Warning for graphic descriptions of death and injuries.
Vader shakes as he stares down at the inquisitor's body. She's dead, a hole burned into her stomach, but it doesn't feel like enough. The Darkside still whispers to cut her to pieces. To find someone better and cut them down as well.
Kill, kill, kill!
But with no one else around, Vader is left to just stare. He takes in the details of her wound, watching the edges of it sizzle like the cooked meat in Mos Espa's venders. He wonders if that's what the rest of them looked like too. The other Jedi he cut down. A blaster wound would likely be different, but it still burns, doesn't it? And what about Qui-Gon? He had a wound identical to this one, didn't he? Thanks to Maul.
He wants to kill Maul.
Taking a slow step away from the inquisitor, Vader looks at Lars home. He walks inside, seeing the mess they both made during their fight. The walls have been cut and a few look about ready to crumble. The table is knocked over and the chairs broken. They destroyed this home.
A whistled beep catches Vader's attention and he looks back to see C5 slowly rolling closer. He stares at the droid, then the bucket of paint. It brings just enough clarity to let Vader breathe. He needs to return to Luke. He told them to hide and he knows exactly where they are. Their dull presences in the force pull at him, beckoning a reunion he never wanted to take place.
Perhaps they'll forgive him if he kills Kenobi too.
Taking the paint, Vader walks out to the speeder Owen left behind. It's the better of the two but only in quality. Anakin's is faster and better at handling the drops of the dunes. Owen's is built for heavy loads.
As soon as C5 is in the seat behind him, Vader rockets off into the desert, following the invisible line to his family. He tries to sense their emotions, but it's impossible with how dull they are in the force. But he can start to feel Kenobi again. They must've told him, then. Just another reason to kill the old wermo.
He makes it into the wastelands. Large rocks begin to poke out of the sand, slowly getting bigger and wider until they're mountains that rise high above his head. His N-1 should be close by. Vader had no idea Kenobi lives this close to his usual port. They could've accidentally met several times.
Not that it matters now.
Stopping just short of a specific entrance, Vader climbs down from the speeder and uses the force to bring C5 with him, the droid letting out a shriek of terror until he's on the floor again. He doesn't make it past the first arch of rock when shouting voices register in his ears.
"Why didn't you tell me he is alive?!" Kenobi's voice sounds strained, broken. Like he can't quite believe what he's hearing.
Owen, to his credit, is louder. "Because you didn't have to know! I never wanted to depend on your 'kind service'! I never wanted you involved in our family!"
"This goes beyond family! He is the whole reason I came here! Why I gave Luke to you! Anakin wasn't supposed to find the childr-"
Vader steps into the room, his anger burning white hot as he stares at Kenobi. It's only in the dimmed light that he realizes he's activated his lightsaber. Owen and Beru back away, their eyes full of caution and worry, but he ignores them. He can't think past the words Kenobi just said.
"You." Vader points a bare finger at Kenobi, his footsteps heavy as he gets closer. He can almost feel the suit weighing him down. Can almost feel the fire taking his skin.
Kenobi steps away, his eyes wide and terrified. He looks around for only a second, his eyes staying on a blaster that's too far away. Defenseless prey. When he speaks, his voice is nothing but a whisper. "Anakin?"
Vader stops once he's between Kenobi and his family. The Darkside whispers such beautiful things. Such tempting things. He can feel the hot air against his bald head, the hood having fallen off at some point during the fight. Maybe he should make Kenobi look the same. Take his limbs and burn him until there is nothing but pain. Then he'll rescue him just before the sweet mercy of death takes him and he'll draw the pain out for years. He'll trap Kenobi with useless limbs. He'll make him suffer.
"Daddy!" A soft, young voice breaks through the fog of anger. Vader's eyes immediately go to Luke and he turns just in time to catch his son in his arms. "Daddy!" Luke cries, thick tears running down his face. Anakin kneels, the Darkside falling into light, and he smiles behind the vocoder. It's not a happy smile, not one of joy. It's a smile of concerned love.
"Luke." Anakin pulls the boy close, Vader's lightsaber thrown to the sand like a useless toy. He runs his fingers through the boy's hair, not feeling the contact but knowing it's comforting. "Are you alright? I didn't scare you, did I?"
Luke shakes his head quickly. He gives no further answer, just continues to cry. Anakin picks him up slowly, his gaze going to his siblings. After a moment of hesitation, they wrap their arms around him and Luke. Owen grips tightly at Anakin's back, the slight tremble obvious against Beru's still calm.
"Anakin, I-" Kenobi starts, but Anakin stops him with a sharp look. He's not ready for this and...he may never be.
But that doesn't matter now. The inquisitor may be gone, but who knows what other imperials might've followed her same trail.
Anakin pulls away from his siblings and leaves the cave, Luke still tightly hidden in his arms. He's stopped by a gentle touch to the shoulder.
Beru looks at him with concern. "Where are you going?"
"I don't know, but Luke can't stay here." He looks at the marks around her neck and adds, "And you shouldn't either."
"Wait." Owen steps in. "We can't just leave Tatooine. We have the farm to take care of!"
It feels ridiculous, arguing about a simple farm when they have a lot bigger issues to worry about, but he knows Owen. This isn't just some moisture farm his brother happened upon. It's the last thing he has of his father, his lineage. That farm is the symbol of Shmi's freedom and their whole family. And it's because of that Anakin doesn't demand their cooperation. "I can't guarantee your safety if you stay. I'm sure you already know imperials can be more dangerous than Tusken Raiders."
Beru looks strong as she stands beside his husband despite the marks around her neck. "We aren't like you Skywalkers. You're made to go out there and see the galaxy. But we're made to stay here and settle."
Anakin has always known it to be true. While he ran off to weave a noose around Jabba's throat, the Lars stayed put. They never wanted to leave their humble farm, no matter what other worlds were out there. He had offered it once, even. He could show them Naboo and the beauty of it, but they refused. They've only known Tatooine and that's how they want it to stay.
"I don't know what we'll be able to return." It's his last warning but he knows the answer already.
Beru smiles at him as she takes Owen's hand. "We'll be okay."
Anakin nods, forcing himself to be okay with that answer. He shifts Luke in his arms, checking again to make sure the boy is alright, then continues walking out of the cave. It won't take long to get to his starfighter and from there, he can...figure something out. He would like to investigate how exactly that inquisitor found him in the first place, but that position was cut off the moment he killed her.
He never should've given into the darkness.
"Anakin!" Kenobi's voice makes him stop, his eyes narrowing as he looks back at his former master. It's almost funny, seeing how much has changed since they last talked. Gone is all of Kenobi's professional neatness. His hair is overgrown and his clothes are tattered. He's the definition of a mess, but Anakin isn't too much better.
"You can't stop me from leaving." Anakin snaps, his footsteps speeding up as he feels Kenobi's grieving presence behind him. He sets Luke down next to the speeder and starts gathering what little he needs to bring with him.
By the time Kenobi catches up to him, he's already climbing on as well. "Anakin!" Kenobi begs, his voice strained. "Please, just let me-"
Anakin settles Luke into his lap, then nods to C5 with a final confirmation that they're ready. But before he can grip the handles and rocket into the desert, a hand takes his own, stopping the movement by force.
"Anakin, stop!" Kenobi starts to pull at him, but Anakin rips his arm away, his eyes narrowing dangerously at the older man.
"I can't!" He shouts, his anger rising. "I can't stop! Because if I stop, then who will lead the coup against the Hutts?! Who will contact Fiolla or Bail?! If you hadn't noticed, I've been very busy while you sat here wasting time! And if I stop now, then nothing will change!" His vocoder crackles at the end, his panting breathes coming out as sharp hisses.
Kenobi doesn't say anything, his eyes wide with shock. Anakin scoffs at the reaction and goes to drive away again, but he's stopped. "I...you're leading a coup against the Hutts?"
Slow, even breaths. It takes a full minute for Anakin to calm down enough to answer. At least without shouting. "Yes, but I'd advise against spreading the word." He sighs, then looks at Kenobi again. "I promised my mother I would free the slaves. And since I couldn't do it as a Jedi, I'm doing it now."
Something seems to click in Kenobi's mind because his eyes start to brighten with hope. "Let me go with you, then. I want to help." It's laughable, considering how resistant Kenobi was to helping Anakin when he presented the idea as a Padawan, but...he does need it. Especially now, when he can't exactly be of much help to Kitster or the others who've joined him.
With another deep breath, Anakin finally nods. "Get on." He waits for Kenobi to take in the shock of being accepted, then waits again for him to shuffle onto the speeder. "Don't fall off," is all the warning Kenobi gets before Anakin turns the handles and disappears with a burst of sand.
They make it to the top of the mountain within minutes. Anakin parks as close to the base as he can before turning the speeder off and helping Luke down. He lifts C5 as well, then looks up at the cliff where his N-1 sits. This might be a little difficult.
Or, maybe not. Anakin looks to Kenobi, an idea springing. "We'll take this as a trust exercise, alright? You lift C5 to the top and I'll lift Luke." Because a droid is far easier to repair than a human boy.
But Kenobi doesn't seem as happy with the plan. "I...Anakin, I haven't used the force like this since arriving here. I'm not sure I can lift your droid all that way."
It's a pathetic excuse, but an excuse all the same. Anakin looks back up the cliff, then steps in front of his former master. "Fine. Then get climbing." Before Kenobi can respond, he holds his hand out and calls upon the force to lift C5 into the air. The droid goes willingly, though, not without complaint.
"Luke." Anakin turns to his son now. "When you get up there, stay with C5, okay? I'll be right behind you." Luke nods, his eyes still red from crying earlier, but he isn't as upset anymore. Thankfully. "Don't move, okay?"
With another nod, Anakin lifts his son into the air. Luke gasps, then giggles softly as he goes higher and higher. And once he reaches the top, Anakin pushes him as far from the cliff side as he can.
What he would do for some way to keep Luke put.
"Are you coming?" Kenobi asks, his voice strained from where he's started to climb up the side. His arms shake slightly, but he doesn't look ready to give up yet.
"Right after you, Old Man." Anakin retorts, then begins to climb as well. The banter feels...familiar. It's nice, even. But it also makes something inside of him hurt for the past. A part of him that didn't know the dark side as he does now. That didn't know what it felt like to hold guilt this heavy.
The warm feeling disappears, replaced with bitter-tasting anger.
Anakin reaches the top first and he doesn't bother helping Kenobi as he checks on Luke to ensure no one has toppled over the other side of the plateau. Then, he helps C5 into the astromech's seat and opens the hatch. Luke's smile widens.
"Woah!" The boy gasps as he looks over the cockpit. He looks up at Anakin and it melts his heart.
But, now the question presents itself; how are they going to fit three people into a two-seat starfighter? Given Luke's size, Anakin would just hold him on his lap, but as the pilot, it's too dangerous. That leaves him with Kenobi.
As soon as the old man is done panting and heaving with exhaustion, Anakin gestures to the co-pilot seat. "Luke, you're going to sit with Kenobi, okay? I'll be right in front, but I can't have you on my lap while I'm flying."
To Anakin's dismay, Luke frowns. "But I wanna be with you!" The boy protests. And it only gets worse when Anakin hands him over to his former master, the older man still breathing hard. "No!" Luke struggles against Kenobi's hold, his short limbs waving and kicking. "No!"
"Luke, calm down." Anakin tries, but it's no use. The boy is no longer listening. With nothing left to do but ride out the tantrum, Anakin settles into the pilot's seat and waits for Kenobi to do the same. As soon as the cockpit is sealed shut, the crying starts.
"No! I won't wanna!" Luke screams, his voice making Anakin's ears ring. The protests are ignored, however, and Anakin soon as the N-1 lifts into the air, heading out of Tatooine.
"Luke-" Kenobi tries this time, but his voice is covered completely.
There's a smacking sound and Anakin turns to see Kenobi trying to defend himself against Luke's flailing hands. "I wanna sit with Daddy! I wanna!" Luke dissolves into gibberish sobbing with the occasional scream. It's irritating and heartbreaking.
Anakin speaks once they're out of Tatooine's atmosphere. "Luke, you can't sit with me." There's a kick at the back of Anakin's chair and a scream of protest. "But! If you sit still, I'll let you pick a song to play. How about that?"
The screaming doesn't end right away, which is to be expected. The boy is still in no position to make decisions. But after five minutes or so, the screaming stops, leaving only a sniffling behind. Anakin waits for Luke's sad voice. "Rancor song."
"You want the rancor song?" Anakin gets a clarifying hum. He grimaces, already dreading the next ten minutes, but he'll suffer through it for Luke. "C5. Play the rancor song recording." C5 beeps, then a poor recording of Kitster singing starts to play. The notes are out of tune and really, it was a crime giving Kitster any kind of musical instrument, but Luke somehow adores it.
"One Rancor, two Rancors, threee Rancors. Five Rancors, six Rancors, Se-ven Rancors. Eight Rancors, Nine Rancors, Teeeen Rancors. All in Jabba's paaalace!"
The song continues going up until Kitster switches to counting Wamp Rats, and Anakin decides now is as good a time as any to call Bail.
The comm rings only three times. "Anakin?" Bail's deep voice filters in, his face carefully neutral. "You haven't liberated Tatooine so soon, have you?"
"Not yet." Anakin tries not to think of the many, many things he has to do before Saturday, when Kitster sets up the charges. He still has to figure out how to get Fiolla onto Tatooine safely. "Bail, I need that rebel contact you offered." He isn't really asking.
"That isn't what we agreed to." Bail counters. "I said I would offer the contact after you dealt with the Hutts."
Anakin resists the urge to glare. "That was before an inquisitor found us. I can't keep the empire away and lead this coup. So, I'm asking your rebellion for asistance." He has no idea what they might even have to offer him, but whatever it is, he needs it. Anything to make this work. Otherwise, a lot of innocent people will lose their lives over nothing. And he would've not only failed Fiolla, but his mother too.
This needs to work.
There's a long moment of silence where Bail thinks. It stretches long enough to be awkward. "Anakin," the man starts. "I...will give you the contact. But if she doesn't agree to this, then there's nothing more I can do. We aren't much of an army at the moment and if we get found out so young, nothing will stop the empire."
"I understand." Anakin nods. He knows just how powerful the empire is and how much more powerful it can become. If Sidious managed to kill the last hope remaining from the Republic...
A new contact is sent to Anakin's comm under the name of Fulcrum. It's familiar, a name Anakin remembers using at some point, but it doesn't give him any idea as to who this person might be. Likely another senator who was close to Bail and...Padme. Someone who would help lead the rebellion.
"Thank you." Anakin nods.
"Stay safe and give my good wishes to Obi-Wan." Bail nods. "May the Force be with you." The comm ends and Anakin is left slightly surprised, but mostly pained. He is no Jedi anymore and to consider himself one would be a disgrace, but that single phrase makes him feel like one. As if none of this chaos has happened and he's on another mission for the Republic.
If only he knew how easy life would be back then.
Anakin doesn't waste another moment in the past. He calls the new contact, his expectations open to anyone at all. But when the call is answered, all he gets is a voice.
"How did you get this frequency?"
Figures, Bail wouldn't warm Fulcrum before giving up their contact. "An-" He stops. Anakin is dead to the galaxy. "Actis." He says instead, hoping his bounty hunting reputation isn't good enough to reach outside of Hutt space.
"Actis? You mean the bounty hunter?" It seems his luck has run out.
"I made a deal with Bail Organa recently and he gave me this link. I need rebel assistance on Tatooine." He looks back to Luke, who's still singing along to Kitster's song. They're counting Eopies now. "And a hiding place from the empire."
There's some static, then Fulcrum's voice comes back in. "We'll meet at these coordinates. It's an Alderaanian starship. We'll give you access, but you cannot leave the hanger until given permission." They don't trust him, but he'd be more concerned if they didn't. He's not just a stranger looking for help. He's someone with a reputation of working for the Hutts.
The coordinates show up on Anakin's radar and C5 already starts to link a route. "Thank you. I'll comm again when we're close." Fulcrum ends the comm without another word.
Despite everything, this feels familiar. It's like bounty hunting. Short, professional conversations with nothing but information exchanged. A lack of trust that follows everyone in the work. And above all, both of them going to great lengths to keep themselves anonymous. It's something he's gotten used to over the past three years.
It's easier than being around Kenobi again.
By the time they have gone through the Rancor song a third time -and he's just about ready to eject himself into space- they reach the Alderaanian starship. Its wide thrusters and thin shape is comforting. And as Anakin lands them in the ship's hangar, he immediately spots a blue and white astromech rolling toward his starfighter.
Anakin's jumping out before the hatch is completely drawn away. "R2?!" He shouts, his heart beating fast as the little droid reels back, cursing at him with beeps and whistles. It really is him. No other astromech -or droid- has a vocabulary that explicit.
The droid seems to scan him over, still unsure of who he is. But once it clicks, R2 lets out an excited shrill. Anakin kneels down and hugs R2 around the dome head, his fingers automatically searching for scratches and dents to fix. He finds a few, but far less than there were when he last saw him.
Right. He told R2 to stay with his ship. On Mustafar.
Anakin pulls away just enough to let himself breathe. If R2 knew what happened then he would've been tased by now.
"Woah!" Luke's voice comes from behind him and Anakin turns just in time to see Kenobi, C5, and his son racing toward R2 as well. Luke's eyes are wide as he stares all around him. The feeling is one Anakin knows well. He will never forget how it felt to leave Tatooine for the first time.
"I don't believe it." Kenobi whispers, staring down at R2. "You're devilish astromech survived."
R2 beeps out a particularly crude curse, but a greeting right after shows it's all in jest. Mostly. Anakin's just glad he hasn't taught Luke binary just yet; otherwise, there would be a lot of awkward questions.
C5 stops in front of R2, the green astromech standing just a little shorter than the blue. They seem to scan each other over, then C5 looks up to Anakin with an offended whistle. R2 replies with his own.
"No, I didn't replace you." Anakin crosses his arms over his chest, feeling defensive. "I just...I needed a new astromech, okay? And C5 is good at what he does in his own way. Besides, he doesn't like flying half as much as you do."
R2 doesn't sound convinced, but he drops the topic quickly enough as a new figure walks into the hanger. The force is blocked off around them, but not in the way a non-force sensitive is. No, this is someone who's purposefully locked themself.
But before Anakin can even look up to address the person, a feminine voice echoes against the walls of the hanger. "Obi-Wan?" He knows who it is immediately, the pitch and tone still the same despite three years. The voice has haunted his dreams over and over, just as her lightsaber burned into his gloved hand when he used it against the Seventh Sister.
His throat tightens and his whole body freezes. He can't move, can't think. The memory of finding her lightsaber in the snow, laying in front of a graveyard of white and blue helmets, is burned into his mind.
She's dead. Likely shot down by the very men she trusted. But here she is, standing in front of him, alive and breathing. She's alive. "Ahsoka."
He watches as she turns to him, the hesitation and confusion obvious on her face. Then, she reaches out to him through the force. He reaches back, their bond reforming.
She gasps, tears forming in her eyes.
"Anakin."
This chapter was really hard for me to figure out, given how many reunions we're getting here. But I think I'm okay with how it ended up.