Author note: Hey guys, sorry for the major jump in time, but it was necessary because other wise the story would waffle on for way too long and I'm fully aware that people may be losing interest, so I have skipped to the beginning of the best part. But don't worry, I have written a short paragraph at the beginning that basically sums up the last thirteen years. Enjoy!
(-o-)
Thirteen years have passed since Anakin's first vision.
The clone numbers were greatly reduced during the temple attack and the few remaining clones have fled to an unknown place with the new Emperor to re-build their army.
Although the Jedi have endlessly hunted throughout the galaxy, they can find no trace of the clones.
Luke, although only eighteen, has become a Jedi Knight because his skills were so advanced that the Jedi council (who now have two more Masters, Sharivari Unlet and Lomitas Lapur) decided that it was the right thing to do.
Leia is still a padawan because Obi-Wan being Obi-Wan felt that she is too unpredictable like her father was. This has, of course, made Leia jealous of her brother and she has become reckless. The fact that Han has taken to shadowing her and doing everything he can to wind her up, doesn't help either.
Only Padme seems to have any control over Leia, so when Padme goes away, you can guarantee that there will usually be big trouble between Han, Anakin and Leia.
(-o-o-)
Anakin lay in bed late one morning watching the sun's rays as it rose higher into the sky.
Padme had gone earlier that morning to Naboo at the request of the new King, King Borelias. As usual, Luke had gone with her, like he always did, no doubt to get to know the locals.
He had grown into what everyone called a perfect young gentleman. He had his father's looks, but his mother's personality and gentle nature, making him popular and able to get on well with everyone. Naboo was his favourite planet because he found its beauty and tranquility so inspiring.
Anakin's thought on his son were disturbed by shouting coming from the living room. Han and Leia were arguing again.
Stretching and yawning, Anakin climbed out of bed and pulled on a baggy shirt. He rarely wore his suit in the appartment because the appartment had been preassurised. However, Anakin always took care to cover his chest because, after all, you could never tell when someone might call round and seeing those tubes sticking out of his chest and nasty scars criss crossing everywhere would not be a pleasant thing to be greated with.
Actually, I think Padme's the only one who's ever seen my scars and that's only because we share a bed.
He rolled up one leg of the trousers he had been wearing to study his knee. Some of the wires had disconnected, he could feel it. His legs were the only mechanical parts of his body that had been left skinless because they seemed to need constant repair. He soon located the problem and saw that his suspicions were correct.
Stretching again and walking into the living room he found that Leia and Han had had a pillow fight. The room now looked like it had been hit by a snowstorm.
R2-D2 was frantically scurrying round trying to suck up all the feathers with a little vacuum tube that extended from his domed head.
C-3PO tottered in from another room holding what looked like one of Leia's curtains that had been torn down.
"Oh Master Anakin, we had hoped to get this cleaned up before you got up," the golden droid appologised but Anakin held up a hand to stop him.
"It's alright Threepio. I'll help. Can you go and find my maintenance kit for me?" Anakin asked, bending down to scoop up a load of breakfast cereal from under the sofa. Han and Leia had obviously had more than just a pillow fight.
Leia's eighteen and Han's twenty three! Surely they should know better! Anakin thought in amusement, thinking back to all the fun times he and Padme used to have when they were on Naboo. And I notice neither one stayed long enough to help clear up either!
"What's this? he muttered to himself as he pulled out a scrap of paper. Unfolding it he saw the darm mark.
"...you're breaking my heart. You're going down a path I can't follow!..." Padme's voice echoed into the darkness and then there she was, standing just as she had eighteen years ago on Mustafar, looking at someone who had their back turned to her. It looked familiarly like Anakin again.
"I love you," she pleaded and slowly the figure turned round. Anakin gasped as he realised it was not him, it was Luke. He had the same evil yellow eyes that had once consumed Anakin.
"You're my son, don't do this, please!" Padme cried, looking at Anakin for support.
"You're both liars!" Luke screamed, raising a hand and closing it into a fist. "You came here to destroy me!" he cried as Anakin and Padme both felt themselves choking. Then everything went dark...
And Anakin jerked back to reality to find himself flat on the floor with C-3PO bending over him.
If his metal face could have shown emotion, Anakin was sure that at that moment in time it would have been showing a mixture of curiosity and fear.
"My word! Are you alright sir?" he asked and Anakin nodded, getting back to his feet.
This was the first time in a long time that he had had another vision. He only seemed to get them when he touched the dark mark, which he tried not to do if he could help it. However, he wasn't as worried as he thought he might have been.
No doubt it's some kind of Sith trick to fool me into making the wrong choice again, like my dreams about Padme and my mother, he would tell himself. Yoda and the rest of the council didn't seem that worried, so why should he?
"Threepio, did you get my maintenance kit?" he asked the droid, changing the subject.
"No sir, but I think Master Han was fixing his pistol with it. Shall I go and look?" C-3PO asked brightly, convinced that Anakin was fine at last.
Anakin nodded before kneeling back down to scoop up more feathers.
Threepio tottered off into another room and R2-D2 went to empty himself of the feathers he had collected.
