When they arrived at Coruscant, Padmé and the twins disembarked in Padmé's ship much earlier; they couldn't return together, it would be too suspicious. Luckily, R2-D2 concealed their presence from radar. Obi-Wan didn't have time to inform the council; he went with Satine to the medical wing, despite her insistence that it would be too suspicious.
"Why isn't Master Kenobi with us?" Master Ploo asked, but Anakin could see a slight smile on his lips.
"A few minor matters," Anakin said, and Ahsoka nodded.
"Did they say it was a trap set for Kenobi?" Mace Windu asked.
"Exactly. Master Kenobi's kind nature is well known," Anakin began to explain. "They tortured an old friend of my master to make him suffer."
"Duchess Satine," Mace Windu said, and Anakin nodded.
They recounted what had happened and the trap they had fallen into; they would have to lie about the last part.
"How did you manage to free yourselves?" Mace Windu asked, raising an eyebrow. They were hiding something from him.
"Master Obi-Wan managed to free himself and free us. Ahsoka freed our troops, and we were able to get out of there."
" "What will happen to the prisoner, Master Windu?" Ahsoka asked, fearing that Darth Maul would betray them.
"He will be sent to the Citadel," Master Yoda replied. "I must see to that myself," Yoda said, and Anakin understood. Master Yoda was protecting them; deceiving him was virtually impossible.
"So be it, then," Mace Windu said. If it was Master Yoda's word, no one would question them.
Anakin and Ahsoka went to the medical wing. They smiled as they watched Obi-Wan arguing with Satine.
"You must stay there," Obi-Wan insisted. "Your health is fragile."
"Mandalore has been invaded. I've been away from Mandalore for a long time."
"I won't let you return to Mandalore in this state."
"I must return to Mandalore."
"You're a pacifist, Satine," Obi-Wan said, embracing her to calm her. "You won't do anything for Mandalore except become a martyr."
"Are you implying that because I'm a pacifist I can't defend Mandalore?"
"Of course not," Obi-Wan said, exasperated. How did this woman manage to get under his skin so quickly?
"What do you mean, then?" Satine asked, annoyed, turning her back on him. She wouldn't stay angry with him for long anyway.
"We can ask for the Senate's help," Obi-Wan began.
"The Senate isn't working, and I won't join the Republic while this war lasts."
"Satine!" Obi-Wan almost shouted. "This goes far beyond ideals of peace. There's much more at stake, much more," Obi-Wan said, referring to the future the twins had told him about.
"I think she'll understand better tonight," Ahsoka said, and Anakin looked at her curiously. What was his Padawan talking about?
"Tonight?" Satine asked.
"Senator Padmé Amidala has entrusted me with the task of telling you, Duchess Satine, you, Master Kenobi, and you, Master," she said, looking at Anakin, "that she expects you at her apartment. No one else can know of your presence there."
"I'll be there," Satine said, sitting on the bed. She was worried about Mandalore, but she was sure that what Padmé had to tell them was important.
"We'll be there," Obi-Wan said, leaving the room and instructing the droids not to let the Duchess out until he returned for her.
"I don't agree with this!" Satine shouted angrily before a smiling Obi-Wan disappeared from sight.
"Marital problems?" Anakin grinned, enjoying teasing his master.
"Any advice?" Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow.
"If she's upset with you, try to stay quiet," Anakin said seriously. "Padmé usually gets annoyed when I keep talking."
"Anakin, anyone would get annoyed when you keep talking," Obi-Wan muttered under his breath.
"What?"
"Nothing," he said, shaking his head. "I'll see you at your wife's house." Obi-Wan winked, laughing at Anakin's serious expression.
"Very funny," Anakin muttered under his breath.
In Padmé's apartment, she was struggling to calm her two 20-year-old sons, who insisted on acting like little children.
"Luke, I'm sure he won't think you're too weak to be his son. You're not weak, and Anakin will definitely love you," Padmé said after Luke's panic attack at the thought that his father would reject him for being weak.
" "Are you kidding?" Leia asked. "Even Darth Vader wanted you by his side, but with me, he doesn't even sense the Force," Leia said sadly. "He won't want me as his daughter. I can't even hold a lightsaber."
"You almost cut off Obi-Wan's leg with a lightsaber!"
"It was an accident!" Leia shouted.
"Mother, do you think Father will be upset that we didn't tell him?"
"Mother, do you think Father will be upset that we kept it from him?"
"?" "Mother, what time are they arriving?" Leia asked again.
"Mother, what's the contingency plan?" Luke asked.
"Mother, is Duchess Satine coming too?" Leia asked.
"Mother, can we call Ahsoka first?" Luke asked.
"Okay, quiet," Padmé pleaded, hugging her children to calm them in the name of the Force. "Yes, Leia, Ahsoka will arrive first, thanks to the Force. Duchess Satine will also come, but she'll be with your father and Obi-Wan. Luke, I don't have a contingency plan."
"We're sorry for being so nervous," Leia said, and Luke nodded.
"I understand. I'm nervous too."
"Do you think this is the right thing to do?" Luke asked his mother.
"Yes," Padmé replied. "We can't lie to him anymore."
"Do you think he'll let us go with him on missions?"
"I'm sorry for being so nervous." "Not in a million years, but we've already talked about it. We'll go in secret no matter what. Besides, I still owe you a trip to Tatooine," Padmé smiled, and Luke smiled back with renewed energy.
"Maybe Dad can come with us," Leia smiled, and Padmé nodded.
They planned how they would tell him the truth. Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, and Satine would wait in the living room while Padmé and her sons spoke with Anakin. Then they would confess to Satine. Having her as an ally would be crucial to defeating Palpatine. After everything she had suffered, they were sure she would help them.
If the twins had been nervous that morning, Padmé could no longer control them when it was almost time for their father to arrive. She understood; this wasn't easy. They didn't even know how Anakin would react when he learned the truth. If he believed them, they were sure he would try to go and assassinate Palpatine. That would create a great disturbance in the Force, one that even Palpatine would feel. That was why Obi-Wan and Ahsoka were there, to try to hide his mark in the Force.
Ahsoka arrived at the apartment feeling Padmé's headache. She tried to calm the twins but ended up almost as defeated as Padmé.
"I've never appreciated the Jedi's Non-Attachment rule so much," Ahsoka said, watching the twins pace back and forth.
"I don't regret being their mother, but I understand why it's the rule," Padmé said, laughing.
"They're just like Anakin," Ahsoka said. "They walk the same way when they don't know what to do, when they're nervous."
"You only met Anakin when he was already a Jedi Knight. Do you know what it was like to marry him when he was 19?"
"I don't regret being their mother, but I understand why it's the rule," Padmé said, laughing.
"They're just like Anakin," Ahsoka said. "They walk the same way when they don't know what to do, when they're nervous."
"You only met Anakin when he was already a Jedi Knight. Do you know what it was like to marry him when he was 19?" "If he's already a big idiot, I imagine he was even bigger back then," Ahsoka smiled.
"He tried to win me over by riding a Shaak," Padmé said, and Ahsoka burst into laughter, but they stopped as soon as Obi-Wan announced they would arrive in 20 minutes.
"Oh, come on, Ahsoka! What am I going to do?" Padmé said, turning pale. "This isn't a good idea. Guys, we're leaving. We have to run!" Padmé shouted, and the twins looked at her, terrified.
"Good idea," Leia said.
"We're going with you, Mother," Luke said.
"Oh, by the Force!" Ahsoka shouted, standing in front of them. "You're going to enter that room and tell him everything. You won't hide anything. We'll make sure to stop him when he inevitably tries to kill Palpatine."
"Do you really think he'll want to?" Leia asked. "What if he wants to join him?"
"Oh, he won't," Ahsoka said, her gaze dark. It was a promise: if Anakin made the slightest attempt to join Palpatine, she would stop him, one way or another.
"Here comes Dad," Leia said, hugging Padmé.
Obi-Wan was walking beside Anakin after Satine had refused to walk beside him because she was still upset. Anakin certainly enjoyed seeing his master like this. They walked with smiles until they reached the hall, where everyone was very serious. Anakin saw Padmé, Luke, and Leia's expressions, and Leia refused to let go of Padmé's arm.
"What's going on?" he asked when all eyes were fixed on him. For Duchess Satine, it was almost obvious what was happening, even though she knew nothing.
"Ani," Padmé said bravely, "Can you come with us? We need to talk to you." Padmé said, and she could have sworn Luke was about to faint.
"Of course," Anakin said, confused, when Obi-Wan nodded.
"Duchess Satine," Padmé smiled, approaching Satine and managing to free herself from Leia, "Everything that happens here today will be a secret. Can I trust you?"
"Always," Satine smiled, and everyone knew they could trust her, everyone except Anakin, who didn't understand anything that was happening.
"Can someone tell me what's going on?" he asked, somewhat annoyed, and Leia took Luke's hand. They were both incredibly nervous.
"Let's go inside, Ani," Padmé said, leading them to her office.
"Duchess Satine," she said. Anakin could sense the twins' nervousness. What was wrong? Had something serious happened? Was Padmé alright? Padmé entered the room; she would be the first to speak, as this would take some time.
"Will you tell me what's wrong?" Anakin asked, seeing Padmé looking at him, visibly nervous, while the twins stared at the floor or anywhere but him.
Padmé ran to hug him, and Anakin held her in his arms. There was something strange about her.
"Are you alright?" Anakin asked, looking into her eyes. "You're trembling."
"I'm fine," Padmé smiled nervously. "Ani, something wonderful has happened," she said, looking into his eyes. "Ani, I'm pregnant," she confessed quickly, and Anakin stared at her, his eyes wide.
"That's right," Anakin said, surprised. Padmé had feared the news wouldn't make him happy. "That's wonderful," she said, a beautiful smile gracing her face.
"There's something I need to tell you," she said, looking at him with concern. "All of this."
"We're not going to worry about anything right now, okay?" Anakin smiled, his heart overflowing. Everyone noticed his happiness, but they knew it would soon be ruined. "It's a happy moment," he repeated, his eyes moist. It didn't matter if there were other people there; the twins gave him confidence. "The happiest moment of my life," he said, kissing her sweetly.
"It's not one baby," Padmé said, hugging him. "They're twins."
"What?" Anakin asked, suddenly feeling even happier. "That's wonderful," he began, and Padmé looked at him nervously. Was it possible he hadn't realized it yet? Obi-Wan had figured it out almost immediately, and she was sure even Satine had already figured it out.
"Ani," Padmé pleaded, her voice strained.
"Twins?" Anakin asked when everything began to become clear. "Twins?" she whispered again, her voice almost inaudible.
"A boy and a girl," Padmé said, feeling Anakin stumble. Anakin, for his part, felt as if everything were spinning around him.
"Padmé, I—" Anakin began, but he didn't feel right. Everything was becoming clear.
"Ani, come carefully," Padmé said, guiding him to a gigantic sofa. "Sit here," she said, watching as the man clutched his head in both hands. "That's it, calm down," Padmé said, looking at the twins who stared at the floor.
Long minutes passed. Nothing moved, and Padmé, increasingly nervous, hugged Anakin. He understood everything now, and he regretted that the worst was yet to come.
"You?" "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, his face expressionless, as he moved toward the already nervous twins who didn't dare look at him.
"I—" Luke said bravely, but his voice failed him.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Anakin asked, his voice breaking into a choked sob. "Everyone already knows, don't they?" Anakin asked, tears streaming down his face, and Luke nodded.
He felt betrayed because everyone already knew, everyone had kept it from him, but he felt happy. He was going to be a father—he was, he didn't quite know how to define it at that precise moment—of two beautiful children sensitive to the Force. In that moment, happiness overcame the dark feeling of betrayal.
"You should have told me," Anakin whispered, trying not to sob. He saw the twins' faces; both were crying. "Oh, come here," he said, taking the two twins and hugging them.
He felt Leia hide her face in his neck, hugging him tightly, and Luke cling to his arm as if his life depended on it.
"Luke, Leia, I'm sure your mother named you those," Anakin sobbed, overjoyed.
"How did you know?" Padmé asked, joining the family embrace.
"Intuition," Anakin replied.
Luke and Leia savored the embrace. They had longed to tell him from the very beginning, and they sobbed when they realized the worst was yet to come.
"There's still so much to say," Luke said, pulling away from the hug and looking into his father's eyes.
"What is it that needs to be said?" Anakin asked, holding Leia by the waist as she clung to him tightly.
"There's a reason we came to this time," Luke sighed. This would be difficult. "And it's to save you," he said, looking at Anakin and Padmé.
"Save us?" Anakin asked, sensing Padmé's nervousness and Leia's tighter embrace.
"Save us?" "The future is horrible, Father," Luke said, and Anakin felt a strange warmth in his heart when he called him Father.
"What happens in the future?" he asked fearfully.
"You can tell from my memories," Leia sobbed, knowing they wouldn't have the strength to tell him. It was different than with Padmé, different telling the man who would become Darth Vader.
"I might hurt you," Anakin said, stroking her face. He didn't want to hurt his daughter.
"I've been through worse in the future," Leia replied, stroking her father's cheek.
Reluctantly, Anakin did it. Luke considered it appropriate that it be Leia; she was the one who had suffered the most at Darth Vader's hands, the one who had lost the most. While Anakin used the Force to see through Leia, Padmé hugged Luke, knowing that what was coming would either be hell or too painful for Anakin.
Anakin watched each memory with horror. Suddenly, the memories his father had stolen flooded back, along with the memories of his daughter: the mind probe he had used against her, her tears and her refusal to betray the rebel base, the destruction of Alderaan, Luke's hand, how he froze one of his best friends, the hundreds of murders committed by Darth Vader, and finally Palpatine, that damned, disgusting worm he himself had called friend. He felt hatred grow inside him. He was going to kill him, he was going to tear him into a thousand pieces and hang his head from the top of the Senate building. He had manipulated everything; he was the serpent that had led him to the dark side.
Anakin fell to the ground, embraced by Leia, who held him tightly. Leia could feel the hatred within him, she could feel all his emotions. She wouldn't let go.
"Forgive me," Anakin sobbed, looking into her eyes. "Forgive me," he wept, not knowing how to apologize for having become that monster.
"There's nothing to forgive," Leia sobbed. "That future hasn't happened yet," Leia said, and felt Luke and Padmé join their embrace.
"Father," Luke said, "that's why we're here, to prevent all of that from happening."
"How did Padmé die?" Anakin asked, feeling the pain tear at his heart.
"In childbirth," Leia replied. "It was Palpatine's doing. He manipulated you into believing it was your fault."
"I'm perfectly fine, Ani," Padmé smiled, looking into his eyes, unsure how to comfort him now that she knew the truth. "You were deceived by Palpatine's lies. That disgusting pig lied to you."
"I'm going to kill him," Anakin said furiously. "I'm going to end this now!" he shouted, standing up.
Everyone tried to stop him, but Anakin stormed out of the room. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka blocked his path, while Satine prevented Padmé from chasing after him. He was dangerous in his condition, and Satine understood what was happening; she had always been quite assertive.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Anakin asked, looking at his master and his padawan.
"Because we knew you'd react this way," Ahsoka replied. "I'm sorry, Master."
"I'm sorry, Anakin," Obi-Wan said. "We were just waiting for the right moment to tell you."
"I'm going to kill him. I have to finish this now," he growled, pushing Ahsoka and Obi-Wan aside.
"Master, you can't. Please, listen to us."
"I have nothing to listen to," he said, walking toward his ship.
"Please, Anakin," Obi-Wan said, following him.
Leia and Luke ran after him. This was what they had feared. Their father couldn't fall to the dark side, consumed by any kind of hatred. Somehow, fate wanted to send him to the dark side. They couldn't allow it.
"Dad!" Leia exclaimed, running and hugging him. "Dad, please stop, don't do it. We have some plans, we need your help, please," Leia pleaded, clinging to him tightly. Anakin couldn't resist her embrace.
"I have to do it," Anakin sighed, calming down as he felt his daughter hug him.
"Father, please," Luke said, and Anakin pulled him into another hug.
"Why am I always the last to know everything?" Anakin asked, and everyone looked at him, feeling guilty.
"With all due respect, Master Skywalker," said Satine, holding Padmé, "Didn't you really notice?" she asked, looking at him and Padmé.
"Satine has a point there," Obi-Wan smiled, while Ahsoka stifled a laugh; it wasn't the time.
"I suppose she has a very good point," Anakin smiled, and everyone felt him calm down.
He walked with his children to Padmé and sat with them on a sofa. His children never left his embrace, and Padmé looked at them proudly.
"What's the plan?"
"You'll follow it to the letter," Obi-Wan warned.
"Of course not," Anakin replied. "Only if it's exceptionally good."
Satine and Anakin listened attentively to the plan. It was quite good, but it could be better.
"That disgusting worm Palpatine is clever. He's been deceiving me for years," Anakin said thoughtfully. "I'll let him know I'm interested in the dark side," he added.
"What do you mean by that?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Palpatine has always told me he trusts me, unlike the Jedi. He insists they should give me the rank of Master. I'll just tell him that's what I want and that it frustrates me they haven't given it to me."
"Isn't that what you want?" Obi-Wan asked, curious.
"Do you think that's what I want?" Anakin asked, confused.
"Well, yes."
"I would be honored," Anakin confessed. "But it's not really my thing."
Everyone relaxed incredibly when he said that, and Anakin didn't understand why.
"I'll suggest to the chancellor that he send you to spy on the council. If you show interest in the rank of master, he'll agree," Padmé said.
"The council chooses its members. They'll never accept me," Anakin smiled.
"Exactly. He'll think that would draw you further to the dark side," Ahsoka said, surprised by her master's plan.
"He'll think that would lead you further to the dark side." "What's more, I'll be the one to cast a negative vote," Obi-Wan smiled. "I think you're ready for the rank of Master. Don't misunderstand me, but Sidious will think I've betrayed you."
"I'll pretend to be upset with you," Anakin smiled.
"We'd have the battle won on that front. What about the Senate?" Leia asked.
"I'm still the Duchess of Mandalore, despite the great war on Mandalore," Satine said, and Obi-Wan took her hand. "I'm a pacifist. I don't agree with the war or the Republic, but this situation is much more serious than I imagined. I'll join the Republic. I'll join that idiot Chancellor, so Padmé can say she convinced me."
"If Mom starts convincing people who oppose the Chancellor, he'll see Mom as an even more potential ally."
"I don't agree with putting them at risk," Anakin said.
"Ani, this is bigger than that." "All of us," Padmé said, smiling, "must stop Palpatine."
"I suppose you're right," Anakin said, not entirely convinced.
"I have an unexpected ally," Padmé said, "a former Mandalorian soldier who now works as a bounty hunter."
"Where did you meet him?" Anakin asked jealously, and everyone raised an eyebrow. Was she serious? Now?
"On Nal Hutta, when we were following his cruise," Leia replied, and Anakin glared murderously at Obi-Wan.
"You let my wife and children go to Nal Hutta?"
"Anakin, it's too difficult to argue about common sense with your wife."
"Hey," Padmé complained.
"I'm not going to argue about that," Anakin said, and Luke laughed.
"The rebellion will be born first," Leia smiled excitedly, with both her parents being a part of it.
"We'll need to gather evidence to convince the chancellor's opponents. We already have some," Padmé said, showing the recording in which the chancellor's guards appeared on Corellia.
"The chancellor is from Naboo," Satine said thoughtfully. "I'm sure we'll find some evidence on Naboo."
"Then we'll all go to Naboo," Padmé smiled. "I'm supposed to still be there anyway."
"Not if you found out I'm alive, and came to take me to Naboo until it's safe to announce I'm still alive," Satine said, and everyone agreed it was a good idea.
"You can pretend you're terrified about what happened. Mother will convince the Chancellor that with enough persuasion, he can convince you to go to Naboo," Leia said.
"The Chancellor will trust me. You just have to pretend to be genuinely terrified," Padmé smiled.
All the Jedi present watched them interact.
"I hate politics," Obi-Wan said.
"What's it like to love a politician?" Ahsoka asked, looking at the two Jedi Masters who just smiled lovingly at their respective partners.
"I hate politics," Obi-Wan said.
"What's it like to love a politician?" Ahsoka asked, looking at the two Jedi Masters who just smiled, gazing lovingly at their respective partners."
"I can't believe it." "I never understood how Leia loved politics so much and created the best attack strategies against the Empire," Luke commented.
"She's just like her mother," Anakin said, terrified.
"Luke is just like you," Ahsoka said, looking at them. "Don't get me wrong, but he's been driving me crazy since he arrived."
"Are you saying I'm exasperating?" Anakin asked, feigning offense.
"Anakin," Obi-Wan smiled, "if you want to ask that, don't do it in front of me. I can certainly offer an opinion on that. I've watched you grow up since you were nine," Obi-Wan said, and they all laughed.
Dawn found them all still talking. That same day, they would travel to Naboo.
Padmé and Ahsoka went to the Senate building, with a terrified Satine in tow.
"Chancellor, I'm sorry to come unannounced," Padmé said, entering the room after the chancellor granted her entry.
"What has happened?" the chancellor asked, seeing the duchess weeping as she huddled with Ahsoka.
"Master Skywalker and Master Kenobi found her on their mission," Padmé explained. "I came here as soon as I heard, Chancellor. She's terrified."
"She will have my full protection," the chancellor said, wondering why that idiot Maul hadn't killed her, and why the Jedi hadn't yet informed him that Satine was still alive.
"Regarding that, I think we should speak privately, Chancellor," Padmé said, and Ahsoka withdrew with Satine, who could no longer feign tears.
"What's wrong, Padmé?" the chancellor asked.
"Chancellor, I've heard the vote for the clones failed," she said, approaching him.
"I'm so sorry, Padmé," the chancellor said, still seething with anger. "I was sure we would win."
"Chancellor, don't you see?" Padmé said with an almost wicked smile. "This is the opportunity we've been waiting for."
"What do you mean?" Palpatine asked, intrigued.
"The pacifist Duchess Satine of Mandalore is terrified. I'm sure her ideals are failing her. If she joins the Republic, I'm certain that with the right pressure, many of the senators who oppose the project would support it. She has been one of the greatest champions of peace," Padmé began.
"How do you intend to convince her, Padmé?" "I can't harm the Duchess, that's unimaginable," the Chancellor said, testing Padmé.
"Of course I'm not suggesting that, Chancellor," Padmé said, feigning embarrassment. "But I could take her with me to Naboo, persuade her, tell her that approving the project is the safest course of action, that she should join the Republic, and convince her that the Republic will help her reclaim Mandalore, in the most peaceful way possible."
"Do you think you can pull it off?" the Chancellor asked, intrigued. If Amidala could do it, it would be a great achievement for him.
"Absolutely," Padmé said, hesitating for a moment before saying anything. She had to appear hesitant. "She's very close to Master Kenobi; she won't want to go without him as her escort," Padmé said, and Palpatine smiled. He already knew this information; that's why Maul had used her.
"I will ask the council to have Master Kenobi and Skywalker personally escort you to Naboo," said the chancellor, and Padmé knew she had tricked him again.
"Master Skywalker?" she said, blushing and nervous.
"He's your friend, Padmé," smiled the chancellor. "We don't want anything bad to happen to you on Naboo now that the duchess will be there. We don't know if someone might attack Naboo, and I don't trust anyone else who could protect you better."
"Thank you, chancellor," Padmé said, thrilled.
They left the chancellor's office smiling; they had won again.
"We don't want anything bad to happen to you on Naboo now that the duchess will be there. "I'm still worried about Darth Maul," Ahsoka said. "They'll take him to the Citadel, but I'm sure Sidious will want to interrogate him and will tell about our presence there."
"He won't say anything," Satine sighed.
"How do you know?" Padmé asked.
"He hates Sidious for replacing him with Dooku, he hates him for not giving him what he deserved. If it weren't for his grudge against Obi-Wan, we might even have considered him an ally."
Satine's information sent chills down Padmé and Ahsoka's spines, but for now they had to concentrate on preparing all the details of their plan during their time on Naboo. It would only be two weeks, and then they would act.