One thing Sheev Palpatine never missed if at all possible was his planning time – minutes to hours where he would simply sit and think. Admittedly, that time became more and more difficult to schedule in as his term as Chancellor went on and the demands on his time became more and more insistent, but there were just too many instances he'd witnessed regarding people who didn't take the time to think things over, and he attributed a lot of his success – both in the Senate and as a Sith – to this practice. So he made sure that he had time.
Today, he'd been able to schedule that time, and thank the Force too as he wanted to think on one Anakin Skywalker before he met the child again in a couple of days. At first, Palpatine thought the Order had sent the child to be his 'Ambassador' because he'd met the Chancellor before. It hadn't taken him long to recognize the boy from Naboo; the child who had seemed to have some interesting mental shields. He'd checked once he'd recognized the boy, but couldn't seem to find anything deeper than what he expected for a child of his age and background, and couldn't really pry without giving himself away, even to said child, so he filed it away for later contemplation.
Then he'd looked more deeply into Skywalker and his background, and he'd found the perfect candidate for his apprentice. A former slave in a new culture, who seemed to be powerful and respectful – already trained in many areas that pleased Palpatine. Respectful, if a little too cautious, and just starting on his journey to learn more about the Force… he couldn't have been given a more perfect potential apprentice. It was as if the Force had gift-wrapped the child just for him.
However, there was just… something about Skywalker that rang warning bells in Palpatine's mind. It bothered him that he could never truly pin down why until the boy had slipped.
My Master.
Oh, sure, he'd cut it off, but that had been what he would have said. To anyone else, that meant nothing. It could even be passed off as a product of his slave background (which was what he'd turned to to keep the child from panicking). But it was such a Sith thing to do and suddenly, the child's perfection made sense. It really was too good to be true.
He had to be a plant. By Vader. At first he'd thought Dooku, as the man had originally been a Jedi and would have been in a prime position to place a plant, but the timeline didn't match up. And no one else would care enough to infiltrate the Jedi like Skywalker had. Although, how Vader had gotten a child into the Jedi Temple, Palpatine didn't know and had to give his grudging respect. What was worse, he seemed to have figured out (somehow) that Palpatine was a Sith. His current bet was on a vision – the kind his clouding of the Force wouldn't affect as that would only hinder the lightsiders. The fact that the child had become his Ambassador was either extremely fortuitous or so meticulously planned that Vader had to have Jedi spies of his own.
So Palpatine had checked, double checked, and triple checked his own tracks, but could find nothing. No where that anyone could have gotten any information. Even Dooku seemed to be at a loss.
(He'd checked Dooku too, but could find nothing truly suspicious from the man. Only the usual reluctance of a newly turned Jedi. Of course, Sith were always suspicious, so he'd keep an eye on his new apprentice, but as far as he was concerned, he'd hit a dead end.)
He just didn't know how Vader did it. And it had to be Vader. The man who had replaced his limbs with mechanics. The vision Palpatine had extracted from the bounty hunter was a truly imposing figure, dressed all in black with a skull-like mask, cape and red lightsaber. According to Dooku, he was also Luke Lars, but the former Jedi had insisted Lars wasn't human with the proportions of his limbs. Or, at least, not fully human. But if Vader had replaced his human-proportioned mechanical limbs with something else to throw people off… to hide from the Jedi and the current Sith until his plans came to fruition…
Yes, he was truly a masterful manipulator himself. A Sith far too much like Palpatine for either of them to ever truly work together. No… Vader had to go. He was just too much of a danger. And the best way to get to him would be through his spy. However, he would have to be cautious, lull the child into a false sense of security and then strike. Yes. He would see how loyal the child was to his true master…
Palpatine smiled cruelly, looking forward to the prospect of finishing this Dejarik match and watching as his enemies realized just how badly they'd lost. Sidious had always been able to turn set-backs into strengths that only supported him and pushed him higher.
This time, of course, would be no different.
xXx
"Wait… she did what?" Siri asked, shocked.
Anakin chuckled, half in his own residual surprise and half in amusement at the older blond's reaction. "That was very similar to my reaction," he said.
"But… what brought this on, and why did she think this was a good idea? When she asked me she…" She faded off for a moment, then put a hand to the bridge of her nose. "Don't tell me she actually made a presentation for you too."
The initiate shrugged helplessly.
"Oh, Force, she did," she put her head in her hands. "Master…" she groaned.
Anakin didn't really know what to say to that, so he said nothing.
"And she truly wants you to become her Padawan?" Siri finally said tiredly.
"Apparently."
A pause as Siri processed that. "This is what, your fifth offer?"
"I've lost count."
"Liar."
Anakin snorted mirthlessly. "I don't like to think about it."
Siri looked up at him again, frown on her lips. "Why not?"
"I don't like the attention."
The older blond's puzzlement didn't abate. "You love attention."
Anakin made sure he didn't wince. "Correction," he held up a finger, "I used to. Way back when I needed people to acknowledge my value because I equated that with the probability of my ability to continue breathing. Slave mind set." He tapped his temple pointedly, then paused. "It's… frustrating, I suppose, that I do not need acknowledgment now, and that is when I receive it. Receiving attention does not serve my purpose while being here, and I do not want it. Unlike when I came here originally… and could never seem to receive acknowledgment, no matter how hard I tried."
It was Siri's turn to remain silent.
Finally, she decided to venture carefully. "Have you spoken to… our resident Drall and Master Xio about this?"
He sighed, deflating. "No. Not yet. I'll… bring it up later today."
Siri nodded, looking relieved.
Anakin decided that was enough about him. "How about you? How are you faring?"
"We've found his trail," she said, hard determination snapping over her features. Her blue holocom image sat straighter.
The former slave's breath caught in his chest. Another child they could rescue from slavery if all went well. "Good."
"It will still most likely take some time," she said softly, looking off to the side.
"Of course," Anakin replied.
"Do you think he knows Fett and I are working together?" she asked suddenly, frowning.
The younger time-traveler blinked. "Why would he care?"
"It's Fett and he's…" she sighed and slumped, looking almost petulant. "He's good at what he does."
Anakin grinned, amused. "I am glad I recorded this."
Siri gasped. "You wouldn't dare show anyone."
The smaller blond just grinned wider.
"Don't think I don't have my own blackmail on you, Skywalker. Some adorable holo-pictures with you and a certain Togruta."
Anakin blinked. "You took pictures?"
Siri's grin looked positively feral. "Yes."
Huh. He… actually kind of wanted to see those. A little. Because Ahsoka would like them, of course.
"Fine, I won't show this to Fett," he said, sighing overly-dramatically, then broke down into chuckles as Siri did the same on the other end.
After a couple of seconds, he sobered. "Back to the question, doesn't Fett have free reign to do as he pleases until he has to attend to his duties in the future…" he paused, just for the sake of anyone who could be listening, even if he doubted anyone was, "whatever they are. Has he said anything about that?"
Siri's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, acknowledging that she'd caught on, and she shrugged. "Something about teaching the next generation. I think it's a Mandalorian thing."
"Ah," Anakin nodded sagely. "In any case, I still think this is below him. He just has too many other things to really care about."
Siri nodded, her relief back. "I'll keep an eye out anyway, but that is good to hear."
Anakin nodded again. Then he noticed the time. "I have to go to my session, but thank you for talking with me, Knight Tachi."
"Any time, Initiate Skywalker," she replied, smiling warmly.
"Um… before you go… do you think I should… accept your Master's offer?" he asked, realizing he hadn't gotten an answer from her.
She fell quiet for several seconds before speaking hesitantly. "I… really can't tell you one way or another. Every Jedi who has offered apprenticeship has their good points and would be of help… but you would have to tell them everything if you did accept."
Anakin sighed, shoulders slumping. "I'm planning on telling the entire Council everything anyway."
Siri choked. "Wait, what?!"
The former Sith rolled his eyes. "My… furry mentor thinks it would be a good opportunity to begin to build my trust again. Master Yoda has wanted it from the get go."
"Oh," was all she said, very unhelpfully.
"So I should wait until after I tell them before I make a choice, I suppose."
Siri blinked, still looking a little overwhelmed. Then she nodded. "Yes, that sounds wise."
He returned the gesture. "Then I will wait."
She smiled. "You really have changed. Have a good evening, Anakin."
"You too, Siri," he said with a smile of his own. Then reached over and cut the call off.
As he exited the booth and made his way towards the Healer's wing, he realized that the weight on his shoulders felt both heavier and lighter somehow, after that call. He wasn't entirely sure why or how, but he did find it curious.
He really hoped Siri came back soon.
xXx
"I just do not understand it," Anakin said testily, letting his frustration show. "Last time they could not get rid of me fast enough and absolutely hated everything I did! This time, they know about my… past with the dark side, even if in only the vaguest terms, and I'm getting offers to train left, right and center!"
Across from him, Girth looked on sympathetically, but said nothing, so Anakin continued.
"Why is every entity I cross so utterly different than in my memories? Even I cannot have made a difference that reaches that widely or deeply! Are my memories that corrupted? Or was I simply so self-centered last time that I could not see these people for who they truly are?!"
The drall raised an eyebrow pointedly. "First of all, did you know you stop using contractions when you get upset?"
The time-traveler blinked because no, he hadn't noticed. But… that made a painful kind of sense.
"Secondly," the drall continued, "I don't think you know people for who they really are now, even. You simply have more information. As for why? I don't think it's nearly as simple as that."
Anakin frowned. "What do you mean?
Girth pursed his lips and tipped his head to one side, nose whiskers twitching as he thought. "Let me start with the basics and we can build from there to make sure we're on the same page.
"Here is an analogy that may apply: A man in a way-station on a planet with colonies doing very well sees a new family. While buying supplies and fueling their ship, the head of the family tells the man that they're moving in and asks what the people on this new planet are like.
"The man thinks about that for a second and then asks, 'What were the people like on the planet you come from?'
"The family head replies that they were a close-knit community full of kind and caring people. The man replies, 'You'll find pretty much the same around here.' The family thanks him and heads off.
"A couple of days later, another family in the same situation comes to the way-station and the family head asks the same man the same question. The man asks the family head what the people were like on the planet they'd just come from, again.
"The family head has nothing but complaints about how stand-offish, rude and cruel people from their old planet were.
"The man says, 'You'll find pretty much the same around here.'"
Anakin thought about that for a moment after Girth finished his little story, trying to find a point to apply. "So you think the deciding factor is me?"
"To an extent," Girth replied calmly. "But not like you're thinking, I suspect. You treat people differently now than you did in the past – if the same people in the same situations are being treated in different ways, of course there will be differences, if only because they're reacting to you, and they will react differently.
"But you also treat yourself differently, and people pick up on that. Especially Jedi, I suspect.
"Now, the analogy I just spoke of only goes so far because there are very welcoming communities and very stand-offish communities no matter who you are or your past. But there is something to be said for different kinds of communities attracting different kinds of people. Sapients will treat other sapients in the only ways they know how, but a lot of that tends to rely on how they see you, how you see you, and how others (or society) see you. Hence, not as simple as you are making it out to be.
"Either the Masters who have spoken with you are seeing traits they like that they think they can nurture, or they are seeing traits they don't like that must be discouraged. Probably both."
Well… that did make sense. "They also probably don't want me going off on my own," he muttered, a little cynically. "Out of their control."
"Probably," Girth replied with a shrug. "But would you want an unknown, partially-trained child with a dark past to go off on their own if it wasn't you?"
Anakin winced.
"Or any child?" the drall corrected himself, looking thoughtful.
Well, he had a point.
"Besides," Girth continued, "the differences you're seeing are probably a combination of all of the above: How others see you, how you see you, your memories and those filters you had both then and now, the fact that children at your age are still very ego-centric and you may not have had the ability to look past that the first time. Currently, your sheer knowledge and memories have made up for that this time around, but your circumstances are rather… unique."
"Hmm," Anakin replied thinking about the mind-healer's words. Was that honestly why everyone seemed so different? Because he was different? Or simply because he had a broader perspective and could see more? Because he knew what to look for far more than he had at this age initially?
"Ego-centric?" he finally asked, a little warily.
"Oh, yes," the drall nodded. "With how the human brain develops, it's very difficult for children to understand something that does not revolve around them. That is often why a sign of maturity is being able to see other people's hardships and trials outside of how they react to you. You've mentioned how you have a hard time reacting how you would have as an adult due to your brain development? It is the same concept."
"Oh."
Before Anakin could say anything else, a knock on the door sounded.
"We'll continue this later, if you'd like," Girth said with a smile.
Anakin nodded, kind of glad their mini-session had come to a close so quickly.
"Enter!" the drall called out.
The door opened to reveal Master Xio and Yoda. The two masters strode in serenely, greeted the other two and took their own seats.
"I hope we weren't interrupting anything," the older woman said once she'd seated herself.
"Nothing we cannot come back to later," Girth replied with a wave of his paw.
"Good," Master Xio said approvingly, nodding at both her fellow mind-healer and Anakin.
"To business, we should get, then, hmm?" Master Yoda asked calmly.
"Yes, yes, of course," Girth said, then turned to Anakin. "So, you have decided to tell the Council everything – about your past and Palpatine."
The time-traveler closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. The suggestion still made him terribly uneasy. He acknowledged the emotion and then released it to the Force before opening his eyes again.
"Yes."
"Happy, they will not be, if learn, they do, that leaked information, you have."
Anakin nodded. "I'm sure, but… this is a step towards trusting them. That doesn't mean I trust them now."
The diminutive master nodded, but his ears drooped. The initiate tried not to wince. He didn't want to disappoint Master Yoda like that, but… this wasn't negotiable. He wanted that information with the right people.
"This really is an improvement, Master," Xio said quietly, but firmly.
Master Yoda nodded. "Know this, I do." Then he turned to Anakin, "Proud of you, I am. Truly."
"You're just not looking forward to the fallout," the white-haired woman stated wryly.
A snort from the Grandmaster and he shot a reproving – although not very serious – glare at the other Jedi. "I am not. Create more problems than it solves, I think it will." He shook his head, then turned to stare back at Anakin. "A Jedi matter, the Sith are. Involved, we should be."
The time-traveler frowned and cocked his head to one side. There was something to that… what…? Wait…
"You think I'm approaching this like an internal Sith dispute."
Silence met him. Then a soft, "Are you?" from Master Xio.
The question from them hurt, a little, and he wanted to push back against that, but he stopped himself and took a breath, thinking about it. He respected them enough to do that at least.
Was he?
Eventually he shook his head. "No. If I did that, I would not have told anyone." The fact that he might have handled it as an internal Sith matter initially and may have continued in that vein had he not been so… encouraged to speak about his problems was a mental note he made, but one he was sure the others had made too.
He was choosing to share this now, with all the implications that entailed. He was not treating this like a Sith would.
Master Xio and Girth both smiled at him warmly. Master Yoda studied him intently.
Anakin met his gaze steadily. "The Jedi may be legally in charge of any disputes with the Sith, but it has been centuries since they last had to deal with them and their machinations. Sith are not just dark Jedi, but last time the order treated them that way until they were forced to do otherwise.
"Currently, I am the most qualified person to handle the situation and… I need to see this through. Not due to Sith teachings—" because in some ways his actions did align with Sith teachings, but in many other ways they didn't, "–but for absolution. I need to make sure this is done and done well. As much as I find it difficult to move away from the idea that if you want something done correctly, you need to do it yourself, I am working past that. I will give the end of this project to other people – people I know I can trust. Not people I am trying to establish trust with."
"And if disagree, the Council does?"
Anakin shrugged. "Then they can disagree."
"Feel used, they will," Yoda pointed out.
"Maybe," the time-traveler replied, but then shrugged again, "but they're not entirely wrong. And if I am asked to leave for that reason, I will understand. But I will not back down on this."
"Hmm," Master Yoda said. "Part of this process, we all have been," he pointed out, gesturing around the room. "Some say, we should get too, hmm?"
"I acknowledge that and thank you all for your help. But, Master Yoda, that is part of the reason why I am taking this to the Council at all. If I had my way, I wouldn't. But I do see the wisdom in your suggestion, so I will compromise."
The old master sighed. "If change your mind, I cannot, then very well. Think it is a good idea, I do not, but understand you, I do."
Anakin felt his shoulders relax. "Thank you, Master Yoda."
"Include history on the Sith with the files, we should, then," the Grandmaster finally said, a little thoughtful.
That… was a great idea.
"I can get that together," Master Xio put in.
"And plan out, we should, what say to the Council, you will," Master Yoda continued.
Anakin nodded gratefully. "I would appreciate that."
"This may take a while," Girth pointed out.
"Have nothing for the rest of the night, I do," Master Yoda pointed out.
"Nothing I can't cancel," Master Xio said.
"I have the night free as well," Girth confirmed with a nod, then turned his twitching nose to his patient.
"I only have training and sorting information in my future," Anakin said with a small smile. He felt far more relaxed than he had earlier.
"Very well. Now, where should we start?" Girth asked.
Anakin's smile widened. Despite the long night ahead, he had people who trusted him and whom he trusted near. It felt nice… safe.
And it felt good.
He could only hope it would last.
xXx
AN: Thanks to Khalthar and Quathis for their help with this!
Soooo last months my computer crashed. I lost a lot of stuff with it, fortunately had some backups online, but... not of this one for some reason. I... don't want that to happen again, so am taking precautions. That's why this is a month late. I'm also not a huge fan of the chapter as it is and wish I had more of the original back, but it is what it is and getting this up now is better than fussing over it for more weeks or months.
You have my apologies. Next month should be fine. I have started it and have it SAVED... *goes to save it RIGHT NOW just so I'm 100 percent sure*
I literally have four points left to hit before the end game. I counted. If I'm not done by the end of this year... well... no, I will be. I will MAKE it so... *grumbles under breath*
Thank you for reading.
Discord: discord. gg/xDDz3gqWfy (no spaces)
