A/N- Happy New Year! With the holidays over, I figured it was time to post the next chapter. Please note as we get closer to what I have written, updates may only be twice a month. If you'd like for me to continue, please let me know what you think of it. -GP

Chapter 41

Location: Imperial Center, Coruscant

Imperial Federal Prison

Month 1 Day 30 Year 27 BBY

The sounds of terrified screams can be heard throughout the corridors and cells of the prison. The Imperial Prison held notorious murders known to the galaxy and bounty hunters. Each planet had their own prisons, but to be placed in a federal prison meant you were likely to not return to the world above. Many women and men were tortured in these cells and died from starvation or disease, long before their trial dates.

There are no rules for the interrogators here, no senators to stop them. As long as the emperor wanted them held hostage, they were under his orders.

Anakin Skywalker had become one of these men. He hangs from the chains that bind him to the wall. He was allowed two hours a day of freedom to walk around and sit on the floor. It was usually during meals. He knew he had been held at the prison for at least two months. No court date had been set that he knows of. The Inquisitors tortured him on a daily basis and he was asked questions as to why he wanted to assassinate the Senator of Scipio.

Anakin's breathing is labored from the chill in the air. His blue collared shirt is ripped in several areas and shows the marks his torturers made to him. They didn't care if he was only guilty of defending the honor of a woman. They saw him as a play toy- ready to break at any moment. And yet they had no idea who they were dealing with.

Anakin had learned over the year of training to meditate instead of sleep from Obi-wan and Master Jinn. His force training was paying off. Instead of listening to his captors, he would immerse himself into the force and search for Padme's familiar force signature, though it was brighter than before. He checked on her each night through the force.

His powers are growing stronger by the day. Each day he was healing his old wounds using his meditative states. He knew most force users didn't learn this power until they were much more experienced and it is a hard skill to learn- Anakin isn't like most force users, he commands the force in a different way.

Master Jinn had told him once about a prophecy of a chosen one. The Jedi thousands of years ago had foretold of a force user who would be the most powerful of them all. He or she would bring balance to the force and defeat the darkness and the Sith. Anakin was starting to believe that day had come and perchance he was the one chosen for this battle. He saw his time in captivity as a challenge the force wants him to overcome.

" Skywalker, always a pleasure to see you, " The familiar voice of his interrogator echoes into the room.

Anakin's eyes stay downcast as the door shuts behind his torturer and he waits for the pain to start. His interrogator is none other than Inquisitor Maul. Maul takes pleasure in torturing the man before him, he delights in the agony of others. Anakin Skywalker's abilities to keep from breaking are incredible and show how much of a great Inquisitor he could become. It was a shame the young man had decided to wreck his career for a woman. He'd make a fine Inquisitor.

" The charges have been dropped ," Maul's yellow eyes meet Anakin's blue ones as Anakin is unchained from the metal wall.

Anakin says nothing and calls on the force for guidance. Anakin follows his captor through the maze of corridors and enters a lift to the city above.

The lift opens up to a black marble floor. Anakin blinks back the harsh illumination of the room. His eyes adjust to the brightness as he is escorted into the dim red office he remembers is Inquisitor Maul's.

Anakin blinks back the painful tears of his eyes adjusting to the light and his eyes land on those of Admiral Jinn. Qui-gon takes in the form of his mentee. Anakin's face has a new scar above his right eye, and several burns against his bare arms. His uniform was in tatters and he smelled horrible. Prisoners were only allowed to bathe once a week and he reeked of the weeks spent on the walls of the prison. His blue eyes meet the gray eyes of his mentor.

Anakin senses the relief through their bond as Admiral Jinn formally announces, " Senator Clovis has admitted to the investigators that he has mistaken you for the man who assaulted him. All charges have been dismissed and you've been reinstated in the Naval Academy."

Anakin's voice is hoarse as if he hasn't spoken in weeks other than screaming from his torments. " And what of my training with the Inquisitors?"

Inquisitor Maul's golden eyes stare back at his mentee. He knows the Emperor has demanded that his training were to continue as if nothing had happened these past two months. Maul had agreed as Skywalker is very powerful in the force. His powers rival those of Dooku and even the Emperor himself. He needs to complete his training.

" You will begin this semester's classes and continue our training in two weeks time. That should give you time to properly compose yourself." Inquisitor Maul expresses with a neutral tone.

He nods and turns to Qui-gon. " Sir, if possible I'd like to return to my residence if possible. I need to get out of these clothes."

Qui-gon nods in assurance, " Of course, let's go."

Anakin gestures to the cuffs on his hands and ankles. Maul waves his hand in a swiping motion and they fall to the ground. Anakin rubs his wrists gratefully and nods towards Qui-gon to lead the way to the speeder waiting for their departure in the garage below.

Anakin pads through the office door with his holy boots. The soles had worn down with continuous use. He'd have to replace them before returning to class and work in the next week. He tries to walk with some dignity even though he reeks of awful smells- including his own urine. He hadn't been allowed to bathe in weeks and gods knows he had desired a shower for weeks now.

They enter the lift and the control Anakin has on his features stays. The stay within the prison walls has hardened him. The torture has aided him in shielding his mind, and allowed him to remember that appearance is not everything. He stays silent the entire walk to the speeder and waits to see the familiar lights of his apartment complex.

The ride in the speeder is filled with silence as well. Qui-gon knew not what to say at this moment. He did not desire to know how they tortured the young man, nor how to begin the conversation he had to have with the young man. Dooku was right. He had to tell Anakin the truth of his origins, so he had a choice in his life. That he had a choice to be part of the rebellion or not. He could go into hiding if he chose to . Qui-gon has to give him this out. He has to give him this out before it is too late.

Anakin stares out the window of the speeder. His eyes catch the bright lights of the sun above them. It had to be midafternoon by now. It has been two long months since he has seen the sky. All he desires is to be rid of these clothes, shower and to see the woman he loves. He has realized during his time in prison that he could have died and that not speaking to her again was the last thing he wanted to do. He thinks back to the night before he was arrested. He had put off the conversation that both of them had been avoiding for a time. The conversation that he desired now to finish. After being locked up for two months, and never knowing if he'd be able to tell her himself of his feelings and to just be able to be within her presence again.

" You'll see her soon," Qui-gon assures him, as if creeping into his thoughts.

Anakin notices they are departing towards the edge of the city. The traffic is lessening and the creatures within their speeders seem to appear living a rougher form of life. The city changes into the warehouse district and he asks, " Why are we in the warehouse district?"

Qui-gon does not turn his eyes onto Anakin. " There's something I wish for you to see."

He nods seemingly without asking any more questions. He trusts Qui-gon with his life. His hero from the Clone Wars has become his mentor. If Anakin's 12 year old self had known he would someday meet his hero, he'd be a wreck. Now as an almost 21 year old man, his delusions of grandeur had died. He knew Qui-gon as a mentor and a friend. At least he believes Qui-gon is a friend of his. Qui-gon never expressed his feelings on the matter, but it seemed to be an unspoken caring there as time had come to pass.

Anakin senses the speeder coming to a halt. They stop behind a large brown warehouse building in the heart of the warehouse district. Hardly anyone is around as it is near lunchtime and everyone would be on their lunch breaks. The two men step out of the speeder. Anakin follows his hero to the side of the building where he imprints his fingers into the pad. It scans and beeps quickly. The gusting swish of the door opens and Qui-gon gestures for Anakin to follow him.

The bright lights above them blind Anakin in the pitch blackness. He covers his eyes as the fixtures continue to glow directly into his eyes. He blinks and his eyes take in the large interior. There are large computer servers along the far walls. There's a long corridor to his left which seems to lead to a bedroom and refresher. Qui-gon gestures to the corridor and suggests, " We will talk after you shower and change."

Anakin nods without asking anymore questions. He walks down the long corridor and sure enough there is a small bedroom with a cot, and small refresher. He notices there's already a pair of black slacks and long sleeve shirt placed on the small red dresser. He takes the clothes knowing already they are from his home. They are a pair of his training uniforms he used most days during his training sessions with Ben or anyone else who was willing to train with him.

He eyes the refresher and gestures using the force to start the water. The steam begins to shine off the hot steaming water. He sighs and begins to undress painfully. He pulls at the dress shirt of his uniform and lifts it over his head. He hisses as the injury between his underarm and shoulder blade tears open. The injury had been inflicted by Maul some weeks ago, when he had been interrogated as to if anyone else had been involved with the attempt on the Senator's life. He had denied that anyone had been involved, though one of the men at the catina had claimed that Ben had been plotting with Anakin. Anakin had denied the act.

The matted blood that had settled into the shirt begins to flow from the wound again. Anakin can feel it slowly trickle down his armpit onto the side of his ribs. He yanks the shirt completely off the other arm and throws it into the trash dispenser in the corner of the room.

He kicks off his ruined boots and stretches out his aching feet. He peers down at his dirty toes. He smells the stench of infection in a toe that he knows probably had been broken during one of their "sessions" five weeks prior. He'd have to apply some bacta strips to get it to heal properly. It would never bend the same after being set in the same position for weeks at a time without being properly bandaged. The only way to reset it would be to have a med droid re-break it and that wasn't something Anakin had any time to allow to heal. His training would begin again with Maul and it was highly possible he might sustain more injuries that would take time to heal within the force. He had been practicing on himself each time he had been injured, but that didn't mean the injuries completely healed properly.

He yanks off his pants and walks into the steaming hot water. He hisses and sighs at the same time as the hot water hits his aching body. He stands there for quite some time, just allowing the grime to slide off his body. The stench of him reaching his nostrils. Anakin bends forward and retches into the floor of the sonic shower. He wipes the bile from his lips and uses the force to bring the soap to his hands.

He must have washed his entire body seven times before feeling anywhere near clean. He steps out of the shower and reaches for the black towel hanging from the rack beside the shower. He dries himself off and wraps the towel around his waist. Then, he clears the mirror in front of him. His face is unshaven and for the first time in his life Anakin Skywalker sees himself as an older man. He sees the beard. The beard is blond in color and he rubs at it. He didn't think it suited his facial features at such a young age. He might be able to wear a beard in the future but until he reaches his thirties at least.

He finds a clean shaver perched behind the mirror. He reaches for it and begins the painstaking pace of clearing his face of the beard covering it.

(Sometime Later)

It had been more than an hour since Anakin had entered the refresher and left Qui-gon to his thoughts. He leans back into the black leather chair that is attached to the console in front of him. He had time to gather his thoughts on how to tell Anakin the truth lying between them. He had figured it was easier to tell him now, because he knew he'd ask how and why Rush dropped the charges.

He hears the footsteps of his mentee behind him. He swirls around in the chair and his eyes land on the young man who looked much better than he had an hour before. His beard is gone. The longer blond curls had been whacked down to around his ears. It wasn't as clean as his hair had once spiked up two months prior, but it suited the young man.

Anakin glances around the large console and questions, " What is this place?"

Qui-gon murmurs, " It is my safe house. I have used it to house many escapees from the Empire and for contacting the Rebellion."

Anakin leans against a chair nearby and questions, " Why are we here?"

Qui-gon replies, " I wanted to share this place with you. And I wished to speak to you where no one could overhear our conversation."

Anakin states flatly, " Why couldn't we speak at your residence or at mine? Obi-wan is trustworthy, is he not?"

Qui-gon takes his trifold hat off his head and rubs his hands through his hair. Anakin knew he had something he didn't want to say. He always rubbed his hands through his hair out of concern. " Master?" He asks formally.

Qui-gon's gray eyes hold the youth's blue ones. " What I have to say to you cannot leave these walls. It is something even Obi-wan cannot know about- at least not now."

Anakin comments, " Does it have to do with how I was released?"

Qui-gon sighs and murmurs, " Somewhat. This is very difficult for me to tell you."

Anakin states firmly, " Qui-gon I trust your judgement, whatever it is. You have felt the need to hide it from me for a time until I was ready to hear it. So please go on."

Qui-gon nods in confirmation and states, " You were released because I asked my former mentor for a favor he owes me from a long time ago. He persuaded Senator Clovis to free you."

Anakin asks, " Your former mentor?"

He places his hands in his lap and states, " Count Dooku. Dooku has connections that I do not have within the Inquisitors. I had no choice but to ask him for the favor."

Anakin shrugs as if this was some big secret. He mutters, " That is all? I don't understand why you'd feel the need not to reveal this information to Ben. He wouldn't care that you went to great lengths to free me. I do appreciate it greatly. You didn't have to go to great lengths to free me."

Qui-gon smiles gratefully at his mentee. Anakin eyes the form in the corner of the corridor. He blinks as his eyes stare into the black holes of the suit's mask. The suit is large, probably over six feet in height and made of armor plating. Anakin takes a step over to where it stands like a soldier on the wall.

His fingers touch the metal of the suit. His eyes stare back into the helmet's black soulless eyes. The suit has a breathing apparatus as well. It must be built for outdoor space walking. He touches the gloves of the monster staring him down. He cannot take his eyes off the suit.

" I had to go to great lengths to free you." Qui-gon murmurs behind him.

Anakin replies simply back, " I understand how important I am to the Rebellion's cause, but you don't have to think of me as some savior. What was this suit used for?"

Qui-gon stands to his feet and draws closer to the young man with his back to him. He states clearly, " The suit was a prototype for usage outside of an Imperial Star Destroyer. It never made it past the prototype stage due to the cost of creating this kind of suit for the clones. It was more cost effective to create the suits that they wear now. If you like it, you can have it."

Anakin turns to his mentor and asks, " Qui-gon I never asked for-"

He stops Anakin dead in his tracks. " Anakin, everything here will pass now to you when I am gone. You will inherit everything that is mine."

Anakin tilts his head in confusion. Ben was like a son to Qui-gon. Why would he insist everything would go to him? " Sir, I cannot accept this gift. Ben is like a son to you. He should have this. He's your family."

Qui-gon nods. " Yes, Obi-wan is like my own flesh and blood and I'm leaving him a substantial amount of credits if something were to happen to me. He will be well taken care of. But my estate and legacy goes to my blood relative."

Anakin narrows his gaze upon his mentor and hero. He suggests, " I'm not of your blood. Why would…" He stops himself as he asks the question both can sense within their conversation. " Am I not the Emperor's son?"

Qui-gon feels the weight of the truth lifting off his shoulders as he states clearly, " I thought so until I had a hunch through the force and did a paternity test."

Anakin's heart beats rapidly in his chest. The weight of not being the Emperor's blood is tearing off of him in waves. The reality of not being his son has crossed his mind prior to this conversation as the only evidence had been his strength in the force- and the strength of crossing from the darkness to the light. Everyone had assumed he was the Emperor's creation and now- the possible fact that he could have an actual father….

He finds his voice and asks, " What were the results?"

Qui-gon murmurs softly, " You are not the Emperor's son. You are my son."

To Be Continued.