It has been a couple days and Padme has finally been released from the medical bay. Walking down the hallway, she realized everyone was either giving her weird looks or glaring at her. She figured everyone knew everything already and thought of her as a traitor. She sighed, not caring what they thought about her. There was only one person who's opinion matters and she wants nothing to do with her. She couldn't blame her though, for if the same thing happened to Padme she probably would feel betrayed as well. This was her fault, she shouldn't have allowed this lie to go on as long as it did.
"I see they let you out. How are you feeling?" She turned around and smiled seeing Luke walking over to her.
"Much better. Thank you." She said to Luke.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there when they discharged you. I was," Luke started to say not sure how to say it, but Padme already knew what he was going to say.
"You were visiting your father." She finished for him. "It's okay. You are allowed to see and get to know your father. He wasn't always Vader. You deserve to get to know him as I knew him."
"Some people don't feel that way." Luke said sadly.
"Don't be angry with your sister. Don't forget she already had a father, who was a great man. This has to be hard for her." Padme said trying to cheer up her son.
"No , I understand where she is coming form. I just wish she would see that he has changed, that he no longer is Vader." Luke sighed.
"Where is your sister anyways?" She asked trying to change the subject.
"Since the Emperor escaped, they are trying to come up with a plan on how to capture him. I assumed she is in the meeting right now."
Padme stopped."They are having a meeting right now? Why wasn't I informed about this? I haven't been demoted yet. I'm still a General."
"I'm sure they just forgot or thought you were still in the medical bay." Luke said trying to cheer her up, but she knew they deliberately didn't tell her.
"Yeah. I'm sure they did." She said marching forward. Until they told her she wasn't allowed to be apart of these meetings, she was going to be there. "I've seen the way everyone has been looking at me. I know they know, but I've done nothing wrong. There is no reason I should be apart of this."
She noticed Luke trying to keep up with her. "Mon has been backing you up and it has done some good, but with father still being alive, some people are a little wary about your alliance."
She was grateful to have Mon's support. She always liked her and this just made her like her more.
She stepped into the conference room and noticed all eyes were directed at her. She decided she wasn't going to make a scene, but just wanted her presence to be know. She looked over at Mon who gave her a small smile. She noticed Han and Leia were there as well. Han gave her a small smirk, while Leia refused to look at her saddening her heart.
"Our reports say, that the Emperor has made his way back to his palace on Coruscant. Clearly even thought we blew up the Death Star, he still doesn't see us as much of a threat." Leia informed everyone clearly ingnoring Padme.
"Well, then this should be easy. We go to Coruscant with whatever people we can gather up and attack him there. He lost so many men, this should be easy." Han said.
Why would Palpatine just be sitting in his palace waiting for them, totally exposed. That doesn't sound like him. With the last attack , he knew everything even before we did. The only thing no one saw coming was Anakin turning against him.
"I think that sounds like the best-" Admiral Ackbar started to say before being cut off.
"It's a trap. He wants us to attack. He knew about our attack on the Death Star. I'm sure he knows what we are planning before we even plan it. We need to do something, even he wouldn't expect." Padme said as everyone in the room looked at her.
"How can we be so sure you weren't the one to inform them about our attack?"General Madine angerly said to her.
"Just because we haven't arrested you doesn't mean you are allowed to state your input." Admiral Ackbar said to her.
Padme looked away feeling upset that the people she called her friends and comrades, where saying such hurtful things to her.
"I think she rights. The Emperor is too smart for that. He wants us to think that just because he lost a good bit of men in the destruction of the Death Star and the Battle on Endor, that he is weak. I'm sure he has plenty more Imperial Troopers waiting for us." Luke spoke up causing Padme to smile.
"I agree with them as well. Even with our victory, we lost many good people during the Endor battle. Our numbers are still very small." Mon said.
"Well than what do you suppose we do, Padme?" Leia said glaring over at her.
Well at least she was looking at me, she thought sadly. "I-I don't know." She stuttered having not actually thought of a plan.
"Figures." Leia said rolling her eyes. "If we knew the lay out of the Palace, it would be easier to plan an attack."
"Mother, you used to live on the Coruscant and I mean being married to father, I'm sure you had to have been in the old Jedi Temple correct? I'm sure the layout hasn't changed a whole lot since then." Luke said.
"Um, actually, I have only been in the Jedi Temple once or twice. They didn't really want outsiders in their sacred place." Padme said.
"But you were married to him. I don't understand?" Han asked.
"Our marriage was secret. Jedi weren't allowed to love let alone be married. I had my own apartment and he would come there, when he was back during the war." Padme answered and noticed a sad look from Leia, but that was only for a second.
"Well there is another person we could ask, who would actually know what the current layout looked like." Luke asked.
"Luke, don't be silly. How do you know he would even willing give us that information or that we wouldn't be walking into a trap?" Leia angerly asked.
"Leia, I've told you he has changed. I'm sure he would help us." Luke said.
"It might be the only way we could stop him." Mon said warily.
"Is everyone insane? This is the very man who has done nothing but destroy the galaxy for the past twenty years. Do you all honestly think he could change in just a few days?" Leia said raising her voice.
Maybe this was a bad idea. Clearly, this wasn't helping build her relationship with Leia.
She noticed as all eyes turned to Mon. She was thinking and hasn't said anything for a couple seconds.
"I knew Vader before he turned. When he was Anakin Skywalker, one of the greatest Generals the Clone Wars had. He was the Hero with no Fear. " She looked over at Luke. "Do you truly think he has changed his ways and would help us?"
"Of course! I've tried telling everyone he has changed. He is Anakin Skywalker again." Luke said.
"Very well. I'm not saying, he will no longer be charged for war crimes. " Mon looked over at Leia's shocked face. "But I believe he might be our only option if we want to defeat the Emperor."
He wasn't sure how long it has been since Luke left him. He couldn't exactly tell time down here. He sighed laying down on the cold bench, which was the only thing that was in here. He was used to being alone. He has basically been alone, since he was Vader. He just missed his son. He wasn't sure what he did to deserve, such a kind understanding boy. Luke surely should hate him for everything, but that wasn't the case.
Luke's daily visits where the only thing that was keeping him going. He has learned so much about Luke, in just a few short days. He told him about growing up on Tatooine and his Aunt and Uncle. He hated that Luke had to grow up on that awful planet, insteed of Naboo, where Padme wanted to raise both of them. Anakin also told him about growing up on Tatooine and being a slave with his mother. He told him about meeting Padme for the first time and pod racing. He noticed Luke was really interested in that. He wished he could fly next to him someone and teach him some combat skills. He knew he should be greatlful just to have this time, but he wanted more. He lost so many great years with Luke and Leia.
He sat up hearing, the door open. He was confused, but hoping it was his son. He watched as his son stepped into view infront of the ray shields that where blocking him from escaping. He smiled and then he saw, Padme, Leia, and Mon Mothma step out around him.
Was this it? Where they not evening going to put him on trial? He started to grow upset thinking he had more time. He wanted more time, even thought he knew he shouldn't.
"Anakin Skywalker," Mon said. The name still throwing him off. He hasn't used that name in quite some time. He thought he destroyed that person, but he was wrong. He just need to be reminded who he was. "We have a request of you."
Anakin looked over at his family face, trying to understand what was happening. Luke was smiling, Padme could barely look at him, and Leia was giving him one of her death stares. Clearly whatever was happening she wanted it to be know she had nothing to do with it.
"Um, sure. What is it?" He said standing up walking over to the ray shield.
"How familiar are you with the Emperor's palace on Coruscant?" Mon asked.
Anakin was clearly not expecting this question and didn't understand why they were asking him this. "Well considering before it was the palace, I used to live there and basically grew up there. I would say pretty well. Why?"
"The Emperor has made his way back there. He is in hiding waiting for us to attack. We need your help, to figure out the layout and to plan this attack. There aren't many of us left and we can't afford to loose more people."
Anakin just stared at them, wondering if they were serious. He was actually impressed. If he knew his master as well as he though he did, then they were right to be conscious. He knew even thought he lost many imperial troopers on Endor and the Death Star, he still had lots of men and was just waiting for them to attack.
"Whatever I can do, I'll gladly help." He said noticing Padme was actually looking at him now. He hope she knew he was doing this for her and their family. He didn't know how long he had left, but he wanted to at least try and right the many wrongs he commited.
"Good. I was hoping you would say that." Mon says hitting the button to shut off the ray shields. He noticed Leia looked over at her shocked.
'What are you doing? You are letting him go?" Leia asked.
"If he has changed as much as Luke says he has, then we have nothing to fear. But Luke, I want you to watch him. If something does happen it will be on your head." Mon said before walking away with Leia following. He could hear her, telling her how unwise of a decision this was.
He slowly stepped out, still not sure if what just happened was real.
"I knew they would come around, father. Hopefully after all this and with your help, they will see you have changed and are longer Vader. Maybe then they will drop the charges against Vader." Luke said hopeful.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that Luke." Padme said seeing the hurt look on Luke's face. "But you never know, they clearly are making decision's no one was expecting." She said realizing what she said and trying to cheer him up before looking over at Vader. "Come on, before they think we helped you escape."
All Anakin could do was smile. He couldn't believe they were actually trusting him. He hoped Luke was right and they would see he has changed. He was going to make them see the chance. He was going to make Padme and Leia see he was no longer that awful man.
"I'm sure they are gonna love seeing me walking around up there." Anakin said jokingly.
"Well they don't love seeing my face anymore either, so maybe you could distract from the death stares I've been getting." Padme sadly smirked and walked ahead with Anakin and Luke following.