Title: Out of the Darkness.
Author: SHSK (me)
Starts in the timeframe of TPM, but continues into ROTS time.
Characters: Anakin, Padme, Obi mainly. Others will come in.
Genre: A bit of Angst, A/P romance.
Summary: Dooku learns about Anakin during the blockade of Naboo, sees him as a threat to his power, and decides to 'remove' the threat. He takes Ani to Korriban and leaves him there.
Notes: Padme's ship doesn't land on Tattooine. They make it to Coruscant and go back to Naboo like in the canon, and win the battle w/out Ani. Obviously, this is way AU.
Other Notes: I haven't read about Korriban much, so while I do have a little to base it on, my descriptions might not be that accurate.
Prologue:
Korriban
It had been two days since the old man had come to Tattooine, bought Anakin, and left him on this odd planet. He had never learned his name-in fact, the man hardly spoke at all. From what little he did say, he perceived Anakin as a threat that had to be removed.
How he could be a threat was a total mystery to Anakin. He was only a slave after all. Not anymore, he corrected himself, he didn't do much, but at least he set me free.
But his happiness at having his freedom was shortlived. He had no idea where he was. It looked like some sort of mountain planet, and there were small ruins and what could only be statues scattered around. Who the statues were supposed to be was beyond him.
But it felt like the most foreboding place he had ever heard of. He could practically feel darkness surrounding the entire place, though the sun shone brightly in the sky. Anakin shook his head slightly; it was difficult to get used to seeing one sun in the sky, instead of the two he was used to. Glancing around at the sky, he saw one of the planet's 7 moons hanging low in the sky. Seven moons. Seven moons and one sun…this place is bizarre…
Stopping to catch his breath, he took in his surroundings once more. All he could see around him were mountains and cliffs, and by the look of it, there was little chance of finding other people here.
Taking a deep breath, he readjusted his bag on his shoulders and continued on. Climbing the small incline in front of him, he glanced ahead and immediately froze as he stood. Directly down the slope in front of him was a small valley, which held the largest, most magnificent building he had ever set eyes on.
Awestruck, he slowly found the power to move his legs, which now felt like lead. Still staring at the structure in veneration, he slowly made his way down the rocky slope towards the breathtaking sight. Anakin didn't notice that the closer he got to the grand structure, the more the gray, rocky dirt he was walking on, subtly became darker, so the building was surrounded by black, and in what seemed like minutes, the young awe-struck boy found himself at the steps of the building.
It looks like a…temple, he thought after taking a closer look around. Looking up the almost unending stairs in front of him, Anakin couldn't help but feel a slight sense of foreboding. But despite his misgivings about climbing the steps, he felt as if some unseen force was beckoning him inside. He could almost hear it whispering to him, dark and captivating.
Almost against his will, Anakin put his foot on the step in front of him, beginning the ascent into the majestic temple.
He could clearly hear his footsteps against the black granite, as the air around him was oddly silent; it was as though the entire planet was holding its breath, waiting for Anakin to enter. One by one, he made his way up the steps, painstakingly slow, until finally, he reached the massive front doors of the temple.
Strangely, one of the huge palatial doors was slightly open, just enough for a child Anakin's size to squeeze in. The darkness surrounding him seemed to be whispering more urgently now, and Anakin proceeded through the enormous ebony door inside.
The temple was dimly lit, and Anakin could barely see the huge pillars and massive antechamber he stood in. Dimly he registered the strange red writing on the black walls, and the markings that covered almost every surface in sight. As if in a daze, he obeyed the whispering darkness and calmly strode down one of the darkly extravagant hallways, heading towards a dull red light at the end.
When he reached the end, Anakin discovered that the dim red light was coming from a small cube sitting in a small arrangement of dangerous looking objects, arranged like a shrine. Upon further inspection, Anakin decided that the only thing the square object could be was a holocube. But why would a holocube possibly be in here?
But thoughts of the cube fled from his mind as Anakin caught sight of a small, cylindrical object sitting nearby. No way…
Hesitantly, almost afraid to touch it, Anakin reached out his hand a picked it up, running his small fingers over its small crevices in adoration and amazement. His finger stopped when they reached a small button towards one end of the handle, and, taking a deep breath, Anakin pushed it.
This is so wizard, he thought, staring at the long, red beam of light protruding from one end in unrestrained delight.
TBC…