The Power to Save Her
Chapter 16
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars.
Important Note: I will not follow comics/legends characters or concepts closely, if at all. My knowledge is strictly on the that of the movies and a more mainstream knowledge of Star Wars. Though I may reference events and things outside of the movies, I do not claim to know the material on a deeper level.
The light was painful in his eyes and a clear mask was over his mouth and nose digging into his skin. His eyes squinted at the brightness, not being used to it. His ears were ringing but he heard the voices of some familiar medics around him. They were discussing him and what they could possibly do. He shifted his head back and forth, feeling intense pain while lying there on the interior of the ship. It didn't sound like they knew he was awake, for they were discussing this in another corner of the room, Piett among them. Though he couldn't see them well, he did remember his promise to Obi-Wan.
"Kamino.", he wheezed out, hearing his real voice for the first time in years. Then a face came into view, her dark hair blocking much of the painful white light. She looked like an angel.
"Anakin?", she whispered, her voice low and emotional. Though it was difficult, he could see that she had been crying. Her voice sounded hoarse.
"Kamino.", he whispered again, having a harder time of this. The air barely filled his lungs. "Healing there."
"Piett.", she called out, after pulling away from him. He closed his eyes away from the bright light that she'd been blocking. He heard her speak to the others. "Kamino. It's where I was healed, and surely its facilities could heal him."
"I will send for them, but the chances of them having compatible organs is slim.", responded the medic quietly, but Piett shushed him.
"Do it anyway.", she ordered, not hiding any harshness in her voice. He could feel her despair in the Force, though she kept it together. "I want all avenues explored."
"We will do as you wish milady.", the Piett replied, and Vader heard his admiral order one of the medics to go to the communications center.
"How do you suggest we move him discreetly?", he heard Padmé ask, though he could barely hear anything.
"We have crates about his size.", suggested the admiral, and Vader glanced over to see the man's hazy outline. Though he might protest at the idea of being smuggled onto his own ship, he knew the need for secrecy. Especially in light of the fact that the Emperor himself did this to him.
"That'll do.", she nodded, and Piett bowed, going to fulfill this order himself.
Padmé came back into view, placing a gentle hand on his forehead.
"Everything's going to be fine now.", she uttered, watching him with nothing but love. He tried to speak but found that he was too weak to do so. She didn't make mention of this, but instead leaned down and kissed him on his brow. He closed his eyes and felt that exhaustion had its hold on him. Quickly, sleep claimed him again, and the world melted away.
This time his nightmares were gone.
The Falcon sat next to the hut while a sandstorm raged around it. The ship held steady however, even as the coarse winds scratched at the metal of the ship. Inside, the group huddled, waiting it out the storm. Both Luke and Leia were quiet, but finally at rest with so much information being shared the night before. They'd spoken to no one about this, though they knew that it would come out eventually. For now it was decided that they'd keep this quiet.
At least until they were out of immediate danger.
Sola, their aunt, was talking with Han about the ship, strangely interested in its modifications he'd boasted about and the smuggler was all to happy to tell her. Ryoo and Pooja were playing Dejarik with Chewie who was doing his ample best the beat them. Threepio monitored the game but kept his opinions to himself lest he anger the Wookiee too much.
Luke was practicing levitation, while meditating and Leia watched with fascination. Though Luke normally would find a secluded place to do this, there was no choice as this room was the only one big enough to move objects the way he wanted to. The crates were stacked, one on top of the other, while he sat with his legs crossed, fierce concentration on his face. Once he'd finished his session, he opened his eyes to see his sister curiously looking on.
"Want to learn?", Luke asked unprompted and she raised her eyebrows.
"I don't know if I even have it in me.", she muttered, and Luke nodded and stood. He motioned her to the place he had been sitting.
"You do.", he said and then continued in a lower voice so the others wouldn't hear. "The Force is strong in our family. And besides, this is just meditation."
"Alright.", she nodded, and sat, legs crossed as Luke had done. Then she glanced up at her brother. "What do I do?"
"You close your eyes.", he instructed, and she did so. "Now reach out with your feelings. The Force surrounds everything. It is this energy that allows a Jedi to levitate objects, sense danger, and even guides our actions."
"Okay.", was all she said, before sitting quietly, thinking of these things.
Once he was satisfied that she was doing just as he instructed, Luke stepped back, giving her space. He turned towards Han and Sola, who he only now realized were watching him curiously. Han was straight up confused, while Sola watched Leia with some calculating look in her eyes. Luke leaned against the wall and glanced at Leia, who was sitting there and meditating, and then back to the two.
"I didn't know she was Force sensitive.", Sola spoke, raising an eyebrow. Luke could hear the double meaning in her words. "Though I suppose it's possible for anyone."
"It's meditation.", Luke shrugged, motioning to his sister casually. "Everyone can do it, regardless of whether you're Force sensitive or not. Even Han."
"Look kid, I know you've got this great power and all, but I'm not going to pretend to understand it.", Han replied, giving a half smile. "At this point, at least I believe it exists."
"Why shouldn't you?", Sola asked turning to the smuggler. Her tone was full of surprise. "Surely you're old enough to remember the Jedi."
"Well they weren't exactly common on Corellia, so I couldn't say I ran into too many of them.", the smuggler replied. "Heard tales of some. One of them about the kid's father if I'm not mistaken."
"Ah yes, the Hero with No Fear.", reminisced Sola, clear admiration in her eyes, which were wistful. "Lived up to his name and was a close family friend."
"Small universe.", chuckled Han and Luke only gave a brief nervous smile. Han patted Luke on the shoulder and continued, "Was he anything like this one here?"
Sola regarded Luke closely, tilting her head.
"In looks yes, but personality, I wouldn't say so.", replied the woman with a smile. "You seem the serene type. I suspect you get it from your mother."
"Was he ah, particularly irritable?", Luke asked quickly, trying to direct the conversation away from his aunt's sister.
"Not when I met him, though I heard tales of his fierce combat tactics.", Sola replied, arching an eyebrow. "I had a sneaking suspicion that he liked my sister at one point. He was awfully dreadful at hiding his feelings."
"Strange.", was all Luke said, knowing the words sounded lame to his own ears.
"Very.", Sola replied, giving a hint of a smile, her gaze lingering on the fidgety Jedi. Han just raised an eyebrow, looking at the two strangely.
"Well Leia seems to be getting the hang of this... thing.", Han spoke, and they looked over to the princess who was totally relaxed, not seemingly bothered by the ruckus of the ship common area. Just then Chewie growled at the game board.
"It takes a disciplined mind to ignore these distractions.", Luke uttered, watching her closely. He sensed her clear mind, despite the fact that Vader was often in her thoughts as of late. "I suspect her political background helps her here."
"Have you trained under any masters Luke?", Sola asked, and Luke nodded.
"Ben, Obi-Wan Kenobi, started off my teaching, though he died.", Luke began, voice going solemn. Then thought to Yoda. "The other, you must understand, needs to remain anonymous, but he continued it, though I'm not a Jedi yet. I hope, one day, I can live up to the standard."
"I'm sure you will Luke.", Sola encouraged and the Jedi smiled. "Both your parents would be proud. I know it."
Luke turned his face completely over to the woman, and she displayed a knowing look in her eyes. Luke nodded to her, but said nothing, almost certain that she'd figured it out. She said nothing about it, and he was glad that she didn't feel the need to bring it out into the open. Not yet. He'd have much explaining to do if that happened, which could wait until after the mission with Jabba.
Outside, the sandstorm finally began to fade away.
Vader woke again to the sound of the door opening. Much of the pain was gone, but there was still some discomfort. He quickly sensed the numbing drugs in his system, though it clearly hadn't been enough to keep him sleeping. He was still on the Executor, but the room was different. He was on a table now, armor completely removed. It'd been a long time since his damaged skin had touched the cool air, though he felt little comfort in this fact due to the state it was in.
The person who'd entered the room came into view. He was human, but he could tell at once that this was the Kaminoan that had been sent for. The man was probably a clone, though obviously not derived from Jango Fett. Either way, he'd be one of the few clones left from Kamino. The stranger seemed unconcerned by the piercing eyes of the Sith, approaching the dangerous man with a datapad and an air of nothing but professionalism.
"Lord Vader.", he greeted, inclining his head. "We've stabilized you for now, but you'll need to be treated immediately. I'll need your permission to fulfill the agreement that was made, but first I am to inform you of the damage you've endured."
"Just get to it.", Vader replied, his voice near gasping. Something about this oxygen supply wasn't helping him anymore.
"Two irreparable lungs, as well as other damaged organs throughout your entire body.", he reported, going down the list as if it was inconsequential. "Also, burned skin and outdated prosthetics."
"Anything else?", he replied, voice but a whisper, knowing most of these already. His head started to pound from a rising headache. His skin felt like it would crack from being exposed to the open air.
"No. From what I heard, your respirator was destroyed, but these are all conditions you've had for years.", responded the medic, raising an eyebrow. "However, the new damage you just received made those partially functioning organs completely unusable."
"I will need the critical damage addressed.", informed the tired man, trying to put authority into his weak voice.
"But of course.", replied the clone, unfazed. "The procedure shall take a few days, and it should take a couple weeks to recover. What of prosthetics?"
"What do they offer?", he asked, not particularly caring. The pain was rising, and he needed to be put under again.
"A wider range of motion, as well as skin grafts. Though no real replacement for your limbs, it does allow a wearer to feel touch once more.", the medic listed methodically. "Also, resistant to outside forces, such as electricity or other energies that would cause a normal prosthetic to short out."
"I'll do it.", Vader agreed, knowing she would want this and that this would be an advantage against Sidious. He glanced around for Padmé only not to find her. Where was she?
"Very good, this will be a complete reconstruction of all damaged tissue and limbs.", the Clone stated, cutting him off from his thoughts.
"This must remain confidential.", insisted Vader.
"Well you have been moved to a secure wing, and there always remains a strict doctor-patient confidentiality. I've even removed all outside personnel, aside from your admiral.", reported the medic, and Vader understood the reason for Padmé's absence. "It's protocol to ensure that those who you say are unauthorized do not compromise the procedure."
"Padmé Amidala is authorized.", he said immediately, and the clone nodded, adding her to the list. "And Admiral Piett will continue to be so."
"I shall notify them immediately.", he replied, and opened the door.
Padmé, who seemed to have been waiting just outside came in, giving the Kaminoan an irritated expression. Her presence immediately soothed the injured man, and she gave him an encouraging smile. The medic stood by the door and spoke once more.
"I'll run the plans for this.", he informed, before turning to leave. "We'll commence the procedure in a couple hours."
Luke entered through the familiar door, the dust from numerous sandstorms falling from the cracks as it was opened. The inside of the hut was silent, but dry and dark, though he was quick to remedy this by turning on some of the lights. The home was spartan, as it was from the time before he'd left, though it was still somewhat inviting. Sand covered the floor and coated every object.
Luke drifted to the center of the room, noting the spot where Ben had given him his father's lightsaber. He dusted the sand off the ledge and sat on the edge of it. For a moment, he took in the room, reaching out with his senses to for anything that might help him. There came a nudge for him to inspect the metal crate on the other side of the room. Immediately he approached the container, which looked uninteresting on the surface, but he knew it contained something.
He picked it up, setting it on the round table and sat once more on the ledge. At his touch, the box opened and within it was several scraps of metal, ancient texts, datapads, and a metal cylinder, which also seemed to be a container. Luke could tell immediately that some of these items were crucial lightsaber parts. Though he'd never built one, something in the Force told him.
He opened the cylinder, checking the contents, and found a kyber crystal, a true rarity. While he was holding it in his hand, he heard footsteps from behind him. He glanced over to see Han coming through the doorway.
"Hey kid, Chewie and I are going to pay up to Jabba.", announced the smuggler, leaning his elbow on the doorway. "You sure you don't want to get out of here in case things go south?"
"Of course not.", Luke replied, glancing over at the smuggler. "If anything goes wrong, as it most certainly will, Leia and I are coming to get you out."
"You don't have too much faith in me.", smirked Han.
"It's Jabba I don't trust.", replied Luke, almost rolling his eyes, though he knew Han was sensible of this fact. "Leia senses this too."
"Speaking of which, she's taken a real liking to this… hobby of yours.", Han replied, and Luke could sense some jealousy, though Han was good not to show it. Luke had to smile while he examined the lightsaber parts.
"Han, I'm not interested in her, not like that.", Luke replied, and he could feel that Han grew surprised at his insight.
"Well I'm not about to get involved either way.", Han replied, trying to shake it off casually.
"I know for a fact that it isn't at all like that between us.", Luke insisted, wondering if the choice to hide their family connections was a good idea. This conversation wouldn't even be happening if he knew.
"Sure kid.", Han replied with a smirk, but Luke could tell he was hiding his true emotions.
"It's not!", Luke insisted, almost heatedly, and then calmed himself easily. "Just… I'll explain it to you after you get your debts repaid, but please know I only see her as a sister."
"Alright, alright. I was only teasing.", Han replied, though Luke could feel his relief in the Force. "What's that you have there?"
"Lightsaber parts.", Luke replied, analyzing the pieces on the table. "I'm hoping one of these datachips has instructions for building one."
"Well I don't know anything about that, but good luck.", he replied, and stopped leaning on the doorway. "Anyway, I should probably get going. I'll comm you if anything goes wrong."
"Be careful.", Luke said imploringly, turning his gaze to the smuggler.
"I will kid.", Han nodded and left the hut.
Luke turned back to the lightsaber parts knowing this would take too long for him to assemble for the mission. Sighing he packed up the belongings, transferring them to the ship, and determined to complete it soon. In the distance, he could see Han and Chewie heading in the direction of Mos Eisley.
He hoped to the Force that this mission would go well.
The dreamless sleep he was under began melting away.
The first thing he became aware of was the easy rise and fall of his chest. For the first time in decades, it didn't feel as if a heavy weight was pressing down on his lungs. Though there was a dull ache, Vader felt less pain. He spanned his hands, instantly feeling something soft at his fingertips. With a surprise of realization, he came to understand that this wasn't another dream. Again, he slowly, he felt the edges of the surface with his fingers, reveling in the sensation. He did the same thing with his toes, which were touching some sort of blanket that covered him. The fabric reached up to his shoulders.
At last his eyes opened, for the first time no longer seeing the red tint of his mask. His view was the dark ceiling of his quarters aboard the Executor, though there was light from the viewport. There came a soft beeping of some machine next to him, consistent in its rhythm, but he did not turn to look at it. Instead, he reveled in the fact that he could breath in the open air for the first time, feel the rise and fall of his chest, and comprehend the sensation of touch on every inch of his body. He raised a hand up, noting its immediate response and drew it to his face, feeling no mask. Then, he brought both hands up, noting the healthy flesh that seamlessly connected to his seemingly real limbs. Something tickled at his head, and he felt at it, finding to his astonishment, some fine hairs. There was a bacta patch over his chest, concealing the evidence of a surgical procedure.
There came a noise to his side.
Finally, he did turn his head, only to see Padmé sleeping on the ledge near the viewport of his room. Beyond her, he could see the stars drifting by as the Executor continued in some direction he knew not. She was peacefully dreaming, he could sense, so he dared not disturb her. For much of the time, he was content to watch her, though he eventually felt the heaviness of sleep start to creep up on him. His eyelids were beginning to feel heavy. He was about to drift off when the door to his quarters hissed open.
In walked the medic from Kamino, looking on him as if he was some sort of experiment. Vader didn't know if he particularly liked the analytical expression on his face, but he knew no harm was meant by it. The Force would've warned him otherwise.
"It seems as if your recovery is going as quickly as expected, though perhaps more so than I thought possible."
"Force healing.", he said almost effortlessly and then startled at the rich sound of his voice.
"Ah yes, the vocal cords are functioning too.", the clone nodded, and then checked something off of his datapad. He noticed the uneasy expression the man was giving him and waved it off. "This'll be deleted before I leave the ship."
"Be sure that it does.", he replied, adding a hint of a threat to his voice. The clone nodded, though didn't appear afraid.
"And this concludes my services.", reported the clone, and remained standing there expectantly.
"Your payment will be transferred to your ship.", Vader replied, and the clone, seeming to get what he came for, nodded. "Go speak with Piett."
He sighed after the door hissed shut, the medic gone now, looking at the ceiling. There had been many changes, though he knew that plans needed to be made to cover this transformation. On the other side of the room, he noticed his respirator. Its outline was singed and dented, but otherwise looked repairable. Slowly, he shifted his gaze away from it, knowing that he'd cross that bridge when he got to it.
There came a small noise to the side of him and he turned to his wife once more. Padmé, who had been sleeping peacefully, was stirring. Through the Force, he sensed that her unconscious mind was now awakening. Slowly she came to, stretching her limbs, and then groggily glanced over to him. Upon seeing that he was awake, her face lit up in a beautiful way.
"Anakin.", was all she said, her eyes full of joy. She approached him, clasping his hands in hers and sat on the edge of his bed. Her hands were small in his. They said nothing, simply basking in each other's presence for some time.
Though there was much to plan, they wouldn't worry about it now.
For the Force had kept them together.
A/N: I'm aware that the appearance of Anakin at the end of ROTJ is a subject of much debate, so I'm not going to tell you how you should picture him, but I will give my opinion on what I think he looks like here. In my head, he's is somewhere in between prequels and original trilogy, though it's not a given. Either way, picture him how you want to. Looks shouldn't matter too much anyway, as it's not central to the character :)
It interesting because originally, I never planned to do a Vader who wasn't reliant on his suit. This is mostly for the readers who seemed to want it, and I just couldn't say no to the request ;)
Special shoutout to RyanSquad, MMM73181, ichigo urahara Shihoin, Jeda31, xxx (Guest), Reconzilla117 and The God of Perverts for reviewing the last chapter! I appreciate all of you coming back to review! And a big thank you to those who've favorited and followed my story, as well as me as an author. If you enjoyed, please don't hesitate to let me know! Thank you all for reading :)