fandomhigh | Advanced Sneakiness [Tuesday, July 20]

Anakin was not exactly fine with what had happened in the latter part of last week, which was why today's Danger Room looked like the interior of a refugee freighter. Padmé had been weighing heavily on his mind

"One of the most important aspects of infiltration is the ability to blend in and not be noticed," he said as he walked through the crowded space. "And one of the most obvious ways to do that is through the use of clothing." He swept his hands out. "We will start simply. This is a refugee freighter, an inexpensive and slow way to move around my galaxy. Here you would find beings from many species and systems, none of them particularly wealthy."

He pointed to one of the doors. "Behind that doorway you will find a very large supply of clothing, and a computer that links to a database full of the planets in my galaxy. You have fifteen minutes. Put together a costume and a cover story that would explain why you are traveling from Coruscant--the galaxy's capital--to Naboo--a planet famed for its beauty."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"But I have the benefit of knowing people who have already lived through it," Leia pointed out. It made sense to her, at least.

"I wouldn't count on them being particularly forthcoming with details," Anakin said. "Jedi are taught that the future is constantly in motion, but sometimes there are events that are almost impossible to avoid. I think Anakin's fate might be one of them."

And it killed him a little to say that.

"How am I supposed to live with that?" Leia exclaimed. "He's not even born yet and already I know he's going to die!" She couldn't imagine having a child and knowing that in only a handful of years she'd have to let him die.

For a split second Anakin's carefully erected shields crumbled and his eyes looked as old as he really was. "Because of what it would mean to teach him to be anyone other than who he is meant to be," he said quietly. "I met him, too, and he was an extraordinary person. And you'll raise him that way. He has your innate sense of duty and justice--would you want him to live a longer, smaller life by not encouraging that part of him?"

Leia shook her head. "That's not fair," she said, though her tone was more pained than whiny ~~like her twin~~. "How can I make that kind of choice?"

"Now you see why we didn't tell you," he said. "This is a burden I didn't want you to carry."

She was torn between saying she had the right to know -- whether it was true or not -- or that she wished she didn't know now. "But now I have it," she said instead. "So my future means Palpatine and Vader are gone, the Republic is restored, but my son dies young." Suddenly she wasn't looking so forward to it now.

"But decades from now," Anakin pointed out. "And only in a few versions of the galaxy so far."

Every one he knew of, but...

"Jaina's, Ben's, and Tahiri's," Leia murmured. So...three out of five, and the other two hadn't hit that point yet. The odds weren't looking good. "How will I know if it's something I can change or not?"

"You won't," Anakin said bluntly.

Thanks, Dad.

"You're helpful," Leia bitched.

"Hardly ever," Anakin replied because picking a fight was definitely the better option today.

She really wished she'd had a chance to talk to her mother about this. That probably would be more helpful.

"At least you admit it," she said.

"I'm well aware of my weaknesses," he said with a maddening smile.

Advanced Sneakiness [Tuesday, July 20]

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