CHAPTER 25—ALL THINGS MADE NEW
Within an hour, Anakin Skywalker lay on the operating table once again with Master Yoda maintaining his Jedi trance. The Bacta treatments had healed much of his head, but his hair follicles were dead forever.
The gaping wounds had sealed to puffy red scars. The only scar that had not healed was the vertical slice above and below his right eye. The doctor expected slight scars to remain from the other wounds, but it would take a few more days for the healing to finish.
Stormtroopers guarded the entrances to the room. They stood their ground when rushing footsteps headed toward them. They retracted their blasters drawn when Lord Vader's apprentice appeared.
The boy panted as other stormtroopers chased him down the corridor.
Stormtrooper Commander 2224 ordered the other squad, "Stand down. Lord Vader has an interest in this boy."
"The Emperor has ordered the boy be taken into custody."
"Orders have been changed by Lord Vader himself." The commander grabbed the young boy, shoving Luke behind his armored body. "We have the situation handled. Report back to the Executor. Captain Piett needs you there."
The other squad leader paused for a moment. "Yes, Commander." He turned and exited the medical center, wondering whom the other squad was protecting in the operating theater.
Anakin's eyes popped open in the operating theater. He felt like he was being awakened by mortar fire during the Clone War battles on the front lines. He sat up and swiveled, lowering his new legs to the ground.
He discovered he had two arms now, arms with Synthaskin covering the metal cybernetics. They were not as heavy as his old prosthetics. He lifted them and clenched his fists in and out, testing them.
The medical droid approached, poking him with an electronic probe on each fingertip. Each finger curled in response to the stimulation.
Padmé crossed to him, taking his right hand in hers.
He lifted his left hand and touched her face, feeling the smoothness and contour of his wife. He lifted his head, noticing Luke outside the room staring through the glass wall. Stormtroopers surrounded the boy, hiding and protecting him with their armor.
Anakin pulled his arms down and lifted himself from the table, straightening his legs slowly. He took one stiff step, not bending his knees, and then another. By the fifth step, he bent his knee, but then fell to the floor. He had not straightened the leg properly before lifting the other.
Padmé and the med techs rushed to him.
He pushed them away. "I can do this on my own. Balance is tricky the first time, as I recall."
His wife stayed back as she watched Anakin lift himself with his arms and legs, regaining his balance slowly. Master Yoda stood by, ready to help with the Force if needed.
Anakin lifted his leg again, bending the knee. After a few steps, he no longer stumbled. Exhausted, he sat back on the table.
The doctor said, "Very good, Master Skywalker. At this rate, we should be able to release you in a few days."
"I'm leaving now," Anakin said with a heaving breath. "Get me a hover chair."
"What about payment? This medical center is a private entity."
Padmé said, "I'll go get the credits."
Anakin looked at her, questioning.
"Ever since Tatooine, I always carry enough credits to buy a ship, or a husband, in this case."
"I love you."
"I know," she said, kissing him lightly on the cheek.
"Take a squad with you." Anakin climbed into the hover chair a medical droid had procured. "And send Luke to me."
Within a half hour, the group had returned to the Silver Streak.
Captain Piett spoke via the comm unit from the Executor. "Your orders have been carried out to the fullest, Lord Vader. I have a stormtrooper squad bringing you the package before we depart. What are your orders?"
"Move the fleet to Brentaal. That position will put them within striking distance for our next move. I will be heading to a classified location for a few days. I will contact you when the operation commences. Meanwhile, double the drills."
"Yes, my lord."
Anakin turned to Obi-Wan. "Have you swept the ship for tracking devices?"
"Of course." Obi-Wan grinned. "Found three of the nasty bugs. Just wish Artoo were here."
"You and me both." Anakin smiled as he started the launch procedures.
Padmé allowed Luke to press the buttons from the co-pilot's seat, lifting them into space with an Imperial fleet behind them. Once they had reached the Polis Massa jump point just outside of the asteroid field, Luke pushed the button sending them into hyperspace toward Alderaan.
After they were underway, Anakin pushed up from his seat with his arms and stumbled to the turbo lift. Obi-Wan stood by, waiting to catch him if he fell.
"Padmé," Anakin called. His wife settled Luke in her seat and joined her husband. He wrapped his left arm around her shoulders and pulled her head in close to him.
"Hey, where are you going?" Luke asked. "Can I come?"
Anakin looked back at his son, a strange smile on his face. "No."
Obi-Wan grinned as he saw a gleam in Anakin's eyes. "You will stay here with Master Yoda and me to continue your training, youngling. I think it's time to teach you the Soresu form of saber fighting."
"Yay!" Luke screamed as the turbo lift doors slid shut.
Padmé turned to her husband in the lift, stroking his face. "Is everything all right, Anakin? No problems with the limbs?"
"No," he said with a slight moan. Anakin lifted his right hand, running his fingers down Padmé's arm, as he ran his left hand through her hair. He tilted his head, pressing his lips to hers.
Her hands reach up behind his head, returning the embrace. Anakin's lips moved down her neck as the turbo lift door opened on the royal cabin. He stumbled while they walked to the bed, and he fumbled with the clasp to Padmé's dress.
She moved his hands and undid the clasp hurriedly. His hands pulled the gown over her shoulders, letting it drop to the floor, before she pulled off his tunic.
"You sure you're ready for this, Anakin?" Padmé asked.
"It's been eight long years. Don't stop now." Anakin beamed, his eyes twinkling as he leaned his wife back on the bed. He teased her gently with his mouth and fingers, just like he remembered she enjoyed, just like he had dreamed of for the last eight years.