Disclaimer: Star Wars belongs to George Lucas. George is the man. The big flannel man. :D
For those who might wonder, yes, Chris is a resourceful individual. But don't worry, it'll take far more than one meddling intruder to take down the Sith. Will the Jedi and the Chosen One step up to the plate? Only time will tell.
Timeframe-wise, this takes place around two and a half years into the Clone Wars. While there will be references to some major battles, some of them may seem out of place. This is intentional in order to supplement the AU setting and chain of events.
Remember, R & R folks! Or else I'll send the Pyramid Heads after you. And trust me, their bark is not worse than their bite... (laughs evilly) ;)
Chapter 1 – Return to Coruscant
Over the broad cityscape of Coruscant's surface, two Jedi starfighters cruised towards the Jedi Temple.
"It's good to be home, isn't it Master?" Anakin Skywalker remarked to his former master over the com-link.
"Indeed it is, my friend," Obi-Wan Kenobi agreed.
It had been almost three months since the two Jedi had last been present on Coruscant. The Clone Wars were intensifying with every passing week. Following a disastrous battle on the planet Jabiim, the Jedi Council thought things couldn't get any worse. They were wrong. Inspired by their victory, the Separatists launched even more crusades against charter members of the Republic. At times their resources to produce battle droids seemed almost limitless. Clone forces under the command of Jedi Knights and Masters would clear a planet of the Separatist threat, only to be met with a replenished enemy force on another. Campaigns stretched on for months, with the fighting on some planets languishing in a perpetual stalemate.
Sometimes Anakin wondered if the war would ever come to an end.
Every Jedi wondered the same thing. But theirs were different reasons than Anakin's. The Jedi were meant to be peacekeepers, not soldiers. Fighting this bloody, enduring conflict was taking its toll on the entire Order, especially ones like Obi-Wan who were better suited to diplomacy than military aggression. Most Jedi longed simply to return to the tranquility of the Temple.
On some days, Anakin couldn't care less about the Temple. He had never been welcome there. From the moment Master Qui-Gon had first introduced him to the Council all those years ago, Anakin realized he wasn't wanted there. He was an outsider with a life outside the bubble of the Jedi Order. That life included a childhood where Anakin had developed 'attachments', the most important of which was to a mother who loved him and treated him like a human being when no one else would.
And that did not sit well with the rigid confines of the Jedi Code.
That didn't mean Anakin held no love for the Jedi. On the contrary, despite the clear disdain many in the Order held for him, he had managed to carve out a few close friendships with other Jedi. Some of them were fellow Padawans he respected, like Barriss Offee, Darra Thel-Thanis, and Serra Keto. Shaak Ti was one of the few Masters who genuinely seemed to care for him. With her warm and gentle demeanor, she was almost motherly in the way she dealt with the younger Jedi. Sometimes it was hard for Anakin to be reminded of his own mother when talking to Shaak Ti. And of course, there was Obi-Wan.
What could Anakin say about his old Master? Obi-Wan annoyed the heck out of him a lot of the time, but Anakin couldn't deny he was thankful to have Kenobi in his life. The older man had served as a father figure ever since Qui-Gon's death, after which Obi-Wan defied the Council by taking Anakin as his apprentice. He was a mentor and a friend, and lately, Anakin was feeling closer to him than that. With the issue of Anakin achieving Knighthood settled, the two were well on their way to becoming like brothers.
And yet, despite the presence of those friends in the Order, Anakin still couldn't bring himself to see it as home. Not when Master Windu and Master Gallia barely hid their distaste for him during Council meetings, and Yoda stared at him with suspicious looks at every turn.
There was an old saying in the galaxy, "home is where the heart is." Anakin knew where his heart was and it wasn't in the Jedi Temple.
The two Jedi guided their fighters into the main hangar of the Temple. The hangar was deserted save for a few techs working on some of the starfighters. Few Jedi came and went now that assignments could last up to several months. Anakin was out of his ship first, followed by Obi-Wan. Artoo hopped out of Anakin's fighter too, eager as always to follow his master around.
"Not even a welcome party," Anakin scoffed.
"Now Anakin, I'm sure the Council is just extremely busy."
"What about Serra?"
"Serra just doesn't like you," Obi-Wan said sardonically. It was well known among the Temple that Anakin and Serra had a long-time rivalry. It had only gotten worse now that Anakin had been knighted while Serra was still a Padawan. They were friends and they respected each other, but there would always be a competitive tension between them.
"She's not the only one," Anakin muttered. Obi-Wan gave him a pointed look. Anakin held up his hand to forestall the inevitable lecture.
"I know, I know – the Council's just following the Code," Anakin said.
"As long as you acknowledge it," Obi-Wan sighed. "Which reminds me, I have to attend a meeting with them right now. Do you have any plans for our visit?"
"Actually, I'm going to see if I can find Shaak Ti," Anakin shrugged. Obi-Wan stared at him suspiciously.
"Anything else?"
Anakin didn't reply. Obi-Wan's suspicions were only confirmed.
"Are you going to see Senator Amidala?"
For a tense moment, Anakin was silent. "Maybe," he finally replied.
"Anakin," Obi-Wan began. Anakin cut him off.
"I know what you're going to say, Obi-Wan. I don't want to hear it."
"Well, you're going to hear it anyway. Anakin, you must try to break away from this infatuation you have for the senator," Obi-Wan stated calmly.
"It's not an infatuation," Anakin replied, incensed. His eyes flared as he longed to tell his former master that it wasn't an infatuation, it was love. "Pad…Senator Amidala is a friend. I fail to see why I shouldn't spend some time with her."
Obi-Wan gave him an incredulous glance. "Do I even need to list the reasons? You know attachment is forbidden by the Jedi Code, and attachment is exactly what too much time together leads to."
"Master…"
"Not to mention, Amidala is a politician and they are not to be trusted. Simply because she appears to care for you does not mean she doesn't have her own agenda."
Anakin barely restrained a growl. It was the same old bantha dung he had been hearing from Obi-Wan since they were assigned to protect Padmé roughly two and a half years ago, and he was sick and tired of it. How was it possible that his own Master, whose senses were supposedly so refined, couldn't see that Padmé was a good person who only cared about others? Anakin didn't know, but he wasn't about to stand here and let Obi-Wan question his wife's integrity.
"Obi-Wan, Padmé isn't like that! You of all people should know that. Or weren't you there with the rest of us twelve years ago on Naboo?"
Obi-Wan's expression darkened. Anakin knew deep down inside, his Master had never forgiven himself for Qui-Gon Jinn's death. It was a subject very near and painful to Obi-Wan's heart, even if he didn't admit it. For that reason, they rarely talked about the circumstances behind their first meeting and Anakin's subsequent apprenticeship to Obi-Wan. Anakin hated to bring up such painful memories, but he had to remind his Master of Padmé's selfless actions in liberating her people.
"Anakin," Obi-Wan said slowly, trying to choose his words cautiously. "I am not unaware of everything Senator Amidala has done for her people. Regardless of that, she is still a politician and an exceptionally good one as well. All I ask is that you be careful around her."
Anakin breathed a deep sigh. He was never going to win this battle with his Master. Obi-Wan would always be deeply mistrustful of politicians in general, and nobody was ever going to convince him otherwise. Anakin understood his reasons, but he wished Obi-Wan would admit that there were a few genuinely good politicians in office. After all, was he not friends with Bail Organa, the Senator from Alderaan?
Sometimes Anakin found it odd that the Council would form a friendship with Organa while criticizing Anakin's own relationships with Padmé and Chancellor Palpatine. Of course, they had no idea how deep his relationship with Padmé truly was, for which he was truly thankful. However, it gnawed at him that it was perfectly acceptable for Council members to socialize with any senator they wished, yet Anakin was berated for taking so much as a shred of advice from anyone who was not a part of the Order.
But that was the Jedi Council, steeped in the same manipulations and political shenanigans that they claimed to despise. Only Obi-Wan and a couple others had any real decency.
"Fine. I'll be careful, Master," Anakin grumbled, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. Could the man get any more paranoid? He turned to get back into his starfighter.
"Where are you going? I thought you said you were going to track down Master Ti?" Obi-Wan frowned.
"I was," Anakin shrugged. His quick wit rose to the surface, already armed with a good barb. "But you know, you just made such a convincing case against Padmé, I just have to check it out right away. My mind won't rest until I do!" He said with exaggerated determination.
Obi-Wan gave him a stern look. "I'd appreciate it if you don't mock your old Master, Anakin."
"Who said I'm mocking you? I believe Master Tachi does that well enough on her own," Anakin said with his customary smirk.
He had the satisfaction of seeing Obi-Wan squirm for a brief moment. The history between his Master and Siri Tachi was well known to several members of the Order, including Anakin. And while the two had long ago decided to remain only friends, there would always be a certain tension between them, much like the one between Padmé and himself before they admitted their feelings for one another.
"Only in her mind, my young friend. Only in her mind," Obi-Wan smirked, attempting to cover up his momentary embarrassment with his own sharp repartee.
"I bet Siri would beg to differ."
"Siri believes a lot of things. That doesn't mean any of them are true," Obi-Way said lightly.
"Like the fact that she's gotten over a certain bearded Jedi Master?" Anakin said teasingly, matching his old Master wit for wit. Obi-Wan scowled.
"Bite your tongue, Anakin. Bite your tongue."
The two men shared a mock-glare until they broke out in laughter. The moment of levity was uplifting for both of them. It was comforting to know that despite their differences on many subjects, the camaraderie they had built over their years together had yet to be broken. With so many from the Order lost in the turbulence of the war, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi knew their friendship was not something to be taken for granted.
"Well, I better get to the Council meeting," Obi-Wan said.
"I should get going too," Anakin nodded. He climbed into the cockpit of his customized Delta-7 starfighter. Just before he closed the hatch, Obi-Wan gave him an unreadable stare.
"Give my regards to the good senator," Obi-Wan said, the cheerfulness from before replaced with an emotionless tone.
"I will," Anakin said, his voice equally impassive.
The starfighter departed from the hanger. Obi-Wan sighed as he realized they were still in the same place they were before. Once again, the tension that came all-too-naturally for them was back, all because of a certain brown-eyed, chestnut haired Naboo senator.
It seemed the subject of Padmé Amidala was destined to always come between them.
The planet of Coruscant was widely considered to be the crown jewel of the Galactic Republic. As an ecumenopolis, the planet was literally one giant, never-ending city – a testament of magnificent proportions to how far galactic technology had come. Billions, perhaps trillions of diverse beings populated the Republic's capital, making for one of the most densely populated ecosystems, albeit a largely artificial one, in the entire galaxy.
Yet as was inevitable for any urban region, there were places to be avoided. The lower levels of the city were a haven for criminals and other assorted dregs of the galaxy. Below them, in the deepest reaches of Coruscant's surface, dwelled nightmarish creatures – mutations that had become the stuff of numerous urban legends. And then there were the countless abandoned buildings scattered throughout the planet; sections of the planet-wide settlement that had inevitably fallen into disrepair after the desertion of their previous occupants.
Such was the area next to the thriving Fobosi District, where elite business magnates gathered to map out their plans for the future of the Republic's commerce.
They called it The Works. An enormous center of industry for a multitude of companies, the region had lain abandoned since those companies departed from the planet purely for financial reasons. Since that time, few sentient beings ever ventured into The Works, save for the same class of unsavory characters who inhabited Coruscant's underworld, and the occasional misguided developer who sought to wipe the slate clean, so to speak, and salvage the area for future use.
Alas, all attempts at salvage had failed and The Works was still a derelict industrial wasteland. The sky was perpetually clouded with a grim layer of smog that still rose from numerous smokestacks, and the surface on which most structures were built was such that one could get lost in the maze of fissures and passageways and never be heard from again. Only the truly brave or the truly foolish would dare to travel into such an unwelcome environment. Some would say there was little difference between the two when it came to The Works.
It was a perfect place for Darth Sidious to call home.
Yeas ago when his master plan for the galaxy was in its infancy, the Sith Lord had appropriated a facility in the region as his own. He knew that there was a certain image he would be expected to uphold as a public servant, one that would leave little time for traveling to the worlds were the dark side was strongest in the galaxy. As such he would need a place on Coruscant away from prying eyes, where he could relinquish the guise of an elected official and reveal his true self without fear of compromising his position in the public eye.
The LiMerge Power building was the answer, and since that time, it had served the dark Master well. It was the perfect hiding place from his role as a public servant and more importantly, from the eyes and ears of his mortal enemies. From here he could orchestrate the events of the galaxy while remaining safely out of reach from the Jedi. There was a secret passageway that led to his 'other' home over in the Senate District. Most ironic of all, the building was within relatively nearby distance to the Jedi's own headquarters on Coruscant, the vaunted Jedi Temple.
Darth Sidious stared from the window of his quarters in the facility. His face bore no emotion as he gazed unmoving at the bleak landscape outside. Something was wrong. He wasn't sure what, but he had sensed a disturbance in the Force earlier on in his daily meditations, and now he sensed that same disturbance again.
What puzzled him most was that there was nothing overtly amiss. Everything seemed to be running smoothly. There was just one single detail that didn't fit. Its exact nature eluded him at the moment. All he could sense was that something had changed, and possibly not for the better.
Sidious wasn't a fool. He knew this merited investigation. However, he also realized this newfound mystery would not be solved in a matter of hours. More time would be required to pierce the shroud surrounding the disturbance.
Very well. He would carry on with his dual role at the heart of the Clone Wars, while he investigated the disturbance whenever possible. He would not inform his apprentice of this development, though. Not until he was ready. As the Master, it was necessary to keep the appearance of omniscience, lest Tyranus get illusions of challenging him.
He was certain of one thing. Anyone who dared to oppose him directly would be crushed.
He would make sure of that.
Obi-Wan Kenobi stood in the center of the Council chamber, surrounded by the chairs for each of the Council's twelve members.
Not all of the High Council members were present. Several seats were vacant, while some had been set up with holoprojectors so that the Masters could participate in the meeting via hologram. Physically in the room were Master Yoda, Adi Gallia, Agen Kolar, and Saesee Tiin. Attending via hologram were Mace Windu, Plo Koon, and Kit Fisto.
"The Separatists have retreated entirely from the system, and the planet is now safely in the hands of the Republic," Obi-Wan reported.
"Very good. We commend you on a job well done, Master Kenobi," Adi Gallia said. She shared a look with the hologram of Mace, and Obi-Wan immediately knew what they were thinking.
He wasn't surprised when Mace asked, "And what of Skywalker's efforts in the battle? What have you to report?"
"I'm proud to say Anakin continues to excel as a Jedi. He performed his duties exceptionally well," Obi-Wan stated proudly.
"Where is Anakin now?" Kit Fisto asked.
Obi-Wan shifted uncomfortably. He hesitated only briefly, but the damage was done. Mace and Adi narrowed their eyes.
"I believe he may have gone to visit Senator Amidala," Obi-Wan stated, unable to lie to the Council.
"I see," Adi Gallia said. The Council members traded several glances, and Obi-Wan watched as more than one face became stern. Inwardly, he cringed. Adi was staring at him like he had just admitted to being married, or some other gross violation of the Code. And even though Master Windu was only there through a hologram, he could see clearly the Korun Master was giving him the same look.
The others merely looked disappointed, which was to say not as disgusted as Mace and Adi. All except for Kit, who looked sympathetic to the interrogation Obi-Wan was no doubt about to undergo. Curiously, Yoda's face was distinctly impassive.
"Tell us, Obi-Wan," Mace began. "What do you make of the connection between Skywalker and the senator from Naboo?"
Here we go, Obi-Wan thought wearily. He chose his words carefully. "I believe they…value each other's company. Anakin doesn't have many friends. Neither does the senator."
"And is that the extent of their relationship?" Adi Gallia asked.
"As far as I know, yes."
"Have you not looked any further into the matter?" Saesee Tiin inquired.
"Anakin's affairs are his own. I don't go out of my way to pry," Obi-Wan said, giving Tiin a disapproving look. The Iktotchi Jedi ignored it.
"Have you at least warned him about the dangers of attachment?"
Obi-Wan glared slightly at Adi. "You know I have. So often that Anakin and I are both tired of it."
"And yet, he does not seem to listen to you," Agen Kolar pointed out, unnecessarily in Obi-Wan's opinion.
The venerated Jedi Master sighed. "Anakin is…complicated. He is loyal to the Order, but he does not appreciate every facet of the Code."
Mace Windu nodded his agreement. "That is one reason why we are wary of him, Obi-Wan. The Code is the guideline for how a Jedi lives his life. It has served us well for millennia and should always be respected."
"If we allow Anakin to decide which parts of the Code he wants to follow and which ones he doesn't, what is to stop other Jedi from doing the same?" Adi Gallia stated.
"Masters, I don't see why this is something we have to discuss. Anakin has not broken the Code. He and Amidala are friends. There is nothing in the Code that says we cannot allow friendships."
"No. However, the Code is clear on attachments. They are to be avoided by every Jedi, for valid reasons," Mace Windu said. "It is the opinion of this Council that this may be something Anakin isn't willing to do."
"You really believe he would throw away over a decade of training for a relationship?" Obi-Wan asked incredulously.
"You said it yourself, Obi-Wan. Anakin is not a normal Jedi. He was not raised in the Temple since infancy and he was not accustomed to our rules when he was brought here," Adi Gallia stated calmly. Her eyebrows raised in mild inquiry. "Would it really be unexpected for him to decide it simply isn't worth it to sacrifice his selfish desires for the good of the Republic?"
Obi-Wan couldn't believe it. These Masters had given Anakin his current status. They were the same individuals who had stood in the Hall of Knighthood and proclaimed Anakin a Jedi Knight. He had been among them, watching with enormous pride as they bestowed the great honor on his Padawan. They had even invited Obi-Wan into their ranks, granting him the rank of Master and commending him on a job well done in training the Chosen One.
Yet here they were, casting doubt on Anakin's devotion to the Jedi; his very loyalty towards Obi-Wan himself.
He wasn't going to stand for it.
"Master Gallia, with all due respect, I believe you are out of line."
Adi's eyes widened from the unexpected rebuke. Before she could respond, Obi-Wan spoke again.
"Anakin has given us no reason to doubt his friendship with Padmé, and I don't believe Padmé would be so foolish as to jeopardize Anakin's career in that manner. Until I see some tangible evidence that my former Padawan has broken the Code, perhaps you should concentrate on what he has done, instead of what you think he might have done. And what he has done is to serve the Republic to the best of his abilities."
The tension was palpable in the Council chamber. Accustomed as they were to Obi-Wan's defending Skywalker's reputation, the members present still had not expected
such a blatant admonishment from the soft-spoken Jedi. Adi Gallia's eyes thinned to slits. She prepared to bring up some of Anakin's past transgressions against the Council's orders, when suddenly, they heard a gruff voice cut through the silence.
"Enough. Calm yourselves, you both will," Master Yoda rebuked them both, surprising the room with his stern tone. The ancient Master had kept silent until then, letting the other Council members question Obi-Wan as they saw fit. Apparently, he had heard enough.
"Master Obi-Wan, merely expressing the Council's concerns, Master Gallia is."
"Yes, Master." Obi-Wan bowed his head in deference to the diminutive Jedi centuries his elder.
The slightest of smirks appeared on Adi's face. To her surprise, Yoda gave her a stern glance that he had not given to Obi-Wan.
"Master Gallia, correct Obi-Wan is. Nothing outwardly against the Code, has Skywalker done. Served us well, the boy has; saved billions of lives. A powerful Jedi he is. Need him we do."
Yoda brought his cane down hard on the floor to punctuate that statement. The startled Jedi watched as he pointed it at Adi in a gesture they knew was a reprimand.
"Acknowledge that you should, until proved otherwise, his loyalty to the Jedi is."
Yoda directed his attention to Obi-Wan.
"Dismissed you are, Master Kenobi. Over, this Council session is."
At a loss for words, Obi-Wan simply bowed in gratitude. "Thank you, Master Yoda."
The ancient master almost chuckled at the relief in Obi-Wan's voice.
The Council members were left to ponder the argument which had just occurred.
Feeling self-conscious over being reproached by Yoda, Adi Gallia avoided the eyes of her fellow Council members. It could almost be said that she was sulking, if it were in fact acceptable for a Jedi Master of Adi's stature to sulk. Mace Windu wasn't better off. The statements Adi made to Obi-Wan mirrored his own concerns about Anakin, concerns which continued to trouble him despite his desire to believe Skywalker was the Chosen One. Kit Fisto looked unsure about the whole thing. Like the late Qui-Gon Jinn, Kit was a Jedi with a rather flexible view of the Code. Agen Kolar and Saesee Tiin were undecided. They were disappointed with Anakin's refusal to behave as a proper Jedi should, though they did not share the apparent disdain Adi Gallia reserved for him. As for Yoda, the ancient Master was once again deep in his own thoughts.
Had they bothered to glance closely at Plo Koon, the others might have noticed the expression of disgust the Kel Dor was directing towards Master Gallia and Master Windu.
