Return
Anakin and Luke closely followed by Rex, Ahsoka, and Padme Tano headed toward the Rebel Base. Luke was not expecting that anyone would be happy to have his father there, but he didn't let his father know that. He knew that the Dark Side hadn't completely lost its grip on him, but he doubted he would attack anyone unprovoked. He just hoped Han didn't provoke him or anyone else. There were many at the base who would hate Vader, but did they have to know that his father was Vader.
Anakin was a little shorter than Vader not by much, but enough that Luke knew he hadn't inherited his short stature from his father, but from his mother. He set the coordinates for Endor, he hoped as Anakin did, that the presence of Ahsoka would soften the blow. He knew that Anakin had no intention of hiding his identity. He had discussed it with his father who had shook his head and had told him that keeping secrets was what got him into this mess to begin with. Anakin was still resting, his body was still healing. He felt cold. It was probably the new limbs, it sparked a memory between him and his wife when he thought she was just a handmaiden and he had been newly freed. She had given him a blanket. Restless, he got up and walked around.
"Father, you should be asleep."
"Feeling again apparently has made me restless," Anakin stated stubbornly. "I'm cold," he reluctantly admitted. "I haven't felt cold or hot in years. That Death Suit, kept my body temperature regulated," Anakin explained. "I haven't eaten in years," he continued with yearning in his voice. "We used to cook together," Anakin stated, a small smile playing upon his lips. "I don't deserve any of this. I should have remained trapped in that suit," Anakin said the smile leaving his lips and his eyes. "I should have died with the Emperor aboard the Death Star II."
"No, Father. I need you. There is so much good you can do."
"I don't know. Maybe. You know Artoo used to belong to your mother. She gave him to me as a wedding gift. 'What use does a Senator need with an astrodroid,' she asked me? I didn't want to take him from her. I was her husband, I was to provide for her. But Artoo was my friend. I risked entire missions to keep him at my side. I never wiped his memory. I should have. He would have been dangerous in the hands of the enemy, but he witnessed our wedding. He was one of the other beings in the galaxy that knew our secret."
Luke handed him a blanket which he wrapped around his shoulders which were largely flab after they reached the elbow since he hadn't had time to make them as muscular as they once were. He was just glad to have arms. They would return to the form that had once been it, once he began practicing again. He couldn't afford to get sloppy. It could mean his death or the death of his children, and although he had no problem dying, he refused that fate for his children. "Artoo has always helped me out. He's been with me since Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru's death."
Anakin felt a pang inside of him that he didn't recognize. That pang was at war with the rage he had always felt toward the Lars for not protecting his mother. If he had been there he would have. "They were not your aunt and uncle," Anakin said quietly. "My mother married Owen's father, but we weren't family. They failed her," he spoke in low undertones, his voice dripping between sadness and anger. "And in doing so they failed me. They failed you, my son."
"Father, what happened to my grandmother."
"There are things that my master did, things I didn't find out til much later," Anakin's face drew into a grim line. "I cannot discuss this right not, not before I meet your Rebellion. Don't ask this of me." Luke nodded. Anakin was right, he couldn't ask him of something that was obviously a dark place for him, when he was about to introduce him to the very people Vader had hunted, plus Han and Leia would be there and they both knew of Anakin's identity.
"When I introduce you, don't contest it. For me. If they ask for a Trial there is only so much I can do."
"I don't fear a Trial. I am not a young man Luke. If they want justice I will not attempt to fly or stay their hand."
"Let me do the talking, Father, please."
"The Negotiator. I will do as you wish, but if they ask me, I will not give credit to a false statement." Luke looked on his navi-computer. They were getting close. "Your mother thought you were a boy. She pleaded with me to not use the Force to check. I thought she was pregnant with a girl." Luke breathed out slowly. This was what he wanted from his father.
"Looks like you were both right," Luke joked, hoping his father wouldn't stop talking. He knew his father was a private person, held his memories dear to him. He had probably shared more with Luke than anyone else but this was the person that he wanted Leia to know. The Jedi, the husband who had been excited at the prospect of becoming a father, only something had gone terribly wrong and that something had been the Emperor.
"You or your sister kicked her so hard. You would wake her up, but sometimes when I laid beside her, I talked to you. I couldn't sleep...once the nightmares began. They got so bad in the last weeks of the Empire that I couldn't sleep at all, I put myself in Force-induced trances so that I could find out how to save her."
"Save her?"
"I had dreams...visions of your mother dying in childbirth. I was desperate. I couldn't lose her. I wouldn't lose her. She was ….is the love of my life. She was like the twin suns in a black void. She kept the darkness within me under control. My dreams always came true, ever since I was a child. It got so bad in the final days of the Republic that I could see my nightmares while I was awake. I wasn't eating much either. I was worried about food..if Padme died, I didn't want to live."
Luke took it in. He was in a stress-altered state. The Emperor had obviously taken advantage of the situation, preyed on Anakin when he was weak, when he was in a haze, even the Force couldn't replace a good nights rest. "And when you finally did sleep it was too late."
"Yeah, it was. There was no one left except the Emperor. I regretted it immediately but what could I do, Luke? In that suit, I didn't have the power to challenge him, there was no going back. And then I was drunk on the Dark Side, he fed that. He manipulated me, he manipulated everyone. He created this war, to draw himself into power and them he became racist. He didn't want anyone in power who wasn't human. He allowed the Grand Moffs to torture and enslave entire races."
Luke had known what the Emperor and Grand Moffs were about. "You weren't racist?" Luke asked his father.
"Me? No, if there's one thing I don't believe in it's slavery. My mother always said that the worst thing in the galaxy is that no one bothers with anyone but themselves. If more people in the galaxy were to open up their hearts and help one another it would be a better place. You just met my padawan. You met me First in Command. The Clones became like the Jedi they spent time around. Rex became reckless and Cody became cautious, like Master Obi-Wan."
Luke was learning so much from his father. "I didn't realize all of that," Luke said quietly. "When you intended for me to join you..to make things better, you meant it."
"You were right to refuse me. We couldn't have betrayed him right away, and he would have tried to turn you against me. He was the most crafty, most manipulative individual I had ever met. He even manipulated your mother, played on her compassion for her people. It was how he knew how to manipulate you."
"Father, we are here." Anakin took a deep breathe and nodded. He followed Luke down the ramp and into the base. He looked around at all the happy and cautious faces. Anakin felt Ahsoka, Rex and Padme Tano behind him.
"Ready Snips?"
"Ready Skyguy."
"I apologize for my delay, but all has not been in vain. The Jedi were once the defenders of the Old Republic, as they will be of the New Republic, and to help me I have recruited some Jedi to help me. Some of you may remember Jedi Master Anakin Skywalker..." Luke paused as the crowd muttered questions and misgivings. "I found him alive on the Death Star II, my own father, imagine my surprise when I found him, a prisoner of Darth Vader. It was he, not I, that destroyed the Emperor thus fulfilling his destiny as a Jedi Knight and becoming a Jedi Master." Anakin reddened, and ran his hand through his still-short hair. Luke was doing it again, making him larger than life, giving him a role that he wasn't sure he could live up to. "And his padawan Ahsoka Tano, here with her husband the retired Clone Trooper, Rex, also known as CT-7567, and their daughter Padme Tano. Now if you will excuse us, we will need to get settled. Thank you."
Luke led them through the group and Anakin narrowed his eyes. There was a Hand here. Red hair, green eyes, lots of force potential. He had to be on his guard, he knew that she wouldn't recognize him. The Emperor had taught her so very little. He would have to warn Luke and Leia. Speaking of Leia, she approached Luke and hugged him tightly.
"I missed you. Luke, I was afraid that you wouldn't make it. That something or someone would happen to you."
"I told her worshipfulness not to worry but you know your sister."
"Yes. May I present my father, Anakin Skywalker, his padawan Ahsoka Tano, her husband Rex, and their daughter Padme Tano."
"It's nice to meet you, Ahsoka, Rex, Padme," Leia added, nodding at each them and pointedly ignoring her father.
"Hello Princess," Anakin said softly. His voice unnerved her. It seemed familiar to her. As if she had heard it long ago.
"You...how dare you? How dare you speak to me?" she hissed at him lowly, a smile on her face to prevent the worry of anyone from the Rebellion.
"Leia..." Anakin began.
"You will refer to me as my title, Princess of Alderaan, or not at all. And I will refer to you as yours. Which one would you like?" Anakin frowned, taking her into consideration.
"I would like to speak to you alone, Leia. Your life may be in danger."
"The only danger I see here is you," she replied. "I will have you watched and if I have so much as an inkling that you have returned to your old ways, your days of freedom will come to an end, do I make myself clear...Skywalker," she bit out. Anakin stared at her, worry seeping into his veins. He had once been like that. He flicked his eyes from Luke to Leia and back again. Despite Leia's appearance, she was more like him than she would ever know.
"Princess, you may look like your mother but you are more like me than you know," he said evenly.
"I could never be like you. I could never become something so twisted and evil."
"You have the same Force potential as your brother and you should be trained."
"As what..A Sith? I will never become evil...like you."
"Leia, please not here," Luke intervened.
"Why? Are you worried that he will slip up? That he's not as redeemed as you want us to believe. Fine, I'll hold me tongue for now. But if you slip up Skywalker, I'll be there." She departed with Han in tow. Han held one of her hands and the other one had slipped around her waist, speaking of a possession. Anakin frowned but didn't comment although he didn't think a simple space pirate who had been a deserter was good enough for the daughter of Senator Amidala. Ahsoka whistled.
"Wow, Skyguy, looks like you've got your work cut out for you."
"Girls, I am finding are never easy. I shouldn't have forgotten that," Anakin said with a sigh.
"Youre right. Hey, are you talking about me, Skyguy?"
"Would I do that?" he teased, the corners of his eyes crinkling up in amusement even though the situation with Leia was not amusing in the least. "Luke, go after your sister but be careful. I sense danger surrounding you and your sister, but at least you are half way trained. I'm going to ask something of you that wont be easy. You are going to have to train with me, if you will allow me to train you. You are going to have to accomplish in months what it takes most Jedi years if they ever accomplish it. You weren't ready to face the Emperor."
"I defeated you."
"Did you?" Anakin asked, and Luke wasn't so sure, even with robotic limbs his father had been a challenge. "Find someone to show the Tano's around. I must make contact with the Empire and arrange a meeting to discuss the terms of surrender.