Author's Note: This is it! The big chapter that's title says it all. Everything changes here on out. Death, betrayal, and a father-son reunion ensure.

Chapter 36 responses:

dmitchell: Thanks. I know exactly what you mean about authors on this site and their delayed updates. I never much like it either, that's why I try to keep this up to date as much as possible. The longest you'll probably ever see me go on this without an update would be a week and a half. And if I intend to go on hiatus (as I may when this episode ends to edit VII) you'll be let known sometime in advance.

Twisted Words: Plenty of surprises are in store. I can promise you that.

Episode VI: The Golden Age of the Empire

Chapter 37: Everything Changes

The Imperial navy arrived outside Tatooine right on schedule. Lord Vader was in the bridge of Executor, looking out the forward viewport as they left hyperspace and came in orbit of the yellow planet. As ordered, the entire fleet moved as one to blockade the world. No ships would be allowed to enter or exit it until the Empire's work here was done.

Vader gave a sigh as he gazed out upon his homeworld. He'd never thought in a million years he'd return here, especially after his painful last visit eight years ago. The planet harbored far too many bad memories for him.

Perhaps that's why Kenobi choose to hide here, he found himself thinking. Because he knew I would never return unless it was absolutely necessary.

Once the blockade was in order, Vader's flagship was prepared. His and Arica's own flagship flew side by side onto the planet, escorted by four TIE Fighters. Vader had contacted Aurra Sing just before the fleet left hyperspace as instructed. They were to meet her on the outskirts of Anchorhead.

Since it 0200 on the planet at their arrival, Tatooine's two suns – Tatoo I and Tatoo II, were down, enfolding the planet in utter darkness.

Meeting Sing on the outskirts as planned, the two Imperial leaders exited their private flagships and were shown onto the bounty hunter's ship. On board, Sing informed them of the events that led up to the Kenobis finding while the two listened in quiet earnest. Afterwards, she showed them where the Kenobis lived on her ship's digital mapping system. Since it was a long ways off, the hunter had taken it upon herself to rent two speederbikes for the Sith. Both thanked her, but declined using them because of their loud engines. They would do better walking.

The duo parted from Sing's company a short while later, after giving the woman the order to stay put until called upon. They had her comm frequency so would contact her when ready.

It took about an hour to reach the Dune Sea, in which time Arica apologized to Anakin about how she'd treated him earlier. He waved it off, saying she needed her space and there was nothing to forgive. She protested however saying, that wasn't the point and no matter how she felt about the situation, she shouldn't have taken it out on him. To which Anakin quipped, "If it makes you feel any better, than yes I forgive you, Arica."

They'd then kissed and held hands the rest of the way, meeting no creatures or anything to challenge them.

When they came upon the Dune Sea, they followed it a ways north until coming across a medium-sized hill. At the top laid a small one-level shack of a hut.

The two exchanged a glance before heading up the hill. It wasn't that steep so they climbed it with ease. At the top they came across a small path that led to the hut. Following it, they went to the front door, but then circled around taking in the building's structure and surroundings.

The hut was built of hardened clay and rock and sat up against a higher mountain in the back. It was in this way that the hut was slightly hidden. It could only be seen from the front and side at the bottom, not at the back. With the exception of a speederbike, there was nothing else behind the hut.

Circling around to the front again, they used the Force to unlock the door and silently entered. They were inside a hallway with a kitchen straight ahead and an entranceway a few paces ahead to the right. No one was in the kitchen so they went for the entranceway. This led to a large sitting/living room. Two sofas were inside and a small Holovision. A few toys here and there and a few other things you might find in a living room such as a clock, which presently read 0334.

This time of morning is usually when people are asleep, so that's why the couple were slightly surprised to discover through the Force that while Obi-Wan and Antellica slept, their son Alexander was awake in the room ahead to the right. Because of this, Arica suggested to her husband telepathically that they take off their Sith cloaks as not to scare the boy.

"Now listen," she whispered, "we're not going to hurt the boy. Screw the Emperor's orders! Alexander is a simple boy who was born by...well, it's not his fault who his parents are."

"We'll just be nice to him," Anakin affirmed.

"Yeah, I mean...he's only four years old after all. Just follow my lead. I have a plan."

He nodded and they took off their cloaks.

Giving a nod of her own, they than headed for Alexander's room. The door wasn't shut all the way, simply cracked and a dim light could be seen through it. Giving the door a soft push, it opened silently.

Inside, they found a small boy of four playing with two action figures in the light of a small night-light. His back was to them, and from what they could tell, it looked as if the two toys he was playing with were engaged in some type of sword fight.

As the two entered further into the room, however, Alexander abruptly stopped playing. A millisecond later, a toy gun was in his hands and he was pointing it at the pair, who were nothing more then shadows to him.

"Whoever you are don't move!" the boy threatened.

His intention was noble, but the sight of a toddler pointing a toy gun, water pistol from the looks of it, at two Sith was a hoot.

"We're not going to hurt you little one," Arica said gently, coming further into the room and flicking her finger towards the lamp sitting on the nightstand next to the boy's bed.

It was the sound of her voice that made Alex lower his water gun. It sounded so familiar, yet not so familiar.

When the shadow of the lady flicked her finger towards his lamp and it then came on he blinked in shock, his mouth agape. Not over the fact that she'd just used the Force to turn his lamp on, but over her appearance. In spite of her hair being black, she looked almost exactly like his mother. Even the smile on her face was so much like hers.

"Who are you?" he asked cautiously. "And why do you look like my mommy?"

Arica's smile broadened over the fact that he recognized the resemblance. "You didn't know your mommy had a twin sister did you?"

Alex shook his head no. Arica wasn't surprised, though it saddened her slightly.

"Well that's who I am," she continued. "Your aunt Arica. Though you may simply call me Arica. I don't mind."

She crouched down on the floor in front of Alex and ran her fingers through his dirty blonde hair before than taking the boy, her nephew, into her arms in an embrace.

Notwithstanding the fact that his parents told him never to talk or socialize with strangers, Alex couldn't help but feel the same warmth he felt whenever his mother hugged him as Arica did this, and he hugged her back. That is until he saw another person in the room, hanging back somewhat. A young Human male from the looks of it. But he had a smile on his face and when he noticed Alex's stare, he waved and entered further in the room.

Feeling Alex stiffen in her embrace, Arica let go of him to see his eyes fixed on Anakin, who had just knelt on the floor as well.

"Hello Alexander," he said. "I'm Anakin, your uncle. Though you can just call me Anakin."

He stretched out a hand and Alex shook it. Anakin than ruffled his hair slightly. Alex's smile broadened. He liked these people.

"Are you mommy's brother?" he asked.

"No, no. Your aunt Arica and I are married, though I was something of a brother to her...before."

"But we haven't seen her for a while," Arica added. "She just left one day and never came back. This was before you were born of course."

"We've been looking for her the past four or so years now," Anakin continued the explanation. "So we're glad we finally found her. That's why we came here so early: to surprise her."

"Cool," Alex said.

"We didn't expect to find anyone awake at this hour," Arica said with a nod to Alex's digital clock that presently read 0340. "Shouldn't you be in bed little one?"

Alex shrugged. "Couldn't sleep."

"Bad dreams?" Anakin asked.

"Nah, I don't get those anymore," Alex said. "Just not tired."

"Ah."

Alex glanced back at Anakin again. There was something familiar about him too. He looked like someone he knew. And then it came to him. Luke.

"You remind me of someone," he said pointing at him.

"Oh?" Anakin asked, though he already had a good idea as to who it was. "Who's that?"

"My friend Luke."

"Do you go to school with him?" Arica asked.

"Yeah, he's a cool dude."

Alex was liking Anakin and Arica more and more the longer he talked to them.

"I wanna be a rock star when I grow up," he abruptly said.

"Really?" Arica asked. "That's cute."

Both Anakin and Alex raised eyebrows at her and exchanged a glance.

"Ah Arica, unless I'm wrong, I don't think being a rock star has nothing to do with being cute," Anakin said.

"Like totally man!" Alex exclaimed. "It has to do with rocking out in front of screaming fans."

Excitedly, he got up and showed them the toy guitar he got for his fourth birthday. "It's not real," he explained, "but it works well for now." He handed it to them and they looked at it.

"This is nice Alex," Arica said.

"It's not real," he protested.

"True, but you can always get a better one when you're older."

Alex's eyes lit up. "Yeah, and I can pass this one down to my little sister."

Anakin and Arica blinked in shock. "You have a sister?!" Arica asked, trying to keep her voice casual.

"Yeah, well she hasn't been born yet, but she will be soon. I want her to be a rock star too."

Anakin and Arica both laughed and Alex looked somewhat embarrassed.

"We're not laughing at you Alex," Anakin explained, and Arica nodded her agreement. "You seem happy about your little sister. And we're happy for you."

"Mommy says that when she's born I can teach her and stuff."

"And I'm sure you'll make a wonderful teacher," Arica said.

As Anakin and Arica continued to talk to their nephew about various things, Antellica abruptly awoke in the other room. Something was wrong. Something wasn't right. Something...no someone was in her house. Two someones. Tapping into the Force, Antellica looked to discover who they were. When she did, her entire body froze.

No, it's not possible!

It was her twin sister, Arica, and old best friend/current brother-in-law, Anakin. They were in Alex's room. They weren't hurting him, no; they seemed to be merely...talking to him. And when Antellica listened sharply in the silence of the early morning, she heard voices coming from Alex's room. But they were happy voices. Antellica didn't know what to make of this. She was scared, confused, and shocked. She wasn't sure if she should go to Alex's room to see what was going on or stay where she was. Surely, they'd come to hurt her, kill her along with her family. But if that was the case, why were they simply talking to Alex? To discover the location of Luke, perhaps? It was possible, but she wasn't entirely sure. Because of this, she dare not face the two of them alone. She'd feel much more comfortable if Obi-Wan was with her.

Leaning down to where he was lying next to her in bed, she gently shook him awake. "Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan, wake up!"

Obi-Wan groaned, but only moved his face deeper into the pillow.

"Obi-Wan, please. This is important!"

But he gave no notice of her urgings and slept on.

Becoming frustrated, Antellica got out of bed and put her pajama bottoms on. Collecting her lightsaber off the next-to-bed nightstand she went over to Obi-Wan's side and kicked him out of it. Yet instead of having him land hard with a thud on the floor, she jumped into the spot he was to land in. As Obi-Wan collapsed onto her, she moved his weight off her body and onto the floor beside her. He was wide-awake now, but before he could say anything, as she knew he wanted to, she placed a hand over his mouth.

"Listen closely Obi-Wan, now as we speak Anakin and Arica are inside Alex's room talking to him. Don't even dare say or think I'm out of my mind. Reach into the Force Obi-Wan, and you can feel them too, don't you?"

Finally she removed her hand from Obi-Wan's mouth. And the way he looked at her confirmed he felt them too.

In no time, he was off the floor and throwing clothes on. Antellica did the same, but took her time as she put on a black and gray top and simple black pants. It wasn't until she was done that she noticed Obi-Wan had put on one of his old Jedi robes.

Silently taking one of her hands into his own, Obi-Wan led Antellica out of the room. The doorway to Alex's room was a few paces ahead; the door was slightly open and the lamp on. From the sounds inside the room, it seemed that Alex was entertaining his guests by singing and playing his toy guitar. Peeping into the room through the door hedges, Obi-Wan and Antellica saw that was indeed what Alex was doing, while Anakin was playing to the beat of the song via Alex's drum set and Arica was having some of his stuffed toys dance around the room. The noise inside had gotten pretty loud. They were all singing along with Alex to his favorite song, "Corellia."

Both Obi-Wan and Antellica had to admit to themselves how shocked they were to see Darths Vader and Zenevieva, the two most feared Sith under the Emperor and Empress, in their son's room playing with him and his toys. All of this, of course, could be a trap as they both suspected. Nonetheless, under the noise of the 'music', Obi-Wan and Antellica darted past the doorway and strode into the living room. Interestingly enough, everything was as it had been when they left to go to bed a few hours previous. Motioning for Antellica to seat herself on the sofa, Obi-Wan stood against the wall next to the doorway that led to the kitchen and hut's only exit. Vader and Zenevieva couldn't stay in with Alex forever. Eventually, they would come out, and Obi-Wan and Antellica would be ready for them.

Not surprisingly, they didn't have long to wait, about five minutes, before the noise stopped.

"Let's go get something to drink," they heard Alex say to the Sith.

"Sure, why not?" said the voice of Zenevieva.

Vader remained silent, they guessed he only nodded or shrugged. Alex than gave a whoop for some reason. And as the three exited his room, they saw why. Vader was holding Alex in his arms, propped up on his left hip while Zenevieva was tickling Alex's neck. All three were smiling happily and laughing, oblivious to the other two people in the room. When Obi-Wan and Antellica were noticed, however, the smiles on Vader and Zenevieva's faces vanished. For a moment, the four simply stared at one another, with no one saying anything. Zenevieva's eyes were locked with Antellica's, Vader's with Obi-Wan's.

Alex glanced between his parents and new friends a moment and spoke. "Mommy, daddy, look whose here! And mommy, how come you never told me you had a twin sister? She's nice, just like you mommy. And pretty too."

"Aww, you're so sweet," Arica cooed, giving his hair a ruffle.

"Anakin's nice too," he added. "He taught me a few songs on my guitar."

Still Obi-Wan and Antellica said nothing. Though Antellica allowed a slight smile, Obi-Wan remained stone-faced. At last he spoke. "I don't know what nonsense you've filled my son's head with, but you can kindly put him down this instant."

"Now, now Obi-Wan," Arica said with a waving finger, "that's no way to greet your family. Because rather you want to admit to it or not, we are your family. As such, we have every right to spend time with Alex. We needn't bring our own children, of course, because they're a bit too small."

"Children?" Alex repeated. "You got kids?"

Anakin nodded. "A boy and a girl, but they're only fourteen months. Though they can walk and talk fairly well."

"Cool!" Alex exclaimed. "Can I meet them?"

"Absolutely not," Obi-Wan said before Anakin could answer.

"Now then Obi-Wan," Anakin said, his tone neutral. "Why the cold shoulder? We haven't seen you for over five years and this is the way you treat us." He made a few clicking sounds with his tongue. "Shame on you."

Obi-Wan bit back a sarcastic retort for Alex's sake. He did not wish to get on the Sith's bad side in front of him. Who knew what they'd do? So merely thinning out his mouth, he nodded to them, and said nothing.

Arica smirked. "You see, you can be nice when you want to be Obi-Wan." She then turned her attention to Antellica and smiled brightly. "Oh Antellica!" She opened her arms and made to hug her sister, but Obi-Wan quickly moved in front of her, blocking her path.

Arica forced herself not to get angry for Alex's sake. "What is your problem Kenobi? Am I not allowed to hug my sister?"

"Oh so I'm Kenobi now am I?" he snorted.

"Honestly, some people." She glanced over Obi-Wan's shoulder to look at her sister. "Antellica, tell your husband to step aside."

But Antellica didn't. She simply looked at Arica, her face void of emotion. Arica looked back at her a few moments, hurt that her sister wasn't even going to say one word to her, before flipping her hair over her shoulder and returning to Anakin's side.

"This is really good," Alex suddenly said. "What is it?"

"It's a special type of candy made only on Coruscant," Anakin replied.

"I'd like to go there sometime," Alex said and gave a yawn.

"Don't worry little one, when you wake up you will be on Coruscant." Anakin kissed his nephew's brow lightly and when he pulled away, it was seen that Alex was sound asleep.

"What did you give him?!" Antellica demanded in exclamation.

"Oh not to worry Antellica," he assured. "A simple sleeping draft wrapped in a namana flavored coating. Completely harmless. Know that I would never hurt your son."

"I don't believe that," Obi-Wan said.

Anakin rolled his eyes. "You're entitled to believe whatever you want Kenobi."

"I believe I asked you to take your hands off my son," Obi-Wan said in a tone that was close to anger.

Anakin gave a bitter laugh. "Indeed you did, but you should know better then most: I'm not simply a person who does as they're told." A brief pause went by before he continued. "My son Luke and daughter Leila. Where are they?"

Obi-Wan remained silent, as did Antellica but she was now looking fearfully between Anakin and Obi-Wan.

"I do believe I asked you a question Kenobi," Vader growled. "Where are my son and daughter?"

"Hidden," Obi-Wan said.

"Idiot!" Vader roared. "Do you not think I know that! You will tell me where my children are now or your son dies!"

"Oh no, please don't!" Antellica begged. "Don't hurt him, please! Anakin you wouldn't! You couldn't! I'd die if you killed him!"

Overcome with anguish, Antellica collapsed onto the floor before him, looking up at her one time best friend with pleading eyes.

Passing the sleeping form of Alex to Arica, Anakin bent down and collected Antellica into his arms, pulling her to her feet.

"I won't hurt him," he whispered as he gazed into her tear filled eyes. "And neither will Arica. But I need to know Antellica, where are they?"

"Take your hands off my wife," Obi-Wan said making to reach for her, but Arica whipped out a long knife and aimed it at Alex's throat.

"One more word Kenobi, and this blade will go into his throat."

"Oh no Arica! Antellica cried, turning to her sister. "Please don't!"

"So, now she speaks!" Arica said sarcastically.

Antellica merely continued to cry.

"Look at me Antellica," Anakin commanded. When she refused, he repeated, "Look at me!" He lifted her chin with his hands and looked into her eyes. "Antellica, please, I am asking you. I need to know. Where are my children? Please Antellica. I know you know where they are. Please."

As Antellica looked back into Anakin's eyes, she remembered the premonition she'd received while pregnant with Alex. In it, Anakin had asked her where his children were and she refused. In anger, he struck her to the ground. No doubt he'd do that now.

She didn't care that she was betraying Obi-Wan and Yoda's trust. She didn't care about any of it. All she wanted was the safety of her son and herself along with her unborn daughter. Because of this, she told him.

"Luke is living with your step-brother Owen and his wife Beru, while Leila is on the Outer Rim planet Dagabah with Yoda training to be a Jedi."

For a moment, Obi-Wan stood in shocked disbelief, refusing to believe what he'd just heard. Antellica willingly telling the Sith where the only hopes for the galaxy laid hidden. But soon after this, his voice finally came back to him. "Antellica, no! Antellica, how could you?!" It felt like Obi-Wan was learning of Antellica's betrayal of the Jedi all over again.

"Silence fool!" Arica spat and slapped him to the ground hard. After which, she gave him a hard kick in the head with her sharp-heeled boot. Obi-Wan blacked out into unconsciousness. Arica smirked down at him as she cuffed his hands. "And this time, there will be no escape for you."

Arica looked up to see Anakin smiling appraisingly down at her. He was still holding Antellica in his arms, but by now she was too distraught with emotion. She sobbed uncontrollably into Anakin's shoulder while he soothingly comforted her.

"It's all right Antellica. You did the right thing."

"But Obi-Wan-"

Anakin was quick to silence that sentence. "Shush! Don't you worry yourself with him. The important thing is you're safe. You, your son, and unborn daughter."

Antellica gasped. "How did you-"
"Alex told us," he replied. "But that's not the point. Antellica why didn't you tell us you were pregnant before? And how could you set Obi-Wan free like that? He is our enemy, not our friend."

Antellica continued to cry with grief. She didn't regret telling Anakin where his children were, but at the same time she knew she'd betrayed the Jedi one too many times. There would be no going back this time. But where did that leave her? The Sith wouldn't take her back. There was no place for her anywhere in the galaxy. It would be better if she simply died. She couldn't deal with it anymore. All the betrayals she'd done. She wanted to die. Then maybe she'd finally belong. Moving herself from Anakin's embrace, she knelt down on the floor before him and her sister and awaited the deathblow. But it never came.

Arica was utterly heartbroken to see her sister kneeling before she and Anakin as she awaited for them to kill her. Not able to take it any longer, she collapsed onto the floor beside her and swept Antellica into her arms. Despite the fact that this surprised her greatly, Antellica did not pull away from her sister but simply held her back just as tightly as Arica began to cry into her shoulder. Antellica found herself crying some more as well.

All of the hurt, anger, and animosity they'd once held towards one another was coming out as they cried and held each other. Never again would anything or anyone come between the two. The both of them would make sure of that.

As Anakin watched the Grievous twins and hold each other, he smiled softly down at them. The women were finally whole again.

Eventually running out of tears to cry, Antellica and Arica stopped and locked eyes. Brilliant smiles of happiness lit up both of their faces. Taking Antellica's hand into her own, Arica helped her to her feet. After hugging Anakin briefly, Antellica took a step back, deep breath, and spoke.

"I know the both of you have a lot of questions for me, and I'm more then willing to answer them. All I ask in return is that once I'm dead, you'll spare Alex's life and raise him as your own."

"Antellica, we didn't come here to kill you," Anakin said. "And I have no intention on doing so to you or Alex."

"But why?" she asked. "I betrayed the both of you and let myself fall in love with someone I knew I shouldn't have. And let him not only escape, but then lie about it saying I didn't know what happened. When I found out I was pregnant with his child, I got scared. I wanted to tell the two of you about it. I really did. I was just afraid over what you'd do to me. And if the Emperor found out, I'd be killed. So I ran away. I thought I could run away from my problems, never to be bothered with them again. But I couldn't. My problems remained. And as I lived my life here in exile, despite being happy, I couldn't help but regret all that I'd done. All the people I betrayed and lied to."

"And it's for that reason, Antellica, that we forgive you," Arica said. "But don't ever think you can't tell me something again; or Anakin for that matter. No matter what it is, know that we will not judge you. We'll always be here to help and guide you, giving you a shoulder to cry on if ever you need it."

Antellica smiled sadly. "You and Anakin may be quick to forgive me, but the Emperor-"

"Oh I wouldn't worry about him if I were you," Anakin said with a smirk. "He won't be around much longer."

Antellica was confused. "What do you mean?"

"Well you see Antellica, soon there will be a new Emperor and Empress to rule the galaxy." Anakin looked over at Arica and hooked his left arm around her neck. The Sith couple smiled proudly at Antellica who gasped.

"So you do mean to overthrow Sidious!"

"But of course we do, and he knows it. Why else do you think he married Charlotte and had a son with her?" he asked. "We wanted to assure that his Empire stays in his hands, or in the event that he's killed, the hands of his offspring." Anakin gave a sarcastic laugh. "I'm happy to say we have other plans."

"And that's where you come in Antellica," Arica explained. "If you help us dethrone Palpatine and his daughter, your name will be cleared and all charges against you shall cease. The bounties would be taken off your head and you'd be a free person again."

Antellica nodded, though still a little confused. It sounded nice, but... "But why are you choosing to dethrone him now that you've found me?" she asked. "Surely you haven't been waiting all these years just for me."

"Well no," Anakin confirmed. "But as you yourself said Antellica, the Emperor will not be so forgiving when it comes to you. He wants you dead and no apology you give is going to change his mind. Actually, I'm kind of glad we found you now. That way we don't have to wait a few more years to dethrone him."

Antellica nodded again, still not believing her good fortune. "But why are you doing this?" she asked softly. "The two of you must hate me."

"No Antellica." Both Anakin and Arica drew her close. "We don't hate you. We never have. Don't ever think that."

"We love you Antellica," Arica added. "More then that bastard Kenobi ever will."

"What will you do with him then? Now that you're dethroning the Emperor?" Antellica was simply curious.

Anakin sniffed. "He'll stand trial for his actions, be humiliated in front of the galactic public, yearn for and crave death, and eventually get his wish."

Antellica nodded and glanced over at the unconscious form of her husband. She sighed. "I don't know how I ever thought it could last."

Giving him one last look, she turned back to Anakin and Arica. "Do with him whatever you want. I really could careless."

Her voice was cold when she said this and a change seemed to come over her afterwards. Antellica Kenobi, loving wife to Obi-Wan Kenobi, no longer existed. That person was replaced by the former self of the Jedi turned Sith turned Jedi turned Sith again, Antellica Grievous. Darth Lady Veradisia had been reborn!

Anakin and Arica clapped Antellica approving on the back. "I couldn't have said it better myself," Arica said.

Antellica smirked. "Of course you couldn't have. You're not me."

Anakin and Arica both smirked in amusement, glad to have the old Antellica back.

"Let us be off," Anakin said. "And reclaim my son from this scum-filled planet of waste."

Antellica smiled as she took her own son within her arms. He was still out, but she knew he was fine.

"We can use the speeder out back," she suggested.

Once Anakin roughly picked Kenobi up off the floor, the three went out back and boarded the speeder. Anakin announced that before getting back Luke, they would return to where Aurra Sing was waiting for them and kill her. Once Antellica learned that Aurra Sing was Queen Amidala's old handmaiden, the arrogant nerf Yame Sing, she asked if she could be the one to kill hunter.

"Be my guest," Anakin said. "But follow my lead."

They arrived on the outskirts of Anchorhead a good ten minutes later. As expected, Sing was outside her ship waiting for them.

"Lord Vader, Lady Zenevieva," she greeted. "I see you have captured the traitors. Excellent."

"And we also know where my two children and Yoda are," Vader added as he roughly pushed Antellica out of the speeder.

Aurra seemed interested. "Really? How's that? Oh no, let me guess. This bitch," she pointed at Antellica, "broke down and told you."

Vader smirked. "You could say that."

Giving Antellica one last push forward, Vader looked Aurra up and down with a sarcastic smile. The bounty hunter looked slightly confused.

"I never got a chance to properly thank you for finding Kenobi, Sing. Please, allow me to do so."

The Sith gave a brief nod in Antellica's direction. What happened next seemed to take place at the speed of light. Antellica's wrists, which Sing thought were cuffed behind her back, suddenly came flying around to her front and the lightsaber that Aurra hadn't even noticed was clipped to the captive's belt came to life. The bounty hunter only received one glance at the activated orange blade before it was being cut into her throat.

The decapitated head of Aurra Sing fell to the ground with a thud a second later. Antellica looked down at the shocked expression head in satisfaction and gave it a hard kick across the ground. She'd forgotten how satisfying it felt to have the power to take life at will.

Deciding to simply leave the hunter's body lying dead in the middle of the desert, it was then decided that Antellica would keep Sing's ship and pose as the dead hunter until they reached the capital as not to arise suspicion in the fleet among the officers. Vader wanted his overthrowing of Palpatine to come as a surprise.

Since Antellica had requested to go back to the hut and collect her and Alex's belongings, Anakin decided that he and Arica would retrieve Luke themselves. He knew where the Lars Homestead was after all. He didn't need Antellica to show him. He'd been there once before when his mother died.

So while Antellica returned home with her still unconscious son – Anakin told her it would wear off in an hour or so – on board Sing's star cruiser, Hunting Girl, Anakin and Arica flew their flagships to the Lars' Moisture Farm.

It was close to dawn now – about 0420 – so a very dim light shone through the darkness of early morning. Landing the ships about ten meters from the entrance of the small igloo shaped home, the Sith couple exited their separate ships and barged into the house without even knocking, not that anyone would answer at this hour anyway.

Tapping into the Force, Anakin reached out for the familiar Force signature of his firstborn child. Surprisingly, it wasn't in the house or on the property anywhere, though he sensed it nearby. But before thoughts of Antellica's possible deceit could enter their minds, they found a room in the back – Cliegg and Shmi's old bedroom – that contained various things a small boy of almost five might find interesting: a model starship that looked to be handmade out of clay sitting on a little table, a stuffed toy bantha that sat on top a white blanketed tiny bed, and a toy train set that sat on the floor. There was also a little trashcan sitting next to the bed.

As strange as it was, Anakin found himself being drawn to look inside it. There was only one article in it. A balled up piece of paper. Calling the ball of paper to his hand, Anakin unballed it and gasped at what the paper showed. It was a hand drawn picture of a stick man with long yellowish brown hair. On either side of him were a little boy with the same color hair and little girl with dark brown hair. Underneath the picture the words "My family" was written in the scribbled handwriting of a toddler.

Anakin, for one of the first times in recent years, was at a loose for words. Despite the fact that Luke had only been two months when he was taken away from him, he still seemed to remember his father and twin sister Leila.

"That's beautiful," Arica whispered from beside him. Anakin glanced over his shoulder to see her looking over it at the picture. "You should keep it," she added.

He nodded. "I think I will."

Smoothing out the wrinkles, Anakin folded it into fours and placed it inside his pocket. He gave the room another look around before motioning for Arica to follow him out.

The presence of Luke continued to grow nearer the closer they got to the house's exit. Once outside, they saw why. A small little boy with a knapsack on his back was walking around the flagships, looking up at them in amazement, his mouth agape. Anakin knew instantly who it was. With a radiant smile he turned to Arica, who pushed him forward and said, "Go on!"

Not needing any further encouragement, he raced forward. The little boy noticed he wasn't alone anymore when Anakin was about halfway over to him. His eyes turned to one of fright and he began to run away.

"No Luke, don't run off!" Anakin called after him.

Abruptly the little boy stopped running and turned to look at him, his face full of suspicion. "Hey! How do you know my name?"

Anakin ignored the question. "Luke, come here. I promise I won't hurt you." He stretched a hand out towards the little boy. Still Luke didn't budge. On the contrary, he looked even more suspicious than ever.

"You never answered my question," Luke pressed. "How do you know my name?"

Anakin took a deep breath. Why was he so nervous all of a sudden? "Because...I'm your father."
For a moment, Luke simply looked at him as if he were crazy. But then, little by little, he began to edge closer to him, though still in suspicious hesitation. Anakin crouched down on the ground and opened his arms, beckoning his son forward.

After what seemed like an eternity, Luke was finally in front of him. For a moment, the two simply looked at each other. Anakin appraising how much Luke had grown over the past few years, Luke looking into the face of the person he'd been yearning for ever since he was a tiny baby.

"Daddy?" Luke asked.

Anakin smiled. "Yes son. It's me."

For another moment, Luke simply looked at him before then abruptly throwing himself into his father's arms, burying his head in his shoulder.

Holding onto his son tightly, Anakin rose from the ground and simply held him, spinning around a few times in his happiness.

Arica was overjoyed to see Anakin reunited with his son. It was all so wonderful.

"Hey! What's going on out here?!"

Both Anakin and Arica turned to see Owen and Beru Lars exiting the house. Owen even had a rifle raised. It was currently aimed at Anakin.

"I don't know who you are, but I'm going to have to ask you to release my nephew."

Anakin merely smirked. "Don't act like you don't recognize me Owen," he spat.

Owen lowered the rifle slightly at the sound of Anakin's voice. He squinted in the early morning light at him. His eyes widened. "Anakin? Is that you? I thought you were dead."

Anakin's eyes flashed with rage. "Is that what Kenobi told you?" he hissed out.

"Yes," Owen answered. "Yes it is."

"Well as you can see, I am very much alive and well, so I'll just be taking my son and be off then."

He and Arica made towards their flagships, but Owen stopped them by calling out. "Wait!"

Both turned to look at him, impatience plainly written across their faces. "Yes?" Anakin asked.

"Don't you wanna come in and talk?" Owen asked. "Catch up a bit."

Anakin's smile turned sarcastic. "I'm sorry dear brother, but I don't have time to simply waste my time among civilians. Good day!"

Again Anakin and Arica turned to leave, but this time Beru called out. "Won't you at least let Luke say goodbye?"

Anakin huffed. The longer they were delayed in going to Dagabah, the more time Yoda had a chance at escaping the planet undetected.

"We're kind of in a rush," he said irritably, "but being as Luke will never see you again-"

"What do you mean Luke will never see us again?" Beru asked in shock. "Surely he'll come back to visit every once in a while."

Anakin sniffed. "Tatooine is a desert planet of waste. What reason would he want to come back here?"

Luke took that moment to voice his agreement. "It sucks here. There's nothing to do."

Anakin smirked appraisingly down at him. "There you see."

"There's plenty to do," Owen began to argue, but Anakin cut him off as he spoke to his son. "If you wish to say goodbye to these people Luke, do so. But make it fast-"

"What's the rush?" Owen wanted to know. "Why are you so eager to take him away from us?"

"I have been searching the galaxy top to bottom for my children over the past almost five years," he growled out. "I have found Luke and am currently on my way to retrieve Leila. She is being held captive by a deformed Jedi freak. Only thing is, she may already be gone by the time we get there. We need to leave as soon as possible."

"I don't need to say goodbye then," Luke said. "I just need a few things from my room."

"Okay." Anakin lowered Luke to the ground. Luke took his father's hand into his own and began to lead him into the house. Arica followed and noticed Beru smiling at her as she passed.

"Hello Padme."

Arica gave a sarcastic laugh. "I'm not Padme." She then roughly brushed against her as she continued on into the house.

All Luke retrieved from his room was the stuffed toy bantha from the bed and the clay starship that he, as Luke proudly told Anakin, had made all by himself. It was then that he finally seemed to take notice of Arica. Surprisingly, he remembered her also, as well as Antellica.

"She's my friend Alex's mom," he explained. "I don't know why, but she says I never met her before Alex. But I know I did. Her name's Antell- Antelle- Ankell- An-"

"Antellica," Arica supplied.

"Oh right." Luke looked slightly embarrassed.

"You never knew how to pronounce her name as a baby either," Arica explained as they made their way back outside. "So you and Leila called her Telly."

"Yeah, I remember that. And we called you Ree."

Arica smiled. "That's right."

"But I can say 'Arica' now," Luke boasted.

Arica gave a little chuckle and patted Luke on the head.

Once outside again, Beru seemed very surprised with what Luke choose to take with him.

"What about your other things Luke?" she asked. "Your clothes and some of your other toys?"

Luke sniffed. "I don't like my clothes. They're ugly."

"I say they're just fine," Owen said stiffly. "There were good enough for me when I was a lad."

"Yes, only you weren't an Imperial Prince as a boy," Anakin said. "Luke is, and as such deserves better. Now if you'll excuse us, we'll be on our way."

"Imperial Prince?!" Luke and Owen asked at the same time, but Anakin ignored Owen as he and Arica walked off with Luke. He did answer Luke though.

"Yes, you and Leila are the first Imperial Prince and Princess before the recently-born Prince Drake came into existence."

"Whose he?" Luke asked.

"The current Emperor's son." After a moment's hesitation, he elaborated. "The Emperor is your grandfather. And the Empress, the Emperor's firstborn child and daughter, your mother."

Luke gave a tiny nod and Anakin realized that if he remembered he, Arica, and Antellica, he was bound to remember them as well. In an attempt to change the subject he added, "But you don't have to worry about seeing either of the two again. Because soon there will be a new Emperor and Empress."

This seemed to interest Luke. "Really? Who?"

Anakin smiled. "Myself of course, and Arica here."

Luke looked a bit surprised, but in a curious way. He looked between the two of them a moment before comprehension dawned on him.

"Does this mean Arica is my new mommy?"

Though this abrupt question took them both by surprise, Arica more then Anakin, Anakin simply smiled down at Luke and looked over at Arica, gazing into her unsure eyes as he said, "Yes. Arica is your new mommy."

Arica felt shocked and honored that Anakin would even consider her to act as a mother figure in Luke and Leila's lives. Though it should have been obvious that once the twins were found, and since they'd be living at Skywalker Manor and Anakin and Arica were married, Arica would be helping Anakin raise them and be a mother figure to them. She'd just never thought about it fully in length.

Anakin gave Arica a gentle kiss on the lips before he and Luke boarded his flagship and Arica boarded hers.

When they arrived outside the old Kenobi hut, they found that Antellica was just finishing up in moving her and Alex's things out. Anakin helped her with the last remaining items while Arica kept Luke entertained. When asked, Antellica finally admitted to Luke that yes she had met him before Alex and the only reason she'd lied and said she hadn't was because it would've led to too many questions about her formerly past, now current, life. Luke seemed to understand. A little. But he was only "almost five" after all.

Instead of loading her possessions onto Aurra Sing's old ship, Antellica put everything on her Alderaanian cruiser, Spiraled Avalanche.

At she and Obi-Wan's arrival on Tatooine after Alex's birth, Obi-Wan insisted that she get rid of the ship as it was no longer needed. However, she'd defiantly refused, voicing it might come in handy someday. What if they suddenly had to get off-planet for some reason? How would they escape? Obi-Wan had brushed these thoughts off though, saying she was merely expecting the worst. Nonetheless, she received her wish of keeping the ship if she found a good enough hiding spot for it, which she did.

Because Antellica was posing as Sing, and as such would be flying the hunter's ship, Anakin would fly Spiraled Avalanche onto the Executor with his flagship and two TIE Fighters flying escort. Arica would fly back to the Executrix on her flagship with Antellica following in Sing's ship while the other two TIEs flew escort. Luke would stay with Anakin, and Alex with Antellica. Obi-Wan would be placed in a detention cell on the Executor heavily guarded.

All went as planned and the Imperial fleet left Tatooine a short while later, finally letting all the dozens of ships that wanted on and off the planet on their way. Antellica gave Arica the coordinates to Dagabah since the planet was uncharted in the Outer Rim listings. From the Executrix the coordinates were transferred to the rest of the fleet.

The two and a half-hour journey to the planet was quiet. Antellica dyed her hair red to look more like the deceased Aurra and she and Arica had a heck of a lot of catching up to do.

It was also during this time that Arica discovered she was pregnant again. She and Antellica had just been talking about Antellica's impending bundle of joy when Antellica abruptly said, "You do know you're pregnant, don't you Arica."

Arica blinked in confusion. "What?"

Antellica rose a confused brow. "You mean you don't know?"

"I'm not pregnant," Arica said. "I did throw up a little yesterday, but that doesn't mean anything."

Antellica smirked. "When was the last time you and Anakin had sex?"

Arica was flabbergasted. "What? What?! How dare you?!"

"It's just a question."

Arica gave her a look before answering. "Yesterday."

"That probably explains why you don't sense it yet." Antellica placed a hand over her sister's belly, and Arica soon placed her own hand atop it. Giving her twin another brief look, she tapped into the Force.

Indeed, Arica found a small Force signature lying undeveloped inside her womb. She was pregnant with a son. Sighing happily over how Anakin would react to this news, Arica leaned back against her sister and asked how she'd known.

"I don't know. I just did," she responded. "From the moment I first saw you I knew..."

Anakin, on the other hand, also had a lot of catching up to do, but with his son. The two of them spent the traveling time from Tatooine to Dagabah talking and touring around the Executor.

When the fleet came in orbit around Dagabah as its expected time, Anakin already knew they were too late. Yoda and his daughter were not on the planet.

The small Jedi master fled the Dagabah with Leila when he sensed Antellica return to the dark side. He'd sighed warily when he felt this disturbance. No matter how much he wanted to deny it, he couldn't help but feel as if he'd somehow always knew this day would come. Antellica was a Sith eternally now. The moment Darth Sidious influenced the midi-cholrians inside her cells to give her access to the Force, she was marked a Sith for life. They'd been fools to think they could stomp the dark nature out of her. It was who she was. Yoda opted to go to Chandrila to hide. He knew he would be able to find refuge in the court of the planet's young Queen Nagida. Though it saddened him to know the fate of Obi-Wan would be death while his son, unborn daughter, and wife would go on to be Sith, Yoda couldn't risk a rescue attempt. Luke was now in the grip of the Sith once more. He wouldn't allow Leila that same fate. She would become a Jedi and that was final.

Though Anakin knew the Jedi and his daughter were not on Dagabah, he sent a search team on-world anyway in hopes of finding something. In which time, he contacted Antellica and Arica on the Executrix to inform them of the matter. However, they already knew. Anakin was so frustrated that he didn't even take notice of Arica's chipper and overexcited attitude. She was chattering on about something, but he wasn't listening.

"Yes, yes Arica. That's lovely," he said talking over her as he then cut the transmission.

He would find her. The Jedi would not keep her hidden from him.

Leaving the communications room of his quarters, Anakin entered his meditation chambers and tapped into the Force, demanding that it tell him where Leila and the Jedi were. It was right at that moment that he felt a disturbance. It was Kenobi. He was running loose aboard the Executor.

Growling the young Sith leaped into action from the floor and ran to the bridge. He was somewhat relived to see Luke where he'd left him, with Admiral Dorina. They seemed to be finishing up a conversation about the ship's hyperdrive system when they spotted him.

Luke's face lit up instantly. "Hi daddy!"

But before he could reply, a voice called out behind him. "Supreme Commander! Supreme Commander!"

Raising a hand that told Luke he would be with him in a minute, Anakin turned to see Lieutenant Bradshaw rushing towards him.

"Yes Lieutenant."

"My Lord, I don't know of any other way to say this, so I'll just come out with it. The prisoner Jedi Kenobi is currently on the move aboard the ship."

The Sith's eyes flashed. "Yes Lieutenant, of that I am aware." He began to advance on the rookie officer. "What I am not aware of is how you let him escape the cell. You and your men were supposed to be in charge of keeping him under lock and key."

Lieutenant Bradshaw was now backed up against a wall, shaking in terror.

"My Lord," he sputtered. "We did all we could to keep him locked up, but he was using his Force powers against us. Out of the twenty that were guarding him, I was the only one who managed to escape. A troop of stormtroopers are currently chasing him in the ninth hall of the ship."

Again Vader growled. The end of the ninth hall was on the lower level, located about 100 meters away from the ship's docking bay. Kenobi was going to attempt a getaway on Spiraled Avalanche.

"Admiral!" Vader barked.

The officer came to attention immediately. "Sir?"

"Activate the tracker beam and send all troops to the docking bay. I will join them in a moment. Also alert Lady Zenevieva and the rest of the fleet of the situation. All ship tracker beams are to be activated immediately."

"Yes Supreme Commander." Admiral Dorina saluted and was off.

Ignoring the still cowering form of Lieutenant Bradshaw, Vader turned to Luke and crouched down in front of him. "Luke, I have to see to a problem in the docking bay," he explained quickly. "In the meantime, I want you to remain here, all right. Make sure everyone's doing their job properly."

"But I wanna come with you," Luke said making to get up, but Vader pushed him back down.

"No Luke, you will remain here. It's much too dangerous for you to come."

"But-"

"Stay put young one," Vader said a bit more harshly than he intended.

Luke seemed a bit hurt by his harshness and put his head down.

Vader began to feel bad about his harsh reprimand and knelt back down in front of Luke, lifting his tiny head in his left hand. Luke's eyes showed held back tears.

Vader sighed. "Luke, I'm sorry but you can't come. I'd never forgive myself if something were to happen to you."

Though Luke remained silent, he did give a tiny nod. Vader gave him a pat on the head and, after barking at Lieutenant Bradshaw, who was still cowering, to get back to work, he left the bridge, headed for the docking bay.