Chapter Seven: Chasing Anakin

The rain had faded into a light drizzle that made the Jedi gardens sparkle. It was truly a beautiful sight, one that Anakin would find time to admire in great detail; even after all his years on Coruscant, rain still made him stop and stare in wonder, since it was so rare on Tatooine.

After an argument with Obi-Wan, Anakin would usually head straight to the gardens so that he could calm himself down. This time however, Anakin could only think of finding his trusted friend Palpatine and complain about Obi-Wan and the Council.

His fellow Jedi avoided Anakin like the plague, creating a path for him as he stormed down the hallways, his anger suffocating the air around him.

I thought Obi-Wan was was better than the Council! He knows how close the Chancellor and I am, I can't believe he'd even think about-

"Anakin, wait!" Through the foggy haze his anger had cast over his mind, Anakin heard someone call his name. Thinking it was his mentor (the last person he wanted to see), Anakin increased his pace, a cutting remark on the edge of his tongue.

He's fast... Luke grit his teeth and tried to look inconspicuous as possible. He saw a few wary Jedi glance at him before moving their attention elsewhere. Nearly jogging to keep up with his father's long strides, Luke decided to simply follow his father until he grew tired and stopped.


Anakin didn't grow tired.

Luke quickly learnt this when his father stormed out of the Temple and hailed the nearest taxi. Pausing momentarily, Luke watched suspiciously as Anakin got in and slammed the door. He watched as it took off, the small yellow speeder disappearing into the Coruscant traffic.

Luke waved his arms about dramatically until he got the attention of another taxi, keeping one eye on his father's whereabouts through the Force, he directed the taxi driver on where to go. At times he thought he had completely lost Anakin's signature, but it was never the case.

The taxi driver was becoming increasingly irritated with Luke's vague instructions on where to go (the boy obviously doesn't know where he's going, the man thought contemptuously).

"Listen kid," the man started, immediately reminding Luke of Han, "just tell me where you want to go and I can get you there no problem." Luke's concentration on his father's Force signature wavered for a second.

"No, it's fine. I know where I'm going. Turn uh, turn right here...or...yeah here. Sorry." Luke added, flushing red at the man's exasperated sigh.


Anakin threw a fistful of credits at his driver before slamming his door shut. His anger had died down slightly, but he still felt rather indignant and betrayed by Obi-Wan and the Council. He knew where he would find the Chancellor; The Republic Executive Building. The Chancellor's office was on one of the top most floors, which was well over 500 meters tall as it overlooked Coruscant.

Anakin walked in, ignoring the secretary who rudely called after him. He got in the turbo-lift and waited impatiently as it ascended.

"Stop!" Luke yelled in the driver's ear, making the man jump.

"You could have just said you wanted The Republic Executive Building, jeez." the man said gruffly, readjusting his rear-view mirror.

"Huh? Oh uh, thanks." Luke fumbled around with the few loose credits he had on him before swiftly getting out.

The building was rather plain, and didn't particularly stand out. It was very high though, and Luke wondered what his father could possibly be doing in such a place. Opening the door and peeking in, Luke spotted a young woman who was sitting behind a desk.

"Uh, hi." Luke mumbled, strolling over. She glanced up, taking in his more than scruffy appearance.

"Don't tell me you're going to barge in here and completely ignore me too?" she asked sarcastically, sniffing dissaprovingly at him. Luke instantly didn't like her but struggled to keep up his friendliness.

"Have you seen a young man come in here? Blue eyes, blonde hair about this tall...?" Luke gestured vaguely above his head, and the woman sniffed again.

"Yes, he was the one who barged in and completely ignored me-"

"Do you know where he went?" Luke interrupted; he was in no mood to deal with this lady.

They stared at each other in a tense silence before she sighed disgustedly and pushed her glasses up her nose.

"Yes, as a matter of fact I do. He went into the lift." Luke waited for her to continue, but when it became evident that she wasn't, he rolled his eyes and huffed childishly.

"Thanks." He strode purposefully towards the lift, ignoring the woman's indignant cries. Following his feelings in the Force, Luke pressed floor button 501 and waited.

What are you doing here, father? Luke thought to himself silently, hoping that Anakin had reigned in his temper.


Anakin had always felt at home in the Chancellor's Ceremonial Office. He would find himself absent-mindedly admiring the panoramic view of the city.

It was beautiful.

He knocked hesitantly on the door, worried that Palpatine was in a meeting. After a few seconds of standing there foolishly, Anakin turned to leave, his ears burning with embarrassment.

"Anakin, to what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected visit?" Palpatine's pleasant voice made Anakin turn around.

"Ah, Chancellor...I'm sorry, it was nothing, really. You are a busy man, and I wouldn't want to keep you from your work." Anakin mumbled. Honestly, he was 23, he couldn't keep running to the Chancellor every time he was upset!

"No, no! Come in, I'm free at the moment." He swept his arms wide, and let Anakin step into the cozy office.

For some reason, Anakin felt uncomfortable in such proximity to the man, Luke's exclamation echoing in his head "He tried to kill me!"

"What is troubling you, Anakin?" Palpatine asked, his voice coated with honey. His eyes twinkled kindly with a faint hint of worry. Anakin immediately relaxed, letting himself sink into the plush red chair.

"Well...Obi-Wan told me to stop being friends with you. He said the Council doesn't trust you, and that I would do well to be wary." Anakin explained, though he was suddenly unsure of what Obi-Wan had actually said. His mind had been clouded with anger, and he was sure that he was only saying what he thought Obi-Wan had said.

He couldn't be sure.

Palpatine's eyes narrowed dangerously before melting into the warm pools of blue Anakin was used to.

"I see. I assume you and Obi-Wan had a fight over the matter? I can feel your anger, it makes you-"

"ANAKIN!" both men turned around and gaped as a small blonde figure burst in and landed unceremoniously on the floor, a groan escaping from the huddled figure.

"Luke?!" Anakin gasped out, all traces of his anger disappearing at the sight of the young man. Luke looked up, electric blue eyes shining at him.

"Hello." Luke greeted casually, as if lying on the Chancellor's office floor was an everyday occurrence.

As soon as Luke had stepped out of the lift, he had finally identified the Force presence that seemed to darken the whole building; Palpatine. Luke could have have hit himself on the head.

Of course father would go running to Palpatine after a fight with Ben! He berated himself before stilling behind the door. He could hear the muffled voices of the two men behind it, and Luke grit his teeth in annoyance.

Only Force knows what lies Palpatine is feeding father whilst he's in such a vulnerable state! I have to stop him! Bolstering up all the courage he could find, Luke flung the door open, intending to rescue his father from the Chancellor's evil hands...only to promptly trip over his own feet in his haste and land ungracefully on the floor.

"Luke?!" He heard his startled father gasp.

Luke looked up nonchalantly and sent his father a small smile, "Hello."

"Luke what are you doing?!" Anakin was by Luke's side in an instant, dragging him up and staring intently into his eyes. His hands fluttered over Luke, checking that he wasn't injured.

"I'm fine, honestly." Luke rolled his eyes and batted his father's hovering hand's away from him. He was delighted to find all traces of darkness had left his father. Instead, he could sense an almost childish light surrounding him, and Luke let it wash over him...until it was smothered the darkness that could only come from Palpatine.

"Luke Starkiller, what an unexpected surprise." Palpatine bared his teeth in a poor imitation of a smile, and Luke knew that the Chancellor was not happy about his arrival. Standing next to his father, Luke drew in a deep breath and squared his shoulder's, glaring acidicly at the older man.

"Luke, why are you here?" Anakin asked, then paused consideringly, "Did Obi-Wan send you after me?" The young man's gaze hardened considerably as it turned into a glare. Luke swallowed; he had more than the Chancellor to deal with now.

He had his seriously annoyed father.