Chapter 14: Leaving the Order
As soon as the former Jedi Knight arrived at his new cell, he'd stayed there for at least a couple of days, and he was shocked to see this place have everything; Holo-Television, a way to contact the guards if you need something, and how comfortable the beds are.
Although he was treated well in here, the former Jedi Knight couldn't help but feel every emotion; fear, anger, hate, suffering, despair, depression, and sadness.
'Fear is the path to the dark side…fear leads to anger…anger leads to hate…hate leads to suffering.' The voice of Yoda echoed in his head as he remembers what the little green toad had told him after Qui-Gon had taken him in front of the Jedi Council nearly 13 years ago when he had wanted to be a Jedi.
Anakin sighed and closed his eyes to bit back the stinging emotion that had long since built up as tears started forming in his eyes.
Even though the men in the 501st had tried to satisfy him by bringing him all of the games possible, those were starting to get boring.
Anakin heard about the game which he is currently playing, Pazaak, and find it interesting. In the Old Republic era, a lot of people played it, but then the game stopped going around, and updates seize thousands of years ago, causing people to stop playing the game.
After playing Pazaak and winning against Jek and Rys for the umpteenth time, who had been more than willing to play with him, the former Knight placed the device on the bench at his side.
"You're good, sir," Rys remarked, being a good sport as he placed down the device and accepting the lost of the game. The Coruscant Guards liked Skywalker and find themselves finally believing what the 501st said about him.
"I guess it comes with beating General Kenobi," Jek added in, causing a small smile to come across his face as it was good that he still had many friends in not only his battalion or legion but in the clone army.
"Well, yeah, it's just you two are good sports. Obi-Wan always think I'm cheating when it comes to games like this," the former Jedi Knight piped up, earning snickers from the Coruscant Guards.
Thire and all of his men was very supportive and they usually get Anakin whatever he wants; he gets to have a shower whenever he wants it, and he also is left alone.
Apparently, a few Jedi had managed to capture the real Temple Bomber who had confessed and is awaiting to stand trial.
Soon, the forms of Commander Thire and his other men appeared, and one of his men, Hunter, opened the cell while Thire was holding a suitcase in his hand.
"General Skywalker, you have been cleared to leave. We have all of your possessions in this suitcase." Thire reported towards him, a smile clear in his voice as he clearly was relieved that the real bomber had been caught.
"Thanks, commander, may I know who it is?" Anakin inquired, hoping that he would find out who the bomber truly is, and the person that had strangled that woman in the cell.
Commander Thire nodded before grabbing a nearby recorder, showing a young woman standing before the courts. Anakin was shocked to see it was the woman who was supposed to be helping him.
"Tell them why you did it, traitor," his former apprentice spat at the young woman in front of her as she bravely came in front of the people in the courts. Anakin never had thought the day would come for him to see Ahsoka in such a manner.
I did it. Because I've come to realize what many people in the Republic have come to realize. That the Jedi are the ones responsible for this War. That we've so lost our way that we have become villains in this conflict. That we are the ones that should be put on trial, all of us! And my attack on the Temple was an attack on what the Jedi have become. An army fighting for the dark side, fallen from the light that we once held so dear. This Republic is failing! It's only a matter of time."
Barriss looked at the camera for a moment, not with hatred or remorseless eyes but with sadden and anguished eyes. It was almost as if she was looking at him face-to-face and it shattered him for some reason. Usually, he would have felt hatred for such a betrayal, but everything she had said was true.
"I-I can't watch anymore," Anakin stammered, causing the commander to turn off the recording.
"Yes, General Skywalker, but you are required to report at the Temple. Do you need an escort or-" Commander Thire begins asking, the former Jedi Knight slowly zooming out from the commander's words, and Anakin knew he would have to face the Council again.
"No, I would go there myself. You men have done enough for me," Anakin spoke gradually, politely grabbing his suitcase and walking off, his head drooped.
Placing the suitcase on the register speeder's passenger seat, Anakin begins driving at the Temple, deciding that he would hear what the Jedi Council had wanted to say because most of them hadn't trusted him when he'd needed them the most.
As soon as Anakin got to the Temple steps, he had sensed the presence of his former Master waiting for him.
To be honest, in that whole trial, the Jedi Knight had thought Obi-Wan would have been the first to abandon him, yet now he's proven he never would, despite his deception that had strained their relationship not many months ago.
Anakin soon approached his former Master and stares at him with solemn eyes.
"Obi-Wan, what's going to happen now?" Anakin finds himself asking in a dejected tone, unable to keep a hoarse cracked from his voice.
Obi-Wan had sensed the fear, anger, hatred, and suffering from his friend. In any other case, the Jedi Master would have frowned. Those are emotions a Jedi should never have.
Sadly, Obi-Wan couldn't even reprimand him, for he too was fearful and a little bit angry. Anakin was innocent from the beginning and none of them had believed him besides a vast few, and even the ones who had done still provided no support whatsoever.
They said attachment is not the Jedi's way, but Obi-Wan cared about Anakin and Ahsoka. They have been on countless missions and only grown closer and closer with each other, frequently treating each other like siblings. Obi-Wan got to know Ahsoka and especially Anakin and he had known he was innocent in all of this.
Resisting the urge to sigh, the Jedi Master stares at him, "The Council would reinstate you in the Grand Army of the Republic," he replied. "Who knows? Maybe the Council would grant you the rank of Master." A poor attempt of a reassuring smile came on the face of the Jedi Master in the vain hope that he would be able to cheer up Anakin. In reality, if it was up to him, Anakin would have long since become a Jedi Master.
"I'm not sure..." Anakin replied.
Obi-Wan wanted to cheer up the boy that he had raised since he was young, "You know, I had watched your trial, and I must admit it was hilarious. Part of me expected for you to just stand there and let Tarkin spit those ridiculous claims towards you, but as always, you manage to surprise me. Ahsoka too had a good laugh about it."
Anakin allows a sad smile to form on his lips, grateful that his former Master isn't angry with him defending himself as he had expected for him to be since Obi-Wan had told him that his mouth would get him in trouble someday.
Anakin now stood in front of the Jedi Council, his eyes cold, and his face as pale. These hypocrites would have allowed him to be convicted even if they didn't have enough evidence.
Long ago, the Temple was home to him, almost being a source of comfort and giving him hope for a brighter horizon. Yet, Anakin now feels like he'd never belonged here, that his destiny was shaped elsewhere. The Jedi Council had contributed in his trial and he will not take their inherent their outdated ways any longer.
He was grateful that Padmé accepted him for all of his faults and mistakes. After losing his fighting arm, Anakin remembered her rubbing his mechanical arm and accepting him for his loss of one of his body's parts. After that, Anakin grew more matured and became different from his original whiny self and was so matured so that he wouldn't leave the Jedi Order after almost doing so. It was due to Padmé that he didn't leave the Jedi Order.
Anakin was certain that if he were much focused instead of allowing his attachment to getting in his way; probably he and Obi-Wan would have been able to hold Dooku off a little bit longer at least until Master Yoda arrived, which would singlehandedly end the Clone Wars before it began. This war has shifted the Republic from being peacekeepers to as vile as the Separatists. The former Knight wanted to change the Republic but none of them would ever truly accept their mistakes. They would simply say the evidence was one-sided and that no corruption was truly involved from the Republic and instead from an admiral.
They were corrupted and hypocritical.
The problem with the Jedi Order was not that they individually sought power or influence, but that they did otherwise barbaric things in the name of preventing people from forming attachments. They stole children from their parents; sometimes against the parents' will. Sure, taking a child without having a parent is a good thing, but taking the child from their parents who probably lost everything is just nearly as evil as being a Sith and would lead through a conflict in the Order. That child may have grown up to hold high resentment to the Jedi Council.
Of course, they did kidnap kids to keep their precious Order going. They didn't call it that and would have been offended if one called it that, but they surely did something similar. If the Jedi found a child with real Force potential on some planet, they wouldn't leave without them. They would use whatever tactic - negotiation, coercion, bribery, mind-tricks to get them the child. They have become soldiers and want to only benefit from themselves at the end instead of maintain their roles as the keepers of the peace.
The Jedi were powerful politically, and powerful people have many ways of getting what they want, and they wanted Force-sensitive children. They needed Force-sensitive children. If they needed a law to make all Force-sensitive children their property, they would have allowed such a law, since the Republic allowed slavery, he doubts if they would argue about a few dozen kids a year being taken by the Jedi.
Then they made a cutthroat learning environment where they continuously classified students into successes or failures and at the end of the youngling training Jedi Masters could pass them over either to become Jedi or be stripped of the Force. They rushed some training since this war started. Ahsoka was given to him when she was 14 years old! She was still a child getting out of her childhood years!
Anakin went on missions when he was around her age but they were harmless and wouldn't have put his life in danger as much as Ahsoka was while fighting the Clone Wars. The good thing that came from her is that she matured and grown up to become her independent person. Anakin was grateful to see how great she had become.
The Order often chose to do what was politically expedient rather than what was morally right. When he was arrested and falsely accused of terrorism, they didn't even hire him a lawyer. If Obi-Wan and Ahsoka hadn't got Padmé to be his lawyer and he didn't find a dark determination, his trial may have been rushed and he would've probably spent life in prison.
They ignored the Separatist's legitimate complaints about the Republic and largely took no heed of the worsening political corruption within the Republic itself.
When the Republic had real internal problems, they wanted to play with their laser swords and kill robots and act like pity meditation is enough to resolve lives being lost. The Order itself had just enough wisdom to understand brute force as a solution. Instead of following the will of the Force, they've followed the Republic without end. The Republic has relied on the Jedi of being their attack dogs.
Anakin knew that the Republic was driving itself to the point of endless corruption. Anakin knew he has to say goodbye to the Chancellor if they don't convince him of why he should return. It saddens him, but Palpatine didn't say anything during his trial.
He was the Chancellor and could have assured him of his innocence. Of course, Anakin liked the old man, but he admits there was always something odd about him. Obi-Wan found him suspicious and weird, and Ahsoka just wasn't sure what she should do when in the presence of him but still respects the old man.
The rage only grew worse from within Anakin. The Republic claims to be the pure system of the galaxy, but Offee was right about one thing about both the Jedi and Republic. They were corrupted and always have politicians and admirals like Tarkin which is probably why their acts against the Separatists have been more brutal lately. The Republic was driving to its destruction.
A part of him felt bad for Barriss; she was a sweet girl. Anakin wondered if something bad happened to cause Barriss to commit such a crime. She was correct about all of it.
Anakin wondered why Count Dooku left the Jedi Order. Obi-Wan barely knew the Count but he did say he was not always a bad man just by stories Qui-Gon, Yoda, and other few Jedi told him. The former Knight heard about Dooku quite frequently and how he was a mighty Jedi in his time. But like his apprentice in his later years, he will continue going against the wishes and 'wisdom' of the Council.
Anakin wondered did the Council has driven Dooku away like they are doing with him, and had already done to Ventress and Barriss. Dooku did seem like a good man when they fought on Geonosis. Is there a possibility that Dooku doesn't want to kill Anakin and Obi-Wan? He could have easily crushed them when they were defenseless on Geonosis.
Most Sith Anakin has confronted before and during the Clone Wars was once Jedi. They probably ain't worthy of being called Sith; they are probably dark Jedi, who sees through the lies of the Jedi. Anakin always knew there was a flaw inside of the Jedi Order, which the same Jedi who turned to the dark side probably seen the corruption years ago.
The people do not need two flawed systems continuing to only grow worst and giving heavy casualties to innocent people regardless of which side.
The Galactic Republic was corrupted far before the war even started. Many of its Senators and bureaucrats were corrupt. That became clear when the Senate would not lift a tentacle to save Naboo from attack by the Trade Federation when its people were dying. The Republic has outdone its usefulness and is causing greater harm across the galaxy rather than healing the problems.
Whenever Star Systems refused to negotiate with the Republic, they instantly get hasty and think they are trying to side with the Separatists. This war is getting old, and people on both sides are suffering for it.
But was Palpatine corrupted? Anakin thought about it here and there. Perhaps he is. He seems to continue with the war effort and won't just stop the fighting. As much as the Chancellor might be corrupted, Anakin was his friend and he had trusted him, sometimes more than the Council or Obi-Wan.
"Greetings, masters," Anakin greeted in a cold tone, resisting the urge to glare at Master Windu, who was already glaring at him, clearly still furious at the Jedi Knight for his comments. Anakin didn't regret any of it. "May I ask what's going to happen to Barriss now?"
"The Council has decided it would be best to sentence her to life of imprisonment but to still give her guidance so she would return her way to the light as some of us had believed she wasn't in her right mind," Saesee Tiin declared, self-righteousness in his voice, almost as if he's proud that he's showing mercy to one, despite all of her crimes.
Anakin scowled slightly at that but choose it would not be best to respond. What would be the use of it at this point? Would it change anything? No. It was clear that Plo Koon, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka wasn't happy about that decision as well, but decided not to speak up.
"Anakin, I'm so sorry about everything," Obi-Wan apologized solemnly, glad that he and Ahsoka believed Anakin and prove his innocence or his former apprentice would never have trusted them again.
"Yeah, Master, but we believed in you since the beginning," Ahsoka added in soulfulness.
Anakin nodded slowly but the pain was in his eyes, however, there was also hope.
"You have our most humble apologies, Knight Skywalker, the Council was wrong to accuse you," Plo Koon said, emotion clear in his tone as he held his hands in front of his chest.
"You have shown such great strength and resilient in your struggle to prove your innocence," Seasee Tiin said, flattering him in one of the best way possible.
"This is the true sign of a Jedi Master," Ki-Adi-Mundi added.
At one point a long time ago, Anakin would have been thrilled, but that dream to become a Jedi Master has been destroyed.
"This was actually your great trial. Now we see that." Windu said, making Anakin cross his arms across his chest, knowing the Korun Master never liked him anyhow. A dark look cross his face as he had expected the Jedi Master to excuse the Council's actions. "We understand that the Force works in mysterious ways, and because of this trial, you have become a greater Jedi than you would have otherwise. And would make a great master. Although there are the glaring issues about your emotions, we will seek to assist you to control your inner darkness."
'Still lecturing me about my emotions, Master?' Anakin thought, a dark chuckle forming under his lips but luckily none of them appeared to hear it.
"Back into the Order, you may come." Anakin looks down at Yoda.
'I never left, your Council each kicked me out to preserve your relationship to the Republic!' Anakin raged in his inner thoughts, finally making his decision now, now fully understanding what Barriss had meant.
Despite Yoda voting in his innocence, he could have done more. The only ones who stood by him were Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, the boys in the 501st, 212th, the few who spoke up for him and lean some sort of assistance, and Padmé, they were his true friends. No, his true family, but strangely, the Jedi Knight had wanted to find himself... somewhere else.
The Jedi Knight stares at Obi-Wan and wondered what his reaction will be. His master seems surprised and dismayed at their previous statements but a dawning realization was upon him. The Council thinks they can justify this mistake by offering his former apprentice the rank of Master and put this behind them.
Beside him, Ahsoka knew much the same.
Both were secretly outraged and frustrated, but they wouldn't allow their emotions to cloud their judgment.
Obi-Wan walked forward and took Anakin's lightsaber hilt from his belt as the depressed and secretly irate former Jedi Knight stood there, not responding to Yoda's offer, but still, his former Master tried to fix their lame and dry apologies.
"They're asking you back, Anakin, me and Ahsoka are asking you back," Obi-Wan declared, holding out his lightsaber hilt towards the Jedi Knight.
Anakin stares down at the hilt of his lightsaber, thinking about the day when he'd built it; his two years marriage with Padmé, all his hard work, and attempting to be the best Jedi possible. Yet, it was not to be. All of his hard work and accomplishments were for nothing.
A wave of dark anger flashed through him since he'd sense all of the Jedi in the Council Chambers except Obi-Wan and Ahsoka had expected for him to forgive and forget and put this entire situation behind them. And yet, Anakin knew that his reputation had been almost shattered inside of the ranks of the Jedi as was his trust.
He will never be able to look at the Jedi Council the same way, especially after they had betrayed and failed him. His relationship and hopes for them are tarnished.
Anakin reached out his hand, and instead of lifting the lightsaber hilt and put it back on his belt as the Council had expected, the Jedi bold his hand up into a fist, staring at him.
"Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, I'm sorry, I can't come back in the Order," Anakin answered solemnly but strongly, staring mainly at Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, awaiting to see their expressions.
'They have thrown me out, Obi-Wan, betrayed me like I've meant nothing to them! My last 13 years were a lie and I can't accept their mistakes anymore!'
'Anakin, please...'
The Jedi Master's eyes went wide with sadness and lost, again losing another one in his miserable life.
"Anakin..." Obi-Wan tried.
"An-Anakin, w-w-why?" Ahsoka stammered, looking up at him with wide eyes.
"The Jedi Order and Republic is changing, has changed, Ahsoka. We all know it even if we won't admit it." Anakin replied, his voice growing cold as he had turned to face the Jedi Council. "I'm now clear of my crimes yet you all didn't believe me. The Senate would have locked me up in a life of imprisonment. You all abandoned me when I needed you. The Senate decree my conflict was an eternal affair. I cannot stay here or I fear what I'll do that will forever ruin us all."
Before anyone could have responded, the former Jedi Knight turned and begins walking out, finally making his declaration to leave the Order.
Obi-Wan senses the emotions of the Council.
Plo Koon looked hurt, though for different reasons. The Kel Dor Jedi Master was one who believed Anakin was innocent but didn't do enough and instead stand by his fellow masters. His expression now one of despair. It was clear that he understood but it still hurt the Jedi Master.
Master Yoda's eyes went wide, actually showing emotion, but didn't say anything. He looked disappointed at Anakin leaving the Jedi Order but didn't seem to hold high regard for his trial.
Why did Master Yoda always seem of one who could be likable at times, but at other times, he was just cruel and remorseless? Obi-Wan and Ahsoka seem like a better Jedi than he ever be.
Master Mundi's eyes went wide but not out of despair or disappointment but rather out of surprise. Anakin first liked the Jedi Master after promising him his immense gratitude on Geonosis but he was one of the Jedi Masters who refused to help him and voted into his guiltiness.
Saesee Tiin showed a similar emotion to Mundi. However, Anakin and Ahsoka barely knew him and just saw him as another Jedi. He doesn't talk that much in meetings and stay more as a layback.
Ahsoka stares to the ground with sorrow and loss as she heard the door opening. She felt her hands tightening up into fists and her glaring at Windu until she followed her Master.
Obi-Wan felt a similar rage since Windu had screwed up everything. A hurt and foreboding and pains and lost burned the Jedi Master's heart. The Jedi Master had thought he had felt Anakin using the Force to send an apology to him through their bond which he hopes is of enough comfort for him.
Stopping before the exit of the doors, Anakin turned towards them, clearly not finished. With a final glare towards the Jedi Council members, Anakin spoke, "Get yourselves a new Chosen One. I was never Jedi material for any of you."
Soon, Anakin marched out fully, leaving shocked and appalled Jedi Masters, along with Obi-Wan who was shocked, and Ahsoka who is saddened.
From the outside of the Jedi Temple, Anakin was walking, fully ready to leave behind the Jedi that abandoned him. They are all traitors! They didn't even try to help him! He served beside them and carry out their code to the heart besides from falling in love with Padmé but they betrayed him like he was nothing.
"Anakin, wait! Anakin, we need to talk to you," Obi-Wan called out for him, still clearly trying to convince him. Anakin sighs and smiles lowly, knowing that they wouldn't have accepted this choice easily. "Why are you doing this?"
Anakin couldn't believe that they both didn't know. Why should he go back and stay with a corrupt Order full of nothing but corrupt Jedi who is trying to keep the peace but only making things worst from the start? The Jedi Council is too corrupt and is leading to their destruction. Part of him wishes his master and apprentice would just leave the Order as a whole.
"The Council didn't trust me, so how can I trust myself?" Anakin demanded, holding out his hands, and defending himself from him. The hurt in his eyes was almost overwhelming which almost made his reconsider him choice of leaving them. Almost.
"What about us? We believed in you. We stood by you." Ahsoka reminded him, the hurt clear in her voice and invisible tears trailing down her eyes.
"I know you both believe in me, Ahsoka, and I'm grateful for that. But this isn't about you. I can't stay here any longer, not now." Anakin replied.
"The Jedi Order is your life. You can't just throw it away like this. Anakin, you are making a mistake." Obi-Wan tried to convince him, trying to stop him from doing this! Ahsoka felt her heart shattering but she can't blame Anakin from leaving the Order, however, it still felt heartbreaking.
"Maybe, but I have to sort this out on my own, without the Council and without you," Anakin stated, barely able to look at him at any further, trying to tell him that he made his decision of not staying and is not going to change his mind.
"I would go with you," Ahsoka insisted, willing to leave the Order as well to join her Master.
"No, Ahsoka, my destiny lies elsewhere, but I have a feeling we would fight alongside each other again one day. For now, however, I need to find myself. If I stay... I fear I might do-do things I would regret. Just promise me that you would stay, Ahsoka, and you would be a great Jedi." Anakin spoke with hesitation and sadness, wanting nothing more than to jump up and say yes, but knowing that is not possible. He feared he's going to do something he would regret, and the dark side is surrounding him as it never did before so he would find a way to heal it and try to seek help with the calls to the dark side.
Ahsoka sighs and looks down with tears rolling down her eyes, "Very well, I would respect your decision as much as it would hurt me."
Anakin's eyes averted to Obi-Wan and awaited his response. In reality, he's afraid of what Obi-Wan would say or do.
"I understand. More than you realize, I understand wanting to walk away from the Order." Obi-Wan voiced, his tone coming out as a quiver, slightly trembling from his spot as he remembered the late Duchess Satine who had been murdered cruelly by Maul not that long ago and Siri Tachi who was murdered by Magus.
Anakin sighs, deciding that there's one more thing he would do before walking away from the Temple for possibly forever, but he was resolved.
"I know, Obi-Wan, and thank you. I have a proposal for both of you. Obi-Wan, this mainly relies on your shoulder. This involves you as well, Ahsoka." Anakin said, having rememebered that he would have to fix up something.
"Anything..." Obi-Wan spoke for the both of them, willing to carry out whatever his former apprentice ask. He had trained Anakin because of Qui-Gon's dying words, and it appears that he would now do the same for Anakin though thankfully Anakin isn't dying.
"You must give command of the 501st as General to Ahsoka. She's the only person who knows how to lead them closer to my manner." Anakin declared, knowing that Ahsoka had good leadership techniques and would lead the 501st to glory. He didn't want to risk them getting lead by a Jedi who doesn't know how to lead men as well as he would.
"I would see what I can do; perhaps the Council would be willing to listen as they had been thinking about granting Ahsoka the rank of Knight for quite some time now," Obi-Wan replied, earning a shocked look from both Anakin and Ahsoka as they had not known this.
A small yet pained smile came on the lips of Anakin at the knowledge of knowing that Ahsoka would likely become General of the 501st. They had needed more Knights, and with persuasion by Obi-Wan, Ahsoka would be able to lead the 501st.
"Also, one more proposal. Don't kill Obi-Wan with your stunts, Ahsoka, for I will return one day and would rather see my former Master in one piece instead of without a limb," Anakin couldn't help but quip, wanting to act like this was just them saying goodbye temporarily. In a way, it would take away less pain.
"Don't tempt me, Master," Ahsoka replied with a joking tone, giving him a small smirk, having caught on that her former Master was attempting to brighten the mood.
"Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, may the Force be with you," Anakin said, wanting to give his friends a somewhat proper goodbye instead of walking off.
"Goodbye, old friend. May the Force be with you," Obi-Wan replied.
"Anakin!" Ahsoka calls out for him when he was about to walk off, causing him to turn towards her and saw her uncertain look. "Good luck."
Anakin offered the Togruta a pained and weak smirk before staring down, sensing a perfect Jedi in the making. The next time he would see her, she probably wouldn't even be little snips anymore.
Unable to resist the urge to hug them, Anakin brought his arms around Ahsoka and gave her a smile before turning to Obi-Wan, his brotherly figure.
Slowly, Anakin went up towards him and gave him a hug, forgiving him for all of his misgivings, forgiving him for faking his death, even forgiving him for denying him the chance to save his mother.
Despite being furious and distrustful of Obi-Wan for some time, Anakin can't imagine his life without his brother, but he would leave just to find a way to pursue inner balance.
Breaking off away from him, Anakin gives them a last look that was pained, murmuring, "Thanks, guys."
Anakin than turns and walked away, the reality once again kicking in the young former Jedi's soul as he craned his head downwards. He had wanted them to take his departure as smooth as possible, and they did. With that little light in his heart, Anakin could feel little joy, but it did dampen his mood as he'd realized he would have to get used to not leading the 501st or going on adventures with Obi-Wan and Ahsoka.
Well, at least he has Padmé.
Far behind him, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka watched their best friend in the entire galaxy depart from their lives for perhaps a very long time.
"So long... Master Skywalker," Obi-Wan whispered, feeling tears running down his eyes.
Hopefully, he would be able to still serve a purpose in this broken galaxy as Anakin Skywalker always is and still will be a hero...
Arthur's note: I had wanted to give somewhat of a Toy Story 3 and 4 types of endings to this chapter because as much as I don't love the two movies as much as I love the first 2 they still have impactful endings and I had gotten inspired by them. Combined with them, I had wanted to give a nod towards season 7 with the references.
No, this is not the ending of this book as I have an epilogue that would eventually tie a Sequel in with this one. I'm planning to end this book with anxiousness for the next even for me so yeah be prepared; the next chapter is going to have a slight twist.
May the Force be with you all always.