Author's Note- I just wanted to get another chapter out for the holidays! Merry Christmas!
Disclaimer: Star Wars is owned by Disney and Lucasfilm Ltd. The following work is not intended to add to, promote or distort this series. This is a work of fanfiction, and the author does not profit in posting. This is simply a writing exercise written for fun.
She'd taken herself to her quarters some time ago to think, think about this crazy scheme of hers. What did she really hope to accomplish by this? What could she accomplish by embarking on this peculiar adventure?
Pushing one of her striped Lekku out of her face, Ahsoka breathed deeply, trying to calm herself. All the while, she reminded herself that she was here to help Jacen. He'd looked horrid on Naboo, as though death were coming to get him and fast. And her master had seemed adamant he was losing his son.
The idea that Jacen Darklighter was really Jacen Skywalker still boggled her mind. For her master to even contemplate such a blatant disregard for the code was, well, very much like him, actually. Turning to view out the window towards the stars swimming past, Ahsoka let loose a deep sigh, He's taught me so much, but his greatest lesson has always been that there is no perfect mold for a Jedi, one must adapt to the situation. Maybe there was a reason he did this.
But something told her that was wishful thinking, that the only noble aspect behind his decision to love and leave the order was irrevocable love. Unavoidable love. True love. And, in her truest of hearts, she smiled at the thought. Even if only for a moment.
Once that moment subsided, she returned to the painful reality she'd found herself in; alone and afraid. Though Mandalore had been her first mission alone, she'd been well supplied with advisers and aids. And even when she had to act without them, the decisions had been easy and the danger was not something she'd endured alone.
Here, on this star skiff, she was assisted by Captain Typho, a well trained warrior all his own. And Padme had several handmaidens that were equally equipped to handle any situation. Yet all this assistance didn't feel like enough.
Unlike Mandalore, she was dealing with Force users, ones who could be as powerful as her room wrecking master. How was she even prepared to handle these two tricky and well trained warriors? I'm not. Was her conclusion as she put her head to a pillow, But I have to try for my master's sake.
And, as she slept, she dreamed of a distant forest of knobby, dead trees, and creepy noises. And a dangerous, blue skinned assailant.
As Padme's star skiff cruised onward across the stars, she headed herself towards the small section that was designated as her sleeping quarters. There were many little nooks and crannies she'd settled into on this ship, and she prayed that the reigning Queen of Naboo never called the loan back because of it. The last thing she wanted were her last resort security measures removed, or Anakin's things discovered.
For instance, his cloak was hidden away in the ship near the pilot's seat. Sometimes, when he was gone for great lengths of time, and she was piloting alone, she would wrap herself up in the cloak, trying to feel his presence despite the distance.
Smiling, Padme entered her room and sat back on her bed. It was really surprising to her, how sentimental she was. She understood that she was a wealthy woman, and that she had many things, but it was the most inexpensive things that she treasured most. And anything that her beloved husband had touched was instantly worth its weight in gold to her. Her two greatest treasures where the carved Japor Snippet he'd given her while they were still young and his cut Padawan braid. She'd kept and cared for them as though they were made of diamond. Let's face it Padme, she laughed at herself as she reached into her dress's hidden pocket, removing the orange focusing crystal from Anakin's spare lightsaber, You'd be lost without him.
And she fell asleep with a smile on her face, dreaming deeply of a special someone with ocean blue eyes, sandy hair and a crooked grin. Then she dreamed of his lips and his sweet nothings. All while clutching the now pulsing orange crystal.
But her dreams did not stay on that sandy beach on Naboo. Rather, they transformed quickly. Anakin and she were now seated in her apartment on Coruscant, cuddled closely as they had a few nights ago. Silently, Anakin stood and kissed her forehead, leaving the apartment for work.
As swiftly as he departed, Jacen and Jaina entered the space from the veranda, seating themselves on both sides of her and staring at her like a strange spectacle. It was haunting, looking into their icy blue and chocolate colored eyes, eyes which seemed to have endless depths. Their stares were startling, even more so than their silence. They then laid their heads down on each of her shoulders and closed their eyes, breathing deeply, as though asleep. Wordlessly, they each laid a hand down on her belly, surprising Padme as she glanced from left to right and back again.
She didn't understand what they were doing at all and couldn't move enough to shrug them away.
But as she glanced down at their hands, now entwined across her abdomen, she noticed that they were getting smaller, as though the two were shrinking. Concerned, she turned towards Jaina first, and noticed that the petite woman was now nothing more than a small child with wild, twisting dark hair. She couldn't have been more than ten years old, and she was sound asleep.
Turning towards Jacen, she found a small boy that reminded her greatly of Anakin. But his hair, like Jaina's, was whispy and curled. Anakin's had been stick straight as a child. He too was sound asleep, his chest gently rising and falling.
Padme was about to ask them what was going on when the pop-hiss of a lightsaber startled her wide awake. She shot up to see Ahsoka standing on the foot of her bed, lightsaber drawn as she glanced to and fro with suspicious eyes. A minute later, Captain Typho flew through the door.
"What's the matter?" He demanded of the young Togruta, who still stood poised for a battle.
But as she glanced from wall to wall, the determined look on her face faded to confusion and she disengaged her weapon with a sigh. "I was so sure..."
Sensing her own disappointment in herself, Padme stood and placed a hand on Ahsoka's shoulder, "It's all right Ahsoka." She assured her, "I'm sure Captain Typho can double check this incident with the ship's scanners."
He bowed slightly and turned away, "Of course m'lady." The tall man then turned and headed back towards the ship's control. Padme watched him go, then turned back to the Togruta, who was now seated at the foot of her bed.
"I don't understand." She told her earnestly, turning to the young woman with pleading blue eyes, "I saw everything so clearly... I honestly thought-"
"-Jedi visions are sometimes very complex." Padme pointed out, "You're master struggles with them sometimes." She sat down beside Ahsoka and sighed, so very tired and yet afraid to dream that strange dream again. In many ways, she was glad Ahsoka had woken her.
The girl turned to her in awe, "He... He does?" Padme nodded, "And he tells you about them?" Again, Padme nodded, poised with what she believed was a very solid explanation.
"Sometimes even a Jedi needs someone on the outside to confide in."
Eyes wide at first, Ahsoka turned back towards the wall she'd been ready to fight a moment ago and thought. "I suppose that makes sense," She eventually decided, "Master Skywalker isn't always on the best of terms with everyone in the order... usually only Master Kenobi." Padme sighed in hearing that, realizing that even Anakin would keep some things from her. He was always very cautious in how he portrayed the order to her, even when he wanted to vent.
"Master Kenobi is like a brother to him," Padme replied, "But even he is limited in truly understanding what Anakin goes through. It is important to have more than one person to turn to when you are confused and to know who to go to for each problem. Even an average woman like me has multiple confidants."
Ahsoka turned to her, blue eyes filled with innocence, "How do you know who these confidants are then?" Padme sat back, surprised by the genuine inquiry. In many ways, moments like this made her feel like Ahsoka's big sister. Since the day Anakin first introduced them, Padme had the feeling they would be close eventually.
"Well, they generally care for you as much as you care for them." She started out carefully, "And they have to be someone you know would never take your trust for granted."
"Like you." The Togruta pointed out with a smile.
Padme grinned back, "And like you." And there it was, that moment that solidified their sister-like bond. Wide smiles and a slight giggle that revealed how awkward they truly felt in this new relationship. Right on cue. Padme laughed to herself.
After some silence, Ahsoka grinned and turned towards Padme's hand, where she caught sight of a strange, golden glow. "What's that?"
Caught off guard, Padme lifted her hand and exposed the Jedi focusing crystal she'd been clutching. "Um... well..." she tried to find an explanation.
"Oh, cool!" Ahsoka exclaimed, looking more closely at the orange glowing object, "It's a Kasha crystal!" Surprised, Padme passed the girl the crystal so she could look more closely at it. "Strange that it's orange though, they are usually yellow... this one must have had a flaw." Once the crystal was passed to Ahsoka, it faded and no longer glowed as brightly, "It seems to be reacting to you."
She passed the crystal back, with both ladies noticing how the crystal once again glowed that powerful orange. "What do you mean by reacting?"
Ahsoka smiled and sat back, "Well, most Jedi try and find crystals that react to them, harmonize with them... this crystal has harmonized with you."
Stumped, Padme pointed out, "But I'm not a Jedi."
Chuckling, Ahsoka replied, "So?... You don't have to be a Jedi to use a focusing crystal. These crystals are used by all Cereans for meditation. They help clear the thoughts of a person and, well, can even inspire visions." Padme furrowed her brows.
"Visions?" She wondered aloud, "Well, that explains it."
Sitting forward, Ahsoka inquired, "Explains what?"
Shaking her head as she deliberated what to say, Padme revealed, "I had the strangest dream just now, about Jacen and Jaina Darklighter, actually." Ahsoka's brows raised.
"The Darklighters?" Padme nodded, but offered nothing more, so Ahsoka chose to focus the conversation on them a little bit more, "They were at Varykino, you know."
Padme did a double take, "What?" She almost demanded, "Why?"
Ahsoka shrugged, "We aren't quite sure. They escaped custody." She observed the woman, her eyes wide as she contemplated all the reasons two almost strangers would be in her family homestead, clutching her Kasha stone as she did, "They said something about removing spy equipment... but when we first arrived, Jaina was trying on your wedding dress."
Stunned, Padme froze, her crystal flashing as she caught a glimpse of the little girl Jaina from her dream. But that faded away, replaced by her outrage, "She did what?!" The look of horror on her face spoke volumes of betrayel.
"She looked very pretty in it." Ahsoka attempted to cheer her.
"That was my grandmother's dress!" Padme cried out, "How dare she! I thought-" Padme stood and started pacing, "That is such a betrayal of trust... I don't know what to say!"
"I'm sorry Padme." Ahsoka decided, standing up to retreat back to her room before making any more mistakes, "I shouldn't have said anything."
"No, no." Padme replied, tears near streaking her cheeks, "You were right to tell me, I'm just surprisingly emotional about it. That's all." Ahsoka nodded to her, her blue eyes still uncertain of what to do, so Padme offered her the solution, "You'd best go to bed Ahsoka, we've a big today tomorrow."
Saddened still, Ahsoka nodded, "Yes, Senator."
"Good night, Ahsoka." Padme offered, regretting what she'd done when she realized what her reaction to Ahsoka's news had sacrificed. The barrier was back. The sister-hood was gone.
"Good night, Senator."
When that yellow dust ball of despair appeared in his viewfinders, the young man swallowed a little in disdain. He had no love for Tatooine, and didn't know a soul who would swear to the abysmal sphere of nothingness. Yet here he was, again.
It sickened him to have to return here after all the pain he'd experienced growing up in the past. A boy slave and later an orphan thanks to the heartless native inhabitants of the land who lack any inkling of respect for their neighbors. Again, the trepidation was back. Should he really land here? Should he really return to his mother's final home?
Un-docking his hyperdrive ring, Anakin steeled himself for what would likely be an emotional day. It had been some time since he'd seen Cliegg and Owen, and he was positive they'd already forgotten about him. He'd been a stranger on his last visit and left one too.
But Cliegg had tried his best to extend a welcoming hand into his home, one Anakin could have tried to accept, had his mother not been abducted. At first, he'd been relieved to know she'd found a safe and loving home to live in, but that solace had been shattered when he'd learned of her disappearance. It took all he had not to blame Cliegg for her death, but seeing how emotionally injured the man had been fueled his compassion to a large degree.
Cliegg had truly loved his mother. Admired her. He could never hate a man who did that for her.
So, with a deep sigh, Anakin steered his small A-wing directly towards Mos Espa. He'd resloved to start at the Lars homestead and then backtrack as far as he needed to, though part of him truly hoped he needn't look far.
That, and the fiend Demantis said he need only see the grave beside his mother's.
As he bounded through the upper atmosphere of the land of thieves, another Jedi A-wing entered orbit from hyperspace. It was a similar design with a similar pilot; a great warrior filled with worry and fear. But, unlike his companion, he had a better handle on fear. He'd learned long ago that fear hardly solved a problem and often put his worries to the side.
Until this new worry, anyways.
Only one person meant more to him than Anakin, and he would stop at nothing to help this man fulfill his grand destiny. That was why he too undocked his hyperdrive ring and sped into the landscape below. His systems were tailing his friend, leading him to Mos Espa as well. He only hoped he could keep up with a man who was always on the move.
The library was exactly as Leia remembered it, and she instantly felt like a little girl once inside the grand dome. Above her were intricate drawings of the old inhabitants of this world, their complex forms floating in the sky. Around them was the lush landscape of one of the galaxy's precious jewels. One to be cast away by a guff moff and his dark companion.
But Leia swallowed away that idea, trying to remind herself that she could no longer blame her father for his actions. He hadn't committed them yet and she was, at last, on board with her brother's idea that he was truly a good man prior to his fall.
It was hard, however, to keep in mind that she had birth parents when in the home of her adoptive ones. Every step she took reminded her that her brother was likely correct, they could not adjust the galaxy in the past as it could not assure their future. And her original future wasn't near as bleak as she sometimes felt it was. She'd grown up loved by a mother and father. She'd never wanted for anything and had made something great of herself.
She didn't want to trade her upbringing with the Organas, not really.
But even as Antilles led them across the open floor of the library and towards one of the intricate windows overlooking the flower gardens, she found a voice deep inside her telling her how wrong she was. She wanted her mother and father and brother. Now more than ever.
They fit her unlike anyone before them.
Yet, even that certainty was washed away once she rounded the corner of well kept books and datapads. Before her was a small reading chair with a young woman seated inside it. She had dark chestnut hair twisted into complex braids and an ornate blue dress on. It took hardly a moment to recognize her silhouette. Mother.
Antilles broke the trance, leading her and Luke directly before the proud and powerful woman. "M'lady," he bowed courteously, "I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Darklighter."
And the woman looked up with a light in her eyes, setting her reading aside on a small table and standing. "At last!" she decreed, stepping forward and offering her hand to Luke as was customary. He was relieved to have Leia explaining protocol in his mind as he kissed the top of it in a bow, his sister curtsying beside him. Queen Breha nodded to them each, a wide smile on her face. "I've been dying to meet the two Jedi that watched over my Bail! He can be quite reckless you know."
A smile tugged at both their lips when she said that, and she grinned wider, seeing clearly that they understood what she meant, "All the military preparation in the world can't prepare you for mustard gas." She pointed out, "I almost flew out there myself, despite my own injuries, until I heard that you were there. That knowledge let me rest easy and I wanted to thank you personally for it."
Leia grinned and stepped forward, "It was our pleasure, your highness."
Luke nodded beside her, "How is Senator Organa now?"
"Quite well." Queen Breha informed them, gesturing that Antilles was dismissed as she turned towards the back of the library. Leia recalled a small door there that led towards the offices. "He's dying to see you both, actually." It surprised Luke how much glee he felt in his sister; she was not so blissful, even on her wedding day. And he could not help but smile back at her when she turned to him with a look of pure excitement on her face.
Breha led them to the door and knocked at it carefully before entering, revealing a grand office in what looked like a green house. Behind a large, work covered desk sat a mask-less man with a face that only showed a few red patches from his original burns. The bacta had done wonders for him.
And it was clear he was proud of that as he turned towards Luke and Leia with a devilish smirk. "Jacen! Jaina!" He cried as he rose quickly to greet them. His voice was still a bit hoarse, but far better than it had been prior. Rather than the formality of his wife, Bail embraced the two like old friends before stepping back to regard them himself. "And here I thought my recovery was great, what in blazes happened to you two?"
Luke chuckled and informed him, "Jaina and I had a nasty little Force bug... we had to seek special help to keep it from killing us."
"But we're better than fine now," Leia added, "Especially in seeing you so well."
Bail nodded and put an arm around his wife, "It hasn't been easy, but being home with my wife has helped greatly."
"The magic of loved ones." Leia inserted with a grin, drinking in the sight of her adoptive parent's irrefutable love. Bail grinned in agreement, turning to his wife with longing in his eyes.
"The best magic around." He pointed out. Something in his eye must have made Brehe flush, as the twins noticed she was simply rosy-cheeked. But the adorable scene wasn't to last long, as an aide soon stormed into the office with a datapad and urgent expression.
The twins continued to engage in the conversation with Breha, but noted how Brail's face soon became peekid. "Is everything all right?" Luke wanted to know. Anything but shocked, Brail turned to the man and showed him the datapad.
"It seems that Senator Amidala received a tip that her life is in danger." He informed the three of them as Luke glanced over the report sent in by none other than Captain Typho, "We'll need to improve security around the palace and better fortify the senator's chambers."
"Shouldn't we just cancel the summit?" Breha wondered, her expression filled with concern. But Brail shook his head.
"She wouldn't hear of it." He informed her, "She's three times as stubborn as I am." He then turned to Luke and Leia, "I hate to ask this of you my friends..." he started out carefully, "As I'd hoped this would be a friendly visit, but can you help me keep the senator safe?"
The twins didn't have to think long to answer that question. "Of course." Leia replied, "We'd be happy to."
There was a storm that day in the plains, and he was glad he'd chosen to wear the goggles he'd found in the cockpit of his A-wing as he drove through torrent of winds that had sand cutting through his face as he sped by. Realistically, he knew he should have waited before driving out this far, and wished he had in many ways, but he'd been too impatient to even consider stopping now.
That, and he was too scared of his dreams.
Demantis was haunting him again and he felt so restless because of it. Why he kept insisting Anakin came from an impure union and that he was a monster left him flabbergasted, but the hurt never seemed to abate. It seemed the longer he avoided the problem, the more important these answers became.
He was grateful for his navicomputer and how it kept him on track as he drove. Without it, he would have been relying solely on the Force to find his way, and he wasn't sure he could concentrate enough to find his destination.
Speaking of which, his computer said he was nearly there.
Staring through the winds, he was barely able to make out the white dome of the Lars homestead, and began steering his swoop bike directly towards it. It was only a matter of time before the sand clogged the engine, and he wanted to be sure he was safe before that happened.
The bike gave out at his step-father's doorstep.
Beru had been listening to the harsh winds all morning, even as her husband and father-in-law grumbled about the aftereffects of the storm, and she had been the one to hear the distinct sound of metal meeting metal. "Did you hear that?" She asked of the other men, of whom Owen stood to investigate. His father could no longer walk, what with half his right leg missing from an accident while attempting to rescue his step-mother from the Tusken Raiders, and he was now left to handle the whole of the farming. That also meant defending the home.
So Owen climbed the steps and approached the door carefully, and even peeked out the small porthole to spot a cloaked figure with thick goggles fighting the winds and sand away at the door. "Someone's there." He told his family before using the comm, "Who are you?"
The man jumped a bit before answering, "It's me... Anakin."
Stunned more than anything, Owen turned and told his kin, "It's Anakin!" He couldn't help but notice the surprised look on his father's face in hearing that. But he had no time more to regard it, as he pressed the lock button and opened the door wide enough to let the lone man inside. The torrent of wind that rushed by did little for the people below, but it was a relief for Anakin to be out of that storm.
He brushed sand off his cloaks and was quick to remove everything that would sully the well kept home before following his step-brother down the stairs towards the sitting area.
Cliegg watched him and smiled warmly, "Anakin! What a surprise!" He then steered his hover chair closer to the man, "After, well,... you know, I wasn't expecting to see you again."
Anakin smiled and took the man's hand before doing the same with Owen and accepting a hug from Beru. He then furrowed his brow and looked between the two young people with raised brows and a crooked grin. While Beru merely blushed, Owen admitted, "We were married a few months ago."
"Congratulations!" Anakin replied whole-heartedly. Though he had hardly any time to get to know them, he knew his mother loved this family and wished the best for them. Beru smiled wide at his earnesty while Owen wrapped a proud arm around her shoulder.
"I'd... well, I'd best get dinner going then." Beru timidly informed them, sensing that there was a deep conversation soon to be had. Anakin nodded to her and thanked her as she rushed out.
Owen seated himself by his father and started to repair a small sensor from the fields. He kept his eyes between the two men, indicating he meant to stay as a help to his father and not disrupt whatever conversation Anakin wanted to have. Understanding this, Anakin sat down by the stairs.
After a time of uncomfortable silence, Cliegg started the heavy dialogue. "It does me well to see you so healthy." He admitted, "Your mother longed to see you this way. She was so proud of you."
A small smile tugged on Anakin's lips, "I can't tell you how happy I was to know she'd found this place." He sat forward, his ocean blue eyes still intent on the ground, "Her life was so hard for so long... I'm not even sure she told you the whole story."
Cliegg nodded with a slight grimace on his face, "She told me what happened to her after she first left Tatooine." And that perked Anakin's curiosity.
"I wasn't aware she'd been to Tatooine before Gardula had bought her."
Shrugging, the older man with well kept whiskers elucidated, "Aye, she had once before. It had been a real tragedy." He paused and took a deep breath, "She'd crash landed here, in fact, right in the middle of the western fields. I'd been tending them, you see."
"Crash landed?" Anakin wanted to know, "Here?"
Again Cliegg nodded, "When I first saw her, I thought she was the most beautiful woman I'd" ever seen... Took me a few years to find another beauty like that, actually. I was dumbstruck for some time." Owen glanced at him, surprised, "It's rare for a man like me to have the luck of loving two beautiful women in his lifetime, and to be graced by that love in return."
Anakin paused as he processed that, much like his step-brother, "Why'd she crash?"
Cliegg sat forward as best he could, despite his injuries, "She'd been running from her father, as I understand it. He was a real nasty guy too... killed her companion right on my lawn... he ripped his face clean off with his bare hands." Anakin's eyes went wide in hearing that, "We actually buried the guy here and gave him his last rights and everything. Shmi was devastated. They'd apparently been close for a long time." Stunned, it took Anakin some time to respond.
"And what about my grandfather?" He wanted to know.
It was then that Cliegg showed complete remorse, "She killed him. Ran him through with his own spear." Overloaded with information, Anakin stood up and began pacing. His mother was a compassionate individual; she couldn't hurt a soul. How could she have killed her own father?
"What were their names?" Anakin wanted to know, and Cliegg turned away, "Do you know, sir?" He nodded slowly.
"Her father's name, I could never forget." He told him with a hint of anger in his voice, "The bastard cursed our home to burn away into ash under the suns... it wasn't long until my family started dropping like flies after that. That demon's name was Demantis."
There wasn't a single word to explain the feeling coursing through Anakin's body. It felt as though ice had replaced his blood and stone all his muscles. Everything hurt. Everything spinned. Demantis is my grandfather? He couldn't process that. He just couldn't fathom the idea that his own grandfather could be so hateful, especially since his mother was such a compassionate person. She wouldn't have violence towards anybody. At least, I always thought she wouldn't.
And then there was the question of how that man was contacting him, when he was clearly dead. "Do you know where he was buried?" Anakin wanted to know. He watched as Cliegg shrugged once more.
"He turned to smoke when he died." The man informed him, his eyes still filled with that hate, "Just disappeared. I still have the spear Shmi used to kill him with. She wanted nothing to do with that infernal man. Owen-" he paused his own narrative and turned towards his only son, "Go into my bedroom closet and get the silver thing that looks like a support beam. And get the small brown box just above it." The young man instantly dropped his sensor and glided out of the room.
The two men sat silently for a moment, each lost in their own reverie.
At last, Cliegg spoke, "Your mother left an assortment of things here with my mother the first time she was here. She was so distressed and determined to forget everything that had happened to her. When Pi-Lippa took her off world, I was pretty sure she'd never come back."
"Pi-Lippa enslaved her." Anakin added bitterly, to which Cliegg shook his head.
"She'd never do that." The man informed him, "It was her daughter that sold her to Gardula."
Anakin stood and grimaced, "My mother told me all about that. Pi-Lippa enslaved her, but she was a good master, and meant to set her free after her death... it didn't happen." Cliegg regarded Anakin very carefully before turning away and ending the conversation. By then, Owen was back and assessing the men wearily. He clearly did not like Anakin's stance, and told him that with his eyes as he approached him, holding the box and staff out for him to see.
Taking the box first to set aside on a small table, Anakin first inspected the silver staff. It was heavy, even to him, and he could hardly picture his mother wielding such a weapon. But somehow she did. As he looked more closely, he noted intricate symbols that looked like fire. What struck him as odd was the lack of the blade on the end of it, and he found himself curious as to how his mother was able to kill off her father with this weapon.
Eventually he set the staff aside and took the box back up into his hands. When he opened the metal top, he found all sorts of strange things in there. A silver hair clip that looked like leaves and a bird were intricately shaped in it with various white and clear stones. Immediately, he thought to give it to Padme, picturing how beautiful it would look in her hair. Next to that, he spotted thin, pointed needles, though they were too big for mending clothes. Weapons?
He found himself truly wondering just who his mother was. A warrior? A pacifist?
And then he found something. A holoimage. No, the holoimage. The scene was within the bowels of a ship, one clearly run down. In the foreground, he saw the image of Pi-Lippa, a Zygerrian female with a wide, toothy grin. Beside her was the younger form of his mother, her dark hair twisted into twin braids that fell onto her shoulders. She wore dark colors, her clothes almost looking like Jedi-apparel, but not quite. There was a glint of sadness in her eyes, but she managed a grin somehow.
She was so beautiful, Anakin realized, proud of his mother's many graces.
Then he turned his eyes to the third person in the picture. A tall man with wild, curly hair. It was a blond a little lighter than Anakin's, but that was not what startled him. From his dark blue eyes to his crooked grin, Anakin saw a resemblance in the man to his own self. And this fact terrified him.
Turning the holoimage towards Cliegg, Anakin steeled himself for the question he'd come to ask the whole time, "Is this my father?"
Cliegg took the image into his hands and regarded it carefully, "I'm not sure... though, based on how you two resemble each other, I wouldn't say it isn't possible. He's the man Demantis killed." Shocked, Anakin took the image back and stared at it some more. This man had a longer nose and a wider face, but the resemblance was uncanny. "His name was also Anakin." And in that instant, Anakin had to sit down. He had to think.
He'd hoped to find answers by coming here, he just hadn't expected to get so many of them at once. It was hard to process, knowing that he suddenly did, in fact, have a father. At least, that's what his grandfather had insisted. Demantis! Anakin cursed inwardly, knowing in his heart that his happiness had been destroyed by that Shaetin. But he didn't understand what his grandfather had become. He had no way to fight him.
And he still had more questions.
But Cliegg had one of his own, "Is there a reason you'd come by this way? I can't imagine you chasing the shadows of the past without something to spur you to it." Swallowing, Anakin nodded.
"I've recently encountered two who appear to be my older brother and sister." he admitted, "Since my mother never told me about them, I came seeking answers. I'd hoped she'd entrusted you with her past, and I'm relieved to hear you had more to do with it than I thought."
Cliegg's brow furrowed and he sat back with his arms crossed to contemplate, "A brother and sister?" Anakin nodded with a frown.
"I'm sure mother must have mentioned them."
It took the old man a moment to search through his old memories, but finally he replied with, "No, she didn't... In fact, she always told me you were her only child. Her universe." Anakin flushed a bit in hearing that, even as he frowned at the dead end. Cliegg saw this and tried to help as best he could, "What are their names?" He wanted to know.
Anakin paused a moment before answering, "Jacen and Jaina Darklighter."
Cliegg furrowed a brow, "Darklighter?... as in Huk Darklighter, the Land Baron?" he then turned towards Owen, "Aren't you friends with his son Huff?"
Owen nodded slowly, "The man has had a couple wives, but I've never heard of him having a Jacen or Jaina in his family... even distantly. They're pretty tight as family goes." With eyes wide, Anakin tried to process that, "We could probably call him, I'm sure Huff will be interested in someone running around with his last name."
"Do that." Cliegg decided and watched his son head out of the room before sitting back to contemplate, "I don't know Anakin... something about this is all fishy."
Letting loose a sigh, Anakin nodded, "Tell me about it." Then he let his eyes fall back into the box, where he spotted a small book that just barely fit inside. A diary?
Author's Note: Well, there it is! Anakin now knows who Demantis is, but what will he do with this knowledge? And how close is he to uncovering the truth behind Luke and Leia? I have to admit, this story is taking a life of its own, as I really wasn't expecting all these twists, but they just keep popping up as I'm writing. I'm sure many of you have these same experiences throughout the writing process.
I certainly hope you've enjoyed my story and I hope you all have a happy holidays where ever you are!