Chapter 82

Obi-Wan was brought to the Executor in a medical capsule a few hours later. His condition was still quite serious, but Anakin felt convinced that the medical facilities aboard the star destroyer were far better than any the Rebel Alliance could offer.

Anakin had thought a great deal about the conversation he'd had earlier with his daughter. It had unnerved him that he'd come so close to the Dark Side that she had seen it in his eyes. For the second time it was because of Leia's unwavering faith in his humanity that he had avoided falling into the abyss once again.

He looked at her now as she and Luke set to work on the next stage of their light saber construction. The look of determination on her face as she carefully set the crystal in place reminded him so much of her mother when she was determined to overcome a problem.

"Here's where it gets tricky," Anakin cautioned as he set the blue crystal in his own weapon. "The crystals must be lined up precisely or else you'll blow your head off the first time you activate the matrix."

"Okay…" Luke said uneasily. "And how exactly do you do that?"

Anakin smiled. "Use the Force," he said simply. "Can you do it?"

Luke and Leia looked up at one another briefly. Leia nodded. "I think so," she replied.

"No Leia, do it, don't just think you can," Anakin advised.

"You sound like Master Yoda," Luke commented.

Leia laughed.

Anakin smiled. "I suppose there's a first time for everything," he said. "Now concentrate," he told his children. "The Force will guide you." I do sound like Yoda, he thought, or maybe Obi-Wan. The thought of his friend brought a fresh wave of anxiety with it. Obi-Wan still had not stabilized, and the more time that passed, the graver his condition grew. He has to recover, Anakin thought desperately. He can't die, I won't let him...

"Dad, concentrate," Leia said, sensing whither his thoughts had wandered.

Anakin nodded and returned his attention to the task at hand.

Executor Refectory- Later that evening

"It's no big deal, really," Luke insisted.

"It is so," Leia said. She turned to her parents. "Don't you just think she's perfect for Luke?"

Padmé and Anakin exchanged a look. "Who are we talking about here again?" Anakin teased.

"You know very well who, Dad," Leia said with a smile. "Ylla Piett!" she turned to her twin. "They had their first date last night, didn't you Luke?"

Luke's face was growing progressively redder as the conversation continued. "Well, I guess you could sort of call it a date, kinda," he mumbled.

"Come on, kid," Han said, slapping Luke on the back. "Don't be so modest! I saw the way she was looking at you. She likes you, man. I know it."

Luke couldn't help but grin a little at this. "You think so?" he asked.

Leia nodded definitely. "Absolutely," she averred. "She was hanging on every word he said," she told her parents. "It was so cute!"

"Cute?" Anakin said. "It was cute?" He looked at Padmé. "I thought babies were cute," he said.

Padmé laughed.

"You know what I mean," Leia said good-naturedly. "So when are you going to see her again?"

Luke shrugged. "I don't' know," He said. "Whenever."

Leia rolled her eyes. "Luke, you need some serious coaching in the dating department," she said.

"I can give him a few pointers," Han offered with a smile.

Leia snorted. "You? It took you two years to admit that you liked me," she retorted. "I don't think you're the prime candidate for the job, fly boy."

Han opened his mouth to protest but decided against it. She was right, after all.

"Well I think the best thing to do is to let thing progress naturally," Padmé said. "She does seem to like you, Luke," she added with a smile.

Luke looked at his mother. "I think she does," he said. "I don't know," he added, running a hand through his shaggy locks. "I don't want to get my hopes up."

Padmé frowned, wondering how her son had come to be so guarded. "Luke, you have a lot to offer any girl," she said, reaching over and taking his hand. "Don't ever forget that. Any girl would be lucky to have your heart."

Luke smiled at his mother. "Thanks Mom," he said. "That's a really nice thing to say."

"And I mean every word of it," Padmé said, reaching over to give Luke a kiss on the cheek.

"So how are the lightsabers coming along?" Han asked.

"They're almost finished," Luke said. "Just a few more last minute touches and they'll be complete."

"Doesn't it usually take weeks to finish a lightsaber?" Padmé asked.

"Usually," Anakin said. "But when have you ever known me to take that long?" he asked her with a smile.

Padmé laughed. "Yes, I should have realized your children would be just as quick," she said.

Anakin smiled. "I'm afraid neither of them inherited your patience, Angel," he told his wife.

"So it seems," Padmé replied, looking at their children with a smile. "I was in visiting Obi-Wan earlier," she told her family.

"Any change in his condition?" Leia asked.

Padmé shook her head. "No, I'm afraid not," she replied. "The medi-droids are monitoring him closely and I told them to let us know the moment there is any change."

"He has to pull through," Luke said, pushing the food on his plate around. "I can't imagine not having him around now."

Anakin nodded. "He'll pull through," he said. "He's too stubborn not to," he added with a smile.

Luke looked up at his father and smiled. "Yeah, he is that," he agreed. "Master Yoda said as much."

"Did he?" Leia replied. "I can't imagine that."

"Well he didn't it in so many words," Luke explained. "I kind of read between the lines."

"Something you need to do a lot of with Yoda," Anakin replied. "He likes to talk in riddles."

"I thought he did that just to see if I was listening," Luke said with a smile.

Anakin and Padmé laughed. "Could be Luke, you never know with him."

Lord Vader, this is the bridge.

Anakin activated his comlink. "Go ahead, Keller."

Sir, the Emperor is demanding that you make contact with him.

Anakin looked at his wife, the light hearted mood that they had been enjoying shattered with a few simple words. "I'll be right there," Anakin said. He stood up. "Get those lightsabers ready," he told Luke and Leia. "I have a feeling you're going to need them sooner than we expected." He looked at his wife.

Luke and Leia nodded and then watched their father retreat from them.

Padmé watched him too, the fear that she had felt building within her for days now rising another notch. She turned back to her children. "Don't let anything happen to him," she said softly.

Luke and Leia each took one of their mother's hands. "We won't," Luke told her.

"We promise," added Leia, leaning over and giving her mother a quick kiss on the cheek. "Come on Luke, we have work to do," she said as she stood up from the table.

Luke joined her, leaving Han and Padmé alone.

"The emperor doesn't stand a chance against the three of them," Han said, knowing what was on Padmé's mind. "You know that, don't you?"

Padmé looked at him. "Yes," she said. "But that doesn't make me feel any better about this."

Han nodded. "I know what you mean," he said quietly.

Anakin made his way to the audience chamber, summoning the Force to calm his heart that was pounding like a trip hammer. There was no doubt in Anakin's mind that Palpatine had learned of the destruction of the Death Star; by now he may even know of the failure of the blockade around Alderaan as well. He would be looking for answers, which, Anakin reasoned, was why he was summoning his right hand at this time. He expects me to have answers for him, Anakin realized as he entered the audience chamber. And I've none to offer.

Kneeling on the large holopad embedded in the floor, Anakin prepared himself as the enormous holographic image of the emperor materialized before him.

"What is thy bidding, my master?" Anakin asked, the words leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

"You are looking well, Lord Vader,"Palpatine began amicably in an attempt to catch Anakin off guard.

"Thank you my master," Anakin replied simply.

"Your wife is taking good care of you I presume," Palpatine commented.

"She is," Anakin replied.

Palpatine nodded, frustrated at not being able to glean more of a reaction from him. And yet, he knew the reason why. This is not Vader, he thought, carefully shielding his thoughts; this is Skywalker, I have no doubt of it now.

"Tell me, Lord Vader; how goes the search for your children?" Palpatine asked.

"Slowly," Anakin replied noncommittally. "The Rebels are very clever, my Master," he said. "They continue to evade us."

"Apparently so," Palpatine replied sourly. "And now they have destroyed the Death Star," he said, watching his servant closely for his reaction.

"They must have had spies aiding them," Anakin replied. "How else could they have learned of its location?"

"Indeed, or even of its existence," Palpatine commented.

Anakin realized that he'd blundered; Darth Vader knew nothing of the Death Star, so if he were to show any hint of knowledge of its existence, he would be implicating himself in its destruction.

"We received a distress call from the station," Anakin said, recovering quickly. "But by the time we were within striking distance of the Sanctuary Moon, it was all over."

"I see," Palpatine replied, more convinced now than ever that the man before him was Anakin Skywalker and not Darth Vader. "I would like you to come to Coruscant," he continued. "I would very much like to see your lovely wife again," he added. "It has been far too long."

Anakin had to fight hard to keep his thoughts and emotions in check at hearing this.

"Of course," he said simply, managing a hint of a smile. "I'm sure she would enjoy seeing you again as well."

Palpatine smiled. "Splendid," he said. "I shall expect you both within forty eight hours. Don't disappoint me, Lord Vader."

Anakin bowed low as the holograph flickered out of sight. He stood up and stared at the wall where the image of the ghastly monarch had just been. . I will not bring my wife to you, Master,he thought bitterly. Not in a thousand life times…