Author's Note: Sorry again about having to change my post scheduling and thank you for being so patient about it. I really appreciated all of your reviews from last chapter! Please keep them up! They keep me motivated, that's for sure. And thank you to those who favorited Promise or followed it!
With September approaching, I thought I'd remind you all to vote on my profile page on whether I should write my rendition of Shmi's story. A few of you have placed your votes and I very much appreciate it. At the moment I'd need about 30 votes to be willing to put my energies into flushing out this story.
Disclaimer: Star Wars is owned by Disney and Lucasfilm Ltd. The following work is not intended to add to, promote or distort this series. This is a work of fanfiction, and the author does not profit in posting. This is simply a writing exercise written for fun.
Anakin continued to rummage through the ship, looking for something else that needed work. His hands were now covered in grease, dirt and grime, and his hair was a conglomeration of sweat and a similar mixture. The ship wasn't large enough, and all it's pristine, white covered halls hardly offered him enough distraction in the depths of space. So he chose to delve inwards, to the guts of the ship.
His most recent diagnostic drew him into the small storage room beside the primary thrusters. It was a neat little space with various hydraulic pipes twisting in strange directions about the room. When he first found the space, he'd rolled his eyes at the clear blunder the engineer had made in having several dangerous components so close to one another and immediately set to work with Artoo. He needed to clear his thoughts. He needed to clear his punctuated vision.
"Master Anakin?" Threepio suddenly inquired through the doorway, "Miss Tano is requesting communication with you from Mandalore. Would you like me to re-route it through Artoo so that you may view it here?" Anakin stood up and glanced at Artoo before returning his eyes to his loyal creation.
"Sure." He replied as he grabbed an already heavily stained cloth to get some of the grease off his hands, "Thanks Threepio."
Threepio backed away and slightly bowed, "My pleasure Master Anakin... and." he added hesitantly, "If you don't mind my saying, I do hope that you and Mistress Padme will be on speaking terms again soon. Its..." He paused, almost feigning thoughtfulness perfectly, "strange to see you two so distant." Anakin chuckled and sighed.
"We will be Threepio." He assured the sensitive protocol droid, and, to reassure himself, he added more quietly, "We will."
As he sat himself down beside his latest project, now pulled apart into various piles of metal and plastic on the floor, Artoo whistled to him that he was ready to transmit. When Anakin nodded to the little astromech, the image of the young Togruta Padawan soon appeared before him, blue and small, thanks to Artoo's projectors. She'd grown a bit in the last few weeks, of that he was certain. The way she carried her striped lekku was certainly different, as was that glimmer in her eye. "Hello, my Master." She greeted sweetly, which usually preceded something bad.
"Ahsoka." Anakin replied with a smile and shrug, "What can I do for you?" Ahsoka sighed and glanced about the room to collect her thoughts.
But, despite how well she tried to hide it, she evaded her true reason for calling in search of something else. "Master... what was that great light in the Force?" Anakin shrugged and sat back, shaking his head. He already didn't like this topic.
"I don't know snips." He admitted, suddenly wishing he'd thought to call her earlier and have this exact conversation. Some master I am, he chided himself inwardly as he outwardly added, "But it burned like hell. Are you all right?"
Her stripes that served as brows furrowed closer together, "No, master, I can't say that the light burned me..." she paused as she collected the correct adjectives in her mind, "It was more like a pleasing, cleansing experience. I felt no pain real whatsoever. Only minor discomforts."
Sitting forward to contemplate this, Anakin wondered, Then why did it burn me?... And am I the only one who was burned? While his mind was on other things, Ahsoka finally worked up her nerve. It hadn't taken her long to know when to address a problem with her master and that was usually when he was distracted with another problem.
"I...I was wondering if you could guide me a little." She inquired sheepishly, "I'm most perplexed by my task here, educating the young of Mandalore. It... has been very challenging." Anakin chuckled in hearing that. "In many ways, I don't know what to do with them."
Sitting up once more, Anakin listened in earnestly to what his Padawan Learner had to say, her details of the questions of her students and the actions they've taken in regards to her lessons intriguing him. "I never expected them to be so... enabled by what I was saying."
Anakin sighed as she finished her story, "Ahsoka, you must learn to gauge those around you. Not all are... receptive and others are too empowered by words."
In hearing this, the young Togruta's big blue eyes grew wider with fear. Through the Force, he could feel her despondence. "Then what do I do?"
"You watch over them." Anakin told her sternly, "Attempt to predict where they might cause trouble and stop them. Or guide them through the conflict when they find what needs to be found." He added that last bit with a smile, bringing Ahsoka's confidence back in hers.
She bowed, "Thank you, master."
"Be well, Ahsoka." Anakin replied, "May the Force be with you."
And the transmission cut away, leaving the space around it darker than it was before. Anakin checked his wrist Chrono and found that he'd been conversing with her for nearly an hour, which still left eighteen more to go until they landed on Coruscant. This is taking forever. He had to admit though, Ahsoka did manage to bring him down from his rage. She was good at that.
So intent was he on his conversation with Ahsoka, that he did not sense the familiar presence of someone in the doorway.
"You speak to her so kindly." Padme noted from her unintended hiding place, surprising Anakin into a slight jump. She chuckled at that, as it was not often she could surprise him... More like the other way around. "Sometimes I wonder if you think of her as a little sister, maybe a... a daughter even." Padme flushed a bit when she said this. Yet Anakin only turned to her, still unable to smile.
Though this time it was because of how ashamed he was, ashamed that he could be so uncompromising. He'd come to that conclusion two hours ago.
"A sister would be the best definition." Anakin admitted, his voice gentle to her as it usually was. He scooted over towards the side of the metal crate he sat upon, giving her room to have a seat. Artoo, being the surprisingly sensitive droid he was, scooted out the door, closing it behind him to give the secret couple some privacy.
"What about a daughter?" Padme inquired carefully, "Would you... would you want one of those, someday?" Anakin smirked at her, wrapping an arm over her shoulder as he pulled her close.
"Of course I would." He replied gently, resting his head on the top of hers as they sat alone together for the first time in nearly a standard month. He took in the feeling of being close to her, from smell to sight to spirit. "She'd be perfect... and who doesn't want perfect." Padme chuckled and cuddled closer to him, relishing his warmth.
"How do you know she'd be perfect?" She had to ask slyly.
Anakin paused and rolled his eyes to himself, as though the question were redundant. "Because she'd be your daughter, and you are perfect." He replied, "I thought that was obvious." Padme smirked and sat up, staring at him with eyes that showed just how torn she was inside. Torn between still being angry with him and being touched by his interactions with Ahsoka.
"You know I want that for us someday." She told him earnestly, placing a hand on his sleeve as if it would hold him in place, "Sooner rather than later actually, but..." She paused, trying to find her words, "Sometimes I wonder if you believe that." Anakin sighed and sat back, his eyes darting around the room now as he considered what to say next. So Padme took advantage of his uncertainty and continued her thoughts, "When you get jealous- and don't pretend you don't- you become the antithesis of who I want to spend the rest of my life with. Untrusting, uncompromising, cruel even."
"Padme I-" She cut him off with the wave of her hand.
"Let me finish." She told him, her brown eyes firm with decision, "I need to say this." He nodded and acquiesced, his eyes returning to his hands, "But when I see you talking to Ahsoka, or Obi-Wan, or when we are alone and uninterrupted, you are just... perfect. Simply everything I could ever want. It makes me wonder why these moments of jealousy keep popping up." Anakin sighed and thought about it.
I... he realized, I don't have an answer for that.
It didn't take him long to conjure one, however. "I honestly don't think I am being that irrational." He told her defensively, crossing his arms over his chest, "I know you loved him once and-" Padme stood up, her face suddenly stony once more as she glared at him. "Hear me out!" He begged as he grabbed her arm, "Please!"
Padme stopped and crossed her arms over her chest. Normally she was the open one. He was usually the judgmental of the two. But her dark stare was so intense, he was almost afraid to speak. Almost. "I am always so scared that your trust of others will get you killed. A part of me truly believes that someone you trust will be the one to hurt you..." He turned away from her to say more, "It's like my... visions from when my mother died." He hated using his mother as though some sort of excuse. Shmi had been a kind woman and what had happened to her was tragic: he could not endure that level of pain again and survive. Of that he was certain.
In hearing that, Padme's expression became more understanding as she opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the door sliding open.
Rush Clovis stood in the doorway, a smile on his face as he surveyed the two of them. His eyes noted their lack of proximity to one another, and suddenly he seemed far more comfortable than before. "My apologies, General Skywalker... Padme." he looked to them each respectively, "But it appears that your protocol droid has gotten stuck in an open hatch down the hall." Anakin rolled his eyes, sighed and stood up.
"Well that's just splendid." he retorted coarsely, once again frustrated and angry.
Clovis watched him pass by, that confident smirk still on his face as he did. When Anakin ambled in frustration down the hall, he turned to Padme, who stood feeling a bit wretched inside the small room. All she could do was go through that conversation over and over again in her mind. I feel as though I understand him a bit better now, she realized, fighting with the smile tugging at her lips.
But her reflections were soon interrupted by Rush clearing his throat as he began his own conversation, "Why was the hatch open anyways?" He asked as he crossed his arms, "I was under the impression that Jedi equipment was state of the art." Padme sighed and glance up at the man.
"It is." She told him with a slight smile, "And is usually better once An-erm-General Skywalker get's to play with it. He has a great talent in repairing in improving most any technology. He even built my protocol droid." Clovis's brow went up.
"Did he now?" She could sense the suspicion in his voice.
Padme nodded, "Yes, when he was eleven. He gave it to me years later."
Clovis took a step forward, his eyes glancing down the hall to where Skywalker had disappeared. "Just how close are you two?"
Sensing this question long in advance, Padme smiled with her politician's mask, "Well, we are old friends. That's why he gets a bit protective of me." This seemed to appease Clovis, as he merely glanced down the hallway and let the topic drop.
Padme was very grateful for that. Something inside of her seemed to believe he understood more than he let on.
Leia was never very patient, as far as Jedi were concerned, and so waiting for Chancellor Palpatine to grow tired of her was grating. Like being stuck with a thousand needles... Nope, needles would be better. She realized with a grimace.
She'd already discussed the news with him twice, feigned being ill and even spoke of her false husband as though he were some gallant knight. Yet, still, she was waiting.
And it was hard standing next to that old man. Though he looked eons better than his future counterpart, burns and all, just knowing that beneath the broad smile and the gentle voice was a monster sent chills down her spine. She'd always wondered how he'd gained power, and now she knew. It turned out all one needed was the face of an angel and the heart of a devil.
"So, tell me Chancellor," Leia suddenly inquired as she ambled down the way, trying to hide her frustration in being near the old man, "How did you come about those injuries?"
Palpatine sighed and shook his head, clearly having forgotten about them in his eagerness to speak with her, "We aren't too certain of that... My investigators believe that the ones who harmed Bail merely did so to distract the security from me. But I am not convinced." And with that, he let the topic drop, for the first time showing his own discomfort. Leia merely smirked, pleased with herself for putting the old man's confidence in its place. He took quite a while in resuming conversation with her, and by that time they'd left the overcrowded, dome-like lobby for the more antiseptic white halls of the regular hospital.
It wasn't until a doctor came around that she'd been reprieved. He'd sighted them and felt he had to remind the Chancellor that his vigilance was harming his heath. So, after nearly thirty kind farewells and assurances that he'd be around, Leia was finally able to return to Bail Organa's room, where her brother had been standing guard.
Mon Mothma was now gone, leaving Luke and the security detail alone with the injured Organa. Most of the security stood outside his door, with several members on patrol around the area. This left her brother alone in the room as the last line of defense.
After a reassuring glance towards her adoptive father, Leia turned her eyes towards her brother's form meditating on the floor. How are things with him? She inquired internally, Any sign of our attackers?
She could hear him sigh, Nope, but I feel as though Zion's presence is in the area. I'm waiting for him to make a move... Leia sighed herself, worried for her father. She looked to him, saw the sad sight that her proud father was, and felt her heart break once more.
I'm surprised you're not pursuing him. She admitted, I would be.
Which is another reason it is good you were not here. Luke told her, still in his meditative stance, Sometimes patience is a good ally... How was the visit with Palpatine?
Sitting forward, Leia deadpanned, Sunshine and rainbows. What else?
She heard his chuckle, and found herself joining him a bit. That bad, eh?
I think he's an old pervert. She admitted outright, I've never met a man that could talk so straight with his mouth and so slyly with his eyes. Luke snorted again, another contagious round. I swear, maybe he's-
-a little more than just interested... Luke suddenly inserted, a smile on his now definitely not meditating face, Well, if worst comes to worst, you'll make a lovely empress.
Leia scoffed and sat down beside her brother, crossing her arms over her knees. I can't believe the sight of me crying was so appealing. I mean... he must really enjoy pain in others.
Speaking of which, Luke inquired of her, you seem to be feeling better. Were you able to release your pain into the Force? Leia nodded solemnly, still amazed that she had managed that without Palpatine sensing it.
Yes, that had been both painful and difficult. She had hated seeing her father in such a state, marred and charred by some sort of mustard gas. But what had really shaken her was his voice. His breathing. He'd been using a respirator device that was almost exactly like Darth Vader's and the comparison nearly destroyed her. It was still haunting her. She didn't want to associate anything more between the men, besides them both being her father in some fashion. But it seemed that fate or the Force had other plans.
So... She started to tease as she forced those dark memories from her, We're husband and wife, and the most you can do is kiss me on the forehead?
Shaddup, your my sister now.
Ah, so I'm your sister now? She continued to jest, That didn't seem to matter all those years ago. I'd think you could sell this role better.
Hey, I never did a damned romantic thing to you. In fact, it was quite the contrary. Luke reminded her, recalling their first awkward kiss on Hoth when they had no idea they were related. I just thought you were beautiful. That's all that needs be said about the situation.
Yes, it would be strange to admit to our mother that you were head over heels in love with me when we first met. She could feel Luke's laughter at her in the core of her heart. It ricocheted about like a lost bullet. But we might have to sell our roles a bit more than we have been, if Queen Julia is any indication.
Luke let out a sigh, Lay, Queen Julia is basically like an oracle. She reads the Force for answers and does not engage in violence with it. Palpatine does... there is a chance he cannot divine who we are, especially if his vision is clouded by his lust for you.
Ewww, ewww, ewww! Leia rolled her eyes, pah-lease don't ever say that again! I mean, it's bad enough to have had Jabba the Hutt, who's older than Vader, all interested in me.
Didn't you kill that sleemo? Luke joked from his placement, sensing his sister's nod.
May he rest in pieces! She declared, but we cannot be assured that Palpatine's abilities don't rival Julia's. We may have to act more lovey-dovey just to keep him from being suspicious of our intentions in this time.
Define 'lovey-dovey'. Luke inquired carefully, cringing inside at having to revert to his aforementioned behavior when he was twenty and ignorant.
Leia snorted again, ... um, I dunno. There was silence for a moment as Luke muddled over this peculiar conversation. Too much silence it seemed.
I still think you're being overly concerned. He finally replied. Half of the Rogues thought we were a thing and we were just acting normal around each other. Sometimes its more important to act naturally than to try to force others to believe your illusion. Luke pointedly inserted just as the door to Organa's room swung open and a gray clad guard peeked inside, "Senator Organa?" he asked sheepishly before withdrawing. Luke and Leia sat forwards, trying to get a view outside the door since they were trying not to be so involved with the Force. "I'm sorry masters, but it appears Senator Organa is still asleep."
The slightly lighter voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi sounded through the door, and Leia could feel Luke's sorrow in knowing his old master stood there. She placed a hand on his for reassurance. "That is just fine, we can wait inside for him, if that is all right with you."
An unfamiliar female voice added, "Perhaps we will serve as extra protection, should the assailant return."
From what they could see, the guard visibly gulped. "Well... they already have additional guards inside... Mr. and Mrs. Darklighter from Bardotta, actually." Almost instantly, Obi-Wan and his friend put their energies into the room. Luke and Leia could feel their touch through the Force, and did their best to withdraw further.
"If they are here to help," Obi-Wan suddenly challenged, "then why do they hide from us?" As Leia visibly gulped, Luke closed his eyes and began to focus. Carefully and subtly, he pulled at the Force, creating an illusion.
"I..." the guard attempted to answer as Obi-Wan and his company stepped past the guard.
Leia watched in a stupor as the young, auburn haired man led the way into the room, his blue-gray eyes glancing about in suspicion. Beside him was the lean form of Shadday Potkin, who still remained completely unfamiliar to Leia. Now, being closer to her, she was even more certain that this woman was not her mother.
Twice, their eyes fell on the floor where Luke and Leia sat, and twice they looked away as though they weren't there. It was then apparent what Luke was doing: only her brother could conjure so convincing an illusion that other Force-sensitives believed it easily. He'd worked hard for years perfecting this technique and Leia was grateful for that now.
"It seems this extra protection has left." Shadday pointed out, crossing her arms before leaning on the wall next to Luke, "Which is even more suspicious."
Obi-Wan shrugged and sat down in the plush, red chair beside the window. "I suppose... but the energies of these Darklighters seem... familiar."
"You've run into them before?" She wondered, her voice carrying strongly like Leia's.
Pausing a moment to contemplate, Obi-Wan finally answered, "I think so. I just can't pin where." Shadday chuckled.
"Try not to tire yourself out remembering, old friend." She warned him, "We don't want you distracted, should the attackers show once again." Leia sighed, agreeing.
She turned once more to Luke, who appeared as though meditating as usual. A smile grew on her face when she realized that there was so little her brother could not do. But it fell when she realized he wanted to teach her all of it. How will I ever learn all this?
She believed deep down that she didn't have her brother's innate knack for learning, despite his insistence to the contrary. Luke need only be shown once to learn something and a few days later it would be mastered. He taught himself the majority of the upper level forms and conduct of the Jedi Order and had only, perhaps, a few weeks worth of true Jedi training under his belt... yet he was the best in the Order. And the strongest by far. Strong enough that after one year of training, he rivaled their father in both skill and strength. Now they could only surmise where he stood on the power scale.
There was a long silence between the two Jedi as they waited for Bail to wake up, and Leia could not help but notice that it was a fairly awkward silence. It was some time later when Shadday chanced a question she'd clearly been deliberating over for some time, "Do you remember Geonosis?"
Obi-Wan looked up at her curiously, "I doubt there is a Jedi who doesn't. Why?"
Shadday swallowed, "Well..." She turned her eyes away, "While you and Skywalker were otherwise occupied, all of us were hiding in the crowds."
"I remember that." Obi-Wan informed her, "I doubt I could forget the relief I felt when all those lightsabers ignited in the stands... a truly grand display of power." Shadday smiled and nodded.
"Indeed..." she then stepped forward by Organa, working through her thoughts, "Well... something happened that day that I have been meaning to talk to you about, and I know letting more than a year pass by is hardly appropriate, but... Skywalker-"
"-What about Anakin?" Obi-Wan's voice sounded tired, and almost challenging, like Anakin Skywalker was a very touchy subject for him. Shadday seemed to sense that as much as Leia.
"From my post..." she stumbled and partially mumbled, "I saw him kiss Senator Amidala..." She then paused, "I was wondering if anything came to light about that... or if I should-"
Obi-Wan sighed, "-You needn't report it... I'm well aware of his feelings for her. But nothing has come to fruition on that regard." Shadday sighed and seemed to relax a bit.
"Good." She finally decided, "I'd hate to have to cause problems for so skillful a Jedi." There was a pregnant pause as Obi-Wan eyed the woman with curiosity.
"You seem to have a respect for Anakin that most Jedi do not possess." he admitted, his brow raised, "Are you sure that your feelings are clear on the matter, Shadday?" The woman stepped back, as surprised as any would be.
She stuttered a bit, her face turning a red as she realized the implications of Obi-Wan's statement, "H-hardly, Master Kenobi. I just see no reason to not respect him. Everyone who's worked with him has seen his genius..." Smirking, Obi-Wan sat back with his arms crossed, shaking his head. "I really mean it Obi-Wan." Shadday pleaded, "Being a Jedi is my life, I harbor no feelings for anyone." He only smiled and nodded at her.
"I understand, Shadday." He then stood and stretched. Walking towards the door, he added, "If you don't mind, I'm in the need for something to drink. Shall I fetch you something as well?" Potkin merely smiled and shook her head.
"I'll see you soon, my friend." She told the auburn haired man as the hydraulic door slid open and he disappeared into the hallway. The woman seemed to relax a bit, turning to Bail Organa a moment before pacing the room. "Seriously?" was the hiss that started the rant, "Me have feelings for Skywalker of all people? The man is brilliant... but a bit of a maniac..." Leia heard her brother snort at the comment, which merely forced her to join in. She then panicked, hoping that the sound didn't disrupt Luke's illusion. But Luke didn't seemed worried about it. Our father certainly has a reputation, Luke noted in humor.
Leia fought her chuckle, Yeah, it's almost as bad as yours... Darth Taskmaster.
I'll have you know that Mara named me Darth Junior, Luke pointed out with a grin, his mind stretching more to engage his sister and retain his complex illusion.
Rolling her eyes, Leia could barely manage to retain her laugh, Cause that's so much better!
Suddenly Potkin's eyes stopped and she stared at Bail once more, "No, Senator Organa, were I allowed to love, my taste would certainly be more mature than that buffoon."
Leia heard her brother chuckle once more at that remark, which put her on alert again. She turned to see if Luke's illusion still held, surprised that Potkin hadn't even glanced their direction. No, she was staring at her adoptive father rather oddly, stepping closer to his bed side with brown eyes that held a very distant gaze.
"It is such a shame, really." She admitted quietly, "We were such good friends once..." her hands reached out and stroked the remnants of his beard that peaked out from his mask. But, just as the proximity of her face entered too familiar of territory, the pop-hiss of a lightsaber suddenly ignited outside the window.
Before Potkin had time to assess the situation, Luke had broken his illusion and was across the room with his emerald lightsaber ablaze. Before him stood the angry form of Zion Tano, his sharp, carnivorous teeth exposed as he snarled at Luke. But Luke, his expression was that of boredom, as though his mind were elsewhere as they began to exchange parries.
Leia watched in amazement, her mind almost forgetting to scan their surroundings for the Mirialan or the master. She stood beside a startled Potkin, and in the perfect place to protect Bail Organa. Both woman observed the duel carefully, with Luke's calm facade breaking Zion Tano's attacks down with relative ease. Zion seemed to prefer diagonal slices across the body, but that did not bother Luke, who took each strike easily into a block. Though Zion had the offensive, he could not move the man before him.
"He's as powerful as Master Yoda!" Potkin nearly cried out, "Who..." she paused and turned to Leia, "Who are you?"
Leia smirked and nodded towards her brother, "We are friends." She admitted just as she spotted the red lightsaber of her Mirialan opponent. Diving between Potkin and the window, Leia blocked the vertical strike of her assailant with relative ease.
Now out of her stupor, Potkin ignited her own blue blade and the two woman began their own counter attack. The Mirialan hissed through her teeth as both Jedi slammed into her with a vertical strike. And she growled when they nearly sliced her in half.
A quick glance the other way showed her that Skywalker had Devaro backed into a corner. "Zion," he said in a very calm voice, "Why do you do this? Don't you care about Mina and Luci?"
Leia felt herself jump as her brother said that, feeling something strange in his presence. It was almost like he'd vanished spiritually only to recover at full strength. But she was soon forced rejoin her battle with a clearer mind. She was getting tired and it was way too soon for that.
In hearing the names of his sisters, Luke spotted the orange of the Togruta's eyes giving way to a subtle brown, but only for a moment as his angry snarl returned, "You leave them out of this!" He cried out as he made to stab Luke. But what he stabbed was nothing more than an illusion. Luke had moved so fast, that his trick succeeded easily. He now stood beside Zion, and knocked him upside the head with the hilt of his saber.
Leia could only smile as her opponent screamed like a banshee in anger, waking Organa from a drug-induced sleep. When Leia made to take her out in a similar fashion to her brother, the Mirialan dodged her and bolted out the window. Luke turned to his sister without any emotion in his face, save for his eyes which glowed with hope. We can save him now. But as he said that, she felt his presence vanish and reappear all over again, suddenly understanding what was wrong.
Luke was tired. His body was still spent from their travel back in time and yet he was still pushing to perform at his peak.
Stepping away from the astounded Potkin, Leia ran over to her brother to inspect first him and then the sleeping Tano. "How injured is he?" She wanted to know. Luke shrugged.
"He'll be awake in a couple of minutes."
As he leaned down to flip the man over, the door slid open, revealing a panting Obi-Wan Kenobi. Shocked that he did not sense him, Luke froze, but would not face the man. "What in blazes is going on here!" The Jedi Master demanded.
Through his respirator, a grumpy and groggy Bail Organa added, "I'd like to know too!"
Completely at a loss as to how they could best respond, Luke and Leia turned to one another with uncertainty in their eyes. And before any answer could be given, Tano surprised Luke and lept up and dashed out the window after his companion.
But Luke was not far behind him.
Had it not been fore the lack of speeder, Leia would have gladly gave chase, but she had to settle for holding her brother back from diving directly into Coruscant's upper atmosphere. It seemed he felt gravity had no hold on him anymore.
"I can still catch him!" Luke grumbled.
Leia sighed, "No, Luke... we can save him another time." Letting out a deep sigh as the two drove off into the sunset, Luke watched them in frustration... and then he relented, releasing those feelings into the Force.
His temporary home was something to behold. He'd worked very hard to make it seem... approachable and dignified, despite wanting to rip the calming colors down and fill the space with images of fear and darkness. No, he had a facade to continue. To cultivate. And later, to condemn.
Palpatine had to fight sneering at his receiving room's subtle hues of sunshine, decorated as suggested by Senator Amidala, who in his mind was a micromanaging master... How she can put up with the Epimethius that is Skywalker is beyond me.
But he had to give her credit, it was far easier to coax information out of people who were a little too comfortable than those who were not. Which is why he always kept bottles of Nemoidian wine in his storehouse in the lower levels of his large estate.
Yes, the Nemoidian wine was an expensive luxury that had the reputation for being especially strong. He recalled having shared some with Skywalker at one point, discovering that the man had unusually high tolerance levels for almost any type of depressant. It had taken nearly the whole bottle for the man to start spitting his venom at the Jedi Order, admitting his true frustrations. Palpatine had attributed this resistance to his high midichlorian count, which likely diluted many things in his blood for later processing. These microscopic beings were likely also why Skywalker had yet to contract his wife's peculiar evolution of the Blue Shadow virus. At least, to his knowledge he hadn't. No reports had come in on either side of Skywalker having coughing fits.
And speaking of both sides, Palpatine was on his way to his lower rooms. In his vineyard themed storage room, he found the small stone that opened a secret door. Not worried for being spotted, as he often sent his staff home around this time of night, he opened this door and hopped into his hidden lift with a maniacal grin.
Moments later, he was in his unmarked speeder, a hood raised over his face as he sped about the lower levels of Coruscant to his factory district. He'd already contacted his apprentice once this week from his office, and didn't dare risk it again. Though the Jedi were not entirely suspicious of him, he wasn't always on their good side either.
As the droid driver brought him to his hideaway in the bowels of the factory district, Sidious smirked devilishly, despite how the movements burned his aching flesh. Afterall, the guise that is Palpatine was now gone. Only Sidious remained and he liked this persona much better.
The excited, evil man clambered up the mesh walkway, his footfalls sounding like rain on metal, he was so swift.
Within his hideaway, he found the small comm station he'd constructed when he first arrived on Coruscant as a Senator. The room was dark, damp and mystifying. The perfect place to encourage fear and hatred. The jingling chains gave the abode a ghostly feel, and the howling winds sent a shiver even into Sidious's spine. Smiling at the gloom of his hidden creation, especially in comparison to his actual living situation, Sidious moseyed up to his HoloComm and placed his call to his now infamous apprentice.
It took a little longer than normal for Tyrannus to reply, but, eventually his image appeared, prostrating himself, on the floor before Darth Sidious. "What is thy bidding, my master?" The elderly warrior inquired in proper Sith manner. Sidious could not help but notice how injured he seemed. His body trembled and his normally powerful voice shook as though sick.
"Is all well, Tyrannus?" The master inquired in a false form of concern. His only true concern, however, was that his puppet was intact for his next assignment. Slowly turning his head up, Tyrannus revealed that he was also plagued by mysterious burns.
"I'm afraid not, my master." He began his explanation, "A strange light exuded through the Force and, somehow, left me gravely injured with mysterious burns. My recovery has been slow going." Sidious frowned as he contemplated this, Tyrannus will be of no use to me for a great while, "Have you not felt this light, my master?"
Sidious sighed and nodded, "It has left me equally incapacitated." He showed the man his hands, which were still burned raw. He'd removed the bandages from the hospital hours ago, hating the feel of them on his skin. Tyrannus's eyes showed true fear.
"What do you suppose did this, my master?"
Sidious shrugged and turned away from the projector, "My assumption at first was Skywalker. The presence within that light felt most similar to his own... but the epicenter was here on Coruscant and he is currently falling into our plans on Scipio." Tyrannus swallowed, an action that burned as his esophagus, which was just as injured as the rest of him.
"Than who do you suppose it was, if Skywalker was not behind this mess?" Tyrannus's patched brows furrowed slightly, then retracted as he felt more pain. Truthfully, the man looked near death, which made Sidious wonder just how bad he really looked. He hadn't dared stand before a mirror for fear of his anger making him a beacon of darkness in the Force.
"I do not know," he admitted to his apprentice in a sneer, he hated not knowing and Tyrannus knew this, "Sadly, all attempts on my part to connect with the dark side have been restricted by the remnants of light still injuring me... I'm certain you've noticed this with yourself."
Tyrannus nodded, "Indeed I have. I've resolved to distance myself from the dark side until I have healed enough." Sidious nodded.
"A wise choice, my apprentice." He then turned about, "But in the meantime... I do have a little errand for your General Grievous to attend to... he is not Force-sensitive, and therefore should be up to the task." Tyrannus again attempted to raise his brow.
"An errand, my master?"
Sidious smirked, "Yes... I need Grievous to trap and execute a man by the name of Jacen Darklighter." Tyrannus frowned a moment, deliberating who the name belonged to.
"I have not heard of this Jacen Darklighter..." He admitted after a time, his normally proud voice trembling, "What is his offense?"
This time Sidious was the one to frown, "What he has done is not your concern. You are merely to obey me Tyrannus." Normally Sidious would have reached through the Force to strangle his apprentice, but he did not dare such a feat while still so corrupted by light. Tyrannus's face indicated he was expecting that, and he was not foolish enough to show any relief to his master lest Sidious change his mind. "And, by any means necessary, do not allow Grievous to injure his wife, Jaina Darklighter. She has a place in my plans..."
Sensing that this matter might even be personal, Tyrannus nodded and bowed respectfully. "Yes, my master." He knew he only needed to appease this psychopath for only a little while longer. It was only a matter of time before his own plans for succession became available.
Author's Note/Commentary: And we finally get to meet Count Dooku! I honestly wasn't sure when he'd appear in this story at first. Truthfully, despite my plots and planning, this story is evolving into something all its own, which has been a lot of fun.
I'm not super pleased with Luke and Leia's internal conversation. It was meant to be funny and yet explain why their behavior wont change very much in the next few episodes, as well as distinguish what I believe Queen Julia is supposed to be able to do. I would have taken it out if it hadn't served that purpose, but I changed it like six times too... hopefully it wasn't too hard to follow or confusing.
Also, that Luke being as strong as Yoda comment: it makes sense to me. I know a lot of other time travel stories make him a novice Jedi, but Luke didn't strike me as a novice in Return of the Jedi and a lot of other information I've read seems to indicate this as well. He should be much stronger than the Anakin of the past and, after 4 additional years, I see no reason why he wouldn't rival Yoda.
Anyways: Please don't forget to review and vote!