AUTHOR'S NOTE Anakin's actions in here are a little OOC for Darth Vader, but this chapter takes place just before he goes to Mustafar, so he hasn't fully transformed into Vader yet. I figure, since it's obvious that he still loves Padmé even after he physically transforms, there is still good in him. Enough good not to kill Alar anyway.

DISCLAIMER Alar is my own creation (with Lauren's help) and also Jorban I made up, but all others belong to Tolkien or Lucas.

…

Eight Months Later

They stood together in a private office high on a tower on Coruscant – the Master and the Apprentice. Anakin Skywalker looked at the grotesque face of Emperor Palpitine, made so by his battle with the now dead Mace Windu, and waited patiently for instructions.

"Before you go to Mustafar, there is another planet you must visit," Palpatine said.

Anakin bowed his head. "Of course, Master."

"Travel to the Outer Rim," Palpatine continued. "To a planet known by its inhabitants as Arda."

Decorum slipping, Anakin frowned. "Arda? Why go back there?"

Palpatine fixed him with a glare. "There is a child there – a toddler called Mara. She is strong in the Force. Bring her back here."

Anakin nodded, then ventured to ask, "Why this child in particular, Master?"

The Emperor grinned and Anakin reflected on what a truly frightening sight that was. "Little Mara will become my greatest weapon – a Sith agent who I can send to do my bidding anywhere in the galaxy. The perfect irony."

"I'm sorry, Master," Anakin said. "I don't understand."

"Mara is the daughter of a royal line of Arda," Palpatine explained. His smile grew wider. "And the child of your former Master."

Anakin could not keep the shocked look off of his face. Then he remembered Obi-Wan's staggering sorrow as they flew away from Arda. Since then, he had never been the same. Shock turned to sadistic amusement and it was hard not to grin.

It was just too perfect! Obi-Wan Kenobi – the pillar of belief in the Jedi Code – had fallen in love. Not only that, but he had fathered a Force-sensitive child. The Council would have had a field day with that, had the purges left any of them alive.

Anakin bowed to the Emperor. "I understand, Master."

"Thank you, Lord Vader."

Anakin turned to leave, but the Emperor's raspy voice stopped him. "On Arda, you must identify yourself as Anakin Skywalker, just this once more."

Hearing his old name stirred rage and resentment in the newly called Darth Vader. "Why?" he growled.

"Because you will be known to them. Kenobi was never shy about talking about his other life."

Reluctantly, Anakin nodded. "Very well, Master."

The navicomputer balked at first when Anakin put in the coordinates for what it thought was empty space. Finally on the third try, it accepted the destination and the ship flew into hyperspace.

It was a long journey. At first he tried to put himself in a trance, but he was preoccupied. He hated the Jedi. He hated Obi-Wan. But to kidnap a child who had already lost a parent when Obi-Wan left Arda seemed like misplaced cruelty. He thought of what he would do if anyone ever tried to take his and Padmé's unborn child away and the mere notion filled him with rage.

One by one, the hours slipped by. Three days went by before the ship jerked back into real space and Anakin stared at Arda's multi-colored surface. He could feel the Dark Side pulsing from the red and black part of the planet. Its strength made him feel powerful and reinforced his loyalty to his mission.

Obi-Wan must have been staying somewhere near his crash site to have found them so quickly the day they rescued him. Anakin gripped the controls angrily. His old Master was a hypocrite! Condemning him for his feelings for Padmé, while hiding a lover and child of his own on this unknown mysterious planet.

As he approached the planet, Anakin became uncomfortably aware of an intense stronghold of the Light Side not too far away from where Obi-Wan landed. That seemed the most logical place to start.

They seemed to know he would be coming. Three supernaturally beautiful aliens (they were not human, but Anakin did not know what they were) met him on the forest path just after he landed. Two were identical with black hair; the third was blonde.

"You are a stranger," said one of the black-haired ones.

"From the stars," said the other.

The blonde one had a bow and arrow held loosely at his side. "Are you friend or foe?" he asked.

Anakin decided that diplomacy was probably his best strategy. He bowed. "My name is Anakin Skywalker. I have come bearing news of Obi-Wan Kenobi."

The three beings looked at each other. Then each one bowed his head head. "I am Elladan son of Elrond," said one of the black-haired ones.

The other said, "I am Elrohir son of Elrond."

"And I am Legolas son of King Thranduil," said the last. "You say you have news of Obi-Wan?"

Anakin nodded. "Yes."

Elladan turned and motioned Anakin to follow. "Then come," he said.

Elrohir added, "We will take you to see Aragorn."

Anakin followed them, but had never heard of anyone called Aragorn. He was led into a receiving room and left alone with Legolas while Elladan and Elrohir left. Legolas eyed him intently. "How do you know of Obi-Wan?"

"He was my Master," Anakin said. "Long ago."

"Then you are a Jedi."

Legolas's questions made Anakin uncomfortable, but he could not afford not to answer. So he simply replied, "Yes."

They lapsed into tense silence. Anakin grew more and more concerned that his true mission was apparent. Finally, the door creaked open.

There was a man standing in the entrance, but Anakin was far more interested in the two small faces peeking around his legs. Legolas and Anakin both stood up. "Anakin Skywalker, my friend. He has brought news of Obi-Wan," Legolas said. "Anakin, this is Aragorn son of Arathorn."

Anakin bowed and Aragorn returned the gesture. Legolas started toward the door. "I will leave you two." Then he was gone.

"Thank you for seeing me," Anakin said.

Aragorn eagerly sat next to him, settling the little boy and girl on his lap. "You have news of Obi-Wan?" he asked.

At his words, the little girl on Aragorn's lap looked up at him. "Papa?" she asked.

"Shh, Mara."

Anakin knew that this was the child his master spoke of, but who was the boy? And why was she calling this Aragorn her father? "She is Obi-Wan's daughter," he said.

Sadly, Aragorn nodded. "And you adopted her?" Anakin asked.

Aragorn frowned and shook his head. "I am Mara and Alar's father too. They called him Papa. They call me Ada."

Anakin opened his mouth and did not know what to say. Aragorn was their father also? Obi-Wan had fathered two children, not one? But the boy – Alar, Aragorn had called him – was not Force-sensitive at all. Should he take him too?

There was a window behind him. He knew that he could safely jump to the ground with both children, thus avoiding the others he could sense in the house. But Mara was Force-sensitive and the alien race that lived there was too. How could he sneak her out without anyone noticing?
Aragorn frowned. "You look troubled," he said. "Is it Obi-Wan? Is something wrong? Has something happened to him?"

Darkness clouded Anakin's mind and shadows crept into his eyes. "Not yet," he growled. "But someday I will have my revenge on him."

Fear flooded Aragorn's face, but before he could say or do anything, Anakin sent a hard spike into the man's mind. Aragorn slumped back in his chair, unconscious.

Alar took one look at his Ada and broke out in tears. Panicked, Anakin reached out to Mara. The girl looked at him for a long moment and he felt her untrained mind reaching out to feel his. She cocked her head, seeming to recognize that he could touch and use the Force like she could, then reached for her brother's hand. Alar looked at her and his crying slowly stopped.

Commotion filled the hallway. In one smooth motion, Anakin leapt to his feet and took a twin in each arm. Then he held them close to his chest and jumped from the window. He could feel the children clinging to him as he ran for his chip. He could also feel the little girl continually comforting her brother. Whether it was because Anakin was Force-sensitive or maybe because he was her father's student and therefore similar to him, Mara seemed to trust him.

He did not allow himself to breathe a sigh of relief until he had entered hyperspace. Then he leaned back in the pilot's chair and groaned with exhaustion. But a small sniffle caught his attention and he turned to see Alar crying silently. Anakin began to feel guilty and wondered what to do with the boy.

"Lord Vader."

Anakin jumped at the sudden voice in his head. "Yes Master?"
"Have you succeeded in your mission?"

Casting a glance at Mara and Alar, Anakin replied, "Yes Master. I have the daughter of Kenobi."

"Excellent. Bring her back here."

The connection was broken and Anakin swiveled to face his navicomputer. After a moment's contemplation, he punched in a new course. The ship shuddered and whined as it strained to find its new path in the middle of hyperspace.

Mere hours later, Anakin Skywalker landed on Naboo for the last time. He knocked on the door of the Nicressa home. A man answered the door. He frowned. "Anakin? Is that you?"

"Jorban," Anakin said. "I'm sorry it has been so long."

"Not at all, my friend!" Jorban opened the door wider. "Come in!"

Anakin hesitated. "Actually, I need your help."

Jorban frowned and leaned against the doorframe. "What's wrong?"

Gently, Anakin pulled Alar out from where the boy had been hiding behind his legs. "This child is an orphan," he said. "There is much going on and neither I nor the Jedi can care for him."

Jorban knelt down in front of Alar. "Hi there," he said.

Alar sniffed and clung to Anakin's leg. "Mara," he said with tears in his eyes. "Ada."

Jorban looked at Anakin, who whispered, "His sister and father. Both lost. His name is Alar. I will take care of all the legal matters. Will you take him?"

Kneeling back down, Jorban asked, "What do you think, little guy? You want to come live here with me?"

Still sniffling, Alar just barely nodded and wrapped his arms around Jorban's neck. Jorban picked him up and nodded to Anakin.

"Thank you," Anakin said. He took one last look at the boy and hurried back to his ship. He took off with Mara just as the sun began to set over the lakes.