Salvation
Author: Fraoch A'Ronaigh
Summary: AU, Semi-Cannon. It's been five years since the birth of Darth Vader. Believing his wife and unborn child were murdered by his own hand, Vader willingly cast aside the last connections of his humanity and, along side the Emperor, he became one of the most feared beings of the Galactic Empire. Will he stay this way, or are forces beyond his control about to change his destiny once again?
Disclaimer: Star Wars belongs to the creative genius of George Lucas.
Rating: M. It may eventually go down to an M rating, so it's best to just rate the whole thing M..
A/N: Heavy spoilers for Episode III. Anakin/Padmè pairing. I've never actually written a fan fiction before, mainly articles about real life situations, so this is new to me. Think of this as Episode III ½ J
The dream was coming again. He tried to fight it off and failed as he always did. It still came, the images of his past best left alone. He shifted in his sleep in a vain attempt to ward the nightmare off. If he could wake up he would, but he's never been able to, yet. The dream took him.
He was in the Jedi Temple in the room where he gave up the rest of his soul. It was dark there now, the sounds of fighting had receded and he was acutely aware of his own breathing. The thick, coppery smell of blood filled the air of the training room.
He could hear something in the shadows of the room, but couldn't make out what it was. It sounded like weeping, but worse. He saw a shadow move along the wall and he turned to face it. His heart thundered in his chest. He knew that whatever was in the dark wanted him dead.
A sound of laughter filled the room causing him to jump in fear. It was a sound as pure as the light. A child's laugh. It filled him with dread. He turned to run from the room, but was trapped. There was no way out.
His hand shook as he reached for his light saber, shook so hard that he could barely grasp it. He would kill it if it touched him. He was a Jedi, he could protect himself from anything.
A child stepped out of the shadows. A small toe-headed boy was walking towards him and his knees gave out at the sight of him. It was one of the younglings that he had ruthlessly cut down.
Master Skywalker, there are too many of them. What are we to do? The child's voice struck his soul and he tried to stand. Every night he was given the choice to save the younglings and every night he failed.
"Go. Run away and never look back."
Too late.
A single flash of light in the shadows and the boy is dead.
"No!" He screams and looks at the boy lying on the floor. His head had been severed from his body.
"Why?"
There is no reply, only the sound of movement in the shadows.
Another child steps forward. A young girl this time.
You're supposed to save us.
"I know. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Still on his knees, he sobs a reply.
Another flash of light and the girl is dead.
The shadows press upon him now, leaving him no way to move. They change into the children he had killed and surround him. Voices, like echoes, fill his head.
You're supposed to protect us.
You're a Jedi Knight, you're supposed to save us.
Why did you kill us?
Why?
Why?
Why?
"I didn't mean to," he screams to them as he struggles to stand. "You don't understand. I had to."
Help us.
"I am. I won't fail you again."
It's too late. He's here.
A light flashes in the dark and the children draw back. The monster was there, just behind him. All he had to do was turn around and face him.
Protect us. The children speak as one. Save us from the monster.
Anakin turns to face the monster. It's Vader.
"I WILL kill you." He pulls his weapon out, no longer frozen in fear.
Vader laughs, the sound grates across the darkened room and causes his blood to turn to ice.
You cannot kill me. I'm a part of you.
"No." He tries to lift his light saber to strike Vader down, but his arms won't move. He looks down and sees that his arms are now Vader's arms.
"No. No." He shakes his head in denial as he stares at the mechanical arms that were now his. "No. Please. No."
His voice changes. He is Vader. "No."
Yes. His own voice replies. He is looking at himself now. His old self. The Jedi that he once was.
"It's a trick." Terrified, he backs away from his former self.
Can you kill me now? His own voice asks.
"Yes." Vader pulls his sword out and strikes at the figure before him. Anakin is dead.
He wakes, as he always does, with a scream stuck in his throat.
hr
The room was dark. Not so dark that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face, but dark enough to render a person senseless. She'd lost count of how long she'd been locked in the room. Three days, three weeks, a month - she had no idea. All that she knew was that she went to bed at home and woke up here and she hadn't left the room since.
She cried at first. Cried for her mom. Cried for her Aunt Jamillia. Cried just to cry and it hadn't worked. No one came for her. She thought she was being punished and tried to remember what it was that she could have done wrong to be put in this prison, but couldn't think of anything. She was alone. She was frightened.
Her mother's voice was in her head telling her to be strong. Stay strong Leia. You have to stay strong. She tried to be strong for her mother, but it wasn't working either. She wanted to go home. She wanted her mom. She wanted out of this room.
Leia turned over in the box-like bed she was laying on and stared at what she thought was the door. Judging by the way her stomach was growing, it was nearing the time when the protocol droid was going to bring her food and she was anxious for the little bit of contact it gave her with the outside world. She questioned the droid daily, to no avail. It never spoke to her, but it was something from behind the door. It made her feel less alone.
Sure enough, the door opened and the child silently congratulated herself on being right. Once her eyes adjusted to the light she realized that it wasn't a protocol droid at the door this time, but a man.
"Who are you?"
The man shuffled into the room as if he were in pain when moving. He had a dark cloak on and the hood was pulled over his head. He answered when he got close to the bed.
"I'm here to take you away from this place, Leia." His voice wheezed a bit as he spoke to her and she realized he was an old man.
"Why?"
The old man laughed as if she had made a grand joke and had to support himself on the table behind him. "You're so much like your father, aren't you," he asked when he finished.
Leia's ears perked up hearing him mention her father. Her mother never talked about him. She only told her that he died when she was still pregnant and let it go at that.
"You knew my father?"
"Child, I know your father now."
"But -" He cut her off before she could speak.
"Questions can be asked later. I need to get you out of here before they realize that I'm here. Come along now." He held his hand out to her and waited for her to take it.
Leia wasn't sure what to do. He was a stranger to her, but he knew her father. She wanted to learn about her father. But, was it safe to go? It had to be better than being locked up in this room though. She stared at the man a moment longer and then placed her hand into his.
"Yes," he wheezed. "You are much like your father." With that said he took his cloak off and wrapped her up in it so that she was completely covered. "Don't be frightened. I just need to make sure you're hidden so I can get you out of here."
Leia nodded, though he couldn't see it and waited to see what would happen next.