Unification Part Deux

Three years later…


Acaciah received a holovid from the capital building in Coruscant. Strange, she thought, I don’t know anyone in the Senate. She opened it:

Padmé Amidala-Organa appeared. “Lady Sakarté, I would like to speak with you and your father about the Unification Movement as it relates to both the Jedi Order and the Senate.

Acaciah smiled. “I would be honored, Senator. I would like also to bring Princess Elizara Kadeen of Shintel; she has done much of the research that has contributed to the Unification Movement. You would find her insight most enlightening.”

“Bring her then; Bail and I are most anxious to know more about it,” Padmé replied. “You are married to Anakin Skywalker, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” Acaciah replied. “He’s a unique character, isn’t he?”

“To say the least!” Padmé exclaimed. “He was my bodyguard once, you know.”

Anakin entered the room. “Old times, Padmé,’ he said quickly. “Danae’s awake; I think she’s hungry,” he said to Acaciah.

Amidala gave Anakin a mischievous grin. "Ani, you'll always be that little boy I knew on Tatooine!” she said, and signed off.
One of my favorite lines!
“Ani?” Acaciah laughed. “She’s the one you kissed, right?”

“Um, yeah,” Anakin replied. “She’s married to the Chancellor now, and quite respectable.”

“I’m sure, Ani!” Acaciah replied, rolling her eyes before she went to check on their children.

***

Obi-Wan, Acaciah and Liza went to Coruscant to meet with the Senate’s Unification Movement Exploratory Committee.

“Master Kenobi!” Amidala exclaimed, hugging him.

“It’s good to see you, Senator,” Obi-Wan replied. “But I am Father Sakarté now. This is my daughter, AcaciaShe She and Anakin are Lady and Lord Sakarté.”

“I know, Anakin a lord!” Padmé exclaimed. “But you know, he always was ambitious!”

“He still is,” Acaciah agreed. “Senator, this is Princess Elizara Kadeen of Shintel.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Liza said, bowing slightly. LikeLikewise,” Padmé replied, returning the bow. “And please, call me Padmé.”

Liza gave a warm smile. “Call me Liza please, and we are most pleased to discuss the Movement with you, Padmé.”

“I don’t know a lot about the Force,” Padmé stated, “but I do know the Jedi Order forbids attachments, such as that of marriage and family. Everyone I’ve heard of in the Unification Movement are either engaged, married or starting a family. What prompted so many Jedi to leave the Order and do this?”

“The Force is often spoke of as in the Living Force and the Unifying Force,” Obi-Wan explained. “The Fiona, for example, are major proponents of the Living Force; they focus on the here and nand and its aspects of family and creation.”

“The Unifying Force is touted by the Order because it focuses on lar larger picture, what will happen eventually, even at the cost of the here and now,” Liza said. “Detachment is prized, that is why children are taken from their families. My husband and I left the Order because we refused to give our children to strangers to be raised; we wanted to do the job ourselves.”

Acaciah concurred. “Anakin and I left when we saw what happened to Joss and Liza; we knew we wanted to have children eventually and that we wanted to raise them oures aes as well. We both felt very strongly about it, as Anakin was raised in early life by his mother, and I was raised all mine by Papa. It didn’t hurt me at all to be raised by a loved one,” she said, throwing Obi-Wan an affectionate smile. “And it has done my children good to know their Papa Kenobi as well.” He squeezed her hand and smiled.

“So the Living Force is better?” Padmé asked.

“No,” Acaciah said. “A balance is needed, a respect for both aspects, as they are equally important in maintaining the equilibrium of the Force. Unfortunately, it has been out of balance for so long that it nearly gave the Sith the opportunity they needed to take over, as we discovered with Palpatine.”

“There is a prophecy regarding this that we discovered and have been investigating more thoroughly; it has led us to believe that our feelings in the matter were correct. It is not that the Jedi Order is unworthy, it just needs reformation. The Fiona have sat on the information for many years since their expulsion from the Order,” Liza stated.

“Interesting,” Padmé commented. “It may be a bit controversial, but I would like to give the Unification Movement my support. Bail is going to be the harder sell.” As if summoned, Bail Organa entered, with a little girl in tow. She had chestnut hair and her mother’s luminous brown eyes; she toddled up to Padmé. “Mama,” she sighed. “Can I play outside?”

Liza and Acaciah exchanged looks; the girl was a sensitive! “Not right now, Valena,” Padmé replied.

“The Force is with your little one,” Acaciah told Bail and Padmé. “The Jedi will want to train her.”

“Oh, we couldn’t send any of ouildrildrway”way” Bail said. “Not even Lynnea, and she gives us fits!”

“If they see her, they will covet her,” Liza told her gently. “But if we succeed, Padmé, Valena can be trained and still live with you.”

Bail gave the three former Jedi thoughtful looks, considering the prospect. “If you succeed,” he said. “Valena can marry and have a family of her own someday, and she won’t have to leave ours?”

“That’s correct,” Obi-Wan said. “It is our primary goal to allow Knights more personal freedom, as well as a greater understanding of the Force.”

“Acaciah, your husband is the primary leader of the movement?”

“Yes, but he’s with our children today,” she replied.

“Have him come to Coruscant so we may discuss what the Unification Movement needs in the way of finances or other support,” Bail said, ruffling Valena’s hair.

“I will have Anakin contact you posthaste, Supreme Chancellor,” Acaciah said.

The trio rose and bowed to the Organas, and took their leave.

***

The Skywalkers bundled their children out of the speeder and up the walkway he Khe Kadeen’s expansive mansion. Lawson, Aiden and littlest Danae were in and around their parents’ feet as they kissed their hellos with Joss and Liza at the door. Lawson darted in and made a beeline for traitraining room in the basement where he was certain the other boys would be playing. Aiden and Danae followed their parents in, Danae following Lawson toward the training room. The nanny had just helped Lyssa set out her tea party things as the boys played.

“Aiden!” Anakin called sharply. “Go make sure your sister doesn’t get into any trouble in there!”

“Yes, Dad,” Aiden replied dutifully, hurrying after Danae.

Anakin and Acaciah settledo Joo Joss and Liza’s sitting room and Groot brought around tea for everyone. “The negotiations with Supreme Chancellor Organa went quite well,” Anakin said, pleased. “We will have all the finances and space we need, either to build our own Temple, or buy out the old one.”

“How are the new recruits coming along?” Joss inquired. “I understand the Council’s been quite upset over Obi-Wan leaving! He took a good many Knights with him!”

“Yes,” Acaciah agreed. “The House of Anolia’s been kind enough to donate one of its old chanteries, which is much plusher than anything at the Jedi Temple! Adi Gallia told me she thought she’d died and gone to heaven!”

“I’m surprised we haven’t heard from the Council,” Anakin remarked. “You would think there would be some official statement from them about the Unification movement.”

“I guess we’re not important enough for the talking heads to dignify with a response,” Liza sniffed.

A thoughtful look passed Anakin’s face. “Perhaps we’re not after all, Liza,” he said.

Groot re-entered the room. “Master?” he inquired nervously. “You have another guest at the door. Were you expecting another guest?”

“Mace!” Joss scowled.

Anakin stilled him with a wave. “Let him in, Groot. Let’s hear what the learned Master has to say to us.”

"So, the revered Master finally graces us with his presence." Joss sneered as Master Windu entered the spacious sitting room.

“You have gone too far!” Windu snapped. “You seduced the Senate and the Supreme Chancellor! We have lost our knights, our reputations, our very lives are at stake!”

“Your Knights seem much happier with us,” Anakin replied, not bothering to hide his amusement.

“Oh yes, Anakin, excuse me, it’s Lord Sakarté now;” Windu dripped sarcasm, “you and your Fiona riches have seduced good Jedi to the truth of the Force!” Windu raged.

"You tried to steal our lives from us Mace Windu, for no other reason than to protect your precious Order!" Liza snapped as he glared at Joss.

“The Order provides structure, without it, there is chaos. You are creating chaos!”

"Chaos?" Joss spat, "We are creating nothing more than what the Force wants! Besides, it’s nothing more than you deserve for all you did! Wrenching two people apart whose only crime was to love, that is Chaos!"

"Not chaos Joss, just plain evil, as evil as any Sith Lord trying to corrupt a soul." Liza said softly, slipping her hand into his.

The rabble upstairs drew little Brant, now four, followed by Danae and her protector Aiden. Brant was carrying a mock lightsaber and he watched his father and Windu face off. How dare that man yell at his parents? He approached Windu, who was ignoring him. "Bad man!" Brant shouted and struck Mace hard on the shin with the mock saber; Danae giggled at his antics. Mace glared at both of them and Brant instantly shielded Danae. “Go on!” he shouted at Windu. “Put ‘em up, I dare you!” he brandished his saber at Windu. “I can take you with one hand!”

Windu recoiled; the boy radiated power, much as Anakin had when Qui-Gon Jinn had brought him before the Council. “Who do you think you are, boy?”

“I’m Brant Kadeen and I’ll kick your butt if you mess with my family!” he retorted. Danae leaned forward and whispered in Brant’s ear. A devilish smile crept across his face.

“Wanna know a secret?” Danae asked Windu.

“What?”

“Come closer,” Danae said; Brant wiggled his fingers as Windu took a step and fell flat on his face. They launched themselves onto Windu’s back. “Surrender!” Brant cried. Danae gave a Fiona war whoop. “We won!” Brant exclaimed.

“Indeed we have,” Anakin agreed, amused. “This would never have happened at Jed Jedi Temple, eh, Mace? I guess change is inevitable; you can either join it or let it destroy you.”

The rest of the boys trooped up the stairs to see what the commotion was. “Look!” Connell crowed. “Brant and Danae clobbered Master Windu!” The boys all burst out laughing.

"I think that's your clue to leave Windu, now get out of my house," Joss snapped.

***

The Chosen entered the council chambers, flanked by their numerous allies, the defectors and Fiona nobles. The Jedi High Council rose to its feet.

Anakin spoke first. “The Chosen of the Force have come home, Masters. It is time to adapt or die.”

“There is no end to you scheming, is there Skywalker?” Mace Windu spat. “First your friends, then Acaciah, and Obi-Wan and now…”

Joss sidestepped to reveal Barriss Offee holding a small boy with tawny skin and Mace’s chocolate ey Mur Murmurs fluttered through the room. "So much for honor, eh Master Windu?" Joss sneered at the older man, who paled and flushed with shame.

"Barriss, Evain…" Windu stammered, unable to meet his angry silver eyes.

“You promised me it wouldn’t be like this!” she said accusingly.

“It wasn’t like that…” Windu began.

"Oh and how was it? She was a Padawan in my class Windu! You are guilty of the same crime that you banished me to Tatooine for!" Joss roared, his anger filling him.

Windu only lowered his head in shame. “If you want to know your son from now on, you’d better choose well!” Barriss spun on her heel and left, Evain staring at his father with round sad eyes. Windu followed her retreating figure.

Yoda said nothing up to this point; he had frequently been silent more and more lately. “Yield to the will of the Force, we must,” he said softly and his eyes closed. His energy dissipated into the Force, leaving only robes behind.

They stood in a ring and joined hands. “The New Jedi Order shall accept the whole Force, the Light and the Dark, Living and Unifying,” Anakin intoned.

“We welcome back old family long lost to the Jedi,” Acaciah said.

“And we embrace our new family as well,” Joss added.

“The mission of the Jedi Order is now to protect the Balance of the Force and to follow its will!” Anakin finished; the halls of the Temple rumbled with cheers.

~ fin ~