‘Want?’ No, I don’t want this! He has just admitted to me he is a Sith! The Sith Master! I should kill him!’ And yet, he found himself making no move to do so. He just listened.

Palpatine glanced over his shoulder at Anakin, “You tell me of your nightmares; of the premonitions of Senator Amidala’s death. Of you children’s death and of Master Kenobi’s...The abilities that the Dark Side of the Force offers could help you save them.”

“But the Dark Side…It’s wrong. It’s evil!” ‘It can’t be true. The Chancellor is a good man; he isn’t evil.’

A question surfaced in his brain; could it be possible that Dark did not necessarily mean evil?

And Palpatine said that with the powers of the Dark Side, Anakin could save those he loved. Ever since Obi-Wan left he’d been having graphic nightmares every night, depicting the demise of those he cared about most in unimaginably gruesome ways.

“Is it…Is it possible for me to learn these powers?”

Palpatine raised his eyebrow, “Not from a Jedi.” He approached Anakin, putting a hand on his shoulder, “You have great potential for these powers, my young friend. The Jedi know this; that is why they did not tell you of the ways of the Dark Side; of the rewards it can offer. They fear you, Anakin; they fear that you will become greater than them.”

“You would teach me the ways of the Dark Side?” A voice at the back of his mind was screaming, ‘No! How can you even think this? He’s a Sith, you fool! His ways are lies and seductive promises!’

“If that is what you want.” Palpatine sighed, looking directly into Anakin’s eyes, “You have a choice, Anakin; leave and forget what I have told you or stay and become stronger. Stronger than any Jedi.”

Anakin stared at him, his mind reeling.

“Did you not inform Master Yoda of your dreams? Did he not tell you that he could do nothing to keep your wife and unborn children safe?” Palpatine scoffed, “More likely, would not. They do not have passion like you, Anakin; they do not understand the beings in the Republic they claim to serve. We do, Anakin; together we can restore peace and order to this galaxy.”

He walked towards the window again. He gestured to the Senate building, clearly visible in the cityscape outside. Droids surrounded it, warring with Clonetroopers.

“The Republic! Ha! It has been crumbling almost as long as it has stood! With your help, my friend, I wish to create a new system; a fair system. The Senate is full of bureaucrats; there is no such thing as democracy anymore!”

“And what would you have instead?” He had intended it to sound cold; it came out sounding as if he was interested. And he was, he admitted; intrigued. He agreed with Palpatine’s views on the Senate. He hadthought these things before andhad toldPadmé many times. She, naturally, had always disagreed.

“A Galactic Empire. There would still be the Senate, but the Emperor would have the final say.”

“You would be that Emperor?”

Palpatine nodded, his eyes searching Anakin’s face for a reaction.

Anakin thought for a moment, “I think you would be a great Emperor. There are none as fair or as knowledgeable in what is best for the galaxy as you.”

Palpatine smiled indulgently, “With you at my side, I would be greater; the Empire would be greater. You are a great General and pilot, I know. The Empire would need a Navy and you could be Admiral…” He let it trail off.

‘Admiral.’ That position would be his wildest dreams come true. The Jedi would not let him fight in any form!

‘It’s not because I’m unfit!’ he thought angrily. It was because they didn’t trust him! The Chancellor was right; they were afraid! They wouldn’t let him live up to his full potential because they were afraid! His hands clenched into fists.

“How would you achieve this Empire?” Anakin asked, his voice shaking with repressed anger. How dare the Jedi! How dare they! And they were willing to let his children, Padmé and Obi-Wan die because they didn’t trust him! He was the Chosen One! How could they not trust him?

“The Senate would never agree.” Palpatine admitted, “And the Senate is not an easy thing to destroy…not with the Jedi protecting this Republic.”

Anakin stared at the distant Senate building, “If we protect the Senate…we’re protecting the Republic that destroying the galaxy.

”Yes.” Palpatine agreed, “Why it would almost seem as if the Jedi were enemies, wouldn’t it?” He was trying to sound as if he had just come to that conclusion, Anakin knew, but he suspected he had thought this way for a long time. Why hadn’t he realised?

Palpatine patted him on the arm consolingly, “Do not blame yourself for the failings of the Jedi, Anakin; they know no better and have brain-washed you to be like them. But you are free of their illusions now.”

“Yes…With the Jedi gone, we could end this war!” Anakin was appalled at himself for ever counting himself a Jedi…they were the reason this war had gone on so long! Ignoring what the Chancellor ordered! And, really; it was they- the Jedi- who ruled the Republic!

‘A façade; all a facade.’ He thought, recalling Qui-Gon’s words. Was that what the Jedi Master had been trying to tell him?

Palpatine faced him, his expression grave, “Every single Jedi is now an enemy of the Republic and future Empire.”

There was sudden banging on the door.

The two men turned.

“It’s Master Windu and several other Councillors.” Palpatine said, “Conceal yourself, my boy. Until the time is right…”

Anakin nodded, his fists still clenched as he moved into the antechamber, heavily masking his Force-presence.

He heard the door burst open and Mace Windu’s voice say, “You’re under arrest, Chancellor.”

“Are you threatening me, Master Jedi?” Palpatine said in an amused tone.

/Now./ his voice said in Anakin’s mind. Anakin did not take time to consider howPalpatine could speak to him in that way, but stepped back into the room.

“Knight Skywalker.” Mace said, looking more concerned than Anakin had ever seen him, “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” Was that his voice? It sounded cold, lifeless…so unlike him.

“Anakin, the Chancellor is under arrest.” Mace looked expectantly from Anakin to Palpatine.

“Is that so?” Palpatine said, wearing a sinister smile Anakin had never seen him use before, “Well, Knight Skywalker, looks like you’ll have to arrest me.”

Anakin stepped toward Palpatine and then pausing, turning to face Mace and the other Jedi. He ignited his lightsaber with a flourish, “I think not.”

Mace's mouth fell open in shock asAnakin pounced, bringing his ‘saber down in afurious slash. The sound of Palpatine’s laughter was the only thing that could be heard above the clash of the blades.

Soon, there would be none to hear it but the Sith master and his new apprentice.

Until then, Anakin danced a deadly waltz; his ‘saber cutting, slashing and twirling through the air with mastery. Fuelled by his newfound hate of the Jedi, his anger, and his lust for the power promised to him, the Jedi would fall; he had no doubt.

“It makes no sense!” he said, pacing up and down the floor of Yoda’s quarters.

“Makes sense little of this does.” Obi-Wan had never seen Yoda so dejected as he was now, “If the Sith Palpatine is, why start the war would he? Fighting against himself he would be.”

“The war was so he could be kept in office and be granted the emergency powers. But why? What could he hope to gain?”

“Control. Absolute control.”

“A dictatorship?”

“Mmm, may-“Yoda staggered suddenly and before Obi-Wan could voice his concern, he did the same; a powerful Jedi had just become one with the Force. The waves of the Force washed over them repeatedly; another and another and another…

“Who?” he croaked the green-skinned Master immediately, aware of the tears that had formed in his eyes, due more to the feelings past on by the Force than his own emotion.

“Every Jedi that went to arrest Palpatine.”

“All of them? But what about Ana-“

Yoda’s ears drooped and he closed his eyes.

“He can’t be dead…I would’ve felt him die! I would die!” He reached out across their bond and found it blocked, but still there. Anakin was alive! Yet, he felt…Obi-Wan was thrown bodily across the room as he was forcibly pushed from his attempts to enter Anakin’s mind. His head connected with the wall and he slumped to the floor.

“Turned young Skywalker has. Joined Palpatine’s cause he has.” Yoda informed him, his eyes still closed.

“No!” Obi-Wan protested. He knew it was in vain. He had felt the darkness; he was only denying the truth, “Oh Force…Not Anakin! No…”

“Persuasive Palpatine is. Vulnerable Anakin was. Listened I should have…”

“You? Listened to what?”

“Came to me Anakin did. Visions he had of your death. Saw Senator Amidala and his children die he did also. Told him there was nothing I could do. Thought I was doing the right thing I did. Wrong I was.”

Obi-Wan was shaking. His eyes stung with tears and his skin felt clammy. All he could think was ‘Oh Force, Anakin, no!’

‘This is why we don’t form attachments.’ He thought bitterly, ‘It’s clouding my mind. He’s turned; he has to be destroyed, he has to be destroyed…’

He finally gave in, falling forward onto his knees and letting the tears flow. Yoda did not attempt to hold him as he wept; he merely looked out of the window, wondering why he had not seen it sooner.

“Do what must be done. Do not hesitate, show no mercy. They are my enemy, they are the Republic’s and, most importantly, they are yours. Kill the Jedi, Anakin; kill every last one.”

A part of him still screamed, asked why he had allowed himself to be manipulated so easily. He did not pay it any mind; it had to be done. He was the Chosen One. This was his destiny.

There was a hiss and then a shriek.

“They come for us so soon?” Obi-Wan asked, his voice devoid of any emotion. At the moment, that was exactly how he felt; drained and empty.

“We can’t possibly hope to evacuate all the children! There aren’t enough of us to fight all the troopers!”

“Escape few of us will. The Chosen One Anakin is.”

“How can you say that! He’s turned, Master Yoda! He’s probably the one leading those troopers!”

“The Chosen One he is.” Yoda insisted, “Bring balance the prophecy said he would. Say what balance wasit did not.”

More deaths reached them.

“This is balance? The massacre of the Jedi?”

“Destiny it was.”

Obi-Wan gave an enraged shout, kicking a chair across the room. It smashed as it connected with the wall.

“Fuck destiny! Fuck the Force! Fuck fucking Anakin Skywalker! Fuck it! Damn it all to Sith hell!” He made a sweeping gesture with his arm and paper books and datapads were flung from a nearby bookcase.

“CONTROL YOURSELF!” Yoda roared. Obi-Wan froze, the red that had been colouring his vision slowly fading away.

“Lose one Jedi to the Dark Side we already have. Lose two I will not.” Yoda growled, his eyes narrowed.

Obi-Wan gave a shaky nod, “I’m apologise; I should not have done that." He ran a hand through his hair, "What do we do?”

“We leave. Find Senator Amidala we must.”

“We leave? Leave the Temple to destruction?”

“No other choice we have.” Yoda hobbled towards the door, “The future Skywalker’s children are.”

“His children?” Obi-Wan followed him. Yoda did not reply. He did not speak again until they reached hi ship. Obi-Wan would never forget the screams they heard and, more importantly, ignored on the way to that hangar.

“Yes?”

“There are two Jedi to see you.”

‘Jedi…Anakin!’

“Let them in.”

A few moments later, Obi-Wan and Master Yoda entered. Obi-Wan was visibly distraught and his frame shook with tremors of some unknown negative emotion. Yoda was stooped over and looked every one of his years.

“What’s happened? Where is Anakin?” she asked, her hand unconsciously resting on her now-obvious pregnancy bulge.

“He’s gone.” Obi-Wan said, tonelessly.

“Gone.” She repeated, her hand going to her mouth, “Tell me he’s not dead.”

“He’s not.” Obi-Wan seemed to focus on something outside the window, “The Supreme Chancellor is the Sith Lord. Anakin has turned and, presumably, joined him.”

“Ani…No, he wouldn’t! He…it must be some mistake.”

“It’s no mistake, Padmé.” She was scared; she had never seen Obi-Wan this desolate, not even after Master Jinn’s death.

“Leave we must.” Yoda told her.

“Leave! No, I want to talk to him!”

“He will kill you Padmé. The Anakin you know has gone. If you love him and your children you will come with us. Now.” Obi-Wan’s voice had taken on a flinty edge.

“What about the clonetroopers?” Bail questioned Obi-Wan, “Can’t they stop him?”

“They’re under Palpatine’s control. There is no one left to save us now.” He gave a soft laugh and whispered, “No one.”

The two politicians and Padmé’s staff followed Yoda and Obi-Wan into the hallway.

“Halt.” A tinny voice said from behind them, “Identify yourselves. “

Bail stepped forward, “I am Bail Organa, Senator of Aldera-“

“Follow us. All Senators are to vacate 500 Repubica to the Senate building.”

Obi-Wan stepped up beside Bail, making a small movement with his left hand, “You saw nobody here. You will carry on with your patrol.”

“I saw nobody here. I will carry on with my patrol.” The clonetrooper repeated; its tone even blander than usual. It continued walking along the corridor.

Obi-Wan watched it go with a strangely sad expression, “I fought alone side them. And now…Now they’re killing us. It’s really quite ironic; the Republic’s salvation it’s ultimate destruction. The Jedi’s saviour, its greatest enemy…”

Padmé couldn’t think of a response. Thankfully, Yoda saved her from having to do so, by prodding Obi-Wan in the back of the leg with his stick.

Obi-Wan seemed to come of his stupor and shook his head, as if clearing the fog that had temporarily come over his mind, “Sorry, I…Let’s go.”

They reached the hangar containing Obi-Wan and Yoda’s transport without any further complication.

Bail, who was at the front of the small group, peered into the hangar, “There’s nobody there.”

Padmé nodded and stepped into the cavernousroom, just as a familiar presence made itself know to Obi-Wan.

“No, don’t-“

“Hello Padmé.” Anakin was stood at the far end of the hangar. To those who were not Force-sensitive, there was nothing different about him. To Obi-Wan and Yoda, darkness surrounded him. The darkness could not be seen, even by them, but they could tell it was there. Tendrils of dark power washed over them; both seductive and nauseating at the same time.

“A-Anakin?” Padmé took a step forward.

“Angel.” He smiled. However charming it might’ve seemed, it still sent a chill down Padmé’s spine.

“What are you doing here, Ani?”

Anakin continued to smile hauntingly, “Have the Jedi been telling you lies, Padmé? Have they been saying that I’ll hurt you and our children?”

Although it looked and sounded like him, Padmé knew this was the man she had married; not anymore.

“Did you kill the Jedi, Anakin?” she asked, shutting her eyes.

‘The Jedi children…’ she thought, taking a shaky breath. How many times had she seen the young Jedi and been marvelled by their abilities? Some of there barely three years old and they could levitate objects up to the ceiling! So young...

“You don’t understand, Padmé.” He said softly, although his voice carried. How could her husband have changed so much in less than a day? Had he been heading down this path for a long time? And if he had, how could she have not seen it?

“The Republic was falling apart; the system didn’t work.” Oh, how she remembered when he had said those words in jest Naboo! Had it really been jest? She wasn’t so sure now.

“Palpatine is what’s right for this galaxy. He is forming an Empire. Come with me and you won’t be harmed.” He held out his hand, looking at her imploringly.

She wanted to take his hand with all her heart. Her own hand even rose from where it hung at her side, but it fell back down. She couldn't, even if she wanted to with all her heart.

“What about the rest of them? What about Bail and my handmaidens? What about Yoda and Obi-Wan?”

Anakin gave a puzzled frown, “Obi-Wan. Where’s Obi-Wan?”

Padmé turned around and saw that Obi-Wan was, indeed, missing.

A second later there was the hiss of a lightsaber being ignited and Padmé turned around just in time to see Obi-Wan dash out from behind a speeder, bringing his ‘saber down in an arc. Anakin whirled around, igniting his own weapon. The two blades clashed with an almighty crackle.

Obi-Wan and Anakin stared at each other over their crossed ‘sabers.

“Go!” Obi-Wan shouted, glancing at the group by the door, “Go!”

Padmé did not have time to protest as Bail grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the ship.

“So should you.” He pushed his former apprentice away and ducked as Anakin made a slashing movement that would’ve sliced off the top part of his torso had he not. Obi-Wan flipped backward as Anakin slashed again.

“Fight me!” he goaded.

“I don’t want to kill you.” Obi-Wan replied calmly. Every one of their attacks was anticipated by the other, having trained and fought together for so long. Their lightsabers clashed again as Anakin made some ground, forcing Obi-Wan out onto an extendable platform. A strong breeze whipped their hair- Coruscant’s weather control was currently malfunctioning thanks to an attack by droids the previous day- and, just metres behind Obi-Wan, the platform ended. There was no traffic in the sky an odd occurrence for the galaxy’s capital. No one dared venture out, having heard the news of the clonetroopers going haywire. The burning Jedi Temple was visible from most places on Coruscant, too; a sign of what happened to those who opposed the Chancellor.

“I don’t want to kill you.” Anakin declared, parroting Obi-Wan’s earlier words.

“Then don’t.” His blue-green eyes regarded Anakin dolefully.

Yet again, he pushed Anakin away. He feinted an attack on Anakin’s arm, twisting his lightsaber downwards at the last second and striking Anakin’s knee. The younger man hissed and fell forward.

Obi-Wan held the blade of his lightsaber scant centimetres away from Anakin’s neck, “You’re still too arrogant, my old Padawan. You forget; I taught you everything you know but not everything I knew.”

Anakin, breathing heavily, glared at him, “Kill me, then.”

Obi-Wan ignored him, “How could you allow yourself to be manipulated so easily? How did you fall so quickly?”

“Chancellor Palpatine has always been there for me.”

Obi-Wan sighed regretfully, “When I was not?”

“When you could not.” Anakin corrected, meeting his eyes.

Obi-Wan didn’t know how it happened; one minute he was stood, preparing to kill Anakin, the next, his saber was forgotten and he was on his knees, kissing Anakin with everything he had. He tangled his hands in Anakin’s hair as he was pulled closer.

Anakin’s lips felt strangely cold against his own. It was yet another sign of the darkness that now ruled Anakin.

They broke apart, gasping for air.

“Come with me.” Anakin whispered, resting his forehead against Obi-Wan’s.

“I can’t.” Obi-Wan replied, not meeting his eyes.

Anakin hooked his finger under Obi-Wan’s bearded chin, tilting his chin up they were nose-to-nose, “I love you.”

Obi-Wan exhaled sharply and then nodded, “I know. But by tomorrow you’ll have forgotten what love is.”

“Not if you were with me. You’d be safe.” Obi-Wan removed himself from Anakin’s grasp and stood, summoning his lightsaber to his hand. He attached it to his belt.

He walked closed to the edge of the platform. He paused at the edge, half turning, “I can’t, Anakin; I just…I can’t. Not knowing what you’ve done. Not knowing what you will become. I thought maybe I could turn you back, but the moment I saw your eyes…They’re dead, Anakin; dead like the man I love. I’m sorry…I’m so very sorry…”

And he jumped.

Anakin barely had time to register the cry of dismay that fell from his mouth before he heard the sound of engines firing. As he got to his feet, a shuttle rose from below the platform. For a split second, it was level with him and Obi-Wan- who was climbing in through the open hatch- met his eyes. It carried on rising and soon, it was barely a speck in the sky.

The man on the platform watched it leave.

As the ship disappeared from view, he turned his back on the cityscape; turned his back on the past, on the man he once was and on the future he could’ve had.

Obi-Wan thought he had died.

And so, Anakin Skywalker did.

“Yes?”

“Master Yoda requests that you come to Padmé Amidala’s quarters.”

Obi-Wan nodded briskly and walked straight past the assistant, not needing to inquire about the reason for the request. A little over two hours ago, he had felt the birth of the twins…Anakin’s twins-

‘Stop that right now! Anakin, for all intents and purposes, is dead!’ He shook his head, clearing all thoughts of his former apprentice with great difficultly. People oftensaid that if someone close to you died or disappeared, you tried your best not to think of them- often referring to them as ‘he’ or ‘she’ instead of their name- but Obi-Wan couldn’t seem to stop thinking of Anakin.

‘You’re going to go mad if you keep musing on this ‘what ifs’ and guilty feelings you’re having. You’ll end up like Qui-Gon after Xanatos…except they’ll be no Obi-Wan Kenobi to force you to open up.’

He dryly realised that this was like Xanatos’ betrayal and Tahl’s death all roll into one; his apprentice had fallen and his lover was gone.

He reached Padmé’s quarters and knocked sharply on the door. One of Bail’s assistants answered giving him a somewhat appraising look up and down.

‘Don’t even think about it.’ he felt like saying, ‘Anyone I sleep with ends up dead or turning to the Dark Side.’

“I’m Master Kenobi.”

“Oh, yes…Come in.” her eyes lingered on his crotch for a moment before she let him into the room. Obi-Wan wondered if the fact that Bail employed only pretty, young, female assistants was a coincidence.

Yoda was seated on one of the sofas in the living room of the luxurious suite, “Ah, Obi-Wan. Come sit you will.”

Obi-Wan sat, trying not to sink into the overly-squashy cushions, “I felt the birth of the twins.”

“Hmmm, yes. A boy and a girl there is.”

“Have you taken a midi-chlorian count?”

Yoda nodded, “I have. Above-average count the girl has.”

“So the boy does not?” It would be surprising if that were the case.

Yoda glanced at the door that led to Padmé’s chamber, “Has a count one-thousand less than his Father’s the boy does.”

“But that…That’s still higher than any living Jedi!” Not as impressive-sounding as it would've been a few months ago, considering the fact there were just two of them.

“Hmmmm.” Yoda looked back at Obi-Wan, “Kept together the children cannot be. Together, prominent in the Force they would be. Hard it will be to conceal the boy, still.”

“Padmé will not agree. They’re the last thing she has left.”

“Stay with her the girl will. Take the boy you will.”

“Me?” Obi-Wan stared at him as if he were insane, “Master, given my record with Skywalkers, don’t you think it would be wiser for you to take him? And if he’s powerful as his midi-chlorian count suggests…You are a far wiser and more powerful than I.”

“Nonsense. Powerful Jedi you are and wise beyond your years. Learnt from your mistakes you have, even if realise it yet you do not. Train Skywalker’s son you will and if protest again you do, bash some sense into you I will.”

Obi-Wan gave a resigned sigh, “And what if I don’t want to?”

Yoda smiled at him, “Do it you still will; good man you are. And loyal still to Skywalker. Promised to yourself that you will look after Skywalker’s children you already have.”

“Am I projecting that much?”

“No; see it in your face I can.”

Obi-Wan let out an annoyed puff of breath, “Fine, you old troll; I’ll train him. Where shall we go?”

“Going to Dagobah I am. Choose a system far away from Coruscant you must so that sense Skywalker’s son Vader and Palpatine do not sense.”

Darth Vader. The right-hand-man of the Emperor. The masked murderer and Admiral of the Imperial Navy. Now notorious among those who had met for his cold and dangerous demeanour; it was difficult to conceive that a little less than four months previously he had been the hero of the Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker.

“Obi-Wan?” Padmé was stood in the doorway of her chamber, looking tired but happier than Obi-Wan had seen her in months.

Obi-Wan stood and crossed to where she stood, kissing her on the cheek, “Padmé. How are you? And your children?”

She gave a weary smile, “Tired. Come, andsee them.”

She took his hand and led him into the room. Bail was stood off to the side, conversing with a group of doctors. He nodded briefly to Obi-Wan in greeting and then continued talking. Obi-Wan felt a brief twinge of anger; it should’ve been Anakin witnessing the twins’ birth, not Bail!

‘If you and he had told Padmé of the nature of your bond- like you had planned to- he would likely not be here anyway.’

Padmé stopped by a pair of cribs. She gestured to the one closest, “This is Leia.”

Obi-Wan stepped closer. The tiny girl was asleep, a tuft of dark hair on her head. He reached out and stroked her cheek softly, “She’s beautiful.”

Padmé indicated the other crib, “This is Luke.”

Blue eyes stared at him. Although all baby’s eyes were blue at first, Obi-Wan had a feeling these eyes would not change colour. Whereas Leia’s hair was as dark as her Mother’s, Luke’s was as blonde as his Father’s. Obi-Wan recalled a comment Anakin had made while they were on Aagonar about being sure about the paternity of his child. Even at this age, there was no doubt that Luke was Anakin’s son.

Maybe his expression gave his thoughts away, because Padmé said, “He looks like Anakin, doesn’t he?”

“Very much so.”

Padmé was silent for a moment before saying, “You’re going to take them away from me, aren’t you?”

Obi-Wan couldn’t deny it, “Leia will stay with you. Luke will have to be taken. He is especially strong in the Force.”

Padmé gave a harsh laugh, “My husband was taken from me and now my son.”

She turned to look intently at Obi-Wan, brown eyes sharp, “But then, Anakin never really was mine, was he Obi-Wan?”

“What-…How?” There was no doubt she knew, but how she knew he had no idea.

“That last look he gave you on the platform. I don’t know why I didn’t see it before…Perhaps I was so in love I blocked everything else out.”

“Anakin loved you.”

“I know.” Padmé smiled sadly, putting her hand on Obi-Wan’s arm, “He loved you more. I should resent you for that and, truthfully, a part of me does. But I suppose I understand…" She shook her head,and smoothed back Luke's hair, "He’d want you to look after his son. I trust you with him; more than anyone else, at least. You’ll take care of him?”

He lifted her hand and laced her fingers with his own, “I promise you.”

She nodded, squeezing his hand, “When will you go?”

“Not for another month or two.”

“Can you tell me where?”

Obi-Wan nodded, swallowing, “Tatooine. I’ll take him to Tatooine.”

“Anakin would never go there.” Padmé agreed, frowning slightly.

“That’s why I’m going there. Luke should be safe from the Emperor and Vader there.”

“It’s ruled by the Hutts; will you be safe there? As a Jedi.”

“I won’t exactly be broadcasting what I am. I’ll make myself known as ‘Ben Kenobi.’ It’s a name I’ve used on undercover missions before.”

“And Luke? Will you say he is your son?”

“No. I’ll tell him who is Father is and his mother…There isn’t a structured identity database for Tatooine, so even if someone looked, I doubt they’d find Luke Skywalker.”

‘They wouldn’t even know he existed in the first place.’

Padmé yawned, sparing Obi-Wan an apologetic glance, “I’m sorry; I’m dead on my feet.”

“I’m sorry for keeping you.”

“Nonsense.” She walked over to the large bed in the centre of the room and sat down.

“Goodnight.” Obi-Wan bowed and made to leave.

Padmé’s voice stopped him at the door, “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“It’s nice to not be alone in this…To not be the only one left behind.”

Obi-Wan inclined his head and then left, shutting the door behind him. He rested his head against the door.

‘Sweet Padmé, if only you understood. I am alone…I alone could’ve stopped this. I only should’ve seen it coming. I alone must repair what I have broken. The Master must pay for the sins of the Apprentice…The Son must pay for the sins of the Father.’

He quickly retired to his own room, not acknowledging or even noticing the regretful eyes of the wizened Jedi Master on the couch that rested upon his retreating back.

As soon as he stepped onto Tatooine, he was met by a blast of warm, sandy wind.

“I forgot how sandy this place was.” He remarked to Luke who was in a carrier strapped to his chest. The shuttle had been busy and Obi-Wan was jostled by the crowd, all eager to get off the stuffy ship. Obi-Wan didn’t know why anyone would be eager to get onto Tatooine; off it, maybe…

Luke made a series of excited babbling noises.

“I quite agree. Bail has given us quite a number of Imperial credits…I wonder whether they even accept it out here yet?”

“Sure do.” A gruff voice said from behind Obi-Wan. A tall, heavily-muscled human man who smelled vaguely of spice was leant against the wall of a nearby building.

Obi-Wan frowned, “The Empire hasn’t even been in place for eight months. The Imperial rule got out here that quickly? What about the Hutts?”

The spacer- for he couldn’t be anything else- barked a laugh, “Made a deal with the Hutts, didn’t he? Old Emperor Palpatine. Told ‘em they could keep their rule over this dustball s’ long as he could post a garrison here.”

“There’s a garrison here?” That wasn’t exactly the best news in the galaxy.

“Why? You runnin’ from the Empire?”

‘Act like you don’t give a damn.’

He sneered, “So what if I am?”

Qui-Gon had always been good at the ‘tough guy’ act; Force knows he had the height and looks. Anakin always had managed to pull it off, as well, despite sometimes being termed a ‘pretty boy’. He'd soon showed them just what a 'pretty boy' could do with his fists.Obi-Wan knew his own height, lithe figure and accent- Bant had always joked it made him sound like he was a member of some royal family- counted against him.

Apparently, he was better than he thought.

The spacer held up his hands, “Hey, no worries, bud; I ain’t gonna be tellin’ nobody. Hell, most of the people I know are on the run from the Empire! And, no; the garrison ain’t arrived yet.”

“Thank you.”

“’S no problem.”

Obi-Wan half-turned and then looked back at the spacer, “You wouldn’t happen to know where I could buy a decent speeder, would you?”

Thankfully, at the time of the Temple’s destruction, his possessions had been left in the care of his old friend Dex. Due to his posting as a General, his quarters at the Temple had been given to a Master-Padawan pair, and Dex had offered to look after his things until he was assigned new quarters so that he didn’t have to drag them half-way across the galaxy, or leave them in the Temple storage, where things were often misplaced. Circumstances as they were, he was glad that the Accommodations Officer at the Temple was as slow as he had been.

‘You’re a sentimental cretin.’ he thought, peering around the living room of the small abode. The river stone Qui-Gon had given him for his thirteenth birthday was on the mantelpiece above the small fire, which was necessary on the surprisingly-cold Tatooine nights. The poncho Qui-Gon had worn on his fateful trip to Tatooine was slung over the back of one of the chairs. Obi-Wan smiled, running his hand over the coarse material; it still smelt like Qui-Gon after all these years. Several of Anakin’s old lightsabers- two of which were broken in some way- were in a trunk in the corner, as was his Padawan braid. As much as hefound himself thinkingabout Anakin, the memories were still too close for him to look atobjects that reminded him of his former lover without breaking down in one way or another.

Luke gurgled, pulling Obi-Wan from his reverie. He stooped down, picking the child up from the couch.

He raised an eyebrow, “You’re not hungry again, are you? I just fed you twenty minutes ago. And you don’t smell, so…I suppose you just want a cuddle?”

Luke blinked and then smiled, gurgling again.

“That’s alright; I could do with a hug, too.” Obi-Wan sat down in the armchair nearest the fire, “You know, maybe I’m not so alone. We get on fairly well, don’t we? Apart from when you throw up on me, but that’s only to be expected. You’re only three months old, after all.”

Luke grabbed on to his hair and pulled gently. He let go and rested his head on Obi-Wan’s shoulder.

He stroked Luke’s back, “Your Mother was so sad…Whenever I came in you seemed to prefer me over her. Maybe we do have a connection, whether we like it or not. I can’t say I mind too much. I never had the opportunity to have son. There was Anakin, in the first years of his apprenticeship, I suppose. I was a bit wary of him, though. By the time I actually liked him I had to distance myself because I more than liked him.”

He glanced at Luke, who, he could tell was close to falling asleep.

He continued stroking his back, “Not that I’m your Father. You’re Father’s a long way from here. Its not because his doesn’t love you. I’m sure that if he remembered how to love, he’d adore you. He was so very excited about a Father. He especially wanted a son. Just before he…well, went I suppose- he isn’t dead, but I shan’t tell you the full story until you’re older-…Anyway, just before he went, he told me that, if he did have a son, he wanted his son to have his first lightsaber. I was quite amazed he never broke that one; he was quite horrible atgetting them choppedin half or dropping them off buildings and out of speeders…”

Luke was fast asleep against his chest. Obi-Wan smiled to himself and shifted to a slightly more comfortable position in the chair as he didn’t think he could move without disturbing the baby boy.

“Goodnight Luke.” He whispered, kissing the small forehead. He closed his own eyes, a smile still on his lips and, more exhausted than he had realised from his work over the last two days, he soon fell asleep.

“Ah, my love…Let me keep the nightmares away tonight. Remember not the screams nor the blood but the laughter which rung in those halls when you were a child. Remember not them not as dead or fallen, but as those you once loved.”

Obi-Wan eyes fluttered open, “…Qui-Gon?”

The blue-tinted, translucent form smiled, “Yes, Obi. Go back to sleep.”

“Alright…” Obi-Wan was only half-awake, as it was, “Love you…”

“I love you too, my dearest Padawan.”

Obi-Wan’s eyes closed.

Qui-Gon’s visage turned wistful, “And I fear for you. I fear for Anakin and I fear for Luke…For if you do not all survive this, there will be no hope for the rest of them.”

He knelt, he mouth close to Obi-Wan’s unhearing ear, “Most of all, my love, I wish this burden was not yours to bear…And I would claim it as my own, if I could…You’re strong, Obi-Wan; stronger than I could ever hope to be. I’m proud of you; I always was. Force, I love you…But he is there for you now, even if he’s disappeared beneath the mask of a Sith. One day, Obi-Wan; Anakin Skywalker will live again….I promise you.”

He endowed a phantom kiss on Obi-Wan’s slightly parted lips and then, faded away into the darkness.

Obi-Wan opened his eyes, smiled and then shut them again.

“Thank you, Master.” He whispered. There was no response; he had not expected one. Sleep took him again, that time blissfully free of nightmares.