Mistaken Identity || Star Wars Fic

Novak sat in his office talking his hand against the table. The senior officers and Padawans from Jabiim had just left after giving him a full debrief on what had occurred on the planet. After hearing their stories, especially the young Padawans he found it hard to look them in the eye. Hearing everything they experienced, all the horrors they'd faced... and all at the hands of the republic. It made him feel sick, but what made him feel worse was what he was now doing to Jaden.

Jaden was a hero, there was no doubt about it, from the Jedi to the Clones to the Jabiimi themselves he couldn't find one negative thing to be said about him. While the clones see him as a strong and competent General and the Padawans see him as a kind and wise Master. The Jabiimi see him as a benevolent god, one who came to them and saved them, even healing their injuries and making sure they did not suffer from hunger.

Wherever the clones or the Jedi or the Jabiimi were right there was no doubt that Jaden had sacrificed life and limb down there and had even stayed there to save the planet, while excepting to die.

How was he rewarded? Novak was delivering him to Coruscant where he would be imprisoned and most likely executed. He wasn't an idiot he knew how these trials went, they didn't have a shred of evidence in the first place, but that wouldn't stop them from finding it. If Jaden didn't get good representation then he was finished, they'd have him at the gallows before he could even get a word in. The republic nowadays was all about looking good, but behind that who's to say what went on.

The Jedi were no better, and them joining the war at the republics urging shows just that. Children had no place in a war, neither did the adults for that matter. They were peacekeepers not generals, but that didn't matter to the senate. Jedi were dangerous adversaries so they could be used to fight an enemy that had a much superior number.

Novak slammed his fist against his desk. The more he thought about the republic nowadays the angrier he got, he had done the right thing by going back for their men, orders be damned. Jaden was innocent, he knew that, there was no way the boy he met killed two Jedi and stole their equipment, he wouldn't believe it.

He pressed down on his communicator. "Lieutenant, bring Jaden up to my office as soon as you can," he said before shutting it off. Nothing would be solved by sitting here and brooding, he needed to talk to Jaden. He'd like to hear his side of the story as well as what he'd like to do next, because there was no way he'd be delivering him into the hands of High Command. He was already doing to be court marshalled whatever other offence's he commits won't make it any worse.

He poured himself a drink as he waited for Jaden, he thought he might need it once this conversation was through.

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Aubrie and the rest of the Padawans breathed a sigh of relief when they finally left Admiral Novak's office. For nearly five hours they told the man everything they had experienced on Jabiim and then went further by telling him Jadens role in saving all of them which transitioned into them finally pleading for him to be set free. Novak told them not to worry and that he would not hold anyone who was innocent a prisoner aboard this ship. This relieved her somewhat, but it didn't exactly allay her fears about what would happen in Coruscant; based on the attitudes that she'd already experienced from the High Council she can't imagine them offering any help for Jaden, nor could she imagine Jaden accepting it.

He had some rather strong opinions about the Jedi council, ones she would've disagreed with before she came to Jabiim, but ones that she now could see the truth in. None of them including the masters were ready for war like this. Skirmishes with pirates and criminals were one thing but what happened to them on Jabiim. Aubrie dreamed about it every night, sometimes she woke up still feeling the weight of the rubble on her in Chaol, or she'd have to check to see if she could still move her legs.

She knew Scout was the same, even now she'd never sleep in enclosed spaces, she wondered how well she'd sleep on the ship. "So what do we do now?" Scout said as she swung her hands by her side walking between Zule and Aubrie.

"I'm going to find somewhere to sleep... then wait for Master Leska to wake up," She said as she rubbed her eyes.

"Should we try and find Mak? Tell him about Kass?" Scout said with a low tone as she looked down at the floor.

"I'll do it," Zule said as she steeled herself. "I was with her at the end, it's best he hear it from me."

"I need to find a long distance communicator," Aubrie said as she started to walk ahead of her friends.

Both Scout and Zule scrunched their eyebrows in confusion over the comment. "Who do you need to talk to?" Scout asked curiously.

"Anyone that can help us with Jaden when we arrive on Coruscant," Aubrie replied.

"What do you mean?" Zule asked.

"When we arrive in Coruscant he'll be taken into custody and given a pre trial which will assess his danger level and willingness to cooperate," Aubrie explained.

"Oooooh how do you know so much about the law Aubrie?" Scout asked with wide yes.

Aubrie felt her face tinge a bit as her two friends looked at her intensely. "I studied many subjects in my spare time at the temple," she said.

She then cleared her throat and continued. "Jaden won't have anyone to represent him, the council will likely not help and the senate will be the ones prosecuting so it's likely he won't get help from any official bodies under the republic."

Zule frowned "Isn't everyone entitled to representation? It is one of the freedoms granted by the charter," she said.

Aubrie nodded. "The courts will be able to get around that as Jaden has no identity, he came from the Coruscant sub levels, they will use this as an excuse to say he is not a republic citizen and therefore not granted the same rights," she explained.

"What a load of bantha dung!" Scout shouted. "They can't do that! It's not fair!" She said outraged.

Aubrie put an arm around the smaller girl "I know it's not fair, which is why we have to find someone willing to represent him," she said.

"If he is not represented at the pre trial he will likely be locked up in a republic prison until the trial, and since he has to represent himself he will be given little to no time to put together a case," Aubrie stated. She had considered this situation a lot in the past few weeks, she knew if they'd ever got back to Coruscant they'd either need to find a really good representative or become criminals. She'd never shared her thoughts with Jaden, as of late he'd become quite self destructive, he had offered himself to Master Leska before and even stayed on a doomed planet, even now he sat in a brig waiting to be transported to Coruscant. It was clear he was deeply scarred by the events of Jabiim and held himself personally responsible for the deaths that occurred.

He couldn't be trusted with himself right now so she would have to look after him, just like he had taken care of her. "Why don't you represent him?" Scout asked.

Aubrie shook her head. "I'd never be allowed, anyone associated with the Jedi Order are meant to stay neutral in judicial proceedings with exceptions only being when a Jedi is involved. Not only that, I'm not part of any official body, nor do I have any connections, I'd only make things worse," she explained.

Zule grunted. "This is all too complicated for me," she said as her head began to ache.

"It sounds like the senate just want to steamroll Jaden and throw him in jail or worse put him to death," Scout said, her eyebrows scrunched up in anger.

This made Zule frown too, after everything he'd done for them the wouldn't let them do that to him. "We will break him out of his cell, let him take a ship and get out of this place," she said as she clenched her fists.

Aubrie breathed out. "He won't do that, he's not in his right mind at the moment, at least I don't believe he is," she said.

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Zule asked. "It sounds like we have no options,"

"We don't have many, which is why I will try to reach out to as many people as I can," Aubrie replied.

"I'll help you as well," Scout said grabbing Aubries shoulder.

"Me too," Zule said.

Aubrie shook her head. "No it's more important that you focus on Mak, and that you be there for Master Leska so she doesn't have to wake up alone."

Zule scrunched her eyes brows, she was reluctant not to help but she knew Aubrie was right. Master Leska did not deserve to wake up alone and Mak deserved to know what happened to Kass and how she died a true hero of the republic 'Whatever that meant anymore,' she thought to herself.

Aubrie then put her hand on Scouts back. "Come we need to find an officer that'll take us to the comms," she said. After that both her and Scout split off from Zule who was heading back to the medical bay. Mak was still injured so he should be there as well, on Jabiim they had run it off bacta a while back so most of the injuries were not treated as well as they could be.

She wasn't looking forward to giving him the bad news but she would do what she must.

...

Jaden laid his head back against the cold metal bulkhead of the ship. Despite being in a cell he still had a smile on his face. They were safe now and travelling back to Coruscant, while there could be danger along the way this was the home stretch. The hard part was over. Not only had they escaped Jabiim, but they had saved it from utter annihilation. He honestly wasn't sure how he'd be able to live with himself if he'd allowed billions of people to die. 'It was a close thing too,' he thought to himself.

If he hadn't of gotten that doctor's notes they never would've figured out how to reverse the polarity of the Mass Shadow Generator. The planet would've been destroyed and the 10,000 Jabiimi on this ship would've been the last of their race.

He wondered what awaited him on Coruscant, he would call it his home but it honestly never felt like it. The surface of the planet would be as unfamiliar as any other place he'd been to. Thinking about it they likely wanted this to be a quick trial, his actions on Jabiim will paint him as a hero, they'll do their best to debunk that and then likely make him out as a murder, a Sith Lord. He also doubted he'd be able to have anyone give testimony on his behalf, they'll find some legal loophole to exclude them from the proceedings.

Despite being innocent and knowing there was very little evidence of him being Sith he knew he was going to be convicted. He'd likely be executed as well, he had embarrassed the republic and they couldn't let that stand.

'You could always run.'

The traitorous thought echoed throughout his head. It was true though he could run, no one on the ship was strong enough to stop him. Aubrie and the other Padawans would likely help him, he could escape in the next few hours if he wanted to. He wouldn't... he didn't he didn't want the republic to paint him as a Criminal. If he ran then they'd all but confirm that he was guilty and to everyone else he'd go from war hero to common murderer.

The truth was he thinking in the long term, and not for himself, but for those who were left behind. The recoding of his speech was being replayed by trillions across republic space. If he could keep that belief, in him, in Jabiim then perhaps the Republic would be forced to help them again. That was his wish as foolish as it sounded, and it was why he wouldn't run. If the hero of Jabiim became a common crook then people would loose interest in the planets struggle, he couldn't do that to them, but there were a few other reasons as well and one of them was one this ship.

"Put your hands behind your back and place them outside the cell door," a voice echoed from outside his cell.

Jaden jolted in surprise before standing up, he hadn't been expecting guests. He stood up and did as the prison guard asked. When his hands were let back through they were cuffed together behind his back. "Where are we going?" Jaden asked.

"Admiral Novak wishes to see you, now hurry up he wants you there double time," the guard said before pushing him forward and out of his cell. He then led Jaden out of the brig where he was given to a lieutenant judging by his insignia. The officer was much gentler with him than the prison guard was, though he couldn't blame the latter considering what types of criminals he might have to deal with.

Jaden walked in front of the lieutenant who had his weapon drawn just in case he tried something. Walking through the corridors Jaden saw that some of them were filled with groups of Jabiimi that were trying to navigate their way around the ship. Though once they saw him they immediately started to swarm him, they bowed their head and touched his hands and upper arm.

"Hey back up!" The lieutenant warned as he tightened his grip around the blaster.

"Elookni!"

"Elookni!"

"I won't ask again!" He said drawing his weapon, however the moment he pointed his weapon forward it was crushed in his grasp.

"There is no need for that," Jaden said, making the lieutenant freeze slightly.

Jaden then whispered to the Jabiimi who started to make a path for them but not without touching him once more. As they made their way past the group the lieutenant decided to take the longer route to the admirals office as it would have less people wandering the corridors.

"What was that name they called you?" the Lieutenant asked. "Elookni."

Jaden sighed as he walked. "It means saviour in their language," he replied. He didn't much like the name, but he couldn't tell them to stop either.

The lieutenant kept silent for the entire trip to the admirals office after that. He didn't know who he was transporting, just that they were a Jedi of some kind, but that opened up the question of why they were keeping a Jedi locked up. 'No one ever tells me anything,' he grumbled before pressing try alert on the admirals door.

"Enter!" He heard from within and Jaden walked inside while he stayed outside the door.

"It's been a long time since we've spoken properly Jaden," the Admiral said as he put his drink down.

"It has, much has changed since then," Jaden replied.

"Indeed it has, when I first met you it pissed me off the republic was sending me another young Jedi, that they thought that the fact you could wave around a light stick and move things with your mind would somehow win us the war," the Admiral said with a laugh which Jaden shared before he gestured for him to sit down.

"But you proved me wrong, you had no need to go through the training I offered... but you did and that if anything else earned my respect for you."

"Back then I don't think I really appreciated what you did... I was so focused on trying to escape your ship without being hunted down," Jaden said with a small smile on his face.

Admiral looked at Jaden intensely, but after a few moments his gaze softened. "If I could've seen you now back then... I would've given you a ship to leave myself," he said, his voice tinged with guilt.

"What do you mean?" Jaden asked.

"I've seen many wars in my time, none of this scale, but it affects people all the same," Novak said as he finished the rest of the drink.

"I can see in your eyes... you're not the same person you were when you left this ship... you're less than you were, as if something inside you has been broken."

Jaden chuckled as he rubbed his eyes. "I can't imagine I'm any different from the others," he replied.

"Perhaps not," Novak said before standing up and going to his viewing port, looking out at the swirling hyperlane.

"I've heard a lot of stories about you from your comrades, they are all almost universally the same," Novak stated.

"I'm sure there are some exaggerations," Jaden commented.

"After what I saw in medbay I'm inclined not to believe you," Novak said as he turned around.

"You are a hero to nearly everyone on Jabiim, you not only saved the republic forces on the planet, but the planet itself," Novak said, he then raised a hand before Jaden could try to interrupt him. "You might not want to hear it... you might want to focus on those you didn't save, but the reality is, there would be a lot fewer people on this ship had you not been there."

Novak then sighed as he sat down, he got out another cup as and poured a drink for both of them. "You know what will happen when we return to Coruscant?" He asked.

Jaden nodded as he took the offered drink. "I'll be taken into custody, likely put on trial where they'll present evidence to convict me," he replied.

Novak snorted "That's a polite way of putting it, in reality you'll be taken into custody and then fucked at the trial and be given the harshest punishment available."

Jaden shrugged. "It is what it is, I can only hope they'll see the truth of the matter," he replied.

Novak slammed his hand down. "Truth is the farthest thing from what they want! They want to make you out to be a criminal and bury you, you embarrassed them by doing what they couldn't."

Jaden was silent for a moment, it was strange seeing Novak outraged on his behalf. "Why am I here Admiral?" He asked trying to cut to the chase.

Novak breathed out, calming himself down. "I've had my engineers looking over that bounty hunters ship, they've started repairing what they could and filling it with supplies, it'll be ready before we reach Coruscant."

"After that you'll get on that ship and disappear to wherever you want in this damn galaxy."

"Why?" Jaden asked, while he'd expect something like this from someone who was on Jabiim he didn't expect it from Novak.

"Because I won't in good conscience stand here and let an innocent man be convicted," he replied.

"You'd be court marshalled and likely imprisoned for letting me go," Jaden commented.

Novak waved him off "I'll be court marshalled anyway, I disregarded High Commands orders when they told us to leave you, you can't save me but at least I can let you escape."

Jaden paused for a moment. "I'm sure High Command would be grateful and willing to overlook certain issues if you were to deliver them a wanted criminal," he said as he leaned forward.

Novak shook his head. "I won't do that, I already said I won't deliver an innocent man into their custody."

"You're the reason we got off that planet, in the grand scheme of things people will need you a lot more than me," Jaden said with a small smile.

Novak was slightly speechless for a moment as he looked at Jaden. Though as he looked at the younger boy things started piecing together. "You knew we'd have this conversation? That I'd try and help you escape," he said as he tilted his head.

"I won't escape, I'll stay here until it's time for you to deliver me to High Command, that way you and your crew will suffer no consequences from disregarding orders," Jaden said.

Novak tightened his fists he didn't like what Jaden was doing but the boy was giving him little choice in the matter. "You are a good man Jaden... I'll do whatever I can for you when we get back home," he said as his body slumped.

"I'll assign you some guest quarters, you have free rein of the ship as long as you're here," Novak said before issuing the order on his personal pad.

"Thank you Admiral," Jaden said as he stood up.

"Call me Novak, you've earned that right," he said.

Jaden smiled. "Thank you Novak, don't worry about what'll happen to me, I'll be fine," he said before heading back to the door and leaving his office. Novak in the meantime poured himself another drink as he tried to deal with the guilt this situation was causing him.

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Hours of sending messages and hours of getting typical bureaucratic replies had drained Aubrie and Scout. It was starting to test their already inhuman amounts of patience. It seemed that no one wanted to represent Jaden, as if touching him or even going near him meant death. Aubrie couldn't help but be suspicious about it, while it could be a lack of compensation, they hadn't even had the opportunity to talk about the price so she didn't think it was because of that. It was likely the senate themselves who were pressuring these independent bodies not to take the case.

It made things a lot harder but Aubrie wouldn't give up. She kept on sending messages, pleading with them, offering them things she didn't have. She would do anything for Jaden even if it meant offering her services privately as a Jedi. She knew that made her no different than a bounty hunter but she was in a tight spot, there were thousands of different bodies that had people who specialised in law, yet the hundreds they'd gone through at the moment all said the same thing.

*We apologise but we are not accepting new clients at this moment. Please get in contact with us in the future*

Everytime they saw that message both Padawans wanted to crush the terminal with the force. "This is pointless!" Scout shouted as she leaned back in her seat and started swivelling in her chair.

Aubrie took a break too before rubbing her eyes. "It's difficult I know, but we will find someone... we have to," she said.

"Can we take a break? I'm starving and I want to go check on Master Leska," Scout asked.

Aubrie sighed before nodding. "I suppose it's best that we go and eat, I would like to see if Jaden is hungry as well." Both girls stood up from their seats and left their quarters before heading to the canteen.

————————————————————-

(Coruscant)

Laying on a sofa after a rough day dealing with the bureaucracy of the senate and the infuriating stubbornness of the Jedi. Padmé lay down trying to relax, her eyes felt heavy and her body ached. Her job seemed to be getting more difficult by the minute as she seemed to be the only voice of reason in this place.

"Are you okay my lady," her close and personal friend Sabe asked as she brought her a drink as well as a small pill to help with her headache. Something she regularly took after a long day at the senate.

"You know to call me Padmé when we are alone Sabe," Padmé chided as she leaned up from the sofa and took the offered drink.

"It seems nowadays we have less and less private time together," Sabe said as she sat down next to her friend.

"I wish it were otherwise, but it seems the whole senate is up in arms about Jaden Katarn," Padmé said as she leaned her head on Sabe's shoulder.

"It all seems ridiculous to me," Sabe said as she crossed her arms.

Padmé smiled and nodded "It is, I only hope I'll be able to help him."

*Beep*

The beeping sound from Padmé's personal terminal started ringing out which urged her to stand up and make her way over to it. When she turned it on her eyes widened at the message and then a smile made its way onto her face. "It seems a certain Padawan has just arrived at the senate building," she said before turning around to Sabe with a smile on her face.

She jumped up from the sofa her eyes wide and mouth open. "He's back? Anakin is back?" She nearly shouted as she rushed over to the terminal. She then looked over to Padmé, she was still supposed to be here until at least the evening.

"What are you waiting for! Go and greet your husband," she said with a smile. Sabe leaned forward and kissed Padmé on the cheek before rushing out of her apartment to meet Anakin.

Padmé smiled lightly as she watched her friend leave. She had been so happy when her friend had married, and been happier that she had asked her to be there for her. Though it was still a little strange that she had married the boy they'd both met so long ago.

Padmé moved to the bathroom and began taking her hair out of the bun it had been in. Sabe was constantly saying she should meet someone, that she was hoping and beautiful, that she needed someone to come home to.

It sounded nice

But the only people she ever met were emotionless Jedi or arrogant politicians; which didn't give much to choose from when it came to love. Maybe after this situation was dealt with she'd go back to Naboo for a while, maybe take Sabe's advice and find someone. It would be nice to have someone to hold her at nights, especially on days like this.

She removed her clothes before getting into the shower, she loved the feeling of the hot water cleaning the sweat off her body. She rubbed her face before moving down to her breasts, they'd always been small as a teenager but had grown quite a bit during her late teenage years, enough that they showed through her outfit and caught the gaze of many of her coworkers —much to her annoyance.

She felt her core tighten up as her hands brushed over her nipples, they had always been sensitive, even washing them made her squirm. She considered touching herself as she usually did after a long day, but at the moment she was so tired she couldn't think of anything but her bed. Leaving the shower she dried herself, her long curly chocolate curls splayed out on the bed as she lay down, she hadn't been bothered getting into her nightwear.

She moved the pillow beside her and hugged it tightly as she drifted off to sleep. Tomorrow would be another long day of trying to talk sense into people who did not know the meaning of the word.

(AN: So another big reveal, in this story during the events of the phantom menace it was Sabe who went with Qui-gon to Mos Eisley and met Anakin. She also took Padmes place during the events of attack of the clones when Jango tried to kill Padmé. So yeah Anakin married Sabe and Padmé is still single. I wonder what that means... heheheheheehehehheheh sex most likely. Anyway I hope you enjoyed the chapter.)

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