Leia Organa Solo was concerned. Her brother had changed, in more than one way, during his servitude to the resurrected Emperor. And she was not the only one who saw the changes. It was just after the debriefing that Mon Mothma took her aside. The older woman led her to her office, closing the door behind them. "Please be seated," she said and Leia complied by reclining in one of the chairs standing across from Mon Mothma´s desk.
"Leia, what I need to talk to you about is very personal," she began," It concerns your brother. We all heard your stories, Han´s, Luke´s and your version of the happenings on Byss. Still, you know your brother more intimately than any of us. Tell me, do you think he is completely free of the Emperor´s influence?"
Leia hesitated. "I am not sure," she finally answered. "He has changed, and no wonder. But it is true. He seems darker, harder. I know Han doesn´t entirely trust him yet. Nevertheless, only time will tell how he copes. Until then, we should treat him as before."
" You are right, Leia. With all he has done for us we cannot just let our confidence in him be destroyed by what has happened. But I insist that he be watched. We cannot take any risks in the weakened state we are in now. Do you understand?"
Leia nodded, a bit saddened, but she too saw the necessity. Once turned to the Dark noone could know if Luke might just pretend to be free of its influence. You should know better, Leia scolded herself later, remember your father. He turned too. And came back. But the cost had been great then. Perhaps she should talk to Luke again.
Luke Skywalker, Jedi Master and Dark Lord, slowly awakened from a trance which had allowed him to listen in on the discussion between Leia and Mon Mothma behind closed doors. When he opened his eyes they were cold pits of ice. So, none of his so-called friends trusted him. Not even his sister. It hurt him, though he was loath to admit it. The Emperor had told him that the weak always fear the strong. This was the evidence. How foolish he had been to belief that his friends would accept him again. Hadn´t he given them the master codes for the World Devastators? And hadn´t he helped Leia destroy the Emperor once and for all? She had betrayed him. What she had told Mon Mothma was private and should have stayed that way. Still, she was his sister and he would not hurt her. Never. But then: Never is too big a word, hadn´t his father told Leia just that back on Bakura? We will see, he thought grimly. Just then the door chimed open and Leia entered. Luke stood tall, facing her coldly.
"What´s up?" she asked, smiling lightly.
"What did Mon Mothma have to say to you?" he demanded harshly. Her eyes darted away for a second, not quite meeting his, making him angry beyond words. His sister noticed the change in his expression and sighed.
"Very well. She is concerned, as are Han and I, concerned about the effects the Dark Side had on you. Or still has." Luke blinked in surprise. He hadn´t really expected that honest an answer. It was confusing. Now it was his turn to not quite meet her chocolate eyes:
"Do you still trust me?"
"Yes," came the immediate answer. He exhaled loudly, reliefed. Then he went over and took her into a tight embrace, trying to catch the warmth of her love and trust, to fight back the cold he had felt in his own soul ever since his apprenticeship to Palpatine.
"Thank you," he whispered into her soft hair. Leia was taken aback by this emotional outburst and gently pushed him away. Stroking his left cheek gently, she smiled at him. "So don´t break that trust, brother. Ever." He simply nodded, returning the smile.
"So, what did he say?" Han Solo asked, when his wife came to bed eventually. It was a still night at Pinnacle Base. Peaceful even. But Leia didn´t answer at first. So Han slowly put his hands on her shoulders. "What?"
She turned to face him: "Nothing. Luke´s alright. A bit suspicious, perhaps. Give him time and trust and he will be right as rain in a few days."
"If you think I´ll easily forget that he let Palpatine hurt you like that...!"
"Han," she interrupted him, "I`d rather not have you forget that we all owe him very much. How can you doubt him so? He´s been through the fire twice now and he always came out stronger, purer and a better person. This will be the same. You´ll see. And now I need to sleep."
"Whatever you say, hon´." And that was that.
Finally Luke couldn´t stand it anymore. He felt lonely, so lonely. His sister had her family now, and he was happy for her, sure. But what did he have? The other New Republic leaders still met him with a certain uneasiness. So did everyone else. Even Chewbacca seemed hostile to him. Only Artoo was as faithful as ever. But he wasn´t really an entertaining companion and so Luke sat up late that night, seeking knowledge from the Holocron. "Tell me about the Sith," he asked the doorkeeper calmly. When finally he went to bed he lay awake for a long time, a smile on his face. he knew what he needed now. An apprentice. he had told Leia aboard the Emepror´s flagship that a Jedi´path was never a solitary one. Why then should it be for him? The next morning he went to see the Alliance leaders.
"You request leave to search for other force-sensitives?"
"That is correct," Luke answered Mon Mothma´s question coolly.
"That is...a very welcome prospect, Master Skywalker. We certainly need more Jedi Knights, and who better to train them but you." Better than Palpatine, that´s for sure, she thought privately. But Luke heard her. And smiled.
"Yes indeed." And so he left.
Weeks passed and Leia was becoming restless. She hadn´t heard from Luke in days and there was still the Empire to deal with. Time, it seemed to her, was running out on them. Han tried his best to ease her mind, but still, the worry lingered. When finally her brother announced his return along with a fellow Jedi Knight, Leia was overjoyed. But it didn´t last. Luke seemed to be bursting with energy. He wanted things to move forward. Especially the forming of a new Jedi Order. His student, Kam Solusar, was a former Dark Jedi, but Leia found him to be a very earnest and wise man. He would be a good influence on Luke, she thought. Actually, it was Kam who put her worries at ease, telling her that despite everything that had happened Luke was as calm and knowledgeable as his own father, a Jedi Master, had been. "I know the Dark Side first hand, Princess," Solusar said with a bright smile," and I can find no trace of it in your brother." So Leia let the clash Luke had with the Alliance Council over the fighting priorities pass. "We cannot defeat the Emperor´s Dark Siders with brute force, belive me," he had stated there. And Kam seemed to agree. When the Council stuck with their decision, an assault on Byss under Lando´s lead, the two of them left, in search for the lost city of Ossus, an ancient Jedi stronghold. "Let him cool off," Han said, when their ship took off Pinnacle Base, draping an arm around Leia´shoulders and pulling her close to him.
On Byss, Luke Skywalker´s efforts in resurrecting the Jedi Order hadn´t gone unnoticed and Palpatine ordered his Executioner to take care of the matter and bring both Skywalker and Solusar to Byss. Sedriss left immediately, in hot pursuit of the two Jedi warriors. The hunt was also discussed down in Anakin´s cell.
"What do you think he is planning? He cannot know that I am alive, so what is his purpose?"
"That I cannot answer, so sorry," Anakin replied drily. Palpatine laughed.
"You are so haughty, when you have nothing to be proud of." The prisoner only raised his eyebrows: "I have my children," he answered," who have defeated you twice now."
"You give them too much credit, my friend. And besides, I think I know what your precious son is planning. There are always two, a master and an apprentice, remember?"
"I do."
"I wonder. He has tasted the power of the Dark Side once. And will continue to crave it. You may want to remember your own reaction to that power."
"I´d rather not."
"Very well. I will leave you now."
"About time."
"Don´t worry. I will be back."
Yes. Great. What was Luke´s plan? Did he feel as lonely as his father had, suddenly an outcast in the eyes of both family and friends ? Restoring the Jedi Order was a good idea, though. But starting now, after what Luke had just experienced, was not. He was moving too fast. Right now he should heal, stay close to his family and friends, not hunt around looking for clues. Time seemed to be running out. There was a climax building and at the end there would stand either the ultimate defeat of Palpatine, or the ultimate end of the Alliance.
Kam Solusar sat calmly at the edge of the clearing, leaving his new master in peace. They hadn´t gone directly to Ossus, but had stopped here first, on Endor. En route Luke had told his student of his father´s redemption and his death, his feelings then and compared them to what he felt now. Solusar understood. But is was kind of ironic that his new master´s father had slain his own and his ashes were now resting at the site of the Empire´s gravest defeat. The atmosphere in the clearing was a strange one. It seemed as if the sounds of the forest moon ceased just at its border. That was why Kam was sitting so close to the undergrowth. He didn´t like that silence. It felt wrong. There was a darkness here that he didn´t want to encounter again and he secretly admired his master for his bravery. Luke sat cross-legged in the clearing´s middle, meditating, seeking guidance from his father´s sprirt. His mind was calm, his concentration flawless.
One by one he let the past events float across his inner vision, examining every detail, trying to understand his own actions. he had come to Byss in answer of Palpatine´s challenge. Had that been his first mistake? I thought I was invincible, Luke mused, a Jedi Master. But it didn´t prepare me for Palpatine. It had seemed so clear then. Palpatine was far more powerful, so the secret of defeating him had to be using the Dark Side. It still seemed a plausible solution to him now. For only with Leia´s help had he been able to shed the Emperor´s influence and defeat him. He couldn´t have made it alone. Wait. He was contradicting himself. On one hand he didn´t want to place his sister or his friends in danger. But on the other he was unable to perform the feat alone. That was why he had taken on Kam as apprentice. He would be committed too. Together they would form a shield to protect the others. It was frustrating that there was no answer from his father, though. He could have used some advice. And he got it, finally.
What will you have? a small voice whispered then. Nothing. You will sacrifice yourself over and over again, with no reward worth your efforts. Your friends will depend on your strength, leaving you to do it all alone. They will not care. Luke shook himself. No, he shouldn´t think like that. But as he stood, unnerved and confused, walking alongside Kam back to their ship, the small but persistent voice just wouldn´t go away.
Their next stop was Ossus. It was a surprise in two ways. First the natives of the planet, all of them force-sensitive and probably descendants of the Jedi who had lived here centuries ago, and second the sudden arrival of Sedriss and Vill Goir. Luke Skywalker and Kam Solusar faced them on the plains of Ossus, with the Natives watching. Planting his feet wide apart Sedriss took an insultingly arrogant stance, looking the Jedi Master up and down with a contemptuous smile.
"The great Luke Skywalker," he sneered," So sure of his Light Side powers. The Emperor, I should tell you, is not amused. He wants you two on Byss. And I will see to it that you arrive there in one piece."
"Palpatine is dead," Luke replied calmly, but he noticed the uneasy look that Kam threw him.
"Not at all, Jedi, he is very much alive. Did you really think you could destroy him?"
Luke only shrugged, hefting the handle of his lighsaber. "Whatever. Let´s get this over with. You could at least tell me who you are before I kill you." The dark warrior was grinning now.
"I really hoped for you to say that. You have the honour of facing Executioner Sedriss. And this is Vill Goir."
"Pleased to meet you," Luke said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Nodding towards Kam, he stepped forward, igniting his lightsaber. Sedriss was a good swordsman, he had to admit after a short exchange of blows on both sides. But he let his passion rule his actions, while Luke remained aloof. Kam, on the other hand, finished Vill Goir in the first few minutes of what was to be a very short battle. Turning towards the other two Luke stopped him in his tracks:
"I won´t need help, Kam," he stated, and brought Sedriss to his knees with a well placed Force blow. Then, curling his fingers into a fist, he crushed his adversary´s lightsaber. The fight was definitely over. Sedriss´eyes were burning with hatred, as he faced Luke and Kam alone. For a while there was only silence, safe for the faraway cries of some native creatures. The rustling of cloth was the sole warning the others had when Luke stepped smootly forward, bringing the blade of his lighsaber around in a wide arc and severing Sedriss´ head in one movement. Kam froze. He hadn´t expected this. Not this cold-blooded execution.
"Master Skywalker?" Turning icy blue eyes on his apprentice Luke turned.
"What?" he rasped angrily.
"Uh, I only thought we might want to talk to the natives now."
"Yes. Sure."
Without another word the Jedi Master went over to the assemled crowd, with Kam tagging behind. It wasn´t too difficult to communicate with the natives. Apparently they admired a warrior´s resolve and, asked about the Jedi, they immediately led the two knights to an ancient cave, filled with artifacts and books and datapads. Luke´s eyes were shining with delight at the sight of it.
"The ceiling doesn´t look very stable," Kam observed," We shouldn´t stay in here for long. Let´s just grab the most interesting pieces and get a retrieval team in here later."
"Don´t treat me like a child," Luke snapped suddenly, startling Solusar again. What the hell is wrong with him? "We will leave at once. With Palpatine alive we have more pressing business to deal with." But the Jedi Master was stopped short by the Natives´ leader. he jabbered something at Luke, whose sudden frown foretold the answer. "No," he said, shaking his head.
"What does he want?" Kam asked, curious.
"See the kids over there?" Luke pointed towards an adolescent boy and a young woman. "They are his children and he wants me to train them. But I already have an apprentice, don´t I?" he smiled wickedly at that and kam shuddered inwardly.
"But, master," he said as politely as he could," if we increase our numbers we could more easily defeat Palpatine."
At first it seemed that Luke wanted to argue. Then, with a sharp nod of his head he complied, striding purposefully towards their ship. "If they want to come, let them. But we are leaving now."
As it turned out, the boy´s name was Rayf and his sister was called Jem. Luke started them both on lightsaber training and the girl turned out to be a natural at that. Kam though was concerned. During one session she had used her dark emotions to guide her hand and Luke even encouraged her. "Trust your feelings," he told Jem, taking her hands into his. She looked up at him, surprised, then smiled. There is something more here, Kam thought. But perhaps a love affair would take Luke out of his emotional slide. The girl was old enough to know right from wrong. She should be o.k. Hopefully. Pinnacle Base was only a few days travel away and then Kam would really need to talk to the Princess. He had been blinded by Master Skywalker´s behaviour. There was something of the Dark Side about him and it showed more with every passing day.
"Sedriss is a fool!" Palpatine raged.
"Was," Anakin corrected smugly. The Emperor turned on him:
"I really don´t know what you find so amusing. Now we have proof that your son has fallen to the Dark Side and cannot escape."
"We will see," Skywalker replied through clenched teeth.
"Really. Let me introduce something to you." One of the monitors in Anakin´s cell showed what seemed like a huge and long tube, hoovering in space not far from the planet. "This is the Galaxy Gun. It´s projectile can destroy a planet most effectivly."
"You were always fond of your toys," Anakin interrupted.
"Yes. And I had every reason."
"Except that they were all destroyed. Death Stars number one and two, the Eclipse. This will be no different."
"I fear that you are mistaken. There will be no Rebel Alliance left to defy me when this little toy has destroyed Pinnacle Base." Just then alarms sounded throughout the Citadel. Activating his com the Emperor hissed: "What´s happening."
"Sir," a nervous voice replied, "the Viper droids from Balmorra? The rebels seem to have taken them over. They´re making a real mess down here."
"Very well. I have a few surprises for those idiots. Stand by."
Now the monitors switched to the delivery landing pads, were a furious battle was on. A frontal assault? Whoever had planned this attack really was an idiot, Anakin thought. The droids were a nice touch but ineffective against what this fortress had to offer. Nevertheless he couldn´t help wondering what might happen if they succeeded. But that was only day-dreaming. In reality, the rebels had no chance. And soon the losses drove them back, sending them into an unorderly retreat. Palpatine smiled. "Now. Let us see the marvellous Galaxy Gun in action. And I would give much to see the faces of theses troops when they return to a planet that isn´t there anymore." He made as if to leave, then turned back sharply, hovering over Anakin. "You might be interested to know that I have retrieved the location of the Jedi twins, your daughter´s secret retreat. Wouldn´t it be nice to have all the family together at last?" Laughing he left the chamber, with wild curses following him out.
New Alderaan really was beautiful. Princess Leia had arrived with her husband, Chewbacca and the Jedi Vima da Booda and Bran, whom they had met in and around Nar Shadaa, just hours ago and already the place was working wonders for her. She felt herself relax and happiness return to her. The twins were absolutely freaked out at seeing both their parents again. But Han and Chewie never grew tired of playing with them. leia took the time to talk to her friend Winter, the children´s nanny and guardian on New Alderaan, about Luke and recent events. Like Kam, Winter tried to reassure her, and succeeded.
It was only two days later, that the peace of New Alderaan was destroyed. At first Leia was overjoyed at Luke´s coming there. But the news he carried were devastating. "The object entered the same time we did and plunged straight into the planet. It was like the two Death Stars again. And Palpatine is alive, too." Disbelieving, she shook her head. "Why?" she asked in dismay, "All our efforts for nothing. We are finished Luke. This time we really are."The evening was spent in somber silence. Nobody wanted to talk. Finally everyone said good-night and went to bed.
Usually nightmares didn´t bother the Jedi Master Luke Skywalker. But this night he couldn´t get the Emperor´s laughing face out of his mind. Something was wrong. With a sudden start he woke up, drenched in cold sweat. And screamed. Tiny robot beetles were crawling all over him, stinging him with tiny needles. He jumped out of his bed, trying to pull them off. Then he felt the poison streaming through his veins. Who had betrayed him? Angrily gathering the Force around him he destroyed the poisonous cells in his bloodstream and stamped on the small beetles crawling over the floor for good measure too. "Master Skywalker." Jerking his head up he squinted at Vima´s sunken form in the moonlight. "What," he barked at her.
"Master Skywalker, there is a strong dark aura around you," she said, coming towards him. "You must fight it."
"Don´t tell me what I have to do, old woman," Luke hissed viciously.
"But, the light..."
"Shut up!" he roared, striking her.
Vima´s body crashed against the far wall with a sickening thud and she lay there, unmoving. Luke took a step towards her when the sudden brightness of a lightsaber´s blade blinded him.
"They are dead," Kam whispered hoarsely," Bran, Rayf and Jem, all killed by Darksiders. How, I wonder, did they get here?"
"What do you mean," Luke demanded with equal coldness.
"I mean, that Sedriss knew we were going to Ossus. And Pinnacle Base was conveniently destroyed the moment we arrived. And now this." Holding his lightsaber high he hissed. "You are a traitor, Skywalker. Admit it." Taking a step sideways Kam stumbled over Vima´s dead body. He looked down. Then his shocked eyes flickered towards Luke´s face. "What have you done?"
"LUUKE!" Leia´s voice, a screeching voice, full of fear and grief. "Luke!" she stumbled through the doorway, took in the frozen tableau, Vima´s body, Kam´s drawn lightsaber. She held a blaster in her left hand, her own saber in the other. "What´s going on?"she asked, suddenly calm. Then Han joined her. He didn´t even hesitate and brought his blaster´s muzzle in line with Luke´s face immediately. "They have my children. The children are gone," Leia told her brother, her voice emotionless. They all saw his eyes widen, as the events finally caught up with him. Slowly he sank to his knees, truly shaken.
"No," he whispered," No." Chewie´s growl interrupted his pained litany. "A hostile armada is approaching," Han translated grim-faced. Grabbing Leia´s arm he started pulling her away, nodding towards Kam. "You coming?" Kam was still staring at Luke and for a moment he considered executing the same sentence Luke had imposed on Sedriss. Shaking his head he snapped out of his dark broodings and instead held the blade to Luke´s throat. "You are coming with us," he ordered and the Jedi Master followed him in silence. It was a headless flight, but finally they made it, with the help of Lando´s commando, which had just returned from its failed Byss assignement to the destroyed base and then flown directly to New Alderaan. On board the flagship Luke was facing a hostile front of familiar faces.
"I asked you to never break my trust, brother," Leia was saying just now. "My children are in Palpatine´s hands and you, you´ve turned darkside for real!" She threw up her hands in disgust. "But still I can´t stop myself from caring for you. I need your help, Luke, you understand? I want my twins back and I want you back. You did it before, remember? Even father came back."
"And what did it gain him," Luke answered sadly. "He died. Do you realize how hard that was for me?"
"You´ve told me often enough, but I guess I just didn´t see the depth of your grief. Still. Did that justify turning to the Dark Side?" Luke hung his head, defeated:
"I just wanted to know him better," he whispered. Suddenly Lando exclaimed:
"We are getting a signal! Wait. It´s Mon Mothma! They have managed to escape before the planet was destroyed!" Turning towards the assembly he added: "They are waiting for us on Onderon."
It was a strange welcome. News of Luke´s condition had reached the new headquarters. Mon Motham, Admiral Ackbar and General Dodonna wore grim faces. An immediate debriefing was ordered. Despite everything Leia felt sorry for Luke, as he stood all alone, his eyes broken, facing the Alliance Council. "Luke Skywalker," Mon Mothma began, denying him his title. But she didn´t get any further. Above their heads the holocom flickered to live, showing Palpatines cruelly twisted face, as he held Leia´s twins in an awfully tight embrace. Th children´s eyes were wide with fear, they were too terrified even to scream. "So, Jedi. I have your children. Beautiful they are. So tiny, so fragile. And so strong in the Force. I have been thinking what to do with them. Perhaps I will keep them and raise them in the Dark Side. On the other hand," he leaned forward, an evil smile touching his lips, "I could enjoy very much just killing them slowly, so you can suffer with them." Leia was crying desperately. "My children!" she sobbed, her voice choked with grief and despair. Han´s face was flushed red with anger. He wanted nothing more than kill Palpatine and get the kids back safe.
Luke, eyes burning with outrage, and Kam, the surviving Jedi, glanced at each other. Those two children turned to the Dark Side...or worse, dead. Moving to his sister´s side to comfort her, and having to push past Han to do so, Luke suddenly stood very straight, as another Force presence blossomed in his mind. He felt incredible rage and fury, pain and outrage. Leia and Kam stared at the paling Jedi Master, their eyes mirroring their fear feeling the immense Dark Side power. Obviously, Palpatine felt it too. His gaze turned from satisfied to terrified in a matter of seconds. Staring at something beyond the holocam at his end he screeched furiously: "Stay where you are! Or else I will kill them!" he threatened, holding the twins in front of his body. Luke, Leia, Han and Kam Solusar shivered, when the unseen presence spoke in a voice colder than the Hoth nights and more deadly than a lighsaber´s blade: "You have gone too far this time." And then the holoconnection broke. The Jedi present on Onderon didn´t need to see with their eyes though. The savage Dark presence was overwhelming, shaking them to the bone through a hurricane of dark emotions. Hatred. Anger. Pain. "My children!" Leia moaned again. "What the hell is going on there !" Mon Mothma demanded.
On Byss Anakin Skywalker was attaking the Emperor with both spirit and brute force. He had flung the Jedi twins from Palpatine´s grasp through the Force and hurled himself at the Dark Master like a vicious beast just released from it´s cage. A fitting picture. He hadn´t been able to watch anymore how this foul creature hurt his children. And now the twins. It was too much. Too much. Seizing the Dark Side with all it´s power he had broken from his prison to finish Palpatine once and for all. That one was still reeling from the impact of Anakin´s body and tried to free himself of the Dark Lord´s grasp, who seemed about to wrench Palpatine´s neck with his bare hands. Anakin´s lips were drawn back in a feral snarl, teeth bared, while his mind was raking the Emperor´s mental shields apart. The man sreamed in absolute horror, a sound which hung sweet in his adversary´s ears. Yes, he would have revenge for six years of torture and twenty years of slavery. For his children and for his grandchildren.
Palpatine wasn´t going down easily though. He was the master of the Dark Side after all. And soon he managed to free himself of Skywalker, throwing the other hard against the far wall. This was getting out of hand. Of course, the resurrected Jedi had indeed fallen to the Dark Side again, but he was bent on his master´s destruction. And he was far stronger than expected. I´ll have to settle for the brats after all, Palpatine thought to himself. Advancing on Anakin, who was struggling to his feet and trying to loose the daze he was in, the Emperor curled his fingers in preperation for Force lightning. He actually smiled at the weakened man before him. "Are you ready to die again?" he asked lighthly and unleashed his anger in blue arcs of fire. Anakin was thrown back again.
The Emperor´s attack had lost him his control of the Dark Side and without it driving him, the six years of constant torture took their toll on his body. He collapsed under the Emperor´s onslaught, fighting for his concentration. When Palpatine finally stopped to pause, Anakin struggled to straighten himself. But Palpatine quickly knelt at his side, putting his hands on Skywalker´s chest, right above his heart. Yellow eyes met blue ones in a final contest of wills. But before Palpatine knew what happened Anakin made his move. Freeing himself of the pain and anger and hatred, he let the love for his children flow into his very being. With a serene smile he put his right hand on Palpatin´s forehead and released this love into the universe and let it become one with the Force through Palpatine´s essence. "To conquer the darkness is to increase the light," he calmly quoted an old saying and stood, the power of the Light filling him to bursting. With a long wail Palpatine was gone. It was finally over.
Suddenly remembering, Anakin hunted around for the twins and found them huddled in the far corner, staring at him open-mouthed, wide-eyed and crying. "Hello little ones," he said gently, stroking their tiny heads. "Let´s get you back to your mother." Yeah. And let´s find some clothes, too. It was a bit awkward, wandering around the dark corridores in search for a fitting attire, but well, he didn´t really care. Neither did the twins. And finally he found it. A twisted smile formed on his lips as he beheld the life-support suit he had worn what seemed a lifetime ago. He could only guess that Palpatine had had some real hopes of turning him again. Now though the suit would serve as a disguise. Anakin put the two children on the floor beside him and changed.
It was an easy thing to find a ship on Byss and noone dared to question the imposing figure of Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith come back from his grave, as he strode along the Citadel´s corridores. If anyone thought it odd that a little girl was riding his broad shoulders and an equally tiny boy was propped on his left arm, nobody dared to voice his or her opinion aloud. Anakin had chosen his old suit for different reason´s: First, nobody would ask questions and second, after having endured six years of indignities and humiliation he needed something to make himself feel safe and protected. What was better than his mask and helmet along with the thick suit of armour ? The children hadn´t minded, they could still feel him behind his protection.
The craft took off smoothly, leaving the Dark Center of Byss behind. But Anakin wasn´t quite finished. Outwardly he was perfectly under control, but a roaring fire was burning deep inside him. Just before reaching the jump point for Onderon, he turned the ship around and let it hoover. Unstrapping from the pilot seat´s restraints, he stood, facing the planet. "The power to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force", he silently quoted his own words, spoken a lifetime ago aboard the first Death Star. And today he would prove his point. Concentrating all his dark emotions, anger, hatred and pain, he let them build to a frightening level. Back in their seats the twins started crying. "Hush now," he whispered softly and they stopped, wisely. Anakin let the power grow some more until the Dark Side burned in his very bones like molten rock. Focusing solely on the planet in front of him, he let it pour outwards, reaching for the core of Byss. The explosion was glorious. A purifying fire that burned all the way back into his heart, taking his anger away. Behind the mask, Anakin Skywalker smiled. Then turning towards the children he made soothing sounds, using a Light Side technique to make them relax and sleep.
"It is all good now, little ones, don´t worry." Then it was time to say goodbye to this particular part of his life. A living experience became memory, joining the many he had stored in his mind, safely tucked away for now.
Turning the ship again he pulled the hyperdrive lever and sent them hurtling into hyperspace. Only then could Anakin finally relax and start healing himself. He sat in meditation in the pilot´s seat, the children asleep in his lap. And en route to Onderon he found a truth that had eluded him for many years. Truly experienced emotions were what definded a sentient being, regardless of those feelings´nature. There was no difference between Light and Dark, only tendencies. The Force then simply reflected the essential being and personality of the force-user. And though he regretted it he knew that he could never again be the Anakin Skywalker he had been before becoming Darth Vader, nor the Dark Lord he had then been for over twenty years. Those were past now and he had grown some more. Accepting that truth, he sat and remembered them both, Jedi Knight and Dark Lord, while the Jedi twins slept on.
On Onderon, three Jedi felt Byss´ destruction and feared the worst.
It was afternoon and Leia could feel that she would give birth soon to her third child. She should have been happy, she thought bitterly, but ever since they had felt that awesome Dark power and the destruction of what seemed like a world inhabited by thousands of people, she hadn´t been able to feel her children. Her twins were gone, she feared, and it was breaking her slowly apart.
Right now she, Luke and Han were sitting quietly in Leia´s office. Luke was positive that Palpatine was gone and he seemed his old self again, his own actions having shocked him beyond words and, with Palpatine gone he felt strangely freed from an oppression he hadn´t felt before. Suddenly his com chimed.
"Master Skywalker, General Solo, your assistance is required immediately!" a nervous voice announced.
"What´s happening ?" Han barked sharply. He hadn´t been in a good mood since the transmission from Palpatine had ended so apruptly.
"Incoming ship. Imperial identification. The pilot doesn´t respond to our hailings and is headed straight for the North hangar bay. He has evaded our fighters so far and judging from here he will continue to do so. He´s a hell of a pilot which makes us wonder if he might be a Jedi..." The man trailed off.
"We´re coming," Han muttered and switched the com off. "Sure like to know who that guy is," he spat and rose. "Luke. You comin´?" But Luke Skywalker seemed absorbed in the Force. Leia saw his face pale and suddenly he leapt straight up, staring at Leia.
"It´s Vader," he announced, his voice incredulous.
"What?" Leia croaked. The shock wasn´t good. "Sick-bay," she hissed desperately, holding her hand towards her husband.
"Go with her Han, quick. Kam and I will handle this," Luke ordered calmly and left.
When the two Jedi Knights finally reached the North hangar bay they were right on time to watch the Imperial craft land. It was some kind of personal yacht, certainly no fighter, though this ship looked menacing enough in it´s black exteriour. Rebel troops were amassed in the vast hangar, all weapons trained on the newcomer. Luke reached out with his mind, touching the dark presence inside the ship. It was his father, no mistake. But how? A clone ? Before he could ponder this question further, the ship´s ramp lowered, revealing the awesome sight of Darth Vader, marred a bit by two sleeping children held in his arms. The Dark Lord strode down, sweeping past the stunned guards and past the two Jedi, confronting a tall, white-haired woman. Winter, Leia´s friend and the children´s nurse had hurried to the hangar as soon as she heard Leia´s joyful whisper: "The children are with him!" And as Leia was not fit to welcome the twins herself, her friend had come. She stood facing the Dark Lord calmly, smling first at him, then at the children. It was a strangely peaceful picture. "Take them to their mother," he said and handed the two sleeping bundles over. She smiled again, taking them and, turning on her heel, left, anxious to present them to the princess. Throwing one look at his master, then at the Dark Lord, Kam Solusar followed her and left too.
It took Luke completely by surprise, when his father whirled around in a sudden bust of fury: "You!" he roared deafeningly. "Have you learned nothing ? Jedi Master." The title was spoken in scorn, "You have been warned, time and again." Luke was astounded by his father´s assault as well as his words and the rasping, rough voice in which they had been spoken. But Anakin Skywalker wasn´t quite finished. He was home with his children, safe at last. With a grunt he reached up to remove the black helmet and hurled it to the floor. The thick leather gloves followed. Last was the black mask. It too was thrown to the floor. Luke Skywalker beheld his father in awe. The man was about fifty years old, tall and fair-haired, with brilliant blue eyes much like his son´s. But those eyes were full of pain and grief now. What had he been through? Just as if to answer his son´s unspoken question Anakin Skywalker threw back his head and sreamed six years worth of pain and despair into the hangar bay´s vastness.
The scream´s echoes lingered for awhile in the far corners even after he had lowered his eyes again to smile at his son warmly. Luke was grinning: "Feeling better now ?" he asked and laughed along with his father. Under the astouned eyes of Rebel troops the two men embraced. They were both crying. "Leia is waiting," Luke murmured and drew his father away. They made an odd pair walking swiftly through the corridores heading for sick-bay. "How?" Luke began, but his father held up his hand to prevent further questions: "Later," he explained and smiled. "It´s a boy," he announced, just as they reached the medic section. Leia and Han were all smiles when the two men entered the room. The baby lay sleeping in his mother´s arms and Han had Jaina on his lap, sitting next to his wife´s bed. On the other side Winter had Jacen propped on her hip.
"Hello," Anakin said shyly. Luke took his father´s hand and dragged him towards his family. There was a strange kind of silence, as Anakin stood, watching, for the first time, his family in flesh and blood. His children and his grandchildren. Their closest friends. And he could be, would be part of that family. He smiled, thinking of his mother, whom he had loved so much, his teachers and friends, and, of course, Padmé. They all were long gone. What have I done to be alive now that they are gone, he thought ruefully. I haven´t deserved this.
"Do you want to hold him?" Leia asked, all smiles, presenting her newborn son to him. "We will call him Anakin." Leia laughed at how she could make her father flush with pride.
"Thank you," he whispered, taking the tiny bundle, very gently, and locking his gaze with the infant´s. That boy was strong, very strong in the Force, just like his mother, like his grandfather. He looked up, smiling at his daughter. "You have a beautiful family, Leia," he stated, and now it was her turn to blush, embarassed by his praise.
"Father,"Luke said suddenly, as the baby was handed back to his mother, "tell us about your family." Anakin nodded slowly. Of course, they wanted to know and it was their right. It was a grand story, though, he thought, except for myself. Elegantly he sat on a chair next to Winter. It was strange, he never had played the part of the story-teller, but now he could very well imagine himself telling great adventures to his three grandchildren. "Excuse me?" Mon Mothma´s tone was polite, but firm.
She was standing in the doorway to Leia´s room, an earnest expression on her face. Eight heads turned to look at her. She took a step forward, addressing Anakin directly. "Lord Vader? I think you and Master Skywalker owe us all an explanation for what just happened in the North hangar." The two men´s eyes met briefly, then turned on Leia, who nodded her approval. The surprise and curiosity over this brief exchange showed plainly on Mon Mothma´s face, but she said nothing. Both Luke and Anakin stood simultaneously, following her out.
"Do you think they will be alright?" Han asked quietly after a while. Leia flashed him a brief smile:
"What could possibly happen that these two couldn´t handle?" she replied.
"Yeah, that´s exactly what concerns me. You and Luke told me that a planet was destroyed. And it was either the workings of this damned super weapon the Emperor seemed to have, or your father."
His wife´s face darkened visibly. "How can you say that? You saw him just now. Do you think he really were capable of destroying a world? Noone´s that powerful, and besides, he has changed."
Han only shrugged. "All I know is that you felt the Dark Side in him just before they arrived, and I bet Luke and Kam did too."
That quieted her. Holding her newborn son close to her, Leia shook her head slowly, wanting to deny what her husband had just said. Her brooding only led to old memories and she wondered, how much her father really had changed.
Luke and Anakin were following the Alliance leader with measured steps. But where Luke walked nearly timidly, only too aware of what to expect, his father´s strides were as long and purposeful as he remembered. "Aren´t you nervous at all?" Luke asked him silently, over a mind-link. But he could feel no uneasiness in his father, only a grim determination. "No," Anakin replied simply, in his son´s mind. And then they were there. The chamber that the Alliance used as a meeting room was high-ceilinged, with a contingent of chairs arranged in a semicircle, facing a holo screen. Without waiting for Mon Mothma´s request Anakin Skywalker swept past her, planting himself right in front of the assembled Alliance leaders.
They all seemed taken aback by his initiative, even Luke, but Mon Mothma acknowledged him with a tight smile, yielding the floor to him. "You all will want to know why I am alive," Anakin began calmly, after Mothma and Luke had sat down in their own chairs.
"There is a very simple explanation for that: Palpatine resurrected me, just as he resurrected himself. And no, I wasn´t aware of any clones that were engineered out of my DNA previous to coming back to life."
"Why?" General Riekaan asked immediately.
"Isn´t that obvious? You are all aware of Palpatine´efforts in turning Luke Skywalker to the Dark Side. He tried the same with me."
"And, did you turn?" that from Mon Mothma.
"Always the pragmatic," he replied with a small laugh," but a very reasonable question nontheless." He paused, trying to put what he had to say in the right words: "To put it bluntly: Yes, I did turn to the Dark Side in the end. But," he continued, raising his voice to forestall any interruprions, " in that particular case it was the sole and only possibility to save Leia Organa Solo´s children. Palpatine had me imprisoned where I could not use the Light Side of the Force. As you might know, the Dark Side is borne out of the dark emotions of a being, not out of the flow of the living Force. Comparing the two sides would be like comparing a caress to a full blown knock out. And I might add that it wasn´t overly pleasant being imprisoned and tortured for six years after having just died. Believe me, being resurrected really comes as a shock."
"Six years!" Luke exclaimed, half-standing now, but restrained and pushed gently back into his seat by Mon Mothma.
"And now, Lord Vader? Have you dedicated yourself to Dark or Light?"
"Both," came the immediate reply.
"What!?" General Dondonna shouted in disbelief.
"You really have the gall to come here and tell us you haven´t changed at all and expect us to show mercy for you?" Riekaan put in, equally outraged. Anakin turned his cold blue eyes on both generals:
"I don´t ask for your mercy, gentlemen. That is far beyond me."
"Then why are you here?" Mon Mothma asked then, truly curious.
But Admiral Ackbar interrupted her: "We are just wasting time. For his crimes there is only one sentence..."
Anakin just laughed: "Yeah, execute me. See if I care. If I may remind you, I already died once."
Now Luke couldn`t stand it anymore. He stood and walked over to the Dark Lord, his eyes burning with contempt as he too faced the Alliance Council.
"I can´t believe what I am hearing! This man has come to us out of his free will to return to my sister the children Palpatine stole from her and you treat him like-"
"A war criminal," his father told him gently, "Luke, if I may plead my case myself?"
Looking from one man to the other Mon Mothma suddenly seemed to realize something. Her eyes narrowing, she squinted at them again, and both knew that she had finally noticed the visible similarities in their features.
"Master Skywalker, what is your relationship to Lord Vader exactly?" she demanded. The two Skywalkers exchanged glances briefly. Then Luke answered truthfully:
"He is my father." The audience´s collective gasp was followed by a stunned silence.
"It is true," Anakin continued, "I was once Anakin Skywalker, a Jedi Knight, before I became Darth Vader."
"And who are you now?" Lando was the first to find his voice again. The elder Skywalker smiled at him:
"That is not so simple. You see, once you have turned to the Dark Side and experienced it for a long time, as I have, you will change inevitably. I am not the idealistic Jedi nor the ruthless Dark Lord I was, but someone else. If you ask me: Will you use the Dark Side again, I will answer yes. If you want to know what the Light means for me I will reply: We are luminous beings and the Light fills us all. Both are options for me and I will use them accordingly."
"Accoring to what motives, may I ask?"
"That I cannot answer now, Calrissian. There may be times, when my only option is using the Dark Side. And I will consider the consequences, and take responsibility for my actions."
"You are admitting yourself that you still are a danger for this galaxy. Why shouldn´t we eliminate that threat once and for all?" Mon Mothma asked coolly.
Baring his teeth in what might have been a smile, Anakin Skywalker retorted in a hoarse whisper: "Because I won´t let you. And this I mean with all my heart: Don´t turn down my offer of peace. Palpatine has payed the price for his foolishness and so has his precious dark center, Byss, which is space dust now, just like Alderaan. My children mean everything to me and I will concede to much to take part in their lives. But under no circumstances will I let your arrogance destroy that second chance I was given. Again. I urge you to take my offer seriously."
Silence filled the room once more as each individual thought about what he had just said. Finally Mon Mothma stood, locking her eyes with those of Anakin Skywalker.
"And what or who will balance your power, Lord Skywalker?" she demanded quietly, acknowledging both his true identity and status.
"The Jedi, of course," he answered, indicating Luke, who was seemingly taken by surprise by this statement. "Now,"Anakin continued, "I am sure you will want to consider my offer in privacy." Giving the assembly a short nod he put a hand on Luke´s shoulder and propelled him out of the room. "You and I need to talk," he told him firmly, "Where is Kam Solusar?"
"I will get him," Luke said, turning to leave."
"Then I will meet you both on my ship."
Ten minutes later the three were sitting in the ships cockpit. Kam seemed a bit uneasy in the Dark Lord´s presence, but he hid it well. "Luke, Kam, I have asked you two to join me here because there is one thing we three have in common: We all have experienced the Dark Side and learned from the encounter. You, Kam have had long years of practice in the Light when you were trained by your father, for whose death I hereby apologize to you. I might have been mislead at that time, but the deed has been done nevertheless. Now I want to ask you, Kam, do you trust Luke Skywalker as a teacher?" Kam Solusar looked into Luke´s open face and found no darkness there. Wallowing deeper, letting the Force guide him into the Jedi Master´s soul, he found only Light. "Yes, I do," he finally told them. The relief was plain on Luke´s face and he shot his student a brief smile. "Very well. Then you may leave us now," Anakin continued and stood.
The other two followed his example. All three men left the ship, but Anakin took his son aside. They finally stood together at the huge window in Luke´s quarters, facing the multitude of stars in the infinity of space. It was Luke who broke the silence:
"You tricked me," he said, "Now everyone will expect me to be the good guy."
"Including myself," his father put in, openly amused.
"Great."
"Luke, the Dark Side is not for you. You are just like I was."
"And that is supposed to make me feel better?"
"Yes, it should. I did believe in the Light, I truly did. Do you want to know when I turned for good?"
"Yes." Settling into a chair, with Luke taking the couch opposite, Anakin fussed a bit at first, then began:" It was during the Clone Wars. I had just been declared a Jedi Knight and it was my first mission without Obi-Wan. He was staying on Coruscant, coordinating another offensive. My assignment would take some time and so I asked Obi-Wan to keep my wife save for me.Amidala wasn´t too happy about that. She told me that she could protect herself, but she finally subsided to my wish." Amidala, Luke thought, smiling, so that was my mother´s name. "But when I returned to news of her death I was furious, went straight to where Obi-Wan was stationed at that time and challenged him. He had betrayed my trust and let the one person most precious to me die. I was so enraged that I wouldn´t listen to him. We fought, I lost and he left me to die, having written me off or not caring, I don´t know. But from then on I had only revenge on my mind. It is very hard losing a loved one. Very hard, as you must know. But life teaches us harsh lessons from time to time. Some of us get taught more, others less. The fortunate ones. But despite everything, I have learned a lot about the Force, myself, everything. As will you. But your path is different from mine, for we all walk it alone, ultimately. Even your sister will have her very own decisions to make, where Han will have no say or influence, nor anyone else. Always remember that. Another thing you should always keep in mind, son: Despite being a Jedi, you are also a human being, with feelings and desires. Be mindful of that too."
Silently, Luke sat beside him. Not meeting his father´s eyes he asked: "Did you really mean it`? That you will still use the Dark Side?"
"Yes. I will not teach any students, don´t worry. I will leave that to you and be a father and grandfather instead. Although, if you want to include lectures on the Dark Side in your curriculum, let me know." A mischievous smile suddenly blossomed on his face. "Want to do something crazy?"
His son´s face lit up: "What is it?"
"Close your eyes and follow where I lead," his father answred in a whisper and together they touched the Light, let the Force flow through them, becoming one with the current. Anakin guided his son through the stream, toward the ocean that was the whole galaxy. Tears sprang to Luke´s eyes when he experienced the essence of all life in all it´s beauty and splendor. With a gasp he opened them again, shivering, and noticed tears in his father´s eyes too. "Would you want to give that up, son?"
"Never!"
"Good! Now let´s go and see your sister. She will be anxcious to hear what the Council had to say. If Mon Mothma hasn´t talked to her already," Anakin added drily. "One thing left, Luke," grabbing his son´s right hand, he twisted it around sharply, breaking conduits and snapping wires with brute force. Luke screamed in surprise, but his father yanked the artificial limb clear, holding it up like a trophy, grinning. "This you should also always keep in mind. Never trust an enemy´s gift. There´s a homing beacon installed here."
Shaking his head in disbelief Luke took the hand in his left, staring at it. Then: "I have been a real idiot, haven´t I?"
"Don´t worry about it, son. We live and learn," Anakin told him, patting his shoulder affectionately. Then both Jedi Master and Dark Lord stood and left.
Only Han sat at Leia´s side when the two entered. Little Anakin was sleeping in his father´s arms, the twins cuddled against their mother, also fast asleep. "Lando was here already. Seems as if we missed a good show," Han greeted the two Skywalkers. Leia nodded. "Take a seat," she invited them and they complied.
She nodded at her father: "The two of us will have to talk some time soon."
"Yes."
"Luke, what has happened to your hand?"
"A little lesson in trust," Luke conceded with a sigh, "I´ll need a new one. This one has got ears."
Leia´s eyebrows rose in understanding: "No!" she exclaimed.
"Yes," Anakin answered,"But for now, I will finally tell you all about our family. It all started on Tatooine," Luke and Leia and Han shared a brief smile," when a ten-year old slave boy named Anakin met a Queen and two valiant Knights." The first interruption came, surprisingly, from Solo.
"You were a slave!?" the former pirate exclaimed, truly startled. Anakin gave him an offended look. Mumbling an excuse, Han subsided and gave him a nod, encouraging him to continue the story.
"Well. Yes, a slave. Like my mother."
"How about your dad? Was he a slave, too?"
"Shut up, Han,"Leia chided playfully. Anakin shot him a hot glare.
"No, not a slave. My father was truly free, bonded by noone."
"So?"
"That´s all I have to say on that matter. Do you want to hear the story, Captain Solo, or not?"
"Yeah, yeah, by all means, please, go ahead!"
"Thank you. So kind of you. Now, this boy, Anakin, was a skilled mechanic. He worked for a junk dealer, a Toydorian by the name of Watto, who was his and his mother´s owner..."