Astromech Shenanigans
Author's Note: This was inspired by another story I saw where Artoo time traveled, so I decided to write my own version with one of my sisters. Enjoy! :D
~ Amina Gila
The droid general ship. Artoo remembers the layout and incident as though it was yesterday, but seeing as his memory never grows old, that's not terribly surprising. The Invisible Hand. It's such a strange name for a starship. Artoo keeps the comment to himself as he rolls along behind Master Anakin. He can't completely abandon the mission here, but the directive he received from his Master's family before he came back here is important too.
He can't let Chancellor Palpatine get off the ship alive. He has to die. It's important. He doesn't want Master Anakin to be infected with the Darth Vader virus again. Artoo might be a droid, but he still missed him terribly. At least he got to spend time with little Mistress Leia as she grew up. And he must need maintenance, because he can't stay focused right now.
Objective number one: find a computer port and plug in. Get everything ready to ease the escape. Objective number two: go to the droid general's office where the Chancellor - evil Sith Lord - is located. Perfect. Artoo can do that. "There's a computer port over there," he whistles to Master Anakin before zooming towards it. He has a commlink to get any other instructions.
Plugging himself in, Artoo focuses single mindedly on activating the proper turbolifts. He remembers exactly which ones Master Anakin and Master Anakin's brother - Master Obi-Wan - had used previously. That should be the same. He waits for the command from Master Obi-Wan before sending the turbolift shooting upwards. It hadn't happened like this last time, he remembers.
Commlink securely tucked away, Artoo rolls away towards the nearest turbolift. He'd already instructed it to go upwards also. It does. But it also stops somewhere along the way, so the droid rolls away to the next closest computer port and continues his journey upwards. Why can't the ship just do what he needs it to? He doesn't have time for all these stupid delays. He has instructions which must be fulfilled! The weight of the galaxy is resting on him.
It takes much too long in Artoo's opinion before the doors to the droid general's office slide open. It's not a moment too soon. Master Anakin is holding red and blue lightsabers to Count Dooku's neck. The Chancellor is still imprisoned in the chair, and he's urging Master Anakin to kill the prisoner.
Artoo doesn't remember getting any instructions about that, so instead, he activates his rocket boosters and flies over the railing, streaking towards the Chancellor. The evil Sith who destroyed Master Anakin must die. He doesn't pay attention to the prisoner as Master Anakin kills him.
"Artoo, what are you doing here?" Master Anakin sounds surprised to see him.
"My mission," Artoo whistles innocently, dome turning from side to side.
"Alright," Master Anakin sighs. "Get the Chancellor. I'll get Obi-Wan. We need to get out of there."
"Will do," Artoo beeps, and he will. He never said he'd get the man alive. He rolls over to the chair, sticking out a long needle filled with a special paralysis poison which future Master Anakin had given him. He sticks it into the Chancellor's leg before the evil Sith can react.
He lets out a startled cry and tries to jerk away, body stiffening as he loses control over himself. He shouldn't be able to move, except maybe to speak, for the next fifteen or more minutes until it kills him. And little Master Luke had told him that the evil Sith shouldn't be able to use the Force to defend himself. He's completely helpless right now.
"Artoo, what did you do?" cries Master Anakin, looking at him wide-eyed as the Chancellor slumps against the chair, unable to move.
"Evil Sith!" shrieks Artoo, rolling into him as hard as possible. "You won't infect Master Anakin with the Darth Vader virus this time!"
"What?!" cries Master Anakin, gaping at the droid in complete astonishment. "What are you talking about? That's the Chancellor! He's the leader of the Republic, not a Sith!"
"He is," Artoo whistles firmly, noting that the evil Sith's eyes widen slightly in surprise. He opens up the first message from his memory banks and begins playing the recording, making it big enough for everyone to see.
"It's hacked," the Chancellor whispers weakly, staring pleadingly at Master Anakin.
"Shut up!" Artoo snaps as best he can as a droid, adding a number of other more colorful terms.
Master Anakin takes a step forwards, probably planning to do something, so Artoo quickly opens the first recording from future Master Anakin. Everyone freezes as the frozen image of him appears in front of them. He's obviously much older than current one. The most obvious difference between them is that one in the recording has nothing but determination and resolve in his expression, head tilted defiantly.
"I am former Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and former Sith Lord Darth Vader," the recording begins. He speaks slowly, obviously choosing each word carefully.
"What?" splutters Master Anakin. "Where did you get that?"
"Watch!" Artoo insists, letting it continue.
"Lord Sidious," he drawls mockingly, "Or should I call you Master?" He smirks unkindly before continuing. "You destroyed my life once. Because of you, I lost everyone I held dear. You murdered Padme, sucking away her life to save mine. You tortured my son. You corrupted my grandson while he was still a baby in my daughter's arms."
Artoo whistles mournfully as the recording continues. "And you also tortured me. You kept me as your pet slave for half my life. Never again. You will not take my soul again. Say goodbye to your life, Master, because you will die with your failings in front of you."
"W-what is that?" breathes Master Anakin, looking unusually pale.
"A recording. A message," Artoo answers, before he opens the second file.
"Lies," the Chancellor whispers, head jerking oddly as though he's trying to move it. Artoo trills mockingly at him as the image of future Master Obi-Wan appears. He's so much older that it probably takes everyone a moment to recognize him.
"Anakin?" Master Obi-Wan mumbles. Artoo turns his dome to see the Jedi shifting on the floor. Master Anakin freed him from the fallen debris. "What's happening?"
"That's what I want to know!" Master Anakin exclaims. "Artoo is behaving very oddly, and he's playing strange recordings which shouldn't even exist!"
"I'm doing my mission," Artoo beeps in protest before he starts the second recording. The sound of future Master Obi-Wan's voice seems to shock everyone into silence, because no one tries talking.
"I'm sure you recognize me as former Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi," he declares, something in his tone far more authoritative than Artoo remembers hearing since the time he was a general. "Lord Sidious - or should I call you Chancellor or Emperor Palpatine? - under you the galaxy has fallen apart. You wiped out all the Jedi, from Masters to younglings. But the crime I can never forgive you for is turning my brother against me."
Something - Artoo thinks its a mixture of sorrow and anger - flickers through his eyes. "You will die a failure. I hope it was worth it." He smirks as the recording ends, leaving a heavy silence in the room.
"Where did you get that?" Master Obi-Wan finally asks.
"The future," Artoo chirps cheerily as he displays the next recording.
"What do you mean the future?" demands a confused Master Anakin.
"I'll explain later," the droid answers as the image of an adult Togruta appears, resolve and sadness on her face.
"You know me as former Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano," Master Anakin's sister - Mistress Ahsoka - states simply. "Chancellor Sidious," she says the words coolly, yet with great confidence. "You concocted the plot which resulted in my framing and expulsion from the Order. Because of that, I survived the Jedi Purge, so I suppose I have you to thank as well."
Master Anakin sucks in a sharp breath behind them, but Artoo doesn't stop the recording. The evil Sith must see all of these before he dies. "I won't thank you though, because you are the one who turned my master to the Dark Side. Because of you, Anakin tried to kill me. He didn't succeed, and for that, we were both grateful." She pauses, casting a half-smile at someone - the future Master Anakin - who isn't visible in the recording.
"I hope you're having fun, because I hear that drug will become even more excruciating as time goes on," she grins before the recording ends.
"I wouldn't," whispers Master Anakin faintly, sounding completely horrified.
"Anakin, just let Artoo finish. We can sort this out later," Master Obi-Wan assures him, touching him reassuringly as Artoo pulls up the next recording.
Little Master Luke looks so old, almost more than future Master Anakin did, and a confused silence falls when he appears. "I am former Jedi Master Luke Skywalker," he declares, a hint of pride in his voice, "Son of Anakin."
"Son?" Master Anakin echoes in astonishment. "He looks older than I did!"
"He is," Artoo whistles, before letting the recording continue.
"You killed my father," little Master Luke asserts fiercely, "And I'll never forgive you for taking him away from me before I got the chance to know him, before I was even born. You ordered the destruction of the new Jedi Order I spent my entire life building, sending in your minions to slaughter each and every one of them. And you took my nephew, twisting him to be one of your servants. You alone know what horrors you have afflicted upon the Skywalker family. We couldn't stop you in life, so we'll do it instead in death, when you're too weak to resist us."
"I wish I knew what happened," mumbles Master Anakin, "Or if Artoo has really been hacked."
"I'm not hacked!" Artoo squeals in protest, beeping angrily, before beginning the fifth recording.
"There's more to this than meets the eye," Master Obi-Wan says quietly.
The evil Sith doesn't seem capable of speech anymore, which is good. If he tries to say even one more thing, Artoo will probably zap him.
"I am Leia Skywalker Organa Solo, former Princess and Senator of Alderaan, and former leader of the New Republic," little Mistress Leia's voice rings out. Despite her obvious age, she still resembles the child Artoo watched grow up. She definitely inherited her spirit from Master Anakin. "Because of you, former Chancellor Palpatine, I never knew my birth parents. My adoptive parents and home planet were blown up before my eyes with your Death Star."
She pauses, head raised with the dignity of the princess she always was. "You don't know how to accept defeat, so you continually work to make yourself superior, or if that's not possible, then destroy everything around you. You couldn't bear our victory over your Empire, so you destroyed the New Republic by creating the First Order."
"You took my son and corrupted his mind, convincing him that my father wanted him to be a Sith," she continues unflinchingly, "But that was only revenge. You never wanted my son. He was never dark, not like my father. You forced him to kill his own father, my husband, just to cement your hold over him. In the end, you failed. You will always fail, Darth Sidious, because it's in your nature." She doesn't smile, but her satisfaction is so obvious that there's no way the evil Sith could miss it. Artoo trills happily as the recording ends, pulling up the sixth.
"She reminds me of Padme," Master Obi-Wan muses dryly. Master Anakin doesn't say anything, probably so as not to reveal the relationship that his former master already knows about. Artoo nearly beeps in amusement.
"She'll... die... for that..." the evil Sith Lord wheezes, eyes slowly turning yellow.
"Evil Sith!" Artoo whistles, withdrawing a probe and shocking the Chancellor with it, adding a few other colorful words when the man jerks slightly.
"Artoo is right." Master Obi-Wan sounds completely appalled, which Artoo supposes is understandable. He just confirmed that the Chancellor is the Sith Lord they've been looking for. Too bad Artoo wasn't sent back any earlier; he could have stopped the entire war!
In the next pause of silence, he turns on the next recording. "I'm Ben Solo, former Jedi and later the darksider known as Kylo Ren. I'm also the former Supreme Leader of the First Order," tiny Master Ben says. His face is blank as he talks, but there's a hidden anger shining in his eyes. "You bonded to my mind when I was still a child and when I found out that my grandfather was Darth Vader, of all people, you convinced me that he would want me to be as evil as he was."
"You forced me to kill my father and help slaughter all the Jedi my uncle had taught. Because of you, my mother died, and there was nothing I could do to save her. You never wanted me," he all but rages, "You only wanted to destroy the Skywalker family because you were resentful that my grandfather killed you. I don't care that I died. I don't care about how you treated me personally. I only care about the pain and suffering you wrought on everyone I knew."
His eyes sparkle with a hint of mischief as he finishes. "And the best part, oh great and mighty Lord Sidious, is that I helped develop the drug which is currently running through your veins. Your death will be slow and painful, so I do hope you enjoy it. Sith love pain, right?" Tiny Master Ben is smirking when the recording ends.
Finally Artoo displays the last recording. "Disappointed I would be, if recognize me, you do not, Sidious," Grandmaster Yoda chuckles. "Haunting you from beyond the grave we are. Powerful the Force is, even beyond your imagination. Chained by the Dark Side you are. A slave to it you will die too. Saved the galaxy has been from your rule. Die you shall with the knowledge of your failure. Bittersweet our victory is because part of the Force we are, but a cause for rejoicing it will be for others when end your life does."
The last recording finished, Artoo calmly sits there, dome rotating towards the evil Sith. His complexion is ashen, his breathing labored. Only his eyes still show signs of life, the yellow all but spitting fury. If looks could kill, Artoo is certain he'd be a heap of scrap metal right now.
"Victory!" he beeps happily, intentionally shocking the Chancellor again. "Master Anakin, we must leave the ship."
"Yes," Master Anakin responds shakily, "That would be wise."
**w**
Artoo sits waiting patiently in the hall of the Temple as Master Anakin and Master Obi-Wan meet with the Jedi Council. So far, everything has gone shockingly according to plan, and he'll deny no small amount of satisfaction in watching the evil Sith Lord slowly deactivate. He'd already jammed all the escape pods to ensure Grievous was effectively deactivated as well, so when they escaped the ship, he'd unjammed one, flying away before anyone could catch them.
But as future Master Anakin warned him, the evil Sith had plans for almost every scenario, so there's no guarantee that his plans aren't still in motion. Even so, there's no way he could have planned for Artoo to time travel, so if the deactivated Sith still has delusions of grandeur they're going to be quickly crushed.
Finally the doors to the Council chamber slide open and Master Anakin steps out. "The Council wishes you to explain how you arrived here from the future."
"Okay," Artoo beeps, rolling into the room after Master Anakin. He stops in the center, plugging himself into a datapad so his words can be displayed for them to see. He'll probably need to answer their questions by playing the other recording that future Master Anakin made for the Jedi Council.
"Your droid claims to be from the future," the dark-skinned human Jedi states flatly. Windu.
"I'm from 54 years in the future," Artoo announces. "The future Master Anakin and his family sent me to the past to change it because the galaxy was left in ruins as the result of Sidious's machinations."
"It certainly knew that Palpatine was the Sith when no one else did," points out the Jedi Plo. "We can only trust that it's telling us the truth now."
"Of course I am!" Artoo whistles indignantly, pulling up the last recording and turning it on.
The images of future Master Anakin, Master Obi-Wan, and Mistress Ahsoka appear in the center of the room. Startled murmurs sweep around the assembled, but Artoo pays them no heed. This recording will answer all important questions.
"Masters," future Master Anakin murmurs, bowing his head respectfully, "I am sure you are confused and shocked by the turn of events, and seeing as Artoo will by my messenger and I will be beyond your reach, I will try to answer all the questions you may have now."
"First," future Master Obi-Wan picks up, "You need to know that, in our time, Sidious was successful in forming the Galactic Empire. It formed after he told Anakin with the hopes of making him his new apprentice." While his face remains blank, his eyes hold all the pain he's feeling. "I beg of you, do not judge Anakin for what he has not yet done. The choices he could have made have no bearing on him at the present. He's a good man."
"Master," hisses future Master Anakin, throwing an appalled look at the other.
"It's true," future Master Obi-Wan asserts. "You are a good person."
"Stop. Just - just don't argue, Skyguy. We already agreed you wouldn't be here if you weren't," future Mistress Ahsoka interrupts.
"Say what you like, but I'm not a good person," scoffs future Master Anakin, "Not entirely. I wouldn't have wiped out the Jedi Order if I was." He gives Obi-Wan one more look before facing forwards again. Artoo focuses solely on the message, deciding to gauge everyone's reactions to the words later, though he can almost feel Master Anakin's muted shock and horror.
"As Obi-Wan was saying," he continues, "I Fell to the Dark Side and joined Sidious. I was under the impression that - that he could save my wife, Padme Amidala, from death during childbirth. And, as a side note to my counterpart, no more secrets. The full truth must be known. Sidious ordered me to lead the 501st to the Temple to carry out what was later called the Jedi Purge. Everyone inside was slaughtered, young and old alike." The guilt on his face is almost tangible.
"The clone Fives learned of an inhibitor chip," future Mistress Ahsoka speaks up again, voice grave. "It's true purpose was uncovered too late. It was not, as the Kaminoans claimed, meant to make the clones more obedient, but rather, it served as a mind-control device. It contains a list of orders, the full extent of which we do not know. The most infamous is Order 66. Upon hearing the words "execute Order 66" all clones will immediately turn their weapons on all nearby Force sensitives, except Anakin."
"Since, I was considered special, of course," mutters future Master Anakin bitterly.
"I was on Utapau where the Separatist Council is currently located, before being moved to Mustafar," future Master Obi-Wan informs everyone, flinching imperceptibly when he says the last word. "Grievous had initially been with them, and I had gone to defeat him. When the 212th received the order, they all turned their weapons on me. Fortunately, I was far enough away that I wasn't killed by the cannons. Rather, I was knocked down into the lake below before eventually escaping the planet."
"I was bringing Maul back to Coruscant," future Mistress Ahsoka adds. "I managed to save Rex, but the rest of the clones with me died when the Star Destroyer crashed."
There's a pause of silence as the three look at one another. Finally, future Master Anakin seems to remember something. "Sidious has in his possession the plans for a monstrosity known as the Death Star. It is capable of annihilating an entire planet with one shot. I, myself, saw Alderaan destroyed in such a manner. Currently, construction should have begun, but by finding and studying the plans, you will find the only weakness. Also, Tarkin knows Sidious' identity. He is a threat, and I'd personally love to have him executed." His lips twitch into a small smile.
"You now know everything of importance," future Master Obi-Wan concludes. "Use your second chance wisely, because you won't get another. Also, the Order is in need of serious restructuring. You'll figure out what needs to be done. We've given you the help we can. May the Force be with you all."
His final sentence is echoed by future Master Anakin and future Mistress Ahsoka as the recording ends. All the Jedi seem thoughtful and disturbed by the message, and no one speaks for a long moment.
"Skywalker, wait outside with your droid. We have much to discuss," the Jedi Windu finally says.
"Grateful we must be for this chance we have been given by the Skywalker family," Grandmaster Yoda declares as Artoo rolls away after Master Anakin.
Artoo immediately notices that Master Anakin seems extremely disturbed about something, so he bumps into him comfortingly. "Don't worry," he assures him in binary. "Everything will be fine now."
Master Anakin sighs, shaking his head as he leans against the wall, staring despondently out the window. "It's not that simple, Artoo," he whispers faintly. "I was so, so close to Falling on the Invisible Hand, a-and how do I know that it's not already too late? Maybe I'll still become a Sith Lord like I did in your time."
"Don't worry," Artoo asserts. "You can no longer be infected with the Darth Vader virus. You're safe."
"Well, maybe," Master Anakin concedes slowly, tilting his head to regard the droid. "But there's so many other things which could still happen. What if the Council decides to expel me? I don't know what I would do then. I'm not - I can't just - I'd have nothing to do! I know nothing about living as a non-Jedi." He exhales heavily, clearly being burdened by far too many things.
"They'll only do that if they have defects in their programming," Artoo beeps indignantly. "Besides, I'll still be here. Everything will be fine, Master Anakin."
**w**
"I can hold her, my Lady," insists Threepio for the sixth time.
"That's not necessary, Threepio," Mistress Padme reassures him as she attempts to hold both of her squirming newborn twins. Artoo feels a sense of satisfaction that he was able to be present at their creation this time too. "Why don't you get a diaper for Leia? Ani will help me."
"Of course, my Lady," the protocol droid replies, bustling away.
"She'd sooner trust me to hold them," Artoo trills after him, words filled with immense satisfaction.
"You watch what you say, you overweight glob of grease," Threepio gasps, offended before indignantly storming out of the room in search of the diapers that Mistress Padme asked for.
Master Anakin covers up a laugh with a cough before rolling his eyes and turning back towards Mistress Ahsoka. "So, Maul is safely in the prisons in the Jedi Temple," he states with satisfaction. "That's one good thing that came out of this mess."
"Indeed," Master Obi-Wan agrees. "He will likely remain there for the rest of his life." Artoo can't help but think that's a good thing. If Maul is imprison, then he can't run around the galaxy causing even more problems.
"Ahsoka, what will you do now?" Master Anakin questions.
The Togruta hesitates, before offering him a weak smile. "The one thing I learned on Mandalore was how much I missed fighting with you, Skyguy," she confesses.
Artoo is certain he isn't the only one who catches the gleam of hope in Master Anakin's bright blue eyes. "Are – are you planning to come back to the Order now?" He sounds as though he doesn't dare hope for an affirmative response.
"Yes," Mistress Ahsoka murmurs. "I think I would like that. They didn't expel you for your marriage, and while I know that you were told it would take much effort before you could become a Jedi Master – because of that secret – I still want you to finish training me."
Master Obi-Wan gives her a gentle smile. "You don't even need to ask, Ahsoka. You will always be welcome. I will speak with the Council immediately, and let them know that you have returned."
Master Anakin seems to be at a loss for words, but Artoo can see how happy he is. "You do realize that I can now assign you to babysitting duty, right?" he teases.
Mistress Padme gives him an appalled look. "Anakin, you will be doing no such thing!" she hisses, before a grin breaks through.
"Oh, don't worry," Mistress Ahsoka declares cheerfully. "I'll be more than happy to babysit Skyguy junior and Skygirl."
Master Anakin gapes at her with an almost horrified look on his face. "Did you just... give them nicknames?! They're not even two weeks old!"
She only gives him saucy grin in return, while Master Obi-Wan chuckles. Artoo knows that everything is going to be alright now. He'll probably be asked to show the messages many times over, but that's fine. He'll definitely enjoy showing Master Anakin some of the holos he has from when little Mistress Leia was growing up. She was – and still will be – quite a handful. The galaxy is safe, and everyone is finally happy.
Final Note: This is one of four things I'm releasing today. ;)
Dark Legacy Chapter 1
Trial of the Times Prologue - Rewrite
The Unseen Chapter 22
MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU! :D