A/N: Thank you all for the amazing reviews! They keep me going, and I'm so glad that there seems to be appreciation for this story. I hope I can keep your interest up. Sorry for the longer wait this time.

Just a little heads-up. This chapter changes POVs quite a lot. And mixes them a bit, too. But I needed this to be from all angles.

Chapter Twenty-Five

TRUST

.:Saleucami, aboard the Exodus:.

Coming out of hyperspace, an apprehensive atmosphere fell aboard the Exodus. Piett and the troopers weren't too enthusiastic about flying into the mouth of the dragon and the mercenaries didn't want to become involved with something they had never wanted to get involved with. Still, no one said a word of complaint. The bounty hunters had received their compensation (and Zito was a man of his words), and the Imperials still trusted their commander.

His powers were frightening, his tactics were bold and he could be tougher than durasteel, but those who had served under his command (and survived) knew that there was more than plain cruelty behind his actions. He demanded the best of efforts from his men, but he also did the same with himself. That's why Rex and his brothers trusted Anakin Skywalker. He was going to put himself right in the crossfire with them. Neither as Sith nor Jedi would Skywalker run. And Piett knew that, too.

Luke, on the other hand, didn't share the same confidence. He had no idea what kind of man his father was. As he restlessly paced back and forth, the young Jedi knew that Obi-Wan could sense his worry, and in return he could sense Obi-Wan's. What neither of them realized, however, was that from the cockpit Anakin could sense that both Jedi's concerns were directed at him.

What would the former Sith Lord do?

Anakin could sense Luke's apprehension, but unlike his connection with Obi-Wan, he wasn't quite sure about his son's train of thought. His old Master, however, was as clear a case as any. Obi-Wan knew that Anakin could easily continue the ruse of being Skye Starkiller (it was probably the most tempting alternative), but just as easily he could decide to be his unpredictable self and disembark the Exodus wearing the mask of Darth Vader.

Obi-Wan wasn't so sure if either alternative appealed to him much. Either way, things could go terribly awry. Anakin's earlier confession troubled him deeply – not because of its nature, but because of what its nature implied. There was more to the story. Obi-Wan was sure of that. After all, what did he know of what had transpired on Coruscant at the end of the war? All he knew was what he had been told. He had been on Utapau, chasing down a droid general, while his brother and best friend had been falling deeper and deeper into the clutches of the dark side…

Until what?

Maybe Obi-Wan even knew the answer, and just kept denying it.

"Alright, we're approaching the rebel fleet." Anakin said, his surprisingly calm voice finally breaking the tension. "Obi-Wan, I think it's best if you and Luke communicate with the Alliance."

"Yes." Obi-Wan said with a nod. "And let's keep the details out of the equation… for now."

Luke carefully looked at his father and to his surprise he wasn't met by the cold, unyielding gaze he had been given on Selonia, or the distant, blank stare he had had to deal with since leaving the Executor. Now, Anakin's eyes were strangely sad, and tired, as if he was about to do something he didn't want to, but knew that he had to. And when he met Luke's gaze, there was nothing but resilience in his stare.

For a brief moment, however, Luke could see the cracks. They were barely visible, but they were there. Small hairline fractures that little by little started to unveil the mind and heart of Anakin Skywalker. And he was tired.

No, exhausted.

Quite aware of Luke's thoughtful stare, Anakin casually walked up to Obi-Wan, keeping his back to Luke and his voice low. "Do me a favor, would you?"

Obi-Wan frowned. Anakin rarely asked for anything. He usually demanded.

"Tell him everything I told you."

"Oh no, old friend. You'll get that pleasure."

Anakin sighed. "I don't think so."

Obi-Wan's frown deepened. "What do you mean? You're not planning on pulling a fast one when we land?"

Anakin chuckled. "No."

Realization hit Obi-Wan, filling him with relief. "You're going to let them know who you are? That's what concerns you?"

"I wasn't planning to… but I'm getting a bit tired of this game. And I can't avoid this forever."

Before realizing what he was doing, Obi-Wan put a reassuring hand on Anakin's shoulder. Anakin gave him a quizzical look in response, but didn't pull away from the touch.

"I'm glad about that. But remember… you still owe me the rest of the truth."

Anakin grimaced, reminding Obi-Wan of a much younger (and wilder) Anakin. "That… is not just up to me."

Before Obi-Wan could ask what he meant, Luke called from the cockpit. "Ben?"

"Yes, I'll be right there, Luke." Patience, young one.

From behind him, Obi-Wan could hear Anakin's stifled chuckle. "I think I have heard that one before..."

Obi-Wan smiled to himself. Like father, like son.

Then, with a sudden sinking feeling washing over him, Obi-Wan turned to look at his former apprentice. And to his own surprise, his voice sounded strangely weak – as if it was trying to hold back every emotion that had been building inside him for the past two decades.

"Anakin, do you trust me?"

If the question had caught him off guard, Anakin didn't show it. And there was no hesitation or underlying deception in his short and simple answer. "Yes."

-0-0-0-

.:Home One:.

"General Skywalker and Master Kenobi have requested to land in the main hangar." Vebb, the Captain of Home One announced as she walked up to the Alliance leaders. "Shall I clear them?"

Mon Mothma looked up from studying the holo-maps of the star system. "Did you manage to run an identity check on the ship?"

"Yes, ma'am." The Mon Calamari said a bit uncertainly. "They've disengaged the cloaking device."

"And?"

"The ship's captain is a mercenary. Kenobi seems to have acquired his services on Tatooine."

Leia frowned. "Are you sure we can trust this brigand?"

"Brigands, Princess." Captain Vebb corrected. "Our scanners detected eighteen life forms aboard that ship…"

Now even Mon Mothma frowned as she turned towards the Jedi Masters. Master Yoda, however, eased her suspicions before she could voice them.

"Danger, I sense not. Trust these mercenaries… and Master Kenobi's judgement you can."

Mon nodded. "Then clear them, Captain Vebb."

Vebb nodded and walked back to her station.

When Mon Mothma turned her attention back to the holo-maps, Leia took her leave and headed towards the main hangar. She didn't know why, but she felt like something wasn't quite right. Not that anything was wrong either. Just not… right.

Reaching for her comlink, she called Han. "Luke will be here in a minute, flyboy."

"Copy that, Princess." Han responded cheerfully with Chewbacca growling in the background. "I'm already in the hangar. The Falcon's deflector shields got fried during the battle."

Leia rolled her eyes. "Remind me not to volunteer for your next mission."

"She'll be alright." Then his voice grew more serious. "Hey, good thing Luke got out of that mess. Never thought I would say this, but that old fossil certainly is full of surprises…"

Leia shook her head, cutting off the transmission. The strange feeling had intensified at the mentioning of Master Kenobi – as if the Force had quietly tried to correct Han's words.

Shaking her head in frustration, Leia tried to focus on something else. It wasn't like she knew how to interpret the Force anyway. Maybe it wasn't even the Force that was speaking to her. Maybe she was just getting paranoid.

As she walked through the doors of the main hangar, Han joined her. "Why is it that your brother gets a grand welcoming, but I never do?"

"I don't know. Perhaps that's because we usually share a ride on that scrap pile of yours."

Han's grin faded. "Hey, that hurts my feelings."

Leia bit her lip. She knew that she hadn't exactly been fair to Han for the past several days (maybe even weeks), but she had been far too stressed out to deal with anyone but Luke. She hadn't even been able to fully confront her father... no, adoptive father. Eventually she would have to share everything with Han... and not just her and Luke's parentage... but it would have to wait. First, she wanted answers. And she wanted to meet the woman Luke had had the fortune of meeting – theirmother.

Waiting for the ship to dock, Leia glanced behind her and noticed that she wasn't the only one interested in welcoming the foreign ship. The Jedi Masters had entered the hangar as well, and behind them, Lando was approaching with quick strides. Even Chewie stopped working on the Falcon as the sleek stealth ship silently landed aboard the Home One.

-0-0-0-

As the ship landed, Mace Windu stopped in his tracks. The Force was calling out to him – sending currents of warning. As the others approached the ship, Windu closed his eyes and opened them again when Master Yoda halted beside him.

"Skywalker... he's on that ship."

Yoda turned his green eyes towards the Exodus. "Yes. Sense him, I do. But different his presence is…"

Mace frowned. "Still?"

"Careful we must be. The dark side I sense not… but stable, Skywalker may still not be. And a danger there is… with his children and the Alliance."

Mace nodded. "Let us hope that Skywalker realizes this, too."

"Yes." Yoda's ancient eyes fell on Princess Leia who was striding up to the ship as the rear hatch lowered.

-0-0-0-

Before disembarking, Obi-Wan gave Luke a nudge. "Let's not make this more difficult than it already is."

"Agreed."

And he did agree. But when Luke tried to relax, he couldn't. His father hadn't said anything about his intensions, and even though Luke suspected that he had told Obi-Wan, he didn't know what to believe anymore. Darth Vader's coded message to Bail Organa had been the final seed. And when neither Master Yoda nor Master Windu had seemed surprised, Luke had begun to wonder: what really lay behind his father's turn to the dark side?

If he didn't turn himself in now, would they ever find out? And if Luke intervened, what would happen to Anakin? Ironically, Luke found himself facing the same dilemma as on Selonia: to trust or not to trust his father?

He broke my trust before...

As Luke stepped out of the ship, the first thing he noticed was Leia's stubborn scowl and he couldn't help breaking into a grin. Apparently some things never changed. However, her expression quickly turned to relief when Luke strode towards her, no worse for wear.

After embracing her brother, she studied him closely. "Are you alright? You look…"

"I'm fine. Save for a few bruises."

"Hello, Leia." Obi-Wan said, walking up to the twins. He was well aware of the fact that Master Yoda and Master Windu were approaching, quickly followed by Masters Koon and Secura. Behind him – still aboard the Exodus – Obi-Wan could sense Anakin's frustration. He had failed to mention that four Jedi Masters awaited him aboard the rebel flagship.

"Master Kenobi." Leia said with a polite smile, turning Obi-Wan's attention back to the present. "It's been too long."

Obi-Wan could see in her eyes that she was searching for answers about Darth Vader. How much does she know? "It's good to see you again... under less dire circumstances."

Leia crossed her arms and in that moment it struck Obi-Wan how immensely alike Anakin she was. More proof of the fact that looks can fool you.

"So, what kind of scum have you brought with you, Master Kenobi?"

"Scum?" A booming voice said from behind Obi-Wan. Jixton. "Someone's jumping a bit ahead of herself here. That's certainly no way to greet new friends."

"Friends, huh?" Leia responded with a raised eyebrow. "And you would be...?"

"Wrenga Jixton, at your service. And you are Leia... Organa, I presume?"

"That's Princess Leia to you, pirate."

"Ouch." Jixton said with a chuckle. "Remind me not to argue with you in the future."

As the rest of the mercenaries walked out of the ship, Leia's gaze fell upon six of them: all identical. And behind them walked a man wearing the traditional uniform of... an Imperial officer?

"What? That's..."

"Oh, not to worry." Obi-Wan cut in, sensing both Leia's and the other Jedi Masters' unease at seeing the clones. "They aren't loyal to the Empire. They're with us now..."

"You brought Imperials, here?"

"Former Imperials..." Obi-Wan said with a sigh, knowing too well where this was heading. She was Anakin's daughter after all.

"They are stormtroopers."

"Leia, listen..." Luke began, but Leia was already raising her blaster.

"Don't." A deep voice called and the blaster flew out of Leia's hand before she could aim.

The confusion that followed was astounding. As the blaster landed in an outstretched gloved hand, Master Windu ignited his purple sabre. Sensing the outbreak of a heated situation, Obi-Wan stepped in front of his former apprentice, but in his heart he knew that it was already too late. The Jedi Masters knew exactly who the man behind him was. Aayla and Plo reached for their weapons, and upon sensing a possible threat, Lando and Han reached for their weapons, which led to the ignition of the blood red blade.

When the red lightsaber hummed to life, the rebels reacted on instinct and several blaster shots ricocheted towards the former Imperials. Darth Vader's lightsaber returned every shot, sending the laser fire away from its intended targets. Nothing more. No attack. Nothing.

And through it all, Master Yoda remained where he was – leaning on his gimer stick, his green eyes curiously studying the disguised Anakin. He had no intension on interfering. There was no need.

"Cease your fire!" Mace Windu called, stepping forward. "Skywalker, drop it!"

"Master Windu... we meet again at last." Anakin said with a cold smirk. Even though he wasn't surprised to see the older Jedi, he had to admit that he would have preferred to avoid this reunion. Dealing with the Alliance was bad enough.

"Yes. So it seems. Now lay down your sword."

"Or what?" Anakin asked curtly. "You're the last person I'll take orders from..."

Obi-Wan unconsciously moved his hand closer to his lightsaber. His eyes fell upon Luke who was slowly reaching for something by his utility belt.

"Anakin, please..." Obi-Wan started, but he got no further before Anakin suddenly let out a suppressed hiss. As if something had suddenly struck him.

Falling to his knees, Anakin's gaze fell upon his son. "Luke... what...? No."

His lightsaber tumbled to the ground and in that instance, a single blaster shot fired and Anakin Skywalker collapsed to the floor.

A/N: There's a cliffhanger for you! In honor of Episode VII. ;) And I knooow, it's been a while since I've mentioned the device that was put around Anakin's wrist on Selonia, but it's still there. And you know, some things are better left to be read between the lines... instead of repeatedly over-explaining things (like I'm doing now! Oh well, irony is sweet).