Where I stand
He stood above the broken body of his Master. The duel had been long, tiring and very destructive. In the end he had prevailed. Lord Sidious now lay dead at his feet, the Master was no more.
I wonder if he foresaw this. I could not let his tyranny continue. It is time for the Sith to become anew. No more war, no more death, no more pointless conflict.
With that he walked slowly down the ramp to the landing pad that housed his fighter. A slight rumble could be heard in the distance, he paid no heed to it. He knew who was aboard. With a long sigh he stopped and turned waiting for the individual to come to him.
Several minutes had passed as a man appeared. He walked up to the man clad in black, his cowl pulled deep over his head. He knew all to well who it was, they had been brothers for many years, and he stopped several meters away. Both men one clad in black the other in white and tan both stood in silence for several minutes before the man in white and tan spoke.
"I never have fully understood you. I have never had the life you have had to endure. All I ask is where I stand now with you." The man in white and tan asked.
He gave no reply just standing there indifferent.
"I must know Ana…, I don't even know what to call you. Are you still my brother? Are you still the one I owe my life nine times over?"
"Ten." Was all the man clad in black said.
"That business on Cato Neimoidia still does not count."
"Same old Obi Wan."
A small chuckle could not be contained, Obi Wan relaxed. MasterYodahadbeenwrong,hedidnotturnasYodahadsadhedid.Hewasstillreachable.
"Anakin I need to know where do I stand?"
"I have no quarrel with you Jedi." With that Anakin turned and entered his fighter, lifting off leaving a perplexed Obi Wan on the landing pad.
Obi Wan could not move as he watched the fighter become a mere spec in the night's sky. Once it had vanished from view he sighed not knowing what that had meant. Did it mean him or the Jedi as a whole? He did not know. Maybe Yoda would the council must know that for the time being Anakin was gone.
XxX
Obi Wan entered the council chambers, assuming the position he had left only days ago. The council members look to him waiting for his report.
"Your mission failure it was." It was not a question a mere statement from Yoda.
"Not entirely Master." Obi Wan replied.
"Then what?" Windu asked.
"I am not sure yet, but I don't think He is a threat as we perceive him to be." Obi Wan said.
"Oh how so?" Windu asked.
"When I asked him where I stand, all he said was I have no quarrel with you Jedi. I'm not sure if he meant it as Jedi or to me in particular"
"ummm… meditate on this I will. Adjourned this meeting is. Yoda said sliding off his chair walking to his meditation chamber.
XxX
He entered their apartment quietly, doing the same when he entered their room. Still late he wished not to disturb her. With ease he slipped out of his robes and slid into bed tomorrow they would leave to start their new life one with out regret, one without interference from anyone. A new life, a new order, a new beginning for all.
It was late in the morning when he finally stirred. He rolled to his side to embrace his beloved one. He found empty space, reeling slightly looking about the room, his senses fully alert he could feel her in the next room. Slowly getting gout of bed he entered the living room to find her sitting at the dinning table drinking some caf.
As he approached she gave him a soft smile. "Would you like some caf and breakfast?"
"Yes I'm starving." He replied.
She started to get up. He placed a hand on her shoulder, its ok I'll get it." He said smiling and placing a kiss on her forehead. She smiled and resumed her reading of the events for her schedule today.
Once he sat down, he sighed gaining her attention.
"What is it Ani? What is bothering you?" She asked.
"I want to move to Naboo to have the baby as we had talked about. I want to be away from all this." He said gesturing all around him.
She smiled. "Really you meant it?" She said.
"Yes, it is time I put you and the baby first."
"What of the Jedi?"
"I will deal with that at a later date; I want to concentrate on you and the baby."
"Ani what are you not telling me." She asked becoming worried.
He let out a sigh, he started to explain that he had joined Sidious, the Dark Lord of the Sith for all the wrong reasons. That in the final moment his mother had come to him before his former master landed on Mustafar revealing his true intentions, for the galaxy, for him and his family. He told her of the events from that point on. From the battle with Sidious to the short conversation with Obi Wan, which he vowed to change to not let his emotions rule him, to let them come and finally control them not let them run him as they did for the past thirteen years of his life.
At first she was shocked to hear it, but then it made sense to a point. She was unsure how to handle this. Anakin was always guided by his emotions. The fact that he realizes it and is attempting change was a good thing one she did not expect so soon.
"What of the Order? What will they do?" She asked.
"While C3PO packs, I am going to the council resigning as a Jedi."
"If that is what you want, then I support you."
With that he smiled, he thought that'sallIreallyneededwashersupportallalong.IwasfoolishtothinkIneededmore.
They finished their meal and Anakin cleared the table. Just as he finished the door chimed. He went to the door again knowing who it was. Opening the door he said. "Good Morning Obi Wan, interesting you're here.
"Oh how so?" he asked.
Anakin motioned for him to enter. "I am leaving the order Obi Wan, I plan on raising my family without interference from anyone including the Jedi."
Obi wan remained quite, waiting for him to explain more.
Anakin saw this and gestured to the chairs in the living room they both sat.
"You are my friend and brother Obi Wan, I love you as I do Padme and my unborn child, and my priorities have changed. The Sith threat is gone, the Jedi can handle the rest, please respect my wished Obi Wan."
Obi Wan contemplated this for a moment rubbing his beard as he did so often.
"Anakin I love you as a father would. In light of recent events I am at a loss; however I can see now you have grown into the man I always foresaw you would become. I am proud of you never forget that. I will stand by you in this decision, you have my word."
At this Anakin smiled. "I think it is time I let the council know my intentions." Anakin said standing.
Anakin and Obi Wan said their good byes to Padme, leaving for the temple.
XxX
Anakin waited for the summons by the council, he didn't have to wait long. As he entered he realized he no longer had fear of them. He walked to the center of the room slightly bowed, "Masters." Was all he said.
"Joined Sidious you did, Apprentice of the Sith you are." Yoda said pointing a finger at him. "Your fate decide we will." Yoda finished.
"No you wont."
"You still defy us?" Windu asked.
"I will no longer let you decide my fate; I came here today to leave your order. You may see me as a Sith, just as I expected, I killed my master on Mustafar."
"Taken the title of Darth have you?" Yoda asked.
"No, my name is as it always shall be, Anakin Skywalker, I can see where this is going. I'll will not stand for it I am leaving to start a new life." He said as he turned to leave Kit Fisto and another master moved to block his path igniting their sabers.
"Stand aside Jedi, I have no quarrel with you ." Anakin commanded.
"We can not let a Sith Lord go, you are under arrest my lord." Kit said taking a defensive stance.
Anakin sighed. "I thought only Sith delt in absolutes?"
"You are the enemy." Master Fisto replied.
"Says who? I have committed no crimes against this order to warrant such hostel actions, if you will not stand down, then you leave me with no choice, I will defend myself."
As the events transpired Master Yoda sat and watched young Skywalker. "Um…SomethinghaschangedinyoungSkywalker."
With that Anakin slowly lowered his head, bringing the force to him, not by command he let it flow both sides dark and light. His emotions gave him purpose, his strength not just the dark ones the light as well. He slowly unclipped his saber the snap hiss filled the room with the eerie red glow. "I'll only ask one more time; do not continue down this path, it will only lead to unnecessary blood shed." He said.
At this Obi Wan walked next to Anakin. Igniting his saber. "I can not allow this, you must see reason, a Sith would have attacked long ago, not given you two requests to stand-down, or say he would defend himself.
"Joined the Sith, you will Master Kenobi?" Yoda said.
"If you fail to see reason and logic then yes I have, you leave me with no other option, you decision to be absolute makes you no better than the Sith themselves, I will defend my brother to the death."
Yoda taking a moment to seek guidance in the force sighed. "Go free you will, won this battle you have."
Anakin turned to the old Master. "This was not what I wanted, but so be it. If any Jedi crosses my path, I cannot guarantee the outcome, I will not tolerate interference in my life, or my families. Come Obi Wan it is time to leave this."
With nothing left to say Anakin and Obi Wan left the temple leaving for a new beginning.
XxX
Anakin and Obi Wan rode in silence. As they approached the apartment, Obi Wan finally broke the silence.
"You know that the Jedi will not allow us the freedom you seek Anakin."
"I know Obi Wan, but there is one mistake the Jedi make."
"And that would be".
"Change."
Obi Wan went back to stoking his beard. "When did you become so wise Anakin? How did you learn to let go?"
"If not for my mother coming to me, and reveling certain things plus giving me a preverbal head slap. I would have fallen back into slavery of a mad man. As you know I have always been guided by my mothers teachings, but mostly my darker emotions. She is the one who made me realize that my heart was in the right place I just couldn't see properly."
"That makes sense, I still have one question Anakin, How is it the darkside didn't consume you?"
"It would have if not for my mother, with all things in life, life needs balance. Too much of any one thing is bad Obi Wan, you taught me that."
The speeder pulled next to the veranda as Padme was sitting next to her and Anakins belongings. She quickly stood for a pregnant woman could.
"How did the meeting go?"
"It did not go as I had planned. There are some complications we need to move fast.
Padme and Obi Wan nodded and hurried to load the ship with all the belongings.