Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“While the cataclysmic storm on Kamino was tragic,” someone is saying, and Padme can tell from his voice very clearly that he has no remorse or sympathy over it whatsoever. It wasn’t his home that was destroyed, and this attitude has become so commonplace amidst the Senate. It’s infuriating. “The reality is that without the production of new clone troopers, we are vulnerable. Admiral Rampart's proposed Defense Recruitment Bill will keep us protected.”

“I concur with the honorable delegate of the Banking Clan,” another senator interjects, bringing her pod forward, “A new conscripted military is what this galaxy needs. One comprised of the people, who fight for the people. “

“This recruitment bill has been discussed, debated, and tabled each session for a reason,” Senator Pamlo interjects, “There are more pressing matters in the galaxy right now than the costly creation of a new military. The war is over.”

“Perhaps where you reside, Senator Pamlo. But the Mid and Outer Rims are rife with insurgents. We must be protected.”

“The deployment of the clone army was a result of the Emergency Powers Act, put forward by then Chancellor Palpatine during the Separatist crisis,” Bail cuts in. Padme sags with relief at hearing him – she does not have the energy to storm to the front of the Senate and yell at anybody about their complete lack of logic and empathy. By the goddesses, she misses the Republic. “Shifting to a military of citizens swearing loyalty fundamentally goes against the principles of this body.”

“I concur with Senator Organa,” Padme interjects, bringing her own pod forward. She knows her voice is not overly respected in the Senate, but that won’t make her back down. It never has, even if she is so, so tired. She knows what is right, and she’ll never stop fighting for it. “The war is over. Any threats or insurgents are of the same origin of the Separatists. We fought one war already. Why can’t we try a peaceful approach this time, when we already know the outcome of the first war?”

“If they are the same, they should be treated the same!” the Banking Clan senator snaps, “The Empire needs the strength to crush these insurgents so another war doesn’t start!”

“All this will do is encourage another war to break out - ” she tries to argue but voices are already clamoring over her, in support of the Banking Clan senator.

Why? Why can’t the Senate see that action like this was exactly what started the Clone Wars in the first place?

“Where does the Emperor stand on this issue, since he remains absent from these proceedings?” Bail finally interrupts.

“The Emperor, as always, trusts this delegation to act in the best interests of all galactic citizens,” Mas Amedda replies. Padme is still struggling to accept sometimes that Palpatine had himself appointed Emperor. She knew he was abusing his power constantly throughout the war and she knew it wouldn’t end well, but he still mentored her a lot when she was young and there is a part of her that always trusted him. Until now.

“And what about the interests of the clone troopers?” Riyo Chuchi inquires, bringing her own pod forward. “Why are they not included within this legislation?” The question is unexpected, but still legitimate and appreciated. The clones have never had the voice or right to speak in the Senate, no matter how much they did for the Republic – a Republic that no longer exists. Allegedly, the war was won, but Padme can never shake the knowledge that in a far more predominant sense, they lost everything they were fighting for.

“The clone army cannot sustain given their accelerated aging and should be slated for decommissioning,” the other senator they were debating with replies.

Decommissioning?

The Senators are flippantly talking about outright skilling living beings because they don’t see them as useful anymore??? She’s not really surprised, but that doesn’t change how angry the comment makes her. Padme is familiar with the clones. She worked with them multiple times in the clone wars, and both Anakin and Ahsoka were close with them. They spoke of them constantly.

“You’re proposing that we execute millions of living beings because they are no longer suiting our purposes?” Padme demands. “Is that how you would treat the senior citizens on your own planet?”

“The clones are not citizens,” the Senator throws back.

“They are not droids to simply be shut down. These are soldiers who defended us, defended our worlds,” Riyo argues.

“Mmm, I didn’t realize you spoke on the clones' behalf, Senator Chuchi,” the other Senator replies. It’s a blatant way of attempting to make her back down, but Padme knows Riyo is too stubborn for that, for as gentle and naive as she might be.

“If we don’t, who will?” Riyo argues, not deterred in the slightest, “After all they have sacrificed, you now wish to discard them? Leave them with nothing? Is that how we repay them for their service? Is that what this Empire stands for? How can we debate commissioning a new army without a plan in place to care for our current one?”

“I hear your concerns,” Admiral Rampart speaks up, moving his pod forward, “Allow me to assure this delegation that provisions are in place to aid the clones as they begin to be phased out.”

That reassures Padme a little bit but she doesn’t know why the Senate hasn’t already been informed of anything about it until Riyo brought it up. Considering that Rampart is the one pushing for the stormtroopers, she doesn’t know if she can believe that the legislation is 

There’s also the fact that the Republic simply does not have the resources to take care of everyone it needs to. So adding even more people to that is not going to be beneficial in the slightest. They certainly don’t have the resources to essentially support two entire armies.

“What do you know about their needs, Admiral?” Riyo replies sharply, “Have you asked them? Or do they not get a say in their future?”

“I am open to discussing any and all provisions you, or the clones, have in mind. If we work together, I am confident we can adequately address their concerns,” Admiral Rampart replies. Padme instinctively does not like him. She understands the desire for citizens to sign into the military – it is a far less morally questionable than what could just as well be considered a slave army. Anakin, she knows, is in full support of having an… army who fully consented to their role, is what he always says, though that comes with a very long string of complications.

Primarily, that includes figuring out a fate for the clones, and because of this bill and the Empire, and all those in charge, Padme knows there is very, very little hope anything good will come of it.

“Well, until then, I motion to table the vote on the Defense Recruitment Bill,” Riyo says firmly.

“I second,” Bail speaks up.

“So do I,” Padme interjects. “There are other places we need to be spending our financing right now. The refugees the last war created need us more than anyone else. They are our responsibility and we need to put them before taking care of any army.”

She’s all for giving the clones rights but this is an issue that also needs to be addressed.

It’s also a way to put off the vote on the legislation a bit longer but not forever. Hopefully, they’ll be able to make the Senate see reason by then, but she’s not very hopeful.

***

It’s been months since the Republic fell, since the Empire formed, but Anakin is still getting used to how different everything is now. The Jedi are gone, and instead of training and focusing on the war, he… has to train a group of Fallen Jedi. Sidious called them the Inquisitors. Anakin knows he’s supposed to train them and make them into… servants of the Empire. But that is not easy.

The only one who isn’t beyond infuriating is Barriss Offee, because apparently, she was allowed to come out of prison after what she did if she agreed to join the Empire. And the last person he wants to have to work with is Barriss after what she did to Ahsoka, but she’s genuinely the least frustrating of all of them. All the other Inquisitors are doing is fighting for who gets higher status and position, caring absolutely nothing about the galaxy they’re supposed to be protecting. 

They don’t care about the will of the Force or to follow it or doing what’s right. It’s all about their positions and their own selfish interests.

It’s… nothing like having to work with the other Jedi. The war was destroying their principles and he knows that. He saw far too personally how far they were willing to go for their own agenda. They weren’t following the Force or their very own Code anymore either, all the while blinding themselves by claiming that they were. That’s why he couldn’t believe in them anymore, not when he saw Windu turning on everything Anakin thought the Jedi stood for. But sometimes –

Sometimes it’s still hard to believe that they’re all gone. 

The night at the Temple still haunts him. It… always will. Both because of what he had to do and – and because of everything he lost there. Nearly all the clones he took there are gone, killed by the Jedi. 

So many died there. Anakin knows it wasn’t his fault – he’s not the one who made the decision to commit treason, but – but it still feels like it. It feels like he should have… Their way of life is gone. Everything he fought for. Everyone he knew and fought with.

All his clones are gone, too. Either killed by the Jedi at the Temple or by Maul on the way back from Coruscant. He has no idea what happened to Ahsoka. To his padawan – she would have stood with him if she were here. But now, she’s out there alone, and Anakin… has no idea what happened to her. He doesn’t know how to find her or when he’ll ever see her again.

Rex is gone, too. He must have been lost along with all the other boys. He never imagined when he sent him to Mandalore that he was never coming back.

Obi-Wan is… gone, too. All Anakin knows is that he’s alive but he can imagine far too well how it would end if they ever saw each other again. He’d stand with the Jedi and that would mean… He doesn’t want to think about it.

The only ones he has left now are Padme and his children. Who at least are alive. Sidious kept his promise to help them.

The aching, crushing loneliness never lifts or gets better, and he’s so tired. He wants to give the twins a better life, but… that is so much easier said than done. There’s so little Anakin can actually do to help them. He’s tried. Is trying. Will never stop trying, but the galaxy is a mess and there’s…

The sound of the door to Padme’s apartment opening draws Anakin out of his thoughts. She must be back from the Senate. It’s strange to actually be living here now. It’s what he always wanted but he never wanted it to happen like this. When he wanted to leave the Order to just raise his children in peace, he never imagined it would be like this. He wants back what he lost, what he had before, but it’s never coming back. None of what happened can be undone or changed.

Padme doesn’t look happy when she comes into the living room. Then again, Anakin doesn’t think there have been many moments she’s looked happy in the slightest since the Empire formed. Nothing is the same between them anymore. It was supposed to be better once they didn’t have to hide anymore. He hates how it feels like everything is worse now, somehow.

He doesn’t like the way the tension hangs in the air between them. Padme doesn’t even say anything in greeting to him right off. She is probably still distracted with whatever happened at the Senate, but…

“How was the Senate today?” Anakin finally asks her. He’s used to listening to her complain about how frustrating the Senators are being, in the little time they used to have together, and he’d tell her a bit about what he was doing.

Padme looks up, expression flickering with irritation. “As well as it always is. The Empire’s only made the Senators even worse.”

He doesn’t know if she’s wrong or not but he knows she’s been furious about the Empire from the start. Debating that point won’t help. “What’s the issue?”

“The Defense Recruitment Bill,” she replies frustratedly, “The last war represented a failure to listen. If the Senate goes through with forming another military when the war is supposed to be over, it’s only going to make the tensions rise even higher. Palpatine has always been absent from these proceedings but he’s the one with the power to stop this, if he wanted to.” He doesn’t miss the sheer bitterness in her voice as she talks about him. “The motions in the Senate aren’t going anywhere. You’re closer to him than anyone now. If you would ask him too - ”

Not this again.

She asked the same thing of him only hours before everything fell. When she’d asked then, it felt like she was just trying to use his friendship with Palpatine, the exact same way the Jedi had demanded of him only hours before. It was like - like – The only thing anyone ever seems to want of him is to use him when they need it.

But now, he can do what she’s demanding of him even less. Palpatine – Sidious – isn’t his friend anymore. He’s – his master. Anakin knows what he is. He knew what kneeling to the Sith that day really meant. He’s right back where he started, if he was ever truly free to begin with.

Before, he thought what Sidious was saying about the Force, about everything, made far more sense that the Jedi. He was the one who was always there to guide him when he needed it, when things the masters at the Temple said didn’t make any sense. But he’s not who Anakin thought. He’s not doing what he promised. He’s certainly not following the will of the Force anymore than the Jedi are. He’s – he’s a master and Anakin can really see that on him now.

He can’t ask him anything. That’s – that’s not his place. Anakin doesn’t get a say in any of what happens – he’s sent on missions, and it’s not his place to worry about the political side. It never has been. Sidious is his master. “Don’t drag me into this.”

“You’re the only one who can do anything,” Padme throws back, “This has to stop before the galaxy descends into war again. The least you can do is try.”

As if him doing something so completely out of line is going to help something??? If this is what Sidious wants, he’ll make it happen. “That’s not my place, Padme.”

“He’s your friend,” she snaps back, “This isn’t even about politics. You can talk to him on a personal level.”

As if there’s anything left to their friendship, if it was ever real to begin with. And even if there was, he’s so tired of everyone constantly trying to use him. He trusted Palpatine with everything and in the end, that was only about using him too. He’s so tired.

He lost everything. His entire life is gone. Anakin thought – he thought it would be fine, but he was wrong, and the constant, depthless loathing for – for himself, for Sidious, for the Jedi never fades. It never will. There is no way for things to change. He already tried, and all he can do is keep trying, but he’s so tired.

Everyone is gone. Obi-Wan. Ahsoka. Rex. All his men. Everyone.

Even Palpatine, because he was never who Anakin thought he was all those years.

Padme and his children are all that are left, and this is what he fought for and dreamed of but Anakin never thought it would be like this. He never thought – choosing them would mean he lost everyone else. He never dreamed of a galaxy like this. It’s not what he wanted. It’s not… He tried. He did everything he could and more, but he knows what his place is.

The only other thing he’s had left, that he’s always had, is the Force. And that reassurance means something, keeps him from losing himself entirely to despair and emptiness, but it still doesn’t change that his family is gone and nothing is bringing them back.

“I can’t order the Emperor,” Anakin throws back sharply, “If you have a concern, bring it up with him.” He realizes, as an afterthought – always as an afterthought, because he can’t do anything right, can he? – that was insensitive, but all he and Padme have been doing since the Empire formed is fighting with each other.

“You’re not even going to try?” she demands, no less heatedly.

Why does she keep acting as though he can control everything? He was supposed to be able to. Supposed to be strong enough but he’s never strong enough. For anything. Except just once to keep her and his children alive, but only to lose everything else instead. “There’s nothing I can do.”

Leia screams from the bedroom suddenly.

It sounds like her and she’s the one who always gets agitated when the emotions around her are turbulent – Luke still sleeps through anything.

“I’ll get her,” Anakin volunteers, turning to leave the room. Maybe partly because he’s just looking for an escape out of the conversation though he knows it won’t be the last time Padme brings something like this up.

Luke and Leia, but especially Leia, are extremely entuned with the emotions of those around them. Luke gets more sullen and fussy about it, while Leia always interjects with screaming, and it’s very effective.

He loves them both so much. He just wishes that would be enough to help.

***

Anakin did not need to spend the next three hours putting Luke and Leia back to bed, but there’s no one else he wants to be with right now. No one else he wants to be with who he ever can be with again, anyway.

It’s the sound of voices filtering in from the next room that catches his attention suddenly.

“I spoke to the clones about what they would want to get out of this,” Riyo Chuchi’s voice is saying, from the next room. Anakin would recognize her voice and the light softness of her Force presence anywhere. He doesn’t know her that well but they were loosely friends during the war. She was one of the Senators he worked with the most, one of the ones who Ahsoka became friends with.

“And?” Padme asks, “I take it Admiral Rampart’s bill doesn’t meet any of their needs.”

“I’ll have to go over that with him in person.” She breaths out heavily. “But that’s not what’s… troubling me this much. When I was at the clone bar, one of the clones… came to talk to me privately. What he was telling me - I don’t know what to believe.”

Anakin frowns, moving closer to the door.

He knows this legislation is going to impact them but she’s obviously worried about something, not something he’s heard of yet. He doesn’t really know what things are like for them now, with the Empire trying to phase them out. He hasn’t been around any much since all of his own boys are gone. It hurts too much to see them all, knowing that none of them are his because all the ones he knew are gone forever.

But still, the clones deserve to have the chance to choose a life, but just forcing them out is… not what he thinks most of them want.

Cody didn’t. He left the Empire. He talked to Anakin one last time before leaving. He hadn’t been clear, but Anakin had known, and he understands. It still hurts, and will always hurt that one of his only friends with the Empire was willing to walk away, but Cody deserved to make his own choice. It had hurt, but Anakin was grateful at least one of them could have a life of their choosing. After everything Cody did for the Republic, and for Anakin, he deserved that chance.

“The trooper told me that the storm that destroyed Kamino wasn’t a storm. He said that Admiral Rampart ordered it bombarded from space and has been covering it up ever since,” Chuchi says.

Wait.

What?!

Rampart did that? The – the Empire? He shouldn’t be surprised. He’s not really, but horror still floods him full force. He needs to know what she’s talking about.

Anakin heads out into the living room and both of them pause, looking up.

“General Skywalker?” Chuchi greets. She’s not surprised to see him here – the word of his marriage with Padme is public now so that’s not surprising.

“I overheard what you were saying,” he explains.

She nods. “I don’t know what to think about it. I don’t know how someone wouldn’t have come forward already if this was true. The trooper said Admiral Rampart made sure no one could but I don’t understand.”

His own mind is whirling. The news doesn’t shock him half as much as it seems to be her even if he’s appalled and so angry. What happened to the clones who were there? Did he just have them all killed senselessly? And that’s not to even mention the entire Kaminoan population. And he may not have a high opinion of them because they literally created a slave army, but that doesn’t mean every single one of them deserved to die.

“The destruction of Kamino did not make sense to me,” Anakin admits. Something had felt off, both in the Force and from a logical point of view. There weren’t any solar flares or unusual planetary activity right before, to cause a storm of that magnitude, that he’d heard of. “I… see no reason to doubt what the trooper is saying.”

That this is happening right before Rampart started pushing for a new military makes him even more suspicious.

“You think this is true?” Chuchi asks, alarm leaking into her voice. She is… naive in a lot of ways. He always liked that about her.

“What I would question is how high up this goes,” Padme interjects, “I find it hard to believe Rampart was the only one involved.”

That’s a fair point, too.

Though he knows what she’s implying and he doesn’t appreciate it. He can't outright deny it when he doesn’t know, though. Sidious isn’t who he thought he was. He may have made some efforts to restore peace as he promised but it’s nothing like – like how Anakin thought he’d be handling it. Not that it’s his place to say anything about it.

“Where is the trooper?” Anakin inquires, “If I could speak to him…”

“No one knows where he went,” Chuchi replies, “I send my guards to search for him but he’s hiding somewhere.”

That, in and of itself, means that what he’s saying is obviously true. This isn’t really something Anakin belongs getting involved in, at least not without taking it to Sidious first, but he… doesn’t want to do that. This is – it’s personal. It’s for the clones, even if all his boys are gone and nothing he does will bring them back. He doesn’t want to be told to leave the issue to someone else.

And besides, with Padme getting involved… he has to get to the bottom of it. This could be dangerous for her, but he knows she’s never going to back down now. The last he can do, for her sake and the twins, is try to find the answers quickly.

“I will help you search for him. I would like to speak with him myself,” Anakin decides.

***

The underworld is as dark and gloomy as ever. Anakin has serious reservations about being down here, much less alone with Riyo, but when he heard she’d found the clone, he had to come. He needs to know what’s going on for real. He needs to hear it all from the clone himself.

“Wait here,” Riyo instructs her guards, “General Skywalker will accompany me.”

They wait at the speeder as the two of them move in closer. He’s inside a building, in a dark alleyway.

“Easy, trooper,” Riyo says gently, slowly rounding the corner.

“Senator?” he asks.

Anakin rounds it behind her – he’s expecting an attacker, though right now, they’re clear.

The clone blinks at him, surprise flickering into the Force. “General?”

“I heard from her,” Anakin explains, “About Admiral Rampart. I had to know for myself, but you were hard to track down.”

“What are you doing here?” the clone demands, backing away. He’s terrified. Anakin can feel it.

“We believe you were telling the truth about Admiral Rampart,” Riyo replies, “I want you to help me.”

“No. No,” the clone protests, backing away, “I’m leaving once he gets here.”

“Who?” Riyo inquires.

“Someone who can make me disappear, where the Empire can’t find me. How did you even find me? Were you followed? If you can get to me, so can they.”

“Who would have followed us?” Anakin asks.

“The Empire. Rampart sent an – an assassin after us. They already killed Cade. My life is in danger. Yours will be. too.”

Anakin isn’t a stranger to danger – he grew up with it, rivals in it, lives with it. That’s what defines him. He’s not afraid of danger. All that matters is justice, and he will find it. “If what you’re saying is true, we need evidence,” he replies. The assassin thing is unsurprising. Padme had many such encounters in the time of the Republic, too, though he doesn’t understand why there’s no investigation. There should be.

“Those who perished, including the clones who died trying to speak the truth, they deserve justice. Testify before the Senate. Rampart must be held accountable,” Riyo requests.

“You don’t need me,” the clone argues, “The evidence you want is aboard Rampart’s ship. Check the bridge’s command log. I saved a backup to the central system.”

It’s good thinking, though that’s not surprising – the clones have always been thorough. It’s impressive he was able to do this, though. “What’s your name?” Anakin asks. “Can you tell us more about what happened to Cade and this assassin?” It must be one of his brothers. The clones often have pairs or squads that are inseparably close – usually, two, because more than two can’t stick together long.

Rex and Cody.

Echo and Fives.

Jessie and Kix.

All… gone now.

“I’m Slip,” the clone replies, gaze darting around frantically. He’s still panicking. “Cade and I were leaving the clone bar together when an assassin shot at us. It hit him and I barely escaped.”

Anakin’s about to reply when he senses a flicker of something in the Force. Something isn’t right but he can’t place where –

A blaster shot rings out suddenly. It strikes Slip in the chest and he falls. It all happens so fast, too fast for Anakin to react.

“Find cover,” he warns, pushing Riyo to safety behind him as he looks up, the direction the shot came from. Another shot rings out – this time directed at him – but he senses it coming this time, sidestepping right in time.

It’s a sniper then. Someone sent to silence Slip, just like they did with Cade.

He throws a glance back to the clone, unmoving on the ground. He’s already dead, the shot having gone right through his heart. Another clone who died in front of him while Anakin wasn’t able to be fast enough to help him, to save him. As always.

“I need to get out of here,” Anakin says, ducking into the shadows next to Riyo. Her eyes are wide with panic – she’s not like Padme. She’s never been in this kind of danger before.

They take off running together, the assassin still shooting down at them. But the direction of the firing is changing which means the assassin must be on the move. He’s probably coming down here to deal with them. That’s good. As long as he can get Riyo somewhere safe first.

They make it to another room of the building when Anakin senses the person entering. It’s dark and smokey in here, but he doesn’t need that to see. He pushes Riyo into the shadows and takes off himself, tracking where he can sense the assassin.

He isn’t hard to find. He’s dressed entirely in black armor, with a rifle. He’s completely concealed in the shadows as Anakin stealthily creeps up behind him, jumping him before he can go in Riyo’s pursuit.

The assassin hits the floor with a grunt, rifle dropping but he’s clearly just as skilled with physical fighting. They roll across the floor as they fight – This is the person who just killed another one of the clones and Anakin has no intention of letting him get away. The assassin is fast, though. He’s obviously well-trained for this, whoever he is.

Anakin finally shoves him back with the Force into a nearby wall. He stumbles, losing his footing from the force of it. A blaster shot rings out right behind him then and Anakin looks up sharply, but the stun blast hits the assassin instead and he goes down, motionless.

He’s half expecting it to be one of Riyo’s guards who came to his aid, as he slowly turns around. But then the sheer familiarity of the Force presence hits him, the familiar rocky, earthiness of it that he hasn’t felt in so long.

“Rex?” Anakin breathes. It’s him, the clone he fought alongside throughout the entire Clone Wars, the one he trusted so deeply and missed so much. The one he entrusted Ahsoka with when he sent them away to Mandalore together, thinking they would return, and everything would be fine, but he was as wrong about that as everything.

Rex.

Rex himself pauses, pulling his hood back to reveal his face – the same, but older and more worn. “General.” His shock and the faintest tinge of sorrow are radiating into the Force, almost like on some level, he expected to see Anakin here.

“I thought you were dead,” Anakin breathes, moving closer. “The cruiser – I – I’m sorry. All that time, I thought…” He doesn’t even know. Words fail him, and his mind is incapable of processing anything rationally. He’s been on missions before, fought in countless battles. He knows what to do.

“Captain Rex? What is going on?” Riyo asks worriedly. She’s still – understandably – shaken up.

“I was hoping you could tell me. I came to meet a clone contact of mine when I heard the blaster fire,” Rex answers.

“Slip came here to meet you?” Anakin queries, baffled. It should not be too surprising, to be fair – if there was anyone willing to aid clones leaving the Empire, it would be Rex. Though why he never returned is not something Anakin understands, either.

“I’ve been getting out whichever clones want to leave,” Rex replies. The way he keeps looking at him, he obviously wants to talk as much as Anakin does but they need to get somewhere safe and get Riyo out of here. “What happened to Slip?”

“Slip told me about what truly happened on Kamino,” Riyo responds, “I wanted him to testify before the Senate.”

“Someone was sent to make sure that would never happen,” Rex says gravely.

But the question is who? “I do not know if Rampart did this of his own or if the command came from… someone above him,” Anakin interjects. He needs answers to that even if he’s almost afraid to know.

Rex nods, crouching on the floor next to the assassin and pushing a button on his helmet to open it. And it’s – 

What?

Anakin breathes in sharply.

“A clone?” Riyo gasps, “Why would a trooper do such a thing?”

Anakin wants to deny it, to say it’s impossible, but he feels it. He could sense it earlier, too, though he wasn’t sure what it was. This is no ordinary clone. The Force around him is… clouded, in a way entirely foreign to him. The presence is half-empty and twisted in the same way all clones’ are – their aging alters their minds and presences – but it’s fogged over and dark, hidden by something… else.

“Something about him is not right,” Anakin speaks up. He cannot figure out what it is but there’s something wrong with him.

“He’s not a trooper,” Rex agrees, frowning, “I suggest we question him somewhere more hidden. And I have just the place.”

Anakin nods his agreement.

This is the first time they’ve worked together in so long. Over half a year already. He can’t believe it’s been so long. He’s missed him more than words could ever describe but – There is so much he needs to ask him.

They fly down to somewhere in the Underworld together. It’s not an area Anakin is familiar with. When would Rex have learned about it?

“Where is this place?” Anakin inquires.

“It belongs to some friends of mine. Well, they were actually Ahsoka’s friends, but they’ve been helping out.”

His heart flutters. “What happened to her? I never knew. I sent you away to Mandalore, and no one ever came back.”

Rex sighs. “We were sent after her when Order 66 came out. She let Maul out as a diversion. She was only able to get me out. The rest of the cruiser went down.”

Ahsoka let Maul out. “You got the order?” Anakin breathes, heart pounding. “Why? And – and why would you have followed it? You know she’s not a Jedi.” Something’s not right. Rex wouldn’t do that, would he?

“It all goes back to Fives,” he answers, “All the clones have inhibitor chips. I didn’t know what it was until then. I – I tried to stop it, but Sidious said the words, and I… I couldn’t. I shot at her. We shot at her. We nearly killed her.”

Anakin feels faint. He doesn’t think he’s capable of processing this in the slightest. It doesn’t make sense. Why would Sidious have done that? Ahsoka wasn’t a Jedi. She would have understood. Right? He doesn’t know, but…

The clones were mind-controlled. Fives died for nothing. Anakin could have stopped all of this, but he failed. He didn’t.

His master tried to have Ahsoka killed.

His boys – that’s Maul’s doing. Ahsoka’s doing. He doesn’t understand how she could have done that, but she was trying to survive, and she’s not wrong that their boys would have preferred to die than hurt her. She made the choice for them. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.

“You left the Empire?”

“I spent my whole life defending the Republic. Can’t stop now.”

They should deal with it later, Anakin thinks. Maybe – it is hard to accept that he’s working against Rex. In truth, that’s not a reality he can fathom. Anakin always thought he and Rex would fight side by side forever. He knew it would probably not be so simple, because Anakin knew he wouldn’t stay fighting forever if he was going to marry and settle down.

But that doesn’t mean he expected them to end up on opposing sides of the conflict.

A conflict that he no longer even knows where he stands in, after hearing what Sidious had done to Ahsoka. He tried to kill her. He mind-controlled the clones. Anakin can’t forget any of that. And he’s not bringing peace the way he promised even if Anakin knows it’s not that simple. He doesn’t… know what to believe anymore.

Rex restrains the clone assassin and they wait for him to awaken. “Nice of you to join us,” Rex greets stiffly when the clone finally starts to move, “You got a name?”

The clone pointedly looks away from them, ignoring the question.

“You’re not wearing any identifiable markings,” Rex presses, “Who do you work for?”

Silence.

Clearly, he has no intention of talking.

“Don’t want to talk about yourself? Fine. Tell me whose orders you were following and I’ll let you go.”

The clone actually twitches at that. “No you won’t, Captain Rex.” He says the name like he has something personal against him. Anakin has no idea why. “You’re fighting the wrong battle, brother. You’re limited.”

“So what does that make you?” Rex retorts bluntly.

“A believer,” he retorts and then bites down on something. Electricity crackles through his head and Anakin jerks forward instinctively but it’s over in literally a second. His head is smoking and he’s slumped forward, motionless.

Rex darts forwards to check for pulse, but Anakin already feels his presence fading away. It’s too late. He;s gone, along with their only lead. Anakin has seen people take their own lives before, but never a clone. Someone… changed him. He’s a clone, but has no traits of the normal ones. He’s… mindless almost. It’s troubling.

All of this is.

“Slip said Kamino was destroyed by Admiral Rampart,” Anakin says finally, turning to Rex.

“I’ve heard the same from… other sources,” Rex replies, “I knew some survivors.”

Crosshair. Crosshair was there. Anakin makes the mental note to ask him about it, not that it will necessarily matter, if what Rex is saying about the chips is true. “He saved a backup in Rampart’s star destroyer.”

“The strange part is Kamino’s facilities were evacuated before,” Rex adds, “Though we’ve never been able to figure out where those clones were taken.”

“We need to disclose this evidence to the Senate,” Riyo interjects quietly.

Anakin couldn’t agree more, but that worries him, too. This… could be involved higher than he realizes. He doesn’t think Sidious is involved, but he could be wrong. It is hard to imagine an Admiral could do something as significant as destroying Kamino. He must have been, or at least someone high up must have been, and after – after Ahsoka, he can’t help thinking his master may have been more involved than he realized.

Rage flickers up, a raw and living storm, a need to crush and destroy. Sidious hurt Ahsoka, his padawan, his sister – he betrayed him, and Anakin will not let that go. He ripped the galaxy apart. He lied to him. He used him.

Padme will get involved as soon as she hears about this. Anakin needs to find a way to ensure that doesn’t happen. He can’t let her and their children be at risk.

“We’ll need a way on Rampart’s star destroyer,” Rex responds.

“You’ve been working against the Empire for months.” It’s not accusing, exactly, but it still stings. He thought Rex was dead, and Rex probably thought the same about him, but Rex has still been fighting against everything Anakin is building, against him as he tries to reshape the galaxy into something good – not that the Empire is progressing faster than the Republic. It feels more reverse.

“I’m not surprised to see you down here, sir,” Rex confesses, “Ahsoka and I looked for you, but we couldn’t find you, and she thought it was safer for us both to hide.”

That was probably when he was on Mustafar. He’d been there a few days before Sidious contacted him, requesting he return to Coruscant.

Rex’s mind is troubled, weighed down with something heavy. There’s a veiled sorrow in his eyes.

“What is it?” Anakin asks. He loathes how awkward this feels, and the same is true for Rex – Anakin can feel it, and he knows him. Loyalty is everything to the clones, and being divided – it happened on Umbara – is hard. He knows divided loyalty.

“When Ahsoka fought Maul,” he answers, “He told her some things about Sidious. That he wanted you as his apprentice.” Rex sighs. “We… all should’ve known.”

Rex is the first of his family Anakin has seen again. Padme was hurt and furious at him for leaving the Jedi, though that could just as well have been her lashing out from what she viewed as the destruction of the Republic. He thought Obi-Wan would be first. Maybe Ahsoka. He always waited for, expected them to call him out, to condemn him and walk out as Sidious always promised, but that isn’t what he’s doing.

“I made the choices I had to, for the galaxy,” Anakin answers, “And for my family.”

“Sidious is destroying the galaxy,” Rex points out. The way he’s talking isn’t accusing. It’s simply a fact.

He sighs. “I know. That is not what I expected when I joined him.” But now he is his and there’s nothing he can do about it. He’s thought about ending it before – but he talked himself down from even trying just as fast because this is his master and it still felt like disloyalty. But Sidious has betrayed him entirely now.

Rex nods. “That’s what I… expected.”

“I’ll help you with this,” Anakin says finally, “I need to know how far up this goes.” He has to know if Sidious is involved. He can’t help wondering, because it makes sense Sidious would want all evidence of the clones’ mind-control chips wiped out now.

How much has he done to them? To the galaxy? Somehow, it’s always something… more. Something worse. Anakin really had no idea exactly what he was getting into.

Either way, he’ll need Rex’s help to figure this out, and vice versa. Afterward, they can figure out what they are.

Chapter Text

Padme’s been waiting for the update about the clone situation from either Riyo or Anakin as she works on the rest of her one million Senate projects. Like drafting another motion she already knows the Senate is going to ignore – she’s still annoyed that Anakin’s always so stubborn about it when she tries to ask him to talk to Palpatine. She doesn’t understand it.

She misses when things between them were simpler. When pretty much the only time they spent together was happy because it was always so minimal. She knew when she proposed to Anakin in the first place that they make this real, that she wasn’t thinking clearly and that it could easily end badly but she didn’t actually believe it would. But now… everything is so different, at a time she thought things would be happier.

But now the Republic is gone, everything she ever worked for is gone, destroyed by Palpatine – the very person she helped get into power in the first place.

She’s still… brooding about it, really, when she hears Anakin getting back. Hopefully, with news on the situation so she goes to find him.

“Anything?” Padme inquires, going to find him.

Something in his expression looks entirely worn. “Yes. Slip – the clone we were looking for – confirmed what Riyo was saying but he was assassinated before we could get him to safety.”

“Assassinated?”

Really, she shouldn’t be surprised.

Anakin nods. “And it was by another clone but something about him wasn’t right. There is more going on here. I need to get to the bottom of it.” He hesitates. “The information we need to present to the Senate is on board Admiral Rampart’s venator. I made contact with… some others who will be able to retrieve it.”

“Others?” Padme echoes curiously. The way he says it makes her think there’s something more to it.

He glances around almost warily as though afraid someone’s here to overhear them. “This is dangerous, Padme,” Anakin says, stepping closer to her. He looks afraid. She can actually see it in his eyes this time. “Whoever was involved is going to great lengths to ensure this does not get out. I don’t want you and the children in the line of danger and you will be if – if you get involved or if anyone knows that I am.”

He probably isn’t wrong about that. She knows how dangerous the Empire is becoming. The Republic was bad but this is much worse. And she genuinely thought Anakin didn’t even pay attention to that, for how much he acts like he supports the Empire but… maybe that wasn’t fully fair.

She never has had to worry about someone other than herself being in danger before but the twins… She knows they could be.

“I can tighten security here,” Padme offers, anxiety twisting inside of her, “And I’ll be careful but someone has to deal with this in the Senate and Riyo needs support from somewhere.” She can’t just back out of this.

Anakin sighs. He doesn’t look any happier. “Padme, I – This is not only external anymore like the Trade Federation. I know that. If they are already going this far, if – if this goes higher up than Rampart, I don’t know if there is anything that could keep you safe short of leaving with the twins until this passes.”

She stills.

He’s asking her to leave Coruscant?

She wants to instantly argue but she does know how dangerous this is becoming. Luke and Leia is the only thing holding her back from arguing right off. And yet – “Do you think the Emperor is involved?” she asks, bluntly, “You’re closer to him than anyone. Now would be the time to use that to our advantage.” This always upsets him but it’s upsetting to her that it feels like he never wants to intervene where he could.

“He is my master.” Past the bitterness, she can see a lingering fear in her his eyes and that’s what really gives her a pause. He’s mentioned that in passing before and she had questions, but she never thought much of it.

“…What do you mean?”

“This is not for anyone to – to know. he does not want it to be common knowledge,” Anakin replies, still not looking at her.

Dread slowly creeps up on her. “What? What are you talking about?”

“He is a Sith. And now he is my master. I must obey him. That is the way of things. If he is. involved, if he knows what I am doing and does not want me to, he will not be pleased.”

“A Sith?” She wondered because of the “master” term, but it never really clicked until right now. But she still doesn’t understand Anakin’s choices so far or the I must obey him. “You’re his apprentice now?” she settles for finally and Anakin nods.

She knew he was teaching other Force users or something, but he never gave many details and she didn’t press. She just never knew –

“But you were his friend before. That… changed entirely?”

Finally, he turns to face her. “I am his,” he replies, “I know what I – am. I cannot speak to him out of line. If he is involved, if this is part of his plan, I know he will – use you against me. Or my children. I – I don’t want you in that kind of danger.”

And she thinks that for the first time is what slowly starts making everything click into place in her mind.

“You don’t mean master the way you used it for the Jedi, do you?” A sudden numb horror is flooding her.

Anakin wordlessly shakes his head.

He means – He means –

By the goddesses, how did she not notice all this time? It’s been weeks already. But she still – “I don’t understand. How could he do that? How could be make you – You’re more powerful than him, aren’t you?”

“I do not know. And I do not want to risk my – my children or you if I fail. And he knows what I am thinking of.”

Wait –

“How would he know that?”

“He knows. He always knows.”

She doesn’t want to know what that means. How can he even – How did Anakin manage to end up as basically a slave again and she had no idea?

“I thought he intended to make the Empire better so what I was – it did not matter if it helped. But that is not what he is doing, not if he is involved in this, but I must know first.”

Doesn’t matter –

What?

Okay… she thinks she needs more than few moments to process that Palatpine is Anakin’s master.

“Maybe you’re right about me needing to leave,” Padme concedes grudgingly. She doesn’t want this but they’re dealing with a Sith Lord who is the leader of the entire galaxy. Who is apparently enslaving her husband “I can go on leave with the twins, maybe to Naboo.”

Anakin nods, looking visibly relieved.

She goes over to him, wrapping her arms around him. Anakin returns it instantly, holding her tightly. It’s been a ridiculously long time since they’ve done this without tension hanging between them and it feels easier now for the first time since… right after he got back from the Outer Rim sieges.

“I won’t let you be hurt. Or the twins,” he promises fiercely.

He’s intense about everything he says or does. She finds it almost addicting sometimes.

Padme squeezes him back, still content to let him hold her.

She still can’t believe this was happening and she was oblivious to it. And all that time she kept pushing him to talk to Palpatine – She suddenly feels awful now. She had no idea, and she doesn’t get why he never said anything, but… He seems almost afraid of Palpatine, unless she’s reading him wrong, and she doesn’t know how to feel about that.

“Has he – ” She doesn’t even know if she wants the answer to that. “Has he hurt you?”

Anakin stills though he doesn’t let her go. “Sith learn through pain. But not of – consequence.”

They –

What.

He has hurt him? What does he mean not of consequence? Does that mean yes but he’s saying it’s not important? She doesn’t know if she even wants to know though she ought to. They’re family now. She’s never noticed him injured, but…

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she demands.

He breathes out heavily, not replying.

The answer is… understandable enough, she supposes. It’s obviously not an easy thing for him to explain even now and he already said he wasn’t supposed to have said anything about as is.

“I’m not leaving you in this situation,” she says firmly. 

Anakin stiffens. “Padme, do not – I do not want you in danger for me. There is nothing you can do. And if this is where I need to be to help the Empire, it is fine. What matters is determining what happened to Kamino and the clones. We still do not know if my master had anything to do with it.”

The my master has a whole new meaning to her and she doesn’t like hearing it in the slightest. Not to mention how he always used to use that phrase to refer to Obi-Wan, with a totally different meaning behind the words, and… She hates how things have changed with the galaxy and – and everything.

She huffs out a breath, pulling back to look up at him. “Regardless of whether he’s involved in this, he’s still the one who destroyed so much of the Republic. You know that. I can’t stand by and do nothing about it.”

Anakin twitches, stepping back. “Starting another conflict now if we don’t have to will not help anyone.”

“I didn’t mean that,” she objects. He doesn’t need to know just how involved she’s already been in… working on a Senator network in case things go downhill. She hasn’t outright done anything that would be considered illegal and she doesn’t intend to unless things get worse, btu the network is there. In many ways, it feels like the war starting in the first place was because of her, considering what happened on Geonosis. The galaxy is in this much of a mess because of that and she has to do something about it.

People are suffering, and Padme has to help them. She’s the only one who’s able or willing to do anything – okay, that’s not entirely true, but there are many times it certainly feels like it, and she finds it increasingly exhausting. The Senate was always tiring, but with the Clone Wars, it’s built up, and gotten so, so much worse.

“I don’t want to leave you here,” Padme tells him, “If Palpatine is a Sith, he could hurt you.”

“I – I can handle myself.”

She tells herself that every morning, whenever Anakin isn’t home at night. Constantly. She trusts the Goddesses that her husband will be safe, but the worry never stops. “I already lost the Republic. I don’t know how much hope the Empire has of getting any better. I don’t want to lose you, too. Not when we’re so close.”

She doesn’t want to go. Just like so many times, Padme knows what she has to do, but she doesn’t want to.

Anakin’s eyes soften. “I know,” he whispers, hugging her tightly, “But if – if something happens to me, our children deserve at least one of their parents.”

Her heart clenches sharply. “Don’t say that.”

“Well,” Anakin says, smiling a little, though it’s strained and teasing, “You’re a good mother. I was only raised by Mom, too. Can’t say I turned out well.”

Her heart flutters a little. “You turned out fine, Anakin. You’re perfect.”

Anakin laughs. “You’re the Angel.”

Padme laughs, too, despite the heaviness in her heart.

“I’ll come back, okay?” Anakin asks, holding her eyes, pressing their foreheads together. “I promise.”

And like every other time, that’s going to have to be enough.

***

He’s back in the underworld with Rex. It feels wrong to be here. Rex is a traitor to the Empire. He’s doing what he thinks is best, and Anakin trusts him, has faith in him no matter what he is now, but it still feels wrong.

It would be no different than helping a Separatist back in the war. They both know that. He knows how to make… temporary alliances with people, but this is hard. This is Rex and Anakin is overwhelmingly relieved to know he’s alive, but there’s so much more to it. It’s hard to have these feelings, this worry, when it’s about Rex – the one person he always trusted unconditionally.

The air is tense, and they all know exactly how fast downhill it could go. This could be going up against Sidious, and Anakin knows where it might lead, but it’s the right thing to do, so he won’t back down.

He did that too many times with the Jedi. Being a Sith might be a lot of things, but it’s also about being free.

Rex called in the remains of Clone Force 99, and Rex introduces them to each other. They’re traveling with a child now, a blond-haired girl, who allegedly is a clone as well.

“Why are we here?” Hunter inquires, and Rex motions them inside to see the assassin and explain the situation.

“Why would a clone be targeting another clone or a senator?” Echo asks, almost as baffled as Anakin himself is over the entire ordeal.

“To silence us. Admiral Rampart has the entire Senate believing Kamino was lost to a cataclysmic storm. Slip witnessed the truth. I wanted him to testify to Rampart’s crimes,” Riyo explains.

“We were there too, Senator. I can be your witness,” Echo interjects instantly, stepping forward.

“The Senate won’t listen to any of us,” Hunter objects, “We’re deserters.”

Crosshair isn’t. Anakin could talk to him, but with the inhibitor chips and all, he’s not certain how wise that would be. If the wrong person heard word, it could endanger them all. “Slip told me he backed up the information i Rampart’s command log,” Anakin answers, “We need a covert mission aboard to retrieve it.”

“Hopefully more covert than Skako Minor,” Echo replies and Anakin laughs.

“Where’s the Venator now?” Hunter queries. He’s still short and to the point, though there’s a heavy darkness to him he never used to bear. Anakin doesn’t like it. Crosshair’s loss is his guess. Plus, he understands how difficult it is to raise a child. Ahsoka was amazing and the best of his life, but so, so hard.

He knows she’s still out there someday, and he’ll never stop waiting for her to come home.

“Being retrofitted at the Imperial shipyard right here on Coruscant. Lots of security, but I know a way in,” Rex explains.

“Rampart’s Defense Recruitment Bill goes to a vote tomorrow,” Riyo adds, “We must prove his crimes before it passes. I’ll return to the Senate and garner support where I can.”

“That will endanger you farther,” Anakin cautions.

“Then I must be on the right track.”

“I’ll stay with you,” he decides, “We might’ve taken out one assassin, but there could be more.”

“Won’t your… presence with her draw more attention?” Rex inquires.

“You can carry out the infiltration,” Anakin answers, “I could do it myself, but if someone comes after the Senator again, we’ll need someone with security clearance to be close enough to the Senate District.”

“I can go, too,” Omega offers, “If you’re worried about attention, I can blend in. No one will notice me. If I see something, I can contact you.”

“You’ll need a security clearance.”

“That will not be a problem,” Tech interjects.

“Can’t say I expected to see you still with the Empire,” Hunter remarks, offhanded, eyeing him. He’s a little tense. Not as though expecting an attack, but Anakin certainly wouldn’t say he looks comfortable or relaxed. Not the way he did when he was younger.

“I didn’t expect you to desert, either.” Anakin never knew what happened to Clone Force 99, to Echo, and he hadn’t dared to look, either. It was easier not to know if they died. He hadn’t known until Cody told him about Crosshair.

“If you’re Imperial, why are you helping us?” Echo asks. They’re all on edge, and it’s fair, because he could easily report them, but it still hurts. They used to be friends. Family, even, but now, all he has are Padme and his twins. Everyone else is… gone on some varying level.

“It’s the right thing to do.” He uncrosses his arms, turning away from the dead assassin’s body – his mind still feels of darkness and death, even after he’s gone, and Anakin is terrified to know what that means. “Omega, we should sync our comms. You will have to contact me if you see a threat, assuming I don’t sense it first.” It’s unlikely he won’t, but he has no way of knowing where in the building he’ll be, either. Sidious will no doubt want him nearby. It’s not his place to intervene in the Senate proceedings. That is the Senator’s role – Anakin doesn’t get involved in politics – but he can try to help her find supporters and know where to look.

“So,” Omega asks when he kneels to dial their frequencies into each other’s comms, “How do you sense things?”

“You feel them,” Anakin answers without looking up at her. Padme asked him how the Force felt to him, and it had been a difficult question to answer. “In my heart. The same way you know what you see or smell.”

“What does the Force feel like?” He’s almost surprised she even knows the name. Better than Jedi osik as the clones always called it.

“Like fire. Everything is burning. I know when it dies, and when it kindles. But this fire is… wild.” There’s danger ahead for all of them. Anakin doesn’t know what that means, but it worries him as it always does.

But to focus on the mission, he needs to assess how well-prepared Omega is. “What kinds of training do you have?”

“My brothers trained me. I have my energy bow. I can use blasters. And knives. I know how to fly, but Tech won’t let me.” She side-eyes her brother, who’s entirely lost in his datapad and thoroughly oblivious they’re discussing him.

“She’s good at strategy,” Hunter interrupts, his protective mode already kicking in. “If you need her to keep an eye out, she can do it.”

That’s not what he’s afraid of. It’s her being caught in the crossfire of another assassin that concerns him. She’s not a Jedi, or a fully trained soldier. She’s somewhere between that and a civilian. Mostly, too young to have to be dragged into a life like this. But Hunter is a good leader, and Anakin respects that. “Alright. Then let’s head back for the Senate.”

***

Omega’s young and curious, Anakin will give her that. She’s bright in the Force, not active, but bright enough he questions a little of her sensitivity level. It is almost surprising she was never found and taken from Kamino, but he’s glad she wasn’t – she belongs with her brothers, with her family, and if she were at the Temple and a Jedi, she would have been killed that night.

He would’ve killed her that night. Him or her brothers.

She would’ve killed her brothers, too.

Omega’s taken to Riyo already, and Anakin shadows them around distantly. Bail Organa points Riyo to Halle Burtoni, and she and Omega attend a meeting in Riyo’s apartment. Anakin keeps his careful distance, trying not to be seen or overly noticed. It’s evening now and he knows Rex and the others are safely on the works. Still, it won’t be long.

Padme could be a big help here, but them parting ways temporarily is far safer for everyone.

He aches to see his children again, wants that more than anything, but right now, he’ll be staying here overnight.

After the Kaminoan leaves, Riyo invites them to stay overnight, though she doesn’t have an available guest bedroom.

“I’ll stay out here,” Anakin tells her, “It’s safer.” That’s what happened with Padme. They have to pull all-nighters frequently, and often meditate while doing so.

“I’ll take the floor,” Omega offers, and they both stop to look at her. Stare at her, really. “…what?” she asks self-consciously. “I’ve always slept on the floor.”

Anakin once wouldn’t have seen anything wrong with it, either, and there really isn’t, but that is not… normal. The Jedi had beds. That’s a normal part of living, even if Anakin and his mother went without on Tatooine.

Of course, her brothers can’t give her that even, when they’re living in a cramped, filthy ship and no home of their own, constantly on the run.

“Not even when you were on Kamino?” Riyo inquires. She’s upset, too.

“Well, I had a crib when I was very little, to keep me from crawling away, but I outgrew that a long time ago. But I have my own room. Not even my brothers have that.”

The Marauder only has one main room. It’s not closed off, except the cargo hold and ‘fresher. That they managed that itself is impressive. They would do anything for her. Just as they once did anything for Ahsoka.

She has so little, but she’s content.

Omega, Anakin thinks, is the first person that makes him really wonder, really question – the Empire is hurting her, has hurt her, and he believes in it and what he does, but there are still people he is hurting, and she is one of them.

How many others are there? Innocent, possibly a little misguided, but roped into fighting or resisting the Empire.

“You can stay in my room,” Riyo offers, “If there’s a risk someone’s after me, I could use the protection. There’s no better way to assassinate someone.” Anakin can feel she’s nervous, but determined. She’s not giving up.

“Make sure you get some rest, little one,” Anakin reminds, squeezing her shoulder.

“I’m not little,” Omega protests. “I’m thirteen.”

His brows shoot up. “Rex is fourteen.”

“Nala Se never altered my aging. I’m older than most of my brothers.”

Having a virtually infinite number of younger siblings sounds terrifying, though Anakin wouldn’t know, because he’s never had any siblings, period. “The point stands,” he replies, “Get some rest.”

He has to try very, very hard not to think about how Crosshair is alone on the same planet.

***

Anakin waits in the Senate’s doorway in tense silence, watching the proceedings. He can sense they’re already on the way to meet up with Omega, where she’s waiting in the underworld for their return, but they’re still far away. Too far.

All Riyo can do until she arrives is buy time. Anakin wishes he could’ve dropped word off with a clone who could testify, but the only one legally able is Crosshair, who they can’t afford alerting.

She accuses Rampart of having Kamino intentionally eliminated, and Anakin feels the flicker of his fear in the Force. He knew there was a risk to this, though not how pressing it was. He wishes there was a way for him to get a voice in these proceedings, too – the Jedi once would have, but there is no point constantly missing a part of his past gone forever.

“I motion that Senator Chuchi be removed from these proceedings, and she be censured for her misconduct,” one of the present senators calls out.

“Oh, noi!” Jar Jar, of all people in the galaxy, protests, bringing his own pod forwards – as a representative, he’s in charge until Padme returns. “Mesa thinken Senator Chuchi hassa valid point!”

Anakin can feel the Senate’s nearly collective groan. Jar Jar rarely speaks in the Senate, but his childish destructiveness should buy a little bit more time. Padme asked him to help out if he could. Omega’s in the building now.

“Maybe shesa bein’ right! Maybe Admiral Rampart issa manipulating oursa head-thoughts with lies and misinformation!”

Voices ring through the Senate, trying to interrupt but he keeps talking.

“The clones are bombad warriors. Theysa won oursa unfortunate, unfortunate bang-bang conflict. If there issa a chance hesa had them killed, wesa owe it to them to – ”

The exclamations are drowning out everything he’s saying now and that’s when Anakin finally sees Omega.

Bail takes what she brings him and he turns the recording on, displaying it to the Senate. Anakin watches numbly as the laser fire rains down on the Kaminoan cities and they start collapsing, falling into the ocean. It didn’t feel so real until right now. And he highly doubts that Rampart took action this extreme without someone above him giving the orders.

An alarm chimes through the Senate suddenly, the floor parting to let the Emperor’s pod rise into the Senate. His heart lurches instantly and he ducks back into the shadows, watching warily as Sidious’ hooded figure warily. He doubts his master can see him from here but he can probably sense him, just as clearly as Anakin senses him. He’s not doing anything wrong by being here but he’s still afraid Sidious is going to know, as he always does.

“It would appear that Senator Chuchi’s assertions are correct,” Sidious says, and his voice sends a chill through him now. He misses Palpatine. Misses his gentleness. Sidious still shows that side sometimes but it’s not the same anymore. He’s not his friend. “This unprovoked attack on Kamino was a cowardly act by Admiral Rampart to further his own personal agenda.”

Was it, or is Sidious just saying that? Something about the words does not feel true.

“Guards, arrest and detain the Admiral,” the Sith orders and the Coruscant guard move forward immediately, climbing into Rampart’s Senate pod to drag him away.

“I was following orders!” Rampart protests and Anakin can feel his panic, “I was – ” The rest of his words are cut off but Anakin knows that isn’t a lie. He feels betrayed. Someone did tell him to do this.

And he definitely deserves to be arrested after what he did but that doesn’t change that someone is just using him to take the fall for their own actions. His gaze slowly shifts back to Sidious as he keeps talking, going on about how disturbed he is by these revelations.

“Admiral Rampart will face consequences for his treachery. However,” his master continues, “He did not act alone. The fact that the clones under his command so blindly followed orders, inflicting such carnage without hesitation, gives me pause.”

Wait – he just – what?

He’s blaming the clones for blindingly following orders when he’s the one who had mind-control chips implanted in them? When he’s the one activated them in the first place? Sidious did this, didn’t he? And now he’s acting like the clones somehow had a choice?

Of course, he is – that doesn’t surprise Anakin nearly as much as it fills him with a blinding, unfiltered rage. The galaxy needs an Empire, an emperor, but one who will take care of the people. That’s why he helped form the Empire in the first place. For the people. To help them when no one did.

“Perhaps it is time for a change. Now more than ever, building a strong galaxy requires protection and security. Due to the nefarious actions of Admiral Rampart and the immediacy of the bill on the floor today, it is my opinion that this legislation is our future. With this momentous act, we shall usher in a new era, heralded by the Imperial stormtrooper.”

That – this is what it was all about, wasn’t it? Sidious wants the stormtrooper program. It’s certainly far less questionable than continuing to use the clones – a slave army ­– but he can’t believe the clones are being treated fairly anymore. Something else is happening to the ones who are disappearing. The assassin they ran into more than proves that.

But Sidious did this. He knows what’s happening. Anakin can’t doubt that anymore. He knows how crafty his master is. And he knows what it means. The Empire is not going to prosper, to be what it was supposed to be so long as Sidious is in control.

“What?!” Omega hisses beside him, horrified.

Anakin wishes there was something he could say to her, but his mind is of nothing but rage. He would like to help her, but that is her brother’s role. Sith are not pleasant. They aren’t supposed to be supportive.

They fall back from the Senate after the meeting’s over.

Anakin turns off to drop by Jar Jar, who instantly smiles brightly when he sees him. “Good job,” he praises, smiling, no matter how strained it feels.

“Ani!” Jar Jar greets eagerly, “Mesa so smilen’ to see yousa here!”

“It’s good to see you too, Jar Jar,” he replies. One friend he didn’t lose but – That doesn’t change that his family is gone.

“Mesa hoping to stop the rest of the bill,” he says and he’s obviously disappointed. Anakin expects Padme must have had a long talk with him about that before going. 

“You did the best you could,” Anakin assures him, trying to ignore how hollow and empty he still feels inside. All of this was Palpatine’s plan and they played right into it.

“Messa always gladden to help,” he replies cheerily.

His cheerfulness is always contagious. It’s enough for him to manage a small smile, even if it’s not one he truly feels.

***

They’re back in the Underworld now, so Anakin can see the others off.

Rex sighs. “Palpatine was one step ahead of us in the war and he’s still several steps ahead of us. We played right into his hands.” As always. And Anakin can see easily how much the same was… true about him.

Rex glances sideways at Anakin for a moment. Anakin’s pretty sure he’s thinking along the same lines. It just reminds him of how they’re still technically on opposite sides and it hurts. Rex was always at his side for over three years and now he’s just not anymore.

“I don’t understand,” Omega says, frustrated, “We did the right thing. We told the truth.”

“That’s what he wanted,” Anakin replies numbly.

“The Emperor wanted us to implicate Rampart to get what he was after all along,” Rex agrees bitterly, “Senate approval of his stormtrooper program.”

“The fate of all the clones is now sealed because of us,” Echo agrees.

Anakin still needs answers about what’s happening to them. “I’ll see what I can find from my end,” he interjects, “If any of you ever need my help, you will have it.”

Rex nods. He doesn’t seem surprised.

“I still don’t understand, sir,” Echo speaks up, turning to him, “Why would you support the Empire?” He’s also not happy and that hurts almost as much. Echo was once one of his closest friends among his boys.

“The Republic was falling. I saw it for years. The galaxy doesn’t need another war if it can be avoided.” This peace is what he fought for, for years. It’s what he lost so much to get to. It’s what he destroyed so much to get to and he can’t believe all of that was for nothing. It can’t have been. “The Empire is not… what I thought it was going to be, but I want to stay and make it better in whatever ways I can.”

“But Palpatine destroyed the Jedi,” Echo objects.

That is something he doesn’t want to begin getting into. Of how – everything the Jedi did, everything he did there, or how every last one of the brothers Echo knew is dead there because of the Jedi.

“They did commit treason,” Anakin replies quietly.

“They did?” Rex asks, taken aback.

Hunter and Echo are both staring at him now.

“They were going to seize control of the Republic. They did try to assassinate the Chancellor. I was there,” Anakin replies, trying not to let his mind spiral back to that day, the day that destroyed his life. There is so much more he could tell them about that but now is hardly the time. Or place. And the truth is, he’s beginning to see why there are so many who have no hope the Empire will get better. “But I know the Empire has hurt all of you and I will stand by while they hurt more of your brothers. If you need help with anything, I will be there.”

He glances past Echo and Rex, to Hunter.

“That… is true for you too, Hunter.” He contemplates mentioning that he ran into Crosshair but decides against it. Whatever the reason they aren’t together anymore, it can’t be easy for any of them to think about. Hearing where Crosshair is might just make that worse. He doesn’t know what happened.

Hunter looks a little startled at the offer. He still seems a little wary but Anakin can’t blame him for that. “Thank you, sir.”

“I know raising a child isn’t easy, especially in these kinds of circumstances,” Anakin adds. His heart aches thinking of Ahsoka – of the times they were together.

Hunter nods. “It’s not easy, but we make it work.”

“I will keep fighting for the clones,” Riyo speaks up, “You all deserve the same rights as every citizen.” She steps forward, momentarily crouching in front of Omega. “I won’t give up.”

“If you need anything Rex, just say the word,” Hunter says, before approaching Echo, laying a hand on his shoulder. “Wherever you end up, remember what I said.”

Wherever he –

Oh.

He’s leaving, isn’t he? Coming to join the fight?

Omega steps closer, frowning in obvious confusion.

“Don’t get into trouble without us,” Wrecker says, nudging Echo’s shoulder.

“Without us?” Omega echoes, her frown growing.

“Best of luck, Echo,” Tech adds, as the boys turn to head back for the ship.

“Luck with… what?”

“I’m going with Rex,” Echo explains, “The clones will need our help now more than ever. I can’t turn my back on them.”

Anakin steps back to give Echo and Omega privacy as she says goodbye. Seeing how upset she is about him leaving hurts. It reminds him of – of when Ahsoka left. He understood and it was for the best for her, with how much she struggled during the war.  Doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt.

Anakin had gone through the same thing, too, when he was younger. With his mother – it was hard, but he knew it was what he had to do. He understands how it feels for families to be taken apart, and it is always hard. It hurts to see it happening to another when he’s been there himself.

The Empire is the one tearing the Batch apart, though. It’s because of them Echo is leaving his squad, the squad that gave him a home when he wouldn’t have fit s easily back into the 501^st.

He waits to speak again until Omega has gone back to the Marauder, and it takes off, flying away.

Anakin turns back to Rex and Echo. This is goodbye now, as much as he might not want it to be. Finally he approaches Rex, taking his arm in the clone handshake. Rex returns the grip firmly. He wants to say something to him, but words fail him entirely.

Rex is the first to speak. “Are you… alright, sir?”

The question almost startles him. No one’s asked him that in – a long time. Padme has on occasion, but aside from her, it’s been months.

“It’s… different without you there,” he replies quietly. There’s so much he could say to that, to even begin voicing the loneliness and pain that have been tearing him apart all this time, but… now isn’t the time for it.

“I could tell you the same.”

“I will… be around,” Anakin tells him, stepping back. He hates how awkward this everything feels now but at least… He will be working with Rex a little going forwards, even if it’s nothing like how it used to be anymore.

Maybe that will change eventually, but he doesn’t want to hope. All he can do is believe that the Force is going to take him wherever he needs to be, even if he doesn’t understand any of what had to happen to get him there.

***

Vacations on Naboo are always relaxing but Padme can’t find any of it at all this time. Not when she’s so worried about the situation in the Senate and about Anakin. She doesn’t know what’s happening to him and she’s worried about him, especially after what he told her. She doesn’t know how he was in that kind of situation and she never even knew it. It still hardly feels like it could be real. Her own husband is basically enslaved, even if it’s not officially, and there’s nothing she can do to help. Not when Palpatine has all the power.

She’s still trying to keep up with her Senate work from here, in between trying to spend some time actually taking care of the twins – usually her handmaids or Anakin take care of them – because she never has time for that on Coruscant. And then she feels the sound of a ship approaching.

Anakin’s back.

Finally.

It’s Anakin and her heart flares as she scrambles outside to meet him. “Anakin,” she breathes, skidding to a stop in front of him. The weight look in his eyes is still there, just like before. “You’re… here.”

He pulls her into his arms without another word and she leans her head against him. She missed the days where this is always how they greeted each other, before politics started getting in the way. Anakin hasn’t been in a good mental state for a while now. Now that she’s finally had sometime away from the Senate to just think, she thinks that’s been true for a very long time now.

“What happened?” she inquires finally, even if she’s almost reluctant to break up the moment. Anakin gave her life a light that she never had before.

“We exposed Kamino to the Senate. Palpatine used the clone’s involvement in that to push the stormtrooper bill through.” He sounds so bitter as he says it.

Padme stills, a surge of wild indignation flooding her. She should have known. Of course, he would do that and it feels like she’s reliving the start of the war all over again. Why does it feel like when it comes to Palpatine, they always lose? “I can’t believe he’s doing this again. There has to be something we can do.”

“Something is happening to the clones they are sending away,” Anakin replies, “If we can find out what it is, that may be enough for you to do something in the Senate. There is… nothing more direct we can do against Sidious. Not – not now.”

“We can hope,” Padme concedes, sighing. She’s tired of waiting for this. She wants something to change now even if she’s had to grow used to patience with so many years in the Senate. “But I can’t leave my place in the Senate for long.”

Anakin sighs, eyes so weighted. “I know. I don’t… know what to do. I feel… lost.”

She reaches up, laying a hand on his arm. He said something similar to her not long before everything fell but she never gave it nearly as much attention as maybe she should have. “What do you mean?”

“I thought following Palpatine was the right thing to do. I didn’t want to do everything he asked of me but it was too late. The Empire is what I fought for. I thought it could be made better but it’s – it’s not.”

She feels so much of that. “I trusted Palpatine for years, too. I still can’t believe what he’s become, or what he’s doing to you. I suppose we’ll figure it out together.”

He smiles faintly, though he still looks worn. “Yes. But that will not keep you or the children safe.”

“Anakin, we can’t let fear rule our lives.”

“This is not a baseless fear. I know my master. I know masters. What we are talking about doing – it is directly against him. He will not tolerate it if he learns more.”

Genuinely, she’s never heard Anakin sound so afraid of someone before. Or of anything. He always seemed so sure of himself. She doesn’t know how that changed, and she never saw any of it. Maybe because they never really knew each other in the first place, and she’s really starting to realize that now. She wishes they could have sometime to just be but then she thinks about the state of the galaxy and… It’s not really possible. Like always.

“I could resign in the Senate but – There’s so much to do. I don’t want to leave it yet,” she admits honestly.

“I… understand. I just don’t want you to get hurt.” His hands drop to her arms, still holding onto her.

“I know. I’ll be careful, whatever I do. Extra careful. I promise.” It is a real concern and she’ll do what she can to take it seriously.

Anakin nods, looking away.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, frowning.

“You and the children are all I have left.”  He sounds so… broken.

It makes her heart ache and she leans forwards, wrapping her arms around him again. “Nothing’s going to happen to… any of us. I’ll make sure of it. We waited this long to be together.” Maybe that’s more of her dream-reality than reality, but she has to say something.

She doesn’t know what to say to him about everything he’s lost. She can’t promise he’s going to get it back when she doesn’t know that. She doesn’t even know if Obi-Wan or Ahsoka are still alive, even if she doesn’t want to think about it.

“Our entire marriage worked because of a dream,” she says a little teasingly, “Maybe this time, this will work out for the same reason.”

Anakin cracks a genuine smile this time. “Maybe it will.” At least this time he sounds hopeful, unlike he has so much of the time before. “We can go back to Coruscant together unless you want to stay here a little longer.”

“Maybe… for a day,” Padme suggests, “So we have time to be together.” And so she can keep Anakin away from Palpatine a little longer.

“That would be… nice,” Anakin agrees, glancing away from her, to the grassy field surrounding them. They’re at the Lake House, the place they first started. The balcony they’re standing on… This is where everything began. From the distant look of happiness in Anakin’s eyes, he’s obviously thinking of the same thing. “I’ve wanted to come back here for a long time. This is where I thought we would live once we had a family.”

“Me too,” Padme admits, “Let’s stay. At least for a day.” She’s almost rethinking her decision not to retire but – only almost. Reality will come back soon but she wants to cling to this moment for now and just stay with Anakin, especially when it’s the first time he’s looked almost happy in so long.

Maybe it won’t last and they still have an Empire to destroy, but at least they’ll be doing it together, and she’ll enjoy this momentary reprieve from it while it lasts.