Obi-Wan is used to having his entire life flipped upside-down within the span of a single day. It happened over and over during the Clone Wars, and even before. Geonosis is a perfect example of just that. But perhaps three years of nothing but the same routine -work, ride home, meditate, sleep- has made him forget Anakin's wonderful ability to mess everything up.
"Force..." Obi-Wan mutters to himself, a rough hand dragging down his face. He's getting a headache just from thinking about it.
His earlier conversation with Anakin left much unsaid. Many questions still cloud the space around them and it doesn't help that Ahsoka will now be asking him many of her own. He almost wishes he didn't tell her the cruel fate of her former master, if only to give her peace of mind -but he knows lies have never made anything better.
But those questions will have to be pushed to the recesses of Obi-Wan's mind for now. He has to get Luke to Alderaan and...figure out what will happen from there. Could they really let the twins meet again? Is it too soon? Should they send Luke to another planet altogether? Obi-Wan can tell the darkness from Anakin's fall hasn't completely disappeared. In fact, when Anakin first came marching into the sad excuse for a hut Obi-Wan calls home, that presence felt exactly like Vader's had.
Another thing that will have to be locked away until they can talk properly again.
"My, my." Obi-Wan groans as he settles into a chair beside Luke's cot. "You Skywalkers really are making me age twice as fast. I wonder if Bail got the easier sibling." A part of him doubts it, even though he hasn't seen Leia since she was a baby.
Obi-Wan looks at Luke closely, closer than he was able to during their ride out of Tatooine -he was a little distracted from the kicking and screaming, and then the horrible children's song that followed. The boy has many of his father's features, though, most are simply a fact of their shared homeworld. Tan, sandy rags they call clothing. Sun bleached hair and a slight tan that will eventually turn into something rougher, should he stay on Tatooine. And when Luke cried, Obi-Wan was stricken with the memory of Anakin sobbing after nightmares. They really are so very similar.
"What man will you be?" Obi-Wan's voice has lowered to a whisper. "Who will you become?" A Jedi, properly trained and kept far away from any dark urges? Or will he find love for politics, like his mother? Or, perhaps Luke will be entirely his own person. Someone neither his mother nor father was.
Now, wouldn't that be a treat? Luke Skywalker, the boy left with impossibly large shoes to fill in a world that would rather see him dead, becoming someone new. Falling away from his parents' shadow and paving his own way.
"I hope so." Obi-wan mutters, finally looking away from the boy. "I do hope so."
"No." Fiolla states it with such finality that Anakin actually stutters.
"W-...what?! What do you mean 'no'?!" The plan seems perfectly fine to him! Better than fine! If he carbon freezes her and takes her back to Jabba, then she won't be in harm's way when they all start shooting at each other. He won't have to worry about killing Tatooine's next ruler!
But Fiolla doesn't waver. "I'm not letting you carbon freeze me." She crosses her arms over her chest, stubborn. Breha Organa, who's joined their little meeting to help with the political standpoint of their plan -the plan even she agreed with- looks between them.
"If I may," Breha interrupts. "Perhaps Fiolla has a point. Carbon Freezing her until all action is done won't look very good to the public."
"What?!" Anakin snaps. "But you just agreed-"
Breha stops him with the patience of a queen. He huffs but lets her go on. "I doubt anyone would want to be ruled by someone who didn't take part in freeing them, even if she is a legend. They need a hero, someone they can trust will risk their life for their sake. These people are hurt and broken, and showing someone like them becoming strong is exactly what they need."
"But she could get killed!" Anakin fights back. "What leader will they have if Fiolla's dead?! If we leave the spot open, another Hutt will take the place and nothing will change, except maybe security. We can't let that happen, which means Fiolla has to be safe!"
They all go quiet for a moment. Well, until the Twi'lek herself cuts in. "I don't trust you to carbon freeze me." She says, as if it's a valid point. Anakin is about to glare at her, but he stops. He can't give in to that urge right now. "And I don't really trust you to just hand me in either. If Jabba doesn't kill me as soon as I'm back, then he'll definitely do worse. I can't go through that again."
"We understand." Breha nods slowly. There's no pity in her voice, which surprises Anakin. Every time someone's learned about his life as a slave, they always give him the same, sad look. It's the pain reason why he didn't want to tell Ahsoka himself. "Fiolla, what would you be comfortable with? Or, perhaps the better question is, what will you be willing to do?"
They go quiet again. "I...I want to fight with them. Give me weapons and armor and I can do it. I can fight." Anakin can't exactly disagree with that point. "But...I don't know. Turning me into Jabba is our best bet on getting the jump on him, but I can't see how you'll ensure nothing happens to me. Without carbon freezing me."
Breha nods, then looks to Anakin. He sighs, surrendering. "Fine, no carbon freezing. But if I don't hand you over, then it's my head he'll be after. And a mad Jabba is a smart Jabba." With both the gift of living for thousands of years and being slow in mobility, all Hutts have a significant understanding of other species, especially humans. It's been incredibly difficult trying to keep this away from Jabba's ears.
"What spies do you have?" Breha looks between them. "Have you gathered any of his palace guards? That could be useful to us."
Anakin shakes his head, already shooting the idea down. "No, it's too risky. They're weak-minded and any just getting one of them alone would look suspicious." Then, he has an idea. "Wait. Force suggestion!" Fiolla looks lost, but Breha nods with an enlightened expression. "What if I use the force to control whatever guards end up taking Fiolla? I could prevent her from getting hurt, and then hold them for her to escape once the time comes."
"Jedi may be outlawed, but that doesn't mean that the force is off the table. Especially here." Breha agrees, seeming almost...proud of him? No, that can't be it. It must be something else. "And Jabba has only dealt with a limited number of Jedi before. He won't be likely to recognize it, should you hide your suggestion well."
Something seems to click in Fiolla's mind and her eyes go wide. "Wait, you're a Jedi?!"
The two of them stop to look at her. Right, he didn't tell her, did he. Another thing he let split his mind.
He could really use Obi-Wan's organization skills right about now.
"Was." Anakin corrects, not daring to think of the people he killed. Change the subject. "It doesn't matter. I can use the force in certain situations if it's really needed, but we can't rely on miracles. If the empire catches word of me-" Oh Kriff! The Empire!
The grave look on his face must be obvious because both women turn to him immediately. Fiolla more confused than Breha's fear. "Actis?" Breha addresses him firmly and he winces from the tone. She already knows, doesn't she.
He takes as deep a breath as he can with artificial lungs. "I...I ran into an inquisitor a week ago." He admits, carefully not looking at either of them. "She's gone now, but...I don't know how they found me." The darkness still burns from it. She hurt Beru and Luke. She knocked Owen to the side so easily. He'll never let them hurt his family like that again. Never.
"This is not good." Breha state the obvious in a way that doesn't make it sound quite so obvious. "This entire operation is risky in that regard already. A sudden change in power will catch a few eyes if not done carefully. But if the Empire is already looking at Tatooine, then they'll most definitely investigate."
"Then we'll keep them out!" Fiolla challenges, her eyes set in pure determination. "They have other planets to worry about! Why would we let them come onto Tatooine?!"
Oh, if only he could share that confidence. "Fiolla, the Empire does what it wants. They have armies and fleets that could destroy every planet in Hutt space! There's no way we can just...keep them out!"
Breha nods somberly. "He is right. Even with how young the Empire is, they still have enough power to enter whatever planet they wish by force."
Sidious has control of roughly sixty percent of the galaxy's systems, most of them coming straight from the Republic. But with every passing day, the infection seems to grow and grow. No one can stop it. No one can change anything.
But...but maybe the rebels can. Maybe, with enough people joining together, they can actually do something. As hopeless as it seems, Anakin wants to try. For Luke to live in a better galaxy than the one he helped destroy. For his mother, who he made so many promises to. And...Padme. Years of fighting and debating and writing up law after law, all in hopes of protecting another planet. At the time, it felt like baby steps, trying to correct every problem they faced. But now, he can see just how much she did in only three years.
If it wasn't for him, she would still be here to change things.
"This won't change anything." Anakin says suddenly, breaking whatever conversation Breha and Fiolla were having in the background. "We'll take out the Hutts and reform Tatooine, then the rest of Hutt Space. Then, we'll join the rebels in the fight against Sidious. If they bring the fight to us, so be it."
Neither woman speaks for a long while, silent conversation passing between them. It's a little irritating, but understandable. After so long of working to train Fiolla as a true political leader, it makes sense for Breha to understand her in a way Anakin can't. They're close and it's exactly what Fiolla needs right now.
"Alright." Fiolla nods, suddenly looking older, stronger. She holds herself with such authority that her ragged clothes or bruised skin doesn't seem to matter. "Our people come first. I won't let them suffer, no matter who tries to intimidate us."
It sounds so much like Queen Amidala that Anakin has to swallow down the urge to comment on it. 'Our people', she says. Not, 'the slaves', but 'people'. They are all people.
"So, do we have a plan?" He asks, looking between them. If his throat is a little tighter than usual, they won't notice.
Fiolla nods before Breha can agree. She's taking charge of their situation, gaining confidence. "Yes, we do. You'll turn me in as I am, then we'll destroy everything the Hutts have built. And from there, we show mercy to those who haven't had it for generations."
Anakin smiles at her now, genuinely. A new world for Luke to live in. Beru and Owen's debt will finally be gone, as well as Kitster's and Wald's and everyone else's. There will be no Hutts after this.
He just wishes he could've shown this to his mother.
R2-D2 rolls along the halls of the Organa Palace. C-3PO follows close behind, talking about this or that subject that really doesn't matter. But it's familiar and with so many things changing, R2 finds it less annoying than usual. Before, he would've shocked the droid just to get him to stop.
"Oh my!" C-3PO sudden halts, making R2 follow suit. His scanner turns through the hall until it falls on the subject of concern. A crying organic.
The small human Skywalker is crying again, something R2 got very used to as they departed for Alderaan. General Kenobi struggles to make the little thing stop, his distress obvious. Of course, C-3PO tries too, with even less success.
"Luke, please!" General Kenobi begs, lifting the boy into his arms again, only to nearly drop him again when he wiggles out of the hold. "Your father will return soon! We're safe here! Please, stop!"
The organic screams. It makes R2's sensors glitch. And he thought space battle was loud.
Another pair comes walking down the hall and R2 knows them as his current owner, Bail Organa, and the little Princess Leia Organa, who will inherit him and C-3PO once she's sixteen.
"Oh!" Senator Organa stops, his eyes wide as he stares down at the crying organic boy, clear amusement in his eyes. Unlike Anakin, Senator Organa has quite a bit of patience and flies very slowly, most of the time. He is a good man, one R2 has come to respect with his whole motherboard. And the little princess, the daughter of Padme Amidala Nebarrie, has gained his admiration as well. She is much more gentle toward him and C-3PO than most organics.
Senator Organa goes to kneel in front of the boy, not seeming to mind the fit he's throwing. "You're Luke Lars, are you not?" He asks, much to R2's confusion. He may not be a protocol droid, but he knows that conversing with someone in clear distress isn't going to do much.
And of course, C-3PO tells them just that when Luke continues to scream. General Kenobi offers a pained expression as he tries to lift Luke again, gathering him a little better. Though, that's likely because the organic child is now starting to tire out.
"I think he's just unused to the new planet." General Kenobi states, rocking the child in his arms. "And he misses his father." This line is said with an undertone of worry. One R2 understands.
He saw his General on Mustafar. He holds records of Padme Amidala's death. They witnessed it together, he and C-3PO. But it's only R2 that remembers.
"Come along. We'll give him a room to stay in that will hopefully be to his liking. And from there, we can work through the rest of this mess. Breha's in a meeting now, but I'm sure she'll be willing to help as well." Senator Organa begins walking down the hall, leading the lot of them into a new room. R2 lets the organics file in first, waiting in the corner as they sort themselves out.
Luke stops crying somewhere along the way, but his sad pout remains as they give him a new bed, new clothes, and a bedroom for him and General Kenobi to stay in. R2 notes Princess Leia's obvious excitement as she silently watches everything happening around her. She has another droid tucked into her hands, a little LO-LA59 that Leia refers to as just LOLA.
Then, when the two adults begin to speak more privately, Leia moves to the boy, her eyes still wide. "Hi." She waves, not really shy, but more dignified. Just as she's been taught.
Luke looks up at her, silent tears falling from his red, puffy eyes. He doesn't respond.
"I do believe it is considered rude in Alderaanian culture not to respond to a greeting." C-3PO comments to no one. "Perhaps he will need lessons on human ediquite?" R2 laughs with a beep and a whistle. Etiquette only came from one side of the family, and that was more a show than anything. R2's heard quite a few nasty words from the young queen.
C-3PO turns toward him, offense in his tone. "Well, I don't see you making any attempts."
"Aren't you the one who cares about etiquette?" R2 beeps back.
"You could use some as well." C-3PO mutters, which isn't really a mutter, considering his vocabulator can't go nearly as quiet as an organic voice can.
"Boot licker." R2 leaves the protocol droid before he can listen to the overreaction. He rolls over to Leia and Luke, scanning over them briefly. Luke seems to be feeling a little better now that they're both looking at LOLA, a beautiful droid of pure Alderaanian make. Anakin would like her.
Though, his taste in droids seems to have gone down since Mustafar. C5-P8 was not impressive in the least -though, that may be R2's jealousy talking. A messy green C-series astromech that doesn't even like to fly? How did Anakin Skywalker end up with him?
The infrared scanner was probably the only interesting detail to it.
"Woah!" Luke gasps when LOLA opens her two wing-like pieces, floating into the air. "It's pretty!" Luke laughs, reaching out to touch the red droid. LOLA lands into his open palms, beeping a 'thank you' Luke probably doesn't understand.
"She is pretty." Leia corrects, a little harsher than is necessary, but it doesn't seem to bother Luke.
"Oh, Leia!" Senator Organa turns, kneeling beside the twins with his softer smile. R2 backs away to allow General Kenobi space to stand on the other side. Luke quickly hands the droid back, as if he'll get in trouble for holding her. He doesn't. "I see you've met Luke Lars."
Leia is about to nod, taking her droid back, when Luke frowns. "No!" He huffs, making Senator Organa stop.
"No?" Bail repeats, looking very much lost.
"Skywalker!" Luke corrects and R2 would smile if he could. So young and he's already stubborn.
General Kenobi kneels too, his expression far more concerned. "Luke, your last name is Lars."
But the boy doesn't take it. He crosses his arms and says it again. "Skywalker."
The two men exchange a glance. Before either can say anything, Leia crosses her own arms, looking like the mirrored image of her twin. "You're mean." She states, her eyes narrowing.
Luke gasps in shock, just as dramatic as C-3PO and it's just too funny. R2 beeps a laugh, fully enjoying the twin organics' fight, but it doesn't last long. Senator Organa lifts Leia into his arms, holding her on his hip as he corrects her behavior. Her frown deepens but Luke has returned to his sad pout.
"Luke." General Kenobi speaks gently, a hand placed on his knee. "I know your name is Skywalker, but you cannot tell people that. You must pretend to be a Lars." The poor child doesn't seem to understand, obviously confused by the name change, but General Kenobi has gotten better at handling younglings since Anakin's youth. Thankfully. "We'll work on it. Until then, let's get you washed up and into fresh clothes."
The boy looks down and R2 worries he'll start screaming and crying again. Instead, he whispers out a sad, "I miss Daddy."
"I know." General Kenobi scoops the child into his arms, holding him close. It's the most affection R2 has seen a Jedi show. Besides Anakin and Ahsoka. They certainly like hugs. "And I promised to take good care of you until he's back. So please, be good until then."
Luke nods dutifully, his pout slipping away slowly but surely. And then, just as General Kenobi is about to let go, he holds on tighter. "What's your name?!"
The man stops. "Ah. I'm Ben Kenobi."
"Oh yeah." Luke nods, like he's just remembering it instead of learning for the first time. "Uncle Ben."
Ben Kenobi -R2 replaces the programmed name in his data file- winces, but doesn't correct. "Let's get you clean." He says instead, taking him into the bathroom connected to the room. Senator Organa and Leia are still there, looking through the closet -though, Leia is watching Luke more often than she isn't. R2 decides he's had enough fun for today and leaves the room, beckoning C-3PO to follow.
"I can decide when to leave on my own, you know." The golden protocol droid reminds him but follows just the same. R2 ignores him. He has the next generation of Skywalkers to worry about.
Sorry it took so long to update! I've had to think through a lot of plot stuff lately, as well as if I really wanted to add new point of views or not. Obviously, I did. Since the group is so split up, it's kind of needed. And I hope I can get the next chapter out faster than this one! I already have a plan for it, so that should help.