I don't own Star Wars or any of the characters.
The three Jedi had finally reached the Temple. Obi-Wan and Jinn led the way, Anakin trailing far behind them. Walking down the familiar halls and seeing Jedi causally going about their day brought back memories, some too painful for Anakin to remember. The last time he had walked down the halls of the Jedi Temple was when he led an army of clone troopers as a newly crimsoned Sith, Darth Vader. He could still hear the cries of the fallen Jedi as the clones shot them with blasters, the screams of the younglings as he cut them down with his lightsaber, the smell of blood…
Anakin was brought back to reality when he ran into his old master. Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow but did not say anything about his former Padawan's strange behaviour. Jinn just stared in worry and concern at his adoptive uncle, wondering what have happened to cause Anakin's behaviour to change so suddenly.
An adult female Togruta stood outside the doors of the training room the two Jedi Masters and the Padawan approached. The Togruta was familiar to Anakin, although he couldn't tell why. The Togruta carried a standard lightsaber and a shoto, marking her as a Jedi. Upon seeing the lightsabers, Anakin realised who the Togruta was.
"Ahsoka?! How can this be?!" exclaimed Anakin.
Anakin couldn't believe his former Padawan was standing in front of him, all grown up and a fully fledged Jedi. The last time Anakin had seen Ahsoka was the day she left the Order. Anakin had been heartbroken when his beloved Padawan rejected returning to him, turning her back on him and the whole Jedi Order. Anakin had blamed the Council for Ahsoka leaving him. If the Council hadn't been so desperate to appease the Senate, they wouldn't have expelled Ahsoka for a crime Anakin knew had little evidence to actually support Ahsoka did anything wrong. Even after Anakin had cleared Ahsoka's name and done everything he could to prove her innocence, she had still left him behind. Watching his beloved Padawan walk down the Temple steps and away from him was the last time Anakin had ever seen Ahsoka.
During his time as a Sith, he had crossed paths with his former apprentice on more than one occasion. But those times had been different. No longer were they master and apprentice, they were now enemies. Anakin had become Darth Vader, second in command of the Empire and Dark Lord of the Sith. Ahsoka had become Fulcrum, a Rebel leader and servant of the Light.
Ahsoka didn't notice her former master's strange behaviour, thinking his question was only referring to what was happening in the training room. Ahsoka told Anakin and Obi-Wan (and Jinn) a brief version of what had transpired in the training room before she left and what had happened when she returned.
"…and after I left Cham and Annie with Hera, I sensed a disturbance through the Force. I raced back here as fast as I could and found the doors locked. I tried opening them every way I could think of, but they just wouldn't budge. I tired contacting you, Master, but your comm. was off. So I contacted Obi-Wan and got the two of you to come here. I just hope we're not too late." concluded Ahsoka.
Obi-Wan went over to the door, examining it closely. He gave a strong shove on the door frame, but the door did not move even a millimetre. Now this didn't make any sense. It should have been impossible to lock a door to a training room, encase there was a medical emergency so the healers could tend to the injured, which happened more often than one would think.
The sound of colliding lightsabers caught all four Jedi's attention. Obi-Wan, Jinn and Ahsoka tried to push on the door using the Force, but it still did not move. Something didn't fell right as they tried to push the door open. It was almost like the Force was purposely holding the door closed, preventing anyone from opening it.
Suddenly, Anakin felt a familiar presence in the Force. He reached along the bond he hadn't realised was there and was shocked to discover it was his son he had been sensing. Something came over Anakin as he felt his mind open against his will and contact his son.
"Luke, my son, are you there?" mentally asked Anakin.
It took several seconds before Luke replied, sending his thought out along a foreign yet familiar bond against his will.
"Father, is that you?" wondered Luke.
"It's me son." answered Anakin.
"How is this possible? I saw you die. How are you contacting me?" rambled Luke.
Anakin sensed his son was on the verge of a panic attack. With all that he had been through the last few hours alone, Anakin didn't want to imagine what his son was going through. The concerned father sent calming waves across the bond he shared with his son, an action that felt instinctual and right to Anakin. Luke accepted the calming energies from his father without hesitation, allowing it to wrap around him and help him regain his center. Sensing that his was going to be alright, Anakin reach out along the bond again, a little more slowly than the first time.
"There isn't much time to talk, Luke. The doors are locked and I need your help to open it. Please, Luke, I need you to trust me." sent out Anakin.
"Alright, Father, I'll help you." said Luke.
Closing his eyes, Anakin reached out with the Force and began to push on the doors. He could feel his son doing the same on the other side, pulling on the massive wooden doors with all his might. Slowly, the doors opened and the Jedi walked inside. They were all surprised by what they saw.
Katana was being held back by Leia and Ezra, the three Padawans in a standstill. The newly knighted Galen Marek had his double bladed blue lightsaber crossed with Mara Jade's purple blade, holding his own against the younger woman. Luke was standing off to the side, his arm stretched out and eyes closed as if he was meditating.
Upon hearing the doors open, the six young Jedi turned to see who had entered the training room and they all froze. Obi-Wan cleared his throat and Katana hurried to her father's side, pushing past Leia and Ezra before they had a chance to stop her. Anakin caught the beginnings of one of Obi-Wan's famous lectures before his body began moving on autopilot to the red haired woman he partially recognised.
Mara felt a cold shiver run down her spine as her master approached her. The young woman saw Galen step away slowly, giving the legendary Jedi Master a wide birth as he stood before his Padawan.
"What is the meaning of this?" sternly asked Anakin.
"I'm sorry Master. Katana and I fought. She was insulting you and…" began Mara.
Anakin held up a hand, instantly silencing his Padawan.
"I don't want any excuses. I don't care who started the fight or what it was about. All that matters is that you fought without reason. Meditate on your actions and we will discuss your punishment later. Am I clear Padawan?" sternly spoke Anakin.
Anakin had no idea where that came from. It was almost like someone else had been in control of his body for a moment, but at the same time it was him. As Anakin wondered what had just happened to him, Mara Jade slowly crept away without saying another word. She knew better than to go against her master, especially when he let his anger show. Not wanting to worsen an already bad situation, Mara decided to cut her losses and meditate as her master had said until he came for her and told her what her punishment would be.
As Mara walked away from Anakin, Luke approached the man he somehow knew was his father. The young Jedi cautiously placed a hand on the older man's cheek, as if trying to convince himself that he was real. Anakin cringed slightly under the touch, still not used to physical contact. Nervously, and with great hesitation, Anakin opened his mind fully to his son. Luke repeated the gesture, sending every fibre of his being across the bond to his father. And with that, the dam broke.
Father and son embraced each other, tears welling in their eyes. Anakin could no longer hold himself back. He tightened his grip of Luke, burying his face in his son's soft blond hair. Tears freely flowed down Anakin's cheeks as silent sobs racked his entire body. Closing his eyes, Anakin reached out to touch his son's mind, nervous about Luke's reaction to him intruding upon his most private of sanctuaries.
"Luke, my son, I am so sorry. No words can describe how much shame I feel." sobbed Anakin.
"I have already forgiven you, Father." gently assured Luke.
Anakin felt a smile tug at the corner of his lips. Even after all he had done, Luke still forgave him. Force, what did he do to deserve such a kind and compassionate son? Any sane person would have believed Anakin was been beyond redemption, but not Luke. Luke had risked everything, even his own life, to bring his father back to the Light. Anakin knew Luke had had succeeded in his quest. He had returned to the Light and killed the Emperor, putting an end to the dark era he had helped create. And, even though he had died, Anakin would have saved his son again in a heartbeat.
But none of that mattered now. Anakin was alive again. He had his wife! He had his family! Whatever happened next, Anakin knew he could endure it so long as his son was at his side.
Anakin and Luke have finally met. Things will get a bit more interesting in the next chapter. Comment if you like the story.
