Gates of Hell

Chapter 34 - Tatooine

Author's Note: The next estimated posting date is September 14th. :)

~ Amina Gila

They wait a couple weeks for the galaxy to settle, to watch the Jedi and keep track of those who walked away, before they make their move. Vader promised to eliminate slavery, and he intends to keep that promise, but with the Jedi Order having split so abruptly, they need to watch the situation carefully. It's what Vader had expected, and admittedly hoped, would happen, because it's separated many of those who will be threats to him – and Anakin – though he's well aware that there are undoubtedly others.

But with the situation regarding the Jedi temporarily calmed, they go to Tatooine.

They bring a relatively large military force with them, the entire family – Ahsoka and Omega, along with Anakin himself, of course – joining Vader when he goes to Jabba's palace to storm it. It's less a battle and more of an execution, and it doesn't take longer than a day to wipe out all of the Hutt resistance on the planet. His first act is to offer a deal to the slavers on the planet, whereby they will free their slaves in exchange for being permitted to continue operating their businesses as well as a monetary incentive – claimed from Jabba's wealth.

Many of the slavers do, in the end, go along with it, taking the offer, but there are others who do not, and they are dealt with harshly, a public example made of them for any others who would think of engaging in slavery in the future within the Empire.

It takes them a couple days to finish mopping up the pockets of resistance, though it will take many more before a new government has been properly established and adequate leaders chosen.

An election will be a rather lengthy affair, and Vader will not have time to remain here until that has been finished, but he has every intention of seeing it through. It is most important for the freed slaves to feel as if they now have a voice in their future, even if he still installs a leader of his own, who he knows will be able to step in and protect the planet when the Hutts inevitably try to reclaim it.

But that's something he'll deal with... a little later. First, he and Anakin have somewhere to go.

They take a speeder, Vader flying while Anakin rides in the back, arms wrapped around Vader's waist so he doesn't fall off, as they head to the coordinates that Vader's only been to once but could never forget. The Lars homestead looks just like it did when Vader was last there for his mother's funeral, and he feels the grief rising as he and Anakin dismount from the speeder, going to the grave and kneeling there.

For a few moments, they stay there in silence, just reflecting, remembering, their grief a shared thing between them, looping back and forth across their bond. "There's two of us now," Anakin says softly, the fingertips of his left hand absently trailing through the sand they're kneeling in. "It's a little weird, different, but I'm grateful for it, too. I just... wish you were here."

And that is a sentiment that Vader echoes wholeheartedly. All of it is, actually. Initially, it was a little strange for him, too, to have Anakin so close to him, to know that they could have been the same; their soul is the same, but they're not the same people, not anymore. He absolutely wishes his mother was here as well, though he cannot deny feeling shame at the prospect of her seeing him like this, of her knowing what he became. He can't imagine looking her in the eyes, and telling her how he joined Sidious, how he cast off the name that she gave him in favor for the one granted to him by his master, and suddenly, he feels ashamed.

Anakin reaches out, taking his hand and squeezing it. "What is it?" he asks, looking at him.

"I – have done so many things," he answers haltingly, "She... would hate me, what I became, that is, and I do not know how I could ever face her, either, knowing what I did."