Chapter 16: He needs you

Note: Engel is going to give Anakin the opportunity to choose which path he will follow. Yes, to Palpatine or his children, but he no longer wants to know anything about Anakin... he already hurt him a lot, so he can forgive him... or maybe not? I appreciate any reviews followers.

Engel was unconscious being carried by an entourage of the 501st legion to the imperial palace. The red guards had strict orders to guard him 24 hours a day.

After all, Engel was a Jedi, so the Emperor ordered very strict monitoring while Engel was in the imperial palace.

After Engel was transported inside the imperial palace, Vader was about to exit the ship but something... was strange.

"I can't believe Master Luke will force us to come undercover to take care of Master Engel." CP03 said worriedly.

R2D2 just beeps saying that he had a direct call from Luke to Engel.

Vader heard those sounds that sounded like droids, he was very familiar as he checked the shipment of supplies and found the two droids.

"We are lost…" CP03 said scared.

"I understand that they are looking for Engel…" Vader said in a neutral tone, "Come with me."

R2D2 and CP03, having no other options, accompany the dark lord to Engel's chambers.

Vader incognito leaves the droids in the cell where Engel was sleeping.

Sensing a presence in his cell, Engel slowly opens his eyes, recognizing the two droids.

"R2D2, CP03, what are you doing here?" Engel asked confused…

"R2D2 says that he has an urgent call for you, Master Luke made us come to check on you... you have us very worried." He said CP03 next to R2D2.

R2D2 broadcast a live hologram of Luke, and asked him what had happened. And Engel, with a sad and painful voice, tells Luke everything that happened. He already knew that Palpatine was his brother.

"I didn't understand why Anakin was sure I was going to hate him. I can't believe that all this love and affection can turn into resentment and pain." Engel said expressing his pain and suffering. "But he was right, overnight it became the worst thing that could have happened to me in my life."

"Engel… Engel, I didn't know! How could I imagine it? If I couldn't even remember his past, how could I know precisely that his teacher was your brother." Luke said trying to reason with Engel.

"We are alike, Luke… We both have the same features, the same features and the same face." Engel said, releasing a few tears. "And I have to accept the truth even if it breaks my heart, but Anakin never loved me! Never!". Engel said with an expression that showed pain.

"You are wrong Engel! He loves you!". Luke said looking at Engel.

"It was always him! Palpatine was the man in his dreams! Every time he said I love you to me, I was saying it to him. When he hugged me, I was hugging him. The time we spent together was him who he imagined next to him. He was my brother! " Engel said with frustration and pain in his words.

"No… no, my father told you that!"

"When he met the Emperor. He didn't stop, he didn't stop me." Engel wiped away the tear that ran down his cheek. "And now tell me how I am going to meet my brother, to be reunited with my family. With all this pain, with all this guilt, with all this shame!"

"Engel… Be very careful, the Emperor is not a trustworthy person, he is a master of deception and manipulation… he is a very cruel, vengeful and ruthless person, I do not doubt that he will hold a grudge against you after this. Take care of your brother!" Luke warned before cutting the broadcast.

Engel asked the two retreating droids to return to the rebellion. CP03 sadly called out to R2D2 but the little droid did not want to leave Engel.

"R2D2 we will meet again, someday… I promise." Engel said with a warm smile.

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Anakin escorted the droids to an escape pod.

"Mr. Engel then already knows the whole truth…" CP03 said worried about Engel.

R2D2 just beeped in agreement, but a voice was heard next to him.

"That's right, and as expected he didn't take it well at all, he is very angry with me and doesn't want to see me again. He destroyed his soul and now he hates me… Engel hates me." Anakin said guiltily.

"The longer the truth takes, the more damage the lie does, Lord Vader." CP03 responded.

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Engel slowly woke up from a deep sleep. The first thing he noticed was the softness of the mattress beneath him and the way it seemed to cradle his body. Muttering incoherently, he shifted to a more comfortable position even as he absentmindedly wondered where he was… this didn't make sense, last night he was in a cell.

Finally opening his eyes as alarm bells began ringing in his head, Engel saw that the sheets were actually made of satin and silk. Frowning, he looked at the carved wooden back of the bed, seeing the emblem carved in the middle of the board. It was the imperial symbol.

Looking down, he saw that the soft floor covering he felt under his bare feet was a deep wine-red carpet. Scanning the rest of the bedroom he saw several expensive pieces of art decorating the walls, the top of a shelf, and the nightstand. Completing the circle, he saw a pair of curtains the same deep color as the carpet.

Engel sighed as he frowned. This didn't make any sense. Nor his current accommodations. It was the norm, in both the Alliance and the Empire, to lock prisoners in small bare cells, not in luxurious rooms with silk and satin sheets, thick carpets and expensive works of art. Why were they treated differently? Getting up, he walked towards the wall where he hung a beautiful painting of snow-capped mountains and flower-covered meadows, the whole scene awash in brilliant colors. It was so realistic that he almost expected to be able to smell the sweet aroma of the delicate flowers… He reminded her of home.

Engel turned and focused his attention on the two doors to the room. One was clearly a closet door that could be opened with controls on the wall next to it. As he did so, he gasped at the outfit that was placed on a hanger. The long-sleeved shirt was a deep emerald green with blue jewels shining on the cuffs and collar, while his pants were midnight black. Attached to the outfit with a red and purple jeweled pin was a dark blue robe. Underneath the outfit was a pair of black knee-high boots.

Engel grimaced as he looked at what he was wearing…he actually preferred his country-style clothes but, now his clothes were dirty and torn. He wasn't surprised that the Imperials were giving him a new set of clothes, seeing the state of his current ones, but a suit woven with Tarelle jewels? And, looking at the other dark-colored items in the closet, he saw that they were all adorned with jewels and made of similar expensive fabrics. Not to mention the fact that the boots and the rest of the footwear looked handmade and were highly polished.

Engel quickly put on the suit, once dressed, he entered the living room, stopping to examine her. To one side was a door that led to a green, gray and pink marble bathroom. At the other end of the room was another door. The carpet and curtains in this room were a deep green color that matched his shirt. Various pieces of furniture, including a sofa, a desk, a table and an upholstered chair, were scattered around the room. All the furniture was made of a dark brown wood that had a slight red tone to it. The sofa and armchair were also adorned with black cushions, while on the table was an amber vase with a bouquet of purple and yellow flowers.

Approaching the closed door of this room, Engel quickly discovered that, unlike the other, it was tightly closed from the outside. Not that he had expected anything more. He turned to the living room and decided that he might as well do a good search in his elegant cage.

Silently, the door opened and Engel gasped as two scarlet-clad Sovereign Protectors entered the room… Palpatine wanted to see him.

Engel followed the head guard and quickly realized that he was being kept in the private area of the Imperial Palace, not far from the Emperor's private quarters and throne room.

After a few twists and turns in the hallway and down a flight of stairs, Luke was about to ask where they were when the head guard opened one of the many doors that lined the walls. Stepping through the door, he found himself in a room so luxurious that his own seemed poor in comparison. He didn't need to be told that this was the Emperor's private room. All the furniture and chandeliers screamed credits to the point that they had to be Palpatine's rooms. Passing through another door, he found himself in an equally decorated dining room.

"Chancellor Palpatine?" Vader asked, mistaking Engel for his master.

"No Vader… I am not your master, what are you doing here?" Engel said with an annoyed tone in his voice.

"Forgive me Engel… with those elegant clothes, I confused you, you remind me so much of him. They are the same but at the same time different." Anakin said regretfully.

"What was between Anakin and me is also over forever... I don't want, nor am I interested in having anything at all with you, stop complicating my life!... Please." Engel said seriously.

"I was wrong, Engel." Vader said with a sensitive tone.

"What did you say?" Engel asked confused.

"I was desperate to get rid of Anakin, he is weak... I have nothing, I have no one, I am completely alone... I only have Sidious." Vader said gloomily.

Engel decides to approach Vader's side to give him comfort.

"I feel dead inside, Engel. You achieved what no one had achieved since Obi-wan abandoned me on Mustafar... just with your fatherly gaze that radiates pure love and affection. You made me feel alive again."

Engel confessed to Vader that when all this is over he will return to his home to forget everything that happened.

"Engel, don't abandon me, not now…" Vader asked Engel.

"No Vader, you have no right to talk to me like that." Engel said with a soft but serious tone.

"If only you knew… how weak I feel being next to you. I need you to listen to me."

"I don't want to listen to you... but I do want to say something to Anakin, wherever he is inside you." Engel looked Vader in the eyes behind the helmet, Engel's eyes reflected warmth and sadness "Anakin, my boy. I'm leaving your life forever. It doesn't matter if you leave my brother or not, we still wouldn't have a future together..." Engel grabbed Vader by the black helmet "But I want you to know, that from the first moment I met you. You illuminated my loneliness, you are my family…"

Anakin couldn't contain himself any longer and wrapped Engel in his arms in a warm hug... Engel at first tried to move away from Anakin's arms, but in the end he gave up... allowing himself to be enveloped in the warm embrace.

Anakin knew, this was a goodbye hug. "Nothing and no one is going to separate me from my family… from you. I promise you, I love you Engel…". Anakin confessed, hugging Engel tighter.

But at that moment Vader feels a presence that looks at them both from the shadows... the shadow looked at them both like an angry animal.

At that moment Vader regains his composure and gently separates himself from Engel. "Master," Vader said, bowing.

Despite his anger Palpatine adopted a kind and gentle voice. "Ah, welcome dear… I see you have decided to accept my hospitality." Palpatine stated from the shadows of the room.

Engel turned around to see who was behind them, Palpatine lowered the hood from his face and was seen in the light of the room.

Engel upon seeing Palpatine's great resemblance to him. He was amazed, stunned and shocked. He couldn't speak, the words couldn't come out of his lips... He was nervous and confused.

"Little brother… oh I can't believe it! After so many years! You are here, in front of me!" Palpatine opened his arms with a smile expecting a hug when he saw there was no answer he asked. "What's going on? Aren't you going to give your brother a hug?

Engel looked at Vader and he just muttered a few short words. "Go ahead Engel… go, it's your brother."

Engel slowly approached Palpatine and only felt how his brother wrapped him in his arms.

"There is little brother! Little brother, you don't know how happy I am to see you again… I missed you so much, so much," said Palpatine, gently stroking Engel's head while he hugged him.

Engel only shed a tear when he felt the softness with which they hugged him... he couldn't speak. Palpatine stopped hugging him and ordered Vader to stand down.

"Come, sit down," Palpatine said as he sat down. "Good." Palpatine continued as Engel sat down across from him. While gesturing to one of the servants who had entered the room with him.

The servant re-entered the room with an open bottle of wine. He silently approached the table and poured some wine into one of the three crystal glasses in front of him. Now as Engel looked at the tableware before him, he saw that the utensils were made of solid gold, inlaid with jewels, and the porcelain plates had delicate hand-painted designs.

"No, thank you," Engel said as the servant simply stepped back instead of pouring some wine into Palpatine's glass.

The Emperor gestured for his glass to be filled before taking a sip.

"I already know who you are and what you are…" declared Engel seriously and in an annoyed tone.

"You misjudge me," Palpatine said, pretending to be hurt by Engel's words.

"You're a Sith… they're evil," Engel explained. "You rule through fear and tyranny, enslaving and killing innocent people for no reason."

"And how do you know this?" Palpatine demanded. "Is it because Master Yoda told you? Or because the Rebels told you? Do you believe everything they tell you?"

"I heard enough to confirm what they said they would have no reason to lie to me when Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan told me how you destroyed her home using the death star. Then you showed me that you are a monster by killing millions of innocent people for nothing."

"It was their so-called Alliance that condemned them to death when they hid from each other and used Alderaan's peaceful history as a shield," Palpatine replied as he finished his soup.

"It was your decision," Engel responded. "You killed those people."

"And your friends personally killed the millions of men aboard the Death Star," Palpatine pointed out. "Just like with Alderaan, they killed millions with a single shot."

"It was defensive," Engel responded as he closed his eyes.

"If you think that justifies what they did, why are you shaking so much?" Palpatine inquired. "What they did was no different and you know it," he pressed cruelly, carefully examining Engel's reaction to the latter. The pain and longing he felt pleased him immensely. If he played this game correctly, his brother would be his. "You hurt my feelings… I only ask that we give each other the opportunity to get to know each other."

"I. . . I. . ." Engel began, hesitantly as his guilt came to life once again, stronger than ever.

"What about you?" Palpatine asked, licking his lips at the discomfort he felt in the air. I want you alive for the moment, but when you are no longer useful to me… I am going to really enjoy your public execution.

"So what is the Empire?" Engel demanded, changing the subject, while a porcelain plate with cake, ice cream and sauce was placed in front of him. "Other than a tyrannical government?"

"First of all, the Empire has done many things that the Republic could only dream of doing," Palpatine began, knowing that now was the time to get to Engel and show him that some of the Rebel propaganda was nothing more than lies. "I have united the entire galaxy under a single leader, including all the planets in the Outer Rim Territory. These planets were once controlled by crime lords or weak and squabbling leaders during the Old Republic, as their influence did not reach that far." ".

"You're saying the Empire is the upgraded version of the Republic." Engel asked.

"It is," Palpatine stated firmly, smiling proudly. "Your fellow rebels are the source of today's misery and poverty," Palpatine responded. "Because they were the ones who started this useless rebellion."

"We fight for freedom," Engel corrected. "Freedom and justice, two things that are now denied to the people. Peace will come later."

"But what is justice? What is fair?" Palpatine prodded. "There was a time, not long ago, when the Trade Federation locked down an entire planet and the Senate of the Old Republic could do nothing since the Federation's actions were perfectly legal. It wasn't until the Federation actually invaded the planet that they could take action and yet they didn't. Is that what they are trying to restore?

"No," Engel responded. "We seek to recover true justice."

"Oh," Palpatine commented. "And I was under the impression that the rebellion was 'the Alliance for the restoration of the Republic'. The situation I just described was the Republic's method of operation. Therefore, logical thinking would conclude that that is what you and his companions are fighting to restore."

"We want to create a government governed by the people," Engel explained as he searched for the right words. "By restoring the Republic, we will ensure that its flaws and weaknesses are eliminated."

"But one of his greatest weaknesses is the fact that many people cannot come to an agreement easily," Palpatine stated before taking a sip of his coffee. "The Senate took years to make a decision on something. Your objectives contradict each other."

"What you tell me has not changed anything, I am not going to betray my friends and everything it represented." Engel said clearly.

"You don't need to do it... I won't force you to do anything you don't want, I want you to feel comfortable in your new home at my side... You are force sensitive..." Palpatine murmured with hidden disgust.

"Yes, actually I didn't know. I only found out a few months ago…" Engel said in a soft voice.

"You are not the only one who can use force, I can too... you have power equal to mine." Palpatine said with a kind smile.

Engel only smiled a kind smile at that coincidence... "Don't worry, very soon we will meet each other over time, and we will both be together again... the two". Palpatine said with an enthusiastic smile hugging Engel.

Engel was confused by this act of affection on Palpatine's part. Why did the Emperor treat him so kindly? After he threatened him… none of this makes sense. Maybe he is telling the truth. Engel asked himself curiously, after all he was also interested in meeting his family.

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Engel woke up the next day in his rooms, decided to take a bath and then put on the clothes they gave him in the closet. He didn't feel comfortable in these elegant clothes... but in the back of the closet he kept his country clothes.

At that moment Emperor Palpatine entered the chambers. "Are you enjoying your rooms?"

"If they are very pretty, thank you very much, I appreciate it." Engel said kindly.

"You can't lie to me... there is something that doesn't make you feel comfortable." Palpatine approached the closet and opened it, revealing Engel's clothes and a mantilla that belonged to him. "Is that your clothes?"

"Yes, no offense, but I don't feel very comfortable in these fancy clothes," Engel said with a soft laugh.

Palpatine held the country mantilla in his hands, looking at the design of the fabric. "You have good taste, I don't have anything like that." He admitted with a teasing smile.

"If you want, I'll give it to you," Engel said with a friendly smile.

"No no thanks. Is not my style". Palpatine said with a smile, putting the mantilla around Engel's neck. "It looks better on you."

Engel let the mantilla be put around his neck while Palpatine tied it… but his smile faded for a moment when he felt the pressure on his neck as Palpatine adjusted the knot of the mantilla.

"It looks great on you, right now I'm going to have the style of your clothes sewn. "To make you feel more comfortable." Palpatine said with a friendly smile.

"No need, I don't want to bother…" Engel said with a friendly smile.

"Don't worry, it's no bother" Seeing the loving smile that Engle gave him. He had to hold back his nausea to continue with this charade of pretending to be the kind and good brother. "Engel…avoiding the topic is not going to do any good," Palpatine said seriously.

"Yes, we both need to talk about Ana…" Engel corrected himself "about Vader."

"What do you plan to do if he one day decides to leave me? You plan to run into her arms and take my place." Palpatine said, an angry tone dripping into his voice at the idea.

"No, there can be nothing between Anakin and me. We are going to keep our distance… there is no longer any friendship between us, there never was," Engel said in a sad tone. "You hold a lot of resentment against me, don't you?"

"No…" Palpatine said, approaching Engel. "I'm not surprised Anakin confused you with me… you're so similar to me." Palpatine said hiding his disgust with a loving smile.

"I know… apparently your relationship is stronger than I thought. "Anakin always confused me with you, I would like to know what the relationship between the two of you was like." Engel asked, demanding answers.

Palpatine smiled kindly but inwardly he smiled maliciously. How he would enjoy this opportunity to hurt Engel and manipulate him as he pleased.

"As you know, I met Anakin shortly after the battle of Naboo. I always took care of him since he arrived at the temple, since he was a child. He didn't fit in because he was so different from the other Jedi... I was the only one who was there for him." Palpatine smiled wryly, the Jedi Order offered him his future apprentice on a silver platter "I gave him what no one else would give him, constant and unwavering support when he had none… I offered him all the moral support he needed. Anakin trusted me like he never did with anyone because I always tried to help him. He loves me!" Palpatine said directly to Engel with the intention of hurting and breaking him. From the expressions on his face he felt more than satisfied that he had caused pain in Engel. "For Anakin I am like the father he never had, in a way he is like my son… the son I never had, I always worried about his well-being… ".

There was an awkward silence... Engel felt hurt and hurt, the truth can hurt sometimes.

"How did you and Anakin meet?" Palpatine asked, breaking the silence.

"I didn't know anything about him… He went to my town on a festival day. He discovered that I was there and without further ado took me into his arms, he told me that he had finally found the man he wanted as his father, that he kept seeing me in his dreams.'' Engel left a flash of sadness in his words "That my face was the only thing he remembered. But it was not my eyes that I saw in his dreams, it was not me that he hugged with love and affection. Engel let out a few tears, he mistook me for you, for Chancellor Palpatine."

"I find everything you are telling me incredible and interesting." Palpatine confessed, swallowing the bile that rose up in his throat upon hearing such corniness.

"Anakin lived very happily in my world…" Engel said with a soft smile.

"Your presence helped too, don't you think?" Palpatine asked.

"In fact, among the villagers of my town and those of the tribe... Anakin met a family, he found a home." Engel said but Palpatine interrupted him.

"Even the carbon copy of Chancellor Palpatine," Palpatine said with a sly smile.

"Before I met you I was determined to look for Anakin and not be separated from him for a moment. I would be by his side until the last day of my life. He became an essential part of my life, with him my whole world changed... but it's not me, I'm not the person that Anakin needs at his side... Anakin needs you, Palpatine needs you... not Sidious. If you really love Anakin, you're going to want the best for him." Engel said in a soft and sad voice.

Sidious felt sick to his stomach hearing such disgusting words, but now that he was thinking about it carefully it would be fun to play this game for a while. It would all end when Luke Skywalker becomes his apprentice and kills his father, claiming his place at his side.

Engel remembered Vader's words when he confessed the whole truth to him. He became like a father to me, he became my family.

"Before I refused to accept that you and Anakin were trying to reconcile your relationship and were trying to regain your friendship."

"Were you really willing to settle for just being my shadow and nothing more?" Palpatine asked curiously.

"I actually wanted to be the center of his attention in the relationship he had with that Chancellor. I admit I wanted to take it from you…" Sidious fought to contain the anger that was bubbling inside of him by fighting back the urge to strangle and dismember him with his bare hands. "But that was before I found out he was my own brother. "I don't want you two to end your friendship because of me."

"I thought that the relationship of friendship, love and affection between you and Anakin was stronger than..." But Palpatine is interrupted by Engel.

"I love him like a son, I would give my life for him and that is why I want him to be happy." Engel said with tears in his eyes.

"Are you willing to part ways with Anakin permanently?" Palpatine asked curiously.

"Even though my heart breaks into a thousand pieces…. But Anakin deserves to be happy with the ones he loves. With his family and you, you don't have to sacrifice yourself for me." Engel said with pain and suffering.

"But you are my brother and I would do anything to see you happy."

"But I couldn't know that I ruined the relationship you had, for me. I will always know that Anakin remembers you every time he looks at me." Engel said trying to wipe the tears from his face.

Palpatine, with a fake smile, dried the tears that Engel shed with his hand. "Don't be sad, I don't like to see you cry... I understand if you see me as your rival and not as your brother."

"No… no, I don't see you like that." Engel said a little calmer. "I don't want to hurt you and I don't want to hurt you anymore."

Palpatine with a kind and understanding smile approached Engel "If your decision is to stay away from Anakin, that's fine with me. Above all, I want you to know that I am very happy that you have returned to me… very happy!" Palpatine said hugging Engel.

Engel let out tears mixed with joy and sadness, a warm and happy smile appeared on his face. But Palpatine smiled an evil, maniacal smile.