Chapter Eight - The Council


DawnDayrider: I probably did rush things a bit, but I was really trying to avoid pussy footing around too much. Let's face it, I already have a 30K word story and there hasn't even been a firefight or lightsaber duel yet.

Author Notes: Again, thanks for all the support and reviews. They have helped me focus on getting certain aspects of my story right that I may have overlooked initially.

I am happy to see the brief mention of Ahsoka and Ventress receive such a positive reaction. I've always loved the Star Wars: Clone Wars (and Rebels) cartoons and the characters in them were so much better than the movies. (Again, this is to be expected to an extent given time constraints in a movie, I make no judgments on the film producers/writers for it.) In case it wasn't already apparent, Ahsoka is currently partner to Ventress in her position as bounty hunter. Ahsoka left the Jedi Order at least 1 year after Ventress left Dooku's service, so I make the assumption that Ahsoka found or was found by Ventress soon after her departure. This means that Ventress and Ahsoka would have been working together for as long as a year. I think I am getting the timeline right on that, let me know if I erred.

At this point, I am no longer working on pre-written material, meaning my chapters might start coming in at a slower pace. I hope to avoid this, but life/work demands mean it may not be possible to continue posting at my previous intervals. I don't think it will be weeks between each chapter, but it may be closer to 7-10 days. We'll just have to see.


(Luke): "How will I know the good side from the bad?"
(Yoda): "You will know, when you are calm. At peace, passive."

#

Anakin and his two charges had left Padmé's apartment after he had returned from his earlier meeting with Palpatine. He had been excited after his meeting, and Luke couldn't help but dread the reason why. Whatever had him excited, it probably wasn't going to be good for Anakin in the long run. While Luke and Mara had spent some time in the Temple before, this was their first time going into the Jedi Temple. They were now confronted by the intact and pristine Jedi Temple looming before them. Anakin walked impatiently alongside Luke and Mara, both of whom were staring all around them at the splendor of the Jedi Temple. Well, more Luke than Mara, but such was the nature of Luke to still feel such awe at things Mara considered fairly trivial. It was impressive though, Mara had to admit, and felt a spike of anger at Palpatine for wanting to destroy it.

[I've visited the remains of the Temple before, I've seen pictures and holovids, I've even been inside it, but I never imagined the Jedi Temple would be so…] Words failed Luke as he took in the grandeur of it all, the blinding Light that emitted in the Force from the cradle of the Jedi Order.

[Yes, Luke, it's very pretty. Now let's go tell the Jedi Council that their heads need to be removed from their collective behinds and wake up to the danger of becoming violently one with the Force in only a few days or weeks' time.]

Luke rolled his eyes at Mara's humor and picked up his pace to accommodate Anakin, who looked like he wanted to drop behind them and push them to move faster.

Luke managed to have the last laugh at this particular exchange of repartee when he gave her rear a sharp pinch before moving quickly ahead. A large smile, the brightest one that had crossed his face since crossing into the past, appeared on his face as he heard Mara's squawk of outrage. He'd pay for it later, he had no doubt, but at that moment, it was worth it.


As walked the halls of the Temple, Luke noticed the Jedi archives for the first time and thought of Tionne whose life had been dedicated to restoring the knowledge that was so sparse in his time and so openly available here. He then saw a classroom of younglings being taught rudimentary meditation techniques and felt a grim reminder of all that was at stake, for them and for the young man who walked at his side.

Luke, to Anakin's great annoyance, found himself deviating from the others to enter the Room of a Thousand Fountains. It was still as beautiful and peaceful as he remembered from the previous days and he wanted to stop and immerse himself in it. The rising annoyance in Anakin and his wife disabused him of this notion, but he still lingered for as long as he could. Despite Anakin's growing impatience, the younger man humored him enough to allow him a brief sojourn before leading them to the Council once again.

The Council was still in discussion privately, so the three sat down to wait for their summons. Anakin had questions that he wanted to be answered before he spoke with the Council and spoke first.

"I have questions...perhaps now isn't the best time, but I'd really like the answers," he said, more calmly than he felt. His meeting with Palpatine earlier had been productive and could lead to a new position that recognized his efforts and accomplishments in the Jedi Order and the Republic. He looked forward to serving as his representative on the Council. He knew they wouldn't like it but Palpatine was the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, they had to work together. But I mustn't lose sight on the other events of the week and too much rides on the knowledge these two had for us.

"Then ask, though we may not answer all of them here or at this time," Mara cautioned.

"Your lightsaber. It is mine, isn't it? And you said children. You have a...twin then, I presume? Could you tell me more about him? And how is it that you weren't trained at the Temple, or that you haven't at least visited before? And you really tried to kill Luke, Mara, on a Sith Lord's orders?" Anakin had meant to be thoughtful, graceful, and tactful as he asked his questions, but Luke's revelation from the night before had him all mixed up. His conversation with Padmé afterwards had helped settle him, as her presence always did, but the questions still poured from his mouth, one after another.

Mara smirked at his tirade of questions which finally gave Anakin pause. He took a breath before giving a somewhat apologetic face. The smile that threatened to cross Mara's face at Anakin's stumbling questions failed to materialize when she noticed Luke's stiffening form and the lack of expression on his face.

"My sister," Luke said, a very blank expression on a face that had lost some of its color, "Leia."

Anakin looked at him and remembered that sinking sensation from last night and asked softly, "What happened?"

"Prior to ending up here, here at this time I mean, we were in a battle. She didn't make it. Leia became one with the Force only hours before you first laid eyes on me," Luke said, blinking rapidly and looking down at the ground.

Anakin wasn't quite sure what to say or how to react. His child was dead, one of the children that had yet to be born. Is she even my child? Do I have that right to name myself her father? He wondered these things, but couldn't deny the pang of loss that ran through him. In the end, there was really only one thing he could say. "I...I'm sorry, Luke."

Luke only nodded, still looking down. Mara brushed his cheek with her palm before looking directly at Anakin. "As for your first question, yes, this was...or is...your lightsaber. Luke gave it to me many years ago, by my reckoning. The reason he's acting like a 'gee-all-of-this-is-so-wizard country hick' again is because in our time...this temple is nothing but ruins."

Anakin's face was the picture of shock and dismay, and neither Luke nor Mara had the heart to tell him exactly who was largely responsible for the Temple's fate at that moment. After giving Anakin a moment to digest this, Mara continued, "As for me and Luke, well...that Sith Lord...the one you...served," she added with a pointed look and a soft quiet voice, "he took me in as a child and trained me to be his assassin and spy."

She gave him a lopsided smile at his face of utter shock, "Yeah, he told me to 'Kill Luke Skywalker.' When I did finally meet this Outer Rim bumpkin...well Luke called it 'love at first death threat.' Although, as an interesting note, you should be aware that through a combination of insane Jedi Masters, blue-skinned red-eyed military geniuses, and clones, I did end up killing Luke Skywalker!"

Luke's head did rise at that, and he laughed softly when he saw Anakin's gaping mouth. Anakin was still gaping when the Council Chamber's door opened, Obi-Wan waving them in with an arm. Thoughts of being Palpatine's representative had disappeared entirely as he led Luke and Mara in, desperately wanting to figure out the story behind that remark.

#

Luke and Mara followed Anakin into the Jedi Council's chamber where they stood before those beings considered wisest and strongest of the Jedi Order. For his part, Anakin felt more nervous than ever, and not just because of Palpatine's request that he be his representative on the Council. Mostly it was the knowledge that he stood before the Council in the company of his son, his son and his son's wife. Not for the first time, Anakin felt deep sympathy for Obi-Wan for having to deal with his shenanigans.

Luke and Mara had very different feelings about their presence here. Luke felt excited and was filled with an emotion that almost bordered on awe. The Council was able to pick up on that and found it a little odd that what appeared to be a fully trained Jedi, felt so deeply in that way. Mara, on the other hand, was the most neutral of the three. She had a great deal more knowledge of the Jedi Council at this time, even if that knowledge came from the Emperor and his incessant scathing commentary about the failures and defeat of the Jedi Council.

"Much to discuss, we have," Master Yoda stated in his usual calm manner. "A request from the Chancellor, we have," before he nodded towards Anakin.

Anakin didn't see Luke's wince or the sour look Mara shot towards Luke, but the Council took note of it. Anakin stepped into the middle of the chamber and calmed himself. "Yes, Master Yoda. The Chancellor requested my presence earlier today. With all of the trouble of the war and the contact miscommunications or sometimes altered set of priorities, Chancellor Palpatine has requested that he and the Republic be represented on the Jedi Council." Anakin paused and settled himself before he continued. "He has requested that I be his representative."

Anakin stopped speaking and watched as the Jedi Masters deliberated with pointed glances and gestures or soft words.

Master Yoda relayed the Council's decision. "Allow this appointment lightly, the Council does not. Disturbing is this move by Chancellor Palpatine."

A feeling of pride gather in Anakin though he kept his reply to a bland, "I understand."

That feeling of pride disappeared quickly when Master Windu spoke next. "You are on the Council, but we do not grant you the rank of Master."

No small amount of anger bubbled up within Anakin, and even with the revelations of earlier, he had a hard time keeping his calm. He had time to harshly utter his disbelief with a single 'What!?' but was was saved from making any additional response when Mara groaned loudly, catching everyone's attention. Following that groan was a muttered string of Huttese from Luke that nearly made Anakin blush. If nothing else had supported Luke's claim, Anakin now truly had at least some convincing proof that Luke had at least grown up on Tatooine.

"Do you have something to add?" Ki-Adi-Mundi asked with a raised eyebrow, "and who exactly are you?"

"The other reason for our meeting, these two are. Introductions, Skywalker will make." Master Yoda indicated to Anakin that he was the specific Skywalker who should be the one to introduce and explain the couple's presence.

Lovely, this will be fun. I wonder exactly how disapproving of a frown Mace Windu can possibly give...he mused. "Masters, this," Anakin nodded towards the flame-haired woman who now stood slightly to his side, "is Mara Jade Skywalker. And with her, is her husband, Luke Skywalker."

Master Windu didn't frown as deeply as he had predicted, but Anakin felt pretty sure that, aside from Master Yoda and Obi-Wan who had already known, every single eyebrow on the Council had risen in unison at that revelation. After a moment of silence, Yoda repeated Master Mundi's question, "Something more to say, have you, Mara Jade Skywalker?"

"I assure you, Master Yoda, I-we have plenty to say," Mara said with a scowl that could have matched Mace Windu's. With gritted teeth, she continued, "All of you...all of this...is so obvious to me that I am having a hard time understanding your blindness. That this situation was specifically manufactured to engender the sort of reaction that Anakin just gave."

The entire Council at this point was giving Mara a confused look, who merely rolled her eyes. "You, Anakin, are about to throw a truly childish temper tantrum, and you oh-mighty Jedi Council, who are about to react precisely according to a script given to manipulate the entire Jedi Order."

There was a moment of silence where the Council gave her a combination of intrigued and irritated looks.

"Hello Mara, I am Master Shaak Ti, forgive us if we have yet to understand what you claim to have already understood. Perhaps if you started at the beginning, with context, our conversation could be more productive." The Togrutan Jedi Master spoke softly in a voice that helped calm the rising irritation of the others.

"A wise suggestion, Master Jedi," Mara replied. Luke's hand rested on hers then, diverting her attention.

[Perhaps you should let me begin, Mara. One thing at a time, introductions first.]

Squeezing his hand in response, she closed her mouth and waited to see what her husband had to say. It probably was a good idea for him to speak; Luke held the calm demeanor expected of a Jedi and had the years of experience in diplomacy that he had gathered with his sister. Provoking the Jedi Council was not part of the plan.

Luke stepped further into the room until he stood next to his father. "As Anakin said, my name is Luke Skywalker. If you felt a disturbance in the Force several days ago, it was my wife and I's presence that caused it."

"What do you mean?" Obi-Wan asked.

Luke gave him a small smile before he spoke again, "My wife and I...well, we aren't from around here." He grimaced when he heard Mara snort from behind him and hurriedly continued. "I was taught that the future is always in motion, but in this instance, I can tell you definitively what will happen if things continue as they are."

"The source of your knowledge stems from the disturbance?" Shaak Ti asked.

"It would be more correct to say that the disturbance was caused by our arrival. Our foreknowledge does not come from guesses or visions, from premonitions or deductions. We have knowledge of this future because we are from that future."

The exchange of significant glances was beginning to irritate Mara, but she kept her calm as the Jedi gave Luke the universal 'come again?' face.

"Come again?" Obi-Wan asked, eyebrows furrowed.

Nailed it, Mara thought.

"Mara and I were sent from the future, approximately 48 years from now, presumably to stop some of the things that are coming, or to prepare you for them."

"You...were checked out by the healers, yes?" Mace Windu asked somewhat blandly.

"Would you like to know the identity of the Sith Lord that is currently at large?"

Luke's reply made the room go deadly quiet. Master Windu's jaw clenched and he glanced towards Yoda, who was leaning forward intently.

"Spent time with the two, you have young Skywalker, believe them, do you?" he asked Anakin.

"It's a hard story to swallow, Master Yoda, but the Force itself acts...strange around them, moreso when we first encountered them, but even now I can feel the otherness in their signatures," Anakin responded.

"Speak, Luke Skywalker, and listen, we will."


"No Senator, I'm afraid relinquishing the emergency powers granted to me by the Senate is quite out of the question for now. I hope for peace just as much as you, but even with Count Dooku slain, General Grievous remains alive."

"But surely-"

"I don't believe I have a choice, Senator, now if you'll excuse me, there are some matters that require my attention. I'm sure we'll speak again, soon."

"Of course, Chancellor, another time then."

Chancellor Palpatine watched the frustrated red-haired senator from Chandrila leave his office. She would be a problem to be dealt with later, she was bright and charismatic enough that she could pose a political threat to him, even if he succeeded in his more immediate plans. He had his guards stay outside of his office with instructions to hold anyone seeking an audience at bay.

He sat in the chair of his office, steepled his fingers, and opened his mind to the Force. The disturbance he had felt several days ago seemed to have diminished, but he still felt a fundamental shift in things. Anakin felt far too settled for his taste, apparently more would have to be done to unsettle the boy enough to seek him out. Everything felt just a little bit off, like all his plans that were just about to fit together perfectly had suddenly changed enough that nothing fit quite right anymore.

But what action could he take without knowing what had changed?

He donned a dark robe and drew up its hood before opening a secret communicator stashed in his office.

A coughing, hacking voice accompanied by a cybernetic face with yellow eyes peered at him. "Lord Sidious," General Grievous acknowledged respectfully.

"General Grievous, I want you to move your troops to the planet of Utapau and gather the other leaders of the Confederacy to you. If you are to continue as leader, they will have to fall into line. Be sure to communicate my displeasure to anyone who fails to obey your commands. You are to have them moved to the planet of Mustafar for their protection."

"They will not like the idea of hiding on Mustafar," Grievous half spoke, half coughed.

"They will like the consequences of disobedience even less, I assure you, General."

With a flick of the communication, the transmission ceased leaving him alone in the silent room. How do I combat this disturbance? If something has changed the nature of my plans, then I will have to respond in kind.

With a sinister smile on his face, he picked up his communicator and prepared to make some calls.


"When I was 22 years old, my last Master died. When he died, he told me that I would be the last of the Jedi."

For such a relatively small statement, it carried a world of meaning. If possible knowledge of the Sith Lord hadn't made them pay attention, claiming to have been the last Jedi certainly did.

"Your Master must have-" began Ki-Adi-Mundi, but Luke cut him off.

"My last Master, was you, Master Yoda."

Another moment of silence.

"If the last of the Jedi, you were, then successful the Sith must have been," Yoda deduced.

"From what I know, it will only be days or weeks before the Republic falls, and the Jedi Order with it. It will be done almost overnight, and what few Jedi survive will be hunted down for many years to come."

Mara chose this moment to speak up again, and Anakin found it surprisingly disquieting that her customary smirk was nowhere to be found. "Everything that has happened in recent years, for many years, even decades, has all been guided by the Sith. A grand plan for domination, not just of the galaxy but of the Force. A successful near eradication of Jedi throughout the galaxy and the subsequent political oppression used to lever the Sith into an emperor."

"Not all Jedi are killed, of course, but only a bare handful survive. And perhaps fewer than a dozen ever leave their places of hiding," Luke adds, blunt honesty doing nothing to alleviate the horror of the picture that the future brings to mind.

Anakin spoke, "But how! How is this possible! The Republic stands to finally win this war against the Separatists." Even knowing his fate in Luke's future world, Anakin still had trouble grasping how it all came to be. Several of the other Jedi on the Council were nodding their heads in mutual confusion.

"I said that everything had been going according to the plan developed by the Sith," Mara said quietly. "In his position, Darth Sidious worked with his apprentice, Count Dooku, to use the civil war to maneuver their pawns around the galaxy. The same civil war which has forced the Jedi out of their normally tranquil existence and into the battlefield, isolated from each other and from the Order. In the last three years, how many Jedi have left the Order? How many have turned to the Dark Side? How has the public perception shifted regarding the Jedi? This war has not been about political differences. No, Master Jedi, this war is the same war that has been fought for thousands of years, between the Light and the Dark. The problem is, or will be, that you won't even recognize that fact until it is far too late. Count Dooku was merely the known Dark presence that you would focus your efforts on, leaving the Master relatively unhindered."

More silence.

"Tell us everything," Master Windu finally said with a weary and somewhat helpless tone.


"Mistress Sing, I have a contract for you," Grievous spoke into the communicator in his usual hacking voice.

"Who's the mark?"

"Not a mark, Mistress Sing. Go to Coruscant, I wish for you to keep an eye on several individuals for me. Your surveillance may develop into something more violent, depending on how events shape up."

"Payment would be my standard contract fee with the CIS."

"Of course, Mistress Sing. There will be several Jedi who will be in close proximity to your targets, and at least one of them will be a priority individual for you to observe. Keep that in mind if things look to become violent."

"Understood, General."

"One last thing, I would like you to stop briefly on Duro. There is a colleague of yours who will be joining you."

"Bane?"

"Indeed."

"Very well, who should I make contact with upon my arrival?"

"I am sending you a code that will be scrambled in order to reach me to avoid any unwelcome listeners."

"Very well General Grievous, a pleasure as always."

"Likewise."


"Impossible."

"That is not possible, he is my friend-my mentor!"

"We would have sensed it."

"We know there is a Sith near the Senate, but it couldn't be him!"

Luke stood there as he watched the Jedi Council react to his naming of the Sith Lord. He had expected Anakin to take it the hardest, but he was somewhat taken aback by the arrogance of the other Jedi in their assumptions and declarations. He could feel more than see Mara's grimace, and he understood. Yoda had told him that he wasn't to be the last of the old Jedi, but the first of the new. His efforts to rebuild the Jedi had been shaky and had suffered many setbacks, had ultimately created an institution that had helped stave off the Yuuzhan Vong. Seeing this Council now, he understood why Yoda may have wanted to capitalize on the Order's destruction so that a better foundation could be laid for a new one.

Anakin was the most upset, but he hadn't stormed off as he half-expected him to do. Stang! He is so young! It was odd for Luke to consider the younger man as his father rather than the other way around. The unrest in the Council persisted until a sharp tapping sound echoed around the chamber.

Master Yoda had stood, and was shaking his head. "A poor display this is. Come to us with information, they have. Not for us to argue with the telling, but to investigate the conclusions. They have named Chancellor Palpatine as a Sith Lord. If true, great danger we are in. The destruction of the Order, we face, if Luke Skywalker is correct. More to say, have you, Luke?"

"There is much left for us to say, but not all of it is ultimately relevant to Palpatine or the Sith. I would advise strongly against internalizing this problem. Contact Senators Organa of Alderaan, Mothma of Chandrila, and Amidala of Naboo. Speak to them, tell them of what you face. If Palpatine must be deposed, then a solution greater than a lightsaber will be required."

Anakin's face was set in an angry frown, but he nearly jumped when Padmé was mentioned. "Why must we involve the senators?" he asked.

"The senators are just as concerned as you regarding the state of the Republic. There are many, with the three I mentioned leading them, forming a party to oppose the Palpatine, to try and convince him to relinquish his emergency powers. They would be your natural allies, if you let them."

There was silence as the Council thought about what had been said. Anakin's face was still stony, but there was a somewhat sick look that had appeared, and he caught Luke's eye and motioned for them to speak privately. Sighing, Luke left Mara's side to speak with Anakin.

This was turning out to be a very long day.


Author's Notes: The pieces on the board are taking their place! I'm hoping that the story will be getting progressively faster and action-oriented. We haven't really seen much of Anakin's reaction yet, but there will be a reaction. Just because his fate has been revealed, in part, doesn't mean he's sweetness and light now.