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.
Anhilis grinned wickedly as she watched the reknowned Senator Padme Amidala storm through her home as she packed, prepared and stressed over her upcoming summit. It was as if the woman had a death wish, approaching windows as the Sith warrior watched for a proper line of sight to eliminate her with. She'd stay long enough each time, that a possible shot was always available.
Not that she'd take it yet.
She was still convinced that her way to control and keep Skywalker as a pet was simple; capture him as an infant and leave him with someone trustworthy until she came to collect him. Strangely, a few straggling Sisters of Dathomir came to mind. Their kind will be exterminated soon... she recalled with a grin, so they'll have nothing better to do than to corrupt and enslave a little boy until I'm ready to take him. She smirked as she considered that she could even offer the boy's sister as payment.
It was strange how much she wanted this man, and being told that she could not have him only made him more desirable. She lusted over everything about him, his ice colored eyes, his crooked grin, his poise in the Force. She wanted all of it.
And then she wanted to break it.
The very thought of him glaring at her with Sith yellow eyes and a scowl like a monster sent a twisted shudder through her body. Having his slightly tanned skin paled and marred by darkness was so attractive to her, that she considered killing off her master just to have it. She enjoyed breaking strong men.
But then that demon would intervene.
Anhilis knew she could do nothing against Lord Demantis. He was of another caliber and she'd already accepted that. Her only hope was to operate slyly and pray that her efforts would not be in vain. She would have her Skywalker yet. And he was her's.
Yet even as she watched and fantasized about the various things they would undoubtedly accomplish together, her eyes caught the return of one peculiar former-Senator. Rush Clovis, Anhilis recalled as she watched the green eyed politician as he ambled over towards Amidala, being bold enough to kiss her forehead and her hand. Reading his lips indicated one thing to her.
He was playing an angle. But why?
So, stealthily, she activated an orb-like reconnaissance droid and motioned over towards Amidala's window. With a peculiar whirring sound, the glowing face of the droid got as close to the energy window as it could, carefully ducking out of sight so that the two in the room could not see it.
Anhilis grabbed her earpiece and listened in closely, a slight grin on her face. "Rush?" She heard as she observed the man suddenly lay a sloppy kiss upon her lips. Forcefully, Amidala pushed him away. "Stop it... we were through years ago."
The man merely sighed and turned his eyes back towards her, "Why are you so cold to me Padme?" he inquired carefully, "Have you found someone else to love?"
And, in that moment, Padme turned away towards the window, and Anhilis could see just how threatened the woman appeared. She was pale and her eyes were widened in uncertainty. It brought a smile to her face, and then a frown.
"You can't be Skywalker's mother." She decided with a harrumph, "You're too weak." In her mind she was certain of this. Luke and Leia Skywalker could only come from a strong man and woman, and a senator was nothing more than a leech to one like Anhilis.
And then she recalled her droid and took off. The Skywalker twins had left earlier with a Gungun, and she needed to catch up to them. Or else Lady Pestilis would have a conniption.
Anakin stomped through the temple most of the day, grumbling under his breath as he attempted to process so much. His behavior was so extreme that several of the other masters turned to him in confusion. Yes, Skywalker was known for his temper and poor control of his feelings, but he was also known to keep a lot of that contained within his own bubble.
He'd just walked through the meditation gardens and practically ripped from the ground and threw a 100 year old meditation tree across the space. Even the Younglings were getting concerned.
It was after the tree collided with the intricate baas relief of the far wall that Mace Windu approached him. "That's quite a bit of attitude your showing, Skywalker."
Anakin seethed and turned to the man with a grimace, "You've no idea what I am going through Windu-"
"-That's Master Windu to you." He reminded the man sternly, "And under no conceivable circumstances should you ever behave this way." Rather than reply, Anakin chose to glower at the man. "I know this idea of you having a brother is a hard one," Windu continued carefully, "But it is something you need to accept... rejoice about even."
Anakin swallowed, knowing he was right about all if it except one thing, "He's not my brother." He then paused and added, "I'd know if he was my brother... and he's not."
Windu took a deep breath, the creases on his forehead growing deeper as he released his frustration into the Force, "Then who is he?"
Sighing, the younger man shook his head, "Something else... he's important for some reason... he's just not my brother." Windu regarded him for a while, his dark eyes piercing as always. Anakin always felt a little smaller under Windu's gaze. The man was highly judgmental, but also very forgiving, something Anakin had learned to appreciate during the Clone Wars. And, unlike many other masters in the temple who had a chip on their shoulder against Anakin, Windu at least did him the honor of listening to him.
"Then I suppose it is your job to find out just who exactly our new friend Darklighter is." Windu informed him. "He left Coruscant with Ambassador Binks this morning, his wife in tow. Air-traffic control believes they went to the Naboo System... Why not-" he was cut off as Anakin glanced away from him, "Why not..." Windu repeated to regain his always-diverted attention, "collect your Padawan a day early and follow him there?"
"Follow him?" Anakin echoed, surprised.
Windu nodded stoically, "His movements make no sense to us and considering that he has so much power, the Council believes it an imperative to keep a close eye on him." The master then stood up straighter, "Knight Potkin believes that he has the power-equivalent of Yoda, so be vigilant. We need to understand this man."
Swallowing before nodding, Anakin bowed to the oddly understanding Master, "Thank you Master Windu." He said cordially.
Windu bowed back to him, "May the Force be with you, Skywalker."
The Padawans were convening together, hiding in secret in the air ducts to get a good view of the top secret, High Council meeting. Most all of them had gathered together, ready to state their piece should the worst happen. All of them had the same interest in this most restricted of gatherings. All of them.
Especially Mina and Luci.
Three days ago, Mina had overheard two Twil'eks discussing their intended raid on the High Council for this very night. It hadn't taken her more than two seconds to decide to volunteer and assist them. As fate would have it, she was not alone. The whole rank of Padawan was stepping up. Stepping up to defend their favorite Jedi Master.
Quietly, they had crawled into the ducts. Swiftly, they had climbed the sides of the towers. And carefully, they deactivated every security field that the Masters had access to.
They knew the risk. They understood what they were sacrificing. If they were not united and careful, their whole way of life could be swept up into the winds. But that did not matter. None of it did. All week, the resounding mantra of the Padawans was simply There is no Order without Master Skywalker.
At last, the doors opened, revealing the masters. Each one meandered in at their own pace, their cloaks raised as though to protect their images from the heinous discussion they were about to have. Mina swallowed at the sight of them through the vents and looked to her sister for strength. Luci never faltered. Her life had been too safeguarded to understand true fear yet.
Silently, the masters took their seats, seemingly unaware of the many Padawans hiding in their vents. Corran Horn raised his hand, acting as the official moderator of the meeting. In doing so, the proceedings began. "I move to have the official meeting of the Jedi High Council commence."
"Agreed." Came the grumbling voice of Saba Sebatyne, "Though, perhapss, the Padawanss should join uss."
Mina and Luci gulped synonymously, as did every other Padawan in the ventilation system.
Silently, the troupe filed out of their hiding places, each with a stubborn and yet guilty look upon their faces. It was in presenting themselves on the floor that Mina recognized just how important her master was. Almost every child in the building was there, each with a gait that showed they were ready to defend their cause.
Master Reubak was the first to address this issue, "The Padawans have no place in this conversation." He pointed out, "They haven't the rank!"
Mina sighed as she watched an older Padawan, Reubak's own Padawan, in fact, step forward. He was a Muun, tall and stoic, by then name of Ger Mirara, "I disagree, master... Master Skywalker is a pivotal part of our order and training and we all believe we have the right to assist in determining his fate."
Reubak scowled, "Yet none of you intend to assist in any deliberations... you intend to strong arm this council into meeting with your wishes." Ger swallowed at that retort, and turned towards Master Sebatyne for assistance. She had always been particularly understanding, which was a shock for most who knew the Barabels.
But it was Corran Horn who came to their defense, "They may not have rank to vote, Master Reubak, but they have the right to express their own concerns about the outcome of this decision." Reubak swallowed and grumbled a bit, clearly not liking that retort.
"They don't even understand what we're meeting about..." He pointed out in a huff. And that was when Mina stepped forward with an uncanny demonstration of bravery.
"You want to stop looking for Master Skywalker and Padawan Solo!" She decreed and with her brazenness, the whole of the Padawan around her broke out in shambles of complaints and reasonings behind their opposition to this. The noise was so grand, that even the patient Master Horn was growing tired of it. Eventually, with a wave of his hand, he pushed his own Force-presence through the room to silence them.
"We have agreed to listen to your statements," he warned the troupe, "But that does not mean you may deny us order... We, the High Council, will not act swiftly on this issue, and we will give you the floor so long as your patience prevails." And with that, every Padawan straightened up to attention, ready to do their part.
And Mina was more than ready to say what had to be said about her Master. She would not let him just be dead without proof. She knew in her heart that she would find him.
Author's Note: Sorry about how short the chapter is... I've sort of run into writers block. There is more story written, but it isn't ready for you to read it yet. I haven't had much in the realm of time lately to properly prepare and improve my stories to their usual quality... that and I've been so overly exhausted that I can't really envision how best to compile my ideas.
And I won't post something until it is ready, since I can't change or retract what I do once it is up.
Please be patient. I can no longer guarantee a weekly or even bi-weekly post, but I do promise that when I do post, the quality will remain intact.
I thank you for your understanding in this situation and I will do my best to return to my schedule once I'm through this nasty string of writer's block and lack of time.