Chapter 14 – Planning
Author's Note: In which plans are made... *evil grin*
~ Amina Gila
"There has to be something we can do," Padme states flatly. It's evening again – the day spent trying to distract Ani from his grief via various activities, including taking him out in a starfighter for a practice flight – and Padme is back from the Senate, so they're eating a meal together in the early evening.
Anakin has finished appraising them of the results of his scouting at the Temple. The ventilation shafts that lead down to the prison level are filled with numerous security measures as would be expected, so using them to enter or exit would be exceedingly difficult. Even if Anakin could deactivate the measures without causing an alarm – and he could; he knows he could, because he's good with machines – it would take far too much time, time which they do not have.
Anakin sighs, shaking his head. "Not immediately. I don't know what to do now," he admits, looking down at the plate in front of him with unseeing eyes. "I don't – I refuse to give up, but we're running low on options. The only alternative is for me to obtain the security code of a Council member and that is highly unlikely."
"It's not like Master Obi-Wan will give his over willingly," Ahsoka agrees.
"We can try to convince him of our point of view, I suppose," Padme murmurs, "But I doubt he would be willing to forsake his principles for something like this." She's right and that hurts because Anakin doesn't want to think about it. He doesn't want to think about how Obi-Wan would rather let Custos be unjustly imprisoned than help them rescue him.
"Maybe we're looking at this the wrong way," Anakin offers. "Maybe we need to find another way in entirely." Though what that other way would be, he doesn't know.
Ahsoka gives him a dubious look, and from Ani's complete silence, Anakin wonders if he's even present mentally, or if he's lost in thought. If he has something to say, he'll say it though, Anakin knows. "Master," the Padawan begins with raised eyemarking, "There is no other way into the prison. If it was easy to get into, it would be easy to break out of."
Anakin huffs. "Well, it would probably be easier to break out of it than into it at this point, since breaking out only requires a one-way trip. It would give the escapee more time to get to safety without being caught."
"Is there a way to get in without alerting the guards then?" Padme questions.
It's not even something he needs to think about, so he shakes his head. "That level of the Temple is meant to house Fallen Jedi or other dangerous Dark Siders. It is equipped to handle them. No one except Council members are allowed to enter. I don't think the guards even go inside; they watch through cameras."
A silence descends over the table as everyone contemplates his words. A sudden idea takes root in his mind, and he wants to dismiss it out of hand, but at the same time... what choice to they have? They need to do something extreme, something outrageous if they want to get Custos out of there without waiting for weeks on end. Ani could never handle it, and Anakin is admittedly becoming concerned about the boy's mental status. The edges of their bond are becoming stained with darkness, and Anakin shudders to think about what might happen if Ani snaps entirely. An unhinged, half-trained, Fallen Skywalker would be a disaster.
"There is only one thing I can think of," he says quietly, "And it is a horrible idea. I don't think it would even work."
Padme and Ahsoka exchange a look. "Let's hear it," requests his wife.
Anakin swallows, hard, before trying to explain, his heart pounding wildly and erratically. "If I – if I embraced the Dark Side in such a way so as to make the Council think me dangerous, they would arrest and imprison me down there. I... Force nullifiers don't really work on me. I could use the Force to break us out."
Ahsoka shifts, uncertainty bleeding into her Force signature. "You would Fall," she points out, her voice small and fearful.
Anakin nods. "I know." His eyes flicker over to Ani, and he sees the child watching him, something almost disbelieving in his gaze. "I am worried about Ani," he admits, continuing even though he knows that the child can hear him. There's no reason for him to hide this. "He is growing darker, and it would be better for me to Fall than him." He, at least, can control himself. He knows how to act among the Jedi, how to hide his feelings, how not to lash out in anger.
"Ani, is that true?" Padme questions, turning to him. She doesn't sound surprised really, so Anakin imagines that she's trying to help the child open up and give voice to his feelings.
For a moment, it seems as if Ani won't even answer, but finally, he looks at her. "I – I am trying to resist it like Dad taught me, but... it's getting harder."
Padme casts Anakin a worried look, before returning her focus to Ani. "We're all here to help you, Ani," she promises, reaching out to lay a hand on his shoulder – he's sitting next to her on one side while Anakin is on her other side; Ahsoka is sitting next to Ani. "We're doing everything we can, and you can talk to any of us anytime about anything."
The child nods, and Anakin notices Ahsoka looking between him and Padme with an odd, somewhat contemplative look on her face. "What?" he demands, frowning.
"Nothing," Ahsoka replies, and they continue their meal, though Anakin catches her eyeing him again when she thinks he's not looking.
"Why do you keep looking at me?" he asks not even a minute later, at least it doesn't seem like it's been more than a minute.
Ahsoka sighs dramatically, setting down her fork and turning to him. "I was only wondering something," she tells him, "Something about you and Padme." Anakin raises an eyebrow, waiting for her to go on. "I wondered if I was missing something," she elaborates, "Because it... almost feels like you're closer than I thought?"
That sounds more like a question than a statement, but Anakin still feels himself freeze, because how could Ahsoka have realized that he and Padme are more than just friends? It's not something they've ever told anyone – though Ani might suspect it – even if Anakin thinks Obi-Wan already knows, albeit not the extent to which they're involved. But Ahsoka. Why would she suspect something? It doesn't make sense, because he and Padme never openly act as if they're in love with each other.
"I think you're mistaken," Padme assures Ahsoka, not even twitching, though her eyes flicker to Anakin for a moment. "We're just friends."
Ani snorts, and Anakin gives him a flat look. "You were... literally cuddling together last night," Ani informs them, amusement flickering into his Force signature.
Anakin feels his face heat, and carefully refrains from looking at Ahsoka so she doesn't see anything in his expression. "I was sleeping," he replies, inflectionless. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Wait," interrupts Ahsoka sounding completely mind-blown, "You mean you are more than just friends?" She sounds a little freaked out, and Anakin can't even blame her.
The only question now is if he should tell her the truth. Does it even matter if she knows? What they're planning to do for Custos is far more likely to get him thrown out of the order than his illicit marriage to Padme, a marriage which no one should even find out about anyways. If Anakin has trusted Ahsoka with everything thus far, if she's completely unaffected by the knowledge of his childhood, then she can probably also handle the truth about him and Padme.
He doesn't need to talk to his wife to know that she's thinking something similar. Their eyes meet, and she gives him a nod, letting him know that it's alright.
"We're married, actually." The words tumble from his mouth before he can stop them, and even Ani seems a bit surprised by that part of it.
"Married?!" yelps Ahsoka, wide-eyed.
"Yes, but that doesn't really matter right now," Anakin replies, shaking his head. "We need to figure out what to do now." And just like that, the mood sobers as everyone forces themselves to refocus on the situation at hand. "There is only one other solution which I can think of. I can go to Palpatine and speak with him, telling him just enough to make him consent to order the Council to release Custos."
"No." The response from everyone is unanimous and unyielding.
"After everything he did and has done, I think we would be acting foolishly if we told him about Custos," Padme elaborates.
"Besides, he – he wants you as his apprentice, doesn't he, Master?" points out Ahsoka fearfully.
"Yes," Ani answers before Anakin can. "He does."
Anakin lets out a breath. "Then I don't think we have a choice. I'll have to Fall." He's well aware of how grim he sounds. He doesn't want to take that route, especially since he worries that his desperation is clouding his judgement.
"There are so many ways that can go wrong," Ahsoka comments, dismayed. "If you're captured during your escape, there won't be any way for you to get out, right? You'll be constantly watched, and you can't really... kill anyone or the Council will have a reason to imprison you."
Anakin sighs, leaning back in his chair. "You're right," he admits. "We have to be extremely careful, only fighting back in self-defense and refraining from giving any major or fatal injuries." It isn't going to be easy. "It will be worse for me," he adds after a moment. "I'm a Jedi, so they can legally detain me if they want. Legally, there's nothing anyone can do."
Padme's face falls for a brief moment before her expression fills with determination. "There has to be something we can do," she states with conviction. "I can... I can contact the Nubian queen," she suggests suddenly. "I can tell her what's happening, and I can tell her about Custos. I've been careful. None of my handmaidens know yet, and I sent one of them into the Senate chamber today while I tried to find out what we can do legally."
She doesn't say that she sent one of the handmaidens in as her so she could keep her distance from Palpatine. It's not necessary for her to say that, because Anakin can see it on her face. He can see how much she's worried about the future. He's worried too, to be honest, and he still hasn't forgotten Padme's suggestion that they all disappear. Maybe they need to. Maybe they need to stop arrogantly assuming that they can stop Palpatine before it's too late. Maybe they need to take a step back and prepare for the worst, trusting Padme's allies in the Senate and the Jedi Order to do the right thing and stop the would-be-dictator.
"If the queen agrees with me, she can officially declare Custos and Ani as Nubian citizens while issuing a strongly-worded request that they both be handed over to Naboo," Padme explains, her excitement seeming to grow as she develops a plan that might just save them all. "I don't know why I didn't think of it earlier. But we can try it at least."
"I like it," Ahsoka declares enthusiastically. "It's much better than... Anakin Falling." There's a hint of trepidation in her voice as she says it. "No offense, Skyguy, but I don't want you to do that. I don't –" she hesitates, swallowing, "– I don't want to lose you."
Anakin gives her a smile which he hopes is reassuring. "I could say the same. Me Falling will be a last resort. We'll do everything else that we can first."
"Anakin, if you do have to go ahead with it though, what you said got me thinking," Padme says seriously. "I think you should pre-record a message stating your intention to leave the Jedi Order. I know – I know you don't want to do that, that you're not ready for it yet, but... it could mean the difference between you being free and a prisoner." She reaches out to squeeze his hand, brown eyes filled with worry. "I don't want anything to happen to you either, and I don't understand the Force like you and Ahsoka do, so I don't know how it will affect you. But I want to cover everything we can before you do something so drastic."
Anakin closes his eyes, lacing their fingers together, Padme's touch his only tether to reality and sanity. He doesn't – he can't – how can he do that? How can he state his intention to walk away from everything that his been his life for the past many years? How can he let down Obi-Wan in such a manner? How can he bring himself to disappoint him so much?
The conflict tears at him, because he knows that, if he does what Padme's suggests, if worst comes to worst, he will, for all intents and purposes, be choosing Custos and Ani over Obi-Wan and the Jedi Order. Tears sting his eyes, but he forces them back with sheer willpower. He will not break down here in front of Ahsoka and Ani. He has to remain strong.
"I don't want to ask that of you," Padme whispers, obviously understanding the core of his struggle. He reaches out, winding an arm around her waist as he pulls her closer, trying to rebalance himself.
He is – he is the leader now, the only leader any of them have. He might want someone to lean on, but he has to play the role of General now. With that realization, it's as if a switch has been flipped, and he straightens, all of his emotions neatly disappearing behind a durasteel wall as he calculates the pros and cons of their courses of action with a precision that he's been forced to hone throughout the war.
"I know you don't, Padme," he replies, "But you're right. It's the only way. I'll do it before – if – I go. If something goes wrong... I'm sure the Nubian queen would be more than willing to vouch for me."
"Absolutely," Padme insists without missing a beat. "You are a hero on Naboo. You saved our planet when you were only a child, and we have never forgotten that. You will always be welcome there."
Anakin gives her a half-smile, though it feels fake. "That's relieving to hear," he teases.
"I'll contact the queen as soon as we're done eating," Padme decides, looking between everyone to see if anyone has objections. They don't. "And then... we wait."
Anakin is very tired of waiting. Isn't that all they've been doing all this time?
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