Here's chapter 8, the final part of the Mortis arc.
STRANDED!
OBI-WAN KENOBI, REVAN, ANAKIN SKYWALKER, AND HIS PADAWAN AHSOKA TANO ARE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A TREACHEROUS BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL.
THE SCALES NOW TIP TOWARDS THE DARK SIDE. OUR FOUR WARRIORS MUST GUARD AGAINST ATTACK AS THEY PLAN THEIR ESCAPE.
A GREAT WEIGHT HAS BEEN PLACED ON ANAKIN'S SHOULDERS, FOR IT IS NOW THAT HE MUST FACE WHO HE REALLY IS...
The new couple were currently in the small alcove inside the ships cockpit, trying to get repairs done. Revan kept taking looks at Ahsoka and smiling behind his mask. "What?" she asked, a smile creeping onto her face as she rested her goggles on her forehead. "I'll tell you later, once were off this godforsaken planet." he replied before she nodded, lowered her goggles and they went back to work. "Well. You want the bad news, or the really bad news?" she asked the two older Jedi a few second later as the couple popped their heads out of the alcove and she rested her arms on the ground as they looked towards them where Anakin was sitting with his legs hanging over the ramps opening and Obi-Wan was standing on it.
"Let's try the bad news, laced with a little optimism." Obi-Wan suggested, folding his arms as he and the older Knight turned their attention to them. Ahsoka pulled herself up as she replied. "We've got two cracked shilo pins, a busted power converter, the engines should be fired twice to dump debris, and the backup vents need charging." she said, tapping it where it was on the roof with her wrench before crossing her arms while Revan pulled himself up. Obi-Wan held his chin. "Sounds terribly downbeat." the Master replied before the two teens hopped back down into the alcove. "Can it be fixed?" he asked. "We can reroute the primary initiator, weld the dampening vents, and that might give us enough power to leave the atmosphere. After that, I have no guarantees she'll hold together." Ahsoka replied. "We'll take our chances. Better than staying here." Obi-Wan said. A moment later Revan heard one of the speeders take off and sighed quietly. 'I hope you know what you're doing, Skywalker.'
Revan was now working by himself while Ahsoka laid on the ground to rest for a moment. "Might I suggest less sleeping and a little more work?" Obi-Wan suggested with a smirk, kneeling at the entrance to the alcove and holding a cup of water in each hand as she sat up and rested her goggles on her forehead. "Sorry, Master Kenobi." she apologized in a tired voice. "Here. this should help." he offered, handing both cups to her before she handed one to Revan who pulled his mask off in order to take sips from the water. "We need to change plans. You must focus on the firing drives. Disengage them." the older Jedi said as he took a few steps away. "But we're almost finished putting this junk heap back together, and now-" she started to protest before he cut her off. "Just do as I say. We don't have much time." he warned lightly while pulling the second bike down the ramp. "You're the boss." she said with a shrug before pulling her goggles back down and continuing to work with her boyfriend.
Once they were done the two walked out of the ship as Obi-Wan was in the middle of speaking to the Father. "Anakin has gone to confront your son, hasn't he?" the Master asked in a not too pleased voice. "Deep within this planet exists a place where all that is dark is channeled." the old man explained. "And how do I get there?" Obi-Wan asked as he got on the bike. "You cannot interfere." the Father warned. "The way I see it, if we were not supposed to interfere, Ahsoka, Revan and I wouldn't be here in the first place." Obi-Wan countered before turning his head to look at the couple. "Look after the ship. I'm going to find Anakin." he said before speeding off. The couple walked back into the ship and while Ahsoka attempted to make more repairs, Revan chewed on some food before a familiar feeling came over him. 'Not this again…' the Knight blacked out...
What if I could show you… the future?
No… No! Stop it!
Know yourself… Know what you will become!
I will not look!
The Force is strong with you.
Anakin, please!
You were my brother, Anakin!
A powerful Sith you will become.
I hate you!
No… No. No!
Revan shot up in his chair and wiped his face clean of sweat. 'Holy shit! Something tells me part of that vision just happened to Anakin. Which means… he knows.' he suddenly noticed Ahsoka cupping his face and looked at her to see a worried look on her face. "Are you okay? I could sense you were in pain. I've been trying to wake you up for the past fifteen minutes." she said softly. "Yeah, i'm okay. Promise." he replied, giving her a small reassuring smile. Ahsoka nodded and moved her hands to his shoulders before giving a gentle squeeze. "If you ever want to talk about it, i'm here." she said, giving him a gentle kiss on the lips. "I know." he said softly and with another small smile. 'But I can't...'
While Revan mentally recovered from his vision, Ahsoka sat in the co-pilot seat and attempted to get a signal. "Finally. This is Jedi shuttle 634 calling on all secure channels for help. Do you read? I repeat. We are stranded and need immediate evac. Come in, please!" she said, pressing the com button a few more times. "Nothing?" Revan asked as he walked up to her. "No." she replied with a sigh as he held his hand out. Ahsoka took it before he pulled her up gently and held her at arm's-length with his hands on her hips. "We're going to get out of here, I promise." he said softly, before kissing her gently as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you…" she whispered against his neck after they broke the kiss and rested her head on his shoulder with her eyes closed. "I love you too…" he whispered back, rubbing the exposed flesh on her back gently with his thumbs.
After breaking their embrace they shared one last kiss before going back into the alcove to continue working, when Revan's com went off. "Revan, Ahsoka come in please. Can you hear me?" Obi-Wan asked from the other end. Ahsoka answered for them as her boyfriend held his arm up. "Yes, Master. Any success with Anakin?" she asked. "No, quite the opposite." the Master answered in worried tone. "Master, what are you saying?" she asked, her tone becoming worried. "Anakin has joined with the Son. Do not engage him." the older Jedi warned as a look of horror crossed her face. "But-" she began to protest, only for him to cut her off. "Just do as I say. Listen to me. You have to disable the ship." he said. "But we just finished putting it back together." she protested lightly. "Please listen. We have to prevent Anakin and the Son from leaving." he warned. "Yes, Master." she replied as they heard a speeder stop outside the ship. Revan slipped his mask on before the couple jumped up and held onto some thick covered wires just as Anakin walked underneath them and into the cockpit. They let go and landed silently on the ground. "Come on! We have to hurry." she whispered, getting onto the bike.
"Ahsoka…" he trailed off softly as he cupped her cheek with his robotic hand. "I'll hold him off, while you take the power converter and go rescue Kenobi." he said in a gentle tone. "I won't leave you." she declared softly with tears brimming in her eyes. "Then i'm sorry. As a Jedi Knight, I order you to leave me behind." he said, his tone still soft. Ahsoka knew he hated to pull rank on her and hesitantly complied. "I love you…" she whispered as a tear rolled down her face before her boyfriend gently wiped it away. "I know…" he whispered back before she turned the bike around and took off. "Ahsoka!" Anakin yelled in anger as he ran down the ramp.
"Tell me where she went?!" he demanded his friend. "Over my dead body." the young Knight replied. "You think you're a match for me? You're not the Chosen One! I however am." the corrupted Knight shot. "'Chosen One'? No. I'm something else…" he trailed off for a moment before turning to face his corrupted friend. "I am the Prodigal Knight." he declared, adopting one of his ancestor's titles. "Sure you are." the other Knight agreed sarcastically. "There's something i've always wondered, Anakin…" the Prodigal Knight trailed off as he unclipped his sabers and ignited them. "Which one of us is stronger?" he finished. "Let's find out, shall we?" the older man asked, unclipping his saber and activating it. "Let's dance, Bozo." Revan taunted before the two best friends rushed each other.
Revan crossed his blades to block Anakin's slash before breaking away and bringing his ice blade down for a vertical slash while slashing horizontally with his lava blade. The corrupted Knight managed to block both at the same time. "I admit, you've gotten good, kid." he said, breaking the saberlock and stepping back a bit before launching himself at the teen. Said teen sidestepped the attack and attempted to slash the older man's back, only for him to recover quickly and block the slash. "Trying to slash a man when his back is turned? Didn't think you'd sink that low." he scolded coldly, only to receive a backhanded slap from a robotic hand. Anakin landed on the ground and pushed himself to his hands and knees before spitting some blood out and glaring venomously at the teenager. "I'd do anything to protect Ahsoka!" the teen roared, causing the ground to shake and crack a bit.
Anakin stood up and wiped his mouth. "I apparently thought the same thing in the future the Son showed me, only for my actions to kill Padme instead of save her!" he snarled. "That's because your love for her makes you more susceptible to the Dark Side. My love for Ahsoka and her love for me, keep me anchored to the Light." Revan said, calming down. "You dare say your relationship with Ahsoka is better than mine is with Padme?!" the corrupted Knight demanded. "Yes. While I may be a Jedi, I will say this: She is the Light to my Dark, the one person who can keep from suffering my ancestor's fate." he said, clipping his sabers to his belt before suddenly crying out in pain and falling to ground as red electricity surged through him. "Touching, but pointless. Soon we will escape and you and your friends will be left here to rot." the Son said as he suddenly appeared. "Anakin, don't do this…" Revan pleaded, his voice strained from pain.
"I can't make contact with anybody. I don't think anyone will hear my signal." Anakin said to the Son, ignoring Revan's plea. "My father still has hold over this realm, but I will be able to draw any ship here soon." the Son replied. "If I know my old master, he too will try to stop us. Together with your father, they could be a formidable opponent." the corrupted Knight warned him. "I can turn the tide in our favor. Stay here." the Dark Force-wielder ordered before changing into his gargoyle form and flying away. Anakin turned his attention back to the younger Knight who was curled up on his side and walked up to him with a look that appeared to be sympathy. "Revan, if you join us we can stop Sidious and the Jedi! We would bring peace to the galaxy." he urged his friend. "Do you really mean all of this, Anakin?" Revan asked without looking at him. "Yes." he replied without hesitation. The younger Knight rolled onto his other side and away from his corrupted friend. "Then my friend is truly dead…" he said quietly before sensing the hurt from the older man.
"What did he show you?" the Father asked, suddenly appearing behind them. "I've seen what I become, and I cannot let that happen." Anakin replied, turning around to face the old man. "And for this, you join him? Your destiny can change just as quickly as the love in one's heart can fade. Nothing is set in stone." the Father said. "But I will cause so much pain." Anakin argued, his tone taking on some anguish. "If there is to be balance, what you have seen must be forgotten." the old man said before placing two fingers on the older Knight's forehead, causing him to fall on the ground and unconscious.
"You erased his memory of the future?" Revan asked as he stood up. "Yes. You too have learned of his future." the old man replied. "You're not gonna… you know." the teen said, worry creeping into his voice. "No. What you have learned, was at your own choice. It was meant to happen. While he must beware his heart. Your attachment to the girl keeps you protected from following the path he will one day." the old Force-wielder replied. "So he really will become Darth Vader then?" Revan asked quietly. "Yes. It is unavoidable. Treasure your friendship with him while you still can, and tell no one of his fate." the old man replied. "I promise." the young Knight said before he and the other two went back to the Father's monastery.
Anakin shifted as he awoke and sat up. "Where am I?" he asked the old man. "We have brought you back to my monastery." he said, kneeling at the older Knight's side and gesturing to Revan. "What happened?" Anakin asked them. "My son broke the laws of time and showed you what you should never seen." the old Force-wielder explained. "I don't remember." he replied, holding his head with his robot hand. "I have erased that time. We shall never know." the Father replied. "Revan! Master!" Ahsoka called out as she landed the bike near them.
Ahsoka quickly got off the bike and rushed up to her boyfriend before jumping and wrapping her arms around his neck in love and relief. Revan managed to keep them from toppling over before removing his mask and clipping it to his belt before sharing a passionate kiss with the love of his life. Ahsoka reluctantly broke it and rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm so glad your alright…" she said softly against his neck. "I had to be. I have a reason after all." he replied with same tone and shared a smile before the two nuzzled noses and broke apart.
"Are you alright?" Obi-Wan asked his first padawan, walking up to them as Revan helped his friend stand. "I think so, but we must stop the Son once and for all." the older Knight replied. "We have little time, and you'll get only one chance. You know what you must do." the Father said as he stood up and walked up to Anakin before they heard the Son's voice and looked up as he descended into the courtyard, landing in front of Anakin and his father. "How quaint. My own personal send-off." he said as his father turned to face him. "I ask you one last time. Do not leave, my son." he said as the Son smirked. "You have no power to keep me, old man. You must understand by now, this planet is not my destiny!" his son exclaimed.
"What you will do will destroy all that is good. I beg you, restrain yourself and stay." his father pleaded. "I cannot." the Son refused. "And then it shall be. I love you, my son." the old man replied. "Do you?" his son asked as Anakin ignited his blade and attempted to slash at him. The Son blocked three slashes with his arms before picking up Anakin by his throat and choking him. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka activated theirs while the Son threw the older Knight far away to the side before using the Force to grab their sabers then push them away. 'Why the hell did they even bother? Even I know it's stupid to attack him right now.' Revan folded his arms and waited for the right moment.
The Father used the Force to grab the dagger of his son's belt while he was still distracted. "What?" the Son asked before chuckling evilly and throwing the saber away. "You're going to kill me now?" he asked. "I held hope that you could resist the Dark Side. But I see now, there is no going back." the Father said before pointing it at his own chest. "Father…" the Son said in a worried tone before his father plunged the dagger into his own chest. "No! What have you done!? It did not have to be this way!" he exclaimed in anguish, holding the old man up and taking the dagger out before tossing it away as he helped his father to his knees.
"Yes, my child. It did. You and I are tied together, and your strength runs through me. This way, I take your power." the Father said as his breath started to become laboured. "Please, don't die…" his son begged softly. "I always knew there was good in you." his father replied before they hugged, Revan came up behind the Son and before he could react as he let go of his father and pulled back a bit, the young Knight rammed his lava blade through the Dark Force-wielder's back "That was for Ahsoka, you son of a bitch!" he growled. "And so you have betrayed me, father." the Son said in a quiet voice as the old man cradled his son's head for a moment as he let out one final gasp before dying. The Father laid his son's lifeless body on the ground as Revan sheathed his blade.
"It is done." the teen said as he lowered onto one knee. "And now, I die. My heart broken, but knowing the role you will play." the Father said, looking at Anakin. "And what is that?" the older Knight questioned. "You are the Chosen One. You have brought balance to this world. Stay on this path, and you will do it again for the galaxy. But beware your heart." he turned his attention to Revan. "I have something for you…" he said, reaching into his robes and pulling out a grey holocron in the shape of a hexagonal prism before holding it out. Revan gently took it and moved it around before trying to use the Force on it, only for nothing to happen. "How do you open it?" he asked. "You will know, when the time is right." the Father answered cryptically before releasing his last breath and falling to ground. A moment later his body disappeared, leaving only his clothes as the rocks hovering outside the monastery started to fall and the crystal hovering above it shattered at the top, releasing a blinding white light...
The four Jedi awoke to the sound of Rex's voice and found themselves back in space, aboard their shuttle, and in their same seats. "General Skywalker, come in!" the clone captain said as he appeared on the projector. "We read you, Rex. Can you hear me?" the older Knight asked. "Yes, sir. Standing by. We were worried there for a moment." the captain replied, relief in his voice. "A moment? We've been gone more than a moment, Rex." Anakin said. "Sir, I don't understand. You'll need to explain." he replied, sounding confused. "You… wouldn't believe me if I told you. We're coming in now." the older Knight said with a small smile as moved the ship towards the Star Destroyer.
Revan reached into his robes' pocket and pulled the holocron out before taking his mask off and inspecting the small device. Ahsoka noticed and stood up before walking over and gently sitting his lap. His girlfriend relaxed against him and rested her head on his shoulder before the couple shared a kiss and she sighed happily and tiredly. "I love you…" she murmured. "I love you too…" he said quietly. A moment later Ahsoka's breathing slowed as she fell asleep, Revan looked at the holocron for another moment before slipping it back into his pocket the wrapping his arms around his girlfriend and joining her in a peaceful sleep...
And done chapter 8! The Mortis arc is over. As for the next chapter, it might be an episode or it might be a chapter focused on Revan and Ahsoka's relationship. Haven't quite decided yet.