Light in the Darkness
Chapter Ten
Sixteen Years Later
Coruscant had returned to its ever enduring grandiose state. A long-awaited peace had settled around the galaxy even the crime rates had been descending to an all-time low. Grand Master Anakin Skywalker returned the Order to its original prosperity and height.
Whispers were the only thing that marred and barred the path of eternal peace for the galaxy. Here and there every few years a small scale incident would occur, so miniscule that it would escape the notice of even Republic Intelligence, but Obi-wan was no fool and he knew something much larger was at work behind the scenes.
He had warned everyone that something felt wrong in the Force; no Master listened negating his words by labeling him as a paranoid war veteran. Obi-wan entered the Council chambers his beautiful copper hair now marred with streaks of gray. Obi-wan settled in his seat beside his husband. The doors opened again admitting entrance to a Padawan with medium-length blonde hair similar to Anakin's own.
"Padawan Skywalker, you have faced the Trials and the Council has determined your eligibility to become a full Knight of the Order," said Master Fisto, smiling proudly at his apprentice. Obi-wan stared proudly at his son as he knelt before Kit. Kit activated his emerald-colored saber and sliced off Luke's Padawan braid with swiftness and precision.
Plo Koon smiled at the teenage boy from behind his respirator, "Congratulations."
Anakin rose from his seat embracing his son warmly his mane of hair now tinted with a touch of gray. Obi-wan rose as well and embraced the boy he had grown to care so closely for as if his own child over the years.
"We're so proud of you," he murmured quietly to Luke. Anakin nodded ignoring the watchful eyes of every member of the Council. Luke watched the room clear out and walked over to the window quietly staring down into the gardens at a group of Knights clustered in a small group on the lush lawn.
A voice slightly cracked with age called out gently, "Which one is it?"
Luke snapped around in surprise, "W-What?"
"Which boy?" smiled an older Shaak Ti striding over beside the young Jedi Knight.
Shaak followed his gaze lingering on a boy with fairly long raven hair. The boy spared a glance up at the Council spire unable to see either Luke or Shaak.
"Have you talked to him about how you feel?" asked Shaak lightly placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. Luke shrugged it off, "I don't even know if he likes me," replied Luke lamely.
Shaak turned towards the retreating boy, "You'll never know if you never ask. There's no need to be apprehensive about talking to me about it. I was the first one to know about your father and Obi-wan. Besides, do they even know you're..."
"Gay? No, I haven't bothered to tell them yet," said Luke stopping at the doors.
"I'm sure they'll understand Luke," she replied.
"Maybe they want grandchildren," retorted Luke.
"And Leia can provide the two with just that," reminded Shaak.
Luke nodded after a moment and disappeared behind closed doors leaving Shaak behind in the Council chambers. Anakin leaned against the banister of the Training Room overlooking the Padawans being trained by Aayla in lightsaber combat.
A brave soul decided to take on her challenge and he put up a good fight for the first thirty seconds before Aayla stopped toying with him and slapped his saber from his grasp.
"You're a natural, but you lack technique, Sokar," she praised her newest Padawan.
Anakin watched intently as the Padawans split into pairs practicing the Ataru and Makashi forms. Anakin gripped the banister tightly feeling a tremor in the Force. An unbalance in the scales of light and dark.
He utilized the Force to leap down beside Aayla and said to her over the commotion of crackling training sabers, "There's and intruder in the Temple."
"I felt it too," she whispered.
"I'll take care of it."
Anakin stormed out of the Training Room and passed through a series of small corridors until he reached the Entrance Hall. Anakin came to an abrupt halt spotting an older girl with a cowl obscuring her face. There was no mistaking the taint of the dark side deep inside, poorly masked by a Force Shield. Anakin quietly descended the steps towards the girl spotting Obi-wan pass out of the entrance of the Temple Archives and head towards the girl's direction.
The girl vanished behind a row of densely packed columns and Anakin quickly scanned the hall for any sign of her and spotted her beside Luke. The girl tapped him lightly on the shoulder and asked an inaudible question.
Luke muttered something before stopping her, "Are you new here? Because I've never seen you around the Temple before."
The girl muttered something incomprehensible to Anakin before beckoning to Luke to follow. "I could use some help with something."
Anakin increased his strides now bearing down on the two. Luke followed the girl through a small room and out onto a barren and empty portion of the veranda wrapping around this wing of the Temple. "What do you need?" he asked.
Anakin stepped out of the chamber and out onto the small veranda just as he felt the surge of the dark side well up in the girl. The girl raised her hand and a dart flew out of a small band on her wrist. Luke ripped the dart out before snarling at the girl and racing at her brandishing his green saber.
Darkness closed in around him suddenly and he collapsed relinquishing his hold on his saber and it clattered to the ground deactivating. The girl pressed a button on her band and a series of beeps commenced.
Anakin raised his palm, pure fury taking over. The girl rose off of the ground suddenly and flew towards Anakin's slamming to a halt a few inches from his face clutching at her windpipe.
"What did you do to my son?!" he roared. The girl trembled feeling the sheer of the Force rolling off of Anakin. She gasped out, "I'll die before I tell you anything.
"That can be arranged," snapped Anakin shaking violently now. A shuttle rocketed towards the Temple and Anakin stared past the girl at it his interest piqued. The girl seized the opportunity and planted a sharp kick in his side and Anakin staggered releasing his hold on the girl. The girl massaged her throat before racing over to Luke's sprawled form and dragged him towards the railing.
Anakin raised his hand and lightning surged off of it knocking the girl away from Luke, "Get away from my son!"
He brandished his lightsaber and leapt over to the girl immediately entering the Djem So form. The girl entered the Soresu form and repelled his overwhelming assault with increased effort with her crimson saber.
"You're a Sith?" questioned Anakin in bewilderment, "You can't quell us forever Skywalker. My Master has plans for your son."
Anakin lashed out slashing a shallow cut along her left leg and the Sith clutched at the painful wound with a cry of pain. Her defenses crumbled beneath Anakin's onslaught. The shuttle's engines roared loudly startling Anakin as its guns opened fire and a stray bolt of green energy slammed into his chest knocking him flat.
The girl deactivated her saber and dragged Luke towards the descending landing ramp lowering from the belly of the shuttle.
"No!" protested Anakin weakly. A double-bladed green saber twirled through the air slashing through the hydraulics of the landing ramp and the ramp screeched to a halt before it could even partly close. A Jedi Knight leapt through the air with grace and agility and fell upon the Sith apprentice with cold precedence his blade incapacitating her with a series of strikes and cuts. A mercenary opened fire on him with a blaster rifle and the Knight swatted the swathe of laser fire away. He rolled backwards suddenly his hand tightly clutching at Luke's robes and pulled him off of the landing ramp with him suddenly as the shuttle began to fly away. The Knight held the boy close and plummeted back towards the veranda enveloping the two in the Force to cushion their impact.
Luke's eyes fluttered open and immediately the wind sliced at his face threw him into a state of panic. "Calm down," said the older male his raven hair flapping about. Luke stared into the emerald eyes of the boy he had grown to love and held on tighter as they slammed into the duracrete tiles shattering a small portion around them from the impact.
"Are you alright?" asked Luke worried.
"Alive," winced the other Knight.
"Kylar," said Luke seriously.
"I'm seriously fine Luke," he said rolling out from underneath the boy and jumping to his feet.
Obi-wan knelt beside Anakin using the Force to attempt to heal Anakin's wound. Tears welled in the man's eyes as he stared down at his lover's unconscious form.
"A-Ani," he whispered.
"Obi-wan," groaned Anakin quietly his eyes blinking open slowly.
"Thank the Force," replied Obi-wan holding Anakin tight. Anakin yelped in pain, "We need to get you to Bant right away."
Luke watched several Jedi help the Grand Master and Obi-wan back into the Temple. "Is he okay?" asked Kylar worried.
"He's tough he can take that turret shot like a champ," assured Luke half to himself. Kylar examined Luke carefully, "Are you alright?" he asked Luke unsure.
"I-I'll be fine, the girl just caught me off guard a little," smiled Luke. Luke's smile faltered as Kylar leaned forward his lips brushing against Luke's as if asking permission.
Luke leaned into the kiss wrapping his arms around Kylar's neck and kissed the older male passionately. Luke broke the kiss startled as an explosion echoed from across the bustling metropolis.
Luke spotted flames rising from part of the Senate rotunda and fear overwhelmed him suddenly feeling distress screaming through the Force.
"Leia!"
A/N: The end to another great chapter. Don't worry I'll try to update sooner and sorry there's no AniObi action. There will be both next chap and even some LukeOC action. Hope you all liked. Review, favorite, follow, PM me with feedback or any challenges (:
Cookies for my loyal readers and reviewers!
Bye now