Chapter 1 – Mysteries

Plot: Unexpected visions of a possible future which are granted to a select handful, throw the Jedi Order into chaos. Anakin is arrested and imprisoned, the Council fearing his power and possible Fall. Months later, he escapes, and Obi-Wan is sent to recapture him, except the Jedi Master finds far more than he expected. Vader (he won't think of him as Anakin) is far from okay.

Author's Note: This is basically a Star Wars version of the Marvel fanfic 'With Friends Like These'. And if you're a Loki fan and you haven't read that yet, I order you to go read it right now. *glares* JK but seriously, it's AWESOME! It's my favorite Loki and Avengers fic ever.

Anyway, that aside, I basically had a dream about the plotline of this one shot so here it is. :D Also, after writing Obi-Wan's perspective of this, I decided I really wanted to do Anakin's too, so the next part of this is going to be Anakin's POV of the same events, with a few added scenes in the beginning and the end. Then there'll be several parts to deal with all the trauma I put everyone through. =)

Enjoy! ^-^ (if that's even possible)

Warning: Serious miscommunications and misunderstandings, but that is the summary of Star Wars, especially these two. :)

Mentions of torture and blood. (And messed up parents)

What's happening may not be abundantly clear right away, but it was written intentionally that way since it's from the POV of one person who has a very narrow view of the universe. So if you read it too quickly, you WILL be confused. You have been warned. =D

~ Tirana Sorki

Ahsoka's mind is whirling. She doesn't take time to stop and think through the implications of the vision she had, the future she saw. Anakin was calling for her, asking for her help, and she didn't listen. What happened to him? Did he survive? She doesn't know.

She runs into her master – almost literally right outside his quarters. She tackles him in a hug before realizing how dark his presence feels, or the fact that his eyes are glaringly obviously a Sithly gold. "Skyguy," she gasps out.

"Ahsoka," he breathes, catching her smoothly and pulling her tightly, firmly against him. She clings to him as if he'll disappear if she lets go, and for all Ahsoka knows, he might.

"What happened?" she asks in a rush, "I saw something, and it was so real, I can't make sense of it."

"I saw it, too."

"I don't understand..."

"The Force showed us the future," Anakin answers, "I don't know why, but it did. It... may save us from a very dark future."

He stills suddenly, and Ahsoka tenses as she feels something in the Force almost... changing. Tensing. Something is wrong. Very wrong.

"And you – what happened?" she asks. She wants to tilt her head back to look at him, to verify if his eyes truly are the gold they appear to be, or if she imagined it, but she doesn't want to move.

"I learned more about the Force that my master would never have taught me," he replies.

"You feel dark," Ahsoka frowns.

"I embraced the Dark Side," he admits.

"What? Why?!" she squeaks. How could he do something like that? She can't imagine what would have caused such a thing; it seems so impossible.

"It's... complicated." He doesn't get farther than that before being interrupted. Obi-Wan is the first to show up – how he got all the way here with a handful of other Jedi Masters in the time it took for Ahsoka to escape from class and track down Anakin is beyond her – and he does not look happy. Obi-Wan is not often angry, and he is now. No, he's furious, and Ahsoka immediately knows this will end very badly,

"Vader," he says icily.

Anakin twitches, flinching, and his grip tightens. Ahsoka bristles instantly, because how many things are there that make Anakin Skywalker scared? She doesn't know why he would be though, but then she remembers some of the things in the future – namely the rapidly approaching Festival of Light and when she was thrown out of the Order – and wonders. Obi-Wan has hurt him, after all. He nearly killed her, and he beat Anakin unconscious. "His name is Anakin," she snarls.

"Ahsoka," Obi-Wan replies coolly, "Step away from him."

"What do you want with him?" She reluctantly releases him, more out of instinct than anything else. She knows the Council cannot be trusted now, but it's too much for her to process so quickly, and instincts kick in.

"He is under arrest," Obi-Wan says. It's as if he's not speaking of his own padawan, the child he raised himself.

"For what?!" Ahsoka shrieks, "He hasn't done anything!"

"Stand aside, Padawan Tano," Master Windu – he's here too – orders. "I understand your concerns, and we will address them after we assess the situation."

"What situation?" Ahsoka snaps, crossing her arms, refusing to budge.

"The Order will fall because of him," Obi-Wan replies, "If we do not take necessary precautions." He moves aside, letting the Temple Guards move forwards.

They're going to arrest him, the same way they did her. Maybe it's that which makes her see red. "Don't you dare," she growls furiously, "He's done nothing. He wouldn't hurt anyone! You can't do this!"

"Anakin is gone!" Obi-Wan retorts, angrily. "Your emotions are clouding your judgement."

She knows that, maybe, but she doesn't care. She will not stand back and allow the Council to do the same to her master that they did to her! Anakin isn't resisting, and she doesn't understand! She starts moving forwards – fully intent on stopping them, but Obi-Wan is faster. He drags her back, giving the others clear room to work. She struggles against him, furiously, but quite simply he's stronger than she is.

"So, what?" Anakin asks, bitterly, "Are you going to arrest me? Throw me in prison and never think about me again? Or will you kill me?"

"The Council will act as it sees fit," Obi-Wan retaliates icily, and she can sense the heat of his glare.

"Let go of me!" Ahsoka yells, trying to pull away and failing as miserably as last time. She's fought like this before, but it's different, because Obi-Wan knows many, if not most, of her tricks. It's a fairly standard style Jedi use, after all. She stomps on his foot for good measure. He still doesn't let go, anyway, though he clearly felt it from the sound he makes.

The guards pull Anakin's hands behind his back – much too roughly in her opinion – and put binders on him.

"You can't do this!" she cries.

"What – where are you taking me?" Anakin asks, refusing to move. His gaze is fixed on Obi-Wan, so full of pain and fear.

No one answers, and it's between that and the fact that the guards are about to drag him down the hall without so much as bothering to answer him that makes her snap. She twists in Obi-Wan's grasp again, ducking her head down and biting his arm. The very startled yelp he lets out is definitely worth it. She pulls back disgustedly when she tastes blood. Oops?

"Ahsoka," Anakin calls back to her, twisting to look over his shoulder. "Don't do this for me."

"Anakin," she chokes out, near tears. They're being separated for the second time, and unlike before, she has no idea if she'll ever see him again. She doesn't care if he's a Sith.

"I love you."

"I know." It's an echo of their last conversation before she left before, and it's something they both know, and she stubbornly holds back her tears long enough to see him one last time, before they round the corner. He's gone. Skyguy's gone again, and she has no idea when or if she'll see him again.

**w**

"What do you mean, I can't see him?" his padawan rages for what must be at least the tenth time.

Obi-Wan lets out a long sigh. It isn't her fault, he reminds himself. She was being influenced by the Sith, as they all were, so he tries to let out his frustration into the Force like a good Jedi should. "He's dangerous, Ahsoka."

The girl stops her furious pacing, but only to glower at him and throw her hands up. "That is absolute BS, and you know it!"

"No one is permitted to see him," Obi-Wan continues over her. "He's a Sith. He's too unstable and dangerous to be in the presence of others. Plus, your attachment to him makes you vulnerable."

Ahsoka stills, glowering at him. "That's it? You've left him all alone in a prison cell? Have you even bothered to see him?"

"Anakin is gone," Obi-Wan replies evenly, even as a wave of grief crashes over him. It's a truth he's been struggling with for months now. He'd seen it with his own eyes, as had many other Jedi, including those on the Council. They had seen what the future held through visions and had discovered Sidious' identity and removed him from office before he could continue with his plans to create an Empire. Obi-Wan killed the Sith himself, and he'll never admit how satisfying it was. Since they don't know who they can trust anymore, the Council itself is temporarily in control of the Republic. "Darth Vader killed him. Why would I want to see him?"

Ahsoka saw things from the future too, but she doesn't seem to fully understand the implications of it. She refuses to accept that Anakin is gone.

The Togruta – his second padawan who he'd been given after the Jedi found out not only had her former master mysteriously Fallen but also what the future had in store for him – gives him a long, hard look. "You're an absolute idiot!" she snarls, "I have no idea how my master turned out to be so brilliant when he spent so much time with you! Anakin was the only person I knew who used his head while all you do is preach about the greater good and ignore the wellbeing of my master – your former padawan, and wallow in self-pity!" She spins on her heel and stalks out the door without another word, letting it slide shut behind her as she disappears into the hall.

It stings even though he knows she's completely wrong. He is not 'wallowing in self-pity', thank you very much. He's grieving the loss of his padawan. ... Maybe. He's a Jedi. Shouldn't he have already let go of Anakin? He's gone. He's dead. (He still remembers the half-panicked look on Anakin's face when the Jedi came to arrest him, and the way he'd instinctively looked to Obi-Wan for assurance before seeming to suddenly remember how they went down.)

Anakin had a temper of his own, but he was always much quieter, more reserved, and controlled than Ahsoka. Obi-Wan always knew that, but he never knew how wild the Togruta could get until now. He's never dealt with something of this nature with Anakin before, and knowing his former padawan's struggles with attachments, he wonders if he and Master Yoda should really have given Ahsoka to him. She obviously cannot let go of Anakin and move on, and she's growing increasingly unstable. It's... disturbing, to say the least. He already lost (failed) one padawan. He doesn't want to lose the other.

Obi-Wan doesn't know where Ahsoka disappeared to until one seriously angry Senator comms him an hour later.

"What," Senator Amidala demands with barely contained fury, "Is this Ahsoka is saying about Anakin being alive?"

Briefly, he wonders if Ahsoka was trying to make his life more difficult, than immediately berates himself. This is what she meant when she said 'self-pity,' after all. And also, this was supposed to be a closed matter among the Jedi only, but he supposes he can't entirely blame Ahsoka for going to tell Padme. "I can explain –" Obi-Wan begins wearily.

"Explain?!" she repeats. "Ahsoka told me the Council imprisoned him!"

"Anakin is gone," Obi-Wan replies firmly. He wishes he didn't have to keep saying it. It only makes it feel more real than it already does. "You don't understand the ways of the Force, Senator. The person we imprisoned is Darth Vader. He... is a Sith and he is dangerous."

"Anakin... Fell?" Padme demands, eyes narrowed, "So, he is still alive."

"The Dark Side destroyed the person he used to be." He knows this isn't something she's going to accept easily, if at all. It's not as if she's a Jedi, and thanks to his visions of several years into the future, he knows that she and Anakin were in a relationship of some kind. It can't be easy for her.

"Maybe I don't know anything about the Force," Padme retorts, expression hard, "But have you even tried to help him? Or ask him what happened?"

"Sith cannot be saved."

"You raised him," Padme exclaims, "How can you say that?"

"Because it's the truth!" He is the one who saw the future, after all, not Padme. He saw the bodies all over the Temple, many of whom died by a lightsaber. And then what he saw in the Temple security recordings...

"I want to see him," she demands, finally.

"I'm sorry, Senator," Obi-Wan replies, and he is because none of this should have happened, "But no one is allowed to see him except Council members. It is simply too risky."

Her expression darkens. "That's ridiculous," she snaps, "Anakin is not dangerous. You're making a serious mistake, and you're going to regret it." She hangs up without another word.

It's later that night the Council calls an emergency meeting, with the news that somehow, Vader has escaped imprisonment at the Citadel – they found it too risky to keep him at the Jedi Temple. Obi-Wan has no idea how Vader managed that, but a couple of the Jedi guarding him are dead, and the rest seem to have mysteriously vanished.

**w**

To put it simply, Obi-Wan has absolutely no idea what Vader was thinking when he escaped, using a Republic shuttle to get off-planet. They tracked it immediately and discovered it was set route to Tatooine before the signal was cut. Anakin was brilliant with machinery and Obi-Wan doesn't know how someone with that much knowledge could have made such a foolish slip-up. It gives them the chance to find him though, so no one has complaints about it.

The Council meeting is brief despite the direness of the situation. The best decision is the least desirable one for Obi-Wan, but he reluctantly concedes regardless. He will go immediately to locate Vader, and a group of other Jedi will follow him. Obi-Wan knows the Sith's tactics best. He's the best choice to track him down.

And that is how Obi-Wan finds himself on Tatooine. He tracks Vader easily enough – Coruscant is closer than Lola Sayu.

Their last encounter was... It didn't happen, but Obi-Wan still saw Mustafar. He saw Vader try and nearly succeed in killing him. So, no, Obi-Wan is not looking forwards to this. He doesn't want to see the face of the boy he raised, as a Sith. It isn't Anakin anymore, but it cuts him to the core to see. (He doesn't know how this could be the little brother he raised.)

Obi-Wan finally opts to ignore the tangled mess of emotions he's feeling as he discretely follows Vader's ship to the surface. He doesn't wait for Vader to realize that he's being pursued. Although, he's beginning to question if what Vader is flying can even be called a ship anymore. It's so badly damaged he isn't sure how it even made its way through hyperspace. Likely there was a major battle with the clone defenses when Vader was trying to escape the surface of Lola Sayu.

Well, this makes things easier for him, because he was definitely not looking forwards to getting in a space battle with a pilot like Vader. Taking aim, Obi-Wan fires at one of the wings of the fighters. He's mildly surprised when Vader doesn't manage to move out of the way in time, even if it's relieving. It's probably thanks to the terrible condition of the ship. The blast tears through the wing, and the ship shakes violently as it spirals towards the ground, slamming hard into the sand. (It hurts to see the skill which the Sith uses to land the ship; the flying abilities are so familiar.)

Obi-Wan circles around and lands near the exit to the ship, stepping out into the hot afternoon. The same planet he would have spent years on in another lifetime. He doesn't know how long, exactly, because the visions slowly faded into nothingness within several years into the future, but he saw enough.

Shaking those thoughts from mind, he turns his gaze to where Vader crashed a fairly short distance away. By the time Obi-Wan arrives, the Sith is already out of the wreckage of his ship. He's holding a lightsaber hilt in his hand, likely stolen from one of the Jedi guards. A flare of anger runs through Obi-Wan at the sight, because he probably stole it from one of the one's he killed. That would explain what happened, but the Council didn't have the time to look into it more before Obi-Wan left. If anything, this whole incident is proving that Vader is far more dangerous than they were expecting.

Obi-Wan doesn't wait for the other to talk, drawing his own lightsaber and stalking forwards. If he waits, he'll take the time to think, to feel, and he doesn't want to do either. There's no point giving Vader the chance to surrender either, when Obi-Wan already knows he won't.

He lunges forwards, and Vader instantly ignites a blue lightsaber – so he did steal it from one of the Jedi – raising it to block him. The Sith stumbles back, regaining his footing before attacking. (It hurts, to have to raise his blade against the person who he would've once called his little brother.)

Obi-Wan doesn't give Vader a chance to recollect himself, attacking him furiously. Usually, he fights on the defensive, while Vader is always on the offensive, but right now, it's almost as though Vader can hardly keep up with him, though Obi-Wan isn't sure why. It hasn't been that long since Vader last fought with a lightsaber. Maybe he has gotten used to sitting around. It doesn't matter, because it's something Obi-Wan can use to his advantage.

Besides that, Vader isn't fighting like he always used to. The only thing he's really moving is his lightsaber, while he stays about as still as he can. And he isn't using the Force at all, which is also odd. But it makes it easier for Obi-Wan to fight him, so he isn't complaining.

Their blades clash briefly into a saberlock, and Obi-Wan shoves hard against the other's. Vader staggers a step away again, nearly falling, and he instantly uses the moment to his advantage, cutting higher than the Sith can block, slashing through his right wrist. (He refuses to think about that jump Vader had made, in the future on Mustafar, and what had happened right after that.)

A strangled sound escapes Vader, and he promptly loses his balance, landing very unceremoniously on the ground.

"I hope you're ready to go back to prison," Obi-Wan says dryly.

Vader inhales sharply, moving to get up, and Obi-Wan steps closer, leveling his lightsaber at him before he can try to keep fighting. "Master –"

"No," Obi-Wan snaps, with a familiar rush of anger. "You can't call me that."

"Listen to me –"

"No. It's nothing less than you deserve," Obi-Wan retorts sharply. This is the person who took his padawan from him, after all. He doesn't know what the Sith is about to say, but he's not foolish enough to allow himself to be manipulated by him.

The look of raw pain and betrayal on Vader's face cuts him to the core. He takes a few shaky breaths before his expression closes off entirely. The hints of fear in his golden eyes fade out to a dull acceptance, and the fight seems to drain out of him entirely.

Obi-Wan steps closer, keeping his lightsaber ignited in case he tries something. It doesn't escape his watch how Vader very visibly flinches back from him. That's... odd. Sith don't fear like this. It's not as if Vader has anything to fear, unless being imprisoned counts. (Staring blankly at a wall for the rest of his life is actually something to fear.)

He withdraws a pair of binders, moving to restrain the Sith and is mildly surprised when he's not met by the slightest bit of resistance.

"Come with me," Obi-Wan orders, and he's still expecting the Sith to refuse or at least make some snarky comment but instead Vader climbs a little unsteadily to his feet, and silently shuffles after him back for the ship.

Well, this is going better than expected.

Or so he was thinking, because when they reach the ship – seriously they weren't that far awayfrom it, even – there's Jawas swarming everywhere, some of them having already run off with a bunch of parts. He calls after them, but of course they ignore him anyway, and take off.

The ship is a complete mess and there's no way Obi-Wan will be able to repair it. He doubts Anakin (who is not standing right behind him) would have been able to either. Even if they made it off the surface, the ship would never make it through hyperspace.

Going in search of another ship would be easier than trying to patch it up, he's certain of that. If Vader has any better insight on how to solve their problem, he says nothing, not that Obi-Wan was expecting him too.

"We'll have to go to town," Obi-Wan sighs, irritated. "That will take hours."

He's mildly startled when he doesn't hear a comeback from the Sith, or any reaction whatsoever. Instead, after a painfully long pause, Vader asks quietly, gaze riveted on the floor, "Do you have water?"

"Yes," he answers shortly. "It'll have to be enough." He remembers living on Tatooine long enough to know this is just past the hottest part of the day. It is a very unpleasant time to be out. Unpleasant situations and unpleasant company. Wonderful.

"I don't suppose you can carry anything," Obi-Wan grumbles as he looks through what's left of the ship. There's no response, which is odd. He doesn't put any thought to it though. For all he knows, Vader could be ignoring him to be aggravating. Fine.

It's not until they leave the remnants of the ship – Obi-Wan officially has a permanent aversion for Jawas – that he notices something is... off.

For one, Vader is being extremely quiet. It's nothing like what Obi-Wan remembers from him... before. He wouldn't think anything of it, except the fear he feels in the Force is suffocating, and he reinforces his shields to block it out.

For another, he smells the faintest traces of blood. He casts a sideways glance at the other, noticing with a start for the first time that he's limping slightly. He must've been injured in the crash. (Obi-Wan absolutely does not feel guilty about that.) It could've happened while he was escaping too, he supposes. It's not as if they're in a place where Obi-Wan could check him over anyway, so he opts to ignore it.

He tries to keep his attention focused on their surroundings because being so close to Vader for so long... is not easy. (He's missed it so much, to have Anakin at his side again, but... the boy who's at his side right now isn't him. Anakin is dead. He is.)

For how long they've been walking, Obi-Wan is mildly surprised they haven't gotten ambushed by Tuskens or some stray animal. It's been hours by now, and still the nearest town hasn't come into sight.

The suns are sinking towards the horizon, and the scene is somehow reminding him far too much of one of the things he saw in his visions from the future. When he brought Luke here to Tatooine, to give him to the Lars. Everything about the situation keeps reminding him of all of that, and he doesn't want to dwell on it right now when Ana- Vader is in such close proximity.

Then he remembers the fear he feels in the Force and wonders, for the first time, if that's why. Why the Sith seems almost... scared of him. Vader saw what happened after all, including at the end on Mustafar, but the thought is too ludicrous (too shameful) for him to believe.

In the distance, Obi-Wan hears an animal howling. They need to find somewhere to stop for the night soon, since they obviously won't be reaching town today. Which seriously complications things, because either he's going to stay up all night watching over a Sith who will probably try to run off the moment he thinks about sleeping, or –

Vader stumbles over nothing apparent, and lands on his knees on the ground, his left hand slamming into the sand to prevent himself from going face first into it. He lets out a half-growl, half-groan before pushing himself – with a disturbing amount of effort – to his knees.

"Are you alright?" The question comes out almost automatically. (He is not the least bit concerned about him. Not at all. He's simply being... decent.)

The Sith doesn't respond, again, but he does try to unsteadily drag himself back to his feet again, his gaze still fixed on the ground.

Evidently, he isn't alright, or he wouldn't be having such a hard time moving. Obi-Wan still isn't sure when he got injured that badly, though. "What is it?" the Jedi Master asks. He's short on patience already, and he really doesn't want to deal with a stubborn Sith right now. (Especially not when the said Sith is acting just like Anakin.)

There's a painfully long moment of silence before Vader finally answers with a much too quiet, "Just tired."

"You're a terrible liar."

Vader silently studies the ground. What's with all the silence? It's growing increasingly aggravating. Is that his point?

"We don't have time for this," he says irritably. Obi-Wan takes a few steps closer to him, and he notices for the first time in the golden lighting that Vader's robes look... off. They're dark – the same color he used to wear – so it's hard to tell, but... it looks like blood. How seriously was he injured...?

"Fine," Obi-Wan sighs. (He absolutely does not feel a flare of concern. Not at all.) "We can stop here for the night, and I can take care of your... injuries."

If it's possible, Vader only seems to tense up more. His breathing hitches and he forcibly evens it out. He nods jerkily after a moment, as if suddenly remembering his place – Obi-Wan saw Anakin do that before, before the Sith took him – and slowly kneels in the sand. It's obvious the movement hurts. Most people wouldn't notice it, but Obi-Wan does. He recognizes the slight tensing of his left hand and the look that flits across his face, but he seems to be taking unnecessary effort to hide his discomfort.

"How bad is it?" Obi-Wan asks as he looks over their very limited medical supplies. There's nothing much, because the ship wasn't equipped for things like this, but it's something. It'll have to do.

"I've had worse," Vader answers, carefully, which says absolutely nothing.

His attitude might have been annoying earlier, but now it's becoming mildly disturbing. Sith aren't this... passive. They're wild and aggressive and evil. They're nothing like this.

Well, they'll have to make do with the supplies they have. Obi-Wan moves closer, taking a seat next to him, and does not miss how Vader flinches ever so slightly.

There's a heartbeat of silence. "I only have one hand," he finally points out, bluntly.

... right. Obi-Wan should probably have thought about that. If only he'd been able to get a message through to the Council that they were delayed. "So, you want me to do it?" he asks crossly. (It's not as if he's never had to do things like this for Anakin before, like when he was injured in battle, but... this isn't Anakin.)

Vader shrugs. "If you wish," he answers, tone level.

Fine.

This, Obi-Wan decides grumpily, is probably top on the list of strangest things he's ever had to do. He does his best to ignore how tense Vader acts, as Obi-Wan's hands brush against him, helping him pull off his outer robes.

Even in the steadily dimming golden sunlight, Obi-Wan can clearly see the long, deep gashes crisscrossing his back. They all look very fresh, and several of them are bleeding badly. Though it's hard to tell from how much blood there is everywhere, he's pretty sure he can make out a decent number of relatively new scars covering his back and... everywhere, actually. He has a lot of bruises, too, but those don't catch Obi-Wan attention quite as much.

Forget what he thought about this happening in a crash or escape attempt.

For the briefest moment, horror freezes him in place. "What happened?" he demands. He'd think it was the Tuskens' fault or something, if Vader had been on the planet for a time before Obi-Wan got here, but he wasn't, so that doesn't make any sense.

Vader glares at the ground, continuing to studiously ignore his question.

"Anakin," he tries, slowly. "Talk to me."

Vader's head snaps up to look at him, a flicker of surprise in his eyes before he seems to quickly remember himself and looks away again. His lips part slightly but it takes a moment for him to respond, again. It's as if he's carefully weighing and analyzing his every word. "What I deserve," he answers, softly.

Obi-Wan rears back, gaping at him. This is not normal. It's not – Force, he has no idea how to react to this. Everything about this situation is catching him off-guard, unprepared, and this may be by far the worst.

"Where did this happen?" he demands, because has no idea when or how it could have. Or what Vader even means by his answer.

The Sith doesn't answer him though, and Obi-Wan is maybe the slightest bit too appalled to be annoyed right now.

He needs to get going and treat this, anyway. The wounds are bleeding badly, and the Sith is, quite simply put, in danger of dying of blood loss. "You couldn't have said anything earlier?" Obi-Wan grumbles as he works. "You could've died." (It occurs to him a moment later that that showed far too genuine concern that he doesn't feel. Vader is still the one who killed Anakin.)

After a few minutes of silence by which point the silence is borderline awkward, Vader finally speaks up again. "C-can I ask something?"

"Go on," Obi-Wan concedes.

"What happened to Ahsoka? Is she alright?" That was... unexpected. He thought it would be something less caring, more... Sithly. Not that there's been anything remotely Sith-like about Vader so far. (He is absolutely not thinking about what Senator Amidala and Ahsoka were telling him. Absolutely not.)

"She's my padawan," he answers immediately. "I will complete her Jedi training."

"Is she alright?" Vader repeats.

That is a difficult question to answer. "She is... struggling," He doesn't add the obvious of 'because of what you did'.

"I'm sorry," he whispers, almost inaudibly.

Why does Obi-Wan keep thinking this day couldn't get any stranger?

They spend the rest of the time in silence. Not that Obi-Wan is anywhere near done, but he's done the best he could given the circumstances. At least the injuries are no longer bleeding at the moment.

It's dark out now, the three moons overhead illuminating the sand enough to see. His eyes have since adjusted to the dark, so it makes it easier. He awkwardly helps Vader back into his robes before standing up, looking around.

They'll have to make camp here for the night. It doesn't seem any more or less ideal than anywhere else in the endless desert, so Obi-Wan gets to work on starting a fire. He's done that here before, too, when he stayed out in the open. Vader shifts to a more comfortable sitting position, but other than that sits there pretty much motionlessly. Apparently, Obi-Wan doesn't have to worry about him trying to take off the second he turns around. This entire situation is a million kinds of weird, not that anything in his life (their lives) has been anything else.

Obi-Wan finally finishes getting the fire started, when a sudden surge of all-consuming fear flares into the Force. He looks up, turning to look over at Vader. One glance at him instantly tells him that he's the cause of the whirlwind of fear, pouring into the Force.

The Sith has his knees drawn to his chest, arms sort-of-but-not-exactly wrapped around them and seeing his injuries there's no way that's not painful. It's about as curled in on himself as he could get though, and that's what's disturbing. There's a look of unmistakable panic on his face, which is pale even in the dim lighting. His breathing is labored, and he looks in general like he wants to disappear into the ground.

Apparently, the evening can still get stranger.

"Anakin?" he asks, slightly confused. He's seen his former padawan panic about things before, but he's never figured out how to deal with it.

Instead of looking up or otherwise reacting, he flinches and somehow seems to curl in on himself even more.

Obi-Wan takes a few steps towards him, unsure what else to do. He feels completely helpless, and he hates it. How is he supposed to handle this? He doesn't even know what's wrong.

The near terror he can feel from Vader in the Force promptly skyrockets. "Master," he breathes out, voice shaking. "Don't – don't do this."

Obi-Wan stops, frowning. What? "What is it?" he asks. He really, really doesn't get it, what the Sith could be so afraid of.

"Please," he chokes out desperately, and the moon glints off his face clear enough in that moment Obi-Wan's pretty sure he's... crying? "I – I know I d-deserve it, b-but – Please don't do this."

What? What is he... talking about? What is he so scared of? "Anakin," he tries again, slowly, and truthfully, he doesn't know how he can call the person in front of him Vader right now. But that raises a lot of other questions and implications that he doesn't have time to deal with or worry about right now. "Look – I don't know what you're talking about, but can you... calm down?"

It's a stupid approach and he knows it, but he doesn't know what else to say right now.

Vader – Anakin? – inhales shakily, tears spilling down his cheeks, but he doesn't say anything in response, and Obi-Wan finds himself grateful for that, this time.

Whatever is going on, the most he can guess is that it has some connection to the serious injuries that he has. None of this makes any sense to him, and he needs answers. Now.

Moving closer probably isn't a very good idea right now, so he lowers himself to his knees a short distance off, so they're at least closer to eye level. At the very least, it seems to make Anakin relax, slightly, even if he still looks very much like he wants to disappear. "I need you to tell me something," Obi-Wan says finally, trying to keep his tone gentle.

Anakin keeps his gaze fixed on the ground, but he nods jerkily again, in response.

"Who did this? Who... hurt you? Where did it happen?"

He's silent for several long moments, and Obi-Wan is starting to despair that he's ever going to get an answer when Anakin finally mumbles, "Citadel."

Wait – wait – what?! "What?" he hisses, and Anakin flinches sharply again at the sudden change in tone. "That's – There were only Jedi there!" This doesn't make sense. Something isn't adding up.

The group of Jedi sent to guard Vader at the Citadel had all been ones specially chosen because of their visions of the future, because they'd all had experiences with Vader, and should know how to handle him if something went wrong. But this... "I don't know how this could have happened," Obi-Wan says finally, frowning.

There's a long moment of nothing but silence. He has a lot of questions, but Anakin isn't in any condition to answer them right now.

"Just breathe," Obi-Wan instructs. He doesn't make a move to stand and approach him, even though he wants to. "No one will hurt you. You have nothing to fear from me."

Anakin glances up, something guarded and wary in his eyes. Somehow Obi-Wan thinks he knows exactly what is on his mind right now.

"That was the future, Anakin," he assures – or tries to, attempting to ignore the guilt suddenly surging through him. "It was a life we haven't and never will live."

"We were so close," the Sith murmurs, staring vacantly ahead of himself. "You were going to kill me."

Something inside him clenches painfully. "Yes," Obi-Wan agrees, "I was. It was my duty, but I couldn't end your life."

"I wish you had," Vader says suddenly, flinching right after. He's been doing that a lot.

"Didn't I?" Obi-Wan asks, guilt and worry suddenly gnawing at him.

He gives the tiniest shake of his head but doesn't verbally respond.

Anakin didn't die there. Obi-Wan spent all this time believing he had, and... He can't even imagine how he could've survived with injuries like that. "What happened?"

"Sidious came," he answers distantly. "He saved me. He took me back to Coruscant to be remade."

How can he say that so... casually? And the term "remade" has more disturbing implications than he wants to think about. He did practically die, after all, even if apparently not quite. Quite frankly, Obi-Wan immediately regrets asking. He has too much to sort out himself to try dealing with anymore of this, but he's fairly certain Anakin is still crying judging by the way his shoulders are shaking slightly every so often and how uneven his breathing is, and Obi-Wan has no idea how to go about calming him. He's already tried to distract him, but it doesn't seem to be working very well.

And he still needs answers about how this happened to him when he was in the Citadel. He slowly stands anyway, approaching Anakin – not Anakin. It would do him good to remember that – and sitting near him. Obi-Wan can feel his gaze the entire way.

"Master," Anakin says finally, after a few moments of silence. "I – I'm sorry. I know it's not adequate but..."

He doesn't know what to say. Anakin – Vader – looks so vulnerable right now. A part of Obi-Wan wants to tell him it doesn't matter, because it doesn't change what happened – would have happened – but the part of him that can't stand seeing this child in pain protests. Obi-Wan slowly moves towards him, finally reaching out to take the binders off. Maybe it's not a wise decision, but Anakin needs some sort of reassurance.

A flicker of surprise and confusion crosses his former padawan's face, but he relaxes ever so slightly.

"You're right. It's not," Obi-Wan tells him at last, "But I don't condone this either."

Anakin frowns. "You said I deserved this."

What? A rush of horror surges through Obi-Wan. He thought he was talking about this? For a moment, he remembers the betrayed look on Anakin's face when he'd said that, back when their lightsaber duel first ended, and now it makes too much sense. "I didn't mean – I still don't understand how this happened," Obi-Wan replies. "Who did it? Can you tell me?"

"Don't you know?" He looks as confused as Obi-Wan feels himself.

"No," he promises firmly, "Whatever happened, I didn't know about it."

Anakin shifts slightly, looking back at their campfire. "I thought they were Fallen at first," he mumbles. He's still quiet, jumpy, but he seems more self-assured than he did earlier, more willing to speak. "I couldn't be sure. I think I remember fighting one of them – Ferren Barr – in the future, and he was Fallen at that point. I... I thought you'd come, and I'd tell you, but I didn't know, and they said it... was part of it. The punishment."

It answers more than Obi-Wan wants to think about and the implications are too disturbing. How many others had Fallen without the Council knowing it? It also explains why all the Jedi there seemed to have vanished right after the escape, probably certain they would be found out, because regardless of what Vader would have done, that doesn't excuse what they've been doing.

If he'd gone to see Anakin earlier, he would have found out about this. Guilt floods him full force, and he has to ask, even if he doesn't think he wants to know the answer. "How long have they been doing this?" Torturing him. Obi-Wan can understand their anger but that doesn't justify their actions.

"I don't know, exactly," Anakin replies, quietly, "It was... towards the beginning. I've lost track of time."

It's been almost four months. Four months, and no one knew the difference. He can see why Anakin would think it was the Council's orders, even as appalling as that is. "Jedi don't torture," Obi-Wan promises. "We would never order this. I swear."

He can tell Anakin doesn't believe him. He doesn't argue it though, and that hurts. It's proof of the trauma he endured that Obi-Wan failed to notice... again. "Will you take me back?" Anakin inquires instead.

"We will return to Coruscant," he responds carefully. "I will speak to the Council. I imagine they will have you confined at the Temple."

"Are you going to keep me locked up for the rest of my life?" He sounds so... defeated. And it hurts to see because Anakin was never like this in the past. Obi-Wan can't imagine what he must've been through for him to be acting like this.

"I don't know," Obi-Wan admits. In reality, he never thought about it. He doesn't know if anyone on the Council has. The galaxy is in chaos, and while the Republic may be winning many victories, they are still nowhere near ending the war. The internal struggles are certainly worsening it, as is the loss of one of its best generals. "No one outside the Order knows the truth, but the Council has been... preoccupied with the war effort."

He's unsurprised when Anakin doesn't reply, though Obi-Wan wishes he could know what was going through his mind. "If you're going to kill me, just do it."

Something clenches in his chest. "I couldn't even if I wanted to," he promises, reaching over to lay a hand on Anakin's shoulder.

He tenses at the sudden contact before twisting around leaning forwards, wrapping his arms around Obi-Wan. It catches him completely off-guard, but he doesn't object. Not as if he could.

Normally he'd respond in kind with a series of half-hearted complaints about this being most un-Jedi-like, but neither is feasible now. Instead, he slowly moves his other hand to rest on Anakin's head and just... holds him. It'll have to be enough.

Neither of them speaks, letting Anakin cry in silence. (And Obi-Wan is absolutely not crying too. He is not.)

Obi-Wan watches the sky slowly darken, his mind a million miles away. He thought he'd lost this, but... his padawan is here. Maybe he's a million forms of messed up and maybe he's still a Sith – Obi-Wan has no idea what is going on about that – but... Anakin is here. It's what Padme and Ahsoka somehow knew without seeing him. (It makes a part of him wonder how well he truly knew Anakin.)

He still doesn't know how any of this could possibly have happened without anyone knowing something was wrong. He failed Anakin a second time over. Obi-Wan had a chance to make it right after watching his padawan die – by his hand – and he ruined it. He can only hope they make it back to Coruscant to treat Anakin properly before his condition worsens. He can't watch his child die a second time.

It doesn't take long for Anakin to calm himself, Obi-Wan is fairly certain he's already tired himself out, and they finally pull apart.

"I don't suppose you're hungry," Obi-Wan asks, and Anakin mutely shakes his head. "Then drink at least," he orders, handing him some of the little water they have left. They better make it to the city soon, because he doesn't know how much longer they can last out here. "You need it."

Anakin does as he's told before carefully stretching out in the sand (which he looks none too happy about). He lays on his stomach, crossing his arms and resting his head on them. It's nothing like how he normally sleeps.

Obi-Wan kneels beside him, slowly reaching over to very gently lay a hand on Anakin's back. He might've given him the best treatment he could, but he's still injured, and while Obi-Wan isn't very adept at Force-healing, he can try.

Anakin inhales sharply but doesn't move.

"Does that hurt?"

He shakes his head. It's a lie again, not that Obi-Wan is surprised about it.

"I'll see what I can do," he says, closing his eyes and letting himself slip into the Force. He's done this for Anakin before, and now is no different. He's well attuned with his former padawan's Force-signature, and it's easy to draw the Force through his body to take in the injuries he's sustained.

His mind is... damaged. It always has been, but the fracture lines that have always been so distinct – more so as he grew older, and now Obi-Wan knows why – are... significantly deeper, deepened to the point that darkness is flooding them, and he wonders if that's why and how it happened. (He wonders how many of the signs of Anakin's Fall he missed from before.)

The Force screams in wrongness at the feel of his mechanical arm, as always, and he moves past it, because that's not what he's trying to find. As he suspected, the injuries Anakin has – there's way more than he realized – aren't permanent, even if the scars – both physical and mental – will never fade.

The ones on his back are the worst right now, or at least the most dangerous. He tries to close up the worst ones, just enough that they won't break open again.

Exhaustion is nagging at him when Obi-Wan finally pulls back to himself.

"Thank you," Anakin breathes. "I don't – I don't deserve this. Thank you."

"Don't say that," Obi-Wan orders flatly. "There was no justice in any of this." Obi-Wan shrugs off his cloak, draping it over Anakin. "Keep it," he says, despite Anakin's startled look. "You need it."

"It's not even my size."

"You need something to cover the blood stains on your clothes. Try not to make a mess of it."

Anakin smiles faintly before closing his eyes. His breathing evens out rapidly, his Force-signature stilling. Obi-Wan wishes he could fall asleep that easily himself.

Then he stills when it finally, finally registers that somewhere through their conversation in the end, Anakin's eyes were blue. Not yellow. He's hiding his presence – likely instinctively from trying to hide himself – but it doesn't feel as dark as it did earlier. Maybe Ahsoka was right. He has to hope.

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