Hello, and welcome to the first Star Wars fanfic from any SkyWolf! Luke here, to say a few things.
First, this will include NO EXPANDED UNIVERSE JUNK. ONLY FILMS.
Second, this is NOT an expression of religion, just an idea I had.
Third, this, unlike many of our stories, has NO SLASH. No romance except the couples in the films. Anakin/Padme`, Han/Leia. No erotic content.
Fourth, this encludes a language we call Old Basic. It is pronounced somewhat like Latin, i.e. Dartare is said "dahr-tah-ray" or "dahr-tair-ay," Shio is said "shee-yoh," Shuken is said "shoo-kehn." Also, it includes some made up Huttese, spoken however it looks.
FIFTH~ Please review, and remember: You don't own it, I don't own it. You no sue me, I no sue you. Got it?
WARNINGS: Swearing, mentions of violence, but little worse than in the movies. Only PG-13 for a word they don't use.
SUMMARY: When Anakin is confronted by the god of the dead, how will he be judged?
Shio de Mort, God of Death
Chapter I: Advocate
~~~~ANAKIN POV~~~~
Sith. A fitting term, for it meant dark. And dark I was.
And dark, shifting like the deepest of Cosmic voids, surrounded me here. Surrounded, penetrated, like the Force itself. Like the darkness that for so long fueled my soul, save that, within this abyss, there was warmth. Not a blaze of fury, nor a frozen wasteland of icy hatred.
Warmth, but no light. Wind, but nothing within it, except the stench of my own spirit. Hollow, empty wind, ringing in ears that no longer existed. Scent of corruption stifling lungs that no longer breathed. If this was hell, it was of my own doing.
"No, not hell." A voice? Here? Who? "Greetings, Skywalker. It has been long since that day you challenged me."
My search for the owner of the voice proved fruitless. "Show yourself!" I hollered into the depths.
"Ah, so still you presume to attempt dominion over me? I cannot be controlled by a mere mortal soul." The voice clarified, and I could hear that it was deep, strong. Not unlike that of Obi-wan.
"Who the blazes are you?" My query was a roar, born of my frustration at my helpless condition. I tried to swing my arms, but I realized that, even if I had them, they would be drifting, resisted by this viscous wind.
"Still a defiant one, I see. Well, if it is necessary, you may call me Shio." I drew back- or front, whichever 'away' I went, as I realized the being's identity.
"Negorulii!" In my haste to deny, I reverted to Huttese. "I mean, nokanduu! Er, IMPOSSIBLE! You can't be!"
"You know, I can understand Huttese, too. You don't need to use Basic. And, no, it is not impossible. Shio de Mort is just one of my many names."
"You know, I'm not a religious man. In fact, I'm atheist." I tried to cross my arms, but I once again hit the painful reality of not having a body. "So, why am I here?"
"Everyone is judged, whether they do not believe in the Gods or not." He sounded as though he would be shrugging in indifference as he spoke. I made my spirit-voice sound like I was raising an eyebrow.
"Do I get docked any points for atheism?"
"No. Who cares what your religion is? I'm here to judge your morals, not your beliefs. And I must say, you could use all the points you can get."
"So, what's the deal? Do I get a jury trial? Trial by a jury of my peers? Or is it that you alone make the choice?"
"Well, you can call in witnesses- dead ones. No living ones- and present evidence, but I make the decision. But, you know, you've already hit it off pretty bad with me."
"What the hell does that mean?" My voice squeaked, and I flinched- or tried to.
"Remember when your mother died?"
"LEAVE MY MOTHER OUT OF THIS! YOU TOOK HER FROM ME, AND I'M NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO YOU SPEAK OF HER SO DISRESPECTFULLY!" I attempted to fling myself at him, but he merely chuckled.
"Still reckless. One would think a forty-one year old man would have more restraint. However, you are wrong in one thing. I did not 'take' your mother. The Tuskens killed her, and I merely guided her to her rest. I take no pleasure from people's deaths." His voice actually held a tinge of regret. "She was- and still is- a good woman. I did not relish having to lead her, but at least I got to take her to somewhere pleasant. I am not so certain about you."
"Anywhere away from those I love is unpleasant," I growled. "This is really testing my patience. Let's get the trial going, already!"
"But don't you want time to prepare yourself? Don't you wish to speak with your advocate?"
"Advocate?"
"All souls are permitted one person who has gone before them to expressly speak for them, like a mortal attorney. There was one being who was quite adamant that he be your advocate, as he had been in life. Do you want to speak with him?" I would have swallowed, had I a throat.
"Who is he?" If it was Obi-Wan, I didn't think I could face him.
"Master Shio, I believe I can answer that question." A new presence made itself felt, and I saw, for the first time, a light. And then, a form consolidated in front of my vision.
"Master Jinn?" My disbelief was clear in my voice.
"What? You're not surprised to see me, are you?" He smiled gently, and I allowed my vision to trail away from his face.
"Not really surprised, but more honored." Uneasy at the idea of having a Jedi speak on my behalf, I bit my lip- figuratively speaking.
"Anakin, did you think I would let anyone else? I spoke for you thirty-some-odd years ago, I would like to do so once more. Will you let me?"
How could I respond? I hadn't expected anyone to want to help me. "Master Jinn, I- I don't know. I mean, you know what I've done. I can feel it. Why would you want to try to save my soul? What makes you so sure I don't deserve eternal damnation?"
"Anakin, what was your final act?" His voice held a tone of sternness- as though he knew, but was trying to teach me something.
I tensed, and would have bared my teeth at the memory of my last hour. "I threw that- that- that DEMON to his death! He was trying to kill my son!" A smug smile greeted me from Qui-Gon's face.
"Exactly. Your final deed was a noble one- a good one. I wish to prove that your soul holds enough virtue to save it from Hell. Come, Anakin. We have much preparation." I blinked, and suddenly felt a great weight being added to me.
"Oomph!" I fell- to the ground. Ground? "What? Where are we?" I shielded my eyes as a flickering registered in them. Firelight. Looking around, I saw that once more, I had a body. "What the..."
"Don't try to communicate with people here. There is only one living person who will be able to see you. Now, look around, and try to find people. I will be behind you a ways, shielding my presence. Should anyone notice you, do not reveal me."
"But why? What's going on?" Surveying the location, I saw trees. Lots of trees. ENORMOUS trees! "Holy crap! We're on Endor?" Qui-Gon nodded, and held a finger to his lips.
"Go ahead. I'll be watching."
First, this will include NO EXPANDED UNIVERSE JUNK. ONLY FILMS.
Second, this is NOT an expression of religion, just an idea I had.
Third, this, unlike many of our stories, has NO SLASH. No romance except the couples in the films. Anakin/Padme`, Han/Leia. No erotic content.
Fourth, this encludes a language we call Old Basic. It is pronounced somewhat like Latin, i.e. Dartare is said "dahr-tah-ray" or "dahr-tair-ay," Shio is said "shee-yoh," Shuken is said "shoo-kehn." Also, it includes some made up Huttese, spoken however it looks.
FIFTH~ Please review, and remember: You don't own it, I don't own it. You no sue me, I no sue you. Got it?
WARNINGS: Swearing, mentions of violence, but little worse than in the movies. Only PG-13 for a word they don't use.
SUMMARY: When Anakin is confronted by the god of the dead, how will he be judged?
Shio de Mort, God of Death
Chapter I: Advocate
~~~~ANAKIN POV~~~~
Sith. A fitting term, for it meant dark. And dark I was.
And dark, shifting like the deepest of Cosmic voids, surrounded me here. Surrounded, penetrated, like the Force itself. Like the darkness that for so long fueled my soul, save that, within this abyss, there was warmth. Not a blaze of fury, nor a frozen wasteland of icy hatred.
Warmth, but no light. Wind, but nothing within it, except the stench of my own spirit. Hollow, empty wind, ringing in ears that no longer existed. Scent of corruption stifling lungs that no longer breathed. If this was hell, it was of my own doing.
"No, not hell." A voice? Here? Who? "Greetings, Skywalker. It has been long since that day you challenged me."
My search for the owner of the voice proved fruitless. "Show yourself!" I hollered into the depths.
"Ah, so still you presume to attempt dominion over me? I cannot be controlled by a mere mortal soul." The voice clarified, and I could hear that it was deep, strong. Not unlike that of Obi-wan.
"Who the blazes are you?" My query was a roar, born of my frustration at my helpless condition. I tried to swing my arms, but I realized that, even if I had them, they would be drifting, resisted by this viscous wind.
"Still a defiant one, I see. Well, if it is necessary, you may call me Shio." I drew back- or front, whichever 'away' I went, as I realized the being's identity.
"Negorulii!" In my haste to deny, I reverted to Huttese. "I mean, nokanduu! Er, IMPOSSIBLE! You can't be!"
"You know, I can understand Huttese, too. You don't need to use Basic. And, no, it is not impossible. Shio de Mort is just one of my many names."
"You know, I'm not a religious man. In fact, I'm atheist." I tried to cross my arms, but I once again hit the painful reality of not having a body. "So, why am I here?"
"Everyone is judged, whether they do not believe in the Gods or not." He sounded as though he would be shrugging in indifference as he spoke. I made my spirit-voice sound like I was raising an eyebrow.
"Do I get docked any points for atheism?"
"No. Who cares what your religion is? I'm here to judge your morals, not your beliefs. And I must say, you could use all the points you can get."
"So, what's the deal? Do I get a jury trial? Trial by a jury of my peers? Or is it that you alone make the choice?"
"Well, you can call in witnesses- dead ones. No living ones- and present evidence, but I make the decision. But, you know, you've already hit it off pretty bad with me."
"What the hell does that mean?" My voice squeaked, and I flinched- or tried to.
"Remember when your mother died?"
"LEAVE MY MOTHER OUT OF THIS! YOU TOOK HER FROM ME, AND I'M NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO YOU SPEAK OF HER SO DISRESPECTFULLY!" I attempted to fling myself at him, but he merely chuckled.
"Still reckless. One would think a forty-one year old man would have more restraint. However, you are wrong in one thing. I did not 'take' your mother. The Tuskens killed her, and I merely guided her to her rest. I take no pleasure from people's deaths." His voice actually held a tinge of regret. "She was- and still is- a good woman. I did not relish having to lead her, but at least I got to take her to somewhere pleasant. I am not so certain about you."
"Anywhere away from those I love is unpleasant," I growled. "This is really testing my patience. Let's get the trial going, already!"
"But don't you want time to prepare yourself? Don't you wish to speak with your advocate?"
"Advocate?"
"All souls are permitted one person who has gone before them to expressly speak for them, like a mortal attorney. There was one being who was quite adamant that he be your advocate, as he had been in life. Do you want to speak with him?" I would have swallowed, had I a throat.
"Who is he?" If it was Obi-Wan, I didn't think I could face him.
"Master Shio, I believe I can answer that question." A new presence made itself felt, and I saw, for the first time, a light. And then, a form consolidated in front of my vision.
"Master Jinn?" My disbelief was clear in my voice.
"What? You're not surprised to see me, are you?" He smiled gently, and I allowed my vision to trail away from his face.
"Not really surprised, but more honored." Uneasy at the idea of having a Jedi speak on my behalf, I bit my lip- figuratively speaking.
"Anakin, did you think I would let anyone else? I spoke for you thirty-some-odd years ago, I would like to do so once more. Will you let me?"
How could I respond? I hadn't expected anyone to want to help me. "Master Jinn, I- I don't know. I mean, you know what I've done. I can feel it. Why would you want to try to save my soul? What makes you so sure I don't deserve eternal damnation?"
"Anakin, what was your final act?" His voice held a tone of sternness- as though he knew, but was trying to teach me something.
I tensed, and would have bared my teeth at the memory of my last hour. "I threw that- that- that DEMON to his death! He was trying to kill my son!" A smug smile greeted me from Qui-Gon's face.
"Exactly. Your final deed was a noble one- a good one. I wish to prove that your soul holds enough virtue to save it from Hell. Come, Anakin. We have much preparation." I blinked, and suddenly felt a great weight being added to me.
"Oomph!" I fell- to the ground. Ground? "What? Where are we?" I shielded my eyes as a flickering registered in them. Firelight. Looking around, I saw that once more, I had a body. "What the..."
"Don't try to communicate with people here. There is only one living person who will be able to see you. Now, look around, and try to find people. I will be behind you a ways, shielding my presence. Should anyone notice you, do not reveal me."
"But why? What's going on?" Surveying the location, I saw trees. Lots of trees. ENORMOUS trees! "Holy crap! We're on Endor?" Qui-Gon nodded, and held a finger to his lips.
"Go ahead. I'll be watching."