Padme's POV

I knew Anakin didn't want me to. I knew it was what he feared; but the Senate was only so wide, and word spread fast. I couldn't keep something so important from them. Before I knew it, the entire Galactic Republic was aware of Kyla's wellbeing and what she planned to do: overthrow the Republic and transform it into her own Galactic Empire.

As much as the Senate tried discussing the ordeal, we couldn't find a solution. The Order was still searching for her, sending recruits to almost every planet in the galaxy that was in realm. They proposed that if she were seeking refuge, she would most likely do so on a planet mostly inhabited by nonhumans, looking for allies to the Dark Side of the Force. They insisted we continue searching, as a Galactic Empire would mean a great threat to the entire galaxy.

In fact, not only are we determined to locate her, we are afraid. As Obi-Wan told Anakin before, she herself is an extreme threat, and harnesses a great power - something the Republic cannot risk going against. Since the death of Chancellor Palpatine, the Senate has elected Mon Mothma as Supreme Chancellor, and I personally believe she does the job well. As Supreme Chancellor, she suggested we let the Order deal with whatever problems are to occur until they drag the Senate into it.

Obi-Wan came into the Senate Building to discuss important matters with the Senate while I was not there. From what I heard through Bail Organa, Obi-Wan came to talk about what could come of her Empire if she were to establish one. Surely, he had said, it would be a firm dictatorship, and she would most likely be on the lookout for an apprentice to mirror her behavior in her Empire. Obi-Wan warned us to protect the Senate any way we could, as she could attack whenever she reigned her Empire appropriately.

He made sure to include that she was violent, young, and harbored by aggressive negotiations - the Senate wouldn't be able to negotiate with her. She was brutal, as he stated, and wasn't going to be bias towards her. He was going to be upfront, which he was to the Senate while I was absent. He wanted to have the Order do something quietly, discreetly, without the entire galaxy being notified and going into shock, and/or paranoia. He didn't want to send the galaxy into lockdown in fear they would rebel, which would be very bad - Kyla wouldn't take to it lightly and would probably destroy every planet threatening to rebel, if her Empire was successful.

He also made sure to mention that the Clone army established by the dead Jango Fett was slowly beginning to disappear. The Order was trying to settle these matters, but Obi-Wan told the senate that The Jedi Order was afraid Kyla was seizing them on her refuged planet under her control. "She has that kind of power," he had said, "to trick them into working for the enemy. They are mindless human beings, those who will respect any order given to them by anyone they believe has correct authority over them."

The Republic is working immediately to try and locate the missing Clones, but over three thousand have gone missing already, something that is not dealt with easily. If they haven't been located already, there might be no hope in ever finding them.

The Galactic Senate also fears that if Kyla is using the Clone army for her own benefit as an army of her new Sith formation, she could potentially overthrow the Republic in actuality. Before, she was lonesome, unable of gaining authority by herself - but now, with a powerful army of Clones, the Republic fears she might now be capable.

I tried speaking to Anakin about what he thinks the Republic should do under these circumstances of fear. "Jedi do not show fear," he replied coldly, "and I don't think the Senate should be reacting to these matters too quickly. Let the Jedi deal with it. The Order will do what they can."

"But the situation already involves the Senate," I argued to Anakin, "we have to act impending on the worsening situation. If she plans on harnesses this army to overthrow the Republic's already established government, replacing it with a dictatorship with herself as Emperor, we have to act on it. We have to protect ourselves and our people."

Anakin said nothing after that, and instead went to check on our children. Later, I confronted him about Kyla's supposed Empire again. This time, to make it seem more believable, I mentioned our children - if Kyla is successful with her Empire, our children will be living in a galaxy reigned under a violent government. A dictatorship.

"Is that what you want? For our children to be forced into living a life of fear? They would be unsafe, unprotected... always in harm of having their home destroyed, everything they've ever known... It's not safe, Anakin. Which is why I'm glad everyone is acting upon it!"

"Of course I don't want Luke and Leia living under a dictatorship, but for right now, I don't advise that the Senate looks into the matters already. The Jedi Order still hasn't even located her, Padmé, and until then, I think we're ultimately safe." Anakin always found a way out of every conversation he disliked. Personally, I feel as though he still feels something, a connection to Kyla... not in the way that he wants to become her ally, in the way that he thinks he can save her. And to me, that is nonsense. He can't do anything anymore... but of course I can't tell him that.

I have to let Anakin believe there is still hope for Kyla, though the rest of the galaxy thinks otherwise. If, perhaps, Anakin were to help the Order locate her and set her under arrest, everything would be fine from his point of view - but I feel that as long as Kyla is missing, Anakin will be distraught, feeling guilty and responsible for this mess.

Narrator's POV

Just like the last time Obi-Wan Kenobi made a visit to the 'planet of storms' called Kamino, it was pouring rain once more - the planet was luminous, dark, and stormy, and the waves surrounding the platforms were bounding atop one another, a blanket of harsh water and loud noises.

Obi-Wan pulls back on the handles to lower his Starfighter to the main capital of this planet, Tipoca City. Kamino was a planet inhabited by tall, alien-like elegant beings called Kaminoans, known for their cloning technology. They barely showed emotion, but seemed happy at Obi-Wan's arrival.

The Prime Minister greets Obi-Wan at the shuttle entrance of the Main Capital Building, near where they harvested and grew the Clone army.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi," the Prime Minister says peacefully as Obi-Wan strides into the building, removing the hood of his soaked cloak and bowing slightly before the Kaminoan. "What a nice surprise to see you again. We knew you would be back."

"Most certainly," pipes Obi-Wan, brushing excess water off his tunic. "I came briefly, to see your still-developing Clone army. The Republic recommended I stop by, to see how it is progressing. There have been... er, disappearances?"

The Prime Minister turns from Obi-Wan and motions for him to follow. Obi-Wan does as directed, and as he follows him down the long, air-soft hallway, the Prime Minister speaks.

"Hmm... yes. As mysterious as the occurrences may be, we think we might know where our Clones are."

At this, Obi-Wan perks up. "And where might this be?"

"Hostages," hums the Prime Minister, "on a planet called Hoth."

"The ice planet," Obi-Wan states matter-of-factly.

The Kaminoan nods as they enter the same room Obi-Wan first saw a few years ago when he discovered this astray planet. The room of the growing Clones - an army that was once ginormous, now an army with thousands less than before. It was odd seeing all the empty space where Clones should be - and now there is knowledge as to where they are.

"Why would they be on Hoth?" asks a curious Obi-Wan, staring down at the army through thick glass. It was incredible, all these clones - if ever turned against the Republic, they would mean incredible harm and threat.

"As I said, hostages. The missing Sith, as we've heard, is using them to rebel against the Republic."

"And - why hasn't anyone gone to retrieve the Clones? Arrest the new Sith?"

The Kaminoan turns and saddens his gaze upon Obi-Wan, gently sighing. "We Kaminoans are of peace, not harm. We have yet to notify the Republic of our discovery, as it might be too dangerous."

"Somebody must go to Hoth and retrieve the army. Surely there must be something we can do."

"I'm afraid not," says the Prime Minister, leading Obi-Wan out of the viewing hallway and into a main section of the circular building. "The Clones are preparing themselves for war."

"War?" Obi-Wan's heart skipped a beat. How could she manipulate them to go to war? This couldn't be good...

"Against the Republic, that is. The Senate has the Kaminoans' permission to use the remaining Clones as the Republic's new army - but half of them are being used to the young Sith's preference."

"How long have you known about this?"

"Not long. Since the first thousand Clones have disappeared, that is. I'd advise you prepare the remaining army for war, as it could be a surprise ambush."

"And you didn't think to warn the Republic ahead of time?"

"No," replies the Kaminoan, walking back to where they first entered, "Not yet. But we're afraid a war could reign soon enough. A war against the Republic, against the Jedi. Prepare your army dutifully, as they will be going against their own kind - more than half is for the Sith."

Obi-Wan was now speechless. The Kaminoans knew where their army was - being used for war preparations on Hoth!

Respectively, Obi-Wan wishes luck and thanks to the Prime Minister before heading back out in the storm again to climb in his Starfighter and head back to Coruscant. All the while, he couldn't think straight. There was so much, too much he had to warn the Council of - but not only the Council, the Jedi Order and the entire Republic. The Republic was in danger, and he didn't know how much time they had. The Order needed to abort the mission to search for Kyla and the army, as they were discovered already. Hoth... the ice planet. Going to war with the Republic, the Jedi, the remaining Clones...

Kyla had taken full advantage of the Clones, and was going to send them to war with the Republic. More than half of the army, under her subconscious Sith powers and authority. Do the Jedi stand a chance? Obi-Wan couldn't let himself think they would fail. They would be under ambush soon enough...

And as much as he hated to think of it, this could be the beginning to Kyla's Galactic Empire.