Padme fell asleep again. Somehow, Anakin felt, he too, should rest.
Padme gave words of comfort. I have things to live for. I will not abandon her; I need to take care of her.
And I am… I may become a father.
This is the happiest moment of my life. I did say that. Bur I am not happy anymore. I am torn by conflict, pain and suffering, and I may always be.
I love Padme. And I know that I cannot let anything happen to her. I gave up – I annihilated – I fought – and I believed I conquered my old life – the one controlled and corrupted by the Jedi Order.
Sidious may be dark – but he is right. The Jedi Order was not a force of good. For the galaxy. I knew this from the Clone Wars. How many other lies have I been told by the Council?
But… There were some names that came into his names – names he did associate with this order. Obi-Wan… His closest friend and brother. Ahsoka, his sister.
No. I will rest now. And Anakin allowed himself to sleep. It was not deep, sound and heavy sleep. But it was sleep, nonetheless.
A few hours later… he did not know how many, he awoke to a pitch black sky as seen through the window.
His beautiful wife was sleeping peacefully.
Through the dark side or not, I will save Padme. Even if it means giving up my entire identity.
Obi-Wan. I do know what Tarkin and the Judicials have planned for him. The Jedi may be – is evil the right word? – But Obi-Wan is my friend.
Maybe he was telling the truth. He did not come to kill me. I still don't know what future our relationship has, if there is one.
Anakin walked out of the med centre to the peaceful streets outside. He saw Jor, Temas and other militants talking to each other.
"The Councillor is still in shock," Temas said. "I have seen him to some quarters."
"But we still have the body of the girl. We should do a funeral for Nara, said Jor.
"Will it really give the Councillor some closure?" Another rebel said. "Won't it just continue him down his trauma?"
"Perhaps not. But it still something that has to be done." Jor strongly asserted.
"Jedi!" Temas spotted Anakin.
Anakin hovered towards them.
"You are Skywalker, we all know. But how did you escape the purge? All clones were ordered to terminate their Jedi Generals."
"If he is General Skywalker, as the legends say, it's very possible no amount could have bested him." Jor said.
Anakin did not answer.
"Well, General, what is the plan now? If there is any hope… How will Emperor Palpatine be defeated?
"Surely, if you managed to enter his castle, you could give that evil little gargoyle a quick blow to his back. Stab him, or slash him – that would be wonderful for us all."
Well, I thought I could be the one who could defeat him, Anakin thought. That I could overthrow him. But he felt himself humbled.
He, who he thought could harness power more than anyone – to save the ones he loved- to finally have some control – found things moving away from him.
"I'm going to the star destroyer to rescue my friend," he said.
"The one you were fighting?" Temas said thoughtfully. It seemed he was finally aware of something curious confusing.
"Why we were fighting is not your concern." Anakin said forcefully. "But I need to free him now."
"If it's a small defeat for the empire, I'm all for it," said Jor.
"I need a ship." Anakin said.
"But how will you escape detection from the imperial radars?"
Getting shot down has never been a problem. His piloting skills were one thing that never failed to give him confidence.
"Perhaps you can take the Councillor's ship," Temas suggested. Pretend that you are him, surrendering."
"Okay," Anakin said. This is another step in the plan. I'll have to figure out what next to do then.