Chapter 16 - Reunion
Author's Note: This is something y'all have been waiting for. :') Never said it wasn't going to be a very, very bittersweet moment. xD
~ Amina Gila
Obi-Wan isn't surprised to find his former master where he always is in things like this – with people. He's near the Temple, but considering the circumstances, he thought it necessary to bring Qui-Gon with them. If anyone can somewhat reason with Dooku, it's going to be him.
"Master," he calls, approaching him hurriedly.
"Obi-Wan," he replies, though his expression is tensed. He's as angry and worried as everyone is right now, though they have more important things to focus on, as always, than their own fears.
"Dooku is at the Senate," Obi-Wan tells him in a rush, "I thought you would want to know."
"Yes," he replies immediately, "I do. Thank you for coming. I assume the Council already has a team prepared?"
"That's not much of a Council right now," Obi-Wan replies bluntly, because there really isn't. There hasn't been time for anyone to get together and discuss this as they ought to. If they wait, it could be too late, so all they can do is move. "But yes."
"Have you managed to locate him?" Qui-Gon inquires.
"Anakin's out looking," Obi-Wan answers, "So, not yet." He doesn't like the thought of Anakin being out there alone, but there's no other choice, and his former padawan is more than capable of protecting himself. He's never had a problem with that. Anakin is, by far, one of the most capable Jedi Obi-Wan has ever seen. But in this... in this, Obi-Wan fears for him, because he knows how Anakin is about his family and friends. He knows how Anakin is off balanced by emotions. He knows how his former padawan feels by this, how he's been handling losing Ahsoka. If there's anything Anakin can't do, it's this.
"Off-world transmissions were cut right before the attack began," Qui-Gon tells him, "We were able to track the location of the original source, but we never had time to investigate."
"We can worry about that after," Obi-Wan replies. He won't add that there may never be an after.
**w**
Anakin can sense Ahsoka and Jacen somewhere close, as he and the other Jedi make their way into the Senate. Dooku already has control of the building, based on the droids surrounding it everywhere, and of course, they've had little choice but to surrender. That means unless they're able to kill Dooku here and now, the entire Republic will be under Separatist control.
It's not hard to guess where he is right now – in Palpatine's former office, doing Force knows what with all the information he can get his hands on now.
And to think that Palpatine is currently in a critical state, far away on Naboo. At least he should be safe there. Or so Anakin can hope.
They cut through the large group of droids right outside the door, then cut through that to enter the room, but he can't shake the feeling that something is very wrong. It feels like this is a trap somehow. Probably it is, but Dooku should have no way of defeating all of them. And it feels like something is shifting and changing in the Force, something massive though Anakin has no idea what it could be, except that the sound of fighting outside is suddenly starting to die down.
"It's over, Dooku," Windu says warningly, stepping forwards in front of them.
Dooku stands from behind the desk, looking ever the perfect picture of calm. Just like he did on Geonosis, despite all the people who have died because of him and everything.
"Is it?" he asks, mildly, "This is actually just the beginning – a new and better beginning for the entire galaxy."
"The galaxy will only fall into further ruin under you," Obi-Wan snaps. Anakin has never seen him quite this angry before, as if that's a surprise.
"I will give you a chance," he responds, and it hurts so much and makes Anakin angry that this... He used to look up to Dooku so much. But could that alone have really blinded Jacen? (Or does he see something more?) "Stand down and join me in bringing peace and order to the galaxy. If not, you will only prolong the war. You will be declared as traitors, and dealt with as such."
He doesn't sound like he's just bluffing, but it doesn't make any sense, because not even Dooku's entire droid army could' have hopes to truly contain the Jedi if there was a total revolt. There's way too many of them. As is, he's surrounded here. What is he planning that they don't know?
Qui-Gon steps forwards, something wary and guarded in his eyes. "The war needs to end and the galaxy may need to change, but this is not the way to go about it."
"I know you've seen the corruption in the Republic, Qui-Gon," Dooku replies, "But none of you know how far –"
"I remember what you said on Geonosis," Obi-Wan cuts him off, sharply.
"Yet, you never took any action about it."
"We are aware you were merely trying to confuse us further," Windu answers.
"This is what I mean," Dooku says sharply, "If the Jedi were still what they once were, they should have seen on their own that the Sith Master was hiding at the very top of their Senate, as the Chancellor himself."
Anakin's blood runs cold.
What?
But that's – it doesn't make any sense. It's impossible. It can't be – But it doesn't feel like a lie.
"We would have sensed it, if that were true," Obi-Wan counters.
"I am surprised you did not."
"Who Palpatine may have been does not change that you are still a Sith, Dooku, and we will stop you, whatever the cost," Windu replies firmly, igniting his lightsaber.
"I'm afraid that's not a battle you can win," Dooku states, right at the sound of approaching footsteps. Anakin turns around, to see a group of the Coruscanti guard behind them, blasters raised. But they're pointed not at Dooku, but... at them? "Your army has already sworn loyalty to my Empire."
"Have you cleared the droids?" one of the other Jedi Masters demands.
"Stand down," Fox orders, instead, raising his blaster. What?
"What are you doing?"
"Good soldiers follow orders," he replies.
"You're a soldier to the Republic!"
"The Republic is gone." He sounds so... wrong. What –
"What did you do?" Qui-Gon demands, turning to Dooku.
Something about the clones' minds feel strangely blank in a way Anakin can't quite place, and he realizes with a growing knot of horror that – somehow Dooku is controlling them or something, because this doesn't make any sense.
"They are simply fulfilling the purpose they were originally created for," he replies, smoothly, "They all serve the new Empire now, and I see no reason to continue this conflict, especially when your army is no longer at your command. Cease fighting, and I will leave your Order in peace."
"And permit your tyranny to encompass the galaxy?" Windu throws back.
"The rest of the Coruscant Guard is already on their way, if you choose to fight," he replies evenly, "The choice is yours."
The other Jedi exchange glances. Anakin doesn't know what to do, but he doesn't see how they could risk attacking Dooku, if he's truly turned all the clones against the Jedi. How's that even possible? What's he doing to them? There has to be something, but he doesn't know what and they don't have time to figure it out right now.
"The clones would never side with you," Anakin answers, because that, he knows without a doubt. They would never. The clones are blindly loyal to the Republic. Nothing has shaken that, and Slick... doesn't count. There must be something more going on.
"And yet, they have."
"Themselves, they are not," Yoda murmurs, ears dropping slightly.
"What are you doing to them?" Anakin demands.
"As I said, they are fulfilling their purpose. I have other matters to attend to, as I know you do as well. This can end without further hostilities if you so choose."
For a long moment, no one moves.
Anakin doesn't know what to do. It's not the first time, but he's so torn, and he doesn't know if he can trust the Council to make the right decision. Not anymore. Not after... Geonosis, and what happened with Jacen. They do their best, but sometimes... Even after the war broke out, Anakin had done his best to follow them, because they saw things he never could, but he never truly adapted to that life.
"Discuss this later, we shall," Yoda decides. Windu and Obi-Wan immediately look like they're about to argue, but decide better of it right now.
From the look Yoda's giving them, it's obvious enough that there'll be an emergency Council meeting. Dooku probably knows that too, so Anakin is more than suspicious when he lets them leave.
"Discuss this situation immediately, we must," the Grandmaster says, the moment they're out of sight.
No one questions that point.
**w**
Now that they're here in the Senate, Jacen can feel Anakin right in the building. His brother is right here now, except – he's on the opposing side, and Jacen can only imagine how angry all of the Jedi must be about this.
He can only hope they'll agree to work with Dooku, because... he never did consider what he would do if Anakin doesn't agree to join him. Or if Qui-Gon insists on fighting Dooku, too. All this time, he'd just hoped it wouldn't be a concern. But he's facing the possibility now.
All he wants is to go find his brother, though, and there's nothing to wait for anymore even if he's suddenly... scared. He has no idea how this is going to go.
He and Ahsoka don't have to look far. The group of Jedi who came to the Senate are leaving now, and Jacen spots Qui-Gon and Anakin among them, but his brother breaks away from the rest of them, obviously sensing them close.
He's coming towards them now, and Jacen just... stands there, waiting as Anakin approaches. For a moment, all three of them stand frozen across from each other.
The Citadel was only months ago, but it could have been a lifetime, likely especially for Anakin. He looks so much older and worn somehow, than Jacen ever remembers him as being. As if that's a surprise, and guilt swells up instantly.
Jacen missed him so much. Anakin most of all, in some ways. They shared something that neither could ever have with anyone else. It's true for everyone, but with Anakin, it's just... different. It has always been different. But seeing him again reminds him of how Jacen took Ahsoka from him. He... shouldn't have. "Anakin," he says, uncertainly.
"Jacen," Anakin greets him. He looks hesitant, almost nervous. It's... strange to see him like that. Especially here, in the Senate, where they could occasionally see their mother together. Is she here now?
Except now that they're both here, he has no idea what to say. "I'm sorry," he manages instead. As if that could be nearly enough. "I didn't mean for any of this to go so far."
"I know," Anakin replies, "I knew you couldn't have."
"How?" he asks, almost desperately. "It's been so long. We don't even know each other anymore."
"That's not true," Anakin argues. "I do know you. I know how much you wanted to help. I know... you would never do this unless you thought it was right."
"Am I?" he can't help inquiring.
Anakin sighs quietly. "I don't know. I'm not sure about anything anymore."
So much has happened, and they've been apart for so long, the thought of being together again is... strange. Truthfully, Jacen isn't sure how they made it. How many times has he wished Anakin was here, because he was certain his brother would know what to do? "I thought you would have known."
"I should, but I don't." He takes a step closer, still uncertain. "I should have protected you both."
"You couldn't have stopped it."
"How do I know I couldn't have if I tried?"
"I forgive you," Jacen says, "I would have, even if it was your fault. It's time for you to forgive yourself."
Anakin moves closer, finally looking up to meet his gaze. "You too," he says at last.
It's too easy, too simple, for what it should be. But still, it's so achingly familiar. He's been away long enough. Unable to help himself, he leans forwards, pulling Anakin into a tight embrace. His brother returns it immediately, just as fiercely. It reminds him with an aching longing how much he's missed this; he never realized how much until right now, and it's nearly enough to make him cry.
"What will you do now?" he inquires.
"Me?" Jacen asks, "I don't know. I think I've been away long enough, but I don't know if I can come back."
"Of course, you can. This is where you belong."
"Everything is changed now," Jacen continues, "This is what I was fighting for, but suddenly, I don't know if I... knew this is what I was working for."
"It's what it is," Anakin replies, "And I wouldn't be surprised if Dooku never fully explained his intentions to you."
"He didn't," Jacen answers, "I didn't realize he was a Sith when I joined him. I found out... later. I never asked all the questions I should've."
"Most would never have thought far enough ahead," Anakin assures, "You couldn't have known. No one did. I knew there was something dark about him, but I never would have expected he joined the Sith."
He has a point, at least. "I still think I should've seen it coming. I should have trusted the Council." He knew Dooku was going for an Empire, but now that it's here, he just doesn't know what to think of it anymore. Everything should be better, but it doesn't feel like that's true. It'll take time, yes, but...
"I can't believe they're always right anymore either, Jacen." He pulls back, and they're standing at arm's length now. Still, it feels like they've been apart forever.
"Then what are we fighting for?"
"Who said we have to fight for anything? The war is over, Jacen, whether for better or worse. We can go somewhere, together, and live in peace."
"We could try, but I don't think that life would suit us well." Jacen hates to be blunt about this, but it's simply the truth.
"We could... learn," he offers. Maybe they could. Jacen can't even imagine it, but he's tired of all of this. Now that he's with Anakin again, he doesn't want anything to take them apart. Nothing should've taken them away from each other in the first place.
Behind them, Jacen hears footsteps, and turns to see Ahsoka approaching. She stills when she sees Anakin, but she doesn't move closer, or leave. Likely, she's as uncertain on how to handle this as Jacen himself.
Anakin looks up, eyes widening when he sees her.
"Master," she breathes finally.
Anakin inhales sharply. "Ahsoka." For a moment, they both just look at each other, uncertain, unmoving. "How have you been?"
"It's been hard," she answers uncertainly, crossing her arms. "And you?"
"It should have been me who was captured instead of you."
"I'm not sure how well I would have handled you both fighting against us."
Jacen winces internally when she says it so bluntly. Of course, he knows it's the flat out truth, but still, it hurts to know what he put them through, even if it wasn't entirely his own doing. "I wish I hadn't done it at all," he interjects quietly.
"It's what you thought was right," Anakin reminds, "Mom always tells us to follow our heart. That's what you did."
It'd be nice if he could accept that everything he did wasn't wrong and just... wrong, but Jacen can't accept that, at least not now. "Yes, but I knew there were alternatives. I just chose the easy way."
"We all did," Ahsoka sighs, pushing herself off the wall she was leaning against. "What... what does the Council think of us?"
"That is one thing they never spoke of in my presence," he replies, "I don't know, but Obi-Wan told me to be prepared for the situation where you were both Fallen."
Jacen glances at Ahsoka, and she returns it, then looks away. "We might've used the Dark Side," she admits, shrugging one shoulder, "But I wouldn't say we're exactly... Fallen. Not the way Dooku is, anyway."
Anakin nods. "I heard you defeated Krell. When the news came out, I wasn't sure what to think. It was impressive."
"He was a traitor to the Republic," Jacen cuts in, because he feels the need to clarify this. Anakin needs to know. He deserves to know. "Dooku was intending to recruit him, but when we saw how he was treating his clones, we... couldn't stand for it. We lured him into a trap and ended it before he could hurt anyone else."
"What did Dooku do to the clones?" Anakin inquires. "I tried talking to Rex. They're all... none of them are themselves."
A surge of fear twists inside him. Of course, there was more that Jacen never knew about, but he can't imagine what this could be. He could never understand how Dooku intended to neutralize the clones, but he thought it was something the Count would worry about, another thing that Jacen wouldn't be told. He never thought it could be something dangerous or sinister, though. Just like everything else. "I don't know. There was more that he never told us."
Why did he never think to ask? Yes, both of them had major reservations about the attack on Coruscant, but they didn't have much choice. It had all been about how they could end the war here and now.
"Something is happening to them. I don't know what."
"I wish I could tell you." He wishes he asked. By now, he should definitely have known better.
"Do you think he really means it for good?" Anakin asks, "Dooku, I mean. That he thinks this is the only way?"
"He believes it," Jacen confirms, because of all the things he knows, he's entirely certain of that. "But I'm not entirely certain he's right."
"Is there any way we can find out what he's doing to the clones?" Ahsoka asks, "I don't understand how he could do this, either."
"I could ask," Jacen replies, "But... if it's something of high security, I don't know if he'll tell me." Though what it is, Jacen can't even imagine himself.
"Ask, at least," Ahsoka advises.
Jacen nods. "I will." But he doesn't know what to do now. He's tired of... everything right now, and he wishes things could just be simple. "I don't know what to do now. I... wish I could just stay with you, but the Jedi wouldn't allow it so easily, would they? I don't think I could go back to the Temple."
"Likely not," Anakin agrees, more subdued, "But considering how severe it might be... I think it is worth trying. The clones, most of all, were supposed to be loyal solely to the Republic. I don't know how that could not be true."
It shouldn't be possible, so... yes, Jacen will ask, as soon as he has the chance. But for now... "Is Mom here?" he asks, biting his lip. He doesn't feel deserving of seeing her again, but there's nothing he wants more right now.
"I know she would like to see you," Anakin assures, sensing his fear.
"How has she been?" he asks.
"She missed you, but she was relieved to know that at least you were alive," he answers.
It still makes Jacen wish he'd come back sooner, but he couldn't have just fought for the Republic either, could he? It wouldn't have been... right, either. "I'm sorry," he says again, quietly, "I didn't mean for it to happen like this."
"I know," Anakin replies, quietly, "If you're ready, we can go see Mom now."
There's nothing to wait for, is there? "Let's go," he agrees.
**w**
As it turns out, Shmi's currently at 500 Republica, and Jacen feels unbearably nervous as he stands outside the door. He hasn't been here in a very long time, and now that he is here, he's suddenly not certain he belongs here. He's not certain of much of anything though, so Jacen forces that aside. Anakin said their mother missed him. He has absolutely no reason to disbelieve that – she never cared for sides the same way they did.
Threepio lets them in, as always, and he follows Anakin inside. The familiarity of it hurts, so much. It reminds him of before... everything, when they were still a family, and even if they weren't together, they still had each other. That's something he's been sorely lacking for over two years now.
He was fourteen when he left. He's sixteen now.
Surprise flashes across Shmi's face, but she immediately pulls Jacen into a tight embrace. For the first time in a long while, he lets himself break down and cry. His mother has always meant home in a way that no one else ever has, nor could. The Council found out about their contact right before Geonosis, and maybe it's best that he didn't stay, because with his loss, the whole thing blew over. Anakin would've told him if it hadn't.
"I knew you would come back," she says at last, holding him close.
"I just wish it was sooner," Jacen mumbles. He wishes many things, all of them pointless. Nothing changes what has already happened.
"All that matters is that you're here," she promises. "I know you were only doing what you thought best."
He doesn't want to talk about it anymore. Doesn't want to talk about anything, really, though he doesn't know what else to do. "Anakin said maybe we could leave," he tells her. Silently, he hopes she agrees. He just needs out right now.
She glances at Anakin before looking back at Jacen. "He's spoken of it to me," she replies, "And if you need a break from the fighting, take one. We would all sleep better knowing each other were safe."
"I didn't know you thought I was dead," Jacen blurts out, "Not until Ahsoka told me. If I did, I'd have contacted you a long time ago."
"You couldn't have known," she assures.
Somehow, this is harder than when he first saw her again in years. At least then, he'd still talked to her occasionally. That isn't true anymore. "How have you been?" he inquires finally, because he needs to know this.
"I never truly believed you were... gone," his mother confesses, "I would have known it if you were."
"I didn't want to, either," Anakin adds, "But we didn't know where and how to look." That he's still here is surprising, considering how much chaos Coruscant is in, and how he probably should be busy at the Temple or elsewhere, trying to clean up. Not that Jacen is complaining about his presence.
"I imagine the Jedi will try to take out Dooku one way or another," Jacen adds, "Or... possibly even Ahsoka and I." Speaking of them, he should say goodbye to Ventress. He doesn't know if he's going to see her again. For some reason, that hurts far more than he thought it would. "I'm not sure how easy it would be for us to stick around without endangering you."
"We'll find a way," Anakin promises, "I've been considering leaving the Order for a long time now, anyway."
He has? "Why? I thought you wanted to stay because you could help people better as a part of something larger?"
"His heart lies elsewhere," Shmi replies with an almost mysterious smile. Whatever it is, she knows, and Jacen doesn't think it has much to do with duty. No, it's something else. Someone, perhaps? (Like... how he feels towards Ahsoka? If they were still Jedi, he's not sure what it would mean for their relationship. Now, it's no longer a concern. And he can't imagine not having formed this bond with her, even if it's still something they should talk about.)
"Someone?" Jacen guesses cautiously.
Anakin flushes slightly. "Padme. We... talked, after Ahsoka left."
"Oh," he realizes. Of course. It makes so much sense, even if it's strange to imagine his brother feeling like that towards someone, especially someone Jacen looks up to so much. Maybe sometime he'll mention what's with him and Ahsoka, but not right now.
Right now, he's just content to be his mother and brother for the first time in years. He wants to just... live in the moment the way Qui-Gon taught him – he still needs to talk to his master again, but he doesn't want to think about it right now – and just be, because he doesn't know when he'll get the chance again.
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