Chapter Five

After Valin left with Jacen, Anakin Skywalker turned back to Kyp, silently wondering why the Jedi Master had chosen to split them up. "The order went from ten thousand Jedi to forty, and he doesn't want to find out why?"

"His points were valid, Cliegg. You may make things better – or worse – if you learn what happened. It is our way of life that hangs in the balance, not yours."

Anakin hadn't considered that. "Is your way of life good, Master Durron? With less than a hundred Jedi on Coruscant?"

"I was with the Order when there were less than [i]ten[/i] Jedi." Kyp leaned against his desk. "We've worked hard to be where we are today. The galaxy is finally at peace, and we're rebuilding. It may not be as grand as the Old Republic, Cliegg, but we're proud of it."

"You're implying that the Republic falls," Anakin said as he carefully studied Kyp. "And there used to be less than ten Jedi? There must be something I can do to stop it."

"You alone?" Kyp raised an eyebrow. "When ten thousand Jedi cannot?"

"You don't know who I am," Anakin replied even though he was more concerned than he was ready to admit. If so many Jedi had died, he had to have failed at bringing balance to the Force. He shivered and then wondered if it were the reemergence of the Sith that had caused it. Obviously he and Padme must have survived long enough to have children, but beyond that?

"I'm sure you're a hot shot in your time," Kyp said caustically. "But it is our way of life that I'm trying to protect. That your friend Garm is trying to protect. How do you know that you can change things for the better?"

"I don't know." Anakin frowned. It had really shaken him when Valin pointed out that they were both dead by now. But what upset him even more was the fact that Padme could also be dead. He couldn't sense her here. Of course, he had dreamt of her death before, and he had felt powerless to stop it. Now, he was also feeling powerless to stop the greatest danger to the Jedi Order. And the Chosen One should never have to feel powerless. "Are you really satisfied with this life, Kyp? With politicians questioning you? Wanting you to be more like the Jedi of the Republic?"

"Do your Jedi always agree with the politicians?"

"Rarely." Anakin laughed. "But High Chancellor Palpatine works well with us."

Kyp nearly choked. "Excuse me?"

Anakin's eyes narrowed. "The High Chancellor is a great man."

"You've met him, and you can't see it?"

"Can't see what?" Anakin demanded impatiently.

Kyp crossed the room and peered intently into Anakin's eyes. "Has he manipulated you, Cliegg?"

"Of course not," Anakin said. Why would Kyp ask him that question? Was the High Chancellor manipulating him? He was always praising him and made sure to follow his career closely. But was it manipulation? "Why do you ask? What does he do?"

"Have you had close contact with him, Cliegg?"

"Many times."

Kyp studied him, his brow furrowing. "Who are you Cliegg?"

Anakin folded his arms. "I'm a hot shot. Who are you?"

"Another hot shot," Kyp said, his lips curling slightly. His comlink went off, and he excused himself to answer it.

Anakin watched him with little interest. What he wanted to know was what it was about the High Chancellor that Kyp didn't trust. Soon the Jedi Master finished his conversation and turned back to Anakin.

"My squadron's practice time has been moved," Kyp said as he walked over to his desk. "If I'm to get any time with them, I have to go now."

"Squadron?" Anakin was suddenly interested. "You're a pilot?"

"Yeah." Kyp briefly glanced up. "Are you?"

"Yes." Anakin raised his chin. "One of the best."

"Care to prove it?"

"Sure," smiled Anakin. He was unable to contain his excitement at the thought of flying a ship from the future. "But first, can you tell me what it is about Palpatine that I shouldn't trust?"

Kyp pursed his lips. "Tell you what, Cliegg, if you can beat me in a few sim runs, I'll tell you anything you want to know."

Anakin grinned. This was going to be too easy. "Agreed."

***

The first thing Luke Skywalker did when he returned to Jedi Headquarters was seek out his son, Ben, who was currently in the class that Tionne held for small children. Luke could sense his son waiting to pounce at the other side of the door. Smiling, Luke opened the door and pretended to stagger back as Ben hugged his leg.

"Da!"

"Hello, little Jedi," Luke said as he extracted Ben from his leg in order to pick him up. "Have a good day?"

Ben babbled nonsense words and patted Luke's cheeks to emphasize his point.

"So I see," Luke said seriously before turning to Tionne. "Did he behave?"

"He always does," Tionne said as she held the hand of her two year old daughter, Larissa. "I should tell you that Kyp had to leave a few minutes ago. There was a problem with the practice schedule for his Dozen."

Luke nodded. "Who did he leave in charge?"

"He asked me to look after things." She hesitated before adding, "Luke, there was a Jedi with him who I have never seen before. He was powerful and very well trained."

"A rogue?"

Tionne spread her free hand. "It's a possibility."

Luke frowned. "I better check his report." He looked at Ben, who was pulling his shirt up as if daring Luke to tickle his belly. Luke obliged, and Ben began screeching with laughter. "Do you mind taking him again, Tionne?"

"Not at all."

Luke kissed the top of Ben's head and then placed him on the floor. "Go play with Tionne, Ben."

Ben toddled over to Tionne but then tuned back to his father. "Da?"

"I'll be back later," promised Luke.

***

Back in his office, Luke sat back in his chair and slowly rubbed his temples. His nephew and Valin Horn had used the Crystal of Transportation? Luke hadn't actually expected the Crystal to work. He'd wanted to add it to his collection of Jedi artifacts, but he should have known better than to send Anakin after it. Leia had named him after their father in honor of his redemption, but it was a terrible burden on her young son. Because of his name, people expected him to fall to the Darkside. Palpatine had even tried a few times to take over his body.

Fortunately Anakin was strong in the Force and a champion for the Lightside. But Anakin was also aware of the damage Darth Vader had caused the Galaxy, and Luke was certain that his nephew would want to try preventing his grandfather's fall to the Darkside. As for Valin Horn…he would likely be trying to prevent his own grandfather's death.

Luke wondered just how he was going to explain this to his sister and to Corran. He took out his comlink and called Leia on a private frequency. "Leia, can you meet me at Headquarters?"

"Yes, but it will take a couple of hours," she replied, her voice laced with static. "Han and I are in Elastar right now. Is something wrong?"

"I'm afraid so." Luke glanced at Kyp's message. "But I would rather not explain over the comm."

"We'll get there as soon as we can, Luke."

"Thanks," Luke ended the transmission and was about to hail Corran next when he remembered that the Corellian Jedi was running maneuvers with Rogue Squadron. Luke left a message instead and then sat back in his chair to consider the situation.

It was interesting that the Crystal would send two Jedi to replace Anakin and Valin. Had they planned to come, or were they just sent by the Crystal? According to Kyp's report, the Jedi were trying to learn as little as possible about their futures. Kyp had taken the other Jedi, Cliegg, to practice with his Dozen.

Luke drummed his fingers on his desk. He would need to call a meeting with the High Council. But first, he needed to get information from Jacen.

***

Jacen was in the infirmary lab when Luke found him. His elder nephew was going over test results on a mediscanner, and an unfamiliar Jedi stood beside him. Both offered Luke friendly smiles when he entered. "Jacen, I just received an interesting message from Kyp."

"I imagine you did," Jacen placed the mediscanner down. "This is Garm Idanion, Uncle Luke." He turned to Garm. "Uncle Luke is our Head Master."

Garm bowed at the waist. "It is an honor to meet you, Master Luke."

"Just Luke," Luke said as he studied Garm. The younger Jedi reminded him of someone. "I understand you used the Crystal of Transportation."

"Not by choice, sir."

Luke raised an eyebrow. "You were forced to?"

Garm shook his head. "Cliegg and I were studying it, and I guess we accidentally activated it. We were supposed to wait for Master Yoda."

"Master Yoda?" Luke was intrigued by the mention of his former Master. "Did he say anything about the Crystal before you found it?"

"Only that the affects should last no longer than a day," Garm said, smiling slightly. "And not to use it."

"I can see that." Luke was glad that his nephew wouldn't be in the past for longer than a day, assuming that everything went well. "What is the situation on Coruscant right now?"

"I'm afraid we're facing a civil war," Garm answered carefully. "There has been a Separatist movement, and Chancellor Palpatine has had to raise an army of clones to fight them."

"Palpatine?" Luke asked. He exchanged a glance with Jacen while stealthily grasping his lightsaber. "Does he come near the Temple?" he asked, recalling from Kyp's message that his nephew and Valin were likely being kept there.

Garm shrugged. "I suppose he meets with the Jedi Council sometimes."

"The Council?" Luke demanded. How could the Council not recognize a Dark Lord of the Sith? But then he remembered how long it had taken him to sense Exar Kun.

"Yes," Garm said, folding his arms. "You don't seem to trust Palpatine."

Luke raised an eyebrow. "Do you?"

"He's a politician," The displaced Jedi grinned. "What's to trust?"

"I would trust him less than others," Luke advised as he attempted to keep himself from revealing too much about the future. He looked into the eyes of the younger man and knew that eventually, perhaps soon, Garm might die at Palpatine's hands.

Or his father's.

Garm's eyes narrowed slightly. "Senator Iblis feels that the High Chancellor has taken too much power. He worries that the Senate will not get it back." He stroked his chin. "Then there are the protests against his use of clones. People think he's trying to compete with the Force itself."

"And how do you feel about it?"

"It is wrong, Master Skywalker. Have you ever sensed a Clone? The Force seems to twist around them. It gives me a headache."

"I know." Luke nodded. "I've encountered clones before."

"My father thinks things are going to get a lot worse before they get better." Garm's hazel eyes were far away. "We've a High Chancellor who seems to fancy himself a deity, the Sith have returned, and in the future, there are less than a hundred Jedi." He turned his gaze back to Luke. "If I knew that somehow I could stop it, I would want to know exactly what goes wrong. Why you reached for your lightsaber at the mention of Palpatine. But if I cannot stop it, I am afraid that the knowledge would cast a shadow over whatever small happiness I can still look forward to." He shrugged. "I don't know what to do."

Impressed, Luke tucked his hands into the pockets of his robes. Garm was perceptive; Luke had barely reached for his lightsaber. "With my nephew and Valin in the past, things could change quite a bit from what they are now."

"Master Yoda and Obi-Wan will do everything in their power to prevent it," Garm said as he leaned against the desk. "But I suspect that not even they will be completely unaffected."

Luke closed his eyes as a sudden longing for his former Masters overcame him. He wondered if they would be able to stop Anakin from revealing too much about the future and if they would be able to stop him from confronting his father or Palpatine. But surely thousands of Jedi could stop two impetuous teenagers from confronting Sith Lords. Luke had to believe it. "I'm going to call a Council meeting to discuss this…situation. You can attend if you like, Garm, or stay here with Jacen."

"I'd rather stay with Jacen if he doesn't mind."

"I don't mind," Jacen said, finally looking up from his medi-scanner. "He's good company, Uncle Luke. And he's teaching me how to test Force sensitivity by blood."

Luke blinked. That would certainly make finding new apprentices easier. "I would appreciate an explanation later."

Jacen nodded. "Will do."