A/N: Man- you thought high school finals were hard? College finals are brutal.

I don't own Star Wars. Now, in belated celebration of Star Wars Day, let me answer some reviews:

The Hope Lions: I can't imagine Padme not with Anakin either, so I really didn't go anywhere with the Poe/Padme ship. (Now, Rey and Finn? I'm shipping those two right now.)

Guest: Padme punched Anakin once. He had it coming.

Phoenix Brooke: It would be wild if Johnson did decide to go for it, but I'm sure they won't because it means that Anakin's death in ROTJ has no meaning. But no, I don't think Rey will be recaptured. Abrams already recycled enough.

RedxHandedxJill: A couple chapters to go.

CharlotteCAgain: I don't think Anakin would be impressed with Snoke. Neither would Palpatine.

Dark Lord of the X-Men: Snoke and Vader will clash eventually. Also, I tease something.

celticank: Another Skywalker Slap Fest, maybe? That's a long ways off.

Star Wars: Avenging Angel, Chapter 10- When Dreams Become Reality, Part 1- Takeoff

Anakin Skywalker had a long, bad history with dreams. When he was young, he would lay awake at night, too afraid to fall asleep lest bandits, scumbags, or other slaves break in and steal their food.

On the nights he did sleep, he would have nightmares. In his nightmares, his mother would die, he would die in a podrace, the list went on.

When he became a Jedi, the nightmares didn't go away- they just changed. They became visions of the future, horrible premonitions about a monster in black.

It was a nightmare that had caused Anakin to travel down the dark path that had caused all of this.

So, yeah, Anakin Skywalker hated dreams.

Except this one.

In this one, he was faced with a sea of Stormtroopers, led by a figure in black. Anakin punched said figure in black, sending them flying. Anakin then heard the snap-hiss of a lightsaber.

Anakin ignited his own saber, and charged at the figure in black….

Then Anakin opened his eyes. He felt an odd tingling sensation in his lower leg, where Artoo was retracting his prod.

Aww, shavit, Anakin moaned. I was just getting to the good part too.

"What is it, Artoo?" Anakin grumbled.

THREEPIO SENT A MESSAGE. LEIA WANTS TO SPEAK TO YOU. IT'S URGENT.

Anakin blanched. "How long was I out?"

ABOUT TWELVE STANDARD HOURS. I JUST GOT THE MESSAGE.

Oh, kriff.

The Finalizer, Kylo Ren mused, was an awesome vessel. The thing was large enough to carry an army all on its own and land it on any planet.

Such as Tatooine. Kylo Ren was well aware of his family's connection to the harsh desert world.

I don't think the galaxy will mind if I annihilate a planet of desert, scoundrels, Hutts, and moisture farmers, would it?

Indeed, Kylo Ren may have been right- for at that moment, Hux was busy giving the galaxy his address.

"…..the First Order proudly takes responsibility for the construction of the weapon called Starkiller Base…. The destruction of the Hosnian System….

"The First Order happily declares WAR on the NEW REPUBLIC, and its corrupt Senate! Even now, our finest vessel, the Finalizer, charges through hyperspace! It could show itself anywhere, at any time, and annihilate any planet!"

Kylo Ren really didn't care about any of that. What mattered, right then, was that the targeting systems for the ventral cannons and the nuclear warheads were in perfect condition.

Kylo turned to a lieutenant on the bridge. "Are all weapons systems online?"

The lieutenant crisply replied. "Yes, sir. Fire when ready?"

Kylo nodded. "Fire."

The Hutt Palace was the first to go, a blast from the ventral cannons (which ran on Kyber crystals- crystals with a unique connection to the Force) utterly annihilating it.

Experimental nuclear warheads fell from orbit, destroying Mos Eisley, Mos Espa, Anchorhead, and all the other settlements on Tatooine.

Meanwhile, in another part of the galaxy, Hux finished addressing the galaxy, a smile on his face not unlike that of a child who had just gotten a new toy.

"Starting with Tatooine."

On D'Qar, Leia was in the middle of a war council when their screens went blank, before Hux's image appeared, giving his sinister speech.

Poe leaned in to whisper to Leia, "How many beings do you think are watching this right now?"

Leia watched, stunned. Then Hux got to the part about Tatooine.

Oh, kriff.

"Threepio- send a message to Artoo…"

Anakin dressed quickly, the new all-black Jedi attire (with matching combat armor) that he'd acquired fitting him well. Anakin stopped to check a mirror, noting that he needed a haircut.

Anakin stormed through the base, keeping a feeler on Leia's presence in the Force and using it to navigate. His brisk walk carried him to his destination faster than he would have liked.

Leia was much older than last time, and while there was much sadness in her face, Anakin could see the fire burning within.

Yep, she's definitely my daughter.

"General Organa? You wanted to speak to me?"

"Yes… Jedi Skywalker," Leia said. "Care to step into my office?"

Anakin gulped. "Yes, General."

Poe watched with keen interest. This ought to be good.

Once the door shut, Leia spoke first.

"Let's make one thing clear- you were never my father."

"I understand," Anakin said, "but I respectfully disagree." Before Leia could interrupt, Anakin continued. "I did not have a proper father figure in my life growing up, but I assume I always had a father. A dad, on the other hand, is completely different. In that regard, you lucked out- you got a dad.

"Don't call me Dad, Leia. I never was one. Now, what do you need from me?"

Leia's face fell, in a manner that reminded Anakin entirely too much of when Obi-Wan asked Anakin to do something he knew he wouldn't like.

"What is your plan regarding my so- Kylo Ren?"

"Stop him. Stop Snoke. Why?"

"When were you planning to start?"

Anakin was puzzled. "When Rey gets to a place in her training where Luke and I both feel comfortable that she can go onto an active battlefield and not get herself killed. Why?"

"You'll have to move up your timetable. General Hux addressed the galaxy. The First Order has attacked Tatooine."

The sharp inhale Anakin took sounded too much like Vader's mask for Leia's comfort, and when Anakin recovered enough to speak again, he sounded… small?

"What happened?"

"If Hux is to be believed, then Tatooine's largest settlements were just hit with at least one nuclear device. Other places were hit by Kyber crystal-powered weapons from the Finalizer."

Anakin stumbled into a chair. No….

"Anakin?"

"They- they actually did it."

"Did what?"

"During the Empire, some of the top weaponeers decided to build an explosive device that could level a city… and leave it uninhabitable for generations. The project never got off the ground because of all the effort put into the Death Star.

"Leia…. the First Order… I think they found the files related to that program. If they did, we're probably screwed."

"How so?"

"Think about it. They know where you live. They just don't have another Starkiller Base or Death Star to send here, so they haven't gotten to you yet. So, instead of going to you, they're calling you out, trying to get you to go to them, where they can easily drop one of these…. nukes…. on you and your army and be done with you."

"What do we do?"

"Assemble a team. Poe stays here, you'll need a good pilot. Luke, Chewbacca, Rey, and Officer Naberrie go with me. We'll go, get onboard their ship, and try to destroy the weapons."

"And what of the people onboard? What of them?"

Anakin frowned. "Leia… this is war. People die. As a Jedi, I hated it, but as a former Sith, it's just one of those things I had to deal with."

"But… what you're contemplating…. that's my family you're taking with you!"

"I know. But I trust no one else."

"And me? What about me?"

Anakin grinned. "Someone has to keep these troops in line, and if I did it, I'd be choking people, and you wouldn't want that."

"So, instead, you'll just be choking Stormtroopers?"

"Yes. To do that, I'll need Finn. He knows what it's like to be a Stormtrooper."

"He fought in one battle."

Anakin shrugged. "Better than nothing. When does he get out of the tank?"

"Tomorrow. He's healed remarkably quickly, faster than the healers anticipated."

"Hmmm…. I wonder if he is slightly Force-sensitive. Perhaps not Jedi material, but Padme was- is- much the same."

"If you're sure, Anakin, then I'll see that he is released tomorrow. What ship will you be taking?"

Anakin grinned. "Why, the Millennium Falcon, of course. It's a well-built piece of junk."

"Alright. I'll transfer Finn to your care."

"Thank you, General. I'll make sure that his healing progresses from there. The Light Side is home to many abilities that can heal wounds. Between three Skywalkers, I'm sure Finn will be combat-ready in no time."

"I hope so. Dismissed."

Two days later, the Falcon was being prepped for takeoff. Anakin and Artoo had been working around the clock to repair what they could on the old freighter- and upgrading what they could. As some finishing touches, Anakin spray-painted some TIE fighters, Vader's helmet, and the Death Star II on the hull.

Rey watched him do this. "And why are we painting old ships on the hull of an old ship?"

Anakin smiled. "Old tradition- pilots would paint symbols, usually skulls, on the hulls of their planes. The Falcon needs some paint, but we haven't got time, so I'm improvising."

Just then, the rest of the Skywalker clan, plus Chewie, Poe, and Finn (who was confined to bedrest, and thus being moved via stretcher, but somehow safe to travel) arrived, bags packed for most of them.

Anakin addressed Poe. "You know, in my day, I was a pretty good pilot myself."

Poe grinned, knowing the inevitable challenge was coming, but not about to back down. "Oh, really?"

Anakin smiled now, and Padme, who was standing next to Leia, facepalmed. Leia was concerned.

"What's wrong, Mother?"

"Watch."

Anakin was still talking to Poe. "Oh yes. I was winning podraces at the age of nine. When we get back, pretty boy, I challenge you to a kill count showdown. Droids keep score."

"You're so on, old timer."

"OHHHHHHHHH….." hollered pretty much everyone within earshot (even Finn).

"I see," Leia murmured. "He's definitely a scoundrel."

And with that, everyone who was going on the mission climbed aboard. Rey was about to take the pilot's seat, when Anakin cleared his throat.

"Excuse me?" Rey asked. "I've flown this ship before!"

"Yes, I bet you have," Anakin replied, "but you got lucky once. True piloting requires actual skill as well. Luckily, I have that. Move."

Rey harrumphed as Anakin contentedly sat in the pilot's chair, Chewbacca in his rightful spot in the copilot's seat.

"Chewbacca…. Plot a course for Tatooine."