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

So what'd you guys think of Obi-Wan? I was wrestling with adding him in for a while, but decided to in the end. Anyways, enjoy the latest chapter!

Chapter 20

As the ship went to hyperspace, Anakin leaned back in his chair to relax from the emotionally trying day. Luke was also silent, processing the events of the last few hours. The death of Master Yoda had hit both of them hard, yet they were happy at the same time. Anakin got his best friend back, and Luke got his old mentor, albeit slightly different and a score younger.

Glancing back into the cabin, Anakin saw Obi-Wan sitting, face buried in his hands. Anakin rose from his seat and placed a large hand on Luke's shoulder to get his attention. "Take over for me, I need to talk with him," he said, looking at his Master's form.

When Anakin sat next to his master, Obi-Wan stirred, sitting up. His smile contradicted the sadness behind his eyes. "Are you alright, Master?" Anakin asked.

Obi-Wan sighed. "Oh, I suppose I was never alright to begin with."

"What do you mean?" Anakin asked.

"All those restless nights, plagued by nightmares, never knowing if we would live through the next day. Fighting beside your trusted brothers, or, well, I thought we were trusted brothers."

Anakin scoffed. "What are you talking about, Master? I trust you with my life! You are a brother to me."

"You trust me with your life, just not the truth about your life. Do you have any idea how hard I searched for you? Two years, Anakin. Two years of searching. No report came of your death when you disappeared. I only stopped searching to eat and rest. Padme was just as distraught, though now I know the full extent of why. I never gave up on you, Anakin, because I . . . because I love you."

It was then that Anakin realized Obi-Wan was hurt. Deeply hurt, in fact. He'd betrayed his Master's trust by not cluing him in on the truth. "Master, I broke the Code. I could tell no one, or I would be thrown from the Order."

"You actually thought I would turn you in?!" Obi-Wan asked in disbelief. "Anakin, that would destroy our relationship. I would never betray your trust. Just as you never told the council of my feelings for Satine."

Anakin dropped his head. A single tear ran out of his eye and down his nose, splattering onto the steel floor. "I'm sorry, Obi-Wan. I . . . I should have trusted you. You were always there for me, and I kept a secret from you."

"I understand why you did it, Anakin. I just . . . it hurts."

Anakin nodded. "I know."

The two men sat in silence, bathing in the other's presence, for they had not been near one another in two years. It was comforting, yet a change of pace. Though Obi-Wan was hurt, he wouldn't stay that way, for the two men had been through too much to drift apart.

"What's home like now?"

"The war still rages. I told you that Mon Mothma replaced Palpatine as Chancellor? Well, he disappeared into thin air. Rescue attempts by Jedi masters have been attempted, but they never returned. After three Masters were lost, Master Yoda called off the search. Now, I suspect it was Palpatine himself that killed those Masters. Count Dooku is still as cunning as ever. Coruscant was attacked, but we repelled the droids. We had them on the run, and I was on my way to aid Master Vos in the Siege of Hypori when I awoke in the jungle."

Anakin nodded. "So no Order 66?"

Obi-Wan shook his head. "No. Though after your explanations, I have no idea what Palpatine is waiting for."

"A new apprentice," Anakin realized. "With my disappearance, he doesn't have a good candidate for a new apprentice. Vader would never exist in that reality."

"You're right," Obi-Wan acknowledged. "I am just as shocked hearing of your fall to the dark side. Though I suppose it isn't actually you, only this reality's version of you."

"It's still me," Anakin countered. "Were I still there, I would have made the same choices. Which is why I'm going to kill him."

"Now, Anakin, that is not the Jedi way. Revenge is not to bee sought out."

"I'm not talking about revenge, Master. I'm talking about destroying the Sith. I just happen to be ne of them, so I'm more motivated."

Obi-Wan sighed. "I'd forgotten how headstrong you could be. Very well. If you are so set on this, and talking you out of it will do no good, I suppose I should help you. Where are we headed?"

"Back to the fleet. The Rebel Alliance cannot remain on the surface of any planet, it would take too long to evacuate if the Empire came knocking. So, since my arrival, I've dedicated myself to their aid. I've recruited a group of clone deserters led by rex and Alpha, as well as several star cruisers."

"You have been busy, my friend. And where in all of this did you have the time to train your son?" Obi-Wan said with a knowing smile.

Anakin waved a hand. "I only helped his bladework and harnessing his emotions. Master Yoda did all of the heavy lifting."

"Reminds me of you and Ahsoka," Obi-Wan said quietly. "Is she here as well?"

Anakin shook his head. "No. I've been quietly searching for her for months, with no luck. I . . . I feel lost without her sometimes. The same with you."

The corner of Obi-Wan's mouth shifted upwards in a smile. "She helped me search for you until she was Knighted by Yoda and given the 501st. The last I heard from her, she was in the middle of the assault on Serenno."

Anakin chuckled. "I bet she enjoyed that. Good for her. At least she got something out of all of this."

Obi-Wan placed a hand on Anakin's shoulder. "What's wrong?"

"I just . . . I lost everyone. You, Ahsoka, Padme. My whole life changed just to come here and train him," Anakin said, tilting his head towards Luke. "I was angry at first. At Yoda, at Luke. But I remembered Qui-Gon's teachings. And now here you are. Ahsoka is somewhere. I'll find her, but I'm worried that I'll never see m beloved again."

Obi-Wan smiled sadly. "I'm sorry, my old friend. I cannot imagine what you have gone through. This news may put you at ease, or it may break you completely, but you need to hear it. No one alive knows how to bring her here. I do not ask you to forget her, only that you remember her fondly. Do not despair. The both of us were brought here for a purpose. Perhaps if we fulfill that purpose here, we may yet be able to go home."

Anakin nodded at his Master's words. Somehow, the man always knew the right thing to say when it came to Anakin's emotions. He wrapped his flesh arm around Obi-Wan's shoulders and brought him in close. "I'm glad you're here."

"I'd love to say the same, but I suppose the silver lining is that I have finally found you."

Anakin felt the shuttle drop out of hyperspace, jostling the pair of men. Anakin rose to his feet and resumed his position in the pilot's chair. Grasping the flight sticks, he guided the shuttle towards the Alliance fleet. Obi-Wan placed his hands on the back of Anakin's chair and gasped in surprise. Anakin looked back at him with a sly grin.

"I did a lot of this myself. The Pride is my flagship."

Luke rolled his eyes. "Yeah, he reminds everyone of that every chance he gets."

"Just a forewarning, there are both clones and battle droids manning those cruisers."

Obi-Wan's eyes widened in shock. "Why in Force's sake?"

"Rex and Alpha, yeah, Alpha, set up a colony of clone deserters. I'd ask you not to judge them by what we've told you. Many of them are broken mentally," Anakin warned.

Obi-Wan nodded. "Alright, I trust you Anakin. What about the battle droids?"

"Oh, they're extremely useful for maintaining ships. They don't eat," Anakin shrugged.

As the shuttle flew underneath the Pride, the main hangar came into view. Anakin guided the ship inside, flipping her around and setting her down. He pressed the ramp controls and twirled out of the pilot's chair. The other two Jedi flanked him as they descended the ramp.

Rex saluted with his squad as they walked down, but froze when he laid his eyes on Obi-Wan. "Gen-General Kenobi?" Rex asked, yanking off his helmet.

Obi-Wan smiled. "Hello, Rex."

Rex practically wrestled the Jedi to the ground with a hug. Obi-Wan looked shocked, but hesitantly returned the embrace. Rex released it, grinning from ear to ear. "It's been too long, General."

"Yes, I hear over twenty years for you," Obi-Wan nodded.

Rex nodded, then looked to Anakin. "You'd better get over to Home One. I was just on my way there myself."

Anakin raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Anakin stood, arms crossed, at the back of the room, Obi-Wan at his side. Luke elected to sit next to his friends, the newly defrosted Han wearing a big smile. Mon Mothma stepped forward as the lights darkened, causing the room to be silent.

"The Emperor has made a critical error and the time for our attack has come. Our Bothan spies have discovered that a second Death Star is being built. The data brought to us reveals its exact location, orbiting the forest moon of Endor. Many Bothans died to bring us this information . . . "

"Force me," Anakin whispered when the projection of the Death Star was displayed.

"We also know that the weapons systems of this Death Star are not yet operational," Mothma continued. "With the Imperial fleet spread throughout the galaxy in a vain effort to engage us, it is relatively unprotected. But most important of all, the Emperor himself is overseeing the final stages of its construction. Admiral Ackbar, please."

Anakin nodded with a chuckle at Obi-Wan's widening eyes. "What is funny?" a robotic voice asked them.

General Kalani had placed his faceplate next to Anakin's head. The Jedi shoved him off. "Nothing, pay attention."

The Mon Cala Admiral stepped forward, a pointer in his hand as the projection zoomed out to show the entire moon and the orbiting Death Star. "You can see here the Death Star orbiting the forest moon of Endor. Although the weapons systems of this Death Star are not yet operational, it does have a strong defense mechanism. It is protected by an energy shield which is generated from the surface of Endor."

"Meaning two precise attacks," Obi-Wan said to Anakin, his fingers stroking his beard.

"The shield must be deactivated if any attack is to be attempted. Once the shield is down, our cruisers and destroyers will create a perimeter while the fighters fly into the superstructure and attempt to knock out the main reactor," Ackbar concluded as he turned off the projection. "I will command the main fleet in conjunction with General Kalani, and Fleet Admiral Skywalker has volunteered to lead the fighter attack."

"Good luck," Han snorted. "You're gonna need it."

"Worry about yourself, smuggler," Anakin teased with a smirk.

"General Madine," Ackbar said, taking a step back.

The General stepped forward. "We have stolen a small Imperial shuttle. Disguised as a cargo ship and using a secret Imperial code, a strike team will land on the moon and deactivate the shield generator."

"I wonder who they found to pull that off," Leia commented. Anakin noticed Han tense up.

Madine looked their way. "General Solo, is your strike team assembled?"

"Well, my team is ready, but I don't have a command crew for the shuttle," Han nodded.

Leia placed her hand on Han's arm. "General, count me in."

Chewie roared, and Han held his hands up. "It's gonna be rough, pal, I didn't wanna speak for you."

"I'm with you, too," Luke volunteered.

Obi-Wan leaned over to Anakin. "Perhaps I should accompany them as well."

"Why would you do that, Master?"

"If this Vader is as powerful as you say, Luke alone won't be enough to stop him. And you are needed to help in the fighter attack," Obi-Wan reasoned.

Anakin relented. "Alright, but don't get yourself killed."

As the meeting adjourned, Anakin raised his voice. "All squadron leaders report to me in the main hangar!"

Luke appeared alongside Obi-Wan, the two having donned camouflaged ponchos over their Jedi robes, and they approached Anakin. "How do we look?"

"Not half bad," Anakin admitted, before turning serious. "You two be careful out there, alright? I can't lose either of you. I have no one left."

"That's not true," Luke pointed out.

"She doesn't know yet. We'll tell her later, just survive this mission," Anakin promised.

Rex jogged up to them, Doom in tow. "Reporting for duty, General," they said to Luke.

"You two are on the strike team with me, hop on board."

"Sir, yes, sir!"

Anakin sighed, shaking his head. "And now you're commandeering my men. What has the world come to?"

Luke saluted with a laugh and turned to board the shuttle. Obi-Wan smirked. "Don't worry, I'll tale care of him as if he were my own."

"I'll hold you to that!" Anakin called after his Master, before turning to speak with the assembled pilots, Wedge, Hera, and Lando the most notable among them.

"How's everyone feeling?" he asked.

"Like I could take on the whole Imperial Fleet myself," Wedge said proudly.

Lando shrugged. "I could be better, but at least I'm alive, right? Plus, Han's letting me fly the Falcon."

"And I'm doing great," Hera smiled. "I got the Ghost back, so I'm happy as can be."

Some months ago, Ezra had led a team of mechanics along with the other Spectres on a mission to recover the Ghost. They'd infiltrated Lothal's blockade and fixed the ship before flying it right out from under their noses.

"That's good to hear. Alright, Wedge. I need you in command of the fighters. All ARCs and X-Wings will be under you command. I'll be commanding the interceptors, the A-Wings and V-Wings. Hera and Lando, the two of you will be running bomber escort. They're gonna need fighter cover, so the Ghost and the Falcon should be able to take care of that. The droid fighters will be under Kalani's command in the Dauntless to give us some extra support. We clear? Alright, await orders."

Luke squeezed into a seat behind Han, and Obi-Wan stood behind. The droids, Threepio and R2 filed in after them. Han glanced back with a confused expression. "Who's the old timer?"

Obi-Wan smirked. "Luke here tells me we're already acquainted."

Han scowled. "I'd know that tone anywhere. But the last guy who had it was more wrinkly than you."

"Indeed, you met this timeline's version of me."

"This timeline's version . . . ?" he looked to Luke. "You have some explaining to do."

Luke nodded. "I'll explain everything about him and my father if we survive this mission."

"Yeah, whatever," Han sighed as he lifted the Imperial shuttle off of the hangar deck. Guiding her out. "Alright, hang on," he said as he pulled the hyperdrive, sending them forward as the stars turned to bright streaks.

Vader stepped out of the turbolift when it reached the top floor of the observation tower. He knelt at the bottom of the stairs as his master's chair slowly turned around. The decrepit old man motioned with two fingers upwards. "Rise, my friend."

"You summoned me, my Master."

"Yes," the Emperor said in his raspy voice. "Take the fleet to the far side of the moon. When the rebels arrive, we will catch them in a trap. The full firepower of this station will be unleashed upon them, and the rebellion will be crushed in one swift blow."

Vader bowed lightly. "It will be done, my master."

He turned on his heel, cape snapping behind him as he made his way back to the turbolift. Even as he boarded his shuttle and was on his way back to the Executor, he cursed his master. Skywalker, whether it be Anakin or Luke, would eventually show themselves, yet Vader would not be there. He longed for revenge against those who'd escaped him, yet they would escape once again if his master's plan failed.

As he stepped on to the bridge, all officers in sight snapped to attention, only relaxing when Vader reached the viewport, hands clasped behind his back. "Admiral Piett."

"Yes, Lord Vader?"

"Give the order for the fleet to move to the far side of the moon."

"Yes, my lord."

As Vader watched, a shuttle dropped out of hyperspace.

Chewie gave an uneasy bleat at the Super Star Destroyer growing ever closer to them. Luke and Obi-Wan both realized they were holding their breath, letting it out slowly. Han glanced to his copilot.

"If they don't go for this, we're gonna have to get outta here pretty quick, Chewie."

"We have you on our screen now, please identify," an Imperial officer said over the com.

Han shrugged to the crew, leaning over to speak into the communicator. "Shuttle Tydirium requesting deactivation of the deflector shield."

"Shuttle Tydirium, transmit the clearance code for shield passage."

"Transmission commencing," Han said uneasily.

"Now we find out if that code is worth the price we paid," Leia said.

Han looked back. "It'll work. It'll work."

"Vader's on that ship," Luke said ominously. "He has the same presence as my father, only as if it were coated in darkness, can you feel it?" he asked Obi-Wan.

The Jedi Master nodded. "I can. And it gives me a bad taste in my mouth."

Han shook his head. "Now don't get jittery, Luke. There are a lot of command ships. Keep your distance, though, Chewie, but don't look like you're trying to keep your distance." When the wookiee growled questioningly, Han shook his head. "I don't know. Fly casual."

"Shuttle Tydirium, what is your cargo and destination?"

"Parts and technical crew for the forest moon," Han responded.

It was silent for a few seconds, until Luke felt a sensation batter against his mental defenses. "I'm endangering the mission, I shouldn't have come."

"Relax, Luke. If anything, I would think my presence would aggravate him more than yours, given what your father has told me from vader's memories," Obi-Wan said.

"Yeah, listen to-," Han paused. "Wait, what? Can we please keep a little optimism here?"

"Optimism is most often a gift, but can also be a curse. You must always be prepared for the worst outcome," Obi-Wan stated philosophically.

Han rolled his eyes. "I missed all those proverbs you tend to pull out of your ass."

"Sarcasm hides the true state of one's mind," Obi-Wan said with amusement.

"You know, I'm glad you're in a joking mood right now, because they're taking an awfully long time to process this code," Han shot. Even as he finished, the officer spoke back over the comm channel.

"Shuttle Tydirium . . . deactivation of the shield will commence immediately. Follow your present course."

Han and Leia broke out into wide smiles, and Chewie raised a hairy fist above his head, bleating. Luke let out a sigh of relief and Obi-Wan allowed a small smirk as he placed his hands on the young Jedi's shoulders.

"Okay, I told you it would work," Han said, looking back at Obi-Wan with satisfaction. "No problem."

Obi-Wan relented. "Indeed."