Author's notes: Hey everyone! Sorry this took so dag on long to get out. You poor guys were probably going crazy. But I had a good reason. I had to practically rewrite this whole chapter. I didn't like how it was before. Thank you Stassja for helping me out with that. I took all your suggestions very seriously. You will notice that as you read this. :) Thanks to everyone that reads and reviews. You guys are great.
This was supposed to be the last chapter, but the thing is very long. Longer than I normally write. So there is one more chapter after this and then end of the story. Sorry guys. But I won't be gone for ever either. Got another story I'm working on posting. So just keep an eye it. Anyway, read the chapter!
Chapter Ten
To Live or Die
Cilghal stepped out of the infirmary into the waiting room and close the door. She held a data pad clutched in both hands. Her large pop eyes were filled with sorrow, as she looked around at everyone. They had all been waiting anxiously to hear about Ani's condition for two hours. They all stared at her expectantly in a tense silence. The hope that they had been trying to hang on to was crushed in a second by the look on her face. She cleared her throat and looked down at her data pad.
"I suppose I should give you the good news first," she sighed. "Ani's exterior wounds are not so bad. They are easily healed with bacta."
"Well, that's good news," Han tried to be optimistic.
Cilghal shook her head. "I'm afraid the rest is not. It is what has happened to Ani's interior and mind that has me greatly worried."
A feeling of foreboding filled to room.
"From what you all told me, the ghost of Anakin Skywalker appeared to help Ani and melded with him. He then killed Fordon with their combined powers," she summarized. "How long were the two connected like this?"
"I'm not sure, Cilghal." Luke answered. "At least fifteen minutes or more."
"What happened to Ani?" Gabe blurted.
Cilghal sighed, heavily. "When Anakin melded with Ani, his Force energy was so intense that it began to burn up Ani's insides. Their combined power put a lot of stress on Ani's body, which could hardly contain it all. That's why Ani appeared to be glowing. All the excess Force energy was radiating out of him. The Force energy has caused many extensive internal injuries that could be healed…" she paused for a moment. No one missed the 'could' in the last sentence. "However, only through intensive healing trances or expensive medical treatments not available to us here."
"That should be simple then, right? All Ani has to do is slip into a healing trance and he'll be fine," Jaina remarked.
"It should be that simple but I'm afraid it is not. Ani is no condition to do that. His mind is complete disorder," Cilghal shook her head. "Anakin did not just meld his body with Ani's, but his mind too. This caused Ani to see every event that ever happened in Anakin's life in less than a minute or so. His mind had a major overload the moment Anakin withdrew from him. He doesn't know who he is anymore, if he's Anakin or Ani. There are so many images, dreams, visions, and nightmares whirling in his head that it's like a clogged garbage pit. None of it is being processed or dumped. He can't get any of it sorted out. He's reliving everything in his mind over and over again trying to make some sense out of it. His brain is shutting down from sheer stress. He can not even begin to clam his mind enough to slip into a healing trance," she finished giving them the horrible news with great sorrow.
"What does this mean for Ani?" Luke asked so quietly that his voice was almost inaudible. He sat hunched over in his chair with his elbows on his knees and his hands clasped together with his chin resting upon them. He gazed up at her with a heart rending look. He seemed so much older than he really was.
Cilghal swallowed. "It means his brain will shut down everything eventually in an effort to prevent more stress. It will shut down and just let the body die. He will die."
Gabe blanched and hid her face in her hands. Pooja wrapped her arms around her distraught daughter. The rest of them just stared at Cilghal dumbstruck and horrified.
"There's gotta be something we can do!" snapped Anakin. "Can't we help him heal or clam his mind so he can? There must be something we can do!?"
"We can not help. For either of those options to work we have to enter his mind and connect with him. He won't let you. He will kick you right out because he'll think you're an enemy. I'm having a hard enough time as it is," Cilghal sighed.
"Are you able to enter his mind?" Leia inquired.
"Yes but only for very short periods of time. He lets me in because he thinks I am Bant, a Mon Calamari friend of Obi-Wan's when he was an apprentice," she smiled. "He was becoming suspicious though just before I left last time."
Silence fell over them all as they sat thinking about all she'd told them. Through the impending silence a scream split the air from inside the infirmary.
"Padme!! No!!"
It was Ani.
Cilghal threw open the door and raced in, the rest of them crowded around the door, peering in like a group of misfit children. Ani was thrashing about, screaming for Padme while tears coursed down his face. His eyes were open wide, but not seeing anything. All he could see was the nightmare in his own head.
"Padme! Padme!" he sobbed. "Please don't die! I wasn't strong enough! You can't die!"
Cilghal reached out for Ani but lashed out at her.
"Please, Padme, I need you. Don't leave me here alone." his voice breaking with emotion.
"Ani," Cilghal tried to talk to him.
His face contorted into an expression of pure anguish. "NO!!!" His sorrow and rage made the Force around him vibrate with its power. His eyes began to turn the same terrible shade of midnight blue they'd all seen before. They kept growing darker until his were completely black with hate, anger, and pain. It was like a switch being thrown, a circuit being connected.
"No! Stop it, please!" he pleaded. "Help me stop it!"
He suddenly looked only like a terrified little boy. Yet, the Force crackled with the strength of his dark power. He could not hold it back. He sent out a wordless plea to his master, Obi-Wan, and to help him prevent a hideous mistake.
"I am so afraid, so full of hate and anger," Ani whispered. "I still don't know how to fight."
In this moment when Ani was distracted and lying still for a moment, Cilghal managed to get close to him. She touched her fingers to his forehead and whispered soothingly to him with the influence of the Force. Ani began to clam and lie still. His eyes lost their black color and returned to their normal ice blue. He still spoke softly to himself.
"I let you die, Padme. I couldn't save you. I was weak. I wasn't strong enough," he murmured.
Luke sucked in his breath in a sharp gasp, as he listened to Ani rambling on for Padme. Tears slipped down his face unnoticed as he listened to the cries that were so obviously Anakin's. For a brief moment they had all caught an inside look on why Anakin turned to the dark side. Luke turned to leave with Leia by his side, her hands clasping his arm tightly. As he left he heard Ani whisper, "I love you, Padme." Leia bit back a son and hid her face in his arm. For Leia this was even harder for her to except. She had so much trouble coming to terms with the fact that the monster that had so easily tortured and hurt her without a second though had once been the kind, loving person that was Anakin Skywalker.
Luke gently maneuvered her out of the waiting room and away from the infirmary. He handed her to Han, who held her close trying to comfort her. Luke returned to the infirmary. There had to be someway he could help Ani find his way back before it was to late. He found Gabe already sitting beside the how quiet clone. He pulled up another chair and sat down.
He touched her hand softly. "He will make it back. He is strong."
She smiled wanly. Together the two sat in silence watching Ani struggle to survive.
*******
Anakin Skywalker watched Luke and Gabe from afar. Ani's visions echoed back in his mind. He flinched at every painful image that came to him. So many mistakes, so much darkness, he sighed and smiled slightly, so naïve. Sometimes he wished he could change it all. What if's raced through is mind. He shook his head. That was behind him now. It was in the past. It could not be changed. Besides which he was dead.
He had not meant to hurt Ani. He only wanted to help. He knew he had not gone just because of that. He wanted to let Ani survive. To live to have a life that Anakin had never had. He wanted Ani to fin peace, love, and happiness. He'd killed Fordon to protect Ani from losing all that, of losing his chance at what Anakin wanted so desperately for him.
He had not helped at all. He had only destroyed Ani's chance with his interference. Everything he toughed seemed to get screwed up. He did not understand it. He'd hurt Ani unintentionally. He was so caught up in the fight with Fordon that he had not realized the effects he might have on Ani. He knew his and Ani's powers combined would be a deadly force no one could withstand. He had not stopped to think that Ani might not be able to withstand it either. Now Ani was lying there slowly slipping away from all who loved him.
He wanted to do something, to help bring Ani back to them. He was unsure though. What if he only screwed things up worse? Though at the moment he could not think how that was possible. Still he was afraid to. He wanted to help so badly.
Help him you can, young Skywalker, a familiar, old voice spoke.
Anakin looked down to see the glowing form of little Master Yoda. Just looking at him brought back all the days he'd spent training with him at the Temple.
Everything I touch seems to come to ruin, Anakin remarked, whether I was Anakin or Vader.
Not everything, Anakin, Obi-Wan appeared at his right shoulder. Your son and daughter have done well for themselves. You are even a grandfather now. Leia's children are thriving as young Jedi Knights. Your legacy is carrying on.
What about Ani?
Noble your intentions were, but not thought through. Flawed this caused you actions to be, Yoda replied.
Even after all this time you are still the same as always Anakin, Obi-Wan smiled.
Save him you still can. The only one to do it are you. To no one else will he listen, Yoda told him.
How can I save him?
Help him find his way back, Obi-Wan answered. Help him to find the reasons to live. Show him why he has so much to live for.
Anakin sighed. I think I would only come off sounding as though I was dictating. I can not make him live if he doesn't want to!
Do what you can for him, Obi-Wan advised.
The Force you must trust in, Skywalker. Answers it will provide you with, Yoda spoke wisely.
Anakin flinched as new images danced in his mind. Ani should not have to live his pain, his faults, or his sad memories. They were not his to deal with. Anakin debated with himself on what to do. At last, he came to a decision.
I will help him.
His two mentors nodded their approval. Anakin left them and went forward to Ani. He hoped with all his heart that he could assist Ani in someway.
*******
Luke blew out a frustrated breath. For the last hour he had been trying, unsuccessfully, to get inside Ani's mind. It was a hopeless battle. Whenever he tried he came up against an impenetrable barrier. He kept trying to tell Ani he was a friend. Ani did not recognize him and only grew angry when Luke said he did. Ani would kick him out without another thought about it. He didn't care what Luke said. So at last he gave up.
"Can I try, Master Skywalker?" Gabe begged for the umpteenth time.
Luke had doubts about her trying. He knew if anyone could do it would be her, but still…he was not to eager to let her. He did not want to see her hurt further because Ani didn't seem to know her. "Alright, Gabe. Go ahead, but don't expect a warm welcome."
Gabe nodded then sat down on the bed beside Ani. Ani seemed aware enough to flinch away from her. She stubbornly ignored that and took his hand. She laced her fingers through his. His face suddenly took on a calm expression and his body relaxed. It was the calmest he'd been in sometime. A soft smile touched his lips.
Gabe leaned forward and touched her free hand to his forehead. She closed her eyes and fell into the Force's depths like diving into an ocean. She reached out to Ani and slowly tried to connect with him. She found the same barrier that Luke had, but it did not seem quite so impregnable to her.
Who are you? A soft, cold voice asked her.
You know me, she answered through the Force.
She could sense his confusion and hostility.
That was what the other stranger said, the voice growled.
She sent a mental image of them holding each other close, of the first kiss they shared. She felt the barrier soften a little. He seemed to recognize her a little now.
Padme?
No, she replied. I am Gabe.
He seemed to be fighting some kind of mental conflict.
How can you forget how much I love you, Ani? She asked.
Suddenly the barrier dropped.
Gabe! Ani's voice called to her.
Yes! Ani, it's me! She cried.
Then he seemed to slip away back into the depths where he'd come from.
Ani!
I am Anakin, the voice spoke.
No, Ani!
I don't know, Ani, the voice was angry. And you are an intruder here.
Suddenly the barrier was back and stronger than before.
No! Ani, come back! She called.
Then she was shoved brutally out. She broke her touch with him and withdrew from the Force. Tears slipped down her face.
"He was there," she sobbed. "For a second he knew me. Then he was gone and I was pushed out. He was so close."
"So he really was there?" Luke asked.
Gabe nodded. "Yes."
"Then there's hope. He's still in there somewhere," he sounded excited.
"Except that we can't reach him," Gabe replied, hopelessly. "He won't let me back in again."
Luke's previously hopeful look was wiped from his face. It seemed impossible to bring Ani back. There was no way to reach him. He sighed and propped his chin up on his fist. Gabe still sat by Ani holding his hand. Ani's face was no longer calm, it was angry. Luke shook his head in despair. There seemed to be nothing they could do.
******
Dreams chased through his mind in a whirl of color and sound. Some so quickly that he could hardly register them before they were gone again. Some came and stayed long enough for him to remember them. Some were beautiful, warm dreams that filled his soul with happiness. Some were terrible, dark dreams that left him feeling cold and drained of energy. He did not like those dreams. Their images were to evil and painful to remember, but he could not forget them.
His dreams were not just dreams though. They were memories that kept coming back to haunt him. They were an endless cycle of his life (or lives?) playing before his eyes like a holovid movie. Yet, sometimes it as though he was watching someone else's life and not his own. Other times it appeared that he lived parts of his life in two different ways. Like he was two different people. He was certain that he'd lived both lives. It was confusing and he did not understand any of it. He wondered vaguely if they even were really his life or lives.
He wondered if he was dead. He felt so odd. There was no pain where he was. There was no one else either. It was only him and his endless dreams. He was alone. He didn't even know where he was. He could not even begin to describe the place he was in. He stopped trying to figure it out and just let the memories come to him. He let them sweep him away from his problems.
He dreamt of days when he was a slave. He saw all his friends that he had left behind when he'd left to be a Jedi. Kitster, Pala, Wald, and Dorn. He let himself drift along in these days of his early childhood. Then he stopped at one particular memory. It was of one evening long ago when he, Kitster, and Wald had snuck away from Watto and their other masters to go bet Roby Bhiels, their favorite drinks. He recalled that was the evening of the same day he'd wrecked Watto's podracer again. The last day he would ever race Watto's racer again. Sebulba had cheated again and caused him to crash from one of the dug's many illegal devices hidden in his racer. Watto had once again chewed him out for wrecking the racer. So he'd been happy to sneak away with his friends for a while.
It all came back so vividly now. They had often snuck away to get drinks and walk down to the docking bays. There they would talk about all the ships and pilots that flew in. They had all wanted to be pilots back then. They had promised each other that they would all be pilots someday. They'd sealed the vow with spit and hand slaps.
That specific evening they had been having a heated discussion about which ships would be best to fly. In the midst of that conversation an old Republic pilot had broke in saying that if he had a choice he'd pick a Z-95 Headhunter any day. This started up a whole new conversation with the pilot. It was odd to see a Republic spacer way out there on Tatooine. The spacer had seen him fly that day in the race and asked his name. He'd told him and remembered the exact words the pilot had said to him.
"You fly like your name, Anakin. You walk the sky like you own it. You show promise."
He recalled all the stories the pilot had told them and how the three of them had listened in rapt attention.
"I wan to fly to those worlds," Anakin had told the pilot after listening to him describe some of the places he'd been to.
Wald had said he would never go anywhere because he was a slave.
"Well, in this life you're often born one thing and die another. You don't have to accept that what you're given when you come in is all you'll have when you leave," the old spacer had told them.
Little did that pilot know what Anakin's destiny had in store for him and what his life ended like.
He was baffled for a moment. If he knew his own death already then he had to be dead. But there where still those other memories of a different life. How could he live two?
That dream faded away, replaced by the image of a worn, pretty face of a woman. He forget about what he'd been confused about. He focused his attention on the woman before him. He knew her very well, yet could not even remember her name. He could call to mind every curve and line of her face. Could still feel the soft touch of her hands and see the soft brown of her hair flecked with gray.
Shmi.
The name jumped at him.
My mother.
How he missed her. How he wished he could see her again one more time. To hear her voice, but would never get to. She was dead. His heart nearly broke with sorrow. Oh, how he missed her!
More dreams of his childhood came back to haunt him. Real dreams he'd once had years ago. In one dream he was a Jedi Knight, fighting against things so dark and insubstantial he could not identify them. Another he was a pilot of a star cruiser, taking his ship into hyperspace, spanning whole systems on his voyage. Finally, he was a great and feared commander of his own army, and ha came back to Tatooine with ships and troops at this command to free the slaves. His mother was waiting for him, smiling, with outstretched hands. But when he tried to embrace her, she vanished.
All those dreams had come true in one way or another. He realized that now. It frightened him. He withdrew from this memory. For a moment, all was silent and quiet. There were no dreams to jump in and immediately take the other's place. The space around him seemed to be gray. Then they grew darker then lighter. The colors were always changing.
Then another dream came to him. It was a pleasant, happy memory for him. It was of the first time he'd ever met Padme. He could not take his eyes off her, even she noticed him staring at her. He could not help himself. He found her so beautiful that he had nothing to which he could compare it. She had given him an amused smile, and he felt himself melting in confusion and wonder.
"Are you an angel?" he had asked her.
She had stared at him. "What?"
"An angel," he answered. "They live on the moons Igeo, I think. They are the most beautiful creatures in the universe. They are good and kind, and so pretty that they make even the most hardened pirates cry like small children."
She had looked confused. "I've never heard of angels."
"You must be one of them," he insisted. "Maybe you just don't know it."
"You're a funny little boy," she'd smiled at him.
He remembered further along in that conversation that had he'd blurted out that he was going to marry her. She had laughed at him. He insisted he would. She had asked him why he thought this and he'd told it was what he believed. She had told him, with a dazzling smile, that she could not marry him because he was only a little boy. He gazed at her intensely as he answered, telling her he would not always be a little boy.
After that memory past, it was empty again. Into the emptiness his words and thoughts came back to irk him. They echoed in his mind.
"I wish to escape pain. To forget everything in the thrill of the moment. To rely solely on my won abilities. To forget my Jedi training and problems in the thrill of difficulty and danger." The words were as fresh as the moment he'd spoken them when talking about why he loved to race.
I feel like a rich man who never knows whether his friends are true-or whether they just wanted his money. He remembered that vaguely after he'd been having trouble with something.
They tell me to use my pain-but sometimes I don't even know where the pain comes from!
It was all to late for him when he did finally figure out where it came from. To late to save Padme. To late to save the Republic. To late to save himself.
All that faded away once more.
He was left alone.
Just who am I anyway? He wondered. What's my name? Do I have a name?
Anakin, he thought suddenly. Is that my name?
It sounded right, but felt wrong. That was the name of the person those dreams he'd been having belonged to he realized.
Ani!
He felt a shock like being struck by static electricity. Someone else had called him that. Someone who loved him. She'd even said so when he wouldn't let her inside his mind. For a split second he'd remembered her. He'd had known her. Then it was gone again. He had told her he was Anakin, but he did not even know that before. How had he known to say that? Why had he said that? It had been like a reflex.
Ani, was that his name then? Was it possible to be both Anakin and Ani?
Then a charming, familiar being came into his dreams. Someone he knew for sure was all his. Someone that brought more joy to his heart then all the other dreams combined. It was a beautiful, sweet Nabooian girl, the girl that had stolen his heart.
Gabe.
He remembered her name. It was ingrained into his soul. How could he forget it, forget her. She was the light in his world when darkness prevailed. She spoke gently to him, but he could, sadly, not make out what she was saying. He strained to hear her, and two words reached his ears.
"Come back," she begged him, reaching out to him.
He stretched his hands out to take hers, but she seemed to drift away. He ran forward to try and get to her, but she stayed always just out of his grasp. He jumped to take hold of her hand again, and this time he just managed to do it before she slipped away again. Then she was gone, like she'd never been there. Sadness overwhelmed him. He wanted to be with her. He couldn't get back to her. He didn't even know where here was. He felt his heart would break with sorrow.
His sadness was soon forgotten when the pleasant dreams returned. He fell into them with happiness. But that dream of Gabe kept after him like some crazed, half wild animal. It would come and destroy his happiness. He soon became upset and sad, wanting to be with her, but never being able to reach her. This brought on more unpleasant dreams, which quickly turned to nightmares that had haunted his conscious. The nightmare of the cloning tank came back to irk him. Dreams of murders he was sure he'd never committed, but looked as though he had. The death of people he held most dear to him. Then again the dream of Gabe chased through the corridors of his mind. He wanted to escape. He wanted to get away from these nightmares. He clenched his hands in fists of rage and screamed at the unfairness of it all. He dropped to his knees and his chin fell against his chest in surrender. Everything seemed to grow dark around him until it was completely black.
In his despair he heard a voice calling to him. He looked up in surprise. Ahead of him a bright figure walked toward him. The darkness seemed not to touch the mysterious being. In fact, it seemed to be shimmering with a light of its own. Its voice and presence was familiar to him, but the being's identity eluded him. Why could he not recall who this was?
Ani, it was a male voice not unlike his own.
He just called me Ani! He was confused now. Who was this man and who was he?
Am I Ani? He asked the man.
Yes.
Who are you?
The man came closer until Ani could see his face. Ani gaped in wonder. The man looked exactly like him!
I am Anakin, his twin answered.
Ani was now more baffled then ever. I thought I was Anakin, but you said I am Ani! She said, Gabe, that I was Ani. Yet those dreams must belong to you then? How can I have your dreams? Am I both you and me? How can that be?
In a way you are both, but you are Ani and I am Anakin. You were made from me, so you are a part of me and I am a part of you, Anakin replied.
Somehow, he seemed to understand this.
I'm here to talk to you, Ani, Anakin looked down at him.
He stared up at Anakin. I keep having terrible dreams, he whispered, like a frightened child.
I know, Anakin said soothingly.
Can you stop the dreams? He asked plaintively.
Anakin in response held out his hand. Come with me.
Where are we going?
Anakin did not answer, just merely stood holding his hand out. Ani hesitated for a long moment. He was afraid and bewildered. He wanted to get away from all these dreams, but was fearful of going into the unknown.
The Force will keep you safe, Ani, Anakin calmed him.
With that encouraging thought, Ani reached out to take Anakin's hand. Ani waited for him to fade away like Gabe had, but he didn't. He stayed as real and clear as ever. He took Anakin's hand and everything began to fade away around them. The darkness faded to gray, and then white. The white became so intense it was like a glare of sunlight on unprotected eyes. The glare soon blinded him, forcing him to close his eyes.
When he finally dared open them again, what he saw stunned him. He was in the infirmary of the Temple. He stood beside Anakin looking down at his body lying very still on the bed. He felt very odd inside. He looked down at himself, and found he was transparent like Anakin. Gabe sat beside his body, holding his hand and sobbing. A man stood at the end of the bed, his face like stone. He seemed completely impassive and unreadable. Ani was becoming very uneasy.
As he stared at them things began to come back to him. Everything was suddenly clear. He knew who he was and all that had happened to him. The line between Anakin's life and his own no longer need to be defined. He had his life back.
Am I dead? He wondered.
No, Anakin answered. You are in the continuum between life and death.
Why am I here? Ani inquired.
Anakin glanced over at him. To help you decide if you will live or die.
Die!? Ani gasped.
Did you not know you were dying? Anakin asked with a smile.
Ani shook his head. If I am not dead, then why does it seem like it? That is why Gabe is crying, isn't she? She thinks I'm dead.
Yes, that is why she is crying. Right now, your body is pretty much dead. You are not breathing and there is no heart beat, so they assume you are gone. But if they were to reach past that and delve further into your brain with the Force they would find you are not dead for your brain is still active in the deepest, darkest depths of you mind, Anakin explained.
Ani moved close to Gabe and touched her. She didn't react; she seemed not to have felt it. It was even worse then the nightmare of not being able to reach her. For now he could, but she seemed not to know.
They can't see or feel you. You can't interact. We are in a different place, and then the physical world, Anakin told him. It's like a bad ghost holovid.
Ani let his shoulders drop in sadness. So how am I going to decide?
I am going to help you decide, Anakin replied, simply.
How are you supposed to do that? he wondered.
Anakin smiled. By helping me review the facts.
With that he turned and strode out of the infirmary. Ani hesitated again, and looked back at Gabe. She looked up, and for a moment it seemed as though she were gazing directly at him. He passed a hand in front of her face, but she did not even blink before turning away. Ani turned, sharply, and followed Anakin quickly down the hall. They passed many people along the way, even the Solo kids and their friends on the way to the infirmary. They all looked terribly sad. Ani paused to watch them go by, feeling like a stranger in a place that had become his home. Anakin walked along beside him, not walking to quickly; in fact if Ani didn't know better he'd have thought Anakin was strolling along like someone taking a tour of some important museum.
He soon figured out that they were going no where in particular, just wandering about as they talked. For now Anakin had taken up questioning him, as they strolled along. It wasn't like being interrogated for Anakin was kind, and thoughtful about the questions he asked. Clearly, though, his questioning was supposed to help him decide what to do. So Ani answered obediently, in manner of a small child in the presence of a great, yet intimatidating individual. Anakin asked about his lessons that Luke had taught him, of the friends he'd made while here, and of just about everything that was important to Ani. And most of all he asked a great deal about Gabe. About this Ani would forget his intimatidation and answer with a joy, excitement, and love that made Anakin smile in complete and utter understanding.
After hours of roaming about the Temple together, Anakin returned to the infirmary. It was almost like nothing had changed, for Gabe and Luke (he now remembered the man who'd also been in his room) were still in the same places as before. Now though the Solos and his other various close friends had joined them. Ani stood, awkwardly, outside the door peering in. Anakin walked right in with the air of confidence he'd always possessed. He turned to look back at Ani with a what are you waiting for? look. Ani stepped into the room, which felt like a death room.
So Ani, which would you choose? Anakin asked. Do you want to go with me into unity with the Force. To leave all pain, suffering, and hardships behind you. Or go back to them, he gestured at everyone around him in the infirmary, to return to all that you could escape from, but still live to enjoy the love of Gabe and friends for a while longer. Which would you choose?
Ani looked around at everyone in that room. He felt immense sorrow for causing them so much distress. He loved them all so much. His gaze finally settled on Gabe. She was so beautiful and he loved her with all his heart. Despite all this he felt reluctant to go back to all the hurt and failures there. He went and knelt beside her. If she wanted him to he would stay for her. He could endure anything with her by his side. Luke shook his head, and looked down at him, then up at Anakin in surprise.
Can he see us?, Ani glanced back at Anakin.
Anakin nodded an affirmative to him.
Ani placed his hands over Gabe's and gazed into her pale blue eyes. She did nothing in response. She could not see him. Luke walked over to his side and gave him an imploring look. The other seemed to have focused their attention on Luke, sensing something odd in the Force. Ani looked desperately up at him.
Will you tell her something for me? Ani entreated Luke.
Luke nodded and Ani passed what he wanted to ask Gabe to Luke's mind without speaking, the way Anakin did with him. Luke nodded that he understood and touched Gabe's shoulder.
"Ani said to tell you he loves you very much. And that if you wish it of him he will stay here. If not then he will go with Anakin into unity with the Force," Luke told her, in exactly Ani's words.
Gabe gasped in astonishment. "Where is he!?" she demanded.
Luke pointed to Ani, who suddenly seemed to become visibly to them all. No one moved, as they saw Anakin there as well. Gabe grasped at Ani's hands, as tears streamed down her face. "Ani, stay with me, please," she whispered through her tears. "I love you. I need you. If you die I die too."
Ani kissed her hands, then stood to face Anakin, "I would choose life, Master."
Anakin remained silent. His face was devoid of all emotions and his feelings were unreadable through the Force. Everyone seemed to hold there breath for Anakin's answer. They were all curious to know what he would say. He folded his arms across his chest, burying his hands into his cloak. He looked around at that them all.
"What about all of you?" he asked. "What do you say?"
There was an immediate vote from them all that Ani should stay with them. Anakin stood silent for another long, anxious moment. Then he smiled, so warmly it was like the sun had come to shine down on them in that room. He spread his arms and shrugged, with a laugh. His joy radiated out of him.
"Ani, you are a wise man to choose to stay with such admirable people. For love is more powerful than any thing in the galaxy. It can even sway the bonds of the Force. I am proud that you chose to stay. I'm glad I could help you. You have my blessings for a long happy life," Anakin told him.
Ani felt his throat tighten with overwhelming joy. "Thank you."
He joined Anakin back at his side. Anakin smiled at him. "I will be back soon to say a final good-bye. Then you will not see me again in this life," Anakin said. Everything went completely white, and pain rushed into him in a flood. He saw Anakin for one last second before he was gone.
Ani's eye flew open, and was immediately blinded by the harsh lights. He gasped for air, feeling like he'd held his breath for far to long. He felt pain course through him in an electric type current. All of that was forgotten though when he saw Gabe. She smiled at him and hugged him gently. The others gathered around him clamoring their happiness at his return. He felt warm and welcome. This was where he belonged. He was glad that he had decided to stay. Life had so much to offer him.
Luke stood beside him and smiled with great joy. "Welcome home, Ani,"