Entry # 6 - A Visit From Owen and Beru

It's been a week since I've first learned the truth about Vader. Padmé's words accompany a vision of the last time I saw him, burned and dying on Mustafar. There is still good in him... Now more machine than man, Anakin has become the victim of his own ambitions. I cannot help but blame myself. I, along with all the Jedi, told him from day one that he was the Chosen One; that it was on his shoulders to bring balance to the Force. I had assumed that if this prophecy were true, then despite his failings to follow my council on many occasions, he would still manage to become a very great Jedi. I had become so focused on the Jedi code that I failed to listen to the will of the Force. If I had only followed the instructions Qui-Gon Jinn had tried so hard to convey, than Anakin would have become the Jedi we thought he was destined to be. Now that hope lies with the children he conceived.

I had hoped that when the time was right I would begin young Luke's training. I now worry that Owen Lars will never let that happen. Yesterday he and Beru paid me a visit. He came to express his concerns about my presence in the community.

"I want to know why you are here. I know you came to Tatooine to bring Luke to us, but why have you stayed?"

"That, my friend, is a long story," I said with a gentle smile.

"Then I guess we'd better get comfortable. You don't mind do you?" He asked.

"Not at all. You're the first company I've had," I paused, smiling. "At least the first welcome company."

"The tusken raiders," Owen said nodding.

"I hate them," Beru said sadly. She was holding Luke in her arms. He watched us with attentive blue eyes.

"Yes, I can understand why," I said sympathetically. "You can have a seat here," I said gesturing to the dining area. "It's not much but I wasn't expecting too many guests."

"This works fine," Beru said smiling.

"Good. Before I begin can I offer you something to drink? I haven't much. Some water, milk, some juice I purchased from Huff Darklighter, a little sweet but refreshing."

"No thanks, I'm good," Owen said. Beru shook her head.

"Okay then, I suppose I should tell you first what happened with Anakin. As you know the Republic no longer stands. An Empire has risen to take its place and Palpatine, the former Republic Chancellor, has declared himself Emperor. He betrayed the Republic's trust by orchestrating the Clone Wars in an effort not only to seize more power but to also eliminate his enemies. Namely, the Jedi Order."

"Is that how Anakin died? During the wars?" Owen asked.

"Well actually Anakin was responsible for ending the Clone Wars by killing the Separatists Leader, Count Dooku."

"Dooku was once a Jedi too, correct?" Owen asked.

"He was once. He left the order and turned to the Dark Side of the Force. He became a Sith."

"A Sith?" Beru asked, confused.

"The Sith are consumed with hate and a great lust for power. They use the Force to gain this power, killing and oppressing those who stand in their way. They are the very opposite of the Jedi, who use the Force for knowledge and peace. Like Dooku, Emperor Palpatine is also a Sith. The Emperor seduced Dooku as well as Anakin."

"Anakin?" Owen looked as if he'd had the wind knocked out of him.

"I'm afraid so. Palpatine had poisoned Anakin's ears since he first began his training as a small boy."

"And the Jedi Order did nothing to stop this?"

"We had no idea the kinds of lies he was feeding Anakin, nor did we know Palpatine's true intentions. In the beginning we only thought he was an ambitions politician who played all sides in an effort to gain support and popularity. It wasn't until the Clone Wars that we began to suspect that he was after more than to be popular. He wanted power."

"I don't understand. Why Anakin?" Owen asked.

"Anakin was a very powerful Jedi. The Emperor knew this. He played upon Anakin's weaknesses. He knew that Anakin was arrogant, that he felt the Jedi were holding him back. Palpatine constantly praised Anakin, turning his heart against the Jedi Order, convincing him that the Jedi were afraid of him becoming too powerful. In the end, when Palpatine was exposed as a Sith, Anakin had to choose between the Jedi, whom he felt never trusted him, and the only man who ever told him what he wanted to hear."

"What happened to the Jedi?" Beru asked. She gently rocked Luke in her arms.

"At the end of the war the Emperor had his clone army turn on the Jedi who led them. With the Jedi spread thin we were overwhelmed. I barely managed to escape when my troops attacked me. Anakin took on the Sith moniker of Darth Vader and led troops into the Jedi temple. They slaughtered the Jedi that remained behind, leaving no survivors. Master and youngling were murdered defending themselves."

Beru's eyes watered. Owen looked away in the distance. After a few moments he finally spoke.

"You killed Anakin, didn't you?"

"I confronted him and he left me no choice but to fight." I decided not to tell them more than that.

"And Luke's mother? Was it Padmé?" Beru asked.

"Yes. She died of a broken heart. Anakin tried to convince her to come with him but she wouldn't hear of it. In the end I think she regretted that decision. She never gave up hope that Anakin still had good in him."

"You want to train Luke, don't you? You want to make him a Jedi." Owen asked.

"Yes. He is the last hope that the galaxy has for peace."

"No, I won't let that happen," he said sternly. "If that's why you're here than you've made a mistake."

"You must understand how important it is that he be trained. I represent the last of the Jedi order. Luke must be trained to carry on their traditions."

"No you need to understand. I knew Shmi. She was a good woman. She would have never allowed Anakin to leave if she knew what would happen! You remember that the next time you want to preach about the importance of Jedi traditions!" Luke began to cry. Owen lowered his tone as Beru attempted to calm the infant. "Luke is staying here."

"Luke has the potential to become the Jedi his father never was. He has the opportunity to begin his training at a much younger age where he will be able to control his emotions, his attachments. "

"And then what? You'll take him to kill the Emperor? You'll both single handedly overthrow an Empire?" Owen asked mockingly.

"Yes, if that is the will of the Force."

"I will not let you take Luke on some damn fool's idealistic crusade! Why should we even care about this Empire? Tatooine wasn't a part of the Republic. The Empire is very far away from here."

"Not as far as you think. The Empire cares not what allegiance your planet holds. They are not democratic. They will force all systems to join them. Tatooine will not remain untouched."

"I doubt a few moister farmers will be seen as a threat. In fact Tatooine might be better off under the rule of the Empire than under the Hutts," Owen said. Beru gave him a worried look.

"You're avoiding the point here. Even if Tatooine were to remain untouched there are many other systems that will not be so fortunate," I knew that Owen wouldn't listen; he'd made up his mind.

"That may be but I'm sorry, I don't see how one man can make that much of a difference. He is needed here more than anywhere. I think it'd be best if you didn't come around my family any more." He began getting up. He looked at Beru. "We need to go."

"I'm sorry," Beru said, smiling faintly. "Thank you."

I nodded as I watched them leave. My heart sank with the burden that I had failed Luke now, just as I had failed Anakin. I wondered if we'd made the right decision in giving him to his uncle. Only time will tell.