So…hi there. I'd like to begin by formally apologizing for disappearing for months. I understand most of you are probably upset with me, and I'd be upset with me too if I were you. All I have is the busy semester/full time summer job/lack of motivation excuse. I'm not sure I'll be able to get this whole thing done by the end of the summer, but I'll try my best. I'd really like to thank all the new followers I've gained though and I'm so happy you're enjoying the story.

Obi-Wan landed his clunky ship as smoothly as he could beside the charred ruins of Vader's escape pod on Hoth. He circled it twice and peeked inside. There was no sign of Vader or his remains.

Obviously the Empire has already collected anything useful. What am I even looking for?

Suddenly, he heard his communicator beeping in his pocket. He pulled it out, fumbling a bit with all the layers of clothing.

"Kenobi here," the Jedi shouted over the strong icy winds.

"It's Mon," said the voice of Mon Mothma. "I just received word from Padmé- she's alive and has taken shelter in the abandoned rebel base on Hoth. She was in the pod with Vader when they crashed and managed to escape."

Obi-Wan's heart raced, relieved to hear that his friend was safe and nearby, yet this also added to his suspicions about the whole situation.

"That's great news," he stated. "I will retrieve her at once and let you know when we are headed back to the base. Kenobi out."

Obi-Wan shoved the communicator back in his pocket and re-boarded his ship, setting his course southeast. He arrived fifteen minutes later and hopped down into the snow. He grinned at the sight of his friend standing in a tattered gown at the open door of the barely-standing building. She had lost a few pounds, likely due to malnourishment, but appeared otherwise healthy.

He hurried toward her and she embraced him warmly.

"Obi-Wan!" Padmé exclaimed. "It's so good to see you."

"And you, as well, my lady," Obi-Wan responded. "We'd all begun to fear the worst when we found out you were with Vader."

"Well, you had nothing to fear," she replied, taking a step back.

"I can see that," the Jedi master concluded. "Tell me, how have you managed to survive this long?"

Padmé paused, clearly hesitant about something.

The something appeared to be a very tall man, who slowly stepped out into the corridor behind her. Obi-Wan jumped, but it was not his height, nor his mysterious scars, nor his metal hand or the fact that he was dressed in black from head to toe that elicited this reaction. The man gave off a very strong Force signal, not Light but not quite Dark either. Something about this didn't sit right with Obi-Wan.

Perhaps this is the disturbance Master Yoda and I felt.

"Hello," the man said in a deep voice, clearing his throat. His expression was unreadable.

"Hello," Obi-Wan replied, nodding his head in courtesy. "And you might be?..."

"John," Padmé interrupted. "John Heartkiller, a Corellian Imperial deserter."

Obi-Wan tensed at the word "Imperial".

"Is that so?" the Jedi asked.

"Yes, Sir," the man answered. "That's me, John Heartkiller."

Obi-Wan noticed him shoot a glare in Padmé's direction as he placed emphasis on his last name.

Yes, something definitely is not right here.

"I see," Obi-Wan continued. "And how did you come to end up here on Hoth, soldier?"

"That'll be Admiral, actually," John answered. "I deserted about a year ago after I found out the Empire killed my family on Corellia. They were trying to pass through a crowd of rioters who were bombed."

"I'm sorry to hear that," said Obi-Wan. "If I may ask, though, where were you stationed? I'm sure you're aware that the Rebellion keeps a detailed list of all high-ranking Imperial officials and I don't recall seeing your name."

"Covert Ops," John answered promptly. "I worked on a mission called Operation Red Sand, to be exact, based on the Outer Rim. Highly classified, but no threat to the Rebellion, I assure you."

Obi-Wan thought he saw a smirk from Padmé, but she quickly concealed it.

Looks like I'm going to have to play their game in order to figure out what's going on here…

"Alright, Mr. Heartkiller," said Obi-Wan, taking another look at the scarred face. "As I'm sure you've heard, Padmé here has been through quite a lot these past couple months and I'm sure she is eager to be reunited with her friends and family. I extend my dearest thanks for keeping her safe until my arrival, but I'm sure you'll understand why we must part ways here."

"You're sure about a great many things, Mr. Kenobi," John answered, "but I, for one, am not. Do enlighten me."

The two men locked eyes, their expressions remaining stoic.

Did I tell him my last name was Kenobi?

"Well, Admiral," Obi-Wan explained, "the location to which I will be taking Padmé is the heart of the Rebellion itself, and knowing your involvement with the Empire, I can't with good judgment allow you to come along."

"I assure you, An…John poses no threat, Obi-Wan," Padmé interrupted, strangely stumbling over her words. "Trust me."

Obi-Wan watched as the two exchanged another look, frustrated that he was still unable to deduce anything from it. He turned his own eyes to Padmé.

"Padmé," he began, trying to keep his voice even, "I'm not suggesting that we leave this man here on Hoth. I'd be more than willing to offer him a lift to wherever he needs to be."

"Where he needs to be is hiding from the Empire," the former Senator snapped, "and what better place to do that than at a hidden base full of people who hate the Empire?"

Obi-Wan turned his attention again to John, trying to read him through the Force, but was unable to get through.

This guy is mentally shielding himself. He's been trained…perhaps it would be a good idea to keep an eye on him.

"Fine," Obi-Wan conceded, "but let's leave now. An hour on this wretched planet has been enough for me. I'm not sure how you two managed to do it."

Obi-Wan turned and led the way outside to his ship. It was a bit cramped, considering he hadn't been planning on making his return journey with two other passengers, one of which was practically a giant. From John's footsteps boarding, Obi-Wan hypothesized that he might have a metal leg, as well.

He watched as John ducked to avoid the low ceilings and pulled the hatch shut behind him. It took three tries and squeaked dangerously before it finally locked.

"Wow, this thing really isn't good for quick getaways, is it?" said the tall man.

Obi-Wan blinked in a moment of what seemed like déjà vu, but he couldn't quite remember where he'd heard the joke before.

"No, it's not," Obi-Wan replied before heading to the cockpit to assume his pilot's position. He fiddled with the controls, starting the engine when he noticed John staring at him again.

"Anything I can help you with?" Obi-Wan asked, trying to pretend that the hairs on his arms weren't tingling a bit. He wasn't afraid of this man, but his gaze definitely made Obi-Wan uneasy.

"Just wondering if you needed any help," said John. "As you might be able to imagine, it's been a while since I've been in a cockpit and I've missed it a bit."

Something about the way John eyed the controls made Obi-Wan think that his statement was genuine, yet the rational part of his brain screamed that it was a trap.

"I think I'm all good here," Obi-Wan stated, "and I'll take the reins since I know our destination."

"Fair enough," John said with a frown before stepping into the back of the ship.

As Obi-Wan set course for Jakku, he considered contacting Master Yoda about the enigma that was Admiral John Heartkiller, but decided against it since only a thin metal door separated the cockpit from the only other room on the ship. If Heartkiller was indeed trained in the ways of the Force, here was not the place for confrontation.


"Heartkiller? Really? That was a low blow."

"Shh! He'll hear you!" Padmé snapped. "Do you want to get killed?"

"Do I want to get killed?" he responded, stepping closer to her. "Please, we both know if it came to that, Obi-Wan would lose all his limbs before he even had a chance to lunge at me. The power of the Sith will always triumph over the old-fashioned Jedi ways."

"So you're still Vader then?" she asked.

He flinched at hearing the name, even though he knew he shouldn't. He had been Vader for years and was proud to hold the title of second-in-command of the galaxy…but he wasn't anymore. He had relinquished that title to Piett, and for what? A woman. A woman who said the name with so much disgust that it made him cringe and feel horrible about himself.

Yet the name she wanted to call him, Anakin…he couldn't bear to hear that either. He had spent too long repressing any memories he had of the person he used to be. Still, when he looked at Padmé now wearing the Japor snippet Anakin had made for her, it made him want to be that person again.

"I can't," he said to himself, not realizing the words had actually been verbalized.

"What?" said Padmé.

"No," he stated, sinking to the cold floor across from her. "I'm not Vader. But I'm also not Anakin." He paused to flinch at that name, as well.

"Then who are you?" the angelic voice asked. "And don't say someone in-between."

"Right now, Padmé, I'm John Heartkiller," John concluded, "and we'll figure out the rest later."

A silence fell between them for a few moments before John let out a chuckle.

"What the hell could possibly be funny right now?" said a clearly-irritated Padmé.

"It's just, I spent weeks trying to get you to tell me where this goddamned base is, and now you're taking me right to it," John responded.

"Glad to know you're still so excited about this," said Padmé. "Feel free to call up your Imperial friends and rat us out the minute we land. You'll be a hero and it'll save your reputation if you suddenly reappear from the dead and slaughter every important rebel in the galaxy. In fact, why not just go back into the cockpit, kill Obi-Wan now, and let the ship keep going where it's going and call in backup before we even get there?"

"I like the way you think, Senator," John replied, "but I told you I don't care about the base anymore and I meant it. I told you I wouldn't kill Obi-Wan and I meant that too. If what you say is true about him spending so long searching for me…I mean, for Anakin…then I suppose I have no reason to. Sidious lied to me about the Jedi abandoning me. I shouldn't be surprised. He's lied about a great many things."

John subconsciously touched his lightsaber, carefully hidden beneath his shirt instead of exposed on his belt.

"So where do we go from here?" Padmé asked.

"I don't know, Padmé," said John. "All I know for sure is that I love you. I have always loved you and I always will, and if I have to kill Sidious for us to be together, then it will be done."

He extended his flesh hand to her and sensed her conflicted emotions. To his surprise, she accepted the gesture and folded her hand into his.

Their moment was interrupted by a sliding door and an equally surprised Obi-Wan.

"Oh…uh, I'm sorry," the Jedi said. "I just thought I'd inform you that we've just entered hyperspace and our ETA is six standard hours. Also, there's some snacks in the top corner compartment. Not much, but I'm sure it's better than whatever you've been eating on Hoth."

"Thank you," replied John, internally cursing the man for killing the first relatively romantic moment he'd shared with Padmé since his big identity reveal.

Did I just say "thank you"? When was the last time I said that?

As Obi-Wan returned to the cockpit and left the pair alone, John helped himself to a packet of dried cranberries and nuts. The man was right- much better than fish.

As John stared out the small window at the stars blazing by, he was struck by the uncertainty of his future. He decided it would be best to let Padmé use these hours to think, while he would use them to meditate.