Strange World • New World by TruView
Brief Note by The FanFiction Writer of this story: In this standalone series, we explore the perilous descent of the 'Chosen One' from the vantage point of his own thoughts and through his own eyes as he opens himself to the Darkside. This narrative essentially leads to the second arc culminating in a showdown between himself and Ahsoka Tano, lightly mentioned in the AFTERMATH timeline in chapter five of the fanfiction story entitled Star Wars - Ahsoka Tano - Hard Goodbyes.
Star Wars_The Darkside I_On The Mend (Anakin)
[In a private medical facility on Coruscant, One month after The Betrayal]
Thanks to the conveniences of modern medicine and three long weeks of convalescing after an extensive surgery involving cybernetic limbs to replace the two that were taken from me, I was starting to feel something like myself again. After weeks of learning how to use my new hands, I was now making serious strides on the road to recovery. However, it wasn't that way in the very beginning. The first couple of hours were fraught with failure upon failure as I tried unsuccessfully to coordinate the use of my new fingers. I was concerned that the 2-1B Surgical Droid had malfunctioned, making a mess of things.
"What did you do, droid? These things aren't even listening to me!" The motive algorithms of my new mechanical digits were erratic causing them to move either too fast or too slow.
"Your developing nerve clusters have yet to form a sufficient amount of dendrite material around the hybrid cortical nodes that interface with your machine replacements. Unfortunately, growth isn't instantaneous for biologicals, Master Skywalker. Time, patience, and physical therapy are my recommendations." It's mechanical voice carried no hint of good will.
Of course. I should have realized that. It made perfect sense. The human body is helplessly slow compared to automatons. It was already too late to do anything significant that evening so I just turned in for the night smothering my frustrations by counting blurrgs.
Padmé came to visit and brought the children along even though I told her not too.
"They shouldn't see their father in this state."
"You have your hands back now. What gives?"
I shook my head and played with the children till visiting hours were over. Before she left I pulled her aside and simply said, "I'll need some time." She pulled away from me in anger but then turned back searching my face in vain for any recognizable empathy. I don't know what happened between us, exactly. I do… still care for her, but I think something in our relationship has changed. Maybe, I'm just not built for a nuclear family existence. Our time together before children was bitter-sweet, but mostly because it had been the forbidden fruit of my Jedi existence after a tough day's work. Back then, I was still on the edge fighting the good fight. Now, that fruit was a… a burden… one that had fattened me up so much… I was bested by my own padawan before all the galaxy thanks to that damnable rebel, Saw Gerrera! She disarmed me… and then, she disarmed me.
I was relieved when Padmé left without coming back to kiss me. What I did not realize until it was too late was our young son, Luke. He had run off somewhere but had come back and stood quietly in the doorway watching the mostly wordless interactions between his mother and I. With his head tilted diagonally, his still-blossoming mind was having difficulty processing the complexities of adulting. When our eyes met, I could sense puzzlement in his precocious mind. I wasn't entirely sure if his astute observations came by way of the Force or if they were simply the manifestations of the curious nature of children.
"We need to be careful how we disagree with each other in front of the children. They pick up every nuance. I don't want them being negatively impacted." She told me once.
"Agreed." I was so arrogant, answering as if I had already known this fact. I didn't.
"Hey buddy. Come give your ole' man a hug before you go." I said extending an arm accented by a hearty smile. He just stood in the doorway. Eventually, Padmé had to prompt him by coming back herself and allowing me to kiss a sleepy Leia goodbye. This did not help.
"Go on Luke, give him a hug before we go." She said in her most pleasant voice.
"No." He sounded so quiet while his intense baby blue eyes bore into me.
"Anakin, what's going on?" She asked me.
"He senses your grief and heartache. He's not quite sure how or why, but he knows I put it there."
"Good." She said curtly and started for the exit down the hall. "Come on Luke."
The boy had to pry himself away and rush to catch up with his mother taking her by the hand wanting desperately to comfort her. Even here in my bed, I could sense the gentle use of the Force he had unknowingly employed to make that happen. Intuitively gifted.
Which type will the boy be, light, dark, or gray? Will we share communion, or inevitably be at odds? Luke, oh Luke, you are not so easy to read my son.