to meet more and more good people long lost by his time.
"Master," Ezra breaks in. "I'll stay here, go with you, go along with whatever story you come up with. Whatever you think is best. Only - can we even trust the comms?"
Is there such a thing as too paranoid?