Luke's mind was reeling, and his entire body was running on adrenaline—every second that ticked by making his reality more and more real. By this point, he had forgotten the dull pain from the Emperor's Sith lightning that was lingering in the back of his brain and leaving him a little out of breath. Pain and past memories were nothing compared to the sight of his father and his old mentor standing right next to him. Not only that, but Artoo was here! How come the little droid had never told him he had belonged to his father?

As exciting as it all was, being around Palpatine was sort of ruining the moment. Plus, his discomfort was easily noticed by the others. But as long as he masked his presence, then he would be safe...or so he hoped.

It hadn't taken him long to realize that he was on a crashing ship—which wouldn't exactly be the first time in his life—and while the droids deactivated the ray shields and snapped binders around both Jedi, the Chancellor, and himself, he took the time of distraction to fully take in his surroundings. Anakin and Obi-Wan were exchanging looks as they walked beside him, most likely having a mental conversation through their Force bond, which made Luke smile before getting jabbed in the back by an impatient droid, the metallic voice demanding him to walk faster. 

He rolled his eyes and went back to trying to figure out his current situation, or more importantly, how he would explain his sudden appearance in the middle of an official Galactic Republic rescue mission. He couldn't even explain it to himself, let alone them, so he figured his best bet was telling a vague similarity to the truth. After all, he had to remain as trustworthy as possible if he was to get close to his father.

Taking note of his current location, Luke scoured the base of his memory for history about this specific battle in the Clone Wars. He hadn't paid much attention during the history portions of his classes back on his homeworld of Tatooine, or any classes for that matter, and he was almost regretting it. Even though, yes, they probably would've been riddled with nothing but Imperial propaganda and lies. He would've never known anything if it wasn't for the briefings from the Alliance and the stories of the older X-wing pilots who brought up the war as frequently as they could, almost nostalgic for the simplicity of it all compared to the Empire's tyranny. 

Luke shook away thoughts of the Alliance, focusing back on the fact that he was truly in the past and not hallucinating. The Force had sent him here for a reason... Maybe so he could finally know more about his father and what exactly had made him become Darth Vader. Surely the man in front of him couldn't be the brutal assassin of the future, yet Luke was only now realizing that he knew next to nothing about his parents or their past. For all he knew, this brash, cocky young man was only one of many sides of Anakin Skywalker.

Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen had always refused to talk about Luke's long-dead parents—yet how much they actually knew was iffy at best, in his opinion—and Obi-Wan and Yoda had outright lied to him. Force, he didn't even know his own mother's name. 

A thought suddenly struck him, creating a fault in his stride just slight enough to be mistaken for a trip. Blue eyes widened and riveted onto the taller man beside him as hope began to bubble up in his chest. What if he could prevent his father's fall? Was that the Force's reasoning for sending him back here? 

He smiled to himself, a scenario where his mother and father lived to raise him and sister passing through his mind. He could actually do this. As long as he kept his mouth shut about the future and found a way to somehow expose Palpatine, he could probably pull it off. Of course, he still worried about his friends back on the Endor moon, but since it was technically twenty-three years away, he figured they'd be fine for now. Besides, Han and Leia had proved on several occasions that they could take care of themselves. 

Luke was abruptly ripped from his thoughts as the same droid jabbed him in the back, this time to usher him onto the ship's bridge, where a hulking figure was standing at the hull, surrounded by droids of all kinds of battle-breed. When the figure turned, Luke flinched in surprise. It...he...was half droid, half Kaleesh. From what Luke knew of the rare species, the alien general, by the looks of him, definitely wasn't born with all those metal parts. An obvious accident must've happened sometime in his past, just like Vader...

Luke quickly shook the memories away, avoiding all eye contact with the alien in order to divert all attention from his presence. Surprisingly enough, he didn't have to try very hard. The general's sickly yellow eyes passed over his slight frame and focused on Anakin and Obi-Wan instead. 

"General Kenobi. We've been waiting for you." Luke tried to dial back his reaction this time as the alien's deep voice echoed with a similar sound to the respirator of Vader's mask, raspy and filled with sadistic pleasure at seeing his enemies captured. 

A battle droid stepped forward and removed the restraining cuffs off of Dooku's wrists. The Sith gruffly acknowledged his thanks with a nod, looking briefly at his missing hands with a mournful glance. Luke stretched his own prosthetic hand in sympathy, the recently repaired motors whirring in strain under the pressure of the binders. He had had barely any down time since his hand had gotten shot at and short circuited on Jabba's Sail Barge, but he was grateful to have at least been able to check on it back on Dagobah before the whole time travel dilemma. Who knew how we would even begin to explain the synthetic skin he wore, a technology which still had yet to be invented in the time period he was currently in. 

"Count Dooku. Are you alright?" The Kaleesh asked, snapping Luke back to attention.

"I'm quite alright, General," Dooku said flatly, going to the general's side and scowling at his former captors. 

"Well, that wasn't much of a rescue." The general scoffed, snatching the lightsabers the battle droid had confiscated from the Jedi into his hands. His glare zeroed in on Anakin before he began stalking towards them, his claw-like metal feet clanking with an ominous thrum against the durasteel. "And Anakin Skywalker..." 

Luke froze, swallowing tightly and unable to look away. 

"I was expecting someone with your reputation to be..." the General got up in the young Jedi Knight's face, a smirk underneath the metal mask stretching the visible burnt flesh under the creature's eyes. "Older."

Anakin scowled, unamused. "General Grievous. You're shorter than I expected," he snapped back with an equal, if not more, amount of smugness. Luke, now with a name for the creature, looked at the ground with a breathy chuckle.

Grievous coughed violently before snarling back, "Jedi scum."

He turned to move back towards the main controls of the bridge before pausing. His golden eyes whipped towards Luke's direction, squinting curiously into his startled eyes and scrutinizing his every movement. "And who's this?" 

Luke held his breath as Grievous came stomping over to him, clawed metal fingers reaching up and yanking his chin downwards with a painful grip. "What's your name, boy?"

"L-Luke. Luke Starkiller...sir," Luke stuttered instinctively, Rebellion standard procedure of giving a fake last name to protect himself taking a painstakingly long time to enter his brain. He knew that this wasn't the Empire and that they wouldn't have him executed for being Luke Skywalker, the infamous destroyer of the Death Star, but he also knew that saying his real surname was sure to cause more confusion for everyone in the room and make him that much more of a suspicious character. 

He caught Anakin and Obi-Wan looking at him worriedly, most likely thinking him unable to protect himself against a skilled war general like Grievous. Luke felt a surge of annoyance at the thought, but knew that they had every right to think that. They didn't know him nor his abilities. But, being an underestimated fighter was far better than them knowing the truth. 

"A Jedi?" Grievous inquired with a sneer, his ever tightening grip no doubt leaving indents in Luke's jaw. 

"Yes," Luke said proudly, before mentally slapping himself. The regret must've shown on his face as Grievous' aura seemed to change to something more dangerous and smug. 

"No lightsaber, Jedi?" he taunted, his mask only inches from Luke's face. 

"I lost it," Luke said flatly, refusing to let his voice tremble at the close contact. His only reassurance was that he wasn't exactly lying to the man, simply stretching the truth. He had lost his lightsaber. 

Grievous studied him for a second longer before he scoffed and released his grip. As he moved away, Luke released a breath he hadn't even known he was holding, his heart thumping rapidly in his chest.

"No matter. Your lightsabers will make a fine addition to my collection," Grievous said, hooking the stolen sabers in his cape alongside the sabers of previous Jedi he had confronted and killed. Luke blinked as he recognized one of them, the one Anakin had been using. It was the exact same one he had lost on Bespin—the one Ben had pulled out of a dusty, old trunk, wistfully reminiscing about its former owner, Luke's father. 

"Not this time," Obi-Wan suddenly interrupted, a devilish smirk rising on his lips as he winked at a bemused Luke. "This time, you won't escape." 

"Artoo, now!" Anakin cried.

Before Luke could register what was happening, Artoo started buzzing about with his extendable limbs whirring in spastic motions, startling the battle droids that were holding blasters to their heads. In the disorientation, his saw swiftly cut off the stun cuffs locked over Obi-Wan's wrists. Then, with reflexes that only a Jedi could have, Obi-Wan called his lightsaber to his outstretched palm and reached over to slice off Anakin's cuffs, the other man's lightsaber already soaring through the air and landing neatly in his grip. 

"Luke, stay back!" Anakin cried amongst the sudden chaos, glad to finally be able to use the boy's name. Luke nodded numbly and scampered towards Artoo to have his cuffs taken off as well. He looked into his old friend's ocular lens with a wistful smile, but knew the droid wouldn't recognize him. 

"Thanks buddy," he whispered, patting the astromech on his domed head. Artoo hummed pleasantly in response, already taking a liking to the new Organic that his Master had brought along. 

Deftly avoiding the whir of fighting around him, Luke watched helplessly from the sidelines, aching to help Anakin and Obi-Wan. But without a weapon, he was useless. Unless...

He looked around and spotted a battle droid hovering in the corner, searching for an opening in the Jedi's fighting style in order to incapacitate them with an array of lasers. Luke smirked and crept up behind it, ripping the blaster out of its hand and startling it into a mechanized shout right before he blasted through its chest. Wiring and circuitry were exposed as the droid fell forward. Luke laughed in success before he looked to see Artoo beeping lowly, the little astromech queasy at the sight of another droid's innards. He flashed an apologetic smile. 

"Make them suffer!" Grievous screamed, the violent sound dragging Luke back into battle mode. Oh how he wished he was back on Endor with his friends, celebrating and not having to figure his way through a life or death experience...again. 

Quickly surveying the scene, Luke took note of two droids with electric powered staffs coming at Anakin and Obi-Wan, the skilled machines providing a good matchup against the Jedi. In the meantime, Luke focused on taking out as many battle droids as he could, using his blaster and even the Force when he found a chance.

However, as soon as he sent one of the droids careening through the air and smashing against the wall, he couldn't help but notice Anakin and Obi-Wan's eyes on him for the briefest of seconds, wide and disbelieving. They knew immediately then that Luke hadn't been lying about being a Jedi, or at the very least, a Force-user. 

In their distraction, a few battle droids got a hold of the Chancellor, dragging him towards the exit and placing a blaster barrel against his temple. Luke reacted first, whirling to pull the trigger on the droid...only to hesitate. 

He could shoot Palpatine right here, save the galaxy and ensure a better future. But if he did, then his father wouldn't trust him, he would be put on trial for the murder of the Republic's leader, and he wouldn't have the reassurance that his father would no longer turn to the Dark Side—

The whir of a lightsaber followed by the spark of sapphire light startled Luke out of his stupor. He blinked to find Anakin had made his choice for him, the battle droids in sparking pieces on the ground and the Chancellor's stun cuffs falling neatly along with them. Palpatine sighed in relief and spared Anakin a look of gratitude, the Jedi Knight nodding before darting back to help Obi-Wan. Luke attempted to join him only to be caught by Palpatine's accusatory stare, the man obviously wondering what had been the cause of Luke's hesitation. Swallowing nervously, Luke looked away to focus back on the mission. 

Just as Anakin reached Grievous and cornered him with Obi-Wan's help, the General picked up an electric staff discarded by a fallen droid and chuckled darkly.

"You lose, General Kenobi."

Luke's eyes widened milliseconds before Grievous could move, his mouth opening to shout right as the Kaleesh threw the staff into the window and shattered the transparisteel protecting them from the vacuum of space. Immediately, everything that wasn't held down went flying, Luke's shout carried away by the sucking void. Anakin and Obi-Wan grabbed the control panel nearest to them while Luke dashed less gracefully for a hold, the only thing he could reach before being shot into space being his father's leg. 

Anakin was jerked back as soon as Luke's grip settled on his calf, and he grunted in the effort to keep his own hold on the panel. Pushing his head against the resistance of the vacuum, Anakin narrowed his eyes at the boy, who managed a sheepish smile before holding on tighter. 

Dooku however, with no hands to help him, was less fortunate. He shot out the window and into the vacuum of space, his cries of alarm inaudible as he drifted away. Grievous shot out as well, but he quickly sent out his grappling hook and connected back to the ship, climbing up it like a mountain and allowing his armor to temporarily protect him as he made his way towards the escape pods. 

Luke chanced a look upwards from where he had buried his face into Anakin's pant leg and noticed Palpatine holding on to a bolted down chair for dear life. He fought the urge to scowl. Force forbid he couldn't get lucky and have Palpatine get sucked out along with Dooku.

A hand suddenly grabbed at Luke's leg, and he yelped in surprise, jerking said limb out of instinct and making contact with something that snapped under his heel, followed by a muffled groan. Turning, he gaped to see Obi-Wan clutching his right leg with white knuckles, a small stream of blood spouting from his crooked nose. Luke paled and attempted to apologize, but Obi-Wan ignored it, unfazed. He quickly returned to his mission and began climbing the younger man's body until he reached Anakin's back. Anakin was surprised as well, but he instantly realized what his Master was trying to do. With the Force behind him, he helped Obi-Wan shoot forward to slam against a blinking button in the far corner of the control panel. As soon as he did, he released his grip from Anakin and shot backwards just as the seals closed over the broken windows, throwing them all back to the ground. 

Groaning at the sudden slam of his body against the durasteel, Luke gingerly sat up and took a deep breath, gasping at the narrow escape and the lack of oxygen from the void. Then, as if it couldn't get any worse, an alarm began to blare. 

Anakin, seemingly unperturbed from the near-death experience, jumped to his feet and grumbled in annoyance at the readouts on the control panel. "All the escape pods have been launched." 

"Grievous," Obi-Wan sighed, rising to his feet as well and brushing off his tunic with a similar amount of calm that Anakin had. Luke expected to be ignored again as the duo began to plan an escape, but was surprised when his father turned to him, looking him up and down in scrutinizing silence before handing him...a lightsaber?

Anakin, noticing Luke's confusion, smiled warmly. "I took two from Grievous's cape. Mine and another. I figured you would need a weapon eventually, and you obviously know the ways of the Force. I'm sorry we underestimated you." 

Luke took the saber gratefully, staring at it with a slow spreading grin. "Thank you, Fath–I mean, Anakin," he said with a nervous chuckle, trying to cover up his slip of words. 

"Alright boys, as heartwarming as this may be, we've no time for this. Anakin, can you fly a cruiser like this?" Obi-Wan interrupted, one eyebrow raised.

Anakin scoffed and moved towards the pilot's seat. "Don't you mean, 'Do I know how to land what's left of this thing?'"

"Well?" Obi-Wan asked again, ignoring his former Padawan's sarcasm. 

"Well, under the circumstances, I'd say the ability to pilot this thing is irrelevant." Anakin looked over at Luke. "Strap yourselves in." 

Luke nodded obediently and scrambled into a seat, fastening the crash webbing as tight as it would go. Even as they were crashing, Luke still couldn't help but feel excited to see his father's infamous piloting skills in action. 

"Open all hatches. Extend all flaps and drag-fins," Anakin commanded, Obi-Wan moving towards the controls as soon as the words left his mouth. Luke leaned forward to help as well, refusing to sit back when he knew he could use his knowledge of pilot controls to his benefit.

"Well, it looks like you may be just as good as Anakin," Obi-Wan commented, watching Luke with an impressed expression. Luke blushed. 

Suddenly, a roaring explosion from the rear of the ship jerked them all forward, Luke gripping his chair tightly and immediately thankful for the belt secured around his waist. 

Artoo beeped nervously behind him, reflecting exactly how he felt. Luke smiled at him in reassurance, not surprised that the astromech had managed to stay inside during the vacuum.

Anakin looked behind him as well, but with more annoyance than worry. "We lost something."

"Not to worry. We're still flying half a ship," Obi-Wan quipped with feigned optimism.

Luke sighed, baffled by their nonchalance. "Great."

Anakin smirked.

As the ship started going faster towards the planet's atmosphere, Anakin gripped tight at the steering, his sweaty palms the only visible sign of worry. "We're picking up speed," he grumbled, his hands moving blurrily over the controls. 

Luke snuck a glance back at Palpatine, who was doing an excellent job at looking terrified. In the chaos, he had almost forgotten that the man was there, but he also knew that his play as the victim was all a ploy. A real good one too. 

More of the ship started falling apart as they broke through Coruscant's atmosphere, which Obi-Wan announced with a sharp crack in his Core accent.

"Luke, grab that, keep us level!" Anakin called next, too distracted to catch Luke already pulling back on one of the joysticks. Flying T-16s with Biggs on Tatooine, the Falcon with Han, and X-wings during missions with Rogue Squadron were all the experience he needed. 

"Steady," Obi-Wan cautioned as they dipped forward and moved closer to the ground.

"Easy Artoo!" Anakin yelled to his droid, perspiration wetting his forehead as he strained to keep the ship steady.

"Five-thousand feet. Fire ships on the left and the right," Obi-Wan observed, keeping Anakin aware. Official Republican fire ships began spraying a dowsing fluid onto the side of the ship, desperately trying to put out the fires that were engulfing the Invisible Hand before it could crash land. 

"Landing strip straight ahead!" Luke pointed out of the viewport, catching sight of frantic officers waving them down through the smoke.  

"We're coming in too hot," Anakin said, fumbling with the controls again and trying to ignore the screaming alarm in his ear. With a screech and a jerk of the joystick, the ship touched base with a puff of ash and debris, the passengers shooting forward along with the sliding ship's momentum. Artoo shrieked as he crashed against Obi-Wan's chair, the durasteel underneath them scraping against the landing strip and knocking over a comms tower in its way. A giant cloud of smoke poured out of the ship to engulf the surrounding area as Anakin finally steered the ship into a halt. The front hull let out a piercing cry of metal on duracrete before finally pausing near the end of the landing pad. Any further, and disaster would have struck the Senate building. It was yet another miracle performed by the Hero With No Fear and The Negotiator. 

Anakin released his death grip from the steering controls and collapsed back into his seat with a gasping breath.

"Another happy landing," Obi-Wan chuckled, thumping Anakin pridefully on the shoulder. 

Anakin, still panting, grinned and closed his eyes, laughing lightly as his sweat-sticky hair fanned out around his face. 

Luke joined in on the relieved laughter until all three of them were giggling like mad, the adrenaline wearing off and leaving them grateful for their lives. 

The Chancellor, still sitting behind them and looking a bit shaken, sighed and slowly peeled himself from his seat. He was more than ready to leave the destroyed ship and the reckless Jedi behind after yet another foolhardy and risky maneuver undergone by Skywalker and Kenobi. After all, there was a war on, and with this new Starkiller boy's arrival, there were questions to be answered.