Chapter 26 - Imperial Center

DISCLAIMER: We (unfortunately) do not own Star Wars. :P

Author's Note: In which Anakin and the others reach Coruscant... :P

~ Amina Gila

The meal was pleasant, and it reminded Anakin of the family meals they had on Corellia. There was an overshadowing sense of home, which he only now realizes how much he misses. Before he and Ahsoka left, he gave Owen and Beru specific instructions. He hid a comm on the property – he actually put it near his mother's grave – and gave the other to the Lars. If he doesn't return within a week, they're to take the twins and go stay with Beru's family. If they hear no contact from Anakin, Ahsoka, or Obi-Wan within a month, then the coordinates of Dagobah are stored on the special comm they have. They're supposed to take the twins and go to Master Yoda who will be able to protect them and train the twins.

The atmosphere in the Falcon is tense, and Anakin notices that even Solo isn't being as chipper as he seems to normally be. "How much longer until we arrive?" asks Ahsoka quietly. Anakin can see her stress, even though she's struggling to hide it.

Solo shifts in his seat and sighs. "Should be a little less than two hours by now," he replies. "What's the plan when we arrive? Where do you want me to take you?"

"You do have clearance codes which will work, right?" Anakin questions, mind scanning through all their possibilities.

The smuggler nods. "If they recognize the ship it won't do much good though."

Anakin purses his lips. "Then I can give you clearance codes which are guaranteed to work." He can't help the smirk, and at Ahsoka's unspoken question, he elaborates. "I managed to obtain Tarkin's codes before I… left. No one will think twice, and they'll be too scared to question it."

"We hope," mutters Ahsoka, but she's smirking too.

"Take us to the lower levels of the city," Anakin continues. "I know a way we might be able to enter the Imperial Palace from the underworld. Once we're in, it should be relatively easy to get Obi-Wan out of the dungeon levels. I can use security clearance codes from the Grand Inquisitor to get us in."

"Might?" Ahsoka raises an eyemarking. "We only might have a chance at succeeding?"

Anakin shrugs slightly. "Well, it's either that or we leave Obi-Wan, which we're not doing."

"Obviously." The Togruta actually rolls her eyes at him.

"You sure seem to know at a lot of clearance codes," Solo comments. From his tone, it's obvious that he's a bit impressed.

"He was known as a good general for a reason," Chewie points out. The Wookie has remained silent up to now, probably because there's not been much for him to say.

"It's always convenient to have them." Anakin tilts his head slightly. "That way, if you want to do something and not get caught, it's easier to frame an adversary for it."

Solo gives him a dubious look. "Sounds like a lousy life."

Anakin huffs. "It was." He shakes his head, refocusing on the situation at hand. "If Obi-Wan is too injured to fight, I need the two of you to get him out of here. Leave us behind if you must but take him to Tatooine immediately. Maybe take everyone off planet if it seems necessary."

Ahsoka leans forward. "Planning for everything, are we?" She gives him a teasing smile, and Anakin appreciates her attempts at humor. It lightens the mood and makes this whole disaster easier to bear. "Might I suggest that you have another backup plan in case Han and Chewie can't get out with Obi-Wan?"

"He'll have his lightsaber at least," Anakin offers, touching the hilt which is secured at his side. In addition to Obi-Wan's, he's carrying his own Sith and Jedi ones. "There isn't a whole lot we can do until we get there though. We'll just have to improvise."

"Your specialty," his sister says dryly.

Anakin ignores her, turning towards Solo. "Are the two of you good in tight spots?"

The sound Chewie makes seems like a snort. "We get in them all the time, because of the cub," he assures.

Solo glares at him. "Hey! That is blatantly false!"

"Perfect. Then you shouldn't have a hard time figuring out what to do if you get intercepted on the way out of Imperial Palace," Anakin declares with satisfaction.

"I didn't sign up for this," Solo mutters under his breath. He seems sullen, but he doesn't protest. Anakin suspects that has to do with Solo's not so subtle admiration for him.

"Ahsoka, don't forget to shield yourself," cautions Anakin. "I know you do it a lot instinctively, but you haven't done it as much these last few months." She nods, and he can feel her presence fading from his awareness, though he can still sense her through their bond. He does likewise, wrapping the Force around himself tightly and silently preparing for the inevitable, final confrontation with his old master.

**w**

He and Ahsoka had spent the next hour and a half meditating together. The Force is murky, far too much for either of them to sense anything for certain. All Anakin knows is that someone – or multiple someone's – will die in the coming battle. He can only hope that Sidious is one of them. But without a guarantee, he'll simply have to remain vigilant. It would be stupid to be assured of their victory when they don't even know the odds.

Anakin stands as a shadow behind Solo as he successfully transmits Tarkin's clearance code, claiming that he's delivering something special marked priority to the Grand Moff's residence on Coruscant. As soon as they've been allowed down to the planet, Solo takes a detour, flying down into the lower levels. It's been many years since Anakin has used the tunnels and ventilation shafts to enter and exit what used to be the Temple, but he thinks he could still navigate them to their destination.

Solo and Chewie land the Falcon on a landing pad deep in the underworld far enough to avoid attracting excessive attention, but close enough to give them a quick escape if necessary. Solo is a good pilot, and Anakin knows – hopes – he can trust him to get away fast enough, despite the Star Destroyers around the planet. If nothing else, he's banking on Sidious' vain desire to keep Obi-Wan as a prisoner which will make the Emperor hesitate before having the ship shot down.

"Here?" Chewie sounds about as unimpressed by their destination as Ahsoka did earlier.

Anakin gives a curt nod, pulling up the hood of his black robes. "Here," he confirms. "I can lead you the rest of the way. It's been a while, but I know where I'm going." He doesn't tell them that he hasn't navigated this area much since he was in his teens, roughly fifteen or sixteen years ago. "Be on your guard," he warns, as they disembark. Solo not so discreetly unholsters his blaster, while Chewie holds onto his bowcaster as they begin moving.

This deep in the underworld, Anakin isn't surprised by the minimal number of stormtroopers. The soldiers are more likely to be killed than not down here, and the guilty parties could range anywhere from rogue Jedi to smugglers to bounty hunters to other nefarious criminals. Thankfully, there isn't too much traffic in this part of the city, probably because it was mostly abandoned decades ago. The structures here are home to drug dealers and homeless refugees who have nowhere else to go.

Anakin begins walking briskly, keeping to the shadows along a nearby wall, with the other three following behind him. This part will be relatively easy. He only needs to find the pipe he'd used which will lead him right to the Temple. Thinking about it now, it's probably a good thing he'd snuck out so much, because it's given him a detailed knowledge of escape routes into and out of the Imperial Palace. Hopefully, they'll still be operational.

"Here," whispers Anakin, pulling back a grate. "Stick close to me. This will lead us to the Imperial Palace. There's another one on the opposite side, but this one is easier to navigate." The only reason he added the other information is because he doesn't know how Solo and Chewie will be escaping, and it'll be useful for them to know. Ahsoka too if it proves necessary.

They begin crawling – not that it's entirely necessary, but it's easier than walking hunched over – down the pipe, and for many long minutes, the only sound is their breathing and the shuffling noise as they move along. At a time like this, Anakin almost wishes that he had his old clone troopers with him, but the ones that survived are far away from here. He'd sent them to Bail and the Rebellion shortly before he used that artifact on Mustafar.

Up ahead, Anakin senses more than sees the opening and kneels in front of it, carefully wedging it open so it doesn't make too much noise. He's trying not to use the Force so Sidious can't sense him, and it's becoming harder and harder to focus with the smothering darkness all around. He shakes his head to clear it as the broken edge of the pipe – which Anakin had pried off and fashioned into a door of sorts – finally comes open. It's clear that no one has been down here for years, probably not since he last crawled through.

"It'll be a tight squeeze, especially for you, Chewie, but I think we can make it," Anakin murmurs as he slides through, entering the tunnels in the lower part of the Imperial Palace. "I'm sure there will be stormtroopers down here, so we have to be extremely cautious."

One by one the others slip through, Chewie bringing up the rear. They stand while Anakin mentally maps out this part of the Palace, trying to determine the best route to take. If they go straight, they should reach the prison fastest, but that path is most likely to have guards. A winding route is optimal, but it's also possible that Solo or Chewie won't remember it. Maybe he should just give them directions before they break into the prison to free Obi-Wan. Pushing the thoughts aside, Anakin motions, and they tiptoe into the darkness up ahead.