Obi Wan, Plo Koon and Kitster couldn't help wondering what it was Anakin had to be so guilty about. After all, Anakin had been taken away from them and had clearly suffered from something terrible. But the way he had spoken almost seemed like he had done something terrible himself.
Little did they know just what they would soon find out.
Some time later, on Felucia…
It was a dark night on one side of the planet, and near a thicket in the jungles of Felucia, a YT-1300 freighter could be seen flying above the surface some distance away.
And not too far away from the thicket, a figure was observing the freighter using a pair of macrobinoculars.
The figure lowered the binoculars and took off her hood to reveal a female face with blond hair.
She called out, "Masters, it looks like a ship is approaching. It could be bounty hunters for all we know. Though I shouldn't be surprised if it's not an inquisitor."
She was joined by another hooded figure responding in a gentle female voice, "No, I sense Jedi coming to help us. But more than that, I sense a presence that I have not felt in years."
"I sense it too," Another female voice spoke up, and a third hooded figure walked up to join them.
The blond haired woman suddenly asked, "Could it be who I think you're talking about?"
The second figure removed her hood, revealing herself to be a red skinned tall Togruta and replied, "Obi Wan Kenobi has returned. But he's not the only one."
The third figure removed her hood, revealing herself to be a blue Twi'lek and added, "And he's brought company. I wonder who it could be."
Soon enough, the ship landed not too far away from the forested area and a little while later, they could see a group of men approaching their position.
Obi Wan who was walking in front of Anakin said, "I believe we're getting closer, Anakin. But I still can't understand why you were so reluctant to come."
Anakin said, "As I said, it's not something you would be proud about. I don't even know if I can face them."
Obi Wan said, "Well whatever it is, it won't help to keep it confined within you. We'll talk about this when we get to wherever you're taking us."
Kitster who was behind said, "Good thing we left Master Koon and Han Solo to guard the ship. I'm not so sure this is a very safe place, but it sure looks contrasting to Tatooine, and yet dangerous."
Obi Wan said, "Well I hope we do find those Masters soon."
Suddenly, a female voice called out, "You already have."
Even as the voice spoke, three female figures emerged from the thicket.
Obi Wan observed the Togruta amongst them and said, "Master Shaak Ti, it's been a long time."
Shaak Ti smilingly replied, "It sure has been Knight Kenobi. And…"
She suddenly trailed off, upon noticing the familiar looking young man next to him.
She gasped, "Anakin? Skywalker, is it really you?!"
Anakin replied, although rather guiltily, "It is me Master Ti."
Shaak Ti ran towards Anakin and engulfed him into a tight hug.
Anakin could have sworn he heard the Jedi Master choke back a sob as she said, "Anakin, I'm so sorry for everything! I failed to save you back then! I'm so glad to have you back!"
Anakin felt shame burning through his heart and said, "No, I failed you all. Once you find out what happened to me, you'll wish I was dead."
Shaak Ti gasped and said, "Anakin, don't say such things! I know that something terrible happened to you, and no matter what it is, I'm not going to judge you."
Anakin asked, "How do you know?"
Shaak Ti answered, "I had a vision about you during my meditations on Felucia. You were in great pain, and you were chained to a wall, and I could hear you yelling out angrily saying you wanted to kill Master Windu for…"
Anakin asked, "You know about my mother? How her life was in danger?"
Shaak Ti replied, "Obi Wan told me everything. But according to my vision, it seems you thought Mace Windu had killed your mother and you wanted revenge."
Anakin said, "It's all true."
Suddenly, he was interrupted by another hug, this time from a familiar blue Twi'lek crying out, "Anakin! I can't believe you're back with us! Master Ti and I have missed you so much!"
Anakin couldn't help bursting into tears at those words and cried out, "Aayla? Is it really you? You're alive!"
Aayla Secura cried out, "Yes Anakin, it is really me! Oh my, how you've grown! I still remember standing by your side while you worked on starfighters and told me all about how mean Master Windu was and how you hate meditation and love flying! Screw the attachment code!"
Anakin couldn't help feeling his heart soar.
When he had started out as a padawan, not many of the Jedi of his age had acknowledged him, much less than being friendly to him, as he had not grown up with them.
But there had been quite a few that had been willing to get to know him and had even become good friends with him, and Aayla had been his first friend.
She had always been willing to patiently listen to Anakin rambling on about how he hated meditation and preferred applying his mechanical skills instead. She had always supported him, by calling it 'working meditation'.
She had even snuck out of her quarters to play pranks with Anakin a few times, and one time, she had managed to save him from getting caught by a very angry Jedi Master who had fallen victim to a prank by Anakin.
When he had been unjustly expelled from the Jedi Order and the Temple guards had been dragging him away, Aayla had been horrified and had tried to stop them, but her cries had fallen on deaf ears.
And as for Shaak Ti, she had always liked him. In fact, many a time, she had comforted him whenever he had felt doubtful about himself. She had been like a mother to him, at least in the first few years of his Jedi training.
And she had attempted to save him when he had been framed.
Thinking of all that those two Jedi had done for him intensified his feelings of remorse.
He was interrupted from his train of thought by Aayla saying, "I'm so glad to have you back with us Anakin. Where have you been?"
Anakin sniffed and said, "Aayla, it's not something you'd be proud of. I'll explain once we get to a safe place. But we have to leave immediately. Palpatine knows that you are here."
Shaak Ti asked, "Does he? What could have led him here?"
Anakin replied, "I'm not sure honestly. Perhaps a spy, intelligence."
Shaak Ti replied, "I suppose so. Well, we should leave immediately."
Kitster who had been silent all this while spoke, "It's an honor to meet you Masters, but we need to leave now. Our ship's not far away, and I think that's it here, no one else to look for, right?"
It was then that he noticed Obi Wan was looking at the third female figure with wide eyes, with his mouth wide open.
"Obi Wan," Anakin called out, but received no response.
And then, he noticed that the third female figure was also staring at him in surprise, evident by her wide eyes and open mouth.
And Obi Wan broke the silence.
Slowly, he softly exclaimed, "Satine?!"
Some time later, on the ship in hyperspace…
Obi Wan couldn't believe what had just happened.
He had not expected to find none other than Satine Kryze, the Duchess, or perhaps former-Duchess of Mandalore on Felucia.
He had been so surprised, until Anakin had managed to bring him out of his state of amazement and pull him to the ship.
Satine was equally surprised as well to say the least.
The silence was finally broken by Obi Wan asking, "How have you been?"
Satine replied, "I've missed you Obi Wan."
Obi Wan replied, "I've missed you too."
Satine asked, "Since when did you leave Naboo?"
Obi Wan replied, "One and a half months ago. I went to Corellia to help Jedi Master Plo Koon with organizing a rebellion, but eventually, we were found out. Anakin showed up and saved my life right on time."
He then asked, "What were you doing on Felucia?"
Satine explained, "When the Clone Wars began, there was the possibility of the Separatists invading Mandalore. The Republic was trying to push us into accepting military support by joining the Republic, but I stood my ground and insisted that we would be neutral. However, soon after Palpatine turned the Republic into an Empire, he sent Darth Vader to my homeworld to establish a garrison. I, of course, resisted, but some Mandalorians who had anti-Jedi sentiments and wanted the traditional warrior ways instead of the pacifist ways I followed, plus some of the anti pacifist ones who were exiled, organized themselves into the Death Watch. Pre Vizsla led them against me. Many times, I barely managed to survive assassination attempts, thanks to my nephew Korkie. But then Pre Vizsla chose to take support from Count Dooku, or rather, enforcer Dooku after the Empire was formed. So of course, they had backing by the imperials and most of my supporters were ruthlessly shot down. I was dethroned and imprisoned for speaking out against the Empire. Pre Vizsla was made the new ruler of Mandalore, and he is a puppet of the Empire. Recently, I managed to escape and somehow got passage to Felucia, where I happened to meet the Jedi Masters Shaak Ti and Aayla Secura. Then, when we saw your ship, I thought you were bounty hunters on my trail at first, but then it turned out to be you."
Obi Wan was shocked to hear her sad story.
He slowly said, "I'm so sorry for everything you've had to endure Satine."
Satine said, "The worst is, my sister Bo-Katan is in imperial hands for helping me escape. I don't know where she is right now, but I hope not on Coruscant, or rather, Imperial Center as they call it."
Meanwhile in the cockpit, Anakin was in the cockpit with Plo Koon in the cockpit's seat and Han Solo behind them.
Plo Koon said, "In the end, this is a stolen ship, no matter the purpose."
Han piped up, "Actually, I went and explored the ship, and I found some crates of spice. I think this ship belongs to a pirate."
Anakin replied, "We'll have to dispose of that spice. I can't have it affecting anyone. Certainly not my men."
Plo Koon asked, "Your men?"
Anakin said, "You'll understand when everything's explained and we're there."
Han said, "I also found some holos of slaves and something about a scheduled stop at a slave market. I think whoever owns this ship, he ain't deserving of it."
Anakin replied, "I agree Han. I hate slavery. It's disgusting, cruel, and an abomination in this galaxy."
Plo Koon agreed, "It sure is. Oh by the way, you're definitely going to like this. Your mother was freed some years ago by a moisture farmer called Cliegg Lars."
Anakin said, "I know, Padmé told me everything."
Plo Koon was surprised and asked, "Padmé as in Padmé Amidala? Is she with you?"
Anakin replied, "She's on the ship right now."
Han asked, "Since this ship is ours now, doesn't it need a name?"
Anakin replied, "You're right. What do you suggest?"
Han suggested, "How about the Millennium Falcon?"
Anakin thought for a few moments and then smiled and replied, "I like that. What about you Master Koon?"
Plo Koon replied, "Sounds good to me. Let's use it."
Just then, Anakin heard the beeping sound of an indicator and said, "Alright, we're here. Just stay calm and trust me. No one's going to harm you."
With that he pulled the ship out of lightspeed, some distance away from what looked like a Venator class Star Destroyer.
Obi Wan who was entering the cockpit at that moment suddenly cried out, "Wait, is that an imperial ship?!"
Anakin replied, "Sort of, but…"
Obi Wan cried out, "What do you mean, sort of?"
Anakin replied, "Everyone on this ship is an ally."
Even as he spoke, a voice came over the ship's comm, "Unidentified ship. State your identification and purpose immediately or face open fire."
Anakin replied, "This is Anakin Skywalker in the Millenium Falcon. I'm transmitting my codes now."
He transmitted some codes he had kept with him and a minute later, the voice responded, "Acknowledged Lord Va, I'm sorry, Lord Skywalker. You are cleared to land."
The ship landed in the hanger bay a minute later and Anakin stepped out followed by the Jedi, Kitster, Satine, and Han, to be met by Rex, Padmé and Ahsoka.
Rex, wearing his helmet, saluted Anakin and said, "Sir, how did the mission go? Did the armor work sir?"
Anakin replied, "It worked, although I lost the shuttle. Dooku destroyed it before we could get to it."
Rex replied, "A pity, but at least we've got another ship now."
He then added, "The extra bedding you requested for has arrived."
Anakin replied, "Good, how many sets?"
"You had asked for four, but we brought double just in case."
Anakin replied, "Good, because there's three more than the four Jedi we expected."
He then turned to the group and said, "Commander Rex will escort you to my quarters. Please follow him, and don't worry, you can trust him."
The group complied and left with Rex, all except Plo Koon, who was looking at Ahsoka.
Ahsoka flew into his arms and hugged him crying out, "Master Koon! You're back, you're back!"
Plo Koon held her and replied, "I'm back little Soka, I'm really back!"
Ahsoka couldn't help crying even as she said, "I wasn't sure I'd ever see you again, especially when I got captured and Palpatine tried to make me into his acolyte."
Plo Koon gasped, "What?! Palpatine captured you?! What happened to Master Infila?"
Ahsoka replied, "Dooku and his inquisitors killed him and took me to Sidious. Palpatine is Darth Sidious. He tried to make me join the dark side, but I wouldn't."
Plo Koon asked, "How did you escape my child?"
Ahsoka replied, "Anakin took me away from him and he promised me he'd never ever do to me what Palpatine did to him!"
Meanwhile, Anakin was getting hugged by Padmé who was saying, "I knew you could do it Ani, I knew it!"
Anakin said, "Now comes the hard part, telling them everything."
Padmé replied, "You'll have to tell them everything. Keeping it from them will only make it worse. I'll be there by your side, Ani."
Anakin replied, "Thanks Angel, I really do need that."
A few minutes later, Anakin, Padmé, Ahsoka, and the rest of the group minus Han were standing in the living room of Anakin's headquarters.
Obi Wan asked, "Anakin, I have to admit, I can't believe you have the 501st on this ship. How is it that the clones are with you?"
Plo Koon added, "Exactly, because last I checked, the 501st was Darth Vader's personal legion. How did you get a hold of it Anakin? Anakin, Anakin…"
He trailed off, noticing the expression of guilt that had come across Anakin's face.
And Anakin slowly said, "That's what I have to explain, what you'd want me dead for. Because, until recently, I…"
He trailed off, letting out a deep breath of anxiety, not knowing how to say what he had to say.
Padmé placed a hand on his shoulder, and Anakin looked at her.
Padmé could see a few tears make their way out of Anakin's eyes even as Ahsoka placed a hand on his other shoulder.
Padmé whispered, "You can do it, it'll be alright."
Anakin somewhat gathered himself, turned to face the Jedi and Kitster and slowly said, "I, I was, Darth Vader."
There were gasps of horror from among the Jedi and Kitster, and only Shaak Ti did not gasp, but hung her head in what was an expression of shock and sorrow.
Obi Wan gasped, "It can't be!" even as he remembered a flashback.
22 BBY, shortly after Order 66 was issued, at the Jedi temple…
Obi Wan walked through the halls of the Jedi temple, looking here and there in horror as he observed the corpses of his Jedi brethren.
He had been at Ruwee Naberrie's house with Padmé, her family, and Shmi's family when he had received news of the Jedi temple being attacked and on fire.
He had sensed an urgency to come to this place, and had done so, with help from Padmé after having told Shmi to stay with Padmé's parents until he returned.
And as there were very few clone troopers guarding the temple given that Palpatine had called for an emergency session, it had not been difficult to get through them.
Currently, he was walking towards what looked like a group of younglings, slaughtered.
He knelt down and wept, seeing the bodies of his fallen Jedi, of those children, and of Jedi Master Oppo Rancisis who evidently had died trying to defend them.
Rancisis had been one of those who had voted to expel Anakin from the Jedi Order when Anakin had begged to be heard out properly, and Obi Wan had lost his respect for the man.
Even so, he never would wish death upon him, not even on Mace Windu who he knew was dead.
He was interrupted by an old voice speaking, "Killed, they were not by clones. Killed by a lightsaber, they were."
He turned to see none other than Yoda, standing next to him.
Yoda had a sad look in his eyes.
He said, "Right you were, two years ago, when angry with us for expelling Skywalker, you were. Innocent, he was after all."
Obi Wan hissed, "And it took two years to figure it out?! I respect you because you are Master Yoda, but it's not the same for what you did! Anakin could have prevented this if you had just not expelled him like that!"
Yoda replied, "Confronted Aurra Sing recently we did. Revealed she did that a set up, it all was. Framed, young Skywalker was, and did nothing but obey the Chancellor, we did."
Just then, Obi Wan saw Shaak Ti behind him saying, "The loss of Skywalker was the beginning of the end of the Jedi. Now the Order is all but gone. We are all that remains."
Obi Wan saw Shaak Ti and nodded respectfully, as she had been one of those to defend Anakin.
Shaak Ti asked, "Were you able to find Skywalker at all? Or is he really dead?"
Obi Wan replied, "I do not know, only that something terrible has happened to him. I cannot sense him, and I do not know where he is, if he is alive. The only thing I could do was protect his mother."
"His mother?" Shaak Ti asked.
Obi Wan then proceeded to explain how he had saved Shmi Skywalker for Anakin's sake, first from Tusken Raiders, and then from Palpatine's bounty hunter, Robonino who had tried to assassinate her.
Shaak Ti and Yoda were left in shock at the story.
Yoda then said, "Done you have, what we should have been doing. Yet, proceed, we must. Ignore the fates of the survivors, we cannot. Alter the emergency beacon message we must."
A few minutes later, after the code had been recalibrated, Yoda said, "To discover this change, a long time it will take."
Obi Wan then moved to the security camera section and adjusted the settings to view what exactly had happened the previous night.
And then he saw it.
The security hologram showed a figure wearing a black skull mask, a black cape, a black helmet, black long sleeved combat suit and pants, and wielding a red lightsaber, slaughtering anyone in the figure's way.
Obi Wan couldn't believe it.
It was none other than Commander Vader, who had worked alongside the Jedi for the past one year.
Obi Wan fast forwarded it a little and now Vader was kneeling in front of the Chancellor, Palpatine who was saying, "You have done well my apprentice, Darth Vader."
Obi Wan turned off the hologram and turned away saying, "I can't watch it anymore."
Yoda said, "Grave this situation is. Destroy the Sith we must."
Shaak Ti objected saying, "With all due respect, Master Yoda, now is not the best time to strike. Very few of us are left, and if we confront him now, we risk losing more of us. I feel we should regroup and then confront him when the time is right, which I believe is not now, especially if Commander Vader is actually Darth Vader."
Yoda said, "Very well. Then confront the Chancellor, I will myself, while go into hiding you must."
Turning to Obi Wan, he said, "Hide, you must as well."
Obi Wan replied, "My responsibility to Anakin's mother cannot be compromised. I will return to Naboo and continue to protect her. So far, Sidious has not made any move and there has been no sign that he has discovered that Shmi is alive."
Yoda replied, "Very well, then go there you will."
Obi Wan was beyond horrified to say the least.
To think that this man standing in front of him, his former Padawan, his brother, his son, was Darth Vader himself.
He suddenly cried out, "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS VADER?! I NEVER BELIEVED OF ALL PEOPLE, IT WOULD BE YOU! YOU…"
"Obi Wan," Anakin tried to say, "Please listen…"
But Obi Wan went on, "YOU MURDERED ALL THOSE JEDI! YOU MURDERED YOUNGLINGS! WHAT MADE YOU DO THIS?! YOU WERE THE CHOSEN ONE! YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BRING BALANCE TO THE FORCE, NOT LEAVE IT IN DARKNESS! YOU WERE MY BROTHER ANAKIN, I LOVED YOU, AND YOU BETRAYED ME, BETRAYED US ALL! YOUR MOTHER WAS SO DISTRAUGHT OVER WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU! SHE CRIED FOR DAYS ON END FOR YOU! WHAT WOULD SHE THINK OF YOU?! WHAT KIND OF SON ARE YOU?!"
"ENOUGH!" a female voice suddenly cried out.
And everyone went silent and saw Padmé who had intervened, raising both hands in the air.
Padmé waited for a few moments and said, "I know you all are extremely shocked by what you have just heard, but please, I am begging you all to hear him out."
"Hear him out?!" Aayla suddenly cried out, "This is Darth Vader of all people! He murdered everyone in the Jedi Temple, the younglings are dead because of him! Senator Amidala, don't trust this man! He's a monster!"
"I don't deny I have been one," Anakin said, "I…"
"SHUT UP!" Aayla shouted, enraged, "YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK AFTER ALL YOU'VE DONE! AND TO THINK I CALLED YOU MY FRIEND! YOU SHOULD BE DEAD BY…"
"Aayla that's enough!" Shaak Ti suddenly cried out angrily, "If he was truly a monster, he wouldn't be admitting this to us! We'd be dead or in chains by now! He has told us that he 'was', not 'is', Vader! It's clear that something terrible happened to him for him to have been a Sith! We don't even know what happened after that sham of a trial!"
Plo Koon added, "I completely agree. I admit, I am just as appalled as all of you, and I can't believe you, Anakin could have done all this! But I sense no deceit in you, so obviously, something has changed within you. And Aayla, revenge is not the Jedi way. We haven't even heard why he chose to be a Sith! Let him speak. Then we will decide."
Shaak Ti declared, "I said that I would not judge him, and I will not, here and now."
Just then, she noticed Anakin.
It looked like he was on the verge of tears.
Padmé said, "I think we could take a few minutes alone. Anakin just needs a little time alone."
"Very well," Plo Koon said, "But Senator…"
"I trust Anakin with my life." Padmé declared, "He will not harm me, or Ahsoka, or any one of you here. Please wait here."
With that, she led Anakin to the living room.
Anakin burst into tears as soon as Padmé led him to the side of the bed near the viewport and sat him down.
He sobbed in Padmé's arms for a few minutes and finally said, "I don't know what to do. Obi Wan hates me for who I am now because of what I've done."
Padmé rubbed Anakin's chest and head saying, "Anakin, you yourself knew that he probably would react this way upon finding out. You have to understand, all this while, he thought you were dead, and now when he's reunited with you, suddenly he finds out something totally different has happened. Didn't you yourself want revenge when Palpatine showed you that fake recording where Obi Wan said he never should have taken you in and let your mother supposedly die?"
Anakin nodded his head in acknowledgement.
Padmé continued, "But look, Master Ti said she will not judge you, but you need to tell them what happened."
Anakin said, "They already know how I became Vader and murdered everyone."
Padmé said, "No, what they don't know is why, why did you become Vader, what made you do those actions? That is what they need to hear out."
Meanwhile, in the living room, Plo Koon was asking Ahsoka, "Ahsoka, is this true? You're Vader's apprentice?"
Ahsoka replied, "Sort of, except, he is Anakin Skywalker, not Darth Vader. And he's not training me in the ways of the dark side. He has never raised a hand to me."
Plo Koon was confused and aghast at the same time and he asked, "How is this possible? How can you trust this man?"
Ahsoka replied, "Master, trust me, you don't know what he's been through. If you knew, you'd be horrified. And for that matter, the Emperor gave me as a gift to him and told him to break me and show no mercy. Instead, he removed my chains and swore that he would never do to me what Palpatine did to him."
Plo Koon asked, "So basically, are you saying he had already changed when he took you in?"
Ahsoka replied, "He was starting to. I guess me coming in had a huge impact on him."
Plo Koon asked, "What could he have been through for him to turn to the dark side?"
Ahsoka replied, "At least I had you to break me out. Anakin had no one. Palpatine kidnapped him and tortured him for a year, and finally, he made a fake recording and lied to him that Master Windu murdered his mother."
There were gasps of horror at that statement.
Plo Koon gasped, "How cruel! This is all our fault! We let him steal Anakin from us right under our noses!"
Shaak Ti said, "I had a feeling something like this was the case. Of course he would use Mace Windu, since he saw to it that Anakin was expelled for no fault of his."
Aayla hung her head in shame saying, "I nearly fell to the dark side when I lost my uncle. I should have known! And now I've gone and judged him! Still, murdering younglings…"
Ahsoka said, "He regrets it more than anything. Many times, he's had nightmares about them. When he first heard that Master Kenobi saved his mother, he wanted to kill himself."
Obi Wan was at a loss.
He could feel Qui Gon in his mind, as if he were saying, "Do not judge him."
Qui Gon had specifically told him not to judge him, and he had done exactly that, without trying to first find out what had exactly happened.
He excused himself saying, "If you'll excuse me, I need to use the fresher."
He exited the headquarters and with the help of a clone, he moved towards the nearest fresher and locked himself in.
He couldn't believe what had happened.
He had just learned that Palpatine had used Anakin and forcibly turned him to the dark side by convincing him that Mace Windu had killed his mother.
He felt like a total wreck.
He had failed Anakin.
He mumbled, "What kind of master am I? I failed you Anakin, I failed you."
He suddenly heard the voice of Qui Gon speaking, "Do not let yourself down Obi Wan. I understand your grief, but you must not let yourself wallow in it."
Obi Wan turned to see Qui Gon's force ghost behind him, extending a hand, as if to hold his shoulder.
Obi Wan hissed bitterly, "Qui Gon, why didn't you tell me?! Why didn't you tell me that Palpatine had Anakin? That he was being turned to the dark side?!"
Qui Gon responded, "I wanted to tell you everything, but I couldn't. I could only tell you that something terrible had happened to Anakin. From a certain point of view, your feeling of him being dead was not wrong."
Obi Wan cried, "I could have broken him out! I could have done something!"
Qui Gon replied, "You were alone. You had left the order, whereas Palpatine had his own agents and of course, his apprentice, Count Dooku, also known as Darth Tyrannus. You are not strong enough to face him alone. You were not at that point. If you had tried to break him out, you would have been killed trying. What then, would you have achieved?"
Obi Wan said, "I still should have done something."
Qui Gon said, "You already did."
Obi Wan asked, "What did I do?"
Qui Gon said, "You chose to save Anakin's mother, and in doing so, you laid the foundation to save Anakin from himself."
Obi Wan asked, "How?"
Qui Gon responded, "When he was still Darth Vader, he captured Padmé and was going to kill her in a fit of rage. Padmé somehow managed to convince him to take off his mask. She found out who he really was and why he had turned to the dark side. It was then that she revealed that you had saved her mother, first from the sand people, and then from a bounty hunter. After listening to the story, he realized what he had done and began to question himself over all that he had done. He wanted to kill himself, but he did not. He felt that there was no way out, but Padmé started helping him to make better choices. And look what that resulted in. He just saved your life."
Obi Wan was shocked at the revelation and said, "I'm sorry master. I've failed him. I judged him when I…"
Qui Gon said, "Your reaction was understandable. It would have been wrong if you had drawn your lightsaber or some such thing."
Obi Wan cried out, "Draw my lightsaber to what?! Kill him?! Anakin is like my brother! I cannot kill him!"
Qui Gon responded, "Then don't just stand here. Go back to him and hear what he has to say. Listen to every single word, every little detail, and you will then understand what made him into a Sith."
Obi Wan asked, "Why didn't you tell me when Anakin became Vader, at least when the Order was destroyed?"
Qui Gon said, "He was in such a state of anger that you would not have been able to get through to him. He would have pressed fully on to destroy you. But what has happened has happened. Now, go and listen to him."
With that, he disappeared.
A few minutes later, Obi Wan was stepping inside Anakin's headquarters.
He stepped in to see Anakin sitting on a couch, the back to the viewport, and all the other Jedi and non Jedi minus Han around him.
Anakin's head was buried in his hands, Padmé was holding him by the shoulders comfortingly, and Ahsoka was resting a hand on his shoulder.
Obi Wan slowly approached Anakin and softly called out, "Anakin."
Anakin slowly looked up, and Obi Wan noticed his face wet with tears.
The Jedi Knight said, "I'm not here to judge you. I'm sorry I didn't hear you out first. I was horrified by what I had heard, and I had no idea that this had happened, but I need to know why. I want to hear you out properly."
Anakin said weakly through sobs, "I can't Obi Wan. I…"
Obi Wan sat next to Anakin and laid a hand on his shoulder saying, "Anakin, holding up what's within you won't help. I won't be able to help you if you won't let me know what really happened. I want to listen to you, but you need to tell me everything."
Anakin responded, "I can't tell you Obi Wan."
Obi Wan didn't know what to say at this point.
However, he was surprised when Anakin suddenly added, "But I can show you."
"Anakin," Plo Koon asked, "Do you really want to show us what happened? Or do you just want it to be Obi Wan?"
Anakin replied, "All of you who can see within my mind."
Kitster who was still in shock at what he had heard said, "That's fine. You can tell Satine and I what happened. I want to know what happened, and I know that you've made some terrible decisions, but you're still my friend, and I want to help you."
Anakin rasped weakly due to sobs, "Thanks Kitster."
He then closed his eyes even as all the other force sensitives did the same.
Obi Wan reached out and touched Anakin's forehead.
Immediately, all the Jedi could see what was in Anakin's mind.
Anakin still had short hair, but he was shirtless and chained to a wall in a dark room with black and red walls. He had several wounds across his arms, chest and back, he was looking thin, and he was currently being brutally whipped by none other than Palpatine, his eyes yellow with hatred and anger.
"I ASK THIS OF YOU AGAIN!" Palpatine shouted, "WILL YOU NOT JOIN ME?! DON'T WASTE YOUR LIFE MOPING OVER PATHETIC DOGMATS WHO HAVE NO REGARD FOR YOU!"
"YOU LIE!" Anakin shouted, "OBI WAN DEFENDED ME! HE'LL COME FOR ME!"
Palpatine began to shock him with force lightning, and even as Anakin screamed out of pain, Palpatine laughed and taunted, "Then where is he? For six whole months, he has done nothing for you! Nothing! And yet you still continue to defy your master?!"
Anakin yelled, "You're not my master!"
Palpatine shouted, "You will learn to bow before me! Learn your place!"
With that, he stopped.
The scene then changed and this time, Anakin was looking weaker and was chained to a stone wall, on his knees.
There were marks and wounds all over his body.
"No," Anakin cried out weakly, "He can't have abandoned me. Obi Wan…"
"AAAAHHH…", an angry looking burly human male cried out in anger as a barbed wire whip was brought down on Anakin and twirled around his chest and arms.
Anakin let out a scream of pain even as the whip was pulled across his chest and arms, opening up old wounds and creating new ones, causing him pain.
Tears were there in Anakin's eyes even as he whispered, "Obi Wan, have you abandoned me? Do you hate me so much? Why won't you come for me?"
And then, the door opened and in walked Darth Sidious, wearing his hood, his yellow eyes glowing malevolently at him.
"So here you are boy," Darth Sidious sneered, "It has been eight whole months since the Jedi cast you out to die like an animal for slaughter, and yet you refuse the power I have to offer to you because of that hope that Kenobi will come for you!"
Anakin glared at the Dark Lord and said, "You sentenced me to death! You could have declared me innocent, but you didn't! You want me on your side, but I'm not going to join you! Obi Wan will come for me."
Sidious sneered, "And what makes you so sure, Skywalker? He has been away for eight whole months. Eight whole months, and yet he has never shown up or even attempted to find you! Do you not see that like the rest of the Jedi, like Mace Windu, Obi Wan Kenobi has abandoned you?!"
"No," Anakin cried, "You're lying."
Sidious said, "Oh, I can assure you, that I am not. In fact, as I want what is good for you, I will show you something that will make you understand why you must join me!"
With that, he pulled out a holoprojector device and turned it on.
And then, there was a woman.
His mother, Shmi Skywalker.
She was looking tired and slightly worn.
Sidious demanded, "This woman is your mother is it not?"
Anakin did not say anything.
Sidious said, "While you were here, do you know what happened to your mother?"
Anakin hissed, "What did you do?"
Sidious loudly declared, "Your mother is dead, dead by the hands of those whom you once called Masters, the Jedi!"
Anakin cried out, "You're lying! Mom can't be dead! Mom! Obi Wan wouldn't! Please, tell me it's not true!"
Sidious cried out, "I know about your fears about your mother dying, and it seems, they have come to pass! Look upon what I am about to show you, and you will see what happened to her!"
There was a crackling sound from the device, and then suddenly, there came the sounds of blaster fire and a bolt hit her in the chest and she fell down.
"NO!" Anakin cried out.
Suddenly there was a crackling sound and the hologram flickered before changing to Shmi lying face down, even as a figure stood by her, with a purple lightsaber.
It was Mace Windu.
Mace turned her over with his boot and said, "This is it Shmi Skywalker. Your son was nothing but a menace to us all, who never should have been born, never should have been brought to the temple, and never should have been trained. You should have left him where he belonged, but yes, you were a slave anyway. And he should have never been freed like he was and brought to the Jedi to be trained. You never should have given birth to him, woman. Now, you can atone for your sins and his, by your death!"
And with that, he raised his lightsaber, and plunged it into Shmi's heart.
Obi Wan gasped in horror, as did all the other force sensitives, including Ahsoka, who could see what was going on.
"NO!" Anakin screamed out, "NO MOM NO!"
And then, he saw the hologram of Obi Wan coming into view.
There was no warmth in his eyes.
Instead, Obi Wan spoke coldly, "It is done, you were right to stop me. I never should have trained him. Look how he turned on us all, and I nearly went blind because of attachment to the boy. Now I can consider myself freed from his horrible effect that he has left on us all, with his mother dead."
With that, the display ended.
Sidious cried out, "Now do you understand? The Jedi killed your mother!"
"NO!" Anakin screamed, with tears flooding his eyes and pouring down his cheeks, "NO MOM, MOM, YOU CAN'T DIE LIKE THIS! NO! OBI WAN! HOW COULD YOU?! HOW COULD YOU MACE WINDU?! MOM, PLEASE! NOOOOOOOOOO!"
And with that, Anakin finished showing his sad story of how he had been pushed into the dark side.
He was sobbing into Obi Wan's chest, and Obi Wan, horrified at what he had seen himself, was holding him.
Obi Wan couldn't believe what he had seen.
He never ever would have done what Sidious had shown Anakin.
Plo Koon was holding Ahsoka who was crying into his chest.
Shaak Ti was trying to explain to Satine and Kitster what she had seen, and Aayla was standing there with her mouth open in shock.
Plo Koon hissed, "How could he do this?! He essentially forced you to join the dark side!"
Obi Wan cried out, "It's all my fault Anakin! I should have known Sidious was holding you! I should have tried to get you out of there! If only I had questioned that bounty hunter when…"
"No Obi Wan," Anakin cried out, "You were busy protecting my mother. That's more important. Sidious may have lied to me and Mace Windu might have thrown me out, but my choices were my own!"
"Anakin," Aayla cried out, but he continued, "I was the one who chose to join the Sith, I was the one who murdered Mace Windu, I was the one who deceived you all, I was the one who murdered the Jedi in the temple, even the younglings, I was the one who…"
He trailed off, unable to say anymore as he burst into sobs.
Padmé sat on Anakin's other side and hugged him, wiping his tears.
They suddenly heard two voices crying out and swearing in anger.
"HOW DARE HE?!" Satine cried out, enraged, "PALPATINE MADE HIM DO THESE THINGS!"
Kitster himself who was shaking with anger cried out, "OH IF I COULD, I'D THROTTLE THAT MONSTER WITH MY OWN HANDS FOR WHAT HE DID TO MY FRIEND!"
Shaak Ti calmly said, "Calm down. I understand your anger towards Darth Sidious for what he did to Anakin, but getting angry like this will not help anyone. Right now, what we need to do is to help Anakin."
"You're right," Kitster said.
He then walked up to Anakin and declared, "Anakin, I know what's happened, and I've got to say, whatever happened may have happened, but it was that madman who made you do it. Palpatine made you do these things. He did these things to you and drove you mad, but no matter what, you're my friend and I'm not going to leave you to fend for yourself. I don't care what you did, but I am not going to leave you!"
Anakin looked up at Kitster and asked, "How do you all believe in me?"
Kitster replied, "Because that's what friends are for. Because you are my friend, Anakin Skywalker."
Satine came and added, "I may not have known you until now, but I am truly sorry for what you went through. I am appalled that you were Vader, but if you are truly Anakin Skywalker, and if Obi Wan and Padmé believe in you, then so do I."
Obi Wan smiled gratefully at Satine and Anakin said, "Thank you."
Aayla walked up to Anakin and said, "Anakin, I'm so sorry I failed to help you all those years ago. Now I understand that you had no one at that time. But now, I'm not going to leave you. You're still my first best friend and I want to help you in any way I can."
With that, she hugged Anakin, and Anakin hugged her back whispering, "Thank you Aayla."
Just then, Plo Koon said, "There's something you need to know. The reason Palpatine declared me to be a traitor was because I infiltrated Orn Free Taa's apartment and found out something. I know who framed you."
Anakin asked, "Who?"
Plo Koon replied, "Palpatine and Dooku. And one more person, Senator Orn Free Taa. Orn Free Taa even helped prepare the list of senators to be killed. They planted the bombs and used Aurra Sing to lure you into the trap."
There were a few minutes of silence, and then suddenly, Anakin stood up and yelled, "THAT SWINE ORN FREE TAA! I'M GOING TO KILL HIM! HE RUINED MY LIFE! DOOKU AND PALPATINE TOO!"
He stopped suddenly when Padmé held his shoulder.
He turned to look at Padmé even as she said, "Anakin, calm down, you already knew that Palpatine set this all up by trying to kill your mother. Getting angry like this will not help you. We will get justice together, Anakin. Just don't lose yourself like this."
Anakin said, "I'm sorry Padmé, I'm just angry."
Padmé said, "I don't blame you. Just don't let your anger control you."
Plo Koon, Aayla, Shaak Ti, Satine and Kitster looked at them, utterly amazed at how much of a calming effect Padmé had on Anakin.
Obi Wan looked at everyone and knew.
This was not the monster Darth Vader.
This was his brother, Anakin Skywalker, and he would protect him in every way he could, as long as he was alive.
No way was he leaving him after all that had happened.
Anakin was back, and so was he.
