Summery: Anakin has waited for six months and now the time as come to stop the Death Star. The lesson in hubris still continues with a terrible cost. Second in the 'Hubris' Series.

'Force speak '

*Thoughts*

Disclaimer : Don't own it or make money for this. I write for fun.

Chosen's Chance:

Prologue:

The whispers were growing. They spoke not of the 'Hero with no Fear' but of 'The Hero tried by fire' Hidden beneath the black mask, the one who waited, yet offered another chance. Just as he had been given. Those who received this grace spoke of the one who had fallen far, yet pulled himself back from the abyss. And soon the death-helm became not a sign of death but a chance at a new life for many. While the man behind the mask waited for a change and a chance to start again himself.

Anakin's POV:

Time had seemed to stop when I left Obi-wan and Ashoka with Luke on Tatoonie. Going back to the Death Star and acting as if nothing had happened, was one of the hardest things I had ever done. Add to that the fact that I had to play a delicate game of charades with Son/Sidious, and it was far more torturous than anything I ever wanted to go through. I was in constant pain, far more than I had ever been while Vader had control of me. And to top it off, I still had to act like the monster was still loose.

Which meant I had to take extreme measures to save folk that were suppose to die at Vader's hands. I would not kill just to save myself and my children from Sidious. But I would go all out to make it look like I had.

I'd use the Force-choke just to knock people unconscious and then speak to them afterward, having them join the rebels under different names. The fact I could speak to them without the mask certainly helped.

And it meant that the monster was never far from breaking loose, taunting me to take the power that I fed to the Dark Side and finish this now! So easy, Vader would remind me. I could just stop all the suffering and rule myself, if I'd just take the power. I wouldn't stand a chance and knew it, but temptation had never been so powerful.

I would have lost my way the first week I was back if not for three things. Each night I would go to my pod and seem to sleep. But in reality I put myself in Force-Trance to undo the damage I had done to myself during the day by using the Dark Side. And while my body was in the healing-trance, I'd Force-Shift and look for my sister. Each night I found myself on Mortis and she would comfort me as I raged at my helplessness.

Then there were the bonds forged and reforged between myself, my old master Obi-wan, my former padawan Ashoka, and my son, Luke. Of the three, Luke's was by far the strongest. He could reach me when the others could not or dared not. And in his growing strength in the Force I could take pride.. and listen when he suggested another action that wouldn't expose us.

And finally and most blessed of all was the presence in the Force of my Angel, Padme. She alone was with me night and day and could face Vader unafraid. He had done his worst to her and she had still believed in me! To the grave and beyond. When she knew I was close to letting him go, she'd face me down and just say one thing. My Ani. My mother's nickname for me and Padme's favorite pet name for me. I had pretended that I hated it, but oh to hear her call me that now, chased Vader to the darkest bottom of my battered heart.

It couldn't continue. I knew that soon something would slip and then Son/Sidious would know. As the months past though I was certain that things were going to fail and that Son would win this war. Until the plans for the Death Star were stolen. And I was sent after them. Little did I know that this would be my chance. To finally end the madness and give Son/Sidious notice that his days were numbered.

And as it would happen with me, it all started when I was chasing down the ship that Tarkin had found containing the plans. Always it came back to the planet of my birth. This time it was a battle in orbit around Tatoonie.