I'm so sorry guys; I need this badly. :(

[ladyofleithian]

TITLE: Ignite The Stars

SUMMARY: After the duel on Bespin, Anakin has to find out where to go from there. Eventual A/P.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of this. Seriously.

Chapter Two
Where The Ladders Start


The flight back from Dagobah was more exhausting than it should have been.

Even as Anakin slept, he wasn't troubled by the dreams of his father, nor the familiar flashbacks of Bespin. If anything, his dreams were haunted by a silver-eyed young woman with rippling legs -- someone who somehow seemed more monster than human. And his father's mask closing over him even as his father fell, the proud warrior dethroned...

And Padme. Padme, pleading with him. Come away with me. Help me raise our child --

The best explanation Anakin could possibly give when he woke was that the stress of trying to save the galaxy was finally taking its toll on his mind and body. Like it didn't already do that, he thought ruefully, remembering Vader. How he despised his father, the masked man who had exterminated almost all of his people and everything he'd known and never known...

How he despised him -- and that bond they shared. Vader, whispering mingled love and hatred into his thoughts, keeping him awake. And the burning...that feeling of being on fire...

Palpatine would be able to help. Or Obi-Wan. Or Padme. Jar-Jar, Threepio and R2 were out of the question; they were good souls, but he doubted he wanted to burden them with his dreams. They were innocent. They deserved better than the life they'd been given.

Especially Jar-Jar.

Swallowing back tears, Anakin keyed in his comlink. " Jade Fire, this is Anakin Skywalker."

"Indeed?" Mon Mothma's voice came over the com. "May I see your code clearance?"

Anakin transmitted it.

There was a long silence. Then...

"Very well then. You may proceed."


***

"You're late."

Padme's mouth was twitching slightly even as Anakin sat next to her. Anakin took a deep breath, drank in her appearance. Beautiful. It was such an overused word, such a weak word, but it fit Padme so well. More than that. The sparkle in her eyes, the smile that could have outshone Tatooine's twin suns...

"I was...held up," Anakin said. Smiling, he said, "At least I wasn't late like last time."

"True," Padme said. "Now hush. Mon Mothma's speaking."

Anakin did so, composing his features into the perfect mask of Jedi serenity and contemplation even as Mon Mothma spoke. She was a handsome woman, with clipped red hair and clear, intelligent blue eyes that seemed to stare right into your very soul. "The Empress has made a critical error and the time for our attack has come. The data delivered to us by the Bothan spies shows that the weapon systems on this Death Star are not yet operational. But most importantly of all, the Empress and Lord Vader himself are going to oversee the final stages of the construction of this Death Star."

Anakin was almost tempted to speak up, asking why it was now that they were trying to construct a replacement for the Death Star he'd previously destroyed

even now the nightmares haunted him, memories of those screams of agony ripping through his skull like lightsabers

but even that seemed irrelevant as Mon Mothma called up Admiral Ackbar to explain the attack plan. Deactivate the shield...fly into the superstructure and knock out the main reactor...

By now, those instructions sounded as ordinary, as commonplace, as Cliegg Lars laying out the basics of the chores he had to do -- back on Tatooine. So long ago.

"General Skywalker...is your team assembled?"

Anakin's heart skipped a beat. Me? But Obi-Wan's probably the most experienced...

He sent Obi-Wan a look of confusion. Obi-Wan merely smiled. "It means they're finally recognizing your abilities, my friend," he said. "Is that so surprising to you?"

"Well, no, but -- "

"General Skywalker," Mon Mothma said, "You weren't told this morning?"

Anakin turned to look at Mon Mothma, quickly reassembling his features into the mask of Jedi serenity and devotion to service. "I'd be honored to lead the strike team -- "

"Good," Mon Mothma smiled. "General Madine -- would you outline the plan to young Skywalker? I believe he's slightly overwhelmed." There was a touch of gentle amusement in her words though, so Anakin didn't take the statement too personally. He'd gotten to know Mothma well -- perhaps as well as the rest of the Rebellion. The Rebellion was like a family -- inseparable, indestructible. No matter what Vader said, they were the team, and always would be.

Join me and together we can rule the galaxy as father and son...

Madine's voice, crisp and authoritative, managed to drive away the voice this time -- that serpentine, dark voice that had been haunting Anakin's thoughts since Bespin. "We have stolen a small Imperial shuttle. Disguised as a cargo ship and bearing a secret Imperial code, young Skywalker's strike team will land on Kashyyyk and deactivate the shield generator." A pause. "Is your team assembled?"

Before Anakin knew it, Jar-Jar, Padme, and even Palpatine were already joining in. He had to barely keep from grinning; he was made for this!

But then his smile faltered even as he looked over at Palpatine. Palpatine had been keeping vigil over him ever since Bespin -- if he died for Anakin's troubles...

Palpatine sent reassuring warmth and ease through the Force. You know I would follow you to the end, my boy. Into the very fires of Mustafar itself if I could.

And Anakin merely swallowed past the lump in his throat. I know. It's just...

What, my boy?

It's just a feeling. Like I won't be coming back.

Palpatine smiled, walked over towards him and placed a hand on his shoulder. You are far too hard on yourself, Anakin. You know we're going to the depths of hell and back...just like every time before.

But last time --

You saved us. And that is all that matters, is it not?

Silence.

"All right," Anakin said. "I just have a bad feeling about this."

Over in the corner, he heard R2-D2 eagerly beeping and whistling to C-3PO. "Hmph! 'Exciting' is hardly the word I would use!" C-3PO said. "I almost forgot how much I hate space travel..."

Anakin couldn't help but smile, even a little. Back to normal. 

For now.

***

"They took the bait?" Lumiya shook her head. "They're more gullible than I thought."

Lord Vader merely nodded. "My lady," he said, "Do you believe that the trap will be...successful? After all, An -- young Skywalker's managed to escape us many times before."

"That's mostly due to your own failings, not any exceptional qualities he has. He is...gifted, I will grant you that, but his skills have also made him arrogant. Cocky."

"I saw nothing of that in him." Indeed, he had Mara's fire, Mara's devotion to the cause...but arrogance? If anything, Anakin

even mentioning his name, even mentally, made Vader wince. How he despised and dreaded that name, that sweet name --

was perhaps humbler, better than he could ever be.

"Indeed? You seem...fond of the boy." Lumiya's emerald green eyes narrowed

so much like Mara's

and it took all of Vader's energy to keep his composure intact and say, "Nothing of the sort. Merely interested in his progress."

"Don't lie to me." Lumiya's voice was sharp. "You care for him. Far too much for your own good. Your obsession with him...you must cut yourself free of it."

And Vader knew that.

Yet he needed Anakin. Chasing him gave Vader purpose -- his memory gave him strength during the day, soothed him long during the night. Nights where he dreamed of Mara, dragged away by the vines of the Dark Side digging into her skin

he reached to save her but he was frozen, frozen in place by his own vines he'd so carefully nurtured

essentially helpless, frozen in place.

Nights after his failure to turn Anakin on Bespin. He should have killed Anakin after the youth refused to turn, but somehow...he couldn't. The boy was too precious to him. Far too much.

"If he isn't turned," Lumiya said. "He must be destroyed. You know this."

And Vader merely nodded. Anakin, my dear son...could you ever forgive me?

"Send a fleet to the far side of Kashyyyk to await the Rebels. There it will stay until called for. Do you understand?"

"I do, my master."

"Good. You are dismissed."

And as Vader left, he felt, somehow, young. Young as he truly was. It was after he'd managed to arm himself sufficiently

the armor felt like a second skin to him

that he managed to call in Dack Ralter.

"Dack...go with your regiment to the far side of Endor.  Commander Skywalker will be landing there."

"All right," Dack said, wavering slightly. "What about you?"

"You don't need to worry about me." Vader paused, feeling his thoughts of Anakin begin to resurface. The image of the boy tugged at his thoughts, haunted his dreams -- he'd failed to save Mara before. He would not fail to find Anakin and turn him. They would rule the galaxy, together.

For they were the team.

The only true team.

And somehow, Vader thought, he had a feeling they always would be.