Author's note: I'm pushing all my ratings up to M. There's no smut but graphic violence that I realize in hindsight might be pushing it.
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Chapter 35
In the chamber of the Galactic Senate, Palpatine stood at the center of the massive rotunda, his dark robes flowing around him as he gazed out over the thousands of Senate pods suspended in the air. He'd eyed the Kaleesh erected on a pod across from him.
Sidious was no fool.
He knew that they were likely employed by Skywalker.
After all, he'd suspected that Skywalker was doing far more than training former slaves, but Skywalker was doing a good job at keeping things private.
"I take it you have made your decision."
The Kaleesh stared at him. "Yes."
"Before you speak, I'll like to thank Luke Skywalker for his assistance and giving the Republic new life. His determination is one very few ever see." And it was true: he had come to respect Luke as a Jedi. He was different, more human, and had a self-awareness that hadn't been heard of since Nomi Sunrider, one of the few Jedi and even a Grandmaster who was able to raise a child, even with the constraints of the Order.
His grip on morality was also interesting. Sidious didn't think a Jedi would sink that low, however, Skywalker had a different form of morality. He was willing to acknowledge a thin line between war and diplomacy.
He didn't know what Luke was planning to get out of this as it only boosted his popularity, but there was likely a catch along the way.
And that was the issue.
Sidious was unable to read Luke in a way he could with the rest of the Jedi!
Tarq Vosil, the representative present, stared. "Chancellor Palpatine, the Kaleesh have fought for survival for many years, and it is with great honor that we accept the Republic's invitation. We hope that our strength will be an asset to this grand alliance, and that our people may finally know peace."
Palpatine smiled, a calculated expression of warmth and approval. "The Republic lives on the foundation of unity in diversity, General Vosil. Your people have much to offer, and I have no doubt that the Senate will benefit greatly from your experience and perspective."
Tarq nodded slowly.
Palpatine raised his hand, signaling to the Senate to bear witness to all of them. "From this day forth, General Tarq Vosil, you shall be recognized in this chamber as Senator of your world."
A murmur of approval spread through the Senate pods. Tarq stood straighter, desire and power lingering in his eyes.
Chancellor Palpatine continued. "Senator Vosil, we welcome you to the Senate. May your tenure here be marked by wisdom, strength, and a deep commitment to the Republic. Together, we will manifest a future where all species, from the Core to the Outer Rim, can thrive in peace."
It was empty words. The Core knew this and... didn't care. Kalee's suffering didn't involve sabotaging any deals that they had so it was not surprising.
Yet, the chamber broke out into applause.
Now, Sidious had to wonder what headache would he have this time.
Well, at least the Jedi were also suffering from Luke's decisions.
'The horror,' he thought with a roll of the eyes.
It wasn't like the Jedi were smart or willing enough to form contingencies as the Sith was.
The tension in the Council Chambers reached a crescendo.
It was quite obvious that none of the Jedi High Council was exactly pleased with Skywalker's earnestness to get into violence again.
They'd watched the Holorecorder, their eyes set on the image of Skywalker leading yet another march with the Kaleesh rallying behind him.
The events that took days were being shown.
The long-lasting war came to an end when Skywalker came to the planet and sided with one. While they could understand the meaning, it wasn't sanctioned by the Senate, or the Jedi Council. While it was possible for the man to be arrested over this as his actions on Kalee bordered on gray, it was unlikely that any trial would hold up in court.
The Jedi were going to be held to higher expectations!
Simply put, Skywalker had a bigger amount of support, and this was acted with proof that was released to the Senate. With the Kaleesh becoming part of the Senate, and his actions on Naboo beforehand, along with the boy from Tatooine being another factor; mixed feelings were at the route of this discussion.
No one said anything for a moment, their eyes sizing Skywalker up.
"How long is this going to be permitted to go on?!" Rancisis growled, glaring at Skywalker with disgusted eyes.
"As long as he is allowed to continue to do this, I imagine," Mundi retorted, his voice a strained calm.
"He is going to drag the Jedi Order and all of our ideals name through the muck!" Tiin contributed. "The time of the Jedi being warriors is long past!"
"I have done my duty as a guardian of justice," Skywalker answered, "while I didn't enjoy the extermination of the Huk, I have considered surrounding factors carefully before taking a side."
It was true. Luke knew that death was inevitable, and it was terrible that the Huk was subjected to the mercies of the Kaleesh. However, he also knew that he had to prevent General Grievous from coming into existence. With the Jedi getting involved, it could solve many problems and give more allies for Luke in the coming future.
"Have you ever heard of diplomacy, Skywalker?" Piell asked with a slight shake of the head.
"I have," Luke answered, feeling a pang assault him again. He had known about the conflict long before he'd arrived on this timeline, and even now, he'd understood why the Jedi took a side.
'I've poured my life into listening and depending on a democratic system. I've given everything, even ignored issues in the galaxy just to appease the same people and their families who supported the Republic, Empire, New Republic, and Galactic Federation, making it all but moot. One person shouldn't be in power; no, that's too much power, but if the Core is not remade, then there's no point as all that comes is more incompetence.' Luke thought. He'd wished with every fiber of his being that everything could be solved via peace negotiations, but ultimately most times, people have to take a side, including him.
That was what the Jedi didn't want to understand.
Luke was even guilty of this for a long time.
"Walking down a dangerous road, you are, Skywalker," Yoda advised, pointing at him with his favorite walking stick.
"Master Yoda, while I do wish for the galaxy to be a peaceful and solitary place, solved with diplomacy, it is unfortunately not meant to be. It's too far, wide, and vast. There will always be conflict everywhere. The Force is not going to convert you because you choose to get involved with a conflict."
"Wars do not make one great," the Grandmaster responded, pointing his stick at Luke.
"Nor do avoidance of said combat," Luke retorted. "You shouldn't make war your identity, but preparation is always the key for everything."
If the Jedi helped Grievous's people when they were asked, he would have no great hatred for the Jedi. He would probably even have great respect for them, based on their prowess as warriors. Now, the intimidating terror of General Grievous would never come to be, pushing the Sith's plans back to some degree.
Yet, he could understand why he hated the Jedi in the future.
In a sickening sense of pure incompetence, the Jedi believed the Huk who had come to the Jedi Council for support. The Kaleesh were branded as aggressive terrorists and the Republic used naval blockades to annex Grievous' entire species.
During the Republic's planetary annexing of Kalee Grievous' people languished and were deprived of their millions. The Jedi and Republic had doomed his entire race to the brink of extinction...
The Jedi and Republic could never change the past and what they did to his people at the time. These insectoid invaders even lured the love of his life into an ambush, murdered her in cold blood, and tossed her corpse into the deep of the ocean; never to be retrieved, and forever mourned by a man who would be driven to pure madness, and soon threaten the lives of billions of innocent civilians. The Jedi could not wash the blood of Grievous' people from their hands, and no amount of persuasion would ever change his opinion on detesting them until they've all been exterminated from the galaxy.
Even later, Luke met plenty of children of survivors who held him and his Order in the same regard, viewing them as the same terrorists who destroyed their people and some even joined the Empire such as Warlord, Bentilais san Sk'ar.
That was an issue Luke had to deal with plenty of times when remaking the Order.
The Jedi's actions in this era are still felt many years later.
"A Padawan, you do have," Yaddle reminded more sympathetically. "If continue to act recklessly, placing him in danger, you are."
"I understand, Master Yaddle," he nodded at once. I am very considerate about what is best and what isn't. I am entrusted to make sure that Anakin is prepared for whatever enemy that he may cross, simply because many couldn't be convinced. Secondly, he is like a little brother," Luke openly confessed his attachment, "and I will never endanger him. I'll make sure he and my other passengers are somewhere secure before I go onto missions like this."
"How much will you do for the boy?" Plo Koon inquired slowly.
"Everything."
"An attachment too, not just simple training to resist the Dark Side," Rancisis glanced at them, "and this is who we base someone so powerfully on?"
Luke took no insult to the comment. Truth be told, he was still grieving on Coruscant about his family, and while he did at times, his mental state had improved, despite his loneliness. He made sure his feelings were released into the Force, letting go of negative thoughts, before indulging in Anakin's needs, which weren't actually a lot.
He didn't want to make the same mistakes that led to Vader.
With the boy enjoying meditation much like his alternative counterpart, Anakin Skywalker was capable of many things.
While he may always miss Leia, Mara, Ben, Jacen, Jaina, Han, and his Order, giving a version of the poor slave who suffered so much happier lives would give him greater absolution, as well as others who were robbed of that chance.
"He isn't poisoned by the Dark Side," Luke answered. "I just wish that you would accept the Sith have returned."
"You have said out of your own mouth that Aurra Sing wasn't a Sith," Windu inputted. "With lacking evidence and only your unfounded claims to the such, the Jedi Council have came to the decision that the Sith were exterminated on Ruusan and haven't resurface."
"Do you think that Naboo isn't the work of the Sith?" Luke returned. "The Trade Federation wasn't acting alone in that attack. They were not savages and barbarians. The Sith were supporting them for their own rise to political power."
"Just like we did on Naboo?!" Tiin pointed at him. "You didn't even give the Trade Federation a chance to surrender."
"Naboo is considered apart of the Mid-Rim," Luke replied simply, "the Republic has always been very good for many of its members in the past thousand years. That however is often at the price of either taking advantage of, or ignoring - for a better term - all kinds of horrors happening beyond its borders."
Master Billaba frowned, her hand falling over her chin, similar to her Master's at a time like this. "Skywalker, if you had proof about Kalee, you should have addressed this body and we would have brought it up with the Republic. While your actions are understandable, it led to unnecessary deaths."
That was the problem with the past Jedi, even the ones who truly were more considerate of issues. They'd still fell on the heels of the Senate. Yet, Luke wasn't too judgmental. His Order needed to do the same at times.
"Master Billaba, respectfully, I learned a long time ago that deaths are unavoidable in this galaxy," he responded, though in sympathy and understanding. He would have agreed with her stance back in the day. Too many times, the Jedi didn't take direct actions, and people loathed them for it because they were given a great gift and those deaths were unavoidable. "I didn't just proceed out of a moment of pure instinct. I've made my decision considering the context of the situation."
"The reason why you're here," Master Windu cut in now, "is not because your actions were considered the wrong one, but because you have demonstrated anticipation to fall into combat. It should only be the last resort."
Skywalker nodded in understanding, "Typically, it is, but with the amount of problems with the galaxy and in the Senate, I suspect that the Huk would have framed the Kaleesh as the instigators of the war. About my actions above Naboo. Do I regret what could have been done? Yes. But would I prefer any other option at the time? No."
"And we thought Qui-Gon Jinn was impossible," Yarael Poof stated, a smile falling across his lips directed at Luke. While he had disapproved of the decision of Skywalker to go to Kaleesh, he found a tad bit of humor in the situation.
"You do realize that the Jedi answers to the Senate? You're legally admissible to abide by this Order." Mundi stated flatly.
"Yes, I'm aware, but I do not answer to the Senate," Luke stated honestly. "And within Republic's law, it's innocent until proven guilty. As I have not been brought up on any charges, I am not to be held credible for my actions on Kalee." He added knowingly.
That stunned the Jedi Council yet again.
While few attempted to open their mouths-Tiin, Rancisis, and Mundi glaring at him throughout, none could come up with a counter to that statement. In order for them to hold him, they would have to do so in Republic's law, and even attempting to enforce that would make it seem like they didn't care about the Kaleesh's suffering.
That would turn a whole bunch of people on the Jedi Order and more to ally with Luke.
"Let's... discuss the boy," Plo Koon moved the topic to a less uncomfortable direction and focused on the future.
Unfortunately, not all shared that mindset.
"But he could be tainted by the Dark Side!" Tiin spoke, indignant. "We have to hold any Force Adept who didn't act within permission of the Council or Republic accountable."
"The Jedi are not a cult," Luke said to Tiin, although his eyes were locked on Piell. "There's nothing to be discussed, Master, for I am not in chains."
"He's right," Poof nodded. "Luke, continue, please."
"As for Anakin, he have constructed a new lightsaber."
"But-"
"I believe that's enough, Master Tiin," Windu commanded.
"But Master W-"
"It's over. It happened. We as Jedi must move on." Windu responded, his displeasure obvious, but not willing to hold onto this argument any longer.
Tiin's comments being ignored caused him to send a sour look to Luke. Part of him still couldn't fathom how closed off he was as a Jedi. The man was obsessed with the Code; addicted to it even, and it was driving him mad now that Luke was present. Would he ever be able to undo at least some of the indoctrination of the most inducted Jedi?
He wanted to save them all of course, but he wouldn't sacrifice everything for it.
Even the Force told him to focus on what was important, and Anakin's progress was by far the top priority.
At the end of the day, everyone would have their own decisions to make, and while Luke wanted to lean toward selflessness, he couldn't devote his entire time to the more extremists of the Order.
"Skywalker, we would like to see his lightsaber."
At those words, Luke pulled the hilt off of his belt and held it out.
Master Windu pulled the hilt into his hand and observed it before activating it. A blue lightsaber burst from the blade. He nodded in approval.
"Built in an unorthodox manner but not lax," Windu admitted, deactivating the lightsaber. "The boy cares about his weapon, that much I can deduce." There was a faintest of a smile across the Korun's face. Was it possible Master Windu was beginning to respect Anakin; a contrast to the antagonistic views the Korunian carried for his father that the few Archives recorded?
Yoda indicated the hilt over with a single digit, allowing it to land into his green palm. He observed it for a few moments though didn't activate it, merely staring down at it and smiling slightly. He looked up at the female Jedi, the smile still on his lips.
"Master Billaba, your impression, please."
Billaba collected the hilt and looked intently. She rotated it in her hands, the Force spurring around them.
"This hilt was created with great clarity. It was created as a symbol of peace and harmony. Balance."
More murmurs passed through the Force.
"The Force itself is embedded in this crystal."
"Not just that," Luke said, causing all, save Billaba, to turn to him. "The boy's compassion and selflessness makes him an extraordinary Force Adept."
"Yes... Yes, the boy's potential is amazing," the woman echoed. "The crystal calls to him. Sings to him. He have formed bonds far deeper than I ever seen before with it and the Force itself."
"He form bonds easily..." Luke nodded. "Even with inanimate objects."
Tiin added bitterly, "Making him susceptible."
"Making him human. Do not speak of him if you barely know of him please."
Billaba reopened her eyes and looked at him with the closest to awe. "You've taught him well. I commend you. I can feel the Light guiding him."
"Thank you," Luke nodded slightly, bringing the hilt to him and placing it on his belt. "Are we finish here?"
"I believe we are," Windu nodded, waving his hand, though not in an unkind gesture.
Luke bowed, "May the Force be with you."
"And with you." It was quoted.
Luke turned and departed the Council Chambers.
Down the hall, he saw two familiar faces and smiled. No doubt, they'd wanted him to take notice of their presence.
"Will you like to talk?" Luke asked the two Jedi. He felt the tension bubbling the moment he'd entered the Temple and decided it was time to address it.
The two blabbered before the male one of them nodded and answered, "Yes."
He smiled in amusement, saying that the two Jedi were trying to find some way to break it to him.
He wondered if the other Jedi sensed it, for their feelings with each other were quite high. Almost uncontrollable. It was clear that despite them acknowledging and giving in to those feelings the two have a long way to go.
He sensed much had changed the last they'd met but would enjoy trolling the two responsible.