Bail Organa stood with Leia, watching as the Millenium Falcon was prepped. "I really don't want you to go. Not with him. I know you can take care of yourself, but this is different."

"It's because he's going that I'm determined to go! I won't sleep knowing he's not where we can keep an eye on him! Anyway, Obi-Wan will be along tooo. Don't you trust him?"

"Yes. But..., well, just be careful. And may the Force be with you. The light side, that is." Bail hugged her.

Anakin stared into space, waiting impatiently. He had real legitimate concerns with going to Vjun. The place was strong in the dark side. And it was stained with cruelty and dark memories. If he was having nightmares here, what would happen there. A sudden movement made him turn, just in time for Padmé to plant a kiss on his cheek. He smiled and put an arm around her.

"Nervous?"

"Kind of. I'm glad Obi-Wan is going."

She nodded. "And Artoo."

"You put him up to that didn't you?"

She grinned impishly. "I'll never tell. Someone has to keep you boys out of trouble. I thought about going myself. But I knew it would just make you fret."

"Even Artoo can't do that. We're too good at getting into it. And your right. I would. This place is strong in the dark side. It will draw out my worst memories."

"But your best memories live and breathe in the present right beside you." She said firmly, nodding at Obi-Wan and Luke. She didn't mention Leia. Her antagonism, while understandable, would be of no help to him.

Han Solo was not thrilled to let Anakin Skywalker AKA Darth Vader onto the Millenium Falcon. Nonetheless, he was overruled by Leia who wanted him where she could keep an eye on him. Chewbacca agreed with that sentiment.

So Luke sat with his Father and Obi-Wan in the hold. "Leia's warming up a bit. Slowly." The young man ventured.

"Sure. It'll only take a millennia." Anakin replied his voice laced with sarcasm.

"I have my doubts about her being on this mission." Obi-Wan said calmly.

"What do you mean?" Luke was puzzled.

"Her fear is natural. But fear leads to the dark side. And in a place like Vjun…"

"It will take advantage of her." Anakin closed his eyes. "Like the feud between Ferus and I on Korriban all those years ago. It was nothing worse than our usual rivalry. Anywhere else, it might not have mattered. But I stepped back from my friends instead of stepping forward and warning Tru about his lightsaber when it was damaged. All I had to do was check some settings that I'd fixed for him. I stepped back because he was talking to Ferus and I didn't like that. And then I was so busy feeling hurt, I forgot. By the time I remembered…it was too late. And it was stupid. I was more worried about getting him in trouble for not telling his Master about his lightsaber than anyone getting hurt."

"Now you tell me!" Obi-Wan sighed and rolled his eyes heavenward. Then he sighed. "Childhood rivalries. It was terrible but it was a mistake of youth. You were all so young to be in such life and death situations."

"Someone got hurt?" Luke asked carefully.

"Darra died." Anakin said faintly.

"Oh."

"Now that's a story I hadn't heard." Ahsoka was disturbed.

"I was certainly not proud of it. And it hurt to remember. She was a friend."

"Is that why Ferus left the Jedi? Ahsoka asked.

"Yes."

"So you see, Leia's being sensitive to the Force but untrained will be quite dangerous.." Obi-Wan returned to the original subject.

"Maybe she shouldn't go in." Luke frowned. "Why didn't you warn her before?"

Anakin's brows rose. "Luke, I am a fool for not recognizing her, given how much like her mother she is. And given that you can't prevent her. You'd sooner move a mountain with your bare hands and without the force."

"And that," Obi-Wan agreed, "is why I didn't say anything."

"Avoiding the patrol picket." Han called. "But we should still have someone on the guns."

"On it." Luke clattered up into one and Leia went down into the other. They had a good view of the planet approach. It was covered in clouds. "The Force is so strong. No wonder he put the fortress here."

"I'm sure his prisoners were thrilled." Leia replied coolly.

Luke shook his head, concerned at his sister's determination to see their Father only as the villain.

Han yelled. "One saw us! Jamming transmissions!"

Luke and Leia took up shooting as the patrol starting after them. Hot streaks burned through space and shattered the approaching TIEs.

Anakin and Obi-Wan sat next to each other at the dejarik board. They sensed the death of the pilots. Anakin winced. "Cannon fodder. No-one should be born and bred for cannon fodder, but many of the stormtroopers are."

"I know." Obi-Wan stared sightlessly at the game. "We should've done more than put those questions on hold until the Clone Wars were over. We were blind not to question such a convenient army."

Anakin wondered how Obi-Wan felt about Commander Cody turning on him. After so many missions together, how could Cody truly believe Obi-Wan a traitor? He felt he'd been closer to Rex than Obi-Wan to Cody but still, if the situations were reversed he'd have been hurt as well as surprised had his trusted captain been able to follow that execution order so easily.

The ship shuddered slightly as it hit atmosphere. Anakin swallowed and Obi-Wan closed his eyes and breathed deep. The first time they'd come to Vjun during the Clone Wars, they hadn't noticed the darkness. In retrospect that was disturbing. Of course, the idea that now they were so much more sensitive to the dark was not a happy thought either.

Ahsoka glanced between them. "It's cold here." She didn't mean the temperature.

"Yes. It is." Obi-Wan replied.

"Hey, Vader," called Solo. "Time for the passengers to give us some directions."

The three Jedi rose and went to the cockpit.

"The name is Anakin." His voice was firm. "Unless you want me to actually be Vader, it would be better to call me that. If only to make sure I remember to be Anakin and not Vader." He sat down behind Chewbacca.

Chewbacca grumbled. He didn't know what Ahsoka thought of her former master, but he was astounded she was so forgiving.

Anakin understood the remark, but chose not to comment. He leaned over the console and rapidly entered coordinates. Han looked displeased at having him so close, let alone touching the controls. But Anakin retreated as soon as they were entered.

Han flew in that direction, rolling the ship through the clouds and scowling at the acid rain bouncing off the windscreen. Chewie grumbled and scanned the upcoming terrain. He pointed. "Yeah. Can we get into the fortress from there?"

"Yes." It was a good distance from the fortress, out of normal range of patrols. "There's a cave system that will get in through a secret entrance."

Chewie wrinkled his nose and grumbled.

"Yeah, Chewie it is a nasty planet. Look, the rain is acidic. Not a place to go without protective gear."

Notes: The incident between Anakin and Ferus is from the Jedi Quest 10 The Final Showdown by Jude Watson.

Obi-Wan and Anakin visited Vjun in the novel "Yoda - Dark Rendezvous by Sean Stewart