Early Redemption by QueenNaberrie Chapters 21-25

[queennaberrie]

Chapter 21

Anakin looked into Padme’s concerned eyes. “Padme, I know that you will probably not like this idea, but I think I know where we should live.”

Padme was now looking at him with curiosity as Anakin looked down at their hands again. “Anakin, I’ll be happy living anywhere as long as we and the children are together…That’s all that matters to me.” She told him while squeezing his hands tighter and smiling at him.

Anakin looked back up at his wife with a smile. “I was hoping you’d say that.” He sighed. “Because I was thinking we should go live on Tatooine.”

“Tatooine?” Padme replied with surprise. “I thought you hated Tatooine?”

Anakin chuckled. “Well…It’s not my favorite place…but I did call it home once.” He sighed and looked away in thought. “I have fond memories of my mother there and still have family there.” He looked down at their hands again, rubbing his thumb over Padme’s hand. “I just heard from Luke that my step-brother, Owen, and his girlfriend, Beru, recently have been married.” He said while looking back up at Padme with a smile.

“That’s wonderful.” Padme responded. “But how did Luke find this out? I mean I know he was raised by them, but they wouldn’t know him now.”

“He contacted them on my behalf. To see if they’d be willing to take in some of the younglings, and they’ve agreed to take in a youngling named Tobin.” Anakin replied with thoughtful smile. “I’m happy they chose him. Tobin kept me focused and helped me not to give up hope when I was saving the younglings from the Temple. He was the one who first approached me when I found a group of them in the Council Chambers. He has blue eyes and blonde hair like Luke and I guess he made me think about what it would be like to raise our son and daughter.”

Padme smiled at him. “And you’ll get to be his uncle.”

Anakin looked at her with surprise. “You know…I never thought about it like that. But you’re right. I guess with my step-brother being his adoptive father, that would make me his uncle, wouldn’t it?” He said while looking at his wife lovingly and smiled.

“Yes, Ani.” Padme said with another tired smile and then became serious. “But what of the other younglings and padawans that were saved? What will happen to them?”

“Senator Organa has agreed to take them to Alderaan with him as orphaned refugees. He’s going to find good homes for them with families that are against the Empire.” Anakin replied and then sighed, caressing Padme’s hands between his. “Which actually brings me to something else I wanted to talk to you about.”

“What is it, Ani?” Padme said with concern and curiosity.

Anakin looked down at their hands and then back up at his wife, looking right into her eyes. “Senator Organa also asked if he could adopt Leia.”

“What!” Padme said with shock and panic. “No, Ani. He can’t have her!”

Padme’s sudden outburst caused the babies to start to cry. Anakin released Padme’s hands from his and immediately got up from the bed and went over to the bassinettes. He touched Luke with his left hand, sending a Force soothing reassurance through his son until he settled back down and went back to sleep.

He then did the same with Leia, but picked her up out of the bassinette as Leia continued to fuss. She must be sensing we are talking of her future. “Shh.” He said as he tried to comfort the infant more through the Force and then turned to his wife with concern. “I told him no, Padme. Not to worry. Yoda had just expressed a concern about keeping the twins together, so that’s when he made the offer. That’s all.” He paused and sighed, bringing a now calm Leia over with him to sit back on the edge of the bed with Padme’s eyes on them the whole time.

Padme reached up to put her hand on top of Leia’s head as the infant’s huge eyes seemed to be looking up at the man who held her in her arms. Her eyes became droopy, as if she was fighting to stay awake and then she fell back to sleep. Padme smiled at the sight of Leia being held by Anakin. “I couldn’t bear to part with her, with either of them, Anakin.”

“I know that. And neither could I.” Anakin replied with Leia resting on his lap and in his right arm. He reached up with his left hand and took Padme’s hand that was on Leia’s head in his own. “Although, disappointed by my answer, he did extend the offer of possibly having both Luke and Leia come to Alderaan for schooling later.” Anakin chuckled. “I can vouch from personal experience that the schools on Tatooine are not exactly the best.”

Padme snickered a little, looking directly into his eyes. “I guess you would know.” She said and then became serious. “I’d hate to be parted from both of our children, but I can see the wisdom in his offer.” She sighed, looking down at Leia and then back up Anakin. “Perhaps we might take him up on it some day. Just because we have to live in seclusion, doesn’t mean they should have to.”

Anakin smiled back at his wife. “That’s what I told him you might say.” Then his smile became bigger. “And I forgot to tell you. Obi-Wan has insisted on coming to Tatooine with us.”

Padme smiled back at him with happiness. “He has. That’s wonderful!”

Anakin chuckled. “He says he’s going to enjoy living the quiet life as a hermit, especially after all the excitement we’ve had over the last couple of years AND…his exact words were, ‘If I don’t come, who will keep you out of trouble. It seems to follow you were ever you go.’”

Padme laughed and looked at him with a teasing smile. “Yes, who would keep you out of trouble, my love? I certainly don’t have any influence over you.”

Anakin smiled teasingly back at his wife. “Oh…but you do, milady. More than you know. You have MY complete devotion. I would do anything for you.”

Padme raised an eyebrow. “Anything? Hmm. I just might have to test that theory.” She teased him as they continued to laugh.

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Coruscant

While all this was happening on Polis Massa, Emperor Palpatine had returned to Coruscant with a sense of determination. He went directly to Dr. Cornelius’ lab where the doctor was waiting for him. He walked up to the lab doors and pushed the button to open the door. When he went inside, the doctor was bent over a control consol but turned to look at Palpatine when he heard the door open.

“Your highness.” Dr. Cornelius said as he quickly got to his feet and bowed to the black, cloaked figure.

“Is everything set, doctor?” Palpatine said as he walked towards the other man.

Dr. Cornelius, a middle-aged man, probably in his mid-50’s, with blue eyes, graying black hair and wearing a white lab coat, greeted his new Emperor. “Yes, your highness. Everything is set and just awaiting for your arrival to continue with the process. Shall I proceed, Sir?”

Palpatine gave him a wicked smile from under his hood. “Yes, doctor. Proceed.”

The doctor then sat back down and turned back to the consol that faced a circular platform in the middle of the room. He started flipping switches and turning dials which caused the circular platform to start to glow and then holographic images of what appeared to be Coruscant appeared above it. “Now, your highness. The images you are seeing, as I have discussed with you before, are those from another dimension. With your Force-sensitivity, you should be able to pin-point the world you want for extraction.” He paused. “This is the first world I found that seems to be very similar to our own.”

“Very good, Doctor.” Palpatine said and then walked over to the platform, closed his eyes and reached out with the Force. He stretched out his right hand towards the holograms, but then sighed and lowered his hand. “Not this world, doctor. I don’t sense enough hatred coming from this world.”

Dr. Cornelius nodded and then turned some more dials. The image on the platform blurred and then another image appeared before them.

Sidious reached out again with the Force. “No. Not this one either. Go to the next one.”

This went on for about a standard hour or so with Palpatine getting more and more impatient by every passing minute. “No, NO NO!” Palpatine yelled in frustration. It seemed that every world he searched didn’t have what he wanted. But then he paused on the last world Dr. Cornelius had brought up. With his eyes closed and hand outreached he got an evil grin on his face and lowered his hand. He then turned to the doctor. “This is the one.” He said as he walked back over to the consol where the doctor was seated and then turned back to the holographic images, standing to the doctor’s right. “Extract him now.”

“Yes, your highness.” Dr. Cornelius nodded in compliance. He then wheeled his chair to another consol to his left and started flipping switches and turning dials.

The whole room seemed to hum and white lights began to glow above the platform as the doctor tried to lock onto the DNA signature of the apprentice the Emperor so eagerly wanted. In a flash of blinding light, a man who looked severely burned and had no limbs, except a cybernetic right arm, appeared on the platform and he was crying out in pain.

The Emperor walked over to him. Well…I was hoping he wouldn’t have been injured in this world. But he’s alive. That’s all that matters. And he contains the most hatred, fear and pain of any of the others. Yes, he’ll have to do and he’ll serve me well. That is unless Dr. Cornelius can ever get that blasted time machine working that he’s been working on, so I can get an apprentice who is whole and uninjured. The Emperor then turned to Dr. Cornelius. “Get a medical team down here. We need to reconstruct him immediately before he dies.”

“Yes, your highness. Right away.” Dr. Cornelius said and he turned on the comm. “Get a med team down here right away.”

“Yes, sir.” Came the voice of clone on the other end.

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It wasn’t long before the med team arrived and carefully loaded the injured man on a stretcher and put an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose. The man looked up at the Emperor, his eyes yellow with anger and rage at his predicament and unable to speak.

Palpatine followed the medics that had come from the Imperial Rehab Center, which is located in the same building as Dr. Cornelius’ lab, to the operating room. When they took their patient into the operating room, Palpatine continued down the hall to enter an adjoining observation room. He sat down to watch through a window as they put his new apprentice the operating table and the medical droids began reconstructive work on him.

Sidious watched for hours in fascination and with thoughts as to how his new apprentice would be able to serve him during his continued quest for complete domination over the galaxy. I sure hope he lives and this isn’t all in vain. Was all he was thinking when a medical droid entered the room.

“Lord Sidious.” The droid said. “We are almost complete. If you wish to enter the operating room, you may now.”

Palpatine stood up and looked at the droid. “Very good.” He then followed the droid into the operating room and started pacing, waiting them to make the final touches to his apprentice’s new black armor and to give him the final diagnosis on the procedure.

Then, finally, the same droid that came to get him before approached him. “My Lord, the construction is finished ... he lives.”

Darth Sidious got an evil grin on his face. “Good. Good.” He told the droid as he walked up to the right side of the table. The droid moved back to the table to where the patient still laid and pushed a button, causing the table to move upright. Darth Sidious moved closer to the table until he was standing right next to it. “Lord Vader, can you hear me?”

The dark lord turned his black, clad head towards Sidious. “Yes, My Master.” He said, acting a little startled by the sound of his voice. He then started looking around the room. “Where is Padme? Is she safe, is she all right?”

So…this Lord Vader was in love with the Senator of Naboo in his dimension too. It should be easy to keep him under my control then. Sidious thought to himself with an evil smile. He then turned to his apprentice and tried to act like he was sincerely sorry. “I'm afraid she died...it seems in your anger, you killed her.”

A low groan came from Vader's mask and then suddenly everything in the room began to implode and droids were being destroyed. “I couldn't have! She was alive! I felt her! She was alive! It's impossible! No!” Vader screamed and then broke his bonds to the operating table. He got to his feet and stepped forward trying to get used to his new limbs, he then started waving his hands, causing objects to fly around the operating room. “NOOOOO!”

Sidious started to cackle quietly under his hooded cloak, being careful not to let Vader see him. Yes, Lord Vader. Now you’re mine.

[queennaberrie]

Chapter 22

Massa Polis Medical Center

Both Padme and Anakin were still laughing at their little banter, when Anakin became serious all the sudden. He withdrew his left hand from Padme’s hand and immediately covered his forehead with it.

Padme, noticing her husband’s distress, looked at him with concern. “What’s wrong?”

Without answering her, Anakin stood up from the bed and walked over to Leia’s bassinette, placing the sleeping infant carefully in it. He left both hands on the bassinette and sighed, then turned to face his wife with a look of concern and fear written on his face. “There’s been a great disturbance in the Force.” He told her as he winced again, this time bringing both hands up to either side of his forehead and closing his eyes in pain. He then began to rub his temples with his index fingers to try to help ease the headache that had started to vex him.

Padme tried to sit herself up straighter, leaning up against the head board of the bed. Her look of concern became one of worry. “What kind of disturbance?”

Anakin opened his blue eyes, and looked at her with pain still evident in them. “I don’t know.” He finally replied, taking his hands down from his temples just as there was a quiet knock on the door. Both Padme and Anakin abruptly looked at the door.

“Come in.” Padme said in invitation to the visitor.

The door slowly opened and Obi-Wan poked his head in with concern and pain evident on his face as well. “Did you feel it?” He asked Anakin quietly as to not wake the babies.

“Yes. What do you think it means?” Anakin responded as the pain started to subside and he crossed the room towards the door. Obi-Wan came farther into the room to meet him.

“I don’t know. But whatever it is…It can’t be good. I’ve never experienced anything quite like that before.” Obi-Wan paused. “…At least not at the magnitude.”

“I think we better find Master Yoda.” Anakin suggested.

“I’ll second that.” Obi-Wan agreed and both men started towards the door. “I last saw him in the conference room. We can start there.”

“Oh no…Not without me. I’m coming with you.” Padme exclaimed quietly as she threw off her covers and swung her feet over the side of the bed, then winced in pain. “Ok. Maybe not.” She said as she put her hand on her stomach and bent over.

Anakin turned back toward her and was immediately at her side, with a look of worry on his face. “Padme, are you alright?”

Still clutching her stomach and still bent over, she looked up at her concerned husband who was now on his knees, kneeling in front of her. “I’m fine.”

“Well, you don’t look fine. Let me help you back into bed.” Anakin responded as he stood back up and helped her swing her legs back into the bed. She laid back down and looked lovingly up at her husband.

“I just want to know what’s going on. I feel so helpless laying here doing nothing.” She explained, neither one noticing that Obi-Wan had left the room to give them some privacy.

Anakin smiled at Padme and then pulled the sheet and blanket up to her chin to tuck her in. He bent down and lightly kissed her on the lips; Padme took her arms out from under the covers and wrapped them around his neck. They lingered there for a moment, not wanting the kiss to end; but then Anakin pulled himself back and lovingly looked into his wife’s lovely brown eyes. “I’ll be back soon as I can and will tell you everything. I promise.” He paused. “And everything will be fine.” He tried to assure her. “Just please promise me you will try to get some rest. We’re going to need to you feeling up to doing the mock funeral in a couple of days.”

“I know, Ani. And I’ll try to rest.” Padme said and then gave him a weak smile as Anakin then walked back towards the door. “I love you.” She said to his retreating back.

Anakin turned back to look at her from the door way. “I love you too.” He told her with a smile and then turned to go out the door, shutting it behind him. Once in the hallway, Obi-Wan was standing there, staring into space, with his arms crossed and stroking his beard. He was lost in thought. Anakin gave Obi-Wan a serious look. “What do you think Master Yoda will make of this?” Anakin asked him as Obi-Wan stopped stroking his beard and then looked at Anakin.

“I don’t know, Anakin.” Obi-Wan answered him as they started to walk side-by-side down the hallway towards turbolift, which wasn’t far from Padme’s room. They stopped in front of the door and Anakin pushed the button to call the lift to their floor. Obi-Wan turned to Anakin with his arms still crossed in front of him. “Your guess is as good as mine; but with his years of experience, perhaps he’s sensed something like this before.” The turbolift doors opened and both men got on it with Obi-Wan pushing the button for the floor for the conference room. The doors closed and the elevator started its descent.

Anakin crossed his arms in front of him as well. “It’s strange, Obi-Wan. I almost have this feeling of déjà vu; but the feelings I’m sensing are also contradicting. It’s like I felt a new presence enter the galaxy, but at the same time the presence seems familiar. I sense the Dark Side strongly coming from it…But there is a tiny bit of the Light emanating from it as well.”

“Hmm.” Obi-Wan replied as he stroked his beard. “Interesting.” He then looked directly into his eyes. “But I think you lost me after the part where you said you felt like you were experiencing déjà vu.” Then Anakin noticed a twinkle in his eye.

Anakin started to laugh. “I guess that does sound a little far fetched, doesn’t it?”

“I wouldn’t say that exactly.” Obi-Wan responded as the turbolift came to a stop and the doors opened.

They started to step out when they were greeted by Yoda, who looked a little shocked and saddened. “Sensed it you did?” The little green Jedi asked as he looked up at the taller Jedi with concern.

“Yes we did, Master Yoda.” Obi-Wan told him. “What does it mean?”

Yoda clutched his gimer stick with both hands in front of him and looked down. “The Dark Side clouds everything. Too hard to tell it is.” He sighed. “But I feel pain, suffering…but not from many as with the Temple massacre…but from one.” Yoda paused in thought. “Only one other time felt like this I have.” He then looked directly at Anakin. “From you when your mother died, I did. Same feeling it is, but more intense than in the past, it was. The Dark Side stronger this time it is.”

Anakin and Obi-Wan looked at him with shock at how similar Yoda’s explanation sounded to Anakin’s and at the implication that Master Yoda was making. What does he mean? He thinks it’s coming from me? “Wh-What?” Anakin finally blurted out.

“Hard to explain it is.” Yoda continued, pointing his gimer stick at Anakin. “Sense you I do with this pain and anger, but not you.”

Anakin and Obi-Wan looked at each other with confusion, then back at Yoda. “How can that be possible?” Obi-Wan asked Yoda. “Anakin is right here and I don’t sense anything like that from him now.”

Yoda looked at Obi-Wan. “I agree. Confusing it is, Obi-Wan. But sense it just the same I do.”

Doing his best to try to make sense of it all, Anakin looked away in thought and closed his eyes. He then tried to reach out into the Force with his mind, trying to touch the presence they had all sensed. What he saw was horrifying. He saw Padme on a lava covered planet, which he surmised had to be Mustafar, being choked by an invisible hand and falling unconscious to the ground and still pregnant with the twins. He saw Obi-Wan and himself fighting with real anger and hatred coming from himself and hurtful words being exchanged. He saw his dismembered body lying near a lava flow and his body catching on fire as he yelled ‘I HATE YOU!’ at Obi-Wan, who he saw looking upon him with pain and anguish at the loss of his brother. Then finally he heard Palpatine telling him that Padme had been killed out of anger by her own husband…himself.

Anakin brought both his hands up to his face, covering his eyes as these thoughts went flowing wildly through his mind and his eyes starting to fill with tears. He immediately let go of his connection to the other presence, realizing that he had just experience what might have been had Luke and Leia, time travelers from the future, had not come to try to prevent him from turning to the Dark Side. What does this all mean? Why am I seeing all this?

“Anakin, are you alright?” Obi-Wan asked him with concern.

“Seeing visions he is.” Yoda explained. “Terrible visions, of another quite like himself and what might have been.”

Anakin looked at both of his fellow Jedi with shock and sadness. “Yes.” He finally responded. “But I don’t know how to explain it. What does it mean?”

“Hmm. Strange indeed. Perhaps in time, all revealed it will be.” Yoda responded.

Just then, Bail Organa and Leia turned the corner and saw all three Jedi standing near the turbolift. “There you are.” Leia said at the sight of them.

All three Jedi turned to look at them as they approached. “You have to see what’s on the holovid news. Come quickly. Palpatine is making another announcement.” Bail said as he practically ran into the conference room with the others not far behind. He went directly over to the holovid and turned it on.

The image of Emperor Palpatine came on the screen as he was just finishing up a speech. “…and so it is my great pleasure to introduce you to my second in command. His orders will be obeyed only second to me. Like me, he has recently been injured in an attack on his life by a Jedi; and therefore, must wear a suit to sustain his life.” The camera then panned over to include a tall, dark armored and caped figure that walked up to join the Emperor on his right-hand side. “This is Lord Vader. And his first mission is to hunt down any remaining treacherous Jedi left alive, and kill them…to bring justice back to this war-torn the galaxy.” A roar of applause erupted from the crowd he was speaking in front of.

Everyone in the conference room gasped. “H-How is that even possible?” Anakin finally asked, pointing at the screen.

“The dark presence we sensed, he is.” Yoda told them “Understand how possible, do not.” He turned to Anakin. “But like I said, you he is...but not.”

Everyone looked at Anakin with shock, including Leia who had become white as a sheet. “This can’t be happening.” She finally said as Anakin looked back at her, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Well…I don’t understand how this is possible either.” Obi-Wan started as he snapped back to the task at hand. “But I guess we better get moving on the plans for the mock funeral and go into hiding as quickly as possible.” Everyone nodded in agreement as Obi-Wan turned to Anakin. “And if this…this…other you…” Obi-Wan said as he pointed at the screen of the holovid. “…if that is indeed what or who he is…is just as stubborn and determined as you are, we’re going to be in a whole lot of trouble if he finds out about our little ruse.”

Anakin was still standing there in shock and had his arms folded in front of him. He looked at Obi-Wan. “I agree. Let’s start making preparations.”

They all started to leave the room with Bail and then Leia right behind him. But then Yoda stopped Obi-Wan and Anakin. “Master Kenobi, young Skywalker, wait a moment. In your solitude on Tatooine, training I have for you.

Both men crossed their arms in front of them, looked at each other in confusion and then looked back at Yoda. “Training?” Obi-Wan asked.

Yoda looked up at the two Jedi. “An old friend has learned the path to immortality.”

“Who?” Anakin asked, looking at Yoda with curiosity.

“One who has returned from the netherworld of the Force to train me…” He turned to Obi-Wan. “…your old Master, Qui-Gon Jinn.” Yoda told them with a weak smile.

A look of surprise and happiness came across both men’s faces. “Qui-Gon?” Obi-Wan responded. “But, how could he accomplish this?”

“The secret of the Ancient Order of the Whills, he studied. How to commune with him. I will teach you both.”

“We will be able to talk with him?” Obi-Wan asked while Anakin just stood there listening at a loss for words.

“How to join the Force, he will train you. Your consciousness you will retain, when one with the Force. Even your physical self, perhaps.” Yoda then turned towards the door and started hobbling out the door.

Anakin and Obi-Wan looked at each other with confusion and then shrugged their shoulders. “Nothing else can surprise me after everything that’s occurred today.” Anakin declared as they followed Yoda out into the hall way.

Obi-Wan looked back at Anakin. “I have to agree with you, my young padawan.”

Anakin rolled his eyes and then glared mockingly back at him. “Obi-Wan, I’m not…”

“I know.” Obi-Wan said with a twinkle in his eye. “You think I’m bad. Just wait until we finally figure out how to talk to Qui-Gon again.”

Both men laughed as they as they continued down the hallway. Then Anakin became serious as he started thinking back to the images he had seen coming from Darth Vader’s mind and wondering what effect Padme’s mock funeral will have on him. I know how I would feel, thinking Padme had died. I’d be a wreck. Of course, this…whoever he is…if he is really another version of me…Where did he come from and how did he get here? And how much like me is he really. Can we reach him some how and turn him back to the Light-Side of the Force, like Luke said had happened in their history?

[queennaberrie]

Chapter 23

The next morning, Padme woke up, opening her eyes and turning her head to her right, to find Anakin sleeping in the cushioned chair next her bed with his robe draped over him like a blanket. He looked so peaceful sleeping there, that it was hard to imagine all that they had been though over the last day or so. She just laid there watching him with a smile on her face as she tried to ease herself out of her sleepy state.

But then, Luke started to fuss and then cry, causing Anakin to stir and his eyes to open slightly. He sat up and turned to look at the bassinette, getting up and throwing his cape on the chair where he had just been sleeping.

Padme watched lazily with a sleepy smile on her face as her husband picked Luke up in his arms and tried to comfort him through the Force. But the infant continued to cry as Anakin got a worried look on his face. “Perhaps he’s hungry.” Padme finally said as she was sitting herself up and Anakin looked over at her with a weak smile on his face.

“Padme, I didn’t realize you were awake.” Anakin said with a yawn as he walked closer to her bed with Luke still crying. “Shhh, Luke…It’s ok.” He said, trying to comfort his baby son.

“Ani, let me have him and I’ll try feeding him.” Padme told Anakin and he complied, as he bent down and gently set their son in Padme’s loving arms with Luke’s head resting in her right arm. Anakin then stood back up, looking down at his wife and child with love in his eyes, but then started to feel utterly helpless as to what to do next. Padme, noticing his awkwardness, started looking around the room for something and then she spotted it on a table across the room. “Ani, can you please get me that blanket?” She asked him as she pointed to it with her left hand. “I want it for privacy while I’m feeding him.” She told him with Luke still crying and Padme trying to comfort him. “Shh…soon little one.”

Anakin smiled at his wife and complied, walking over to the table with a sense of purpose again, and picked the blanket up off of the table. He then turned back to his wife with a smirk on his face as he walked back towards the bed. “I’ve seen it all before, you know. You don’t need to hide under a blanket.”

Padme looked at him with a face of mortification, her mouth gapped wide open. “You know very well what I mean, Anakin Skywalker. What if someone walked in here? I’d be utterly mortified.” She told him as he chuckled at her. She looked at him suspiciously as he sat back down in the chair next to her bed, still chuckling devilishly to himself. She looked over to see him smirking at her and she knew her husband was teasing her.

While smirking back at him, she unfolded, the blue baby blanket with her free hand and swung it over her right shoulder. She then unbuttoned the front of her nightgown under the blanket and looked down at Luke as she placed him under the blanket. She then started to encourage him to nurse, but he was having a difficult time and not getting much milk. Padme’s face wrinkled up in frustration.

“What’s the matter, Padme?” Anakin asked her with concern.

“Oh…I’ve been trying to get Luke to eat properly, but he seems to be having a hard time with it.” She told him while looking down at Luke under the blanket with concern and then looked up at her husband. “Leia has been doing just fine. I don’t understand it.” She sighed, looking down at Luke again. “I’m just worried that he’s not getting enough to eat.”

Anakin looked back at her with concern and tried to think of something encouraging to say to her. He, too, was a little worried but had no clue what to tell her. He hadn’t been around nursing mothers that often, being a Jedi Knight, let alone babies. Although, despite that, he amazed even himself at how naturally he had eased into being around their children…being a father. “He’ll learn, Padme.” He finally told her with a smile on his face.

Padme smiled back at her husband as he got up and then knelt down next to the bed. He reached out with his left hand to touch Luke’s blonde head that was peaking out from the other side of the blanket. He smiled as he looked at his son’s head and started running his hand over the top of his soft blond hair. And then suddenly, Padme’s face lit up. “I think he’s getting it!” She said excitedly. “What did you do?”

Anakin looked at his wife with surprise and was taken back by what she said. He blinked in astonishment. “Actually, I don’t think I did anything.” He admitted. “He must have just learned it on his own.” He said with a smile as he continued to stroke his son’s head.

“No really. What did you do?” She asked him with an encouraging smile.

Anakin looked at her with disbelief. “Nothing really…honest…Just sent him my love through the Force…like I have been doing to comfort both of our angels since they were born.”

Padme’s smile got bigger. “Well…perhaps that’s all he needed.”

“Perhaps.” Anakin responded while smiling back at her and still stroking his son’s hair.

As Luke continued to feed under the blanket, they both heard Leia start to stir and both parents looked over at Leia’s bassinette, wondering if they were going to have another crying baby on their hands. When they heard her settle back down, they both let out a sigh of relief and looked back at one another. “You know.” Padme started. “I keep thinking…what if Leia wakes up and wants to be fed at the same time as Luke or visa versa. It would be a complete nightmare with one screaming while the other is being fed.”

Anakin looked into her eyes with understanding. “Well…let’s just hope they get on some kind of schedule and we don’t have that problem…” He gulped and sheepishly smiled at her. “…often. That could be a problem.”

Padme smiled at her husband. They were both wondering what they were getting themselves into. Forget the fact that they were fugitives on the run. That was easy compared to the fears often associated with becoming parents, to twins no less. It all started to sink in that they would soon be solely responsible for these two little lives. Yes, Uncle Obi-Wan, as he wanted to be called, would be there. But they couldn’t expect him to help all the time. Padme looked at her husband with concern but happiness in her eyes. “Well…I guess we’ll have our hands full once we get to Tatooine, won’t we?” Padme finally responded. “I still can’t believe we have twins. I was hardly prepared for one and now we have two.”

Anakin chuckled. “Neither was I.” He then moved his hand from Luke’s head and put in on Padme’s arm, smiling up at her. “We’ll do fine, Padme. I’m sure we’re not the first parents to think all these things.” He then looked down in thought and then back up at his wife, becoming a little more serious. “Speaking of Tatooine…I wanted to talk to you about our new identities.”

“Our new identities?” Padme asked with bewilderment.

“Yes, you didn’t think we could just go to Tatooine as Anakin and Padme Skywalker, did you?” Anakin answered her with a little bit of amusement.

Padme looked down and smiled to herself, then looked back into her husbands bright blue eyes. “Noo…of course not. It just took me by surprise, is all. I-I hadn’t really thought that far ahead. I’m just glad someone is.”

Anakin sighed and then smiled at her while getting to his feet. “Well, you had enough to deal with bringing our children into the galaxy.” He told her with a smile as he then turned around to sit on the edge of the bed and reached into a pocket inside his tunic to take out a datapad that was, Padme noticed, often used for personal identification records.

He looked down at the datapad, turning it on, and then turned to look at his wife again. “Senator Organa has arranged for some official looking identification holos and backgrounds for us. We are now Aaron and Renee Outlander of Alderaan.” He told her with a smile and then showed her the holopicture on one of the screens, which Padme recognized the face as being hers, but not the hair. “He had a couple of our pictures digitally altered.” He sighed, reaching over with his left hand to run his fingers through her long, curly brown hair. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to cut it to at least shoulder length to match the holopicture after the funeral.” Padme looked at him in shock and he sheepishly smiled at her, expecting her to be angry. But he didn’t sense anger from her, just sadness. “I don’t like the idea either but if it makes you feel better, I’m cutting mine too. But I’m doing it before we leave to go to Naboo, so it will lessen the chances of someone recognizing me. I’m also going to try to grow a beard to hide my face.”

Padme looked at him with sadness but understanding. “It’s ok, Anakin. I understand that it’s necessary.” She paused, looking at him with a weak smile. “And my hair will grow back.”

Anakin weakly smiled back at her. “I know…but I’ll miss it being long. I love playing with it.”

Padme smiled back at her husband. “You’re not the only one. I’ll miss playing with your long hair too.” Anakin then started to chuckle and Padme looked at him with amusement. “What’s so funny?”

Anakin looked at her with a twinkle in his eye. “Obi-Wan cut his hair and shaved his beard last night.” He continued to laugh. “He looks so young without his beard.” He paused. “Just like he did when I first met him. He could almost pass as my younger brother.” He chuckled some more. “The first thing he said when he came out of the refresher was. “Not a word.” Anakin told her as Padme started to giggle as well.

“Oh, Ani. I’m sure he doesn’t look THAT young. You’re exaggerating.” She said as they continued to chuckle.

Anakin was still laughing. “No. Just wait until you see him. No wonder he grew the beard.”

Padme shook her head with a smirk on her face. Poor Obi-Wan. But then Padme looked down at Luke, realizing that he had finished eating. “Well, little man. It looks like you’re done already. Now that you’ve learned to nurse, I probably won’t be able to get you to stop eating.” She said to Luke as Anakin stopped laughing and smiled at his wife and son. Padme then did her best to button up her nightgown with one hand, essentially only buttoning the top button, and took the blanket off of her shoulder.

Anakin reached over and took Luke into his arms so she could finish buttoning her nightgown. “Hey, little guy.” He said to his son as Luke appeared to be looking back up at his father, studying him.

Padme smiled at the sight of Anakin holding their son in his arms and then looked at Anakin with an inquisitive look on her face. “Ani?”

“Yeah?” Anakin answered her without taking his eyes off of Luke and still smiling down at him.

“Do we have to change Luke’s and Leia’s names as well?” She asked him.

Anakin then looked up at Padme with a smile and love in his eyes. “No, we don’t have to change their names…except, of course, their last names will need to be Outlander.”

Padme smiled lovingly back at Anakin. “Good. I was hoping not…Aaron.” She said with a smile.

“I’m glad too…Renee.” Anakin replied.

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Coruscant

After the press conference, Vader returned to the medical center to have his injuries re-examined and to make sure the suit was functioning properly. The Emperor had insisted that he attend the press conference right after he awoken inside the suit, even after he had been devastated by the news of his wife’s death by his own hand. The Emperor claimed that time was of the essence in order to fully seize power and there would be time for Vader to recover later. So Vader had reluctantly accompanied him down the hall from the operating room, where one of his assistants had hastily set up the press conference while Vader had been in surgery.

As Vader laid on the operating table being examined, his mind drifted back to what had occurred on Mustafar, replaying the painful events in his mind, especially those last moments when he saw his angel still alive. He was fighting back the tears that were burning in his eyes at the thought of never seeing her again or their unborn child. Padme…I’m sorry.

Vader still couldn’t bring himself to believe that she was dead and that he had killed her in a fit of rage. He did all this to saver her life, not kill her in an ironic twist of fate in the end. He was absolutely sure that he felt her still alive after she fell to the ground, unconscious. He hadn’t squeezed her windpipe that hard. And, even now, he could still sense her presence alive somewhere in the galaxy. Perhaps I’m just in a state of denial. He thought himself. It’s just part of the grieving process and soon I won’t feel her anymore.

Fighting back at tears, his thoughts then went back to the press conference. A holovid reporter had asked Emperor Palpatine about the rumor of Senator Amidala’s death and the Emperor confirmed the rumor. But he had given a very different story to the reporter, telling her about Padme’s secret pregnancy that only those close to her knew about and that she had died during childbirth…and about her child dying with her.

Vader had almost lost it right then and there and, for the first time, he was actually grateful for the mask to hide his true emotions from the holocameras. Of course, the reporters ate it all up. He was sure that her scandalous pregnancy, father unknown, and her tragic death would be all over the headlines in the morning, which infuriated and saddened him even more.

After his examination was done, Vader sat up and then got off of the operating table. He was then led by a medical droid that told him it was under orders from the Emperor, himself, that Vader must sleep at the medical center for the rest of the night so his vitals could be monitored.

Vader sighed in compliance to his new master’s orders given through the droid, doubting his ability to sleep after all that has happened, and followed the medical droid down the hall to a basic medical center patient room with one bed in it. He walked over to the bed and then laid down while the medical droid hooked him up to the monitors.

After the medical droid left, Vader stared at the ceiling with anger and grief reeling through his body. But, surprisingly, it wasn’t long until he drifted off to sleep; but this sleep was far from being restful.

------------------------------------------------

Over Padme’s shoulder, Anakin saw Obi-Wan at the top of the ramp on the Nubian cruiser with his fists on his hips. “Liar!” Anakin shouted at Padme

Padme turned around to see Obi-Wan. “No!”

Anakin looked at his wife with anger and jealousy, pointing at Obi-Wan. “You're with him. You've betrayed me! You brought him here to kill me!”

Padme looked at Anakin with desperation and anguish in her eyes. “NO! Anakin. I swear ... I ...“ But she didn’t get to finish, Anakin reached out with his right hand and Padme grabbed her throat with both hands, starting to choke, as invisible hands closed around her windpipe.

Obi-Wan started down the ramp. “Let her go, Anakin.”

“What have you and she been up to?” Anakin yelled back at Obi-Wan while continuing his Force grip on Padme’s throat.”

“Let her go!” Obi-Wan persisted as he reached the bottom of the ramp.

Anakin then released his Force grip and Padme fell unconscious to the ground.

“NOOO!” Vader woke up and abruptly sat up. The sound of his new voice startling him in addition to the terror he felt from his painful memories. He could feel the perspiration forming on his flesh, even in the air conditioned suit, the cold air, of which, started to make him shiver, adding to his misery.

I have to pull myself together. Vader told himself and then he tried to meditate. But that didn’t seem to help calm him. Instead, it started to infuriate him as it made him remember all the times Obi-Wan had scolded him about his lack of concentration and discipline when it came to his meditation. I’ll show you discipline, Obi-Wan. I’ll hunt you down, even if it takes me until my dying breath to accomplish it, but you will pay for what you did to me...turning my wife against me and trying to kill me, then leaving me for dead.

Vader then swung his feet over the side of the bed and stood up in a fit of anger. He tore the cables off his body that hooked him up to the monitors, and then stormed out of his room and down the hall. He passed the nurse’s station just as all the alarms started going off to alert them of the crisis and a nurse who was watching the holovid, looked up just in time to see him walk by, causing her to jump to her feet in a panic. She then froze and stared at him horrified. Vader stopped to glare at her, just daring her to call for help to sedate him.

It was then that Vader notice a holopicture of his angel flash on the screen of the holovid, which made him pause to watch the report. “Turn that up!” He ordered the terrified nurse and she nodded and complied.

“…This tragic story of the most beloved senator of Naboo ends tomorrow evening when a state funeral will be held in Naboo’s capital of Theed. We’ve been told that her body will be on display for all of her admirer’s to see, so they have one last chance to say good-bye before she is finally laid to rest at her family’s mausoleum…”

“Turn it off!” He ordered the nurse as she looked at him in terror. “Now!” And she nervously ran over to the holovid and turned it off.

Vader stood in the middle of the hallway in shock. It’s for real. She’s really gone and my angel’s funeral is tomorrow. He brought his right hand up to his mask, forgetting it was there and then dropped his hand to his side again. I have to be there…It’s only right that a husband should be at his wife’s funeral. I need to be there…to say good-bye.

[queennaberrie]

Chapter 24

Massa Polis Medical Center

Leia arrived at her mother’s room just as Anakin and Padme were finishing their packing of baby Luke and Leia’s things for the trip to Naboo. Padme was still a little swollen from carrying the twins, so she was wearing the tan maternity slacks and top that she had worn the other day and her hair was done in a single braid down her back.

The door to the room was open and, as Leia stood in the doorway, she noticed that there was a brown suitcase on the bed that her mother, whose back faced the door, was putting things into. Her father was gathering things and handing them to his wife who neatly put them in the suitcase. Leia, out of courtesy, knocked on the wall, before entering, to get their attention.

Anakin and Padme both looked at their adult daughter and smiled. “Good morning, Leia.” Anakin said to her as he handed Padme one of the baby’s blankets to put in the suitcase.

“Good morning, Father.” Leia returned with a smile on her face. She then stepped into the room with her arms behind her back. “Are you almost ready to go?” She asked.

“Almost.” Padme said with a smile as she packed the last of the babies’ things in a brown suitcase. “I can’t believe we’ve accumulated so many things for these little ones in just a couple of days.”

Leia laughed. “Yes. I see you have.” She said as she crossed the room until she was standing next to Anakin. She looked up at him. “Can I see them?”

“Certainly, Leia.” Anakin answered her as she smiled back at him and then led her over to the bassinettes. “They certainly sleep a lot. Your mother says it’s normal for newborns.”

Leia looked at her father with a smile as they reached the twin bassinettes. “I’ve heard that too. But I’ve also heard that they can keep parents up nights.” She told him as she looked down into the bassinettes to look at herself and her brother as babies.

“Oh, yes.” Anakin answered her with a snicker. “Your mother and I have been finding that out the hard way.” He turned to look at Padme with a smirk. “Isn’t that right, Angel?” He asked Padme as Leia’s gaze also followed Anakin’s to where her mother stood next to the bed.

Padme smiled at her husband as she was closing and locking the suitcase, then looked at Leia. “Oh yes.” She said with a giggle. “You and your brother certainly know how to keep us on our toes.”

Leia giggled at the thought and then became a little more serious. “Speaking of Luke, he called this morning. He says the younglings are quite a handful, but the older padawans have been quite helpful with keeping them in line. He’s also very curious to see what we both looked like as babies and was wondering if you could comm him before we leave for Naboo. He’d really like to talk to you, Mother, as well.” She told them as they both smiled back at her.

“Certainly we can.” Anakin answered her enthusiastically.

“I’d love to see Luke.” Padme added with equal enthusiasm. “I’ve missed him. I know we’ll see him soon on Tatooine, but I’d like to talk to him before we leave for Naboo as well.” She sighed. “That is if everything goes as planned.” She said with concern as she looked at Anakin.

“Everything will work out fine.” Anakin tried to assure her. “I think Yoda’s plan is a good one.”

“So do I?” Came a familiar from the doorway. They all turned to see a clean, shaven Obi-Wan standing in the door way with short hair.

“Obi-Wan.” Padme said with a shocked look on her face. Anakin is right. He does look a lot younger without his beard.

“I know what you’re thinking.” Obi-Wan said as he entered the room, putting his right hand out, palm first, towards her and shaking his head. “That I look a lot younger without the beard.” He then crossed his arms in front of him and squinted his eyes as he looked at Anakin. “And I’m sure you told her I look young enough to be your younger brother, didn’t you?”

“Me?” Anakin said, pointing to himself with his right hand and trying to look innocent. “Why would you think such a thing?”

Obi-Wan mockingly glared at him. “Oh…I don’t know…maybe because you kept telling me that ALL night long.” Anakin, Padme and Leia started to chuckle. “And I wouldn’t be so high and mighty, MY young padawan…because you still have to cut your hair.” Obi-Wan then walked up to Anakin and looked at the little bit of beard stubble that had started to appear on his chin, since he hadn’t shaved that morning. “And I’m interested to see if that Nubian peach fuzz of yours actually becomes a beard.” He said as he pointed to Anakin’s chin.

“Oh…is that so.” Anakin returned as he crossed his arms in front of him and then reached up with his left hand to stroke his chin. “Well…I have every confidence that it will.”

“We shall see, won’t we?” Obi-Wan said as both men now stood face to face with their arms totally crossed in front of them, mockingly glaring at one another. Then they started to laugh. “Come on.” Obi-Wan said as he patted Anakin’s left arm with his right hand. “I’ll help you load the babies’ things onto Senator Organa’s ship.”

“Ok, Master.” Anakin responded with a smile as Obi-Wan took the suitcase off the bed that Padme had just finished packing.

Leia grabbed another bag that was on the floor and followed him. “Wait up!” She yelled as Obi-Wan stopped to allow Leia to catch up. Then they both proceeded down the hall to the turbolift.

Padme and Anakin looked at each other lovingly. “If you get Leia, I’ll get Luke.” Anakin said as he started walking towards the bassinettes. “Obi-Wan had some other baby beds installed in our room on Senator Organa’s ship.”

Padme followed him and then looked up at him with worry on her face. “Anakin, I’m scared.” She told him as Anakin picked Luke up and cradled him in his arms. “What if Yoda’s plan doesn’t work and we’re all discovered?”

Anakin shifted Luke to his right arm and put his left one around Padme, pulling her close. He then bent down and kissed her on the forehead. “It will work. Just keep faith that it will.”

Padme smiled up at her husband. “I’ll try to.” She then sighed and laid her head into his chest and Anakin kissed the top of her head again.

“Padme…” Anakin started. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

“What is it, Ani?” Padme said as she looked up at him with concern.

“Has anyone told you about what we saw on the holovid yesterday?” Anakin asked her.

“No, why?” Padme said as she looked up at him with concern. “What’s going on?” Anakin sighed as released Padme from his embrace and walked over to the bed to sit down. He looked down at baby Luke and then back up at his wife who then joined him, sitting to his right on the bed. “What is it?”

He turned to look at her. “I know this is going to sound crazy but…Palpatine has a new apprentice.” He paused. “And his name is Darth Vader.”

Padme looked at him with shock. “Wasn’t that the Sith name he gave you?”

“Yes.” Anakin said as he looked at her with concern. “I don’t know how it’s possible…but Master Yoda also sensed it to be the truth.” He sighed. “But this Darth Vader is another version of me.”

Padme looked at him with confusion and shock on her face. “What!”

“He’s who or what I would have been had our time traveling children hadn’t intervened.” Anakin said remorsefully. “I’ve seen his memories as I touched his mind through the Force.” Tears started to form in his eyes. “What he experienced was horrible. He lost you and he thinks our child died too. He’s in agony, Padme. And to think that could have been me.”

Padme stared at him in shock and then she looked away in thought. She then got a frightened look on her face as she gasped and put her right hand over her mouth. She looked back at her husband’s concerned eyes. “Ani, what if he shows up at the funeral? He’ll sense you, Obi-Wan, possibly Luke and Leia.”

Anakin looked back at his wife in an equal amount of concern and worry on his face. “I-I hadn’t thought of that. Although, it makes sense. If it were me, I’d want to attend.” He paused in thought, looking away and then back at Padme. “We should ask Master Yoda.”

“Yes.” Padme agreed as she went over to pick Leia up out of her bassinette, cradling her in her arms and walked towards the door. “Let’s go ask him now.”

Anakin nodded and then got up from the bed and followed her with Luke still in his arms.

---------------------------------------

Courescant

Vader entered his master’s thrown room and bowed down on one knee at the bottom of the stairs that led up to the thrown Palpatine was sitting on. Palpatine had his back to the door and was looking out the window. But sensing the arrival of his new apprentice, he swiveled around in chair and looked down upon Vader with annoyance. “Lord Vader, why are you here and not at the medical center recovering?”

“Master, Padme’s funeral on Naboo is tomorrow and…I wish to attend.” Vader told him as Palpatine looked down at him with his cold, yellow eyes from beneath his hood.

“Hmm. So you wish to attend your wife’s funeral.” Palpatine said as he got up from the chair and walked down the stairs to stand in front of his apprentice. “Rise Lord Vader.”

Vader got to his feet and looked down at the Emperor, waiting and hoping for the reply he wanted to hear, that Palpatine would grant his request. He would attend Padme’s funeral either way, but he would rather have Palpatine’s blessing than not. “Yes, master. She was my wife and I-I would like to say good-bye to her.” Vader said as he bowed his head down in grief, tears forming in his eyes beneath the mask.

Palpatine looked at Vader, studying him. If I don’t let him go, he’ll go anyway and then hate me for not approving of him going. “Very well, Lord Vader…You may attend your wife’s funeral.”

“Thank you, Master.” Vader replied as he bowed.

“But as soon as you return…” Palpatine continued. “…you will start your mission to wipe out all remaining Jedi.”

“Yes, my master.” Vader replied. “I will embark on the mission as soon as I return.”

“Very good.” He paused. “You may go.” Palpatine told him as he waved his right hand towards the door and then returned up the stairs to his thrown to sit down.

“Very well, Master.” Vader said with another bow, then turned and strode towards the door. He glanced at both of Palpatine’s red guards as he waited for the turbolift. When it arrived, he got on and turned to face forward just as the doors closed, the turbolift taking him to the hanger bay so he could start his journey to Naboo. Soon I will look upon my angel’s face one last time and I will ask for her forgiveness.

------------------------------------------

Massa Polis Medical Center – Bail Organa’s Alderaanean Cruiser Conference Room

Leia had agreed to sit with the babies in her parents’ room while Anakin and Padme discussed their concerns with Master Yoda and Obi-Wan. Her parents had already discussed with her their concerns and, even though it felt awkward being around herself and her brother Luke as babies, she knew how important it was to her parents to go to this meeting and knew they would feel better having their daughter watch over them, than say having 3PO do it. Besides… Leia thought to herself. 3PO would probably interrupt them every 10 standard minutes in panic with every little noise the babies made and then they would never get anything done. Leia snickered to herself at the thought.

In the conference room of Bail Organa’s ship, Anakin, Padme, Obi-Wan, Master Yoda and Bail Organa all sat around the conference table with an image of Luke illuminating in the center. Bail was also an important player in this plan as well as their plans concerning the Jedi younglings and what to do with the Separatist leaders, so he insisted upon being included in the discussion. They also felt that Luke should be included in this meeting, so they had commed him on Tatooine. Leia had already informed him of the mysterious appearance of Darth Vader when she spoke with him earlier that day, and he was eager and concerned to find out how this was going to effect their plans.

Yoda listened as Anakin and Padme expressed their fears in regards to the possibility of Vader attending the funeral and then looked away in thought. “Hmm. “Afraid Vader will discover the truth, you are. A valid point you make. But worried, I am not.”

Everyone looked at Yoda with shock. “Why aren’t you worried, Master Yoda?” Obi-Wan asked.

“Because of sleeping serum I give you. Along with Force reinforced sleep, Force sensitives will be blind to life sighs as well, they will. Like death, Senator Amidala will appear.” He turned to look at Obi-Wan and Anakin. “24 standard hours is all you will have, so wisely use the serum you will have to.”

They all looked at him with bewilderment.

“Obi-Wan and Skywalker.” Yoda continued. “Use the Force to hide your Force signatures, you must. Or sense you, Vader will.”

“Yes, Master Yoda.” Obi-Wan and Anakin nodded in agreement.

“What are we going to do with Separatist leaders Father and Obi-Wan captured?” Luke asked as his holographic image flickered.

“That’s a good question. But I can’t really take the credit for their capture. It was really Anakin who did that.” Obi-Wan said as Anakin and Obi-Wan looked at one another and then back at the others in the meeting. “But as Anakin pointed out once before, we can’t kill them and there’s no where they can have a fair trial.”

“Right you are, Obi-Wan.” Yoda responded.

“How about I take them to Alderaan to face trial?” Bail suggested.

“Yes, that sounds like a good idea.” Padme added. “They would at least have a fair trial.”

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” Anakin told them. “If Palpatine and Darth Vader found out, it would cause a lot of problems we don’t need right now. Besides, this other Vader thinks he killed them and Palpatine would catch on to our plan because he thinks I, as Darth Vader, killed them before Obi-Wan here ‘killed’ me.” He said as he pointed his thumb at Obi-Wan who was sitting to his right.

“You know, you never exactly did tell us what you two did to convince Palpatine of that.” Padme said. “What did you do?”

Anakin and Obi-Wan looked at each other and smirked. “Well…we should probably both get acting awards if Palpatine believed it.” Obi-Wan said with a grin and both men laughed. “We dueled to the ‘death’ and recorded it on a single security holocamera”. Obi-Wan finally told them. “And Anakin severed the links to the other security holocams so Palpatine couldn’t see everything that was going on.”

“Oh if he only knew what was really happening outside that control room.” Anakin said with a sparkle in his eye as both men looked at each other with smirks on their faces.

Flashback to Mustafar - Outside the Control Center

Anakin and Obi-Wan faced each other at the far end of the balcony of the control station. They had worked their way down there, dueling with their lightsabers with all the enthusiasm and skill they always used when they practiced at the Temple. They yelled at each other and tried to make as much noise as possible to make it seem as real as possible.

“This is the end for you, My Master. I wish it were otherwise.” Anakin yelled to Obi-Wan with a smirk on his face and holding his ignited lightsaber in his right hand.

Obi-Wan shook his head in disbelief as to how lame this all sounded. “It's over, Anakin. I have the high ground!” Obi-Wan shouted.

“You underestimate my power!” Anakin shouted back with fake arrogance in his tone.

“Don’t over do it.” Obi-Wan whispered to him as Anakin’s eyes got big with annoyance and he signaled to Obi-Wan with his hands for him to just get on with it. “Oh yes.” Obi-Wan whispered. “Don't try it!” Obi-Wan.yelled back at Anakin.

Then Anakin, waved his saber around to give off the sound effect of him jumping over Obi-Wan, and then he screamed bloody murder as he fell to the ground with a thud. Then he extinguished his saber.

Obi-Wan just stood over him and shook in his head in disbelief down at him. “Unbelievable. Palpatine is never going to believe this.” Obi-Wan whispered to him.

Anakin glared up at him. “If you keep commenting on everything we do, he’s NOT going to believe it. The pauses in between will be too long.” He whispered to him.

“Sorry.” Obi-Wan whispered back then extinguished his lightsaber as he began to shout down at Anakin again. “You were the Chosen One! It was said that you would, destroy the Sith, not join them!” Obi-Wan paused. “It was you who would bring balance to the Force, not leave it in Darkness!”

“I hate you!” Anakin screeched up at Obi-Wan.

It took all Obi-Wan’s will power not to laugh at how pathetic Anakin looked rolling around on the ground and screaming like a spoiled child. “You were my brother, Anakin. I loved you.” Obi-Wan told his friend with tears forming in his eyes from holding back his laughter.

Anakin was lying on the ground trying not to laugh. Then Anakin yelled out like he was in pain and handed his lightsaber to Obi-Wan as he headed back to the control room for his big scene in front of the security holocamera. When Obi-Wan finished and walked back out the main entrance with both their cloaks and Anakin’s lightsaber in his hands, Anakin was already there to greet him with his arms crossed in front of him. “Obi-Wan, I didn’t know you cared so much.”

“What?” Obi-Wan asked with surprise.

“’Oh Anakin, I love you.’” Anakin mocked him in a voice two tones higher than his own..

“Oh shut up!” Obi-Wan responded as he folded his arms in front of him and walked passed Anakin, handing his cloak and lightsaber back to him on his way by to go up the ramp of the Separatists’ ship. But then he paused and turned around to face Anakin again, putting his own cloak back on. “But you know…I meant what I said. You are like a brother to me and I do love you as brother.”

Anakin stopped laughing and became serious, smiling at his friend. “I know, Obi-Wan. And I love you like a brother too. I just couldn’t resist taunting you.”

“I know. If you didn’t have me to harass, who would you have?” Obi-Wan responded with a smile. “Well, you better turn off that security holo…” He said as he pointed back towards the control center. “…and don’t forget to erase the part with you re-entering the room or all of this craziness will be for nothing.”

Anakin smiled at him. “Don’t worry, Obi-Wan. I’ll take care of it.”

Obi-Wan chuckled. “Yes, I’m sure you will. Well, carry on.” Obi-Wan responded as he turned back towards the ramp and continued his way into the ship to the cockpit where he began the take off procedures.

Anakin continued to smile as he put his cape back on and watched as his ‘brother’ entered the ship. He then turned and ran back into the control room to complete his task.

Back to the Present - Massa Polis Medical Center – Bail Organa’s Alderaanean Cruiser Conference Room

Anakin stopped chuckling and then became serious. “Well…the scary part was…” He paused as he turned to Obi-Wan. “…that our fake duel was very similar to the visions I had of Vader’s memories. Perhaps the Force had more to do with our decision on how we should fake my death than we realize.”

“Really?” Obi-Wan said as he crossed his arms in front of him and looked at Anakin with amazement. “It was THAT similar?”

“Yes.” Anakin answered him matter of fact.

Obi-Wan reached up with his right hand to stroke his beard, forgetting it wasn’t there, and instead put his hand on his chin. As soon as we’re on Tatooine, I’m growing my beard back. I don’t care what anyone tells me. He thought to himself as Anakin brought his thoughts back to their discussion.

“But we’re getting off topic here.” Anakin continued. “We need to decide what to do with the Separatists.”

“Hmm.” Yoda said as he looked down in thought and then back up at the group. “Perhaps let them go we should.”

“What!” Everyone else in the room said in unison.

[queennaberrie]

Chapter 25

“What do you mean, let them go?” Obi-Wan asked Yoda with shock and surprise.

Yoda, who was sitting at the far end of the table, turned his head to the left to look at Obi-Wan “Even Anakin admits, kill them we cannot, and send them for trial we cannot. So, therefore, let them go we must.”

“But Master Yoda.” Anakin started, looking at Yoda around Obi-Wan to his right. “I admit I cannot think of another solution. But how can we just let them go after everything they’ve done? It doesn’t seem right.”

“No, it doesn’t seem right.” Padme agreed from her husbands left. “After all the awful things they did, they should be punished for their crimes. Not set free so they can continue to commit them.”

Yoda looked at his audience, understanding their positions, but knowing he was making the right decision. “Let them go we must. Without Palpatine, powerful they are not. Fear for their lives they do now. So into exile they must go or face death by Palpatine or Vader they will. Know this they will.”

“So what you’re saying is they will be so afraid for their lives that they won’t be a threat anymore?” Bail asked with confusion still written on his face.

Yoda turned to his right to look at Bail. “Yes, Senator Organa. A threat they will not be, if let go they are.”

Luke, who had been listening to this exchange, had concerns of his own. “How can you be so sure, Master Yoda? What if Vader discovers they are still alive when he thought he killed them?”

“Separated and given new identities they must be.” Yoda answered him and then turned to Obi-Wan and Anakin. “And Obi-Wan must tell them their fate if try to talk to Vader, he must. With another Darth Vader in the galaxy and wearing a life support suit he is, too dangerous for young Skywalker to do it or suspect something they will.”

Anakin and Obi-Wan looked at each other. “Well Obi-Wan, I guess your acting abilities will be put to the test again.” Anakin told him with a smirk.

“Wonderful.” Obi-Wan responded sarcastically with his arms folded in front of him.

Padme folded her arms in front of her and scowled, looking at Master Yoda. “I still don’t like this. Justice should be served.”

“Understand this, I do, Senator Amidala. But exile and fear of death their punishment it will be.” Yoda explained sadly. “And into exile we must all go. As I must do. When for Naboo you leave, to Degobah I will go. Until the time right it is.”

Everyone looked at Yoda with sadness and surprise. “But Master Yoda, you’re more than welcome to join the rest of us on Tatooine.” Obi-Wan told him.

Yoda shook his head. “No, Obi-Wan. Together we must not stay. Too dangerous it is. Too well known I am. Recognized I will be. And too strong all our Force signatures will be if stay together we do.”

Everyone at the table knew this to be true. The more Jedi stayed together, the stronger their Force signatures would be as a beacon for Vader and Palpatine to find them. Obi-Wan looked down at the table sadly and then looked back at Yoda with sadness in his eyes. “Then perhaps I shouldn’t go to Tatooine with Anakin and the children either.”

Anakin and Padme looked at Obi-Wan with sadness and shock. “Obi-Wan, no, you can stay with us.” Anakin pleaded. “I couldn’t imagine not having you around. You’re like a brother to me.”

“Yes, you’re like family to us.” Padme added taking Anakin’s left hand in her own. “Please come with us. We want you there with us.” Padme told him as she looked around her husband at Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan, who had been looking sadly at Anakin, then looked at Padme as she continued. “You’re going to be Uncle Obi-Wan, remember?” She said with a sad smile.

“And I could never imagine not having you in my life.” Luke also added as his image flickered from the middle of the table. “You were my mentor and a good friend to me.”

Obi-Wan looked sadly at all of them. “No, I think it’s for the best.”

“Obi-Wan.” Yoda interjected and everyone turned to look at him. “To Tatooine, you must go.” The others got hopeful looks on their faces. “Help young Skywalker and his family you must. And young Tobin, who now lives with Owen and Beru Lars, you should. Important to the future of the Jedi it is.” Yoda weakly smiled at him.

“Are you sure, Master Yoda?” Obi-Wan asked him with happiness but concern on his face.

“Foreseen it I have. Stay with them you must.” Yoda said with a weak smile. “Your attachments to one another, strong they will make you. And together defeat the Sith you will. And the new Jedi Order you will establish.”

Everyone smiled at Master Yoda. “But I thought attachments were forbidden?” Anakin asked in awe of Master Yoda’s response.

Master Yoda smiled at Anakin. “Flawed the old Code was. Admit attachments can lead down the dark path they can. But can also keep the Jedi on the right path to the Light, they can. Proved that you and your family have, young Skywalker. Family makes you stronger when faced with the Dark Side. Can help steer you from it. See that now I do.” Yoda looked away sadly. “This other Darth Vader also proved the Code flawed he did.” He looked back at them with sadness in his eyes. “If someone to talk to he felt he had, other than Palpatine, perhaps to the Dark Side he may have not turned. Help him you all must.”

“But how can we help him, Master Yoda?” Asked Obi-Wan. “He’s consumed by the Dark Side…that will not be an easy feat.”

“In time, all will be revealed, Obi-Wan.” Yoda answered him. “Know Vader you do, or the man he used to be.” Yoda then looked at Anakin. “And know him you do more than Obi-Wan.” He then looked at all of them. “Together you will win over darkness.”

“I hope you are right, Master Yoda.” Anakin responded.

“Father.” Luke said, his holograph flickering. “As Leia and I told you, you had turned back to the Light just before you died. So it is possible.”

“You’re right.” Anakin said with smile. “I will keep faith in that then.” He told his son.

Bail cleared his throat. “Well…I will make arrangements for the Separatists new identities.” He offered.

“Thank you, Senator Organa.” Yoda told him. “Now prepare for my journey, I must.” He said as he got down from his chair and everyone stood as they watched Yoda walk to the door with his gimer stick to help him along. Yoda paused at the door and turned to look back at them with saddened eyes. “May the Force be with all of you. Meet again we will when the time is right.”

“May the Force be with you, Master Yoda.” Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Luke said in unison. “Until we meet again.” Obi-Wan added and Anakin and he bowed.

Yoda bowed his head in respect to the two Jedi in the room and to the hologram of Luke. He then turned and left the conference room, turning to the right to head down the corridor.

Everyone turned to face one another again. “I’m going to miss Master Yoda.” Anakin said to everyone’s surprise.

“Really?” Obi-Wan said looking at him with a surprised smile and his arms crossed in front of him.

“You’re surprised?” Anakin said with a smile toward his former master.

Obi-Wan smiled back at him with continued awe. “Why, yes, I always thought…”

“…thought that I didn’t like him?” Anakin finished.

“No, I wouldn’t say that.” Obi-Wan answered him.

“Master Yoda is a wise old Jedi. I’ve always respected and liked him, even if I didn’t always agree with him.” Anakin responded with a smile.

Obi-Wan put his left hand on his ‘brother’s’ shoulder. “Well, I’m glad. And I’m going to miss him too.”

“And so am I.” Luke added.

Everyone’s attention went back to Luke. “Luke, we will see you as soon as the mock funeral is done on Naboo.” Anakin told his son.

“And Luke, Leia said you wanted to see yourself and Leia as babies.” Padme said. “Your father and I can go get them now if you like.”

Luke looked at his mother with love. “No, it’s ok. I know you have a lot to do. I can see Leia and me as babies when you get to Tatooine.” He said smiling back at her.

Padme smiled down at the image of her son. “Ok, then. We’ll see you on Tatooine soon.”

“Ok. See you soon. I love you, Mother.” Luke responded as Padme started to tear up a little. He then turned to his father. “And may the Force be with you, Father.”

Anakin smiled at Luke. “And with you too…son.”

Luke smiled at his father and then he looked at Obi-Wan. “And my the Force be with you too, Ben.” He said with a wink at using Obi-Wan’s new identity.

“Yes, and you as well, Luke.” And then his image was gone.

Bail watched with the others as Luke’s image disappeared from the center of the table. He didn’t feel slighted that the young man hadn’t acknowledged him in his good-byes. After all, he wasn’t family. He then looked over to see Anakin comforting his wife, holding her close and kissing her on top of her head. He couldn’t help but smile to himself. They are such a loving couple. He then turned his attention to Padme to address her. “I assume your husband told you about my offer.”

Padme smiled at Bail from Anakin’s warm embrace with tears still in her eyes and her head still lying on his chest. “Yes, he did. And perhaps we will take you up on the offer of schooling for our children when they are old enough.” She paused looking up at her husband who was looking back down at her with love in his eyes. Then they both looked back over at Bail. “Thank you, Bail.” Padme said graciously.

“It’s my pleasure.” Bail said with a smile and a bow. He then turned to Anakin with his hands folded in front of him. “And I hope you will forgive me for what I asked you about earlier.”

“About adopting Leia?” Anakin asked him.

Bail looked over at Padme with concern, wondering about her reaction. “Yes.” He said cautiously.

“It’s ok, Bail. Anakin told me…and I admit I was upset at first. But I understand your reasons for offering to adopt Leia.” Padme said, noticing his uneasiness.

“So there’s nothing to forgive.” Anakin added with a smile.

Bail let out a sigh of relief and smiled back at his friends. “Thank you.” He responded with a bow. “And now I must prepare for our departure and the separatists’ new identites.” He told them as he started towards the door. But then he stopped and turned back around. “What of the droids?”

“You mean R2-D2 and 3PO?” Anakin asked while still holding Padme in his arms.

“Yes. I’m assuming you aren’t taking them with you, right?” Bail asked turning to Obi-Wan who had a sheepish look on his face. “You mean you didn’t discuss it with them yet?” Bail asked him.

“No, I forgot.” Obi-Wan said, looking ashamed of himself.

Anakin and Padme turned to look at Obi-Wan. “What about the droids?” Anakin asked him.

Obi-Wan sighed, looked down at his hands which he was folding in front of him, then looked back at Anakin and Padme. “I asked Senator Organa if he would be willing to take the droids. I just think it would be too risky to take them with us.”

“Obi-Wan, I built 3PO for my mother. He’s like family. And that little astrodroid has saved our lives on countless times.” Anakin argued. “We can’t leave them behind.”

Obi-Wan folded his arms in front of him. “But we wouldn’t be leaving them behind, Anakin. We would be leaving them with a trusted friend. I just think it would be too risky to take them along. You know how 3PO can blurt out the wrong thing at any given time. What if he says something about who we really are? Where would be then, Anakin?”

Anakin sighed, looking down to the floor. “You have a point. As much as I hate to admit it, you’re right. And having an R2 unit with us will only bring more attention to us.”

“Now you understand my reasoning.” Obi-Wan told him.

Anakin then turned to look at Bail again. “You may take R2 and 3PO.” He paused. “Please take good care of them.”

“I will. I’m planning on giving them over to Capt. Antilles, the captain of this ship. You’ve met him.” Anakin nodded. “He will take good care of them. I can assure you.” Bail answered to him with a smile and then became serious. “Do I have your permission to have 3PO’s memory wiped?”

Anakin gave him a shocked look. He hadn’t thought of that…but knew it was probably necessary due to 3PO’s lack of control when it came to keeping secrets. “Yes.” Anakin finally said. “I see the importance of doing that.”

Bail smiled and then bowed to them. “Thank you.” He said and then turned to leave the room, heading down the corridor to the left.

Padme looked up at her troubled husband’s face. He was still looking at the door in sadness. “3PO will be ok. He won’t remember us, so to him he won’t be losing anyone.”

Anakin looked down at his wife and smiled. “I know…but by erasing his memory, not only will his memories of us be gone but those of my mother as well.”

Padme hugged her husband tighter, placing her head on his chest again, knowing this is just one more thing in their lives they have to let go of in order to disappear. “Everything will be ok. You’ll see.” She told him.

Anakin put his left hand on the back of his wife’s head and then bent down to kiss her hair. “I know. I’ll just miss him and that little R2 unit. But I’ll be ok as long as I have you and the children.”

Obi-Wan smiled at his former padawan and his wife. He walked over and put his left hand on Anakin shoulder. “Perhaps we’ll see them again some day.” Obi-Wan told him.

Anakin looked over at his former master. “Perhaps.” He said with a weak smile.

Then Obi-Wan sighed, looking down and then back up at the loving couple. “I guess I better prepare for my big performance.” He told them.

Anakin and Padme looked at him with puzzlement and then Anakin remembered what he meant. “Yes, of course, General Kay.” Anakin said with a snicker but then became serious. “What do you plan on telling them?”

Obi-Wan thought for a moment, crossing his arms in front of him again and putting his right hand on his chin. “You know…I’m not quite sure yet. But I’m sure I’ll think of something.”

Anakin and Padme both smiled back at him. “I know you will.” Anakin said to him with a smile.

“Yes, we have every confidence in you.” Padme added, smiling.

Oh here goes nothing. Obi-Wan thought to himself as he walked around his friends and headed towards the door. He then turned to face them again from the doorway. “I’ll be back soon.” He told them as he put his hood over his head and then turned to leave, walking to the right down the hallway.