Padmé stared at the amber liquid that sloshed around in her teacup, her eyes zeroed in on the foam that collected on the edge where porcelain met steaming water. Her thumb circled the rim of the cup itself, anxious to move amongst the tense demeanor of the room.
"More sugar, ma'am?" A tinny voice came from beside her, startling the Senator into looking up and meeting the glowing eyes of a protocol droid, a metallic arm outstretched in her direction and holding an open container filled with miniature white cubes. Padmé smiled politely, shaking her head in dismissal and watching as the droid sealed up the container without another word before heading over to the next Senator.
An elbow nudged her in the side, and she turned to find Bail smiling at her sympathetically. Before the other Senators had arrived, the two of them had caught up on the past few days' events, Padmé having gone on about the new house guest she had. She neglected to mention that Anakin was staying with her as well, of course. Even Bail, her most trusted friend, was left in the dark about their marriage. Not that he didn't have his suspicions though. All in all, Bail had seemed intensely interested in the Starkiller boy, inquiring about him as much as he could before he could be accused of seeking out gossip. The mentioning of a sister looking to be an aspiring Senator made him smile as well, interest piqued.
But now the two of them sat amongst their fellow Senators, listening numbly as they debated the pros and cons of their plans. Politics was useful at times, but other times it was beyond frustrating—especially with a Senate as corrupt as the Republic's.
Mon sat on her other side, failing to keep her composure as she rubbed at her temples. Padmé flashed a smile at her, knowing that if Mon of all people couldn't maintain her Senatorial politeness, then they were in for a long meeting.
Bail shifted in his seat, clearing his throat as he thanked the sugar-carrying protocol droid for his two sugar cubes, the droid almost looking prideful as it managed to help at least one of the Senators. It oddly reminded Padmé of Threepio and his expressive personality, said droid similarly walking around with a tray of tea and managing to keep his fretful comments to himself.
"Now that he has control of the Jedi Council, the Chancellor has appointed Governors to oversee all star systems in the Republic."
Padmé frowned at Bail's words, thinking back to her conversation with Anakin before she left. The Senators in the room all trusted each other, most of them having backed each other for large motions each of them had tried to get passed. They all respected each other professionally, but if Padmé was being brutally honest, only Bail and Mon had her full confidence.
"When did this happen?" Senator Fang Zar asked with a troubled voice, stroking his long beard.
Bail sighed solemnly, "The decree was posted this morning."
"Do you think he will dismantle the Senate?" Padme asked, setting down her drink in thought, growing more distressed the longer the meeting stretched on.
Mon chuckled without amusement, eyes lowered. "Why bother? As a practical matter, the Senate no longer exists."
Senator Giddean Danu leaned forward, crossing his hands together. "The constitution is in shreds. Amendment after amendment." He blew out a frustrated breath, mirroring Padmé's exact thoughts.
Bail nodded in understanding, taking a sip of his tea before sharing a look with Mon. She nodded firmly and Padmé furrowed her brow at them, unsure what they were planning that she hadn't been informed of.
"We cannot let a thousand years of democracy disappear without a fight."
An Alderaanian suggesting a fight; the universe truly was in chaos.
The other Senators seemed to share her fears, all of them weary from the casualties the Clone Wars had and was continuing to bring. The last thing any of them wanted was more war.
Senator Terr Taneel peered cautiously at Bail, her and Padmé having worked the closest with Palpatine and therefore the most weary to contradict him without a solid plan in place. "And what exactly are you suggesting, Senator Organa?"
Bail Organa was not a fool. He knew the idea he had drawn up with Mon was going to take some convincing to get any other Senators behind. But his determination outweighed everything, and he, ever the mediator, held up his hands calmly and understandingly. "I apologize, I don't mean to sound like a Separatist."
Mon cut in, sensing the tension that shifted in the room. "We are not Separatists trying to leave the Republic. We're loyalists trying to preserve democracy in the Republic."
Bail nodded. "It has become increasingly clear to many of us that the Chancellor has become an enemy of democracy."
Padmé swallowed thickly, her throat dry. Bail's words were liable to be classified as treason, and everyone in the room knew it. They were actively plotting against their Chancellor, a thought that seemed almost unfathomable. The ongoing years of the Clone Wars had changed all rules however, every law or basic principle that people believed becoming moot overnight as Palpatine was given more emergency powers and continued to extend his term in office. Even the Jedi were changing. Memories of Padawan Barriss Offee bombing the Temple in a passionate act against the Republic came rushing back, along with the fear of several other young Jedi following her example and sharing her beliefs in a failing system. Padmé didn't blame the other Senators for the flickers of worry that crossed their faces.
She thought back to Anakin as well, and how highly he spoke of Palpatine. She knew Anakin was far from very politically inclined—he was more of a fight first, ask questions later type person—but he did believe in the Republic very passionately. The evidence of Palpatine's corruption sat in front of him, yet he struggled to see it, something he and Padmé had fought over countless times. Her stomach turned as she recalled that day on Naboo when she had been a young Senator and Anakin still a Padawan.
'We need a system where the politicians sit down and discuss the problems, agree what's in the best interests of all the people, and then do it.'
'That is exactly what we do. The trouble is that people don't always agree. In fact, they hardly ever do.'
'Then they should be made to.'
'By whom? Who's going to make them?'
'I don't know. Someone.'
'You?'
'Of course not me.'
'But someone.'
'Someone wise.'
'That sounds an awful lot like a dictatorship to me.'
'Well, if it works...'
Padmé frowned, tapping on the arms of her chair and turning to Bail, who was impressively holding his face steady, unflinching at his own words. They were words they had heard throughout the war from those wanting to separate from the Republic, so it was fair to be skeptical, but this was Bail. His passion for democracy and its workings were a part of him, and everyone sitting in the room knew that. Knowing that the Republic that had stood for thousands of years was crumbling around them was just a hard pill to swallow.
"The Chancellor has played the Senators well," Mon said softly despite the firmness in her gray eyes. "They know where the power lies and they will do whatever it takes to share in it. Palpatine has become a dictator, and we have helped him to do it."
Senators Zar, Taneel, and Danu inclined their heads in understanding, still silently processing. Bail clapped his hands, rising to his feet. "We cannot sit around debating this much longer, we have decided to do what we can to stop it. Senator Mon Mothma and I are putting together an organization—"
"Say no more, Senator Organa," Padmé interrupted. "We understand. At this point, it's better to leave things unsaid." Bail blinked at her, before nodding thankfully. One could never be too cautious in war time when everyone was listening.
"Yes... Senator Amidala is right. We must not discuss this with anyone until everyone in this group agrees."
The three senators on the opposite seats facing them nodded hesitantly, exchanging nervous looks amongst one another.
"This means those closest to you," Mon cut in, eyes moving towards a silent Padmé. "Even family."
Padmé looked up at Mon's firm stare, one of her eyebrows raising firmly. The Chandrilan woman knew nothing of Padmé's secret relationship, but it was no mystery that Padmé had close personal relations with the Jedi, specifically Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka. She sighed, hoping Anakin would forgive her for her deception. She knew what she was doing was for the good of the Republic. The last thing she wanted was to get into another political debate with him. They both had a lot on their plates.
Steeling herself and subtly cupping her abdomen, mind deep in the future of what lied ahead for her child, Padmé nodded. "Agreed."
Mon smiled at her, and that was that.
They were committing treason.
◂◂◂
"I'm starting to think the Council trusts me less than they do you."
Anakin snorted, looking over at Luke from the side of his eye. "So you noticed how much they love me."
Luke shrugged, lengthening his pace to keep up with Anakin's broader stride as they strolled down the halls of the Temple. Several other Jedi passed them by with poorly concealed glances and whispers. Rumors of who Luke was had surely spread around the Temple, and the constant attention was enough to make him want to sink into his robes and become invisible. Anakin, on the other hand, seemed almost immune to the piercing eyes surrounding them, sauntering confidently with an undisturbed aura. Despite the obvious tensions between him and Padmé, along with the added stresses of the Council's distrust, Obi-Wan's persistent disapproval, and Palpatine's suspicious behaviors, the young Jedi still managed to keep his spirits high. From an outsider's perspective, one probably saw him as nothing more than the skilled, yet cocky Chosen One with no burdens whatsoever, but the brief time Luke had spent with his father allowed him to see the troubled soul hidden deep within those blue eyes. Anakin carried a lot on his shoulders, and Luke was determined to pierce deep inside and help his father see the positives in his life.
"They have a lot they're dealing with. I'm sure they don't mean to take it fully out on you."
"Oh, but I'm sure they do," Anakin sighed. "The whole Chosen One thing kinda puts a target on my back to be lectured day in and day out. But it's more the secretiveness of the Council that worries me. The war has changed a lot around here."
Luke bit his lip in thought. Even without the Empire's formation, the Clone Wars had shaken up the galaxy with such wide repercussions that no one was left unaffected. Yet how it changed the Jedi—a seemingly immortal group of warriors who had existed for generations—was probably the most devastating of all. It took a true adversary to expose the weaknesses of a supposed group of peacekeepers and turn them into soldiers with a blurred line between good and evil.
"You still have Obi-Wan though, right?"
Anakin's step hesitated, his eyes distant. Brow furrowing, Luke watched as his father turned to him with a weak smile. "Yes... I suppose I do have him."
Luke thought back to Anakin's outburst earlier in the day, the way his eyes had flared at the mention of his old Master. It was obviously something he and Padmé argued about frequently. Anakin trusted Obi-Wan with his life, but not enough to tell him everything. He saw the older Jedi as a stickler for the rules and someone who would report Anakin's every move to the Council without a second thought. Luke may not have had the same bond the duo had, but he had known Ben long enough to know that the man only wanted what was best for others. Anakin couldn't see how much Obi-Wan cared for him because of how much the older man had been drilled as a Padawan not to show emotion. It would've been drilled into Anakin just the same if it hadn't have been for his training at a significantly later age, an age where any child would have already developed basic atttachments, and any attempt to suppress them would've been a moot point. The same went for Luke. Obi-Wan and Yoda had waited until he was older to start his training, and because of it, he had already formed strong emotional bonds with others. What the Jedi were oblivious to—something Luke had learned fast over the course of the war from his timeline—was that emotions did not have to be negative and could, in fact, be helpful. If anything, bottling one's emotions inside was the real negative.
He sighed, nudging Anakin's shoulder in understanding. "You have me too. And Padmé."
Anakin looked at him strangely for a moment before smiling warmly. He didn't have many people in his life, outside of Padmé, who expressed open compassion and kindness towards him. In just the short time he had known Luke, he already felt close to him. He supposed it was similar to how quick he had bonded with Ahsoka.
"Well I know I couldn't possibly face the Council alone with what we're about to tell them," joked Anakin, making Luke smile.
"I'm sure they'll be much more concerned with the guy who showed up out of thin air getting a seat in one of the highest positions in the Order."
Anakin chuckled heartily, clapping Luke over the shoulder. "Master Yoda spoke to you alone. The fact that he let you go and didn't put you in a cell means that he trusts you well enough. Which means the Council has no choice but to follow along."
Luke nodded, throat slightly dry. He knew the last thing Anakin would suspect was time travel, but he couldn't help but feel anxious whenever his father made such comments, completely unaware to the truth. He tightened his shields once more out of habit, still actively aware of Sidious possibly sidling into his mind while additionally batting away at Anakin's occasional curious pokes. He watched as Anakin's face scrunched up for a moment, eyes concerned.
"You feel anxious. You sure you're still feeling alright? I know the Chancellor made you nervous, even though there was nothing really to be worried about. He's actually a nice—"
"I'm fine, Anakin," Luke interrupted, not all too anxious to hear, yet again, what a stand up guy Sidious was. "Just a lot on my mind."
Collecting himself after the startle of being abruptly cut off, Anakin gave another small smile. "I know Padmé said to stop teasing you, but... I always find the best way to clear my head is to talk to her. So maybe...I don't know...you should comm that Han guy? He can probably calm you down better than I can."
Luke scoffed, still more than amused at his father's fascination with his love life. "I can call him later. This is more important." Anakin nodded, still smirking and unable to sense the pit in Luke's stomach as he thought about how he couldn't actually comm his boyfriend. He couldn't comm anyone, because technically he didn't exist, which meant no one in the entire galaxy knew who he really was. Well...except for a genocidal Sith Lord.
Yet, it was a sinking existential feeling that hit him from time to time and he couldn't help but wonder what would happen if he was still here when his mother gave birth. Surely two of him couldn't exist at the same time...
Anakin knocking on the towering doors to the Council chambers brought him back to attention, the hollow sound reverberating around in his ears. Once open, both Jedi strode through the grand hallway before approaching the cylindrical meeting room, the presence of so many Force-sensitives causing the room to hum soothingly. Luke soaked it all in like a sponge, allowing the tension to leave his shoulders and the light filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows to caress his skin. Mixed sounds of shuffling robes, throats being cleared, and the whir of the holo projectors displaying the off-world members of the Council members into their seats echoed in his eardrums, and he found his center of focus zeroing in on Yoda. The Grand Master returned his stare with that ever-knowing twinkle in his eye, Mace Windu settling in the chair beside him and calling the meeting to order.
"Knight Skywalker," Mace said, hands laid neatly over his knee. "You bring news from the Chancellor?"
"Yes, Master." Anakin bowed lowly, Luke having quickly learned from his last meeting and moving with significantly more grace than before. "The Chancellor has appointed Luke and I as his personal ambassadors to the Jedi Council. We are to be appointed to the highest Jedi rank, effective immediately."
Although he spoke with a grand demeanour, the hesitance in his words was all there, blue eyes occasionally flickering towards a frowning Obi-Wan.
The Council absorbed the information in relative silence, a few heads turning and whispering amongst one another. Anakin and Luke remained motionless before Obi-Wan leaned forward in his seat. "Is this what he called you two for?"
"Yes, Master."
Ki-Adi glared exasperatedly. "Surely as a member of this Order, Skywalker, you recognize that the promotion of a Jedi is the decision of the Council, not a politician."
"I would consider this a special circumstance, Master Mundi," said Anakin, barely holding back a returned glare. "Besides, have I not already proven myself to be a Master?"
"Anakin, you were only knighted three years ago," Obi-Wan sighed.
"So I'm working my way up."
Master Tiin shook his head in concern. "This is what we feared. The Chancellor abusing his powers and using them to control the Order for his own political gain."
"He has already began to manipulate the younger generation, as is so obvious with young Skywalker," Ki-Adi put in, pulling a growl from under Anakin's breath.
Obi-Wan reacted for him, throwing up a placating hand. "Masters, please, let us discuss—"
"Starkiller hasn't even been trained past Padawan status, are we expected to allow him as well?" Master Kcaj asked, throwing the usually unflappable congregation of Jedi into a shouting mess. Luke stared in bewilderment before Yoda finally slammed his gimer stick into the floor with enough force to make the room tremble. A momentary hush fell over the room and Luke looked out of the corner of his eye to see Anakin steaming. It was going just as he predicted. So much so that Luke was beginning to see why Anakin distrusted the Council in the first place. They were completely lost. Scrambling in a galaxy inundated with turmoil and suffering to a degree no one had seen for thousands of years. Jedi died day in and day out in the war, sometimes fast enough that it looked as if they would die out completely, no one left to train the next generation. And with Luke's knowledge of the future...he knew that that was exactly what would happen. He was standing in a room full of ghosts.
Yoda knew it too, even if he didn't know every last detail. Luke knew he wouldn't be standing where he was if Yoda didn't firmly believe that he needed to be there. The Jedi lauded him as the wisest among them, but they truly were blind to how much the Grand Master really saw.
Emerald eyes looked to Mace, the two of them most likely having a conversation through the Force before Master Windu turned back to Luke and Anakin. "This is a disturbing revelation you have brought to us, Skywalker."
Anakin took a deep breath. "I recognize that, Master."
Mace turned to Luke. "Master Yoda trusts you for reasons he will not disclose. But are you adept enough to uphold the principles of this Order?"
Luke nodded firmly, his chin held high. "I am, Master. Anakin and I both, I have complete confidence. It is troubling the way we were appointed, yes, but we are on the side of the Jedi, not the Chancellor."
"You proclaim loyalty even though you've only been here a few days?" Shaak Ti asked, her lekku curled in curiosity.
"I do, Master. I've always been loyal to the Force, and this is my path."
"And I at least hope our appointment will help mend relations with the Chancellor as opposed to worsen them," Anakin cut in. "Our goal has been and will continue to be focused on ending this war."
Yoda hummed, eyes still on Luke. "Seats on the Council, the both of you may have. But take lightly, this we will not."
"Of course, Master."
Luke felt a sudden tug on his mental shields. He jerked defensively, expecting Sidious's presence to return, only to find a soft nudge of encouragement emanating from his father's direction. Anakin smiled at him faintly, impressed by his words and even further convinced that the young man's quick acceptance into the Order was well-deserved.
Before they could officially cement themselves as official members of the Council however, Master Windu held up a halting palm. From the look on his face, the Masters had all been discussing silently. "Skywalker, Starkiller, while we partially accept your appointments to this Council, we still cannot grant you the rank of Master. That is a sacred tradition reserved for Jedi interference only, and this Council agrees that neither of you are suitable for the title just yet."
One did not need to be Force-sensitive to sense the sudden tension permeate through the room. Anakin's relieved face quickly dropped, replaced by full, unchecked rage. "I'm sorry?" he grit out, the spitting image of a kettle seconds from boiling over.
In his mind, Luke grappled with how to resolve the situation. He could see the Council members mentally gearing themselves for another shouting match, Obi-Wan specifically looking as if he was prepared for a wicked blow to the gut. Having seen his father's unpredictable temper as both Anakin and Vader, Luke was pretty sure he held the same expression.
Master Windu remained unfazed by the outburst, meeting Anakin's piercing gaze with an unflappable mask of his own. "Your personal feeling on your abilities do not, and never will determine when you move up in rank, Skywalker."
"Personal feelings?" Anakin scoffed in disbelief. "This Council has said so itself, I am one of the most—if not the most powerful Jedi in the Order. You sit here all high and mighty, keeping your secrets, when in reality you're all just scared! Scared of what might happen if I'm truly the Chosen One the prophecy says." He threw a wild arm out in Luke's direction, startling the young man a step back. "Or even him? The war has made you fear outsiders so much that you hesitate to embrace a rogue Force sensitive who has a Force presence full-deserving of the Master rank—"
Luke put his hand on Anakin's shoulder, trying to find a way to interject. Anakin hesitated only momentarily before shaking his head. "No, this isn't fair. I won't stand for it. How can you be on the Council and not be a Master?"
"Knight Skywalker," grit Mace firmly, patience wearing thin as the rest of the Council absorbed the outburst with disappointed shakes of their heads—Anakin's every word confirming their belief that he was still far away from achieving the promotion he desired. "Control your emotions; clear your head. The Council has made its decision, and it is final. We were lenient enough to provide you a seat at all...unless that is you would rather have neither seat nor title?"
As if awakening from a vivid dream, all the energy drained from Anakin's shoulders, his eyes still narrowed as he considered his options. He finally lowered his head, gaze riveted on the floor. "My...apologies, Masters."
The rest of the Council turned to Luke, who nodded firmly as well. "I am deeply grateful for the trust you've put in me, Masters. I will not let you down."
The two of them sat there with their heads lowered for an extended period of time before Yoda finally waved a clawed hand in a gesture for them to sit, the actual meeting coming to order. Anakin shuffled over to the empty chair without another word, while Luke managed another low bow before moving towards—
As there was only one open spot on the Council, Anakin had taken the last seat, leaving Luke standing dumbly in the center of the room. The momentary awkwardness of Luke's hesitant pause was distinctly noticeable to the other Jedi—with the exception of Anakin, who sat angrily brooding. He caught the faint amusement and the twitch of an ear from Master Yoda, who gestured over towards Anakin's seat.
"Only twelve on the Council there are. Mind standing for now, do you young Starkiller?"
Luke nodded, fighting the embarrassed flush on his cheeks as he lowered his head. "Of course not, Master."
Positioning himself behind Anakin's seat and clumsily trying to find a natural position for his hands, Luke met Obi-Wan's sympathetic gaze from across the room, the man nodding at him with grateful eyes. It was the most Obi-Wan had acknowledged Luke since he had first appeared in the past. The soft kindness and silent thank you for attempting to connect with Anakin when he couldn't was so reminiscent of old Ben that Luke felt his eyes prick with tears. It had been four years for him since he had seen his teacher struck down with a merciless blow, the numbing memory forever sealed in his brain. While he had spoken to him through the Force as a spirit, he still ached to have the actual man back to talk to most days, so to have him here and acknowledging him was more than he could've ever wanted.
Ki-Adi cleared his throat, being waved on by Mace to carry on with the meeting's agenda. "Now that we're all settled... We've surveyed all systems in the Republic and have still found no sign of General Grievous."
Yoda hummed, clawed hands tapping over his stick. "Hiding in the Outer Rim, Grievous is. The outlying systems, you must sweep."
"It may take time," Obi-Wan chimed in, eyes turned from Luke and focused immediately back on his duties. "We don't have many ships to spare."
"Well we can't take ships from the front line," said Mace.
"And yet it would be fatal for us to allow the droid armies to regroup."
Yoda nodded. "Master Kenobi. Our spies, contact you must, and then wait."
"And what about the droid attack on the Wookiees?" asked Ki-Adi, the species name catching Luke's attention immediately. If he had his timeline right, the infamous Battle of Kashyyyk could only be a few days away. Chewbacca had been there fighting alongside his people, hardened by the war just as every one else had been.
"It's critical that we send an attack group there immediately," Mace said.
"He's right. That is a system we cannot afford to lose. It's the main navigation route for the southwestern quadrant." Obi-Wan barely finished his final breath before Anakin leaned forward, engaged in the conversation and eager to contribute. He had become accustomed to the higher ranking Jedi brushing his ideas off most of the time, seeing his value as a General and yet hypocritically considering his judgement clouded and his decisions rash and unthought out. Well aware of his tendencies to jump into battles head first, Anakin always tried his best to present the cool-headedness the Jedi wanted to see in him––an emotionless husk that acted on logic as opposed to morals.
"I know that system well, and it would take us little time to drive the droids off that planet." Padmé wouldn't be pleased with him volunteering himself for another mission so soon after returning from an extended one, but Anakin insisted despite it. When they married, they had known all the risks that would follow––including not being able to see each other as much as they wanted to. Small sacrifices that would be worth it when the war was over and done with.
Master Windu, as usual, cut down his offer with a blank, unamused stare. "Skywalker, your assignment is here as the Chancellor's ambassador for now. Sending you to Kashyyyk would be negligent to current duties––as it would be for Master Kenobi as well, who is prioritizing on tracking down General Grievous at the moment."
"So our two best Generals are currently occupied," said Master Plo, the man thoughtfully stroking his chin as Anakin slumped back in his seat like a reprimanded child, tapping his foot in restless agitation.
"Go, I will," said Yoda. "Good relations with the Wookiees, I have."
"Then it's settled. Master Yoda will take a battalion of clones to reinforce the Wookiees on Kashyyyk." Mace turned to Ki-Adi. "Is there anything more we need to address today?"
"That should be all, Master."
"Very well. May the Force be with us all, you are dismissed."
The transparent holograms of the Jedi that had called in from off-planet fizzled out without another word, officially signaling the end of the meeting as the rest of the Masters rose to their feet and filed out neatly, conversing amongst one another in low registers. Luke glanced over at Anakin, who remained in his seat, gloved right hand gripping the burgundy leather of the armrest.
Obi-Wan, who was in the corner speaking with Master Yoda, caught the duo's eyes, lips pursing thinly. Anakin's blue eyes were near slits, and before Luke could try to cool him down––something he was growing tired of doing––his father was on his feet and shooting across the room with ground-eating strides, walking with a firm intent to pin his former Master into the corner and trap him into a conversation. Swearing, Luke scrambled after him, heels kicking up as quick as he could in a fruitless attempt to keep up with Anakin's infuriatingly long legs.
"Obi-Wan."
The older man closed his eyes, a flash of exasperation passing by his aging features before looking up to meet the fiery glare of his former Padawan towering over him in his standard tactic of intimidation, a tactic that Obi-Wan was fully immune to after having raised the boy as a child. "Yes, Anakin?"
The calmness to Obi-Wan's voice only made Anakin's eye twitch more violently, the Council's chastising words spinning in and out of his brain. "I don't understand this. What right do they have to disrespect us like this?"
"Disrespect you? Anakin, this was a rather sudden revelation, it's not exactly something we had time to prepare for. I know you feel like your abilities outweigh your experience, but I'm surprised they even let you on the Council at all given your age."
"I'm a general in this war."
Obi-Wan stepped forward, meeting Anakin's burning eyes without a flinch. "As am I, young one. You forget your place. The Council does not have a vendetta against you, this situation concerns Chancellor Palpatine and why he made this decision. I warned you there was tension between him and the Council; I was very clear."
"You don't think he's just trying to help? He knows my worth, unlike some people."
"A Jedi is not egotistical, Anakin."
"Are we sure about that?"
Luke cleared his throat, heart thudding in his throat as he swallowed the clotted tension encircling the two strong Force-presences before him. Anakin and Obi-Wan looked over at him, momentarily confused to find that someone had been listening to them. "Would either of you like to hear my opinion?"
Obi-Wan recovered first, smiling sheepishly and adjusting his rumpled robe. "Yes, of course Luke, our apologies."
Luke looked over to his father, who remained staring, not sure he had ever met anyone outside of Ahsoka and Padmé who could actually muster up the courage to interrupt his and Obi-Wan's bickering.
"I know the two of you haven't known me for very long, and I'm more than grateful for the trust you've put in me despite that, but I don't think arguing amongst ourselves is going to get us anywhere. You're very unlikely to convince the Council to change their minds, Anakin, so we might as well just keep pressing on, right?"
His father continued to stare at him like a specimen under a microscope, almost as if seeing him for the first time. Luke shifted under the intense scrutiny. "I...I suppose," He looked over to Obi-Wan, brow furrowing. "I just don't want to be disrespected anymore, it's demeaning."
Obi-Wan nodded. "I understand they can be frustrating at times, trust me, but you must learn to control your temper. I assure you the Council will only continue to have concerns about you if you don't get that under control."
Luke bit his lip. Many in the galaxy had been on the receiving end of Darth Vader's infamous short temper, and it never ended well. However, to see Anakin actually recognizing his outbursts and contemplating how to be more level-headed...maybe Luke was making a difference.
"Still don't know why they couldn't at least let Luke sit in one of the chairs and move the holo projectors off to the side," Anakin grumbled.
Luke suddenly snorted, covering his snickering with a hand and watching as Obi-Wan's lips ticked up in a slight smirk as well.
"Yes, well, I do imagine that is something we can fix."
Grinning lightly, Anakin reached over and nudged the older man playfully on the shoulder. "I apologize, Master. I just...worry."
Obi-Wan's eyes softened. "The war has affected us all, Anakin. If anything, I worry more about you. I feel as if you're scared to talk to me."
Luke watched the blood drain from Anakin's face, his scramble to replace it with a blank mask lagging just enough that his true emotions were visible for a few seconds. Being the observant Jedi that he was, Obi-Wan did not fail to miss the look of panic across the young man's face, a signal for him to backpedal from his natural instinct to interrogate further. Anakin tended to react irrationally when he was being questioned.
"Well, at least find someone to talk to." He smiled over at Luke. "You two seem to be getting on well."
Luke knew exactly what Obi-Wan was trying to do. He knew of Anakin's close friendship with Palpatine, and was desperate for him to confide in someone that wasn't a corrupt, manipulating politician—even if that person wasn't his own Master. He knew how many people Anakin had lost in such a short amount of time, and he only wanted what was best for him.
All of a sudden Luke was nineteen years old again and staring deep into the melancholic soul of Ben Kenobi as he reminisced on his one and only student, the young man he had seen as a younger brother and a close friend. Then he was watching the fight leave the elderly man, his lightsaber raised to his face, the blue light reflecting morbidly over the pallor of his wrinkles, as he submitted to the fatal death swing of that same young man that he failed to save.
Luke returned the smile, fighting the urge to hug his former teacher. "I've been told I'm a great babysitter."
Anakin rolled his eyes. "Ha ha, I'm the youngest in the room, a classic joke. Stars, where's the nearest Padawan?"
"Technically, I guess that would be me," said Luke, drawing another chuckle from Anakin.
However, on his other side, Obi-Wan's expression had dimmed, his normally still hands worrying at the hems of his sleeves. "Speaking of... Master Yoda and I were discussing something that concerns the two of you."
Anakin sobered himself, forehead creasing as he braced himself for more information he didn't want to hear. Neither Jedi noticed Luke's sudden wide eyes, his mind only on what Yoda knew about him specifically. He knew the Jedi would never expose him, but this wasn't the same Yoda he had met on Dagobah, just as Obi-Wan wasn't the same Ben who had saved him from the Sand People and told him old war stories.
"About?" asked Anakin.
"Well, the Council members all had a silent agreement that we would accept your Council appointment due to your close relationship with the Chancellor. It was odd for him to make such a bold move, but not when we considered that he specifically asked for you," Obi-Wan looked up at Anakin, gauging his emotions with a gentle prod before continuing. "As for Luke, well, Master Yoda wouldn't explain to me why he was fine with accepting an under trained outsider to one of our highest positions, nor why he thought Palpatine would even consider such an offer to someone he just met, but I didn't pry further."
Luke let a silent exhale leave his lungs.
Anakin, on the other hand, tensed further. "I sense there's more to this talk then you're saying."
Obi-Wan trailed a weary hand down his chin with a long sigh. "I didn't agree to this, I think it puts you closer to a situation you're already too involved in."
"What situation?" Anakin's impatience began to waver, Luke's hand on his arm to ground him.
"The Council wants you to directly report on the Chancellor's movements. Off the record, of course. Everything he does and everything he says to you. He trusts you...and apparently seems riveted by Luke as well. Enough so that the two of you are called to his office at random hours at least."
Anakin seemed to ignore the hushed tones of Obi-Wan's statement, his eyes nearly bugging out of his skull as he hissed, "Spying!?"
"Anakin." Obi-Wan's head whipped around the empty corridor. "By the Force, it's not like you haven't done espionage before."
"Maybe against the Separatists, but not within the Republic! Master, this is virtually treason."
"It's not treason, it's upholding the principles of the Republic."
"I don't think the Chancellor trusts me as much as you think he does," said Luke, wincing as the words left his mouth.
Obi-Wan sighed, rubbing his temples hard enough to allow a throbbing vein to appear over his forehead. "You're not wrong. I hate to bring you so deep into this, but like I said—"
"Master Yoda wants me to help."
Pursing his lips, Obi-Wan gave a sympathetic nod. "Like the Council said, you're more than welcome to stay in the Order if you so choose, but you're under no obligation."
"No, I want to help. Being a Jedi is my true calling—I want this war to end just as much as anyone else in the galaxy."
Anakin, steaming silently, glowered at both of them, all patience drained from his clenched muscles. "Neither of you are listening to me. The Chancellor is not a bad man, he's mentored me from the day I arrived to the Order. He's been nothing but selfless and helpful, especially throughout this war."
"I understand that, but your duty as a Jedi means your allegiance is to the Code. We serve as peacekeepers under the Republic, and are responsible for upholding a democracy. All I'm asking is that you report anything suspicious—nobody's accusing anybody of anything," said Obi-Wan, voice almost cracking in a desperation to get through to his friend. Blue eyes continued to remain slits as they stared down at him, the small boy with dusty hair and an awestruck gaze mesmerized by the speeding lights of the city hidden deep beneath them. "Use your feelings, Anakin, you know something is out of place."
Indeed something was out of place. It was a dark, foreboding feeling in the Force, something that had been lurking for quite some time only to strengthen with the Clone Wars. Years ago, the Jedi had known the return of the Sith was upon them, and a disquiet vibe had latched itself onto Young Skywalker—their prophesied Chosen One. Day by day, Jedi old and young perished on the battlefield, claiming to fight for peace, yet unsure if said peace even existed anymore. Only now, recently, had the Force shifted—a jubilant burst of light culminating abruptly with a yearning to spread throughout the dreariness of the galaxy. Anakin had toiled over it restlessly, meditating when he found the time and questioning the future to the ever-silent Force. Everything currently felt so final, that he and Padmé would leave their respective places as Jedi and Senator and disappear into the stars, never to look back. Whether the war toiled on with or without them, they both knew that the organizations they represented were gradually tarnishing themselves from corruption and lack of communication. And yet...
He looked over at Luke, who was staring up at him with a tender smile, his hand still reaching out to touch his arm. Who was this stranger to captivate him so? So achingly familiar, yet so strangely curious.
"He's right, Anakin." As much as Luke hated to put his father any closer to Sidious than he should be, he knew the only way to keep up with the Sith was to stick close to him. This would probably be his only chance to do so. That is, if Sidious didn't decide the same route already. Stars, he could already hear Han and Leia scolding him.
Anakin's gaze dropped to the floor, his shoulders slumping loosely. "I still don't like this."
Obi-Wan instantly brightened, visibly sagging in relief. "So you'll do it?"
"If it's what the Council desires," Anakin said drily before nodding over in Luke's direction. "And only with him accompanying me."
"By all means."
Luke recalled Palpatine's threat from before, goading him to make the first move. He cast a subtle, yet thorough look across the hallway, his guard primed. Luke had only barely survived Sidious once, and that was with help. He looked up at his father, the warm tones of his skin not too far away from the mutilated flesh and discolored burn scars that had to have occurred sometime in his fall to the Dark Side. Anakin was counting on his son, and he could never know that he was doing so. If Luke was to succeed in preventing his father's fall, Anakin would have to make the call of his own free will—the final choice between serving evil or defeating it, a choice which Luke had faced himself not too long ago.
He smiled. "I'll do my best."
"Thank you. Both of you. Any information you can bring will help the Council in the long run." Obi-Wan gave a low bow, the weary look flashed in Anakin's direction showing a man burdened way beyond his years. If Luke looked close enough, he could see the beginnings of wispy silver strands standing out amongst the sea of auburn hair. As much as he could, Luke widened his Force presence, allowing Obi-Wan to feel his trust and grinning when the silver-blue eyes brightened in understanding. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere to be."
Anakin and Luke parted to allow him by, both intently watching until the swishing robes of the Jedi Master disappeared around the corner, taking the tension in Anakin's shoulders with it. Alone now, Anakin tossed an arm around Luke's shoulders, tucking the shorter man into his side with a conflicted, yet grateful smile. "You have no idea how grateful I am to have you around, Starkiller."
Luke perked up, hope fizzing up in his chest like the aftereffect of a stun bolt. "I'm glad to be of help. I know how hard it can be to trust people sometimes."
He watched as his father nodded thoughtfully, gaze still a bit distant. "I'm definitely starting to see the Force's reasoning for sending you here, which got me thinking..."
"Yes?" Luke prodded with caution, an eyebrow raised.
"Well, Obi-Wan has been hounding me on finding another student. To focus my mind and everything, you know. Honestly, I didn't think I could ever find anyone I trusted enough."
Luke gawked, unblinking as Anakin began to grow sheepish, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I mean, yeah, I know we still kinda barely know each other, and I definitely would let you think about it before dedicating yourself to it, I just thought...maybe...I don't know. I haven't really discussed it with the Council yet, or anyone really, I just thought we...work well together."
A lump grew in Luke's throat as he struggled to process the words, rational thought momentarily shooting off into the void. "Anakin...are you asking to train me? To be your Padawan?"
Anakin dipped his head. "I know you're older than me, but I really think it would work. You're a good man, Luke, and I would love to have you around more often. Not to sound like Obi-Wan, but I don't think the Force brought you here by accident—everything it does serves a greater purpose."
Luke swallowed back a sudden upsurge of bile, his mind spinning. In just the span of a few hours, he had been placed on the mythical Jedi Council by a Sith Lord who was fully knowledgeable of his true identity as a time traveller, and now he was being asked by his young, pre-life support suited father to be trained as his student. Yet all he could focus on was the fact that him and his twin sister were currently stewing inside a womb together, ready to be born in the upcoming future—a ticking clock on his presence in the wrong timeline.
He played with the thought of training under his father, his real, Jedi hero father and not the genocidal maniac of a Sith Lord, his heart soaring even more than it had when Anakin had first suggested small training sessions. He knew he couldn't stay here forever; he couldn't falsely promise Anakin anything—yet the desperate eagerness and awe he had held for his father fought him anyhow, begging for him to cry out his identity as Luke Skywalker and revel in a strong paternal embrace he had so desperately craved since he was a small boy.
Instead, he put on his kindest smile, the soft one he always used to calm others around him. His hand—the prosthetic one—reached out and took a firm hold of Anakin's shoulder. "I know the Force sent me here for a reason." He bit his lip, knowing how close he was tiptoeing over the truth. "But...let me think on it for a while. I'm honored, truly, I just...I don't want to make any long-term commitments just yet."
Luke tried not to wince when he saw his father's shoulders partially deflate, his smile still plastered on despite its corners drooping ever so slightly. "Right. Of course. You have a family you need to discuss things with, I don't expect you to drop the life you already have. Joining the Order...is a lot."
Without thinking twice on the consequences, Luke pushed in on the opportunity to question, "Do you ever regret joining?"
A shadow passed over Anakin's face, his lips pursed rigidly. Luke held his breath. Now that he knew more about his father's past and who he was before Vader, he couldn't help but wonder if he would ever trade his life for something else...a life where he wasn't the Chosen One, and one where his children didn't exist. One where he and his mother could have escaped slavery on their own accord and made new lives for themselves somehow...
"I can't imagine a life where I'm not a Jedi."
Luke gave a melancholic smile. "Me neither. The Force has become my whole life."
"So you'll consider my offer then?" asked Anakin, a note of hope perking his voice up an octave.
"Would the Code make me break up with my boyfriend?"
He had meant it as a teasing jab, yet Anakin scowled deep enough to startle him back a step, his eyes flashing. "Of course not. I wouldn't let them do that to you. You came into the Order late, they can't expect you to blindly submit to their archaic rules."
Thoughts of his parents back behind the pillar, smothering each other in relieved hugs, yet confined to the murky shadows to protect themselves from the forbidden nature of their partnership, flashed by him. He knew the Jedi's intentions weren't to completely restrict love and emotion, just to teach their students to let go in times of great loss and the breaking of a strong bond. A Jedi could not focus properly if they were constantly distracted by an overwhelming fear of losing someone they were close to, and yet, Luke completely understood Anakin's perspective as well. To love meant a lot of complicated feelings, and was more often than not accompanied by a protectiveness over one another, yet love is what had saved his father in the end—choosing to sacrifice his own life rather than lose his child.
Anakin Skywalker loved deeply, passionately, possessively. His love wasn't what held him back, it was the fear. Sidious thrived off of Anakin's fear and used it as his prime manipulation tool. But all in all, the final choice of who to trust would fall on Anakin's shoulders, and be influenced by whether or not his fear and mistrust would overwhelm him to his breaking point. He had every right to be scared, he had lost so much, he just had to control it. Luke had managed it, and he knew his father could too. And maybe, just maybe, he could help the Jedi Council see the flaws in their teachings as well.
He watched Anakin cool down, his temper quelling as he took in Luke's poignant silence. "I apologize. I guess I just realized that when the child comes...the Order could expel me. Will expel me. Force, I told you I didn't really think this through."
"Weren't you prepared to leave the Order when the baby comes?"
"I was! I am... But the further along in her term Padmé gets, the more real it becomes. We'd both be giving up our entire lives. I want what's best for my child, I just... I don't know."
"You really think the Order would dismiss you?"
"I know they would. That's why I won't tell Obi-Wan. He'd make a lecture out of it right before turning me in."
Luke sighed, unsure if Anakin's paranoias were justified. Obi-Wan didn't seem like the type to take the news of his friend's fatherhood so negatively. Not when he had seen such a regretful Ben back in his time, his entire being begging for a second chance with the brother he had lost. "Well no matter what happens, I'll still think over your offer."
Almost forgetting the offer in the first place, Anakin shook his head, dark curls swinging. "No, no, it was a spur of the moment question, I shouldn't of—"
"Anakin," Luke said, catching the taller man off guard by how much he had sounded like Padmé. "Order or no Order, you can always train me. I really will consider it."
Especially given the fact that I'm not completely sure if the Force will ever send me back home... Luke thought morbidly, wondering if he could maintain his Starkiller cover for the rest of his life as his other self grew up nearby, twenty three years his junior. He shuddered.
Anakin's face softened as he grinned, patting Luke on the head once more. "You are something else, Luke."
Luke shrugged, trying not to gush too heavily as they started walking once more.
"Come on," said Anakin, quickening his step. "I meant to go check up on Padmé. Her meeting should be over by now."
◂◂◂
Kirei watched the two of them disappear down the hall, careful to keep her profile low and unassuming—just a dutiful Padawan going about the halls of the Temple. The Force had aided her in eavesdropping into their conversation, but she had only been able to hear so much, lest she give herself away. Yet what she heard had been plenty.
She slid the sleeve of her robe up to her elbow, fumbling with the frayed edges before accessing her wrist-comm. A quick glance around the hall showed a few Jedi milling about, each distracted by their destinations. Her feet instinctively pressed forward anyhow, her concealed blaster slapping against her thigh as she walked.
Sidious was already well aware of the Jedi Council's skepticism of him, but having them outright start an investigation on him was a new development altogether. So, with the skills of a professional slicer, she hacked through frequencies for a fully secure channel, relaying her new information to her Master with a burst of smug pride. Surely, with all the useful knowledge she had provided him in such a short amount of time, he would begin to see the values of taking her on as an apprentice. In many ways, she found herself startled by how much she agreed with Master Skywalker, hearing him talk somewhat treasonously of his distrust of the Jedi Order and the Council, yet never about the Republic, which Padawan Barizaan knew to be corrupt—even more corrupt than most already suspected it to be. She knew the intricacies and deep scandal that ran deeper than most people could even fathom. Which was why she had to prove her worth to Sidious. She may have no longer believed in the Jedi philosophy, but she was no fool; it was unwise to trust a Sith Lord. Their interests were purely selfish, and they cared truly little of others despite their philosophical insistence on using emotion to become a stronger Force-user.
Cold metal grazed her lips as she held her forearm close to her mouth, relaying her message in a whisper as she continued tracing the path of Master Skywalker and his future son—the one who continued to baffle her the harder she thought on it. The device trilled. A response.
Aurebesh letters trickled into the dimly lit, blue holoscreen: Continue on their trail. Wait for my signal, then proceed as we've discussed.
She sighed, letting her arm flop down, her sleeve cascading down and obscuring the commlink once more. A speeder's engine roared before a flash of yellow sped off into the sky. Kirei watched from one of the towering windows in the open Temple hallway, shoulders taut.
"Padawan!"
She spun around, her braid whacking her on the side of the face as she internally cursed herself for not cloaking herself more sufficiently. She bowed low, adjusting her position to wrap her robe more thoroughly around her body and conceal her blaster. Her Master, Enric, was glaring down at her, his foot tapping impatiently.
"You should be at your station, young one."
"I was just on my way there, Master."
The Zabrak man clicked his teeth and shook his head in disappointment, taking a firm hold of the shorter girl's shoulder and ushering her along. Kirei remained silent the entire trek to the Halls of Healing, instead going over her plan on how to deal with the Skywalker out of time. Once Sidious gave his instruction, he wouldn't wait patiently for her to act.
It was only a matter of time.