12

Naboo

Luke and Leia Skywalker arrived late one rainy afternoon, in that order. Padmé's mother had been at her side as she gave birth to Anakin's children, and was the first to hold her newest grandchildren. Given the fact that Padmé needed to hide her children's true paternity, the twins were registered as Luke and Leia Naberrie, for the Skywalker name would give them unwanted attention. The birth of the twins was bittersweet for Padmé; for while she rejoiced in her children, the worry she felt over Anakin tempered her joy. Bail Organa was a good man, and Padmé had no doubt that he would do everything he could to put an end to the Jedi hunt. But given the fact that no one truly understood why the clones had turned on their leaders, it would be a challenge to find a way to reverse this imperative.

Luke and Leia were a mere three days old when Padmé was released from the hospital. She brought the twins to her parents' house, but decided that she would relocate to the lake house in a few weeks. She was certain that her parents would be happy to have her and the twins stay with them indefinitely, but she didn't wat to impose on them, and having two newborns who were up at all hours of the night constituted an imposition in her opinion. She planned to engage the services of a nanny to help her, and was planning on asking Captain Typho to stay on to provide her with security. Her life had changed in such a short time that Padmé hardly knew what day it was. She hated feeling so out of touch with what was going on in the galaxy, particularly given recent events. And what of Anakin? She had confidence in his abilities to look after himself, for he was a cunning warrior and the bravest person she knew. But the odds were stacked against him. She prayed that he would lay low and stay hidden. She knew what he was like; she knew that he liked to take risks. Please don't try anything foolish, Anakin, she thought. Please, just this once, do nothing but lay low.

The twins were 2 weeks old when Padmé relocated to the lake house. She'd hired a contractor to renovate one of the house's many bedrooms into a nursery. She had chosen a bedroom that overlooked the estate's large garden, deeming it the perfect place for a nursery. Captain Typho had agreed to stay with her, as did her former handmaiden, Dormé, who would now be the twins' nanny. Everything was set up and finished by the time everyone moved into the house. And yet, Padmé could not help but feel a huge hole in her life, and it made her wonder how she'd ever considered divorcing Anakin. She remembered the night he had all but killed Rush Clovis, how angry she'd been. And yet, could she blame him for being upset after what he'd walked in on? He had warned he not to trust Clovis, and he'd been right in the end. Clovis had used her, he had been working with Dooku all along. Anakin had him pegged from day one, and she'd refused to believe him. But deep down inside, Padmé knew that there was more to her decision than simply his reaction to Clovis. Anakin had changed, a dark, violent side of him had been becoming more evident to her as the years of the war passed. The look in his eyes as he beat Clovis was one she knew she'd never forget. It frightened her, for it wasn't Anakin she saw in his eyes, it was a dark, dangerous stranger. So who is he now? And if this ever ends, what will it do to him?

"Milady, the babies are awake," Dormé told her as she joined her on the terrace.

"I'll be right there."

Tatooine

Anakin wiped the sweat from his brow as he stood up. Owen had taken full advantage of his step-brother's mechanical skills since he'd arrived. Anakin had been working non-stop in in the vast ranges of the moisture farm, fixing and maintaining the moisture vaporators. He didn't mind the work; it was easy and it kept his mind occupied. He needed his mind occupied now, for there were so many worries that threatened to drive him mad. He knew that his children had been born – he'd felt it through the Force connection that already existed between them. He'd missed their birth, and the first six weeks of their lives. How much longer would he miss? News from the capital was sketchy out here, but he knew that the Senate was conducting an investigation into the Purges, as they were being called. Anakin was married to a politician, and knew how the process worked. It could be a very long time before the truth was discovered, and even then, longer still before they could stop the clones. What if there is no way to stop them? he reflected as he gathered up his tools. What if I'm stuck here for the rest of my life? What if I never see Padmé again? Or meet my children? Anakin frowned as he made his way back to the homestead. It was midday, and the suns were at their apex. He knew that his step-sister would be expecting him for the midday meal, and so he went in to get cleaned up.

"Is that you Anakin?"

"Yeah, it's me," he called to Beru. "Just going to get cleaned up."

Owen and Beru were already at the table when Anakin arrived.

"Well I finished the vaporators on the south ridge," Anakin reported. "I gave them updates too, so they should be more efficient."

"That's great," Owen said. "You're a handy guy to have around."

Anakin smiled as he poured himself a drink. "I'm happy to do it," he said. "I owe you both so much."

Beru smiled. "You don't owe us anything, Anakin," she told him. "We're family."

Anakin nodded, reflecting on his own family. "I appreciate it, nonetheless. The Senate seems to be getting nowhere with their investigation. I could be here a long time."

"Surely with all the resources available to him the Chancellor will resolve this mess," Beru said.

"You'd think," Owen commented.

"You don't understand how devious Palpatine was," Anakin said. "I have no doubt that he'd planned this for years. He pushed hard for the creation of the clone army, and I'm sure that was why. He'd planned all along for this, for the clones to wipe out the Jedi."

"To what end?" Beru asked.

"With the Jedi out of the way he would be free to rule the galaxy in any way he saw fit," Anakin explained. "There would be no one to challenge him."

"But you stopped him from doing that, Anakin," Owen pointed out, having heard the story from his step-brother.

Anakin nodded. "Yes, but that didn't give me the answers needed to stop the clones. We strongly suspect that they were genetically engineered to do this at some point, when Palpatine gave the order. He must have given that order before we got to him."

"Well can't Chancellor Organa tell them to stop?" Beru asked. "He's in charge now. Shouldn't the clones be listening to him?"

"You'd think so," Anakin said. "And perhaps they are, those who have heard the order. There's no way of knowing at this point. There are so many clones and they are spread all over the galaxy."

"And you can't come out of hiding until you know that they've been stopped," Owen said.

Anakin nodded. "That's it," he said with a sigh. "It's a very frustrating situation. I…I may never meet my son and daughter," he said quietly. "And I think that is the hardest pill to swallow of all."

"Don't give up hope, Anakin," Beru said. "Have faith in the Senate to bring things under control. You'll be with your children soon, I'm sure of it."

Anakin looked at her with a small smile. "I hope so, Beru."

Coruscant –Chancellor's office

"May I come in?"
Organa looked up to see Mon Mothma standing in his doorway. "Yes of course, come in," he said.

Mothma walked in and took a seat in front of Organa's desk. "I wanted to ask how the investigation was going," she said.

"Slowly, I'm afraid," Organa replied. "Palpatine was a master, I'll give him that," he said. "He no doubt had this planned for a long time. He covered his tracks well, Mothma. And the Kaminoans are not admitting to anything, which isn't surprising at all. I'm having a hell of a time tracing this. I mean, I know he was responsible, but…"

"But you can't prove it," she suggested.

Organa shook his head. "Ironically, the ones who would be able to find the answers are the very ones being hunted down," he said.

"You're right. How many Jedi do you think are still alive, if any?"
"It's impossible to say," Organa replied. "I issued the cease and desist order weeks ago, but with the clones spread all over the galaxy, we can't guarantee that they've all been made aware of it. We don't dare recall the Jedi yet."

Mothma sighed. "No, they could be walking into a trap," she said. "I just hope that there are enough left to restart the Order once this situation has been resolved."

"So do I, Mothma. The future of the Republic depends on it."

Naboo

"Are they asleep?"

"Yes," Padmé said as she rejoined her parents in the parlour. "Lots of excitement today."

"Well it's not every day that a child has their naming day," Ruwee pointed out.

Padmé shook her head as she took a sip of her tea. "I suppose not."

"It was a lovely ceremony," Jobal said. "The weather certainly cooperated, didn't it? It was perfect."

"Not quite perfect," Padmé said. "Luke and Leia's father wasn't here."

"I don't think that's what your mother meant," Ruwee said.

"I know," Padmé said, her eyes travelling down to the cup of tea in her hands. "You know, part of me feels guilty for having the twins' naming ceremony without him."

Jobal reached over and took her daughter's hand. "Padmé, you can't do that to yourself," she said. "Anakin wouldn't want that."

Padmé looked up at him. "You speak of him like he's dead," she said.

"I didn't mean to imply …" Jobal said, growing exasperated with her daughter's hypersensitivity.

"I'm feeling pretty tired, actually," Padmé said, standing up. "I think I'm going to bed. Goodnight."

She left them, and for a moment both Jobal and Ruwee sat in stunned silence.

"I worry about her, Ruwee," Jobal said, shaking her head sadly.

Ruwee frowned. "It's ironic, isn't it? She came to us weeks ago telling us she was divorcing Anakin. And now she's falling apart without him."

"She's very confused I think," Jobal said. "With everything that has happened she doesn't know what she wants anymore. I know she loves him, but his absence is making her forget all the reasons she'd decided she couldn't be married to him anymore."

Ruwee nodded. "No doubt it has clouded her emotions," he said. "I have to wonder what will happen when he's back in the picture."

"I just hope he's managed to survive," Jobal said. "I don't know if she'd ever get over it if he didn't."

Onderon

"I wish you would reconsider this, Rex," Ahsoka said.

"I need to do this, Ahsoka," Rex replied. "It's been two months, and the Senate still hasn't recalled the Jedi. Clearly he's not confident that his orders have been followed, or even heard by all the clones. The Chancellor needs me to do this. I don't think he knows anything about the inhibitor chip. Maybe it's the missing piece he needs to clean up this mess."

Ahsoka knew that he was right; she knew that he was the only one of her allies who could safely go to Coruscant. Still, she couldn't help but worry.

"I get it, really I do," she said. "But maybe we ought to do something to make you look less like…"

"Like every other clone?"

She nodded. "You'll stand out less," she said. "And if you're going to get in to see the Chancellor, you need to be inconspicuous."

"Any suggestions how we can do that?" Rex asked.

Ahsoka smiled. "I have a few ideas," she said.

Coruscant - Chancellor's office

It was very late, and Bail Organa was still in his office. His assistant had already left for the day, as had most of the senators. All that were left were the security guards who were always present. It was one of them who entered Organa's office to announce that he had a visitor.

Organa frowned. "Who is it? It's nearly midnight," he said.

"He didn't give his name sir, but said he has important information about the Purges. We've checked him for weapons. He's clean."

"Very well, let him in," Organa said, standing up. He sat on the edge of his desk as a young man perhaps 30 years of age entered his room. He looked somewhat familiar to Organa, but he couldn't quite place him. "You have information?"

The man nodded. He glanced back at the guard, who was watching closely.

"My name is Rex," the man said. "Commander Rex, of the 501st squadron."

Organa was surprised. "You're a clone?"
Rex nodded. "My inhibitor chip has been removed, I'm not a threat to the Jedi or to you, Chancellor."

"Inhibitor chip?"

"That's what I'm here for, sir," Rex continued. "You need to hear what I have to say."

Organa considered this, hoping that this was the break he'd been looking for. "Have a seat, Commander," he said.

Rex sat down at once. He proceeded to relate to the Chancellor all that he knew about the inhibitor chip that each clone had in their bodies, as well as the incident that had occurred a year earlier involving CT-5385, AKA Tup, and his malfunctioning chip. Organa listened in shock to Rex's tale, not speaking until he'd concluded it.

"The Jedi Council must have known of this chip, surely," Organa said.

"They did," Rex replied. "But according the General Skywalker they decided to keep it from the Senate, figuring it would destabilize the Republic."

Organa stood up at this point, growing quite agitated. "And look what happened because of their secrecy," he muttered with a shake of his head. He turned to Rex. "So this…chip is responsible for the clones' slaughter of the Jedi? Is that what you're saying?"
Rex nodded. "General Shaak Ti, who was in charge of the training of the new troopers on Kamino, was told that the chip was there to prevent the clones from becoming too independent. But recent events have proven that there was a darker purpose for it. Tup's malfunctioned, and he murdered a Jedi. That's what they were put in us for, I'm sure of it."

Organa nodded. "The Jedi determined that it was Count Dooku who was behind the creation of the clone army."

"The Sith was responsible, sir," Rex said. "Palpatine was the mastermind, and somehow he used the chip to compel the clones to kill the Jedi."

"And there's no way to …switch it off?" Organa asked.

"No, the only way to stop it is to remove it," Rex said. He p9ointed to his head. "Mine's gone. But you as chancellor have the authority to stop it, surely."

"I have ordered a cease and desist order," Organa said. "But we have no way of knowing if it has reached all of the clones. And without knowing how can we recall the Jedi?"

"You need to talk to the squadron commanders to determine that," Rex said.

"That could take a long time," Organa remarked.

Rex nodded. "Yeah, but what choice is there? Like you said, if you recall the Jedi and there's a few thousand clones out there who haven't heard your order, those Jedi would be in danger. Better to know, sir. That's my opinion. I will help you."

"Very well," Organa said. "Let's get started."