Chapter 13
The confusion and anger apparent on Cedric's face, he turned to Luke, and said, "I trusted you! Why did you go tell Dad?"
"First, little brother, I never promised not to tell anyone. I only promised to be circumspect in who I told. I told Dad because Dad is the person that I brought back from the dark side." He said to Cedric.
"Am I in trouble?" Cedric asked, having been completely confused by the situation.
"No, of course not, son. I wish you had come to your mother and me or even Luke of your own volition, but from what you and Luke have told me, what happened was NOT your fault," Anakin said, taking the boy into a hug, "We love you son and we want to help you in any way you need help."
Tears sprang to Cedric's eyes as he hugged his father, "I'm scared, Dad. I care so deeply for her, but she's a murderer. Does that make me a bad person?" Cedric said, acting for the first time since the whole affair started like the thirteen-year-old boy that he was.
"Not at all, little brother. It makes you among the best of us," Luke said, ruffling the boy's hair. Cedric was already nearly as tall as Luke, and stood a good chance of avoiding the short genes that Luke had inherited from Padmé.
Cedric sniffed, his tears coming to an end as his curiosity took over, "Ok, so do I get to hear the rest of the story? 'Cause you left a lot out and none of it made any sense."
"Yes, I think you need to hear the whole story. Much of what you are about to hear never happened, though," Anakin said.
"Huh?"
"Trust me, Cedric, we lived it and hardly believe it. That suit is proof though that we aren't crazy," Luke said.
"You remember how I met your mother?" Anakin asked.
"Yeah, she was stranded on Tatooine after fleeing the Trade Federation's blockade of Naboo, and that was when you lost your arm."
"That's right, but I didn't lose my arm the first time around," Anakin started and told him the story of how Qui-Gon died at the hands of Darth Maul, how Obi-Wan killed him, how years later Padmé's life was in danger, and how the Jedi didn't allow marriage and he had to marry her in secret, how he fell to the dark side and that Luke and Leia were separated at birth, between Luke and Anakin they filled Cedric in on all the events, including their time in the past. Cedric sat still for a while after they had finished, too stunned to speak.
"The suit is what you had to wear because…" Cedric couldn't bring himself to mention the events of Mustafar. The notion of Obi-Wan and his father fighting was just too alien a concept for him to wrap his mind around. The whole story was a lot to take in.
"If you want evidence, it can be provided." Anakin said. "But you won't like what you see."
Cedric didn't know what to make of his father's offer. "I don't think I want to. Hearing about it is bad enough, I don't think I need to add another Sith's memories to my repertoire of nightmare material."
"Are you having nightmares often?" his father sounded concerned.
"Not so much anymore, but when I first got back from Berma Pleaix, I was. Well, maybe not so much nightmares, as intense dreams that would slip my shields. One night of waking Jaz up with them was enough for me."
It seemed to take his father a while to process that bit of information. "That's why you spend the night at Shaak Ti's so much?"
Cedric nodded.
"Jasmine's almost too sensitive for her own good, is the problem. I doubt moving halfway across the Temple alleviated the problem," Luke told them.
"She's not…" their father started, "She is. I remember she was waking up almost every night for a while with nightmares. I started to get annoyed with her about it. I think I owe her an apology."
Cedric looked down guiltily. "So do I. I had no idea."
"No one did, Cedric," Luke said. "I only just recently discovered this fact myself, and that's why I took her on as my Padawan. I think she's had trouble expressing to anyone the depth of her feelings, and now, since she pretty much gets my undivided attention, she's finally opening up about what's going on with her. I think I need to teach her to shield better."
"I think someone else needs to learn to shield better, too," their father said with a pointed look at Cedric. "Fortunately, I know how to dream-shield."
"Yes, sir," he said, "I agree."
Jasmine finished packing her case, and they were ready to go, but Luke didn't want to go, not until the next day, something about an encounter with Jaedrea. He hadn't talked about it with her, but whatever was going on with Jae was defiantly on the not-good side. She finished her morning meditation, and curled up on the sofa beside Luke. "What's wrong with Jae?"
"She's having a problem accepting what's going on, Padawan. I think she's jealous because you're everybody's new star, instead of being the little wallflower that she's expecting you to be."
"I'm still that, Master. I don't want the attention that I'm getting. Why can't she see that?"
"I don't know, Padawan. I understand Julia, I would understand if she were still frustrated because Master Tiin still hasn't taken her on, and I believe that she is, but it's fueling her desire to improve so that he'll be less reluctant. She would be his first Padawan, and he's been on the Council since before I came to the Temple."
"You mean when you beat the bad Sith man, the really bad one?"
"Yes, then. I didn't really sleep well last night, Padawan."
"I know, Master. Jae worries me, too."
"You looked hurt when you left Obi-Wan's classroom yesterday."
"Jae was looking at me like I was about to drown baby Tookes or something."
"Oh, I didn't catch that. I figured you were upset because I ordered you out."
"I knew something was up with Jae, I didn't need to be there while you talked to her Master about how bad she was being."
He ruffled her hair. "My pragmatic Padawan. How did I get so lucky?"
She shrugged. "I have to go to class today don't I?"
"Yes, Padawan. Just Political Strategy and Lightsaber. How did you do in Lightsaber class yesterday?"
"Master Windu spent some time correcting my forms since I was so early. I had one battle, with one of the Senior Padawans. He's scary big. I didn't want to disappoint you, so I tried really hard."
"Very good, Padawan. You must approach each battle with the will to win."
"He didn't take me serious though. I had him on the floor in under a minute. I was disappointed that he didn't trust Master Windu's judgment in putting me in that class."
"Did you get any harassment from the other students?"
"Not really. After they saw that, I don't think they wanted to cross my blade."
"Are you sure that he wasn't taking you seriously? I wouldn't be surprised to find you able to put someone on the floor that quickly anyway."
"I could feel it, Master."
"Ah. Did you have fun in Lightsaber class?"
"I think so. Did you get up early this morning?"
"Yes, I took Cedric to talk to Dad."
"Is he fixed now?"
"I doubt it, but he knows that he can go to Dad about this, and not get into trouble. He finally told us everything that's been going on; I'm not surprised that he's all messed up inside from what she did to him."
"He's going to get better?"
"It'll take some time, but yes, I think we can 'fix' Cedric for you."
"That's good, Master."
"Which reminds me, I need to teach you to shield better. You should be permitted to be alone inside your own head if you want to be."
"Now, Master?"
"No, we can do it on the way to Bothawui."
"Let's go, it's time for breakfast, before Daddy and Cedric eat it all," she said, pulling him off the sofa.
Obi-Wan felt Jaedrea wake up. It was nearly lunchtime, but she'd exhausted herself the day before throwing her temper tantrum. He checked to see that she was still under the effects of the Force cage that Luke had tied to her. If she didn't fuel it for a day or two, it would dissipate. It was time to scare the Force out of the girl. If that didn't help, he wouldn't know what to do. Today had gone relatively smoothly, Jasmine had answered a couple of questions in class, and had even gone so far as to raise her hand once. He was very proud of the progress she was making under Luke's influence.
He opened his bond with Anakin, who was talking with Padmé before they ate lunch, and he was enjoying himself immensely. I dislike interrupting you, my former Padawan, but if we are going to do this, Jae is waking up now, so it needs to be soon.
Padmé knows, she's not happy about it, but she knows. I told her what we found out about Cedric.
Is she doing ok with all this darkness around her?
My wife is a very strong person. It will take more than a Sith Lord tempting her child to make her not ok.
What about Jae?
She's had her own temptations, Obi-Wan. She knows no one is immune to the influence of the dark side.
I didn't know about that.
I didn't either, until yesterday. Luke helped her through that particular day. He reminded her of it, and I think that's the first time that it really sank in to her that her baby wasn't hers anymore.
She's in denial?
To an extent. I think it's just that she's not got anything to look at, physically, that says that we are different. It's more that she forgets.
And she can't look at your Force Signature, to see how much it's changed, the way I can.
Right. I'm on my way out.
I'll meet you in the room.
Good.
Obi-Wan looked up slightly to find that his feet had taken him nearly to his quarters. He sighed, preparing for his confrontation with Jae.
Jaedrea, surprisingly, was up and about under her own power. "How are you feeling this morning, Padawan?"
"I feel all mushy inside, Master. Like I've been really sick." The fact that she was feeling that particular sensation didn't make him happy, but it was a relief. She wasn't so far gone with her brush with the dark side.
"Well, come along. We have an appointment to keep."
"What kind of appointment?" she asked with a mix of curiosity and fear, her cage tightening back around her.
"Control your fear Padawan, and you can walk there. It's just one person, we aren't going before the Council." She did as she was told, surprisingly. Curiosity was a great motivator for the young Skywalker.
"Yes, Master," she answered as she trailed behind him.
I hope this works, for your sake, Padawan. He thought to himself. They went down, past the Room of a Thousand Fountains; further than he'd ever had to chase Anakin, even. It was dark, the artificial lights only dimly glowing, if even at all. It took his senses to the utmost to even get around. The outer walls had what used to be beautiful windows, but sunlight didn't reach this far down in Coruscant's superstructure anymore.
"Master, why are we down here?" she asked, carefully controlling the fear he felt coming so easily for her.
"To show you your future."
Jaedrea's confusion was clear to him, but he didn't answer her unspoken questions. She would understand soon enough, or if she didn't they were in serious trouble. They soon reach the entrance to the old council chambers, which hadn't been used in a thousand years.
"You must continue on your own, Padawan."
He felt Jaedrea steel herself, controlling her fear, but he still felt the resentment toward her youngest sister.
Jaedrea continued on past the old-fashioned door. He then felt her fear spike.
Jaedrea didn't understand what the point of coming down to this ancient place. Maybe her Master wanted to show her where he used to play as a boy. He told her to go on by herself and she did so. She crossed the threshold of the room and heard voorsh-pooh voorsh-pooh over and over. It was a creepy sound and the only thing she wanted to do was get away from it. It sounded like impending doom, then she saw a dark figure, there were lights on his chest and he was TALL easily as tall as her Father.
"The Force is with you, young Skywalker, but you are not a Jedi yet," the figure said. Its voice was a deep bass that cut to her soul. It was frightening. She tried to flee, but her legs weren't moving.
"W-w-who are you?" she asked, her eyes adjusting to the gloom of the room, examining the figure in detail. There was even a lightsaber hanging from his belt. Maybe he was some weird sort of Jedi.
"My name is Darth Vader."
"A SITH! Master! Help!" she screamed, but her wails died as she heard the old-fashioned door close behind her.
"Obi-Wan can not help you now, Skywalker. The dark side has chosen you, as you've chosen it. Only you can save yourself from your fate."
"I haven't chosen the dark side!" she pleaded, anger at the thought flaring inside her.
"Your feelings betray you. I sense great anger in you, also great fear. It is only a matter of time before they become hate, and then you will belong to the dark side."
"What happens if that is my fate?"
"You will lose everything you have ever loved, your friends, your family. Indeed that is only the first thing that will happen. It gets worse from there, as the dark side demands greater acts of depravity from you."
"I don't believe you; I'm in control."
The figure laughed, a harsh sound that sent chills of fear down her spine. "Your arrogance amuses me, Skywalker. The dark side will have its servant soon with such displays of pride and arrogance."
"How do you know?"
"I was just as arrogant, before the dark side claimed me, and my soul was just as lost. I craved things; recognition of my abilities was the first thing, then power, and prestige. I was the best in my class, the fastest, and strongest. No one could beat me, at first, just in my age group, then later, when I was about fifteen, there was not a Padawan in the Temple who could beat me."
Jae felt her eyes go wide. "You were a Jedi?"
"I was once, twenty years ago. I was nineteen or twenty when there remained only five Masters in the Order who could still beat me."
"Who?"
The figure struck a contemplative pose, deliberately, Jae thought. "Master Yoda, Master Windu, Master Kenobi, and a couple of others. I eventually bested the others in combat."
"Master Kenobi beat you in combat?"
"Well, of course. He's really quite handy with a blade when he needs to be. When employed effectively, the Soresu is actually a quite devastating technique."
"It takes too long," she said dismissively.
"It takes the time that it takes. Having been on the receiving end of that technique more times than I care to count, I can say with certainty that there were none better at the Soresu than Obi-Wan Kenobi twenty years ago, and I doubt that has changed in the years since."
"But it is only defense, how could you possibly win if that's all you do?"
"You must understand the philosophy behind the Soresu. Ask Obi-Wan, he would teach it to you, as he tried to teach me. I wouldn't listen. If you do not want my fate to be yours, I suggest that you throw yourself into things that do not bring out your pride and arrogance."
She sensed out from herself; something that came easily for Jasmine, the one area that Jae would admit that her sister was better than she was. Obi-Wan had finally drilled into her how to do it, but it took so much of her time that she wouldn't bother unless there was no other way. She felt the person behind the mask, a man of many scars and battles fought. She sensed his patience. He could wait a great deal of time for her to make her decision. In the end, she would fall. "NO!!" she screamed in vehement denial, "I'll never join the Sith!"
"You seem quite sure of that, young Skywalker, but I can feel your doubts. I will leave you to your thoughts, as they are quite becoming of a Sith; when next I see you, doubtless you will have sought me out. Who knows, maybe you will see me inside your heart. That will be the time that you are truly a child of the dark side."
Jae knew what she had to do then, and calmed herself sufficiently to release the cage around her, she took up her lightsaber, and struck at the large black figure, but she was blocked with a blood red blade. "Striking me down will not make my words untrue, Skywalker," he said, parrying several slashes, but permitting her to crash her blade into his right arm.
"You've got a fake arm, like Daddy does."
"All of my limbs have been replaced by cybernetics, young one. The price of my arrogance was my vitality."
"What will be the price of mine?" she asked, having backed off with confusion.
"I do not know the answer to that, Skywalker. I do not readily see the future, but if you continue down this path toward the dark side, everything that you have or do love will die," he said, stepping back as she touched the dark side, her own anger and fear pinning herself to the place she was at that moment. "The next time that I see you, it will not be a pleasant experience."
"And this has been?" she shot back to the unhelpful Sith.
"Oh, yes. This has been an incredibly pleasant visit. I have yet to hurt you, and that could be oh, so easily accomplished, since the Jedi have tied you up and put a bow on you the way that they have," Vader said, a gloved finger tracing her jaw line, making her shiver violently. Fear shot through her as she considered the ramifications of what this Darth Vader had said.
"Are you going to kill me?"
"Why would I? We will be on the same side soon enough."
"NO!" Tears sprang to her eyes as she closed them tightly, praying for him to leave. She didn't see the dark figure of Darth Vader retreat, and soon she was aware of Obi-Wan hugging her.
"What did he say?"
"He said I was going to turn to the dark side, Master." She sniffed and held onto him.
"Not if I or your Father have anything to say about it. However, this is something we cannot do for you, but we can help."
"What do I have to do?"
"The hardest thing you've ever had to do, be proud of Jasmine."
Jaedrea then knew that Vader was right, she was doomed; she cried harder.
Anakin was exhausted. Doing what he did to his daughter was the hardest thing he'd ever had to do. He just hoped it would do the trick and make her let go of her jealousy. He took the suit back to the Sith Artifacts room and headed home. When he got there, a worried Padmé greeted him, and an anxious Luke.
"Well, did it make a difference?" Padmé asked him.
He sadly looked down, not really knowing an answer to her question. "Time will tell."
"You don't sound very confident."
"I've learned the price of overconfidence. She was well and truly scared; whether it will make the difference that we want it to, we will have to see."
"What exactly did you say to her?" Luke asked.
"I was brutally honest," he said with a shrug. "I told her, in terms I think she understood, that she was going down the very same path that I did."
"What's Obi-Wan going to tell her?"
"That Vader isn't real. That the whole thing was a Force Vision."
"Like my experience in the cave on Dagobah?"
Anakin looked at him, puzzled. "I don't know anything about that, Luke."
"Master Yoda sent me inside a cave that the dark side emanated from. He told me that the only things inside the cave were things I took with me, and that I needed to go in. He thought I would be better off not taking my lightsaber, but I didn't listen. I saw Vader in there, and we fought, and I cut off his head, and inside the mask, after I'd decapitated Vader, was my own head. It scared me badly."
"This was before you came to Bespin?"
"Yes."
Anakin nodded. "No wonder you resisted so well."
Luke smiled, "Well you telling me the truth didn't make it easy."
"Enough," Padmé said, shivering in Anakin's arms. "I don't want to hear about how you two tortured each other in a lifetime that never happened."
Luke got a mischievous grin, and said, "Aw, Mom, Dad and I were the best of drinking buddies then, didn't you know that?"
Padmé grabbed a pillow off the sofa and lobbed it at her son, who to his credit let it hit him, while Anakin had a much-needed laugh at the antics of the two of them.
Leia was happy as they arrived on Kashyyyk, but it was nothing compared to her husband and his co-pilot. She'd never met any Wookiees other than Chewie, so it was going to be interesting. There were about half a dozen adult Wookiees and one child waiting at the platform when they landed.
She'd never seen Han so excited as they finished going through the landing procedure. She smiled to herself, watching him hurry, much as Chewie was doing. She waited by the ramp as the families greeted their two wayward cubs. "Mom, Mom, you're going to crack a rib." She heard Han say to one of the Wookiees who had picked him up in a Wookiee hug. She growled an apology, which didn't really sound sincere to Leia.
She heard a laugh behind her. "Wookiees are certainly exuberant. Shall we get the twins so their introductions can be made?"
"Yes, let's do that," she said, heading back up into the ship with her Master.
They picked up the tiny bundles, bringing them out into the open air of Kashyyyk. "Han," she called out to the oblivious human, and he turned to her. "I didn't realize when I married you that you were part Wookiee."
"Well, I had some rough times as a kid. Mom took care of me. She took a blaster shot for me, and very nearly didn't survive it," he said, becoming serious.
'I would have done the same for Chakk, and you know it, cub,' she said to him.
"I know. I'm sorry that you had to."
'You've done me proud, and now you have cubs of your own, so let's see them,' she said to both of them, and all the Wookiees oohed and aahed over the two human babies.
Leia met the only family that Han had ever known, and he seemed blissfully happy. It made her happy, seeing this side of him, the little brother, and the son. She worried momentarily as Han let Dewlanna and Chakk hold the twins, but they were as gentle as Chewie had ever been.
Jasmine went to Lightsaber class after going to Political Strategy, and finishing her catch-up work with Obi-Wan. He was deeply worried, though he hid it well. Jae must have done something really horrid. She'd taken a fairly leisurely lunch, spending half her time in the dining room reading the text she was supposed to know well by the next class. Hopefully we'll be gone sometime tomorrow, but I doubt it will be early enough to get me out of this class, at least.
She shook her head to clear it, her mind still swimming with the complicated and intricate class her Master had said would be a good exercise for her. She resolutely focused on her forms, making the improvements Master Windu had instructed her to. The changes in her stances didn't quite feel natural to her yet, but they did feel more right.
"Alright class, let's divide up. Jasmine Skywalker, Orlin Davnic. Cedric Skywalker, Elysa Moriare," he said, and his voice continued to name off pairings but she paid little attention, as a young man, apparently this Orlin Davnic, approached her.
"Well, littlest Skywalker, you proved yourself to be quite a little spitfire yesterday. I won't be making the same mistake Jace made," Orlin said with a good-natured grin.
"I'm just here to learn, you look like you might have something to teach me, unlike the nerfherder." Orlin laughed, it was a good whole laugh, filled with joy. Jasmine liked his laugh. She decided then and there that she had made her first friend in this class.
"Let's see if you can keep up, Spitfire." Orlin opened up with an easily deflected blow, which Jasmine parried, however it was a feint as Orlin brought a short bladed lightsaber diving to her stomach. It was something she hadn't expected and back-flipped out of the way, kicking the short blade out of his hand. She tried to use the Force to pull the blade to her, but only succeeded in sending it flying across the room where it would've hit Master Windu in the face if not for his lightning reflexes. Orlin charged, intent on bringing his blade down on Jasmine's unprotected back, but she flipped onto her back, propelling herself with the Force; bringing her lightsaber up and caught Orlin right in the groin, as she went between his legs. He howled in pain and doubled over dropping his lightsaber, Jasmine however didn't let up. She kicked him on his back, straddled his chest and put her blade to his neck.
"This would be more fun if you were a little bit older and I didn't hurt so much," Orlin said, his voice an octave higher than normal. Jasmine blushed furiously and returned to her shy self, getting off of him.
"Very good, Miss Skywalker. Class, look at Orlin and take it as a warning. In battle there are no rules. Any strike is fair. Sportsmanship belongs only in sports, not in war."
Jasmine blushed even deeper at the praise Master Windu gave. "Yes, Master Windu," she said in a voice so low that only Orlin heard.
"You might want to speak up if you want to be heard, Spitfire," Orlin said recovering his normal voice.
Jasmine's only response was to deepen her blush.
"You aren't fooling anyone, Spitfire," Orlin said with a grin.
Cedric was working on his Political Strategy homework, and Jasmine was sitting at the table with him doing the same. He was almost finished, he would have been finished if she hadn't kept asking him questions about what she was reading. It seemed like to him that the class was almost too much for her, but she kept at it, fighting for every bit of understanding that she gained in the subject, fierce determination not to let Luke down when he thought she could do this radiating from her.
He was surprised when Senator Organa came up to the table they were sitting at.
"May I sit?" he asked Cedric, who nodded.
"What can I help you with, Senator?" Cedric asked. Jasmine just looked at the Senator in awe.
"I've talked to your Mother about an idea I've had and I want your input on it."
"What's the idea?"
"You know that the Republic is really made up of a series of laws that can be repealed or altered anytime the Senate is in session."
"Yes, there is a body of core laws that have been in place for millennia that we refer to as the Constitution, but even those laws can be completely changed if the Senate decides to."
"Yes, I'm thinking we need to do away with it in favor of a real Constitution, one that is hard to change and that the Senate can't just alter when ever they want."
"Sounds like a good idea, why are you asking me about it?"
"You are the most politically savvy of all the Jedi, and we'll need Jedi support to make this happen. What I need from you now are some things you'd like to see in such a document."
"You want me to write a draft of this new Constitution?"
"Effectively yes."
"Wow, sound like fun." Jasmine made an interesting noise at that comment.
"So that is a yes?"
"Of course! I'll be happy to do it. I might also squeeze some extra credit out of Obi-Wan for it."
"Well, just don't mention I gave you the idea, we're trying to keep this quiet."
"Of course, Senator, I'll be discrete."
"Good. I'll leave you to your studies then."
"Good bye, Senator."
He got up to leave and Jasmine looked at Cedric. "Extra credit? You've already got a perfect score in class."
"True, but if I'm going to do a good job for the Senator I'll have to spend less time on my normal studies, this coupled with tutoring you is going to cut into my time. I'll have to ask Master Ti if I can accompany you and Luke to Bothawui to help you keep up."
"Thanks, Cedric," her voice was an even mix of genuine gratitude and dread.
"No problem, Spitfire."
"Hey!"
"Not my fault, he's your boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend! I'm too young!"
"You like him, and he's going to like you too once you stop looking like a beanpole."
Jasmine pouted, but Cedric could tell that she was enjoying the little bit of normalcy from him. He tousled her hair and said, "Get back to work, you're far enough behind as it is."