Chapter 20

Florrum

"Kenobi, Ahsoka, good morning," said Hondo as he joined them.

"Good morning," Obi-Wan replied. "What's on the agenda today?"

Hondo smiled. "You sure you want to know?" he asked. "Your Jedi morals might not approve," he said.

Obi-Wan frowned. "Forget I asked," he muttered.

Hondo chuckled. "Speaking of Jedi morals, where is Skywalker this morning?" he asked.

Ahsoka was alarmed by his comment. "What do you mean, speaking of Jedi morals?"

Hondo smirked. "Well let's just say not all Jedi are as …straight laced as Master Kenobi here."

"What are you going on about, Hondo?" Obi-Wan asked.

"I witnessed a rather…interesting conversation between Skywalker and Aroyo last night. You know her, the bartender? Built like a…"
"Yes, we know who she is," Ahsoka interjected. "What was interesting about it?"

"Well, Aro saw how miserable Skywalker was, and offered to... you know…lift his spirits," Hondo said.

Ahsoka's eyes widened and she looked at Obi-Wan, whose expression told her he was as shocked as she was. "You're not saying that they…"

"Of course they did!" Hondo said with a laugh. "Come on, don't be so naïve!"

"You don't know Anakin like we do," Obi-Wan said. "He wouldn't entertain such a thing. He loves his wife, he'd never be unfaithful to her."

"She's not his wife anymore though, is she?" Hondo replied. "And he's a young man. Come on, the poor guy needs something to put a smile on his face. A night with Aro would do that for any man. And I know that from personal experience," he conclude with a wink.

"Padmé will always be the only woman he loves, the only woman he wants," Obi-Wan said. "You don't know what you're talking about."

Hondo simply laughed. "Whatever you say," he said, and stood up to go get some breakfast.

"Do you think it could be true?" Ahsoka asked. "I can't believe he would do that!"

Obi-Wan shook his head. "No, I don't believe it either," he said. "But perhaps we need to hear that from Anakin himself."

Ahsoka squirmed in her seat. "I really don't like that thought of that," she said.

Obi-Wan smiled. "I'll do all the talking, don't worry."

"If you say so," she said.

Later

Anakin opened one eye as he was awoken. Obi-Wan was in the small room, not doing anything in particular, but doing enough to wake Anakin up. He's doing this on purpose, Anakin reflected irritably.

"Ah, you're awake," Obi-Wan said, seeing Anakin glaring at him.

"No kidding," Anakin snapped. "Is there some reason you wanted to wake me up?"

"Well it's noon, Anakin," Obi-Wan said, sitting on his bunk and looking at Anakin. "Half the day is over."

"So?"

Obi-Wan frowned. "Hardly a productive way to pass your time," he said.

Anakin propped himself up on one elbow and was about to tell him off when the door opened and Ahsoka entered.

"Ah, Ahsoka, your timing is perfect," Obi-Wan said.

"Glad to hear it," she said, looking at Anakin who sensed a conspiracy.

"What's going on?" Anakin asked as he sat up finally. He'd slept in his clothes, and it showed. What was more, it had been several days since he'd shaved. All in all, he was a mess.

"We need to talk you," Obi-Wan said.

Anakin yawned as he ran his hands through his unruly mane. "Why? And why now? I was sound asleep!"

"It can't wait," Ahsoka said.

Anakin looked at her with a scowl. "You too, snips?" he asked.

"We care about you, Anakin," she said. "And we're worried about you."
"There's no need," Anakin said, rubbing his eyes tiredly.

"I beg to differ," Obi-Wan said. "You stumble in here having stayed up all night…"
"I didn't stumble!" Anakin protested.

Obi-Wan sighed. "Call it what you will, you can't deny that you were up all night, doing…I'm not even sure I want to know what…"

Anakin frowned. "What do you mean by that?" he challenged. "What exactly are you implying?"

"Hondo told us about a conversation you had with that barkeeper, the female one," Ahsoka said.

"So?" Anakin responded.

"So we're wondering if you spent the night with her," Obi-Wan said bluntly.

Anakin stared at his best friend, too shocked by his words to speak. "Are you serious?" he said finally. "You think I spent the night with her?"
"Did you?" Obi-Wan pressed.

At this point Anakin stood up. "I can't believe you're asking me this," he said angrily. "For one thing, it's none of your damn business what I do with my time. You're not my master anymore, Obi-Wan," he said hotly. "And secondly, and more importantly, how could you possibly think I'd be sexually involved with another woman? I love Padmé! She's the only woman I'll ever want, the only one I'll ever love! I can't believe you'd think I would do something like that!"

"We didn't," Ahsoka said, relieved that Hondo had been wrong. "And we told Hondo we didn't believe it. We know you better than that, Anakin."
Anakin turned to her with a scowl. "Then why did you ask me?"

"We just wanted to make sure," Obi-Wan said. "And you're right, your time is your own. But we're concerned that you're drowning in your emotions, Anakin."

Anakin turned to him. "What do you expect me to do? How do you expect me to feel? The love of my life doesn't want me anymore, Force knows when I'll ever get to see my children again, the Jedi are all but extinct, and I'm stuck on this stinking planet with no hope of leaving in the foreseeable future."

"We get that," Ahsoka said. "And we're all in the same boat…"

"No," Anakin said turning to her sharply. "You have no idea what I'm going through, neither of you!"

"Anakin, calm down," Obi-Wan said. "It's Padmé we want to talk to you about."

Anakin frowned. "Why?"

"Have you considered that she may have regrets about this divorce?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Why would you think that?" Anakin asked.

"How long ago did she serve you?" Obi-Wan asked.

Anakin remembered the day well. "It was before she knew she was pregnant," he said.

"And the twins are how old now?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Four months," Anakin replied.

"So nearly a year, give or take," Obi-Wan said.

Anakin nodded. "What's your point?" he asked, his patience wearing thin.

"Things are a lot different with you and her than they were when she served you, that's the point I'm labouring to make," Obi-Wan said. "Are they not?"
"Yes, so?" Anakin asked with a sigh.

"So maybe she is regretting it," Ahsoka said. "Maybe she's as miserable without you as you are without her."
"Then why would she go through with it?" Anakin asked.

Obi-Wan and Ahsoka looked at each other, neither quite sure how to answer his question.

"Perhaps with all that has been going on she simply forgot about it," Obi-Wan suggested.

Anakin shook his head. "You're grasping at straws," he said. "I really wish you were right, but I don't think you are. Look, I appreciate that both of you want to help me, but right now no one can." He left them and headed to the fresher.

Obi-Wan sighed. "Well, we tried," he said.

Ahsoka nodded. "We did," she agreed. She frowned for a moment as a thought occurred to her. "Obi-Wan, do you remember when we were on Mortis? And Anakin went dark?"

Obi-Wan frowned. "I still have nightmares about it," he said. "Why do you ask?"

"I had a dream last night where he looked like that, his eyes, remember?" she said. "But it was now, here, on Florrum."

Her disclosure startled him. "No doubt it's your worry that has caused you to dream such a thing."

"I hope that's all it is," she said. "I can't even think about that possibility."

Obi-Wan said nothing, for he felt the very same way.

Naboo - two months later

Six months old already, how is that possible? Padmé as she sat in her parents' garden. Jobal had offered to hold the twins' naming ceremony at her home, and Padmé had, reluctantly, agreed. She still felt as though she ought to wait until Anakin was able to be present for the momentous occasion; but at this point she had no idea when she would see him again.

"Leia looks just like you," Jobal said as she held her granddaughter on her lap. Leia was eating cake with both hands, and making quite a mess of herself.

Padmé smiled. "I think so too," she said. "And Luke looks like Anakin," she said, watching Luke on his grandfather's lap, making a mess equal to his sister. She couldn't help but laugh. "Are you sure you don't want me to put them in their highchairs? The two of you are nearly as messy as they are," she said.

"Nonsense," Ruwee said, smiling down at Luke. "Let them be, Padmé. This is a big day for them."

"I know," she replied. "I only wish Ani was here to celebrate it with them."

"No word on what's been happening?" Jobal asked.

"The last time I was on the capital I was told that the 501st, which had been Anakin's legion during the War, had been deployed to make contact with the rest of the clone army," Padmé said. "I have no idea how long that is going to take."

Ruwee shook his head. "Is that the best Organa can do?" he asked. "He's supposed to be in charge of the clone army now, isn't he?"

"Theoretically yes," Padmé replied. "But given the sheer malice of Palpatine's plot, I'm not sure it's wise to trust that his word is enough to stop the purge."

"But it's been months, surely …" Jobal stopped, not wanting to finish her sentence.

"Surely there are no more Jedi? Is that what you were going to say?" Padmé asked.

"Well not exactly," Jobal said. "Surely those who are left are in hiding, as Anakin is, and the clones have given up," she said. "How do we know that hasn't happened?"

"That may very well be," Padmé conceded, "but that doesn't mean it's safe."

"I'm sorry," Jobal said. "But sooner or later you and Anakin will be together. I believe that in my heart, Padmé, and so should you. You can't give up hope."

Padmé frowned. "There's something you don't know," she said quietly.

"What is it?" Ruwee asked.

"Anakin and I are no longer married," Padmé said, the words making her voice catch in her throat.

Ruwee and Jobal looked at one another in shock.

"You mean…the divorce?" Jobal asked, remembering how shocked she'd been when Padmé had told her of her decision to end her marriage.

Padmé nodded tearfully.

"But…you and Anakin have been so happy together!" Jobal said. "I thought things had changed between you."

"They have," Padmé replied. "I … with all that has happened since I filed, I simply forgot! I feel so stupid! But there's nothing I can do, I even contacted my lawyer. It's done."

Ruwee frowned, hating that his daughter was so distraught. "There is something you can do," he said. "Remarry Anakin as soon as he's free."

Padmé smiled sadly. "I hope he will want that," she said. "I can't help but think he'll be very angry at me because of this."

"Anakin loves you," Jobal said. "He'll understand. Have faith, Padmé."

Padmé nodded, doing her best to take heart in her parents' words.

Florrum

"No way," Goru scoffed. "There ain't no way that story's true, Skywalker." Several of his comrades agreed with him.

Anakin laughed. "Yeah, I know it's hard to believe, but that's exactly what happened. Ask Obi-Wan if you don't believe me."

"Well General Kenobi don't care much for drinking with pirates," Gwarm said. "Not like you, mate. You were meant to be a pirate, Anakin. Ain't that right, lads?"

The other pirates cheered at this and raised their tankards.

"So tell us, luv," Aroyo asked as she leaned against the bar. "Tell us how you killed the old bastard."

"Yeah, I wanna hear that story," agreed Gwarm.

Anakin took a drink of his beer, not really wanting to get into that incident, but knowing it would go a long with his new colleagues if he did. He had discovered that the pirates loved hearing stories of his exploits in the War, and so he had formed a friendship with many of them doing just that. Their company had helped Anakin, for they didn't judge him, they never questioned him. They accepted him for who he was, and it didn't faze them at all when he was in a foul mood. In fact, they were quite good at helping him out of such moods, simply by being willing to listen to him. The pirates were all quite unique, as Anakin discovered; but they all enjoyed a good story and a good pint.

"Well, it wasn't easy getting to the chancellor's office," Anakin began. "Clones everywhere were out to get us, and had already killed thousands of the Jedi across the galaxy."

"All because of the piece of shite, Palpatine, right?" Goru asked.

Anakin nodded. "Order 66," he said.

"The whole reason them Jedi are hiding here, you stupid dolt," Gwarm said, punching Goru in the arm. The rest of the men laughed, including Anakin.

"So we snuck in, three of us," Anakin said. "And I pretended like I was on his side. He'd tried to get me to join him, to betray the Jedi, but I wouldn't do it. So now I'm pretending like I am."
"Did he believe you?" Aroyo asked.

"Well, not really," Anakin said. "He was clever, I'll give him that. But I didn't need him to believe me, I wasn't there to make him believe me, I was there to kill him. And with the help of Obi-Wan and Master Yoda, I did just that."

"Must have felt good, eh?" Goru asked.

Anakin smiled grimly. "Yes, it did," he said. He described the fight, how he, Yoda and Obi-Wan had overpowered Palpatine and eventually driven him to his knees. "I drove my lightsaber right into his black heart, and watched the life drain from him. He deserved it, he deserved to suffer for what he did. And I'm sure he is now."
The pirates were duly impressed by Anakin's narrative. They appreciated that he was willing to sit and drink and tell stories with them. Clearly, he wasn't like most Jedi, he was utterly unique. They admired him tremendously, even though they'd never admit to it.

"What, what what!? Still sitting here?" Hondo said as he entered the bar. "Goru, I told you I wanted to leave an hour ago!"

"Sorry boss," Goru said, standing up, along with a few other men. "I'll get your ship ready to go."

"Where to?" Anakin asked Hondo, jealous that he was going anywhere.

"I decided to go have a chat with the chancellor," Hondo said. "Find out what's going on. It's not that I'm trying to get rid of you guys, but I know how restless you are."

Anakin smiled. "You could say so," he said.

Hondo nodded. "I'll be back in a couple of days," he said. "Hopefully with good news, eh?"

"That would be nice," Anakin said.

Hondo smacked him on the back. "Think positive, Skywalker!" he said jovially.

Anakin watched him go, amazed that Hondo always seemed to be so optimistic.

"Another one, luv?" Aroyo asked.

"Sure," Anakin said. "Did I tell you guys the one about the arena on Geonosis?"

Coruscant

Having spent a few days with her parents, Padmé returned to the capital to resume her new life there. No longer a Senator, she had made herself quite useful to the new chancellor nonetheless. It was to his office that she headed first.

"Welcome back, Padmé," Bail said, giving her a smile. "How was the children's naming ceremony?"

"It was lovely," she said as she took a seat. "Of course, incomplete, without Anakin."

Bail nodded sympathetically. "I'm sure," he said. "Six months old already, eh? Hard to believe it."

"I know," she said. "They're starting to crawl now, and growing bigger every day. There's something else I've noticed too," she said.

"What's that?" he asked.

"They're Force sensitive," she said. "Very much so."

"That's hardly surprising, given who their father is," Organa said. "It's been said that there's never been a being stronger with the Force than him. Is that true?"

"I think so," she said, growing uneasy talking about Anakin. "His exploits during the War certainly made it seem that way."

Organa nodded. "No finer warrior in the galaxy," he agreed.

"Excuse me Chancellor, but there is a Hondo Ohnaka here to speak to you," the disembodied voice of Organa's assist said.

Organa frowned. "Hondo Ohnaka?" he said. And then he remembered who he was. "Show him right in," he said.

Padmé was curious, for it seemed as though Bail was very eager to speak to this individual. But before she could ask him about it, Hondo entered the office.

"Good morning Hondo," Organa said standing up to shake the pirate's hand.

"Good morning, Chancellor, thank you for seeing me," Hondo said. "I realize I don't got an appointment or nothing, but figured you'd want to talk to me."

"Absolutely," Organa said. "Padmé, Hondo is coming from Florrum, where Anakin, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka are currently."
Padmé's eyes widened. "Really? You have news of them? Of Anakin?"

Hondo turned to her, realizing who she was. "You're Padmé? Anakin's ex-wife?"

"Yes I am," she said. "How is he?"

"He's okay," Hondo said, a little confused why the woman who'd divorced Anakin was so concerned about his well-being. "Pretty depressed about you ending your marriage, though."

Padmé's heart sank. "He knows?"

"Of course he knows," Hondo said. "It's none of my business, but you broke his heart, lady."

"Hondo, that isn't your concern," Organa said.

"No, he's right," Padmé said. "It was a mistake, a terrible mistake! Please tell him that for me, would you? Tell him I love him and want him back!"

Hondo nodded, unsure what to make of her declaration. Hondo didn't trust women much, especially beautiful ones. "I'll give him the message," he said. "I'm really here to find out what's going on," he said, turning back to Organa. "Any word from Rex?"

"Yes, actually," Organa said. "I was just about to fill you in as well, Padmé," he said. "According to Rex, they haven't met with any resistance at all as of yet. Every legion commander they've spoken to has already heard and obeyed my orders."

"That's wonderful!" Padmé said.

"It is," Organa agreed. "So hopefully they'll continue to have success and this will be over soon."

Hondo nodded. "Makes sense that they would, I mean, clones are clones, right? Not really individuals who can go against an order."
"Just as they couldn't go against Order 66," Organa said. "Indeed, it isn't the clones who are to blame for this catastrophe. Thankfully the true villain is dead."

"But how many Jedi are left?" Padmé asked. "Do we have any idea?"
"I would estimate maybe 100," Organa replied. "They were decimated."

Hondo shook his head. He'd never particularly liked the Jedi, given that they were keepers of the law; but their slaughter had been something inconceivable, and utterly evil. "They can rebuild," he said. "You've got the best of the lot still alive, if you ask me. I know it's terrible that so many died, but you have to think of the future."

Organa smiled, the pirate's wisdom and insight surprising him. "Yes, that's exactly right my friend."