Summery: Anakin has waited for six months and now the time as come to stop the Death Star. The lesson in hubris still continues with a terrible cost. Second in the 'Hubris' Series.

'Force speak '

*Thoughts*

Disclaimer : Don't own it or make money for this. I write for fun.

Chosen's Chance

Chapter 12: Uncomfortable Escape

Anakin's POV:

Would it have been too much to ask that Obi-wan would have told my poor son something of his plan? For in the shocked cry of "BEN!" that Luke gave, I realized numbly that he hadn't. Now I'd look like I had murdered my former master as he seemed to surrender. It was enough to make me freeze which was all the time Ashoka needed. Yes she was part of the plan and now it was her turn to strike. I didn't have any warning, too lost in my own consternation to notice Snips in the Force. I doubted that even if I had been paying attention that I would have noticed her.

Right at that moment I just noticed a green saber at my throat, held by a small cloaked figure. *What the...? Master, please tell me you told Ashoka what you were up to at least!* I growled mentally. I wasn't expecting an answer, not this soon at least. But I got one anyway. Oh she certainly does, my former padawan. How else would we get you on board the Falcon without suspicion from Tarkin or some of his more competent officers? As for telling Luke, I could not be sure he could understand and act accordingly. You were always a rotten actor yourself, Anakin.

I ground my teeth in irritation at that jibe. I was a rotten actor? Force spare me, that was definitely the nexu calling the krayt dragon a predator! I refocused on my surroundings as Ashoka snarled at me. "Don't even think of trying one of your Sith tricks, Vader! Start moving, nice and slow or you won't like what will happen." She shifted to the side so that I had one saber at my throat and the other saber unlit at my back. This was nothow I saw myself getting to the Falcon, even as she called out, "Everyone drop their weapons or you're gonna have a headless Sith Lord on your hands!"

Then again, I hadn't made any concrete plans on how I was going to get on board. Just let the Force guide me as I always had during the Clone Wars. Obviously Obi-wan and Ashoka had decided not to let me 'wing it' like that this time around. Which made me nervous, as plans like these had a tendency to get somebody killed over mis-communication. Even as we moved towards the Falcon I could see Luke's face, tinted red as always through the lens. He looked positively murderous. It was a decidedly unnerving sensation.

And I was right to worry. As we got close enough, Ashoka called out to my son. "Okay, stun him and we'll have two of the troopers carry him on board." She turned towards Cody and Deek and nodded. "You and you, get over here now. Nobody else better even think about moving cause I'll know!" Luke raised the blaster in his hands and one look on his face told me that it was not set to stun, but to kill. Cold chills ran down my spine and my heart clenched. Was my son truly going to kill me now? He'd be lost to us if that was the case.

No Luke, do not kill your father! Obi-wan's voice echoed in my head. He was trying to speak to my son, who had only dealt with my Force-Shift and Qui-gon's before this and had not truly understood it yet. His face twisted for a second, then calmed even as he fired. I braced myself even as I felt the darkness rush in, for at this point I was certain I wouldn't wake up. At first when I did wake, I almost wished I hadn't. I was trussed up in a tangle of wire so thick it would have taken me at least 10 minutes to undo the bindings with the Force. And for good measure I had binders over my wrists.

Cody and Deek were slumped across from me, their helmets off and their hands also bound. Even as I got my bearings, the Falcon shuttered around us. I heard my son yell in excitement,"I got one!" in the distance. Solo's voice answered him with his customary cynisim. "Great job kid, but don't get cocky. There's more where that came from." I groaned to myself and then spotted Snips sitting next to me. "Hey Sky-Guy," she greeted me. "Want me to take your mask off right now?"

I sighed and nodded. "Yes, though I'm dreading speaking to my children about what happened. They must think I cut Obi-wan down in cold-blood at this point." I saw her frown as she leaned over me and started to undo the hinges that sealed my face away. "I told Master Kenobi that I didn't like it. He said that it would work itself out, though." As she lifted the mask from my face I had to resist the urge to shake my head. "My master can be too optimistic at times."

Ashoka just smirked as she carefully placed the mask down. "And that's a bad thing, Master?" She looked up and did a double-take. "Wow, you look even better then I thought you would!" I felt my eyebrows raise at that. "Really now. Or are you just saying that to ease my ego, Snips?" That got a snort from her. "Like you need anything to bump your head back in the clouds Sky-Guy!" she snarked at me. Oh it was so good to be back with her again. Someone who knew me better then I understood myself. Only my Angel had known me as well.

As if merely thinking of her was enough to call her Force-Shift into being, Padme faded into view. She looked so happy that I was deeply moved. Oh Ani, I'm so proud of you. You've gotten our children away safely and soon Sidious will have other things to worry about. she told me. She sat down next to me and I could feel the pressure on my armor as she laid her head on my arm. Ashoka looked quite shocked. "Padme? Is that really you?" Yes it's me Ashoka. I'm glad that my 'little sister' is back with my husband. He will need your help.

Ahsoka looked like she'd been knocked over by a stampeding bantha for a moment. Then her cocky smile came back, one I found so blasted aggravating. Probably because I had always had a similar expression on my own face when I was up to something. "Well we all know Sky-Guy can't help getting himself into situations that I got to bail him out of," she teased.

I bit my lip then growled out, "Very funny Snips!" Just then I heard Solo yell out "That's the last of 'em. Punch it Chewie!" The ship shuttered once more then I felt the characteristic flow of hyperspace travel.

"Well now that the fighting's over, I believe we're about to get company." I said quietly.

I was definitely nervous to say the least. Padme reached up and pulled my head down as Ashoka turned away with a smile. I wasn't sure what was going on till I felt Padme's lips on mine. My eyes widened then closed as I lost myself in that moment of pure bliss. Even as it ended however, Padme faded from view. Then next few minutes were going to be 'tense' and I certainly didn't want her to be near it.

Luke and Han walked in, comparing notes on who scored what. I wanted to give some sign of disapproval at such nonsense but held my tongue. As Leia came from the cockpit, Luke noticed that I was watching him. His face grew stony and his eyes accusing. Leia added her glare to that of her brother's which made things ten times worse. I couldn't look at either one of them and instead kept my eyes on the binders. I may have been granting my master's 'last request' but I certainly felt horrible about it.

"Why'd ya just stun him, Luke? Doesn't seem to me that he's changed a bit! First chance he gets, he takes Kenobi out," Han spat. Any other time, I would have ripped Solo to shreds, at least verbally. However, I didn't say anything in my own defense. If even my children would not trust me, then I might as well let them do what they wished to me. However, Ashoka was not about to let me just sit there without a defender, bless her. "And what the stang do you know about it you piece of nexu poodoo! You don't believe in the Force."

Snips was truly riled. She never swore unless she was ready to take someone's head off, usually mine. Han took a step back and then snapped at her, "Oh, and killing a old man that surrendered is suppose to be a Jedi thing? Last time I heard, Vader's been killing Jedi for kicks!" Things might have continued to deteriorate had someone else not stepped in. Well Solo from a certain point of view that is what Anakin did. But with the Force all things are possible. Obi-wan said as his Force-Shift gathered together next to me.

"Holy stanging Kriff! Don't tell me you're haunting my ship old man!" Han yelped as he jumped backwards. Now I looked up to see identical looks of disbelief and shock on my childrens' faces. As for Solo, he was as ashen as one could get. I couldn't help but let out a chuckle as I turned towards my master. But whatever I was going to say was preempted by Ashoka. Hands on her hips and vibrating fury she let loose with a verbal onslaught. "Bout time you got here Master Kenobi! I told you this was a bad idea! Why is it between you and Sky-Guy that nobody listens to me, hm?"

Obi-wan spread his hands as a conciliatory gesture. I didn't think that it would take me this long Ashoka. And I understand your point of view. For what it is worth, you're not the first person to scold me about this 'incident'. Something in the way he said that told me exactly who had done the scolding. The embarrassment was plain on his face. Padme must have truly given him the 'royal displeasure' treatment. He now turned to Luke. I am truly sorry for not giving you any warning, Luke. I hadn't realized that you were so unfamiliar with Force-Shifting. Considering that Anakin nearly able to do so at will at this point, I thought you would have recognized when he used the ability on someone else.

Now I decided to speak up, exasperated. "He might have recognized it Master, if he'd ever seen me do so from the physical end. He's never seen me shift outside myself, only been visited by my Force-Shift!" Luke was already recovering and added his own comment. "Ben, I could have killed my father if you hadn't told me not too!" He was clearly shaken and I wished mightily that I could just rip myself free of my bonds to comfort him. Yet that was what Ashoka had been doing while we were all distracted.

With a final slice of her saber, she finished cutting me loose from the wiring. I quickly used the Force to snap the binders and got to my feet. Luke was already turning to run, unable to face me any longer. Yet before he could do so, I caught his shoulders and pulled him towards me. I shot a look over at my master as Luke's shoulders started shaking. Since it appears that I've got 'damage control' to take care of Master, I'd appreciate it if you'd take over and let the others know what else is in the 'plan' I sent at him scathingly.

He nodded back at me and turned to Ashoka, Solo, and my daughter. Let us give them some time together. We have other things to discuss. It was if they'd been Force-suggested, the way that Han and my daughter moved towards the cockpit. Only Leia paused at the entrance, as if to come back. Ashoka wouldn't let her though. She simply gave a tug on her arm and led her out. I gently guided Luke over to a seat around the corner from Cody and Deek. Luke would be mortified to know that those hardened veterans had seen him cry.

But I wasn't about to tell him that they were awake. And I knew those two, especially Cody. He'd hardly think the less of my son because of his 'breakdown'. Not when he'd seen batch after batch of his clone brothers collapse emotionally under far less! "Shh, Luke. I knew that you had the blaster on kill, but I could not interfere. You had to face this trial alone. And you did listen to Obi-wan anyway. It didn't happen and you cannot torment yourself over 'what might haves'. You'll be leaving yourself open to the Dark Side if you do."

Luke finally started to calm down as I rubbed his back. It was fortunate that was the case. For Obi-wan must have just mention the tracker I had placed on the Falcon. "HE DID WHAT?"