May 2, 2014
A/N:
Hello, so happy you are here! :D
Thank you for reading this update!
To last update's reviewers: Jedi Master Misty Sman-Esay, Meydral Skirata, Mireilles3, Bradley Cude, Jedi Angel001, froovygirl, Destiny Changer, Guest, Mo Angel, MudtasticAdventures, Alessandra, Alexa Skywalker, BookWorm2the2ndPower, and JourneyRocks13! Thank you so much! Your words are wonderful blessings for me! :D
To the favoriters and subscibers, both new and less-new (:P), THANK YOU! *heart*
Let's not even discuss the stuff going on in my life that held this update back... too deep, man! Just too deep... :)
Here is Chapter 19: Separation (Part 1). I do hope you enjoy and have fun! :)
Chapter 19: Separation (Part 1)
Time just stayed still. In the rotations that followed Anakin's leaving, seconds morphed to years. Padme spent most of her time numb in some odd way. Aware of her surroundings, but never truly there or fully engaged. Her emotions were tempest tossed in tune with merciless waters.
The longer Skywalker was away, the harder the misery. She would cry at the oddest things and was so consumed by emotions. Then she would have a rage boil up inside of her, soon to disappear into sorrow. Here family had never seen her this way, and they worried about her; especially Sola and Jobal.
They worried she suffered from a harsh post-partum depression. Though both had experienced a dose of it at one time in their lives, they had never known anything akin to Padme's suffrage. It troubled them. They hoped to soon visit the nearby village's clinic to receive a diagnosis.
Padme was in her bedroom, lying on Anakin's side of the bed, while the twins slept. She felt so—hollow. She thought about how far her husband was within the cosmos. The travel was a long one; just about on the other side of the galaxy. He was probably almost at Sylvantar, if not already.
Counting all the other times they were separated, this time would be much different, and for that she was beyond thankful.
She had the twins.
Two wonderful pieces of him to cling to; they were something he would always leave behind with her.
Two precious, dependent and beautiful babies; both perfect in every way.
Padme got up to watch them with loving eyes. She stroked Luke's cheek with a small smile. With the new emotional rollercoaster she found herself on, tears easily welled in her eyes. She didn't know why, didn't know if she was happy or sad, but none the less tears trickled down her cheeks.
She sent her thoughts to distract her; and they recalled the comm. in her pocket.
Before Anakin left, he gave her an extra-long-distance communicator, one of his many useful inventions. He swore when he reached Sylvantar he would call her every day midafternoon Naboo time. So now, all she had to do was wait for the mute device to chirp.
A lonely Jedi star-fighter traveled through space. The pilot was not used to the silence, at least, not anymore.
There was just nothing. Only his small vessel assured him he wasn't deaf. The mechanical drones and beeps synchronized in the background of his senses. But there was no motion of breath; no life.
The classic sentience of the force around him was there, of course, but nothing else.
So silent.
So—wrong.
Physically it was silent, and also through the force. He was so used to the bustling Lake House and the presence of dear ones, and their melodies.
Ryoo, Pooja and Han's pitter-patter as they conducted mischief against C3PO with the eager guidance of R2. Ruwee and Darren's exclamations while enjoying a heated match of Sabacc; a game he would purposely lose from time to time. The happy hums of his mother-in-law gushing over her new grandbabies. Sola's and his beautiful wife's laughs while catching up on stories of lost time. The alerting cries of his dependent children.
The wonderful music was gone, only silent space and its eerie cries now.
If only the melody wasn't just repeating in his head, but truly playing.
The hero to rescue him from the soundless emerged with a high pitched beep. It alerted Knight Skywalker to the approaching planet. He easily steadied the craft out of hyper-speed and skillfully went through the rather thick atmosphere encircling Sylvantar.
Now to find the spot...
The Jedi Order has no records of the preserve's location; there is just a discrete and unique presence. A trail only one who has been there before would recognize. It was a natural phenomenon the particular part of the planet administered.
While he flew around waiting for the sense, he thought about the area's story. A story told to him long ago, shortly after he began training.
He really had to center his mind to surface the memory.
The legend goes: a long time ago, Jedi Knight… oh what was her name? Len—something… Leneer! That was it! Jedi Knight Leneer stumbled across the place in need of refuge. She later told her Master about it. The Master later investigated and also discovered the very unique habitat, and tranquility, of the particular location.
Later, Jedi built the Stone Sanctuary.
After Anakin encompassed half of the planet's surface, he soon sensed the path. He followed it through a monstrous mountain's crevasse and into a large-cave route. The secret entranced remained dark, and went far into the range of the abnormally huge range.
Eventually, a light was seen at the end through the, without his artificial lights, pitch black cave.
It then wound into the most transcendent area.
Underneath a mystifying suspended body of crystal liquid, which beautifully let every beam-ray of light through, was the Stone Sanctuary.
Within the assumed ancient volcanic creator, was an endless range of environment.
The main Temple was within a tall grass meadow, and beyond that was a forest of faded-neutral colored trees that soared to a considerable height.
Everything about Sylvantar seemed to harmonically float. The lake, the trees, creatures, force signatures—all were seamlessly suspended.
Skywalker had almost forgotten how beyond his imagination this location was… but he certainly didn't forget the agonizingly long trip. The one last time he traveled it, was spent in constant meditation; oh, the drear.
Landing in a stone-plaza landing area, he hopped out. Trusty R2-D2 happily flew out of his copilot area.
Anakin smirked as R2 whistled and trilled while spinning his dome. The place certainly had an overwhelming effect on him.
Skywalker crossed his arms while his legs got used to standing and his body to the slightly different atmosphere, "It is a wonderful place R2, I am sure Padme would love it, too," he smiled amused with the droid's contemplations.
Soon he sensed a familiar presence. The smiling face of Obi-Wan Kenobi came into his view.
"Anakin," he greeted once he reached him.
"Obi-Wan, glad to see you still in one piece, despite the long voyage," Skywalker replied with his usual wit.
The Master Jedi paused. Was what he seeing correct?
Was Anakin… happy?
Not mere surface happy, but his entire being.
A happy Anakin… Obi-Wan wasn't sure if it was natural.
Skywalker continued to gaze on with the accompanying smile, "What? Nothing? I'm disappointed, Master," he taunted, hoping to continue their everlasting game.
This certainly was not natural. But, it was certainly appreciated and welcomed.
Kenobi smiled, "I merely meditated until the voyage was over."
With a hearty laugh, the younger man fell in step with the other and they strolled back to the temple. No one was within earshot, even Jedi earshot.
"How is Padme doing?" Obi-Wan asked, already sure his old friend was doing well.
A bright smile lit up the Knight's face, "She is doing very well."
"Luke and Leia?"
A bigger smile appeared as his family's faces flashed through him mind. He even laughed with his happiness, "Wonderful. They keep growing every day. Leia has the biggest smile I have ever seen, and Luke listens when you talk as if he understands, and…"
The corners of Kenobi's mouth curled upward as he listened to his former apprentice's words. Though he concealed it, he had great care for the two younglings.
He felt connected to them. Obi-Wan hoped to see them more often and watch them grow. He would even teach them, no matter how parallel they were to their father.
Slowly, Anakin came to a stop, the smile quietly shrinking. Suddenly, the glisten left his eyes, and a tremor occurred. Kenobi turned to him; Anakin had a much less foreign appearance.
He looked lonely, heavy and sorrowful; his norm. Over the years, Kenobi had forgotten the contrast of his friend's emotional scale.
Kenobi barely nodded, not saying a word. Anakin missed his family.
Naturally he would, as a father—but a Jedi…
Obi-Wan crossed his metaphorical fingers praying that Anakin's emotions did not lead him to do something foolish.
Quite the nasty habit he had with getting into trouble due to emotions—and with something as strong as his attach— loved ones… Obi-Wan knew this was thin ice being treaded upon. Why did he feel something ominous would come of it?
'Have faith in him,' Obi-Wan reminded himself for the millionth time over the years. 'He has never let you down before.'
The Council required Anakin to attend the meeting immediately after landing. The two conversing Council members went to join the gathered Jedi within the Discussions Room.
Just outside, Anakin turned around to his trusty droid. "Go find my quarters, R2, and wait there. I'll meet you there after the meeting."
The droid confirmed he understood and rolled off on his mission. Anakin smiled, and joined his former master within the room.
The room was similar to rooms within the Temple on Coruscant; minus the quiet.
No traffic, no sirens, no desperate signatures from beings around the planet.
Again, Skywalker was stuck in silence.
The conversation the Jedi were amidst for the first few settling moments concerned stories and how they couldn't believe this was all happening, but none the less they were grateful for the Stone Sanctuary.
As soon as Master Kenobi and Knight Skywalker entered, the group silenced and turned to them in unison.
Anakin glanced at them; they were all staring at him. But why?
He knew they knew he was on the Council, and he took his rightful seat inbetween Master Pablo Jill and Master Agen Kolar.
Still they stared.
He shifted awkwardly in his seat—he couldn't discern what they thought.
"Alright with you, everything is, Skywalker?" Grand Master Yoda said.
Anakin nodded with confusion. That wasn't a normal meeting standard, "Of course Master, why?"
"Reason, there must be?" the little green one replied.
Skywalker sat forward a bit, "I've never known a meeting to open with such salutations."
The oldest on smiled, "Missed your quips we have, young Skywalker," he chuckled, "Different you are, very different." Many other members nodded their heads.
He stiffened, "I am sure I don't know what you mean."
"Interesting, that is," he paused. "Much more peaceful you are, young Skywalker. Curious this is, is it not?"
Anakin furrowed his brows, quite unaware of what they sensed. For him, he was merely happier with his life. Padme wasn't going to die with a cause he can't slice a lightsaber through, the he and Padme had two amazing children, and he had a large family that loved him; everything had improved a million times over lately.
Subtracting, of course, the great spectacle took over his life. A 'close friend' and 'wise mentor' turned out to be his greatest nemesis and tried to murder his daughter. His wife was attacked in her own apartment, after having given birth only days earlier. His family had to go into hiding… and then he had to leave his family in danger.
He stopped thinking about it. "I suppose it could be, Master," he finally answered.
After he meditated on the situation, Yoda displayed body language that let the others know and the meeting was to begin. Master Windu sat forward to speak, "How was your self-assigned mission, Skywalker?"
A fire sparked into Skywalker's eyes once he sensed the Master's emotions: annoyance, frustration and disapproval.
So be it. His family came first, and they were in danger. Easy choice. Let him feel this way. Skywalker's emotions cooled, "It went very well, Master."
Windu was nearly flustered. Anakin went from anger to peace before his eyes. He had never seen that happen before. Usually, he just buried the emotion deeper within himself; he never just released it.
"The Senator and the children, are they all alright?"
"Yes. They remain well and hidden… for now," he said with a stab of emotion.
"And safe they shall remain," Master Windu kindly added. "Padawan Zett is one of our most talented, he will not fail."
Anakin mentally huffed.
A brief silence passed. "For you, Skywalker, mission we have. Important to destroying Sith, it is."
Skywalker nodded; glad to get to the point of this meeting.
"If you are indeed the Chosen One, it will be you who ends up destroying Palpatine, thus restoring balance to the force.
The Council decided that the best plan of action is to send a group of Masters to find Sidious and attack him, ending this war once, and for all." Mace used the force to dim the windows. He then levitated a Map-Orb to the Map-Reader in the middle of the room. It activated and a nebula of stars appeared.
The Master pointed at a star cluster, "After many members diligently searched, we have confirmed Sidious is in this region: the Dathomirian sector. Further investigation narrowed it down to these three planets," the three-dimensional map zoomed in, "Botajef, Kuola'deyd and Dathomir itself," the master bowed his head, "This information came at a great cost," he soon moved on and looked at Skywalker. "You and other Council Members will go and hunt him down and, as decided by trial, execute him. Any questions?"
Anakin flinched; execution? Not that he didn't think the sentence was unfair, by all means—it seemed merciful… but for the Council to sentence it? How much had that monster done? He sat up, "I am requesting, under the law Representation of Orders, what crimes he has been found guilty of?"
Windu nodded, understanding—this was probably the most to-the-book Anakin had ever been. "The full report is in public archives. Former Chancellor Palpatine has been found guilty for, to name a few: billions of counts of murder, genocide and manslaughter in the first degree, fifty-thousand acts of terrorism to The Republic, and over six-hundred recorded conspiracy acts. He has over eighteen hundred more guilty verdicts concerning other crimes."
Skywalker went dumbfounded, jaw nearly agape. "How was the evidence obtained?"
"Through the files you retrieved," the room lit back up and the map floated back to Windu.
"Speaking of," Master Ki-Adi-Mundi started, "We have discovered the Missing Orders. They concern many things, but most importantly, the Clones."
"Clones?"
The Master nodded, "Yes. Order 66 is especially troubling. It is an order that can only be executed by the Emperor..."
"The Emperor?"
The Master nodded, "Yes, apparently Sidious concocted a master plan to form the first Galactic Empire. He also had plans to take on a new apprentice after the Count, but we do not know who, if he hasn't already attained the new apprentice."
To much information, to many shocks; but should he be shocked at anything anymore?
"Back to Order 66," Ki-Adi-Mundi started again, "The order causes the Clones to mutiny against the Jedi and kill us. They will do everything within their power to follow through—they have no choice, it is programmed into them, from an organic chip."
Organic chip? Oh force, this nightmare kept continuing on and on.
What happened with Tup… and what Fives died trying to say was true.
The Knight's head hung low. Guilt gushed through Skywalker's veins. He had failed his troops. What was to become of them now?
"This order could be called at any time if it hasn't been already. We cannot trust our former clones, and they are to be presumed as enemies."
Anakin couldn't think of that.
His troops were his friends, his equals and his responsibilities. He knew everyone by name. He fought side by side with them, he was there when they triumphed and when they lost, he was there when they died, and he mourned with them over their lost brothers. "What if the chips were removed? It's been done before."
Master Mundi tilted his head, "They did not handle the extraction well, correct?"
"Maybe that is what we were told by Sidious himself. Fives said he was drugged and that…" Anakin's eyes opened wide, "…that the Chancellor was behind it," he said ashamed. How foolish he had been. What did it take for him to see? His daughter almost killed? He had been so very foolish and so very blind.
"It is too risky, Skywalker," Ki-Adi-Mundi said, rather sorrowfully.
Skywalker didn't believe that, but none the less he remained quiet.
Master Windu looked at him, "The selected party will leave within two rotations. Is everything understood?"
Skywalker nodded, "I understand." Though, he had to admit, many things awkwardly stood out. He will have to independently investigate.
"Then this meeting has concluded. We will meet again tomorrow, and here is the full report," Mace added giving Anakin a datapad.
The members stood and politely bowed to each other. Anakin quickly shuffled through the group; he had a promise to keep. He checked his wrist-chronometer while walking though The Sanctuary. He calculated the hour on Naboo. He was a little late, but he shouldn't interrupt anything. The twins were usually asleep right now, and it was still before dinner. He should be fine.
Skywalker rushed to his private chambers. R2 was there to greet him once he arrived. He tossed the datapad given to him by Mace to the droid, "Download this into your archives, little buddy."
The droid whistled and began the download.
The Knight smiled at his companion's enthusiasm. He reached into a pouch on his belt and fished out his communicator.
Anakin turned on his personal datapad and activated the program he coded for the special communicator. He tripled-checked that the line was secure, and then initiated the call.
Skywalker waited for the beautiful voice of his wife to sound.
To be continued...
A/N:
I know I am a little cruel- okay, really cruel... :P
If you would please review, does a million wonderful things- including (and not limited to) saving the Unicorn's natural habitat: the realm imagination. :D
To "guest" reviewers:
Bradley Cude: Forget Obi-Wan?! How could you!? :P And you are welcome! Thank you so much for your review!
Destiny Changer: Thank you, and thank you again- sorry about the sadness :( Indeed, the Council has problems... And I did have a good day, you have one too and thank you for your review! :D
Guest: I will keep it up! :)
Alessandra: What is your definition of "soon"? Because I don't think I quite met that criteria... Sorry about that, but here is the update! :D Thank you so much for your review!
Until we meet again, friend!
God Bless