Chapter Two
The Clone
Luke sat alone in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon. The ship had been hurtling through hyperspace for three days. There was still three more days to go before they would reach Coruscant. He had mixed feelings about the mission he'd assigned himself. He could sense, like Qui-Gon Jinn must have, that this discovery of whatever it was would have a great impact on many lives. What had his father hidden that had upset him so much? Why hadn't he sent a message straight to Obi-Wan instead of leaving a holocron? A lot of things just didn't make sense. He sighed thoughtfully to himself. His thoughts were as thick and random as the starlines that flew by outside. So many questions, but would there ever be answers to them all?
R2-D2 came beeping into the cockpit. He whistled at Luke imploringly. Luke had brought the little trash can shaped droid one the mission encase they would be in need of his expertise. He turned to regard the droid. Artoo seemed to cock his head sideways, if that was possible for this droid to do.
"What is it, Artoo?" Luke asked.
Artoo swiveled his head toward the door and beeped. He clearly wanted Luke to follow him. Luke stood up and followed the little droid to the living quarters. Kitster sat on a box scanning over a pile of data cards. Han and Chewie were wrapped up in a game of sabacc, in which Han appeared to be losing. Han looked up as Luke came in.
"I sent Artoo to get you," Han said, "I thought if you stared at hyperspace any longer your eyes would bug out."
Luke smiled, "They started to feel that way." Luke plopped down into a chair and slumped down.
"If you're interested, Luke, I would be glad to tell you what I know of Anakin, though it may not seem like very much," Kitster looked up from his data pad.
Luke sat up straighter, turning his attention to Kitster. His expression showed that he was indeed interested.
"I assume you know what podracing is? Kitster asked.
Luke nodded, "I've never actually seen it done though."
"I have," Han put in and Chewie growled that he had too. " Dangerous stuff. You wouldn't catch me doin' it in this life time."
Chewie grumbled something that translated out like, You would if they paid you enough. Han shot the wookie a dirty look. Luke grinned and Kitster rolled his eyes.
Kitster put his attention back to telling the story. "Luke, you're father was the best natural pilot I've ever seen. He was flying things when he was six years old. He was eight when he got his podracing license. Illegal of course, but I suppose everyone wanted to see if he could really do it, including his owner Watto."
Han had momentarily lost interest in the game. Chewie laid down his cards to give his full attention to Kitster. All of them listened with rapt attention as Kitster told them of his best friend. That was how they spent the rest of the time for the long hyperspace journey.
*******
It was easy to obtain entrance to the Palace. After all Han and Leia lived there in one of the apartments kept for important political people. Leia had been one of the founding members of the New Republic and had even been Chief of State at one time. She was still very involved with politics in the New Republic as well. So the Solo family could come and go as they pleased in the Palace. As could Luke.
The guards greeted all of them warmly as they headed up to Han's apartment. Accessing the Palace computer's blueprints of the building, they proceeded to search through every level trying to find what Anakin had meant as the basement. There were two hundred levels to look through. It became an exhausting task. At last they found one of the bottom most levels. There was not much down there except storage facilities. Several doors were marked with numbers for various things. They searched through that level trying to locate anything out of the ordinary.
"There," Kitster pointed to an unmarked door on the holo map. It was quite a distance from the others. It should really not even have belonged there. That had to be it.
They took the turbolift downward toward their destination. It was a long trip down, taking nearly ten minutes. This gave them time to speculate about what they might find. When the doors finally hissed open, they were greeted with a wave of musty, damp air. The lights were dimmed to their lowest charge and a few didn't even work. It was quite plain that no one had been down there in ages. They spread out to look for the unmarked door. After several fruitless hours they decided to give it a rest for a while.
"Maybe that door was a glitch in the computer's blueprints," Kitster suggested with a sigh.
"I don't know about you guys, but I'm tired and hungry. I say we quit for the day," Han said, as his stomach rumbled in complaint.
Luke, however, was unwilling to stop just yet, but he knew he couldn't ask for more from his friends. They had helped enough already. This was his search anyway. He would do it alone. "You guys go on ahead. I want to stay a little longer."
"You sure, Luke?" Kitster asked.
"Yes, go ahead. I probably won't find anything anyway. I'll meet you guys back at the apartment," Luke reassured them.
"If that's how you feel, kid. Happy hunting," Han smiled.
Chewie growled good luck too, as they left Luke to himself. Artoo didn't follow them. He elected to stay with his Master. Besides, droids don't get tired. Luke picked up his search where he'd left off. He continued along for over an hour with no success. He was becoming frustrated and tired. Maybe I should head back, Luke thought with sigh. He couldn't make the feeling go away that he knew it was down here somewhere. Artoo came whistling up to him excitedly. He twirled his head around beeping at Luke. Luke felt a ray of hope lift his spirits.
"Did you find it, Artoo?" Luke followed the little droid.
The door was well hidden behind years of dust and grim that had accumulated over it in ages past. It had been so well camouflaged that Luke had passed the same spot several times before without seeing it. The key pad on the door had long since gone dead. He patted the little droid's head with a grin.
Luke solved the problem of the broken key pad with his lightsaber. Luke shoved the door open with the Force. Darkness met them on the other side. Luke raised his lightsaber aloft, sending a green glow all around them. A long corridor stretched out before them. The air was stuffy and tainted with ozone. It seemed as if this place had not since the sign of a sentient being for several decades. Cautiously, they followed the corridors twisting path through the bowels of the Palace. After a time they came to another door.
This time the key pad was still working, but was far less complex that the other had been. In fact, it consisted of only a small knich in which to place something. The knich was square with more blue, yellow, and white racing symbols on it that matched those of the holcron. Kitster had told him those colors and symbols had been Anakin's racing colors for podracing. Anakin had used them as a code for Obi-Wan to recognize. Luke fished the holocron out of his utility belt. He held his breath as he placed it into the knich. He trembled as he felt a tremor in the Force. This was clearly where Anakin had hidden something. He could feel it.
The door slid open slowly. Luke stepped into the room beyond. It was pitch dark inside. His lightsaber cast an eerie green light over everything with in a few feet radius. In the darkness, two twin red lights blinked on and off. A soft beeping seemed to echo around the room. On the left side of the room it was stacked high with boxes, crates, and assorted junk. Luke, tentatively, opened one with Anakin's name marked on it in bold, fine letters. Inside the box it was filled with clothes, all neatly folded. A lightsaber sat on top of the pile of clothes. It was exactly the same design as the lightsaber old Ben had given to him, that had once belonged to his father. That 'saber now belonged to Mara. Luke picked it up, gently. He pressed the on button and the blue blade came to life. It hummed loudly in the still room. Luke extinguished it and set it back in the box.
Luke stood up, as he did his lightsaber glinted off something in the back of the room. He moved towards it, slowly, and heard a thump. He froze where he was. Raising his lightsaber for light, he saw where the beeps and lights were coming form. A computer console of some old type appeared to be regulating something. He moved, warily, forward again. He was curious as to what had made that noise. What he saw shocked him.
"A cloning tank!" He exclaimed.
The computer console chirped at him. A green key flashed at him, catching his attention. He pressed it, gently, and was rewarded with a fuzzy holo that hovered over the viewscreen. It was Anakin again, looking less upset and more composed. The image and the words were a lot clearer.
"Master Kenobi, or whoever has found this, it is very important," Anakin paused, as though emphasizing this, then continued, "During the battle with the sith Count Dooku on Geonosis, he was able to get a sample of my DNA. I don't know how. With it he has cloned me. I believe Dooku is planning to make this clone into his henchman of the dark side. He wanted the clone to help him bring down the Republic. A sort of secret weapon if you will. I found the clone and have hidden him here from the Count. I do not know if the clone is corrupt yet or what he knows. I do not sense any danger in him. Please take him. Keep him safe. Bring him to the Jedi if possible. He can not be found by Dooku or evil will come of it. Of this I'm sure." The holo switched off.
"A clone!" Luke was dazed at the very idea.
An audible thump was heard from within the tank. A surge in the Force told Luke the clone was well aware of his presence there. Switching on the lights around the tank, everything became illuminated in a yellow glow. The clone hung suspended in green, bubbling fluid. A breath mask covered most of his face, obscuring his features. He was stripped of clothes down to only shorts. Luke touched the glass of the tank. The clone's hand moved up to the glass where his was.
Let me out of here! the clone screamed through the Force.
Luke drew back in surprise, the turning to his droid he asked. "Artoo, do you think you could figure out how to get him out of there?"
The little droid beeped a affirmative. He rolled up to the up to the console and plugged his computer arm into the power outlet. After a moment, the pressure in tank began to decrease in a whoosh of bubbles. The clone began to float up to the top of the tank. Luke scrambled up a ramp beside the tank. Reaching down he caught the clone as he reached the surface. Luke pulled him out, gently, feeling a strange sense of numbness run up his hands. He worked at the breath mask, trying to get it off. With much effort the mask finally pulled free. The clone gasped, harshly, and coughed up a good deal of the fluid he'd been suspended in. His breathing was harsh and ragged, as though he were having trouble getting air. His eyes, flickered open, focusing and unfocusing. He was dazed and confused. A look of panic suddenly crossed his face. He tried to move, but failed only managing to move his hands. Growing more desperate the clone tried to speak and nearly choked.
"Artoo, what's the matter with him!?" Luke was alarmed.
Artoo beeped and a message scrolled across the viewscreen. A paralyzing agent had been injected into the fluid to subdue the clone while he was in the tank. It was apparently an extremely severe one. The clone stared up a Luke with a look of hopelessness. Luke touched the clone's mind through the Force. He could only make out a swirl of confused, muddled thoughts and memories. He soothed the clone with the Force, telling him that he was safe and well. He induced sleep on the clone's muddled mind.
"Well, Artoo, we can't keep him here. He needs some medical attention," Luke sighed, spreading his jedi cloak over the clone's sleeping form. He got Artoo to pick up one of the boxes of clothes. Picking the clone up, Luke started on the long walk back to Han's apartment.
*******
By the time Luke got back to Hans apartment he was about ready to collaspe, and the clone was still unconscious. The shock of being out of the tank had set in on the young man's body. The clone's whole system seemed to be having trouble adjusting. His breath was horribly ragged, his skin was pale and clamy. Luke smacked the door panel to the apartment with his elbow. It whooshed upon, and he staggered into the living room. Han jumped up from his favorite chair.
"Luke!? Where have you be-?" Han stopped in mid-sentence.
Luke deposited the clone onto the couch. He collapsed into a chair with a sigh of exhaustion. Han, Kitster, and Chewie crowded around him and the clone.
"Luke, who the heck is that?" Han demanded to know.
"He's what my father hid, Han," Luke gasped, "He's a clone. My father's clone."
Kitster looked quite taken aback. "Do you mean to say that's a clone of Anakin Skywalker?!"
Luke nodded, "Yes, I do. And I need someone to call a medic. He needs some attention."
Kitster left to call a medic. Han sat back down in his chair. Everyone was quiet, not daring to even talk. Luke sat recovering his strength, while Chewie piled more blankets onto the clone. The clone was shivering with shock. Luke could sense that the clone's mind still remained unclear. It seemed almost foggy through the Force. He could only see a confusion of lightsabers, pain, and the face of a beautiful young woman.
The medic arrived within a few minutes. She was in her late twenties, and plain looking. She checked the clone over. Within seconds she had his breathing stabilized and temperature nearly normal. She did several quick blood tests that did indeed show a paralyzing agent was what was effecting him.
"Agent was very harsh. In fact, it is one that has been since banned some years ago after the Clone Wars. It's effects are temporary. It should wear off in a week or so, maybe a little longer depending on how long he was under its influence. Until, then he won't be able to talk or walk completely. Keep him warm and quiet," The medic told them.
"Thanks, Doc," Han ushered her out with a smile.
They all sat staring at the clone, as Luke reaccounted how he'd found him. The vase of flowers on the coffee table shuddered. Han looked up at Luke sharply. Luke shrugged. The clone shifted and groaned in his sleep. The vase kept shaking, until it rose unsteadily into the air. Luke looked over at the clone, who was still unconscious. The clone was unaware that he was doing anything to the vase. Luke touched the clone's mind. He sensed the nightmares swirling in the young man's mind, but could not make them out. He, gently, soothed the clone through the Force. The vase, abruptly, fell when his concentration was broken. Han dived for it and caught it just before it hit the table.
"Umm... Luke just what are you planning on doing with this kid?" Han asked, as he placed the vase back on the table.
"We're bringing him back to Yavin 4. To keep him safe like Anakin wanted," Luke replied.
"Luke, you said this was Anakin incarnate. Don't you think he might be a little hostile. I mean couldn't he be dangerous or something," Han remarked, eyeing the clone somewhat nerviously.
"I don't think he's dangerous or hostile. Just confused," Luke answered.
"Confused? About what?" Han wanted to know.
Luke shrugged, "I can't make out anything for sure in his mind. It's just a jumble of images."
Kitster sighed, mostly to himself, "So it's back to Yavin 4?"
"Yeah, I just hope the kid doesn't always do that in his sleep or we're going to have a lot of fun on this trip," Han rolled his eyes.
"We'll wait for a day or so. Enough for him to recover his strength," Luke said.
Han stood up, "Fine, but in the mean time I'm going to get some sleep."
Everyone departed for their various rooms. Luke stayed with the clone, he wanted to try to make out some of the images he'd seen in the clone's mind. It had all been very confusing, but he was certain he would figure it out. He touched his fingers, gently to the clone's forehead. Then using the Force he plunged down into the depths of the clone's mind. Confusing images and conflicting emotions bombarded Luke. With the Force he caught one image that felt dark and dangerous. Instantly, the image came into focus in his mind.
Mom... Mom...Mom...
He saw Anakin holding an older woman in his arms. She was beaten and bloody. Luke could not make out the surroundings very well, but it looked like Tusken Raider dwellings. The woman's eyes fluttered open as much as she could manage through the swelling and the dried blood.
Annie?, the woman rasped faintly. Annie?
Anakin nodded.
Annie? Is it you? the woman's voice cracked. Her eyes gradually focused on him, and he could see a thin smile of recognition coming to her battered face. Tears welled in her eyes.
Anakin's own tears threathened to spill down his cheeks. I'm here, Mom. You're safe now.
Annie? Annie?, the woman choked with a smile. She reached up and stroked Anakin's cheek with a bloody hand. Anakin kissed her palm, as tears spilled down his cheeks. You are so handsome. It was clear the woman was dying. Now I am complete, she whispered.
Just stay with me, Mom, Anakin begged her, Everything's going to be fine.
She looked straight up, past Anakin, past the hole in the ceiling, to the shining moon, it seemed.
MOM!
I love- the woman tried to say, but couldn't get it out. She was slipping away fast. But she tried again. She had to tell Anakin. I love...I love....you. Her finally words were barely audible, and Anakin saw the light leave her eyes. Anakin sat holding her in his arms, disbelieving. He lifted her up to him and rocked her there for a long time. She couldn't be gone! She just couldn't! He choked back a sob and reached up to close her eyes. He held her close against him, again, with his head bowed. His body trembled, violently, and Luke could feel the rage and hate boiling off the young man.
Anakin looked up and Luke drew back in fright at the raw hate, that burned like blue fire, in his eyes. Anakin laid the woman down, climbed to his feet and boldly strode out the door. He pulled out his lightsaber and ignited it. Tusken Raiders were all around. They looked up in surprise, then in horror as Anakin whirled his blue 'saber aloft. He swung left and right, killing Raider after Raider, mercilessly. Luke pulled back from this image, to shaken to watch any longer.
He plunged down further into the clone's mind. He found another image that felt warm and yet sad. He touched and the image leaped into his mind's eye. This time Anakin stood with his hands cuffed in front of him, beside him stood a beautiful young woman, who was hand cuffed as well. It couldn't have been much longer after the other image he'd just seen. The two stood in a cart, strapped in place to keep them from escaping. The cart sat back aways from the opening of the tunnel. It was dark, gloomy, and quiet except for the occasional echo from the cheering crowds outside.The light from the tunnel opening shown through, silloetting them against the bright light. Anakin turned his head toward the woman.
Don't be afraid, he whispered reassuringly.
She smiled at him, her experssion one of genuine calm.. I'm not afraid to die. Her voice was thick and soft. I've been dying a little bit each day since you've came back into my life.
What are you talking about!? Anakin exclaimed softly.
She looked up into his eyes. I love you.
You love me!? Anakin asked, overwhelmed. You love me! I thought we decided not to fall in love. That we would be forced to live a lie. That it would destroy our lives. But her words had brought a wash of contentment over him.
I think our lives are about to be destroyed anyway, she remarked, then leaning closer, she whispered in almost a tortured voice. I truly, deeply love you, and before we die, I want you to know. Anakin leaned down as she said this, then kissed her. Both of them sharing this last intimate exchange before their deaths. Not knowing that they weren't going to die. Luke pulled back from this image, feeling like an intruder. And realizing that he had just seen his mother for the first time.
Luke let go of his hold in the clone's mind and stepped back from him. The images he just witnessed staggered and amazed him. He suddenly felt immensely tired, not able to comprehend what he'd seen. He went over to the couch across from the clone and sat down. He tried to clear his mind and think properly, but was to exhausted. He needed to sleep. He laid down and in a matter of minutes was fast asleep.
*******
Morning light streamed in through the windows. Luke rolled over on the couch, trying to get away from its probing rays. After a moment, he sighed knowing that he was already awake. Going back to sleep would be impossible anyway. He sat up, yawning. His eyes strayed across the room to where the clone was laying. Much to his surprise, the clone was already awake. His bright, piercing blues stared out the window with a far off look. Luke watched him for moment. This was the face of my father, he thought. How could that have been the face under Vader's mask?
Luke stood up, slowly, trying not to distract the clone, but the clone had already seen him. He watched Luke come and sit down next to him on the nearest chair. Their blue eyes held each other for a long moment. Neither moved. Luke looked away first, for there was something in the young man's eyes that haunted him. The clone tried to speak, but could not say anything. A helpless look crossed his face.
"The paralyzing agent was rather severe. The medic said you'd be able to walk and talk in a few days," Luke soothed the clone.
The clone gestured at him with his fingers.
"Me?"
The clone's chin dipped in the tinniest motion of a nod.
"My name is....Luke," he replied. He was afraid to tell the clone his last name. He didn't know what the clone knew.
The clone's eyes fell on Luke's lightsaber lying on the table. He tapped into the Force, and with an small flick of his fingers, the lightsaber floated up into the air. It floated over between them. Luke reached out and took it from where it hung was suspended in mid-air.
Yours? the clone asked with his eyes.
Luke nodded, "Yes, it's mine. I'm a Jedi Master. My friends and are going to take you to the Temple soon. I teach the children there."
Han and Kitster came from the kitchen, talking and laughing. Both carried assorted breakfast foods. They fell silent as they noticed the clone's piercing gaze regarding them, intently. He watched them as they set the food on the table.
"So, kid, you're finally awake," Han said to the clone.
The clone nodded slightly, and looked at him questioningly.
"He wants to know who you are," Luke told Han.
"My name's Han Solo, and yours?" Han asked.
The clone looked a little agitated and frustrated.
"Hold on a sec, kid," Han disappeared for a moment. He came back with a flimsy and a writing utensil. He slipped it into the clone's hands. The clone drew on the Force, making his hands work they he wanted. He scrolled out a message in shaky hand writing.
Name is Ani, the clone had written.
"Ani, huh. Kinda girly don't you think?" Han remarked.
The clone shrugged with the help of the Force. He wrote out another message. Nickname, he wrote, short for Anakin.
Han looked over at Luke, who shot the clone an interested look.
"Ahh....I see," Han said.
Kitster had been out of the clone's range of vision for the last several minutes, as though afraid. He moved to pick up a piece of fruit. Ani's eyes caught him swiftly. Kitster froze, staring back at Ani. The two stared at each other for several long seconds. Ani wrote out another message. He sent floating through the air to Kitster. Kitster took it and read it. It simply said, Kitster? Kitster looked up at Ani with a surprised expression. Then he nodded.
"Yeah, Ani. It's me," Kitster murmured.
Ani's eyes lite up with joy at this. Kitster came around the table. He sat down beside Ani. He rested his hand on Ani's arm with a smile. He felt a strange happiness to be recognized by the clone, but he knew it wasn't really Anakin. Did the clone know that though? Kitster looked over at Luke, who shook his head.
"It's good to see you again," Kitster smiled.
Ani nodded. He was tired now. He lay back, closing his eyes. He was fatigued even after so short a time. He blew out a frustrated breath.
"Patience, young Jedi. All in good time," Luke reassured.
Ani opened his eyes. They showed his amusement at Luke's words. For whatever reason they could only guess.
"Get some sleep," Han advised, but the clone had already dropped off.