SON OF THE CHOSEN.
Sequel to 'Tortured Soul'.
Palpatine kidnapped Rexan to escape when he was exposed; fourteen years later, Rexan Skywalker returns. He is angry, resentful, withdrawn_
Is he just a troubled, tortured, young man? Or is he something more sinister?
Rexan: 3 -17.
Luke/Leia: 14.
CHAPTER TEN.
He blocked Obi-wan's cutting blow with is lightsaber, and pushed him back with a series of incredibly fast strikes of his own. Obi-wan smiled, letting himself be pushed back, then he swpet his lightsaber under Rexan's, forcing the seventeen year old to stop his attack and desperately block the rapid attack.
Recan still couldn't believe he had been allowed to train as a Jedi, after everything he had done_
Obi-wan frowned as Rexan deactivated his lightsaber. "What is it?"
Looking down at the floor, Rexan bit his lip. "I'm sorry," he whispered, "for what happened in the Council Chamber."
"That wasn't your fault, Rexan." Obi-wan retracted his lightsaber and walked closer to him, "you were confused."
Closing his eyes, Rexan shook his head. "I feel so ashamed," he'd allowed Palpatine to trick him, had almost ruined everything. "I was willing to do anything he told me," his breath shook, "I still don't understand how any of you can trust me."
Obi-wan shook his head, "You were lied to and manipulated by Palpatine. But the moment you knew the truth, you put aside everything he told you." Smiling, he placed a hand on Rexan's shoulder. "You don't realise just how incredible you are, do you?" When Rexan blinked in shock, Obi-wan chuckled. "You were with him for fourteen years, Rexan, and somehow you managed to resist becoming the same as him."
"But I belived him," Rexan looked down at his feet, "I let myself believe his lies even though I knew the truth."
"What would have happened if you had kept defying him?" Obi-wan asked, "what would he have done?"
Rexan closed his eyes, "he would have hurt me."
"And how old were you, when you truly forgot the real truth?"
Hesiating, Rexan frowned. "I might have been ten," he said softly, "maybe eleven."
Forcing Rexan to look up at him, Obi-wan managed to cover his shock at the realisation, "you lasted at least seven years without giving into what he wanted." Seven years, possibly eight; Rexan had given everything he had to hold onto the truth. "Don't you realise how amasing that is?"
"I didn't tink about it like that," swallowing Rexan closed his eyes, "I just wish I didn't feel so guilty all the time."
"You're being too hard on yourself," Obi-wan smiled at him gently, "instead of thinking about what you were going to do, you should focus on what you've done."
Rexan snorted, "you mean how I pushed Palpatine into creating a masive army and declaring war?"
"No," Obi-wan put an arm around Rexan's shoulders, "I mean how you've brought your family bak together." Smiling Obi-wan chuckled, "i can't remember the last time I saw either of your parents so happy... And you gave them that, Rexan. You gave them the chance to be happy again."
xxx
Padme stared at Bail in shock, "when did you get here?" She hadn't expected his visit, hadn't even known he was coming.
"We came as soon as we heard," Bail told her with a smile.
Padme raised her eyebrows, "it took you three weeks to get here?"
Rolling his eyes, Bail grinned, "I was busy." he said defensively, "we wanted our visit to be a surprise."
"You certainly succeeded," Padme smiled as she stepped aside and let Bail inside.
"I can't believe he's finally back," Bail smiled and hugged Padme, "you must be so happy."
"We are very happy," Padme nodded, smiling at her friend. "It has been a little hectic the last couple of weeks, but everything's finally settling down." Rexan was finally at ease, he had been uncomforatble at first; but now...
It was almost like he had never left.
"How is he?"
Sitting on the couch, Padme sighed softly. "He blames himself for what happened before Anakin showed him the truth," looking at Bail's confused expression, Padme quickly explained. "Palpatine had told him that Anakin had been forced to 'abandon him', and that the Jedi were to blame. He confronted the Council and demanded to know the truth," he had been so angry. "Before we arrived, Rexan was threatening Obi-wan, master Yoda and Master Windu with Obi-wan's lightsaber. he threw Master Windu when he told Rexan that Palpatine had lied to him."
Bail's eyes widened, "he's not like that now?"
"No," Padme shook her head. "Anakin showed him what really happened, he was very upset, but he's much better now." He was opening up, was finally trying to put his past behind him. "He's going to be ok," he had to be, if he wasn't; it would tear their family apart.
