Vader knelt down before the holoterminal in his quarters. The Emperor's image appeared in unnatural size. "The jedi escaped before I arrived, master. There are no traces to find out where she went. I apologize." Sidious eyes narrowed.
"You are saying you failed?" Vader nodded. "I am, master. The jedi is out of our reach." Slowly, Sidious rose from his throne. "Do you realize that your failure harms the empire, Lord Vader?", he snarled. "Yes, master."
Vader knew what was going to happen, Sidious had been displeased often enough. The next thing Vader felt was pure pain as the force lightning flickered through his veins. "The jedi are enemies, Lord Vader. They cannot roam free."
Vader barely heard the Emperor's voice as the lightning did not stop. He focused on suffering the pain which he had gotten good at over the last two years. He bent over a little further to support himself with an arm. Slowly Vader's senses returned.
"You will not fail again, Lord Vader." The Emperor's image disappeared. Vader gasped for air through the respirator, which made him choke and cough. This had been worth it. A few moments of pain were a small price for Shaak Ti's life.
Vader began standing up, ignoring his aching body. All he wanted to do now, was returning to Mustafar, to his children, and ensuring that Padmé had reached safety. Sidious had not given him a next task, so there was no reason not to do so.
Vader concentrated on the force flowing around him, until the pain faded. Then he marched outside, headed for his fighter. He was ignored, for everyone knew he had just spoken with the Emperor, which never left him in a good mood.
He entered his ship and took off, while pushing his anger from his mind violently. Sidious knew that Vader hated him, it even was his goal. It was the main purpose of his punishments, and Vader couldn't deny their efficiency.
It infuriated him that the Emperor treated him like property, like a tool. It was ironic, considering how often he had told him that the jedi didn't appreciate him. That it was them who were using him.
Vader couldn't believe he had fallen for that two years earlier. If only he had known. So many would have been spared horrible suffering. Vader's barriers broke down and the anger flooded his mind.
The rage only grew as he realized that this meant Sidious had succeeded in his intention to upset him. Vader's fighter shot into the emptiness of space with the speed of light, rushing towards Mustafar.
"We have a situation here. This is a message, transmitted to all our allies." Ackbar suddenly appeared on the holoterminal in the room. Sola dropped the apple she had been eating and Ruwee jumped of his chair. Ahsoka frowned.
It had to be urgent if Ackbar was addressing everyone reachable. "We have discovered something. A construction, the empire is working on. It is huge, the size of a moon, and we assume it is a weapon. We can only imagine the firepower."
"We could ask...", Ahsoka began, but Padmé reminded her of what not to say with a single look. "...the jedi.", Ahsoka ended instead. Padmé came to support. "Good idea, they might know something.", she said.
"If you can help, if you know anything, we would be grateful for any piece of information." Ackbar's image vanished just as suddenly as it had appeared.
"You're right, Ahsoka. You should ask the jedi now.", Padmé suggested. Ahsoka nodded. "I will. Excuse me for a moment." Of course, Ahsoka knew who Padmé had meant. The jedi wouldn't know anything.
They were no secret organisation, but only a hidden religion. Ahsoka left the room, her comlink ready in her hand. "I have a question, master." Anakin was in a ship, and wearing his mask. "Is Padmé safe?", he only replied.
Ahsoka nodded. "Yes, we are on Naboo, with her family. Don't worry about it." "Good. So what do you need to know?" She sighed. "It's the rebels. They have found something, and want to know more about it."
Anakin took off his mask, revealing his bewildered face. "Alright. What is it they have found? And why do you think I know about it?" Ahsoka arched a brow. "Because you know about the empire, obviously."
Anakin frowned. "So they have found something imperial. I'll need more than that." Ahsoka nodded. "It's a construction as big as a moon. They believe it is going to be a weapon of immense firepower."
Anakin chuckled. "The rebels have found the death star? The Emperor would be very upset to hear that." Ahsoka felt sick on the spot. "The what?" Anakin pulled a grimace.
"He calls it the death star. It will be an orbital station with enough firepower to vaporize a whole planet just like that." Ahsoka's eyes widened. "When will it be operational?", she asked, fearing the answer.
Anakin smirked. "They're not even close. The last report said the construction will take up to another two decades." Ahsoka sighed in relief. "That's good news. Do you know anything else?"
Anakin shrugged. "Not really. Although I could get the plans and location." He smirked. "But the rebels already have the location. How did they find it? How did they know about it?" Ahsoka shook her head.
"No idea. Admiral Ackbar just send an emergency message to everyone allied with the rebellion, which apparently includes the Naberries, and asked for information. He said they found it, and nothing else." Anakin chuckled again.
"Sidious put so much effort into hiding his project of destruction, making every little rest of data, the rebels might intercept disappear, and now they just stumbled over it by chance." Ahsoka grinned.
"How did he accidentally built it right next to the rebel base?", she asked. "With the same probability, they found it without without looking for it.", Anakin replied.
"Thank you for the briefing, master. That was very helpful. So, how did things on Alderaan turn out? There must have been complications if you are on your way back now."
Anakin shook his head. "Everything went smoothly. I made a detour. When I was back on the executor, Sidious sent me to kill Shaak Ti, just like he sent me to kill you." Ahsoka gasped. "Oh no, did you?"
Anakin looked down. "No, I didn't. I helped her to escape." Ahsoka stared at him. "What? Why?" He frowned. "What do you mean? I had no reason to kill her." Ahsoka raised her brows. "And you told the Emperor that you failed?"
Anakin nodded. "He was a bit upset, nothing I'm not used to." Ahsoka narrowed her eyes. She knew Anakin, something was wrong. "He did something to you.", she stated. Anakin rolled his eyes.
"Just force lightning.", he muttered. Ahsoka eyed him curiously. "And you'd do that, for a jedi you don't even know very well?" Ahsoka heard how the door behind her opened. "Thank you, very helpful.", she rushed and ended the connection.
"Do they know anything?", Sola asked. Ahsoka turned around, giving her a warm smile. "Yes, they do. I'll tell Ackbar everything I learned right away." Sola nodded showing back into the room.
"Could you contact Ackbar again?", she asked Ruwee, who was standing next to the terminal. "I know what they found.", Ahsoka said. Ruwee's eyes widened. "Of course. Who should I tell him you are?" Ahsoka smirked.
"No need. He knows me already." Ruwee gave her a curious glance before typing the frequency into the terminal. "Admiral. I have a reply to your message." The Mon Calamari looked down at her, recognizing her face.
"You're the friend of..." Ahsoka cut him off. "Our mutual friend, yes." She flicked her eyes to both sides, trying to make him understand. And he did. He nodded barely noticeable. "I asked him, when I heard this message of yours."
A smirk spread on Ackbar's face. "I'm sure he could clarify things. So what is the thing we spotted?" Ahsoka nodded. "He could. You stumbled upon a well kept secret of the Emperor, you were right it is a weapon."
She sighed. "A space station with enough power to simply destroy an entire planet with a single shot.", she explained. Jobal put her hand before her mouth, fear in her eyes. Padmé was quiet and stared to the ground.
"But it won't be operational any time soon. It could take them twenty more years." Ackbar sat back in his seat with the tension dropping off him. "Surely, our mutual friend could provide the necessary data to destroy it."
Ahsoka nodded. "He can. He will. You will receive everything as soon as possible." Ackbar folded his hands. "I must admit, I had doubts, but perhaps this isn't bad after all." Ahsoka smirked and bent her head.
"Glad to hear that.", she smiled. Ackbar sighed then ended the call. "Now I am curious.", Sola announced. "Who is that friend of yours?", she asked. Ahsoka smiled at her. "You'll have to ask him."
She pulled a grimace. "I don't know..." Jobal put a hand on her daughter's arm. "Some things, we don't have to know. Just be grateful." Sola nodded. "I am. That friend seems to be a blessing."
Padmé and Ahsoka glanced at each other. "He is.", Padmé assured with a grin. Ahsoka nodded. "In almost every way.", she chuckled.
"Shaak Ti is already back with the jedi. Master Yoda thinks you are on the path to be one of us again." Anakin shut the gates behind him. "I hope not." he mumbled. Obi Wan smirked. "It appears, we already have the next problem.", Anakin said.
"The rebels know about the Emperor's secret weapon." Obi Wan put a hand on his shoulder. "Before you return to your work, you should see your children. They miss you." Anakin smiled.
"Obviously I will. And while I do, you could do some research. You know how to access the restricted imperial data by now, gather everything you can find about the death star." Obi Wan frowned. "The what?"
Anakin already was on his way out of the room. "The rebels found it, and they want to know about it. I don't have all the details on top of my head, they will need some files.", he explained. Obi Wan sighed.
"I'll look into it.", he confirmed. "Thank you.", Anakin said before he disappeared. "Always on the move.", Obi Wan murmured before he headed for a holo terminal.
He typed the commands that granted full access to all data, and looked for anything matching the words death star. The giant image of a moon appeared, although it was a weird moon.
Lines and lights cut through the smooth surface and there was a circular notch. Obi Wan minimized the image to read through the texts. While he did, the sick feeling in his stomach increased steadily.
This monstrosity was the last thing the galaxy needed. And it certainly wouldn't serve anyone's protection, like the empire's propaganda suggested. Anakin returned with two toddlers clinging to his tunic.
"Did you find plans, or anything else?" Obi Wan nodded. "This is horrible.", he stated. Anakin looked at the image hovering in midair. "That's not what it looks like. Not yet. It will take decades to finish."
Obi Wan frowned. "I hope you're right. This would be a nightmare. Anyway, I have the plans and schedules now." Anakin nodded. "Ahsoka wanted them. The Naberries are with the rebellion."
Obi Wan began the transmission. "Why are you helping the rebellion like this? Is it really just that they share Padmé's ideals?" Anakin shrugged. "Mostly. But they also share my hatred of the Emperor."
Obi Wan was quiet for a few moments while the death star plans were received by Ahsoka. "I'm sorry, Anakin.", he said. Anakin frowned. "What for?", he asked. Obi Wan sighed. "For sneaking onto Padmé's ship back then. It was wrong."
Anakin's expression hardened. "What?" "Yoda was going after Sidious, and I was going after you. But Padmé was the only one who knew where you were. So I told her about you. She was so worried, she went to find you."
Anakin narrowed his eyes. "She didn't know you were on the ship?", he demanded. Obi Wan shook his head. "No. I couldn't think of another way. But I should have waited to find you myself and not pull her into the confrontation."
Anakin set the twins down carefully. They were staring up to both their father and Obi Wan, fascinated by what was happening. "Still, what happened to her was my fault.", Anakin moaned. Obi Wan arched a brow.
"I could have easily avoided it. If only I had been more sensible and careful." Anakin snorted. "It was me who did it.", he reminded Obi Wan.
"Also, I'm sorry for being ignorant of your feelings for Padmé. A lot could have been prevented if you wouldn't have felt like you needed to hide them from the order.", Obi Wan continued.
Anakin arched a brow. "Felt like it? I would have been expelled." Obi Wan shrugged. "Maybe. Ki Adi Mundi even was on the council, and yet the order permitted him to have a family." Anakin said nothing.
"And, mostly, I am sorry for leaving you behind on this bloody planet. I could have taken you to Polis Massa. Even killing you, would have been better than just letting you burn.", Obi Wan continued.
Anakin pulled a grimace. "It is what I deserved.", he stated. Obi Wan stared at him in disbelief. "No one deserves what you suffered. Not even the Emperor." Anakin smirked. "There's a lot that old traitor deserves."
"Who Emperor?", Luke asked curiously. Anakin sighed. "He is the man that rules over the galaxy, Luke. But he is a very bad person." Luke nodded, and immediately lost interest. He was simply too young to care.
"I just thought you should know that I wish things would have been different for you. I lost a brother back then." Anakin stared into the air, not glancing Obi Wan. "I know.", he said quietly.