The Machinations of the Son - 10
A.N: Timeline setting: Both during the events of Mortis, and after 'To Take Down an Emperor'
For several moments Anakin felt weightless, as if he was floating in a zero gravity environment as he traversed between two airlocks. The Force swam around him, bathing him in both the light and the dark.
Whatever he expected to feel traversing through a portal that was quite literally a tear in time and space, this was not it. Fulcrum had spoken of a central nexus. Was this what is was like?
Glancing around, Anakin could not see anything, or anyone he recognized. The space around his shimmered and gleaned, the colour black dominant, yet tinted with small patches of white, much like a night time sky.
A rush of the Force suddenly hit him, and the feeling of being weightless disappeared instantly, his feet falling to the ground and he staggered to retain his balance.
Wobbling to the side from the unexpected impact the first thing he saw was a pair of orange hands reach out to steady him, followed by the concerned voice of his Padawan.
"Master? Are you alright?"
"Yeah, feel a bit queasy, but I'm good. What about you Snips?" Anakin replied, allowing Ahsoka help him to regain his balance, before returning to his full height.
"Yeah, feel a bit sick myself, but I'll be alright. Grown up me thinks its a side effect of the portal travel."
"Makes sense. So where exactly are we then?" Anakin replied, glancing around at his surroundings. The night time like sky stretched all around him, the Force echoing throughout it. He could have sworn he was hearing voices as well, quiet whispers from various individuals, some he recognized, others he didn't.
Continuing to survey his surroundings, Anakin's attention was drawn to what he had previously assumed was the ground he was standing on. Upon closer inspection there didn't even seem to be a ground to stand on, but rather thin air. A pathway was defined to some extent by a pair of astral white lines either side, but the pathway itself was like the night sky, empty and devoid of anything.
On instinct Anakin shuffled his feet in discomfort, praying that he wouldn't suddenly fall through into the void. Instead, however, his movement produced ripples on the pathway, like someone walking through a puddle.
"Ok, this is really really weird." Anakin commented, eyes spotting more pathways in the distances, stretching on for what seemed an eternity.
"This is familiar to me. I have encountered something similar on Mustafar." Darth Vader spoke, his tone grim as his helmeted head surveyed the surroundings as well.
"And what did you see there?" Ahsoka inquired, drawing Vader's attention to her alone.
"Lies, traitors. The past. The present. And the future. It made little sense at the time. Merely another test of the Sith."
"Sounds like a challenge."
"For a Jedi perhaps. Not for me, and perhaps not for you."
Anakin seriously did not like the tone of voice Vader was using when addressing Ahsoka. It was dark and foreboding, with a hint of desire to control underneath it. No doubt he was attempting to influence her somehow, convince her to join him.
Hopefully Ahsoka would resist. He couldn't bare the thought of losing her to the dark side again.
"Yeah, no thanks Vader. I'm good where I am for now."
"A shame."
Anakin didn't miss the way Vader lowered his head briefly, in despair or disappointment Anakin was unsure. Despite no longer possessing the Force restraining cuffs Vader was still actively blocking anyone from reading him.
Mind you, Anakin was doing the same back, as was Ahsoka and Obi-Wan.
Only Fulcrum remained open to read, and her thoughts were focused entirely on what was at hand. The white cloaked Togruta stood at the head of the group, eyes surveying the surroundings as if she was searching for something.
"Come, this way." Fulcrum spoke at last, gesturing for those behind her to follow. Vader moved without hesitation, followed briefly by Ahsoka, who much to Anakin's dismay ended up walking side by side with the Sith Lord.
That left Anakin to bring up the rear with Obi-Wan, exchanging a brief glance of concern for Ahsoka in the process. The shared glanced meant they were thinking the same thing. They were watching Vader's actions intently.
"So… where exactly are we going now?" Anakin inquired from behind, his eyes glancing around once again. Many more pathways seemed to appear to him, each of them leading towards what looked like a doorway beyond, outlined again with an astral white line. Turning on his heel briefly Anakin looked back at where they had come from, spotting what looked like another doorway. Was that the portal they had used to travel from?
"This nexus acts as a gateway to everything that has ever happened, and everything that ever will happen. We need only find the one that returns you three to Mortis, and the one that connects to Mustafar. It's just a case of finding them, of course." Fulcrum replied, continuing to advance forward.
"And how do you know we are going the right way?" Obi-Wan asked next, his brow furrowing in the process.
"I don't. I'm merely following where the Force tells me to go."
"A sound strategy apprentice." Vader quipped in, earning an eye roll from the younger Ahsoka in the process.
"So this place has a recorded history of everything that's ever happened or will happen in our galaxy?" Ahsoka continued, her tone full of awe.
"Oh… it contains far more than that Padawan Tano." The sultry vindictive voice echoed around them in response, causing Anakin to jump in the process. The sound of several lightsabers igniting around Anakin drew his attention as both Obi-Wan and Ahsoka drew their blades, surveying the void around them in search of the voice's owner.
Fulcrum herself froze on the spot, her own eyes glancing around at the nexus, focus moving from one portal to another. She was clearly not perturbed by the Son's voice.
"I'm sure it does, but unfortunately we don't have time for a tour. Thanks anyways." Ahsoka spoke aloud in response, her inner snippiness showing off.
"Oh my dear but you will want to see this. This nexus is not just for this galaxy, but for all galaxies. The Force is one here and it binds everything together. Humans are known to say that every action has an equal opposite reaction. This couldn't be more true."
"Humans say a lot of rubbish. I wouldn't listen to them all of the time." Fulcrum interrupted, her decision being made on where to go next. The white clad Togruta set off down the pathway once again, heading towards what looked like a group of doorways in the distance. Having no other option, the group followed.
"You are a fool to believe that this universe is the sole one of its kind. There are many variables to existence, and each decision you make can shape the future in different ways, or perhaps I should say create whole new alternatives."
"What do you speak of?" Vader boomed aloud, either interested in the Son's words, or merely playing along.
"The five of you come from a universe in which Lord Vader fell on Malachor, but there is another universe out there, one where Vader survives the Sith Temple."
"And let me guess. He kills me instead?" Fulcrum spoke, her tone distasteful.
"Oh no my dear. Oddly enough, the one thing that seems to persist in every version of reality I have witnessed is your continued existence, in one form or another." The Son snarled, his voice overwhelming the soft gentle echoes that Anakin could hear.
"So what you are saying is that there is a universe things change ever so slightly?" Anakin spoke next, voicing his own opinion.
"Correct Chosen One, but there is far more than just one alternative. Imagine if you will a universe where there was no Clone War, no Sith Lord controlling the galaxy. Instead, it was an era of peace and prosperity for the galaxy, where Republic and Separatist meant nothing to anyone."
"Sounds like heaven. Can we visit it?" Obi-Wan's comment was evidently sarcastic, something that elicited a few chuckles from Anakin and Ahsoka.
"Oh you can if you wish Kenobi. Only say the word and I will show you. Or perhaps you'd like to visit a galaxy where the Jedi Order's reputation did not fall during the Clone War, and were seen as heroes throughout Republic space?" The Son continued, his voice echoing all around them.
"Sounds just as good." Obi-Wan replied once again, throwing a smirk in Anakin's direction. Clearly the Jedi Master was enjoying the banter.
"Oh yes it does doesn't it, expect that Order 66 still happens in that universe. Alas, it is foiled and very few Jedi are killed in the betrayal. The fate of the Clones however was not so positive."
"What do you mean?" Fulcrum inquired this time, much to Anakin's surprise. The tone of her voice was off, as if she was worried about what she was about to here.
"You already know what happened Fulcrum, or at least you have guessed. Order 66 was seen as a massive betrayal by the citizens of the Republic. The attempted genocide of the Jedi Order led to a rise in vigilante justice. Clones were hunted and slaughtered, their labs on Kamino obliterated by angry Republic Admirals and their fleets. The Clones that did survive became slaves to the citizens. A saying exists in their universe. 'Own a Clone.' The Republic managed to rebuild itself to its former glory thanks to these slaves, ushering in a new era of peace and prosperity." The Son detailed, each aspect of the story growing darker and darker.
The very idea of the Republic advocating slavery upon the Clones in such a way was horrific to Anakin. He knew firsthand the harsh reality of the slave trade. The thought of it happening to people like Rex, or Fives, Cody or Echo was just horrible. They didn't deserve such punishment, especially if what Fulcrum had told him about Order 66 being down to a mind controlling chip was true.
"That's horrible! The Jedi Order would never let that happen! I would never let that happen!" The outraged voice of the younger Ahsoka echoed around the nexus, anger clear.
"So you say Tano, but that galaxies incarnation of yourself was personally responsible for the extermination of the 501st after they gunned down both Skywalker and Kenobi, as well as a group of younglings before your eyes. Suffice to say it was a day that lived in infamy." The Son continued to taunt, his voice bordering on excited as he described the horror of the alternate reality.
On instinct Anakin sent calming waves of energy through his bond with Ahsoka, trying to get her to clear her head. Luckily, she let him in, the rage in her mind and body fading away slowly.
"Are there any other variations that may be of interest?" Vader asked suddenly, seemingly interested in what the Son was saying for some reason.
"None that you would find useful Lord Vader. You are a pathetic waste of Force sensitivity in all realities."
Anakin would have laughed at the insult directed towards the Sith if it wasn't for the way Vader's fist clenched slowly, as if he wanted to hit something. Hopefully he wouldn't lash out at them.
At the front of the group Fulcrum continued to lead the way, approaching a separation in the pathway in the process, before deciding to take the left hand route. Assuming that Fulcrum knew where she was going, Anakin and the others followed.
The Son spoke no more for the moment, which led Anakin to believe that he had gotten bored with them. That was fine with Anakin, as it gave him time to consider what had happened over the last day and a bit.
The Son had shown him the future, one where everything had gone wrong and he had become a monster. Whether or not it was fate that led Ahsoka to be the one to destroy him or just pure luck Anakin didn't know, but he was glad it was her in the end. Had anyone else told him such revelations he would have heavily doubted them.
But Ahsoka wouldn't lie to him, not about something this big. And perhaps now he had a chance to repair everything that had gone wrong before it did again. Maybe, just maybe he would be able to create his own new reality, just like the Son had been speaking about.
"Your friends certainly put up a formidable defense against me, especially the Zabrak and the Mirialan. Though once again that damned bird of my sister's forced me back." The voice of the Son boomed out again, startling Anakin slightly in the process. He hadn't expected the demi-god to be back so soon.
"That's what happens when you upset a sibling." Fulcrum's response was sharp and harsh, yet with an undercurrent of the snippiness that she was known for in her youth.
"Yes, clearly I underestimated her. Alas, it matters little. Shall we continue our previous conversation?"
Though he couldn't see her eyes, Anakin could almost picture Fulcrum rolling them behind her hood. Her signature in the Force was one of annoyance, clearly fed up with the Son's constant jabbing.
Still, it would serve them better to keep the demi-god distracted, even if it meant listening to him drone on and on.
"Fine, I'll bite. What's behind that gateway?" Fulcrum inquired, one orange hand extending and gesturing towards a distant gateway. At first the gateway itself didn't look any different from the previous ones they had seen, that until until he took a closer look and realized something important was missing from it.
Whereas the previous gateways were each either connected to one of the ethereal pathways, or had its own separate path, the portal Fulcrum had pointed to had no such route to it. Instead, it was suspended in the void, completed isolated and alone with no way of reaching it.
Something about the portal make him uneasy in a way none of the others did. Perhaps there was a reason it was cut off from the rest of the portals. The lack of a pathway suggested that nothing could either get to the portal, or get out of it. Was something trapped within it?
"Ah.. ha ha yes, that portal. Behind that portal lies perhaps the most dangerous being in all of reality that I have ever seen. I have sealed it off to ensure nothing gets through from either side. Believe me when I say this but it is for the good of everyone." The Son replied, a twinge of fear in his voice, something that surprised Anakin. What could be so bad that it would be terrifying to the living embodiment of the dark side of the Force?
"Why, what's on the other side?" The younger Ahsoka asked this time, her own voiced tipped with apprehension. Her feelings through the Force regarding the portal were clouded and unsure, the same uneasiness dwelling on her mind as it had Anakin's.
The Son did not answer immediately, instead a loud sigh echoed through the air around them. Anakin could tell he did not want to speak of whatever was behind the portal.
"Behind that gateway young Tano is what I refer to as 'Véurr's domain'."
"Who's Véurr?" Ahsoka asked again, turning to face Anakin in the process, who shrugged his shoulders.
The Son replied instantly this time, his tone grim.
"Lady Véurr is a Dark Lady of the Sith so powerful that she found a way to cheat death. Her physical body was merely a shell of her spirit, one that was capable of living even after it's host's destruction. Lady Véurr's cruelty and desire for control of everything in existence led her to conflict with those she once considered family. Not even her other half was safe from her wrath. Though her spirit was eventually contained within a nexus much like the one you currently traverse, all it would take would be for some unwitting fool or upstart Sith to re-open the portal and the galaxy would again face Véurr's slaughter. I sealed that gateway off from the others to prevent anyone ever entering or leaving that reality, and also to prevent Véurr herself from ever escaping into this one. If she were to escape the damage she would bring would be unquantifiable."
Now Anakin understood exactly why that gateway was sealed off. If this 'Véurr' was as dangerous as the Son was making her out to be then the galaxy she resided in was no doubt inevitably doomed to a cycle of her wrath. Anakin thanked the Force that he would never meet whoever this Véurr was in his reality.
"Probably a good idea to keep that one quarantined then." Obi-Wan quipped, brows raised as her too surveyed the portal, aghast at what he had heard. Even Vader seemed slightly fearful at the story he had been told, at least Anakin hoped it was fear and not desire. Darth Vader was the exact sort of person that would release Véurr, either by accident or on purpose, just as the Son had described.
The Son continued on. "Yes, that reality is a bit temperamental, shall I say? Only Véurr's arrogance led to her defeat twice fold. I doubt the galaxy would be as lucky a third time."
"What sort of person could do that to others? How could they live with themselves?" Ahsoka voiced aloud, question directed at Anakin.
"What sort of person indeed Ahsoka Tano." The Son finished, his tone almost smug, as if he knew something the others didn't? It didn't escape Anakin's notice that Fulcrum had shuddered suddenly during the Son's explanation. Did she know something as well? Or had she put some sort of pieces together somehow?
"What do you mean?" Ahsoka asked again, confused by the Son's remark.
"It matters little. Now come, the portal to your world is just ahead." The Son replied, diverting the question for the time being. Anakin hoped that whatever the Son had meant wasn't important in any way. The last thing they needed right now was the demi-god sprouting ominous rhetoric.
Continuing forward, the Son became suspiciously quiet once again. A feeling of dread swept over Anakin as he followed Fulcrum, the group slowly approaching a distant portal, one that seemed to pulsate dimly with energy, as if it was drawing them towards it.
Something big was about to happen, that Anakin could tell, and he got the distinct impression he was going to have absolutely no control over whatever it was, and he hated not being in control with a passion. From the way Vader's shoulders tensed suddenly, Anakin could tell he was not alone in that feeling.
A rush of the dark side crashed through Anakin's shields, one of his hands coming to rub is forehead in the process as he felt a headache coming on. Beside him Obi-Wan did the same, and Anakin didn't miss the way the younger Ahsoka stumbled suddenly, only to be gently caught by Vader, who steadied her.
Groaning under the sudden exertion that was upon him, Anakin glanced up at Fulcrum, who was now stood before the gateway they apparently sought.
The only issue was that there was someone in the way.
"Well then, you've made it this far. I'm almost impressed Tano." The Son spoke, appearing in the flesh for the first time since they had entered the nexus. The demi-god towered above Fulcrum,his glowing red eyes staring down at her with malicious intent.
Despite not being able to see Fulcrum's own expression, Anakin could imagine it was much the same as the Son's, one full of defiance and control.
"And I fully intent to make it past you. So step aside, unless you want things to get messy." Fulcrum replied, her tone calm and collected, her posture mirroring the Son's.
A dark chuckle erupted from the being and his lips turned into a smirk, one that only further reinforced the idea of malicious intent. He was up to something, that Anakin was sure.
"You need not worry. I will allow you to return your friends to the correct time and place. You've more than earned this victory today." The Son replied, slowly stepping to one side to allow Fulcrum past.
Alarm bells rang in Anakin's head. This wasn't right! Surely this had to be a trap of some kind? There was no way the Son would willingly let them past without some sort of catch? Fulcrum had to know that!
"I'm not stupid enough to think it'll be that easy. What's the catch?" Fulcrum replied to the Son's comment, easing Anakin's concerns briefly. He was glad she was able to see through the creature's lies.
"Ah yes… the catch… I should have suspected you'd be suspicious, and you are right to be. Put simply Tano, you have a decision to make. Regardless of your decision I will allow your friends to return to their time, though the decision itself could very well change things for all." The Son explained, moving back in front of Fulcrum, gesturing to the group of people behind her. Fulcrum chose that moment to glance behind herself, her blue eyes surveying those following her.
Moments later she turned back to the Son.
"And what decision is that?"
The Son chuckled again, practically bouncing on his heels as he began to explain.
"Your friends will return regardless, but what world they will return to depends entirely on you. They could, in theory, return to their reality with their memories of this one intact. They would know their own future, and perhaps know how to prevent it."
Shock flooded into Anakin's mind instantly. The idea that they could keep their memories… that they would know of the future that awaited them… that they could prevent it!
That he could prevent his wife's death!
It was too good of an opportunity to miss, and feeling that was shared by both Obi-Wan and the younger Ahsoka.
And then the Son continued, and Anakin felt his spirits fall.
"However, in doing so they would change the reality they currently come from, as well as the reality of your past. Everything you have done since your trip to Mortis, all the people you've lost, adventures you've had, loved ones you have found, sacrifices you've made, it will all be gone in a blink of an eye. Your reality will cease to exist, being replaced instead by the new one you allowed to flourish."
Now Anakin could see why the decision would be a difficult one for Fulcrum. She could save the past, ensure that the tragedies that had befallen the galaxy did not happen by simply allowing them to keep their memories, but in doing so she would lose her own present. She would lose everything she had, everything she had worked so hard to achieve.
And she would lose Kaeden too. Anakin had known Ahsoka long enough to know that would have an incredibly profound effect on her.
Fulcrum's head lowered slowly as she contemplated the Son's words, her Force signature twisting and turning with uncertainty and fear. She really didn't know what to do.
"And what's the other option?" Fulcrum questioned, her tone somber, as if she already knew the answer. Anakin felt the same way. He knew exactly what the Son was about to say, and he really didn't want him to place this decision on Fulcrum.
"I will remove their memories of this visit. They will awaken on Mortis none the wiser to the future. Events will proceed as they have in your reality. The Jedi will fall, Skywalker will become an agent of evil and you will become Fulcrum. Ultimately Tano your choice is this: Their future, or yours? Will you be selfless, or selfish?"
Anakin wanted to scream. He wanted to shout, wanted to hurl abuse at the Son for forcing such a monolithic decision upon Fulcrum in exchange for letting them past. How dare he make her decide the fate of not only the galaxy as a whole, but of her own personal happiness. She was happy where she was, with Kaeden, with all of her friends. Why should she sacrifice that for anything?
But if she did she would be doing what Ahsoka Tano always did, saving those in need, helping others no matter the situation. Yes, she would lose everything, but she would save everyone else in the process. He wouldn't fall! The Jedi would survive! Padmé would live.
But she would lose everything!
"We need to keep our memories. We've got to beat the Sith before they turn Anakin!" The voice of the younger Ahsoka pleaded from beside him, her Force signature in turmoil as Fulcrum made no movement. It broke Anakin's heart to stand by and watch as Fulcrum was forced to listen to her younger self tell her to sacrifice her own happiness for that of others.
"I for one agree. It is the will of the Force that we have been brought here to you. We now possess the information to ensure a Jedi victory over the Sith. It is in a Jedi's nature to sacrifice for the greater good Fulcrum, something you were taught at the temple." Obi-Wan spoke next, offering his own opinion, one that caused bile to build up at the back of Anakin's throat. How could Obi-Wan be so flippant about Fulcrum sacrificing her own life for others?
"Kenobi preaches the ideas of sacrifice for the Jedi, but tell me apprentice, who abandoned you? The Jedi do not deserve your sympathy, nor does the Republic. They squandered every chance to stop Darth Sidious. They do not deserve another. Wipe their memories clean." Vader boomed in response, his modulated voice harsh and judgemental, anger clearly directed mainly at Obi-Wan. Anakin found that he shared Vader's opinion on the matter, something that shouldn't have really been a surprise.
"If we lose our memories thousands will die. The Jedi will be wiped out and the galaxy doomed to the rule of a tyrant. This future must be sacrificed to ensure others do not face what you have faced. It is the right thing to do for everyone." Obi-Wan countered, his eye brows lowering, a determined expression on his face. He wasn't going to let this go. Obi-wan had always believed in the greater good, something he and Anakin clashed on occasionally. Anakin wasn't willing to sacrifice Fulcrum's life for others. Obi-Wan evidently was.
"The right thing for the many maybe, but for her it may be different. You have always been unable to see the truth of an individual Kenobi. Ahsoka Tano has and always will be her own person with her own desires. Your opinion should matter little to her." Vader responded, snarling, his tone tipped with acid as he glared at Obi-Wan beneath his helmet. Anakin might have agreed with Vader's words, but he really didn't want this to turn into a physical argument, not when they were so close to escape.
"Both of these individuals make a strong argument, though in the end their opinion is void. You must make the decision Ahsoka Tano, and you alone. If you refuse, you shall all remain trapped here forever." The Son took the opportunity to interrupt, drawing the attention back to him, smugness radiating off of him as he cemented the difficult position he had placed Fulcrum in. There was no turning back now. Fulcrum had to chose.
A soft sigh emanated from the Togruta in question, her shoulders slumping as he considered the situation. Her mental barriers had suddenly slammed shut, preventing anyone from seeing or hearing what she was thinking. Considering the circumstances, as well as the volatile nature of everyone around her, that was probably a good idea.
"If I allow them to keep their memories, how much of a guarantee is there that they could save the past?" Fulcrum questioned, speaking slowly as she analyzed her own words, clearly in search of something within them.
"They will return to their reality with memories of everything they had seen and been told. What they do with them remains to be seen." The Son said in response, gesturing with one of his hands towards the gateway behind him.
"They will keep their memories on everything they've been told?"
"Yes, and from that information they will forge their own path, whatever the outcome."
"But there is no guarantee of success?"
"Only as much success as possible with what you have told them." The Son's final comment was cryptic enough that the meaning was hidden to Anakin, and from the expression of both his former Master and Padawan, them as well.
Vader however seemed to have a different response. His respirator halted briefly, as if he was sucking in air in surprise, before he released a long breath.
Fulcrum remained motionless, betraying no emotion through body language, even as she slowly turned to face those behind her.
Her blue eyes surveyed the faces, briefly glancing over both Obi-Wan and her younger self, stopping momentarily on Vader's helmet, before halting on Anakin's face, her blue eyes flooded with emotion that the rest of her did not give off.
The weight of the decision she was being forced to make was boring deep into her, Anakin could tell. Her eyes radiated fear of the unknown, uncertainty of a choice that could change everything.
It reminded him of Ryloth, of when she had led her fighter squadron against an enemy blockade and failed, punishing herself internally for her failure, even after she redeemed herself.
Back then she had been a mere Padawan, unsure of her abilities and eager to learn and please her Master.
Now, however, she was a grown woman, one who had led many on a mission to save the galaxy. If she had had any doubts back then, and knowing Ahsoka she would have, she had overcome them and made the difficult decisions that were necessary for one in command.
Anakin was certain she would be able to do it again, but that didn't mean she had to do it alone. Everyone else had offered their opinion but he, and from the way Fulcrum was looking at him, a sad expression covering her face, it was clear she wanted to know what he would think.
Obi-Wan and the younger Ahsoka wouldn't like it, but if he was going to be honest he would gladly sacrifice himself for his Padawan.
"You do what you've got to do Ahsoka. I trust you."
The words were simple, yet had a profound effect on Fulcrum. Her expression shifted instantly to one of confidence, as if she understood something he didn't. Whatever she had worked out had made her decision for her, and whatever said decision was Anakin knew he would be proud of her for it.
He would always be proud of Ahsoka, no matter what she did or the choices she made.
With renewed confidence, Fulcrum nodded her head at Anakin and turned to face the Son once again, who was watching with a look of apprehension and surprise on his face, as if he hadn't expected Fulcrum to come to a decision at all.
"You have made your choice then?" The Son asked.
"I have." Fulcrum replied.
"So easily?" The Son countered.
"No, but I know enough to make an informed one." Fulcrum answered.
"Very well. Tell me then Ahsoka Tano… will you be selfless… or selfish?"
Fulcrum did not answer immediately, instead allowing the weight of the question to hang in the air around them. Anakin didn't know if she was having second thoughts, or merely delaying for some reason. All he did know was that he hated the way the question had been worded, not that he could do anything about it. If Fulcrum decided to have their memories wiped, so be it. He wouldn't hold it against her, and he would never call her selfish. She had a good life, one with people who loved her. Why should she sacrifice that?
"Well Tano? What will it be?" The Son pushed, a slight growl in his voice, a sign of impatience.
Fulcrum's posture changed, her back stretching to stand tall before the Son, defiance suddenly radiating off of her through the Force.
And then she spoke one simple word, and sealed the fate of the many.
"Selfish. Wipe their memories of this encounter and preserve my reality."
In her position, Anakin would have made the exact same choice. Why risk a possibility when you had a definite reality already established. From the way Vader nodded his helmeted head, the Sith Lord agreed.
The other two present however did not.
"No! You can't do this to us! You can't let the Jedi and Anakin be destroyed like this! I won't let you!" The younger Ahsoka all but screamed, her lightsaber igniting suddenly, swinging towards Fulcrum's unprotected back with frightening speed.
"Ahsoka no!" Anakin called out in shock as his Padawan's blade neared her future self, intent to kill obvious. Did she not realize what would happen if she killed her future self?
At the last moment however, a pair of black gloved hands grasped hold of Ahsoka's arms, pulling her back and restraining her tightly in their grip. Fulcrum slowly turned on her heel to face her younger self, who struggled in Vader's grip, desperately attempting to break free, even as her lightsaber fell out of her hand.
Anakin could do little but watch as the younger Togruta sneered at the older one, tears brimming on the edges of her eyes as the reality of the situation began to kick in. The Force sang in despair as Ahsoka began to plead with her older self to allow them to keep their memories.
But try as she might, it was clear Fulcrum had made her decision, and any pleas would fall on deaf Montrals.
"I can't believe I become someone as selfish as you! Go kriff yourself!" Ahsoka snarled through her tears, a comment that got only a deep look on sadness in Fulcrum's eyes.
The taller Togruta inclined her head towards Vader, signaling something to him through the Force. The Sith Lord in question nodded again, before turning Ahsoka around in his grip, releasing one arm and placing his now free hand on her forehead before speaking softly, compulsion radiating off of him.
"Sleep Apprentice."
Ahsoka was unable to resist the sheer power of the Sith lord, passing out in Vader's arms, her body limp. The Sith gently lifted her up into his arms, moving over towards Obi-Wan, offering her to him.
The Jedi Master had a deep look of disappointment and what Anakin would have called resentment on his face as he accepted Ahsoka's sleeping form, making her comfortable in his arms before he turned his head towards Fulcrum and spoke.
"I'm disappointed in you Ahsoka. You chose your own greed and desires over the welfare of the galaxy. That is not how we taught you. That is not the way of the Jedi."
"I am no Jedi. I haven't been since those I was suppose to trust abandoned me." Fulcrum's reply was instantaneous and sharp. It was clear to everyone that she had taken offense to Obi-Wan's statement regarding her decision. Her face had shifted from sad to angry in an instance.
Frankly Anakin, and from the way Vader shifted towards Obi-wan, hands clenched, felt the same. It was an impossible decision to make, but Fulcrum had done so nonetheless.
Obi-Wan might not have been proud of Ahsoka, but Anakin was. Then again, he shouldn't have been surprised. Obi-Wan had never shown any pride in him when he had been his Padawan, only condescending judgement over his more radical freethinking.
"Holding grudges will get you nowhere. I'd have thought you'd have learnt that by now. A shame." Obi-Wan answered, shaking his head in the process before he began to move past her towards the open gateway. The Son stepped to the side, seemingly floating in the void in the process.
Obi-Wan didn't stop to look back as he crossed the threshold of the gateway, both his and the unconscious Ahsoka's forms vanishing from the nexus in the process, no doubt destined for Mortis.
Anakin made no move to follow, not yet at least. He needed to speak to Fulcrum, to make sure she was okay.
Despite everything, she was still his snippy Padawan, at least in his eyes.
"Hey, you know he doesn't mean what he said right? He's just acting emotional."
"When has Obi-Wan ever said anything he doesn't mean? Getting emotional and saying stuff like that without thinking was your area of expertise, not his. He meant every word he said."
"Don't take it personally. You made the right choice. Why should you sacrifice your own happiness for others?"
"Funny, that's the same sort of thing that led to you becoming Vader. You were unwilling to accept Padmé's possible death, so you took extreme measures to try and prevent it and secure your own happiness. I've pretty much just done the same thing to secure my own."
"Except that you didn't become a mass murdering monster in the process!"
"I am standing right here!" Vader's affronted remark reminded Anakin that he and Fulcrum were not the only ones still present. How he could forget about the towering cyborg Sith Anakin didn't know, but he paid him little mind.
"Look Ahsoka," Anakin continued, choosing to address her by her real name rather than her title, "The Son just gave you an impossible decision to make, You did the best you could with what information you had. It's no different than leading a military campaign. It was made perfectly clear that there was only a chance for us to change events and save the Republic and the Jedi from ruin. Why risk it when you have a happy ending already? A happy ending that you deserve."
Fulcrum's eyes lowered briefly, deep contemplation within them as she began to make sense of Anakin's words. Anakin doubted they would offer much solace for her, but any help he could offer was better than none in his mind.
"Not to interrupt but if you wish to leave it must be now. I can't keep the portal open forever." Sarcasm seeped from the Son's tone as he spoke, gesturing towards the gateway behind Fulcrum with an equally sarcastic gait.
Taking that as his queue to leave, Anakin began to move towards the gateway. As he began to step past Fulcrum, an orange hand grasped hold of his arm tightly.
"Make what time you have count Anakin." Fulcrum spoke, her blue eyes boring through his own, seeing directly into his soul, at least that's what it felt like to Anakin. He knew he wouldn't remember this encounter, something that did disappoint him in some ways.
Still, he glad glad to have had it. To see the person his Padawan would become was a marvel. Despite all the destruction and chaos he would wrought in the future, he had at least done something right in his time as a Jedi. Ahsoka was everything he wanted to be as a Jedi, and everything he realized now that he could never have been.
Fulcrum released his arm in that moment, moving past Anakin and coming to stand beside Vader, who watched the scene before him passively.
Upon reaching the towering Sith Lord, the white cloaked Togruta turned back around, watching Anakin. She gently nodded her head to him in a sign of farewell, a gesture that Anakin chose to return. He doubted he would get anything more than that from her.
Content, Anakin turned back around and began to move towards the shimmering gateway portal. Reaching one hand forward, followed by one foot, he entered through the whirling vortex, bright white lights flooding his senses in the process, before everything faded from memory.
The scenery around him was volcanic, lava spewing from geysers and rivers running hot and orange, warning anyone away. The Force sang with the dark side, threatening to overpower and consume anything that came close.
And yet, Anakin had chosen to come here, to confront the Son. His hand gently touched the hilt of his lightsaber attached to his belt, ready, just in case.
No doubt the Son would try some cruel trick on him, but Anakin would resist, just as he always did.
No dark side entity was going to convince him to join them!
Darth Vader stood watching, watching as his former weakling self entered through the vortex, vanishing from sight.
Beside him he heard a deep sigh, one that showed great loss and regret over what had happened. It didn't surprise him. Ahsoka Tano had always been a compassionate individual, even in her anger. She may have effectively doomed the Republic to fall whilst denouncing her former Master's very name, but she still cared in her own way.
In a way he admired that about her. Ahsoka had acted and not cared what anyone had thought of the decision, no matter how dark of a decision it was.
Now, if only she could be convinced to join him. She would make an excellent apprentice with qualities such as that.
Out of the corner of her eye, he saw the Togruta shake her head gently, her Force signature mixed and conflicted. She had made the decision, but it was clear she was still unsure about the consequences.
Still, it was no use crying over spilled blue milk. What was done was done… and there was no going back.
"Come on. I think you're portal back is over there." Fulcrum spoke, gesturing towards a distant gateway that had illuminated in a dark red suddenly, the familiar aura of the darkness of Mustafar pulsating from it.
"So it would seem." Vader replied, moving in step with Fulcrum, the two walking as equals. The pathway before them was clear of any side routes, something he was glad for. He really didn't want any more distractions. He only wanted to get home so that he could…
A thought suddenly occurred to him. His past self would not remember this encounter… but would he?
"I will not remember this will I?" Vader speculated aloud, wondering if Fulcrum shared the same line of thought
"I'd imagine not. Sorry about that." Fulcrum's response was swift and tinted with remorse. Why did she regret her actions? That was a sign of weakness, and Ahsoka Tano was not weak.
"No concern. The future is malleable. Perhaps things will be different for me." Vader replied, his helmeted head surveying the void around them. The star like entities that resonated beyond offered little hope to him that he was right. Chances were that he was simply headed to his death at Fulcrum's hands.
Still, if he was to die he'd rather it be by her hands than anyone else's. She had more of a right to kill him than most.
"Maybe."
Fulcrum's words offered him little solace, even as they approached the whirling gateway.
Both halted at the entrance, each looking at the red tint beyond it, contemplating. Vader knew he was going to enter it, to find himself back at his 'home' amongst the ash.
Whether or not Fulcrum was going to try to stop him was unknown, but he cared little. He would find his way back regardless of what she did.
Turning on his heel he faced the Togruta woman, who was once the sole reason he continued to be a loyal and complacent Jedi Knight. He would finish her training, even if he hadn't in the past.
Except that he knew she would not let him. She was her own person, and she had a place for herself already.
As disappointed as he was, he would let her have that.
Vader watched as Fulcrum slid a hand into her long cloak, before extracting the hilt of his lightsaber and offering it to him. Without hesitation he took the saber, clipping it to his belt so that it was ready. He had no intention or reason to use it now after all.
Glancing back towards the gateway, Vader considered entering, but there was still one more thing he had to know.
Turning back to face Fulcrum, he spoke.
"You did not tell my former self or his compatriots the true identity of Darth Sidious? Why?"
"Would you have believed me if I had?"
Vader chose not to respond once again. He already knew he wouldn't have back then. To Anakin Skywalker, Sheev Palpatine had been untouchable to all. There was no way his foolish Jedi past would have believed even Ahsoka with such information.
"May the best duelist win on Malachor." Vader spoke again, hoping his words offered some sort of farewell to his former student. There would be no compassionate goodbye for them he realized, not that there needed to be one. They were on opposite sides of the conflict after all. By rights they were enemies.
Still, he had no reason to harm her at the moment. He only hoped it remained that way.
Nodding to Fulcrum, a gesture she returned, Vader swiftly moved towards the gateway, entering into the vortex beyond and vanishing from sight, white light flooding his senses in the process.
Ahsoka Tano watched as for the second time today, her past vanished before her eyes.
Encountering her former Master, both as a Jedi and a Sith had taken its toll, but she had worked hard not to show it, especially in front of them.
If she had done, Vader would have used it as fuel for his quest to turn her to the dark side, and Anakin…
Anakin would have sprouted kriff about being worried about her, about him wanting to help her by talking it through. During her days as his apprentice, she would have readily accepted his help, but now…
She wasn't a Jedi anymore, and she sure as hell wasn't about to share her personal feelings with the man who had betrayed everyone.
Still, she was fairly certain that Kaeden would want to talk about everything the second she returned home, and there was not a thing that Ahsoka could do about that.
Not that she minded.
The thought of Kaeden, of her home, spurred Ahsoka to move away from the gateway before her. Pivoting on her heels she spotted the gateway they had used to enter, still active a distance away. That meant that her friends were still holding it open for her.
Knowing full well the strain it would likely be placing upon them she began to swiftly stride back along the ethereal pathways beneath her, retracing her footsteps.
The void around her sang with voices of her past, some familiar, some not. Some called out to her, others cursed her for her actions. She paid them little mind. She was past caring what people who didn't really know her thought about her actions. They were hers to make, no one else's.
"You know what the truly harsh ironic part about all of this is?" A voice, the dark foreboding one that belonged to the Son echoed across the void addressing Ahsoka directly. Continuing her stride, Ahsoka rolled her eyes but replied.
"What's that then?"
"Your decision to remove their memories will doom them to your future, not that they will remember. You however, will. You will go to your grave knowing that you had the chance to change things, to make the galaxy a 'better place', but that you chose your own selfish greed and desires over theirs. And one day, the younger you will experience the same thing. All the guilt, all the shame, you will carry that forever. How does that make you feel, Ahsoka Tano?"
Ahsoka had expected this question, she had asked herself it several times before she had even made the decision. What right does she have to decide people's future the way she had done? How did she know it was the better choice to wipe their memories?
Or was she just being selfish? Did she just want to get back home and see Kaeden and her friends again, see the future they had built together?
Honestly, she didn't know anymore. She hated decisions such as these, the monumental ones that changed people's lives for better or worse.
And she hated the fact that she had been making them ever since she was a teenager, a teenage soldier fighting a politicians war, one that was fabricated from the very beginning.
Was it wrong that she just wanted to be left alone with her small band of friends and family? Was it wrong that for once in her life she just wanted to be selfish?
If it was, then she supposed she was a terrible person. No doubt history would decide what she was.
"How does it make me feel? Guilty that they are doomed to destruction, shame in myself? No, it doesn't, because despite the hardships they endure, they will fight and sacrifice, and they will survive. Unlike you I've simply chosen to leave things as they are, not tamper with reality like you do. Perhaps things will happened exactly how they did, or perhaps something will change, who knows? That is their choice to make from now on. As you said, there are many different realities." Ahsoka replied to the voice of the Son, turning a corner on the pathway beneath her, the gateway out of the nexus dead ahead.
"An interesting opinion, yet one that answers little. Whether you realize it or not Tano you are doomed. There is no balance in the Force. My Father is a fool. Every time you use the darkness, even slightly, you fall more and more unto it's grip. One day it will overpower your light side and consume you completely. You would be naive to think otherwise."
By now Ahsoka had reached the entrance to her gateway back home, the vortex still shimmering before her. It could collapse at any second, that Ahsoka knew, but she was not going to let the Son have the final word.
"Perhaps I am doomed, perhaps not, in the end, who knows. I'll do what I've always done."
"And what is that?" The Son inquired, tone condescending.
A wide smirk grew on Ahsoka's face. At times like these, she couldn't help but be snippy.
"I'll wing it."
And with that Ahsoka pivoted on her heel and stepped through the vortex. Bright white light overwhelmed her senses for a brief moment, before she stepped back out the other end, finding herself wrapped up in a warm embrace, sighs of relief traveling through the room and hitting her montrals.
Pulling back slightly, her arms still around Kaeden, Ahsoka looked into the human woman's eyes, glad she had made the choice she had.
Smiling softly, Ahsoka spoke.
"Hey honey, I'm home."
Author's thoughts
And there we go... what was supposed to be a mini arc turned into was is pretty much part 4 of the Rebels AU I did. Oops... still, was worth it in my opinion.
Hopefully you liked the way it ended, even if it was no doubt different from what I assume a lot of you would have wanted. I fully expect that the vast majority of you wanted a happy ending where our time travelers returned with all their memory intact and stopped the rise of the Empire in the first place. Whilst that would have likely been the happiest possible ending, I didn't want to undermine what had already been done, hence the way the story was told in the end. Actions do after all have consequences, and ignoring those is a disservice to all that were forced to suffer such consequences.
End of the day, I ended this the way I wanted to, with a happy Ahsoka returning to her friends. I'm sure some of you will point out that Ahsoka would never be selfish the way she is in this chapter... and I agree... but this isn't normal Ahsoka. This is Fulcrum, the woman who has been picking up the mess left behind by Anakin and the Empire for years now, thinking only of others. Here we see that she has finally had enough and decides to look out for herself and her friends first, rather than the galaxy as a whole. Times do change a person, and Fulcrum just wants to be left alone.
So yeah, there is my rubbish reasoning for the choices made in this chapter. Whether you like it or not is fine. Each to our own. At least there was a sort of happy ending.
Oh and I know Obi-Wan comes across as rather harsh in this chapter, so I'm sorry for that, but I needed someone to be hostile to Fulcrum's 'selfish' decision, and he being Mr Jedi made sense as Obi-Wan would always put the safety of the Republic and Jedi over personal feelings. (look at Mustafar). Well, at least most of the time that is. This is before his attempt to rescue Satine and before the Hardeen incident. You make up your minds on that.
Now, eagle eyed readers who read others stories may have also noticed a bit of an easteregg/reference to another person's work in this chapter. The character of Darth Véurr was used with permission from fellow author and reader MMPRPink (on archive of our own) and rangerslayer-97 (on Tumblr). There stories, especially the galaxy-38 AU ones, are certainly worth the read and can get pretty dark and frankly awesome at the same time. Véurr in particular is one of the most deplorable villains I've seen before, but that's what makes the stories so great. Seriously, hunt them down and check them out. (and thanks again for letting me use them pal XD)
So yeah, with this arc all said and done I guess I should get back to writing 'Agent of the Chancellor' now. I've left that story in limbo for a bit and I imagine some people are frustrated by that. Off I go then.
Don't know when the one shots will return, or what they will be about, but they will one day.
As usual, comment and speculate at will. Speaking of which:
Mysterious guest 1: Sorry, no keeping memories today. Hope you don't hate me.
jojobinks01: Chuck Norris is insignificant compared to the power of the Force.
Travis Middleton: Back for now... but time to disappear again I'm afraid. :(
Glad you liked the interactions in the basement. It was fun to write how each would behave around the other, especially Vader.
Having the Son take them all on would be fun to see, but I didn't have time for it, hence what was given.
Also this chapter should answer your question on keeping memories. Hope you liked it.
Erukat: Perfection is quite the compliment, so thank you for that. I really appreciate it. Portraying the characters right is a big thing I focus on, so I'm always glad when people say I have succeeded.
Maul and Kaeden are two of the most reliable people in Ahsoka's life at this point (the other is Kanan), so it felt right that they would be the ones to convince Vader and give both him and Anakin a peace of their minds.
Obi-Wan speaking to himself is hysterical, hence why it was included.
Glad you liked the 8.5 part on Tumblr. It was a fun little extra thing to write.
Hope you enjoy the finale.
SWGoji2001: I'm glad you liked the scary angry Kaeden defending her girlfriend. The kindest people in the galaxy are often the scariest when pissed off. XD
Vader's lack of response could mean anything. As I said before it's up to interpretation as I felt that was a better idea for the fans.
Don't ever worry about going into rant mode. It's good to read. In this case you gave me something to think about, something that I decided to incorporate into this chapter. The balance between light and dark is very hard to manage, and despite thinking she does, Ahsoka is still at risk of being consumed by the darkness every time she uses it. The Son's warning is a sort of foreshadowing of things that could be if she keeps on that path.
End of the day Ahsoka is sort of a renegade light side user who holds no qualms about being brutal when necessary.
End of the day it's a case of each to their own. Some will like the idea of her balancing the light and dark with her friends around her, others not. There's no right or wrong answer, regardless of what people say. I love hearing your views whatever they are. :)
Hope you liked the finale chapter.