Author's Notes: I wanted to clear up a couple of things for those who inquired about it in their reviews. Uhm, don't worry. I have no intention on evolving Palpatine into some multi-power crazed being. He remains as we originally know him. A force wielding sociopathic bastard. lol And no one is ever safe. I'm just laying the ground work. waiting4haykindqally, the whole 'torture with pleasure' line was strictly a figure of speech.

Chapter 11: Aftermath

"He has injuries dating back from force knows how long," a faintly heard voice spoke. "There are bruises on him that were fairly recent, but not from the incident you took him out of. Several of his bones have at least been broken twice. I've never seen anything like this before, at least none that remain alive."

"But will he recover?" Another person said.

"So far, he's reacting accordingly to the treatments. If he remains as is, I have no doubt that he'll be just fine." His voice becomes lower. "I did find something that might be of interest to you."

"And that is..."

"I took the liberty of checking to see if he was registered. Unfortunately, there was no record of him whatsoever, but I did check his midchlorian count."

"His midchlorian count?"

Inside the bacta filled tank, the figure that lay inside it could see one of the two men hand the other a reading device. At this point, he was much too weak and tired to get anybody's attention, and slowly, he drifted back to unconsciousness.

"This can't be right," Obi-Wan Kenobi said. "His midchlorian count exceeds even Master Yoda's."

"I've tested him several times, the results are conclusive," the Medical Doctor assured. He turned his head to check on his patient. "What is it about this young man that has the Emperor scouring the galaxy to find him?"

"I don't know," Obi-Wan replied. "I just know that he needs our help." He felt it the moment he step foot back on Coruscant. Something was happening, and he allowed the force to guide him to a young man in need. He needed nothing else but that. After he had taken the young man to safety, he heard rumors of Palpatine making plans to find him at all cost, which gave Obi-Wan further reason to watch over the boy.

A sudden beeping sound entered the facility. Obi-Wan looked down and smiled. It was R2D2 coming in with an urgent message.

"What is it R2?"

The special droid responded with a series of beeps. Obi-Wan's eyes widen in surprise.

"Are you positive?"

R2 responded again confirming that the message was relayed through Bail Organ of Alderaan.

Obi-Wan sighed in relief.

"That is very good news." He turned to the head doctor of their underground shelter. "As soon as our mystery patient is ready, I'm taking him with me. As long as he and I remain here in Coruscant, lives will be put in unnecessary danger."

"I understand, Master Jedi," the doctor nodded. "May the Force be with you."

"And with you."

Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi turned to stare at the patient inside the bacta filled tank. He crossed his arms and stood watching him in deep thought. He didn't know what it meant, but there was something oddly familiar about his presence, but he couldn't figure out what it was. If they had ever crossed paths, he would know immediately. The men and women he has served with always hold a place in his memory, but it wasn't the same with this person. Obi-Wan knew him, that much wascertain. He just didn't know from where.

In time, he hoped to have the opportunity to ask him.

"Padme, please. Eat something," urged Bail Organa. "You are no use to us on an empty stomach," he added trying to lighten the mood.

Padme weakly smiled at her good friend's failed attempts to make things as easy for her as possible. She's been in a somewhat stoic mood since her unprecedented return.

"Thank you, Bail, but it's not necessary. I wasn't starved, I assure you."

His former colleague's appearance in his Palace Courtyard only a couple of days ago shocked him beyond belief. Obi-Wan Kenobi had left a day earlier to try to find news of what happened to ship in which she and Darth Vader boarded earlier that week, so anyone could imagine his surprise when he felt a tap on his shoulder, and there she was.

She remained unusually tight-lipped about what happened, even in the presence of Master Yoda. Only the two of them are aware of her safe return, with the exception of Kenobi, whom they had sent word to in an encrypted message.

"If you want to talk, I'm here for you, you know that right?"

Padme smiled appreciatively. "More than you know, my good friend."

Bail bowed and left to give her some privacy, but that was short-lived until another presence made themselves known. She didn't even have to look up to know who it was.

"Good afternoon, Master Jedi," she greeted kindly.

"Seeing you safe, brings warm feelings to my heart," Master Yoda said, compassion and genuine concern radiating out of him. They hadn't had a chance to talk privately since her return. Slowly, hedragged his feet and cane towards her, observing her closely yet keeping reasonable distance. "Much thoughts, you have."

"Have you been listening in on my mind, Master Yoda?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Not able, even if I tried. But feel it in the force, I can," he explained simply, resting himself in front of her. He sat down and crossed his legs, shrinking smaller than he already was in front of an already sitting Padme.

"I've just had a lot of thinking to do, that's all. After everything that's happened, I just needed to... re-evaluate my life, I guess you can say," she sighed, trying to put together the right words but she was failing miserably. "I'm so confused!" she said suddenly.

Master Yoda tilted his head to the side knowingly.

"I sense conflict in you."

"You have no idea," she muttered, biting her lip after she did so. She looked up to face Master Yoda. "So much has happened. So many things I've learned... the galaxy isn't as black and white..." her voiced trailed off without further words.

"So much we've learned, these past few months," Master Yoda agreed, reflecting on everything that's happen, from the death of the Republic, to the Jedi's failure in protecting it. Much has truly changed.

"Now that I'm away from him, I feel like I'm losing my mind." She shook her head in consternation as she thought of Anakin. "Does that make any sense to you?"

Master Yoda didn't have to read her thoughts to know whom she is referring to. During his hours of meditation, sparks of light invaded the dark shroud of the dark side. The tides are turning, but how and in what cost, is truly the question that many feared the answer to.

"Alone, you are not," he said knowingly.

Padme offered a weak smile. "You don't think I'm crazy for caring?"

"Many things about life, we do not know. Learn as much, we can. I judge you not, for your feelings are just."

"Thank you, Master Yoda. That means a lot to me," she said genuinely.

Master Yoda nodded and then spoke once more. "Receive a message from Obi-Wan, I have."

Relief washed over her to know that one other friend is safe as Master Yoda continued. "Arrive soon, he will. There is much to talk about, we have."

Padme nodded in agreement.

There was certainly a lot to talk about.

Anakin looked down to his beautiful wife as he held her in his arms. The light of the sun was just about to rise while he felt completely content to spend the rest of the day indoors, and let the world continue on without them.

He continued to look at her, amazed that she could love a man like him.

"Hmm..." she protested as she felt her husband shift position. "Stop moving," she complained tiredly.

Anakin chuckled. "I can't help it, you're intoxicating to hold."

"And slee…py," she added, eyes still closed but the grin that flashed carelessly on her face proved otherwise.

He stroked her hair as she slowly forced her eyes awake. She faced her husband happily despite the early hour.

"I love you," he said.

She smiled, loving the quiet moments they shared.

"I love you, too."

His eyes suddenly snapped open as the dream faded away. "Padme," he said softly. His eyes tried to adjust to the bright luminescent light all around him. He felt nauseous, something in the pit of his stomach craving to be let out. He tried to rise out of the bed but couldn't. The pain in his body made it unbearable.

Finally, the years of physical abuse has finally taken a toll on him.

Maybe this time he could stay dead.

A pair of hands slowly led him back down. "Take it easy, my friend," said a voice that sounded friendly and sincere. Although there was something familiar about his voice but his mind couldn't yet put it together, but he remained alert.

"You're still healing. You were under for a long time – "

"How long?" he interrupted.

A noticeable grin spread across the person's face.

"A little over twenty hours," he answered. "For a moment there, we worried you weren't going to make it."

A headache attacked him at full force. "A part of me wished I hadn't," he remarked. He put his hand to his forehead in hopes to calm his incoming migraine down.

"Do you wish to take medicine for that?"

"No," he replied. "I'm fine."

"Very well, then."

As his vision cleared, he can finally take a look at his surrounding.

"Where am I?"

"Technically, we're in the Medical Bay of a ship. Geographically, we're in space," he answered very vaguely.

When he turned to face his apparent savior, he was startled out of bed. Falling to the ground, and because he couldn't yet stand, he let his arms drag him back to the corner of the room. "You?"

Obi-Wan was shocked by the sudden display of fear in the patient. He held his hands out before him as a sign that he means him no harm.

"I'm not going to hurt you," he said as assuringly as he could.

"Stay back!" he said, his blue eyes staring at Obi-Wan dangerously.

"I assure you, I'm not your enemy." Obi-Wan approached him slowly. "My name is Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"I know who you are," he said, his heart raced. His emotions were everywhere that he had a hard time focusing on just one.

Obi-Wan looked back at him with surprise.

"You know me?"

He laughed, but it held no amusement. "Last time we met… I let you live."

Obi-Wan's mouth was slightly agape as he comprehended his words. The only time that his life hung in the balance happened during his failed attempt in rescuing Padme Amidala… and that's when he realized.

It couldn't be...

"Vader?"

To be continued…