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Chapter 7

Anakin's world froze. That dream showed Padmé dying in childbirth. He didn't know about the baby. If the child would survive, he found himself not thinking much about the child, prioritizing the well-being of his wife, and going to the Chancellor's office to prevent Windu from killing Palpatine. Presumably, that would be when Vader would show himself while Anakin was stuck in his emotional turmoil.

He'd almost dismissed the words as complete and utter nonsense, not wanting to get his hopes up if not for the sincerity flaring off of the young man.

"Um, sir..."

Anakin snapped out of his haze, staring down at the boy. His boy. Except, it wasn't his boy. His father was the man who perished, dying to Vader's blade.

He'd never been able to raise him, never been able to read him bedtime stories, never able to show him how to pilot his first ship, witness his first steps, watch as his boy became a man...

The same could be stated for his daughter.

"Where's Owen and Beru?" He managed with a desperate whisper. "Are they home?"

"Yes," Luke nodded. "I'll be back in a moment."

The man entered.

Anakin stared after him mournfully.

"He's your son," Leia said.

And you my daughter...

Anakin wanted to tell her but not now. He sensed her love and care for Bail Organa, the man who raised her. Telling her she had a brother and he was her father would be one shocking revelation after another. Soon, but not now.

"I never was able to raise him," he answered. Either of you. "Vader and the Emperor stole that chance from me and my wife."

"I'm sorry," Leia apologized, gripping his shoulder. "I'm sure you would have been an amazing father."

"I wasn't strong enough," he replied, angling his head down. "Maybe it was for the best that I didn't raise him. I fail everyone I cared about."

Anakin didn't mean for those words to come out, but he couldn't help the terrible ache in his chest. His insides clenched. His son would have survived. Padmé's first instinct was to ask about the baby when he'd told her that she would have died. Ever the true mother.

But Anakin had almost rushed off to save the Chancellor with the hopes of saving her, allowing his emotions to cloud his judgment. That was how Vader was able to get the jump on him to begin with, wasn't it?

Leia shook her head. "I'm sure that's not the case."

Anakin vented, once more. "My mother. She was taken by barbarians on this very planet. I went to the Jedi to help free her, and they told me dreams passed in time. What type of son does that?"

"That sounds like the Jedi's failing," she said bluntly, as stunning him. "How is it your fault that they refused to accept your plea to save her? Your generic connection couldn't be severed. How many years did she raised you?"

"Nine."

"Nine?! And the Jedi took you from her?!" She exclaimed, her jaw dropping in surprise.

"Oh, no, I went with them willingly," Anakin confessed. He couldn't blame the Jedi for all of that. "I thought it would be easier, that I could come back and free all of the slaves here. I was wrong."

Leia stated. "The Jedi should have gotten involved. That's a fairly selfless reason. At least you didn't doom the galaxy into darkness like Vader did."

Anakin licked his lips nervously. He didn't want the Princess to know that he would have done so if Padmé's life was in jeopardy.

At that moment, Owen and Beru Larses appeared at the doorsteps, and when their eyes fell on him, they looked surprised.

"Anakin..." Owen said.

"Anakin? Wait!" Luke jumped up and turned over him. "You're my father?!"

Owen's eyes cooled over, his voice coming colder. "We thought you were-"

"Dead. I know." Anakin replied, unable to hide a bitter smile at their elderly features. It was a reminder of how out of place he was.

"You haven't aged a bit," Beru noted when she found her words, looking amused.

"It's a long story." He replied, nodding. "I have been fast forwarded in time."

"Fast forwarded?" The two elders chorused.

"Time traveled," he responded. "I don't know how it happened, but it seems like there's no getting back and everything has changed." He eyed both, sensing the conflicting feelings swirling inside of the older man. "I... wish to apologize for last time, Owen."

The man looked at him for a long moment before he nodded. "I understand, Anakin, you were looking for our mother. I miss her every day." The honesty in his words let Anakin know that he had greatly misjudged the man. He and his father. "I take it you know?"

"Yes."

"The old man told me that you and your wife died, and the boy was orphaned. I really grew to care for him as my own." Another surge of sincerity was in those words...

Anakin nodded. "I don't know what happened to Obi-Wan, but he ain't the same man I knew."

"So did one of your cargo missions took you forward in time somehow?" Luke asked obliviously.

Owen sighed and stared at the boy. "I'm sorry, Luke, I never told you the truth. But Anakin Skywalker was not a cargo holder. He was... a Jedi Knight."

"A Jedi?!" Luke exclaimed, eyes widened. "So you lied to me?! Both of you?!" His eyes were hurt as he darted between Owen and Beru.

At their ashamed look, Anakin stepped forward. He knew he would have done the same. Somehow that was clear to him. "I don't fault them, Luke, they were trying to ensure your protection. The last anyone would have wanted was for the Empire to invade."

Owen nodded. "That, and well, if word got out that your father was a Jedi Knight..."

Anakin let a shiver pass at the implication. Given what this Empire represented, the fact that Obi-Wan was driven to the desert, and the rest of the Jedi being labeled as dead, he could only imagine what they do to Force sensitives they could catch.

"The Empire will be here soon. They're searching for me." Leia clicked her tongue. "I hope to get back to the Rebel Alliance."

"I want to go with my father," Luke insisted roughly. "I don't care about anymore seasons."

"I understand," Owen said, much to the surprise of Luke and Beru both. "Oh come on," he groaned, "it isn't too surprising. I know that he's your father, Luke, and I know that you can't be unconvinced. But just understand this, no matter how many times you have ran away from home, your outbursts, all of it, we love you. We always love you."

Luke tried to keep up the impassive mask. But he was engulfed by emotion so much that he wrapped his arms around both of them. "I'm sorry. I love you both too."

"You don't have to stay here. The Empire will be searching for me here. You're taking a great risk remaining behind." Leia added.

"But what can we do, sweetie?" Beru asked, wizened eyes falling over her.

"We have all type of positions open in the Rebellion," she insisted. "Your farming skills could be of help to a greater cause."

Beru seemed convinced and turned, "Dear, I know we want to stay out of the war, but we might not have any choice. If the Empire finds out about Luke, we-"

"I know," Owen sighed and gripped his temple in frustration.

"Owen, you know my mother always wanted to leave this planet," Anakin's voice softened in shame and guilt. "Do you miss her?"

"Every day," Owen actually looked close to tears now, a crack in his resolve. "She was the only mother I ever known, and those barbarians... they tortured her to death, took her from me. From us." For Luke, it was shocking. He'd never seen this side of his uncle before.

"And how do you think both of your deaths would impact Luke?" Anakin's voice was devoid of emotion. "I slaughtered the Tusken Raiders. Killed them all. The women. The children. I'm never going to be the same. I don't want the same for Luke. Please. Don't let our boy suffer."

"What?!" Leia blabbered in horror.

"I'll explain another time," he said.

Owen looked struck by his words. He looked at Luke, and the man embraced him, an embrace he returned. He stared at him and nodded.

"Very well. We'll come with you, Anakin."

A breath of relief passed through the air.

It took around an hour, but they were packed and prepared.

It wasn't long before the crew were in town on two different speeders, Anakin and Luke at the head. Leia, Threepio, and Artoo was in Anakin's speeder. Owen and Beru in Luke's.

It was obvious that Owen and Beru viewed Mos Eisley negatively. Anakin shared the sentiment, having grown up on this planet despising it for a lifetime. Leia didn't have too much of fond thoughts about it either, but she didn't know much about it to make a conclusion. Luke just processed their reactions and rolled his eyes. It didn't take a wise guy to know that this was a conversation that had occurred before.

"This place is crawling with Imps," Owen voiced in concern over the comms linked between the two speeders, "I hope you have a plan."

"I always do," Anakin said lowly. Any other time, he would have made a joke.

It was clear that the Larses were trying to plan a way out of here if Anakin managed to get them into some unfavorable entanglements.

Sure enough, the main roadway into Mos Eisley was blocked off like it is every so often to prevent a political prisoner turned slave from getting off-world. Anakin didn't care about heading to the less populated area.

"Are you trying to get us killed?" Leia asked.

"We'll be fine."

Anakin began to direct the landspeeder with Luke still lingering.

None of his confidants were happy with that, save for Luke.

"You can't be serious," Owen started, but Anakin pulled into line anyway, Luke behind him.

Everyone thought they were doomed.

Owen and Beru placed their hands on their blasters as subtly as they could. The Stormtroopers gathered around, their cold masks staring down in their direction. The tension was clear in the air.

"How long have you had these droids?"

"Five seasons," Owen answered. "They're up for sale if you want them."

"We have a top priority, and you all fit the description. We're looking for a fugitive name Anakin Skywalker."

"Never heard of him," Beru lied.

The Stormtroopers shared glances at one another, eyeing Anakin. Let it never be said that these Stormtroopers weren't smart. The Commander stated, next, "Alright, identification, all of you."

Anakin waved his hand, pushing right into the minds of the trooper delicately, "You should all go to sleep now."

Simultaneously, the troopers collapsed in heaps on the ground.

The Jedi accelerated off.

Leia snickered. "Was that really necessary?" She looked anything but angry.

Anakin didn't respond to that. He'd known Obi-Wan would have done anything but, preferring to take the longer and difficult path. But, that line of thinking always kriffed things up for Anakin. Truth be told, he'd cared about everyone here. He didn't want to lose them too.

He had already lost Padmé and was forced to move on without proper time to manage and process the loss of his beloved. He didn't want to imagine the failure in her eyes when Luke and Leia were taken from them when Vader came and killed them himself.

After arriving, they all regrouped.

"Alright, we need to sale the speeder."

"That's okay, I'm never coming back to this planet again," Luke replied, a bit childishly.

"We have a bank account," Owen said, rolling his eyes at that.

"How much?"

Owen checked on the datapad. "Over 3,000."

"That makes life easier. We can smuggle our way out of here with a pilot."

"The Rebellion will compensate you for this," Leia promised.

"That's not necessary, sweetheart," Beru said.

"No, no, I insist."

The Larses were good people-Beru even more sympathetic than Owen. And they'd raised his son right, even though there was an uncomfortable tension there. Leia was sympathetic as well.

After selling both land speeders to a greedy dealer, using his greedy mind to inflict with his probes through the Force, and rounding up a good 8,000 (the amount he had), they were off to the cantina.

Anakin observed the area. The danger was clear in the air. Many of them were uncomfortably eyeing Leia. A fine piece. That very thought filled his heart with the hot inferno of fury.

"Stay behind me," he advised the young woman.

His daughter nodded.

His luck was still intact as he encountered a Wookie, one that seemed familiar actually.

But he didn't know where.

Blast, negotiations were Obi-Wan's things...

As it turned out, while Luke was walking through the cantina, his shoulder was tapped on.

"Hey, whatcha doing out here, Wormie?" A female voice asked, her voice dripping with condescension.

A dark-haired, blue-eyed woman was standing. Similarly, a dark-haired man was standing next to him.

"I have company, Camie," Luke said bitingly.

"Oh, you got new friends now, Wormie?" Fixer's lips lifted into a disgusted grin. "Like who?"

"Like me," Anakin decided to make his introduction in that moment, scowling at both of them. Really, Anakin didn't have many friends aside from Kitster when he was younger and this reminded him far too much of those days.

"Oh, and who is this?"

"Laze, Camie, this is Anakin Skywalker. His older brother." Owen introduced, not happy with where this was going. Anakin shot the old man a look, before the elder woman who shrugged, looking sheepish.

Fixer and Camie looked at one another, surprised. The former laughed. "G-Good one, Mr. Lars."

Anakin's lips curled into a scowl. "Do I have a smile across my face? How about you both just leave?"

"Oh," Fixer stopped the laughing fit and sneered. "He has an attitude too. How about a lesson in some manners?" The man swung his fist in Anakin's direction. He parried it and gripped his throat with his prosthetic hand, seconds away from snapping his throat.

"I find your lack of faith disturbing." Anakin said while Camie looked stunned, beating against his chest, trying to get him to release him. No matter, he didn't relent.

"Anakin, let him go!" Beru shouted, reaching out to his prosthetic arm. "This ain't the way."

He glared at her. "You don't have a say in this."

"Anakin!" Luke's voice cut through his clarity. "Don't do this. Please, fa-brother, you're better than this."

Anakin glared back at Luke, and then Leia, before he recognized what he was doing. He was causing trouble. His own family feared him. Padmé and his mother would have been disappointed.

He released him onto the ground. Camie tended to Fixer, her hands reaching over to the man, and breathing in relief.

The music died down and everyone turned to look at the demonstration for a moment. After a few seconds, things proceeded as normal.

"Are you okay, Anakin?" Owen asked, his eyes concerned, like Shmi's own was long ago.

"Heya, nice display, kid," a man interrupted any possible response with a crude remark. Anakin tensed and turned around, wondering if the man had buddies when he'd spotted the Wookie. "Chewie here said you look like someone who he met in passing in the Clone Wars." He analyzed him. "Mhm, sounds too good to be true. You don't look the age."

"I'll explain that part later, Captain," Anakin replied, following the man and the Wookie to the table.

The man laid back and smiled. "It's Han Solo. I'm captain of the Millennium Falcon. Chewie here tells me you're lookin' for passage? To where exactly?"

"To Alderaan," Leia answered, joining them.

Han whistled. "So this is the type of leverage you take around?"

Not leaving him alone with his daughter was his priority...

His daughter scoffed. "Please, we need a passage. Assuming your ship ain't as fast as your ego, we may have good luck after all."

"Oh, you'll find that my ship is one of a kind, Your Majesty," Han winked.

His seductive look infuriated Anakin. He might as well have to steal his ship. "Focus on the matter. Is your ship fast or not?"

"Fast ship?" Han tore his eyes away to look at him. "You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon?"

"It already sounds terrible, hotshot." Leia snarked.

"Don't judge everything by first impressions, sweetheart, it's the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs. I've outrun Imperial starships. Not the local bulk cruisers mind you, I'm talking about the big Corellian ships now. She's fast enough for you. What's the cargo?"

"Only passengers. Myself, four humans, two droids... and no questions asked."

Han laughed. "What is it? Some kind of local trouble?"

"You can call it that." Anakin answered. Not wanting the man to press, he continued. "Just tell us the price, will you?"

"15,000. All in advance." The man replied.

"15,000? We can buy our own ship with that!" Luke complained. Anakin agreed, but it might cause too much attention to them.

"And who's going to fly it, kid? You?" Han taunted.

"You bet I can! Come on! We don't have to listen to this!"

"Luke, calm down," Owen scolded softly.

"Unfortunately, I don't trust any ship that came out here not to be sabotage," Anakin declared sincerely, shushing the room as he thought about how to pull at the smuggler's greed. "We'll give you 5,000 now. And the last 10,000 when we get there with an added bonus of 3,000."

Han's eyes flashed. "18,000?" His greed won out in the end. "Okay, you guys got yourself a ship. Docking Bay 94."

"We're ready."

"Everyone!" A blaster shot went off. People screamed and collapsed. Others looked with astonishment and indifference. "We are looking for a fugitive. Nobody moves and no one gets hurt."

Han's eyes flickered behind him. "Perfect timing."

The five exited behind the smugglers, moving in the direction of the Docking Bay. Anakin retrieved the droids and beckoned them to follow, almost losing his temper with Threepio as he continued complaining about moving too fast. The Stormtroopers spread out so they had to be careful as they made it down to the hanger.

"What a piece of junk!" Luke exclaimed.

"You fly in that thing?" Leia contributed, looking at the smuggler. "You're braver than I thought."

"Oh dear, this might have been a mistake!" Beru added.

"This is why I never leave Tatooine!" Owen exclaimed.

Han looked back at them indignantly. "She got it where it counts."

Anakin's thoughts went back to the Twilight. It was a piece of junk, but it was his piece of junk. What right did Anakin have to judge someone else? Especially with knowing as a mechanic how underestimating ships could typically lead to folly on either side.

"It isn't that bad."

Solo looked at him. "Ha, at least someone here has good tastes."

"That way!" The modulated voice of a Stormtrooper shouted, footsteps coming closer and closer.

"Looks like you got a few buddies!" The smuggler exclaimed, grasping his blaster.

Anakin gripped his lightsaber and activated it. "Go on board."

"Ain't time to be playing hero, kid!"

"Get on board or you won't be paid!" Anakin snapped.

"Your funeral! Try to hold them off with that laser sword while I warm up the Falcon!"

The Stormtroopers charged through, but Anakin outstretched a hand and knocked them off of their feet. He had no doubt in his mind that the smuggler would leave him if the heat seemed too hot.

More troopers pulled in, the ramp still extended. Many of them dropped due to deflected blaster bolts. Skywalker wasn't overwhelmed. He moved through them all, cutting them down with significant ease. These troopers were nothing to him.

Suddenly, it came to a stop, and the troopers surrounded him. Skywalker bared his teeth, his form in a Djem So stance.

The mechanical form of the armored Sith came forward, staring at him. He looked worse for wear. His battle with Obi-Wan must have led to him not being as intimidating as someone who looked like that would be.

"You must be Vader," Skywalker spat in hot white fury.

"Skywalker," the broken form of the Sith responded, not even reaching for his blade, "what lies did Kenobi feed you?"

"You'll pay for what you did to all of us..." Anakin deflected.

"Do you really hold Kenobi in high standards? He'd deceived you many times before..."

The words stung more than expected. Rako Hardeen...

"Skywalker, don't be a fool. He needed to die. You would come to thank me for what I have done."

The sense of realization washed over Anakin. Vader held some sort of personal vendetta against Obi-Wan. Was it Maul? Palpatine was as sadistic to manipulate him. Maybe it was too traumatic for Obi-Wan to mention.

"Who are you?" Skywalker demanded. Because if he somehow returned to his time, he would make Vader pay for everything with his life, no matter what.

"Your destiny."

Skywalker resisted shifting, the unknown meaning flying over his head. "Why are you doing this? What did Obi-Wan ever do to you?"

"He made me into this monster," Vader stated icily. "If he stayed aside, Kenobi would still be alive. My family would be. She would be."

So someone closer than expected? Ferus Olin? He left the Jedi Order, right? Did he hold Obi-Wan in contempt after Siri's death? It made sense. He'd rivaled Anakin in his teen years. Tru Veld? He hadn't spoken to Anakin for years since what happened between them. Perhaps he'd blamed Obi-Wan for ever training him in the first place...

"Then I will honor his memory and make you pay," Skywalker vowed darkly.

"The wretched Council is dead, Skywalker, now only the Sith and the Empire rules the galaxy. You're free. And I'll show you what Kenobi never did." He approached, his breathing raspy. "Wield the power of the Empire. Of the Dark Side. Or join the rest of the Jedi Order."

The troopers neared, their blasters clicked-still raised. Vader lingered, unconcerned and expectant, waiting. His words tore into the completely unresolved soul of Anakin Skywalker.

"I can give you the power to save Padmé Amidala."

It was more tempting than expected, but his children... the last time he'd depended on the Dark Side, he paid for it. He'd killed him before, didn't he? He would do so again. Anger gripped him. "You killed her! You killed Obi-Wan! You're a monster!"

"You do not know what you speak of. That can be reversed. Kenobi's deceptions reveal themselves. Join me, we can bring her back, and together we can destroy the Emperor. We can rule the galaxy, free from all."

He felt the ship coming to life behind him, making the back of his hair stand, as it gradually hovered.

It was a lie. Skywalker snarled, "I will rather decline your generous offer, thank you."

The Jedi Knight deactivated his lightsaber, extended his arms, and released the Force within him. The Sith Lord wasn't stunned, but his half-damaged condition still sent him flying back. The Stormtroopers crashed with yelps, some of them falling on the ground, unconscious. Vader remained standing, his one yellow eye glaring at him.

Anakin swallowed down the urge to charge out and slam his blade against him. Before, he might have, but he'd needed to be with his children. He was the only one who could protect them. If Vader got his hands on them, he didn't want to imagine what the Sith Lord would do to them.

The ramp closed, and Tatooine was behind them.