Chapter 10 – All Things Must End

Author's Note: Two chapters left! :)

~ Amina Gila

As far as Rapax is concerned, this is the craziest plan her master has ever come up with in his life. In order to officially show the unity between the new Empire and the Outer Rim Alliance, Vader and Angelus have decided to have a second, but this time public, wedding ceremony.

Personally, she thinks Angelus just wants an extra good excuse to wear a very unnecessarily fancy dress – not that she ever needs an excuse for that.

Although Rapax never did get to attend their last wedding since she didn't meet Vader until a couple months after that, so she doesn't mind. Even if it seems like overkill.

Especially considering that the Jedi are aware that the leader of the Outer Rim Alliance is a Sith, and they're going to be attending, since this is... public.

There's quite a few people attending, mostly for political reasons or in the hopes of gaining favors, but she still doesn't miss the clear feeling of malevolent eyes on her as she moves through the crowd. She isn't keeping her lightsabers in plain sight, but there's no way her shielding is good enough that none of the Jedi pick up on it.

Because, yes, there are a few of them here, though she isn't sure if just as a polite political statement or because they're trying to feel them out, get a clue on how they operate before they take action against them. She has to wonder. Although such action would be foolish, and they have to know it. But she doesn't think they're actually going to back down, even if they don't do anything openly.

She brushes the thoughts aside, though, turning her attention to the front of the room once the ceremony finally begins.

And when it's over, Vader and Angelus are officially married... again.

Whatever.

They're both insane, as far as she's concerned. But as long as it will work to their benefit...

**w**

It's finally time for them to return to Tatooine, something Vader is eager for, especially since Athair will be coming with them, though he can't stay long.

Anakin is following him as they approach the shuttle, expression guarded, though Vader can feel how uncomfortable and... upset he feels in the Force.

He glances at Anakin for a moment, meets his eyes briefly with an equally unreadable look before he looks away.

"We are ready to go," Vader tells Athair instead, heading up the ramp with them following.

Anakin freezes the moment he steps into the hold. "What is she doing here?"

"Bringing Skywalker here too now?" Ventress crows, reclining lazily in a seat in the corner, "And here I thought at least the Jedi's precious Chosen One wouldn't be 'corrupted by the Dark Side.'"

Anakin flinches back. His emotions flare into the Force, a mix of hurt and anger and guilt and...

"That's enough, Ventress," Athair snaps, which surprisingly, shuts her up, as he turns to Anakin, "She... decided to join us."

Anakin opens his mouth, then closes it again, saying nothing, but his unhappiness is loud enough that there's no way everyone can't feel it.

"She was a valuable ally in defeating Sidious," Vader offers, though he doesn't think that changes anything, before he disappears to the cockpit to fire up the engines. It's time to go.

Once they make the jump to lightspeed, he steps back into the main hold.

Rapax and Ventress are busy in the corner doing... something. He doesn't pay attention to what, instead moving to take a seat next to Athair. Anakin is nowhere to be seen.

Athair is scowling, which is normal, and Vader has long since learned to read whether it's a grumpy scowl or a 'you are in very big trouble' one, but right now he seems more... unhappy, almost. Not hurt, really, but...

"Is... something wrong, Master?" he asks, quietly.

"Anakin is... not taking this well."

Oh. He knew Anakin wouldn't be happy with the plan, but Athair had seemed fine with it before, so they'd gone through with it. "He was raised as a Jedi. He... doesn't understand," Vader replies.

"Yes," his master agrees, "He is very much like you and will always put his family first, but I trained him to be loyal to the Council and to shun his attachments. And I taught him that the Sith are evil."

Vader winces. He can't imagine what that would be like, really. To be taught that he wasn't allowed to care about anyone, not even his master? The way Athair treated Anakin must have been... quite different.

The sudden change must be strange for Anakin, to say the least. Especially since he's been trained to hate the Sith.

"Do you think he would tell the Council what's really happening?" Vader asks.

"I don't," Athair replies, "But he is..."

Not taking the change well, understandably. If it's clashing with everything he believes in, Vader can understand it to a point, but he can't even imagine such a life.

Then again, if after Athair merged over, he'd been determined to go by Jedi beliefs, Vader has no idea how he would handle it. He doesn't want to imagine it, and this, he supposes, is probably a little like how Anakin is feeling.

"If you... had remained a Jedi, it would not be easy for me either," he admits, "But I would still know you care."

Athair's hand drops to Vader's arm. "As a Jedi, I never showed it."

He can't even imagine what that would be like. And he doesn't know very much about Jedi training, but if he still treated Anakin much like he treated Vader...

"I can see now it... hurt him," Athair continues, "But he no longer sees me as the same, so I cannot change it." Not like that's a surprise. Vader wouldn't see him the same either if he suddenly started preaching about the Jedi Code, and "letting go" and whatever.

"I could talk to him," suggests Vader.

"Yes," Athair agrees. "That may help. He needs support, and he trusts no one."

The door to the room Anakin is in hisses open as he approaches it. The boy is seated on the bed, in much the same way he was right after they'd first taken his Obi-Wan. He looks up sharply, eyes narrowing, as Vader enters. "What do you want?"

"Merely to speak with you," he replies, moving to sit across from him.

Before, Anakin had been afraid, afraid of losing his master, and Vader thinks that to a point he believes that's what happened. His bitterness and wariness now speak for themselves.

And... Vader can't deny that there's a strange connection between them. He feels... strangely at home around him in a way that makes no sense, especially because of how Light he feels. Comes from how they're the same person, he supposes. "If it's worth anything, I am sorry about how this turned out for you," Vader says finally.

Anakin nods, conceding the point but doesn't speak.

"I took your master from you."

"What do you want?" he asks tiredly, suspiciously. He sounds worn out.

"Athair told me you were struggling." This entire situation is immensely awkward, and he doesn't know what to say to him. He's never been good at words, but he feels at a complete, utter lack of anything to say whenever he's near Anakin. It happened last time, too.

"I don't know what there is to say."

Part of him wonders what would happen if he did try to turn Anakin, if he showed him the truth of the Force like his own master did years ago. Athair had told him not to, but Vader wonders if it would help him, anyway. He doesn't know what else could help. It would be so easy for him. He could manipulate him so easily if he wanted to, but... Athair had wanted to keep him Light, just as he is now. Vader doesn't understand it – thankfully. Neither of his children are Light, or he doesn't know what he'd do.

Darkness isn't evil, despite what Anakin has been led to believe, and Vader doesn't know how to show him otherwise. "Sith are little different than the Jedi," he points out. "We both believe in the greater good."

"What is it?" Anakin asks. "And who decides? And what of those who aren't benefited by it? Don't they still matter?"

"I asked my master all those questions when I was young." Vader keeps talking before he can slip back into the memories. Dwelling on the past will do no good. "We can only do so much, but what matters is how we do more than the Jedi."

"The Sith only care for themselves," Anakin shoots back.

"Really?" Vader asks, "We rely on our passion to make us stronger. We have families – unlike the Jedi. We care for each other far more than anyone in your Order. Tell me, Anakin, when was the last time the Jedi did something for you?"

"They freed me," he answers, eyes narrowed.

"After leaving you a slave for... nine years? Or was it more?"

"They didn't leave me. They had no control on Tatooine. They had no reason to help me. No way to know I needed help, and they had no reason to help those on Tatooine. They cannot outstep their role. To interfere would mean taking on a role greater than that which the Jedi are meant to hold."

"We do not fear our own powers as the Jedi do," Vader replies. "We embrace them. Use them. We let them bring us to a level where we can do more and make a difference."

"How long?" Anakin asks. He's being stubborn, the same way all Jedi are. At least he's not being downright arrogant and self-righteous like most. "How long can you gather and contain more power before it corrupts you? Before it consumes you, and you destroy everything you now care for?"

"My powers are contained," Vader replies sharply, slightly irked. "They are controlled, fueled by my family. We can love. We have everything that we dreamed. But tell me – if you truly believe the Jedi are selfless, how?"

He's tense now, clearly uncomfortable. "We devote our lives to others."

"Because you know no other way," Vader reminds. "You never had a choice, did you? None of you have. You had your free-will ripped away from you and were brainwashed into a system where you knew no other life. How can you protect others if you don't understand what out there is worth protecting?"

Anakin narrows his eyes. "It is not my place to question this. The Order has stood for thousands of years and is built on experience. I can't question that."

"Even a well-established system can be wrong," Vader replies, "The Sith in our reality changed much too, for the better." At least their lineage did. He can't say the same for all the others.

"The Jedi do their best," Anakin repeats, though Vader can definitely feel that... he has some doubts even if he's long buried them. He can probably only sense it because they're the same person.

"Perhaps," he concedes, "But there are still many whom they do not help – whether it is by their choice or not. If other Force users are willing to help them, why should they be considered the Jedi's enemies?"

"The Dark Side is dangerous," he retorts, narrowing his eyes.

Force, this conversation is getting nowhere. He doesn't know if Anakin is just being stubborn or if he truly believes all of this, but it's no wonder he's having such a hard time being around Athair now if this is how he views the Sith. Because Obi-Wan taught him to be that way. It's hard to even believe that any version of his master could raise another version of him like this.

"It can be, if we don't learn to control ourselves," Vader replies, "The Dark Side is nothing more than our deepest desires and emotions. Even love is strongest in the Dark Side. The Light has little emotional depth, and I know you want more."

Anakin crosses his arms, a clear sign he's feeling uncomfortable. "It's not the Jedi way."

"But you still want more," he reiterates, and Anakin doesn't deny it. "There are Sith out there who believe family and love are nothing but weakness, but in the end, they always destroy themselves. My master told me... that he used to believe the same, until after he found me. And... he told me that as a Jedi he taught you to shun your attachments to people as well, but in the end, in the end, I know he still loves you, and you him."

"How is that relevant?" he demands, a hint of... something in his voice. Something a little like longing, perhaps?

"Feelings of that nature only make you stronger. You know that, even if you don't want to see it. Your master sees that now too that he has seen both lives. Perhaps he would have seen that eventually, even as a Jedi." Although, personally, Vader doubts as much, though he simply can't imagine a world where Athair wasn't like that.

Anakin says nothing, but Vader can see he's definitely thinking about it, even though he probably doesn't want to be.

"He... has not changed as much as you might believe. He has merely seen past the flaws of the Jedi – and all living beings have them. You can't deny that. I know you want more than a life as an ordinary Jedi – "

"How would you know that?" he retorts. It sounds like a denial, but Vader knows better.

"I can sense it. And I know we may not be the same, but we are similar. I always wanted more than to only be a Sith, as well. And eventually that's what... changed my master."

Anakin doesn't reply immediately, and Vader lets the silence settle between them. Whatever he's thinking, he's unlikely to share with a Sith anyway. Vader doesn't know what more he can say to the boy – not without outright trying to turn him. Maybe he already was, or at the very least, feeding his doubts about the Jedi. He can't even imagine how someone could be so thoroughly convinced that love is wrong.

Or no, that isn't what Anakin believes, but... It's what he's constantly been told. By Obi-Wan. And maybe he's also just being stubborn, because to be fair, Vader would be too if he was arguing with a Jedi about his own beliefs.

"I know you want more from your master," he says, standing, "More than you should ever have as a Jedi. Accepting and getting a family shouldn't have to mean sacrificing all your beliefs."

He leaves it at that, heading for the door, though he can feel Anakin's eyes on him all the way out of the room.

Although he had hoped otherwise, Vader isn't really surprised when Anakin doesn't leave the room for the rest of the trip. He clearly has a lot to think about. And to be fair, Vader wouldn't feel very comfortable being around Anakin's Jedi family – not that he has one.

They finally reach Tatooine, and Luke and Leia run out to greet them immediately. Vader pulls them both into his arms, holding them close.

"How have you been?" Vader inquires.

"Some Tuskens attacked nearby," Luke chirps, "But we dealt with them."

"I think there's still some slavers hiding out in part of Mos Espa. There's been some... disturbances," Leia adds.

Vader nods. "We will deal with that later." He steps aside as the others finally come down the ramp. Anakin is in the back, and both twins instantly brighten when they see him.

"Why are you here?" Luke asks, bouncing past them over to Anakin. They're... surprisingly eager to see him. Maybe it's because he's technically like they're uncle. (Just a disturbingly Light one.)

His expression is guarded, but he lightens a little at the sight of them. "I'm here to see Padme."

"Oh," Leia replies, and maybe she sounds a little disappointed, "Maybe you can stay for a little bit?"

"Perhaps," he agrees.

"Instead of cooking ourselves out here," Rapax cuts in, "Why don't we go inside?"

**w**

Anakin can't get his mind off the conversation with Vader. Most of it he could try to dismiss, shrug off as the Sith trying to manipulate him – to be fair he probably was – but not everything. He... made the Jedi and Sith sound quite similar, and it is true that these Sith are very different from the ones he's otherwise encountered.

And... as far as family is concerned, he can hardly deny that Vader is right. In the end, that's all he's ever wanted, and it's always felt like he'll never have it. He can't, really, if he ever wants to be a true Jedi. But he still can never imagine a time where family wasn't the most important thing to him.

And now, he actually has a chance to truly consider Obi-Wan a part of it.

But at the same time, the Dark Side is dangerous. He knows that for a fact. And... He lets out a quiet sigh, past his frustration and confusion. He doesn't know what to do.

"Ani?" Padme steps around the corner, and he doesn't waste a second, hurrying over to her the moment they're alone, hugging her.

"Angel," he murmurs, "I was so worried about you."

This is what Vader meant. About family. Why should having one be wrong? His mind traitorously whispers. Because in truth, it's something he's never understood either and never will.

"What're you doing here?" she asks, pulling back, "How did you know where to find me?"

"Because of Obi-Wan," he admits, "He – he's a part of them."

"What?" Padme exclaims, eyes widening.

"I don't know what they told you, but they are alternate versions of us from a different reality," he begins.

She nods slowly. "So they told me."

"And Vader... he merged his master over with mine."

"... Oh."

"I didn't know they would do any of this," he continues, "They didn't tell me about any of their plans, but Obi-Wan told me... that they were only trying to help the galaxy."

"They seem to truly believe they are," she admits, frowning, "They might be trying for now, but I can't stand for the Empire."

He really doesn't want to get into the politics right now. "I know. Are – are you okay?"

"I'm fine. They didn't hurt me," she assures, "It's been... strange meeting our children."

"They technically aren't ours."

"No, but close enough."

"Yes," Anakin agrees, with a faint smile. He doesn't know what to think of the twins. He would be lying to say he doesn't... care for them, and he can't deny the connection he has with Vader either – likely a result of their bond.

Padme steps closer, laying a hand on his arm and she looks almost hesitant. "We could have that someday," she says quietly, and Anakin freezes, his breath catching in his throat.

"Maybe," he finally gets out, "But you're –"

"I'm not in the Senate anymore," she says, a bitter smile on her face, "But I don't want you to leave the Order for me either way. But perhaps someday, we can."

He wants it. He does, more than he could admit, especially after everything lately. Maybe someday. But in truth, it's not something they could have without him leaving the Order.

He wanted to do that once, because he thought he'd be able to help people better if he wasn't a part of it, but Obi-Wan had persuaded him to stay. And now... he can't believe he's thinking about it again. Maybe Vader's words are really getting to his head right now, but everything is just so confusing.

Still, he could never leave Ahsoka. She's his padawan, his responsibility, and he would never leave her. He can't leave so long as the war is going on either, but there appears to be a ceasefire in effect for now, though knowing how chaotic and volatile the galaxy is, it's truly hard to say how long that will last. Of course, there was always Obi-Wan, but leaving the Order wouldn't mean leaving him anymore.

Assuming Obi-Wan even is Obi-Wan. He still doesn't know what to think about all of that. He doesn't exactly feel the same, but... the entire situation is frustrating, and he much prefers not to think about it.

He leaves the conversation with Padme at that, and eventually finds himself moving through the palace on his own, just taking some time to think.

He... misses Obi-Wan again, honestly, and... he could talk to him. Maybe. He doesn't know if it would help or change anything. Personally, he doesn't know what he'd even say, but he wants to be around him. The changes have been already made, and his master is no longer the person he once was. Sometimes, Anakin thinks that might be a good thing – at least it gives them a better chance at some sort of future together, but it also means he doesn't truly know this person.

He should stop thinking about a time that has gone – it's the future that matters now. And regardless of what he wants, he still has Ahsoka to take care of. That's what matters most of all – not how badly he craves to have another mentor in his life. Maybe... he should leave the Order. At least it wouldn't feel quite so much as if his loyalty to both sides were tearing him in two. What he's not sure of is how to go about that – or how he can leave when he has a padawan, a responsibility.

Someone to think of beyond himself and Padme, because everyone else in his life is gone – except Rex. Rex and the boys deserve justice, which Angelus has given them. Oddly enough, it was the Sith who gave them their freedom, not the Jedi.

If he's going to spend the next few weeks or however long it is here, he's going to have to figure something out with the Sith, whether he likes it or not.

**w**

The Council is as predictable as ever, of course. Athair had expected they would make a stupid move from the start, which of course, they did. Only they don't realize they have a Sith in their midst, monitoring and waiting to hear every plan they make.

Vader may not have been the happiest about it, but it's why he knew Athair had to remain on the Council despite the dangers. He knew the Jedi would try to take down the Sith even if they were completely minding their own business – it's simply the way Jedi are. If Athair were there, he'd know all the depths of their plans in and out and would be able to warn the others accordingly. It's a good thing they followed those instincts, or they would never have been forewarned about the Council having a very serious discussion about turning all their efforts to locating the Sith.

The Jedi don't know everything, though. They have yet to decide on anything, but they're walking a fine line. One wrong move, and Angelus will have a very good reason to order their... removal. It's something Vader knows Athair hopes to avoid, but it may prove necessary.

"Their foolishness is astounding," Vader declares flatly when he hears. "I suspected it would come to this."

"No," Athair objects sharply, "I have no intention of destroying them unless we must."

"Because of Anakin?" he asks. He may have sounded slightly bitter about that, but he thinks it's excusable. Being with his master again is... not entirely like he expected, either. Athair has changed for Vader, too.

"Everything I have done is for you or him. You have two children of your own. You know how it is."

"Yes." That is not the terminology Vader would use, but he concedes the point. "Either way, they have made their last mistake if they come for us."

Truly, there's nothing left in the galaxy that he could want – everyone he cares for is here, and those from his former reality are part of his past. They have the galaxy in their grasp now, and they'll use it to help people, as they always have.

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