SON OF THE CHOSEN.

Sequel to 'Tortured Soul'.

Palpatine kidnapped Rexan to escape when he was exposed; fourteen years later, Rexan Skywalker returns. He is angry, resentful, withdrawn_

Is he just a troubled, tortured, young man? Or is he something more sinister?

Rexan: 3 -17.

Luke/Leia: 14.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

"He tried to kill my son!"

Obi-wan winced at Anakin's angry tone, "he's alright Anakin_"

Anakin rounded on him, his fists clenched tight. "That is not the point!" His chest heaving, Anakin snarled, "Palpatine sent someone to kill my son!" Even now, with him far away, his family wasn't safe - he had failed, it was supposed to be his job to protect his family.

"Anakin," Obi-wan sighed softly, "you need to calm down."

"Calm down!" Anakin stared at him incredulously, "someone tried to kill Rexan, and you want me to be calm!"

"Anakin, think!" Obi-wan exclaimed, looking at Anakin in exasperation. Walking forward, he shook his head, "Rexan is going to be fine." He smiled slightly as he looked at Anakin, "he's ok. But if we don't figure out who sent the man to kill Rexan_"

"We know who sent him Obi-wan," Anakin hook his head, "the shooter told us, remember."

Obi-wan sighed and shook his head, "so Palpatine just happened to know where Rexan would be last night?" They had had the party in Bail's office in the Senate, no one could have known that. "He has someone working for him, why am I the only one who can see that?"

Padme closed her eyes, "he's right Ani. It's the only way this could have played out," they were being watched, someone was spying on them - and telling Palpatine everything.

x

Rexan's eye felt heavy as he dragged them open, he felt drained, weak. Groaning he tried to sit up - his chest flared with pain, gasping he took a shaking breath as he eased himself back into the pillows.

"Rexan," Leia's voice was thick with relief as she rushed to his side. 'How do you feel?"

Looking at her, he smiled weakly,"Surprisingly... Like I got shot," Rexan winced and closed his eyes. "Where's Dad?"

Leia looked down, "he's really angry." She said softly, "and really worried about you."

Rexan sighed, that didn't really answer his question, but Leia was obviously worried too. "I'm alright," he reached out for his little sister's hand, "I'll be fine Leia, I promise."

"he's not even here," Leia whispered, "and he can still hurt us."

Staring at Leia, Rexan shook his head. "No," squeezing her hand to make her look at him, "he can only hurt us if we let him." He couldn't let Palpatine break their family.

"But he nearly killed you," Leia whispered, "you could have died_"

"No," Rexan shook his head, this hadn't been an attempt to kill him. "Palpatine was sending me a message," He pushed himself to his feet, despite Leia's protest, he took a deep breath, focused on his father, and walked out of his room in the Temple of Healing.

xx

Leia rushed into the Council Chamber, her eyes wide, ""i'm sorry, i tried to stop him!"

Rexan walked in a second after her, his face was white, his breathing coming in shuddering gasps. Anakin leaped to his feet, "what are you doing?!" Rushing to his son's side, he quickly lead him to a chair, "you're supposed to be resting!"

Rexan shrugged, "I didn't feel like it." He looked at his father and shook his head, "I wanted to let you know that I was ok."

"By nearly killing yourself in the process?" Obi-wan shook his head, "you could of just asked Leia to come to us."

They were all so tense, worried - and in his father's case, angry - he needed to relieve the tension. Rex stood off to one side, his eyes locked on Rexan, an annoyed frown creased his brow. Grinning, Rexan cocked his head, "do I know you?"

Rex snorted, smiling thinly, "funny kid. Real funny,"

Tiffara chuckled, "you do know telling the same joke again and again is boring right?"

"Yeah," rexan smiled, "but I had to say something to ease the tension in here." He looked at his father, sighing at the worry he sensed coming off him in waves. "Seriously, I'm ok."

"Apparently, Palpatine wasn't really out to kill him."

Looking at Leia, rexan rolled his eyes. "He wants me to know that he could have had me killed, that he had me life in his hands." Looking at the people around him Rexan shrugged, "you know what I'm going to do about it?"

"what?" Leia asked softly.

"Absolutely nothing." Leia's shocked expression, was mirrored by everyone else, Rexan sighed. "he's a coward, he'd rather send someone else to do his dirty work then face us himself. He wants to throw us off, to make us act and draw us into his plan." Shrugging, he leaned back in the chair, "I say, we ignore him, go on exactly as we were before."

Rexan lifted his chin, "There is only one thing on this galaxy more powerful than him, and that's us." He stood, his arms folding across his chest "If he wants a war, then we'll give him one."