The Machinations of the Son - 2

A.N: Timeline setting: Both during the events of Mortis, and after 'To Take Down an Emperor'

"Ahs…"

Anakin barely managed to get the first syllable of his Padawan's name out of his throat before he felt it seize up, something tightening around it. For a brief moment he thought that perhaps it was just his own shock at seeing her grown up, and that he was simply struggling over his own words. He was so proud to see what she would become, that she would survive.

And then he felt it. A rush of the darkside, and watched as the fully grown Ahsoka raised her hand, channeling the Force and grasping him tightly in it's embrace.

She jerked her hand up, and Anakin found himself suspended in the air, the tightening in his throat becoming much stronger. In fact, it felt a lot like she was using the Force to choke him!

His hands came up to his neck by instinct, trying in vain to grasp hold of whatever invisible force had him suspended, trying to loosen her grip. Why was she choking him?

A loud gasp came from beside him, one that he recognized as Obi-Wan, followed by the telltale sound of a pair of lightsabers igniting, a battle cry roaring from the throat of the other Ahsoka in the room.

The grip on Anakin's throat loosened instantly, his body being left to crash back down to the floor in an uncomfortable heap, momentarily forgotten about. Coughing roughly several times, bile in the back of his throat, Anakin raised his head in time to watch as the younger version of his Padawan, emerald sabers in her hands ignited charged towards the tall older version of her.

His Padawan swung her blades in several sharp arcs towards the elder Togruta, clearly intending on defending her Master from this threat. He wanted to call out to her, to demand she stop. After all, she was effectively defending him from herself, and Ahsoka would never be a threat to him, or harm him in either the present or future.

But rather than come out as he had intended, his voice left his throat with yet another series of coughs. The sudden unexpected choking had left him unable to talk, at least until he had regained his breath.

So for now, all he could do was watch as his Padawan attacked herself, or at least the person who looked like herself.

Green blades arched towards the tall Togruta, who in turn dodged and weaved, ducking and vaulting over the swings with ease. As his Padawan pulled back to reevaluate the situation, the older version of herself acted. Anakin watched as Ahsoka's lightsaber hilts were pulled out of her hands and into the waiting ones of the older Togruta, before she too was sent backwards with a gentle Force push, her body landing beside Anakin's, who reached out to grasp and support her, ensuring no more harm came to her.

Satisfied that the younger Togruta was out of the fight, the elder turned to Obi-Wan, clearly anticipating an attack from him next.

But Obi-Wan made no such move. His eyes studied what appeared to be the future Ahsoak, before reaching down and unclipping his lightsaber from his belt. At first Anakin assumed it was being drawn to engage. That was until Obi-Wan handed the hilt over the the elder Ahsoka with no hesitation, surrendering before he had even begun.

Content that the conflict had been resolved, the elder Ahsoka huffed once before handing the three lightsaber hilts over the the dark skinned woman known as Kaeden, who had backed away with a look of horror on her face. She reluctantly took the hilts, moving to place them on a table out of reach of the Jedi. That said, if need be they could still use the Force to take them, but something told Anakin that would be a very bad idea.

Feeling his throat begin to return to normal, Anakin began to rise to his feet, helping his Ahsoka up in the process. The younger girl groaned from the impact of pushed across the room, but seemed no worse for wear.

Glancing up, Anakin eyed the tall Togruta standing opposite him, her eyes locked onto him, sharp incisors barred in a snarl. The look she was giving him was familiar, one that was usually reserved for her enemies alone. He had been on the receiving end of a teasing variation of it before when they had sparred, but never the target of a real one.

Frankly he found it far more terrifying than any Sith Lord he had faced thus far.

Before he could muster up any words however, the Togruta huffed again before turning on her heel and storming out of the room, stopping by a cupbaord in the process and extracting a long white cloak and what looked like a staff of some kind, before promptly leaving the house, the door slamming behind her.

Anakin made a move to follow her. She was still his Padawan after all, even if she was fully grown up and incredibly angry at him for some reason. If anyone could get through to her, it was him.

But as he moved to follow, Kaeden intercepted him, standing before him with a steely commanding look on her face. She was shorter than him by about a head, but had the look of someone who had seen terrible things. Her eyes were weary, but with hidden joy behind them, as well as deep concern. Clearly she too was worried about Ahsoka, but instead had chosen not to follow her.

"You, sit down now. I'll get the medical equipment to see if there's any lasting damage to your neck." Kaeden spoke with all the authority of a battlefield medic. She reminded him of Kix in a way, a willing follower until someone was hurt.

"But I need to…" Anakin replied, gesturing past her and to the door that the older Ahsoka had stormed through, no doubt to cool off.

"She'll be fine. She'll walk around the plains for a bit muttering under her breath, then she'll come and talk. Frankly your lucky she didn't break your neck when she had the chance."

"Do you think she would have?" Anakin question, horrified at the idea of Ahsoka committing such an action. That was far too cruel an action for a Jedi. He'd hoped she'd never stoop to his level.

"Considering the last people who broke into her home were some Sith cultists looking to capture and torture her I think she probably would." Kaeden replied, moving over to what looked like a lavish kitchen, extracting a box from a compartment and returning to where Anakin now sat on the couch, eyes wide with fear. Why were Sith cultists targeting his Padawan?

Sitting down next to him Kaeden opened the box she had brought over, revealing a collection of various medical supplies designed to treat wounds, as well as a small scanner used to identify any internal injuries.

Anakin said nothing as the woman grasped hold of the scanner and activated it, running it along his neck in search for any lasting damage. When she was finished with her search she returned to scanner to the box and closed the lid again, a small smile on her face.

"Well, despite her rather aggressive use of the Force I am happy to tell you that there is no lasting damage to any internal systems in your neck."

"Well that's good to hear then. Thank you." Anakin replied, throwing a grateful smile over to Kaeden in the process as she stood back up, returning the medical box to where she had originally gotten it from.

Rubbing his neck gently out of habit, Anakin looked up at his former Master and current Padawan, both of which were watching him steadily. Ahsoka's eyes were full of worry and concern, whereas Obi-Wan's seemed to contain his ever present analytical nature, as if he was trying to figure something out.

"So, we haven't really had a chance to properly introduce ourselves. My name is…" Obi-Wan began, bowing his head to Kaeden as she approached.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi, I know." Kaeden replied, the smile on her face never leaving as she turned to face the younger Ahsoka. "And I know who you are too. The only person I don't know is you." Kaeden finished, turning to look at Anakin in the process.

Anakin felt his stomach fall in despair. Why did this woman know both Obi-Wan and Ahsoka in the future, but not him?

"My name is Doctor Kaeden Larte. I suppose I should have said that first huh?" Kaeden spoke again, realising she had not yet introduced herself.

Smiling at the introduction, Anakin stood from the couch and approached Kaeden, holding out his hand in greeting, an offer that Kaeden took happily.

"Nice to meet you Doctor Larte. My name is Anakin Skywalker."

Upon revealing his name, Kaeden's face fell quickly from happiness to one of borderline terror. The woman released her grip on Anakin's hand like it was boiling hot, backing away slowly, her back coming into contact with one of the kitchen worktops in the process, halting her attempted retreat.

Now Anakin was scared. Why wasn't he with Ahsoka and Obi-Wan? Why did his grown up Padawan look at him like he was the very thing she despised? And why had Kaeden backed away in horror at the mere mention of his name?

Where exactly had the Son sent him?

Kaeden didn't reveal any real information about why she had become so horrified at the revelation of his name, instead apologising for acting the way she did and suggesting they wait for the older Ahsoka to return and explain… assuming she would. Anakin got the feeling she really wasn't happy to see him.

So for now Anakin simply sat on the couch, his Ahsoka next to him, whilst Obi-Wan sat in a chair opposite them, a cup of tea in his hands that had been prepared for him by Kaeden. Anakin had one too, though it was currently sitting on a small table to the side of the couch growing colder and colder by the second.

Glancing to the side he looked at his Ahsoka, her eyes closed as she meditated to find some sense of clarity to what was happening. Normally she didn't like meditating, but for now it seemed to have calmed her down and distracted her from the craziness of the world they found themselves trapped in. No matter what her future persona thought of him, it was still his duty to protect her and guide her. If she was happy, then so was he.

The sound of a door opening in the distance caught Anakin's attention, as well as Kaeden's, whose face promptly changed to one of relief and joy as she moved through the central living room and into the hallway. On instinct Anakin followed as covertly as he could, Obi-Wan watching him with a concerned face in the process.

Approaching the threshold of a doorway that led into what Anakin assumed was the hall, he stopped, choosing not to interrupt. Instead, he chose to simply listen as he heard the whispered voices of Kaeden and the fully grown Ahsoka speak to one another.

"I'm sorry I stormed out like that. It's just…"

"I know, I know. I've figured it out too. You've got nothing to be sorry for."

"I thought I could control it… but then he shows up looking like that and…"

"And you wanted to hurt him, I get it."

"But I shouldn't. I don't do that sort of thing. I just…"

"You snapped. It's ok Ahsoka. Nobody is perfect."

It hurt to hear Ahsoka sound so downtrodden, so upset with herself. She had no reason to be. Even when she made mistakes he was proud of her for it, because how else would she learn. No doubt his future self was equally as proud of her grown up as he was with her as a teenager, wherever he was in this future. Approaching the threshold of the doorway again Anakin peeped round the corner to catch a glimpse of the woman his Padawan would become, just in time to see her embrace Kaeden, face buried in the woman's long dark hair.

"I'm sorry for putting you through all this. You deserve better than to be forced to deal with me and my problems."

"No apologies needed Ahsoka. Your problems are my problems, be they normal ones or ones related to the Force."

"I don't deserve you."

From his position round the corner Anakin saw Ahsoka slowly pull her face back out of Kaeden's hair, coming face to face with the woman as she spoke instead.

"After everything you've been through Ahsoka, all the good you have done, you deserve the world."

A small smile came onto Ahsoka's face, one that was reminiscent of her younger self. It was good to see that despite her darker attitude upon seeing him again, she still retained some part of herself.

Anakin was about to walk round the corner to interrupt when he saw saw further movement from his grown apprentice. Ahsoka leaned her face towards Kaeden's, her lips gently pecking the dark skinned woman's in the process, before she pulled out of the embrace, her hand lingering in Kaeden's momentarily.

"I'm gonna go get changed and then I'll be down." The Togruta spoke before moving off towards the stairs, leaving a clearly content Kaeden in her wake.

Shifting his body back round the corner of the doorway to avoid being spotted, Anakin couldn't contain the look of surprise that had appeared on his face.

Ahsoka had leaned in and… oh!

OH!

Inwardly, Anakin couldn't help but smirk. His Padawan was a lot more like him than he both realized and had hoped. He was glad she had found someone, but at the same time wished she hadn't fallen into the same trap he had. His relationship with Padmé was a secret, one that was next to impossible to keep hidden… and he hated hiding it from his closest friends. He wondered if Ahsoka had to do the same.

That said, he'd also have to watch this 'Doctor Kaeden Larte' a lot more closely from now on. As far as he was concerned, no one would ever be good enough for Ahsoka… not unless he said so.

And even then he'd still make sure they never hurt her.. Or they'd pay the price.

"Anakin? Anakin what is it?" The whispered voice of Obi-Wan caught his attention, drawing him out of his inner thoughts. No doubt he was equally confused by the perplexed and amused face that Anakin knew he'd been portraying on his face.

"It's nothing Obi-Wan. Just amazed at all this. I mean it's Ahsoka, all grown up!" Anakin replied, keeping what he'd seen a secret. He had no reason to out Ahsoka's obviously hidden relationship. No doubt Obi-Wan and the rest of the Jedi would look down on her for that.

"I must say it is good to see her so well, if not a bit angry. I do keep warning you to watch yourself around her, less she pick up one or two bad habits." Obi-Wan answered, a smile on his face, one that was borderline teasing, but mixed with classic Kenobi concern. Anakin appreciated it, even if it was critical of his teaching style.

Anakin was about to reply when Kaeden walked back into the room, a dreamy smile on her face.

"She's just getting changed and then she'll be down." Kaeden spoke, her voice light and happy, despite the earlier commotion that had happened. Anakin was glad to hear that Ahsoka was now willing to talk, despite attacking both him and her younger self earlier on.

It was then that Anakin spotted Kaeden glancing towards the couch, specifically at the younger Ahsoka who sat with her legs crossed, deep within meditation, completely unaware of what was happening around her. Anakin felt a protective instinct kick in for a moment. He didn't know when and how Kaeden had met Ahsoka, but he was fairly sure it hadn't happened yet. He hoped Kaeden wasn't thinking about the younger Ahsoka in any particular way.

"She's meditating, even if she hates it. Thought it might ease her mind." Anakin chose to inform, distracting both Kaeden and his line of thought. Perhaps it would do them some good if they could talk civilly, even if Kaeden had been terrified of him by mention of name alone.

"Odd, she seems to like it now. Does it every morning for at least an hour. She even sometimes lets me join in despite not being able to use the Force." Kaeden replied, her eyes returning to the peaceful form of the younger Ahsoka.

"Let's you join in? How? There's no record of a non Force sensitive user being able to meditate like we can." Obi-Wan spoke up, his tone curious. Anakin had to agree. Never had he heard such a thing.

"I'm not really sure of the details. She kinda just pulls me in with her and let's me feel around, shows me what other people and places feel like. It's a weird yet wonderful experience." Kaeden explained, shrugging her shoulders in the process, as if she was simply reiterating something that was incredibly simple. The truth was that Anakin suspected it put one hell of a strain on Ahsoka. Like Obi-Wan he had never heard of such a thing happening before. Perhaps the Jedi did not know everything about the Force as the Council liked to preach in his time. From what Kaeden was describing, it sounded like Ahsoka held the power of a Master of the Jedi. Was she on the Council too? If she was no doubt she'd have reformed it single handedly.

Anakin smiled at the mental image of a grown Ahsoka picking apart the Council members one by one and all but forcing them to change how the Order was run. Or maybe that was just his own personal vision of what should happen.

"Well then, it would appear that Ahsoka has become far more powerful than we could possibly imagine." Obi-Wan replied, his tone happy and full of humour.

"I wouldn't say powerful, just more in control." Kaeden answered, a deep look of thought on her face as she described the woman Ahsoka would become. The answer seemed to please Obi-Wan, who nodded his head and returned to his mug of tea.

Before anyone else could spark up another conversation, movement occured from behind Kaeden, and seconds later the grown Ahsoka emerged, fully dressed in what looked like various pieces of armour covering a grey tunic, as well as two gleaming metal hilts attached to her thigh armour on clear display.

They looked very different than the lightsabers she currently had, the ones that were resting on the nearby table along with Obi-Wan's. Why had Ahsoka changed them, or were they new ones altogether?

Question after question flooded into Anakin's mind. Ahsoka's life seemed so different to what it currently was. She wore armour, had a pair new lightsabers, and by the looks of it even had a secret girlfriend hidden away somewhere in the galaxy!

It was almost too much for Anakin to take in. He'd need to seriously think things over after this was all done. In a way, he saw too much of himself in Ahsoka now, and that could be dangerous. Hopefully he still had time to correct it. The last thing he wanted was her to repeat his mistakes.

Anakin watched as the elder Ahsoka scanned the occupants of the room, her eyes softening briefly when looking at Kaeden, and returning to a sharp glare when they rested on him. Rather than say anything, she merely jerked her head to the side, indicating towards the younger Ahsoka who was deep in meditation.

Clearly she wanted to be able to talk to all of them at once.

Reaching into the Force, Anakin tugged lightly on the bond he and Ahsoka shared, pulling her out of meditation with ease. It struck him at that moment that he could not feel the grown Ahsoka through the Force anymore. Why was she blocking him?

His young Padawan opened her eyes, locking onto Anakin's with a look of confusion, before she turned her head and spotted the other Togruta in the room. Beside him, Anakin felt Ahsoka stiffen in surprise, as if she hadn't really believed what she had seen earlier. Anakin couldn't blame her though. He wouldn't have in her position.

Clearing her throat, the adult Ahsoka began, her voice familiar, yet so much wiser than it currently was.

"First things first. Whatever has happened with the Force has led you to what I can only imagine is the future for you. How, I do not know, but I intend on finding out and resolving this issue. I have already contacted a few friends who may be willing to assist with this unexpected turn of events. They will be here in a day or so."

Anakin chose not to reply to the Togruta's statement. Judging by the look on her face when she had seen him any comments from him would not be appreciated. Beside him Ahsoka too remained silent, clearly far too confused for her own liking.

Thus, it was left to Obi-Wan to once again be the voice of reason and understanding, and for once, Anakin was grateful.

"Sounds good." The Jedi Master replied, a small smile on his face as he answered.

However, it appeared the grown Ahsoka was not finished yet.

"Furthermore, as there seems to be two of us in the same room, we will need to clarify who is being addressed. From now on you will address me as 'Fulcrum'. Hopefully that should keep things simple, even when they are evidently not so." The adult Ahsoka continued, gesturing to the dumbstruck younger Togruta in the process, who seemed to shrink in her seat in the presence of the elder version of herself.

"Fulcrum? What's a Fulcrum?" Anakin couldn't help but question, wincing slightly at the way the grown Togruta's lips lifted into a slight snarl at the sound of his voice. Nonetheless, the Togruta turned to face him.

"Fulcrum is a codename that I have used for many years to conceal my true identify from those who would see me dead. Those who know me, those who are my friends in this time have the right of knowledge of my identity and name. Those who do not call me either 'Commander', or 'Fulcrum.'"

"But… we are friends Ahsoka. I'm your Master." Anakin couldn't help but respond, standing from his seat on the couch and beginning to move towards the woman his Padawan would become.

Before he could take a step however, he felt a hand grasp his, pulling him back as if out of harm's way. Glancing down at his hand he saw Ahsoka, the younger Ahsoka pulling him back onto the couch, a look of worry and fear in her eyes. She shook her head slowly at him, as if warning him to back off.

Perhaps she was right. This 'Fulcrum' had attacked them both upon arrival, merely at the sight of them at that! Clearly something had happened in the future between him and Ahsoka that was not good.

And then Fulcrum replied, acid practically seething on her tongue.

"You are no friend of mine! And I am no Jedi. I haven't been for over two decades."

Author's thoughts

So... the first part was more popular than I had anticipated, so have part two.

And I know I know, not much really happens in this part, but it hopefully sets up the next one. Suffice to say Fulcrum Ahsoka is not too happy to see Anakin again, and who can blame her really. Let's hope she doesn't nearly kill him again. He better start watching when he speaks and what he says is all I will say.

I did also debate with myself over one aspect of this chapter. At one point I was going to have Kaeden introduce herself as 'Doctor Larte-Tano', with the implication of the double barrel name being obvious to most. I decided not to as I felt it didn't really fit the two characters at this point in my Rebels AU timeline. Yes, they are living together, and yes they are together, but unlike Mr Jarrus and Mrs Syndulla they have only been with each other a few years, and I didn't want to just throw them inot a trope filled relationship. I wanted it to be different to the others. So no, Kaeden and Ahsoka are not married. Hope that ok.

Still, I wanted Anakin to discover what his Padawan gets up to in the future in some way, and I figured this was one thing that needed to be revealed. Only question now is to figure out how young Ahsoka find out... if at all.

As for the rest of the chapter... do you have any idea how hard it is to write a scene with two of the same characters in it, just at different ages. Hence the Fulcrum name being brought into it, as it makes my life a little bit easier. XD

Anyway, next time round more craziness happens as Fulcrum begins to explain where they are, and Anakin does his best to not get killed.

As usual, comment and speculate at will. Speaking of which:

Mysterious Guest 1: Glad you liked the crazy unexpected idea. I've been trying to convince myself not to write it, to no avail. Hope you like where it goes.

SWGoji2001: The idea is more insane than crazy, but I thought it could be fun to try and see what people thought of it. Turns out you liked it, which is good.
Obi-Wan always opens with a "Hello There". It's just part of who he is.
Fulcrum is trying to control her temper, honest. That said, she doesn't take too well to betrayers, past or present. :)

Cranky Paws: Glad you liked the new idea. I imagine it's going to be pretty mind boggling for both Anakin and Obi-Wan, but poor Padawan Ahsoka has just encounter her future self as well. She's gonna need some serious therapy afterwards.
Barriss is alive in this AU still, but in canon who knows. I hope so, and I hope she isn't an Inquisitor or something.

Chiara Polairix Edelstein: The return was inevitable at some point, and I'm glad you enjoyed it. Time travel is a hard thing to do well, so hopefully this all comes together in the end. Enjoy part two. :)

jojobinks01: This is sort of turning into a mini story, so yay for that. :)