Three Weeks Later

Durami

The view of forests and oceans warmed Amythest's troubled heart as she opened her eyes and looked out the window on her side of the bed she and Luke shared. The housing was adequate and it was in an isolated enough system that the Empire wouldn't waste time on it. It was a perfect place to hide.

After her father had left Coruscant, the group had packed their things and fled Coruscant under the darkness of night with nobody knowing where they were headed. Han and Chewie had spent a good deal of time in space, so they had known where the Falcon could go without being hunted down.

They had been on the isolated planet for two weeks and old abandoned buildings that had aged furnishings had a few settlers here and there as well as stores that carried decent supplies. Anakin had secluded himself in quarters near the forest, as he required time and meditation away from everyone each day that would guide him in serving as Grand Master over what was left of the Force-sensitives.

Pooja and Sola had taken another hut with Ruwee and Jobal that was close to where Obi-Wan, who had chosen to live alone due to his fractured connection with the Force and damaged memory, now resided.

Han and Leia were sharing a house with Chewbacca and Leia had been busy preparing for the birth of her twins, though it would still be several months before they were born. Amythest had found herself living with Luke and doing her best to adjust to a marriage she found herself very grateful to have.

Dr. Dameron, Aaden, and Mara all lived together in another house and rarely asked for assistance from the others, as they weren't sure if trust could be built. It seemed as if the trust issue caused tension.

As Amythest looked out over their small community, however, she saw Dr. Dameron and Anakin standing together near the forest, deep in quiet conversation. The rest of the homes were dark.

A quiet snore filled the room and Amythest sat up, smiling when she saw that Luke was sound asleep in the bed next to her. Luke had spent many sleepless nights since their arrival on Durami making sure that they had a comfortable home and that the baby would have a place to sleep when it was finally born.

Knowing Luke would be hungry when he finally woke, Amythest slowly got out of bed and silently wandered into the makeshift kitchen. She would make this work with every fibre of her being, as she was a former slave and capable of using very little to make a comfortable life for herself and others.

On the other side of the small forest that separated the dwellings from the water, Obi-Wan sat at the water's edge. He had gotten up while it was still dark and had gathered a few medical supplies from the supply hut before trekking to his usual spot and engaging in his daily ritual of cleaning fresh wounds.

The cuts were self-inflicted and Obi-Wan had been using the Force since their arrival on the planet to make a sharp piece of bark in his home to strike him over and over every evening until he bled. He felt so alone, useless, and unable to find peace through the Force; he hadn't sensed that Dr. Jinn had planned to leave to give them safety and yet, he felt responsible everything that had happened because he hadn't been able to use the Force or his senses properly since being freed from the carbonite.

Slowly disrobing from the outfit he had worn since being freed from his carbonite prison, Obi-Wan climbed into the water. The clothes were the only thing he had simply because he had no money to get anything else and he hadn't felt right asking for help. Anakin had bigger responsibilities now.

The cold water brought relief to his stinging wounds and Obi-Wan closed his eyes; he hadn't lost his desire to suffer more agony since nearly throwing himself off the bridge on Coruscant, but it had faded slightly after Sola had admitted she cared for him in a way that he had long forgotten how to feel.

"How much pain did you cause yourself last night, Obi-Wan?" a gentle voice suddenly asked.

Obi-Wan opened his eyes and was both surprised and horrified to see Anakin sitting at the water's edge, "I didn't want to believe what my senses were telling me, but Han and Chewbacca saw you and told me," Anakin spoke quietly. "You will be staying with me for the foreseeable future, you understand."

"You have much on your plate already," Obi-Wan replied quietly. "I am simply an old man and…"

Anakin sighed patiently and put the basket of supplies closer to the water, "And you are unstable," he replied quietly. "I know you have a fractured connection to the Force. I know you need great help."

Obi-Wan sighed, exited the water, and silently dried himself off before dressing and collecting the unused supplies, "I have spoken with Doctor Dameron," Anakin spoke softly. "He is waiting."

Numb with shock and cold, Obi-Wan slowly followed Anakin through the small forest and kept silent as they went into Anakin's homestead. Dr. Dameron was silently preparing medical supplies in the living room and he offered a sad smile when he saw that Anakin had managed to retrieve Obi-Wan.

"Disrobe and let me see what you've done," Dr. Dameron spoke calmly, knowing through his own Force-sensitivity what Obi-Wan had been doing to himself. "I am capable of fixing your physical injuries."

Obi-Wan silently removed his outfit and kept very quiet as Dr. Dameron treated his many wounds with bacta gel and bandages, "That's all I can do right now," Dr. Dameron finally said quietly. "You can…"

Swallowing hard, Obi-Wan looked for his clothes, but couldn't find them, "Here are some things of mine," Anakin spoke quietly, coming out of his bedroom with a clean tunic and pants.

"I do have clothes," Obi-Wan replied quietly, confused when Anakin quickly dressed him.

Anakin sighed, "Those will be disposed of because you've been in them since before you were frozen and they cause you too much pain," he replied gently. "For now, you need rest and recuperation."

Obi-Wan gave Anakin a look as Anakin took his arm and guided him into the bedroom, "I am not the only one who has noticed your struggle," Anakin spoke gently. "Please take my bed for your rest."

Ever so reluctantly, Obi-Wan got into bed, "Just sleep and we will have further discussion when your mind is clear," Anakin spoke gently as he silently left the room. "You are much too exhausted now."

Quickly realizing that Anakin had used the Force to exhaust him, Obi-Wan passed out cold.

Endor

"Report, Doctor Tychon," Dr. Jinn heard Andris's voice say in a cold tone. "Is he recovering?"

There was a sigh, "His time among the Jedi and the Rebels caused physical and emotional damage that will take time to fix, but I will not do so without his consent, sir," Dr. Tychon's voice replied softly.

"I still believe that he should be tortured," another voice said darkly. "He is a Rebel spy…."

A pained yell filled the air followed by the slash of a lightsaber, "I do hate it when the Stormtroopers try to express opinions," Dr. Jinn heard Andris say calmly. "Killing them is such a messy business."

Dr. Jinn flinched as he suddenly felt a hand touch him, "I know that Kenobi emotionally manipulated him and sent him to the Rebellion like a slave," he heard Andris say coldly. "I can feel fear and confusion in his mind and Kenobi's been driving him to madness and insanity ever since I was a small child."

"Please…if you're going to kill me, make it quick," Dr. Jinn pled in a trembling voice. "Andris…"

Dr. Jinn opened his eyes, confused when he saw Andris, who was clad in an Imperial uniform, sitting in a chair beside his hospital bed, "Kenobi is a sadistic fool who used you to further his popularity with the Rebellion," Andris spoke in a cold voice as he touched Dr. Jinn's face. "I will not do the same simply because you are my father and Palpatine knew it. He knew that you would be damaged for their gain."

Andris gently stroked his father's face, "Kenobi and that Rebellion will pay for what they did to you and I suspect that Anakin Skywalker is also being deceived, so I will not harm him or his family," he said in a dark, soothing voice that was calming enough to force Dr. Jinn to fight sleep. "Allow yourself to relax."

Deeply confused and terrified, Dr. Jinn found himself slipping into a light slumber because he was scared what would happen to him if he really fell asleep, "It's all right," Andris's voice filled his senses. "Sleep."

Flashes of memories flooded through Dr. Jinn's mind, "I see the Rebels left a little souvenir in my father's brain," he heard Andris say in a dark voice. "Doctor Tychon, can it be removed safely?"

There were beeps and a gasp, "Captain Andris, you're right," a voice said. "There is…"

Intense pain ripped through Dr. Jinn's head and he grabbed it, whimpering anxiously as he felt a mask being pressed on to his face. There were beeps and he suddenly felt his body losing all feeling.

"I know that worthless Rebel Alliance is hiding in the old Senate Chambers on Coruscant, so I believe I will be making arrests for treason against the Empire and employing slavery tactics through surgical means," Andris spoke coldly, watching as Dr. Jinn slipped into unconsciousness and went limp. "Do what you can for him and I will do what I must to make sure the Rebellion will be brought to their knees."

Dr. Tychon nodded and Andris stormed out of the infirmary, not breaking his stride until he reached the war room where Jenarra and several other Imperial officers worked, "I want a full raid on Coruscant and I want the members of the Alliance who are hiding out in the old Senate Chambers," Andris ordered coldly. "They will then be put on a broadcasted trial for treason and employing slavery tactics on unsuspecting, innocent individuals to further their gain. I also want Obi-Wan Kenobi found!"

"Obi-Wan Kenobi's brain was damaged by the carbonite, you said," Jenarra replied quietly.

Andris thought for a moment and nodded, "A brain damaged Jedi will not be likely to remember what he has done and there is no point in pursuing him," he replied calmly. "Your logic makes sense."

There was a heavy silence, "I do not advocate people being forced into slavery against their will and my father was implanted with a device by those disgusting Rebels that made him nothing more than a slave to obedience," Andris spoke coldly. "I spent time as a slave under a whip before I was freed by…"

A somber silence filled the war room, "Prepare for an invasion of Coruscant," Andris ordered sharply as he walked over to a communications terminal. "I must see how King Derrick is enjoying Naboo."

Durami

Luke's eyes popped open in fear as he felt the other side of the bed and found it empty. A billion thoughts went through his mind and he immediately got out of bed and quickly dressed. As he left the bedroom, however, he heard the sounds of cooking in the kitchen and he immediately relaxed.

Amythest stood at the stove with several pans containing cooking food in front of her and Luke silently crept up behind her, "Good morning, my sweet," Luke whispered as he put his arms around her.

"I didn't want to wake you because you needed the rest," Amythest replied quietly, still very much unused to the gestures of affection that Luke offered her because she worried he would turn into Derrick at the first sign that she might have her own thoughts. "There's enough for both of us."

Sensing that Amythest was needing time to warm up to him because of what Derrick had done to her body and mind, Luke gently patted her growing belly and moved away, "Did you want me to finish the food for us?" he asked quietly, eager to help how he could. "You could go dress for the day…"

"That…that would be very nice of you," Amythest replied softly. "Thank you, Luke."

Swallowing hard, Amythest moved away from the stove and disappeared into the bathroom, knowing she had to try hard and accept things as she had chosen them to be. She had a feeling that her father had left for more of a reason than to give them a chance to escape; his relationship with the Rebel Alliance had been noticeably strained and he had almost acted like he had been fighting them.

Quickly disrobing, Amythest got into the shower and set about making herself clean for the day.

"Han, I believe we should speak," Han heard a quiet voice say as he and Chewie sat in the living room of their and Leia's dwelling, silently working on the cribs for the twins. "You know something…very dark."

Han looked up and saw Anakin lingering in the doorway, "Leia's asleep," he replied calmly. "I…"

Chewie grunted happily at Anakin, "Coffee would be lovely, thank you," Anakin replied calmly. "Artoo and Threepio are with the ship and the ship is in my yard, so any help would be much appreciated."

Nodding, Chewie disappeared into the kitchen, "Speak your mind, Han," Anakin spoke softly.

"Did you talk to Kenobi, then?" Han asked in a concerned voice. "You look exhausted."

Anakin nodded and sat down, "Obi-Wan will be residing in my home for the time being and he is currently sleeping while Doctor Dameron treats his wounds," he replied calmly.

"He spent a few years in carbonite and that would make anyone go crazy and be in pain," Han stated.

Anakin gave Han a look and Han sighed, "I'm personally glad we came here instead of staying with the Rebel leaders," Han admitted quietly, knowing Anakin would not be swayed. "I didn't trust them."

"And why is that?" Anakin asked calmly, giving Han freedom to speak rather than search his mind.

Han sighed, "Chewie and I had been sent ahead to help the Rebels set up base on Hoth because we had technological knowledge," he replied calmly. "We were both given brief physicals by medi-droids despite the fact that there was a doctor on the base, or so I'd been told. I asked about the doctor…"

"You're referring to Doctor Jinn," Anakin reasoned, frowning when Han nodded grimly.

Han scoffed, "Those droids said that the doctor on-site had been taken with some sort of mystery illness and had been sedated to recover better," he replied in an upset voice. "After my physical, the droids left me and I wandered around the med-bay. I found that doctor heavily sedated and undergoing some sort of surgical procedure on his brain. He was in restraints and a voice was dictating the whole thing…"

"Did you ever ask what was going on?" Anakin asked suspiciously, bad feelings rising in his heart.

Han shook his head, "I was so troubled by it that I didn't dare," he replied in a concerned voice.

"I can tell you right now that I had no knowledge of the happenings within the Rebellion before meeting them on Yavin 4," Anakin replied calmly. "Before that, I was in hiding and raising my son because I knew I couldn't afford to expose my past as a Jedi Knight. I sensed desperation from the Rebellion, however, when I did join them and Senator Monthma had me arrested for treason, if you remember that far…"

Han nodded and Anakin stood up, "This settlement is filled with good people who are mostly Force-sensitives in hiding and they have no desire to be found by the Empire, so they use their gifts discreetly," Anakin said in a calm voice. "I have come to an agreement with the leader that we will do the same."

"There's a leader of this place?" Leia, who had woken to the sound of talking, asked as she came out with a robe over her pajamas to see what was going on. "I've never seen any sort of leader."

Anakin nodded, "You will eventually, but the leader is working on seeing if you are trustworthy because you were part of the Rebel Alliance under Senator Monthma's leadership," he replied calmly.

Leia frowned, "Is the Rebel Alliance considered an enemy here?" she asked in a confused voice.

"From what I understand of it, yes," Anakin replied calmly. "There are many who escaped the terrors of the Old Republic and Darth Vader's reign because they feared for their lives. The governments failed to help them and so they see them as an enemy. This planet has many small villages of refugees."

Leia sighed, slowly sitting down because she knew her father was right in not trusting the Rebel Alliance, "Is that why Doctor Jinn left so suddenly?" she asked softly. "Did they torture him for information?"

"Han will tell you what he has seen," Anakin replied calmly. "I must go and meditate a while.

Naboo

Pain filled Derrick's mind as he woke and found himself in bed, a place where he had spent much time recuperating after his violent seizure that had left him unconscious for over a week. When he had regained consciousness, his mother had explained that his father had been maintaining order according to instructions he had found in the computer. Derrick had been far too weak to ask any questions.

Through his parents' careful ministrations, however, Derrick had managed to get well enough to speak, eat, and do basic work from bed. The recovery was going slowly, however, and Derrick knew that his heart was broken and would forever remain that way simply because of what the Jedi had done to the relationship and child he and Amythest shared. They had forced her to marry his spineless cousin and through his connection to the Force, he felt that Luke had claimed fathership of Amythest's child.

Tears filled Derrick's eyes and he slowly sat up, sadness filling him as he allowed himself a cry over what had been stolen from him, "Son?" he heard his father's voice say as footsteps approached. "Oh…"

Derrick sighed as he felt his father pull him into an embrace and gently muss his hair, "It's all right," Owen spoke quietly, holding his broken son close. "Dry your tears and I'll give you your breakfast."

Swallowing hard, Derrick forced himself to relax and watched as his father set a breakfast tray on the bed after releasing him. A plate of sliced apples, pears, and slices of grilled meat sat next to a closed cup of juice on the tray along with silverware and Derrick didn't protest as his father cut the food, as he knew he would only make a mess doing it himself, "Thank you," Derrick spoke in a quiet voice. "I…"

Owen nodded and quietly fed Derrick the food, "I know," he replied gently. "Eat, my son; eat."

Derrick complied and sighed when he had managed to eat all of his breakfast, "I…I think I am well enough to leave bed today and try walking," he spoke in a tired voice. "Just a short walk."

Owen cleared the breakfast tray and watched as Derrick slowly got out of bed and moved into the fresher, sealing himself inside for several moments. As the sound of the shower filled the room, Owen recycled the empty plate, cup, and tray so that the kitchen would be able to use it again.

Soon, Derrick emerged from the fresher in his robe and managed to make it over to the closet of outfits local clothiers had sent him upon his coronation. He discarded the robe and adorned himself in royal tan underclothes before dressing in a dark red tunic and a dark gray royal robe. He adorned his royal necklace and crest ring before silently picking up a brush and making his drying hair presentable. With great effort, he managed to get a pair of ankle-length boots and socks on to complete the look.

"I simply covered my arm with a waterguard so I didn't have to remove it," Derrick stated quietly, his eyes sad as he turned to face his father. "I wasn't born into this, but I hope to do my best with it."

Owen nodded and followed Derrick from the sleep chamber, staying close as they walked down the corridor to the throne room. Security patrols all murmured greetings to Derrick as he sat on his throne, not anticipating any sort of reply because they knew that the King had been extremely sick recently.

Derrick, meanwhile, was surprised to see that the throne room had been filled with baskets of local flora and other local items in various baskets, "I do not understand all of these things…" he said slowly.

"They are gifts from citizens of Naboo, Your Highness," Captain Panaka, who had dedicated himself to serve the new monarch simply for the sake of his survival. "Your illness created concern among the people and they have come to value you as a leader. They were quite relieved when you woke up."

Derrick looked confused, but simply nodded because he could feel Andris checking up on him through telepathy and giving him instructions to ensure that there were no Rebels on Naboo. Communication through telepathy was safer than sending transmissions simply because transmissions could be intercepted. Silently agreeing to send soldiers to search the planet for odd activity, Derrick sighed.

"Captain Panaka," Derrick said in as strong a voice as he could muster. "A moment of your time."

Nodding, Captain Panaka approached the throne and got down on one knee as was customary, "Please dispatch Security all over the planet to search for Rebel or Jedi activity," Derrick said in as strong a voice as he could muster. "If you find anyone engaged in such activity, arrest them immediately and put them into prison, but do not harm them. Emperor Andris will want to interrogate them himself later on."

Captain Panaka bowed his head in agreement, "Yes, Your Highness," he replied, rising from the floor.

As Captain Panaka left to carry out his orders, Derrick sighed and set about engaging in meditation.

Endor

Dr. Jinn lay securely tucked in bed heavily sedated with a bandage around his freshly cut hair holding a patch of gauze against the place where a laser had penetrated his skull while a tube sat down his throat that was connected to a vent. Dr. Tychon had been forced to cut his long hair short and into a neat style in order to perform the surgery. She had found several small chips implanted in his brain that were designed to control behavior and restrain his use of the Force. In other words, they were mind-controls.

Dr. Tychon had managed to remove all of the chips and had contained them in a stasis container before sending a message to Andris about her findings. She was one of many Force-users who lived in secret because the Old Jedi Order had forced many rule-breaking Jedi to discard families and lives they had created while on missions or face expulsion from the Old Order and only Andris knew that. He had protected her as a son would a mother.

"You are attracted to him, aren't you?" Dr. Tychon heard Andris calmly ask. "I can feel it."

Dr. Tychon's eyes widened as she turned and saw Andris standing in the doorway, "Emperor Andris, I would never presume to have such inappropriate thoughts about your father,," she replied quietly. "Did you read…?"

"Yes, I read your report on these mind-control chips," Andris replied calmly. "It appears as if the Rebel Alliance had their own way of purging Force-sensitive people from having any influence on things. How very tragic."

Dr. Tychon nodded, her eyes sad, "There is no shame in being attracted to my father, Doctor Tychon," Andris said in a calm voice. "He has been broken by the Rebellion after living alone in hiding for years simply because some of Palpatine's idiots thought it fun to kill my mother and blow up a med clinic."

"I would not do more than feel attraction if he did not wish it," Dr. Tychon finally replied softly.

Andris sighed and Dr. Tychon checked the bio-monitor, "Your father is stable," she spoke quietly.

"Endor is too isolated for his recovery," Andris said calmly. "The base will be moving very soon."

Dr. Tychon looked surprised, "The remnants of the Rebellion are in hiding on Coruscant," Andris spoke calmly. "I have ordered troops everywhere to prepare for an invasion. I plan to seize the planet for my own purposes."

"I will do what I can to make sure Doctor Jinn is stable enough for travel," Dr. Tychon promised softly.

Nodding, Andris silently left the room finding himself extremely grateful for his surrogate mother's compassion.

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