HEROES AND VILLAINS By Kondoru.

Alternative ending to RotJ

Standard Disclaimers.

Thanks to Budgie for Beating.


Chapter Twelve; Care and feeding of Overgrown Infants.

Anakin Skywalker had been reborn.

Now he had to spend some time as a baby.

"Open wide, Basket!" Commanded his gaoler, a prim young man called Rene.

He obeyed with only a slight pause. Rene poked in the latest spoon of nutrient gruel.

Which given the sad state of his charges digestive system would go through the system somewhat unchanged.

Anakin had a number, of course. (No one could remember it) but Governor Norran and his nannies had given him a new name. Basket Case.

This was one of the less insulting monikers that the unfortunate cyborg could have been lumbered with.

Ex cyborg.

Basket had arrived at the Shard heavily sedated and bereft of the technology that had sustained and imprisoned him for the past two decades…True, it was scrap and just a burden, but he felt naked without it.

Anakins desuiting had been done as gently as possible.

In the past this ordeal had been cause for fear and misery. Now Anakin was pleased to be free of the constraining suit. He felt oddly light without his useless cybernetic limbs, indeed was now free to wriggle and flex his stumps as he pleased.

Everything had been done to make their new penitent as happy and comfortable as possible. Up to a point. Basket had to behave himself.

And then there was Red.

Red was his grumpy daughter who was now responsible for dealing with the more, shall it be said, physically interesting and interactive of Baskets habits.

The appropriately rechristened Leia had nothing to say to her father. Her face was of a beaten slave when she came on her twice daily cleanup visit. One of resignation.

Anakin hated to see any child of his brought so low. But he also felt Leia needed a big dose of humiliation. He had to admit to himself; He really wanted to get to know this formidable woman who he had quite by accident sired, a girl who resembled Padme…And, more darkly, himself.

But Anakin had a lot of problems. Like being helpless. This was a big fear of his.

His life was spent between his bed and his chair. While Leia had a sleeping mat, her father had a proper bed. Somehow that did not make him happy, comfortable as it was. The bed was a hospital one with barred sides which could be pulled up and locked, making him feel boxed in. Anakin knew it was in his interests to be caged; he suffered nightmares which caused him to thrash around. If he was to be put in a bed, it had to be one he could not fall (or jump) out of.

The bed was soft and to Baskets mind, improperly clingy. He was used to the hard bench in his hyperbaric chamber. Soft beds were so…There was something indecent and guilty about them. Soft beds were Padme's.

His hover chair was likewise designed with his comfort and security in mind. It was big enough for his massive frame, and softly padded so as not to abrade his very delicate skin.

Likewise padded were the webbing straps which prevented him from wriggling out, should he so desire. The chair had a commode; at least in the daytime Anakin worried little about his incontinence problems.

Comforting as these devices were they only added to Anakins feelings of helplessness and lack of control in his life. At least when he was on the floor he could crawl about as he pleased; or wriggle under his blanket. Just because he was limbless didn't mean he was motionless, dammit. Basket liked to move around.

He would have to discuss this with Mon Mothma.


Basket was in one of his moods. He bit and lashed out with his stumps. Baskets thighs would have taken three spans of anyone's hands to encircle, -that is, if he had felt like letting them try. His muscles were well developed too, years of a physically active life on top of the weight of armour his body had to carry did that.

"Basket! Any more of that and we will strap you down and leave you all day!" Threatened Rene.

"I don't like it!"

"You don't have to like it! Until you learn better control, you will wear your nappy in bed!"

"I knew being reborn would be hard but I didn't expect this!" Shouted Basket angrily. "You really like humiliating me, don't you?"

Rene called for droid security and Basket was carted off to a solitary cell, a place devoid of any comforts, though it did have a floor. A floor which soon would need Reds attentions. Basket went naked and thought he was getting the better deal. Part of him realised he was being dangerously apathetic; he had been like this just after his maiming; rapidly Darth Vader had lost control of his life and was just content to leave his severely injured person to Palpatine's `care`. It hadn't done him any good.

He did not want to go through this again.

But how to regain control?


Governor Norran visited Basket in the morning to have a little talk about hygiene.

As a small mercy, the Governor did not include Red in this discussion on Baskets night attire.

"Ok. Promise me one thing. I want to see you dry…And clean in the mornings. If you need to go, then ask your night staff."

Basket simmered down. He was well aware that currently he had waste disposal issues. He had spent two decades in not worrying about the subject at all, except maybe when one of his many victims lost control in fright…Or death throes. Anakin had never heard of Karma, but he did know about poetic justice.

"I suppose all this is going on my records?" Basket asked sadly.

Governor Norran nodded,

"And my records are public? I have a lot of enemies who would be greatly amused at my personal problems."

"The public are being informed as to how well you are on the mend."

"And also how many times I wet myself. I'm a sick old man who needs to be spoon fed and wears nappies." Whimpered Basket miserably.

"Look, you are very injured." Governor Norran sat down. "With your life history, has there been other times you have been hurt enough to need basic personal care?"

"Yes." Basket paused. "But maybe not as many times as I have had to be strapped down or sedated to prevent me hopping out of bed before my Doctor permits!"

"Well, we are tough on offenders in here. You are to obey your medical staff"


One thing hadn't changed.

Basket was still an unhappy bundle of seemingly insurmountable medical problems.

There had been a lot of debate as to what to treat first. Skin? Lungs? Or simply learning to eat again?

It had been decided, much without the apathetic Baskets input, to get his alimentary canal going while a bacta tank was set up for his skin.

They fed him nutrient gruel, and interrogated Basket endlessly when it came up again. Commiserated him when he got stomach ache, rubbed and kneaded his belly when the pains were lower down, and consulted with nightmarish fascination over what happened at the other end.

Baskets dreams were now filled with Sidious's droids force feeding him and tormenting him with enemas. He seldom had nightmares of Mustapha, perhaps because his life as Vader was now over. Basket had a whole new Hell of ordeals.

Such as becoming human again. He had died as a monster. He had been reborn again…As a human and now had to take on human responsibility.

How had he ever managed this when he was an infant? How did anyone manage?


Baskets life was not just visceral physical activities

He underwent a lot of psychological examination.

As yet, Mon Mothma had not located a psychologist who would treat Anakin with the impartiality necessary to successful treatment. So far Basket was busy doing standard personality tests on his new datapad Ashoka had bought him.

"And this is for me?" He had said unbelievingly when his Ex-Padawan had unveiled his new possession.

"Yes it is" Ashoka had told him. "The Senate want you to get used to using it. It's configured for voice commands."

"Oh."

"Mon Mothma sentenced you to hard labour, didn't she?"

Anakin had to nod; He had been half hoping that that aspect of his sentence was a bit of a joke on the Senates part. But this probably was some way in which he could stop feeling so sorry for himself and regain control of his life.

"You are going to practice with this the next month." The Togruta told him. "I assume you used the Holonet as Darth Vader?"

Anakin shook his head. "Palpatine told me everything I needed to know." He admitted sadly.

Ashoka gave a deep groan. Neither of them had grown up using the Holonet. It was forbidden in the Temple. As a renegade Jedi she had learned to use it very quickly. It looked like Sith were just as bad as Jedi on that account. "You need to get in the habit of using the Holonet."

"I'm getting the Holonet…In here?" He said disbelievingly.

"That's just rich, Anakin." Ashoka stood back, hands on hips. "I have just handed you the Known Galaxy and all you do is huff and look pathetic…If the Dark side turns you into some Master dependent moron…Just like the Jedi, I might add, then you were silly to turn Sith." She sniffed disdainfully. "Use the datapad, or not, no one will make you. It's all the freedom you are going to get in a long while."

"Oh." Anakin said.

"You do want out of here?" she wheedled. Anakin knew there was an unspoken `My Skyguy would never let himself be locked up. ` Here.

"I've got a lot of work to do first" The lacklustre Force user said. (Like re learn bladder and bowel control…)

"Very well." And Ashoka turned to go.

"My son…" Anakin said suddenly. Ashoka turned back to him.

"Is he very good in bed?"


"Lady Tano is a fine woman." Zasti chided after his Ex-Padawan had been escorted out. "That was a not very polite thing to say to her."

Anakin shook his head. "I keep forgetting Snips is grown up now, she is no longer my responsibility."

"You said you never used the Holonet in the Temple." She asked. "Do you need help with using it?"

Anakin shook his head "I will ask you if I need assistance, thank you."


Basket settled down to learn to use his datapad. To his surprise and great suspicion he found there was no restrictions on his Holonet usage, though as Mon Mothma's message warned him, he certainly was being monitored.

His account had several useful files, such as the Senate reports on his progress. (All of Anakins personal problems were out there for the enjoyment of the galaxy, as he had so sadly surmised). Also the full unexpurgated version of his Operation.

He also had a file with contact details of people he knew…Or, more to the point, people who had suffered the calamity of serving under Darth Vader.

Anakin shook his head. He did not feel like speaking with anyone apart from his official callers yet.

He had a long way to go.


Every night Governor Norran came to see his newest and most notorious charge. Anakin and Leia were of perennial interest to him. His other inmates were rather disturbed, and of rather troubled nature. They were watched but not interacted with unless they needed it. Prisoners who could be relied upon to not be violent or threaten violence, and who could hold a reasonably civilised conversation were delightfully novel to all the staff. Anakin was messy and his daughter ill tempered, but it seldom went further than that.

Basket was tucked up in his bed. He looked very contented.

"Are you comfortable, Basket?" The Governor asked.

"I'm fine today." Anakin smiled wearily "For me, any day with no pain is wonderful."

"I'm glad to hear it."

"Can you tell me a bedtime story, then, Governor?" He asked wearily.

Governor Norran was taken aback, he smiled. "What sort?"

"The sort that will rekindle my faith in sentients." Groaned Basket.

The Governor laughed. "Would the one about a certain Basket who tomorrow will be speaking with Lady Mothma do?"


"I hope you are well?" Mon Mothma asked, the holo flickering.

Basket shook his head sadly. "I have stomach-ache. The doctors say it will take months before my body re adjusts to solids."

Lady Mothma frowned. "Yes, I have read your medical reports…Your life's getting very interesting of late, isn't it?"

"And messy." Anakin admitted. "My psychologists tell me that my admitting I have waste disposal issues is a major step in me healing, and solving them." He sucked in his scarred lips "I hope they are right."

"Something will be sorted out."

Anakin gave a laugh. "I never imagined I would do anything but use a catheter…And as for solids! He laughed some more. "How do you manage?"

Mon Mothma had to snigger naughtily, "Oh, you get used to it." She reassured.

"Yes." He looked very weary. "I am so grateful to have a daughter who is willing to clean up after me."

"How is Leia?" And even with the poor quality Holopic it was obvious she was smiling.

"Resigned. Same as me." Anakin said dully.

"How do you get on?"

"We don't. She cleans me up. I say nothing. I'm not sure what I can say."

"You could try thanking her."

Basket nodded. "How do I do that without seeming insincere?"

Mon Mothma gave a sad smile. "Good to think of that. I don't really have an answer. You could start by trying."

"Do you think forcing us together is going to do any good?" Anakin growled.

"Do you wish never to see your daughter ever again? It can be arranged."

"That would break my heart. I always wanted a girl." Tears ran down Baskets nose. "But I'm a bad father…I never meant to be."

"The Anakin of old would have been a very good father."

Basket nodded miserably. "And, I think you may have noticed by now, I am not that man anymore." He groaned. "I am not even his nemesis…I am a piddlebottomed liability."

"For now."

"She isn't ever going to be friends with me." He looked sad.

"It will take time." Mon Mothma reassured. "When you are a young person you idolise your parents. Growing up you realise they have…Flaws. Leia loved Bail…" She looked very grim. "And now he is dead and her biological father has turned up, quite unwanted and uninvited…"

"And he happens to be called `Dark Father`…I see."

"Yes, he is the very opposite of a good dad." Mon Mothma continued. "He has hurt his daughter very much, and now is learning just how awful he has been to her…And, I hope, I think he is mending his ways."

"I wish I had died." He moaned.

"What good would that have done?"

"Then my children would not be lumbered with a war criminal father."

"It's up to you to reform and show everyone your good side. I'm giving you that chance. Everyone deserves a second chance." She paused. "Anyway, you have been dead." Another pause. "Did it improve you?"

Anakin hung his head. "Oh, a bit. It gave me a chance to meditate and rethink myself."

"Get on and heal up, for a start. I want to see you a human and not a machine. We will discuss your medical treatment soon."

"Thank you." Said Basket humbly.

"For what?"

"For everything."

"Is your back still sore?" She asked.

"Thank you for not being afraid to give me my just desserts!"


"How did your conversation with the lady go?" Asked Governor Norran before Basket was put to bed.

"We talked a bit, about my family problems."

The Governor gave a slight and knowing laugh.

Basket frowned. "Yes, I know. But Lady Mothma is helping out. She is arranging some work for me. I am so glad of something useful to do at last." He sounded very pleased.

"This sounds like progress. An active person like you…You need something to keep occupied."

Anakin sighed wearily. "She told me that a few years of that she will see me pardoned and sent to a home for the severely disabled."

"And what is so terrible about that?" Asked Governor Norran sadly.

Basket shook his head miserably. "Do you know? I don't feel like I'm one of the `severely disabled`? I mean, I'm helpless now…I'm just going through a phase." He coughed, "Like with this eating business. Yes, I struggle, but soon I will feel much better and be able to live like a healthy person and not some invalid."

"I'm sure such places are much nicer than being in here."

Basket had to smile. "But in here at least I enjoy a certain measure of notoriety…Face it, Governor, I do get a kick out of being the powerful one. I always have done. It's part of being a slave, -you always have this fantasy of being a Master yourself." He groaned. "I don't want to be…Well, Basket."

"I do not patronise you."

"And for that I am grateful. Everyone else does. Including the most notorious Lady Mothma." He looked away as if seeing something far distant. "But I know I completely deserve it."

Governor Norran nodded sadly. "I believe you should be treated with respect."

"And now people pity me. I've wallowed in self-pity now…It's a singularly wonderfully self-destructive way to live." Basket shuddered. "If I had new cybernetics I wouldn't be disabled, would I?"

"You know the rules in here will not permit you prosthetics." Governor Norran reminded him firmly. "Anyhow, you need to heal up before the medics even consider it."

"I could build my own." Anakin offered cutely. "But I would need access to the Force."

"Nothing doing." The Governor said sharply.

"Leia has Force sessions." Basket reminded him. He was rather jealous. But being blocked from the Force was very soothing on his spirit. Anakin was secretly grateful for this particular security system.

Governor Norran shook his head.

Anakin groaned. "I hate being helpless, and my considerable talents are going to waste."

"Be patient." And the Governor stood up and switched off the light.