Chapter Eight

It took them an embarrassingly long amount of time to figure out how to get a transmission to the Emperor. None of them actually knew the right codes…

Luke was the one who eventually remembered Renon.

…-…

Renon looked at the rebels dubiously.

"You want to talk to the Emperor." He said.

They nodded.

"Even though you refused his last call and implicitly stated you weren't going to talk to him."

They nodded again.

"You just had a sudden change of heart?"

The Wookie growled at him. The smuggler's hand twitched towards his blaster.

Renon looked at them for a long moment. Technically, the Emperor had wanted to talk to them. So, giving them the codes was not disloyal…

…-…

Anakin, Obi-Wan, Padme, and Bail were the only ones in the room. Anakin stood tall before the projector. Vader would have knelt, but Anakin wasn't Vader. He wouldn't be.

Anakin was wearing the armor. And the helmet. He didn't like it. It made everything red, and if he paid attention it made him feel… prickly. Like there was something just outside of his senses and if he just reached a little further, he would find… something.

He waited for the Emperor to pick up.

Palpatine's significantly-more-wrinkly face glowed blue and enormous in front of him.

"Sidious," Anakin said, and his voice boomed out. "You have two choices. Surrender, or I blow your planet to dust with you on it."

"Isn't that a little dangerous old friend?" Sidious said, "Giving me the option to surrender, a chance to escape? Why not just kill the whole planet? Surely you would be… safer that way."

"Perhaps I like the planet."

"You hate the planet."

"Perhaps I like someone on the planet."

"You hate everyone. Including me."

That was… not quite true. "Perhaps I'm working on an alliance that is unlikely to go through as smoothly if I destroy the population of an entire planet."

What is this? Why am I responding? Why am I justifying himself instead of getting Sidious to surrender already? What am I doing?

"That one actually makes sense," Sidious said, looking thoughtful.

"What caused your change of heart my boy?" he asked, "Why turn against me now? After all that we've accomplished together?"

I'm not your boy, Anakin thought. It wasn't very convincing, even inside of his own head. "Perhaps I want your Empire. Without you in it."

"Do you really think you could do this without me?" Sidious asked, "Do you really think you could rule? You would be no one without me."

You are not even a little bit convincing. Anakin thought. It was kind of true, Sidious was manipulating him based on things that hadn't happened yet. Still. It was… it was Palpatine. His friend. Who'd never been his friend.

"Surrender or die." Anakin said.

Palpatine sighed, a long, drawn out sound. "Do you really think you can fool me? I can think of only two reasons you would betray me. Either you have gone back to Kenobi, or your child is alive."

Anakin felt something prickling along his skin, a chill racing down his spine. Fear. For someone who's nickname was the Hero With No Fear… he was always so afraid. "Kenobi tore you to pieces and left you to burn. I felt your anger- your need for revenge- for… balance. You loved him once- but I don't believe you could ever forgive him for saying that he loved you as he left you screaming, for walking away. That says nothing about Kenobi himself- he would never take you back. Not after what you did to those younglings."

Anakin forced himself not to move, not to stumble back. Palpatine- Sidious. Sidious was manipulating him. That- that probably wasn't even how it happened. Anakin refused to turn and look at Obi-Wan- he didn't want to see the expression on his face.

"That leaves a child." Sidious said, tapping a finger against his chin. Anakin stood frozen. His mouth wouldn't move. Why wouldn't his mouth move?

"You recently captured Leia Organa. And she is the correct age- she is so much like her mother isn't she? And I can't think she'd ever forgive you if you blew up a planet… that's why you took over the Death Star- to save her planet. Because you couldn't bear it if she hated you too- or perhaps if she hated you more… Hmmm. I don't believe that death is in the cards for me. Goodbye Dear One."

And the connection cut out. Anakin felt rather lightheaded. The suit tried to force more air in. He let it. "Well," he said, "That didn't work." He tried for levity. It fell flat.

…-…

Obi-Wan knew- he had known that this was a bad idea. Talking to Sidious was a bad idea. Letting Anakin talk to Sidious was even a worse idea.

And this… was far too accurate and far too off course all at once.

It was horrible because the same things that motivated Anakin must have also motivated Vader- or had to potential to motivate him anyways.

His children. His wife- when she was alive. And Obi-Wan himself.

Trying to talk to Vader hadn't worked though- Obi-Wan had tried. He'd tried to pull Anakin back and… and Vader had hurt Padme. He hadn't listened- he never listened.

"Well," Anakin said, "That didn't work."

Anakin was swaying on his feet.

"Anakin," Obi-Wan said, "Are you alright?"

"Not at all." Anakin said, "But I do believe we should get going."

And then Obi-Wan felt it too.

The Emperor wasn't coming up to them- but his army was.

Chapter Nine

"Well," Anakin said, taking off the helmet and shaking his head, trying to get his clumped hair to be less… clumpy, "It looks like we are moving on to Plan B then."

"When did we come up with a Plan B?" Han asked.

That was a very good question.

Anakin shrugged. "I always have a backup plan because the first one never works."

That was entirely to true.

…-…

Anakin didn't have any Jedi robes to change into, so he changed into an Imperial uniform instead.

It would do. It was better than Vader's armor anyways.

Anakin was tempted to keep the cape… in the end though he decided it was probably best not to.

It clashed with the uniform.

…-…

"So… we got the rebel fleet. The Death Star- which we won't actually be using because in a space battle a beam that powerful is impractical and likely to harm both sides- we got lots of blasters. We have Vader's helmet, and a lot of Stormtroopers that would probably do anything he said. We have two Jedi, one Jedi in training, and three lightsabers. Since the Death Star is now useless to us, we are trying to evacuate everyone, then let the Emperor's forces actually blow it up. And we'll be trying to save as many escape pods as we can."

"Yep."

"And you still think we're going to win?"

"We are fighting the Imperial Navy. Vader is supreme commander of basically the whole military. So, if Vader is doing something, those guys are going to be scared to go against him. They know what he's capable of. Usually, the Vader fear factor goes against us. In this case…"

"It's actually helpful."

"Yep."

"Well… that's nice. I guess. I hope you don't die."

"I hope you don't die either."

…-…

Luke had never been part of any sort of battle before- but he knew he was a better pilot than a duelist. He hadn't even seen a lightsaber before today.

"Do you want this?" Luke asked, holding out Anakin's lightsaber.

Anakin hesitated for a long moment, then reached out. His fingers had barely brushed the lightsaber's hilt when he jumped back, eyes wide, as though he'd been burnt.

"Um…" he said, "I think you can take that. I'll keep Vader's."

"Okay," Luke said. There was something weird there, but his father would tell him if it was important.

Luke hesitated, but Anakin didn't, stepping forward and wrapping his arms around Luke. Padme followed a second later, her hug a bit more awkward with the whole being pregnant thing… being pregnant with him which was so weird…

"Listen to the Force alright?" Anakin said, voice sounding muffled from where Luke stood with his head pressed against the other man's chest. "I know you can feel it- let it flow through you. Just listen, and everything will be okay."

Luke nodded.

A moment later, he let go, clambering into the cockpit of Darth Vader's personal ship. Leia had taken great pleasure in painting it red on the trip here, and though he hadn't known why she was doing it at the time, it made sense now. Luke didn't want to be shot down by the people he was actually supposed to be fighting with.

Then it was time for him to go and join the rebellion fleet.

…-…

Vader's ship was one you always wanted on your side in a fight.

There were more than a few pilots who saw it and quietly slunk away.

It was possible to survive desertion. Surviving a fight with Vader was far less likely.

…-…

Anakin really did want to join the battle- he wanted to be able to protect his children- but the best way to do that right now wasn't to fly.

He looked over at Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan's hands were clenching and unclenching around his lightsaber in an almost absent way.

"Don't worry," Anakin said, "We'll kill him." And I won't join him. Not this time.

…-…

Luke wasn't used to flying with a team- with listening to orders and having a wingmate you were supposed to protect who'd protect you in turn.

He was used to flying alone. Through canyons. In atmosphere.

Outer space flying was a different beast entirely. He adjusted quickly… but it was so different.

And he was fighting now, not just dodging.

Also- the ship. This ship- for all that it had been Vader's- was beautiful. It drove like a dream. Which was worse than a less responsive ship for him- because he wasn't used to driving something that responded like this.

He kept accidentally overcompensating which was not good because he was either going to get him or his wingmate killed.

Listen to the force, Luke thought as loudly as he could, Listen to the force he says. What does that even mean!?

No need to shout, his father's voice replied.

Luke jerked, sending the ship into a nosedive before hurriedly leveling out again, looping around a ship that'd tried following him down.

"What're you doing in my head!" Luke shouted. A second later he made sure his radio wasn't broadcasting. It wasn't- which was good.

You called. Anakin said.

"I didn't expect you to answer!" But it was… nice that he had.

A stray shot rammed into the side of his ship and the whole thing vibrated slightly. Vader's ship had good shields though.

Focus Luke, Anakin chided, and Luke could feel his worry- his wishing that he could be out there fighting with Luke- even when his mission clearly needed to be elsewhere.

"Focus on what?" Luke yelped as one of the Emperor's ships tried to ram into him, taking another nosedive.

The force, Anakin said, the feeling you get when its just you and your ship. Flying. Freedom. A weightless sort of peaceful-screaming-everything.

The words were convoluted. They contradicted. They made no sense- but Luke knew exactly what his father was talking about.

Of course- he thought, I know how to do that.

Chapter Ten

Moving, the Force always was. Shifting it did now. Light did overcome darkness.

Yoda gasped, cane falling into the swamp around him.

Whispered, "Your time to move is now," the Force did.

…-…

The doors to the palace were open, beckoning, as if Sidious was inviting them in. Come and get me, they said.

Anakin looked at Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan looked back.

This was a trap.

But it wasn't like they had time to find another option.

So they walked inside.

…-…

Luke's wingman had been shot down. Luke hadn't been able to prevent it. There had been a warning- but there was a limit to what even he could do.

He didn't have training. Not really.

All he could do was his best- the problem was that his best wasn't good enough.

…-…

Sidious hadn't known exactly what to expect, but it wasn't this. Vader had acted… strange. And his force presence… was incredibly odd.

Sidious had not forseen this. Still… he knew Anakin just as well as he knew Vader.

"Anakin," Sidious said, "It is good to see you again."

Anakin watched him for a long moment, jaw clenched. As though he was afraid of the words that would come out of his mouth if he opened it.

"When did you come back?" Sidious asked, "The switch had to occur sometime in the minutes before the Death Star was overtaken- you were always one for decisive action."

And then Obi-Wan was moving, jumping forward, blue lightsaber lit.

Anakin followed a second behind, using a very familiar red lightsaber. Interesting.

Sidious had his own saber out a moment later.

They were talented- very talented.

But Obi-Wan was old, and Anakin was used to fighting with a much younger and more limber version of the man.

"It's really too bad you didn't come earlier," Sidious said, "Vader spent quite a bit of time with Leia, trying to get her to reveal the location of the rebel alliance. If you'd come just a bit earlier, you might have spared her that."

Anakin obviously knew what he meant- and the rage- and guilt- in his eyes was very encouraging.

Sidious allowed himself a smirk.

Anakin's anger had always been his downfall.

…-…

Trenches were stupid. Luke wasn't even sure he understood the plan anymore. How long were they trying to keep the Death Star from blowing up?

Everyone knew they weren't going to use it. So it was useless as an intimidation tactic… And it'd been a while- most of the people were probably off the ship already…

So why was he chasing a ship through the trench- the only trench that could actually lead to destruction of the Death Star from the outside?

And desperately trying not to die because now there was another ship behind him and-

And Han was there, gunning the ship behind him down.

Luke grinned.

He was so close to the other ship- he could shoot it down. Save the Death Star.

And yet- and yet…

That felt wrong.

Let them go, The Force seemed to whisper, Let them go.

Luke pulled up. The Death Star shuddered.

They'd have another hour to evacuate before the whole thing blew- Luke just hoped it would be enough time.

…-…

Padme wasn't sure whether she should curse or rejoice when the alarms started ringing.

She'd wanted this thing gone- but she'd have preferred it didn't start exploding while she was on it.

Still- there was time.

They'd be going out in escape pods- mostly unprotected and with very little steering available-

Hopefully the Imperial Navy didn't decide to fire on the escape pods. Their own, loyal, men were in there as well as a few members of the rebellion.

Padme grabbed Leia, then Threepio.

And she ran.

She felt is should be noted that running while pregnant was not particularly pleasant.

Chapter Eleven

Anakin moved, the force swirling around him.

It was so different now- here- so much darker. He could hear children screaming.

Just like when he'd touched his old lightsaber.

How many children had he killed with it? How many deaths could be laid at his feet?

And his daughter… Vader had tortured Leia. Anakin had tortured his own daughter. Had he known? Surely not… he wouldn't- wouldn't have done it if he'd known…

This dance, dodging and twisting and weaving- was difficult.

Sidious was old- but he was prepared. And he was powerful.

His guards had joined in at some point as well- but Obi-Wan and Anakin were cutting through them. Slowly but surely, they were getting to Sidious.

But something- something was wrong. Obi-Wan was breathing so heavily- and Anakin felt a chill run through him again. Obi-Wan wasn't young anymore- this fight needed to end. And fast.

But before Anakin could do anything one of the guards moved forward, swinging his weapon like a club over Obi-Wan's head.

Obi-Wan couldn't dodge it and Sidious' blade at the same time.

He fell, crumpling.

Anakin was by his side in an instant, standing over him, Vader's blade in his hand, glaring at Sidious.

The guards backed away at step. Sidious shook his head slowly, looking so very disappointed. "You had such potential my boy," he said, and Anakin couldn't help the vaguely ashamed feeling that overtook him.

What was wrong with him?

And then Sidious raised his hands. Lightning arched out of them. Anakin caught them on Vader's blade, but he couldn't keep that up forever.

He needed something else- something…

And like an echo from a fallen time- Anakin felt… something.

A memory. An experience.

Vader had suffered through Force Lightning so many times- and he'd found a way to disperse it through himself. It would hurt, but it would mitigate the damage. He would survive, and he would be able to move.

Being able to surprise Sidious was of upmost importance.

Anakin let his blade droop.

The lightning hit.

And Anakin screamed.

…-…

They had not thought this through. They had not thought this through at all. What were they supposed to do with all the escape pods? Where were they supposed to go? They couldn't just land on Imperial Center or whatever it was called these days…

The Emperor's fleet was also definitely firing on the escape pods. Apparently it was worth the loyal lives they would take to accidentally possibly kill a rebellion leader as well.

Though, with what had almost been Alderaan's fate Luke was pretty sure he shouldn't be surprised.

Ship after ship exploded- on both sides.

Luke kept fighting.

…-…

At the temple Yoda never had thought he would be. In mysterious ways the Force moved.

Urged him faster, the force did, and faster he went.

In strange dreams the scene he burst in upon could be found.

Unconscious on the ground lay Kenobi.

Alive, Anakin Skywalker was. Over Kenobi he stood, with Vader's saber alight.

Deranged, Sidious was, deranged and cackling. Lightning, he wielded.

Vader's saber, Anakin lowered, and scream, he did, as lightning engulfed him.

Yoda moved.

Moved, the guards did too- but faster, Yoda was.

Turn to face Yoda, Sidious did.

Foolishly stopped watching the chosen one, Sidious did.

Through Sidious's chest, a blade of red light sprang.

Fall, Sidious did.

Chapter Twelve

"No." Padme said. "I'm not doing it."

"Angel," Anakin said, "There's no one else."

"Bail."

Obi-Wan coughed into a hand. "While Bail would usually be a perfectly sound option… he leads the rebellion. Much like Sidious once lead the Seperatists. That… didn't end well. And you are well loved on both sides of this war. The Empire used you as a propaganda tool… and so did the rebellion. If anyone is going to bring peace- it'll be you."

"I believe in democracy!" Padme said, voice practically a shriek. "I'm pregnant. We are going to have twins and we already have twins, one of whom is planning on living with us. We are not even in the correct time period and I don't want to be the Empress!"

Those were all very valid points.

Obi-Wan was pretty sure that on any normal day he'd be arguing them with her. But right now… good change did not occur swiftly. They would need someone leading the Empire- someone that both sides could trust implicitly.

Someone trustworthy. Someone who would give up their power at the first logical opportunity. Someone who would reinstate the senate but have enough brains to do it properly.

Someone like Padme.

Anakin sighed softly, then wrapped Padme in a gentle hug.

Obi-Wan blinked. He hadn't noticed until then- but she was trembling.

"I don't want to be Empress." Padme repeated, squeezing her eyes shut as tears ran down her face. "I want to go back to my family. I want to bring you and Luke home and raise our children. I don't want this."

"I know." Anakin said, "I'm sorry."

And Obi-Wan could tell that he actually was.

…-…

Renon wondered about his life sometimes.

It had been fairly normal. Until about a week ago.

There were rumors of course- that Vader wasn't really Vader but a Jedi wearing his armor… but most people didn't believe them.

He was Vader.

He was invincible- something like that couldn't happen to him.

Renon wondered if Marlie believed him when he said the rumors were true.

He wondered if it mattered.

He was sitting on the couch, one arm wrapped around his wife, who sat snuggled into his side, watching some strange show about what looked to be a rather large and very ugly frog- when the Imperial symbol flashed, interrupting. Renon wasn't sure whether he should be grateful or not.

It was Vader- or Skywalker, in Vader's armor- standing in what was once the Senate.

It'd been dissolved recently.

"Citizen's of the Empire," Skywalker said, voice booming, "Our beloved Emperor, Sheev Palpatine, is dead. We mourn his loss."

Renon had a feeling Skywalker wasn't actually all that sad.

"I am second in line for his throne," Skywalker said, then paused. "As are within my powers as Imperial Heir, I pass the ruling of this Empire to my wife, Padme Amidala."

He held out a black gloved hand.

A dead woman- looking as radiant as she ever had in life- stepped out to meet him, grasping his hand in hers.

Renon had several questions. The first- was Vader married to Amidala, or was Skywalker? The second- how did she look so young? She looked like she had when she'd… died. Pregnant and everything. Third- was she a clone? Fourth- if she was a clone, what was her actual personality? Cloning people gave them the same faces but very different spirits…

The questions were multiplying, but before Renon could get too concerned Skywalker said, "Thank you all for your time. I bid you a good day."

The connection cut out. And they were back to the frog.

…-…

"How are you doing?" Padme asked, voice soft.

They were sitting in a mostly secluded corner of a large parlor type thing. Most of the rebellion alliance leadership was here for a strange sort of the-Emperor-is-dead party.

Padme was the Empress now. The twins were due to arrive very, very soon.

Palpatine was dead.

Anakin's family was here- Padme and Obi-Wan and Luke and Leia- the only one thing that could've made it better was Ahsoka.

It was good. It was really good.

But Anakin couldn't get Sidious's words out of his head. I don't believe you could ever forgive him for saying that he loved you as he left you screaming…

Anakin sat up straighter.

"Wait a second!" he said. He hadn't meant to say it quite that loud. Everyone in the room turned to him. He nodded to Padme, then stood and, ignoring everyone else, grabbed Obi-Wan's arm and dragged him out of the room. They moved past the guards at the door, down the hall and into a much smaller room.

Obi-Wan didn't resist. "Any chance you'll tell me what this is about?" Obi-Wan asked, bemused.

Anakin turned to face him straight on. "I was thinking- about some of the things that Pal- Sidious said." Obi-Wan winced. "And I just realized that he said you said you loved me- and I don't even remember it!"

Obi-Wan was staring at him. Anakin kept going. "I've wanted you to say that for years, and apparently you did but I time traveled and missed it!" He'd also missed becoming a human bonfire- which was nice. But still. "You need to say it."

"What?"

"I know you said it. Which means it's true. But I don't remember it. So- you need to say it."

"Here?" Obi-Wan asked.

Anakin looked at him for a long, long moment. Obi-Wan sighed, but his lips twitched into a sort of half smile. "I love you Anakin." He said.

And it was true. It was so, gloriously true and Anakin couldn't help but bask in the feeling of it ringing through the force.

"I love you too." Anakin said. His voice only cracked a tiny bit. Anakin was rather pleased by that- but he was just so happy and Obi-Wan loved him and the room was all blurry and he was crying- why was he crying?

Stupid time travel. It made him so emotional.

Obi-Wan's arms slipped around him a moment later. Anakin hugged him back, as tight as he could. Obi-Wan loved him.

Obi-Wan loved him.

…-…

Obi-Wan held Anakin as he sobbed.

He wanted to shake the man- to say You knew. Didn't you? You had to know.

He didn't. Perhaps, one day, he'd ask. But for now- for now this would have to be enough.

…-…

Vader stood behind Amidala in every meeting, a brooding black shadow.

For some reason- he didn't seem nearly as scary as he had before. The air wasn't as… cold around him anymore.

He hadn't killed anyone at all since Amidala had taken the throne.

Everyone agreed that they could not have been married long.

Everyone also agreed that if Amidala could make Vader so agreeable she must truly be a miracle worker.

Marriage had truly changed him.

…-…

Ahsoka watched every recording of the Imperial Couple she could get her hands on.

Everything pointed to the same impossibility.

The boy, Luke, who called Padme mom.

Padme's age, and the fact that she was alive.

The Imperial Twins.

When Vader walked there was no longer so much- so much pain. He moved faster than he had before- he joked with people- though it was hard to tell with the vocoder.

And then… then she saw something that truly made her breath catch.

Obi-Wan. Padme stood beside him. "I pardon all remaining Jedi for their crimes against the Empire," Padme said.

Obi-Wan smiled, then he turned to Vader, raising both eyebrows.

"No need to be so snippy," Vader said.

And Ahsoka knew that she really needed to get to Coursant. She'd grab Rex first, of course.