Chapter 8 A Run in With Father
LUKE POV
He was basically gripping on to the backseat of the Bloodrazer for dear life. He hadn't had time to put on his seatbelt and he would soon learn that was his second mistake. His first mistake had been even agreeing to do the ridiculous vandalizing scheme in the first place… even if he looks back at the time and sees that he did in fact enjoy it.
Then an explosion rocked the Bloodrazer and he was flung from his seat over the side and straight into the greenery of vegetation that Soreli and Newt's speeder had been flying over. It looked to be some sort of garden.
As he sailed through the air toward the trees below his last thoughts were on how seatbelts supposedly saved lives and that that was right… or wait a minute, wasn't it how seatbelts choked people instead. He didn't know and didn't have time to think on it before he crashed through the trees. The branches scraped and scratched his face and would've ripped his clothes had he not been wearing a cloak.
He fell on his back on the ground with a thud. The wind immediately knocked out of him.
Wheezing rather painfully, he lay there for a couple minutes, catching his breath. Then he sat up slowly.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow…" he groaned aloud rubbing the back of his poor head and massaging his backside.
"my back… my baaack... ugh…"
That hurt. How many times in the past few days have I hit my head he thought dazily. There was that freakin' cleaning droid, falling out of the ventilation shaft, and I think there were probably other instances but I can't remember.
He shakily stood up, his legs wobbling weakly, and brushed leaves and twigs from his cloak. Then he pulled up the hood.
Once he got his balance back he took a look around.
I see trees, trees, bushes, trees, plants, grass, bark, trees, bushes, trees, more bark. More trees… He was somewhere in a very dense part of the garden place. Wherever this was. Not knowing which way to go he decided to listen.
He enhanced his hearing using the force. He still had been clouding his presence ever since he got enough strength to.
Harkening using the force he heard.
And heard he did…
He heard an old willow tree fall somewhere in the area behind him in the forest in the garden.
Wait a sec…
If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?...
He thought.
He thought about it.
And he had absolutely no idea.
Never mind he thought and decided to listen in a different direction and pretend to forget all about the whole tree thing which just confused him and gave him a headache.
He listened using the force enhanced hearing…
And heard he did…
A small group of voices coming from the direction in front of him.
Curious he followed the voices. He couldn't make out what they were saying.
Coming out from the trees he eventually ran into a white marble path.
What to do. What to do. He pondered a hair breath away from stepping onto the white marble path.
Well it certainly isn't a yellow brick road but I guess that's very good thing.
Shrugging he stepped on it and traveled up the path wondering where it would take him, the trees and underbrush on either side of him thinned out a bit but not enough to not use to hide in. Up ahead there was a flight of stairs. Not many though. It was about 4 steps.
He cautiously walked up them while cautiously glancing around. At the top of the steps it continued on but this path was much wider and straighter. It was also made of the white marble material except the footpath had grey lining the edges of it.
On either side of the pathway was green well watered grass still dripping with evening dew and on the grass sat several wide pencil pine trees. Beyond that was a line of hedges. The hedges lined the area and sort of closed it in a box. The only other openings were from whence he came from and in front of him to where the white marble path lead to. In between the narrow pines but protruding forward and sitting in the foreground were expensive glittering pots holding dark green shrubs dotted pretty flowers sprouting with various shades of blue.
The path headed straight for a while and near the end of it narrowed and continued on through an overhang of more plants and vines filled with white, red, purple, and yellow flowers. Past the overhang was a terrace connected to a big white, tan, and beige manor. This was where the only light source in the vicinity was coming from. With big windows, balconies, fancy furniture, and all that expensive stuff rich people here on Coruscant could afford. The get together must have been taking place behind the mansion like house because that's where the presences were coming from.
Letting lose a catcall whistle he looked the place up and down. He couldn't help but admire the architecture and the garden. There was undoubtedly nothing like this on Tatooine. Plants such as these wouldn't eve stand a chance in those harsh conditions.
He furrowed his brow, frowning a bit.
Tatooine. I still can't believe that's where it all began. Well for me that is. It's been so long since…
He shook his head. I was best not to think of that now.
He began once again walking up the dim path toward the light of the manor thinking I wonder if there's some sort of party going on. It kinda sounds like it. Who do those unfamiliar presences belong to. Some of them seem quite odd
Narrowing his eyes he commented Speaking of presences two were heading his way in the dim light. And one of them belonged to a… a… Jedi?! Whose presence was eerily familiar. The other to…
Oh shit
Omg. I am in such big bantha poodo now he thought slightly panicked as he ran on to the grass, around a pot, and ducked behind a pencil pine. He couldn't go back the way he came because he was already halfway to the overhang entrance and if he did go back, that...
That thing!
That thing would surely see him, and that would be the last of a hero named Luke Skywalker.
Why did Palpatine or Sidious or whatever he calls himself have to show up now? Don't I ever get a break from the creepy pedophile?!
He concentrated on clouding and wrapping up his force presence further until it was indiscernible as the two figures walked even closer.
Busy concealing himself, he didn't bother listening to the conversation. But as they passed one sentence that the sneaky treacherous snake said caught his attention and all his concentration broke in that instance.
"I am sure the Jedi cannot be all that bad Anakin," the old grandfatherly voice reassured.
Anakin…
Anakin!
In the next moment he found himself being abruptly tackled to the ground and pinned rather easily by this Anakin… who he assumed was his father.
My father. The idea of seeing his father without that horrid suit brought a sudden glee to him. But all is dreams and wishes of seeing his father were instantly shattered.
As he managed to crane his neck to get a look at his attacker
… His father indeed.
His own icy blue eyes were staring back down at him coldly and brownish blond hair was trimmed in the most ridiculous haircut he had ever seen in his entire life. It was sooo painful to look at. Just seeing it made his eyes grow comically wide and he had to blink a couple times, his brain attempting and failing to register the absurdity of the haircut. No words could describe how stupid it looked. He knew Jedi padawans had to cut their hair but to cut it like this. Just the sight of that hair alone made him start to rethink if he wanted to become a Jedi at all. And for once he thanked the force he wasn't an official Jedi.
He shivered in fear at the thought of him having to wear such a preposterous haircut.
It was a complete load of bantha shit.
He would never ever for all eternity and beyond hear the end of it from Han and rouge squadron.
I mean who would wear such stupid hair. I wouldn't be seen in public looking like that.
Other than the hair and the eyes he concluded that he must have took more after his mother in size and figure.
His cogitation was interrupted when he glanced over his father's shoulder…
He wished he hadn't.
… And saw someone he craved to have a very long and painful excruciating death.
Palpatine.
Their eyes met and he could tell strait away that Sidious recognized him.
That snake.The creeper.The manipulator.That ruiner of lives.The reaper of innocents.That plague.The demon.That sith.That Sidious! the mantra in his mind hissed again and again.
He felt hot anger, burning hatred, deep loathing, total detestation, overwhelming abhorrence, plentiful enmity, practical revulsion, everlasting hostility, utter animosity, and he felt the odium of the many lives that were slayed by Sidious's hand.
He didn't know what he was doing. He didn't know how he did it. One moment Anakin was pinning him, the next he was sent flying across the yard.
Did I do that he faintly thought as he launched himself at Sidious. Viridescent lightsaber already ignited casting green shadows in the night. His mind felt strangely hazy. His eyes as cold as steel.
Someone's going to die tonight…
As he swung his lightsaber it should have cut off Sidious's head but only managed to cut off a few white hairs as his opponent dodged with speed he'd never seen before causing his eyes to widen in surprise. Then the snake force jumped away from him creating distance just as his father came to his senses and got off the ground.
He looked bewildered from Anakin to Sidious and back again.
How in the whole fucking world…
No. how in the whole FUCKING UNIVERSE did he not see that?!
I mean… how did he not see that… he thought whining exasperated, eyes twitching slightly. I mean his precious helpless chancellor Palpatine just force jumped and used force enhanced speed. How had father not seen that.
Any of it!
He didn't have any more time to think on it as his father, Anakin, rushed at him slashing with his blue light cerulean blade. A blade Luke was far too familiar with.
He had never thought so low of his father until he opened that big fat mouth of his and yelled, "how dare you attack chancellor Palpatine you dark Jedi. I'm going to make sure you pay for that!"
He's stupider than I thought.
His father swung at him, forcing him to parry and go on the offensive.
Sidestepping a slash that would have cut one of his arms off using all his strength he force pushed his father a fair distance away.
Before his father could come to grips with what had happened and counter he sprinted at Palpatine. Intent on killing him but if not at least exposing him.
It seems I underestimated father's abilities. His father was in the clone wars and had sharp reflexes. A force push like that was nothing against him and he saw that Anakin had easily recuperated.
ANAKIN POV
Seeing the dark Jedi sprint in his beloved friend and mentor's direction caused him to push himself to his limits and run after the dark one who dared to attack the chancellor. With force enhanced speed and a cry he stopped a would be deadly blow from the dark jedi.
The Chancellor was now safe.
LUKE POV
Releasing a frustrated growl he tried to sidestep Anakin but was immediately repelled back by expert slashes and stabs to his midriff leaving him to have to defend himself from the onslaught of perfected training his father held from all the years of training as a Jedi.
Growing more frustrated by the second at seeing Anakin Skywalker, his own father, his father, defend that bastard, that monster Sidious. That sith lord who ruined all their lives just made him damn angry.
He could feel unshed tears burn in his eyes causing his vision to blur and colors to move.
Did anyone ever know how frustrating all this was? To have a chance to end it all and being stopped by your own flesh and blood he sniffed and blinked the tears away.
The slashes of his emerald blade grew more erratic as he let out a barrage of stabs that Anakin had a hard time countering due to the unpredictability of the moves.
"You really are such a stubborn stupid blockhead aren't you fa-Anakin. You can't even see what's right in front of you," he spoke. This truly was bittersweet.
Literally his father really couldn't see what was in front of him! His own son and a Sith lord! What a surprise. I mean how oblivious can you get. Only a naïve half-witted pea brained dunce wouldn't be able to see that.
Well, that pretty much describes all the Jedi on how they couldn't see an inch past their own asses and find out that their beloved chancellor Palpatine was a sith lord. Actually that described the whole senate and mostly almost everybody else who got so caught up and fooled by hideous Sidious's charade.
Though who am I to judge when the only reason I can take apart who he truly is, is because I can already see his cold black heart.
It's like the sane that you never know it's there until you know what you are looking for.
He pushed his dazed monologue of thoughts to the back of his mind when Anakin became slightly subdued under the onslaught of his attacks but still managed a cocky little grin and asked, "oh, what would that be." In response to his previous statement about Anakin being a blockhead and not being able to see what's right in front of his own face.
Seeing his father like this. So youthful. So playful. Arrogant but yet dangerous. Actually giving a little smirk and acting… acting like a teenage boy his age just fueled the fire in his heart turning it into a blazing inferno at the thought that this Anakin was completely and utterly destroyed by that sith lord.
If it weren't for Sidious…
With renewed vigor he slashed at his father, the only one physically blocking him from his goal, using spasmodic moves that he made up at the spur of the moment and successfully completely catching Anakin off guard.
In retort to his father he practically snarled, "That everyone's darling precious chancellor Palpatine is actually a sith lord!" While wondering how much more of a blockhead his father could be.
His father's eyes widened, slightly bewildered.
ANKAKIN POV
No he's just trying to trick me. To throw me off guard he thought. If anything he's a Sith apprentice or a dark Jedi working for the Sith and now he's trying to assassinate the chancellor. Well I won't let him. I won't let this traitor fill my head with lies. I serve the Jedi order, the republic, and the chancellor. I would know if he was a Sith lord. The idea is absolutely ludicrous and I know better. That it is not true. Just a bunch of Sith trickery!
LUKE POV
"Speak for yourself," Anakin sneered at him, "with moves like those you're practically a little sith yourself aren't you."
That caught him off guard.
What…
No.
It-it can't be true!
Utterly ashamed. He had called on the dark side of the force to aid him because of his intense hatred for Sidious. acutally he didn't even know what he was doing. It made him feel powerful. So so powerful. But now… now he just felt so empty.
So drained.
So tired.
His father had seized the opportunity and pushed his seemingly dazed eye glazed opponent back further away from the chancellor who was silently spectating behind one of the pencil pines.
Both of them engaged in a sword lock and he was knocked out of his daze. The strength behind his father's lightsaber seemed to be increasing as he was pushed back further. He could barely hold him off.
That's when a glint of metal on Anakin's arm caught his eye. A glove was pulled taunt over a mechanical appendage.
Just like mine. He thought glancing down at his own black glove covered hand.
Just like father.
Oh the irony.
Whoever cut off my father's hand is going to pay and I'm pretty sure that it wasn't obi wan yet because it would be way too early in this timeline.
His muscles screamed and strained. He had an unexpected yearning to use the power of the dark side to aid him. To let it engulf him. To overcome him and take all his worries away. He knew couldn't hold off Anakin much longer so he did the only other thing that he could think of. The only other thing that could fix a situation like this. The only logical thing one could do when his opponent left his legs wide open. And that was to send a hard kick in between them.
And Luke did just that.
Then he ran like hell in the opposite direction.
He didn't even bother to get back at attempting to kill Sidious.
He felt shaken.
Scared actually.
But with a yelp he found himself forcefully shoved face first into the ground by means of the force, lightsaber flying from hand.
After he finally managed to get up he found himself shoved again back onto the ground…
Is he trying to make me eat dirt he thought when some got into his mouth.
… And then he was pinned with his hands twisted behind his back by his father who was basically sitting on top of him.
He himself was a pretty small guy but he refused to rely on the dark side to help him this time.
But no matter how much he squirmed and wriggled he couldn't get up.
The hold Anakin had on him just grew more painful.
"I suggest you stop moving around unless you want me to break those arms of yours," the voice above him snarled.
Seeing that Anakin wasn't joking he grudgingly complied.
Then to make matters worse Palpatine walked over and bent down picking up his fallen lightsaber.
Oh the humiliation. Sidious seeing him so weak and helpless like this.
"Very good Anakin. You've managed to catch a menace to the republic. I am grateful. Who knows what damage he could have done should he have escaped."
"Only damage to your reputation you snake," he snapped back.
Then he felt his arms being twisted painfully. Biting his lip to keep from crying out he only whimpered and that alone made him feel pathetic.
"Don't you dare speak to the chancellor like that you traitor," Anakin hissed.
"I can speak to that bastard however I want because the chancellor is the Sith lord you've been looking for, Darth Sidious," he managed out as his arms were twisted even more eliciting a cry of pain from his lips.
He felt Anakin was about to verbally retaliate when the hideous Sidious interrupted.
"I'm sure the boy is just misguided, Anakin. No need to be so harsh," Palpatine said kindly.
"Yes chancellor," he heard his father sigh and the grip on his arms loosened slightly but not by much.
Luke looked up staring at Sidious and making sure to show how much he hated him with a glare that could make anyone melt. Maybe if he was lucky Sidious would actually melt.
That would be the solution to all my problems.
I wouldn't even have to use a bucket of water to make him dissolve. Wait why would I use water anyway. Oh, I forgot! Water doesn't work on sith lords, only green wicked witches.
Oh, poodo he thought disappointed.
Sidious just looked back at him with a kind and amused smile that didn't quite reach his eyes which were-
Oh, god. Those eyes.
He'd know those eyes anywhere. A hideous yellow abomination of color. Putrid and sharp like those of a vulture looking down at its prey. Hungry for knowledge and one's deepest secrets and fears. The double pair of yellow daggers seemed to pierce his very soul unlocking all that is hidden until…
…then they suddenly changed back into a pale blue. Kind nice caring eyes stared down at him and his father as Anakin looked up at Sidious.
His only thoughts on that event was a big WTFjust happened?
Sidious was about to say something when blaster fire ricocheted throughout the area.
Anakin immediately let go of him in favor of covering his precious chancellor.
It was the bloodrazer! Though it does look like it needs a few repairs. Actually not a few. A lot. It was practically falling apart. Newt was standing up in the backseat shooting double blasters while Soreli was expertly driving the damaged speeder.
Never could he imagine he'd be so happy to see those two, almost happy enough to cry tears of joy and relief.
The bloodrazer hovered a few yard away.
"Hop in!" Soreli shouted to him.
Newt was still shooting at his father, who was deflecting the blasts away, and Palpatine.
Seeing the opportunity arise when Sidious's grip loosened on his lightsaber during the commotion he called it to his hand. It flew right out of the gnarled grasp and into his hand. He then clipped it to his belt, and ran.
He heard his father's footsteps as he ran immediately after him but was slowed by the incoming fire, having to dodge and block the attacks.
That was all the time he needed to force jump in to the back seat next to the now sitting Newt and strap himself in, this time remembering to put on the seatbelt. They zoomed off immediately leaving his father and Palpatine aka Sidious coughing in a trail of dust and smoke.
