Title: Falling From The Light
Main Characters: Anakin/Padmé/Obi-Wan/Bant/Luke/Leia/Han/OC
Secondary Characters: OCs/Qui-Gon
Summary: The sequel to "Slipping Into Darkness." Palpatine knew that Anakin might defeat him, so he left something behind which may not only destroy the Chosen One, but his family as well.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of Star Wars, as cool as it would be if I did. Everything belongs to the Flannelled One. I do, however, own the OCs. They are mine, mine, all mine! (notices the strange looks she is receiving) I mean, (clears throat) They belong to me. (blush)
A/N: Originally, I wasn't going to write a continuation to "Slipping," but my wonderful readers on TFN convinced me to. The Lord blessed me with an idea, and "Falling" came about. This story takes some very interesting turns, and I hope that it will surprise you. :)
A/N2: As always, this story would never be what it is now without my wonderful beta's (Darth Mom's) help. "Slipping," began with an idea she had, and she was kind enough to let me borrow and expand on it, and she is always patient enough to listen to me talk about the sequel. :)
Hello everyone!
I feel very bad that it has taken me so long to post this next part! Darth Real Life is still being cruel. When I was 13 I almost died from pneumonia and it left me with lung damage that makes it very easy for me to get sick. My health has been terrible lately, and because of that I have decided to wait another year to go to college. That has been very much on my mind, along with other things, and my muse decided to leave for the Bahamas. I finally managed to drag her back here though, lol. :)
I am already working on the next part, and I should, Lord willing, be able to post it very soon. I can't promise that I will be able to return to posting every Thursday, but I am hoping that I can. :)
Thank you all so much for being so patient!
I hope you enjoy this next part, there is still a lot to come, and many surprises. :D
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Falling From The Light
Only the occasional rustle of a data-sheet, or clicking of a key, disturbed the quiet in the office in which Obi-Wan sat, the lengthening shadows a testament to the hours they had been working. Like his companions, Bant and Captain Solo, Obi-Wan's focus was solely on searching the immense database which the Naboo had collected about Palpatine, searching for something, anything, that could be used to find Anakin and his family.
But, the more that Obi-Wan read, the more uneasy he became. It was obvious now how well thought out Palpatine's plan had been, an unimaginably intricate web of lies and deceit; a holo-chess match in which Sidious had been the only one aware that a game was even being played, giving him an incredible advantage over his opponents, his supposed pawns.
Obi-Wan knew that there had to something in the files that could help them, some loose end which the Sith Lord had left behind. But as the day had passed, a feeling of helplessness had grown in the Jedi Master, along with something else that he dared not acknowledge, even to himself…a feeling of dread…of loss…
Since the attack he had been unable to sense anything through his bond with Anakin, or his Padawan, Luke. But, just as Obi-Wan was about to reach for yet another file, he suddenly sensed Anakin's presence once more. He could feel anguish, determination, pain, regret, and finally resignation. Through their bond, he felt Anakin's presence surge, drawing upon the Force briefly for strength. Then suddenly, it was as if he had heard Anakin cry out, and…
Obi-Wan closed his eyes against the sensation as he felt Anakin's presence suddenly ripped away, its light vanishing in an instant, a gaping hole left behind in the Force. The Jedi Master gripped the arms of his chair, trying to steady himself, the sensation seeming almost like a physical blow.
"Obi-Wan? What is it?" he heard Bant ask softly. He felt her gentle hand touch his shoulder, and looked up to find both Captain Solo and his fellow Knight watching him with concern. He couldn't stop the tears that filled his eyes.
"We're too late."
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It was quiet in the chamber now, but Darris Corren suspected that the young man's cry of denial would continue to echo in his mind for as long as he lived…as would the sight of the great Jedi Master lying unmoving on the floor.
Darris wasn't supposed to have been present to witness what had happened, and he knew that he could be punished for disobeying, but he had felt obligated to watch, to see the terrible consequences his actions had brought about. And now, now that he had a chance to help, to try to perhaps make right one of the many wrongs he had been forced to play a part in, he could not just stand by and do nothing.
Gathering his resolve, Darris opened the door of the small servant's chamber he had hidden in, and stepped into the throne room once more. The thick shadows in the room concealed his presence, yet he wasn't surprised when she sensed him there and turned, her black eyes emotionless as they always seemed, but her head tilted in puzzlement. He knew the source of her confusion. He had returned and hidden when she had ordered him to leave, and for her, disobedience was something unthinkable; Sidious had made sure of that. The Sith Lord had shaped her mind into a tool that was utterly loyal and unquestioning. Palpatine had crushed any spark of independence or personal desire that could have existed within her, had done his best to assure that darknesswas all she knew.
And yet, although the Sith Lord had been the one to shape her, Darris still keenly felt the weight of responsibility resting upon his shoulders. When others looked at her, they could see only what Sidious had made her, yet Darris saw instead what she could have been, but had never been given the chance to become. And Darris knew that this made him responsible for all that she did as well, and for those whom she hurt under Sidious's orders, like the family before him now.
"You were told to leave," she said simply.
Darris looked down, unsure how to answer. She would never understand if he tried to explain to her why he had remained, so instead, he turned his gaze to the Jedi Master at her feet. He knew what Sidious had ordered, that Anakin Skywalker be made to watch as his family was taken from him before he was killed. Sidious would be enraged that his greatest enemy had been allowed to die before he had suffered enough, and Darris knew it was that fact alone that might give him the chance to help.
"I can save him, Milady," he said softly.
She followed his gaze, studying Anakin Skywalker's still form.
"How?" she asked finally, "He is dead."
Darris looked down again, hoping that she would agree and allow him to try to save the Jedi Master's life. Though, he knew if she did permit him to do this, and the Jedi Master survived, then she had every intension of carrying out Palpatine's original orders. He could only hope he could find some way to stop that from happening as well.
"There… there may be a chance," he said quietly. "If his body can be placed in stasis soon enough, I might be able to clone the organs that were damaged, and revive him."
Darris turned as he spoke, his gaze now moving to the wall where the Skywalker family stood, chained. At his words, Anakin's wife did not speak, but she turned her tear streaked face towards him, a flicker of hope shining in her sorrow filled eyes. He could only pray that it was not false hope that he was giving her and her children.
"This would succeed?"
Darris moved his focus back to the being he had helped create, regret for both her and the family before him now weighing heavily upon his heart.
"It is the only chance, Milady."
She seemed to consider this for a moment, then finally nodded.
"Do it."
"Thank you, Milady," Darris said, bowing.
"What do you require?"
He thought for a moment, looking once more at the unmoving Jedi Master. He was a very large man, tall and well-muscled. Darris knew he could not move the Jedi by himself, and if there was to be any chance that this would succeed, then time was of the essence.
"I will need help, Milady, to bring him to the stasis chamber." He paused a moment then looked over to the Skywalker family once more. They had already lost so much, and he knew that if he failed, they would suffer the loss twice. But perhaps, there was something else he could do for them now, however small it might be.
"I will also need someone to assist me with the chamber itself. I am afraid that there is not time to call one of the other servants, Milady. Could you allow the prisoners to help?"
Her black gaze bore into his own for a moment, clearly trying to judge his intensions. Finally, she turned and raised her right hand, and with a simple gesture, released the chains that held Skywalker's wife. The other woman stood there motionless, unprepared for her sudden freedom, only the clatter of the fallen chains breaking the silence.
"The wife may assist you. The Jedi are too dangerous to be released."
Darris quickly bent to turn the Jedi Master over, and beckoned his wife to come forward. She looked at him for a moment, and in her eyes, he could see that she understood what he had done. It was a very small thing to have the comfort of holding a lost loved one, but he could see the profound gratitude in her expression as she moved to her husband's side. She knelt beside him to gently cradle her husband's head in her lap, tears continuing to slip down her cheeks.
"Anakin," he heard her whisper brokenly. She gently stroked his face with her hands, her petite frame shaking silently.
Darris allowed her a few moments, using the time to try to determine the extent of the injuries he would need to repair, then moved to place a gentle hand on the grieving woman's shoulder. Truly, he wished that he could simply allow her continue holding her husband, but he knew that they needed to hurry.
She understand his silent plea, and gently moved her husband's head from her lap, then gathered herself and rose unsteadily.
Sidious's servant raised her hand again, easily lifting the body of the great Jedi Master. Wishing he could do more for them, but knowing that it was impossible, Darris looked once more to the twins who still remained in the throne room. They looked back at him, grief, gratitude, and hope evident in their expressions. As he left the chamber, Darris silently prayed that he wouldn't fail.
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Shortly after Darris had left, Luke had been escorted back to his isolated cell by another servant, and now sat staring ahead mutely, his mind numb. He didn't want to think, didn't want to remember what he had witnessed, knowing that his father had sacrificed himself to save him…
At that thought, fresh grief crashed over Luke's mind, his heart twisting in pain. For the first time, he was grateful that he could no longer feel the Force, because he knew what he would sense…the absence…the void his father's death had left behind…
Luke's fists clenched, and he closed his eyes, trying to will the stark images away.
His father was gone, and it was because of him. Maybe if he had fought back harder, found some way to free himself and help, maybe then, his father would still be alive. But, Luke thought, he had been too weak. He hadn't been able to escape, and his father had been forced to fight alone, unarmed…
Some part of Luke knew that he shouldn't feel this way, that his father wouldn't want him to blame himself, but that gentle voice in his mind was far outweighed by his grief and guilt.
It's my fault.
Bitter pain welled up in his spirit, and Luke tried unsuccessfully to steel himself against it. But, his pain only increased as he thought of the dark being who had taken them, and something quietly began to stir within him.
She had taken the life of a great man, a hero, their father. His fists clenched once more, and his jaw tightened. Luke had seen many things as a Jedi Padawan, and had thought he knew what darkness was, but now he realized that he had been wrong. That being, that thing, she was true evil.
"I'm sorry," a quiet voice said.
Luke jumped, his surprise enough to jar him from his thoughts for a moment. He pushed himself to his feet, walked to the front of his cell, and watched as a man, perhaps only a few years older than himself, stepped from the shadows in the corridor. He was fairly tall, with dark hair and green eyes, and wore a simple gray uniform, which Luke recognized as one belonging to a servant.
"Who are you?" Luke demanded, his pain making his voice rough.
"I'm a prisoner here, like you," the man answered. He looked down. "My name is Tarin Nal. I'm sorry if I startled you, it is just that I heard what happened to your father, and I…I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry."
Luke could hear the sincerity in the man's voice and nodded.
"Thank you," he said finally.
The man looked away.
"I know what it's like to lose a parent."
Luke knew that this man was trying to be sympathetic, but his words still stung, and something in Luke rebelled against them.
"I haven't lost my father yet," Luke insisted, perhaps more harshly than he should have, "Darris said that he might be able to help him."
Tarin smiled gently.
"Darris is a good man. He has always looked after me."
Luke glanced up, and Tarin seemed to sense his unspoken questions.
"When I was five," he explained, "my family decided to move to the Mid Rim. The transport we were on was attacked. I was too young to remember much, but I know that when we woke up, we were here." His voice became tinged with bitterness as he looked down at the cuff on his wrist. "Servants," he said. "Prisoners." He looked out into the corridor once more, as though seeing more than just the simple shadows there. "When I was nine, Sidious decided that my parents had outlived their usefulness. He killed them."
Luke looked up in surprise, suddenly understanding why Tarin had come. He truly did understand what Luke was going through, and young Jedi found himself grateful that he had someone to talk to.
"I'm sorry," Luke said quietly, unconsciously echoing the words Tarin had spoken earlier.
"It was a long time ago," Tarin responded, shaking his head as if trying to bring himself back to the present. "Darris has looked after me since then, and I know he will do everything he can for your father."
Luke didn't answer, but fought back another wave of grief at the mention of what had happened. He hoped with all his heart that Darris would succeed, that somehow the scientist could bring his father back.
Tarin seemed to understand the turn his thoughts had taken, and stepped back.
"I have to go," he said quietly. "I am not really supposed to speak with you, and she would be angry if she knew I had even come here now."
Luke didn't have to ask who she was.
"But I will be back," Tarin assured him. "I have been assigned to bring your meals. I will return with some food in a few hours."
Luke felt relief at that. At least he wouldn't always be alone now.
"Thank you," he said gratefully, knowing how much Tarin had truly risked by coming to speak with him.
"You're welcome," Tarin said with a small smile.
With that he disappeared into the shadows, and Luke moved once more to the back of his cell. Grief and guilt still plagued his mind, but something in him had eased slightly. Perhaps it was because he had been reminded that there was still hope, or perhaps it was because he had a friend now, someone he could trust.
TBC
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As a thank you for everyone being so patient, I am also posting a vignette I wrote a year ago called, "And Darkness Devours Me," about Anakin's thoughts as he becomes Vader. It is part of a series of Ep. III vignettes which I am calling, "In a Moment." There will be a link to it in my bio, and I hope you will check it out. :)
Thank you!
For anyone who hasn't reviewed yet…
(waves hand) You will review! (waves hand again) The submit review button on the lower left is the option you are looking for. Once you have reviewed, you can go about your business. Move along. ;)
Ani-maniac494