Chapter 22: Next step to the Future

Padmé and Anakin walked onto the Flagship, looking at their plans on the table. "Have we received word from Piett?" Anakin asked.

"The Emperor has been keeping his plans confidential, only his closest officers know his plans," Bail informed.

"The Emperor is becoming suspicious," Anakin commented.

Padmé looked over at him as she clasped her hands in front of her. "I don't like this, we might have to make Piett abandon his mission," Anakin told him.

"That's too dangerous," Obi-Wan answered.

"Obi-Wan's right, if we make Piett leave now, it'll put his life in even more danger. He wouldn't be able to leave Lehon without someone spotting him," Padmé told him.

"And we are?" Anakin answered.

"Anakin, don't mix your personal feelings into this," Obi-Wan told him.

Anakin rubbed the back of his neck. "Piett was once the only person I could trust when I was Vader," he told Obi-Wan quietly so the other Senators couldn't hear.

"I understand that Anakin, but he is safe where he is. As long as he is pretending to be part of the Imperial Navy, the Emperor has no proof that he is a double agent," he explained.

Sighing, Anakin nodded his head slowly. Obi-Wan patted his friend's shoulder before going back to the meeting at hand. After a minute, Anakin turned back to their allies. "For now, everyone needs to keep their guard up. The Emperor is becoming suspicious, all our spies have been trained on how to block their minds to keep themselves from being probed," Anakin explained. They nodded their heads slowly. "As does everyone else, remember what General Kenobi and I had taught you on veiling your minds, the less the Emperor sees the easier it'll be to keep the Rebellion's location a secret," he added.

Before they could continue with the meeting, Sabé walked in. "I am sorry for interrupting, but General Skywalker, there's someone here who would like to speak with you and Obi-Wan," she informed. Anakin turned to the holograms of the senators.

"Excuse us, Senator Skywalker, could you continue with the meeting?" Anakin asked.

"Of course," Padmé answered nodding.

Anakin touched her shoulder gently before leaving the room.

Walking off the Flagship, Anakin stopped in mid step to see Yoda standing there. "Master Yoda, welcome to Lehon," Obi-Wan greeted, bowing to the Jedi Master.

"Good to see you, it is," Yoda answered.

Anakin just stared at one of the Jedi Masters who did nothing but criticize him at every turn of his career. "Good to see you too Knight Skywalker, it is," Yoda informed.

"I am glad to see that the purges didn't take your life as well Master Yoda and I am no longer a Jedi Knight," Anakin answered with a slight bow.

"Hmm heard you joined the Paladins, I have. Very irresponsible choice for your training, it is," Yoda informed.

"Yet I believe that joining the Paladins is the best decision I have made," Anakin answered.

Yoda continued to frown. "Come I have to see what you are planning to do with the Empire," he informed.

"Everything is in the planning process, Master, I assure you that we have everything under control," Obi-Wan informed.

"We have a Star Forge under construction to help us defeat the Emperor's Battle Station," Anakin informed.

"Creating an army you are," Yoda commented.

"A Rebellion, Master Yoda. There is no peaceful solution to this matter as you can see," Anakin informed.

"Using your powers irresponsibly you are," Yoda answered.

Luke and Leia, saw that their father was out of the meeting early and became excited. "Daddy!" they exclaimed, running over to him. Anakin smiled as the twins hugged him.

"Daddy can you pway?" Luke asked, pulling on his father's arm.

Yoda just stared at the twins in front of him, making Anakin look over at the Jedi Master. "Training they are hmm?" Yoda asked.

"Yes, they are being trained, but not in the Jedi way," Anakin replied.

Yoda continued to stare at the twins. "They are being trained in the Paladin ways," he added.

"Irresponsible it is. Foolish decision you made. Tempted more by the Dark Side they will be," Yoda answered.

"I don't believe that," Anakin told him.

Yoda's eyes were glued to Leia, making the young girl stare quizzically. "Much anger in this one I sense," he informed.

"She is a young child, she's learning still. Don't start comparing my child to how I was," Anakin answered.

Leia looked at her father quizzically before holding her arms up for him to pick her up. Bending down, he easily lifted both of his children up. "They are my children, Yoda. I will train them how I see fit," he informed before walking by him to take them back home.

Putting the twins down, they ran off to play when Beru came out with Rowan in her arms. "Thanks for watching them," he told her.

"It is no problem at all," Beru answered smiling as Anakin took Rowan, "is Padmé still at the meeting."

"Yes, very much so. I'm not much into political talk," he replied chuckling lightly.

Rowan gurgled and bounced in his father's arms, making him chuckle lightly. "You seem…troubled," Beru commented as she sat down. He glanced at his stepsister-in-law before letting out a sigh.

"Even though I'm not in the Order anymore, I still feel as frustrated as I had when I was a Jedi," he replied.

"It's because Master Yoda is disagreeing to how you want to raise your children," Obi-Wan informed as he walked in.

Anakin sighed as he sat down, Rowan stood up on his father's knees, holding onto his hands. "My children will be trained in the Paladin way, until they decide whether or not they want to pursue it anymore. I won't force my children to become something they don't want. If they have an interest in politics, so be it. If one of them wants to just have a regular career, a regular life, they will have my blessing. I don't need Yoda telling me how to raise my children," he commented. Rowan let out a gurgle as if answering. "Isn't that right son?" he asked Rowan, chuckling softly.

They were sitting in silence for awhile. "I am trying to be the best for my family and for my friends. It will be a difficult task if Yoda is constantly watching my every move," he commented. Rowan let out a little noise before sticking his tiny fist into his mouth, making Anakin smile a little. "What am I getting angry over hmm? While you're sitting here smiling it's hard to stay angry over little stuff," he told his infant son.

Obi-Wan chuckled lightly. "Being a father has changed you, Anakin. Usually you are fuming with a lot of anger and frustration for nearly an hour," he quipped.

"More than an hour my friend, and I guess it's because of my training with the Paladins as well, but my children have a big part in it," Anakin replied.

Rowan started bouncing a little before letting out a yawn. "Now, with important business we need to discuss, Obi-Wan. Have we heard from Commander Drakar?" Anakin asked.

"Drakar contacted us letting us know the same as Piett had informed, the Emperor is keeping all of his information confidential," he replied.

Anakin nodded his head slowly. "Speaking of this Commander Drakar, where did you find this boy?" Obi-Wan asked. Anakin sat back in his chair as he thought of the young boy he had met two and a half years ago.

"You are a traitor!" the boy gasped out while grabbing at Vader's wrist.

"Am I the traitor? Or was the Jedi Council? You can join on my side boy and your life will be spared," he commented.

"I'll never join the Dark Side," the boy answered with a glare.

Vader grinned to feel the boy's inner struggle. "You can have any power you want, you get your own ship. People would be following your orders instead of following orders of others," he commented. He grinned a little. "The only one you'd have to report to is the Emperor and that is just to ensure that we are gaining control of the galaxy," he added. Vader let him drop when the boy began to lose consciousness. "What is your name boy?" he asked.

"Tyr Drakar," the boy replied gasping for air.

Anakin opened his eyes as he had Rowan sit in his lap. "An ally I made when I was Vader," he replied.

"Well he will be returning to Lehon to make a report on what he has found," Obi-Wan informed.

"Call me over the intercom when his ship lands," Anakin answered.

Obi-Wan nodded before looking at the chrono on the wall. "We will discuss more on battle plans later," he informed. Anakin nodded before watching his former Master leave. Letting out a sigh, Anakin looked at his son, cradling him close.

Two days later, when evening began to fall, Anakin exited the newly finished house just as a ship began to land. Smiling, he and Padmé walked over to greet the new arrivals. The platform lowered and the commanding "clone" exited the ship. "Welcome to Lehon, Commander Drakar," Anakin greeted. Removing his helmet, Tyr bowed to Anakin.

"Thank you, it is good to see you again General Skywalker," he answered.

Anakin smiled, bowing to his newfound ally.

Tyr had grown more than the rushed boy he had met on Hoth two years ago. He stood a little shorter than Anakin. He had chin-length messy light brown hair, gray eyes, and wearing the clone uniform. Along his left cheek starting from the middle of his smile line to his jaw was a scar, obvious from a blaster grazing his face during battle.

Padmé smiled as she stood beside Anakin. "It is good to see you again, Commander, I hope your trip here wasn't difficult," she commented.

"Not at all milady, it was fairly easy to get here with Princess Amara on the ship, convincing others that we're on a mercy mission," he answered as Amara walked down the ramp.

Anakin smiled softly. "Good to see you again Princess Amara," he commented.

"Thank you General Skywalker and I want to thank you again for suggesting to Commander Tyr that I'd be his apprentice so I can control my abilities," she answered.

"It was my pleasure to help you," Anakin answered smiling, bowing to her.

Amara returned the gesture before she went to see her father with Tyr right behind her. Padmé let out a sigh as she wrapped her arms around Anakin's waist. "Usually a council would say he's too young to have an apprentice," Obi-Wan commented as he walked over with Sabé.

"I think he can handle it, he has far more experience than any Paladin his age, it was Master Delmon who deemed him ready to be a Paladin," he answered.

Obi-Wan nodded his head slowly in agreement. They turned to look at the Star Forge in front of them. Biting her lower lip, Padmé rested her head on her husband's shoulder, knowing that their war against the Empire was far from over.

To Be Continued…