Author's Note: So, so very sorry for the delay in updating. This summer has been really busy and there are a lot of changes going on at work also. So I've been exhausted when I get home and haven't felt up to writing. I did start writing this chapter a few weeks ago; but I didn't feel like the meeting with Ahsoka was what it should be, so I have been formulating in my head a better approach to it. I hope this is to your liking.
Thank you again to all of my readers and reviewers. You are awesome! :)
Chapter 25
There in front of 'Vader' was the last person he thought he would ever see again, Ahsoka Tano, his former padawan during the Clone Wars, who had left the order after being wrongly accused of bombing the Jedi Temple. Her features were more of a mature Togruta woman now than when he had last seen her, and she was wearing a similar maroon outfit like she had worn as a Jedi Padawan just before she left the order. Her lekku had also grown longer so it reached far down her back and in front as well. But instead of her being glad to see him, to his disappointment, she was glaring back at the 'Dark Lord' with contempt as it finally sunk in what she had just said to him.
Anakin walked into the cell, shutting the door with the Force behind him as he continued to silently stare at her with bewilderment. He then reached up with his right hand towards the security cameras, using the Force to kill the feed to the security desk. "You have nothing to fear. I will not harm you...Snips." 'Vader' told her as she looked back at him with surprise, blinking her blue eyes with amazement.
"What?! Wh-What did you just call me?" Ahsoka asked him hesitantly just as Anakin lowered his mental shields. She was then suddenly hit with the bright light of a Force signature that she recognized immediately. A Force signature that she hadn't felt in over 20 standard years. "Skyguy?" She asked hesitantly with a faint smile forming on her lips.
"Yes." Anakin simply replied. "It's so good to see you again, Ahsoka. I've missed you, my young padawan." He told her with a smirk from behind the mask.
Ahsoka's mouth gaped open at him as Anakin stepped closer to her and waved his hand over the binders using the Force to release her from being chained to the wall. "But why?!" Ahsoka looked at him with confusion, sadness yet happiness at the same time as the binders fell to the floor and she rubbed her left wrist with her right hand. "Why are you here, how are you here...alive an-and why are you dressed like Darth Vader?" She asked all at once with a confused and disgusted looked on her face. She then paused. "Don't get me wrong...I've never been so happy to see anyone in my life...bu-but..."
"It is a long story, Snips...all will be explained in due time." Anakin replied just as Ahsoka startled him by giving him a huge bear hug around the waist. At first he didn't respond as he recovered from the immediate shock caused by her very un-Jedi-like outward sign of affection towards him. But then he eagerly returned her hug with his own as the reality of seeing Ahsoka again after so many years finally hit him.
"I've missed you, Master." Ahsoka told him. "I-I thought you had died...in the purges and I would never see you again. When I heard that the temple was attacked...and you were never seen or heard from again...I assumed the worst." Anakin tensed at hearing Ahsoka's words, suddenly becoming very quiet as she sensed immense sadness and guilt radiating from his aura. She backed out of their embrace, looking at him with concern in her big blue eyes. "What's wrong? I sense a great amount of guilt and sadness coming from you. I know that the purges were bad...that explains the sadness but not the feeling of guilt I'm sensing from you. What's going on, Anakin? Where have you been?"
Anakin just sighed. "Again...it's a long story that I don't have time to tell right now. First we need to get you out of this cell and off of this ship." He then paused while it sunk in that she said she still thought he had been dead. "I assume you don't watch the Holonet much. My return to Coruscant was highly publicized when the new Chancellor made her inauguration speech less than a week ago."
Ahsoka just shook her head. "No, you know how long it can take for news to reach the Outer Rim Territories. It always has. I haven't seen any of it and then I was captured by these Imperial thugs just a couple of days ago. I thought I was dead for sure."
Anakin nodded his head. "Of course, how could I forget. But you are safe now, Snips. No harm will come to you. I promise you." He then paused for a moment in thought. "Did you still have your light sabers when you were captured?"
"Yes, I never got rid of them, if that is what you are asking. But they were stashed on my ship, which was in the main hanger last I knew." She informed him.
"Very good...because you're going to need them." 'Vader' informed her. "I will make sure they are retrieved from your ship before we leave. That is where my shuttle is."
"Ok. So what's the plan for getting me out of here? I take it I'm going to be 'Darth Vader's' prisoner, right?" Ahsoka asked him with her voice laced with curiosity.
"How very perceptive of you." Anakin told her with another smirk from behind the mask. "Although, wait here for a moment while I retrieve some binders that I can transport you with. When I return, do your best to act...ungrateful about your treatment and accommodations." He then paused. "But do try to be convincing at it this time."
Ahsoka put her hands on her hips and glared up into the eyes of the black mask. "And just exactly what do you mean by that? I can be convincing as your prisoner."
Anakin simply laughed, which sounded quite bizarre coming from Vader's mask. "Snips, do you remember that mission to Zygerria when you pretended to be my slave so we could get close to Queen Miraj? The mission where we needed to find out where the people of Kiros were being kept? No offense, Snips, but that was the worst acting job I had ever seen in my life. I was surprised Queen Miraj didn't catch on to us after that."
"Oh really. You thought I was horrible? I saw how you were hamming it up with the queen. I never saw anything so lame in my life." Ahsoka informed him. "What was that you told her...something about her beauty would make the brightest stars dull by comparison? Oh please. And then you went on to whisper sweet nothings into her ear?" She paused as she crossed her arms in front of her chest and looked him with suspicion. "What did you say to her anyway? You never did tell me."
"Nothing you need to know about." He told her while smirking again behind the mask. "It was very un-Jedi-like I can assure you."
Ahsoka sighed and looked away, waving her right hand in front of her impassively. "Never mind. Forget I even asked. I don't really want to know."
"I didn't think you would." He replied. But then it was Anakin's turn to sigh, bringing Ahsoka's attention back to him. "Well, time is of the essence. I will return shortly." He informed her as he opened the door. Before she could reply, she watched as Anakin quickly left with a swirl of his black cape, shutting the door behind him.
Ahsoka just shook her head in disbelief, recrossing her arms in front of her. "Unbelieveable. He hasn't changed a bit." She said out loud to herself with a snort.
After the door to Ahsoka's cell closed behind him, Anakin walked with authority to the guard station where he saw Captain Zed standing with his back to the corridor and his hands clasped behind his back while speaking to his men. "Captain Zed, I require binders to transport the prisoner to my ship."
Captain Zed then turned to look at 'Vader' with surprise, wondering why he would want to do that instead of killing the treacherous Jedi. "Of course, Lord Vader." He complied with confusion evident in his voice as he nodded towards one of the lieutenants in the room. "Get Lord Vader some binders, Lieutenant." He commanded.
"Yes, sir." The lieutenant in question acquiesced and then quickly retrieved some binders from a nearby wall. He then returned, walking over to the 'dark lord', nervously handing them to him.
'Lord Vader' simply nodded his head at the lieutenant as he took the binders from him. Without a word, he turned and returned to Ahsoka's cell. She looked up at him as soon as he re-entered. "Hold out your hands." Anakin told her as she complied and he put the binders on her, locking them in place.
"Now where are you taking me?!" Ahsoka exclaimed loudly with a smirk as she winked and whispered to him. "I won't fail you, Skyguy."
"I know you won't, Snips." Anakin whispered back to her. "Just stay close to me and act disgruntled." He then stood up straight. "Let's go, Jedi!" He commanded as he took her by the left arm, pulling her into the hallway with her playing the part of a reluctant prisoner.
"Unhand me!" Ahsoka exclaimed as she tried to pull away from the 'dark lord's' grip. "Why don't you just kill me and get it over with, my lord. That's what you're planning to do with me anyway."
'Vader' suddenly stopped partway down the hall and roughly turned her around. "Oh, you certainly will die...but not yet. I have much bigger plans for you before that happens...Jedi." He told her in the most menacing voice possible, which wasn't too difficult with the mask's volocorder. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way."
Ahsoka then struggled some more as she tried to free herself from 'Vader's' grip and then spit at the mask. "You won't get anything from me!" She yelled at him. "I would die first before I ever tell you anything."
"Very well...the hard way then." 'Vader' replied sinisterly as he let go of her arm and reached out with his right hand, using the Force to lift her up off the floor, her feet kicking and dangling in the air. He then continued to give her a slight Force squeeze around the throat to cause her only slight discomfort. Almost on cue, she brought her hands up to her neck to try to free herself of the invisible hold around her neck and started to gag, so much so that Anakin rolled his eyes behind the mask. 'Don't over do it, Snips.' He told her through their padawan/master bond as she continued to struggle against the Force hold on her and then went limp, faking unconsciousness as Anakin finally let her fall to the floor, knowing she would mostly be sore after the fall. 'Sorry, Snips, but I had to make it look real.' He told her through the Force, feeling waves of understanding come back from his former padawan.
'Vader' then looked up at the stormtroopers who had accompanied him from the Thunderflare. "You two take her back to shuttle and keep her secure." He commanded as he pointed to two of them. "I will...question her later."
"Yes, Lord Vader." One of the two stormtroopers said as they approached the 'unconscious' Jedi, picking her up to carry her back to the shuttle, throwing her over his left shoulder.
'Vader' then looked at the petrified faces of the officers in the room, Captain Zed, even looked a little green around the gills despite his struggle to remain calm and cool about what he had just witnessed. "I am returning to the Thunderflare immediately." 'Vader informed them. "I will return later to finish inspecting your ship. Interrogating the Jedi takes precedence." He told them as he approached him. "Well done, Zed, for capturing her. I assume she had a light saber on her when you did. Where is it? I want it...for my collection."
Zed tried to retain his composure as he gulped. "We found no light sabers on her, Sir. But we have yet to search her ship."
"I will search the ship myself." 'Vader' informed him. "I will know where to look for it."
Zed nodded not daring to question how the 'dark lord' could possibly know where to look for the Jedi's light saber. It must be something to do with that odd religion he practices. He thought to himself. "Her ship is in the main hanger where you arrived. I will escort you back there myself, my lord."
"Thank you, Captain." 'Vader' replied as he immediately started heading for the lift with Zed not far behind him.
A short time later, 'Vader' emerged from Ahsoka's small ship with both her light sabers in his left hand to find Captain Zed still waiting for him at his shuttle. "I have found the Jedi's light sabers and will be returning to the Thunderflare immediately, Captain." 'Vader' informed him.
"I am glad you were able to locate them, Sir." Zed told him, still not knowing how he could know where to look, and then paused. "Should I contact Moff Andal and Governor Hul to inform them of your return, my lord." Zed asked him, realizing that both of them would want to know about it.
'Vader' paused for a moment. "No, Captain. I will contact them myself. Under no circumstances should you contact them yourself." 'Vader' pointed his right, index finger at the captain. "Do you understand?"
"Yes, my lord. I completely understand." Zed complied. "I will await your return."
"Very good." 'Vader' replied with a nod and then without another word he strode up the ramp of his shuttle.
As soon as 'Vader' boarded the ship, he looked to see how Ahsoka was doing as he strode by her to the cockpit. She simply looked at him, trying to keep a defiant look on her face, glaring at him for good measure, so the stormtroopers guarding her wouldn't suspect that they were actually in league with one another. Not that they couldn't do a Jedi mind trick on them to get them to forget; but it was just one more complication they didn't need right now, so Ahsoka decided it was best just to stay in character until Anakin and she were alone again.
Anakin then sat down at the controls for the shuttle and fired up the engines. It wasn't long until he had left the Stalker's main hanger and the shuttle was on its way back to the Thunderflare. As soon as they started their approach to his self-proclaimed new flag ship, they were hailed by Piett himself. "Lord Vader, I didn't expect to hear from you for another half hour. Is there something amiss, Sir?"
"No, no, Admiral." 'Vader' replied. "Quite the opposite. Captain Zed had a Jedi prisoner on board." He paused as he smirked behind his mask. "I am bringing her back to the Thunderflare for immediate...questioning."
Piett looked at 'Vader' with surprise. "A Jedi? That is a surprise. I will, of course, make the necessary arrangements for your arrival with the prisoner, Sir."
"Very good, Admiral." 'Vader' told him. "I will speak with you further on the subject when we land."
"Yes, sir." Piett said with a nod and then 'Vader' ended the transmission as he finished their approach, landing the shuttle in the main hanger.
'Vader' watched as the doors to the main hanger opened and in walked Piett with five more stormtroopers walking behind him to greet the newly proclaimed 'Emperor'. Anakin sighed as he turned off the engines and got up from his chair, walking back towards the cargo hold of the shuttle. "Bring her." He commanded the stormtroopers as two of them bent down and took a hold of both of her arms to get her to her feet.
"Let go of me!" Ahsoka demanded as she tried to pull away from them.
'Vader' stopped and pointed his right index finger at her. "Do we have to continue this the hard way?"
Ahsoka stopped struggling and shot a fake glare back at Anakin. "No." She looked down. "I won't be any more trouble."
"Good." 'Vader' replied and then looked at the stormtroopers again. "Bring her. I wish to interrogate her immediately."
"Yes, sir." One of the stormtroopers said as they guided Ahsoka down the ramp behind 'Darth Vader'.
When 'Vader' reached the bottom of the ramp, Piett joined him. "Welcome back, my lord." He told him as he gave Ahsoka a fleeting glance and then looked back at 'Vader'. "What do you wish to do with this prisoner?"
"I am taking her to be interrogated immediately. If there are any more Jedi out there, I want to know where they are." 'Vader' told Piett for the benefit of the other Imperials present in the hanger.
"I thought so, Sir." Piett informed him. "I have interrogation room one ready and waiting for both of you."
"Very good, Piett." 'Vader' told him as the two allies continued walking and then got on the lift with Ahsoka and the two stormtroopers who were escorting her. "Anything new to report?" Anakin asked Piett as they were riding in the lift to third level and the doors opened.
"Nothing new to report, sir, at the moment." Piett informed him as they all got off of the lift and continued walking.
"I would like you to set up a meeting with Moff Villis Andal and Governor Afren Hul. They should both be on the planet of Derilyn if my memory serves me right. I wish to speak with them directly about my plans." 'Vader' informed him.
"Yes, sir. I will make contact with them immediately." Piett told him with a nod just as they reached interrogation room one.
"Take her inside and chain her to the desk." 'Vader' commanded the stormtroopers.
"Yes, sir." One of them replied as 'Vader' turned back to Piett.
"I will contact you once I am done 'interrogating' the prisoner." 'Vader' informed Piett as Piett smirked back at him.
"Of course, my lord. You will not be interrupted." He told him as the stormtroopers left the interrogation room and then stood on either side of the door as guards. Piett then turned and left 'Lord Vader' to his interrogation.
After Piett left, 'Vader' sighed and turned to enter the interrogation room, shutting the door behind him. As soon as he did, he waved his hand at the security cameras again to shut them off with the Force. "I'm sorry if you are hurt at all, Snips. I had to make it look convincing."
Ahsoka just looked up at Anakin and smiled. "I'm fine. You did what you had to." She then pulled up on the chain that fastened her hands to the table. "So can I free myself now?"
"Go ahead." Anakin told her as Ahsoka used the Force to open the locks on the binders, essentially freeing herself.
"So was I convincing enough?" Ahsoka asked with a smirk as she folded her hands on the table and gave him a sweet smile that oozed 'I told you so'.
"Yes, you did perfect, Snips. I stand corrected." 'Vader' told her as he started to take the helmet off and set it on the table. "I can't wait to get this damnable thing off." He told her as he then reached behind his head to undo the clips for the mask and then started to peel it away to reveal his face.
"It's good to finally really see you." Ahsoka said with a smile at Anakin as their eyes met and he set the mask on the table next to the helmet. Anakin then proceeded to sit down across from her, facing her. "You're lookin' good, Skyguy. Not bad for an old guy."
"Excuse me? Just remember that you're only five years younger than me, Snips." Anakin replied with a teasing smirk. "So you better watch who you call old."
"But I will always be younger than you, Master, and you know it." She smirked back at him.
Anakin just sighed. "You got me there, Snips."
"Ok, Master. So spill. What is this long story you need to tell me? You were actually quite convincing as Darth Vader...a little too convincing if you ask me. What's going on?" Ahsoka questioned him as she crossed her arms in front of her, looking at him with suspicion.
Anakin looked down in shame. "I'm on a secret mission for the New Republic, Snips. The plan is for me to infiltrate what's left of the Empire as Darth Vader and hopefully stop a mad woman by the name of Ysanne Isard from keeping this blasted war going."
"I've heard of her." Ahsoka told him. "Didn't she seize control of Coruscant for awhile after Palpatine's death?"
"Yes." Anakin told her. "She is very dangerous and has already amassed a large armada of Imperial star destroyers under her command near the planet of Wayland. We feel that an attack is imminent upon Coruscant. But I'm going to try to split up that fleet by stepping into Vader's position as the rightful heir to the Empire. Many of those loyal to Isard will hopefully come to my side as they will recognize Vader as the rightful heir."
"But, Anakin, you are forgetting one thing. You are Anakin Skywalker, not Darth Vader. If they find out the truth, they will all flock back to this Isard." Ahsoka told him. "I have to admit that you were rather convincing as Darth Vader, but how long do you think you can really continue this charade before someone notices something is off. Eventually you will slip up because you can't possibly know everything that Vader knows."
Anakin looked down in shame again, folding his hands on the table, before looking back at Ahsoka with guilt evident in his eyes. "Um, Ahsoka...about that. I, uh..."
"What's wrong, Skyguy?" Ahsoka asked him with concern. "I can feel your tension and guilt again coming off of you like a tidal wave. What happened to you? Where have you been and why do you feel so guilty? I don't get it."
Anakin sighed again as he looked away and then turned his head to look Ahsoka directly in the eyes. "Um...Ahsoka...I'm ashamed to admit that...I actually lived the past 23 years as...Darth Vader. That's why I am able to pull this off." Ahsoka gasped and looked at him with silent shock, not believing what she was hearing, as she tried to absorb what Anakin just told her. "I...have no excuse...other than I made a horrible mistake..."
"You turned to the Dark Side?! You became Darth Vader?!" She cut in not letting him finish as she, continued to look at him with disbelief, as the gravity of what he had just admitted to her started to sink in to her psyche. "Th-The attack on the Jedi Temple...that was you?! You killed all of the Jedi...even the younglings?!" She continued asking as tears started forming in her eyes as the sheer horror that Anakin had been the one to commit all of those atrocities towards the Jedi.
Anakin's eyes also started to tear up as he looked down in shame with a tear escaping down his cheek as the guilt of all those atrocities came crashing down upon him again. "I-I'm so, so sorry, Snips." He looked back up into Ahsoka's eyes who was looking at him with horror and disbelief. "It was a horrible mistake. I believed Palpatine's lies...I..."
"But why did you do it, Anakin? Why did you turn to the Dark Side? I don't understand. How could you have done such horrible things? It is so not like you. You were always sorely against becoming a Sith." Ahsoka continued to ask as now tears were escaping down her cheeks. "I admit that I left the Order because I was disillusioned after I was accused of bombing the temple...but they were still our family. How could you do it?"
Anakin continued looking down in shame. He hadn't had time to prepare for such an encounter with his former padawan. He was so overjoyed at the fact that she was still alive and he could see her again that he didn't think about the consequences of her finding out the truth about him. He then looked up at her again. "I did it out of love for my wife...I wanted to save her from my dreams of her death. Palpatine made me believe that only through the Dark Side, could I save her. I was so very wrong. It was a lie from the start. He used my fears of losing, Padme, against me."
Ahsoka looked at Anakin with complete shock at this new revelation, her mouth gaping open. "Y-You and Padme were married?! I-I mean I knew you were close...but not THAT close."
Anakin weakly smiled at her. "Yes, we were THAT close...and Padme was pregnant when all this happened. I was dreaming of her dying in childbirth."
It was like a light came on inside of Ahsoka's head at the realization of what Anakin had been going through came to her. "Just like the dreams you had about your mother dying..."
"Yes." He told her as he looked at her with all seriousness. "I didn't get there in time to save my mother because I didn't act upon my dreams until it was too late. I didn't want to lose Padme too...and possibly our child along with her. Palpatine made me believe that the Jedi were the evil ones and that they were the traitors. He also made me believe that by killing all the Jedi and the Separatist leaders on Mustafar, only then would I be powerful enough in the Dark Side to save Padme." He paused as he put his head in his hands, his elbows resting on the table before them. "It was the worst mistake of my life. I should have never believed him...but I was young, naïve and was completely disillusioned by the Jedi Order myself. I realize now that a lot of that disillusionment originated from Palpatine." He sighed. "I wish I could turn back the clock knowing what I know now and change things for the better. But I can't. All I can do now is to try to atone for my past mistakes. So I am now doing that by helping the New Republic stop Ysanne Isard from continuing the conflict."
Ahsoka just stared at him with continued shock and disbelief, feeling his sincerity...her heart going out to him, knowing that he had done what he thought was the only way to save his wife and child from death. But then she paused as a thought suddenly occurred to her. "Wait a minute." She paused as she studied him for a moment. "But how can you not be a Sith any more? I thought Master Yoda said once a Jedi goes down that dark path, forever will it dominate their destiny?"
Anakin simply shrugged and then sadly smiled at her. "It seems that the love I felt for my son brought be back to myself...and to the Light Side of the Force."
"I don't understand." Ahsoka exclaimed. "Your son? So your son survived? Did Padme?"
Anakin nodded. "Yes." He replied as he genuinely smiled at her with love this time...but then frowned as he remembered how long it took him to know just that. "But I thought they were dead for many years, Ahsoka...and during those years...I lived in darkness...only a shell of the man I was." He then smiled again as his eyes got a far away look. "But then I heard the name of the rebel who fired the fatal shot for the first Death Star...Luke Skywalker." He paused as he looked at Ahsoka. "It was then that I realized my son was alive. It started a small flicker of hope in my heart again...that perhaps I might have something to live for again." He sighed. "Long story, short...when Luke refused Palpatine's offer to kill me and take my place by his side as his new apprentice, Palpatine used Sith lightening on him. He was going to kill him right in front of me. Luke was begging me to save him. I-I watched in continued horror until Palpatine announced that he was going to stop torturing him and kill him." He paused. "But I didn't let him. With the element of surprise, I picked Palpatine up and threw him down a deep shaft, essentially killing him."
Ahsoka gasped. "Thus fulfilling the Chosen One prophesy."
"I suppose so." Anakin replied. "Some see it that way." He then smiled a little larger. "I also found out that day that Luke has a twin sister. There's more...but it just gets more and more unbelievable. I just found out Padme was still alive a few days ago."
Ahsoka continued to stare at him completely speechless, not knowing what to say. "I don't know what to say."
"I know it's a lot to take in." Anakin admitted. "I technically shouldn't even be alive right now. I died...literally...after saving Luke's life as Luke can attest to...but the Force had other ideas for me. I have to succeed with this plan. I have to right at least some of the wrongs I committed towards the galaxy. I can assure you, Ahsoka, I am no longer a Sith...and only pretending to be Darth Vader again for the good of the galaxy."
Ahsoka looked at Anakin with compassion, feeling his guilt, sadness and hope that Ahsoka will accept him despite all the atrocities he committed for the last 23 years. She didn't say anything for what seemed like an eternity to Anakin. "I believe you, Master." She finally said. "You are no longer Darth Vader. I can feel it...in here." She told him as she put her right hand on her heart.
"You do?" Anakin asked with a sparkle of hope in his eyes. "You really believe me? You...forgive me...for all that I did?"
"Yes, I do, Skyguy." Ahsoka assured him. "Palpatine was a Sith and fooled everyone. The way I see it, Palpatine deceived you as he did all of us. He was the real person who was to blame." She sighed, looking down and then up at Anakin again with concern. "So what is your plan? Can I help?"
Anakin just smiled back at her with appreciation with unshed tears still in his eyes. "I'm not sure if you actually can help, Snips. I think it would look rather strange if Darth Vader had a Jedi helping him."
"True. Hmm. Perhaps there is a way I can help, though." Ahsoka stated as she put her right hand on her chin and looked away in thought.
"Like what?" Anakin asked her with curiosity as he crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked back at her with curiosity.
A smirk then formed on her lips as she put her hands back on the table and leaned towards him. "Perhaps I could become your Sith apprentice?"
Anakin returned her smirk. "Oh really? Do you think you can be convincing enough at it?"
Ahsoka looked up at him, as she just glared up at him. "You don't think I can?! I just proved that my acting has improved, didn't I?"
Anakin just laughed at her but then became deadpan serious. "No, actually, I think you'd make a fine Sith. I can feel your anger growing already." He teased her.
"Very funny, Skyguy. You can be really annoying when you want to be. Do you know that?" Ahsoka stated as she crossed her arms in front of her chest again.
Anakin just laughed again. "Yes, but it's all part of my charm."
"Ha! Right!" Ahsoka replied with a smirk now forming on her lips as she looked back at him slyly. She then held out her right hand out to him. "Well, I guess that makes me your new...'Sith Apprentice', 'Lord Vader'". She stated with a smirk.
"Yes, I guess it does." Anakin agreed with her as he looked at her with affection. "It will be really nice to work with you again, Snips. I've really missed you."
Ahsoka just gave him a warm smile. "I've really missed you too. It will be just like old times, Skyguy."
"That's Master to you, my new apprentice." Anakin retorted.
"Of course." Ahsoka replied with a chuckle but then became serious as a thought occurred to her. "How about my eyes? Shouldn't they be yellow if I've gone all Dark Side?"
Anakin shook his head. "Not necessarily. Remember Count Dooku and Palpatine when they had the entire galaxy fooled?"
Ahsoka nodded. "Yes." But then she paused in thought as she tilted her head to one side. "Perhaps you're right."
"Great!" Anakin exclaimed with a heartfelt smile. "Just wait until Padme and Obi-Wan hear about this."
Ahsoka looked at Anakin with disbelief. "Obi-Wan is still alive too?"
"Yup!"
Author's Note: The mission I mentioned in this chapter where Anakin and Ahsoka were trying to get close to the queen of Zygerria was from a Season 4 episode of "The Clone Wars" called "Slaves of the Republic". Awesome series of episodes that surround this mission. You get to see where Luke got a lot of his personality from...or I should say from who. Very reminiscent to the original Episode IV-VI on many levels, especially with R2D2 being a long for the ride. ;)
Well, I hope this chapter meets with your approval. It was another very emotional chapter, but I felt it was necessary. I'd be curious to know what you think of it.