Tresses of milk chocolate curls weaved through Dormé's fingertips as she fought with Padmé's hair, her tongue stuck out in concentration as she arranged each strand in the most intricate of Nabooian hairstyles. Threepio was fussing behind her, arranging things in the room and muttering distressingly. Momentarily distracted, the loyal handmaiden yanked harder than she had intended to on the hair she was holding, the Senator jerking with a small wince of pain.

"Apologies, my lady," Dormé amended with a wince of her own, looking up at the mirror to see Padmé only smiling.

"It's of no consequence, Dormé." Placated, Dormé returned to her work, humming a soft tune from their shared home planet to ease the tension in the room. It had been over an hour since Anakin and Luke had left, and the house had been awfully quiet outside of Threepio. The handmaiden watched curiously as Padmé rubbed her stomach absentmindedly, the beginnings of a bulge beginning to show through her skirts. Ever since the Senator had confided in her handmaidens about her pregnancy, Dormé had found an even deeper bond forming between her and Padmé.

She was the kindest woman she had ever had the honor of serving, and most of Naboo would agree that she was the best queen they had ever had. Nothing was more humbling than being by her side. She was far kinder than a politician normally would be. When Dormé had been younger, she used to think that it was all just a ploy, a tactic to get people to trust their new and very young queen, but over time she had learned that Padmé was truly selfless and warm-hearted. And Dormé got to be one of her closest friends through it all.

Smiling to herself, the Nabooian girl finished up her work and took a step back, allowing Padmé to admire it. She grinned brightly, turning to her friend with crinkled eyes. "Thank you. It's beautiful as always." The Senator stepped forward to embrace Dormé in a hug, the woman returning the affection without a moment's hesitation. When they broke, Dormé admired Padmé with awe.

"Not as beautiful as you, my lady," she cooed with a shy glance.

Padmé snorted, unbecoming of a noble such as herself. And yet, that was Padmé.

"What have I told you about flattery?" she teased, hiking up her skirts and heading back out to the main room, Dormé and Threepio filtering out behind her.

"That it works," Dormé said with a small smirk.

Padmé shook her head, amused by the antics of her friend. "Well we still have a while until Captain Typho comes to escort me. I should be fine until then. You're free to take the rest of the day."

Dormé bowed shortly. "Of course. Thank you ma'am. And have a good meeting."

"That's what I'm hoping for."

The two women nodded at each other once more before Dormé strode off to her speeder, waving to Padmé as she rode off into the traffic. Threepio waddled up to the Senator while she waved back, still radiating stress.

"Mistress Padmé, are you absolutely sure there's nothing else you need for the meeting?"

Padmé sighed, always boggling on what Anakin had done to the poor droid when he first created him that caused him so much constant anxiety. "Everything's fine, Threepio. I have done this before you know."

Threepio nodded minutely, his metallic fingers still clenching. "Y-yes, I know."

The hum of an incoming engine caught their attention, both of them turning to look out where Dormé had just flown off from. A familiar speeder landed gracefully onto the landing pad, the thrumming sound dying as the driver turned everything off. Anakin and Luke stepped out, the former catching Padmé's eye and smiling sheepishly.

"How was training?" Padmé inquired, stepping forward to embrace her husband lightly, only to pull back with a small cringe at the stench of sweat wafting from his robes.

Anakin snuggled her close anyways, snickering at his wife's groan. "It went well. Luke's a natural."

"I wouldn't say that." Luke blushed humbly.

"Well I'm just glad you had a good time." Padmé pulled out of Anakin's embrace and adjusted her dress with a sigh. "I was going to eat before I left for my meeting. Care to join me?"

Both men nodded with starving gazes, their training having drained everything out of them. Padmé shook her head warmly before nodding towards Threepio, the droid scampering over to the kitchen to grab the tray of sandwiches Dormé had brought earlier that morning.

The trio made themselves comfortable as Threepio brought the food over, thanking him accordingly. Still feeling like an intruder, Luke let Padmé and Anakin serve themselves first, the couple oblivious to Luke's hesitation. A few clicks of silence passed before Padmé looked up at Anakin with a raised eyebrow, the two of them sharing a conversation with only their eyes. Luke looked back and forth between the both of them, his throat tightening with nerves as he tried to determine what they were thinking about. Surely they were contemplating how long they planned to keep Luke as a guest, especially since his episode the previous night.

Anakin suddenly shook his head firmly, gripping his sandwich tight enough that the bread began to crumble. Padmé simply narrowed her gaze, coughing forcefully and threateningly. After a sigh, Anakin finally set his sandwich down and turned to Luke, confliction in his eyes. Luke set his own food down, wringing his hands in a napkin and waiting for the inevitable words.

"Luke."

Luke blinked, running through his thoughts frantically. "Yes?"

"Can we...uh...talk?" Anakin looked as uncomfortable as Luke felt, clearing his throat several times as if it would somehow make the words come easier.

"A-about?"

"Your nightmare." A glare from Padmé. "Sorry. Our nightmares."

"Oh." Luke looked between his parents, forgetting that he hadn't really explained what had troubled him enough to go into a near seizure the night before. It seemed like the question blossomed from suspicion, but as he looked closer, he realized the two were just concerned about him. "Well, there's not much to say really. It was very vague."

"We think you and Anakin having a nightmare at the same time might be connected." Padmé smiled at him gently, reaching out to grab his hand across the table. "But of course you aren't obligated to tell us anything. I only wanted Anakin to have someone to discuss his anxieties with. Someone who understands what he's going through."

Still staring, dumbfounded, Luke began to shift in his seat, his mother's hand on his the only thing keeping him sane. "Well if you think it will help make sense of the dreams..." Luke trailed off, knowing he couldn't bring up too many specifics about his vision. Saying he saw the Chancellor as a genocidal Sith Lord was bound to not sit well after all. But he had to know if the dreams between him and his father were interconnected, perhaps a sign from the Force directing him a certain way. So he went with the more broader version of the truth, something he was getting unnervingly good at. "It was about my father."

There was a pause as Padmé squeezed his hand tighter.

"We figured," Anakin prodded cautiously, able to point out a sore subject when he saw one. "You were calling out for him, remember?"

Luke nodded softly, forgetting how he had almost let that slip. He started to chew at his lip, his foot bouncing restlessly. "He died not too long ago, so it's still fresh. Ever since I've shown up here it's been hitting me more forcefully than I'm used to. I haven't had one that bad since I lost my aunt and uncle."

It was the first time Luke seemed to be truly pouring his heart out, tears brimming at the ends of his lashes. Anakin suddenly felt guilty for prying. He knew what deep loss could do to someone's soul. Understanding flowed out of him and he thrust it towards Luke's Force presence, the man's shoulders relaxing as he did so.

Luke sniffled, reaching up with his free hand to wipe away his tears. "My father wasn't around when I was a child, so losing him so soon after just meeting him hurt. My mother died before I knew her, so my twin sister and I ended up separated at birth. We didn't know each other existed until recently. She's the only family I have left." Luke took a shaky breath, trying to imagine Leia standing confidently behind him. "So my nightmare was about losing my father all over again. Holding him in my arms. I felt...helpless."

Anakin lowered his head with a sigh. When Luke talked about losing his father recently, he hadn't taken the time to realize just how recent. For such a soul-ripping loss, the boy was hiding his true emotions miraculously well. It was a wonder he didn't realize he was a Jedi sooner. He scooted his chair closer and wrapped a comforting arm around Luke's shoulders, the muscles clenching with each hiked breath. "I'm sorry. But know that it wasn't your fault. Your father was lucky to have you even for that short amount of time."

Luke just nodded, tears threatening to bubble up more at his father's kindness. Him nor Padmé had no way of knowing that Luke was talking about the two of them, but it still felt good to let the truth out, to be honest with the parents he had never got to have.

Padmé was still holding his hand, her thumb running up and down the back of it. She took a moment to look around before turning back to Luke with a gentle expression. "This sister of yours, won't she be worried about you? You're welcome to continue staying here of course, but would you like to contact her? Let her know you're alright? I have off planet frequencies if you need."

Luke froze, having momentarily forgotten that he was in the past where neither he nor Leia had been born yet. He had gotten so caught up in his thoughts that it had just slipped. Kriff.

"Uh, no, it's fine. I've already been in contact with her to let her know what's happened. Besides, she probably wouldn't even answer at this point, she's very busy." When Padmé frowned at him, his mouth blurted, "She's a Senator."

"Oh," Padmé said with raised eyebrows, genuinely surprised. "I've never heard of a Senator Starkiller before, what planet does she represent?"

Kriff, kriff, kriff.

"None." Luke winced, feeling Anakin's Force presence grow more confused, not dissimilar to how it had felt when he had accused him of being a Separatist spy. "She, uh, just works as an assistant. She's working her way up though; she loves politics. You remind me of her actually."

Padmé still looked perplexed but she nodded anyways, a thoughtful smile on her face. "Well as long as she knows about what's happened. I'm sure she couldn't have missed it with the holonetwork covering every second of Anakin's movements."

Anakin groaned at that, finally pulling away from Luke with a lasting pat on his shoulder. Padmé's eyes crinkled in amusement as she continued speaking, "Hopefully when everything calms down we can meet this sister of yours. She sounds lovely."

Luke chuckled nervously, fighting desperately to keep his voice steady as he met his mother's kind brown eyes. "Yeah, I'm sure I can arrange that."

Padmé suddenly clapped her hands, an idea sparking in her mind. "Oh, I could even set her up with Bail. He's always looking to teach others about politics, especially now. A protégée is just what he needs. What did you say her name was again?"

"Leia..." Luke swallowed miserably.

Padmé made a mental note, heedless to the young man's distress. "Leia Starkiller. I'll try to remember to tell Bail."

"Bail Organa?" Luke squeaked, clearing his throat to cover up the crack in his voice.

"Yes. You've heard of him?"

Luke nodded, his temples starting to pound. "You could say Leia's a fan of his work." Of course, of all the Senators Padmé would talk to it would be Leia's adopted father. He only hoped he wasn't already making mistakes he was unable to amend. Every step, every breath, every word out of his mouth was becoming history, affecting his future as he sat there with his parents while consecutively sharing the womb with his twin. The Force was already mind-boggling enough. Luke could practically hear Han groaning over the thought of 'time travel' and its impossibilities.

"So there's no one else you need to contact? I know you're an adult, but I'm sure any friends you have would worry if you went missing," said Anakin, moving to clear the plates. Luke still felt like he was treading in dangerous territory, but he knew exactly what his father was getting at. He could see the cheeky grin starting to slip through no matter how much Anakin tried to conceal it.

"No, I've already contacted everyone who would worry about me being gone," Luke said, noting how his parents never questioned when he had found the time to make his nonexistent comm calls. The trust level they put in him was baffling, especially because of the war they were in. He could only assume it was an involuntary reaction centered around the Force nudging them into trusting him. They didn't know that Luke was their son, but in a way...they did know.

"Oh. Okay," said Anakin, tapping his prosthetic fingers against the table in the sudden quiet. Padmé shook her head in mild amusement, taking the plates from Anakin as he continued to stand without any incentive to bring them to the wash, his attention elsewhere. Luke barely noticed as his father leaned forward, raising an eyebrow. "Was one of them named Han perhaps?"

Luke sighed, chuckling lightly. He never expected to have this conversation with his parents. After all, he was a grown man who could make his own decisions without a guardian breathing down his neck and asking questions about his love life. He had already had enough of that with his Uncle Owen. "So you remember what I said this morning."

"Kinda hard to forget when you were cuddling me like a Loth-cat," Anakin said with a laugh. Padmé returned from placing the dishes in the sink, hands on her hips.

"We've asked him enough personal questions, Ani."

"But—"

Luke put up a hand. "No, it's alright." He turned to his father. "Yes, Han's my boyfriend."

A sudden fist hit the table, loud enough to rattle a vase of flowers in the center and startle a shout out of Threepio from across the room. Anakin was grinning in triumph like he had just been awarded a prize. "I knew it."

Luke ducked his head as his cheeks flushed pink.

To his surprise, Anakin put his hand back on his shoulder as he had before, his eyes softening. "You miss him?"

The crushing realization of how far away he was from the dysfunctional family that he had made out of the Rebellion hit him like a slap in the face. "So much."

Luke let his mind wander, knowing that unlike Leia and him, Han was very much alive in this time period, albeit a lot younger. A carefree smile appeared on his face as he thought of a ten-year old Han Solo, still a Corellian street rat under the care of a bounty hunter named Garris Shrike. Han had told him about his childhood on a few occasions— vulnerable occasions. Or when he was drunk, to loosely translate. It consisted of tragedy, as most of the members of the Rebellion's stories did, but in the end it still made Han who he was. He was orphaned as a young child with no memory of his parents and had been taken in by Shrike, who taught him to pickpocket and steal in the streets. Then, he had met a Wookiee named Dewlanna who worked for Shrike's crew as a cook,who Han considered his real mother. By the time he was nineteen, Dewlanna had sacrificed herself to help Han escape Shrike and his crew, and he eventually drafted into the Imperial Academy to be a pilot, where he later met Chewbacca. After saving Chewie from a superior officer who tried to kill the Wookiee, Han was promptly kicked out of the navy and went on to become the smuggler he was when Luke had met him, Chewie still by his side in natural Wookiee life-debt fashion. Once he had met, dated, and broke up with Lando, and then started working for Jabba, it was pretty much history from there. Luke wondered now how much of that story would change if he actually succeeded in saving his father.

Would he ever even meet Han if he had never grown up on Tatooine?

The thought of Han not knowing who he was made his gut churn with sudden nausea, but he wasn't able to dwell on it long, as a sudden, repetitive beeping interrupted his train of thought. Blue light was flashing at Anakin's belt, catching his attention as well. He looked up at Padmé, who raised her eyebrows at him in insistence. Unclasping the device from his belt, Anakin brought it up to sit on the table, his finger holding against the answer button as the miniature blue hologram form of Obi-Wan Kenobi appeared fuzzily before them. The man looked annoyed as he came into view, his hands crossed in an impatient manner as he stared down his former student.

"Are you ever planning on attending your required briefings, Anakin?" Obi-Wan sighed in exasperation. "How you keep you status as a General is beyond me."

An indistinct Huttese curse spilled from Anakin's lips, his eyes squeezing shut in shame. "I'm sorry, I was held up. I have no excuse."

Obi-Wan pinched the bridge of his nose before nodding in understanding. "I realize you're a bit distracted as of late, but I still need you to be where you're needed. You missed the report on the Outer Rim sieges."

Anakin nodded, biting his lip and looking over the hologram to meet Padmé's reassuring glance. "Any updates?"

"Only that they're going well. Salecumi has fallen and Master Vos has moved his troops to Boz Pity. And—" There was a momentary flash of hesitation in Obi-Wan's eyes, an uncommon gesture that could only mean that he was trying to keep something from Anakin. Luke frowned, knowing Obi-Wan couldn't see him from the limited perspective of the holo and taking the chance to lean forward, studying any emotions he could detect spilling onto his blurry face. Everything he had learned from him and Yoda kept him aware to the fact that Jedi were good at concealing their true emotions. To be able to catch one of them in the midst of a broken facade was always an opportunity one should take in order to see what their thoughts truly were.

It was evident that Anakin caught the reluctance as well, his brow furrowing and his prosthetic hand curling by his side. "Is something wrong?" he prodded, his tone dripping with skepticism.

Seconds passed before Obi-Wan finally put his impassive mask back on and met Anakin's eyes firmly and confidently. "The Senate is expected to vote more executive powers to the Chancellor today."

Anakin blinked before looking back over at Padmé, the Senator suddenly shifting in her seat. He peered at her inquisitively. ' You knew about this? ' his eyes asked, the pair having been together so long that they could read each other fluently. Padmé sighed, running a hand over her head before nodding.

"My meeting," she mouthed back.

Luke looked between the two of them cautiously, thinking hard on his knowledge of the Clone Wars timeline. Palpatine had stayed as the Chancellor for so long due to the war he had orchestrated, scaring the Senators enough to force them into taking emergency routes keeping him in power throughout the duration of the conflict. It was an ingenious, manipulative move, and Luke had no idea where to begin on how to topple a man with so many hands in the game already. Palpatine was no fool. He had had all of this planned down to the end.

Everything except Luke that is.

"Well," Anakin cut back in, ignoring Obi-Wan's curious look at his continuous glances to the side, "That can only mean less deliberating and more action. It'll make it easier for us to end this war once and for all."

It was a radical political opinion, but not one that was uncommon amongst the Republican Senate. After having getting to know his father, Luke had forgotten that his loyalty had always lied with the Chancellor. Even when he was Vader, he had firmly believed in the structure of the Empire over the Old Republic. Disapproval from his mother, however, circulated around the room, clouding his Force presence as she frustratedly tapped her fingers against the table. It was obvious this wouldn't be the first time the two of them had disagreed over politics.

"I'm not here to argue politics with you, Anakin, that's not a Jedi's place. I just needed to let you know so you can be up to speed in the next briefing." Obi-Wan sighed. "And I am fully aware of your friendship with the Chancellor, so I just wanted to encourage you to be...cautious."

"Cautious of what?"

"The man has been in power far extended past his term—"

"Something the Senate voted for."

"Just know that he is a politician, he does not have your best interests at heart—"

"Obi-Wan, what is this really about?" Anakin snapped, his infamous short temper flaring with a flash of his eyes. The consistent shift between Anakin's moods unnerved Luke to no end, but he remained quiet, knowing Padmé's own exasperation was echoing behind him.

Obi-Wan only shook his head, more than used to Anakin and his bursts of irritation. "The Chancellor has requested Mr. Starkiller's and your presence in his chambers as soon as you're available."

Only Padmé caught Luke's sudden jerk of alarm, his blue eyes blown wide in disbelief. What could the Chancellor possibly want to speak to him about? The man barely knew him! Surely he didn't suspect anything, Luke had made sure of it.

The previous concern Padmé had emitted before returned, her intuitive glance drinking up the drain of color in Luke's face. Normally she would write it off as nerves, but it was no doubt fear that locked his muscles up like that. By this point, she almost expected the young man to react strangely to things, but to suddenly clam up with a terrified gaze at the mere mention of the Chancellor?

"What for?" Anakin said, looking up once more to finally see the tension in Luke's shoulders. He frowned in confusion but got no further reaction from the other man.

The hologram of Obi-Wan shrugged helplessly. "He wouldn't say."

"He wouldn't tell the Council? That's unusual."

"All of this is unusual, which is why I feel uneasy about it. I'm only worried for you. I'm sure you know of the strained relations between the Council and the Chancellor."

"I know that the Council has grown wary of the Chancellor's powers. Just as they have mine."

"Anakin—"

"Aren't we all working together to save the Republic?" Anakin plowed through as if the man hadn't spoken. "Why all this distrust?"

Luke watched Obi-Wan's eyes grow dark, eerily reminded of the lost thousand-mile gaze he had looked into when Ben had first reminisced about the past with him that fateful day on Tatooine. The Jedi had been mistrustful of Palpatine, something Luke had never known. In fact, it seemed that the only Jedi that seemed to blindly follow Palpatine was Anakin. Breaking that formed trust was not going to be easy. Sidious was masterfully cunning and had gained Anakin's trust on purpose. The only way Luke could see to stop it was to unravel it from the inside.

"The Force grows dark, Anakin. We are all affected by it. Please, be wary of your feelings." The stress lines were growing more and more evident under Obi-Wan's eyes, a few silver hairs sticking out from the ginger scruff on his head and his face. "I will speak to you more later. Don't forget to bring Luke with you."

"I will," Anakin muttered, a stiffness lingering in his voice. "Goodbye, Master."

The hologram inverted in on itself, ending the call.

There was a faint clink of metal as Anakin hooked his commlink back to his belt, his expression blank. Padmé slid out from her seat, gesturing for Threepio, who instantly came scrambling across the room, his metallic feet clambering against the floor as he moved. "Yes, Mistress Padmé?"

"Contact Captain Typho and tell him I'm ready to leave. I've no doubt he'll be here in a few moments."

Threepio nodded obediently, skirting over towards the main commlink in the living room and following the orders given to him. Padmé took a deep breath and brushed down her skirts, the folds bending underneath her touch. She met her husband's eyes defiantly before turning to Luke. "I'm sure the Chancellor just wants to extend his gratefulness for his rescue in person. There's no need to be nervous."

Blushing at how well his mother could read him, Luke nodded mutely, appreciative of her reassurance despite the aching feeling in his gut that she was wrong.

"You will tell me about your meeting, yes?" Anakin asked.

Threepio returned then, calling to Padmé about Captain Typho's response of being outside. Padmé looked over her shoulder at the droid with a nod, her brown curls flying as she whirled back to face Anakin. "What I can. I can't promise." She strode towards him, raising her chin to reach his cheek as she pressed a gentle kiss against it. Her hand caressed through his hair before she stepped away, her eyes crinkled with love and concern. "Obi-Wan's not wrong, either."

Anakin stared down at her, wanting to be annoyed yet unable to be. She had been doing politics for much longer than him, and he trusted her judgement. He knew she would never do anything unless it was important. So, with a resigned sigh, he smiled at her. "I'm sure it's like you said, the Chancellor simply wants to thank us in person." He watched as she studied him intently, brown eyes firm. "But I will go in with caution if you think it's what's best."

Padmé brightened. "Thank you."

With one last squeeze of his hand, Padmé stepped back and out towards the landing bay on the balcony of her apartment, waving at Luke as she went. Once the fading sound of a humming engine disappeared into the distance, Anakin turned back to Luke, the young man decidedly quiet as he sat and drew absent-minded designs on the table with his fingers.

"You alright?" Anakin asked, watching curiously.

"Fine," Luke said, projecting forced confidence into his voice. "Just thinking."

Even after opening up, Anakin still felt that there was so much he didn't know about Luke. Every time he felt as if he was finally breaking through his shell, something new arose and he clammed right back up. With an unsure sigh, Anakin gathered up his robe from the back of the chair he had draped it over.

"Well, are you up to a quick visit to the Chancellor?"

Luke's hand stilled on the table, his shoulder rising in a deep breath before he glanced up with a distressed look. "I guess I have no choice."

All Luke could focus on was how nervous he had been during his first interaction with Palpatine. Mentally, he knew he wasn't prepared to face the man again, not so soon. The thought of the Force watching over him and pushing him forward was the only thing that put his mind at ease.

Anakin cleared his throat. "Then, uh, we don't want to keep him waiting."

"Of course not." Luke scooted back in his chair, the legs of it scraping loudly against the floor. Anakin winced at the sound, yet saw no reaction on Luke's part. The other Jedi grabbed his things and moved to stand beside Anakin, his discomfort overwhelming the aura surrounding him. Not sure what else to say, Anakin walked towards his speeder, Luke trailing behind him just as quietly.

◂◂◂

Sidious stared down the young woman with a burning, golden gaze, his patience wearing down as she struggled to explain herself.

"I can't explain it, but I swear it's true. I ran the test five separate times, each with the same result," Kirei rushed out, eyes frantic.

The wrinkles on Sidious' face moved as his frown deepened. He had had his suspicions about Starkiller, but this was beyond the realm of what he had been expecting. The only reasonable way the information could be true was through something he had thought a lost myth amongst both the Sith and the Jedi. The legend that the Force, when prompted, could send a physical being through time.

"If I find you are lying to me..." The threat was unspoken, but Kirei blanched all the same. She clasped her quivering hands together and bowed her head.

"You have my word, sire. This is the exact information I received."

The Sith Lord remained silent for an excruciating long moment before nodding slowly. "Very well. That will be all, apprentice."

He barely glanced at her sudden relieved look before he ended the call, her mouth frozen halfway open in what was most likely another pitiful cry of gratefulness to the Sith. The standard blue of the hologram faded from the room, leaving him in silence. His fingers tapped idly on his desk as he thought through his most recent dilemma. Dousing himself in the Force, he allowed himself to recall all the recent memories he had of the strange young man. It was no doubt he resembled Skywalker, and to have him be Amidala's child was no surprise either given the closeness between the Jedi and the Senator. But Sidious was more focused on how the boy even existed . Time travel was something he had strove for when experimenting with the darker aspects of the Force, but he had never been successful. However this boy had achieved it, he needed to know. And more importantly, he wanted to know why he had come to this specific past.

Two presences flared in his mind and he opened his eyes, staring at the door to his office seconds before the comm on his desk buzzed as expected. He put on his Senatorial smile and pulled open the hologram to face one of his personal guards. "There's a Skywalker and Starkiller here to see you, sir. They say you requested them."

Sidious smirked lightly, easily making it come off as a grandfatherly smile. "Ah, yes, the Jedi. Let them in."

The doors to his lavish office slid open moments later, Anakin striding in with confidence and a trusting smile. "Good afternoon, Chancellor," he said, lowering his head in respect. Palpatine stood from his desk, smiling warmly.

"Ah, Master Skywalker. It's always a pleasure, my boy." As he made his way across the room, he finally caught visual of a timid Luke trailing behind him, the young man deliberately avoiding eye contact.

For Luke, he felt nothing but nausea, the back of his neck beading with perspiration. He was baffled that his father couldn't feel the overwhelming darkness surrounding Sidious, the feel of it enough to choke the air from his lungs. It was a feeling all too familiar and much too soon of a reminder of fighting Vader on the Second Death Star, the fear for his friends breaking through his focus and allowing the inky tendrils of the Sith to invade his every thought, driving him towards his father and propelling his arm back for a fatal blow—

"Luke?"

Luke jerked up in alarm, eyes blown wide. Anakin and Palpatine stared down at him, Anakin in confusion and Palpatine with well-veiled skepticism and a faux concern.

"Y-yes, right. My apologies, I was lost in thought." He needed to breathe . And maybe veil his anxious thoughts more. Palpatine didn't know anything about him; he was safe. He just needed to collect as much information about the man that he could so that he could convince the Jedi of his true identity. It helped that they were already beginning to distrust his politics, so it just left Anakin who needed convincing on Palpatine's double-identity. Luke had spent enough time around his father now to know that everything Vader was, was direct influence from Sidious and his twisted ways.

Taking a deep breath, he looked up to meet the Chancellor's eyes, confidence wavering when he felt a negative shift in the Force. He checked his shields for the umpteenth time only to find them as firm as ever. The old man thrusted a hand towards him in an attempt at a handshake. Luke took it slowly, actively fighting a wince at the large, wrinkled hand gripping tight on his prosthetic. "We have not been properly introduced, I'm afraid. I see the Jedi have taken you under their wing instead of putting you in custody."

Luke paused, trying to find intention behind those cold eyes, but he couldn't delve too deep without giving himself away. If Palpatine suspected him of invading his mind, the man would view him with even more suspicion. However, the words threw him off guard, not realizing that the last time he had seen the politician, he had still been an unknown man who had appeared out of nowhere claiming to be a Jedi.

"Well of course, Your Excellency, he did aid in rescuing you, after all," Anakin said with a carefree smile, unconcerned in the slightest. Luke fought the urge to frown at him. He had told Padmé that he would talk to the man with caution. The trust he had in Palpatine was strong, a bond formed over years and not easy to shatter. Meanwhile, Luke—from an outside point of view—had barely known Anakin for a few days. So who was he bound to listen to more—a trusted mentor figure or a complete stranger whose sanity he wasn't completely confident in? He swallowed as his father continued to speak. "He's been staying with me as well, training with me to build up his abilities until he returns back to his family. But he's no Separatist."

Palpatine nodded, still scanning Luke up and down. "Well I do thank you for the heroic rescue. I am indebted to you, Master Skywalker, and Master Kenobi." Luke continued to stare in silence as Anakin humbly ducked his head.

"Well it's what we do, Chancellor. But we appreciate your thanks."

Skywalker .

Luke visibly flinched. Palpatine was staring directly into his soul, the darkness surrounding him having rapidly grown stronger in just seconds. The blood drained from his face and panic made his heart stutter in his chest.

He can't know, he can't, it's not possible, he can't—

Clasping his hands together and letting a sadistic satisfaction overcome him at the horror on the young man's face, Palpatine turned to Anakin with a soft, fool-proof smile. "Well no matter your modesty, I'm afraid my gratefulness is not the only reason I called you here."

"I assumed from Master Kenobi's call. It must've been important if you didn't inform him what it was about."

"Yes, indeed," said Palpatine slowly, directing Anakin over towards his desk and watching Luke numbly follow from his peripheral. From the way the boy was reacting, he knew that the information his spy had given him was accurate. Sheer power pulsed from his entire Force presence, just as strong as Anakin's, if not stronger, and he felt his hands tighten. He could have the Chosen One and his spawn, the combined presence of them both enough to send a weaker Force-sensitive into a dead faint. The Dark Lord felt his eyes continue to track towards the time traveller, his eyes crazed and starved for his abilities. He sent another mental nudge.

That is your true name, is it not? Do not try to deny it. You know of my true identity.

Blue eyes dilated as they stared at him in full blown terror. Whatever the future was like for the young Jedi, he had definitely come into contact with Sidious before, a thought that intrigued the Sith. He could tell that the young man did not want to admit that he had been found out, but it was only a matter of time before Palpatine lost his patience and ripped apart the shields around his mind.

Anakin watched as the Chancellor sat back down at his desk, only vaguely noticing Luke beside him. "So what did you need from us?" he inquired, holding his hands before him in a standard military stance that had become second nature.

Palpatine linked his hands on top of his desk and held a firm look as he maintained two conversations at once. "This afternoon the Senate is going to call on me to take direct control of the Jedi Council." Luke stuck close to his father like a magnet, not paying much attention to the words around him as his hands inched near his saber.

How much do you know? The words were cautious, yet still risky, and Luke regretted it almost as soon as he sent it. He held his shields firm, desperate to protect his memories from the invading probe of the Sith Lord before him, but also making sure that Anakin couldn't listen in.

I think we both know more about each other than we let on. What I want to know is why you are here. Palpatine's face remained neutral despite the wicked, underlying threat in the tone of his mental voice.

"The Jedi will no longer report to the Senate?" asked Anakin.

"No, they will report to me personally. The Senate is too unfocused to fight a war. This will bring a quick end to things," Palpatine said, tightening his icy grip on Luke's mind as he did so. The young man shivered, but remained quiet, determined not to let Anakin notice a thing. It was too early for Anakin to know anything yet. Sidious knowing who he really was could lead to him finding out his intentions and turning his father against him. He couldn't fail; he had to be clever. Closing his eyes for a brief moment, he thought of his friends—his family— deep in the depths of his thoughts, somewhere the Sith couldn't reach. He took a deep breath.

I'm only here for my father.

Palpatine's eyes narrowed, a sight that Anakin only saw as annoyance and frustration with the continuation of the war. He still took no notice of Luke, mainly focused on his conversations with Padmé and Obi-Wan about taking Palpatine's words with a grain of salt. Clearing his throat and shifting back and forth on his feet, he met the Chancellor's eyes firmly. "I agree with you completely, sir. However," he sighed, "the Jedi Council might not see it the same way."

Palpatine nodded in understanding. "Well, there are times when we must all endure adjustments to the constitution in the name of security."

Anakin thought back again on his wife and the meeting she was currently having with other Senators. He momentarily turned towards Luke and frowned at the young man's far away gaze. He knew he had been nervous about talking to the Chancellor, but if Anakin didn't know any better, he would say he looked petrified. Deciding to comment on it when they were alone, Anakin turned back to the Chancellor, only momentarily catching the man's eyes following his movements curiously. "Yes, well, with all due respect sir, the Council is in no mood for more constitutional amendments." He could read no reaction in the older man's face, only a common politician's mask of indifference as he tapped his knobby fingers over his desk.

Do not play games with me boy. You are from the future. You're hiding something. There was a nauseating pause in his mind where Luke felt as if his very soul was being sucked out, leaving him a husk. You're trying to stop my plan.

Luke's chest began to clench, stealing his breath away as he tried desperately not to outwardly show his emotions. He had already caught Anakin looking over at him in confusion in his peripheral, which meant he would have questions later .

"Thank you, my friend," Palpatine said, startling Luke before he realized he was still speaking to Anakin. "but in this case I have no choice." The piercing eyes, which were unnerving enough even without their normally golden hue, turned towards Luke, the man able to feel the hunger over the power radiating from him. "This war must be won."

Anakin nodded in understanding, releasing a long sigh. "Everyone will agree on that."

How did you get here?

Luke swallowed at the pinch that came with the next message, still gripping his saber and allowing his fears to dissolve into the Force. Sidious was getting frustrated, prodding Luke harder and harder the slower he responded. It meant that he didn't know as much as he let on; he was still reaching for answers, and to do that, he was using what little he did know as blackmail. Luke knew from experience that there was no such thing as bluffing when it came to the Emperor, but it wasn't like Palpatine could tell anyone he was Anakin's child from the future—no one would ever believe him. That was unless he had proof of some kind.

His pulse stilled.

The blood.

He wasn't sure how, but he shouldn't have been surprised that Sidious had people on the inside. This was a man who had masterminded the fall of a longstanding democracy and the murder of an entire ideology. He had dealt with his fair share of spies in the Rebellion, as he was no stranger to war and its free-for-all rules, but somehow this felt much more devastating. Time-travelling to the past and having the very person you're trying to stop find out who you really are? Even Leia would agree that his situation was a tad more distressing than anything they had ever encountered in the Rebellion.

"Anakin, I've known you since you were a small boy. I've advised you over the years when I could, and I am very proud of your accomplishments. You have won many battles the Jedi Council thought were lost, and you saved my life." Palpatine paused, his arms stiff as his anger grew at Luke's lack of mental response. Every opportunity was there to snap the boy's neck where he stood, but he knew he couldn't as long as Anakin was there. In Anakin's mind, the only Force-users in the room were Luke and himself, therefore anything that happened to the boy could only be pointed towards one person, much how Padawan Tano had been framed for murder all those months ago. Anakin's blind trust was vital to his plan, and he refused to let this nuisance ruin anything. The thought of killing Amidala and blaming the boy flashed through his mind, but he needed her in the final stages of his plan to manipulate Skywalker. Fury churned throughout his body as he knew that the boy out of time shared his mindset, knowing he was safe as long as he stood by his father. He turned to Luke. "As did you, my boy. I hope you both trust me."

Take this as your only warning, Skywalker. You will return to the time period you came from or suffer dearly.

Luke fought the urge to snap back that he and many others would suffer worse if he gave up now, but he held back. Even if he followed Sidious' instructions and left the timeline as it was, the Force had sent him here without warning and most likely would not send him back until he changed something.

And do not think that the consequences for your actions would be limited to only you.

Luke looked over at Anakin, who, at the exact second that Palpatine sent the threat, said, "Of course we trust you, Chancellor."

The smugness radiating from the Sith did not deter Luke in the slightest. He put himself back on the Death Star once more, his father beside him and the Emperor sitting before him threatening his life and the life of his friends if he didn't cooperate with his wishes. He raised his chin high, ever the defiant rebel, and smiled. You will fail.

Without warning, Luke felt his trachea close in just enough to make him wheeze, his stance faltering slightly.

"I need the two of you to help me," Palpatine said, keeping Anakin's attention as he allowed Luke to struggle for air. He could deal with him in a more permanent matter later, but for now he relied on his strength of mental manipulation and basked in the feeling of a neck cracking underneath his grip. "I called you here for more pressing matters than politics."

"More pressing than politics?" Anakin said with a scoff, crossing his arms. Luke shifted uncomfortably beside him, unable to stop his hand from reaching out to rub his throat. It wasn't like the choking of Vader; it was somehow worse. It was as if someone had stuffed cotton in his windpipe and allowed him to slowly suffocate like a fish out of water.

"It's about the Jedi. The reason why I did not priorly inform the Council about why I wanted to meet you two was because I fear them." Anakin frowned. "They continuously push for more control, they're shrouded in secrecy, and they're obsessed with maintaining their autonomy ideals. I simply find it incomprehensible in a democracy."

Uncertainty swirled through Anakin as he battled with his conflicting feelings for the Jedi and the Chancellor. Thinking hard on Obi-Wan's words from their previous comm call, he shook his head. "I can assure you that the Jedi are dedicated to the values of the Republic, sir."

The grip on Luke's throat loosened and he let out a hoarse cough.

The indifference on Palpatine's face faded ever so slightly as he adjusted himself in his seat. "Nevertheless, their actions will speak louder than their words. I'm depending on the both of you."

"For what? I don't understand."

"To be the eyes, ears, and voice of the Republic." Anakin's brow furrowed as Luke managed to wiggle his way out of the grasp, taking heavy breaths to replenish his oxygen. "Anakin, I'm appointing you and Mr. Starkiller to be my personal representatives on the Jedi Council."

Luke's thoughts came to an abrupt halt. What was Sidious getting at?

Anakin, on the other hand, was completely flabbergasted, his eyes large. "You," he sputtered. "You would make me a Master?" He thrust a confused finger in Luke's direction. "And him as well? Chancellor—"

Palpatine held up a hand. "I've already made the decision."

Luke cleared his throat, catching both of the men's attention. "Pardon me, Chancellor. I may not know much about this temple, but I am confident enough in what I've picked up that you don't have the authority to do this. The Jedi are a separate force from the Senate, and the Council decides rankings amongst their own." He found himself quoting Yoda verbatim, the old alien having gone on a tangent about the Order and their rules back on Dagobah. Yet, when the pressure around his neck returned, this time tight enough to trigger his gag reflex, he began to regret speaking, a small croak escaping his lips.

"I agree with Luke." Anakin said, unintentionally sparking Sidious's temper further and leading the Sith to curl his fingers, a squeak of desperation leaving Luke as his trachea pinched inward. Anakin turned at the faint sound and the grip flew away, the world swaying around Luke as he struggled to calm his erratic heartbeat. Blue eyes drank up his pale complexion. He moved over towards Luke then, putting a gentle hand on his shoulder before leaning over and whispering, "Are you alright? You look like you're ready to collapse."

"Fine," Luke returned quickly, faking a reassuring smile.

Palpatine looked between the two of them with a raised eyebrow as if he was completely oblivious to what was wrong with Luke. Anakin waved off his concern before pinching the bridge of his nose in an inadvertent mimic of Master Kenobi. "Sir, I'm overwhelmed by this. We both are. The Council will never accept this."

Luke took a step back when Palpatine suddenly rose to his feet. The man ignored him. "On the contrary, I think they will. They need you more than you know."

Anakin still looked beyond unsure, his left hand fumbling with the glove on his right hand before he nodded slowly. "Yes...I suppose they really won't have much of a choice." He turned to Luke, his brow furrowed in thought. "But would they accept a stranger to the Council? No offense, Luke."

Luke shrugged off the comment, knowing that his father made a very valid point. Palpatine walked over to Anakin and gripped his shoulder much as Anakin had just gripped Luke's. "He saved my life. It is more than most of the Jedi here have ever done for me. I would extend my gratitude to Master Kenobi as well, but he is, as you know, already a member of the Council."

With his head still lowered in contemplation, Anakin finally gave in. "Well, if this is your wish Chancellor, then I accept it humbly." He met Luke's eyes. "I know this has all been moving very fast. Are you...willing to become a full fledged member of the Jedi Order?"

Luke blinked up at his father, contemplating. He knew Anakin saw him as a lost Force-sensitive who had magically appeared before two of the Order's finest warriors in some twisted form of destiny leading him to his true calling as a Jedi. He thought Luke had a family waiting for him across the galaxy, when in reality, his family couldn't be farther away from him. But he knew what he had to do, and playing along with Palpatine's mind games was part of that now. Anakin's eyes were patient and understanding, so much so that Luke's heart constricted in a longing that had existed in him since his childhood. So Luke smiled and nodded dutifully, focusing on Anakin and avoiding the stony gaze of Palpatine standing beside him. "I am."

The Chancellor clasped his hands together with a gleeful smile and patted Anakin heartily on the back. "Wonderful. I'm glad we're all in agreement. Now if you don't mind, I do have some work to attend to."

Anakin bowed politely, Luke following suit despite the bile that he tasted in his mouth at the feeling of bowing to the man who tore his family apart. Once they rose, Palpatine was sat back at his desk, and Anakin's hand had found the small of his back to escort him towards the doors.

As soon as they were back in the hall and past the guards who looked exactly like the Emperor's personal guard in his correct timeline, Luke finally found himself breathing clear air that wasn't polluted by the taint of wickedness. His mind was swimming so drastically that it took him a few moments to find Anakin's voice in the fuzz of his ears, the man's eyes turned down in worry.

"...uke? Can...hear me?"

Luke nodded sluggishly before moving towards the wall and sliding down. "Sorry, I...I don't know what came over me."

Anakin held his arms gently, looking him over and allowing his thoughts to grow scattered. "Are you still feeling ill from before? Should I take you back to the medics?"

" No!" he shouted, surprising Anakin into a recoil. Luke rubbed his temples, his only thought on the blood sample circulating around with his DNA information on it. "I mean, I'm just a little lightheaded. It's nothing, I swear."

Anakin didn't look fully convinced, but he accepted the explanation with a sympathetic exhale. "Come on then." He helped Luke up with a grunt before staring him down intently. "But if it gets worse, I'm dragging you back to that medic myself. No arguments."

Luke smiled sheepishly, feeling more and more like Anakin was treating him as his son, even if he didn't know it. "Thanks, Anakin."

The other man smiled, the lines by his eyes crinkling. "Anytime."

◂◂◂

Watching the doors slide closed, Palpatine repeatedly tapped his knobby fingers over his desk, humming in thought. He barely paid noticed as pale blue sparks crackled around his knuckles, blossoming from his frustrations with the new development of the time-traveling Skywalker boy. Unsurprisingly, he was as stubborn as his mother and father combined, but Palpatine could easily sense the weaknesses underneath the surface. It was obvious they had met in the future, and whatever happened then, it was enough for Luke to still hold a buried fear of the Sith's power just large enough to be manipulatable. He was clever in gaining his oblivious father's trust, an obvious part of his plan to draw Anakin away from his established bond with the Chancellor, but there was only so much trust a hardened war veteran like Anakin Skywalker would put in a complete stranger.

And that was where Palpatine had the advantage.

He moved back towards his comm, redialing his spy. She answered obediently on the second ring, already stooped into a low bow. "Lord Sidious, I wasn't expecting a call back so soon."

"Yes, it is regarding your... information ," Palpatine said, impressed that she was able to acquire information that was actually worth his time. Her usefulness had been wearing thin as of late, so her little revelation would save her neck for a little while longer, a fact he was sure she was well aware of. "I need you to keep watch over the Skywalker boy even closer now. He knows of my identity and that I know of his, which will be useful in making him paranoid enough to back down on his pitiful little mission of righteousness." He paused, smirking slightly. "However, I would not put it past him to not take my threats to heart. If he tries anything that risks my plans, notify me at once so I may decide how he suffers, understood?"

Kirei nodded obediently, no stranger to taking out enemies of her master when they grew into too much of a threat for the Plan. Not even Kirei herself knew everything about the end goal Sidious had, but she knew that it would have galaxy-wide repercussions that would last for generations. Apparently enough so that it brought kriffing time-travelers back to stop it. "And what of the records I discovered?"

"Destroy them. Make sure it is completely untraceable. Anyone else finding out about this is a problem we do not need to deal with right now. Do not disappoint me, Barizaan."

Kirei barely flinched at the underlying threat before bowing low once more. "It shall be done, My Lord."