Chapter Five - First Impressions
"In a dark place we find ourselves, and a little more knowledge lights our way."
- Yoda
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Throwing Yoda across the room had not been the way she had wished to make introductions when first meeting the Grand Master of the Jedi Order. After that silence and after that laughter, she was able to deliver an apology that lacked much in the way of grace. She mentally pinched herself. Get with it, woman, we're here for a reason and acting the fool will do me no good.
As a first reaction to meeting one of the Jedi of the old Order, her reaction was fairly contemptible. Of course, as a natural side effect of being in a Skywalker's vicinity, the situation had inevitably worsened in that the recipient of aforementioned reaction had been Master Yoda. Luke revered Master Yoda and she had always imagined that meeting him would be akin to meeting the in-laws-
Mara's eyes twitched towards Anakin and she inwardly cringed. Father-in-Laws are not something to think about now. Despite the uncomfortable thought, she couldn't help the inner smirk after considering Anakin further. Obviously, Farmboy got the short gene from his mother's side; but he and his father both have those damn blue eyes.
Yoda had recovered by now and Mara refocused her attention on him, watching warily as he made he way back towards her. His frown was...impressive, and this time it was most certainly directed at her, though she didn't sense much in the way of anger from him, more like consternation and just plain curiosity. He turned that impressive frown upon the visibly struggling-to-contain-himself Anakin who stood next to a helpless looking Obi-Wan. Turning back towards Mara, he tapped his gimer stick on the floor before using it to point at the two men.
"Introductions, I will make. Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight, and Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, this is. Wished for them to meet you, I did. A possible connection to you, they have," Yoda stated, thankfully ignoring her 'attack' and moving on. "Interesting and most familiar, your lightsaber is. Identical to Skywalker's it appears."
Yoda then gestured to the still unconscious Luke. "Similar to Skywalker's presence, your companion's presence is. Strong in the Force, you both are. Touched by darkness, but of the Dark Side, you are not. Remember you as Padawans, I do not, but unique and powerful skills, you have. An explanation for me, you are sure to have, hmm?"
Yoda's final words were more command than question, though Mara was struggling with his syntax. All of a sudden, Luke's occasional "do or do not, there is no try" or "size matters not" started to make a lot more sense. Mara opened her mouth, not entirely sure what to say but snapped it closed when she felt a nudge in the Force and saw Luke, eyes still closed. I am here with Luke to save the Republic, the Jedi, to prepare the galaxy for the onslaught of the Yuuzhan Vong, but I am not here to do it alone.
Luke was healed, she felt, or nearly so at any rate. She had to wait for him, they were both here and they would need to work as a team. Still, even healed, he was still in a great deal of pain. Leia. Mara's eyes closed, wanting to cry for Luke and for the loss of the woman she had considered a sister. But it would have to wait, Mara needed Luke now.
[Wake up, husband-mine. I need you. Wake, Luke, I am here and I'm worried that your Master Yoda may say something that I will need you to translate.]
Mara felt Luke's awareness shift as his mind began to stir and shake off the proverbial cobwebs. She felt him remember what he'd lost, but felt him quickly fortify himself so he could help her as best he could. It would be a moment before he was truly awake, but the process had begun; it wouldn't take long.
A crisp Coruscanti accent shifted her focus from Luke onto Obi-Wan Kenobi. "Your companion will be okay, his wound was...interesting. We've never seen its like before." Obi-Wan stated, seeing her gaze resting on Luke. He paused and glanced at Anakin, obviously issuing an invitation for the younger Jedi to speak.
"It felt familiar to Master Kenobi and I, however while we haven't seen something quite like it before, we have felt its like before, though not for many years. Have you ever heard of the planet 'Zonama Sekot'? Anakin asked in slow and thoughtful tones.
Mara glanced sharply at Anakin. How do they know of Zonama Sekot?
Her thoughts raced as she learned that the Old Republic had been aware, at least very vaguely and peripherally, that the Yuuzhan Vong existed, but Master Yoda interrupted her thoughts as she noticed him staring at her. Within moments, the others had now joined him in their steady gazes upon her. This was apparently the point where she was supposed to answer questions. Though Yoda had been the one to ask about her lightsaber, or Anakin's lightsaber-kriff it all, it's my lightsaber and if he has a problem with it, he can go straight back to Mustafar-it was indeed Anakin who had shown the most interest in the weapon, attempting to be subtle in examining her saber and comparing it to his own. Not surprising, I suppose. I'd be mighty curious too if someone popped by with the Jade Shadow.
Obi-Wan was getting ready to ask or say something more as Mara's silence dragged on, but a hoarse groan accompanied by a soft "Mara" had them all turning to see the newly awoken Luke Skywalker.
[Before you open that mouth of yours, Luke, you should know that we're not in our neck of the woods anymore. Or planet. Or system. Or galaxy, for that matter.]
"A deep bond, you must have, to speak into the other's mind," Master Yoda commented, his gaze sharp and eyebrows raised.
Mara noticed that Anakin must also have sensed the flare of activity within their bond and looked like he wanted to drag them into a room and barrage them with questions. Given his status as a married man incognito, Mara could imagine his conflict and couldn't help but feel bewildered that none of the other Jedi were able to sense his emotional turmoil. But her musing was cut short when Luke finally reacted to the Grand Master's voice.
Upon hearing that voice, Yoda's voice, Luke froze. His eyes went wide, his body stilled, and his body seemed to tremble slightly as his breathing hitched. [Mara...explain?]
[Apparently, the Force has seen fit to send us back to the final days of the Old Republic. Luke, we're here to make things right.] Mara's words were matter-of-fact and were sharply contrasted to Luke's more hoarse and disbelieving tone
Like Master Yoda, both Obi-Wan and Anakin were able to sense the full scale of the bond between the two; the depth and strength of the bond was incredibly powerful, rivaling and exceeding the strength of many Master-Padawan bonds. They could sense the communication, though their thoughts and feelings were hidden. Upon the man's first waking, Obi-Wan and Anakin had both been in the position to see the man's eyes. Tired eyes; eyes that had seen too much. Obi-Wan had seen such eyes in those who fought in the war and had seen and known the horrors of battle and death. This man, and even the woman, now that Obi-Wan noticed, had those eyes.
The man who finally seemed to have become fully aware, had caught Obi-Wan's eye when he reacted so strongly to Yoda's voice. Even the unusual and powerful shields the two had woven about their minds couldn't hold back the brief burst of emotions that emanated from the man. It was a plethora of emotions that were complicated and impossible to grasp fully, but strongest among them were surprise, confusion, wistfulness, and a great deal of sadness.
The man's widened eyes had locked onto Yoda's frame before his body went rigid. The man turned towards his companion and the obvious question in his eyes made any private question irrelevant, so plainly was the distress and bewilderment pasted on his face. Finally, Obi-Wan decided that it might be best if he were the one to break the silence.
"Hello. My name is Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. We have a lot of questions for you, but might we be introduced first?"
Obi-Wan saw the woman wince as the man's eyes widened even further. The same emotions that had come from the man when hearing Yoda's voice came forth upon hearing his name as well. The man, finally looking like he was about to speak, was interrupted by a punch to the shoulder from his companion. She didn't look angry, but intent. They held each other's eyes, their bond obviously being used for their internal conversation. As per the norm, it was Anakin who lost his patience first.
"Excuse me, but perhaps, you could speak so that the rest of us could hear, it might help in the communication process. Asking for your names isn't too much to ask for, I think."
Anakin's statement was met by an odd snort from the woman, while the man stilled again. The emotions from the man had settled a bit, but hearing and turning to Anakin, the man paled and visibly swayed. The woman put a hand on his shoulder, for comfort this time, it seemed.
"Well...this is...complicated," the man finally managed to say. Another snort from the red-haired woman punctuated his comment.
"Secrets you have, yes. A strong bond with one another, yes, one considered forbidden. Jedi, you seem to be, but known to me, you are not. Demand all your secrets now, we will not. Rest you will need, but your names at least, we would have."
The man glanced at the red-haired woman, who shrugged in answer to some unvoiced question. He gathered a deep breath and prepared to speak. Much would hinge on what he said to to these three men who had shaped his future. He thought hard and inspiration struck him from an unlikely point in his past. Luke instantly knew what he had to say, words that spoke of trust and compassion.
Anakin watched the man gather himself and open his mouth. Unlike the woman's rich Coruscanti tones, Luke spoke with an accent that seemed to be an amalgamation of Coruscant and the Outer Rim.
"My name," he stated, voice soft and eyes now locking onto Anakin, "is Luke Skywalker." He paused for a moment, humor dancing in his eyes as a smile traced its way onto his lips as he continued speaking, "and I'm here to rescue you."
The woman barked out a laugh, an obvious shared experience or story behind 'Luke's' statement, and a smirk that seemed far too mischievous appeared. "And I," she said, obviously speaking the words with great relish and anticipation, "am Mara Jade...Mara Jade Skywalker. We're married. He's my husband. We have been known to become romantically attached to one another. Frequently."
'Luke' winced and shot a glare towards the flame-haired woman who suddenly looked far too innocent with such a beatific smile on her face.
Anakin's mouth dropped open.
Obi-Wan's eyebrows shot up and a hand crept its way up to his brow to begin massaging the headache that was now apparently induced in the presence of any Skywalker.
Yoda frowned an impressive frown.
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The three Jedi had made their leave from the two strangers after that ungraceful introduction. Unable to decide exactly how to proceed with their examination and questioning, they left the two visitors in the medbay to continue recovering. Master Yoda had enough sense and caution to have several of the few Jedi Temple Guard to stand guard and keep watch, though Obi-Wan felt that it was more for the purpose of appeasing Mace Windu's earlier suspicion than it was because of a genuine sense of danger or distrust from the two.
"To my quarters, we will go. Much to discuss, we have." Yoda stated with typical calm and authority.
Anakin is very quiet, not much of a surprise given the circumstances, but I hope he deals with this possibility of new family well, Obi-Wan thought, observing his former apprentice walking at his side. Anakin's eyebrows were furrowed, and he kept making small motions that indicated he wanted to look over his shoulder in the strangers' direction. His silence lingered even upon their entrance into Master Yoda's private quarters. Though Yoda must have sensed something amiss with Anakin, he said nothing, from which Obi-Wan took his cue.
"Reacted strongly to the name Zonama Sekot, this Mara did. An important piece of the puzzle, I believe this is," Yoda stated, surprising the other two with the subject for the beginning of their discussion.
"I sensed no lie in the few words they spoke. Obviously we have little information about their circumstances, but I sensed no lie about their identity. As you said before Master, I felt no darkness within them. This feels far too...loud...to be a plan of the Sith Lord. Whoever he may be, he has proven himself to be far more illusive and subtle than this." Obi-Wan paused. "They've seen a lot of death, more than most of us, I think. I felt echoes of pain and conflict in their words. They have been witness to something horrific, some event that I don't feel I'd be familiar with."
"Luke's," Anakin paused, as if testing the name, "presence being so familiar has an explanation now. I don't know of any other family that would go by that name and they both clearly recognized me. I can't see us putting together more explanations without seeing them again. There are too many questions and their arrival feels important to me."
"A feeling, you say?" Master Yoda prompted.
"It's vague, but strong. I feel that they are important, yes, but also important to me individually. Not just because of the name and possible familial connection, but something deeper. I should be near them, I think."
"Anakin, we still don't know enough about them, I'm not sure sticking you in a room with them would be safe...for you or for this 'Mara Jade'," Obi-Wan began.
Anakin's mouth had opened and a flash of annoyance had flared in his eyes until Obi-Wan spoke the last words. Calming down, Anakin smirked at the humor and gentle reminder of the tempestuous redhead.
"Correct, Anakin is."
Yoda's statement had them both staring incredulously at the Jedi Master.
"Much more balanced, your former apprentice is. A positive effect, their presence has had." Seeing the dubious glance that Anakin wore, Yoda's 'hmphed' and tapped Anakin's shin with his gimer stick. "Old I may be, young Skywalker, but blind I am not. 'Always on the move' as Master Obi-Wan says, you are. Perplexing, these strangers are, but unusally focused on them, you are. Unaware of the intensity of your own interest you were, but these two call to you. A measure of inner peace, their presences gave you."
Yoda paused before looking at Anakin with his piercing gaze that always made Anakin want to squirm. He had to fight to keep eye contact and to keep thoughts of Padmé or the other things that definitely did not give him inner peace buried. "Emotional, you have always been. Prone to anger, you are. But a strong Jedi you have become, young Skywalker. But as with all my younglings, worry for you, I still do."
Obi-Wan said nothing, but the look in his eyes told Anakin that Yoda had said many of the things Obi-Wan would have liked to have said in the past. Anakin also saw the somewhat worried look in his eyes when Master Yoda referred to his temper. Anakin wasn't so self-deluded that he wasn't aware that his temper could be explosive. All he had to do was think about Tatooine and...
But have I truly been so snappish that even Obi-Wan was cautious about talking to me directly about it? I love Padmé and I do fear greatly that our relationship will be discovered, but this is Obi-Wan. Both Padmé and I trust him, and I know she has been hoping that I'd tell Obi-Wan about our relationship for some time now. Looking back, Anakin saw the many times where he overreacted with Obi-Wan, where his frustration would boil over, where his anger got the best of him. He remembered executing Dooku and his immediate reaction of shame afterwords.
"I shouldn't have done that, it's not the Jedi way."
And though his mind wanted to shy away from the memory, he made himself remember the Tusken village that he had destroyed on Tatooine after his mother's death. He still felt a reflexive anger that wanted to react to Yoda's statement, but he breathed out and nodded. "Yes, Master," he acknowledged simply.
Obi-Wan's wide eyes and raised eyebrows that seemed to ask 'without even an argument?' made him want to snicker.
Master Yoda 'harumphed' before tapping the ground again for emphasis. "In your custody, Luke and Mara will be, Young Skywalker. Learn of them, you will. Their reasons for being here, their importance, you will discover. Free reign of the Temple, you may give them. Leave the Temple, with you to guide them, they may," Yoda declared. He looked like he had finished until he looked down and rubbed his chin.
"Much care, you must take, young Skywalker. Important they are, important reasons there are for their presence. But too much of them remains unknown. If leaving the Temple you intend, then quietly and without fanfare you must. Unwise, it would be, for the Sith to learn of their presence or their connection to you."
Anakin thought hard. He wanted Padmé. He wanted to be with her, to be with their child that even now grew inside of her, but his duty was clear. Still...he trusted her implicitly, and it's not like Mara or Luke would cast stones at his relationship. Perhaps there is a way to do both. Anakin finally nodded to himself before bowing towards Master Yoda and clasping Obi-Wan on the shoulder.
"I will do as you say, Master Yoda." Anakin shot a grin towards Obi-Wan that made Obi-Wan's face fall in anticipation of some new mischief. "Well, Obi-Wan, looks like you have two more Skywalkers on your hands. A little older than me, yes, but if they are indeed my family, then I am sure they'll make that boring old life of yours exciting. Two more Skywalkers, Obi-Wan!"
With a smile, Anakin left the room to the sound of Obi-Wan's heartfelt groan of dismay and the cackling laughter of the Grand Master of the Jedi Order.
"As usual, Mara, your tact leaves much to be desired," Luke admonished. He stood at Mara's side, looking out a window at a Coruscanti skyline that hadn't been touched by the intrusion of the Yuuzhan Vong. One of Luke's hands was massaging his still aching chest, but the poison finally appeared to be removed from his system with a final effort from a Twi'lek Jedi by the name of Vokara Che.
The stern Twi'lek reminded him greatly of Cilghal. They shared not only each other's exceptional skill in the healing arts, but the no-nonsense demeanor all medical personal seemed to express. Along with Cilghal, Luke had read a little of the Chief Healer from his own investigations into the Jedi Order of the past, but the records were damaged and so little else remained of the old Order that he only knew that 'Master Che was renowned for her healing'. While her skill in healing was impressive, it was her taciturn manner that took him aback. He had felt like a child being lectured by his Aunt Beru for doing something horrible when Master Che lit into him for moving too much. Still, Master Che's expertise in healing was indisputable and worthy of more than a little awe. She wasn't Vergere, but her strength in the healing arts made up for the lack of the specific technique that Vergere had mastered. So while his life was no longer in danger, the threat of the poison in his system neutralized, the wound itself was still more than a little tender.
"Stuff it, Master. None of our hopes are going to be met with success here if we are anything but exact," Mara stated in tones that implied Luke was an idiot if he thought otherwise. "I know you think the stars themselves shine out of their collective asses, but they were not perfect. If they had been, Sidious would never have gone unnoticed as a Sith Lord." Mara spoke with care, not wanting to use Palpatine's name just yet, needing a more formal question and answer session to even begin to broach that touchy subject.
Luke nodded wearily and closed his eyes, shoulders slumping. A shuddering breath escaped him and he finally was able to utter two names very softly, "Leia...Han."
Mara took him by the arm and sat him down in a nearby chair. She got done on one knee and kissed Luke's forehead. [I'm so sorry Luke, I'm so sorry. We're here now, and I don't know what that means for us. By now, the woman whom Anakin married will be pregnant. We are out of our depth and we have no idea what our ultimate fates will be, whether we meet with success or failure.]
Luke smiled briefly, his shoulders a little less tense, but his eyes were still closed. [So you're telling me that we need to trust in the Force, Mara? How very Jedi of you.]
Mara's response was a flick to one his ears followed by another kiss to his forehead. "Come on Luke, apparently we are going to be in Master Skywalker's care." Mara's eyebrows waggled a bit, knowing Luke, even decades after learning of his father's ultimate fate, still had a burning desire to know of his father. He wanted to know the man who had been a hero to so many only to become a creature that terrorized a galaxy.
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A short time later, Luke and Mara fell into step with Anakin as he guided them around the Jedi Temple. "I'll be asking you all sorts of questions later, but I thought for now, perhaps a chance to relax might do you both some good. Are either of you hungry?"
Mara shrugged and raised an eyebrow at Luke whose stomach chose that moment to complain, smiled sheepishly, "always."
"Huh," mused Anakin, "I suppose it must run in the family." Anakin's desire to know more about them was almost tangible. He wasn't overbearing, but his desire to know was ever present; Anakin may know none of the details but he, like Master Yoda, knew that something had fundamentally changed in the galaxy and particularly his own paradigm.
"Alright then, we're going to check out of the Temple and head to a favorite diner of mine. We could stay here, but the food leaves much to be desired. I guess it's forbidden for Jedi to have an attachment to palatable food."
Anakin probably should have felt awkward, but treating the grown man who called himself Luke Skywalker so familiarly felt...natural. This wasn't some long lost father of his, but he was family. He was a little more cautious of the acerbic red-haired woman. If Luke was all patience and serenity, then Mara was a veritable tempest of emotion.
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Having a meal at Dex's diner was a fun time as always; the food was delicious, and being the former Padawan to Obi-Wan Kenobi meant that Dex was happy to make personal introductions and to make a special meal for them. The great, literally breath-taking, four-armed hug that the Besalisk gave Anakin left an amused smile on Mara's face. Luke, despite his calm, still obsessionally emitted a strong sadness that would often linger until Mara said or did something to make him smile.
They have seen horrors, and they are not the horrors that we know of, Anakin thought before speaking to his companions whose hunger had been satisfied. "Alright, I thought you'd like to spend this night somewhere just a little more fancy than the Temple. I've never seen you before, so I'm making the assumption that you would like a little more liveliness in your quarters." Anakin was thankful that he had the presence of mind to contact Padmé and ask if her apartment in 500 Republica would be open to a few extra guests.
Padmé had been shocked at the question, at the notion that Anakin would bring strangers into their privacy. The shock had escalated further upon hearing their status as Jedi, and as Jedi who had married. It wasn't shock at the request so much as it was shock that Anakin was willing to allow others into their secret. Anakin's request was given due thought, but like Anakin, Padmé felt this was a good opportunity to learn of these strangers' experiences in regards to their relationships with each other and to the Force.. And so, after their meal and with Luke and Mara's agreement, Anakin had them in a speeder that was en route to 500 Republica, to meet 'someone special.'
Author's Note: Again, apologies if Yoda's speech isn't consistent. I'm trying to allow for a better Anakin, but I realize I may be laying it on a bit thick. I believe I mentioned before, but I want to make sure that there is a good amount of humor in this story, not so much as to make it silly but still fun to read while maintaining a thoughtful 'what if?' Plus, 'But from my point of view, the Jedi are evil' Anakin is not a pleasant Anakin, in character or in writing.
Author's Note #2: Off to meet Padmé! I am posing in this story that Luke and Mara, while aware of most of the details of Anakin's fall to the Dark Side, were still not aware of the exact identity of Anakin's wife, his mother. They know of Mustafar and his actions on Coruscant, but the moment he dedicated himself to Palpatine and motivations or reasons behind his fall are still in question.
