Everything around Anakin Skywalker began to spin; he was swirling in a world of fanciful color. He began to get incredibly dizzy and pain was issuing from all parts of his body, especially his right arm where he lost his hand in battle years ago. The machinery that he wore to keep himself alive was slowly peeling off in all the chaos, and Anakin's terror became even more apparent. Finally, he passed out.
Sometime later, Anakin woke up. He glanced at his surroundings and gasped. How could he be here? Here was the palace on Naboo where he had spent 3 years of his life. He began to feel dizzy again and put his right hand to his head in bewilderment. Wait. His right hand? He had lost his right hand…
Anakin lifted himself off of the ground and walked over to a mirror mounted on the wall. There standing before him was his 20 year-old selfno machinery, no missing hand, no Darth Vader. Proclaiming aloud in wonder, "What's going on!" Anakin heard voices coming from outside the room, in the hallway. Contemplating what he should do next, he heard a woman's piercing cries and sensed that he must leave. Rummaging through a dresser drawer, he found a cloak with a hood that he placed over his head, shadowing his face completely and slowly sneaked out the door.
Once out the door, memories came flooding back. Anakin remembered exactly where he was, even though he had not been here for over 20 years. Placing his hand inside a pocket in the cloak, he realized he had not stolen it. It used to be his. Inside was his old, faithful light saber that was incredibly powerful. His hand swept over it, looking upon the saber with wonder and awe at his own creation. Anakin had been so distracted he did not realize where he was leading himself. When he glanced upwards, he stood as stiff as a board. In front of him was the Throne Room where he had spent countless hours of his life in conferences with the Chancellor, his representatives, and Anakin's wife, the Senator of Naboo.
Although he was married to the Senator, Anakin had never gained much power. This had frustrated him at the time, especially since he had been a powerful Jedi. Now, thinking about this dilemma, it made him laugh aloud, but the laugh was not as quiet as he had thought. Someone heard.
"Ah. Obi-Wan, the Senator has been waiting for you. Senator Amidala is in here," a heavily armed guard dressed in scarlet declared. Hundreds of thoughts came rushing through Anakin's mind. He was so overwhelmed with what the guard had said time seemed to stop. His thoughts merged into a number of confusing questions that Anakin was trying to figure out. 'How could Senator Amidala, his wife, Padmè, be alive? She was dead! What is happening? Why did the guard think he was Obi Wan?
What year is this? Could I possibly have gone back in time?'
Anakin cautiously entered the room, telling the guard to leave. The Senator was alive. She was standing before him rocking a baby boy in her arms, tears streaming down her cheeks. Senator Amidala seemed on the point of exhaustion, lines under her eyes, her hair a mass of tangles surrounding her visage. Although in awful condition, she was still as beautiful as Anakin had always remembered her.
She spoke even though it gave her tremendous pain. "Obi-Wan, take Luke away. He'll be safe with you." With great difficulty she whispered, "Anakin must not know he has a son." Relieved she had finished speaking; she walked over to Anakin and placed his son, Luke, in his arms. He did not know what to do. But, he did not need to do anything, because seconds later the real Obi-Wan Kenobi appeared in the doorway.
Padmè stood in shock, glaring at Anakin with hatred. She yelled with anger and frustration, "How dare you!" and took the baby away from his grasp. Luke began to cry uncontrollably, but Padmè was not paying attention.
Obi-Wan took out his light saber, staring into the shadows of the hood where Anakin's face was hidden. "Who are you?" he asked calmly, but with apparent dislike.
Disguising his voice, Anakin answered back, "You don't want to know." and fled to the doorway. Anakin was not worried. He knew Obi-Wan would let him go. If he did not bring any trouble, he was free to leave. Apparently, Padmè did not think the same way. Amid Obi-Wan's yells of protest, she ran over to the door and locked it.
"You will stay here until you tell me who you are." Anakin laughed. Not a cold laugh, but a warm, gracious one. His wife was still as aggressive as he had remembered. Unfortunately, she seemed offended by his sudden burst of amusement and tried to pull off his cloak.
Struggling to contain his emotions, as a Jedi must do, he asked her, "Are you sure you want to know?" When Padmè nodded and there was no reaction from Obi-Wan, Anakin slowly pulled off his hood.
