"The defendant and his lawyer please rise." Anakin complied as he looked toward Yasmine. He knew his breathing still filled her with dread.
"Jury, please state your verdict."
The jury consisted of several species. Among them were Mon Mothma and Ackba.
Mon Mothma stood. "Darth Vader, we find you guilty of countless murders. We find you guilty of sabotage and deceit. We find you guilty of terrorizing the lives of innocent victims."
She paused before she continued. "Anakin Skywalker, we find you—" Anakin bowed his head. He didn't want to hear this. "Not guilty."
He breathed a sigh of relief.
"As long as you remain in that mask, you will be classed as Darth Vader."
Anakin nodded. He had thought that had been the case. Soon the courtroom was dismissed. Luke was waiting for his father outside the courtroom. Luke smiled.
Two guards appeared either side of Anakin and roughly grabbed his arms. Luke turned his attention to them. "Take my father to my quarters. He will stay with me." Luke commanded them. "He will be well taken care of there." He could see that he wasn't going to get them to trust him. "If you feel it necessary, guard my quarters and escort Anakin Skywalker to the places he needs to go. And have—" he didn't want to do this. "Two ysalamiri placed in my quarters."
"Sir?"
"They stop the Force from flowing around them and render Force user helpless."
"Yes sir."
Luke looked at his father apologetically. "I'm sorry, Father. It's the only way."
Anakin nodded. Luke would have personally seen his father settled in his quarters, but he was called elsewhere. Luke returned to his quarters soon after his debriefing. Anakin was waiting for him with dinner ready.
Luke smiled as he sat down at the table. "Thank you, Father."
"You're welcome." Anakin studied his son closely. "Is this how you planned to tell the galaxy?"
"I had no choice. I wish Leia was not brought up." Luke paused. "She wanted nothing to do with you."
"I know."
Luke looked up at his father. "What are you thinking about?"
"Padmé. Seeing her after all these years… I thought she died."
"So did Leia, Father. She told me that our mother died when she, I should say we, were very young." Luke looked away. "Listen, I've been given orders. The authorities are sending a team to Balkura and they've asked me to lead it."
"I don't see why that would be a problem."
"They want you to stay under my care. That will be quite difficult on the bridge of a ship." Especially when Mother's on the same ship, Luke thought to himself.
Anakin sighed. "I've been meaning to ask you this ever since we landed on the moon."
"What?"
"Help me out of this mask."
