Last Hope

by The Wasp1995

Immediately after the fall of Ben Solo, Luke Skywalker has exiled himself to the planet of Ahch-To to live out the rest of his days in shame and to end the Jedi once and for all. But when offered a chance to undo all of the horrible events of the past, Luke takes it and embarks on one last hero's journey to create a future that never was. Time Travel fic

22. The Choices of War Part 2

Hello to all!

I must say, I am blown away by the reception received upon updating this fic. Thank you all for the kind words of support. I'm back on a roll and ready to update 2-3 times a month once more. There's so much story still to tell.

I will be doing a review mailbag soon. But not this chapter and you'll soon understand why. Because today is an extra special treat: my longest chapter yet.

As usual, I underestimated both how long it would take to write and the length. Ordinarily, a chapter such as this should be divided in two. But there's a lot happening and I felt it would break up the suspense if I divided it up again. If you feel it's too long, kindly inform or DM me. That being said, I really think you guys are going to enjoy it ;)

I don't do this often but I will given the upcoming content: it contains some of the bloodiest scenes I've written. Fair warning to all before reading.

Now, with that being said. Onwards! And don't forget to drop those reviews!

"You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it."- Margaret Thatcher

Chapter 22. The Choices of War Part 2

The sound of droid blaster fire bounced off the Senate walls every which way. An inescapable, terrifying sound that signaled the coming of death. Specifically that of Padme Amidala and her compatriots.

"My lady, this way!" Neela gestured.

The only advantage granted to the two women was they could outrun the awkward, clunky, slow moving droids. But speed or no speed didn't lessen the deadliness of their bombs and ammunition.

Padme turned around and nailed two B1s dead center into a crumpled mass on the ground. Thank goodness for the emergency heavy blaster pistols from Naboo her aide stowed away underneath the desk. She abhorred violence but found certain situations required a person to fight back.

Sprinting across the hallway, the two women veered left before more droids forced them to detour right.

"What's happening?!" Padme shouted as she and Neela ducked to avoid incoming fire. "How did the Separatists manage to invade Coruscant?"

"Your guess is as good as mine, m'lady but we need to get you out of here."

They reached an intersection within the mazework of hallways in the building and took cover behind one of the walls. Neela impressively aimed her blaster pistol and hit a lumbering Super Battle Droid squarely in its processing unit, disabling it completely. Padme followed suit, destroying three more B1s in quick succession, allowing them some much needed breathing room.

"You're a nice shot, Neela."

"My parents didn't just teach me about politics when I enrolled in the Legislative Youth Program on our home planet," she responded with a reassuring smile. "Part of my job is protecting you."

Padme felt an inward pang of regret. Neela certainly didn't sign up to shoot battle droids. But more pressing matters, staying alive for instance, took priority.

"Where is the ship you used to arrive here today m'lady?" Neela asked.

"At the Western hangar. But it's probably destroyed or overrun by now. We can't take that chance."

More droids interrupted them, this time dwarf spider droids wriggled and tottered towards them from the hallway. Deceptively dangerous despite their size and awkward movement, their laser cannons could pack quite a punch.

The two women wasted no time in resuming their sprint away only for more B2s to show up on the other side. Neela led the way, turning into another hallway which led to a dead end seemingly trapping them in an avenue of death.

"Psst! In here!"

Before either could turn around and face their doom, a twi'lek from an inconspicuous sanitation room beckoned towards them, which they quickly complied.

The door clasped shut as the droid column stopped at the end of their respective hallway. Humming scanners detected for any sign of life. Not for the first time, Padme thanked her lucky stars droids lacked the capacity to think creatively.

"No one's down there. Spread out and keep moving."

"Roger, roger."

Breathing a heavy sigh of relief, both women took in the scenery in front of them. The small room smelled strongly of mildew, cleansing powder, and sterile gloves, a pungent odor which only highlighted their predicament. They also shared it with about five other people- two twi'leks, an ebony skinned human, and a rodian.

"Thank you," she said to the green Twi'lek, a female who spoke in the typical Ryloth accent.

"No need to thank me. We are all being hunted."

Stating the obvious didn't make Padme feel any better.

"Has anyone else been killed?"

The male twi'lek hung his head sadly.

"I do not know. There were others today such as yourself Senator Amidala. Engaging in extra work or preparation before the next session. I can only assume they are in hiding or…"

He didn't finish and didn't need to, the implication being quite clear.

"They're trying to capture the Senate in one fell swoop and declare victory!" the Rodian claimed.

"Such a brazen, contemptible act," Neela agreed. "No doubt the work of Grievous seeking to assassinate us."

Padme saw that line of reasoning but several questions poked holes in that theory. For one, if the goal were simply to hold the Senate hostage or assassinate the elected body, why choose a day when the vast majority were elsewhere? What was there to gain from overrunning a largely empty building?

Unless…

"The Chancellor," she said aloud. "He passed by my office today to say hello. I'm almost certain it's him they're after."

"If they kill or capture him, the Republic will be in disarray. There's no way we could win the war at that point," one of the Twi'leks pointed out.

"He's the most powerful man in the galaxy," the ebony skinned human agreed. "Most of the Senate's traditional authority is vested in him."

Something about that sentence struck the wrong chord in Padme Amidala. In theory, the Supreme Chancellor should be a powerful, influential man but in the event of an emergency such as this, the Senate should be able to run the affairs of the Republic quite easily…in theory anyway.

"We have to assume the Chancellor's security detail is getting him to the one of the secure bunkers below. Our number one priority is getting out of here."

"What about the Jedi?"

An image of her beloved Anakin coming to her rescue raised the specter of hope but he was currently in the Outer Rim. Padme of all people knew that waiting to be rescued often did no good. Women without blasters could still die from them.

"It looked like a full scale invasion from what I saw," she told them frankly. "And hiding in a closet won't do us any good."

"So how do we make it out of here?" the Rodian asked.

"The East Wing. It has a preparation chamber before bills are brought before the Senate. If we can reach it and seal the entrance, it'll buy us time."

"But there's only one way in or out," one of the Twi'leks pointed out. "If we're discovered, we're as good as dead."

"It's our best chance," Neela agreed. "Especially if the droids don't notice. I know of a backstairs way of getting there."

Unlikely they'd be able to run down three flights of steps without detection. Even CIS droids weren't that clueless (mostly). But the present moment left them few other options to choose from.

"What are your names?" she asked.

Lev Silas and Nyra Tala from Ryloth. Jokanda Burr from Rodia. Pon Burris from Haruun Kal. All aides or legislative assistants in form or fashion.

"Senator Ta ordered that we work the extra day despite the Senate being out of session," Nyra told them sadly.

A twinge of fury tugged on Padme's heartstrings at the injustice and laziness of Orn Free Ta. She pushed it down for now. Saving their lives was far more important than anger at her gluttonous colleague.

"Follow me. Neela and I know the way."

"With respect, m'lady. I'd like permission to be out in front."

"Neela…"

Her aide and friend continued to insist on leading the way as though it came as part of her job description. She truly wished that weren't true. So many had died over the years employed in the service of her protection. Assassins, political enemies, droids, Sith Lords…they'd all taken their shots and missed. Padme didn't want anyone else losing their life today because of the enormous target placed upon her back.

"There's no use arguing, Senator. Your protection and survival is crucial to the Republic. Now, let's hurry."

Cautiously opening the door, Neela took a peek outside, deemed the coast was clear and motioned for everyone to follow.

"Are any of you armed?" Padme whispered.

None of them were, further jeopardizing their party. She and Neela would have to provide what little firepower they still possessed. Two Naboo heavy blasters against the bulk of the droid forces didn't make for the best odds. A good thing she didn't believe in odds.

The posse tiptoed down one hallway and took a series of turns and twists in an effort to reach the back stairwell. Confederate forces seemed to be elsewhere, likely moving upwards in an effort to cut off and surround the Chancellor's office. But banking on that as a means to escape would be foolish.

Neela checked once and then twice in each direction to check if the coast was clear. Padme stayed behind, ensuring the unarmed members of the group received proper coverage. Until another obstacle struck. A bubbling, robotic humming grew louder and louder until the multi eyed front of probe droid came into view.

"Get down!" she whispered to them.

Too late, the droid's sensors picked up on noise and Padme could see the blasted thing already beginning to relay their position to corresponding forces.

Knowing she only had one chance to prevent further damage, she fired a single shot, putting the probe out of commission.

"I think it saw us. We have to move!"

Quickly, the group began descending the backstair well. Long, flowing robes and formal dress made that a lot more difficult. The Senator didn't hate decorum but much preferred other kinds of outfits when it came to fighting. Not a shapely, hugging gown that Anakin drooled over more than once.

Focus

She kept her guard up and eyes peeled as they made their way down one step at a time. By now, the power had been cut and the subsequent dimness made visibility less than ideal for traversing stairs in a rapid fashion. Commando Droids tended to blend quite well in the dark. Destroyers were much louder and far less subtle. She'd rather not run into either one.

Luck appeared to be on their side as they reached the bottom leading towards the East Wing but not before another ominous boom shook the building. The war continued to rage outside the thick layer of durasteel and concrete separating them from battle. Except the battle had been brought to them, right in the heart of the untouchable Senate. Something unthinkable until just a few hours ago. The sense of surrealness surrounding their predicament shattered for Padme Amidala. This was real. And the stakes never higher.

"We're only a short distance away from the chamber," Neela told them. "I'm going to enter the code and make sure no droids are on the other side."

She slowly approached the doors leading into the foyer which forked its way into a circular chamber making up the bottom portion of the East Wing; their primary destination. But something didn't feel right to the Senator. An eerie quiet cast a pall over her senses. Instinct took over.

"Wait-"

Too late. Upon entering the activation code, a blinding fireball exploded as an intense ripple of heat seared her face, the force of which knocked everyone in a twenty feet radius on their backs.

Dizzy and coughing up a significant amount of dust, Padme's thoughts immediately turned to her longtime assistant and friend.

"Neela!"

She rushed forward but there was no body to be found, no sign or trace of where a human being should have been. Just an ominous red mist mixed with the sickly odor of burnt flesh and death. Large chunks of steel and debris littered the ground under which lay a single, detached, bloody hand…

The urge to retch became substituted by sinking fear as the marching of droids from the lower level could be heard.

"Hey! The bomb worked just like the Commandos said it would."

A column of B1s led by two Commando Droids came into view, blasters at the ready. They quickly spotted the disoriented group in front of them and raised their weapons.

"Target identified. Senator of the Galactic Republic: Padme Amidala and cohorts. Prepare to fire."

She did not back down, attempting to shield the rest of the group with her small, slender frame, aiming her blaster pistol towards the pitiless droids, hopelessly outgunned. Padme Naberrie Amidala had long been prepared for when her long standing run of good fortune might run out. That's what it meant to be a Senator. To lead and to put one's life on the line if necessary in service of the people.

Sweat rolled down her rosy, ash ridden cheeks as Padme stared into the soulless eyes of murderous machinery. To hell with decorum, she wasn't going down without a fight. Squeezing the trigger, the heat of the power cell in her blaster rose with each millisecond…

*ZING

A bright green Shotsu lightsaber came flying in like a boomerang, cutting the heads of the Commando Droids clean off. They fell to the door in an anti-climactic thud, leaving their clueless inferiors to scratch their heads.

"Uhh, what just happened?"

The lightsaber, currently stuck in the side of the wall, quivered until it zoomed back into the hand of Ahsoka Tano, who quickly leapt into the fray. In a matter of movements, swings, and spins, she cut the droids into pieces.

"Padme. Thank the Force. We've gotta get you out of here."

In a rare instance, the Senator found herself unable to speak, eyes still transfixed on where she had least seen Neela alive.

"M'lady?"

The touch of Ahsoka's hand snapped her back to reality.

"Y-Yes, of course. Thank you, Ahsoka. Your arrival could not have been more timely."

"Don't thank me yet. The droids have sealed and booby trapped all exits including the lower bunkers. We have to go before any more find us. Come on!"

She allowed herself to be pulled away by her longtime friend back up the stairs. Her colleagues followed, eternally grateful to be under the protection of a Jedi Knight. But Padme Amidala was unable to resist taking one last look at the very spot Neela Annistola last stood alive.

It had been seared into her brain forever.

---

Luke didn't know how many battle droids he'd cut through or how many damned stairs he'd climbed. They all became mere numbers after a time. Easy obstacles in the face of achieving a much higher goal. Of course, at present that goal was somewhat ambiguous.

Running through scenarios as he swung hot, emerald plasma through hapless metal monsters, a number of them stood out as most likely or plausible given the circumstances.

Option number one: Sidious sought to destroy the Republic and the Jedi in one fell swoop. Except instead of turning the Grand Army of the Republic against them, he'd use the overwhelming numerical superiority of the Separatist battle droids to do the job. But thus far the CIS forces had concentrated their attacks solely on the Senate and wealthy districts of the planet-city. The Temple faced no massive assault against its doors. And besides, even if they were to attempt it, droids were vastly inferior to super soldier clone troopers. It just didn't add up.

Option number two: Palpatine was attempting a repeat of the same scenario in the original timeline. A final strike to weaken the Confederacy when it inevitably failed to capture Coruscant, have himself kidnapped to rally broad support around his already staggering power and popularity, while at the same time eliminating Dooku as his placeholder in favor of Anakin. His father had been sent to Scipio to apprehend the Separatist leader after all….except that the Chancellor hadn't been kidnapped. Not yet, anyway. Anakin was billions of miles away and therefore unavailable for Sidious to mold.

Option number three: this scenario frightened Luke the most. Somehow, some way Sidious had figured out his true identity. In the chaos surrounding the most destructive galactic conflict in thousands of years, the Sith Lord would summon a mysterious, powerful Jedi Knight for protection only to stab him in the back and end the greatest threat to his sinister plans.

The last one brought great consternation and put the Last Jedi on high alert. But even the most terrifying scenario presented flaws. For one, he couldn't confirm with certainty Sidious found out that 'Luke Ahch-To' was really Luke Skywalker. Killing off Padme Amidala this early in the plan didn't make sense either. The secret of her marriage to Anakin was instrumental in potentially turning him to the dark side. Not to mention there'd been no mention of visions or dreams from his father.

Grievous was clearly making another attempt to kidnap the Chancellor judging by the concentration of his forces around the Senate Rotunda. Following the trail of droids leading up to his office only confirmed that. But something about this invasion differed from the one shown to him by the ghosts of Yoda, Anakin, and Obi-Wan. He could feel it in the Force and within his bones. The dark side draped over the building like a smothering blanket of shadow.

Sidious is up to something

Luke reset his mind after turning a group of B2s into a pile of jagged metal and scrap with an extremely powerful Force push into the ceiling. Tension released into the cosmos.

I have to focus. Overthinking won't help. Nor will fear of the unknown

By the time he stepped off the elevator leading to the Chancellor's suite, the blond stepped out to see a group of B1s and two droidekas standing outside while a couple of engineers worked to open the sealed doors.

"This is taking too long, hurry up!" the Sergeant demanded.

"I'm going as fast as I can…hey you're not authorized here!"

Luke groaned. Sometimes droids were more irritating than threatening. With a flick of his wrist, he crashed one droideka into the other, deflected three quick shots back at their respective owners, before pulling the last two towards him, decapitating them in a mighty lightsaber swing.

He hesitated briefly as he approached the door lock. What would he find behind it? An awaiting Sith Lord with gleaming, yellow eyes, crimson blade at the ready? Another means of assassination?

'I look forward to completing your training. In time, you will learn to call me…master'

The traumatic flashback sent a horrible jolt through Luke's system. No doubt as a result of the strong dark side energy channeling inside the walls. Only one man contained the power to affect his psyche so badly.

'Now young Skywalker. You will die!'

'Father, please!'

Flashes of hot blue and white lightning temporarily blinded his vision before it returned to the present day.

"Get ahold of yourself," he said in a self reprimand. "Now is not the time to have a meltdown."

Sidious probably could sense his fear. It was time to swallow it. Whatever lay on the other side, he needed to face it and do so head on. This was for his mother, his father, Yoda, Ahsoka, Obi-Wan, Rex, and everyone else in the galaxy.

This is what you were born to do. What you came back for

Realizing he didn't know the passcode to the inside of the suite, Luke knocked almost lamely on the door and called out.

"Chancellor? Chancellor are you there?"

No answer. He knocked again. This time, he mentally scanned the room for life forms and sensed several. Sidious had to be inside.

"Chancellor?"

A beep sounded and the doors opened revealing Palpatine and four of his mysteriously cloaked Red Guards. The Sith Lord showed no ill will or intent and gave a plastic, grandfatherly smile upon seeing the Jedi Knight.

"Master Jedi. Thank goodness you're here. I was on my way towards one of the lower security bunkers when the power cut off. We've been besieged ever since."

He signaled to the Red Guards to be at ease and greeted Luke as though he were an old friend.

"Luckily the sealed doors held long enough before your timely arrival. Now we must be leaving."

Luke resisted the urge to narrow his eyes. Just what was the old man playing at? He couldn't sense any malicious gleanings behind those crystal blue eyes which sparkled with false kindness. Nor any hint of a lightsaber carefully hidden up that dreadful, poofy sleeve.

"Sir, all exits have been blocked and I'm certain that includes the lower shelters. We'll have to fight our way out to the Great Door. I can see about calling in a rescue ship-"

"Nonsense, my dear friend. That would take far too long," Palpatine said in the most reasonable tone could take when one disagreed. "Not to mention the sheer number of droids that are likely crawling throughout the building. Such an act to defile the sacred ground of the Senate."

"I agree. That being said I-"

"Your concern for my well being is commendable, Master Jedi. And I have no doubt of the…extraordinary power you possess in my service. But I also have my elite guard with me and the shelters are a mere lift ride away. It's all part of the contingency plan and now that you're here, we can follow it through."

Luke resisted the urge to retch at the emphasis Palpatine placed on the word 'extraordinary' no doubt intended as a simultaneous back handed compliment and attempt at intimidation. Raising his mental shields, he decided not to play any sort of game at the moment. Master Yoda ordered him to protect this foul man. He'd have to do it.

But why was he behaving without a care in the world? Yes, technically Grievous couldn't hold a flashlight to Sidious in terms of skill and power but the Sith Lord didn't deliberately put himself in danger without reason. Especially when it risked exposure of his secret identity.

The building trembled slightly as bombs exploded and fighters of all shapes and sizes zoomed past the window. Another nasty feeling churned in the pit of Luke's stomach. Something wasn't right.

"Chancellor, I will take you wherever you desire to go. Just come with me."

"Very well, Luke. Lead the way."

Part of him screamed not to turn his back against an enemy. Especially a powerful Sith Lord and his elite guardsman armed with deadly force pikes. But he couldn't sense any sort of treachery in the air…at least not directed towards himself.

He decided to trust his own instincts. Whatever Sidious had planned, it didn't seem to have anything to do with his big secret. He nodded towards the Chancellor and began to walk towards the lift.

In retrospect, turning around might have saved his life as the room suddenly shattered in a fiery ball of smoke and mortar. The glass surrounding the suite's window broke into a million pieces and he plunged forward onto the carpeted floor, hitting his head rather forcefully.

Luke flipped himself over into his back, hoping to have avoided a concussion but also to see the culprit. What stood before him was the galaxy's most infamous cyborg. General Grievous had come to play and his eyes were fixed on one particular target.

"Chancellor Palpatine," he wheezed menacingly. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I hope you don't mind if I make myself comfortable."

Sidious, feigning the physical weakness of someone in his mid sixties, raised a hand in front of his face to get a better view of the monster.

"How dare you intrude upon the office of the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. You will pay dearly for this invasion," he said defiantly. It did nothing to quell the cyborg's bloodlust.

"Your empty threats are amusing. Fortunately for you, I've been tasked with taking you alive."

A metallic claw reached to grab the old man but was blocked by one of the force pikes from a Red Guard, now back in action. Grievous coiled back in pain but quickly whipped out two lightsabers in rapid succession, growling with seething anger.

The guards were well trained, handpicked, and considered the cream of the crop of all the Emperor's protectors. Luke witnessed their lethalness firsthand on more than one occasion. Even so, they were barely a match for the ferocity and strength of the Separatist Commander who took the time to crush, slice, and impale every single one of them.

The blond took advantage of the distraction to help the Chancellor off the floor.

"Easy there, sir. Let's get out of here."

Playing the part of overwhelmed, defenseless politician, Palpatine nodded fervently and took hold of Luke's hand.

They didn't manage to get far. Grievous landed with a mighty thud in front of them, lightsabers at the ready, a bloodied Red Guard helmet underneath his foot.

"Hand him over, Jedi," he spat, inferring as much hatred in the last word as possible.

Luke acted on instinct, using his power to launch him into the ceiling. He plugged the Grievous sized hole with a piece of debris.

"That's not going to hold him for long. Come on."

They rushed past the entry hallway and onto the lift, which thankfully hadn't moved since Luke last used it. He jammed a fist into a random button, launching them downward at top speed. But Luke knew it would not be the end of Grievous's pursuit.

The chase was on.

---

Count Dooku

It was a testament to Dooku's refined skill and power that he could take on two of the most talented Jedi Knights in the entire Order and not only hold his own, but win.

Obi-Wan and Anakin alternated their attacks like a perfectly synched tag team, the latter hitting out with devastating Djem So attacks while the former provided an impenetrable wall of defense, covering any holes. But the ex-Jedi was so precise, so deft with Form II and that elegantly curved blade, he could make a normally impossible task seem effortless.

Strategically, Dooku retreated towards the window, kicking Anakin aside long enough to slow down the assault. Blocking another strike from Obi-Wan he backflipped outside onto the high rise platform.

The two Jedi followed landing on either side in an attempt to cut off any sort of escape. Dooku only smirked at their respective attempts to bring him into justice. Skywalker's dislike felt particularly intense. Good. He could use that to his advantage.

Kenobi is the stable influence. Without him, Skywalker becomes reckless…and vulnerable

Blocking Anakin from the left, he turned his focus towards the right, deflecting two strikes from Obi-Wan before pushing him back towards the edge of the high rise, but not enough to lose balance.

The impertinent one resumed a furious sequence of attacks, hammering away mindlessly like the unimaginative neanderthal he usually proved to be. Dooku blocked up, down, circled the interlocking two blades together and flipped Anakin's lightsaber up and away. A weaponless Jedi stood no chance against him.

Kenobi, as per usual, came to the boy's rescue. He rushed forward and used the Force to snag the lightsaber from the empty depths below.

He crashed the two interlocking azure blades against Dooku's crimson one, the force of which knocked him off balance.

"Anakin! Catch!"

Skywalker did so and Dooku almost found himself exposed, bringing his lightsaber up just in time to receive the massive blow that caused his creaky knees to buckle. The boy had tremendous strength, that much he had to concede.

But he too could muster strength enough to counter it.

Breaking apart, Dooku regained his footing, parried two more blows and felt himself moving backwards once more. But the ledge only offered one way: down.

He spotted another platform three stories down. Though not as spray as in his younger days, it offered a chance to reset the board and regain the advantage.

The cunning Sith Lord jumped down and landed as gracefully as possible, though a twinge shot through that old left knee. He ignored it as Skywalker predictably followed suit.

Foolish boy

Dooku used a shot of lightning to strike Anakin before he could land, crashing him into a wall, knocking him out cold. Ever the wiser Master, Obi-Wan avoided the deadly Sith barrage and touched down cleanly on the second platform. They immediately engaged with Obi-Wan taking the offensive as opposed to his preferred Soresu. He could sense why: protecting the young protege who had only just begun stirring. A noble decision but also a foolish one.

The Count matched the attacks like a painter precisely locating each stroke of the brush, knowing exactly where each strike of Obi-Wan's blade would be and exactly how to counter it. Dancing in and around the blurs of red and blue hissing at each other, Dooku broke the auburn haired Jedi's sequence and countered with one of his own, slowly driving his adversary back across the way.

Obi-Wan couldn't play offense and defense at the same time and it proved to be his undoing. Trying to take back momentum, a mistimed strike left his flank wide open and Dooku took advantage. He hit Kenobi in the jaw, dazing him briefly. He blocked one lower strike but the following uppercut broke Obi-Wan's balance. Using the Force, he raised the Jedi in the air and flung him harshly onto the landing dock, another thirty feet down.

The prone figure of Kenobi didn't move. Dooku could sense he was not dead, however, and sought to fix that. These meddlesome Jedi and their sanctimonious short sightedness left him no choice. Perhaps they'd learn if a Council member such as Obi-Wan died at his hands.

Summoning a great deal of power, the old man cracked off a large piece of rubble and slowly moved it over Kenobi's unconscious body.

"Good-bye, Obi-Wan. You should have joined me when you had the chance."

So focused he was on eliminating the Master, he missed the fearful, livid presence of the apprentice coming at full speed behind him.

"NO!"

---

Anakin Skywalker

Anakin awoke just in time to see Dooku levitating an enormous slab of concrete over Obi-Wan's rigid form down below.

Master

It ignited such fury in the young Jedi it practically propelled him forward in the blink of an eye.

"NO!"

A mighty kick to the back later and Dooku was sent flying backwards down below. A hard landing couldn't have been easy on those joints. Stupid old man. He'd pay dearly for trying to kill his best friend!

Anakin went into full attack mode and without mercy. A killing strike barely missed the spot his enemy had been only a millisecond prior. Dooku tried the same disarming trick used before but he held firm, using superior strength to prevent the circular motion. He forced the Count back on his heels and attacked again.

No one, absolutely no one touched his master or threatened him in such a manner. This arrogant, decrepit grease stain had plagued them for long enough.

He could sense that his overwhelming energy and relentlessness working against an eighty three year old man unable to summon the same vigor. Anakin may not have been as precise as Dooku, but he was just as fast and much stronger. A juggernaut with virtually no limits on the extent of his power.

A rare misstep by the Separatist leader left him exposed, and Anakin took advantage with a boot to the stomach. Unfortunately, it created just enough separation for a doubled over Sith Lord to use lightning as a defense. He knew it was coming.

Not this time

The lightning came but Anakin raised his azure blade in time to block it, holding ground.

"You're a prime example of wasted talent, boy," Dooku growled condescendingly. "All the potential in the world, and yet still second rate."

"I'll show you second rate!"

Anakin broke the stream and renewed his assault. He suddenly felt extremely sick of looking up at that sneering, lordly face that never gave him any respect. Sick of always witnessing him eventually slipping away. Sick of the taunts, the insults, all the twisted little games. He'd show him once and for all.

Anger and rage spurred him on and everything slowed down. A rush of power to fuel an untamable beast that sought endless amounts of blood. It felt good. It felt really good. And suddenly, Dooku didn't appear so threatening anymore.

His enemy's strikes became desperate. The Count was forced to duck and summon tremendous precision to avoid losing a limb or worse, his head. Anakin's blows rained down like blue fire, devolving from Djem So into something much more savage and aggressive. Something unstoppable.

Anakin twirled and swung his mighty blade across the sternum, hoping to slay the Sith right then and there. Dooku managed to block it in the nick of time as the crash of lightsabers began to sputter and hiss with immense tension.

"Tapping into the dark side are we? I thought the Jedi shied away from such power."

"I don't shy away from anything!"

"Your lying is atrocious, Skywalker. There is much conflict in you. Anger. Hate. And fear…yes fear for someone you care deeply about."

His oily taunt only served to enrage Anakin further as the image of his beloved wife under siege in Coruscant came into mind. All because this asshole decided to start a war. He'd tried to assassinate Padme on multiple occasions, slaughtered countless friends and Jedi…

No, not again. Never again

The Chosen One roared as he broke the connection and furiously hammered away at Dooku's crooked, weakening defenses. Gripping hilt ever tighter, his relentless drive and bladework caused the Sith to panic. An uncharacteristically sloppy swing aimed to kill by the Sith Lord missed which opened the opportunity needed.

Anakin sliced Dooku's lightsaber in half, lifted him up with the Force and began to apply a chokehold. He relished the power throbbing in between his fingertips but the beast wanted more. For this smarmy menace to know the meaning of suffering. To squeeze every last bit of life out of that dusty windpipe until it snapped in two.

How dare he try to kill Obi-Wan! How dare he try to kill my wife!

Dooku strained so heavily under the Force choke, he actively gasped and clutched his throat attempting in vain to breathe, to suck in just a little bit of oxygen. Even to beg.

"What's that Count? I can't hear you. You'll have to speak louder."

Anakin's tone had deepened into a low pitched guttural sound that lacked any humanity. He gestured mockingly by tapping his ear.

"I'm waiting, old man."

Enthralled in the depth of his own victory, savoring every moment he could spend killing this geriactric son of a Hutt, Anakin failed to sense his master awaken.

---

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Everything hurt when Obi-Wan Kenobi came to.

"Goodness gracious, Anakin. I do hope Dooku hasn't escaped," he muttered to himself.

His vision, a bit blurry from the hard landing, honed in on something much worse. Anakin held Dooku in the equivalent of a Force vice grip, choking the air out of the Sith Lord with black vengeance. Obi-Wan could sense it too. The sheer volume of hatred and malice radiating off his former pupil was cause enough for concern but it went further.

He saw Dooku's lightsaber split in two near his feet. The Sith was completely defenseless.

Through their bond, he could feel Anakin tapping more and more into the darkest corners of the Force, creating an inferno of hatred and white hot rage meant to destroy everything that strayed in its path. Dooku's heart thumped wildly before it began to slow down to a trickle.

He had to stop his best friend from committing an unspeakable act.

Stumbling to his feet he called out desperately.

"Anakin! Stop!"

"Obi-Wan?"

It had the desired effect. The realization his master was okay instantly evaporated the dark cloud of evil hanging over the brunette. Dooku dropped to the floor gasping for breath, barely conscious. Immediate regret spread across Anakin's handsome face.

"I'm…I'm sorry."

"What were you thinking?" he admonished. "He's an unarmed prisoner! If the Council were to find out-"

"Obi-Wan let me explain-"

As they bickered, neither noticed Dooku pressing a single finger against a communicator on his wrist.

"You were on the verge of fully embracing the dark side, Anakin. That is a line we cannot cross."

"He was about to kill you with a rock! I had no choice!"

The argument hit a peak and then ceased all at once. Obi-Wan lowered his tone of voice and sighed. Yelling at Anakin would do no good. That much he knew by now. But that awful look of putrid hate twisting Anakin's face into something monstrous…it terrified him. Maul's haunting words suddenly came back yet again.

You trained him, you know the darkness, the fear, the hatred that resides within Skywalker

Those emotions always bubbled underneath in Anakin, serving to trouble an already troubled youth marred by insecurity and the pressure of being the Chosen One. But to witness such brutality in action put those words into a whole new light.

He chose not to quarrel or scold his best friend any further. After all, he wasn't his padawan anymore and technically held no real authority to dictate his actions. A calming, stabilizing presence served the situation better.

"It's alright, Anakin…I thank you for saving my life yet again. I just worry about you is all."

For a split second the twenty two year old looked as though he might actually spill his guts about everything. Creased lines in the forehead wrinkled with conflict of someone with an enormous secret to burden.

Tell me, Anakin I'm here

But he couldn't. Not with their adversary within earshot. Not at the risk of being kicked out of the order. Anakin Skywalker didn't do feelings. He simply bottled them up.

"We need to secure him in something stronger than binders. They won't hold him for long," Anakin murmured awkwardly, unable to look Obi-Wan in the eye.

"I quite agree. Let's finish up this battle and report back."

Dooku, however, had other ideas. The two Jedi neglected to see the detonation button clutched in his left hand.

"Not…today…Master Kenobi."

The press of a button later, a massive explosion rocked the landing dock throwing Anakin and Obi-Wan off balance, the latter of which almost fell off, the former grabbing him in the nick of time.

"I've got you master! I won't let go!"

"I'd be worried if you were planning to."

Crumbling concrete and steel threatened to send them all into the depths of oblivion. But Dooku's seemingly suicidal move came with a backup plan. He always did. A small transport arrived and though severely weakened and wheezing, the old man managed to stumble aboard.

Obi-Wan normally would have chastised himself for allowing their longtime adversary to escape yet again. But other more pressing concerns occupied them both at the moment. Living in particular.

Thankfully, Anakin was incredibly strong and hoisted him back up to safety…for the moment. A deep schism had cracked through half the landing dock and verged on collapsing.

"Run!"

He didn't need to be told twice. Obi-Wan struggled to keep up with the long strides of his former padawan as he felt himself teeter with the sinking of the platform. But the will to live won out against the abyss of death.

"Jump!"

Summoning his full ability within the Force, he and Anakin leaped just in time before the inevitable, ear shattering cataclysm.

A cloud of dust and light debris filled the air. Obi-Wan felt quite sure he'd cracked a rib or two from the numerous hard landings but he'd suffered worse. They'd both be able to tell the tale and fight another day.

Anakin groaned as he clutched his shoulder but took on a regretful glance upon catching his former master's eye.

"Obi-Wan…I'm sorry. I lost control and-"

"We need not speak any more of it, Anakin."

"You won't tell the Council?"

If he were rational, if this were any other person, he most likely would. But when it came to Anakin, Obi-Wan didn't use rationality. No matter how high his anxiety might be over today's incident…he cared too much about his brother and best friend to snitch.

"I'm just thankful we're both alive. Now, come on. We should check in with Cody and Rex."

He offered a gracious hand to relieve pressure on that likely sprained shoulder. Anakin gave a rare smile and took it. But as they walked back towards the interior, Obi-Wan sensed that they were repeating the same cycle of emotional shortfalls and over again. One in which the former would fail to hide his innermost anguish and forbidden attachments while the latter feigned ignorance out of a sense of trepidation. It was best not to know or pretend not to know about such complications that could jeopardize Anakin's status as a Jedi. He'd been content with that unspoken agreement for years.

Except now, Obi-Wan was in the same boat given his own relationship with Satine. It downgraded his hubris from 'blind eye' to 'hypocrite'. How could he justify judging Anakin for withholding personal information when he himself engaged in the exact same behavior? Did it aid the dark side instead of defeating it?

Not for the first time, the Great Negotiator wondered whether his philosophy and that of the Order he served, might be severely flawed.

---

"This way! Hurry!"

Emerald blades practically blurred to the naked eye as Ahsoka did everything in her power to protect her small cohort from the onslaught of yet even more Separatist droids. An endless stream of ants crawling into a hill, overwhelming whatever misfortune soul that happened to be inside.

Numbers. Always about the numbers. She'd seen it enough times to know how this worked. Flashes of Felucia entered her mind, thinking that victory was at hand before Anakin and Obi-Wan stepped in to save her from being overrun. Just when you thought you were safe from battle doirds…

"Ahsoka to your right!"

…there were always more waiting to murder you. She slashed out and deflected a blaster bolt back at a B2, ending its existence instantly. Thankfully, Padme Amidala was deceptively talented at firefights and could more than hold her own with a blaster.

Moving backwards to take cover, Padme shot two more droids to give them more time. Time that seemed to be slipping away and with it their chances of survival.

"We need to find you someplace safe!" she yelled over the oncoming blaster noise. Padme fired twice more before Ahsoka had to pull her aside to avoid a shot that would have killed her instantly. Far too close for comfort.

"With all due respect, Ahsoka. There isn't anywhere left in this building that's safe."

Damn it, she's right

In reality there weren't a ton of options remaining. With no knowledge of how the battle was progressing outside and endless amounts of droids still marching throughout the complex on the orders of Grievous, they could run but not hide. Racking her brains for a solution, Ahsoka's thoughts turned to Anakin.

He's going to lose it if Padme is killed

Having the burden of that knowledge brought no comfort but it did elicit a fierce desire to protect the Senator from Naboo. 'Purpose before feelings' was the mantra her master always taught but for the first time in her career as a Jedi, the two were inextricably intertwined.

Luke was counting on her. The galaxy was counting on her. The entirety of the future lay at stake.

She pressed a finger to her comlink. Force, this better work.

"Commander Wolffe?"

"Yes, General?"

"Where are you?"

"We're clearing off the last of the clankers from Sector 2. The tide is turning, sir. The Separatist offensive is breaking."

Her heart backflipped with elation.

"Wolffe, I'm currently inside the Senate building protecting Senator Amidala and a group of others. We're trapped and the tinnies just keep coming."

The line went static for a good three seconds and that elation nearly turned to horror. Had the unthinkable just occurred?

"...we're…still being jammed, General Tano. …sending…squad…right away."

The line went dead. Evidently, the Trade Federation cruisers were still interfering with communications. But enough came through to spark a renewed hope. Sector 2 was only a few zones away from the Senate. If they could just hang on a little bit longer…

"I have an idea," she said at last. "Go to the Grand Convocation Chamber. I'll cover you."

Padme nodded, placing full trust in her longtime friend.

"This way!"

As she ushered her frightened cohorts down the hall, Ahsoka used a massive Force push to knock down a half dozen droids to give them extra breathing room. A smell dent in the CIS arsenal but destroying them all was no longer the objective. Not at least until help arrived.

The group ran into coming to a white automatic door which led into the corridor leading to the Senate chamber, a wide, luxurious circle that looped around the entire perimeter of the esteemed body. Though empty, it would serve their purposes today.

"How are we going to stop them?," one of the Twi'leks said nervously.

"We're not We're buying time," Ahsoka told them all as she shut the door with a small motion of her hand. "The power is cut out. Which means it'll be dark and difficult to see inside the chamber."

"Are we hiding?" the Rodian asked.

"Better. We're defending from familiar terrain."

Ahsoka used the light of her green sabers to illuminate the path in front of them. While not completely impossible to see, visibility only extended so far. The glimmering pods used by Senators during live sessions gave the only indication of what lay inside.

"So what's the plan, Ahsoka?" Padme inquired.

"I'm going to send those of you who are unarmed into a pod in the upper section in order to hide. With any luck, you'll be out of reach of their scanners. Senator Amidala and I will lure them away and pick them off one by one."

"And then what?" asked the green Twi'lek.

"We hope help arrives," she stated bluntly. "Now come on."

Once aboard, Ahsoka used the Force to send the pod into the upper stratosphere of darkness. It took a considerable amount of effort with the amount of weight inside it, a necessary reminder that her power did not come anywhere close to Luke or Anakin just yet.

But I am strong enough to protect these people. And I will

"Take cover in that group of pods to the left," she whispered to Padme. "When I ignite my lightsabers it'll give you enough visibility to shoot them. But remember to pick specific targets. Don't give away your position entirely."

"Got it…and Ahsoka?"

"Yeah?"

Through the dim lighting she could make out Padme's mouth pressing into a thin, firm line of determination.

"We're going to get through this."

Ahsoka nodded and gently guided her using the Force to one of the pods. She leapt back into a lower section of the chamber and waited. The droids would be arriving soon.

Like clockwork they came, three dimwitted B1s who instantly voiced the obvious.

"I can't see!"

"That's because it's dark, nitwit. Your circuits are fried."

"Well where are they?"

"The scanners are picking up lifeforms." A red light began sweeping part of the chamber before vanishing in a flicker. "They're here alright. But where?"

"That's what I just asked, idiot!"

Ahsoka sighed at the sheer incompetency of the B1s. Honestly, the Trade Federation couldn't pay top credits for a droid marginally better than these mechanical embarrassments? Time to spring their little surprise.

Two lightsabers sprung forth.

"Senator, now!"

"What the-"

"We're under attack!"

A series of shots decapitated two of the trio. Ahsoka stood up and in one motion, sent the droid flying into the black nothingness of the pit below.

"They'll be more of those," she muttered and sure enough more of the metallic drones came marching in, shooting indiscriminately throughout the chamber.

"Follow the light! It's a Jedi!"

She leapt from pod to pod, deflecting as many blaster shots back at their owners as possible. Two more dropped dead to the floor. Padme's fantastic aim also took out another. The Togrutan was glad to see the Senator following her advice. Following every shot, she ducked back into her pod to avoid detection. It put the witless B1s into a panicked frenzy.

"We need backup! I repeat we need backup!"

Ahsoka felt the Force flow through her as she soared through the air and landed on top of the entrance, confusing the enemy as they searched desperately around.

"Hey! Where'd she go?"

"Right here."

Swinging down in a whirl of green, she sliced the droids into sizzling scrap heap with ease. But the sound of heavy clunking dampened the small victory.

"Super battle droids!" she warned Padme. Kriff, she hated those things. Though slower, their armor and deadly twin wrist blasters made them a much more formidable opponent. Sure enough they entered in a lumbering column.

Time to bottle them up

Ahsoka flew backwards onto a lower pod, deflecting multiple shots before issuing a Force push that clogged three of them tightly into the entrance.

Bamboozled beeping and deep grunting echoed throughout the chamber as they were unable to get through. The strain of keeping them there caused the young Jedi's arm to shake. Muscles ached and quivered. Force, a dozen or so of those killer robots must have been trying to squeeze through.

Feeling herself weaken, Ahsoka thought of another idea.

"Padme! When I release my hold, shoot them!"

Sure enough, the bottlenecked pressure became too much and the B2s clogging the opening, crunched and crumpled into a jagged heap. The ones behind them busted through and began firing.

Padme hit the first two, but missed the third. Her blaster shot failed to penetrate fully and it turned to fire a rocket from its wrist, forcing the Senator to jump painfully into the lower pod to avoid it. The resulting explosion caused chunks of the ceiling to crash below, narrowly missing her.

"Scanners are detecting something is shooting at us up there."

"No!"

More droids arrived and by this time, adaptable enough to know that more than one entryway existed into the Senate chambers. Blaster fire seemed to come in multiple directions and Ahsoka used every athletic trick in the book, acrobatically spinning and soaring through the air in a graceful dance with death.

But a group of them detected Padme and another B2 aimed towards her general vicinity.

They've detected her

Another rocket narrowly missed and Ahsoka's gut twisted nastily knowing they'd hit their target eventually. After a running start, she jumped and twisted into the air between the line of fire, using another pod as a launching point to reach Padme.

"Senator! Are you okay!"

A series of blaster bolts were redirected and another B2 fell. But more CIS forces steadily trickled in.

"I'm fine!" she affirmed, looking no worse for wear other than a cut across the neckline of her dress. "Cover me and I'll keep firing."

Force, this woman. No wonder Anakin loved her so much.

Ahsoka soon realized that the droids were firing from three different angles and could no longer safeguard every flank. Stepping backward, she felt the warm touch of skin on skin and saw they'd pressed against each other's backs in a last ditch effort to form an interlocking defense. But it would only last so long.

The sixteen year old Jedi flicked her wrist and swung the pod around to gain a more favorable position. But she worried for Padme. Stamina came through years of training and discipline at the Jedi Temple. Admirable and courageous as she was, Ahsoka sensed the Senator losing steam.

Come on, Wolffe. Where are you?

Another B2 rocket fired off and this one would have found its mark had the Togrutan not redirected the projectile at the last second. Several ominous booms rumbled the entirety of the chamber. It boded ill if droids were the cause.

The momentary lapse in concentration resulted in a blaster shot hitting her underneath the arm. She cried out in pain.

"Ahsoka!"

"Keep shooting!"

Teeth grit in an effort to keep the throbbing wound at bay. She centered her thoughts away from the pain, focusing only on the here and now as Luke constantly reminded. Lightsabers became indiscernible blurs of light in a blinding aura of emerald. No thought of getting shot entered her mind, the concern lay solely with the single minded objective in protecting the beloved of her brother and mentor. Death's shadow did not penetrate.

Then a droideka appeared in one of the entrances and locked onto their position. Lovely.

Well, it was nice having made it this far. Maybe she'd come back as one of those weird ghosts Luke talked about.

"General!"

A wonderfully familiar voice shouted for her to take cover. Two droid poppers knocked out the destroyers. White armored figures suddenly dropped down from the inky black ceilings on grappling lines as though mythical, shiny knights descending from the heavens. Except angels didn't carry blaster rifles.

Commander Wolffe and the 104th had arrived.

"Take em out boys!"

In an impressive round of fire, the clones picked off the remaining droids one by one. Wolffe himself landed and snapped off the heads of two B1s before ending the existence of another with his DC-15. B2s exploded into nothing as Warthog threw multiple thermal detonators into one of the overrun entrances.

Ahsoka breathed a sigh of relief as she and Padme simultaneously fell inside their respective pod in exhaustion. They were saved.

"Are you alright, General?"

The white and gray outline of a phase 2 helmet peered down on them. Sinker. What a magnificent human being he was right now.

"Still breathing, Sergeant," she said with a weak smile. "I think you may want to check in on Senator Amidala and the others before me."

"Senator-"

Sinker's helmet turned sharply towards Padme, who seemed on the verge of passing out. He immediately knelt down and opened up a medkit.

"You're safe now, m'lady. I'll call a medic straight away to patch up those wounds but this should do the trick for now."

"Thank you. There are some others hiding in the upper chamber…please attend to them as well."

"Yes ma'am. We're on it. Comet! Warthog! Is the area secure?"

"All droids have been reduced to scrap metal, sir. We're sending three more squadrons to destroy any remaining clankers but the building appears to be ours, sir."

Ahsoka let out a massive internal sigh knowing she had not failed Anakin or Padme. The timeline was intact. She'd done it. Somehow, they were still here. The Senator, despite being scraped and scratched, was not seriously hurt. Too tired to speak, she could feel the warmth of gratitude pass between them as her consciousness slipped into sleep.

Rest well, Senator

As another clone helped her to her feet, thoughts drifted over to Luke. Reaching out through the Force, she tried to sense something, anything through their bond. To know he'd made it as well.

But the thick fog of the dark side blocked any foresight. Nothing, not even the slightest imprint or indication of whether he'd defeated Palpatine, protected him, or otherwise. It made her feel increasingly uneasy. Even Sidious couldn't block the personal bonds between Jedi. So why the uncertainty?

Luke...you better make it out of this or I swear I will go back in time and kill you myself

---

"I must say Master Jedi, your ability to get out of a tight spot is most impressive."

You should have seen me when I blew up your Death Star

"Don't thank me yet. We still have to get you to safety."

The lift wasn't moving fast enough for Luke's liking as they descended lower and lower. Its plexiglass supposedly could withhold even the most potent of explosives. He didn't want to test that theory. Nor look Palpatine in the eye.

"You seem…agitated, my friend."

Oh no. He did not like the way Sidious said those words. Too suggestive. Too evil despite the lightness of its tone.

"Just worried about you, sir. The fate of the Republic depends on your survival."

He meant it too in an ironic roundabout way of speaking. The fate of everything depended on this sadistic piece of shit living or dying. But Luke reminded himself to be careful. The last time he used a well placed barb in a conversation with Palpatine, it gave away too much. Thankfully, the evil old man did not offer a rejoinder.

"You're too kind. Of course, one always has to be on the lookout with General Grievous on your tail. But I am confident we can beat him."

It took great effort for Luke to resist the urge to roll his eyes. No shit the most terrifying, demonic Sith Lord in a millennia could demolish a bloodthirsty cyborg like Grievous who lacked any power in the Force. But unless Sidious wanted to give the game away, he'd be forced to sit back and do nothing.

But what was the game exactly? On the surface, a Jedi Knight sought to protect the leader of the free galaxy. To the blond it felt more akin to fighting an acklay and a serpent. While the acklay attacked from the front, fangs would strike while caught unawares. Two poisonous knives plunging into his back to end his already tenuous existence.

Luke recalculated. No, Grievous had no idea that Darth Sidious and Sheev Palpatine were one and the same. His plan was a repeat of the first time around: kidnap the Chancellor in a desperate gamble to swing the tide of the war. The real wild card? The same as always. The evil, conniving secret Sith Lord.

"I am also confident in my abilities. But Grievous is ruthless. He's not going to stop until he captures you."

Stories of the cyborg's genocidal brutality reached far and wide across the galaxy. A perfect front villain for the Republic to rally against. Count Dooku may have been persona non grata, but he still had a reputation for good manners (despite his own atrocities). Even Luke Skywalker was told tales of the Clone Wars as a boy and the legend of the evil menace of a hungry, cyborg warrior who killed thousands.

Turns out, folk tales sometimes come true.

"My, that is quite a battle."

Luke didn't say anything in response, keeping his body turned towards the glass and away from Sidious. The fewer words spoken between them, the better.

Thoughts turned to friends and family as Republic and droid starfighters zoomed in between the sprawling maze of skyscrapers that defined Coruscant more than any other planet. What about his mother? Could Ahsoka get there in time? What about Obi-Wan and his father on Scipio? Would Anakin still kill Dooku with no one to rescue and no Chancellor to goad him?

He was the rescuer now. He felt sure that this scenario was by design. Sidious couldn't offer the same temptations or devil's bargain. A powerful, middle aged, experienced Jedi Master who'd run the gauntlet of the Sith's evil and won didn't afford the same opportunity for corruption as an insecure, fearful, angry twenty two year old father to be.

So what then? What was he missing? He'd been able to counter this bastard so far move for move. Surely a deeper, sinister motive existed.

Stay focused. Remember the here and now

Luke took a deep breath as the lift slowed. A beep went off to announce its final destination. He'd cross that bridge when necessary. Sidious's plan would reveal itself in time. At the very least, he felt confident in being able to defeat Grievous. A terrifying freak of nature he might be, but nowhere near skilled enough to defeat a Skywalker.

"This is it. Let's get to the shelter."

They came to a stop and for a split second, an almost peaceful silence swept over as the muted sounds of bombs and blaster fire seemed so far away.

A disorienting jolt shook the lift as a large dent pressed into the metal. Two lightsabers, one blue and one green, sliced a circle through the top of the structure before a claw shot through, grasping like a possessed, metallic instrument of nightmares.

Luke used the Force to pull Palpatine out of the way. Opening the doors, he only took a few steps before the trap became apparent. At the base of the lift, outside into the open Coruscanti air, four Magna guards lay in wait, shock staffs at the ready.

Grievous himself wasted no time in making his intimidating hunched over presence known from behind.

"We have you cornered, General Luke," he chuckled sinisterly. "You can hand over the old man, or you can resist and die. The choice is yours."

"Yeah, I don't think so."

Internally squirming, he grabbed the Chancellor's hand double faked and about faced to the only opening available to the left. Grievous tried to block his path but another Force push sent him sprawling off the edge. Only a built-in cable on the cyborg's wrist prevented imminent demise.

"I will end your puny existence!" he shouted, dangling from the side of the building.

Avoiding the urge to vomit, Luke had taken to carrying Palpatine bridal style as he jumped onto an interconnecting bridge below. But at the very least he could move faster now. Faster than the Magna Guards? A question to be revisited. Hopefully after making it out of this alive.

If Sidious planned on murdering him, he gave no indication of it. Ironically, there were bigger problems to consider. The Magna Guards had greater athletic ability than previously known, for they followed his trail down below. Luke jumped to another bridge and then another but every escape attempt only increased the number of mechanical monstrosities coming for his head.

The reality began to trickle in as the wind whipped in his blond locks, however, uneasy it might be. He could not avoid his failings as a Jedi nor avoid confrontation with the CIS leader and his mindless army of drones. The time to stand and fight had come.

"Master Jedi what do you think are- whoa!"

Luke gave him a little jolt as he stopped on the next bridge and dumped him on the ground. A extra 'fuck you' for all the pain and misery inflicted by the demented sociopath.

By now, no less than a dozen Magna Guards surrounded them on either side of the walkway.

"I have to fight them, sir."

"But you're hopelessly outmatched. We must call for aid."

He almost scoffed at the statement. Sidious knew his worth by now. Or at least heard of it second hand.

Time for you to get a demonstration of just how powerful I really am

"I'm not afraid."

Grievous dropped down with a powerful thud, lightsabers at the ready. The Confederate General growled like a rabid animal looking for a throat to rip out.

"Your reputation is exaggerated, Luke Ahch-To. I was expecting someone a little…younger."

Really? Did this wheezing bag of scrap metal insult his age?

"And I was expecting someone taller. Go figure."

The snarky comment did not add to Grievous's mood.

"Jedi scum. Let's see how your skills fare against mine…seize the Chancellor!"

The cyborg roared and began attacking ferociously. In the corner of his eye, he could see two MagnaGuards grip the Chancellor in their metal clasps. But he didn't concern himself with it. Sidious would be fine. Fending off Grievous took priority for now.

Two blades twirled and danced in front of him in a show of intimidation but the Jedi Knight saw an opening and took it.

"AGH!"

Luke slashed against Grievous' shoulder blade. A surgical strike to warn the cyborg he was not an ordinary Jedi to push around and bully. Responding in kind, Grievous stopped fooling around and went on the offensive.

The level of skill employed by the CIS General was impressive for a being with no connection to the Force. The combat style employed a combination of strength enhanced strikes combined with deadly slashes and dirty tricks. No doubt some of those were taught by Dooku himself.

However, Grievous lacked the precise and methodical approach favored by his master. And while not quite as skilled in Soresu as his old master, Luke could wield it to deadly effect all the same.

Keeping an airtight flow and pattern of movement, the blond deflected blow after blow until he was able to duck underneath a very dramatic slash and pushed outward.

Skidding backwards, Grievous grew agitated at having the Force used against him so many times. Jumping into the air, Luke somersaulted away before again patiently blocking every flurry of strikes. He came up and met a two pronged strike before the cyborg's secret weapon was unveiled: another set of lightsabers to double his total to four.

But Luke had known about that potential complication beforehand and countered accordingly. Before being decapitated, Luke employed his second master's form of Ataru, leapfrogging the metal monster entirely. Grievous failed to follow up quickly enough. A diagonal slash removed two of those lightsabers from play. He reminded himself those weapons were stolen from murdered Jedi. A small comeuppance for such sickening acts.

Luke then switched to his father's favored style of Djem So, making quick work of his emerald blade against an opponent while skilled in Jar'Kai, had little understanding of its deeper potential. A copycat seeking to mimic but without the capacity to truly embrace the power. An artist without imagination. A painter who only used black and white.

He kept his balance steady against a walkway only six feet wide, tempering aggression when needed but pressing Grievous further and further back, infuriating the General, who likely felt unaccustomed to being handled so easily.

One strike missed as Luke ducked again, and blocked the second holding firm against enormous strength. Grievous interlocked both blades, rising to his full height in a brazen move to overpower his wholly organic opponent.

The Last Jedi held firm, summoning every ounce of concentration and discipline within him to withstand the assault. Force, Grievous was strong. Only Vader surpassed the pressure currently bearing on him. Which is why he knew how to overcome this kind of adversary.

Luke gave a bump, a slight one but just enough to reconfigure the balance between them. The opportunity allowed him to deliver the winning move. Twirling his emerald blade, he struck left, then right and followed it with a light Force push. Then he pulled. In seconds, Grievous's lightsabers were secure in his bionic hand.

"Surrender," he declared, pointing his weapon at the fuming warlord. "You're outmatched."

He vastly underestimated the honor of the fallen Kaleesh. And his propensity for cheating. In seconds, the previously silent MagnaGuards began moving towards him.

"Did you really think it would be so easy?" Grievous chuckled. "Make him suffer!"

Luke could take MagnaGuards. Even four or five at a time if necessary. But a dozen? That was pushing it. Facing death or survival, he dropped the retrieved lightsabers and began engaging in a precarious, impassioned defense. Blocking, weaving, ducking and dodging everything possible. Alas, the law of averages caught up to him.

A painful shock stabbed him in the side. But before he could use the Force to tip the scale, Grievous returned with a vengeance having retrieved his lightsabers.

Luke blocked the overhead strike and managed to evade two Guards before being forced to fight Grievous again.

A second shock jolted through his system.

Grievous aimed a killing strike for the head but it missed. Luke blocked two more blows and bit his lip at the extreme pain going up his leg. By now the strategy employed by the General was easily detected. Relentlessly attack while a never ever ending gang of MagnaGuards slowly weakened his defenses. Rinse, recycle, repeat.

The constant barrage left him no opportunity to catch his breath. Third, fourth, fifth, and sixth shocks failed to bring the mighty Luke Skywalker down. The seventh one did the trick.

"AGH!"

A particularly nasty shot to the stomach brought him to the ground, lightsaber slipping from his grasp, rolling away until Grievous stopped it with a metal claw, picking it up and examining it.

"Another fine addition to my collection."

Sweat poured from matted, blond hair onto the ground as bones ached and tendons twinged. He'd lost. And Grievous began laughing at his victory.

"I win, Jedi. Your Republic is doomed. And I can't wait to collect my prize."

Panting, Luke slowly began to calm himself. Ironically, by savoring the win, Grievous had allowed time. Time to reconnect with the Force. To think about the ones he'd come back all this way for…the power of their love was his to wield. For them. For the galaxy.

Be with me, he said to the faces of his friends and family as a twirl of blue and green swung down.

The blades never hit flesh. They hovered over Luke, prone, unmoving, seemingly stuck in the air against their owner's will. Grievous howled, trying with all his might to get them to move. To kill. But they did not obey.

Luke tilted his head upwards and met the gaping void of yellow that passed for eyes inside the metal monster. The eyes that instilled fear in so many…now on the receiving end of it…of unshakeable, crystal, crystal blue orbs.

A powerful blast nearly crumbled the six foot wide bridge as the world shook so violently, sonic waves could be seen vibrating across the city. Grievous flew backwards as did his MagnaGuards. At least the ones not destroyed on impact.

When the dust settled, Luke stood again, defiant and undefeated.

"Kill him!"

The remaining Guards did as ordered but they were no match. Luke fought with skill and power unseen by those in witness. Pressing his back against one guard, he moved with it as the metal monster frantically searched for its target. With one sharp motion, his lightsaber zipped back in time for decapitation. Two, then three, then four fell to his blade of the Last Jedi.

Luke lifted a charging MagnaGuard in the air, summoned it towards him and sliced it in half. He then noticed two more still had their claws around the Chancellor and reluctantly decided to remedy that as well. Cracking off a piece of rubble from one of the above walkways, Sidious jumped out of the way in time before being crushed alongside his captors. Oops.

Caring the slightest bit about the fate of Palpatine almost proved to be a fatal error. Grievous was not done yet. With one blood stained lightsaber left, Luke turned around in time to block the oncoming blow but not the following sucker punch.

The General grabbed him by the scruff of his tunic and tossed him ten feet in the air in the other direction.

"Die!"

His vision swam with stars before the figure of the Kaleesh warlord returned properly. Resting on the edge of the walkway, unarmed and with only seconds to make a decision, Luke realized there was no choice. Kill or be killed.

A gloved hand stopped Grievous in his tracks five feet from where he lay. At first, the cyborg appeared confused as nothing happened. Then he went wide eyed with panic. The sound of contorting metal became louder and louder as blood began dripping down at the center of his chest plate.

Luke didn't stop, raising the General in the air as he began to hack and wheeze with excruciating pain. He roared, desperately flailing in a futile attempt to break out of the Force hold to no avail. Sparks flew as the protective cybernetic plate continued to push further and further inward against vital organs…

…until a heart suddenly stopped beating and the body went limp. Grievous dropped back down to earth, dead as a doornail. A bloodied, unmoving husk incapable of harming or hurting anyone anymore.

It took more than a few seconds to process what had happened. Luke's first thoughts confirmed he was indeed, not dead or living in some out of body nightmare before the ugly reality set in. He'd killed the military leader of the Separatists.

Staggering as he tried to gain back his bearings, the blond absentmindedly summoned back his lightsaber before studying the dead General with horrified eyes.

No, he hadn't intended to end Grievous's existence. The act had been out of self defense, not malice or hatred. Jedi were required to take life, the code allowed for it in certain circumstances. So why did it feel so wrong? Why did he feel so…dirty?

The answer came swiftly.

"You did well, Master Jedi."

Palpatine returned with wholesale triumph in that seemingly warm, kindly smile. Luke sensed he was pleased. Very pleased.

"I only did what was necessary."

His answer sounded more like justification…fear. Something the Sith no doubt detected.

"Indeed. That is what I admire about you, Luke Ahch-To. You do not hesitate to utilize power when it is required. Something most Jedi do not have the capacity to do."

The more the Chancellor spoke, the more Sidious seemed to steadily slither out of the protective shell of Sheev Palpatine. It suddenly occurred to Luke they were alone.

Very alone.

"We need to get you back to safety, sir."

He took a few steps forward only to be stopped by an unexpectedly strong hand. By the Force, Sidious was actually touching him. Anxiety levels arose from a five to about an eleven.

"You're bleeding, my friend."

Luke hadn't realized that at all. Feeling came back as adrenaline slowly exited the body. He glanced down to see a long gash across the right forearm. But the Chancellor's grip was unrelenting; if anything it grew stronger. He tried moving past again. Sidious did not budge.

The pair's eyes met, blue against blue, Jedi versus Sith, good battled against evil. Luke wanted to shout, yell, call for help…anything to reveal to the galaxy this monster. This pure essence of absolute evil. But no one would hear. No one would know.

That black, coiling, serpent like probing was back and Luke raised his impenetrable mental wall against the dark energy surrounding him. Sidious could not win. Not now. Not with everything at stake.

What are you hiding, Luke Ahch-To? What is it you conceal from me?

Wouldn't you like to know.

He pushed back in the Force, a sharp, mental shock through the mind that caused Sidious to visibly grimace. A flash of anger was soon replaced by tantalizing temptation.

Join me, Luke. You and Anakin Skywalker will make for an unstoppable pair. Together, we shall remake the galaxy. I know that is what you desire. Join me and I can offer you everything you've ever dreamed of.

Lies. Luke laughed internally at them, confusing the Sith. Same old Sheev; a keen, analytical mind that nearly always came to the wrong conclusion about what it didn't understand. What it could not understand.

I will not be corrupted.

Luke forced the Sith's power back again before the anger returned again, only this time ten fold and with murderous vengeance. Those blue eyes morphed yellow.

Very well then. If it is my death you seek, why not do it now? I am unarmed. Take your weapon and strike me down! Take control! Give in to hatred! Give in to the dark side!

The dark side became that much stronger as it circled like the coldest wind amongst a powerful, impenetrable electrical storm. He was forced to see images…flashes of memories…of the Sith's Grand Plan.

'A powerful Sith you will become!'

'Thank you, my Master!'

'Execute Order 66!'

'Stop! Please! Come back! I love you!'

'You were my brother Anakin!'

'I HATE YOU!'

'You don't know the power of the dark side!'

'Ben, NO!'

He watched all of the horror that was to come and everything that the future held in its cruelty. Unable to scream or cry, his mouth felt sealed shut. Sewn into a line trapping every bit of anguish and pain that tried to escape.

His father would fall, his mother would die, the Jedi would go extinct, Palpatine would become Emperor unopposed…

End it

The dark voice whispered to him, high and cold.

End it now. It is the only way.

It made sense. Hope was futile. An empty emotion suited for dreamers. Anakin didn't have what it took. The Jedi were far too arrogant, too set in their ways to adapt properly. The galaxy lay in his hands. Only Luke Skywalker could end the suffering and darkness to come.

Yes! Do it! Fulfill your destiny!

He would do it. He had to. There was no other way.

Luke slid his thumb over the ignition button of his lightsaber, primed to end Darth Sidious and all the evil he possessed in one fluid motion…

Another voice called out. This one softer. Kind. Gentle.

No…not yet.

'But I must!'

You will find another way. You will know when to strike. You will see, Luke Skywalker.

Another vision shimmered forth. This one not of darkness but purely of the Force itself. It kept Sidious at bay and out of his thoughts as he saw the future. Yes…he saw it now. Palpatine would not willingly be killed. Luke's attempted murder would lead to his own death, the Jedi slaughtered, the Empire declared that much earlier…he and Leia…fugitives of a tall, dark handsome figure in black robes who served willingly by the Emperor's side, hunting down and capturing his own children. Ben's existence…wiped from memory or possibility. Han and Leia's child…

It's not the right time.

With an almighty tug, Luke severed the connection between him and the Dark Lord. Cool sky blue air breezed on by almost as if it sought to heal the Jedi from such a traumatic episode. Reality itself returned as though the moment in time lasted only a second or even a lifetime.

His eyes flickered back to Palpatine, who by now had let go of his arm and stood a couple feet away. Had he involuntarily thrown the Sith off in some way or form without knowing?

It didn't matter. Understanding fully the intention of this little escapade, Luke also understood that Sidious had failed. For the second time in another contingency, he'd stood up to the full power of the Emperor and won.

Feeling exhausted but triumphant Luke couldn't resist giving the smallest of smirks at the Sith, who's hatred and malice towards him felt so tangible one could almost taste it. But the battle was over. If this kriffin, motherless, gutless prick wanted him dead, he'd have to do it the old fashioned way.

"Shall I escort you to safety, Chancellor?" he almost mocked.

The uneven, forced smile only added the metaphorical cherry on top of an already impressive victory.

"Yes, that would be most appreciated."

As they walked away from the bloody remains of the carnage, Luke felt Ahsoka reach out to him through their bond. He smiled. Wait til she heard about this.

---

Count Dooku certainly had better days.

"Confound it all! Isn't there a way to make this less…noticeable?"

As it turned out, Bachta did not cure all injuries. At least not when you were eighty three years old. A protective brace was required in order to prevent further damage to his neck. The one Skywalker nearly snapped.

"I'm sorry," the Umbaran doctor told him calmly as he checked him over in the med lab. "But there is no other way for it to heal properly. For someone your age, you're quite lucky."

Dooky could have killed him for that. Alas, he needed the man alive to ensure no setbacks in his recovery.

Aboard the signature Banking Clan flagship, the Sith Lord felt increasingly humiliated. Skywalker not only overpowered him but caused a massive loss in personal prestige. The boy was getting stronger. No denying it, his ability would someday surpass that of even Mace Windu and Yoda. It increased every day…

…as did his connection to the dark side of the Force.

A medical battle droid entered the room.

"We have an incoming transmission from Coruscant, sir."

Groaning against the uncomfortable, bulky cast Dooku was unable to nod and forced a smushed reply.

"Send it through. I will take it in my private quarters."

He ignored the protests of the doctor. Injury or none, one did not keep Sidious waiting. Upon entering the chamber, he pressed the button and the image of a hooded Sith Lord popped up.

"What news my Master?"

He did not bow, given the circumstances. Not that he cared really.

"The plan has worked to fruition," came the deep, deliberate baritone of his master. "The Senate is set to convene after the recess to grant the oversight of the banks in the hands of the Supreme Chancellor."

"Then we are one step closer to achieving what we set out to do thirteen years ago."

Sidious paused briefly, as if observing his apprentice with some amusement.

"I hope you are not seriously injured."

The sentiment was as genuine as a Nemodian cutting a business deal. Dooku, nevertheless remained even keeled.

"The work of Skywalker. I goaded him as you asked, master."

"Good, good. Another necessary step towards the final stage of the plan. Skywalker is ripe for the picking."

"He nearly killed me."

A minor note of protest. Dooku knew Sidious wanted the boy as an enforcer for the regime to come. But seeing that smirk, that devious smile play around the lips of Palpatine made him feel uneasy. Almost as if he were disappointed Skywalker didn't finish the job.

"Then do take extra precautions next time, Lord Tyrannus. You know how…temperamental he can be."

The nature of the Sith was betrayal, control, and struggle for domination. A thousand year tradition passed down from master to apprentice as each sought ultimate power. But this was something new. Dooku sensed he may not be guaranteed a spot in the new order. However, he did not voice those concerns and knew better than to do so, instead switching topics.

"What of Barriss Offee? Was she set free?"

Another pause. He discerned its meaning straight away.

"She…did not survive the invasion of Coruscant."

"I am in need of another assassin." This time he did protest. Offee was promised to him as his next right hand. True enough, Sidious ordered him once to kill Assaj Ventress. But to go behind his back completely?

"You will get one, I assure you. It was a necessary change of plans. Grievous had other ideas."

More lies. Grievous never did anything without the approval of the Dark Lord. At least he did. Past tense. The Kaleesh fell at the hands of the Jedi.

"Another loss, might I add. Was that too a part of your change in plans?"

His tone indicated no disrespect but sensed irritation from Sidious all the same.

"A casualty of war. Nothing we need for the future. Luke Ahch-To was responsible for his death."

"Will he continue to trouble us in the future?"

"You have far more questions than usual, Lord Tyrannus. That meddlesome fool is still a potential hitch in my plans. But I assure you, he will be out of the way very soon."

Dooku did not press further for information or a gleaning of Sidious's machinations.

"Is there anything else you require of me?"

"No. Rest and recover, my apprentice. Begin preparations for more sieges in the Outer Rim. Victory is at hand."

"As you wish."

As the transmission ended Dooku could hear Sidious's words echo in his brain.

'Nothing we need for the future'

For the first time since joining the way of the Sith, the fallen Jedi wondered if he was truly a part of that future…or just another pawn until his master could get his hands on the true prize.

Skywalker

Sleep would not come easy that night.

---

Luke ached all over and even a visit to the medical bay provided only so much relief. Meditation and sleep would have to do the rest.

Though Jedi healed much quicker than others, Father Time still remained undefeated. At age forty-eight the ability to recover from intense combat wasn't like it used to be. And he'd never felt more used, more manipulated.

His personal victory over the Sith fell flat upon learning the true intentions of the invasion and the results on Scipio. The whole thing had been a mere ruse. Sidious now had control over most, if not all, the galaxy's financial system. And once more, he'd miscalculated. Luke was well aware that the Republic took direct control of the Banking Clan shortly before the end of the war but having been in this timeline for so long, the Dark Lord was clearly speeding up his master plan.

And I have no doubt it's due to my interference

Swearing in frustration while sitting down on the bed, he lost count of how many battle droids he'd destroyed. And for what? An evil madman to extend his control over the lives of billions. Bitterness didn't come close to the definition of what he currently felt. Many of the battles he'd participated in at least had a silver lining: freeing Onderon from an oppressive king, saving Dantooine's elder council in a hostage situation, even limiting the greed and influence of an organization like the Trade Federation suited him well.

But not this. Not when he played a role in facilitating the very downfall he was trying to prevent.

There was a ring outside of his room and Luke could guess who it was.

"Enter," he said through a muffled pillow.

Ahsoka quickly shut the door, getting straight to business.

"Luke what happened? I heard you killed Grievous and…are you okay?"

"Magnificent," he grumbled, sitting up as best he could, clutching his head. The dark side was like a parasitic cancerous mass: too much exposure and it sucked the life out of you. His mental battle with Sidious had left him barely able to stand by day's end.

"You look like you're about to fall apart. Literally."

"I'll be fine."

"Clearly you aren't. Lie down. Talk to me."

He retained no energy to disobey Ahsoka's command. She placed a soothing hand on top of his forehead.

"I'm more interested in your little adventure than rehashing my own."

"Padme is fine," she assured him. "It would have been all over the Holonet if she wasn't. You on the other hand look as though you fought a sarlacc."

"Not an inaccurate comparison for Sheev Palpatine," Luke said with a small grunt. "It was planned, Ahsoka. The whole thing. He tried to win me over."

Her mouth went slack before she shut it once more.

"I thought he hated you."

"He does but I'm also a potential obstacle. An obstacle in his way of total power. Better to have a person like that in your pocket than kill them outright."

Ahsoka nodded tersely. Luke sensed she was highly uncomfortable at the thought of Sidious and his silky, well practiced methods of coercion.

"What did he offer you?"

"Empty promises. Nothing I haven't heard him say before. Resisting that wasn't the hardest part."

"And what was?"

"When I refused to join him and the dark side, he goaded me into killing him. I saw images of the original timeline…all the mistakes made…and the mistakes I made. But something intervened."

"Something?"

"The will of the Force," he summarized. "I can't explain it any more than that. Or what it means. What I do know is that the timeline is stable. And Palpatine can't use a falsified attempt on his life to create the Empire."

"Does he-"

"As far as I can tell, no, he still doesn't have any clue to my real identity or I'd be dead. But it doesn't matter."

Ahsoka furrowed her brow in disapproval at the self depreciation.

"Doesn't matter? Luke, he tried to turn you and you won…again!" she emphasized. "Your mother is alive. Anakin didn't kill Count Dooku. That counts for something."

"Ahsoka I played right into Sidious's hands. Everything that happened today was because he ordered it, including his own rescue. He has authority over every major bank in the galaxy. The public loves him more than ever. He's winning."

"Luke-"

"Don't try and make me feel better."

Ahsoka used the Force to calm her friend as well as remove dark excess still swirling around in his mind. She gave a teasing expression.

"My, my. Someone's grumpy."

"I'm sorry," he apologized, rubbing his eyes. "I'm just frustrated."

"You couldn't have known," she tried to reassure him.

"That's just it. I definitely knew. The banks were number one on the list for Palpatine and I was figuring out a way to try and prevent it. But that's no longer possible."

"Who could have stopped him from orchestrating that little stunt?"

"I could have."

"Luke, quit being stupid," Ahsoka said a little more forcefully. "You're one of the most powerful, incredible Jedi I've ever known. But you're not invincible. You can't control everything, even when time traveling."

Suddenly, the middle aged man realized his own hubris and that the Togrutan was correct in calling him out. And that he deeply loved her unique brand in defying Jedi orthodoxy. She was one of the few, maybe the only one in this entire Temple who talked about emotions instead of shying away from them.

"You're right," he said quietly. "I take it that's not the first time you've had to tell a Skywalker to get his head on straight."

"It's a speech I've used on Anakin more than once," Ahsoka responded with a wry smile. "But the point remains. You've come back and changed a lot already. Not everything will be as it was before."

"It's an unfortunate consequence of my meddling," he muttered. "The more I change the more I lose my ability to perceive things as they come. And the dark side grows stronger as Sidious amasses more and more power for himself."

"But we still have one key advantage. We still know what the Sith are going to do and they don't know that we know. What Sidious wants is still the same."

Luke nodded in acknowledgement. Ahsoka was correct in that aspect. There were other ways of succeeding.

"Sometimes I wish I'd come back a little farther in the timeline. Feels like I have one hand tied behind my back," he admitted. "The Sith have been formulating their revenge for years. But our keys to success haven't changed: keep Anakin from losing control and prevent Order Sixty-Six. They both tie into each other."

"Ironically, I'd say the former is actually a little easier than the latter," Ahsoka opined. "Padme is alive and well. As long as she's around and in no danger of dying he'd never turn."

"Make no mistake, Palpatine will try to change that. And in any case, several other problems have yet to be solved. The clones."

"Order Sixty-Six," Ahsoka affirmed grimly. "How are we supposed to remove those inhibitor chips?"

"We can't. Without proof of their existence there's no way to remove them and not give ourselves away. One of them will have to show signs of deterioration or some other marker of ill health."

"But there has to be another way."

Luke knew she was right and was coming up with a plan as they spoke. But his energy began to go into a nosedive. He sighed, knowing he wouldn't be able to keep up his strength for much longer.

"I'm working on it. As for Anakin, the plan is still the same. Keep him away from Palpatine. And as for Padme…keep her safe at all costs. No alcohol, no lethal objects, no overwork."

Ahsoka eyed him carefully.

"Luke...what are you getting at?"

The Last Jedi supposed there was no point in hiding it from her.

"My mother is pregnant, Ahsoka."

The Togruta's jaw dropped.

"No way...I was just kidding about that last week before the party. Are you certain?"

"As much as I can be. I had to go deep within the Force but I sensed it. Two heart beats alongside hers. She's probably about a month along. Maybe five to six weeks."

Ahsoka looked down at the floor, deep in thought as neither one of them said anything for a moment.

"The stakes just got raised that much higher," she finally said.

"No kidding."

"Luke, you have to consider telling Obi-Wan. He would support us and become a huge help."

But the blond shook his head.

"It's not the right time. This is something best kept between us for now. A secret is only a secret if it's shared between two people. The more people know, the more at risk we are at Sidious finding out and wiping us off the map."

"We can't do this alone. Sidious is too powerful," Ahsoka said wisely. "You said yourself he's winning. And if the Council knew-"

"The Council remains unable to look past their own noses. We need to somehow get him to overplay and do something reckless. When that happens, that will be the opportune moment to strike. To tell everyone who he really is."

Unable to stifle a yawn, Luke suddenly realized he couldn't keep upright anymore and sank back onto his bed.

"You think too much sometimes," Ahsoka told him, standing back up and pulling the blanket over him. "Tomorrow we'll talk more."

"Just keep an eye on Anakin when I can't," he murmured, slowly drifting off. "You're like his sister. He'll listen to you."

"And you're his son," she whispered back soothingly. "Even consumed by darkness in your time, that love never stopped. It's present here and now."

"But-"

"Shhh, sleep. It's okay."

Ahsoka couldn't help but feel a greater surge of affection than ever for the Skywalker clan, especially the one in front of her who's lids fluttered down on bright, blue eyes. They were her family and no one would touch them as long as she drew breath.

"Good night, Skyguy Junior," she said softly into the night, exiting the room.

---

Yeah...told you it would be intense haha.

Informally, this chapter concludes what I consider to be the first act. You didn't think it was going to end so soon, did ya? ;)

Next chapter should be up in Mid-July. Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer! Or winter for my Southern Hemisphere friends lol.

Rock on!

~The Wasp