Title: Traitors
Part: Prologue
Pairing: Anakin/Obi-wan (main) with other side pairings
Disclaimer: The characters and the universe belong to their respective owners. I do not own this story and do not plan to make any profit from this.
Summary: Following the transformation of Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader, this story is twisted, darker, with numerous deaths. This story is rated M for the mature readers for a reason. Contains numerous pairing with the main pairing being Anakin/Obi-Wan, slash. Read and Review.
"Order Sixty-Six will eliminate all existing Jedi threats – even your Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi."
There was a gasp and then a strangled choke.
"No – no – you can't!"
It was surprising how everything still looked the same. Truthfully, he had been expecting something momentous to happen – just to mark the huge, sudden change in his life. Instead, everything still looked the same.
Bright lights still shone from nearly every room in the city. Holograms still projected advertisements for the latest, must-have products. Humans and other creatures still slept in their beds, unaware of everything that was happening. Technically, everything was still the same.
Except something nagged at him – buried beneath layers of forgotten memories in his sub-conscious mind. It chewed at the edge of his conscience, planting seeds of doubts here and there until there was just no such thing as certainty anymore. The most frustrating thing was that the knowledge was simply out of his reach.
He inhaled sharply as a carrier ship flew past, full of clone troopers. Then he remembered everything. He watched the white-shelled armed troopers looking out into the city below, checking for signs…signs of what? He knew, of course, as much as he had lied to himself that it had been a dream or a nightmare – something born out of being too bored with doing nothing. He had almost half-convinced himself that the war had never really happened, and in a way it never had.
What he had used to fight for, and what many Jedi had sacrificed their lives for, had never really existed. They had been lost, before the so-called war had even begun. Everything had been carefully choreographed to perfection. Looking back, he could not believe how blind he used to be. Everything had been planned. The Sith had won, while the Jedi had been too busy trying to fight a war that never really mattered at all.
Instead, what he had feared, and what many Jedi had feared had turned to reality and became much, much worse.
"The Jedi will be terribly weakened, until there is no hope for them to ever oppose us," Darth Sidious spoke out, watching his new apprentice carefully and rather cautiously. "The Empire will rise to power and you, Vader, shall be the one to lead the Army against any planet that tries to oppose us."
Anakin Skywalker tore his eyes away from the carrier ship that had soon disappeared from sight, vaguely in the direction of the Jedi Temple. He had expected the troopers to shoot him down on sight, but it was obvious that his new position had been relayed to them. He wished they would. He turned towards Chancellor Palpatine – soon to be Emperor – and nearly flinched at the use of his new name. The name had been given to him as soon as he had agreed to become his apprentice and…and it sounded like a name for an evil Sith Lord.
He had to remind himself that he was, in fact, a Sith Lord.
"As such, it will be revealed to the rest of the universe that you have been the only one to prevent the assassination attempt, and that you shall be the one to head the Army, to crush the Separatists and any rebels," Darth Sidious continued.
"Is that really necessary?" Anakin asked. Just thinking about revealing his new alliance to the Sith Lord did not feel right. He did not want to think about any existing Jedi who would now bear a grudge against him – if there were any existing Jedi at all. He did not want to think about that.
Palpatine fixed him with a cold gaze that dared him to challenge his authority once more. Anakin did not open his mouth to even attempt it, knowing that it was fruitless. It was like being controlled by one thing and then another. First, it was the Jedi Council, and now it was Palpatine. He tried to prevent himself from thinking about it by letting his mind dwell on Padmé's safety. He hoped she was all right, and he hoped that she would come to forgive him someday.
"Of course it is necessary," replied Palpatine in cold, measured tones. "You are a celebrated war hero – a symbol of hope in the eyes of others. Your exploits have been well documented and are known far and wide. Seeing your alliance with me will cause people to believe that forming an Empire is the right and only choice."
He felt used like a tool again – a "poster boy", as Obi-Wan used to call it. People would look at him and believe him. If he said that they had to throw themselves down the throat of a rancor to save the universe, they would. It was silly how ignorant they could be. It was dangerous that they were so oblivious.
His mind reverted to Obi-Wan, who was probably still fighting the war on Utapau, unaware of anything that had transpired back on Coruscant – unaware that the Jedi Order was as good as gone. He hoped that Palpatine had enough honesty to keep his end of the bargain and spare Obi-Wan from Order Sixty-Six. Honestly, he had no idea what Obi-Wan was doing, or even if he was alive at all, having severed his connection to his Master and all other Jedi in an attempt to silence the voices in his head as they fell to the clone troopers, one by one.
It was strange not feeling their presence – especially Obi-Wan's presence in the Force, that had always been a comforting light in an eternal blanket of darkness. The crystal clear perception he always had in the Force had been dulled so much so that he could barely detect the presence of Palpatine in the same room. Yet, he should not be surprised. Palpatine had avoided detection even when the whole Jedi Council had met him at one time or another…although Obi-Wan had once confessed to Anakin that he had felt uneasy in the Chancellor's presence. Anakin had brushed it off as Obi-Wan's jealousy of Anakin's close friendship with Palpatine, and they had even argued about it.
Somehow, Obi-Wan always turned out right.
"What about Padmé and Obi-Wan?" he asked, knowing that it was at least his right to inquire about their safety. "Are they safe?"
"Padmé Amidala will be charged with treason for conspiring against me. Her name was found clearly on the Petition of the Two Thousand…"
His mouth felt instantly dry. He felt like crumpling to his knees, or lashing out at Palpatine, even though he knew he could not possibly win.
"Yet, I will arrange for her to be secretly transported off the planet and into a safe place," continued Palpatine. "There will be attempts to find her, although none will succeed."
Anakin could feel his breath easing again, although he could not shake off the feeling that something was rather wrong with it.
"As for General Kenobi, he has been spared from Order Sixty-Six. He will be brought here from Utapau immediately, to be kept."
Anakin knew from the way Palpatine spoke that Obi-Wan was going to be kept like a prisoner – locked up with no hope of escaping, or perhaps no means of even accessing his connection to the Force.
"No!" he exclaimed, without thinking.
Palpatine watched him carefully and curiously.
"No," he repeated, much calmer now. "Obi-Wan…Obi-Wan can join us. He can become a Sith. He's powerful enough."
"Do I detect a hint of concern for his safety?" asked Palpatine, intrigued. "Why have you not inquired about your own wife's safety? Have you become too attached to your old Master? Maybe, it is your old Master you are more concerned about."
Anakin struggled to think up an excuse, without looking as if he was struggling too hard.
"I…I was merely being mindful of what would be beneficial to the Sith and the Empire," he said finally.
Palpatine did not look as if he even considered what Anakin had just said. Anakin wondered if perhaps, his own shields were not enough to block out the Sith Lord.
"Yes, Dooku had harbored similar thoughts as you," said Darth Sidious in a contemplative way. "And General Kenobi does possess a permanent streak of anger in his character. However, his mind has been utterly brainwashed by the Jedi Council and its useless teachings. He would be difficult if not impossible to turn."
"No, I'll be able to turn him. Just give him a chance," Anakin pleaded.
"And what could you possibly give to me in return for this chance?" Palpatine asked with a humor that did not reach his eyes.
Anakin hesitated for a moment.
"Anything," he answered finally. "Anything you want."
Darth Sidious looked at him with a twisted smile on his face.
"Even in exchange for your wife's life?"
Anakin did not answer. He could not possibly answer. He just stood there, struggling for any answer at all, his mind a blank from the choice he had been given.
Palpatine laughed and turned away from him. The laughter was cold to his ears.
"It seems as if you are not as devoted to your wife," Palpatine said, more to himself than Anakin. "I expected you to simply say 'no', however, your concern for General Kenobi is, if anything, truly remarkable."
Anakin did not say anything, knowing that it was simply a test that he had failed to notice it the first time. He just stood there, silent.
"The idea of a Sith pair has its potential," continued Darth Sidious calmly, "especially the Kenobi-Skywalker pair. Both of you work efficiently enough and it might gather more support from the public. Or perhaps, I should bring him here simply for your pleasure and enjoyment."
Anakin bit his lower lip to prevent a protest from leaving his lips. Obi-Wan would agree to it – he had to for his own sake.
"General Kenobi will be transported here safely, and then he'll be given the chance to decide whether or not he will become a Sith. Now, you shall go to your new quarters and prepare for tomorrow."
"What will happen tomorrow?" Anakin asked, not really knowing if he wanted to know.
"Tomorrow, the Galactic Senate will fall and with it the Jedi Temple."
Anakin knew there was no turning back – there never had been a possibility. He retreated to his new quarters in need of sleep if only to stop thinking about tomorrow.