DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN STAR WARS OR ANY ASSOCIATED CHARACTERS

There's a surprise waiting in the meat of this chapter. I'll let you all figure it out for yourselves.

Chapter 19

Anakin slowly lowered the shuttle through the dense, soupy fog that covered Dagobah. They landed on the same riverbank where Luke's fighter had once rested. Master Yoda awaited them below, both hands on his gimer stick in front of him. As the two Skywalkers descended the ramp, Yoda's eyes brightened.

"A long time, it has been, Anakin," he said with a small smile.

Anakin bowed. "Indeed, Master."

Yoda waved a shaky, clawed hand. "Pleasantries, no need, have we. Come, come. Much to discuss, we have."

Anakin glanced to Luke, who shrugged, and they followed the old Master through the jungle. Moving at Yoda's pace was irritating, but Anakin suffered through it, for he knew that the old Master was not one to be in a hurry.

When they reached the hut, Yoda ushered the two Skywalkers inside, following them in. He sat on the edge of his small bed and gazed upon the two Jedi. He chuckled in amusement after studying them.

"An air of leadership, about you, you have," Yoda said, nodding to Anakin. "But your feelings, dwell on those you have lost, they do."

Anakin nodded stiffly. "Yes, Master."

"Hmm. Help you, I could, perhaps. But first, discuss, we must."

Anakin rose an eyebrow. "Discuss what, Master?"

Yoda slowly hopped off of his bed, shuffling over to stand directly in front of the seated Skywalkers. Luke regarded him with sad eyes, watching the nearly decrepit Jedi Grandmaster hobble as a cripple.

"That face you make, look I so old to young eyes?"

Luke shook his head, realizing his mistake. "No, of course not."

"I do," Yoda chuckled. "Sick, I have become. Old and weak."

At Anakin and Luke's sad gazes, Yoda straightened. "When nine hundred years old you reach, look as good, you will not! Hmm?"

The corner of Anakin's mouth shifted upwards in a smile. No, none of them would ever look as good as Yoda at that age, much less ever live that long. At the rate Anakin was going, he would be lucky to see thirty.

Yoda stopped, looking between the two. He pointed one end of his gimer stick at Anakin, moving it to Luke afterwards, talking as he did so. "The two of you, related by blood, you are. But another, shares this blood, they do."

Luke nodded. "Yes, Master. Vader. He is Anakin, and my father as well."

Yoda shook his head. "Vader, I do not speak of. Soon will I rest. Forever sleep. Earned it, I have. The two of you, before then, you must know."

"Master Yoda, you can't die!" Luke protested.

Yoda sighed. "Strong am I with the Force. But not that strong. Twilight is upon me, and soon, night must fall."

"What do you want us to know, Master?" Anakin asked, preventing Luke from interrupting Yoda again.

Yoda chuckled lightly. "No more training do either of you require. Luke, a Knight, you are. And Anakin, powerful, you are. But wise, you have also become. Leadership, a quality, good for you it is. A Jedi Master you are."

Anakin was speechless. For the first time in his life, he had no words. "Thank you, Master," was all he was able to squeeze out. Luke looked just as shellshocked as his father.

"Hmm, the Force. Strong it runs in your family, Luke. Another Skywalker, there is. Who, I cannot say, discover it for yourself, you must," Yoda said.

Anakin's eyes widened, as did Luke's. Yoda captured their attention once again with his words, as neither of them trusted their voices at the moment. "Old, I am. Weak, I have grown. But, enough strength, I have left, for one final act."

"Master Yoda, what do you mean?" Anakin asked, his voice coming out only as a whisper.

Yoda's eyes twinkled as he clambered back onto his bed. "The woods, in an hour, find someone, you will. A reunion, it will be."

Yoda crossed his short, clawed legs, and closed his eyes. For a long while, the two Skywalkers watched the old Master meditate, unsure what to do. Even as they watched, the color began to drain from Yoda, his once rich green skin, now turning a pale shade that was almost yellow. At last, after over half an hour, he opened his eyes, which were glossy, and unfocused. His breathing was ragged as he lay back onto his pillow. Luke rushed forward and covered Yoda with a blanket, sitting back down to witness the former Grandmaster's final words.

"Done, it . . . is. A gift, for . . . you, Anakin. Despair, do not. One with the . . . Force, I will become. Farewell, young . . . Jedi . . . "

Even as they watched, Yoda began to fade. His entire body became ethereal, and he faded, clothes and all, into thin air. The blanket that once covered him could no longer hold its form, collapsing to the mattress.

"Farewell, Master Yoda . . . " Anakin whispered.

Anakin lay on the ramp of the shuttle, gazing up at the foggy sky that obscured the tops of the massive trees. Luke sat on a crate in front of him, hands clasped under his chin. The two were in silent mourning for the passing of the once great Jedi.

"Why didn't he tell us sooner?" Luke blurted.

Anakin sat up. "What?"

"Why didn't he tell us that there's another Skywalker? I mean we could have been searching for them this entire time, instead of twiddling our thumbs."

"Twiddling our thumbs? You were training here, for over a year. I was commanding a fleet. We didn't exactly have the time to mount a galaxy-wide search for a missing Skywalker. Besides, Master Yoda never does anything without a reason. He wouldn't have told us if he didn't think we already had the means to find said missing Skywalker," Anakin lectured, causing Luke to shrink.

"You're right," Luke sighed.

"Of course he's right," an echoing voice said from within the trees. Anakin jumped to his feet, watching as the ethereal form of Old Ben Kenobi appeared from the brush.

"Ben?" Luke asked. "It's been too long!"

"That it has, my dear Luke. But your father is right. He has become both wise and powerful. Master Yoda did well to make him a Jedi Master."

"Hold on, you knew?" Anakin asked.

Ben smiled. "Of course I knew. Who do you think placed the idea in the Old Master's head?"

Anakin shook his head in amusement. "You sly old man. Well, I guess they didn't call you the Negotiator for nothing."

"I always hated those names. Too much publicity."

Luke looked at the exchange with wonder. Even with Obi-Wan's advanced age, they still shared the joking nature that they were so accustomed to so long ago. Luke held his hands out. "I hate to break this up, but who is this other Skywalker?"

"Yoda spoke of your twin sister."

"But I have no sister," Luke said, shaking his head.

"You were separated at birth," Obi-Wan said, glancing up at Anakin, whose breath was caught in his chest. "The emperor knew as I did that were Anakin to have any offspring, they would be a threat to him. To protect you from your father, you were hidden away. Your sister remains safely anonymous."

Luke's eyes widened in realization. "Leia. Leia's my sister."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Your feelings serve you well. But guard them, for Vader does not know of her existence. Were he to find out, she could be used as a weapon against you."

Luke nodded, burying his feelings deep inside himself. Anakin dropped to his knees and sat back on his heels. "I have two children?"

"You do, my old friend. You may tell her if you wish, but know that id you do so, you could be placing her in very great danger."

Anakin nodded, silent in thought. He and Luke were both attempting to process the information in their own ways. Obi-Wan suddenly perked up, his posture straightening. "Ah, my friends. I am thankful for the time we've had here today, but I must be going. Another approaches."

"Another? What are you talking about?" Anakin asked.

Obi-Wan simply smiled, beginning to fade away. But as he did so, a figure could be seen through his transparent body. Garbed in a cream-colored tunic with brown leather boots, he held a blue lightsaber above his head for light in the dark jungle. His beard was neatly trimmed, and his hair was combed back, leaving his forehead visible.

Anakin froze. It had been two years since he'd laid eyes upon this man, but he knew him by heart. The figure halted on the edge of the forest, warily eyeing the two Skywalkers. He regarded the small one, dressed in black, slowly reaching for the lightsaber hilt on his waist.

The eyes flitted to the second man, taller than the first, who waved a hand to stop the smaller one from drawing his weapon. Eyes locking onto eachother, two pairs of blue eyes, linked by years of experiences and shared moments, softened at the sight of the other.

"Anakin?"

"Master?"

"Is is really you?" Anakin asked.

The Obi-Wan sheathed his lightsaber and clipped it back to his belt. "Yes, it's me, but where in blazes-"

His words were halted when the broad-shouldered form of Anakin buried the Jedi Master in a bear hug. "I thought I'd never see you again."

Obi-Wan returned the embrace. "Nor I you, my friend. We've been searching for you for nearly two years! Blast it, where have you been all this time?" he asked, releasing the hug.

Anakin placed a hand on the back of his head. "Heh. Well, you see, that's a bit of a long story."

"And who's this?" Obi-Wan asked, turning his eyes to Luke.

"Master, this is Luke. Luke, this is Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"Just Luke? No surname?" Obi-Wan asked curiously.

Luke smiled sadly. "It's Skywalker."

Obi-Wan smiled and looked to Anakin. "Oh, found a distant relative, have we? And he's a Jedi? Wouldn't we have heard of him before?"

Anakin winced. "Master, um, well . . . there's really no easy way to say this, but . . . we're in the future."

Obi-Wan blinked. "I'm sorry, did you say-"

"Uh-huh."

"How?"

Anakin spread his hands. "You got me. Master Yoda pulled me here about two years ago, right in the middle of the Battle of Umbara."

"Master Yoda is here? Excellent, perhaps he can clear some of this up," Obi-Wan said confidently.

"Master, I'm afraid Master Yoda is dead," Luke said apologetically.

Obi-Wan collapsed onto one of the nearby crates, resting his chin on his fist. "This makes no logical sense."

"Oh, I agree."

Obi-Wan snapped his head towards Anakin. "Wait a minute. If this is the future, then Luke is . . ."

"My son," Anakin nodded. "And it appears he has a twin sister as well, though we didn't know it until just a few minutes ago."

Obi-Wan remained silent. After several seconds, he glanced up to Anakin. "Who?" he asked quietly.

"Padme."

"How long?"

"We were married after Geonosis."

"Very well," Obi-Wan said stiffly. "Where are we?"

"Dagobah, Master," Luke cut in, saving Anakin from having to talk again. "Master Yoda went into exile here."

"Exile? What on earth for?"

"The galaxy has been taken over by a Sith empire," Luke revealed. "The Clone Wars ended over twenty years ago."

"How did this Empire rise?"

"Chancellor Palpatine, or Darth Sidious, used biochips implanted in the brains of the clone troopers to force them to slaughter their Jedi Generals. The whole Order was wiped out all at once, save for a few survivors," Anakin said quietly.

"And where is this timeline's version of you, Anakin? More importantly, where am I?"

"You are dead, Master. One with the Force. I am . . . " Anakin faltered, unable to face the look in his Master's eyes if he told him the truth.

"He is one of the Sith Lords," Luke blurted.

Obi-Wan's eyes dropped sadly. "Then our worst fears were realized, in the end."

"What are things like without me back in our former timeline?" Anakin asked.

"Well, the war has not yet ended. Count Dooku and General Grievous still elude capture, but we are slowly beating the Separatists back. Chancellor Palpatine was removed from office and replaced with Mon Mothma."

Anakin dropped his head. "Then perhaps the universe is better off without me."

"What kind of talk is that?" Luke asked. "Have you seen what you've done these past few years? The Rebel Alliance is stronger and more prepared than it has ever been!"

"Rebel Alliance?" Obi-Wan questioned.

"A resistance formed to combat the Empire. We are currently Generals in their command chain. Speaking of which, we need to return as soon as possible," Luke said, rising to move towards the shuttle.

"As much as I would love to accompany you, Anakin and I must return to out own time. It is against the Jedi Code to time travel," Obi-Wan said, crossing his arms.

Anakin's brow furrowed. "Then why would Master Yoda bring us here in the first place? I've already asked, Master. There is no way for us to be sent back, not with Master Yoda gone. I was brought here to train Luke, and that's what I've done. Now, I will aid them in fighting this Sith Empire, and maybe I will defeat this errant version of myself."

Obi-Wan sighed with a smile. "Just as headstrong as ever. I did miss you, old friend."

"And I you, Master. Now come on, no time to lose."

Vader knelt on the pad beneath his feet, awaiting his Master to make his way down the rap of the shuttle. The Death Star was proceeding on schedule, and was operating at peak efficiency ever since his arrival several weeks ago. As the dark-robed form of his Master appeared along with his red-garbed personal guard, Vader bowed his head.

The Emperor halted, motioning with two fingers upwards. "Rise, my friend."

Vader did as he was bid, falling into step with his Master. The Emperor padded along quietly, the click of his cane hitting the glossy, black floor the only sound in the hangar apart from Vader's respirator. As they marched along the ranks of stormtroopers and naval officers, the Emperor spoke.

"There has been a change in the currents of the Force, have you felt it?"

Vader nodded. "Yes, Master. The brightest light has been extinguished, only to be replaced by another. I have felt this presence before, it is Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"So sure, you are. Your hatred for that man has not diminished over the years."

"No, my Master."

The Emperor cackled. "Good. When the two Skywalkers and Kenobi confront us, we will use that anger to turn them, or destroy them."

"Yes, my Master."

Vader's hatred was once again given direction. Ever since Obi-Wan's death at his hands, vader had nowhere to direct his anger except at his Master. It had given him several shocking punishments. But now, all of his pure hatred and raw power would be put to a single purpose: the destruction of Kenobi and his friend, Anakin Skywalker, both for the second time.