I don't own Star Wars or any of the characters.
Padme saw so engrossed in her work in her home office that she almost didn't hear C-3PO come in. The golden protocol droid caught the Chancellor by surprise, almost giving her a heart attack.
"3PO, you startled me." said Padme.
"I am dreadfully sorry madam, but I am here to inform you that Master Anakin has returned." told C-3PO.
Padme thanked the protocol droid as she got up from her chair. She casually walked to the front entrance expecting only to see her husband, but was surprised when she saw her children and their respective partners standing in the doorway with him. Anakin smiled as he embraced his wife in greeting. Padme returned the hug and gave her husband a quick kiss before turning her attention to her children.
"Luke, Leia, what are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be on a double date with Han and Mara." assumed Padme.
"We were Mother but Han and Chewie got called out on patrol with Juno and Sabine and we had to cancel the date." explained Leia.
Han looked like he was about to say something, but Leia quickly elbowed him in the ribs. She'd heard her boyfriend complain enough about their cancelled date on the drive to 500 Republica. The last thing she needed was for her mother, the Chancellor of the Galactic Republic itself, to hear Han complain about doing extra patrols and investigating the claim of a possible attack on the Senate.
Padme ignored the obvious attempt her daughter made to keep Han silent. The two of them had known each other for almost ten years and been in a (somewhat) steady relationship since Leia was sixteen. The behaviour between her daughter and boyfriend was perfectly normal, but Padme was worried about her son. Luke hadn't said a single thing to her or Mara since they had arrived. All Luke did was look at her like she was a complete stranger. First Anakin, now Luke. What was happening to her family?
Luke snapped out of his daze, when he felt someone touch his shoulder. The young Jedi's head whipped around so fast his braid almost whacked him in the face. It was Mara. The fiery red head was frowning but Luke could see concern and worry written in her beautiful emerald green eyes.
"Luke. Luke. Skywalker, are you even listening to me?" asked Mara.
Luke remained silent, causing everyone else to worry. Now Luke had not only Mara's eyes, but Han's, Leia's and his mother's gaze all trained on him. The young Jedi didn't know what to do. Luckily for Luke, C-3PO came into the room with a message for Padme.
"Mistress Padme, Senator Bonteri of Onderon is contacting you on the emergency line." told C-3PO.
Padme's face showed a look of concern before she let her senatorial mask slip into place.
"I'll be there, 3PO." responded Padme.
Padme rushed back to her office without saying a word. Anakin sensed the distress radiating off his wife in waves. Something wasn't right. Reaching out with the Force, Anakin made mental contact with his son, careful to make sure his daughter and Padawan were unaware of the father and son as they had a private conversation.
"Father, what is it?" concernedly asked Luke.
"Something is bothering Padme, and it's not our behaviour. I'm going to see what's troubling her. I feel it has something to do with why the Force sent us here." declared Anakin.
"I'll cover you." responded Luke.
Anakin was about to go after his wife when his Padawan called out to him.
"Master, Luke and I have been working on a lightsaber demonstration to perform during the Republic Day festivities. I was wondering if you could watch us perform it and help us if it needs improvement." requested Mara.
Anakin didn't know how to respond. On the one hand he felt the Force compelling him to follow after Padme. And on the other, Anakin knew if he did go after Padme it would look suspicious and his and Luke's covers could be blown. Making up his mind, Anakin agreed to watch the two perform their demonstration.
Luke shot his father a wide eyed look. How was he supposed to perform a routine he didn't know?
The Skywalkers, Han and Mara stepped out onto a large balcony. Leia and Han pulled up some chairs and made themselves comfortable. Anakin leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest.
Mara and Luke got into their opening stances, each drawing their lightsaber. Igniting her purple blade, Mara made the first move. Luke felt his muscles reacting on instinct as he ignited his green bladed lightsaber and took up the defensive. Anakin noticed that Mara had opened with a move from the Form V style of lightsaber combat, Djem So. Luke stayed on the defensive using Soresu, the third form of lightsaber combat, to deflect his opponent's attacks and where them down before attacking.
Luke saw his opening. Mara made a cutting motion at Luke's legs. Luke jumped over Mara's blade before doing an unnecessary double back flip and landing behind the red haired woman. Luke now took up the offensive, using a series of advanced stabs and thrusts to force Mara back along the balcony. Mara countered with her own moves, making the movements quick and clean as her blade went for Luke's throat.
As the two Jedi continued to perform their demonstration, Anakin couldn't help but overhear Han and Leia as they quietly talked among themselves.
"All I'm saying is all these extra patrols are unnecessary. Ever since those rumours of another Sith Lord showing up, the entire Senate has been paranoid. The number of patrols and soldiers dispatched at reported sightings of this so called 'Sith Lord' has increased three times in the last four months alone. Besides, didn't your father end the Sith like that 'Jedi prophecy' foretold?" exclaimed Han.
"My father might have killed Sidious, Han, but the Dark Side will always pose a threat to the Jedi. We can't be as reckless as we were the last time we thought the Sith were destroyed. One survived and that was all it took to begin a chain of events the nearly destroyed the Republic. You are old enough to remember the Clone Wars, Han. Do you really want something like that to happen again?" questioned Leia.
"Of course I don't want another war. I'm just tired of all these wild goose chases that lead nowhere. For all we know, this Sith rumour could just be that, a rumour." stated Han.
"Don't you think I considered that in my investigations, Han? I'm the Jedi representative to the Senate. I was the one the Council entrusted the moment these rumours started almost a year ago. I've looked at every detail, searched every file and I keep coming to the same conclusion. There is someone travelling throughout the Outer and Mid Rims causing chaos and destruction wherever they go. Whether they are a Sith Lord, or even a strong Dark Side user, is still unknown but there is something out there Han. And I have a feeling whoever it is, we've only seen the beginning of what their plans." explained Leia
The sound of deactivating lightsabers brought Han and Leia's conversation to an abrupt end. Anakin quickly recomposed himself, acting like he had not been eavesdropping on his daughter and her boyfriend. Mara and Luke clipped their lightsabers to their belts as they walked up to Anakin.
"What did you think of our demonstration on the seven different lightsaber forms, Master?" asked Mara.
In truth Anakin hadn't been paying much attention to the demonstration. He had been too focused on listening in to Han and Leia's conversation to get what happened. Anakin just gave the best answer he could and hoped his Padawan wouldn't dig too deep in to it.
"The beginning was good but the ending was a bit rusty. You might want to think about reorganising it a bit." suggested Anakin.
Mara shot Luke a glare, her mouth set in a horrid frown.
"I told you we shouldn't have used the Form VII maneuver before going into Form II. It just doesn't make any sense to do that in a real battle." stated Mara.
Luke held up his hands and pretended to know what Mara was talking about.
"Alright, we can change the ending. Just make sure we have time to practice it before Republic Day." said Luke.
Padme called from inside the apartment that dinner was ready. The others quickly went inside, leaving Anakin and Luke alone on the balcony. The father and son were grateful for the timely distraction. It kept them from having to answer any more questions and blowing their cover. Still, if they didn't hurry show up for dinner something would seem wrong. Anakin informed Luke of everything he had overheard Han and Leia talking about. He stopped talking just before they reached the table. The father and son sat down and ate their meal like it was just any other day, laving no one the wiser, or so they thought.
Sorry about this chapter not being very exciting. I promise it will get there in the future. Feel free to guess who the Sith is (if it is a Sith). Comment if you like the story.
