One Wrong Step
Disclaimer: I don't own.
Chapter 35: An Interesting Place
Or
The Craziest Planet They've Been to Yet With the Craziest Residents They've Met So Far
When they arrived at the coordinates the distress signal had come from, they were supposed to meet with a cruiser, just in case it was a trap. Anakin contacted the ship, since it was nowhere in sight. "Rex? Rex, do you read me? We're at the rendezvous point awaiting your arrival. Where are you?"
"Sir, we are at the rendezvous point and there's no sign of you on our scanners," was the captain's response.
"Oh, come on. That's impossible." Anakin turned from Rex to address Obi-Wan. "Something's wrong. We're at the exact coordinates where the distress signal originated, but there's nothing here. Rex is at the exact same coordinates and he's not here."
"This is getting interesting," Obi-Wan answered.
"Unable to find you." Rex's hologram grew static before disappearing. "Where are you, sir?"
"Something's blocking the signal," Ahsoka pointed out.
All of a sudden, everything went dark. "Not good," Obi-Wan said as everyone started pressing buttons to try to figure out what had happened.
"Everything's dead, even the life support," Ahsoka said after a few moments.
"Can I say it? I'm going to say it. I have a bad feeling about this," Rey muttered.
"Hmm, this is really strange," Anakin observed, right before everything came back online.
"There," Obi-Wan said, sounding as if he was trying to convince himself as well. "See? Nothing to be concerned about after all."
"Then what's that?" Ahsoka asked, pointing straight ahead at a space station that had not been there a few moments before. The ship began moving, when no one had touched the controls. "It's pulling us towards it."
"Everyone, strap yourselves in," Obi-Wan ordered, as light began pouring out of the space station. "Looks as though we're going for a ride."
The ship flew straight into the light, blinding the passengers.
/*O*W*S*
The next thing Rey knew, they were all waking up with groans, Anakin saying, "I must have blacked out."
"Then who landed the shuttle?" Obi-Wan rightfully asked.
"I didn't," Rey said, at the same time as Ahsoka's, "Not me."
"Where are we?" Anakin asked.
"Some kind of organic mass. All of our readings indicate that it's bigger than an asteroid. But at least the atmosphere is breathable," Ahsoka said optimistically.
"Well, this is getting more unusual by the minute. I can't even lock down where in the galaxy we are…or if we are even in our own galaxy," Obi-Wan stated.
"Out of our galaxy?" Rey asked. "That seems…very incredulous."
"Yes, but we could be. Since we all blacked out, who know what happened?"
"Well, the ship's systems seem fine, but, for whatever reason, nothing's working," Anakin said.
"Wonderful. So we're stranded," Rey replied gloomily.
They all filed out of the ship, trying to figure out where they were. "Hey! I saw something," Ahsoka pointed out. "A reflection, up on the hill."
"I don't see anything," Obi-Wan answered, looking through macrobinoculars.
"What? What? Did you hear that?" Anakin suddenly asked.
"I didn't hear anything."
"Are you the one?" a female voice queried.
"I heard that," Rey murmured, as Obi-Wan greeted, "Hello."
Anakin got to the point. "Who are you?"
"I am Daughter. Are you the one?"
"Uh, the one what?" Anakin, whom she was seemingly addressing, asked.
"I will take you to him." She avoided the question entirely.
"Him, who?" Ahsoka questioned.
"Did you bring us here?" Obi-Wan added.
"Only he can help you. There is little time. Follow me. We must have shelter by nightfall," the strange woman continued her riddles.
"And we thought the planet was strange. How about this one?" Anakin muttered wryly.
"We'll be fine as long as we stay together," Obi-Wan reminded them.
"Yeah, not wandering off alone," Rey agreed. They began following "Daughter."
A little while later, Obi-Wan asked, "Have you noticed the seasons seem to change with the time of day?"
"Yeah," Anakin said.
"And there are no animals," Ahsoka added.
"And you sense it?" Obi-Wan asked Anakin.
"Mm-hmm, since we arrived. The Force is very strong."
"An intersection unlike anything I've ever felt before. Be wary."
"Don't worry about that," Rey said. "Oh, and I feel it, too."
"Excuse me," Anakin asked the lady. "Who are you taking us to?"
"The Father, of course."
"Of course," the Padawans murmured simultaneously.
"And what exactly are you?" Obi-Wan questioned.
"We are the ones who guard the power. We are the middle, the beginning, and the end," she replied.
"Glad she cleared that up for us," Anakin mumbled.
As they walked, the scenery changed from lush and green to dying and red. "Hey! Look out!" Anakin called. A rockslide above them sent Rey and Anakin shoving Daughter ahead of them and Obi-Wan tumbling off the edge of the cliff.
As Anakin went to help Daughter to her feet, she jerked away. "It is forbidden for you to touch me."
"Sorry. I was just saving your life."
Rey rolled her eyes. "Yes, and you won't tell us what just happened, will you?"
"That was my brother's work. You are in great danger. Wait for me. Do not leave this place."
"Hey! Wait!" both Skywalkers cried as she turned and walked away.
Anakin's commlink went off, and Obi-Wan's welcome voice came through. "Anakin, Rey, are you there? Are you all right?"
"Yeah, but our friend here has run off! Go back to the ship and try sending another distress call. I'll follow her and find out how to get off this rock," Anakin replied.
"And if this is a trap?"
"Then I'm not gonna wait around to find out."
"Anakin, stop! Wait for us to find another way around and meet you."
Ignoring Obi-Wan, he switched off his comm. "Come on, Rey. Let's go."
The two of them raced over unfamiliar ground, following the (strongly Light) sense of the woman. Finally, they could see a tower looming over them. "Whoever we're looking for is in that monastery," Anakin realized.
"Well, then, let's get to it. The sooner we get there, the sooner we'll have answers."
They finally skidded into the large, open room. It really resembled a throne room. At the other end of the large room, an old man sat in a meditative pose. They dropped down, sitting cross-legged on the ground. Finally, the man's eyes snapped open. "Welcome, my friends."
"What is it that you want from us?" Anakin demanded.
"Not the rest, just you. I want you to learn the truth about who you really are, one that maybe you have known all along, one you must believe in order to fulfill your destiny."
"Enough with the riddles, old man. Tell us what's going on here."
"As you can see, there is nowhere else to go. It is late. You will be my guests tonight."
"And we don't have any choice in the matter, either, I suppose?" Rey muttered.
She received no answer, not that she expected one, and the two of them were shown into rooms where they could stay. Rey settled down and closed her eyes.
"Hello, Rey."
She raised her eyebrows. "Hi, Grandpa. What are you doing here?"
"Giving you advice. Rey, this is the breaking point."
"What?"
"Before you leave this planet, you will know if Anakin has changed enough to make a difference."
Rey's eyes widened. "Oh. That."
"Yes. That."
"How will I know?"
"He will be tempted by the Son to fall to the Dark Side after a vision of himself becoming Darth Vader. If he does, you need more time. That's what I did."
"If he doesn't, I'm ready to make a move?"
"Yes, you are."
"Wait…can't you just tell me? I mean, do you already know?"
"No, because no. I can't see the new history before it unfolds, just like you, sweetheart."
"Oh. Well, thanks anyway."
"Now, the Father wants to speak with you, once he's done talking to Anakin. You might want to make your way back down to his area."
"Will do. Love you, Grandpa."
"I love you, too, Rey."
Rey's eyes snapped open, and she began creeping back down to where she could sense Father and Anakin. The Father was saying, "When news reached me that the Chosen One had been found, I needed to see for myself."
"The Chosen One is a myth."
"Is it? I should very much like to know. Why don't we find out together? Pass one test, and I shall know the truth. Then you and your friends may leave."
"What kind of test?"
"You will see. Surely you are still tired, especially after such a distressing vision."
Anakin sighed. "I'm not getting any more answers from you, am I?" When he received no reply, Anakin left the room. He was still somewhat wound up, so he didn't notice Rey lurking nearby. She slipped into the room. "You are not supposed to be here, are you, child?" he asked softly.
She blinked. "What-what do you mean?"
"You needn't try to hide it; the Force swirls around you strangely, as if you are in the wrong place. Or is it time?"
"How-how did you…?"
"The Force reveals much to me."
"So…has it told you how I got here?"
"No. You do not know?"
"No. Look, all I know is I woke up before my parents are even born."
"The Force does its work strangely sometimes, and not even those as powerful as my family can tell how."
"Wonderful."
"There is no record of this type of even that I am aware. Tell me…" He gave her a deep, knowing look. "Do you know why you are here?"
"I just asked you, so how should I know?"
"I didn't ask how, I asked why. Why are you here?"
"Oh. I think…to prevent a great tragedy. To keep a powerful Jedi from falling to the Dark Side."
"Playing with history can be dangerous."
"Yes, I know, but I'm being careful. And…well, to be honest, I'm not sure that the world can get too much worse than it was before I left. And…as long as I'm here and know what's going to happen, with great power come great responsibility, right?"
"You must act as you see best, of course," he answered slowly. "Now, you should rest more, also."
Rey nodded and left in silence.
A few hours later, the Father called through the Force for Anakin and Rey. They met up in the hall. "I wonder what he's got up his sleeve," Anakin muttered.
"Who knows?"
They walked into a courtyard. The Father sent Anakin to the center of the area, keeping Rey beside him. "It is time to face your guilt and know the truth."
A dark beast gripped Ahsoka's arm in one claw, while another, glowing yellow and green, held Obi-Wan off the ground by his shoulders. "Whatever he wants, don't do it, Master!" Ahsoka called.
"Let them go. I will not play your games!" Anakin declared.
"Oh, but I think you will. I have ordered my children to kill your friends. The question is, which one will you choose to save: Your master or your apprentice? You must now release the guilt and free yourself by choosing."
"What are you doing? Stop this!" Rey cried, grabbing at his arm, only to be thrown back by an unseen energy (the Force, obviously). She lay on the ground, unable to rise, watching the proceedings below her.
"No!"
"Their powers are too strong for us, Anakin. Save Ahsoka!" Obi-Wan urged.
"Let them go."
"Only you can make my children release them."
"Anakin, the planet is the Force," Obi-Wan realized. "Use it."
"You will let them go! Down! On your knees!" As Anakin shouted, he pulled the beasts down, onto their knees, making them release the two Jedi. When they were fully prone on the ground, they morphed into human forms.
"And now you see who you truly are. Only the Chosen One could tame both my children."
Rey scrambled to her feet and raced down to join the others. "I have taken your test," Anakin was saying. "Now fulfill your promise and let us go."
"Ah, but first you must understand the truth. Now, all of you, leave us."
Rey glanced at Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, who didn't seem any more pleased about that than she was. "Do not trust him," Snips whispered through her teeth.
"You think?" he hissed back.
"I said leave us."
The three Jedi and the Son and Daughter walked away, with Rey glancing over her shoulder at the two men behind her. "Anakin can hold his own, you know," Obi-Wan reminded her.
"I know, but…this place…it unnerves me."
"I think it unnerves all of us," Ahsoka muttered.
Thankfully, Anakin didn't agree to whatever the Father was pressuring him into, and, soon, the three of them were getting into the ship. "Ready to get out of here?" Obi-Wan asked the hesitating Anakin.
So…I wonder when the thing that Grandpa was talking about is going to happen? We're leaving…Rey groaned. I have a bad feeling….
A/N: Oh, look, I'm alive!
P.S. The Spiderman reference was totally intentional. ;)