Chapter 48
Yoda feels the young man's emotions clouding his judgement. The disappearance of Siri Tachi is absolutely making Ferus Olin furious. That is the worrisome part because it is showing that the Jedi are beginning to snap under the pressure of the changing times, and Yoda cannot help but question his beliefs.
How can the Jedi Order fall so far? Yoda realizes that he has been responsible for it. More and more, Jedi are beginning to doubt their respective roles, and as shown with Siri Tachi and Bant Eerin, there might be clashes within the very palace of the Order. That is worrying as the Jedi Order could face an unexpected split, being mowed down by their own Jedi companions.
It happened centuries ago with Masters cutting down their Padawans. Yoda have been having visions lately... The Jedi under his Order all cutting down their fellow companions, him watching at crossroads, the entire Temple suffering heavy damage... It shifted to white armored Soldiers doing something similar. He had such visions since Vader sent a disturbance through the Force.
But he can see his own Jedi willing to cut down the Younglings that disagree with their views. They had gone as far as to cut down their own Jedi without giving them a chance. Yoda couldn't bear it. H-he would do anything to ensure that such an outcome would never become reality.
The dark side is unpredictable though and Yoda knows that it is possible for his Jedi to become complete monsters! For now, they might have someone who could become a fallen one. The currents surrounding Ferus is understandable, the pulsing flames boiling up within him, is something that concerns Yoda, but he wouldn't allow his fellow Jedi to bring the young Jedi into custody.
Ferus has always been a stable person, and the loss of his Master leaves him without that. Yoda still remembers when he lost his Master, how close he was to falling, only to be grounded by individuals who are all but one with the Force now.
"Masters, with all due respect, you pushed her away!" Ferus is continuing his tirade. "How can you all be so cruel to push away a long time member and declare her an enemy?! We are becoming the very thing we have sworn to destroy!"
And Yoda grimaces, knowing that the boy is not entirely wrong. The Jedi are falling. No, not falling. They have already had. This is precisely what pushed Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan away. This is what pushed Dooku away. And it all happened under Yoda's rule, one of his biggest failures.
The Jedi of the past would be ashamed with Yoda, something that the Grandmaster takes personally as much as the Jedi surrounding him and within the Order would believe unlikely.
"How could you all let this happen? How can you all just cast my loyal Master out?" Ferus asks, teeth grinded together.
"Master Tachi was expressing signs of turning against this very Order. We did what we thought was wise so we wouldn't have yet another fallen comrade among us." Tiin replies, contributing onto the anger of Olin.
"She is your failure!" Olin explodes, shocking him and the other Masters. "Maybe if you all know how to console her like a kriffing normal human being instead of allowing her to express traitorous doubt, she would still be before us now!"
Silence fills the Council Chambers. In truth, none of them has any response to that, for they all know that Ferus Olin is absolutely correct, even behind their hubris.
Receiving no answer, Ferus storms out, his clouding emotions leaving a lingering thought in the Grandmaster's mind. He of all the Jedi Masters disagreed with the imprisonment of Siri, but Mundi and Tiin are ones who have joined Windu's conservative as did most within the Council. They were willing to go behind their very Grandmaster's back just to bring a man into justice.
"Losing support within our fellow Jedi, we are." Yoda vocalizes, walking to the window and staring out at the sunset, his eyes closed in deep concentration. "Failing, we are."
"Master Yoda, with all due respect, it is the mission of the Jedi to protect the galaxy from darkness. If those within our Order is becoming plagued by Vader, he is more dangerous than we have thought. We have to stop him." Ki-Adi-Mundi says, as always, a firm believer into the Code.
"The threat, Vader might not be, but rather trying to be a salvation for the Jedi Order. Losing hope, members of ours is. Being assaulted as slavers, this Order might as well be seen." Yoda replies, turning to face the Cerean Jedi Master, his eyes flashing with no small amount of disappointment.
"Vader," Tiin spits, "is an enemy to the Jedi. To suggest otherwise is concerning, Master Yoda. This possibly means that you are possibly falling to the corruption that is the dark side. We don't need one of the greatest champions of the Jedi Order also fall for the trickery that has been standing before us for so long."
That leaves a gasp through the chambers, but Yoda is quiet afterwards. To many, it is unfathomable that he could ever fall to the dark side. He is the very representation of the light, someone who's morality beat out the greed inside of him. Naturally, he felt dark emotions before, but the Grandmaster did not only refuse their seductive calls, but he taught others how to control their dark instincts.
His students of the past are no more, having become one with the Force centuries ago, but one yet remains for perhaps a decade or two. Yoda still doesn't know the fate of Dooku. He would feel it if his old student became one with the Force but the bond that had once connected them was... muffled so that means Dooku is blocking him out or severed the bond all together.
"Falling to our codes, we are. Need time to meditate, to rest we do. Strained, our relationship to the public is becoming. Galactic control, not the way of the Jedi, it is." Yoda replies, his hand going to his forehead.
Many of the Jedi's eyes become daggers yet again. They know that out of all the Jedi, Yoda is the one who is taking the recent changes within the Order hard. He didn't approve of violence like this.
From their point of view, this is not a good turn of events; their own Grandmaster is questioning their codes, an obvious sign that their Order is not sustaining the normal control that they should have.
At the end, turning down Skywalker was a mistake from the Jedi's part, but Yoda couldn't fault the Jedi for refusing his training.
He was too old. The thing about the Jedi is that they indoctrinated their students, so to do this they would take them from their family when they are very young. This is effective because the student would not remember or know anything besides the Jedi and their teachings. Skywalker was already 10 years old when he arrives at the temple. He already experienced war, slavery, mistreatment, evil, murder and death, family, mother and love. So to train Skywalker and try to teach him that death is not bad but rejoice, or that family and his mother are hindrances is something that will be a lot harder given that Anakin has knowledge of these things.
He was too powerful for that age. Now during a time of distress and the emergence of the Sith, some random boy on the Outer Rim part of the Galaxy born to no father pops into the scene. The boy at the age of 10 has a force potential that dwarfs Yoda. If this boy is fully trained as a Jedi and utilize this power for evil not even Yoda could stop him... No one can. Because at the age of 10 his potential was already beyond comprehension and he would only grow stronger.
Clouded was his future - because of Anakin being the Chosen One his future had a destiny that can be reached through many paths. As Qui-Gon said Anakin was "a Vergence in the force", the Force flowed threw him with many different outcomes. This confused Yoda seeing that he could not for see his future in clarity. This also frightened Yoda because he realized how delicate this boy future is given that there are countless roads he can take to his destiny.
"Painting ourselves as aggressors, we are. Turned against us, the Republic could, after being pressed so far. Danger, the Jedi are in." Yoda says, grunting. He still sees those visions every horrifying second he closes his eyes. Armored Troopers, unrecognizable to all, raising their blasters and firing among the Jedi, unsuspecting. Then lightsabers flashing madly and carving through their own companions.
"We are in danger by our own hubris," Mundi replies, seeming oblivious to the great amount of pain crossing Yoda's expression. "We have to keep the Republic safe. Criminals like Vader have to be stopped; otherwise, we might as well just give up the galaxy to the dark side."
After that comment, Yoda leaves the chamber without saying a word, keeping his head bow. This is not the way of the Jedi. The Jedi are supposed to represent compassion, patience, and understanding, but they have been lacking. Is this what many such as the Jedi Exile fought for centuries ago, only for the Jedi to fall as far as they have?
While Vader's Order would contradict all what the Jedi believe, Yoda is beginning to have second doubts for the very Order he serves. Windu's attack on Vader tainted the planet's view on them and in turn the systems in the Outer Rim. That same doubt is plaguing the hallways of the Jedi Temple, students walking back with lingering shadows in their minds, and Yoda is helpless to watch them all.
Many problems lie in the Outer Rim, something that Yoda had admitted long ago but was helpless to do anything about. Perhaps he should have had done something about slavery, as the Jedi way is meant to protect the innocent, but that would have created many problems for them.
"Ah, Master Yoda," Jocasta Nu says, greeting him with a kind smile. "You haven't been down in the Archives for quite some time. What do you wish from me?"
"Brief, my visitation shall not be. Into another Jedi Civil War, we are entering. Need to decipher how truly in danger this Order is, I do." Yoda responds, and he isn't talking about only Vader. There is the greater threat that Vader they need to focus on; the Sith Army rising from within the shadows.
Vader wasn't lying about that.
Jocasta is concerned but she doesn't doubt her Master. "Of course, take your time, Master." Jocasta Nu replies, seeming confused but not pressing the matter further as she goes off to help a class of students lead by Tera Sinube.
Yoda moves over to the seat and begins typing, searching up the topic of the Jedi Civil War. Suffice to say, he has a long day awaiting him.
The Sith escort Anakin into a circle, a smirk across his lips.
"Kneel at the center."
Anakin obeys, waiting for what is to come, but saying.
"Peace is a lie, there is only passion."
Anakin feels the moment lightning crashes against him, knocking all wind from his lungs, and even now he is still not use to such power.
Knowing that weakness is not allowed, Anakin speaks, spasming in and out.
"Through p-passion, I gain strength!"
Anakin's throat goes dry, barely able to speak those words.
"T-through stre-stren-strength, I gain power!"
Anakin feels his voice getting louder. He wants this torture to end. He would stop it! He would-
"Through p-pow-power, I gain victory!"
Power begins to overcome Anakin's senses. He would break himself. He would crush the control that everyone has over him. So, without hesitation, power exploding out of him, Anakin finally yells.
"Through victory, my chains are broken!"
Anakin smirks the moment Valum is forced away, reeling back in shock and allowing Skywalker the chance to seize him through the Force. Valum lifts his hand to his throat, but doesn't even resist, as Anakin stands across from him, a determined stare across his face.
"The Force shall free me!"
Anakin accepted it long ago. The Force itself would always answer his calling, due to him being one of its children. He could bend it to his will, and it would still obey his command without question.
"You have learned," Valum chuckles, grinning the moment the leash around his throat lessens, but Skywalker still stand strong and prideful.
Not for the first, Anakin feels passion and power. He doesn't have to control it anymore like Vader had advised. Why control something that is a part of every living being?
"Shattering one's chains, accomplishing ultimate power and freedom no matter the cost, these are the motivations the Sith hold with the dark side. The light is a weapon just like the dark is, yet I sense the one who trained you wield this belief as well. However, unlike me, he is afraid of what you could be. Dominant the dark and the light, but keep yourself aligned with the dark, and you would accomplish many things."
"I was taught that one should be careful of the darkness, that it could easily grow unchecked, not the other way around."
"The Jedi are enslaved by the light side and their own chains," Valum replies. "Vader is weakened by following both the Jedi and the Sith. You are already becoming greater than him."
"Vader could easily destroy this galaxy but he chooses not to...," Anakin replies.
"And that choice is a weakness for him, for he can become the Master of Hunger," the Sith counters.
"Darth Nihilus would have drained the entire galaxy," Anakin responds, his instincts to protect Vader - the man who watched him grow up - coming out. "We should be glad Vader is not like him. Otherwise, we would have all been dead."
Valum replies. "What's the point anyway? Why should we not sacrifice the galaxy for filling you with deceptions, keeping you in the dark about your own future?"
Anakin winces. "That's...! That's not true! Vader wanted to keep me safe! Surely, he did!"
The Sith grins, "Do you really believe that Vader wanted the best for you? You are nothing lost to him at this point."
He places an hand on his shoulder. "You will discover, my boy, that Vader are wrong about many things. Vader have followed both the Jedi and Sith path, making him irrelevant in many various ways. But he has not truly completed your training, at least not in the regard that you have your own obligations. He doesn't want to allow you to grow up and come to the real world because he is afraid of what you could become."
Anakin does have issues. He knows it is something that he should be ashamed of, as too much ambition leads to greed, and it could cloud him as it did him in a future past. Still, he would not allow anyone to bash Vader in such a manner, for that is still the man who helped him through his lowest throughout the years. "Vader may be many things, but he is not greedy."
"You call not murdering an entire Order not greedy?" The Sith scoffs, "you, young one, are rationalizing. Don't be foolish."
Anakin feels some part of his ego rise at being called foolish, but he didn't want to give the Sith the vaunted satisfaction he is seeking.
"It is a natural trait, of course, for young ones such as yourself. You believe you know the entire galaxy when older and wiser heads should naturally handle situations. Even the one who calls himself Master Yoda was foolish at his younger age."
As much as he didn't want to admit it, Anakin knows that the ancient Dark Lord is correct. He wanted to spat into the Sith's face, renounced his ways, return to his family. However, he knows that Valum is too strong for him right now. He isn't ready. He would have to learn from what he could at first before at last ridding the Sith.
"Vader is attempting to create a new Order under his image, but would he even be able to run an Order? He is independent unlike you. Vader is someone of too much power."
'And you're not?'
"He is still like my father." Anakin replies tightly.
"Your father? Young one, there are no time for emotional connection concerning Force Users. You believing that Vader would put you over the galaxy is foolish."
"He would!" Anakin persists, not willing to give up on Vader like that. He felt the caring from Vader many times before.
"What has Vader done for you without benefitting his own cause?" Valum asks after a brief tsk.
"He freed me from slavery!"
"Why would Vader care about the galaxy when he obviously wants to see his children born? Your wife of a past timeline... Vader wants to force you two together so he could have your children. After they are born, he could easily take them under his custody for his own means. He could do whatever he wants as long as he gets away with it."
Anakin gives him an unimpressed look. "Such lectures coming from a Sith leaves me wondering what are your intentions, old man. At least Vader attempts to save the galaxy whereas you would prefer what? Galactic dominance? Complete control?"
The Sith glares at him for a moment, and Anakin fears for a second that he is going to release yet another torrent of lightning at him. "You amuse me, young one, and I'm glad to see those weeks of imprisonment didn't break you entirely. You are quite the character, boy."
Anakin sneers at him, remembering the countless times he has been forced to suffer. "Much appreciated."
The Sith smirks at him. "You are most welcome. Now, I'm trying to save the galaxy. I have knowledge of the ancient surrounding me. Forbidden knowledge often considered lost. Imagine if those of the forgotten is returned to the galaxy."
Oh boy, how is this going to turn out? Try to pity his way into his heart so he could at last completely do his bidding and morph the entire galaxy into his vision.
"You have to admit that it is tempting to rule the galaxy," the Sith declares, stumping Anakin, "Galactic dominance is something that every individual dreamed at least once. Vader wanted to rule the galaxy with Amidala at that time. Imagine yourself being praised as an Emperor or worse as something more."
Anakin can imagine himself sitting on a throne of power, and such a thought is delicious for the dark side. It might be the darkest thought of his mind. It should shame him, disgust him even. However, bringing a mighty arm down upon those... the simple thought is appetizing.
Those of the disgusting Hutts that are protected by the Republic now should all die. After all, how many slaves have they tortured, and in some sort of sick justice, those responsible are being protected as if they are the ones that are the victims in all of this? Anakin would bring his mighty power among them all!
"Yes. Yes. Call off that power. A Sith kills and destroy those that truly opposes us readily," the Sith replies, his words continuing to vibrate more into his mind. "However, it is with a long-time consequence. Even the most basic reason, to kill to amplify our connection to the dark side or fuel ourselves with power, is a consequence in a good way. There is always some sort of purpose killing those that truly deserve it."
Anakin's eyebrows furrows.
"When Darth Revan led the tirade against the Jedi and Republic, it was all with a purpose. Same for Exar Kun during his war," the Sith proclaim, "worse, we Sith would become yet another untamed organization. In that regard, I do have respect for Plagueis, but on another hand, who knows what the future of the Order would bring?"
The Sith tilts his head, a frown crossing his lips, "Not to mention I highly doubt it won't be too long before someone kills him. Wanton massacre is something that the Sith once followed, and I believe we would fall back in those time, however the Sith have evolved so I may get again be incorrect."
Anakin stares at him, remembering Vader's teachings about such a topic. Both the Jedi and Sith could be evil just like they could be good. They are merely titles that defines nobody, titles that should be abandoned in Anakin's opinion. They would never survive the changing times.
"Yet, you have been torturing me for undefined amount of time to become a Sith." Anakin muses, a bitter grin crossing his lips.
"No, I have imprisoned you to break you away from Vader, to convince you that you no longer need him," Valum responds, finally leading him to the Throne Room, before sitting down.
A while ago, Anakin had come here when he landed here, and even now he finds himself staring around the darkness. That is all that greets him in this place. He never imagined in his worst nightmares that he would be afraid of the dark.
"Now is time we begin to reach out to your father figure," the Sith Lord continues. "We would have to break him."
Yes.
Yes...
No...
Anakin didn't want Vader to break so he become yet another madman, a servant to Valum. He didn't want him to die as that would always stain his memory. He cannot forget the things Vader has done for him, and although he was angry with the man at the time, he still appreciates the things he done for him.
But he knows he cannot beat Tor Valum. Perhaps breaking Vader would lure him here, when they could finally talk. Perhaps breaking Vader in his own way could finally make them both overthrow Valum.
"You are afraid of him," Anakin says curtly.
Valum's anger is obvious, and he can feel the chill going down his spine. He wants to end him right then and there, but he knows if he loses, Anakin won't have a likely chance of surviving this time. Plus, he wants to find a way to lead Vader to him.
He is still fighting strong from the inside and the out, despite how Valum is tricked that he is now his loyal servant. One cannot break the Force Dyad formed between him and Vader, no matter how light or dark they are.
"We would have to wait for him to come here," Valum declares. "Very soon, I would have control."
Anakin grit his teeth together at the thought of Valum seizing Vader's body and abusing it for his own means. He won't allow Valum to hurt anyone in his family, most of all the man who had been his father figure in most of his life.
"Your trickery failed once. It would fail again." Anakin replies, grinning at the ancient Sith in an irritating fashion, causing Valum to the actual temptation to remove his head from his shoulders.
"No, there is another way to break Vader. This manner would be... unfortunate, suffice to say, at least for you but you would have to come to terms in time."
Anakin arches an eyebrow, wondering what the ancient Sith is thinking.
"For now, you should sleep."
And as much as his mind tries to fight it, Anakin falls to the ground, unconscious.
Obi-Wan meditates calmly, allowing the Force to flow through him, flow around him, and share with him its wisdom. He has been at peace with himself as of late despite the still struggles that came with the loss of his limb and his once human lungs being replaced by mechanics.
Today is no difference. Trying to find Anakin is his priority like everyone else.
And then suddenly, a being with awful, familiar red eyes is all that he can see. The calm is gone, in its place nothing but coldness.
Obi-Wan snaps his eyes open, hoping it is just a vision, but knowing even before he sees the intruder standing in front of him that it is real. He rises to his feet.
"Why are you here? What do you want?" Obi-Wan's hand brushes over the lightsaber hanging at his belt, warning the intruder without words.
"To give you a favor," the intruder says. He smiles, red eyes gleaming menacingly.
"I don't need a favor from you, someone who I never met. I am in my place with the people that I care about," Obi-Wan responds angrily.
The intruder smiles again. He takes a seat across from him before reckoning with his finger. "I have tried to convince Vader that she posed a threat but he didn't believe me. Fortunately, I was able to reach you, someone less... ignorant."
"Skywalker is plagued with darkness that have been opened the moment Shmi Skywalker was freed. Leaving her behind on Tatooine would have been the best. She is nothing but a distraction." The being responds. "It is you all that have placed Skywalker into this predicament, and luckily I found him, but he would need help."
"Shmi is not a weakness! She has been the driving force that kept him in check!" Obi-Wan shouts, angered on Anakin's behalf.
"In check! Precisely, but if that link suddenly dies, Skywalker would blame you and your companions and it would drive the galaxy into darkness." The being replies.
"Why are you here, telling me all of this? What do you want from me? And who are you? Why should I trust anything you say?" Obi-Wan's teeth grind against one another.
The intruder rises from his position, taller than Obi-Wan at that moment. "Who I am to you is not important. I am someone who have not only met Vader and Sidious before but came from that different galaxy to stop Vader. I know of all the terrible, terrible things Skywalker will do in the future. It is his destiny."
Some part of his mind feels like it's being tore apart, and he cannot help but shiver. What the kriff? "And you are here to warn me? To help me stop Skywalker from doing these terrible things?"
Pausing for a moment, an expression unknown passes over the intruder's face. "Work with me, and together we can set the galaxy on its correct course. Skywalker has expressed to me that he cannot sever his attachment with his mother. The only way..."
"What am I supposed to do? Why have you come to me, of all people? Why not Vader?"
"Because, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you are the only one who can do this. You were one of the last Jedi in the last timeline and have suffered much, but many of what Vader have told you were false. Don't believe his lies. There is an ultimate Sith'ari but there could also be the ultimate Jedi."
Obi-Wan's hand flies to his lightsaber, and he ignites the orange blade with a hiss. "You lie. You don't know what you speak of."
The intruder laughs, ignoring the saber blade that hummed only a few inches away from him, and could cut his head off if pushed into him. "You are the one who will bring peace and balance to the galaxy! You are the one who would be the perfect Force User of them all! Do what I tell you and help me save Skywalker!"
"Save… Skywalker..." Obi-Wan thinks the words feel strange coming out of his mouth. They feel wrong.
"Yes! Yes!" The intruder is growing increasingly animated. "You must save Skywalker! You have seen what corruption have been done to him! Obey me and I would bring you two back together!"
Kenobi raises the blade of his lightsaber up further. It is now pointing at the intruder's chest. "I don't even know you. How can I trust you?"
Another mirthless smile. "I have gone by many names but I once been by Tor Valum."
"That name means nothing to me," Obi-Wan says.
"It doesn't have to," the Sith replies airily. "I'm a being much beyond the comprehension of most."
"How can I trust you?" Obi-Wan repeats, leaning forward to glare at his big crimson orbs.
"Because," the Sith says. "I know the will of the Force. I know the past and the future of the galaxy. I am as ancient as the Ones from Legends are."
"What? What do you mean?"
"Through centuries, I have been in a deep slumber until Vader crashed onto the galaxy. Vader awakened me. If you know how long I waited for such a ripple effect, hoping that there would come one who would lead the galaxy to its ultimate fate. I believe that being is you, and so I am here to help you, to guide you. You are the one who could help save the galaxy."
A small part of Obi-Wan is thoughtful as he says with a huff. "What do you want me to do?"
The Sith's red eyes narrows. "You must do what I tell you. Kill Skywalker's mother, and it would be better in the long effect. Would he be scarred? Indeed, but we can rebuild him."
Obi-Wan recoils, hating to feel like his mind is giving in, despite how his body suggests otherwise. "I will not murder Shmi! She is an innocent! She is like my mother that I never had! She would not die!"
Valum sneers before letting out a chuckle, raising a hand to Obi-Wan's head. "Do not resist. This is the Will of the Force. Do what must be done, Obi-Wan Kenobi, show no mercy. Only then would you be strong in the Force to save Anakin." The name sounds odd by Valum.
"I will not kill her," Obi-Wan replies again, resolute.
"But you must!" Valum cries. "Without her death, there can be no balance! Skywalker will wreak untold havoc on the galaxy to protect her just like he would with you but you have some sort of use. He will do whatever is necessary, because he cannot bear to lose her just like he cannot bare to lose you or anyone of his family. Do it. End her, and balance would be brought back soon."
Obi-Wan picks at his head, finding everything slowly becoming a red haze. "No! No! You are not my Master!"
Valum seems to sense a victory, and he speaks again as if to try and seal the deal. "Shmi Skywalker is fated to die. It has always been this way. In all the different variations of this galaxy's fate that I have seen, she is in none of them. Take her life and you will be saving the lives of countless others, including Skywalker."
There is silence before Obi-Wan finally breathes and manages to calm himself. His eyes come up with full determination, pushing back the voice. The Sith awaits, anticipating the acquiescence from Obi-Wan that he knows is soon to come. He is about to rejoice, knowing that Kenobi would do what he had asked, when suddenly, in a flash of orange, the blade of Obi-Wan's saber is at the Sith's throat, and then, the Sith is using all of the great and terrible Force power he had to knock Obi-Wan back.
Obi-Wan slams against the wall of his chamber with an audible thud. He takes a second to recover, then secures his grip on the hilt of his lightsaber and charges at Valum. The orange blade deflects the blast of black Force lightning, and it is in the moment that Obi-Wan realizes how close he had been to a dangerous and terrible mistake.
"You would not break me!" Obi-Wan grunts as he maneuvers the blade of his saber to deflect the Force lightning into the adjacent wall.
Valum grins. "I am not another Sith. I am much more than that. I am the very Dark Side of the Force that you Jedi so naively fear."
Obi-Wan tries to keep his footing, but he feels himself slowly being pushed back by the ferocity of the ancient Sith. The lights in the room begin to flicker as the temperature seemed to plunge below freezing.
"I won't allow you to dominate over my mind!" Obi-Wan groans. The man is panting with the exertion of keeping up a defense against such a powerful opponent. "You would not kill mom!"
The Sith laughs, a sickening sound. "She is not your mother! She stolen your father figure from you! She stolen him with stupid affections! Give in now!"
"I will… never… give in… to you!"
"Why? What I have told you is not a lie. Skywalker, like Amidala, would be the source of Skywalker's downfall, and the galaxy's downfall in turn." The Sith speaks so casually, as if the exertion of this battle is nothing to him. He does not seem fatigued in the slightest.
"No! There will have to be another way... I want to speak with Anakin!" Obi-Wan shouts. He attempts to brace himself more securely on the floor, but it is no use. He is tiring too fast now. Valum is too strong. He can feel himself failing. He knows his time is about to come.
Suddenly, Obi-Wan collapses to the floor. He is hit with a strike of Force lightning and feel it course through every part of his body, the pain unimaginable. Then there is nothing but darkness.
Valum cackles, and this time, it seems to have some true element of joy behind it – a sick joy. He has won. Kenobi is his. For now, he would have to settle with killing the mother of Skywalker and preferably Jinn.
Simply, as if he is just slipping into a new change of clothes, he takes over Obi-Wan's mind. Kenobi thoughts are blank as he lay injured and unconscious on the floor, before at last he forces himself onto his feet, his blue eyes flashing before crimson ones take over, his face becoming pale as intense as the darkness he is reaching in.
He reaches for his lightsaber on his belt before beginning to walk to the room of Shmi Skywalker. Make her death slow is all that his mind tells him despite how the man within is screaming, his body coming to pauses every now and then, irritating Valum.
Skywalker turns to stare at him and smile. "Obi-Wan, are you okay?"
Obi-Wan activates his lightsaber and moves over to her, causing Shmi to trip over her feet, as he speaks in a deadly tone. "Your time have come, Shmi Skywalker. With your death, the complete fall of Anakin Skywalker would be complete, and at last he would be mine."
Shmi grabs her blaster before firing at Obi-Wan fearfully. Valum blocks each of the shots with the lightsaber, having to admit that he does love using one, even though it has been centuries since he wielded such a weapon.
With a simple stroke of Kenobi's blade, Skywalker's blaster is destroyed, before at last he moves over to the woman and raises his blade above his head.
A firm Force Push backward catches Valum off-guard as he sees the form of Qui-Gon Jinn, lightsaber activated.
"Obi-Wan, what are you doing?!"
Valum didn't respond with anything verbal, instead allowing a small snarl. Kenobi's face is burning now with the corruption of the dark side as the creature laments over his failure to kill Skywalker, the increasing amount of darkness falling over him.
Vader walks in, and again, Obi-Wan Kenobi is fighting against Valum mentally. "You must make a choice, Vader - former Jedi Knight and Sith Lord, Kenobi or Skywalker? You can only save one but would have to let the other go."
Vader reaches out towards Obi-Wan's presence. He only gets sensations at first: panic, desperation. Before their mind connects. Then thoughts filter in.
'V - ader! You have to stop him!'
Stop him? Who is this him?!
'Ancient Sith Lord! He goes by the name of... ARGHHHHHH!'
Vader sees the moment Obi-Wan reaches for his head, pain crossing his expression. There it is; a flicker of Obi-Wan Kenobi, the true version of him. Before he fades quickly and is replaced by the literal monster.
'Vader! Vader! Kill me! Please! Don't let him...'
Vader responds, pulling Shmi to him, and pushing her behind him. "I would not make that choice, for both of them are individuals that I care about and would protect until my dying breath."
'I am going to kill all of you! Stop me, Vader, STOP ME!'
With seeming difficulty, the being that claimed Obi-Wan's body poses his lightsaber over his throat. "Kill Skywalker or I would kill Kenobi."
"Obi-Wan, fight it!" Qui-Gon shouts, coming forward carefully, not wanting to lose yet another Apprentice.
'Obi-Wan' fixates the former Jedi with a grin that doesn't suit him. "Obi-Wan Kenobi is no more, Qui-Gon Jinn. You have failed yet another student."
'MASTERRRRRRR! RUN!'
"No, Obi-Wan is the best student that I could have ever asked for." Qui-Gon responds, making a movement with his hands to try to pull the lightsaber out of Obi-Wan's hands, which doesn't work as Obi-Wan sends a massive Force Blast towards Qui-Gon's direction, throwing him across the air against the hall, hitting his head badly.
Valum turns to face Vader only for him to send a Force Push to his direction, constraining his movements, before at last forcing himself inside Obi-Wan's head.
Darkness.
Absolute darkness.
But that's just not it.
A creature of darkness is standing there along with a hooded figure.
Obi-Wan is on the ground, hands reaching up to his forehead, trying to shove the darkness out but failing.
The creature looms over him, hand poised towards his direction.
"I know of you, of your existence, but not of who you are. I have felt you." Vader declares, folding his arms across his chest, not falling into a battle-ready position. Not yet.
"My name is Tor Valum," the Sith replies, red aura flickering around him, as the being seems to be standing without even being on both his legs.
"You-"
Sidious mentioned him in passing. Tor Valum is said to have been one of the most powerful Sith in history. It required something to awaken him from the depths, and Vader's arrival to the galaxy must have. He is sending ripple effects through the Force far more than he ever thought he would have.
Valum merely regards him with a smirk. "Oh, hehehehe, Vader, don't be like that. After all, you are the one who is responsible for the suffering of your young ones. You would never save him!"
The ancient Sith Lord draws back, causing Vader to give chase against him.
Vader gives chase towards Valum, not willing to allow him to escape from his grasp. The ancient Sith stands across him, on a platform across from him, before throwing an explosion of red energy towards him. Vader catches the red explosion in midair before tossing the plasma to the side.
Taking several strides forward, any attack offered by Valum, is parried by a Force Assault from Vader.
Valum is forced backwards from him.
"YOU WOULD NEVER CONTROL ME!" Kenobi shouts, his blade poised over his body.
He sends several assaults towards the ancient Sith, each that never even connects to him as he seems to disappears before all of the strikes could have even landed, at last seizing hold of his throat, and throwing him across the platform, causing him to hit his head harshly.
Obi-Wan breathe for one second, attempts to recover, before groaning and at last allowing himself to fall to the comforting embrace which is unconsciousness.
Valum cackles. "It seems you have a tendency to fail people close to you, Vader. Any choice you have made only leads you to agony."
At the hurtful reminder of him choking Padmé on Mustafar, Vader throws his digits towards his direction, at last snapping. Not for the first time, the Force is bend to his will, beginning to crush all of the bones within the Sith Lord.
Managing his hands upwards not to Vader's direction, but Obi-Wan, he sends electricity towards the man, causing his body to begin to burn.
Vader throws a shield around his unconscious master of another timeline, blanketing him from any further harm.
"You killed him once. Why not kill him now? Why not let him die, and you can stop all that I will do?" The last words come as a hiss, lightning escaping his fingernails yet again, wanting to eviscerate Vader.
Lessening the shield around Obi-Wan, Vader allows the energy to come into his hand, clouding absolute power across him as it pulsates out of his hand, before throwing it back unexpectedly, causing Valum to crash onto the ground. Black blood begins to form around his stomach which has an obvious sign of a long gash across him.
"I am not arrogant enough to believe that you would be easy to break, Vader."
Vader reaches for his weapon, igniting it, and aims it towards Valum. He walks forward slowly, his lightsaber poised towards the ancient Sith's throat. Instead of cowering in fear, he immediately transforms images, and Vader is shocked to see the familiar presence of his old Master onto the ground, him holding a white lightsaber at his throat.
"You would pay for what you did!" Vader snarls, feeling the control around him beginning to fade.
"No, my old Apprentice, you would die!" Sidious snaps back before sending lightning towards Vader, a touchy subject. Vader would always remember his slavery under Sidious. It was far worse than under the slaves.
He blocks it in time, struggling for a second to push the lightning away. This is reminding him of the scenery in the Chancellor's office, when the Jedi Master known as Windu towered over the defeated Sith, purple blade poised for the kill.
Sidious snaps. "You - I saved you when Kenobi left you for dead! And you repaid the favor by betraying me! You allowed your feelings for your son who was morphed by the Jedi to kill us! You are the reason why we could never have the true power! You are a pathetic bug like Yoda and Kenobi was!"
Unable to resist falling to the bait at those taunting words, Vader responds fiercely, attempting to stand as tall as his son did that day on the second Death Star. "Luke broke me away from you! Luke showed me the things I have done, and I repent them just like I repent ever serving you. You only wanted me to do your bidding and then cast me aside."
"You still don't get it, my old Apprentice, you have fallen back into the ways I have taught you. You are the one who are responsible for your own actions. You are the one who committed those murders to save your precious Padmé. You were never a good Jedi; you were willing to go back to your mother. If it wasn't only for Kenobi, you would have been with her by now, perhaps living a life full of wealth."
A grin curves upward from his former Master's lips.
"Lies. You would have never allowed me to do that." Vader replies, hating to admit that even he is slightly falling to the bait. Sidious is irresistible. "You would have killed her..."
"The Jedi made the choice not to save her." And they both know which 'her' he is referring. "That's why he never allowed you to see her, did he? Even by an executive order from me, your true friend, to do this very thing." Sidious declares, the lightning being zapped back at him long enough causing him to damage him. "I-I can't keep up against you, my former Apprentice. Please don't kill me."
Part of Vader would love running his blade through Sidious over and over again. He wants to cut his throat in half, wants to see him die in every fanciful way, wants him to pay for destroying the relationship between him and Obi-Wan, wants to make him pay for what he provoked him to eventually do to Padmé on Mustafar, wants to make him pay for how he and Ahsoka's relationship turn out, for all those innocents.
Yet, Vader knows all about falling to the bait which is the dark side. Once you get drunk off of it, you can go too far, and him striking Sidious down would push him back to Darth Vader. He cannot live with himself knowing that he failed yet again, making Luke's mission all but a waste of time.
Vader deactivates his lightsaber, placing his lightsaber on his belt. "I cannot judge you for your actions, for I have committed those crimes. Even you are not entirely to blame for what choices I made in life. The Force would judge you as it did before."
"No!" Sidious extends his hands towards Vader, shooting lightning towards him.
Something protects him before the lightning would have torn against him. Sidious is raised into the air, hovering over him, his hands fallen at his side.
"You may have ruined my past, but you would never corrupt the future."
Vader pulls him to him like he did on the second Death Star before throwing him down the darkness below, a blue aura exploding, all of the energy escaping him.
Just before he explodes, the form of Sidious transfer back into Valum briefly, before Vader falls to black.
Obi-Wan falls onto the ground, reaching for his head, the blind fog that have been there is now gone. He sees the unconscious form of Qui-Gon, the still deeply focused form of Vader, and the frightening form of Shmi.
What have he done?
Shmi Skywalker is someone who Obi-Wan always liked and viewed as a mother shortly after he joined Vader's collective just like he viewed Anakin as a brother. How dare he try to kill her?
Sure, Vader saved her before Obi-Wan would have brought his blade down and it is no longer as controlling as it is before, but the voice still echoes in the back of his head, making promises that Obi-Wan would rather shove down the airlock.
Obi-Wan stares at her, grab his lightsaber, place it back on his belt, and reaches for her petite form. "Shmi, I'm so sorry about everything. I-I couldn't resist it. I am a monster."
Tears blur inside of Obi-Wan's eyes as he collapses onto the ground. He has seen what he was about to do, how he raised his lightsaber over his head without any consent of his own. Anakin would have never forgiven him when they find him if he had been successful and his sick, twisted mind, couldn't stop himself!
"N-no, Obi-Wan, I know you would have never hurt me," Shmi says, kneeling next to him and rubbing her hands into Obi-Wan's hair motherly. She has been familiar with Anakin's episodes to know how to comfort Obi-Wan in his current state. "Breathe."
"Close your eyes," his only mother figure instructs as she starts to plant kisses on his cheek, "Focus inward, find your center."
Obi-Wan does as he's told, starting the meditation exercise that Qui-Gon undoubtedly taught her. It humors some part of him but Obi-Wan finds a bigger part of him slightly jealous at that, not at their relationship of course but of the things he taught Shmi when he could have expanded his teachings to his Apprentice.
"Forget the outside world," she says, calm and steady in the center of the storm, "Forget the things that hold you down. Let them go."
Obi-Wan feels himself sinking, deeper and deeper still. The voice from before is still echoing around him, tugging, enticing. He feels it pulling him in.
"Let it wash over you, Obi-Wan. It cannot control you if you do not let it."
That's right.
This is his body. His mind. His world. He's the one in control here, not the voice. He is the one in charge. He won't let the voice win - not when one of his reasons for disobeying it is sitting right in front of him.
His family.
His mother.
He's in control.
And no one can take that from him.
"Breathe."
He does, open his eyes, and let go.