October 10, 2013
A/N:
Hi there! Glad you're here!
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My apologies for this delay. I would love to hear your thoughts about this chapter. Your reviews REALLY give me the determination to keep working on this. Here is: Chapter 17: Duty
"A man must decide whether he will walk in the light… or in the darkness of destructive selfishness." Martin Luther King, Jr.
Chapter 17: Duty
Over a month had passed since Anakin, Padme, Luke, Leia and stowaway Han had landed on Naboo.
The six week old twins thrived with their family's constant attention. They were never alone and the main attraction of the Lake Retreat. Amidala healed completely from birth with flying colors and the Naberries easily made room for their new family members.
Even Han found his own place among the mix. In fact, he and Anakin recently began a project. One of the properties generators went on strike. During this shutdown, Han hit a common cord with Skywalker: fixing things. Amused, Anakin allowed him to help.
The two boys had worked on it for two rotations. Today was the judgment day. Were their efforts in vain, or have they fixed the machine?
In the workshop, Anakin hunched over the broken generator. The old machine had seen better days, Skywalker had to admit. He tightened a bolt with his mechanical hand; the final touch. Stepping away, he began wiping grease off with a rag. "Alright Han, let's see if it works!"
The boy soon flipped a switch and they crossed their fingers for the harmonic purr of a working generator.
As Anakin continued to remove greases from himself, he smiled when Han looked up at him with excitement. The generator didn't clink and rattle, just smoothly geared along. "About time!" Solo exclaimed. His hands and face painted with grease, too.
Skywalker nodded and threw him the rag. He had grown rather fond of Han; even taken him under his wing a bit. "And it will produce three times more energy."
"So the destroying, building and re-building and then routing it backwards— worked?" Taking an entirely good generator apart for such a simple fix didn't sit right with Han, but Skywalker saw the finished result rather than the work.
Anakin gently elbowed him. The boy never did stop amusing. "Yes, Scruffy, it did. Just like I said it would." He waited for the death glare received by Han.
Literally, the boy death glared him.
"If I had a blaster, you'd be sorry…" Solo grumbled throwing the rag at a work bench. Skywalker so kindly gave that blasted nickname to him. Oh, how Han loathed it.
"Ani?" Padme called poking her head through the workshop door. She had been checking in with their progress and keeping them well fed. Even assisted for a few standard hours. When she heard the working generator from outside the door, she knew their operation had been successful.
Ever in her orbit, Skywalker whipped around, "Yes, Angel?"
She went to the generator and admired the handiwork, "I see you two fixed it."
"Fixed and improved. It will store and produce three times more energy," Solo announced, seemingly taking the credit. But Padme knew better, this had her Ani written all over it.
Amidala's eyebrows shot up, "Impressive!"
Han beamed with her praise, his chest even puffed.
Anakin, ignoring the boy's pride, smiled happy for her admiration, "Thank you, milady," the slight bow to accompany.
Padme walked up to Anakin, "You have some grease on your face," Padme said, cupping his face and tenderly cleaning it off with her thumb. Then she gave him a soft kiss on his lips.
"Will you two stop it already?" Solo complained making his escape.
Anakin grinned, "No. One day you might think differently about this, Han."
"Doubtful," Han grunted gladly taking his leave.
Anakin went to putting the shop back in order, and Padme leaned on the doorway. "You enjoy teasing him too much," she smiled.
He grinned, "He's grown on me."
"He's grown on me too." She paused for a bit, "I want to try and get him into Coruscant's piloting academy," she declared more than asked.
Anakin turned to face her, "He really does want to become one," he grinned returning to the surface wiping, "I can relate with that."
"When he graduates he could be anything, and go anywhere he wanted to. We would make sure Han wanted it, of course... But, what do you think?"
The husband went to the wife and wrapped his arms around her waist, "I think it is a great idea, my love. It feels nice knowing we can help someone else fulfill their dreams."
She nodded understanding what he referred to. Anakin was found by Qui-Gon Jinn when he was just a slave and allowed him to choose his own destiny.
"As soon as this hiding is over, I'll talk to people I know."
A sad look passed across his face. He never wanted his family to be in isolation and danger. It concerned him the Jedi Council hadn't given him the all clear, or contacted him at all.
The workshop cleaning finished, the couple left to walk back to the house. Sola walked up and met them. She looked at Anakin, "Your comm. is going off."
Perfect timing, Anakin wearily thought.
The couple exchanged glances, they knew this meant change. But neither expected good change.
Anakin went into the office the communicator was hooked up in. He answered to see his former mentor. "Hello, Anakin." Obi-Wan Kenobi greeted. Anakin didn't recognize where he was sitting; a seat made of stone?
He bowed, "Master Kenobi." He rather play it safe.
"The line is secure?"
"Of course."
"The Council wishes to talk with you."
The view changed. The whole Jedi Council assembly was projected in a room Anakin now recognized. Sylvantar? Why were they there?
Dread sunk to the pit of his stomach.
Kenobi continued, "All of the Jedi Order have abandoned the Temple and have gone into hiding on Sylvantar. Now we require your immediate presence." He shifted in his seat, "We have a plan to destroy the sith and ending the war once and for all... your at the heart of it." Kenobi held his breath. Anakin never did like being told what to do.
Anakin did everything he could from showing full-blown emotions.
He won't leave his family; he can't—even if it did mean ending the war. "I am required here," he curtly put.
"You are a member of the Council, Skywalker. We are ending the war. Your self-assigned mission with Senator Amidala is not your greatest concern." Mace Windu coldly replied.
So they knew details...
"I needed to protect them, the force screamed at me to." Emotions laced his voice. No, he needed control. He unclenched his fists, "They are still not out of danger. They need protection."
"And they will have it, but not yours. Padawan Zett Jukassa will protect them. We do not believe Senator Amidala and her children are in direct danger. You are overqualified for the job." Mace replied.
Talking to a stonewall! "Over qualified?! This is a sith, one who has out smarted us for decades. None of us are over qualified, more the opposite." He argued. Why is it they never saw reason?!
Mere silence. No one appeared to agree with him.
Skywalker dug deep, more pleading now, "The darkness creeps and blinds our senses masters. You cannot tell me you know that Sidious will not try to attack them again. I cannot leave, masters. Sidious wants them for something, and we don't know why. We cannot allow him to achieve his goal, whatever 'it' is."
"Perhaps your friendship with the Senator has—"
He wasn't getting anywhere! No more! "You've trained me to protect the innocent and trust in the force. That is what I am doing now. If you recant your teaches and laws, you are no Jedi but cowards hiding behind a picture of what should be!"
There was silence, no one spoke up. He sensed their resolves fading, but it made no difference. Mace wasn't backing down, and Skywalker could sense he had made him, among others, angry. "You forget your place, young Skywalker. You are to come here and that is final. If you do not show up, your status as a Jedi will be taken from you."
The Jedi there understood the standard procedure. Disobey such a direct order, you become a rogue Jedi.
The projection was abruptly cutoff.
Anakin slammed his mechanical fist into the desk. They're all fools!
"You need to go."
His vision shot to the voice who had heard the entire conversation. Padme.
Blue tempest eyes met hers, "I can't leave you."
Padme nodded her head, "Anakin you have to go," she said gently, yet her words were firm.
He sighed, quite familiar with this conversation. In her mind, being a Jedi should be most important. But it wasn't, and never would be. She was the most important, he would do anything for her; same with the twins. Jedi be damned! He walked to her and placed his hands on her, "I will not leave you, your family or the twins, Padme."
She stepped out of his grip. "No, Anakin. You must go."
His eyes flooded with fear, "What if something happened to you? To our family? With Leia... if... How could I live with myself? You're not out of danger, I can feel it!" he declared.
She stepped towards him and smoothed her hands over his chest. Her most powerful weapon came out: her pleading brown eyes. Galaxies could crumble from their power. Anakin had never seen them so strong before. "I've always been in danger, Ani. Because of the war, the sith. You have a chance to end it, Anakin. To stop the fighting, to stop the siths and wars once and for all. Our children can have a safe galaxy to grow in, and we could stop fighting." She looked at the floor, "I'm tired of fighting, Ani." The weapon met his eyes again, "I just want it to end."
His face cringed up; she was so cruel. What is he supposed to do now?! He wanted to stand his ground, force knew that—but her voice, her eyes—she was literally begging him, pouring herself out to him.
"Padme…" he whimpered, begging her to undo what she had just set in motion.
She put her finger on his mouth. This was hurting her every fiber. "Shh, please," she fought back tears, "Go for me, go for Luke and Leia… and come back to us. If this nightmare can finally be over, you have to." One last look and she left. She didn't want to fall apart in front of him.
She didn't want him to go, didn't want anything to happen to her family… or Anakin. But in the scale of things… it had to be this choice.
Reaching her and her husband's bedchamber, her tears finally came. She had just sent her husband to face the most dangerous man in the galaxy. Gave the possibility of her children to never remember their father, never be raised by him. And her, to never touch him, hear him...
She could have said stay. Her heart wanted it to, oh did it want to. Just let the galaxy deal with it and stay here forever.
Why?! Why was her life always choosing between love and the great or good! Why wouldn't it just all end?!
A/N:
Stuff is about to get crazy people, just saying!
And, Mireilles3: Ani+Twins coming up. All the cuteness! *heart* I just couldn't fit them in here. I mean, I didn't just give out a spoiler… :P
If you could please take the time to review and tell me your likes, dislikes, opinions, or even a simple line—it really does do wonders for any writer.
Oh, and I have recently published a new story Heirlooms. You might want to check that one out! I am hoping to publish a chapter to my stories ever other week. One from Heirlooms, then one for this one, and then one for Heirlooms, and so forth. And yes, I will be continuing Heirlooms. Your guys' support has been incredible! :D
I hope you have enjoyed this! Until we meet again!
God Bless