HEROES AND VILLAINS By Kondoru.

Alternative ending to RotJ

Standard Disclaimers.

Thanks to Budgie for Beating.

Chapter Eight; Every True Hero Should Return From the Dead.


Today was Anakin Skywalkers rebirthday.

Etsi Yanadai, Formerly most famous talk show hostess of Coruscant, now the most famous talk show hostess of the Galaxy minced up to the tomb of Darth Vader, Lekkus wriggling in silent speech (but to non-Twi'lek; this just looked indecent.) Her camera crew and suitably Hologenic boyfriends trailing behind.

The red armoured Imperial guard (And Captain Hemmel who had volunteered.) stood guard over the grave of Darth Vader. Nothing had changed in six weeks.

Except a few people. Those curious enough to see out this farce…and those who had belief in the Force. For Anakin Skywalker was the Force Embodied.

One of the chief vigil-ees was a Togrutan woman. Dressed in a ragged brown robe. Her horned montrals stuck up through holes cut in the hood. She looked like a footloose member of one of the many holy orders of the Empire…But which one?

Etsi sidled up to the Minchin. "And you are?" she prompted.

"My name is Ashoka Tano," the Togruta replied with no hint of a Shili accent, (her Basic was pure Coruscant, in fact) "I was," She paused screwing up the face so her white birthmarks wrinkled, "I am!" she qualified, "the Padawan of Anakin Skywalker."

"And that means?"

"A Padawan is the apprentice, if you like, of a Jedi Knight. It's a very ancient and honourable position."

(Immediately half of Coruscant had her down as a Jedi's bed warmer.)

"But never knighted?" Asked Etsi with a smile.

Ashoka looked put out but she did answer. "No, I never became a full Jedi...I was exiled from the order...for political reasons," she looked sad, "those were the dying days of the order...Things went wrong."

"But things have changed, yes?" Prompted the Twi'lek.

"I fought for the rebellion and I am now on their Council as a Force user. But they want me to assist my master in his" she paused, looking for a suitable word.

"Rehabilitation." Offered Etsi.

"Yes?" replied Ashoka thoughtfully. "That's it, he has been dead decades, it's going to be a bit daunting to him at first." She replied. "My role is also to recognise him." She said flatly "...Whoever is in that tomb...They won't look like my master, but I will know my Skyguy!" Ashoka rolled her shoulders and shifted her knees. She had held that position some hors today. "I can tell a Sith from a Jedi." She said darkly.

"And if not?"

The Togruta slapped her lightsabres hanging at her rope belt. "Then I will put him down for good! Darth Vader has been alive too long for my liking! I want to be the one to kill him."

Captain Hemmel stepped up. He gestured down the processional way. "Here's General Luke Skywalker." He announced.

Luke strode along, resplendent in his brown Jedi robes. Han, Lando, Mon Mothma and the rest of the Alliance trailed after in casual dribs and drabs, which suggested that though they were curious, this whole game really was of little political import.

Etsi and her gang stepped back. The Imperial guard spread out. Ashoka stood up. She drew her lightsabres and switched them on with a snap-hiss. "Who dares to defile the tomb of Anakin Skywalker?"

Well, this was unscripted but the ex-Jedi was rising to the occasion.

"Stand down, Lady Tano." Luke gestured. Under his arm he bore an oxygen tank and mask.

"By what right are you here? And who are you, Force using stranger?" Ashoka gestured in return with her two white blades.

"Anakin Skywalker is my father!" Luke announced, "And no, he is not dead! Do I have the right to see him?"

The Togrutan frowned. "Anakin Skywalker is a Jedi, -celibate. Why do you make insinuations that he is a sinner?"

"I am Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight myself." He smiled wickedly. "The New Jedi will know attachments…As you do."

Ashoka switched off her weapons. "I like this new code." She Forthwalled.

"But to business!" He announced grandly. "Do you know of Anakin Skywalker?" Luke asked formally.

Ashoka drew herself up to her full height "Yes, He is my Master, my best friend and my big brother!" she announced pride in every word. "I love Anakin more than anything else in the galaxy, I have been in mourning so many years."

"Since you are of the Light I assume you are a sworn enemy of Darth Vader?"

Her birth marked face was that of a demon, "See Darth Vader and I will kill him!" she announced vemently. "I will have my revenge on one who destroyed my family, leaving me to starve." She laughed evilly. "Those waiting to kill him are myriad…As it happens I am first in the queue!"

"Tread carefully," warned Mon Mothma "The gates of The Netherworld of the Force and of Chaos are close together; they may even be in the same place."

Luke pushed the grave slab to with the Force. Ashoka got to work on the locks on the coffin with her lightsabre. She stood up, letting holocam droids get a better look at what she was doing.

"Now?" she asked, and Luke neatly lifted off the lid.

To reveal the ebon armour of the Dark Lord, seemingly the same as when he had been buried apart from a little dust.

There was the rhythmic hiss of the rebreather. Darth Vader twitched at the intrusion. "I'm getting very bored." Was all he said.

Luke crouched down by his nemesis. "I don't know you." He said in doubt. "Or do I know you? You told me you are my father, after all."

Ashoka leaned over. "Looks like an enemy of mine." She growled. "Who are you?"

"Don't you recognise me, Father?" Luke said helpfully. "I've given it a bit of thought, and I think I want to be your son. " He straightened. "But the time for pretences is now over." He shook his head sadly. "My Father is not a Dark Lord."

"My Master is no Sith" Ashoka announced to the crowd. "He would never turn to the Dark Side...Of that I am certain." She paused for effect, lighting her twin blades again. "Why are you wearing the foul hame of a Sith lord? Is it a test?"

"A test...But not for you." Anakin said slowly.

"I'm going to take your helmet off; show everyone what's underneath." Luke said with a smile. "Do you consent to this and will it harm you?" He asked.

His father nodded. "I need it to breathe but a little while won't hurt me."

"I've got oxy," Luke slapped the tank, "no need ever to have to be cooped up in that thing ever again."

"Thank you," Anakin disengaged the maglocks.

Luke leaned forwards and as gently as he could, eased his father's helmet off.

What was underneath was human as he was. True, their skin had many burn marks, but they were old and faded.

Anakin screwed up his eyes. "Light hurts." His voice was very weak without the enhancement of the vocabulator.

"Let's have a look at you." Ashoka craned forwards. "You look very pale."

Anakin opened his eyes in response to the familiar voice.

"Skyguy!" she bounced up and down again like she was a juvenile. "You have blue eyes like I do!"

Anakin looked baffled, he had not expected to be revived "is this...The afterlife? Snips?"

Ashoka was weeping, "You're safe! It's me!"

"I thought you were dead!"

"I thought you were dead! Look at you, you have been buried for six weeks!"

"That long? I was meditating." grumped Anakin, clearly tired of this.

The senator stepped forwards. "Right, just who are you? Tell us your name and status." demanded Mon Mothma.

He gave a big intake of breath. "I'm Anakin Skywalker; I'm the Hero who returns from the Dead." Anakin looked to Ashoka for confirmation.

"He's my Master!" she gushed weepily.

"This is my Father!" Luke added. He too was weeping with relief.

"My son! You came for me!"

Luke stood back, "-the impossible we Jedi are good at, -it's just that miracles take time." He laughed. "Welcome home, Dad." Luke wrapped his arms around his father's chest and hauled him to his feet, to the cheers of the crowd. "I've been waiting for this for a long time. All my life in fact."


Anakin Skywalker was driven back to the imperial palace in state, Ashoka on one side and Luke on the other. All three were grinning away like maniacs.


Leia Organa sighed to herself. She had been expecting this. Darth Vader had proven very hard to kill; She was not surprised at his continuing survival.