It's been a long time since I've written for this, if the interest is still there, I'll continue.

Chapter 14 – The Boys

Imperial Star Destroyer - Reaper

Anakin stood on the command bridge of a Star Destroyer. Arms crossed across his chest as he stared off into the swirling colors of hyperspace. His mind was elsewhere though. It had now been ten long years since he had been forced into servitude to Palpatine, fifteen since coming back in time. It felt even longer then that. Palpatine had kept an incredibly close eye on him for the first five years, but Anakin knew him well. And he was no stranger to the subtle game the two of them had always played.

For all his foresight, Palpatine had been unable to read Anakins true heart. While Palaptine thought he was fully immersed in the dark side and completely loyal to Palpatine, he was very wrong.

After he realized that Luke and Leia would be same for the time being, Anakin decided to play the long con and put together a plan of his own. During his time as Vader he had come across all the major Rebellion leaders as well as other Rebel cells. It hadn't taken long for him to contact them secretly and feed them information and other assistance. He'd told them about the Death Star and it's construction site. The newly formed alliance had launched a massive attack and destroyed the structure before it got very far. Imagine Palpatines surprise at that.

One of the other major things he did was hire a large team to reactivate one of the old droid factories from the Clone Wars. There were many of them and they tended to fall off the radar as who in there right mind would bother with something like that? It took some doing but he had pulled it off. It'd be kept hidden until the last possible moment, and it'd bolster there numbers by 50 fold. Battle droids had their flaws, but in the final battles against Palpatine, it'd come in handy. He'd also managed to get a few ship yards running in secret. Amazing what could done when so many were willing to aid in dethroning Palaptine.

Next had been the Jedi, while Order 66 had unfortunately happened. Luckily this time, the Order knew it was coming. He had suggested to the Council to recall as many Jedi as possible as well as the younglings and Padawans in the Temple, and take them to the forgotten Jedi planet of Tython. Many Masters and Knights in the thick of battle managed to make it away. While the clones did raid the temple and other worlds. Far more Jedi had escaped this time then originally. Palpatine had searched high and low for them as well as sent Vader to wipe them out. But he'd never betray them, not this time.

Ahsoka had contacted him on a secure channel shortly after he had been captured and assured him everything was alright on that front, but it was far too risky for him to reach of them again. She had told him that they continued bringing in survivors, The time would come soon enough for that.

Soon enough he'd have a united galaxy to turn against Palpatine.

Mon Mothma had been surprisingly accepting of their secret alliance. She had been friends with Padme, after all. What he wouldn't give to have her back now. She'd be happy to know she'd be right all along. He saw a lot of Luke in her. Anakin hoped that he'd be able to grow into the same incredible Jedi this time. Leia too, he realized. She had the potential, but she also had the same potential to be just as amazing at politics as her mother. Vader often checked in on them, it wasn't the life he wanted for them, but they were at least safe on Coruscant.

He would restore the Republic that Padme fought so hard to preserve. Even if she wasn't there to see it. Her dream would live on in him and their children.

The waiting for all of that was the worst part.

"Master." A voice called out from behind him.

Anakin turned to face the man. Not so much a man. He was still a boy, he went by the name of Galen Marek. A young boy at the age of fourteen with a short haircut. Anakin had made sure to pick him up on Kashyyyk. His father Kento, also a Jedi Knight had been very unsure about Anakin taking him into his care, but he had managed to convince him. After all, he wasn't the man he been the first time he was went looking for Kento Marek. They parted on good terms and Galen had been nothing short of an incredible apprentice since. He'd do right by Galen this time around, he was one of those most negatively affected by Vader originally. Palpatine knew about Galen, he never hid that fact, but Anakin made him out to be more of an enforcer then an apprentice. It probably saved the boys life.

"Galen." Anakin said, turning to face him. "I see you've finished your lightsaber."

"I did." Galen took it off his belt and handed to him, ever respectful. Anakin looked over it carefully and nodded in approval. "It's well constructed. A good fit for your chosen style of Juyo. I approve. We'll practice properly later." Then with a smile he handed it back to him. Galen could only beam in joy as he put it away and stood beside him. "Where are we off to now?"

Anakin looked at the crew members on the bridged briefly. They were all loyal to him, he made sure of it. While we could go off on his own in a Starfighter or freighter. He knew it drew more attention from Palpatine when it looked like he was doing his own thing. He'd never be fully trusted, he knew that. So he was replaced all the core crew with people he could trust with his secrets. He was better to the officers that worked under him. As Vader he never hesitated to kill someone for incompetence. While it fixed the immediate problem, people in the imperial navy were horrified of him and actively hated him. He took extra care to do the opposite this time. He used failures and mistakes as learning opportunities and took more time to listen to the crew. The results were far more positive.

"A planet called Lothal." Anakin said. "We'll be picking up another passenger."

"Another one?" Galen asked. "I thought we were heading back to Coruscant soon. I've been looking forward to seeing Luke. It's been months."

"As have I, but our duties often keep us away from there." Anakin countered. "This is just a detour, and we'll be back before you know it."

"Reverting to real-space now, my lord." A female voice said, one of the crew working the helm called out. "Have my ship prepared for liftoff. I won't be very long."

"At once." An officer said and walked off to see it down.

Captain Tari fell into step beside him as he moved to leave the bridge. Galen followed just behind him. "Why are we here, Lord Vader? I thought the Emperor requested us to return to Imperial Center with all due haste."

"He did," Anakin replied coolly. "But what's an hour pit-stop? It won't do any harm. The Reaper is yours until my return." Captain Tari bowed slightly in acknowledgment. "Yes, my lord."

Within 15 minutes Anakin was walking inside the Imperial Lambda shuttle with Galen still tailing him. "Master, I'd like to come with you on this one. I won't get in the way this time."

"I know you wouldn't." Anakin said, smiling sadly. "This is the last time I'll have to do this, just stay patient and I'll be back soon. You'll have some company then as well." Then he was off. He piloted the shuttle down planet side and landed in an open field. Not far off was a tall Lothal comm tower, now abandoned. Yet even from here he could feel the strong presence in the force radiating from there.

He made quick work of the door and let himself in, he took the lift up to the top and took a brief look around. Not a bad view. Then he continued onwards through the door to the main area. There was another boy with blue hair sitting at a desk and closely inspecting a stormtrooper helmet. He was started as Anakin walked in. Anakin lifted a hand in a calming gesture, and he smiled. "Ezra Bridger. I've come to ask for your help."