Hola! I was able to scrape together a new chapter for you guys!
Before you read, I apologize for any sucky-ness... Chapter 10 is my cursed chapter! In every story I've written, this chapter is the HARDEST THING EVER to write! No matter where I am in the story! Gah!
Oh! And just to let you know, I now have Underscoured Umlaut's request done! It is a (fan?) art of Padme's 'Legend' from Chapter 8! It is free to download on my DeviantArt account! (the address is in my bio on my page here)
Chapter 10
"So who is it we are expecting again?" Leia glanced over at Mon Mothma, as they trotted to the main hangar to meet an incoming ship. One designated as carrying the person Aelynn had mentioned with her secretive use of code.
"Someone invaluable to the Alliance Leia," Mothma assured, keeping her gaze ahead of her on the icy floor, "The code you gave me only tells me so much. Hopefully our friend is still in fighting condition." In a quieter voice, she added: "We need all the Jedi we can get.."
Seemingly satisfied with this answer, Leia returned to a thoughtful silence. Opening one final set of doors to the hangar, the two leaders were met with a decrepit ship, nearly as old and battered as the Millennium Falcon was when it had picked Luke up on Tatooine.
What is with smugglers and having the strangest old ships? Leia gazed in disdain at the somewhat ratty ship while it struggled to lower a damaged entry ramp.
Finally, with a horrid screeching, grinding noise, the ramp popped open, revealing a sufficiently angry Fosh hopping on it in an attempt to dislodge the ramp from the ship. Realizing she'd been successful, she stopped her cursing and bouncing.
"Oh!" She looked up, crest flashing in embarrassment, "Sorry about that... Serenity is getting old..." When met with the disapproving look of the ex-senators, the short medic sighed nervously before slipping back into the ship.
"General! Get out here!"
Surprised by the sudden shout, I spin around defensively, only to find a peeved medic standing in the hallway.
"Well?" Aelynn crossed her arms, "Are you going to keep the High Commander of the Alliance waiting?"
Silently, I reassure her with a human hand on her feathered shoulder. Passing by, I am met with a cold, harsh light. Much different from the soft artificial light that had illuminated the ship for the past week.
Alright, this is it, I remind myself before stepping down the ramp. To them you are Anakin Skywalker. Not Darth Vader. A Jedi, not a Sith. A General of the Clone Wars, not the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Forces.
Taking a deep breath, I put a lazy grin on my face and saunter towards the senators.
"Evening ladies," I offer in greeting, dipping my head politely to the Chandrilian senator. Hoping to put on a convincing reenactment of my former self as I make my first 'appearance' in nearly twenty years. "Mind if I join you in this icy enclave?"
"By the Force!" A delicate hand flies to her thin lips, "How is this possible?!" Mothma began to circle me, inspecting my every feature, her hand alighting softly on my cheek as if to make sure that she was not hallucinating. Flitting to my arms she was met with the cold shock of frost coated metal... My barren prosthetic scraping slightly when I flexed my hand. Lifting the durasteel limb to her face, she struggled to hold back a tear.
"It is you! Anakin Skywalker! You've returned at last!" Looking up into my eyes, she spoke more soberly, "We had all thought you were dead... Counted among those that fell to that wretched cyborg when he attacked the temple!"
"Hold on a minute," Leia cuts in abruptly, and for a moment I am reminded once again of her feistiness aboard the Death Star. "Are you telling me that this guy is Anakin Skywalker? Jedi Knight?!"
"The one and only!" With a flourish of my hand I add, "or if you prefer, General Skywalker in military matters... Of which I'm sure you'll put me to good use."
"I'm sure we will General," Mothma extended a hand, now taking my proffered arm as we left the open coldness of the hangar behind, "Right now though, we need to meet with the other surviving Jedi. They'll be ecstatic with news of your return!"
Oh, if only they knew the truth... I smile again, maintaining my air of easy going confidence.
"Speaking of..." I look at the senator cautiously, "Has the Alliance gotten any information on my former Padawan? I haven't seen her since she left the Order."
"You mean Ahsoka? No, not yet. Although, there is a good chance she may still be out there. Obi-Wan hinted that he had made contact with her through the Force..." The auburn haired woman lowered her gaze, "That was before his run in with Vader on the Death Star... Now, we've not only lost him, but his secret contacts as well."
Kriff... I knew I killed the old man too soon... Disappointed at this news, a frown creases my face as I realize yet another important fact.
"Darth Vader..." I hum the name more than actually verbalize it, "Have you heard anything as to his whereabouts? He'll undoubtedly be hunting for your new base for quite some time..." Coming upon a large set of doors, obviously leading to a briefing room beyond, Mothma releases my arm before palming it open. With graceful ease, she flowed into the room, Leia quickly following behind me.
"I believe that is where these fine gentlemen come in." Stepping aside, the leader of the Alliance revealed the other occupants of the spacious room.
Of course...
Before us I found two people I had hoped to meet only with the end of my lightsaber. One stood firmly, his misty eyes seeming to watch my every move. The second was a young man, nearly twenty now, with short cropped brown hair and two lightsaber hilts at his belt. A skeptical look donning his features.
"General Kota, you probably recognize our newest ally..." Mon looked between the three of us, "However, Starkiller, I believe you have not had the chance to meet General Skywalker here."
At once, the youth's features softened a few degrees.
"I-I can't believe you're alive..." Starkiller gaped, staring at me as if I were a ghost, "Vader always told me he killed you himself... Seems like that's another thing he lied to me about..."
"Oh, trust me," I reply, trying to maintain at least some of my integrity, "He thought me dead for years."
"Hm..." Kota sighed, continuing to remain still.
His silence is unnerving...
"So what do these fine men have to do with Darth Vader's whereabouts?" I question as innocently as I can without drawing attention. I need to know what they think of my alter ego before I make my move... Before I take a side.
"Ah yes," Kota seems to purr in his gravelly voice, "It appears that we have finally managed to rid ourselves of that son of a b-"
"What he means," Starkiller cut in, drawing our attention, "Is that Vader's dead. We fought him on Ilum, and instead of facing capture again, he collapsed a stone shelf, sending him plummeting into a pool. We waited for nearly half an hour for him to surface, but he never came up. I assume he got pinned, or crushed, by a chunk of stone at the bottom of the pool."
"What?!" I gasp in 'disbelief', "You managed to kill Vader? Just like that? I don't believe it for a second." Crossing my arms skeptically, I await their reply.
"Y'know... I don't believe Vader's as gone as we'd like," Kota's blank eyes rest on me as he speaks these words, seeming to scour my soul as they do. "If it weren't for the disappearance of his signature, I'd not believe it either. Surely you felt it happen, being as close as you are to the Force, Skywalker... Where have you been the last twenty or so years anyway? I'm sure you would've had Vader taken care of before all this Death Star nonsense."
"I've been... Out of sorts you could say. After the destruction of the Order, I faked my death in a battle with Darth Vader. Obi-Wan was the one responsible for his cyborg condition. Cutting off his arms and legs. Leaving him to burn on the banks of a Force forsaken river of fire!"
Realizing my near fatal slip of the tongue, I grow silent, looking away from the others in the room.
At least I didn't say he left me to burn...
"Sorry about that," I reply, wiping away the beginnings of a tear with a flesh hand, determined to keep my mechanical one out of the sight from Starkiller until I could get a new armored glove for it. If he saw it now, too many questions would be raised at me having the same custom prosthetic as his former Sith Master.
"It's fine Anakin, we understand that your Master's passing, and Darth Vader's betrayal have been hard on you." Mon Mothma comforted, before scanning about the room as if she were looking for something... Or someone.
"Leia?" She motioned for the young woman at her side, "Where is young Skywalker? He should be here with the others.."
Young Skywalker? I'm right here... And even then, I'm what? Forty-three now? Once again, I am stunned by how much things have changed.
Force I'm old...
"Who are we missing?" I inquire, curious as to who would use my surname. The only people that would ever carry my name having perished with my beloved so long ago.
"Luke is out patrolling in one of the snow speeders," Leia answered, completely oblivious to my inquiry, "He told me that he was switching rotations with a sick pilot today.. I thought you knew."
"Ha! 'Switching rotations' my beard! Drag racing's more like it," Kota chuckled, "That boy has too much of his father in him to take patrol seriously..." Turning to me, he added: "Isn't that right Anakin? I seem to recall your Master constantly admonishing you for fooling around with ships and speeders throughout the war."
Is he saying what I think he's saying? My mind is whirring at Kota's words. Too much of his father in him... Silently, I store this info away for future reference.
"What? Oh, yeah, Obi-Wan always thought flying was overrated..." I dismiss with a lazy wave of the hand. Turning to Leia I can't help myself but ask, "Did you say snow speeders?"
"Are you sure about this Anakin?" Padme looked back at her husband, worriedly fingering their wedding bands. Rings they had kept hidden until the time was right, "Once we tell him, we can't go back to how things once were."
"I can't be sure of anything Angel," he sighed mechanically. "Besides, after all that's happened, I don't think things will ever be the same anyway." Tenderly taking her pale hand in his large one, he slipped the delicate crystal ring over her finger. Satisfied it was in place, he removed his left glove, the leather being too bulky for his matching blue band. Shakily, Padme slid it onto the alien prosthetic that had replaced his remaining hand, a tear slipping down her cheek at the sight of it.
"Oh Anakin…" Shocked, but somehow not surprised, she flung her arms around his neck.
Startled by this sudden movement, Anakin staggered slightly before getting a hold of her small form and lifting her to eye level.
"I love you." Without hesitation, she placed a kiss on his silver 'nose' before hugging him tightly, resting on his broad shoulder as he held her close, together they watched the sunrise. Their symbols of matrimony sparking in the light.
"...I love you too Angel."
"There you are Anakin, I was looking for you" A clipped Coruscanti accent cut through the morning mists as Obi-Wan trod over, his arms folded against the brisk dew that hadn't been burned away by the dawning sun. "Anakin?" He stepped closer, his Padawan unresponsive. In a new light, he notices a pale hand grasping a handful of sultry fabric, and a brilliant blue gemstone winking from a silver ring. A cascade of silky brown hair tipping him of as to whom the ring belonged.
"Padme?!"
Their illusion of solitude shattered, the couple looked up with a start.
"Obi-Wan!" They spoke in unison, Anakin, now turning to his master, still holding her close, a brilliant crystal blue ring winking from his left hand.
Wait… A ring? On his LEFT HAND?!
The Jedi Master gasped at the sight of the unlikely and forbidden couple.
"What is going on here?!" In utter shock, he gestured at their wedding bands, "Anakin, you know marriage is against the Jedi Code! You'll be cast out of the Order! Was this the real reason for involving her?" Turning to Padme, he looked at her sadly:
"Why would you agree to this Padme? I thought you were smarter than this!"
Within her husband's firm grasp, she could feel him noticeably bristle at his 'brother's' accusations.
"Why now?" Obi-Wan continued, "Why in the middle of the war Anakin? The Republic needs you as a symbol of hope in this mess of a galaxy!"
"Obi-Wan," Padme slid down from Anakin's arms, "This happened before all this, nearly two years ago..." She glanced down at her ring, as if seeing proof of their marriage would give her strength, "After the Battle of Geonosis, we vowed our lives to each other. We've kept it a secret because the galaxy needed their Chosen One." Taking a gloved hand in her ringed one, she stood by her husband.
"What now though?" Obi-Wan scoffed, gesturing in frustration, "The galaxy is still in turmoil! The Republic still needs you Anakin! Don't be selfish!"
"Selfish?" Anakin now stalked forward, cloak billowing like sable wings behind him as he drew near to his former Master, " You think finding love, and seeking happiness are selfish?!"
Faster than anyone could process, a leather gauntlet shot out from the darkness. Grasping the Jedi's throat, he could feel just how powerful he had become. The great pistons in his arms providing him with an inhuman strength as he lifted Obi-Wan off the ground. He could taste the confusion and shock surrounding his Master. The fear palpable and…
Invigorating.
"A-Anak-kin.." The troublesome warrior manages to choke out, his face quickly turning red under the pressure, "St-stop it.. I-I didn't.. Mean t-to…"
"Mean to what?" He asks dangerously, his anger boiling with every passing moment.
"Ani!" Padme rushed to his side once again. Touching him lightly on the barren prosthetic, she pleaded, "Let him go! What are you doing?! He's our friend! You're choking him!"
"Gah!" Anakin released him just as quickly as he had struck. "What am I doing?!" Terrified, he drew back from the others, as if burned from the contact with them.
Gasping, Obi-Wan was on his hands and knees. Attempting to catch his breath before struggling to his feet.
"I don't know…" He panted, looking up at his brother, "You tell me Anakin…"
Shaking violently, the cyborg backed away further, eventually falling against an ivy covered pillar in the shadows. His back solidly against the structure, he lifted his trembling hands to his face. Eye plates covered, he sank to his knees in shock, the full realization of what he had nearly done, striking him to the core.
I could've just killed my Master… And over what? A few misplaced accusations?!
Sickened by his actions, and even more so from the fact that he had enjoyed it, Anakin couldn't bear to look at either one of his companions.
Now standing over his former Padawan, Obi-Wan looked upon him with pity.
"Speak to me Anakin."
"I-I'm not myself…" Anakin mumbled, shaking his head, "I would never hurt either of you, I swear!" Desperately, his head shot up, hands pleading towards his Master, "Obi-Wan… What is happening to me?!"