AN:Sorry about the interminable wait to get this chapter up, but there was I think some bit of the evil Writher's Block, and then personal issues and it just took the time that it took. But it is here now, so read. Thanks to all who reviewed, and especially to Walking in the Light, who reviewed for the first time.
You should check out what else is going up today as well: Growing up Skywalker: Jaedrea, is up to about Chapter 14 in SotS, but it only takes another three weeks to finish out that story. This is Jae's journal, and should be an interesting read for those of you who are following along with this story. The Necklace. Chapter 9 should be up tonight as well, barring site problems.
Dantooine, Jedi Temple, mess hall, 39:6:24
Anakin was sure that he was going to drive his oldest three children into insanity, but that was just the protective fatherly side of him talking. The side that was the battle-hardened commander, the Hero with No Fear, knew that they could handle just about anything, if given proper preparation, and he was endeavoring to do just that by pressing them so hard. He wasn't really sure what it would take to silence the father inside him, the part of him that was saying that he was terribly abusing his children. The end of the war, probably, he thought.
He sighed, eliciting a sideways look from Liz. "Is it really getting that boring to you, Daddy?"
"Not in the way that you think, Elizabeth. What is your battle plan for today?"
"I thought that the twins would try for infiltration, since nothing seems to be working. It will be difficult to manage, but I think that they can be headed off with vigilant patrols. I don't know what to do otherwise."
"It should be enough. They are getting creative, but I know they are both better commanders than this," he said, then as she leveled a look at him that made him smile, "Of course, it could just be that you're better."
The look on her face turned to laughter, and he smiled. The twins had told him that they were thinking about infiltration. She was right on target. He didn't know if that was what they were actually going to do, but it sounded likely. It wouldn't have been fair to the twins to tell Liz that, so he kept quiet, but he smiled to himself as he led the way back to the command center.
Coruscant, Senate Rotunda, a small meeting room, 39:6:24
Cedric was in his element, for the most part, except that there was so much to be done, and it needed done correctly, and as quickly as possible. He did not enjoy being rushed. His twin could tolerate and even thrive on it, but he wasn't his sister. It wasn't going to be easy to do what needed done, but it was going to get done, he would make sure of it. Even if he had to ram it down their figurative throats, laced in pretty words.
"I don't see why we are putting this part in. Every planet is a member of the Republic already," the most conservative, most argumentative member of his committee, Ras Karth, a Gran Senator from Malastare, said. Here we go again, Cedric thought. He felt like he was banging his head against a durasteel wall. Unfortunately, this particular wall needed to be bent if he was going to have any chance of fixing the Republic.
"But they aren't. There are planets that are members of Hutt space, that don't have anything to do with much political, and a good number of the planets in Sith Space don't want to have anything to do with the galaxy at large. I'm just saying we should face reality here. Not every planet wants to be a part of the Republic, and therefore, they shouldn't be required to be, and they can suffer the consequences if they are not."
"Like what?" the Senator asked, clearly confused.
"Well, unless we were allied with them in some way, we wouldn't help them out in war, for example. I'm sure there would still be plenty of humanitarian missions and the like going on, but the member worlds of the Republic would come first for the government."
"So if, say Nal Hutta, as they likely would under the plan you are proposing, didn't join the Republic, and were attacked by, say, Black Sun forces, then we wouldn't help them?"
"Not unless it was in our best interest, and it didn't detract from the defense of the Republic. And we wouldn't go in unless they asked," Cedric said, clearly stunning the man.
"I wouldn't be able to support such a revision to this document," he said, getting up to leave.
"Wait," Cedric said. This Senator was one that he had labeled in his head as a problem, one of the several Senators who were in favor of the status quo.
"Why should I?" he asked.
"Because I don't think you understand why I feel these changes are necessary, so I feel like I need to reword my explanation."
He sat down, clearly not happy with the prospect, but at least willing to listen that much. This, Cedric could sense, was a pivotal battle for him, one that would sway more than just this one member of his group. There were twelve of the almost a hundred members of his subcommittee that were opposed to any change on the grounds that it was change. "The way in which the system is set up now, members of the Republic may request military assistance at any time. Being that the Republic encompasses every explored planet, anyone may request military assistance from the Republic. As it stands, the Republic is not able to comfortably patrol all of the systems that are currently inhabited by sentients, let alone some of the others that aren't, especially since those could be perfect targets for the CIS to take over and use as a base to infiltrate other systems and cause havoc.
"In this time of war, it is critical that we recognize that some planets will have to take priority over others. I don't like that any more than you do. In recognizing that fact, the government will be less burdened by responsibility for planets that do not want our interference, as they see it, and therefore more able to concentrate on the planets that do want the same things we do. Drawing lines in the sand like this will tell us how much we have to protect. The progress that has been made in recent years isn't to be discounted, but representation from the Outer Rim is spotty at best, and they do not trust us. If we cannot protect them from other members of the Republic, then how can we expect to protect them from outside forces?"
"Is this all about the War?"
"No, but it is something that's been needing to be done. Sometimes it is necessary to remove parts—dead parts, diseased parts—of something living in order for the whole to remain living. The Republic is in crisis, and unless we can remove the dead weight of the unwilling membership, the Republic will fall."
His grim pronouncement seemed to sink into the Senator, at least a little bit. "So what exactly do you propose to do with this dead weight, as you put it?"
"Nothing," Cedric said with a sigh, and was unsurprised by the surprised look on his face. "They are not part of the Republic, but that doesn't make them our enemy. If they choose to negotiate treaties for trade, protection, and alliances of other sorts, that can be done later, but for now, there is nothing that needs done with any planet that chooses not to be part of the Republic."
"And so by making the Republic smaller, it will be stronger?"
"That's the idea."
Excelsior, In orbit around Coruscant, Captain's Mess, 39:6:24
Han Solo was home, though not for long. He, along with the entire crew of the Excelsior, was scheduled to go out to the Void of Chopani in a week for training exercises. He would get to spend some time with Sabé and Kitster, precious little, considering they were not even two months old yet, and some time on board ship with Lando.
"So, Isard finally let go of you?" he asked Lando, who was currently enjoying the fine food provided by the Lady Ex's crew.
"Yeah, she pried every bit of information that she could out of me, even things I didn't know I remembered, and then she pried some more. I don't think I've ever been through anything worse. But I want to help the Republic find the bitch that set me up like she did, and took out Cloud City. I have a little money, but what happened to me is nothing compared to what the families of some of the residents of Cloud City are going through. I've been in contact with as many of them as I have been able to, and the Republic has agreed to help with survivor's benefits, but it's just not enough, nothing will be enough."
Han sighed. There were things he'd learned, things he knew now, because he'd married a Skywalker that he wasn't supposed to know, probably shouldn't have been told, and definitely didn't need to be telling his friend. "It's war, Lando," he said finally.
"I know it's war, Han; I just want the bastards to pay."
"They will, buddy; of course hopefully it'll be easier than it looks now. It depends on the leadership of the other side."
"The CIS?"
"Is that what they're calling themselves?"
"Yes, the Confederacy of Independent Systems."
Han shook his head, "It's not very original."
"No, but look at the group that makes it up. Neomoidians, the IGBC, the Geonosians. Most of the planets that have joined them so far are very bureaucratic."
"I know, I know. But they could at least come up with a catchy name."
"And the Galactic Republic is, what, the best thing since Sabacc?"
"Ok, ok, I see your point. Bureaucrats have no creativity."
"Only in how they make your life miserable."
"So are you ok, do you have somewhere to go, need help getting back on your feet?"
"Well, you could give me my ship back," Lando said slowly.
Han was slightly peeved that he'd even suggest it. "Hey, I won that ship fair and square, and I'm a little too attached to her to risk betting her in a game of Sabacc with you."
"Why are you so attached to that hunk of junk?"
"Hey, just a minute ago you were wanting her back."
"Well, if you aren't going to give her to me, there's no use in sparing her feelings, is there? Besides, she can't hear me."
Han made a derisive noise, but otherwise let Lando continue.
"So what makes her so special? You didn't care that much about her last time we talked."
He smiled, remembering why he loved the Falcon so much. "I fell in love on the old bird."
"What?"
"Leia and me, we were stranded for two months together, and we fell in love then."
"I figured you were long gone for her, even when she was sixteen, when you guys were always stopping by on some mission or another. Man she's enough to make a man forget that she could kill you faster than you could see it coming."
"I never forgot, and I didn't see her that way. She was twelve when I met her; it gives you a different perspective on things."
"She must have been a handful."
"Not really, not then. She got worse when she got older."
Lando blushed, having been on the receiving end of her temper more than once. "I know. So how did you manage to not get her to kill you?"
"She likes me more than she likes you, and I learned to respect her space, which you didn't learn without force."
Lando sighed, having been on the business end of too many lightsabers to be lighthearted about it anymore. "Do you think—"
"No. I don't think smooth talk will ever bed you a Jedi."
"I wasn't going to ask that," Lando said defensively.
"No, but you were going to ask something equally despicable. So, seriously, what were you going to ask if not that?"
"Nothing; you wouldn't know the answer to it anyway."
"Ok," Han said, shrugging, giving up for the moment. "I'm going to see the kids, you want to come with?"
"I guess I'm up for that. These two need to get to know their Uncle Lando."
"I wouldn't go that far, it's more like Auntie Lando," Han said with a straight face. Lando punched him not too lightly on the arm. "Ouch!"
"Captain on the bridge," someone shouted out, and everyone stood. He saluted them, and they returned to their duties.
"Captain," his first officer said.
"Commander Needa," he replied. "I am going to the surface for a few hours."
"Aye, sir. Will you fly yourself or do you want a pilot?"
Ick. "I'll fly myself, thank you, Lorth."
"Very well, sir. I have the reports of our preparations ready for you at your convenience. You should find everything in order," the man said, a hint of a smile on his face.
"Thank you, Lorth. I don't believe you've met my friend. Lorth, this is Lando Calrissian, Lando, Lorth Needa, my XO."
"A pleasure to meet you, Sir," Needa said, shaking Lando's hand, "Terrible business that was on Bespin, you have my condolences over your and your people's loss."
"Thank you commander, just make those bastards pay," Lando said.
"We intend to, Mr. Calrissian. Captain, by your leave, I'll return to my duties now,"
"Of course, Commander, carry on," Han said, Needa saluted, which Han returned then Needa went back to his duties.
Lando followed him as they went across the bridge, and headed down to the shuttle bay. "I didn't know you rated Captain."
"I've been a Captain for a couple of years, but since I've been on attached duty, it just tells them how much they have to pay me," Han sighed, wishing that he didn't have to deal with the military branch of the military. "Lorth is was recently assigned as the XO of the Lady Ex, he's good, he'll make Captain, for sure, and now that there's a war on, it will probably be sooner rather than later. I took over the job of CO from a man named Ozzel, and he got bumped to Fleet Admiral."
"Attached duty is supposed to be the sweetest gig you can get in the Naval Service, from what I hear," Lando said as they headed down to the cargo bay.
"Don't believe everything you hear. It's a lot more work than it's made out to be by those who don't do it, and on top of everything I do for the Jedi, I still have paperwork to take care of, mission reports, mostly. Gotta be the dumbest arrangement the Navy's come up with, having to submit completely different forms from what the Jedi have put together, with the same information again."
"So why do you do it? The attached duty, I mean."
"Because I love it. It's rewarding work. I actually feel like I'm accomplishing something. And I don't have to wear a uniform to work every day."
"And you get to ferry beautiful girls around everywhere?"
Han felt a smile creep onto his face. "Not so much, anymore. Just one."
They arrived at the shuttle bay, and Han was announced again. "Do they do that a lot?" Lando asked as they settled into the shuttle.
"Yeah. It's annoying. That's the other reason I like attached duty. I don't have to wear these stinking uniforms every day, I can wear whatever the mission dictates, which means whatever I want, usually. And no one salutes me."
"Ha. You hate being respectable," Lando said as they boarded one of the shuttles, getting clearance to leave.
"No, I like the job I signed up for. I got picked out of the Academy to be attached to the Temple permanently, by Master Yoda himself. He came down there about once a year, looking over recruits, seeing if any fit his personal specifications. I don't know how I did."
"He was a Jedi Master, one of the most renowned for centuries; maybe he looked at what's on the inside. I keep hearing that it's what's on the inside of a person that counts, anyway."
"Probably. I don't know how I would have met Leia otherwise, though."
"You are smitten."
"Probably. We haven't even been married a year," he said, smiling, "But it doesn't matter. I love her, and she loves me, we have a family together."
"So do I get to see your lovely wife today?"
"No, she's on Dantooine with Luke and Master Skywalker, and I think her younger sister Elizabeth."
"Luke, the sandy haired one, right, the one with the old guy with long hair for his Master?"
"Yes, him. He's my brother-in-law now."
"And your mother-in-law and father-in-law are two of the most powerful people in the whole of the Republic."
"Don't remind me."
"Don't get along with them?" Lando asked curiously, since he'd heard nothing of it.
"I get along alright with Chancellor Amidala, but Master Skywalker, that's another story, though recently, he's kind of changed his tune. He's being nice to me again. I think he thought I was robbing the cradle just a little."
"Yeah, you weren't exactly in his plans for his oldest daughter, were you?"
"I don't know. I think he would like it if she were happy, and she is, or she will be when everything gets back to normal, I think he's starting to realize it; the Chancellor told me to just give him time to get used to it," he told Lando, and their conversation lulled while he dealt with Coruscant's Flight Control.
"So why did they recall all of the naval personnel attached to the Temple?"
Han shrugged. "It was something to the effect of 'The Jedi will be leading troops from naval carriers and battle groups. There will not be a need for individual pilots.'"
"Sounds contrived."
"Probably is. Probably don't have enough experienced people to staff battle groups, so we're being spread out among the fleet. We also know the Jedi, so I think we'll be expected to act as liaisons on top of whatever duty we're being assigned."
"Sounds like fun," Lando said sarcastically.
"Well, it won't be too bad, and we'll be back to our regular duties as soon as the major thrust of the war is over."
"That's good," Lando said as they landed on one of the pads reserved for the use of the Jedi Temple and those it housed.
The ramp lowered smartly, seemingly just as regulated as everything else on the Excelsior. Han sighed, getting off the shuttle, and heading for the main building of the Temple Complex, or as he liked to think of it, home.
Coruscant, Jedi Temple, Kenobi Quarters, 39:6:24
Obi-Wan wasn't sure what to say to Jaedrea, or what she wanted to say to him, but he was ready to answer her questions as honestly as it was possible for him to do so. Their talk had been pushed off to the next day, and he knew that she'd been upset by that, but it had been rather unavoidable. He would have been able to handle the late night it would have needed to have been to talk after they'd gotten back from Dex's quite late, but she wasn't going to be able to. She bit her lip as he looked at her, and he realized that she didn't know how she wanted to start. He knew staring at her would only make it worse for her, so he got up, and she panicked.
"Where are you going, Master?"
"I think I want some tea. Would you like some? I'll only be in the kitchen, if you feel like you're ready to start, I can hear you from there," he said reassuringly.
"Oh," she said, silent for a moment. "I think I would like tea."
She was so uncertain, and it wrenched his heart just a little bit out of place. "What kind would you like? I could give you what your father drinks, if that's ok."
She nodded. "I've never had tea," she told him as she followed him into the kitchen.
"Well, when your father was first my Padawan, he hadn't ever had tea before either," he told her conversationally as he pulled the teapot down and began to fill it.
"Really?" she asked.
He nodded as he put the water on the stove to boil. "Really," he told her. "He was about your size then."
"Daddy was as little as I am?"
"Yes, and he'd only just lost his arm, and I had to constantly remind him not to scratch at the scars—it would only make them worse."
"But he doesn't have scars, does he?" she asked as he reached above the stove, pulling down cups.
"Well, they are under the base of his prosthetic, but yes he does have them. They showed for a while, because he didn't have anything there to cover them. He didn't get that until he got his final replacement."
"When was that?"
He put tea bags in the cups as he thought for a moment, "He was twenty, I think, just after he was Knighted. He'd gotten so used to the whole process that when it started aching, he went in, but he hadn't actually grown much at all. He was, however, starting to put on muscle. He got a heavier model arm, and that was the last time he had it replaced. He still tweaks it sometimes, I think. Anakin never could be around anything mechanical and not do that."
Jaedrea giggled, knowing it was true; she was a tiny bit envious of how he could work on his arm with it still attached, though he did get into some funny positions doing so.
The water started to boil, and he put it into the cups, and motioned for her to go into the common room with him as he carried the tea. "Let it cool a bit before you start drinking it," he cautioned her, and set both cups down on the small conversation table in the middle.
"Who is Sid?" she asked, and her direct question caught him off guard for a moment.
"He's a bad person, who did very bad things when he was alive, and didn't learn to do any better after he died."
"He seems important, though. Who was he?"
"Sid was a shortening of his Sith name, Sidious. He was the one who tempted your father to the dark side in the other universe."
"He doesn't like Daddy?"
"I don't know what he does and doesn't like. That is probable though," he said, and she sat back thinking on her next question.
"How did Jasmine become Luke's Padawan? I wrote about that she was being all quiet and shy, and how she wasn't trying to be noticed."
"Well, it was after the change; Luke asked the Council, and we said yes. He has a special bond with her, he always has."
"You mean when Daddy became Vader?"
"Yes, then. Luke and Leia became the children of Vader."
"Oh," she said, and Obi-Wan picked his cup up, taking a sip, and he watched Jaedrea do the same. "It's really hot."
"That's why you only sip until it cools some more, but it should be fine as long as you don't overdo it."
She nodded. "I read where he asked me if using Force Lightning on a Sith was bad."
"What did you answer him?"
"I didn't—at least not that I wrote about," she told him.
"Well that is a very complicated question of the end justifying the means, but usually, it doesn't work out that way."
"So, it's probably not ok?"
"Most of the time that wouldn't be acceptable," He said, pausing to ensure that his declaration sank in, "But there might be a time that it would work. Judgment is part of being a Jedi. I won't lie to you Jaedrea, the Dark Side is very seductive, it is quick, and it is easier in most cases, especially in combat. The thing you have to remember is that the costs of the power is very, very high."
She sighed, and looked down. Obi-Wan just waited patiently. "Like when I hurt Jaz," she said in a soft voice.
Obi-Wan nodded, "Yes little one. A lesson you needed to learn, but I would have rather you learned it another way," Obi-Wan gathered her up in a hug.
"When did Daddy become your Padawan?" she asked as he held her.
He was a bit surprised by the question, knowing that she knew the answer, or at least, she should. "The day after I was Knighted. He was only just out of the Healer's."
"But, don't you have to have your Lightsaber to do your Ceremony?" Ah, there's the real question, he thought, realizing that it was only slightly more in depth than her original question, but a distinction that she was making, or that had been made for her.
"Yes, but that didn't keep him from being my Padawan. The Ceremony happened when he was eleven; he didn't let the catch-up that he had to play bother him, or at least as much as possible. So it took two years of lightsaber theory to get him to the point where he could safely build his lightsaber."
"Master?"
"Yes, Jaedrea?"
"Can we do my Ceremony again, when I build my new lightsaber?"
"I think that could be arranged. I'm sure that your mother and father would be alright with that, though, maybe it should be just for the family?"
"Yes, probably," she sighed.
"Did you have any other questions for me?"
She carefully examined her toes as she thought. "No, I didn't read past my ceremony. I want to, eventually, but," she stopped, and he could feel the conflicting emotions inside her about what she was reading. Trepidation warred with curiosity, sadness that she couldn't actually remember warred with the need that she had to be able to fight Sidious off. That she hadn't said anything about him, her dreams, or anything since they had gotten back from Kamino worried him a bit. It felt like Sidious was waiting for her to let her guard down again, so that he could work her over even more thoroughly a second time.
"It's alright, Jae. I know how hard this is for you," he said.
She snuggled into him, burying her head in his chest; he could feel the tears wetting the front of his robes, and she held to him as though his presence would banish the evil that was trying to lay claim to her soul. He sighed, wishing with all his heart that it were just that easy. Then for the first time their training bond opened all the way, and Obi-Wan smiled as she drifted off to sleep.
Coruscant, Jedi Temple, Infant Crèche, 39:6:24
Mara was looking forward to the birth of Ardrya, as she was sure that Luke was, when he had time to think of them. It was never far from her mind that he was out in the battlefield training for a reason, though he tried to send her a message every day, it was hard. So she tried to find things to occupy her time while she waited. She was officially on medical leave, and had been for nearly two months. The Council and the Healers were even more over-protective than her husband was. It was bad enough explaining to him that she was pregnant, not disabled. Nevertheless, the Council had decreed that pregnant Jedi weren't to be assigned to active duty once they were past their third month, and they also had a month, or more if they needed it, after the child was born to recover. Six months was a long time, and she didn't like being away from her duty, her life.
But she could still be useful around the Temple. She'd been contemplating teaching a class, but there wasn't any particular subject that jumped out at her. There was always something that needed a teacher, but it wasn't exactly in her nature. So she'd ended up here, in the crèche helping Siri, who was like a second mother to her.
"So," she said as she entered the crèche, "What kind of help can I be, Master Siri?"
"Well, it's not that hard to find something," she said, looking around. "I think I've got Sabé well in hand at the moment, but could you see about Jydan?" she said, indicating a boy sitting up in one of the cribs, fussing a little; it wasn't full blown crying yet, but it would get there quickly enough if someone didn't do something.
"Sure," she said going over to the boy and picking him up. "Hey," she said to him, and he fussed a little less as she held him. He grabbed at her hair, and started cooing.
"Looks like he just wanted held," Siri said with a smile.
"Looks like it. I don't think I've met Jydan before, or his parents," she said, walking across the room to where Siri was as she pulled her hair out of his hand and moved it behind her back.
"He's a foundling, but his parents are both here. I think they moved in a month or so ago."
"Foundling?" she asked, amused by the term.
"Well, he's not born to the duty, as you were," Siri said, smiling.
The door opened and Han Solo and a man she didn't know walked in. "Master Kenobi," Captain Solo said formally.
"Captain Solo," she replied. "And who is this?"
"A friend of mine, Lando Calrissian."
"Master Kenobi," Lando said, following Han's example. "And who is this beautiful woman?" he asked her.
She smiled, because it was almost cute, him trying to be smooth. "I'm Mara."
Lando smiled, but he was prevented from actually saying anything else to her by Han clearing his throat and saying, "Knight Skywalker, I trust you're feeling well?"
"As well as Leia was at this stage," she said, turning attention to her husband's brother-in-law. " I'm bored out of my mind and wanting to be out there with them. I don't trust Luke to take care of himself properly without me to look after him," she told him with a smile.
He nodded, and Kitster chose that moment to start crying, and Han went to pick him up. "Hey there, big boy. You miss Daddy, don't you?" Han said to his son and it was about the most adorable thing she'd ever seen from him.
The peace of the scene was broken as a shrieking pale tan streak ran past Mara and Siri's hand deftly caught an arm as the child tried to run past her.
"Kennis!" she scolded the naked two-year-old.
"Gramma!" he said happily, oblivious to her tone.
"I'm tempted never to claim relationship to you again," she said severely, setting Sabé into her crib. "Come on; let's get you back to your teacher."
Coruscant, Jedi Temple, Skywalker Central, 39:6:24
Padmé wasn't in a position to make many demands on her younger son, but she didn't like to see him hurting. And he was hurting very deeply right now. She didn't have to be a Jedi to see that. He was always hip deep in something, burying himself in work the way that Anakin would when he was confronted with emotions he couldn't handle. She knew that there were some people who couldn't see how very much Cedric was like his father, but she could. Luke had taken the path of emulating his father, which was all fine and good, fortunately he had a good deal more common sense than Anakin did. Cedric, on the other hand, rebelled. That was what he'd inherited from his father, along with the looks. But rebellion came in the form of conformity. He was as much of a conformist as Obi-Wan had been when she'd first met her husband's Master, thirty-six years ago.
That didn't mean it wasn't Cedric's form of rebellion. He was the perfect Jedi Padawan. He was calm, never letting a stray emotion cross his face, though she could see them boiling behind his eyes, the liquid cobalt that also graced the faces of both his brother and father. Luke didn't have the never-ending pit of emotion that Anakin had, but Cedric did. He had just learned to hide it better. He was her child in other ways, though. He had been fascinated with politics from the time he could understand words, hanging on her every sentence as she described the goings on of the Senate to Anakin. Poise and grace that served to augment his considerable personal charm, those he took from her. He was a diplomat, through and through, and she had heard reports from the Senate, from her friends who would confide in her that they often forgot that he was thirteen. He hadn't even started to grow facial hair yet, and he was quickly becoming as respected as she was in the political arena.
All this despite the words that they threw around about him. Radical, dangerous, idealist, loose cannon, fear monger, war hawk, and the list went on. Sometimes she had to remind people that she was younger than he was now when she'd been elected Princess of Theed, and only a year older when she'd gone before the Senate the first time as Queen of Naboo. That was a painful memory, one that she didn't like to have come up, but Sabé's death had served a purpose in the greater good. Her death had saved her from certain death, and she hadn't been the only one to die that day.
She sighed, shaking away the thoughts, and knocked on Cedric's door. He was home, she'd noticed him come in an hour or so earlier, and he'd gone straight to his room, probably intent on homework, but he needed to talk about this. "What do you want, Mom?" his voice asked distractedly.
"I want to talk to you," she said.
The door hissed open as she waited. He was still on his bed, so he had used the Force to unlock the door, something that his father disapproved of, now that he had children, but Cedric was distracted and in pain. She wasn't going to start their conversation by berating him on excessive uses of the Force. "I'm busy, Mom," he said without looking up.
"I know, but we hardly see each other anymore. I wanted to talk to you about this thing with Immolious."
"Her name is Sev'rance," he said, with more emotion than she'd ever seen him put into his voice, but it was as if it was automatic.
"What do you mean by that?" she asked curiously, and hoped that this was the door that she needed to open so that he would talk.
He sighed, closing his eyes. "I don't want to talk about it."
"But you need to. I can see that you're hurting," she said, and he shut down his datapad, and looked up at her.
"Yes, it hurts. Talking about it isn't going to make it hurt less, or go away," he said, as calmly as he'd ever told her anything.
"Why do you call her Sev'rance?" she asked, knowing that if she was going to get anything out of him, she was going to have to appeal to his intellectual nature.
"That's her name. Immolious is her Sith name, and she's not Sith anymore."
"Why do you think that she's not a Sith anymore?"
"Because she doesn't know who she is anymore, because of me. The path of the Sith is not one of confusion. Dad told me that. It's painful, it's dark, but it's not a confusing one. It is a decisive path, and she's no longer decisive."
"So because she's confused, she's not dangerous?"
"Oh, no, she's still plenty dangerous, but that doesn't make her a Sith. Dad's plenty dangerous, but that doesn't make him a Sith. Any Jedi is dangerous, but that doesn't make any of us Sith, either. She's not good yet, but I think she's on the path."
"What are your intentions toward her?"
He sighed, but he started to answer her. "She's the mother of my child. For good or for ill, she is."
Padmé waited for him to go on, but he didn't, so she asked, "Which means?"
"I've got certain obligations to her. I can't just abandon her. I wouldn't want to anyway."
"Why not?"
"Because I love her. I realize how incredibly impractical that is, but I can't help it."
It was her turn to sigh, but idealism was something that she didn't know how to fight. "Well, you love her. What are you going to do about it?" she asked gently.
"I don't know yet. We're," he trailed off, trying to find the words he wanted to use, "We're working on it. I don't know where that's going to lead us."
"Do you talk to her?"
"Sometimes," he admitted, "But that's all, just talking," he assured her.
"When?"
He shrugged. "Whenever she can find me."
"I hope that's not often," she said, and he sighed.
"I know you don't like it, but I need to interact with her, for the sake of my son. I'm not going to abandon him."
There was the idealism again. "I don't expect you to," she started.
"And that means that I can't abandon her. It's kind of a package deal, Mom."
"Why do you say that?" trying to keep the pride she was feeling out of her words; it wouldn't do to encourage the boy, too much.
"I don't know that I can put it into words," he told her with a sigh. "It's not like I can take him from her when he's born. Even if I could, it wouldn't be fair to her. I would spend eight months pretending everything is going to be fine between us, then turn my back on all of that, and take him from her? If anything could drive her back into being a Sith, that certainly would."
"Could you convince her that she needs help, that she needs to let someone else care for him until she's totally rid of the problems she's facing?"
"Mom, first, that's completely impractical. Everyone has some sort of problems, pretty much all the time. She doesn't need enough help that she won't be able to care for him. Being a Sith isn't an illness; you can't cure someone of it," he said, which caught her a bit off-guard, for that had been what she'd been thinking. "Second, who would judge when she was going to be sufficiently able to take care of herself and him? Third, it wouldn't be fair to him. He needs a connection with both of his parents. He needs to understand where he came from."
"But he doesn't have that right now. I realize he's not born yet, but you're right, he does need contact with both of his parents, but the only way that's going to happen is for her to come here."
"No. She wouldn't trust that it isn't just a trick to get him away from her. I'm not sure that the Council wouldn't want to do just that. I'm not sure that she could be safe here, not with some of the things that have been said to the rest of the family."
"Cedric," she started, not knowing what she could really say to that, since he was right. Leia's temper was nearly as bad as Anakin's, and there were many reasons that some members of the Jedi Order would want her execution put up for consideration.
"No, Mom. She's not ready for this step. The Order isn't ready for this step. I don't think I'm ready for this step. It's hard enough to deal with her as often as I do. I'm not sure I could do it every day."
"You wouldn't have to—"
"It's not a matter of have to, Mom," he said with fierce, quiet determination.
She was silent for a time, deciding how to go about a smaller concession on his part. "I want to meet her," she said finally.
"I don't think that's a good idea," he said pessimistically.
"Cedric, I'm not asking you to spring this on her. Ask her first, but I want to meet the mother of my grandson."
"I'll think about it."
"You will make this request for me. The next time you see her. If she says no, that is fine, but you will do this."
"Yes, Mother."
Dantooine, Jedi Temple, Meditation chamber, 39:6:24
Luke was most of the way to exhausted, and it was only mid-afternoon. He wasn't quite to the point of giving up, but it was a close thing. His father had given them a reprieve, a few hours to themselves, well, the rest of the afternoon. He was not pushing them as hard as true battle would, but it was still grueling, and it was mostly for Liz's benefit, but she couldn't get trained if they weren't doing it. Well, she could, but he knew as well as any of them that it would be completely inadequate. He'd found the way to one of the meditation chambers, one of the above ground ones, and he was intent on meditating for at least most of the rest of the day.
There were a good number of other things he probably should have been doing: sending messages to Mara, Jasmine, and his mother; laying out plans for the next day's exercises; sleeping; but this seemed more important to him at the moment.
He quickly slipped into a light trance, just enough to make contact with the Force. "Like this room your father does not. A different opinion have you?"
Luke opened his eyes, maintaining the light touch with the Force. Red-brown carpet blended up to deep brown walls that lightened as they went up, with a crowning yellow ceiling. The meditation cushions were orange and the light coming in from the windows only accented the redness of the carpet, making it brighter, more…something. "It is rather oddly colored, Master, but I don't dislike it.
"Humph. Addle brains, the hot suns of Tatooine do. Know you not what this room represents?"
"It reminds me of the first day I saw snow fall. We had gone to Naboo, and it was just turning to winter, and there were leaves of every color on the ground. I was seven, I think."
"Humph," was Master Yoda's only answer. "In death I have gained access to memories of Darth Sidious's Empire, and that which went on before its inception," he said gravely.
"Yes, Master," Luke said, knowing that would be helpful, but uncertain as to what Master Yoda wanted to discuss with him. In four years of dealing with Force Ghosts, he'd learned that they always wanted something, but it was extracting what exactly that was usually the problem. At least Ben had been direct most of the time.
"A much better understanding of what is at stake I now have."
"Yes, Master."
"A very real danger, Sidious still poses to the Skywalker family."
"What threat?"
"Believe I do that Sidious is attempting to gain control of your sister."
"Which sister?"
"Jaedrea. The most vulnerable of the Skywalkers she is because the most like your father she is in temperament."
"What else do you think he will do?" he asked, needing that information more than he needed more particulars about Jaedrea's problems. Not that he didn't care, but it was like a road well traveled for him.
"Attempt to harm your father through your sister he will," Yoda said, sticking to the information about Jaedrea.
"What can be done about it?"
"A rest she has had from his influence, but once Anakin returns to Coruscant, resume and redouble his efforts to torment both of them he will. A fully trained Sith Vader was, and an asset he would be if he could be turned again to darkness."
"Dad wouldn't turn back," Luke said adamantly, "The only reason he turned in the first place was the promise to save Mom."
"A breaking point everyone has," Yoda reminded him gently.
Luke bowed his head, "Yes, Master."
"See that neither truly reaches theirs, your task is; not yours alone, but yours in part. Help you Obi-Wan will."
"Yes, Master."
"If Anakin's strength Sidious cannot break, another apprentice he will seek among the weak-minded of the Order."
"Who?"
"Any would do for his purpose. Picky he would not be, but quick would he prefer. Younger, probably, so moldable they would be."
Coruscant, Jedi Temple, Skywalker Central, 39:6:24
Jasmine felt uncertain as she curled up on her parent's sofa. She wasn't expecting anyone to be home anytime soon. She was accustomed to being able to choose the best course of action with relative ease, but things had gotten more complicated. Jaedrea needed a reasonably detailed account of the goings on that had led to hr fall into darkness. She hadn't actually gone to the Dark Side, but it had been close. That much she'd been able to figure out with a reasonable degree of certainty. What she wasn't skilled enough to tell was whether the amnesia was a product of her mind recoiling from what she'd almost done, or if it had been Sidious's doing. The Sith Lord was an unknown quantity in her puzzle. Not knowing about him had nearly gotten her killed.
Not knowing about him had caused her to discount possible paths as extremely unlikely, despite their continued presence. That should have been her tip-off. It had been a lesson to her, just as much as it had been to Jaedrea. She didn't know everything. The future was very mutable, and subject to more factors than she could keep track of.
Jasmine wanted to know more about Sidious and Jaedrea's interactions with him, but Jaedrea needed to know, too. And so she had to wait. Not long enough for Jae to lose her nerve, but long enough that she was able to comprehend everything fully.
It was a delicate balance that she had to maintain, and Luke was about the only one who really understood where she was coming from on that. She knew Luke hadn't told anyone about what she could do, but maybe it was time to talk to someone about it, since her Master was halfway across the galaxy.
As she pondered what to do about her situation, Julia sat down on the sofa beside her. "Do you want to go do something together?" Julia asked curiously.
Jasmine shook her head, not really wanting to play right then.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Jaedrea," she answered mournfully.
Distain was clear in Julia's voice as she asked, "Why?"
Jasmine sighed. This path was clear enough, at least. "It's like she got hit with a huge reset button, Jul. She doesn't remember anything of what happened from practically our birthday until she woke up in the Healer's after," she said. She knew she didn't have to say after what.
"You're serious."
"Hasn't anyone told you that?"
"Yeah, but," Julia looked down.
"You didn't want to believe it," Jasmine finished for her.
She nodded, "It was too convenient. It was like she was getting off scot free even though she nearly killed you."
"She still has her own scars, Jul. Just because you can't see them doesn't mean they aren't there," she said, with a slight emphasis on you, because she could see the scars on Jae's heart as clearly as the ones on her own body.
"She doesn't remember any of it?"
"She doesn't remember anything from the moment she set foot on Ilum until the day she woke in the Healer's. Her Ceremony; Celebration Day; Expansion Week; building her lightsaber; anything from Other Uses of the Force class; finding out that Mom was pregnant again, and about Mara being pregnant, too; Uncle Ferus getting home, me being sick after Bothawui; my Ceremony; finding out that you were finally going to have yours; Sabé and Kitster being born; Fin going to Dantooine; Grams coming down for Luke and Leia's birthday; Master Yoda dying; none of it," Jasmine felt the need to be quite specific in her list; things that as time wore on, it would be less and less likely that Jaedrea would actually remember any of it, a benefit that Julia would always have.
The horror that she didn't remember some of those things was starting to sink in to Julia's very thick skull. "She doesn't remember any of it?"
"No. We can tell her, but it's not the same. Celia and Master Allie don't know if she'll ever remember any of it," she said quietly, "Not even the good things."
Julia curled up on the sofa, making herself into a ball, "I didn't think that it was that bad."
"I know, Juls," Jasmine said, "But she needs both of us if she's going to be able to work through this. It's not going to be easy, even with that, but it will be impossible without your help."
"What can I do?" she asked, and Jasmine watched the flickering of emotions cross her face as something happened to her. Jasmine knew this was the turning point for Julia, but she wasn't sure what was happening. She bit her bottom lip as she saw tears well up in Julia's eyes.
"Julia," she started as her sister's eyes focused back on her.
She ducked her head, wiping the tears away. Julia hated when anyone saw her crying. "I know what I have to do. Master Yoda told me when I was on Ilum."
"What did he say?" she asked gently.
"That I am facing a crossroads. I think he means now."
Jasmine looked at her, studying the tumult of emotions that Julia was under. It didn't make her happy for her sister, but nothing in the mix was dark enough to cause her undue stress. "What else?" she prompted when Julia didn't say anything.
"That the decision I made about this was really important, and that it would affect everything."
Jasmine knew she wasn't telling her exactly, but that didn't really matter. It was the message that was important, not the words.
"He said it was going to be hard for me, to forgive Jae, but that I needed to, for lots of reasons," she said, her voice getting small and frightened, and Jasmine scooted over next to her, trying to comfort her, because she knew that this would be the most difficult thing Julia would ever have to do. At least it was probably the most difficult thing that Julia would ever have to do.
"What reasons did he give you?" Jasmine asked, and she could almost see Julia's gears turning, reviewing the conversation.
"It's part of the battle between the Jedi and the Sith."
"What else?" Jasmine prompted after a long moment.
"He said to do it for myself, because the hate would only harm me, and because Jae won't understand why I wouldn't forgive her."
"There's something else, though, isn't there?" she asked, knowing by the way she shifted just slightly that Julia was being evasive.
"For you, so that what's happening to Jaedrea doesn't hurt you."
Jasmine closed her eyes, smiling. Trust Master Yoda to know that she saw things. She shook her head, and looked at Julia again. "I'm used to it, Juls. Jae hurts me about every day, sometimes more than once. It's no one's fault, it's just the way Jae is. I don't fret about something I can't change."
"Do you…" Julia started to ask, but she fell silent, as though she was afraid of the answer.
"Do I really see the way Master Yoda does?" Julia nodded. "Not really, but I do have my own way of knowing the future."
"Why didn't you stop Jaedrea?"
"I didn't believe what I was seeing. I didn't know that there was someone out there influencing her, causing the changes I was seeing. I can't stop seeing the future, and I don't always know why something is happening. I learned a lesson because I didn't think that Jaedrea was capable of doing what she did, and she wasn't, not on her own, anyway."
"So you knew that she might hurt you?"
"I could see that the event was possible, but I didn't understand the whys behind it, so I didn't believe that it was really going to happen."
"So, you should listen more to Master Yoda," she said slyly.
Jasmine smiled, "I suppose, but I hadn't ever had to deal with anything so…"
"Awful?"
Jasmine nodded. "So can you see how it's not totally Jaedrea's fault? There were lots of little things that lots of people should have picked up on, but no one did, and she only had the ghost of a Sith Lord to fall back on."
Julia shivered. "I don't like to think about that."
"It was what happened. I don't like thinking about it either, but it fits everything into place quite neatly. It doesn't mean that Jaedrea wasn't wrong for what she did, but I think it will be worse for her not remembering what happened than to punish her harshly. It's eating her up inside that she doesn't really know what all went on. It's like the part of her that is her is cracked, and very fragile. I don't know if that is going to make things worse for her in the end or not, but she's not going to get any better until she has the support of everyone, at least everyone in the family."
Coruscant, Jedi Temple, Skywalker Balcony, 39:6:25
Sev'rance wanted to see Cedric. She'd wanted to see him for two weeks, ever since the last time that she had seen him. It was always like that; she would fight the feeling until she couldn't stand it anymore, and then promise herself that it was the last time that she was going to see him, and every time, it took shorter and shorter lengths of time for her absence from him to become unbearable. It had only been two weeks, barely at that. He wouldn't be expecting her, she didn't think, and that pleased her. Maybe she could…No. The thought cut through the Sithly imaginings.
He would enjoy it. The kiss he gave you last time he saw you should prove that.
He was testing boundaries: yours and his. I don't think he's willing to take that chance again.
He enjoyed the kiss; I felt it. It wouldn't take much to nudge him into wanting more.
Remember how angry he was, still is, for that matter, from the last nudging you did?
You really think so?
He doesn't trust you.
Not like he trusts you much more. We do, after all, inhabit the same body.
Not by my choice. I'm sure you would be perfectly happy without me in here, too.
Well, I have spent a good deal of effort to rid myself of you, but it has all failed. That particular trait of yours is rather annoying.
But it is something you will never have. Love is stronger than hate.
You wish.
If it were not, why am I not vanquished? A smile came to Sev'rance's face. It wasn't often that the part of her that belonged to Cedric won an argument to the point of silencing the part that clung to the Sith ideals.
She was nearly to the Jedi Temple. She fanned out her awareness, ensuring that there were no errant Jedi up this late, but all the dutiful, good little Jedi were asleep. Or at least in their quarters. Cedric was on the balcony. Does he ever sleep? The Sith part thought sarcastically.
You would be enough to give anyone nightmares for the rest of their lives. What do you think poor Lando is going through?
Is he still alive? A pity.
The Jedi absconded with him when they left Bespin. It was lucky you got to the ship in a reasonable amount of time. Grievous firing on Cedric's family wouldn't have gone over well.
Yes, Grievous does have a tendency for exceeding orders, doesn't he?
Yes. Fortunately, he's not our problem, anymore, he's Tarkin's. May the Force be with us for that one.
Yes, I can't say I disagree. Those two will be a force to be reckoned with, if they can ever stop bickering for long enough. Cedric did the Republic a real favor, taking out me as the mediator between the two of them.
They may work out an arrangement. Tarkin isn't one to spend his time being overly disagreeable. He's a military type. Once a pecking order is established, he'll stick with it.
Yes, but I disagree with your assessment of Tarkin. I believe he spends every day trying to be as absolutely disgusting as possible.
She didn't want to think about the war she had promised Cedric she wouldn't be fighting anymore. Besides, she was almost to the Temple. He was on the balcony of his parent's quarters, where she usually found him. She wondered if he ever slept anymore. If she judged by the dark circles under his eyes, it was unlikely.
"Sev'rance," he said coldly as she dropped onto the roof. "I should have known better than to come out here tonight."
His cryptic comments confused her. "You don't want to see me?"
"I would have preferred being able to wait a few days," he said with a sigh.
"Did something happen?" she asked, wondering what could have happened that would make him say things like he was.
He was silent for a while, looking out across the Coruscanti skyline. "I have to ask you something," he said, and the tremor in his voice was hard to ignore.
She felt a cold dread coil around her insides. "You can ask me anything you like," she said cautiously.
He sighed, dismissing it with a wave of his hand. "Later," he said, then turned to face her, "How have you been doing?"
His question caught her off guard. "I've been ok," she answered, not following what he was asking, her brow creasing a bit in her confusion.
"No morning sickness, you don't feel extra tired, nothing? Come on, I'm living in very close proximity to two pregnant women, and my oldest sister just had twins."
"What's morning sickness?" she asked, letting him guide her to a place she could sit down.
"No nausea in the morning?" Cedric asked.
"No, why?"
"My mother and my sister and sister-in-law all have it bad; from what experience I have it's a part of being pregnant."
"Maybe for human women it's that way, but not for Chiss. I don't know that much about my people, but I've tried to find out as much as I can about what pregnancy is like for my people."
"I'm sorry, I forgot you aren't human."
"As for the other, I sleep a bit more than usual, but I'm not tired otherwise."
He was quiet, sitting there beside her for a little while. "Why are you here?" he asked quietly.
"Do I need a reason?"
"No," he answered, not quickly, as though he were desperate to see her, but not slowly, as though he didn't want to see her. It was the perfect speed. "But you usually do."
"I just wanted to see you," she said, then added, "I've thought of a name to suit our son."
He sighed, "So there is a reason."
"Well, no, I just thought I would tell you while I'm here."
He nodded. "Well?"
"Merkoz'ere'tlekethertono," she said, carefully enunciating the Chiss name. Its meaning equated to a very long sentence in basic, and meant 'mother's love.'
"Can that be a bit shorter? I'm sure he'll have problems with it in school until he's ten, at least."
She nodded. "Zeret, his name is Zeret. The other is almost more like a title."
He nodded. "That, I think I can handle."
"Now it's your turn, what did you want to ask me?"
"I don't want to ask you, but I have to ask you," he said, sounding uncomfortable again.
"What is it? You make it sound like it's horrible," she said.
"I just don't know how you'll react to it, however once I ask, feel free to answer any way you want. I won't think less of you for not wanting to do what I'm about to ask."
"Ok, Skywalker, enough of the build up, this isn't some third-rate holodrama."
"Sorry," he said, looking away, not wanting to meet her eyes, "My mother wants to meet you. While she didn't say so outright, I felt it was implied that the terms were yours to set."
Tann thought about it for a moment, no this isn't anywhere near as bad as I feared, the Sith in her surged in excitement at the opportunity, while she recoiled at the thoughts that part of her was having, and knew that if it had it's way she would lose Cedric forever. On the other side though there was as much opportunity for her as for the Sith. A chance to gain a very powerful ally in her quest to….then it occurred to her, she'd really gotten what she initially set out for, why was she still here? The Sith in her had wondered at that for a long time but had never voiced the question. What was her final motivation, what was it that she needed his mother as an ally for? Dare she even hope? Hope that someday she might…dare she even think it? It was too scary, too happy a thought, one once thought she knew would consume her every waking moment, and if it wasn't possible, destroy her utterly. Husband…it came surprising her, she really didn't want to think that word, but there it was. And Cedric's mother was the key. Dare she take the risk, was her control over the Sith strong enough? She decided that it HAD to be, for Cedric, she looked into his eyes and saw the same longing that she felt and her heart broke to see him in that much pain, tears came to her eyes and she felt his arms around her, already strong despite of his youth. He was saying something; she fought past the onslaught of emotion to hear him.
"Shhhh….shhhhh…its ok, you don't have to. I won't make you…." He was saying.
"No, no I must. I must do this. In fact either your brother or father should be there also," she said.
He blinked, obviously surprised, "Ok…but why?"
"In case I need to be killed."
Dantooine, just outside the Jedi Temple, Clone Troop encampment, Command Tent, 39:6:25
Leia had taken a long nap while everyone else stayed up and did things in the afternoon, and so she was the most rested of them as nightfall came, and she had elected to stay up with the night watch while the others slept.
She knew her father would be up before dawn, but it was little comfort to her right then. "General Solo," one of the Clones said, and it took her a moment to realize that he was talking to her and not to her husband.
"Yes?"
"There is an anomaly in our communications equipment."
She considered what he said for a moment, realizing he wouldn't bring something to her attention that could be fixed or readily explained. "Show me," she ordered him, and he beckoned her to follow him.
He pointed at the machine that was giving off the malfunction, "This," he said.
She knew what it was without asking, having seen many of them in her career as a Rebellion leader. The particular anomaly was one she was also familiar with. "How long?" she asked, her throat tightening around the words, making them sound strangled, her fists clenching in resolve or anger, she wasn't sure which yet.
"Ten minutes, and what ever it is has been increasing in intensity."
"Call my father," she said, her Rebel authority and Jedi training snapping into place. He would need to know that there was a communications jammer out there.