Back in Ani's past
Vader had crashed landed on Imperial Center, except it wasn't Imperial Center, the Jedi Temple still stood.
"Am I home?" Ani asked. "Where's Padme?"
"She's with Obi-Wan, you know that youngling." Darth Vader carefully used the Force to take off his mask. Anakin threw him a radiant smile upon seeing him.
"You are all better!" he reached up and hugged him. Darth Vader wasted no time in shedding the rest of his Sith armor. He left the armor in the escape pod, and smoothed out his Jedi tunics. It was what he always wore underneath the armor. After fifteen years as a Jedi it was the only thing he ever chose to wear. He was without his utility belt and cape but that was fine. He looked down at his legs, at his real legs and tears slipped through the Dark lord's eyes. He could walk. He pulled off his boot and just looked down at his bear feet.
"Why are we here, young one?"
"I don't know," Ani stated softly. Vader through him a look.
"There's obviously something I'm supposed to teach you, to tell you," he stated curling his foot up in the grass, marveling at the sensation, as his eyes closed in pure bliss. Then he held his face up to the sunlight feeling the wind brush along his cheek, and tousle his hair. His hair? He had hair. He really wished he had a mirror. "I guess the best place to start would be at the Jedi Temple, that's where you live, correct."
"Yeah." Darth Vader put back on his boot as he led Anakin to the Jedi Temple. He was let by with young Anakin, for anyone would be a fool not to sense his force presence.
"Where are you in your studies?"
"I'm ahead of the other younglings. They...they don't trust me," Anakin explained. "Master Cin Drallig says I'm too aggressive. That I'm not learning anything." Vader led Anakin to the Thousand Fountains and began going over the basic moves, which Anakin picked up quickly, he advanced through the forms, explaining what he was doing as he did so, the goofy smile never leaving his face, for it had been nineteen years since he had been able to move so acrobatic. Suddenly, Darth Vader remember this day. It was the day he had been kicked out of lightsaber class despite the fact that he had beat his opponent. He had given into his aggression for the first time because another student had been taunted him. They had mentioned his mother and he had lost it. He had gone as far as knicking the other student instead of stopping when the other youngling had yielded. But could he, Dark Lord of the Sith teach this lesson to young Anakin Skywalker, how to keep a tight rein on his emotions? He remembered the fight he had had with Master Obi-Wan after, the hurtful words he had said. Remorse and guilt filled him, for Obi-Wan had just been knighted himself and was still struggling to find his place in the order. He sensed his Master's former presence and nearly jumped.
"Hello, I'm Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, I don't believe we've met. I see you've already made the acquaintance of my padawan, Anakin Skywalker."
"Always the civil one, Ke-Obi-Wan," he stated, stopping when he was about to call him but his last name as he had for years during his search.
"Pardon me?"
"Nothing, Obi-Wan."
"And you are?" Now that was a very good question. Just who was he now? Something Anakin had done had altered his fate or he wouldn't be hear with a blue lightsaber in his hand, standing on his own two flesh and blood legs. Who was he? And more importantly, who did he want to be? Would telling Obi-Wan his name change things? He thought about it for a moment and answered.
"Name's Tan, Tan Vader."
"Well, I hope my padawan isn't giving you too much trouble."
"More than you could imagine," he mummered, sweeping his hand through his shaggy hair. "I was sorry to hear about Master Qui-Gon, he was a great man, and a great Jedi."
"Yes, yes he was," a ghost of a smile tugged on his lips.
"There are worse things, Obi-Wan, than losing your master." Obi-Wan arched an eyebrow. Darth Vader found it unbelievable how much he had missed this man. He chuckled as he looked him over and saw the barest hint of stubble on his face. He hadn't remembered when Obi-Wan had first started to grow it, but obviously it had to do with him, with Obi-Wan trying to look older than Anakin, trying to be the Jedi Knight he had become so recently.
"I know. There is no death, there is only the Force."
Vader frowned at Kenobi, he knew Obi-Wan better than that, that there had been at least two women in Obi-Wan's life that he cared about. The Jedi Siri Tachi and the Mandalorian Duchess Satine. Siri would die while on a mission with Anakin and Obi-Wan and the Duchess Satine had still been alive when the Jedi Purge took place. He wondered why Obi-Wan hadn't sought her out rather than going to Tattooine and then he knew, he had searched for Obi-Wan through her, even if he had left her alive. "There is more to life than the Jedi Code, we both know that."
"I beg your pardon Jedi Vader, but you seem to know me, and I have no recollection of ever knowing you."
"You wouldn't. Listen, Obi-Wan, take great care of Skywalker here. Don't be afraid to care for him, but watch his path carefully. Beware of the new Chancellor. If you will excuse me?" Darth Vader asked leaving the young knight confused. He had already said to much, it would be years before he would admit even to himself to caring for Skywalker. Vader had to get to Master Cin as well. He left Anakin with his Master and watched as Anakin shrugged his shoulders. If there bond had formed then there would be no used to Anakin lying to his master, but he couldn't remember if it had. He went to find Master Yoda and found him in the Council Chambers. He stepped in the middle of the circle, and sank to his knees bowing as he had to Palpatine.
"I have information for you about the Zabraak Obi-Wan killed on Naboo."
"About the Sith, always two there are. A master and an apprentice. Deliberated we have, which was killed, the master or the apprentice. Answers, we seek. Questions, we have."
"The apprentice. A Sith Apprentice named Darth Maul."
"And just who are you?" asked Mace Windu.
"I am the Force's humble servant. My name..."
"Skywalker, you are. Yet, Skywalker you are not."
"Yes, Master Yoda."
"Rise, you will." Darth Vader got to his feet.
"In about eight standard years, there will be assassination attempts on Senator...Queen Amidala," he added forgetting that she had served two terms as Queen before the new Queen asked her to serve as Senator.
"And what does this have to with the Sith?" Master Windu asked, his eyes guarded on the Jedi in front of him.
"Yes, Count Dooku..."
"You know that Master Dooku has recently left our Order."
"Yes, I know that the death of Master Qui-Gon affected him profoundly," Darth Vader replied, every moment he spent in their presence made his agitation grow. Would they just shut up and let him speak. Here he was trying to save the very Jedi he had slaughtered.
"Continue, you must. Young Skywalker."
"As I was saying. Count Dooku will ally himself with the Trade Federation which will become the center of the CIS."
"S-" Darth Vader glared at Master Windu before he Windu shut up and allowed him to continue.
" The Confederacy of Independent Systems. He will start a war that will tear this galaxy in two. Many Jedi will lose their lives in this war. The war will begin on Genosis after the Jedi discover a Clone Army made by the Republic."
"On whose authority?" Master Windu asked again.
"Look, with all do respect Master Windu, I was not on the Council when this was discovered. I care little for politics or political games. I am trying to open you eyes. So that it will not have to come to this. If you do not want my advice, or knowledge, say so, and I will stop it myself!" Darth Vader stated as he looked upon the Jedi.
"This is quite a story, Skywalker. I just can't see how Master Tyrone Dooku could accomplish any of this. He couldn't harm anyone, it's not in his nature." Darth Vader laughed.
"Because he was a Jedi?" he finally asked. "What about the Jedi Revan? He became a Sith and he was once a Jedi."
"Those were different times, troubled times."
"If you ignore this, there will be troubled times," Darth Vader stated before stalking out. Would no one believe him. Master Yoda got up and followed him.
"A Jedi, are you?"
"I don't know."
"Come, follow me, you will." Darth Vader did as he requested. "From the future, you are. Followed you to the future, young Skywalker did."
"Yes."
"Changed you, he has?"
"Yes, he reminded me of things I had once forgot."
"Follow the will of the Force, you do. Flows through you, it does. Come, agree with you I will. Dooku, find him we must."
"Thank you, Master Yoda."
"Clouded, your future has always been. Clearer it seems. Yes, clearer it seems. A journey before you, there still is."
"Thank you, Master Yoda."
"A Sith, you became. A Jedi, you are. Hide it, you shall not." Tears sprung to Darth Vader's eyes, could he be a Jedi after all that he had done? Was it even possible? After all the blood that was on his hands? He left, running to the Jedi Training Room, he saw Anakin sparring against Ferus Olin, with a nudge from his shoulder and from the Force, Anakin's training saber was at Ferus's neck. He disengaged and bowed, but Cin came forward and Darth Vader watched as he shook his head sadly, and Anakin left the room, tears pooling from his eyes. It seemed this Jedi had never wanted to train him. Vader put his arm around Anakin as they waited for Obi-Wan to appear.
"I didn't try to hurt him honest. But Master Drallig said it was a low blow, and that it wasn't the Jedi way. He will not teach me."
"It's the only way you knew how to fight, from when Dugs used to pick fights, I know," Vader said wrapping his arm around the boy. "There will always be those here in the Jedi who are envious. You are the Chosen One, you were too old to be trained, you are too powerful, too undisciplined, you lack the natural Jedi reserve. But Ani, none of these things are bad things. As long as you stay the person you are...everything will turn out alright. I wouldn't be here if they didn't," he stated will a smile, a real smile. "Those are your traits, they define who you are. And one day they Jedi will change, if they don't they will be wiped out. They are too stagant to last forever. Trust Obi-Wan, and everything will be alright."
"Do you think Padme's okay?"
"I think she's fine. I think she's wonderful, and besides you have another eight years before you have to worry about her," he stated as he made himself scarce feeling the presence of his old master. He hid and watched. He was surprised to see Anakin and Obi-Wan share a hug before Obi-Wan touseled his hair, Vader stretched out his emotions. Kenobi was going to train him personally. He watched as Kenobi had words with Cin and a smile crept onto his face.
"See something intresting?" he heard a voice behind him say.
"Master Siri."
"The Temple is all a buzz about you, Vader. They say you have some strange powers, even for a Jedi, and you come to us from Dantooine."
"If that's what they say."
"He cuts a good physique. There's more to him than meets the eye, Vader."
"I know. He loved you once."
"I...I don't...I can't...how did you know that? I...please, don't turn him in. It was my fault, truly. He must remain a Jedi...how else? I mean...he must train the Chosen One."
"I know. I won't turn you in, Siri, you must not worry about that. But be careful. There is change coming. And war. Obi-Wan won't let you comfort him, he will be too focused on being the perfect Jedi, but you and Obi-Wan, family and love, is what the Jedi must change into. Or else, there will be too many secrets and lies. And no one, not anyone can live a lie forever."