Chapter Text
Luke sat handcuffed in the back of the shuttle, staring at the man across from him, who was watching Luke and Leia closely, his eyes flickering between the two of them.
The unthinkable had happened. He and Leia had been captured by the Jedi. It was clear how it had happened: the mission had been a trap. Luke often had nightmares about this very scenario. But so far, the Jedi in front of him was defying all expectations. He hadn’t tortured or killed Luke, he hadn’t tried to sort through his brain to pick out his Father’s secrets. Instead, he just stared at him, as if he was looking for something.
Luke snarled at the man, who just smirked back.
“I’m Anakin Skywalker,” the man said slowly, as if expecting a reaction. Luke had heard of Anakin Skywalker all right. Leia had often fantasized aloud about being the one to kill him. But there was no way Luke was going to give Skywalker the satisfaction of admitting that he knew him. When Luke said nothing, he saw a flicker of what looked like disappointment cross his eyes. Luke scoffed. How arrogant was this man, that he was disappointed Luke didn’t recognize him.
Are all Jedi’s egos this inflated? , Leia asked in his head.Their binders might have prevented them from using the Force, but it couldn’t dim their telepathic bond.
Maybe. Probably the more evil the Jedi the bigger the ego, Luke said back.
“Are you done talking to each other through the Force?” Anakin asked, looking amused. Luke and Leia glanced at each other, shocked. Even their Father couldn’t sense it when they were telepathically communicating. It was a bond only between them. “I can sense your bond,” Anakin said, almost eagerly. Luke shared another glance with Leia, this time confused. What was Skywalker playing at?
“There's a reason why,” Anakin continued, only to be cut off by the man piloting the ship.
“Anakin! Patience! You don’t want to overwhelm them.”
Luke and Leia both turned on the pilot, sneering.
“And who are you?” Leia asked.
“I’m Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi,” the man said pleasantly. Kenobi. Another name Luke had heard. The other side of the famous Kenobi-Skywalker duo. Their instructions from their Father had been to avoid these two at all costs. What were they going to do to him and Leia? Kill them like they killed their mother?
“Our Father will come for us,” Luke said, more to himself than to the Jedi.
“That may be so,” Obi-Wan said, “But he will not be able to reach you, not in the Jedi Temple.”
“The Jedi Temple?” Anakin exclaimed. “We can’t take them to the Temple! They’ll be put before the Council.”
“We have to take them before the Council, Anakin, I thought that was the whole point of this.”
“That was before the council decided to treat them like Sith,” Anakin said.
“We are Sith,” Luke and Leia said as one.
“No, you’re not,” Anakin said firmly. “You’re Dark Side users, not Sith. And I won’t let the Council treat you as such.”
“What?” Luke snarled. “You want to kill us yourself?”
“No one’s going to hurt you,” Anakin snarled.
“What are we supposed to do with them, Anakin?” Obi-Wan continued. They’ll run away from anywhere except the Temple.”
“I don’t know. But I’m not letting the Council have free range over my- over Luke and Leia.”
Luke could feel Leia’s confusion in the Force, mirroring his own. Why did Anakin seem to care so much what happened to them? And what did he mean by saying nothing would hurt them?
“The Council can be trusted, Anakin,” Obi-Wan said.
“Banthashit,” Anakin spat, then looked around hastily, as if he was worried about Luke and Leia hearing. Luke rolled his eyes. “They’re going to lock them up! Treat them as if they’re evil!”
“They’re Dark Side users, Anakin. And you know no one can come back from the Dark Side,” Obi-Wan said.
“They’re children,” Anakin scoffed.
“We’re not children!” Luke and Leia cried out.
“Do you always do this? Say the exact same thing at the same time?” Anakin asked.
Luke and Leia both shrugged, not wanting to answer. After so long with nobody but his sister for company, their Force bond had gotten so close that they often read each other's thoughts and voiced them out loud without realizing it.
“Anakin,” Obi-Wan said. “What is your plan? Leave the Order and run away with them and Padmé?”
“If I have to,” said Anakin.
Luke and Leia glanced at each other, both equally confused. He had no idea what was going on between the two Jedi. Why didn’t Anakin want to turn them in?
Maybe he wants to run away and torture us himself, Leia said in his head. Maybe he’s the one who killed our mother. Luke felt his anger surge at the thought, and the shuttle began to shake, whether from him or Leia he wasn’t sure.
Anakin and Obi-Wan whirled to face them.
“What’s wrong?” Anakin cried. “What’s the matter?”
Luke just spat at him. He wanted to know the truth, to know whether Skywalker was the one who killed his mother, but he couldn’t get the words out. He was too scared of the truth. What if they were in the hands of his mother’s murderer? Leia, on the other hand, had no such qualms.
“You’re going to torture us just like you tortured our Mother,” she spat.
Anakin clenched his fists, breathing in slowly. Around them the shuttle began to shake again. Obi-Wan placed his hand on Anakin’s shoulder, shaking him vigorously.
“Anakin, calm down!” he shouted. “You must control your anger!”
“Who told you I tortured your mother?” He yelled, spit flying out of his mouth. “Who lied to you?”
“Our Father,” Luke said defiantly, although it wasn’t technically true. His Father had always said that the Jedi had killed their mother, and had forbidden any more questions on the subject, saying it was too painful for him to talk about.
“Anakin!” Obi-Wan said again.
Anakin took a deep breath, visibly steadying himself. The ship stopped shaking.
“You’ve been lied to,” Anakin said. “I would die before I hurt your mother.”
“You mean she’s alive?” Luke said eagerly.
“Yes, she’s alive,” Anakin said. “And I will bring you to her.”
“You’re lying!” Luke spat, but he could feel through the Force that he wasn’t. Their mother was alive, somewhere.
“Anakin, I thought we didn't want to overwhelm them,” Obi-Wan sighed, running his hands through his beard.
“But they’ve been lied to,” Anakin shouted. “Can I just tell them?” he said.
“Tell us what?” Luke asked.
They both ignored Luke. “Don’t you think Padmé should be there when you do?” Obi-Wan said.
Anakin was silent for a long moment. “Alright, I’ll wait for Padmé. But then I’m telling them.”
“And we’re bringing them before the Council,” Obi-Wan said firmly. Anakin still looked hesitant. “Look, if the Council tries to hurt them, I promise I will fight with you. But they won’t. You have to trust them. Besides, you really don’t have any other choice.”
“Fine,” Anakin said. “We’ll bring them before the Council. But not because I trust them. Because as you said, there’s no other option.”
Did you get any of that? Luke asked Leia.
Nope, she said.
“Good,” Obi-Wan said. “We should be on Coruscant soon.”
🝒
After it had been decided that they would bring the kids before the Jedi Council, Anakin went to his quarters to call Padmé, updating her on the situation. Her hologram popped up on the first dial, looking anxious and frantic. Even after all these years, as frantic as the situation was, he was still struck by her beauty when he saw her image materialize. He couldn’t wait to be home in Coruscant, his wife in his arms. Everything felt so much calmer, so much easier to figure out when he was with her. It was how he had survived the last twelve years.
“Do you have them?” she asked hurriedly.
“Yes, we have them,” Anakin said, glad to be delivering good news for once.
“Oh, thank the Force,” Padmé said, her hand on her chest. “Are they ok?”
“They’re not harmed physically, if that’s what you're asking. Otherwise, they’ve been a little hostile. They think I tortured their mother. And they refer to Sidious as “father.”
“Give them time, Ani. It’ll be awhile before they adjust.”
“I’m just so angry at this whole situation. I almost made us crash the ship.” Anakin had learned to control his anger over the past twelve years, mostly with Padmé’s help, but his children were the one thing that would always bring it out.
“I know, Ani, but we have them now. We can start fixing this.”
“Obi-Wan wants to bring them before the council,” he said bitterly.
“They won’t hurt them,” Padmé said. “They’ll let us bring them home.” Anakin was struck by the fact that once again, his wife had much more faith in the Jedi Council than he did. They hadn’t been helpful in finding his children twelve years ago, and they weren’t going to start being helpful now.
“What if they don’t?” he said anxiously. “What if they lock up our kids?”
“Their twelve years old, Anakin,” Padmé said. “They wouldn’t do that.”
“But if they try to, I’m prepared to fight,” Anakin said.
“Obi-Wan’s on the council. He’ll vouch for them, right?” Padmé asked.
“He said he will, for me. But he doesn’t think they can be turned back to the light.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Padmé said. “They’re twelve.”
“That’s what I keep telling him,” Anakin said. He turned as he heard a knock on the door.
“We’re nearing Coruscant,” Obi-Wan shouted.
Anakin turned back to Padmé. “I have to go prepare the kids for meeting the Council. I’ll see you soon. I love you, Padmé.”
“I love you too, Ani. I’ll be at the Temple when you land.”
Anakin returned to the sitting area of the ship to see Luke and Leia sitting uncomfortably. Anakin had been with Leia for several hours, and he was still startled every time he saw her glowing yellow eyes. It was a firm reminder that his children had not grown up with the comforts they should have had.
“You two are going to go before the Jedi Council. Do you know what that is?”
“The group of Jedi that control the Republic and make decisions,” Leia sneered.
“The Jedi are peacekeepers, we don’t control the galaxy, but basically yes. They’re the guiding council that controls all the other Jedi,” Anakin said.
“They’re the ones that are going to torture us, then,” Luke said.
Anakin felt himself growing irritated. Why were his children clinging on to this idea that Jedi were torturers? “For the last time,” he said. “No one is going to hurt you. I won’t let them.”
Luke and Leia glanced at each other, both looking increasingly suspicious, and Anakin wished he could go ahead and tell them the truth. Maybe then they would see that Sidious had been lying to them about everything. But he knew deep down it wouldn’t be that simple. Leia’s eyes were proof of that. It would take a long time for his children to turn away from the Dark Side. Dealing with them would require patience. Something Anakin found he had in increasingly short supply the longer he was around his children.
“The Jedi Council is going to decide what to do with you” Anakin continued. “As long as you behave, you will stay with me and my wife and be rehabilitated.”
“Jedi can’t be married,” Leia cut in with a sneer. “They forbid any sort of attachments.”
“Well, I am,” Anakin said, not sure how to explain the details of his marriage without giving away the fact that he was Luke and Leia’s father. “You behave,” he repeated, “and you will live with us. Otherwise, they might lock you up for life and throw away the key.” His children’s eyes widened, and Anakin felt a stab of guilt for scaring them. But they needed to understand the gravity of the situation. The Jedi lived by a strict code. Letting two Dark Side users go free was going to take a great deal of bending on their part.
“Our Father will come for us,’ Luke said defiantly.
“Even Sidious can’t get into the Jedi prisons,” Anakin said.
“We’ve killed plenty of Jedi,” Leia spat.
Anakin winced. He didn’t like to be reminded that his children had been responsible for the Deaths of his brothers and sisters in the Temple. “Whatever you do,” he said. “Don’t mention that to the Council.” Luke and Leia were silent. “I’m serious,” Anakin said. “You need to act like sweet, innocent children, who have been manipulated by an evil Sith Lord their whole life. Which shouldn’t be too hard, since that’s what you are.”
“We’re not manipulated,” Luke said indignantly.
Before Anakin could reply, the ship dropped out of hyperspace, jerking them all forward. Luke and Leia turned to the windows, their jaws dropping at the maze of lights that stood out in sharp contrast to the purple of the planet below.
“Wow,” Luke and Leia both said under their breath. They both had their noses and hands pressed up against the window, as if trying to get closer to the planet below.
Anakin chuckled to himself. Despite all their posturing, they still acted like any child would that saw the metropolis of Coruscant for the first time.
The ship swooped low into the city, and Anakin permitted himself one last look at the twins before turning back to Obi-Wan.
🝒
Leia stared at the buildings around her as the ship landed on Coruscant. She had never been in such a heavily populated area, and she found herself fascinated by the bustle of the speeders and towering buildings. There was so much noise and bright, flashing lights it was almost overstimulating. In her head, she could hear Luke prattling on about all the different types of speeders and ships he saw flying through the streets. Leia had long since learned to block out Luke’s rambles about piloting, but this time she focused on it. It was easier than focusing on their current situation. They were headed for the Jedi Council, where their fate was to be determined. Neither she nor Luke could figure out why Anakin Skywalker wanted them to live with him, but whatever the reason, it couldn’t be good for them.
Obi-Wan and Anakin led them onto a shuttle to take them to the Temple, and Leia considered making a run for it. But she still had the stun cuffs on, and she clearly couldn’t outrun the Jedi.They would have to wait for a better time.
As the shuttle pulled into the front of the temple, Leia could see a petite woman standing at the entrance. Anakin’s face brightened when he saw her, and he practically jumped off the speeder, gesturing for Luke and Leia to follow. Anakin ran up to the woman, who threw herself into his arms. They held each other for several seconds, before the brown-haired woman pulled away, revealing her face.
She looks like you, Luke said in her head, and Leia had to agree. They both had the same brown hair and eyes, and the same petite frame.
The woman turned to Luke and Leia, her gaze fixing on each of them as if she was trying to memorize their faces. Leia recognized the moment the woman’s eyes met her own, the split second shock on her face as she was the yellow of Leia’s eyes.
“They don’t know yet,” she heard Anakin say to the woman.
“Know what?” Leia snarled.
Obi-Wan, who had been silent the whole ride, turned to her. “All will be revealed in due time, younglings.” She found him infuriating.
“I understand. You must be Luke and Leia,” the woman said. “I’m Padmé. Padmé Amidala-Skywalker.”
So this was Anakin’s mysterious wife. The question was, what was she doing here?
Neither Luke nor Leia responded to Padmé’s statement, but she didn’t seem phased. “Let’s go in, shall we,” Padmé said. “The Council is waiting.”
Luke and Leia followed Padmé and Anakin through the Temple, with Obi-Wan trailing behind them. As they passed through the Temple, Jedi stopped and stared at them, some pointing and gawking at her yellow eyes. Leia held her chin high, turning and snarling at any Jedi who stopped and looked at them, but inside she was squirming. She had never had so many people looking at her before, and they were all corrupt Jedi. She could feel through their bond that Luke was feeling the same way.
They finally reached an elevator, and Anakin gestured for them to step in. They rode up in silence until they arrived at a set of imposing double doors. As soon as they stepped off the elevator, the doors slid open, revealing a large, circular room with a window overlooking the Coruscant skyline.
Leia glanced around the room, her heart filling with loathing that she could feel Luke mirroring. In front of them, Anakin winced, no doubt feeling her hatred through the Force. This was the Jedi Council. This was the Jedi’s seat of corruption, where they made the conscious decision to steal children from their families. Where they sat and preached balance and order, all the while being unfeeling machines. They had ordered her mother’s death. It made her sick.
Eleven of the twelve chairs in the room were already filled, either with holograms or real people. Obi-Wan walked out from behind her to take his seat in the twelfth chair. For a moment, there was only silence as the council and Luke and Leia studied each other.
Then, Anakin started talking. “Well,” he said. “We’ve brought them, as you’ve asked. Here are Luke and Leia. Now we ask that you let us rehabilitate them.”
Leia scoffed. Rehabilitate, as if they were some wild animals.
“Hmm,” one of the Council members said, a small green creature that was levitating above his chair. This must be Master Yoda, Leia thought to herself. She had heard of the Jedi, and knew he wasn’t to be underestimated. He and Anakin were probably the most powerful Jedi in the history of the galaxy. Leia ached to be the one to kill him. Someday, she thought to herself. Someday she and Luke together would be the most powerful Force users in history. “Much hatred I sense in the young children. Strong, in the Dark Side, they are.”
“They’re children,” Anakin said. “They can be brought back to the light.”
“Are we just supposed to ignore the fact that the girl has yellow eyes, the trademark of the Sith?” a dark-skinned man said, seated towards the middle of the Council chamber. Leia sneered at him, opening her mouth to speak when Luke’s voice filled her head.
“ Remember what Anakin said,” he said.
“ Why should we listen to him?” Leia shot back.
“ I don’t know about you, but I’d rather stick with him and Padmé than the Jedi Council. At least one of them isn't a Jedi. Besides, they said they won’t hurt us.”
“And you believe him?’
“I’d rather trust him than be locked up by the Council,” Luke said. “ Besides,” he said, “The Force is telling me to trust him.”
“Alright, Luke,” Leia said. “ I trust you.”
“They’re twelve-year-old children,” said Padmé.
“They’re Dark Side users,” said a Torgutan female over a hologram. “And everyone knows that you cannot turn back from the Dark Side.”
“We only know that it’s never been done before,” Anakin said. “Not that it's impossible.”
“Still,” said the dark skinned man, “They’ve killed Jedi. They should be held accountable.”
“Come now Master Windu,” said Obi-Wan. “You can’t hold children accountable for what they have been manipulated into doing.”
Master Windu turned to Luke and Leia. “Let’s hear it from them. Why did you kill Jedi?”
Luke’s eyes widened. “Father made us,” he said innocently. “He would punish us if we didn’t. He would torture us with Force lightning if we failed.” It was technically true, and the Jedi could sense it. They shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
“See,” Anakin said. “They’ve been acting under duress.”
But Leia couldn’t tolerate her and Luke being made out to be victims any longer. The Jedi were the real villains here, not their Father.
“The Jedi killed our mother,” Leia said. “They all deserve to die.” Beside her, Anakin winced.
“We all deserve to die, you say?” Master Windu said. Around him, the eyes of the council members flashed dangerously.
Leia knew she had made a mistake, that she had promised to Luke not to irritate the Council, but she couldn’t help it. They were the scum of the Earth, and they deserved to know it.
“Yes,” she said defiantly. “The Jedi will fall. My only regret is that I won’t be the one that gets to kill you.” At this, Anakin let out an audible sigh, and Padmé stepped forward.
“They think the Jedi killed their mother,” she said. “Of course they're going to hate you. Give them a chance to learn the truth, to adjust their prejudices and unlearn all they’ve been taught.”
Think the Jedi killed their mother? Leia thought to herself. What did that mean?
“Their principles don’t align with those of the Jedi,” another council member said. “And they are far too attached to one another.”
“For crying out loud, they haven’t been raised like Jedi!” Padmé said . “ They’re children, children who have been manipulated and raised in the Dark Side their whole lives. Shouldn’t the Jedi be for forgiveness and second chances? I thought one of your principles was not clinging to the past. Shouldn’t we give them a chance to have another life? And on attachment, is that really so bad? Is Anakin a worse Jedi for his attachments?”
“We’re not asking for them to be trained as Jedi,” Anakin said. “Just for them to have a chance to step away from the Dark Side.”
“And if they can’t be turned? What if they hurt more Jedi?” said Master Windu.
“We won’t let that happen,” Anakin said. “If you just give them a chance.”
Leia still couldn’t figure out why Anakin and Padmé kept vouching for them. She had run through every scenario she could think of, and was no closer to coming up with an answer.
“Let the Force guide us, we must,” said Master Yoda. Leia resisted the urge to roll her eyes. It was such a typical Jedi thing to say, to pretend they listened to the Force for guidance, instead of drawing on their own arrogant principles.
“It is time to vote,” Master Windu said. “All those in favor of giving the younglings a chance to be rehabilitated in the Light Side of the Force with Knight Skywalker, please rise.”
Slowly, Obi-Wan and five others got to their feet. Master Windu, the one who had been speaking the most, remained seated. Leia shifted uneasily. The members who remained seated looked resolute in their decisions. All of them except Master Yoda. He was looking at the twins, his face pensive. Despite her best efforts, Leia felt a flash of fear go through her. What if they were going to lock them up permanently? What if they would separate her from her brother, what if she never saw Luke again? Yoda locked eyes with her, as if he could read all the emotions going through her. Whatever he saw in her face, it must have been enough to sway him, because the small green master slowly rose to his feet, giving them a majority. Leia kept her face impassive, but Anakin’s broke out into a grin. He bowed low to the masters.
“Stay in a high-security location, you must,” Yoda said.
“Let them stay in our apartment,” Padmé burst out. “No one has ever been rehabilitated while locked up in a cell in the Jedi Temple. The biggest part of turning to the light side is having a sense of peace and calm. They will have that at our apartment.”
The Council members turned to each other in silence, and Leia could tell they were conversing telepathically. Anakin fidgeted slightly, clearly annoyed about being left out of the conversation.
“Very well, we will establish additional security measures at your apartment. They will not be able to leave without an escort of two Jedi.”
“I think I can handle them on my own,” Anakin said.
“This is non-negotiable, Knight Skywalker,” Windu said. Anakin’s mouth tightened, before Padmé nudged him gently on the side.
“Very well,” he said tightly.
“That’s settled then,” Windu said.