In the Hands of Time

by Darth Pipes and ami-padme

At the end of The Empire Strikes Back, Palpatine sends Mara back in time to strike a preemptive blow against the Skywalker family...but Vader, Luke and Leia are hot on her trail.

6. Chapter 6

IN THE HANDS OF TIME
(Part 6)
by Darth Pipes and ami-padme
joesw77@aol.com, ami_padme@yahoo.com

Luke and Leia made their way through the Drayos base along with C-3PO and R2-D2.  They had managed to get through the base relatively unnoticed and hoped to keep it that way.  Meanwhile, Threepio continued to ramble on.

"Master Anakin then crossed the finish line, and at the age of nine he became the youngest winner of the Boonta Eve Classic.  It was quite exciting."

"Forgive me if I've rambled on," Threepio said, turning back towards Luke. "I am an interpreter and I am..."

"Not much of a storyteller," Luke said, cutting in with a smile.  "You shouldn't underestimate yourself, my friend. Your skills in that department are quite considerable."

C-3PO turned back around.  Droids did not beam but it looked as if Threepio were.

Luke had been surprised to find himself actually listening to Threepio.  He considered the droid a friend but normally one had to tune him out when he spoke.  The tales he told today weere of his maker and Luke's father, Anakin.

He had heard the story many years ago on Tatooine about a child who had one the great Boonta Eve classic.  The child was said to have had extraordinary abilities.  His name had become forgotten in the years since his win but the feat had lived on.  It hadn't been until recently that Luke had discovered it had been his own father who they talked about.  It had made him realize even further just how powerful he really was...and the potential he had as a Jedi.

Luke turned to Leia.  She appeared to be deep in thought.  Luke knew what she was thinking about.  Amidala, their mother.  Leia hadn't seen her since she was about three years old.  In her memories, she was just that beautiful, sad figure who loved Leia but always seemed so distant.  Leia was afraid, afraid of what to expect if she saw her again.

Luke put a hand on Leia's shoulder.  Leia turned her head towards Luke and smiled.  She knew that no matter what happened, they would face it together.

There was another thing that worried the two that they had tried not to discuss.  About what would happened if their mother were killed.  The two of them would cease to exist.  They would forever be erased from time itself.  Jedi were not supposed to give into such things as fear but Luke and Leia knew that that was a very, very terrifying possibility.

The two and the droids made their way to the end of a corridor.  Threepio stepped forward in front of the two.

"Here we are, Master Luke," the droid said.

He began to knock on Amidala's door.  No response.  She was not there.

"I'm sorry sir, but her Majesty does not appear to be here," Threepio said.

"I see," Leia said, stepping forward.  "Do you know where she is?"

"I'm not quite sure madam," Threepio said.  "I don't really know what goes on in Queen Amidala's mind now."

"Threepio, can we enter the room?" Luke asked.  "Perhaps we could get an idea where she is."

"Well, I don't see why not," Threepio responded.  He moved toward the console on the side of a door.  Punching in a code, the doors slide open.  Luke and Leia stepped forward and entered the room.

It wasn't very much of a room.  Barely the size of a skyhopper cockpit.  Very little furniture.  Just a bed and a chair.  They would find nothing here, they quickly realized.

However, there was one thing that suddenly caught Luke's attention.  Luke picked it up from next to the pillow and held it up to his face.  It was a wedding picture of Anakin Skywalker and Queen Amidala.

Leia moved next to Luke to see what he had found.  Both of them remained silent for quite a while as they looked at the picture.

Luke stared at the picture carefully.  Anakin was dressed in a military style black uniform, complete with lightsaber.  Amidala was dressed in a brilliant white wedding dress.  Anakin held Amidala closely in the picture and the two were both smiling.

So this is the face of Darth Vader, Luke thought.  My mothers as well.  This was the first time he had ever seen what his parents looked liked.  Owen and Beru didn't have any pictures of them so Luke had to visualize what they looked like.  His parents' appearance surpassed all his imaginings.

His eyes fixed on Anakin Skywalker.  His father was a striking, regal man.  He looked much like Luke did now.  He was so young.  Obi-Wan had told Luke that his father turned to the dark side shortly after he reached his twenty-first birthday, but he just didn't realize until now how young his father really was.

This made Luke's mind wonder.  Vader would be in his mid-forties now, still a relatively young man.  He had once been a good and benevolent man.  Was it possible for him to be redeemed?  Could he in fact reject the darkness in his own heart?  Vader not only had a son, but a daughter.  Could his children be what it took for him to once again become Anakin Skywalker?

"It's funny," Leia said, breaking Luke's thoughts.  "Of all the times I remember my mother's face, this is the first time that I have seen her looking happy."

Luke turned to face Leia.  They both realized that now was not the time to reflect on the past.  They had to find their mother.  Time was running out.

"Leia," Luke said. "I think that..."

Suddenly, Luke's eyes shot open.  Leia looked at Luke curiously.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"I'm receiving…no…intercepting a message through the Force.  It's from Obi-Wan!" Luke said.

"What is he saying? Leia asked.

"He's...sending a message out to...Father!  He's trying to lure him out of the base."

"He knows he's here?" Leia asked.

"Yes. I'm not sure he knows it's Vader but he senses the dark side," Luke said.  "And he wants to destroy it."

"Well, shouldn't we allow that to happen?" Leia asked.

"No, we can't," Luke said simply.

"Why not?" Leia demanded in a challenging voice.

"Because if we do, we can have a bigger problem on her hands," Luke said.

Leia looked at him curiously; wanting to know what he meant but Luke cut her off before she could even begin.

"Leia, we have to stop Obi-Wan...now!"

Leia was going to protest but sensing the seriousness in Luke's voice, she shook her head.

The two bolted out of Amidala's room.  The two had agreed not to become involved in this timeline's events but now Luke knew, they no longer had a choice.


Having exited the Rebel base, Darth Vader began his descent into the forests of Drayos.  The weather had dramatically changed.  The sky was now gray and the wind was whipping furiously.  Rain was imminent.  But that did not bother Vader.  He had just one thing on his mind, and that was Obi-Wan.

He had thought he could avoid a confrontation with his old master.  There was the matter of the timeline.  It could not be altered.  The effects could be wide-ranging for the galaxy and space itself.

But Vader didn't care.  Sensing Kenobi had resurrected his hate of the man and his desire for revenge.  That urge was too strong for Vader.  He had to fulfill it.

Vader's thoughts drifted to another.  Amidala.  Being with her had awakened the old feelings of his former self.  He had tried to suppress them but he could not.  He knew he never could.

He hated to leave her alone, especially given the presence of Mara Jade.  He hoped that Amidala would stay where she was but he doubted he doubted that.  Still, she was a smart and resourceful woman.  She could take care of herself.

Besides, he doubted that Jade would strike now.  From what he knew of the girl, that was not her style.

Vader reached the beginning of the forest and entered it.  It was quiet, save for the howling wind.  Vader walked through it, with his lightsaber in hand and ignited.  Although he couldn't see him,  he knew that Kenobi was here.  He could feel it.

"I've been waiting for you, Sith," a quiet voice said from behind Vader.

With the sound of thunder in the background, Vader turned around, and there before him was the imposing figure of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

The sight of Kenobi before him surprised Vader.  Obi-Wan's face lacked the warmth and compassion that he had often seen in it.  Instead, his expression was stern and unforgiving.  It was filled with anger.  Obi-Wan's eyes looked down into Vader with nothing but hate.  Vader realized at this moment that Obi-Wan reminded him very much of a Sith Lord.

"I had no doubt that you would be," Vader finally responded.

The two men just stared, sizing each other up.  Obi-Wan ignited his lightsaber.  The blue blade came to life with a snaphiss.  But he made no move toward Vader.  He seemed to have something on his mind.

"So, you are Palpatine's new slave," Kenobi said.

Being called a slave by Kenobi fuelled Vader's anger.  He quickly suppressed it.  He would not allow Kenobi to get the better of him.

"Not a slave, Kenobi," Vader replied calmly.  "I am a Sith Lord.  I am no one's servant."

"Yes, of course," Obi-Wan said in a mocking tone.  "You are your own man.  Just like Anakin Skywalker was."

Vader felt the rage inside of him rise again.  Kenobi always had a snide remark to say to about him, whether he was Anakin Skywalker or Darth Vader.  He had always hated that about him.

Obi-Wan sensed Vader's anger and smiled.  He continued to needle him on.

"I seemed to have hit a nerve, Sith.  Does the truth hurt?"

"The truth can be told from several different points of view Kenobi.  You of all people should know that."

Kenobi was surprised to hear the Sith say such a thing.  He sensed a familiarity with the Sith, but quickly pushed it aside as his hatred consumed him again.

"Why are you here?" Kenobi calmly asked Vader.

"There would be little point in trying to explain to you," Vader said.

"Are you after the Queen?" Kenobi said, ignoring Vader's response.  "Or are you after me?"

Vader snorted.  "Do not overestimate your worth Kenobi.  You are not that important."

"But you seem to think otherwise," Obi-Wan said in a challenging tone.  "Why else would you have responded to my call?"

"I came here to settle matters with you." Vader said.

"For Palpatine?" Obi-Wan asked.

"For me," Vader simply replied.

At this point, Obi-Wan was truly confused.  Who is this Sith?  What issues did he have with him?

Vader sensed Obi-Wan's confusion and laughed.

"You truly don't know who I am, do you Obi-Wan?" he asked.

At this point, Kenobi's anger and impatience was rising.  He was tired of the games this Sith was playing with him.

"No," Obi-Wan said.  He was beginning to seethe with fury as he moved closer to Vader.  "And at this point, I do not care.  I hate you and your kind.  The crimes your dark side filth has committed...you have brought the galaxy nothing but pain and suffering.  You have brought me nothing but pain and suffering, destroying everything I held dear.  But now I will have my vengeance and I will stop at nothing, nothing, to destroy you!"

Now Vader's felt himself become increasingly enraged.

I have caused him pain? Vader thought.  What about the pain he had caused me?  Keeping my power back as I grew stronger in the Force.  Joining the Jedi in opposing me, his own best friend.  Then destroying my family, and finally my body.  What about that?  You arrogant, self-serving bastard!

"Yes, my old friend," Vader said fuming, as he stepped closer to Kenobi.  "Just as you destroyed Anakin Skywalker!"

Vader's sent his feelings and thought to Obi-Wan.  Using the Force, Obi-Wan purged deeper into the Sith's mind.  Who was this Sith? What connection did he have?

Obi-Wan's eyes shot open.

No...it couldn't be!

Kenobi sensed the Sith's feeling and found it to be true.  But that wasn't possible.  He was dead! He had seen him fall into the volcano on Sulluest.  He should have died...but he didn't.  This Sith...it was...Anakin!

Or what was left of Anakin.  He was more machine now, kept alive by that horrible black armor.  Is that what he had become?

Rage began to fill up in Obi-Wan.  It was a hatred he had never felt before, even when Qui-Gon had been killed.

Is this what Anakin has become?  Kenobi thought.  A creature of evil?  Is this what he used my training for?  To destroy?!  To kill?!  This is what I have created?  A creature...a thing of evil!  Is that what Anakin has become?!  This?!

Suddenly, Obi-Wan let out a scream that could probably be heard from miles away and held out his lightsaber.  He charged at Vader.  He was going to kill this monster, this thing of evil, where he stood.

The unexpected ferocity of Kenobi's charge surprised Vader.  He barely had time to bring his blade up in to deflect Kenobi's blow.  The deflection sent Kenobi past him.  He quickly turned around followed by Vader.

The two swung their lightsabers at each other, trying to cut the other down.  Their blue and red sabers slammed against each other just as a bolt of lighting struck the sky above Drayos, and rain began to pour to the ground.

The final battle between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader had begun.


Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi's blades slammed together as the rain continued to fall on Drayos.  The two men battled furiously up and down the forests, neither giving an inch.  Their hate was literally bouncing off of every tree in the forest

This wasn't like their two previous duels.  In the first, Anakin had been a young man of twenty-one years of age.  In the second, Kenobi had been an old man nearing sixty.  They were both relatively young and in their primes now, and they fought like it.

Kenobi tried to cut Vader's legs out from under him but Vader leapt above him, swinging his lightsaber down on his old master.  Kenobi blocked and put up a fearsome counterattack.  He slashed at Vader's sides, trying to cut his former student in half.  Vader defended against this and launched his own counterattack.  Kenobi countered with another attack, this one filled with hatred.  The dark side of the Force was surrounding him and helping him give power to his attacks.  If this kept up, the dark side might consume the Obi-Wan Kenobi forever.

The thought surprisingly troubled Vader.  For many years, he had often wished that Kenobi would have fallen to the dark side.  So that the pure, honorable Knight who everyone praised would fall from grace and lose everything that he loved.  Now it looked like it had happened.  It looked like his hatred of Vader had done that to him.  Vader thought that would have made him happy but it did not.  He had never seen Obi-Wan like this...and he did not like it one bit.

Obi-Wan suddenly intensified his attack.  Vader attempted to match it but Obi-Wan was ready.  Moving swiftly, he hooked Vader's weapon and sent it flying out of the Sith Lord's hands.

Vader was suddenly defenseless as Obi-Wan stalked forward.  Vader backed up as Kenobi moved closer and closer.  Obi-Wan's face was a mask of pure hatred as he swung his lightsaber at Vader.  Vader ducked as the saber came his way.  Kenobi tried to swing again but Vader was ready.  He kicked Obi-Wan's lightsaber out of his hand.  The lightsaber struck a tree behind Obi-Wan and became wedged inside.

Taking advantage of this Vader struck Obi-Wan across the face, knocking the Jedi to the ground.  Turning away from Obi-Wan for the moment, Vader attempted to signal for his fallen lightsaber.  But Obi-Wan quickly recovered and kicked Vader's legs out from under him.  The Dark Lord fell to the ground.

With both men on the ground, Vader turned toward Kenobi.  Kenobi responded by kicking Vader across his face, knocking him backward.  Kenobi quickly got to his feet and pulled his lightsaber out of the tree.  Once in his hand, Kenobi swung the blade right through the tree.  The mighty oak tree came crashing down, heading towards the fallen form of Darth Vader.

Vader looked up in shock as he saw the tree coming down towards him.  Reacting quickly, he barely managed to move out of the way.  The tree slammed to the ground next to him, shaking the very forest.

Obi-Wan came towards Vader's fallen form and swung his lightsaber down at him.  Vader once again moved out of the way.  Rising to his feet, he ran past Kenobi.  Obi-Wan quickly followed.

Vader ran toward a nearby tree.  Kenobi was now right behind him and took another swing at him with his lightsaber.  Vader managed to jump onto the nearby tree just in time.  Using the Force, he executed an incredible back flip over Kenobi.  Reaching out again with the Force, he called for his lightsaber.  It flew into his hand as he landed back on the ground behind Kenobi.  He ignited his lightsaber just as Kenobi turned around and charged after him, ready for another attack.

Vader met his assault and the two men resumed their battle.  They attacked each other again and again, the strikes growing more vicious each time.  Yet neither man was able to gain an upper hand.  Neither of them could find an opening in the other's defense.  As the two men found themselves in between a pile of bushes, a bolt of lighting suddenly struck, knocking them both backward.  The lighting caused the bushes to erupt in flames.

The fire made Vader momentarily flinch.  Fire had always reminded him of the volcano he had fallen into on Sulluest.  Even to this day, he could still remember the feeling of molten lava consuming his body.  But Vader shook it off.  He was Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith.  He feared nothing, least of all fire.

As Vader prepared to chase after Kenobi, Obi-Wan suddenly leapt through the fire and attacked Vader.  This caught Vader by surprise as he brought up his blade to defend himself.  He met Kenobi's move and the two men's blades were now locked together.  Neither one of them was giving ground.

"What's wrong, Darth", Obi-Wan said mockingly. "Scared of a little fire?"

"You know that's not the case, Obi-Wan," Vader said as he continued to try to break free.

"Yes of course," Kenobi said through gritted teeth as he tried to break the lock of lightsabers.  He looked up at Vader with his face tight.

"You know something 'my old friend'?" Kenobi said.  "When you fell down that volcano on Sulluest and I had thought you were dead, I felt terrible, like I had lost not just my best friend, but also my son.  But now...now I no longer feel that way."

"Why?" Vader spat out angrily.  "Because I was just another pathetic lifeform that you could no longer be bothered with?"

"No," Obi-Wan replied coldly.  "Because you got exactly what you deserved."

That comment was enough for Vader to break the hold.  With a tremendous amount of fury, he pushed Kenobi away, raised his lightsaber above his head, and swung down at his former master.

He missed completely as Obi-Wan sidestepped him with ease.  His blade ran through a mighty tree.  Vader quickly pulled it out, turned around to where Kenobi was and charged him.  He was in a rage after what his "old friend" had said to him, and now he would kill him where he stood.

Gathering up his anger and hatred, Vader launched into a new series of attacks into Kenobi.  Obi-Wan simply smiled as he easily blocked Vader's furious assaults.  Vader kept on pushing, summoning more of the dark side of the Force through his anger.  But Obi-Wan had an answer for every attack.

Vader was growing increasingly tired as he furiously fought Obi-Wan to no avail.  Obi-Wan sensed this and launched a vicious attack.  It was a powerful, full of pure hatred.  He swung his saber furiously at Vader.  Vader just barely deflected the first swing that was aimed for his midsection.  He continued to defend, but he was becoming very sluggish.  Kenobi's powerful swings were knocking Vader back with considerable force.  The Dark Lord nearly tripped as he was being pushed further and further back.

As Vader was beginning to fall, Kenobi smiled and pressed his attack.

Vader was on the defensive and he needed to summon up the power of the dark side.  It was the only way he could save himself.  He tried to summon the dark side by focusing on his anger and hatred but found himself unable too.  For some reason, he was having trouble...connecting with it.  His mind became clouded as Obi-Wan's vicious attacks continued.

Vader found that he couldn't use the dark side of the Force.  With his body tiring, Vader realized that if he couldn't use it against Kenobi, this was a battle that he could not win.


The rain was beating down hard on Drayos.  But it meant little to Mara Jade.  The only thing that mattered was her mission, and the time to complete it was approaching.

Mara continued her work on her rifle.  She was on the top of the North Tower.  From there she could get the best possible shot at the Queen.  Getting into the North Tower was no problem.  Just a few mind tricks on some weak-minded guards.  With the increased security caused by her killing of a Jedi, she could not afford to leave any victims and draw increased attention.

She was now working on the rifle's eyepiece.  Her knowledge of firearms and technology was considerable and if she made the proper adjustments, she could expand the range of the rifle so she could see and hit a target anywhere in the base and beyond.

Something else had happened on the planet.  A...disturbance of some kind.  Mara speculated that it might have something to do with Vader and Kenobi.  If that was true, then there was no way Mara could destroy the Queen directly.

Still, it did not matter.  She would get the Queen, and Kenobi and Vader would see the results.  She would have to make the shot good, because you didn't get second chances against Kenobi and Vader.  But she would, and when it was over, the Skywalker threat against the Emperor would be gone forever.  Then Mara Jade could return to the future and take her rightful place at the Emperor's side.

Mara made the final completions to the rifle and checked through the eyepiece.  Perfect.  Now she could search for the Queen through it up to a ten-mile radius.  It might take a while, but so be it.  She had all the time she could possibly need.  Queen Amidala did not...


Darth Vader swung his lightsaber weakly, attempting to behead Kenobi.  Obi-Wan easily ducked.  He then spun around Vader and delivered a powerful kick to his back, sending the Dark Lord flying across the forest.  He crashed into the muddy ground.

As Vader struggled to get to his knees, Kenobi rushed him and attempted to strike him while he was down.  Vader brought his blade up and barely blocked Kenobi's swing.  He managed to push Kenobi away from him.  Vader then rose to his feet only to see Obi-Wan charging at him again with another vicious, hate-filled attack.  Vader again managed to defend himself but that was all he could do.

As the battle continued, Vader was confused as to why he was unable to use the dark side of the Force.  He used to be able to do it so readily in the past, summoning it against the Jedi he had slaughtered.  It had consumed him when he destroyed the Obi-Wan on the Death Star.  The anger had filled him and made him stronger, allowing him to destroy his enemies time and time again.  Yet now, when he needed it most it was not there.  He believed that he knew the answer why.

Amidala.  Seeing her again, allowing himself to once again care for her as Anakin Skywalker had in the past, had allowed the light to shine into his darkness.  Once he had thought that to be impossible, but it had happened.  In that instant, he hadn't been thinking of himself, or the Emperor.  He had been thinking of Amidala, about his love for her.  When he had allowed that to happened, it had permanently damaged his connection to the dark side.  He could still feel anger, but he could no longer use it as a weapon.  That is why he could not use it against his old master. Because it was not there.

If the dark side wasn't there to defeat Kenobi, there was only one thing left that could defeat his old master, who was allowing himself to be consumed by the dark side himself.  The light side of the Force.

The thought of once again using the light side of the Force, the side the Jedi Knight served, sickened Vader.  He had purged that light away from him years ago when he had consumed the darkness.  As far as he was concerned, the dark side was stronger.  It made the weak powerful.  Yet the light was the only thing left.  The only thing that could defeat Kenobi.

Perhaps that is why he was never able to defeat Kenobi.  Perhaps the dark side couldn't beat Kenobi or for that matter, perhaps the dark side really was not the way.  He had been unable to defeat Kenobi on Mount Sulluest all those years ago, and as much as he hated to admit it, he probably would not have been able to defeat his master on the Death Star if Obi-Wan had not allowed him to strike him down.  Kenobi had beaten him because he was pure, and Vader was dark.  Now the situation was reversed and Obi-Wan was consumed in darkness, his hatred evident in his attacks on Vader.  Perhaps only the power of light could defeat the great Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Your focus determines your reality.

Qui-Gon Jinn had told Vader...Anakin that.  Obi-Wan had pounded that into his head when he was his apprentice.

Yes, that was it.  The only way to defeat Obi-Wan Kenobi, who was consumed in darkness, was as a true Jedi would. With the light side of the Force.

Breaking away from his battle with Obi-Wan, Vader stepped backward with his saber pointed down.  He appeared to be in some kind of trance as he began to calm his mind and attempt to once again have the light of the Force enter the darkness in his own heart.

Obi-Wan seemed surprised by what Vader was doing.  His enemy seemed to be in some kind of a trance.  He was no longer defending himself.  Kenobi gave a sadistic smile as he raised his saber above his head.  Hate filled his very being and darkness covered his heart.  He would finish this Sith once and for all.

Obi-Wan swung his saber at Vader helmet only to be stopped by Vader's lightsaber just inches from his skull.

A shocked look crossed Obi-Wan's face as the rain continued to beat down.

Darth Vader pushed Kenobi back.  When he had allowed the Light peer into his darkness, a wave of energy surged through him.  He had not felt this in many years and to his surprise, it made him feel strong.  It was a true strength.  The light side of the Force was his ally.

Kenobi, still shocked at what his enemy was doing, launched into an attack, slashing at Vader repeatedly.  But Vader was ready and easily defended against Kenobi's angry attacks.  Kenobi pressed on but to no avail.  Vader had an answer for every attack.

Kenobi was now the one growing increasingly tired from his own attacks.  His moves were now growing sloppy and he was missing badly.  He was beginning to fade.  This allowed Vader the opening he needed.

He leapt over Obi-Wan and behind him.  He spun around and swung his red blade at Kenobi.  Obi-Wan had barely managed to block it.  With the light side as his ally, Vader launched into a new series of attacks, prepared to defeat his opponent once and for all.

He slashed, parried, and pressed forward against Kenobi, mixing his attacks so much that the Jedi did not know what to expect next.  Kenobi, ever the warrior, still managed to put up a strong fight, using the dark side.  But he was no match for this Darth Vader.  The Darth Vader that had the light side of the Force as his ally.

With a powerful move forward, Vader knocked Kenobi's lightsaber out of his hand and delivered a kick to his former master's jaw, sending him crashing several feet across the forest.  When it was finished, Kenobi lay on the ground defenseless.  After all these years, Darth Vader had finally managed to truly defeat his old master.

Pride began to fill Vader.  Another emotion gripped him as well as he looked at the defenseless Kenobi, lying dazed on the ground with the rain pouring down.  Hatred.  A strong one that was pushing out the Light he had used to defeat Kenobi and once again connecting him to the dark side of the Force.

He knew why.  It was now time for his revenge.  It was time to kill Kenobi once and for all.  There would be no escape for him this time, no mysterious disappearances.  He would die here and now, and Vader would finally have his revenge.

Vader walker over to Kenobi with his blade pointed towards him.  He lifted it up and prepared to strike down Kenobi.  There would be no one to stop him this time.

"Anakin!"

With his attention still on Obi-Wan, Darth Vader turned his head at the response of his name.  There stood Amidala, several feet away from him.  She was drenched due to the heavy rain and she looked at him, concern etched on her face as she saw Vader standing above Obi-Wan with his lightsaber to him.

His name.  He had responded to…his name.

Anakin, Anakin Skywalker.

That was the first time he had responded to that name in years.  It had been his name once.

Is it still my name now?

Looking at Amidala helped to drive some of his hatred out of him.  He looked back at Kenobi, then to Amidala, then back to Kenobi, then back to Amidala.  A thought popped into his head.

What in the name of the Force am I doing?

He had been wondering that very recently.  This trip through time had been to save his unborn child.  But now, now it had become so much more.  It had become a return to Anakin's...his past.  A return to what he had tried so hard to forget.  He was now confronting the actions of his past and seeing how it affected the people he had loved.

He looked at Obi-Wan.  The Jedi was staring at him with hate in his eyes.  This is what Vader's actions had caused Obi-Wan.  To be consumed by hatred.  To crave to revenge.  To allow himself to be corrupted by the dark side.  At one point in his life, Vader would have loved to see that happen...but not anymore.

Why did I want that to happen?

It was because he hated Kenobi.  He blamed him for so many things.  The death of his mother.   Holding back his training.  Siding against him with the Empire.  It finally dawned on Vader that it wasn't Obi-Wan's fault what had happened in his past.  Obi-Wan didn't kill his mother.  Obi-Wan didn't try to hold back his training and stop him from reaching his potential because he was jealous.  He was only trying to protect him...and he was right.  Look at the results of what had happened to him...to both of them.

Obi-Wan had been his friend.  His best friend, and the man who was like a father to him.  And this is how he repaid that friendship.  By betraying him and holding a lightsaber to his throat.

Vader looked to Amidala.  His wife, whom he abandoned when she was pregnant with his child.  He had felt that Amidala had never truly cared about him.  He felt that she had been the one who abandoned him when she refused to join him.  Once again he was wrong.  She did care about him very much, except he had been too stupid to realize that.  She hadn't abandoned him.  She had always loved him.  And he loved her so very much, with every fiber in his being.  He always had no matter how hard he tried to bury it under hate and anger.

He looked back at Obi-Wan.  A realization came to him in that moment.

I was wrong.

He was wrong to have turned to the dark side.  He had been an impatient, greedy, stupid child when he joined Palpatine.  He allowed himself to become Palpatine's slave because he wanted power and respect.  He felt that everyone he had loved had betrayed him.  But they hadn't.  He had betrayed them.  His greed and lust for power instead ended up causing the galaxy nothing but suffering, and left him with a void inside of himself.  Worst of all, he had managed to hurt the people he loved.

It was my fault.  All of it.

He turned back to Amidala.  Once again Qui-Gon's words came back to him.  Your focus determines your reality.

He had a second chance now.  A chance to make things right.  Whether or not it would work was unknown.  But he did have a second chance.  He had Amidala, and Luke.  He had a family he could go back to.  He had a reason and a desire to break free of the bonds of the dark side once and for all and embrace the Light.

He turned back at Kenobi.  The Jedi stared at him defiantly, with hate still in his eyes as he waited for Vader to kill him.  But that would not happen.  Vader had no reason or desire for it.  He had killed Obi-Wan once before.  He would not kill his friend again.

He deactivated his lightsaber, much to the surprise of Obi-Wan, and threw it to the ground.

With that, Darth Vader...Anakin Skywalker, turned around and walked over to his wife.


Why didn't he kill me?

That was the thought that raged through Obi-Wan's mind.  Just before, the man...or thing that had once been Anakin Skywalker, Darth Vader, had stood above him, ready to destroy him.  Once Amidala had arrived, Vader had hesitated, then finally threw his lightsaber down and headed towards Amidala.  Again the question raged through Obi-Wan's mind.

Why didn't he do it?

Could it be that...Anakin Skywalker had once again emerged.  Had he returned from the dark side?

No, that was impossible.  He was a creature of evil, and once you tread down the path of the dark side, there was no turning back.

Besides, Anakin was too much of a greedy, self-centered son of a bitch to possibly do that.  He was likely playing some sort of game with Obi-Wan, perhaps as part of his latest plan.  He was likely sparing Obi-Wan now so he could ultimately destroy him later and extend Palpatine's rule.  The thought sent anger raging through Obi-Wan once again.  He would not allow that to happen.

Obi-Wan signaled his fallen lightsaber to his hand.  Once it came, he jumped to his feet and ignited it.  He charged Anakin, whose back was to him as he continued to walk towards Amidala.

Anakin turned just in time to see Obi-Wan swing his lightsaber towards him.  He moved just in time to avoid being cut down but Obi-Wan's blade still managed to slice him in the side of his body, drawing blood.  Anakin grimaced as Obi-Wan again swung his blade.  He missed but the Jedi followed up with a thunderous kick to Anakin's head.  It was so strong that it nearly cracked open Vader's helmet.

Anakin hit the muddy ground.  He was badly dazed and unable to focus.  Obi-Wan stepped forward and raised his blade.  It was time to destroy this thing of evil once and for all.

"No!" Amidala screamed, stepping in front of Obi-Wan and grabbing one of his arms.  "Obi-Wan, you can't...he's not Vader anymore!  He's changed…he's Anakin!"

"Get out of my way, Amidala," Obi-Wan said calmly, still staring down at Vader.

"No!" Amidala said, still holding on to Obi-Wan's arm.  "You must believe me, he's –"

WHAM!

Amidala didn't have time to finish his sentence as Obi-Wan broke his arm loose and delivered a backhanded slap across her face.  This knocked Amidala hard to the ground.  Anakin, still wobbly, saw this and attempted to go over to Amidala to protect her.  He was stopped short as Obi-Wan pointed his blade at Anakin's throat.

The Jedi now looked down on Anakin, a sadistic smile stretched across his fate.  He looked as if he did not care about what he had just done.

A shocked Amidala, with blood coming down her mouth, looked up at Obi-Wan.  She met his eyes with her own and that told her the story.  Obi-Wan had lost it.  He didn't even know what he was doing.  All he knew was his hatred of Vader/Anakin, and he was letting the dark side of the Force consume him.  There would be nothing to stop him now.

Obi-Wan turned back to Anakin.  He slowly raised his lightsaber and prepared to deliver the deathblow to Anakin.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Amidala turned their heads to the voice coming from behind them.  There they saw two figures, a man and a woman, heading towards them.  Obi-Wan and Amidala thought that the two were familiar some how but they had no idea who they were.  Anakin knew however.

Luke.  So, he finally has arrived.  Anakin's admiration of his son's powers grew even more.  Still, he was confused as to why his companion was with him.  Leia Organa?  He knew the two were friends and companions but why was she here?  She had nothing to do with any of this.

"Ben...Obi-Wan," Luke said, looking straight at Kenobi.  "You can't do this."

Obi-Wan regarded the two, especially the young man, for a long time.  He still had his blade at Anakin's throat, and while he wasn't looking at him, a large part of his mind was still focused on his enemy.

Who were these two?  Why were they here, and how did the boy know who he was?

"And just who the hell are you?" Obi-Wan spat out angrily at the man.

The man looked at his female companion.  A silent communication seemed to be going on between the two.  This puzzled Kenobi.  Were they fellow Jedi...or were they pawns of Palpatine, setting him up for some kind of trap?

Slowly, the man stepped forward.

"I am Luke Skywalker."

Despite the rain, the wind, and the thunder in the sky, deafening silence reined in the forests.  Obi-Wan Kenobi still held is lightsaber blade to Anakin's throat.  He kept one eye on both Anakin and Amidala while the other was on Luke and Leia.

Obi-Wan and Amidala stared at the man and the woman for a long time, not knowing what to say.  They had been shocked by what he had said but they knew though that the man couldn't possibly be telling the truth.  Anakin had no living blood relatives.

"I am Leia," the woman said, stepping forward towards Obi-Wan.  "Luke's twin sister and the daughter of Amidala...and Anakin Skywalker."  She added the last part with great reluctance.

Now Anakin joined Obi-Wan and Amidala in shock.  She was his daughter.  Leia Organa was his daughter...impossible!  Surely he would have sensed it earlier.  He had been around her enough.  But he also trusted his son and he knew that the boy did not lie.

Anakin saw Amidala turn towards him.  He could read the expression on her face.  Was it true?  Anakin nodded at his wife.  It was true.

"Do you really expect me to believe you?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Do you sense that I am lying, Obi-Wan?" Luke asked in response.

"Sith have a way of making anything seem true.  How do I know that this is no different?" Kenobi said.

"We are not Sith Lords," Luke said.  "Nor are we Palpatine's servants.  Ben...Obi-Wan, this is going to be difficult for you...and for our mother to believe, but we are not even of this timeline.  We are from the future.

"Twenty three years from the future to be exact," Luke continued.  "We have traveled back in time with our father in order to..."

"That is enough!" Obi-Wan snapped at Luke, surprising the young Jedi.  "I will not stand here and listen to anymore of your lies.  I don't know what Palpatine has in mind this time but nothing will stop me from killing this...thing!" he finished, looking at Anakin.

"If I were a Sith, would I have this?" Luke said, reaching into his jacket and pulling out his...Qui-Gon Jinn's lightsaber.

This brought gasps from the three in front of Luke and Leia, especially Anakin and Obi-Wan.  It also brought back memories for the two of them.  Anakin remembered the first time he saw that lightsaber on the streets of Mos Espa when he was just a boy.  For Obi-Wan, it brought back memories of the man who use to own it, Qui-Gon.

"Where did you get that?!" Obi-Wan yelled at Luke, his anger rising further.  "I gave that to Yoda.  Did you kill him?"

"Do you really believe that?" Luke asked, raising his eyebrow skeptically.

Obi-Wan knew the young man was right.  There was no way he could have killed Yoda.  Still, the question lingered on.

"Where did you get that?" Obi-Wan asked again, calmer than before.

"I got it from you, in the future," Luke responded, putting the saber away.  "You were my first teacher, Obi-Wan Kenobi.  I learned much from you.  You gave me this lightsaber in the hopes that I would use it to uphold peace and justice just as your master had."

The mention of Qui-Gon brought back even more memories to Obi-Wan.  Still, they were once again suppressed by his hate.

"I know you have strong personal feelings about Anakin," Luke said.  "I know what he's done to you in the past.  But you must not kill him."

"Do you really know what he's done to me 'young Skywalker'?" Obi-Wan asked as he seethed in rage.  "Do you?  How he betrayed our friendship, our trust?  How he destroyed the Jedi?  How he broke the trust of Qui-Gon?  How he broke my promise to my master to train him to be a Jedi?  Tell me, my young friend, do you really know what's done to me?"

"I know what he's done to you, Obi-Wan. I've seen it with my own eyes," Luke said.  That last statement sent a shiver up Anakin's spine and Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow, unsure at what exactly Luke had implied.  "But I also know that even the worst of us is capable of redemption, even Anakin Skywalker.  I can sense the good in that man even now.  You would be able to as well if you weren't blinded by your hate."

Luke stepped closer to Obi-Wan.  He met his old master eye-to-eye.

"Obi-Wan, one of the things you taught me was to never give into hate.  That path leads to the dark side.  If you give into your hate and kill Anakin Skywalker, you will allow the dark side to consume you.  You will allow Darth Vader to finally defeat you.  I cannot stop you from killing Anakin.  Leia cannot stop you.  You must make this decision on your own.  The rest is in the hands of the Force, Obi-Wan Kenobi."

Obi-Wan regarded Luke for a long time.  He was impressed with the words that had come from the young man.  They were spoken like a true Jedi.  Something Obi-Wan had not acted like recently.

Obi-Wan looked around the forest.  His eyes fell on Amidala.  She was bleeding from the mouth where Obi-Wan had struck her.  Tremendous guilt began to build-up in Obi-Wan.  How could he have done that to Amidala?  She was his friend.  He had sworn to protect her and her unborn children and yet he had actually assaulted her.  Shame began to fill up inside of him.

What have I done?

He had been on edge the last few days when it came to thinking about Anakin Skywalker.  He had been angry with the Queen for not accepting his death.  He had even told her that he truly hoped he was not alive because he believed he simply couldn't tolerate his presence anymore.

The fact was though that he did not hate Anakin.  He hated himself.  He had blamed himself for Anakin turning to the dark side.  He blamed himself for the destruction of the Jedi and for not being able to stop the Emperor's rise to power.  He had blamed himself for his failure to Qui-Gon in training Anakin.  He had hated himself for his failures and he felt that destroying Anakin would help him alleviate his hatred and finally atone for his actions.  All it did was bring him closer to the dark side.

His actions had been worthy of a Sith Lord.  The Sith.  They had taken everything from him.  His master, his apprentice, the Jedi.  Well, they had taken that all away from him, but there was one thing he would never allow for them to take.  His soul.  If he killed Vader now, the Sith would have the final victory over him and they would have finally succeeded in destroying him.  He would not allow that to happen.

Obi-Wan turned to Darth Vader.

Or is it Anakin?

He wasn't sure, but Luke had been correct.  He could sense some good in him.  He had sensed it earlier when Vader had refused to kill him but he pushed it out because of his lust for revenge.  Could Anakin Skywalker possibly return from the dark side?  If he did, where would that leave them?  And Amidala for that matter?  Obi-Wan wasn't sure, but Luke was right.  There was a chance, and as a Jedi, it was up to him to find out if it could succeed.

Obi-Wan deactivated his lightsaber, which he had been holding at Vader's...Anakin's throat and hooked it back to his belt.  He calmed his mind and the anger and hatred inside of him began to leave his body.  The light was now returning and outshining the darkness in his heart.  Slowly and reluctantly, he held out his hand to Anakin.

Anakin, while as reluctant as Obi-Wan, still reached out and took the Jedi's hand.  Obi-Wan helped Anakin to his feet and the two stood face to face for a long time.  No words were exchanged but both of them seemed to be in a silent communication.  They could sense the bond that they once shared was beginning to reemerge.  With that, their hate for each other was now gone.

As the two remaining staring at each other, Luke and Leia went over to the fallen Amidala and helped her to her feet.  Amidala looked at the two for a long time, not knowing what to say.  After all, what do you say to your children when they haven't even been born yet?

The three of them joined Obi-Wan and Anakin.  Awkward silence reigned between the five for a long time.  Finally, Obi-Wan turned to Luke.

"Tell me...Luke, what are you all doing here?"


More than three miles away, Mara Jade had finally found her target.  The rain had made it increasingly difficult to search for her, but now she had Queen Amidala targeted.

Through the eyepiece, she examined the situation.  Amidala was there, along with Vader and Kenobi.  To her surprise, they didn't seem to be fighting.  It looked as if they were...talking?  She also saw in her Luke Skywalker and...Leia Organa.  Mara was surprised to see the last Princess of Alderaan in this timeline but it made little difference.  She had found her target and now it was time to finish this once and for all.

She began to prepare her weapon for her shot at the Queen.  The rifle was equipped with a silencer so that no one on the base would hear it.  She knew she would only have one shot at this so she had to make it count.  If she missed, she wouldn't get another chance, especially around the likes of Vader and Kenobi.  Jade wished she could strike the two of them down as well but she would take great satisfaction in seeing them watch their beloved Queen being destroyed right in front of their eyes.  Yes, she smiled at the thought of Vader watching his son's future, and his own, end before his very eyes.

Mara's mind briefly to Luke Skywalker.  When she killed Amidala, Skywalker would cease to exist.  What would happen to the timeline?  He would disappear, but what about her?  Would she still be here, or would she have even be sent here if Skywalker was already dead?  Whatever the case it didn't matter.  It was the Emperor's will that Amidala and Luke Skywalker be destroyed and she would fulfill it.  She would then return to the future and take her place at the Emperor's side.

Jade finished her preparations and locked in on Queen Amidala.  She now had the rifle aimed squarely in the middle of her head.  It was time.

Farewell, Your Majesty.

Mara Jade squeezed the trigger...


As Luke prepared himself to tell Obi-Wan and Amidala why they were all here, Leia began to sense something.  A disturbance in the Force.  Something was happening.

Her head suddenly snapped alert.  The assassin!  She was going to kill her mother!

Things began to move very slowly as Leia realized what was going on.  A laser blast was heading straight for her mother.  She turned to her left and signaled Vader's lightsaber to her hand and ignited it.  She threw the red blade in front of Amidala.

She did it just in time as the laser blast struck the blade.  It defected against a nearby tree, blasting a large hole into it.

Amidala staggered backwards in shock, nearly falling into the mud.  Anakin quickly stepped in front of her.

Luke and Obi-Wan snapped to alert, igniting their lightsabers and preparing for battle.

"What..." Obi-Wan began.

Leia, still holding Anakin's lightsaber, turned to her brother Luke and met him eye to eye.

"It's Jade," she said.

Luke nodded. "Let's go."

Luke and Leia took off through the forest, heading for the location of where the shot had come from.

"Luke!" Anakin called out but to no use.  Luke and Leia were now on their way for a showdown with Mara Jade.


Anakin watched Luke and Leia take off after Mara, into the woods and around the back of the base.  He had half a mind to follow them, but something kept him rooted to his spot.

They did.  Obi-Wan and Amidala.  He finally had to face them.  No more destructive lies, no more weak excuses, no more blinding hatred.  This wasn't about Darth Vader seeking revenge against his old master, or trying to ignore his feelings for his wife.  This was, finally, Anakin Skywalker, apologizing to both – knowing that he could never undo what was done, but trying to set things right in whatever way he could.

Anakin turned to look at Amidala.  She hadn't moved from her spot either.  She simply stood there staring at him.  He could feel her utter confusion – her mind was absolutely spinning.  He wasn't at all sure where to begin trying to explain this to her.

"Amidala?" Obi-Wan's voice broke their attention from each other.  "Are you alright…I'm so very, very sorry."

Amidala's hand went to the bloody bruise just below her lower lip.  She was trembling slightly.

"I'm…fine."  She gave him a sorrowful smile.  "I suppose this does make us even though."

Obi-Wan looked horrified.  "Amidala," he said in a near whisper, "You must know that I would never –"

"I don't know anything."  She looked back and forth between the two men, and took a couple of steps backwards.  "Nothing makes sense…"  Her hand went to her forehead; she looked increasingly pale.  "Who was that?  Who was trying to kill me?"

Anakin started to walk toward her, but again she backed up.  He stopped moving, his concern for her growing.  "She was sent by Palpatine, from the future, to kill you so Luke would not be born.  That's why we all came.  To stop her and save you."

Obi-Wan glanced back in the direction the twins had raced off in.  "If that's true, we should get you inside immediately, Amidala.  It's far too dangerous for you to be out in the open like this.  If there are any others after you –"

"No," Anakin responded.  "Jade was the only one.  And I'm certain that Luke…and Leia can handle her."  He turned back to Amidala.  "But Obi-Wan is right, we should get you to safety."

Amidala shook her head, still backing up, watching both of them uneasily.  Suddenly, she covered her face with her hands, and fainted.

Anakin was by her side instantly, catching just her before she hit the ground.  "Ami? Ami, can you hear me?"

Her eyes opened a tiny bit.  "Ani…the twins…"

Anakin gently touched her face.  "You don't have to worry.  They're strong…just like their mother.  I'm sure they will return soon."

She shook her head.  "I mean…the twins now…"

Her face scrunched up and Anakin felt that she was in some pain.  Oh Force, don't let anything happen with the pregnancy.  He scooped her up in his arms and carried her into the base, with Kenobi following closely.

Figuring it would still be best not to be seen, Anakin headed down to the same bunker he had used earlier.  He headed straight for the small room in the back and gently placed Amidala on the bed.

He had never been much of a healer, but Anakin tried to determine if she or the twins were in any real danger.  She had certainly been under enough stress to cause a premature birth…or worse…

Anakin felt relief wash over him as he realized that she was mostly all right; she was just in desperate need of rest.  He wondered when she had last gotten any sleep.

Kenobi, standing near the door, said, "You're right, Anakin.  Just let her lie down for awhile."

Amidala's eyes flashed open.  "Don't."

Anakin looked back at her in surprise. "Don't what, Ami?"

"You were about to wave your hand and put me to sleep.  I don't want you to do that."

He took her hand. Amidala had always distrusted Jedi tricks.  But he felt it was necessary now.  "You must rest.  And I don't think you'll be able to do that on your own.  Don't be afraid."

She looked at him incredulously.  "How can I not be?"  She swallowed hard, and squeezed his hand so tightly that it hurt him.  "Ani, I don't think I can take any more of this…please…I just can't…"

Anakin almost had to look away from her.  He wanted to tell her that she wouldn't have to, that everything would be fine now…but he knew that would be a lie.  At the very least, they would have to deal with escaping the impending Imperial attack on the base.  How he wished he could shield her from everything, from all of this confusion and pain that he had caused her.  But he knew he couldn't.

Amidala seemed to sense what he was thinking; she could feel his regret.  "It's still going to get worse somehow, isn't it?"  She shook her head.  "I still don't fully understand what's happened so far…I can't even keep up…"  She winced again and glanced at her stomach, then continued. "If you're from the future –"

"Amidala," Anakin interrupted gently, "I will explain, and I'll answer any questions you have, but not until you calm down.  If you rest, even if it's only for a short time, you'll feel much better.  Please.  For Luke's…the twins' sakes.  I won't put you completely to sleep if you don't want me to."

She gave him a resigned look and nodded her head.  Anakin placed his hand on her forehead.  She would be able to rest quietly for the time being, although she was still awake.

"She'll be fine. Don't worry," he heard Obi-Wan say.

Anakin just nodded and turned to the door.  "We should leave her alone."  The two returned to the main part of the bunker.

They stared at each other warily.

How in the world do you start this conversation? Anakin wondered to himself.

"I don't know…Padawan," Obi-Wan said quietly.  "I'll leave that to you."

Anakin truly was at a loss for words.  Everything that he could think of to say started with "I'm sorry," and that was so woefully inadequate that he couldn't form the words.  Looking at Obi-Wan now reminded him painfully of the old, weak man he had faced on the Death Star.  The man he had so ruthlessly cut down.

The guilt – for everything – stuck in his throat and threatened to choke him.  He didn't know how else to clear it, so he found himself saying, "I'm sorry, Obi-Wan."  Anakin cringed to hear it.  It sounded even more pathetic than he had anticipated.  Still, he felt compelled to continue. "You deserved nothing of what I've done to you, now or in the future…I can't think of anything else to say."

"How much longer does this go on, Anakin?  Are we destined to spend the next twenty years hunting down and running from each other, dueling to the death at every turn?"  Obi-Wan put his head back and sighed heavily.  "I know that, at the very least, we're still after each other when Luke is old enough to notice."

Anakin began pacing the room anxiously, not at all ready to tell Obi-Wan that story.  "Suffice it to say that…my actions in the future will be as horrific as the ones you've witnessed so far."

Obi-Wan nodded.  He looked pensively at Anakin for a long moment.  "I still can't believe you survived that fall, Anakin."

"I've often wondered if it would have been better if I hadn't."

"Right now, in this timeline, you're somewhere in the Imperial Palace, having all of this" – he gestured to the mask and armor – "done to you."

Anakin shuddered, dark memories rushing back to him.  "Yes. After…our duel…I woke up on a medical bed with half my body gone…and with Palpatine standing over me."

"And you continued to follow him for the next twenty years."

"Yes."  Although no one could see it, Anakin lowered his eyes in shame.

Obi-Wan shook his head sadly and crossed his arms, deep in thought.  "You never realize how important the decisions you make can be.  It's terrifying to see the results of those choices right in front of your eyes…I never wanted you to end up like this."  He sighed again.  "This isn't why I went after you.  I went to save you…and look at what happened."

Anakin stopped pacing for a moment.  "This happened because of me, because of my choices."

"Yes, but –"

"No 'buts'," Anakin interrupted.  "Please.  Don't tell me how you wouldn't have gone to Sulluest to confront me…or how you would have let me go to Tatooine to find my mother…or any of a million possible 'fixes' you're trying to think of right now."

Obi-wan shrugged.  He had been building a rather lengthy list of regrets.  "Are you telling me to 'concentrate on the here and now'?"

Beneath the mask, Anakin managed a bit of a smile.  "I suppose I am.  I suspect that Qui-Gon has found some measure of peace, witnessing this conversation."

"Yes, finally."  Pain flitted across Obi-Wan's face.  "My failure to him is second only to my failure to you, Padawan."

A moment of silence passed before Anakin replied, "It was I who betrayed Qui-Gon's memory.  You were right, Obi-Wan.  About everything.  The fact that you taught my son so well proves that."

Obi-Wan now felt a smile coming to him as well.  "I can't speak to that…well, not yet, anyway."  He face became serious again.  "Anakin, there are places where I would do things differently, and there were times that I know that I failed you as a teacher.  For that, I am sorry."

"Master –"

Obi-Wan raised a hand to silence him.  "But I can't change it.  And I'm not exactly looking forward to hearing you apologize for a list of things I don't know that you've done yet."

Anakin looked away.  "That doesn't leave us with anywhere to go."

Obi-Wan walked over and stood directly in front of Anakin.  "Right now, I don't think either of us knows where this is heading.  I certainly never believed that we would ever be in the same room, talking like this."  Obi-Wan placed a hand on Anakin's shoulder.  "We can only go forward from here, Padawan, and learn to let go of the past."

Anakin returned the gesture, and felt the strength of another bond from his past reconnecting.  "Yes, Master."