Chapter Eleven

Decision

Anakin smiled at Three-pio as he got up and began walking. "Good as new. Thank the Maker," Three-pio replied going to seek out Artoo. Anakin went to find his son, who he found flexing his wrists.

"Is it true, Father?" he asked, stiffly.

"Yes, it's true, my son."

"Why?" Luke questioned, "Why did you lie to me?" he questioned.

"I'm not even supposed to be here, Luke. Besides it's not like I knew from the moment I arrived in this twisted universe," Anakin said with a bitter laugh. "You are mad at me, but it's nothing less than I feel for myself. I deserve your contempt."

"Dad, I'm s-s-s-sorry. I just don't understand. Why would Ben lie?"

"He was trying to protect you, son."

"Is that why you were suffering? I knew you were."

"I was been haunted by Vader's memories. I still am. When I close my eyes, I see that horrible suit, I see the crimson lightsaber in my hand. I see the world of Kashyyk around me. I see the Wookies and the Jedi's last stand. I destroyed them all, and I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the feeling of their life forces flowing into the force. It made me stronger in the Force and it made the part of me that was still a Jedi nearly disappear into the void of the dark side."

"Dad, you haven't done that."

"Yet."

"Dad, don't let the dark side consume you."

"I'm trying, Luke, I'm really trying."

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Anakin found himself seated with Leia, Luke, Lando, Chewbacca, Threepio, and Artoo. They were all looking to him for advice. Anakin couldn't look at Chewie without feeling guilty now, all he could remember was his slaughter of the Wookie who had tried to defend their Jedi friends right after the war. Of course, news of the war and their surrender hadn't reached Kashyyk yet.

"What should we do?" Leia asked. "We have to save Han."

"He'll be on Tattooine," Luke commented. "I really don't want to go back there."

"Luke, the way I see it is we have two choices. We can either continue your training now, and save Han later. Or," he began as Leia and Lando opened their mouths to disagree. "I can comm in Obi-Wan, trust me he would be disappointed in missing a rescue mission, he is the Negotiator.We can held toward Tattooine and he'll meet us there. We will infiltrate the Hutts and the place will be in chaos without anyone in control. "

"I'll help free the slaves when the Empire is dead," Leia said.

"do I have your word on that, Leia? They need some kind of government and that's what the Hutts offer. Once we negotiate with them Tattooine will need some kind of government, Princess Leia how about you become a diplomat for Tattooine. Your home planet has been oblivated. I'm sorry, Princess, truly I am."

"I understand, Anakin. I agree, you have my word. Now can we go save Han."

"Of course. We will go in in groups. Leia you and Chewie will be the last to arrive."

"Why?"

"I want to make sure you are safe," he said softly.

"Thank you for your concern, Anakin. But I can take care of myself."

"Three-pio and Artoo will arrive first. They won't consider droids to be threatening. Then, Lando you sneak in as a guard."

"Right, boss," Lando replied with a cheeky grin.

"Alright, Princess Leia, you and the Wookie can arrive next."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"It has nothing to do with confidence, Leia. You are my daughter and I don't want anything to happen to you!" Anakin all but shouted.

"What! What did you just say?" Leia asked, eyes flashing.

"I'm your father. I didn't want you to find out like this, Leia. "

"I'm Princess Leia of Alderaan. My parents are Bail and Breha Organa of Alderaan."

"No, Princess. Senator Padme Amidala of Naboo and Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker are your parents."

"Jedi aren't allowed to marry. I've heard that."

"So I wasn't your typical Jedi," Anakin said with a devastating grin. "I'm proud to call you my daughter."

"That would mean that Luke is my brother."

"Yes, Leia. Now let's get back to the plan."

"Why didn't I grow up with you and Mother? And besides, you are too young to be my father."

Anakin sighed, "Leia, all will be explained in a all due time. You can feel it in the Force, I know you can."

"I don't know anything about the Force," she protested.

"See Three-pio?" Anakin questioned.

"Master Ani is the father of twins, Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa," he said. "The possibilities are one billion five million ten hundred thousand to one that they are anything else since I witnessed the birth myself. Of course a simple DNA test can determine that."

"I want the DNA test," Leia said, turning her back to him. "I've been taking care of myself just fine before you arrived," she said with a flash of Anakin's temper

"You really are like me," Anakin said with a laugh, "Pray tell what you would have done on the Death Star without the aid of myself, Luke, and Han."

"I would have figured it out," she said as her eyes filled with tears at the mention of Han.

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"I'm going to comm Obi-Wan so that he can join us on Tattooine. No one make a move until I give my Order. Luke, you are going in with Obi-Wan and me."

"Copy, Master," Luke replied cheekily. Luke and Anakin went to Luke's quarters on the Falcon. "That went very well, Father."

"Can't expect anything else. Not with her parentage. Padme could get a little hot under the collar herself."

"She's going to murder you."

Anakin tried to laugh, "Well as long as it's the other me and not me me." Anakin said and Luke nodded understanding.

"Just wait until she discovers that Vader is her father."

"That- I am dreading." Anakin went to comm Obi-Wan. "Obi-Wan, meet us on Tattooine. We are heading there to save Han Solo from the bounty hunter," Anakin turned to Luke. "How is your hand?"

"It's fine, Dad. Though it hurts like hell sometimes, where the flesh and metal join."

"It's called phantom pains."

"Anakin, did something happen?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Nothing less than happened on Genosis."

"I'm sorry, Anakin."

"That you don't have to be sorry for. Tell me about my daughter," Anakin asked, his lips forming a thin line.

"Anakin, I was going to tell you."

"When? On your deathbed?" Anakin asked.

"Be careful of resentment. It leads-"

"I know to the dark side. I can see what happens when I turn to the dark side, so cut it out with the lectures. Why was she sent to live on Alderaan? Why was Luke living on Tattooine? Why didn't they grow up together?"

"Anakin, I thought you were dead. I didn't know that you had survived the events of Mustafar."

"But you found out later."

"What did you want me to do Anakin? Jedi were considered traitors of the Empire. I'll just knock on the Emperor's palace with Luke in my arms asking to see Darth Vader. Come on, Anakin. I would have been killed by you if no one else."

"I'm sorry Master."

"The Emperor knew a I did if you were to have any offspring they would be a danger to you and to him. So for their protection they were split up. They were too powerful when left together. "

"You mean a danger to my humanity?"

"I don't really know. I know that's what Qui-Gon believes. He believes that you can return from the dark side."

"I'll see you on Tattooine, Master."

"You can count on it. Wait for me, Anakin."

"I need your help, Master."

"Then it's truly time to throw in the towel."

The transmission ended and Anakin stood there sobbing for all that was and all that could be. Luke left him quietly. He still had alot to think about. Darth Vader WAS Anakin Skywalker, his father. There seemed to be nothing similar between the two. Yet, Luke remembered something from his past. He had seen a blue shadowy thing when he was a youngling of no more than eight. She had been beautiful. She had been his mother, he now knew. She had held her head in her non-existent lap. 'The greatest light casts the darkest show. Save him, Luke. Never forget that there is still good in him.' She was telling him to save his father, he knew now. He would never forget. He would save his father, both of them.