Chapter 3-Retraining, Training, and More Training
Shortly after The Executor was in range of Jabba the Hutts Palace Anakin ordered the main laser cannon be used to destroy the structure containing the slug of a creature. Obi-wan and Beru cringed from the Bridge of the ship seeing the impressive explosion from space. Luke on the other hand cheered on at the ships power and how it had freed a planet of unnecessary cruelty from the slimy crime boss. Even some of the crew smiled at the boy and enjoying this special moment they all seemed to be sharing.
It wasn't everyday they got to fire the main laser cannon and be praised by a child at the same time for a job well done.
As far as the crew (clone or planet grown) knew this kid was the best thing to happen to them and the Dark Lord since the ship took its first inaugural launch from Coruscant.
Now with the days ticking away on the way to Alderaan Luke was having the time of his life while being on board The Executor. He was with his Father, his Aunt Beru, and Ben Kenobi, who asked he be called Obi-wan Kenobi, since that was his real name. While on his Father's massive ship Luke learned all about what it could do from its weaponry to how many more TIE Fighters it could launch then other Star Destroyers of other classes.
After that Luke got to ride in a TIE Fighter Simulator to see what it was like to be a pilot of a TIE Interceptor class fighter. It seemed the habit of flying fast ships ran in Luke too since he enjoyed being a simulation of fighter class and even more when he learned that they went faster then the standard TIE's used in battle.
The boy had the time of his life though he soon got sick and had to abort the simulator system before leaving it and puking onto the floor. Considering that the boy had done well with getting the second highest score next to Anakin's was impressive. That was of course before having to abort due to him later puking, though as stated before was indeed impressive. Most impressive.
Luke just needed a stronger stomach.
Anakin also showed the training area where his men would practice their fighting skills from hand to hand combat to testing their accuracy with their blaster rifles that use a rechargeable ammo pack to prevent a waste of ammo.
When Anakin showed him his training area however, things became interesting.
"This is so cool. Can you train me to be like you daddy?" said Luke after seeing all the Lightsaber wielding droids that his Father used for keeping his skills sharp.
"I don't think it's possible Luke," said Obi-wan before looking at Anakin sensing the growing emotions within the man unsure on how to help the boy in this matter.
"Why not? He's my dad and he has the power to train me. So can you? Please dad can you train me?" said Luke staring into the black masked helmeted eyes that prevented him from seeing his Father's true face.
Anakin himself wanted nothing more then to train his son in all he knew, but the question really was what exactly did he know? Not only that, but IF he were to teach his son how to control it what side would he have the boy choose? Light? Dark? So many problems seemed to arise just from one innocent question from his son.
"Soon my son I will train you, but you need to learn how to control the power around you before I can truly teach you anything," said Anakin knowing this would be a satisfactory answer for himself, Luke, and Obi-wan until the time was right.
"Oh. Okay just remember you are the one I want to train under," said Luke smiling at his dad before walking over to Beru, who was watching off in the distance trying to tell her all about the training droids he saw and the pieces and how advanced they were.
While this happened Obi-wan took this time to talk with his former student in private away from the poor ears of the child.
"Anakin you can't possibly consider training him," said Obi-wan seriously sensing one of the many desires in Anakin's heart to have an apprentice to call his own.
"Why not? He is my son. He wants me to train him. How can I say no to him when such an answer will crush his spirit making him think he's not worthy of his Father's attention in that area," said Anakin making sure to keep the volume of his voice low.
"I know Anakin I know and to be personally honest I think you training your son would not be bad at all. It's just that this is new territory for the both of us since you are the first person in the Galaxy to truly come back from the Dark Side. Put Luke's training on hold for at least one more day until he calms down from all he's seen and experienced," said Obi-wan not wanting to overload the boy after so much had happened to him in such a short amount of time.
"I suppose it would be for the best. At least let me teach him how to go into a meditative state to help focus the Force more," said Anakin looking at Obi-wan knowing that they could reach common ground on something as simple as that.
"Meditation would help him more tomorrow then just letting him try to harness it outright without any form of ground to stand on," said Obi-wan seeing Anakin nod and go over to the boy telling him what to do.
At first Luke was curious, but when Anakin told him that all those trained in the Force go through Meditation the boy quickly agreed. "I'll try really hard. I won't let you down," said Luke happily, as Anakin instructed him on the proper sitting potions one would take for Meditation within the Force.
After Luke heard all the necessary instructions he simply nodded and went to the center of the training mat to do the basics of Force Mediation that his father told him about.
"While Luke does that I want to help you with your own problem," said Obi-wan when Anakin retuned seeing his chance to help his former student for what he himself did.
"My problem?" said Anakin looking at Obi-wan wondering at first what the old Jedi was talking about before it hit him like a rancor.
Obi-wan was talking about his physical condition.
The horrible condition that had forced him to wear this accursed armor, air tight mask, and breathing system of a respirator just to stay alive.
"Anakin the day we fought those 9 long years ago tore me apart inside while I tried to find some sort of way to come to terms with what I had done. The moment when you jumped to get past me when I took the high ground kept playing in my head over and over again like a broken holo-recording. I often wondered what would happen had I not cut the ground out from under you both figuratively and literally. What's more is that during my years as your Master I never once taught how to properly heal yourself with the Force. No doubt you've already begun trying to heal yourself with the Dark Side," said Obi-wan knowing how Anakin would always try another way when the way he was taught didn't work.
"Yes. I have tried it on several occasions and it worked for several seconds at the very least while a few minutes at the most. Using the Light Side of the Force was simply out of the question at the time when I was trying," said Anakin remembering what he had learned of vaguely of healing trances and reapplied it to the Dark Side.
"The reason it doesn't work is that the Dark Side of the Force destroys life Anakin. It never heals regardless of how powerful you may become. The only reason it worked for as long as it did was through sheer will and command over it," said Obi-wan, who was silently surprised that his former apprentice could do such a thing with the Dark Side.
"Can you teach me again? To learn the ways of the Light Side of the Force so I can heal myself along with ridding my body of this retched armor and mask?" said Anakin hoping that his for Master and brother in arms would aid him in his time of need.
"All you had to do was ask Anakin," said Obi-wan before walking with Anakin to Beru, who was watching Luke with his face deep in concentration.
"If I may ask how long will it be until we reach Aldreaan?" said Beru looking from Luke to Anakin and Obi-wan hoping one of them would know.
"The Executor has the latest in hyperspace engines as it does weaponry. While normally it would take the average Star Destroyer 10 days to reach Alderaan, it will take us only 6 days at the most," said Anakin having put most of the ship together himself both in the design plans and the building of the ship itself.
This ship may have been nearly responsible for bankrupting the Empire, but the resources that had made this ship were well worth every credit.
Anakin saw to that.
"Really? Don't get me wrong I think it's impressive it's just that it seems strange going to another planet you've only hear about on the Holo-Net. I still can't believe Luke has a twin sister," said Beru having been informed of it by Obi-wan earlier, who told Anakin that he told her about it.
"It was Master Yoda's idea to split them up. He felt Luke would be safe with you and Owen (Beru flinches slightly) on Tantooine while Bail voluntarily offered to take Leia as his own on Aldreaan. Basically the plan was to have Leia be like Padme and to learn all that Bail could teach of politics for her days in the Senate while Luke was to be raised similarly like Anakin. By being around his stepfamily that loved him Luke would want to protect them and others just like them when he was older," said Obi-wan looking at Luke and sensing the boy's light within him growing and pulsing as he worked hard at it.
"Were is that old dwarf of a Jedi?" said Anakin with the sound of distaste for the man who had been his least favorite supporter of him joining the ranks of the Jedi, along with him being a Jedi Knight, and even more on him becoming a Jedi Master.
Out of all the Masters it was Yoda that pulled the most weight when he wanted to be an official Master and have a seat on the Council.
"If I know Master Yoda like I think I do he will most likely be on Aldreaan to see Bail after sensing Luke pillar of Light Side Force energy," said Obi-wan knowing that near and far throughout the Galaxy a lot of Force Sensitive people felt what he did.
Not as much, but still it would be just as potent no matter the distance.
"It also means the Emperor sensed it as well," said Anakin knowing he was going to have to confront the man sooner or later.
"The Emperor sensed Luke's power?" said Beru slightly alarmed wondering what they were now talking about.
"Beru the Emperor was an or rather still is a Stih Lord named Darth Sidious that turned Anakin to the Dark Side to create Darth Vader. Not many people knew about it then just like they don't now since such knowledge is held by me, Yoda, and Anakin," said Obi-wan making Beru gasp lightly in horror as she had seen his aging face once on the Holo-Net in Most Espa and nearly fainted seeing his horrible form with those ungodly eyes.
"Even in his aged state I can't defeat him. All four of my limbs are artificial and my body is badly burned after it was set on fire from being too close to the lava. If I were to face him now or even when he has been weakened I would fail and fall to his power," said Anakin wishing his body was more flesh and bone instead of metal so he could kill the old man.
"Is he really that powerful?" said Beru looking at Obi-wan for confirmation.
"He went toe to toe with Master Yoda and won. Not many can do that and even fewer could have won such a fight either," said Obi-wan knowing fist hand how strong Yoda was when it came to Lightsaber duels and the Force.
"For us to defeat him we will need to raise an army able to take him down and to ensure security within the held worlds to recreate the Old Republic," said Anakin knowing the strength of the Sith Lord would only be overpowered by an army trained to defeat him.
"Do you think you can succeed in gathering such an army?" said Beru though she didn't like the idea of fighting at all she knew it was unfortunately for the best.
"We have a Super Star Destroyer of an entire crew loyal only to me. I would say we have a pretty good start on getting what we need," said Anakin knowing that on this ship every officer from both military and medical was with him to the end.
That's how Anakin wanted it and that's how he liked it.
(Aldreaan-2 Days Later)
"Are you sure about this Master Yoda?" said Bail looking at the old green warrior, who only nodded his aging head slowly.
"Sensed them I did. Coming they are to Alderaan I do. Advice I give is to let them make the first move you must. If you don't tip your hand you will," said Yoda knowing this was for the best when it came to dealing with Vader.
"Any change in Anakin's son?" said Bail hoping for something positive to work with.
"The boy's power is becoming more focused it is I sense in him. Glows with a light I have not seen in many years I do. Strange is Obi-wan and Vader I sense. Filled with the Light Side of the Force they both are. Obi-wan seems to have regained lost power he has and Vader's heart is no longer filled with hate. Freed from the chains of the Emperor and the Dark Side I sense he is. Returning to the ways of Jedi that he fell from slowly it is," said Yoda finding it surprising that such powerful light from a single child could do such a thing to a Sith Lord.
"Does this mean we have nothing to worry about when Anakin comes to visit?" said Bail now finding his only worry was that the form of Darth Vader would not scare Leia too much when they arrived.
"Know that I do not. A strong bond I sense between Father and son I do. Strongest I have ever known or heard of in the Jedi Order it is. Even more then the teachings of making such bonds that the Dark Jedi Raven learned it is. Should Luke die lost all that was built within Vader will be destroyed. Need more bonds he will to hold the Light Side in his heart he will. Leia is the other half of his heart she has to become. Only through his two children will Darth Vader truly be gone and Anakin Skywalker be reborn," said Yoda now slightly understanding the significance of family ties to a heart.
Unknown to them however, they were being watched by a secret holo-camera placed carefully around the decorative objects of the table between Bail and Yoda. Neither of them suspected that such a thing would happen
The one who was watching them was none other then...Mon Mothma.
She had placed it in that room knowing Bail would use the same room for Master Yoda since it was a place where one didn't have to worry about spying on the other. No one really cared to spy on a pacifist designated planet since they were not threat to anyone or anything.
It was something she intended to use to her advantage even if it meant the betrayal to her dear friend and most loyal confidant since Padme Amadala.
'So Vader IS coming here and with his son as well. The Sith Lord is a deadly warrior in his own right and can't be taken on directly. The key is his son and daughter, but I don't think I have to use her as an incentive since she's too attached to Bail right now. In just a one more day my small attack force will be here and we can begin brining my plan into action,' thought Mon Mothma just hoping that the Bounty Hunter she discreetly hired could get the job done despite the amount he asked for.
Considering this was the slowly becoming infamous Boba Fett she had hired he was in her mind worth every credit she had paid him for his mission.
To kill Darth Vader and if need be...his son.
(Coruscant-Imperial Palace)
"Are you sure they are headed to Alderaan Boba Fett?" said the Emperor looking at holo-projection of the infamous and young Bounty Hunter.
About 3 years prior Boba Fett had gotten the Empire's or rather the Emperor's attention when a group of "Rebels" hired him to assassinate an Imperial Moff on one of the Core Worlds. It got the Emperor's attention because such a suicidal mission to anyone else had turned out to be nearly a complete success and the Moff of that world was killed right in his office after taking 3 high powered blaster shots to the chest.
It would have been a complete success had an Imperial Star Destroyer appeared and caught Boba Fett's ship in a tractor beam. He was soon brought face to face with Darth Vader and ultimately the Emperor himself.
Rather then killing him for assassinating the Moff, they instead hired him as the Empire's secret Bounty Hunter to hunt down the ever growing threats to the Emperor, who were slowly gaining support in the Senate.
"Yes your Excellency. Mon Mothma is paying me for her services to assist her little band of warriors to take out Vader as we speak. Should I proceed with my contract with her or is there going to be a conflict of interest with my Imperial contract that I have with you," said Boba Fett not wanting to jeopardize what he had going with the Empire just for some angry Senator with a grudge.
"Proceed with her contract for the moment, but the instant my Jedi Death Squads arrive you are to follow my orders. They are to kill Darth Vader, but you are to bring his son to me to become MY newest apprentice. Succeed Boba Fett and I will make you wealthier then any Hutt on all of Na Shadda," said the Emperor knowing that such an amount of wealth was too good to pass up.
"I shall proceed as you have ordered my Emperor. When I return prepare to receive your new apprentice," said Boba Fett before cutting the connection on his end as the Emperor did his.
"You have your orders. GO!" said the Emperor to the Death Squads he asked for as they had seen and heard the entire conversation now knowing what planet to go to attack their intended target.
(The Executor-3 Days Later)
You are doing great Luke keep it up," said Obi-wan watching the young boy now lifting a heavy cargo box filled with junk off the ground.
The instant the next day started (by the ships standards) Luke wanted to get right into his Jedi training to be like his Father. Though Obi-wan wondered if the boy even cared what it was called so long as it was with his Father. Apparently, the entire time that Luke was supposed to have been sleeping, he had gone and went into his Mediation the entire time wanting to make Anakin proud.
What it did was give Beru a scare telling him that she didn't want him to become a sleep depraved insomniac.
Anakin of course had told her that he had always done the same thing since in all fairness to Luke (since the boy didn't know better) Force Meditation was like a secondary form of sleeping. Not to mention that since Luke did it all night without disturbance meant he was more then ready for training under both him and Obi-wan.
Still it did very little to stop Beru from scolding her nephew for losing sleep at his young age.
After the brief scolding, Luke called upon the Force saying it felt warm and comforting, which he was told by Obi-wan that he was doing it correctly. Luke first watched how his Father showed him how to manipulate things by making them hover in the air.
So like his Father, Luke did the same only with lighter objects at first in order to prevent him from straining his power after so long. On Luke's second day of training he watched as Obi-wan and his Father spared using their Lightsabers to show the young boy the types of forms one would use with the deadly blade styles.
When Luke had asked if he could get a Lightsaber they had to slightly disappoint him by stating that he would have to wait until he was older to make and handle one that best fit him. Instead of a Lightsaber Luke would practice with a Vibrosword so when the boy was ready to wield his Lightsaber he would be quite skilled with it.
Beru was being a nervous wreck as she watched the boy from her spot above the training area hoping Luke wouldn't lose a toe, a finger, or even an eye for that matter.
The newly made Vice Admiral Piett, having made frequent visits to the small group saw this and felt the woman needed to do something other then watch the boy while they were on their way to Alderaan. "Madame if I may be so bold could you tell if you are skilled in anything that could help us along the way?" said Piett turning to face her while she (reluctantly) looked back at him.
"Skills? Could you give some examples?" said Beru wondering how she could help at all with a crew so well trained as this.
"Engineering, medical, and/or a computer or security expertise perhaps?" said Piett, as he saw her look briefly to down at her nephew before facing him.
"Well I do have some experience medicine wise. When Owen hurt Luke I was always there to heal him and I gained some knowledge on how to heal, but its nothing compared to what you possess here on this ship," said Beru slightly belittling herself since it was true.
"True, but its still a skill nonetheless. One of Lord Vader...sorry Anakin Skywalker's first rules on board The Executor is that every one has a job to perform on this ship. While I feel that you watching over the boy during his training is admirable and respectable, it does not qualify as a job on this ship. Fortunately, there is a small position in the Medical Wing that has yet to be filled and I believe given the right amount of training you could fill it," said Piett seeing the woman's eyes widen slightly.
"Really? What's the job?" said Beru curiously wondering what it was.
"The job was to be assistant medical nurse if you will that help the 2-1B when they are performing their medical duties. Basically it would be like assisting a doctor, who is in fact a droid and give advice when it is thinking without regard for the emotional state of the patient," said Piett telling just a few of the things she would have to do in this line of work.
"It does sound interesting. I would like to give it a try, if you think I can handle it that is," said Beru hoping she had the stomach to one day face a patient, who was suffering from battle wounds and not lose her stomach in the process.
"Madame if you ask me you are more then qualified. You helped raise a young boy with an abusive uncle and were there for him when he needed you the most. That is generally what a nurse does when a solider, officer, and/or civilian needs you should they be hurt for whatever reason occurs," said Piett proving to her that she had what it took to take on such a job.
"In that case then I'll do it," said Beru her voice filled with confidence and determination knowing that one day she may need her future skills to save a life similar to Luke or Luke himself should he need it while still being trained in the Jedi Arts.
"Good to hear. Please follow me we have a lot of ground to cover in such a short time," said Piett with his back straitening and he went into officer mode slightly startling Beru though she realized all soldiers as well as officers received this type of command.
"Yes sir!" said Beru before following the Vice Admiral as he walked in front of her and telling her that he was going to get her the necessary rank and clearance into the ships Medical Wing as well as the proper uniform to show she was the required rank for the job.
"It seems Beru has agreed to the position Piett offered her," said Obi-wan having heard the conversation by enhancing his hearing slightly through the Force.
"Good. I sense the new skills she will receive will aid us in the future when the time is right," said Anakin still not keeping his eyes off his son, who was doing very well after 3 days of practice.
Luke wasn't the only one deep into training as Obi-wan once more took upon himself to train Anakin once more in the ways of the Jedi in embracing the Light Side.
The second objective was beginning the healing process of his student's body to fix what had been broken because of him.
It had been difficult at first since Anakin had been away from the Light Side for so long and the Dark Side from what he understood from Master Yoda was not something you could just turn off like a Lightsaber. No it left shadows in your soul and tormented you with every step you took towards the Light Side making you crave for the darkness that you try to leave. A "false warmth" as Yoda had once called it where the Dark Side would deceive you with false warmth of it power making you think you could do things with it that you couldn't before unless it was with the Light Side.
On the first try Anakin nearly became Darth Vader again through feeling the rage he had felt when he heard the Emperor's words about how HE of all people that loved her had killed his wife Padme in a moment of Dark Side filled rage. It was only through the help of quick thinking and Obi-wan's words that prevented such an event happening when Obi-wan reminded Anakin of his son and how Padme died to give birth to him so she would always be apart of him.
It was only through those words that the dark beast within Anakin started to become quiet making the man call forth all his love for his son and the woman that was his wife, who had brought the child into the world.
A symbol of their love for each other.
Holding onto such warmth filled Anakin Skywalker with renewed strength that he never felt before in the Dark Side or ever possessed even when he was a Jedi Knight. "Good Anakin I can practically see the light shining off of you. Then channel that into your body and use it to heal yourself. Start with your internal organs first and then will move onto your outer body," said Obi-wan feeling the Light Side of the Force shine brightly in his student and that life was coming back to badly damaged body that was once the form of Anakin Skywalker.
Anakin did as instructed and felt his body respond almost immediately to his command as he felt the pains in his chest leave him where his heart still had several burns on it. His lungs were slowly reforming and repairing damaged tissue from inhaling all the ash on Mustafar. His kidneys had become workable again as had his intestinal track, which had been nearly liquidated when his body lay near the lava bed.
However, that day had also made him realize his limits compared to what they were those 9 years ago when he was a much stronger man. Just as Anakin had felt the warmth of the Light Side heal his body he felt his power in the Force leave him faster then expected. It had become apparent that due to Anakin's injuries making him more machine then man that the Force was only with him for so long before the part of him was man ran out of power like a damaged power cell.
Even IF Anakin could fix most of his body he would still have artificial limbs and would constantly remind him of his handicap in reaching out to the Force. 'There must be a way to fix this. I know there is a way. There has to be!' thought Anakin involuntarily flexing his right hand remembering how many lives his prosthetics had claimed the lives of Jedi, soldier, and civilian alike.
He wanted these fake blood covered hands gone to start off with a pair of fresh ones to make a difference in the Galaxy only for better not for worse.
Anakin wanted his humanity back or what was left that he could save.
And he may know of just the place to do it, but first...Alderaan.
(1 Day Later-Alderaan)
The Executor came out of hyperspace above the peaceful planet known as the symbol of all things good in the Galaxy. Compared to each other it seemed that the two were merely opposites not only in regards to being planet and ship, but one being a naturally organic look to it and the other being cold, dark, and made of metal looking like a tip of a sword from below.
"Master Yoda they have arrived," said Bail walking with Yoda to the landing area that the shuttle from the Super Star Destroyer would be arriving in.
"Yes. It will be good to see Obi-wan again that it will. Talk we must to him. Reason for him training Vader again know I need from him," said Yoda having sensed that things had changed in the man and that Obi-wan was responsible for it.
"What about Leia and the two droids? Should I have them come with us as well?" said Bail not wanting to start anything with Vader even if he was Anakin Skywalker again.
"Learn she will one way or another about her heritage I sense. Bring them you must to mend the wounds from the past we must do," said Yoda knowing that the girl would have to meet the slayer of Jedi one day and learn of her parentage.
"I'll send for them to meet us on the hanger. I also have my suspicions on Mon Mothma and her reactions towards me not wanting you to train Leia. She seems determined to the point of madness to destroy Vader even if it means using his own children against him not caring about their lives. She thinks more like an Imperial then she does a Senator of the Old Republic. It's frightening," said Bail before using his comlink to have one of the servants escort Leia with her droids to the landing pad.
"Heart filled with darkness I sense. Suppressed by an admirable cause it was. However, it has freed itself from such things now that she has a possible opportunity to strike him I sense," said Yoda having met her 2 days earlier and sensed the darkness in her growing at a steady rate.
"I'll have my servants and aids keep an eye on her for now and to report any suspicious activity she may start when I'm not around," said Bail hoping the woman wouldn't do anything stupid just to settle the score with the Empire and its Emperor.
And people wondered why he always wanted peace.
(Alderaan Landing Pad-Moments Later)
The white Imperial shuttle caring Obi-wan, Anakin, Beru, Luke, and a squad of over a dozen soldiers landed gracefully on its set destination like a majestic bird on a tree. Ever so slowly the mouth of the shuttle lowered allowing all of its occupants to leave its inner walls.
In front of them waiting were Master Yoda, a rather pale looking Bail Organa, and a now arriving small group consisting of a little girl and two droids that seemed very familiar to Anakin. 'It couldn't be them. Can it?' thought Anakin through his mask hating the color he was seeing through it knowing it wasn't showing him the natural look of the droids.
"Lord Vader I'm glad to see you under such circumstances," said Bail trying to sound as diplomatic as he could despite the person in front of him was taller and more intimidating then him.
"You may dispense with the pleasantries Organa. I'm here on personal business and I know you know what it is," said Anakin mentally cursing himself for sounding like his Sith Lord persona.
"Y-Yes o-of course. Forgive m-me Lord Vader," said Bail bowing his head though he was slightly wondering why Vader had not killed him and moved to the aged Jedi Master behind him to kill with his squad.
"I will only if you do not call me that name again. That...name has no meaning to me in my life anymore," said Anakin wanting to clear this up in front of his daughter as soon as possible.
The fact that the girl he sensed was his daughter had stopped frozen in her tracks at the moment when she saw him was a dead give away.
That and she looked a lot like Padme in that white dress was another factor as well.
"What name do you wish me to call you my Lord," said Bail hoping it was what he hoped it was.
"You may call me Skywalker. Anakin Skywalker," said Anakin happy to speak his name with pride though he was unsure how his voice system would make it sound.
Bail could only nod as he was now happy that the man he knew from the Clone Wars and the hero of the Old Republic had returned from the darkness.
"Dad! Is she my sister?" said Luke pointing to Leia, who looked even paler then before as well as shocked at what she heard from him.
'Sith spit,' thought Bail turning to his adoptive daughter just watching them not far from Master Yoda.
'Bail didn't tell her even though Master Yoda knew we were coming. But why?' thought Obi-wan frowning at the old Jedi Master, who just gave him a look that said all would be explained later.
Strangely enough the astromech droid rolled at high speed towards the former Sith Lord whistling and beeping with what appeared to be excitement like a pet seeing its master after so such a long wait. 'At least someone from my past remembers me and is glad to see me again,' thought Anakin seeing the droid stopping right in front of him still giving off noises like anyone would believe.
"Dad what's the droid saying?" said Luke thinking his father had a droid translator in his helmet so that he could communicate with the R2 unit.
"It's hard to make it out since he's speaking to fast. Why not have his counter part next to your sister give the translation," said Anakin, as he tried to understand what his old friend from the wars was saying through the Force, but found it too difficult at the moment.
"If I may sir I can give the translation," said the astromech droids counterpart, who had started to walk towards the group only to be stopped by a very worried as well as a very confused Leia.
She had heard stories from her or at least who she thought was her Father at night when they thought she was asleep. She remembered how the Alderaan Senator had spoken to his wife about how Darth Vader made his appearance one day in the Imperial Senate hall. How by the order of the Emperor, had killed one of his fellow Senators with just a simple raise of his hand while standing next to the frail looking ruler.
She didn't want to take her chances let alone see the only father she had known be killed by this "Dark Lord" as he had been called by many within the Empire. She didn't know the man had a son though the boy seemed different from him and when she first saw him she had sensed something between them on strange level. Still such things terrified her to know end and what's more was that near her was a supposed Jedi Master, who from what she understood were nearly wiped out by the same man now in front of her Father.
Why hadn't the Jedi and this Dark Lord started fighting as the stories said other Jedi had done with this man? Could it be the Jedi Master was more powerful then the Dark Lord and was somehow keeping him at bay? Or was it because of the other man dressed in Jedi robes that her Father showed her from past holo-recordings.
Speaking of her Father, why did the man's son call her his sister? That would be she was the daughter of the Dark Lord were related as a parent is related to their child.
'It can't be true. I don't believe it!' thought Leia shaking her head trying to remove the weird feeling that was growing in her mind telling her it was the truth and she should embrace it as such.
She was so caught up in her thoughts that Leia didn't realize the man she now feared was now moving towards her with a commanding stride. "Hello...my daughter," said Anakin trying to use the Light Side of the Force to put her fears of him to rest.
Leia was so startled by this that she had back stepped only to trip and fall on her butt with Luke running up to her to help her up. "Hey are you all right sis?" said Luke getting her to her feet though she was still clearly shaken.
"Master Yoda why didn't you tell Leia about Anakin?" said Obi-wan now approaching the 900 year old dwarf.
"Face her true Father face to face she must. Intervene could create dire problems it would have," said Yoda seeing the kids interact with each other while the R2 unit talked to its gold plated counterpart of a protocol droid about things.
"Why are you calling me your sister?" said Leia getting herself from Luke's grip finding her presence close to the boy and his Father a little uncomfortable.
"Aren't you forgetting he's your Father too?" said a voice in Leia's head making her wince slightly, but enough that Anakin saw it.
"Why? Because you are my sister. Obi-wan and that dwarf guy were there when we were born and when mom gave us our names," said Luke having been told about that day by Obi-wan so he knew the truth about that day.
"Lies! My dad that is Bail Organa named me. You can't be my brother and YOU can't be my Father!" said Leia pointing at Anakin before running away from them.
"Leia stop! Come back here. Help me catch up to her Luke," said Bail running after his adoptive daughter with Luke right behind him while asking how he already knew his name.
"I see Leia has Anakin's ever mean stubbornness streak when he was younger," said Obi-wan to Yoda both knowing the dangerous combination Leia had in being Padme's and Anakin's daughter.
"Learn the whole truth she must before hatred consumes Leia she must. Go you, Luke, and Anakin to go to her you will. Need to talk with Leia you must," said Yoda before walking over to the figure that was Darth Vader that held inside it the remains of Anakin Skywalker.
"It's been sometime Master Yoda. I have done terrible things during my time as a Sith. I do not deserve forgiveness, but if you could I would gladly accept it and help repent for my sinful ways," said Anakin looking down at Yoda while Yoda looked up trying to see into the metal mask as if to determine something.
"You have suffered enough that you have. Arrogant I will admit the Jedi were. Should have consulted you better I see now. The wounds inflicted upon you both physical and mental are proof of this they are. Shunned we did the attachments of others out of our own fears and ignorance we did. Should have learned from them to understand such a powerful entity that attachments brings we should have. Forgiven you already are Anakin Skywalker," said Yoda giving his own bow to the taller man.
"Thank you Master Yoda. This means more then you know," said Anakin before walking with Yoda while being flanked by his Stormtroopers with Beru, and the two droids right beside them.
"Sir if you don't mind me asking you why does my counterpart R2D2 keep telling me that my creator has returned? I can't seem to recall my creator or built me," said C3PO looking at Anakin while shuffling his feet forward trying to keep up with the group.
"Because I did build you old friend," said Anakin having already half suspected the droid would receive a memory wipe so he wouldn't blab what he already of him to knew to his newly born daughter.
Bail may be a pacifist, but his wits were as sharp as a Jedi's mind when it came to hectic situations. 'Too bad it couldn't be said for parenting though given the child one would think he did all right,' thought Anakin finding Bail and Luke had caught up to Leia and were going to meet them halfway inside the Senator's home.
(Not Far Away)
Boba Fett watched from his perch how the group was interacting. He had already told Mon Mothma he would do as she asked in taking Vader out, but what he didn't expect was for her to go further and tell him to take out his son too. Boba Fett, being the bounty hunter that he was and not wanting to be put in a predicament where he would have to do such a thing without a reason (and extra credits) asked why. The more information he knew about such things the better.
His "Father" had taught him that when he was young.
Still for him to kill a child was not something in his profession as a Bounty Hunter. An assassin yes, but for a Bounty Hunter to be hired to kill a child, even if it was the child of Darth Vader was a little bit of overkill even for him.
That and the Emperor wanted the boy alive, which brought in a conflict of interest in terms of the contract he had with both financial parties. 'Since the Emperor can pay me more then the Senator I'll keep the boy alive and out of range of my rifles laser scopes,' thought Boba Fett wondering what was keeping the Emperor's Death Squads.
Mon Mothma's little band of second rate blaster using losers had arrived a few hours ago before The Executor did under the disguise of a group on a pilgrimage to the planet. Even now they were being given their orders while she had him stake out the landing pad her targets were landing on. 'It's bad enough I have Vader to worry about, but the two Jedi as well and squad of troopers to deal with. That woman dressed as a medical officer could be taken hostage, but for all I know her overall value could be worthless and such a move could be fatal,' thought Fett before moving from his position to get a better look at the group.
It didn't hurt to be cautious. Another thing his "Father" taught him.
(A/N: Well this is the end of another chapter. Hope you liked it. I will be away from my computer for about a week so it will be a small while before another update. Don't worry the action heats up in the next chapter I promise. I got it all in my head on just how I want it to play out so expect some blaster firing, Lightsabers, Force Powers, and some VERY interesting things happening that will change things, but for better or for worst I cannot say. PLEASE REVIEW! Until next time...PEACE!)