The Jedi Change

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars.

Chapter Twenty-Eight- The Rise of the House of Skywalker

Anakin knew better than to barge through the doors of Council chambers. He had no choice but to wait, pacing out his anxiety in the foyer. That Council had been called to session so soon had been unexpected. He supposed he should have known better. The Council preferred to close their side of any investigation before turning over the cases and relinquishing prisoners to the care of the Galactic Senate.

He would not focus on the accounts in the room. The masters would easily sense his snooping. Obi-Wan must have been notified of it very shortly before it had been called to order, for Anakin knew his master would have alerted him. As it was, had Knight Corcoran not informed him of it, he would not be here to offer support for his mentor.

There would be no more secrets after today. Everyone's laundry would be aired to the Council, and the preaching against attachments would doubtlessly begin anew. Anakin was not so arrogant to believe that all the rules would change because of him. It was also was not beyond his scope of detection that their acceptance of his life choices had not been entirely altruistic. Nevertheless, he loved them. If they could ignore the differences between them, then he could let their double-standards slide. It wasn't as though he could deny his children their high-midichlorian counts or their right to Jedi Knighthoods.

He was not worried about Obi-Wan. He knew that his master would accept any decision they would make for good or bad. Obi-Wan's determination now was to live with Siri. He would do that as a member of the Order or not.

It has been a strange pair of weeks, Anakin thought. Never in his wildly active imaginings did he ever think Obi-Wan Kenobi would consider leaving the Jedi. He'd always assumed that it would be he to do so. That Anakin would remain and Obi-Wan could be dismissed was…

Not likely. Anakin would fight against it. Just as Obi-Wan had been fully prepared, complete with untiring filibuster, to fight for his place here.

He stopped treading the carpet when the doors slid open, and Obi-Wan walked out of the room. The doors shut once more, and Anakin noticed the utter lack of expression on his friend's face.

Obi-Wan was not surprised to find Anakin skulking within the outer foyer to Council chambers. It brought a weary smile to his face. He had felt his friend's impatience while he'd been issued their edict. It was good to know Anakin had waited for him and had not interrupted them. Matters could have been much worse for both of them.

Anakin turned expectantly to Obi-Wan.

"Anakin..." Obi-Wan called gently, his eyes soft. "What are you doing here?"

"I didn't know Council was meeting his morning," he said, stepping closer. "I would have been here sooner."

"You should be with your family."

Anakin followed Obi-Wan out onto the concourse.

"You are as much my family as Padmé and the babies," he declared firmly. "Now. What happened in there?"

Obi-Wan would spare him the transcript and get straight to the point.

His voice was monotone. "They are not certain I can be trusted with my emotions as yet. They wish to challenge my fortitude in the face of potential threat. I am to focus on an assignment. Siri is to be a non-factor in the equation."

Obi-Wan stepped out onto an open terrace overlooking the early morning traffic of Galactic City.

Anakin stood beside him at the railing. "A trial as penance?"

"I will not be asked to leave the Order providing I can sufficiently prove restraint when deliberately provoked."

Anakin nodded his understanding. "So the decades of selfless dedication and valorous service to the Jedi and the Republic has been dismissed over a single transgression."

"It only takes one misstep. Admit it, Anakin. It was an enormous lapse. We expected this."

"What manner of experiment did they propose?"

"The satire of my performance yesterday provided them their assignment."

Obi-Wan met Anakin's gaze evenly and silently told him what he wanted to know.

Anakin's stern expression did not change as he uttered, "You are not serious."

"I may not be, but I assure you the Council absolutely is."

"They asked you to serve as her guard in transition."

"Yes," he sighed, placing his hands on the railing and staring ahead. "I am to wait outside her room while the Senate's inquisitors grill her—a futile effort, to be certain—and then I am to escort her to Galactic City Capital Prison."

"This…we didn't anticipate."

Anakin paused for a moment and said, "Obi-Wan, Ventress has been contained. She's poses no more a threat to you or Siri than…my boot."

Obi-Wan's glance swept him up then down. "Considering the weight and strength of your foot within said boot, your analogy is, at best…"

He sighed again and stroked his chin. "Not at all helpful."

"Don't be flip, Obi-Wan," Anakin chided. "I am serious. Your situation is not what it was yesterday, and Siri is well."

"I know all that."

"Then Ventress will not be a problem for you."

Obi-Wan turned to him and took a moment to collect his thoughts.

"Anakin, what happens when it is not Ventress to stir mayhem?" he asked soberly. "Think about it. You know what I mean. It's always something, Anakin. There cannot be peace everywhere, all the time.

"It would be absurd to fault the Council for their decision when all their points are valid."

"I don't fault them," Anakin replied. He shook his head.

"Obi-Wan, you're going to have to make a decision. We cannot continually revisit the topic of your guilt 'til the stars burn out."

"Sleep deprivation clearly doesn't become you," Obi-Wan sneered good-naturedly.

"And your self-pity is aging you before my eyes," Anakin countered. "Now, listen to me, Obi-Wan, and try—please— to absorb what I'm telling you…"

"This is a bit...odd."

"What?"

"I feel as though you are about to lecture me."

"I don't like it any more than you, Master, but obviously left to your own devices…"

"Well, this is horrifying," Obi-Wan said with mock indignation. "We must remember our places. I lecture; you let it go in one ear and out the other. Let's try this again…"

"I am not amused, Obi-Wan."

"Welcome to my world of the last thirteen years with you, Anakin," he grinned mischievously. "Maddening, isn't it?"

Anakin stared at him with sharp disapproval. "You know, I think I prefer the old Obi-Wan, completely devoid of a sense of humor."

Obi-Wan allowed himself one last chortle before returning to their primary topic.

"Anakin, I neither bear guilt or pity for myself. I do, however, feel I can use a bit more introspection."

Gruff with exasperation, Anakin leaned back against the railing. "You let me know when you've reached the memory of your twentieth year."

"What you and, now I, have done has shaken the Jedi Order and laid the foundation of a new one. My decision, as you call it, must be a responsible one. You're just become a father, Anakin. Do you not think the immediate future deserves more than a second's deliberation?"

Anakin squeezed his eyes shut. "By the Force—bar none! You worry more than any other being in the galaxy!"

Obi-Wan ignored that and continued. "We have a responsibility to them."

"Obi-Wan, if you are concerned with your capabilities or lack thereof, then perhaps you should hand over your lightsaber right now and be done with the obligation you have of trying to please everyone in every blasted moment."

"Anakin, this is more than a personal test for me. This is about preserving the principles of the Jedi way of life!"

He heaved a deep breath. "They were actually arguing amongst themselves in there."

"If Yoda has disseminated his acceptance of the changes, why can't you?"

Touché, Obi-Wan thought. He knew Anakin was right to be frustrated with him. He couldn't understand his ambivalence himself.

His voice was low when he answered, "I…I don't want my actions to cause them harm. The Council…the Jedi. One slip, Anakin, and I was nearly lost. Amending the rules to accommodate our personal relationships…it could leave us all open to much more severe attacks than those we have suffered at the hands of the Sith."

Anakin leaned closer to whisper with unparalleled conviction. "The Jedi Order…our family, Obi-Wan, has stood victorious for generation upon generation against every form of violence and dissention any group has ever been made to suffer. That kind of strength does not revolve around a set of laws to preferred behavior but the resilience of our inherent characters.

Our very existence was bred by something greater than organizational dictates of social mores. It cannot be said enough; We are of the Force. We do what is right as is demanded of us, and we do not fail. As long was we remember that, we will be more than prepared to face any challenge. No one is in total control always. Just…listen, else your overworked brain will make you deaf."

Anakin watched his mentor ponder his words and struck the final chord. "Do you want to marry Siri and have children with her?"

The response was quick and inarguable. "More than anything."

"There is your preservation of the Order." Anakin stepped back and waited. "Go fulfill your task of banishing Ventress to the mercy of the prison matrons, and begin your life."

Obi-Wan's mouth quirked at the corners. "You are going to make a tremendously good father, Anakin."

"I trust we will not need to have this conversation again?"

Obi-Wan raised his hands up in defeat. "No! No, we will not."

"Good."

It was then, in what Obi-Wan Kenobi considered a profound moment in his life, that they were seized by hovercams of the HoloNet elite.

"Commander Skywalker!"

"Where is your wife?"

"How is the baby, Commander?"

Anakin and Obi-Wan ducked away but we're nearly surrounded. Suddenly, the calls of the harassing reporters were muffled. They stood and saw the cams futilely hitting the space beyond the railings, no longer able to get closer. The red flashes of light were bursting against an invisible wall.

"Force shield," they heard someone say.

They turned to the concourse to find Knight Corcorran standing with his palm up and flat toward them.

Anakin straightened the lapels of his tunic. "Thank you, Liam."

"My pleasure, Master."

Obi-Wan ushered Anakin off the veranda and out of view.

"It appears the stock in your popularity has reached new heights," Obi-Wan replied.

"How did they get up there?"

Liam finished speaking into the COMM link on his wrist and stood beside them. "We had to bring the shield down to allow the Solicitor Generals in, Masters. It should be up again now."

"How long has HoloNet been in vicinity?"

"They have been trying to charge the gates since last night," Liam informed them. "Gate Master Juorokk is exhausted."

Alarm heated Anakin's eyes. "Padmé…"

"Worry not, Master," Liam replied kindly. "Masters Drallig and Suong drew the panel up over the window and are guarding your family…along with the younglings."

Obi-Wan smiled. "The younglings are there?"

Liam's expression of tranquility did not change. "The younglings were…curious about the new Jedi, Masters. Master Drallig thought it best to assuage them."

Anakin looked sheepish. "Is my wife all right with that?"

"Mistress Skywalker sleeps deeply, Master," Liam told him. "They are, however, quite the picture. The alert was sounded, and they ignited their lightsabers, ready to defend. Master Drallig was most pleased."

"I better get back up there," Anakin said, already walking to the lift.

Obi-Wan followed. "I'll come with you. I told Siri I would take her to visit with Padmé and the babies."

The lift opened, and they stepped inside. Anakin held the door.

"Liam, aren't you coming?"

Taken aback by the question, it took a moment before he said yes.

The doors shut behind him, and Anakin turned to Obi-Wan.

"Are you going to tell Siri of your new post?"

"Must I?"

"You do not have to, certainly," Anakin nodded. "But once she feels you and realizes that you have kept it from her, well…I would not envy you her reaction."

"You're just filled with astute assumptions today, aren't you?"

"Tell her, Obi-Wan, and get it over with."

"I am not afraid of her, Anakin," he uttered impatiently.

Liam leaned his head back against the wall and thought for a moment.

"Wasn't it Master Tachi that clobbered the Federation starship of droids over Sullust?" he asked.

"All alone," Anakin added with pride.

"They have included that mission into the curriculum of pilot-fighting and Form IV thought classes," Liam noted.

"That's…wonderful," Obi-Wan whispered sardonically.

"Tell her."

"I will, for stars' sake…"

"Call if you require aid, Master Kenobi."

Obi-Wan's narrow gaze of warning made Liam wish he had not chosen now to share wit.

Anakin grinned at the exchange. The doors slid open, and Anakin pulled Liam out with him.

"I will let Padmé know of your impending arrival."

"I cannot stay long, Anakin. There is that other…thing I have to take care of."

"We'll keep her in line, Obi-Wan. You just bring her."

They bowed to each other and broke into opposite directions.

Siri stopped plucking at the blanket covering her when she sensed Obi-Wan approaching closer. There was something troubling him, she knew. It had not required too much Force-sensitivity to detect it as it emanated from him in waves.

She had spent the time he had met with the Council meditating. Her nervousness would not dissipate. Obi-Wan loved her; she was never more certain of that. Yet she understood as well as he the power of loyalty to the group that had raised them. They did not want to lose Obi-Wan any more than he wished to leave them.

She remembered the look on his face when he saw her yesterday on the cliff. He had wept for her, had been so distraught that he would have slain Asajj had Yoda not revived her and brought her up from the abyss. At the time, Siri had no other thought than to return for him.

Obi-Wan was no heartless murderer. No one would have feared and felt more revulsion from killing Ventress than he would have, even if the remorse would have come too late. The ramifications of his dark turn would have been astronomical, but they also would not have lasted long. She had to believe that. The deep and true glory of her love's soul would have pulled him up the downward spiral, especially with Anakin there to lend him a hand and the light.

The Council must have addressed the near calamity of his impetuous strikes. She had every expectation they would, but she knew that while they were disappointed with him in the account, they would not rush to banish him from fear. She, of course, would not be invited to speak in his behalf. She was not hurt by it. She was no longer a member of the Order and more directly, it was Obi-Wan's strong connection to her that had prompted his error.

Obi-Wan walked into the room. He smiled for her, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Hi," she greeted huskily, her throat still raw from Korriban.

"Hello."

He startled at the strength she used to pull him to her. She kissed him, and he fell into it, catching himself with his hands on the mattress at either side of her head.

He had mentally blocked her upon his entry, and Siri was not about to let him cement it. She tore her lips away from his and gently touched his cheek.

"Not to complain," he replied, out of breath. "But what was that?"

She kept her tone light. "My reward. I obeyed you. I haven't moved from this spot since you left."

He shifted, uncomfortable, and stepped back from the bed, looking away from her. His unease made her steel herself. She was suddenly sucked back to that moment of despondency twenty years ago. She unintentionally used the tone to query she had incorporated then.

"What did they say to you?"

Obi-Wan frowned with the sense of déjà vu.

He shrugged his shoulders and told her, "They are concerned, naturally. We knew they would be. They believe my attachment to you is dangerous."

She wet her lips. "Did you tell them our plan?"

He paced beside the bed, staring at the floor and stroking his chin. She knew his habit of doing so when his thoughts plagued him. It made her heart sink before his words could.

"I did not tell them about wanting to marry you."

Siri cleared her tightening throat. "I see."

He was muttering to himself and did not hear her. "Who knows where they would have sent me if I had…"

"Obi-Wan?"

"I suppose it could be worse…"

"Obi-Wan."

"Don't think of her, Kenobi," he hissed aloud. "Get her right out of your head."

"Obi-Wan!"

He snapped out of his reverie.

"Yes?" he asked politely.

Siri silently counted to five before she answered. "You're talking to yourself, and your pacing is making me seasick."

"Forgive me," he whispered. "I'm preoccupied."

He returned to her bedside. "Council has given me an assignment."

He glanced up at the digital panel display and groaned.

"As a matter of fact, I may only have time to take you down the hall to Anakin before I have to go downstairs." He smiled. "I'll get the hoverchair."

"Obi-Wan, wait." She took a deep breath to calm herself. "They gave you an assignment?"

"Yes, and if I am going to rectify our position, I need to be at my best."

"'Our position'?"

He waved it aside. "Come, sweetheart. I'll take you to the children."

"'Sweetheart'?"

Obi-Wan saw the befuddled expression on her face and asked, "Are you doing an impersonation of me?"

"What?"

"What?"

"What?"

Siri grit her teeth and studied him. Her gaze narrowed as he shifted nervously under her scrutiny.

"Obi-Wan, what are you not telling me?"

It was ridiculous that he should hesitate in telling her about what he must do. It involved her, and it would secure the Order's blessing for their future.

He hoped.

"I've been assigned Ventress, Siri," he said in a rush.

Her brow furrowed. "Asajj?"

"They want me to be her Jedi escort as she is taken to prison, and I am to play her guard once she is settled." He stepped closer to her. "We leave once her interrogation with the Senate's detectives is finished."

Her comprehension was immediate. "They are testing you."

"Essentially."

"And that is what is worrying you?"

He patted her hand. "I'm not worried."

"Don't lie to me."

He gave up and sat next to her hip. "I can handle Ventress, love. Truly."

"Then it was the Council's disapproval of our relationship that bothers you."

Obi-Wan picked up her hand and held in both of his. "I have to focus on my task, Siri. Not on the feelings of others."

"I know. That includes me."

"Yes."

"May I give you some advice?"

"Of course."

"Do not underestimate her or her desperation. She hates us, Obi-Wan. She no longer wields any semblance of Light. Keep that in mind because she will try to manipulate you."

"All right."

"Don't listen to her words, concentrate on her feelings. She is not as strong as she was, but she can still use her mind."

"Okay."

Siri sat back and looked away from him. "You should probably go now."

"I will take you to Anakin and Padmé."

She tried to smile. "That's all right. I can get there…"

He eyed her severely. "You will not walk there."

"Obi-Wan, it's just down the hall."

"I'll call Bant."

"Oh, very well. I'll take the hoverchair. Satisfied?"

"No, I'd like to go with you, but this will not take long." He stood up. "The evidence against Moore and Ventress is compelling and without question. Their trials will happen sooner rather than later, and I can return here. We will make our plans then."

"You let me think about that."

"Sweetheart, it may very well be out of our hands. You saw the Jedi with the birth of the Skywalkers. Can you imagine the fanfare behind a Jedi wedding?"

"We're having a wedding?" Her eyes brightened again.

"Well, yes! That is point to this exercise. After I have performed this task perfectly and beyond their expectations, they will not deny us a proper union. They can't."

"Oh."

Obi-Wan looked at her knowingly and told her, "This isn't twenty years ago, Siri. We have nothing to be ashamed of, and we will be together. We'll just have to get everyone adjusted to the idea. That's all."

"You read my mind earlier, didn't you?"

"You broadcast louder than anyone I have ever known."

"Get used to it. You'll be hearing the shrillness of it for the rest of your life, Kenobi."

"I'll look forward to it." He kissed her briefly and stepped over to the door. "And continue your patience with Anakin. It appears he has found his true calling in fatherhood."

The flash of light was intense enough to make Siri gasp, cover her eyes and bring her hoverchair to an abrupt halt inside Padmé's chamber.

"Welcome, Siri!"

She blinked furiously trying to readjust her vision. "Anakin?"

Padmé groaned, "Ani, stop it. You're blinding us."

The new mother turned her head to look at their friend apologetically. "Sorry, Siri. The Chancellor couriered a HoloCam to us a gift. He's been taking pictures since it arrived."

Always enthralled by new gadgets at his disposal, Anakin snapped another image of his babies.

He pivoted to take another of Siri, and the instrument was suddenly yanked from his hands and sailing through the air into Siri's possession.

"Thank you!" Padmé exhaled exaggeratedly.

Anakin frowned. "Hey! I need that."

"You may have it back once you've regained control of yourself, Anakin."

Siri got to her feet, carefully. The injury at her side only pulled a little, but the twinge of discomfort was enough to make her grimace.

Anakin watched his friend brace herself against the bed. Filled with sympathy and tenderness, he inquired, "Do you need help, sweetheart?"

She managed to steady herself and smiled. "I'm fine. Thanks, Anakin. The exercise will do me good."

She leaned over to kiss both of Padmé's cheeks. "Congratulations, Senator."

"Thank you."

The women shared mutual looks of deep affection, and Siri stroked Padmé's hair. "You look wonderful."

"So do you."

Siri rolled her eyes with self-deprecation. "I look ghastly, and now your husband has evidence of it for all time."

Anakin stepped over to join them. "You look a thousand times better than you did yesterday, Siri."

"On that, I'll agree with you."

Padmé grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "I am glad you're all right."

"I couldn't miss the birth of the next generation of Jedi Skywalkers, could I?"

She spied the bassinets on the other side of the bed and grinned, glowing with anticipation.

"Anakin, would you help me over there?"

"Certainly."

He came around on her right side, supporting her back with his flesh hand and offering the gloved, mechanical one for a sturdy base for her to grip. Their movements were slow, but it was worth every tug of her stitches to see the children up close.

Nothing in her life had prepared her for the magnitude of wonder that filled her as she looked on the twins. Anakin and Padme's babies were beautiful, and dare she think it? Luke and Leia were perfect miniature replicas of each of them. Already, they were in accord, each content to gurgle and coo into the air.

Luke snorted and made Siri chuckle.

"They're perfect," she breathed quietly. "They will make you very proud."

She faced her friends again with tears in her eyes. "I am so happy for you!"

Anakin frowned. "Don't cry. You'll dehydrate again."

She wiped her eyes briskly with the back of her hand. "I know. I am just…overwhelmed. I truly envy you both."

Padmé beamed, "From what Anakin tells me, we can expect the same for you and Obi-Wan one day."

Siri laughed at that. "Let's get us wed first, hmm?"

She turned back to the children. "Do you have everything you need, Padmé? I can COMM Captain Typho and Moteé if you would like."

"Don't tempt her," Anakin said quickly. "Moteé delivered her necessities earlier this morning."

Padmé ignored him and finished braiding her hair. "No thank you, Siri. My physicians and Bant said that we may be ready to return home as early as tomorrow."

Anakin nodded, a flicker of awareness in his eyes. "I am going to have to reset the nursery. We may have to rearrange a bit for a larger space, angel."

"We don't have anything prepared for Leia," Padmé explained.

Siri adjusted the blanket over Leia's restless limbs.

"Yes, you do," she said aloud.

"No. We didn't know we were having twins."

Siri turned around to smile smugly, "I did."

Padmé glanced at her husband then back at Siri. "You did?"

Anakin gaped at Siri with disbelief. "You looked!"

Blasé, Siri shrugged. "Of course I did."

Anakin glared at her derisively. "We promised we wouldn't use our powers…"

"You promised her, Skywalker," she reminded him, winking at Padmé. "I made no such declaration."

Padmé issued her trademark radiant smile and replied, "But we're gong to need double of everything now. I…we…only shopped and furnished for Luke."

"It's fortunate then that I have Han hauling another crib, hovercarriage, and Leia's own tiny trousseau trunk over to 500 Republica as we speak."

The Skywalkers stared at her.

"Siri…thank you so much."

"You're welcome, love."

"Define 'tiny' and 'trunk'."

"Anakin…"

"The clothes are nothing as grand as you'd expect," Siri humbly replied. "They are just pieces I picked up in my travels these last months."

Siri's eyes lit with pleasure as she described, "There are a couple of really lovely dresses I saw at a bazaar on Bespin in the Noid System. Oh, Padmé! One's pink and one is gray. They're made from the most delicate gauze you'll ever feel in your life…"

Anakin groaned to let them know the subject was going to bore him.

Padmé took pity on him and told Siri with gentle sincerity, "I'm sure they are lovely."

She stretched her arms out, and Siri returned her embrace. "Thank you so much, Siri."

Anakin took her hand and twirled her slowly away from Padmé and into his arms. "Yes, thank you."

He kissed her forehead and stepped away to chide, "I still cannot believe you looked…"

"Let it go, Anakin."

Leia's existence was not all Siri had seen, but she was kind enough not to mention it. Her foresight to Anakin's offspring had been what had driven her to confront him about Palpatine. Knowing that he would father not one but two Force-sensitive children at once had made her desperate to do whatever she could to see that her friend would be around to help the woman he loved raise them.

Siri placed one hand on Luke and one on Leia.

The glimpses of their futures came too rapidly for her to discern with any certainty, but the overall senses of strength, ambition, and incredible success were prevalent. These two would be very powerful Jedi, possibly more powerful than their sire. She would not look for any thing more. As she was certain their parents did, she would also like to watch them grow and mature into their talents without any preconceptions that could possibly skew their paths.

The Force was undeniably, staunchly, and without peer dedicated to this family. Luke and Leia would have children of their own one day and their bonds of blood would continue through another millennia.

Anakin leaned over to whisper in her ear, "I can feel you, you know. Stop reaching."

Siri looked at him warmly, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"You and Padmé are incredibly blessed, Anakin."

"I know," he replied and looked down at his babies. "Thank you."