Chapter Eight

When Anakin Skywalker entered the empty Council Chamber, it wasn't empty at all. Twelve Younglings cowered behind a Jedi Knight he didn't recognize, but before Anakin could carry out his task of purging the Temple, they vanished in some kind of transference wave. The Jedi Knight stared him down, calm and controlled, Anakin felt no fear from him.

"Where did you send them?" he snarled, angered at the Knight's gall.

"Somewhere safe, you'll never find them." The Knight wrapped both hands around a blazing purple lightsaber, "You said you were going to kill me, get on with it already." Anakin figured it was one less Jedi to worry about and did him the favor. But this Knight was good, he was stronger than Anakin had anticipated, and they fought long and it was a nearly even match. Suddenly, Anakin found himself flat on his back, the Knight kneeling on his chest. He tried to throw the Knight using the Force, but this one was good. When Anakin came up, his lightsaber was not there. The strange Knight had it and had crossed their blades.

"Who are you?"

"My name is James Tiberius Kirk." What an unusual name. Anakin kept his distance, the Knight's power unsettled him.

"What are you doing here?"

"Saving the Jedi Order faster than your Clone Troops can destroy it. Hundreds have been transported to safety, more as we speak."

"How?" He circled Kirk, who pulled back his robe to reveal a badge on his belt. Anakin looked at it more closely.

"I know that symbol." Anakin looked up, "You are with the UFP."

"I'm glad you know what that is. I'm one of their captains."

"Who are you? You told me your name, tell me again."

"James Kirk. I'm here to tell you that you're doing the wrong thing for the wrong reasons."

"I'm not doing anything wrong."

"No? Let me show you something." Kirk moved away, handing Anakin his lightsaber in passing, "Follow me, Master Skywalker." Anakin followed, and they retraced his exact steps. The Temple seemed too quiet, he could hear the sound of blaster-fire in the distance as the Clone Troops finished the job, and the hallways were littered with the fallen. Anakin saw a figure in a blue tunic kneeling beside one of the fallen Jedi and slowed down. The man in blue looked up at them, his expression sad and grim. The body was that of a child, a Youngling of twelve.

"Children, Anakin. You're slaughtering children." Kirk spoke in a voice that gave Anakin a deep chill and a sick feeling in his gut, "These are the ones I was too late to save."

"My god." He sank to his knees, "What have I done?"

"Something very wrong. Who told you to wipe out the Jedi Order?"

"Chancellor Palpatine."

"And you believed him?"

"He said he could save my wife."

"Your wife will die because of you, Anakin, if you don't stop now." Kirk snarled. The thought of Padme dying because of something he'd done was too much for Anakin. He was confused, angry, and he wanted to make things right again.

"We've gotten most of the refugees out of the Temple, the only ones left are those in hiding, the wounded, and the dead." The man in blue said in a low voice.

"How safe are the Jedi in hiding, Anakin?"

"Safe." He looked up at them, "I'm the only one who can find hidden Jedi, the Troops only know how to find those in the open." Kirk grew very still and suddenly turned on his heel.

"Bones, get out of sight."

"Where are you going?"

"To hide. The Troop Commander is coming." Kirk looked at him and vanished around the corner. It was then that Anakin realized there were six Jedi hiding around that same corner. He got up, straightened out his robe, and hastily wiped away tears.

"Master Skywalker, we have dispatched of all the Jedi we could find in the Temple. Should we look for survivors?"
"No, you've done your job."

"Aye, sir." The Commander saluted and went on his way. As soon as he was gone, Kirk and the man in blue came out alone. Anakin knew the Jedi had been transported to safety and smiled.

"Thank you, James."

"For what?"

"You kept me from making a mistake."

"I had to try." Jim shrugged, "What about the Chancellor?"

"I have to stop him."

"How?"

"I don't know."

"Here." Kirk handed him something, "Keep this with you at all times. When you know something, that gets you into contact with me."

"When would I need this?"

"You never know." Kirk smiled and the two vanished. Anakin returned to Palpatine, said nothing of the rescue efforts, the continuing survival of the Order, and took his next assignment.

Once he was sure the Temple was empty of Clone Troops, Jim returned and sought out those still in hiding. Bones and the Away Teams were transporting the fallen to the Enterprise for transport to a world of choosing where they could be formally laid to rest and remember properly. Anakin got in touch with him and sent them to Naboo to lay the deceased to rest. Jim had the opportunity to meet his own mother, whom he actually remembered, having been two years of age at the time of the Purges. She was surprised to see him, recognizing him right away as her grown son.

"James!"

"It's alright, we're all safe." He reassured her as she hugged him the way Leia did, "How are the twins?"

"Restless."

"May I?"

"Of course!" she blushed as he felt the twins kick.

"Have you thought of names for them?"

"Not yet, I know I'm awful for that." She looked at him, smiling.

"Can I suggest some for you?"

"Names?"

"Name your son Luke and your daughter Leia."

"Oh, those are perfect names! You can't stay, can you?"

"Not in this time. Unless Anakin needs me to help him." Jim shrugged. Padme hugged him, warned them all to be careful, and he waited for his father's call. It came and they set course for Mustafar. Anakin was in trouble, Palpatine had discovered the ruse and was far from pleased. Jim reached the combatants at a crucial moment and got between Palpatine and his father.

Without wasting a minute, Jim transported Anakin off Mustafar and saved his life that way. With his work done, Jim wondered how this changed his future. It would be interesting.

When he got back to the Enterprise, Jim called his officers together and explained that things might happen differently because of what he'd done.

"Will we recognize each other?"

"I think we will. The question is, will our circumstances be the same as they were the first time?"

"Why would they be any different?"

"Because my past changed."

"Here's to the future, then." Bones looked uncomfortable with the whole mess, but the deed was done. So, determined to face whatever future awaited them, they set course for the future.