Chapter 8
I loved writing this chapter, having looked forward to it since I stared this story a few days ago!
Luke went up the stars until he stood in front of Vader, his eyes never leaving the Sith Lord. He ignited his lightsabre, with Vader doing the same. Luke attacked, Vader easily blocking every strike. Overpowering Luke, and sending him flying down the stairs.
"Luke didn't get any lightsabre training from master Yoda yet." Kit Fisto said.
"Vader doesn't even seem to put on some effort." Plo Koon observed.
"He wants Luke as his apprentice. That's why he is testing him, to see if he is worthy." Obi Wan added.
"And if he isn't?" Padme asked worriedly.
"He will be disposed of." Unable to keep his disgust out of his voice.
Now Vader was the attacking Luke, Luke, for now, being able to block Vader's attacks.
"You have learned much, young one." Vader commented.
But not enough. Was the thought everyone had in mind.
"You'll find I'm full of surprises." Luke answered arrogantly as he launched another series of attacks at Vader's head and feet. Vader overpowered Luke with ease, Luke's lightsabre was lost with a spin and a flick of Vader's wrist, falling to the ground at the base of the stairs. Vader slashed at Luke, but Luke dodged, rolling down the stairs. Vader jumped down the stairs after him, "Your destiny lies with me, Skywalker." Vader said. "Obi-Wan knew this to be true."
"He is trying to fill Luke's head with lies and deception…" Obi Wan muttered, not believing a word the Dark Lord spoke.
Luke was now standing with his back turned to the freezing chamber.
"No." Luke replied.
Vader slashed at him again. Luke took a step back, his foot only finding no ground. He fell backward into the freezing pit.
"All too easy." Vader said, activation the switch with the force to freeze Luke. "Perhaps you are not as strong as the Emperor thought."
"Strength through the spirit, it comes, not power." Yoda remarked, while the others nodded, their eyes never leaving the holocron.
Anakin just glared at the Sith Lord.
The Sith Lord missed how Luke force-jumped out of the pit and up between some pipes.
"Impressive." Vader admitted audible in his voice. He slashed at Luke, but not catching his opponent. "Most impressive."
Luke landed on his feet opposite from Vader. The Dark Lord moved to strike at him, but Luke grabbed a hose and blasted Vader with freezing gases.
"Uggh!" The Dark Lord grunted.
Luke than called his lightsabre to his hand, and activated the blade as he swung it around to block Vader's next strike.
"Obi-Wan has taught you well." Vader mused. "You have controlled your fear." Vader went for a few more strikes, all of which Luke blocked. "Now, release your anger. Only your hatred can destroy me."
"Don't fall for it Luke!" Anakin shouted desperately.
"Have faith in your son, Anakin. If he is like you, he will make it." Obi wan tried to lighten Anakin up.
That's what I am afraid of. I already used the Dark Side. Anakin thought.
The fight went on, Luke pushing Vader of the platform. Luke jumped after him, Vader came out of nowhere, slashing at Luke. They were now in a room, with Vader letting objects fly towards Luke. Than a glass behind Luke broke, with him flying out of the room and Vader taking the long way.
Luke was now on some kind of Platform, a bit like a bridge. Outside the bridge were at 100 meter bottomless. Vader came back at Luke, his style a bit more aggressive. But not because he was losing, but rather to test if Luke could manage against him. Luke was able to strike at Vader.
"Ughh!" The Sith Lord grunted in pain, swinging after Luke. He managed to cut off Luke's lightsabre-hand, Luke screamed in pain, falling to his knees, hand still gripping the railing for balance.
"LUKE!" Anakin shouted. His was on fire. He just wanted to kill that monster himself. How dare he hurt his son?!
Ahsoka, Obi-wan and even Padme tried to calm him down, without success, but at least he kept his curses for himself, not interrupting the others, who knew that Anakin had every right to be angry.
"There is no escape." Vader told him. "Don't make me destroy you."
"Luke probably only has 2 choices now: join him, or die." Windu said grimly, much to the anger of Anakin.
"Or, option 3: somehow escape out of hopeless situations like I have done it a dozens of times." Anakin snapped at Windu.
"Luke, you do not yet realize your importance. You have only begun to discover your power. Join me, and I will complete your training. With our combined strength, we can end this destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy."
The audience frowned, not wanting the son of the chosen one to fall to the Dark Side.
"I'll never join you!" Luke defiantly declared as he reached a pylon at the end on the metal beam.
Vader stretched his hand out to Luke. "If only you knew the power of the Dark Side. Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father."
"He told me enough." Luke said angrily, running mostly on adrenaline. "He told me you kill him."
Now Anakin, and actually everyone where paying even more attention. He wanted to know what had happe-
"No...", Vader replied. "...I am your father!"
It took a few seconds for everyone to progress that information. What? What?! WHAT?!
"No…" Anakin said in disbelieve. "I…It can't be!"
"Master… how?" Ahsoka said weakly. She remembered what had transpired between her and Vader. Her vision in the temple and Vader knowing her name. She knew it was true, but how?
I have failed you Anakin… was all Obi-wan could think off.
Yoda, too, shared Obi-wan's thoughts.
Master Windu was as angry as a Jedi could get.
"I knew he should never have been allowed to be trained! There was always darkness in him!" He didn't care that Anakin was literally in front of him.
The other Masters were still conflicted.
They had all respected, even liked, Anakin. They all knew had he had problems when it comes to attachments and had difficulties with the Code, but to turn into a Sith Lord? Be responsible for the wiping out of the Jedi? Responsible for thousands of deaths?
They couldn't understand it.
Than Shaak Ti realised something:
"Palpatine…"
Anakin's breathing got faster, he already felt his head spinning, his vision getting blurry. He fell onto his knees. Objects in the room began to break or shake, or fly in the air.
He had turned into a monster! He had killed Obi-wan! He had fought Ahsoka!
I would never let anything hurt you, Ahsoka, never!
He had physically and probably mentally scattered his son and tortured and killed ruthlessly. He was worse than Dooku.
No one moved.
They all wanted to deny it. But every force-sensitive in the room felt the truth behind those words.
But Padme, not being being force- sensitive, and just not being able to imagine Vader and her beloved husband to be the same, did not, or wouldn't sense it.
"No, it can't be true. Vader has to be lying! Obi-wan himself said that Vader killed Anakin!" She shouted the last part.
Windu was about to grab Anakin, but was stopped by the holocron scene shifting.
They were now back at the Sith Temple of Malachor.
"Ahsoka." Vader called out.
They knew that call. Now it made all a bit more sense. Ahsoka's suspicion, Vader knowing her name…
Ahsoka's eyes widened. She slowly turned her head, looking at the still kneeling Sith Lord.
Vader turned his head-
"Ahsoka." – showing a very scattered and pale face. Yellow eyes looking at Ahsoka, but there was no doubt. Those were Anakin's eyes.
That was Anakin.
Anakin started to cry. No one, except for Padme, had ever seen him cry.
Ashoka and Vader both stood up, their eyes never leaving one another.
"I won't leave you! Not this time." You could literally feel Ahsoka's guilt. She chose to die rather than to leave his side.
Vader's eyes hardened. Everyone could hear the sound of his breathing, damaged by Ahsoka's strike. He seemed to be thinking.
Was he hesitating?
They got their answer.
"Then you will die." Vader ignited his lightsabre.
That was it, that was the breaking point. Ashoka was having tears, Padme was already crying. Obi wan was able keep the tears from leaving his eyes, but it was starting to get difficult.
And with two large tears rolling down his eyes, Anakin fainted. But before his head could hit the ground, Ahsoka caught him, holding him close. The room went still again, the objects stopping to move and most of them falling to the ground.
"Why, Anakin? Why?" Ahsoka asked more to herself than to the unconscious Anakin.
Padme took that moment to finally stop the secrecy. Anakin would probably be expelled now anyway.
"Ahsoka may I hold my husband?" She asked, knowing Ahsoka would not refuse her. The Torguta did not look so surprised at relevation.
"So not only is he a Sith Lord in the making, he also broke the Code!" Master Windu exclaimed angrily.
Padme didn't care anymore. Ahoska laid Anakin into Padme's arms. She hugged Anakin, going with her hands through his hair, kissing his head and wiping the tears from his face.
"It will all be alright." She whispered. "It will be alright."
Windu had to interrupt Padme's emotional moment, of course. He ignited his lightsabre, totally unnecessary, of course.
"Senator, hand over Skywalker. Husband or not, this is now Jedi business."
"What do you want with him?" She asked angrily.
"He will be put into a detention-cell until- "
"General Windu, you cannot punish my General for things he may commit in a possible future."
"I can, as he is a Jedi, and that makes it Jedi business."
Rex stepped in front of the Senator.
"With Jedi business, you mean illegal business."
"Stop now, my apprentice. Right, the Captain is. Knowing why Skywalker turned, we do not. If harshly we act, only making things worse, we may."
"Master Yoda, you have seen what he is capable of. Surely you agree?" He turned to the other Masters, hoping for their support.
"No, Master Windu. Master Yoda is right." Kit Fisto sided with Master Yoda.
"But he is too dangerous!" Windu shouted with desperation.
"He is unconscious." Obi wan defended Anakin.
"I will bring Anakin to the halls of healing." Padme said, not wanting Anakin to stay in the presence of Master Windu.
"Of course, Senator." Ki Adi Mundi said, calling for a medical bay and an escort for the Senator.
"Please call us when he wakes up." Ahsoka wanted to go with her, but figured that Padme might want some time alone with her husband.
"Of course, Ahsoka." Realizing Ahsoka's desire to stay with Anakin, she asked if she would like to come.
But when Ahsoka made her way, the holocron turned off. So she summoned back, as it seemed to work without Padme or Anakin present, but not without her.
They watched the rest in complete silence, the tension between Windu and the rest obvious.
It crossed their mind that Leia mind be force sensitive due to being able to feel Luke, but they couldn't bring themselves to care, not now.
After the holocron ended, it turned itself off, falling to the ground, it's blue light leaving.
Suddenly, the second holocron opened.
Written was:
The rise of Darth Vader
They would know get their answers, and no one was looking forward to that.
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