Star Wars
A Dark Lord of a Different Kind
Author's note: In the comics, after Illyana destroyed the Elder Gods and regained her soul, she was not really changed until the hell lord Dormammu tried to end her, which resulted in Illyana being fully integrated with her soul (or so I think because if you look at her actions before and afterwards you see a very distinct change in her behavior and actions). I find that the song 1999 by Prince describes her pre integration behaviors, madness, and viewpoint almost to a tee.
I was dreamin' when I wrote this
Forgive me if it goes astray
But when I woke up this mornin'
Could've sworn it was judgment day
The sky was all purple
There were people runnin' everywhere
Tryin' to run from the destruction
You know I didn't even care
…
War is all around us, my mind says prepare to fight
…
After she destroyed the Elder Gods, and just before the X-Men locked her up with a bomb jacket, she told Scott that all she wanted was… "… live a normal life now. To become familiar with the remnant of the soul I posses."
Her prior decision making process became even a mystery to herself after her full integration with her soul as madness has a logic all its own. And yes, I have given into the temptation to change the story timeline of Star Wars in a very major way.
Part 11a: A long time later, in a place far far away
"Your guna get us killed." Whispered Jubilee at Tabitha (Boom Boom). Not that whispering was really needed as the beat of the music was vibrating the floor.
Tabitha whispered back. "Relax Jubs. Nothing guna happen. Just taking a little look see."
Jubilee was not buying what Tabitha was selling. "Bull. We're so dead if she catches us."
So of course Tabby just had to point out. "So why are you here with me?"
Here being Illyana's upstairs modest bedroom on the island of Krakoa in the house she shared with the New Mutants (yes she also had other dwellings but liked to hang out with the New Mutants). Tabatha and Jubilee had snuck away from the party that was taking place down below, they were both dressed in casual civvies of jeans and blouses.
For those who don't know, Jubilee is an Asian female mutant who can emit small plasma balls from her fingers, usual looking like fireworks. Tabatha, a tall blonde female (code name Boom Boom) can fire large explosive balls of energy.
The lights were out as they snuck into the small bedroom so Tabatha pulled a small flashlight from her pocket. A flick of a button and the resultant beam of light showed a starkly clean room furnished with a simple bed, desk, dresser, and a closed closet.
"Chill Jubs, being drunk is supposed to relax you." Continued Tabitha. "I mean… just how many mimosas did you have?"
Jubilee started counting, using both of her hands, as she attempted to recollect. "Um… three… four… six… no eight. Definitely at least… nine."
"Well nine is obviously not enough." Was Tabitha's sagely reply on the topic of alcohol abuse, which most would agree that she was very learned about. "So stop being a worry wart and help me."
"Help you do what?"
Tabitha's smug reply was so Tabitha. "Accidently rummage around in Illyana's room."
"Accidently?"
"That's my story and I'm sticking to it. This… this is Dani's room. Right?"
"No, it's Illyana's room… oh… um… right…"
"Right… now let's accidently find some stuff partner."
And with that the rummaging about in Illyana's things commenced.
Some savage criticism over the rock band posters Illyana had put on the walls (So gross, so… last week).
The closet was only half full, which was a surprise, but then they concluded that Illyana was quite skilled with clothing magic so no need for lots of closet contents.
The desk was mostly empty, just some pens and papers. And nothing under the bed.
The dresser was the bingo location. Hmm less then the usual numbers of thongs was one discovery; most X-Gals were rather thong obsessed when it came to underwear, but Illyana was known to go commando many a time (see chapters 5 and 6 of the story What to do about Magik for details, ahhhh so proud of those chapters). Darn, no adult toys to be found was the disappointing conclusion by both, and some giggling over what had been found in Dani's room last week.
But in her the sock drawer there was a box and a…
"Cool lightsaber replica." Whispered Jubilee as Tabitha held forth the prize.
Tammy admired what they had found. "Yeah… the one in Roberto's room was plastic and only controls his TV, but this one's metal and kind of heavy. Um… you don't suppose it's a…" Tabitha made a slight vibration sound.
Jubilee made face. "No… that's gross. And it has way too many sharp edges for that."
"I wonder what she uses it for?" Mused Tammy as she made soft voom sounds while waving it about. "She doesn't strike me as a Treckkie."
Jubilee corrected Tabitha. "Star Wars, not Star Trek. Star Wars fans aren't Trekkies."
Tabitha was not concerned about Syfy fandom particulars. "Whatever…" Then her thumb pressed a switch on the lightsaber and a blue shaft emerged with a VOOM that narrowly missed Jubilee's head as the end of the beam sliced into the wall over the dresser.
"Oh Shit!"
Was both Jubilee's and Tabitha's startled exclamation as Tabitha dropped the lightsaber, which promptly cut the dresser in half. Then the dropped blade cut through the floor and the cake on the table below in the common area dining room before embedded itself in the floor. Which of course prompted a great deal of shouting as to what had just happened. The dresser, now cut in twain, fell over and the box spills from the sock drawer, hits the floor, and several items tumbled from it onto the floor. A bra and panties with the batman symbol, a knife with snakes upon the hilt, and a tiara with glowing stones of many colors.
"Shit, shit, shit!" Chants Tabitha as Jubilee proclaimed "Let's get out of here!"
They turned to go, thankful that Illyana was away, only to find the silhouette of Illyana blocking the doorway out of the dark room. Extra ominously, her eyes were glowing with an evil yellow flame like glow.
A light portal flickered into existence over Illyana's right hand and the lit lightsaber fell into her open hand. With a flick of her thumb the blue blade was extinguished as she cleared her throat.
"Um… Opps?" Started Tabitha. "We thought this was Dani's room and..." Two light disks whisked the miscreants away before more words could be said in their defense (and yes, they deeply regretted the punishment Illyana afflicted upon them).
Illyana knelt down to gather the scattered items upon the floor, then a sigh as she gazed upon the tiara. Damn, I really need to keep this in a more secure place was her internal thought. Then a sudden sliver of guilt as she recalled the events that had led to her having the lightsaber and the tiara, followed by a larger sliver of annoyance as she recalled that she'd been attacked on every encounter with anybody in that particular universe. Geeze, she supposed that she could have ordered coffee or something and been attacked for being a Sith scum by the barista, likely with a blaster. Which elicited a frown as she was so not a Sith, yeah she was demon'ish… well, more demon then 'ish but still, that had kind of… hurt her feeling hindsight. Then a bit of a shrug about how she'd left those supposed Jedi as she twirled the unlit lightsaber about. Perhaps… she'd been… hasty on leaving them?
She… supposed she could do something about that.
Part 11b: A long time ago in a place far far away (Aftermath part A)
Darkness.
The clatter of falling rocks as small debris shifted upon various mounds of fallen ceiling.
Quiet sobbing in the inky blackness.
A groan, along with some scattered coughs. More shifting sounds, then a voom as the glow of green lightsaber igniting showing the air is filled with dust. We zoom in and we see Ahsoka with her lightsaber in her right hand. She is on her hand and knees beneath a slab of rock that is pinned against another large block of stone. Ahsoka had used the Force to shield herself when parts of the ceiling had collapsed, as had others.
A narrowing of her eyes as she heard the sobbing and recognized the voice of the anguish. It was him… Anakin. No, not Anakin, the person who would become VADER.
She rose in a crouch, and crept forward… there… the figure of Anakin, various slabs of rocks scattered about him. He was sitting on the ground, with the head of the armored monster cradled in his lap.
Anger at that act. The act of cradling… Vader…
The nightmare that had so tormented her all those years…
The monster that had slain so many that Ahsoka had known…
Had trained…
Had loved…
The embodiment of all that the Empire was…
A creature of malicious evil…
Unfeeling cruelty…
Unstoppable…
Unkillable…
There was only one way to survive an encounter with Vader…
You ran…
Or you died…
Yet now…
Now…
Vader was finally dead…
But…
Vader could still be…
And that was unacceptable…
So…
Ahsoka crept up behind Anakin.
No… not Anakin…
He was Vader…
Would be Vader…
And that
Must
Not
Be
Allowed
To
Happen!
She edged to the side, which showed her the face of the weeping Anakin. Weeping as he turned his eyes to Ahsoka with her stern and hate filled gaze.
"Do it Snips… Please… End it. End me."
With that he bowed his head.
DO IT! Was the hammering thought in Ahsoka's head.
DO IT!
END IT!
STOP IT!
PREVENT VADER FROM BEING!
She raised her lightsaber over her head to slash down. She gripped the base of the lightsaber with both hands as…
Her left wrist slid off the lightsaber as she lacked a left hand.
Slid?
A burst of pain as the seared flesh reminded her that her left hand was gone. Cut off by the now vanished blonde.
A wave of confusion. But… I had both hands as I fought the Empire…
I?
I never fought the… Empire?
A plaintive cry from Anakin. "Do it Snips… Don't let me become him. Do it!"
A war of emotions and thoughts fought within Ahsoka, a far more experienced and worldly incarnation strove against a younger and more innocent version. Her blade rose… then lowered multiple times. As Ahsoka fought a battle within herself, two other piles of rocky ruble shifted revealing that both Obi-Wan and Dooku had likewise survived. Both looking very battered. Both were silent as they observed Ahsoka's struggle and did nothing.
Finally Ahsoka deactivated her lightsaber with a soft "No…" as she knelt down next to Anakin.
Bitter tears from Anakin as even death was denied him.
A tremor in her remaining hand, then she raised her arms and give Anakin a hug. "No Sky Guy… No."
Anakin suddenly returned the hug and franticly clung to Ahsoka as if he was drowning and she was a life preserver as he broke down. He began to babble as he wailed while rocking back and forth as Ahsoka attempted to comfort him; as Obi-Wan and Dooku simply watched, Dooku with interest, Obi-Wan with more then a little anger and guilt.
Why…
Why…
Why did the Jedi take my way from my mother only to then reject me…
Mom…
Then tones of anger overlaid the grief as Anakin sobbed over what the Jedi had told him over the years.
Don't think about her Anakin…
Jedi have no attachments…
Jedi have no family…
Stop crying Anakin…
Stop missing your mother…
No Anakin, we can't go rescue your mother…
No Anakin, the Jedi won't free her from slavery, Jedi don't do such things…
Why…
Why don't the Jedi do such things?
Was it that much to ask for…?
Why do the Jedi continual profess their love of people but…
Disregard individuals…
Disregard any relationships…
Discarded my mother…
Disregard… me…
Always complaining about me…
Always disapproval from the council…
I'm never good enough…
No mater how hard I try…
You're emotional Anakin…
Too passionate…
Too intense…
No matter what I do…
It's never good enough…
Not for the Council…
Not for the Jedi…
Not for Windu…
Not for Yoda…
Never good enough…
No matter what I do…
No matter how hard I try…
Sobbing horror as he reflects upon what He/Vader did.
And then…
Then…
THEN…
It all went…
I got… confused…?
Palpatine's words make… sense?
Why?
I'm… confused… but he makes such sense… so simple so I…
I…
No… no… NO!
I did… did…
Oh God… I did…
THAT…
Why…
Why did doing that… make any… sense… to me…?
Killing… all the… Jedi…?
Anguish as he trembled.
Pain…
Nothing but pain
Burning…
I'm burning!
Obi-Wan, you… you left me to die…
To suffer…
I… I use the Force…
I somehow block the heat but…
But… I'm more char then flesh…
Only the hate…
The pain…
Give me the focus to force the Force to sustain me…
If you can call the broken thing I've become life…
I… deserve it…
Utter anguish as he wails.
I killed Padme!
All the while Ahsoka hugged Anakin and whispered to him over and over and over. "It was not you. It was not you. It was not you…" As he cried his eyes out over what happened to a future him.
Over what a future him did.
Over what a future him lost.
Part 11c: Elsewhere…
Palpatine's eyes snapped open. He was in his private quarters that were adjacent to the chancellors official office. He was in his bed, there were various staff members around him, along with guards, and a medical droid. Senator Padme Amidala was there as well looking relieved that he had awoken.
He snapped out a harsh demand. "Where are the Jedi?"
The sound of lightsabers igniting and then blaster fire from beyond the sealed door that led to his official office answered his question.
Palpatine leapt from his bed and a lightsaber flew into his hands from a concealed slot as Padme cried out. "What is happening?!" She eyed his surprising gymnastics and sudden wielding of a lightsaber by Palpatine with confusion and then a flash of insight as she began to back away.
Palpatine fought his confusion. This eventuality was not in any of his visions and as he reached out with the Force all he saw was… Darkness.
There was nothing!
He was Force blind!
Worse then before!
He said the only thing he could think of as two lightsabers began to cut through the door.
"It's Treason."
As he ordered the guards to attack.