A/N: This chapter isn't too *action-y*, but the next chapter will have much more fighting and what not. I might be doing a time-skip.

CHAPTER 12

A NEW HOPE

Ossus wasn't that bad of a planet, Anakin had decided. It reminded him much of his childhood, with all the simple traditions of the native humans there. The only difference was that there was plant life for miles on end. Much different from all the sand he grew up with as a kid.

However, his appreciation for the planet did not show too well as he sat dejectedly in a large mezzanine within the Ossus Temple. His thoughts still returned to his wife and this reality he ended up in. He wish he knew the faintest idea of how to fix everything. He was the Chosen One, yet he didn't have a clue on what to do.

"Anakin, you've been sulking here for the past 9 months," Obi-Wan commented as he came to a stop next to the log bench that Skywalker rested on.

"How can I not sulk," Anakin retorted with more force than he had meant, "When my wife hates me?"

Obi-Wan sighed and rubbed his beard before sitting down next to the young man he considered a brother.

"Anakin, what I said that time ago," Kenobi began, looking off into the distance as Anakin turned his head towards him. "I wasn't entirely clear-headed. I still believe that you can help her."

"Why the sudden change of heart?" Anakin questioned curiously, looking to what Obi-Wan was gazing at. Off in the distance, there were several Jedi Padawans practicing levitating small to medium sized rocks.

Anakin often wondered what it would've been like had he been trained at a younger age. Would he not have all the anxieties and insecurities that plagued him often? And Padme was on Coruscant, doing Force knows what...

"There's nothing I can do anyway," Anakin asserted, thinking back on the radical changes that had taken place the last nine months. Coruscant was essentially a police-state. Granted, the citizens of Coruscant didn't seem to have any complaints, but heavy taxes were being forced on trading planets. Muunilist seemed in the clear, seeing how it was called Moneyland. "The Jedi are put in a bad light. We look like brigands running from an arrest warrant."

Obi-Wan watched his expression, considering his words. Yes, Chancellor Amidala was, daresay, even more subtle than Palpatine. Jedi weren't branded criminals, but under the circumstances, well, the public didn't like them very much. He was about to elaborate on his earlier statement when he noticed Anakin's troubled expression.

"Anakin?" He asked worriedly. Anakin seemed to be sensing something...off...the past few days, but he didn't bother him about it. But now, Anakin's intense concentration urged him to ask.

"Padme...she's..." Anakin rubbed his face in distress. "How did I not know this."

"What did you sense," Obi-Wan asked, growing more nervous at Obi-Wan's pensive expression.

"I have twins."

Obi-Wan was about to respond gracefully with a refined answer of "What?" but Kenobi felt a disturbance himself. Not on Coruscant, but here on Ossus.

"This is all my fault," Anakin said suddenly, as he stood up and headed towards the new Ossus Council Room.

"Anakin, what have you sensed? I felt it too, but I can't pinpoint what it is."

"Clone Troopers! After we killed Palpatine and relocated here, I left the datapad at Republica 500," the Knight said with outward calm, although his aura projected his trepidation in waves.

"You left sensitive information in Padme's apartment," Obi-Wan repeated dispassionately. Anakin was grateful that Obi-Wan didn't decide to lecture him, but he had the feeling that neither of them we're particularly in the mood for a lecture, be it giving or receiving the speech.

Before entering the Council Chamber, Anakin had allowed his Force presence to stretch outward in all directions to alert the Council of his coming. He pushed open the doors and the Jedi inside were already standing.

"Felt it, we have. An offensive, the Republic has provoked."

So they were aware. Anakin nodded his agreement.

"They're Clone Troopers and they're heading straight this way for the Temple."

The Council's collective Force presence showed their nervousness, calm, and sense of betrayal all rolled into one package. Thanks to Anakin and Obi-Wan's efforts, they learned of Order 66, but it was different from possibly seeing it enacted.

"Those soldiers aren't here to simply arrest us. I can sense it. They're shooting to kill," Mace Windu commented gravely, simultaneously pulling out a commlink. Without preamble, he ordered all Masters outside to shepherd the Padawans inside.

"The shatterpoint," Master Windu continued, "Is connected to both Chancellor Amidala," he looked directly at Anakin. "And Knight Skywalker. She is aware of this attack," He announced, the last of his statement aimed at everyone in the room.

Anakin looked down in both embarrassment and guilt. Was Padme finally showing her true colors in this universe? He didn't know. He felt he'd tried many times to get her to see reason, but it wasn't working.

"I need to stop her," Anakin declared, sounding more confident than he felt. If what the Force and Master Windu was telling the truth, and the Force never lies, then these Clone Troopers were going to kill everyone.

Master Windu tactfully decided not to push the issue of Amidala's unkown connection with Skywalker, instead he turned so that he could face the other Council Members.

"Under the circumstances, I feel that this altercation is something under the record. We need to defend the Temple, while Knight Skywalker confronts the Chancellor."

There were nods of approval, and Master Yoda, who was still seated, grunted in agreement.

"Surrounding the Chancellor, the Dark Side is. Be wary, you must, Skywalker."

It did not escape Anakin, the irony of such a statement. Not too long ago, he was told to be wary of Palpatine. Anakin only hoped it would not come down to a fight.


Getting to Coruscant space was simple enough, and oddly, though he shouldn't have found it surprising, the fact that he was Anakin Skywalker gave him almost instant clearance into the atmosphere. Everything went smoothly until he reached the landing platform adjacent to the Chancellor's Office.

He stepped out the cockpit and dropped onto the ground, instructing R2 to stay put.

"Your weapon," A guard standing in front of four others requested harshly. What was baffling was that they had lightsabers clipped to their belts. But they weren't dressed like any Jedi he'd seen. Their uniforms were very militaristic, with a shoulder plate connected to an armored vest, with spartan-like crimson robes underneath and dark red leggings.

They looked like Sith.

Anakin hesitated, considering the dangers of giving up his weapon.

"I think I'll be holding onto this," Anakin said seriously, eliciting a frown from the lead guard. All four of the guards began to reach for their lightsabers and Anakin did the same before the strange force-users relented and returned to their positions. An aide had exited the Administrative building and came to a stop in front of Skywalker.

"The Chancellor is expecting you," the young woman said without preamble. She quickly turned on her heel and Anakin took that as a signal to follow.

Anakin could see the difference between now and nine months earlier. No, the Chancellor Office hadn't changed much, it was outside that was different. He could see many strangely modeled Gunships he'd never seen before, patrolling the airways, intermixed with Coruscanti traffic, and ground patrols, patrolling in four man speeders.

It really was a police-state now. Anakin couldn't understand how the citizens seemed to be unperturbed. But then again, this was the upper-class. They probably wouldn't be effected as heavily as the lower levels, he thought with slight anger.

"You may go in," the aide assured before walking back down the hall. Anakin frowned at the closed doors. He was tired of the way Padme seemed to be ignoring his pleas. How she seemed to be after more power, as subtle as it may be, and he was tired of this whole kriffing universe. He wanted to go back home, but the Force gave no guidance in that respect. At least, not yet.

However, when he opened the doors and saw her sitting there at the desk, he had to struggle to not let just seeing her make his resolve slip. He would have to get his point across now. Lest he lose the will to get his point across at all.

"Padme, why are you attacking the temple? How did you even know where we were?" Anakin demanded, letting his disappointment show through in the Force. He wasn't going to let political protocol throw him out of the room this time. He needed answers.

Padme leaned back in her chair, completely calm. "I don't know why I have to repeat myself, Anakin. It's to protect you," she said evenly, but there was a hint of steel in her voice.

"Padme, will you stop this pretext of trying to protect me!" Anakin retorted hotly. "Ever since Palpatine's died, you've been trying to destroy the Jedi Order! And it can't be because you're trying to protect me!" he added, shaking his head and willing away the distinct urge to pace. "If this was the case, why didn't you have a problem with them as Senator?"

"Have a seat, Jedi Skywalker," Padme requested, suddenly using formality.

"I think i'll stand, Chancellor," Anakin retorted in kind.

Padme's expression became cold before it passed. "I take it you've sensed the children?"

The mention of the children relaxed him suddenly. "Padme, forget politics. Let's just raise the child together!"

Padme crossed her hands over her lap as she studied the wall. "I can't, Anakin. They're going to grow up in a faulty and weak system if I don't do something."

"The system was fine they way it was, I see it now! It was made weak because Palpatine made it so! All the battles, the losses..." Anakin walked to the table at this point, trying to intercept Padme's gaze. "They were all plotted by him. That's why casualties were so great, either side knew more than we were supposed to!"

"Don't you think I know that?" Padme retorted with a bitter laugh, but there was no mirth in her expression. "That's precisely why the Government needs reform, Ani. I'm the only one who can do it."

"You just want more power," Anakin dismissed. "The children have nothing to do with this. You want them to grow up in a dictatorial system. They'll never be able to have a decent childhood," Anakin said, not having the strength to look at Padme as he said this. He could feel the anger coming from her, and he wished he wasn't the cause of it. But it had to be said.

"Don't think for a moment, that you of all people, have the right to judge about power," Padme answered scathingly. Anakin still didn't look at her.

"Look at me," she demanded. He raised his eyes at her after a pause. "I've tried again and again for you to see it my way, but you won't. There's nothing for you here. Your Jedi friends are going to be either scattered or dead by the time you return. The Inquisitorius will see to that," she said with a barely suppressed sneer.

Anakin shook his head helplessly. "What the hell happened to you?" Anakin demanded haplessly.

"See to it that you close the door behind you," she dismissed, her chair swiveling to face the window.

Without as much as a goodbye, Anakin ran through the door back outside.

"Halt! Give up your weapon or face lethal force!" The guard from before ordered. Anakin exhaled in frustration. So that was it. Now he was considered an enemy of the State.

The guards, Inquisitors, Anakin heard Padme say, brandished their crimson lightsabers. Anakin activated his own blue blade, held in front of him in the Djem So style he used often. He doubted he could just take all four of them, as he didn't know how well they fought. Did Padme train them?

The four inquisitors slowly advanced towards him, idly twirling their sabers in an attempt to distract him. Initiating the conflict, Anakin force pushed in their general direction in an attempt to reach his ship. The four were prepared and managed to stay on their feet. Then they all leapt towards him.

Thrusting his blade outward, it clashed with the four other blades in a sower of sparks. He retreated backwards and engaged them all again. While they all attempted to surround him, Anakin did his best to stay outside of the repeatedly forming circle. In this way, he was always engaging one or two, but never all four at the same time.

Two of the fighters he kept avoiding attempted to double up on him from behind, but Anakin managed to arc a swing he had missed against his frontal opponent to behead one of the rear attackers. While the body fell with a final death sigh from the exposed trachea, the other three opponents hadn't let up for a second. With another sweep, he cut across the chest of another inquisitor, killing him before he dropped. The two inquisitors in front of him, to their credit, did not hesitate or back down.

The two Sith glanced at each other before quickly advancing on Skywalker. Using the strength of his mechanical arm, he manged to block each lunge and slash with ease, even pushing them backwards in quick retaliation. As the lightsabers coming toward him increased in speed and ferocity, it was beginning to become impossible to simply move his blade in every direction needed.

Thinking quickly, he pulled his arm backwards, just as an upward slash avoided separating his mechanical arm but instead hit the blade hard enough to knock the hilt from his hand. They both went for the killing stroke...

But then they were wrenched into the air by a grip on their necks. Anakin looked tired and almost guilty at the technique he was employing. While they struggled to break free, one of them was reaching for a spare light-shoto clipped to his belt. Without hesitation, the pinching gesture that Anakin had both his hands hands in, balled into fists.

The two inquisitors crumpled to the ground, dead. Anakin took one shaky breath before running for his starfighter. He wasn't going back to Ossus just yet. He needed to get his children. As the canopy descended over him and the fighter took off, he hadn't noticed Padme at the window stories above, having watched the whole exchange.


Anakin's mind was a jumble of thoughts as he rushed into Padme's 500 Republica apartment. Reaching out with his mind, he could feel the childrens' presence in an adjacent bedroom.

Feeling guilt at what he was about to do, he knew it was the only way. He couldn't allow his children to be raised as Sith.

The first one he came across was the boy. His name must be Luke, Anakin figured. It was the name that he and Padme had agreed upon, and the Force was telling him it was so.

Slowly kneeling one leg, almost reverently, he stroked a thumb across the side of Luke's newborn face.

"My son," Anakin said, as though he couldn't quite believe the words that came out of his mouth. Studying him for a second, Skywalker seemed to remember where he was and quickly but gently picked him up. He was about to reach for Leia also, but he had the distinct feeling that she would be safer here. It also didn't seem like a good idea to take the both of them. He was trying to protect at least one of them, not make Padme want to kill him. But that whole fiasco in front the Administrative bbuilding...maybe Padme already wanted him dead. He thought nothing more of it. It was time for him to go. Gently placing Luke down back into the hover crib, he knelt over Leia and kissed her forehead.

"This is probably the last time i'll see you for a long time," he told Leia, knowing that she wouldn't remember his words, but he had to say it anyway. With a quick breath, he again picked up Luke, and ran as fast he could towards his starfighter as he dared, with a bundle in his arms.

Padme was changing, but maybe, Anakin thought, this new hope would redeem her. He hoped so, before he had to do something drastic.

As he passed through the large living room and onto the terrace where his Starfighter rested, he chose to ignore the Holonews report crossing the screen. Right now, he wouldn't be able to handle seeing the words Imperial Reformation a second time in his life.