Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. I just created my own little AU sandbox to play in.
AN: Here's part 8! I thought this was going to be the last part, but this one needs nine it seems. So, part 9 will be the final chapter of this vignette. For now, enjoy part 8! Thanks for all the great reviews! Enjoy and let me know what you think!
Planet of Terror: A Forever Destined Vignette
Part 8/9
The large cruise ship docked at the port on the island of Milawi. Most of the ships occupants boarded several ferries and departed for a large resort on one of the large, nearby islands. The seven survivors of the expedition on Xalryn, the Captain, his senior crew members, and Artoo boarded a large boat, which Anakin rented from the Marina. They set sail and began the journey to Dalica to be reunited with their family. They would also tell their story to the Captain and their family that evening. But for now, Anakin was content to let Riley steer the boat, while he stood at the bow with his beautiful wife. They had both cleaned up and changed aboard the ship, before disembarking. She now wore a knee length white sun dress, with blue flowers. It was sleeveless and had a scoop neck collar. She had matching white strapped sandals on and her hair cascaded around her in curls, just the way he liked it. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and she turned her head to him. He lowered his lips onto hers, kissing her with tender passion. They held each other, as they took in the beautiful ocean scenery of Dantooine and soon, they could see Dalica, where their family and their five beautiful children awaited them.
Luke fidgeted anxiously, as the boat docked. He felt his grandma Shmi tug at his collar.
"Can we go now?" he asked.
"They're coming, young ones. We'll wait until they get off the boat," Shmi said, though she was just as anxious as the children. She felt her husband squeeze her shoulder affectionately and she smiled at him. The children came alive with chatter, as they spotted their father's tall frame step off the boat and onto the dock. He held his hand out to their mother and helped her onto the dock as well.
"Mommy!"
"Daddy!" their voices chorused. Anakin and Padme spotted them and smiled. Hand in hand, they sprinted to meet their excited children. Anakin knelt down and opened his arms, catching Luke and Leia, as they bounded to him. Padme knelt beside him and kissed her two oldest, as the younger ones caught up.
"Mommy!" Jayden called. Padme scooped him up and kissed his hair, as he clung tightly to her. Padme opened her other arm and pulled Jenna into her arms as well. Anakin saw Kimberly standing next to him, sniffling, with tiny tears rolling down her cheeks. He took her in his arms and she hugged him as tightly as she could.
"What's the matter sweetheart?" he asked.
"We thought...we were never gonna...see you again," she sobbed. Anakin hugged her tightly.
"Everything's okay now, tiny angel. Mommy and Daddy are fine," he promised.
"But we thought the bad people had you again and we were scared," Jayden whimpered.
"Daddy protected mommy though and we're just fine now, okay?" Padme told him. He nodded his little head.
"Lukie told us that you would defeat the bad people. He told us not to be scared," Jenna chirped. Anakin smiled and patted his son's shoulder.
"Luke's right, because I'd never let anyone hurt any of you or Mommy," Anakin told them, as he smiled at his wife.
"Come on everyone, let's go back to the resort. I'm sure Neela is anxious to see us," Padme said, as she stood.
"She is! She's making a special dinner for everyone!" Luke said, as he got excited at the prospect of food.
"Great...I'm starved," Anakin said.
"Me too," Luke added.
"You just ate two hours ago, laser brain," Leia rolled her eyes.
"So, I'm hungry again," Luke retorted. Anakin patted his shoulder.
"A chip off the old block for sure," Anakin said. Luke beamed at the prospect of being compared to his father.
"Well, I bet you can't beat me in a race," Leia boasted.
"Can too. First one to the table is a rotten Gondark egg!" Luke called, as he and Leia took off running.
"Wait for us!" Jenna called, as the three youngest chased after them.
As the children ran ahead, everyone else got their turn.
"Oh, I was so worried about you both," Shmi fretted, as she hugged them both tightly. Qui-Gon was next and also hugged them both.
"Obi-Wan!" Sola called, as she came running toward him, having just learned of his return. Obi-Wan caught her in his arms and hugged her tightly, before planting a passionate kiss on her lips.
"Daddy!" Ryoo and Pooja called. Obi-Wan opened his arms and hugged them both. Sola kissed his cheek, before hugging her sister and brother-in-law. Jobal also hugged them tightly, while Riley waited off to the side for her. She soon joined him and he pulled her into a loving kiss. Finally, Yan and Elana greeted them all with hugs as well.
"It sounds like you both went through quite an ordeal," Yan said. Anakin nodded.
"Yes, we have much to tell you," Padme said.
"Everyone, this is Captain Thomas and his crew. And these three are Tyler, Ethan, and Steph, the only survivors from our team besides us, that went down on the planet with us," Anakin said.
"We welcome you all. Let us dine and enjoy the company of the children. Then, we can send them to play and discuss what we need to," Elana suggested. They all agreed and trekked toward Jac and Neela's small, open air resort.
"I'm so happy to see you both," Neela said, as she hugged both Anakin and Padme.
"It's good to see you too Neela," Padme replied.
"You both look fantastic. You haven't changed at all," she mentioned. Padme smiled and cuddled close to Anakin's side.
"Love keeps us young, I suppose you could say," he said.
"Yeah, I can't keep my hands off him," Padme teased, as he smiled playfully at her. Neela giggled and cleared her throat playfully.
"Uh huh, so I can see," she said, pointing at the five mini Skywalkers at the table. Everyone shared a laugh, as Anakin and Padme blushed.
"Come on everyone. Dinner is ready, so let's eat," Neela said. They all took their seats and prepared for the meal.
After they finished the meal, the children left to play, as the adults prepared for an important discussion.
"I don't mean to be rude, Master Skywalker, but we are very eager to know all that happened down on that planet," Captain Thomas said.
"Of course Captain," Anakin nodded.
"What I'd like to know is how your ship just disappointed into thin air," Sola added.
"It was a warp hole that originally disrupted our course and caused us to dip out of hyperspace," Anakin began.
"A warp hole?" Qui-Gon questioned. Anakin nodded.
"It pulled us through and when it closed, we found that we were three hundred and sixty four days journey to Dantooine," Anakin said.
"What?! How is that possible?" Sola asked.
"We weren't sure, but I knew the answers we needed were on a strange, unknown planet we were now orbiting," Anakin said.
"Then how did you find them?" Dooku asked Obi-Wan.
"The same warp opened up while Riley and I were surveying the area and we weren't the only ship making the journey," Obi-Wan said.
"Another cruiser carrying the Sith Master, or at least who we thought was the Sith Master, was going in too," Riley added.
"Then this warp was no accidental space anomaly," Elana stated.
"Back to what you said about the Sith Master: what exactly did you mean?" Qui-Gon asked. Anakin looked at his father and grandfather.
"We learned the identities of both the Sith Master and his apprentice. The one we encountered on Mustafar a few years ago was only the apprentice," Anakin stated.
"Who are they?" Yan asked anxiously.
"We only learned the apprentice's first name. He called her Ysanne. She had long, silver/white hair and ice blue eyes," Anakin said.
"They held me captive apart from Anakin for a short time and I think I heard him refer to her as Iceheart as well," Padme added.
"What about the Master?" Yan asked. Anakin and Padme exchanged glances.
"Come on now. Tell us," Qui-Gon urged.
"It's Sifo-Dyas. He's the Sith Master," Anakin announced.
"What?!" Yan exclaimed.
"But he's dead. Maul slew him," Qui-Gon protested.
"These people have incredible technology. They don't just make androids. They also create bio-androids from living tissue. Sifo-Dyas is half man, half machine now," Anakin said.
"And he ain't the only bio-android they have," Riley added.
"There is another?" Yan asked.
"Somehow, these strange people recovered Xanatos' body and made him into one as well," Obi-Wan said regretfully.
"No...not Xanatos," Qui-Gon said.
"Blast...have they no respect for the dead?!" Dook spat. Padme shivered, as she remembered bumping into the dead scientists' rotting corpse, as it hung from a noose.
"No, they most certainly don't," Padme replied.
"These people, Sifo-Dyas' race, I assume. Are they human?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Yes, but they are so deformed that they don't appear to be," Anakin replied.
"Deformed?" Qui-Gon questioned.
"Yes, the planet that we landed on has been dead for centuries, but the Xalryn, as they call themselves, used a massive orb of energy to keep the planet in tack. But the energy's toxins have caused horrible physical deformities. They have oblong shaped skulls, they are mostly bald, with pointed ears, sunken eyes, sunken cheeks, and they look sickly. They are rail thin and their eyes are a sickly green and bloodshot," Anakin explained.
"Dear Force, why would they put themselves through all that for a dying planet?" Shmi wondered.
"They are descendants of the Sith race. It's a God complex for them. They like the idea of being able to give and take away life as they see fit. Plus, the planet was so far out that it has kept them and their technologies hidden for centuries. We also think that Sifo-Dyas and Xanatos are only the first two bio-androids. I heard Admiral Tavira mention more bio-prototypes and I would bet that Sifo had them take onto his ship and escaped with them," Anakin said.
"So, the planet was destroyed?" Yan asked. Anakin nodded.
"My Force energy caused the power core to become unstable and it exploded. The whole planet crumbled and we barely made it off in time," Anakin replied.
"What was Sifo's goal in capturing the two of you? Why was he so adamant in keeping you both together and alive?" Riley asked.
"That, perhaps, is the most frightening part of all," Obi-Wan stated.
"What do you mean?" Qui-Gon asked.
"He knows exactly how to control my powers and exactly how to exploit them. He knows that Padme is the key. He knows that my powers work at their maximum when she's by my side or when I'm protecting her," Anakin said in exasperation, as he got up. Padme gazed forlornly at her husband, sharing his pain.
"He was using our love against us. He wants to use its power against the galaxy," Anakin stated.
"But how can he possible expect to do that? You and Padme would never serve him," Qui-Gon said.
"Not willingly, but he had all that figured out too," Anakin replied.
"What are you talking about?" Yan asked, with dread in his voice. Anakin turned to them.
"He tested my powers and they were everything he hoped for and more. He told me that the Great Darth Plagueis had predicted the powerful warrior that I would become," Anakin said.
"Darth Plagueis was a raving, psychotic madman. He knew nothing about you," Dooku said.
"Maybe not...but Sifo Dyas knows everything. He knew exactly how I would react during the test." Anakin replied.
"What test?" Obi-Wan asked. Padme looked at her husband, knowing he was blaming himself for the deaths of everyone that had died on that planet, even if it wasn't his fault. And yet...there was something else bothering him too...something he was guarding closely.
"Sifo-Dyas placed me in a glass column and began to fill it with water. He had three of his own people, who he had charged with treason brought there. He told Anakin that if he did not execute them, then I would drown. But Ani saved me without killing them. He used the Force to shatter the glass column around me, even though the shock from the Force restraints caused him incredible pain," Padme said.
"You did the right thing, Anakin," Qui-Gon said.
"It didn't matter. He still hung all three of them. He made us watch them suffer. He knew exactly what I was going to do...and that's why he planned to brainwash us both," Anakin said.
"Brainwash you? What do you mean?" Sola asked.
"He wanted us to remember our love and our life together, so he could use the power of our love. But he planned to alter the rest of the events in our lives. He wanted us to hate the Jedi and the Republic. He planned to make us believe we had been wronged by all of you," Anakin said.
"He wanted Anakin to be his own personal one man army," Padme said.
"And he almost got away with it too," Anakin added.
"But he didn't. You can't be blaming yourself for things that might have happened," Yan said.
"He's right. This is exactly what that psycho wants you to feel," Riley added.
"Daddy's right. We didn't let him use our love against us. We used it against him," Padme said, as she approached him, laying her hand on his arm.
"But he's still out there and he will come for us. You and the kids will never be safe with him and his monsters on the loose. I failed Padme. I failed as a husband and a father. And I failed as a Jedi," Anakin stated. Padme grasped his hands tightly and looked into his eyes.
"You listen to me Anakin Skywalker. I don't ever want to hear you say something like that again. The reason any of us are here is because of you. You are the most wonderful husband and an amazing father. Do you not see how much our children adore you? How much I adore and cherish you?" she asked, as she caressed his cheek.
"You're the galaxy's hero...but you're still mortal and that's okay. You've saved countless lives and you will save countless more. But unfortunately, you won't always be able to save everyone," Padme said, as she turned to Captain Thomas.
"Fifteen people died on that planet, because an evil force was at work. But you must know that my husband did everything he could to protect everyone," Padme said. The Captain nodded.
"I'm truly sorry for the losses, Captain," Anakin added.
"Son, because of you, almost two thousand other people are safe. Take my advice and listen to your wife," the Captain replied.
"Thank you sir," he said.
"No thanks needed. Now, Miss Neela, it's been a long few days. Would you mind showing us to our rooms?" the Captain said. Neela nodded.
"Of course," she replied, as she led them upstairs.
"I'm going to go round the kids up for bed. I'll tell them you'll be up to kiss them soon," Padme replied. He nodded, as she pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss.
"Never forget how much I love you," Padme said, as she went to round their children up. Yan observed his grandson and decided it was time for him to tell him what else was bothering him.
"Anakin...what is it?" Yan asked, as they stepped off to the side.
"I need something done, grandfather...and no one can know about it," Anakin said.
"What is it?" Yan asked. Anakin looked him straight in the eye.
"I need Palo's grave exhumed," Anakin stated. Yan looked shocked.
"Whatever for?" he asked.
"Because I have a feeling the body isn't there," Anakin stated. Yan let that implication sink in for a moment.
"You think...they recovered his body?" Yan asked.
"I think Xanatos is only the first of our old enemies that we'll be seeing again. But he's the one that concerns me most. I may not be able to predict when he'll surface, but I need to know if he's a threat again," Anakin replied.
"I'll ask Zia and Mace to go to Naboo at once," Yan stated.
"Thank you grandfather," Anakin replied.
"There is no need to thank me, Anakin. I will do whatever it takes to protect this family," Yan said. Anakin nodded.
"Now, if what we suspect turns out to be true...if the grave is empty, then are you going to tell Padme?" Yan asked.
"I've never lied to her before, but how do I tell her that the monster that terrorized her is back and more powerful than ever? How do I tell her that the man that brutally raped her could come back to haunt us at any time?" Anakin asked gravely.
"Anakin...it will be hard, but you must prepare her if it's true," Yan said.
"I know...it's just that these androids are so powerful. Each one more so than the last. What if...what if I can't protect her. Or what if I'm distracted by another and he gets to her? I can't let that degenerate monster hurt her again...I can't!" Anakin fretted.
"We will all do whatever we must to protect those we love. We also must have faith in love and most of all, faith in the All Mighty Force," Yan told him. Anakin nodded.
"Now, go be with your family. I will take care of this other matter," Yan said.
"Thanks grandfather," Anakin said, as he ascended the stairs. He saw the light on his and Padme's room and knew she was getting ready for bed. Jayden, Jenna, and Kimberly were already fast asleep. He kissed all of them and moved on to Luke and Leia's room. Both the older twins were still awake.
"Good night Princess," Anakin said.
"Good night daddy. I love you," Leia said.
"I love you too," he replied, as he kissed her forehead, before moving across the room, but found Luke's bed empty.
"Where's Luke?" he asked.
"He went to say good night to mommy again. I think he's worried about her. Is it because the bad people tried to hurt her again?" Leia asked. Anakin ruffled her silky brunette locks.
"They tried, but they failed princess. I won't ever let anyone hurt her or any of you, okay?" he promised. She nodded and snuggled back down onto bed. Anakin walked down to the bedroom and stepped in, smiling at his wife, who was hugging their son on the bed.
"Is everything okay?" Anakin asked. Padme smiled.
"Everything's fine daddy. Someone is still just a little worried about his mommy, I guess. He's very protective, just like daddy," Padme said, as she kissed Luke's hair. Anakin smiled and pulled something from his pocket, as he sat down on the bed.
"Well, you've been showing a lot of maturity lately, son, and that's why I think you're ready for this," Anakin said, as he held up a braid. Luke gasped.
"Really?" he asked in amazement. Anakin nodded and secured it behind his ear.
"It's time buddy. It's time for you to become a padawan," Anakin said. Padme beamed, as Luke threw himself into his father's arms. Anakin hugged him tightly and kissed his hair.
"I'll be the best padawan ever, dad. I promise," Luke said.
"I know you will, my son," Anakin whispered. Padme kissed his hair too.
"I'm so proud of you, baby," she said.
"Thanks mommy," he replied.
"Okay, now off to bed sweetheart. We'll see you in the morning," Padme said. Luke nodded and hopped down, before leaving his parent's bedroom for his own. Padme wrapped her arms around her husband.
"You just made him the happiest little boy in the galaxy," Padme said, as she kissed his cheek. Anakin gave her a smile and pushed his worries aside for the moment.
"I love you," he said. She smiled.
"I love you too," she replied, as their lips met with tender passion.
"Mace...I'm sorry to comm you so late. It slipped my mind that there was a time difference," Yan said, as Mace's sleepy face appeared on the screen.
"It's okay. It sounds important," Mace replied.
"I'm afraid it is. I need to ask you and Zia to go on a little mission for me. And it must be kept completely secret until we know more," Yan said. Mace's face turned serious.
"What do you need us to do?" Mace asked.
"It would be best explained if you read the report I have just transmitted. It will be the top discussion at our next few Council meetings I suspect," Yan said. Mace took several moments to read through the report. His face registered disbelief and his eyes widened in shock the more he read.
"Sifo-Dyas...is alive?" Mace asked in disbelief.
"Not only alive, but he is the Sith Master. He and Xanatos are both what are called bio-androids now," Yan said.
"What does this have to do with the mission you need Zia and I to take care of?" he asked.
"Sifo-Dyas has more of these bio-prototypes we think...many more perhaps. This request comes from Anakin and I completely agree that it must be done," Yan began.
"We need you and Zia to exhume Palo Danae's grave. We think it's empty," Yan stated gravely. Mace sighed and ran a hand over his face.
"You think they took the body and they're going to use him?" Mace asked. Yan nodded.
"We have to know. Anakin must know if there is a chance Palo could come after Padme again," Yan replied.
"Zia and I will leave at first light. I'll wake Master Yoda and inform him of what we are going to do. As for anyone else, we won't mention anything until we know more," Mace said.
"Thank you Mace," Yan replied. Mace nodded.
"No thanks necessary. I'll contact you when we find out anything," Mace said, as the comm blinked out. Yan sighed deeply.
"You won't get away with hurting the people I love, Sifo-Dyas. We will stop you," Yan said, with determination lining his face.
