Epilogue - New Hopes

A ship maintains high orbit above Coruscant. It has recently departed from the reformed government's prison station, NRC-03 (New Republic Corrections, 003). The station is hundreds of kilometres in diameter, housing thousands of dangerous criminals. It is flanked by two venator-class star destroyers sporting a yellow stripe instead of the usual red to differentiate it from the mainline navy. They could carry a large complement of fighters to give chase to escapees, and had dozens of turbolasers to help guard the prison from hostile ships.

The departing ship was far smaller than the Venator-class, being primarily civilian in its use. It was a long, segmented vessel that resembled a hairless caterpillar. It was a jail-ship called Reckoning. It could transport inmates across the Galaxy, and even be used as a full prison should the situation required it. It was highly specialised for keeping people inside - if security was compromised, officers could sabotage the drive, abandon ship, and leave them adrift until a siege could be planned. Escape was made seemingly impossible for the handful of dangerous prisoners aboard, who were being taken down to Coruscant Central Court, which dealt with Galaxy-wide legal matters.

Anakin sits alone in his cell aboard the Reckoning. The room is plain grey-white, well lit, but had no windows to space outside. The translucent ray-shield ahead of him provided a cold blue glow which reminded him of his lightsaber, reminding him of all that has happened. There was no escape, not even from his past.

In a few hours' time Anakin will have to answer for the charges brought before him; murder, treason, and crimes against sentient life. If found guilty, he will surely be executed, and the Skywalker name would be despised across all the Galaxy. He has avoided all news of the outside universe…The fate of it no longer rests on his shoulders. Still, his testimony will play an integral role in how the Galaxy views him, the Jedi, and his fallen Sith Master. All eyes will be on this trial, every word could tip the balance of power one way or another. With the Chancellor killed, the Republic falls into disarray. The Galactic Empire had not been officially ratified, and so a new, transitional form of government sits in its place until legislators know how to proceed. There is much political contention. Even with the defeat of the separatists, there are still many who oppose this New transitionary Republic. Many senators wish for Chancellor Palpatine's policies to be honoured and for all systems to join a safe and united Galactic Empire.

Three primary political candidates emerge. There is Mon Mothma of Chandrila - a young idealist whose opposition to Palpatine is well known. Despite her popularity, there remains some who think her a conspirator in Palpatine's death. She is backed by other powerful figures (or 'conspirators'), such as Bail Organa of Aldeeran who runs alongside as prospective Vice Chancellor. The second candidate is former Chancellor Finis Valorum, who wishes to appease all sides. He will grant any planets who wish to leave the New Republic the freedom to do so, to form their own governments, or to remain independent. For him, a union of many strengthened by treaties and pacts will stave off conflicts and the bureaucracy arising from a centralised government. Instead of a running mate, he has formed a small council of Republic, ex-separatists and proto-Imperials who will ensure peaceful coexistence between all nations. Despite his years of experience, his willingness to compromise as a pacifistic centrist has left him without supporters from either pro-Imperials or pro-Republicans.

The last candidate is the highly decorated wartime commander, Willhuff Tarkin of Eriadu. An esteemed admiral in the Clone Wars and a steadfast politician, Tarkin is unapologetic in his goal to continue Palpatine's plan to convert the Republic into a new Galactic Empire. Swaying the populace with his promise of stability, security and unification post conflict, he is in close second behind Mon Mothma in the upcoming election.

Anakin hears of all this on the Galactic news network, but doesn't listen. He just wants the silence. He just wants to go home, but he knows he can't. His destiny will never be his own, always dictated by someone, or something else. But to him, for the first time he is truly on his own - no allegiances, no loyalties, no battles to fight or princess to save…he is simply just another hopeless prisoner. For hours he has sat on his bench in his cell, completely unmoving.

He hears footsteps coming toward him, and even before the figure's shadow looms over him and deactivates the cell's ray shield, he knows who it is without even having to sense - It can only be one person.

"Obi-Wan." Anakin says without lifting his heavy head, which is fixed down towards his bare feet.

Obi-Wan has changed since Anakin last saw him. He walks into Anakin's cell with a strange new gait, he limps slightly, but does his best to hide it. There's a slight clacking of metal as Obi-Wan learns to use his new mechanical leg - a replacement for what Sidious took from him a few weeks ago. Despite this, he looks well. Not his old self, but healthy. Anakin looks to his own mechanical arm, and back to Obi-Wan's leg.

Obi-Wan notices this, and so he lifts his trouser leg up, showing the silver shine of a new appendage. "I'm fine, Anakin. Nothing a few days in bacta couldn't solve." But both knew that not all scars are so easily healed. Anakin visibly felt guilty, and couldn't think of what to say.

"Look, I was in worse shape…Before you saved me (again, they both think)."

Anakin finally spoke. "I couldn't lose you. I promised…I promised Padme."

Obi-Wan held in a sigh, and sat down against the wall next to the ray shield door. The room fell silent for a few seconds, both mourning. Obi-Wan looked desperately to break the silence.

"I'm sorry." Obi-Wan said, sorrow cutting his voice short. After a few seconds, Obi-Wan regained his thoughts. "You know, I still think about Qui-Gon. It's been years, but I still miss him. The Jedi forbid attachments, but sometimes…" Obi-Wan hesitates.. "They were wrong." He remembers Satine dying in his arms. He remembers the brotherhood he shared with Anakin. He finally admits that attachment was always integral to the Jedi whether they chose to acknowledge it or not. This would have pleased Anakin a few months ago, but now, nothing seems to phase him.

"Master Yoda may not see it that way." Anakin said.

"What has happened has caused Master Yoda to…Rethink…Some of the Order's previous positions." Obi-Wan continued. "You helped him see that."

"The last thing I remember was Yoda trying to kill me. He did put my head through a wall."

"He never wanted that. Neither of us did. Fighting Palpatine cost you your mind. The dark side had consumed you. And Anakin, from what little I saw, from what I am told…You were moments from killing the Master Jedi yourself…But then, you suddenly stopped."

Anakin hadn't dared look Obi-Wan in the eye since he had arrived. He hadn't moved an inch for days. But just now, Anakin's head suddenly raised as if waking from slumber.

"I saw him, Obi-Wan. I saw Qui-Gon."

Obi-Wan managed a small smile. He knew.

He says "When I was drifting in and out of consciousness, when I was dying…. I knew I didn't have the strength to stop you, but I knew someone who might. I called out to him, begging for his help. It seems he answered."

"A part of me wishes he had never appeared to me. For him to see me like this…After all I've done, he must be so disappointed…"

"No. He knew you were the chosen one. You have destroyed the last of the Sith. Darth Sidious is no more because of you. He can't hurt you or anyone else anymore."

"At first, I thought it was you who betrayed me. But it was him. It was all him. I hated him. I wanted him to suffer. I could've acted sooner. I could've done more. I sensed the darkness in him long ago, but I didn't care. I confronted him about it. I should've ended him right then and there."

"It was a nigh impossible task. You were forced to kill your father figure."

Anakin shakes his head, looking at Obi-Wan. "No, I never did lose him."

"I wasn't ready to raise you. All I knew was how to train you." Obi-Wan confesses.

"No. Yoda was right, Obi-Wan. I am to blame. I'm responsible for a genocide. I'll forever be known as the man who doomed the Jedi."

"Not to me."

"I doubt the court will see it that way"

Obi-Wan gulps. He knows what a guilty verdict will bring. He's only just got Anakin back, he couldn't lose him again. Not like this. Whether he knew it or not, he was already in denial - the first stage of grief. In his heart, he knew this was a losing battle, but he couldn't let his brother know that. He strokes his chin and pauses.

"You'll have a long fight ahead of you." He finally says.

Anakin replies quickly. "I don't want to fight anymore. I accept whatever judgement they lay down upon me. I've made my peace with the force. Maybe this way…"

"...I'll be able to see her again..." Anakin sobs, beginning to break down.

Obi-Wan joins Anakin on his bench. He looks at Anakin for a moment. He no longer sees the all-powerful Sith Lord who defeated Palpatine and swore vengeance on the world. He saw a broken boy, sad and alone, crying into his hands. He saw an ex-slave, abused and beaten by his masters. He saw a man whose adolescence was forged in the fires of brutal war and great expectations instead of a loving mother. He saw a confused pupil that was failed and abandoned by all his mentors. And finally, he saw a distraught husband who had lost his wife and children despite all he did to stop it. This wasn't on Anakin. This wasn't the work of a single individual. This was on the Galaxy.

He instinctively reached out to hold Anakin, cradling him. Anakin leaned into his old Master. For the next few minutes, they sat there in silence. There was a beep at the cell's entrance. Armed guards awaited Kenobi, for his time was up.

Obi-Wan gets up to leave. Anakin's beady wet eyes follow him out.

"I have to go." Says Obi-Wan.

"And now…I've lost everything." Anakin replies.

"Not everything…" Obi-Wan smiles, he disappears for a moment. Anakin, confused, awaits Obi-Wan.

"First, there's some people I'd like you to meet…" Anakin looks up to see what is in Obi-Wan's hands. It is a pair of babies wrapped up in cloth, two twins. Sensing their mother's peril, the womb-siblings instinctively cloaked themselves in force energy, allowing themselves to remain undetected by any human. In his rage, there was no way for Anakin to know. These children may just be more powerful than anyone could possibly imagine. Anakin's face lights up. He feels Padme's presence once again. It wasn't her, but strangely, he knows them. And now, they'll know him. Suddenly, Anakin has something to live for once again. Obi-Wan passes the children to Anakin. Despite many battles, Anakin and Padme could never agree on naming them up until her passing. It was to be their mother's choice then: Luke and Leia Skywalker. He holds them gently, absorbed by their innocence and curious expressions. They had their mother's eyes.