Chapter 7 – Midi-chlorian Tests

Anakin had been waiting in the mental-scape for Obi-Wan. It was their regular meet-up time between the Jedi council meetings, which they both attended. Obi-Wan had insisted they set up this schedule of regular check-ins, he could at least show up on-time.

Anakin paced amongst the other Jedi who were having their own meetings at this time. The mental-scape was really starting to feel like the old temple again, or at least the more social parts of it. He was about to call it quits, when a startled call came out over the gathered Jedi.

"New Jedi!" That call went. After a while of using the mental-scape, you could spot the new ones right away. They were the ones who kept meditating for more than a few moments, once they reached the mental-scape. Each new Jedi was a burst of hope. Another survivor, ready to join them all. Though, regrettably, there were fewer and fewer new Jedi as time progressed.

Anakin pushed his way through the gathering to see. The Togruta opened her eyes, finding her meditation disturbed by a strange sensation in the force. Panic filled her as she looked around herself in disbelief. "Ahsoka!" Anakin called out.

"Anakin, am I… d-dead?" she asked her former master.

"No," Anakin laughed. "You're very much alive, which is wonderful news. I was so worried." He ran over and tried to hug the girl, though his incorporeal state made that difficult.

"Where are we?" She asked.

"Physically you are still where you were before. This is the mental-scape, a plane of force energy being transmitted by an old comm tower. You haven't been doing your regular meditations, or you would have discovered this months ago. If you were still my padawan…" Anakin gave her a mock serious expression, then went back to smiling. "Where have you been? I've been so worried. I thought you must have been…" Anakin gulped, unable to say the word.

Ahsoka's eyes were distracted. "I thought you were dead. I felt so many deaths, so I ran and hid." Ahsoka brought her hands up expecting to find tears streaming down her face. She realized she didn't have any tears in this state and looked back up. "I need to speak with the council." Her face was very serious. "It is urgent. Have any survived?"

"Yes, come back here in two hours. There's a meeting." Ahsoka nodded and Anakin left the mental-scape with a big smile on his face. He and Padme had started sharing more, about their lives and what they got up to when apart, and Anakin finally had some good news to share.


Two hours later Anakin went to the mental-scape again to meet with the council. Only this time he had a pep in his step. He was so filled with excited energy that when he saw Obi-Wan he burst out laughing. Obi-Wan looked offended.

"Master, did you, shave?" Anakin said between chuckles.

"Why, yes. I thought a change was due. Does it look that bad?"

"No, actually you look nice. It's just unexpected. So earlier today..."

"Yes, I'm sorry about that. Uh, something came up." Obi-Wan looked away.

"Ah, here she is…" Anakin surprised Obi-Wan as he walked away, towards a familiar, though unexpected new face. "Ahsoka, were meeting here."

"Ahsoka…" Obi-Wan's mouth was left hanging open. He smiled and called out to the other council members who were arriving and preparing to meet.

"Master Obi-Wan!" Ahsoka looked just as pleased to see him as he was to see her. Then she looked around at the other Jedi gathered.

Yoda was staring at her with an apprehensive gaze. The others looked surprised and confused. Ahsoka took a step towards Yoda and the others moved in around her instinctively.

"How is she here? I thought Ahsoka Tano left the Jedi order," Tel-Mac questioned.

"A good question, this is. How are you here?" Yoda asked.

"I don't know," Ahsoka answered. "Earlier today I heard some troubling news. News which gave me a choice, and I didn't know which to take. So I tried meditating again, seeking any aid that the force would provide."

"And brought you here, the force has. Hmm…" Yoda stroked his chin in thought. "Meditate on this I must, but what business brought you here, tell us?"

"I've been staying on Thabeska, with the Fardi clan," Ahsoka starts. "They have a number of legitimate businesses, and also a few less than legitimate ones. One of their contacts let it slip that Sidious is up to it again. He's taking force-sensitive children away from their parents. Off, I do not know where, but it can't be good. There is a group, whispers call them inquisitors, though no one will say much out loud for fear of them. I heard they are headed to Arell soon. I could get there ahead of them, but I'd have to reveal my true identity to do so, and I don't know what to do with the children once I arrive."

"Here, you will stay. Discuss this, the council must," Yoda said. The council members stepped away with Yoda. It surprised Ahsoka to see Anakin slip away with them.


After the council decided what to do Anakin left his meditation and ran to get in his shuttle, saying goodbye to Padme and the twins along the way. "Come on R2, we've got some babies to save."

When Anakin got to Arell, Obi-Wan was already there, along with Yoda and Ahsoka. Obi-Wan and Anakin had experience working with Ahsoka and Yoda wanted to make sure they got the children out. "Succeed, the Sith will if grow, the Jedi order does not." He had pointed out.

Before they left, Ahsoka put a supportive hand on Anakin's arm. "Anakin, I don't know how to tell you this, but… From the reports I've read, Senator Padme Amidala went missing shortly after the Jedi purge."

Anakin didn't know how to respond. The Jedi weren't supposed to have attachments, though most of those here knew he was somewhat close with her. No one knew how close, and it was important that it stay that way. Anakin nodded silently.

Obi-Wan looked down confused. He expected more of a reaction from Anakin. The boy had difficulty controlling his emotions on a good day. But then if he has suddenly developed the control, and learned to put aside his attachments, It's only for the better, he thought. Still growth was best done slowly. "I'm sorry," he whispered, as he moved in to put a hand behind Anakin's back.

"Ready to go, are we?" Yoda asked. And Anakin popped up as he grabbed a bag and headed onto the ship. Leaving behind a very confused, and concerned former apprentice and master.


While they were on their way to the hospital, in the largest ship they possessed, Anakin took an opportunity to slip into the back of the ship. There he opened a metal crate, which was filled with small metal tubes. Each tube was a quick test for Midi-chlorian levels. They'd fill the vial with blood, and when scanned against their computer, they will be able to read each child's force sensitivity.

Anakin picked up two of these vials and shoved them into his pocket for use later.

"So, Skyguy you're on the council now." Ahsoka's sudden appearance made Anakin jump and turn around to face her. "I'm impressed."

"Yeah, I was brought in a while back, by Sheev Palpatine actually. Still hard to believe he's actually Sidious. Anyway, with the whole Jedi Exile and Sith rising, I'm not sure there's much to be impressed with actually."

Ahsoka laughed. "I'm just impressed that the galaxy's still spinning, with you in charge." she kept laughing.

Anakin knew she was kidding, and gave her a playful shove. "Alright Snips."

"Seriously though, you can't blame yourself for all of that happening. According to the others, you were the one who revealed his identity, in the end. You've earned their respect, have you earned yours yet?"

Anakin huffed out a chuckle. When did his Padawan get so wise?


Yoda piloted their ship into the hospital's cargo bay. Obi-Wan stepped off of their craft and a uniformed man stepped up to him, blocking his way.

"I need to see your ID."

"You don't need to see our ID." Obi Wan waved his hand.

"We don't need to see there ID," the man repeated.

"We are just here to make a delivery, a trivial matter. You can return to your office now," said Obi-Wan, and the man repeated him again. When the man turned to leave, Obi-Wan turned to the ship. "Alright, bring down the crate. We've got a couple hours before the shift changes and I really want to be out of here by then."

Anakin and Ahsoka carried the crate of test tubes off of the ship and followed Obi-Wan through the hallways, to the infant nursery. Yoda carried the datapad with the program to read the test results and followed after them.

When they got to the nursery, they split up. Each grabbing handfuls of the tubes and spreading out to take the samples of the infants' blood. Anakin walked up to the first crib in his section. The baby girl reminded him so much of Leia. He rubbed the stolen test-tubes in his pocket. He knew his children were special, but when Ahsoka told them of the dangerous men seeking force-sensitive infants, all he thought about were his Luke and Leia. Plus then Yoda and the others began talking about growing the order and training new Jedi, and he knew he was supposed to train them as well. He wouldn't take away their choice and send them away, of course, but the order was changing, and when it changed enough to let them in, he was going to make sure they were prepared. It was his responsibility as a father, wasn't it.

Anakin hesitated before poking the sleeping baby. He didn't want to cause her pain. Glancing up he noticed Obi-Wan had already done four babies so far. With thoughts of It has to be done, Anakin closed his eyes and poked the infant. The infant cried for a few moments, and Anakin stopped to sooth her back to sleep.

When he'd finished gathering the samples and Yoda tested them they came up with four results above average.

"Take the infants, we must," Yoda said.

"I almost feel bad, though. In the old days parents got to know where their children were going. They at least knew they were being trained by the Jedi. These parents won't know anything, other than their child is gone," Ahsoka said.

Anakin looked down at one of the force sensitive infants. "That's true, but we aren't in the old day anymore. These inquisitors will do far worse than simply take the children. It's safer for the parents if they know nothing." Anakin pointed out.

The baby in front of him, Renny according to the files, started to cry while they were all standing around. Anakin moved instinctively to pick him up and Obi-Wan jumped fearful that he would drop the baby. But Anakin was much more practiced than that, and he set Renny in the crook of his arm and co-ed him with a soft voice. "Sh-sh, there you are. Go back to sleep."

"Gifted with younglings, you are," remarked Yoda.

"It's a surprise to me," Obi Wan added.

"Take them to the ship, we shall," said Yoda.

Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, and Yoda attempted to each pick up another of the infants. Yoda merely floated his out of the crib and into his arms. Ahsoka picked up hers, glancing quickly to follow Anakin's example. Obi-Wan's baby seemed to kick and start to cry when he went to pick him up, and Obi-Wan panicked and nearly dropped him.

"No..." Anakin put down little Renny and ran over to help Obi-Wan. He showed him how to swaddle the infant in a blanket and to hold his head.

"Thanks. How did you learn this?" Obi Wan eyed Anakin suspiciously.

"Oh, I pay attention to Master Yoda when he is with the younglings." Anakin prayed silently that he'd buy it.

"More lessons in teaching and handling younglings I need to give, apparently." Yoda said. Anakin sighed in relief. Obi-Wan sighed in annoyance.


When they got back to the ship Anakin reluctantly laid baby Renny in a special glass crib that would tend to the infant's needs while they were away. The twins were getting much bigger now, and by holding another newborn he remembered how little they once were. It almost makes me want another one… Almost, Anakin thought to himself, as he went to join the others. They were going to leave Arell quickly, as they weren't completely sure when the inquisitors would arrive.


When they were preparing to go their own separate ways, Anakin pulled Ahsoka over. "Snips, I know the order isn't like it was. But there's still a place for you if you want it." Anakin pulled out a strand of familiar Silka Beads and held it out to her.

"That's nice, but…" Ahsoka hesitated. "I left the Jedi not knowing really who I was. Well, I've learned my place in all of this, and it's not waiting in exile for change to happen."

"You're going after them," Anakin sighed.

"Yes. No child should be taken like this. I have to find out where they're taking them and what they're doing with them. I won't be alone though. I heard Bail Organa's looking to round up a group of rebels."

Anakin let out a sad laugh. "Snips, a rebel. Sounds like you'll be in perfect company."

"Watch it Skyguy." Ahsoka laughed. "Here." she passed him a datapad. Anakin looked down confused. "If you're gonna test those two samples you've got in your pocket, you're gonna need this. Yoda lent me his to copy it's programming, after I refused his offer to rejoin the order and explained my plans to him. I made two."

Anakin looked up stunned and fingered over the vials in his pocket. Ahsoka interrupted him before he could speak, though.

"I figured you had a plan, and you'd reveal it when you were ready. Though, I expected it to be before we left Arell. Want to tell me who they're for?"

"No…" Anakin said quickly, then thinking, he ammended. "I'd rather show you." He stood up and started walking to their shuttles, handing her a set of coordinates on the way. "Meet me here." Ahsoka looked down at the coordinates and followed him with a look of confusion on her face.


Ahsoka landed on the desert planet of Tatooine, with no idea what her former master was trying to show her. Anakin was waiting outside her shuttle with a jovial smile on his face. He turned and led her into the nearby residence.

Inside Ahsoka smiled when she saw the former Senator, Padme Amidala. The two ran to each other and hugged. "Oh my. I heard you were missing. Anakin, why didn't you tell me." Ahsoka rattled off, almost missing Anakin open up a gate to allow a little blond head to crawl out of the children's play area.

"Meet Luke. He's my…"

"A little Skyguy." Ahsoka cut him off as she ran to pick up baby Luke. "I'm your Auntie Ahsoka." Luke babbled a response to her.

"Where's Leia?" Anakin stepped into the children's play area and walked out with another little one.

"And a Skygal! Anakin what have you been up to!" Ahsoka picked up Leia, while still holding Luke in her other arm.

Anakin felt proud and he smiled as he watched his children play with their new Aunt Ahsoka.


Later that evening, after Ahsoka left, Anakin stood over his children holding the vials in his hand. "Master Anakin, would you like my assistance running the blood test?" C3-PO said behind him. "It is not the time for their routine blood work, but I am programmed to assist with basic medical protocols."

Anakin had added the basic medical to C3-PO's programming back when the babies started learning to crawl. It only seemed the safest thing to do, as they were his children, after all. "Yes, I don't think I'll be able to poke them." Eliciting tears in a stranger's child was hard enough.

Anakin handed C3-PO the vials and stepped back. Padme was standing there, also nervous at what the tests would tell her. Luke cried when the sample was taken, but Leia stared at the droid with a tough face.

Anakin looked down at the datapad as the samples were being scanned. He took in a deep breath. The numbers that came on the screen were higher than he'd expected. Not quite as high as his own, but still way above average, even for a Jedi knight. Anakin grabbed the chair in front of him for support. His children would need his protection. And they would need his training too.

Padme rubbed her arm over his shoulder to sooth him. "We can do this… together."


Later on, while they were on their way to bed, Padme turned to Anakin. He had been making notes all evening of everything he remembered of a Jedi Youngling's early training. Most of it he never experienced himself, as he only joined the Jedi as an older child, but he'd seen some of it. Anakin sighed. He did not remember as much as he hoped he would.

Padme turned to him. "If our children were born under the republic, before any of this happened, what would you do then?"

"If…" Anakin thought outloud. "If our children were born in the republic they'd have been tested at birth. With results like these, they'd have been selected by the Jedi for sure, and our marriage would've been discovered shortly after. I doubt we would've had much choice in what happened after that." Anakin sighed. "I could try to talk to Yoda. He's got new younglings, he might need extra help with them… And no one knows more about training younglings than Master Yoda." Anakin looked up, a hopeful expression on his face.

"Thank you for bringing Ahsoka. It was nice to see her again." Padme looked down mournfully. "It was nice seeing anyone again."

Anakin took Padme's hand. He'd forgotten that she literally walked away from her home, friends, family, and everyone she knew to join him. "I love you," he said, just for the sake of it.

"Oh Ani. I love you too." She put both hands on Anakin's face and reached out to kiss him.


Hi Everybody,

So, confession time, I am not that experienced with the Ahsoka character, having never seen any of the animated Star Wars productions. But for this I had a practical reason to bring her in, so I did my research, and watched a few You-tube clips. I hope you do like what I did with her. If you are familiar with the character would you please leave me a comment to let me know how I did, with her characterization and all that.

Thank you to everyone who've been leaving me reviews so far, I do love to read them. And I try to reply to them all, if you have a user name. Though I've noticed the Fanfiction site is not always the best at sending email notifications of messages recieved. So if you've reviewed any of my works, please click on your profile name in the top right corner of the screen and go to Private Messaging on the left. And if you reviewed without a username, I can't send you a direct Thank you, but know I give one. Thank you to all.