Chapter 34

As soon as Vader returned to the ship, he retreated to his hyperbaric chamber to check his messages. He was anxious to speak to Padmé, for he missed her a great deal. Being apart from her was becoming far more difficult than he'd ever imagined.

Opening his message box, Vader found a message from Padmé, and activated it at once. The tone of her voice alarmed him immediately, and without a moment's hesitation he keyed in the code to her comlink. He waited a few moments for her to reply, and then she did. As soon as he heard her voice he realized that he had woken her up.

"Ani?" she said sleepily.

"It's me, Angel," he replied. "I'm sorry I woke you, I didn't stop to think about what time it was there. I just got your message and wanted to talk to you."

"It's okay," she replied. "I wasn't really sleeping anyway," she told him.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Her moment's hesitation was all he needed to know that she was not.

"Tell me what happened," he insisted. "Tell me what's wrong."

He heard her sniffle, and he knew that she was crying.

"I…I just miss you, that's all," she told him.

"I know there's more to it than that," he replied. "What is it that has you so upset?"

Padmé realized that in her highly emotional state her mind was easy for him to read, and so there was little point in keeping the truth from him.

"It's Yoda," she told him. "He…they know about the baby," she continued tearfully. "Yoda thinks that the baby ….that he will be evil," she told him, her voice breaking.

Vader had to take a deep breath to keep from shorting out every circuit in the pod he was seated in. "He said that to you?" he asked, his voice full of fury.

"Not to me," she told him with a sniff. "To Beata. She had an argument with him."

Vader took a moment to calm down before speaking again. "I want you to listen to me, Padmé," he said, keeping his anger under tight control. "I want you to get out of that house, I want you to leave. Take the twins, take Beata and go to Gallinore. I won't let those bloody Jedi treat you this way. They have no right to…"

"It's not both," she told him. "It's only Yoda. Obi-Wan has been actually pretty supportive. He has sensed that you've changed, Ani. But Yoda…that's another story."

Vader was silent for a few moments as he considered this. He had not expected any level of forgiveness or compassion from the Jedi, Kenobi included. The fact that he was willing to accept that Vader could change surprised him.

"Then….bring him with you," he said, hardly able to believe the words coming out of his mouth. "You will still need to be shielded so long as Palpatine lives."

Padmé said nothing for a moment, and he could hear that she was trying not to cry.

"I have a personal squadron of elite guards," he told her. "They are human, not clones, and are loyal to me alone. I will send a century of them to Gallinore to protect you," he continued. "This will all be over very soon, Padmé," he promised her. "I swear it."

"Okay," she said quietly. "I'm sorry I'm so emotional…I guess it's just being pregnant."

"Don't apologize," he told her. "You've had to contend with so much these past few months. And I'm not making it any easier by being unable to be with you right now."

"Ani, you know I understand that," she replied.

"I know that," he responded. "But that doesn't make it right. You deserve so much more, Padmé. If only I'd made the right choice four years ago, if only I hadn't been stupid and selfish and…." He stopped, realizing that forcing her to relive the memory of Mustafar was the last thing she needed. He would have to live with the choices he'd made that day for the rest of his life. And this realization brought him to another, one he'd been struggling with for weeks now. I know now, Neeja, he thought with absolute certainty. I know who I am.

"Go to Gallinore," he told her, his tone calmer now. "Don't worry about packing up everything; we can get whatever you need there. I will meet you there in one week," he told her. "Okay?"

"Okay," she replied softly.

"Feel better?"

"Yes."

"Good. Now go back to sleep. I love you."

"I love you too. Goodnight."

Anakin ended the transmission, satisfied that his wife was in a better state of mind. He took a moment to steel his mind in preparation for the next communication he had to make: Palpatine. Anakin knew that the emperor was waiting for his report, waiting to find a reason to punish him for his request to return to Felucia.

Leaving his quarters, Anakin made his way to the holochamber, his mind closed to any and all attempts to breach it. If Palpatine had any inkling about what was in store for him, he's have Anakin executed for treason. That won't happen, he thought with determination; it's not my days that are numbered, old man, but yours.

"Ah, Lord Vader," Palpatine began, seemingly in a good mood. "I've been waiting most eagerly to hear of your discoveries on Felucia. Tell me, did your visions amount to anything?" he asked a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"They did, my master," Anakin replied, the words bitter in his mouth. "The traitor Halycone had several others hiding in several locations on the planet."

Palpatine's face registered a mixture of disappointment and jealousy at the same time. He'd always been intimidated by Anakin's abilities, and hated to admit that he'd been right. "Well? What have you done about it?" he snapped.

"I have clones searching the entire planet right now, Master," Anakin replied. "They have already found two renegades. I instructed them to bring them aboard for questioning," he added for good measure. "Perhaps they will lead us to others elsewhere in the quadrant."

"Yes, perhaps," Palpatine admitted stingily. "Well done, my friend," he said, forcing a sickly smile. "Keep me updated."

"Of course, my master," Anakin replied, relieved that the interview was almost over.

"I am going to the Death Star in a few weeks' time," Palpatine informed Anakin. "General Tagge has made excellent progress, and I would like to inspect the station for myself. My aide will inform you of my itinerary."

"Very well," Anakin replied. "I'm sure that you will be duly impressed by the station."

"Indeed," Palpatine replied. He ended the transmission without as much as a word of farewell, which didn't surprise Anakin. He stood up slowly, the short comings of his prosthetics filling him with hatred for the emperor who had overseen his surgery. Now that he was letting go of his hold on the Dark Side, Anakin was finding the confines of his mask and suit to be almost unbearable. He longed for the day when he could toss them aside, when he would be whole once more. And that day is not far off, thanks to you, Neeja, he thought as he left the holochamber. With that thought in mind, Anakin prepared to face his crew, knowing that he must keep the charade of being Darth Vader alive. Palpatine had spies everywhere, and any aberrant behaviour on his part would get back to the emperor. And he was simply too close to realizing his dreams to let that happen.

Planet Essowyn

Padmé pondered over the conversation she'd had with Anakin for most of the night, unable to sleep from anxiety. She had no idea how she was going to tell Obi-Wan that she wanted him to leave Yoda behind and come to live with her and the twins on Gallinore. There was no doubt that Obi-Wan would be torn; perhaps he wouldn't even agree to it. But he has to…I need him…without him Palpatine would sense the twins in no time….

Morning finally came, and Padmé got up, queasy as usual. She decided to ask Beata to take the twins to school so she could speak to Obi-Wan and Yoda alone. It wasn't a conversation that she looked forward to, but there was no avoiding it. She knew that Anakin's idea was for the best; she simply couldn't live under the same roof as someone who had no faith in her husband's ability to change, who would believe that a innocent child, one conceived in love, could possible be evil. Padmé's life was stressful enough without that added anxiety. And right now, during the first and most delicate trimester of her pregnancy, extra stress was to be avoided at all costs. Anakin is right; I can't stay here with him.

"Good morning," Padmé said as she sat down at the breakfast table.

"How are you feeling this morning?" Beata asked.

"The usual," Padmé replied. "Would you mind taking the kids to school this morning?" she asked.

"Not at all," Beata replied, sensing that there was a reason for Padmé's request.

She wasn't the only one; both Obi-Wan and Yoda sensed had Padmé's heightened anxiety level as soon as she'd walked into the room. They both waited while Beata prepared the twins for school, expecting that Padmé would say whatever was on her mind once they'd departed. They were right.

"Gentlemen, we need to talk," Padmé said, looking first at Obi-Wan and then at Yoda.

"Of course, Padmé," Obi-Wan replied. "What's on your mind?"

Padmé hesitated, trying to find a tactful way to say what was on her mind. "I'm aware of the trepidation that you're both feeling since you learned about my condition," she began.

"I think trepidation is a rather strong word," Obi-Wan put in gently.

"Perhaps you feel that way," Padmé replied, looking at Obi-Wan. "But I know that Yoda doesn't share your sentiment," she added, turning her eyes to Yoda. "Isn't that right, Yoda?" she asked.

Yoda looked up at her, unable to deny what she was saying. "Worried I am, yes," he admitted.

"You think that my baby will be evil because his father was once a Sith," Padmé stated.

"A Sith he remains," Yoda stated. "Do not delude yourself into thinking otherwise."

Padmé narrowed her eyes, continuing to stare at Yoda. "Is that what you think?" she asked. "That I'm deluding myself? That I'm imagining that my husband loves me and our children? Because if he were a Sith, he would not."

"Wants the children he does," Yoda persisted. "Use whatever means he must, he will."

Obi-Wan frowned at this, starting to grow concerned over Yoda's unyielding point of view.

"You think he's using Padmé to get the twins?" Obi-Wan asked incredulously.

Yoda looked up at him, sensing that he was losing an ally. "You would see that if you weren't so emotionally involved," he stated.

"That's enough," Padmé interjected tersely. "This is precisely why I'm leaving."

Both Jedi looked back at her.

"Leaving?" Obi-Wan asked. "What do you mean?"

"It means I'm taking my children and Beata and moving to Anakin's home on Gallinore," Padmé responded. "I will not remain here to be harassed and have my husband's motives constantly undermined and questioned. I don't need this stress, and I won't take it any more," she finished, fighting to keep her emotions under control. She looked at Obi-Wan. "If you wish to come with us, you're welcome to do so," she said. "You've been a good friend, and I know I can count on your support. But I won't remain here with Yoda," she added, looking back at the tiny Jedi master. "He refuses to consider that Anakin is capable of change. I won't put up with it anymore."
Obi-Wan was shocked by Padmé's decision, and said nothing for a moment. He felt torn between two loyalties, and hated being put in such a difficult situation. As for Yoda, he maintained his calm demeanour, not reacting at all to Padmé's tirade.

"I'm going to start packing," Padmé said, standing up. "Let me know your decision soon, Obi-Wan," she added. "I want to leave first thing in the morning."

With that she left the room. The two Jedi were silent for a few moments as they digested what had just transpired.

"Irrational she is," Yoda said finally. "And over emotional. Perhaps it is time we took matters into our own hands, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan frowned. "What are you suggesting?" he asked.

"Only what we should have done the first time she willingly went to see Vader," Yoda stated. "Secure the safety of the younglings."

"You mean steal them from their mother," Obi-Wan replied. "That's really what you're talking about."

Yoda narrowed his large eyes as he looked up at Obi-Wan. "We cannot let emotions govern our actions," he stated. "The good of the galaxy we must consider. The future of the Jedi are Luke and Leia. Into the hands of the Sith we must not deliver them."

"What if Anakin has changed?" Obi-Wan countered. "Have you considered that, Master Yoda? I know you have sensed the shift just as I have. I think it is irresponsible not to consider that possibility."

"Irresponsible is letting ones feelings cloud ones judgement," Yoda countered. "Your emotions have always betrayed you, Obi-Wan. Don't make that same mistake again."

Obi-Wan had to fight to keep his anger at bay. "I am sorry that you feel that way, Master," he said formally. "But perhaps by ignoring emotions we heralded the destruction of the Jedi. If Anakin hadn't felt so desperate to keep his marriage to Padmé hidden from us, he wouldn't have felt compelled to join the Dark Side. We drove him to Palpatine, Master, our rigidity forced him to make a dire decision, one he felt he had no choice but to make. And now, now that he has found his family again, now that their love has pulled him out of the Darkness, we are going to destroy him all over again. Well I won't do it," he stated. "I won't be a part of destroying Anakin and Padmé all over again." He stood up and walked out of the room, leaving Yoda both shaken and disturbed by the unexpected turn of events.