Chapter 5: Creations
Padme was enjoying a meal fit for five, which she felt like she was feeding. Yet every time she seemed to feel self conscious Anakin was there to lend a hand, or give a comforting word. And despite the occasional mood swing Anakin handled everything well, or at least well enough for Padme to not stay angry with him. She looked out the window, admiring the sunset and the light breeze that accompanied the calm orange skies.
Then she saw Anakin, who had been tinkering with his lightsaber since they returned from the senate meeting. R2-D2 and C-3PO had been at his side all the while. Needless to say R2 is the better mechanic. And as far as Anakin was concerned, a better conversationalist.
Anakin had been thinking about how many JedI had died during the war, and how many could have died at his own hand. It had occurred to him, that although the lightsaber was an incredible weapon, enough blasters could penetrate any JedI defenses, even his own. So instead of a melee weapon, Anakin was creating the first melee/ranged lightsaber.
Anakin had befriended a clone trooper named Aaron that was the few of any trooper that could keep up with him in ground combat, and Anakin took it as a deep loss when he was killed. However, he knew Aaron was serious about combat and would be honored to have Anakin use it.
Borrowing Dooku’s curved-handle saber design Anakin modified his saber to have a similar curve, but it wasn’t for fencing, but for firing.
Anakin took the refinement chamber and prismatic crystal from the blaster and wired them into his lightsaber, next to the crystals that focused the weapons energy into a blade. He rewired a new knob on the opposing side of the blade adjustment knob with a small mechanism that moved the prismatic crystal out of alignment with the saber crystal. By doing this, the knob could switch the weapon between saber and blaster modes.
Anakin was anxious to try out his newest creation, but knew he couldn’t at the apartment. He found Padme in the kitchen still eating, but not like she normally did. She normally ate much, faster, to be polite about it. This time, however, she was eating slowly, and she seemed to be uncomfortable.
“Is everything alright?” Anakin asked.
“Oh it’s nothing. The baby just wasn’t as hungry as I was.”
“Are you sure? Because I just finished altering my lightsaber in a way that will make it a much more effective weapon. I thought I’d go test it out.”
“Alright, don’t come back too late, I want to go to bed soon,” Padme said, her smile temporarily breaking her dull mood.
“I won’t be long,” he said, rushing out to his JedI Starfighter, and flying off to the nearest base.
Luckily for Anakin, all of the clones there had either met or served under him at one point and where very respectful to the new JedI Master. Anakin was surprised at how quickly word traveled. However, that also meant there could be a lot of people who know about he and Padme’s marriage, which could be damaging to her future campaigns.
Anakin had to put that out of his mind and concentrate on his new weapon. He found a small shooting range in only the fourth door he searched through. A single clone trooper was practicing with a highly modified blaster rifle, aiming at targets placed at the far ends of the wall. He turned to notice Anakin and smiled.
“Greetings General Skywalker.”
“Greetings, Commander Cody?” Anakin asked not quite sure if it was just another clone.
“Just Cody is fine sir.”
“Well then Anakin is just fine with me Cody,” he said, taking the next available booth. He pulled out his saber and aimed it outward, activating his vibrant blue blade.
“Sir, I mean, Anakin, wouldn’t it work best to use a blaster?” Cody asked.
“Like yours?” Anakin asked. “What model is that?”
“It’s a Merr-Sonn LD-1, slightly modified. I added a few parts from a BlasTech T-15 Repeating Blaster. Now the most gentle squeeze of the trigger and I get three shots instead of one. Best part is I have these prototype power packs that give me 90 shots with each in this weapon.”
“So it’s a standard magazine, but it fired three times per shot, impressive,” Anakin said. “This as you well know is my lightsaber, but I slightly modified it myself.”
Adjusting the “mode knob” as he thought of calling it, Anakin raised his hand and pushed the button. As bright as his saber, but with the speed of a blaster, the bolt ripped across the room and tore into the target, hitting the circle second closest to the center.
“Nice shot sir, I mean Anakin. That’s incredible.”
Anakin smiled, then raised the saber again. He kept his eye on the target and allowed the force to turn the knob, then activated the blade. Again the knob turned and he fired almost the instant the blade disappeared. It had turned out better than he had hoped for.
“Well Cody I need to get back to my wife before she gets too lonely. I appreciate meeting a fine member of the republic’s army with such intelligence. I hope to see your design in the hands of our troops one day.”
“Hopefully the JedI will feel the same way about your new blaster-saber.”
Anakin nodded, grinned and left the room, speeding more and more as he came closer to the ship. He could feel as strange tremor in the force, and it concerned Padme. When he opened the windshield to his starfighter, he noticed he had dropped his comlink.
“Hello?” he asked into it.
“Anakin!” he heard a voice cry. “Anakin, I’ve been trying to reach you.”
“Obi-Wan?”
“Yes, Padme is having the baby!” Obi-Wan tried to say, but Obi-Wan’s comlink had malfunctioned and Anakin could only hear the word Padme.
Anakin focused on the force, and his connection to it, and the unique bond he believed it shared and created for him and Padme. He could feel Padme in great pain, which immediately made him think of his dream, but then he could feel her calling him in her mind, and he climbed into the starfighter and sped off after her.
Homing beacons are great tools, but they are no measure to the force, and a worried husband. Anakin used his incredible piloting skills to navigate through Coruscant at a dangerous speed, making many close calls. He calmed himself a bit and focused on getting to Padme’s hospital room. Obi-Wan was in the lobby to meet him.
“She’s on the 7th floor, room 9!” Obi-Wan said. “The elevator is right here.”
Obi-Wan turned to see the door marked “Stairs” had just shut, and he followed Anakin through it. When he opened the door, there was no sign of Anakin, but he could hear a doorway closing several floors up. Obi-Wan followed Anakin’s footsteps and used the force to aid his leap in bringing him to the 7th floor.
He rushed in to find Anakin holding Padme’s arm and kissing her hand while the medical droids worked. Obi-Wan sensed much fear coming from Anakin, but it was outweighed by his joy and Padme’s relief. Obi-Wan prayed to the force to let everything go successful and from the looks of the baby, they did.
Obi-Wan truly felt a fatherly pride as the droid handed Anakin his child. Anakin severed the umbilical cord immediately, and cleaned what appeared to be his son’s body off. Anakin was overwhelmed by the sight of his son, and Obi-Wan felt a similar feeling, along with Anakin’s through the force. It was interrupted by something no one expected, another child.
This time, a girl was born, and Padme’s pain disappeared as Anakin put their son in her arms. Anakin cleaned off the girl quicker than the boy, and kissed Padme on the forehead as they shared tears at the sight of their children. Almost in unison the duo looked toward Obi-Wan and Anakin beckoned him inside. Obi-Wan seemed hesitant at first, this wave of emotion was new to him. For the first time in years he didn’t feel like Obi-Wan Kenobi, JedI Knight, but Obi-Wan Kenobi, a simple man with a family.
“Obi-Wan, I’d like to introduce you to Luke Skywalker,” Anakin said, slowly handing the boy over to Obi-Wan.
“And what’s the girl’s name?”
“Leia,” Padme said, rocking her daughter lightly. “Oh Ani, I can’t believe it, we’re a family now.”
Anakin placed his hand on Obi-Wan’s shoulder. “Yes we are. You know Obi-Wan, we were going to ask you this before, but with all that has been going on we forgot, and we weren’t expecting the twins to be born for a while, but…”
“What is it Anakin?” Obi-Wan asked, taking his attention off of Luke for but a moment.
“If anything were to happen to us, would you make sure our children stay clear of the dark side?”
Obi-Wan lost himself in the thought for a moment. No doubt these children would be quite strong in the force, and potentially dangerous. This was quite a responsibility to have, considering the commitment Obi-Wan had to the JedI order. Despite all of his fond memories as a JedI, there was an overwhelming sense, an instinct that made him worry more about the well being of these children than any of his fellow JedI. Despite his confusion of the feeling, he knew the answer.
“Of course Anakin, you’re like family to me, and so are you Padme, and obviously the children.”
“Oh Ani, let’s take them home,” Padme said.
“Are you sure you’re up to it?” Obi-Wan asked.
“Have you ever though Anakin to be stubborn?” Padme asked.
“Well…” Obi-Wan laughed with Anakin. “Sometimes.”
“He learned all he knows about that from me,” she said, smiling at Anakin as a few tears managed their way down her face.
“Very well, I’ll get a transport,” Obi-Wan said.
As soon as they returned to the apartment, Obi-Wan had R2-D2 waiting to record their arrival. C-3PO congratulated Anakin and Padme, then was firmly rejected in his offer to hold one of the children. Anakin, Padme, and Obi-Wan stayed up for some time, discussing which child had what trait from what parent. Finally Obi-Wan yawned and noticed Padme was exhausted.
“Well, I had better let you two get some sleep, pardon, you four.”
“You’re more than welcome to stay Obi-Wan, I won’t be sleeping for some time,” Anakin said.
“I appreciate it, but Padme must be exhausted.”
“You’re right, I’m sorry Padme,” Anakin said, bringing Padme’s head into his shoulder as they each held their children close. “The Skywalker family needs it’s rest.”
“That has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it Ani?” Padme asked.
“It’s probably the greatest sound I’ve had the pleasure of hearing.”
Anakin began to speak, but stopped, noticing Obi-Wan had already snuck out. Padme was falling fast asleep, and he knew that he should get sleep, despite the excitement. Luckily, the babies room was mostly ready, save for a few supplies. Anakin and Padme kissed each child on the head, then Anakin swept Padme into his arms and carried her to bed.
She curled into his chest, and absorbed his body heat, as he pulled her close with his arms. They closed their eyes, wished one another good night and concentrated on resting. No less than a minute later, one of the children began to cry, causing the other to cry, and Anakin and Padme’s eyes to shoot open.
After a restless evening, the sunlight began to shine through their bedroom window. Along with it came another cry from the Skywalker babies, forcing the parents to simultaneously say the only thing they said all night.
“Your turn.”
Chapter 6: Future
In the late morning after the birth of the twins, Anakin and Padme finally got more than an hours peace. Despite not sleeping, Anakin managed to remind Padme there was no better way to spend their time. She was asleep but a moment when Obi-Wan’s voice asked “Hello?” as the front door opened.
Anakin used the force to gently levitate Padme’s body so he could sneak away. Lowering her back onto the couch, he turned her body around, resting her head on a pillow. He turned and bumped into Obi-Wan, then led him outside to talk.
“Good morning, I hope I didn’t wake you,” Obi-Wan said.
“I would have first had to sleep,” Anakin said. “I was thinking Obi-Wan, the Senate won’t let Padme continue to serve now that she’d given birth, to two children no less.”
“Yes, I suppose you’re right.”
“Well, Padme can’t take care of both of the children by herself while I’m occupied by my Jedi duties. And Padme won’t get to spend time with the children if they’re trained…”
“Anakin, where is this leading to? What are you trying to tell me?”
“I have to resign from the order.”
Obi-Wan nearly choked as Anakin said that. Not just because of what he said, but how he said it. It was as if there were no difficulty in his choice, which worried Obi-Wan. That was unlike how a Jedi should be, but if he were resigning would it truly matter? Obi-Wan had known Anakin for a long time, and he feared without the continuous guidance and wisdom of the council, there could be trouble still in his future.
“What about the war Anakin? Certainly we need our greatest warrior.”
Anakin chuckled. “What good is a warrior who discredits his leader?”
Obi-Wan then saw the big picture. Not only was he worried about his children, but the negativity being created in the senate. There was still much suspicion of the Jedi, and Anakin in particular. And it certainly didn’t help that the new Chancellor frequently visited the man who killed the former Chancellor.
“The republic doesn’t need me anymore Obi-Wan. It has all of the tools it needs to restore itself to it’s former glory. I have a different life now, I have a family I need to be there for, and to raise.
“Anakin, are you sure there’s nothing I can say to convince you to change your mind? Because you know that once you resign, the order will never take you back. Can you honestly turn your back on all the Jedi?”
“I’m not turning my back Obi-Wan, I’m opening my arms and heart to my family. My children are going to be very different from everyone, no matter where they are, and they’re going to need guidance from someone who’s been in that situation. You know as well as I do that I was very arrogant and I managed to make enemies in the Jedi temple.”
“You didn’t have enemies in the Jedi Order Anakin,” Obi-Wan reasoned.
“Maybe not enemies, but unfriendly and unhealthy rivalries. You know how I was, do you really think it’s far fetched for my children to inherit those same traits?”
Obi-Wan nodded. Anakin’s argument made a lot of sense. Anakin was after all the chosen one, and his children would no doubt be ahead of all of the other Jedi hopefuls. And with their father as a famous hero to normal citizens and Jedi alike, potentially dangerous feelings could develop. Anakin had thought about his much more than Obi-Wan gave him credit for.
“Anakin, you’ve never given me reason to doubt you, and I see no reason why I should start now,” Obi-Wan said. “Are you going to remain on Coruscant?”
“No. We’ll probably move to Naboo so Padme can be closer to her family. Besides, I rather liked spending time there. It will be a peaceful place to further study the force.”
Anakin looked to Obi-Wan who had uncharacteristically submerged his eyes in tears. In just over a decade Obi-Wan watched the strange young boy from Tattooine grow into an arrogant and foolish apprentice, to a powerful, and reasonable Jedi Master. Of course, Anakin’s decisions were his alone, Obi-Wan couldn’t help but feel as if part of it was because of his influence.
“So that’s it then?” Obi-Wan asked. “Anakin, before you go…”
“Obi-Wan, wait,” Anakin said, stopping him. “There’s too much to be said right now, and I have too much I wish to get done before Padme wakes up. Could you wait here with her and the children until I get back?”
“I want to be there when you inform the Council. Master Windu is going to be most displeased.”
“All the more reason you wait here. I wouldn’t want him to get angry at you when we say goodbye.”
The word goodbye rang in Obi-Wan’s mind for some seconds. He lost track of his conversation with Anakin, until Anakin nudged his arm slightly.
“Obi-Wan? Did you hear me?”
“Wha, what?”
“I was saying that the Council will understand once I explain to them you wanted to spend a little time with Padme.”
“Fair enough, but don’t be too long, there’s… much, I want to talk to you about.”
“I’ll hurry, don’t worry,” Anakin said, walking out to the balcony where his Jedi Star fighter was waiting. “Check on the babies, they may need changing,” Anakin said as the cock pit closed.
“Changing?” Obi-Wan asked himself as Anakin took off. Oh dear he thought.
Anakin managed to round up the Council quickly since they were about to meet anyway. Now Anakin knew why Obi-Wan wanted to come, but to stay and visit with Padme, even Obi-Wan was willing to miss a Council meeting. Anakin knew he could never put into words how much he cared for Obi-Wan. After all the times Anakin defied Obi-Wan, Obi-Wan was still willing to defy the Council in Anakin’s interest.
Very few people in the universe were lucky enough to have such friends.
Anakin wasted no time, and was far from formal in this impromptu Council meeting. “Fellow Jedi Masters, the only easy way to say this is the simplest way. Effective immediately I am resigning from the Jedi order.”
For nearly an hour the Council debated with Anakin over the consequences of his decision. He would never be allowed back in the order, and his children would be forbidden to study there. No longer was Anakin permitted to be addressed as a Jedi, let
alone a Jedi Master. All of the hard work and choices he had to go through to the Council, he was willing to trade in instantly. As Anakin reasoned, “My family is the force, which much come first.” Every member of the council save for Yoda attempted to sway him, until finally Anakin noticed how silent Master Yoda had been the entire time. “Master Yoda, you have not spoken,” Anakin said.
“Thinking through your eyes I have been,” Yoda said, looking around to the rest of the council, who had grown silent. “The living force brought you here and now to your family it takes you.”
Anakin smiled. Yoda understood that this went beyond the love for his children. The force itself, was the final influence Anakin needed to know his decision was the right one.
“Convince you otherwise, we cannot it seems. Accompany you to your home, I will. Senator Amidala, err, Skywalker I wish to say good bye to.”
Ki-Adi-Mundi stood and bowed before Anakin. “It has been a privilege to share this Council with you. Take care of your family Anakin.”
Anakin looked to the other members of the Council but they seemed to be either uninterested in saying anything, or too disappointed to do so. Anakin met eyes with Master Windu’s, the Jedi he knew would be pleased the most of these events.
“You never were a Jedi,” Mace said coldly, leaving the room. The rest of the Council members followed after Windu, as Yoda and Anakin were left alone.
“That went better than I expected,” Anakin laughed. “Master Windu and I never seemed to understand one another.”
“Regard his statements, you should not. Jealous has he become.”
“Jealous? Of what? Master Windu is one of the most accomplished Jedi of the entire order.”
“Yet, stop the Sith, he could not. A much younger, more powerful Jedi it took.”
Anakin understood now. Before Anakin began his training, Master Windu was the enigma of the order. He had an unquestionable loyalty to the order and to the force, and it no doubt shook his confidence when he faced Sidious.
“Are you sure Master? That just doesn’t seem like something Master Windu would feel.”
“Perfect not, is any Jedi,” Yoda reasoned.
Back at the apartment Obi-Wan managed to keep both babies and Padme asleep, despite his fatherly urges to hold them. He sat on the couch opposite of the one Padme occupied with a baby in each arm. Obi-Wan was amazed at how naturally the babies took to him, and he to them.
He was so occupied with the babies, he failed to sense either Yoda or Anakin’s return. Luke began crying when Anakin came in, which awoke Padme, who was startled to find all of the company there.
“Obi-Wan, Master Yoda, hello!” Padme said, flushing in embarrassment. “Can I get you something?”
“Thank you, but nothing for me,” Obi-Wan said politely, handing Luke over to Anakin, who managed to calm him nearly instantly.
“Master Yoda, please meet Luke and Leia Skywalker,” Anakin said proudly.
Master Yoda held baby Luke in his hands and felt an overwhelming presence in the force. Luke would be powerful and strong like his father, but dangerous as well. Although he didn’t have the equipment to test his theory, Yoda knew these children had incredibly high midichlorian counts, most likely higher than his own. Yoda traded Padme Luke for Leia, and as he suspected, the same presence was in this child. In Leia, however, Yoda could sense the essence of Padme in Leia, such as her strong will.
Powerful Jedi they would make. Alas, a good teacher they will have.
“Beautiful children you have Padme, take after you they do,” Yoda said, stirring laughter immediately among the four friends.
Master Yoda remembered many conversations he had with Padme over the years. They had become much closer during the clone wars. Padme was eager and anxious to learn anything and everything Yoda would tell her about the Jedi, and Yoda appreciated having bright, youthful companionship outside of his fellow Jedi. Though there were many things Padme still did not know of the force, she knew Yoda knew everything there was to know, despite his assurances; “Always flowing is the force, as does the knowledge it brings us.”
Anakin was pleased that Master Yoda showed up as well. Despite Anakin’s lack of patience, Yoda’s wisdom had always earned Anakin’s respect, and they both respected the power of the others. Though Anakin was far behind Yoda in years, Yoda was convinced that Anakin’s new path would lead him to perhaps even a higher understanding of the force that Yoda had.
“Pardon me Master Yoda, Obi-Wan, Anakin can I speak with you in private for a moment?”
Anakin excused himself, handing Luke to Obi-Wan, and following his wife to the kitchen. Yoda smiled at the opportunity he had.
“Powerful these children will be in the force.”
“Like their father.”
“Danger could come in their upbringing,” Yoda said. “Much of his father, I sense in the boy.”
“I agree, but are you worried?” Obi-Wan asked.
“No, but cautious enough we were not with Anakin. A mistake repeated, we must not.”
“Master, what is the council asking?”
“Ask this not as a Jedi, but as a friend I do.”
“What?” Obi-Wan asked.
“Keep watch on him, and the children. Tempted they will easily be by the dark side. As was their father.”
Padme and Anakin were having their own conversation. Padme was worried that she had not reported to the Senate, and that company had stopped by and she wasn’t dressed well.
“Padme, you don’t have to be so formal. The Jedi are our friends.”
“What do you mean, the Jedi? Why did you… say it like…that…”Padme said, thinking the worst. “Oh no! Anakin! Did they expel you from the order?”
“No, Padme, no, I resigned my position in the order. I am no longer a Jedi.”
Padme’s eyes widened in disbelief. Since she had first met “that little boy on Tattooine,” he had always wanted to be a great Jedi Master. Now suddenly, he had given it up in an instant. Then Padme began weeping, realizing that Anakin had done it for her and the babies. She had been thinking about it all night, and somehow he seemed to know.
“I’m just a father now, and that’s all I need.”
“But Anakin, what, what will we do?”
“You always wanted to go back to Naboo, and I think it’s the most beautiful world I’ve seen. A great place to raise our children.”
Padme rushed into Anakin’s arms with utter joy. She had longed to go home since the beginning of the war. She had longed for Anakin to no longer be fighting. She longed to have a normal life with her husband. After all these years, it was finally happening, and she couldn’t have been happier.
“We should get back to the Jedi,” Padme said.
“They aren’t just Jedi Padme, they are friends.”