Here we are! I'm not exactly sure how long this story will be, but I don't think it'll be too long
-CW-
The Next Day...Med-Center-
Luke and Lariss trudged unhappily down towards the Med-Center, much to the amusement of Anakin and Obi-Wan. The older Jedi tried assuring them that everything would be fine only to receive dark glares from their two Padawans. Anyone who dared snicker at them would be silenced at once by one look from Lariss. Luke exhaled heavily, hoping that Master Che wouldn't keep them at the Med-Center for long.
They arrived five minutes early and waited in the lobby for Master Che to collect them. It wasn't long before Master Che entered the room and ushered Luke and Lariss inside, giving them a hard look.
"Thank-you for bringing them, Kenobi, Skywalker." The Twi'Leck healer acknowledged them. Obi-Wan dipped his chin in return.
"Of course. Is there something we should be concerned about?" He asked, watching as Lariss and Luke simultaneously hopped onto the sick-bed, conversing quietly between themselves. Lariss appeared worried, whispering quickly to her brother, who calmly spoke back to her. Vokara Che tilted her head, her head-tails swaying with the movement.
"I do not think so." She replied, glancing back at the twins, her dark eyes narrowing as she analysed their appearance. "I just hope they can clear up what it is I found. But before you go," She began, turning to face Skywalker, "I have to ask, Skywalker, do you know if you had any other family members? Any Uncles, aunts, perhaps?"
Anakin shot her a confused look. "No. It was just my Mother and I." He answered, a pained look flickering in his blue orbs at the mention of his Mother. Vokara Che bit her lip, clearly bewildered.
"Have you found something, Master Che?" Obi-Wan asked the Healer, also wondering why she had asked Anakin that question.
"I'm not sure." Che uncertainly answered, turning and heading for the room Luke and Lariss were in. "But I will let you know. Now shoo!" She waved the two away. "I would like to speak with them privately."
"Very well. When should we return?" Obi-Wan inquired, heading for the door with Anakin at his heels.
"Oh..." Vokara Che tapped her chin thoughtfully. "It won't be long. I'll just send them after you when I'm through."
"Don't frighten them too much, Master Che." Obi-Wan grinned, eyes twinkling as the Twi'Leck gave him a look.
"Kenobi, out." The Twi'Leck pointed at the door, fighting to suppress the smile that threatened to rise. Obi-Wan smiled widely, innocently passing through the door with Anakin walking beside him.
Once they were out of sight of the Med-Center, Anakin turned to Obi-Wan, a frown playing on his lips. "What do you think that was about?" He asked, referring to the odd question Che had asked and her elusive answers to their questions.
"I honestly do not know." Obi-Wan answered, stroking his beard as he pondered over what Vokara Che had said. "I only hope she will be able to explain to us the reason both the twins have no records."
Anakin didn't say a word, brow furrowed and lips pursed. The Knight was deep in thought, thinking about the twins. In the short time he had known them both, Anakin couldn't help but feel connected to them. Even Lariss, who he had only met the other day. It confused him greatly.
Obi-Wan watched him in the corner of his eye, concerned when Anakin remained silent for the remainder of their walk back to his quarters.
"Anakin." He softly called to the Knight, jerking him out of his thoughts. "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah..."
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. He was unconvinced by the answer, and knew Anakin felt the same. "Is something bothering you? A vision? Nightmares?"
Anakin shook his head. "I haven't had any nightmar-" He whipped his head round to incredulously look at Obi-Wan. "How'd you know I had nightmares?"
"First off," Obi-Wan started to answer, the door to his apartment hissing open. He stepped to the side, allowing Anakin to enter first before going in himself. "I can sense you are troubled most nights, usually around midnight or some other unworldly hour, and second of all, I've seen you wondering about the Temple Grounds half the night."
Anakin looked guiltily after his Master, watching as Obi-Wan gathered two plates and started to make breakfast. Obi-Wan caught the look and shook his head.
"You don't need to feel bad, Anakin." He told the Knight, giving him one of the plates. "You seem to forget that I'm an insomniac."
"Do you have nightmares too, Master?" Anakin asked, waiting for the Master's answer. Obi-Wan silently worked on making batter for pancakes and for a moment, Anakin didn't think he would answer.
"Sometimes, yes." Obi-Wan admitted, much to Anakin's surprise. "Or visions. But most of the time, it's only because I can't sleep."
"Oh." Anakin dejectedly slumped against the table, his chin resting in his hand, the other playing with the edge of the tablecloth.
"Something's bothering you, Anakin." Obi-Wan stated, taking a seat at the table while waiting for the stove to heat up. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"No...Well...Master, it's about the twins."
"What about them?"
"When I first met Luke, I felt a bond form right away."
Obi-Wan raised both eyebrows in surprise. "So soon?"
Anakin nodded. "It took me by surprise too. I meant to ask you or Master Yoda about it, but then we were sent on that mission to Felucia and I didn't have any time to. I also can't help but feel...that we're connected."
"Connected? In what way?"
"I'm not sure." Anakin chewed on his lower lip. "I just feel...that I should know him somehow. Both him and Lariss. I don't understand why, but the Force is telling me that they...they're somehow important to me."
"Strange." Obi-Wan lowly commented, folding his arms across his chest, casually leaning back against his chair. "I feel the same."
Anakin jerked his head back up at Obi-Wan. "What do you mean?"
"Luke and Lariss strike me as familiar. Especially Luke. I don't know what it is with the boy, but I also feel that I should know him somehow. Lariss, not so much. You know," Obi-Wan studied Anakin closely, noticing the strong resemblance between his former Padawan and the two twins, "I can't help but think that you three are related."
"Us?" Anakin repeated, taken aback by this bold declaration. "But...it's impossible, Obi-Wan! I had no other family. If I did, I'm sure my Mother would have said something."
"I was only saying." Obi-Wan raised his hands up in defense. "It is possible."
"Do you think..." Anakin trailed off for a second, wondering if Obi-Wan could be right. "Do you think that's why Master Che asked me if I knew of any other family members?"
"It's a possibility. I guess we will just have to wait and see."
"Fantastic." Anakin muttered, folding his arms together on the table and resting his head on them. "My favorite thing to do."
"Patience, Anakin." Obi-Wan grinned. "We'll get our answers soon enough."
'I hope.'
-CW-
"Now, Luke, Lariss," Vokara Che said as she closed the door to the medical room the twins were in, "I have a few questions I would like to ask you, and I want you to be completely honest with me."
"Why?" Lariss immediately asked, defiance evident in the gaze she pinned the Twi'Leck with. The girl straightened, her arms crossed. Vokara Che merely raised an eyebrow.
"What she means to say," Luke spoke up, placing a hand on his sister's shoulder, "Is that we will only provide responses to whatever question we wish to answer."
"Is that so?" Vokara Che asked, a little amazed with what Luke had said.
"Keh." Was all Lariss said, turning her head away and glaring at the wall. Luke gave her a disapproving look.
"There are a few sensitive subjects we aren't willing to talk about." Luke said to the Twi'Leck healer, flashing her an apologetic smile. Vokara blinked. That smile...those eyes...they reminded her of someone.
And she knew exactly of who it reminded her of.
Skywalker.
Looking over Lariss, Vokara found that the teen shared the same hair and eye color as Anakin. The teens resembled the Knight greatly that Vokara wasn't willing to dismiss the possibility that they were distantly related in some way.
"Very well...But I would like you to answer as best you can. As you know, I took a few tests when the both of you were in my care, and one of those, was a blood test."
"Yes." Luke's smile faltered a bit, alarm flashing in his blue orbs for a mere second before vanishing. Lariss only stared at her with a neutral look.
"What about it?" Lariss demanded to know, a little defensively. Vokara let the rudeness slide, wondering if what the blood tests revealed was correct, and the twins knew.
"I received some...interesting results from those tests." Vokara slowly informed them, watching their expressions intently. Luke kept himself controlled, and Lariss didn't appear at all affected. Her suspicions rose even more. The twins probably didn't know it, but they were proving the blood tests correct.
"Such as?" Luke calmly asked.
Vokara immediately cut to the chase, deciding to be forward instead of beating around the bush. "Are the two of you related to Skywalker?"
Luke and Lariss tensed, neither saying a word. "And if we are?" Lariss spoke for the both of them.
"I would like to know how." Vokara answered with ease, not at all intimidated with the look she was receiving from the teen. "From what I've learned, Skywalker had only one family member. His mother. There was no one else. At least, not to his knowledge. Yet your blood tests showed a remarkable resemblance to Skywalker. In fact, it was nearly spot on, which should be impossible, unless," She paused for a moment, "You were immediate family members." She said no more, waiting for what the twins had to say about this.
Lariss only rested herself against the wall, looking bored. Luke sat on the edge of the sick-bed, trying to think of a response.
"Another thing I would like to ask, is why the two of you have no records whatsoever."
"No records?" Luke echoed, shifting a little.
"I hate Med-Centers." Lariss mumbled under her breath, expression darkening. "Nosy healers..."
"That is what I am." Vokara said, amused. "Luckily, I am the only one who knows of this and I have chosen to keep the information classified, if you explain to me how this is possible." She sternly looked down at them.
"Heh," Lariss chuckled. "You wouldn't believe us if we told you. And if we did tell you, and you did believe us, it would place someone we know in danger."
"Danger?" Vokara tilted her head at this. "Are we talking about Skywalker here?"
Luke flashed Lariss a confused and alarmed look. Lariss returned it.
'What are you doing?' Luke hissed through their bond.
'Just trust me on this, Luke. They're bound to find out anyways, and I would rather it's her and not the Council.' Lariss pointed out. Luke did not agree, though he didn't want the Council on his back. 'If I remember correctly, Vokara Che was a trustworthy healer. If we can convince her to keep silent, we should be fine. The hard part is keeping Obi-Wan and Father from becoming suspicious when they realize she's keeping information from them.'
'If you say so.' Luke muttered, still unsure.
Vokara watched the silent exchange quietly. What did Skywalker have to do with these two? They claimed that if they explained to her how the three were related, Skywalker could be in danger. In danger of what, though?
"Very well." Luke finally said aloud, their silent conversation having come to an end. "I have to ask, did you find anything else from the other tests?"
Vokara nodded. "Yes...According to the tests, the two of you should be twenty or so years old, yet you appear young."
"The thing is," Luke began, looking to Lariss. Lariss urged him to continue. "We are twenty."
Vokara didn't look amused. "That's impossible. If you were twenty, you wouldn't look fourteen."
"It's not like we asked to be fourteen again." Lariss grumbled. "I would give anything to be twenty again."
"Explain." Was all Vokara demanded. The medical tests had stated the twins were twenty, and those tests were hardly ever wrong. The Med-Center had the best supplies and equipment. The Jedi ensured that they received the best quality equipment that they were sure wouldn't fail them.
Luke inhaled deeply, as if he were about to launch into a long explanation of how it was possible. "You see, my sister and I...we aren't from this time."
"What?" This statement confused the Twi'Leck healer.
"We're from about twenty-two, or twenty-three, years in the future." Luke continued. "Our name isn't Solo. That's the name of our brother-in-law. We borrowed it so the Jedi wouldn't be alarmed by our true name."
"Which is?" Vokara pressed, wondering if what they were trying to say was exactly what the Twi'Leck had in mind.
"My name is Luke Skywalker," Luke re-introduced himself, his sister following in suit.
"And my name is Lariss Skywalker and we're Anakin Skywalker's children from the future."
Now, Vokara Che prided herself in remaining calm during difficult situations, but this...what these twins were trying to say...
She could only manage to say one thing that came to mind,
"Say what!?"
-CW-
"That was tiresome." Luke remarked once he and Lariss left the Med-Center.
"And entertaining." Lariss added, her lips curling upwards in a smile as she recalled Vokara Che's reaction. Luke shook his head, grinning.
"I have to admit, it felt good to get that off my chest." He told his sister, who hummed in agreement. "Do you think she will keep her word and stay quiet?"
"Oh, yes." Lariss nodded. "She won't breathe a word. I think she'll be in shock for a few days, though."
Luke sort of felt bad for the Healer. After explaining how they were Skywalker's children, their claim having been supported by the numerous tests they had had to undertake, Vokara Che had asked them many other questions. A few were, how is it possible? What is your purpose here? She didn't seem at all stunned that Anakin had broken the Code and gotten married, though she wisely chose not to ask to whom. Luke and Lariss had given her vague answers to her questions, hinting that the Jedi were in danger and that they needed to save their Father. Vokara Che had not asked why, knowing that she shouldn't press them for details. She had promised them that she would keep all the information they had given her, and the tests, classified. She also assured them that she would give Obi-Wan and Anakin answers that would satisfy the two when they asked what Vokara had found that was unusual with her tests.
Content, the twins had left and were now returning to their Masters when Luke abruptly stopped.
"Lariss, didn't we have to leave today for a mission?" He asked her. Lariss gaped at him.
"We were!" The two then broke into a Force-induced run to their Masters' quarters. Once there, the two barged in, finding their Masters seated at the table having breakfast.
Obi-Wan greeted them first, seeing as Anakin was too busy eating his two pancakes.
"Welcome back. I see you survived your ordeal in the Med-Center."
"Yeah..." Luke and Lariss chimed, approaching the table and slowly seating themselves in the empty seats. What were their Masters doing? They had a mission they needed to go on, yet here they were, eating breakfast as if there was no need to rush.
"Did everything go well?" Anakin asked them, curious to know why they had taken so long at the Healers.
"Yes. Just a bunch of questions." Luke answered him, serving himself a pancake and grabbing a fruit from the plate in the center of the table. Lariss did the same, passing Luke the syrup before her brother could ask. Lariss cut her pancake and picked up one of the pieces with her fork. She placed it in her mouth and chewed, her eyes brightening.
"Chocolate!" She beamed at Obi-Wan, who chuckled at her.
"Yes, I didn't forget about the chocolate. Both you and Anakin seem to adore pancakes with chocolate in them."
"Lariss has a sweet tooth." Luke tsked. "Do you have any idea how many bags of sweets I find stashed away in her bags or in her room?"
"It's like you and your model ships." Lariss shot back, taking another pancake and setting it on her plate.
"How long have the two of you known each other?" Anakin interjected before the twins could get into an argument.
"Three years." Luke answered. Obi-Wan and Anakin shared a look. The twins had only known each other for three years, and yet, they were so close, as if they had known each other for much longer than that.
"Really?"
"Yeah." Luke bit into his fruit. He swallowed and added, "It was pretty shocking."
"I'd bet." Obi-Wan agreed, folding his hands beneath his chin as he leaned forward. "How did the two of you meet, if I may ask?"
"We were both sent on missions." Lariss answered before Luke could. "We crossed paths when our missions coincided not too long afterwards and it was by chance that we met."
"I didn't know at the time that we were related," Luke went on, "But Lariss did. It wasn't until we met again for the second time that I learned the truth." His eyes dimmed. Lariss reached over and grabbed his hand, earning a small smile from Luke. Anakin and Obi-Wan could sense the tenseness and grief afflicting Luke, and wondered if they should allow him to go on. But it made them curious to know what Luke had learned. What was this 'truth' that he had been told?
Anakin, for some reason unknown, felt that he didn't want to know.
"It wasn't one he was expecting." Lariss picked up where he left off. "He was told by someone who had known our parents that we were siblings...He also learned about the fates of our parents." She grimaced at this. "It was then that Luke had...his hand cut off."
Luke repressed the urge to flinch at the reminder, unconsciously gripping his arm with his good hand. Anakin's eyes immediately went to his own gloved arm then snapped them back to Lariss.
"Hold on a moment, if what you're saying is true...Then Luke learned this from that Sith he fought against?"
Obi-Wan started at this revelation. He hadn't known Luke had faced off with a Sith and lost his arm. He had suspected it, seeing as Luke wore a glove over it, hiding it from view. But this confirmed it.
Lariss didn't answer, leaving it to Luke to reply.
"Yeah. The Sith Lord told me."
"And you believed him? You know you can't trust a Sith."
"This Sith was different." Lariss told Anakin. "He did know our parents. He was once a close friend to our Mother."
"Once." Obi-Wan repeated, waiting for an explanation. "Something happened."
"We're not sure what happened. So many things transpired...and I guess...it was just too much." Lariss bit her lower lip. "He fell to the Dark Side out of desperation..."
"Wait a minute, this Sith, was he once a Jedi?" Anakin wanted to know.
"He was." Lariss affirmed.
"Dooku?"
"Dooku?" Lariss and Luke questioned in unison. They received incredulous stares.
"I see we need to fill you in for a lot of things." Obi-Wan remarked, stunned that their Padawans had little to no knowledge about Dooku.
"I guess so..." Anakin agreed, astonished.
"But first," Lariss cut in before the Masters could speak, "Didn't we have a mission to go on?" She asked.
"Yes." the two Jedi answered. "But, they were postponed. We'll be leaving tomorrow." Obi-Wan finished. Anakin snickered as he tipped his chair back, popping a few chocolates into his mouth. Obi-Wan caught sight of the chocolates and sighed in an exasperated manner. "Anakin! Quit eating all of the chocolates!"
Anakin didn't listen, biting into another chocolate while giving Obi-Wan his 'make-me' look.
"Anakin! I can't keep spending credits to get those chocolates, that are supposed to last a week, if you're going to eat all of them the next day!" Obi-Wan stressed, using the Force to seize the chocolate Anakin was currently holding and rip it away.
"Hey!" Anakin exclaimed, grasping the chocolate in return. Both Jedi concentrated on the chocolate floating between them. At some times, the chocolate would lean towards Obi-Wan, but other times, it would slip towards Anakin. Luke and Lariss watched as the battle continued, silently wondering if their Masters truly were adults or if they were children trapped in an adult's body.
"You've had enough for today, Anakin."
"No, I haven't!" Anakin immediately denied.
"Yes, you have. And if you continue eating them, you won't be able to have any more chocolate until next week." Obi-Wan threatened.
"I could always just head out and buy some." Anakin pointed out.
"Oh, really?" Obi-Wan raised a disbelieving eyebrow. "Then, why don't you?" The chocolate was getting closer to him when it jerked towards Anakin.
"Cause I don't want to." Anakin said, struggling to get his chocolate back. He couldn't help that they were just so delicious! Besides, it was rare for them to even have chocolate with all the missions they were constantly sent on. Might as well eat them all while they had them.
Luke and Lariss patiently waited, a plan forming in their minds. When Luke shared it with Lariss, the twin silently sent him her agreement through their bond. They continued to watch, waiting for the moment to hatch their plan.
Anakin and Obi-Wan were still busy squabbling over some random nonsense when the chocolate suddenly dropped. Right as the two were going to reach for it, the chocolate snapped in half and flew out of their reach. They watched as the twins took hold of their respective pieces then look up at them.
"It's ours now." The twins declared, flicking the chocolate into their mouths and chewing them. Anakin blinked, not believing that the twins had just eaten his chocolate, while Obi-Wan looked over at the spot where the chocolate had been hovering only moments before.
"Well..." He finally broke the silence, looking at his three companions. "I suppose that's one way to settle a dispute."
The twins only hummed in reply while Anakin muttered something under his breath.
"What was that, Anakin?" Obi-Wan questioned, amused.
"I said, they took my chocolate." Anakin grumbled, though his eyes were twinkling.
"Sorry." Both Luke and Lariss apologized in unison.
"No, you're not." Anakin griped.
Lariss paused mid-chew, tilting her head and tapping her chin. "Hm...No...we're not." She smiled and went to chomp down on another chocolate she had picked up when it zipped out of her hand and smacked into Anakin's. The Knight smirked and immediately ate it, entertained with the dark look Lariss shot him. The teen chose another piece of chocolate and went to eat it when she caught Anakin's eye. Protectively, Lariss held it closer to herself. "This one's mine."
"Sure, sure." Anakin waved a hand in the air at her statement and just when Lariss was going to eat the chocolate, twisted his wrist, using the Force to steal the chocolate once again.
"No!" Lariss lunged after it, tumbling into Anakin. Anakin shouted in surprise, having been unbalanced from tipping his chair back and the two crumpled back into a heap on the floor. The floor vibrated from the impact, Obi-Wan cringing from the sound of the chair snapping as the Jedi Master watched his former apprentice and his Padawan tumble down. Lariss, dazed, laid on her stomach, the chocolate sitting in the palm of her outstretched hand, blinking rapidly as she tried to process what had happened. Anakin had fallen with his chair and was now on his back, staring up at the ceiling in disbelief.
"What..?" He gave Lariss a flabbergasted look, still unable to wrap his mind around the fact that she had literally tackled him for her chocolate. Lariss sat up, flinging her arm into the air victoriously.
"HA! I got it!" She cheered, casting a smug look at Anakin. Obi-Wan hid a smile by coughing lightly, shaking his head at their antics while glancing over at Luke.
Luke, oblivious to everything that had happened, was too busy staring at the chocolate in awe. "This chocolate is good!"
-CW-
Later that night, after Luke and Lariss had retired to bed, Anakin and Obi-Wan were sitting across from one another at the table. The Knight was toying with a poor, unfortunate, droid that he had trapped earlier that day while Obi-Wan read the news on his datapad. Sensing Anakin's reluctance to retire, Obi-Wan decided to inquire as to what the matter was.
"Why don't you rest, Anakin?"
"Don't feel like it." Anakin muttered, distracted by the droid he was working on. Obi-Wan sympathized for the unlucky little guy, watching as Anakin tugged on a few colored wires. A frown of concentration graced Anakin's lips as he studied the wires then ripped them out.
"Why not?"
"Not tired." Anakin unconvincingly answered. Obi-Wan frowned at the lie. He knew Anakin was tired. Especially after playing with the twins. "We weren't playing." Anakin's voice suddenly broke into his thoughts, eyes flashing towards Obi-Wan. "And yes," He said, knowing what Obi-Wan was going to say next, "You were thinking out loud."
Obi-Wan huffed lightly, crossing his arms, eyes glued on the droid parts scattered on the tabletop.
"Then what were you doing?"
"I was...ah...teaching the twins some battle tactics." Anakin tried to cover-up, fighting down the urge to blush in embarrassment.
"By scaring them half to death and chasing them throughout the Temple?" Obi-Wan rhetorically asked, watching as Anakin started to redden. "Do you know how many Masters and Knights approached me, expressing their concern for Luke and Lariss? Fellow Padawans even!"
"They were learning how to take cover." Anakin defended himself, jabbing a piece of metal into the droid on the table.
"Uh-huh." Obi-Wan slowly nodded his head, unconvinced. "You were teaching the two how to flee for their lives, was what you were doing."
"You never know when that tactic will be useful in battle." Anakin shrugged, trying to tug out a rather stubborn chip in the droid. He growled when it remained implanted in the droid, the table shaking as he tried even more to pull it out.
"Allow me." Obi-Wan offered, taking the droid from Anakin's hands and working with the chip. He carefully gripped it between two fingers and slid the chip out from its slot, handing the chip to Anakin and sliding the droid back over.
"Thanks." Anakin mumbled, focusing on fixing up the droid.
"You definitely gave the twins a workout." Obi-Wan returned to the topic of their previous conversation, being careful to mask his amusement. "The two are already out like a light."
Anakin smirked. He would never admit it, but he did enjoy messing with the twins. The two were always so lively, yet they were complete opposites of one another. Luke was a bright young boy, always wearing a smile that could potentially put both Tatooine's suns to shame. He was always willing to help and calm. Lariss, Anakin found, was much less energetic than her twin. She was kind, but her eyes were dim, as if she were troubled and wary. She was watchful, always on the lookout for her twin. He guessed she was the 'protector' of their little family who took her role as the eldest seriously. But she was no less fun.
"What did they do?" Obi-Wan wanted to know. After having heard of Anakin murderously trailing after the twins, Obi-Wan had instantly set out to find them. When he did, he found that the twins had sought refuge in the Room of a Thousand Fountains. Not only that, but the three of them had fallen into one of the pools of water and were battling against one another by splashing each other with large waves of water. How they had ended up falling into the water, Obi-Wan would never know. But he could hazard a guess.
Anakin glanced up at him, brow furrowing as he tried to recall the reason he had been chasing the twins.
His mind was blank. "I have no idea." Anakin admitted, finding it odd that he had forgotten. He remembered he had been upset over something and the twins unknowingly made whatever it was worse... "I can't remember...I think...they took something? No..." Anakin started murmuring under his breath, trying hard to remember what had transpired earlier. His shoulders slumped in defeat when the Knight continued to draw a blank. "They did something."
"Maybe you'll remember later."
"Maybe." Anakin echoed, staring down at the droid parts on the table. "I should probably put this back together..."
"Yes, that would be a good idea. I don't very much enjoy having to explain every droid's mysterious disappearance and sudden transformation they undertook when returned."
"They're always better than they were before!" Anakin claimed, piecing the droid back together. "I don't see why they're complaining. I mean, look at your astrodroid, for example."
"I suppose you have a point..." Obi-Wan mused, thinking over the multiple droids Anakin had 'borrowed' in the past few years. "Wait..." He turned his head suddenly to face Anakin, the rest of the Knight's words sinking into his mind. "My astrodroid?"
Anakin seemed to find the wall more interesting to study at the moment, his hands blindly working on replacing the droid's head.
"Anakin," Obi-Wan leaned forward, "What did you do to my astrodroid?"
"Nothing." Came the quick reply.
"Oh dear..." Obi-Wan ran a hand over his face, his mind skimming over the worst possibilities. "What am I to do? We don't need another R2 rolling around the Temple!"
"What's wrong with R2?" Anakin demanded to know, jumping to his buddy's defense. "He's a perfectly fine astrodroid!"
"Oh, I'm sure he is." Obi-Wan amended. "...But, he's quite the troublemaker."
"No, he's not." Anakin denied. Obi-Wan only sighed, knowing Anakin would only continue to defend R2. "He's gotten us out of many tight situations."
"I'll give him that."
"You know it's true."
"That I..." Obi-Wan trailed off, eyes darting in the direction of his Padawan's room.
"What is it?" Anakin asked, briefly looking up from the droid he was fixing.
"Not sure..." Obi-Wan stood, concern brewing in his grey-blue orbs. "But I think Lariss may be having another nightmare. I can sense her turmoil..."
Anakin flinched at the word 'nightmares,' sympathizing with Lariss. He knew how awful those things could be.
"Must be a memory..." Obi-Wan mused aloud, wondering if he should wake the girl. Her fear that he sensed suddenly skyrocketed, a whimper trickling through his link with his Padawan. When he moved to check on her, Obi-Wan paused, sensing a sudden change in Lariss' Signature. She was growing calm.
Anakin switched his attention to the door separating his quarters from Obi-Wan's. "Luke's trying to calm her down." He whispered, sensing that his Padawan had awoken from feeling Lariss' distress and was now sending soothing waves to his sister.
"It seems to be working."
"They are quite close." Anakin lightly commented, watching Obi-Wan closely.
"Yes, they are." Obi-Wan's brow furrowed. "The Council will grow concerned..."
"Why not let them be?" Anakin asked. "Besides, they are our Apprentices now. They'll be seeing each other quite often." What was wrong with attachment anyways? Anakin wondered to himself. Sure, evil could come of it, but there was also good. Of that, he was certain.
"A good point." Obi-Wan told Anakin. "I highly doubt they could do anything to separate them, so there should be no need to worry. Besides, I sense those two are rebellious spirits. They wouldn't listen to the Council."
"Windu will certainly enjoy that." Anakin grinned. Obi-Wan chuckled and a comfortable silence settled between the two. That was, until Obi-Wan faced Anakin once again.
"Is it the nightmares?" He abruptly inquired. "Is that why you won't sleep?"
Anakin paused in the middle of his work, stiffening before forcing himself to relax. "It might be." He tersely replied, telling Obi-Wan that he had guessed the reason.
"Visions?" Obi-Wan carefully ventured, taking in the fact that Anakin appeared quite tense.
"I don't know." Anakin found himself admitting. "I can't see a thing." He frustratingly tugged on a loose wire poking out of the droid's head, glaring at it.
"In your dreams?"
"Yeah." Anakin screwed the head back on, setting the droid upright and turning it on to see if it worked. The droid's eyes brightened, a small whirring sound stirring from within it. "It's dark...but I can sense everything that's going on. There's always four people there...Two females, two males." He explained to Obi-Wan. "Every dream I've had for the past couple weeks has them. I don't know who they are, though." He gave the droid a troubled look, checking it for any mistakes. "I feel...I feel they're trying to show me something...And I always feel that I should know the people in my dreams. Especially two of them."
"Interesting." Obi-Wan thoughtfully stroked his bearded chin, thinking over what Anakin had told him. He'd never heard of the kind of dreams Anakin was describing. "Well, we need to try to get some rest. Our mission begins early tomorrow."
Anakin reluctantly agreed, setting the droid down and shutting it off.
"Oh, and before you go," Obi-Wan paused, mid-stride, in the kitchen doorway, "The Council have switched our missions."
"What?" Anakin bit back the urge to groan.
The Master nodded, frowning disdainfully. "Yes. And consider yourself lucky."
"Why?"
"You don't have to deal with politicians."
-CW-
"You will come with us, won't you?"
Anakin looked around for the owner of the voice, but he was alone. There was nothing to be seen with the darkness surrounding him.
"I can't." A feminine voice replied, and Anakin could sense the first speaker sulking. "You know what I am. They wouldn't accept me; only cause trouble. As much as I'd want to accompany you, little brother, I'd be putting you in danger."
"I don't care what you are…They've been destroyed, the station destructed…"
"And everything's swell, but you know they're still wary of us. They may have been destroyed, but who's to say they won't rise up again?"
With that, Anakin awoke, feeling even more bewildered than before. He'd been having strange dreams lately, such as the one he'd just dreamed.
"Anakin?" A voice called from his left, and the man looked to find his Master approaching him in the darkened room. "Everything alright?'
"Yeah, just fine." Anakin replied.
"Dreams again?" At Anakin's nod, Obi-Wan asked, "Do you want to talk about them?"
"It's the same as before. Well, the voices are the same. A young male, probably not even twenty, and a female. The boy asks if the girl will come with them but she tells him it would be too dangerous for him to be seen with her. I don't understand, Obi-Wan. What do they mean?"
"Have you meditated on it?" Obi-wan inquired, immediately knowing the answer from Anakin's look. "Give it a shot. What have you got to lose?"
"I suppose I'll try." Anakin sighed, getting up and moving to the center of the room.
"I'll leave you for now. Anything you want for morning meal?"
"Whatever you'll be having, Master." Anakin replied.
"Alright. Once our Padawans return, we'll be heading off on our mission." As soon as Obi-Wan left, Anakin relaxed and shut his eyes.
"Move!" A voice cried out, and Anakin could sense the female from before knocking the boy down when an explosion sounded. "Sith, they're onto us!"
"We still have time!" The second said. "If we can just reach the Detention area!"
"Cause it'll be that easy!" A third voice, older and more rough than the others, sarcastically said.
"What else d'you expect, smuggler? This station isn't exactly designed to be a walk in the park!"
"Wasn't asking you, wench!"
"What Leia sees in you, I'll never know." The female growled in annoyance.
"Hey...guys…" The younger male called softly.
"What Iliya sees in you, I'll never know!" The third person retorted.
"Lay off!"
"Make me!"
"I will!"
"Guys!" More urgency colored the boy's tone.
"You wouldn't…"
"I would!"
"GUYS!"
"WHAT?!" Came the simultaneous response.
"There's a whole group of Stormtroopers coming our way-"
"GET DOWN!"
Then there was nothing. Anakin blinked, startling out of his meditation when he felt excruciating pain shoot through his body. "What...In the universe was that about? And what are Stormtroopers?" He shook his head. Meditating only made it even more confusing. "Who are these kids? Why would I be dreaming about them?" He wondered to himself before leaving the room, accidentally bumping into someone at once and causing for them to drop the datapads they were holding.
"I'm so sorry!" The woman exclaimed as she bent down to pick up the datapads.
"It's alright; it was my fault anyways." Anakin assured them, bending down to help the woman.
"Ani?" Anakin's head shot up at the familiar voice.
"Ree?" He blinked in surprise to find the young brunette in front of him, her datapads forgotten on the floor. "When-how-what?" He laughed and pulled the girl in for a hug. "It's been such a long time!"
"So you haven't forgotten me!" Ree smiled widely, reciprocating the hug.
"Are you kidding?" Anakin incredulously asked, though rhetorically. "How could I forget you? What are you doing here?" The two, after finally picking up all the datapads, headed off in the direction of the Temple Hangar.
"Business." Ree sighed, shaking her head. "Paranoid senators who claim they need protection, so they've given every one of us a bodyguard."
"You have a bodyguard?" Anakin smirked. The smirk then faded into confusion. "Wait...Since when did you become a senator?"
"Obi-wan was assigned to me." Ree replied, looking into the window for a moment. Anakin blinked in surprise. "And I've been a Senator for...Oh...five years now?"
"And he didn't tell me?"
"He only just found out, Ani." Ree told him.
"I'm sure Obi-Wan's thrilled." Anakin smirked.
"Totally."
"So, what's the meeting for?" Anakin decided to ask, accompanying the woman.
"I have no idea, honestly. It was an emergency meeting that was called for by some...some Senator from the Outer Rim. Wasn't really told anything." Ree apologetically looked up at him. "Thankfully, Padme's got the day off."
"Really?" Anakin was surprised.
"Yeah. I told Padme she needed it. She's done so much..." Ree clutched the datapads closer to her chest. "So I took her spot for today's discussion." She whispered the last few words, nervous.
"Something wrong?" Anakin asked.
"No. It's just...I know you and Padme rarely get to see each other, and you're such close friends, I was sure you'd be disappointed." Ree admitted, averting her gaze to the window. Anakin shook his head immediately.
"No. Quite the opposite. I mean, yeah, it stinks that I won't get to see her," It absolutely sucks, Anakin thought to himself. "But I'm grateful you stepped in. I've been trying to tell Padme she needs to take a day to relax." And he truly was. Padme had been very stressed lately because of all the meetings that the Senate continued scheduling and the irritating politicians she had to deal with. He was certain Padme was also thankful for Ree. Padme and Ree were best friends, sisters in a way. Anakin had reunited with Ree only a few months ago, during one of his missions to Coruscant when Padme had introduced him to her. Ree had been a childhood friend of Anakin's back when they lived on Tatooine. When Padme reintroduced them to one another, Anakin and Ree had joyfully spent a few hours catching up.
At the time, Anakin hadn't known she was a Senator.
"I'll try to find a way to give Padme more time off. Maybe then the two of you can spend some time to catch up." Ree told him, relieved Anakin wasn't upset with her.
"How will you do that?" Anakin asked, quirking an eyebrow. Ree only mischievously smiled.
"I have my ways. If I can hack into the system, I can schedule some 'sick' days."
"Hack into the system?" Anakin repeated. Ree blushed profusely, ducking her head so her dark blue hair would hide her face.
"I've done it before...For a good reason!"
"Wow..." Anakin shook his head, laughing a bit.
"It was to help Padme." Ree defended herself, her knuckles turning white from gripping the datapads.
"Calm down, Ree." Anakin laughed, raising his hands up in the air. "I'm sure you had a good reason to do it. Though...that might be useful later on..." He thought aloud.
"What would?"
"Hacking into the system. Might be helpful on some future missions."
"Oh! If I can be of any service, I'm willing to help!" Ree offered, raising her head, silver eyes sparkling and earnest. Anakin placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I'll keep that in mind. Actually..." Anakin cut off, staring out the large windows of the corridor, deep in thought. "Tonight...When everything's done...I might bring the twins to meet Padme."
"Twins?"
"Oh, you probably haven't heard," Anakin said, "But Obi-Wan and I have two Padawans now."
"Really?" Ree gestured for him to continue, silently demanding to hear more.
"They're twins, as I said before. Luke and Lariss Solo."
"Aw...They sound so cute." Ree squeaked, her eyes faraway as she tried to imagine Anakin and Obi-Wan's Padawans.
"Ha! I don't know how they would feel being called 'cute,' but they certainly are a handful." And so Anakin explained how he and his former Master had met the Solo twins and asked them to be their Padawans and the mini-adventures they'd already been on. Ree listened closely, hanging onto every word he spoke, commenting every now and then or throwing in a couple of questions for clarification. Anakin willingly gave her all the information she wanted.
By the time he was through, he and Ree had reached the Temple Hangar where Obi-Wan was waiting. "They sound wonderful." Ree said to Anakin. "I want to meet them sometime."
"You will be meeting them today. Well...One of them at least." Anakin indicated to Lariss, who had bounded into the Hangar and rushed to her Master's side. Ree's eyes widened upon seeing her, immediately noting how familiar she appeared.
"Oh my word..." She breathed, confused. She was certain Lariss was familiar...but why? She had seen her face somewhere before... 'I know I have...The hair color...those eyes...' The politician thought to herself.
Anakin misinterpreted her reaction, thinking Ree was only amazed that Lariss was Obi-Wan's Padawan.
"Yeah. She certainly is a handful for Obi-Wan." Anakin smirked, Ree raising an eyebrow at him.
"And you weren't?"
"Eh." He merely shrugged in response.
Ree sighed, shoulders slumping a bit. "I suppose I should be going. It was wonderful to see you again, Anakin. I'll tell Padme to expect you and your Padawans later."
"Thanks. Have fun at the discussion." Anakin clasped her shoulder. Ree sarcastically grinned.
"I definitely will."
With that, she went her way, approaching Obi-Wan and Lariss. Anakin watched as Obi-Wan politely greeted her and as Lariss studied the woman they were to escort to the discussion. He lingered for just a little longer, bidding Obi-Wan and Lariss goodbye, then wandered out of the Hangar to find Luke. His Padawan had wandered off earlier that morning and Anakin had yet to find him.
"Skywalker." A voice drifted down the Hangar to him. Anakin turned to see Mace Windu briskly walking toward him and fought the urge to sigh. What did Windu have to say now?
"Your needed down in the training rooms." Windu stated once he reached where Skywalker was. Anakin blinked.
"Why?"
"Your Padawan had an...incident earlier and it involved Master Wilan..." Windu pursed his lips, expression stern.
"Master Wilan?" Anakin thought back to the Training Master he had briefly met when he first became a Knight. He was a respectable man, but not experienced in combat. Why he had been appointed as the Padawan's trainer, he would never know.
"Yes. And since Master Wilan will be unable to teach his class today because of said incident, you will take his place."
Anakin's eyes comically widened. "Me?" Master Windu, wanted him, Anakin SKywalker, to teach a bunch of Padawans? A bunch of rowdy and wild kids?
Windu sensed his hesitation and disbelief, and, knowing exactly what was going through the Knight's head, smiled,
"Yes, you."
'Luke...'
Sensing that Luke acknowledged his call, Anakin continued in a low, monotonous tone,
'When I find you...'
Apprehension trickled through their link as Luke waited for him to continue,
'I am going to murder you.'
-CW-
There you have it. Another chapter all wrapped up and finished. Um...Should be more action later. And there'll be a bunch of time-skips since this takes place during the Clone Wars and a lot of things happened during that time...
So, yeah. I hope you enjoyed reading!