Part 13 (1/2)

Unfortunately, just as Obi-Wan realized that Anakin Skywalker lived, he also knew that Anakin would not livefather toward a shuttle, Obi-Wan's spirit shi+fted his own psyche to another realm And he waited

After Anakin died in his son's arms, Obi-Wan called out into the void, ”Anakin”

A moment later, Obi-Wan heard a familiar voice return from the darkness ”Obi-Wan? Master, I'm so sorry So very, very -”

”Anakin, listen carefully,” Obi-Wan interrupted ”You are in the netherworld of the Force, but if you ever wish to revisit corporeal space, then I still have one thing left to teach you A way to become one with the Force If you choose this path to immortality, then you must listen now, before your consciousness fades”

Obi-Wan sensed confusion and remorse in Anakin's psyche, then Anakin answered, ”But Masterwhy me? ”

”Because you ended the horror, Anakin,” Obi-Wan said ”Because you fulfilled the prophecy Because you wereand arethe Chosen One”

But Obi-Wan knew in his heart that those were not the only reasons He added, ”Because I rong about you And because I am your friend”

Anakin answered quietly, ”Thank you, Master”

Luke Skywalker ed to haul his father's body into an Imperial shuttle and escaped the Death Star before his Rebel Alliance allies destroyed the battle sta-tion After landing on the forest athered deadwood to build a funeral pyre to cremate Anakin's arht sky, he wished he had somehow been able to help his father sooner

When the pyre burned noa victory celebration with their new allies, the die Shortly after Luke arrived, he looked away from his jubilant friends to see the spec-tral, luainst the darkness of the forest canopy A moment later, a third spirit appeared beside the others It was Anakin Skywalker

The Jedi had returned

EPILOGUE

Obi-Wan Kenobi saw Luke Skywalker standing a short distance from the entry dome of the Lars fa in on the horizon and cast long shadows across the desert Luke was facing the sunset, his back to Obi-Wan A war in from the west

But neither Obi-Wan nor Luke was really on Tatooine

It was five years after the Battle of Endor Luke Skywalker was in his modest apartment at the former Imperial Palace on Coruscant, where he had reluctantly taken up residence after the Rebel Alliance defeated the E on his bed, he was sound asleep, and drea of Tatooine