Mustafar

Part VI – Departure

Naboo – Lake Country Resort

Palpatine’s hold on his new empire was strong, but it centered more on fear than confidence. Senators that dared to challenge him did so very carefully, yet only to relinquish their dispute in short order. Even those loyal to the new Emperor had a hidden agenda. Their goal was wealth and an abundance of it. Therefore, committing themselves to Palpatine was continually advantageous. The new breed of Senators had fully erupted – coercion and greed encroached, leaving all else to the wayside.

Coruscant, now known as Imperial City, had become the polestar of corruption in the universe.

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Padmé knew nothing of the sacrifice her husband would make once Darth Sidious was defeated. Had she known, she would have done anything to stop him from leaving. For that reason, Anakin hadn’t told her – he couldn’t. He even considered pleading within the Force during his many meditations, but alas, he never did. He accepted what was to come and found solace in the fact that Padmé and their children would not only be free but safe.

 

Rays of sunlight bursting through the windows warmed the bedroom as Padmé awoke. She lazily stretched and reached over to nudge her husband only to find his side of the bed empty.

She glanced around the room and softly called out, “Anakin?”

When he didn’t answer, she directed her attention to the baby monitor on the table beside her bed and noticed it was turned off.

Throwing aside the bedcovers, she got out of bed, grabbed her robe, and put it on as she briskly walked out of the bedchamber.

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Changing Leia’s diaper had been easy but Luke proved to be more difficult. He was quite the squirmier one this morning and Anakin had had to use the Force to redirect his son’s morning release or else risk being doused.

Luke giggled as Anakin quickly got the diaper on and mockingly shook his finger at the boy. “Reserve that for Uncle Obi-Wan one day,” he playfully told Luke without realizing what he had just said.

Holding one child in each arm, Anakin carried them into the kitchen and set about making all of them breakfast.

The twins sat good-naturedly in their high chairs, giggling and making noises that made Anakin laugh quietly. He kept his eye on them while he attempted to make their meal, pacifying each with finely chopped fruit they could stuff into their mouths until he was finished.

That was his first mistake. He didn’t know who started it first but when turned around, ready to serve their food, fruit was everywhere. Some bananas pieces were stuck to Luke’s head as well as the floor and all over his chair where it mingled with apples and strawberries. Leia didn’t fare much better – there were red stains on her face where she had smeared the strawberries, a piece of apple sat on top of her ear, and she was mashing some bananas in her hands.

Anakin just stood with his mouth hanging open for a minute, shocked by the mess. “Uh oh,” he finally muttered. He glanced down at the eggs he had prepared and wondered if he should have just given them something simpler, like cereal. With a shrug of his shoulders, he walked toward the twins carrying the food and suddenly slipped. Using the Force, he caught himself but not before peels of laughter erupted. Looking down, he saw what had made him nearly fall – pieces of banana. In fact, fruit littered much of the floor. “We’re in trouble,” he playfully chided, glancing at Luke and then Leia.

While they were still eating, C-3PO had wandered into the kitchen and his sharp intake of breath was unmistakable. Luckily, they were about done and Anakin decided they should make a hasty departure. One didn’t need heightened senses in order to hear 3PO grumbling about the mess Anakin had asked him to clean up

“Looks like I still need more practice, hmm?” he asked each of them.

Luke and Leia just smiled adoringly at their father.

 

After giving each twin a bath, Anakin took them back into the nursery and softly talked to his children, telling them to be quiet so mommy could sleep. To occupy them, he performed little feats using the Force, such as levitating Leia and then Luke, while remaining in their cribs of course, as well as their stuffed animals. Both children’s laughter was music to the Jedi’s ears and he held out hope that this would not be the last time he would hear it. Fatherhood had brought out the best in Anakin and it tore at his heart that he must sacrifice himself to save them – but only because he would never have a time like this again.

“You’ve taught me well, Master Jinn. So did Obi-Wan and I never truly gave him enough credit for it,” he said to himself as stared at his daughter, his hand stroking Leia’s baby fine brown hair. She looked so much like her mother and had an iron will to match. “She’ll probably be just like her mother – a political force to be reckoned with. He turned his attention to Luke, whose bright blue eyes were so much like his own. “And you…” he began, “I sense you –”

“Will be just like his father, only not so hard-headed,” Padmé interrupted as she walked into the room.

Through the Force, Anakin had heard his wife before she ever made it to the nursery. He knew she needed extra sleep and so when he woke up early, he turned off the baby monitor and crept into the bedroom where his children slept. Their peaceful cherub faces had greeted him as he stood in between the two cribs.

Anakin glanced over his shoulder and gave her a mock look of indignation. “Who’s hard-headed?”

Padmé chuckled as she ignored the question and walked up behind her husband, wrapping her arms around him. “And how is my family this glorious morning?” she asked.

“In case you hadn’t heard, 3PO is still cleaning up the kitchen. I wouldn’t recommend going in there,” Anakin advised her as he turned around and embraced her.

“Poor droid. I’ll have to make sure he gets an extra oil bath,” Padmé concluded and then peeked at her children.

“We had a good time while you slept,” Anakin told her.

Padmé nodded. “Mmm hmm, how good of a time? Were you doing Force tumbling again?” Padmé eyed him suspiciously.

Anakin averted her gaze and sheepishly replied, “Uhh, just a little levitating – they love it!”

“Yes, I know they do.” Padmé shook her head and smiled.

Anakin hugged his wife tighter, wishing he wouldn’t have to let go, but he knew the longer he delayed, the harder it would be for him to leave. Stray tears streaked his cheeks but he quickly wiped them away. He would see his family again – even if it were through the Force.

He pulled out of the embrace and then leaned down and gingerly kissed his wife – a kiss that easily became much more.

“I have to go,” he finally said as he nuzzled her ear.

Padmé took a deep breath and nodded her head. “I know,”  she quietly replied as her heart pounded in her chest.

Keeping the truth to himself, Anakin said, “My love is always with you and our children, Angel. Always.”

Stifling her emotions, Padmé replied, “I’ll wait for you – we’ll all wait.”

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Leaving their home was the hardest thing Anakin had ever done. All his dangerous missions throughout the Clone War were nothing compared to walking out the door of the Lake Country Retreat. It took every ounce of strength he had not to look back one last time; for he knew, it would be his undoing. He could still hear the laughter of his children ringing in his ears and it simultaneously provided him solace and sorrow. Padmé stood in the forefront of his mind as he burned into memory every part of her. Even C-3PO and R2D2 helped to warm his heart. The droids had been faithful to their family for a long time and Anakin knew they would continue to do so.

 

*May the Force be with you – always.*

Anakin heard his wife’s words through their bond and wrapped them around his heart like a shield. Even though his journey was a solo one, he knew he would never be alone.

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Once he arrived in Theed, Anakin boarded the transport as just another passenger. It would be several stops at various planets before he reached Imperial City. Senator Organa had already arranged for a couple of false identification badges to add confusion to Anakin’s true origin of departure. He simply had to rendezvous at certain points along the way to retrieve them. The last thing he wanted was to be tracked back to Naboo.

One stop that Anakin had mixed feelings about was the one to Tatooine. He would have a few hours in the Mos Eisley spaceport before the next leg of his journey took him closer to Imperial City. He knew there wasn’t time enough to visit his mother’s grave, much less Owen and Beru. Although, he knew he couldn’t take the chance anyway and have anyone recognize him. After all, he was supposed to be dead. Anakin remained optimistic that the disguise he adopted would keep his true identity safe.

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Mos Eisley – “A wretched hive of scum and villainy”

Anakin departed the transport with a few other individuals and immediately headed toward the local cantina. He doubted it had changed much over the years and if he wanted to be left in the shadows that would be the best place for him.

He nonchalantly walked inside and found a table in the far corner where he could watch the door, yet remain undisturbed by the other patrons.

All manner of species entered and exited the bar, none of which warranted much of the Jedi’s attention until one in particular caught his eye – a person nearly two meters in height and wearing a familiar style of clothing. He or she went directly to the opposite end of the bar and sat at the farthest table, shrouded by the light much like Anakin was. Anakin’s shielding was firmly in place since he’d left Naboo and now he tightened it further – the last thing Anakin wanted was to draw attention to himself through the Force. Whoever the person was, they wore the cloak of a Jedi with the hood completely blanketing their head. 

 

Anakin sipped his drink, keeping a watchful eye, as the person ordered their own form of libation but never removed the hood from their face. He had to temper his curiosity and make himself stay in his seat rather than indulge the urge to go over and talk to them.

 

Deep within the hood of his robe, a Jedi stared at the drink set before him. He watched as the colors swirled within the liquid as if they would give him some hidden meaning as to their existence. It also set his mind elsewhere other than the pair of eyes he felt watching him. He didn’t need the Force to tell him that someone was very interested in what he was doing, which was nothing more than sitting at a grimy table in a notoriously famous cantina. The gaze wasn’t oppressive, but he felt it all the same. He wanted to walk over and confront the intruder of his private space, but then reconsidered.

“Drawing attention to myself isn’t what I want to do,” Obi-Wan Kenobi mumbled quietly. He slowly shifted his gaze across the cantina and let it rest upon this new nemesis – a human male. He took note of the hair slicked back into a ponytail, a scruffy beard and moustache, nondescript clothing, and dark glasses covering his eyes. Apparently, someone else doesn’t want much attention either, he silently surmised.

The Mos Eisley Cantina – a place where no one asked questions – everyone’s business was their own.

 

Anakin glanced at the chrono on his wrist and realized he needed to catch the next transport. He stood up, his height towering over the small table, and started for the exit. In spite of himself, he stopped mid-stride, glanced over at whom he assumed was a Jedi, and gave a quick nod of his head. Without anything further, he flipped a coin to the barkeep and then continued on his way out of the cantina, walking outside into the bright sunlight.

Once the cantina door closed, Obi-Wan got up from the table, paid for his untouched drink and followed after the man who had just left.

 

Because he hadn’t realized how much time had elapsed, Anakin hurried through the streets so he wouldn’t miss the transport. However, it didn’t take long for him to notice that someone was following him.

Casually, he slipped down a side street and briskly walked about halfway down. He found a large pile of various debris to his left, slid in behind it and waited.

From a reasonable distance, Obi-Wan observed his quarry make an abrupt turn and disappear from view. Exercising more caution, the Jedi Master approached the same street and glanced down it. No one was in sight so he reached into the Force and stretched out with his senses, narrowing his focus to this section only.

Anakin could just make out the person following him through the pile of parts – he wasn’t surprised it was the presumed Jedi. He felt himself tense and then relax – his agitation wasn’t necessary. A moment later, he felt a tingling in his mind, like the remembrance of a long ago dream. He shuddered and tightened his shields, reprimanding himself for the lapse he had allowed. The Jedi was trying to find him, but why? Did they realize who he is?

Obi-Wan crept along the building wall of the street. He had sensed something. Something he hadn’t felt in a long time, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. I can’t be getting senile yet, he scoffed at himself.

Anakin glanced at his chrono again and realized he was running out of time. Whoever was following him wasn’t important enough for him to delay any further. He stepped out from behind the discarded parts and faced the person who he estimated to be nearly fifteen meters away.

“What do you want?” he growled in Huttese. A language he hadn’t spoken in a long time but remembered nonetheless.

Obi-Wan’s knowledge of Huttese was limited but this question he understood. He looked at the man but didn’t pull back his hood. “To know why you were so interested in me in the Mos Eisley Cantina,” he replied in basic as he began to walk forward.

Anakin stiffened upon hearing the voice – a voice he’d known for many years. This is not the time for a conversation, my old Master. “I’m not a bounty hunter, if that’s what you’re asking,” he gruffly replied, trying to make his voice sound different. “Nothing more than curiosity. Now, if you don’t mind…” Anakin started walking, wanting nothing more than to leave.

“It is you,” Obi-Wan said with a mixture of sadness and unease as he slid the hood from his head, his steps never faltering. “Until I heard your voice I wouldn’t have known.”

Anakin stopped immediately. He stood like a statue, unable to speak.

Obi-Wan continued to approach, albeit slowly. “Yes, I’m positive. You look very different, Anakin.”

Anakin stroked his beard the same way his old Master always had, except there was some nervousness attached to it. “I-I’m sorry, you must have me confused with someone else.”

“You never were a good liar,” the Jedi Master retorted.

Anakin started to walk again, although he veered away from his old Master. “Excuse me, I have to leave.”

Obi-Wan moved and blocked Anakin’s path. He tried to sound supportive even as his own conflicting feelings started to emerge. “…I’ve…spoken to Qui-Gon.”

Forced to stop, Anakin simply nodded. Now was not the time to go into any lengthy explanations. “Then you understand what I must do,” he replied, trying not to sound harsh.

Obi-Wan couldn’t sense anything through the Force from his former Padawan. Anakin had absorbed himself within intense shielding which blocked any attempts to read him. However, his mannerisms and words displayed his discomfort.

It isn’t time – for either of us, the Jedi Master sadly realized and then stepped aside and said, “May the Force be with you.”

A subdued nod of his head was Anakin’s only response as he began to walk past.

Obi-Wan started to reach out and pat his old Padawan on the shoulder but refrained at the last moment. He didn’t even turn around as Anakin reached the outer street and disappeared.

 

If Anakin wanted to leave Tatooine so much all those years ago, now he wanted it even more.

Focus, he told himself. I need to concentrate on Palpatine, not Obi-Wan. He sighed as his thoughts continued to rumble through his mind. Why do I have a feeling Qui-Gon has something to do with that meeting?

 

Anakin sat back in his seat in the crowded transport and closed his eyes as it finally lifted off into space. Despite his inability to view the blackness of space, he knew it was there and it brought forth a sense of comfort – and relief.

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Part VII