Chapter Text
Moving the Peregrine was a fairly simple affair as the repulsers and anti-gravs still worked perfectly. The problems arose when they tried to dock the ship onto Obi-wan’s transport ship, the docking modules refused to correctly link up. The Peregrine’s upper docking module was far too damaged, this lead to Anakin and Alex doing some very fancy flying to link the port docking module to Obi-Wan’s ship. The lower cocking port to be exact, this left the ship looking like it had a strange limpet stuck to the bottom. However due to some poor planning only the Jedi Masters were on the ships in space, leaving everyone else behind.
Planet side Luke and Ahsoka argued over who would fly the Azure Angel and who would take the Jedi fighter Mace had come with, both wanted to fly the Angel over the fighter. Leia watched, but chose to avoid getting involved. In her view the argument was painfully idiotic, though it did remind her of some of the arguing that would occur between her Luke and Han after missions.
“Luke you don’t have the experience to fly the Angel, Anakin would kill me if you crashed it.” Ahsoka said.
Luke pouted before replying, “I could easily get her back home.”
“Yes, though you aren’t even close to experienced enough. I doubt he’d even let Leia fly her, if she were here.” As Ahsoka said this she glanced at Leia guiltily.
Fortunately Leia had tuned out the bickering duo choosing to walk to the Jedi Fighter and slip into the cockpit. It wasn’t too different from the fighters she had flown with the Rebellion, but had far more in common with the TIE fighters. Settling into the fighter Leia started the engine and closed the canopy.
The sound of the engines starting up caught the attention of the other two, “Leia!” Both Luke and Ashoka called out together. Unfortunately for them Leia didn’t hear a word, already lifting off and flying towards the ships in orbit.
Ahsoka sighed, “Looks like we’ll both be flying the Angel.”
Luke grinned, “I call dibs on flying.”
Ahsoka gave Luke the most incredulous look she could muster, “Not a chance, I’m flying.” The two glared at each other for a moment before they took off, racing to get to the Angel.
Aboard the Peregrine Anakin and Alexander sat across from each other sizing each other up, least Anakin was. While he had picked up on similarities between Padmé and Alexander he was still having a somewhat hard time believe he was his son. He didn’t have many of the mannerisms that Luke and Leia had picked up from years of living and having a close relationship with their parents. He held himself in a relaxed manner far more akin to Mace Windu, who was currently with Obi-Wan aboard his ship aiding in any way possible with the surprisingly difficult process they had worked through to get the Peregrine docked.
“Where were you born?” Anakin asked breaking the silence that had grown between the two.
“Naboo. I was born in Varykino, nine months after you and mother were married.” Alexander said easily, “Though who my father was, was the best kept secret of our family until I was sixteen.”
“You only found out who I was to you when you turned sixteen?” Anakin asked with a frown.
“In a sense, I always had a feeling you were someone special to me. Though you never said so directly to me, you would help me as much as you could with my training. I remember I always wanted to become your Padawan. We had a bond as far back as I could remember and I never understood why, at least not until I found out the truth.”
“How did you find out?” Anakin asked, his hand dropping to stroke his lightsaber.
“You told me. During a battle on Shili, we got separated from the rest of the 501st and were stuck under shelling by several tanks if memory serves.” Alexander said leaning back, “Now since we’ll be here for a while, why don’t we have a game of dejeric. I have a fantastic set after all.” Alexander waved a hand and the table the two were sitting adjacent to filled up with a set.
Anakin responded by waving it off, “I’ve never been particularly good and dejeric. I don’t remember any battles reaching Shili during the war.”
“It didn’t, I don’t think your war lasted long enough for it to push so far into the core.” Alexander said.
Anakin frowned, but chose not to comment on the fact that Shili was on the edge of the Mid-rim, “What can you tell me about your father?”
“My father? You want to know about yourself?” Alexander asked leaning back in his seat.
“I certain the Vader Leia talks about in her universe is me. I can feel it.” Anakin said, his left hand gripping his lightsaber. Alexander stood and walked to one of the storage units, after rummaging around for a few moments he returned to the table carrying a holocron. The holocron glowed with a bright white light.
Alexander returned to the table with the holocron floating above his hand, “My father created this after he killed Palpatine. This was the last thing he gave me before he vanished into the unknown regions.” Alexander held the Holocron out to Anakin, “Be careful, that was created to guide others down the path of balance. The knowledge held within that isn’t for the fainthearted.”
Without a word Anakin held out a hand and took the holocron, opening it. Above it his face appeared looking back at him, looking much older then Anakin himself. His hair fell over his shoulders and his face was covered in a thick beard. The image slowly expanded, showing more of the older Anakin, he wore old somewhat worn out robes. Hanging from his belt was an ancient Mandalorian mask, “Hello Anakin, I didn’t think I would ever open this again.”
“How does it know?” Anakin asked looking back at Alexander.
“We encoded an AI, while the holocron can only be opened by someone through the Force, if the AI decides you will fall to either side of the Force he will cut you off from gaining any more knowledge. There is only one person who can override that.” Alexander said giving Anakin a pointed look, clearly indicating who that person was.
“Wouldn’t I register as someone else?” Anakin asked, “I’m not the same as the person who created this.”
“Obviously you’re more similar to him then you think.” Alexander said, “I take it you’re still in favor of the military and maintaining the GAR.”
“Yes, what has that got to do with anything?” Anakin asked looking somewhat confused.
“It’s the same mind set as my father. He was in favor of the army even after we defeated the Imperials and set up our own system for galactic governance.” Alexander said looking back over his shoulder, as he did the comms beeped. Alexander swiftly made his way to the to the comms system on the other side of the room, “Skywalker here.” Alexander winced as he said this, shook his head and started again, “Alexander here.”
“This is Leia. The astro droid on this ship doesn’t seem to want me here.” Leia’s voice echoed through the room.
“I do somewhat remember the Temple droids not particularly liking anyone they see as unfamiliar flying with them. Though I couldn’t ever quite figure out why.” Alexander replied, “You should be able to land her in the cargo bay of my ship. Give me a minute.”
“Take your time.” Was Leia’s dry reply.
“Droll.” Alexander replied before dashing off to close a pair of doors leading through to the cargo bay. Anakin seemed to have quickly caught on to his plan and was already opening the cargo bay doors remotely.
Outside the ship Leia was arguing, mildly, with Mace Windu’s current astro droid R7-P4. Leia’s sudden perceived theft of the star fighter had left him fighting her to control the ship. He had calmed down a slight amount when she had told him who she was, though it had confused the droid when she insisted she wasn’t Leia Skywalker and had proceeded to argue about her identity until the cargo door on the Peregrine opened.
“Finally.” Leia muttered to herself, somewhat irritated that the damn droid had decided it didn’t want to fly with her and would take the fighter back to Coruscant with one of the Jedi Masters or alone. R7 was the one that landed the ship, though before he could open the hatch Alexander called through the comms.
“Don’t open the hatch until I say so, the air shield on the Peregrine is damaged. So just wait until I tell you its safe to get off the ship.” There were a few moments of silence, then the comm went off again, “You can open now, the door is sealed.”
The moment Alexander finished talking the canopy poped open and R7 basically screamed at Leia to get out. Hurrying her as much as possible, even going so far as to threaten her with his cattle prod. Though it didn’t really bother Leia much, she simply exited opposite to R7. When she did she was met by both Anakin and Alexander.
“Those droids are strangely territorial, I think I’ve left R2 in the temple too often.” Anakin said apologetically.
“I honestly don’t remember the temple droids being that hostile.” Alexander said as the trio walked out of the cargo hold, the doors hissing shut behind them. Alexander waved a hand, behind them in the now sealed off cargo bay the door opened and R7 swiftly left. Alexander suddenly stopped, “I want to show you two something.”
“Huh?” Anakin said dumbly as Alexander grabbed his shoulder and dragged him and Leia through the ship. Though Leia shook Alexander off quickly, shooting him an angry look.
“Sorry about that.” Alexander said, not sounding particularly apologetic. “I want to show off my family, this is going to be a long trip after all.”
Leia stopped, “I have no interest in seeing some other version of a family I don’t belong to.”
“You always have Leia, why can’t you belong to both.” Alexander said stopping and spinning, “You and I both know full well that family isn’t limited to those we grew up with. I know it’s hard, but you need to at least get to know the beings who created you. It gives a certain perspective on life.”
“I was at war, a war I have to return to and lead.” Leia snapped.
“So was I!” Alexander snapped back. Leia opened her mouth to retort again, but Alexander held a finger up, “Live in the here and now. Dwelling on a war you can’t affect will only destroy your mental state.”
“I was forced to watch my home become dust, how could you understand that?” Leia said glaring up at Alexander.
“Better then you know. Leia, you’re stronger then this, remember here you have everyone you love still alive and so willing to help you.” Alexander said in a kinder voice, though when his tone changed the powerful presence that had filled the room vanished. It was as if Alexander wasn’t there anymore. “I’m in the same boat as you, I don’t come from here. This universe is some much better then my home, there was a war looming over our New Republic.”
“This fight is pointless.” Anakin said cutting in before either Alexander or Leia could say anything else, his tone of voice could only be described as commanding dad, “Don’t start on who’s had a worse life. It won’t get us anywhere.”
“Fine.” Alexander stalked off, Anakin and Leia watched him vanish into the depths of the ship.
“What a childish response.” Leia muttered to herself.
Anakin looked at Leia for a moment before walking calmly after Alexander, “Careful what you say Leia. That man has seen more then I have, if you’ve ever met Maz Kanda she would tell you the same. He has old eyes.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Leia asked as she followed Anakin through the ship.
“You know what I mean. You’ve seen others with eyes like his, beings who’ve seen too much war and death. Though he looks far older then anyone I’ve ever met.” Anakin said, a strangely hard edge to his voice. Leia frowned, slipping deep in thought so deep she didn’t notice when Anakin stopped. Alexander had walked into the centre of what seemed to function as the main living area of the Peregrine. He had pulled off his gauntlets tossing them aside, but this wasn’t what caught Leia’s and Anakin’s attention. What caught their attention was the gleaming silver of Alexander’s right hand. Alexander looked at them the anger they had seen and felt earlier apparently gone.
“Sorry about that.” Alexander said dropping into a crosslegged mediative stance, “It’s never easy to control anger when you live on a razor edged line between the light and dark.”
Anakin frowned for a second, “How long have you been like that?”
“Longer then you’d ever believe.” Alexander said holding his right hand up to his eyes and flexing it. He calmly watched the servos and other mechanics shift as he clenched and unclenched his hand, “Do you want to know how I got this?”
Anakin shook his head, but Leia nodded, sensing Alexander was probably going to tell them no matter what they said.
“I was fifteen when it happened, the Clone Wars had been raging from the day I was conceived. My Master and I were leading a resistance on Taris. During the third week, we were ambushed by Grievous and half his word of droids. During the battle I was separated from Master Windu and ended up facing Grievous alone, I thought because I had survived for years leading up to that battle I would be unbeatable. I was a Jedi and had the Force on my side, how could a measly tinny hurt me? At least that’s what I thought, that was one of the dumbest things I’ve ever done.” Alexander paused and looked up at the other two in the room, “Sorry, I ran off into the past.”
“You tried to fight Grievous when you were fifteen?” Anakin asked, a hint of pride in his voice.
“I wasn’t like Ahsoka, she could always fight off Grievous without injury. The one time I tried, I lost my arm and lightsaber.” Alexander said, “I will never forget that fight, I only survived due to Master Windu and several of our Clone troopers arriving and intervening before I was killed.”
“You managed to fight us off well enough.” Anakin commented, “You must have trained for years to get as good as you have.”
Alexander laughed, “You have no idea, I could be better though. I’ve never been fully satisfied with my skills, I’m not exactly the protégé Luke and Leia were. Compared to them I was the white Bantha. I wasn’t a poor student exactly, just normal in comparison to the Skywalker twins.”
“Yet you can completely cloak your presence.” Anakin said dropping to the floor next to Alexander, “The only comparison I can think of would be Palpatine, before he revealed himself to me. Even then I couldn’t feel him through the Force the way I should have been able to.”
“Be thankful for that, I fought him twice before we were able to destroy the Empire and he almost killed me both times.” Alexander said in a simple monotone.
“You survived fighting him head on?” Anakin asked, sounding somewhat surprised.
“I did, though both times I ran away. I was no match for him.”
Leia slowly sat adgaisant to the two older men, she listened to what Alexander said taking notes for when she finally returned home. The more she heard from Alexander, the more helpless she started to feel. Palpatine was beginning to sound like an un-killable force.
“However, you never ran from him. The only being in my home that Palpatine ever feared was your counterpart, the glowing beacon of hope that was Anakin Skywalker.” Alexander said, a grin splitting his face. As he spoke he waved a hand and a holo appeared behind Anakin, it looked like a family holo. It depicted Alexander’s family, all smiling or grinning out at the observer. In the centre stood Anakin, holding a baby, beside him stood an older looking Leia with a man leaning his chin on her shoulder. Both Leia and the man were smiling at the baby in Anakin’s arms, it took Leia a moment to recognise Han, he did look somewhat different to the one she remembered give the Han in the holo had a scar stretching from his bottom lip to the edge of his chin. Come to think of it Anakin himself looked fairly different in the holo, a thick, yet short beard covering his face while his hair fell over his shoulders. It was neatly tied back within the holo, but Leia had a feeling it wasn’t the natural way it was kept. In front of Anakin Luke reclined on what looked like a tanning chair with his hands folded behind his head and a grin plastered on his face, a grin that was defiantly pointed at the woman on his lap. The woman had strikingly red hair, that stood out even with the orange skin of the Togruta’s present. Both Luke and the woman wore modified Jedi robes, the woman having tight sleeve that fed into Mandalorian gauntlets and a blaster strapped to her hip across from a lightsaber. Luke’s robes were similar, though he also appeared to have parts of the regalia of the Guardians of the Whills, including a scarlet sash that ran over his robes. The Togruta’s mentioned were a trio that Alexander stood with, looking older then he did now. One was clearly Ahsoka, who also looked older then the Ahsoka Leia and Anakin knew, The other two looked much younger, one male and the other female. It was fairly obvious they were Ahsoka’s children as their facial markings closely resembled hers, but their skin was a far paler shade of orange verging on beige. Alexander stood with his arms around Ahsoka and the girl Ahsoka mirroring him with her son. They stood adjacent to Luke.
“What happened to Padmé?” Anakin asked as the rose to his feet, his eyes frantically searching for a trace of his wife. Alexander waved a hand, causing half the holo to vanish leaving only the portion of Anakin and Leia’s family.
“She was gone by the time we took these holos.” Alexander said carefully, “These are from after we won. Mom never got the chance to see the New Republic.”
While Anakin and Alexander had been talking, Leia had gone to take a closer look at the holo of herself and Anakin, “Who’s the baby?”
Alexander looked over, “That’s your son, Ben.”