Author's Notes: My apologies. . .I intended to have this done far sooner, but familial obligations needed to be met. My nephew and two youngest nieces are currently visiting, and I have no doubt that they will inspire me, as they so often do. To everyone who reviewed. . .thank you! If I haven't responded privately to your review, it's because I couldn't. As to the identity of the Sith. . .well, let me put it this way: nothing is impossible. There are footnotes at the end of the chapter, for clarification purposes. I hope everyone enjoys the new chapter!
Chapter Five
A Matter of Trust
To say that Obi-Wan's faint caused a fair amount of consternation among the Jedi gathered in the room would have been akin to saying that his wife didn't like Padme Amidala. . .it was a serious understatement. As he slumped back against the pillows, eyes rolling up in his head, it was anyone's guess who moved fastest. . .Yan, Anakin, or Asajj. Honestly, there were times when those three were so predictable, it was painful! However, Bant shooed away all three, making sure it was nothing more than a simple faint. She doubted it was serious, but she wouldn't be Bant if she didn't check.
Obi-Wan was not unconscious long, much to the relief of all. That didn't stop Yoda from chastising Yan, however, reminding him that Obi-Wan was still fragile in many ways. On the other hand, Mace had to acknowledge that there really was no good way of telling Obi-Wan that his former Master was also his father, especially given what he thought was reality. The young man said a bit groggily, "Don' be mad at him, Mas'er Yoda. Wasn' his fault. Sorry for. . ." He shook his head, as if to clear it, and tried to sit up, only to find Asajj and Anakin practically sitting on top of him.
Mace bit back a smile, seeing the somewhat stunned expression on the young Knight's face as he looked from Asajj to Anakin and back again. He cleared his throat, ever so slightly, and the two eased away. Not backed off. . .never that. . .simply gave him a little more breathing room. Obi-Wan relaxed and tried again, now saying more clearly, "I'm sorry. I hope all of you can forgive me." Mace wasn't sure if he should smile or shake the younger man until his teeth rattled, and chose to smile. . .that was so very Obi-Wan. Receive a serious shock, and then apologize for being shocked.
"Nothing to forgive, there is. An uncommon shock, you had," Yoda replied, immediately ending his lecture to hobble over to a favorite student. The Grandmaster of the Order stared at Anakin and Asajj, both of whom were blushing, and then asked, "Contacted your mother, have you, Padawan Skywalker?" Mace saw the confusion in Obi-Wan's eyes as he mouthed, 'mother?' That was nothing compared to the expression on Anakin's face, that classic 'oh, kriff! I can't believe I forgot that' expression, right before the padawan bolted from the room. His grandpadawan's antics brought a smile to Yan's worried face, though he continued to watch Obi-Wan with concern.
"Shmi Skywalker is alive?" Obi-Wan asked almost warily. Asajj nodded, covering his hand with her own. Obi-Wan swallowed hard and whispered, sounding worried, "She's all right? Did Tusken Raiders on Tatooine ever capture her? There may still be a chance here. . ." His voice trailed off as Asajj covered his mouth with her hand. His eyes were very wide over her covering hand. . .but he made no move to remove it. Mace exchanged a look with Yoda. That was promising. . .even if his mind didn't remember his marriage to Asajj, it seemed some parts of his memory remained. The Grandmaster took up position beside Obi-Wan, alongside Asajj. Well, that was an unlikely partnership, even in the changed Jedi Order.
"Well. . .yes. Shmi Skywalker Lars was captured by a tribe of Tusken Raiders a few years ago. Anakin and I snuck out of the Temple, returned to Tatooine and rescued her. It took her time to recover, but she's all right now," Asajj replied. Yoda glowered at her, but true to form, Asajj stood her ground. Yoda had never scared her. . .she respected him, certainly, but she had never been afraid of him, nor did she revere him as so many who spent most of their early life in the Temple did. She continued, "Her step-son, Owen, married Beru Whitesun not long after she was strong enough to fuss at Anakin and her husband Cliegg. She and Cliegg wanted to come to Coruscant after you were taken, but they found out that Beru was pregnant."
As she spoke, she began stroking her husband's hair tenderly. Obi-Wan closed his eyes, sighing with contentment. That was fine. . .just as long as he didn't start purring. It did happen on occasion when Asajj stroked his hair. Even so, Mace smiled, glad to see the young man relaxing. The poor man had been hit with one revelation after another over the last several hours, and while almost all of them were good. . .they were still a shock. Yan remained silent ever since his son awoke, no doubt fearing that he would say something to shock Obi-Wan all over again. Unfortunately, it was likely that such a thing would happen, regardless of how hard they tried to spare Obi-Wan.
Asajj continued, "Beru's pregnancy was difficult, and as much as Shmi wanted to come to Coruscant for Niki, she knew that Beru needed her more. However, the baby has been born, and Shmi told Anakin that he was to contact her once we got you back. He didn't at the time, because you hadn't awakened and Niki wanted as much information before he called her. Then when you did awaken, he just. . ." With her free hand, she gestured a bit helplessly. Mace rolled his eyes. Despite her years with the Jedi, she was as likely as Anakin to talk with her hands. Which wasn't necessarily a bad thing, as long as she wasn't angry at the time.
"Forgot," Yan supplied helpfully, and Asajj sent her father-in-law and former Master a somewhat poisonous look. However, Mace's old friend didn't back down, adding, "It's true enough, child, and you know it. I'm not blaming the boy. . .we were all so pleased to have Obi-Wan home, there were some duties that went undone. I just hope Shmi isn't on the first transport here to take care of Obi-Wan herself. That will lead to some interesting conversations, I'm sure. It always has." Oh, please. . .don't let Obi-Wan ask about what his father just said, please let it go without comment. . .
"Why would Shmi want to take care of me? We only met the one time on Tatooine, didn't we?" Obi-Wan asked innocently. Sithspit. Mace should have known it wouldn't be that easy. It never was with this family. Both Asajj and Yan began to answer, but it was Mace's turn to use the Poisonous Glare. Obi-Wan had just regained consciousness from fainting. . .they would handle this properly, rather than blurting out the entire story! They had to allow the poor Knight some time to process everything they had learned so far. Both wife and father subsided a bit sheepishly.
"Taken very good care of her only child, you have. Only reason, she needs," Yoda observed, patting his knee gently. Asajj smiled ruefully, and the Grandmaster continued, "Now, rest! Leave you with your children and wife, we will. Send your father back to you, we will. Confer with friends, we must." He patted Obi-Wan's knee again, nodded to Asajj, and then left the room. Mace and Yan exchanged a look, and then followed, Mace placing Leia in her mother's arms as he did. There was really nothing for it, but to do as the little green troll said (and yes, even Mace called him that on occasion).
SWSWSWSWSWSWSWSW
Kriff, kriff, oh kriff, Mom is so gonna kill me! So ran the thoughts of the Padawan who careened out of the Healer's Wing, almost losing his footing a number of times. He had promised to contact her as soon as they found Master Obi-Wan, she would kill him, even if she understood that he wanted to wait until Master Obi-Wan was awake, she still was gonna kill him! And Asajj would help her, because she viewed Mom as a second mother after they rescued her from the Tusken Raiders a few years earlier. . . oh kriffing kriff!
Anakin Skywalker sped down the hall to the apartment he shared with his Master, frantically calculating whether his mother and stepfather were still awake. Beru was probably asleep and hopefully, so was the baby. Huh. He had a niece. Well, yeah, he didn't know Owen very well, but Mom loved him, and his dad had been good to Anakin's mom. Beru, though, was a sweet girl, and maybe if he had stayed on Tatooine, he would have ended up marrying her or someone like her. He hoped not, though. Beru deserved better. . .someone who wasn't restless like Anakin.
He set up the comm, punched in the code which he and Master set up to get past that giant slug Jabba (among others), and only seconds later after it was sent, his mother was peering at him and asked, "Ani? Is everything all right?" Well, she looked fully awake. Mom smiled at him, adding, "Not that anything has to be wrong for you to call me. Has there been any word of Obi-Wan?" Anakin wondered briefly if Master Yoda or Master Mace informed Chancellor Palpatine that Master Obi-Wan was safe and awake. He hoped not. The chancellor seriously creeped him out, always trying to send off Master Obi-Wan on some errand and talking up Anakin at the same time. Ew.
"I'm sorry, Mom. . .Master Obi-Wan is home now. I know, I promised to contact you, but it's a long story. We got a lead a couple of days ago, between a weird signal coming from Asajj's home planet and dreams that Luke was having. He's home, and he's awake, and Mom, I'm really scared," Anakin admitted, the words flooding out of him in a rush, as they always did when he was trying to hold back his fear and rage. He didn't dare tell Asajj. . .she was carrying a heavy enough burden as it was, especially after hearing about what her counterpart did to Obi-Wan in the other reality. He was having a hard time with his own deeds, but he wouldn't tell his mother about that. He couldn't tell her. . .just like Asajj, Mom had enough to deal with right now.
"Oh, sweeting. . .Anakin, listen to me. Cliegg, Owen, Beru and I will be on the first transport to Coruscant with Vashti. Beru and Vashti are both fine, and Cliegg has been worried sick about Obi-Wan. But you must tell me what's happened to him, so I can prepare Cliegg," Shmi Skywalker Lars replied firmly. Anakin blinked back tears and began telling his mother about finding Obi-Wan unconscious on Rattarak and of the machine responsible for the nightmare in Obi-Wan's mind. He told her about what Obi-Wan saw and experienced in the Other World, how he remembered very little about his real life, and because he couldn't keep secrets from his mom, about his own argument with Padme on the way back to Coruscant.
Finally, he concluded, fighting back tears, "They beat him, Mom! They beat him and hurt him so badly, and I hurt him in the Other World, too. We all did. . . Asajj, Grandmaster Dooku, me. . .but I killed babies, Mom, babies in the crèche and younglings!" So much for not telling his mother about that, but it was too late to worry about that now. Poison was being lanced from a wound in his heart, and he rasped out, "How do we convince him that it didn't happen, that we won't let it happen? Poor Master is scared and confused, and I don't blame him, but I don't know how to make things right for him, either! He even fainted when Grandmaster Dooku told him that he was Master's father!"
His mother was very quiet for several moments, while Anakin composed himself. He brushed his tears away with his thumbs, feeling like a child again, running to his mother for comfort and reassurance. At last, his mother said softly, "We'll have to be very careful, Ani. As you've said, nothing is as he remembers it, and if he reacted that way to learning that Yan is his father, the revelations about his mother will be almost as shattering. I. . .I'm going to tell Cliegg everything you've told me. We'll be on the first transport to Coruscant. Until we get there, I want you to take very good care of him, Anakin. I have a feeling he needs you now more than ever."
The words reassured Anakin, as they were meant to. Not the admonishment to look after Master Obi-Wan, because he knew that already. . .but Mom's promise to be on the first transport to Coruscant. Not for the first time, Anakin wondered how she did that and if it was something all moms knew how to do. He would have to talk to Asajj, see what she had to say. Or maybe not. The twins were still awfully young, after all, and Asajj was still a relatively new mother. And it would have to wait, because Mom was right, and right now, Master Obi-Wan needed him. He took a deep breath and released it, nodding. Mom smiled at him and stated, "He'll be fine, Ani. Your Master is a very strong young man. We'll be there soon, and tell Obi-Wan that we love him."
Anakin nodded and reached forward to cut the transmission, but Mom added hastily, "Oh, and try to forgive the young senator? It's not her I'm worried about, but you." Anakin scowled. The trouble was, Mom was still thinking of Padme as the young girl who accompanied Master Jinn and Master Obi-Wan years earlier. She knew what happened between Anakin and Padme, but it wasn't real for her the way it was for Anakin. On the other hand, Anakin's stepfather understood exactly how he felt. Oh, there was an idea! An evil smile crossed the padawan's smile, and his mother sighed, "I was afraid of that. Just. . .be careful, Ani. I love you." And then, the transmission ended. Anakin sat back, twisting his padawan braid around his finger. He really didn't want anything to do with Padme, but in an encounter, he wouldn't antagonize her. Of course, if she started things, he would be more than happy to finish it. . . assuming, of course, that Asajj didn't beat him to it. And that was a dangerous assumption.
Rubbing his hands on his thighs, the boy rose to his feet and headed back to the Healer's Wing where his Master was resting. This time, he traveled at a much slower pace, nodding to people he probably almost ran over earlier. He had to figure out exactly how he would keep his promise. He said that he wouldn't let anyone ever hurt his Master again, but the problem was. . .well. . .how exactly did he keep that promise? Especially since he wasn't sure who wanted to hurt his Master, aside from Sidious. And then there was the matter of Master Obi-Wan being. . .well, Master Obi-Wan. He couldn't count the times when Master ended up taking care of Anakin, even when Anakin should have been taking care of him. Maybe he should say, 'especially when Anakin should have been taking care of him.' He would have to get Grandmaster's help, and Asajj's, but he wasn't really worried about that. The problem would be getting Grandmaster to relax, though he had a feeling Asajj would help with that.
For the first time, Anakin really thought about what it was it like for his Master, trying to understand how different everything was. Especially when, in the Other World, they were enemies for a time? He shuddered, trying to wrap his mind around just how confusing this was for his poor Master. His Master and father was his enemy, his wife had tortured him, and his padawan eventually killed him. . .after destroying everything that mattered to him. Anakin supposed that he should have felt some degree of sympathy for his alternate self. He didn't. . .in part because of what he had done, but also because he wasn't real. He was Anakin as he could have been, under different circumstances, but he wasn't real. Anakin Skywalker, the padawan who truly existed. . .was. The trouble, the boy realized, was in helping Master Obi-Wan to accept that.
It couldn't hurt, he decided, that Master wanted to believe that this was all real, that it was the Other World that was the false reality. He wanted to believe that. So, the next question was, what would make it easier for him to accept that truth. Unfortunately, no matter how Anakin looked at it, what was most necessary was time. . .and patience. The boy scowled. . .he was called a number of things over the course of his relatively short life, including several that weren't fit to be heard in 'polite' company, but 'patient' did not and never would top that list.
That means, he thought as he re-entered the room where his Master continued to rest and recover, that the only thing I can do for Master Obi-Wan right now, is take care of him and love him. . .oh, and tear apart whoever did this to him. Fortunately, those three things were all things at which he excelled. He just hoped he had the chance to take out Sidious before his Master was hurt again.
SWSWSWSWSWSWSWSW
"If you'll allow me to recap what has been revealed so far. . .Anakin Skywalker, Asajj Ventress, and Yan Dooku were all varying degrees of Sith; the clones turned on the Jedi at the end of the Clone Wars; Anakin was married to Padme Amidala and the father of the twins. The Republic fell and a Galactic Empire took its place. Breha and I adopted Leia, and Alderaan was destroyed by the Galactic Empire," Bail Organa stated, lacing his fingers with those of his wife. The Jedi on the other side of the table inclined her head, and Bail released a breath, murmuring, "And this is the reality Obi-Wan knows."
Bail and Breha learned of Obi-Wan's rescue shortly after Xanatos' ship landed. They rejoiced and thought it was over. That, evidently, was their first mistake. Only an hour earlier, they received a comm from the Jedi Temple, requesting their presence for a meeting with certain members of the Jedi Council. . .and thus, they learned of their friend's ordeal.
"Indeed. You have always been a friend to the Order, Senator, and it is for this reason that you've been informed of this. More than that, you are a friend to Obi-Wan Kenobi. In the days and weeks ahead, as he recovers enough to have visitors, we wanted you to be aware of the situation as it stands, in the event he makes a statement that opposes what you know to be true. He is not insane or bereft of sense. . .rather, he is struggling to make sense of reality," Siri Tachi replied. She paused, dropped the guise of stoic Jedi Knight, and allowed the childhood friend to shine through, adding, "You need to understand, it is because you are his friends that you know of this before the Chancellor. He would be furious if he knew, but I'm not exactly acting on the Council's orders."
Ah. Not the entire Council was involved, then. Interesting. Very interesting, indeed. Breha observed, "That will scarcely make Palpatine happy. But I. . .we. . . thank you for informing us of this situation, Knight Tachi, and it is our dearest hope that your Force blesses our friend with a return to complete health. Speaking of which, what is his physical condition? Senator Amidala contacted us just before you did, explaining that it was her husband who piloted the rescue ship, and she thought it likely that he had been unconscious for the entirety of his captivity."
Tachi's eyes flashed briefly at the mention of the younger senator, but her expression remained neutral as she replied, "He is already recovering his health, your Majesty. If you and Senator Organa would like to visit, I am certain he would welcome that. However, I strongly recommend that you leave Princess Kerani¹ outside his room when you visit him." Wh. . .why? While their infant daughter had a tendency to spit up on people (as did most babies), Bail hardly thought it likely that Asajj would somehow harm the infant because of it. However, before he had the chance to ask, Yan Dooku, Master Yoda, and Mace Windu entered the room. The pleasantries were quickly out of the way, and the Knight explained how far they had gotten.
"Excellent news, that is," Master Yoda stated, "more information at our disposal, there is now." Bail and Breha had just enough time to exchange a glance, before they were informed of the new developments. When Mace Windu reached the part that involved Obi-Wan's reaction to the revelation that Yan Dooku was his father, it took all of Bail's considerable self-control to keep from laughing at his wife's muttered, 'I don't blame him there.' It wasn't entirely common knowledge. . .Yan made his fair share of enemies over the course of his life, and Obi-Wan was used far too often as bait and as a weapon against his Master during his padawan days because Yan was his Master (Bail had to wonder how different that was in the other reality mentioned by the Jedi).
That information remained largely unknown now, for more or less the same reasons. Certainly, Obi-Wan was an adult now, and a Knight. . .but there was still a danger to Luke and Leia, as Yan's grandson and granddaughter. Honestly, Bail had to wonder at the intelligence of anyone who would attack the grandchildren of a Jedi Master, and the children of two Jedi Knights, but such people did exist and likely always would. Master Windu observed, "For obvious reasons, we won't be disclosing the full story to the chancellor. The less that is known, the better we can protect the entire family. If word got out that Obi-Wan is amnesiac, for all intents and purposes. . ."
Bail shuddered, because his own thoughts had been heading in that direction, and Breha spoke for the first time, pointing out, "It sounds to me, Master Jedi, that you have no faith in the chancellor. Or is it something else?" The three Masters looked at each other, their expressions reflecting their discomfort. Breha eyed them warily, sensing the same thing Bail was. There was something more that their friends weren't telling them. It wasn't because they distrusted them. . .if that was the case, they wouldn't have the truth about Obi-Wan's condition. It seemed to Bail as if the trio was holding a conversation without saying a word aloud. Knowing the Jedi, that wasn't entirely unlikely.
At last, their attention was returned to Bail and Breha as Yan said quietly, "If you'll notice, the reality which my son viewed while he was a captive is a nightmarish version of our own. However, there are certain similarities, and there is something we wish to investigate." Ah. That explained a great deal. Yan continued, "It is not that we distrust you. However, this is truly a case where the less you know, the safer you and your daughter will be." Bail glared at the other man. That was playing dirty, invoking their desire to protect their child, but Yan Dooku was well acquainted with that feeling.
Breha stated, "You play dirty, Master Dooku." The older man merely raised his eyebrows, but there was a hint of a smile on his face. Oh yes. He fought dirty, he knew it, and in this situation, at least, he was proud of it. Bail's wife sighed and said with a small smile, "Then again, I cannot blame you. How did you know that my responsibility to the people of Alderaan didn't trump my responsibility as Kerani's mother?"
"I knew no such thing. However, I made the educated guess that you would see no difference between your responsibility to the people of Alderaan and your responsibility to your daughter. Indeed. . .the two are quite linked, just as my responsibility to Obi-Wan and my responsibility as a Jedi are linked," Yan replied. His smile turned melancholy as he added, "That was something that Obi-Wan's mother always stressed to me after she learned she was pregnant. By ensuring peace and justice within the galaxy, I was ensuring that peace and justice for my own son. Miya was one of the wisest people I ever met. . . proof indeed that wisdom has nothing to do with one's midichlorian count."
Breha lowered her eyes, and Bail flinched ever so slightly. Yan Dooku rarely spoke of the mother of his child, but it was quite evident that he never stopped loving her. No one outside the Jedi Order was sure how Miya Kenobi died, though before his capture, Obi-Wan told Bail that his mother died a few months after his birth. It seemed likely that her death was the trigger for his father's deep despair. He lost his son to the Order, his beloved Miya to death, was growing steadily disillusioned with the Jedi and the Republic, and had yet another encounter with his old nemesis Lorian Nod.
"Wise indeed, Miya was. Compassionate, she was also. The greatest gift she gave to her son, this was," Master Yoda said quietly, breaking the spell. His ears flattened against his skull as he continued, "When more information we have, you will know. But cautious, we must be." Well, yes, that went without saying, but. . . Mace Windu, however, was shaking his head slowly at Bail. There was something they were missing. Bail frowned thoughtfully, going over what he knew in his mind. However, Mace had other ideas. Of course. As usual.
"What Yoda means is. . .there was a particular reason why Obi-Wan was captured. Yes, he was protecting Senator Amidala, but it was he who has been captive for the last six months; and it was he who was shown this nightmarish vision of what could have been. There's a reason for that. One possible explanation is because he's the Master of the boy we believe to be the Chosen One. Another possibility is that an old enemy of Yan's learned the truth of their relationship and took him to use as a weapon against his father. But there is a reason. Until we know that reason, we must be both mindful. . .and careful," Mace said quietly.
Well, that was ominous. However, Bail sensed it was also quite true. And that led to the final question, which his wife asked, "And what is it that you wish for us to do, Master Jedi? You did not simply call us to the Temple to inform us of our dear friend's rescue, nor did you call us here to warn us to be careful or mindful, or even ask us not to ask too many questions. And so I ask you now. What is it, exactly, that you wish for us to do?"
For the first time, Bail saw Siri Tachi grin openly. But once more, it was Yan Dooku who replied, "Whatever you hear within these walls. . .do not repeat. Allow us to inform the Chancellor of what we can, when we can. Be prepared for anything. If we have further information you require, Knight Tachi will be sent to your apartment here on Coruscant. Above all. . .trust in us. Trust that we will do all within our power to see this threat neutralized, from whatever quarter it comes." It wasn't espionage. . .or treason. . .but a simple request for trust. True enough, there were times when trust wasn't so simple, but this was not one of those cases. And despite the path taken to get there, that was the request, at its heart. . .trust us. Just. . .trust us.
"That all goes without saying. We have never broken faith with the Jedi, just as the Jedi have never broken faith with us, and long may it be so," Breha stated firmly. There was a collective exhale as the three elder Jedi all relaxed, then Bail's wife asked, "Of course, you'll be speaking to Mon Mothma, and the other senators who are sympathetic to the Jedi?" This time, it was Mace Windu who inclined his head, and Breha clapped her hands, observing, "Excellent! Now, if there is no further political business to conduct, will someone please inform Knight Ventress-Kenobi that once this entire business is concluded, she is more than welcome to bring her poor husband, those darling twins, and Anakin to Alderaan for a desperately needed vacation?"
Breha's question, though quite serious, shattered the tension in the room. The two Human Jedi Masters both laughed, Tachi grinned, and Master Yoda hmmmed, his ears once more flattening against his skull, but there was a touch of merriment in his eyes. Breha grinned impishly and said, "Much better. There is still much work to be done, but my dear friends, we have reason to celebrate! A hero to this Republic has been returned to us, alive! Yes, he is damaged and yes, he will need time to heal, but he has been returned to us alive, and where there is life, there is hope!"
SWSWSWSWSWSWSWSW
Since his awakening, it seemed as if Obi-Wan Kenobi faced one jolt after another. . .and he was still processing those revelations. Most of these revelations were wonderful ones. Anakin was very much alive and very much in the Light, without any of the confusion, frustration, and such that marked his Anakin, or the Anakin whom he thought of as his. And his mother, whose death broke the boy, was also very much alive. Although he was still confused about why Shmi would be coming to Coruscant. He had a feeling he would find out soon enough. He just hoped he wouldn't faint again. That was terribly embarrassing.
And that brought him to another revelation. Yan Dooku was still a Jedi, and firmly in the Light; he was Obi-Wan's Master; and most stunning of all, he was Obi-Wan's father. Moreover, he, Obi-Wan, and Mace Windu were apparently at the heart of the change in the Jedi Order. He thought about the story he was told, of how Mace followed the direction of the Force by picking up Obi-Wan from his crèche crib and carried him to his critically-injured father. It seemed likely, based on what he had been told before he so regrettably lost consciousness, that his mother had died sometime between his birth and Master Dooku's brush with death (and he could not yet get used to thinking of Master Dooku as his father. . .it was hard enough to think of him as his Master).
Mother. . .he was married to Asajj Ventress and they, not Anakin and Padme, were the parents of Luke and Leia. That was enough to make him want to pass out again, but judging from the way Bant was looking at him, that was a rather unwise idea. She held Luke in her arms, keeping the child's attention, but that could change in a moment. This Asajj wasn't just his wife, but she was also so incredibly. . .different. . .from the Asajj he knew, or thought he knew. She was a curious balance of a loving and compassionate Knight, wife, and mother. . .and a fierce lioness. Evidently, someone found her either before Ky Narec's death or right after (and they probably told him, but he was struggling to keep too many things straight), and her hatred toward the Jedi/longing to belong never became an issue.
Xanatos. . .things happened differently with Xanatos. Something different happened on the Telos mission, and while he was no longer a Jedi, he wasn't set on destroying the Order, either. Not only that, but he was married to Padme, and Anakin not only had no issue with that, he didn't even like her-something that Obi-Wan was having a very hard time comprehending. . .he wasn't sure how to deal with an Anakin Skywalker who wasn't in love or lust, or whatever you wanted to call it, with Padme Amidala Naberrie. Out of all the strange things that happened since he woke up (including Anakin bantering with Mace Windu, to say nothing of Master Yoda being openly affectionate), that was the strangest. How, exactly, did he react to an Anakin Skywalker, who didn't even like Padme Amidala?
The only things which were the same were Bant and the twins; aside from the fact that the twins were his children, rather than Anakin's. And speaking of Anakin. . . The boy practically imploded into the room, and Asajj observed archly, "Well, I see that you're still alive, bratling." For the second time, Anakin stuck his tongue out and Asajj answered, "No thanks. . .you're not my type. I prefer my men to have some hair on their face. Actually, I prefer men to boys. Anakin, you wake either of my children up, and they'll be cleaning up bits of you from the salle floor for the next standard year!"
"She's so mean to me, Master!" Anakin mock-whined and Obi-Wan had to laugh. The boy beamed and added, "Much better! I've missed seeing you smile, Master, I've missed hearing you laugh. Mom says to take care of you, and she'll be here with the whole family as soon as they can arrange transport from Tatooine: Cliegg, Owen, Beru, and baby Vashti. I've got another niece, can you imagine that? I hope you don't mind, Master, but I told them about what happened. Mom insisted, so she could prepare Cliegg. . .oh. You didn't know. Of course you didn't know, you wouldn't remember, and based on what you told us earlier, I bet you didn't know in the other universe, either."
"Know what? Why your mother would be so insistent on taking care of me? No, I'm afraid not. . .I think they're afraid I'll faint again. . .and I'm truly sorry for that, Anakin. I have so much I need to ask forgiveness for, both now and in the days ahead. There are so many things that are so very strange to me. But first. . .I hope I've been a good Master to you," Obi-Wan told the youngster now perched on the edge of his bed. Anakin's face darkened, but his hands were gentle as he took Obi-Wan's shoulders.
"I'll explain about Mom in just a minute, but first, I gotta address this. You have been the best Master anyone could ever want. And I know you were the best Master you could be to the other Anakin. He didn't deserve you," the boy answered. There was a quick glance between Asajj and Bant, and then the two women rose to their feet and carried the children from the room. That was something of a relief. And while Obi-Wan could sense the anger and the worry behind the words, there was none of the murkiness around Anakin's presence in the Force. He was very much like the little boy who was first brought to Coruscant from Tatooine in Obi-Wan's memories.
"I could have been a better Master. . .especially at the end, when I left you, when I left him," Obi-Wan rasped out, remembering that oh so painfully. The duel on Mustafar, begging Anakin not to make that leap, his own lightsaber spinning and removing Anakin's remaining limbs. This Anakin, the one sitting on his bed and grasping his shoulders, gave him a little shake, but Obi-Wan could still see the tears in the boy's eyes. Tears, but not hatred. . .not contempt. Only love and compassion and pain for what had happened on that riverbank of lava.
"He deserves whatever you did to him, Master. No, don't interrupt me. You gotta hear this. Okay, you fought and relieved him of his limbs, and then he roasted on that bank. Too bad, so sad. I can't feel sorry for him, Master, for two reasons. First, he isn't real. It never happened, I never became that person. And if you had, then whatever sanity I had left wouldn't have blamed you. And the second reason I can't feel sorry for him? You took his limbs in a fight. . .he was more than capable of defending himself. He was stupid, and he paid the price. But those children he murdered, the ones in the crèche, the padawans, the Initiates? They never stood a chance. I feel sorry for them, or I would if they were real. If that was real, I would feel sorry for those whom he murdered!" Anakin said fiercely.*
Obi-Wan swallowed hard, whispering, "I left him to burn, Anakin, I didn't kill him. I don't know why, I thought he would die and I couldn't watch that, Padme and the babies were still in danger. . .I left him to die." Much to his mortification, there were tears running down his face, but he couldn't stop it. Not here, not now, not with this Anakin staring at him with such compassion and love. This Anakin, who folded him into his arms and held him tightly, as if Anakin was the Master and Obi-Wan the padawan…as Master Dooku had held him so many times through the years, especially in their early weeks as Master and padawan.
Anakin whispered, "It didn't happen. And your first responsibility, in that situation, to the unborn babies. Not to the adults who made their decisions, knowing that the consequences could be ugly, but to the innocent babies, who didn't deserve to pay for their parents' mistakes." His grasp on Obi-Wan tightened as he murmured, "I've said it before, and I'll say it again, as many times as you need to hear it. I love you, Master. . .I love you so much. Those things you saw, never happened, and now that we know about them, we won't let them happen. Okay?" Obi-Wan nodded, a slight motion against Anakin's shoulder. The boy held him for a moment longer, then sat back.
Obi-Wan wasn't yet capable of speaking. . .it was a struggle, just to release his emotions into the Force. Anakin didn't expect him to speak, evidently. He just held onto Obi-Wan's shoulders, and chattered about nonsensical things for a few minutes. Things about Alderaan and Chandrila, about Tatooine and the Outer Rim, Telos and Naboo. He wanted to ask Anakin about what caused his rift with Padme, but wasn't quite ready to hear the answer to that. So he chose something he thought would be less jarring, asking, "You were going to tell me about your mother, and why she was coming here."
Anakin flushed, mumbling, "Uhm, yeah. . ." His words trailed off, and the Force was annoyingly vague about what was being said. Obi-Wan raised his brows questioningly, and Anakin sighed, muttered a few interesting Huttese curses under his breath, then said, "I'll probably be carved up for telling you this, but your imagination is scarier than Master Mace and Grandmaster's put together. You aren't just my Master, but my cousin. Sort of." Oh? Seeing his confusion, Anakin sighed, "Yeahhh, I'm a dead padawan. My stepfather, Cliegg? His real last name is Kenobi.² He changed it about thirty-six years ago, because his twin sister was killed due to her relationship with Jedi Master Yan Dooku. . .his second name, Lars, became his last name. His twin sister Miya was your mother, Master. . .so Mom is your aunt by marriage, and we're cousins. Sort of."
Just when he thought he was done with the shocks. . .
Footnotes
¹Princess Kerani. . .I took a page out of GL's book, and found her name listed as a common Indian/Hindu feminine name. It means 'sacred bells.'
²Yup, I decided to use that popular fanon notion, making Owen Lars and Obi-Wan brothers, and turn it completely on its head. They are now cousins, because Owen looked like a younger brother to Obi-Wan in the prequel movies. There may be more information about Miya Kenobi's death later in the story. . .I hope to have more, I'll put it that way. Miya's name is Japanese, and means 'sacred house.'
*Honestly, this is what I imagine a rational, but still passionate, Anakin would think about his doppleganger's actions. After all, he is still Anakin.