Wheeee! I'm on a roll!
-CW-
'...Luke?'
Luke felt as though a huge burden had been lifted off his shoulders when he heard the voice in his mind. It was timid, uncertain.
'Leia?' He softly called in return, and immediately felt feelings of overwhelming relief and worry fill his entire being. He knew these emotions were coming from Leia, but
Luke couldn't help but slump back against the door, heaving a large sigh of relief himself.
'Luke! Are you okay? Are you hurt? Where are you? Han and I went to the Temple, but we couldn't find you or Lariss anywhere! Did something happen?' Leia instantly
started to ask. 'We found some...cloaks? Lying about the corridors...But other than that, nothing else.' There was confusion lacing each word the Princess spoke. 'And
the Force...Something is off.'
'That would be Lariss and I's doing.' Luke replied.
'So, Lariss is with you?'
'No. I...I don't know where she is...'
'Luke.' That tone. Even though Leia had only said his name, Luke could hear every demand that went with it. Leia wanted answers and she wanted them now. He
breathed a sigh.
'It started about a year ago.' Luke began to explain, knowing Leia was paying close attention to everything he was saying. This made his heart leap with joy! Leia
and the others were alright! They were safe. That meant the Future was still ongoing. He explained everything, from the moment he and Lariss felt the disturbance
in the Force, to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's explanation of the imbalance, then to the void that had taken him into the past, and Lariss's disappearance.
After he had finished, there was silence. He could sense Leia mulling over every word he had spoken, at times feeling her disbelief and sharp concern when he told
her about the Void and how Lariss was gone.
'You mean to tell me that you've traveled back about twenty three years in time?' Came the slow, unbelieving, response.
'I know it sounds impossible-'
'It is.' Leia deadpanned. Luke deflated.
'You have to believe me, Leia! How else do I explain this...this...' He frowned, trying to remember what word it was he wanted to use. It never came to mind, so Luke
gave up and continued. 'I'll send you some of my memories.' He closed his eyes and concentrated, carefully selecting a few of his memories of his time spent in the
past. He showed her his rescue from the Hoth base by Clones-Which Leia was terrified to see- to his prolonged stay in the Med-bay, his classes at the Temple, and
his spare time in the Hangar. He made sure to send images of all the Jedi and Initiates he had seen, as well as a few political figures he had come across.
'That...I can't believe it...' But Leia knew everything Luke had told her was nothing but the truth. Luke could just imagine Leia falling back against whatever chair she
was sitting in, trying to take all of this in. 'Then...How are we still here?' She asked, baffled. 'The past and the future shouldn't be running together.'
She had a point, and of course, it was one Luke had already thought about.
'I have no idea. Has anything changed?'
'Here? No...Let me check.'
Luke waited patiently, knowing Leia was looking up news from the Old Republic days.
'Well...I can tell there are some alterations in the news...and a few slight changes in the Clone Wars, but they don't specify exactly what it is.' She replied, and Luke
knew she was still scrolling through the many different Holonet news there were. 'There's a new addition here.'
'New addition?'
'The Hero with No Fear- we all know who that is- The Negotiator, obviously Obi-Wan Kenobi, and someone called The Flame.' Leia told him. Luke's brow furrowed. He
didn't recall anyone known as 'The Flame' during the Clone Wars. 'There's another one...'
'Oh?'
'The Rogue sometimes known as 'The Spirit'...A person who was known for their ever-changing personality...Sometimes they were disapproved because of the way
they were but they were still rather admirable. There's more to it, but the information is classified. The Flame received their name according to this person because if
you looked them in the eye, you could see the 'undying flame of determination and hope blazing in them.' '
'Interesting...I'll see if I can find out more here.' Luke said to her, before remembering that he had class soon. 'Force! Sorry, Leia. But I have to go. I'll contact you
later. See what else you can find out.'
'Will do. And Luke,' Leia hesitated.
'What is it?'
'Be careful.' Came the response, then the link closed.
'When am I not?' Luke thought to no one in particular.
-CW-
It had been a few days since Luke's run-in with Anakin. It was still hard for Luke to grasp the fact that he was spending time with his Father. Time Luke had always
longed to spend with Anakin Skywalker since he was a young boy. Now, his dreams were becoming reality. He was often in the hangar, fixing whatever ships came
in in order to kill more time. Every so often, Anakin would meander in and come over to him, starting a small conversation with him. Luke struggled to contain his
excitement as he spoke with his Father, learning everything he could about his idol. At times, Anakin would help Luke in repairing broken ships that were quite
difficult for Luke.
Right now, Luke was listening intently to Anakin's explanation of fixing the hyperdrive of a shuttle, not one of Luke's strong points. It was mostly because of the old
technology Luke was unaccustomed with, but he was soon able to grasp the concept of each part of the hyperdrive and the numerous many buttons that decorated
the panels of the Shuttle.
"And this is used to recharge the ion cannons-"
Luke blinked and looked up at Anakin, confused.
"Ion cannons?" He repeated, peeking out of the floor to the shuttle's wing, searching for the weapons. There were none. Anakin chuckled.
"You've never seen one of these shuttles, have you?" He smirked when Luke shook his head. "The cannons are hidden inside each wing of the shuttle." Anakin pointed
to the left and right wing, and Luke followed his gaze. Just behind the engines of the shuttle, there was a small part of the wing that was slanted at a steeper angle
than the rest of the wing. "The Council had them installed for precaution. The other shuttles would do just fine, but under heavy fire...They wouldn't stand a chance.
Especially if your opponent was flying a cruiser."
"Then you would have to rely on the speed of the shuttle." Luke stated, and Anakin nodded.
"And the skill of the pilot." The tall Jedi added. Luke glanced at him through the corner of his eye. One thing he noticed at once was his father's rather large ego. He
most certainly had one and didn't do anything to hide it. With a pang of sadness, Luke noted how Lariss was the same way. Except, she was a little more subtle than
their Father.
'Lariss...Where are you?' He wondered to himself, searching for the bond he and his elder sister shared. It was nowhere to be found, sending a trill of fear and panic
coursing through his small body. Did that mean... 'No!' He fiercely told himself. 'She isn't dead.' He assured himself.
"Luke?" Anakin's concerned voice broke him from his thoughts and the young-not so young- boy looked up to find the Knight gazing down at him with a worried
look. "Are you alright? You had that look again."
Luke gave him a grim smile to assure him all was well. His Father, after getting to know him for some time, had told Luke that whenever he would think about his
sister-though Anakin didn't know he was thinking about his sister- that his expression would morph into a distant, worried, look. Every time Anakin would bring it
up, Luke would only tell him it was memories of his past.
"Sorry. Just...thinking."
"What about?" Anakin asked, before quickly adding, "If you don't mind telling me." He had come to know the boy quite well, and that look that would occasionally
dawn over his youthful features bothered Anakin more than he would like to admit. He had no idea why he felt such a strong connection with him and why he would
always seek Luke out during his visits to the Temple. Luke was silent for a moment, before replying,
"I was thinking about my sister."
"You have a sister?"
"I have two." Luke answered, smiling fondly as he thought of Lariss and Leia.
"Older or younger?" Anakin asked, curious to know more about Luke's mysterious family. Whenever he would ask Luke about his past, the boy always found a way
to respond rather evasively, skillfully deflecting the question and changing the subject rather quickly. Anakin supposed it was because his past was filled with much
pain and grief, seeing as the boy had lost two of his Masters. He had also recently learned his Aunt and Uncle who he had lived with on Tatooine were killed when he
was off visiting his uncle, Ben. Though he could sense some pain in Luke, he could also sense the amount of fondness and love he felt for his siblings.
They had to be close. Very close.
But...How did Luke know his siblings? Normally, Jedi would locate Force sensitives and take them from their families at a young age, no older than three most times.
Hardly old enough to have memories of their families. Unless, his sisters were Jedi too.
"One is older and one is younger by a couple of minutes." Luke said.
"Triplets?" Anakin blinked in surprise, watching as Luke nodded.
"Trust me, it came as a shock to me too." Luke laughed softly, recalling the moment he had discovered he and Lariss were twins, then learning there was a third.
"You mean...You didn't know?" Anakin questioned, tilting his head at this. Luke shook his head.
"No, I found out a few years after we were separated."
"You were separated? What for?"
"My sisters and I were separated at birth because our lives were in danger."
Anakin agreed with this. Three Force Sensitive triplets would draw a lot of attention. Including unwanted attention. Especially if the other two were as powerful as
Luke.
"One was adopted by a Senator my Father and Uncle knew well. Another stayed with...a close member of the family, and I lived with my Aunt and Uncle on
Tatooine."
"Wow." Was all Anakin could think to say, mentally slapping himself. What a dumb thing to say. "How did you find each other?"
Luke didn't bother to hide the amused smile that threatened to rise. "Well, that's a long story."
Anakin shrugged, interested to learn more. "We have time." Then, as an afterthought, said, "At least, I do. I don't know about you."
"I don't have class today." Luke breathed a sigh of relief at this. "Thank the Force." Anakin chuckled.
"Not a fan, I take it."
Luke shook his head. And so he told Anakin the tale of how he had run into Leia, doing his best to stick to the true story while altering it slightly so he wouldn't be
questioned as to why he was rescuing his sister and breaking her out of an important Imperial Station. He also did his best to change Imperial to Separatists, seeing
as the Empire had not yet risen.
'And hopefully never will.' Luke told himself. He would save his Father from the Dark Side...He wouldn't allow Anakin Skywalker to become Vader. No matter what the
price would be, Luke was willing to pay it. Even if it meant dying in order to redeem his Father.
-CW-
Luke wiped the perspiration from his forehead with the sleeve of his dark tunic. He had been working nonstop on a 'high-tech' shuttle. Luke would have been able
to fix it up in no time if he had been in his time, but because this was old technology, it took him some time to familiarize himself with everything. Anakin had left
earlier when he was called by the Council for an emergency session. Anakin had looked worried and quickly patted Luke's head, telling him he would see him later.
Luke watched as Anakin rushed away then shrugged, returning to his work, determined to show the shuttle who was the boss. He was nearly finished, thank the
Force. He was beginning to get a headache from trying to figure out all of these controls. He had just twisted one of the knobs above him when the shuttle whirred
to life.
"Huh?" Luke glanced up. He knew he hadn't turned on the shuttle. The knob was supposed to stabilize the engines, not turn them on. Hearing footsteps pounding on
the ramp outside, Luke knew someone was preparing the shuttle for take off. "Who the-?!" He was starting to crawl out when the shuttle jerked and lifted off. Luke
lost his balance and slammed against the wall when the shuttle tilted upwards. "Ouch!" he grunted, waiting for the shuttle to level off before jumping out from the
floor and into the mini-corridor. "Who the Force could have taken the shuttle?" He wondered to himself, hand reaching for his saber.
His saber had miraculously shrunk in size so that he could still use it, but he wondered what would happen to it as he grew. Would it grow in size?
He supposed he would just have to wait to find out. Right now, he needed to find out who had taken the Shuttle and why. Jogging down the hallway, Luke could sense
a familiar presence growing stronger the closer he came to the cockpit. "What in the Universe is he thinking?" Luke wondered aloud, recognizing the presence at
once. He glanced out the large window to find that they were already in space and getting ready to leap into hyperspace. "This shuttle's not even fixed yet!" He
shook his head, exasperated. He had been told by Lariss that sometimes this Jedi could be a little rash in making decisions. But this, surely he knew the dangers of
taking this shuttle.
Opening the cockpit doors, Luke peered in. The pilot started, having heard the doors hiss open, and whipped his head round to see who had entered. His eyes
widened a fraction upon seeing Luke standing in the doorway.
"You were still here?" Anakin asked, and Luke shot him a look.
"It's been fifteen minutes. Of course I was still here!" Luke replied, as though it should have been obvious.
"Sithspit." Anakin cursed. There was no way he could turn around now. The shuttle had just jumped into hyperspace and was now headed for his intended
destination. To turn around would put his mission peril. The chrono was ticking. Time he didn't have to spare.
"Is something wrong?" Luke quietly asked, and Anakin looked to him again, marveling at how much he resembled himself when he was a kid. Only, he didn't have
the ridiculous Padawan cut.
"Take a seat, Luke." He said, gesturing the the co-pilot seat next to him. Luke quickly did as he was told, strapping himself in before turning to Anakin expectantly.
Anakin sighed. "The Council called me in for an emergency session, as you probably already know." At Luke's nod, he continued, wondering why he was telling the
kid this. "I was supposed to undertake a mission to Felucia with Obi-Wan-You do know Master Kenobi, right?"
"Yes!" Luke replied, a little too enthusiastically. Anakin gave him a grim smile. Obi-Wan could charm people without even doing anything. It was something Anakin
noticed the most about Obi-Wan. You could see him in the hallway and he would only smile, acknowledge, or call out a greeting and all of a sudden, he would have
a place in their heart. Not that it was surprising to Anakin. When he had first met Obi-Wan, they weren't exactly on good terms, but after some time, the two had
grown close. Obi-Wan was both a brother and a father figure to Anakin.
"Obi-Wan went ahead. He heard rumors that the Separatist were setting up bases on Felucia."
"Bases?" Luke repeated, tilting his head. The way Anakin emphasized the word told him there was more to these bases than met the eye. Anakin nodded, catching
the gist of Luke's thinking. The boy had strong shields, but for some reason, Anakin could read him with barely any trouble. He had gone to speak with Yoda about
that, but then the emergency session was put in place. He'd have to contact Master Yoda later.
"These bases aren't just military bases. The Separatists found some sort of chemical on Felucia and are transforming it into a weapon of sorts."
"That doesn't sound good." Luke remarked lowly.
"Yeah. The chemical shuts down a person's internal organs one-by-one until they all collapse. The victim dies slowly and once they are dead, the body is mutated
to create a living-dead-living? Specimen of sorts." Anakin tried to explain. Luke shuddered. That sounded very creepy. A living-dead type specimen?
"Why not blow the bases?" Luke asked. "You could get rid of this chemical once and for all, couldn't you? And these...specimens."
"That's what Obi-Wan thought." Anakin said, gripping the wheel of the shuttle tightly. "They found out the hard way that the chemical was flammable."
"That could be a problem." Luke murmured, catching the worried gleam in Anakin's eyes. "There's more..."
" Obi-Wan and his men ran into some trouble while infiltrating the bases." Anakin said. "They managed to set the charges and blew the bases but Cody, Obi-Wan's
second in command," Anakin paused for a moment, and Luke could sense the worry his Father was beginning to feel. There was also anger. "Cody reports that
Obi-Wan never made it out after they blew the bases." Anakin finished.
-CW-
Another chapter done...Whew. Okie, so the next one should be up soon. I hope this one was okay!