Chapter 8 – Bonding
Author's Note: No one is having an easy time. :')
To Guest (1): I'm glad that you're enjoying the father-son moments with Anakin and Luke. Here are more. ;)
To Guest (2): Yeah, Anakin is always trying to protect the people around him, thinking that he either can't trust them, or he shouldn't confide everything in them since he doesn't want them to be hurt. ;-;
Thank y'all so much for reading and reviewing! 💖💖💖
~ Amina Gila
Luke doesn't want to believe any of what Palpatine was saying, but after what just happened, he can't help wondering. The Jedi do treat Anakin differently. It's like they're only using him, and even if he does somewhat understand the Council's choices, that doesn't make it anger him any less.
The Jedi were supposed to be good. They were supposed to be heroes, but they're nothing like what he always imagined, and he doesn't know what to do anymore.
He doesn't know what to think of Obi-Wan, either. He lied to Luke about everything, and for some reason, he still didn't expect this. He can see all the signs on Anakin – he's hurt him a lot in the past. Whether it's intentional or not is beside the point. It doesn't change the fact.
He didn't trust Obi-Wan before anyway, and he definitely doesn't anymore. But if he can't trust him or the Council or Jedi – and especially because of how close Anakin is with Palpatine there's a limited amount he can tell him either – there's basically no one he can trust.
After everything he's seen, Luke can't look at the Jedi the same way anymore. He doubts he'll be able to again either. For a fleeting moment, he wonders if he can truly continue holding onto their beliefs. To be fair, what he believes is different from this Jedi Order, and that's the thing. Is he a Jedi, or something else entirely?
He doesn't know. He always respected what Yoda and Ben told him about the Jedi even if he didn't always agree with what they were trying to teach him, but now... he doesn't know anymore.
Is this how Anakin feels? Is this why he Fell? Suddenly, Luke has to wonder. It definitely had some connection, even if it wasn't the only reason. He doesn't know what to think, but... right now his focus is on helping Anakin. He can sort through the rest of that... later.
Luke can faintly hear his parents talking in the living room, and he leaves them to have some privacy for now, settling next to Artoo instead. The droid beeps, rolling up to him.
"I know you can keep a secret," Luke begins, finally, throwing a brief glance around to make sure no one will overhear.
The droid beeps curiously.
"I... want to talk to someone about the future I lived, and Rex isn't here," he explains.
Artoo whistles encouragingly. Somehow, talking to him often proves more helpful and encouraging than any human, except for Leia, who's not here. He wishes she was, but truthfully, he doesn't know if she would have been able to handle this.
"The Jedi are nothing like what I thought," he admits, "And I... was talking to the Sith –"
Artoo beeps furiously.
"Yes, I know who he is, but I don't think I should tell anyone. Not yet." He doesn't know when or if, and it feels like the entire future of the universe is resting on his choices – when he doesn't even know what those choices ought to be.
"And he told me that the Jedi aren't fair to Anakin, and now I think I know what he means. I want to believe that he was lying to me, but he wasn't, not totally."
"All species have occasional malfunctions."
He smiles faintly. "I know." But it's not just a few random Jedi. It's the Council, and that says a lot about the Order as a whole. "And... Anakin is close to the Sith," he admits, after a moment.
"You should tell him," the droid beeps, worriedly.
"I don't think he'd even believe me," Luke sighs, "And the Sith would definitely get suspicious if I did that. I don't know if now is the right time."
"He will find out eventually," Artoo whistles.
"I know. I just... don't want to accidentally make things worse."
The droid beeps sympathetically, bumping against his leg. "But there's something else," he continues, after a moment, "In the future Anakin... Fell. He joined the Sith."
If droids could shriek "WHY?", that definitely would have been his response.
"I don't know, but I need to stop it from happening."
"Can you download backup programming into him?"
"...That's... not exactly how it works."
Artoo whistles disappointedly. "Can you run a virus scan?"
"Well, I know he hasn't Fallen yet. I just need a way to stop it."
"The Sith he knows infected him," the droid beeps, "He needs to stay away."
Luke grimaces. "That's the thing. I just... don't want to make this worse."
"You should tell him." Artoo really can be stubborn sometimes, and this time he's beginning to wonder if the droid is right.
"I'll... think about it," Luke concedes, finally. Artoo does have a good point, but he doesn't know if that's what he should do. He'll consider it overnight, maybe.
**w**
Palpatine asks to see Anakin again that night. Being around him is... hard. All he can think about is how the Council assigned him this mission, and he doesn't know what to think about it. He wants to believe that they would never ask him to do something if it's wrong, but he doesn't know that.
Apparently, Grievous is hiding on Utapau, which is one step in the right direction. The Council will act on it immediately, but it's hard to say if it'll be fast enough. "You know I am not able to rely on the Jedi Council," Palpatine declares after everyone else leaves them alone. "If they haven't included you in their plot, they soon will."
"You must sense what I have come to suspect," Palpatine continues. "The Jedi Council want control of the Republic. They're planning to betray me."
Something uncomfortable clenches inside him. "I don't think that –"
"Anakin," Palpatine cuts him off in the same gentle, chiding tone Obi-Wan so often uses, only it lacks the underlying anger his master always follows it with. "Search your feelings. You know, don't you?"
Denial was his automatic answer, but when he thinks, really thinks about it... he doesn't know. Anakin doesn't believe the Council would ever do something of that nature, but he can't deny what happened earlier. "I know they don't trust you," he admits finally, which is truthfully the most he can offer.
"Or the Senate," Palpatine adds, "Or the Republic. Or democracy, for that matter."
"I have to admit my trust in them bas been shaken," Anakin finally confesses. It hurts to say it, because – he doesn't know what to think anymore. Luke doesn't trust Palpatine, which he doesn't understand, either. No one in his family trusts each other, and he hates it. Everything in his life is about trust right now, and it's something everyone completely lacks.
"Why? They asked you to do something that made you feel dishonest, didn't they?"
The question catches him completely off-guard. Anakin has always struggled with emotions, but he's still managed fairly well to keep them concealed. Palpatine has known him for years, he reminds himself. He's probably able to read Anakin more than anyone – maybe even Obi-Wan, and that hurts. He can't give an honest answer to that question, either, which he loathes just as much. This is wrong. "They asked you to spy on me, didn't they?" he deduces finally.
Anakin turns away. He doesn't want to be here. He doesn't know how to handle this. None of his training ever prepared him for it. He can only hope it won't be dangerous for him and the Jedi – he can't imagine it will be, but he doesn't know. "I don't know what to say."
"Remember back to your early teachings. All who gain power are afraid to lose it... even the Jedi."
Something coils inside him, determined to defend them until the end – just as he had with Palpatine and Luke and... every single person or thing he's cared for in his life. "The Jedi use their power for good."
"Good is a point of view, Anakin," he reminds. "The Sith and the Jedi are similar in almost every way, including their quest for greater power."
Perhaps, to an outsider, but Anakin knows better. Has seen better. "The Sith rely on their passion for their strength. They think inwards, only about themselves."
"And the Jedi don't?"
It doesn't hurt, exactly – Palpatine has said many times he doesn't think of Anakin as the same as the other Jedi – but it still makes him uncomfortable. "The Jedi are selfless," Anakin argues. "They only care about others."
"Do they?" Palpatine asks. "I have not yet forgotten what they did to your padawan."
Ahsoka is a topic of which they almost never speak. Anakin knows the Chancellor had tried to help her, but – but there was nothing any one person could have done at that point. Ahsoka had been a very personal reminder of the Jedi's failures, and they both know it. "It – it was for the greater good. Individuals are sometimes lost."
It's something he'd always struggled with accepting, but he'd also always known – that there is a picture far larger than that which any one person can see. There are so many in this galaxy who need help, and the Jedi simply don't have time or the ability to help every single person. It doesn't stop Anakin from wanting to try. Many Jedi let go of it easier – because they, unlike Anakin, understand how to let go.
He never has. He probably never will. It's just like he told Luke earlier, that Obi-Wan wants him to be someone he's not. And, truthfully, Anakin knows he can't and will never be able to be that person.
"And in the end," Anakin continues, "The Force took her to where she needed to be. She's on Mandalore now, searching for Maul."
"That is a dangerous mission."
"She is capable."
"Yes, of course," he agrees with a smile, "You trained her well."
Something twists in his chest. "Not well enough," Anakin finds himself answering.
"The failure was on the Council, not you," Palpatine replies. It's not true, though. He should have taught Ahsoka better than he did. He failed her, and now he's about to become a father and – his children survived before, but they never had the life they should have. He failed them too, and he can't let that happen this time also.
"Is there something else troubling you?" the Chancellor queries, after a moment.
He can tell him, he knows, because at the end of the day Palpatine has always tried to help him when no one else did. "I... I've been having visions," he blurts, finally, "Like the ones about my mother."
The concern on Palpatine's face is easily visible. "I'm sorry to hear that," he replies sympathetically. "Who are they about, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Padme," he explains, "She – In childbirth."
"That is disturbing," Palpatine murmurs. "I cannot imagine losing Senator Amidala like that. Did you speak to the Jedi about it?"
Yes, he did, and he doesn't want to think about Yoda told him to do. "Yes," he replies quietly, looking away. "I don't know what to do. I – I can't just let her die."
"I can imagine what they said," he sighs, "Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?"
Anakin silently shakes his head. Information about Sith isn't commonly spoken of among the Jedi, even if there's many legends and rumors about them. Most probably aren't true, though Yoda did say there's always some truth to any legend.
"I thought not. It's not a story the Jedi would tell you. It's a Sith legend. Darth Plagueis was a dark lord of the Sith, so powerful and so wise, he could use the Force to influence midi-chlorians to create life. He had such a knowledge of the Dark Side; he could even keep the ones he cared about from dying."
"He could actually... save people from death?" Something like hope flares inside him. It's... not something he could ever imagine doing, but Anakin knows without a doubt that he would be willing to do anything – even if it involves the Dark Side – for Padme.
"The Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be... unnatural," Palpatine replies.
"What happened to him?" he asks, unable to suppress his growing curiosity. It might just be a legend, but Yoda himself said they always have some truth. This... isn't an answer yet, but it gives him something to work with.
"He became so powerful the only thing he was afraid of was losing his power. Which eventually, of course, he did. Unfortunately, he taught his apprentice everything he knew. Then his apprentice killed him in his sleep. It's ironic. He could save others from death, but not himself."
"Is it possible to learn this power?" Anakin dares to ask. If there's something – anything – he might be able to do to stop this from happening, he will. And if the Sith Legend is well known enough that Palpatine's heard about it, someone has to know something about it.
"Not from a Jedi," Palpatine replies, turning his focus back to the opera.
That much Anakin already figured out. The Jedi won't help him. There's little Luke can do about this, and this... might be his only chance. He doesn't know what else to do. As far as he knows, it's his only option.
**w**
It's late that evening when Anakin finally comes back from his meeting with Palpatine, and Luke finds himself thinking about what Artoo was advising him. Should he tell him? Even if he wanted to... he doesn't know what he'd say or how he'd go about bringing it up.
For now, he's just glad Anakin is back from that meeting and away from the Sith again, but he needs to figure something out. Maybe he can try to stay around Anakin whenever he goes to meet Palpatine, though he doesn't think that would be very practical, especially not given his father's mission.
Anakin seems... lost in thought when he comes back. "Is... everything alright?" Luke asks, cautiously. It doesn't seem like something's wrong, but Anakin is definitely thinking hard about something.
"It's just... I'm trying to find a way to save your mother."
He should be relieved, but he's not. Instead, all he feels is a sudden, growing fear. "How?" Luke asks, "Are you certain it's because of me and Leia?"
"I don't know," Anakin answers, looking away, "And it's not your's and Leia's fault, anyway."
Or maybe it's actually his fault for coming back here, he still doesn't know. But Padme did die before, so it would almost make sense if Anakin was having visions last time. And that means... "What could you do?" Luke queries, warily.
"Nothing for certain right now," he replies. Either he really doesn't know, or he's dodging the question, and Luke thinks it might be a bit of both. This isn't good. What could his father have in mind that he really wouldn't want to tell him?
"We can figure this out together," he promises, though he knows it's... a pointless promise, because he has no idea what they could do to make sure his mother doesn't die. Will she die? The thought floods him with fear. He just met her. He can't be about to watch her die again, before even getting the chance to know her.
Anakin only nods, but Luke is pretty sure he's thinking along the same lines. He doesn't know if he should press the issue, either. "If... you get anywhere on figuring out what to do, I would like to know."
"I will," Anakin agrees, after a moment, and he can only hope that that's the truth. What if – what if it does have something to do with the Dark Side? (What if that was the only way to save his mother?)
He doesn't know what to do other than keep doing what he has been: offer his continuous support to Anakin is everything through this. Force knows how much he needs it anyway.
Silence settles between them, and Luke finds himself eyeing the landing platform right outside Padme's apartment. "I never thought about how far behind technology here would be," he comments, stepping outside and approaching some of the ships with Anakin close behind.
"What was it like there?" Anakin asks eagerly, and Luke doesn't waste a moment in launching into a conversation about the different models of ships there were by then, and what was different about them – at least from what he's noticed.
He used to have conversations about things like this with Han, but it's totally different when he's talking to his father. And it's amazing to be finally talking to him about something that doesn't revolve around how the galaxy is about to fall apart. (How he could be about to lose his father after just getting him back for the second time.)
No matter what it takes, Luke knows he's going to do anything to keep Anakin away from Sidious. And to make sure that Leia and the younger version of himself get to grow up with his parents properly. That they'll be able to grow up with their parents and have this, the way Luke always dreamed of.
At least for now, he tries to let those thoughts slip to the back of his mind, and just enjoy the time he actually has with Anakin.
**w**
If Ahsoka had any questions left as to who Sidious might be, they're all gone after what Maul told her. Something about the way he was talking about this 'Sidious' made a cold fear settle inside her, and it's growing with each passing moment. It feels as though everything is about to fall apart, even when days ago she was beginning to believe that maybe the war would finally be over, and maybe... she could be with Anakin again.
But now... They need to tell the Council. They've been too busy with Mandalore to do anything about the chips, but she needs to figure something out soon. Rex said Luke indicated that they're almost out of time.
"Maul mentioned a name," Ahsoka begins, as she, and some of the clones and Mandalorians, stand gathered around a hologram of Obi-Wan, "Darth Sidious."
"Who is this Sidious?" Bo-Katan queries.
"I do not know much," Obi-Wan answers, after a moment, "But I will share with you what the Council suspects. Darth Sidious is the Sith Lord who orchestrated the Clone Wars and played both sides of it from the beginning." So, they don't really have any idea who it is, then. She needs to find a way of indicating it to him, but she can't outright say anything, at least not here.
"I first learned the name from Count Dooku, though any chance of learning more about Sidious from Dooku has been lost."
What? "Why?"
"Because Count Dooku is dead. Anakin killed him while rescuing the Chancellor." A hopefully inaudible sigh of relief escapes her. Well that means one more Sith Lord out of the picture. Clearly, he isn't the one who becomes Emperor, unless Luke's presence changed that much, though that means that her and Rex must be right about who Sidious is. "With Dooku gone, we've lost a vital link to understanding the mystery of Darth Sidious. If you capture Maul, he may be able to provide the missing pieces to the puzzle."
She needs to tell him this, but she doesn't know that she should do it in front of the Mandalorians. "I would like a word with Master Kenobi alone," Ahsoka declares, looking to the others. They exchange brief glances but head out, leaving her alone.
Obi-Wan is frowning now. "What is it?"
"From what Maul told me, I believe the Sith might be... someone high up within the Republic."
"That... is what the Council suspects," Obi-Wan replies, and she can only hope he gets what she might be hinting at. She probably shouldn't say more than that.
"If you send more men, we might be able to capture Maul sooner and confirm it."
"Unfortunately, I cannot. I'm being sent to hunt down General Grievous on Utapau."
"What about Anakin?" she asks, hopefully, "Maybe he can reinforce us?" If the Sith is who they think, the further away Anakin is from Coruscant right now, the better. (Apparently Maul had the same idea though obviously for his own reasons, and that's concerning.)
Obi-Wan hesitates, long enough to put her on edge. "Anakin is on a special assignment by order of the Jedi Council."
She doesn't like the sound of this, and it makes her instantly suspicious. "What kind of assignment?"
"He has been instructed to observe the Chancellor and report his findings."
Observe? She knows what he's saying. They want Anakin to spy on Palpatine. On his friend, and the very man who might be a Sith Lord. This is a terrible idea. "Observe?" she exclaims, struggling to regain her bearings, "You mean spy! They want him to spy on the Chancellor. Why?"
"The Senate has allowed him to remain in office long after his term has expired. The Council wants to know what his true intentions are."
"I don't understand," Ahsoka says, flatly, "If there's a high chance that the Chancellor is up to something, why would you want Anakin near him?"
"His close relationship with the Chancellor makes it easiest for him to find something," Obi-Wan responds, which is completely beside the point.
"The Chancellor was his friend and mentor. I can't imagine he's happy about this," she declares, "And with what Maul told me, I don't think Anakin should be near him right now."
Obi-Wan's frown deepens, and she think maybe he's finally catching on to what she's implying. "We must trust that Anakin will make the right choice for the Order."
This is why she finds the Council so frustrating sometimes. Not only are they willingly putting Anakin in danger; they're forcing Anakin to use one of his closest friends – whether it's fake or not, because now, she's suddenly wondering.
Before Ahsoka has the chance to respond, the doors burst open and Rex runs in, calling her about an attack.
Fine.
She'll have to finish this conversation... later. Whenever that will be. For whatever reason, she can't shake the feeling that everything is about to change.
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