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.
As the sleek Nubian Starskiff landed on its usual platform, four individuals disembarked with two droids in tow. Captain Typho and the handmaidens had remained aboard to unload the various items necessary for dignitaries to travel. Therefore, the car that had awaited them on the platform had been left behind by the four passengers in favor of a luxurious speeder.
There was an uncomfortable quiet amongst the four living beings as they entered the speeder awaiting them, creating a silence that lasted until they'd arrived at Padme's home. One that lasted through dinner even and late into the night.
Padme was processing and now Luke was starting to understand how it is that his sister had acquired her technique. Take it slow. Digest and then react. It was the manner of a monarch, one Luke had learned later in his life as his path to becoming a Jedi had become clearer. But even this silence was wearing on the more patient Luke.
"Are you all right?" He finally asked when the news slipped into commercials that evening. Padme was startled at first, turning to him and his sister on one of the couches before nodding to them. Ahsoka was passed out on another couch, too tired to even consider going back to the temple to be chastised. She snoozed with a slight frown on her face as dreams flooded into her mind. Luke only hoped she would not endure more visions.
Sighing a moment, Padme nodded. "I think so." She admitted, "I think I just need some time to understand this... this overwhelming shock." The twins nodded, Leia standing to go sit next to her mother and offer comfort. "I mean... what you shared before... I..." She suddenly started sobbing, "Why wasn't I there to protect you? Luke... you lost your hand and... Leia..." In hearing hearing her name, Leia pulled her young mother into an embrace and shushed her, "What happened that I couldn't keep you safe? What happened that he...?"
What happened to my beautiful future? She demanded of the gods, the Force and the universe at large.
The silence stayed in the room a while longer as Leia shushed and rocked her mother, her eyes turning to Luke constantly for reassurance. Though she believed what she was doing was for the best of all, she was just as afraid as he for the consequences of her selfishness.
Oh, to hell with it all! She found herself growing frustrated with those voices of caution.
"Father is a very powerful man." She admitted to Padme, who sat back to stare into her brown eyes with wonder, "And that has attracted a whole lot of attention his way. Someone close to him... very close to him, has targeted him to turn to the darkside."
Face frozen in shock, Padme demanded, "How? How can we stop this?" Her complexion was pale and her eyes were wide with worry. When neither twin offered her an answer, she grabbed Leia's shoulders and pleaded, "I can't let this happen to him! He's suffered so much in his life already and makes so many sacrifices daily." Again, she started sobbing, "I won't let this happen to him. He doesn't deserve this!"
Seeing the desperation in her mother's eyes, Leia turned to Luke, who turned his gaze away. It was rare when he denied his sister anything. "Palpatine." she finally admitted, "Palpatine will turn him to the dark side."
Stunned now more than ever, Padme sat back and stared at the wall. "The chancellor? But how...Are you sure?" she asked after a time.
Luke was the one to answer her. "Yes." He said spitefully, "Palpatine not only destroyed father, he was the reason he died in my arms." Padme turned to Luke and saw the anger and sorrow in his eyes. But as swiftly as those emotions flickered, they faded away.
And seeing that in not just his eyes, but Leia's too, pushed Padme to accept this news. Memories rushed through her mind of various conversations, changes in strategy and edicts in the senate, his continual push for military expenses at the cost of other necessities. Anakin had explained that the Sith were selfish and dangerous, and looking back made her see that Palpatine truly did embody these characteristics. Just not in a way that advertised his motive. Inwardly, she felt the sting of betrayal.
And these conclusions led her to a vital decision.
"We have to tell him."
Both Luke and Leia jumped, each turning to her with worry in their eyes. "We can't!" Leia informed her, turning to her brother for support. But Padme would hear nothing of it.
"We have to." She told them, her voice firm and her eyes showing her strength, "Anakin believes strongly in trust; if we four run around with this big secret and don't clue him in, we'll only drive him further in Palpatine's direction. He has to know."
Again, the twins glanced towards one another, having their secret conversation, before uniting in force to turn their mother's plans around on her. "If we don't succeed and father falls with knowledge of who we are, the future could get a lot worse." Luke pointed out, "I'm not even comfortable with you and Ahsoka knowing, but there is nothing we can do to change that."
"If Ani knows," Padme argued, "He'll stop everything. He'll do anything to keep us all safe." She leaned forward and pleaded with them, "If we don't tell him, he'll continue to walk blindly straight into Palpatine's snare." She then paused and added softly, "Just as we all have for some time now."
Once more, the twins grew silent, deliberating, thinking. Padme could see it, despite the love that shown for their father in their eyes, they were both also afraid of him. Afraid of what could happen to all of them if they weren't careful. Again, Padme's glance fell on Luke's hand. Fake. Dismembered. By Anakin.
"He killed me." She suddenly and somberly understood, "Didn't he? That's why I wasn't there to protect you." Silently, they nodded.
After a time, Leia added, "We think so... But we don't know for sure." Padme sighed and sat back, unsure of what to do. Perhaps they are right, she wondered internally, battling with her head and heart. She didn't keep things from Anakin. Not things like this. Could she really live the next few... however long it was... with their babies sitting in the living room and not tell him?
"He will be furious that we didn't tell him." She informed the twins. Again, they nodded, bringing her attention to another idea. There are two of them. "But if one of you accompanies him... that may make up for it."
Smiling, the twins turned to one another and shrugged.
"You are our main concern, actually." Luke admitted, surprising Padme out of her internal debate.
Stunned, she inquired, "Why me?"
Shrugging, Luke elaborated, "Well,... we're actually here because assassins are trying to kill you-"
"-To kill us," Leia added with a sigh, "So that we won't be a threat to-"
"-their future, or something." Luke finished the statement. Padme sat there with her jaw dropped, unsure of what to make of what she'd seen. And what she'd heard.
"Me?" she finally processed, "You mean your enemies are after me?" With slight grins, both reminiscent of their father, they nodded and turned their eyes to the ground. Clearly there was a long story around this adventure. Padme suspected she was in for a long night and she sighed in expectation of it.
Sitting before the high council chamber doors had been a grueling task, one that had him fighting both his urges and his knees, both of which strained against him for freedom and movement. He wanted so badly to leave this mess behind, leave these deliberations behind. He wanted to go find Ahsoka... She was still missing, something he'd learned about from her friend Bariss when he'd returned.
Yet protocol dictated he remain put until summoned, meditating, showing restraint.
The council of four had deliberated nearly all day when a peculiar report interrupted their discussions. Anakin had been invited back in the room nearly three standard hours ago to discuss the woman he'd confronted outside his room.
Apparently, she hadn't been Wezz.
He'd learned that Wezz was on Naboo investigating him under the guise of following up on Grievous's attack there. She'd taken some clones on leave there and was ambushed by two Dark-Jedi. This turn of events left the council very interested in why someone outside the Order was researching him and restarted their debates.
Shortly after interviewing him, he'd been shut out again
Part of him wanted to meander over to the mess hall and eat his weight in comfort foods of some kind, his nerves and belly were trying to gobble him up that much. But the other part of him reminded him that it was necessary to stay put. To show commitment. To show he was a premier Jedi.
And it seemed that diligence was about to be rewarded.
The lift doors opened revealing the blue troopers that perpetually guarded the chancellor. They soon disembarked, opening the way for the man himself, who seemed most poise as he meandered down the way towards the council chamber. Anakin turned to him, sensing his familiar presence and smiled, seeing a gentle twinkle in the older man's eye.
"Anakin!" He called out as the man stood to his feet, towering over the chancellor, "I'm glad to see you are still here. Reports suggested you'd been expelled."
Chuckling, Anakin nodded, "I think the council would be bored without me." The man grinned at him and nodded.
"Have they nothing better to do than pick at you?" He wondered as he waved the guards back. Clearly he wanted to speak with the man alone. Shrugging, Anakin wondered that himself.
"I should hope so." He admitted, grinning, "But recent events do seem to deem otherwise." Palpatine grinned, chuckling as he shook his head.
"You could have been a politician with that silver tongue of yours, my boy." The man decided, stopping him by the window. He paused a moment, staring at the setting sun, "I assume the inquisition isn't quite over for you yet?"
To that, Anakin nodded, sighing in frustration a little. He always let his guard down around Palpatine, who was nothing less than a true mentor and friend to him. "I thought I had this wrapped up, all the pieces in place, but then Knight Wezz radioed in from the Naboo and put a whole new spin on things. Now I am being scrutinized yet again."
Confused, Palpatine inquired further, "And what sort of spin did she put on things?"
Turning back to the doors of the high council chamber, Anakin deliberated. He is the Chancellor, after all. "Apparently we had a mole here investigating me." He admitted quietly, "She'd disguised herself as Wezz and was going through my stuff. This micro council wants to make sure they didn't miss anything due to the circumstances."
He turned back to Palpatine, who seemed deep in thought, bringing his hand to his chin in intense contemplation. Sensing the man's mood darkening, Anakin tried to cheer his friend, "It could be anything though." he admitted, "Maybe it was a fan or something. I have a few too many of those."
Palpatine chuckled, but did not calm. Instead, he reached inside his luxurious coat and pulled something from his breast pocket. Taking Anakin's metal hand, the man placed a small, circular disk in his palm and explained, "This is my lucky talisman." Awed, Anakin picked the disc up and inspected the small device. It appeared to be comprised of shining and black stone, with intricate tribal markings on each face. "It is made of obsidian, a special stone that comes from volcanic eruptions. An ancient tribe on a distant planet used to collect and carve these stones. It was given to me by a dear friend who passed away shortly after the events on Naboo. I've never lost a race, nor a bet, since it came into my possession."
Still running his hands over the tribal carvings, markings almost representing a smiling face of some kind, Anakin glanced up at Palpatine in surprise, "And your giving this to me?"
Smiling, Palpatine nodded, "Anakin, you're like the son I never had, and I see that right now you need all the luck you can muster." That brought a sure smile to Anakin's face.
Grateful, he bowed to the chancellor, "Thank you Chancellor, you are a dear friend." That was what he said on the outside, but with his eyes, he tried very hard to show the chancellor that he was the like the father he never had. Of course, the thoughts of father figures soon brought him back to Tatooine, to the grave beside his mother's. To the man who in all likelihood was his father.
Palpatine must have read his features as they changed, and he soon moved to speak, but was interrupted as the doors to the hall opened and four faces greeted them. Of these four, only one was unfriendly. Which can only mean one thing.
Ahsoka pulled the sleepies out of her eyes as Luke, Leia and Padme escorted her back to the Jedi Temple. She knew she was in for hell from the masters... her own especially if he was up and moving around, and so she'd asked for as many good character witnesses to her alleged crime as possible. Fortunately, all the Skywalkers present seemed delighted to assist her.
As they entered the stone and durasteel building, she attempted to fathom her new knowledge. When she'd last left this place, she'd never suspected her master to be a married man and wondered, if he could balance work and family life so well, why couldn't anyone else in the Order? The ban on attachments was really starting to confuse her.
Especially after talking to Luke, who assured her it was his father's love for his family that saved his soul in the end. Love is really a double-edged sword, she realized with a frown, wondering if, just maybe, there was someone out there for her as well.
When they approached the front desk, the old human secretary merely smiled and nodded at her, not recognizing the Togruta among the many associated with the Jedi. Waving shyly, the young Padawan led the group casually up the remaining steps and deeper into the temple.
As they entered the main reception area, Luke grinned to himself and chuckled, enjoying the atmosphere. "I can't get over just how amazing this place is." With raised brows, Ahsoka turned about and grinned mischievously.
"Would you like a tour?" She wanted to know.
With a smirk of her own, Leia crossed her arms, "That desperate to avoid a scolding, huh?"
Pointing at her directly, Ahsoka informed her, "I'll have you know that Master Anakin is a terrifying interrogator and even worse when he's scolding people." Both Luke and Leia just stared at her, the looks on their faces saying exactly what they were thinking. You're telling us? Realizing her error, the young Togruta merely flushed and scratched the back of her head. "Or... well..." The twins were now daring her to add to her statement with their eyes.
Chuckling at the interaction, Padme rolled her eyes and stepped forward. "A tour sounds wonderful Ahsoka." She intervened, the twins following her with crooked grins on their faces. Once they'd passed her, they both began laughing as though finding the situation humorous.
"That's not funny!" Ahsoka stomped after them.
Spinning about, Leia informed her, "On the contrary... I find dear Auntie Snips putting her foot in her mouth positively hilarious." Luke glanced their way and nodded, making Ahsoka flush just a little bit more.
"Okay!" She fumed, "We really need to discuss my name." By now she heard Padme chuckling and realized something... she was in. This peculiar exchange had dubbed her family. While in her stupor, Luke put an arm around her shoulder and shook his head.
"If you didn't like it... you shouldn't have offered it." He pointed out sweetly. Ahsoka could only sigh in defeat.
They started their tour in the mess hall, which was already bustling with life for the breakfast hours. Several Younglings meandered on by them, greeting Ahsoka merrily as they saw her. Some even halted them, demanding of the Padawan where she'd been for the past few days.
"I had a special mission." She assured them with a grin, "I sorta stumbled into it."
With eyes wide, one of the Younglings informed her, "You're in a lot of trouble, Padawan Tano. Masters Skywalker and Koon have been searching for you all day."
Gulping, Ahsoka commented, "Ah, so Master Skywalker is feeling better then?" The group nodded sternly. "I see."
"Ahsoka!"
She nearly jumped when she heard that call down the hall, knowing instantly that her master had finally tracked her down. Part of her wanted to pretend she was someone else, but realized the futility of that particular plan.
So, slowly she turned about, her head low as she prepared herself for the scolding of a lifetime. Before her were the two masters in question, her master and Master Plo Koon. And both did not appear happy.
"Little Soka." Koon started out as he approached, "What in the world were you thinking, running off without saying a word." She flinched at the tone in his voice, but didn't dare say anything.
Crossing his arms, Anakin stared her down, "I know I was in a bad way, Ahsoka... but that doesn't excuse your behavior." His eyes then darted to Padme, who stood by smiling, and then to Luke and Leia, both of which were watching the situation with a slight grin. "And what are they doing here?" He demanded in a voice most accusing.
It was then that Padme stepped in, setting a reassuring hand down on Ahsoka's quivering shoulder. "They are still my personal guard, Knight Skywalker." She informed him regally, "And I can explain Ahsoka's whereabouts... She was with me, protecting me."
Stunned, Anakin stepped forward, uncrossing his arms, "Protecting you?"
Nodding, Padme continued with her explanation, "Yes, Ahsoka had had a vision about an assassination attempt on my life and acted on it. She was simply superb. You would have been proud." Luke and Leia nodded at Padme's statements, pride equally in their eyes as they had been in hers.
"A vision?" Plo Koon inquired, staring down at her with an aura of surprise. Ahsoka merely nodded.
"Aura Sing has been apprehended thanks to her." Leia chose to insert, "She proved to be a very skilled Jedi indeed." Now the young Togruta began to flush.
As if reminded that they were there, Anakin glared at the twins in suspicion and then turned his ocean colored eyes towards Padme, "Senator Amidala... If I could have a word with you."
Surprised at the tone in his voice, Padme nodded and bade her be excused from the group. The two of them turned to an adjacent hallway, with their remaining party certain of what the discussion was about. Something about Anakin spoke very clearly that he still did not trust Luke and Leia, though this time his doubts in them seemed darker than normal.
"So you two are the infamous Darklighters?" Plo Koon stepped forward, eyeing them wearily, "Reports claim that Mr. Darklighter is as powerful as our dear grandmaster."
Flushing a little, Luke shrugged, "Exaggerations, all of them." He assured the man, "I am but a humble servant of the Force. There is nothing remarkable about me." Koon merely nodded, but did not seem to believe what Luke attempted to convey to him. Instead he turned his eyes back towards Ahsoka.
"It is unfortunate that you didn't make contact with the temple when you left." He told the girl, "We were all so worried about you. That was a very irresponsible decision."
Frowning more, Ahsoka nodded, "I'm sorry master."
"It isn't me you should be apologizing to." Koon continued to inform her, "Captain Rex heard of your disappearance and rounded up several members of the 501st to find you. He was injured in a conflict on Naboo while trying to track you down." At that, Ahsoka's jaw dropped.
"He was?" She wanted to know, her crystal blue eyes filled with regret. When Koon nodded, she sighed and turned about towards Luke and Leia.
With a reassuring smile, Leia rested her hand on Ahsoka's shoulder, "You should probably go see him then." She told the girl, "People heal better when those that care about them are around." Luke nodded beside her, recalling his own injuries in that moment and how Leia had been at his side the whole time.
Almost shedding a tear, Ahsoka nodded and inquired, "Master Koon, can you show me where I can find Captain Rex?" He nodded and turned about, waving to the Darklighters as he did. His expression, however, at least in the Force, indicated he still did not trust them.
Turning towards one another, Luke sighed and shook his head, his eyes now on his parents as they apparently feuded in the shadows. Leia's gaze soon joined his.
Author's Note: Cliffhanger :) Not all that much going on in this chapter, but it felt appropriate to stop here. Thank you to everyone that has responded to my story thus far. I've seen some new names pop up to review and I appreciate the time you took to respond!
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