31 Stand Off 6 (1/2)

Republic Cruiser Requiem

en route to Coruscant

”Oh, get over yourselves!” I shook my head at the shocked kids. ”The only reason the rest of the Jedi are not all over you two is the fact that most of those idiots won't recognize love if it hit them over the head. If they were not too busy pretending that they have no emotions you would have been found out few days after falling for each other.”

Skywalker had the good grace to look embarrassed by my words. Everything I told them was true after all.

Back on Earth when I watched Episodes Two and Three it bugged me how those love-birds could carry on for years under the collective noses of the Jedi. Now, when I had access to the Force, it was mind boggling. If at least few of the Order members paid any attention, the Skywalkers secret would have been out a week after their marriage. At best.

”Next thing you'll tell me is that you two have no plans for when the Jedi find out what you've been up to.” This was fun.

The guilty looks they gave me were answer enough. Splendid.

”Walk with me.” I sighed doing my best impression of an exasperated parent.

I led the stunned couple to the nearest ready room. We found a bunch of pilots who were engaged swapping tall tales and I banished them to go check the status of their birds while I citing an important Jedi business as the reason.

When the last clone exited I pointed the Skywalkers to a pair of nearby chairs.

”Sit. And you can natter at me about Naboo later, Senator. For the moment the quarantine is holding so Theed is reasonably safe from orbital annihilation.”

Amidala frowned at me but sat down next to her husband. I was ready to bet that if she had not been through hell for the last few days she wound not have been so docile. Not that I had anything against it – my patience for politicians, much less the self-righteous sort had never been high even before I became a Sith. She had spent half the time since my return from Iego helping and reassuring the infected and the rest by arguing with me, which got irritating fast. You could say that by now I was painfully familiar with her temper and sharp tongue.

I summoned a chair and sat down facing them. Jaybo from whom I could feel waves of curiosity, followed suit and watched us with rapt attention.

”You go back to tinkering, apprentice. If one of those two wants to share the contents of this conversation with you they will. Scamper.”

Jaybo pouted but complied.

”Is it really that obvious?” groaned Anakin once we were alone.

I smirked at them.

”Well, you could have made it a bit easier to see by paying for advertisements in rush hour on Coruscant and calling for press conference to confirm it...” I trailed off. Seriously, how did the Jedi miss their relationship? It was clear how Sidious figured it out – it was obvious the moment you saw those two together.

Skywalker face-palmed.

”They are going to expel me...” he groaned.

”Throw out one of their better generals in a time of war? Because you've fallen in love? Surely you are exaggerating a bit. If it was a peace time the Council might have considered it, but now?” I played the ignorance card. To be fair I had a hard time believing that the Jedi Masters could do something that dumb. Such a stunt would give me and Palpatine a lot of ammo to use against the Council. Not to mention the risk of driving Skywalker right in my open hands.

Anakin didn't need to know any of that. His fears could be quite useful if manage properly.

”They will either throw me out or make me choose between the Order and Padme!” Skywalker moaned.

”Oh, Anakin...” muttered Amidala and placed a hand on his shoulder.

”Am I wrong to presume that won't be too big a setback?” I asked. The way those two were looking at each other was making it clear what Skywalker was going to choose. No contest.

”Are you joking?” grumbled Padme. ”That will destroy Anakin's life! Being Jedi is who and what he is!”

”Thanks. But I am more concerned what it would do to you. I am sure that the people in the Senate would use that to attack you. Not to mention the reporters. Those vultures would have a field day...” Anakin groaned.

That was surprising. The Chosen one actually was using his head for a change. And he was right about the circus in which their relationship would be turned by the media. The reporters would have a field day with it. On the other hand, when the secret was out, if the news got handled in the right way, it could become a PR coup for the correct people and unmitigated disaster for the Order...

I gave the married couple my best friendly smile.

”Skywalker, by expelling you from the Order, the Council will do more harm to its credibility than anything else. Anakin, even if the GAR is forced to strip you of command because you could no longer be a ”Jedi General” I can assure you that by the end of the day there will be a lot of people offering you to accept a commission with equivalent rank. If you accept, that would solve the greatest problem for anyone expelled by the Jedi – no roof over one's head and no income. As you very well know, being a Republic general pays well. Besides, I doubt that your girlfriend will let you stay on the street for even a moment.”

”Of course not!” declared Amidala. She had admirable look of resolve on her face.

Skywalker was deep in thought for few minutes. In that time he was like an open book. I could feel his emotions which were turmoil his heart. Regret that he could be pushed in such a corner. Anger at the unfairness of fate. He felt sorry about the possibility of being separated from his friends and apprentice.

He was confused when wondering: What would Kenobi think about him if he was thrown out? There was regret about how his actions might reflect on Ahsoka and he hoped that his apprentice would understand. But beyond all that was his love about Padme. It was blazing like a beacon.

I felt what was in the cauldron of his emotions and had an epiphany.

Some of those who had watched the ROTS in my original dimensions might have wondered why Anakin fell so easy. Many might have thought that his turning to the Dark side was because of his love of Padme. That his fall vindicated the Jedi and their Code – emotion was to blame. But now, when this young man had his very heart open for all to see, I can tell you that the very reason he would have fallen in that other future was rooted in the Council and their dogma.

I knew his emotions. His feelings. Any loyalty Skywalker had towards the Jedi Order as an organization was a pale shadow of what he felt towards individual people. He would go to hell and back for Amidala, Kenobi, Ahsoka and Palpatine as well as his few other Jedi friends. But if he had to choose between any of them and the Order? There was no contest.

The Jedi Masters never understood the heart of this man. They could not. Not while following their own creed. That's where the seeds of their destruction were sown. The Council made it a choice between his wife, unborn children and a man who had been his friend since Skywalker was a kid and the Jedi as a whole.

The young Jedi sitting in front of me could make only one decision in such circumstances. And the Order would always loose. Bloody fools.

I watched the turmoil in his heart subduing. Skywalker had calmed down himself. I could sense vines of hope sprouting within his heart. Anakin took a deep breath before grinning impishly at me.

”You know, I've never thought about it in such a light. I'd hate to be exiled or made to choose between my wi... ahem Padme and being a Jedi but...” he trailed off and gave a fond look to his spouse. ”If it comes to that, it is the easiest decision that I've ever made.”

Apparently that was the right thing to say because he was engulfed in a rib cracking embrace by the Senator. Amidala had thrown all thoughts about appropriate behaviour and was busy sticking her tongue deep in Anakin's throat.

”Ah. Young love. At least you still got all your clothes on.” I smirked. ”You might want to get yourselves a room.”

I knew that once Amidala had at least few hours of uninterrupted sleep she would be back to her composed self and likely continue to be a pain in my ass. Back to her much more vocal self too, which would not be an improvement. After days with little to no sleep, stuck into a hazmat suit and watching Theed go to hell thanks to the virus, Padme was not acting exactly as the Senator I've met back on Coruscant.

Eventually the Skywalkers had to come out for air. After the display, both of them were flushed more scarlet than Shaak Ti's skin.

”Anakin, am I to judge by that slip of the tongue that you two managed to get married already?” I asked gleefully.

”What? No, that's not how it sounds!” Skywalker hastily denied.

”Definitely not!” Suddenly Amidala was a perfect picture of affronted indignation.

Their immediate reaction to my question was a lot of spluttering denials. I rolled my eyes and waited for them to calm down a bit.

”Just don't go complaining to me when Kenobi or worse Ahsoka come asking why they were not told earlier... Or invited.” I grinned at the couple.

Skywalker winced at that. One of these days he'll have a very interesting conversation with his former master. One with the little spitfire that was his apprentice too.

He glared at me then smirked. ”Well, at least I won't be the only one in trouble with the Council. Taking an apprentice to restore the Sith, are we?”

Amidala frowned at that thought. I guess she was not too pleased to have disregarded what Jaybo's presence meant until Anakin spelled it out. I could positively feel her self-recrimination because she had not paid attention to her surroundings when she came to once again accuse me of being an unrepentant monster.

”Should I be concerned?” asked Anakin. It was obvious he meant Jaybo.

I knew what confused him. No trace of the Dark side upon the kid, though that shouldn't be surprising at any rate. Even if I intended to train him to be a typical Sith, I did get the kid just yesterday and I've been quite busy since then. Well, I had no need of a typical Darksider, which would be something that would throw a lot of Jedi for a spin in the foreseeable future. I was not going to teach Jaybo much about the darker aspects of the Force until he had the basics up to par and he knew much more about the source of our power and himself. He needed the right mindset to make falling to the Dark Side unlikely too and crafting that into him would take time. Perhaps more time than I could spare before the end of the war.

”About what?” I asked innocently.

”Another Sith trying to cut off pieces from me.” Anakin deadpanned.

”Don't worry. If Jaybo cut something off you I am sure you would deserve it.” I smiled at him.

Amidala rolled her eyes at us. ”I'm going to have a chat with the kid!” She declared and marched out of the room undoubtedly to begin interrogating Jaybo. I had no illusions that she would soon convince him that it was his idea to tell the pretty lady everything she wanted to know. It was no problem – the kid knew nothing of note anyway.

”Where did you find him anyway? What do you intend to teach him?” Anakin asked

”I found him on Iego where I went for the key compound of the cure. It was obvious that he is Force sensitive and he wanted to be trained. I believe its obvious what the Council would think about training him as a Jedi. However, now that he is my apprentice they might make an exception and try to get him away from me.” I snorted in amusement.

Anakin got a far-away look in his eyes and nodded.

”I was nine when Qui-Gon brought me in front of the Council. They told me I was too old. If it wasn't for Obi-Wan's insistence I would not have been trained either.” He admitted.

”And he is much older than you were.” I agreed.

”I will reserve judgement until I see what you are teaching him.” Anakin took a deep breath. ”You deserve the benefit of the doubt.” He sighed. ”I guess.”

Skywalker being level-headed and using his brains. That was something that would take some getting used to.

A shiver went through the Force. It was the echo heralding that the thread of a possible future had unravelled. Whether that would be for the better or worse remained to be seen...

When Padme finished her chat with Jaybo Skywalker had to carry her to their quarters. She was too exhausted to walk there by herself. Anakin did not look too good himself. I had to remind myself that he was still recovering from injuries received during his last mission. I would not see them until we exited hyperspace. It did not take premonition to know how they kept themselves busy during the journey.

=RK=

I took Jaybo to the mess hall for a light lunch before leading him to a large training room which I had made for my use. It was time to start with his training in earnest.

I sat cross-legged on the training mat in the centre of the compartment and waved him to follow suit.

”The Force. It is what gives us our powers. She is our greatest ally. And our most vicious enemy.” I began lecturing.

I stretched my right arm forward and showed my apprentice an open, empty palm.

”Watch.” I ordered.

A mere thought and with a quiet crack, bluish lightning arched between my fingertips.

”Wow! That's so cool!” Jaybo exclaimed.

I chuckled at him. Rule one of being a good teacher – make things interesting and keep the attention of your student.

”Concentrate. Until now you've used this power unconsciously. Feel the Force. It has always been there. Just beyond your grasp. Like a sound you could almost hear. Open your mind and embrace it.”

Jaybo looked at the electricity dancing in the palm of my right hand with hooded eyes. I watched him for nearly an hour while was trying to reach for the Force. Then he gasped in wonder.

The currents of the Force around him changed their direction and flowed through him. I could feel him drawing it in him and smiled.

'That's it. Good work!' I spoke directly into his mind. 'This is the first step on a hard and wondrous path!'

He was startled by my words and the Force slipped from his grasp. Jaybo gave me a proud smile and gasped for air. I had forgotten how much it could take from you the first time you consciously touched the Force.

”Good. Now you must be able to do that without even thinking about it. And keep your connection with the Force open indefinitely...”

=RK=

Senator Amidala's Office

Senate building

Coruscant

Once the Requiem reached the capital I left Jaybo on board. There was no need to expose him to the Council right now. Dealing with that particular complication would be a distraction at a time when I was about to have an important hearing in front of the whole Senate. That was the reason I was with Amidala and Skywalker in her office. The Senator was checking her messages and arranging to speak with few of her allies before the hearing. We needed to know what the real agenda behind this session was.

Was it really just meant to discuss the latest Separatist atrocity?

After resting and coming back to her normal self, Padme was not particularly thrilled with my actions towards Naboo but was ready to at least consider the possibility that I knew what I was talking about. Though she still thought I was a blood-thirsty maniac, now I was one with a tiny bit of hidden depth, something that was a source of unending amusement for her husband and myself.

”If it was not for this kriffing virus we would be resting right now!” grumbled Skywalker. ”We'd be able to leave for some place where no one knows us. Where we could be just husband and wife with no strings attached! Instead, we are stuck here being a Senator and a Jedi!”

”You know we can't Any.” muttered Padme. ”We have to deal with this and ensure that Naboo receives enough aid.”