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| Finding A Path - Candra | ||||||||||||
| Disclaimer: Characters and Premise are borrowed from the movie "Star Wars." | ||||||||||||
| "Obi-Wan, I'm scared," I confessed. "Anakin's changed so much since meeting Senator Palpatine. All he talks about now is power." "I know, it frightens me also," Obi-Wan replied. "Now almost all I teach him is Jedi philosophy, but he is not interested. All he wants to learn is how to tap the Force's power. I believe he experiments with it now. Anakin won't be patient, he wants the power now, knowledge can wait. I fear his impatience and experimenting will lead him to the Dark Side." "If Anakin actually turns, would he try to recruit others to the Dark Side?" My voice shook uncharacteristically as I asked. "What others do you worry for?" Obi-Wan asked, concern showing both in his face and in his voice, "Although," he continued, "Unless these others had the potential to use the Force I doubt he would concern himself with them." I knew Obi-Wan was trying to calm my fears, but in truth that bit of information had only made them worse. "I have heard that the ability to use the Force is passed on genetically," I continued hesitantly. "It is," Obi-Wan replied. "Candra what are you trying to tell me?" "I'm pregnant. That's why I came, to surprise Anakin, but when I got here and he had changed so much I got scared." "Did you tell him?" "No, I hardly knew him any more." "If we do loose him to the Dark Side it would be best if he never found out about this," Obi-Wan stated darkly. "Is their any place you can stay till your child is born?" He asked. "And do you know of anyone who could raise the child without Anakin's knowledge?" "Yes, I know of such a place and person, but Obi-Wan, what if we're wrong, what if Anakin doesn't loose himself?" "Candra," Obi-Wan replied, "This is definitely a case where you'd rather be safe than sorry." "Alright, I'll be on Alderaan with Senator Organa. If anything happens contact me," I requested. "I will Candra. The old Anakin Skywalker is still present. He is being drowned by this new persona, but there is a chance to draw him back to us," Obi-Wan reassured me. ============================================================== A few weeks later, I was explaining my request to Bail and Cora Organa. Cora had been like an older sister to me while I was growing up, and even though my need for secrecy confused both her and Bail she promised me what I asked. Everyone at the Alderian court was told I was Cora's cousin, and that my husband had been killed in a skimmer accident. I wore black to keep in character. The mourning garments seemed appropriate, for if Anakin was truly lost to the Dark Side, he was dead. Court life was dull and gave me much too much time to worry about Anakin and the future. Obi-Wan's weekly reports weren't hopeful. Anakin was angry all the time now. He had told Obi-Wan he had a new Jedi Master, one who wasn't scared of the Force's power. Anakin rarely left Palpatine's side anymore. "Candra, don't you think it's time you told me what's wrong?" Cora asked. She was leaning against the doorjamb, her arms crossed over her chest. "General Kenobi and I have been forced to conclude that Anakin Skywalker has fallen under the influence of Senator Palpatine." My voice was cold and distant. "He's not the only one," Cora sighed, "Lan and Cal haven't been the same since they were selected for his program. Now they seem like echoes of the Senator. Any little thing can cause them to loose their tempers. They don't have any common sense or compassion anymore." (To my thinking Lan and Cal had always lacked common sense and compassion, but I could hardly say that to Cora.) "Also Bail says that Palpatine has been nominated as the head of the council, and he's allied enough of the more ambitious councilors to actually win. No one knows how he does it, but everything Palpatine proposes soon becomes fact. Anyone he turns his attention on is eventually bent to his will. Afterward they can rarely explain what prompted them to take the action that they took." "How much power does Palpatine actually wield?" I asked. "No one really knows, but I don't feel comfortable about the amount of power he openly wields, let alone the rest," Cora answered sadly. Bail entered just in time to hear this last exchange, "My wife," he began, "As long as Senator Palpatine has the power of speech he has enough power to discomfort me." "He does cause quite a bit of trouble with that alone," Cora acknowledged, "But still Palpatine's influence isn't enough of a threat to justify hiding from a person." "Palpatine isn't the only reason I worry about Anakin," I whispered, "Anakin was being trained as a Jedi Knight, General Kenobi thinks he's been turned to the Dark Side." A look of stunned understanding entered Bail and Cora's faces. "I had heard rumors that Palpatine was a Dark Jedi," Bail commented softly, "I had never credited them before." My eyes widened, so Palpatine himself was Anakin's new Master, things were even more serious than I had feared. ============================================================== By the time the twins were born there remained little doubt that Anakin was lost to us. Even Obi-Wan seemed to have given up. He told me that the twin's safety was of more importance. To protect them Obi-Wan wished to separate them. I had told him to take Luke to Anakin's sister Beru and her husband Owen. Owen was a farmer on Tatooine, a very out of the way planet. Owen and Anakin had never gotten along, I hoped this would keep Luke safe. I would keep Leia with me on Alderaan. Obi-Wan planned to come for Luke shortly after the twins' first birthday. I knew that separating the twins would help to insure their safety, but I still wanted to keep both close to me, where I knew they were safe. ============================================================== "Come on Candra," Cora suggested, "Lets take the twins and go shopping." I looked up, surprised at her suggestion, I hadn't left the place since I had arrived on Alderaan. "You should come," Cora insisted, "It's not good for you to hide in your room brooding all the time." Eventually I gave in to her and it wasn't long before we were strolling through one of Alderaan's major market complexes. We wandered through a variety of shops buying things for ourselves and for the twins. Cora made shopping more fun than I could have imagined. As we left the market complex, Cora noticed a group of Republic soldiers breaking into a small warehouse. "What in the galaxy are they doing!" Cora exclaimed. "I know the owner of that building, he'd never be involved in anything illegal!" "What are you doing?" I asked as Cora rushed toward the warehouse. "I'm going right over there to demand that their commanding officer explain what he's doing!" Cora replied angrily. "And the force help him if it he doesn't have a good explanation." Just as Cora finished speaking the Commander stepped through the shattered doorway and my heart jumped into my throat. The black battle armor he wore made him seem inhuman, and a dark shadow appeared to hover over him. Anakin's features were so hardened I barely recognized him. Suddenly he glanced toward Cora and I. His cobalt blue eyes had always been cold but now they might have been chips of ice for all the warmth in them. I grabbed Cora and dragged her back into the Market entrance. "Candra, what's wrong?" Cora asked worriedly, "You look like you've seen a ghost!" "It's him!" I exclaimed. "Who?" Cora asked, confused. "Anakin," I answered, my voice no longer steady. "Here?" I nodded, "He was the commander of those soldiers." Anakin's caped form approached us. "Cora, take Luke and Leia, lose yourself in the market for awhile, then go home and tell Obi-Wan what's happened." "But what are you..." "Go!" I hissed. She disappeared into the crowds just as Anakin reached me. "Who were you talking to?" He demanded coldly. "An old friend from school," I answered smiling, in what I hoped was a calm manner. "What are you doing here?" I asked still holding on to that smile. "It has come to Senator Palpatine's attention that some of the people of this planet have neglected to acquiesce to some of the laws the council has passed. I am here to rectify the situation." As I listen to Anakin speak I began to understand Obi-Wan's talk of Anakin losing himself. Whoever this dark stranger was, he was not the man I had loved. Then to my complete surprise a trace of the old Anakin crept into his eyes. "Candra," He said as it he had just recognized me. "How long has it been since I last saw you?" A couple of months over a year," I answered, my smile coming more easily as the darkness around him receded a little. "Why are you here?" Anakin asked, the chill returning to his voice. "I was lonely, I came to visit Cora Organa," I answered. "I would like you to leave the planet with me," His voice made it an order. "I'll have to say goodbye to Cora first," I stalled. "Senator Organa is a one of Senator Palpatine's greatest enemies. I do not want you to associate with him or his wife." "Why not?" I challenged. The coldness in Anakin's face was replaced with confusion, "Senator Palpatine is going to destroy all his opposition, I-I don't want you caught up in that." "Bail and Cora are our friends, we don't want them to get hurt either," I suggested. Anakin's eyes hardened again, "They are Palpatine's enemies." "But not ours!" I insisted. "Palpatine's enemies are my enemies, and yours as well," he remarked coldly. "That's not true Anakin, Palpatine is a dangerous trouble maker you were sent to keep an eye on!" I insisted. "Palpatine is the true power in the Republic, and he is the only Jedi not afraid to use the Force's whole strength," Anakin was coldly furious. "When did you start caring so much about power?" I demanded. "Anakin, you used to care about friends, about helping people simply because they needed your help. People like that little boy on Corellus. You cared about doing the right thing, Anakin!" "I wonder how Han's doing," Anakin commented softly. I smiled happily and took his hand, "This is the person I love, the one who cares about people not power. I was afraid I'd lost him." Anakin looked down at our joined hands then up at my face. A small uncertain smiled pulled at the corners of his lips. I now knew that he wasn't hopelessly lost. Anakin loved me, and I could lead him back to the light. A youngish solider rushed up. He glanced at me as if he believed I was crazy, then turned his attention to Anakin. "Commander, we're finished at the ware house," He stammered, "What are your orders?" He was obviously terrified of Anakin, I wondered what Anakin could have possibly done to inspire such fear in his subordinates, then decided I'd rather not know. "Excellent, prepare to leave this planet," Anakin ordered. "Yes sir!" The young man replied, scurrying off to do just that. Anakin led me after him. ============================================================== On the ship Anakin continued to show flashes of his old self, but the closer we got to Palpatine the rarer those flashes became. He obviously cared a great deal about the Corellian boy, Han Solo. I wished Han was here. The more people around that could reach Anakin's true self the better. I learned that Palpatine had turned Anakin fully against Obi-Wan destroying their new friendship, and I was afraid that once the Senator realized I could help Anakin return to his true self he would try to destroy our love as well. ============================================================= My first glimpse of Senator Palpatine shocked me. Anakin was just cutting off the communication, and I wasn't sure I could trust my impressions, for the Senator was not the terrifying dark creature I had expected. He was a somewhat frail, withered old man. The first time I met him in person showed my original impression was both right and wrong. Physically he was exactly as I had first thought him, but out of his dark sunken eyes shown a twisted hatred the strength of which I had never before imagined. And even more terrifying was his calm manner that seemed to say all was as he wanted it. "Master," Anakin greeted this loathsome, terrifying creature, dropping to one knee as he said it. Palpatine paused for a second, staring at Anakin's kneeling form, a strangely satisfied smile forming on his thin, dark lips. "You may rise," He finally stated, his gaze shifted to me, his eyes brightened angrily as he noted Anakin's hand resting gently on my shoulder. "Who is this?" he demanded sulkenly. Anakin flinched slightly, and he stepped away from me, "She is my wife, Candra." "You are emotionally connected to her, she weakens you," Palpatine stated in the tone of a reprimand. "How may I correct this?" Anakin asked. "Destroy her!" Palpatine ordered coldly. "No!" Anakin exclaimed, a look of horror entering his face. I stepped forward and took his arm. Anakin glanced down at me, and I smiled a small smile, with hope and fear making up equal parts of it. "I'm sorry, I can't," Anakin continued, still looking at me. "Then go," Palpatine snarled, "Leave the power." Anakin hesitated and I knew I had to tip the balance in my favor. "We could stop by Corellus on our way home," I suggested hopefully. Anakin smiled softly at me, "That would be great," He said, turning away from Palpatine. "If you leave I'll destroy you, your world, the girl, everything you care about will be destroyed!" Palpatine raged. Anakin froze, his fear of the Senator showing in his entire body. I tugged gently on his arm. "Yes, you know that I possess the power to do that," Palpatine purred. "That power I am willing to share with you, but if you turn it down, that same power will destroy first that which you care for, then you." "Please let us go from this place," I begged. That's when Palpatine threw down his ace, "I would be satisfied if you simply sent the girl away." Anakin turned back to Palpatine, "Anakin, I don't want to be sent away from you," I pleaded. "Think of the power Skywalker, think of the consequences of leaving," Palpatine demanded silkenly. "I'll take her home then return," Anakin promised. "You have neglected your training to long already," Palpatine objected. "The girl can make the voyage on her own." "Anakin, I don't like traveling by myself," I reminded him. "Disobey me and you will loose the power," Palpatine hissed. Anakin looked between me and Palpatine, "Candra, I'll assign someone to escort you home," He promised miserably. I sighed sadly. I had come so close, so very close. "When will you come see me?" I asked, wanting to know how long before my next chance to take him back from Palpatine. "As soon as I can possibly get away," Anakin replied. In the background Palpatine chuckled softly, I had a feeling that Anakin would be stuck here till it was much too late to help him. ============================================================== I waited for Anakin at my parent's home for eight months. Then I returned to Alderaan, I wanted to see Luke one last time before Obi-Wan took him to Tatooine, and I was determined to take part in raising Leia. I left a message with my parents telling Anakin where to reach me but I feared that it was hopeless to expect him to come. ============================================================== As it turned out Obi-Wan and I reached the planet the very same day. "Where have you been?" He asked. "Anakin came, he was worried that I'd get into trouble on this planet. He took me to meet Palpatine, then sent me home. I had hoped he would keep his promise and visit me, but after eight months it didn't seem likely." I explained. "Does he know about the twins?" Obi-Wan asked worry evident in his voice. "He doesn't have the faintest clue," I replied. Obi-Wan relaxed. "I'll be glad to meet them today. The ability to be a Jedi varies in strength and sometimes is only passed on in a latent form. I have often wondered how the ability manifested itself in the twins." "I just want to see them," I commented. ============================================================== My greatest fears, and I believe, Obi-Wan's greatest hopes were confirmed, the instant he met the twins. The General reported that both had the potential to become Jedi Knights. Obi-Wan let me spend the day watching and playing with the twins. I was disappointed that neither really remembered me, but maybe that was for the best, since it would be many years if I ever saw Luke again. The next morning Obi-Wan and Luke left for Tatooine. | ||||||||||||
