"I can't believe this. This is too much," she said, starting to hyperventilate. "Why did they choose me?"
"Because you're important to our father."
"I can't let him become that monster. Who turned him into that? Who?" she asked, looking at Leia.
"Palpatine."
"The Chancellor? I must kill him right now." She almost shouted, but they stopped her, explaining why it was impossible.
"I can't return to the Order," Ahsoka said, taking her head in both hands.
"Ahsoka, you must help us. They said that if you came back, you could help. Now I understand why. You must be close to him, prevent the Emperor from corrupting him. I don't want to be inconvenient, but why did you leave?"
"If you're from the future, shouldn't you know?" she asked.
"Obi-Wan and Yoda aren't the best at clarifying things," Luke said, and Ahsoka nodded.
Ahsoka told them the reason for her expulsion, and they both understood why returning was so difficult. They regretted having to force her to make that difficult decision, but it was their only hope.
"Please, Ahsoka," Leia pleaded, taking Ahsoka's hands. She sighed.
"I will. I can't let them corrupt Anakin. I can't let him fall into that fate."
"You'll save many lives if you do," Leia smiled. "I'm sure of it."
"Lives mean a lot to me. When I was a Jedi, defending peace and saving as many lives as I could was my mission, but in these moments, only one life matters to me, and that's my Master's."
Luke and Leia explained everything Obi-Wan and Yoda had told them. Ahsoka believed they should tell Anakin. Everyone believed the same thing, but they decided it would be best not to do so now.
"Is Padme dying?" Ahsoka asked doubtfully. The senator was strong, in excellent health. Something was wrong with all this, and she had to figure out what it was. Padme and Anakin were together at this moment? Or were these two just the result of a one-night stand? She didn't understand anything, and everything was getting more and more confusing, but the twins were telling the truth; incredibly, they were from the future.
"We don't know anything. They just sent us here. I just found out who my father is, just a few minutes ago, and I barely found out. They sent me here," Leia said, being honest. She didn't even know how all this had happened.
"I see Obi-Wan hasn't changed at all," Ahsoka mentioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Will you come back?" Luke asked, just to confirm.
"Of course, I can't abandon Anakin. Even so, I just abandoned him. Do you think he'll accept me back with open arms?" Ahsoka asked, knowing Anakin's character when he felt betrayed.
"He will," Luke said. He didn't even know why he said it. It wasn't as if he knew the man, but even when he was Darth Vader, he felt a light within him. He was sure Anakin would accept Ahsoka back.
"Fine, I'll be back, but you two," he said, pointing at them, "are coming with me."
"What?" they almost shouted. "How are we supposed to do that?"
"I don't know, and I don't care. I won't do this alone. If you want to save your parents and the galaxy, you have to help me. You can't hide. The best way to do it is near them."
"You have a point there," Leia said, while Luke looked at him in disbelief.
"You're both Force-sensitive. I'm sure the vast majority of Jedi are already alerted to your presence. They'll be coming with you soon, and you'd better be friendly, or they'll treat you as enemies."
"How come no one detected the Force signature on Leia?" Luke asked, confused. He'd been wondering about it ever since he found out she was his sister. "She stood face to face with Vader, and he didn't detect the Force on her, which wasn't the case with me."
"Were you ever trained in the Force?"
- No, I lived on Alderaan as a politician.
"Sometimes it's harder to detect the Force in someone who hasn't had any interaction with it," Ahsoka replied, and they nodded.
"Do you think they'll arrest us?" Leia asked; it was the most logical thing to do.
"How good a Jedi are you?" she asked Luke, having an idea.
"I guess I'm good. Master Yoda was my master, but there were no other Jedi during my time. I can't answer that question honestly."
"Fine, you'll introduce yourself as a Jedi and you as his Padawan," he said, pointing at Leia.
"Leia doesn't have a lightsaber," Luke mentioned.
"I haven't used one either. I'm good at fighting, but only with blasters."
"We'll just say you were attacked and lost your weapon," she replied simply.
"I guess that'll work," Luke said with a radiant smile, and Ahsoka smiled wistfully. This was clearly Anakin's son.
"Okay, we're leaving," Ahsoka said nervously, but she looked back and saw that the twins were even more nervous as they walked. She understood what was worrying them.
"Your parents are incredible people. Anakin is usually a little intimidating at first, but in particular, he's a huge idiot," she smiled.
"Are you sure he's not the monster we knew?" Leia asked timidly.
"I understand that you're reluctant to believe it, after the hell you've been through, but I assure you, Anakin is the noblest person I know. Something very serious must have happened, otherwise he would never have become that Darth Vader."
"How will we know when it's time to tell Mom?"
"I suppose that after you meet her, we shouldn't put her on alert when it's not the right time," Ahsoka smiled. "I'll introduce you as soon as I have the chance. You'll meet Anakin first," she said, sensing the twins' nervousness, especially Luke's.
The boy was admirable. He hadn't met his father, only Darth Vader, and yet he seemed nervous about wanting to meet him, even though he hadn't met the Anakin she knew. He would go through hell to save his father. He was a truly noble boy.
"Stay here," she sighed, overly nervous. "I'll be back as soon as I talk to Anakin."
"Will you go back to him?" Leia shouted, taking Luke's arm. "I can't do this, Ahsoka," Leia said, not understanding why she was so nervous. He was Darth Vader. Why was she so nervous about meeting her real father? She didn't have the same excitement as Luke, did she?
"We'll wait here," Luke said, hugging Leia, his heart beating a mile a minute. He would meet his father. He was sure they would make it.
"Okay, I'm going," Ahsoka smiled inwardly, visibly nervous. She hadn't even looked back when she left Anakin. He was probably upset with her, and now a few hours later she had to go back. She had to save him.
Since she was no longer part of the Jedi, getting in would be complicated, but she still remembered those old shortcuts she and Anakin used to take when they were late for council meetings or simply escaping their responsibilities to explore Coruscant.
She knew where he would be, in the gardens, so she quickly entered and saw him there, sitting completely serious. She was doing her best to hide her presence. She didn't want him to see her. She was still nervous. She had no idea what to do, but she was walking directly toward him. He was only a few steps away, and her mind was in chaos, so much so that she stopped hiding her presence in the Force.
Anakin turned around immediately, and Ahsoka looked at him, almost in shock. The man's gaze changed to one of complete seriousness.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, and Ahsoka felt her heart beat rapidly. "How did you get in?" "You abandoned the Jedi Order," he said. He had never been so cold to her. He was upset. Ahsoka was right. He intended to run away, but he remembered Luke and Leia, the future. He couldn't.
She stared at him, and before he could react, she hugged him firmly, preventing him from pushing her away.
"What are you doing?" Anakin asked, confused.
"I'm sorry. You never abandoned me. I didn't mean to abandon you. I'm so sorry, Master," Ahsoka said, hugging him. Then, when he wrapped his arms tightly around her, she realized what would happen if she didn't save him. She would never see her Master again. He would be a monster behind that terrifying mask she saw in the twins' memories. She would lose him. She had to save him.
"Wise girl? Why are you crying?" Anakin asked. His expression had softened, and now he looked at her worriedly. Only then did Ahsoka realize he was crying.
"I'll never abandon you, not again. I know Jedi can't bond, but I don't care. You're the closest thing I have to a father. You're like my older brother," Ahsoka said. "I know it's wrong, but I don't care. You were the only one on my side, you and Padme." She said, knowing the name would provoke some reaction from Anakin, and indeed, she felt him tense. But he immediately smiled, wiping her tears away.
"You don't know how afraid I was of losing you, smartass," Anakin said with a smile.
"Will you take me back as your Padawan?" Ahsoka asked hopefully.
"Of course I will," the man smiled, taking Ahsoka's Padawan braid out of his pocket.
"Thank you very much, Master," Ahsoka said, putting her braid back on.
"Come on, we must inform the Council."
"About that," Ahsoka smiled.
"It's something that must be done," Anakin replied. "They must know. I know you're not happy with them, neither am I, but we must." Do it
"I know, I will, but there are two people I need to introduce you to.
"Two people?"
"A Jedi and his Padawan. I've never seen this Jedi before. They were attacked, and his Padawan's lightsaber was stolen.
"A Jedi we don't know on Coruscant? A Master and his Padawan?" Anakin asked.
"We must help them. They were attacked, and they even lost their ship."
"Where is their ship?" Anakin asked, and Ahsoka felt herself hating him for being so smart.
"At the bottom of the sea," he replied, praying for Anakin not to want to track the damn ship from the bottom of the damn ocean, because no such ship existed, and he was running out of ideas.
"Are you telling me the whole truth, you know-it-all?" Anakin asked.
"Yes," she said nervously, and he raised an eyebrow.
"Trust me," Ahsoka asked, taking his hands. "Please, Master, trust me just this once."
"Okay," Anakin sighed, following her.
Ahsoka could feel the twins' nervousness from a distance. She had specifically asked them to calm down. If she could sense it, she was sure Anakin could sense it even more. Soon the council would be here if they didn't rush to bring them before them first. She didn't know how she would manage to lie so well. She just hoped the twins weren't so naive. Anakin was now walking in front of her; it was obvious he had already sensed her presence, and she just rolled her eyes, mentally praying.
She saw them in the distance, nervously chatting. Even she would arrest them with that childish and suspicious attitude.
"Is that them?" Anakin asked, unable to distinguish them due to the distance. They were wearing rather strange clothes.
"Yep," Ahsoka replied.
"They look quite suspicious, Ahsoka. What have I told you about trusting strangers? Not all of them are good; some will try to trick you.
"Master, trust me. They are good people. We must help them."
"If I see anything suspicious, I'll arrest them and bring them to the council," Anakin warned, and Ahsoka nodded.
"Fair enough," Ahsoka smiled, but Anakin sensed her nervousness. She was hiding something from him, and he would soon find out.
"Luke, Leia," Ahsoka smiled, and the two men looked at her as if they had seen a ghost, but it wasn't her they were looking at; it was the man behind her. That was her father.
To say they were shocked was an understatement. Leia looked between Luke and Anakin. They looked identical. How were they supposed to hide their relationship? Ahsoka glared at them, and they tried to remain calm. Luke took a step forward, mustering all his willpower to calm himself.
"Ahsoka filled me in on your situation," Anakin said, unfazed by the strangers' faces. The woman looked identical to Padme, he thought, impressed, and the man had some features similar to himself. It must just be a coincidence, he thought.
"I told Anakin they were attacked and their ship sank in the ocean," Ahsoka said, and Leia nodded in understanding. "We'll do everything we can to help them," she smiled.
"I," Luke began; that was her father. He was extremely nervous. "I'm Luke. This is Leia, my Padawan," he said, even more nervous when Anakin frowned.
"How old are they?" he asked, and Ahsoka paled. She had forgotten they were twins; they were the same age.
"20 years," Leia said, taking Luke's arm. "They were finished. This was a bad plan. He would expose them."
"How can you be their Padawan then?" Anakin asked. "Will they tell me the truth?" he asked, gently taking Ahsoka and placing her next to the twins so they could face the three of them.
"You see, the truth," Luke began. "What should he say now?"
"I can't believe she's going to do this," Leia thought. She wasn't a damsel in distress, but they couldn't be discovered. She had to save time, she had to give Ahsoka and Luke time. The whole future depended on them.
"Luke," she said in the weakest voice she could muster, "I don't feel well."
Ahsoka understood immediately, loving her for her great wit, "like Padme," she remembered.
"Leia, we'd better go to the medical bay," Ahsoka said, looking at her seemingly worried. Anakin softened his expression, still not quite believing.
Damn, Leia thought.
"Luke, I really feel sorry," she began, and then she fainted, and Luke hadn't caught her because he was so confused.
"Why didn't you hold her?" Anakin asked, worried. The poor girl had really hit herself quite hard.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think she'd faint," said Luke, who barely seemed to understand that it was all an act. "Oh, strength! Leia, are you okay?" he asked, bending down to try to wake her, to which Ahsoka rolled her eyes.
"Let's take her inside," Anakin said, exasperated. He didn't believe their story, but the girl needed medical attention. Seeing that Luke didn't seem to react at all, he bent down and picked her up.
"Come on, Luke," Ahsoka smiled, letting her master walk ahead with Leia.
"Ahsoka, what happened to her?" Luke asked.
"She's faking," he managed to say without Anakin hearing.
"Oh."
"They may have been saved from Anakin for now, but definitely not from the Council. Think fast," Ahsoka said, and Luke nodded.
After walking for a few minutes, Anakin placed Leia on a stretcher while the medical droids attended to her. It didn't go unnoticed how surprised Luke looked at everything.
"Try not to look surprised," Ahsoka said, nudging him with an elbow.
"I'm sorry."
"Anakin? What happened?" Obi-Wan asked, entering and staring strangely at the two men in the medical wing.
"Ahsoka found these two. They say they're Jedi and that they were attacked," Anakin said. "By the way, Ahsoka's back."
"Ahsoka? I'm so glad you're back," Obi-Wan said with a smile, and she smiled shyly. "Why do I notice hesitation in your words?" Is what these kids are saying true?
"That's what I was trying to find out," Anakin smiled, "but the girl fainted."
At the mention of that, Leia began to pretend to wake up.
"What happened?" she asked, and Ahsoka rolled her eyes; she was good at pretending.
"You were telling us the truth when you fainted," Anakin said.
"Oh, that," Leia said nervously, hoping Luke would have some idea.
"Why don't we all go and discuss it with the council?" Obi-Wan asked, and Leia sighed.
"That's an excellent idea," Ahsoka smiled, and Anakin looked at her apprehensively.
"I don't like being lied to, Wise Woman," Anakin said, and she smiled at him.
Everyone was gathered in the council, and they welcomed Ahsoka back.
"Who are these two Skywalkers?" Mace Windu asked.
"They're a Jedi and his Padawan that Ahsoka encountered on Coruscant. They were attacked and had some trouble with their ship," Anakin explained. "That's what they mentioned to Ahsoka."
"They're not from this time, are they?" Master Yoda said, and the room fell completely silent. Ahsoka looked resignedly at the twins, and Anakin, in shock, looked apprehensively at Ahsoka.
"What is Yoda saying, Wise Man?" Anakin asked, and Ahsoka smiled nervously.
"No," Luke sighed, defeated. They had ruined their only chance to save their parents and the entire galaxy.
"Master Yoda, what are you saying?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Younglings of this time are not," Yoda clarified. "From the future, their motives are unknown."
"You and Master Obi-Wan Kenobi sent us," Leia said, and Obi-Wan almost jumped out of his chair.
"Me?"
"Are you Obi-Wan?" Luke asked, surprised.
"How can you not recognize me if I supposedly sent you?" Obi-Wan asked defensively, and Anakin waited for the answer, intrigued.
"You look a little different; you only retain some features."
"What is your mission here, then?" Anakin asked once everyone had finally accepted the idea of time travel.
"I can't say," Luke said.
"If it's important not to say it, then you shouldn't say it," Yoda smiled, and the twins looked at him, eternally grateful.
"But Master Yoda," Mace Windu said, but finally, everyone accepted the order of the wisest of all Jedi.
"What are your names?" Shaak Ti asked.
"Luke and Leia."
"And your last names?" Mace Windu asked.
"I'm Luke," Luke began, unconsciously saying what he was saying until a subtle stomp from Leia made him realize. He had always spoken his last name so proudly that he almost forgot it wouldn't be a good idea here. "Starkiller."
"Will we trust them, Master Yoda?" Kit Fisto asked.
"In difficult times we find ourselves. If they wish to help us, they will have our support."
"How do we know their intentions are good?" Shaak Ti asked.
"We made a mistake by not trusting little Ahsoka," Obi-Wan said. "We won't make that mistake twice, Anakin. Do you sense malice in them?" he asked. His former apprentice had always been better at understanding people than he was; it was a natural talent.
"No," Anakin said sincerely.
"Nor will we," the rest of the council said.
"Who will take care of us?" "Them?" Master Yoda asked. Everyone was tempted to tell him to do it since he knew they were from the future and might discover something else, but seeing Yoda staring at her, Ahsoka spoke up.
"We will," she smiled at Anakin. This was the perfect opportunity to carry out the twins' plan.
"What?" Anakin asked, and Obi-Wan tried not to burst out laughing.
"Nothing more to say then. Skywalker will take care of it," Mace Windu said. Anakin could swear the man enjoyed his discomfort, but if Ahsoka wanted him, it was the least he could do for her after what she had been through.
"You win, smart-aleck," Anakin smiled.
When they left the council chamber, Luke and Leia looked at them timidly.
"We'll show you your rooms," Anakin said. Luckily, there are two near us.
"Thank you very much," Leia smiled, and Anakin had a strange feeling about that girl again; she looked too much like Padme.
Anakin showed them to their rooms and left them alone for a moment while he took a call on his communicator.
"You really are saved," Ahsoka said, throwing herself onto the bed that would be Leia's.
"I can hardly believe we made it," Leia said, throwing herself down beside him.
"He's so different," Luke said, still in shock, staring at his mechanical hand. That man looked nothing like Darth Vader. How could it be him?
"I told you," Ahsoka said, pointing at him.
"Do you think we'll make it, Ahsoka?" Leia asked.
"We will," the girl smiled, only to realize Anakin had returned.
"Good. Who's going to start telling me what the future looks like?" he asked, intrigued. There were so many things he wanted to know.
They decided to tell him a few things; they left out the Empire, they left out Darth Vader, of course, and they left out his heritage altogether.
- We'll be staying here for a week, smartass, they've given us a week off to let these two get used to each other- Anakin smiled and Ahsoka smiled happily, nothing could be better
"That's excellent news, Master," he smiled, and the twins looked at each other hopefully. They would try to spend as much time as possible with their father.
"Good night," Anakin said, leaving the room.
"Good night, Master," Ahsoka said, looking at the twins.
"Good night," they said, "Father," they whispered, just so Ahsoka could hear them.
The troguta smiled excitedly. She would help them, she had to.