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.
"So..." Jobal Naberie began carefully as she set the pot of tea in the center of the grand, dark wood table, "Pooja and Ryoo tell us you are Jedi?" Luke and Leia tentatively nodded, unsure of what to say to this woman. She seemed kind, as they hoped their grandmother would, but something about her seemed off. Perhaps it was the sight of their sickly condition that made her weary. They weren't just aged anymore, they were ragged, a state all its own. Their trip down the river did little to help them.
But, well, Jobal was more than they'd expected their grandmother to be. The woman was beautiful, like her daughters, and filled with life. It was very apparent who their mother had inherited her appearance and energy from. Leia, most of all, was smiling away at her, like this lunch was the grandest idea in the history of ideas.
Sola, Jobal's eldest daughter, suddenly leaned in, "And what brings the Jedi to these parts?" Luke had to pause a moment to regard her. From her dark, curly locks to her piercing chocolate gaze, this woman resembled both his mother and sister greatly. Even in her voice.
Luke swallowed, allowing his sister to do her thing. She was the expert at weaving intricate falsehoods, even if Luke was the master of illusions. She would talk, pouring her heart into her voice, and tricking those around her as she always did. And when they started to doubt, Luke would intervene. No one could survive the spell of the Skywalker twins, save for, apparently, their own father. And rightly so. Luke chuckled to himself as he listened to his sister.
"We are merely here by coincidence." Leia began, "We'd originally intended to visit your daughter's estate in the lake country, Varykino, and wound up traveling here from the lake country afterwards."
Jobal sat up straighter, now very much interested in what these strange people had to say. "Varykino is actually a family estate. You'd need any of our permissions to enter it. And why is it that you would desire to visit our getaway?"
Taking a deep breath, Leia explained, "She has been targeted by three particularly nasty assassins-"
"-not again!-" Sola whined.
"-Oh, Padme!-" Jobal gasped. Sensing that this would soon get out of hand, Luke leaned forward and opened himself to the Force, calming the two so that they could absorb the whole story. Leia turned to him, a look of relief on her face as she thanked him in their bond. But that only lasted a moment as she stared at him worriedly a moment. Stop. She ordered him, You're looking sicker.
I'm fine. He assured her with a bit of venom.
"It's not anything especially concerning, as she has great protection." Leia continued, her voice now shaking from her distraction, "But we are concerned that her privacy might be endangered. When we investigated the lake residence, we found numerous pin cameras hidden away." Again, Jobal gasped and sat back.
Through gritted teeth, she informed the twins and Sola, "Why she won't just leave that damned job is beyond me."
"Mother!" Sola cried, near gasping herself, "Why would you say such a thing? Padme loves her job and she does good work."
But Jobal was quite set in her thinking, "I'd rather see her working as a convenience store greeter, but with a couple kids and a guarantee her life is safe than her current position. Though a convenience store greeter isn't quite the job of luxury politics offers, there is more security and a higher chance of making real friends, and there is still plenty enough honor in it." Luke and Leia could not help but silently agree with her, only because they understood what price their mother would pay in bearing them and maintaining her position.
Sensing it was his turn to confide in the women, Luke leaned forward, "There are some things you can do to help her." he assured them, bringing their attention to his icy blue eyes. Those eyes,Jobal dwelled on them a moment longer, why do I know those eyes? And the woman's too? Jobal recognized the familiar chocolate brown of Padme's eyes in the woman, though how she could not fathom. And this man's, his was a mystery to her.
But despite these thoughts, she continued to listen earnestly, "Should either of these individuals drop by," Luke held up a small HoloProjector he'd gotten from Organa. It displayed the two assailants from the hospital to give the women a clear picture of who to watch out for, "Do not act suspicious of them and answer all their questions truthfully. Then call us."
He then set the projector down on the table, intending on leaving it with them despite its usefulness. They needed to know who to look for and images of the mind faded easily with time.
Jobal collected the device, displaying their faces once more, while Sola inquired further, "Why should we be truthful to them?... They are threatening my sister's life."
Leia took that question sternly, "You must understand, they are dark Jedi... they can sense when you are lying. It is important you do not tip them off that you know who they are. Your safety is also important to us."
"And once you call us," Luke added, "We will stop them from hurting m-Senator Amidala." He suddenly realized how tired he was, almost having made that mistake. Good thing you caught yourself, Leia teased him, trying to sooth his uncertainty. Luke could not handle error much anymore, not with the council of their era on him so much about his heritage.
He rubbed at his temples, trying to dispel those feelings, even as he sensed his sister's worried gaze. And, with a quick glance upwards, he noticed that Jobal was eyeing him oddly as well.
After an uncomfortable silence, Sola stood up and exhaled. "Well, that both alarms and soothes us... would you care for lunch?" The twins nodded, feeling the grumbles of their stomachs. As they watched her walk away, they both grinned. It was easy to picture her as their aunt in their minds, for some strange reason.
She seems a bit compulsive. Leia noted, making Luke smirk, I'd bet she'd fret over us even though we aren't her kids.
Older sister complex? Luke wondered, to which he saw Leia shrug.
Wouldn't know.
Jobal watched them interact a moment before she leaned forward and made her case, "I'm not sure what it is about you two that make me unable to believe your story" She paused a moment, turning her eyes to her hands as she gathered her thoughts, "But I can't help but feel that I am being deceived." Luke and Leia sighed, wondering just how much their power was truly waning as a result of their travels. We can't even fool our own grandmother! Leia sighed inwardly.
Jobal paused a moment, glancing up at the twins with a glimmer of understanding in her eyes, "I can tell the order didn't send you... you're much too sickly for that, but I also can tell that you intend to protect my Padme. Despite the lies, I wish to help you do this... but I cannot overlook your methods."
She waited so ominously, that the twins had to lean forward and deliberate, "And what makes you so certain of these conclusions?" Luke wanted to know.
"I trust my instincts." She told them, "They were the ones that brought Padme to Theed and introduced Sola to her husband. They are very reliable, despite my not being a Jedi."
Luke smirked and sat back, surprised by this development. "We seem to be very bad liars, Mrs. Naberrie."
"If you weren't clearly sick, you'd have fooled me." She told him sternly.
Interested more than anything, Leia inquired, "And what will you do now that you know we've deceived you?"
Jobal shook her head and sat back, closing her eyes as she deliberated. "I should alert the Theed authorities of your imposing." She informed them after a time, "But I know you want to help my Padme, so I'll settle for just telling the Jedi about you instead." Luke and Leia chuckled a little and shook their heads.
"Many in the Jedi wish to know who we are as well," Leia informed her carefully, "We simply cannot divulge that information. Too many already know, and that endangers our lives more than this sickness. Surely you understand this need for survival, Mrs. Naberrie." Subtly, Jobal nodded.
"It doesn't excuse you in my eyes." She told them sternly, "I deserve to know who is keeping my Padme safe. You've no right to keep it from me." They stared at her with sadness in their eyes.
I want to tell her so badly. Leia admitted to Luke. He sighed.
I do too. He replied, But what would happen to us if she knew our story? What would happen to mother and father? Uncle Jar-Jar and Queen Julia both know, the droids too, apparently, that is far too many people knowing about us at this time. He then paused and turned to his sister, Our lives are already in so much danger as it is, how do we know Jobal won't eliminate us completely on accident with her actions.
Not Jobal,Leia chastised him, Grandmother. She would be the proper one... Grandma Skywalker would have been the laid back one if she'd lived on.
Luke chuckled outwardly at Leia's dreaming. "We cannot divulge that information, Mrs. Naberrie." He told her earnestly.
But his sister, lost in her dreams of a complete family to accompany the Organas in her heart, had to conclude the conversation. "Please just know that we love your daughter, and will do anything to keep her safe." It seemed that her heartfelt statement shocked Jobal into a moment of contemplation.
Devaro moseyed through the streets of Coruscant at an amble that indicated he was the one in charge. His lekku bobbed back and forth a bit as he moved, but other than that, his motions showed no signs of uncertainty. With Sith yellow eyes scanning the streets, he took a deep breath and subtly stretched out his senses.
He's still here... He realized.
Since leaving the Naboo system, he'd come to the conclusion that the shadow he'd spotted on Mandalore was, in fact, quite real. He'd spotted it following him around quite a bit since then, and hoped he hadn't blown Amidala's cover. Something deep inside told him that Demantis was on to his personal schemes, despite all his precautions to prevent that. So, to reestablish his role as hunter, he'd returned quickly to Coruscant to assist Anhilis.
And at the moment he was tracking her. "Stupid kriffen..." he'd started as he grumbled and mumbled enough obscenities to make a Hutt blush. At last, his eyes spotted the slightly older woman of a green hue, following around another as subtly as she could.
"Anhilis." He called gently, making the woman turn and reveal raised, spotted eyebrows, "Why are you not at the temple?"
Once recovering from the shock, the woman gestured towards what looked like the Jedi Knight Wezz ambling through the crowds. What she was up to was beyond him, but he was surprised the woman was the primary target of his partner. "I found her sneaking into Skywalker's room." Anhilis brought him up to speed as he caught up to her, "I've been stalking her since... she's very interesting, at least."
"You think she's the mother?" Devaro wanted to double check. When his partner nodded, he sighed and motioned that she lead the way.
They followed the woman a few blocks more before she halted. They settled themselves into a park bench on one of the shadier sublevels of Coruscant while the green eyes of Wezz scanned the racks of a small parts stall. What she was looking for escaped her observers, including the old Basilisk trying to sell her his wares.
"How can I help you?" The worn old sentient inquired. His voice grumbled some, but was not the powerful boom of someone like General Krell. Needless to say, it startled Wezz a little.
She recovered quickly however, and cleared her throat some. Holding up a Holo, she explained, "Did this man visit this shop some time ago?"
The sentient blinked a little bit, silently admitting his restricted sight. He took the Holo and stared at it closely, "Him? Lars? He's here all the time!" The old Basilisk chuckled a bit, pulling at the small strands of hair he'd grown out into a stringy beard. "Lars Quell, he's a good man. Great with droids."
Wezz nodded and pocketed the Holo, "I was just wondering what he was eyeing... if you could help me..." She'd changed her demeanor, turning into a very shy individual almost, based on how apprehensive she'd appeared.
Devaro raised his eyebrows a little, What a subtle Force suggestion, he realized.
The Basilisk eyed the woman a little, his own eyebrows raised, "And what might a little thing like you want to do with that information?"
Without missing a beat, Wezz admitted, "Well, his birthday is coming up... and I wanted to get myboyfriend something special, you know." The Basilisk grinned wide as he heard that and gestured that the woman follow him inside. With a slight grin, she did so, thanking him in a tone so sweet, it actually hurt Devaro's Montrals.
"Well, well, well..." Anhilis grinned, "Skywalker's girlfriend." She then turned to Devaro and kissed his cheek, "Thanks for getting out of my way so I could find her... it would have been so much harder with your grumbling ass at my side." Standing, the diabolical woman then turned back to him with a grin, "I hope that risking our master's displeasure had been worth it to you." And then she strode off, proud and poised for anything. He could see that much in her gait.
But Devaro was still pondering and wondering. Why would they be investigating Skywalker? He knew that Wezz was on a mission, not shopping for a man she was in love with. He knew that much for certain. How much of the past have we already changed?
Anakin glowered a bit as he felt the familiar pull of Jacen and Jaina Darklighter in Theed. It seemed that once he was able to truly feel out Jacen's power, he'd founded a tether in the Force that allowed him to track the man when he was nearby. It was a pleasant surprise after all his suffering during that day. By now thw sun was about to set, and he was both empty handed and exhausted.
But I can fix that, he thought with a grin.
Stretching out his senses, Anakin discovered that Jacen had hidden himself away in the upper-class residential sections of Theed. Again, he felt that weird pull, the one that told him the man was important to him for some reason, but would not specify why. Cousin, brother, I don't care what he is so long as this mess get's straightened out!
"Master?" Ahsoka inquired from his side, where Artoo rolled along side them. His silence had startled her a bit, and she was only now gathering the courage to risk interrupting his thoughts. "Are we going to report in to the council?" When she saw him subtly shake his head, she realized he was immersing himself in the Force. It always impressed her how he was able to focus and move at once, even if his focus wasn't as powerful as one hoped. Her time working with Anakin had shown her that, where he excelled at saber work, his meditative and Force driven skills were quite lacking on the spiritual side by comparison. "Are they nearby?" She wondered in a whisper from his side.
He closed his eyes and nodded, stopping to reach out further, to pinpoint a location. To access that bizarre bond.
And what he found surprised him.
Luke had planted himself on the sofa in the living room, sprawling out to relax and catch up on his sleep. Again, his energy was fading. But that was not what concerned him.
He was startled to feel and see the same effects in Leia. His link to her in their bond felt like a small thread, whereas it had previously felt like a wide river. She too would soon whither away into nothing, and he could not have that. Something had to be done. It seems that we both need to go to Advorosia. But even he, the son of the Hero with No Fear, had his doubts about the exploit.
His paternal grandmother's suggestion that he follow his instincts was perhaps the most troubling, as he had to withdraw from the Force to survive. He'd already stolen the fire of a few hearths in the house, but that was hardly enough to help both him and his sister for long. Accessing that all-knowing power now could be the death of him. But if I don't.
With Jobal Naberrie humming away in the kitchen, pulling together something extra special for dinner to thank the twins for so earnestly protecting Padme, Luke found himself hummed to sleep very quickly. Feeling the amazing power that was the love of a grandmother, even while that love was directed towards his mother, he slipped easily into the void of his thoughts, floating as though in a free fall through a pit of darkness. But this darkness wasn't the cold of the Sith, nor the warmth of their hate. This was a different sort of pitch.
Luke had fallen deep into his subconscious.
He'd been here before while studying under his various masters, as many felt the understanding of the deeper self was a way to infuse the soul with true light. He'd sought that light here many times, but even now, it stayed ashen. Only now, the depths of his very soul seemed fuzzy, half eaten: dying.
But he knew, if there was a way to safely access the Force without killing himself, it was through here. Time and again, his many masters reinforced the idea that the subconscious consumed the least amount of energy, but was capable of the greatest deeds if one could access it. So, while here, he put his astral hand to his heart and concentrated. He searched deep within himself for the ancestral knowledge he knew he needed, for the information in his instincts, but was surprised by what he found instead.
When he opened his eyes, his grandmother, Shmi Skywalker, was floating before him.
"H-how?" he wondered aloud, staring at her youthful face. She merely smiled at him and shook her head. After a moment, she took his hands and regarded him with a gentle stare.
"When you were first brought to Tatooine," She began carefully, her eyes glancing out into the void, "I had sensed what had befallen Anakin from beyond the stars, and I could sense what you were expected to do." Luke's eyes turned downcast, recalling those same expectations of not just himself, but his former masters as well, "So..." Shmi continued, "To protect both your souls, I attached myself to you, attempting to guide you and fill you with the very compassion needed to save my son. To save you all. My son was never evil, merely misguided at times. He needed the love and guidance of his son to regain clarity, light and love."
She then smiled and placed a hand on Luke's cheek, "And you have more than fulfilled my every expectation of you. You didn't need me to inspire the love inside you. You were born with such a deep love for your family in your heart, I had very little work."
He then sighed, "Then why still hold on?"
Removing her hand, Shmi stepped back, closer to the shadows, and turned her eyes away from him, "Because of this very journey, Luke. I hadn't counted on being able to reach you like this, but it seems that Jobal's kindness has reminded you of what my presence felt like when you were a boy... when you'd insisted that the kind lady had led you home from the dunes unscathed. You merely had to reach out here to find me."
Luke gulped, trying his hardest to recall that moment from his childhood, but it was strange to him, distant. A true memory of things long past. "You're living inside of me." He realized suddenly.
Smirking, Shmi shrugged, "Yes and no." was her reply as she placed her hands on both Luke's shoulders, "A piece of those that preceded always lives inside their offspring, my boy. We fill them with our love, regardless of any cruelty we might have inflicted. Love is innate, the truest form of the gentlest of light. And there are many forms of light Luke. Harsh light, burning light, blessed light... but love is one all its own." She then stepped back, "Your father lives in you, your mother too. We are all here, in a way. But we are also separate, dwelling inside the Force."
Shmi then paused and added, "It is this piece that allows us to find one another, as you had found your sister as a young man."
Luke then stepped forward, "Then why let your ghost dwell in me along with this piece?"
Before she could answer, they both stopped and glanced around. Jobal was about to finish her dinner, and Luke's subconscious was trying to warn him of that.
"It seems that we will soon be interrupted." Shmi decided, "I will explain my intentions another time, my dear. For now, let me give you what you seek." And with that, she placed a hand on his forehead, allowing him access to the images and feelings that would lead him to Advorosia. Luke sighed, getting a headache from the experience.
Luke had never experienced a living grandmother's love, but now he'd learned he'd lived with it from beyond the grave. His mind was struggling to comprehend that dedication, even as he felt the ferocity of his grandmother's force-presence.
She wasn't weak, but she wasn't strong like he, his sister or his father. Her signature had a soft touch to it, much like one would use to caress a baby.
And when she stepped back from him, her memories fully provided to the young man's mind, she leaned up and kissed his cheek, a grand smile growing across her lips. "I'm so proud of you." She insisted, before adding, "Take care of your sister, and be careful on our home world."
She then stepped back and began to fade into the void, "I love you my dear. Send your sister my love." And she was gone like a thick fog in heavy sunlight.
Luke awoke with a gasp, his hand reaching for his heart, where a great warmth was near burning there. But this wasn't an uncomfortable burn, but rather that fire one feels when around those they care fore. And, with that sensation building in his chest, Luke sat forward and smiled.
Everyday he was learning more and more of the many loves that lined his existence, and it warmed his heart to know that, had the universe been kind, he would have been living in a dream land. It elated him so much that Leia was unable to escape that feeling.
She came into the living room from the kitchen, clutching her chest as she stared at her brother cautiously, "Are you all right?" She wanted to know. Near tears, Luke nodded.
"Yes." he barely spat out.
Ahsoka could not fathom what had befallen her master. For a moment, he stood by in complete concentration, but then, all that shattered. As swiftly as he would strike with a lightsaber, Anakin Skywalker darted off onto his ship with a look of pain in his eyes. And she could feel that pain in their master-Padawan bond. He was hurting very deeply.
So, carefully, she approached the ship and boarded the vessel with near silent steps. One could barely hear her soft shoes, as she rolled her feet carefully along the metal planking. Their ship was still the beat up piece of junk Anakin had rescued all that time ago, but it functioned far better. More often than not, she'd see her master retreat into the hulls of this abomination, bringing to life more of its luster.
But now, he wasn't retreating anywhere to work. He wasn't even retreating into himself. His soul hung out in the open on the ship, easy for Ahsoka to read for the first time as he mourned something deeply. Something she didn't understand.
Opening to the cockpit, she found her master strewn into the pilots chair, his head hung in such a way that his dishwater hair covered his eyes. But even she could see the occasional tear fall from his nose, drawn downward by gravity itself.
It seemed that he'd followed Jacen Darklighter's presence to something truly horrid.
"Master?" She wondered aloud, hoping to get him to open up to her. She'd been warned by Master Yoda that working with the Hero with No Fear meant she'd have to see when he was afraid and be ready for it. Just as he undoubtedly would be for her.
"Go away Snips." his voice cracked as he turned the chair to face outwards, his ocean blue eyes watching the windows. Now she could feel it: hurt.
He was hurt, and very deeply. It was clear the man didn't know how to recover from what he'd seen. But what did you find? She wondered as she obliged him, walking back towards Artooie in the back of the ship.
But, even as he sensed her go, Anakin could not break free of his torment. All he could imagine was the presence of his mother around that of Jacen Darklighter: why? Why talk to him? Why ignore her own son in favor of this strange man? My cousin? My brother? None of it makes sense...
Then he considered the other possibility; his mother's spirit may have known what he'd done in the Juttland wastes... Her spirit may have seen the Tusken Raiders he butchered after her passing. Does she hate me? Is she ashamed? He wondered, the tears starting to fall down his cheeks once more. He coudn't stomach this scenario at all.
"Ahsoka." He suddenly called, needing to bury these horrid emotions.
Faster than could be, she was soon back inside the cockpit, "Yes master?" She wondered aloud.
Attempting a smirk, Anakin nodded and came to an uncomfortable decision, "He's my brother."
Stumped and amazed that her master would change his mind so suddenly, Ahsoka's jaw dropped, "Are you sure?" She checked.
Again, Anakin nodded, "He has to be." was his affirmation. There is no other reason my mother would be around him, Anakin chided himself, And, clearly, I am no longer her favorite son... I've never felt her once in my life after her death. Until now. This notion deflated him exponentially.
Flipping on the controls to the ship, Anakin readied himself for lift off. Now that he was certain that Jacen and Jaina Darklighter were his siblings, despite how much the feeling in his gut disagreed, he saw no purpose in remaining on Naboo. Content in letting Jacen and Jaina do what they wanted, he set the course for Coruscant, to the temple and to Demantis.
Now he really wanted answers.
The twins only stayed overnight at their grandparents home in Theed. Their family remained blissfully unaware of their relationship, but that did not halt the earnest exchanges they all had at dinner. It had been a moment of near bliss, the only time rivaling this being when the twins had shared supper with their mother on Coruscant... and Leia had gotten drunk, but that was beside the point. It seemed that with every step they took, the dreams of two long-time orphans were coming true.
But they wondered how long this heaven would last before hell came knocking. And Luke was convinced it was only a matter of time.
Provided with their own rooms, the twins slept soundly in their plush beds, relieved for some comfort, despite the apparently emotional journey. Even as their hold on the Force ate their lives away, their souls were growing strong with the knowledge that they belonged somewhere. They were wanted. Hoped for.
Family.
Even Luke could not escape that sentiment, but it did little to reign in on his one fatal flaw. As he sensed his sister weaken, he became more and more determined to protect her. She was no longer his only family, but she was his only other half, and he would not allow her to suffer any fate beneath her.
So, while she slept, he snuck into her room, planning to give her what little energy he could. Energy transfers were only done through healing, and he was hardly perfect at it, but the small amounts of electricity he'd added to his sister did wonders for her complexion.
Nearly an hour after attempting to recharge her, Luke returned to his room ashen, exhausted and dying more. He knew they needed to arrive on Advorosia soon, or their lives would be lost. Try as he might to replenish their power, he was very much aware that there was more than the Gamragist behind their degeneration. He needed an expert to help him with that. Now.
And so, the next morning, they departed with content grins on their faces and worry in their eyes. Their only consolation was that their family seemed hesitant to let them leave, and that thought warmed their hearts.
It took hardly an hour to wrangle a ship from Uncle Jar-Jar, who apparently had access to many ships as the Gungun representative. Hardly a minute after he'd seen both of the twin's faces and he'd acted more swiftly than he'd ever had in his life. They must have looked terrible.
As they flew away from Naboo, Leia closed her eyes and sighed. She needed her rest. Each day since their return was getting more and more difficult to master. Every moment felt agonizing. But imagine how Luke must feel... She realized as she opened her eyes nearly an hour later.
Luke had his eyes closed as well, his face as pale as snow and his features as withered as Palpatine's on a good day during the Galactic Civil War. Even his golden hair seemed faded.
Not wanting to wake him, Leia glanced over the controls to see how much longer it would be until they reached Alderaan. She froze when she realized that they were heading in the wrong direction. "Luke?" She called out, worried. When he didn't stir, she tried again, "Luke?"
He snapped awake, glancing about the cockpit with his eyes blinking steadily, "What?" he asked as he shook off his slumber.
Leia pointed to the navigation system, which showed their current location. "Where are we going?" Her brown eyes were worried, and her lips were twisted into a frown. Luke knew better than to question that expression.
"Advorosia." he informed her carefully.
And then he waited for the inevitable, "WHAT!" Her screech was like a slap to the face; he barely knew what to do about it. "I thought we were going to Alderaan!" It was Leia's demanding tone that scared him the most when she became upset, but this time he wasn't unprepared to argue with her.
"You are correct." He replied and then let the issue go.
Staring at him incredulously, Leia began shaking her head with her mouth hung open. She sat back in her chair and harrumphed, "And what about our mother?" She suddenly demanded, her voice cold and dangerous.
Luke shrugged, "We can't help her when we can barely stand." He pointed out, then turned to her carefully, "This energy drain is aging us... you look as old as our grandmother right now." Leia's jaw dropped once more.
"This coming from Old Man Skywalker!" She snapped.
Chuckling, Luke shook his head, "All the more reason to go to Advorosia first... we can't help mother if we're dead." Leia shrugged and turned her eyes towards the port-side window of the small ship, about ready to argue that Luke had no proof going to Advorosia would help the situation. Just barely, she could see her reflection.
And what she saw pained her.
Like looking through the glass of time, she saw a woman with faded eyes, falling wrinkles and ashen skin. "When... when did this happen?" She demanded as her hand's met her face to prove to her eyes that what they saw was in fact real. Luke shrugged.
"Hours ago." He told her, "Right after we met with Jar-Jar." After adjusting the controls to bring them to the outskirts of the Advorosian system, Luke turned to his sister, "It's because of that machine... it's apparently old Sith technology, the type to eat away at your Force-presence... to make you half a soul." Turning back to her brother, Leia gasped.
"H-how?" She wanted to know. Luke shrugged a moment before answering her, his eyes focused on the difference between his fake and real hands... the difference between youth and old age never was so well contrasted to him.
"I'm not sure."
In hearing that, Leia exhaled deeply. She could feel her brother's fear as easily as her own, and she prayed that they would find a solution. It seemed that they were to die in this time, away from their loved ones in the future, and she feared that idea. She feared it tremendously.
Advorosia was some time away, drifting silently in the depths of wild space. Luke and Leia stopped to refuel the ship just before disappearing beyond the curtain of the unknown. Most systems within Wild Space were accounted for, but lacked the proper exploring to be of any use to anyone. Wild Space had simply become a bypass around a large quadrant of the galaxy, an intersystem freeway of sorts. Few actually stopped to find a planet inside of it. And no one attempted to go to a place unknown.
"So," Leia challenged her brother in a grumpy tone, not liking how exhausted she was feeling all of the sudden, "Where is Advorosia exactly?" Nearly half a day ago, she'd been forced to withdraw her presence from the Force, and the lack of its cosmic guidance made her feel uncertain. They were now on their third day of the long journey.
Luke, however, merely closed his eyes and followed the careful map his grandmother had given him in his mind. "We're a few star systems away. Shouldn't take long."
Leia chuckled a moment, "The last time you said that, a Wampa had your hide hanging from a ceiling." She pointed out.
Luke snorted, turning to his sister with his ragged brows raised, "That was not the last time I said that." He retorted with a grin. Leia merely smirked and shook her head.
More time passed as they skirted around a densely packed system around two stars, and Leia could only watch as her brother carefully adjusted the controls of the ship. She sighed as he scratched his head after a while, stifling a yawn he was trying so hard to keep back. Every inch of him looked triple his age, and she felt bad for him, knowing what that felt like on the inside.
In the past half a day, they'd grown significantly older on the outside, and their insides were not much better. It was as though they'd been infected with this strange disease called time, and this version of it ran faster on their bodies than it did the rest of the galaxy. Their joints ached, their sight was lacking, and they could not come to a reasonable agreement about the temperature.
It could have been the new age she was feeling, or it could have been their adventure into the past, but Leia was suddenly feeling very nostalgic. She glanced over to her brother multiple times, each time seeing his youth shining through with his crooked grin and sparkling eyes, a green star in the backdrop making his features glow. And each time she felt herself weep inside. "We were robbed." she finally voiced her concern, a tear falling down her cheek, "We've always been robbed."
Pulling his hands from the controls, Luke turned to her and wondered, "What do you mean?"
Wiping away another tear, Leia shrugged, "Luke... the only memories I have of you started when we were nineteen... that's, well, that's just not fair!" She pulled her arms around herself and huffed, "You're my goddamned twin! My very first memories should have been of you!" She couldn't help but notice that Luke was silent, his worn face staring aimlessly at the controls as they passed a large, blue gas giant with a line of purple spots.
She then timidly added, "You should have been in all my memories, really..." turning to him, Leia put her hand on his shoulder, "I feel that we would have been inseparable... the closest of anyone."
Luke nodded slowly, "We balance each other." He pointed out, "We always have."
They were silent a while as they left the system, each feeling this new age ten fold. But, as they sputtered into the last of the systems they needed to pass, Leia suddenly stated the point she'd been trying to make since they passed the green star an hour ago, "We can make this right."
Luke waited a moment before he pointed out, "No we can't."
Jaw-dropped, Leia argued back, "Why not?" Her brother just shook his head and stared out at the distant star, the one he'd been looking for. It was yellow, round and surrounded by a fierce asteroid belt. Navigating it would not be easy, especially with his sister harping at his ear. "We are in the past! We can do anything!" Luke sighed and began to take control of the ship, starting to steer into the densely packed space with a grimace.
"We don't know what that would do." He pointed out as he swerved around a particularly large rock.
"It would save father!" She argued fiercely, feeling a little of the raggedness of her body fade away as her stubbornness rose, "It would keep our family together!"
Luke scoffed as he dodged yet another massive rock, "It's selfish to demand that of the universe." Was his retort, "Not just that, it's irresponsible!"
Leia frowned and shook her head, "Letting our father terrorize the galaxy despite knowing what he would become is irresponsible!"
As smaller chunks of rock began bouncing off the hull of the ship as Luke began to struggle to find a safe route through the messy field. Leia quieted herself, sensing her brother's desperation to concentrate. But she could not quiet her thoughts much, and Luke struggled to keep his focus because of it. He wanted desperately to believe she was right, but he couldn't stomach the idea of creating a worse situation by being selfish.
The ship dodged the rocks swiftly, it's seasoned pilot proving once again why he was one of the best pilots in the galaxy, but even he could not see the small storm brewing, and his lack of a connection to the Force left him blind to the small pool of energy he unwittingly guided the ship through. Neither were aware of that field until a harsh snap sounded, tearing off a wing of the ship. With a crack and a snap and a hiss, the ship was slowly being ripped to pieces from the outside.
Leia watched in wonder as multicolored tangles of lightening soared through the cockpit, tearing through the metal like it was paper. Some tendrils would pass through her, making her muscles spasm painfully. After the second burst, she gasped and turned to her beloved brother, seeing not fear, but determination in his eyes. "I love you, my sister." He said solemnly, "Save our mother."
And from his eyes, did a great, bright light grow.
It had been more than two days since he'd left Naboo with Ahsoka, and Anakin was getting anxious. He wanted desperately to ditch his responsibilities, but could not find it in his conscience to do so. Rex and the clones needed him, and, in many ways, he needed the clones. They at least made him feel accepted and purposeful in a cruel and strange galaxy.
"Well, Master?" Ahsoka suddenly asked as they neared Coruscant on their small shuttle, "What is next on the agenda?" Her smile and enthusiasm radiated from her blue eyes, almost hypnotizing Anakin into believing in her perspective. Ahsoka was rarely downtrodden, something he learned to appreciate about her. Her heart was big, like his, something he believed to be rare amongst the cold Jedi. To him, she was the perfect Padawan.
With a smirk, Anakin informed her, "You will be disembarking."
Suddenly her grin did frown, "Why is that?" She challenged him, showing him once again why it was that he was assigned this particular student. With a shake of his head, Anakin sighed and gave some directions to the clone pilot, Stern. "Well?" Ahsoka demanded of him as soon as he was no longer distracted. Rex, sitting nearby with his helmet off, began chuckling at the show. There was little the Jedi duo did that didn't hit his funny bone just right.
"Because I said so." Was all Anakin offered her, making not just Rex, but Fives as well, sit back and prepare for the match. "And that is all you need to know."
Frowning, Ahsoka held her breath a moment to try and calm her nerves, to try and be a good Jedi despite her bad master. It lasted, like, two seconds, "But Master I-"
"-Need your rest too." Was all he said, "You've done a good job, Ahsoka. I'm very proud, and I want to keep seeing that level of growth from you. To do that, you need to sometimes let your body heal."
Jaw slacked a moment, and stuttering the next, Ahsoka finally found her footing in this conversation, "But on Manalore-"
"-Enough Ahsoka." Anakin smirked as he sat back, "My mind is made up... I want you rested so that you can take on a mission with another Jedi master while I'm on my meditative leave." In hearing that, Ahsoka found herself frowning deeper.
"Excuse me?" She challenged him while Rex and Fives nearly burst a gut laughing.
Catching his breath, Rex finally asserted, "He wants you gone so he can actually have a break, commander." As Ahsoka gasped in indignation, Anakin began to chuckle along with the men.
"If only." He retorted, his eyes falling on Ahsoka once more, "Speaking from personal experience, working with other masters tends to help expand on your skills and abilities. It makes you more dynamic... but it isn't always easy to arrange so..." And in hearing that, Ahsoka donned a big grin.
"So you decided to arrange it during a time when the council could not reject the idea." She finished his statement, "How thoughtful."
With a wicked-er grin, Anakin shrugged and crossed his arms proudly, "Only the best for my Padawan." But, while Rex and Fives chuckled along with Ahsoka, Anakin suddenly flinched and put his hand to his chest.
"No-" he whispered at first, standing up so suddenly it shocked the group out of their humor. His eyes were a bright blue and his irises seemed to be dilating in and out rapidly. With his jaw hung slack, it was clear this man's mind was no longer in the shuttle.
"Master?" Ahsoka inquired as she stood to join the hypnotized man. He stared through the hull of the shuttle as though seeing straight through it. His Padawan had never seen him like this before.
"Is he all right?" Fives wondered as he moved to stand beside Anakin.
Rex was behind Ahsoka, putting a hand on her shoulder to pull her away in case this strange behavior got dangerous. And it felt as thought it would. Anakin was tense, his eyes darting around as though searching for something in the metal. He moved irregularly and seemed irritated.
Ahsoka stepped forward, ignoring Rex's slight pull to stop her, "Anakin?" She called carefully, finally noticing that his lips were moving swiftly, as though he were saying words especially fast. She turned her Montrals in towards him, hoping to catch the sound in her hollowed horns. What she heard made her eyes widen.
"Not him... not my son! No... not him..." He was saying it over and over, like some peculiar mantra that motivated his movements. And, as he shifted and turned, his eyes scanning the metal for a clear answer, he raised a hand and pushed through the Force on the door of their ship. The metal clanged and whined from the pressue.
And Rex and Fives tackled him while Ahsoka jumped on his arm.
"No General!" Rex shouted as he pinned the man's right side.
Fives had his left, "You'll kill us all!"
"My son's dying!" Anakin suddenly shouted, his eyes completely bright, icy almost as though aglow. His tantrum began to push at the hull of the ship, making the metal crackle and clank. Stern and his copilot were thrown about in the cock pit, even as their comrades attempted to stop the storm that was their general. Taking one more deep breath, Anakin cried out, "We have to help him!"
And, just before the ship collapsed from his energy, he fainted.
Panting heavily, Ahsoka turned from one clone to the other, their eyes laced with worry as they all wondered the same thing. What just happened?
Author's Note: I certainly hope this chapter was worth the wait! We are starting to get to a lot of the payoffs of earlier staging and I'm setting the stage for even more character developments, or trying to, at least. I hope that this story remains enjoyable with each twist, as I realize it has a lot of original elements to it, like Advorosia and Anakin's "extended family." I wanted so badly to come up with something that no one had really written before, and I certainly hope it's been a success so far.
I'm particularly happy with this chapter for a lot of reasons: one, I've been trying so hard to build up Leia's desire to have her family, now that she knows what she lost out on, so that she could introduce one of the big questions: should the twins intentionally meddle with time for their benefit? It's a tough question and I'd love to hear all your opinions about it, as it would lead to a fascinating discussion.
Another thing I'm love to hear your reactions about is Shmi's statement that a piece of the old live inside the new and fill them with love. I needed that idea to explain a few upcoming themes, but I'm wondering how you all feel it in regards to the cannon theology of death and the Force. I think there is room for this idea there, assuming that this is only a piece and not the whole person, but I'd love to know your thoughts.
Anyways... next chapter: Is Luke dead?... And how the heck did Anakin know something was wrong with him?
Please don't forget to review!