Chapter Text

Chapter 1: A Cup of Tea

“Master Windu, I must talk with you.”

“What is it, Skywalker? We are in a hurry. We have just received word that…Skywalker?”  

Mace stopped when the man he was talking to wavered on his feet. Skywalker clutched at the clothing over his chest, and he looked two seconds away from collapsing. Mace was going to wave for someone in the hangar to come help him. Order the knight to go to the Halls of Healing. But before he could twitch, an alarm started buzzing in the knight’s pocket. Skywalker reflexively moved to silence the alarm, but Mace got to it first. 

It was a standard issue comlink, but the contact that was calling him was the Senator Amidala. Mace knew, of course, that Skywalker was in regular contact with the Naboo delegate. He’d heard many rumors around the temple and amongst his own battalion about their relationship. And he did have eyes, so Mace was suspicious that whatever the Senator had to say would make him want to cover his ears and pretend he hadn’t heard it. But then, she was a Senator, and Jedi were servants to the republic. It could be important. He pushed the button to accept the call.

“Greetings, Senator Ami-dala,” Mace broke off when the hologram that appeared in front of him grabbed her stomach and winced in pain.  

“Ani!” she called out.  

“Knight Skywalker is here.” Mace said. “He’s taken ill suddenly, but he is here.” 

Mace looked over to Skywalker who was standing up again, leaning against Master Fisto, and looking quite pale. His worried eyes flashed back and forth between Mace and the Senator’s Holo.  

Mace looked back to Amidala. “Where are you?”

“My…Partment. It’s getting bad. Please help!”  

Mace looked up at the nearby Masters. Masters Kolar and Tiin were standing around looking at him, and Master Fisto still held up Skywalker.  

“We’re going to postpone our objective today,” Mace paused, and Master Tiin nodded. “Call an ambulance, and see if the healers have a transport to send any quicker.” He said to Kolar, who immediately had a comlink out.  

“What are we going to do?” Master Fisto asked.  

“Suicide,” Mace joked. He knew it wasn’t the time, but he’d heard Master Kenobi complain enough about Skywalker’s piloting, especially under duress. “Can you fly?” He asked Skywalker, who was standing on his own now.  

“Yes, of course.” Skywalker looked up to the gunship in the hangar bay, waiting to be boarded. Mace thought about it a second, then he grabbed the man and pointed him towards a smaller vessel, a two seated speeder. He did not need the headache of the news coming out that the Jedi burst into a coruscant residential district in the gunship.  

Skywalker didn’t complain, and he climbed in and activated the speeder, giving Mace just enough time to jump in beside him, waving to Fisto, who he knew would help the others do what they needed to get them the help they needed.  

Anakin jumped down off of the speeder when he landed, leaving it running behind him. He could feel Master Windu reach over and stop the engine, while he left it.

The Master was silent, and well composed, considering the turns and tricks Anakin had just put him through to get through traffic. If he was Obi-Wan he surely would have lost his lunch after the first turn, and be lecturing him now about ‘proper piloting’ and obeying the airspace rules.  

Sure, Anakin knew that the last turn he made was probably illegal, but he had High General Windu with him. If there's ever a time to use the grand get out of jail free card, it's now.

“Padme!” Anakin called out when he approached the door to his wife's apartment. Master Windu was behind him. Anakin hesitated. If he used his code to open the door now, it would be hard to explain later. But he remembered the dreams he had been having, and the fear that surged in him when she called and he realized she was in pain now. That this was happening now, of all times!

A hand came up behind Anakin and touched his shoulder. The calming energy he hadn't realized was even there was coming from Master Windu.  

“It's okay. This isn't my first field delivery. But the sooner we get to her, the better.”

“Yeah,” Anakin agreed. He typed in his code and the door unlocked.

Two steps into the apartment and there was a voice “Master Anakin. It is so good that you are here. Mistress Padme is… I do not have the programming to diagnose her issues, but I am sure it is getting serious.”

“Three-pio! Where is Padme?” Anakin shouted when the droid wouldn't stop talking.

“She is in the bedroom. I offered to get her something to drink, but then she threw the glass at me.”

Anakin rushed ahead, but Windu stopped and said to C3-PO, “You can help by getting us clean towels and by sterilizing a knife for me.”

“Oh! There are clean towels in the bathroom. Anakin can help you find them. I am afraid I don't have the programming to do the other thing you asked for.” C3-PO sounded abashed.

“But you can boil water, to make tea and the like?” Windu asked and C3-PO nodded.

“Would you like some tea?”

“Yes, only instead of adding leaves, once the water is boiling, put this in the pot instead.” Windu pulled a blade out of his pocket, and handed it to the droid. “Leave it in the boiling water for ten minutes, then drain the water and bring me the knife.” 

“Metal tea. Organics, alright I will do what you ask.” C3-PO animatedly waved his arms, but he took the knife into the kitchen.

Windu turned back to Anakin and followed him to the bedroom.

“Padme,” Anakin ran to her side.

“Anakin, something’s wrong w…” her breath got stolen when she saw the Jedi Master who followed Anakin into the room.  

“Hello senator. My colleagues should be arranging medical transport for you, but unfortunately the traffic is heavy out there. We barely made it here.” 

She turned an accusing eye at Anakin who blushed.  

“But it's okay. I have delivered younglings before. Now, may I ask, have you timed the contractions?”

“No, you don't understand. It's too early. I'm not due for another month ye-ahhhh” her words were cut short by a scream. Anakin reached out to her. She gripped his flesh arm and screamed.  

Master Windu calmly consulted the time-unit on his wrist. It angered Anakin. In a few moments the pain that had seized Padme relented and she let go of his arm.  

“If it’s not too inconvenient for you,” Anakin bit. 

“Fourty Four seconds in duration. We’ll have to see the time when the next contraction starts, to know more clearly, but I do not think we’ll have too much longer to wait. And it’s okay, 34 weeks is early, but only slightly pre-term. Plus, with twins, early is more the norm.”

Anakin’s mouth went dry.  

“Twins!” Padme recited.

“You weren’t aware?” Master Windu asked.  

Padme and Anakin exchanged a few quick, shocked glances.  

“It is something they can usually tell you after an ultrasound. Did your Obstetrician check that the babies are in the cephalic position?” Master Windu asked.

Anakin just stood there looking back and forth between them like they were talking in a foreign tongue.  

“I've done self checks. I think everything is good.”

“Did your doctor show you how to do this?”

“I… I didn't get any prenatal care. I’m a public figure, and I didn't want the rumor mill to focus on uh ahhh!” Padme pulled on Anakin’s outfit, because his hand wasn't available.

Anakin rushed to give her a hand, and pulled his robe out of her hands. He did not need the implications of any of his clothing coming off now. Not in front of the Jedi Master.

“Two minutes, not long at all,” Windu muttered under his breath.

When the contraction was over, Windu stepped up to the bed. “If I may?” He reached a hand over Padme’s stomach. Then he reached out with the Force. Anakin tried to follow what he was doing, but his mind was too unfocused to see more than Master Windu’s energy.  

“Clear your mind,” he instructed.

And he did. This time Anakin could feel more.  

The Master seemed to almost be playing with the life-force of energy that was so bright it was almost blinding. Then he moved along, and Anakin wondered where he was going for a moment, until he came across another baby’s foot. “This one needs to be facing the other way.” He used a gentle Force push, and the baby was turning in the womb. “There you go.”  

Anakin reached with his mind to the second youngling. The one he hadn’t known to feel for before, when he was just checking because he was curious. It was a boy! Suddenly his and Padme’s disagreements over the gender of the baby made sense. Then something happened! The muscles all around the baby tightened, and it began to push the baby down. Anakin reached out his hand with a calming wave, to sooth the muscles and stop the contraction, but Windu reached out and stopped him.  

“Trust me, you don’t want to stop this.” He said with all seriousness.

Anakin came to, realizing Padme was grabbing his mechanical hand in her pain. He reached out to stroke her hair, then said, “But I have to stop it. In my dreams she… She didn’t survive the birth.”

“You think they're prophetic dreams?” Anakin nodded. “It’s a little late to stop this now. At this point, if you prolong labor, the babies could die.” Padme gripped Anakin with fear and pain now. “Time is a very fickle thing. Reading a prophecy is hard. Tell me more. Often the smallest details matter the most. Were we here, in this room?”

“No.” Anakin looked around in confusion. “She was in some kind of medical unit. You weren’t in it, but Obi-Wan was there.”

“Well that explains everything then.” Anakin didn't understand the interruption, but Windu continued. “What healer would let that man deliver a baby. There's a reason your former Master never got called on to work in the healing wards.”

Padme loosened her grip, as her contraction ended.

“He doesn't have the touch,” Windu continued.

“So you're saying that it won't happen. Because you're here instead of Obi-Wan,” Anakin demanded.  

Windu hesitated. Then he said, “It's much less likely. I have done this before, and by everything I can sense, it's all going well. Now, come Skywalker, show me where the bathroom is?” Windu turned to Padme, “We are going to need to prepare. We’ll be right back.”

Anakin followed him into the hallway. He shuffled a bit, thinking about what he needed to say. If he wanted the Jedi to not assume the younglings were his, he'd have to establish a story now. 

“I just wanted to say, thank you for helping her,” Windu nodded. “When she told me about her baby, a couple days ago, she asked for my help, and I felt, I mean I didn't know how much help I'd be. You know, I volunteered a couple of times in the creche, and I have a little bit of medical training. But it doesn't make me an expert.”

“You know you could have come to the council to ask us for help.” 

“Yeah,” Anakin swiped a hand through his hair. “If the Senator gave me permission, I would have.” Windu just stared at Anakin. After a few seconds he added, “So, you just need to tell me what I can do to help. Whatever it is, I'll do it.”

“Okay,” Windu whispered. “Do you remember, after Geonosis, when you lost your arm? When the healers had to insert the neural nodes in your arm for the prosthetic to work, and we didn't have enough sedatives for all the injured from that battle, so they had to do yours awake?”

Anakin nodded. Of course he remembered the most painful experience in his life. Actually the experience was one of a few he and the Master In front of him shared where they weren't at odds or clearly annoyed by the other. Obi-Wan did try to stay by Anakin’s side through the procedure, even though the sights made him nauseous and the stress made him want to scream, but then the council needed him for something, and Master Windu volunteered to step into his role. 

“If you remember the breathing exercises healer Che showed you, and you can show them to the Senator, it will help.” Master Windu went on.

“Of course. It's not going to be as bad as that?” Anakin asked with pleading eyes.

Master Windu just turned to pick up a stack of towels. His eyes looking down on Anakin were so full of condescension it would be apparent to anyone without the Force.

Anakin followed Windu back to the bedroom. “Three-pio,” he greeted the droid who was standing in the room with a cup on a tray.

C3:PO stepped up to Windu and offered him the cup. “Jedi Master, your tea. Prepared exactly as you specified.”

Master Windu did not smile. But there was a look. It came and disappeared very quickly but Anakin thought he saw tiny wrinkles appear by the man's eyes.  

“Thank you.” Windu took the cup. “And my knife?”

C3:PO moved the top layer of the tray he carried, and under it was the knife.

“Thank you, you may place the tray here,” Windu instructed.

Anakin glanced at the cup when he walked past him to get to Padme's side, and it looked to be just a cup of hot water.

Chapter Text

Chapter 2:  A Change 

“We’re here,” Kit Fisto sang as he entered the apartment.  He saw Mace washing his hands in a bathroom sink in a room that opened up to a hallway.  “Did we miss the whole show?”  

“Mother and babies are all well.  She had twins.  Skywalker is with them now.” Mace announced.  

“Good, Good.”  Fisto waved the healers on, as they ran past him to go do their duties.  “Twins?” 

Mace’s eyes opened wide to communicate the shared thought.   They both followed the healers into the room.  

Padme Amidala was sitting on the bed, while one healer used the Force to check her health.  Anakin stood beside her, looking over protectively at another healer who used a scale and medical gizmos to check on the two human infants.  

“We tried to send an ambulance, but it would never have arrived here in time,” Kit shared.  “It seems His Honor, the Chancellor, has enacted some type of blockade uptown, and the only transport getting through it is with military insignia.”

Mace turned a disapproving eye to him and asked, “So how did you get through?”  

Kit hesitated.  “We took the gunship.”   Mace grabbed his forehead the way he does when he gets a headache.  “We haven’t received news yet to suggest why he ordered the blockade.  I guess we can ask him when we go there.”

Anakin sighed, “Oh I was going to tell you something about the Chancellor.  I- I think he’s a Sith Lord.”

“A Sith Lord?” Mace repeated, his voice clearly stunned.

“Yes, I think he’s the one we’ve been looking for.” Anakin clarified.

“How do you know this?” Mace asked.

“Well, he admitted to having some type of Mentor who taught him about the dark side.  And he wanted me to train with him,”  Anakin said with a look of distaste.  

Mace growled, “Then our worst fears have been realized.  We must move quick, if the Jedi order is to survive.”

“No wait,” Padme spoke up.  “You intend to go in there, sabers raised and arrest the Chancellor of the Republic.  That'll never work.  And if it does, it wouldn't be legal.”

There was a moment where Mace furrowed his brow, trying to figure out what she was saying.  

“Look at it this way.  You know Palpatine is smart and good with politics.  You know he made himself the Chancellor of a government with Jedi involvement a long time ago.  If he didn't foresee you all bashing into his office when he took the role, he does now, after he confessed to Anakin.”

“Then what should we do?” Mace asked.

“Let me make a few calls.” Padme ushered with a hand movement and Anakin handed her a comlink from the bedside table drawer.

Kit said, “Then, since we have time, I want to meet the little ones.”  

Mace rolled his eyes.  

Anakin came over and he introduced him.  “This boy is Luke, and that is Leia, she’s a girl.”

“Oh, I can feel them burning in the Force.  They will be active fry, that’s for sure.”

“Yes, I promised their mother I’d help them.”  

“Stop.”  Mace came over clutching his head.  “Stop claiming they’re not yours.  We can all see it with our own eyes.”  

Anakin inhaled deeply.  “I told you that she asked me to help her with the pregnancy when I got back from the Outer Rim Sieges."

“It’s not that big a deal.  You’ve- ah.”  The headache that Mace had was clearly a bad one.  

“You have an exception.” Kit tried.  “The same sort that Master Ki-Adi-Mundi has.  I wasn’t there when it was voted on, but it’s in your temple record.”

“His confidential Temple record!” Mace spat out.  Then he rolled his eyes.  “You have more midichlorians than any other Jedi knight in recorded history, are you surprised we wished you to breed?”  

“Then how come no one told me?”  Anakin’s voice was accusing.

“Because we noticed you had a little resistance to authority, and you were nine.  It was thought that, if we told you, you’d never.  And if we didn’t.  If we made it clear how forbidden it was.”  His eyes glanced pointedly at the twins.  

Anakin froze.  

“It was why the Council let you train with Kenobi, after all.”  Mace smiled, a brief smile.  

Anakin shook his head.  “No, I thought he got Yoda to let him train me after he threatened to leave the order.  Master Jinn made him promise.”  

“Yoda’s a softie, but I was the head of the order, at the time.  If I wanted to, I could’ve overturned the Grandmaster’s decision.  We hoped that the man would be an influence on you.” He coughed, “At least this finally puts to rest the concerns the council has had over your health.”

“I think Ki-Adi-Mundi expected them to happen two years ago,” Kit shared.

“I was constantly vetting requests to send you to the healers.  I think Kenobi was starting to suspect something the last few months.” Mace added.

“There is nothing wrong with my health,” Anakin responded. 

This got him an “uh huh,” from both Jedi Masters, with eyes looking at the twins again.

“I still don't get it, why would you want me to train with Obi-Wan, the most unattached Jedi there is, if you wanted me to have kids?” Anakin continued.

“Do I really have to say it?” Mace playfully replied.

Anakin seemed to still be thinking, so Kit added, “The man has more babies in the Creche than a Proliferan!”

Anakin’s eyes opened wide.  Then he winced, clearly replaying some of the man’s flirtatious lines on the battlefield.  “Yeah, I see your point.  I thought it was just the Mandalorian Dutchess and Knight Tachi.”  

“Oh he’s had more lovers than that,” Kit shared.  

Anakin smiled.  “Care to share notes?”

Palpatine sat behind his desk and bemoaned the continued existence of the Jedi Order.  What could possibly have delayed his future apprentice, and the Platoon they were surely to send, he had no idea.  Whatever it was, Palpatine would need to train the boy to be less scatterbrained.  His Empire needs a far more attentive enforcer.

When the first hour of waiting was up, Palpatine almost called off his traffic blockades, but it wouldn't have changed anything.  When he set them up, he was clear to allow all Jedi military vehicles through.  Now the traffic created a gloom that was hardly filling, to a man who expected a feast.  

“Mmmmmfff” he moaned.  Then he picked up his comlink.  If they continued to delay, he was going to have to get creative.  The most important parts were to keep Kenobi away from Coruscant, and to make sure too many of the Jedi Masters didn't return to the Temple.  He could of course enact the order now, but it would be so much more fulfilling to wait until the ideal moment.  

The next morning Mace met  Knaves in the lobby of the Skywalker-Amidala apartment building.  The trooper carried several bags of items.

“Did you get everything?”  Mace asked.

His captain looked down at the datapad containing the list Mace had sent him the night before.  “Yup.  We've even found a tiny flight suit for a little tubby.  It's in with the other onesies.  Only have one, but they'll have to share it.”

“Thank you, I'm sure the parents will put this to good use.” Mace picked up a bag and Knaves reached out to help him with the rest.

“I'm not gonna miss my chance to meet the little Skywalkers.  Cody and Rex will be so jealous.” Knaves insisted.  

Mace laughed, knowing how competitive the men can be. “They're a little small to be awarding any popularity contests, but I'm sure your efforts won't go unrewarded.”

And so Knaves followed him upstairs and to the door of the apartment.  Mace rung the bell, and was surprised to see Senator Amidala open the door.  

“Hello Senator, here, sit down.” Mace rushed to get the new mother a chair.  “I hope Skywalker hasn't left you to do all the work.  I'll have to have a word with him.” Mace worked himself up.  

“Oh no, Anakin was very attentive.  I just felt bad for him.  He just got to sleep before you arrived.  I didn't want to disturb him.” 

“Have the twins been much trouble?” Mace asked.

“No, not at all.  I know what other parents say about their babies, but the twins are just perfect.” She proudly announced.  

Mace nodded, “Well, they're only newborns now.  Give it a few weeks for their lungs to develop.”

Amidala nodded, “I've read that too.  But no, Anakin was up last night because he was having bad dreams again.  What luck!”

“Uh oh.” Mace didn't want to dismiss the man's dreams.  Just because the first ones hadn't come true, didn't mean they never would.  And his actions concerning the last ones clearly showed that Skywalker could use more counseling and training regarding prophecies and visions. 

Mace turned back to the Senator, “Oh, this is Knaves.  He is a captain in my militia, and he brought items for you.”

“Hello Knaves,” She greeted.

Mace left the two of them to go check on Skywalker.  He walked into the room and noticed the makeshift bassinet Skywalker had assembled the night before.  The new cribs he ordered would be arriving in the next few days.  Surely, if Skywalker and Amidala would make the obvious decisions fast enough, they might not even need the cribs.  The younglings will grow up well in the temple creche, he thought.  But the twins were sleeping comfortably now in their bassinet.

Skywalker lay asleep in the bed beside them.  Mace’s eyes became worried when he felt a distinct sense of dread coming from the knight.  

Mace remembered that Kenobi said something about him having nightmares as a boy.  This didn't feel like that exactly.  For one there was no fear coming from the knight.  Just dread.  Like he had accepted whatever fate lay ahead of him.  Had the dream repeated so many times in one night?  Regardless, Mace was not going to leave Skywalker in distress anymore. He put his hands on him and shook.  “Skywalker.”

“Ah, Master,” Skywalker gasped.

“It's alright, Knight Skywalker.  Were you having more dreams?”

Skywalker nodded, “Yeah.  Only this one is different.  I hear Palpatine’s voice, and he only says four words.  Then what follows is… is death.  I don't know if I'm meditating but it's like I'm floating in the force, and it's crying all around me.  Everyone must be dying.  I've never felt anything like it before.”

“What were the four words?” Mace asked.

“‘Initiate order sixty six.’ Just that, nothing else.  I don't even know who he's talking to.” Skywalker rubbed his eyes as he said this.  

“Hmm, I don't know of any Military orders with that designation.  He could have been talking to a droid.  Or maybe it was just a nightmare.”

“I don't think it was.” Skywalker looked up.  “I've had dreams, visions, like this before, they always have a unique feel to them.  And they tend to come true.”

“Well, Senator Amidala has a plan to deal with Palpatine.  We’ll need to remember not to let him say anything, once we arrest him.  I'll tell this to the other Masters, so they know.”

Skywalker nodded.  “Thank you.” The young man looked to have gotten ready while they were talking.  Jedi garments don't usually require much fuss.

Mace went to pick up… Leia, he thought it was.  Infants tend to look so alike, and they didn't have a very distinct force presence yet.  “Come little one.  I brought a guest to meet you.”

Skywalker picked up the other twin and moved to follow Mace out.  

“Knaves! How goes it!” Skywalker excitedly greeted the clone.

“I'm sorry, I didn't realize you two knew each other,” Mace fought his jealousy at the knight's warm reaction.  It was always that way with Skywalker.  

“Of course, what other clone has a tat like that?  You're instantly recognizable, my friend.” Skywalker referenced the purple playing card on the Captain’s face.  The winning card that earned him his name, if Mace understood it.

“Can you believe my old man thought it was a bad idea?” Knaves said at the same time he was making a face and booping Luke’s nose.

“I didn't think getting a tattoo was worth breaking cover for.” Mace returned, choosing to ignore the ‘old man,’ part.

“We didn't break cover, just stretched it a bit.” He turned his attention to Leia, but didn't boop her nose.  

“What's this?” Skywalker asked Amidala.

“The men were so kind as to gather some supplies for us.” she answered him.

“The General sent us a list, all we did was gather them.” Knaves disavowed.

“I still find it shocking that you gave birth without purchasing anything for the younglings,” Mace said.

“I was on the outer rim until four days ago.  And they arrived early.” Skywalker defended, irritably.

“Yes, I know,” Mace acquiesced.   

“Have you thought about the plans?” Amidala asked.

“Yes, we have decided on the affirmative,”  Mace told her.

“Oh good, because Bail and Mon have already gathered a selection of pledges to vote our way.  And Bail submitted the addendum request for you to speak today.  You just need a good speech.  Do you have one planned?”

“No, I was just going to report the relevant facts,” Mace tried.  Amidala’s face became like the face of a Master he once knew, her stare unbreaking. 

Actually, I was going to ask,” Skywalker interrupted, looking back and forth nervously between Mace and the Senator.  “If I could attend the disposition today.”

“You have two new younglings, and I will not approve of bringing them around the Sith Lord,” Mace started.

Skywalker looked down, disappointed.  

“You just need a youngling-sitter, say one of your most loyal troopers.” Knaves brushed his hair in an obvious way.  

“Knaves, would you like to youngling-sit?” Skywalker asked.

“Would I ever?” Knaves excitedly replied.

Mace squinted. “Taking care of twins will be hard.”

Knaves looked about to argue, but Skywalker spoke first.  “If you have any trouble, contact the 501st.  Jesse and Appo will give you a hand.”

“And you can contact the temple creche to the same extent,” Mace added.   “Your younglings may not have been inducted yet, but we will not see them neglected.” he added when Amidala and Skywalker shared a worried look.  “And the Creche Assistants are very experienced with younglings.”

“Well, since we have that all worked out, I think I will do my hair.  And you can practice your speech.” 

Mace felt a childish urge to wiggle out of his responsibilities.  He looked at the other two men and no one would help him.  Then the baby in his arms started to cry.  Mace was starting to feel thankful that he'd had the most obvious excuse ever to get away, but then Knaves swooped in and took Leia from his arms. 

“Come this way, I'll show you around.  She probably needs a change.” Skywalker ushered him away. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 3: Order

Anakin followed Master Windu into the Halls of the Senate building.  Padme was leading them.  

“Bail submitted the request this morning.  It isn't unusual for one of us, from the loyalist committee, to bring in an addendum speaker to make a point we’re trying to make stand out a bit more.  So, with any luck, he'll just think this is another one of those.  Oh, here he is.” Padme stopped to wave at a man.  

“Senator Organa,” Master Windu greeted with a bow.  Anakin obediently followed with his own bow, in turn.   

“Jedi Masters, I’ve requested that you have this pod for the meeting today.  It’s registered under my name, as an ally of Alderaan, so the Chancellor should not see this coming.”

“That’s good,”  said Windu. Masters Tiin and Kolar walked around them to board the pod.  Anakin made his move to do the same, when Windu reached out and stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.  “We have some concerns that he might not surrender to us peacefully when this is over, and should he try anything, You and Amidala might be in danger.” 

Anakin looked into Windu’s eyes and for the first time, felt they had the same exact thought.  He nodded, knowingly.

“It would make us feel better if you would each accept a body guard,” Windu continued, without interruption.

“Well, I can’t say I have any objections to it, if you insist.” Bail replied.  Master Kit Fisto took a position behind him.

Anakin did the same for his wife.  Master Windu bowed again and boarded the senate pod.  

“Long night, sir?” The clone designated CC-1010 asked, when Palpatine accidentally knocked over the caff cup on his desk.  

The Sith Lord held his powers back.  He would love to summon up some Force Lightning and kill the twirp who dared question his strength, but now was not the time.  “Longer than you'd imagine,” He responded instead.  

Those blasted Jedi still hadn't confronted him.  His only thought was that perhaps Anakin was having more doubts about turning him over than he'd anticipated.  It was good news, really.  It meant that the boy was closer to falling and finally joining the Sith.  Devastatingly good news.  Sidious smiled.

Anyway there still was a chance that some overconfident Jedi would show up, and he needed to have the trooper nearby, in case they did.  

The man managed to find a paper towel and was trying to dry the desk.

“Oh leave it.  I have a session in a few minutes to attend.  I'll have someone else do it while we're gone.” He waved the man off.

“Understood sir.  Do you want a refill? I can send a man to fetch it.”

“No need.” Palpatine pulled out a data pad and began scanning it for the day's business.  It was yawningly boring.  But then the Empire wouldn't declare itself.

“Are you sure? Sergeant Hound can run out to that shop you like, and be back before the session is over.” 

“Pardon, Sargent who?” 

“Uh, CC-1050, sir.” The trooper specified.

“Oh, okay then, if you insist.” 

“Are you alright,” Anakin whispered.  He knew not to talk in this room, the architecture was built to carry sound.  But his wife had only given birth the night before.  He had a right to worry.

‘Yes,’ She signaled with a hand sign. ‘Quiet now.’

Anakin sat in the pod next to his wife.  Her eyes were glued on the Chancellor’s podium in the center of the auditorium.  They had already discussed a few issues that were not very interesting.  He noticed Palpatine noticing him earlier in the meeting.  Anakin kept his shields up, and just returned the man’s stare.  There was something inquiring about it, he could tell.  But Anakin was not about to let down his shields to find out more.  

“That matter is concluded.” Mas Amedda spoke up.  “We have one more point of business, a request to speak by an Alderaanian Addendum Delegation.  The subject is unspecified.  We are all breathless,” his tone was very sarcastic.  Anakin almost laughed at his wife’s earlier comment on it not being unusual for them to bring in a speaker.  It was clearly an understatement.  “You may have the floor.”  Mas Amedda’s eyes seemed to rove the auditorium looking for something.  When he didn’t find it, his eyes settled on Organa's pod.  

Anakin leaned forwards.  This was the moment.  Palpatine’s eyes opened in surprise, then he shook his head, then looked down in shock again, as the Jedi rode their pod to the center of the arena.  

“We, the Jedi Order, have served this republic since its founding.  We have fought and died to keep the peace.  Our Power to do this comes from the Light Side of the Force.” Master Windu spoke up proudly.

“Now the difference between light and dark is not so trivial to a Force user.  Darkness feeds on pain and it is an antithesis to the values this body stands for.  It’s why the Jedi have, for so long, forbade the use of the dark side, and its teachings.  It’s also why we fight against those who use it in an ever expansive search for power.  Because greed is never quelled, and freedom is its enemy.”

“And so, it grieves me to learn about one of the Republic’s leading bodies engaging in activities we fight against.  It has been brought to my attention that Chancellor Palpatine has sought one of our knights in an attempt to teach him dark ways of the Force.  Such ways are historically tied to the Sith, an enemy of this state.”

“But it began thirteen years ago, when the request first reached my desk for Chancellor Palpatine to visit with this very same knight, who was then just a youngling.” It almost stole Anakin's breath away to hear this.  “I admit that while it did ring a few bells, we, the order, were not as thorough as we should have been.  The initial requests, which were denied, were repeated, and then he came in person to see that I received them.  At this time he, in that cleverly disguised way many a politician knows how to, expressed concern over the Jedi’s recent recruitment of the child.  He had been a slave, rescued on an outer rim world by one of our knights.  The Chancellor actually threatened to return him to his prior owners, to avoid a war with the Hutts.  There wasn't any written evidence that the Jedi hadn't just stolen the boy, you see. We, I couldn't live with myself if I ever allowed that to occur.  So I caved and allowed him to see the youngling whenever he wanted.”

Anakin couldn't believe his ears.  He had never questioned it, when Obi-Wan first took him to the big apartment to see Palpatine.  His master did look nervous, leading him there, he remembered.  But they quickly became friends with the man, or so Anakin had thought.  He never imagined Palpatine threatening to send him back to Tatooine, but with what he knows now, it made perfect sense.

“Initially there wasn't a sign of danger.  The knight grew to respect the Chancellor and he seemed to learn from the man's mentorship.  But it all came back around when this knight confided to me that Chancellor Palpatine is a Sith Lord.  And because of this, the Jedi council moves for a vote of No Confidence in Chancellor Palpatine’s leadership.”

Anakin looked down at Palpatine’s podium.  The man’s face was red.  Angry eyes glared at Mace Windu.  Then at him, as the man turned his head.  

Padme moved to steer her pod, the one she and Anakin sat in, beside the Jedi one.  “I second the vote.”  She spoke up. 

Before Mas Amedda could type up the issue asking for an official vote to be taken, several “no confidence” votes were already entered.  Palpatine looked down at the viewscreen in front of him and he spat.  Then Anakin saw a bright light, and he felt pain surge through his body.  Electrocution, he’d felt that before.  But before he could process enough to determine what from, Master Tiin jumped from one pod into another, and was standing in front of him, with his lightsaber lit.  

There was a commotion with several screams around the room, as the Senators watched their beloved Chancellor pull out a red lightsaber and deflect a few blaster shots from somewhere in the room.  

Palpatine put a hand on Commander Fox’s shoulder and he spoke to him. The man wasn’t moving and was stuck in some kind of unblinking state.  “Initiate Order Ssss…” Then there was a choking sound.  Anakin would not sit by and watch his dreams take place.  He reached with the Force and squeezed the man’s throat.

The next moment would stand out to Anakin forever.  It was like a sheet had been pulled away with the Force, and underneath was a monster.  The thing slashed, and Anakin almost lost his grip, but he felt Windu’s energy come down to back him up, and he held on.    

Commander Fox tilted his head for a moment.  He looked down at something in the pod, Then he pulled his blaster out.  Before anyone could think of what they should do to react, he pointed the blaster at Palpatine’s head and fired three times.  Anakin let go as he felt that monster die with a last fruitless slash.  

Commander Fox seemed to be using his internal radio to communicate something with the other guards stationed around the auditorium.  

Anakin got up and noticed the votes for “no confidence,” were nearly all in already.  Anakin had been present for enough votes to know it was a record.  And they were nearly all on the side for removing Palpatine from leadership.  

“Order!” Mas Amedda begged the crowd.  

Anakin saw the central podium begin to lower into the ‘Working office’, with Fox and the Sith’s body onboard.  He saw Master Windu moving his pod down, and he whispered to Padme, “I have to go.”  She pulled her pod back to the wall again.  Master Tiin got up to run out the back once the pod connected again to the outer wall.  Anakin turned one last time to his wife.

She responded, “Go, I’ll be okay.”  

Anakin nodded and he ran.  

Mace knew leaving the rotunda now was rather akin to a youngling setting off a prank and running away.  But they had a responsibility to make sure the Sith was dead, and to secure his body.  

He ran ahead when he saw Master Fisto at the chamber door.

“He won't let me in.” Fisto shrugged.

“Commander!” Mace banged on the door.  

“What's going on here?” Skywalker skidded to a stop.  He was followed by Master Tiin.

Mace waved at the door.  “It's locked.”

The knight stepped up and yelled, “Fox.  Fox, this is Anakin.  General Skywalker. We're here to help.”

Mace expected that to work.  Anakin usually had the power to get even the most staunchest troopers to warm up to him.  Sure, it had yet to work on the rule-abiding Commander to the Coruscant Guard, but every man has a weakness.  A couple of minutes went by and there was nothing.  

The Jedi all looked back and forth at each other.  Mace made a decision.  “Break the door down,” he ordered.

Before Skywalker as much as moved, there was a click on the other side of the door.  It opened and Fox was standing on the other side.

“The Perpetrator is secured.” He said in a very robotic voice.  

“We’d like to see him.” Mace said, and he tried to push his way through.  

Fox stopped him with an open palm to his chest.  “Good soldiers follow orders.  The primary objective is to secure all Jedi.”

“What!” Skywalker looked around in confusion.  “Did you hit your head buddy?”

“This unit is unharmed.” Fox pressed the comm on his helmet and said, “Five Jedi secured.  Request transport back to zone one.” He looked back up to the group.  “Backup will be here in five.”

“We'd like to see Palpatine's body, to confirm his fate.” Mace tried again.

“You won't be in trouble.  He was a Sith Lord, and you were in danger.”  Skywalker tried.

“Of course you will have the protection of the order behind you.” Mace added on.

“He was trying to kill a Jedi.  By votes of the Senate, he was no longer Supreme Chancellor of the Republic.  And it is only permitted for the Supreme Chancellor to kill a Jedi.  It is permitted to kill a citizen of the Republic, if they are trying to kill a Jedi.”

Skywalker looked confused for a second, then nodded an exaggerated sympathetic nod.  “Yeah, thanks for that.  May we see the body?”

“No, the risk is still too high,” Fox didn't budge.

Mace grit his teeth, “We need to confirm he stays dead, to minimize the risk.”

“Sir,” there was the noise of boots on the ground.  A trooper came walking up.  

“Stand down,” Mace ordered.  Then he turned back to Fox.  “Step aside.”

No one moved.  The new troopers looked to Fox.  

“Take them into custody and bring them back to zone one,” Fox ordered.  

“Good soldiers follow orders,” A trooper put their hands on each of them and pulled them away from the door.  More troopers came to take up the flank and they were slowly marched out of the building.

Padme sat and listened to the speaker's debate.  There was a portion of the Senate who wanted to classify Chancellor Palpatine’s death as in office, which meant that Vice Chancellor Mas Amedda would take up the role.  

The other side pointed to the votes, which were already in the majority by the time the fatal shot was rung.  This would mean that another new Chancellor would need to be elected.

Those senators who sat in between seemed to feel that a quick solution was best, and wished the others would stop arguing and just agree, one way or another.  After what happened earlier, especially since she had not yet seen Anakin after he ran out, and because she just wanted to get home to see the twins again, Padme would say she was in this third group.  

“There is a reason votes of no confidence go up for a new vote.  As much faith as I have in Amedda’s hands, we cannot trust any of the original Cabinet.  There is a reason they were voted out.”  Mon Mothma insisted.  “I back Bail Organa for Chancellor.  He had the foresight to bring the Jedi here.”  

“Seconded,”  Meena Tills of Mon Cala said.  

Finally, with an actual candidate, this all looked a lot closer to ending than she had hoped.  

“The Jedi!”  Someone uttered in disbelief.  

“What about the Jedi?”  Padme asked.  

Mas Amedda rolled his eyes, and didn’t even bother to call ‘Order.’

“My aides say they’ve seen them leaving.  She says it looks like they were in custody of the GAR.”  The senator filled them in.  “One of them had their hands bound.”

Thoughts of Anakin filled her mind.  

“Summon Commander Fox here, now.”  Bail took charge.

“We’re going to need to have an election first.  I call for a vote,” Mon Mothma said.  

Chapter Text

Chapter 4: The Untriggered One

“How many of those AAT droids did the men terminate again,” Obi-Wan asked.  

“In the room, three.  But on the base, thirty four.” Cody patiently replied.  

Obi-Wan couldn’t be more thankful to have Cody with him for this mission.  This simple mission with prerogatives to, “Kill Grievous,” which had seemingly become "Notarize All Seized Assets,” thanks to orders which came in last night.  It involved hours of paperwork, done in triplicate.  

“I think we’re almost done here.  You can go rest, if you want to,” Cody said.

“Thanks, but I don’t think I’ll be able to find any rest here,”  Obi-Wan replied.

A buzzer went off on Cody’s vambrace.  The man started to stand up.  “Still, the paperwork can be finished in a few hours.  Surely, no one expects us on Coruscant for another two days.  If you want, we can stop by Eriadu and get a little shore leave.”  

Obi-Wan thought about that suggestion.  He certainly would enjoy a bit of fun.  Though, Eriadu isn't his choice destination.  Any port in the storm, or so they say.

Still, he’d have that nagging feeling called responsibility niggling at him the whole time, and that was never fun.

“I am more eager to get home and tell everyone that this war can finally end.  But you go answer that comm.  I’ll finish these forms while you’re gone.”  

“I’ll send Boil to help you, Sir,” Cody promised, before he left.  

Mace was unceremoniously dropped by a trooper, one of the Coruscant Guard, when they entered the Temple.  Master Kolar ran to help him up.  

Skywalker attempted to turn around and tackle the guy, but his wrists were still in the cuffs.  “Hey, talk to me.  Someone please!  Guys!” He was breathing heavily.  It looked like the knight was in the middle of a waking nightmare.  

Mace whispered to the Jedi Master, “We should do this away from prying eyes.” There were too many younglings around the temple these days, or too few knights to watch them.  And the conversation they were going to have would not be good for impressionable ears.  Kolar nodded and pushed them all into a private meeting room on the main floor.

“Did anyone hear what the Chancellor said to Fox, up on that Podium?” Mace asked.  They were going to have to compare notes to figure this out.  Might as well start while the memory was fresh.

“Initiate something, I don't know what he said.” Master Fisto confessed.

“Stop struggling,” Mace said.  Skywalker relaxed his arms, and Mace set to work on the cuffs he still wore. 

“Initiate order...  I wasn't going to let him finish.” Skywalker shrugged. Mace pulled the cuffs off, and the knight rubbed his wrists.  “But it wasn’t until after the lightning hit me that he said that.”

“Before he started throwing lightning I don't think he even acknowledged the trooper was there,” added Master Tiin.

“I've heard of Sith manipulating weak minds, but the interference is usually limited to a short distance,” Said Master Shaak Ti, who hadn't been there during the Senate meeting, but she had been listening silently to their accounts.  

Skywalker looked away but blushed slightly.  The look Mace had learned early on with the youngster meant something.  “Do you have anything to add, Knight Skywalker?” he asked.

Skywalker groaned.  “Alright, but don't yell at me when you think it's stupid.  It reminds me of something my old master used to threaten me with.”  All strength and conviction left Skywalker as he spoke.  Suddenly, he was that little nine year old looking up at Mace.

Before he could react, Master Fisto spoke up,  “Just what did Obi-Wan threaten to do to you?” 

Mace turned to wave the Master off.  It was an understandable mistake, and as a good Jedi Master the Nautolan was infuriated in young Skywalker’s defense.  But he wasn’t referring to Kenobi.  

“No, not Obi-Wan.  Before him, Watto, my old slave master,”  Anakin corrected.  “He wouldn't use it all the time, only when he had core worlder’s in the shop.  It would look bad for him to beat up a nine year old in front of them.” Skywalker looked down at the floor.  “He had this old piece of tech.  He never said where he got it, but he said it was like the ultimate slave chip.  Used to threaten to use it on us.  Claimed the thing would take away your soul, your free will, and it would make you do anything he said.  I used to have nightmares where he would use it on me.  I'd do bad things.  Hurt people.  In one of them I killed a bunch of younglings and didn't feel a thing.”

He stopped suddenly when Mace accidentally put a hand on his leg.  “You are not in that place now, and a slaver will have to go through me, to put you through that,” he said because he felt he had to say something.

“It has been over a thousand years since we thought the Sith were eliminated, it is possible they've been using modern means to expand on their abilities,” said Master Ti.  In other words, Skywalker's childhood nightmares may be their best clue to this whole thing.  Mace found he couldn't disagree.

He turned to the Togruttan Master.  “What news do you have?  I noticed you were not surprised to hear how we were forcefully evicted from the senate building by the GAR.”

“Shortly after you were due to present to the senate, Captain Knaves arrived at the Temple and handed over two infants matching the healer’s files of Skywalker’s younglings.  He then left without saying much else, besides ‘Good soldiers follow orders,’ and ‘two Jedi in containment.’  We’ve had three groups try to leave the temple, only to be escorted back by troopers, who I think are patrolling the outside.”  

Skywalker’s eyes went up when his younglings were mentioned.  “Luke and Leia are here?” He asked.

“Yes, they were unharmed, and have been with a couple of the Creche workers.  Outside of the Creche, as I understand, their parents haven’t signed their paperwork yet.”  Master Ti elaborated.

Skywalker sighed.  

Mace spoke up next.  “If I know my men any, and if this thing has surpassed the Coruscant Guard, then it is only a matter of time before other units are affected.  We might be receiving panicked messages from those on the field soon, and should prepare a message to send them.”

“Yes, I can set up a schedule so we can have a knight manning the comm at all times.”  Master Kolar offered.

“Good, then we are recessed.”  Mace said, and everyone started getting up.  “Skywalker.”  

He startled the knight.  “Huh, what is it?”  

“I told you I would be taking your visions seriously.”  Skywalker squinted at him.  Did he not say that exactly?  Well, it's what he meant.  “That includes the ones you’ve had before you became a knight.  Come, I want the healers to give you a thorough check up.”

“The Tech Watto had.  He never used it on me.  Only as a threat.”  Skywalker defended.

“Not him.  The Sith.  You were alone with that man on numerous occasions.  I want to make sure he never did anything to you.  Come,” he beckoned from the hallway.   

Skywalker followed him out.

Anakin sat obediently for the healers to do a number of tests.  First they took blood and samples of a number of other bodily fluids.  Then they put his head in the middle of a machine to scan his brain.  For this test, he had to sit completely still.  Master Windu stood out with the healers, so he couldn’t even talk to him.  Not that Master Windu was his favorite chatting companion, but at least he’d be there.  

Anakin couldn’t help but think about the troopers outside.  Somehow somebody had turned them into virtual slaves.  Not that they weren’t that before, but at least they had their own personalities before.  And he had the Chancellor swear to give them full rights as citizens, plus compensation for their service, once the war was over.  Anakin rolled his eyes.  Of course a Sith can’t be trusted to fulfill a promise.  Not if this is what he had planned for them, all along.  

Anakin snuck a look at the timepiece in the room.  They had said it would only take a few minutes.  It was approaching ten minutes now.  Still, the Machine clicked around him.  “Guys, Master Healer!” Anakin yelled.  

A pale, younger healer’s assistant came up to the door.  “Just a few more minutes, then the healers will show you what they’ve found.”

“Found?”  Anakin repeated. That word was awfully unsettling.  

The healer’s assistant gulped, and looked away.  “Just a few more minutes,” he repeated himself.  Then he disappeared.  

A few minutes later and the clicking stopped.  Then a Twileki Woman stuck her blue head in and called him.  “Knight Skywalker, come to the office now, and we’ll show you the scans.”  

Anakin pulled off the piece of the machine that held him down to the chair, and got up to follow her.  “Master Che, Master Windu,” He greeted as he passed them.  “You’ve found something?” He prompted.  

“Something, is a very good word for it, actually.” Master Che said.  “There is an area of unusual tissue in the right, frontal lobe of your brain.   There is a lot of neural activity going through there, too.”

“A growth, like a tumor?”  Anakin worried.

“Not exactly, but it does look sorta similar to it.  It also seems like your immune system is fighting this tissue, hence your above average white blood cells count.  We think based on these images, that whatever it was, it is something that would have had to be regularly re-treated, not to go away.  If we do nothing, I estimate it will disappear in a few weeks to months.”

“So he did it to me too.”  Anakin didn't understand why he felt hurt at this betrayal.  After all that good-for-nothing Sith had done.  

Master Che pursed her lips.  “It would appear he did something to you.  But since you're not out there marching in formation, whatever it is, it must be a bit different.”

“So what is it?” Anakin asked again.  If it was anything like he feared.  If it puts his younglings in danger… He swallowed a bit with the sour taste of throw-up.

“It's not cancerous, nor does it seem to be viral.  Without doing a biopsy, I can't tell you more,” said the healer.

“Then do that.  Take it out!” This seemed like the only reasonable answer to Anakin.

Master Windu stood up and blocked the healer with an open hand gesture.  “Calm down, knight Skywalker.”

“That would involve brain surgery, and…”

“Go.” Windu interrupted the healer.

Anakin felt tense and angry.  Why couldn't they just do something about this.  

A moment later the holo-screen they were looking at his scans on fizzled out. 

Master Che looked at the screen, then back at her patient.  Then she grabbed her things and quickly left the room. 

Master Windu took a step towards Anakin.  “Skywalker, you need to calm down.”

“No.” He shook his head.  “Did you want this to happen?  Is this why you let him…”

“NO!” Windu growled.  “I never wanted this.”

“Were you working with him?  Push me away from the Jedi Council, and let him seem like the better alternative.”  

“Never!  Take a deep breath and calm down.  Then we can talk about it.”

Anakin tried to control his breathing, but it was like it was being controlled by something outside of him.  Controlled, like that Sith tried to do to him.  

Anakin reached out with the Force to move the giant stumbling block that was in his way.  Only the thing moved and said “Sleep.”  Then the world went black around Anakin.  

“Put all incoming mail here.” Bail ordered.  His new office was a bit disorganized at present.  Once he got the mortician to take the body out, he had to dismiss all of the previous staff members.  His current staff were volunteers from his and Mon’s senatorial offices.  He might just be saying this because of how overwhelmed he felt, but they all deserved a raise.  

Bail looked down at his Comlink.  He had been trying to reach Kamino, ever since his “conversation” with clone commander Fox failed so miserably.  It was nothing like what he was used to.  

There seemed to be a pick-up on the other end of the line.  A voice spoke,  “Thank you for calling Kamino Cloning Technologies.  Please select from the following menu options.  For Sales and Product Information, select one.  For Sentient Resources, press two.  For Accounts Payable, press three.  For customer support, press four.”  Bail rolled his eyes.  He couldn’t believe he was on one of these calls.  He pushed the four and then held while the line connected. 

Unfortunately he had to deal with another three such menus of “Push this” for that department before the message came on:  “Thank you for calling, please describe your problem in as many specific words as you can.”  

By this point Bail was getting ticked off by the droid answering service, and just wanted to talk to someone real on the other end.  “I want to talk to a Live Operator.  My Clone army has decided to detain their generals and are leaving the front lines to do so.”  

“It sounds like you have a personality variable issue.  Please see our contract, lines 36-54.”  

Bail exhaled sharply and hung up.  It was clear to him, whatever had happened, the Kaminoans wouldn’t be accepting responsibility.  “What is this?”  His eyes roved over the incoming mail pile.  

“GAR Oversight division just sent it over.”  One of his secretaries said, amidst her work trying to decode the prior Chancellor’s organization system.  

Bail read the report.  It was a form, a standard death report sent to the Chancellor's office, with a request to forward it to Kamino.  Below the form was a simple paragraph description added onto the form, Bail assumed, because they thought the questions on the form weren’t specific enough.  “According to witnesses, when troopers emerged from their quarters and started marching in rotations around the Temple, one trooper was confused.  He didn’t understand what the others were doing.  Troopers in his unit then pulled out blasters and gunned him down.  They then moved on and continued “Following Orders.”    

Bail looked down and confirmed the body was retrieved and being held in the Morgue.  He pushed a button on his comlink to summon someone in the office.  “Ms. Retrac.  Come by my office, please.”

A woman with dark hair and a white Alderaanian dress appeared in his doorway.  “Come in, please.  And shut the door,” he said to her.  

Sheltay obeyed him, and came to stand near his desk.  “I am going to give you an assignment.  I want you to go to the morgue and acquire a clone trooper cadaver.  Take it to Alderaan, and have a Forensic Pathologist look at him.  I know the cause of death already.  Tell the doctor I want his brain examined.  I want to know why the troopers have all started acting strange.  Can you do this?”  She nodded.  “Good, take this form and have it shredded.  Shred any paperwork the morgue has as well.  And do not consult the Kaminoans.  I want a completely fresh, second opinion.”  

Sheltay took the form and swiftly turned around.  Bail felt relieved.  If there was anyone he trusted most in this place it was Sheltay Retrac.  She had been on his staff for years, and was precise with whatever she did.  He knew that if he let that form be sent to Kamino, they would request the body be sent as well.  Then any hope he’d have of getting answers would disappear.  

“Sir, Senator Amidala is trying to reach you,” one of his aides came by and stuck his head into the office to say.

Bail nodded, and sat up.  “Forward it through,” He ordered.  He knew Padme well.   Ever since she was appointed by the queen of Naboo to represent them, she has stood up for her ideals, no matter who might object.

He was surprised when the holo of a crying woman came up on the device.  “They're gone.  No one will let me into the Temple.  No one will let me see a Jedi.  And my babies are gone.”

Bail knew that, the night before, Padme had become a mother to two, half Jedi babies.  It was how she knew what she did about Palpatine.  He looked down.  “I'm sorry, but we're having trouble reaching the Jedi Order here, too.” It wasn't the answer he knew she wanted, but regretfully there was nothing else he could do.  Still, he did empathize with her pain.  From that day his wife had a miscarriage, to the time the best doctors on Alderaan told them that due to a fluke in biology, any further attempts would have the same conclusion.  He knew what it was like to have a child ripped away from you.  His friend needed support and he could lend her a supportive shoulder, even over the Holo.

Later that day, when Padme had shed all the tears her body would shed for now, when she had recovered to try and thank him clumsily for… what exactly any decent guy would do in his place.  Bail thought she needed a slight distraction.  So he tried asking her, “That was some speech Master Windu gave to the Senate today.  Were you as taken aback by his story as I was?

“I think he even surprised Anakin.  It wasn’t in the bit he practiced with me either.  I gave him the usual suggestion to ‘be real,’ with his emotions during the speech, and I guess he took that literally.”

“Yes, I think it was that confession that got us the number of votes we did.  You know, before the man pulled out a red lightsaber and started throwing lightning around the room,” Bail joked.  “After that it was a landslide.  But you know I remember seeing him around the building with the little one in tow.  I hadn’t thought to say anything at the time, but even now I feel guilty about it.”  

“I’m sure Anakin would forgive you,” Padme said.  “He’d be uncomfortable with all the attention this is causing, I’m sure.”  

“I am going to be doing my best to get in there, and I hope to be able to update you soon.”

“Thanks, I know you’ll do your best.”  She said, before she closed the comm.  Bail pulled up the next set of business to deal with for the day on his computer. 

Mace sat in the chair next to the sleeping knight’s hospital bed, clutching the infant Luke.  When Skywalker had his panic attack, he’d said some things that grated on the Master.  Mainly the accusation that he’d been working with a Sith Lord.  He never intended to push Anakin away from the Jedi Order.  Never intended him to fall into that Monster’s grasp.  

It was thanks to these feelings that he was holding Luke.  His sister, it seemed, is far more sensitive to negative emotions than her brother.  At least she is of his emotions, and he wanted one of the younglings to be there when Skywalker woke up.  He understood him having a panic attack at the thought of someone controlling him.  He really did.  But it would not be good to let it happen again.  Sometimes, a little responsibility, like needing to control yourself for a youngling’s sake, was enough.  

“Uh,” Skywalker groaned in his sleep.  

Mace turned to him and whispered, “Skywalker, I brought you some company.” He thought it best to tell him right away that the youngling was present.  

Skywalker blinked.  

“Luke is here.  Leia is with a Padawan down the hall.  I can call her back if you want,” Mace said.

Skywalker looked needly at the youngling,  then he looked away.  “I can't.  It's not safe.”

“Skywalker,” Mace accentuated.

“I have a slave chip in me.  You don't know what I won't do.” Skywalker stated very matter-of-factly.  

Mace tilted his head.  “Did you not hear Master Che?  You haven't been triggered yet.  And your body, your immune system, is fighting this thing, breaking it down even now.  In a few weeks there won't be enough left to show up on a scan.”

Skywalker rolled his eyes.  “I don't want it to disappear.  I want to stomp it under my foot.”

Mace took a deep breath.  He remembered the same issue came up when he had the original slave chip removed.  It had been a little hard to fulfill, because the boy was nine, and the chip was explosive.  Luckily the bomb squad was willing to let the youngling push the button to set off the explosives in the bomb chamber.  

This would be more difficult to fulfill.  “If we had access to a hospital, we could try to do that.  If you'd remember, we are confined to the Temple Healing Wards.  They barely have the resources to fix a broken bone, or a lightsaber burn.”

Skywalker looked him in the eyes and nodded, finally absorbing the information.

“Here, hold Luke.” Mace tried to pass him the infant.  

“No, I could still hurt him.” He tried to put his arms up in protest.  

Mace took a deep breath.  “I’ll be here the whole time, and I won't let you harm a hair on his head.” 

“Okay,” Skywalker reached out for the baby.  “Thanks for this, by the way.”

Mace nodded, then he sat back in his chair.  

Chapter Text

Chapter 5:  Jedi Chat Line  

It was late at night, and Mace was awake.  Though he had a good excuse this time.  It wasn't like nights during the war, when he'd avoid sleep, until the healers got desperate enough to give him the meds mixed into his tea, causing a deep and dreamless sleep.

But tonight it was none of that.  The Jedi had put together a schedule to have someone constantly monitoring the Temple comlink, and tonight it was Mace’s turn.  

They had sent out a short message to everyone, covertly using the astromech droids each knight was deployed with.  It was tricky to get the message down in Binary, but thankfully they had Skywalker, who can do binary in his sleep, Mace is sure.

Skywalker, that walking headache, was still not willing to be alone with his younglings, or to sign them over to the Jedi’s custody.

Sure, in the older days, the circumstances alone would have permitted them to assume custody already.  But lately every decision the council made was scrutinized by outside agencies, and they would need both parents' signatures for anything to count.  Of course, if Skywalker had a marriage license lying around, they might be able to get away with just the one signature.  Mace almost dismissed it as an impossibility, then he remembered how lovestruck the knight was, and he rolled his eyes.  He would need to question Skywalker about this later on.

The device started to ring suddenly.  Mace set aside these thoughts and pushed the button to answer the comm.

A fuzzy image of a Kel Dor mask appeared on the little blue holo-screen.  It was Master Plo Koon.  Usually they would be sending comms through the ship's computer, and the image would be clearer, and three dimensional.  But with the current system they were limited to whatever salvaged systems the Jedi in the field could acquire.  Sometimes they didn't even have a Holo attached.  

“Master Koon, has there been a change to your circumstances?” Mace asked.  He knew they had already talked to him.  There were calls logged from the last shift, even.

“No, nothing changes here, and I am so bored,” the Master complained.  “No one will come into my quarters to chat, and no one will let me go to the crew quarters to join a cuddle pile.  I'm worried for my men.  Wolffe doesn't usually sleep well, as it is.”

“Oh,” Mace tried to sound sympathetic.  “You know the men are not in their right minds now.”

“And now I have you to worry about. You know I gave you permission to call me by my first name years ago.” Mace opened his mouth to defend himself, but Plo continued, “And I know that you only take midnight shifts when you have something to avoid.  Yes, I know what time it is on Coruscant.”

There were only a few Masters that could get him to spill his soul with only a look, and Plo was one of those people who mentors half the Order in his spare time.

“It's Skywalker,” Mace sighed.  

Plo must have been used to him complaining about the Knight, because he responded, “Oh, what has Anakin done now?”

“He hasn't done anything.  Skywalker has been very helpful.  He even reported to the council when he began to suspect Chancellor Palpatine of being the Sith Lord.” Mace closed his eyes and shook his head.  “After this all started I brought him to the healers to be looked at.  They found something, and he hasn't trusted himself since.” In his mind he adds, ‘Won’t be around his own younglings unless a master is present.’  Of course Mace wanted to keep that news secret until at least the majority of Councilors returned to the Temple.  Thankfully he has enough blackmail on the ones that do know to keep it that way.

Plo stroked the mask near his chin.  “Hmm, you suspect it is something like what happened to the boys.”

“He certainly thinks so,” Mace nodded.

“And self confidence is never trivial.  I can tell you a story about that, but perhaps...  Perhaps, he'll benefit from a little battle meditation exercise.  If he's joining the council, it'll help him to learn it.”

Mace opened his eyes wide.  It was an unspoken rule that council members didn't talk about the fact, but a lot of meetings were held with a Force Meld.  Most think the old battle meditation is only useful for fighting, but it also comes in handy when you need to get twelve Masters to come to a consensus in a rush.  Plus it also requires the practitioners learn how to hold their consciousness separate from the rest.  “Perhaps that could help him to recover if he does get triggered, like the men are.”

“Perhaps, or it'll give him some confidence back until we can do something about it.” Plo stated.

Mace nodded.  He was not excited about trying to train Skywalker, in fact on most days it was the last thing he'd want to do.  But he couldn't argue with the Master's logic.  If it worked, it would enable them to free up the creche workers.

“Oh, and you may also want to try contacting Kenobi,” Plo added before signing off.  “He does know that boy better than any of us.”

“Kenobi hasn't checked in yet.” Mace said while scanning the list on his datapad.

“Hmm,” Plo thought.  “I am rather close to the Hydian Way, which goes close-ish to Utapu.  If I try, I might be able to hijack one of the signal buoys to send him a message.”

Mace was surprised by the offer, though he knew it was a long shot.  He didn't want the Master putting too much pressure on himself to succeed.  “It isn't necessary.  I can wait until he gets here.”

“No, it'll give me something to do.  I'll comm the Temple when I have anything to update you on.”

Mace nodded and bowed in salutation.  He didn't doubt the master would give it a good try.   And it might mean he won't call back for a few shifts.  

When his shift was over, Mace passed the comlink along to the next knight on duty, and then went to his bed.  He had gotten a few hours of sleep, when he awoke suddenly.  There was a buzzer going off on his door.  

His experience in the military seemed to teach his body to wake up on full adrenaline in a moment.  Still, he was opening his door with his lightsaber in hand to find a very nervous Padawan looking up at him.

“Master Windu, sir.  Master Koon requests you, sir.”

Mace put the lightsaber back on his belt and nodded to the Padawan, who turned and led him back to his knight.

“I see, I see.  I have always found Padawans do best when routines are kept consistent.  Even in trying circumstances.”

“Oh, Master Windu is here.” The knight sounded relieved to be passing the old Master along.  Probably because he hadn't asked for the advice.  Plo tends to be overgenerous sometimes.

“Yes hello, hello Plo.” Mace stepped into view of the comlink's camera.  “You could've just left a message with knight…”

“I did it.” Plo interrupted him.  

Mace blinked.  He hadn't expected this.

“I can connect you via a three-way comm.  Let me dial him now…”

“Hello, hello.  General Kenobi here.  I'm receiving you.”  Mace heard the voice.  A Holo appeared, but it was moving in slow motion and not in sync with his voice.

Mace mumbled like a youngling suddenly called to the front of class.  “Gen- uh Master Kenobi.  This is Master Windu.  I was hoping to talk to you about Skywalker.  Did Plo tell you what happened?”

There was a moment's delay.   The Holo nodded slowly.

After a few more seconds Kenobi’s voice came through, “Yes, I don't know what I could add.  I don't know how this could have happened.  I know I didn't get to supervise every one of their visits, but to my knowledge he never had an overnight visit.  Or anything near long enough to do brain surgery.”

“Well, I didn't get to ask Skywalker, but the healers think he could have done the initial surgery in a couple hours.  They seem to have hid the scar in his hairline quite well.  Master Che suggested the surgeon might have a background in plastic surgery.  It would be hard for any of us to notice.  I do not blame you.  I was the one to approve his visitations.”

Kenobi was still nodding over Holo, likely to the first part of his statement.

Mace continued, “What I was hoping to ask you is if you have any tips for improving Skywalker's self-esteem.  I intend to give him some lessons in doing a type of Battle Meditation.  We hope it might make him feel like he's fighting this.”

There again was the delayed moment where Kenobi was nodding.  When he did reply, he said, “Anakin is capable of learning anything.  The trick is keeping him invested and interested in your lessons.  His mind can wander during long meditations.  Try to sandwich your lessons in between something technical or physical.  Droid programming or lightsaber training usually work.  Uh, if you need it there's a blender in my quarters that isn't working.  Though, I'd prefer it to not have a personality when I get back.”

“Okay,” Mace tried not to roll his eyes and remember the advanced electronics Skywalker was capable of.  Still, it is hard to believe that the knight would make those kinds of alterations to a kitchen appliance, of all things.  “I will try that.  How have you been coping with your travel?” Mace figured he might as well ask.

“Well, we killed Grievous, then just about finished the ‘acquisition’ paperwork that the Chancellor’s office requested, when Cody got a comm which he had to go back up to the ship to answer.  When he got back he had a stick up his…”

“Yeah, it's the same story everywhere.”  Mace interrupted.  There was a youngling Padawan around the room somewhere.

“Then I guess I've been coping as well as anyone, I'd imagine.  Cody locked me into the med-bay initially.  The men sedated me for a few hours of ‘treatment,’ which I no longer have a pain in my back, so I assume that's responsible.  Then I've been stuck in my quarters, only the men seem to have swept it first.  They removed almost all electronics, except for this once broken comlink.  Anakin would be proud, I fixed it!  But it doesn't get a very big signal, I'm afraid.  

“I'm sure he would be proud,” Mace said.  “Just sit tight.  We hope that if the troopers are fighting this off the same way Skywalker is, it won't last much longer.  Anyway, we believe you are on your way back to the Temple, so enjoy your downtime and get some rest.  May the Force be with you.” Mace bowed.

Kenobi nodded and then rolled his eyes over the Holo.  “May the Force be with you.” He returned the bow.

Mace closed the connection, and handed the comlink back to the knight on duty.  

“Thank you for your willingness to help.  I will be forwarding your submission to the Senate and if you are approved, you can start next Prime-day.” Bail said over the phone.

Padme waited by his doorway.  Once the call was over he looked up and ushered her in.  “Have you decided who to submit for Vice Chancellor?” She asked.

“Oh, that was my future Chief of Staff.  But I do have an idea on who will make a good Vice Chairman.” Bail said in that teasing voice he likes to use.  Padme raised her eyebrows in answer.

When the man didn't share she tried another path.  “I notice you're going with a whole new cabinet.”

“Yes, do you blame me?  With what the last one was accused of, there are probably more leaks in this office than a sieve.”

“I don't blame you at all.  No.” Padme shook her head.  If he wanted to hide it she'd let him keep his secrets.  “Do you have any more news on the Jedi?” She asked the question she came here for.

“I've been trying to negotiate with Fox.  If you call it that.  The troopers are very strict on following ‘orders’ but they won't say who those orders come from.”

“I'll give you one guess.” To Padme this all had the filth of one man.  

“I don't want to speak ill of the dead, but I think you are correct.  Fox did allow me to seize the body of our former Chancellor.  I don't know what to do with it.  I know Naboo has their funerals, but do you know if the Jedi have anything else they would want done?”

“I don't kn… are you afraid he's going to come back to life?” 

“No, no.  I had heard that before their detainment the Jedi were pretty insistent on getting in to see the body.”

“I think they were just trying to confirm he was dead.” Padme said.  “But if you're concerned, as a man without a living family, his body will probably go to a pauper's funeral, where he'll be burnt, instead of entombed.”

“What about his estate? The Palpatine estate is not a pauper's by any means.”

I checked with the queen, his nearest family members are dead.  And he never had a will notarized.  This means that everything he owned now belongs to the Republic,” Padme said.

Bail blinked.  “Well, this does make my attempts to have investigators look into things a lot simpler.  I will make sure most of it goes to charity, of course.”

“Of course,” Padme agreed.  “Do you and Breha still want to start your own charity?”

Bail put on a very warm smile, “We do.  You know there are so many orphans because of this war, and we wanted to adopt one of them, but how can you just pick one?”

“No one ever said you had to pick just one.” Padme cheekily replied.

Bail laughed, “I'll be a father to a whole hoard of kids, if I went in with no limits.  A hoard of younglings and an angry wife.  If we start a charity we can help many young ones find a family and that will make us feel so whole.”

Padme tried to smile and nod along.  She was glad someone was happy.

“Anyway I've been trying to negotiate with Fox.  The most I can have him agree to is, sometime next week, after my appointment is announced to the media, to allow me, as the Supreme Chancellor, to go into the Temple to see the Jedi.  And I can bring my Vice chair with me as an aide.” Padme held her breath.  “So, do you want to be my Vice Chancellor?  I can think of no one better.”

Padme started to tear up.  Going home that first day and finding an empty apartment was the worst experience in her life.  She had immediately called her friend Bail, who was unable to help her.  He held her tearful self on the comm longer than anyone else likely would have had the patience, just allowing her to express herself.  Now, he was asking her…  Padme nodded.

“I know it isn't the same work you’ve been doing, but I think you can boss around a bunch of rabble-rousers in the Senate and you won't let them disrespect you.” Bail said, as if he had to persuade her.

He didn't.  She was nodding through her tears.  “Yes, I'll do it.”

Bail smiled.  “This is very good.  I’m going to put your name through, and the Senate will have to vote to approve.  Until that happens your voting privileges will be suspended.”

“I’ll tell Queen Apailana, she’s going to need to appoint a new representative,” Padme said.  

“And I want you there the next time I try to negotiate with Fox.” Bail said.

Padme nodded, her head too focused on her plans for seeing Ani and the Twins again, to really hear him.  

Chapter Text

Chapter 6:  Saving Skywalker

“Skywalker, come with me,” Mace summoned.

“What do you want?”  As usual, simply using the knight’s name seemed to rub him the wrong way.  Mace didn’t have the patience for this today.  

“I want to train with you.”  Mace led him to a dojo in the main hall.

“You want to train, with me?” Skywalker questioned with a lilt to his voice.  

“We’ve been stuck indoors for several days now,”  Mace tried.  “Plus, I have an idea on what could help your ‘slave chip’ issue, and we will both need to meditate for a while to learn it.  Some exercise beforehand can only help.”  He used obvious quote mark gestures over the two words he hated that he had to say out loud.

“Mmm. Okay.”  Skywalker thought a minute, before agreeing.  Mace was used to most of his fellow knights being hesitant to enter a dojo with him.  His fighting style can be a bit extreme, and he was known to embarrass a few Masters who dared challenge him.  But he sensed Skywalker’s only hesitance was in if he trusted Mace not to lop off one of his remaining limbs.  His trust just wasn’t there.  Mace would have to work on that.  Another time.  

Mace put his lightsaber into one of the room’s lockers, then picked up an available training saber.  Such things were usually only around for younglings, but he figured it might help with the knight’s trust issues.  Skywalker seemed to furrow his brow in confusion before he did the same.  

Skywalker followed him onto the dojo floor.  The two bowed to one another, and then they took up their opening stances.   Skywalker rushed to get in a strike on Mace’s side. 

He parried the blow, throwing his saber arm outward in a way he'd heard described as similar to a dancer's twirl.  Then he pulled his saber in again to block his chest.  Both men circled each other in the middle of the room.

Ahsoka walked into the comm room on the ship, the Force gave her a very unsettled feeling.  To make it worse, as soon as she entered the room, every single eye turned to look at her with the same exact expression on their face.  Sometimes odd things happen when you work with clones, but they're completely different people who happen to share a donor.  You learn that fast working with them.  

“Hey guys,” Ahsoka fingered her lightsaber.  She wouldn't use it against her men, but there were plenty of non-lethal things you can do with a lightsaber in a fight too.  And seconds could matter, the war taught her that.

“Good soldiers follow orders.  Secure the Jedi,” Rex ordered.  

Suddenly being in that room felt like the last place she wanted to stay.  Ahsoka turned and tried to leave.

One of the men shut the door from a control panel.  Rex seemed to be twitching, like he was fighting… whatever this was.  

“Rex,” Ahsoka tried. 

“Find him… Fives.” He let out.

She would be stunned by his mentioning of a dead brother later.  Right now she had to get out of here.  

Ahsoka jumped to climb on a control panel and reached for the air vent in the ceiling.

Mace exercised with Skywalker until they both had a good sweat forming.  Then they moved on to the other training he had planned.  Mace was impressed with the Knight’s lightsaber skills.  He'd lasted longer than most opponents the Master had dueled.  Of course if he had to, he could have pointed out several faults in the other’s form and ways he could have improved.  The Master was frequently doing so for his students.  But that was not the purpose of this duel, so he didn't.  

And then Mace finally had the knight in a meditation room.  He surprised him by pulling out a bag of medical gizmos.  

“The council will at times be asked to solve a difficult problem or debate an issue without having the time to devote to it,” Mace explained.  “When this happens, we have an unusual solution we like to use.  It's called a Force Meld, it's a type of battle meditation, but it has other uses.”

“So you cheat.” Skywalker said with a triumphant smile on his face.  “Master always said it was focus, that's why you lot seemed so in-tune.  But it's not focus at all.  You’ve got your heads all stuck together.  Cheating.”

“Oh, well.  It is a secret to the council pretty much, and your Master was frequently out on missions with the war on.  We haven't exactly had the time to teach it to the newest members yet,” Mace confessed.  

Skywalker smirked at this.  

“As to your connotations, I would suggest you keep it to yourself, especially around certain Masters.  Yoda and Ki-Adi-Mundi especially are prone to long lectures when the topic comes up.”

“Ohhh,” Skywalker drug out the vowel.  Then he winked at Mace.  

The Master flustered for a second.  “Ah yes.  Speaking of your old Master, the topic has come up on how exactly the Sith Lord applied the technology.  He never had an overnight visit with you, I was led to believe.”

“Yeah, I was thinking about that.” The knight nervously touched his face.  “I'm sure it won't surprise you.  I wasn't exactly the most obedient youngling, and some of my hobbies could be a bit reckless.” 

“Um hmm,” Mace tried very hard to hold a controlled face, but it wasn't exactly an unexpected confession.

“I liked to podrace, and I would sneak out to go to the lower levels with a pod I’d built myself.  Anyways, when I told Palpatine…”

“You told Palpatine?” Mace uttered in disbelief.  He remembered trying to counsel the man's Master, who was frustrated with the distance between him and his Padawan.

“Yeah, I don't remember what he said exactly.  He just always had that way.  It was easy to talk to him.” Skywalker rolled his eyes.  “I guess I should have known then.  Retrospect.  Anyways, when I did confess to him, he was very worried that I would pick up a sickness from the lower levels.  He had a doctor come give me a vaccination.  I don't usually get nervous, and it never happened again, but I must have not been feeling right.  He said I fainted the first time.  Anyway, I woke up after a couple hours.  And then after I was knighted, I had already been getting the injections on his family plan for years.  On his Insurance.” He shrugged.  “It just made sense to keep going back to save the order’s budget for more important things.”

Mace held back the snarl that wanted to come forth.  The gall that that Sith would inject anything into a youngling under his watch!

“But my guess is he might not have been honest with me about the ‘Doctors’ or their vaccines.  That might have been when he did it.” 

Mace saw hesitation in the young man.  As if he wanted to keep believing the lies the monster told him.  

“Thank you for telling me.  Now, as to the meditation,” Mace changed the subject. “One thing that is important is that you learn to hold your consciousness apart from the Force Meld.  It would be very dangerous to get it entangled.  You might never be able to separate yourself if that happens.  Also, because we know where the intrusion to your mind would start from...” Mace started to unpack the items from his bag.  “We can use a method known as biofeedback to teach you to pull your consciousness away from that area of your brain.”

Mace had done his research, and gotten the healers to help with it.  He could tell that Skywalker was impressed as well.  

After nearly three hours of practice, Mace was sure that meditating with Skywalker was more painful than a whole class of younglings at once. The knight had so much trouble just sinking into the proper mental space, they barely got the chance to try and meld their minds together.  Skywalker was learning, but it would take more than a few tries.  

Mace got up and stretched.  “I think that's enough for today.  Now if you'll follow me.  I have one more activity for you.”

Mace brought Skywalker out to an open, empty room.  He’d had a collection of tools and supplies brought up from the repair shop, and a bunch of broken things he'd been able to find, including a couple of droids and Obi-Wan’s blender.  They were all sitting on tables, in a way Mace was proud of.  All the functionality of the repair shop, without the cloying smell that is often in that room.  

Skywalker looked up at Mace, something unspoken behind tightly clamped lips.  

Mace felt he should explain.  “You've practiced self control all day.  You deserve to loosen up and enjoy yourself.  I'm told you like electronics and repairing things.”

Mace waved at the tables and stepped back.  Skywalker stepped up and picked up a tool from the table.  Then he flipped upside down one of the appliances and used the tool to open its base cover.  

Crawling in the air vents, it was hard to keep her orientation.  Finally Ahsoka pushed through to a quiet, probably empty quarter of the ship.  It looked to be a droid bay, which explains why it was empty.  The only ones who use the place are droids, unless Anakin is onboard and deep into a project.  That or unless he's hiding from someone else onboard.  Ahsoka closed her eyes and shook her head.  At the same time she took a step and bumped into something that beeped at her.

“Oh I'm sorry.  I wasn't looking where I was going.”

Suddenly the beeping of the one droid roused the others from their recharging bays, and they all started beeping at her.

“Hold it. Ahh! I can't listen to any of you when you all talk at once.  Plus I’m kinda trying to hide in here.  Please don’t attract any attention.” One of the droids rolled forwards as they all went silent.  “R7, go ahead.”

The droid produced a long selection of trilling beeps.  

Ahsoka tried to translate what it was saying.  When she started training with Anakin he gave her lessons in the droid language of Binary on a Holo Recording to learn, and she was quite good at it, she thought.  She’d be able to beat Master Obi-Wan any day, but Anakin was fluent.   

“You have a message from the Jedi High Council?  Why wouldn’t they just send it through the ship’s comm?”

Something about her question seemed to stress the little droid out, so she acquiesced, “Okay, play me the message.”

She expected a Holo-recording to play, but instead R7 started to beep.  

Ahsoka concentrated as she listened.  “I hear something about the Clones going into a hyper protective mode and taking the Council prisoner.  They think it’ll happen in other places and encourage… What?”

R7 beeped again.  

“Yeah, I heard you.  I just can’t believe they want me to yield.  They couldn’t have taken ten minutes to think of a better strategy?”  

A smaller cleaning droid beeped a suggestion that she could spend the rest of the voyage in the cleaning ducts, which another droid started to reprimand it for, claiming that Master Tano was too big to fit into the cleaning ducts.  

“Wait, I need more information to make a plan.  Can you help me hook up to the main computer terminal?”  She asked, knowing R7 had learned a thing or two from R2-D2.  

R7 beeped excitedly, then seemed to beep instructions for the other droids.  Soon someone rolled over to her with a portable holo-screen on a datapad.  

“Thank you,” she picked up the device, and it seemed to display the main desktop computer screen from the ship's computer.  “Okay, Help me look up information on clones acting strangely.  Any base orders they have.”  After a while of looking through and finding next to nothing, she rubbed her head.  Then she remembered Rex’s last words to her.  “Fives!  Look up anything referring to Clone CT-5555, anything that mentions him!”  There was a fuzzy screen as the droids went to work.  

Suddenly a number of files came up on the device.  R7 beeped that she should look at the top file first, so she did.  It was a report claiming that an “independent” investigation confirmed there was a malfunction to his inhibitor chip. Both the Jedi Council and the Senate signatures were on the form saying they’d read the report and accepted the results.  Below this, there was a mention of a grievance report filed by CT-7567.  

“R7 bring up that report.” she ordered.    

R7 beeped.  

“It’s sealed.  Okay, try Anakin’s Passcode:  8-1-0-8.”  Ahsoka gave.  It was very useful to download videos from the holonet, and come on.  What Padawan doesn't figure out what their Master's passcode is?

“I already know this report is gonna fall on deaf ears, but I owe it to Fives to record what I saw.” Ahsoka read it aloud.  Then she read the rest of the line silently.  “So it's the Kaminoans who did this?  Why?  What would they even have to benefit from messing with their army?”

R7 was silent as it processed those questions.  Another droid came up to her and whistled.  At the same time a sound file came up on the screen.  

“What, you say that I should listen to this…  An internal comms message.  Are you telling me you hacked the troopers helmet comms?” She was awed now.  It didn't take any more persuading to get her to press play on the file.

“Orders are to protect and secure the Jedi.  The prisoner is a Jedi killer.  Execute him.” Came the firm voice of Rex.  

“Sir, some of the men are having trouble defining him as different from a Jedi.  He uses a lightsaber and is a Force user.”

Ahsoka could picture Rex rubbing his forehead in reaction to that kind of stupidity.  Were they talking about Maul?  He was definitely not a Jedi.  But he did have intelligence they were after, which is why she was headed back to Coruscant now.

“Alright, I'll do it.  I'll be down there in ten.  You just get him against a wall and ready for when I do,” Rex said, and then the file ended.

“How long ago was this?” The droid beeped what was the equivalent of a couple of minutes.  Ahsoka started to get up.

R7 seemed to guess her heading and he protested.  

She sighed, “The men haven't tried to hurt me yet.  And I was ordered to yield to them.  I can't let them kill Maul.  He's too important!  I just have to hope I can persuade Rex when I get there.”

R7 beeped.  It translated to, “Show her the research file.”

A set of documents popped up on the device.  It looked to be from the Jedi Archives from a file entitled, “How to save Master Anakin.” Ahsoka scanned the document.  A portion was highlighted that seemed to dictate steps to an ancient ritual.  

“Hmm, this might be helpful.  Can I take this with me?” She asked.

R7 beeped an affirmative.

“Thanks,” She said while heading back to the air vents.

Mace didn't stay with Skywalker for his repairs.  What would he do except sit and stare at the knight anyways.  Not even Skywalker needed that level of supervision.  

So Mace came back after a few hours when he figured all he'd find was a mess to clean up.  

“Skywalker?  No, don't let me disturb you.” The knight blinked as if he'd just woken up.  “So what did you build?”

Skywalker looked down at the mess in front of him, as if he just discovered it.  Several of the broken items seemed to have been wired together to form a - a something.  Mace couldn't guess what its function was.

“Oh, I'm sorry.  I got carried away.  I can fix it.” Skywalker picked up a tool again and started unscrewing pieces.

“Do you always get this, carried away, when you do tech?” Mace asked. 

“No, I”  Skywalker rushed to defend himself unnecessarily.  

“I only ask because Kenobi specifically said he didn't want any AI upgrades on his blender.  Implied you would be likely to do this.”

Skywalker shrugged, “Sometimes, sometimes I get very in-tuned with my work and forget what I'm doing.” He stopped talking and pulled out what looked like a blender’s blade, and a droid’s processor chip from the mass. Then he looked down “Yeah, I've given him a few unexpected upgrades over the years.  You see his reaction to some of them, you'd think, before he met me, he'd never had a droid above fifth class.”

Mace rubbed his bottom lip, “You don't even know what you were doing, do you?”

“No, I kinda lose track of it all.  That's kinda the problem.”

Mace laughed.  “You’re meditating.”

“What? No.  No, I'm pretty sure I wasn't sitting in meditation.” He said, as if the idea sounded nuts to him.

Mace shook his head.  “You know we don't all meditate the same way.  When I was younger I tended to…  Well, you know how I have my own saber style?” He struggled to find the right words, but Skywalker nodded, so he continued, “When I was younger I had a Master who noticed, sometimes when I practiced my forms, I got a distant look and sometimes my forms got, well, they got creative.  It was meditation.  I had a friend who took a Holo-recording of me doing it one time, and my style evolved from there.  You know what, I'll send you some books to read.” Mace started walking away.  “And I'll rework the lesson plan for next time.  This’ll make it much easier.”

“Let me do it.”

Ahsoka barely arrived on time.   “Wait.  No!” She dropped out of the air vent and ran, putting her arms out to protect the black figure that had been pulled from the cell.

“Jedi, step away from the prisoner,” Rex ordered.

“No!  You can't kill him.  The Council needs to…” This wasn't working.  “Rex!” She tried.  He didn't even twitch to his name.  

“Why can't I kill this Jedi Killer?” Rex asked.

“Because, because he's halfway through completing the Purgation Ritual, forgoing the dark side and becoming a Jedi.”

The figure behind her stood up taller.  “Yes, didn't you hear Master Tano?  I've taken a new path.” Ahsoka knew that he knew she was lying.  She was just glad he decided to play along.  But then… “Master Tano, may I have a saber?”

“No.” Both she and Rex answered in unison.

Rex squinted his eyes a bit.  

“It's right here.” Ahsoka turned the datapad screen to face him.  His eyes concentrated on reading the page.  She could tell Maul was equally shocked, and she didn't blame him.  If she had heard about this before now, she would have insisted it had to be a fake.  She'd heard Yoda's lecture on the dark side being irredeemable too many times.  She didn't know where the droids had found this document, but it had the source insignia of the Jedi Archives on it.  Though it must have been old! It looked like an old fashioned document scan, before they made a version specifically for Holo.  

“How to save Master Anakin.” Rex read aloud, slowly.  

“Yeah you remember what he predicted about Skyguy.  Maul said that he would fall.  I must have mentioned it to R7, and he did something about it.”

Rex sighed, “Alright, take them into custody.”

Ahsoka could say that she expected this, but her heart beat a bit faster when her troopers put their hands on her and forcefully marched her out to the hallway.  

Before troopers could do the same with Maul, Rex leaned down to get right in his face.  “Listen, if you harm a hair on another Jedi, I will end you without prejudice!”  His voice was rough and strained.  

While they were being led out, one of the troopers nearby leaned over and whispered, “Aren't you glad we didn't just shoot him.” Rex clutched his head and groaned.

If R2:D2 were to write a book, it would be titled ‘Why Does Nobody Listen to the Droid.’  In my crazy AU, R2 noticed something going downhill and predicted Anakin's fall before it happened.  He did his research to find a solution too.  Just no one listened to him and they never used it in Canon.

That's a believable excuse to have an unknown, ancient Jedi practice brought up, isn't it.  Nudge nudge, wink wink.

I don't know what I am going to do with the Maul character, but this is the first time I get to keep him alive in a story, so.

Other writers have used the active meditation thing for Anakin before, but the Mace Windu part is my own idea.  I think it sounds believable that a guy who made up his own lightsaber dueling style would’ve had trouble sitting still as a youngling too.  

Chapter Text

Chapter 7:  Upset

Anakin rocked Leia.  He'd just fed her, changed her, and boosted the shielding he tried to keep up around the twins.   And yet she wouldn't settle.

This felt like the night.  He had learned the meditation Master Windu was trying to teach him, so much that he finally felt safe taking care of his younglings for the night.  Master Windu agreed.  No, beat that!  He actually looked pleased when Anakin brought it up.  

“Oh, come on little princess.  What's keeping you up?” 

Luke wailed from the other cot.  

“I know little buddy.  It's hard to sleep when your sister's being so loud.” Anakin tried to whisper to his other twin.  It wasn't working.  Nothing was working.  He was such a bad parent.  

Anakin needed to release his emotions before they spiraled.  He needed help!

He reached for his comlink and blanked on who to call.  Padme was outside, and though he knew she was working on something to get in, something political, there was nothing she could do tonight.  Master Obi-Wan was out on Utapu.  He probably didn't even know that Anakin had babies, if the council hadn't told him yet.  Master Windu mentioned wanting to see the look in his eye when he found out, so Anakin was guessing they hadn’t.  And Ahsoka was on Mandalore.  Not that he’d want to lay this kind of thing at her feet.  She was too young for that kind of responsibility.  

That was the end of his usual emergency contacts.  Anakin would hardly contact the council for an issue like this.  Leia still screamed in his arms.  Then he got the brilliant idea:  “I need to call the Creche.”  Their workers had been taking care of his twins, whenever he couldn’t find a Master to supervise him.  It was much of the time this past week.  He did owe them for that, he’ll have to remember. But they must have a trick for situations like this.

He laid Leia back down in her cot and ran to the building’s comlink on the wall by his door.  In it was a directory telling him the number to use, which he clicked on, and waited.  

“Hello, Knight Skywalker?” Came the voice over the machine.  She must have heard Leia in the background because the next thing she said was, “Is someone having trouble getting to sleep?”

“Yes, It’s Leia.  She won’t settle, no matter what I do.”  

“Hmm, normally we would take a youngling to the healers, if they can’t settle.  I can schedule a worker to take her to them tomorrow.  But in the meantime, Master Windu has a way with her.  I’ll send him a message right now.”  

“Master WINDU?!?”  Anakin couldn’t believe what he just heard.  

“Yes, sometimes when she gets upset, he’s able to get her to settle down.”  She chuckled.  “He likes babies, most of the Council Members do.  Alright, I sent the message.  He’ll be along when he can.”  

“Alright,” Not that Anakin could have objected, now that she’d sent the message.  He wasn’t sure that he had the patience to deal with the uptight Master of the Order now, since he hadn’t slept all night.  He went back to Leia, who was still crying.  “It’s alright little Princess.  Come to Daddy.”  He picked her up and tried to rock her again.  

Ahsoka stumbled into her quarters and was about to turn around and complain at the trooper who had pushed her that last step through the door.  

“Aah, okay, I’m going.”  Maul stumbled in behind her. 

She turned and stared at him in shock with wide eyes.  Maul turned evaluating the room.  He was still disarmed, not that that mattered for a Sith.  

Ahsoka looked down and remembered the datapad she still carried.  The droids in the bay apparently still had a connection to it, because there was a text box on the top of the screen.  It read, “Master Tano, Please give us a status update.”  Then below it read, “R2:D2 requests regular status updates on the ritual with Meat Bag Maul.  R2 requests that you don’t skip any steps and send frequent numerical estimates on the Participant’s dark side leanings.”

Ahsoka rolled her eyes.  

“What is it?” Maul demanded.

“Nothing, just that moment when you realize your life is an experiment to Droids.  You will stay in there,” she took charge and pointed him to a door.  The room they were in was a standard General’s quarters.  It had two rooms connected to a main suit, in case the Jedi on duty had a Padawan.  

“Yes Master,” he mocked.  You know, if you lent me a saber, I could deal with our little protectors out there.” He finished with a purr to his voice.

“En. Oh.  No,” she spelled.  “The men haven't hurt anyone.”

Maul rolled his eyes.  “And when we get to wherever they are taking us.  Should I expect the same hospitality?”

“The Jedi High Council will have some questions for you.  But they may be willing to be merciful in exchange for your help.  Feel like taking down a Sith Lord, by any chance?”  

Maul glared at her.  “And what if this is all a part of his plan?” Ahsoka scrunched her nose.  “Admittedly it is a bit easy, for his sake.  Not near violent enough.  But what if they are only rounding us up to take us to him?”

“That makes no sense.  How could a Sith Lord have messed with every clone in the Republic?  He’d have to have been in cahoots with the Kaminoans all this time, and a prominent member of the GAR, one of its subdivisions,”  Ahsoka paused.  Maul had a particular look in his eye.  “Or governing bodies,” she finished much slower.  

Then she started pondering what he was hinting at.  If the Sith Lord was in the senate, or one of its subcommittees, it would be very devastating for the republic.  It would mean that the Jedi were working for the Sith, in a way.  That would have tainted everything they did in darkness.  

She pulled up the datapad and typed into its chat box.  “Monitor the Ship’s heading.  Let me know the moment we drop out of hyperspace or a new destination is set.”  

There was a moment, and then a reply came up, “Affirmative, this ship is still bound for Coruscant.”  

“There,” she announced.  “We are still going to Coruscant, to the Temple hangars most likely.  If anything changes, R7 will update us, and we can take action.”

Maul nodded.  “Then, I think it wise that I learn about this ritual.  I’d like to know what I’ve agreed to, before it comes up again.”

“Very well,” Ahsoka ushered him to a chair, then sat down across from him.  “I haven’t read it yet either.  Let’s do it together.”  She turned on the holo-projector to the datapad’s screen, and enlarged it enough so they both could read.  If the thing still had a connection to the ship’s computer, she wasn’t going to let her new roommate have unfettered access to it. This seemed like the best solution. 

Mace looked up at the sky above their hangar and he paced.  It had been only about an hour ago that the Padawan was able to get a signal through to call the Temple, and his news was not good.  

The boy’s Master was injured and they were expected to arrive soon.  If the clones were half as efficient as they usually were.  Mace fretted, looking for the healers who were waiting for their patient.

Suddenly, he heard the ship approaching.  They hoped if they kept the hangar doors wide open, the troopers would land in the Bay like they were trained to.  So far other knights who arrived from off world landed in the GAR hangar and were escorted into the Temple.  Mace had teams of healers at both doors just in case, but he was glad they used this door.  

As soon as Mace saw the ship’s ramp lower, he was trying to climb up it to get to the patient.  A trooper stood with their arm out saying “Jedi, Deboard the craft.”

“Master,”  came the frightened voice of a familiar Padawan behind the trooper.   

“Caleb,” Mace called out.  

The trooper moved aside as the Padawan ran up to Mace and embraced him.  

“Calm Padawan.  Let’s get your Master to the healers.”  

“Okay,” he answered, wiping tears from his face.  

Several troopers began marching off the ship, forcing Mace and Caleb off the ramp.  In the middle of the crowd, they carried a stretcher with an injured woman on it.  They set the stretcher down and said “Two Jedi in containment.”  It was the usual thing they said, when dropping a knight or Master off.  Then they pulled back and reboarded the ship.  While it took off and flew away, Mace approached the Woman.  

“Depa!” He called out.  

“Master, don’t give me that look,” she said and Mace had flashbacks to a precocious teen giving him lip.  “I was clipped by a droid.  They got me into Bacta soon after, and I will be fine.”

“And how did you get shot? Hmm?” He tilted his head downward, looking straight at her.”

“It must’ve been when, whatever this is, happened.  Caleb was on the ship.  He said there was a radio call from Coruscant right before.  The men all froze for a split second, and a droid got a lucky shot through.  But they reacted immediately and got me back to the ship.  It was a glancing wound, and it will be fine.”  She tried to stand up, but faltered on her sore leg.

“Umm-hmm,” Mace hummed.  “When the healers examine you, then we’ll talk again.”  

Depa rolled her eyes.  “Fine.  Can you take Caleb?  He’s been stuck in a tiny room, anxious about me for too long.”

“Of course.” Mace nodded, looking over at his grandpadawan in worry.  Anxiety was never good for a Jedi, especially a Padawan who was so young.  

The Master reached down to his commlink which had been going off that he had a message for some time now.  He glanced at the written message, and rolled his eyes.  

“Caleb, come with me.  We’ll be back later to hear what the Healers say.  Let’s let them do their work.  Do you remember Knight Skywalker?”

“Knight Skywalker!  The Hero with no Fear!”  Caleb said excitedly.  Mace resisted rolling his eyes.  It was the usual teenage worship.  He’ll get over it. 

“We’re going to stop in and see him.”  

“Are you sure he’s awake?” Caleb asked.  

Mace laughed.   Then he turned around to walk backwards.   “I’m sure.  Come along.”  

“Little Jeri saw the Loth-Cat was healed from its injury.  How did Little Jeri feel?”  Ahsoka read out loud.

This makes no sense!”  Maul complained.  

Ahsoka grit her eyes, and took a deep breath.  It sounded so simple when she read it in the document.  The first step in the ritual was for Maul to have one of the most basic lessons taught in the Temple Creche:  Identifying basic emotions using stories.  She did not anticipate it being this hard.  “Younglings usually learn this.”  

“Your younglings are stupid!”  Ahsoka would be surprised to admit, the sith pouted.  “Too much emotional sentimentality to make it as a Sith.”

“Well, they’re not trying to be Sith,” Ahsoka heaved with her breath.  “The path of a Jedi starts young.”

He rolled his eyes.  

“Perhaps the lesson is aimed a bit too young for you?”  Ahsoka remembered one of her instructors mentioning something about how each lesson must be fitted to the student.  Sure, her CrecheMaster probably didn’t imagine this student when he said that.  

She glanced down at the datapad.  Maul had correctly identified all of the negative emotions, probably to an even greater detail than she had, when she took this lesson.  But it was the positive emotions that seemed to baffle him.  Especially as she refused to accept his initial responses of “sappy,” or “weak.” 

“Here,” Ahsoka pulled out a blank sheet of flimsy and started to write him a vocab list.  “We’ll work on empathy later.  I want you to memorize these words.  Look up their definitions and  write me five sentences for each one.”  If she later claimed she did not have a moment of gleeful satisfaction in giving Maul homework, you could call her a liar.  

Maul glared at her as he took the flimsy sheet.  Ahsoka was surprised to find he was actually trying to complete the lessons.  She supposed it was because she had promised that if he was trying, she would tell the council that he was being cooperative.    

Caleb followed his Grandmaster, Mace, to a door in the Temple.  His grandmaster then turned to him and said, “Heroes often fall short of what we expect of them.”  

Caleb rolled his eyes.  “Yeah, yeah.  Ring the door already.”  He was excited.  Can you blame him?  Sure, he knew the Knight was probably not as cool as he appeared on the posters a hundred percent of the time.  But he was Knight Skywalker!  There was a time he taught a lesson in combat to the other younglings in his clan.  Unfortunately, Caleb had gotten nervous and that made him get sick earlier in the day.  He spent that lesson with the healers, but his clanmates were all very vivid when they described what he taught them.

Mace sighed and pushed the buzzer on the Knight's door.  

Caleb turned, just as the door was opening, to fight back the nausea that started to twist his stomach.  

The Knight that appeared in the door was holding a screaming infant over his shoulder, and looked very tired, AND stressed.  

Mace reached out for the infant, which Skywalker let him have.  Then the baby quieted instantly.  “It worked.  I can’t believe it,” Skywalker uttered in disbelief. 

“Greetings Knight Skywalker.  This is Padawan Dume, my Grandpadawan.”

“Hello, Master Skywalker,” Caleb greeted him, as polite as he had been taught.  

“It’s Anakin, kid.”  He extended a hand.  

Caleb tried not to smile like a fool, as he accepted the handshake.  He’d heard the man was prone to use the weird greeting gesture from the outer rim.  

Anakin looked like he thought about picking up the baby again, but changed his mind and stepped back, extending a hand welcoming them into his apartment.  The space was a standard Padawan-less Knight’s quarters: a studio apartment, with an attached bathroom,  and a kitchenette on one wall.

Mace seemed to know where the baby was supposed to go, because he went straight for one of two baby cots in the room.  

“Thank you so much,” said Anakin, who was fidgeting with a rag he had pulled from his shoulder.

There was a second youngling in a cot who was still fussing, though at a lower volume than the other one was.  Caleb wanted to follow his Grandmaster’s example.  He imagined himself picking up the youngling and having the same effect on him.  So he reached down to the cot and was careful to support the head in his elbow.  The youngling did not stop crying, however and he seemed to cry more.  This got the attention of the other two. 

“Sh sh sssshhhh,” Caleb tried.  It seemed to work for a second.

“Uh oh.  I recognize that face.” Mace said.

“Oh, bring him here.” Anakin ushered.  

Caleb was about to question the others, when he smelled something foul from his arms.  The Padawan ran over to the knight, then when the baby was successfully handed over, he took several large steps back.  

Anakin took off the infant's dirty diaper and proceeded to look for a clean one, but the process let out more of that smell.  Something got triggered in Caleb’s stomach and in the flash of a few seconds, he had emptied his stomach on the knight’s floor.

“Caleb, are you alright.” Mace asked, hands suddenly free of infants.

“Yeah, I'm sorry Master.” Caleb felt extremely embarrassed.

“Don't worry about it.” Anakin brushed it off. “You should've seen my first reaction.  Here.  You can clean yourself up in there.” He handed him a towel and pointed to a bathroom attached to the one room suite.  “There are some salty crackers in the kitchenette he can have.” He said to Mace.

“Why aren't they in the creche?” Caleb felt suddenly brave enough to ask, once he had scrubbed his clothes with a damp towel, and eaten three crackers, with a glass of water, his Grandmaster gave him.

There was an interesting look that passed between Anakin and Mace. Then Anakin spoke up, “Because they are not initiates.  They are mine.”

“They’re yours.  How?” Caleb uttered in shock.

Anakin’s face went red.  “Uhhhh,” he drawled.  

“That's a question you can ask Depa tomorrow,” Mace said, and Anakin sighed.

Now it was Caleb’s turn to turn red.  “Oh no, I,” he stammered.  “They’re with the Senator, aren't they?”  

Anakin opened his eyes in shock.  “How do you know about Padme?”

“I just won a bet with Commander Grey, if it was her.”  

Anakin continued to stare at him with his mouth dropped open.

“Oh come on.  You two were hardly subtle,” Mace added on.  

“It was a secret marriage,”  Anakin insisted.

Caleb laughed.  “I knew it.  I’m so rich.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 8:  Homecoming

Mace huffed and he rolled his eyes.  It was the morning of the day most of the Council was due to return, if their estimates were accurate.  He'd prepared a little greeting party for the Masters in the Council Chambers.

Of course he'd prefer to have the Skywalker Younglings at said party, but the healers had to object.  Infants don't have a full immune system yet.  And Vocara threw a fit when she found out that Caleb saw the twins before she had seen him.  Thankfully he was completely healthy.  Still, her wrath was best avoided, Mace had learned that the hard way.

Still, just because the younglings couldn't be here, it doesn't excuse their father from attending.  “I’ll go check on him,” Master Kolar said.  

“I think he’s just nervous about the confession,” said Master Fisto.  

“You did tell him about the exception?” asked Master Tiin.

“Yes, he knows about that,” Mace replied.  

Suddenly their conversation ended because a door opened and a short green figure walked into the room.  “Good to finally be home, it is.” said Master Yoda.  He helped himself to one of the shelled fish off the center table Mace had laid out for them, and then he sat down on his usual council seat.  “What news, is there?”

The other door opened and Skywalker finally rushed in.  Mace thought this was good timing.  “As you’ve read in the reports, it was Skywalker who reported Palpatine to us.  His perceptiveness should be commended, I think.”  

‘What was that reaction, did he just blush?’ Mace questioned himself.  ‘Surely this can’t be the first time I’ve complimented him.’ 

“Yes, very fortunate that was,” Yoda replied.

“Ah, greetings Grandmaster.  How was your trip?” Skywalker said.  

“Interesting, it was.  A surprise, I brought.”  Master Yoda got up and started walking back to the door he had come through.  Mace and Skywalker just shared a bewildered look.  

He let in a man and woman that looked faintly familiar to Mace, along with an infant youngling.  The man hovered protectively over the woman who carried the baby.  Both of them came in nervously, and stood next to the table Mace had set up with his appetizers.  The usual location one stands in when presented before the Council.

“On Kashyyyk, I was.  See all Jedi, even former Jedi, the same, troopers now do.”

“That’s who you are.” Mace suddenly recognized the former knights in front of him.  “Kento Marek, and Mallie Adis.”  Both knights had come before the council almost nine months ago to resign from the order.  “You ended up on Kashyyyk?”

“Yes, helping the Wookies, they were.  And saw him use the Force, a trooper in my unit did.  If the same misunderstanding, other troopers make, alter our ways, we will have to.”

“Yes, I'm sure the housing office can assign them a room.” Mace said.

“Perhaps in the west wing.  It's where other guests and refugees have stayed in the past,” suggested Master Shaak Ti.

This idea made the Grandmaster nod his head.  “Yes.  Skywalker, help watch little Galen, will you?  While to the housing office, Marek and Adis go?” Yoda turned to address Skywalker directly.

“Of course.  Hello, I’m Anakin.”  Skywalker proceeded to greet the newcomers and the baby.  “Come little guy, I've got a couple friends for you to meet.”

“Good practice for him, it will be,” Yoda hummed to Mace.  

“Hmm, Mmm.” Mace rushed to stuff something into his mouth so the Master wouldn’t see the upturn to his lips.  He was going to enjoy the big reveal when the time came.   And nothing was going to ruin it.

Anakin quite enjoyed his time schmoozing with the other council members.  In all his days, he couldn't remember them schmoozing with anyone, but the Force had been a touch lighter since what happened at the Senate building that day.  Lighter, and a touch mischievous, but that wasn't worrying anyone, so it was probably nothing.  

Master Plo quickly started a conversation about a couple methods to deal with the slave chips affecting the clones.  Regrettably Anakin had to keep answering that they didn't have the resources for something like that, or that with what little they did know, that could stop the brains of the patient, not just the chips.  He had been through all these ideas for himself after his own chip was discovered.  “If you can devise a way to operate, I’d gladly sit under the knife to get this thing out.  But I am told that is beyond our abilities right now.”  

Partway through the conversation, Obi-Wan arrived, but he was quickly wrapped up in a conversation with Master Windu and Yoda.  Anakin could not get a word alone with him.  And Master Windu was so set on doing a big reveal, he knew that it was most likely by design.  Still, he knew he was probably unsuccessful at shielding his side of their bond, as every once in a while the man gave him a worried look from across the room. 

“Attention,” Master Windu stood up suddenly and addressed the room full of Jedi, which all quieted to hear him.  “I think everyone we expected to arrive today is here.  Master Ki-Adi-Mundi was stationed on the outer rim, so he will take a few more days.  Now, I know most of you are eager to discuss the current predicament and the end of war situation.  But Young Skywalker wishes to address this council first.”

Suddenly every eye was on him, and Anakin had to take a few seconds to release his emotions before he could give them back eye contact.  “I-I have something to confess.  Padme and I,”

“That’s Senator Amidala,” Windu clarified.

“Yes, we are attached.  I am married to her.  And, last week, when we got back from the Sieges, she told me she was pregnant.”  Anakin paused for a minute to control his breathing.  

There was the sound of Plo Cheering, and Obi-Wan let out a shocked “Huh.”  

“A day before this all began, she gave birth to our children.  And now I am a f-father.” Anakin finished.

Anakin closed his eyes as the group began to loudly discuss what he had just said.  

“What!” Obi-Wan bellowed from across the room.  

“He already has an exception approved,” One of the voices shared.

“What!  When was someone going to tell me!” Obi-Wan sounded upset.  At least he was yelling at the Council right now, Anakin couldn’t help but think.  

“Wait, Children, in basic that’s plural.” Plo questioned. 

“She had twins, a boy and a girl.  Mace, show them the holos,” Kit Fisto said.

“Oooh baby holos!” Plo cheered.

“Anakin!  Anakin, look at me,” Obi-Wan again. 

His head spun, he couldn’t open his eyes.  Suddenly he recognized the feeling, a bond was reconnecting.  It had been a while since that particular bond had been active, and boy was it loud.  He gasped for breath and shouted, “Ahsoka!”

Windu looked down at his comlink and said, “Another ship is arriving.  They say we are all going to want to see who’s just arrived.”

Anakin was already on his feet and pushing the others out of his way to get to the door.  Windu and Obi-Wan followed closely after.  Then they were followed by the rest of the room in a more civilized order.  

Obi-Wan’s head still rang from the last conversation, as he chased Anakin through the Temple.  He knew there was something going on between Padme and his former Padawan, but he never suspected they’d have younglings together!  His Padawan knew better than to form attachments.  

What was even more surprising to hear was the Council supporting this.  To hear that they gave him an exception to the rules against attachment, and never told him about it.  When had he asked for the exception?  Anakin hardly breathed towards the council chambers without consulting him for advice first.  

But Anakin has babies now!  He pulled his mind away from the question of whether he was their Uncle, or GrandMaster.  Grand-Father?!  

Obi-Wan managed to squeeze into a lift with Anakin and Mace, in just enough time before the lift closed.  Why were they running again?  Oh yeah, Ahsoka has probably arrived in the Temple.  His other Grand-Padawan.  

In the seconds that it took the lift to operate, the men gasped for breath.  Anakin seemed anxious, beyond what he’d just been in the Council Chambers.  He hoped that Ahsoka was not injured, or worse.  Though if Rex was any bit as protective as Cody had been, he couldn’t imagine they'd let anything happen to her.  

“Anakin,” Obi-Wan was just catching his breath when the door opened again.

Anakin didn't stay to talk to him.  As soon as the lift opened he ran out and took a left down the hallway.  He stopped in front of two double doors that led to the hangar for two seconds before he threw them both open.  Inside the room, Anakin threw himself at Ahsoka.  He hugged her and then seemed to check her body for damage.  

Obi-Wan’s attention was pulled to the other side of the room, where his mortal enemy, Darth Maul, was standing.  He pulled out his lightsaber and flew at him.  The Ex-Sith wanabee would not harm his grandpadawan, or any Jedi in the Temple, so help him Force.  

There was a loud bang that made everyone look around like the world was on fire.  Obi-Wan then realized a part of his cloak was singed.

“Rex?” Anakin questioned when he saw who fired the blaster.  

“It is illegal for anyone except the Supreme Chancellor to kill a Jedi.  Including other Jedi.  That was a warning shot.  The next one won’t be.”

“A Jedi!” Anakin sounded shocked.

“What the Sith,” Mace swore.  

“I can explain,” Ahsoka said, putting her arms up placatingly.

Maul seemed to shrug innocently with a smug smile on his face.  Obi-Wan let his saber fall, but still held on to it while he motioned the Sith to walk to where the others were getting their explanation.  

Ahsoka was standing in a circle of Jedi, as most of the Council had gotten down there by then. Mace had his arms crossed, and a very put upon expression on his face.  Anakin stood back, his arms crossed as well.  There was a fire behind his eyes, but Obi-Wan knew he was more likely to defend his Padawan than to join the Council.  

“How can they possibly be ready to claim him as a Jedi?” Mace asked.  

“The men were ready to shoot him, after the chips malfunctioned,” Ahsoka explained.

“Wait.  Chips malfunctioned?” Mace repeated.  

“How do you know about the chips?”  Anakin squinted his eyes to ask.   

“It was in the files, on Fives.” She answered.  “The Kaminoans put them in the Clones.  I don’t know what this is, but he thinks it was his old Master’s way to round us all up for slaughter.”

“It was a theory,” Maul muttered.  

“Yeah, that won’t happen, whatever it’s intent was.” Mace explained.  “The Sith’s dead.  He seemed to activate something in the clones before he died, which is why we are all here.”

“DEAD!  This cannot be,” Maul questioned.

“The Sith is indeed dead.  Bail Organa confirmed it with me over a comm call this morning.” Mace answered.  

“What about his apprentice?” Maul seemed to still want confirmation.

“Yeah, Dooku’s dead as well.”  Anakin proudly asserted.  “I did it myself.”

“Go on,” instructed Mace, turning back to Ahsoka.

“The chips were supposedly in every clone’s head.  Fives’ apparently had malfunctioned, leading to, you know.  Anyways, there was a grievance report in his file.  Rex claimed Fives had shared anxieties with him that the Chips may be for nefarious purposes.  But the report was sealed.  I had to use your passcode to open it.” She pointed to Anakin.  

“Grievance Report?  I don’t remember a Grievance Report concerning this Clone,” said Mace.

Anakin raised his hand, “I may have sealed it.  It was the Chancellor’s request.  He said it would create too much bad press if something like that was investigated.  Assured me it was nothing.  I know, bad idea.”

Mace growled, but nodded again at Ahsoka.  

“Anyway,” Ahsoka continued.  “They were ready to shoot him, execution style.  I knew he used to work with the Sith Lord, and I thought you’d want to interrogate him.  But I had very little time to think of a plan.  Fortunately R7 managed to find me this,” she handed over a datapad which a few of the Jedi glanced at and passed along.  

“Grandmaster, I think the troops need one of your lessons on the dangers of falling to the dark side.”  Anakin suggested.

“Would that work?” Saesee Tiin asked.  

“None of them seemed very responsive when I tried to talk to them before,” Plo shared.

“Very old, this document is.”  Yoda uttered.  

“I think it’s from before the old Sith Wars,” said Ahsoka.

“A very hard path, it was.  If acknowledge this, we do, prepared for it, are you?”  Yoda turned to address Maul.  

The Sith Lord’s eyebrows rose.  

“Master,” Mace puckered his face with disgust.  “Are we really considering this?”  

“Limited, our options are.  If him, we cannot kill, with him, we’d be forced to live.  Easier than building a prison, it will be,” said Yoda.  

“He has been uh, cooperative, while we were in containment aboard the ship.”  Ahsoka shared.

“Wait, the men put you in a cell with that…” Anakin squawked.

“No, it was the other way around.” Her cheeks blushed orange when Anakin’s eyes grew even larger.  “We started the first part, with the lessons normally given to younglings.”

“I was trained as a Sith. Pain was my constant companion.”  Maul breathed.  “Whatever your order requires, it will not compare with that.”

There was a moment when all the council stared at each other and nodded in unison.  Anakin seemed to be nodding with them.  Obi-Wan scrunched his face in confusion.  He remembered his old Padawan used to be freaked out whenever such occurred before.  It was before he joined the council.  To see him so focused now, it made the old Master proud.  

“Compare, it will not.” Yoda whispered.

“But we will see if you have what it takes to join our members.”  Anakin spoke next.

“And if you fail, we will revisit the prison idea.”  Mace finished. 

Okay, maybe it is a bit unsettling when they do that, thought Obi-Wan.  

Chapter Text

Chapter 9:  Dad-Mode

Ahsoka leaned back, waiting for the healers to release her.  She understood them doing a standard physical, once she returned to the Temple.  She even understood Anakin following the healers around her, making sure they did what they had to.  She just wasn’t sure when the standard physical began to include a brain scan, and full body x-rays.  

Obi-Wan was given much the same in his own turn.  He was never the most cooperative of patients.  She heard him arguing with the healers and Jedi through the closed door between them.  She even heard him yell “Anakin” at least once.  So Skyguy was being super protective of him too.  

“Master Che,” Ahsoka greeted the head healer who walked up to her.

“Pada- Citizen Tano, you will be pleased to hear that you are completely healthy.  There is no sign of a chip in your brain, or any Sith manipulations.  Please tell your Master that we were VERY thorough.” 

“That's great, can I leave?” Ahsoka got up mid question.  She was eager to learn what the Council was planning.  

“Yes, you are released.” She answered.

Ahsoka ran out the door.  She was never a big fan of the healers either.  

“Stop,” went a familiar voice.  “Just where're you heading off to, Snips?”

“I was released.” She announced.

Anakin didn't seem satisfied.  He looked at her through squinted eyes.

From behind her, Master Che nodded.  “Yes, they are both cleared.” 

Behind Anakin, Obi-Wan sighed.

“No wait, are you sure? Because if there is anything else you want to test for, it would be better to run it now.” Anakin reached out to block Obi-Wan from leaving.  “He's not easy to get into the halls, and I won't always be able to strong-arm him.”

Obi-Wan rolled his eyes and sighed very dramatically.

Master Che answered, “We have run every test we are able to, on both of them.  I found no evidence that the Sith did anything nefarious to either of my patients.  Should that change, I'm sure Master Kenobi will do the responsible thing and report it,” she said with a well practiced glare.

“Yes, Master Che,” Obi-Wan consented.

“Of course, Master,” Ahsoka added, even though she wasn't specified in the demand.

“Good,” the lead healer walked away before Anakin could say anything else.  

Ahsoka turned to the door again.  

“Wait,” Anakin insisted.  “I wanna show you something.” Obi-Wan’s eyebrows rose and Anakin seemed to blush slightly.

“Um…” Ahsoka thought.

“If you’re worried about where you will stay, you can stay with me,” Obi-Wan offered.  She knew the Jedi Master usually had a full suite with a spare room, currently used as a meditation space.  “The coruscant guard and several of the other units are patrolling the Temple, and won’t let anyone leave.  And I’m sure the Council will need time to deal with Maul before any other topics come up.”

“Okay,” Ahsoka didn't know what to expect, but if the last few days taught her anything, she really missed her days as a Padawan.

Anakin smiled in reaction.  Together they walked out into the Temple hallways.  “First, I have to tell you something.  I sorta broke the code.” Anakin trailed off.

Ahsoka looked back at Obi-Wan.  He didn't look surprised, so she figured he must already know.  

“Well I don't think I am a candidate to judge you.” She tried to fill the silence.

“It's Padme.  I love her.  I know it might surprise you, but we have actually been married since, well, since before you became my Padawan.”

“Oh,” she supposed she shouldn't mention the betting pools in the 501st.

“And how long was this after you became a knight?” Obi-Wan asked.  So he didn't know.

“Well,” Anakin drawled. “It was right before the ceremony.  When I escorted her back to Naboo, after the War started.” He looked down at the floor.

“You were still a Padawan then.  Is this when you asked the council to give you an exception?” Obi-Wan’s eyebrows formed a deep line.

Ahsoka's went up, naturally.  She hadn't heard of more than a handful of cases of the council allowing an exception to the code.

“No, actually I didn't.  It's why we kept it a secret.  But then stuff happened and they were like ‘Don't worry about it.’” He awkwardly shrugged it off.  Anakin looked at a door to one of the knight quarters.  “Come on,” he whispered now. 

He typed a code in and the door opened.  Ahsoka and Obi-Wan followed him inside.

There was a woman who was not dressed like a Jedi.  She was sitting and rocking a baby, while another two infants slept on cots near her.  

“Mallie,” Anakin greeted.

“Knight Skywalker, Master Cioppa had to step out for some emergency in the creche.  I didn't think you'd mind.” she whispered.

“No, thank you for watching them.” He ushered them closer.  “Guys, this is Mallie. She and her husband were relocated recently to the Temple, with her son, Galen.  But this is who I want to show you.” Anakin bent over and fixed a blanket around one of the babies.  “Luke and Leia.”

Ahsoka looked down at them with wide eyes.  “Oh Skyguy, they look just like you.”

“Really, I think they look more like their mother,”  Anakin said.  “Do you want to hold one of them?”

“Yes, I do.” Ahsoka eagerly agreed.  Then when Anakin carefully picked up one of them, she saw how fragile they were and she panicked.  Her inner voice chastised her saying of course they were fragile, they’re newborns.  But she didn't want to drop the little skyguy or gal.

“Here, it's really simple.  Hold your arms like this.  Then you just need to support the head.  There you go,” Anakin became a teacher again.

After a few minutes, Ahsoka giggled, and she couldn’t help but share what made her laugh.  “Hey, I now know why your version of the sex talk was far more detailed than any of my clan-mates.”

“Huh,” Obi-Wan looked alarmed at this.  

Anakin shrugged his shoulders.  “Hey, I wasn’t going to just half-ass it.  I did my research on Togruta biology first.”

“Good lesson.  You know, if you had done research first, I could have taught you a meditation to prevent this,” Obi-Wan pointed at the babies, and whispered the last word.

“Even you can’t meditate that hard,” Ahsoka laughed.

“You can prevent fertilization.  My Master taught me.” Obi-Wan folded his arms.  

“No really, you can’t.  Human Biology 101,” Anakin laughed.  “There are a few ways, without using the Force, to prevent this.  But they require you to be uh, regular and I made a few impulsive decisions.  Otherwise we would have probably waited until the war was over.”  He picked up the second youngling and placed it in Obi-Wan’s arms.  “Though, now that they're here, I don't regret a thing.”

“You've done good.” Obi-wan leaned over and whispered to Anakin after he looked down at the newborn.  And Anakin seemed to glow in reaction.

Mace entered his quarters and leaned back on a reclining chair.  It had been a long day.  Before he could get too well rested, the buzzer on his door started to go off.  With a growl he got up and opened the door.  

“Hello, Master Windu.  I hope I am not disturbing you.” Obi-Wan politely greeted.  

Mace couldn’t think of any excuse to send away the Master at his door, not that he didn’t try.  

“It’s just that, I am confused by the council’s seemingly lenient reaction to Anakin’s current situation.  Especially after you yourself requested I strictly enforce that tenant.”

Mace opened his mouth, but all he could do was exhale.  He turned around and ushered the Master inside.  

“Skywalker, Skywalker was always resistant to authority.” Mace began.  “A portion of it was probably because of the firm nature of his previous authority figures.  And a portion, I am learning, may have been manipulated into being by the Sith.  Still, we noticed this early.  Then when the Council decided that it would be better for Skywalker to pass on his High-Mitichlorian DNA, we knew simply telling him to do so would be fruitless.  So we got creative.” he shrugged.

“Still, I wish you had confided in me what your plan was.  I could’ve taken him to,” Obi-Wan gulped, “A few places.”  Mace coughed.  Of course Kenobi would have loved permission to rove the seediest places in the universe with Skywalker in tow.

“Master Allie worked with several of his Mental Healers.  They stated that he was more likely to be monogamous with his relationships.  Which suggested we should find someone specific to push him towards, and you know he founded the Coruscant branch of her fan club, as a teen.”

Mace let it rest a moment, before he continued, “I apologize for hiding this from you, especially after you joined the council.  It’s just that you were so closely watched by Skywalker, we didn’t want any changes in your body language to upset things.  And he was already quite obviously entangled with the Senator at that point, we didn’t want anything to ruin it.”  

“I guess it can be forgiven then,”  Obi-Wan said.  

“We could use your help on one point,” Mace started.  

Obi-Wan looked up questioningly.  

“He has so far refused to sign the babies over to the order.  Apparently he and the Senator are set on wanting to raise the younglings outside of the order.  Or at least Amidala is.  And Skywalker refuses to sign anything without her permission.  He seems to fear the Senator will murder him if he does so.”

“I’m sure any comments about her murdering him were in jest.” Obi-Wan stroked his beard.  “I think his chief concern will be what is in the Younglings’ best interest.  If you can persuade him that you share those interests, he may become quite agreeable.”

“Hmm,” Mace hummed.

“What about the plans you told me about earlier today?  Has anything changed that?” Obi-Wan asked.

“No, we will go forward with the vote as soon as Master Ki-Adi-Mundi gets back,” said Mace.

Obi-Wan took a moment before changing the subject, “What are we going to do with the maybe-former Sith?”  

“Well, since the old ritual basically begins with teaching a few of the introductory lessons, Masters Plo, and Ti have decided to stuff most of the first few years of coursework into a lesson plan, and Yoda is being super compliant, letting them stuff it to the brim.  Other parts include a full confessional, which you will need to be there for, and a bunch of meditation...”

“Why do I need to be there?” Obi-Wan interrupted.  “For his confessions.  I already know most of the grubber’s sins, and I’d rather distance myself from him.  I am too tempted to test Rex’s threat, just knowing we are under the same roof.”

“Well, it was specified in the ritual actually, for a member most aggrieved by the subject’s actions to be present for the confessions.  I could make it Skywalker, but he didn’t know Master Jinn that well.”  

“Yeah, and I wouldn’t want to make Anakin confront the Sith’s snot.  No, I’ll do it.”  Obi-Wan sighed.  

Mace nodded.  “I’m sure it won’t be too bad.  You’ll listen to him tell us how he got involved with the Sith, and he’ll list his crimes against the Jedi Order.  We’ll probably learn what his instructions were back then, anyway.  And then you’ll both drink the Libation.” 

“The what?”  

“The Libation, It’s an old form of wine, the Jedi in Corellia used to brew it.  We got lucky and found an old bottle in storage.  Yoda wants as much of the ritual followed as we can.”

“Okay, I think I can do that, if an old wine is my reward.” Obi-Wan said, and Mace laughed.  

Anakin leaned back and stared at his Wife’s holo.  He enjoyed these calls.  Padme would stare fondly at their babies, and he would stare fondly at his wife.  Suddenly his view was blocked by a bit of holographic text that popped up.  “Oh shoot!” 

“What is it?” Padme asked.  

“A reminder.  I’ve got to go to meet with the council now.”

“Is the council still having meetings?” she asked.

“Not so many of them, but today, with Master Mundi back,   it’s their first chance to undo what Palpatine did when he insisted I be brought on to the council.”  

“Are you sure that’s what they are going to do?”  Padme asked.

“I am surprised they let me stay on this long.  But in reality it takes a unanimous vote to cast a member off the Council, so...”  He let the statement hang.

“Oh.  Well, interfering in Jedi business, like what the Ex Chancellor did, was highly illegal.  For them to have agreed to it, without a fight, there must have been some voices on your side.”

“Maybe.  Maybe they’ll just claim he did Sith Voodoo on them and change their votes.  Either way, I’m going to have to run the twins down to the Marek’s apartment before I go to the meeting today.”  

“I understand.  I’ll let you go now.”  She blew her babies one last kiss, before hanging up her side of the comm.  Anakin turned at the last minute with his face in a pucker, but her holo disappeared before he could fantasy kiss his wife. 

Chapter Text

Chapter 10:  Trouble Jedi

Anakin ran into the Council room.  He knew he was late, and he knew it would irritate some in that room.  

“I vote in the affirmative,” Obi-Wan whispered.  This time he strangely did not criticize Anakin for being late.  

“I’m sorry.  What are we voting on?”  Anakin sat down and glanced around the room to try and get to business.  Strangely most of the others looked down or away.  Plo barely held eye contact for more than a split second.  

“It doesn’t matter.  I think we have enough votes to run it.”  Windu said.  “Skywalker, you’re late!”  

Anakin closed his eyes hard.  “I know Master, and I’m sorry.”

“Are you even prepared for this role?  You know a lot of your fellow…”

Anakin couldn’t stand listening to the Old Master berate him anymore.  He stood up and walked closer to the knight’s chair, coincidentally standing just a step away from the center of the ring of Masters.  “I DO KNOW!  I know that the decisions we make here affect more than just the Twelve of us.  I know we have a lot on our plate now, besides my difficulty finding a youngling sitter.  And I know that I was never your favorite candidate for the role!” Anakin took one step forward, during his rant.  Suddenly the lights clicked off.  “Huh!”

Anakin looked back to the control panel by the door, which controlled the room’s lights, amongst other things.  No one was standing in front of it.  He then turned back to face the Jedi, when he heard the sound of lightsabers activating behind him.  Everyone slowly pulled out and activated their lightsabers.  Anakin took a large breath.  

“Knight Skywalker, kneel.” Master Windu commanded.  

Anakin had read about prior council members who had been unseated, and he never read anything as dramatic as this happening to them.  Of course all they had in the archives were dates and names.  The ones that he always imagined to be more dramatic were the ones corresponding to a banishment and a degradation as well.  That couldn’t be what was happening here now, was it?  Of course a couple weeks ago he would have expected them to react to his attachments like this, but then they found out and no one reacted at all.  There was all that talk about an exception.  Anakin bent over and he reached down to pull out his lightsaber.  Windu hadn’t mentioned it, but if this was a degradation, it would come next.  

“Keep your saber,” Windu sighed.  Anakin quickly reattached it.  The man had always been a stickler for routine, and he hadn’t asked for it yet.

Suddenly the Masters around the room started to speak.  They all spoke as one, though when Anakin tried to reach out via the meditation exercises Windu had taught him, he didn’t sense anything.  So this must not be another meld.  "We are all Jedi. The Force speaks through us. Through our actions, the Force proclaims itself and what is real. Today we are here to acknowledge what the Force has proclaimed."

“Skywalker,” Mace began.  “To become a knight, one must only pass their trials, but it is our goal to go beyond that.  To imbue Skill, Courage, Spirit, and Insight at all times is an achievement rarely seen by those who haven’t raised a Padawan to knighthood.”  

This was it.  Anakin winced.  He was going to have his knightly status berated by the Master in front of him.  

The lightsaber Windu was holding came down towards Anakin’s shoulders.  The only thing that kept him from flinching were the troopers who had insisted on standing guard inside the temple in recent days.  There were two in that room at the moment, and if they refused to let anyone kill Maul, surely they’d defend him, as well.  “By the right of the council, by the will of the Force, I dub thee, Master.  Master Skywalker, you may rise.”

Anakin stood up and the lights were turned on again with the Force.  “Huh,”  Anakin looked around him for the snickering Jedi younglings.  Somehow this had to be a joke.  

Obi-Wan smiled proudly at him, and Master Yoda nodded to him.  “Dismissed, you are.” he closed the meeting.  

Everyone got up then, and a few put their arms on his back and patted him a congratulations, before they walked out.  

“Come on Skywalker, Master Koon baked you a cake,”  Windu said.  

“Cake?” Anakin recited.  

“Yes, Plo does it for everyone on their Mastery day.”  Obi-Wan shared.  

“So this is real then,” Anakin uttered.  

“Of course it’s real.  Why would it be anything else,” Obi-Wan stated before dragging him out.  

“Are you sure they’re too young to try some cake?”  Plo asked.  

“Yes, they’ll be too young for solid foods for a while now.”  Windu pushed his way in to respond.  

Anakin had just brought his twins down to the cafeteria, where the council members joined for a party of sorts to celebrate his promotion to Master.  

“Yes, human younglings start eating somewhere around six months.”  Shaak Ti added. 

“I’ve been meaning to bring up,” said Anakin, changing the subject.  “What’s going to happen to the returning Jedi?  Those who are no longer Jedi, but have been made to return here anyway.”  

There was a moment where several members looked back and forth at each other, before finally Master Windu did speak.  “They are currently being treated as visitors.”

“See a problem with that, you do?”  Yoda uttered.  

“Well, yeah,” Anakin said.  “Visitors are limited to only certain areas or certain floors without a Master to accompany them.”  

“I haven’t heard any complaints about it,” said Master Windu.

“Well, before this, most visitors only came in to use the archives or a meeting room, spending a day, at most inside the Temple.  Perhaps the visitor’s spaces should be expanded.”  Master Mundi surprised Anakin by joining his argument.  

“For one, having access to a dojo might be good for allowing them exercise.”  Obi-Wan added on.  Anakin knew Ahsoka had been complaining about that one.  

“Actually I was going to propose,” Anakin began.  “I think we should consider allowing returns to re-turn.  As in allowing them to become Jedi again.”  The table was quiet.  Anakin threw the idea out more to test the waters than anything.  Traditionally, when you left the order, you left for good.  But having Ahsoka back on Temple grounds had given him hope.  Snips would, perhaps, always be his Padawan, but he wanted her to have the chance to become more.

Suddenly a Padawan ran into the room and whispered something to Master Yoda.  Something about the experience seemed odd to Anakin.  As if the Padawan was out of place.  

“What is it, Grandmaster,” Windu asked as soon as the youngling had gone.  

“More visitors we have,”  Yoda said.  At the same time he turned towards the door.  It opened, and in walked that Padawan’s Master, followed by Bail Organa, Padme, and several other troopers.  

Anakin was swiped away by a torrent of emotion.  He ran up to his wife and kissed her.  

“Oh Ani,” Padme placed her hand over his, which was caressing her cheek, as if to keep it there.  She turned her eyes slightly to see what was behind him.

Anakin turned then, and noticed the entire Jedi council watching his display of affection, and he began to blush feeling embarrassed.  

Obi-Wan picked up little Luke and came to his rescue, as Padme turned her mothering energy onto the baby.  Anakin could take a moment to see Bail had sat down at the table with the Masters.  

The other troopers seemed to stand back, but they didn’t disappear entirely.  Though Anakin tried, he couldn’t identify any of the men.  A few felt familiar to him in the force, but it was as if all of the little intricacies that made them individuals were wiped away.  

“I heard that you finally had the whole council back in-house.  I have been wanting to come give you an update on my investigations.  There are things I just couldn't share over the holonet.  Now seemed like the best time,” said Bail.

“May I offer you some cake?” Plo said to Bail.  “We are celebrating that Anakin is now a Master.”

“Congratulations, Master Skywalker,” Bail nodded to him as he joined the table.  

“I don’t suppose we need to make permanent arrangements for you,” Master Ki-Adi-Mundi asked.

“No, I am visiting now as your new Supreme Chancellor.  Aided by my Vice Chair of course.” He motioned to Padme, who was now holding Leia.  “I have a lot of news.  First, I’ve begun to examine the clones.  We got the chance to run a slightly illegal Autopsy on a clone after he was executed by his own unit.  It seems that any non-compliant troopers are targeted by whatever this is.  Anyway, the one we looked at had some type of head injury, which explains why he didn’t respond normally, but more to the point, the clones are being controlled by a chip in their brain.”  He passed over a flimsy file.  “We haven’t gotten so far yet to be able to deactivate it, but it is our goal.  Besides that, I’ve been trying to negotiate with the troopers, stretching their mission prerogatives in all kinds of ways.  They are still non-compliant when it comes to allowing Jedi to leave the Temple.  They will allow the delivery of supplies you may need.  You have only to send me a message.”

“Thank you, that will be very useful,” said Master Windu.  “Is there any sign of an immune response to this chip?  Our healers seem to think there would be?” Anakin recognized the Master’s tact in that he didn’t specifically mention the chip that was in Anakin's own head.  He was grateful because he hadn’t yet told his wife about it.  

Bail looked down at the files again.  Then he said, “I don’t believe it was mentioned in their report.  I could ask my Forensic Pathologist.”

“The Troopers have also agreed to allow me to move Anakin and our babies to Bail’s new apartment building, where we have set up a temporary apartment for you,”  Padme said.  

“Oh really! How did you get them to agree to that, may I ask?” Plo said.

Padme experienced a moment of nervous energy that made her husband wince in sympathy, though he didn’t understand it at the moment.  “I… May have implied that you would be safer under direct observation.”

“Hmm?” Anakin didn’t understand what she was saying.  

“You have a record of doing some extremely dangerous maneuvers in the war,” Bail specified.  “They had only to be shown these statistics to agree.”  

“And our younglings?”  Anakin was able to shrug off the suggestions they were making about himself.  He didn’t care what the GAR thought about him.  

Padme sighed, then she looked away.  “I was able to convince them that based on rules of genetic inheritance, the troublesome gene was likely to pass on.”

Obi-Wan laughed out loud.  

“To discuss allowing the order to train your younglings, we wanted to.”  Yoda changed the subject.  “Great Jedi, they could become.”  

Padme sat in silence.  Eventually she whispered, “I am not going to give up my children.”  

“Raising force sensitive younglings can be difficult.  Our creche is well prepared…” Plo tried.

“NO!” she nearly shouted.  Then she took in a breath and her voice returned to a normal volume, “My husband will teach them all they need to know.”

There was a moment of noise as several at the table objected to what she said at once.  

“I’m sure Skywalker will try his best to teach them control and balance.” Windu waved his fellow Masters to silence and spoke up.  “Though I don’t think you understand the challenges of raising a youngling so high in midichlorians.”  

“His mother did very well for nine years with him, I remember.  She was not force sensitive either.”  Padme pointed out.

Anakin looked away.  It always brought up intense emotions whenever his mother was talked about.  

Obi-Wan spoke up.  “I remember when he first came to the Temple, he could hardly last a night without breaking every electrical appliance in our apartment.  Sometimes he’d have nightmares and our neighbors would complain about outages.”  

Padme looked at her husband for some type of explanation.  “There’s a reason I got so good at rewiring things when I was young.  I had a lot of practice.”  Anakin whispered to his wife.  

“It’s unlikely Ms. Skywalker complained about any of this to you, but she did likely experience these difficulties,” said Windu.  

Padme was silent for a few more moments.  Anakin couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but through the force he felt a stubborn energy.  “It hardly matters.  There’s nothing we can do about it now.  They will come with us to the apartment today.  Please do not interfere with the transfer process.  We will be able to communicate via a Holonet connection from the apartment.”  She stood up and the troopers which had followed them into the room formed a line.  

Anakin got up instinctively and picked up baby Luke.  He then moved to follow Padme who was carrying Leia.  On their way out, he stopped his wife and whispered, “I know it sounds mean, but they are only trying to help.”

“I know,” she whispered back.  “Do you want to give them up?”

“Not on your life!  I just can’t argue with them that it will be hard.  If you wanted to, I would understand.”  

“I don’t.  I trust you,” she said.  Anakin smiled back at her.  

“I regret that we cannot take more time to go over the data,” Chancellor Organa said on his way out of the Temple.

“Yes, we will read the files you’ve left us and tell you if we have any leads.”  Mace said to the man.  He shuffled his feet and cleared his throat.  Obi-Wan gave him a look.  “We also request that you apologise to Vice Chancellor Amidala.  Our suggestion was only based on a desire to help her infants.  If we can offer her or Skywalker any further help, please let them know that we will be happy to provide.  Regardless of what they decide.”

“Thank you, I will pass that on.  Jedi Master.”  Organa performed a courtesy bow, doubtless one he’d observed their padawan’s doing in the past. Then he stepped outside of the Temple door.  

Mace looked around to the Troopers who had been following the Chancellor since his arrival at their temple.  They made no move to follow him out the door.  Mace tried to step away from the door, back to where most of the rest of the council was standing.  This is when the troopers moved.  One man got in his way, forcing him to move away from the other Masters.  Another trooper blocked Obi-Wan from doing the same, and he joined Mace in front of the door.  

“We have Jedi Windu and Jedi Kenobi.”  One of the troopers said to another.  

“Proceed to the transfer vehicle.” He ordered.  

One of the troopers then pushed the door open and shoved Mace and Obi-Wan out the doors.  They were marched with an armed trooper to a ship, with the new chancellor’s house insignia painted on the side.  A door opened and Chancellor Organa looked out at them.  

“Jedi, board the transfer vehicle,” said the clone trooper behind them.  

Organa sighed, and he opened the door wider for them.  “Now do we have everyone onboard?”  He said with frustration to the trooper that was already onboard.  

“Five Jedi ready for transfer to zone two,” said the trooper.  

“I’m sorry, we really weren’t expecting this,” said the Chancellor.  

“What exactly is this?”  Mace could maybe guess that Kenobi was pulled into the danger zone statistically, by his missions working with Skywalker during the war.   That didn’t explain why Mace was here.  

“It seems the troopers looked at the figures with the new statistics we gave them, and they found ‘Other Jedi Too Dangerous to Leave to Self Maintenance.’”  Organa fingered the quotes.  “Apparently, you two have statistics worse than Anakin.”

“Worse.  Trooper, I’d like to know where you’re getting your data.”  Mace turned around to confront the clone. 

Skywalker walked out of a back compartment of the ship.  “Apparently, if you only include crash landings and blowing things up, my record looks pretty bad.  But when you include failure to receive medical treatment after a battle, or failure to eat your rations, and get eight hours sleep, I look pretty good.”  

Kenobi had the audacity to laugh at that.  

“Padme has the twins settled in the youngling seats now.  She's going to ride back there with them.  We can fly whenever you’re ready.”  Skywalker said to Organa.

“You’re not going to fly us?” Obi-Wan asked with a bit of faked disappointment.

“No, apparently none of us are approved for flying.” Skywalker rolled his eyes, and he sat down beside Kenobi.  

The Chancellor gave him a look and Mace took the only seat left, on the other side of Skywalker.  Then Organa stepped into the cockpit.  

Chapter Text

Chapter 11:  The Transfer

C3:PO goes over his to do list.  It is a lot of work, re-orienting to a new space.  A lot of things, which he still needs to unpack, are in crates and boxes in the apartment.  At the mistress’s request, he put special focus on assembling the little Master and Mistress’ room first.  It was organized in a way the holonet media he’d consulted suggested was best for a human infant.  Though this droid doesn’t have the experience in his memory files to know for certain.  C3:PO hopes it will be sufficient.  

The Master and Mistress’s room is filled with boxes of clothing he’d meant to put away, but he wouldn’t be able to now, not before Mistress Padme returns from the Temple.  He still needs to unpack most of the kitchen goods, and to prepare the noon meal.  

C3:PO runs down his list of recipes for one that requires the least supplies to prepare.  Then he goes over his internal list of boxes to find the ones with the items he needs.  They are already in the new kitchen space, so he goes there.  Opening the first box, the droid shrieks.  “This is not how I specified.”  He goes to the next box.   “Neither is this one.  The Bubble Brained Hydrosnakes, nothing is packed according to my instructions.”  The Mistress had insisted on hiring a moving company to pack up their things.  C3:PO puts writing a particularly nasty review for their online profile on his to-do list, then goes to comm Master Organa’s droid.  Master Organa offered to pay for take-out meals for them, and though C3:PO would not want to ruin his mistress’s figure with grubbage, he knows now that he doesn’t have any other options.    

C3:PO logs into the Organa Household droids network, so he can have at least some say on the type of slop they order.  That’s when he learns of the change in plans.  “Jedi Master Kenobi and Jedi Master Windu are coming here!  Oh my!  I cannot serve them slop.”  His programming insisted that first impressions were EVERYTHING.  C3:PO quickly skims the holonet, and finds a meal delivery service, promising easy prep.  ‘You only need a knife and an oven,’ their ads say.  What’s more, ‘Express Delivery Available,’  This is good news.  It means that he might just be able to save this meal entirely.  

“Thanks to my predecessor’s overspending, the building is entirely empty.  Except for the penthouse suite, of course.  Plus one unit we’ve renovated it to add.” explained Bail, once they’d landed and everyone began to step off the vehicle.  

Padme knew that line about his predecessor’s overspending was given with no small amount of irritation.  It annoyed them both to learn how the spending was routed through a number of tax-paid projects throughout the capitol.  A number of which she had voted on specifically.  That money was supposed to help provide shelters for the city’s poorer residents, not the richest!

“Of course, I have no need for three floors of seemingly miscellaneous hobby rooms.  It shouldn’t be difficult to renovate it again to add a couple more smaller apartments.  But until then…”

“Until then, you can both stay with Anakin and I.  Our apartment has a spare room, since the twins will be sharing one nursery for the time being.” Padme felt the desire to interrupt her friend.  

Anakin’s eyes became large, and roved over the other two Masters with worry.  Master Windu, she supposed she should get used to calling him Mace, looked back and forth between Obi-Wan and Anakin with unspoken worry behind his eyes.  

Obi-Wan nodded and spoke up, “We thank you both for your generosity and promise to be as courteous guests as we can be.”  

“Very well.  The apartment is this way,” said Bail.  He led them through a doorway, to a small hallway which led to a lift.  Padme boarded the lift, followed by Anakin, and then by Obi-Wan and Mace, who were holding Luke and Leia.  Bail waited outside, saying “I’ll take the next one.”  

“Here we are,” Padme opened the door, giving her arm a flourish to show off the room.

Mace and Obi-Wan seemed to regard the space without showing any emotion.  This made her step in and look around for something wrong.  “We haven’t finished moving in yet.  A lot of it is still in boxes.”  

Mace nodded.  “It will be satisfactory.”

“It’s very nice, Angel.” Anakin came in closer to give her a kiss.  

“Oh, Mistress Padme.” C3:PO appeared and started to putter nervously.  “I regret that I haven’t finished emptying all of the boxes yet.”

“That’s fine Three-Pio,”  Padme tried to reassure him.  

“Of course I’ve finished the Nursery, but none of your clothes are away, and the kitchen looks like it was packaged by Primitive Sentients, nothing’s where it should be.”

“Can you tell me where I should put this little one?” Obi-Wan asked, pointing to the baby he was carrying.  

“According to my newest protocols, there are a number of places an infant of that age can be placed.” C3:PO started to list.  “The Pack and Play is currently unassembled, but there are the cribs, and…” The droid walked off towards the nursery bringing with him their two Jedi guests.  

Anakin turned to her and squinted,  “New protocols, who did you bring him to for these updates?”  He was a touch jealous, always so protective of his droids.

“I didn’t bring him to anybody.  I did them myself.”  She flirtatiously brought herself closer to her husband, then backed up again.  He looked at her in surprise.  “I pay attention to the work you do on him, and I know a little something about droids too, you know.”  

“Oh,” He grabbed her and purred.  “You make me so hot when you talk like that.”

She brought her arm up to push him away.  “I hate to break the moment, but I’m not ready for ‘that,’ quite yet.”

He opened his arms and let her go, immediately sobering up.  “Yeah, I guess now isn’t the best time for that anyway.”  

“Did you find that meal satisfactory?” C3:PO asks.    

“Yes, it was very nutritious and filling.” Master Windu responds.  C3:PO appreciates the Korunnai Jedi’s specifics, when commenting on the meal.  It makes it easier for him to correctly interpret the response.  Better than the “It was good,” Most humans’ll tell him.  

“Would you like some metal tea?  I’ve been doing some research and improving the recipe quite a lot.”  C3:PO offers.  It all has to do with the types of metals and non-metal additives you are brewing into your tea, he is learning.  Some species require the mineral additives to their diet, while others just prefer the taste.  Funny, humans from Haruun Kal haven’t been in either group historically.  

“No, uh, that won’t be necessary.” Master Windu tries to refuse.  

“Tea, I’d like some tea.” Master Kenobi vocalizes next.  

“Not this tea, Master.” Master Anakin says.  

C3:PO adds some research to his internal to-do list.  If he’s to serve these two Jedi, he needs to know better what they require.  

“We’ll all have some regular tea.” Mistress Padme orders.  

“It will be available shortly.  I am told that Master Organa is on his way up.” C3:PO gives her the notice that was appearing on his internal sensor, thanks to the live connection to the Chancellor’s droid server.    

“Very well, send him to my office.  We will have our tea there.”  C3:PO gives a short bow, and departs.  

Mace sighed, as he waited for the others to settle.  He was growing more and more annoyed by the second.  

Skywalker kept putting his hands on Senator Vice Chancellor Amidala.  It was one thing to do it during their meal, but now she's supposed to be connecting them to the Temple Holo-comm.  She did not need the distraction.

Then there was Kenobi.  The one who was supposed to be on his side, merely blushed and went “aww” when he pointed it out.  

The droid had set the teas down and now stood back to the side of the room.  Mace could stand the droid.  It was a bit nervous in temperament, which could get annoying, but it was a droid, and a protocol droid at that.  This meant that above all it will seek to be unobtrusive and polite to its audience.  

He’d heard the story once that the droid was programmed by Skywalker, and given to Amidala as a wedding gift.  His initial reaction was to laugh at this story.  Skywalker, programming a Protocol Droid, when the young Master had the worst manners of any knight in the order.  He wondered if he could arrange for the droid to give Skywalker etiquette lessons, while they’re here.    

“Okay, I am ready to connect.  Stand behind me to be on camera,” said Amidala.  

Mace moved to stand closer to the other two.  The face of Master Koon came up on the holo in front of them.   

“Ah, Master Windu, Skywalker, and Kenobi.  Welcome.”  The Kel Dor Master bowed, then backed up to allow the camera on his side to envelop the whole room he was in.  Mace could see Yoda, and the rest of the council in the frame.  

“We report that the accommodations made for us are adequate, and more suitable ones will be arranged in time.  In addition, we should be able to continue to serve on the council via holo.”  Mace spoke up.  He had been the one to suggest comming the Temple first, before the Chancellor arrived.  

“Good news, this is,” said Yoda.  “A discussion on the ideas Skywalker brought up, we were having.” 

“It has to do with the whole idea of what constitutes a Jedi, vs a Visitor to the Temple,” Ki-Adi-Mundi stated.  “We had a look at the roster of visitors we now have, and found a few younglings between six and sixteen.  The thought is, it would be irresponsible to keep these younglings away from the creches, simply because they are not Jedi.”

“Younglings need an education, and these years are important developmentally.” Shaak Ti said.  

“Yes, that is why we were discussing either moving the bar, and allowing non-jedi younglings into the creches, or removing the bar entirely, and considering any youngling inside the temple now to be a Jedi, no matter their age.”  Ki-Adi-Mundi explained.  

“Started older, Skywalker did.  Think these younglings could learn enough, do you?”  Yoda asked.  

“I think Skywalker is exactly the example of what these younglings are capable of, if they set their minds to it.”  Kenobi shared.  

Mace, though he had just complained about Skywalker’s brusque manners, he couldn’t really argue the Master’s point.  Skywalker was a Master now, after all.  

“May I ask,” Skywalker interrupted.  “How many of these younglings have family members?  I think of Galen and the Mereks.  They would not react well if we simply absorbed Galen into the order, and started teaching him to forgo attachments.  I know Galen is a lot younger than your proposed initiates, but it would be the same for others.  I found the no attachment rule difficult at first when I started.

“We could write in an exception to the attachment rules for each child.” Plo suggested.  “Allowing them to be attached to their immediate family.”

“No, that’s too risky.” Said Master Tiin.  “Some of these younglings were brought in without any family members.  We have no idea who they even are, or what influence they would be.”

“So we allow the ones we know about, but promise to discuss adding others in the future, once we can meet with them.  If we don’t allow their family, the youngling will be able to leave the order, as any others can.  Once our Temple Arrest is lifted, that is.” Plo suggested.

Mace noticed some hesitation in the eyes of his peers.  Before anyone could voice a complaint, Yoda spoke up.

“Perhaps, allow us a compromise, this arrangement could.” Yoda said, eyeballing Amidala in the corner of the Holo frame.  

“Ah, I understand,” Mace agreed.  He eyed Skywalker.  “If we allow your younglings to be attached to you and their Mother, would you permit the Jedi order to train your younglings?”

There was a moment when Skywalker and Amidala eyed each other, seeming to communicate without speaking.  

“Um, we would have to talk about this more, before agreeing.  But yeah, that would solve most of our objections.”  Amidala said.  

“Good, Master Windu, does the Nursery over there meet the Creche’s standards?” asked Ki-Adi-Mundi.

“I will need to have a closer look, to determine that,” Mace said.  His memory quickly went back to the room as he had seen it on his way in.  

The eyeballs of the Vice Chancellor bore into him in suspicion.  As soon as the call disconnected she asked, “What’s wrong with my Nursery?”