Basement
Imperial Palace
Imperial City
Imperial Center
One week later
Genesis 24 leaned back in its tub of viscous medicinal mud. Its skin was changing by the day, from incredibly rough and wrinkled and pasty white to smooth and dark skinned. Four of its limbs had acquired nearly a human shape, while the others were shriveling away. It had decided on a male human form because humans were so widely accepted across the galaxy, and had chosen to model itself after the Jedi Mace Windu, who was the most handsome of the Order. There was no reason that it shouldn't look good!
Of course, Emperor Yoda was nominally the most powerful creature in the galaxy, but he was remarkably odd. It was best to blend in with the populace. Not to mention that being really short could be tedious at times, or at least so Yoda thought.
For at least the ten thousandth time, Genesis 24 thanked the Bright Stars that it had found the Child when it had. The former Genesi had found other powerful beings to use, but Yoda had proven the best of them all – long of life, powerful in the Force, easily controlled once the bond was fully formed.
It would not be long before Genesis 24 had succeeded in doing what none of its forebears had done; taking over the galaxy as its rightful ruler. The damage from the years before the Child was so great that it had taken many centuries to repair most of the injuries. But if there was anything it was, it was patient. The last six months had proven glorious beyond belief, as Yoda's power had joined with that of the Jedi, providing Bright power which infused his body with healing strength.
It would not be long now, not long at all.
/
"My leige, your crown is crooked. May I have the honor of adjusting it?"
Emperor Yoda nodded imperiously, "You may, Master Kenobi."
He could, of course, have adjusted it himself using the Force, but he enjoyed being served in this way, as it had always been meant to be.
The auburn haired Jedi with the blazing yellow eyes mounted the dais and carefully, with slow movements, adjusted the circlet of aurodium on his green master's head.
"Thank you," Yoda replied graciously, waving a careless hand. Kenobi backed slowly away, lowered his head submissively, and retreated to his position along the wall.
"Describe you must the search for Palpatine and Skywalker, Windu," the Emperor ordered.
Mace Windu rose to his feet and turned to face the other members of the Emperor's Council, "Masters, we are currently disseminating the images of Palpatine throughout the galaxy. Skywalker, regrettably, has an unknown appearance after the loss of his limbs and normal features to Master Kenobi, but ..."
Emperor Yoda leaned back in his throne and allowed himself to lose track of the conversation. This business of hunting through the galaxy for vagrant Black Siders was important, but he could safely delegate it to his Council. They were, after all, a competent group of individuals and their sole goal and responsibility in life was to serve him.
He was aware of a sudden surge of deep satisfaction. He did not remember the first one hundred years of his life, and very little of the second hundred, but for nearly half a millennia now he had been quite certain of one thing – he was born to rule. It had taken much time and effort and sneakiness and manipulation but at last he was where he was meant to be – the reigning majesty of the Empire.
Indeed, all of the galaxy existed to serve him.
"Your root stew has arrived, your Highness," Mace Windu announced.
"Here bring it you must!" Yoda cackled. "And mine it is, all mine!"
"Of course, your Highness," Kit Fisto replied with a meek bow, even as he suppressed a relieved sigh. His Royal Eminence's root stew was, perhaps, the most disgusting food in the galaxy.
The door to the Emperor's Throne Room opened and a hovercart was pushed in by two young humans, dressed in the livery of Emperor Yoda – white robes decorated with images of blazer bombs exploding.
Both young people pushed the cart close to the throne before lowering themselves to their knees.
"Your root stew, your Highness," the woman said in a mellifluous voice.
Yoda stretched out an eager hand to the large bowl, which began floating toward him.
A moment later, the entire scalding pot of soup was thrown into his face. He cried out in agony and pain even as, simultaneously, something, someone, incredibly strong reached into his very soul and tore the hive bond to shreds.
The Emperor screamed in rage and pain, as the Jedi rose to their feet in shock and distress, their red lightsabers glowing dimly in the bright light of the Emperor's Throne Room.
And then, as Luke and Leia watched them warily, the Jedi, men and aliens alike, paused in wonder and confusion.
Obi-Wan Kenobi shook his head as if waking from a long nightmare, "What ... what is happening?"
"Obi-Wan," Luke said with a mixture of relief and caution. His old master's eyes had shifted to blue, which was a good sign. But six months in a hive mind probably hadn't done Kenobi any favors.
"What is going on?" a dark skinned Jedi interrogated, taking a step closer.
"I'm Leia, he's Luke," Leia explained. "You've been stuck in a hive mind for the last six months, triggered and controlled by Yoda."
"Speaking of," Luke murmured, turning his attention to the small green gnome. He was curled up on the throne, sobbing from being burned by root stew, ranting in fractured Basic, and somehow he was more pathetic than dangerous.
"A hive mind?" the Zabrak Agen Kolar demanded in horrified tone.
"Yes," Leia explained patiently. "Yoda is evil, and he developed strong bonds with all the Jedi younglings, and he triggered a hive mind and took over the galaxy as Emperor six months ago. Don't you remember all that?"
Kenobi and Windu exchanged panicked glances.
"I remember it," Windu murmured aloud. "Somehow it all seemed so right, so good, to provide guidance to the peoples of the galaxy. How could we have gone so wrong?"
"I believe in democracy!" Obi-Wan said in anguish.
"Um ..." Luke suddenly said aloud.
"What?" Leia demanded.
"Yoda is connected to something, or someone else. Someone nearby. There is a very strong Force bond to ... I don't know what it is. I think we need to find him or her or whatever it is and destroy it."
"We will come with you," Kenobi said firmly, his face cold.
"No, you won't," Luke replied just as firmly. "You've been submerged in some weird colony consciousness for the last half year. You shouldn't get near whatever this Thing is."
"Obi-Wan."
The ginger haired Jedi turned and his eyes widened with grief and distress, "Anakin, oh Anakin, I am so sorry!"
Darth Vader strode into the room, his own eyes anguished through the transparent face of his mask. The sight of the burned skin and the oxygen tube into his mouth caused Kenobi to crumple to the floor in a maelstrom of grief and guilt.
Darth Vader had no time and energy to reassure his old master.
"Where is Padme?" he demanded. "Is she safe? Is she all right?"
"Yes, yes," Windu assured the young Sith. "She and your twins are being held in an apartment suite in the basement of the Palace."
"I think the Thing is in the basement too," Luke said quietly. "Let's go deal with it, shall we?"
/
Genesis 24 burbled with rage and frustration. He had been so close, so close! And now the hive mind had been demolished and his control on the Jedi was gone. And Yoda, pathetic Yoda, was a fragmented shell of his former power. What had happened?
The door slid open and three individuals rushed in. Genesis 24 mumbled aloud (his mouth was, regrettably, in a rapid formation stage and was not very functional). All three were powerful Black Siders and he recognized one as Sheev Palpatine, the blasted Sith who had evaded Yoda in the Senatorial chambers six months ago.
"Mmmarrrhhh," he snarled.
"Um, what?" Luke demanded.
"Wow, I know this is rude and I don't want to body shame, but it is ugly," Leia said, her eyes wide with disgust.
"It is very strong in the Bright Side," Sheev Palpatine said gravely.
"It is ancient and so very evil," Luke agreed.
The threesome exchanged thoughtful glances and then, as one, lit their lightsabers. The Thing threw out a pathetic fizzle of Force Lightning but it was too weakened by the demise of the Hive Mind.
It died by being severed into a multitude of random body parts.
/
The twins were screaming and Padme felt like screaming with them. Something had clearly happened; her babies were incredibly sensitive to the vagaries of the Force, which was frustrating since she was, herself, completely Force Blind.
The door to her quarters/prison slid open and she looked up fearfully, only to cry out in joy as Ahsoka Tano rushed into the room.
"Ahsoka!"
"Padme," the Togruta replied, reaching forward with the Force to embrace the little ones in her Black Force presence. Both babies gazed with wide eyes towards the unknown Force user, then at their mother, who was laughing with joy, and stopped screaming.
"Padme."
She turned now and her eyes widened again, this time in horror. No ... no ...
"Anakin?" she quavered, her eyes fixed on the familiar blue eyes set in a scarred face.
"Yes, darling."
"Oh Anakin, what have they done to you?"
Darth Vader stepped forward and wrapped his cyborg limbs gently around his wife and children, "It is all right, Padme. Everything is all right."
/
Prison Cell
Basement of Imperial Palace/Jedi Temple
A few hours later
"Poor thing," Leia murmured sadly.
"Poor thing?" Ahsoka demanded irritably. "He toppled the Republic and crowned himself Emperor! He ordered the murder of thousands, maybe tens of thousands"
Leia Organa Solo stared sadly down at the aged Yoda, who was curled up in a ball in a corner, rocking, with one of his tridactyl fingers stuck in his mouth.
"He's not dangerous anymore," Leia said softly. "Look at him."
Tano sighed even as she nodded, "You are right, of course. It wasn't really him, was it? It was that Thing."
The dark haired woman shuddered, "Yes. I don't think he can even talk now. It's like his mind has been wiped mostly clean."
"I am not sure what we can or should do with him," the Togruta murmured. "I mean, on one hand, he is evil. But on the other hand, we don't know much about his race. Honestly, we know nothing about his race, which probably should have clued someone in at some point that there might be issues, but whatever. If he was just controlled all this time, then he is really innocent."
"Yes," Leia agreed, her eyes faraway. "Listen, my twin asked me to join him. Luke and I are going to do some work on Vader. His lungs are his biggest problem and if we can help with healing those up, that'll accelerate further recovery."
"Poor Anakin. Yes, go ahead. I'll guard the little green ball of misery."
/
Emperor's Throne Room /Jedi Council Room
"We should probably execute ourselves," Obi-Wan Kenobi stated gloomily. The Jedi Masters sitting near him all nodded sadly and eyed their lightsabers.
Sheev Palpatine rolled his eyes. Jedi were always so dramatic.
"No, you shouldn't execute yourselves," he said patiently. "You are not responsible. Yoda formed powerful bonds with all of you as younglings, even as that Thing in the basement had already formed an evil bond with him, likely hundreds of years ago. Obviously you need to make some changes in the Order to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen again, but committing suicide will not help right the galaxy."
"I cut off three of Anakin's limbs," Kenobi said hoarsely, his blue eyes filled with tears. "I left him to burn. How can I live with that?"
Palpatine winced. He was a powerful Black Side user and an agent of good for the galaxy, but he had never been at his best about psychological issues.
"May I suggest a counselor droid and some plushies?" a new voice inquired.
As one, the members of the Council, plus Darth Sidious, turned to face the older Luke Skywalker.
"They really do help," Luke continued. "I have a rancor plushie back in my time which is a great comfort on difficult days, and you should see my kid's room! There are plushies as far as the eye can see."
"Plushies?" Mace Windu mumbled blankly.
"How is Anakin?" Kenobi demanded.
"He's ... better," Luke replied. "Leia and I did a lot of work on his lungs and he is able to breathe with only a little oxygen assistance. We also managed to get his kidneys and spleen working at least 50% capacity. I think we'll probably be yanked back into our time soon, but with modern medical procedures, with perhaps a little assistance from the Kaminoan clone scientists, he'll be – if not quite as good as new, at least close to fully healed."
Kenobi sagged back in his seat in relief. He had been up the entire previous night, wracked with guilt about his role in taking over the galaxy in general, and in nearly killing Anakin in particular.
"And, my toes are tingling," Luke said suddenly. "That means Leia and I are on our way back to our time. Listen, take it easy on Yoda, Ok? I don't think he was really respons ..."
Luke vanished.
/
Varykino
Naboo
3 years later
"Come on, Yoda, come on!" Leia Skywalker cried out, reaching a hand out toward the small elf who was tottering along behind her on grassy lawn next to the stalisti garden, which was glowing brightly with blooms of red, yellow and orange.
"Waya!" Yoda cried sadly. "Waya!"
"Slow down, darling," Padme encouraged. "His legs are much shorter than yours."
Leia stopped completely, spun around, and jumped affectionately onto her green brother who, instead of being indignant, began cackling happily.
"How are you feeling, Padme?" Anakin asked, sinking down next to her on the high backed wooden bench, which had been placed under a tall and shady Zaela tree.
"Pregnant," she replied wryly, placing a hand on her swollen abdomen. "One baby is easier than two, though, so I am well enough."
Husband and wife turned their attention to their three children – the twins and the ancient but child like Yoda. The threesome were dashing around the lawn now, squealing with excitement and occasionally throwing leaves and small sticks into the air using the Force.
Padme glanced at Anakin, who wore a familiar expression on his face.
"You are checking the bonds?" she asked softly.
He nodded, "He's shifted a little towards Luke, but not to a dangerous extent. He is still bonded strongly to you, me, and the twins."
He shook his relatively healthy, but still bald, head.
"I still feel like we are wandering in the Bright," he complained. "No one really knows if what we are doing will work to keep Yoda emotionally healthy. I feel like this is the best job in the galaxy, to stay here at Varykino with you and the children and Yoda and raise them and do the occasional training session with visiting Black Siders, but I am afraid, sometimes, that we will fail Yoda, not to mention our own kids."
Padme leaned into her husband's body, relishing his strength, "Truly, do not worry, Anakin. I believe that Yoda needs love and affection and yes, discipline. He needs someone who cares for him for who is, not for what they can get from him. We are giving him that. Be at peace, dear one."
Anakin smiled and wrapped his arm around his wife.
"Yes, we can do that," he murmured. "We can love him just as he is."
/
Author Note: I had a couple of inspirations for this chapter. First is, of course, the Rise of Skywalker and Palpatine's dependence on ... Ren? Rey? Something? I haven't watched the movie because I loathed The Last Jedi so much that I haven't found the time or energy to watch the Rise of Skywalker. But I read the synopsis. I was also inspired by the Mandalorian on Disney (spoilers ahead.) The Child (also known as Baby Yoda) is kind of a loose cannon. He bonds with the Mandalorian, which is a fine thing since Mando is a good guy under his gruff exterior. But what if a Yoda Child was found by someone supremely evil? As for Genesis 24 and his ilk, I don't know exactly what they are. Mysterious. Evil. Many thanks to my wonderful husband, who is now dashing between Pride and Prejudice and Star Wars and editing both with aplomb.