A CHILD'S FAITH

Ten years after Vader's rise to power, the surviving Jedi make a terrible discovery... Anakin never turned to the darkside! He is Palpatine's slave, controlled by the Emperor's power. In the end, it will be a child's faith in his father, that gives Anakin the strength to fight back.

The Jedi stronghold - called 'The Sanctuary' - is located on Ahch-To; the location of the first Jedi temple.

Also, after ten years of being controlled and manipulated, the Darkside energy in Anakin has become semi-sentient; 'Vader' is the darkside consciousness, controlled completely by Palpatine, but with his own personality - however without Palpatine controlling him, he has no control over Anakin either.

CHAPTER THREE - Rescue - Part Three

Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all.

Padme paced her bedroom; her hands trembling as she fought to control the fear that threatened to overwhelm her.

A thousand things could go wrong with the plan to rescue Anakin, any of which could result in people she cared about dying; they wouldn't get another chance either, if they didn't succeed in rescuing Anakin now - then her husband would be lost to them.

Of cause, even if they did succeed here, they still had to find a way to free Anakin; until then, he would still be a prisoner.

Her breath shook, and Padme blinked back tears; she had to be strong, for her children, and for Anakin - if everything went the way they hoped, her husband was going to need her more than ever before.

Padme took a deep breath, walking across to Luke and Leia's rooms; she opened the doors, stepping back so she could watch both her children sleep.

The revelation about their father, had shocked them both; Luke had been excited and delighted at the prospect of his Father being saved, so he could finally meet him... Leia had been more reserved, less believing.

Padme shook her head, her daughter's reaction was understandable; both Luke and Leia had grown up on stories about their father - Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi hero - and Leia had idolized Anakin more than Luke. Then, when they were old enough, she and Obi-wan had told them the truth about what had happened; how Anakin had turned to the darkside, and become Darth Vader- and Leia's faith and hope in her father had been shattered...

Now they had been given another earth-shattering revelation about their Father, which once again, contradicted what they had been told before; which was why Leia didn't want to believe it - she didn't want to allow herself to have hope that her Father is good, and end up being wrong again.

She smiled, walking into Luke's room; when she noticed he had kicked his sheet off. Padme knelt beside his bed, gently pulling the sheet back over her son; she smiled, staring down at him as he slept - he looked so much like Anakin.

His eyes fluttered open, and Luke stared at her groggily. "Are they back yet?"

"No," Padme shook her head; reaching out to stroke Luke's cheek, "They'll be back soon though..." They had to be.

Luke's eyes slid closed, then jerked open as he fought to stay awake.

Padme chuckled, brushing back a lock of hair from his face.

"Go back to sleep..." she said, leaning forward, to kiss his forehead. "...I'll wake you when they get back."

xxx

Obi-wan, Yoda, Master Windu and Ahsoka were gaping in horrified shock, at Anakin's revelation.

Obi-wan was the first to recover, shaking his head in denial; he was sure that what Palpatine had told Anakin was true - that turning to the darkside would free him, but he was not going to believe that it was the only way. "We will find a way to free you, Anakin."

"You will try..." Vader sneered, still struggling with the cuffs. "And you will fail!"

"We need to leave," Master Windu said, choosing to ignore Vader. "We can figure out everything, once we get back to the Sanctuary."

Ahsoka nodded, standing in one, smooth motion. "Alright then..." She started for the cockpit, flashing a grin over her shoulder. "Is everyone ready for a rough ride?"

'Is there any other kind, with you flying, Ahsoka?' Anakin quipped.

"Very funny, Skyguy..." Ahsoka said, sitting down in the pilot's seat. "... Just remember, I learned everything from you!"

Anakin didn't miss a beat, and when he answered; his voice was rich with humour. 'Which is why you're amazing, Snips.'

Ahsoka heard Obi-wan's laughter joining her, as she took off.

"You'll never make it!" Vader's voice was a furious growl, when it reached her. "And when you're finally caught, I'll kill you all!"

"We'll see about that," Ahsoka whispered; taking a deep breath as she blasted out of Tatooine's atmosphere and into space.

She saw Palpatine's Star Destroyer immediately, and swerved, trying to pilot the ship away from it...

The ship jolted to a stop, as it was caught in the tractor beam.

"I told you!" Vader crowed with delight, "I told you you'd never get away!"

But Ashoka was ready for it, and she opened fired on the Star Destroyer; hitting it dead on, instantly freeing them from the tractor beam.

"And we're clear!" Ahsoka grinned, punching in the hyperspace coordinates.

x

Palpatine watched in shock as the jedi's ship disappeared; they had escaped, with Vader. He barely noticed the stormtroopers around him backing away...

His rage filled roar, was accompanied by a wave of lightning; that blasted into several unlucky stormtroopers, who hadn't moved fast enough.

He had been tricked! The Jedi had outsmarted him!

He had to get vader back! Luckily, he could track the darkside energy... It wouldn't give him an exact location, but it would get him close.

xx

"Well, that's the last we'll see of him for a while." Ahsoka smiled, as she rejoined the others.

'Nicely done, Snips.' Anakin had been worried, when the ship had been caught in the tractor beam, he had felt Palpatine's delight; he'd thought that he would have to watch, as Vader killed his friends.

Ahsoka smiled, sitting down with a sigh. "Well, I did learn from the best."

"You think that because you escaped, that you have won?!" Vader snarled, "We will find you, wherever you go!" He laughed, yellow eyes gleaming with malice. "You think can save your friend? it is hopeless!" Vader grinned at the four Jedi, "You know there is only two ways for Skywalker to be free, and you can't do either of them." Vader said, his laugh had so much evil in it, that it gave everyone the chills.

"It is never hopeless with the force" said Obi-wan.

"Anakin will be free from you 'Vader'! we will find a way to save our friend!" Said Ahsoka.

"So 'now' you want to save him?" Vader grinned evilly, "What about the then years he has been a prisoner?" He looked at Obi-wan, "I fought against you on Mustafa and you still couldn't save him." vader cocked his head, "Do you know why you couldn't hear him then, but can hear him now?" Vader said making the others guilty for believe Anakin's loss.

'Don't listen to him Obi-wan! Snips! he is just trying to get to you.' Anakin said as he felt his friends guilt.

"No he's right Anakin we didn't hear before... We... I failed you." Obi-wan said with guilt.

"We might have given up, but someone else hasn't..." Ahsoka said, smiling through her guilt. "And I know she is dying to see you again, Anakin."

'SHE!?'

Anakin heard the worry in Vader's thoughts, and then he felt shock run through him... It couldn't be. 'Padme!?' Anakin asked, his 'voice' trembling with hope.

"That's right Skyguy" Ahsoka said with happiness as she felt Anakin's hope and love.

"NO! Not her! Master please I need your help, they are taking to the one that almost ruined your plans!" Vader thought to Palpatine, through darkside with hatred.

"Lord Vader do you know where they are taking you?" Asked Palpatine hoping for some information.

'No Sidious, they haven't told us.' Anakin said, interrupting them.

"Shut up Skywalker, this does not concern you.." Palpatine said.

"The Jedi are taking me to their base. Please Master help me_" Vader stopped mid sentence, his struggles ceased, and he became so still, it was like he was a statue.

"Anakin, what's going on?"

'I don't know... This has never happened before.' Anakin replied, confused by the sudden change; it was like Palpatine's control had disappeared.

Obi-wan frowned; the only movement was Vader's breathing. "You really don't know what happened?"

'No...' It was strange; he was still trapped in the darkside-cage, but he couldn't feel Palpatine's presence.

Yoda shook his head, "An explanation, there must be."

"You're sure you don't know what caused this?" Master Windu asked, frowning as he looked at Obi-wan and Ahsoka; waiting for them to relay Anakin's answer.

'... I really don't know...' Palpatine had never lost control of him before; over the last ten years, Palpatine hadn't left him alone for a moment... Anakin felt shock flash through him again, as the answer hit it; it was so simple, so obvious! '... Of cause!'

Obi-wan and Ahsoka winced at the force of Anakin's 'voice', taking a deep breath, Ahsoka rubbed her temples. "I guess you figured out what's going on then?"

'Sorry...' Anakin said, feeling slightly guilty. 'And yes, I did figure out why Palpatine doesn't have control anymore...'

Obi-wan raised his eyebrows, "would you like to share your discovery with the rest of us?"

'Palpatine hasn't left my side, in the last ten years...' Anakin explained, '... This is the first time I've been away from him...' He paused, feeling a flicker of hope, for the first time in ten long years. '... I'm out of his range of control'.