One by one they stand, and together we fall into step behind the soldier who waits to escort us upstairs. My heart is racing, my mouth dry. I truly do not know what to expect, for my ability to foresee the future is clouded by the overwhelming emotions I feel from my children. Both are worried, fearful even; but underneath these emotions I feel the strength of their love for me, and it gives me the courage I need to face my destiny.

The lift carries us upward, the soft mechanical whisper of its ascent the only sound to be heard. Each of us is deep in thought, none of us wanting to put into words the musings within our minds; though it is evident from the tension level that no one is terribly optimistic about the fate that awaits me.

Finally we reach the doors of the conference room, and I turn to my children.

"Well, this is it," I say to them.

"It will be alright, Father," says Luke.

"I hope you're right," I tell him with a smile. The door slides open and I step inside, followed by my children.

"Commander Skywalker, Princess Leia, I'm afraid you'll have to wait in the corridor," Mon Mothma informs them.

"What?" exclaims Leia angrily. "You can't be serious! Our father needs us with him!"

I turn to her. "It's okay, Leia," I tell her, putting my hand on her shoulder. "I'll be fine."

Leia looks up at me, her dark eyes troubled. "But Father," she begins.

I take her face in my hands. "It will be okay, I promise you," I say, kissing her forehead. "Now promise me you'll behave yourself out here," I add with a smile.

Leia laughs, a nervous, tension filled laugh; but it is good to hear it nonetheless. "I promise."

"Good," I say. I turn to my son, who is far calmer than his twin; at least outwardly.

"May the Force be with you, Father," he tells me, his voice soft.

I put my hand on his shoulders. "And with you as well, Luke," I reply.

"We'll be pulling for you, Anakin," Solo puts in at this point, extending a hand to me. I shake his hand with a smile. "Thank you, Han," I tell him, grateful for his support. I then turn from the three of them and enter the room, the door sliding closed behind me.

"Skywalker, come in. Have a seat," says the Mon Calamari who I have learned is Admiral Ackbar.

I approach the table and sit down across from my four interrogators. I look at each one, trying to see what is in their hearts; but they are hiding their emotions well, and their faces are like stone.

"First of all, we want to apologize to you for the treatment you received while being held on Naboo," begins General Dodonna. "We understand that there was a considerable amount of …neglect."

I raise an eyebrow at his choice of words. "That's one way of putting it," I reply wryly. "Some might call it abuse."

"Well, yes," concedes Dodonna, shifting uncomfortably in his chair. "I assure you that was not our wish."

I remain silent, waiting for them to continue.

Ackbar picks up a data pad in front of him and examines it briefly. "Tell us, Skywalker; how old are you?"

I frown, taken aback by the question. What difference does that make? "I…I'll be 45 in a month or so," I reply. "Why do you ask?"

"You have accomplished a lot in your life," he replies, his eyes still on the data pad.

Is he trying to be funny? I wonder, trying to read the being's mind.

"I have before me the records of Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight," he continues. "Your exploits before and during the Clones Wars are truly…extraordinary. I remember those days, Skywalker; I remember what a hero you were. The galaxy was indebted to you on more than one occasion."

"I was doing what every Jedi did at that time," I reply. "We were fighting a war; doing one's duty wasn't an option."

"True," concedes Ackbar. "But not every Jedi single-handedly transformed inevitable defeat into victory on numerous occasions, Cato Nemoidia for one. You were a legend, Skywalker, "The Hero with No Fear," was the moniker the media gave you, wasn't it?"

"Yes, but what does any of this have to do with..."

"Admiral Ackbar is slow to getting to the point," Mon Mothma says at this point. "But he does make a valid one, one that we cannot dismiss."

I look at her, surprised by her comment, but say nothing, waiting for her to go on.

"General Riekan has another list in front of him," continues Mothma, looking at the fourth member of the council. "General?"

"Yes, thank you Mon," says Riekan, taking up the data pad in front of him. "This was transmitted to us from the Nubian authorities after your transfer here. It is a list of the crimes that you have been charged with. I don't think I need to read it out; I'm sure everyone here is very familiar with the exploits of Darth Vader."

I lower my eyes, a feeling of dread filling my stomach.

"So what are you saying," I ask, looking up at them again. "You're comparing the two lists? Two negatives make a positive? Is that it?"

"No, it's not quite that simple," replies Dodonna. "Were it so simple a matter, your fate could have been decided weeks ago, Skywalker. There is more to consider in this matter, however, and my colleagues and I have spent the past weeks doing just that. But we needed to meet you, to talk to you, before we could reach a final decision."

"And have you reached that decision?" I ask, fighting my growing impatience.

"We have," replies Mothma. She regards me for a moment, as though trying to see my soul, to see if the decision she has reached is the correct one.

"There is no doubt that Darth Vader was a monster, a plague upon the beings of this galaxy," she continues, holding my eyes with her own. "The atrocities he committed in the name of galactic peace were heinous, monstrous, and without remorse," she intones, her blue eyes like shards of ice. I feel my heart sink, knowing that my past sins will forever haunt me, and I will not be forgiven, no matter how sorry I am.

"However," she continues, "Darth Vader is dead. I...I didn't believe it, just as your daughter didn't, until I saw with my own eyes the transformation that you have undergone. But now I know that Darth Vader no longer exists, for he had no soul, no conscience; and the man I see before me now has both in abundance."

"What my esteemed colleague is trying to say is, we cannot condemn you for the crimes committed by Darth Vader," explains Riekan. "You are clearly not Darth Vader, and everything we stand for would be besmirched were we to judge you with the same twisted sense of justice that the late emperor employed. Your deeds as Anakin Skywalker, over two decades ago and in recent weeks, including today, are proof to us that you have been redeemed. And it is our decision that you be exonerated of any charges that have been brought against you."

I sit dumbfounded. Am I dreaming? Is this really happening? I look at the faces of the four beings before me, each of them smiling benevolently, when only hours earlier I sensed utter hostility from them, particularly Mon Mothma.

"I don't understand," I say slowly, looking at her. "You...you sat there earlier and condemned me mercilessly, I could feel your hatred for me as clear as day. And now you're telling me you believe that I've changed? I have to tell you that I'm rather confused by all this. Relieved, but confused."

Mon Mothma smiles at me. "I had to be sure, Anakin, I had to be sure that there was no trace left of Darth Vader within you. For personal reasons, I had to test you, to give Vader the chance to resurface; but he didn't. You accepted our condemnation as a true Jedi, without anger, without resentment. And now that I know Vader has been destroyed, I feel completely justified in giving you a second chance. You do want that, don't you?"

"A second chance?" I echo in disbelief. "You have no idea how much I want that! I…I am truly overwhelmed," I stutter, addressing the entire group of them. "I am so grateful for your clemency, not just for myself, but for my children. You won't regret this, I swear it!"

"I'm sure we won't," replies Dodonna with a smile. "But there is something you can do for us, Skywalker, in exchange for your freedom."

"What is it?"

"Simply put, we need you. You can help us stabilize the galaxy," he continues. "Your knowledge is invaluable to us. You better than anyone know the Imperial networks, troops strengths, strongholds; with you on our side we can put an end to the destructive conflict that has plagued the galaxy for almost 3 decades and restore justice and order. Not only that, your skill as a commander and military tactician is unmatched. We can use that sort of expertise on our side."

"I will do everything I can to help," I reply earnestly. "You have my word."

"Fine, fine," replies Dodonna.

"I have a request to make of you now, if you'll forgive my presumptuousness," I say.

"What is that, Anakin?" asks Mon Mothma.

"I would like to do my best to rebuild the Jedi Order," I reply. "If I am indeed the Chosen One of Jedi prophesy, then it is my duty, my destiny to do this. With my children's help, I can; that is, with your approval."

The four of them look at one another. At last it is Ackbar who speaks.

"The Jedi Order was a noble institution," he says with a nod of his great domed head. "Their influence in the Old Republic was not only important, but helped shape the galaxy for generations. If you think it is possible to restore the Order, then I for one support you whole –heartedly."

I smile, feeling, at last, as though I am finally living up to the destiny that Qui-Gon foresaw for me so many years ago. With my children at my side, I will see the glory of the Jedi return to the galaxy. It is all so perfect, all so incredible…but for one thing.

I stand now, anxious to return to my children to share my incredible news.

"You won't regret this," I repeat. "I promise you."

"May the Force be with you, Anakin Skywalker," says Ackbar, reaching out his webbed hand to shake mine. I shake it, exchanging a smile with the wise old creature. The other men shake my hand as well, and take their leave. I turn to leave, to see that Mon Mothma is left.

"Before you go," she says approaching me. "There is one more thing I must impart."

"What is that?" I ask.

"A secret," she tells me with a smile. "A secret that I was sworn to keep more than 20 years ago by a very dear friend. And now that Darth Vader has ceased to exist, I can finally reveal it."

I frown, not understanding. "Is this the personal reason you mentioned earlier?"

She nods, and hands me a data chip.

I look down at it and study it briefly, then look back up at her. "These are coordinates," I tell her, still perplexed.

"Yes, so they are," she replies, still smiling at me.

I look at her, feeling something within me stirring, turning hot, then cold, then hot again…my heart starts to race as I slowly begin to understand what it is she is telling me, what my brain still refuses to believe ….

"Are you telling me that Padmé….that she…she is…" I stammer, hardly able to get the words out.

"Alive?" she offers, her smile broadening. "Yes, Anakin, that is exactly what I'm saying. I am the only living person who knows that she is alive; originally there were three who were trusted to keep her secret. She realized that if you knew that Palpatine would use you to get to her, and through her, get to your children. She made me promise that as long as Darth Vader and his master lived, that I would never reveal to a living soul that she was alive. That was why I needed to be so harsh with you; there could be no margin of error on my part; I had to know without a trace of doubt that Vader was no more."

"But…I saw footage of her funeral…"I stammer. "Obi-Wan told me he was with her at the end…how is this possible?"

"Her funeral was staged," she replies calmly. "And as for Obi-Wan, well he was one of the other sworn to secrecy, the third being Bail Organa. They were both instrumental in helping her hide, helping her remain safe for so long."

My hands are trembling as I stare at the data chip in my hand, and I am afraid, so very afraid, that at any moment I will awaken to find that the past hour has been just another wonderful dream. I have dreamed so often of moments like that, of miracles where my beloved angel has returned to me, that she never died…but this is no dream…

I look back at Mon Mothma as the emotions fill me. "Thank you," I tell her, my voice barely a whisper. "Thank you for this…I…I am truly overwhelmed," I tell her as the tears roll down my face.

She is moved to tears too, and puts a small hand on my arm. "You are more than welcome, Anakin," she replies. "Go find her. She has waited a long time for her Ani to return to her."

I nod, and take her hand in mine. "Thank you," I repeat, again and again, unable to think of anything else to say, unable to think at all at this point.

I turn around and stumble out of the room, into the corridor where Luke, Leia and Han are waiting. I look at my children, and lose it, the emotions too powerful to hold back any longer. They rush to me, both of them throw their arms around me, and I realize that they think the worse has befallen me. They see my tears, but don't realize that they are tears of joy, that my emotional outburst is a catharsis that has built up for the past 22 years of enduring life without my angel, my soul mate, my beloved Padmé. I have to set them straight, so I pull away from their embrace, holding each of them by the hand.

"Father, I'm so sorry," Leia cries, her own emotions raging through her. Luke, however, is looking at me closely; he can read me so well, and I sense that he has realized the truth.

"You're free…" he says slowly. "Aren't you? They pardoned you!"

I can only nod, my throat too constricted to speak right away.

"What!" cries Leia. "They pardoned you?"

"Yes, Leia," I manage to say at last. "I'm free!"

This elicits more hugs, this time even Solo getting in on the group hug that has more than a few passers by looking at us oddly.

"But there's more," I tell them, disengaging myself again. I hold up the data chip and look at Han. "How fast can that bucket of bolts of yours go again, Solo?" I ask him.

"Point five past light speed…." He replies, looking at the chip. "What is that, Anakin?" he takes it from my hand and looks at it closely. "These are coordinates!"

"Where to?" asks Leia.

I look at my daughter, the joy filling me utterly. "To your mother, Leia," I reply softly.

Leia's eyes grow wide. "w-w-what did you say?" she stammers.

"I knew it!" exclaims Luke joyfully. "I just knew it!" He and Leia hug one another, Luke picking her up off the floor and swinging her around. The joy is intoxicating, and unlike any I have ever felt in my life.

"I can have us here in less than 24 hours," pipes up Solo at last. "That is, if you're anxious to leave right away."

I laugh, slapping him on the back. "You know Solo; I think you and I are going to get on very well."