Author's Note: Again thank you to all of my loyal readers and reviewers. You are awesome!
For those of you who read my short story, "Destiny Revealed – A Short Story", it seems to be unanimous that I write a sequel to it. Although, I have decided to write the sequel in a series of short stories so I'm not bogged down with yet another large story to write; and all of you, as my readers, will also get some kind of conclusion instead of being left on yet another evil cliffhanger. The sequel will be done as one story, but each chapter (or sometimes every 2-3 chapters) will be its own short story, sort of like on the Clone Wars TV series. I hope you like this format once I start it; but for now, I thought I should update this story since it's been over a month. So sorry about that.
As for "Chance for Atonement", I was asked about what I am going to do about the fact that at the end of the "Clone Wars" season 5 finale, Ahsoka left without both of her light sabers. I had written the chapters where I mentioned her still having her light sabers before I had seen any of season 5, so I have decided for the sake of this story, she did leave WITH her light sabers. It is AU after all, so I'm going to leave it "as is" instead of rewriting those parts of the story.
Ok...so now on with the continuation of this story...
Chapter 28
Thunderflare Interrogation Room One
Ahsoka looked up as she heard the door to the interrogation room open again to reveal the dark, ominous presence of her former master. She noted upon his arrival that the light aura she sensed from him upon their initial meeting was now clouded with, not necessarily darkness, but with fear and uncertainty. She looked at Anakin, who was just standing inside the door, with dread as he just stood there staring at her through the lenses of the black mask. "So...what did you find out?" Ahsoka asked just after the door shut behind Anakin.
Anakin sighed in response as he stepped forward and started to remove the helmet followed by the mask. He set them on the table as he sat down at the table in silence.
Ahsoka became alarmed. "What's wrong? It's Lux, isn't it? He's dead." She asked hesitantly as tears started to form in her eyes at the thought of her worst fears coming true.
Anakin immediately looked up at her with compassion written on his face. "No. I don't know, Ahsoka. They are looking into his whereabouts as we speak."
Ahsoka let out a sigh of relief as she looked down and then up at Anakin again. She tilted her head to one side and crossed her arms in front of her chest as she noticed Anakin was looking away in shame. "Then what's wrong? What's going on?"
Anakin turned his head and looked her straight in the eye. "Master Windu is alive, Ahsoka...and arrangements are being made to bring him aboard this ship."
"That's good news, right?" Ahsoka asked as her eyes lit up. "That means there's one more Jedi left alive in the galaxy who can help us rebuild the New Jedi Order."
Anakin shook his head as he looked down in shame again. "I guess it would seem that way...to you, wouldn't it? Good news, that is." He paused as he gazed up at his former padawan again. "But he was there when I fell to the Dark Side, Ahsoka. I prevented him from killing Palpatine. He will never forgive me for that. He will never trust me at all after that." He sighed as he ran his right hand over his eyes and looked at her again. "I am having him brought aboard the Thunderflare. He was injured at the prison where he was being kept on Derilyn." He paused again as he looked down and then up again. "It was the least I could do for him after all that I did to him and to the Jedi."
Ahsoka nodded as she looked away sadly, understanding Anakin's dilemma. Her eyes then went across the table towards him again. "But you are saving him from his imprisonment. That must mean something to him, right?" She asked with a weak smile, trying to make him feel better about the situation in her own way.
Anakin shook his head sadly in response and Ahsoka's face dropped. "But will it be enough? He never trusted me from the moment I was brought in front of the council by Qui-Gon Jinn at age 9. He had always been adamantly against me being trained as a Jedi. My turning to the Dark Side will only justified his initial misgivings about me."
"I don't know, Anakin. I can't speak for him." Ahsoka paused as she looked at Anakin with sympathy. "But if he is truly a Jedi, he will forgive you. It is the Jedi way."
Anakin weakly smiled back at her. "I hope you are right, Ahsoka. I truly hope you are right." He replied just as he heard the comm go off in the interrogation room again. He sighed heavily and proceeded to put the mask and helmet back on his head. He got up from his chair and walked over to the comm on the wall, pushing the button to accept the call. "Yes." 'Vader' replied through the vocorder.
"I just got word, Milord, that...Darth Vonateus' quarters are now ready on the same level as your quarters, Sir." Piett informed him. "She is to be in cabin 580."
"Thank you, Piett." 'Vader' replied as he looked up at Ahsoka who was smiling warmly back at him. "I will take her there myself.
"Very well, Sir. Piett out." Piett replied and then ended his transmission.
'Vader' then walked over to the door to open it and looked back at Ahsoka. "Come. I will escort you to your quarters."
Ahsoka sadly nodded and then got up from her seat, following Anakin out into the corridor. Anakin escorted Ahsoka to her new quarters in silence the entire way as they rode up the lift and then walked down the hall. He stopped in front of her door and opened it just as they arrived there. He turned to her and warmly smiled at her from behind the mask. "I will give you time to get settled in and will make sure your ship is also brought aboard so you can retrieve the rest of your belongings." He paused. And, of course, as soon as I hear anything about your husband, I will contact you."
Ahsoka nodded her head. "Thank you." She replied, in case anyone was within listening distance. "I look forward to serving you, my master."
"Good." 'Vader' replied as he smiled from behind the mask. "You will make a fine apprentice, Vonateus. We will start your training in the ways of the Dark Side as soon as it is possible."
"Thank you, Lord Vader." Ahsoka replied as she bowed her head and then winked back at him as she rose again to her full height. 'Vader' nodded his head and then left her with a swirl of his cape while Ahsoka crossed her arms in front of her chest. She simple sighed and turned to enter her new quarters, letting the door shut behind her.
'Vader' then proceeded to the end of the corridor where he knew his quarters would be located, as they were located in basically the same place in every ship in the fleet. He pushed the button to open the door and stepped inside, noticing the spherical pod sitting in the center of the room. He let out a loud sigh of disgust from the mask. I need to have Piett arrange for better accommodations for me than this. He thought to himself as he looked around his spartan quarters that contained only his meditation sphere and a desk with a computer terminal.
He then proceeded to walk over to the meditation sphere and opened it, deciding he needed to get some rest and meditate on this new development of Master Windu being alive. He stepped into the sphere and sat in the leather chair in the middle of it, hating the idea of being in one of these pods again. But, in a way, he seemed to find it strangely comforting as he closed the sphere and activated the claw mechanisms to remove his helmet and mask. Perhaps because it was the only place he could feel more human than cyborg during those dark years of his life. He took a deep breath, breathing in the oxygen rich atmosphere, and leaned back against the headrest, closing his eyes. It wasn't long until he found himself lulled into a deep state of mediation.
"Lord Vader, can you hear me?" Darth Sidious asked his new apprentice who was strapped to the upright operating table in his new black armor and mask.
"Yes, My Master." Darth Vader groggily replied as he noticed his voice sounded mechanical instead of natural. He raised his head and tried looking around the room. "Where is Padme? Is she safe, is she all right?"
Darth Sidious moved closer to Vader's left side with his black hood almost completely covering his face. He faked a sad expression as he looked up at Vader. "I'm afraid she died. ... it seems in your anger, you killed her."
A groan of extreme anguish emanated from the mask of the cyborg as everything in the room began to implode around him. "I couldn't have! She was alive! I felt her! She was alive! It's impossible! No!"
Anakin woke with a start, discombobulated as tears were falling down his cheeks. He noticed he was in his mediation chamber and began to weep as he looked around. Was it all just a wonderful dream and this is still my reality? He asked himself with dread as he reached over with his right hand to remove the glove from his left hand. He let out a sigh of relief when he noticed that his left hand was human again and even more so when he reached up with that same hand to feel there was hair on top of his head. "Thank the Force! It wasn't just a dream." He exclaimed out loud as a smile of happiness spread across handsome features.
At that moment, he heard his personal comm chirping inside of his cloak, so he reached in to retrieve it and activate it. He was immediately met with the concerned face of his son. "Father, are you ok? I felt your distress all the way from here." Luke asked with fear in his eyes as Anakin looked at his son with love.
"It was just a bad dream, Luke." Anakin tried to assure him. "It's just this place and being back in this mask. It's bringing up a lot of bad memories. It's nothing to worry about. I'm fine."
Luke looked back at his father with compassion. "I'm sure it is." He then paused as he sensed there was something more his father wasn't telling him that was deeply troubling him beyond the nightmare he had just experienced. "But that's not the only thing bothering you, is it?"
Anakin shook his head. "No." He admitted as he looked down and then up at Luke, thinking perhaps talking with Luke about Master Windu being alive might help him work through what to do about him. "Luke, we found another Jedi."
Luke smiled back at his father with excitement. "Yes, I know. Mother told us about you finding your former padawan learner...Ahsoka is her name?"
Anakin smiled and nodded. "Yes...we did find her too...but I mean...we found another Jedi."
Luke looked back at him with shock. "Another Jedi? Where?"
"He was being kept in isolation in a prison here at Derylin. He is one of the original Jedi Council members. His name is Mace Windu." Anakin informed his son glumly.
Luke became concerned as he noticed his father's demeanor. "Then why aren't you happy about this?"
Anakin sighed. "It's a long story...but let's just say that he and I have a lot of history. And my fall to the Dark Side didn't help matters." He paused. "I am having him brought on board the Thunderflare to the med bay. I understand he hasn't had a very pleasant stay at the prison, and I sense that he is in need of a great amount of medical care." He paused, taking a deep breath and letting it out before continuing. "He will certainly have no love for me when he sees me. That's for sure." He told Luke as he pinched his nose with his left hand. "I don't know what to do with him, Luke. He was a very strict Jedi master and will be adamantly against us allowing attachments in the New Jedi Order, especially after he finds out it was my attachment to your mother that drove me to the Dark Side in the first place."
Luke sighed as he looked down and then up at his father. "But your attachment to me also brought you back to the Light Side of the Force. He can't deny that."
Anakin closed his eyes and then opened them again as he contemplated what Luke just said. "I suppose. But he's very stubborn and I doubt that will be enough proof for him to believe that attachments should be permitted."
Luke sighed. "Well, let's not worry about that right now. Why don't we meet somewhere, so I can bring him to Coruscant for treatment. It sounds to me like keeping him on your ship isn't going to help your emotional state and we need you focused in order to pull this off."
Anakin couldn't help but let out a snort. "No, it will not." He paused. "And you're right...as always." He said with warm smile. "You are your mother's son. Do you know that? She was always right too."
Luke just laughed. "Ahh...but I'm a lot like you too, to the dismay of Obi-Wan, I'm sure."
Anakin laughed in response. Luke did always manage to make me feel better. He thought to himself. "Yes, I'm sure he's horrified at the thought." He replied with a loving smile back at his son.
"Ok. It's settled then. As soon as you are able, we will meet on Tatooine."Luke stated as Anakin looked at him with disgust at the mention of his least favorite planet in the galaxy. "Before you say anything. I know what you're thinking. Why Tatooine? I know...I sense your dislike for that planet too. But we both know the planet and it will be the perfect place to rendezvous without anyone asking any questions."
Anakin let out a huff as he looked away and then back at his son's flickering, blue image, knowing he was right. "Ok. I see your point. But I still don't like the idea of setting one foot on that dust bowl again. The sand just gets everywhere, including places you never thought it ever could."
Luke just laughed. "I know what you mean, believe me." He replied as father and son enjoyed sharing the camaraderie from something they both had in common with each other from their youth.
Anakin couldn't help but smile as his son's remark. "I'll contact you when I know when we can depart from here with him."
Luke nodded his head with a smile. "Ok, Father. I'll await your comm call."
"I love you, Luke." Anakin replied with love in his eyes. "May the Force be with you."
"I know you do, Father. I love you too." Luke replied with equal warmth. "May the Force be with you as well. We'll talk again soon."
Anakin simply nodded with a smile as both men ended their transmission. It was then that his personal comm started chirping again, so Anakin answered it immediately without replacing his mask and helmet. "Yes, what is it?" He asked without identifying himself in fear of who may be listening.
"Sir." Piett's voice could be heard over the comm. "I just wanted to inform you that Master Windu has just arrived on board and is being taken to the medical bay as we speak." He paused. "You were right, Sir, he is severely injured."
Anakin let out a sigh. "Ok, Piett. I will meet you there shortly."
"Very good, Sir." Piett replied and then ended the transmission.
Anakin just sat in his chair, staring at the inner walls of the meditation sphere, dreading the not so good encounter he was bound to have with Master Windu. This is not going to be pleasant. He thought to himself as he pushed the button to return his mask and helmet over his head and then proceeded to open the pod. Let's get this over with.
Thunderflare Medical Bay Observation Room
'Vader' entered the observation room where he found Piett watching the doctors working on the old and severely beaten Korun Jedi Master. Both men looked on with dismay as they noticed the extent of his injuries and feeling relieved that they at least got him away from those sadistic Imperial prison guards before they did anything else to him. "How is he? Have they told you anything about his condition yet?" 'Vader' asked Piett as he crossed his arms in front of his chest and continued to watch with Piett through the two-way mirror.
Piett shook his head. "Too early to tell, Milord."
'Vader' let out a sigh as he reached out with his right hand to close the door and kill any security camera feeds in the room. He turned to Piett. "I just spoke with my son, Luke; and he has offered to meet us on Tatooine, so he can take Master Windu back to Coruscant."
Piett turned to look at 'Vader' with his arms clasped behind his back, not totally surprised by this suggestion. "Perhaps that is for the best under the circumstances. He would get much better care on Coruscant than we could ever provide him here on this ship."
'Vader' nodded. "Yes...I agree." He paused. "And the farther away he is from me, the better. He was there when I fell to the Dark Side." Anakin explained. "I kept him from killing Palpatine...and I'm the reason he is missing his right hand." He admitted, bringing the fact that Master Windu's right hand was indeed missing to Piett's attention.
Piett cringed. "Ouch! I guess he would be quite sore at you about that."
"That doesn't even begin to describe how he would feel about it." 'Vader' told him.
"Well, I will make arrangements for you to leave as soon as possible. Do you need me to delay the meeting with Governor Hul and his allies?"
"Poo doo." 'Vader' replied under his breath. "I forgot about that. Yes, please delay it for a few more days. He won't be happy, but I don't care."
Piett chuckled. "Well, you are the Emperor after all. You can do whatever you like."
Anakin smiled at Piett from behind the mask. "Indeed, you are correct, Piett." He then paused as he remembered his promised to Ahsoka about finding out information about her husband, Lux. "Have they sent us any information yet on the location of Lux Bonteri?"
Piett shook his head. "Not yet, Sir. But they did say that he had been there for a couple of years. Although, he had been transferred to the Kessel Mines penal colony after that. They are trying to contact them now to find out if he is still there."
'Vader' let out a sad sigh. "Of all the places, he would have to end up there. Ahsoka will not take this news very well."
"I would assume so, Sir." Piett agreed as a knock was heard on the door, causing both men to turn in that direction. Piett looked up into the lenses of the 'dark lord's' mask. "Perhaps they have a status report for us on Master Windu's condition."
'Vader' nodded his head. "Perhaps." He agreed as Piett walked over to the door and opened it.
The door opened to reveal one of the doctors they had just witnessed working on Master Windu a moment ago. She was a human female with bobbed, blond hair and brown hazel eyes. She seemed surprised to see 'Vader' standing in the room with Piett. "Lord Vader, I have come to give you a report on the Jedi's condition."
'Vader' nodded his head. "Continue."
The doctor gulped. "We have been able to stabilize him; but if he is to live, we will need to get him to a more advanced medical facility than what we have on this ship." She paused. "That is assuming that you want him to live, Milord?"
'Vader' and Piett exchanged a knowing glance before 'Vader' turned to look back at the doctor with his arms still crossed in front of his chest. "I want you to do what you can to keep him alive...so I can interrogate him, doctor."
"Y-yes, milord. We will do what we can." The doctor replied nervously.
"I wish to speak with him." 'Vader' told her as the doctor looked at him apologetically.
"Now, milord?" She replied with surprise.
"Yes, doctor, now." 'Vader' replied as he tried to appear as if he was becoming agitated.
"Um, yes, milord...but he is currently unconscious." The doctor informed him. "Do you wish me to revive him?"
"Will it be harmful to him if you do?" 'Vader' asked with curiosity.
The doctor shook her head. "Um, no, sir." She replied sheepishly as she turned to leave, causing 'Vader' and Piett to follow her into the operating room. She stopped only briefly to pick up a vial and a needle, filling the needle with the liquid and tapping it to remove all of the bubbles. "He should wake up in just a couple of minutes, Milord." The doctor informed both men as she injected the needle into Master Windu's arm and stepped back to wait for it to take effect.
A few moments later, they all watched in anticipation as they noticed Master Windu's eyes were moving under his eyelids and then his eyes snapped open with a start. "Where am I?" He asked in his deep voice as he started to look around the room and then his gaze fell upon the dark, ominous presence standing beside his bed. "So...we meet again." He stated as he glared at 'Vader'.
Oh Force!
Author's Note: Sorry for leaving you on yet another evil cliffy, but what can I say. I hope you enjoyed this update. :)
You probably also noticed some quotes from "Star Wars Episode III". Again not mine. Just playing...
