A Long Time Ago, In a Galaxy Far Away

Chapter 128

The Galaxies Opera, as Luna finally learned the Opera House was named, was a large and expensively decorated building. Being that Luna had never been to an opera house before, or anything to do with theater really, save for the auditoriums in the numerous schools she had attended, that fact was rather surprising to her. She noticed some viewscreens with images on them on the walls as Anakin lead her through the halls, which he explained were advertisements for the Mon Calamari ballet that was apparently having its opening show tonight.

A Mon Calamari ballet was literally the last thing Luna would have expected Palpatine to be attending, although it would explain why it looked like the performers of the show were swimming in water in zero-gravity during the movie scene, because they actually were.

It was rather unfortunate in Luna's opinion. She wouldn't have minded actually watching the ballet.

Eventually Luna and Anakin came within sight of two Red Guards that flanked the door to what Luna could only assume was the Chancellor's private box. Anakin didn't even need to speak as they came up, one guard mentioning that they were expected and, thankfully either ignoring Luna's presence or assuming that she had been summoned with Anakin, opened the door for them.

The box was smaller than Luna had imagined, and more circular than square as she had believed. The number of seats was the same, as was the seat's occupants and the view that not only overlooked the ballet, but also a sea of extremely well dressed beings in boxes of their own.

Luna subconsciously found herself almost hiding behind Anakin as they neared the Sith and had to force herself to move so she was more beside the Jedi rather than directly behind. She noticed the enormous water bubbles and had to force herself to look away so she would stay aware of the conversation that was soon to follow.

"Chancellor, you asked for me?" Anakin asked as he came forward. Luna was half tempted to fall back behind him and pretend that she had the power of invisibility.

Palpatine turned towards them, his face lighting up upon seeing Anakin before falling away as he noticed Luna. It was only a flash before the falsified happiness was back, but Luna saw the momentary appearance of anger and hate all the same. Her hair stood on end as she began to seriously reconsider her choice to come. Was it really that bad of an idea to wait in the speeder?

"Oh yes, Anakin! Come in, my boy, come in. And I see you've brought Luna, isn't this a pleasant surprise!"

It was relatively easy for Luna to translate Palpatine's last statement into What is she doing here?

"Come closer, I have good news," Palpatine said in a low voice. Anakin quickly went to his side, crouching down beside the chair as the man looked back at the ballet. Luna followed far more hesitantly. "Clone Intelligence has discovered the location of General Grievous. He is hiding in the Utapau system."

"That wonderful!" Anakin said, his voice carrying a good measure of joy despite his low tone. "We'll be able to capture that monster and end this war."

"I would worry about the collective wisdom of the Council if they didn't select you for this assignment. You're the best choice by far. Your gifts are wasted on Coruscant—you should be out in the field. You can attend Council meets by holoconfrence and send me reports."

"Thank you, sir, but the Council coordinates Jedi assignments. As I have already mentioned, Obi-Wan has been assigned to find Grievous."

Luna was grateful that Anakin's response wasn't just agreement, but she could tell that he would love an assignment off planet to escape all the craziness that he had been drawn into.

"To find him, yes. But you are the best man to apprehend him—though of course the Jedi Council cannot always be trusted to do the right thing," Palpatine told him.