Bittersweet Devotion [Star Wars x Anakin Skywalker]

27.

'From my point of view, the Jedi are evil.' - Anakin Skywalker

The entire ship was enveloped in a heavy silence, pressing down on each of them with the weight of everything that had just transpired. The only sounds were the hum of the ship's engines and the occasional creak of the metal as they moved through space. It was as if the ship itself was mourning, sharing in the grief and shock that hung in the air like a dark cloud.

Luke had retreated into himself soon after Rain's encounter with Anakin—no, with Vader. He sat huddled in a corner, staring into space, his eyes wide with the horror of what he had witnessed. Rain's heart ached for him. He was so young, so innocent, and now he had been thrust into a world of pain and loss far too soon.

Leia stood near the cockpit entrance, waiting to usher Rain in when she had run for the ship. Despite her composed exterior, Leia's eyes betrayed her surprise and uncertainty at Rain's presence. Seeing a figure in dark Sith robes aboard their ship—a figure who had just engaged in a fierce battle—was not what Leia had expected. She remained quiet, but her gaze flicked between Rain and the others, clearly questioning the allegiance of this mysterious Sith.

Rain was a jumbled mess of emotions—grief, confusion, anger, and a deep, aching sorrow that threatened to swallow her whole. Anakin, her Anakin, had shown himself to her, if only for a fleeting moment. It was as if the man she had loved, the father of her children, had been there all along, locked away deep inside the dark shell of Darth Vader. The thought gave her hope, but it also filled her with despair. If Anakin was still in there, how could he have killed Obi-Wan? How could he have become this monster?

Obi-Wan's death weighed heavily on her soul. He had been more than a mentor to her—he had been a father, a guide, a friend. The pain of losing him was almost unbearable, made even worse by the knowledge that he had died trying to protect the man who had betrayed them all. Even after everything, he had been willing to sacrifice himself for Anakin. He was too kind, too noble to have met such a cruel end. Rain could only hope that wherever he was now, he had finally found peace.

All of the people on the ship were seated in the pilot's area together, although it had been silent since the very moment Rain boarded. Luke was huddled in a corner, shivering and staring into space. The poor boy had barely known Obi-Wan, but the old man had still left a mark on him, and the loss was written all over his face.

Even Han, usually so full of sharp remarks, was keeping a respectful silence as he steered the ship. Chewbacca sat beside him, letting out the occasional grunt, while Leia sat near Rain, her presence comforting yet cautious. She simply sat there, occasionally glancing at Rain with an understanding look that said more than words ever could, yet with an underlying curiosity about who this Sith truly was.

Rain wiped her face with the sleeve of her robe, trying to collect herself. She could see the questions in Leia's eyes—questions she wasn't sure she was ready to answer. Rain slowly wiped her face with her sleeve, sniffing once more before turning to face Leia. "I don't believe we've been properly introduced," Rain said, extending her hand. "I'm Rain."

Leia managed a small smile in return as she shook Rain's hand, though her eyes still held a hint of surprise. "Leia."

"I would say it's a pleasure to meet you," Rain continued with a slight grin, "but considering the circumstances, it's far from ideal."

Leia nodded, her smile widening just a fraction as she began to understand that Rain, despite her dark robes, was an ally. "Agreed. But I have a feeling we'll become better acquainted soon."

Rain's gaze wandered to Luke, who was still staring into space, lost in his thoughts. After mumbling a few words to Leia, she made her way over to him and sat down beside him. Her motherly instincts kicked in as she grabbed a blanket from one of the storage cupboards, wrapping it around Luke's shoulders and leaving one arm around him in a half-embrace. But the gesture felt wrong, a reminder of all the time she had lost with her own children. The instinct was real, but it felt hollow—a ghost of what could have been.