Welcome back, friends.
September is here, moving day is done, football season is upon us, and the summer will give way to fall. But the Force remains strong in this story. It will be continuously updated throughout the month and through October.
But I must ask for a bit of patience. The next 2-3 chapters, including this one, have a lot of moving parts to them. So feel free to DM me with a question if something isn't clear.
Otherwise, enjoy!
"I think all of us are always five years old in the presence and absence of our parents."- Sherman Alexie
Chapter 25. Guidance
A series of images, all passing by at the speed of hyperspace flashed in front of his eyes. They were practically blurs, impossible to see clearly or take any meaning from.
Then the images settled. Luke found himself within the World Between Worlds, the familiar permeating blackness surrounding on all sides. But that couldn't be true. He'd already passed through the halls of time. Why was he back here?
Looking back he noticed the images were coming through the triangular shaped mirror same as last time. Except now they weren't moving in a fast motion but focused on a person.
"Father?"
The trim, towering figure of Anakin Skywalker- neck length brunette hair, black boots and tunic, lightsaber attached to his hilt- stood in the center of the mirror, facing the opposite way.
"Father," he repeated. "Something is wrong, I can feel it."
"No."
The voice was low and sinister which only served to increase Luke's anxiety.
"Father, we must leave."
Anakin turned around and what Luke saw terrified him out of his wits. The kind, handsome face of his father had been twisted into an angry, leering snarl laced with murderous intent. The eyes, usually clear and blue, were now a hideous, corrupted patchwork of red and yellow.
"You're too late," came the guttural growl.
Luke swallowed nervously, hardly daring to believe he'd failed again.
"This isn't real."
The evil Anakin hissed, as though some other phantom were controlling him. It sent a chill through his bones.
"It is what will come to pass and what has always meant to come to pass. The Jedi failed me...just like you failed your nephew."
The figure began morphing, brown hair turning jet black as did the attire, nose elongating...until Ben Solo now stood in front of him with the same evil expression.
Luke dropped to his knees.
"Ben…"
"You can't stop me old man."
"I'm so sorry. I will not abandon you again."
But the nightmare only intensified as Solo's face turned into one of cruel loathing.
"Come back? Why would I come back when you tried to kill me?"
"I…I didn't mean to. It was a mistake."
"Lies," the apparition spat. "You're just like the rest of the Jedi filth. Dogmatic and cruel. You were about to end your own kin."
Watery tears fell from Luke's eyes as he stood up and reached out with a single hand.
"Ben…please. Come back."
His nephew responded with a loathing glance worthy of the lowest worms in the dirt.
"I have everything I need. You're the anomaly, uncle. It's in our blood to rule the universe. I take after our true patriarch, the one who has shown me the way."
Ben smiled evilly before the image shifted yet again, flesh being replaced with black metal, height growing to nearly seven feet fall, face covered in an ugly, terrifying helmet. Cold, heavy breathing could be heard echoing across the plain.
"Join me, Luke," Darth Vader said to him in a familiar offer. "Don't make me destroy you."
"No!," Luke yelled, covering his ears. "I'm not seeing this!"
"Accept the truth that I am your father."
"My father is Anakin Skywalker. The name of your true self," he argued back, sounding twenty three years old again.
Vader ignited his red blade in response.
"Anakin Skywalker was weak. I destroyed him. And if you want to live, then you will have to destroy me too. As it was with Ben Solo."
"I won't give up on you. Or him. Not as long as I draw breath."
The Sith hesitated for a half second before replying without pity or mercy.
"Then you will die."
Luke raised his hands, not even bothering to defend himself, begging for mercy while Vader stepped through the mirror prepared to slash down his blade.
All the while maniacal laughter rang out in the background, filling his ears to the point of madness.
Sidious, the voice cackled. Sidious
Luke awoke so suddenly, he nearly fell out of his bed, sweat dripping down from his hair and onto his chest.
Checking around, he felt his night clothes were soaked and ripped off the covers in an effort to cool down.
That felt way too real
The evolution from Anakin to Ben right on down to Vader replayed over and over again, a nonstop house of horrors that threatened to overwhelm.
Calm yourself. It was only a dream
Too bad it was the same damn one he'd been having for days on end. Settling down, Luke focused on his breathing and repeated the familiar mantra softly to himself.
I am one with the Force and the Force is with me
He had arrived back in the past in the year 19 BBY.
I am one with the Force and the Force is with me
The Clone Wars still raged on and on.
I am one with the Force and the Force is with me
Anakin had not yet turned. There was still time.
I am one with the Force and the Force is with me
But Sidious had locked them both into a game of wits and currently retained the advantage. Every second of every day, the conclusion of the war brought the dark side closer and closer.
Sidious
Luke did not usually receive bad dreams. Despite the trauma of his past, he'd learned to control not only breathing but the way he slept at night. To give all of that turmoil into the Force.
Then an unpleasant reminder of how he'd arrived at this point came forth: a disgraced Jedi general, suspended from active duty, sidelined by the very people he was trying to help. Powerless to implement any sort of countermeasures to stop the Sith.
Alone.
Unwilling to entrust his sleep to the threat of nightmares that lingered in their horror, the Last Jedi's mind began to wander through the recollection of the two weeks.
Coruscant 11:07 am, two weeks prior
Normally, Obi-Wan Kenobi put his odds at being able to calm an outraged Anakin Skywalker at about ninety times out of one hundred.
Too bad today had to be one of those other ten times.
"I don't understand, Obi-Wan."
Anakin must have said that over fifteen times but no response the redhead gave was to his satisfaction.
"Must I explain it again?"
"Yes!" the Chosen One seethed as they stood in one the hallways just outside the Situation Room. They were minutes away from a briefing about the Separatist attack in Ringo Vinda. But Anakin's mind did not focus on war.
"You might as well until I finally get some proper answers."
"I've told you Anakin, the Council did what they thought-"
"-was best? Even you aren't that generic. And I'm tired of getting the same run around from everybody I talk to."
Obi-Wan pinched the bridge of his nose. He really wasn't in the mood for this.
"Can we not argue in the hallway for everyone to witness?"
"I don't care," Anakin sneered as he opened his arms wide. "Let them hear. Let the whole galaxy hear why the Council suspended Luke from active duty for no reason at all!"
I hate it when he gets like this
It was amazing that a man like Anakin Skywalker held such a firm sense of right and wrong but applied it in such an absolutist manner. Luke hadn't been lying in the assertion that he cared far more for people than principle. Even when they were in error.
"Anakin, he disrespected the Council."
"Something I do on a daily basis. Check."
"There is suspicion he killed General Grievous instead of taking him prisoner."
"He did everyone a favor by killing him. There was no way Grievous would have allowed himself to be taken alive. Next."
Obi-Wan's patience threatened to snap against the weight of Anakin's stubbornness.
"Worst of all, he holds beliefs that are antithetical to the Jedi Code."
"So did Qui-Gon."
"That is not a fair example and you know it. There are plenty of unorthodox Jedi to go around- Quinlan, Master Sinube, even Master Yoda. But they all adhere to our traditions which have served us for thousands of years."
Anakin scrunched up his face as tried to find a valid counterpoint. He didn't give up an argument so easily.
"No one's seen him do anything remotely close to the dark side. So what if he doesn't believe in every part of the code?"
"Anakin this war has made it an extraordinarily perilous time to be a Jedi. Too many have fallen prey to evil, Barriss Offee and Pong Krell being just two examples of this. Luke's intentions are still not fully known and until he is forthright, the Council is right to suspend him."
"And what about all the mistakes the Council made?" Anakin hit back. "How many times have they lied or withheld their true intentions?"
"It's not the same."
"Yes, it is!" the brunette stated emphatically. "They're just as responsible for the state of things. Don't think I've forgotten what they did to Ahsoka. What they had you do in order to try and capture Dooku."
Obi-Wan couldn't stop the flow of guilt at the memory of Anakin believing he was dead. It nearly destroyed their relationship and the trust they'd built up over so many years. And trust was not something Anakin freely gave.
"It was not an easy decision to make. In the end, I didn't want to suspend Luke," he said honestly, swinging the conversation back to the topic at hand. "But we will need answers from him if we are to solve this mystery."
His best friend chafed in disgust, looking away with a look of incredulousness.
"It takes a unanimous verdict from the Council to suspend a Jedi Knight. Which means you supported the measure too. It's a stab in the back."
Obi-Wan was unable to stop himself from lashing out in return.
"Damn it, Anakin! I'm trying to do what's best! I'm trying to protect you."
Couldn't he see that? Did they have to do this song and dance yet again? That playing this game of chicken by sneaking around with secret girlfriends and Force knows what else was dangerous? That his entire status of being the Chosen One was in jeopardy just by Luke's presence alone?
Anakin has already flirted far too closely to the dark side as it is
"I don't need your protection and I certainly don't need anyone to protect me from Luke. In fact, he's the only one around here who actually gets me."
Anakin began walking away just as other invitees for the briefing began showing up.
"Where are you going?"
"Anywhere but here. I have better things to do."
Obi-Wan almost chased him down but thought better of it. He sensed through their bond Anakin was in a state too rigid and too upset to reason with. Better to let him blow off steam and hopefully things would go back to normal. Even if it meant missing a war meeting.
Hopefully.
It felt like a false hope. As did everything else he'd done as of late.
A somersault flipped inside his stomach at the pained image of Satine and the anguish she might be feeling. Obi-Wan headed inside the Situation Room.
Not for the first time since the last Council meeting did he question if he'd made things worse.
Anakin fumed his entire way back to Padme's. Unbecoming of a Jedi Master perhaps. But any more time spent at the Temple may have resulted in his own arrest for blowing it up. War briefings be damned.
The 501st, still on sabbatical, wasn't due for another week or so. And besides, it's not like anyone valued what he had to say at those meetings anyway. No one did despite the fact he'd won more battles than half the other Masters combined. The Republic and Jedi would be dead to rights without the Chosen One.
The nerve of them.
Ever since Luke's suspension he'd become increasingly withdrawn. Instead of training or demonstrating superhuman lightsaber techniques for younglings, the blond spent most of his time within the confines of his room. Meditating perhaps. It's not like he could do much anyway. Master Windu effectively banned him from going anywhere outside the Temple. It was another aspect that made Anakin's blood boil.
They're treating him like a criminal
He thought about this until his brow became creased with wrinkles even as he ascended the lift within his wife's building. Senators almost always were on the upper floor as a general rule. The staff knew him so well by now, they knew not to question anything.
Upon entering Padme's apartment he felt a pang of hunger go through his stomach. Ditching the briefing meant also no lunch with Obi-Wan afterwards.
Well, whatever. Maybe he could find a sandwich or something in the cooling unit…
"WHOA!"
"EEEP!"
Emerging from the refrigerator, he spotted Satine, who evidently had not expected his presence here at this time of day. She wore casual garb- a white, silky shirt and black leggings- as opposed to the extravagant dresses and headpieces required by the ruling Duchess of Mandalore. Her attire reflected the loss of status. But she wore it well.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't realize you were here."
"No, no, the fault is mine. You just gave me quite a fright."
Anakin suddenly felt a creeping double edged awkwardness. This was not only the woman Obi-Wan held deep affection for, but she shared the space of his forbidden wife. Not that Satine hadn't been discreet but even so…
"I…uhm…can I get you anything? Sandwich maybe?"
He offered her the foot long sustenance and could tell she was trying very hard not to laugh.
"No, thank you. I'm fine. I was just…about to go out."
"Are you sure, Duchess?"
"Yes, thank you. And you don't have to call me Duchess, Master Jedi. I'm not the Duchess of anything anymore."
The note of resignation in her voice was so depressing Anakin blinked a couple times before finding the ability to speak once more.
"Oh, well. I hope that-"
"Ani?"
Padme's arrival saved him from the awkwardness, thank the Force. She, too, was dressed a bit more modest than usual. Modest being the operative word. She still wore her hair in a neat bun alongside a flower patterned dress that came up a bit past the knee to go with a pair of white shin length boots.
"Oh, uhm…Senator. I apologize for intruding unexpectedly."
"The fault is mine," Satine quickly interjected. "I didn't alert you to his arrival."
Padme gave a forced half smile. Anakin knew it well. She wasn't happy with him.
"There is no need to apologize, Duchess. Master Skywalker has a knack for showing up unannounced as I'm sure you've noticed."
Satine gave a hollow chuckle before deciding her presence was no longer required.
"Yes, well I'll leave you be. I'm going out for some shopping. Good day."
Anakin waited with baited breath for the stern lecture to come. And sure enough the second the Mandalorian was out of the vicinity, Padme began her diatribe.
"What were you thinking?"
"Padme-"
"Don't Padme, me. You know I don't like it when you just barge in here without me knowing about it beforehand."
"Keep your voice down…Threepio-"
"Is currently powered off."
Ugh, why did she have to be so smart. It left him no other choice but to offer weak excuses.
"I didn't know she was here."
"Anakin, Satine has been staying with me for over a month."
"Exactly! And she's none the wiser."
He gave a cautionary pause.
"Right?"
Padme sighed, glancing back at the automatic doors to ensure no one was within earshot.
"I think she suspects the true nature of our relationship but she hasn't said a word to me about it."
"I mean, it's kind of hard not to. How many times have we been in bed together with her next door?"
"We just need to be careful. And frankly, Satine could use all the support she can get. She's all alone here on Coruscant, an exile from her home planet with no way of returning."
"Yeah I could sense her emotions a mile away," Anakin agreed. "She's upset about something big time."
"In any case, please be more careful in the future."
His posture grew less defensive as he embraced her in his arms the way she liked.
"I will," he said, planting a tender kiss on her cheek. "We definitely don't want Obi-Wan finding out."
Padme gave pause at that comment.
"Do you think…"
"No, he would have said something if he did. But he and Satine are really close. Although lately…"
Could it be? The reason for Satine's dejected state is because of…
Nah no way. Impossible
Anakin banished the thought of his master ever breaking the Jedi Code. He'd already made that clear enough during their adventures on Mandalore.
"So what's on your mind?"
Padme turned to face him and placed a stray, chestnut lock of his face.
"Huh?"
"Ani, I found you in my apartment chowing through my icebox. Clearly something is bothering you."
"Right, right," he said somewhat sheepishly. By now his anger had been reduced to a much more manageable frustration. Padme's gentle hands worked their magic around his broad shoulder blades. She always knew what to do.
"It's the Council," he explained. "They've been making some questionable decisions lately."
"Are you still upset about not being promoted to the Council?"
"That's part of it, but I'm actually more concerned about someone else…Luke."
Padme stopped rubbing his shoulders in surprise.
"What happened to him?"
"He's been suspended from duty."
Shocked brown eyes bore into blue ones.
"What?! Do you know why?"
"I've been asking myself the same question," Anakin muttered as a nasty epithet came to mind for Master Windu. "Supposedly he violated the Jedi Code. But for the life of me, I can't figure out what he did wrong. It doesn't make sense."
"I can't believe they'd do something like that."
Anakin's expression turned dark.
"I can. It wouldn't be the first time they've pulled this kind of bantha shit."
"Well let's focus on what we can do in the meantime. Can't you talk to Obi-Wan?"
He gave a mirthless laugh.
"Obi-Wan won't help, he voted to suspend Luke in the first place. And my reputation with the Council is pretty much as low as it gets. They won't listen to me anyhow."
Trying to apply logic and reasoning to this conundrum, Anakin recognized with irony it's exactly what Obi-Wan would have told him to do. Well, whatever. He didn't need his old Master to solve every problem.
"I've got it!" he announced with gusto. "I can talk to the Chancellor. He's wanted a personal representative on the Council anyway. And Luke just saved his life so I'm sure he'd help out. It's perfect."
Anakin caught the drop of unease in his wife.
"What?"
"Nothing. I didn't say anything."
"Jedi remember?" he teased with a salacious grin. "I can sense when you're nervous."
Padme glanced down before being able to look Anakin in the eye. A bit uncharacteristic.
"I just think that given the circumstances, it may not be the best idea."
"Why not?"
"Timing. You said yourself tensions are running pretty high between the Chancellor and the Jedi at the moment."
He was dumbfounded. Since when did Padme distrust Palpatine?
"But he can help us. Why wouldn't we go to the most powerful man in the galaxy?"
"Anakin, think for a second. If the Chancellor is seen as interfering with the Council again it could make things worse not better. And what if they found out you were the one who went to him? We're trying to help Luke, remember?"
Padme, ever the astute politician, could foresee things he often failed to. One of many reasons why he loved her so much.
"Kriff, you're right. So what should we do then?"
Those chocolate brown orbs sparkled with inspiration.
"I think I know of a way to help. I'm going to arrange a meeting tonight at Rerjavariks restaurant. Face to face."
"With Luke?"
"Who else, silly?" she gently teased, running another feminine hand through his hair, making his spine tingle.
"It could be tricky. He's not allowed outside the Temple."
"And since when has that ever stopped my daring husband?"
Anakin couldn't help but give a wide smile at the compliment.
"A fair point."
Padme returned the smile and gave a sweet and tender kiss.
"Give him that address. I'm sure you already have an idea in mind as to how he can escape the clutches of the Temple."
Anakin's boyish smirk practically made her melt.
"You know me all too well, m'lady."
Despondency, irritation, frustration, fury, humiliation…
Those were just a few of the adjectives off the top of Luke Skywalker's head that described his current state of being.
Even in the beginning, when his status in the Jedi Order was somewhat ambiguous, he could freely explore Coruscant at will and the Council held no power to limit his movements. But being a Grandmaster himself, the Last Jedi knew that joining an organization such as the Jedi involved a binding contract. Once a member, the Council officially held nominal authority over most, if not all, aspects of your life including legal status. As a citizen of the Republic, the law stated he had freedom of movement. The law also allowed the Jedi to become legal entities in themselves to set their own rules and regulations.
In other words, he was pretty much screwed.
Mired in a pit of black tar, Luke alternated between a stream of anger at his own hubris and self pity. Things weren't supposed to be like this. He'd planned so carefully from the beginning, heeding the counsel of Yoda, Obi-Wan, and Anakin, who trained him so long and so extensively for this moment. He'd befriended Ahsoka, earned the trust of young Obi-Wan and his father, won battles, engaged with Bail Organa and even defeated Palpatine in a battle of wills. Despite a few setbacks, real progress had been made.
In one fell swoop, it was rendered all for nought.
He couldn't so much as breathe without the Council knowing about it. Once the darling of the Jedi Order, masters, knights, padawans, and younglings alike pointed, stared, and whispered wherever he went. For an Order that prided itself on emotional discipline, too many of its acolytes lacked emotional subtlety. Not for the first time, Luke bitterly pondered if he hadn't been better off letting this conceited relic of an organization fade away into pages of history.
But the blond let those dark thoughts pass as he meditated and let the frustration pass into the Force. A sound strategy was needed. To succumb to despair or anger only aided the dark side. So what could be done?
Going down the list of options, nothing stood out as promising. He and Obi-Wan weren't on speaking terms. Ahsoka was fighting on Ord Mantell, a campaign that promised to last a fairly long time and by extension unable to contact her. On top of that he'd been stripped of comlink privileges and therefore completely in the dark about any potential information Echo and Fives may have found out about the chips. Oh, and a Sith Lord posing as a Chancellor was still running around unchecked, free to scheme and plot as he pleased.
What if in confusion, the ARC Troopers informed Captain Rex or other Jedi of their mission? What if Ahsoka was killed in a skirmish? What if the Council expelled him or worse yet, arrested him for insubordination? What if-
Stop
The calming voice of reason enabled him to step back off the ledge and return to rationality. Panicking did nothing. The here and now is what mattered. To look too far into the future defeated the purpose of his mission.
'Mindful you must be of your feelings'
Luke missed the Yoda of his past. The little green creature for all his eccentricities embodied all that was wise. He was so sure that he would have listened to his story and background. Through their bond, all could be explained…
Not yet
He'd heard the voice. A soothing, gentle tone totally unrecognizable. It was of the Force, there was no doubt. But why? Why had he been warned at such a critical crossroads that to inform the Council of the danger they faced meant disaster?
In the months spent back in the past, his attunement with the Force remained strong due to prior knowledge of events, giving him the ability to sort through the cloud of the dark side whereas even those such as Yoda and Mace Windu could not.
But it had directly spoken to him twice now. Both times it advised against certain actions…
Luke pushed every confusing thought away and tried to read the datapad in front of him in a feeble effort at concentration. Sorting through the archives was one of the only boons still afforded to a suspended Jedi Knight. Might as well learn what he could about time travel.
'Time is a topic not easily understood even by the wisest among the Jedi and Force mystics. Rumors persist of those who have meddled with the laws of time, though the methods of travel were unknown. The last unconfirmed report occurred during the last Jedi-Sith War centuries before to deadly consequences. Therefore, this author shall not speak of it further. Such records are kept in the restricted section of the archives.'
Oh, yeah. Real fucking helpful.
He'd perused through the halls of knowledge many times. Jocasta Nu often eyed him with distinct curiosity but this was not something anyone needed to know about. Least of all a person who used to sit on the Council and a reputation for being a stickler.
In any case, no one, not even the oldest and most revered of the Jedi Masters who'd preserved their legacies, techniques, and triumphs, sought to touch the subject of time with a ten foot pole. The latest excerpt had been the closest in providing any sort of detail. It also explained how the ghost of his old Master was able to teach him the ability to traverse through time. The Jedi-Sith War was still within living memory by the time Yoda became a Jedi Knight and must have somehow either been told or accessed the restricted section of the archives himself.
He'll understand
Every aching fiber of his body desired to tell the Grandmaster. To ask questions. To receive advice no other being could give. Yoda's insight was second to none even if his vision suffered as a result of the dark side. But why…why had the Force intervened? Or was he simply going mad from stress?
Luke thunked his head against the desk in defeat. He felt another migraine coming on. Kriff, those were coming more frequently. Where the hell was Ahsoka when you needed her? He missed her so much and to think-
"Master Luke?"
A child's voice interrupted the never ending spiral of negative thoughts. He looked up and saw two standing before him, one human girl and one a Zabrakian, each no more than ten years old.
"Hm?" he grunted.
"We uh…well we wanted to say…"
"Shh, don't interrupt him. He's busy!"
Oh. Oh. They were intimidated by him. Rumors of his suspension and questionable beliefs no doubt scared many younglings away. But despite the fear in these two he sensed something else: gratitude. Faith.
"It's alright, I'm not doing anything all that important," he said with the most genuine smile he could conjure. "But you'd best not let your masters see you with me."
"We don't have masters yet, we haven't been selected."
The human girl, a fair skinned child with light brown hair and blue eyes similar to his own, blinked with the innocence only someone of her age could conjure. The Zabrakian male also seemed to regard him the same way.
"Why do you seek me out?" he asked evenly.
"We…wanted to say we don't think you're bad. I think you're really nice and…" she stopped talking for fear of saying something wrong.
"You decided to see for yourself if I'm an agent of the dark side."
He said it with dry humor but the point was well made nonetheless. Children, despite being impressionable, also carried a unique insight into situations blocked by the walls of adulthood.
"Caleb said you helped him not be so angry. Could…you help us too?"
Kriff, these kids really believe in me
Time to be honest and send them on their way. His lessons had ruined enough students across multiple lifetimes.
"I thank you for your support, younglings. But I'm not the right person to teach you anything."
"Why?"
Such a soft question wounded him like the sharpest dagger. These little ones had no idea what he'd done. How he'd failed.
"I'm nothing but trouble. It's best for you to learn under someone much wiser than myself."
"We think you're wise. Why won't you teach us?"
Luke knew he was treading in deep water. Children were innocent but also naive and often blabbed what they heard to anyone willing to listen. If the Council detected any inkling he'd so much as performed a levitation trick in front of a youngling…well Mace Windu might blow a gasket.
"Now, now young ones. I'm sure Master Luke has his own reasons."
Saved by Anakin Skywalker. His father's towering presence appeared and the children immediately stiffened in awe. The Chosen One's reputation exceeded even his own.
"Yes, Master Skywalker."
"No harm done," he said with a warm smile. "Now run along."
They did as they were told and Luke exhaled a sigh of relief.
"Thank you for that."
"No problem. What are friends for?"
No amount of time could lessen the surrealness of his own father referring to him as a 'friend'. It stirred the smallest bit of nostalgia. The kind that yearned to be nineteen and untainted by war and mistakes.
"Can't have the Council thinking I'm corrupting more of their students."
That brought out a deep frown from Anakin.
"Those children were right, Luke. You aren't a threat. Anyone with a brain can see that."
"I'm on thin ice as it is. Better that no one seeks me out."
Anakin swore in Huttese using a word he would not have used around Obi-Wan. It almost made Luke laugh.
"I'm seeking you out. Whether they like it or not."
"I sense that may not be in your best interest. Especially given the Council-"
"Screw the Council. They already don't like me…except for Obi-Wan. But they can't do anything to the Chosen One, can they? I'm too valuable."
He said it with a degree of cockiness bordering on unchecked arrogance. However, Luke recognized the heavy degree of disdain in those words. The chasm between Anakin Skywalker and the Jedi Council had only deepened. But for once, the blond was in no mood to defend them.
"Well I don't hold such value, unfortunately. I've had to be careful since my suspension. One more violation and I'm gone."
"I've noticed. You hardly come out of your room. Hell, I don't even see you at lunch."
Luke tried to avoid giving away his reasoning he ran a hand through dark blond locks.
"Been trying to reflect on my mistakes."
"Well listen, for what it's worth you have my unconditional support."
This was the undisputed light side Anakin possessed. Unwavering loyalty and love. A generous spirit who sought only to assist those he cared about. It suddenly occurred to Luke he fell into that very small list of people his father saved such affection for.
It meant the world.
At least I have my dad.
"Thank you," he said, swallowing a miniscule lump.
Alas, he could not hide every pang of guilt and melancholy.
"Luke, don't give up hope. I sense your feelings. I know you must feel awful."
"My personal feelings are irrelevant. There are things far bigger at stake than myself."
Anakin gave a puzzled look but didn't ask for an elaboration. Instead, he sat down next to his unknown son as a father might.
"You're not going to get kicked out of the Order. Not if I have anything to say about it, anyway. Which is partially why I came to see you."
Luke felt a small piece of paper being slipped into his hand. Anakin's eyes twinkled as they urged him to open it, which he did.
"What's this?"
"An address. Senator Amidala requests your presence tonight for a private dinner."
Luke stuffed the paper back into his robes and out of sight. Jocasta Nu passed by once more, her eyes tracing a path towards their location.
"You realize I can't leave the Temple right?" he said in a low whisper.
"Do you always do what the Council tells you?"
"No. Do you?"
"I assume that's a rhetorical question."
Anakin's boyish rebellion took on a new kind of delight. Like an eleven year old who knowingly takes candy from the cupboard when they're not supposed to and gets away with it. Admittedly, it was infectious.
Plus, he did want to see his mom. A Senator of Padme Amidala's caliber wouldn't have requested him without good reason.
Are my parents trying to make me feel better?
Setting aside that particular emotional cavalcade, Luke felt far too intrigued to say no.
"Alright. But how am I getting past the Temple guards?"
Anakin put a friendly arm around him and led them both away from the archives and out of earshot from the hawkish librarian.
"Luke, I've been sneaking out of the Temple after dark since I was twelve. Trust me…no one will ever know you're gone."
9:28 pm.
Padme kept checking her automated watch with great anticipation. In politics, timing was everything. And so were unofficial dinners with unofficial guests.
"M'lady, is your second arriving soon? It's been half an hour."
The waiter refilled her water glass but kept a close watch on the entrance to Rerjavariks.
"I'm sure they'll be here soon. Please keep things open."
"Of course. And if I may ask, what will this guest look like so that I might be able to identify them?"
Padme, well trained in the art of answering a question without giving a precise answer, did her best to be vague.
"Our guest will most likely be wearing…simple clothes- a tunic, and robes. He is a light skinned, human male."
"That description matches that of some Jedi."
She didn't like his probing.
"If it's all the same to you, sir, just inform me when he arrives. And please remember you are being paid quite handsomely for your discretion."
"Understand, madam."
The pompous waiter left and did not say another word. Good. At least he could follow basic directions.
9:31 pm.
He was running late. It made her wonder if Anakin had been able to get the message out or if Luke successfully evaded the Guards who patrolled the Temple around the clock. There was a distinct chance of both. And then her plans would be all for nothing.
To her husband, this was a private audience designed to help a friend avoid expulsion. But there was an alternate purpose.
Her latest meeting with Palpatine confirmed Bail's suspicions. That he would not relinquish power and perhaps he never would. A bitter pill to swallow but once taken, easy to digest. Their coalition represented the last legitimate chance at preserving the democracy so precious to civil life and liberty.
Memories of Neela exploding in a vapor of red mist flashed before her eyes. Those were the people that mattered most. The ordinary who gave their lives to defend what was most precious.
But they couldn't do it alone. Even the symbolic power of two thousand fellow representatives joining them remained just that, symbolic. That's why they needed the Jedi. That's why she needed Luke. To prevent further tragedies from occurring.
I'm so sorry, Neela
Taking a sip of water, Padme felt her energy level take a sudden dip which she quickly solved by eating a large loaf of bread.
Health problems continued to dog her. A visit from Palpatine's doctor confirmed nothing out of the ordinary. She'd missed her cycle and a quick test disproved her worries of pregnancy. Almost a quarter of human females of child bearing age missed their cycles due to stress or other factors. Her busy schedule meant there just wasn't enough time to check up on the symptoms until recently, cycling in between nausea, weird cravings, and general fatigue.
It sure sounded like Anakin put a baby in her. Come to think of it, they hadn't been very careful in moderating weeks she'd been most fertile…
The bread began to taste like ash in her mouth. How many times had she admonished Anakin for not being honest? For internalizing problems when they were better off solved together? In sickness and in health they'd pledged themselves to each other. Ani was the light in her life, a source of fun, a chance for Padme Naberri to be a real person. To love, laugh, and smile. To have a life outside of politics…instead of a prim and proper Queen.
You don't completely trust him
She wanted to tell Anakin about her decision to join the movement against Palpatine. But he was stressed enough as it is. The war raged. New offensives and counter offensives dotted the galaxy. Peace no longer appeared possible. To tell her husband, someone who admired Palpatine above all else and spent a great deal of time with him, might jeopardize their entire Caucus. Not that what they were doing was strictly illegal. But involving the Jedi, especially a suspended Jedi, was sailing into uncharted waters.
Best to keep this private.
9:36. Where was he?
He really was the perfect choice. A man of conviction but also humility with a vested interest in the common good. The only Jedi who seemed to share their concern about the well being of the Republic and the galaxy at large. In fact, it was his warning to Bail that started the rallying cry in the first place.
Padme contemplated as hope of the blond showing up slipped away. She'd initially been against his involvement, reasoning that someone so close to Anakin and in constant contact with the Chancellor might not be an ideal fit for such a precarious role. At least that's what she told herself before coming to the inevitable conclusion: she cared for him with the tenderness of a friend, a mother who guarded a child despite being twenty years his junior. She didn't want him to get hurt or get mixed up in all these political mine bombs.
Luke's eyes almost always lit up when they interacted. His mood became solemn yet joyful simultaneously. There was an unspoken connection. Somehow, though she couldn't place a finger on it, she adored those sad, crystal blue eyes that resembled Anakin's so much. What a terrible thing it was to involve him in this web of scheming.
Guilt swelled she looked down at her hands, resting demurely on the folds of her dress. It seemed not even the strongest love or friendship was immune to lies and intrigue.
"Senator?"
She looked up in shock to see Luke Ahch-To sitting in the seat across from her. A hood covered a portion of his face but the voice was unmistakable.
Padme waved a hand towards her security detail and the automatic doors to their suite closed shut, drawing out the noise from the rest of the restaurant. No one could overhear this conversation.
"You made it," she stated pleasantly.
"Anakin is a master at finding secret passageways," he said with the smallest of smiles, removing the hood.
"You're not so bad at it yourself. I didn't see you come in."
Luke half shrugged.
"I can avoid being seen if I wish."
"A Jedi power?"
"Sort of."
There was that solemn look again. The one that reminded her of someone at a funeral.
"Let's just say I've mastered the art of disappearing if I don't want to be found," he expounded cryptically.
Padme drank her water, choosing not to invade too much into Luke's personal business. She didn't want to risk his time or position any more than necessary.
"Well, I'll get straight to it. I assume Anakin told you about our little meeting but not the reason?"
"Pretty much."
She took out a datapad and slid it forward for Luke to view.
"The Liberal Caucus?"
"It's the new minority coalition in the Senate."
"Well I admire the platform," Luke said with approval as he went down the list of objectives. "This isn't perchance what Bail Organa wanted to speak to me about a couple of weeks ago?"
"It is," Padme confirmed. "We would have had this talk sooner were it not for your suspension." Not a complete truth but not a lie either. She felt embarrassed at her own role in keeping him out of the loop. "Because what we're doing is much more than creating an opposition party."
Luke nodded for her to continue. She had a feeling he already knew what the true purpose was.
"Officially, I'm here at Rerjavariks on a Senatorial meeting involving the budget committee."
"No wonder it's so nice," Luke joked with a sardonic twist.
"Believe me, there are places far more upscale and pompous. Orn Free Ta doesn't mind using taxpayer money to gorge himself on Twi'lek delicacies."
"Why am I not surprised?"
So they shared a mutual disdain of Orn Free Ta. Good. Now to make the pitch.
"Unofficially, this is a meeting because we're planning to remove Chancellor Palpatine from power."
The blond didn't move or say anything but he didn't have to. Those eyes signaled he endorsed such a plan.
"I'd thought there was a way to negotiate a solution," she admitted. She tapped the electronic menu, selecting a nice bottle of red to sip on as they talked. "But it appears your fears about Palpatine were correct."
"His treachery runs deeper than you know."
Something about the way Luke said those words, the raw urgency and fear, sent a chill up her spine.
"He's planning to turn the Republic into a militarized police state founded on the principles of fascist autocracy. In fact, he already has."
"Palpatine isn't a dictator."
"Not yet," came the grim response. "But the pieces are in place. His emergency powers exceed that of the Senate and his supporters number in the majority. All the Supreme Court's judges have been handpicked over the course of thirteen years. As commander in chief, the armed forces are directly under his control. In essence and in practice, here's nothing stopping Palpatine from doing what he wants."
Padme's hand shook a little as she reached for her water before composing herself.
"This is the second time you've had to open my eyes to a harsh truth."
"I don't mean to create unnecessary alarm," he said with a note of regret. "But it's simply the reality in front of us. When the war ends, so will the Republic."
"Then the way forward is clear."
The waiter returned with the wine and they both took small sips. Padme usually savored a vintage such as this, but like the bread, it tasted hollow…empty. As empty as the Republic currently was. A corrupted castle, crumbling from the inside.
"Luke, we can't do this alone. The Chancellor is too powerful. Which is why Bail and I have agreed that the Jedi must play a role if democracy is to be saved."
Luke regarded her carefully but did not give an opinion one way or the other.
"We want you to be the liaison between the Senate and the Jedi Council," she told him. "To present them with our plan to take control of the Republic and even arrest Palpatine if it comes to that. The Jedi Council has the power and ability to back our movement and command support of the clones. When Senator Organa issues Order 65 during the next session…that is the time to strike."
The blond gave a small breath before lifting the rest of the wine and swallowing it in one gulp. He rubbed the stubble on his chin, before looking behind them to ensure not a soul was listening in.
"You present a very dangerous scenario, Senator."
"Will you help us?"
"That's not in question," he assured her. "But as you're aware, I'm tied down by my suspension. I have no influence in the decision making of the Council anymore. You need another inside man."
"There is no one more suited for this role," she insisted, the spark of hope igniting within those luminous brown eyes. "Luke, we've only known each for a short while, but in that time I have never seen a Jedi who perceives as much as you. Who cares as much as you."
Luke said nothing, casting a downward glance while gesturing for more wine. A hesitant, even fearful pall hovered over the backroom. Padme, fighting against her own physical fatigue, realized she was not the only one doing so.
"What's wrong?
Luke's orbs misted with tears. It almost broke her heart.
"Please, tell me."
"I'm afraid."
She slid her hand forward until its gentle embrace touched Luke's. He took it and gave a light squeeze.
"I'm afraid of the evil surrounding us, I'm afraid for those I care about…I'm afraid for you, Senator. I've screwed up so many times, I can't afford to again…not again."
Such tenderness from a Jedi, Padme never saw until now. Anakin despised showing emotion. Obi-Wan avoided the subject. Master Yoda advised against it. Only Luke had the wherewithal to admit his faults. It was heartwarming, refreshing even.
"Luke, to be fearful is to be human. But there's something more powerful than fear: hope. You've brought that to me. And that's why you're the perfect person to lead us against dictatorship. The Senate is asking you. I'm asking you."
She held out her other hand, an open palm of invitation.
Two droplets of water trickled down the front of the Jedi's cheeks before he wiped them away.
"I'm flattered, Senator. Truly I am…" he said, pulling back from her.
Uh oh. There was a 'but' in there somewhere.
"But as long as I am under the Jedi equivalent of house arrest, there is little I can do to be of help."
Padme's heart sank. It was disappointment of the worst kind: rejection.
"However, I know someone who can."
She perked back up again.
"Who"
"She's currently away but once the fighting on Ord Mantell ends, I'm sure she'd agree to assist."
"Ahsoka?"
"I can think of no one better."
Padme considered this. There were potential benefits and drawbacks to weigh.
"I've known her a long time and there's no one I trust more. But she is…young."
"Young but quite astute for someone her age. And she's far more popular with the Council than I am."
She pursed her lips for a second. Luke had a point. Would Bail and Mon agree though? And would the Council take their offer at face value? Jedi often thought themselves above politics and it risked drawing the ire of the most powerful man in the galaxy.
"Very well. When she returns, I'll invite her over to my office for a debriefing. But Luke, you're as just as much a part of this as anyone. Don't give up on yourself, suspended or not."
Luke gave a watery smile, one which she reciprocated. He looked so vulnerable, as a little child would when receiving reassurance from their mother.
A sudden burst of nausea almost overtook her as she fought to keep from vomiting right then and there at the table. A fact that did not go unnoticed.
"Are you alright?" Luke asked with soft concern.
"Fine," she eeped out as the nasty sensation slowly receded. "Just…not feeling my best lately."
Luke used the Force to take the wine from her and drank it all in one comical swig.
"Probably best to abstain from alcohol then. Have you seen a doctor?"
"Yes, a week and a half ago. The Chancellor's personal physician attended to me and assured me nothing was wrong."
That information only seemed to perturb Luke even more, if anything. He began fidgeting his thumbs in an anxious manner.
"You've given me some sound advice tonight. May I give you some?"
"Of course."
"Stay away from Palpatine."
Padme blinked at the strange suggestion.
"Stay away?"
"Yes, at all costs."
"Chancellor Palpatine may be severely misguided as a politician, but he's not an immoral man."
"M'lady, you have no idea what he's capable of."
She was starting to notice a pattern whenever Luke mentioned Palpatine in a sentence. As though he were the embodiment of pure evil.
"There's not a being in this galaxy more dangerous or forked tongued than that man," the Jedi Knight warned once more. "Do not engage or meet with him unless you're with others. Refuse any food or drink. And whatever you do, ensure the same applies to Anakin."
Padme willed herself not to flinch at that statement. It certainly implied he knew far more than he'd let on. Perhaps it was just a comment on their friendship? Tempted to ask what he meant, she refrained. Politics 101- never confirm or deny anything that could be used against you.
Luke got up from the table and flipped his hood over, signaling the end of their meeting.
"You won't have dinner?"
"Already ate. And besides, I can't stay long. Anakin is covering for me but they'll notice I'm gone soon enough."
He made to leave before turning back once more.
"Thank you. For everything."
Padme blinked and he was gone, as though he'd vanished into the air itself with the open door being the only mark of his departure.
How do Jedi do that?
"More wine, m'lady? An appetizer perhaps?" the waiter asked as he returned.
"No wine, please. Just your special tonight and I'll be on my way."
"Very good."
Taking Luke's advice to heart, she wondered just how much a man like that had gone through and suffered to get to this point. What he was willing to sacrifice for the benefit of others. And how he perceived danger better than any Jedi alive. No one suspected Palpatine for anything other than a skilled, humble politician. And yet apparently, he was a monster in disguise?
Acutely aware for the first time that she was alone, Padme Amidala felt a creeping dread that the full truth of the Clone Wars had not been revealed yet.
And when it did, all hell would break loose.
After nearly nine hundred years of training, dedication, and patience Master Yoda wasn't accustomed to being so...uncertain about most things. It was a consequence of the dark side. For well over a decade he and his fellow masters had been unable to perceive the future or even any glimpse of it.
Everything changed upon the arrival of Luke Ahch-To. From the clones, the Senate, the war, even the nature of the Jedi itself. This random straggler seemingly from nowhere challenged them all in some way. Sometimes for the better, sometimes not.
He and Mace Windu sat in one of the many meditation rooms that dotted the Temple. They often meditated together as one in order to better understand complex problems and come to a general consensus. As the two most powerful members of the Order, thousands of Jedi Masters, Knights, Padawans, and Younglings looked to them for guidance.
How unfortunate it should be he felt inadequate in being that ultra wise figure as of late.
"Troubled you are, Master Windu."
He'd been doing the same breathing exercises for centuries and perfected them right down to a science. So had Mace…except in notable temperamental moments during his youth. The Master from Haruun Kal had worked all his life to contain those reckless outbursts to the point where almost nothing broke that cool exterior.
Another thing Luke has changed, he noted with some amusement.
"I'm merely meditating."
"Thinking is not meditating. Plagued you are with internal conflict."
"There is much to be concerned about."
"Luke Ahch-To again?"
Windu bristled at the question.
"Please don't dismiss me so quickly, Master."
"Dismiss? Dismiss no one, I have. But question your judgment, I do. You have become unfocused."
"Then you don't see the danger as I do."
Yoda opened his eyes. This was one of the strongest disagreements between them in years. Maybe ever.
"Danger? Danger is all around us, yes. Unstable, the Clone War has made the galaxy. The dark side has become stronger…but the cause is yet unknown."
"The Sith still elude us, Master," Windu pointed out. "Dooku has killed billions but I sense there is another."
"Believe it be Luke Ahch-To, do you?"
"I believe he is a possible source, yes."
"A strong accusation. Proof, is there?"
"A powerful Force user comes out of nowhere, joins our ranks, violates our code, destroys one of the most important links to the Confederacy we have, and constantly insults our way of life. You don't find that at all suspicious?"
Yoda saw just how agitated Windu was and decided to try and look at the situation from an objective angle. On the one hand, everything Mace just said was true. Luke did not follow the traditional Jedi ways and had been accused of serious infractions. The murkiness of his past was another strike against him as well. There was little choice to suspend him for the time being.
However, nine hundred years honed a person's ability to sense another's intentions. Luke's intransigence reminded him far more of Anakin Skywalker or the late Qui-Gon Jinn than that of a Sith Lord in hiding. A maverick who's own ideas often appeared defiant but worked towards the common good.
But Dooku had once been considered a maverick too. No one was immune from the corruption of the dark side.
In essence, Luke Ahch-To presented a truly fascinating case. An enigma wrapped in a riddle lost in the farthest reaches of the universe. Beyond it even. And yet, Yoda also sensed that the key was right there in front of him. So why could he not see it?
Not yet
He'd heard the strange voice during the trial just as the blond opened his mouth to speak true. Again, why?
"Master Yoda, why did you request that we not expel this rogue?" Mace asked, when the green master did not answer. "This could have been over weeks ago."
Ah, there was the crux of the issue.
"A hasty decision, I do not wish to make. There is much mystery surrounding him. Conduct my own investigation, I shall before deciding if he is to be expelled."
"You could also be playing right into his hands."
Yoda turned sharply, an iron glint flashing in those piercing green eyes.
"Forget yourself, you do, Master Windu. Irrational you have become on this matter, hm? My own counsel I will keep on Luke Ahch-To before any punishment."
Realizing he'd gone too far in challenging the Grandmaster and perhaps seeing his own obsession on the issue, Mace backed down and bowed humbly.
"Forgive me, Master. I spoke out of turn."
Yoda's heart already forgave him but they were interrupted by Aayla Secura.
"Masters, I apologize for interrupting," she said. "But there is urgent news you must hear."
Yoda didn't like the concerned tone Ayala used but nevertheless beckoned her forward.
"What has happened?"
"The Chancellor has appointed Anakin Skywalker as High General and Commander of all forces within the Grand Army of the Republic. Officially, he is now the highest ranking Jedi among us within the military."
Bowing his head, Yoda could now sense Mace's feelings turning from anxiousness to horrified shock. The implications were yet to be felt but Yoda did know one thing for certain.
This would not end well.
Present day
Luke reflected in his room- the conversation with Anakin, his meeting with Padme. And of course, he, along with everyone else, learned of Palpatine's promotion: the post of High General and its new occupant.
Reactions around the Temple had been predictable but only one man inside it recognized the true motive behind the creation of such a title and rank. And he was powerless to do anything about it. Entrapped in a prison he once called home.
Time's running out
Sidious had become bolder. He'd stop at nothing to have the Chosen One by his side. And once the Confederacy ran out of resources or suffered enough defeats…
Armageddon
He was losing. He'd fumbled the advantage and the Sith capitalized. And for the first time since returning to the past, felt paralyzed on what to do next. There didn't seem to be a way out. Even with Bail Organa and his mother organizing an opposition party.
The future depended on the past and vice versa. Leia, Han, Chewie, Wedge, Biggs, R2, Threepio, Lando…their futures were at stake too. He could not let them down.
Staring blankly at the inky, black ceiling, Luke resisted the urge to close his eyes. Not if it meant getting another bad dream. The same one that kept reappearing since his suspension.
'Anakin Skywalker was weak. I destroyed him. And if you want to live, then you will have to destroy me too. As it was with Ben Solo.'
The words of the nightmare repeated themselves over and over until they faded and were replaced by the voice of his parents. Who'd both given the same advice.
'Don't give up hope, Luke…'
'Luke, don't give up on yourself…'
Damn it, they were right.
Sitting up straight, Luke glowed with the light side as it flowed through him as a river would through a valley.
"Fuck you, Sidious. You won't win that easily."
He threw off the covers and began pulling on his boots and tunic. Anakin had already shown him multiple passageways out of the Temple. Time to embark on another field trip.
Inspiration struck twice on the same night. He had an idea.
So, then. What's Luke up to now? And how will handle things moving forward?
Next update is mid to late September. Chapter is already 3/4ths of the way done.
Leave those reviews and rock on!
~The Wasp