Chapter 59

"Something on your mind? Or do you always just stare at people that way?"

Obi-Wan smiled at the young pilot's obvious attempts to hide his uneasiness. "I was wondering the same thing about you, Captain Solo," he replied. "You seem rather troubled for some reason."

"Me?" Han retorted with a smirk. "Nothing troubling me, old man."

Obi-Wan nodded. "I see," he said, not believing Han for a moment. "I couldn't help but notice that you and Princess Leia's father are rather ….adversarial."

Han shrugged; hating the fact that Obi-Wan was able to see right through his attempts to be indifferent. "So?" he said. "He's not exactly an easy guy to get along with."

"No, he isn't," Obi-Wan agreed. "I know that better than anyone. I suppose, though, the fact that he is rather intimidating makes things somewhat more problematic for someone wishing to court his daughter."

Han lowered his brows, staring at the old Jedi. "Do you ever just get to the point, Kenobi? Or are you always so long winded?"

Obi-Wan chuckled. "Some might call it tactfulness," he commented. "But if you wish me to be blunt, I shall be happy to do so. It's obvious that you have feelings for Leia Skywalker, and the fact that you and her father can't get along is a problem."

"And?" Han said, not trying to deny a word Kenobi had said.

"And, I was wondering if you needed some advice from someone who knows Anakin Skywalker better than most," Kenobi replied. "That is, if you wish to put an end to the enmity between you and him."

Han continued to scowl at Obi-Wan, not wanting to admit that he could definitely use some advice. He had never needed anything from anybody, and had prided himself on being completely independent for most of his life. But then, he had never been in love before. That had changed everything.

Obi-Wan had seen within moments of meeting him that Han Solo was not an easy man to read; and yet, he knew that he'd captured Han's interest. It was obvious that Solo was crazy about Leia Skywalker; and it was equally obvious that he was clueless how to make such a relationship work. The fact that Leia's father was the Chosen One, the Hero with no Fear, the greatest Jedi of them all…well that just presented a complication Han didn't need. Anakin Skywalker was extremely protective of his daughter, and was not a man to be trifled with. Han Solo was an incredibly stubborn man, who hated to rely on anyone for anything. Secretly Obi-Wan found the entire situation rather amusing; but he liked the young pilot, and knew that he was the only one who could give Han the advice he needed. If only he weren't too proud to take it, he reflected.

"Suppose I do," Han replied at last. "It's pretty clear that he thinks that I'm not good enough for his little girl. I doubt any man would be," he grumbled.

"You're right about that," Kenobi replied. "But you have to remember that Leia is very strong willed, she is very much like her father in that respect."

"Yeah, no kidding," Han snorted. "What's your point?"

"My point is if Leia reciprocates your feelings, she will not let her father interfere," Kenobi replied. "She will do everything she can to make the two of you get along, as impossible as that seems right now."

"So what are you suggesting?" Han asked. "How do I get him to back off?"

Obi-Wan smiled. You don't, he reflected. "Well, the way I see it, Anakin won't back off, not where his daughter is concerned. So it's up to you to make him like you."

"Yeah, right," Han replied. "Like that'll ever happen in a thousand years."

Obi-Wan laughed. "He's not as bad as you think, Han. In fact, you and he have a lot in common, believe it or not."

"I don't believe it," Han replied.

"No, I didn't think you would," Obi-Wan returned. "But you do. You're both incredibly stubborn, proud to a fault, independent, cocky…"

"Hey," Han protested.

"Are you going to let me finish?" Kenobi asked patiently.

Han sighed loudly. "Yeah, go ahead."

"Thank you," Obi-Wan said. "You may not be aware of it, but Anakin Skywalker was known as the greatest pilot in the galaxy at one time. And if I were a betting man, I'd wager he still is. He is a genius of engineering, can build or fix anything…sound like someone you know?"

Han rubbed his chin thoughtfully, hating to admit that the old man was right. "Yeah, I suppose it does," He admitted. "So what? What difference does any of that make if he thinks I'm not good enough for Leia?"

Obi-Wan sighed. "I'm afraid you'll have to figure that out for yourself, Han. You're a resourceful young man, I'm sure you'll think of something."

Han frowned as the old Jedi walked away. Damn you Kenobi, he thought to himself. Why do you always have to be right?

Star Destroyer Executor

Upon arriving at the enormous docking bay of the Executor, Anakin, Padmé and their children accompanied Admiral Piett to a large conference room where many of the senior officers of the mighty vessel were assembled. All eyes turned and watched as they entered the room, all talking stopped as they took a seat at the head of the large conference table.

"Gentlemen, please sit down," Piett said to his fellow officers. The men sat down at once, as murmurs of curiosity went around the room as one by one they began to realize who it was sitting in their midst. Piett waited until the room was quiet again before he spoke again.

"Judging by the look on the faces of many of you, I don't need to introduce at least one of our guests," he began. "If you are old enough to remember the Clone Wars, which I daresay all of you are, you will no doubt remember the Hero with No Fear, the great Anakin Skywalker."

"How is this possible?" one captain spoke up. "I thought you were killed in the purges along with the rest of the Jedi."

Anakin looked at his wife and then back at the man asking the question. "No, I was not," he replied, the difficulty of what he needed to say suddenly hitting him. "Anakin Skywalker ceased to exist, but not in the manner you think. Twenty years ago he was transformed into the monster you all knew as Darth Vader."

Expressions of shock and disbelief were heard from all quarters as the men did their best to comprehend what they had just been told. Padmé could see how difficult this was for Anakin, and reached over and took his hand. He looked at her with a smile, grateful for her support.

"You mean to tell us that you are Darth Vader?" another officer asked. "How is that possible? Darth Vader was a cyborg, not a man."

"Darth Vader was the result of a number of tragic, horrific circumstances," Leia spoke up. "Physically, psychologically, spiritually- he was the wreckage of a once good man that had been corrupted by the emperor, used and destroyed in order for Palpatine to create this Empire." She looked at her father. "That man has returned, and is seated here with you today. He is Anakin Skywalker once again, in every possible way."

"Aren't you Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan?" one of the men asked. "Why are you involved in all of this?"

"Vader saved her from the Death Star, remember?" another responded.

"That's right," a third spoke up, looking at Leia. "He committed treason to get you off of that space station and helped the Rebel Alliance in its destruction."

Leia nodded. "Yes, that's right," she said. She turned to Luke. "My brother Luke here is the one who destroyed it thanks to the information that Darth Vader provided us with."

"I'm afraid I'm very confused by all this," one officer spoke up. "Darth Vader defected? Why? What was your motivation?"

"My family was my motivation," Anakin said at last. He turned and looked at his children who were seated beside him. "Princess Leia Organa is my daughter, and Luke Skywalker is my son."

The reaction was immediate to this disclosure. Now it makes sense, they all thought. Now it all fits together.

"And you, milady, are Senator Amidala, one time queen of Naboo, are you not?" one officer asked.

Padmé nodded. "Yes," she replied. "I am Anakin's wife, the mother of his children."

Piett watched as the expression on the faces of his men changed from confusion, to wonder, to astonishment all in short order. Clearly they respected Anakin Skywalker and his family; but would that be enough to garner their support in Anakin's plan?

"Gentlemen," Piett spoke up to gain their attention once again. "No doubt you are all wondering what the reason is behind the arrival of our most remarkable guests. It is a simple one." He turned to look at Anakin. "Anakin Skywalker has freed us from the tyranny of the monstrous Ferreus. The Dark Lord we all grew to despise is dead."

The response of the officers was quite startling in its enthusiasm at this news. Obviously Ferreus had been truly hated by his men, his death cause for celebration.

Piett held up his hand to get the room quiet once again. "There is more, my friends. The Skywalker family has allied itself to us in our cause to fight the Empire. With their help, we can form a coalition with the Rebel Alliance, join our strength to theirs."

"How do you expect the Alliance to accept us as allies?" one officer spoke up. "This is the flag ship of the fleet, Piett. The rebels won't trust us."

Other officers agreed, and voiced this sentiment.

"I am one of the leaders of the Alliance," Leia spoke up. "I will speak to the other leaders; help them to see how this coalition would be the perfect way to end the conflict that has ripped the galaxy apart for the past twenty years."

"Our father has already demonstrated his trustworthiness when he helped the Alliance destroy the Death Star," Luke spoke up at this point. "When he prevented the destruction of Alderaan and saved my sister from certain execution at the hands of Tarkin. Our mother was instrumental in the very creation of the Rebel Alliance, back when the Republic was in its last days. The Alliance would be foolish not to accept your help in their fight against the Empire; not with my father commanding this ship."

"Is that what the big plan is?" one officer spoke up. "To have you command this ship?" he asked Anakin.

Anakin nodded. "The emperor needs a new apprentice," he replied. "He has already contacted me and asked me to return to his service. I will do so, or so I will lead him to believe."

"The emperor does not know that this ship has mutinied," Piett reminded his officers. "So if Darth Vader takes command of it, he will not suspect that anything is amiss. Only it won't be Darth Vader in command, it will be Anakin Skywalker."

"I'm afraid you've lost me," an officer said. "Darth Vader and Anakin Skywalker are the same person, isn't that what you just told us?"

"They are and they aren't," Anakin replied. "Think of it as opposite sides of a coin; Darth Vader is the dark manifestation of Anakin Skywalker. It was Darth Vader who helped Palpatine form the Empire, who committed countless unspeakable acts of cruelty over the past twenty years. He was the servant of the emperor and he is the one the emperor desperately needs at his side again."

"So let me see if I understand this," the same officer replied. "You will ….pretend to be Vader? Is that what you are saying?"

Anakin nodded. "Yes," he said. "I am. Palpatine needs Vader, he needs him so desperately that he is swallowing his pride and almost begging him to come back. I will use this desperation to my advantage, to regain his trust, all the while planning to destroy him and the Empire."

"With this ship and the support of the Rebel Alliance, the plan cannot fail," Piett spoke up. "Add to that the fact that we will have the only remaining Jedi in the galaxy on our side, and our victory becomes a veritable certainty, gentlemen."

The officers looked at one another, discussing all that they had just heard among themselves. Anakin watched them, trying to get a sense of what was in their hearts and in their minds. They were excited, that much was clear. But were they convinced? He wasn't so sure.

"Perhaps we need to let you discuss this among yourselves," Padmé suggested. "If Anakin is to lead you, there can be no room for doubt in your minds."

"We would appreciate that opportunity, milady," one officer replied. "This is all quite startling and unexpected."

"I'm sure it is," Padmé responded. "But you men are committed to mutiny; surely you can see that such a radical move call for some rather activist measures."

"A point well made, milady," Piett said. "And I can assure you that everyone in this room is one hundred percent in favor of this course of action."

"Then we shall leave the decision to you," Anakin said, standing up. "I think you men need me as much as I need you," he added. He turned to his family. "Let's go," he said.

Piett watched them leave, and then returned his attention back to the other officers. "Well then," he said. "Let's get down to it."