The usual bunch was gathered together at their table, enjoying a hurried breakfast, prior to the meeting with their President.
"Hey, with all this mess we didn't get to tell you the trick Luke pulled back on Ansion," Han mumbled in between mouthfuls.
"Han, you promised!" Luke immediately jumped, looking daggers at his friend.
"That was before I lost my bet. Now this is my little revenge, kid," Han replied, unflappable. "Besides, I don't think that hiding the truth is a proper thing for a Jedi to do."
"You'd be surprised at all the things proper for a Jedi to do," the young man threatened.
Han ignored him completely and continued.
"You should have seen him at first. All tall - so to speak - and dignified, addressing Ansion's politicians, or should I say schoolchildren? Anyway, he was all diplomacy and good manners the first couple days. It seemed the whole thing was beginning to work out, until the leaders of the two main opposite parties started fighting each other over some arable lands that were going to end up in no man's land. Both families claimed to have the rights back to a million generations." He made a funny gesture with his face. "So, there we are, all of us, the whole government included, watching these two guys yelling at each other over a piece of land. It turned out that 'the border dispute' was a personal litigation between the two families, and they had involved the Republic and the only available Jedi to arbitrate in an irrelevant personal affair."
"Oh, dear!" Leia shook her head and hid her face in the palm of her hand, just imagining the scene.
Anakin listened to Han's tale intently, somehow feeling that something outrageous was coming, knowing Luke. It didn't surprise him, though. In certain aspects of their personalities, Luke and he truly were the twins Solo accused them of being.
"The two guys had been tearing each other apart verbally for 15 minutes when Mr. Jedi here, stands up and ceremoniously leaves the Hall without saying a word. Of course," Han pointed at Lando, Chewie and himself, "we hurried to follow him as formally as possible. We returned to our quarters and Luke instructed us to not come out until they came back looking for us, which they did half an hour later. Through the commlink, he claimed to have a terrible headache, so he wasn't to be disturbed until they 'learned to speak quietly.'"
Leia spluttered her juice all over her plate.
"The next morning," Han went on, "he woke up early and went to take a stroll, happening to return from the lands in question with two mako fruits in hand. When we were politely invited to return to the negotiations, with the promise of a more civilized talk, he agreed, just as civilly. Once back in the Hall, all serious and composed, he took out the two mako fruits and started eating one deliberately. When he finished eating it and he was licking his fingers, and I mean licking his fingers, and everybody was looking at him, he said, more or less," Han sat up straight in his chair and did his best to imitate his young friend's voice and attitude. "You know? These mako fruits are really delicious and I can understand why you two are at each other's throats, trying to keep that blasted land for yourselves. But you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to recommend to the President to requisition the land. This fruit is too good to not be shared with the rest of the galaxy. As compensation, you'll receive the equivalent in money of the best possible harvest, and also, a monthly shipment of Gungan onions, free of charge, until you grow up."
This time, Anakin choked on his breakfast and Lando slapped his back until he started breathing normally again.
"Next, he stood up and threw the final pearl: 'I pity your poor citizens, having to cope with such childish politicians.' And then, he turned about and left the Hall again in no hurry, munching on the second fruit." Han made a short pause. "I tell you, we couldn't walk fast enough to get out of there."
The silence stretched longer than usual, and Luke realized everybody was looking at him.
"Hey, what's the matter?" He put out his hands, palms up, shrugging innocently. "I meditated all night and I knew the Force was with me. I did what I had to do." Everybody could see the twinkle in his eyes.
"And judging from the results, you most certainly did," Anakin managed to utter, his mouth still wide open.
"Sure he did!" Han exclaimed. "We had no news from them until 24 hours later. In the meantime, he refused to contact here and tell Mon Mothma he had messed up the assignment."
"And that's when you made the bet." Leia could see it all as clearly as if she had been there.
"Yeah," Han nodded, annoyed. "So, the morning after, we were once again politely invited to a final meeting. You should have seen him when he showed up, wearing those elegant robes! He outclassed all those petty simpletons and put them in their place with his clothes only!" Han's admiration for Luke was taking over his tale now, but the former pirate didn't seem to notice, and if he did, he didn't mind showing it. "For the first time, an older man, who had remained mostly quiet all the previous meetings, stood up and made a short speech. He admitted they had no right to involve the Republic in a personal dispute. He acknowledged they had made a mistake that could disgrace them in the eyes of the whole galaxy, but they deserved it, and if it was really our intention to requisition the land, we were entitled to do it."
"Well, at least there was one grown-up there. That's a relief!" Anakin commented.
"So, what did you do?" Leia asked Luke.
"The only logical thing I could think of: I told them to split the land in two halves, as any five-year old would have suggested," the young man replied.
"And he's quoting himself verbatim," Lando pointed out.
"I also told them that the requisition threat was still in the air, just in case there were any more fights in the schoolyard."
Anakin covered his mouth with one hand, trying to hide his amusement. Luke had indeed inherited many things from him. Thank heavens, he hadn't inherited his quicksilver temper, that had gotten him into more troubles than he could think about. He had mocked Ansion's goverment with such class and fine irony that no one had been able to refute him. Somehow, he had managed to make his temper work in his favour. If this was an example of what Luke could do as a mediator, then he had the brightest future ahead of him. Sure, he hadn't been asked to make any life and death decision, but silly missions like this put a mediator's resourcefulness to the test, and quite often showed the stuff they were made of.
The older man shook his head, remembering what he had been about to do when he visited the planet with Obi-Wan, 25 years ago. Thank heavens, Obi-Wan had been able to restrain him, and prevented him from voicing his opinion, in a far less refined fashion than his child had shown. Still, his attitude and killer looks left pretty clear his opinion of Ansion's government.
"So," Han took over his tale, "the spokesman, speaking in the name of the government, promised to consider Luke's suggestion and apologized for summoning him over such an irrelevant matter, and the meeting was adjourned."
There was a short silence that was broken by Lando, who absently massaged his left shoulder, trying to alleviate the soreness and pain there. The shockwaves of the explosion had thrown them all backwards, and he had landed on his shoulder in a very bad position.
"I'm curious, though," he said. "What did that old man tell you when we were leaving?"
Luke smiled impishly, with a blending of pride and mischievousness, as he cast his father a quick look out of the corner of his eyes.
"He told me several things," he replied. "That he was impressed by the way I had handled such a slippery and embarrassing situation for all the parties involved. That he considered I was very mature for my age. He also apologized for the way some of them had looked down on me, jugding me only by my youth." For a second, it seemed as if he was going to say something else, but he closed his mouth and a soft flush covered his cheeks.
"And?" Leia prompted.
"Well," the blush became even more noticeable. "He also said that it had been very refreshing for him to see the resemblance between father and son."
Everybody's eyes bulged in surprise.
"He remembered *me*?" Anakin was too astonished for words.
"Vividly," Luke replied. "He said that he considered it a shame that Obi-Wan didn't allow you to speak your heart out 25 years ago. He was certain that your words would have snapped more than one out of their 'intellectual stupor'. But it was worth waiting so many years to see his colleagues 'beaten hollow'."
They burst out laughing at that.
"Oh, my!" Anakin exclaimed, wiping his eyes. "Let's hope that the seed you planted there will come to fruition one day."
"And the sooner the better for all of us," Han crowned, going cross-eyed expressively and making his friends laugh again.
"That's my boy," Leia applauded her beloved, planting a smooch on Han's lips.
Han moaned in pain and flinched, the cut on his upper lip reminding them of the wounds that still were to heal.
Leia made an apologetic face and squeezed Han's hand comfortingly. He caressed her cheek lovingly, telling her it was okay and conveying his regret that they had to limit their displays of affection for a while.
Immediately, Luke turned his head and looked at his father, asking him a question with his eyes. Anakin nodded and gave his child an encouraging smile.
Taking a deep breath and trying to control his sudden nervousness, Luke reached out his left hand and placed it on Lando's injured shoulder very gently, aware of its soreness. He closed his eyes and concentrated.
Lando watched Luke's unexpected gesture curiously, but let him be, not knowing what was the young man up to. A few seconds later, he made a strange face and looked at his shoulder suspiciously.
"What the...?" he asked. He felt a funny tingling that could only be of Luke's doing.
Some time later, Luke opened his eyes and moved his hand away.
"How're you feeling?" he asked, in trepidation.
Lando brought his hand up to his shoulder and gingerly squeezed all over the formerly aching and bruised area. Nothing. There was no pain at all. He started rotating the articulation back and forth. Nothing!
"It doesn't hurt anymore!" he said. "What did you do?"
Luke smiled, happy that it had worked.
"It seems I didn't lose my 'touch', after all." There was an intentional double meaning in his joke that only Anakin got. It still worried him that his friends might look at him differently because of something so big, but there was no turning back now. He turned his eyes to Han, a hint of apprehension in his blue eyes. "Han, do you want me to try?" he asked softly.
"Uh, oh, er... Sure!" Han babbled.
Luke rose to his feet and walked up to the other side of the table, sitting down beside his friend. He reached out both hands, placing one of them softly on the deep cut on his upper lip and the other on the bruise on the right side of his forehead. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
The warm tingling took Han completely by surprise and he jerked back a little. But he quickly pulled himself together.
A little while later, Luke blinked his eyes open and put down his hands.
There was a collective gasp when Han's face emerged completely healed from both wounds. Not even a little scar remained. It was as if the wounds had never existed.
"L-Luke!" Leia exclaimed, more moved than words could express. "How do you do that?"
"I don't know," the young man replied, looking down at his hands as if seeing them for the very first time. "It's the Force. I didn't know I could do it until I healed Father on the Death Star."
"The healing gift is extremely rare," Anakin explained, seeking to distract his friends' attention away from Luke. "It's shrouded in the veil of legend. Every Jedi is supposed to have a very special gift, something they're unique at, but very few ever find it."
"And what's your gift?" Lando anticipated everyone with his question.
"I still don't know," Anakin answered. "Just like Luke, I'm equally good at all the things Jedi were usually known for: telekinesis, empathy, premonition... but nothing 'out of the ordinary', so to speak."
"And how did you find out that you could heal Father?" Leia asked her brother. "What inspired you to try and heal him, if you didn't know you could do it?"
Luke paled visibly, and his eyes became elusive. The time of truth had come and he didn't know what to do.
"Palpatine's counter-attack damaged my respirator beyond repair," Anakin butted in, before their friends started wondering about Luke's weird reaction. "I was a dead man already. It was sheer despair that made Luke try it."
Luke couldn't help a short, dry laugh at his father's clever choice of words. Only the two of them knew he was speaking literally.
But a part of him rebelled, sickened by the fact that his father was essentially lying to protect him. And it felt wrong. It was wrong. He couldn't let his father lie for him, even if it was out of love.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trusting the Force to guide him through this. In a rush of inspiration, he stopped his father's misleading explanation.
"No, Father. No more lies. Never again," he let out with surprising authority and in an unaccustomed deep voice.
"Luke..." Anakin was well aware of his son's fear, and he didn't want him to feel forced to disclose a bit of information that could change his friends' perception of him forever.
"No. It is time. It's all right." Luke grasped Anakin's hand on the table and squeezed it reassuringly. He took another deep breath and braved his friends' puzzled expressions. "You see, Father wasn't lying when he said he was 'a dead man already.' He meant it literally."
It took a while for his words to sink in.
"You mean... He was already dead? Really dead?" Han asked, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.
Luke nodded gravely.
"He died on me in the hangar. And there was nothing I could do." His face twisted in pain and despair. The same pain and despair that had consumed him back then. "I broke down. I had craved for my father all my life, and I'd lost him right after getting him back. I felt so alone and bereft that I couldn't..." His eyes misted helplessly. "I just wanted my father back!" he exclaimed, reliving those terrible memories. "I began daydreaming, imagining that I could heal him so we could get to know each other and have a bright future together. And suddenly..." he closed his eyes and his features illuminated, "...I felt his hand sliding through my hair. I looked up and..."
"...And there he was, alive and healthy," Leia finished for him, moved to her very core by her brother's story. Her skin filled with goosebumps at the mental emanations Luke was unconsciously sending. She felt like reaching across the table and holding him tight.
"I didn't know it was possible. I just thought about it and... and it happened," Luke tried to explain himself.
There was a long silence, filled with awe.
"Does this mean you can... resuscitate people?" Lando asked, tentatively.
"No, it means I was able to bring my father back," Luke corrected him. "Somehow, he wasn't supposed to die that day. I was merely the instrument for the Force to set right what had gone wrong. When your time comes, nothing and no one will bring you back. That I do know."
There was another pause, as his friends absorbed what he was saying.
"I have the healing gift, which means I can heal wounds, but I can't bring back the dead at will. You understand the difference?" he looked at them anxiously.
"I think I do," Han slowly replied, staring at his friend solemnly.
"Yes," Lando nodded, squeezing his own shoulder, still unable to believe the miracle. But he was touching it. Touching it!
Leia watched her brother with a mixture of all-encompassing love and admiration beyond belief.
The final piece of the puzzle had fit at last. This was the intimate connection between her father and her brother that she had felt right from the start. An all-encompassing love. Generous, selfless. A love so deep that had given Luke the insight to drag his father from the clutches of Death itself.
And whenever she looked at them together, everything made sense. Beautiful, perfect sense. And she knew her friends felt it, too.
At that moment, Chewie growled a warning.
"You're right, pal!" Han stood up as if he had springs on his feet. "The meeting! We had forgotten about it."
Little by little, the others stood up as well, preparing themselves mentally for the upcoming meeting with their President, and the important matters that had to be discussed.
When they were heading for the door, Han stopped Luke by putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, kid."
Unthinkably relieved by the nickname that spoke volumes, Luke turned to his friend, still a bit uncertain.
"Why didn't you tell us about it sooner?" Han asked. "We've known each other for years and I think we deserved to know."
Luke looked down, not knowing how to answer. He could see he had hurt his friend's feelings by not telling him. He looked into Han's eyes, begging for understanding.
"You thought that once we found out we'd treat you differently, we'd look at you differently, right?" Han answered for him, squeezing his shoulder.
Luke looked down, and nodded.
Han felt his heart melting with love for that young man. He'd never met anyone so intrinsically good and pure, and he thanked the gods that the little Jedi was a major part of his life.
"If you don't know better after all these years, your Jedi abilities need some serious honing, little brother. Come here." And with that, he held Luke in a crushing hug.
Luke returned the hug fiercely, not believing his good fortune and his many blessings. He looked up, thanking the heavens, for no being could possibly have better friends.
When they moved back, Han ruffled his hair playfully, making them both let out a shaky laugh.
Lando squeezed Luke's arm, making him turn his head to look at him.
"The same goes for me, Luke," he said, smiling softly. "Thank you."
"Thank *you*, Lando," Luke replied, reaching up and shaking warmly the hand on his arm.
"Luke," Leia called softly.
The young Jedi immediately faced his sister, reaching out to her. She threw herself into his arms, and they clung to each other for all they were worth.
"It's all right. Everything's all right," she whispered to him, trying to hold back her tears. "Thank you for bringing him back. For returning him to the Republic, to our lives... to me," she finally admitted, choking on her words.
"Leia," Luke was beyond words and he held her closer.
It took them a long time to release each other and when they did, they smiled, leaning on each other's foreheads.
Chewie's furious growling brought them back to the present with a start.
"What is it, Chewie?" Luke asked in alarm, for he had understood the Wookie's apparently angry calling of his name.
Chewie pointed at his left hand exaggeratedly, demanding something of him.
Finally, Luke realized what his friend was asking him, and burst out laughing in delight.
"I'm sorry, Chewie. Of course I intended to heal you, too!" He held the big paw in his hand tenderly. "Where does it hurt?" he asked.
Chewie pointed at the inner part of his wrist. Luke closed his eyes and wrapped his hand around the Wookie's wrist, concentrating deeply.
"Better now?" he asked some time later, opening his eyes. "No!" He cried out when he saw those long, massive arms reaching for him.
But there was no stopping Chewie's grateful bearhug and the muffled laughs around them.
When he was released, Luke smiled fondly at his big hairy friend, and scratched his singed fur happily.
"Question!" Han suddenly said.
"Yes?" Luke turned to him.
"Why didn't you heal yourself?" Han asked, quite logically.
"Because I can't," Luke replied, shrugging. "Apparently, my healing gift doesn't work on me."
"That's not fair!" Lando complained.
"I find it somehow fitting, don't ask me why," Luke said, shrugging again. "Well!" He squared his shoulders and pointed at the doors. "Shall we, my friends?" he invited.
"So," Mon Mothma said, once everybody had taken their seats around the huge round table in the centre of the Great Hall. "Yesterday's emergency cabinet didn't really cast any light on what happened on Ansion. Their government claims time and again they had nothing to do with it, and although we're conducting a thorough investigation, I'm inclined to believe them." She looked around her. "Do we all agree on this?"
"Yes," Han spoke for all of them. "They're too self-centred to try such a thing."
There was a soft rumble of amusement.
"Thank you, General Solo, for your always refreshing assessment of the situation," Mon Mothma replied in her usual display of dry humour.
"My pleasure." Han just couldn't resist it.
"Still, I think we shouldn't rule out the possibility," Areen Worzzlek reminded them all. "Whoever did this, didn't choose Ansion just because. Either they wanted us to believe there is some side connection with the planet..."
"...Or they're misleading us deliberately," Lando finished for him.
"Exactly," Areen admitted with a nod.
"I know it is too soon to offer any candidates," Admiral Ackbar spoke for the first time. "There have been no violent outbursts of any kind anywhere in the galaxy since the birth of the New Republic. Just the inevitable smuggling business that will always be there, I'm afraid, and other smuggling-related operations. But nothing on a bigger scale."
"What do we know about the land-mine itself?" Mon Mothma asked, to no one in particular.
"From what's left of it, our experts concluded it came from the Kessel mines. It was an old TK-1 model, used mostly in illegal prospecting in the Outer Rim. It was set off by an infrared sensor, although they're usually detonated with a remote." Lando explained.
"Any ideas about who or why? Even a long shot will do," Mon Mothma encouraged her staff.
"It is too soon to tell, I agree with Admiral Ackbar," Anakin said. "Any theory we come up with at this point might be plausible. However, there are some facts we cannot overlook." He sat up straighter in his seat. "One: they were after either one of the Peace party or all of them. This indicates it was an attack against the Republic, since they're all either members of the Government or they work for it. Two: they failed. Three: they will try again."
An ominous silence befell them all as the implications of Anakin's words sank in.
"The way to Peace is still a way to go," Mon Mothma summarized everybody's thoughts. She took a deep breath and plunged ahead. "Suggestions? Recommendations?"
"I would suggest we didn't change our schedule in the least," General Madine advised. "Next time Jedi Skywalker is asked to mediate in any other conflict, we should assign him a heavier escort, some especially equipped team. But it's paramount we don't change our ways. We must let whoever's behind this know they didn't succeed in their efforts to intimidate us. We're sticking together, strong and firm."
"I totally agree, especially on the heavier escort idea," Leia approved.
"So do I," Anakin said in a strange tone of voice.
"Me too," concurred Lando, Han and Chewie.
"Intelligence is still correlating all data supplied by our experts at the site and Ansion's Security Forces," Captain Ylek reminded them. "If they come up with anything new, they'll let us know."
There was a long pause.
"Well, this is when the New Republic must show what it is really made of." Mon Mothma's authority rose above the gloomy mood. All of them had fallen too easily into the safe routine of Peace, and the belief that everything would be smooth and easy. This attack had proved them all wrong. It proved there still were dangerous elements out there, ready to blow up the foundations of newborn Democracy. It was certainly discouraging news, but they would take courage from their own inner strength and they would survive, stronger than ever. "We already know we have an enemy and they know we know. I am afraid we have no choice but take all necessary precautions and wait."
"And that's usually the moment when innocents start to die," Captain Thazzel pointed out angrily.
Everybody at the table knew just how right Thazzel was and they remained silent, quietly agreeing with him and swallowing their own anger and feeling of helplessness.
"But before we suspend this meeting, I want to congratulate Jedi Skywalker for his successful, albeit unorthodox mission on Ansion," Mon Mothma suddenly said, in an obvious but dignified attempt to boost her staff's morale. "Your gift as a mediator is not a promise anymore, but a reality, young man. Well done. I have the utmost confidence in you."
"Thank you, Mrs. President," Luke managed to blurt out in the midst of his fierce blushing. It was obvious from Mon Mothma's words that she was aware of the highly unconventional approach he had taken, but it also showed she approved of it, if her knowing smile was anything to go by.
The President's gaze turned from the young Jedi to all the people gathered around the table.
"This is all for now, gentlebeings. We shall meet again when Intelligence has finished their investigation and they have a report for us. Thank you." She bowed her head to them, in her usual gesture of respect, and stood up.
All the others followed suit. Little by little, either alone or in small groups, they left the Great Hall.
All but Anakin.
Luke realized his father wanted to speak with the President alone, so he nodded to him and followed his sister and friends out.
Mon Mothma looked up and saw her Vice-President standing opposite her on the other side of the table.
"Yes?" she asked, inviting Anakin to speak.
"I hope we can apprehend those behind this scheme. Because we all know, as Captain Thazzel wisely reminded us, that innocent blood will be shed sooner or later," Anakin opened the conversation.
Mon Mothma nodded, a shadow clouding her features.
"There's something else I wanted to talk to you about," Anakin went straight to the point, as was his custom.
"Yes?" she repeated, raising her eyebrows, immediately interested in anything he had to say. "What is it?"
"It's about my son."
"He handled this slippery mission remarkably." Mon Mothma didn't bite her tongue as far as commending her staff's abilities was concerned. "He's an incredibly resourceful, intuitive and clever young man. He'll carry on with his assignments brilliantly, I am certain of that."
"I am, too," Anakin let out a little smile that couldn't hide his fatherly pride in his child. "But that's not what I wanted to discuss."
"Well?" She shrugged slightly.
"It's about your decision to not allow me to accompany him on his missions as a mediator. That was the function of the Jedi in the Old Republic. And I am a Jedi," Anakin reminded her with an intense look.
"You're also the Vice-President of the Republic," Mon Mothma reminded him back.
"I am aware of my oath to this Government and the galaxy," Anakin said in a deep voice, dead serious, that left no doubt about where his loyalties lay. "But I'm also well aware of the fact that my role in the Government is mostly a supportive, secondary one, with no actual duties; only to take over when you're off-planet, or when I'm carrying out an official trip of my own. The rest of the time, my presence here serves no practical purpose. Therefore, it hurts no one that I..."
"Ah, I see what's the bottom line of this," the President smiled in gentle understanding.
"Do you?" Anakin asked rhetorically.
"Of course. It doesn't take a genius to see how much you care for your children." There was no accusation or mockery of Anakin's feelings in her words. If anything, her voice was even gentler. "Yesterday's terrible incident awakened you to the fact that you could have lost your son, and your fatherly instincts have taken over. You don't want to let young Skywalker out of your sight."
"You're partially correct," Anakin admitted. "But that's not all, not in the least. I am not only Anakin Skywalker, Vice-President of the New Republic. I am also Jedi Master Anakin Skywalker. It is mine and my son's intention to rebuild the Jedi Order, and we can't undertake such a project if we have to dedicate 100% of our time to our duties as members of the Government. You said it was also your intention to bring back the Order."
"It is," Mon Mothma nodded vigorously. "But first of all, the New Republic must have settled enough for us to feel safe giving you two other responsibilities. I know you'll agree with me about this."
"I do," Anakin agreed. "And I concur that the reconstruction of the Jedi Order will have to wait for some time. But I think you've forgotten that my first and greatest duty in this life is to my children. They are my top priority, now and forever. Any member of the Government is granted leaves of absence to take care of their personal matters. All I ask of you is to grant me those leaves of absence to accompany my son."
Mon Mothma saw that Anakin had made up his mind about it, and she knew how stubborn he could get, especially where it concerned his children. She tried a different approach.
"Anakin," her features softened. "Children must live their own lives sooner or later. We have to accept the fact that we won't be able to protect them forever. It's the only way for them to learn and develop their full potential. Agreed, your son's way of life is far more dangerous than most, but it's the life he has chosen, just like you did. Besides, there's no guarantee that your presence could be of any help, should something like what happened on Ansion take place again. Give some credit to his escorts and the team I intend to assign to back them up."
Anakin's face couldn't hide his disappointment when he saw she was totally missing the point.
"Besides, I expect Luke's missions to increase in number, once his reputation as a Jedi becomes well-known across the galaxy," she argued. "I couldn't grant you constant leaves of absence. Your duties as Vice-President would conflict." She smiled apologetically. "I am sorry."
Anakin closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, his face was calm again, and he made a new attempt to reason with his President.
"We could find a way to make it work. We only have to be willing to be more flexible in our positions," he began. "Just let me..."
"I don't see how that could be possible; at least, for now." There was finality in Mon Mothma's words. "This sudden crisis demands from us to be at our posts, and in the future, your son's number of missions will be so high that leaves of absence will be out of the question." Her tone of voice clearly indicated that this was the end of the discussion. "I am really sorry, but you will have to accept my decision, and trust your child and his friends' capacity to take care of themselves. They're overqualified in that department, after four years of war against the Empire."
Anakin withdrew into himself for a few seconds, touching the Force and verifying he was doing the right thing.
"Is this your final decision?" he asked.
"Yes, it is," she stated.
With a final intake of breath, Anakin made his own decision.
"Then, I hereby offer you my resignation as the Vice-President of the New Republic," he declared, in an unfaltering voice.
Mon Mothma's face lost all expression for a moment.
"What?!" she asked at last, in a less-than-presidential manner, not believing what she'd just heard. "You can't do that!" She recovered quite nicely, considering how shocked she was inside.
"I just did," Anakin said, unflappable.
"Members of the Government can't resign whenever it suits them!" Her voice couldn't disguise the outrage she felt.
"It's not a question of it suiting me or not. You gave me no other choice," Anakin shrugged regretfully. "`Incompatibility of schedule in regard to family matters.' Many politicians are forced to resign when there's a long-term issue within their families, that won't allow them to dedicate the necessary time to their job."
"But this is not the case and you know it," Mon Mothma accused.
"It most certainly is," Anakin corrected her. "My family is infinitely more important to me, you always knew that. If forced to choose, then my decision is already made."
"Mr. Skywalker, you're not exactly a worker in an engines factory, where another workmate can cover your post. You have a responsibility to billions of beings." The President was back full force, speaking with all the authority she could muster.
The wounded expression on Anakin's face showed the impact of her words. His features hardened in an instinctive attempt to cover the deep hurt.
"It is quite unfair to try and coerce me with the billions of lives I am supposed to protect. You know you have the best possible hand just brandishing the guilt card on me, because of my past. The past I cannot change or compensate, even if I lived a thousand lives. But I happen to know I'm doing the right thing. It doesn't matter how much guilt you dump on me, you will never give me more than I already give myself. Still, I will not change my mind about this." He bowed his head, respectfully. "And now, good day, your Excellency."
Something snapped inside Mon Mothma then. She wasn't only losing the best member of her Government, she was losing her emotional support and anchor, her voice of reason. For she had come to depend and rely on Anakin's judgement and understanding in the past six months, as much as she had confided in Areen Worzzlek for the past four years.
"You are the Vice-President of the Republic!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing in the Hall's walls, in a final, angrily desperate outburst.
"I am a Father!" Anakin's voice immediately followed hers, just as strong, even though he hadn't raised his voice. "First and foremost."
They stared at each other in a contest of wills that neither could win, for both of them were right, and both of them were wrong.
"The Republic needs you." Mon Mothma yielded first, not bothering to hide what the two of them knew. "I need you," she admitted at last. It didn't feel like a weakness to admit such a thing, because it was the truth. Anakin was the kindest, gentlest being she had ever known, and she knew those vulnerable words would never be used against her. It was also the greatest gift of trust and friendship she could offer. "If you leave..." she trailed off.
"I do not want to leave," Anakin reminded her softly, his own outburst fading away. "I wanted us to find a way around this issue and solve it to our mutual satisfaction."
She sighed out loud and offered him a seat at the empty table. He nodded and waited until she took her seat first. They sat facing each other.
"What do you suggest?" she asked.
"I am aware of the fact that Luke's missions will increase in time," Anakin began. "And it was never my intention to accompany him on all his assignments, only on those where I felt I should go, to offer him all the backup and experience I have from the time I was a Jedi in the Old Republic. These first missions are the trickiest for him, since he has no experience whatsoever as a diplomat. When he's garnered enough skill to handle himself in all situations, I'd stop accompanying him. Besides which, I'd never go with him should you be off-planet on an official trip. My leaving Coruscant would be subject to my presence here not being indispensable."
"Is that all?!" Mon Mothma couldn't believe that could be all, judging from the way he had resisted her decision. Until she realized she had never given him the chance to explain himself. She tried not to flush.
"Well," Anakin hesitated for a moment, "I must admit I have an ulterior motive."
She raised her eyebrows questioningly.
"It would also be a good time for me to start... venturing out. So people could start seeing me as Anakin Skywalker, not..."
The other name resounded all over the Hall even though it was left unsaid.
Mon Mothma's features softened as Anakin's intentions became finally clear. He didn't want to remain 'locked up' in a tower, apart from the world. It could convey the wrong impression to the people. The impression that he was too afraid or too self-centred to take the chance and venture out, as he had so aptly put it. He wanted the galaxy to see him as someone who didn't represent a threat anymore. He wanted them to see it and touch it. To feel that certainty. To know this was their Vice-President, someone who cared about their problems and would always be there for them.
He was taking a huge personal risk too, as far as his own safety was concerned, but she also knew that Anakin knew.
"There is something else you're not telling me," she said in a sudden burst of intuition. "What is it?"
Anakin jerked back a little, taken by surprise. She might not be Force-sensitive, but she had shown them all time and again she didn't need it to see right through people.
"There's another possibility you haven't considered for the attack against the Peace party."
"Really?" she straightened up in her chair as a chill ran up and down her spine. "What possibility?"
"The possibility that I am the real target," he revealed calmly.
"You?! How could you possibly be the target? You were here on Coruscant!" For a second, she almost doubted Anakin's sanity.
"Exactly," he nodded. "And what better way to destroy me than murdering my son instead? I'd be as good as dead, then."
The absolute horror in his intense blue eyes awakened Mon Mothma once again to the depth of that man's love for his children. A love that was no secret anywhere in the galaxy after all these months.
She nodded as the implications of Anakin's words became hideously clear.
"You're correct. This could be a personal vengeance against you."
"Your decision to make me your Vice-President could be backfiring already," Anakin's voice sounded infinitely old and sad. He didn't say 'as I told you' because he didn't have to.
"No!" she exclaimed, as if wanting to make that possibility go away by sheer force of will. "I made the right decision, and we both know it," she stated. "Whatever it is, there is more to it than that. I can feel it. And you feel it, too."
"True," Anakin agreed, looking away. "But if my supposition is even partially correct, and they're somehow after me, I should be out there; not risking my son's life while I'm staying safe at home, like a rotten coward."
"I understand," Mon Mothma nodded gently. She withdrew into herself for a little while, considering everything Anakin had told her and her own feelings about it. His request was reasonable and it posed no immediate conflict with his duties as Vice-President. With a little goodwill, they could work it out. She smiled softly. "Very well, Mr. Skywalker. Request granted. I leave it to your discretion when to accompany your son."
Anakin's answering grateful smile lit up the Hall.
"Thank you, Mrs. President," he said from the bottom of his heart.
There was a short pause as they stared at each other, feeling as if they had just fought a stampede of reeks and survived. They smiled in acknowledgment of that fact.
"May I be excused?" Anakin asked at last.
She nodded at him and watched him stand up.
"Anakin," she called out to him gently when he was heading for the door.
He turned about and looked at her as she rose to her feet.
"I didn't intend to coerce you in any way," she stated adamantly.
"I know," Anakin's features filled with shame and regret. "It was my own susceptibility that made me answer without thinking." He looked down for a few moments before braving her gaze again. "I humbly apologize."
"No need," she shook her head kindly.
Anakin smiled softly and turned about again.
"By the way, would you mind telling me why Generals Solo and Calrissian's faces look so healthy today?" Mon Mothma asked out of the blue.
Anakin froze in his tracks and turned about sharply, meeting his President's smiling countenance.
The man's reaction was all she needed to see her suspicions confirmed.
"You don't have to say it. Your son healed them all."
After a moment's pause, Anakin nodded slowly, wide eyes fixed on her.
"And the reason why young Luke's face isn't healed as well?" she asked softly.
Anakin bit his lower lip, seeking to protect his child's vulnerabilities above all things. Until it dawned on him that she already knew the answer. Yielding, he trusted her with his beloved child's most intimate secret.
"He can't heal himself, as you already surmised," it was his turn now to offer his greatest gift of trust and friendship. Still, a sharp flash of pain nagged at his conscience - the feeling that he had betrayed his son's sacred trust.
Then, he felt a warm, comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Your secret will always be safe with me. You know it."
Anakin met the caring brown eyes that regarded him with profound understanding and respect. He felt unthinkably comforted by it, and he knew it had been the right thing to do.
She had accepted him completely right from the start. Her fierce defence of him these past few months showed just how much she trusted him and relied on his judgement. Her trust had been determinant in his decision to accept the Vice-Presidency of the New Republic. And so far, he didn't regret that decision. With such an indomitable, fair, capable and intelligent leader, it was easy to trust himself.
Yes, this was his Destiny. He was what he was always meant to be, at last.
He smiled down at her.
"Thank you, for everything." He could say no more.
She nodded at him and squeezed his shoulder.
They looked at each other for another moment, and with a final nod, she put down her hand and watched him leave the Hall.
Once alone, she turned about and faced the big round table. She bent forward and rested her hands on it, taking a long, deep breath, the heavy mantle of duty falling again on her shoulders. And along with it, the latest challenge to Peace. She looked up, begging for some help and inspiration.
On the other side of the great doors, Anakin mirrored her gestures, reaching for the Force instead. He prayed to be up to the threat they were facing. A threat that was about to strike again and take its first casualties.
He could feel it.
For the next few days, things seemed to reach an impasse. Nothing out of the ordinary happened.
Making the most of their sudden free time, Luke and Anakin decided to start training Leia, and the three of them locked themselves up in the hall where Master Yoda used to train all padawan children, in the hope they could find some inspiration there on how to train the Princess properly.
Leia couldn't hide her wariness at first, and it took hours to calm her enough to get her to the right level to start meditating.
She kept opening her eyes to verify they were there and she was doing it right, and it suddenly occurred to them that she might feel pressured with them hanging around, watching her, so they walked away, while Leia tried to meditate in a comfortable corner. When that didn't work either, they left the room so she could find her own way, undisturbed.
She then asked them to return, because their presence was soothing and she felt more focused when they were near.
Little by little, her mind got used to reaching deeper and deeper levels of concentration, until it became relatively easy for her.
Anakin and Luke thought this could be a good time to teach her to handle a lightsaber.
Leia refused to have her own lightsaber for the moment, so they trained her using theirs. She was a very agile, athletic person, so in no time she was swinging the sword around, getting the feel of it and learning the basic moves of Form I from watching them.
When she decided she was ready to use a seeker, Luke couldn't stop smiling, seeing himself that day in the Millennium Falcon, listening to Obi-Wan's instructions and getting repeatedly hit by the blasted little thing.
In a happy flash of insight, Luke suggested they'd cover her face with a helmet. And it was then when she began feeling the Force and deflecting the seeker's blasts.
Father and son looked at each other and nodded with a smile, feeling very satisfied with how things were progressing. Leia was their first padawan, and leaving aside their personal involvement in the project - training someone they both loved fiercely - they couldn't forget the fact that they were basically feeling their way through the whole process. It was doubly stressing for them, considering all the risks involved.
They encouraged Leia to tell them whenever she felt they were doing something wrong, to make all the suggestions she wanted, and let them know what worked better for her. Constant communication was the only way for the three of them to improve as masters and padawan.
They were essentially inventing a new way of training, using the lessons that had worked better for them. And depending on Leia's sensations, they switched to Luke's way, Anakin's, Yoda's, Obi-Wan's or whatever lesson Anakin remembered from the other Jedi Masters.
Leia had to admit she felt more and more comfortable. Most of her fears evaporated the more she delved into the disciplines, and the more she got in touch with the Force. It was the most illuminating experience, and she felt like a child venturing out into a whole new world. One that had been there all along, right at the edge of her consciousness.
She got used to meditating a little every morning after waking up, and spending her free time with her father and brother, learning a little bit more every day.
She found an inner peace she hadn't realized she needed until then.
An entire week passed thus. In the meantime, Intelligence reported that their investigation on Ansion, on the site and the information provided by Ansion's government didn't cast much light on the attack on the Peace party. The ensuing meeting ended almost as fast as it began, the only conclusions being the assignment of an especially trained and equipped team to protect Luke and his escorts in his upcoming missions.
Two days later, Luke was assigned his second mission: to mediate in a territorial conflict on Uzkida, whose moon's delegated government had suddenly decided to become independent from the planet. Diplomatic meetings had been useless and the growing hostility between the moon and her mother planet was dangerously leading towards a civil war.
When Luke learned of his mission, he panicked. He knew only too well how much hatred and violence separatist movements had brought to the galaxy, and he felt totally incapable of handling such an unstable situation.
Anakin agreed to accompany him and offer all the help he could, but at the last moment, his presence was required in an urgent meeting that would decide the security measures the Government would implement to ensure the maximum protection of its staff, buildings and ships. His advice was vital, given his past as Commander of the Imperial Fleet and his knowledge about Security, Strategy and Intelligence.
It took hours for Anakin to assure his child that he would handle his mission well. His blind faith in his son's gift helped, but it couldn't erase those lingering fears.
Privately, Anakin asked Han, Lando and Chewie to support and help Luke with all the knowledge and experience they had because should they fail, his son would take it as a personal failure.
Luke was deadly pale when he bid his father and sister goodbye on the landing platform, but he faced his destiny bravely, determined to do his very best.
Once again, Anakin watched the Millennium Falcon getting smaller and smaller, and he let out a dejected sigh. But he couldn't shirk his own responsibilities, and this time, they had gotten in the way.
The next few days were very hectic. Anakin was busy designing strategies and evacuation plans. Plus, he was assigned the drills that would put those designs to the test.
Compared to the slow pace of the boring meetings with the Senate, Anakin could hardly keep up with all his responsibilities now, and at the end of the day he flopped down on his bed, dead beat. He had to admit he had been mistaken. His duties as a Vice-President were anything but dull. At least, now.
But it didn't matter how exhausted he was, every single night he reached out to his son's mind.
Luke's mind clung to his father's, desperate for comfort, needing the rock-solid certainty of his love to see him through the disheartening meetings. As days went by, he was becoming more and more frustrated, as the failure of the negotiations became evident. It came a point where he didn't know what to do anymore, but he refused to surrender and abandon these people to their increasingly dark fate.
Anakin suggested then a different approach. To leave logic and diplomacy aside, and appeal to feelings instead. That was something everyone could relate to. Maybe it would do as a last resort.
Luke's weary mind accepted his father's advice and sent all his love and gratitude. He couldn't have him beside him, but communicating like this was the next best thing.
Anakin sent all his love back, along with the mind-suggestion to 'sleep now'. He smiled when the mind-contact was abruptly broken, as the child instantly succumbed to his father's loving command.
As he lay in bed, ready for some sleep of his own, Anakin marvelled at the bond they shared. As far as he knew, mind-touch between Jedi was possible when in relatively close proximity. But Luke was hundreds of parsecs away right now, just as he had been on Ansion, and they still could speak mind-to-mind. He didn't know if mind contact over such a vast distance had any precedents, but something told him this was another miracle they had made possible.
Incredibly comforted by the nice thought, Anakin fell into a restful asleep.
Two days later, Luke contacted his father's mind to tell him the meetings were over and he was returning home. When Anakin asked him how everything had gone, he received a bittersweet feeling as an answer. There would be no immediate war, but nothing had really changed.
Anakin empathized with his child's feeling of helplessness, and tried to soothe his sentiment of failure by reminding him that these kinds of conflicts had no solution, unless both parties really wanted it. It wasn't Luke's fault, because he had been the only party there who had truly worked to find an alternative.
Luke agreed with his father regretfully, and told him he couldn't wait to return home, to his family.
Anakin was looking forward to having his son back. He missed Luke dearly. He could feel his child's lifeforce through their mind-link at all times, but he craved his presence, so warm and loving beside him.
He was right in the middle of a drill when the Falcon arrived, so he swallowed his wish to greet his child at the landing platform. His son was in awful need of rest, and Anakin told him to sleep a little. He would visit him as soon as he was over with the drills.
It took three hours, but the procedures ended at last for the day. Anakin washed up, changed his clothes for something more informal and entered his son's quarters without knocking.
Luke seemed to have barely made it to the bed. He had taken off his travel clothes and put on a white short-sleeved top and light bottoms. He had lain down on his bed diagonally and fallen asleep on the spot. The sheets were rumpled around his legs and only covered him up to his calves.
Anakin's heart ached at the endearing sight. Luke was hugging the pillow to him, his face half-buried in it. He looked so much like a little boy that the older man's eyes filled with tears.
He cherished that beautiful pain. All of him was filled with something ineffable, impossible to describe. Peace, joy beyond belief, tenderness, love. So much love!
Carefully, he sat down on the bed and contemplated his sleeping child. He reached out without thinking, and his hand stopped when it was only a few centimetres from his son's cheek, afraid of waking him up.
Luke's reaction to his nearness was immediate. A soft smile formed on his lips, and he instinctively huddled up to his father's warmth.
Smiling back, Anakin settled his palm on the side on his child's face oh-so-gently. Contentment poured out of his son in waves.
'I wish you and your sister were five years old,' he thought, stroking the disheveled head and burying his fingers in the shiny blond hair. 'I wish your mother was alive and sitting here with me. I wish I hadn't missed your childhood. I wish I could have been the father you deserved. I wish...' He sighed wistfully. 'I wish...'
Rising slowly from the depths of slumber, Luke's consciousness became gradually aware of his father's presence, and he stirred a little. The smile on his face widened, and he shamelessly soaked up his father's caresses. If he was too old for it, he didn't give a damn. He needed it. Both of them did. They had witnessed, experienced and performed enough violence to last a million lifetimes. But this, it would never be enough.
Minutes passed thus, until Anakin began scratching Luke's scalp Wookie-style, making his son chuckle.
"No Chewie bearhugs too, please. I'm beat," the young man asked, unable to disguise his amusement.
"All right," Anakin complied, shrugging casually.
Luke opened his eyes and met his father's smiling ones. He grinned back, his heart bursting with happiness. He reached up lazily and grabbed his father's hand in his own. He squeezed it, reaffirming their bond.
"How are you?" Anakin asked kindly.
Luke sighed out loud.
"Tired, depressed, frustrated, angry, sad... Shall I go on?"
"I get the picture," Anakin shook his son's hand from side to side, affectionately. "Wanna talk about it?"
Luke let his father pull him up and he sat cross-legged on the bed. He rubbed his face briskly, trying to clear his head and gather his thoughts.
"Everything was so complicated... They made it so difficult!"
Anakin pursed his lips and nodded. He mirrored his child's posture, sitting cross-legged on the bed, facing him.
"I had to tread very carefully, mindful of not offending either of their points of view. I've never watched my language so much, making sure I used the right terminology: nation, region, community, people, supranation, extraplanetary rights..." He shook his head, still trying to get the meaning of all those words and concepts. "I'm just a farmer, these interpretations are beyond me," he complained to one in particular.
Anakin smiled lovingly and waited for his child to continue. He was there for him to share all his frustrations. The expression of pride on his face was unmistakable. His son would be the greatest Jedi ever, and it was his honour to guide him, nurture him and help him develop all his abilities. Could there be a more beautiful destiny?
"I have to admit that I never gave the notion of nationalisms the smallest thought. This is a galaxy, for heaven's sake, we're all in this together. How can there still be peoples out there who want to become independent from their mother planet, only to join the Republic as an independent entity? You'll still belong to something bigger than you. You'll still have obligations and laws to abide by. If no one's coercing you, abusing you or repressing you; if you're all equals and depend equally on each other, what's the big damn problem?" He sighed once more. "I just don't get it. So at first, I was more on Uzkida's side, so to speak. I could understand them better."
Anakin nodded, wordlessly encouraging his son to continue.
"But after a time, Uzkida's stubborn refusal to give an inch began getting to me, too. If they wanted to reach an agreement, both of them would have to give a little. But soon, it became clear that the moon's nationalism had stirred a similar reaction in Uzkida's people."
"It always happens like this. That's a scenario you'll have to face every time you deal with this type of situation. There is nothing new across the galaxy, Son. You'll find out soon enough," Anakin advised him.
Luke nodded sadly.
"The talks got very nasty at the end and I got caught in the middle, not knowing what to say or do. I felt I was invisible, watching them exchange threats, quoting articles from their Constitution back and forth, plain insulting each other, defiling their own history and using it against one another." He shivered at the memory. "I could smell war in that room, Father. It was..." He shook his head, his paleness saying it all.
There was a short pause, as Luke pulled himself together. Anakin patted his child's hand. He knew only too well how it was.
"That's when I asked you for help and you told me to appeal to feelings," Luke went on. "I felt I was the only one there who really wanted peace. I told them I didn't understand the reason for their mutual hatred, even after surviving the most devastating war this galaxy had ever known. That after millenia of venturing out into space, they were still centred on their petty insular problems, unable to see beyond that and grasp the vastness, the beauty and diversity out there. I told them I refused to think they were ready to kill again, to bring more pain on each other. To destroy people and places they all knew. Because that's what war was about, in case they had forgotten already. It was about destroying whole families and being ready to lose their own. Did they really care that little about their loved ones? Were they really that short-sighted?"
Anakin squeezed his son's fingers, quietly conveying his total support in the approach he had taken.
"These type of conflicts do bring out the worst in peoples. I found that out on Uzkida," Luke admitted dejectedly, looking down at their joined hands, realizing all of a sudden the symbolism in that gesture. What they were doing, holding hands, was exactly what Uzkida and its moon had refused to do for far too long, and that was the end result. Impulsively, he reached out his other hand and covered his father's with his own. It was an irrational gesture, but he couldn't help it.
Anakin smiled, not needing the Force to know what was crossing his son's mind. He brought forth his other hand and placed it on top of theirs, completing the circle.
Luke's gaze raised from their hands to his father's face. Not a word was needed. They were always on the same wavelength. In mind, heart and soul. He offered a brief prayer of thanks for having this sanctuary to seek refuge from the ugliness and pettiness out there. His eyes returned to their entwined hands, drinking from the comforting sight desperately. He didn't know what would he do if he lost this. The mere notion was...
'You'll never lose me, don't be afraid,' the softest mind-voice touched his thoughts. 'Suns will explode, planets will die, galaxies will collapse, but I will always be there. Protecting you, advising you. Taking care of you, if you'll let me.'
Luke closed his eyes, struggling to keep the tears at bay. He never knew that love like this could exist. It was insane, but he actually thought that nothing bad could happen to him as long as this incredible man was near.
So, this was how a child felt around his big daddy. This absolute feeling of security.
"Will you ever call me 'Dad' outside your thoughts?" Anakin asked for the umpteenth time.
Luke laughed shyly, grateful for the comment that had lightened the highly emotional moment.
"Calling you 'Father' is my greatest honour. It's the word I prayed to say for as long as I can remember. Anything else is not good enough for you."
"Oh, Luke!" It was Anakin's turn to blush now. "If you had called me 'Dad' since your childhood, I'd still be 'Dad' today." He grimaced regretfully. "It's just that sometimes, it feels more a title than an affectionate term. As if you called your sister 'Princess' or 'Your highness.'"
"To me, 'Father' encompasses everything. I'll never get tired of saying it because it was my most cherished dream. An impossible dream that Destiny realized for me; so I'll say it forever, forever, forever!" Impulsively, Luke flung his arms round his father and hugged him hard.
That his son felt confident enough to let his hair down around him like this spoke volumes, and Anakin inwardly prayed for more small moments like this, never mind if he ended up with kinks in his neck for a month. Their relationship was evolving, growing, encompassing more and more levels, and to see his child feeling free to behave like a little boy was a victory. A victory they had won over death itself.
The older man threw his own arms round the smaller body, crushing it to his chest and thanking the Force for this moment.
"My little one." He whispered to himself. "What did I ever do to deserve this?"
"Father."
The reverence and adoration in Luke's voice filled Anakin's skin with goosebumps.
No words, no thoughts, nothing was necessary. They clung to each other for a very long time, drinking in their closeness, knowing how much it had cost them.
"Thank you, Father," Luke choked on his words.
"No, Son; thank you," Anakin replied, cradling the blond head in his hand, holding the compact body tighter.
When they finally moved back, they looked into each other's shining eyes, unable to say a word.
"I'm so happy right now!" Luke said at last.
"So am I," Anakin replied. "And I owe every scrap of peace and happiness in my life to you, your sister and your friends. I still can't believe that..."
"Shhhh," Luke put out his hand and hushed his father's words. He shook his head, an infinitely loving expression crossing his features.
Anakin bit his lower lip and nodded in acquiescence.
They took a deep, quivering breath and recovered their composure.
"So," Anakin continued with their previous conversation, his voice still a bit unsteady, "how did Uzkida and its moon take your speech?"
Luke shrugged sadly.
"No one said anything at first, but it seemed to move them, if only a little. They suspended the meeting for an hour and when we returned to the Great Hall, both parties said they could see 'the wisdom in my words'. They agreed to wait until nerves steadied to resume their bilateral talks, and 'see what happened.'"
"You accomplished a lot then, my son," Anakin complimented his child sincerely, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Come on, Father," Luke raised pain-filled eyes to his equally blue counterparts. "We both know I only bought them some more time, that is all."
"Maybe, maybe not," Anakin shrugged. "Only time will tell. Let's give peace a chance. Trust their goodwill, but above all, trust their fear. Fear of another war and its devastating consequences. Unfortunately, that's the only reason strong enough to prevent some peoples from killing each other."
"As long as it works and it saves one single life, that's enough for me." Luke allowed himself a tiny ray of hope.
Anakin smiled compassionately and nodded.
"That was all the Jedi could do in my time, Son. We were mediators, we offered alternatives, we suggested and advised; but ultimately, it was the peoples' decision and no one else's. At some time, we all had to admit defeat and leave, feeling just like you're feeling right now."
Luke nodded back and looked away, accepting his father's words, but still unable to help the bitter feeling of failure.
"You tried with everything you had. No one could ask for more." Anakin squeezed the slumped shoulder.
Luke met his father's gaze and absorbed all the support and caring he found there.
"Are you hungry or would you rather go to sleep again?" Anakin asked with a kind smile on his face.
"I'm a bit hungry," Luke admitted. "Is it dinner time already?"
"Just barely," Anakin replied. "When the drills ended, I went directly to my room to wash up and change, and then I came here."
"Let's go then," Luke jumped to his feet and put on his slippers. "Things will look better on a full stomach, I hope."
Anakin stood up and followed his son out.
"How did the drills go, by the way?" Luke asked.
His father's agonizing moan was all the answer he received before the doors closed after them.
TO BE CONTINUED...