“So…you are all fugitives from the Jedi,” said Palpatine slowly, a leering smile forming on his wasted face, “because you are protecting Darth Vader from the hungry mob, which cries out for his blood.”
Anakin scowled and took a step towards Palpatine. “I warned you not to call me by that name again,” he nearly shouted.
Palpatine faced Anakin squarely, not backing down from the taller man. “And what will you do to me, a defenseless old man? I am in a nest of my old enemies, with another army of foes at the doorstep. Will you kill me again, my old servant? Are you strong enough to finish the job? And what does it matter to me? I can die here, or I can die out there! But perhaps it matters to you! I have been brought here for a reason. You need me for something, though you are loath to tell me what it is.” Palpatine grinned with all of his rotted teeth, gazing into the furious face of Anakin. “Well then…as you can see, I am your faithful servant.” His grin turned swiftly into a frown. “You should enjoy it while you can.”
“Emperor,” rasped Yoda in a serious, commanding voice, “have you not taken enough satisfaction from his pain in your lifetime? More serious matters there are to concern us. Fugitives are we…and so are you. If your own life matters to you, then do not mock Anakin for helping you.”
Palpatine glared at Yoda. “In my Empire,” he stated, “you would not have been allowed on the streets of Imperial City without a human master. I do not take orders from tiny little alien creatures.”
Yoda only stared at him with a hint of pity in his ancient eyes.
Frustrated, Palpatine pointed at Anakin, who was standing rigidly nearby. “Explain to me then, little Jedi Master,” he demanded, “why you are here with this Dark Jedi, and your fellow Masters are out there hunting him? Do you know better than they about Jedi justice? Why are you willing to die to protect the Dark Lord of the Sith?”
Kenobi stepped in at that moment. “Anakin redeemed himself at the end of his life. Before he died, he threw off the influence of the dark side in order to save his son. In saving Luke Skywalker’s life, he accomplished a great deed for the light side of the Force. The other Jedi cannot see beyond the darkness of his deeds as Darth Vader. They treat Anakin’s redemption as merely a technical conversion to the light. It is not enough to earn their forgiveness. But for us-“
“I want to hear the Jedi Master’s own answer,” interrupted Palpatine firmly.
Yoda looked at Kenobi. Their eyes met for a few seconds, then Yoda faced Palpatine again. “When Luke went to face his father,” Yoda said with great dignity, “Obi-Wan feared that lost was our last hope. Told him I did, that there was another…Luke’s sister. But…wrong was I. There was yet another hope…Luke’s father. Never did you fully destroy Anakin Skywalker. Kept him by your side, you did. And so you kept your death by your side, Emperor. Among us, Anakin is welcome, for though we looked for it not, to our aid did he come.”
“So,” said Palpatine with disgust. “Everyone is happy. Do you expect me to believe that? Is there no anger between you? Are you really the peaceful Jedi you claim to be? I don’t think so.” Palpatine allowed his voice to drip with sarcasm and mockery. “Obi-Wan Kenobi…have you truly forgiven your beloved student for killing you in cold blood aboard the Death Star? I watched the entire duel myself through the Force. When you were weak and surrounded, your student cut you down. Your friend did not hesitate for a moment.” Palpatine laughed harshly. “But didn’t he hurt you even more by deserting your teachings for mine?” Palpatine paused to enjoy the troubled look on Kenobi’s face. “Oh…but I am sure these are old wounds, long since healed.”
Palpatine watched his companions’ faces carefully. Anakin was looking pained, and he hesitantly searched Kenobi’s face for reassurance. Kenobi seemed to have none to offer. With evident discomfort, he looked away and did not meet Anakin’s eyes. The growing pain and guilt soothed Palpatine. He had always enjoyed the pain of others. With the power of the dark side, he had been able to feed on it. But even blind to the Force, he was clearly able to see the obvious conflicts in this volatile little group. Swiftly, he pressed his advantage.
“Anakin,” he said with sour softness. “You cannot tell me that you have forgiven your first Master. When I was your Master, you confided in me how much you hated him. Yes…your hate was deep, so deep. You told me of how he fought you on Horuz, how he wounded you so terribly with his lightsaber. Is that what a friend and a teacher does? He left you a seared ruin, crippled and dying…he left you for me to save. And then…” Palpatine lowered his voice to a whisper. “Then he stole your children from you. He gave them to other men to raise. You never had a chance with them. They were hidden from you and turned against you.”