I don't own Star Wars or any of the characters.
Anakin froze. The Jedi Master took a step back, trying to grasp what he had heard. Did this man just call him Vader? That was impossible. Besides Luke, no one should have known about him formerly being a Sith. Anakin was grateful for the mechanical failures the Temple was still experiencing. Otherwise he would have had some explaining to do if someone listened to the audio while examining the security footage later.
"I think you have me mistaken for someone else. My name is Anakin Skywalker." calmly told Anakin.
"Maybe in this universe Anakin Skywalker only went by one name, but you and I both know you have another. And I should know. After all, we are family." spoke the man.
That's when Anakin got a good look at the man's face, and he gasped. Though he had aged about thirty years, grown a beard and dyed his hair black, Anakin could still recognise the face of his son.
"Luke?!" gasped Anakin.
The man—Luke?—just laughed as he leaned back in his chair, setting his feet up on the table.
"I haven't gone by that name since my universe was destroyed. You can call me Justin Valor. At least that's the name I've been using ever since I got here two years ago." spoke Justin.
Still stunned and perplexed, Anakin braced himself against the table for support.
"How is this possible? How can you be Luke? My son was taken by the Sith along with the other Jedi Padawans. There is no way you can be my son." exclaimed Anakin.
"You're a Sith in the body of your alternate self who didn't turn to the dark side. You shouldn't be saying what is and isn't possible." told Justin.
Anakin realised this Justin, this older version of his son, did have a point.
"If you're truly from another universe then how did you get to be here? The Force brought me and my son to this universe and placed us in the bodies of this timeline's Anakin and Luke. Since that didn't happen in your case, how did you come to be here?" questioned Anakin.
"I stole a ship from the Sith back before they made their first jump to another universe. This was just before the Immortal Emperor destroyed my universe. Of course I didn't learn of it until I tried to return and the ship kept telling me my destination didn't exist. Since then I've been chasing after that kriffing Sith and his followers from universe to universe." explained Justin.
"How many universes has this Immortal Emperor been to?" asked Anakin.
"Twelve." answered Justin.
"How many has he destroyed?" wondered Anakin.
"Twelve." said Justin.
Anakin felt a lump form in the pit of his stomach. If what this Justin character said was true, this Immortal Emperor has travelled to twelve universes and destroyed all twelve. If the Immortal Emperor possessed such a technology or power to do this, then everyone in this and every universe was in danger.
"What technology does this Immortal Emperor possess that allows him to travel between and destroy universes? I'm never seen anything like that, or even spoke of in legend, in any aspect of the history of the Republic." stated Anakin.
"The universe I originated from was far more advanced than this timeline. The Immortal Emperor only had to pay someone to build the device for him. He might be a genius when it comes to war and strategy, but that man couldn't tell a hyperdrive engine from a food processor. Unlike you, it seems." informed Justin.
Justin looked at Anakin's mechanical hand. Anakin saw that his glove had slipped down revealing the area where the metal of his prosthetic hand met living flesh. Pulling up his glove, Anakin glared at the man sitting across from him.
"Enough of these games! You said that you knew where the Sith were hiding the Padawans and Initiates. Tell me where they are." snarled Anakin.
A wiry smile crossed Justin's lips.
"I said I might know where the Sith are holding the young Jedi. I don't know for sure." spoke Justin.
Anakin had had enough. The former Sith Lord grabbed the man by the front of his shirt and slammed him against the nearest wall. Anakin growled, but the man calling himself Justin Valor only smiled.
"That's the Vader that I know, destroyer of galaxies and murder of his own family!" spat Justin.
"I am not Vader!" growled Anakin.
"Well you could fool me, given all that Dark Side energy around you." spoke Justin.
Anakin began to panic. He released Justin, searching himself for any traces of the dark side. Somehow Anakin had begun drawing on the dark side. After twenty-three years the act had become instinctual and he did in subconsciously during times of stress. And this was a stressful situation.
Anakin pushed away the darkness and tried to center himself in the light. Taking in a few deep breaths, Anakin went in to a light meditation to clear his mind of the remaining darkness that clung to him. Ten minutes later, Anakin returned to himself. The Jedi looked and saw Justin had retaken his seat at the table. Anakin rejoined the man, his temper held in a tighter rein.
Justin saw the shift in Anakin's emotions and was completely shocked by it.
"It all the universes I have visited, that's the first time I've ever see you reject the dark side. This is the first universe I've visited that wasn't overwhelmed by Sidious or some other Sith. There might actually be a chance to stop the Immortal Emperor." muttered Justin.
A genuine smile crossed Justin's face as he locked eyes with Anakin.
"The Sith are going to be hiding in the one place no one would be looking for them. Since the attack was too fast for them to get off planet, they are still hiding somewhere on Coruscant. They're hiding near Coruscant's surface." told Justin.
Anakin couldn't believe it. No one had been near Coruscant's surface in hundreds, if not thousands of years. But that's what made it the perfect hiding place. Getting up from his chair, Anakin left the interrogation room. He'd be back for Justin later. But until then, he had plans to make.
Bet you didn't see that reveal coming. Tell me what you think. Comment if you like the story.
