Chapter 7
A face, a face she can't quite see, it's there, staring at her with sickly yellow eyes, it's climbing out of the in-between and it's angry. She's seen those eyes before, so hauntingly familiar it made her shiver with the knowledge that she wasn't the one in danger.
'You knew this would happen!' Obi yells standing in the middle of the council chamber, he's looking directly at her as she sits in her council chair. 'You did nothing! Again!' 'Sacrifices must be made for the greater good.' She replies even as he watches her in horror, 'He was your brother…' 'Some people cannot be saved.' As she finishes the words the windows of the council chamber are shattered, fire from the explosion entering even as the glass rains down around them, she grins manically, finally, after years of waiting, her plan is in motion and the Jedi will fall.
'I'm trying to save you dammit!' Dooku yells over the noise of a building falling down around them, 'I'd rather die than join you!' she yells back from under the pillar that's fallen on her. 'We were your family and you betrayed us!' she yells ignoring the tears filling his eyes. 'I'm sorry.' He whispers before leaving her there to die, 'COWARD!' she screams.
'I loved you." Garen says as he holds her, his lightsaber through her chest, she can't breathe. Blood is pouring over her purple armour as Garen takes the baby from her pliable arms. Water begins rising around her as he walks away. Some part of her knows help isn't coming.
That face is haunting her, hunting her, it is her. 'You should never have come back!' She yells. 'I know.' She says, and she does.
Arl screams as she jolts upwards, someone grabs her arm, she panics and knocks them onto the floor, pinning them as she puts her lightsaber to their throat.
"Arlie, Arls it's me, it's Garen." The voice of her best friend says desperately, she blinks a few times before her eyes widen, recognition dawning as she pulls back and huddles on the floor next to her bed both panting. Their Masters come running in soon after, immediately seeing the shallow lightsaber burn on Garen's throat along with the offending weapon in Arlie's hand, still ignited.
"Arlie?" Mace asks crouching just outside of reaching distance as Mic goes to check on his Padawan.
"I am so very sorry." Arl whispers, Mace begins moving slowly towards her before eventually sitting next to her, meanwhile Micah has taken Garen to the healers.
"What happened Padawan?" Arl gives a self-deprecating smile.
"I thought you were knighting me?"
"You'll always be my Padawan, Arl."
"I know." She replies in the way the others have learnt means she's speaking of future events. "I've been having these dreams ever since I was twenty-three, or thirteen depending on how you look at it. They've only been getting more vivid. I don't know what it is but some of it has come true. At least it partially has, I don't want anymore of it to happen. I was trying to bring down the Jedi, and Dooku was evil again and so was my brother. Garen killed me, there was some evil thing but it wasn't me in danger, I don't even know why. And then there was me, me telling myself that I should never have come back. What if the dream was right? What if my presence here is only making things worse?" Arlie asks, Mace just wraps an arm around her shoulder as she begins getting herself under control again. She was a Jedi Master for force's sake, a dream should not frighten her so. "In motion the future always is, and many possible futures there are." Arlie says when she had calmed down earning herself a funny look from her Master.
"You sound like Yoda." He says, she chuckles.
"He once said that to Ahsoka when she began having visions of Padmè being killed. Prescience has never been my forte so I'm afraid I have to defer to his ancient knowledge." Arl says, it always amuses Mace when she speaks of the Yoda from the other timeline. He can always tell the difference because the Yoda he is used to she speaks about neutrally or sometimes even a rare fondness, other Yoda gets disdain and judgement.
"You believe them to be visions?" He asks not necessarily disagreeing with her but wanting to know how she feels about it.
"Dreams, visions, it makes no difference. I may heed it as a warning but it cannot interfere with my own interference of events. If I want things to go better this time I need to focus on the present with knowledge of the past and awareness of the possible outcomes, not spend all of my time worrying about a specific set of events that may or may not happen."
"That's my girl." Arl smiles warmly as she snuggles into his side.
Later that day Arlie walks to Dooku's quarters, knocking and waiting for a brief moment before Xan answers and lets her in.
"Good morning my dear guardian angel." Xanatos says with a dramatic bow and a wide smile, it truly warmed her heart even with the haunted look still shadowing the happiness in his eyes. She remembers her father calling her Angel, but this time, she's flattered by the name instead of terrified.
"Hello to you to Saviour, you're in a good mood." She says with a laugh, he nods happily as he pulls her into a hug and twirls her around before leading her into the kitchen.
"Yes, yes I am. I slept in my own bed last night in my own home with full control over my own mind. More importantly, I am about to make my first cup of tea in well over a year, care to join me?" He offers as he puts the kettle on, she nods enthusiastically, his good mood catching. It was only once they were both seated on the floor in the living room, the habit was catching, that she remembered why she was here. "What's wrong?" Xan asks immediately noticing her change in mood, she smiles slightly.
"You are far too good at reading me."
"A fact for which I will not apologise, now come on Arls, what is going on?" He asks lightly though he appeared to be growing concerned.
"I just hate that I am about to ruin your mood, but I did not come here for tea. I need to speak with you and your Master about Telos IV." She says mournfully, he sobers instantly looking into his mug as though wishing he could dissolve into it.
"It appears I arrived just in time then." Dooku says as he walks in the front door, Arlie very obviously cringed at the idea of him just having gotten home, he looks momentarily confused before glowering at her disbelievingly. "I left early this morning to meet with Yoda, Arl!" He all but growls at her, she is hit with a very intense wave of relief followed by slight disappointment for him.
"Better luck next time?" She offers with a teasing smile, he grabs a cushion and hits her in the face with it. Hard. "Yeah I deserved that." She says laughing. Dooku comes and sits on the couch, as normal people do, beside her head.
"What did you need to speak with us about?" He asks, she sobers.
"The bombs."
"Gonna need a bit more than that Arls." Xan says when she doesn't elaborate, it takes all of her self control not to lose her shit then.
"You know my older brother used to say the exact same thing to me, well except he called me something else but anyway."
"Arl Aa do you have some adorable little nickname that we do not know of?" Xan says as though it is the most scandalous thing he has heard, she merely rolls her eyes at him.
"If you were walking around Telos IV people would have been able to identify you. There were witnesses to who placed the bombs but none could get us an identity." Arl tells them, Xan looks slightly shocked.
"So, wait, I didn't plant them?" Xanatos asks confused.
"I have to admit, this did not occur to me, it is however a scenario we must consider. If not you, then there still may be a terrorist on Telos IV. Of course, the more likely scenario is that whoever did it was working for the Sith that took over your mind." Dooku adds, Xanatos shivers at the memory.
"We got distracted after getting to the factory, it is possible there is evidence there to find." Arl says, Dooku nods thinking it over.
"It is possible, and if there is it could lead us to whoever planted the bomb."
"Which could then lead us to the Sith."
"Okay wait stop." Xanatos says suddenly as he stands and starts pacing the room before stopping in front of them looking frantic. "Why must the two of you always go looking for trouble?" He asks desperately, the two exchange looks as though the fact has only just occurred to them. "The bombings have stopped, you got me back and the Sith are not attacking. Why do you have to try to fix something unbroken?" He says running a hand through his hair as he sits on the couch shaking slightly.
"Xan, it is already broken. We are trying to prevent more damage from occurring. Your homeworld may be safe for now but they were there and it could lead us to them now. These Sith are planning something, all this in fighting, meanwhile we are all in danger and not just from the Sith. I believe that in defeating the Dark Sith it may bring this order into a new age, one of acceptance and prosperity, one where Jedi are equal and can live in harmony with the rest of the universe. One where we think ourselves as people and not gods. One where we can look at facts and accept changes in the way we see things so that others will not be afraid to follow their own beliefs." Arlie tells him, Dooku nods in approval smiling slightly at her, she smiles back before returning her attention to her friend.
"He wants you Arleia." Xanatos tells her in a broken whisper, Dooku looks worried but also confused.
"Where did you hear that name?" She asks sounding concerned, he looks at her with an unhinged smile on his face.
"Did you think he did not know? How else would he know to use you against his Master?" Xanatos asks before blinking rapidly and slapping his hands over his mouth looking horrified. "Arlie what is happening?" He asks in a frantic whisper as Dooku uses the force to take his lightsaber away.
"Just in case." Dooku says looking genuinely regretful but not apologetic.
"I don't know Saviour, but we are going to figure it out. I will save you." She tells him, he looks at her and laughs.
"How are you going to do that while saving your brother? Mos Espa, right? Slave quarters?" He asks mockingly while laughing again, Arl pulls her lightsaber out and points it at him.
"What have you done to him?" She demands, he looks at her with a manic glint in his eye.
"Nothing yet, but tell me. How quickly can you get to Tatooine, Kitten?" He asks.
"You seem a little stumped there, Kitten."
"Arlie, shit, I don't know what I'm saying." Xan says looking terrified.
"Stay calm my friend, everything will be all right." She tells him as she sits in front of him and closes her eyes focusing on following the connection in his mind back to the source while still guarding her own.
"Ah my dear, welcome to what I like to call the 'Mindscape', the landscape in which you will find a way of moving to nearly every mind in the universe. It is astonishing how far you can travel moving down one bond to another and another and another, some people just do not think things through. But you my dear, you have but one bond and it is very well shielded." Darth Wrath tells her as a disembodied voice in a place she can't quite quantify.
"I shall take that as a compliment despite it being you who gave it. Tell me, how are you entering his mind?"
"People are weak when they are emotional, I simply had to find a weak point and wait for his mind to be off centre enough not to notice my entrance, and you Kitten, gave me the perfect opportunity."
"Is that what you hope to do with me too? Threaten my brother in order to throw me off centre?"
"No dear, when you join me, it will be your decision. And believe me, decide you will."
"I do not understand, you have had this information all along, why wait until now?"
"My plans for my former Master were far more long term, Tyranus would have been dealt with when I destroyed his Padawan. Except you had to go and fix him, didn't you? Now my plans have been moved up because you know of us, which means Plagueis will know. I can see why he loves you so, he always did love that which destroys my plans."
"He has never loved me, I destroyed his manipulative and psychotic plans just as well and I will destroy all of yours as well. I told you to leave Xan alone and you have not, I do not make empty threats."
"You say this, but I no longer feel the rage from you I did before, a pity really. I shall have to reinvigorate it somehow."
"Believe me Darth Wrath, when we finally meet face to face, you will know the true extent of my rage."
"I look forward to it." Arlie feels a change in the 'Mindscape' and knows Wrath is leaving.
"Wrath. One more thing. Why Sheev Palpatine, why possess him?"
"He was always a worthless trash heap, at least this way he is not such a waste of the very oxygen we breathe. Even if I did have to get rid of his deadbeat kids to take him."
Arlie comes back to the room and notices healers around Xanatos and herself along with Yoda, Mace, Mic, Ki-Adi, Adi, and Depa as well. Dooku was talking with Yoda and one of the healers explaining what he knew of what happened.
"What in all of the hells were you thinking?" Micah demands as soon as her eyes pull back into focus.
"That I needed a few questions answered." She replies shortly.
"Get what you needed?" Mace asks though he looks very concerned for her.
"Yes. I know who Wrath is. Now I have three things to do and the first is rather time sensitive so Yoda, if you would not mind paying attention?" Arlie requests not so much impatiently but in the voice of someone used to being listened to. When she sees Yoda give her his full attention she continues, "I need to go to Tatooine and retrieve my mother and brother, Wrath has threatened my brother. Either Dooku or myself must return to Telos IV to complete our investigation though preferably we will go together. And we have to figure out a way to remove Wrath from Sheev Palpatine's body. Also, I have realised that he is possessing him and while he can manipulate Sheev's mind while in a different body, he cannot make him a Sith."
"Ignoring all else momentarily, why is that?" Dooku asks neutrally though she could feel his confusion coming off of him in waves, either his shielding was faltering (Not likely) or she was not quite out of this 'Mindscape' and could feel it through the training bond Dooku had not properly shielded with Xanatos.
"It had been annoying me, I knew there was something I was missing. Sheev is as force null as you can get. His midi count at birth was something like eight. So even if he manipulates Sheev's mind, without possessing him he cannot use the force. Also, Dooku, you need to shield your training bond with Xanatos better. It leaves you vulnerable to Wrath's attack. He may reconnect with Xanatos so he should be under constant guard though I do not recommend engaging Wrath in conversation, he is an annoying shit. Now, Dooku, our investigation led us to the factory, it is possible Xanatos never would have attacked if we did not get that far so whoever goes should begin there, we may have been distracted for a reason beyond Wrath's desire to show off. Have I forgotten anything?" Arlie asks out loud as she looks to the ground thinking hard, during the war it had always been a case of, remember instantly or count the loss, she had yet to lose that way of thinking and was not sure she wished to, it was efficient after all.
"Yes, the identity of Darth Wrath." Master Gallia tells her, Arl nods.
"Thank you, yes something he said tipped me off. I asked why he possessed Sheev and he said 'He was always a worthless trash heap, at least this way he is not such a waste of the very oxygen we breathe. Even if I did have to get rid of his deadbeat kids to take him.' Bearing in mind what we already knew the answer is quite obvious." She tells them, they all, except Dooku of course, look to each other and around the room for inspiration with a lost look on all their faces. Arl thinks that it is progress in that they are not hiding their ignorance or confusion, she is oddly proud of them for that. "Wrath's Apprentice killed him for how he treated his son." Depa's eyes light up in understanding as do Yoda's.
"Palpatine is Wrath's son." Depa says aloud.
"Which means Wrath is…" Micah begins saying but trails off when he sees the look on Mace's face.
"Cosinga Palpatine." Mace all but growls, he shakes his head and seems more put together though no less angered when he refocuses. "All right, so Arlie goes to Tatooine, retrieves her family, Dooku remains to help Xan during immediate recovery when he regains consciousness. When Arl returns, she, Dooku, and Vos will go to Telos IV and resume the bombings investigation. Quinlan will prove helpful, I am sure. Meanwhile Tahl, Padawan Eerin, and I can begin researching possession and how one might remove someone from the body they possess." He dictates going into 'master of the order mode' and just about daring anyone to disagree.
"While you are at it, look into several different beliefs on death and unfinished business, things that come after. Specifically focus on ones involved in the force, Sith, Grey Jedi, back when we were all the same, that sort of thing. Whatever he's doing it's happening after he has died and I would appreciate a more indepth understanding of that before we try to deal with him." Arl adds, everyone nods in agreement before Micah sniggers, everyone in the room, sans unconscious Padawans, look at him in bewilderment.
"Sorry just, no one is going to comment or question the child helping dictate how the council is reacting to a very sensitive and volatile situation?" Micah asks, no one's looks change except Mace who rubs his hands over his face in frustration.
"I can give you some of my old research which may aid you in your search. When I return from Telos I will help you more thoroughly, I may know that library better than anyone save for Yoda and Master Nu." Dooku says, completely ignoring Micah, before looking to Arlie, "And possibly you." He adds, she rolls her eyes, no one even seems surprised by his statement. They had all given up on her making sense.
"I will withdraw money from the order's accounts so that Master Aa can free her family. I hate to be callous but how many slaves do you need to…um…purchase?" Master Gallia asks following Dooku's example of ignoring Micah.
"Two." Arlie replies not looking at all offended, Adi was only being practical after all. Arl also failed to realise what Adi had called her much to the other Master's amusement, it was quickly becoming a game of trying to slip it into conversation without her noticing. It had not even been a whole day but Jedi gossip quite a bit and half the temple was looking forward to playing.
"I would like to accompany you, I do not like the idea of you going to Tatooine alone. Knowing you, I would not be surprised if you offended the wrong person and left us with three slaves to purchase." Depa says without any real malice, Arl mock glares at her.
"I object! I would free them, then get myself resold into slavery." She says before noticing her Master's unamused look both she and Depa were receiving. "None of which will be happening of course because Depa is accompanying me, and Obi-Wan." She adds, the last part an afterthought.
"Why exactly are we bringing Padawan Kenobi?" Depa questions already beginning to regret her decision.
"Because Qui is going to have enough to deal with over the next few days." No one could argue with her on that and so it was agreed that Obi-Wan would accompany them.
"Be careful Depa, from what I have observed, any missions with her, even one, and you'll never be the same." Micah jokes, Depa sends a disbelieving look his way while Adi smirks.
"No, I think that is just prolonged exposure of any kind." Adi tells him, he slaps a hand over his heart in disbelief.
"Glad to see my presence is so unforgettable." Arlie replies, everyone chuckles a bit. "All right, let's get to work."
Two days later she, Depa and Obi are disembarking from a small transport ship on Tatooine. It would be cramped returning with five of them but their main objective was speed not comfort.
"So Arl, anything we should know before we meet your family?" Obi-Wan asks, it was, Depa thought upon reflection, a good question, and one she should have thought to ask. Arlie wasn't exactly the most forthcoming person though Depa got the impression she was more open and honest to them than she had been most of her life. Saying that always felt so natural as though there had been a lot of it before they met her, yet she had been seven when she came to the temple. Still, Depa had given up on making sense of her sister-padawan, all she had to know was that the girl was on their side, trustworthy, had a compassionate heart, and a strong desire to help.
"Yes, I gave the order a false name. Well, more of an old nickname I hadn't gone by in a while." Depa rethinks everything she just thought of the girl as they begin walking across the desert, she is, however, eternally grateful that Arlie chose the habitat appropriate clothing for the retrieval mission.
"And what, pray tell, is your real name?" Depa asks mildly surprised, she wasn't shocked by not knowing something about Arl, only that she had given a fake name, why would she do that?
"Define real name. Arl Aa was given to me by a very good friend of mine, someone I loved very much. It was the name I went by for the majority of my life and the one I chose to represent myself with when I joined the Jedi Order. It was a decision not made lightly and while I do not fully understand it, a part of it was so that my family would not be targeted because of the work I would end up doing. Technically this is Hego's fault not my own but still, they are innocent. So was I." Arlie says thinking of that man, of all he did, she takes a few deep breaths. "My birth name was Arleia Skywalker."
"Your friend was not very creative when giving nicknames." Depa says, Arlie chuckles.
"He was very high at the time. He had been drugged by someone and when he saw me he told me I should change my name to Arl Aa coz it sounds like Arleia or some rubbish like that. He wasn't making all that much sense at the time."
"You have interesting friends." Obi tells her, she inwardly sniggers thinking of the fact that said friend is one of Obi's best friends, though interestingly, in this timeline Obi seems closer to Bant than to Garen even though the two are still close. Arlie thinks the difference may actually be in Garen's altered friendship with Xanatos.
Ten minutes later the suns are setting and the slave quarters come into view.
"Isn't it too late to visit someone?" Obi asks concerned.
"Nubians." Arlie replies with an eyeroll earning a mildly alarmed look from Obi who seemed calmer when she offered him a reassuring smile. "My family are slaves Little Obi, I had to be sure they'd be done at Watto's shop since I'd rather not have this conversation in front of him." She explains, Obi and Depa both nod realising the logic. Arl freezes a little in front of her old house, she steels herself before knocking on the door, it had only been four years since her mother had last seen her, two or so years since she had last seen her mother. And yet there was a forty-five-year gap between them that Arlie did not know how to fill, and how was she supposed to see her innocent little brother knowing the atrocities he committed. It may not have been his fault but she would never be able to forget it happening by his hand, she did not blame him, she simply worried for the memories it had already brought back.
"Hello?" Shmi Skywalker asks as she opens the door.
"Hello Mum." Shmi out a hand to her heart as she sucked in a startled breath before releasing it in a quiet sob.
"Arlie, oh my baby girl." She says embracing her daughter who held her just as tightly, it was a lot less intense for Arlie, doing this for a second time, but she knew what it was like for her mother.
"Mummy? Who's that?" The voice of a five-year-old boy asks from inside the house.
"It's your sister Ani, she's home, come say hi." Shmi tells the boy as she leads the three Jedi into the cramped living quarters. The boy runs forward excitedly, immediately running to Arlie and hugging her, she wraps her arms around the boy as well. It had been fourteen years since she had held her brother this way, so much tainted time between them and yet, holding him in her arms as she is now, it all just washed away. Though she knew one thing now that she did not before, if she had to she would let the galaxy burn for this little boy, but unlike last time, she would not let the boy burn with it. Hopefully the galaxy could remain intact as well.
"Hello Arlie." He says smiling at her brightly, she lifts him into her arms, easy given the strength she possessed from her training.
"Hello, Ani, Mum, I'd like you to meet some friends of mine. This is Depa Billaba and Obi-Wan Kenobi." Arlie says purposefully leaving off titles, she did not wish to distress her family with a misunderstanding of the word 'master'.
"A pleasure to meet you both, would you care to join us for evening meal? There is not much but…" Shmi begins to say when Ani interrupts.
"I don't think it matters Mum, they're here to free us." He tells her, she sighs.
"Anakin, I know what you have been dreaming but you cannot just…" Shmi begins saying before Arlie interrupts.
"Wait dreaming? What dreams?" She asks, Shmi throws her hands up in the air.
"Have I taught neither of you that it is impolite to interrupt people?" She asks, Arlie and Ani both look down ashamed.
"Sorry mum/mummy." They reply falling silent.
"Lady Skywalker, please teach me how to do that, it would save so much time." Depa jokingly requests to ease the tension that had settled.
"Given the stories Mace has told me of when you were a Padawan I'd suggest that you have nothing over me I do not also have over you. You can be just as stubborn and annoying." Arlie defends, Depa gives her a condescending smile.
"Yes, but not nearly as argumentative dear."
"I am not argumentative." She pauses for a moment, "Okay I see your point."
"As amusing as this is, the two of you arguing was not the point of this trip." Obi reminds them.
"Patience Padawan, you will be faced with worse delays than arguing Jedi Masters in your future and you must deal with them using a level head." Depa corrects automatically.
"And why don't you have a Padawan?" Arl asks.
"Too busy helping your Masters with you."
"Cheeky." She replies smiling.
"You are Jedi?" Shmi asks bewildered as Anakin smiles smugly. "Don't say it Anakin."
"Ah, back to the topic, what dreams?" Arl asks and promptly ignores Obi-Wan's mumbled "That was not the topic."
"I was having dreams that you would come with the Jedi to free us and you'd save Mos Espa from raiders when you do coz it's gonna attacked." The boy tells her, Arlie exchanges what appear to be blank looks with Depa but the two can read the subtleties in their expressions. It was a necessary skill for Jedi and one that Obi-Wan had yet to learn, though if the future Arl had lived was anything to go by, he'd be bloody good at it when he does.
"Anakin is right in that we are here to free you, though I do hope the town isn't attacked." Arlie tells them, Shmi's eyes widen as she looks to her son, it made Depa unnaturally happy to see that even with freedom in her grasp it was still her son's future and freedom the woman thought of first.
"I see it you know, the resemblance." Depa says looking between Shmi and Arlie, both of whom could tell it was not physical attributes she was speaking of.
"Thank you." Arlie replies happily, then she gets down to business. "Hey Anakin, would you mind showing Obi around while I talk to Mum for a minute?"
"Sure! I can show him threepio, he's a protocol droid that I'm going to make for mum. I don't have enough parts to really do it yet but he's gonna be so cool when I'm done with him." The little boy says dragging Obi away.
"I assume you did not just suddenly decide to free us then?" Shmi asks though not sounding disappointed, she believed her daughter when she said they would free her and her son.
"Believe me I wanted to a long time ago but I've never had access to wuipui to do it." Arlie says mournfully, Depa looks shocked.
"I'm sure, had you explained the situation to the council…" She begins saying but Arlie cuts her off.
"I'd have gotten a backwards talking to from Yoda about attachment and Master Gallia being deeply apologetic but unfortunately, they can't very well free every slave in the galaxy. I understand that and I didn't expect the order to do that, but things have changed so…"
"So, you went into 'Master Aa' mode and gave them no choice." Arl rolls her eyes at the description but nods.
"What is it that changed?" Shmi asks trying to keep up with the conversation. Arlie and Depa exchange looks, neither sure how to answer exactly, Arl knows her mother can keep a cool head in most situations but this was different. In an ideal world Arlie would relocate them without actually telling them why but, her mother deserved to know the truth, or at least this truth.
"An old friend of Hego Damask is trying to get revenge on him, he's threatened Anakin." Shmi looks for a moment like she is going to pass out but quickly rights herself and looks at both Depa and Arlie seriously, thinking only of the safety of her son, when she asks,
"What do we do?"
