Chapter 11: Old Friends Meet Again
Obi Wans' Shuttle blasted out of the bay, headed for Alderaan at an unusual speed for Obi Wan. Obi Wan was never one for flying anything. Obi Wan thought back to a time when he would be scolding Anakin for his unsafe speed, and now here he was doing vary the same exact thing Anakin had did so many times before.
Obi Wan was brought out of his revere, by the claxons informing him that Alderaan palace was attempting to contact him. Obi Wan opened the comm. Line to his shuttle.
"Imperial shuttle state your business and personnel aboard." A gruff voice said over the comm.
"This is Jedi Master Obi Wan Kenobi. Respectfully requesting permission to land and meet with Viceroy Organa." Obi wan said hoping the gruff sounding man would allow him to land.
"Transmit security code, maintain your course change your speed by two thirds." The gruff man said.
"Acknowledged, transmitting security code now. Speed decreased by two thirds." Obi Wan said rubbing his beard with his right hand.
………………….."What in blazes could be taking so long?" Obi wan thought.
"Imperial shuttle security code accepted, you are cleared to land at platform 12a, Viceroy, and the Queen will be present to receive you. Welcome back Master Jedi." The not so gruff man sounded now it was confirmed a lone Jedi Knight, but not just any knight Master Kenobi had returned.
"Thank you starting my approach." Obi wan said making the adjustments for him to land.
XxX
Bail approached Yoda informing him that master Kenobi was about to land and that he should join them for the reception on platform 12a. Yoda had agreed. He sensed much anger and betrayal in young Leia; she would need time to calm herself.
XxX
Owen sat across from Padme; Beru sat next to her taking her hand to help comfort her.
"Well where to start? Lets see I guess I'll start were Anakin and I left to go rescue Obi wan from Geonosis." Padme said.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED UP TOO PADMES' FUNERAL SO I AM SKIPPING TO JUST AFTER THAT POINT.
"I awoke again to find my self in a cold dark place that was cramped and I could hear funeral precession in the back ground. I remember that I waited several hours till I could no longer hear muffled voices around me. I was able to bend my leg enough to slide the lid off of what I later found out was my coffin, I was about to run out when I heard a strange noise and heavy foot steps coming my way. So I pushed the lid back on, and dashed to the shadows." Padme said taking a small pause.
"Its ok Padme, I know this must be hard but please continue." Beru said looking deep into her eyes.
"I saw him, what he had become, he knelt next to my coffin his sobs were different because of the suit but I knew who it was, He cried himself asleep. Never before had I seen him sleep for so long. He must have been exhausted." Padme said taking a small pause. "I took that opportunity, to leave I had to hide for if he discovered that I was alive he would hunt me to the ends of the galaxy and back." Padme said before she could continue Owen interrupted.
"Who is he, I am not following you." Owen said looking at Padme leaning forward in his chair.
"Anakin, he was Vader then, I don't know how I knew… I just did." Padme said.
"Wait just a damn minute are you telling me Anakin is Darth Vader, the monster of the galaxy and hunter of the Jedi?" Owen said standing his fists balled.
"Owen, he is Anakin again I am sure of it." Padme said trying to defuse the situation.
"What in hell do you mean that he is Anakin again?" Owen said.
"Obi Wan tried to explain to me what happens to a person as strong as Anakin was with the force, how it can twist you into a different person." Padme said.
"I know nothing of what you are talking about, but I do know that I am going to end a threat to this galaxy." Owen said heading to the wall that held his blaster rifle.
Padme and Beru shot up to block his path. "You can't do that you don't have the right.' Beru snapped.
"Beru move, he must be eliminated, he is a great threat." Owen said but before anyone could say another word someone was calling to them.
"Hello, did someone call for a doctor?" A man in scrubs appeared in the door way.
"Yes… yes we did this way please hurry he is badly injured." Padme said rushing the doctor to the room Anakin was in.
Once in the room the doctor gasped. "Is that who I think it is?" The doctor asked looking to the group.
"It is doctor, Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker. Beru said making a gesture to Anakin.
"I must ask you three to leave I will need the room, if I require assistance I will call for it.
The three left the room, but not before Padme placed a kiss on his forehead.
"Ok then lets see what the damage is." The doctor said to no one in particular. "Well my friend you are lucky it's not that bad." The doctor said, again to no one in particular.
The doctor attached the plasma through the intravenous system and monitored Anakin's heart beat and rate, after ten minutes or so it stabilized. The wound would have been fatal if he wasn't such an expert at blaster wounds. How could he not be practicing on a planet such as Tatooine.
Several hours later he emerged into the main gathering area of the homestead.
"How is he doctor?" Padme asked. Beru moved next to Padme holding her arm. Owen had left to the shop he was fuming that the most feared man in the galaxy was now most likely to make a full recovery.
"His wound was fatal, if I would have been another hour or so I don't think he would have made it. It will be some time before he regains his conscience, and then it will be some time before he can travel." The doctor explained.
"Thank you Doctor… Oh I am sorry I don't believe I got your name." Padme said
"Just call me Doc Psi." Psi replied
"Well thank you Doc Psi, I owe you a great deal." Padme said shaking his hand.
Doctor Psi accepted the rather large payment Padme demanded he take; he understood why it was so large. It was in part a payment to stay quite. He had no intention of exposing the man. He was the only one who could save the galaxy from the evil now controlling it.
After the doctor had left, Padme went to Anakin's side, once more taking his hand in hers. She laid her head next to his. She pledged her love for him once again.
"Ani if you are in there, I still love you, for ever and always." Padme said whispering into his ear.
Padme felt him squeeze her hand; she looked to his face, his eyes fluttering open. Anakin opened his mouth several times in attempt to say something but Padme placed her finger over his lips.
"When you are stronger, for now know that I am here and I love you Ani." Padme said sliding into bed with him resting her head on his bare chest. His scent filing her senses
After all this time he still smelled the same after all these years. It was intoxicating to be near him again. She didn't worry she knew deep down her Ani had returned to her. She couldn't explain it but she just knew, even way back then when they first meet.
XxX
Obi Wan's shuttle descended towards the platform, as he drew near, a small craft rocketed towards him, Obi Wan pushed hard down on the controls and back to the left to avoid a collision, if not for the force they would have been scrap.
"This is why I hate flying." Obi wan said as he reached out with the force to see if the other careless pilot was fine. She was, he could sense it she was shaken a bit but she would be fine.
Obi wan touched down on platform 12a, he could see Bail, Breha and Master Yoda waiting for him. It brought warm feelings to his heart to see the old Master again. Thirteen years had taken a toll on him.
Obi Wan gracefully walked down the ramp towards the group. Once in front of them he stopped and bowed to them, Yoda mainly.
"Good to see you well it is, warm feelings in seeing you once more Master Obi wan." Yoda said nodding his head.
"Yes a pleasure to be in your company Master Jedi." Queen Breha said after Yoda.
"Master Kenobi what an unexpected pleasure, what brings you to Alderaan? I thought you too would stay hidden for some time." Bail said.
"It is good to see you all, I am actually here for two reasons, one is Anakin has returned, and I sensed master Yoda here." Obi Wan said.
"We should go in doors to a more private area." Bail said gesturing for the group to follow the Queen.
Once inside Obi Wan informed the group of what had transpired over the past several weeks. How Anakin was on his way to redemption. Mater Yoda was skeptical at best, but Bail and Breha beamed at the prospect of having the Hero with no Fear back at last.
"Share I do not, with your idea of young Skywalker back from the dark." Yoda said looking up to Obi Wan.
"Master Yoda, I know Anakin has a long hard road ahead, but he is returning, surly you of all Jedi can sense that. Obi Wan said.
"See I will myself I will, my own council on who has returned from darkness." Yoda slightly snapped back.
Obi wan was about to give up, then it struck him maybe if he could convince him to help locate Padme and Anakin then he would see the truth. He couldn't deny it.
"Master Yoda I need your help, Padme has taken Anakin we thought she would bring him here, but they are far over due." Obi wan said.
"Sensed young Skywalker hurt I did, perhaps change of course, they took. Meditate on this we will, discover where they went we can." Yoda said.
XxX
Ten days later
Padme had taken a few of the house chores up around the homestead to try and keep her mind off Anakin, he still was in a comma, and she was starting to think he would never wake up. She was washing the morning dishes when she heard feet dragging weakly behind her. She spun around to see Anakin slowly enter the kitchen and take a seat at the table.
Several moments went by before one of them spoke. Anakin looked up to Padme and said.
"I am sorry Angel; I did not mean to do all those things to you." Anakin said lowering his head once more he couldn't bare to look at her anymore. He had no right to after what he did, she wasn't his anymore he thought, I will have to let her go.
"Stand up." Padme said.
"What?" Anakin replied dumbfounded by why she wanted him to do so.
"Just do it." She said more sternly.
Anakin stood up, Padme slowly walked over to him looking at him. His gaze was adverted towards the floor. She reach up to his chin, he recoiled at first but she persisted and raised his head till their eyes meet. She needed to see his eyes, they would tell her everything. As their eyes locked she knew it, he was back. Padme embraced him like a wookiee would find his long lost mate.
"Oh Ani you are back." Padme said as sobs of joy ran down her face.
Anakin was taken back he thought for sure that she would have rejected him.
Anakin lifted her chin to meet his and was struck by surprise when her lips met his. He could not hold out, giving in to the passionate kiss that seemed to last for all eternity.
But it was interrupted when Beru entered the kitchen.
"I see you two have made up." Beru said a small chuckle following.
"Uh… Hi Beru." Anakin managed to slip out. Padme slipped from his front to his side to see Beru.
"It speaks; it is good to see you made a full recovery Anakin.
"Thank… thank you for all that you did for me." Anakin said lowering his head again ashamed again he didn't deserve this, none of this. He should have died long ago.
"It was our pleasure, Anakin its good to have you back again, this time don't screw it up. Beru said.
Before Anakin had time to respond they all heard a shuttle land near by.
"I wonder who that could be, we know no one other than you who has landed here before." Beru said making her way to the door. Anakin was in the lead, he opened the door to see a small child about to knock on the door. She jumped back she wasn't expecting someone to greet her.
"Who are you little one?" Anakin asked.
She looked up to the tall man before her, she gasped and stumbled back landing on her rear end.
"It can't be…you…you are dead." She said before she fainted.
Anakin looked at her like she was crazy, he approached her slowly. Once he was a couple of feet away he knelt.
"Padme come here." Anakin yelled over his shoulder.
"I am right here Anakin no need to yell. Who is it? Why is she out here all by her self?" Padme said kneeling next to Anakin.
"I am not sure who she is, or why she is out here, but she knows me, she even said so." Anakin said placing his hand on his chin wondering what he should do next.
"We'll figure that out later when she wakes up. I'll take her inside; you move the shuttle into the garage and make sure there is no tracking device active onboard." Padme said taking the situation under control.
Anakin helped get the small child into arms of Padme. Once he was satisfied Padme had her he walked over to the shuttle starting it up and flying it over and into the garage. It was hardly big enough to hold the craft. There was no way he could close the outer door, Anakin would have to cover it with some canvas tarp.
After Anakin had completed his task he was about to head to the house when the force sent him warning to duck. He did, rolling to his right coming up into a defensive posture his saber flying to his hands. He did not ignite the blade.
Anakin looked to where Owen was standing, Owen had recovered from his swing and turned and looked at Anakin with fear and anger.
"You monster I will not let you live to hurt anyone else. Today you die." Owen said letting out a war cry that would have put some of his clones to shame. Anakin was injured but far from helpless. With a small movement of his hand Owen stopped and slowly floated over to Anakin.
"What is this? Put me down now." Owen bellowed.
"Not unless you calm down Owen. I am not Vader; I am Anakin again your step brother." Anakin said stopping Owen a few feet from him.
"You expect me to believe that bantha poooodo from you! He yelled. "You are a monster and always will be one. Leave my house and take that whore of a wife with you." Owen said.
The first part of Owens words had little effect on him he was a monster, his head was downcast for those words, the next set snapped his head up, his eyes snapping back to the red rimmed yellow they used to be, the force cage soon became force crush.
"TAKE IT BACK!!! Anakin yelled his voice amplified by the force. "She is an Angel; you will not speak of her in such a way. Do I make my self clear Owen? Anakin said with such force the bones started to fracture in Owens body. His screams could be heard in the house. Padme came rushing to the garage.
"Anakin let him go, don't do this not again." Padme said as tears started to run down her face. Just after Padme had spoken Beru came into the garage.
"Owen, no please Anakin don't kill him." Beru pleaded.
Anakin could hear them he looked to Padme and back to Owen. "Take it back." Anakin growled applying more pressure. Owen screamed again.
"Take what back?" Padme and Beru asked again. Beru knew Owen had started this she was now determined to find out just what he said to get this sort of reaction out of Anakin.
"He called her a whore. Last chance Owen! Take it back." Anakin said his voice harsh and deep.
"Kill him. He deserves it." Beru said.
Padme looked to Beru her eyes wide, "What!!! No please Anakin don't do this you are a good person. No please come back I love you. Padme pleaded. It was happening all over again she was loosing him.
Owen whimpered in the hold Anakin had on him, Beru moved closer to Owen her eyes shedding tears. "You will never hurt us again, not me, not Luke, not ever." Beru knew Luke was Anakin's son, she knew all to well if he reacted to what Owen said about his wife he would surly kill him for beating her and Luke.
"What did you just say?" Anakin said looking to Beru.
"Owen beat me and Luke for minor things. He would beat Luke for not cleaning the tools enough, or not cleaning his room. Boys are messy Owen, he was just a child!"
This was more than enough to send Anakin over the edge, Anakin was dead quiet his head down. Beru and Padme were both staring at Anakin. Anakin raised his head looked Owen up and down.
"You punished my son when it was not warranted!" Anakin said taking a step forward, a bone snapped and Owen let out a cry of pain. "You dare to hit a woman, who loves you!" Another bone snapped Owen yelped again. "You dare to call my Angel a whore!" Again another bone snapped. "This is the end for you monster!" With that the final snap was heard followed by gurgling as Owen tried desperately to breath. His body fell limp in the force grasp. Anakin directed the body out of the garage.
Anakin focused his anger and rage. Force pushing Owens body so hard, it flew almost a click away. Anakin fell to his knee's tears streaming down his face, Padme was still frozen in place, she couldn't move. Anakin looked to Padme.
"I am sorry Angel, he hit our son, he hit Beru for no reason, and he called you a whore. It had to be done." Anakin said lowering his head again when Padme didn't respond.
Beru was still staring off in the distance where Anakin had thrown Owen, she to in shock over the events. She knew she had crossed the line, adding fuel to Anakin's fire was not wise. He was so close to redemption now she alone had brought him back down. She had made him do what she could not. Beru fell to her knees.
"What have I done? Padme, Anakin please forgive me." Beru said slipping into a crying fit.
"Padme broke from her shock she looked to Anakin, he was crying. "Why is he crying he fell to the dark side again" She thought to herself, and then it hit her. "Beru said he hit Luke and her, called her a whore. But who is Lu… oh no Ani." Padme rushed to Anakin's side she grabbed his face a little harder than she intended, staring deep into his eye's they had returned, what she saw was her Ani again but this time extremely sad and regretful.
"I… ha." Anakin tried to get out but Padme placed her finger on his mouth again.
"Not this time Anakin, you get up. Stand on your feet I will not have this anymore. Owen got what was coming to him. I will not have you grieving over a man who had no morals, hitting a child, our child for what? Striking the very women he loved. Anakin you did the right thing. On your feet now!" Padme said sternly grabbing his left arm and helping him up.
"You… you're not disappointed in me?" Anakin said looking deep into her eyes.
"At first I thought you had fallen again, but after everything came to light, I would expect nothing less from you. You gave the rightful punishment to a man, who beat his family for who knows how long. You will promise me one thing Anakin." Padme said sternly
"For you my love, anything." Anakin replied his hands now resting on her hips.
"Promise me you will never direct that on anyone you care for." Padme said.
"I promise Angel, I promise." Anakin said he and Padme embraced for several moments.
After there embrace they heard Beru's sobs.
"I am sorry my love, I had no choice." Beru spoke through her sobs.
Padme approached Beru placing her hand on her. "Beru you had to do what was best for you and Luke."
"It is too late; Luke ran away, I was too late." Beru said her sobs returning for her adoptive son.
"Beru Luke did not run away he is on board my ship, he is safe." Anakin said coming up next to Padme.
"How… How did he get on your ship?" Beru asked as Padme helped her to her feet.
"Let's go back inside, I'll tell you then. Anakin said.
Anakin entered first when he reached the main room it hit him when he saw her form still laying on the couch, just who was this girl? And why was she on Tatooine? Before he could finish hi thoughts she awoke, sitting straight up looking around the room till she saw him. She flew off the couch running towards him calling him.
"Daddy, you're alive." She said tears streaming down her face.
Anakin knelt just in time to receive her in his arms. He was shocked. "How could she be…" He thought then it hit him Leia.
Anakin held her for several moments Padme and Beru watched this exchange, it brought tars of joy to their eyes, father and daughter reunited at last.
Anakin and Leia backed out of the embrace, Anakin said these words his voice quivering as he did.
"Leia, my daughter, I love you with all my heart." Anakin said.
"Oh daddy, I love you so much, thank the make you're alive." Leia said tears still streaming down her face.
"I think you need to meet someone else as well." Anakin said pulling out of the embrace moving slightly to the side.
Leia looked at him puzzled, who he would be talking about she thought.
Then Leia looked past her father.
"No way, Mommy." Leia broke from Anakin's embrace and flew to her mother's arms. Both mother and daughter fiercely embraced, tears of joy streamed down both faces.
I hope this was as exciting to read as it was to write. Enjoy, next chapter will be Obi Wan and the rest on Alderaan.
