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.
E: I do have people read my stories before I post and clarify any mistakes, but I did look over and have caught onto errors that were made before. Changing the subject, I do believe it's a little unfair to say that "Canon fans seem repulsed by the idea of opening a wiki page to check if what they're writing makes any god damn sense at all." While I prefer the Expanded Universe, I ran into two fics that avoid that mistake, Disney Canon related and all: "Of Queens, Knights, and Pawns" by chancecraz, and "The Tyranny of Kinship" by ibex_ascendant-both on AO3. Those are actually rare Disney stories I love.
Chapter 8
Luke made a vow to leave neither relative of his family alone with Palpatine.
While Anakin and Shmi's chips were being extracted in a nearby medical center, Luke's concerns about any family members were only reduced to one.
The Senator of Naboo stalked around his mother-Luke standing behind her as her "Shadow Guard" if anything else.
"There is no civility, only politics," the Senator of Naboo stated, looking anywhere else but at the Monarch. Luke was pretty sure he'd practiced many nights looking at himself in the mirror to get this act on a roll as Wedge would have put it. "The Republic is not what it once was. The Senate is filled with greedy, squabbling delegates," he declared as he paced around the room. "There is no interest in the common good."
Another silence passed.
"I must be frank, Your Majesty, there is little chance the Senate will act on the invasion," Palpatine concluded his uninterrupted monologue with the air of a resigned and tired man. He was too good at this, Luke could admit.
"I was by the assumption," the Queen started slowly, doing her best to keep her tone level, "that the present of the Viceroy would have been enough to cease this blockade."
"With respect, your Majesty, the Trade Federation does have its own Senator in the Senate," which they shouldn't, "-along with multiple systems purchased and could be coerced to... ignore the plight of our planet."
"Chancellor Valorum seems to think there is hope," the Queen pointed out.
A slight sigh came from the Senator, "If I may say so, Your Majesty, the Chancellor has little real power...he is mired down by baseless accusations of corruption. The bureaucrats are in charge now." Another unfortunate truth...
His mother didn't argue this point. "What options do we have?"
Palpatine made a master act to allow a regretful sigh. "Our best choice would be to push for the election of a stronger Supreme Chancellor," he looked determined. "One who could control of the bureaucrats and give us justice. You could call for a Vote of No Confidence in Chancellor Valorum."
"He has been our strongest supporter," the woman argued, her voice rising.
"Our only other choice would to be to submit a plea to the courts..." Palpatine replied in false understanding, turning away from the Queen.
"The courts take even longer to decide things than the Senate." she stated indignantly, as the Senator turned to look at her, guilt now etched across his features. "Our people are dying, Senator. We must do something quickly to stop the Federation."
Palpatine's voice stung with nothing but sadness as he paced once more. "To be realistic, Your Majesty, I'd say we're going to have to accept Federation control for the time being." He stopped yet again, looking at her with the same expression.
"That is something I cannot do," the Queen replied with determination.
"I will do what I can, Your Majesty," Palpatine said, resigned. He looked up as the door chimed. Three figures walked inside, led by the guards.
Suddenly, Luke Skywalker stiffened, an instant burst of rage pulsating in his chest. He'd recognized this one of the men-the same man who was wearing robes of senatorial favor, standing pridefully, chin held up. This current man's vision was a militant one, authoritarian and Humanocentric, and he possessed a driving ambition to rise to the ranks of power, not caring about who could have been hurt. How could the man sleep at night knowing what he had done?!
"Ah, Senator Shayla Paige-Tarkin, Brigadier Gideon Tarkin, Lieutenant Governor Wilhuff Tarkin, of the Seswenna sector," the Naboo Sith stated in enthusiasm, moving over to them and smiling, "welcome, welcome, it's a honor to see you three again."
The two other Tarkins smiled. Luke knew it would be unfair to judge the entire family for the annihilation of Alderaan and, before that, Despayre, so he held any judgment from them. He sensed genuine affection for her sector from Paige-Tarkin. Gideon Tarkin was slightly more complicated to read, but he could sense unadulterated loyalty to the Jedi and Republic. Wow. Maybe all Almakian apples don't fall from trees.
Willhuff Tarkin had seemed unimpressed if anything else. It didn't take a Force user to know the man didn't think too fondly of the Queen. A small part of Luke felt the urge to scoff. Some people don't ever change...
"Greetings, Senator Palpatine, Queen Amidala, we offer our deepest condolences for what is occurring on your planet," Paige-Tarkin spoke, genuine sympathy in her eyes.
"Of course, of course," the secret Sith chuckled good-naturedly.
Queen Amidala, however, had a prompt moment of rage and annoyance crossing her face. Luke couldn't fault her. Naboo had enough condolences. It was time for justice. But it passed, and she swallowed back a venomous response, saying instead. "I'm sure those who are currently on Naboo would appreciate your settlement, Senator Paige-Tarkin, as do I. Our trouble with the Trade Federation is a great surprise indeed."
"I do hope that this overall doesn't leave a negative taste in your mouth, your Majesty," the woman's eyebrows creased in sincere sympathy and pity, "the Eriadu Trade Summit was meant to cease hostilities. Allowing the Trade Federation an increase in standing permissible armament in exchange for the Senate's taxation of free-trade zones, was a beneficial alternative at the time."
"We're aware of this. Unfortunately, the Trade Federation is acting under retribution-I believe."
"Right, you would be," Gideon Tarkin said with a frown, placing a hand on his chin in contemplation. "It was a major public relations disaster for both the Jedi who failed to prevent the attacks, and for Valorum himself. The Senate passing its new taxation laws, while also passing restrictions on the Chancellor's use of the Judicial Department and Jedi Order, regretfully made this inevitable, I'm afraid. Gunray is acting under pretenses of fear and paranoia, seeking retaliation against Naboo's good senator who had proposed a summit to fairly consider Valorum's taxation proposal."
"Thus, the Summit's failure and the Senate's arbitrary action caused this," the Queen stated coolly. Her frosty demeanor did little to cloud the trepidation in her eyes. "We would really appreciate your help."
"We understand your anger, your Majesty," Wilhuff Tarkin spoke.
"Damn right," Rabé murmured.
"-While I understand you to be an moral character and honorable monarch, there is the fact that the Seswenna sector does have a few of its own problems. After calculating complications and profits we feel it's for the best that we remain neutral. I am afraid there is nothing we can do to assist you."
Fury burned within her as she turned her attention to him, "Do you mean," Queen Amidala started coldly, "that if the 'complications' as you put it change, so will follow the minds of your sector."
The future Moff laughed. It was the kind of laugh that was more condescending than anything else. This infuriated Luke. When he was done, he stared at Senator Palpatine, amused. "Is this an intimidation tactic? If so, it is in poor taste. Let me be equally unceremonious as well then. Let us consider for a futile moment that we do offer aid to your planet. If we lend our military, what then would you offer us for our assistance, whether it be financial, political, or military?"
Palpatine's face was inelastic as he retorted smoothly, "Forgive my Queen's brash words, she meant no harsh feelings. Merely supposition. We meant no insult. Naboo practices the art quite frequently."
A glint passed through Tarkin's eyes, "As I thought. All we would lose is soldiers and have more problems should the Trade Federation see it fit to wipe us out."
"But-" the Queen began.
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid you're just a child who has no experience of the galaxy." Oh, Luke had to resist polishing his lightsaber all of a sudden.
What increased Luke's fury was when the woman sputtered, insulted. "B...I...Why I ne-"
Tarkin grinned triumphantly as he stared down at the Queen. "Respectfully, Queen Amidala, I suggest you look less from a buoyant view. Militarism is paramount to defend yourself from invaders."
"What about honor?" Luke inquired tightly, quashing the urge inside of him to grab this serpent who dared to talk to his mother that way by the collar. "Carrying out, acting, and living the values of respect, duty, loyalty, selfless service, integrity, and personal courage in everything you do. Most certainly, that's not lost on your people."
The military man's eyes widened briefly, obviously not expecting Luke to interfere with the conversation, but he regained his dignity masterfully. "Ah, my first impression wasn't you being the type to have the Queen holding your leash, Jedi."
"That's one way of putting it," Luke said acidly. "Answer the question. Deflections do not bid you well."
"Is it us who's assaulting the planet currently?" the man sniped back. "This is about survival. The Trade Federation may be indeed invading the innocent world, but Naboo has made the choice not to militarize. Her Majesty could have at any time and chose alternatively. So have her predecessors. And would it be so blunt for me to say that the protection of her home world is up to her administration and her in particular?"
Pompous windbag!
The thought came from Sabé but Luke agreed.
"Morality's a sweet word but it doesn't apply to the real galaxy."
Schutta, Luke agreed with that as well. He had to give him that. "Naboo and Eriadu are fellow members of the Republic-correct?" he "inquired" rhetorically.
"What you decreed honor is different from my definition, Jedi." Tarkin declared with a shrug and a roll of the eyes. "I'm prone to the fact that the Jedi have little to no military capabilities so you have no knowledge of what you speak of."
"You'll be surprised," Luke responded, "I do recognize the absurdity of stark pacifism. How the definition could easily be confused for passive. There are many ways to de-escalate a potentially violent situation - or even a violent one - without getting violent yourself. Thinking otherwise is how things turn into a violent hellhole." he held up a hand, as Tarkin was about to interrupt him. "However, you're correct. If there is evil being done around you and you have the strength to deter even a small part of it, you've chosen to let it continue unchallenged. When people use force to get what they want from those around them, the motivation that stops them is something that pushes them back."
"So we're in agreement then?" He actually looked surprised.
"Of sorts. Pacifism is not bad. It's just naive. Some people cannot be reasoned with, but you seem to take the symptom of that to the extreme."
Luke was not lying, nor was Tarkin entirely wrong. He generally recognized destroying the Death Star and killing those Stormtroopers as a tragic necessity. If he didn't do it, it would have gone on to destroy trillions of people, as it had on Alderaan and Despayre-but he still didn't want to kill them. He was put in a situation with only one right answer.
It was one reason why he didn't kill Del Meeko on Pillio when the Empire's special unit trooper was trapped. Being a war soldier meant putting that obligation first and everything else second, including being a Jedi. Unfortunately, many Jedi didn't consider that. In hindsight, it was no surprise when talking to Clone Wars veterans, that while some of them respected the Jedi, many of them loathed them-viewing their tactics in trying to save a few people on the battlefield while their soldiers were getting killed as unnecessary casualties.
"Pfft, it sounds like that's why you Jedi believe in that abstentious performance. Denying yourselves vital qualities like temptations of the flesh? Will you sacrifice everyone in here if it serves the Will of the Force as your type so plainly put it because you want to save a few extra lives? Eriadu knows the story of the Stark Hyperspace War."
A war Luke knew not too much about, to be frank, but he was a veteran and he knew all about the sacrifices of morality on the battlefield.
"Given none in here is a threat, no." Emphasis on none. Luke would have to take Sidious out, and Tarkin was still an unsure factor now. "Absolutely not. And granted, while the doctrine of the Jedi can lead to inadequacy when it comes to military's conduct, I do believe that the appropriate command should fall under those experienced in war. And not every Jedi austere, unless I'm mistaken and you have encountered all of us. I have had to learn how to be a Jedi with limited experience and transitory periods. Confounding such proclivities to the entire Jedi religion only leads to your conjectures."
The future Moff was about to respond again, this time with a snider remark-just on the tips of his lips, when Gideon Tarkin, seemingly growing tired of this debate, interjected, placing both hands on the man's shoulders and laughing slightly. "Wilhuff, we have discussed your bluntness before, have we not? Take a breather."
Tarkin gave him a withering stare for three long seconds before he nodded. "Very well."
"Now, that we're all friends again," the female Senator piped in with surprising amount of chipper, redirecting the cause of this intrusion, "we wish to speak with you privately before the meeting, Senator Palpatine."
Palpatine looked at the Queen who nodded her approval, and he followed them. "See you in the meeting, my liege."
The four people disembarked, but not before Tarkin stared at him for a long second. Was that respect in his eyes? His lack of such wasn't something he would lose sleep over. Nevertheless, Luke kept his face set in a straight line, refusing to show any emotion.
When they were gone, the Queen hadn't been inclined to drop the subject of what just happened. "You know how to give off a... impression when you want to, Luke," she spoke in a dry wit.
Before he could respond, he was interrupted. "I wonder what this all kriffing means?" Rabé asked in furious outrage, having had a difficult time biting her tongue so far.
"Truthfully, Naboo doesn't matter and the Senate is inefficient," Luke replied, mentally wincing at how brusque that came out, no matter the validation of his statement. Something he couldn't even blame on the Sith entirely.
"We wouldn't say that." She frowned.
"We have plenty of past examples of nations being pressured or outright forced into annexation, capitulation, or 'treaties'."
"I'll like to believe that the Senate wouldn't abandon us," the Queen replied, an edge in her voice. "Naboo have technological advantage in creating and packaging our own plasma. Other planetary system can just build their own star station and gain their own, but that would be expensive. Our technology can produce a lot quicker and efficiently-considering such came from the planet itself, thus we are valuable."
She'd really believed that, didn't she? What a shame. Naboo was a prime target by the Trade Federation because it was located on the edge of the Mid-Rim of the galaxy, near the Outer Rim Territories. It was close enough to be in the Republic but far enough away for it to be hard to retrieve assistance from the Republic in a timely manner. Alderaan was a Core World with much importance to the Republic. Naboo was on the edge of the Mid Rim so it would be easy to blockade without a lot of uproar in the Senate.
Had Naboo been destroyed, it was very unlikely that would have sparked public opposition. At least not as much as a degree to Alderaan.
"I'm afraid, at the end of the day, Naboo isn't Kuat, Corellia, Alsakan, Fonder, and others related to them." That was all Luke could say at this point in time for two reasons. One was not what anyone in the room would have thought. While he certainly had some leverage due to being the Hero of the Alliance and got to live in the "liberated" Imperial Palace for a while, he tried to be apolitical, unless politics came to him. This happened every now and then when the politicians started trying to put the few Jedi or trained Force Sensitive available to heel. Ultimately, this was his sister's arena...
"To respond to violence with violence in any scenario isn't right, sir," Padmé responded vigorously.
"Unfortunately, that's not how life works," Luke replied. "Your Majesty, the Senate's response to 'a member nation being invaded' will be, at most, to organize a commission to investigate the validity of the claims. If things go to plan, they would arrive to find a signed and 'legitimate' treaty detailing that the Trade Federation was well within their rights to occupy Naboo on some pretense, they would bribe the right people. And even if they were called on it, no one has the gall to actually interfere with them."
The Queen's eyes darted, "That can't... be. The Republic is a democracy. A nation looking out for the common good."
Luke didn't sigh but was tempted to. At this point of time, she would fight for the Republic. He couldn't let his mother die again. He just couldn't.
That was not the Jedi way to allow emotions to cloud one's judgment.
But she was too conscientious on Palpatine's administration alone and the false dreams that she conjured in her head. And pushing too hard, calling Palpatine's malfeasance, would only estrange them.
There was no other choice.
He had to make himself reliable. Authentic. Infallible in the face of antithesis. And free her from Palpatine's manipulations.
He wouldn't lie to her. He would only show her the truth with all of the knowledge he had.
Subtly fill the void that Palpatine would leave absent and snap her free.
When the time came...
"We don't know of what to make of this Skywalker," Qui-Gon said to the Jedi Council. "Before we went to Naboo, my former Padawan and I have sensed an elusive presence. Dangerous. Dark."
"Do you believe he is a Dark Sider attempting to get closer to the Queen?" Jedi Master Mace Windu asked uncertainly.
Qui-Gon thought about it for a moment... before shaking his head. "No, I do not know where he came from, but I do believe if he wished ill will against the Jedi, or the Queen, he could have done something about it during our brief exposure to Tatooine." He paused but everyone could tell he wasn't finished.
"...You have any more to report?" The Korunian called him out on it after thirty seconds or so.
He sighed and closed his eyes. This wasn't going to go over well. "Disturbingly, he believes that the presence we have felt around Naboo is a Sith."
Qui-Gon sensed the ripple around the Council Chamber.
"Impossible," argued Master Ki-Adi-Mundi, "The Sith have been extinct for a millennium."
Qui-Gon cast a small glance at Obi-Wan, reminded of when he voiced the same...
The Maverick said sadly, "We can't be too certain..."
"When Darth Bane fell on Ruusan, that had been the end of their abominable legacy," Plo Koon spoke up. "And the beginning of this wonderful Golden Age."
"I felt the truth coming from him, my old friend," Qui-Gon said with a slight smile to Koon.
Master Windu sighed. "There's more." A statement, not a question.
"He claims to have plenty of experiences with encountering Dark Siders. Knowledge of the past. He spoke of one Darth Revan and the Old Republic. On top of this, his tactics are... unorthodox, not the way we handle things, suffice to say."
The Jedi in the Council stared at one another. While a few wanted to chalk it up to a Jedi fanatic wishing to have the sacred powers of the Jedi and the experience of a past Order, others considered if someone of an unfamiliar origin might have past encounters with Dark Siders, ESPECIALLY an Order long thought extinct, how much had remained undetected by them?
"I do not believe the Sith could have returned without us knowing," Windu stated slowly, hands clashing against one another.
"Ah, hard to see the Dark Side is," Master Yoda pointed out.
"When he came, there was a ripple through the Force," Saesee Tiin spoke with a frown. "That nevertheless warrants our attention. What if he's a Dark Side Wielder?"
"That such would use the Light to even this degree, I doubt," Yaddle dismissed. "A follower of the Light Side, he is."
"Have he done anything that we should know about?" Depa Billaba leveled her question to the Maverick, harboring no aggression to Luke Skywalker, Qui-Gon felt. But still concerned about his sudden emergence and what secrets he may have.
Qui-Gon was, too, if he was being frank. What could be out there? In the Unknown Regions? What coincidence was there in running into Luke Skywalker... and then this Anakin Skywalker? Was the Force warning them of something? He didn't want to believe the unfortunate, but the Jedi's worst fears might have been realized: The Sith had never perished. That the Skywalkers have their parts to play.
"He freed two slaves, a boy name Anakin Skywalker, and his mother, Shmi Skywalker."
That exasperated the Council to put it on sweeter terms. None was furious about him freeing slaves, but there was a problem.
"That is... concerning," Plo Koon said with a frown behind that mask.
"Could it be an attachment?" Mundi inquired, his form pensive. "A familial connection? Them sharing the same surname can lead to other problems."
"That's the second important matter at this point in time. Any purchasing, winning, or liberating of slaves outside of Republic's space has to be strictly approved in a Senate Committee, and even afterwards, affirmed, and handled with utmost care," Mace Windu voiced in disapproval. "Given he wields the weapon of a Jedi, the legal consequences he, let alone Master Jinn, Padawan Kenobi, and the entire Order could face is... astronomical."
Oppo Rancisis posed the next question, his tone dripping with disapprobation. "Who... knows about this?"
"The Naboo party," Qui-Gon exhaled. "I confess... that Anakin Skywalker is interesting. I believe it is the Will of the Force that he's to be freed. He's another vergence in the Force, though I haven't had time to observe him."
All eyes landed on him.
"Is this due to a gambling expedition of yours again?" Adi Gallia inquired suspiciously.
Jinn smothered a laugh. "Again, Master Gallia, I didn't commit the deed this time," he shrugged, an outlandish smirk falling on his lips. Though he knew he would probably have gambled the spaceship without permission of the governing party just to free the boy due to his potential if not for Luke's presence.
"And how old is this boy?" Piell asked, looking at him expectedly.
"Around the standard age of nine or ten, I presume," he replied, sensing the Jedi mentally throwing a fit at that confession.
"He's too old for training of any sort," Windu replied, looking at him with narrowed eyes.
"And you imply his mother is with him," Evan Piell pointed out, "an attachment not so easily severed at that age."
Kenobi mumbled something under his breath. Everyone looked at him.
"Yes? Speak up, Padawan-mine." Jinn beckoned.
Even Master Windu fought a smile as Kenobi gave his Master a withering glare for a second before he looked at the Korunian. "I believe the Queen and Naboo have grown a liking to Luke Skywalker. I don't believe they would tell the Senate due to this. Maybe, we can use this."
Tiin scoffed. "We should still lock him in a Citadel."
Billaba's stare hardened as she looked at the other Jedi Master. "We will not instigate a conflict with a Light Side Force Adept who, I might add, has gained notoriety from a soverign state of the Republic, Master Tiin."
"But he should be questioned. Surely, he wouldn't mind a talk," Piell pointed out neutrally.
"That might be easier said than done," Qui-Gon frowned, earning confusion. "On Tatooine, he told me that he believes the Order is flawed, that we don't do enough for the galaxy. Right in front of the Queen's... Handmaiden."
It was clear what most of the Council thought about that. No matter, talking with him was paramount. There were all sorts of Force sectors right across the galaxy, and many wondered if he was an Adept found by one of them.
"He may interpret the situation as us attempting to confine him," Koon pointed out slowly, getting what Jinn was implying.
"Jailers, we are not," Yaddle stated adamantly, though Tiin, Mundi, and Rancisis blatantly looked upset.
"We should prove him wrong then," Poof said, grinning good-naturedly. Despite how his comment caused rolled eyes and grumbles, this was one of those rarest moments where Mace Windu agreed with the Quermian Jedi Master.
"Contact the Queen-" Yoda pointed his favorite staff at Master Billaba and then Master Koon, "-and ask of what additional support they need, you will." He turned to stare back at Jinn and Kenobi. "Monitor him, you must. Discreet, you must be."
"Yes, Master Yoda," Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan bowed one last time and exited...
Author's note: I'm trying not to make this into blatant Jedi Bashing and Woobifying Anakin. The Jedi do not randomly put innocent people inside prison cells for no reason or are cruel to all those who don't answer to them. Demonizing the Jedi and trying to overly woobify Anakin and pretend he did nothing wrong is a mistake I used to make but as I grew I became more considerate of their point of view despite how I disagreed with how they'd treated him. That said, there are still extremists just like in anything else...
Slight spoilers!
If you're a fan of Mace Windu, you probably are going to love this story. I caught up on Shatterpoint. ;)