Chapter 2 – The Meeting
Author's Note: In which finds out more about Ahsoka, meets her, and talks to Rex among other things, and not necessarily in that order. :)
~ Amina Gila
Somehow Anakin thinks Luke looks even less calm than he did earlier – which was to say, not really at all, though remarkably so, considering how he was thrown into a different time. He seems more closed off and upset, and he can only guess why. Anakin hates seeing him like that though. This is a happy time – Ahsoka is finally coming home.
"Obi-Wan told me what happened to Ahsoka," Luke tells him, "Part of it, anyway."
Anakin nods. "She was so light. So good. You will love her; I know you will."
"I think she survived," Luke admits. "One of the symbols of the Rebellion was her... markings."
"Oh," he says, because what else can he say? He's relieved to know that, but what else could he expect? He trained her well. She was an amazing student – almost nothing could kill her. There's nothing out there she can't handle.
"I can't believe the Jedi would be willing to do this."
"Luke, they do what they think is best," Anakin objects, sighing. This entire conversation just became instantly uncomfortable. "We are in no place to judge them. It was the will of the Force that she left, and now I see that. Had she not left, she would not be where she is needed. She would never have found Maul."
Luke is looking at him like he's not sure he's seeing him, and Anakin doesn't understand it. What could have happened? "It was wrong," he replies firmly. "They should never have done it."
"I know, but they did." Because what more is he supposed to say?
Luke is surprised and confused, and though he hides it well, Anakin can sense it as clear as day. "Yes," Luke agrees grudgingly, though Anakin senses something else is there, right beneath the surface.
"What's wrong?" he asks. "I know I'm supposed to keep my senses to myself, but I know something else is wrong."
He momentarily freezes, seeming uncertain, before speaking. "The Jedi are not like I once thought they were," he confesses.
Anakin makes a sound of understanding. "They were not for me, either, but I know they do the best they can. We cannot expect more than that."
Luke doesn't argue it, for which Anakin is grateful. This entire conversation is awkward, and he has no idea how to handle it. Obi-Wan never had a problem with these conversations, but Anakin always has. "I'm glad she's coming back," he says, finally, though Anakin finds himself wondering who he's glad for, if it's for Anakin or himself, because he knows why his son would want to know someone else with... a somewhat similar relationship, seeing as he hardly knew Anakin from his time. The entire situation is awkward, and Anakin has no idea how to act.
He's never had a father (yes, he has) and he definitely has no idea how to be one. He's only twenty-three, and Luke looks about the same age. Finally, he opts to outright say it – he doesn't care if it's awkward, because everyone knows he doesn't know how to have friends. It was how he got to know Padme – they talked about themselves. It should be different with a child, because he should have raised Luke, but with Ahsoka he trained her as both a warrior and a Jedi. "We know little of each other," he begins. "I haven't... been with someone for a long time. I don't know how to... um." He waves a hand and scrambles to formulate his thoughts, but Luke seems to understand.
"I know very little about you," he confesses. "I was raised by my uncle and aunt on Tatooine. I know about my grandmother, just a little bit. Obi-Wan told me you were a great warrior and pilot, and I've heard a lot of people say likewise, but I don't know you."
It's relieving to know that he's not the only person feeling awkward. "After Ahsoka arrives, perhaps we can... talk," he suggests. "We won't have much time now."
"I understand," Luke reassures. "You raised her, right?"
Anakin smiles, and for the first time, it doesn't hurt to remember her, because he can remember her with the knowledge that she's returning, that she still remembers him. "She was fourteen when she came to my care," he replies, "It was... difficult at first, but we grew close."
"How long did you know her?" he queries curiously.
"It wasn't even three years, but it feels like more."
Luke smiles back. "I know. I knew my sister, Leia, for three years, but it feels like I've known her all my life."
Anakin can't imagine what it's like to have a real, blood sibling. He never has, even if, oftentimes, Rex feels like that. And this means that apparently, he had a daughter in the future too? "You didn't grow up together?"
Luke shakes his head. "We were separated to hide us from the Sith."
That's... He doesn't know what to think about it. He already knows why Luke needed to come back here: to save the galaxy from destruction.
**w**
I never knew I had an aunt, Luke thinks half-hysterically to himself. Or an older sister, whichever she is.
He still doesn't know what to make of that, or about how she was probably the one who organized the Rebellion. Which also means she's probably dead in his time. He's not sure why he didn't hear about her, and he wonders for the hundredth time what could have made his father embrace the Dark Side. Luke doesn't understand how it's possible – he's so cheerful and light. He hasn't seen a trace of Vader yet, and it doesn't seem like that will change.
Luke does know one thing though: he can't trust Anakin, even if he very badly wants to. He doesn't know how this happened, and he won't risk something that could backfire so majorly. He can't trust the Jedi because he doesn't know when they'll lie to him, and while they might have their reasons, it prevents him from working properly, which is extremely aggravating. So, that only leaves one person he can trust who he knew from the future: Captain Rex.
The clone always spoke very highly of Anakin – the same way everyone did – and Luke knew him well. Rex should be able to help, and at the very least, he'll be someone Luke can talk to about everything.
"The General told us about you," Rex says a little awkwardly.
"Did he mention that I'm... from the future?" Luke asks.
"Yes," the captain answers, "I still don't understand how this could have happened."
"The Force," Luke replies, dryly, "A future version of him – my father – sent me back."
"That sounds like one of his reckless plans," he replies with a fond smile. It reminds Luke of how Obi-Wan said something similar earlier, except his attitude about it had been so different.
"I knew you... in the future," Luke blurts out, hoping it won't make their interactions more... uncomfortable, instead of the opposite. He knew Rex then, but he doesn't know this Rex, so it's different.
Rex doesn't seem certain how to reply, so Luke keeps talking. "You were part of the Rebellion against the Empire."
"How did an empire form?"
"I don't know all of the details, but I'm here to stop it, and..." He doesn't even know where to start.
"The General or no one ever told you what you needed to know before sending you back in time?" Rex repeats, almost incredulously.
"I know some things," he offers, "The Sith won the war, and forcibly united the galaxy under an Empire. All of the Jedi were killed."
Rex's eyes widen. "And General Skywalker?"
"He..." This is difficult to talk about, and he doesn't know how to break it. Even so, if Rex was with the Rebellion, he can be trusted, right? "I don't know what happened, but he Fell. He joined the Sith." It doesn't make any sense to him, especially seeing how Anakin seems to have so much respect for the Jedi at this point.
A mixture of shock, confusion, and disbelief flash across Rex's face. "Why would he do that?"
"I don't know," Luke replies, and he loathes how helpless it makes him feel. His father maintained that he could help, and he believes him, but he doesn't know how if he doesn't know where to start or what to do. "I didn't know him until... shortly before he died. He killed the Emperor to save me, and he turned back to the Light right before." It hurts to talk about, and he doesn't want to think about it, though it still haunts him. Sometimes, he can still remember the weight of carrying his father's body to the shuttle and being electrocuted.
"I trust you with this because you were part of the Rebellion," he continues. "I knew you. I don't know who else I can trust."
"I won't tell anyone," Rex promises immediately. "You have my word, though I think you should speak to the General about this."
"I don't think now is the time," Luke replies. "I already told him about the Jedi being destroyed, and I don't know how he would react to... the rest." He's still not sure what to think about this. Anakin is nothing like he expected, but so much better than he dreamed of. He hasn't seen anything of Vader yet, but he hasn't been with his father for long, so he doesn't know. "What is he like?"
"He's..." Rex hesitates a moment, probably trying to collect his thoughts. "He's one of the greatest of the Jedi. He trusts me, and I do my best to keep that. It means a lot to all of us. No other Jedi will do so much for us."
"He seems... kind. Compassionate. Empathic. I never saw it on Vader." He catches his slip up a moment later. "That was what they called him," he explains quickly, "After he became a Sith."
Rex shakes his head. "I don't know much about Sith, but I don't understand how... that could have happened. Do you know how long we have?"
"No, but the Empire formed the year I was born, which is... now."
"I don't understand."
"Neither do I," Luke confesses, "I don't know what happened." Their conversation is interrupted when the door across the hanger opens and Anakin and Ahsoka enter. Rex's attention is immediately diverted to them, and the other boys gathered who'd been hanging a distance off while Luke and Rex talked.
"Go ahead," Anakin nudges Ahsoka onward as she stops, wide-eyed at the clones lined up in front of them, their helmets painted with her markings. "They've been waiting to see you."
Ahsoka walks between the rows, looking between them. Even if Luke couldn't sense her shock, he can see it written all over her face. She's touched by the gesture, and quite frankly, so is he, though it feels like he's intruding on something private to which he doesn't belong.
"As soon as Rex and the guys knew you were back, they got to work," Anakin adds, arms crossed.
Ahsoka stops, turning around and walking back to Rex who holds out his helmet. "The paint job is a little crude, but we think it gets the idea across. Glad to have you back, Commander."
"Rex. Thank you, but you don't have to call me commander anymore."
"Sure thing... Commander."
Their loyalty is touching, admirable even, and as the three of them stand together Luke finds himself wondering how there was nothing left of this bond, this friendship, two decades in the future when it ran so deep.
"Who's this?" Ahsoka asks, her gaze jumping to Luke.
"This is where it gets... complex," Anakin replies. "He's my son."
"Your son," she repeats dubiously.
"He time-traveled."
"So, this... is Skyguy junior," she quips, her gaze fixed on Luke. "I didn't know time-travel was possible, but I shouldn't be surprised."
What?!
"I would recommend a different name," Anakin replies teasingly. His eyes are so full of light, of life. He's smiling, and he looks so – so calm and peaceful. The Force is swirling around him soothingly, in a way that feels like home. "That one is already taken."
Luke truthfully thought this couldn't get stranger, but apparently it can. Since when was Darth Vader ever once called 'Skyguy'?! He tries, for one moment, to picture someone addressing the cyborg like that and just stops.
The conversation is interrupted when alarms start blaring. The door slides open moments later and Obi-Wan runs into the room. "Anakin, Rex, prepare all forces," he orders urgently. What happened? "We're jumping to hyperspace immediately."
"Yes, sir," Rex replies immediately, handing the small box he was holding to Anakin before turning to the others, urging them into motion.
"The attack on Mandalore was approved?" Anakin inquires, turning around. His playfulness has slipped away almost entirely behind a well-concealed mask, which is... unusual. He had completely opened up with Ahsoka here. The approaching battle, presumably.
"No, it's Coruscant. Grievous has attacked the capital," Obi-Wan replies, and then, Luke knows. This was the last major battle of the Clone Wars, the one that somehow led directly into the formation of the Empire. He doesn't understand it, because he has no idea how it's possible that Anakin could have Fallen in this time. Not to mention the fact that he and Leia should be born soon, and he doesn't know why he hasn't heard anything about that. Force, he doesn't even know if his parents were married, but seeing how Anakin is, he can't imagine that he wasn't.
That spurs Anakin into motion instantly. He jolts forwards, alarm flaring around him. "What about the Chancellor?"
It's a legitimate question, Luke knows, but he knows who Palpatine really is, and it makes him sick to see his father genuinely concerned for the man's wellbeing.
"Shaak Ti has been sent to protect him, but Master Windu has lost contact with her."
He thought it was a genuine concern because the man was the Chancellor and the Jedi serve the Senate like Obi-Wan said earlier, but from the way Anakin's expression goes from worried to pained and panicked in the course of half a second, and from how his gaze dart towards Ahsoka and back to Obi-Wan like he's trying to figure out who to choose between, Luke knows it's more... personal. That doesn't make sense. How would his father know Palpatine on that deep a level? It doesn't make sense, and he doesn't like it. He can't begin to understand it – he may have cared for Vader, but that was different. Vader was Anakin and Anakin is his father – but it's not fair for Luke to judge, because Anakin doesn't know who Palpatine really is.
"Not to worry," Obi-Wan assures, sensing his friend's distress. (Are they friends? Luke sees a deeper connection that he can't name.) "Our fleet can be there within the hour."
"So that's it?" snaps Ahsoka, arms crossed, glaring, "You're going to abandon Bo-Katan and her people?"
"Ahsoka," Obi-Wan replies reproachfully, "Surely you understand this is a pivotal moment in the Clone Wars. The heart of the Republic is under attack."
"I understand that, as usual, you're playing politics," she bites back icily, and Luke finds that while he completely agrees with Obi-Wan here, he can't even blame her for her attitude. She – like him – is clearly struggling with her faith in the Jedi. "This is why the people have lost faith in the Jedi. I had too, until I was reminded of what the Order means to people who truly need us."
"Right now, the people on Coruscant need us," Obi-Wan retaliates, and that's when Luke's attention is finally drawn to Anakin. His father is standing a short distance from the others, arms crossed, dead silent as if he's trying to not be noticed. It's not something Luke has any personal experience with, but he knows it's a gesture used by those who have grown up in... bad environments and are trying to hide to protect themselves, and he really hopes he's misinterpreting it – he doesn't want to imagine his father experiencing that.
"No. The Chancellor needs you," Ahsoka retaliates.
"That's not fair."
"I'm not trying to be."
Luke suspects the two would have continued arguing – if they had any sort of close relationship before, it's completely gone now – if Anakin hadn't interrupted them. "I'll divide the 501st and make a new division under Ahsoka's command," he offers.
"Unfortunately, Ahsoka is no longer a part of the Grand Army of the Republic," Obi-Wan objects.
"We'll promote Rex to Commander and have him lead the new division," he suggests. And Luke finds himself momentarily taken aback by the quick thinking – okay. It's not surprising, but he's a little unsettled to see how much Leia and himself take after their father. "Ahsoka can accompany him as an advisor." He turns towards Ahsoka. "What do you say?"
"I accept. That is, if Obi-Wan agrees."
"Very well," he concedes. "May the Force be with you." Obi-Wan turns around and heads for the door, pausing right before he leaves the room. "Oh, one other thing. I killed Maul once. Best to capture him. He doesn't seem to stay dead."
Honestly, Luke has no idea what is happening, but now is neither the time nor place to ask. All he knows beyond the shadow of a doubt is that he's staying with his father, no matter where he goes. Even if that means to see the Emperor... currently Chancellor.
Obi-Wan disappears into the hall and the door closes behind him, leaving the other three alone.
"Thanks for the support," Ahsoka says gratefully, looking up at Anakin. "As always."
"That's what friends are for," he replies lightly, whatever concerns or worries disappearing again, and Luke can't help noticing how fast that came and went. He's in a hurry now, and he's tense, but he's still... light again, now that Obi-Wan left the room. It's like something about Obi-Wan is what's making him upset, which is very odd. Luke can't help thinking he's missing most of the story, and how is he supposed to help if he doesn't know what's going on?!
Anakin holds out the box Rex gave him earlier. "I have another surprise for you," he offers. "If you will face Maul, you'll need these."
Ahsoka looks up at him hesitantly, a pure unfiltered adoration in her eyes and Luke turns away to give them some privacy. Now that they're alone, it's as though nothing matters except them, and it reminds Luke oddly of himself and Leia, except this is... different. It's more intense, with a distinct note of the father he always wanted himself. Anakin raised her, and isn't that ironic? It wasn't only Vader who killed the Emperor – it was also through his teachings, through this bond that formed the Rebellion and lead to the Empire's destruction.
And to think that if not for the time-travel, Luke would never have known. It's wrong how someone so good will go down in history with nothing remembered except the bad – not even how he reached that point.
"I took care of them," Anakin says, "They're as good as new."
Luke glances back to them when he hears the sound of igniting lightsabers – Ahsoka is holding hers in front of herself. She has two – why did Luke always think Jedi only had one? – and they're blue. It... fits.
"Maybe a little better," he adds, crossing his arms, with a devious smirk in response to her half-exasperated look. (He doesn't know what that's about either.)
Ahsoka moves her lightsabers, testing out a few moves, none of which Luke has ever seen. He knows very little about lightsaber combat. It's another thing he needs to learn. "You capture Maul," Anakin says as she moves, "I'll take care of Grievous. With any luck, this will all be over soon."
He sounds so certain, so cheerful, and in this moment, it looks like everything will be fine. How did everything fall apart from here?
"Master Kenobi always said there's no such thing as luck," Ahsoka replies, turning off her lightsabers and hooking them to her belt.
"Good thing I taught you otherwise." His arms fall to his sides, and he turns towards the door. "Come, Luke. You should return to Coruscant with us."
"I'm staying with you," he promises.
"Can you fly?" he asks as they move towards the door.
"I was a pilot for the Rebellion."
"Anakin!" Ahsoka calls out from behind them right after the door slides open.
He stops, turning back.
She steps forwards, like she wants to say more but doesn't have time. "Good luck."
Now that the talking is over, Luke finds himself finally realizing what's about to happen. This is the final major battle in the Clone Wars, and he'll see the Emperor again if he goes. He doesn't want to think about it. He didn't have time to tell Rex, and he won't be able to tell him any other time. "Ahsoka," he calls back, "Tell Rex... it's the time."
She looks confused but nods.
"See you soon," Anakin says to Ahsoka before he and Luke walk into the hall, the door closing behind them.
Truthfully, Luke has no idea what's about to happen. All he knows is that somehow, he and Leia will be born very soon, the Jedi are destroyed, and Anakin Falls and becomes a cyborg – though he doesn't know if those two events are completely unrelated. He has no idea how Vader became a cyborg! No one does. There are theories, many of them, though the most believable is that he was in a fighter crash – not that Luke entirely believes that, but he doesn't know what else to believe.
Unless the Emperor did it himself, but he doesn't want to think about him at all right now, especially not how his father is apparently friends with him.
"What was that for?" Anakin asks after a few moments of silence.
"What?"
"About Rex."
Personally, Luke thinks Anakin is walking way, way too fast. "He and I were discussing the situation. We are very close to the formation of the Empire." Though I don't know if you Fall before, during, or after that event! The pure tension of it is becoming maddening.
"I still don't understand how that could happen, but we should focus on the current mission first."
"I agree."
He's about to see the man who tortured him and murdered his father in an hour.
He can only hope this won't end the same way, because there's no going back from here. It's the only chance he has at a life with his father.
"Luke, what's wrong?" Anakin asks, and it nearly throws him off-balance, because that's the exact same thing Leia said to him before he left for the Death Star. He's starting to think his sister and father are more similar than he realized. "Did something go wrong in the battle?"
It's close enough, and Luke is content with letting him assume that. He has no desire to get into any details – he can't tell his father about the Emperor, so he focuses on his other concerns. "Something happened to you," he confesses. "I don't know what, but you were... part mechanical."
"I already am." He looks down at his right arm – Luke had noticed he was wearing a glove over it, but he hadn't realized why. He didn't know it happened before Vader, but he won't ask for details. He's touchy about his hand – and even if it was different because Anakin never lost his arm to his father like Luke did, it's still incredibly insensitive.
"It was more than that," he replies, awkwardly. "I don't know how much, but you were more machine than human. Far more."
"And you don't know how," Anakin deduces. "You said earlier you thought it happened in a crash?"
"I don't know how else it could have happened," Luke replies, "But..."
"You're worried that it will happen now?"
Yes, he is, because they're going into a space battle, and this was one of the last things that happened, but at the same time, he has no way of knowing any of that. "I... am," he admits, "I don't know when everything but happened, but... I know we're running out of time."
"I've crashed more times than I can count," Anakin assures very non-reassuringly, "It's never been that bad."
Luke can only hope that will stay true, because there's little more he can say on the matter. They have a battle to fight, whether he's scared to know the outcome or not.
But... what if this is somehow the point where everything begins to fall apart? He doesn't know what that means, so he can only hope he'll figure out what to do in time to stop it.
**w**
Rex can't get his mind off of everything Luke was telling him, even with Ahsoka back here with him for the first time in so long.
The Republic is going to fall apart and turn into an Empire. The same Republic he's been fighting for all these years, that so many of his brothers have died for. Of course, he always knew that there was a chance they might not win the war, but at the same time, he'd always believed they would. In the end, it's what made all the fighting and death worth it. But now...
And the Jedi are... going to be destroyed. It doesn't even seem possible. How could all of the Jedi be killed? For a fleeting moment, he suddenly thinks of Fives – of what happened right before he died, of what he was saying. Rex himself had filed that grievance report, though he knew no one was going to listen to it, but he had to it, for his brother. Fives had said that there were chips in all of the clones that could control their actions.
He didn't believe it then and he still doesn't know if he does, but... Suddenly, he can't shake the sinking feeling of what if there's a connection? It's possible, as much as he doesn't even want to consider such a thing, because it's the only thing he can think of that would explain how all the Jedi could be killed in such a short timespan.
It doesn't seem real, but he knows Luke was speaking the truth. What he fears most is for his General. He doesn't know how it's possible for his general to support an Empire or... any of it. He doesn't know much about "Falling", or "Sith", or Jedi, for that matter, but he knows Dooku is a Sith, and he can never imagine the General becoming anything like him. None of this makes sense but Luke seemed as confused about how it could happen as he is.
Of all the Jedi, after what happened with Krell, his General was the one and only person Rex thought he could trust unconditionally, and he doesn't know how to deal with this.
His thoughts are interrupted when Ahsoka approaches him. "Luke said to tell you that 'this is the time'?"
The time. That means – Luke said they were running out of time, but Rex didn't realize he meant right now. He must not have realized yet. Rex doesn't know what to do aside from going to the general and telling him everything, but if what Luke said was true, he knows that's probably not the best idea. There is only one other thing he could do – tell Cody and tell him to tell General Kenobi, but there must be some reason Luke hasn't already done that himself.
He really, really doesn't like being unable to tell Anakin this. It feels like he's keeping secrets, and he doesn't want to do that. He doesn't want to break his General's trust.
But he can tell the Commander, can't he? Maybe together they can figure something out. Maybe.
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