Chapter 19
Officers' mess
"Padmé is back? That's wonderful," Obi-Wan said.
Anakin nodded. "Yes, I've really missed her and the children," he said.
Obi-Wan observed his friend, deciding that something was bothering him. "What is it?" he said. "What's bothering you?"
Anakin ran a hand over his stubbly chin. "Padmé delivered a message from the Chancellor," he said.
"About Orson Krennic?" asked Obi-Wan.
"How did you know about that?" Anakin asked.
"The Chancellor contacted me," Obi-Wan said. "He wanted me to ask you to help him."
"And he asked Padmé to do the same," Anakin said. "I suspect that's the only reason she came back here."
Obi-Wan frowned. "I'm sure that wasn't the only reason, Anakin," he said. "Padmé loves you. I'm sure she missed you. It's been a long time since you've seen one another, after all."
"It has," Anakin said. "But things don't seem to be any better than they were," he said. "The tension is unbelievable, Obi-Wan. I really think our marriage may be over."
Obi-Wan frowned. "I don't think so," he said. "Padmé has loved you through thick and thin," he said. "You need to be patient with her, Anakin."
"Yeah, patient," Anakin muttered as his eyes wandered to the far side of the room. "I am trying," he said. "I told her I would help Organa for her, and I will. Maybe that will show her how committed I am to our marriage, to her."
Obi-Wan nodded. "I'm sure it will," he said. "Do you think this is a real threat, Anakin?" he asked.
"I don't know," Anakin said, looking back at Obi-Wan. "That's why I need to go to Eadu," he said. "But there's a problem, I have to go as Darth Vader."
"I suppose you'll need to wear the mask, though," he said.
"Unfortunately," Anakin said. "I hate the very thought of it, but there's no other way."
Obi-Wan nodded. "What can I do to help?" he asked.
Anakin smiled. "I was hoping you'd ask me that," he said.
Padmé had just set the table for dinner when Anakin returned. She looked up at him with a smile.
"You're just in time for dinner," she said. "Are you hungry?"
"Yes I am," he said. "Thanks," he said.
"Not at all," she said. "Could you get the kids to wash their hands please?"
"Of course," Anakin said. "Come on guys," he said, extending a hand to each twin.
"It's replicated food," Padmé said as they all sat down to eat. "I'd like to cook for you now that you can eat real food again."
Anakin smiled. "You can cook?" he asked.
Padmé looked at him in surprise. "Excuse me?" she asked.
Anakin laughed. "Well, you've never actually...never mind," he said. "Thanks for this."
Padmé frowned, wishing he'd open up to her like he used to. "Did you speak to Obi-Wan?"
Anakin nodded. "We're on our way to Eadu right now," he said. "Should get there about 0300."
"And then what?" she asked.
"Then he and I go to the research facility and deal with Krennic," Anakin said as he cut his food.
"Deal with him how?" she asked.
Anakin looked at her. "Does it matter?" he asked. "You want me to fix this problem, don't you?"
"Yes," she said.
"Then don't ask questions," he said. "You might not like what you hear."
His words made Padmé very uneasy, and they ate the rest of their meal in silence.
In orbit over Eadu
"I hate this thing," Anakin said as he stood in the black suit he'd worn for two years. "I hate it."
"It's temporary," Obi-Wan reminded him. "This suit is no picnic either," he said.
Obi-Wan wore the white armour of a storm trooper, which he found very constricting when compared to the Jedi robes he was accustomed to.
Anakin laughed. "Maybe you need to lose a few pounds, old man," he teased.
Obi-Wan chuckled. "Maybe so," he said. "Are you ready?" he asked as he picked up the helmet.
"Ready," Anakin said. "Let's do this."
The two companions made their way to the hangar deck, each holding their masked helm under their arm, each introspective as they considered the mission that awaited them. The magnitude of the moment was not lost on either man, for it represented the first time since Anakin's fall that they worked together, the first time they trusted each other enough to act as a team again.
As they reached hangar bay 12, Anakin was surprised to see Padmé waiting for him. He turned to Obi-Wan. "Get on board and get her warmed," he said. "I'll be right there."
Obi-Wan nodded, and headed onto one of the shuttles that sat in the enormous bay.
"Padmé it's the middle of the night," he said. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to see you off," she said. "I hope you don't mind," she added.
"Mind? Why would I mind?" he asked her with a smile. "It means a lot to me that you'd come."
Padmé smiled, pleased to hear it. "Please be careful down there," she said.
"I will," he said. "You mustn't worry."
"I can't help it, Ani," she said, looking down at the deck beneath their feet. "I've always worried about you."
Anakin reached out and lifted her chin with one finger. "I know," he said. "I have to go," he said.
Padmé nodded. "I know," she said.
They looked at one another for a moment or two, and then Anakin kissed her softly on the mouth. "Be back soon," he said.
Padmé watched him leave and board the shuttle, her heart racing from their brief kiss. Come back to me soon, Anakin, she thought.
Imperial research centre- Eadu
Engineers and scientists looked up in shock as the infamous Darth Vader entered the facility, accompanied by an armed storm trooper.
"Where is Orson Krennic?" Anakin asked, hating the sound of his voice.
"Right here," Orson Krennic said, walking over to Anakin and Obi-Wan. "I'm...surprised to see you, Lord Vader," he said. "I was under the impression that you retired."
"I'm 25 years old," Vader said. "Rather young to retire, wouldn't you say?" he asked.
Krennic smiled. "Well, yes," he said. "But I think you know my meaning."
"I believe I do," Anakin said. "But I'm not here to quibble with you," he said. "I'm here to put a stop to the secret weapon you are threatening the New Republic with."
Krennic scoffed. "Please, you don't have the authority anymore," he said. "Your orders mean nothing in this facility here, Vader."
HIs words angered Anakin, and he reached out his hand. "Is that so?" he asked, squeezing Krennic's larynx. "Careful not to choke on your aspirations," he sneered. Obi-Wan watched in shock as Krennic fell to the floor, grabbing his throat. Finally Anakin released him, and the room was still as Krennic coughed and sputtered. Anakin stood watching him, horrified by what he had just done.
"Where is Galen Erso?" Anakin asked once Krennic had recovered.
"There," Krennic said, pointing, his voice raspy.
"Arrest him," Anakin said to Obi-Wan, who immediately took Krennic into custody.
"This way," a nearby engineer said, jumping out of his seat, only to eager to assist the infamous dark lord. Anakin followed him to a nearby office, while Obi-Wan returned to the shuttle with the prisoner. Galen Erso stood up, shocked to see Darth Vader.
"How can I help you, Lord Vader?" Erso said.
Anakin knew Erso was a man of integrity, a man with a family, and someone who had serious moral objections to the creation of the super weapon that Palpatine had envisioned.
Using the Force, Anakin closed the door to the office and shut the blinds, as Erso watched in growing trepidation. Anakin then pulled his mask off, revealing his face to Erso.
"You're Anakin Skywalker," Erso said.
"Yes I am," Anakin said. "I stopped being Darth Vader some time ago," he said.
"I'm afraid I don't understand," Erso said. "Why are you here?"
"I'm here to pull the plug on this super weapon," Anakin said.
"Well I'm afraid Orson Krennic is quite motivated to..."
"Krennic has been arrested," Anakin interjected. "He won't be a problem anymore."
"Arrested? Since when?" Erso asked.
"Since five minutes ago," Anakin said.
Erso's face betrayed his pleasure, but he said nothing.
"I need the plans, Erso," Anakin said. "I know you hate this thing, I know you've been forced into its development. This thing needs to die, Erso."
"I've always hated it, you're right," Erso said. "But the plans are not in my possession, I'm afraid," he said. "They are in the vault on Skariff."
"I see," Anakin said. "I hope you are with me in this, Erso," he said. "Am I wrong to assume you want this thing eliminated as much as I do?"
"No, you're not wrong," he said. "What do you want me to do?"
"Send your men home," Anakin said. "The Republic will find new jobs for all of them," he said. "Shut down this project immediately."
"What about me?" Erso asked.
"You will have a job, have no fear," Anakin said. "Your talents are wasted working on this monstrosity," he said. "We're living in exciting times, Erso. You have a brilliant mind. The New Republic needs brilliant minds to create a new galaxy."
Erso nodded. "I'd be honoured to help create a new galaxy," he said. "And the first thing I will do is go to Scariff to take the plans of the Death Star and destroy all trace of them."
Anakin smiled. "I'll go with you."
On the shuttle trip back to the star destroyer, Obi-Wan was quiet. Anakin knew why, and didn't know what to say.
"Go ahead, just say it," Anakin said. "I know you want to."
"I'm not sure what to say," Obi-Wan said. "I'm shocked by what you did, Anakin. I don't know what to say."
Anakin frowned. "I don't know what happened," he said. "I just...lost my temper. I thought I was past this, but it seems I'm not."
"I'd have to agree, Anakin," Obi-Wan said. "And it's most...concerning."
Anakin nodded. "No kidding," he muttered.
Obi-Wan nodded, growing more concerned. "There is still a vestige of darkness within you, Anakin," he said. "Clearly you have not purged it completely. This is a dangerous time for you. You must guard diligently against it, Anakin. You've come too far to slip now."
Anakin considered his words in silence. It unnerved him how quickly the darkness joined him still. "Am I fooling myself, Obi-Wan?" he asked. "Am I ever going to be fully free of the darkness?"
"I can't answer that, Anakin," Obi-Wan said. "But I've seen the changes in you, changes that you've worked very hard to make. Don't lose hope now. You have many good things going on in your life - two beautiful children, a wife who loves you, a charming and debonair best friend.."
Anakin laughed. "Yeah I know all that," he sighed. "Though I have to wonder about my wife. I don't think that she can deal with my ugly past. I'm not sure anyone could."
Obi-Wan didn't respond, for, in truth, he felt the very same way.