Chapter 4 – Alternate Reality
DISCLAIMER: We (unfortunately) do not own Star Wars. :P
Author's Note: Obi-Wan is still in denial about who Vader is… but it's hard to deny the truth when he's inside Vader's mind… Lol.
~ Amina Gila
The next thing Obi-Wan knows, he's falling down into the darkness, landing hard on the ground. He groans, opening his eyes and blinking as he takes in his surroundings. Ahsoka is beside him, pushing herself to her feet and brushing off her clothes. He follows her example, eyes scanning the lush fields and wildlife. The planet looks much like Naboo, and he can't help but wonder if that's where it is.
He looks at the house a distance away – the only one in the area, in fact. If Vader is here, this must be where he is. Neither he nor Ahsoka speak as they walk towards it silently. The last glimmer of sunlight disappears over the horizon as they stride through the tall grass, blowing softly in a breeze. This place is like heaven almost. Everything is completely perfect. A quiet, calm world, one of happiness, but it's one which he can't imagine a Sith ever choosing.
They walk around the corner, taking in the bushes of flowers near the back porch. Birds sing in the trees and insects buzz near the ground. Obi-Wan scans the gathered people, a sense of confusion setting in when he sees another version of himself and Ahsoka there along with Vader and two children. This was somehow not what he'd expected Vader to choose in his paradise. Why is he there anyways? Vader hates him.
The entire area is idyllic – picture perfect, in fact. Vader – Anakin, actually, since he looks like he did as a Jedi Knight – is wearing black Jedi robes as he sits on a bench next to fake-Obi-Wan staring out over the yard. Dusk has just begun to fall, and the entire area seems completely untouched by human civilization. Other than the one lone house, there's no one else in sight. Fake-Obi-Wan slips an arm around Vader, pulling him closer, and Vader lets him do it, shifting to rest his head on fake-Obi-Wan's shoulder, an aura of contentment surrounding him.
Fake-Ahsoka stands in the center of the yard, green lightsaber in her hand as she runs through the basic katas, teaching two young children, each of whom are holding a blue training lightsaber. Obi-Wan studies them, the darkness shrouding their faces. The elder child – a girl – seems to be around ten. Chestnut curls frame her face, reminding him eerily of Leia. She mimics fake-Ahsoka with precision. The younger child – a boy – looks around eight. His hair is blonde, much like Luke's – or the way Anakin's used to be.
"Rex called," Padme's melodic voice drifts across the yard as she comes to stand on the porch, looking over the scene. "He said to tell you that he has put Jabba's palace under siege, and he wants you to join him to finish liberating Tatooine."
Vader hums quietly, and fake-Obi-Wan glances back at Padme. "I'll let him know that we'll be coming," he replies.
Padme nods, looking towards the children. "Leia! Luke! You've done enough training for today. You should come instead to prepare for bed." Obi-Wan freezes in place, and for a moment, he can't breathe. Luke and Leia? Did Anakin pick their names?
"'Kay, Mommy," Leia calls, her lightsaber deactivating with a hiss. "Come on, Luke. We should hurry, so Daddy can tell us a story."
"Another exciting one," Luke adds, giving Vader a hopeful look.
"Of course," Vader agrees with a laugh. "As long as you don't give yourself nightmares again."
"Maybe I should tell the story then, Skyguy," suggests fake-Ahsoka with a mischievous grin.
"No," Vader answers immediately, giving her a severe look. "You are not going to be filling their heads with imaginary tales of you rescuing me, Snips." She erupts into laughter, and after a moment, fake-Obi-Wan joins in.
Vader glares at him. "Stop laughing on my behalf, Master," he scolds.
Padme rolls her eyes, muttering something that sounds suspiciously like, "Siblings." Luke and Leia look at one another and grin. The light-hearted atmosphere makes Obi-Wan's heart clench. How can he possibly ask Vader – Anakin – to let this go? It's his paradise. Is this really what he wanted, what he craved more than anything else? It actually fits in a horrible way. Anakin was always afraid of losing people, and he could have fallen – chosen the Dark Side – if he thought it was the only way to protect someone. Obi-Wan wonders how he couldn't have seen it earlier.
Anakin stands up, either oblivious to the real Obi-Wan and Ahsoka or ignoring them. Neither option bodes well. He opens his arms, and Luke and Leia rush towards him. He pulls them into a fierce embrace before leading them towards Padme. "Call me when they're in bed," he tells her, kissing her cheek before turning back to where fake-Obi-Wan is sitting. He stands there until Padme and the children are inside before something seems to shift in his expression.
Fake-Obi-Wan lets out a sigh at the expression, rising and moving to stand in front of him. "You're safe here," he assures him. "Sidious can't reach you."
"We'll protect you," fake-Ahsoka offers softly, gliding closer, expression pained.
"I – I know," Anakin murmurs finally, eyes troubled, "But I can't – it won't stop. I refuse to give in, and there's nothing I can do to prevent it. It's going to destroy me eventually." There's a hint of desperation in his voice.
Fake-Obi-Wan wraps his arms around Anakin, drawing him close and holding him protectively. Watching the scene before his eyes feels worse than being gutted would have. Part of Obi-Wan can't believe that this is what Vader decided would be worth dying for, and it's worse that it's simply an illusion. Everyone here exists only in his mind. He knows that. He must know that, but it's as though he doesn't even care.
Obi-Wan swallows, throat dry. This is about more than just Anakin. If he comes back to the real world, Obi-Wan vows to do whatever he must to ensure he's willing to live. "Anakin," he calls quietly. He sees Anakin tense, but he doesn't move other than to tighten his grip on fake-Obi-Wan. Fake-Ahsoka turns to look at them, a frown etched onto her face.
"You should leave," she tells them quietly. "Your presence isn't going to help or change anything." There's something akin to sorrow in her eyes, but it's mixed with determination.
"He can't stay here," Obi-Wan manages to say, dragging his eyes away from Anakin to look at her. "This is – it's an illusion. He'll kill himself in here."
Fake-Obi-Wan gives him a sad smile. "I know, but some illusions are worth dying for."
"And what about us?" demands Ahsoka, stepping forward. "You can't expect us to try to stop the Sith spirit alone! He's the only one who can do it."
"He's made his choice," fake-Ahsoka replies. "You can't take it away from him."
"You're not real," Ahsoka argues.
"But you're not with him," her counterpart retorts, "I am. I never left, and I never will."
"I'm not leaving him now," Ahsoka vows. "I thought he was dead!"
"It's too late," Anakin tells them, finally turning to look at them, jaw clenched. "I will not leave this world. My life where you are is over." He exhales slowly before continuing. "I tried for years, but all Sidious does is repair me. I'm tired of it. He refused to let me leave, so I found my own way."
Obi-Wan finds he can't meet his brother's blue eyes as the bluntness of the words – and their meaning – washes over him. Everything he's ever told himself about Vader is demolished. This is not what he'd expected to happen in their eventual meeting. He was wrong. It was always Anakin. It was only ever Anakin, even though he's been hurt and broken almost beyond recognition.
"I – I was wrong. About you," he clarifies, finally forcing himself to look at Anakin, voice shaking with suppressed emotions. "I need you. Ahsoka needs you." He pauses, throwing caution to the wind. He can deal with the aftermath later. "Your children need you." At Anakin's startled expression, he sighs. "Yes, you have two children, who have been hidden away from the watchful eyes of the Emperor."
"You took them," Anakin accuses, glaring at him.
Obi-Wan can't help but notice how the world around them becomes faded the more they speak. Since Anakin is focused on them, he's no longer maintaining the illusion. "We protected them," he corrects. "We knew that Sidious would take them to be your replacements in a heartbeat if he learned of their existence."
Anakin lets out a ragged breath. "Where are they?"
"I – I cannot tell you until I am certain that Sidious will not learn of their whereabouts," Obi-Wan replies reluctantly, forcing himself to remember that – appearance aside – this man was still Vader, even though it hurts so much to accept that truth.
His expression twists to rage, the Dark Side swelling around him as his eyes bleed yellow. "You have no right to deny me," he snarls, stepping forward menacingly, fists clenching. "You don't care," he spits out. "You just want me to leave this world so I can do what you cannot. It's not because you care!" Each accusation lashes into him, twisting a knife deeper into his heart.
"Just because I'm trying to protect your children, that doesn't mean I don't care about you," Obi-Wan answers, struggling to maintain his calm. "It's not that I like doing this. I don't, but I will not endanger your children."
"Please, Skyguy," Ahsoka murmurs softly. "We just want to help you."
His anger seems to increase at their words, and Obi-Wan gets the sinking feeling that this simply won't work. He's about to suggest that they leave, when the atmosphere around them seems to change, and he immediately realizes what's happening. The Sith spirit is probably forcing the Dark Side into this paradise again as she continues her mental torture to break Anakin. The realization dawns on Anakin at the same time. His anger vanishes, and for the first time, Obi-Wan sees a trace of real fear in his eyes as he stumbles back a step.
"No," he whispers, more to himself than anyone else, eyes slowly fading back to blue again. "Don't. I can't – I won't die like that. It's supposed to be here."