Chapter 10: Visions of the Future Through the Past
Senator Amidala felt proud of herself, adrenaline coursing through her body. Deceiving the Chancellor, a Sith Lord, the future Emperor, had undoubtedly been an achievement. But now she had to begin a secret campaign to overthrow him; the Republic needed a new Chancellor.
"Senator Amidala," Bail Organa greeted, entering Padme's apartment.
"Senator Organa," Padme greeted. "This is Leia Starkiller, a very close friend," Padme said, introducing Leia. The girl had tried to keep her emotions in check, but seeing her adoptive father, a father who had died on Alderaan along with his entire planet, was too much. She greeted him but remained silent, trying to keep the tears from falling from her eyes throughout the meeting. Padme knew what was happening to her, and from time to time she placed her hand on her daughter's to comfort her.
"What is the purpose of this meeting?" Bail Organa asked directly.
"I'll be honest, Senator," Padme said, looking him in the eye. "I disagree with the Chancellor and I want to start a secret project to overthrow him."
"You realize that currently, that amounts to treason against the Republic," Bail suggested, and Padme nodded. Leia and she knew that Senator Organa could be fully trusted, even though in the future he would be one of the Emperor's main enemies.
"I'm aware of that," Padme said. "The Chancellor's term in office has long since passed, and I fear his decisions aren't the best."
"I agree with you," Bail said after a few minutes of thought. Entering into this project with Padme meant betraying the highest authority in the Republic. If they were discovered, they would be removed from their political office, and he was certain they would be assassinated.
"Do you know the risks we're taking?" Padme asked.
"I'm clear about it. We'll need to act covertly. We need to seek support from other systems, and we need to seek support from the senators."
"I've already put a plan in motion," Padme explained. "I've made the chancellor believe I'm on his side, suggesting he seek help from certain neutral senators."
"Have you given him the names of those he can convince?" Bail asked, not understanding how that could help.
"The number of neutral senators doesn't outnumber those against him. Even if their numbers increase, it's unlikely his plans will gain traction," Padme explained.
"But he'll trust you because you helped him," Bail said, agreeing that it was a great idea.
"I'll be able to keep up with everything that happens. If I manage to become someone he trusts, I'll be able to know what plans he has."
"I'll continue to oppose most of his plans. If we both changed our positions, it would be suspicious."
"Exactly," Padme explained.
"If I may." "Comment," Leia said. "I have information on some people who might be able to help."
"Are you a politician?" Bail asked.
"You are. You were my apprentice on Naboo," Padme lied, and Leia appreciated the excuse.
"Who would those people be?" Bail Organa asked.
Leia gave her a list of people she knew were against the chancellor. Bail and Padme knew the vast majority.
"We'll have to work to convince them to sign a decree expelling the chancellor, just as they did with Chancellor Valorum," Padme explained, remembering how she herself had suggested a change of mandate.
"Now that the vast majority of the Senate is in favor of the chancellor, it will be difficult to call for a vote of no confidence. What do you suggest?"
"We can use a vote of no confidence if we discover any wrongdoing by the chancellor."
"A wrongdoing?"
"That's why I need to be close to him, to know his every move and advise him on some of them."
"You'll advise him to fail," suggested Bail Organa.
"I want to become his ally, his right-hand man. He won't suspect. I have very strong reasons to know that he won't."
"Do you think you're doing this for a personal reason?"
"Yes," Padme admitted.
"I won't ask what the reason is, Padme. I trust you with my life. You can count on me."
"Thank you very much, Senator," Padme smiled.
Together with Leia and the senator, they continued to organize a plan of action. Bail Organa agreed that Padme could infiltrate the Jedi missions so she could learn who could truly be potential allies for her cause.
"But Padme, I know it's necessary. But will you be okay?" the senator asked.
"I'll be fine. A Jedi from Tatooine will accompany me," Padme lied; she couldn't tell him the whole truth.
"Master Skywalker?" "Are the Jedi aware then?" Bail Organa asked, confused.
"No, another Jedi, Master Luke Starkiller, Leia's brother, is acting in hiding from the Council," Padme smiled, and the senator nodded, confused. He didn't know all the Jedi, but their names didn't ring a bell. Still, the Starkiller girl gave him confidence.
"Please stay in touch, Padme. I'll try to cover for you in the Senate when you need me to."
"That would be very helpful. For starters, I've told the chancellor that I must go take care of my father on Naboo. He knows I like to take care of my family personally, but that lie won't last long."
"I'll back up that lie," Bail Organa said. "Your sister is a good friend of my wife. We'll go visit you on Naboo and spread the word that you're actively helping with your father's recovery."
"Thank you very much, Bail," Padme said. "I'll keep Father informed that he'll need to stay home and call in sick. I know he will if it's for the good of the Republic."
"He'll do it for you, Padme," Bail smiled, and Leia smiled back.
They said their goodbyes, and Padme remembered that her ship was damaged. She sent it for repairs and requested that certain modifications be added that would allow her to hide and keep up with the Jedi.
"I need to know more about Darth Vader," Leia lamented. It was only when she began this journey that she had discovered that her father was Darth Vader. She had only seen him as a detestable enemy, but she had never known more about him. She needed to know more about him, beyond the Empire, but she wouldn't find her answers in the past.
"How do you intend to do it?" her mother asked.
"I have a feeling," Leia mentioned, recalling a conversation she overheard between her father and Ahsoka—something about meditation and the Force.
"Jedi meditate to find answers," Padme agreed.
"Do you know how I can do it?" Leia asked, and Padme bit her lip; she honestly had no idea.
"No," Padme said, "but I know someone who can help you."
"Do you want me to ask Father for help?" Leia asked. "That would be problematic."
"Master Qui Gon, the one who found Anakin and saved me when I was queen, mentioned to me long ago on Tatooine that the Force lives within all living beings, that the Force is timeless."
"I'm afraid I don't understand what you're saying."
"You need information about Vader, Ani. He'll become Darth Vader if we don't do something to change him," Padme said. "But if the Force is timeless, Vader exists here, within your father's memory."
"Are you implying that I should search his memory? Mother, I know nothing about the Force. I don't know how I could do it. Father would find out."
"In your story, Vader recognized Luke, knew the Force was strong within him," Padme mentioned. She had always been an extremely intelligent woman. "But he wasn't able to recognize you. He didn't sense the Force within you. What if that's the reason? What if your Force can hide from Vader for some reason? What if this is it?"
"I'll trust your words, Mother," Leia said, "but I don't know if I have the ability to do it. Maybe Luke does."
"The Force brought you here together, but I'm sure this is your mission."
"How will I convince Father? Do I tell him I need to delve into his memory?"
"Maybe we can ask him right now," Padme smiled, seeing that Anakin had just arrived.
"Good afternoon," Padme said, greeting Anakin.
"Good afternoon, Senator," Anakin said, now pretending Leia was there. "Leia," he greeted. Strangely, he didn't feel bad about finding her there. He longed to spend the afternoon alone with Padme, but Leia's presence didn't bother him at all. What was so strange about her and Luke? He wondered. Usually, he would hate having to take care of two people, but with Leia and Luke, everything was so different.
"If you wish, I can leave. I imagine Master Skywalker has come to discuss important matters with you," Leia said nervously, and Padme smiled.
"He came for some security matters for the Chancellor," Padme said, keeping up the charade, "but I believe what you need to ask is much more important."
"Oh, of course not, Senator Amidala," Leia pleaded with her eyes, too nervous to say anything to Anakin. "Surely it can wait, it's nothing," Leia said, but Padme literally dragged her over to Anakin, who smiled at Leia's flushed face.
"I hope you're not thinking of proposing to me," Anakin said, winking at Padme, who just rolled her eyes. "I'm a Jedi," he lied, and Padme raised an eyebrow.
"Of course not," Leia said, laughing; she felt more relaxed after the joke. "Just forget it, we can do it another day."
"Oh no," Padme said. "You ask him or I'll do it, that's it." "Important for the future," she recalled.
"But I'm not sure I can. I'm sure Luke is a better option," Leia said fearfully. "What if I didn't make it? What if I did something wrong and Anakin found out about everything too soon?"
"Leia needs to learn to meditate," Padme said, and Leia looked at her worriedly. "There are some memories she needs to recover from the future. Remember what I mentioned that Master Qui Gon explained to me? He said the Force was timeless."
"It might work," Anakin thought. They had nothing to lose by trying. "I'll help you."
"Are you sure?" Leia asked.
"Sure, sit the same way I do," Anakin indicated, and Leia followed suit.
They sat on the floor, and Padme considered leaving.
"Oh no, Senator, you'll try it too," Anakin said, and Padme looked at him, confused.
"I'm not a Jedi," he reminded her.
"You're not, but the Force lives in all living beings. Now sit next to us," he indicated, and Padme did. Leia felt calmer now that both of her parents were by her side.
Anakin gave her a series of instructions on how to meditate, although he clarified that recovering memories from the future would have to be entirely her own work; he couldn't teach her something she was incapable of doing.
After a few minutes, the three of them were meditating. Padme could barely understand how she had managed to do it too, but she felt a connection in the Force with her family. Tempted to know more about her children, she searched Leia's memories.
Leia, for her part, had managed to start meditating, it was something new for her, it was always Luke who did it, she felt the force surround her, it wasn't just her force, it was her mother's force, she felt his presence in her memories, but it was something calming, and she felt her father's force, it was in his memories that she had to access, if her mother was right through him she could access Vader's memories, she had to achieve it, she doubted she would have another opportunity like this.
When his mind was completely calm, he remembered the day he saw Vader when his ship had fled Scarif with the ship's plans, and then he was able to access it. Anakin, for his part, felt the presence of Leia and his wife, but he didn't feel Leia searching through his memories.
Leia searched through his memories, needing to find everything she could. He tried to search the memories of how he became, but everything seemed distant, he could only feel the pain, a loss, Anakin could not see his beloved wife before she died, he felt another presence in that memory, Sidious, it was a deceptive presence, he had lied to him about Padme's death, he blamed him for her death, but that had not been the reason, Anakin did not know that his children had survived, he felt the pain of the wounds on his body, he had never been aware of why exactly Vader used that suit, now he felt his pain almost in his own flesh, horrible burns that had finished almost all of his body, but it was not his worst pain, his pain was for the betrayal that he himself had committed, to end the Jedi, to believe that he had killed his wife and children, he was seeing the memory of the true Anakin not of his alter ego Darth Vader, Anakin had never died, he was only asleep, hidden in Vader's hatred, hidden in his anger, prisoner of the orders of the emperor and the evil works of Vader in His quest for power.
His concentration began to falter, so he searched for more memories before he completely lost his connection. He could sense Vader's loneliness, and one memory in particular, one where he spoke to Obi-Wan through the Force. Had Obi-Wan tried to speak to him after his death? He wondered.
"Why do you continue this quest for power?" Obi-Wan asked. "You won't be able to bring her back," he said, and Vader's suffering intensified.
"Do you want to know the horrible truth?" Vader asked, removing his mask, even if only for a moment. He could feel him aware that death could reach him, but he had to say those words without the mask. He had to show Obi-Wan what he had done to him. Had Obi-Wan been the one who had left him in that state? – I can only remember her in my dreams, sometimes I don't even remember what her face looked like- he said and his breathing began to fail- I only know that she is the only person I ever loved, you took her away from me, the Jedi took her away from me and not all the power in the galaxy was able to fill the void that she left when she died.
That was the last of that vision. The future quickly faded, giving way to a vision of the past: Anakin, his mother dead in his arms, death and destruction, revenge. Horrified, she couldn't maintain her concentration and suddenly opened her eyes. She was barely aware of her body shaking and the uncontrollable sobs escaping her throat. Her two companions came out of their meditative state and looked at her, frightened.
"Leia? What happened?" Anakin asked, completely oblivious to the visions Leia had been experiencing through him.
"I, I," Leia began, and on impulse, she threw herself at Anakin, hugging him and sobbing into his chest.
"Leia, calm down, calm down, I'm here," Anakin said, trying to comfort her, looking at Padme, confused. Padme's own visions in her daughter's memories were terrifying, but her daughter needed her at that moment; she couldn't allow herself to collapse at the same time.
Padme approached Anakin, and the man wrapped them both in his arms. He was so confused. He just wanted to protect them. Whatever fate had in store for him. Why did he want to protect Leia? Who was Leia really?
"Calm down, everything's okay," he said, stroking Leia's long hair.
Leia couldn't stop trembling at the memory. She could still feel Vader's pain. How had anyone managed to live with that pain and suffering? What had they done to their father? Why did everyone think hiding their children would be the best thing to do? Why had their own master mutilated him like that? Were those the mistakes Obi-Wan was referring to? Sidious had condemned him to live with the pain of his mother's death, had deceived him and made him his slave. He wouldn't let his father go through that, he wouldn't let his mother die, not now that he knew more about Vader's past.
"What happened?" asked Ahsoka, who had come for Leia with Luke.
"Leia," Luke shouted, running to his sister. Anakin gave him a reassuring look, saying he would take care of it until she calmed down.
Padme broke away from the hug and led Luke and Ahsoka to the terrace.
"Leia saw Vader's memories through your father. She managed to convince him to teach her how to meditate, and she delved into the timeless memories."
"I can't understand a word," Luke said. "Now Father knows too?"
"No, Leia has the ability to hide her mark in the Force."
"What did he see?" Luke asked, looking into the apartment, seeing how Leia couldn't stop trembling in her father's arms, as he stroked her hair and held her tightly.
- My master deserves to know the truth- said Ahsoka watching the scene- we will tell him as soon as possible, when the situation is right.
"I agree with Ahsoka," Padme said.
"Me too," Luke admitted.
When Leia finally managed to calm down, Anakin spoke.
"Leia, I don't know what you saw that made you feel like this," he whispered slowly, "but you can always count on me. I know we barely know each other, but you can trust me."
"I know," Leia whispered. "I can't tell you what I saw, only promise you that I won't let it happen. None of it will ever be real."
After a few more minutes, Leia stood up with Anakin's help. Padme hugged her, asking if she was okay, and she nodded. Padme didn't want to let her leave that night; she felt Leia needed her, but Luke assured her that everything would be okay. Leia said goodbye to both of them, and together with Ahsoka, they set off for the temple. Anakin didn't even apologize for staying with Padme; in those moments, lying didn't even matter.
"What do you think happened to him?" Anakin asked, sitting down with Padme.
"I don't know, Ani, but we have to stop him."
"I was with the chancellor today," Anakin said, and Padme tensed. Now she hated her meetings with that damn Palpatine, but she just hoped Palpatine hadn't told her about their conversation the other day.
"Why did the Chancellor call you?" she asked, interested.
"I'm wondering about the Starkiller twins," he said, and Padme tensed. She wouldn't let that maniacal pig near her children.
"Ani, you didn't tell him they're from the future, did you?" Padme asked, terrified.
"No, for some reason, I feel like it's not something the Chancellor should know."
"Why not?" Padme asked. "He's the highest authority in the Republic," Padme prodded hopefully. She wanted to know if Anakin was finally realizing how evil the Chancellor was.
"He's a politician, you're a politician, but even though he's been my friend for years, I feel like information like that would only corrupt him in his pursuit of power.
Padme smiled. Nothing could corrupt Palpatine. He was the personification of evil. But if Anakin was willing to hide that from Palpatine, they would be safe. His children would be safe.
"I'm sure you did well," Padme smiled, approaching Anakin and sitting on his lap.
"Senator Amidala, always so focused on her work, has decided for the fourth night in a row to succumb to my charms?" Anakin asked jokingly, but inside he felt happy. Padme was always working; they rarely had the chance to be like this.
"You're so full of yourself," Padme smiled. "But yes, you'll have to go soon, and I want to spend as much time as possible by your side," Padme said, silencing anything Anakin might say with a loving kiss.
"I love you, angel," Anakin said, watching her in love.
"And I love you, Ani, now, always, and forever," Padme said, and Anakin's heart felt an inexplicable warmth.
Luke, on the other hand, could hardly believe what his sister was telling him. Leia had allowed Luke to access her memories through meditation.
"We won't let Father suffer that fate, nor will we let Mother die. Now more than ever, I'm sure Palpatine had something to do with her death. If we kill him, we'll save them both."
"Luke, we never questioned what created Vader. We always assumed he was a personification of evil. You were the only one who saw the light in him."
"Those who don't have a heart, it was because they once had a huge one," Luke said. His father had wanted to save them all, but had ended up being consumed by the dark side. The truth was becoming clearer every day, but they didn't want the truth; they wanted to change destiny, no matter the consequences.