A nameless OC has the chance to change to events of the fall of Anakin Skywalker. Is he able to, or is he just another target for the fallen Jedi to take out in his mad rampage?
How would his success change the timeline? Well, this is a One-shot, so probably quite a bit beyond the words written here today.
"Anakin, think about what you're doing!"
"If you're not with me, then you're my enemy."
"You idiot! We're here because we care!"
"Only a Sith deals in absolutes," Obi-Wan said with pain in his voice, "I will do what I must." I shot him a look as he unclipped his saber from his belt.
"Obi-Wan, he doesn't need a lightsaber to the face, he needs someone to talk to him! Shut up!" I hissed.
"He has made his choice." Obi-Wan stated.
"He's being torn in half!" I raised my voice as I stepped between them.
"You will try." I spun around as Anakin leaped through the air. A split-second decision kept my head from being lopped off as I threw my hand out, force shoving him back. He tumbled along the ground, his lightsaber extinguishing.
"No! He will not! Anakin listen to me! If Obi-Wan turned Padme against you, why would she come here?!"
"To trick me! He took her away from me because he's jealous!" I pulled back a little as his eyes flashed yellow and the Dark side swirled around him.
"The Chancellor really pulled the wool over your eyes." I said flatly.
"I see more clearly now than I ever have!" He said as he started to march forward.
"If you really think the SITH LORD can save your wife, then you have no idea what's really going to kill her, do you?" Anakin paused, a falter in his gait.
"...Lies." He hissed as he shook his head.
"Anakin think, for one second! Padme had no idea Obi-Wan and I followed her!"
"She had to know!"
"No, we stowed away." I gestured to his master. "She came here after hearing the horror stories of what you did at the temple." Anakin looked between Padme and I. "Open your eyes!" Ironically, his eyes squeezed shut. Obi-Wan started to speak, but I spun just enough to glare at him. He hesitated but nodded.
"Anakin, she came to see you because she didn't want to believe you had murdered everyone in the Jedi temple. She wanted proof that it was a lie." He said, "She came to you because she loved you. And look at what you did to her." Anakin's head turned away, not wanting to see.
"We can save her. She doesn't have to die." I said, all but pleading with him.
"The Jedi can't save her!"
"Who said anything about the Jedi?" Both pairs of eyes snapped over to look at me. "Honestly Anakin." I said, shaking my head. "Did you forget there are ways to help women who have a hard time giving birth?"
"But, but I saw her! She…" He looked over at Padme's still form.
"She dies of a broken heart, Anakin. She dies because you betrayed her love, turned to the Dark side, and you almost killed her." He stumbled back.
"No! She, she dies in labor! I saw it!"
"After you broke her heart." I emphasized. He shook his head.
"No…no, I will protect her! I've become so powerful nothing will ever hurt her ever again!"
"If you're so powerful, why is she unconscious on the ground." Anakin snarled and leaped forward. Three blades ignited, two blue and one green. I threw my offhand out to the side, snagging one of his ankles as he flew through the air. He hit the ground with a roll and brought his saber down over his head.
Obi-Wan stepped forward and took control, his mastery over Soresu a perfect counter to Anakin's attacks. I switched my saber to my right hand and shifted my stance into Makashi, lunging with stabs at his limbs as the lightsabers blurred and whirled.
"Distract him!" I sent the thought to Obi-Wan as I blocked three swift strikes. I leaped backwards, allowing Obi-Wan his full range of motion as he backed up, pacing himself with Anakin's strikes. I lunged forward with a swift stab, barely nicking the back of Anakin's leg as Obi-Wan balanced precariously on the edge of the platform. In a moment of pure instinct, he leaped high as I pulled him towards me. Anakin's slight injury being just enough to stop him from lashing out.
Anakin spun around and unleashed a ferocious barrage of attacks. I had to take large steps to keep up with his taller legs, basically hopping backwards each time as I desperately switched my saber back to my left hand, my saber flowing with the solid shield of Soresu. Obi-Wan and I parried every attack Anakin threw at us. Since his attacks were split between two people, it made things a little more manageable.
I had less stamina, built for the quick, disabling attacks, so I took a backseat in the fight, letting the much more experienced Jedi master take the front. We backed down a hall, the two blue blades cutting into the walls. I stepped into the room and to the right, switching back to Makashi. Obi-Wan jumped into the room and blocked a heavy downward strike. I lunged forward, going to Anakin's real hand. He ducked under it and kicked me in the stomach, sending me flying. I landed hard on a control panel, groaning as the levers and buttons dug into my back
"That hurt. Ow." I rolled off in time to see both of them fly across the room, landing in similar positions as I had just been in. I winced, knowing each of us felt that. I pulled the Force in around me, crating a solid barrier against the overwhelming dark side as Anakin leaped at me from across the room with a shout. I leaped over a table to get back near Obi-Wan. I wouldn't stand a chance against Anakin alone, not for long at least.
Anakin's blue blade swished past my head and I rolled, spinning into a crouch with barely enough time to bring my saber up, blocking a second slash. I shoved up with my whole body, calling on the Force to enhance my strength for a short second. Anakin stumbled back and Obi-Wan took the opportunity to lash out, going for Anakin's other leg. While the wound wasn't significant, no worse than what I had done only a minute before, the smell of burnt flesh hit my nose, making me scowl. I leaped forward and both blades were blocked by Anakin, who's mechanical hand shirred as he put more strength into it.
"Anakin, don't do this! Palpatine doesn't care if Padme dies! He won't help you!" I pleaded. Anakin roared and Obi-Wan and I flew back, flying down a hallway. We both landed hard, and I barley stopped myself from falling off the edge of the walkway. Anakin's presence came rocketing towards us only a second later. I held my hands up, having dropped my saber, as I stopped his entire form with the force. He all but snarled like an animal as I stood up, holding him there. I gathered up the Force as fast as I could and shoved with everything I had, a roar not too far off from Anakin's coming from me as he was slammed into the wall. I stood up as I kept him there, frustration and anger making my control slip a little. He tried to use that and push back, but as powerful as he was, I tightened my hold on him.
"You're acting like a Loth Wolf who lost their prey! If you want to be treated like an adult, then act like one and talk!"
"I'll kill you!" He sent a burst of power back at me, knocking me back. My lower back slammed into the guard rail and I let out a gasp of pain. I dropped to my knees as Obi-Wan reengaged Anakin. I felt my spine ache from the impact, and my legs were shaking. I punched the floor.
"Not, what I meant. I can't get through to him! What do I-!" An idea formed in my head and I ran as fast as I could to the ship. My body protested every movement as I slid to a stop next to Padme. I gently shook her shoulder.
"Padme. Padme, come on, wake up." She groaned and rolled onto her back before coughing. I rolled her onto her side to keep her definitely sore airway clear.
"W-what happened?" She asked as she rubbed gently at her throat. Her eyes widened and I nodded at the silent question.
"I know. I know. But Anakin need you more than ever."
"He couldn't have done all those horrible things!" She said as tears sprung to her eyes.
"Padme, look at me. I am telling you he loves you. But he's lost. He needs your help."
"What can I do?" She asked around her quiet sobs. "I tried, but he thought I brought you to kill him! I would never do that!"
"I know that. Anakin is too blinded by the dark side to understand that right now. What he needs is your love. He needs to know that you haven't left him." She nodded mutely right as alarms started blaring form the building. I felt a rush of heat and gasped.
"They knocked out the heat shields! This whole place is going up in flames!" Padme stood up, with my assistance.
"We need to find them, now!" She said. We ran as fast as we could. I stopped at the control panel, only to scowl when I saw it was damaged beyond repair.
"Those idiots. You're supposed to be aware of your surroundings!" I shook my head and ran to catch up with Padme. I caught up in the to see the platform she was on shaking violently as lava was thrown into the air. I leaped over and threw a light barrier over both of us. "Try not to die, that would make this whole situation very inconvenient." I noted sarcastically. She shot me a look and we kept running. I reached out into the force and felt for the presence of the other Jedi. I felt them…on the lava river?
"What in the name of the force?" I muttered before turning the corner. Yup, there, standing on two floating platforms, were the others, swing their lightsabers with wild abandon. "Padme, come on!" We ran forward, not wanting to get too close to the scorching flow.
"For my point of view the Jedi are evil!" Anakin shouted.
"Then you are lost!" I winced.
"Wrong thing to say Obi-Wan." I muttered as we jogged along the path, watching the fight. Soon Obi-Wan was close enough and leaped ashore.
"It's over Anakin, I have the high ground!" I stopped and watched, feeling a warning in the force that I needed to be ready for something.
'I love vague warnings.' I thought miserably as I gathered my strength.
"You underestimate my power!" I was done. He had gone too far already and I had to end the fight.
"Don't try it." Obi-Wan pleaded. Anakin leaped high and I felt a surge in the force as I out stretched my hand. With a cry I yanked Anakin far over Obi-Wan. The pull brought him straight to me and my hand wrapped around his throat. One good punch to the face knocked him senseless and I kicked his saber out of his hand and back down the hill before bringing him to his knees.
"ENOUGH" I roared in his face, using the force to shove at the dark side, trying to cut its hold on him. "If you think killing us will save Padme then ask her what she wants!" I turned him to her, wrapping my arm around his neck. A moment of silence and I tightened my hold. "ASK HER!" Padme could only stand there, looking at the love of her life in horror. Anakin's eyes couldn't stay on her, and he ducked his head. I pulled him back, hissing in his ear.
"Ask her or I will." He pulled his head away and tried to get up, but Obi-Wan was suddenly there, using the force to hold him down with me.
"…Anakin." Padme said quietly. Her hands were wringing together so tightly that they were cutting off circulation. "Why are you doing all of this?" Anakin didn't answer, and I tightened my hold.
"She deserves to know. From you. Tell her." I said. Anakin's eyes finally met hers.
"If I don't do what the Chancellor says, you will die."
"And that means betraying everything you stand for?!" Padme asked.
"I will do anything, to protect you." Padme shook her head.
"You're going too far! You're going to kill everyone you care about just to save me? You think that betraying the Order, killing your friends, killing Younglings, that will save me? If that's the kind of power that you need, then I don't want it." Anakin flinched and groaned under that bit of revelation.
"I can't lose you Padme!"
"If you keep going down this path, you will!" She said firmly, even as tears streamed down her face. Anakin's head dropped. "If you choose the dark side, if you chose the Emperor, then I would rather die."
"No!" Anakin shoved outwards with the force, knocking Obi-Wan and I away enough for him to stand up. "I will not lose you!" He reached out and grabbed her upper arms. Padme tried to pull away, but his robotic hand squeezed too tight.
"Ow, Anakin, you're hurting me!" I lunged forward in desperation, my green blade slashing between them. Anakin screamed out as both the robotic and natural nervous systems sent fire up his arms. I slammed my palm into his chest and pushed him back and down with a force push, his spine cracking on the volcanic rock as he cried out in greater agony.
"How dare you hurt her!" I shouted as my fist met his jaw with a solid crack. This time he went limp. I turned and wrapped Padme in a gentle hug, turning her away as I watched Obi-Wan silently check on his former Padawan. "Get him back to the ship. I'll take care of her." Obi-Wan, while shaken, nodded and picked him up. I let him get out of sight before releasing the hug, holding Padme steady by her shoulders.
"H-he's never hurt me before!" I figured she was talking about both events today, and not just her arm. As tired as I was, I feathered my fingertips over her bruising arm, letting the calm feelings of the force heal a little of the wound and numb some of the pain.
"I know. I know." I shrugged off my cloak, having been unable to do so before the fight, and wrapped it around her shoulders. It was going to need replacing, but that could wait. "Let's get back to the ship. We'll get everything sorted out and get him help."
"What is the Council going to do to him?" I paused.
"…The Council is gone. As far as I know, Obi-Wan and I are the only Jedi left." I slowly began leading her back to the ship, hoping Obi-Wan had enough sense to lock him in a room out of sight.
"Where did everything go wrong?"
"We were blinded by the dark side. It clouded our judgement and made it impossible to see who the Chancellor really was." My eyes dropped to the ground in front of us. "I can't believe I fell for it." I said under my breath. She still caught it though.
"Considering Master Yoda didn't even see it," She started to say before I cut her off.
"Sorry, but my respect for Master Yoda was lost when I learned he brushed off Anakin when he needed help." I said. Padme went quiet. "He's not the only Jedi to struggle and need help only to be told 'you'll be fine, trust in the force' when something so simple as talking would help."
"…They turned him away?"
"Their lack of action is part of the reason he's fallen so far." I grumbled. Her reaction was muted, both verbally and physically as she tried to process that information. To think that the organization that had taught Anakin how to use the force was partly at fault hurt her.
When we arrived back at the ship, Obi-Wan was sitting in the cockpit, his hand covering his mouth.
"How is he?"
"Asleep. Or, unconscious. However you want to look at it." He said grimly. I nodded as I sat Padme down, making sure my cloak stayed around her shoulders.
"We need to get them both medical." Obi-Wan didn't respond, having receded back into his mind. I waited for half a second. "Kenobi." He looked up and got to his feet.
"Right, medical." He started for the pilot seat, but I put a hand on his shoulder.
"Go lie down. You need to rest."
"I don't think I could if I wanted to."
"You'll crash in about five minutes." I gently turned him around, though I didn't have to use much force in order to get him to obey. "Now go rest. I'll get in contact with the nearest medical station." He nodded before retreating to the back of the ship. I sat in the pilot seat across from C-3PO and began messing with the ship's controls.
"Where are we going?" Padme asked. I glanced back to show that I had heard her. I looked through the onboard map and sighed.
"The closest medical center is on Polis Massa. We're basically at the edge of the known galaxy so, what's a few more lightyears." I set course and the ship took off. I stood up and straightened out my clothing, taking a deep breath. "3PO, make sure the ship stays on course, and call ahead and let them know we have two people who need medical attention. One with a severed limb and one going into labor." 3PO had begun to turn towards the radio, only to pull back at that last part.
"Labor?! Are my circuits lose?!"
"Nope." I said as I walked over to Padme and held out my hand. "Come on, lets get you into a more private room."
"But I feel fine?" She said in confusion, her brow furrowing, "I'm not going-!" She lurched forward and groaned in pain.
"Yup, up you get." I stated quickly as I helped her to her feet and led her to the third of four rooms on the ship. I sat her down and got her some water. "We should be there within the hour. It's going to hurt, but I'm going to try and numb the pain, okay?" I held up my hands, silently asking for permission. She nodded as she took a drink, her face already showing stress. I nodded back and put the tips of my fingers on her stomach, not wanting to be more invasive than I had to be. I closed my eyes and pulled on the force, calling for it to help her through the next day or so. I gasped when I felt not only her force signature, but two others.
'She's having twins?! No wonder she's so big!' I thought as I finished and stood up.
"I'll be close by if you need anything." I turned to go, but she grabbed my hand.
"Wait. I…" She stopped, unsure of how to continue. "I'm scared." I nodded and sat down, holding her hand as I continued to gently manipulate the force around her. She winced and curled up a little at the next contraction. "I'm sorry if…I know this might be pushing what you're comfortable with."
"Padme, it's fine. I can handle being uncomfortable for a few hours if it means you aren't alone."
"I'm scared for Anakin." She cried as more tears fell.
"…So am I." I said quietly.
««{{¤}}»»
Obi-Wan had taken control of the situation after we had arrived at Polis Massa. He had asked me to stay with Anakin while he went with Padme. I was leaning against the wall as both of his arms were replaced.
"Stressed, the young Knight is." I turned to see a familiar form.
"Master Yoda. You survived." I noted.
"Indeed." He said as he shuffled over to stand next to me, glancing at Anakin's still form. We were both silent for a long time. He opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off.
"We failed him." Yoda looked up before heaving a sigh.
"Failed him, we did. Turned to the dark side, he has."
"Like we gave him a choice." I muttered coldly.
"Anger, in your heart I sense."
"I wonder why?" I snapped sarcastically. "We had every opportunity to help him, but every single one of us was either too blind to see it, or too afraid to bring it up. None of this would have happened if we had just listened for five minutes." My fists shook and I folded my arms to contain it.
"Blinded by the dark side, we became." I spun around and pointed to the door.
"Hall. Now." No one had used that tone with Yoda, and his ears perking up showed that. We moved out and I made sure door was shut before whirling around, letting my pent up anger show through the force.
"If the Council hadn't been so blinded by their own power, maybe, just maybe, we could have found the truth behind Palpatine!" Yoda looked on in an agitated, but controlled silence. "Anakin needed help, and instead of offering your support and telling him how to work through his fears, you blew him off! The only person who even pretended to care about his problems was the worst person for him to turn to."
"Forbidden, attachments are." Yoda said simply. I turned, punching the wall. "Calm yourself, you should."
"Don't tell me what to do!" I whirled back to face him. "I get why attachments are forbidden. But it was too late for that! Instead of telling him to rip his heart in half, we should have taught him how to temper those feelings! I'm at fault because I was a coward, you're at fault because you were too prideful to see how badly Anakin was scared, how badly he was hurting!" I said while jabbing a finger at him. Yoda stamped his cane.
"Cease this anger, you shall." He said firmly, his brow creasing. I turned my head away for a second as the force swirled intangibly around me.
"No." I said as I looked back to him. "I refuse to subject myself to this any longer. I've bottled up every bit of anger for my whole life. Emotions are a part of us, and we can't just bottle up the ones we hate and ignore them. Expressing those emotions is what makes us alive." With a silent push in the force, my anger subsided, being cast out in a wave of the force all around me. Yoda, not expecting it, stumbled back at the sheer ferocity of the emotions tide to it. It knocked the wind out of him and he gasped for breath.
"That was just a taste of what I feel every day! A drop in the Kamino sized storm that rages inside of me. It wants out, and I've kept my lid on it long enough." I turned away. "I'm staying to make sure Padme is safe. After that, I'm leaving. The Order is dead, and everyone I was close to is dead. There's nothing for me here." I started down the hall. About five seconds later, I felt a shift in the force, making me pause.
"Wrong, I was." I glanced over my shoulder at his words. "Blinded, I had been. My eyes, recently opened they have been." Yoda looked like he was going to say more. I didn't want to hear it.
"I'm sorry Yoda, it's too late now."
««{{¤}}»»
"How is she?" I asked Obi-Wan, who stood outside of the room.
"I should be asking how you are." I winced and put up a few more shields.
"Sorry, I just had a…talk, with Master Yoda."
"I'm disappointed."
"In what, specifically?"
"Myself, mostly. I had a strong suspicion that Anakin's and Padme's relationship was far beyond good friends. But I had no idea it was this far."
"Anakin knew how to put on a show, that's for sure." I muttered. Obi-Wan chuckled humorlessly. "Once Padme is through, I'm leaving." I said after a few minutes of silence.
"Where will you go?"
"I don't know. Certainly not back to Coruscant. Too many memories to move on from."
"Both good, and bad." I nodded, shivering at the mental image of my friend's body unmoving on the floor. I quickly shoved it away.
"Promise me you'll keep them safe?" I asked.
"Of course. I'll live my life out raising two children not of my own blood. That won't go horribly." I scoffed and turned to look at him.
"Please, Anakin is basically your brother. You're an uncle in all but blood." I caught a soft smile pushing through his bread.
"Yes, I suppose you're right. Hopefully Anakin will see his children and realize everything worked out." Suddenly a red light blinked on over Padme. Obi-Wan and I looked at each other before hurrying into the room.
"What's wrong?!" Obi-Wan demanded of the medical droid.
"I don't understand, she's perfectly healthy. Everything was going smoothly!" I shoved the droid back and stepped over to Padme, grabbing her hand. I winced as her nails dug into my hand. I searched through the force, going deeper layer by layer before gasping. Someone was pulling at her lifeforce like a harp, plucking string after delicate string.
"Padme, Padme, look at me." Her eyes opened, and I saw a tear fall. "Don't quit on us now. Not after everything. Come on, fight!"
"I'm-AAAHH!" She cried out and I flinched. I dug deep into the force and shoved my energy at her, trying to give her some of my strength.
"Obi-Wan, go get Anakin!" I said tensely.
"But he's uncon-!"
"DO IT!" I shouted. He stumbled back before nodding and running off.
"Padme, listen to me. There is something pulling at your lifeforce. Someone is trying to kill you through the force. I'm going to help you, but you have to fight. You have to do this!"
"I can't!"
"Yes! Yes you can! You're so strong! You're strong enough to do this! Come on, I'll walk you through it." I felt the familiar presence of Yoda enter the room.
"Failing, her life is."
"Stop being cynical and get over here and help!" I hissed through gritted teeth. Yoda hopped onto the table, opposite of me, and placed his hand on her shoulder. She let out another cry of labor pain. I noticed Yoda was being timid about outing too much energy into his assistance.
"If she dies because you hesitated, I'm going to hold you down while Anakin kills you!" I growled. "Forget the Order, forget the Code, and fight back!" Yoda looked into my eyes for a long second before nodding. His eyes closed and I noticed my own efforts lighten.
"Okay, Padme, I'm giving you a crash course on how to use the force." She nodded as tears streamed down her face. "You feel this, in your center?" I asked as I nudged her through the force. She nodded again, desperation in the motion. "Good, now, do you feel it being pulled away from you?" She nodded again after a few moments, only to let out the loudest wail of agony so far. Her head fell back and I thought we had lost her. But her chest rose and fell in short gasps.
"The second child is here." I glanced at the robot and nodded.
"I'm scared." Padme groaned. I lashed out at whatever was trying to kill her, knocking it off balance for a second.
"Yeah, so am I, let's be scared together." I surrounded her presence with my own, shielding her for a moment. I felt Yoda rapidly follow suit, creating a thicker shield around all three of us. "Okay, next step, grab whatever lifeforce you can feel and pull it back to you. We need to get you as close to full strength as possible.
"Lord Sidious, this is. Familiar, his presence is." I growled at that.
"The old coot just can't leave us alone, can he?" I created a long, sharp object with the force and threw it as hard as I could through the bond he had created with Padme. I felt a flash of pain from the other side.
"Cut the bond!" I cried as I pushed with the force, my physical form shaking from the effort. I felt Anakin and Obi-Wan enter the room. "Protect her!" Thy both nodded and added their own strength to the room. Two more shields came around her, shimmering brightly in the force.
"Padme, Anakin is here and he's trying to save you. Don't make his efforts go to waste. Fight with everything you have!"
"I'll try!" Anakin stepped around and took my place at her side. I moved to stand at the head of the bed, my hands outstretched towards her.
"Padme, I'm here! I'm right here! I'm so sorry for everything! I'll leave the darkside, I'll make it better, just don't leave me!" Anakin pleaded, his own tears streaming down his face. His original prosthetic, which had just needed simple replacing, brushed her cheek. I nudged him with my shoulder.
"Anakin, Palpatine is trying to kill her. He's going to go after the kids next, and you know it. If there was ever a time to use that bottled up anger, now would be a good time!" His face tightened and he looked down at Padme.
"Don't look. Please." She nodded and closed her eyes. His own eyes flashed yellow and the room shook as he gathered his strength.
"Leave them alone!" He roared. Everything froze for a minute as he forced the bond open wide and I felt the galaxy itself shake as he shoved every bit of raw rage and hatred towards Palpatine. The bond snapped, along with something else, and Obi-wan, Yoda and I closed up the hole as quick as possible.
Silence, aside from the equipment and heavy breathing, filled the room. I dropped to the floor and gasped for air. Anakin passed out, landing heavily on the floor, and Yoda and Obi-Wan looked shaken. Minutes passed before I regained enough strength to stand on shaking legs.
"How is she?" I asked the medical bot.
"Stable. Healthy. Alive." I felt that last one was a bit redundant, but appreciated it nonetheless. I looked down at her unconscious form, brushing a stray hair out of her face.
"Everything's going to be fine."
««{{¤}}»»
"So you're still leaving?" Obi-Wan asked. It had been a full day cycle on the asteroid and we were standing on the landing platform.
"Yeah. There's not much I can do but try to start a new life."
"Any idea where you're going?"
"Heh, do I ever have an idea of what I'm doing?"
"Well, you did save Padme's life. If you hadn't realized what Palpatine was doing, we might have lost all four of them." I nodded grimly. The fact that Palpatine was so powerful was concerning. He had to have been on Coruscant and to be able to reach that far with that clear of a bond. I shivered at the thought.
Thankfully, after some meditation, the four of us Jedi had discovered that the second break after the bond was Palpatine's lifeforce. Anakin had shoved so much anger and hatred at him at once it had fried his connection to the force and killed him. I had fondly referred to it as force death wireless, a term that Yoda vehemently disagreed with. Not that that stopped me from sharing the name with Anakin, who had let out a tempered smile in humor.
"Yes, well, I'm only taking responsibility for that. The rest was everyone's efforts. Especially Anakin when he cut the bond. I've never felt such rage before."
"That's why attachments were forbidden."
"Don't eve-" I paused and shot him a look, "You said were."
"Well, there's not much point in living by a dead Order, is there?" I sighed at that.
"No, there isn't." I said, partly relieved he was seeing the reality of the situation. We both turned to see Anakin, both of his hands fixed, holding one of the little ones. I stepped over, a small smile tugging at my lips when I saw the sleeping child.
"Okay, that's adorable." I said. That got a laugh and a chuckle out of the two Jedi. "What are their names?"
"This is Leia, the other is Luke." I stumbled back a step, both men looking at me in confusion.
"Oh great stars!" I threw my hands in the air. "Two Skywalkers was bad enough, but it's a boy and a girl?! Nope! I've decided! I'm leaving the galaxy as a whole! I'm out!" We all shared a laugh as I saw Padme walk out with Luke in her arms. Master Yoda was walking along beside her.
"You're really leaving?" Padme asked. The mood in the room went a little sour, but I gave her a pained smile.
"Yeah, I figured I need to find my own path." I scratched the top of my head, "To be honest, I never fit in with the Jedi. My eagerness to learn more about the force kept me in the Order. Now I guess I can float around the galaxy, going from place to place like the rogue that I am. I'll come and visit, obviously, it's not like I'm leaving forever." She handed Luke over to Obi-Wan, who looked rather uncomfortable being handed a child, before stepping forward and giving me a hug. I returned it quickly. We released the hug and I stepped back. Anakin handed Padme Leia, and he hugged me as well.
"Thank you." He whispered.
"You screw this up, I'll hunt you down." I returned, earning me a tense smile. He knew it was a very, very real threat veiled behind a joke. Luke was switched to Anakin's arms, giving a little bit of a fuss while being moved around.
"I think he's a momma's boy." Anakin noted flatly. Laughter rang out before Obi-Wan stepped forward, holding out a hand. I took it, before pulling him into a rough one armed hug.
"I think it's time you started to gain some attachments, Master Kenobi, find some friends. You are far too tense. Relax, take a load off." He smiled, though there was a sadness in his eyes.
"It will take some adjusting, but I believe I will find some company. Maybe even find a small moisture farm to settle down on." We both grinned as Anakin shuddered. He pointed at us.
"I am never going back to that dust ball." He paused, "Unless I'm visiting, mom." I nodded quickly, knowing he only brought it up to make a point. No reason for us to dwell on his pain. I stepped back from the small group and sighed.
"Well, I guess I'm off. Oh, and keep your communicators on, there may be some point where I want to catch up. You know, actually see a familiar face every once and a while."
"We will." Anakin nodded as Padme leaned against him. Yoda stepped forward, his eyes clouded in uncertainty.
"Wrong, I was, as said before." He paused, thinking over his next words carefully, "Safe, you must be. Young force users in your future, there may be, hm?" I scoffed in shock before letting out a single, loud laugh.
"Master Yoda, was that a joke?!" A knowing smile grew on his face.
"Maybe, maybe not. Time will tell, it will." I laughed again before taking a knee. My smile became more strained as I hesitated.
"…I…apologize for what I said. As true as I believe my own words to be, I shouldn't have lashed out."
"Forgiven, all is. Anger, while needs be tamed, is natural." I reached my hand out and he shook it.
"Alright," I said while standing up, "Imma go find some…" I stopped and turned as a force presence reached my senses. A ship, small, and very battered, smoked its way into the hanger. It settled heavily on its landing gear before the hatch opened. Multiple gasps were heard as a clone stepped down the ramp. My lightsaber snapped into my hand and I blurred into motion, knowing Anakin's kids were out in the open. I got within two feet of the clone before I realized who it was. I was already in midair, so the only thing I could do was let out a yelp and turn off my saber. I collided with them and we tumbled off the ramp, hitting the ground hard. I rolled over and grabbed his arm, pinning it behind his back.
"Stop!" I looked up to see Ahsoka, someone I hadn't seen in years. I gasped and stepped off the clone. "It's okay, he's with me."
"Ahsoka?"
"It's been a while."
"No kidding. What happened?"
"The clones turned on us, I was able to get Rex and myself out. But we lost the rest of them."
"Wait, why didn't you turn on her?" I asked, turning to Rex who was rotating his shoulder. I noticed Ahsoka hurry over to Anakin out of the corner of my eye.
"I actually did Commander. But there was an inhibitor chip in every single one of us. They didn't have a choice." He gestured to Ahsoka. "She was able to remove mine, but by that time, everything had gone to the trash heap." My eyes widened.
"But, that means…"
"Every clone knew what they were doing, but they couldn't stop it." I leaned heavily against the ship. "What's wrong?"
"I called Raider a coward, and he couldn't even do anything." I dropped my head in my hands and let out a heavy breath.
"Commander…I'm sure he knows. If he were to find out you knew the truth, I have no doubt that he'd forgive you. He probably already has." I looked up after a second. Then I placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Well I'm just glad both of you are safe." He smirked.
"Would you expect anything less?" I shook my head.
"I would be a fool to assume otherwise."
"Oh Anakin, they're so cute!" I rolled my eyes.
"She found the kids." Rex laughed as we turned to join the others.
'Maybe I could at least help everyone settle…Then I'll head out on my own.' I thought as I watched Ahsoka hug Anakin like the older brother he was. Obi-Wan got a hug as well, and he smiled, his shoulders relaxing a little more knowing his grand-Padawan was safe.
'Yeah. That sounds like a plan.'