Chapter 4: How Can You Not Hate Me?
Luke stood and turned toward the door as it opened. He had become aware of Han and Leia's fear and concern once his father had calmed. He had considered going out to meet them, but decided against it. They hadn't yet seen or spoken to Anakin, and it would be good for them to see there was nothing to fear from him.
The door burst open, and Han stepped through blaster first. He was brought up short by Luke standing calmly yet firmly in the way. Realizing he was pointing his weapon directly at his friend, Han's hand wavered.
"Luke?" Leia craned her neck to see around Han. "Are you okay?" Her voice was full of concern.
"I'm fine." Luke nodded toward Han's pistol. "I don't really like that thing pointing at me though."
Han blinked. He looked down at his blaster as if wondering where it had come from. "Sorry." He lowered his hand until the barrel was aimed at the floor. Luke took note that he did not holster it—clearly Han was not convinced there was no danger.
"What happened?" Han was all business now, no longer hesitant. "Leia felt something that really hurt her."
"Leia?" Luke hadn't realized she would be sensitive enough to feel Anakin's pain. The blood she shared with Anakin must have accentuated her senses.
"I'm sorry," Anakin's mechanical voice startled them all, "for…everything." Although the augmented voice didn't exhibit emotion, Luke could easily feel his grief at the pain he had caused her. From the expression on her face, he guessed Leia could feel it too.
"That was you I felt," she whispered, pushing past Han to stand by the bedside.
Anakin turned his head toward her. "Can you ever forgive me?"
She winced at the raw pain emanating from him, but shook her head. "Maybe. Someday." She looked away. "I'm sorry." Pushing past Han, she fled the room.
With a helpless shrug, Han followed her.
Anakin watched as Leia Organa left. She was the second source of power he had often felt since waking. Untrained though she was, she was nearly as powerful as Luke, despite the fact that her light was dimmed right now by the hatred she harboured for Darth Vader.
How had he never seen it before? With a pained grimace, he admitted silently that it was a mercy he hadn't realized her abilities while she was his prisoner on the Death Star. Though he had often wondered how she had endured all they had done to her.
It was strange: although they had merely known each other in the Senate and then only in passing until he had arrested her, she seemed eerily familiar to him, almost as familiar as did Luke. Who was she? Had he remembered everything, or was there more?
He turned toward his son and attempted to put his confusion into words. "I feel like I know her. Or that I should."
Luke sighed. "Leia is my sister." He smiled. "We're twins."
Twins. How had he not known Padmé was carrying two? His eyes burned, unaccustomed to the tears that were forming. Not only had he killed so many innocents, but he had maimed his son and tortured his daughter. "How can you not hate me?"
"It is not in me to hate my father." Luke put his hand on Anakin's forearm, his love so radiant it was nearly blinding.
Days passed, and Anakin could barely sense Leia, and then only if he concentrated. It seemed she was staying as far away as possible. Although it hurt him, he couldn't blame her. He had brought nothing but pain into her life since her birth. Determined to make amends if possible, and knowing he couldn't begin the attempt from his sickbed, he pushed himself to recover quickly.
About a week after seeing Leia, Anakin finally rose. He sat on the edge of the mattress for a moment, gathering his strength, then pushed himself to his feet. He wasn't used to feeling so helpless. Luke hovered nearby, ready to help if necessary. The low ceiling almost touched the top of the helmet, and suddenly the room was too small. He turned toward the door, and Luke—anticipating his desire—opened it. Anakin slowly walked outside into the light. Standing beside his son, he felt a surge of hope. If Luke believed in him, how could anything be impossible?