Obi-Wan was meditating in the desert, near the caves that had been hollowed
out to make a home for Padme, the coming twins and himself. They were in
the far South, past the Dune Sea. No one came here except for Sandpeople,
and they had already learned to fear the Jedi.
He was finding the desert world of Tatooine strangely calming. The
dryness, the heat in the day, coldness at night. The way things simply
existed.
Coruscant had always been so busy, frantic, this place he could learn to
call home.
"Obi-Wan?" Padme's voice came softly questioning. She was very considerate
of giving the Jedi his space, something learned from Anakin, no doubt.
Obi-Wan felt the rush of emotion that thinking of Anakin brought on, but
quickly suppressed it, there would be time for that later.
"Yes, Padme?" he answered turning and rising from the sand.
"A message, coded. It's from Coruscant, from the Council." Padme said.
"I'm coming." Obi-Wan felt another emotion, fear. If Yoda was risking
communication, something was terribly wrong.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi, charged you are with protection of Skywalker's children and wife. Help, you will not have. Decide on your own, you must, what is best." Yoda's holomessage said. Mace Windu continued. "The Senate has voted the Supreme Chancellor, Emperor, and given him the power permanently. Anakin Skywalker has been named Supreme Commander of the Clone Armies. He is preparing to hunt down you both, and the rest of the Jedi. We have ordered all Jedi throughout the Republic to flee. Coruscant is being evacuated as we speak. Skywalker has already destroyed the Jedi who were commanding in the Army. Personally, he has done this. I will return to the outer rim with a remnant of our people. Yoda is returning to Dagobah, alone. By the time this message reaches you, we will already have left. Bail Organa is the only Senator that can be trusted now. He has left for Alderaan and will continue to fight for the Republic there, but too many dangers existed on Coruscant for him to stay. May the Force be with you, Obi-Wan." And they disappeared as the message ended. Padme let out a sob. "Anakin is doing this, destroying the Jedi?" "He has to, the Jedi all realize he is no longer Jedi, but Sith. The citizens of the Republic do not. They believe a Jedi is leading their armies. Anakin is no more, Padme. He is Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith." Obi-Wan said expressionlessly. But inside he was bitter. This is what had happened, because he had not taught Anakin properly, not well enough. He would never, he swore, rest until his mistake was made right. And it would begin with making sure that the children of Skywalker lived and were safe.
Anakin sat in his office, just below the Emperor's and looked at the schematics of the new battle ships. Star Destroyers, they were called. His ship, the Super Star Destroyer, was truly massive. It was to be called the Executor, and was slated to be finished in 6 months. But the real weapon, the Death Star, was only half done, a huge monolith of destruction. If the Senate had known about it earlier, all would have been lost. But now, they would accept it, being under the sway of the Emperor, and of his Army. Anakin had received many leads as to the whereabouts of Padme and Obi-Wan, in the months since they'd disappeared, but his time had been taken up chasing down the Jedi who remained. He somehow didn't regret not finding Yoda. Yoda was a Jedi dedicated to peace, he would never cause any problems for Anakin or the Emperor. No, it was Windu that he needed to find. That man would be a problem. He was already trying to stir up pockets of rebellion in the Outer Rim. It would only be a matter of time before they actually became organized, but even then, Anakin smiled, no rebellion would ever match their Empire. That was the new name being circulated around. The Emperor had said that the Republic had too many negative connotations now, they needed a new name, a strong name. Empire. If only Anakin had Padme with him. He knew she would be upset at first, but he was sure that he could get her to understand. Soon, she would come back soon, or would call to him, and he would hear. Obi-Wan wouldn't be able to shield her voice from him forever.
As Padme had neared her time, Obi-Wan had made sure that he had all the medical equipment necessary for the twins' birth. But he had wrestled with the fact that although he was trained, he'd never assisted in a birth before. Finally, he'd discussed the idea of having another present, someone like a midwife. She'd argued about the dangers then had thought of someone she believed that they could trust, and had sent Obi-Wan to get her.
Owen Lars was just sitting down to supper when they heard the speeder. Beru turned and looked surprised, who ever came out here, especially so close to night? Owen took a stun rifle and went out, he returned a few minutes later with a bearded man about 30 years of age. "Beru this is Obi-Wan Kenobi, a friend of Anakin's." Owen said. "This is my wife, Beru." "A pleasure to meet you. Padme has told me a lot about you." Kenobi said with a smile. "You are Anakin's Master, right?" Owen asked. "I was. Not any longer. And you should know, Padme is no longer with Anakin either. He had turned to the Dark Side of the Force. He is a Sith Lord named Darth Vader now, he commands the Clone Armies." Kenobi said slowly. "So, he isn't a Jedi?" Beru asked confused. Kenobi explained about the Dark Side and the Sith and then gave a brief history to catch Beru and Lars up on what Anakin had going through. "I believe that his mother's death brought it to a head. He blamed the Jedi for taking him away from her, forgetting that it was what she and he had wanted. And failing as he did to save her made him hunger for more power. Marrying Padme secretly, he was nevertheless angry for the Jedi's reaction to that. Even though he knew it was against the Jedi code. Padme and I have fled to escape him. As have all the Jedi he hasn't already destroyed. Padme sent me to ask for your help, Beru." Kenobi leaned forward and looked into Beru's steady gaze, seeing the goodness that Padme had described there. "My help? Of course, but what would you need my help for? I don't really understand all I've heard, the Republic and the Clone Armies all are so far away from here, we don't really get a lot of the news." She explained simply. "No, the help Padme needs is for her children. Padme is about to have twins. Anakin's twins. That is why we are hiding from him. He cannot learn that the twins exist, or he will try to take them, and Padme, back to the Empire. I have no real childbirth experience, and you were the first person Padme though of that could help." Beru smiled. "Of course I will help. Padme is a good person. She needs me." She said to Owen, who looked like he didn't like the idea. But he shrugged as Beru rose to pack what she would need. "Beru is right, Padme is a good person. I don't know what she ever saw in Anakin but I did like her." He finished. "You are not fond of your step-brother, I see." Kenobi commented. "He was arrogant, cold, and selfish, so far as I could see. I know he was upset about Shmi's death, as were we all, but he treated my father like he was less than a man, just because he'd stopped looking for her. My father lost his leg looking for her, he honestly believed that she had died already. Anakin's attitude was like a slap in the face. But," he paused. "Shmi loved him dearly, so I have to believe that there was something for Padme to love as well. Neither woman ever struck me as being a fool." Kenobi sat in thought for a moment and then leaned towards Owen. "I need another favour, a big one, and it would constitute some danger to you and Beru conceivably. But, it has just occurred to me that I must ask." Obi-Wan said. "Ask then." Owen said steadily. "Will you take one of Anakin's children and raise it as your own?" Kenobi asked. "Yes," Beru's voice came from the doorway. "We will." Owen looked at his wife, the yearning and pleading in her eyes, and knew he couldn't deny her this opportunity. "We have been unable to have children of our own, Master Kenobi. And it is family. Yes, we will raise one of Anakin's children. As our own." Owen agreed. Beru's eyes lit up and she ran and hugged Owen. "Thank you." She whispered, tears in her eyes. He put a hand to her cheek and gave a small smile. "Go, get ready, it's already dark. Although, I don't guess a Jedi has much to fear from the dark." After she'd left the room, he turned to Obi-Wan. "You spoke of danger?" Now that the decision was made, he wanted to know everything. "If Anakin discovers that the child is here, he will come for him. As of right now, he doesn't even know Padme is pregnant. I am living on the other side of the Dune Sea, and I will be there while this child grows. Padme and the other child will be taken to another place, far away from Tatooine. Padme will not raise that child either, but perhaps will be allowed to near it. So if I feel Anakin's presence I should be able to get here in time, however, anything can happen. And believe me, Jedi do fear things. Not the dark so much, as what it hides, just as any sane man does. But I am confident in my abilities to reach home." He stood and reached out a hand to Owen. "Thank you, Owen Lars. My mind is eased considerably. I know that this is right. I will return with Beru as soon as the birth is over."
Two days later, Padme went into labor. The beginning was not bad, at least to Obi-Wan's unpracticed eye. But as it escalated and the drugs became less effective, Padme began to cry out more. Obi-Wan used his Jedi skills to lessen her pain, but it meant that shielding her would become harder. The first child, a girl with lots of dark hair, came first. And then something went wrong. "The child is backwards, it must be turned." Beru explained tersely. She was working over Padme frantically. Padme screamed and screamed, then suddenly she looked straight up at the ceiling. "Anakin!!!" she screamed. "Anakin..help me!" "No.." Obi-Wan quickly tried to increase the shield, would it be enough? "There, here it comes." Beru said relieved. A boy with blond hair was suddenly there, and Padme was taking deep breaths. "I'm sorry, Obi-Wan." She whispered, knowing what she had done. "Don't worry, Padme. Even if he heard you, he will not know where we are. I understand. Look at your wonderful children." Kenobi said tenderly. "Oh, they're so beautiful.look, a boy like Ani, a girl like me. How perfect." She smiled through her tears. "Luke and Leia." She whispered. "Luke and Leia Skywalker." Then she put her head back and looked at Obi-Wan. "Which one?" she asked slowly. "Luke, I think, would be best. We can wait, Padme, until you've had time." Obi-Wan reassured. "But it would just get harder. I know this is for the best. And I trust Beru." Padme said, holding out a hand to her. "Beru, thank-you. I know you'll be good to him." Padme smiled tearfully. "Padme, we will love him as our own. And raise him as you would've. I swear." Beru promised. She bent down and they hugged. Then, she turned and gave Leia to Padme and picked up Luke. Padme looked at Luke only once. "Be brave my son, I'm sorry it has to be this way. Obi-Wan will watch you too. I love you." Then quickly she turned her head away and Beru walked out of the room. "I will move you and Leia to the ship, then take Beru and Luke home. When I return we will leave." Obi-Wan promised.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi, charged you are with protection of Skywalker's children and wife. Help, you will not have. Decide on your own, you must, what is best." Yoda's holomessage said. Mace Windu continued. "The Senate has voted the Supreme Chancellor, Emperor, and given him the power permanently. Anakin Skywalker has been named Supreme Commander of the Clone Armies. He is preparing to hunt down you both, and the rest of the Jedi. We have ordered all Jedi throughout the Republic to flee. Coruscant is being evacuated as we speak. Skywalker has already destroyed the Jedi who were commanding in the Army. Personally, he has done this. I will return to the outer rim with a remnant of our people. Yoda is returning to Dagobah, alone. By the time this message reaches you, we will already have left. Bail Organa is the only Senator that can be trusted now. He has left for Alderaan and will continue to fight for the Republic there, but too many dangers existed on Coruscant for him to stay. May the Force be with you, Obi-Wan." And they disappeared as the message ended. Padme let out a sob. "Anakin is doing this, destroying the Jedi?" "He has to, the Jedi all realize he is no longer Jedi, but Sith. The citizens of the Republic do not. They believe a Jedi is leading their armies. Anakin is no more, Padme. He is Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith." Obi-Wan said expressionlessly. But inside he was bitter. This is what had happened, because he had not taught Anakin properly, not well enough. He would never, he swore, rest until his mistake was made right. And it would begin with making sure that the children of Skywalker lived and were safe.
Anakin sat in his office, just below the Emperor's and looked at the schematics of the new battle ships. Star Destroyers, they were called. His ship, the Super Star Destroyer, was truly massive. It was to be called the Executor, and was slated to be finished in 6 months. But the real weapon, the Death Star, was only half done, a huge monolith of destruction. If the Senate had known about it earlier, all would have been lost. But now, they would accept it, being under the sway of the Emperor, and of his Army. Anakin had received many leads as to the whereabouts of Padme and Obi-Wan, in the months since they'd disappeared, but his time had been taken up chasing down the Jedi who remained. He somehow didn't regret not finding Yoda. Yoda was a Jedi dedicated to peace, he would never cause any problems for Anakin or the Emperor. No, it was Windu that he needed to find. That man would be a problem. He was already trying to stir up pockets of rebellion in the Outer Rim. It would only be a matter of time before they actually became organized, but even then, Anakin smiled, no rebellion would ever match their Empire. That was the new name being circulated around. The Emperor had said that the Republic had too many negative connotations now, they needed a new name, a strong name. Empire. If only Anakin had Padme with him. He knew she would be upset at first, but he was sure that he could get her to understand. Soon, she would come back soon, or would call to him, and he would hear. Obi-Wan wouldn't be able to shield her voice from him forever.
As Padme had neared her time, Obi-Wan had made sure that he had all the medical equipment necessary for the twins' birth. But he had wrestled with the fact that although he was trained, he'd never assisted in a birth before. Finally, he'd discussed the idea of having another present, someone like a midwife. She'd argued about the dangers then had thought of someone she believed that they could trust, and had sent Obi-Wan to get her.
Owen Lars was just sitting down to supper when they heard the speeder. Beru turned and looked surprised, who ever came out here, especially so close to night? Owen took a stun rifle and went out, he returned a few minutes later with a bearded man about 30 years of age. "Beru this is Obi-Wan Kenobi, a friend of Anakin's." Owen said. "This is my wife, Beru." "A pleasure to meet you. Padme has told me a lot about you." Kenobi said with a smile. "You are Anakin's Master, right?" Owen asked. "I was. Not any longer. And you should know, Padme is no longer with Anakin either. He had turned to the Dark Side of the Force. He is a Sith Lord named Darth Vader now, he commands the Clone Armies." Kenobi said slowly. "So, he isn't a Jedi?" Beru asked confused. Kenobi explained about the Dark Side and the Sith and then gave a brief history to catch Beru and Lars up on what Anakin had going through. "I believe that his mother's death brought it to a head. He blamed the Jedi for taking him away from her, forgetting that it was what she and he had wanted. And failing as he did to save her made him hunger for more power. Marrying Padme secretly, he was nevertheless angry for the Jedi's reaction to that. Even though he knew it was against the Jedi code. Padme and I have fled to escape him. As have all the Jedi he hasn't already destroyed. Padme sent me to ask for your help, Beru." Kenobi leaned forward and looked into Beru's steady gaze, seeing the goodness that Padme had described there. "My help? Of course, but what would you need my help for? I don't really understand all I've heard, the Republic and the Clone Armies all are so far away from here, we don't really get a lot of the news." She explained simply. "No, the help Padme needs is for her children. Padme is about to have twins. Anakin's twins. That is why we are hiding from him. He cannot learn that the twins exist, or he will try to take them, and Padme, back to the Empire. I have no real childbirth experience, and you were the first person Padme though of that could help." Beru smiled. "Of course I will help. Padme is a good person. She needs me." She said to Owen, who looked like he didn't like the idea. But he shrugged as Beru rose to pack what she would need. "Beru is right, Padme is a good person. I don't know what she ever saw in Anakin but I did like her." He finished. "You are not fond of your step-brother, I see." Kenobi commented. "He was arrogant, cold, and selfish, so far as I could see. I know he was upset about Shmi's death, as were we all, but he treated my father like he was less than a man, just because he'd stopped looking for her. My father lost his leg looking for her, he honestly believed that she had died already. Anakin's attitude was like a slap in the face. But," he paused. "Shmi loved him dearly, so I have to believe that there was something for Padme to love as well. Neither woman ever struck me as being a fool." Kenobi sat in thought for a moment and then leaned towards Owen. "I need another favour, a big one, and it would constitute some danger to you and Beru conceivably. But, it has just occurred to me that I must ask." Obi-Wan said. "Ask then." Owen said steadily. "Will you take one of Anakin's children and raise it as your own?" Kenobi asked. "Yes," Beru's voice came from the doorway. "We will." Owen looked at his wife, the yearning and pleading in her eyes, and knew he couldn't deny her this opportunity. "We have been unable to have children of our own, Master Kenobi. And it is family. Yes, we will raise one of Anakin's children. As our own." Owen agreed. Beru's eyes lit up and she ran and hugged Owen. "Thank you." She whispered, tears in her eyes. He put a hand to her cheek and gave a small smile. "Go, get ready, it's already dark. Although, I don't guess a Jedi has much to fear from the dark." After she'd left the room, he turned to Obi-Wan. "You spoke of danger?" Now that the decision was made, he wanted to know everything. "If Anakin discovers that the child is here, he will come for him. As of right now, he doesn't even know Padme is pregnant. I am living on the other side of the Dune Sea, and I will be there while this child grows. Padme and the other child will be taken to another place, far away from Tatooine. Padme will not raise that child either, but perhaps will be allowed to near it. So if I feel Anakin's presence I should be able to get here in time, however, anything can happen. And believe me, Jedi do fear things. Not the dark so much, as what it hides, just as any sane man does. But I am confident in my abilities to reach home." He stood and reached out a hand to Owen. "Thank you, Owen Lars. My mind is eased considerably. I know that this is right. I will return with Beru as soon as the birth is over."
Two days later, Padme went into labor. The beginning was not bad, at least to Obi-Wan's unpracticed eye. But as it escalated and the drugs became less effective, Padme began to cry out more. Obi-Wan used his Jedi skills to lessen her pain, but it meant that shielding her would become harder. The first child, a girl with lots of dark hair, came first. And then something went wrong. "The child is backwards, it must be turned." Beru explained tersely. She was working over Padme frantically. Padme screamed and screamed, then suddenly she looked straight up at the ceiling. "Anakin!!!" she screamed. "Anakin..help me!" "No.." Obi-Wan quickly tried to increase the shield, would it be enough? "There, here it comes." Beru said relieved. A boy with blond hair was suddenly there, and Padme was taking deep breaths. "I'm sorry, Obi-Wan." She whispered, knowing what she had done. "Don't worry, Padme. Even if he heard you, he will not know where we are. I understand. Look at your wonderful children." Kenobi said tenderly. "Oh, they're so beautiful.look, a boy like Ani, a girl like me. How perfect." She smiled through her tears. "Luke and Leia." She whispered. "Luke and Leia Skywalker." Then she put her head back and looked at Obi-Wan. "Which one?" she asked slowly. "Luke, I think, would be best. We can wait, Padme, until you've had time." Obi-Wan reassured. "But it would just get harder. I know this is for the best. And I trust Beru." Padme said, holding out a hand to her. "Beru, thank-you. I know you'll be good to him." Padme smiled tearfully. "Padme, we will love him as our own. And raise him as you would've. I swear." Beru promised. She bent down and they hugged. Then, she turned and gave Leia to Padme and picked up Luke. Padme looked at Luke only once. "Be brave my son, I'm sorry it has to be this way. Obi-Wan will watch you too. I love you." Then quickly she turned her head away and Beru walked out of the room. "I will move you and Leia to the ship, then take Beru and Luke home. When I return we will leave." Obi-Wan promised.