Governments

[padmeofnaboo.livejournal.com]

Padme stood at the front of the classroom and waited until everyone was seated.

“Today is going to be a little bit easier on you. No homework and an extra bit of time for your papers. All this is on the condition that our speaker today gets your full and undivided attention.’

“I’d like you to meet Chancellor Palpatine (chancellor_bob) of the Galactic Republic. He has agreed to take time out of his busy schedule to talk to you about the role of head of state and answer any questions you may have. Chancellor?”

Chancellor Palpatine offered a warm smile to her and to the class that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “It is indeed a pleasure to be here.” He gazed over the classroom, his eyes resting on Skywalker a few moments longer then on the rest. “And such attendance even in light of the troubling times you are now experiencing. Let me assure you all: this will pass and you will find yourselves a stronger and more united community than before… I have foreseen it. Myself and your esteemed professor are in the middle of our own spot of dark times in the form of a civil war. To have so many divided and locked in such senseless violence… it breaks my heart. But I digress. I am here to talk about my coverjob.’

“Now, this is actually my first time talking to students, believe it or not. So perhaps the best way to start is opening the floor to questions.”

Comments

Questions for the Chancellor?

[chancellor-bob.livejournal.com]

The chancellor eagerly awaits the chance to enrich young minds.

Re: Questions for the Chancellor?

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

Anakin's totally not reacting like a giddy fanboy. Really.

"Chancellor? We've been learning about various forms of government in this class, including some that are vastly different from the representative democracy that the Republic currently uses. Why do you think our current form of government works best? What improvements, if any, would you like to see in our system?"

Re: Questions for the Chancellor?

[chancellor-bob.livejournal.com]

It will work a lot better after I have crushed the Jedi into a fine powder and positioned myself as supreme ruler of the galaxy. "An excellent question, young Skywalker. I think our current system works because it gives the various secotrs their chance to speak their peace. It does help to have such... wise representatives." He glanced long in Padme's direction. "As for improvements... well, there is always room for improvement. I for one, would like to see an increase in the Republic's military to take some of the pressure off of the Jedi. They have been spread so terribly thin lately..."

Re: Questions for the Chancellor?

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

Anakin listened to the reply and took notes. Chancellor Palpatine always seemed so reasonable. He had no idea why Obi-Wan couldn't stand him.

Re: Questions for the Chancellor?

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe looks up from her notebook.

"Sir, if you could give one piece of advice to those starting new governemnts, what would you tell them?"

Re: Questions for the Chancellor?

[chancellor-bob.livejournal.com]

Crush rebellions early and covertly. bounty hunters are a good start. "Be prepared for a lot of unrest. Change does not come easy, young lady. But... some people have a knack." He smiled at her.

Re: Questions for the Chancellor?

[02maxwell.livejournal.com]

*stares long and hard at this guy*

Sir? How can the violence be senseless if it's workin' to bring about peace?

Re: Questions for the Chancellor?

[chancellor-bob.livejournal.com]

"And where is this peace? Violence has only created more violence."

Re: Questions for the Chancellor?

[02maxwell.livejournal.com]

*thinks, then nods*

Theoretic peace, then, is what I guess I'm gettin' at. Surely at least some of the people fightin' want peace?

Re: Questions for the Chancellor?

[chancellor-bob.livejournal.com]

"Believe me, there is only violence because people are forced to defend themselves. It's very unfortunate and I wish it could be avoided through diplomacy, but diplomacy sometimes has its shortcomings."

Re: Questions for the Chancellor?

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

*Hamlet is intrigued by Chancellor Palpatine who reminds him a great deal of his uncle Claudius.*

Sir, what would you consider to be the legitimacy of succession? The one who was pre-chosen to become leader or the one who was first able to seize power?

Re: Questions for the Chancellor?

[chancellor-bob.livejournal.com]

"Neither are always... right. Truly, it depends on the person or persons who are right for the task."

[demonbelthazor]

Belthazor didn't have any questions yet, but he was very intrigued by (and maybe just a little worried about) the vibe he was picking up from the Chancellor.

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

Anakin tossed a note onto Belthazor's desk.

He's very interesting, isn't he?

[demonbelthazor]

Belthazor writes back:

Yeah, he seems pretty cool. You know him?

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

Since I was a kid. He's taken quite an interest in my upbringing. It's flattering, really, him taking time out of running the government to see how I'm doing. Wonder what he wants. Nice guy. Very approachable.

[demonbelthazor]

C'mon, old guy, boy like you, what do you think? Maybe I'll have to talk to him after class then. He sounds like he really knows his stuff and has a lot of insight to offer.

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

Eww. Eww. He's one of the best in the galaxy at what he does--he manages to keep more than 5,000 Senators pointing in a lot less than 5,000 different directions. I'm sure he'd be happy to speak with you.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

OMG, you know he wants you. Of course he does.

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

A galaxy of eww. He wants me for my mind, dammit. Lalalalalala.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Of course he does. The brain is the primary sex organ after all. He wants to corrupt you. *sticks out her tongue*

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

Lalalalalaa. Not listening. Nope.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Gonna sing Little Bunny Foo-Foo now? *giggles helplessly*

[chancellor-bob.livejournal.com]

Quiet you.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Oh hell. He can read minds and subtext. I am so screwed.

[chancellor-bob.livejournal.com]

Join the dark side. We now have an expresso machine.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Oooh. I love coffee. The darker the better.

[chancellor-bob.livejournal.com]

We also now have an excellent dental plan and two weeks paid vacation. Free M&M's with each slaughtered Jedi

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

You had me. Right up til the slaughtered Jedi. Rewind and try again.

[chancellor-bob.livejournal.com]

Cookies for each Jedi with his bed short-sheeted?

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

This works. I'll even blood them. But if you want me to kill them... we need something more than candy. Girl can't be too easy.

[chancellor-bob.livejournal.com]

Johnny Depp?

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Hm. He's pretty. Promise me love, promise me power. Promise me everything I want!...

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe sits near Cole. She probably could have gotten excused from class, but the Dean had told her before to show her strength and act as a leader would yesterday.

A leader would definitely not stay in her room, curled up with her demon kittens and cry her eyes out.

[chancellor-bob.livejournal.com]

The very empathetic Chancellor, in his walk around the classroom, gave the young lady's shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"Leaders do what they must," he said softly. "Even when it seems difficult."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe looked up and smiled gratefully at the Chancellor.

"I'm learning that," she said softly to him.

[chancellor-bob.livejournal.com]

"I wish there was an easier way, but..."

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Beka took one look at Phoebe and realized it was past time they talked. When the Chancellor had passed her by, Beka tossed her the note that she'd written, that read:

I'm here for you, Pheebs. Always. Talk to me?

[sensethevisions]

Kitty was my friend, and now she's dead. I feel like I failed her, Beka...Grams was wrong. I'm not a defender of good.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Kitty's death has nothing to do with you, except making you sad. It's not your fault. People get killed. I don't mean to be callous, but it's a fact. It's sad, shocking, frightening, but it's nobody's fault except the killer's.

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

[Hey lookit! It's the pope!]

[padmeofnaboo.livejournal.com]

((I know, right?))

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Beka arrived just as Padme was introducing the Chancellor. She took a seat, watching and listening and not asking any questions because her mun was in hell yesterday.

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Since the Chancellor seemed otherwise unoccupied except for trying to bring her to the Dark Side, an activity to which she did not altogether object, Beka ventured a question. "Chancellor, in my world, the governments have fallen. Now the humans struggle, many small groups, to make their existence in a broken galaxy. We're trapped between the superhuman Nietzscheans my descendants, damn it and the flesh-eating Magog. What would you advise for a someone who wanted to unite the humans?"