Kamino:
The struggle to stay alive meant more than anything to the dying Skywalker, his body wriggled as his only mechanical arm limb lifted to gaze upon the fingertips of the fake skin that was torn away by the burning lava that he still felt on his skin. This was absolutely horrific to bare, and even his master could say the same. Anakin laid with his head turned towards the approaching droids that began to spray soft liquid from a chambered bottle against his skin, which saturated what was left of his body and was used as a formula to calm the burns while the medics began their work. It would take sometime before the construction of metallic limbs were complete, and Anakin had felt the need to be on a life support system until the time was right. For 6 days, he laid without the use of limbs and was fed day by day with liquid from a tube. Injected into his arms as it traveled where to go to reach the stomach of a human body.
Palpatine would visit each day, giving time to meditate and regain his strength so that he could continue to give attention to Vader when needed. Panting gently as he entered the dome, he was laid out against a metal table; and the Kamino woman that greeted them earlier entered. She held a pair of mechanical legs that were built for his fitting, and the male behind her held two fresh arm limbs. "It is time." Palpatine announced, and Anakin closed his eyes; breathing through the cycled air given to him by a machine as the droids finally began construction in attaching the body parts to the reform and create 'Darth Vader'. In the eyes of the emperor, of course. In silence, he awaited for enduring pain as he felt the robotic arms of the mechanical beings attach the plated legs against his legs. And straight away he felt a drilling pain, the wiring now sliding through his flesh and bones and Anakin could not hold his cool. "Guaaaah!" He screamed, feeling the hands of clones strap down the body of the new Sith Lord.
The table began to rise automatically, the robots circling Vader to make sure he was still alive and active. But his head shot forward, screaming to the pain to be use to a new pair of legs; after 6 days of numbness. The antibiotics were beginning to ware off, and he could feel the drugs fading, and even the emperor heard his pain through the will of the dark force. "It will soon be over, Vader... calm." He ushered, trying his best to comfort his apprentice as the body continued to roll and turn. Now, his arms were forced to be laid out, and there his old mechanical arm was replaced with a brand new one, and a totally new arm for the other. Now he felt like a droid, and this caused him to become solid. Skywalker turned his head, facing the emperor, and the elder Sith just watched calmly. His beady yellow optics gazed upon the man being built from scratch. He closed his eyes, due to the sound of the wanting to be freed Anakin, tossing a final time before he was forced to remain put. The wiring seeking up his flesh to be able to move his fingers as though he were human again.
Now, he was more of a machine than man.
The droids approached carefully, setting now upon his flesh a steamed body suit which they attached from the front. Forcing the body forward to lock it in at the back, and the jaw of the broken male rested against the wiring which was implanted without putting him to sleep through his mouth. The cords going through his throat as this was the way he was fed and drank fluids to keep him stable. There was so much to be used to, and he just did not feel real anymore. Anakin was no longer there, of course; that was how he felt when his eyes gazed up towards a lowering helmet shaped perfectly for his burned bald head. Widening his yellow optics, which were once blue, he opened his mouth to intake the hot steam pressured against his face.
And now, he was no longer human.
Silence.
A few moments passed, and silently the emperor had gazed towards his new creation, moving his head so that he could attempt to grasp Vader's attention. Whom was locked with the lenses pointed towards the ground. The metal rim glistened off his suit, and the once Anakin Skywalker, had let loose the chiming tone of breathing through the mask and will of the circulated air provided for his survival.
"Lord Vader?" the hooded emperor spoke, unsure if Vader was able to hear him; but he seemed to manage to awake him through the will of the force. the black suited machine peered in the direction of his master. The mask unsettling, as he was to be used to his new body. Suddenly, a deep and nerving tone emitted from the sound box of his chest that was implemented on his chest, the controls in which could held him use his suit also resided there. "Where is Padme? Is she... alright?" Vader had to ask, still feeling the sense that Anakin was still there. The emperor had lowered his chin for a moment, he lifted a hand to place against the side of Vader's shoulder. The hot feeling of steam emitted still.
"It seems, in your anger; you killed her." he sounded, and there; he felt a disturbing nature in the machine whom had began to erupt, the surroundings began to shake as Vader managed in his weakness injury to destroy and explode nearby droids, oil splurting over the floor as the cuffs that held him to the metal stretcher broke due to such strength the machinery provided. Which was a bonus due to the inhabitants of Kamino who built them for Palpatines apprentice. The shackles around his wrist snapped, and broke falling to the floor with he sound of a 'chink!', it was to take a few months to be used to; but Vader stepped forward. His balance off as his hands stretched to hold the table, a hand raising as far as chest height and he released a saddened scream. "No-Noooo!" Palpatine grasped the edge of the door, feeling his rage and hatred for Obi-Wan Kenobi, who forced him to destroy what he had left. And whom had bared his child.
Tatooine:
The sand dunes were becoming darker by the second, the race was on as the speeder that was driven by the wise hooded man of Obi-Wan; was approaching over the hills to where a sandstone house was built on the brim of the planet's dust. Slowing down, he stopped some distance away; and the Jedi held Luke within his grasp. Slowly, he left Aether in the drivers seat; he was only going to be a quick moment. He did not plan to stay very long at all. Luckily, Beru and Owen were outside of their hovel as they were about to shut off the power supply as the night was falling over. The woman had noticed the sight of the familiar face, and darted right over towards Kenobi, whom stopped to peer his gentle optics towards her. The breeze brushing his locks over his face as the cool night air was starting to fill, and there he handed the child to her, whom took Luke right into her motherly grasp. "Here, this is Padme's son; Luke. Take care of him." Obi-Wan was quick and short, and did not provide anymore details as the dangers of night were continuing to fall, and Tusken Raiders were soon to be out for their nightly hunt.
Quickly, he jogged back towards the Speeder; lifting his now own child within his arms as he held her tightly to his figure. The hovering car zoomed off and out into the sunset in the direction he came. Beru peered down at her nephew, and darted over to Owen by the ledge to where their energy extractors were; whom he gazed down at the boy. The two looked at each other, as though they were blessed with a gift.
The dark night was near, and the sun was almost gone over the hills. Passing over, Kenobi had parked the speeder in a nearby shack where it had been abandoned 6 years ago; it was only basic but he had to work on it. That was the benefit of starting a new life. Smiling softly, the elder stepped out of the floating veichle and held the child close to his chest, opening the dusty door as he entered inside. Thankfully, when the shack was abandoned; they left a few supplies that would last Kenobi the night. It was small, but in the morning; he planned to head out and buy the basic's to living in a small hovel. There was one room, a small kitchen with only a fireplace and a bathroom. Closing the door behind him, he made it just in time as the sand storm began to hit. The surroundings were of nothing, peace and quiet; which is what the Jedi had always asked. Sitting down on a clay made bench, he found a few logs of firewood to toss onto the clay made place. Silently, he withdrew a small object; held firmly in his hands as the light emitted to burst into a neon blue light saber. Reaching over, he used its heated energy to light the logs, and quietly they began to burn.
Aether quietly rolled in his grasp, turning her gaze as her eyes finally began to open for the first time. And bright blue optics, that of her fathers; caught the sight of young Obi-Wan whom gazed down upon her. There, she shifted; her mouth opening as the newborn began to cry. Wining as it squirmed, kicking about as Kenobi had guessed she was hungry. "Shh, my dear..." he tried to hush, reaching into the medical bag that the droid on the space station gave him; he pulled out in his hands that of a bottle of purified milk. Obi-Wan had moved forward so that the cold breeze of the open windows did not cause her to become sick, holding the bottle by the flame of the fire as it slowly heated the milk. "I am not a woman, I cannot breastfeed you; dear Aether." Kenobi chuckled, settling the warm bottle back to allow it too cool to room temperature.
Silently, he moved so that he directed the nozzle towards Aether, whom her tiny hands raised and grasped the base of his palm which held the bottle so not to spill. "There, there... is that better, youngling?" He asked, knowing the answer as gentle sucking sounds were heard from the plastic tip. "Your life is going to change, dear Aether... I swore a promise to Padme that I would look after you. When you are old enough, you will understand everything. The force grows with you each passing second, I sure hope Vader does not find you... Maybe you are the prophecy that the Jedi Council was after, was that what Qui-Gon could sense?" Much thought passed as he spoke allowed, gazing down to his adopted child whom remained quiet. "Or was it your brother and sister?" He continued, smiling with ease as she had finished the bottle full, placing it down as he bundled her within blankets that were given to him. "It may be rough starting here, but things will get better..."
Quietly, Kenobi began to lay down against the pavement, holding the girl whom was sound asleep now within. His fingertips caressed her soft skin, before he closed his eyes after such a long few days, he lost his best friend, his Padawan, forced into exile, but all in all... he gained something his apprentice would never have. He gained a child that would keep him company in his long and growing years. In fact, he was excited to begin teaching her the force. But, now was just the same as Yoda.
A few years of rest, because of his failure in keeping Anakin alive, and birthing a new Sith Lord.
4 years later, Tatooine:
The soft breeze of sand rattled against the small toes of a young child, the girl was out nearby the speeder that Obi-Wan used to travel in and out of the area. Quietly, she sat down with her mind gazed upon it, wondering about things as Aether was now called by a familiar voice she had known growing up with. "Aether? Can you come here please?" called Kenobi, whom was inside holding up a plank and needed the child's help. The girl had darted inside, searching her sapphire optics around till she found him by the end of the hovel. Over the years, Obi-Wan managed to slowly upgrade their small hovel into a home more fit for two. There was now two bedrooms, a dining room, fireplace, kitchen, and a bigger bathroom. The dust was gone as the elder male managed to clean up the wreck and turn it into a bit more luxary than how they started out. Aether approached, she held the appearance of her father more clearly at this age; dark brown locks and bright sapphire optics. "Yes, father?" she called to Obi-Wan, whom had peered at her.
"Can you get that driver over there, so I can place this up? I think installing a shelf will look great, don't you think?" Aether had laughed, smiling to reach into the little box to pull out the desired tool towards Kenobi, whom finally released it to set the wooden shelf upon the metallic bars that using the device to screw together. "There, perfect!" the elder grinned, turning as Aether raised a hand to place a thumbs up. Kenobi turned, his blond optics longer than the last time and his beard slowly more grown, he stood backwards to place one of Aether's toys on the floor. "Now, remember what I told you about the force? See if you can lift that onto the shelf." He asked, standing back with a palm raised to his chin. Curious to see if she learned much over the last few months of teaching.
"U-Uh... I can't lift it that high!" She exclaimed, before turning to gaze at the stuffed toy. Sighing, she bit down on her lip; lifting her hands outwards towards the teddy to attempt in trying to use her will and mind to attempt the impossible. Well, at least so she thought. "Come now, Aether... you can do it. It's mind over matter." He quietened, seeing if she could do it. He crossed his fingers, in high hopes. In silence, she began to focus; her eyes closing as the object began to slowly rise from the ground. Obi-Wan eagerly looked closer, watching as she the stuffed teddy rose high enough to be near the shelf, but; suddenly it dropped to the sandstone floor as she had re-opened her eyes. A saddened look surpassed when she found the toy laid on the floor. "... See?" She grunted, folding her hands across her chest in an angered matter.
Obi-Wan Kenobi sighed, before releasing a soft smile. "You will get there, I promise... I sense greatness in you." With that, he lifted his hand and the stuffed toy rose without bother; and he pushed it so that it glided with ease onto the shelf. And Aether just sniffled, rubbing her nose as he moved to kneel beside her. "You're doing fine! It's absolutely fantastic that a child as your age can even accomplish this." Of course, she did have the blood of her father; his force ratings were through the roof! Obi-Wan had not dared to speak to her about Vader, there was no need to at this stage in life. Though, being only four years old, was truely amazing to Obi-Wan how time passed. "When I used to be in the Jedi Council, there were younglings your age coming in and out of the exams and most wouldn't pass only because they did not know the nature of the force. But you, I have taught you almost everything I know about it. It's like, hatching something from and egg and waiting for it to grow. You're only very young, trust me... when you're older; you will be just as powerful as I am. And possibly even more."
Skywalker turned her head to gaze at her adoptive father, lifting a hand it set upon his shoulder. Smiling gently, he returned the gesture before sweeping her up and off the floor. Holding her in his arms as her tiny hands grazed at his shoulders, tiny legs coiling around his waistline as he paced towards the kitchen. A big pot of Pashi Noodles were broiling in the kitchen stove, and he approached it with her. "Dinner smells good!" Aether smiled, and Kenobi had laughed; reaching over his his lips planted a family kiss upon her forehead. "When you're older, I'll teach you how to cook even more meals. Maybe one day, you could learn to cook anything in the galaxy!"
"I won't be as good cook as you are, father!"
I hope readers are enjoying this, please leave a review and let me know how my progress is going! Everything is greatly appreciated! Another chapter will be posted very soon!
