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ANAKIN'S REDEMPTION

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Chapter Eleven - Confrontation

Luke and Leia strapped themselves in as Han and Chewie prepared the ship for take off.
As they rose from Coruscant, they failed to notice not one, but two ships rising up behind them.

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"We're coming up on Naboo now," Han announced. Luke found himself feeling jittery. He'd wondered all his life about his mother, and now he was actually about to see her. He had no idea what to expect. He clenched and unclenched his new mechanical hand.

"I think Luke and I should go alone," Leia told the others. "Mother is a…nervous person, and it might be a shock to her to have so many unexpected visitors."
"Sure," shrugged Han, indifferent. "Chewie and I'll wait here."

"Is it far?" asked Luke.
"No, not far. Shouldn't take too long," said Leia as she walked along. Luke followed her slowly, half hoping that it would take a long time, just so he could get his thoughts together.

"So she's never mentioned me at all?" he finally asked, biting his lip.
Leia shook her head. "No Luke, but then nobody ever told me I had a brother. I don't know why it was a secret. I have no idea if she has looked for you, or if she even knows you're alive. She was very ill when we were born; perhaps she never even knew you existed?"

"I don't know," Luke mumbled. He wondered how she would react to a strange man on her doorstep claiming to be her son. Maybe she hated him? Maybe she was afraid he was just like his father, and kept him away? He toyed with his lightsaber. Perhaps it would make her nervous to see a Jedi? What if she told him to get out? He lagged behind Leia, dragging his feet.

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Anakin silently followed through the once familiar landscape of Naboo. His feelings were in terrible conflict. He knew he should listen to Leia, to wait and earn her trust. But knowing that Padme was so close, how could he give up a chance to see her again? If he could just see her…just catch a glimpse of her face, and leave. That would be enough. Leia would never have to know that he had disobeyed her.

Luke knew however, sensing his father's presence close behind them. Go back Father, Luke silently urged him. You promised. Leia will never trust you if you do this
I just want to see her, Anakin thought back to him. I won't interfere.

Suddenly Luke felt a change in the force. "Leia, something is wrong," he said, worried. "I feel strange…I seem to be losing my power in the Force!"
Leia turned to him, frowning. "That's strange…how can you…oh!" she said, suddenly realizing. "That's the ysalamiri."
"Ysalawhattie?" asked Luke in confusion.
"Ysalamiri. They're strange little animals from the planet Myrkr. I don't know how they work exactly, but they do something to the Force. You can't use it if you're standing within a few metres of them."
"Oh…how weird. It works, I can't feel the Force anymore. I feel…really weird, empty. But why are they here?" asked Luke.

"Mother was so afraid that Vader would find her," explained Leia. "She's literally lived every day in terror since we were born. At first she traveled around, hiding all over the galaxy. She even stayed with us in Alderaan for some time, when I was quite young. Then she'd get word of Vader in the area, and leave. Sometimes I wouldn't hear from her for years because she was too afraid to send a message. Finally she accepted that Vader was not looking for her - he thought she was dead - so she returned to her homeland here in Naboo. But she could never rest, still thinking that he might be chasing her. So she heard about these Ysalamiri and bought them from some smuggler, I think his name was Taren Karddo, or Talon Kardde…or something like that. That way if Vader ever did find her, he wouldn't be able to use the force against her. She would have time to get away before he could do anything, or better yet, blow his brains out. Though I'm not sure she could shoot him, she seems to still love him, deep down. I can't for the life of me understand how she could love that monster, after everything he did."
"He was good once," murmured Luke.
"If you say so," sighed Leia, tired of arguing on the matter. "Well, here we are." They had stopped outside a small, non descript house.

"Mother lives here? It's not very big," remarked Luke.
"She once lived on a huge estate. She was an important Senator here. She was even Queen once. But she couldn't return to her family home in case of Vader, and she wanted to live in a place that didn't call attention to herself."
"Wow, Father really has dominated her life," observed Luke softly, almost to himself.
"Yes," said Leia tightly. "Well, are you ready to meet your mother?"
Luke nodded. "Yes."
Leia knocked. "Who is it?" came an anxious voice from inside.
"It's Leia."

They heard the sound of several locks being unfastened. The door opened slightly, and a shadowy face peered out. "Leia?" it said. The door opened further. "It is her mi'lady."
"Thankyou Dorme," answered Padme. Dorme let them in and excused herself.
"Hello, Mother," said Leia softly. Padme was sitting in a rocking chair, slowing staring out the window. It took a moment for her to turn her attention to Leia.
"Leia dear," she said. "It's been so long. How lovely of you to visit." She noticed Luke, standing hesitantly behind Leia. "And you have brought a visitor. Who is young man? I didn't know you were seeing anyone."
"Oh no, I'm not with Luke!" said Leia in alarm. "Oh god no, actually I'm seeing a man called Han Solo, he's wonderful, but he takes some getting used to…"

"Luke?" said Padme, rising from her chair. "Did you say this man's name is Luke?" She stepped cautiously towards Luke. He moved forward and she could see his face fully.
"Anakin! Oh my, you remind me of Anakin. You have the same eyes…and your name is Luke? Luke…" Her eyes dropped to the lightsaber at his side. "Luke? My Luke?"

"Yes Mother," he answered for her. "I am Luke Skywalker, your son."

Padme's eyes filled with tears. "Luke…oh Luke!" She ran into his arms. Mother and son embraced. A tear escaped Luke's eye as he hugged the mother he had never known. Leia struggled to hold back her own tears.
"Leia, how did you ever find him?" cried Padme. "My baby…oh my baby!"
"We…well we just stumbled upon each other," grinned Leia.

"Oh Luke, I have wondered for so many years. I never knew where you were, or how to find you! I woke from a coma to find my babies gone…Obi-Wan took you from me. I didn't know how to find him or you. Leia was with my friend but I've been searching for you…I had to hide from your father…oh Luke, look at you, you're all grown up!" Padme clasped her son's face in her hands. "Oh you look like him…and you're even a Jedi, just like Anakin…Anakin…" her voice dropped off. "Do you know about him?" she asked softly, the words barely audible.

"Yes, I know, Mother," said Luke. "I know about Anakin…Darth Vader."
Padme began to tremble at the mention of his name. "He was a great man," she said. "He was the love of my life…"
"And you were the love of mine," said a voice from the doorway. They all turned.
Padme's face immediately paled and her eyes widened in terror. "Anakin!"
"Yes it's me, my love," he said with an eager smile.

"ANAKIN! No, oh god, he's found me! He'll kill me! Help me! HELP!" Padme screamed, hysterical with fear.
"No Padme…no it's not like that!" protested Anakin, mortified.
"HE'LL KILL ME!" she screamed. "Please Luke, Leia do something! Get out, save yourselves!" Luke tried to intervene and explain but she was too panic-stricken. Leia stood with her fists clenched at her side, shaking and watching her father in furious horror. Padme was backing against the wall, searching frantically for a weapon or a way out. Her hands met her blaster which she always kept by her side. She pulled it out and held it, shaking uncontrollably.

"Padme, no!" cried Anakin desperately, his hands out. "Please, I just want to –"

"GET AWAY FROM US! I've hidden too long for you to kill me now. Get away, get OUT!" she shrieked. "Leave us, leave me and my children! I lost them once before because of you, you're not taking them now!" She pulled the trigger. The blast hit the doorframe behind Anakin. "Get out! Get OUT!" She shot again. Anakin tried to deflect it but he no longer had any use of the Force. The blast grazed his injured right shoulder and hit the wall.
"Go, Anakin," ordered Leia, trembling with rage. "I warned you not to come here. Look what you've done." Her tone was deadly serious. "If you don't get out I'll kill you myself."
Anakin took one last look at Padme in despair, then fled. Luke looked at his mother helplessly, before running out after his father.

Leia gently prised the blaster from her mother's hands. Padme collapsed to her knees as Leia caught her. "How did he find me…how…after all these years?" she whispered, still trembling.
Leia sighed. "He must have followed Luke and I. I should have known better than to lead him straight here…" Padme's handmaiden Dorme ran in, hearing the commotion. "What is it mi'lady?" she asked in concern.

"Anakin…Anakin…" she repeated over and over. "He found me, he finally found me…"
"Please take care of her," said Leia. "I need to have a chat with a certain father of mine…"

"I'll kill him, I'll kill him," Leia muttered to herself as she angrily marched out. "I'll kill BOTH of them."