Chapter Twenty-Four

HOPE

In the closed space of one of the sleeping compartments, Anakin held his breath as he slowly removed the mask. The punctured skin on his forehead protested, but he paid it no heed. He was used to the discomfort. He had endured it – for more than two decades.

With the mask and helmet off, the claustrophobic feeling slowly disappeared and he could breathe normally again. However, the rest of the suit would be impossible to take off without aid.

How ever have I managed to stay sane for all these years?

A soft chuckle escaped his lips. Maybe he hadn't. That was at least the logical explanation. Only insanity could justify the fact that he had willingly done what he had done… and endured it for this long.

Perhaps not entirely insane, but crazy at least...

Yes, he was definitely crazy. Obi-Wan had told him that many times before and he himself had come to the same conclusion. He may have learned patience and become wiser over the years, but stability had always eluded him. Ironic, how the one who was supposed to bring balance to the Force was anything but balanced him self.

Never did things the easy way did you?

His thoughts were interrupted as he felt Obi-Wan approaching. Sighing, he put Vader's mask on the cot and waited for his old Master to stop by the door, hesitate, and then enter without knocking.

Eight seconds later, Obi-Wan stood in the open doorway.

"Another vice you've picked from me." Anakin said, meeting Obi-Wan's gaze.

The Jedi Master shut the door. "Well, I assume you would have locked the door if you didn't want to be disturbed."

Keeping his eyes locked with Obi-Wan's, Anakin sighed. "Have you ever wondered whether you assume too much?"

"Oh yes, countless times."

"And now you assume that I need assistance?"

"The thought did cross my mind."

"Of course."

"Was I wrong?"

Silence – followed by a reluctant whisper. "No."

Obi-Wan smiled. If there was a consistent thing about Anakin (except his inconsistency), it was his shameless and often blunt honesty – even at his own expense. But the fact still remained that despite his straightforwardness, Anakin had always been an unbreakable code on the inside.

And it was the inside that concerned Obi-Wan more than the outside. After all, it was the inside that had fallen to the dark side; killed Jedi younglings and duelled Obi-Wan on Mustafar. And it was the inside that the old Jedi Master did not understand, even though he had tried to… for thirteen years.

When Obi-Wan met Anakin's blue eyes, his old apprentice had an odd expression on his face. "I didn't."

Involuntarily, Obi-Wan took a step back. "You didn't… what?"

Anakin hesitated. Would Obi-Wan even believe him? "I didn't kill the younglings."

Obi-Wan blinked. Of all the things, he had not expected this. He had accepted the fact that there were many things he didn't know about – things he didn't understand and probably never would – but Anakin's silent confession unlocked something within him. Hope. As well as a sinking feeling caused by the words in the recorded message: Maybe you were the one in the dark this time…

Anakin's gaze was distant as he continued. "Your thoughts betray you, Obi-Wan. I can sense your every doubt and conflicted emotion. So there you have it… blunt honesty and all."

Before he could stop himself, Obi-Wan grabbed Anakin's shoulders. "If this is a trick, Anakin, I swear you've gone too far. Look at me and tell me you didn't kill them…"

And Anakin did. All the while looking into Obi-Wan's grey eyes – allowing him to see what lay underneath the surface. And Obi-Wan saw nothing but truth. Slowly, he let go of his old apprentice and stepped back.

For a long moment, Anakin could do nothing but stare at his old Master. Then his blue eyes narrowed with a dangerous twinkle. "But I may kill you… if you don't get this armor off me now."

Obi-Wan disbelievingly shook his head, but did as Anakin had requested. After all, he didn't like seeing Anakin in the suit of Darth Vader anymore than Anakin seemed to like being in it.

All this because of Mustafar...

"No."

"What?"

"Not because of Mustafar." Anakin said through gritted teeth. "Because of him. He knew my potential power was greater than his… and he wanted to make sure that I would never turn against him…"

Obi-Wan closed his eyes, hoping to shut out the image of Anakin falling and hitting the hard rocks on the bank of the lava river. He tried to shut out the sound of his cracking spine and the screams when the flames consumed him. The rest was a blur. Obi-Wan picking up his lost brother's lightsaber; running back to the ship and practically dragging a heartbroken and wildly resisting Padmé on board – her tears mixing with desperate pleas to her lost husband.

Obi-Wan raised his gaze. "You needed time. And you needed someone to look after her and the child. That's why you let yourself fall?"

Anakin sadly shook his head. "I had already fallen, Obi-Wan. I didn't need a cliff on Mustafar to reach the bottom..."

"No?" Hesitantely, Obi-Wan sat down on the cot beside the man he had called brother and best friend.

"I felt myself fall long before that. Long before I was appointed to the Council and you left for Utapau…"

Obi-Wan frowned. "I don't understand."

"I fell… when the nightmares of Padmé's death kept me awake every single night since you and I returned to Coruscant. And I fell even further when I realized that the Jedi couldn't help me… that you couldn't… and wouldn't help me. He offered me a solution… and that's when I realized what he was – who he was. And I allowed it to happen. I was too tired to care… too desperate…"

For the first time in a very long time, Obi-Wan Kenobi didn't know what to say. How would anyone know what to say? Contrary to his own belief, Anakin hadn't simply turned because of his lust for power. He had fallen inch by inch, right in front of Obi-Wan and the Council's eyes. All because he had lost his faith in the Jedi… and because of visions he was forced to keep to himself. But Palpatine had seen the young Jedi's vulnerable state… and he had used it to his advantage.

Fools.

"We all were." Anakin said, responding to Obi-Wan's unintentionally loud thoughts.

"Anakin, I…" Obi-Wan found it hard to look into his friend's eyes, but he forced himself to do so. "I'm so sorry."

It was blunt. Clumsy. But it was all Obi-Wan could manage.

Anakin sighed. "I wish I could say the same. Oh, don't get me wrong… I am sorry for the pain I've caused… but I'm not sorry for turning to the dark side. It was the only way…"

"To save Padmé?" Obi-Wan was so certain of the answer that he barely even registered the response.

"Yes... and no." Anakin's bright blue eyes met Obi-Wan's. "It was the only way to defeat Sidious."

His sinking feeling confirmed, Obi-Wan looked away. "Anakin… what have you done?"

It was more of a statement than a question, for Obi-Wan understood quite well what Anakin had done. But how he had done it… that was an entirely different matter.

When Anakin didn't respond, Obi-Wan stood up. "Am I right in assuming that this conversation ends here?"

"For now, yes." Anakin stood up as well and reached for the face cloth that would turn him into Skye Starkiller. "Trust me, it's for the best."

Obi-Wan nodded, but gently grabbed Anakin's arm. "No more masks… please."

In the main compartment, Luke eyed the others with alert wariness. The mercenaries he could handle, even though he didn't exactly trust them, but the Imperials made him uncomfortable. However, seeing the clones interact with the bounty hunters (comparing weaponry, joking around and playing dejarik) made him realize that they were just like everyone he knew in the Alliance. They just happened to have fought on different sides.

"So, you're a Jedi, huh?"

Luke turned to look at the speaker who sat down beside him. At first, he had thought that the tall man was one of the mercenaries, but then he had introduced himself as Vader's agent. Curiously though, there was something familiar about this Wrenga Jixton, and when Luke realized what it was, a chuckle escaped him. This man – this Corellian warrior – was just like Han.

"Yes." Luke said in response to his question. "I am."

"Of all the ships I could end up in… and I get a ride with the one that seems to attract all remaining Jedi in this galaxy."

Luke's eyes narrowed. "There are more of us."

"Oh, really?"

Luke didn't respond to that and Jixton took the hint."Sore subject, I get it."

Luke sighed, changing the subject. "What about you then? How did you end up in Imperial service?"

Jixton clasped his hands together. "Thank you for asking. It's quite the story actually. You see I did what most people did. Applied to the Academy, became a combat trainer…"

Luke raised an eyebrow. He hadn't exactly expected that.

"But things didn't quite work out. So I left... and later I made a deal with… someone. And that brought me here."

Luke gave him a pointed look. "You made a deal? With Vader?"

"Pure chance. I happened to be in the right place at the right time…"

"He saved my life… that's what he's trying to tell you." Anakin's voice interrupted.

Both Luke and Jixton looked up in surprise – then stared. Anakin was no longer wearing the suit, and unlike his previous appearance as Skye Starkiller, his face was bared – showing his strong, well-sculpted features and several inches of surprisingly light brown hair.

Swallowing his surprise, Jixton turned towards Luke. "And in return he promised me something… and then employed me."

Obi-Wan walked up behind Anakin. Upon seeing his oldest friend and mentor, Luke couldn't help noticing a change in him. And the look he gave his old apprentice, was a look Luke hadn't expected to see – relief mixed with wistful pride.

"How long will it be until we reach the rendezvous point?" Obi-Wan asked the rogue captain and joined Luke on the passenger couch.

Zito checked the monitor. "We should come out of hyperspace in about ten."

Keeping his voice low, Obi-Wan turned towards the younger Skywalker. "I must admit that I'm a bit surprised of the Alliance's choice. Saleucami is an isolated world. With the ambition to establish a New Republic, hiding isn't necessarily the best thing to do."

Luke shrugged. "Many star systems may be rising against the Empire. And they may share our ambitions. But the Alliance leadership still feels that we must move with caution and dismantle the Empire bit by bit. Besides, isn't negotiation the Jedi way?"

Obi-Wan gave Luke's shoulder a pat. "You've come a long way, young one."

From the other side of the compartment, Zito and Anakin's voices brought a halt to the conversation.

"What then?"

"Contact the Alliance." Came the simple answer. "And land I suppose."

Beside Obi-Wan, Luke's face brightened. However, before he could say anything, Obi-Wan stopped him with a gentle touch.

Careful. Then he added in a whisper. "This isn't an easy decision for him."

Luke frowned. "What did you talk about for so long? Did you get him to agree to this?"

Obi-Wan suppressed a sigh. No. Nothing can really make Anakin do anything. "Let's just say that we came to a mutual understanding."

Luke felt flustered. What about us? Did our mutual understanding end on the Death Star?

The Force gave a sudden jolt and Luke noticed his father looking at him. I can hear you.

"You know..." Zito said with a snort, following Starkiller's gaze. "It's funny, but you two could be related."

"Oh?" Anakin said with a playful glimmer in his eyes.

"Well… yeah."

"Would it surprise you then if I told you that he is my son?"

Zito, and everyone else within earshot, stopped doing what they were doing – all eyes on Anakin.

"What?"

Anakin crossed his arms. "Do I seriously have to repeat that?"

Zito laughed uncertainly. "What was your name again?"

"Which of them?" Anakin asked with a sarcastic huff.

"The one I've obviously missed."

Luke studied his father, intrigued by this new side of him – a side he had never known was there. His posture was casual, relaxed even, but the air about him was like a magnet. It was like when Leia put on her royal face and stepped into a room – demanding everyone's attention without even asking for it.

It was presence. And charisma. A frighteningly charming charisma at that – something the suit had veiled… or rather, gone overdue with. But right now, without lifting as much as a finger or speaking with more than a conversational tone, Anakin's aura sang with power.

Glancing in Obi-Wan's direction, Luke noticed that the older Jedi had been watching him – probably amused by Luke's dumbstruck face.

Then, Anakin's quiet words broke the brief silence. "Before I became known as Vader… I was known as Anakin Skywalker."

Luke noted two different reactions. The clones barely reacted at all – as if they already knew. And the others froze in place – as if the name rang a bell. And it was especially the former of the reactions that intrigued the young Jedi. These troopers – had they fought with his father during the Clone Wars?"

"You're Anakin Skywalker?" Fey's voice cut the silence. "The Jedi? The Hero with No Fear?"

Anakin sighed. He had hoped that two decades would have aided in the process of forgetting. "You know… Skye is fine, too."

"U-huh?" Zito had finally managed to collect himself. "Well, sure… I get the Skye-part. Very clever. And since you kind of killed that hyperspace jump, I suppose Starkiller goes, too."

Anakin chuckled. "Killed it, huh?"

"Definitely killed it. I have just one question. Why didn't you just jump directly into the hangar bay while you were at it?"

"Next time."

"Ooooh, you know what? I almost believe you… which is just downright insane."

Anakin chuckled. "Easy has never quite existed in my vocabulary. Just possible."

"Oh yes, thank you… I know." Obi-Wan muttered, earning a warning glance from Anakin.

The rest of the flight was spent in tense silence. Not the kind of tense that was usually followed by an outbreak. But a tension that held the promise of something new.