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.
The meetings had drudged on that day, leaving Obi-Wan more exhausted than he was on some missions. There were so many important issues to discuss in the high council, that lunch had to be brought to them from the cafeterias, and... well, despite the best efforts of the staff, the food still desired some sort of change.
He sighed as his stomach grumbled, unsure of whether it would be wise to attempt the temple food once more or take his small reservoir of unused stipend to Dex's for the night. And he was finding himself more than inclined to do the latter.
But, as he stepped forward towards the lift door, the grumbling voice of the Order's oldest called to him a swift reminder, "Ah, Master Kenobi." Yoda stated gently as he ambled up to his student, "Forget, did you, of our discussion?"
Realization dawning on him, Obi-Wan nearly collided his hand with his face. "Yes Master Yoda," He replied, "It appears I had food more on the mind than my duty. I apologize."
"Hmm." Yoda's brow lifted, "Food, say you?... Inclined, I am, to agree with your choice setting, Master Kenobi." The old sentient then led the way into the lift, closing the door before other masters could join them. Clearly he wanted privacy.
"What say you, Master Kenobi," Yoda suddenly began, his energy almost eager, "Possible, is it, that Darklighter, Skywalker's brother, could be?" Obi-Wan sighed and thought about it.
"They certainly do seem related." He informed the old warrior, "From their appearance to their personalities, I see so many similarities, that it wouldn't shock me if they were brothers... but-" he paused, trying to draw up the right words, "I don't think they are."
With his brows raised, Master Yoda prompted the red-headed warrior, "Why, say you?"
Obi-Wan shrugged as he collected his logic, "Because I feel a strange pull to him... one almost like my bond to Anakin. I don't understand it, but it makes me believe the contrary of your theory." Yoda nodded, acknowledging Obi-Wan's perceptions, but he didn't want to give up on his logic.
"Like bonds... like blood." He suggested as the lift doors opened. Obi-Wan shrugged, acknowledging the possibility. Together they stepped outward into the large halls of the temple, watching as a myriad of Jedi migrated towards the cafeteria. Mealtimes were usually the funnest part of the day to a Jedi, a chance to see one another, bond and befriend. Yoda relished them, and often ate amongst his students, hearing their explanations of their day and offering them wisdom. Especially the youngest ones.
"Darklighter's light," Yoda suddenly began, drawing Obi-Wan's ear once more, "makes me wonder, it does, whether the right Skywalker, we have, as Chosen One." Obi-Wan's eyes were wide in hearing that.
"You no longer believe Anakin to be the Chosen One?" he asked incredulously, "Despite all he has accomplished?" Yoda nodded slowly, almost regretfully.
He then added his reasoning, "Balance, the Chosen One will bring, but so full of darkness is Skywalker, that see him bring balance, difficult to believe it is." Obi-Wan sighed.
"I won't deny that he lacks maturity," the man began, wanting to defend his student now more than ever, "But that doesn't mean he won't grow into his responsibilities... If the council would just give him a chance, they would all likely see-"
"-Not arguing about his credentials as a Jedi, we are." Yoda cut him off, "Discussing the possibility that Master Jinn was wrong, we are." And that bit into Obi-Wan just a little bit more; he truly believed in his former master, Qui-Gon. So, rather than argue further, Obi-Wan walked quietly with Yoda. He only consoled himself with the fact that, perhaps, Anakin would rejoice at the prospect of a real brother. And even that fact boiled Obi-Wan just a bit.
Anakin found himself trembling as he drove his speeder out to his wife's apartment. Though the original plan was for him to stay at the temple this time, to avoid suspicion, he could not stay there knowing that some dark something or other had gotten to him there. Instead, he went through the day's motions and then followed his heart home. His arrival was most rushed, him leaping out of the speeder in aggravation.
He was scared. Terrified even!
Even with Artoo riding along in the back seat, nothing seemed to calm him. Part of him feared that by driving home, he was leading that monster directly into his abode. And he didn't want to endanger his beloved Padme. Especially when he wasn't sure that he could protect her.
Demantis was unlike any foe he'd faced before, and made Count Dooku seem like a saint by comparison. He knew he would soon have two weeks of meditative leave, but part of him wanted to just get away from all of this. To escape the clutches of that demonic Shaetin.
And to investigate this grave the monster had hinted at.
So distracted was he, that he did not sense that not only was his wife home, she had company. "I didn't realize that Hutts were so... scandalous." A young woman chuckled, shaking her head. He then heard Padme add, "Well, he was sort of all right, save for the part about being slimy, skiving and dangerous." Again, the young woman Anakin recognized as Jaina Darklighter started laughing. "And whats with Hutts and sticking their tongues out at people!" Padme cried out.
"My stars!" Jaina caught her breath while her husband sat on the couch nearby, grinning like a fool as he listened in, "I'm amazed you survived!" Jaina paused, not noticing Anakin, as she took a breath to add, "I was once tied to a Hutt, and let me tell you... positively no fun!"
Jacen chuckled on the couch, "Aww, but you looked so adorable!" he teased her, "Like a pet Nexu on a leash!" Jaina collected a napkin from the table and threw it directly at her husband, who guarded himself with his arms as he busted out laughing. Padme, herself, was caught up in the fun, covering her mouth with her hand as she watched the chaos ensue in fits of laughter.
"This coming from the idiot who tried to reason with Jabba the Hutt!"
Jacen chuckled once more as she threw Padme's napkin at him as well, "Hey, I'm not the one who took off my mask too soon and wound up in a metal bikini." Padme was suddenly in a stupor, oohing and ahhing like a spectator at a sport, and that was when it became apparent that she'd opened a bottle of Nemoidian Wine for her guests.
"Because you would have looked so good in that metal bikini!" Jaina declared snidely, taking another sip of her glass as her husband chortled over her comment.
"Damn good!" He informed her with mocked pride, "I've been told I've the legs of a supermodel!" Jaina and Padme were cackling so hard, they sounded like crazed witches at a tavern. Anakin could only shake his head as he crossed his arms and rested on the walls by the door. He had the feeling he'd be armed with a lot of great blackmail if he kept his distance for now.
Artoo had already scurried off to find Threepio, so he was now alone, but, in the midst of his now very warm home, he no longer felt that anxiety from before. Something about what he was witnessing felt right. Safe.
"Yeah!" Jaina inserted as she caught her breath, "And those pectorals you've worked so hard on would fill that brassiere in real good." She and Padme were giggling like fools as Jacen threw his head back and laughed. But when Padme reached for the bottle, it suddenly flew across the room.
"I think the liquor just dried up." Jacen suddenly decided with a smile.
Even as Padme attempted to gather her wits enough to understand the why behind the flying bottle, with Anakin laughing as he'd never seen her so inebriated, Jaina felt otherwise about Jacen's decision, "Awww! Luke!" she cried out, "You're no fun!"
He smirked at her and shook his head, not responding right away to the incorrect name.
"Luke." Padme suddenly echoed, smiling, "I've always liked that name... I want to name my first boy Luke." she then sat up straight and added like she was a young girl, "It means 'light' you know." Jaina and Jacen-Luke apparently knew that, as they nodded and said nothing more. Anakin even caught Jaina send a glance Jacen's way, one filled with an all knowing smile. Jacen-Luke seemed pleased to sit in silence with a slight grin on his face. Content.
"And..." Jaina suddenly wondered, "What would you name a girl? If you had one, that is?"
Anakin could no longer retain his chuckle as Padme stumbled through her drunken mind, trying to create some sort of name. He cautiously moved through the sides of the room, hiding in the shadows as she explained, "I've never really thought of a girls name really... I figured my sister got all the girls."
"Ryoo and Pooja, right?" Jaina inquired, very interested now. Padme nodded.
"Right?" She then paused and, after a moment, added, "You two certainly do your homework."
Jacen chuckled and nodded, also not noticing the stealthy Anakin Skywalker moving through the room. He hadn't had anything to drink in the last couple hours, but he was genuinely caught up in the conversation. It had started up nearly two hours ago after it was established that Padme was about as stressed as Leia over this arrangement and that she was bundle of nerves over her summit on Alderaan in a couple of days. Whatever animosity Padme formerly had for Leia had died the moment politics entered the discussion. They'd begun by discussing the war over small glasses of champagne, but soon the strong bottle of wine was brought out and a fun conversation followed. A conversation Anakin was happy to join in on.
"I might have a suggestion, Senator." He suddenly inserted from his place by the bookcase. All three people nearly jumped at his voice, with Padme putting a hand to her chest.
After she caught her breath, she shot up and chided him, "Damnit Ani! You s-scared us!"
Anakin approached the table with a big grin on his face, making Padme flush a bit, "My apologies Senator... I actually came over on business, but noticed the door was open." He then sat down in a dark brown armchair near Jacen's couch, "The conversation seemed so fun, I didn't dare intrude until now."
Padme smiled at him widely, sitting back in her chair, "And what business might you have with me, Knight Skywalker?" She then glanced between the two guests and added, "Besides your now cold, promised, dumpling dinner."
Anakin smirked and informed her, "Well, you still haven't been formally debriefed regarding Scipio. The council expects my report tomorrow and I completely forgot about it...Since we are such good friends, and apparently already had plans, I figured you wouldn't mind." Padme smirked and shook her head, while Jaina sat by in a stupor.
Suddenly, the smaller woman snorted and informed them what she heard of the conversation, "He said 'debriefed.'" Her reiteration left the room in shambles of laughter, even as Jacen stood up. He didn't catch the crooked grin nor the raised brows of Anakin Skywalker, but Padme Amidala sure did. She even flushed at the sight of him.
"I don't think I've ever seen you that drunk." Jacen informed Jaina as he approached the table, "Time for a glass of water, or twelve, and bed." But as he lifted his wife's shoulders, she swatted him away, all seriousness on her face.
"But I want to know his suggestion!" She whined, staring at Anakin with perhaps the gentlest eyes she'd used on him yet. And he had noticed that. All through the meeting with the chancellor, he'd felt her pointed gaze upon him. He just ignored it because he really didn't care. As far as he was concerned, she could jump off a bridge with her attitude and he'd just keep walking.
Padme suddenly added, "Yes, Ani! Tell us!"
Noting that all eyes were on him, Anakin shrugged and cleared his throat a moment. "Well..." he started slowly, building up suspense to tease the two women, something Jacen noted and grinned about, "I've always liked the name Leia."
His eyes were on Padme at first, who seemed to brighten in hearing that, "I imagine that, if Jedi were allowed to love and have families, I would have a girl by that name... Leia Skywalker." Cautiously, he turned his ocean blue eyes upward. The sweet look his secret wife was giving him from her raised stool near the bistro would have been a tell tale for anyone but the drunken Jaina Darklighter.
In fact, when Anakin could part eyes with Padme, he was surprised to see the look of complete shock on the woman's face. She was zoned in on some point on the ground, her jaw dropped and her skin pale. "Leia." She echoed, her eyes widened.
But, as things grew awkward around them, Jacen leaned down and kissed his wife's cheek, "You have your answer Jaina... now let's get you to bed." She nodded and stood, relying heavily on her husband as they meandered down the halls towards their room. Anakin and Padme watched them go silently for a moment, sure smiles on their faces.
When they were gone, Padme stood up and meandered towards Anakin, leaning down awkwardly to kiss the man on his cheek. Instead, he stole a kiss on her lips, pulling her into his lap. With so much liquer in her, she really didn't care one way or another how things looked right now... until her brain caught up with the situation. A moment later, she stood up again, "I like that name... they go well together. Leia and Luke Skywalker. Or maybe... Luke and Leia Skywalker... Who knows?" She then moved towards the couch, "I hope that the time comes when we can use those names."
Anakin stood up to join her on the couch, "It will, Padme, we just have to be patient."
She sighed as he wrapped an arm around her, resting her head on his shoulder. He could smell the alcohol on her breath and had to smile. He'd never known her to drink very much, so sitting with Jaina Darklighter must have been quite the event. "Patience is the one thing we are both bad at." She reminded him in a childish pout, "Me especially." Anakin chuckled and kissed her forehead.
"You are far more patient than I." She then shook her head at his comment.
"No, I am not." She informed him like a small child, harrumphing and everything, "I want to have your babies now... the stupid Jedi and the war are making that difficult." Again, her husband could only chortle at the comment, shaking his head. She expressed her views in such a way that it seemed the war and the Jedi were directly conspiring against them, despite this not being the case.
"We have plenty of time." He reminded her. She still chose to shake her head, her lips pursed together so that her lower lip stuck out.
And, with great, regal poise, she announced, "I want babies now." And he had to laugh at her behavior, as uncharacteristic as it was, "Right now."
Sitting back to regard her with a crooked grin, Anakin dove right into her announcement, "Ah, babies huh? As in plural?" She glared at him through the corner of her eyes, "So... twins or triplets or something?" he laughed at her, "I mean, I will do my best, but I think some of that relies on you, right?" Staring at him a moment, the brown eyed vixen furrowed her brows and then she began to repeatedly smack at his shoulder as he continued to tease her, getting lost in his laughter by the end of her assault.
As they sat together, embracing and laughing, they found themselves lost in their own little world once more. At least, until Padme informed Anakin in a serious way, "I do want babies now." She sat back and looked at him earnestly, "I really want to have a baby now... When we were coming back from Scipio, when I asked you about starting a family... I really meant it." Staring at her certainty, Anakin sighed and sat up to answer her.
"I know." He replied, "And I would love to start our family now... if it were safer. If power wasn't an issue. If Dooku were gone." he then paused, staring into her tear-filled brown eyes, "But you know as well as I that raising an infant in this environment is too risky. Coruscant shuts off its power every night now in half its districts... Do you really want our baby sleeping in a cold house?"
Padme sighed as a tear fell down her face and she shook her head, but Anakin wasn't done.
"Even Naboo isn't safe," he reminded her, "Especially with Nute Gunray still after you... I want to have a baby with you," he assured her as she began to sob, "I really do, but I don't want to see you suffer when that baby becomes a target to hurt us. Especially with all the backlash our careers will bring us." It seemed that for a moment, she was starting to become rational again, but that light flickered on and off quickly.
"We've been married nearly two years." She reminded him in a sigh, "I wanted to start my family years ago..." Anakin sighed and held her close.
"I know." He admitted as he began rocking her, "And we will have a family, we just have to wait. You, yourself, said this when we first started talking about it." They sat in silence, allowing that elephant back into its stall as the speeders outside rushed by.
Leia was as difficult as could be in her drunken stupor. She'd been so startled by Anakin's choice in girl names, that Luke practically had to carry her back to their room. A room he found himself very confused about.
Bail's spare room for extra security had two beds. This one had one. And, though it might not have been awkward if they were seven or something, they were twenty-eight years old and, not even ten years ago, they were absolute strangers. Guess I'm on the floor, Luke realized as he sighed, staring at the comfortable plush bed longingly.
It had been an especially long day.
After she could finally rid herself of Rush Clovis, Amidala had spent the rest of the day trying to make up for lost time. Her desire to speak out for the victims of the war was admirable, but the amount of work she put into it was borderline insane. Now I know why Leia is such a good micro-manager. Padme's stress levels were so high that Leia had been the one to suggest she stop for the day, lest she tire herself out to do her job the next.
And that was after Leia had returned from her internal sojourn in accepting that her father was a lovable man.
"She has to be our mother!" Leia decided, "She picked your name and... Va- father picked mine." She then turned to Luke, her eyes glittering with excitement, "Luke! He wanted me! I was..." and the water works showed up once more, making Luke wonder exactly what was up with his normally strong-willed sister. She still held back her tears, but she seemed so ready to shed them that he actually was waiting impatiently for the event. "I was wanted!" she decreed with glee.
Luke smiled at her gently, following her drunken dance as she turned about and pulled at him with hugs of sheer, unaltered, happiness. "Luke!" She suddenly added, not caring that he hadn't said a word, "Couldn't you just imagine what it would have been like with them? I mean... they could have raised us!" Every statement Leia gave was emphasized in a way that made them sound like the most profound ideas in the galaxy, and Luke could not help but enjoy the show.
"We probably would have had Force food fights. Food! Flying around the room like an indoor typhoon! And built droids! And talked politics!" Leia suddenly decided, "Our father looks like the type to have a few pranks up his sleeve. And mother would have just laughed and shrugged it off!"
"You'd have been his little princess." Luke teased her, "Until your raving teenage years."
Leia turned to him, blushing, before shaking her head. "No... I don't think that is what he would have called me." There was a pregnant silence as she nodded to herself with certainty, "Princess isn't a special name to him. He would have called me something else."
"Well," Luke added with a new grin, "I doubt it would be near as good as your worshipfulness." Leia blushed in hearing her husband's favorite pet name for her, outside of accusing her of being a one-woman committee.
Seating himself on the bed, Luke watched Leia as she aligned her schemata with all this new information about Anakin Skywalker. She was starting to see that the man and the monster are indeed separate, and the same... much like that strange lion mural from under the Jedi Temple. He figured that she would have come to understand their father's complexity in this era, but he hadn't counted on her being so excited about it. Nemoidian wine, Luke noted with both brows raised, go figure.
"If only Han were here to see this." He said aloud, to which Leia turned to him with a perplexed expression, "I doubt he'd believe me."
Leia smirked and fell back on the bed, all filled with glee, "You're right!" Was her next statement, "He could barely believe it when you were stumbling home from our wedding... with your new girlfriend. He still insists she was never there."
Luke shook his head, deciding that now was a decent enough time as ever to confess something that had been bugging him about Mara to his sister. Well, bugging him since their grandmother's spirit brought it up, anyways. "I actually think its more serious than that now."
And, like a whirlwind, Leia was turned over, her head propped up on her arms with the most intent stare a drunk woman had ever given him.
"Do tell." She inquired gracefully, her brows raised.
Shrugging, the man stared out the small window a moment, "I want her to stop leaving." he admitted after a slight exhale, "It's getting old, the separation. And, well... I'm having trouble picturing life without her."
Leia smiled at him sweetly, getting giddy once more. "Another wedding!" she'd already decided, even though that is not what her brother said, "How fun!" But, after her little fanciful fit, she sat up straight and added, "But how the hell are we going to handle the giveaway? She's an orphan too!"
She then paused and scoffed, "Were a big goddamn family of orphans!" Luke chuckled at her, amazed at his sister's behavior, "Stop laughing! I'm serious... we cannot die after having kids... it would be criminal or something-"
"-or a part of life." Luke inserted as a tease, "After all, with life comes death."
Leia stared at him a moment before warning him, "You know what I meant." He nodded and sighed slightly, "But... I don't know... Jade, she..." Leia suddenly began, pausing constantly as her inebriated mind attempted to fire up electric pulses, "Her presence is so familiar sometimes... when she wants to be good. It's strange."
"Awkward sometimes too." Luke admitted, "Not that I really care. She makes me happy." Leia's grin was bright as sunshine as she listened to her brother, fighting with herself to not perform Luci Tano's happy dance.
After a the passing of a slightly sobering silence, Leia suddenly wondered. "We can pretty much guarantee now that Amidala is..." she started sniggering once more, "Mommidala." She glanced at her brother, looking for praise for her cleverness. When he just stared at her, she shrugged, "As if your jokes are any better."
"Actually," Luke started with a chuckle, "When I am drunk they are far worse, and you know it." Leia snorted and sighed, her mind still trying to get back to all engines firing, "But you are right." Luke continued, "I may not be able to sense that connection you have, but... as easy as the choice is, she's the only one who makes any sense. And we have to guard her."
"But we can't be seen too much by her." Leia reminded him, "So we still have to leave tomorrow." Luke nodded and sighed.
There was another pause as they planned what to do, but Luke finally decided, "We still need to go to Naboo." His eyes were certain, showing that icy gleam that usually appeared when he made up his mind. Leia turned to him, trying to divine why, but her brother was kind enough to explain this to her, "We need to understand all the places she goes and people she cares about so that we can shadow her and keep her safe."
A slight whirring noise drew his eyes to the door, but Leia clearly hadn't heard it, so he soon let the distraction go. "I don't think our enemies suspect she's our mother, so we have some time to set this up right." Leia nodded, eager to get started.
She then laid back, yawning wide as she did, "Well, now that that is settled..." and she closed her eyes. Luke smirked at her and meandered to their refresher, planning on following her example now that their father was there. They'd spent days only partially rested, and today was to be the first night they could actually sleep.
As they prepared to rest, a certain golden protocol droid carefully stepped back from outside their door, lowering his raised hand in the process. He'd followed this 'Luke' person back towards the room to offer his assistance, but, when he approached the door, he overheard the greater part of their conversation. Now his protocols were humming to life, trying to discern what to do with this new information.
The coding in his mind ran something like this, 'Leia' equals 'Jaina Darklighter' equals 'daughter of master and mistress.' Then the other protocols caught up. 'daughter of master' equals true, sub-routine 'new family member' equals 'main.' Sub-protocol 'secret.' Sub-protocol 'assistance priority one.' Error. Error. Error. Sub-protocol 'Anakin is awesome!' equals 'maskixzsthgls.' And he ran the same process for Luke.
"Oh!" Threepio suddenly stated as his externals reactivated, "Miss Padme had a baby! How exciting!"
It was the midnight hour. Late. Dark. And he loved it.
He loved knowing that, at this moment, he was not accountable for anything. That his 'master' was no longer observing his every move. No, Lady Pestilis was off with her guide, attempting to find this Masano character that could have spawned Skywalker's brood.
Of course, she wasn't the mother, and he knew that much.
Lord Devaro knew all to well who really birthed the twins. His own mother had suspected long ago that there was more going on between Padme Amidala and Anakin Skywalker than met the eye. She wrote about it in her logs. Logs which Devaro had cherished when he was still Zion Tano.
That name, he grumbled internally, I can't stand that I abandoned it.
And it was true. His mother and father had given him that name through the pure love in their hearts, but a Sith could not maintain their old identity. He had to become someone new. Devaro.
But, in truth, he was only Devaro on his missions. When the master was away, the student was too. Pestilis's distance allowed him to breathe the clean air of light once more. Even if it was only temporary. But when she was back, the loathing her presence inspired drove him into such dark depths, he wasn't sure whether he would surface from them. And yet he did.
That was why, instead of monitoring Skywalker as he was supposed to, he was instead watching over his mother.
She was young in this time: a teenager really. But she was just as he remembered her. Impatient. Loyal. Cunning. He missed her so, and he wished his sisters were there to see her so vibrant.
They had hardly any memories of her, which was unfair in his mind. He had many. So many precious memories of planting the garden, hunting with the villiage and even a little space flight. Not even Mina had that much.
Sisters, Zion found himself longing for, how I miss you so.
Ahsoka Tano was not meant to remain on Mandalore much longer. Zion had observed from his post across the street from her that Anakin Skywalker would soon return to collect the aspiring Padawan.
That left Zion with time enough to ensure one thing. The one most important thing he could ever desire: he could prevent his mother from ever meeting the traitor that killed her. He wasn't sure when they'd meet, he wasn't even sure what the guy's name was. But he remembered his signature; he would know him when he saw him. And he would simply scare him away.
Even you, Skywalker, he added begrudgingly as he watched his mother yawn, stretch, and head for her cot, you would not object to this course of action.
As bent on revenge as he was, and as much as he'd rather sever the cretin's head from his body, Zion also wanted to honor his mother. She would not have wanted her death disrespected in such a way, and so, when he was once more Zion, he'd remind himself of that. Devaro didn't always listen, unfortunately. But, as separate as their personas were becoming, they were still the same person with the same passions. That was why, while still in darkness, Devaro could not seek revenge on Captain Rex.
Even after what he'd done... he felt no anger at the man. Rather, he understood what he did all too well, and it made it very hard to be vengeful towards him.
But, even as he deliberated the least damaging outcome of his presence in this time, he was being watched closely by a shadow. One with dark red eyes.
Luke dreamed deeply, as he always did, sprawled out on the floor. It surprised him how comfortable he was there, but the heinous purple plush rug his probable mother had placed on the floor likely had something to do with it. He could not help but notice that she was a woman of fashion, which likely inspired the dream he was having.
His perspective set him on a windowsill, looking into a room where Padme Amidala stood admiring herself in the mirror, "This isn't too... young looking? Is it?" He heard himself snort a laugh at her.
"Hardly mother." His voice informed her, though he did not speak, "You don't age, so nothing looks all that young on you." Smiling wide, Padme turned to him. She was a bit older looking, but not much.
"Compliments will not save you from my wrath." She informed him snidely, "You still ran away from home... I'm not sure how willing I am to forgive that, since you have yet to come back." He felt himself shrug.
"I heard the call of Advorosia." He admitted, "I heard their cries of pain through the Force... and I couldn't ignore it anymore." Padme turned to him with a raised brow.
"Advorosia?" She wondered aloud, stepping towards him in concern, "I've never heard of such a place." Luke shrugged.
"It's in Wild Space... hidden between three stars and buried inside an asteroid field." Luke then paused and sat up straight, "It's a wonder I made it there alive, much less escaped it. But the skills I learned there were well worth the risk." Clearly his mother didn't like that remark, as she stood somber and pale as a ghost. But soon, that paleness turned to screaming. Shrieking even.
As suddenly as it arrived, Luke's vision changed to an entirely new one. He found himself on a world he barely recognized, standing on the inside of a circle with a ring of Mandalorian Warriors around them. All of them had their bracer-cannons locked and loaded, trained on the trembling group trapped in the circle. A group comprised of Luke, Leia, Padme, a Togruta and a blond woman Luke did not know, but somehow recognized.
Luke woke just as the shots were fired, gasping for air and glancing about the room. He tried for a few minutes to slow his heart rate down and catch his breath, but he could not. The scene was too real. The circumstance too possible. And what was strange is he was certain that his time traveling enemies were not behind that situation. Rather, their presence might have been.
His turmoil did not go unnoticed. Even as he caught his breath and brought himself back to calm, Leia stirred and sat up to stare at him sleepily. "What was that dream?" She asked, confused.
Sighing, Luke turned to her, "You saw all that?"
"You mean the ring of Boba Fetts with guns?" She inquired as slowly became more awake. Luke sighed and turned his eyes downward, not sure what to say. "What do you think it means?" His sister inquired as he thought deeply over the same question.
It was clear his dream and this vision were tied together, but he wasn't sure why. ...the skills I learned there were well worth the risk. Luke sighed.
"I think I need to leave." He told her earnestly, not liking the statement himself, "I had a dream that I needed to go somewhere to grow and become stronger." Cautiously, as he sensed his sister's anger, he turned his icy blue eyes her direction, "And I think that strength will help us prevent that vision."
Scowling, Leia jumped up from the bed and started to pace, "You mean you want to leave me alone here... guarding our mother?" Luke nodded, expecting his sister to start bellowing at him, "And where, pray tell, will you go?"
Knowing this was going to get ugly, Luke admitted, "Advorosia."
And with that, he began his tale.
Deep in the depths of the Outer Rim, a large separatist vessel cruised amongst the stars ominously. It was a large ship, not nearly as ornate as the Subjugator-class heavy cruiser, but it served its purpose well. Decorated with the various scars of battle, this Malignant was hardly anything to scoff over. And it was run almost entirely by droids of all kinds.
From the cheaply produced B1 battle droids to the well refined BX commandos, the ships admiral had a command over an extensive array of skills and abilities. Something he rather enjoyed about his position.
He'd storm the halls, watching as the lesser droids attempted to not display concern for themselves. Their processors were too cheap to feel anything more than the basics, though their personalities would indicate otherwise. The clanking of his own metal feet seemed to herald himself as he strode carelessly towards the command tower.
He owned this place. He hated this place.
Stomping into the main control center, the thin, hunched general began barking orders towards his many subordinates, "Open the transmission!"
"Yes, sir!" one of the feeble B1s replied. He turned and called out something about maggots to his underlings, but Grevious barely listened. He'd been contacted so spontaneously by his master, he wasn't sure what to make of this transmission. In his mind, all he could wonder was, what have I done now?
As the blue and sputtering image of the tall, lanky and bearded man appeared before him, Grievous steeled himself for whatever lecture he was about to receive. With evident wear and tear on the count, Grievous knew today was not a day to push the man. Though, he had to wonder just where all those horrid burns came from... and how he could replicate them in the future when he sought out his turn to rule.
"General Grievous." Came the cool and calm voice of the Count.
"Yes, Count Dooku." The cyborg grumbled as eloquently as he could, "How may I be of service to you?"
Dooku frowned, he'd much rather use his Sith name, but it was so important that his not so duel identity remain in anonymity as much as possible. But his high general misinterpreted the source of his displeasure. Rather than correct him, the stern warrior allowed the misunderstanding to stand.
"I have a rather unusual task for you." Dooku informed him, his typical poise keeping the calm of the room level, despite the monster he spoke with. Grievous respected Dooku, but only because he knew he could not defeat the man. And this knowledge kept his wild-side under control.
Letting out a sigh of relief and exasperation, the mechanized Qymean jai Sheelal glared his yellow eyes at the Jedi-turned-Sith, "You dare call me about a task! I've so much on my plate now fighting your war! And yet-" Suddenly Grievous levitated from the floor, grasping at his neck for the invisible hands that choked him.
"-This request is not my own." Dooku informed him, interlocking his hands behind his back as he released the now relenting creature, "Our benefactor has specifically required that this task be carried out... and we both know how much you enjoy assassinations..." The count could feel Grievous's chuckle, he'd hit the note so well.
With new energy, Grievous approached and inquired wickedly, "And who is to die this day?"
In response, a secondary image appeared beside Dooku. It was a magnification of a small camera, showing both a man and woman embracing. The man's face was half turned, exposing a very familiar looking profile.
"You want me to assassinate Skywalker?" Grievous cried out in indignation, "He's a warrior, likely to die on his own on the battlefield. And yet, you waste my time with this."
Rather than strangle him, Dooku turned to his own version of the image and studied it carefully. He's right, Dooku realized as his brows raised, he does look just like Skywalker... who is this man really and why does my master want him dead?
Instead of addressing the issue directly with Grievous, Dooku resolved to solve this mystery on his own time, "This man is not Skywalker." He assured the droid, unlatching his hands from behind his back to stand in a relaxed pose once more.
Grievous cocked his head to the side and then looked at the image again. Try as he might, he was not human... he had as much difficulty seeing their distinguishing features as humans did in identifying differences between the Qymean jai Sheelal. Fortunately for him, he had a computer to make the comparison for him. The data download took hardly a nanosecond to process.
Then the warrior turned to his master, "If he isn't Skywalker," the cyborg challenged, "Then who is he?" The old man took a moment to reply, wondering the same thing himself as he processed the name of their target.
"Jacen Darklighter." Dooku replied coolly, "He must be dead within the next twenty cycles."
Author's Note: I would like to point out that the idea to have Anakin name Leia is definitely not my own. I'd like to credit where I read it, but I read that several years ago and can't quite place which story I found it in... truthfully, I thought it was EU cannon for a while, but couldn't find it there either because I wanted to cite it. So, who ever you are, thank you for the inspiration!
In all honestly, I am trying to create something very different from what I've found in other stories, which is 'Promise' has all these original elements to it. And I appreciate the comments that help me see my successes, as they keep me motivated. Honestly, this is the farthest I've ever written a story, and I feel you all are a large part of this accomplishment! Thank you!
And please don't forget to review!