In Bail Organa's palace, Yoda meditates.
"Failed to stop the Sith Lord, I have. Still much to learn, there is ...," he mutters.
The voice of Qui-Gon Jinn is heard in his mind, "Patience. You will have time. I did not. When I became one with the Force I made a great discovery. With my training, you will be able to merge with the Force at will. Your physical self will fade away, but you will still retain your consciousness. You will become more powerful than any Sith."
"Eternal consciousness."
"The ability to defy oblivion can be achieved, but only for oneself. It was accomplished by a Shaman of the Whills. It is a state acquired through compassion, not greed."
". . . to become one with the Force, and influence still have . . . A power greater than all, it is."
"You will learn to let go of everything. No attachment, no thought of self. No physical self."
"A great Jedi Master, you have become, Qui-Gon Jinn. Extend your teachings to Obi-Wan, I shall."
Bail enters the room and breaks his meditation, "Excuse me, Master Yoda. General Kenobi has made contact. Padme has been injured."
Obi-Wan lands the Naboo Cruiser on the landing platform of the palace. Yoda and Bail, along with ground crew are waiting as the ramp lowers and Obi-Wan emerges, carrying Padme in his arms. "We'll take her to the medical center, quickly," Bail orders his crew to carry her away.
The Imperial shuttle lands in a medical facility on Curuscant. Darth Sidious and his clones leave the shuttle. Anakin's body is carried along in a floating medical capsule.
Alderaan medical droids work, on Padme in an operating theater. Obi-Wan and one of the droids enter an observation room where Bail and Yoda are waiting.
"The stress from the attack has made her go into labor faster than expected," the droids explains.
"How is she?"
"She may sustain lasting effects. We need to operate quickly if we are to save the babies."
"Babies?," Bail exclaims.
"She's carrying twins."
"Save them, we must," Yoda explains, "They are our last hope."
The medical droid rushes back to the operating room.
Anakin, in the medical capsule, is lifted onto a table in the rehab center. Droids go to work on him, attaching mechanical legs and a new mechanical arm. He screams as armored pieces are placed over his chest and black sleeves are pulled over his limbs.
On Alderaan, the twins are being delivered as Bail and Yoda watch. Obi-Wan is in the operating theater with Padme. He takes her hand. "Don't give up, Padme," he tells her. Padme winces from the pain. The medical droid holds up the first baby, "It's a boy."
"Luke . . .," Padme pants.
The droid brings out the second baby, "... and a girl."
". . . Leia."
Anakin, dressed in black body armor, lies on the table. The chest plate lights up as he opens his eyes and seems to struggle to breath. Nose plugs are inserted and he looks up at the looming surgical light above, briefly seeing the silhouette of a mask. It drops from above as it lights up from the inside. Anakin's eyes widen as the mask covers what's left of his scarred face before sealing tightly. The helmet is fitted and Anakin begins breathing in a heavy, mechanical tone. The helmet slides over the top portion of the mask and there is a slight hiss as the entire suit of armor seals shut. Forever.
Obi-Wan leans over Padme and softly speaks to her, "You have twins, Padme They need you . . . hang on."
"They cannot stay here with me . . . not both of them."
"Save your energy."
"No,... listen. He doesn't know... He musn't. He will come looking for us."
"I will take the boy. The girl should stay with you."
"Not sure... how long I will last."
"Even if it's a short while, at least she will know her mother."
"Obi-Wan . . . there . . . is good in him. I know there is."
He says nothing but gently kisses her forehead. Bail watches from outside, forlorn.
Sidious hovers around the periphery of a group of droids who are working on Anakin. He watches as they back away and the medical equipment is removed. His face hidden behind a black mask, the patient is brought up on a medical slab which stands upright. Restraints hold his wrists and waist in place as Sidious approaches.
"Can you hear me?," Darth Sidious asks.
With his dark mask and helmet, the voice is deep and distorted, "Yes, My Master... Where is Padme? Is she safe, is she all right? Our child..."
"The Skywalker family is no longer your concern. Anakin Skywalker is dead. His child has been lost and his wife will soon perish. Do you understand?"
"... I... understand."
"What is your name?"
"My name... is Darth Vader."
"Lord Vader... Rise."
The restraints slide away and Darth Vader takes his first steps and straightens up, surveying his surroundings with new eyes.
"Who do you serve?"
"I serve the Empire."
"And your mission."
"I will bring balance to the galaxy."
"Good... Good."
Bail, Yoda, and Obi-Wan sit around a conference table in his palace.
"She's clinging on to life," Obi-Wan explains, "But the ordeal has effected her heart a great deal. She will have complications until..."
"I'll keep her and her daughter safe," Bail tells him, "We can... pretend she's mine. For whatever time we have together."
"Safe, the children must be kept," Yoda tells them, "Obi-Wan what shall come of the boy?"
"Anakin's mother married a farmer on Tatoonie before she died. He has a step-brother there but... I don't think the Sithlord will want anything to do with that farm. Or Tatoonie for that matter."
"Good. To Tatoonie the boy may go. From a distance, shall you keep watch."
"I will take the child and watch over him. Master Yoda, do you think Anakin's twins will be able to defeat Darth Sidious?
"Strong the Force runs, in the Skywalker line. Hope, we can . . . Done, it is. Until the time is right, disappear we will."
"I'll go see if Padme is awake," Bail leaves and Obi-Wan goes to follow him.
"Obi-Wan, more instruction, I have for you."
"Yes, Master Yoda?," he sits curiously.
"In your solitude on Tatooine, training I have for you."
"Training?"
"An old friend has learned the path to immortality. One who has returned from the netherworld of the Force to train me . . . your old Master, Qui-Gon Jinn."
"Master Qui-Gon? But, how could he accomplish this?"
"The secret of the Ancient Order of the Whills, he studied. How to commune with him. I will teach you."
"I will be able to talk with him?"
"How to join the Force, he will train you. Your consciousness you will retain, when one with the Force. Even your physical self, perhaps."
Obi-Wan silently contemplates Yoda's words.