DISCLAIMER: I don't own Star Wars. Enough said.

Atonement

By: Juniper Ocean

Liberation.

It coursed through his veins in a heady rush as he felt his master's life force drain away taking with it the bloody haze that had obscured soul for far too long. The Emperor, the vile Darth Sidious, the bastard that had destroyed his life…

No.

By taking the title Darth Vader he had done that himself.

Another labored breath struggled past his lips. He was dying. His body would not cooperate, the wires that animated his artificial limbs were shorting out as the residual effects of his master's energy blast slowly shut down the automatic controls. This was the end and for the first time he gave up without a fight.

His robotic legs ceased to function and he collapsed to the ground nearly taking his son down with him. Luke tried to pull him desperately but they both knew it was a futile effort. His time was up. With only a precious few moments left among the living there was something much more important he needed to do.

"Luke… help me take this mask off."

His son looked mildly startled at his request. "But you'll die."

Luke's concern stirred warmth in his broken soul and feelings that were ruthlessly suppressed into a forgotten oblivion began to fill the void of darkness inside of him with blinding light. Basking, he smiled. "Nothing can stop that now. Just for once let me look on you with my own eyes."

It was the plea of a dying man for something he could take with him into the Nether World. A single memory to cleanse way the bloodstains of his rebirth in the dark side.

He held his breath as the mask was lifted away and he was able to see his own flesh and blood for the first time. He knew the face, it was similar enough to his own when he was that age. And those eyes, they reminded him of a young man he thought to be long dead.

Anakin Skywalker was a stranger to him now. He had left that part of himself behinda lifetime ago… A weak smile played upon his lips as he tasted happiness for the first time inover twodecades. Perhaps he would find himself again. Luke was here after all.

It was time. "Go now my son. Leave me."

"No." Luke insisted with the same gentle stubbornness he once possessed. "You're coming with me. I'll not leave you here. I've got to save you."

"You already have Luke," he whispered, not having the strength to speak louder though knowing it was his son's faith and forgiveness that was his salvation. "You were right. You were right about me," though he regretted not seeing Leia once more…

"Tell your sister you were right..."

Anakin's last conscious thought was the irony that in this moment of death he felt more alive than he had in last twenty years.

Authors Note: I couldn't help myself. After a Star Wars marathon that ended with seeing Episode III this was bound to happen. There's going to be about three more chapters since Anakin has a few loose ends to tie up and being a Jedi he has the immortal power to do it.

Thanks for reading.