Turns of Fate
Chapter 7
It is official. The Emperor is a moron. Luke told Leia as he darted through the Coruscant streets. Night had fallen on this side of the planet, and the streets were dim, only illuminated by the streetlamps. He would rather be in that tiny room at the Temple, but new problems have arisen. He dearly wished he had some kind of ship to pilot, because the neighborhood was not friendly at all. He is totally ruining my plans.
You were not doing a good job at all. Leia said dryly. You cannot deny that you were also hoping that our father would snap to his senses, sparing us the life we lead now.
Yeah, that too. Luke replied. But as I said, there must be a reason why I'm here. Sure, I can try to force Dad to the Dark Side myself by frustrating him with cryptic comments, He projected the image of their father, getting increasingly desperate about their mother's wellbeing thanks to Luke's dark hints and lack of sympathy, and then the image of Vader going nuts at the Jedi Temple, spinning his lightsaber the way General Grievous's rotating joints would, and blowing everything up, with wide glaring yellow eyes and new fangs to boot. Leia's reaction was flat and dry. She was not impressed with Luke's imagination. But if Dad somehow 'sees the Light', I'm not going to complain. Luke added.
This really sucks. After the Council questioned him (not that they got anything out of Luke except flippant comments about their appearances, and a flat remark about the possibility that maybe he was just that powerful, you never know) Luke decided to start working. First of all, despite his remarks to the Chancellor, Palpatine did need a quicker reason to hold on to his emergency powers than Luke thought the guy could whip planned on presenting such an excuse: directly after meeting with the Masters, Luke fled the Temple to go to the Chancellor's office, though first he stole a mask from an unfortunate merchant and some black tunic and pants from an unfortunate padawan.
His plan was simple. Beat the Chancellor to an inch of his life–not only will this alarm the galaxy and make them aware that there was someone who could kick some serious rear ends out there, but also make the Chancellor panicky enough that he might hurry up on the converting Luke's father to the Dark Side plot. This plan also doubles as another way for Luke to mess with Palpatine in revenge and give the old corpse his own two credits in advance. What could be more satisfying than pulling Palpatine's pants down? Beating the living daylights out of him! This idea was the best Luke has had for...years!
But of course, Palpatine is good at nothing if not foiling other people's plans, and when Luke did reach the building where the Chancellor worked, he was just in time to see the Chancellor order someone to write a note, before leaving the room to be "shipped off" somewhere, but not early enough to actually stop the old man.
This was, of course, not something that happened in the original timeline. Which is bad. Not only that, the Chancellor's move did not make any sense. Oh, the kidnapping was easily explained. Who knew the Chancellor could whip up something so fast. But the conditions of the letter were hardly logical. No one would trade a Chancellor of the Republic for a Tatooinian farmboy; if anything, it would be the other way around. What kind of Sith Lord would do something so retarded? The Jedi would instantly become suspicious about the true identity of Palpatine's captor.
Leia sighed. Well, no doubt, he has branded you as a threat. A threat he could not control. So he got desperate. If we do anything, we have only six weeks to do it. Six weeks, Luke, before everything here gets undone. Or at least, you and me.
Yeah, I know the stakes. Luke stopped in his tracks. He was being followed. Stupid thugs. Leia, do you have any information about Palpatine's kidnapping after General Grievous?
I can check. Leia answered dubiously. I don't know if your timeline will update to mine. Give me a second to look it up. Hopefully no one suspects me.
Luke released a breath. In the meantime, if the thugs decide to mug him, he could use this brief period to take a break.
Leia's voice was distracted, as she looked up the event. I have a news article on the Chancellor's kidnapping, but I have no other articles. I suspect it is because this event is new and has not been resolved yet. Oh, it says he was taken to Mustafar. That's convenient.
Awesome. Luke thought back. This means I get to write my own history. And if the Chancellor is on Mustafar, all I have to do is somehow get Mom there so she can get choked by Dad. Or maybe just choked by someone, I don't know. Who cares? As long as we are born at the right time, right?
You can't have our mother get choked now! You might kill the two of us! Six weeks, remember? Weeks! Not six hours!
Drat. Luke paused. Hold on.
The thugs were advancing on him. There were ten of them, dressed in rags, their beady little eyes peering from an ugly sneer. None of them were human, and at least one of them reeked of excrement. At first, Luke prepared for a physical fight, but he first used Force suggestion out of habit. " You do not want trouble with me."
There were actually very few individuals who could resist Luke's force suggestion, so he was not sure why he had doubted himself. " We do not want trouble with you." The five thugs chorused.
" You will forget you saw me."
" We never saw you."
" Have a good night!"
" We will have a good night."
The thugs walked past. Luke stared after them for a moment.
Are you alright?
Yeah I'm fine, Leia. Luke took a deep breath. As he relaxed, he realized just how exhausted he was. Despite the sleep he had on the ship back from Utapau, Luke felt sore and tired. Well, he wondered, What am I supposed to do now? Just leave things alone?
I doubt it. Leia replied. This isn't something that was supposed to happen. By this time, Palpatine should be secure in our father's allegiances. " Hi Father!"
Luke blinked, as Leia projected what she was seeing to him through their bond. Her adoptive father, Bail Organa, King and Senator of Alderaan, had just entered the room to check on his daughter.
" Leia, what in the galaxy are you doing?"
" Just reading some random articles on the holonet, Father."
Bail seemed to stoop over to look at what Leia was reading.
Oh. Not good. Not good not good not good. Leia had the infuriating inability to keep things from her parents. Leia! Don't tell him I'm in the past don't tell him I'm in the past don't tell him I'm—
" What are you reading these things for, Leia? Is this for your lessons?"
" This is for Luke, Father."
Sith! Leia! What the heck!
" What does Luke need information on this for?"
" He just wanted to know exactly what happened."
Bail appeared displeased. " If you two are up to something, at least let me know what you are planning."
Leia!
" He had a vision about this event, that was all."
" Why did you not meditate on it then, the way you usually do? It is a lot safer that way."
" He was not feeling well." Leia closed the holobrowser. " Did you need anything?"
" Lord Vader notified us of his impending arrival. He will be here within the matter of minutes. You should go prepare."
Kreth! What does Vader want on Alderaan at this time?
Leia was not sure either. " Alright." She said to Bail. I'm not stupid Luke! She then thought with annoyance. It looks like I will not be able to help you from here, but remember, six weeks! Do not go sending Mother to Mustafar! And if you are going to antagonize people where you are, make sure you also direct them toward the original timeline! More importantly, don't do anything stupid! She shut the connection, leaving Luke on his own.
I object! Luke thought anyway. I never do anything stupid!
She did not hear this, of course, and Luke looked around the alleys. If he did not have his Force abilities, he would be much more nervous about wandering around here all alone. He was not afraid now, but it had been a comfort knowing his sister was there. Seriously, why does she need to cut off the connection now? It was not as if she was concentrating on anything important; Darth Vader was not even at Alderaan yet! Yoohoo! Why did you have to go and shut down on me like that? I'm in the middle of a street, for Force's sake!
But then something completely unexpected occurred. A Force presence flared in his mind in response to his call.
Luke? His father's voice sounded wary. Is that you?
Oh Sithspit! How did that happen? Letting out a string of curses, Luke considered keeping silent. Hopefully, his father would believe it had just been his imagination.
Luke! No such luck. I know it was you! Tell me where you are!
Why?! Luke snapped back, hoping that his father's next question was not something along the lines of ' How am I able to hear your thoughts?' because then his father might connect the dots. Luke 'S'. Force, was he on crack back on the ship! Desperate for anything to distract his father from forming that logical conclusion, he went on to bite, So you can exchange me for your precious Chancellor?
A wave of utter shock went his way. That, apparently, had not been his father's intention at all. Luke had not thought so either, but once he voiced the suggestion, it suddenly seemed rather probable…until his father felt that utter shock. Exchange you? What do you think I am, a Sith? And then, You know about this? Oh of course you do! You seem to know everything! A pause. Of course I am not exchanging you for anyone. I am going to keep my promise of killing you if you do not come back to the Temple right now!
I have work to do. No can do. Luke thought stubbornly. Though I need to figure out where I am first…This he thought to himself.
Luke, please come back. I am serious! Coruscant is not safe, no matter how powerful you think you are! The Sith are obviously aware of your presence here. You are in danger, and you might also hurt other people with your stunts!
His father was sort of right about that. Luke scowled. There was also the matter of that pure desperation in his father's voice, like the man hardly knew what to do if something happened to Luke. Which made sense, since he was Luke's father, but also did not, because he did not know Luke was his son. Why do you care so much about me anyway? You barely know me!
Well whose fault was that? His father retorted angrily. You seem to know a great deal about me! But when I ask the questions, all you give me are cryptic answers! You are even worse than Master Yoda!
Oh no you did not! Luke snapped back, though part of him felt like he was arguing with...himself. Force, this was like back at the Temple when he first learned that he apparently inherited his father's wit. It felt surreal. I am so better than Yoda! I told you what happened to your mother, didn't I? Try weaseling that out of the green goblin!
A ship suddenly sailed overhead. Luke snapped his head up to look. Though he did not recognize the ship, something told him that his mother was inside. With that thought, Luke took off at a brisk run. There was no way he could run as fast as the ship was, but he had latched on to his mother's presence in his consciousness, and that guided him down the shady streets and helped him navigate through the winding roads.
His father proved to have more intelligence than Luke had given him credit for, for the next thing Luke heard was, Force! It is as if I am arguing with Padme! A stunned silence followed that remark.
Uh oh. If the Force was willing, his father might start sensing the truth. Really? Padme argues with you? For someone who's had practice, you suck at it. Who told you to marry a politician? They're like, born to argue. And unfortunately, this also explained why he rarely wins an argument with Leia. How come I got Mom's height but not her wit? Leia got both. This is so unfair!
Yes, yes, his father replied impatiently to Luke's earlier comments, I've heard that from her more times than I can count. Another stunned silence.
Crud. Luke thought. He was not being smooth. He better shut up now before he offered his father more evidence of his relation with Padme Naberrie, or himself. Stupid.
His father began a string of pleas. What troubled Luke was how much genuine concern his father was actually feeling. He even went so far as to offer to show Luke around the best diners in the galaxy if only Luke would return to the Temple, which, while absolutely hilarious, was a very touching gesture. Luke managed to hold his own for a while, but after a while it became a bit much. His own father was pleading with him to look after himself. Granted, his father did not know he was his father, but still, there was something very wrong about the situation here.
Alright! Alright, I'm coming back, alright? For Force's sake I just killed a Sith-trained robot in like, ten seconds and you're actually worried about me going around the city! I'm fifteen, not five! Just give me a second to get to a nice level so I can figure out the best route. Mother of a bantha, even my Uncle isn't this annoying!
His father was annoyed too. Well, I apologize for caring at all about your wellbeing, impertinent one! Luke was suddenly faced with the strange revelation that he had just hurt his father's feelings.
Well, nothing to be done about it now, and given Luke's ultimate task at hand, it was much better off that he maintain the emotional distance from his father, before the task becomes impossible and Luke ends up destroying the galaxy for good.
He jumped on to the buildings and heaved himself up to the top. He arrived at the building complex where Padme's apartment was. Once there, however, he was stumped with a question he should have asked himself before he even made the trip. What was I planning to do here?
Well, he was definitely here to check on his mother, but it seemed like she was perfectly fine. She is so beautiful. Luke thought again. One thing was for sure; he could understand why his father was willing to give up the whole galaxy, just for her. He sensed her movements now in the apartment. He also sensed himself, and Leia, which was very strange. Out of curiosity, he stretched his mind out to the younger version of himself. He instantly realized that the child was braindead.
Oh. Luke thought. This puts additional pressure on getting back to his own time. Since the baby was Luke, but Luke is here, only one of Luke's conscience could exist at a time, so he had effectively taken his infant self's. If he does not get back, this version of Luke, and hence himself, would probably die. Awesome stuff.
The Coruscant winds blew at his tunic and he shivered. It sure gets cold at night here! The planes flying past went on their merry way, none of the passengers noticing the teen standing on the apartment building rooftop. Luke quickly recounted his options. Palpatine is pulling some odd trick in order to get Luke. No doubt, he was going to feed his father some lie or another about Luke being the one to kill Padme. Or maybe, by killing Luke, his father could somehow save his mother. He had six weeks to make sure things happen at the right time. I can go to Yoda. He thought. But somehow I doubt Yoda would be willing to aid in the downfall of the Jedi. The same went for Ben. He could go to Palpatine, who would not hesitate to create an Empire under his rule. Ugh. Not in a million years. He could go to his mother.
…That's a thought. Padme Naberrie had been a passive player in his own timeline. An inspiration, someone who never actually had a hand in anything that transpired, and yet was crucial to everything. With Palpatine acting strange, Luke in the middle of things, it might be wise to invoke some influence from a completely brand new source.
But how? There was a reason why his mother had only had a passive hand in everything. She was far too smart to actually get into such messes, and most of the chaos and disasters that happened were because she had remained ignorant until the very end. Luke could not tell her what will happen—it will prevent her from dying at the right time. He could find some way to manipulate her into pushing their father to the Dark Side…that was probably something more along Leia's line of expertise than Luke's, though. Time travel blows. Luke decided. Cryptic comments would drive his father crazy, but for someone of his mother's intelligence, she might actually figure things out!
Oh hm, maybe that is the right tactic. She has to figure some things out, after all. As Luke mused, he suddenly saw a dark-clad individual scamper up the outside of building…toward his mother's apartment.
Oh no you don't! Luke thought, irritated. Mom is not supposed to die yet! He jumped down to a lower roof and landed silently. He was still above the figure, who was pausing every once in a while to check he had not been spotted. With the quick traffic at the level where they were, it was unlikely anyone would pay attention even if they did notice him. Luke counted the windows, noted which one his mother's was, and ran for the door that led into the building. What the heck? Was that guy trying to kill his mother?
Palpatine would try to kidnap her. Padme was too important for Palpatine to kill right now. Not when he wanted to have Anakin as his apprentice. He needed her alive, and well, until Anakin Skywalker fully turns.
Well not on my watch, buster! Luke pulled his lips back and snarled as he ran. He pulled at the door. It was locked. No problem; with a bit of the Force, he unlocked the door and yanked it open. Inside, the stairways were brightly lit. Luke sprinted down, jumping and running. He latched on to his mother's presence and the presence of the unborn twins. His mother's apartment door was closed, shut, against the hall. Luke rang the doorbell and banged on it.
His mother answered the door after a few bangs. " Luke—?"
Luke brushed inside without preamble. The man was already in the flat! He sure works fast, no wonder Palpatine hired him. The boy rushed into the bedroom where he was hiding. With a Force pull, he yanked the man out to the open. His mother gasped when she saw. The man, finding his footing, yanked out his blaster and fired. They were set on stun, proving Luke's earlier suspicion that Palpatine did not want to kill his mother yet. Luke pushed his mother down, knocking her onto her back. One of the stunbolts whizzed past his ear. That was close! He charged at the man, swinging his fists and kicking. The man was a trained fighter, and also physically stronger than Luke, so at first they were evenly matched. Add to the fact that Luke had to constantly dodge stun bolts, the battle went on longer than Luke would have preferred.
He could just kill the man, but Luke had some questions first. He flipped over the man and flung his hand out. He sent out a Force wave, knocking the man back. Twist, shove, and the man was taken care of. He was wearing a black mask over his face, and Luke pressed his foot down on the man's hands, pulled back and up to his shoulder blades. The man heaved under him, grunting in pain. Luke smirked. He looked up at his mother.
" Hey, how about calling for some help here?"
" I somehow doubt you need help."
" Well, it would be nice to have a pair of handcuffs. Which I don't have."
His mother nodded. She looked pale and startled. Her hands circled her belly protectively.
" Well, my friend!" Luke bent over his prisoner with a grin. " Why sent you here? Tell me the truth." He used a bit of Force persuasion as he spoke.
" D-Darth Sidious did, sir!"
Oh Palpatine. Seriously! " Why did he send you to attack Senator Amidala?"
" My orders were to take her unharmed, sir!"
" Oh that is comforting, indeed! Tell me, why does he want you to take her unharmed?"
" I don't know! I just get paid for the job, that's all!"
" Well, where were you supposed to bring her? Is it Mustafar?"
Shock, and silence. It was all Luke needed to know. He levitated the stun blaster and shot the man, stepping off him. He then turned to his mother, who was calling on her com link.
Hurray. More questions.
