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dettiot · 4 years

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Fic: late-night interruption 7/?

late-night interruption Author: dettiot Rating: G (for now) Summary: When Obi-Wan receives a late-night comm from Sabé, he’s not sure what to expect. But what he learns will change many lives . . . and the fate of the Republic.

Notes: This chapter is a bit of an emotional roller-coaster, so I apologize for the way the tone veers all over the place. But then, there's a lot of really emotional stuff happening!

Also, I made a small change to Chapter 5, since I realized that Kamino did have representation in the Senate.

Also available on AO3!

XXX

The moment he saw Ahsoka, Anakin felt a missing piece fall into place. Even though she hadn’t been here for the birth of the twins, at least he would be able to tell her the news and convince her to come to Coruscant. He wanted Ahsoka here--he wanted his whole family together.

With a wide grin, Anakin spoke before Obi-Wan could. “It sure is, Snips. I’m a father!”

Ahsoka blinked, looking very confused. “What?”

Anakin was sure his face was going to crack with how widely he was smiling. “I’m married to Padmé and she just gave birth to twins!”

“Anakin! We don’t know what the encryption is like on this line,” Obi-Wan scolded.

“I don’t care!” Anakin said, spreading his arms wide.

“So it is a good time,” Ahsoka said, laughing. “And don’t worry, Obi-Wan, this line is secure.”

Obi-Wan still looked worried, so Anakin clapped a hand on his back. “C’mon, Master. It’s Ahsoka.”

“Congratulations, Skyguy,” Ahsoka said, smiling at him for a moment. “I wish I was there.”

“Then hop in a ship and get here. The twins want to meet their Aunt Ahsoka,” Anakin said.

“I wish I could,” Ahsoka said, her smile fading a little. “But--there is something I need to discuss with you. Both of you.”

For a moment, Anakin allowed himself to feel his annoyance and disappointment. To feel frustrated Ahsoka wasn’t contacting them just to talk, to let him know she was all right. Although she hadn’t stayed in touch since she left the Jedi Order, Anakin had been able to keep tabs on her through their Force bond--as well as keeping watch on the Holonet for any news about any mysterious young Togruta females.

But the fact that she was contacting them now meant whatever she needed to talk to them about, it was important. Very important.

Sighing, Anakin looked at Obi-Wan. “Let’s go into Padmé’s office and use her holo.”

With a nod, Obi-Wan followed him down the hallway. It only took Anakin a moment to transfer the call from Obi-Wan’s portable holo to Padmé’s larger unit.

“It’s good to hear from you, Ahsoka,” Obi-Wan said with a soft smile. “What’s going on?”

Ahsoka took a deep breath. “I’m on Kalevala. I’m involved with one of the groups fighting for control of Mandalore.”

As soon as Ahsoka said ‘Kalevala’, Anakin could feel Obi-Wan strengthen his shields. He gave his former Master a look, silently encouraging him to not shut him out. Obi-Wan met his eyes after a moment, then lowered his shields a little.

That action allowed him to feel the churning emotions in Obi-Wan. But when he spoke, he sounded composed. “I wouldn’t have guessed you would become involved in Mandalorian politics.”

She gave a small shrug. “Someone needed my help and I wanted to help.”

“Of course you did, Snips,” Anakin said. “Are you okay?”

“I am, Anakin, but . . . some information has been presented by an ally and now that it’s been verified, it needs to be shared with the Jedi and the Republic,” Ahsoka said.

Tilting his head, Anakin stretched out. He could tell Ahsoka was hiding something from them. And he didn’t blame her for having secrets, but he wanted her to know she could tell them--she could tell him--anything.

“What kind of information?” Obi-Wan asked.

“It’s from the Kaminoans,” Ahsoka said. “Indirectly from them. They passed this info to a member of the Council of Neutral Systems, who brought it to the Mandalorian faction I’m working with.”

The Kaminoans? The people responsible for creating the clone army? Anakin looked at Obi-Wan, who was already stroking his beard. “What did they say?” Anakin asked, looking back at Ahsoka.

The way Ahsoka straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin told Anakin he wasn’t going to like this.

“There was a secret order given to the Kaminoans to implant an inhibitor chip in each clone,” Ahsoka said. “A chip that was designed to give the clones orders that they couldn’t override.”

Anakin stared at Ahsoka. “What?”

“Do you have proof from the Kaminoans?” Obi-Wan asked after a moment of silence. Anakin could sense the shock and surprise in his former Master, but also how his mind was already working, searching for signs of a trap.

“Yes. We have medical scans showing the location of the chip in each clone--and information about how they can be removed.”

“Who . . .” Anakin began to ask, only to answer his own question. “Someone who wanted to use the clones against the Republic.”

Obi-Wan nodded slowly. “Someone like . . . a Sith Lord.”

“A Sith?” Ahsoka asked, her eyes widening. “Have you found them?”

“We have received some information that could indicate who it is,” Obi-Wan said.

It was all Anakin could do not to blurt out an explanation to Ahsoka. To tell her about the vision he had shared with Obi-Wan, about their suspicions. If only to let him start working through his own feelings about the possibility. But Obi-Wan gave him a look and turned back to Ahsoka.

“We need your information as soon as possible, Ahsoka. Can you and the people you’re working with get to Coruscant?”

Ahsoka looked off to the side--to someone who was staying clear of the range of her holo projector, Anakin realized--then looked back at them and nodded. “Yes.”

“Very well--when you arrive, come to Senator Amidala’s apartment,” Obi-Wan instructed Ahsoka.

“All right, Master,” Ahsoka said, bowing her head a little. “May the Force be with you.”

“May it be with all of us,” Obi-Wan acknowledged.

Before Ahsoka could end the comm, Anakin leaned in. “Be careful, Ahsoka. Remember: the twins want to meet you.”

Her toothy grin reminded him of the Padawan he had met for the first time not so very long ago in years, but it felt much, much longer. “I will, Master. Send Padmé my best.”

And with that, Ahsoka’s image vanished, leaving Anakin alone with Obi-Wan.

“Do you think the Chancellor was responsible for this control chip?” Anakin asked Obi-Wan, keeping his voice low.

“Who else would have the ability to do so?” Obi-Wan asked, his arms crossed over his chest as he stroked his beard.

Anakin ran his hands through his hair, then slumped down in one of the chairs. He felt so overwhelmed, between the birth of the twins, the strange vision of Palpatine fighting Master Yoda, and now Ahsoka’s news. He felt his emotions swinging from one extreme to another, and he just couldn’t think . . .

A hand rested on his shoulder. “Easy there,” Obi-Wan said gently. “Breathe, Anakin.”

“I--I can’t believe--I want the twins to be safe--and Padmé--” Anakin stuttered, his breath catching every few words.

“I know,” Obi-Wan said. “Everything is happening so fast. But--but we must stay calm, as best as we are able, and find the truth.”

Heeding Obi-Wan’s words, Anakin closed his eyes and breathed slowly, trying to bring his heart rate down.

“That’s it,” Obi-Wan said, a cheerful note in his voice. “Now, I am very ready to meet your children. Have you and Padmé discussed names?”

Leaning back to look up at Obi-Wan, Anakin blinked. “What? Shouldn’t we . . . I don’t know, go talk to the Council right now or something?”

“Without Ahsoka’s proof, we only have our vision,” Obi-Wan pointed out. “I’d rather wait until we have something more concrete . . . and . . .”

When Obi-Wan trailed off, Anakin quirked an eyebrow. “And?”

“And I think we could both use a reminder of just what is riding on our being right,” Obi-Wan said slowly. “I have a feeling . . . that we need to take our time. To be prepared. To do what is best for the galaxy.”

His stomach twisted with something--not fear, not worry. Something darker, more foreboding. But even though Obi-Wan’s words were serious and full of foreboding, his sense in the Force was quiet and resolved.

And even though everything was confusing and uncertain, Anakin found that he agreed with Obi-Wan. He wanted to be prepared for whatever lay ahead. And the best way to be prepared, he thought, was to spend as much time with his children as possible. Soaking up their light, savoring every moment he could spend with them.

Just in case.

Doing his best to smile, Anakin rose to his feet. “Padmé and I spent all our time arguing whether we were having a boy or a girl. We didn’t spend a lot of time discussing names. And that turned into an argument, too.”

Obi-Wan’s smile was bright and fast as lightning. “I assume ‘Obi-Wan’ wasn’t on the list. It’s a mouthful of a name for a small baby.”

Anakin felt himself relax a little and fall into humor. “True. And also, it’d be a lot to put on a baby--living up to your example.”

“Oh, I’m sure your child would easily surpass me,” Obi-Wan said as he headed towards the hallway.

“Not likely,” Anakin said quietly as he followed Obi-Wan into the hall.

XXX

Padmé supposed she should be wondering what was taking Anakin so long to bring Obi-Wan in to meet the twins. But honestly, she was sure they were fine. And she liked the idea of having the twins to herself for a little bit longer.

After Healer Gahan had helped her with the aftermath of the birth, and Sabé had cleaned her up, she had sent the healer home and told Sabé to go to bed. Because all Padmé wanted to do was lie in her bed and hold her babies. Her beautiful, smart, perfect babies.

She couldn’t believe both she and Anakin had been right--they were having a boy and a girl. And she could already see signs of both of them in the twins. Their son had Anakin’s blue eyes but a smile and spirit that reminded Padmé of herself. Meanwhile, their daughter was definitely taking after her in looks, with thin wisps of dark hair clinging to her scalp. But to Padmé’s great amusement, their daughter had Anakin’s stubborn expression down pat, when she was only an hour old.

They were just so precious. Before their arrival, the baby she was carrying seemed abstract, more of an idea than a tiny little person. But now, holding both of them in her arms, they were so real.

And Padmé realized her priorities were changing. Right in this moment, caring for the whole galaxy, keeping it safe--the only reason to do that was to keep the twins happy and safe.

Smiling sadly, Padmé kissed each child’s forehead. “From now on, everything I do will be for you,” she whispered.

A part of her almost wanted to rebel. To argue that the fate of trillions of people was more important than two tiny babies. But for only the second time in her life, Padmé was going to listen to her heart instead of her head.

The first time, she had married Anakin. And now, she would give her children the galaxy they deserved.

A soft tap at the door made her look up as Anakin looked at her. “Angel?”

“Come in, love,” she said, shifting a little. “What kept you--where’s Obi-Wan?”

“Right here,” said her husband’s brother-in-everything-but-name, stepping out from behind Anakin. “I’m ready to see the twins. And help you pick out names, of course.”

Chuckling a little, Padmé gestured them both to come inside with a nod of her head. “Yes, we do need names for these darlings.”

With his long legs, Anakin covered the gap between them and scooped up their daughter. “We talked a little about names,” he reminded her, before biting his lip. “I . . . I still really like Leia.”

Padmé stroked their son’s head as she thought it over. She could guess how much this meant to Anakin, to have his children born free. And one of the few things about Tatooine he talked about was the legends and stories his mother had told him. And the being known as Leia--fierce, strong, loyal--had made a deep impression on Anakin.

And now that Padmé had met her, she knew it was a name worthy of their daughter.

“I think Leia is perfect,” Padmé told him with a soft smile.

Anakin’s whole face lit up with his smile, and he bent down and kissed her. “Leia Skywalker,” he said as he straightened up and looked into her face.

Their daughter--Leia--let out a bit of a grunt and Padmé laughed a little. “Leia Amidala Skywalker, please.”

“Of course--how do you like that?” Anakin asked Leia, smiling down at her. “Leia Amidala Skywalker?”

From the way Anakin’s face softened and he drew Leia close, Padmé could tell that their baby approved of her name.

Turning to Obi-Wan, Padmé smiled at him. “That’s one down. But I might need your help, to convince Anakin about the name I want to use.”

Obi-Wan smiled. “Which is?”

“Luke,” Padmé said.

“It’s a nice name, but . . .” Anakin said.

“But what?” Obi-Wan asked.

Anakin looked at Padmé for a moment, then sighed. “It just sounds . . . kinda soft.”

Obi-Wan gestured to the boy in Padmé’s arms. “May I?”

There weren’t many people Padmé would be willing to hand over one of her newborn children to--but Obi-Wan was definitely one of them. She carefully handed the boy over to Obi-Wan, who looked down at him.

“Luke means ‘bright one’,” Obi-Wan said softly, gazing down at the newborn in his arms. Then he slowly lifted his head and looked at Anakin. “I can’t think of a better name for your son.”

“That’s what it means?” Anakin asked Padmé, who nodded and smiled.

“That’s why I liked it,” she explained. “It seemed . . . right.”

Anakin stepped over towards Obi-Wan and looked down at their son in his former master’s arms, then smiled slowly. “You’re right. That’s his name.”

Obi-Wan smiled. “Luke Amidala Skywalker?”

Something didn’t feel quite right about that name. Padmé looked at Anakin and could sense what he wanted, even though she wasn’t Force-Sensitive. She gave him a small smile, and Anakin turned to Obi-Wan.

“Actually, I think it’s Luke Kenobi Skywalker.”

In all the time she had known Obi-Wan, she had rarely seen his calm, peaceful expression crack. Even in the heat of battle, he stayed composed. Padmé could only guess what both her husband and Obi-Wan had been going through over the last several hours, about the revelations and surprises, but it still made her eyes widen at how Obi-Wan reacted to Anakin’s words.

He blinked, his mouth opening for a moment, before he swallowed. “But--but Leia--I thought you were going to use both of your last names--”

Anakin smiled. “Luke likes his name, though.”

“And Amidala-Skywalker is a mouthful,” Padmé pointed out. “Amidala can be Leia’s middle name. Just like Kenobi will be Luke’s.”

“Oh,” Obi-Wan said, looking down at Luke. “Oh.”

“Much better than calling him Obi-Wan, right?” Anakin said, gently nudging him. “Here, let’s switch. Meet Leia.”

It was all Padmé could do not to laugh at how her husband was handling Obi-Wan. He was probably enjoying this even more than she was. Within a moment, Anakin had swapped Leia for Luke, and come to sit down beside her on the bed.

“Thank you, love,” she said, kissing Anakin’s cheek before smiling down at Luke. “Hello, darling.”

“You coulda told me what Luke meant,” Anakin said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

“I’m sure I did,” Padmé told him with an arched eyebrow. “Perhaps you weren’t listening.”

She knew he was about to protest that he always listened to her, when Obi-Wan said, “Oh, no.”

Looking up, Padmé tilted her head. “Is Leia all right?”

Because Obi-Wan was staring down at her with a surprised, shocked, yet resigned expression on his face.

Anakin looked back and forth between Leia and Obi-Wan, and then he started to laugh.

“What is it?” Padmé asked, frowning.

“I’m going to be training another Skywalker,” Obi-Wan said before looking at Anakin. “This is all your fault.”

Anakin was too busy laughing to reply, but Padmé felt her arms tightening around Luke. “She’s Force-Sensitive?”

“Do stop that, Anakin,” Obi-Wan said, before stepping closer to Padmé and easing Leia into her arms. “Both Luke and Leia are very strong with the Force, Padmé.”

“Oh,” Padmé said, looking down at her tiny babies. Of course, she knew this was a possibility--almost a probability, given Anakin’s abilities. And Anakin himself had said the baby was unbelievably strong during her pregnancy. But now that her children were here, the idea of them being taken away . . . living at the Jedi Temple . . . barely knowing her . . .

Thankfully, Anakin’s laughter abruptly ceased and his arms wrapped around her. “Angel--don’t worry--”

“I can’t help it,” she said, looking at Anakin and biting her lower lip. “Ani--we’re going to lose them--”

“No, we won’t,” Anakin said, brimming with the same stubborn determination and fire that made her fall in love with him.

But his determination wasn’t enough, she knew. Not in this--not when the truth of their marriage became known to the Order. What better way to punish Anakin--to punish her--than to take their children away?

Swallowing, Padmé tried to hold herself together, even as she pulled the twins closer to her. “You can’t promise that, Anakin. They’re so strong--they will have to be trained--even if I don’t want it--”

“You don’t?” Anakin asked, sounding shocked.

“I don’t know!” she said, feeling tears slip from her eyes. “But if they’re not trained, it will be dangerous--and what if they resent us for not training them, for denying them the chance to be Jedi?”

“Padmé,” Anakin breathed out, pulling her against him. “It’s okay.”

Burying her face against his neck, Padmé breathed in and out. Luke and Leia squirmed a little against her, but stayed quiet. Anakin rubbed his hands over her and pressed a kiss to her temple.

“They’re only an hour old, angel,” he told her. “We have time. And no matter what happens, Luke and Leia love you. I can tell, Padmé.”

“They do, Padmé,” Obi-Wan said, reminding her of how she had just fallen apart in front of him. Pulling back from Anakin, Padmé hoped her face wasn’t too flushed from her tears.

“You’re right, I know,” she said, feeling her voice tremble a little. Anakin stroked her hair, giving her that special smile that was hers and hers alone.

She took another few breaths and loosened her hold on the twins a little. “I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Obi-Wan said, his voice soft and gentle. “There is so much happening, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.”

Something in his voice made her wonder what was going on beyond this room. She looked at Anakin, whose jaw grew tight.

“What is it?” she asked, looking back and forth between the two of them. “What’s happened?”

“Nothing you need to worry about--you need to rest,” Anakin said, but Obi-Wan talked over him.

“There is something, but it can wait, Senator.”

As much as she hated being told to wait, Padmé couldn’t deny that she was exhausted. And so were Anakin and Obi-Wan, she could tell. So perhaps some rest would be the best course of action. Especially with two newborns depending on her.

“All right,” Padmé said reluctantly.

“We’re waiting for some intel,” Anakin said, still stroking her hair. “Once we’ve got it, I’ll talk to you. But the good news is, Ahsoka is the one bringing the information.”

That was good news. Having Ahsoka here would definitely make Anakin happy. And . . . and maybe there would be time for Ahsoka to help her with her mixed feelings about her babies being Force-sensitive.

“In fact, it might be wise for us to include a few other Senators in our discussion,” Obi-Wan said. “Along with Masters Yoda and Windu.”

At the mention of the two leading Jedi of the Republic, Padmé felt her heart flutter with nerves. Whatever this matter was, it had to be of critical importance to involve both the Senate and the Jedi Order. But Padmé only nodded and said, “I can alert a few Senators in the morning--colleagues who could pay me a visit without much notice being taken.”

Obi-Wan nodded, then looked at Anakin. A silent conversation was held between them, then Anakin looked back to Padmé. “I’m going to help Obi-Wan get settled in a guest room, and then I’ll be back to help with the twins, all right?”

“All right,” Padmé agreed. She gave Obi-Wan a smile. “Good night.”

He gave her a small bow. “Good night.” His face softened a little and she guessed he was saying a silent good night to each of the twins, which made her smile more.

And then it was her and her babies again. For as long as Padmé could make that last.

XXX

Usually, Darth Sidious simply eliminated any opposition to his work and his actions. He was not quite ready to lose the Kaminoans, though. That meant they received mercy.

Gagging, the Kaminoan representative kneeled, their hands fluttering along the column of their throat. It was an interesting challenge, using the Force to choke a Kaminoan. But all too soon, he mastered the challenge and savored the sound of the Kaminoan’s gasps for breath.

“Do you see now how unwise your actions are, Senator?” Sidious asked, relishing the fear drowning the pale creature at his feet.

“Y-yes--yes!” the Senator said as Sidious lightened his grip for a moment.

“Good,” he said, giving one final squeeze before releasing the mewling creature. “Now, let us discuss the tales you have been telling. How you have been agitating for clone rights.”

The Senator from Kamino wheezed before pushing themselves upright. “If clones had rights, the Senate would approve an expansion of the Grand Army of the Republic.”

“Meanwhile, your people could sell even more systems on clone armies,” Sidious hissed. “There will be no armies in this Republic but the one under my control. Remember that, Senator.”

Their Force sense was as calm as a pond as they nodded their head. Their mouth narrowed in a silent wince of pain at the movement of their neck. But when they spoke, their voice was even. “Yes, my lord.”

End, Chapter 7

#anidala #anakin skywalker #padme amidala #skywalker family #obi-wan kenobi #star wars

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