Chapter Twelve - Secrets and Old Friends
Author's Notes: In regards to Ventress: Right now, I'm basically going along with the idea that the events of Dark Disciple never happened. I loved the idea of her striking it on her own, and getting tangled up with Dooku again just seemed like a poor ending for such an interesting character. Instead of meeting up with Vos, she meets up with Tano. I plan on exploring a little of their back story, but it'll be very superficial and open to further exploration in the future, in other chapters, stories, or by other writers if they are interested.
OriksGaming: Thanks for the heads up. I did go back and fixed a few of the more glaring mistakes I made. I'll try to do better in making future chapters both expedient and well written.
Potterfanforever: From what I understand, the most powerful Jedi in existence would be Anakin, Luke, and Yoda, with both Luke and Anakin having more power...or perhaps potential, than Yoda. Experience is something that can be garnered after 800 years, no doubt, but keep in mind that the things Luke has seen in his 50ish years far overshadows what most Jedi have likely experienced. While the Republic has suffered immensely in the 3 years since the Clone War started, Luke was pretty much in battle or some sort of conflict for most of his adult life and by the end of the Yuuzhan Vong war...he's kind of a badass. He is also one of the few Jedi in the history of the galaxy to have discovered the use of Force Lightning (via the Light Side), though in EU canon, that doesn't happen for a few more years.
I agree with your rating of Mara being about as powerful as Windu. I think they are pretty comparable characters in a lot of ways, to be honest.
I wanted the long buildup to the short action scene, partly for the humor, but also to highlight the effectiveness of Luke and Mara in contrast to the ongoing adventures of Bane being a persistant nuisance.
You don't have to carry a sword to be powerful. Some leaders' strength is inspiring greatness in others."
- Ahsoka Tano
#
"Hey Skyguy."
Given the events that had taken place in the preceding days, Ahsoka's presence probably shouldn't have been so shocking. But it was. Standing there with a former nemesis and waving two white lightsabers that she must have built on her own, was his old apprentice. Even though it had only been a short time, she seemed to have grown much older and far more experienced in the ways of the galaxy.
Her voice and words were echoing through his head as he simply stared at her. The young Togrutan had him rooted to the spot and his silence might have lasted for eternity had the sound of Padmé retching next to him not distracted him. The sight of her on her knees losing her lunch made him do a quick mental reboot.
Following her line-of-sight, he saw the two distinct pieces that had one been Cad Bane. It was unmistakably Bane; no other being from the Core to the Outer Rim wore such a travesty of a hat. That he was quite literally in pieces had his day looking just a little brighter. Seeing Padmé in the process of dry heaves, he hurried to her side, panic starting overwhelm his senses.
"Padmé! Are you okay, are you alright?"
Unbelievably, his attempt to comfort and help her received a harsh glare.
Mara snorted and extinguished her lightsaber. Rolling her eyes, she strode forward and per her arm around Padmé and steered her towards the fresher. She stopped abruptly at the sight of two very familiar looking droids. Mara just stood there for a second, staring at them for a second, before shaking her head and bringing Padmé with her into the fresher.
Before closing the door, she peered around it to glare at Anakin, who was looking confused. "She's pregnant, Anakin, and there was a body...or part of one anyway, right next to her. Sheesh, Anakin, you better figure out how to make yourself useful to your wife."
"Wife?!" came the incredulous exclamation from both Ahsoka and her Dathomirian companion.
Obi-Wan sighed as he put his lightsaber back onto his belt. "It is good to see you Ahsoka...and you as well, Ventress."
"I knew it!" Ahsoka said triumphantly. At Obi-Wan's confused look, she rolled her eyes. "Come on Master Kenobi, it was almost obvious that there was something going on."
"Apparently you saw far more clearly than I did, Ahsoka. Which is part of the reason I came." Obi-Wan turned his gaze towards his former padawan and smiled slightly and raised an eyebrow. "Anakin?"
Anakin grimaced. "Why don't we discuss this inside, Obi-Wan. Luke...why don't you and the others get acquainted. Oh, and come meet R2-D2 and C-3PO, they're friends."
Anakin and Obi-Wan walked inside speaking softly, while Luke gaped at the white and blue astromech droid and the gold plated protocol droid that joined he and the two younger woman outside.
#
Ventress and Ahsoka stood in an awkward silence while the man before them continued to stare open-mouthed at Anakin's droids ignoring Threepio's customary chatter.
No way, Luke thought, no kriffing way. Threepio was obviously mindwiped, but Artoo... Oblivious to anyone else in the room, Luke began cursing in Huttese loudly. You could have told me about Leia before Hoth or at least Vader, you tincan!
He looked over to see a grinning Ventress and a blushing Ahsoka.
"You are already considerably more interesting than most of the Jedi I've encountered...Luke was it?" the pale-skinned woman said.
"Ah, pardon me, I've just had a rather unpleasant realization. Yes, Luke Skywalker at your service."
"Skywalker?" Ventress and Ahsoka both blurted out before glaring at each other.
"This is very confusing," Ahsoka admitted, "I need to talk to Skyguy."
"I assure you, the confusion you feel is just the tip of the iceberg of what is to come. So, who are the two of you?"
"I'm Ahsoka Tano...I was Skygu-Anakin's padawan up until a year ago," the Togrutan said. Luke was hesitant to call her a woman, but she was definitely on the cusp of becoming one, despite her obviously young age. Those eyes had seen many things, they must have if she had to have kept up with his father.
The pale-skinned woman beside her gave a graceful nod. "I am Asajj Ventress...I was a Sith apprentice until recently."
To Ventress' disappointment, Luke Skywalker didn't even bad an eye. Instead he stroked his beard in a fashion eerily similar to Obi-Wan before he hesitantly asked, "Are you Dathomirian?"
"Yes, how did you know?"
Luke grimaced, "I've come across the Nightsisters before."
Before Ventress could respond, Luke lifted the two body pieces and deposited them neatly on the landing pad. Ahsoka and Ventress exchanged a look as this new Skywalker called for a garbage collector. "Best to leave whoever hired this bounty hunter wondering as to what happened," Luke explained.
Mara and Padmé walked in then, and Luke smiled as Padmé's face lit up at the sight of Ahsoka.
"Padmé!"
Ventress stood somewhat awkwardly as Ahsoka and Padmé hugged fiercely and watched somewhat curiously as the redhaired woman who had done the universe a favor in killing Cad Bane came to stand with Luke.
"Where's Ani?" Padmé asked when she finally let Ahsoka go.
"He and Obi-Wan are talking...resolving some of their issues, I suppose," Luke said.
Padmé winced and then looked at Ventress for a long moment. "Anakin told me you helped Ahsoka when she was framed."
At Ventress' cautious nod, Padmé smiled slightly, "Then you have my thanks, she is family to me."
Settling down in a nearby chair with a sign she turned towards Threepio and asked him to bring some refreshments.
"Of course, Mistress Padmé."
Mara mouthed 'Goldenrod and Artoo?' at Luke, who nodded. Mara grimaced as Threepio's voice echoed in the home as he chattered with Artoo.
#
Anakin walked into the sitting room first and the door slid shut as Obi-Wan followed him in. Instead of sitting, Anakin walked to the nearest window and just stared out into the cityscape wanting more than anything to be elsewhere. But after all that Obi-Wan has learned, I owe him more than anyone the truth. Nevertheless, he looked forward to the impending conversation about as much as he looked forward to getting his other hand cut off.
"So, Padmé..." Obi-Wan prompted.
Anakin squeezed his eyes shut. It shouldn't be this hard. The rest of the Council knows, so why is it this hard? But he already knew the answer. Anakin had always chafed under Obi-Wan's tutelage to some extent or another, but Obi-Wan was still the closest thing to a father he had ever had.
"Why didn't you tell me, Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked.
And that's why this is so hard, he thought. It wasn't anger or irritation in Obi-Wan's voice, it was the sadness and disappointment that had Anakin cringing. He knew he had disappointed Obi-Wan and it was the knowledge that he had let his mentor down that finally had him respond.
"I was afraid, Obi-Wan. I was afraid. Of what you would think, of the Council, of hurting Padmé's reputation, of hurting the Republics war effort if I were to be expelled, of the Separatists learning of our relationship. I was scared, Obi-Wan. I have failed you, Obi-Wan, I should have told you."
Still looking out the window, he heard Obi-Wan sigh. He heard Obi-Wan walking towards him but still flinches when his former Master laid his hand upon his shoulder.
"Oh, Anakin. I don't know what I would have done or said if you had told me, but I would have helped you, I would have done my best to support you."
Obi-Wan's hand left his shoulder and his Master walked forward to stand at his side at the window. "Anakin, as a Jedi Master and your own former teacher, you must know how disappointed I am. That you broke the code, that you lied to me, that...I am disappointed, Anakin."
Anakin hung his head and ignored the burning in his eyes. The hand on his shoulder then squeezed gently.
"But as your friend, Anakin, then I must congratulate you on your impending fatherhood and wish upon you all the same aggravation andjoys that a Skywalker child gave me. Ahsoka was right, looking back, it was obvious that your attachment to Padmé was far from platonic."
Anakin turned towards Obi-Wan and hugged him fiercely, eliciting a surprised gasp from the older man.
"There's something else, Obi-Wan," Anakin said gruffly, "it's about Luke."'
"Your son," Obi-Wan asked dryly with a raised eyebrow.
"H..how?"
Obi-Wan snorted. "Please Anakin, I may have been blind to you and Padmé but give me some credit, I haven't gone totally senile yet. Though how any child of yours could be as calm and serene as he is is mind-boggling."
Anakin grimaced, "I had the same thought." Anakin was quiet for a moment before he said softly, "Luke said he had a twin sister who died very recently. Padmé is having twins, Obi-Wan. My nightmares have started again and even knowing now that Palpatine might be the cause...I am still desperately afraid for my family, Obi-Wan."
"Palpatine will be taken care of, one way or another, Anakin," Obi-Wan said with an uncharacteristically hard voice before it became much softer. "And I swear to you, Anakin, on my life, that I will do everything possible to save your family."
Anakin nodded wordlessly and grasped Obi-Wan's shoulder like it was a lifeline. "Thank you, Obi-Wan."
"So tell me about the wedding," Obi-Wan said, smiling as he began to poke and prod at the hereto unknown personal life of his former padawan.
Sheev Palpatine nearly growled in frustration. Cad Bane had yet to report back and that almost certainly meant that he had died. Given the lack of official notification, it's possible he might simply have packed his bags and left the planet. Either way, the two Jedi who had made their presence known to him still lived.
Perhaps I was too hasty in targeting them. Either way, I cannot act directly yet and another attempt will overplay my hand. Time to move my next piece.
Raising his comlink to his mouth, "Sing. What news do you have?"
"Bane is dead. Saw the older man and woman take him out in just a couple of seconds. They were quite efficient."
Palpatine ground his teeth in frustration. So Bane did die...and the two new Skywalkers were the ones responsible. But why keep it quiet? Hmm, unimportant for now.
"Anything else to add?"
"I left the area pretty soon after Bane bit the dust. I didn't particularly want to be caught in the are, but so far, it looks like the Skywalkers and Senator Amidala are holed up in her apartment."
Palpatine thought for a moment. "Continue your observation, bounty hunter, but don't fear. I will have knife work for you soon."
"Very good," purred Aurra Sing.
Palpatine tapped his chin thoughtfully for a few moments before putting in a new code into his comlink.
"Chancellor? How can I help you?" came the young voice of Anakin Skywalker.
"I was hoping you'd join me tomorrow night at the opera, Anakin. It would be a relief to get away from those political sycophants and to have the presence of a friend there instead."
There was a moment of silence.
"Of course, Chancellor, just send me the information and I'll be there."
"Very good, my boy, I look forward to seeing you."
"Likewise."
At the click of the termination signal, Palpatine put his comlink away and steepled his fingers. Then he began smiling.
#
"Likewise."
Anakin met Obi-Wan's eyes as he put up the comlink.
"He'll expect that you have been asked by the council to spy on him," Obi-Wan said.
"I'll have a talk with Mara about this, maybe she'll have a better clue about his current intentions," Anakin said."
"I still find it hard that Mara was...mentored by a Sith Lord. For all of her personality...quirks," Obi-Wan said with a smile, "She so clearly walks on the path of the Light."
Anakin just nodded. "Well, I guess we better get back, I still have to go say hi to Snips."
Obi-Wan smiled, "And so you do. Put aside your thoughts on the future for now, Anakin, and enjoy time with your family. All of your family."
Anakin smiled, a genuine smile that seemed to be warmer than any smile Obi-Wan had seen on his former student in months, maybe years. They then walked side by side towards where voices could be heard.
