May the Sixth be with You

Artoo whistled excitedly as he rolled up to Luke and Padmé. He swiveled his eye to her and rocked in place.

"Hey, Artoo." Luke said. "Did you get anything?"

The small droid whistled excitedly and revealed a holo projection of the files he'd gotten.

"That's great. And they didn't detect it?"

Artoo let out a loud tweet which they translated as an 'of course not'.

"What are we looking at?" Ahsoka asked.

"We're looking for whatever has the Empire so interested in this place."

Artoo whistled uneasily.

"Oh, it looks they are guarding some Imperial scientists poking around on one of those moons. They are worried about pirates. To be specific, Freedom's Sons. They've been active in this sector."

Luke frowned. "Freedom's Sons? I didn't think there were any left."

Ahsoka gasped. "Only a few last I heard. They went back to piracy with the rise of the Empire. Captain Slayke getting killed was rumored to to have stopped them, but it just sent them into hiding for a while."

"What are the scientists looking for?" Padme frowned.

"Good question. That looks like an ancient crashed ship."

"I see writing on the side." Padmé said slowly. "But I can't identify it. And after serving in the senate, I've seen a lot of species writing even if I can't read it."

"Now you mention it..." Ahsoka urged Artoo to zoom in. "It does seem just a little familiar. But I can't quite place it. I don't suppose there is a better view?"

Artoo chirped negatively.

"Maybe Father will recognize it." Luke said slowly.

"Guess we better go ask him." Ahsoka's eyes were bright.

"Hope he and Obi-Wan had time to work things out." Luke said.

Padmé nodded with a faint smile. "I didn't need to be a Jedi to tell that Obi-Wan was seriously feeling him out."

Anakin was still tinkering with the engines, with Obi-Wan's help. They'd fallen into a companionable silence.

"Hey, you two. Artoo's got that data you requested." Padmé smiled.

The droid whistled greetings.

"Anything useful in it?" Anakin sat up from under a console.

"The scientists are looking into something on one of those moons."

For a long moment there was silence as Artoo showed the images, rotating and zooming in. Anakin's eyes narrowed, his face went tight.

"Uh oh. I know that look." Ahsoka observed.

Anakin swallowed hard.

"Those hieroglyphs look familiar…" Kenobi whispered with alarm.

"They're Sith." He growled in irritation. "They're looking for Sith artifacts."

"Why?"

"Palpatine was a Sith, what do you think? Anyway, according to this they found an ancient crashed ship there."

"What could they have that would be dangerous now?" Padmé asked very slowly.

Anakin gave her a disturbed look. "Anything of the Sith is dangerous. Especially the teachings."

"Holocrons. Information." Kenobi said grimly.

"The word must be out by now though, he's not alive to use it." Luke frowned.

Anakin closed his eyes. "Just because he's gone doesn't mean no one can use it. Any Force sensitive could use it to bring back the Sith. And I am not the only Jedi that fell."

"There are other fallen Jedi floating around?" Luke looked around. "I've never heard of them …"

"They wouldn't have dared challenge the Emperor. Some actually worked for him."

So we not only have to sneak passed them, we have to stop them." Luke said, suddenly determined.

"Yeah."

Bail Organa peered in, clearly wary. "Do I want to know?"

"Not good news…" Obi-Wan sighed.

"Well, I don't have good news either. Scouts report they finally are searching for us. Maybe they already were and only just narrowed down the area."

"Great." Ahsoka sighed.

Organa still glared at Anakin.

"By 'narrowed down'" Luke interjected, "I have to point out that if you were living in that village it was only a matter of time before they narrowed the patrol net to this area."

"He's right." Kenobi nodded.

"Could we transfer the cloaking device to this ship?" Luke asked.

"It's not designed for anything this big." Anakin shook his head.

Organa sighed. "Too bad the Freedom's Son's don't know we're here. From what I've heard, they'd help us escape."

Anakin nodded slowly. "Definitely the kind of fight old Slayke would've appreciated."

Padmé hugged her knees. "We need a diversion."

"And for that, a cloaked ship might come in handy." Obi-Wan nodded.

"We could get close to those scientists and permanently wipe out that Sith ship and it's contents." Ahsoka looked enthused.

"Preferably without wiping out the scientists." Obi-Wan pointed out. "They aren't soldiers."

"Scientists built that monstrosity known as the death star." Fired Organa, one eye still warily on Anakin.

Anakin opened his mouth, closed it again. It would do little good to point out some of them may have been under duress. Especially since he was involved in it. "We can fire a warning shot."

"Didn't you say you'd have to lower the cloak for that? And that once they picked up the magnetic signature it wouldn't do any good?" Luke pointed out.

"Well, yeah. Might be a suicide run." Anakin was willing if it would help. He had no fear of death, it was living with the guilt that scared him.

"No suicide runs!" Obi-Wan said sharply, guessing his thoughts. "We'll find another way.

"The Rogues." Luke said firmly.

They all looked at him. "I can call in my squadron."

"And they'll just drop everything and come?" Organa was dubious.

"We aren't permanently attached to any base or permanent mission status. All Artoo has to do is bounce the signal around again and let them know."

"And hoping they haven't been assigned anywhere in your absence."

"We've nothing to lose by trying."

Artoo beeped excitedly.

"Should we send it from here or the shuttle?" Luke asked.

"The shuttle. We can't risk them finding this ship. It's our only way to evacuate everyone." Bail cast another wary look at Anakin at this.

Luke nodded, rolled his eyes to his father when Organa left. Anakin gave him a sad shrug.

"I'll go with Artoo." Luke said slowly. "Will you be okay here?"

"Sure."

Luke looked doubtful.

"I know he's bitter but he's not a killer." Not like me. Anakin didn't add the last thought.

"He's Leia's adopted father. It would be easier if we all got along."

"It's asking a bit much Luke." Obi-Wan observed. "After Alderaan."

"And he's worried about Leia." Padmé pointed out.

Anakin observed dryly, "He'll always be her father as far as she's concerned. And that's as it should be, he's earned the right."

Padmé squeezed his hand and gave him a sad smile at this.

Luke reluctantly turned and left.

"I'll lead you out." Ahsoka stated, going with him impulsively.

"He doesn't trust Luke either." Anakin frowned. "And that does bother me."

"It's because he arrived with you." Obi-Wan sighed. "Naturally he wonders if you've turned him."

"He beat me into the ground." Anakin's lips twitched in a half smile. "With half the training or less, he beat me into the ground. He's going to make the best Jedi ever."

"I'm sure you aren't the slightest biased." Obi-Wan noted, a slight smile curling his lips.

"Not a bit." Anakin replied sarcastically. "Seriously though, he was tempted but the Emperor couldn't shake him. And he was in a real no win situation. He decided he'd rather die even if his friends were in danger too than turn."

Padmé observed carefully, "Anakin. It's true you should've known better. But Luke had one advantage you didn't. He knew from the start Palpatine was his enemy. You didn't. He knew no matter how tempting it was, whatever he tempted him with was a lie. You didn't. He had years to convince you he was your friend and had your best interests in mind."

"And he would not have survived the victory it if you weren't there." Obi-Wan said softly. "You served as a warning to him as well as being his rescuer."

Anakin snorted. "A bad example isn't what I wanted to be to anyone, much less my son."

to be continued