Feel free to join my Discord server: disco rd . gg / 8NPYvs9m (delete the spaces). You can talk about whatever you want in there. SW and RDR channels are in there as well.
Before I go into this chapter, Luke x any male characters won't be a thing (if I ever do pair Luke with someone). Feel free to recommend any woman's character though as it might happen, depending on if it feels natural. I always personally saw Luke and Obi-Wan as Straight with a capital S. That said, I like diverse characters with different preferences (because it makes the universe feel bigger) in fandoms, but I wish Disney didn't overdo it and make it seem like such a big deal to fill out an agenda. That doesn't mean any man with such sexual preference wouldn't have a crush on another straight person. That just ain't realistic.
Chapter 7
It was the late hours of the night, while Luke sat in the mess hall to the Nubian. Everyone was relieved that their journey to Tatooine was short and prompt.
A few guards were sitting next to him. One of them, a man a few years younger, consistently stared in his direction and kept looking away, fighting a blush and small, almost inaudible, laughter. It wasn't just the Handmaidens who constantly eyed him. It was some of the other guards.
He hadn't considered the fact that some people would find him attractive in the past, but it made sense. Even though some of these people were old enough to be his parents and grandparents technically, they didn't know that little detail. And, no disrespect meant, Luke was only attracted to the opposite gender.
He stood up and attempted to return to his quarters, doing a brief check-up on Anakin and Shmi along the way. They seemed to be sleeping soundly.
"Uh, excuse me, uh, sir," the man from the earlier struggled out with words, holding a bottle of a drink. Luke turned to him. "But you've forgotten this earlier."
He knew he didn't, given he didn't care to have a drink that night. But, the fact that he had the patience and wisdom of a Jedi Master, even though he didn't follow their rules, had gotten out quickly, and opened up subtle teasing from the people on that list already.
Allowing a smile to cross his lips, the Jedi Master grabbed the Muja juice from his hand. "I see, what is your name?"
The man swallowed, "Uh, Tonra."
"Well, Tonra, you have my many appreciations," he nodded.
"Just be careful next time." The man looked like he was going to explode by his luminous blush. "You, uh, don't want to wake up in the middle of the night from, uh, lack of hydration."
His smile grew wider. "Right you are. Thanks, Tonra."
The other man nodded and blushed as he dashed off. Uninterrupted, Luke returned to his borrowed and isolated quarters of the ship, longing for his sister's presence, his brother-in-law, their children, and the few Jedi Luke rallied up. When the high of it all came down, being without his friends left him with nothing but the feeling of loneliness and non-completion that Luke hadn't felt since his father died on the second Death Star.
Pain and sadness collided inside of him, and Luke allowed himself to lose it. The grief that he may never see them again, temporarily, consumed any rational thought, and Luke couldn't stop the tears from trailing down his cheek.
Sure thing, it opened up the possibility of them not having to endure what they did because of the Empire, but Luke missed them. Longed for them. Wished they had come to the past with him even. It would have been easier. All the more worth it.
He could still feel it. The empty black hole that came with the connection to his friends. It was a secret miracle that he was unconscious and exhausted when they'd gone mute like that, especially his bond with Leia, because if he wasn't, Luke doubted that the experience would have been anything short of painful. That was probably what caused him to pass out in the first place before what happened...
"Umm, Mr. Luke?" came a quiet voice at the door entrance.
Luke snapped his head up and did his best to cleanse his tears, catching note of Anakin. "Where's your mother, young one?" he inquired, feeling a tad bit awkward to know that he was talking to his kid-father like that.
"Sleeping." The innocent voice responded, the tone dripping with sheepishness.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Thanks again for freeing me and my mom from slavery. You're a hero." The boy said again.
Luke shook his head, "I'm no hero."
No, a hero was anything but Luke Skywalker could ever be.
Anakin blinked. "Yes, you are. I mean I know you were a Jedi when I first saw you. But, you went and just told Watto to free us!"
"I was only doing what I thought was right, Anakin," Luke said with an agonized smile, hoping that his father didn't see it. He didn't want him to worry about him. Why would he? He didn't know about their connection.
"Brr," Anakin complained, rubbing his arms.
"Cold?" he asked knowingly.
Anakin looked down and frowned. "Yeah, it's freezing in here. Don't know how everyone else can't feel it."
He gave him the drink Tonra handed him earlier. Anakin nursed it, relishing in the new taste. Luke took initiative. While Anakin sat on the bed instinctively, he stood up and began rummaging through the cupboards around the med bay, coming out with a blanket, well aware of how odd this was. He laid the blanket on him. "You come from a planet with twin suns, it will take you quite a while to get used to the cold of space."
Luke should know. He had been like that once. Leia had fun teasing him about that.
Anakin thought it over before nodding. "Makes sense." A lengthy silence passed before his eyes narrowed, "...You seem... sad."
"How can you be so sure?" He asked with a sigh.
"I can feel it." Anakin answered.
Oh, of course.
"I had people close to me, young one," Luke responded, "and now they're..."
Not dead, but gone, and those still alive now were completely different people.
"There's nothing you could have done," Anakin replied with wisdom among his years. "Mum says that sometimes things happen in the universe for a reason. What would they have want for you?"
Luke didn't care to give a response to that. But the young boy was right. He was someone with the capability to stop the future Emperor when he'd gotten the chance. He thought about his friends and what they would have done in his place. While there would be some pain from Leia for losing all she had, she would focus on the future and do what she had to do to bring that future to a happier and brighter one. The same could be said for Han. To give these good people a chance. He wouldn't run from this. He would mourn and grieve, but he would fight on, because his family, friends, and mentors would have wanted that.
How ironic, even at this young age, his father could give him advice.
As the ship landed on Coruscant, the ramp lowered. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon disembarked, the Naboo Royal Guards following suit-Gunray in toe, along with Jar Jar Binks.
The two Jedi spotted a few Jedi Shadows and Watchers in the crowds, infiltrating perfectly, waiting, watching. They exchanged a stare, both knowing that this was Master Windu's handiwork. Likely about their favorite Force Adept.
"It is a great gift to see you alive, Your Majesty," Palpatine greeted with a smile, the perfect mask of relief across his face. "With the communications breakdown, we've been very concerned. I'm anxious to hear your report on the situation," he continued, motioning to the man beside him. "May I present Supreme Chancellor Valorum."
"Welcome your Highness, it is an honor to finally meet you in person," Valorum greeted, also sharing the apparent feeling from the Senator.
"Thank you, Chancellor," the decoy responded, regal as always.
The Chancellor turned to look at the Viceroy who was standing there somewhat awkwardly, his face becoming more severe. "Viceroy Nute Gunray, I do hope for the sake of the Trade Federation that this is a BIG misunderstanding."
Gunray shrunk slightly at the glares from the two men. On the outside, it would look like Sheev Palpatine was angry for the threatening of his people. Inwardly, Darth Sidious vowed to crush that idiotic role.
"May I ask how did you escape, Your Highness?" Sidious turned the attention to the vergence, playing the role of a confused politician perfectly.
"We had help from an... outside source if he's to be believed," the decoy answered.
"Ah," Palpatine's eyebrow disappeared within his headline. "A mercenary?"
"I would hardly define him as that," she responded idly.
"Oh yesa, yesa, hesa allowed mesa to remain behind on dha skeebeetle." Everyone looked at the Gungan in curiosity.
"Is he your help?" Valorum asked, examining the Gungan. Looks could be deceiving...
Even Sidious couldn't help it. In a rare show of humanity, the secret Sith genuinely laughed-and no one faulted him for it, for the sentiment was shared.
Sabé smirked, the act falling short. "Not even close, I'm afraid, Chancellor."
Jar Jar waved instantly, frantic. "Oh, nosa, nosa, mesa nosa know how to use a lightsaber."
"Lightsaber?" Valorum questioned, eyes widening, coming to a conclusion. "So he's-"
As if on cue, the son of Anakin Skywalker descended the ramp, catching everyone's attention. His hood was raised over his head, hands folded inside of his robes-his very presence screaming control and harmony. The Jedi couldn't help but be awe in of this Force Adept so close to their home. Sidious, on the other hand, fought the urge to narrow his eyes at this... threat, wanting nothing more than to crush this bug once and for all.
Luke said nothing, mentally finding himself smirking at the thought of his father. While nothing was pleasing about deaths, his father had a guilty pleasure of dramatic introductions-something that unintentionally came to Luke.
Through the Force, he looked around the planet of Coruscant. Not much changed on the surface at least. It looked the same as it did in the future. Indeed, the tallest buildings in the galaxy still stood as they did over thirty-five years later. Coruscanti skyscrapers dwarfed all the original natural features, including mountains, as well as floors of oceans which once covered a large portion of Coruscant's surface. The divided mega blocks, blocks, and subblocks. Coruscant itself was divided into quadrants, which were divided into zones. Below the skyscrapers was Coruscant's undercity, where sunlight never reached. Artificial lighting illuminated these lower levels and advertisement holograms could be seen everywhere.
What Ysanne Isard and Thrawn had done to the planet hadn't been committed yet-all that lingered was echoes of the past such as the first purges. The amount of Jedi felt through the Force sent temporary ease up Skywalker's gut, though it was extirpated by that familiar feeling of darkness that plagued just underneath the surface. So many people on the planet were looking out for themselves. While some were forced to adapt that mindset through the pain and agony of the past, for most, it was simply because of the inability to care.
And the source of the secret darkness was here. Present.
He wouldn't see it coming. He wouldn't. Do it! Do it now! He was unharmed-better yet, unprepared!
There was only one Sith Lord before him-the very last of their kind. The other was just an Apprentice, someone who could be dealt with. He wouldn't be able to get far. No one would expect it. He would have more than enough time to grab his lightsaber, and impale him through the chest, or cut his jugular, or amputate his hands, or behead him. And then, regardless of whatever consequences he'd faced after that, it would be over.
One act, and his mother never would be doomed to an early death. One act, and his father won't get manipulated into darkness. One act, and Leia and Han won't get tortured. One act, and the galaxy was saved. What did it matter if Luke just went for the plunge one moment and came back? To remove this disease who manifested from darkness and who would die from darkness?
Even now, Luke's arm flared up with phantom pain-and he couldn't be certain if it was twitching. The almost irresistible urge to do what he'd almost done in the throne room...
'Is the Dark Side stronger?'
'No, quicker, easier, more seductive.'
Master Yoda was wrong about many things, but that was one thing he was completely correct about. If he struck now, it would only lead to pain. His mother would hate him, viewing Palpatine as a mentor if her feelings for the man were anything to go by. His father would be in unreliable hands with the wrong type of guidance.
Killing Palpatine would only lead him to be in isolation. It would make Luke angrier, make the hate flourish even more, so that way when he struck him down, it would be in a fit of rage like the type that had him cut off his father's hand. That was what the Dark Lord of the Sith wanted. Not just a spur-of-the-moment act of violence, but one where Luke entered a state where he became a different person entirely.
No. But Luke wouldn't be acting in self-interest, would he? If he'd acted only this once. One act, and millions of lives would be saved. One act, and the Death Star would never be created. One act, and the Clone Wars wouldn't happen. These weren't excuses, they weren't! It would be doing the galaxy a favor if he'd just done it here and now-ending this threat!
Luke snapped out of the momentary daze he fell into. And there it was. The trapping of the Dark Side. The Dark Side at its core didn't have any true loyalty to no one. Acting out of negative emotions especially, the Dark Side controlled every action you do. And influenced you to commit more of your evil thoughts. Exhorting you to use more of it until eventually, it became second nature to you. And you no longer have nor longer want to have the will to turn away from the Dark Side. This was why so many Jedi simply tapping into the Dark Side once would start to lose their sanity. It was like a deathstick. It was addicting. Most of all who acted on it very will gave only excuses and deteriorated for them through them.
Much greater Jedi than Luke had succumbed to the Dark Side because they'd believed that the Dark Side could be an ally in a time of peril.
And even now, Luke almost fell for the allure.
With his legs somehow remaining unshaken, he moved forward to both politicians, instantly allowing the thought to pass into the Force for remembrance of why a small part of him despised being in these sorts of positions at times. He was out of his element when given responsibility over more than a few souls as proven as soon as he'd started instructing acolytes. When Luke was given command of a very small taskforce right after Endor to help out the Bakurans against the Ssi-ruuvi invasion, he'd been at best a very mediocre commander. But he'd learned much since then-he liked to believe at least.
"I don't believe we ever met," Chancellor Valorum started, looking at the dark-robed figure, catching note of the hilt resting on Luke's belt. Officially, the Valorum family died in a tragic "accident" shortly before the rise of the Empire. "Are you a Jedi?"
"I am," he confirmed without hesitation, noticing that Obi-Wan bristled slightly, while Qui-Gon offered an uncertain look. The Jedi Shadows stared with different emotions... "But I do not answer to the Jedi Council."
"Chancellor Valorum, Senator Palpatine," the decoy stated, "he has been of great service to us." She finished now, "-allow me to introduce you to Luke Skywalker.
"Wow, mom, he shares our name too!" Anakin shouted in excitement, while his mother hushed him half-heartedly, looking up with wide eyes of her own.
Damn, that would lead to several cursed conclusions for a while. Oh, frak! People were going to think he was Anakin Skywalker's father! That bantha-shit Obi-Wan and Yoda participated in where someone decided it was a wise idea to put two young adults - two people who felt extremely close to each other like they were meant to be side by side - that destiny meant for them to be together only for them to be distant siblings in an intense charged environment, was not going to happen this time around. He and Leia came far, far too close for comfort that it took years to get over that. Now, he had to make sure that people dismissed the idea of sexual relations between him and his grandmother...
"Skywalker is a common last name," Luke did his best not to cringe at the lame excuse, feeling like the Force was laughing at him. He didn't share any humor in this situation at the moment.
"Well, may I be the first to thank you for the aid that you have rendered to our planet, Master Skywalker?" The Not-Emperor inquired, smiling a pained smile that momentarily stumped Luke. How could this be the same man that almost killed him? He'd approached with the expression of a worried man in peril about what was going on with his planet, soft and compassionate...
Luke mentally shook his head, snapping out of the manipulation. 'Part of the damn act.'
The Jedi knew what evil he was capable of. Knew the monster that rested within. When the Devil tempts you, he won't appear as a fearsome demon with horns, claws, and hooves; he'll appear as the brightest, most benevolent angel you've ever seen and show/offer you your heart's deepest desire. It's easy to fall for. Until you realize what he REALLY wants you to either do or give up in return; THEN the ruse is up. You say no and THEN the claws come out.
"The honor's all mine, Senator," he responded in a clipped tone, gripping the seemingly innocent Senator's hand. He almost didn't spot it-the way his eyes narrowed, the way the evening sundown darkened momentarily...
Sidious made the choice not to wisely press further, instead removing his hand. In this Luke Skywalker, he'd spotted one cruel fact: he saw right through him.
Ironically, Luke was thinking the same thing. He'd already known what would have happened if he attempted to expose Sheev Palpatine as the Dark Lord. The same thing that happened when Jedi Master Mace Windu attempted a Jedi Coup at the end of the Clone Wars against a public official which made everything worse.
The Sith, being the backstabbing murderous heretics Luke knew them to be, would have implemented contingencies in place that would have had the Republic prepared to be decimated at this point in time and the Clones slaughter the Jedi by the time the Jedi arrived to the arena on Geonosis... and that was one of the best case scenario for them. Worst case? How long was the Clone Army prepped as a medium-sized combat-capable formation before the Clone Wars started? Could Sidious's infelicitous death unleash it upon the Jedi and Republic if he was destroyed at any time after the Invasion of Naboo or even earlier?
That was what the Jedi, in their infinite wisdom, couldn't fathom. The Jedi thought that they could walk into a public official's office, accuse him of being a Sith, and that would be accepted by everyone in the courts. Good-intentioned, but foolish fundamentally. Actions have consequences, and all Luke would do was damage the Jedi's credibility irreparably because, from a certain point of view, the quite popular Palpatine hadn't committed anything illegally that could be used to bury him. In short, there was no way to take him out without doing some sort of damage control for all involved.
But he would cross that bridge when he came to it.
"Chancellor," Luke started, keeping his voice leveled and calm. "I request a proper medic and droid with surgical skills be sent to the Queen's suite." At the bemused look from the Chancellor, the time-traveling Skywalker motioned at the two former slaves. "They have slave chips implanted inside of their bodies, currently deactivated."
Luke knew personally they could be reactivated, but given the frequency, it would take time-even for the Hutts. Ample time that by the time they did, the chips would be out of their bodies.
The man was already nodding by the time Luke finished explaining, "It shall be done." and motioned to the hovercraft.
A lengthy silence passed as they walked. Before they arrived to the vehicle, two figures stepped forward, nodding in greetings at the party. Most notably, Qui-Gon Jinn's eyes narrowed at one of the figures. One couldn't call the emotions that flooded through him disdain and disgust, but he didn't think too fondly of the individual. Obi-Wan merely cast a second glance at the individual before turning away.
Admittedly, the figure on the left was of no interest. Just a simple greedy politician if anything else. Was unfortunately still common during the Era of the New Republic, even though Leia and Mon Mothma cracked down on it.
"Greetings, Queen Amidala, Master Jedi." The Muun introduced himself, sweeping into an elegant bow. "I am Chairman San Hill at your disposal. Me and my companion wish to offer our condolences for what is occurring on Naboo."
The figure on the right... however. Bald, elongated head with no visible ears. Golden eyes, a nose that seemed pushed down into his face. Very tall and haggard. Pallid skin. Broadened fingers. A Muun too, Luke knew, but something... was different about this one. The Muun felt like a tall monolith. He could sense that the Muun was a Force user, most likely self-taught. Luke had run into plenty who didn't want others to know they were Force sensitive or allowed it to interfere with their personal affairs. No cause for skepticism.
The said Muun bowed as well when the Queen glanced in his direction and came forward. "Greetings, Queen Amidala, Young Kenobi. Master Jinn, good to see you again. And nice to meet you-" The Muun extended his hand to greet the Jedi Master. Luke accepted, smiling. "-Master... Skywalker, I am Senior Magister Hego Damask."
Many years from now, Luke would look back on that moment and realize he should have regretted ever coming under the sights of Hego Damask...
In which Luke misses a KEY DETAIL about the Grand Plan.