Prologue 2 – The Tantive IV

A/N: Hello again! Thanks to everyone that reviewed the last chapter! Time for another update, and honestly sooner than I expected to, but I just felt the want to continue working on this. Hopefully this chapter's as good as the last one. I know this is another prologue, but I feel like this story needs it before I move. There's gonna be three prologues to this, but I'll explain that at the bottom. This prologue takes place a week before the last one, just after the execution of Order 66.

That's all you guys need to know, so enjoy!


Anakin Skywalker sat on a seat in the conference room of Senator Organa's consular ship. Master Windu, Master Yoda, Obi-Wan, and Senator Organa himself were also seated on the other seats surrounding the large white table which took up most of the room, coloured similarly. The whole room was lit by, almost blinding, from Anakin's perspective, white lights. They were all silent, there was nothing much to say. Master Yoda had failed to defeat Darth Sidious in a last bid to restore the Republic and the Jedi Order before the Galactic Empire could do anything, though much of the Senate Rotunda, which had been unbroken for a thousand years, had been destroyed in the process. Obi-Wan, though having defeated Darth Vader, Anakin's clone, did not manage to kill the Sith Apprentice before the Master approached. They did not know what happened to the apprentice as of yet, they could only hope he was dead. The Jedi Knight supposed they would know the results the next time the Emperor decided to make a HoloNet broadcast.

Padmé had just died, and the place where Anakin's heart would be felt empty, as if it had been shattered into a thousand pieces. His love, his angel, was dead. While the Polis Massan medical droid that attended to her during childbirth could not explain what killed her, the Jedi in the room knew. All the Jedi in the room had sensed Darth Sidious, who had not bothered hiding his presence. The Emperor had cackled in their minds, telling them it was his final victory. No one could stop it, not even Master Yoda, though not for a lack of trying. Despite their best efforts, they knew that Senator Padmé Amidala was lost.

Padmé's final words were still playing within her widow's mind, "Ani… you're a strong and good man. Don't stray from the path you're currently on. I'm so proud of you… my Ani. I love you. I will always love…", then at her final breath, rasping out, "you."

Anakin was sure that Padmé's death was Sidious's revenge upon him for not turning to the Dark Side. That only made the young Jedi resent the Sith Lord even more.

The now-widow had given her a final kiss, on her cheek, tears springing from his eyes, pure grief pooling within his body, as he felt Obi-Wan behind him, arm on grieving man's shoulder. It was the hand of a man who understood. The Jedi Master had lost the Mandalorian Duchess Satine, his own former love, much the same way, to Palpatine's former Sith Apprentice, Darth Maul. Anakin felt everyone's grief, Master Windu's, Master Yoda's, Obi-Wan's, and Senator Organa's. Anakin was not the only man that cared for Padmé, and that moment only confirmed the fact more. He was sure many more would mourn for the woman whose only crime had been wanting to do true good to the galaxy. In hindsight, he had no idea how Palpatine ever got the idea into his head that Obi-Wan caring for Padmé was suspicious. He had no idea how a lot of Palpatine's manipulations worked on him. Perhaps it was a young boy wanting a role model to look up to.

Master Yoda was the first of them all to speak up since Padmé died, "Hidden, safe, the children must be."

Then, Anakin remembered, Luke and Leia. The young Jedi felt guilt that he was so focused on the late Padmé, when his children were still around, young, and vulnerable, with a father who didn't even give a single thought about them. A father who was being persecuted by the new galactic government. Anakin at that moment decided he would not take care of his children. He won't be able to. If he did, his children would grow under a single parent who would struggle to take care of them, while also being on the run. Anakin Skywalker did not want his children to grow up like that. There was also the question: he had failed to be the Chosen One, failed to stop the Sith in time, almost turned to the Dark Side, would he also fail to be a parent? Anakin wasn't willing to risk finding out.

Obi-Wan spoke up, "We must take them somewhere where the Sith will not be able to sense their presence. Anakin," then, the Jedi Master looked to his former Apprentice, "will you be able to do that?"

There. The opportunity to voice the thoughts he just had. While he was grateful Obi-Wan was trying to give him the chance to look after his children, the chance to have a family, he knew this had to be done, "Master… I'm sorry," Anakin's voice cracked ever so slightly as he blinked once, trying to suppress tears that came to his eyes as he started. Everyone looked at him now, though he kept his head down, not willing to look anyone in the eyes as emotion started to swirl within him with a greater, self-devouring intensity, "I can't. I just… can't."

The Jedi Knight sensed Senator Organa and Obi-Wan looking at him with sympathetic expressions. Obi-Wan knew what he felt like, he had felt the same when he lost Satine. Senator Organa had a wife, and Anakin knew the Senator could guess what it would feel like to lose a wife. Anakin looked up briefly, saw Master Yoda's ears drooped in reaction to that comment, and Master Windu looking at him with a blank, questioning, yet not cold expression.

There was what felt like hours' worth of tense silence, and nervousness pooled in Anakin's abdomen as he looked downwards to the edge of the table again, before Senator Organa spoke, "Then I will take the children. Me and my wife have always talked about adopting a baby girl. I'm sure she won't mind taking a second. They will be loved with us."

Anakin's head jolted up as he gaped at the Senator. Words failed to come out of him for a few seconds before he spoke, almost whispering in gratefulness at the generosity, "T-thank you." He was sure he looked like he just won the lottery. From the edge of his eyes he saw Obi-Wan lightly nod at the Senator.

"And, Anakin, as their biological father, I promise, you will have a role in their lives."

Anakin, not being able to reply, was about to put his head down before Master Yoda firmly spoke some words which fuelled a bit of frustration within Anakin, "No, split up, they must be."

"What?!", Anakin jolted up, glaring at the old, former Grandmaster. He sensed Master Windu's slowly-forming disapproval, "I will not approve that. I will not break up the family more than it has to be." Then, Anakin's expression turned from a frown to pleading, and his tone changed with that, "Please, Master Yoda, Luke and Leia should have the chance to grow up together, if they can't have either of their parents."

"But split up they must be, young Skywalker. Otherwise, the Sith, sense them, they will do." The small, old Master looked up at the young Jedi with a curious expression.

"We can protect them!", Anakin replied fervently, "W-we can make a Force Shield or some sort of dampener! I know it's possible. I know you can do it! And if you won't do it, then you can teach me! I promise I will listen! I promise I will learn!" The Jedi Knight was sure he looked like a madman at that moment, but he didn't care! He wanted Luke and Leia to at least have the chance to grow up together, as brother and sister, "I can protect them! Please, Master Yoda, just don't split them up!"

From the corner of his focus, he saw Obi-Wan… seem proud? Master Windu's disapproval seemed to vanish, while Senator Organa looked on in trepidation. There was a few second's silence before Master Yoda spoke again, "Possible it is. Splitting them up, the best solution, it would have been, but teach you, I can. Teach you, I will. Together, with your raw power, make a Force shield for them under Senator Organa's care, we will."

Once again, Anakin gaped, but this time at Master Yoda. Happiness sprung from him, for everything that happened on the day, he managed to actually do something. With an elated expression, Anakin gasped out, "Thank you, Master Yoda. I promise, you will not regret this." He then bowed slightly on his seat, mimicking Jedi custom.

"Regret this, I will not. Know that, I do.", was Master Yoda's only reply.

Anakin didn't know what to reply to that, so he stayed silent. A moment after, Anakin realised, the conversation was over. Master Yoda would teach him to make a force shield over the twins so the Sith wouldn't sense them until the time was right, and they would be together under the loving care of the Organa family. Though not all of his problems were fixed, Anakin's heart felt lighter than it had before, a bit of elation took from his overall grief at the events which occurred.

Master Yoda moved on to the next topic at hand, "Until the time is right, disappear, we will."

"If it's alright with you, Master Yoda," Master Windu spoke for the first time in this conversation, "I would like to start organising a response to the new Empire. A… rebellion if you will."

Anakin's elation from the previous subject turned to shock, as he processed those words. He had not expected Master Windu to immediately spring into action and elect to organise a rebellion against the Sith so… immediately. However, it had happened, and Anakin did not know how to feel about that development.

"You can work with me, Master Windu. I was also considering organising a rebellion against the Empire, from what is left from the Delegation of 2000 created by Senator Amidala and I." Senator Organa spoke, and Anakin's heart jolted at the mention of Padmé.

For her honour, and for his own, he knew he had to do this. The Force, though now very murky with darkness, urged him on, "I would also like to join the Rebellion, Senator Organa. It's the least I can do."

"The least I can do to fix my mistakes.", thought Anakin after he had spoken with a confidence he hadn't after the former Chancellor decimated the Jedi Order.

"Very well. I shall speak to you both soon, Masters Windu and Skywalker." Senator Organa stood and bowed at the Jedi. The two Jedi mentioned, along with Obi-Wan, stood, and bowed back. With that, Senator Organa left, presumably to do some other tasks at hand, most likely contacting the other Senators about their two new allies or doing some other task.

Honestly, the young Jedi hadn't expected himself and Master Windu to have made the exact same decision, even if they had fought together, side-by-side, after Palpatine threw them out of the window of the Chancellor's, now Emperor's office. Those events, along with the two making the same decision now, showed a sense of solidarity that Anakin hadn't expected from the older Jedi Master.

Anakin further hadn't expected what was to come next, as all of the sat down, and Masters Yoda and Windu, along with Obi-Wan, glanced at each-other for a moment, seemingly communicating through the Force, before looking at him. Master Windu spoke first, "Since your last arrival to the Chancellor's office, despite your inner conflicts, you have shown remarkable restraint maturity, humility, and loyalty, all characteristic to a Jedi. You have saved my life, and beside me, you have fought valiantly even as all seemed lost. Even when enticed by the dark, you stood to your principles, and stayed within the light. You even humbled yourself in front of Master Yoda when proposing your solution to our developments. Despite your attachments, you have upheld the values of a true Jedi, and stand as a true symbol of one. You have dealt with your losses in a remarkably mature manner. For all that, young Skywalker, you have gained my respect."

The memories of what Master Windu mentioned all came back to him at that moment, wanting to save the Chancellor, then the both deciding to arrest him, Darth Vader revealing himself, Darth Sidious revealing his new Apprentice's origins, cackling self-indulgently as he did so, before blasting both Anakin and Master Windu out of the same window the latter had broken mere minutes before while duelling Sidious, Anakin softening their fall with the Force, making them fall on the side of a skyscraper, them fighting Clones all the way to the lower levels trying to get to the Jedi Temple, and then finding Senator Organa as he was approaching the bottom of the Senate building to save Master Yoda. He still didn't know where this was all headed, though.

Then, Obi-Wan spoke, "Anakin, you have always been like a brother to me, and I am grateful for having the opportunity to raise you since you were a little boy. I am proud of the Jedi Knight and the man you have become. You are stronger and wiser than I could ever wish to be, and I hope you continue along the path you are on currently."

"Kneel," Master Yoda spoke, his voice seeming to boom across the room, "young Skywalker."

Anakin went forward, to a spot with no chairs, and did exactly as was requested, facing Master Yoda. The old Jedi Master stood, hopped off his chair, and faced the kneeling Anakin, whose eyes widened, realising what was going to happen. A green lightsaber was ignited on Master Yoda's hands, and he slowly lifted the weapon, and placed it just above Anakin's right shoulder.

"Proven to us, your actions have, that worthy of this title you are. By the right of the Council, by the will of the Force," Master Yoda then lifted the lightsaber off his right shoulder and bought it above the young Jedi Knight's head to his left shoulder, "Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Master."

Then, Master Yoda brought his lightsaber to just above Anakin's head. It seemed like minutes had passed, before the Jedi Grandmaster deactivated his lightsaber, which shut down with the trademark hiss and Anakin moved up to an upright position, though he kept his knees bent to the ground, and kept his head ducked, "This is more than I deserve, thank you. I humbly accept the position and promise that I will serve the Jedi Order to the extent as I can, as a Master within the Order." The words came automatically. He had dreamed of this moment since he had been very young. Yet… somehow, at the moment, it felt empty. Like he had never wanted this at all. Like he didn't deserve the rank he had scoured for so long. Like it was somehow wrong for accepting the rank.

"Then rise, Master Skywalker." Master Yoda finished off, "Member of the Jedi Council, Jedi Master."

Anakin stood, and immediately felt Obi-Wan's arm on his shoulder. His brother looked at him, and spoke softly, "Congratulations, Anakin. I'm very proud of you." There was a short pause, before the older Jedi Master continued, "You have deserved this position since you successfully trained Ahsoka. We were going to Knight her before she left, you remember?"

Then, a pang came into Anakin's heart. Oh, Ahsoka. She had been on the siege of Mandalore. His bond with her was muted for some reason, and he had no idea if she was alive or dead. He sincerely hoped that it was the former, he didn't know if he could bear the thought of losing her straight after losing Padmé. That would be an unbearable agony.

"Yes, Master." Anakin spoke quickly, not feeling like talking about Ahsoka at the moment. He still didn't feel like a Jedi Master. Hell, he didn't even feel like a Jedi at the moment. He just lost his wife, and now they were awarding him with the highest rank one could achieve in the Order under Jedi Grandmaster!

"Obi-Wan. We are of the same rank, now."

"Sorry, Obi-Wan." Anakin then stepped away from the Jedi Master, and made a beeline for the exit to the room. He needed to step away from the scene, recompose. But, just before he left, he spoke a final time to the Jedi Masters in the room, "Masters, with all this, I wish you all farewell, and… may the Force be with you all."

"Anakin…", Obi-Wan sighed, before briskly walking up to Anakin, and wrapping him in a tight hug.

It wasn't the first time they hugged, but this time, it was different. Instead of being in a teacher-student relationship full of doubts, this was two brothers who truly understood each other. Truly lived life side-by-side. Anakin wrapped his arms around his former Master's back as he realised; for or all Obi-Wan did, Anakin could forgive him. He barely even remembered at the moment how his former Master faked his death without telling Anakin. He barely remembered all the times he thought Obi-Wan was holding him back. Hell, he even forgot the fact that Obi-Wan stopped him from investigating the visions on his mother's death. All he knew now that Obi-Wan was his brother, and no matter what they went through, they would always be together. Former Master and Padawan, now brothers-at-arms. With that, Anakin hugged Obi-Wan back.

"I'm gonna miss you, Obi-Wan." Anakin's eyes brimmed with tears once again, surprising himself with the fact that he still had liquid in his tear ducts after crying at Padmé's death and the numerous times after when tears threatened to fall from his face for different reasons.

"I'll miss you too, Anakin. May the Force be with you too, ner vod."

Mando'a for my brother. Anakin knew that his former lover's tongue was important to Obi-Wan, and using it showed to the younger Jedi how important he was to the elder. Anakin just held him tighter before letting go. Weirdly enough, he sensed no disapproval from Masters Yoda and Windu, as if… they had decided to tolerate the show of emotions and attachment. But, at that moment, Anakin focused on Obi-Wan, he did not pay much mind to how the two elder councillors were just letting the two younger Jedi break their Code like this.

Then, after many moments, the hug was released, Anakin smirked, Obi-Wan smiled. The younger Jedi, newly minted Jedi Master bowed towards Master Yoda, who bowed back and gave his own farewell passage of "May the Force be with you also, Master Skywalker. Later I will come to you, make the force barrier we shall."

"Thank you, Master Yoda."

After all that the younger Jedi turned. Leaving the people who he would not see again for a very long time, as Obi-Wan and Yoda lived out their exile and honed their powers to become stronger against Palpatine. Master Windu gave his own farewells to Master Yoda and Obi-Wan, before following Anakin out of the room, staying close to him as the younger Jedi approached Senator Organa, who had Anakin's droids, C-3PO and R2-D2, in tow, along with who seemed to be an Alderaanian pilot, Captain rank.

"Knight Skywalker." The Senator greeted simply.

The man speaking was about to go on before Master Windu quickly corrected, "Master Skywalker."

The Senator readjusted his stance, "In which case, I must congratulate you for your new rank, Master Skywalker. If there's anyone who truly deserves the rank, it is you." There was a short pause, as Anakin quickly thanked the Senator, before the latter continued, "I would like to ask about your droids. What should we do with them?"

Anakin took a good look at the two droids mentioned. One was his creation, and one became through many years of ownership, memories, and camaraderie. He would trust both droids to complete whatever task he set them out to do. The young Jedi remembered that he had not been as kind to C-3PO as he had been to R2-D2, the whole thing with the jogan fruit and the party thrown for Senator Aang coming to mind, however small that event was, and, honestly, he wanted to rectify that. For all he talked of liking droids, he had been overly harsh on the protocol droid. He was going to change that, just like he promised himself to mature from many of his character flaws once realising how the Sith Master had manipulated him.

"I'll take the astromech. He has fought alongside me throughout the War, and he'll continue to be a good companion by my side." Anakin started, and R2-D2 made a few happy beeps in response, essentially telling how he's happy to continue working alongside his master, "The protocol droid, on the other hand…", the golden protocol droid glanced at his maker, curious to see where this would go, "will be with you, Senator Organa. I know with you and your wife he will be in good hands."

"Very good. I promise I will take care of the protocol droid as best I can." Senator Organa smiled and nodded, and Anakin had no doubt he would live up to that promise. He already trusted the Senator to take care of his children, and so giving him C-3PO was no different. Anakin had faith Senator Organa wouldn't hurt either three of them.

"Just one request," the addressed person took up a serious expression at that, "Whatever you do, don't wipe his memory. There is a risk with this new Empire, true, but I have faith in him."

Senator Organa considered the words for a few seconds, before replying in acquiescence, "Very well, Master Skywalker. I will admit I'm worried about any information the protocol droid could leak, however, if you say you have faith in him, then I'll take your word for it."

"Oh, splendid! I promise I will not let you down, Master Ani!" C-3PO exclaimed, and Anakin knew the droid was happy he wasn't having his memory wiped. In the Jedi's opinion, no droid should. They were just as, if not more, sentient than most civilised species in the galaxy, and they should be allowed to live a full life without any memory wipes or fear of such. One thing he hated was how most people tended to wipe the memories of droids regularly, as if they didn't have feelings either. As if they couldn't develop feelings.

"I know you won't. Threepio," Anakin now addressed the droid, calling him by the nickname that was given to him at the start of the Clone War. Said droid looked at him with utmost attention, "I will give you what will be one of my most important requests to you." The droid further perked up at that line, if that was possible. His photoreceptors also brightened, a representation of widening eyes, "I want you to serve Senator Organa and his family. Help him raise Luke and Leia. Protect them. Make sure nothing happens to the twins. And if anyone from the Empire comes knocking, you don't know me, nor do you know any Jedi, Luke and Leia Organa were adopted from an orphanage at Aldera City Centre. Do you understand?"

"I understand fully, Master Ani, and I will do my absolute best to uphold your request." C-3PO graciously nodded, fully grasping the severity of what he had been requested, "I will not let you down."

"Good." Anakin nodded, then glanced at C-3PO with a sad smile, "Now come here."

For what was possibly the first time in well… ever, and to the surprise of everyone around him, Anakin wrapped C-3PO in a hug. Even the droid, unused to the physical affection, was surprised at this, and had no idea what to do. He heard R2-D2 give out a happy trill. For all the astromech joked around about C-3PO, he did genuinely like the droid, and was happy his friend was being this trusted and appreciated by the master.

Then, after an emotional few seconds, at least for Anakin, the hug was released. There were a few unshed tears in his eyes, "I'll miss you, Threepio."

"I'll miss you too, Master Ani." The droid spoke sincerely, having no idea what to do otherwise. Anakin knew that C-3PO was going to do the job correctly. The Force gave its affirmation to that.

"You're not gonna see that everyday." The Captain who had been standing around spoke, Anakin shot him a humoured smirk, as Senator Organa chuckled.

"Now, if we're done with that, Masters Skywalker and Windu, come with me to the Palace Courtyard, we have much to talk about." The Senator spoke.

"Indeed." Master Windu, who had been silent throughout the exchange about the droids, replied. Anakin nodded, as the three, along with R2-D2 and C-3PO, started to go to the addressed spot. The Captain walked away from the group. The time for goodbyes were over, Anakin knew, as he sensed Obi-Wan and Master Yoda finally walk away from the conference room. Now, they were going to set up a Rebellion. Sidious and Darth Vader were going to have hell to pay. Anakin was going to make sure of that.


A/N: Well, that's the end of this prologue. It's more than double the length of the last one, actually, but I just felt like completing the scene with an Anakin C-3PO interaction rather than just leaving it there, so yeah. Also, I wanted to show that, even if he didn't turn to the Dark Side, Anakin's fight with Palpatine, Order 66, and Padmé's death had slightly matured him, so sorry if he was kind of OOC in this one. I just wanted to show a bit of maturity from his Episode III character. The next chapter, as I said, will also be a prologue, but it will focus on someone else. Try to guess who. ;)

Otherwise, that's it from me, and until next time, folks!