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Post by therealthing on Jul 5, 2007 20:06:09 GMT -5
Chapter 80
Imperial Residence- Coruscant
Sarith Kallos usually enjoyed his position. Being the Emperor’s personal assistant meant a great amount of prestige, not to mention money. But today was one time when money meant nothing. Indeed, he was quite certain that there was not enough money in the galaxy to make what he had to do any easier.
Palpatine was not an easy man to get along with at the best of times, but when he was in a foul mood, he was positively terrifying. Kallos had checked and rechecked the report he held in his hand. It cannot be, he thought in desperation; it simply cannot be!
“Enter!” a malevolent voice bellowed from behind the large heavy doors. Kallos took a deep breath and activated the doors. His eyes took a moment to adjust to the dimness of the enormous room as he walked toward the large throne on the far side.
“I have the report from the Endor System, your majesty,” Kollos began as he bowed before the galactic emperor.
Palpatine looked at the man before him. He waited wordlessly, knowing that his silence was far more intimidating than any threat he could utter.
Kollos swallowed hard and glanced down nervously at the datapad in his hands. “The scouts we dispatched have sent word. They…they, uh, have reported that the Death Star is…that is to say,” he coughed nervously, “it is gone, sir.”
Palpatine frowned and leaned forward in his throne to give the man a withering stare. “Gone?”
Kollos nodded, his mouth having gone completely dry. “Yes,” he croaked, and then cleared his throat. “Yes, your majesty. It is not there, nor is the Vengeance. The scouts did a check of the Sanctuary Moon and found a large amount of debris and,” he paused to cough again, “devastation that would indicate a large, uh…a large explosion.”
Palpatine did not reply, his mind starting to churn with anger. “Explosion?” he said at last. “Are you telling me that the Death Star has been destroyed??”
Kollos nodded. “It does appear that way, yes, yes sir,” he stammered as perspiration started to stand out upon his forehead.
The windows in the room began trembling as room was filled with Dark power. Glass began to shatter as the windows imploded under the tremendous pressure. Kollos ducked and covered his head with his arms, in an attempt to protect himself from the deadly projectiles flying through the room.
After a few moments, the room fell silent once again. Kollos slowly uncovered his head and looked around, astonished to be still alive. He looked up at the emperor and was unnerved by the look of sheer malevolence on his face.
“What is the status of the blockade?” Palpatine asked.
“We have not heard from any of our ships since the report of Rebel ships entering the system,” Kollos replied. “We have made several attempts to contact them, but so far they have gone unanswered.”
Palpatine nodded the growing feeling of uneasiness within him growing stronger. “Send a ship to the Alderaan System at once,” he commanded. “And have a squadron go to the surface. I want that traitor Organa in this room within twenty four hours.”
“I will see to it at once, Sire,” Kollos said with an elaborate bow. He scurried out of the room, relieved beyond measure that he had surveyed his audience with the emperor.
Palpatine stood up from his throne and walked slowly across the room, seemingly obvious to the glass crunching beneath his boots. Skywalker, he thought with a cold feeling deep inside of him, Skywalker has returned…Star Destroyer Executor
Anakin and Padmé stood greeting the TIE fighter pilots as they filed out of the hangar. Many had been lost, but such was the cost of war.
“Do you see him?” Padmé asked as she tried to see beyond the waves of pilots.
Anakin shook his head. “Not yet,” he said. “He’s here, Padmé,” he told her with certainty. “Don’t worry.”
Padmé looked up at him, knowing that he was undoubtedly right. His insight was above question.
“Solo is far too resourceful to be killed in a dogfight,” he added for good measure.
Padmé smiled. “It almost sounds as though you admire the man,” she commented.
Anakin smiled. “Let’s not get carried away, shall we?”
It was at this point that the very man they were looking for appeared. “You see?” Anakin said, “I’m always right.”
Padmé shook her head with a smile as she waved at Han, relieved to see him for herself.
“So the blockade has been lifted?” Han asked as he, Padmé and Anakin stepped into the turbolift.
“More like obliterated,” Anakin replied.
“They tried to self-destruct, but we prevented it,” Padmé explained.
“By destroying them ourselves,” Anakin put in.
Han nodded. “War stinks,” he commented.
“It does indeed,” Anakin replied. “I….” he stopped as he was shaken by a disturbance in the Force. He put a hand against the wall of the turbolift for a moment as the tremendous surge shook him.
“Ani, what is it?” Padmé asked, taking a hold of his arm. “What’s wrong?”
Anakin turned his eyes to hers, unable to voice for a moment just what it was he was feeling.
“Anakin, what is it!?” she cried, alarmed by the expression in his eyes.
“Something has happened,” he said at last. “Obi-Wan…”
Padmé and Han exchanged a look of concern, both knowing Anakin well enough to realize that he was more than capable of sensing the distress of those he loved even at great distances.
“Let’s get to the bridge and find out what is going on,” Padmé suggested as the turbolift came to a stop.
“Lord Vader, we’ve received a priority message from the Alliance ship Raven Star,” Piett announced as he saw Anakin. Anakin knew just by the look in Piett’s eyes that the news was not good.
“Relay it,” Anakin said simply.
“It’s General Kenobi,” Piett said. “He’s been seriously injured.”
Anakin nodded. “Bring us to the Raven Star,” he said quietly. “Maximum speed.”
“We’re already on our way, sir,” Piett replied.
“Ani,” Padmé said softly, taking his hand.
Anakin looked down at his wife, his eyes reflecting the depth of the pain he felt. “He can’t die, Padmé,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion. “Not now, not after everything we’ve gone through!”
Padmé did not know what to say, her own emotions too great for her to speak. Instead she wrapped her arms around his waist and held him close, praying that the Maker would not take their friend from them.
Anakin and Padmé were met in the hangar of the Raven Star by Yoda and a young rebel officer.
“Where is he, Master Yoda?” Anakin asked. “Where is Obi-Wan?”
“Come,” Yoda said simply, and then turned to leave the hangar.
Anakin started after the diminutive Jedi Master, part of him not wanting to come with him, for he knew deep in his heart that coming with him might mean learning the horrible truth that his Master, his brother, his best friend was gone. “Master Yoda,” he said softly as tears sprang to his eyes.
“Come,” Yoda said again, and started walking out of the hangar. Anakin turned to Padmé, who squeezed his hand tightly. Then they followed him.
Anakin walked through the Rebel ship as though in a dream, the voices around him heard merely as whispers in the distance. He felt his heart rate accelerating with each meter they covered on the long journey to the medical wing; part of him wishing they would n ever get there, part of him wanting to get the excruciating wait over.
Finally they reached the medical wing, and Yoda stopped. He turned and looked up at Anakin. “Go to him, Anakin,” he said simply.
Anakin looked down at Yoda, and then back at Padmé. She nodded, releasing his hand. Anakin took a deep breath to steady himself, and then entered the room. His eyes searched the room briefly, only half noticing the medical droids who were busily attending to other injured members of the ship’s crew. And then he saw Obi-Wan.
Slowly he walked over to the medical gurney where his life long friend lay. Until that moment Anakin had not wanted to believe that Obi-Wan was truly hurt; but now there was no denying it.
“Obi-Wan, can you hear me?” he asked, looking down intently at his friend’s face.
Obi-Wan was very weak, too weak to even open his eyes. His body was connected to life support equipment and a monitor that kept a close check of his vital signs.
“This can’t happen, not to you,” Anakin said, looking down at the face of his friend, so still and pale. “You can’t leave me now! I can’t do this without you, Master! I need you!” he cried, clenching his fists in frustration and anger. He reproached himself bitterly for putting his elderly friend in such danger. “I never should have involved you in this,” he said aloud. “What was I thinking?” A surge of anger flooded Anakin, the sight of Obi-Wan clinging to life reminding him all too vividly of the last moments of his mother’s life. I lost her….and now I will lose Obi-Wan too…the closest thing I ever had to a father….
“I failed you, Master,” he said, looking down at Obi-Wan again, as tears pricked his eyes. “I should have protected you, but I didn’t! I let those Imperial bastards do this to you! But they will pay, I won’t let them get away with this, Obi-Wan. I swear to you, they will pay for what they have done!”
Padmé waited outside the door, feeling torn. She knew how much Anakin was suffering, and wanted to be there for him; but she herself had yet to master her own grief. Like Anakin, she had known Obi-Wan since she was a child, he had been a good friend to her, a protector to both her and her children. And now his life was hanging in the balance.
“Mother?”
Padmé turned, startled by the sound of her son’s voice. Luke and Leia knew in an instant what had happened.
“It’s bad, isn’t it?” Luke asked.
Padmé could only nod, her tears streaming down her face.
Luke closed his eyes, the sorrow filling him utterly. Leia stood as though in shock, looking wide eyed at her mother. “He can’t die!” she cried. “I won’t believe it!”
“Leia, sweetheart,” Padmé said, reaching for her daughter, “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I know what Obi-Wan means to you, to both of you.”
“Where is Dad?” Luke asked at last, his eyes brilliant with tears.
“He’s in there, with Obi-Wan,” Padmé said, indicating the door.
Leia did not wait another moment and burst through the door and into the room. She looked around the room, brushing the tears from her face, stopping when she saw her father. She ran to him, desperate to comfort him, to seek comfort from him; needing him to help her make sense of the crushing loss that was consuming her.
“Daddy,” Leia cried as she reached him.
Anakin looked up. “Leia,” he said softly, turning to her. He held open his arms as Leia threw herself into his embrace. Anakin held her tightly, wishing he was strong enough to offer her words of comfort, but knowing somehow that for now all she needed was his warm presence, his reassuring embrace and his unconditional love to support her.
Leia looked up at him. “He’s going to be alright, isn’t he?” she asked desperately. “Please tell me he’s going to be alright!”
“I wish I could,” Anakin said quietly. “He’s very weak, and has suffered a great deal of trauma.” He frowned again as his own sense of guilt reasred up again. “I should never have asked him to get involved in this,” he said. “If he dies….”
“Don’t you dare blame yourself for this!” Leia cried. “This is the doing of the Empire, Daddy, not you. Besides, you do really think you could have dissuaded Obi-Wan from getting involved?”
Anakin shook his head. “Not a chance,” he said softly, looking back at his friend. “I will make them pay, Leia,” he said, his words sending a shiver down her spine. He turned back and looked at her. “The Empire will pay for what they have done here today.”
Leia could see the look of determination in her father’s eyes; but what was more, she could see the anger. At that moment he reminded her very much of the man he had been when they had first met many months earlier on the Death Star. And that terrified her.
Luke and Padmé looked up as the door opened and Anakin and Leia emerged.
“It’s time to end this,” Anakin said, his voice steady and strong once again.
“End this?” Padmé asked. “What do you mean, Ani? You don’t mean…” she stopped as it dawned on her what he was referring to.
“You mean to confront the emperor, don’t you?” she asked.
Anakin nodded. “Yes, time to bring this to a head,” he said. “I will not risk any more lives,” he added.
Yoda watched Anakin, sensing within him the great anger that he felt.
“Great anger I sense in you, Anakin,” he said at last. “Do not let your grief over Obi-Wan govern your actions.”
Anakin turned to Yoda with a frown. “You can’t be serious,” he said. “After what they did to Obi-Wan, you expect me to show mercy towards those Imperial monsters?” He shook his head. “No, I will make them pay. I won’t allow them to take one more life, I swear it!”
Luke was about to say something but he stopped when his father walked off. Instead he looked at his mother and then at his sister.
“I’m afraid for him,” Luke said. “I’m afraid this will drag him back into the Darkness.”
Padmé shook her head. “No, it can’t,” she said. “We can’t let this happen. Master Yoda, we have to stop him!”
Yoda sighed deeply, looking for a moment every day of his eight hundred odd years of age. “Anakin’s destiny is to destroy the Sith,” he said solemnly. “It is the prophecy.”
“I don’t care about the prophecy,” Leia stated hotly. “I’m not going to let my father be destroyed all over again!” she said, and took off down the corridor after Anakin.
Padmé looked at Luke. “Luke, what are we going to do?” she asked softly.
Luke said nothing, but put his arms around her in an attempt to comfort her. “We won’t lose him again, Mom,” he said softly. “I promise you.”
Padmé closed her eyes against the tears that filled them, taking comfort in her son’s reassuring embrace.
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Post by therealthing on Jul 5, 2007 20:12:32 GMT -5
Chapter 81
Leia ran through the corridors of the Raven Star after her father. She was desperate to talk to him, to make sure that the darkness she saw in his eyes would not claim him.
Anakin had reached the turbolift and stood waiting for it to arrive. The door opened and he stepped inside. As the doors were about to close, they were halted by someone. Anakin turned around to see his daughter enter the lift, the doors sliding closed behind her.
“I’m glad I caught you,” she said, reaching over and activating the lift’s brake.
Anakin frowned. “Why are you stopping us?” he asked.
“Because we need to talk,” she replied.
Anakin was tempted to bypass the brake and set the lift in motion once again, but he resisted the urge. Obviously his daughter was hell bent on talking to him right here and right now, and the least he could do was listen.
“I’m listening,” he said simply.
Leia looked up at her father, not even knowing where to begin. “I’m afraid,” she said at last. “Really afraid.”
Anakin sighed. “I know you are, Leia,” he said. “I am too. I intend to have Obi-Wan brought on board the Executor in a medical capsule; we have much better medical facilities….”
“I’m not talking about Obi-Wan right now, Dad,” she said, cutting him off. “I’m talking about you.”
Anakin frowned. “Me? What do you mean?”
“Dad, I’m afraid you are going to turn back to the Dark Side,” she said, trying not to let her emotions get the better of her. “I’m afraid that your anger over what happened to Obi-Wan will destroy you.”
Anakin did not know what to say in response to his daughter’s words. Her reaction shocked him, and yet, he could not deny the anger he felt simmering within him.
“I can’t believe you would think such a thing,” he said. “You of all people should know better!”
Leia could see the hurt in her father’s eyes; but she couldn’t concern herself with hurting his feelings right now. She knew she needed to be brutally honest in order to make him see reason.
“Perhaps it is because I know you so well that I can see it,” Leia countered.
“See what?” Anakin challenged. “What is it that you think you see?”
Leia took a step closer to him, willing herself not to be intimidated by him. “I see Darth Vader,” she said simply.
The look in her father’s eyes told her that she had hit home.
“What did you say?”
“You heard me,” she replied, summoning her nerve. “I know what Obi-Wan means to you,” she said, taking his hand. “I love him too, and I’m angry over what happened to him just as you are.”
“So what is your point?”
“My point is, you can’t let this anger destroy you,” she said. “You told me about how Grandma died, and what it did to you. Your nightmares about Mom dying only exacerbated things. Now you’re afraid of losing Obi-Wan; please don’t let this fear start you down the Dark Path once again,” she said, looking up at him. “I love you too much to lose you now, Daddy.”
Anakin felt his throat tighten with the flood of emotions her words evoked. He took her face in his hands. “You will not lose me, Leia,” he told her. “I promise you.”
“I know you don’t want to,” she replied. “I know the last thing you want is to become Darth Vader again. But you know yourself how dangerous anger can be, Dad. You know that it has already destroyed you once.”
Anakin nodded. “Yes it has,” he admitted. “That is how I know it won’t happen again. I have done something no other person has ever done, Leia; I have returned from the Dark Side. I know better than anyone of its dangers. I promised you and Luke and your mother that I would never leave any of you again, and I meant it. The Darkness will not destroy me, Leia,” he averred. “Rather I will be the instrument of its destruction. I will destroy the Sith, I promise you.”
Leia nodded. “Just promise me something,” she said.
“What is that?” Anakin asked.
“That you will take a few days to cool off before you confront the emperor,” she replied. “I believe what you are saying, truly I do. But right now, at this moment, I can feel how angry you are. And when you are this angry, you don’t always react rationally.”
Anakin lifted an eyebrow. “Really,” he commented.
Leia smiled. “Yes, really,” she said. “I know this because I’m the very same way. And since you and I are so much alike….”
“I see,” Anakin said. He sighed and folded his arms over his chest, looking at her intently. “Seems you’ve appointed yourself my special guardian,” he commented, a hint of a smile on his face.
Leia nodded. “Yes, I have,” she replied, folding her arms as well. “Any objections?”
Anakin shook his head. “None,” he said. He thought for a moment, the smile on his face growing wistful. “I’ll just bet you were a regular little firecracker when you were a little girl, weren’t you?”
Leia laughed. “Now why would you think that?” she asked. “I was a proper little princess, I’ll have you know.”
Anakin nodded. “Yes, I’m sure you were,” he replied. “Perhaps Senator Organa can verify my suspicions.”
The look of surprised disbelief on his daughter’s face caused Anakin to laugh.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I can’t seem to resist teasing the people I love,” he told her.
Leia smiled. “So I’ve noticed,” she said. She reached over to reactivate the lift’s controls. “Maybe we ought to get this thing moving before people start to worry.”
Anakin nodded as he watched her start the lift up once again. “Thank you Leia,” he said.
She looked back at him. “What for?”
“For loving me enough to be honest with me,” he replied. “For worrying. I know that without you I never would have had the strength to abandon the Dark Side. It has been your constant love and support that have kept me in the light.”
Leia smiled. “You’re my father,” she said softly. “Of course I would love and support you. I would do anything to keep you from the Darkness.”
Anakin nodded and then as the lift doors opened, turned to see Luke and Padmé standing before them.
“What’s going on?” Luke asked, looking from his father to his sister.
Anakin and Leia looked at one another. “We were having a little chat,” Leia said.
Padmé looked at Leia and then at Anakin. She could see that whatever Leia had said to him it had calmed him tremendously.
“Everything okay?” she asked as she and Luke stepped onto the lift.
“Yes they are,” Anakin said. “I think we need to working on our lightsabers,” he told his children. “A few more days and we ought to be finished,” he added, looking at Leia with a smile.
“Sounds like a good plan,” Luke said. “What do you think, Leia?”
Leia looked from Luke to their father and smiled. “I think it’s a perfect plan.”
Imperial Palace-Coruscant
Palpatine sat drumming his fingers on the armrest of his throne. He had been waiting for nearly twelve hours for the report from the scout ship that had been dispatched to the Alderaan System. The longer he waited, the darker his mood became. He was beginning to suspect that something was terribly amiss when his comm. screen indicated that a message was coming through.
“What is it?” he snapped. “I don’t like to be kept waiting!”
The hologram of the unfortunate individual whose job it was to contact the emperor bowed. “Your majesty, we have made a complete sweep of the Alderaan System. There is no trace of any of the four ships who were assigned to blockade Alderaan.”
“What do you mean?” demanded Palpatine. “What happened to them?”
“It is our belief that they were destroyed,” the envoy replied. “There is a large concentration of Rebel ships in the sector,” he continued. “The Executor has engaged them, however,” he reported. “So it seems that…”
“What did you say?” Palpatine interjected. “Did you say the Executor?”
“Yes sir,” the messenger replied. “We spotted it clearly in the vicinity of the Rebel ships.”
Palpatine frowned. “And you say it was engaged with the Rebel ships?” he asked. “You saw the battle?”
The envoy’s eyes darted nervously. “Well, no,” he replied. “We didn’t actually witness a battle…”
“So how do you know they were engaged in a battle??” Palpatine demanded angrily.
“But sire, why else would the Executor be in such close proximity to the ships of the Alliance?”
“Why indeed,” Palpatine muttered, his suspicions about Vader growing by the minute. “Bring the Viceroy of Alderaan to me at once,” he said. “I want answers, and I will get them at any cost.”
The envoy’s expression grew fearful. “I’m afraid that isn’t possible sir,” he said. “The viceroy was not on Alderaan. We did a thorough search.”
Palpatine’s face twisted with rage. Skywalker and Organa are plotting against me…I’m certain of it now….
“Find him,” Palpatine said at last. “I will deal with that traitor once and for all.”
“Yes sir,” the messenger replied, and ended the transmission quickly before the emperor decided that the dire news he had delivered merited a death sentence.
I will deal with you too as well, Lord Vader, he thought darkly. I can forgive betrayal only once. This time you will have to pay for it.
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Post by therealthing on Jul 7, 2007 16:23:16 GMT -5
Chapter 82
Obi-Wan was brought to the Executor in a medical capsule a few hours later. His condition was still quite serious, but Anakin felt convinced that the medical facilities aboard the star destroyer were far better than any the Rebel Alliance could offer.
Anakin had thought a great deal about the conversation he’d had earlier with his daughter. It had unnerved him that he’d come so close to the Dark Side that she had seen it in his eyes. For the second time it was because of Leia’s unwavering faith in his humanity that he had avoided falling into the abyss once again.
He looked at her now as she and Luke set to work on the next stage of their light saber construction. The look of determination on her face as she carefully set the crystal in place reminded him so much of her mother when she was determined to overcome a problem.
“Here’s where it gets tricky,” Anakin cautioned as he set the blue crystal in his own weapon. “The crystals must be lined up precisely or else you’ll blow your head off the first time you activate the matrix.”
“Okay…” Luke said uneasily. “And how exactly do you do that?”
Anakin smiled. “Use the Force,” he said simply. “Can you do it?”
Luke and Leia looked up at one another briefly. Leia nodded. “I think so,” she replied.
“No Leia, do it, don’t just think you can,” Anakin advised.
“You sound like Master Yoda,” Luke commented.
Leia laughed.
Anakin smiled. “I suppose there’s a first time for everything,” he said. “Now concentrate,” he told his children. “The Force will guide you.” I do sound like Yoda, he thought, or maybe Obi-Wan. The thought of his friend brought a fresh wave of anxiety with it. Obi-Wan still had not stabilized, and the more time that passed, the graver his condition grew. He has to recover, Anakin thought desperately. He can’t die, I won’t let him...
“Dad, concentrate,” Leia said, sensing whither his thoughts had wandered.
Anakin nodded and returned his attention to the task at hand.
Executor Refectory- Later that evening
“It’s no big deal, really,” Luke insisted.
“It is so,” Leia said. She turned to her parents. “Don’t you just think she’s perfect for Luke?”
Padmé and Anakin exchanged a look. “Who are we talking about here again?” Anakin teased.
“You know very well who, Dad,” Leia said with a smile. “Ylla Piett!” she turned to her twin. “They had their first date last night, didn’t you Luke?”
Luke’s face was growing progressively redder as the conversation continued. “Well, I guess you could sort of call it a date, kinda,” he mumbled.
“Come on, kid,” Han said, slapping Luke on the back. “Don’t be so modest! I saw the way she was looking at you. She likes you, man. I know it.”
Luke couldn’t help but grin a little at this. “You think so?” he asked.
Leia nodded definitely. “Absolutely,” she averred. “She was hanging on every word he said,” she told her parents. “It was so cute!”
“Cute?” Anakin said. “It was cute?” He looked at Padmé. “I thought babies were cute,” he said.
Padmé laughed.
“You know what I mean,” Leia said good-naturedly. “So when are you going to see her again?”
Luke shrugged. “I don’t’ know,” He said. “Whenever.”
Leia rolled her eyes. “Luke, you need some serious coaching in the dating department,” she said.
“I can give him a few pointers,” Han offered with a smile.
Leia snorted. “You? It took you two years to admit that you liked me,” she retorted. “I don’t think you’re the prime candidate for the job, fly boy.”
Han opened his mouth to protest but decided against it. She was right, after all.
“Well I think the best thing to do is to let thing progress naturally,” Padmé said. “She does seem to like you, Luke,” she added with a smile.
Luke looked at his mother. “I think she does,” he said. “I don’t know,” he added, running a hand through his shaggy locks. “I don’t want to get my hopes up.”
Padmé frowned, wondering how her son had come to be so guarded. “Luke, you have a lot to offer any girl,” she said, reaching over and taking his hand. “Don’t ever forget that. Any girl would be lucky to have your heart.”
Luke smiled at his mother. “Thanks Mom,” he said. “That’s a really nice thing to say.”
“And I mean every word of it,” Padmé said, reaching over to give Luke a kiss on the cheek.
“So how are the lightsabers coming along?” Han asked.
“They’re almost finished,” Luke said. “Just a few more last minute touches and they’ll be complete.”
“Doesn’t it usually take weeks to finish a lightsaber?” Padmé asked.
“Usually,” Anakin said. “But when have you ever known me to take that long?” he asked her with a smile.
Padmé laughed. “Yes, I should have realized your children would be just as quick,” she said.
Anakin smiled. “I’m afraid neither of them inherited your patience, Angel,” he told his wife.
“So it seems,” Padmé replied, looking at their children with a smile. “I was in visiting Obi-Wan earlier,” she told her family.
“Any change in his condition?” Leia asked.
Padmé shook her head. “No, I’m afraid not,” she replied. “The medi-droids are monitoring him closely and I told them to let us know the moment there is any change.”
“He has to pull through,” Luke said, pushing the food on his plate around. “I can’t imagine not having him around now.”
Anakin nodded. “He’ll pull through,” he said. “He’s too stubborn not to,” he added with a smile.
Luke looked up at his father and smiled. “Yeah, he is that,” he agreed. “Master Yoda said as much.”
“Did he?” Leia replied. “I can’t imagine that.”
“Well he didn’t it in so many words,” Luke explained. “I kind of read between the lines.”
“Something you need to do a lot of with Yoda,” Anakin replied. “He likes to talk in riddles.”
“I thought he did that just to see if I was listening,” Luke said with a smile.
Anakin and Padmé laughed. “Could be Luke, you never know with him.”
Lord Vader, this is the bridge.
Anakin activated his comlink. “Go ahead, Keller.”
Sir, the Emperor is demanding that you make contact with him.
Anakin looked at his wife, the light hearted mood that they had been enjoying shattered with a few simple words. “I’ll be right there,” Anakin said. He stood up. “Get those lightsabers ready,” he told Luke and Leia. “I have a feeling you’re going to need them sooner than we expected.” He looked at his wife.
Luke and Leia nodded and then watched their father retreat from them.
Padmé watched him too, the fear that she had felt building within her for days now rising another notch. She turned back to her children. “Don’t let anything happen to him,” she said softly.
Luke and Leia each took one of their mother’s hands. “We won’t,” Luke told her.
“We promise,” added Leia, leaning over and giving her mother a quick kiss on the cheek. “Come on Luke, we have work to do,” she said as she stood up from the table.
Luke joined her, leaving Han and Padmé alone.
“The emperor doesn’t stand a chance against the three of them,” Han said, knowing what was on Padmé’s mind. “You know that, don’t you?”
Padmé looked at him. “Yes,” she said. “But that doesn’t make me feel any better about this.”
Han nodded. “I know what you mean,” he said quietly.
Anakin made his way to the audience chamber, summoning the Force to calm his heart that was pounding like a trip hammer. There was no doubt in Anakin’s mind that Palpatine had learned of the destruction of the Death Star; by now he may even know of the failure of the blockade around Alderaan as well. He would be looking for answers, which, Anakin reasoned, was why he was summoning his right hand at this time. He expects me to have answers for him, Anakin realized as he entered the audience chamber. And I’ve none to offer.
Kneeling on the large holopad embedded in the floor, Anakin prepared himself as the enormous holographic image of the emperor materialized before him.
“What is thy bidding, my master?” Anakin asked, the words leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.
“You are looking well, Lord Vader,” Palpatine began amicably in an attempt to catch Anakin off guard.
“Thank you my master,” Anakin replied simply.
“Your wife is taking good care of you I presume,” Palpatine commented.
“She is,” Anakin replied.
Palpatine nodded, frustrated at not being able to glean more of a reaction from him. And yet, he knew the reason why. This is not Vader, he thought, carefully shielding his thoughts; this is Skywalker, I have no doubt of it now.
“Tell me, Lord Vader; how goes the search for your children?” Palpatine asked.
“Slowly,” Anakin replied noncommittally. “The Rebels are very clever, my Master,” he said. “They continue to evade us.”
“Apparently so,” Palpatine replied sourly. “And now they have destroyed the Death Star,” he said, watching his servant closely for his reaction.
“They must have had spies aiding them,” Anakin replied. “How else could they have learned of its location?”
“Indeed, or even of its existence,” Palpatine commented.
Anakin realized that he’d blundered; Darth Vader knew nothing of the Death Star, so if he were to show any hint of knowledge of its existence, he would be implicating himself in its destruction.
“We received a distress call from the station,” Anakin said, recovering quickly. “But by the time we were within striking distance of the Sanctuary Moon, it was all over.”
“I see,” Palpatine replied, more convinced now than ever that the man before him was Anakin Skywalker and not Darth Vader. “I would like you to come to Coruscant,” he continued. “I would very much like to see your lovely wife again,” he added. “It has been far too long.”
Anakin had to fight hard to keep his thoughts and emotions in check at hearing this.
“Of course,” he said simply, managing a hint of a smile. “I’m sure she would enjoy seeing you again as well.”
Palpatine smiled. “Splendid,” he said. “I shall expect you both within forty eight hours. Don’t disappoint me, Lord Vader.”
Anakin bowed low as the holograph flickered out of sight. He stood up and stared at the wall where the image of the ghastly monarch had just been. . I will not bring my wife to you, Master, he thought bitterly. Not in a thousand life times…
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Post by therealthing on Jul 7, 2007 16:28:17 GMT -5
Chapter 83
The next twenty-four hours were busy ones for the crew of the Executor. While the ship made its way to the Imperial capital, Anakin and his children worked feverishly to finish their lightsabers. The tension was thick as the confrontation drew closer. Anakin had devised a plan that was as daring as it was brilliant.
“I don’t know, it all sounds rather dangerous,” Ylla said as she and Luke sat together in the ship’s vast observation deck.
“Maybe,” Luke concurred. “But there’s no need to worry. I’m confident my father knows what he’s doing.”
“I’m sure he does,” she replied. “But aren’t you afraid, Luke? I know I would be.”
Luke shrugged as he looked up at the vast expanse of stars above them. “Maybe a little,” he said. “But I’m pretty good at taking care of myself.”
“Don’t be so modest,” Ylla said, putting a hand on his arm. “I can’t believe you’re training to be a Jedi! That is so amazing!”
Luke smiled. “Yeah, it is pretty cool,” he admitted. “I never dreamed I would get a chance to be a Jedi.”
“My father told me that your father was a great Jedi hero in the Clone Wars,” Ylla said.
“He was,” Luke replied. “I’m very proud to call him my father.”
“I’m sure,” she responded. “Just as I’m sure he must be proud of you as his son,” she added with a smile.
Luke fought hard not to blush, but he couldn’t help it. Little did he know that it only made him more adorable in Ylla’s eyes.
“Luke, are you blushing?” she teased.
“No,” Luke said, only blushing more. “Jedi don’t blush.”
Ylla laughed. “I see,” she said. She leaned over and planted a quick kiss on Luke’s pink cheek. “Luke Skywalker, you are simply adorable,” she told him softly.
Luke turned and looked at her with a smile. “Thanks,” he said. “I mean, I’m glad you think so, uh, I mean…oh forget it,” he said, leaning toward her and kissing her softly.
The sick bay hummed quietly with the sound of machinery as Anakin entered the intensive care wing.
“May I help you, Lord Vader?” the medi-droid in attendance asked.
“How is General Kenobi?” Anakin asked. “Has there been any change in his condition today?”
“Actually yes, sir,” the droid replied. “His vital signs are considerably stronger today. We expect to take him off life support within the next twenty hours.”
Anakin smiled. “That is fantastic,” he said. “So he is expected to make a full recovery then?”
“We expect so, my lord, yes,” the droid replied.
Anakin nodded. “Excellent,” he said, feeling a huge weight lifted from his heart. “Continue to monitor him closely.”
“Of course, sir.”
Imperial Center- Coruscant
Palpatine had watched the progression of the Executor from the moment it had entered the system. He had done his utmost to establish a psychic link with his one time apprentice, but Vader’s mind was closed to him. That is because he is no longer Vader, he reasoned. And he has the arrogance to think he can fool me.
“Sire, there is a message coming in from the Executor,” one of Palpatine’s guards informed him.
“Put it through,” Palpatine said, turning in his throne to view the incoming message. Within a few seconds a small holograph of Vader appeared. To Palpatine’s surprise, Vader’s wife was at his side.
“My master, we have entered the Coruscant System and will be arriving at Imperial Center within three hours,” Vader reported.
Palpatine nodded. “Excellent,” he replied. “I am looking forward to seeing you both very soon.”
Vader did not reply, but merely bowed as the transmission faded out. Palpatine turned in his seat. “I’m looking forward to it most eagerly,” he said with a smile.
Admiral Piett stood on the bridge watching as the shuttle drew closer to the planet below. He could not help but feel nervous about what was about to take place. Piett knew the emperor well enough to realize the potential danger that faced Anakin, for despite appearances to the contrary it was entirely possible that the emperor knew of Anakin’s ruse. Piett had come to greatly admire Anakin and his family; the thought that they could be walking in to a trap filled him with a cold sense of dread.
“How long before we hear from them?”
Piett turned to see his eldest daughter standing beside him.
“Ylla, you shouldn’t be here,” Firmus told her.
“I know,” Ylla replied. “I’m just worried, Dad,” she added quietly.
Piett nodded. “I know you are,” he said gently. “Everything will be fine. Have faith, Ylla.”
Ylla crossed her arms over her chest, doing her best not to be afraid. “It’s not easy to have faith when someone you care about is in danger.”
Putting an arm around his daughter’s shoulders, Piett turned his attention back to the view screen, where the shuttle had now disappeared from sight.
Palpatine sat in his throne room, the place where he felt the most omnipotent, and waited for his apprentice to arrive. He smiled to himself, smug in the knowledge that he had outsmarted Vader once and for all.
Closing his eyes, he focused on the distinctive Force presence of his one time protégé, confident that he would be able to predict the precise moment he arrived, and set his plan in motion. He did sense something as he sat in mediation, but it was not the aura of Vader, it was the shock and terror of the dozens of guards who acted as sentry in his palace. Not understanding what the source of their fear was, he opened his eyes in alarm, only to find that the room had been cast into compete darkness. Standing up shakily, he moved cautiously forward, trying to adjust his ancient eyes to the utterly lightless room.
“Guards!” he called out, “what the devil is going on? Guards!!”
He received no response. It was then that he too began to grow afraid.
Slowly the emperor made his way over to the door, using the Force to guide his way. Reaching the door, he opened it, only to find the way blocked by the seemingly dead bodies of the two guards who had been standing sentry mere moments ago. He looked down at them in shock, and then slowly up as he spied a pair of black boots on the floor before him. Looking up slowly, he next saw the glowing blue blade of a lightsaber, pointed at him.
“You’ll be pleased to know that I have found my children, my master.”
Palpatine looked up into the glacial blue eyes of Anakin Skywalker, fully redeemed, his aura brilliant as the blue blade his held at his master’s throat.
“Traitor,” spat Palpatine as he straightened up, glancing behind Anakin briefly, where he saw a clone trooper and an elaborately costumed woman.
“You brought your wife to witness your treachery?” he added.
“I thank you for the compliment,” she said, and then pulled out a lightsaber to join her father’s. “But my mother was unable to make it. She sends her deepest regrets.”
“My daughter bears a remarkable resemblance to her mother, wouldn’t you say?” Anakin asked.
Palpatine stared in shock at the young woman, astonished at how much she looked like her mother. And then he reacted.
“You! Trooper! Shoot them now! I command you!” Palpatine shrieked at the clone at Anakin’s back.
The clone did not comply, but merely removed his helmet. Under it was a young man who looked startlingly like Anakin had at the age of nineteen.
“I’m afraid you have it all wrong your majesty,” Luke said, producing his own lightsaber.
“You have underestimated me for the last time, Lord Sidious,” Anakin said, stepping closer to the emperor. “You never dreamed I would see through your lies, did you Master?” he asked acrimoniously. “You never imagined that I would learn the truth about my wife, about my injuries. Well I have, and now I mean to make you pay for all the wrongs you have done my family.”
“You traitor,” Palpatine said again. “You dare to challenge me?? You are an enemy of the Empire! A cowardly traitor that is what you are! Just like your pathetic offspring!”
That was all it took for Anakin to lash out, force pushing the emperor against the doors.
“You are the coward, Palpatine,” Leia said, removing the cumbersome cape she had clasped around her neck. “Using our father to do your dirty work, preying on his fears to make him your slave!”
Palpatine shot a look of utter malice at Leia as he regained his balance. “How touching,” he sneered. “The twins have been reunited with their long lost father, the father who nearly killed them before they were born, the father who tried to choke their mother to death while she was carrying them within her.”
“That was not our father,” Luke countered, doing his best to remain calm. “But the monster you created with your lies and deceit. He is not your slave anymore, Sidious. He is a Jedi once again, just as my sister and I are.”
Palpatine looked at Luke next. “Fools,” he spat. “Your weak, Jedi skills are no match for the power of the Dark Side!” He punctuated his sentence with a blast of Sith lightning which sent Luke stumbling back, the armor he wore having absorbed the brunt of the energy.
“You will not attack my brother again!” Leia cried, rushing forward to attack the emperor. Palpatine raised his hand to her next, only to have Anakin block the bolt of energy with the blade of his lightsaber.
“Your feeble skills no longer intimidate me, Sidious,” Anakin said, forcing the energy back at Palpatine. “I am redeemed, I am whole,” he told him. “And now I will make you pay for the years of Hell you’ve put this family through,” he concluded, drawing closer. “If you intend on defending yourself, do so quickly, for I have no qualms about killing you where you stand.”
“So be it, Jedi,” Palpatine replied coldly as he withdrew his own weapon from under his cloak. He moved towards Anakin with remarkable speed, his forward thrust being parried easily by Anakin’s far more powerful blade. Palpatine grew frustrated, and pushed forward again. His efforts were thwarted again, this time by the blade of Anakin’s son.
Anakin watched anxiously as Luke battled the emperor, doing his best to keep him at bay. Palpatine, however, could sense the young man’s inexperience and pushed him back, forcing Luke to back peddle. Anakin did not want to give the Sith a chance to advance any further upon his son, and brought his own blade to the red blade of his former master.
“Luke, Leia, get out of here,” he said without taking his eyes from Palpatine’s.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Leia said.
“Neither am I,” Luke agreed.
Anakin frowned, growing frustrated that his children were not following the plan that they had discussed. He glanced at them briefly. “Go!” he shouted. “Do it!”
Palpatine took advantage of Anakin’s momentary distraction to repel his blade and deliver a blow that glanced Anakin’s shoulder. Leia moved in quickly and sliced through the emperor’s arm. Palpatine screamed in pain as his lightsaber hit the floor. Anakin moved forward with his son, biting back the pain in his shoulder.
“Go,” he said to his children, “do it now before it’s too late.”
“What about you?” Leia cried.
“I’ll be right behind you,” Anakin replied. “Now do it!”
Luke and Leia looked at one another and then ran from the room, knowing that time was of the essence.
Anakin looked at the emperor who stood slumped to one side, looking every day of his many years.
“I’ve waited a long time for this,” Anakin said. “Die now with the knowledge that your Empire will die with you,” he said, and then drove his blade through the emperor’s body. Palpatine’s eyes bulged momentarily as he mouthed a silent curse at his one time apprentice, and then fell forward dead.
Anakin stood looking at the dead body for a moment, to ensure that he truly was dead, and then turned and bolted from the room.
Han Solo and Chewbacca stood waiting in the corridor, blasters held ready. When they heard the sound of someone running towards them, they stood ready. Seeing who it was, they relaxed.
“About time!” Han declared as he hugged Leia tightly. He didn’t have to say anything else, for she knew just how scared he was. He kissed her quickly and then looked up. “Where’s your father?”
“He’s right behind us,” Luke said. “How long do we have?”
Chewbacca barked an answer. Two minutes.
Leia grew anxious. “We can’t leave without him!” she declared. “I won’t leave without him!”
“Sweetheart, you know what your dad told you on the way here,” Han reminded her gently. “This whole thing will be for nothing if we all get blown to Hell.”
Luke and Leia looked at one another anxiously. “We should have stayed with him,” Leia said. “What if he’s hurt? What if…”
“Let’s go,” Anakin said as he joined them, not even stopping. “Time Solo?”
“Less than a minute now sir,” Han replied as they all started running.
“It’s going to be close,” Anakin replied. “Let’s move!!”
Running as fast as they could, the five of them raced through the corridors of the palace towards the landing platform.
“Get us out of here Chewie!” Han yelled as they raced on board.
Chewbacca hit the controls and the shuttle lifted off, just as the entire palace exploded in a giant ball of fire.
On board the Executor the explosion was observed by the bridge crew. Piett looked back at Padmé.
“They made it, didn’t they Firmus?” Padmé asked quietly, her entire body rigid with fear.
“Try to raise them,” Piett said tersely.
The communication officer complied at once. “I can’t make contact, sir,” he replied. “There’s no response.”
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Post by therealthing on Jul 7, 2007 16:36:53 GMT -5
Chapter 84
“Well, what do you think?”
Anakin looked up to see Padmé and Leia standing before him. His mouth dropped open when he beheld his daughter, for, thanks to her mother’s ministrations, she was the very image of a 20 year old Padmé Amidala.
“Wow,” Anakin said softly. “That is….incredible.”
Padmé turned and looked at Leia with a smile. “Quite a resemblance, wouldn’t you say?”
Anakin nodded. “Yes, it’s astounding.”
Leia had her hair arranged in an elaborate style much like the ones her mother was well known for and she wore a gown reminiscent of the former Queen of Naboo. It was a perfect disguise.
“Palpatine will be completely fooled,” Anakin said. “At least initially.”
“Well that’s all we need, isn’t it?” Leia replied. “Just to get in the door.”
Anakin nodded. “Yes,” he agreed. “Once we’re alone with him, then we will let him in on our little secret.”
The door opened and an armored storm trooper entered the room.
“I still can’t see a thing in this helmet,” he muttered.
Anakin smiled. “You won’t have to put up with it for long, Luke,” he said. “As Leia said, just long enough to get us in the door.”
Luke took the helmet off and set it down. “Good,” he said, running a hand through his tousled locks. “The shorter the better.”
“I still think you’re too short to be a storm trooper,” Leia told her brother with a grin.
Luke laughed.
“Am I missing something?” Padmé asked, looking at her children.
Luke and Leia looked at one another. “Well, the first time Leia and I met one another I was dressed like this,” Luke explained.
“Why?” Padmé asked.
“He was trying to rescue me,” Leia said with a smile. “He did a pretty good job too as a matter of fact.”
“Rescue you from whom?” Padmé asked.
“From me,” Anakin said, much to Padmé’s surprise.
She turned to him. “From you??” she asked. “You…I mean Vader held Leia prisoner?”
“No, he didn’t,” Leia said before Anakin could reply. “I was being held by Governor Tarkin on board the Death Star, and Darth Vader protected and eventually rescued me,” she said, looking at her father with a smile.
Padmé smiled. “You did that?”
Anakin nodded. “I had to,” he replied. “I felt a connection with Leia from the moment we met, and did everything I could to help her. Meeting Luke was pure serendipity,” he added, looking at Luke.
“It was the will of the Force,” Luke said. “That’s what I think brought us all together.”
“Perhaps you’re right, Luke,” Anakin replied. “Whatever the reason, I am eternally grateful to the imperial officer who placed the tractor beam on Leia’s ship to bring her on board mine,” he said, smiling at Leia. “If we had never met, I would have spent the rest of my life in Darkness.”
“And I would have spent the rest of mine in that home you found me in, Ani,” Padmé put in. Emotions flooded her as she thought all that her family had been through, and what was yet to come. “I wish this was all behind us,” she said softly. “I hate the thought of this.”
Anakin walked over to her and took her face in his hands. “None of us do, Angel,” he told her. “But this confrontation has been coming for a long time, there is no avoiding it. The galaxy will never know peace until Palpatine is dead.”
Padmé nodded. “I know that, Ani,” she said. “In my mind I know it’s necessary, but in my heart….” She stopped as the emotions overwhelmed her.
Anakin pulled her into his arms. “I know,” he said softly, stroking her hair. “We will not let him win, Padmé, I promise you.”
“I know,” she replied. She looked up at him and then at their children. “I have total faith in all of you,” she added. “I just love you all so much that the thought of anything happening to you is too much to bear,” she explained as tears filled her eyes.
“Don’t worry Mom,” Leia said, trying her best not to get emotional as well, “I’ll make sure nothing happens to either of these two,” she said with a smile.
Padmé smiled. “That’s reassuring,” she said. “And what about you?”
“Don’t worry about Leia,” Luke assured his mother. “She kicks my butt on a regular basis now,” he said.
Padmé had to laugh, loving both her children immensely for their efforts to calm her fears.
“Lord Vader, this is Piett.”
Anakin activated his comlink. “Go ahead,” he said.
“We’ve entered the Coruscant System,” Piett reported. “And are preparing to revert from hyperspace.”
Anakin looked up at his family. “Understood. I’ll be right there.”
“Looks like our moment of truth is upon us,” he said.
Luke and Leia looked at one another, not saying a word.
“I’m going to the bridge,” he said. “Are you coming, Angel?”
Padmé nodded. “Yes, I’m coming.”
Padmé stood on the bridge of the Executor, watching as the men scrambled to establish a link with the shuttle. Was it only a mere day since that conversation had taken place? How could they all be lost when mere hours ago we had all been so happy together?
“They have to be okay,” Ylla said, clasping her hands nervously before her. “They just have to be!”
Padmé shook herself from her reverie to turn to the young woman. She loves my son, she thought. She is just as frightened as me. Walking over to the young woman, Padmé took her hand.
“They will be,” She said. “They will destroy the emperor and all will be well, Ylla. It has to be.”
“Admiral, look!”
All eyes turned to the screen where the shuttle had appeared at last. It was careening wildly, seemingly out of control, as it rode the shock waves of the massive explosion.
“Tractor beam!” Piett shouted. His men reacted quickly and soon the small craft had been caught in the Executor’s invisible grasp.
“Establish contact,” Piett ordered next as they watched the shuttle in its fight to keep itself level.
“Unable to raise them, sir,” the communications officer replied. “Far too much interference from the explosion on the surface, sir.”
“Sir, the surface tension on the shuttle is rising,” another crewman announced. “If we don’t get them on board soon they’ll break apart!”
Padmé and Ylla looked at one another in alarm. “Piett, do something!” Padmé cried.
“Bring them in,” Piett commanded. “Carefully now, monitor their hull temperature,” he added. He looked back at Padmé and Ylla, doing his best to appear calm. He knew that the tremendous pressure of the tractor beam coupled with the turbulence of the shuttle was a dangerous combination. If they did not get the small craft on board in a matter of moments….well, he did not want to consider what might happen.
“Prepare to receive shuttle,” Piett ordered as the shuttle grew closer. “Have you been able to raise them yet?”
“The signal is very weak, sir,” the comm. officer replied. “But we have been able to get through.”
“Thank the Maker,” Padmé sighed.
They listened in silence as the static filled the bridge, and then the voice of Han Solo could be heard faintly. “Repeat – we are breaking up! Get us up there fast….medical team…injuries…do you read?”
“We read you, Shuttle Reliant,” the comm. officer replied. “We will have you on board in twenty seconds.”
“Have a medical crew meet them in Hangar…” Piett turned back to the comm. officer. “Which hangar, Phelps?”
“Hanger eighteen, sir.”
“Medical crew to Hangar eighteen on the double!” Piett ordered. He looked back at Padmé and Ylla. “Ladies, let’s go.”
Padmé’s heart beat double time as she, Ylla and Piett made their way to hangar bay eighteen. The fact that they were alive gave her some comfort; but the urgency with which a medical team had been dispatched to the hangar was alarming. Who was hurt? How serious was it? Would it be too late to help them?
The medical crew had already arrived at the hangar by the time Padmé and the others had reached it. The shuttle had docked and the ramp was lowered. It was all Padmé could do not to run on board the craft herself to see what was going on. But soon enough there was activity, as the passengers started to emerge. Han Solo appeared first, followed by Chewbacca. Padmé watched with breath held for her family to appear. Luke and Leia appeared next, which left only Anakin. Anakin is hurt, she thought with a dull sense of dread in the pit of her stomach. That is who needs the medical crew… Before long the medical crew emerged with Anakin in tow. They had him on a medical gurney and floated him down the ramp into the hangar.
“Ani!” Padmé cried as she rushed over to him. “What is wrong?? What happened to him?”
Luke and Leia met their mother and the three embraced tightly. “Thank the Maker you’re both alright,” she said. “What happened to your father?”
Leia looked at her mother, tears forming in her eyes. “He wasn’t strapped in,” she said quietly. “He was the last to board the shuttle, and before he had a chance to get strapped in the palace blew,” she stopped as her grief overwhelmed her.
Padmé looked at Luke. “You mean when you the shuttle was being tossed around…that he was…” she stopped as she realized what must have happened and suddenly felt as though she was going to pass out. Luke took her hands, as though trying to give her some of his own strength. “He’s going to make it, Mom,” he told her. “He’s weathered so many storms in his life; he will get through this one too.”
Padmé looked into her son’s eyes, Anakin’s eyes, and though his words said one thing, she could see the fear in them. “Luke,” she said softly as the medics left the room with their patient. “I couldn’t bear to lose him now,” she said as her tears started. “Not again…not now after all we’ve been through!”
Luke said nothing, but merely held his mother tightly, doing his best to comfort her despite his own tremendous fear.
“Let’s follow him,” Luke said at last. “And see what the medics have to say.”
Padmé nodded, and let her son take her by the hand. They were joined by Han and Leia. As they reached the door, they were met by Ylla.
“Luke!” she cried, throwing her arms around him. “I’m so relieved you’re alright!”
Luke returned Ylla’s embrace. “We’re on our way up to the medical wing,” he told her. He pulled back and looked at her. “My father has been seriously injured,” he told her quietly.
Ylla’s face fell, and she looked at Padmé. “I’m so sorry,” she said.
Padmé nodded, doing her best to remain calm. “Come on,” she said. “I need to see him.”
The five of them headed for the turbo lift and then proceeded to the medical wing.
Upon arriving in the intensive care unit, Padmé had to hold tightly on to her son’s hand for support. Anakin had been hooked up to life support as the medics worked frantically to attend to his injuries.
“How is my father?” Luke asked, making Padmé proud with his calm, authoritative tone.
One of the medical droids approached the group. “Lord Vader has sustained massive internal injuries,” the droid informed them. “He has several broken bones and has received severe trauma to his head.”
“Ani,” Padmé gasped as the droid’s words hit her with the impact of a laser. She looked at the droid, her large eyes imploring it desperately. “He’s….he’ll be okay though, won’t he?” she asked desperately. “You can help him, can’t you?”
“Chances of survival are…”
“Don’t tell me chances of survival!!” Padmé shouted angrily. “He is the Chosen One! He survived the fires of Mustafar! You will help him to survive this too!”
The droid was perplexed by the human woman’s emotional outburst, and simply returned to his patient. Padmé shook off her son’s hand and approached the bed, needing to see him.
“Lady Vader, please,” the droid said.
“Don’t call me that,” she said flatly, the tears streaming down her face. “It’s Skywalker, do you understand? He is Anakin Skywalker, not Darth Vader.” She looked down at Anakin’s face and took one of his hands. “And he will not leave us, he promised,” she said softly. “He promised he’d never leave us again, and I believe him.” She looked up at the droids surrounding her. “Help him,” she said simply, and then she stepped back and let them do their job.
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Post by therealthing on Jul 9, 2007 9:03:23 GMT -5
Chapter 85
The ensuing hours passed by with agonizing slowness as the droids worked frantically to save Anakin’s life.
Padmé and her children waited in the adjoining room, none able to sit for more than a few moments at a time. Ylla and Han remained with the family, offering them support as best they could. Firmus Piett was also present, waiting anxious for word on his commander who had also become his hero in a remarkably short time.
“Does Obi-Wan know?” Luke asked his mother.
Padmé looked at her son and shook her head. “No,” she replied. “I don’t want to tell him yet. He only just regained consciousness a few hours before you returned. He’s in no condition to hear such a thing.”
“He will be able to sense it soon any way,” Leia remarked. “The two of them are so close.”
Padmé nodded with a sad smile. “Yes, they have been close for a very long time,” she said. “More like brothers than simply friends.” She looked towards the door that lead to the intensive care unit. “I wish they would let us know what is going on,” she muttered. “This waiting is killing me.”
“We have the best medical facilities in the fleet,” Piett told her. “If anyone can help him, they can.”
This offered the family of Anakin some comfort; though nothing would truly set their minds at ease until the one they loved was out of danger and in their midst again.
Suddenly an alarm was heard, followed by a flurry of activity. Padmé and her children watched in silent fear as an additional group of medical droids rushed into the intensive care unit.
“What is going on!?” Padmé cried, rushing after them.
The door slid open and Padmé could see the medical team working frantically over Anakin. The heart monitor that he was attached to was the source of the alarm that had sounded moments earlier.
“Ani!” Padmé screamed as she saw the monitor’s screen. Anakin’s heart had stopped.
Anakin found himself in a place that was filled with bright white light. He felt completely at peace, his body seemingly made of the same white light that surrounded him. He walked along, not knowing where he was going, not really caring. Ahead of him a figure appeared, and his heart swelled when he recognized who it was.
“Mom!” he cried. “Is it you? Is it really you??”
Shmi smiled her face radiant. She was whole again, unbroken, unmarred and glowing with health. “Yes Ani, it’s me,” she replied.
“How is this possible?” Anakin asked. “You died! I held you in my arms as you died!”
Shmi brought a hand to his face and softly touched his cheek. “I know,” she said.
Anakin did not understand for a moment, but then the realization dawned on him.
“I’m…I’m dead,” he said at last.
Shmi nodded. “You died on the operating table,” she explained. “But it’s not your time Ani. You need to finish what you began. You must go back.”
Anakin nodded as thoughts of his family came to his mind. Padmé…
“Your family needs you,” Shmi told him, reading his mind easily.
“I know,” Anakin replied softly, anxious all of a sudden. He could only imagine the crushing grief they must be feeling at this moment. And yet, the thought of leaving his mother again broke his heart.
“I’ve missed you Mom,” he told her, feeling his eyes fill with tears.
Shmi smiled. “I’m very proud of you, Anakin. You have become the man I always knew you could be.”
Her words moved him too much to allow him to respond, so he only nodded in response.
“Now go back to your family, Anakin,” she told him as she started to pull back from him. “Go now before it is too late to return. And remember that I love you, Ani.”
“I love you too Mom,” he called back to her as she receded into the light once again.
He was unable to move and could only watch as she disappeared. The light began to bleed away until he was in darkness again. And then he heard her voice.
“Anakin don’t leave me!”
He fought against the lethargy in his broken body to open his eyes. The bright light assaulted them, and all was confusion for a moment. But then he felt someone take his hand, and he knew who it was. He turned his eyes to see her face. “Padmé,” he said his voice barely audible.
Padmé could not control the tears that streamed down her face. “I’m here, Ani,” she said, squeezing his hand. “Stay with me, Ani.”
“I promised I would, didn’t I?” He replied, trying to smile.
Padmé half laughed half sobbed at his comment. He closed his eyes again as the weakness filled him once again. She looked up at the droids. “You must help him,” she implored.
“We’ll do everything we can,” they assured her.
Padmé nodded, and stepped back away from the bed, where she was supported by Luke and Leia who had also been present during Anakin’s crisis. She turned to them and saw that they were as distraught as she was.
“He made it back to us, Mom,” Luke told her, taking her gently by the shoulders. “He will make it through this, I know it.”
Padmé allowed her son to lead her out of the room again while the medi-droids attended to Anakin. Leia stayed back, watching them from the corner of the room as they fought to save her father’s life. She felt as though she were in the midst of a terrible nightmare, that the events of the past forty hours were simply too horrific to be true. She knew that she would never forget how helpless and terrified she was during the ordeal in the shuttle, how desperately she wanted to help her father, but was unable to do so. He can’t die, not now, not after we have finally found one another, she thought numbly. How can I go on if he dies? He is a part of me, my hero, my dearest friend… Leia brushed tears from her face, the fear and despair overwhelming her. She was trying to be strong for her mother’s sake; but the thought of losing her father was beyond her ability to manage. And then she had an idea.
Leia left the room and headed for the recovery wing of the medical facility, where Obi-Wan Kenobi was. She approached her Master, hoping to find him awake, tempted to wake him even if he weren’t. Obi-Wan sensed her approach and opened his eyes.
“It’s good to see you awake, Master,” she said, forcing herself to smile.
Obi-Wan looked into her face, knowing at once that something was terribly wrong. “What is it?” he asked simply.
Leia, who was as good at hiding her feelings as her father, broke down into fresh tears at his question. “It’s Dad,” she said softly. “He’s hurt, Obi-Wan, very badly hurt.”
Obi-Wan frowned, deeply troubled by this news. “How? What happened? Was it the emperor?”
Leia shook her head. “No, Palpatine is dead,” she replied. “It happened on the way back to the ship.” She then proceeded to tell Obi-Wan about the explosion, and its effects on the shuttle. Obi-Wan listened with a grave look on his face.
“There has to be some way to help him,” Leia said. “Don’t the Jedi have some sort of healing ability?”
Obi-Wan nodded. “Yes, but only a few are trained to use it,” he explained. “I’m afraid neither Master Yoda nor I are so trained,” he informed her regretfully.
Leia was greatly disappointed to hear this, but it did not deter her. “I want to try, Obi-Wan,” she said at last. “My father and I have a very close connection; surely I can do something to help him.”
Obi-Wan smiled. “I’m sure you can. Let’s talk to Master Yoda and see what he thinks.”
Leia smiled, a glimmer of hope finally making its way into her heart.
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Post by therealthing on Jul 9, 2007 9:10:02 GMT -5
Chapter 86
News of the emperor’s death spread quickly across the galaxy. Theories aplenty were bandied about with regards to the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of Palpatine, but no one could find any clue as to who the assassins were, for all traces of evidence were lost in the enormous explosion that destroyed the imperial palace.
Palpatine’s death acted as a rallying cry for the Rebel Alliance, who redoubled their efforts to release the empire’s stranglehold on the galaxy. Lieutenant Keller had resumed his position as liaison between the Alliance and the Executor; but in the light of the serious injuries that had befallen Anakin Skywalker, all activities had been temporarily put on hold. The Rebel leaders realized that Skywalker was the key to uniting the two warring factions; without his leadership, peace may not been easy to come by. And so they waited like the entire crew of the Executor in the hopes that good news would soon be forthcoming.
Meanwhile, on board the aforementioned star destroyer, a team of clones had been dispatched to the surface below. Their mission was to go to the Jedi Temple, which still stood, though abandoned and empty for so many years. They had been instructed by Master Yoda to find any and all data files that pertained to the use of the Force for healing purposes. It was a long shot, but at this point it was about all they had.
Padmé, Luke and Leia had spent virtually every moment at her father’s side since his surgery had concluded. The droids had managed to repair much of the damage, but Anakin was still in critical condition.
Leia had sat at her father’s side without more than a few short breaks for more than two days. She wished fervently that she had been more attentive to Obi-Wan’s instruction on mediation now, but she had never quite managed to get into it. Just like him, she thought looking at her father’s face. I’m so much like him; perhaps that is why we are so connected. She picked up his hand, fighting against the grief that swelled as she recalled the many special moments she had shared with him. Despite having only known one another a relatively short time, they had grown close, more close she realized than she had ever been with Bail Organa, who had raised her since she was an infant. Leia had often wondered what it would have been like having Anakin as her father from those first days; she couldn’t help but think that he would have been a doting father, indulging her and Luke completely, spoiling them rotten. Leia smiled at the thought of him giving her piggy back rides, reading her bedtime stories, or teaching her and Luke how to fly a speeder for the first time. I missed out on so much, she thought angrily. All of us did…
“Leia, honey why don’t you get some rest?”
Leia looked up to see her mother and brother. Padmé and Luke both looked as worried and tired as she herself felt. “I can’t sleep, Mom,” she told her softly. “I’ve tried.”
Padmé nodded, and put a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “You and your dad are so close,” she said.
Leia nodded as she felt the tears spill out of her eyes. “I miss him,” she said quietly. “I don’t know what I’ll do if he doesn’t make it, Mom,” she said, brushing the tears from her cheek.
Padmé shook her head, her own tears springing to her eyes. “Don’t even think it,” she said. “He will make it,” she averred.
“He promised he’d never leave us,” Luke put in, not allowing his own grief to get the best of him. “And I believe him.”
Leia looked back at Anakin. “Tell me something, Mom,” she said. “Was he happy when you told him you were expecting Luke and me?”
Padmé was taken aback by her question. “Yes,” she replied at once. “He was ecstatic,” she recalled with a smile. “He used to talk to you and Luke all the time,” she added.
Luke smiled. “Did he?”
Padmé nodded. “Yes,” she said. “He was convinced I was carrying a girl,” she told Leia. “Although I was sure I was carrying a boy. We didn’t know there were two of you.”
“He knew you were carrying a girl?” Leia asked softly.
“Yes,” Padmé replied. “It seems you two had a connection even before you were born.”
Leia nodded, her mother’s words only making her tears come more. “I wish I’d known him before,” she said, “both of you. If only things had been different…”
Padmé wrapped her arms around Leia and held her close. “I know,” she said softly as she stroked her hair.
“We all wish that, Leia,” Luke added. Sensing someone enter the room, Luke turned, as did Leia. Both were surprised to see Obi-Wan walking slowly towards them. Yoda was at his side.
“Obi-Wan!” Leia said, standing up to greet him. She embraced her Jedi Master warmly. “Sit down,” she instructed.
“Are you sure it’s alright for you to be out of bed?” Padmé asked.
Obi-Wan smiled as he took the seat gratefully. “Now now ladies,” he said. “No need to fuss over me.” He looked up at Anakin, sadness filling him. “How is he?” he asked softly.
Padmé sighed. “He’s alive,” she replied. “Still in critical condition.”
“Did you have any luck retrieving that data from the Temple?” Luke asked them.
Yoda nodded. “Yes,” he replied. “Information we have now for you, study it you must. Help your father it will.” He extended a hand to Luke, a data disc in it.
Luke took the disc from him, and then looked at his twin. Leia felt a feeling of hope starting to blossom within her. “We will dedicate every moment I have to this,” she said.
Luke nodded in agreement. “Between the two of us we will bring him back to us.”
Yoda nodded. “Help you, we will,” he said.
Luke and Leia spent the ensuing days working closely with Yoda as they pored through the data files retrieved from the Jedi Temple. They learned a great deal about the legendary and awesome powers of the Jedi Healers. According to the data, these specialists used the power of the Force to diagnose and treat the ailments of their patients. Jedi who were not healers however, did have the ability to access this power. Initiates in this skill required the use of meditation in order to treat injuries, but once an aptitude had been attained, faster regeneration was possible, without need of meditation. These greater levels were also able to mend far more severe injuries; injuries like those Anakin had suffered recently. This information gave Luke and Leia hope; they were now more determined than ever to help their father.
“If I understand this correctly, it seems as though Dad can use the Force to induce self healing as well,” Leia commented. “Do you think he is aware of this?”
“Perhaps,” Obi-Wan replied. “I’m afraid your father has never been one to take the time to learn the more cerebral aspects of the Force,” he added.
“Is that what you did, Ben?” Luke asked.
“Yes,” Obi-Wan replied. “It requires a deep level of meditation in order to allow the body to heal. I’m not sure Anakin is capable of it.”
Leia frowned. “If he knows it means his life, he will do it,” she said. “We just have to let him know somehow.”
Yoda nodded. “Communicate with him you must,” he said. “Combine your efforts you must to do so.”
Luke and Leia looked at one another. “Let’s do it,” Luke said. “You ready?”
Leia nodded. “Absolutely.”
The next twelve hours were arduous for Luke and Leia as they sat in deep mediation at their father’s side. Padmé was present as well; she did not begin to understand the awesome power that her children were attempting to use, but trusted that they would be able to do it. She watched them as they sat with eyes closed, a look of tremendous concentration on their faces. If anyone can help him, they can, she reflected. They must help him…I can’t go on without him…
Memories of her life with Anakin flashed through her mind as she sat in silence waiting for a miracle. She remembered the day they met like it was yesterday; the unusual boy who had asked her if she was an angel. Even then she could sense how special he was, she could feel the connection with him. And when they had met so many years later, the chemistry between them had been undeniable. She had tried for weeks in vain to deny how she felt about him, but it was pointless. Padmé couldn’t help but smile when she remembered a day long ago on Naboo, when they had returned there for a second honeymoon….
We continue to follow the gently winding path up into the hills, stopping at last when we reach the top. The view is spectacular.
“Now, isn’t that beautiful?” I say as we stand and admire the glorious scene below us.
“It is,” he agrees, standing behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist. I lean against him, and for a moment we simply drink in the beauty before us.
“I wish we could just stay here forever,” I say softly. “Never return to Coruscant, to the war, to our duties; just remain here and live a quiet life of obscurity.”
“That would be like a dream,” he tells me; pushing my hair away from my neck so he can kiss it. “Do you think anyone would notice if we just disappeared?”
“I’m afraid so,” I reply with a sigh. “You’re the Hero with no Fear, Ani,” I remind him. “Remember?”
“I’d be content just to be your hero, Padmé,” he tells me. “Your love is all I need. The rest doesn’t matter much to me.”
I rest my head against his shoulder. “If only life could be so simple,” I say. “But I suppose our lives will never be ordinary.”
“No,” he agrees. “But while we’re here at least we can pretend,” he tells me.
I nod. “Yes, you’re right,” I agree. I turn to him with a smile. “Although there is certainly nothing ordinary about you, Anakin Skywalker,” I say, running my hands into his long hair.
He smiles as he wraps his arms around me. “No?”
I shake my head. “No, not even close,” I replies.
“Well you wouldn’t be happy with an ordinary man, would you Padmé?” he ask me. “You’re rather extraordinary yourself.”
“I wouldn’t be happy with any other man, period,” I reply. “You are the only man who could make me feel complete. It’s like you are a part of me, Ani. I know that sounds strange, but that’s how I feel.”
He shakes my head. . “No, not strange at all,” he tell me, taking my face in his hands. “I know exactly how you feel, Padmé, because I feel the very same way. You and I were destined to be together, Padmé; it’s as though the Force brought us together. “
I smile, moved by his words. “That’s very romantic, Anakin,” I tell him, stroking his face softly.
“It’s the truth, Padmé,” he tells me. “But I’m glad you think so, nonetheless,” he add with a smile as he draws closer to kiss me.
Time stands still when I am in his arms. There is no war, there are no responsibilities; all that exists is him and I and our love. How easy it would be to just throw all the rest away and stay here forever with him….
Padmé stood up and paced about in the room, not allowing the memories she was reliving to weaken her. Not all the memories were happy ones, and she would not allow herself to go there. No, that dark day on Mustafar was an anomaly; that was not her Anakin who had lashed out at her so viciously. That was Vader; that was the monster that Palpatine had created. Her Anakin would never have done that, not without the darkness that Palpatine had lured him into. No, her Anakin was good, and loving, and brave; her Anakin had risked his own life to save the life of their children, he had sacrificed his own happiness to save hers. He was her soul mate, her dearest friend, her lover and confidante.
“Milady Skywalker, he seems to be responding.”
Padmé was shaken from her memories by the sound of an artificial voice. She looked over to them and saw that the droid was examining the monitor above Anakin’s bed. She rushed over at once. “What is happening?” she demanded.
“As illogical as it seems, he is stabilizing,” the droid replied. “At an amazing rate too. This is unbelievable,” it said, almost sounding human in its tone of voice.
Padmé smiled. “No it isn’t,” she said, looking at her children who were still in deep mediation. “My children are Jedi, they are doing this.”
The droid did not completely understand the words, nor notice the sound of immense pride in her voice; but it accepted what she was saying. There was no arguing with facts, and the fact was Anakin was stabilizing. Padmé took one of his hands and picked it up, bringing it to her mouth. She kissed it softly, watching his face for any signs that he was waking up. “Come back to me soon, Ani,” she said softly.
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Post by therealthing on Jul 9, 2007 9:15:28 GMT -5
Chapter 87
Remaining in a healing trance, a lifetime of memories passed through Anakin’s mind. Good memories, bad memories, memories spanning the forty-two years of his life flashed through his unconscious mind as he fought to repair his injured body.
He saw his childhood friends, his mother…he relived beatings at the hands of Gardulla and Watto, saw the jagged outcroppings of Boonta Eve and experienced the thrill of pod racing…and then the day his Angel entered his life, and the ensuing battle…training for the Jedi Knighthood, and the return of the love of his life…marriage, passion, the agony of separation from her…and then the Darkness began…unspeakable acts, unforgivable betrayal followed by the darkest moment of his life…the sight of his Angel begging him to stay with her, the fear in her eyes as he reached out to kill her….
“He is growing agitated,” the droid stated flatly as it watched Anakin’s vital signs on the monitor.
Padmé frowned. “What is wrong?” she asked.
The droid could not find any reason for the change in Anakin’s vitals; but his heart rate and blood pressure had risen considerably.
“Is he in danger?” Padmé asked, afraid to know the answer.
“Not at the moment,” the droid replied. “But if these elevations continue to rise, he could be.”
Padmé looked at Yoda, who was also present in the room. “What can we do?” she asked him.
“Reliving his life journey, he is,” Yoda replied, having sensed the path of Anakin’s thoughts. “Dark times he is remembering,” he added. “A painful journey this will be for him.”
“A journey that leads to redemption,” Padmé reminded him.
Yoda nodded. “Yes, his journey is far from over,” he said. “Need him, the galaxy does.”
“We all need him, Master Yoda,” Padmé said, turning and looking at Anakin once again. A thought struck her, a memory from long ago, before she and Anakin had even been married. She had found him on the terrace of the lake retreat. He had spent the night having nightmares about his mother, and was deeply troubled. What had he told her when she had started to leave? Don’t leave…your presence is soothing… Anakin had always been soothed by Padmé’s presence; would she have that affect on him now even when he was unconscious? It was certainly worth a shot.
She walked over to Anakin’s bed and picked up his hand. She held it to her face, forcing herself to calm her own rattled nerves before she attempted to soothe his.
The pain of third degree burns was beyond anything he could ever have imagined, until the droids began to attach prosthetic limbs to the stumps that were left of his own arms and legs…nothing to numb the pain, nor even dull it, helpless to stop them, too weak to fight…Padmé where are you? Padmé, I’m so sorry! Make them stop! Make the pain end!
And then…. a soothing, warm presence entered his consciousness…and the pain went away, and the fear and the sorrow went away, leaving him with a soothing feeling, one of acceptance and love…only one person could elicit such feelings, the one person he had gone to Hell and back for…his angel, his Padmé...
“He is stabilizing,” the droid announced. “Remarkable,” it added, checking and rechecking the monitor.
Luke and Leia left their meditative state, opened their eyes and looked up at their mother. They had the power to heal their father’s body, but only she had the power to heal his soul, as she had done time and time again over the course of their remarkable life together.
“You’ve saved him,” Padmé said, embracing her children tearfully. “I’m so proud of you both! He’s going to be alright thanks to you!”
“I think he did a lot of it himself,” Luke told his mother. “We only guided him to show him the way to do it.”
Padmé nodded, not beginning to comprehend the awesome power that her children and their father possessed. She looked down at Anakin. “Ani? Can you hear me?” she asked, not daring to hope that he could. She and the twins watched Anakin’s face intently. After a few moments his eyes began to move slightly under their lids, as though he were trying to awaken from a deep sleep.
“Dad, we’re all here,” Leia said, taking his hand. “Can you hear us? Open your eyes, Daddy.”
Anakin fought against the lethargy that had over taken him, anxious to rejoin his family. Slowly he opened his eyes, and was rewarded with the sight of the three people he loved more than anything in the galaxy.
“Welcome back,” Luke said, smiling at his father.
“What happened?” he asked softly.
“The palace blew shortly after we cleared the planet,” Luke told him. “Remember?”
Anakin frowned, trying to piece together the events of the past few days. He remembered the duel with Palpatine, racing for the shuttle…but then nothing until this moment. “Is everyone alright?”
Luke nodded. “You were the only one injured,” he replied. “You didn’t have time to get strapped in.”
Yes, that’s right, Anakin remembered. He looked at Leia next, giving her a weak smile to express his gratitude for what she and Luke had done for him. “You were very strong facing the emperor,” he told his children. “I’m very proud of you both.” Leia was too emotional to speak, and could only bend down to kiss her father’s cheek.
Lastly Anakin’s eyes turned to his wife. Padmé smiled at him, squeezing the hand she held in hers. “I knew you’d come back to us,” she told him softly.
“I’m afraid you’re stuck with me,” Anakin managed to say with a smile. “All of you.”
Luke and Leia laughed, as the almost unbearable stress of the past forty-eight hours finally fell away, leaving them with the feeling that everything was going to be alright after all.
“That suits us just fine,” Padmé replied, bending down to kiss her husband.
“Well look who’s finally awake.”
Anakin looked over to see Obi-Wan standing at the foot of his bed. He smiled, relieved to see that his oldest, dearest friend was back on his feet. “Look who’s talking,” Anakin returned with a smile.
Obi-Wan laughed. “You gave everyone quite a scare,” he continued, folding his arms over his chest. “I hope you’re happy.”
“Just wanted to keep everyone on their toes,” Anakin replied, closing his eyes once again.
Obi-Wan nodded. He looked at the twins as their father drifted off to sleep again. “You did well,” he said. “I’m sure your father is very grateful for what you have done for him.”
“We are all grateful,” Padmé said, looking at her children with adoration in her eyes.
“Now that the emperor is dead, we must move quickly to bring the rest of the Empire under control,” Obi-Wan said. “Before factions begin sprouting up.”
“Hopefully now that he is gone they will be willing to consider a cease fire,” Leia said, watching her father as he slept. “I would hate to think that after all this the galaxy will still be in conflict.”
Yoda nodded slowly. “Obi-Wan is right,” he said. “Move quickly we must to sue for peace. Abhors a vacuum, Nature does. With the emperor dead, leadership will be needed. Anakin must be that leader.”
Padmé looked at Anakin as he slept. “I’m not sure he will want that responsibility,” she commented. “He has done so much already; he wants nothing more now than peace.”
“We all want that,” Obi-Wan agreed. “But he is the best chance we have of realizing it, Padmé; surely you can see that.”
“Yes, I can,” she concurred, realizing that the destiny of the Chosen One was far more complicated than simply destroying the Sith. Bringing balance to the Force entailed a great deal more than merely killing Palpatine; it would also mean rebuilding the galaxy, putting an end to the war that had ripped it apart for two decades, and reconciling enemies who had spent a life time trying to kill one another. Not a short order.
“I’m beat,” Luke said at last, with a yawn. “I think I’m going to get some sleep.”
“Sounds like a good idea, Luke,” Padmé said. “You two are both exhausted I’m sure. I’ll stay here with your father,” she said, looking back at his sleeping face.
“You need to rest too, Mom,” Leia pointed out.
Padmé smiled. “I won’t sleep without your dad beside me,” she said. “It’s like part of me is missing.”
Luke and Leia exchanged a smile. The love their parents shared was remarkable and truly awesome.
“Okay,” Leia said, kissing her mother’s cheek. “Just promise us you’ll rest as soon as he wakes up, okay?”
“Okay,” Padmé replied as she sat down on the chair that Luke brought over for her. “Have a good rest.”
Luke and Leia left the room, accompanied by Yoda and Obi-Wan, leaving Padmé alone with Anakin. She picked up one hand and held it to her cheek, fighting the fatigue she felt threatening her despite her denial of it.
Luke and Leia met Han on their way to their quarters. Han embraced Leia tightly, relieved to see the worry gone from her face. “Your dad’s gonna be okay?”
“Yes,” she replied, hugging him back. “He’s sleeping now, but he’s going to be fine.”
Han released her and looked down at her. “That’s great news, sweetheart,” he said with a smile. “Your dad is a pretty amazing guy,” he added.
Luke and Leia looked at one another. “You just noticed that, did you?” Leia asked with a smile.
Han laughed. “Well, I’m a slow learner, remember?”
“Not slow, Han,” Luke said. “Just stubborn.”
Leia laughed, loving the expression on Han’s face.
“Luke!”
Luke turned to see Ylla walking briskly in his direction. “How is your dad?” she asked.
“He’s going to be fine,” Luke replied as Ylla kissed him on the cheek. “He’s pretty resilient,” he added with a smile.
Ylla nodded. “Yes, I can see that,” she said. “So you and Leia were able to help him?”
“I’m not sure how much we did,” Luke admitted. “I get the feeling that he did most of it himself.”
“I’m sure the two of you had a big part in his recovery,” Han said. “You and your Jedi tricks.”
Leia rolled her eyes. “Not tricks, Han,” she said.
Han grinned, loving to tease her. “Yeah yeah, whatever you say, sweetheart,” he said, putting an arm around her and kissing her on the cheek. “You two have anything to eat recently?”
“Not for a while,” Leia replied.
“Well then let’s rectify that,” Ylla said, linking her arm through Luke.
Anakin awoke an hour or so later, already feeling stronger than he had earlier. He smiled when he saw his wife who was sleeping with her head resting on the bed beside him. He sat up and lifted her out of the chair and brought her into the bed beside him, tucking her in the crook of one arm and then pulling up the covers over her. Padmé, although still sleeping, nestled up against him. Soon Anakin was asleep again too, his angel at his side once more.
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Post by therealthing on Jul 9, 2007 9:23:19 GMT -5
Chapter 88
Little by little Anakin’s strength returned to him. Once he was on his feet again, he wasted no time in setting a plan of action into motion.
His first order of business was to draw up an official death announcement for the late emperor. Pinning the regicide on disgruntled governors in the Outer Rim territories, he even went so far as to have said governors arrested. It seemed that certain holo messages had been confiscated which were of a very incriminating nature. How the messages’ existence was discovered seemed irrelevant in light of the inflammatory and highly insulting nature of the messages. While it was common knowledge that Palpatine was a fearsome man, comparing him to an Endorian blurrg seemed rather incendiary.
Having successfully deflected the assassination from himself, Anakin’s next step was to assume command of the Empire. He sent orders to the commanders of each sector, summoning them to a meeting. For him it wasn’t so much a matter of negotiation with these stalwarts of the Empire; no, in order to affect the changes he planned he was required to be the supreme leader, the unquestioned commander of the Empire. For all intents and purposes, he would be Darth Vader for this meeting; something which did not sit at all well with his family. While they understood the importance of Anakin asserting his authority without dissent, the thought of him assuming the persona of his dark side unnerved them. Truth be told, it unnerved Anakin as well. He had worked hard to destroy any and all vestiges of Darth Vader within him; to have to play the part of the Sith Lord once again was not something he looked forward to.
The summit was due to be held in two days’ time as governors from all over the Empire made their way to the Executor. The crew of the mighty vessel had worked hard to arrange the security measures for the meeting; they knew their commander’s orders well, and were not about to let him down.
The leaders of the Rebel Alliance had been informed of the impending meeting, and invited to attend. Mon Mothma and Bail Organa had returned to the ship in order to be present when the historical meeting took place. Tension was high as all on board waited, hoping that Anakin’s plan would be the solution they were all hoping for.
“Ani, come to bed.”
Anakin stopped his pacing and looked over at his wife who was already in bed.
“You need to rest,” she continued. “Tomorrow is a big day.”
“I know,” he said, starting his pacing once again. “I’m just going over what I want to say in my head. I’m no politician, Padmé,” he told her. “I’m not used to giving speeches. That’s more your area of expertise.”
Padmé smiled. “Maybe so, but you’re a leader, Anakin,” she assured him. “You were born to lead. Don’t think of it as being a politician; think of it as being a great leader, the one that the galaxy needs to stop the conflict that has ravaged it for two decades.”
Anakin stopped and looked at her. She always knew what to say; somehow she always knew the right words to calm him and soothe his troubled mind and spirit. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was Force sensitive in her ability to read his moods.
“I will try,” he said at last, sitting on the side of the bed beside her. “Having you by my side will make it easier.”
She smiled, and leaned forward to caress his cheek. “I’m so proud of you, Anakin,” she said softly.
He smiled and picked up her hand to kiss it. “I would never have got this far without you and the kids,” he said. “I can’t imagine what the rest of my life would have been like had Leia’s path not crossed mine. I would have spent the rest of my life in darkness, believing that you and our child had died by my hand.” He stopped and frowned at this sobering thought. “I don’t know how I lived so long without you all,” he told her.
Padmé nodded. “I know,” she said, running her hands into his hair. “But Destiny seemed to have a different path for your life, Ani. You were meant to do just what you are doing now. You were born to do it.”
Anakin pulled her close, taking comfort in her presence, in her love and her support. With her he knew he could accomplish anything, even change the galaxy.
One of the enormous hangar bays had been converted into a conference room to accommodate the hundreds of officers from all over the Empire. Clone troopers stood at attention around the perimeter of the room, ready to quell the slightest hint of a problem. It was Anakin’s hope that merely their presence would be enough to intimidate the visitors sufficiently.
“All set?” Leia asked as she entered the living quarters of her parents’ suite.
“Yes,” Anakin replied. “At least I think so.”
Leia smiled and walked over to him. “You’ve been ready for this day for a long time, I think,” she told him, smoothing down the black tabard he wore.
“To put an end to Palpatine’s Empire? Yes, you’re right about that.” He put up the large hood of his black cloak. “Do I look the part?”
Leia nodded. “A little too much for my liking,” she told him. She looked up at him, wanting to say so much to him, but knowing that time was short. “Dad, do you think that our family will ever get to just be a family?”
“What do you mean?” Anakin asked.
“I mean, do you think there will ever be a time when we can forget about duty and destiny and saving the galaxy, and just do things that regular families do?”
Anakin smiled. “We are not regular people, Leia,” he told her. “Our lives are anything but typical. But I know what you mean,” he said, picking up his lightsaber and clipping it onto his belt. “And I have to admit that there is a part of me that craves that too. But until the Empire is dismantled, our lives will be anything but ordinary.”
“I suppose that is the price of being the family of the Chosen One,” Leia commented.
Anakin nodded. “You have all paid dearly for being the family of the Chosen One already,” he said. “I wish sometimes I wasn’t the Chosen One,” he admitted to her. “Sometimes I just wish I was an ordinary man,” he told her. “Even just for one day, to see what it’s like.”
Leia smiled. “You’d be bored to tears, Daddy,” she told him. “You know it.”
Anakin laughed. “Yeah, you’re probably right,” he said.
Just then Padmé, Luke and Obi-Wan entered the room.
“Everyone is ready, Anakin,” Obi-Wan told him. “It’s time to get started.”
Anakin nodded. “Very well,” he said. “Looks like duty calls.”
“Destiny calls,” Padmé corrected him. She walked over and took his hand. “Ready?”
Anakin nodded. “Yes, I’m ready. Let’s go.”
Firmus Piett stood on the dais that had been erected at one end of the large hangar, the noise of a hundred different conversations all around him. He glanced at his wrist chrono, wondering where Anakin was. Firmus had spoken to a few of the men, those he knew personally, in an effort to get a feel for what they were feeling and thinking. The individuals he had spoken too all expressed shock at the death of the emperor, though none had seemed terribly saddened by it. They were somewhat surprised that Darth Vader had called a meeting, for they were expecting him to merely assume control and begin issuing orders. A meeting seemed rather diplomatic for a Sith, and it had the men wondering what he was going to say to them.
Piett saw the doors on the far side of the hangar open and Anakin and his wife enter the room. As they did so, a hush fell upon the room as all eyes turned to the pair who proceeded up to the front of the hangar and ascended the dais. The men had heard rumors that Darth Vader’s injuries had been repaired; but none of the men had believed it possible. Until now. They could scarcely believe that the handsome man they saw before them now was the same one who had been the masked menace they had feared for two decades. Not only that, the former Senator Amidala was at his side. What this could mean was a mystery to them all.
“What’s the mood of the men, Piett?” Anakin asked.
“They seem a little anxious,” he replied, “though curious. I’m sure you’ll have their undivided attention.”
Anakin nodded. “Let’s get this over with,” he said. He looked at his wife, who stood at his side. “Here we go,” he said. He walked to the front of the dais where the voice amplifier had been set up. Anakin activated the device and stood looking at the men while the last of them quieted down. And then he spoke.
“You have been summoned here today for a very simple reason,” he told them. “The emperor is dead; it is time to move forward. I am assuming control of the Empire as of this moment.”
A smattering of murmurs was heard throughout the room at this announcement.
“Lord Vader, do you mean you are assuming the title of emperor?” one officer asked.
Anakin shook his head. “No,” he said. “I mean I am calling an immediate cease fire,” he announced to the astonishment of all. “All hostilities with the Rebel Alliance are to end immediately.”
The immediate response was one of stunned silence, and then there were shouts of disbelief and outrage. The clones at the edge of the room took a step forward, hoisting their blasters menacingly, and soon all was quiet again.
“This is not a discussion, gentlemen,” Anakin continued. “I did not call you hear to ask your opinion on the subject. I have already had negotiations with the leaders of the Alliance,” he continued, his words shocking the assembly into silence. “As of this moment, the conflict with the Alliance is over. Any further aggressive action taken against them will be considered treason and shall be dealt with as such.” He waited for a moment to allow this to sink in before continuing. “If you doubt my resolve in this matter, know this: this vessel is under my command. I have the steadfast loyalty of each and every member of this crew. Should you decide to challenge my authority or my decision, you will be forced to deal with not only the Alliance, but this ship as well. Together we will crush any and all opposition.” He stopped again, sensing the jumble of emotions emanating from the assembly. “I present you, then, with a choice: accept this ceasefire and be a part of the new order, or become my enemy. The choice, of course, is yours, gentlemen.”
Anakin stood back and looked at Padmé as the men before them tried to recover from the shock from what they had just heard. Padmé slipped her hand into Anakin’s reassuringly. It bothered her as much as he to be forced to use such strong arm tactics; but they both realized that they had little choice in the matter. This was not the time for negotiation; it was the time for authoritative action.
“I trust that you have seen that there is little room for negotiation,” Anakin said at last. “The destructive conflict must be ended, and this is the only way to do it. Therefore, a treaty ordering a ceasefire will be proffered to the Rebel Alliance. Once this has been established, the Empire will be dismantled, starting with the removal of the regional governors. Control of systems will be returned to the beings inhabiting these systems.”
“Lord Vader,” one brave individual shouted out. “How do you expect to keep control of so many systems without local representatives to govern them?”
“I do not plan to control them,” Anakin replied. “This is the end of tyrannical rule. The Senate will be reestablished, and things will run as they did in the time before the Empire.”
“Are you saying you plan to create a new republic?” one incredulous officer asked.
Anakin nodded. “Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. Twenty years of futile conflict has proven that the Imperial system does not work. It is time for change.”
“But Lord Vader, the Republic failed too,” one officer called out. “What makes you think it will work this time?”
“The Old Republic was sabotaged from within by the very man who was entrusted with its wellbeing,” Anakin replied. “Palpatine worked hard behind the scenes to plant the seeds of its destruction, as well as the destruction of the guardians of the Republic, the Jedi. I was part of his plan,” he continued. “He used me to help him destroy the Republic and the Jedi, and I allowed him to do so.”
“Lord Vader, I think we are all wondering what has brought about this change in you,” another man asked. “For twenty years you were content being the henchman of the emperor; why now do you defame the man you once called Master?”
Anakin looked at his wife, trying to decide if he ought to divulge the whole truth.
“My reasons are my own,” Anakin said at last. “Suffice it to say that I have seen the error of my ways, and want to make amends for it.”
Anakin waited for further dissent, but there was none. No doubt the men were trying to digest all that had been said. “Return to your sectors,” he said at last. “And contact the ships under your command. The ceasefire is to commence immediately. I have representatives stationed in each sector to ensure that this happens. I do not need to explain what will happen should these orders be ignored.”
The men were silent, realizing that Lord Vader was not a man to be trifled with. He meant what he said, every word; and would not hesitate to follow through on his threats should any dissent be demonstrated. Slowly the men began filing out of the enormous room. Anakin turned to Padmé as they did so.
“Well?”
She smiled. “You were great,” she said. “Authoritative without being dictatorial. You’re right, Ani; there is no room for negotiation. Someone has to take charge in order to affect change; who better than you to do so?”
Anakin nodded. “I just hope I haven’t created more problems than solutions,” he said.
Padmé frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I just hope that we don’t end up creating more rebellion this way,” he said.
“I think they know you mean business, sir,” Piett put in. “You made it quite clear what the consequences of dissent would be; and they know you well enough to know that you don’t make idle threats.”
“Let us hope so,” Anakin replied. “I told Mon Mothma and Bail Organa that I would contact them after the meeting concluded.”
“I’m sure they will be pleased with what you’ve done here today, Anakin,” Padmé assured him, taking his hand. “You have paved the way for peace in the galaxy.”
“I’m no politician, Padmé,” he told her as they left the dais. “I leave that to you and to them. I’m confident you are more than capable of rebuilding the Republic.”
Padmé smiled. “It’s a big job, Ani,” she said. “I’m not sure I’m up to it right now.”
Anakin frowned. “No? I thought you would jump at the chance to have a hand in this,” he said.
“I do want to have a hand in this,” Padmé assured him. “It’s just that there are other things that will occupy my time now.”
“Such as?” Anakin asked. Padmé smiled at him, stopping him in his tracks. “Padmé, are you trying to tell me something?” he asked, taking her by the shoulders.
Her smile grew as she nodded. “It’s a miracle Ani,” she said softly. “I’m pregnant!”
Anakin smiled, pulling her into his embrace. “Angel,” he said, holding her close. “I knew we could do it, Padmé. It just took a little …persistence,” he told her with a smile.
Padmé smiled. “You’ve always been a persistent man,” she told him.
Anakin laughed, feeling as though the future had just brightened ten fold.
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Post by therealthing on Jul 9, 2007 9:26:13 GMT -5
Chapter 89
Several months later….
Anakin sat in the rocker holding his newly born son in his arms. He could not take his eyes from the tiny boy’s face, drinking in every detail of him. He kissed the top of the boy’s head, loving the softness of his brown downy hair, the sweet new born baby scent of him. It astonished him that he could be so attached to such a tiny being mere hours after setting eyes on him for the first time.
The door to the hospital room opened and Anakin looked up to see his two elder children walk in. He smiled at them. “Come on in,” he said softly, careful not to wake up his wife. “Meet your baby brother.”
Luke and Leia approached him and smiled when they saw the sleeping baby in his arms.
“He’s so beautiful,” Leia said softly, bending to kiss him. “He even smells good.”
“How’s Mom?” Luke asked, looking back at the bed where Padmé was sleeping.
“She’s fine,” Anakin said, looking at her. “It was an incredible experience being here with her. I only wish…” he stopped, emotions overwhelming him.
“We know, Dad,” Luke said, putting a hand on his father’s shoulder.
“May I hold him, Dad?” Leia said.
“Of course,” Anakin said. He stood up and placed the small boy in her arms.
“Did you finally decide on a name?” Luke asked with a smile, looking down at his little brother.
Anakin nodded. “Yes, we named him after your grand father, Ruwee. Your mother wanted to name him after me, but I insisted.”
“That will mean a lot to Grandma, I’m sure,” Leia said, kissing the tip of the baby’s nose. “She said she’ll be here the day after tomorrow to see him.”
“Good,” Anakin said. “She hasn’t had a grandbaby to fuss over in a very long time,” he added. He looked up at Leia. “What news on the elections?”
Leia smiled. “Mon Mothma by a landslide,” she said. “She will make a great Chancellor.”
“I’m sure Mom would have won hands down had she thrown her name in,” Luke pointed out.
“Yes, no doubt,” Anakin said. “But she had other priorities to consider,” he added with a smile.
Luke nodded. “Han and Ylla are outside,” he told his father. “Think we could show them the baby?”
“I don’t see why not,” Anakin said. “Just so long as they don’t have any contagious diseases.”
Leia and Luke looked at one another, stifling a smile. “No, they’re both in good health, Daddy,” Leia said. “Come on, Luke,” she said, walking towards the door. “Let’s go show him off.”
Anakin smiled as his three children left the room. He walked over to the bed where Padmé was starting to wake up. “Hi,” he said with smile.
“Hi,” she replied. She looked around. “Where’s the baby?” she asked an edge of panic in her voice.
“He’s with the kids,” Anakin assured her, taking her hand. “They are anxious to show him off to their betrothed.”
Padmé nodded. “I guess that’s natural,” she said.
“With a baby as beautiful as him, absolutely,” Anakin replied. “I can’t get over how perfect he is,” he said.
Padmé smiled. “He is,” she agreed.
“Your mother is coming in a few days to see him,” Anakin told her.
“Good,” Padmé said, sitting up in the bed. “Does she know the name we chose?”
Anakin shook his head. “No, I thought you’d like to tell her,” he said.
Padmé smiled. “Yes, I would. I think she’ll be happy.”
“I’m sure she will,” Anakin replied. He turned and looked at the door. “Where are those kids?” he muttered. “I just have visions of Solo passing the baby around like he was a Corellian football.”
Padmé laughed. “Now now,” she said. “Han is going to be our son in law, remember?”
“How could I forget?” Anakin remarked.
“You like him, admit it,” she said.
Anakin smiled. “Well, a little I suppose,” he said. “I just wish he was a little more ….respectful. Like Ylla.”
“Ylla is a rare gem,” Padmé said. “She will be the perfect wife for Luke.”
“She will,” Anakin agreed. He smiled. “Imagine - little Ruwee will probably be an uncle when he’s less than five years old.”
Padmé nodded. “Very possibly, yes.”
The door opened and both Anakin and Padmé looked over to see their children walk into the room.
“Hi Mom,” Luke said, coming over to the bed. Leia joined him and they both kissed her.
“Where are Han and Ylla?” Padmé asked.
“We weren’t sure if you were awake,” Leia explained. “Is it okay if they come in?”
“Of course,” Padmé replied. “They’re practically family,” she added with a smile.
Leia nodded, and then handed her baby brother to her mother. Ruwee was awake now and looked up at his mother’s face. Padmé kissed his tiny nose, marveling in the perfection of his miniature features. She looked up as the door opened and saw Han and Ylla enter the room.
“Congratulations!” Ylla said as she came over to kiss Padmé. She looked down at the baby in her arms. “He is just beautiful,” she crooned.
“Thank you,” Padmé said, looking down at her new son with adoration.
“Hey, he looks like a miniature Luke,” Han commented with a smile.
“Does he?” Ylla said. She looked up at Padmé. “Did Luke look like this when he was a baby?”
Padmé looked up at Ylla, and then at Anakin. She could see that Anakin too had been thinking about the birth of their twins. It was difficult for her to remember that day without thinking of Mustafar, without thinking of what happened after they were born.
“There is a family resemblance, no doubt,” Padmé said at last.
Luke and Leia could see that this was a difficult topic for their parents, and they knew the reason why. Their birth had marked the end of their life together, and the beginning of the Darkness that had claimed the life of their father for two decades.
But the birth of young Ruwee marked a new beginning for the Skywalker family. It represented a second chance, one that Anakin had never believed he would be given. Not only that, it heralded the beginning of a New Republic.
Little by little the Imperial forces had seen the futility of fighting against the changes that Anakin had set into motion. Within two years of the death of Palpatine, every remaining vestige of the once mighty Empire had been eradicated, and the control of the galaxy had been returned to the local systems. The Senate had once again been established, with Mon Mothma as its leader, the Supreme Chancellor. The enormous Imperial army and navy were now the Republican Army and Navy, the clone army having been given new directives. It was an exciting time, a time of great change and even greater challenge. And yet, the promise of the future was great. The Sith had been destroyed, the Jedi Order reestablished. The galaxy had been reborn; and while no one would ever forget the errors of the past, all had been able to learn from them and never allow them to happen again.
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Post by therealthing on Jul 9, 2007 9:30:01 GMT -5
EPILOGUE
Peace: a state of tranquility or quiet; freedom from civil disturbance; a state of security or order within a community provided for by law; freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions; harmony in personal relations; a state or period of mutual concord between governments; a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity.
Peace: a word which many like to bandy about, but one that few actually truly understand. An entire generation in fact, knew nothing of this seemingly unattainable concept. Those born at the dawn of the Empire, those who had dedicated their lives to fighting said Empire, for them, the pursuit of peace had become their raison d’être. Many had died for the Cause, many had killed for it. And yet peace remained an unattainable goal. Until the redemption of the Chosen One.
Anakin Skywalker, conceived in the mysterious, awesome power of the Force, born amid poverty and depravation, destined for greatness. Yet that greatness was not without its price. His descent into Darkness, the agonizing loss of his mother, his wife and unborn child, his own dehumanization amid the fires of Mustafar, caused many, even he himself to wonder if there was any truth to the prophesy of the Chosen One. For two decades Skywalker lived in darkness, in the Hell that his master created for him. Ruthless, sadistic, delighting in nothing but power and cruelty, Skywalker seemed beyond redemption. Until his child found him.
Raised to be a princess, born to be a leader, Leia Organa had been raised to despise Darth Vader, her biological father. Bail and Breha Organa had done their best to shelter her from the truth of her paternity and raised her in a vacuity of information about her real parents. They had loved her as though they were her real parents. Leia’s sense of justice had led her to become heavily involved in the Rebel Alliance, a cause she threw herself into whole heartedly. As Destiny often does, it changed Leia’s life forever one day when she met her real father, the man she had been raised to hate. She was able to see beyond the darkness to the man he had once been, the man he was destined to be again. Her love and belief in him was what brought him back, never to succumb again to the terrible Darkness that had defined his life for twenty years.
And so the Prophesy is fulfilled at last. The Chosen One had destroyed the Sith, and now, with the help of his children and grandchildren, has reestablished the Jedi Order. He knows that he can never atone completely for what the Darkness lead him to do; but he has devoted the remainder of his life to doing all that he can to try.
Anakin walked through the corridors of the hospital, a bouquet of flowers in his hand. I’m a grandfather again, he thought with a smile. For the fifth time now.
His first two grandchildren, Jacen and Jaina, the twins of Han and Leia, were already Padawans. Luke’s two children, Ben and Adaira, were as well. The third Solo child had been born two days earlier, and Anakin had only now had the chance to come and see his newest grandson for himself.
Anakin stood outside the doorway, unsure if he ought to enter. There were always so many visitors in Leia’s room, it was difficult to find a time when he could just have her all to himself. He was rarely afforded this privilege; as a mother, a Senator and a Jedi Master, Leia Skywalker Solo’s life was a busy one. Anakin missed the days when the two of them could just spend time together alone, talking or simply being with one another.
He opened the door tentatively, expecting to be greeted by one or both of the twins, only to find the room unusually quiet. He looked over to the bed to see his daughter looking up at him with a smile on her face, her newborn son in her arms.
“Hi Daddy,” she said. “I’m so happy you came.”
Anakin returned her smile and walked over to the bed. “More flowers,” he said, noticing that the room was fairly bursting with them. “Just what you need,” he added wryly.
Leia laughed. “They’re beautiful, thanks,” she said as he bent to kiss her cheek. “Where’s Mom?”
“Home,” Anakin said, looking at his new grandson. “Ruwee has a pile of homework. I delegated.”
Leia laughed again. “I’m glad you’re here alone, actually,” she said, looking down at her baby. “Everyone has been bugging me about what his name is. I wanted you to be the first to know.”
“Oh?” Anakin said, setting the vase of flowers on the few small space left on the table beside her bed. “Why is that?”
“Because I named him after you, Dad,” she said with a smile. “Meet Anakin Solo, Dad. Your namesake.” She held the baby up to him.
Anakin was speechless as he took the small boy into his arms. “You named him after me?” he asked in amazement. “Han didn’t object?” he added with a smile.
Leia laughed. “You know he thinks so much of you, Daddy,” she replied. “Even if he doesn’t always show it.”
Anakin smiled. “Well, I’m not sure about that,” he said, sitting down with the baby. “He’s beautiful,” he told Leia, and then kissed the boy’s brow. He examined him for a moment, feeling a strong connection to the boy. He felt something else too. “Have you had his levels tested?”
Leia nodded. “He’s higher than both the twins,” she told him. “Even higher than me.”
Anakin nodded. “I’m not surprised,” he said. “I can feel it within him already. He’ll be a great Jedi one day.”
Leia smiled. “Like his grandfather,” she said.
Anakin was pensive for a moment. “Like his mother,” he added, looking up at her.
Leia reached a hand out to him, moved by his praise. “Thanks Daddy,” she said, tearing up. “That means a lot coming from you.”
The door opened just then and Padmé and Ruwee walked in, followed shortly thereafter by Luke and his family, as well as Han and the twins Soon the room was boisterous again, with the entire family together in the small room.
“So? Did you tell him?” Han asked his wife, looking up at Anakin.
Leia nodded. “Yes, I did.”
“Does that mean we can finally know this little guy’s name?” Luke asked.
Leia nodded. “Yes,” she replied. “His name is Anakin,” she said, looking at her father with a smile.
Everyone highly approved of the choice, and congratulated Anakin Senior.
“You knew, didn’t you?” Anakin asked his wife as she came to stand beside him to admire their newest grandson.
Padmé smiled. “Maybe,” she said. “In any case, I highly approve.”
“You know, kid, you were supposed to be named Anakin,” Luke told his little brother.
Ruwee was surprised. “Was I?” he asked. He looked up at his father. “How come I’m not?”
“I wanted your mother to name you after her father,” Anakin explained. “Your only grandfather.”
“Grandma Jobal’s husband?” Ruwee asked.
“That’s right,” Anakin replied. “But I have to admit that it’s nice to have someone named after me,” he added, looking back down at the baby in his arms. He walked away from the rest of the family and sat down, absorbed by the face of his namesake. “Some day I’ll have lots of stories to tell you, young Anakin,” he said. “Stories about your family, about your heritage, about your mother. She is a great woman, you know. Don’t ever forget that. Just like her mother.” He looked up at his family as they laughed and joked with one another, the four elder grandchildren playing games that only they understood. He had never dreamed that his life could be so good, never imagined he could be so blessed. I owe it all to you, my daughter, he thought, looking at Leia with pride. My precious daughter.
Leia looked up at him, sensing his thoughts. She smiled at him. Come back here with that baby, she told him with a grin.
Anakin laughed and stood up and returned to his family, warmed by the love of them all.
THE END
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