Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. I just created my own little AU sandbox to play in.
AN: Here's chapter 33! Thanks for all the great reviews. Five years have now passed since the events in Chapter 32. Hunter is now sixteen, Blake is nine, and Ahsoka is seventeen.
Force Jumper
Chapter 35: Plots and Schemes
The Imperial Hand loomed near Serenno and General Grievous stomped onto the bridge.
"Master Tyrannus..." he greeted in his raspy voice.
"The time for the next faze of our plan has arrived," Dooku stated.
"Then we will prepare to receive your shuttle and leave at once, My Master," Grievous replied, as his hologram disappeared. His Master's plan was bold, but it would finally turn this war in their favor...
Hunter blocked Anakin's blade and back flipped to evade his next strike. Anakin rushed him and their blades clashed furiously. Anakin edged him out again and ended it by sweeping his legs out from under him. He landed on his back and Anakin helped him up.
"You're a little distracted his morning, son," Anakin mentioned.
"Sorry dad," Hunter replied.
"Someone got their first kiss last night," Quinlan teased. Hunter's face grew hot.
"That's not...how did you know?" he asked. Quin laughed.
"I didn't for sure, but I do now," Quinlan teased. Anakin smirked.
"I know it's hard, but you can't let this distract you too much from training," Anakin said.
"Yeah, you would know. You were just as bad. I knocked you on your ass like five times every morning when you first got with Padme, if not worse," Quinlan chimed in. Anakin sighed and Hunter grinned.
"Thank you Master, as usual, you're a huge help," Anakin said sarcastically. Quinlan mock saluted him.
"Anytime padawan," he replied. Their hosts entered the training room, pleasantly surprised to see them hard at work already. Hunter shared a shy smile with Ari.
"And I thought we were early risers," Johnny mentioned, as he started wrapping his hands in gauze for his morning spar.
"The earlier the better, as I'm sure you know," Anakin replied.
"Hunter tells me you're an expert in hand to hand combat," Anakin mentioned.
"Jake and Xander are as well. David too," Johnny responded.
"Would a couple of you mind showing me? I'm trained well enough in hand to hand, but there's probably plenty that Hunter and I can learn from you," Anakin said. Johnny nodded and stepped into the center ring with Xander. They took stance and started trading kicks and punches with no contact. Anakin was already impressed, as he watched them move with fluid speed and precision, all without the reliance on the Force that he had. This was definitely training that could give them an edge. Anakin was eager for both he and Hunter to train with them.
Later on, they took their training outside. Hunter watched in amazement, as Ari and Sky created amazing attacks. Sky's cyclone swirled over the ocean, while Ari used her powers to bend the water around his cyclone. While they held their attacks, Jake put his hand on Hunter's shoulder.
"Now you combine your lightning with their attacks," he instructed. Hunter took a deep breath and conjured his lightning. He shot it outward and it combined with their attacks, creating a swirling electrified typhoon.
"Incredible...this could be our answer to getting onto Haruun Kal," Anakin said.
"That's what we've been thinking, but we knew it was still risky. Your son's powers of lightning though might give us the edge we need," Jake said.
"He could not only easily take out any generators, but create an entire city wide black out," Johnny added.
"Making it all the easier to pick off their operatives one by one, saving most of our arsenal for the big fish like Mace and his top agents," Anakin agreed.
"This could work," Jake realized.
"But first, we need to orchestrate Mace's downfall in the public eye," Anakin said.
"I agree. We want as many Xal'Kaar as possible on Haruun Kal and the easiest way for that to happen is to force them to pull their operatives out of the field," Johnny said.
"The question is...how do we orchestrate it?" Jake asked. Anakin smirked.
"With Obi-Wan and Ahsoka on the inside and my wife's connections, I think I might know how to set things in motion," Anakin replied.
"Then...what are we waiting for?" Jake asked.
Gavin looked around the dirty cantina nervously, as he tentatively entered the establishment. Normally, he would have never been caught dead in a disgraceful place like this. But his curiosity from the message he received got the better of him. Someone said they could take down Knightblade. How he himself factored in, he had no idea. But he was here nonetheless, his desire to rid the galaxy of that scourge was prevalent as ever. Padme was lost to him forever, he knew, but she had embarrassed him and hurt his credibility professionally. It wasn't something he was willing to forget. She was the disgrace, after all. Her poor mother was an outcast in her own village. Not only had Padme adopted two street urchins six years ago, but she now had two brats that were biologically hers. She refused to name their father, her mysterious husband publicly, but the gossip told the story. She had long been romantically linked to the vigilante and most believed that he had sired those children. And the Xal'Kaar cause was clear on that. He and all the brats were a danger...a danger that was the Xal'Kaar's first priority in eliminating. His attention was taken when a cloaked figure grabbed him by his cloak and dragged him fearfully into the back alley. He cowered as the being threw him to the ground.
"D...don't hurt me. I'll give you..whatever you want!" he stammered. The figure dropped their hood, revealing a hairless female, quite unattractive, but obviously deadly, he decided.
"I will never understand why sniveling worms like you are allowed to exist," she hissed.
"Nevertheless, my Master says that you can help us," she stated.
"Your Master?" he asked.
"You know who I mean, worm. Your family has paid to his cause for generations, as I understand," Ventress said. Gavin stood up and straightened his clothes.
"Well, if you know who I am, then you'll kindly not manhandle me," he said snobbishly. She growled and grabbed him by the collar of his tunic.
"I don't care who you are, you'll help me or I'll gut you right here," she hissed.
"O...okay..." he said, holding his hands up in surrender.
"Amidala's brats visit their grandmother on Naboo, do they not?" Ventress questioned.
"Yes...her ex-husband brings the toddlers and the youngest adopted boy. The older one doesn't come much anymore though," he recalled.
"But he'll come running for the little ones," she said.
"What are you going to do?" Gavin questioned.
"It's what you're going to do. The toddlers are too much trouble, but the boy with no powers will be the perfect bait. Take him to the marina and I'll take it from there," Ventress said.
"Take him?" Gavin asked.
"Yes! Kidnap him or whatever you need to do," she snapped.
"But won't Knightblade come after me?" he asked fearfully. She smirked.
"I've planned this all out, fool. Someone will be keeping Knightblade very busy while this is going on. If you want your revenge on him, then his downfall begins with the brats," Ventress hissed. He nodded.
"As long as Amidala pays," Gavin replied.
"Oh, they both will, I assure you," Ventress responded, before she quickly dashed away, leaving Gavin to ponder what he had to do.
Anakin dabbed his forehead with a towel, having finished a spar with Johnny.
"You're really good. I haven't had a challenge like that in a long time," Johnny mentioned.
"Thanks. I definitely like the idea of Hunter and I learning to rely more on our own skills rather than just the Force. It will give us an edge against other Force users," Anakin replied.
"Can I ask you something?" Jake asked.
"Of course," Anakin replied.
"Is Mace Windu really as good as they say? Because seeing you fight, it seems to me that you'd at least be evenly matched, but since you haven't taken him out yet, you must not be sure," Jake observed. Anakin nodded.
"You're right, I'm not sure, because unfortunately Mace is as good as they say, probably better. That's why the extra hand to hand combat could give me the edge. And Hunter's elemental abilities will be essential as well," he replied, as they turned to watch him spar Sky.
The young teems traded blows and then stepped back. Sky conjured his wind beam, forming it into a swirling cyclone, before shooting it forward. Hunter countered by sending a bolt of lightning toward his attack. The attacks exploded, canceling each other out, as the boys Force jumped in rapid succession, sparring fiercely.
"Yes, they'll definitely play a vital role in the fall of the Xal'Kaar," Jake stated.
A Few Days Later
"How come?" Blake asked with a pitiful pout, though it was almost a whine.
"Well, you know how Grandma Jobal is. I'm not really her favorite grand kid," Hunter replied, as Ruwee pushed the twins in a double hover stroller.
"But Grandma doesn't like Grandpa either and he comes," Blake pointed out, earning a hearty laugh from Ruwee.
"He has a point, but Hunter and Ari are going to spend the day in Theed together," Ruwee explained.
"Yeah, so they can go off and kiss!" Blake teased his older brother. Both teens reddened in embarrassment. Ruwee chuckled.
"They'll be back tonight for dinner," Ruwee promised. Blake sighed.
"Okay..." he relented.
"Come on, I'm sure Grandma has some cookies for you," Ruwee assured.
"Nana," Leia cooed.
"Cookies!" Luke called.
"Have fun you two and be back here by dinner," Ruwee told the teenagers.
"We will, thanks Grandpa," Hunter replied.
"And try to stay out of trouble. Don't do anything your parents wouldn't do," Ruwee said. Hunter quirked an eyebrow.
"That leaves a lot of possibilities," he joked.
"Oh...you're right. Okay, don't do anything they would do," he joked back, as they got back into the speeder and headed for the city, while Ruwee took the children inside. He saw that Senator Jothra was visiting again and saw his son-in-law Darred roll his eyes in annoyance, as Jobal laughed at something he said. He, like Darred and Anakin, believed Gavin was a snake. But Jobal was completely enamored with him. He wasn't jealous. He and Jobal had fallen out of love long ago. But he didn't trust him around his grandchildren. Fortunately, Darred kept a watchful eye on his wife and daughters when he was around.
"There's my grand babies," she cooed to the twins and Blake hugged her. Though he wasn't theirs biologically, it was hard to resist the loving little boy and he had even managed to work his magic on Jobal.
"Ruwee," she greeted.
"Where is Hunter?" she asked.
"He's with his girlfriend!" Blake blurted out before Ruwee could answer.
"A girlfriend?" Jobal asked. This perked Sola's interest too.
"Our little Hunter has a girlfriend?" she asked.
"Yes. He'll be back to introduce her at dinner," Ruwee promised.
"They could have stayed for lunch," Jobal said.
"They're teenagers, Jo. You remember what that's like," he said. She nodded.
"You more than me it seems, you know, with you and Mr. half your age over there," Ruwee said.
"Jealous?" she asked slyly.
"Of the Nexu in Nerf skin? Not at all. He just can't be trusted," Ruwee replied.
"Don't start with me, Ruwee," she lamented. He shrugged.
"Just watch your back, Jo," he warned, as they took the twins out of the stroller so they could play.
"Are there cookies, Aunt Sola?" Blake asked. She giggled.
"Of course there are. I knew you were coming, after all," she replied, as they went to the kitchen.
Padme giggled, as she guided the cream topped shurra fruit into her husband's mouth, purposely getting the cream all over his face.
"You better clean up your mess," he tempted. She smirked devilishly and moved closer so that their faces were mere inches apart.
"Oh believe me, my masked hero, that is goal of my dastardly plan," she replied, as she captured his lips in her own, moving them over his in a passionate rhythm. She sensually licked every last bit of the remnants away, leaving her husband breathless and speechless.
"Mmm...you are very delicious, my love," she said in a sultry tone.
"You are a naughty temptress, my angel," he replied hoarsely, as he gazed at her with loving awe. She giggled.
"You haven't seen naughty yet," she promised. He gazed at her suspiciously.
"You weren't really going to wear this backless thing you're dressed in to the Senate meeting at all, were you?" he asked, remembering how he had nearly spit out his morning caf when she came out dressed in a scandalous backless dress that she still donned for work this morning.
"I have no idea what you are implying, my love," she said, as she turned away to put things back in the picnic basket, purposely giving him a full view of her bare back.
"Play coy if you want, beautiful, but I know you. You would never wear this to the Senate, cause you're not only a professional, but you also know that I'd Force choke every man in that place that looked at you," he accused.
"Force choking is bad, but I must admit that you have caught me red handed, my love," she said, as she turned to him.
"I decided that with the boys and the twins occupied this afternoon and being faced with a day filled with abhorrent delegates attempting to figure out how to further prolong the war in order to continue to line their pockets, I made the choice to get you to kidnap me for the day," she admitted. He smirked.
"You could have just asked," he replied. She giggled.
"Oh believe me, this was much more fun. You should have seen the look on your face this morning," she laughed. He smirked and grabbed her around the waist. She shrieked, as he started tickling her mercilessly.
"Ani please..." she pleaded in between laughs.
"Seduction is a punishable offense, my angel," he said dangerously.
"Is that a threat, vigilante?" she asked, playing along.
"Oh no...it's a promise, temptress," he replied, as he kissed her neck.
"Well, you have me, masked one. The question is, what will you do with me?" she asked idly, as she began to slowly unbutton his tunic. He smirked and snaked his hand up her bare back to the tiny clasp at the back of her neck.
"I am a man of action, temptress. You'll find out when I show you," he whispered in her ear, sending delicious chills of anticipation down her back. Oh did he know what their games did to her? Judging by his hand beneath her dress, slowly sliding up her thighs, she believed that he did. Despite this, she continued their little ruse. Playing his naughty little game, she reacted to his hands on her hips by grinding against him.
"You will not win so easily," she warned. He smirked and unfastened the small clip at the back of her neck. By the time her dress fell away, they were inside their bedroom. He raised his hands and closed the curtains, squelching the incoming daylight. The next thing she knew, he had jumped them both to the bed where their love and desire consumed them whole.
Ruwee held his head in pain, as he struggled to keep consciousness. Their pleasant lunch had turned into chaos, as they quickly discovered a toxin had been slipped into the adult's tea. Darred and Sola had already succumbed. Fortunately, it seemed whatever the drug was, wasn't fatal and only caused sleep. He had only had a sip before he saw what was happening to the others. He did his best, despite blurry vision, to get the twins and the girls secluded in a bedroom. But he soon realized that Blake was no where to be seen. He fell to his knees, glaring the responsible party. That's when he saw his grandson asleep in the betrayer's arms.
"What...are you doing?" Ruwee demanded.
"Setting a trap for that scourge, your witch of a daughter, and the oldest brat, of course. This one is just bait," Gavin stated.
"Knightblade will kill you for this. He won't let you harm Padme's children!" Ruwee spat drowsily.
"Oh come off it, I wasn't born yesterday! I know the brats are his too...all of them. And I'm not working alone, he said, with a smug smirk.
"Gavin...why..." Jobal asked from her place on the floor. She was barely conscious.
"Many reasons, my dear. My close relationship with you has allowed me to take the opportunity to use your grand brat as bait to allow colleagues of mine to take drastic measures against that vigilante scum and your whore of daughter. Rest assured, you'll finally be rid of that masked freak," Gavin spat.
"But...what about..." but she couldn't finish.
"Us? Oh darling, I'm sorry to tell you this, but I was simply using you to enact my revenge on Padme and her masked lover. Unfortunately, the brats must suffer too, but I pay good money to keep order in this galaxy and his kind must be eliminated," Gavin said, as he left with Blake, as Ruwee and Jobal lost consciousness.
"This is such a beautiful city," Arianna mentioned, as they viewed the city from atop a building.
"Naboo is my favorite place, though your home is now a very close second," he replied.
"I like Solaris V too, but it's so secluded. Sometimes I miss experiences like this," she said. He nodded.
"We won't always have to hide," he assured her.
"You think?" she asked. He nodded.
"Our numbers and powers are growing. We'll be able to stand against the Xal'Kaar and defeat them one day," he said confidently.
"Well, before I met you, I wasn't so sure, but with you and your dad, I think we have a fighting chance," she said, as she put her hand inside his. He smiled shyly and slowly leaned down to kiss her. They smiled, as their lips parted, but he suddenly went rigid and his eyes were wide with fear.
"Hunter...what is it?" she asked.
"My family...I can sense the twins...they're scared," he said, as he grabbed her hand and they jumped home. Once inside his grandmother's house, he spotted his grandparents, Aunt, and Uncle on the floor. He heard his grandfather groan and he knelt beside him.
"Grandpa...what happened?" he asked, as he helped him sit up.
"Gavin...he took Blake. He's going to try to lure you and your parents into a trap. He's working with the Xal'Kaar. I overheard him mention something about the Marina when he was talking on his comlink," Ruwee groaned, as his grandson helped him into a chair. He hurried to the bedroom and scooped the crying twins up, while Ruwee consoled Ryoo and Pooja.
"I'm going after Blake," Hunter said once the twins had calmed down.
"You should wait for your father. This could be a horrible trap," Ruwee replied.
"It might be too late! Tell Dad to meet us at the Marina," Hunter said, as he took Ari's hand and they disappeared. He picked up his comm and called his son-in-law.
After their amorous afternoon and subsequent nap, Anakin and Padme had showered and were getting ready for dinner with her family. He came behind her and placed light kisses along her neck. He stopped suddenly though and she felt him go rigid behind her.
"Ani?" she asked in concern, as she turned to him.
"Ani...what's wrong?" she asked.
"The boys...they're in danger," he said, as his comlink chimed.
"Anakin...it's Ruwee..." the voice said.
"Daddy...what's going on?" Padme asked.
"I'm sorry, I should have never trusted him to be anywhere near the children. Gavin has taken Blake as bait to lure you into a trap set by the Xal'Kaar. Hunter has already gone to the Marina after him," Ruwee said.
"Stay with the kids. We'll handle this," Anakin said, as he quickly donned his armor, mask, and weaponry. In what seemed like lightning speed, Padme had replaced her dress with one of his white battle suits, armed with two blasters, one on each hip.
"I'm coming with you, Ani. No one takes my boys from me," she said fiercely. He smirked.
"I don't think I've ever seen you change that fast," he commented. She smirked back.
"I'm a mother and I'm going to make the bastard that took one of my babies sorry he ever met me," she said, as she checked the charges on her blasters. He grinned.
"Can't wait to see that," he said, as they disappeared.
Hunter and Arianna arrived at the Marina, eyes darting around in search of Blake.
"I don't see anyone," Ari said helplessly.
"BLAKE!" Hunter cried, as he spotted his unconscious baby brother on one of the boats. He ran to him, but Ari knew it was too easy. However, Hunter's concern for his brother had clouded his judgment.
"Hunter...wait!" she called.
"But it was too late. The electrified grappling cable came out of no where and wrapped around his waist. He cried out in agony. Ari conjured her powers, using the water to spray his attacker and another that lunged at her. But a third got her from behind and she writhed in pain next to an unconscious Hunter. The two teens were loaded onto an underwater ship with Blake and it submerged.
Anakin and Padme arrived only moments later and found it deserted.
"Where could they be?" Padme wondered, as her husband darted around the Marina looking for clues.
"One of the underwater crafts is missing," he said. Her eyes widened.
"The underwater catacombs and caves are vast, Ani..." she said, her voice choking back tears. He pulled her into his arms.
"Hey...we'll find them, angel. The Gungans...do you think they'll help us search?" he asked. She nodded, looking hopeful again.
"Let's get to the Gungan Palace. I'm sure Boss Nass will help us. He's fond of children and no friend to trespassers in his waters," she said, as they boarded an underwater ship of their own.
"He's fond of you too. You brought the Naboo and the Gungans together in a peaceful coexistence," he recalled. She smiled slightly and nodded.
"We'll find our boys and whoever took them will regret the day they were born," Anakin assured her, as he took control of the underwater vessel and they submerged...