Outside Obi-Wan's Hut

Jundland Wastes

Tatooine

Evening

Obi-Wan Kenobi lifted his face, relishing the comparative cool of the Tatooine evening. Tatoo I showed merely a sliver above the horizon, and Tatoo II's rays were weary and red as they penetrated Tatooine's atmosphere. After the blazing heat of the day, it was most welcome.

With a sigh, the old Jedi turned his gaze toward the deserts to the east. Tatooine, in spite of her minimal population and truly dreadful climate, had proven a surprisingly important planet in that she was the birthplace of the powerful, famous, infamous Darth Vader, formerly Anakin Skywalker.

Obi-Wan Kenobi had failed young Anakin Skywalker in so many ways. In those first few days and weeks and months after the fall of the Jedi, the Fall of Anakin Skywalker, Kenobi had moved through life in a numb daze. He had focused on the protection of the child Luke Skywalker and ignored the emotional chaos of so many deaths, so much loss, so much oppression, so much failure.

But as the years had gone by, Kenobi had allowed himself to think more about the days gone by when he and Anakin had been master and apprentice, then partners and, he thought, friends.

Brothers. He had thought they were brothers, not by blood but by commitment and devotion, and yes, love.

He had loved Anakin. Loved him. And then his brother had turned on the Jedi, turned on him, murdered children, attacked his own wife and their unborn twins, fought him in the lava flows of Mustafar.

And Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Master, had won that battle, had sliced off his "brother's" legs and one remaining arm, and had left him to burn to death in lava.

To die screaming his hatred, with his eyes yellow with rage and darkness.

How many times had Kenobi wanted to go back, to see if he could reach the Darkness inside of Anakin, to turn him back?

How many times had Kenobi wanted to go back, to throw his lightsaber and plunge it into his former apprentice's torso, to quench the last bit of life in that Dark Man?

But he had not. Why?

Because he loved Anakin. And Padme had been in danger. He could not finish the job but had left the molten rock to do its work.

But Palpatine had raced to Mustafar in time to save Darth Vader, to encase him in a black life support suit, to ensure that his young apprentice and slave would continue to serve the Sith Master.

Until now. Now ... much was uncertain where the Skywalkers were concerned, though Kenobi was quite sure where his own life was heading.

"Are you all right, Obi-Wan?" Ahsoka asked as she exited the ochre hut to stand beside the old man.

Kenobi shrugged slightly even as he focused his gaze on the distant cloud of sand heading toward them, "I am well enough. I am ready."

He sensed, rather than saw, Tano roll her eyes in exasperation.

"He's not going to kill you, Obi-Wan," she stated confidently.

The old Jedi sighed aloud, "I think, Ahsoka, that you foolishly minimize his hatred for me."

The Togruta put a comforting hand on the man's shoulder.

"No, Obi-Wan," she said patiently. "I am aware that he hates your guts and wants to kill you, preferably slowly and unpleasantly."

Kenobi winced slightly and turned to give her a thoroughly irritated glance.

"Thank you, Ahsoka. That is very reassuring."

"The thing is, though," she continued serenely, "Skyguy loves Padme and the twins more than he hates you. And he agrees with me and Padme that you are committed to the safety of his family. Palpatine, on the other hand, only wishes to use and/or destroy his wife and children. Therefore, he will hold off on killing you at least until Palpatine is dead."

"Wonderful," Obi-Wan replied drily. "So I will assist in killing the Emperor, and then I can die happy."

"Well," the former padawan said with a chuckle, "killing Palpatine should make you happy. But don't worry, the twins and I will advocate for you. I think Padme likes you pretty well too, though she's mad about the whole letting her husband burn up in the lava thing."

Kenobi shook his head at this but remained silent. The wind picked up slightly, blowing cool air through hair and beard, and the cloud of dust came closer and closer until finally it revealed itself as two closed speeders, which halted a few meters away from his small dwelling.

The first speeder opened and the two young people exited promptly – Luke Skywalker, with blond hair and blue eyes so much like young Anakin, Leia Organa with the dark eyes and lustrous dark locks of her mother. In spite of himself, old Ben's eyes filled with tears. He had failed in countless ways, but the reality that these vibrant souls were alive and of the Light was, at least, some kind of triumph, even if most of the credit went to Padme, the Lars, the Organas, and Ahsoka Tano.

The second speeder halted behind the first. Its hatch lifted to the open position, but it was a full minute before the two occupants exited, and when they did, they were arguing openly.

"I'm just saying," Padme stated loudly enough to be clearly heard, "that you need to let me assist in the negotiations. I understand you're enraged with Kenobi, but we've talked about this for hours and we need him."

"I do not need him. I never have," Darth Vader stated in a tone that would have been sulky in anyone else. With the deep bass vocoder, he merely sounded dangerous and brooding.

"Well, I need him," Padme replied firmly, "and so do Ahsoka and the twins. Therefore, I would kindly request, as your beloved wife, that you don't try to kill him."

The twosome were within three meters of Kenobi and the twins took positions between the old Jedi and his erstwhile apprentice, now bitter enemies.

There was a long pause as Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, stared coldly at Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Master.

"I ought to kill you right now," the Sith said in a curiously blank tone.

"It's not a very private place for a murder, Darth," Kenobi replied, gesturing at the twins. "I would suggest perhaps that you waylay me in my domicile at some point, without an unappreciative audience."

For another long minute, the only sound was of heavy breathing and the sibilant whisper of the wind through the rocks.

"My wife and children, and my former padawan, believe you can assist in destroying Palpatine," Vader finally grated out. "Are you willing to be part of our mission to kill him?"

Kenobi nodded his head promptly, "It would be my honor. And my pleasure."

Another quiet moment, and then the giant cyborg nodded his great mask, "Very well, Obi-Wan Kenobi. I will not kill you now, but do not imagine that anything you do or say will turn me from my course to eventually deprive you of your life."

"As you wish," Kenobi responded with a relieved bow. Given the last agonizing interaction between the two men, Obi-Wan was rather startled not to have a red blade in his face or torso by now.

"Well, now that that is settled," Padme said in a dry tone, "I'd like to introduce you to the twins, or re-introduce them since you saw them as infants."

Kenobi smiled now, his eyes taking in the welcoming expression of Leia Organa, and the puzzled one of Luke Skywalker.

"Haven't I, uh, seen you before?" Luke asked, his intent blue eyes fixed on the old man's face.

"Have you?" Kenobi inquired with a bland smile.

Luke took a step closer and peered up at the weathered face, then nodded even as his face cleared in understanding.

"I saw you on Siskeen!" the youth exclaimed. "You worked in that junk yard on Kry Street!"

"Indeed I did," Kenobi admitted, his eyebrows raised. "You have a good memory for faces as I was clean shaven at the time, and now I am ..."

"Scruffy and hairy," Ahsoka chimed in, her voice amused. "Truth is, Luke, that Obi-Wan has been following you around since you were born. He was here on Tatooine until your mother came and took you away, and then he went to Siskeen to protect you."

"Protect me from what?" Luke asked in a bewildered way. "Siskeen is nowhere. And what about Leia? Why didn't you protect her?"

Kenobi glanced briefly at Vader, who was looming silently, then looked at Leia.

"My dear princess," he said softly, "you are indeed the very image of your mother."

He looked back at Luke and nodded courteously, "To answer your question, young Luke, your sister shielded in the womb whereas you shone like a supernova in the firmament of the Force. I understand from Ahsoka that she provided early instruction to you on Alderaan to strengthen your shielding, Princess, whereas she did not know Luke's location?"

"I did not," Tano agreed.

"I feared for your safety as you grew in power, Luke, and stayed close by to protect you. When Ahsoka found and trained you to shield, I was able to relax my attention somewhat, but I still stayed near you on Siskeen. It was a safer place for me than the Mid Rim or the Core, given the substantial price on my head."

"And you worked in a junk yard," Vader stated coolly. "Quite ironic, given our first meeting."

Obi-Wan sighed, "It is ironic, I agree."

"Why?" Leia asked practically.

There was a pause before Padme spoke, "We met your father, we met Anakin, in a junk shop in Mon Espa."

Leia opened her mouth to ask more questions, but Ahsoka spoke quickly, "Night is falling and it will get cold soon. Let's move into Obi-Wan's rather dilapidated quarters and discuss the plan to kill Palpatine."

For one last, long moment, the former friends, now enemies, gazed at one another.

"Lead the way, Kenobi," Vader ordered.

/-

Cadon Lars's room

Lars Farm

"And the Wondrous Woolly Bantha Cub lay down on his bed and went fast asleep," Breha Organa read even as she smiled down at the little boy lying on his mattress.

"Read 'gin," Cadon muttered around the thumb in his mouth.

"Your Mama says it's time to sleep, little man," Breha said softly, running her hand gently through the boy's hair.

"O-tay," Cadon murmured even as his eyes fluttered shut.

Breha Organa rose to her feet and quickly left the room, turning the lights off as she went.

Bail Organa met her in the hallway, and Breha heard little Shmi call out, "Goodnight, Uncle Bail!"

"Goodnight, sweetheart," Bail replied, shutting the door and putting an arm around his wife.

Together, they walked into the main living area of the Lars's home, where Beru was sitting sideways on a couch with her feet up, reading a holopad.

"Both children are in bed," Breha told her.

"Thank you so much," Beru responded with a grateful smile. "I don't even hear indignant yelling from Cadon, which is unusual."

"I read him his favorite book five times," the other woman chuckled. "Plus, I think Luke and Leia wore the children out today with their shenanigans. How are you feeling, Beru?"

The younger woman sighed and touched her stomach carefully, then shrugged, "I'm well enough. The nausea should be gone in a few weeks and for now, I'm just enduring. It's a good reason to be sick, anyway."

"Indeed it is," Breha Organa replied, sinking down onto the nearby couch and pulling Bail down with her. She was a queen – wealthy, powerful, a galactic figurehead, but one thing she had never had was the ability to carry a child in her womb.

She admired Beru Lars for her love for her family, her ability and willingness to carve out a life in this desert wasteland. And, she admitted to herself, she envied her a little. Three children ...

Bail, obviously sensing her thoughts, put an arm around her and leaned close enough to breathe into her ear, "We have Leia, my love."

Breha nodded. Yes, they had Leia. If she and Bail had been able to conceive biological children, they would not have adopted Leia.

"Has there been any news from the away team?" Bail asked Beru, using a light tone to cover his concerns about the meeting between Kenobi and Vader.

"I'm getting updates from Luke," Beru said, lifting her holopad slightly. "No blood has been shed, anyway, and Kenobi is willing to help with the mission to kill the Emperor."

"Kenobi is a good man," Bail stated solemnly. "He cares deeply for the people of the galaxy. I'm glad we have him on our side."

Breha leaned up against her husband and took a few deep, cleansing breaths.

"I just hope we can take out Palpatine before our people on Alderaan suffer any more," she sighed.

/-

Emperor's Throne Room

Imperial Palace

Imperial City

Imperial Center

7 days later

Emperor Sheev Palpatine was uneasy.

On the one hand, the evening's activities should be enjoyable. In less than ten minutes, the Galactic Shockball Tournament would begin. This year, the game was being played in the Imperial Thrones Stadium a mere 10 km west of the Imperial Palace. Palpatine's Imperial Thrones would, of course, win. As usual. There would be a riotous party afterwards into the wee hours, and Palpatine had planned to make a brief appearance, to enjoy the applause and veneration and adoration and worship that fed his bitter and shriveled soul.

But now ...

No, he would stay here, in his Throne Room, in safety, until it was time for him to descend to his guarded, protected, shielded bedroom. He had ordered the number of guards to be doubled, and the palace itself was protected by a powerful force field. He would exercise caution. He would remain in safety, even if it was slightly frustrating to miss a celebration he enjoyed.

But the elder Sith sensed that Vader's plans were in motion, and the younger Dark Lord would move against him soon. With the future murky, and the Dark Side sluggish, it would be unwise for Darth Sidious to appear at a party, to be vulnerable to possible attack among a host of guests who could possibly be saboteurs or naïve fools vulnerable to the machinations of Vader and his associates.

So Emperor Palpatine would eat, and drink, and be merry here, in his Throne Room, by himself save for the guards who stood silently along the walls nearby.

And when Vader attacked, and failed, Darth Sidious would find the child Leia Organa, and, provided she was powerful in the Force, turn her to the Dark Side.

The old man allowed a sinister smile to grace his ugly visage. Yes, it would be the greatest form of vengeance, to kill the father and take the child as his own apprentice. Servant. Slave.

With a wave of the Force, Palpatine turned on the large holoscreen even as he turned his throne to face it. The shockball teams were running out onto the stadium surface.

He smiled again, this time with anticipation, and pushed the com button on his throne.

"Send up a bottle of 472 Corellian wine and a slice of moonglow," he demanded.

/-

Ore Freighter Mantis

In near Imperial Center orbit

"We have you on our screen now, please identify."

"Ore freighter Mantis, hauling 18 pods of transparisteel ore for Ore Facility #4."

"Ore freighter Mantis, you are cleared to proceed. Reminder that air traffic patterns are altered due to the Shockball Tournament tonight. Ensure that you remain at all times in designated flight lanes."

"Acknowledged," Galen Erso replied, even as he turned off the com.

"Is that a problem?" Luke Skywalker asked worriedly.

"No," Erso replied tersely, even as he plotted the new course on the freighter's nav computer.

"Do not be concerned, Son," Darth Vader said gently, even as he studied the new course.

"Your father landed half a ship on Coruscant successfully, Luke," Obi-Wan Kenobi said with a slight smile. "He's got this. Leia, make sure you don't lapse in your shielding."

"I won't, General Kenobi," Leia said, huffing indignantly. "I am pretty good at this, you know?"

"You are superb, Leia," Ahsoka said, stepping forward to touch the girl on her shoulder. "But it is true that if Palpatine senses your father or, indeed, any of us, it could be a serious problem."

"The twins have the situation under control, Snips," Vader said confidently, allowing his gaze to rest on his precious children. His precious, strong, brave, powerful children.

"I have the pods programmed to strike the palace shield generators," Erso stated. "9 minutes until impact."

/-

The Emperor's Throne Room

Palpatine speared the last bite of moonglow and placed it in his mouth. The delectable fruit rolled around his tongue, causing his delighted taste buds to send ecstatic messages to his brain.

He was old, and his body failing, but he still enjoyed good food and wine. Even more than the pleasures themselves, he reveled in his ability to have whatever he wanted, wherever he wanted, whenever he wanted, from whomever he wanted.

It was one sign of his power, that he demanded and the galaxy danced to his bidding, save for those idiots foolish enough to oppose him.

Idiots like Darth Vader, formerly Anakin Skywalker. For the second time this minute, Palpatine glanced quickly around the room. The sense of danger persisted, but perhaps it was merely danger in the future. The fabric of the Force had been shifting towards the Light and though Darkness still reigned supreme, things were no longer clear as they once were.

He sighed and took another sip of wine, even as he watched a Corellian Brothers shockball player drop to the ground after being hit by the ball. The Thrones were playing well. The players' very lives depended on their playing well, and Imperial credits ensured that the best players in the galaxy were recruited to the Imperial Thrones team.

A sudden alarm pierced the peace of the throne room, and Sidious sat up suddenly, his body tense. What was going on?

The captain of the guard lifted a hand to his helmet, obviously listening, before he hurried forward, his Force sense muddled and confused.

"Master," he reported, "there are reports of an ore freighter which has drifted out of its designated lane en route to the ore facility north of Imperical City. Since many of its pods have already separated, it is recommended that you retreat to the shelter below the palace in case any of those pods accidentally ..."

A sudden explosive whump interrupted these measured words, and the palace shook. A second later, there was another resounding bang, and the main window of the Throne Room shattered inward. In less than a second, there were more thumps and explosions. Palpatine was knocked off his throne and gazed around in shock and dismay as sections of the ceiling began raining down from above.

It had to be Vader!

/

Ore Freighter Mantis

Closing in on the Imperial Palace

"Aim for that marble balcony, my Lord!" urged Galen Erso. "The architecture is such that the balcony should slice just below the Throne Room and cut off the elevators to the lower floors!"

"Brace yourselves for impact!" Vader ordered his children and former padawan. Kenobi was allowed to be tossed around like a puppet if he chose.

The Mantis, divested of the ore pods which had struck and destroyed the shielding around the Imperial Palace, twisted and turned and moved and danced until it hit the balcony at an 8% angle and drove the balcony forward and under the Throne Room floor where Darth Sidious waited to face his destiny.

/-

Author Note: Thanks again to my dear husband for editing!