Blaze: Take my hand, this one last time. Face the world before us, the warrior inside.

Darth: what are you singing?

Blaze: "The Warrior's Side" by Dragonforce. I rather like this song and I think this quote suits this chapter

Darth: that's cool

Blaze: yup it is and as I said in the last chapter, the chapter title for this chapter has changed

Darth: where does it come from?

Blaze: it comes from the Dragonforce song of the same name but I thought it suited this chapter

Darth: cool

Blaze: yup so here is chapter 21 and I hope that you like it, reviews are much appreciated.

21.

The Fire Still Burns*

Luke groaned in pain as he was tossed roughly back into the cramped cell where Glips was keeping him and his friends. Three blasted days within the cell getting beat by Glips for apparently running away and being the son of the dark lord who destroyed the Black Silence everyone of those days had left Luke sore and aching all over. He wasn't the only one being subjected to the cruel treatment of the evil Rodian for Azana, Mabac, Elia and even Daren were also getting beat even though Daren wasn't a former slave.

Luke moved into a sitting position wincing as he moved his wounded back, which was currently covered in angry red welts and long shallow cuts created by the vibroblades the Rodians carried with them. Elia was fast asleep while Mabac was crouching beside Azana, who had taken the last beating, and Daren, who was still recovering from his beating.

"I didn't even do anything," Daren muttered.

"I'm sorry," Luke said again.

"I know, Luke, but it's not your fault. Glips is just an kriffing idiot," Daren said shaking his head before he moved over until he was sitting beside Luke. "Don't worry. I'm sure your father will find us."

"I hope so. Do you still have my comlink?"

Daren shook his head. "I gave it to Mabac just before Glips came for me last time," he replied.

"Mabac?" Luke asked turning his gaze to the wookiee who moved to his side growling out a question. "Do you have my comlink?"

Mabac barked quietly in response before holding out the comlink that was still blinking and Luke sighed with relief knowing that there was a good chance his father was tracking him. He hoped that this was the case and that his fears that his father really didn't care about him weren't proven true.

The comlink beeped and Luke glanced at it before taking it in his hand and thumbing it on. "Uh hi?"

"Luke?"

Luke breathed a sigh of relief when he heard his father's familiar voice. "Father, boy am I glad to hear from you," he said.

"And I you, son," Vader replied. "Where are you?"

"Some small cell."

"Typical Skywalker," a voice sounded in the background.

"Shut up, Kenobi," Vader snapped angrily. "I meant do you know which planet you are above?"

"Uh..." Luke glanced at his friends.

"I'm pretty sure we're above Omwat," Daren said. "I've been here before and I recognize the planet when I was out of the cell."

"Is that Daren? Tell him that his mother is making a full recovery," Vader said and Luke relied the news to Daren who looked relieved. "Very well, son. We are on our way. We would have arrived by tomorrow but we ran into some complications so we'll be there in about two days."

"My father said that he'll be there in two days," Luke called.

"We'll have to hope Glips doesn't know this," Azana murmured.

"Yes I agree," Luke said.

"Be strong, my son," Vader whispered quietly in a tone of voice that Luke never heard in his father's voice before. He had always feared that his father didn't care about him in spite of how protective he seemed to be of Luke but hearing those words spoken with such love and care confirmed that what he feared was wrong.

His father truly did care about and love him.

"I will, father," Luke replied. "I love you, father."

There was a long moment of silence and Luke feared that his father wasn't going to reply. His fear were unjustified for a moment later, Luke heard a faint, whispered, "I love you too, son," before his father disconnected the transmission.

Vader lowered the comlink the feeling of love coursing through his veins as he recalled his son's words and he couldn't help but smile slightly. He turned his gaze to the viewports of the lambda shuttle he and Obi-Wan were currently flying in as the stars flickered past. "You may jump to hyperspace now, Obi-Wan," he said quietly not realizing he had used his former master's first name rather than his last.

Obi-Wan seemed equally as surprised but he did as he was told and pulled the hyperspace lever. The stars collapsed into starlines that in turn faded into the mottled lanes of hyperspace. Obi-Wan then turned around in his seat to gaze at Vader. "Did you truly mean that, Anakin?" he asked quietly.

Vader closed his eyes feeling the light side of the Fore that he hasn't felt in nine years time course through his veins. The dark side fought against it but its' fight was in vain for Anakin Skywalker was fighting to regain control of himself and the dark could do nothing to stop the onslaught of determined stubbornness from the Jedi thought dead long ago.

"Meant what, Obi-Wan? That I love my son? Yes, I did mean it," Vader said quietly eyes flickering open and for the first time in the last nine years, they were pure electric blue glistening with the love he felt for his son.

For a long moment, there was nothing but silence and Obi-Wan smiled faintly. "I knew Qui-Gon was right, Anakin. Welcome back, my brother," he said quietly before he stretched out a hand and hesitantly putting it on Vader's shoulder.

Vader glanced at him. "Let's go rescue Luke and the others, Obi-Wan," he said letting a faint smile cross his facial features. "Just like old time, eh?"

Obi-Wan smiled as well. "Just like old times, Anakin," he replied.

Emperor Palpatine was observing the airlines that lay outside of the large viewports of the Imperial Palace waiting for Lord Vader to report to him when he felt the disturbance in the Force. He frowned before stretching out with the Force, searching for the source of the disturbance but for some reason, the source of the disturbance eluded him.

That is odd, Palpatine thought wondering why the Force was not allowing him to see the source of the disturbance.

Yoda glanced up from where he was meditating in the center of his little hut on Dagobah as the disturbance in the Force came to him. The Force was singing as if something incredible had happened and Yoda stretched out with the Force to find the source of the disturbance. He felt it almost immediately for the light side had returned to someone whose destiny, Yoda thought, was forever shrouded in darkness.

The fire of the light side burned with renewed rigor within the body, mind and soul of the Chosen One and Yoda knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that both Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were correct and the dark side really did not forever dominate the destiny of Anakin Skywalker as Yoda had originally thought.

At an end my time here is, Yoda thought getting to his feet and waddling out of the hut. Join the rebellion I shall. Hide from Vader anymore I do not for vanquished Vader has been.

Smiling within the Force, Qui-Gon watched as the fire of the light side slowly began to burn brightly within the man the boy he had first meet on Tatooine had become. "I told you so," he said smirking at the Force ghost of Mace Windu who was floating at his side.

Mace glowered at him. "I really don't like it when you're right, Qui-Gon," he muttered in reply. "Nevertheless, I hope this doesn't backfire in your face."

Qui-Gon smiled before turning his gaze to his former apprentice and the former Sith Lord that was with him.

Obi-Wan smiled faintly at his brother in everything but blood as Anakin guided the shuttle effortlessly through hyperspace. He seemed back to his old self although Obi-Wan knew that he would never get rid of the past for his life had left him scarred. It would take him time to atone for his past mistakes and his past crimes but Obi-Wan knew that his former apprentice would pull through.

He only hoped the rest of the galaxy would give him a chance to atone for his mistakes.

"Are you all right, Anakin?" He asked.

Anakin was silent for a long moment. "I'm just thinking," he murmured.

"About what?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Palpatine, my life as a Sith Lord, Luke, everything I guess. I mean, I made so many mistakes, destroying the Jedi Order being just one of them," Anakin replied quietly. "I just wanted to save Padmé and look what ended up happening as a result."

"I know Anakin," Obi-Wan replied. "Palpatine used that against you to turn you against everyone and everything you once sought to uphold. You can atone for your mistakes however. I know that you can. Rescuing Luke is but one way you can atone."

"What about Palpatine? If he didn't feel the disturbance then it's likely that he'll still think that I'm his apprentice," Anakin replied.

"I know," Obi-Wan replied. "I don't think he's stupid though. It's very likely that he knows the truth or at least suspects. Besides, you're already in trouble with him for not visiting him and going after your son."

"True enough," Anakin admitted. "Also, that means that you'll have to stay in hiding especially while I'm on Coruscant."

"Are you really going to continue to serve the Emperor, Anakin?"

"What choice do I have?"

"Join the rebellion," said Obi-Wan softly.

Anakin shook his head sadly. "They would never accept me. They likely know who I once was."

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. It's still an option"

Anakin shook his head. "It's too soon," he whispered before he shook his head and returned his gaze to the mottled lanes of hyperspace. "Let's focus on getting my son and my son's friends away from that vile sleemo Glips." His voice darkened considerably. "This time, I'll make sure he does not walk away as he did from the Black Silence's destruction."

Obi-Wan shuddered slightly at the fury within his friend's voice. While he was Anakin Skywalker again, Obi-Wan could see Darth Vader lingering beneath the surface. The two were one and the same and that meant there couldn't be one without the other. "What do you want me to do, Anakin?"

"Get the children out of there," Anakin replied. "I'll deal with Glips. The two of us will rendezvous back at the shuttle."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Luke's never seen me though, Anakin. Are you sure he won't panic?"

"He's a smart boy. If you tell him I sent you then he'll go with you. He has a very strong presence in the Force and he can sense things that others normally couldn't in spite of having no training." Anakin was silent. "He was the first one who noticed that the light was still alive within me."

"He is a smart boy," Obi-Wan agreed before he turned his gaze back to the mottled lanes of hyperspace.

Two days had gone by since Luke last spoke with his father and he was getting worried. Did my father decide not to rescue me? He wondered silently as he gazed through the circular porthole at the stars that glittered against the black surface outside the transparisteel viewport. Azana and Mabac were fast asleep while Elia and Daren were dozing nearby but Luke couldn't sleep.

He was in pain and he was worried. He hoped that his father would arrive soon. The door opened at that moment and Glips stalked in snarling in Rodian angrily under his breath. "What did you do, boy?" he spat.

"W…What are you talking about?" Luke stammered out. The Rodian's voice had woken Azana and Mabac and brought Elia and Daren out of their doze.

"I mean how the hell did your kriffing father know where to find us?" The Rodian hissed grabbing Luke by the shoulders and thrusting him against the wall. "What did you do?"

"Vader isn't stupid, Glips," Azana snapped. "And you took his son from him. He's not going to be happy and he has the use of the Force."

"The Force ain't real," Glips sneered.

"You weren't saying the same thing when you were Force pushed into the wall."

Mabac roared in laughter and agreement while Elia chuckled and Daren looked confused.

Glips snarled at them. "You are dead," he hissed pulling out his blaster.

"Nefra, there are intruders on the ship," a Rodian shouted rushing forward before Glips could fire at Luke and the others. "Both of them are wielding lightsabers."

"Vader!" Glips snarled angrily before he grabbed Luke's arm and dragged him out of the cell. "You're coming with me, brat!"

"Let go of him!" Azana shouted and Luke was surprised when both he and Glips were pushed backwards as if by an invisible force. Azana stared in shock. "Did I do that?" she asked in amazement.

Glips glared at the girl before pointing his blaster at Azana and pulled the trigger. A stunning bolt slammed into Azana sending the blue skinned Twi'lek flying to the ground. He then slammed the door to the cell shut before Mabac, Elia and Daren could leap at him and grabbed Luke's arm again.

"Let's go," he hissed half-dragging, half-guiding the injured nine-year-old boy away from the cell.

"Did you feel that?" Anakin asked lifting his head suddenly when he felt the use of the Force from nearby.

"I felt it," Obi-Wan said and Anakin stretched out with the Force until he caught the Force signature and it wasn't Luke's.

He frowned amazed and confused. "It's not Luke's but it's one of the children with him," he said eyes wide when he realized something. Azana. She bore an unkindly resemblance to someone Anakin's seen before now that he thought about it.

"Obi-Wan, you go after the children. I'll go after Glips."

Obi-Wan nodded before igniting his brilliant blue blade, given back to him just before they left the Avenger, and running in the direction where they both had felt the use of the Force. Anakin stretched out with the Force until he caught his son's Force signature as it was currently projecting fear.

Luke? Anakin called silently through the Force.

There was a long amount of silence before Anakin heard his son's reply. Father?

Yes, Luke, I'm here. Where are you?

How is this possible?

The Force.

Oh okay. Glips has me.

Anakin's lips curled in a snarl of fury and he dashed down a nearby corridor. Don't worry Luke, I'm on my way, he called through the Force as he used his son's Force signature to guide him to where his son was located.

Obi-Wan kept the use of the Force in mind and used that to find the Force signature that would lead him to the children. His lightsaber flashed, slicing through the weapons of the Rodians that attacked him and Force pushing them out of the way. Glips has a lot of Rodians with him, Anakin, he called silently.

He must have gathered a new crew before he captured my son and the other children, Anakin replied silently.

Have you found Glips yet?

Not yet but I have to be careful. He has Luke.

That's not good, Obi-Wan admitted silently as he ducked down another corridor and headed toward the source of the use of the Force he had felt in the hangar bay. He neared the corridor here the use of the Force had originated from before his lightsaber made quick work of the weapons of the guards. He lashed out with the Force and sent the Rodian guards flying into the wall.

He used his lightsaber to slice through the lock of the cell and eased the door open before peering inside to find four children scrambling to their feet and staring at Obi-Wan in shock. "Come on," Obi-Wan said quickly. "The Rodians are stunned. They won't stay that way for long."

"Who are you?" the blue skinned Twi'lek that Obi-Wan admitted bore an unkindly resemblance to Aayla Secura asked.

"Don't worry. I'm a friend. Now come, we're running out of time," said Obi-Wan.

"Where's Luke?"

"Anakin's going after him."

"Anakin?"

Obi-Wan could have kicked himself for his slip of the tongue. "I mean Lord Vader. Now come," he said.

The four children didn't need to be told twice; they got to their feet before hurrying after Obi-Wan as he led the way into the corridor and back toward the hangar bay.

I have the children, Anakin, he said through the Force.

All right. Get them back to the hangar bay, Anakin called back through the Force.

"Come along, children," Obi-Wan called before he shouted, "duck!" just as a barrage of blaster bolts flew over his head as he ducked quickly. The four children quickly dropped to the ground and Obi-Wan leapt up before his lightsaber swung back and forth to deflect the blaster bolts back at the shooters.

"Come on," he called before he and the four children ducked around another corridor before they continued to run.

* The reasons I chose this title was because I see the light side as a fire, as fire represents light, and this chapter title is merely saying that although the galaxy is covered in darkness due to Palpatine's reign, the light side is still alive and still burning brightly.

A/n what do you think?

Blaze: and that was chapter 21

Darth: that's cool

Blaze: yup

Severus: what's going to happen in the next chapter?

Blaze: Obi-Wan and the kids will get lost, Anakin will get his revenge and more

Severus: sounds like it will be a good chapter

Harry: yup

Voldy: yup

Severus: bloody idiot! (throws Voldy into a vat of oil)

Harry: bloody idiot! (throws Voldy into a vat of lard)

Draco: idiot! (throws Voldy into a bin of flour)

Darth: (looks at Voldy) you trying to make cookies? You forgot the chocolate chips

Blaze: (laughs) please review and I will post "Escaping Destruction" as soon as I possibly can but I doubt it'll be anytime soon