Time:  Shortly after the death of Darth Vader.

     Anakin Skywalker opened his eyes and stared upward into a void of nothingness. That was the only way he was able to describe it, for it was a blackness that seemingly went on to infinity.
 

        As he looked down he realized with a rush of emotion that his hands were no longer ghostly white pieces of flesh with gloves that had covered his shame.  He looked at the rest of his body; his legs, both of them complete and strong.  He breathed as normal creatures breathed, no longer needing artificial help.  In wonder he put his hands to his face and felt it whole and unscarred.  For the first time in decades he felt like a normal man.
     Gradually a voice crept into his thoughts; it was everywhere and at the
same time spoken directly to him.  He couldn't help but recognize it for it was a
sound seared into him forever.  He saw the form of Obi-Wan appear out of the
mist.  Anakin Skywalker smiled at his former teacher and began to move
towards him when he noticed the troubled look that Obi-Wan was wearing.
 "Luminous beings are we, not the form that you are cherishing now,
Anakin."  Obi-Wan spoke, with a gentle, yet firm tone in his voice; much like he had
used when instructing Anakin in the ways of the Force, in what must surely
have been lifetimes ago.  "There is much you have forgotten," he continued. "You
must rediscover yourself if you truly wish to join us."  Ben seemed to
struggle with the next part, but continued.  "You have the deaths of millions on
your being, and  much to atone for.  Your path to redemption will not
be an easy one.  Are you willing to take the challenge, old friend?"
     The look in Obi-Wan's eyes was hopeful, and yet cautious.  Truly then, it must
be a difficult path.  It took Anakin only a moment to decide.  As he spoke he felt
fear inside of him and was ashamed for it, yet he refused to acknowledge it, for
as he knew so well, fear was of the dark side.  He wouldn't share his feelings
with his former mentor either and for that he felt more shame.  Indeed, he still had
much to learn.
     "I know of the pain and suffering I have caused across the galaxy.  With
the help of my son, at the end I finally realized what I had become.  I don't know
what must be done to atone for my actions, but I am willing to try."
        Ben nodded with a smile of satisfaction, and his tired eyes gleamed with a
new fire.  With a wave of his hand the black nothingness turned into a chamber
in which the purest light Anakin had ever seen shown down from an endless
ceiling, blinding him momentarily.  As his vision returned he saw several
unfamiliar symbols that were scattered throughout, their brilliant colors
gleaming with the light of the chamber, contrasting with the brown wooden
finish of the walls and floor.  He felt as if thousands of beings were watching
him, although as he turned to see Obi-Wan he was amazed to find only four
other entities, all of them sitting around a circular table.  As he moved closer to
them, Anakin saw that the table bore a symbol in the center of it, much like one
of the symbols he had seen on the walls only bigger.  It seemed to have a
presence all its own.  Anakin was astonished at the seemingly
endless amount of life that this place held as if everything in it was thriving with
power.  With an effort, he pushed his child-like curiosity aside to try to focus all
of his attention at the beings sitting around the table, but he was only able to
identify two of the four.  The first was Yoda, the Jedi Master who had instructed
Luke in the ways of the Force.  Secondly, he saw Davin Kaufner a man that
Darth Vader had slaughtered personally during the purge of the Jedi.  Obi-Wan,
who had been standing to Anakin's left, allowing his former pupil to drink in the
details of his new environment, finally spoke.
      "I'm sure you recognize Yoda, and Davin." Obi-Wan's tone was a lot
gentler than Anakin felt he deserved, as remorse for his former crimes
permeated him.  "The others are Ulic Qel-Droma and Nomi Sunrider."  Anakin
took an involuntary step backwards, his whole being shaken to the very core.
His memory flashed back to a time he hadn't allowed himself to remember as
Darth Vader, a time when Anakin Skywalker was young and whole.  He
remembered  sitting with his mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi, listening to yet
another history lesson. That day had been burned into his mind forever.
Obi-Wan's words echoed back to him, as if he spoke them yesterday. ....
 

       "...and Nomi Sunrider, probably the greatest Jedi who had ever lived,
never was the aggressor unless she had no other choice.  There was even a time
when she refused to use her powers just on principle alone."  Anakin shifted his
position restlessly, only wanting a break from the tedious stories Ben kept
insisting on telling him.  Again, he tried to focus, to listen to his teacher and
realized he had missed some of what Ben had said.  Momentarily
worried, he then decided it wasn't worth the effort.
      "..and the young Jedi named Ulic Qel-Droma had been with her at the
time...."
      "Wait a minute," Anakin interrupted.  "I thought Qel-Droma was a Sith
Lord and that what he learned of the Sith teachings was the dark side and
therefore forbidden knowledge."
       Obi-Wan looked uneasy, as if Anakin had forced him to reveal some
hidden knowledge that he was too young to hear.  There was much hesitancy
when Ben again spoke.
       "Qel-Droma was once a Jedi, like myself until his master was slain by the
dark side.  He sought revenge and decided the best way to accomplish this
would be to join the dark Sith masters and destroy them with there own
knowledge.  He was young and too headstrong for his own good.  Nomi tried
repeatedly to sway him but failed.  Eventually Ulic Qel-Droma became an agent
of evil."
       "What ended up happening to Qel-Droma?" Anakin asked, suddenly alive
with curiosity; for the legends of Exar Kun and the Sith culture were of great
fascination to him.  Ben shook his head, his face a mask of concern.  You worry
too much, old man, Anakin thought darkly.
        "Qel-Droma redeemed himself at the end and atoned for his actions.  He
was eventually forgiven," Ben said with a disheartened sigh.
        Anakin had not even heard the regret in his teacher's voice.  His mind
was racing, new thoughts sprang up and just as quickly faded, but one
remained. The one that would begin Anakin Skywalker down the path of the
dark side that would eventually transform him into Darth Vader.
         So you lied to me Ben, Sith teachings are not bad in themselves, it's the
people who use them. You Lied.
 

          Anakin shifted back to reality again.  In hindsight he knew only too well
that he too had been headstrong and reckless and that Obi-Wan had been wiser
in his teachings.  If only he had understood that then.  He looked up to find four
sets of eyes fixed on him.  Embarrassed at being caught daydreaming, he
stuttered as he spoke.
          "I - I am very honored to meet both of you," he said, a touch of youthful
admiration in his voice.
          To Anakin's complete surprise Qel-Droma stood quickly, and gazed into
his eyes, penetrating his very being.  Later, Anakin would realize that he was
being evaluated, but Qel-Droma didn't give him a chance to sort anything out
before speaking.
         "How should we judge you Anakin Skywalker?  Or should we at all?
What type of punishment would fit your crimes?  Can you be rehabilitated?"
 Anakin, thought it at first to be a rhetorical question, but as the silence
grew, understanding came to him.  He spoke half to himself at first, then stared
at the others sitting around the table.
         "Do - you want me to pick my own path to redemption?"
 No one answered.  As the silence grew he decided to try and defend
himself as best he could.
        "I don't know what type of punishment would fit these types of crimes.
But I don't think it fair to end my existence when I am willing to redeem myself."
          Qel-Droma, who had turned into the group spokesman, locked gazes with
him.  "Why not, why are you, Anakin, worthy of saving?"  Qel-Droma's words
were harsh, but his tone spoke of nothing other than sympathy.
          Anakin paused, thinking fast.  How can I make them understandand how
much this means to me, how much I’m willing to try.  After a short pause,
Anakin spoke. "Because I feel goodness again, and I would like to try to help
others from making the same mistakes I have."
Anakin's words sounded trivial even to himself in contrast to everything he had
ever done, but in his heart he knew he had never meant anything more in his
existence.
         Obi-Wan, who had been watching the actions of his former pupil in
silence up until this moment, spoke.  "Do you really know the pain you have
caused others? How can you be sure, old friend?"  Anakin stared at Ben, not
quite understanding where this was all leading.  "We are pleased you wish to
help others, but do you fully understand the pain you've caused?"
         His first instinct was to blurt out that of course he understood what he
had done; after all, it was Darth Vader that had committed those acts.  But he
realized before he spoke, that this was a test.  From now on there would be no
easy way out, like there had been when using the dark side.  With a purely
inward sigh he replied.
        "No, I guess I can never know the extent of pain I have caused others -"
      Before Anakin had finished speaking he was swept away into a time and
place that looked vaguely familiar to him.
          "Do you remember this place Anakin?" To his surprise Ben was standing
to his left, a look of sadness creasing his face.
        "Vaguely." Anakin admitted.
       "Watch then, and learn."  With that, Ben slowly vanished leaving Anakin
alone.
        He drifted for a bit, knowing where to go, but not understanding how he
knew.  The area had rolling hills in the distance, and lush vegetation all around
him.  The sun was at its zenith; shadows cast down, contrasting with the
greenery.  It was a beautiful place, a place Darth Vader would never have
allowed himself to enjoy but Anakin Skywalker could, and he revelled in it.  After
a short while he came upon a small village that looked familiar.  An odd sense of
unease began to creep up his spine.  As he saw an Imperial shuttle making its
landing his memory clicked and his heart sank.  His first impulse was to run far
away, but he had run away from himself all of his life, now it was time to truly
look at the man he had been and face his destiny.
 

         Rao Shan had been outside his office for most of the morning chatting
with the townsfolk.  Now in his third season as the governor of this small colony,
he had come to know and like most of the people in the community.  In turn
they seemed to like him and his approach to governing.  For the most part his
life was ideal here, away from the Iron fist rule of the Emperor and his Empire.
Rao had served most of his life in the Armed Forces and had seen both good
times and bad, and up until this point had been proud to have called himself an
Imperial Officer.  However, with the changes in the Empire of late, he was
rethinking that view all of the time.
       A flicker of motion caught the corner of his eye, ending his daydreaming.
A small vessel had just entered the atmosphere and was descending toward the
town's only landing platform.  Just as his curiosity was about make him
investigate what was going on, his son came running towards him.
      "Father, you must hurry.  The landing tower reports a shuttle, an
Imperial shuttle carrying - Lord Vader."
      Rao Shan's stomach dropped, Vader? Darth Vader himself was here?
Why?  No time to question the situation, just deal with it, he told himself sternly.
Rao Shan, governor of the colony gathered all of his courage and spoke to his
son in a calm tone.
      "Son, I want you to go find your mother and make sure she's okay.  I will
go meet Darth Vader on the landing platform."  His son began to protest.  "Go on
I said, I will go to greet Lord Vader."
 

        Darth Vader stepped from the landing ramp onto the cool durasteel
beneath him.  A group of curious on-lookers had gathered and now most
trembled in terror at the sight of the black clad giant, looming over them like an
angel of death. Timidly, Rao Shan approached Lord Vader.
       "What an unexpected pleasure My Lord Vad.... "
With a thought Darth Vader crushed the man.  And as the former governor
crumpled to the ground in a tousled heap; Vader's voice rang out in the silence
that followed.
       "The Emperor is displeased with your apparent lack of support for the
Empire.  Several Rebel spies have been traced to this village - they have all been
eliminated," Vader hissed.  As he continued he found it amusing that many of
the on-looking parents now held their children closer to themselves, as if that
would protect them from the Empire's wrath.  "The Emperor now requests a
show of faith and has decreed that all male children when reaching the age of
fifteen will volunteer for the Imperial Training Academy. If they fail to enlist your
whole planet will suffer a traitor's fate.  The Emperor's patience is at an end; as
is mine."  As he turned to stride up the landing ramp, a young man in his mid
teens came charging toward him, a vibro knife in hand. Instinctively, Vader
made a small gesture and the boy was thrust away.  There was a small dull
thud as his head bounced off a sharp rock. As the townspeople rushed to help
him, Vader again turned and strode up the ramp; the dead boy already forgotten.
 

      As Anakin watched Vader turn coldly away, he heard the cries of the
people, cries that tormented his soul.  Suddenly, hundreds of similar events
pierced his thoughts.  In an instant he was there through the countless,
senseless deaths.  This time though he felt their pain, their loss, their struggle
to hold on to their lives.  What was more, he felt his body go through the
unthinkable tortures he had inflicted on others.  The fire of a lightsaber blade,
the crushing of a wind pipe. His lungs burned with carbonite, along with the
numerous other ways in which the helpless had struggled before him.
     On his hands and knees gasping for air, his vision blurring with tears, his
body still writhing in pain, he was then made to feel the anguish and despair
that all of the wives, children, parents, and friends had felt when losing their
loved ones.  Anakin felt the torment, the raging loss, the anger and despair as
clearly as if the countless losses were his own.  He felt as though his mind were
being ripped in two with grief as he trembled physically, and mentally with the
pain he knew he had caused.  In the back of his mind, a small area somehow
still free of the insanity that had wrested control of his senses, was now gripped
in fear. Was this the type of penance he would have to go through? And for how
long? For, surely, he must have already suffered a galaxy's worth of pain.
Eventually, his anguish and physical pain became too much for him to bear;
and as Anakin Skywalker closed his eyes and embraced the blackness, he
hoped that he would never wake again.
 

      The trial continues, Anakin thought as he returned to consciousness.  All
around him he could sense thousands of beings watching him.  Opening his
eyes, he had to squint to keep the radiant light from blinding him; for it was like
drinking in sunlight.  Looking around he was surprised to find that the chamber
was empty; and that his body and mind were no longer riddled with the
agony he had felt.  He was back in the room where he had started from,
before his mind and soul had gone through that hellish ordeal, the ordeal he had
created.  Part of him wanted to run now in fear.  As Anakin began to dwell
on the pain he had just gone through, he couldn't help but feel angry. Everyone
makes mistakes, he thought, why do I have to pay for all of mine.
       "Why do you indeed, my friend," A voice called from the void. And as
Anakin turned the prominent symbol in the center of the table began to pulse
with an evil aura.  It seemed to envelope the room, destroying the
warmth, murdering the light.  Suddenly, it materialized into a physical form -
the form of a young Emperor Palaptine.
     "Come with me," the voice continued.  Not the ravaged voice of the old
Emperor that Anakin remembered so well.  It was strong and authoritative
seemingly taking a life of its own. "With me there is no penance, only
understanding and power."  Anakin felt dizzy as if the room, and his being were
spinning out of control.  With a supreme effort he clamped down on his senses.
       "Obi-Wan," he called out desperately, "help me!"  But there was no
response, he was on his own.  A black despair began to wash over him as he
forced himself to meet the gaze of Palpatine's glowing yellow eyes.
       "You see they will not help you, for they do not care.  I forgive you for your
traitorous acts."  The Emperor moved toward Anakin and circled him as though
sizing him up for a purpose only his dark soul knew.  "You see my friend, my life
is not at an end, nor does yours have to be.  I have found the secret to eternal
life and will share it with you.  Join me and we can once again rule the galaxy.
Worlds will tremble at our feet; unlimited power will be at our command.  Come
Lord Vader, take your place at my side."
       Anakin took an involuntary step backwards, his mind whirling with new
possibilities.  If he joined the Emperor, he would be rid of this horrific trial; he
could have all the power he had enjoyed as Vader.  Perhaps he could even make
the Emperor see the errors of his ways.  Either way, Anakin could live forever,
never having to worry about the consequences of his actions on his soul; never
having to answer for any of his crimes.  He could live his life over and over
again, all of it over again.  But the deaths, the sorrow, ... No, never again. And with
that thought the last remnants of Darth Vader died.
       Emperor Palpatine bored his yellow eyes into the soul of Anakin
Skywalker for he had been watching his star pupil fight the battle of emotions
inside of him.
        " If you do not join me than I will destroy what you most hold dear,"  The
Emperor threatened, his voice as deadly as any lightsaber blade.
        Briefly Anakin was permitted a glimpse into the future.  There he saw his
son, soul in torment, kneeling to the re-born Emperor.  Luke Skywalker, the son
of Vader, walking the path of the dark side.  Reality came back to him in a rush.
His anger unmatched, he glared at the Emperor; knowing at that moment that
he had the power to destroy him, to prevent him from ever hurting his son
again.  He would murder the Emperor for the good of the galaxy.  His anger
grew, the evil power pouring into his soul.  As he drew the darkness into
himself, Anakin became aware of the sudden absence of warmth and light
around him.  It was replaced entirely with the feeling of cold death.  His hands
arched for the killing blow.  Serpents of the dark side pleaded to be released
from his fingertips.  Anakin's mind flickered to the good he was about to do for
the galaxy, for Luke.  Luke.  He stopped.  And as quickly as he had summoned
the darkness, it retreated, being replaced once again by the light.
        "No." Anakin all but whispered.  "You will never defeat me again. Never."
Anakin seemed to draw strength from each word he spoke.  His conviction
wilting the Emperor's dark will.  "My son must walk his own path, I cannot
choose that for him.  Nor can I decide what will happen in a universe that is no
longer my own."  Anakin smiled, a smile of understanding, a smile of humility.
        "Nor is it for you to decide, although you will try; and fail."  And with that
spoken, Obi Wan and countless other spirits, Jedi and non Jedi, human and
alien descended into the room.  Again Anakin spoke although this time his voice
sounded cleaner and purer.  "You no longer hold any power over me.  Leave and
never cross my path again."  And with that, the darkness that was Emperor
Palpatine was enveloped soundlessly into the light.
        Anakin Skywalker turned, to see before him a woman out of his past, a
woman he loved very much; his former wife, smiling, tears of happiness
streaming down her face.  He met her gaze and wordlessly sent his love to her,
for he now knew she could feel it, would for all eternity. Another presence lightly
touched his consciousness.  It was Obi-Wan.  No; no longer Obi-Wan, Ben, his
friend.  Anakin embraced him, thanking him for all that he had done.  As Ben spoke
his voice was filled with untold pride.
    "Welcome home Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight."