An Even Greater Sin

Chapter 6: ...creates the need for spirit

Luke rushed away from the amphitheater, taking as convoluted a route as he could to try to evade his mother. He knew that she would seek him out, and he had to avoid that.

Plus, although it had been his dream for years, right now he DIDN'T want to meet with his parents in the same room- not with the type of confusion it would cause. That kiss from Anakin, Luke knew, was the sign of a growing connection, and Luke thought it was common sense to avoid the wife of someone he slept with. And he wasn't sure if seeing Anakin was a good idea, either.

Funny... only now did Luke think of the future as what it was: the future. It began to dawn on him that maybe, as he existed here, he was causing a great danger to everyone. He realized that the effects he could have on his own time were almost limitless.

He could cause himself to stop existing.

But then... there wouldn't be anyone available to change the past... which would mean no one would kill the fetus... which made it obvious that the Force was not going to allow that. But still... the power to change the events of Anakin's life...

Maybe he could destroy Vader before Vader even existed.

It was a cool night, and as he glanced skyward, Luke could swear that even through all of the traffic, he saw dark, foreboding shapes: triangular and ominous. Star Destroyers. So, although it was unofficial... the Empire was, in all practicality, in control. Luke couldn't stop Palpatine's rise to power... but maybe he had hope for saving Anakin from the corruption of the Dark side.

But then... what would that make him? Would he wind up changing the past so much that he, as he was, would stop existing? Would he have been raised by his parents... trained from an earlier age... and never gone back in time to change the past?

It was a paradox, one which gave Luke a headache no matter which way he turned it, and he knew that he had to watch his step. Too much manipulation of this time could irreperably damage his own. Although he felt pain at what had occurred to him at Vader's hand, he had felt pleasure at Anakin's...

If he changed the past, he would change his present... and therefore the past again. And oddly... Luke was coming to terms with Vader. He had no right to do what he had done, but did Luke have a right to want revenge? Or to want to mess with Vader's life... before Vader?

No, he didn't. Luke had to avoid Anakin, although he wanted desperately to ask, to learn, to know-

-to feel, to hold, to love-

Shaking his head clear of the needful thoughts, he took a glance at his surroundings. Without paying attention to where his feet had taken him, he had found himself at the foot of a building which could only be described as... sacred.

Without bothering to think, his feelings told him that this... was the Temple. The Jedi Temple. Taking a deep breath, he drew up his courage, and entered.

The halls rang with muted voices, chatter, and a soft, low humming that stirred a kind of serene thrill within him. It was exhilerating, this feel of blank detachment. All worldly needs were either taken care of or left behind, here. Only the basics- food, security, and sentient rights- were allowed here. No distractions, no sidetracking... Luke began to understand just how ascetic the old Jedi were.

Although the thought unnerved him- that he had to release all excitement, all emotion- the feel of this holiest of places was infectious... soothing...

He closed his eyes, walked, effortlessly, as though the proper path were etched within his soul. He opened his eyes only once, to see several robed beings staring at him with a mixture of curiosity and awe.

If he was in a normal state, he would have become very self-conscious. Instead, he gave each of them a hazy, deleriously calm smile, and continued walking. He sensed the Jedi surrounding him return to their nightly tasks.

It was a circular chamber, at the top of a tall spire. Windows surrounded him, and he gazed out at all of Coruscant- all of the universe. He wasn't alone, though.

A dark-skinned human male sat in one of the twelve seats, and he rose as Luke entered. Forcing himself to focus- to let go of this feeling of invincible peace- Luke bowed.

"Who are you? How did you get in here?" The man asked, demanding an answer.

Nervously, Luke replied, "I'm not entirely... sure."

"Only Jedi are allowed in the Council Chambers."

"I... apologize." It was a struggle for Luke to speak so formally, so humbly, but he knew that he had to watch his step around this man. "The Force guided me here, I don't know much else."

"Who are you?"

"I'm- nobody. I'm just a kid who picked up a few things... I had no idea about this place. I'll leave immediately, Master...?"

"Windu."

"I'll leave immediately, Master Windu. I apologize for the intrusion." Turning to exit, Luke had a thought. "I... don't suppose you could take a message for Master Yoda or Kenobi?"

"If it's quick."

Gathering his thoughts carefully, Luke replied, "The time of trials draws near. We will all be tested."

Where had those words come from?

And Luke walked out of the room, out of the Temple... and didn't look back, even as the real world came crashing down on his shoulders again outside. There would be no looking back.

Padme` didn't know what to do. The baby- babies?- had stopped their painful fussing, but they continued to toss in her womb in a way which gave her a terrible sense of dread.

And Anakin still wasn't home.

But then, there he was, warm and caring- yet cool and nervous. Something had indeed happened, that had changed him- perhaps irreperably. "Anakin, what's wrong?"

But he merely staggered his way to their bedchambers and prepared for sleep.

Luke was alone, on the street, and sopping wet. One of those microsystems of weather had popped up right overhead, and although it wasn't particularly cold... Luke was freezing.

He knew it was from loneliness.

Anakin awoke from yet another nightmare, and glanced over at his wife. He couldn't bear to see her face right now- she was beautiful, his angel- but the very sight of her brought the nightmare freshly into his mind. He needed support, but he definitely didn't want to wake her.

He wanted Luke.