DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything.
Obi Wan watched as an airspeeder shot through the cloudy skies. Had he not be so in tune with the Force, the old Jedi Master was sure he would have seen nothing more than a silver flash as the sleek body of the speeder reflected the morning sunlight and a trail of white vapour. The airspeeder circled the building that Obi Wan was in, before disappearing inside the hanger bay.
A few minutes later, the Jedi Master felt a presence enter the room and he smiled.
"Anakin!" he said as he turned to face his former Padawan.
The young man extended an arm and the old friends embraced.
"How are you Ben?" Anakin asked.
The pair walked over to a couch and sat down. Obi Wan leaned back against the soft chair while Anakin stayed sitting on the edge. His left hand fiddled absentmindedly with the straps on the glove that covered his mechanical arm, his mind focused elsewhere.
"I'm fine but something is clearly on your mind my young friend," Obi Wan replied.
Anakin glanced up at Ben, a wry grin on his face. "Nothing gets past you Master."
The older man just watched Anakin, waiting patiently for him to explain. Long seconds ticked by in silence before Anakin finally sighed. He looked up at his old mentor, his eyes tired.
"Yesterday Luke ran into a bench in my workshop and my toolbox fell on top of him," Anakin began.
Obi Wan frowned, sensing this wasn't the problem. "But…?"
"Before I realised what had actually happened my first instinct was to reach for my lightsaber and feel the surrounding area for any danger. For a second I could sense everything in the room…" Anakin stared fearfully into Obi Wan's eyes. "What if the shields that I set up to protect my family aren't strong enough? I was lucky this time that I stopped myself from dropping the shield and reaching for the Force. If Sidious ever discovered that I was here on Bespin or that I had a family… who know what he would do?"
Obi Wan leant forward, resting one hand on his young friend's shoulder in a comforting gesture.
"Anakin, you've done the right thing by those you love all your life. You will not betray them just to feel the power of the Force running through you once again."
Skywalker nodded slowly, his fears still evident.
"Besides," Obi Wan continued as he stood up. "I have not been able to sense you or any of your family until the moment they're in my presence and even then it is just the feeling I get from lesser beings. Your shields are as powerful as ever – the Emperor has no chance of finding you."
Anakin watched as Obi Wan looked towards the door.
"Quite unlike our friend here who I sensed the moment he entered the building," he said with a smile.
Anakin also turned to face the door as it slid open. He still struggled sometimes with his stifled senses and hated it when things took him by surprise. He hadn't realised how much he had relied upon the heightened awareness that the Force had provided him.
Ferus Olin entered the room, his lightsaber swinging on his utility belt. His huge smile brightened the sombre mood in the room as his embraced Obi Wan. Anakin stood and offered a hand to shake. Olin accepted it and pulled the young man into a hug.
"Come now Skywalker, I thought we were past all this animosity!" he said with a laugh.
Anakin grimaced but returned the hug. The pair had grown up together and had taken an instant dislike to one another. For years they had been in constant rivalry but after Olin had left the Jedi Order, Anakin had thought that he wouldn't see him again and had been quite relieved by the thought. But after the Emperor took over the galaxy and Anakin and his family had been forced into hiding, Olin had taken a stand against the Sith Lord by rallying together what was fast becoming known as the Rebel Alliance. Or at least, that was the story that everyone believed. The truth was quite different and known only to the three people in the room.
***
Flashback:
He waited until Padme was sleeping before gently kissing her forehead and slipping out of her arms. He didn't want to leave her warm embrace but he knew this would be the only chance that he got. As quietly as he could, Anakin got dressed and exited the room. He walked down the hallway towards the twin's room and stood in the doorway, staring at his two beautiful angels. They were both sound asleep, tucked up tightly beside one another.
For a few peaceful seconds, the young father stared adoringly at his children, deep in thought. His mind was in turmoil. Ever since he'd shielded himself from the Force a few months ago, Anakin had been feeling increasingly helpless. He hated doing nothing while innocent people were being murdered as the Emperor searched for him. He hated knowing that one day the Emperor might succeed in finding him and harm his family as a way of torturing him.
With a sigh, Anakin turned away from the twins and left the house. He went straight to his airspeeder, folding himself into the cockpit. Before he could hesitate and change his mind, Anakin reached for the comm. link and dialled a familiar number.
"Kenobi."
Anakin stared at the hologram of his old master, emotions swelling inside him. Obi Wan was like a brother to him, but he was also a link to his past – a past he wanted nothing more than to forget.
"Hey Ben, its Anakin," he said softly.
He could almost hear the sharp intake of breath as he caught his old Master by surprise.
"Anakin? Is everything all right?"
It had been four months since he had last contacted Obi Wan so he shouldn't have been surprised by the confusion he heard in the older Jedi's voice. Anakin rubbed his eyes, knowing he shouldn't have cut his oldest friend out of his life all those months ago but he was too tired to reflect on his past mistakes.
"I'm fine, but I can't do this any more Master," Anakin couldn't stop himself from adding the old endearment on the end.
"Do what? Anakin what are you talking about? Where are you?"
Anakin swallowed, sorting out his thoughts before continuing.
"I can't stay idle while the Sith destroy the peace that we fought so hard for. I've watched their evil spread through the galaxy and not raised a hand to stop it but I can't do that any more. I want my children to grow up in a galaxy that is safe, where they can experience everything without fear for their lives or that of their loved ones."
He faltered, thinking once again of his children's innocent faces as they slept.
"Ben, I want them to have everything that I never had," he admitted.
Obi Wan nodded. "I know what you're getting at my young friend but have you stopped to think everything through? If you get killed or captured, you will be depriving them of their father… something you never had."
Anakin nodded. "I know but I can't have them living in fear their whole lives. If I die then at least I can still be with them through the Force. Both twins have a strong connection to it and I know they will feel me with them. I'm doing this for them Ben."
"Are you sure?"
"Of what?" Anakin queried.
"Are you sure that you're doing this for the twins' safety or is this my hothead Padawan learner resurfacing after all the years? You could never resist adventure Anakin."
"I'm doing this for them Ben." Anakin hoped that was the truth but a small part of him questioned his answer.
Obi Wan sighed. "Go to Mos Espa on Tatooine and I will find you. From there we can make plans."
Anakin had nodded and ended the call. He sat back, his eyes closing. Sleep tugged at his consciousness and he slowly climbed out of the speeder. As he was returning to his bedroom, he once again stopped in front of the children.
"I'm doing this for you," he whispered.
He walked over and gently kissed their foreheads before tucking them in a little tighter and returning to Padme's side.
He reached Tatooine two days later. Pulling his old Jedi cloak over his shoulders and burying his head in the depths of the cowl, he jumped out of a stole T-65 X-Wing Starfighter and immediately merged himself with the shadows of the nearest building.
Anakin felt wrong leaving his family in Bespin under the pretence of going scavenging for a few days but he knew that he had to do it. For their safety.
He moved through the late afternoon shadows quickly, fearing someone would recognise him. Tatooine's unrelenting heat was reminding him of his last visit here, taking him back to the death of his mother. Stubbornly he pushed the horribly painful memories away and focused on finding somewhere safe that he could stay until Obi Wan found him.
Anakin slipped into the nearest bar, hoping to disappear into the crowds. He ordered a drink and took it to the furthest empty booth from the door. Then he settled in and waited.
It took Obi Wan nearly four hours to find his old Padawan. He couldn't find a trace of his Force signature anywhere so he had resorted to using a logical system of elimination. He searched the bars first, figuring it would be the most logical place to hold a secret meeting. They were always rowdy and customers were usually too drunk to focus on anything but themselves.
He found Anakin meditating in a booth at one of the bars nearest Mos Espa's city edge. Obi Wan alerted his companion through the Force before slipping into the booth opposite him. Anakin didn't move even though he must surely have sensed his old Master sitting opposite.
"Anakin?" Obi Wan muttered.
The young man jumped, his eyes snapping open, immediately alert. He glanced around him before seeing Obi Wan. Then his tense shoulders sagged and he let out a breath of relief.
"Ben, you startled me," he admitted with a grin.
Obi Wan just stared at him. There was something wrong here, he could feel it. Although he was sitting directly in front of Anakin he still could not sense his presence within the Force.
"Anakin are you alright?" he demanded.
The young man nodded as he took a deep gulp of his drink. "This stuff is good. I mean I knew that already but I'd forgotten just how good."
Obi Wan narrowed his eyes. "Anakin why can't I sense you?"
Anakin's eyes immediately went to his old master's and stared almost in surprise. He'd almost forgotten the strong bond between himself and his friend.
"I shielded myself from the Force to keep Padme and the kids safe. I can't touch allow myself to touch the Force again until I know that my family will be safe. The Emperor is still after me and my presence within the Force is just too strong," he muttered.
Obi Wan's eyes widened. "That must have been a terrible sacrifice."
Anakin just shrugged. "I do what I must."
Suddenly another figure slid into the seat beside Obi Wan. He was a tall lean man with shrewd brown eyes and brown hair that held a streak of gold through it. Anakin recognised him instantly and was more than a little surprised.
"Ferus? Ferus Olin?" he spluttered.
The man smiled without humour at his childhood rival.
"Skywalker," he said.
Anakin turned to Obi Wan. "What in the name of the Sith is he doing here?"
The older man nodded at Olin. "Ferus expressed his interest in fighting back against the Sith mere days before you contacted me. I believe that, despite your past grievances, you two can work together to defeat the Empire. I will help you of course as best I can."
"The two of us alone cannot defeat the entire Empire!" Olin hissed incredulously.
Obi Wan nodded in Anakin's direction. "He's the Chosen One; he was destined to do this. With your determination, Anakin's uncanny influence over the Force and my direction I believe that we can do this."
"Ben, no," Anakin said suddenly.
"No what? You want to help the people, this is the way to do it," Obi Wan replied in confusion.
"No, I mean no I won't go near the Force. If I do I will place everyone in danger!"
Olin scoffed and Anakin turned to him in anger. "What? You think it's funny that I care about my loved ones?"
Olin shook his head, a smirk plastered on his face but he didn't reply. This angered Anakin even more and he slammed his mechanical hand down on the table. He opened his mouth to give him a piece of his mind when Obi Wan silenced him with a glare.
"It is perfectly fine to be concerned about your family Anakin but you must remember to control your anger. It will only lead to the Dark Side."
There was silence between the three as Anakin reigned in his emotions.
"Good," Obi Wan stated as he sensed the calm descend. "There is still hope my friends. We can do this without the Chosen One's power but we will need help. We will recruit as many people as we can and build an army of our own. When we are ready we will strike back at the Empire."
The two young men nodded.
"Who will lead this rebellion?" Anakin asked.
Obi Wan was silent for a second before replying.
"We will all lead but for the recruit's sake I suggest that Ferus be seen as the leader."
Ferus crossed his arms over his chest. "I agree."
"Of course you would," Anakin spat before he could stop himself.
"Anakin…"
"No Obi Wan it's all right, he needs to understand," Ferus turned to face a seething Anakin. "Normally you would be the suitable candidate to lead a rebellion, what with your past hero status and all but at the moment you are too concerned for the lives of your family. I know you would fight courageously but there is only so much one person can deal with. Being the Chosen One, a father and a husband is a heavy burden for anyone. Adding leadership of a rebel army would only wear you out and even you with all your power cannot do everything without tiring."
Anakin opened his mouth to say something but Olin held up his hand.
"I don't want to stop you from being a leader; I just want to take some of the responsibility from your shoulders. Feel free to lead us from the sidelines – I will be the poster boy. That way you can still remain anonymous to the Emperor as well."
Anakin blinked back his surprise. Olin made fair points. He studied his old rival more carefully. The man had always been mature but now it seemed he had learned wisdom.
Slowly Anakin nodded. "Fine, you can be the poster boy but I will not be left out. We will create an army and together we will pull the Empire to their knees."
End Flashback.
***
"My contacts on Coruscant have informed me that they will be visited by a prisoner transporter in a week's time to collect the Senators of Naboo. I suggest we throw them a welcoming party," Olin said to his two friends.
"Well I think that goes without saying. The Senators are all good friends of my wife so I will do all I can to help rescue them," Anakin agreed.
Obi Wan watched in silence as the pair ran through notion after notion, trying to figure out a plan of action.
"We can't blow up the transporter Anakin!" Olin replied to his friend's latest suggestion. "It will no doubt be containing more prisoners inside."
Anakin shrugged his shoulders and stretched. He hated sitting still for too long.
"If we get to the prisoners first then we will be able to release them and set a trap for the son's of Siths!" Ferus said.
Obi Wan nodded. "This seems like the plan with the least amount of casualties and while blowing things up may have worked for you in the past Anakin, it isn't always the answer."
Anakin rolled his eyes but leaned forward to join in the discussion. It wasn't until three hours later that they had concocted a suitable plan.
Itching to be on his feet, Anakin stood and stretched his lean body.
"So I will summon the troupes and we will meet in three days on Coruscant," Olin stated as Anakin started walking towards the door.
It had been a long day and he wanted to get back home to his wife and kids.
"And Skywalker!" Ferus called after him. "Don't forget the…"
"I won't forget the plasma blasters," he said with a wave over his shoulder. I never forget them.
He left the room and made his way back down to the hanger bay. Anakin found his speeder and fired it up. He reversed out of the hanger before stepping hard on the accelerator. He felt the machine respond to his command and exhilaration rushed through his body at the sheer speed his speeder possessed. Padme didn't like the fact that he wanted to make it faster but she accepted the fact that he needed it so she left him alone. The only thing she insisted on was never having the kids inside it when he was driving.
Anakin laughed as adrenaline shot through him. He was already halfway home and he couldn't wait to see Padme or his little angels again.
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