Chapter Two

Ben's Hovel

Obi-Wan Kenobi, now known as the old hermit Ben, felt a disturbance in the Force. A presence he hadn't felt in years. Obi-Wan felt him the moment he knocked on the door. Knocked? Since when did Darth Vader knock? Obi-Wan wondered. He watched as the figure cracked the door and came inside. He stared shocked at the figure before him. Anakin Skywalker, or Darth Vader, didn't seem to bare any effect from Mustafar, and Obi-Wan had heard that he was now enclosed in a life substaining suit, but the man's hand reached his shoulders, on his bronzed face was a scar left from defending himself against Ventress. On his right arm he wore an elbow-length glove which he knew contained a mechanical hand and elbow which was added after his duel with Count Dooku when Anakin was still a padawan. Anakin was dressed in black Jedi garb and on his belt was his lightsaber, the same one Obi-Wan had taken and hidden away.

Obi-Wan stared at Darth Vader and felt everything coming back. The Order that Darth Vader had destroyed, the death of the younglings, the great Jedi Masters, everything Obi-Wan had held dear. It was his fault that Obi-Wan had to hide away watching out for Luke, Anakin's son. Darth Vader had murdered Senator Amidala and put her babies at risk. Before Obi-Wan knew what he was doing he had Anakin on his back and was pointing a lightsaber at his throat.

"Hey, I mean you no harm," Anakin said, his face a interesting shade of red at having been outdone so easily. In truth it had surprised him, caught him off guard. "I'm looking for someone. A great Jedi Master. Perhaps you know him."

"You mean no harm," Obi-Wan repeated slowly, not giving an inch, now backing up or letting down his guard. "Why don't you return to your master?" Obi-Wan couldn't help but ask.

"That's what I'm trying to do," Anakin called out frustrated. "Well, technically he's not my master anymore. I was knighted two years ago," Anakin called out proudly, "Twenty years old," he said, knowing that it was something. Obi-Wan had been Twenty-three before he had been knighted.

Anakin grinned as the lightsaber was switched off and a hand was held out helping Anakin to his feet. Anakin studied the lightsaber that had just been at his neck and his eyes narrowed. "That's Obi-Wan's lightsaber."

"Maybe he gave it to me," Obi-Wan replied as he sat down and sighed.

"Where is Obi-Wan?" Anakin asked putting the full weight of the Force behind his words.

"How many times have I told you that only works on the weak-minded?"

"Obi-Wan?" he asked staring at the old man, who wore very old Jedi robes. The man was old, his hair grey, his beard to match. Anakin stared into the man's grey eyes which held more sorry and suffering than Anakin could bare to stare at. "What happened to you?" Anakin asked.

Obi-Wan was listening to the Force. This man in front of him was not Vader, it was Anakin. He felt the greatness of spirit, he did not emit either coldness or anger but generosity and compassion. This was his Anakin, the man Padme had loved, Luke's father. "Anakin, I apologize for my behavior. I was a little shocked, you see," Obi-Wan said in a way of explanation.

"Where am I?" Anakin asked.

"Don't you know?"

"I know I'm on Tattooine. But how did I get here? And why are you so old?"

"Anakin, how many times have I told you.."

Anakin laughed, "I know, I know. All those times that I called you old, I never thought you would actually be old," he said.

"What's the last thing you remember?" Obi-Wan asked.

"I was on the Invisible Hand, fight Count Dooku. I thought you were dead. I'm glad to see that I was wrong. What happened to the Jedi? When I stopped in the cantina, I was told they don't exist anymore, and the Force feels so dark, like a much of lives were snuffed out, I don't know any other way to explain it."

"Twenty old years ago, now in the history holos, there is a time that was referred to as the Jedi purges. It is told that the Jedi tried to overthrow the Republic and failed. The Jedi were then wiped out. In truth Darth Vader and his Emperor destroyed us, hunted us down. I have managed to hide out here, remembering you."

"What happened to me?"

"So you believe you are in the future, by will of the Force."

"What choice do I have?"

"Darth Vader was a former Jedi. He betrayed and murdered you."

"But I'm the Chosen One."

"There's something you should know, Anakin. I know about you and Padme."

"What's to know? I keep asking her out, but she keeps turning me down."

"I know about your marriage."

"Who said anything about marriage? I would settle for drinks at Dex's."

"Your son is living with your stepbrother." Anakin's eyes sharpened.

"Why isn't he with Padme?"

"Darth Vader's betrayal was completer he murdered all that you hold dear. I barely escaped myself." Anakin solemnly nodded.

"That man is a monster. I say we play the Kenobi and Skywalker game once more and bring that murderer to justice."

"Anakin it's not that simple."

"Sure it is."

"Anger is the path to the dark side."

"I know this already. Blast it, Obi-Wan! I am a Jedi Knight now," he said impatiently. "How many Jedi are left?"

"Very few, I'm afraid."

"We should rally together, and we can defeat Vader and the Emperor for what they did to my family and to the galaxy."

"We've gone into hiding."

"Since when do we hide? Obi-Wan you and me have almost single handed won the Clone Wars."

Obi-Wan smirked, "Each generation, it would seem there is another war. It amazes me that we always think the war we are fighting is the most important, that our side is just and the other unjust.There will always be another war, and eventually democracy will return hopefully less unjust than the last, the Empire will fall just as the Empire fell long ago."

"I never thought I would hear such Separatist attitudes from you, Obi-Wan."

"I've had plenty of time to reflect on my mistakes, Anakin." Before Obi-Wan could reply he sensed Anakin's son was in danger and he walked through the wasteland with Anakin's shadow hanging over him. He shivered though he was sure Anakin wouldn't hurt him...yet. He wasn't positive though so he kept his guard up and they arrived to find Luke being attacked by Tuskan Raiders.

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He hadn't got them all, they deserved to die, first his mom and now his son. His face hardened and his lips thinned out as he grabbed his lightsaber intending to finish them off. Before he got the chance Obi-Wan through his lightsaber at a rock which scared them enough to run off. Anakin could feel the tension draining from him as he examined the boy. Now doubt about it, that was his son. He had his hair color although the style was shorter, and his eyes, although those lips were definitely his mothers, and that chin was definitely Padme's, and there was some innocence about the boy that reminded him of Padme. Anakin offered his hand and helped him up.

"Thanks," Luke said.

"Don't mention it. I'm used to saving people," Anakin said with a smile. "You wouldn't believe how many times I;be saved his life," he said nodding at Obi-Wan Kenobi.

"Ten times. Ten. Not one more."

"This droid says he belongs to an Obi-Wan Kenobi, do you know him?" Luke asked. Anakin frowned, these were his droids. Anakin bent down and spoke to Artoo.

"Of course. He is me. That's a name I haven't heard since oh, around the time you were born," Obi-Wan reflected.

"Yea, you remember me." Beep-beep. "Mind wiped?"

"How horrible," Three-pio replied.

"If you will just follow me back home, Luke. I will see what the droids want."

"You'll hurt his feelings talking to Artoo like that," Anakin teased.

"It's a droid."

Luke followed the two men who seemed to trust each other although the older one seemed on the offensive. The younger man looked to be about Luke's age, and Luke wondered what he was doing on Tattooine, why would anyone come to Tattooine. Luke thought he knew everyone but he had never seen this man before. He hadn't introduced himself but neither had Luke. Come to think of it, his new droid seemed to know him. Time would tell he thought as he noticed the man's strange clothes. He was dressed like he came from a history holo like during the time of the Republic, Luke mused.

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Once inside Obi-Wan went to where he kept Anakin's things. His lightsaber and he tossed it to Luke and watched Anakin's eyes narrow. "It a Jedi Knight's lightsaber. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster. A dignified weapon for a more civilized age."

"You were a Jedi Knight!" Luke asked shocked and in awe.

"I like your father fought in the Clone Wars."

"You fought in the Clone Wars?" Luke asked the amazed sound in his voice growing to an awed respect. To think he had actually lived on a desert planet with a Clone War veteran and a Jedi Knight. Why had he settled on Tattooine anyway? "Your wrong, my father didn't fight in the Clone Wars he was a navigator on a space freighter."

"That's what your uncle told you. He didn't hold with your father's ideals. He thought he should have stayed here and not gotten involved."

Anakin kept his mouth closed.Why Owen had no right no right at all. "I wish I had known him," Luke said sadly. I'm right here, Anakin wanted to scream, but was he really.

"He was the best star fighter in the galaxy and a cunning warrior. And a good friend. I understand you've become quite a good pilot yourself," Obi-Wan said and Anakin swelled with pride, that was his son. His son. He couldn't believe he was a father. But was he really? He was dead, betrayed by Darth Vader. But who exactly was Darth Vader? The only ones who he was close to was Padme, Obi-Wan, and the Chancellor. So who could Vader and the Emperor be?

"How did my father die?"

"He was betrayed and murdered by a young Jedi named Darth Vader. He was seduced by the dark side of the Force. We should get to Alderaan."

"I can't. It's not like I like the Empire I hate it. But there's nothing I can do about it. Besides it's so far from here."

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Anakin said nothing, but frowned. That was nothing he or Padme would ever claimed. They once believed they could save the galaxy, he thought with a tug of a smile. Oh, Padme. I will avenge your death and mine, I promise. I will protect our son with every breathe in my body, he swore to her. He turned and noticed that Obi-Wan and Luke were leaving and he and Luke hadn't been introduced, not formally. They were returning to the Lars home, he thought as Artoo and Three-pio came up beside him. He saw the horror of the murder, and was reminded of the mess he had left on Tattooine...here. After his rage had calmed he had looked around with tears in his eyes and there had been nothing left to kill. So he had ripped everything in sight and then there had been nothing left but a broken home, not a piece salable. He had been frightened of himself and his anger. He hadn't meant to do any of it, but his mother...and Anakin's thoughts swarmed. He felt dizzy like he was in two places at once.

"Anakin are you alright?"

Anakin nodded, "Tend to Luke," he said, knowing the pain he must be feeling.

"There's nothing you could have done. If you had been here you would have been here."

"I want to go with you to Alderaan. I want to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi like my father."

"Come we must leave this place," Obi-Wan said but he noticed Anakin had disappeared. "Shmi's grave where is it?"

"My grandmother? why?"

"Our young friend has disappeared."

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Anakin knelt by his mother's grave. "I'm so sorry, Mom.I should have never lashed out like that. You wouldn't have been proud of me then. Would you be proud of me now, Mom? I've failed. I'm sorry, please Mom help me," he said as silent tears fell down his cheeks.

"I love you," he heard. He couldn't have heard his mother's voice it was impossible. "Oh posh, nothing is impossible in the Force, you know that."

"Mom."

"I'm listening Ani. I'm always with you, know that."

"I'm getting too old for this sort of thing," he heard and turned to see Obi-Wan.

"How did you know to find me here?"

"I know you, Anakin." Anakin gave him a small smile.

"Let's go, Ben."

"We're going to need a pilot."

"We don't need a pilot. I can fly anything," Anakin said put out.

"Where's your starfighter?" Obi-Wan asked.

"On the Invisible Hand."

"I thought as much. There's one guy who I know will take the job. He's a smuggler."

"Unsavory characters," Anakin muttered.

"Why the stories I could tell you about Lord Vader...you'd short-circuit," Three-pio was saying. Artoo just beeped a warning. They took a transport through town and were stopped by stormtrooopers.

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"These aren't the droids you were looking for," Anakin said pushing with the Force.

"These aren't the droids we were looking for."

"These droids are for sell. You can have them if you want?" Anakin offered, putting in some humor.

"We are free to move about our business, Move along." Obi-Wan said.

"You are free to move about our business. Move along. Move along."

"I thought we were dead!" Luke exclaimed and Anakin chuckled.

"The power of the Force, my friend," Anakin said using one of Obi-Wan's irrational sayings.

"You still haven't told me who you are."

"I'm Anakin," he said simply. "A Jedi Knight."

"Two of you. I thought you were extinct."

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Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Luke sat down. Luke went to find their pilot and Anakin and Luke ordered a drink.

"You better watch yourself," an alien said to Luke and Anakin felt protective.

"I'll be careful. Sorry."

"You just watch yourself, we're wanted men. I have the death sentence on twelve systems."

"I'll be careful."

"You'll be dead."

"Is there a problem here?" Anakin asked reasonable. "The little ones not worth the effort."

Before Anakin could react he had shoved Luke and Anakin found himself brandishing his lightsaber and the man's arm was on the ground beside him. As Anakin had suspected no one even looked up and Anakin heard a voice behind him.

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"Impressive Skywalker. Hello, Chewie tells me you are looking for a ship."

"We need to get to Alderaan."

"Passengers. Me. The kid. My friend. Two droids. We'd like to avoid any Imperials."

"That's the kick isn't it? It's going to cost you extra. I was going to charge you ten, but I take a liking to you, Skywalker, I'll charge eight."

"Eighteen thousand. Half now, half when we get to Alderaan," Obi-Wan said, shocking everyone there.

"Eighteen? We could almost by our own ship for that."

"Yeah, but whose going to fly it, kid. You?"

"Yeah, you bet I could."

"Docking bay, 4B."

"Hey kid, what's your name?" Han asked.

"Luke, Luke Skywalker."

"Any relation to you, Skywalker."

"Yes," Anakin asked and Han got the feeling he didn't want to explain. Who knew maybe they didn't like each other and were on their way to an off world funeral. Anakin shot Obi-Wan a pained look as the boarded the Millinum Falcon. Someone other than himself would pilot. He always piloted. He was the best in the galaxy and Obi-Wan knew.

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"This is a piece of junk," Luke said, and Anakin frowned. It wasn't so bad.

"It'll get us where we are going," Anakin said, "I'm sure she's got it where it counts."

"She does. She'll make point five past lightspeed. I made lot of special modifications myself."

"I'll want to see," Anakin said.

"Sure, Skywalker. Right now, though, we're a little rushed, so let's get on board."