Chapter 2:
The falcon had escaped the clutches of the empire but there was more to be done. After Leia and Chewie had brought Anakin onboard he soon blacked out, the rage was insurmountable. Anakin had watched his best friend perish in front of his eyes, bearing in mind the recent time travel fiasco and the death of his mother, the rise of the clone wars surely didn't help either.
Anakin's unconscious body lay lifeless on the sofa in the falcon's lounge. It was the only comfortable spot available.
The crew was headed for Yavin, they needed to get the plans for the Death Star to the Rebel Alliance. R2 he's the plans in his databank however the crew couldn't find him.
"3PO have you seen R2?" Luke questioned
"Sorry Master Luke but I have not, he did board with us I know that much"
Luke suddenly heard some sad whistles and boops and went to investigate. He saw R2 beside Anakin, not leaving his side. R2 saw Luke but gave no acknowledgment. R2's memory had never been wiped meaning he remembered Anakin, all the way till the day they met on Tatooine.
"Hey buddy, he's going to be ok. How do you know him?" Luke asked R2. He was certain R2 hadn't seen him before he was brought on board.
R2 replied with some more sad beeps and boops. R2 was confused on why Anakin looked so young. Last time he saw him was on Mustafar. Back then he had a scar above his right eye and left cheek. R2 told Luke that he didn't know Anakin and was just rather worried about him.
"It's ok buddy, I'm worried about him too." Luke whispered. Luke took the loss of Obi-wan to heart. And seeing Anakin's reaction broke him. Luke had his doubts about whether Anakin and Ben were actually related, after all there was a 30 odd year difference between them. But Anakin's reaction to Obi-wan's death said everything. Even if they weren't biological brothers, they were indeed like family.
Han, Chewie and Leia sat in the cockpit of the falcon, an awkward silence filled the air as the falcon drifted silently in space.
"Am I the only one who thinks Kenobi is bullshitting us? I mean for crying out loud his supposed brother is 30 years older than him" Han exclaimed. He wasn't the biggest fan of Anakin and knew immediately he wasn't telling the truth when he stated his name was Kenobi.
Chewie let out a roar which sounded like an agreement.
"No, you're not the only one. But even if you were do you really think it's wise to question him? He beat up a wookie with his fists and crushed windpipes with his bare hands. He's not someone you want to piss off especially after his 'supposed brother' was just killed!" Leia screamed. She for some reason had grown attached to Anakin and felt a need to back him up.
"I ain't suggesting we confront him, maybe he'll open up to us in time. But you are right, I don't want to piss him off... It seems like I've already done that once and I don't want to go through that again." Han stated.
"I'm going to find him..." Leia stated before walking away from Han and Chewie.
"Women am I right?" Han chuckled
Chewbacca responded in his classic wookie laugh.
Leia grabbed two blankets from a bedroom on the falcon and walked over to the lounge where Luke and Anakin were. She placed a blanket over Anakin to keep him warm and another over Luke's shoulder.
"What's wrong Luke?"
"I just can't believe he's gone, Ben I mean. Leia what are we doing?" Luke asked.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean Ben was just killed, Anakin and Chewbacca had a brawl, Han is just as annoying as ever and I'm useless... I feel lost" Luke said, tears forming in his eyes. What broke him the most was seeing Anakin's rage as Ben was killed. Luke felt sadness and grief but even in his sleep Luke could see Anakin's rage and anger boil.
"Luke none of this is your fault, you were the one that rescued me and Anakin, don't ever think you're useless otherwise Obi-wan wouldn't have laid down his life to buy us time to escape. You can't blame yourself for Obi-wan's death or Han's stubbornness."
The slight noise of twitching and fidgeting could be heard. Luke and Leia turned to see Anakin slowly raising his head. His eyes opened to reveal a flickering colour between blue and yellow.
"A-Anakin, are y-you alright?"
"No" Anakin stood up from his sleep not even noticing R2 and walked towards the cockpit.
"I think he blames me" Luke sighed.
"Don't be so ridiculous, what that man is going through... I know what it's like and it's the worst feeling not being able to do anything about his. It's even worse for him, he watched Obi-wan die, I didn't witness my parents death but I imagined it. Watching Alderaan be blast into oblivion shattered me. Just give him time, it's a great healer"
"I hope you're right." Luke whispered, unsure whether Leia actually heard it or not.
Suddenly the falcon violently shook, throwing Leia and Luke to the ground.
"Get up kids we're not out of this yet" Han said, running towards a set of ladders leading to the falcon's guns, Anakin was close behind him. Anakin slid down the ladder and landed on the seat next to the gun, immediately grabbing the controls and started blasting.
Luke and Leia ran to the cockpit where Chewie was evading multiple Tie Fighters.
Anakin started blasting with incredible accuracy. One shot and one fighter plummeted into the endless void of space.
One after one the squadron crumbled even further, by the time Han got into his seat there was not a single Tie Fighter left.
"Great work guys" Luke said on the com-link.
"It was all Anakin" Han stated, he may of been a scoundrel but he wasn't one to take the credit of other people's work.
Anakin climbed back up the ladder and entered the cockpit, a deafening silence entered the room.
Luke turned around to be met with Anakin's eyes, before they were flickering yellow but now were hazy blue. Destroying those fighters seemed to have helped him.
"I thought we were out of the Empires reach, how were the imperials able to find us?" Luke asked
"The ship was tracked" Anakin blandly said, no emotion whatsoever.
"So how long until we get there?"
"Only a few minutes Luke, the system ain't far, Chewie punch it" Han said as he entered the cockpit, taking his usual seat.
Anakin turned to leave to be met with R2 standing in the doorway, dancing left and right whistling.
Anakin stepped past him but motioned him to follow. R2 obeyed. They stopped in the lounge as Anakin sat down, R2 right next to him.
"Buddy I know you recognise me, but you need to keep it on the low, I believe I have time traveled or something and I don't know how or why. You know me as Anakin Skywalker but you need to keep it a secret."
R2 pulled up a hologram of Anakin's biography, Anakin studied it thoroughly.
"The hero with no fear? Best star pilot in the galaxy, I already knew that and Clone Wars veteran. I'm famous I guess. Listen R2 I can't keep the charade up that I'm Obi-wans brother. Can you do me a favour?"
R2 whistled in agreement.
"Thanks buddy, can you say you analysed my DNA and that I'm the son of the 'Hero with no fear'.I know my biological son is Luke, but no one will believe time travel so say I'm his brother. It makes more sense than me being Obi-wan's."
R2 once again whistled in agreement and rolled off to the cockpit. In a few seconds he had faked a DNA test, but to make it believable he had to analyse Luke's blood aswell.
R2 entered the cockpit, he could just about see the Yavin moon. R2 whistled at Luke asking to test his blood.
"Why do you need my blood buddy, what's going on?"
R2 whistled and beeped, stating that it was to check for any diseases picked up on Tatooine.
"Ok then, make it quick please"
R2 stabbed Luke's thumb and used his robotic arms to pick up a tube and collect the blood.
DNA tests took a while, so to make it believable he had to wait as long as he could before Anakin started to get questioned about his heritage.
Anakin put the hood of his Jedi robes up, if they were close to Yavin he didn't want many people questioning why he was suddenly with the Rebel Alliance. He believed he could slip by unnoticed and do what needed to be done without questions. Anakin was destroyed in the inside. The man he considered a brother was just killed in front of him, he was too weak to save him. Just like his mother, Obi-wan had died because Anakin was too weak. But Anakin was also confused, Obi-wan didn't drop to the ground lifeless. Obi-wan simply disappeared. If Anakin was was any younger he would say Obi-wan teleported, after all Anakin did time travel. It wasn't ridiculous but Anakin felt Kenobi's life drain, but strangely not completely. Anakin knew Obi-wan became one with the force.
The falcon exited hyperspace, the rouge red planet of Yavin blinded the eyes of many that saw it. Just behind the planet lay a luscious green and blue moon, Yavin IV.
"Entering the atmosphere, might want to buckle up kids" Han shouted, mainly directed at Leia and Luke who were already sitting down.
The falcon entered the moon's atmosphere, speeding down toward a pyramid like temple. Landing the the hanger bay everyone pardoning Anakin left the falcon and jumped on a transport, heading directly to the control room for a debrief.
Anakin sat in the cockpit, alone with his thoughts. What the hell was he doing. Was he just going to mope whilst the Alliance goes on a suicide mission? Was this what Obi-wan would have wanted? Was he going to allow Luke to run off into harms way without him? The answer to all of these questions was no. Anakin had believed that Luke was his future son. They share the same Surname and after relations with Padme improved before he time traveled, it was just as likely. Luke even had an exact replica of his lightsaber. Anakin made up his mind. He was going to help the rebellion in any way possible, any damage done to Vader was good damage.
Anakin left the falcon with his hood up, he used the force and knew exactly where the presentation of the Death Star was taking place.
"That's impossible even for a computer" A pilot shouted to the presenter.
"It's not impossible I used to blast womp rats in my T-16 back home" Luke stated.
"Princess Leia, is there anyone else who you recommend for this skirmish" The lecturer said.
"Yes, a Jedi by the name of Anakin Kenobi"
The room fell silent. The mere mention of a Jedi shook the Alliance.
"The Jedi are extinct, and who is he? A combination of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-wan Kenobi?" A pilot shouted.
Luke smirked at the comment, his father being well known only inspired him to create his own legacy.
"Funny you should mention it, Obi-wan is his brother. He's a good warrior and I wouldn't have escaped the empire without him"
The room fell silent once more.
"Where is this Jedi?" The entire crowd said at once.
Just then Anakin walked through the blast doors. Hands behind his back. His black and brown Jedi robes contrasted the bright orange jumpsuits of all the pilots.
"I see you've told them about me, I'll keep it brief. I can lead a small squadron to the battle station. But it will require a distraction, a much larger distraction. Chances are the empire will see through it, but it will split their fighters." Anakin stated, taking the toll of a leader instantly.
"What do you plan about doing against Lord Vader? We know he will be there." A rebel shouted.
"So that's his name, don't worry about him. I'll kill him myself." Anakin said coldly.
"What distraction do you require?"
"All of your fighters, pardoning Luke, him and him." Anakin had pointed at Biggs and Wedge.
Anakin used the force to sense who was the best for the job. Wedge stood out like a sore thumb.
"No way only four fighters can destroy that battle station" A Pilot barked.
"Have you heard of Anakin Skywalker, I'm sure you all have. When he was nine he destroyed a droid command ship by himself. The truck was hitting it from the inside. I see you plan to his the thermal exhaust port, it would work however the pilot would have to be undisturbed. That means a distraction. Vader would likely target me therefore I cannot make the shot, he is too valuable to do the run" Anakin pointed at Wedge "therefore the choice is yours. Either him" pointing at Biggs "or Luke, I won't make all the decisions for your Alliance. But let me know your choice as soon as possible. We haven't got time on our side." Anakin was always a natural leader but his experience as a Jedi only improved that skill.
"How can you know for certain that Vader will target you?" Biggs asked.
"He had- he had just killed a Jedi on the Death Star, he hunts them and is bloodthirsty. It would make sense for him to target me."
"Then why aren't you the distraction?"
"If I were to be the distraction it would be just me and Vader, but an entire fleet upon the main assault. Trust me I know I'm good at this stuff." Anakin said somewhat angrily. He just wanted to assault the Death Star already.
"That's all I have to say, if you want me joining this assault then we do it my way. I will not partake in any actions that may result in unwarranted casualties." Anakin said, almost like Obi-wan.
"We will go by your plans, General Kenobi"
"Very well, you three get ready in no less than five minutes, we leave in seven."
"Right away General" Luke, Biggs and Wedge said in sync.
Anakin then left the room and headed straight for a B-wing bomber. Luke changed into is pilot jumpsuit and met up with Biggs.
"HEY LUKE" Biggs shouted
"HEY BIGGS, how ya been? Haven't seen you since you went off to the Academy"
"Well I finally found my true calling, just me, you, Wedge and the Jedi on this one."
"I guess it is, we'll talk more after the skirmish yea"
"Anytime Luke, I'm intrigued by this Jedi feller"
Biggs then walked over to Wedge leaving Luke to jump into his X-Wing fighter.
R2 made his way to Anakin, wanting to be his co-pilot once more.
"No R2 you need to look out for Luke, if I'm going against Vader I can't risk losing you" Anakin said looking down at R2. R2 gave a series of ad whistles and boops. "Don't worry buddy I ain't going anywhere".
Luke stopped entering his X-wing midway up the ladder. He saw Han loading crates of Credits. Luke hopped down and made his way towards Han.
"So you're just going to leave?" Luke asked.
"Yea kid, my time here is nigh on done. Plus I've got people, powerful people who I owe. One day you'll understand."
"No I don't think I won't. You're a brilliant pilot these people could really use you."
"Luke my priorities are paying my debts and doing what's best for me and Chewie. Why don't you come with us? You're good in a fight, I saw you on the Death Star, I could use you."
"Han these people need me, I won't abandon Leia and Anakin. But take care of yourself, it seems like you're only good at that." Luke said, storming off back to his X-Wing.
"Luke" Han shouted.
Luke turned around to see Han just staring at him, a blank face.
"May the force be with you" Han said with a smirk appearing on his face. Luke reciprocated with a smug and walked back toward his fighter.
As Luke reached his fighter he was greeted by Leia, who was with around five other rebel commanders.
"Good luck Luke, I I know you won't fail us" Leia said.
Luke's lukewarm smile turned to a sad expression.
"Luke what is it?"
"It's Han, I just thought that he would change his mind..." Luke said through gritted teeth.
"We can't change his opinion or his actions, we can only adapt and find a way. For instance look at Anakin. He's lost so much and is still in the fight, that's a true warrior. Han is just a scoundrel who cares for very few." Leia reluctantly said. Although it was the truth she didn't like slating anyone off.
"Have you spoken to Anakin?" Luke asked.
"No, and I don't think I will. At the briefing he didn't seem right. I'm worried about him deeply and I want you to look after him."
"I don't know princess I think it will be him looking after me" Luke chuckled.
"You know I will talk to him, it's rude not to say goodbye" Leia said glancing toward Han. "Good luck once again Luke"
"Goodbye princess"
Leia made her way to Anakin's bomber surveying the ship itself. It was an old Clone Wars bomber that hadn't been recycled yet.
"We can give you a better fighter you know, this one's old" Leia said, glancing at Anakin already in the cockpit.
"No, I'm fine" Anakin said once again expressing no emotion.
"Good luck Anakin, I hope you return"
"That's not the plan princess" Anakin said. Leia looked at him like a lost puppy, sad and confused.
Anakin sighed "When I'm out there I've got a couple of goals, destroy that station and Kill Vader. Now doing both may lead to my death. And even if we destroy the Death Star, likelihood is Vader will survive. I must track him to the ends of the galaxy."
Leia just stared at Anakin. Anakin had helped her when she had lost everything, and now when he faced death, she was hopeless to do anything. Just like her parents. Leia climbed up the ladder to the bomber and grasped Anakin's neck. She sobbed into his shoulder. Anakin reciprocated the hug.
"Please come back, please." The princess pleaded. Tears still in her eyes.
"I can't make any promises princess. I wish you luck and hope when we meet again it will be a better time without an Empire." Anakin said before the cockpit hatch sealed. Anakin equipped a headset and began his pre-flight checks.
Leia climbed down the ladder and hugged a friend of her father's.
A rebel commander spoke to Anakin through his headset. "General your squadron is ready and gold company is standing by"
"Good, let's destroy this battle station" Anakin said before preparing for take off. Numerous X-Wings and Bombers exited the moon's atmosphere before Anakin and his squadron.
"General, when do we depart?" Wedge asked.
"No less than thirty seconds, if any of you have got something to say to friends and family... do it now." Anakin said, there was a high chance they could all die.
The com channel went silent for around twenty seconds.
"Alright kids do mom and dad proud" Anakin said before beginning his take off sequence. Anakin took off and left the base closely followed by Luke, Wedge and Biggs.
As the fighters left the atmosphere, Leia approached Han who had almost finished loading up the crates upon crates of credits.
"When are you leaving?" Leia asked.
"As soon as me and Chewie finish loading up these crates. We'll be out of your hair princess."
"Well good luck then, it's a shame to see you go"
"I know it is princess" Han said sarcastically
Leia then walked off and headed for the control room with C-3PO and around ten other Rebel commanders. They could hear everything and anything said in the com frequency channels.
"General Luke has been nominated to do the trench run, he has the most experience in beggars canyon." A rebel commander said.
Anakin replied with a simple "fine" and continued the assault. Gold squadron would attack and bomb the outer shell of the battle station, giving Red group a three minute window to destroy any turbo cannons and towers. Luke would then make the trench run being supported by Anakin and Biggs. Wedge would be on the outskirts looking for imperial fighters. Luke would then have to hit the exhaust port directly setting off a chain reaction.
"Alright, Gold leader standing by"
"Gold five standing by"
"Gold three standing by"
"Gold four standing by"
"Gold seven standing by"
"Gold eleven standing by"
"General Kenobi, Gold squadron are in place. Proceed when ready"
"Come on boys you all know your roles" Anakin said.
"Why do I have to do the trench run?" Luke moaned
"Luke I didn't pick you, the Alliance obviously thinks you're ready. So cut the chatter" Anakin commanded.
"Yes General"
The four man squad descended down to the Death Star, Turbo lasers immediately fired upon them, Wedge and Anakin began destroying them like flies.
The rebel commanders were stunned at Anakin's flying ability, he was better than Wedge and Han combined. It was almost like he glided without any resistance through the air. Anakin destroyed countless towers before it was safe to make the run.
"Luke make the run, we'll be right behind you" Anakin commanded. He and Biggs positioned themselves like a triangle behind Luke, covering his engines.
"I'm picking up a signal, one star fighter" Wedge exclaimed.
"Leave him to me, Wedge protect Luke" Anakin commanded.
Anakin pulled from the formation and spun around 180 degrees, heading in the opposite direction of the exhaust port. Anakin left the trench and used his scanners to pick up any oncoming star fighters.
Suddenly a cracking and clacking sound could be heard in Anakin's headpiece, he had no time to check what was wrong with it. Then all of a sudden the heavy breathing of a respiratory system rang out in Anakin's ear drum. Vader had just spliced Anakin's communications.
The Rebel Alliance stood in shock on Yavin. They could hear Darth Vader through Anakin's communications. They tried to contact him but it came of no use.
"Out long awaited meeting has come at last" Vader said to Anakin, his voice echoing through the Rebel base.
"I fought you on the Death Star, you got lucky. I will kill you this time!" Anakin screamed.
"Don't be so certain, Skywalker"
The Rebel Base fell silent once more, Anakin had been found out. But could the Alliance really trust Vader.
"Did you really think you could hide who you were, who you are? Foolish boy, perhaps you aren't as strong minded as the Emperor had foreseen. It's a pity that I will have to destroy you as I did Obi-wan" After Vader had finished his sentence his fighter picked up on Anakin's scanners. Anakin diverted all power to shields as Vader's Advanced Tue barraged onto Anakin's bomber. Anakin diverted half his power to the engines and half to weapons, leaving him extremely vulnerable. Ordinary Tie fighters didn't have any shields, but Vader's did.
Anakin sped up and saw Vaders fighter dead on. Anakin started to barrage Vader only for him to barrel roll out of the way. Anakin suddenly had to flip his star fighter the opposite direction. When doing so he saw a squadron of Tie fighters intercepting the trench run on the Death Star.
"You cannot warn them of their impending doom, the emperor has foreseen this. Just like the death of Kenobi"
Anakin went into a rage and pursued the Tie squadron, Vader following him close behind.
Anakin got back into the trench and blasted several Tie fighters, doing all this whilst Vader continuously bombarded him with lasers. The Tie squadron called off their attack and focused on Anakin. Anakin could no longer fight, he just had to evade long enough for Luke to hit the thermal exhaust port.
Luke sat in the cockpit, trying not to think about Anakin. He had his scope twenty thousand metres away from the exhaust port until he heard a faint whisper.
"Use the force Luke"
Luke looked around in shock.
"Let go Luke" Luke recognised the voice as Ben's and deactivated his scope.
"Luke you deactivated your targeting computer, is everything alright?" Biggs and wedge asked.
"It's nothing I'm alright" Luke said. Luke increased the speed of his engines and took a deep breath.
Anakin was still being pursued by the fighters and Vader.
"Keep the Jedi company, I'll deal with them myself." Vader commanded his pilots to overwhelm Anakin, even redeploying the fighters dealing with the distraction to deal with Anakin. After all Vader was well aware of Anakin's piloting ability.
Vader was a better pilot than Anakin. He had over twenty more years of experience. However with the loss of Vader's original limbs his manoeuvrability had weakened, but that didn't mean he wasn't fast.
Anakin manoeuvred around several fighters before blasting them to pieces. He then diverted most of his power to the engines and set off to find Vader.
"Wedge, Biggs, Luke Vader is coming for you. You've got to break off the attack!" Leia shouted down the communicater .
"We can't we've got to take this chance!" Luke said, he was feeling the force around him.
"The force is strong with this one" Vader said. Vader was caught up in a trance long enough for a blast to hit the side of his wing.
"WHAT!" Vader bellowed.
"WHOOHO" The voice of Han Solo echoed through the com of both the Pilots and the Rebel base.
"You're all clear kid now let's blow this thing and go home." Han shouted.
Luke trusted his gut and finally fired, exhaling as he did so. The proton torpedos went through the thermal exhaust, setting off a chain reaction.
Anakin had seen the events take place, he was grateful to Han for saving Luke, Biggs and Wedge. However when Vader was drifting in space he had collided with Anakin. Sending Anakin's ship spiralling out of control. Lucky for Anakin they were directed in opposite ways. Vader toward vast space and Anakin toward Yavin.
Vader was able to once more contact Anakin and subsequently the Alliance.
"Skywalker, you still have much to learn. It's a shame Obi-wan cannot continue your training." Vader wanted to taunt Anakin. He was groomed to hate his past self, leading him closer to the dark side.
"SHUT UP" Anakin said with a bloodcurdling scream.
"I sense much anger within you, take your place at the emperor's side and bring order to the galaxy."
The Alliance were shocked. Vader trying to recruit a Jedi?
"You should know I will never join the dark side willingly" Anakin rebutted.
"It isn't the first time Skywalker, what about your mother and Kenobi?" It almost pained Vader to speak about his mother. He tried to block that part away from him. But Vader knew that it would be the best thing to leverage against Anakin. "You were too weak to save your mother, you don't know the power of the dark side."
"The next time I see you I'll kill you." Anakin shouted.
"Don't be so certain, we will meet very shortly"
Anakin knew that Vader would arrive on Yavin, alone. Anakin would have to meet him.
Anakin gained control of his ship and headed straight for the moon...