Chapter 18 – Reunion
Author's Note: Y'all have been waiting for this for long enough. I hope it meets your expectations! :D
This chapter includes mentions of the Tatooine Slave Culture and Amatakka created by Fialleril.
~ Amina Gila
Obi-Wan had not really expected Anakin to stay in contact, so he isn't surprised not to hear anything from him over the next week. A week, however, is all that's needed before, just as Anakin had predicted, the Jedi pick up his trail. They don't say so explicitly, but Obi-Wan can feel the increasing tension and suspense in the atmosphere, and he overhears a mention about some problem on Tatooine which will need to be resolved.
It makes sense that they wouldn't tell him about locating Anakin, given what happened previously, but the Council doesn't know that Obi-Wan knows where Anakin is staying, so they wouldn't have a reason to hide talk about Tatooine. And maybe he's wrong about the Council having found Anakin, but he won't take any chances.
He contacts Padme immediately, leaving her a brief, but cryptic, message, one which she should surely understand. He's tempted to go to Tatooine himself. He wants to. He wants to see Anakin again, but if Anakin will be warned, it probably won't be necessary.
Obi-Wan also tells Ahsoka that there's a chance the Council has found Anakin, that he's in danger from them. Naturally, she wants to go there to make sure he'll be alright, but Obi-Wan is confident in Anakin's ability to protect himself. He was strong as Vader, and he'll be even stronger now. Anakin hadn't been afraid of facing Windu and Aayla before, and Obi-Wan is well aware of how Anakin helped destroy all the Jedi, of how he led the clones on the Temple. Many Jedi fell to the clones' blasters, but many more fell to Anakin's blade. There is probably no Jedi, except himself and Yoda, perhaps, who is strong enough to defeat Anakin. Windu could pose a challenge, of course, though Obi-Wan doubts that he would come out on top.
Anakin certainly hadn't thought so, or he wouldn't have been so unbothered when they confronted one another a month ago.
He's not entirely surprised when Padme comms him in the mid-afternoon, though he is surprised by what she has to say. "I've uncovered some evidence about Palpatine," she tells him, "But it wasn't entirely through legal means. We'll need to move fast if we are to take action against him and before he learns what I've done."
"What would you suggest?" Obi-Wan queries.
"Can you and Anakin kill Palpatine by yourselves?" Padme wants to know. She's being blunt, to the point, rushed, and Obi-Wan can feel a tenseness humming in the Force around him.
He thinks about the question for a moment. "That would be something we had best ask him," he admits. "I do not know. I know that Master Yoda nearly defeated him alone, and I would imagine that me and Anakin combined are stronger than him. Hopefully."
"Good," she replies. "Here's what we need to do. We need to go to Tatooine, all of us. Ahsoka should come too. We'll get Anakin, and we'll come back here to Coruscant. Ahsoka will help me release all of the information about Palpatine which I've uncovered and collected to the public, while you and Anakin confront him. And we'll do it without telling the Council."
Obi-Wan blinks, momentarily taken aback by her words. "Why?" he asks, confused. "Wouldn't it help if we had other Jedi in the know?"
"Palpatine's influence extends too far," Padme explains. "If you two do it, the Council can write you off as being a traitor. If we go to Tatooine, you may have to help Anakin fight the Jedi who will come for him. The Council will renounce you, and we can take down Palpatine together."
Realization dawns on him, all at once. "And if we do that, then we'll have to go into hiding, but the Order and Republic may endure."
She smiles, a little bitterly. "Yes. Come to my apartment as soon as you can. We need to depart immediately. Make sure Ahsoka understands the situation."
"I will," he promises as the transmission disconnects.
In truth, Obi-Wan doesn't know how he feels about this plan but knowing that he'll be able to see Anakin again in only a few hours... it's overwhelming and relieving. Well, it'll be more than few hours, but. The point still stands. He lets out a slow breath, trying to center himself as he goes to talk to Ahsoka. Time is of the essence, and they have to hurry.
Ahsoka says nothing while Obi-Wan explains the situation to her as well as what they need to do. He can't imagine it would be easy for her to go along with it, to willingly turn her back on everything that she's believed in. She hasn't gone through the same things that she would have had he and Anakin not come from the future.
"I – I'll help," she assures him, though she still seems hesitant. "I – I'm not sure if I'm really ready to leave the Order behind, but Anakin needs my help. I guess that's reason enough."
Obi-Wan knows that, as a Jedi Master, he ought to encourage her to stay, to remain with the Order as a Jedi, but he can't do that. She had grown a lot outside the Order, and the last time he saw her, she was... a young woman already, mature and much more assured of her path. He regretted her leaving, but it had been her choice. The Order failed her, failed to help her. It was only one of their failings, and he can't deny that she may well have been happier outside the Order, away from the frontlines.
"I should tell you to stay, but I won't, because we'll need your help," he concedes, "And I think you may end up happier if you leave. I know Anakin will miss you if you choose to remain, but he will not hold it against you either. This is a huge decision, and you don't have much time to make it. For that, I apologize."
Ahsoka takes a deep breath and shakes her head. "No, I'm coming," she repeats, sounding more certain and surer of herself. "I won't regret it." He doesn't know if she's trying to convince him or herself of that, but he lets it go. They don't have time for a lengthy debate.
They scramble after that, gathering whatever things they want to take most while being careful not to draw too much attention to themselves. They can't afford to tip anyone off, after all. They arrive at Padme's apartment within two hours, and they leave for Tatooine almost immediately. It's not until they're in hyperspace that Obi-Wan has time to sit down and meditate. He needs time to breathe, to adjust to all the many changes and revelations that have just occurred. It's important for him to be centered if he and Anakin are to defeat Sidious.
He can't deny how much such a thing terrifies him, because of it is hinging on Anakin helping. If something goes wrong, if Palpatine works his way into Anakin's mind again... then everything could be lost. He doesn't think he's being pessimistic for thinking that Palpatine still has a great deal of influence over Anakin. It's something that he needs to plan for, but he doesn't know how. He doesn't know what all Palpatine has said and done to Anakin. He has no idea of the chains that the Sith Master has wrapped around Anakin's mind.
Maybe he's being foolish for agreeing to do this without even knowing everything, because he won't have the time to find out from Anakin anything more. He would need months, at the very least, to work through everything that Palpatine has done to Anakin, to learn all the ways that the Sith manipulated him. He doesn't have that time. He only has mere hours, a day at most, so it will have to be enough.
Somehow, he'll have to trust Anakin again, completely and fully, if they are to ever make it out alive and unscathed from killing Sidious.
The flight to Tatooine passes rather uneventfully, and Obi-Wan can sense that they're all both excited and apprehensive. This will be the first time they've seen Anakin in a month, and longer for Padme; she hasn't truly seen this version of him at all. Seeing Anakin in person will allow Obi-Wan to see what state of mind he's in. He doubts it'll be that good, but maybe being here on Tatooine and freeing the slaves will have helped him in more ways than Obi-Wan could realize.
Ahsoka is practically vibrating with excitement when the starship lands not far from Jabba's palace, and Obi-Wan himself is doing his best to remain calm and collected in front of her. Anakin knows they're coming, of course, so Obi-Wan is unsurprised to see a number of people standing outside the palace as they disembark from the ship.
Anakin is standing in the front, still wearing dark robes, though he seems strangely calm in the Force, albeit dark, not that that's a surprise. Obi-Wan steps forwards, heart in his throat, eyes roving over Anakin's form, taking him in, studying him, seeing what has changed if anything. There's only a hundred meters separating them now, and he's close enough to see how dim the yellow in his eyes is. They're not blue, not entirely, but they're not fully yellow either.
Ahsoka darts around him, rushing towards Anakin with a cry of, "Skyguy!"
"Hey, Snips," Anakin greets her as she collides with him, lifting her up and spinning her in a circle, grinning. She giggles, hugging him tightly when he sets her down on her feet.
"I missed you," she declares fervently.
"And I missed you too, young one," Anakin replies, kissing her forehead.
She reluctantly lets go of him and steps aside and Obi-Wan and Padme approach.
"Padme," Anakin says, dipping his head to her, though he makes no move towards her. He seems oddly reticent all of a sudden, his expression hiding how glad he is to see her. There's a quiet turmoil there that Obi-Wan can sense though he doesn't poke at it to pick it apart.
"I'm glad to see you, Anakin," she returns quietly. Obi-Wan can sense something almost... sad in her tone, as if this wasn't the reunion she had been hoping for, though he doesn't understand her feelings or thoughts. Perhaps he could speak with her later on.
Then, Anakin turns to Obi-Wan, a small, genuine smile appearing on his face. "Master," he murmurs, reaching out to Obi-Wan through their bond.
It's only because of his self-control that Obi-Wan doesn't react visibly to the sudden rush of feelings that hit him when he feels their bond and Anakin's presence again. "Anakin," he says, keeping his voice neutral, though he makes no effort to hide the waves of reliefaffectionadoration that flow through their bond.
He has only a second of warning before Anakin is wrapping him in a fierce embrace, burying his face into Obi-Wan's shoulder and clinging to him, both physically and through the Force. It's only been a month, but Anakin is acting more like it's been a year. Truthfully, Obi-Wan feels the same as he slips his arms around Anakin's back and holds him close. "I missed you," he sends through their bond, "So much."
"Me too," Anakin replies, echoes of a deep, aching longing slipping through their bond. It makes Obi-Wan wonder how much of his own feelings Anakin has been able to pick up on. His shields aren't as tight as they usually are, but Obi-Wan doesn't really mind. He alright with Anakin knowing how much he's been missed. They have so much to say to each other, so much to catch up on, but now is hardly the time.
Reluctantly, Obi-Wan loosens his grip and steps back a little, resting his hands on Anakin's shoulders. When he meets his eyes, they're blue, glowing softly with love the way they always used to in moments like this. "We need to talk," he acknowledges, "But we'll have to do that later. Unfortunately, we don't have the time right now."
A shadow passes over Anakin's face, and he nods. "I know," he concedes, reluctantly. "We should go inside. I know the Jedi are on their way here."
He stays close to Obi-Wan as he turns, and they walk towards the other people standing outside. "You all know Sabe," Anakin says, gesturing to her, "But this is Kitster Banai, a childhood friend of mine, and this is Beru Whitesun, the wife of my stepbrother. They've been helping me restore freedom and order to Tatooine."
Obi-Wan doesn't miss the tiny, pale red, Twi'lek toddler in Sabe's arms, who is squirming around and demanding to be put down. "Ipa!" she wails, radiating frustration into the Force. "Up!" Anakin rolls his eyes, lifting her into his arms, and resting her on his hip in a gesture so fluid it's as if it's something he's done a hundred times before.
"And this," Anakin continues, smirking when he sees their startled expressions, "Is Lyla, who has, apparently, decided that I am her father." His tone is fond, and Obi-Wan can't help but feel a twist of... something in his chest at the sight, wondering what kind of father Anakin would have been to Luke and Leia. He can't have been with Lyla for long, and still, he's already acting towards her in a parental manner. He would have been the best father, if only he'd had the chance.
He looks at Padme, who is watching them almost wistfully. "I – I know we never talked about children," he says a little awkwardly, "But it just happened. I hope you don't mind. She lost her mother very recently, and it has been hard for her." If Lyla understands the words, she doesn't show it, resting her chin on Anakin's shoulder, one arm looped securely around his neck.
"No," Padme replies, recovering quickly. "No, of course not." She steps forwards reaching out towards Lyla. "May I...?"
Anakin shifts. "Sure. She might be a little wary at first though. Lyla, akku, this is Padme. She's your Amu, okay?"
Lyla turns, studying Padme with wide violet eyes. She doesn't seem afraid in the least, radiating curiosity and interest into the Force. It's then, only then, that Obi-Wan realizes that she's Force sensitive. Her emotions are too strong for it to be otherwise.
"What does Amu mean?" Obi-Wan asks, though he thinks he already knows the answer.
"Mother," Anakin smiles, almost shyly. "Ipa means father. She called me that on her own."
"What?" Ahsoka sounds mind blown. "What? Why is – why would – I thought you two were just friends!"
Padme laughs. "We're married, actually," she tells her, after exchanging a quick glance with Anakin. "We need to work many things out now, but we are... legally married."
Ahsoka blinks at them, in stupefaction, and Obi-Wan decides to spare her from having to wrap her mind around what she just learned by interjecting. "Hello, Lyla," he says to her, and she instantly turns her attention onto him, "I'm Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Hi," she whispers, shyly.
"He's my Ipa," Anakin murmurs to her, and she giggles. "This is Ahsoka. She is your ikkalda. Older sister," he translates for the rest of them.
Ahsoka's eyes widen, and she's vibrating with some sort of emotion which Obi-Wan can't name. "Am I?" she asks, sounding hopeful and almost... vulnerable.
"Yes," Anakin promises, "You are. I'm a lot older than I was. There's nothing else you can be."
Their eyes meet for a long moment, before Ahsoka swallows and nods. "Thank you."
Anakin tilts his head back, glancing up at the sky. "The Jedi will be here soon. We need to be ready. We'll wait for them in the throne room. Lyla, stay with Sabe, and be good, alright?"
"No," she insists vehemently, scowling. "Stay."
"Remember what I told you about my missions?"
It's strange to see Anakin being like this, so... parental. He was like this with Ahsoka, even, but at the same time, it was different because she was older, and they were both Jedi. Now? Now, Anakin isn't even making an effort to hide it.
Lyla sulks. "Stay safe with Sabe," she replies reluctantly.
"Good girl," Anakin praises, passing her to Sabe. "I'll be back, as always."
"Promise?"
"Of course, akku," he replies, gesturing. Sabe and Beru take the toddler, and after a moment, Kitster follows, while Anakin ushers them to the throne room.
"What does akku mean?" Ahsoka asks curiously. "I've never heard that language before."
Suddenly, Anakin seems almost sheepish. "It is... Amatakka," he admits, "The slave language. I spoke it often when I was still here. It's a language that the Depur, the masters, don't care to know. It has always been special to us." He pauses, expression distant, before looking at her. "Akku is an endearment for a child best translated as 'sweetheart.'"
"Oh," Ahsoka murmurs, frowning. "You were...?"
Obi-Wan realizes, suddenly, that Ahsoka doesn't know. Anakin has never told her at this point because everything happened differently. Otherwise, she would have known a month ago on Kiros, when Obi-Wan told her to explain Anakin's behavior and so that she would understand to help him as much as she could.
"Yes, I was a slave," he answers brusquely. "My mother and I were sold into slavery by the Hutt clans, by Gardulla. When I finish here on Tatooine, I'm going after her next."
"I'm coming," Obi-Wan promises because he will. He won't let Anakin face his past while completely on his own. Facing Gardulla again will be even harder for him than seeing Jabba again was at the beginning of the war, and Obi-Wan intends to be there to support him every step of the way. It's the least he can do for his once Padawan.
"Thank you, Master," Anakin says quietly as he strides into the large, high-ceilinged room that must be the throne room, stepping onto a platform and taking a seat on a somewhat ornate chair. "We will wait here," he tells them. "When the Jedi come, I will show them who has all the power." There's something dark, something pleased in his eyes, though they're still blue. Anakin was never like this in the past; it's something that he learned from Sidious, no doubt, and it's almost unsettling for Obi-Wan to see, but he'll accept it, because he knows that both of them are so different now. They need to learn how to deal with their differences. Together.
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