IN THE HANDS OF TIME

(previously titled: "What if the Empire Went Back in Time to Ep. I?")
Part Five

by Darth Pipes
and ami-padme

Based on an idea by Darth Sean.

Disclaimer: All things Star Wars belong to LucasFilm.

Having exited the Rebel base, Darth Vader began his descent into the forests of Drayos. The weather had dramatically changed. The sky was now gray and the wind was whipping furiously. Rain was imminent. But that did not bother Vader. He had just one thing on his mind and that was Obi-Wan.

He had thought he could avoid a confrontation with his old Master. There was the matter of the timeline. It could not be altered. The effects could be wide-ranging for the galaxy and space itself.

But Vader didn't care. Sensing Kenobi had resurrected his hate of the man and his desire for revenge. That urge was too strong for Vader. He had to fulfill it.

Vader's thoughts drifted to another. Amidala. Being with her had awakened the old feelings of his former self. He had tried to suppress them but he could not. He knew he never could.

He hated to leave her alone, especially given the presence of Mara Jade. He hoped that Amidala would stay where she was but he doubted he doubted that. Still, she was a smart and resourceful woman. She could take care of herself.

Besides, he doubted that Jade would strike now. From what he knew of the girl, that was not her style.

Vader reached the beginning of the forest and entered it. It was quiet, save for the howling wind. Vader walked through it, with his lightsaber in hand and ignited. Although he couldn't see him, he knew that Kenobi was here. He could feel it.

"I've been waiting for you, Sith," a quiet voice said from behind Vader.

With the sound of thunder in the background, Vader turned around, and there before him was the imposing figure of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

The sight of Kenobi before him surprised Vader. Obi-Wan's face lacked the warmth and compassion that he had often seen in it. Instead, his expression was stern and unforgiving. It was filled with anger. Obi-Wan's eyes looked down into Vader with nothing but hate. Vader realized at this moment that Obi-Wan reminded him very much of a Sith Lord.

"I had no doubt that you would be," Vader finally responded.

The two men just stared, sizing each other up. Obi-Wan ignited his lightsaber. The blue blade came to life with a snaphiss. But he made no move toward Vader. He seemed to have something on his mind.

"So, you are Palpatine's new slave," Kenobi said.

Being called a slave by Kenobi fuelled Vader's anger. He quickly suppressed it. He would not allow Kenobi to get the better of him.

"Not a slave, Kenobi," Vader replied calmly. "I am a Sith Lord. I am no one's servant."

"Yes, of course," Obi-Wan said in a mocking tone. "You are your own man. Just like Anakin Skywalker was."

Vader felt the rage inside of him rise again. Kenobi always had a snide remark to say to about him, whether he was Anakin Skywalker or Darth Vader. He had always hated that about him.

Obi-Wan sensed Vader's anger and smiled. He continued to needle him on.

"I seemed to have hit a nerve, Sith. Does the truth hurt?"

"The truth can be told from several different points of view Kenobi. You of all people should know that."

Kenobi was surprised to hear the Sith say such a thing. He sensed a familiarity with the Sith, but quickly pushed it aside as his hatred consumed him again.

"Why are you here?" Kenobi calmly asked Vader.

"There would be little point in trying to explain to you," Vader said.

"Are you after the Queen?" Kenobi said, ignoring Vader's response. "Or are you after me?"

Vader snorted. "Do not overestimate your worth Kenobi. You are not that important."

"But you seem to think otherwise," Obi-Wan said in a challenging tone. "Why else would you have responded to my call?"

"I came here to settle matters with you." Vader said.

"For Palpatine?" Obi-Wan asked.

"For me," Vader simply replied.

At this point, Obi-Wan was truly confused. Who is this Sith? What issues did he have with him?

Vader sensed Obi-Wan's confusion and laughed.

"You truly don't know who I am, do you Obi-Wan?" he asked.

At this point, Kenobi's anger and impatience was rising. He was tired of the games this Sith was playing with him.

"No," Obi-Wan said. He was beginning to seethe with fury as he moved closer to Vader. "And at this point, I do not care. I hate you and your kind. The crimes your Dark Side filth has committed...you have brought the galaxy nothing but pain and suffering. You have brought me nothing but pain and suffering, destroying everything I held dear. But now I will have my vengeance and I will stop at nothing, nothing, to destroy you!"

Now Vader's felt himself become increasingly enraged.

I have caused him pain? Vader thought. What about the pain he had caused me? Keeping my power back as I grew stronger in the Force. Joining the Jedi in opposing me, his own best friend. Then destroying my family, and finally my body. What about that? You arrogant, self-serving bastard!

"Yes, my old friend," Vader said fuming, as he stepped closer to Kenobi. "Just as you destroyed Anakin Skywalker!"

Vader's sent his feelings and thought to Obi-Wan. Using the Force, Obi-Wan purged deeper into the Sith's mind. Who was this Sith? What connection did he have?

Obi-Wan's eyes shot open.

No...it couldn't be!

Kenobi sensed the Sith's feeling and found it to be true. But that wasn't possible. He was dead! He had seen him fall into the volcano on Sulluest. He should have died...but he didn't. This Sith...it was...Anakin!

Or what was left of Anakin. He was more machine now, kept alive by that horrible black armor. Is that what he had become?

Rage began to fill up in Obi-Wan. It was a hatred he had never felt before, even when Qui-Gon had been killed.

Is this what Anakin has become? Kenobi thought. A creature of evil? Is this what he used my training for? To destroy?! To kill?! This is what I have created?! A creature...a thing of evil! Is that what Anakin has become?! This?!

Suddenly, Obi-Wan let out a scream that could probably be heard from miles away and held out his lightsaber. He charged at Vader. He was going to kill this monster, this thing of evil, where he stood.

The unexpected ferocity of Kenobi's charge surprised Vader. He barely had time to bring his blade up in to deflect Kenobi's blow. The deflection sent Kenobi past him. He quickly turned around followed by Vader.

The two swung their lightsabers at each other, trying to cut the other down. Their blue and red sabers slammed against each other just as a bolt of lighting struck the sky above Drayos, and rain began to pour to the ground.

The final battle between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader had begun.

---------------------

Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi's blades slammed together as the rain continued to fall on Drayos. The two men battled furiously up and down the forests, neither giving an inch. Their hate was literally bouncing off of every tree in the forest

This wasn't like their two previous duels. In the first, Anakin had been a young man of twenty-one years of age. In the second, Kenobi had been an old man nearing sixty. They were both relatively young and in their primes now, and they fought like it.

Kenobi tried to cut Vader's legs out from under him but Vader leapt above him, swinging his lightsaber down on his old Master. Kenobi blocked and put up a fearsome counterattack. He slashed at Vader's sides, trying to cut his former student in half. Vader defended against this and launched his own counterattack. Kenobi countered with another attack, this one filled with hatred. The Dark Side of the Force was surrounding him and helping him give power to his attacks. If this kept up, the Dark Side might consume the Obi-Wan Kenobi forever.

The thought surprisingly troubled Vader. For many years, he had often wished that Kenobi would have fallen to the Dark Side. So that the pure, honorable Knight who everyone praised would fall from grace and lose everything that he loved. Now it looked like it had happened. It looked like his hatred of Vader had done that to him. Vader thought that would have made him happy but it did not. He had never seen Obi-Wan like this...and he did not like it one bit.

Obi-Wan suddenly intensified his attack. Vader attempted to match it but Obi-Wan was ready. Moving swiftly, he hooked Vader's weapon and sent it flying out of the Sith Lord's hands.

Vader was suddenly defenseless as Obi-Wan stalked forward. Vader backed up as Kenobi moved closer and closer. Obi-Wan's face was a mask of pure hatred as he swung his lightsaber at Vader. Vader ducked as the saber came his way. Kenobi tried to swing again but Vader was ready. He kicked Obi-Wan's lightsaber out of his hand. The lightsaber struck a tree behind Obi-Wan and became wedged inside.

Taking advantage of this Vader struck Obi-Wan across the face, knocking the Jedi to the ground. Turning away from Obi-Wan for the moment, Vader attempted to signal for his fallen lightsaber. But Obi-Wan quickly recovered and kicked Vader's legs out from under him. The Dark Lord fell to the ground.

With both men on the ground, Vader turned toward Kenobi. Kenobi responded by kicking Vader across his face, knocking him backward. Kenobi quickly got to his feet and pulled his lightsaber out of the tree. Once in his hand, Kenobi swung the blade right through the tree. The mighty oak tree came crashing down, heading towards the fallen form of Darth Vader.

Vader looked up in shock as he saw the tree coming down towards him. Reacting quickly, he barely managed to move out of the way. The tree slammed to the ground next to him, shaking the very forest.

Obi-Wan came towards Vader's fallen form and swung his lightsaber down at him. Vader once again moved out of the way. Rising to his feet, he ran past Kenobi. Obi-Wan quickly followed.

Vader ran toward a nearby tree. Kenobi was now right behind him and took another swing at him with his lightsaber. Vader managed to jump onto the nearby tree just in time. Using the Force, he executed an incredible back flip over Kenobi. Reaching out again with the Force, he called for his lightsaber. It flew into his hand as he landed back on the ground behind Kenobi. He ignited his lightsaber just as Kenobi turned around and charged after him, ready for another attack.

Vader met his assault and the two men resumed their battle. They attacked each other again and again, the strikes growing more vicious each time. Yet neither man was able to gain an upper hand. Neither of them could find an opening in the other's defense. As the two men found themselves in between a pile of bushes, a bolt of lighting suddenly struck, knocking them both backward. The lighting caused the bushes to erupt in flames.

The fire made Vader momentarily flinch. Fire had always reminded him of the volcano he had fallen into on Sulluest. Even to this day, he could still remember the feeling of molten lava consuming his body. But Vader shook it off. He was Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith. He feared nothing, least of all fire.

As Vader prepared to chase after Kenobi, Obi-Wan suddenly leapt through the fire and attacked Vader. This caught Vader by surprise as he brought up his blade to defend himself. He met Kenobi's move and the two men's blades were now locked together. Neither one of them was giving ground.

"What's wrong, Darth", Obi-Wan said mockingly. "Scared of a little fire?"

"You know that's not the case, Obi-Wan," Vader said as he continued to try to break free.

"Yes of course," Kenobi said through gritted teeth as he tried to break the lock of lightsabers. He looked up at Vader with his face tight.

"You know something 'my old friend'?" Kenobi said. "When you fell down that volcano on Sulluest and I had thought you were dead, I felt terrible, like I had lost not just my best friend, but also my son. But now...now I no longer feel that way."

"Why?" Vader spat out angrily. "Because I was just another pathetic lifeform that you could no longer be bothered with?"

"No," Obi-Wan replied coldly. "Because you got exactly what you deserved."

That comment was enough for Vader to break the hold. With a tremendous amount of fury, he pushed Kenobi away, raised his lightsaber above his head, and swung down at his former Master.

He missed completely as Obi-Wan sidestepped him with ease. His blade ran through a mighty tree. Vader quickly pulled it out, turned around to where Kenobi was and charged him. He was in a rage after what his "old friend" had said to him, and now he would kill him where he stood.

Gathering up his anger and hatred, Vader launched into a new series of attacks into Kenobi. Obi-Wan simply smiled as he easily blocked Vader's furious assaults. Vader kept on pushing, summoning more of the Dark Side of the Force through his anger. But Obi-Wan had an answer for every attack.

Vader was growing increasingly tired as he furiously fought Obi-Wan to no avail. Obi-Wan sensed this and launched a vicious attack. It was a powerful, full of pure hatred. He swung his saber furiously at Vader. Vader just barely deflected the first swing that was aimed for his midsection. He continued to defend, but he was becoming very sluggish. Kenobi's powerful swings were knocking Vader back with considerable force. The Dark Lord nearly tripped as he was being pushed further and further back.

As Vader was beginning to fall, Kenobi smiled and pressed his attack.

Vader was on the defensive and he needed to summon up the power of the Dark Side. It was the only way he could save himself. He tried to summon the Dark Side by focusing on his anger and hatred but found himself unable too. For some reason, he was having trouble...connecting with it. His mind became clouded as Obi-Wan's vicious attacks continued.

Vader found that he couldn't use the Dark Side of the Force. With his body tiring, Vader realized that if he couldn't use it against Kenobi, this was a battle that he could not win.

---------------------

The rain was beating down hard on Drayos. But it meant little to Mara Jade. The only thing that mattered was her mission, and the time to complete it was approaching.

Mara continued her work on her rifle. She was on the top of the North Tower. From there she could get the best possible shot at the Queen. Getting into the North Tower was no problem. Just a few mind tricks on some weak-minded guards. With the increased security caused by her killing of a Jedi, she could not afford to leave any victims and draw increased attention.

She was now working on the rifle's eyepiece. Her knowledge of firearms and technology was considerable and if she made the proper adjustments, she could expand the range of the rifle so she could see and hit a target anywhere in the base and beyond.

Something else had happened on the planet. A...disturbance of some kind. Mara speculated that it might have something to do with Vader and Kenobi. If that was true, then there was no way Mara could destroy the Queen directly.

Still, it did not matter. She would get the Queen, and Kenobi and Vader would see the results. She would have to make the shot good, because you didn't get second chances against Kenobi and Vader. But she would, and when it was over, the Skywalker threat against the Emperor would be gone forever. Then Mara Jade could return to the future and take her rightful place at the Emperor's side.

Mara made the final completions to the rifle and checked through the eyepiece. Perfect. Now she could search for the Queen through it up to a ten-mile radius. It might take a while, but so be it. She had all the time she could possibly need. Queen Amidala did not...

---------------------

Darth Vader swung his lightsaber weakly, attempting to behead Kenobi. Obi-Wan easily ducked. He then spun around Vader and delivered a powerful kick to his back, sending the Dark Lord flying across the forest. He crashed into the muddy ground.

As Vader struggled to get to his knees, Kenobi rushed him and attempted to strike him while he was down. Vader brought his blade up and barely blocked Kenobi's swing. He managed to push Kenobi away from him. Vader then rose to his feet only to see Obi-Wan charging at him again with another vicious, hate-filled attack. Vader again managed to defend himself but that was all he could do.

As the battle continued, Vader was confused as to why he was unable to use the Dark Side of the Force. He used to be able to do it so readily in the past, summoning it against the Jedi he had slaughtered. It had consumed him when he destroyed the Obi-Wan on the Death Star. The anger had filled him and made him stronger, allowing him to destroy his enemies time and time again. Yet now, when he needed it most it was not there. He believed that he knew the answer why.

Amidala. Seeing her again, allowing himself to once again care for her as Anakin Skywalker had in the past, had allowed the light to shine into his darkness. Once he had thought that to be impossible, but it had happened. In that instant, he hadn't been thinking of himself, or the Emperor. He had been thinking of Amidala, about his love for her. When he had allowed that to happened, it had permanently damaged his connection to the Dark Side. He could still feel anger, but he could no longer use it as a weapon. That is why he could not use it against his old Master. Because it was not there.

If the Dark Side wasn't there to defeat Kenobi, there was only one thing left that could defeat his old Master, who was allowing himself to be consumed by the Dark Side himself. The Light Side of the Force.

The thought of once again using the Light Side of the Force, the side the Jedi Knight served, sickened Vader. He had purged that light away from him years ago when he had consumed the darkness. As far as he was concerned, the Dark Side was stronger. It made the weak powerful. Yet the light was the only thing left. The only thing that could defeat Kenobi.

Perhaps that is why he was never able to defeat Kenobi. Perhaps the Dark Side couldn't beat Kenobi or for that matter, perhaps the Dark Side really was not the way. He had been unable to defeat Kenobi on Mount Sulluest all those years ago, and as much as he hated to admit it, he probably would not have been able to defeat his master on the Death Star if Obi-Wan had not allowed him to strike him down. Kenobi had beaten him because he was pure, and Vader was dark. Now the situation was reversed and Obi-Wan was consumed in darkness, his hatred evident in his attacks on Vader. Perhaps only the power of light could defeat the great Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Your focus determines your reality.

Qui-Gon Jinn had told Vader...Anakin that. Obi-Wan had pounded that into his head when he was his apprentice.

Yes, that was it. The only way to defeat Obi-Wan Kenobi, who was consumed in darkness, was as a true Jedi would. With the Light Side of the Force.

Breaking away from his battle with Obi-Wan, Vader stepped backward with his saber pointed down. He appeared to be in some kind of trance as he began to calm his mind and attempt to once again have the light of the Force enter the darkness in his own heart.

Obi-Wan seemed surprised by what Vader was doing. His enemy seemed to be in some kind of a trance. He was no longer defending himself. Kenobi gave a sadistic smile as he raised his saber above his head. Hate filled his very being and darkness covered his heart. He would finish this Sith once and for all.

Obi-Wan swung his saber at Vader helmet only to be stopped by Vader's lightsaber just inches from his skull.

A shocked look crossed Obi-Wan's face as the rain continued to beat down.

Darth Vader pushed Kenobi back. When he had allowed the Light peer into his darkness, a wave of energy surged through him. He had not felt this in many years and to his surprise, it made him feel strong. It was a true strength. The Light side of the Force was his ally.

Kenobi, still shocked at what his enemy was doing, launched into an attack, slashing at Vader repeatedly. But Vader was ready and easily defended against Kenobi's angry attacks. Kenobi pressed on but to no avail. Vader had an answer for every attack.

Kenobi was now the one growing increasingly tired from his own attacks. His moves were now growing sloppy and he was missing badly. He was beginning to fade. This allowed Vader the opening he needed.

He leapt over Obi-Wan and behind him. He spun around and swung his red blade at Kenobi. Obi-Wan had barely managed to block it. With the Light Side as his ally, Vader launched into a new series of attacks, prepared to defeat his opponent once and for all.

He slashed, parried, and pressed forward against Kenobi, mixing his attacks so much that the Jedi did not know what to expect next. Kenobi, ever the warrior, still managed to put up a strong fight, using the Dark Side. But he was no match for this Darth Vader. The Darth Vader that had the light side of the Force as his ally.

With a powerful move forward, Vader knocked Kenobi's lightsaber out of his hand and delivered a kick to his former Master's jaw, sending him crashing several feet across the forest. When it was finished, Kenobi lay on the ground defenseless. After all these years, Darth Vader had finally managed to truly defeat his old Master.

Pride began to fill Vader. Another emotion gripped him as well as he looked at the defenseless Kenobi, lying dazed on the ground with the rain pouring down. Hatred. A strong one that was pushing out the Light he had used to defeat Kenobi and once again connecting him to the Dark Side of the Force.

He knew why. It was now time for his revenge. It was time to kill Kenobi once and for all. There would be no escape for him this time, no mysterious disappearances. He would die here and now, and Vader would finally have his revenge.

Vader walker over to Kenobi with his blade pointed towards him. He lifted it up and prepared to strike down Kenobi. There would be no one to stop him this time.

"Anakin!"

With his attention still on Obi-Wan, Darth Vader turned his head at the response of his name. There stood Amidala, several feet away from him. She was drenched due to the heavy rain and she looked at him, concern etched on her face as she saw Vader standing above Obi-Wan with his lightsaber to him.

His name. He had responded to…his name.

Anakin, Anakin Skywalker.

That was the first time he had responded to that name in years. It had been his name once.

Is it still my name now?

Looking at Amidala helped to drive some of his hatred out of him. He looked back at Kenobi, then to Amidala, then back to Kenobi, then back to Amidala. A thought popped into his head.

What in the name of the Force am I doing?

He had been wondering that very recently. This trip through time had been to save his unborn child. But now, now it had become so much more. It had become a return to Anakin's...his past. A return to what he had tried so hard to forget. He was now confronting the actions of his past and seeing how it affected the people he had loved.

He looked at Obi-Wan. The Jedi was staring at him with hate in his eyes. This is what Vader's actions had caused Obi-Wan. To be consumed by hatred. To crave to revenge. To allow himself to be corrupted by the Dark Side. At one point in his life, Vader would have loved to see that happen...but not anymore.

Why did I want that to happen?

It was because he hated Kenobi. He blamed him for so many things. The death of his mother. Holding back his training. Siding against him with the Empire. It finally dawned on Vader that it wasn't Obi-Wan's fault what had happened in his past. Obi-Wan didn't kill his mother. Obi-Wan didn't try to hold back his training and stop him from reaching his potential because he was jealous. He was only trying to protect him...and he was right. Look at the results of what had happened to him...to both of them.

Obi-Wan had been his friend. His best friend, and the man who was like a father to him. And this is how he repaid that friendship. By betraying him and holding a lightsaber to his throat.

Vader looked to Amidala. His wife, whom he abandoned when she was pregnant with his child. He had felt that Amidala had never truly cared about him. He felt that she had been the one who abandoned him when she refused to join him. Once again he was wrong. She did care about him very much, except he had been too stupid to realize that. She hadn't abandoned him. She had always loved him. And he loved her so very much, with every fiber in his being. He always had no matter how hard he tried to bury it under hate and anger.

He looked back at Obi-Wan. A realization came to him in that moment.

I was wrong.

He was wrong to have turned to the Dark Side. He had been an impatient, greedy, stupid child when he joined Palpatine. He allowed himself to become Palpatine's slave because he wanted power and respect. He felt that everyone he had loved had betrayed him. But they hadn't. He had betrayed them. His greed and lust for power instead ended up causing the galaxy nothing but suffering, and left him with a void inside of himself. Worst of all, he had managed to hurt the people he loved.

It was my fault. All of it.

He turned back to Amidala. Once again Qui-Gon's words came back to him. Your focus determines your reality.

He had a second chance now. A chance to make things right. Whether or not it would work was unknown. But he did have a second chance. He had Amidala, and Luke. He had a family he could go back to. He had a reason and a desire to break free of the bonds of the Dark Side once and for all and embrace the Light.

He turned back at Kenobi. The Jedi stared at him defiantly, with hate still in his eyes as he waited for Vader to kill him. But that would not happen. Vader had no reason or desire for it. He had killed Obi-Wan once before. He would not kill his friend again.

He deactivated his lightsaber, much to the surprise of Obi-Wan, and threw it to the ground.

With that, Darth Vader...Anakin Skywalker, turned around and walked over to his wife.

Why didn't he kill me?

That was the thought that raged through Obi-Wan's mind. Just before, the man...or thing that had once been Anakin Skywalker, Darth Vader, had stood above him, ready to destroy him. Once Amidala had arrived, Vader had hesitated, then finally threw his lightsaber down and headed towards Amidala. Again the question raged through Obi-Wan's mind.

Why didn't he do it?

Could it be that...Anakin Skywalker had once again emerged. Had he returned from the Dark Side?

No, that was impossible. He was a creature of evil, and once you tread down the path of the Dark Side, there was no turning back.

Besides, Anakin was too much of a greedy, self-centered son of a bitch to possibly do that. He was likely playing some sort of game with Obi-Wan, perhaps as part of his latest plan. He was likely sparing Obi-Wan now so he could ultimately destroy him later and extend Palpatine's rule. The thought sent anger raging through Obi-Wan once again. He would not allow that to happen.

Obi-Wan signaled his fallen lightsaber to his hand. Once it came, he jumped to his feet and ignited it. He charged Anakin, whose back was to him as he continued to walk towards Amidala.

Anakin turned just in time to see Obi-Wan swing his lightsaber towards him. He moved just in time to avoid being cut down but Obi-Wan's blade still managed to slice him in the side of his body, drawing blood. Anakin grimaced as Obi-Wan again swung his blade. He missed but the Jedi followed up with a thunderous kick to Anakin's head. It was so strong that it nearly cracked open Vader's helmet.

Anakin hit the muddy ground. He was badly dazed and unable to focus. Obi-Wan stepped forward and raised his blade. It was time to destroy this thing of evil once and for all.

"No!" Amidala screamed, stepping in front of Obi-Wan and grabbing one of his arms. "Obi-Wan, you can't...he's not Vader anymore! He's changed…he's Anakin!"

"Get out of my way, Amidala," Obi-Wan said calmly, still staring down at Vader.

"No!" Amidala said, still holding on to Obi-Wan's arm. "You must believe me, he's -"

WHAM!

Amidala didn't have time to finish his sentence as Obi-Wan broke his arm loose and delivered a backhanded slap across her face. This knocked Amidala hard to the ground. Anakin, still wobbly, saw this and attempted to go over to Amidala to protect her. He was stopped short as Obi-Wan pointed his blade at Anakin's throat.

The Jedi now looked down on Anakin, a sadistic smile stretched across his fate. He looked as if he did not care about what he had just done.

A shocked Amidala, with blood coming down her mouth, looked up at Obi-Wan. She met his eyes with her own and that told her the story. Obi-Wan had lost it. He didn't even know what he was doing. All he knew was his hatred of Vader/Anakin, and he was letting the Dark Side of the Force consume him. There would be nothing to stop him now.

Obi-Wan turned back to Anakin. He slowly raised his lightsaber and prepared to deliver the deathblow to Anakin.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Amidala turned their heads to the voice coming from behind them. There they saw two figures, a man and a woman, heading towards them. Obi-Wan and Amidala thought that the two were familiar some how but they had no idea who they were. Anakin knew however.

Luke. So, he finally has arrived. Anakin's admiration of his son's powers grew even more. Still, he was confused as to why his companion was with him. Leia Organa. He knew the two were friends and companions but why was she here? She had nothing to do with any of this.

---------------------

"Ben...Obi-Wan," the young man said, looking straight at Kenobi. "You can't do this."

Obi-Wan regarded the two, especially the young man, for a long time. He still had his blade at Anakin's throat, and while he wasn't looking at him, a large part of his mind was still focused on his enemy.

Who were these two? Why were they here, and how did the boy know who he was?

"And just who the hell are you?" Obi-Wan spat out angrily at the man.

The man looked at his female companion. A silent communication seemed to be going on between the two. This puzzled Kenobi. Were they fellow Jedi...or were they pawns of Palpatine, setting him up for some kind of trap?

Slowly, the man stepped forward.

"I am Luke Skywalker."

Despite the rain, the wind, and the thunder in the sky, deafening silence reined in the forests. Obi-Wan Kenobi still held is lightsaber blade to Anakin's throat. He kept one eye on both Anakin and Amidala while the other was on Luke and Leia.

---------------------

Luke had been surprised by what he saw. He had never seen Ben like this. Obviously seeing him much younger was a change but just seeing the hate and anger resonate from him greatly disturbed him.

---------------------

Obi-Wan and Amidala stared at the man and the woman for a long time, not knowing what to say. They had been shocked by what he had said but they knew though that the man couldn't possibly be telling the truth. Anakin had no living blood relatives.

"I am Leia," the woman said, stepping forward towards Obi-Wan. "Luke's twin sister and the daughter of Amidala...and Anakin Skywalker." She added the last part with great reluctance.

Now Anakin joined Obi-Wan and Amidala in shock. She was his daughter. Leia Organa was his daughter...impossible! Surely he would have sensed it earlier. He had been around her enough. But he also trusted his son and he knew that the boy did not lie.

Anakin saw Amidala turn towards him. He could read the expression on her face. Was it true? Anakin nodded at his wife. It was true.

"Do you really expect me to believe you?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Do you sense that I am lying, Obi-Wan?" Luke asked in response.

"Sith have a way of making anything seem true. How do I know that this is no different?" Kenobi said.

"We are not Sith Lords," Luke said. "Nor are we Palpatine's servants. Ben...Obi-Wan, this is going to be difficult for you...and for our mother to believe, but we are not even of this timeline. We are from the future.

"Twenty three years from the future to be exact," Luke continued. "We have traveled back in time with our father in order to..."

"That is enough!" Obi-Wan snapped at Luke, surprising the young Jedi. "I will not stand here and listen to anymore of your lies. I don't know what Palpatine has in mind this time but nothing will stop me from killing this...thing!" he finished, looking at Anakin.

"If I were a Sith, would I have this?" Luke said, reaching into his jacket and pulling out his...Qui-Gon Jinn's lightsaber.

This brought gasps from the three in front of Luke and Leia, especially Anakin and Obi-Wan. It also brought back memories for the two of them. Anakin remembered the first time he saw that lightsaber on the streets of Mos Espa when he was just a boy. For Obi-Wan, it brought back memories of the man who use to own it, Qui-Gon.

"Where did you get that?!" Obi-Wan yelled at Luke, his anger rising further. "I gave that to Yoda. Did you kill him?"

"Do you really believe that?" Luke asked, raising his eyebrow skeptically.

Obi-Wan knew the young man was right. There was no way he could have killed Yoda. Still, the question lingered on.

"Where did you get that?" Obi-Wan asked again, calmer than before.

"I got it from you, in the future," Luke responded, putting the saber away. "You were my first teacher, Obi-Wan Kenobi. I learned much from you. You gave me this lightsaber in the hopes that I would use it to uphold peace and justice just as your Master had."

The mention of Qui-Gon brought back even more memories to Obi-Wan. Still, they were once again suppressed by his hate.

"I know you have strong personal feelings about Anakin," Luke said. "I know what he's done to you in the past. But you must not kill him."

"Do you really know what he's done to me 'young Skywalker'?" Obi-Wan asked as he seethed in rage. "Do you? How he betrayed our friendship, our trust? How he destroyed the Jedi? How he broke the trust of Qui-Gon? How he broke my promise to my Master to train him to be a Jedi? Tell me, my young friend, do you really know what's done to me?"

"I know what he's done to you, Obi-Wan. I've seen it with my own eyes," Luke said. That last statement sent a shiver up Anakin's spine and Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow, unsure at what exactly Luke had implied. "But I also know that even the worst of us is capable of redemption, even Anakin Skywalker. I can sense the good in that man even now. You would be able to as well if you weren't blinded by your hate."

Luke stepped closer to Obi-Wan. He met his old Master eye-to-eye.

"Obi-Wan, one of the things you taught me was to never give into hate. That path leads to the Dark Side. If you give into your hate and kill Anakin Skywalker, you will allow the Dark Side to consume you. You will allow Darth Vader to finally defeat you. I cannot stop you from killing Anakin. Leia cannot stop you. You must make this decision on your own. The rest is in the hands of the Force, Obi-Wan Kenobi."

Obi-Wan regarded Luke for a long time. He was impressed with the words that had come from the young man. They were spoken like a true Jedi. Something Obi-Wan had not acted like recently.

Obi-Wan looked around the forest. His eyes fell on Amidala. She was bleeding from the mouth where Obi-Wan had struck her. Tremendous guilt began to build-up in Obi-Wan. How could he have done that to Amidala? She was his friend. He had sworn to protect her and her unborn children and yet he had actually assaulted her. Shame began to fill up inside of him.

What have I done?

He had been on edge the last few days when it came to thinking about Anakin Skywalker. He had been angry with the Queen for not accepting his death. He had even told her that he truly hoped he was not alive because he believed he simply couldn't tolerate his presence anymore.

The fact was though that he did not hate Anakin. He hated himself. He had blamed himself for Anakin turning to the Dark Side. He blamed himself for the destruction of the Jedi and for not being able to stop the Emperor's rise to power. He had blamed himself for his failure to Qui-Gon in training Anakin. He had hated himself for his failures and he felt that destroying Anakin would help him alleviate his hatred and finally atone for his actions. All it did was bring him closer to the Dark Side.

His actions had been worthy of a Sith Lord. The Sith. They had taken everything from him. His Master, his apprentice, the Jedi. Well, they had taken that all away from him, but there was one thing he would never allow for them to take. His soul. If he killed Vader now, the Sith would have the final victory over him and they would have finally succeeded in destroying him. He would not allow that to happen.

Obi-Wan turned to Darth Vader.

Or is it Anakin?

He wasn't sure, but Luke had been correct. He could sense some good in him. He had sensed it earlier when Vader had refused to kill him but he pushed it out because of his lust for revenge. Could Anakin Skywalker possibly return from the Dark Side? If he did, where would that leave them? And Amidala for that matter? Obi-Wan wasn't sure, but Luke was right. There was a chance, and as a Jedi, it was up to him to find out if it could succeed.

Obi-Wan deactivated his lightsaber, which he had been holding at Vader's...Anakin's throat and hooked it back to his belt. He calmed his mind and the anger and hatred inside of him began to leave his body. The light was now returning and outshining the darkness in his heart. Slowly and reluctantly, he held out his hand to Anakin.

Anakin, while as reluctant as Obi-Wan, still reached out and took the Jedi's hand. Obi-Wan helped Anakin to his feet and the two stood face to face for a long time. No words were exchanged but both of them seemed to be in a silent communication. They could sense the bond that they once shared was beginning to reemerge. With that, their hate for each other was now gone.

As the two remaining staring at each other, Luke and Leia went over to the fallen Amidala and helped her to her feet. Amidala looked at the two for a long time, not knowing what to say. After all, what do you say to your children when they haven't even been born yet?

The three of them joined Obi-Wan and Anakin. Awkward silence reigned between the five for a long time. Finally, Obi-Wan turned to Luke.

"Tell me...Luke, what are you all doing here?"

More than three miles away, Mara Jade had finally found her target. The rain had made it increasingly difficult to search for her, but now she had Queen Amidala targeted.

Through the eyepiece, she examined the situation. Amidala was there, along with Vader and Kenobi. To her surprise, they didn't seem to be fighting. It looked as if they were...talking? She also saw in her Luke Skywalker and...Leia Organa. Mara was surprised to see the last Princess of Alderaan in this timeline but it made little difference. She had found her target and now it was time to finish this once and for all.

She began to prepare her weapon for her shot at the Queen. The rifle was equipped with a silencer so that no one on the base would hear it. She knew she would only have one shot at this so she had to make it count. If she missed, she wouldn't get another chance, especially around the likes of Vader and Kenobi. Jade wished she could strike the two of them down as well but she would take great satisfaction in seeing them watch their beloved Queen being destroyed right in front of their eyes. Yes, she smiled at the thought of Vader watching his son's future, and his own, end before his very eyes.

Mara's mind briefly to Luke Skywalker. When she killed Amidala, Skywalker would cease to exist. What would happen to the timeline? He would disappear, but what about her? Would she still be here, or would she have even be sent here if Skywalker was already dead? Whatever the case it didn't matter. It was the Emperor's will that Amidala and Luke Skywalker be destroyed and she would fulfill it. She would then return to the future and take her place at the Emperor's side.

Jade finished her preparations and locked in on Queen Amidala. She now had the rifle aimed squarely in the middle of her head. It was time.

Farewell, Your Majesty.

Mara Jade squeezed the trigger...

---------------------

As Luke prepared himself to tell Obi-Wan and Amidala why they were all here, Leia began to sense something. A disturbance in the Force. Something was happening.

Her head suddenly snapped alert. The assassin! She was going to kill her mother!

Things began to move very slowly as Leia realized what was going on. A laser blast was heading straight for her mother. She turned to her left and signaled Vader's lightsaber to her hand and ignited it. She threw the red blade in front of Amidala.

She did it just in time as the laser blast struck the blade. It defected against a nearby tree, blasting a large hole into it.

Amidala staggered backwards in shock, nearly falling into the mud. Anakin quickly stepped in front of her.

Luke and Obi-Wan snapped to alert, igniting their lightsabers and preparing for battle.

"What..." Obi-Wan began.

Leia, still holding Anakin's lightsaber, turned to her brother Luke and met him eye to eye.

"It's Jade," she said.

Luke nodded. "Let's go."

Luke and Leia took off through the forest, heading for the location of where the shot had come from.

"Luke!" Anakin called out but to no use. Luke and Leia were now on their way for a showdown with Mara Jade.

---------------------

Anakin returned the gesture, and felt the strength of another bond from his past reconnecting. "Yes, Master."

---------------------

Luke and Leia ran in hot pursuit to the location where the shot had been fired. They had to do it while avoiding the various rebel soldiers on the base but they found that to be surprisingly easy. The base was eerily quiet. Something must have been going on.

Luke and Leia pinpointed the location of the shot. It had come from the North Tower. But they knew Mara Jade wouldn't be there. It didn't take them long to find where she was. The Deflector Relay Room.

It was a smart place for her to hide. This is where the Rebels housed the planetary deflector shield that protected the planet. Without it, the base would have no protection against Star Destroyers or against any kind of aerial bombardment. It was not fully operational now. Luke and Leia knew they would have to be careful not to destroy anything of importance in there. They didn't know what effect it would have on the timeline, especially considering the upcoming battle that these Rebels would have against the Empire.

Luke and Leia approached the doors of the room. They found it opened and unguarded. There was no doubt Mara Jade was in there now. Luke and Leia turned to face each other. They nodded towards one another and ignited their lightsabers.

They began their descent into the room. As they entered, the door slammed and locked behind them. The lights came on. There, in front of them were the bodies of two dead Bothan soldiers.

"We'll split up. We can cover more area that way," Luke whispered to Leia. She nodded her head in compliance and headed to the left while Luke head toward the right.

Luke made his way through the facility. It was a multi-leveled building. Mara Jade could be anywhere. Luke made his way towards the shield generator. If she were anywhere, it would most likely be the room where she could hide the most. Just as he was about to enter the room, two Bothan soldiers snuck out from behind him and opened fire.

Luke rolled to the side to avoid them and then rose to his feet. He blocked the blasts fired by the first soldier and used the Force to push him against the wall, rendering him unconscious. The second soldier tried firing on him again but Luke blocked every blaster bolt. He then cut the guards' blaster in half with his saber. The guard dropped what was left of the blaster and threw a punch at Luke. Luke ducked the punch drove the butt of his lightsaber against the Bothans skull. The blow sent the Bothan guard straight to the ground.

Luke looked around for more soldiers but found nothing. The soldiers' attack left him puzzled. Granted, he was an intruder in their eyes but they had still attacked him without reason or logic. It was as if...as if someone had been controlling their minds. Jade.

Just as he thought those words, Mara Jade dropped all the way from the ceiling straight towards him. She had her lightsaber activated and swung right at Luke. Luke stepped back and brought up his saber, blocking Mara Jade's slash.

The battle was on and Mara Jade took the offensive. Her red blade slashed repeatedly at Luke. Luke blocked the swings and continued to remain on the defensive, waiting for his chance to strike. He quickly found it.

Jade thrust her blade forward in an attempt to cut Luke down early. Luke flipped over her and landed behind her. Jade turned around just in time to see Luke's attack. Luke was now slashing and thrusting at Jade. She began to back up as Luke pressed forward.

This continued for several moments until their lightsabers became locked and the two fought for position. Mara delivered a knee to Luke's midsection, doubling over the Jedi long enough for her to once again take the initiative.

She fought quicker and harder then she had the last time, striking at him from every different angle. Luke managed to defend against her, but was forced to acknowledge that his opponent had been trained well by Palpatine. She might even have been better trained then he was.

Luke continued to block Mara Jade's swings. Suddenly, Luke could see Leia storm into the room behind Mara. She had her blade held high as she was prepared to strike at Jade. Mara pushed off from Luke to deflect Leia's swing just in time.

Mara and Leia were now locked in battle. Mara attacked wildly at the inexperienced Leia, pushing her backwards. Leia managed to hold her own as she defended herself from Mara's attacks.

Leia deflected a shot at her knees by Jade but left her guard down. Jade responded with a quick spin-kick across Leia's jaw, sending her crashing against the wall. Before the Emperor's Hand could press her advantage, she saw Luke charging after her, ready to strike her down. She leapt over Luke just in time and ran towards the shield generator room.

Luke followed her and soon they were both in the massive shield generator room. The room was cavernous and filled with the noise of heavy machinery. Catwalks lay above them. Large machines controlled the shield protecting the planet, sending bolts of high energy against each other. Luke swung at Mara and the two dueled on the ground for a short time before Mara broke off. She proceeded to make a sixty-foot leap straight into the air and onto one of the many catwalks above the shield generator. Luke made the leap as well, and now they continued the battle on the catwalk. The two battled dangerously close to the energy bolts of the shield generator.

As Luke and Mara continued their duel, Leia stormed into the shield generator room with lightsaber in hand.

She looked up and found Luke and Mara locked in battle above her. They must have used the Force to get that high up. Luke had not shown her how to make such incredible leaps yet. She would have to find another way to get up there.

Looking around, she found a small, doorless elevator that lead to the catwalks above the room. She could use that to get to Luke.

Running towards it, she entered it and hit the controls. Slowly, the elevator made it's way to the catwalk.

Hold on Luke!

---------------------

Luke and Mara continued their duel, neither of them giving an inch. Luke kept forcing Mara backward to the point that they were both under the deadly energy bolts that were to power the planetary shield when it was completed. Mara proved resilient, continuing to defend against Luke's moves.

Luke slashed at Mara, attempting to cut her down. Mara ducked and got behind Luke. Now she had more room to attack and she did. But Luke was ready. He met her strikes and pushed her arms aside. He then delivered a Force-enhanced kick across Mara's face, sending the Emperor's Hand flying across the catwalk. Mara slid until she hit the wall with a thud and was left dazed. Luke stormed after her, looking to take advantage of the situation.

Suddenly, Mara jumped to her feet and made another Force-enhanced jump just as Luke had stormed after her. She landed forty feet above him to another catwalk.

Luke quickly followed and landed on the catwalk. Mara attacked, looking to cut Luke down, but Luke beat back her assualts.

Luke was on the offensive now and Jade was weakening. Stepping back, Luke raised his arms and slammed down his lightsaber at Mara. She barely blocked it but now Luke was pressing the advantage. He continued to beat down with his blade, dropping Jade to one knee.

Mara continued to block Luke's blade with her own but now both blades were positioned very close to her head. She would need something to get her out of this.

Looking up, she saw just that. A metal beam lay on top, just above Skywalker. While continuing to block Skywalker's saber, Jade concentrated the Dark Side of the Force on trying to collapse the beam. It took a little while but the beam broke off its hinges and headed directly down on Skywalker.

Luke sensed something coming and looked up. A metal beam was coming down from the ceiling. He broke off from Jade and rolled out of the way. The beam managed to clip him on his left shoulder, cutting his flesh. Luke let out a grimace and he staggered back to his feet.

Mara took advantage of this by seizing the beam with the Force and sending it towards Skywalker. The beam struck Luke across his body, knocking him to the ground.

Before Mara could move in, she saw a figure below her on the catwalk she had just been on. Leia Organa. It was time to eliminate that nuisance.

Jade jumped off the catwalk she was on to the one below her. She then attacked Organa wildly, slashing at the young Princess.

Although caught off guard, Leia defended herself against Jade's attacks. Jade was pushing her back now further and further. Leia nearly lost her balance but managed to stay on. Leia quickly knew she was not as skilled as Jade was, and knew that if she wanted to avoid being cut down, she would have to think of something fast.

Trust the Force. That's what Luke had been telling her the last week. That is what Leia had to do.

As the last Princess of Alderaan barely fought off another attack, she closed her mind and began to call on the Force. Mara took a swing at her, attempting to behead her. Leia ducked. Mara tried again but Leia once again ducked. Leia then sprung to her feet and swung her lightsaber at Mara Jade's arm, cutting it and opening up an ugly gash. Mara screamed in pain as she grabbed the arm and backed off the Princess.

Now was the time for Leia to take advantage of the situation. Giving herself fully to the Force, she launched an attack at Jade. Her red saber became a blur as she poured it on against Jade. The injured Jade began to back up, and for the first time against Leia, she was on the defensive. Leia continued her attack, attacking rapidly at the Emperor's Hand.

Mara Jade was surprised by the ability of the Alderaanian Princess. She had been unaware that Leia Organa was strong in the Force. The Emperor had never told her this. Did he even know? Was Organa somehow related to Skywalker?

Mara Jade wasn't sure but right now that didn't matter. All that mattered was to defend herself and try to destroy the Princess. Although she could sense the Force strongly in Organa, Mara knew that she did not have the experience that Luke Skywalker had. She could sense it. She could use that to her advantage.

Mara suddenly dropped her guard down low. Leia was surprised by this but took the opportunity to cut down Mara Jade. She thrust her blade at her. But Mara Jade quickly deflected it and in a matter of moments, knocked the lightsaber out of Leia's hand and onto the floor.

Leia was shocked at how quickly she had been disarmed and began to back up. Jade was now coming menacingly towards her, lightsaber pointed straight at her. She was now at the mercy of her enemy. There was no way out.

Just before Mara could finish off the Princess, she sensed something coming her way. She looked up and saw Luke Skywalker descending off the catwalk above, coming straight at her, feet first. She could not move out of the way and Skywalker struck her in the chest, knocking her sixty feet to the ground. Jade's body slammed her on to the floor and rolled next to the shield power generators.

Luke barely managed to land on the catwalk. He looked down and found Mara Jade barely on the floor. She was not moving. He turned to his right side and saw his sister Leia.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"I'm fine," she replied.

"You fought well. The Force is strong in you," Luke said.

Leia smiled.

"Come on, we need to get down there and see if she's even still alive," Luke said.

"Luke, I can't make a jump like that," Leia said. "Not yet anyway."

"All right," Luke said. "Hold on to me then and I'll make the jump."

Leia walked up to Luke. Luke lifted her up in his arms and jumped off the catwalk. He landed perfectly to the ground. He put Leia down and signaled for her lightsaber. It came to his hand and gave it to her. In an instant, they both ignited their blades. They began to make their way to the fallen Mara Jade.

Jade was still not moving. She lay on her stomach several feet away from Luke and Leia, next to the power generators. Blood was coming from her mouth due to internal injuries. Her lightsaber had been knocked into the energy beams, destroying it. She was completely defenseless. Or so they thought.

Suddenly, Mara Jade sprang to her feet, surprising the two. She gave the two a bloody smile as she pulled out a second lightsaber out and ignited it. It was the same lightsaber that she had taken off of the dead Wookie Jedi. The purple blade came to life. Before Luke and Leia could get to her, she took her lightsaber and slashed at one of the power generators. She then made a Force-enhanced jump backwards as the power generator blew up.

Luke and Leia tried to get out of the way but were caught in the blast. Luke was knocked straight into the room's wall and hit the ground hard. Leia was knocked into the air. With horror, she realized she was heading down one of the generator's energy pits.

If she fell into that, she would be destroyed. At the last moment, she managed to reach out and grab a pipe, stopping her descent. Now, she laid hanging from the pipe, more than twenty feet from the top. She tried to use the Force to make a jump out of the pit but was unable to.

Fear griped Leia. She hung on as best she could but she couldn't do it forever. It was only a matter of time before she fell into the pit.

More than ever, she needed someone's help.

---------------------

Her mind was made up. She would fix things in this timeline - she had every right to try to save their future.