50 reviews! Thank you so much to those of you who made the extra effort to give me feedback! This chapter is dedicated to you all, and I sure hope it was well worth the wait!
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.
Pestilis watched her master as he opened his blazing red eyes and smiled. "It's done." He told her while standing up, his broad shoulders shifting much like a lion stalking its pray, "Skywalker has taken the bait. He will now begin exploring all the lies around his birth, and in the process, discover just how disturbing the truth is."
With a furrowed brow, Pestilis approached him and crossed her arms, not noticing the return of Anhilis with the small Jedi Padawan over her shoulder. "If you don't mind my asking, why bother?"
Demantis smirked some, "Have you already forgotten how much darkness Darth Vader forged into the galaxy?" Pestilis shook her head, "Good. Then you know he must be kept alive and turned sooner if possible. Should his son become imbued with the strength of the Drajdai, I will need all the power I can get to challenge him. The best way to add to the Chosen One's transformation is to shatter his sense of self."
Pestilis nodded, stepping back, as she trusted this man whole-heartedly. It was Anhilis and Devaro who chose to challenge him, and usually behind his back, "You still haven't told us what this Drajdai is." Anhilis pointed out as she dropped the child to the ground like a bag of sand. The jostle made the child grunt, and she even began stirring.
Even while Pestilis shot her a warning glance, Demantis merely stepped forward and scowled at her. "Because you have no reason to know what a Drajdai is... you are no Advorosian! You do not have the blessings of either the Shaetin or the Drajdai. You are inferior!" It was clear that Anhilis did not like that response, as she bit her tongue and bowed respectfully to the powerhouse before her.
Pestilis sighed in relief while seeing this, not wanting to lose a lackey so quickly. She knew her master's temper to be foul at times.
"Anhilis." She hissed at the woman, "Place the child in the holds and feed it something decent. It needs to be sufficiently sustained to survive the endeavor, should you need to journey through time again." She nodded and strode away, dragging the young girl by her blonde hair as she did. Pestilis sighed and shook her head, smiling at the cries of the child as she did.
She really hated Jedi.
"My apologies master." She mumbled to him, "Anhilis tends to think a little highly of herself."
Still in a sour mood, Demantis merely shrugged, "Just make sure that bitch leaves my grandson alone... I want him alive." That comment was like a slap in the face to Pestilis, who merely turned to her master as he strode off towards the darker parts of the hideaway to recharge. Though powerful, the light of stars still drained him.
Standing in awe, the old witch struggled to even associate Lord Demantis of the Shaetin with Anakin Skywalker. His grandson!
Tentatively, Luke knocked at Senator Amidala's door. Leia stood beside him, her arms crossed as she frowned. Despite her desire to meet their mother, she hated leaving her adoptive father after another attempt on his life. And she had made that point very well known to Luke before their arrival in Bail's limousine. The only thing that calmed her was Luke's suggestion that attacking Bail was merely to distract them from their true mission. A mission that led them here.
The driver had been kind, and even slipped them a parting gift from Bail they had yet to open, but that did little to silence the hot-headed young woman. Even as she passed small silver box from one hand to the next, she was still chewing her brother out. But, Luke was able to eventually get her to understand that with their limited cover, their hands were tied.
While she huffed beside him, he sighed as a familiar protocol droid opened the door and, for once, he didn't have to force the smile on his face. Leia was shocked into a stupor.
Threepio stood before him in his shiny gold plating, leaning through the door curiously, "Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Darklighter, welcome!" He stepped aside to allow the two in, "We have been expecting you."
"Thank you, Threepio." Luke replied kindly as he nodded to the droid. The golden Threepio seemed to beam at his consideration, as expected. "Where might we find the Senator?"
Pointing in the direction of a great sitting room, Threepio directed him, "Senator Amidala is waiting for you in the living room. She also has another guest, Mister Clovis of Scipio." Then Threepio leaned in, "And where might you be from, Mr. and Mrs. Darklighter." Luke turned to him, and almost admitted of his origins on Tatooine, but Leia caught him in time.
"Bardotta." She told the droid, "We are servants of Queen Julia, and honorary Dagoyan clan members."
Threepio took the lead for them, planning on announcing the 'couple' properly, as any good protocol droid would do, "Ah, Bardotta. I have not yet been there, but Representative Binks insists it is a most lovely place. He's quite close with Queen Julia, you know." Luke nodded, not quite sure of whom the droid was speaking of. Leia merely smiled, knowing the name quite well thanks to her father. "Representative Binks is also here, though he is working in Mistress Padme's private office." The droid gestured to the room to the left, where the door was closed. Luke reached out and sensed a lively presence in the Force, bringing a smile to his face. "Such a peculiar man he is, how my Mistress puts up with him sometimes..." Threepio added.
And that statement brought Luke to want to answer a question that had been plaguing him since his surprise at seeing his droid on the screen. He and Leia had shared Threepio since they'd been reunited on the Death Star. It was a natural choice for them, though, at the time, they did not understand it. But how they came to possess the droid was a giant question to him now. Or better yet, how Leia's relative, Captain Antilles, came to possess it.
"Tell me, Threepio," Luke wondered aloud as they neared the sitting area, "How long have you been in service to Senator Amidala?" Threepio paused and turned around to address Luke properly.
"Well," he started carefully, indicating that he was processing several orders at the same time, "I have only worked with the Senator for one and one half years." Luke nodded, prodding the droid onwards. But he didn't catch that gesture, it was something Threepio had to account for in the future, as Luke and Leia weren't always direct with words. Many times they chose an ambiguous nod, something Luke believed they got from their father. This Threepio hadn't generated those subroutines with them yet. So much for that theory.
"And how did you come to be in her service?" Leia inquired gently as a giant creature with floppy ears exited the office behind them.
Threepio paused to regard the sentient with a nod before answering, "Master Anakin built me. I used to work with his mother on Tatooine, but when she passed, he felt I would best service Mistress Padme and gave me to her." Luke and Leia's eyes went wide: they knew to be sentimental about the droid, somehow, but didn't realize the why.
"I... I see." Luke mumbled, trying to regain his composure, "As in Anakin Skywalker?"
"Yes, sir." Sensing a false close to the conversation, Threepio turned and entered the main room to announce their presence. Luke and Leia both stood in silence as Threepio listened in to Amidala's and Clovis's conversation for an opening.
"Psst!" Came a voice from behind them. Luke almost jumped, forgetting the presence for a moment. And Leia was hardly any better. "Generals Skywalker?" Now Luke jumped.
He turned about so fast, the sentient couldn't even see his movement. "Woah." He gasped, "Even faster than urs dad, you is." Luke just stared at him, blue eyes like beacons in a fog. Beside him, Leia paled as she stuttered to try and find words, turning to her stunned brother for help that wasn't coming.
"How do you-" suddenly she heard Threepio begin his announcement in the other room, and that stopped Leia's inquiry.
The creature chuckled, his bug eyes staring at them most certainly, "Queen Julia isa me sweetie. Shesa told me aaaalls abouts you, Generals Skywalker and Missa Skywalker. Shesa ask-ed meza to help yous." Luke stared at him with icy blue eyes wide, to which the creature smiled wider, "Meza must says, yousa lookie a lot like urs dad." Luke flushed a bit, not used to being regarded in comparison to his father, well, positively, anyway. He heard Leia chuckle alongside him.
"I thank you." Luke nodded with a smirk, "But I must admit, in my time I haven't had the opportunity to meet you, Mister-"
"Binks." The creature smiled, "Mesa Jar-Jar Binks, Representative of the Gunguns an da Naboo." He leaned forward and jabbed at Luke's shoulder, "Long time friend of urs dads I iz." Again, Luke smiled at the genuine creature.
"It is a pleasure to meet you then." He then gestured to his right, where Leia stood, "This is my sister, Leia." In hearing that, the Gungun shot up and stared at her with a wide grin.
"So beautifuls are yousa Miss Leia!" He told her jovially, but then paused to regard her once more, "Ehrm..." he cleared his throat, and made to ask them something as though a child sharing a deeply guarded secret, "But yous musta been telling mesa, is yous Padmes kids toos?" Both paused and smiled at the Gungun, who took the opportunity to add, "Cuz yousa lookie a lot like Padme." They chuckled.
"We believe so." Leia told him with her version of Anakin's crooked grin, "Unfortunately our birth was an absolute mess, and we don't know for sure exactly who our mother is... We wanted to go to the Naboo system and investigate her, but lack the finances and a ship..." Jar-Jar once again stood upright and entered a clear thinking position, his hand holding his chin as his eyes turned upwards. Then, as though an epiphany struck him, he decided something grandly.
With a furrowed brow, Luke took the opportunity to inquire of his sister, Why are we airing all our dirty laundry on this guy?
Leia chuckled and shook her head, My dad said he's a reliable friend... if you get past his quirks. She then nodded towards him, And we certainly need more friends. Luke nodded, agreeing with his sister, though his observations of the Gungun made him wonder if this particular friend was a wise choice. His external chanting alone was quite unnerving.
He was soon to recant those thoughts, however.
"Eisa can take yous to the Naboo!" he informed them both, "Boss Lyonie wantsa mesa to return anyways." The twins smiled at him gratefully.
"We thank you for your help." Luke replied, bowing respectfully to the Gungun. Leia followed suit with a slight laugh, charmed by the man's enthusiasm and optimism.
Jar-Jar merely swatted at the air, "Nah problemo! Anythings for Ani and Padme's kids!"
As Luke nodded to his new friend, Threepio returned from the living room. "Mr. and Mrs. Darkligher, if you would follow me." The golden droid motioned, "The Senator will see you now." He then led the way into the small dropped room, with Luke, Leia and Jar-Jar at his heels.
The room was large and grand, furnished in modern design with reds, oranges and bronze. In the center were two large couches facing one another and a small, glass coffee table. It seemed that Amidala and Clovis were having a small snack, as a plethora of foods lay spread out on the table.
Luke had to admit, he saw the appeal in Senator Amidala. She reminded him a lot of Leia, only just a bit taller. Her chocolate brown hair was weaved into various braids, making her seem even grander as they bunched together on her head. And she had a wide, genuine smile as she sat conversing, so wide it spread to her eyes. It took a lot to keep Luke from staring at her bewildered. So familiar, yet not.
"Mr. and Mrs. Darklighter." Amidala stood and nodded to them both with a wide smile, "You've met Former-Senator Clovis?" To that they both nodded, bowing slightly as the situation felt appropriate.
"Yes, Senator Amidala." He told her carefully, his eyes to the floor, "We accompanied Senator Organa to yesterday's meeting." He then rose, realizing she wasn't keen on being treated as royalty. His eyes also darted quickly to Leia, who was still lost, marveling at the woman she knew in her heart was her mother, even without any concrete proof.
Luke found himself wishing for that connection, even if it also stopped his tongue.
Amidala merely nodded and smiled, attempting to break the proximity of Clovis by stepping over a bit to speak earnestly with them both, "I understand that you are to be in my service for the next cycle. This isn't common practice and I confess, I am a bit perplexed. Is... there any particular reason why Bail sent you to me?" To that Luke and Leia both shrugged, their eyes falling unwittingly on Clovis slightly.
And the man didn't miss that, "I see, so they are to spy on us!" Clovis suddenly decreed, standing up in frustration. With heavy breaths, he began pacing the room, his arms crossed behind his back, "To think I'd hoped for asylum! This is ridiculous!" Luke could not help but roll his eyes. His childishness even pulled Leia from her stupor.
Stepping forward and feeling her tenure as Senator rise inside her, she stared the man down with her dark brown eyes, "You commit a major crime and expect instant reprieve the moment you have something useful to offer?"
Clovis stopped and stared at her in surprise, having not expected the young and small 'doll' to have some venom in her.
"That is quite immature on your part, Clovis." Leia finished sternly. Luke had to stifle a laugh at his sister's behavior. He loved it when she became 'Senator Organa,' simply because those who did not know her did not expect her proverbial claws. The stupid look on many of her 'victim's' faces were a favorite topic between him and Han. But Clovis wasn't speechless for long.
"This coming from a little Bardottan Wanabee bodyguard!" He spat.
Leia chuckled with a wry grin much like her biological father's, "If that is the best insult you've got, I have no worries about any of your other confrontational attributes." She then turned to the bewildered Senator Amidala, "If you would be so kind, m'lady, where are our quarters?"
Stunned one minute and then embracing the change of topic the next, Amidala turned swiftly and led the way, "Follow me, Mr. and Mrs. Darklighter." She suggested in a very shy voice. Based on her tone, she was very clearly emotionally exhausted. Though, from what, the twins could not fathom.
Instead, they offered to console her, "Call me Jaina." Leia replied as she followed closely behind her, with Luke at her heels.
"And please, call me Jacen." Luke added with a laugh as they rounded the corner, "You've a lovely home."
Senator Amidala turned with a wide smile and nodded to them, "Thank you... It took some time to make it feel like it was mine. My predecessor had a thing for heavy curtains and gunmetal." The twins chuckled some, their eyes falling on various rooms, fantasizing which would have been theirs had fate been kinder. I call the sky blue one with all the rocks inside, Leia teased him from her position behind Amidala. You can have the green one with that heinous yellow rug.
Luke fought his chuckle, But I wanted the blue one... you... poodoo. He did hear Leia chuckle at his mock retort.
It did not take Luke long to realize that Clovis was behind him as he followed Leia at a decent pace. He could feel Clovis's angry gaze as he did, but still the Jedi held his tongue. Which is more than father could have done. Luke realized with a dark grin. He could just picture the darkened form of his Sith father strangling the man, his respirator barking out several obscenities in the process, and immediately regretted his glee at such a vision. Why does this guy bother me so much? He considered in exasperation.
Again, Leia chuckled, intruding on his thoughts, Should I start with the adjectives in Huttese or Corellian? Luke smirked, relieved he wasn't alone in his dislike of the man. Instead, he turned his attention back to the apartment that could have easily been his home as a boy.
The halls around the main living area were narrow and lined with reds and purples. In the setting sun, Luke was convinced, this apartment must have looked like a bronze lined ruby, which may have been what Amidala was going for. He noticed how most of the rooms, save for the two guest rooms they'd passed, were lined with orange, and theorized it must have been her favorite color. Or perhaps the color is closely related to her home world.
After a moment, Rush ducked into a room, likely the refresher, leaving the three alone.
"I'm sorry about that." Amidala suddenly called from where she stood in leading him. "Rush has been under such stress, he's..." she paused as she considered the right thing to explain it, "he's not quite sure how to handle sudden unknowns right now." In hearing her pitiful plea for her friend, boyfriend?, Luke had to smile. Many things about her reminded him of Leia, but this was not one of those instances.
Leia never made excuses for other people; it was do or don't.
And speaking of..."That is hardly something you should apologize for." Leia told her earnestly, Right on cue, Luke thought as she continued on, "And, Senator..." She paused and Amidala turned herself about to face them both. Both took that moment to regard her chocolate colored eyes, that glowed just a bit lighter than her hair. The more they were around her, the more desperate they were that she be their mother. They were starting to love her already. Her doe expression and her kindheartedness had won them over the first time she spoke to them. "Do not worry about us." Leia continued. Her earnestness must have reached Amidala, as she smiled and continued to lead the way.
They were only meant to stay one night, but both speculated this would be the opportunity of a lifetime.
Jar-Jar Binks, well, he wasn't sure what to make of the day, to be honest. Most of the time, he sat and watched as the two children of two of his bestest friends in da whole galaxy ambled around the apartment aimlessly. For the most part, he noticed that they kept their eyes on Rush Clovis. An good planen!
The one pretending to be called Jacen, Julia sayz hesa called Luke, was perhaps the most vigilant. When he was working, Jar-Jar could practically see Anakin in this man. His gait, his stare, he even had his glare down, and that was saying something. When Ani wanted to, he could give the best stink-eye in the galaxy. And it was apparent that Luke wanted Rush Clovis gone.
Hesa bita different do, Jar-Jar noticed as he sat down across from the young man. And indeed he was. Jar-Jar knew well enough that Anakin would not be able to sit near as still as Luke, who appeared displeased to some extent, but was not teeming with nervous energy. It was rather strange watching this man, who seemed to have a calm that only Padme could maintain.
An speakings of Padme, Jar-Jar turned his head to watch the small warrior woman called Leia enter the room. She was carrying the drinks that one of Padme's handmaidens had gotten her. But, much like Padme when she wasn't working, Leia stood and followed Sabe, rather than let her serve. All Jar-Jar could see in Leia was her likeness to Padme. Until she sat down, that is.
The frown she wore there looked like something Anakin would do when he wanted to make known his feelings. It wasn't his stink-eye, like Luke's expression, but more one of his extreme scowls that usually made everyone nervous.
Though much of her physical beauty came from her mother, he could spot all sorts of traces of Anakin in Leia. In fact, those traces were what made Jar-Jar a little unsure in his guess that Padme was their mother. But he also spotted evidence of Padme in Luke, so he was really leaning her direction as much as the siblings were.
Whadda shame, he realized as he watched the two interact with the politicians, to beez growing up and not knows your mudder...I hope itz Padme. Shesa really wantsa families anywayz.
He sat back as Padme shuffled over some of her DataPads, trying to find some information relevant to the conversation Jar-Jar didn't care to hear. It was strange, watching her around them. He'd been sitting with Rush and Padme most of the morning, before taking a call from his beloved Julia about the now infamous Skywalker siblings headed this way.
Padme had been distant and uncomfortable. Most of the time she spent trying not to look at Clovis, which concerned Jar-Jar greatly. He'd been around when the two were an item, and can understand that discomfort, but he missed the more relaxed behavior between the two.
Now, with these travelers, she was smiling wide and seemingly more interested in talking with them than Clovis. Which Jar-Jar noticed was getting to the man in a bad way. She turned to each sibling, taking turns asking about their history, and Jar-Jar kind of wished he'd been listening too. Just a little bit anyways. No one should knowzes dezes future. Makus a mess it does.
"So, you were stationed near Bardotta when the queen took you in?" Padme asked of Luke. He nodded and smiled.
"Master Altis had sent me there after one of our usual disagreements."
Padme frowned, "Should I ever meet him, I'll have to ask about these disagreements."
Luke chuckled some, leaning forward in his chair to finally drop the aggressive act, "I wouldn't." he admitted as he glanced towards Leia, "He would likely tune you out the rest of the conversation. My name stresses him some. Jaina's too."
This time it was Clovis who inquired of him, "I'd had the pleasure of meeting Master Altis on Cato Nemoida once. He..." his eyes turned from Luke to Leia suspiciously, "He did not strike me as the type to hold grudges." There was silence as the twins fought to create a workable story.
So, Jar-Jar did what he could to save the day, "Yousez mustive really done a bo-bad ding." Leia chuckled at him as Luke sat back with a smirk.
"I'll say." Leia smirked proudly as her story fell into place, "Jacen's a bit of a rogue at times, which is oh-so-charming, and he... well, crossed the line in Master Altis's eyes while questioning an entire bar for information."
Luke rolled his eyes with a big grin, "We both know that wasn't me." Leia shook her head, her eyes turning upward. Jar-Jar was amazed at their charisma while acting impromptu. Mesa shoulda asked them 'bout diz later.
"If you like our current arrangement," Leia informed him haughtily, "It certainly was you."
While Luke sat in a stupor, Rush and Padme laughed out loud at his face, with Padme shaking her head. When he finished laughing, Rush inserted his own opinion of the mysterious Darklighters, "I see who wears the pants in your relationship."
When Luke merely smiled and shook his head, Jar-Jar could not help but join in the groups humor. Once the aggravation disappeared, Luke's personality literally became identical to one person: Padme. And Leia, well, she clearly held the heart of a Skywalker.
Master Yoda was trying his damnedest to listen in on the conversation, but his mind was in many other places at the moment. Namely at the meeting with Rush Clovis a couple days ago.
That light was clearly a Skywalker, he realized with a frown, Another perhaps... "Another?" Yoda said aloud, his mind completely immersed in his thoughts.
"Master?" Shaak Ti inquired from her seat, leaning forward in earnestness, "Are you all right?" He couldn't see the concern in her brown eyes, nor the way she tilted her head to hear his heart better with her Montrals.
Instead, Yoda sat forward and gazed about the room, namely at one auburn haired warrior, "Master Kenobi?" he then turned his attention to the woman seated next to him, "Master Gallia?" he asked, to which they each nodded nodded, "What can you tell us of Senator Organa's plight?"
Kenobi shrugged a moment, surprised at the sudden topic shift from Grievous to Organa, and allowing Gallia to take the floor, "Not much. We know that a woman by the name of Anhilis is organizing the bounties on him, and that she is relentless that both he and Queen Breha die. Fortunately, Queen Breha's medical situation on Alderaan has left her under the best supervision she can get. Senator Organa is returning home to her as we speak, accompanied by an armed guard."
This time it was Windu's turn to ask questions, "And what of his new bodyguard?"
Kenobi answered him there, "Jacen Darklighter is a bit of an enigma." he began, "He demonstrated an adept use of Force techniques I've never seen before, and showed that his power easily rivals anyone on this council." Windu frowned in hearing that, sitting back to deliberate on those facts while Master Yoda leaned forward in interest.
"More to share, you have."
Kenobi nodded, "After his demonstration this morning, we did a little more digging. There is no Jacen nor Jaina Darklighter registered as a couple, save for one entry at the senatorial district's General hospital, and there isn't even a listing of them as individuals on any system for that matter. It doesn't mean they aren't from Hutt or Wild Space, but I'm beginning to wonder just how falsified their identities are."
"So you are saying that Queen Julia lied to us? To Bail?" Windu inquired, surprised more than anything. Her reputation was far better than lies and deceit. Kenobi nodded, his eyes showing his doubts clearly through their gentle blue lens.
"I can't imagine what she intends to do with this lie," Galia told the council, "But she clearly has no intention of these formalities amounting to anything in the senator's best interest, save for keeping him alive for some reason. This isn't an olive branch to the republic."
"You think she means to spy on Organa for another reason?" the holo-image of Ki-Adi-Mundi inquired from his blue chair near Yoda.
Kenobi shook his head, "We have no idea what she's up to, truthfully." The whole room was silent in hearing that, each master attempting to silently meditate for a quick answer. That is, until Yoda spoke up.
"How certain are we, that an only child, Knight Skywalker is?" Obi-Wan actually seemed stumped by the question.
"As certain as we can be." He replied carefully, "Anakin does have a step-brother on Tatooine, but all his blood relations are, to his knowledge, dead." Yoda closed his eyes and meditated on that, but he could not escape his feelings.
"So... not possible it is," Yoda inquired, "for an older brother, him to have?" Again, Obi-Wan's jaw dropped as he considered this.
"Not necessarily." he admitted woefully, "Why do you ask, master?" To that, Yoda sighed.
"Met another of Skywalker's caliber in Darklighter, we have." He started carefully, "In the temple, with his wife, he was. A bright light in the Force. So strong, he was, that almost certain I am, Skywalker's brother he is." In hearing this, Master Windu sat back and pondered. He meditated lightly on the topic, but found himself unable to disagree with Master Yoda.
"He does resemble him in many ways, Force-signature not withstanding." Windu admitted, suddenly very intrigued that Skywalker's potential brother wound up on Bardotta. But that was after comparing notes on how stubborn both men were. Yoda nodded with a slight smile on his face. "And you believe he is capable of such powerful light?" Yoda again nodded, sighing in the process, as his old age required of him, "But there is no way to make him a Jedi of our order at this point."
"Not need him for that, we do." Yoda decided with his grin great, "Master Kenobi." he decided with a smile, "After this conference, confer we must. Potentially good, this discovery may be, for young Skywalker. With this, finally grow into a master, he may."
Obi-Wan turned his eyes back to the green Grandmaster, who's skin was now browned by the light of the setting sun. He wondered just what the creature had in mind for his former Padawan.
Padme was relieved as she watched Rush drive off with the investigative task force; so relieved, she could not help but sigh. She'd been waiting all morning for Rush to depart, having disliked his general demeanor the whole time. Though it didn't help that she'd been fighting with Anakin that morning over breakfast. Fights with him always wiped her out.
Not that dealing with Rush is any better... She reminded herself.
He'd been speaking candidly to her about stopping corruption, and she believed in his genuine efforts, but his intrusion was unwelcome. He'd practically forced their meeting this morning, taking precious time away from her and Anakin. And, if she knew her husband, he was still stewing about that.
What's worse is she didn't know how to get rid of him without becoming suspicious. He took every obligation she threw at him and turned it into some grand team effort for the day. Were it not for Jacen and Jaina being there, she would have likely been thrown into a dangerous tizzy.
So, to rebuild her faith in the world, Padme followed the example of her esteemed mother. She moseyed straight into the kitchens.
Though they'd agreed that Anakin should stay the night at the temple, she doubted he'd follow through. The man rarely did. Knowing that he loved her attempts at cooking, she resolved herself to have something prepared to make the lost time up to him. To remind him that her job was not the life she loved.
But, as she buried her hands into the dough of the dumplings she was kneading together, Jaina poked her head around the corner of the kitchen. "Is that crass..." she paused, and added with a grin that Anakin would appreciate, "blankety-blank gone." Padme chuckled, feeling very comfortable with the woman already.
"Yes," she replied as she kneaded the dough some more, throwing it on counter once more to improve its consistency, "that crass blankety-blank is gone." Jaina chuckled as she stepped into the kitchen, watching Padme work with interest like a four year old girl.
"Can I help?" She offered with her brown eyes sparkling. Padme sighed and shook her head.
"I prefer that I make this myself."
Jaina smirked and leaned on the counter, eying the substance as Padme added more flour to it. "What are you making anyways?" she inquired as Jacen walked up to the bar window to observe. With so many eyes watching her, Padme was suddenly reminded of her nieces when she was able to watch them. Jacen and Jaina were emitting that amount of childish inquiry, which was uncharacteristic of them, based on their behavior this afternoon. They struck her as the more serious type, but she shrugged her notions off.
"Hearty dumplings in a meaty stew." She replied easily, and almost failed to catch herself, "Ani- a friend of mine especially likes the meal and I am expecting another visitor." Jacen and Jaina glanced at one another with an all knowing smile.
"You mean Knight Skywalker?" Jacen inserted carefully, "Don't you?"
Ghost white, Padme attempted to recover, but Jaina beat her to the punch. "You two do seem rather close... it was cute hearing you two argue in Palpatine's office." Her heart beating a mile a minute, Padme tried to create something to explain their behavior, anything but the truth. But, just as she was about to say something, the flesh hand of Jacen Darklighter landed on hers and she turned to face him. His sky blue eyes were calling to her, and she felt hypnotized by the pull in them.
"You've no reason to fear from us." He assured her, "Please try to be comfortable." Sensing that this was perhaps a mind trick, Padme did her best to blink free of it. The problem was that she was already so comfortable with these two, and it was apparent based on her mistakes in conversing with them.
Feeling the spell overwhelm her, Padme relented, "Okay."
The two warriors smiled at her, their expressions reminiscent of anyone but trained soldiers. They watched her a while longer before Jaina spoke up. "Well, if I can't help you..." she decided firmly, "Then you're going to teach me how to make this for Jacen."
"I concur." Jacen smirked from where he stood, "but how about I'm on meaty stew duty... You ladies work hard enough." He then walked around the counter and entered the kitchen in even strides, showing Padme how much her pleas were not about to be heard. And that frustrated her.
"I really want to cook this by myself!" She declared in an uncharacteristic fashion. Both Darklighters halted, dropping what they had in their hands as they stared at her. "Anakin works hard every day protecting the republic, and this is my way of thanking him for his sacrifices. Of showing him that everything he does means a lot to me."
Unsure of what her statement would inspire in the strange couple, Padme turned about to find them both staring at her thoughtfully. Jacen had a slight smile on his face while Jaina donned an expression of concern. And whatever concern that was led her to inquire, "You really believe in him, don't you?"
Caught off guard by the tone in Jaina's voice, Padme gulped and replied as innocently as she could, "Of course! He's one of the greatest Jedi in the republic!" But, based on the expressions on her new guards' faces, they weren't buying her explanation.
So, rather than adhere to her wishes, they resumed with their intrusion on her ritual. "Please don't help me... I'd rather you go and retire with everyone else." Padme begged.
"We noticed that your staff left earlier." Jacen replied flatly.
And Jaina finished the thought in a strange way, something couples did not typically do, "Is that normal around here... to have you left-"
"-Alone and without guard?" Jacen finalized their query.
Padme gulped once more, wondering about the particulars of this interrogation. The Darklighters were strange to her, familiar and welcome, yet bizarre and apparently mischievous. She wasn't sure if she wanted a friendship with them or to turn them away.
"I like my privacy." Padme replied sternly.
And Jaina chuckled, "No politician has privacy, so clearly intrusions are not your concern."
Dropping her dough as Jaina made a new ball beside hers, Padme raised her hands in frustration, "Actually it is... which is why I am dismissing you. Go... Now!"
But both Jaina and Jacen continued to ignore her, smiling to themselves as they followed the instructions on her DataPad on either side of her. Jacen had already filled the pot with the required ingredients and was approaching the stove to begin warming the mixture. Jaina had settled herself beside Padme and wasn't intent on moving. There was a strange silence between the three, a blissful ignorance met with a cold field of anxiety.
It didn't last that long though. "So, what is this Knight Skywalker like?" Jaina inquired as though the scene had never occurred. Padme gasped and stepped back from the counter, putting a hand to her head in frustration. "Is he charming or despicable?... I've always thought of him as a" Jaina paused, "total asshole." Jacen snorted from over by the pot, where he was beginning to cut meat up on the counter.
Awestruck, Padme glanced between the two of them and shook her head, "He's cocky, but... not an asshole." Jaina turned to her a moment, flipping her dough over as she grinned, "He's actually rather charming and thoughtful, always protecting those around him."
Jacen replied to that, "He sounds commendable."
Padme nodded, finally returning to her ball of dough on the counter, "He is that. I'd trust Ani with my life any day."
Jaina raised a brow, having heard that name more than twice now, "Ani?"
"His nickname from when he was a boy." Padme replied, now starting to ball up the dough into dumplings, "He's always had a good heart, and protecting everyone has been his priority... especially those too weak to defend themselves. I admire that about him." In hearing this Jacen turned and noted Jaina's thoughtful expression, as though she were reorganizing schemata in her mind. And he smiled.
"But..." Jaina wondered as she started forming her own balls out of the dough, "Isn't there a darkness in him? A part of him that is deplorable?"
Padme paused in her work and turned to Jaina, surprised and angry by the allegation. "He is human, everyone has some darkness... But Anakin has a light in him that most people crave." And, after that sound remark, Jaina was silent, so Padme chose to reinforce her statement, "When it comes to others safety, Anakin is selfless... that's why I try to give him a home cooked meal every now and then. He deserves at least that much."
In hearing that, Jaina dropped her dough and stepped out of the kitchen, angling her direction towards the hall that led to her room. Her reaction perplexed Padme, but she said nothing as she watched the woman stomp away.
She was beginning to dislike her.
But Jacen stood in his place by the stove, and soon moved over to begin breaking his wife's dough into the round dumplings. There was silence between them for a while as they worked, but it was soon broken by Jacen's hastily constructed explanation.
"While in the midst of the battlefield," he told her, "The Jedi must sometimes make terrible exceptions to their code, and Anakin has not been any different. We've heard quite a bit about it... and Jaina has formed her opinion around that information." Padme nodded, understanding, "She doesn't always take to new information well, and, in her frustration, she retreats to process it."
Sighing, Padme threw all her dumplings into the large bowl she'd set out for them and stepped over to the sink to fill them with water. This recipe required that they soak in an herb mix before they were boiled. "She should learn to not be so judgmental."
Jacen chuckled, "She really isn't as much as you'd think."
Then, as though talking about a HoloDrama, Padme inquired, "Are you a Skywalker fan?"
"Of course." He replied, following Padme's example with the dumplings, "But I am not a Clovis fan." Padme sighed as she heard that, the whole situation proving to be very strenuous to her, "Why was that creep here anyways?"
Taking a deep breath as she checked on the stew her guest had started, Padme shrugged, "Because I was assigned to assist in the investigation of the Banking Clan... Rush was to check in with me before he was taken to Scipio for processing."
"Processing?" Jacen inquired.
Padme nodded, stirring the stew as she added vegetables into it, small minced vegetables that Jacen clearly knew well how to cut, "Rush is vying for control of the clan, but since he uncovered the conspiracy, he needs to be checked to determine that he wasn't involved in some way. That alone will probably take three months, and all the while, various officials will be examining the many representatives of the Banking clan."
"Sounds entertaining." Jacen replied dryly.
Padme shrugged, "Only if you like paperwork... And I'm in for it for at least a year over this scandal alone. That should be about as long as it takes for the investigations to finalize and close... If we're lucky."
Jacen turned to her, his golden brow furrowed in confusion, "But aren't the clones relying on those finances?"
Padme nodded, "The Separatists are too. But we all have sufficient loans through to the end of next year... It's withdrawing beyond then that is the issue." There was silence a moment, and so Padme turned to peer over at Jacen, noticing how he was clearly interpreting what she shared.
"So this Rush guy wont be around for a while then?" He wondered aloud.
"Why is that such a big deal?!" Padme demanded in an exasperated voice, "Why doesn't anyone believe I can take care of myself?!" Jacen turned to her quizzically.
"It's not that we don't, Senator." He replied carefully, "It's that we don't believe you should have to. Good people like you deserve the support of friends, and friends give whether or not you want their gifts." He then paused and stepped over by her, staring her down with those familiar blue eyes of his, "If you don't like people caring about you, try not being someone worth caring about then."
And Padme gulped, staring into those blue eyes. She could see that he meant what he said, or rather, that for some reason, she meant something big to him. In his eyes was the same determination she saw in Anakin, and she couldn't fathom why.
So, rather than challenge him, she turned about and returned to her work. And he did the same. But it was different in the air now. Something was broken through, something intimate was formed... a strange relationship Padme didn't understand but welcomed between her and Jacen. And, perhaps later, even Jaina. It was something deep and powerful, like the bonds of blood. It made her heart beat more, and she began wondering if she were falling in love again. Not romantic love... but love all the same. She noted as she muddled this over, but why? The silence as she thought grew uncomfortable.
"Would you like some champagne?" She offered, unsure of what else to do.
Author's Note: Luke just seems to be able to do anything. I know he's my favorite character and all, which is why I'm trying to be careful in not overusing him, but... well, he's awesome and I sure hope my interpretation of him four years later is accurate. I haven't read much of the EU and what I have is usually when he's, like, fifty or something... so he's very different. And as for Leia, I'm not sure how much credit I'm giving her right now. She's a tough lady, and I always envisioned tough ladies needing processing time because they handle everything wholly.
As for Demantis, I realize the family card was well played in the original trilogy, but even Lucas likes to build on motifs and I felt safe making that strategic jump because it didn't seem to go against his style (Though I could be entirely wrong). And I'm really trying to respect the original author's craft as I write. How did I do? How shocked were you all when I threw that one out there? How willing to accept this idea are you? Those are my big wonders!
PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!