Thank you to the 7 people who reviewed the last chapter. You guys, as always, are the greatest. Here is the chapter that shall cover "Overlords", part one of the Mortis trilogy, and I hope you like it. As always, reviews are much appreciated.
Chapter 36
When Obi-Wan, Anakin, Ahsoka and Jenica were contacted by the Jedi Council about a message that included a distress code that has not been used by the Jedi in over two thousand years, Obi-Wan knew he would be paying another visit to the mysterious planet of Mortis; the home of the powerful Force wielders known simply as Father, Daughter and Son.
Thinking about everything that occurred the first time around, and how things would change with Jenica being with them. The first time around, it had only been Obi-Wan, Anakin and Ahsoka.
Not to mention, Obi-Wan wondered if the Force wielders would know the truth about him considering how powerful they were in the Force. He supposed only time would tell when they arrived at the coordinates given to them by the Jedi Council.
As they entered the system where they were supposed to meet with the heavily armed Jedi cruiser, Obi-Wan noticed that things were going as they had the first time around with the Jedi cruiser nowhere in sight.
"Where's the Jedi cruiser, master?" Jenica asked glancing at Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan shrugged. "Perhaps they have not gotten here yet," he suggested although he knew that the shuttle and the cruiser were at the coordinates; they just couldn't see each other. It was a mystery that Obi-Wan never solved the first time around and he doubted he would solve it that time around either.
Anakin contacted the cruiser and, before long, the hologram of Captain Rex appeared before him. "Rex? Rex? Do you read me?" he said to the hologram as Rex turned to face him. "We're at the rendezvous point awaiting your arrival. Where are you?"
Rex looked confused. "Sir, we're at the rendezvous point but there is no sign of you on our scanners," he said.
"That's impossible," Anakin protested glancing briefly at Obi-Wan. "We're at the exact coordinates where the distress signal originated but there's nothing here. Rex is at the same coordinates and he's not here."
"I have a bad feeling, Master," Jenica said softly.
"Isn't that normally Master Kenobi's line?" Ahsoka asked curiously.
Obi-Wan was examining the stars eyes narrowed. "This is rather interesting," he admitted; and it was even though it happened once before.
Rex's hologram began to flicker and cut out and Obi-Wan was unable to make out what the clone captain had said before his hologram disappeared.
"Something's blocking the signal," Ahsoka said looking at her console.
At that exact moment, the power within the shuttle went off and the consoles went dark.
"This isn't good," Obi-Wan murmured. He was only thankful nothing bad had happened the first time around other than being pulled into a strange, crystal-shaped structure by a mystical force like a tractor beam.
He was also expecting the crystal-shaped structure to appear at any moment.
Jenica stood up before glancing at the two older Jedi and Ahsoka. "Everything's dead. Even the life support," she said green eyes filling briefly with worry.
"Huh, this is really strange," Anakin said turning his gaze to the three others in the shuttle's cockpit. Just then, the lights started to flicker as the power came back on.
"Everything's back online. Maybe it was just a power outage or something," Jenica said.
"Then what's that?" Ahsoka said suddenly pointing and Obi-Wan turned his gaze to the tranparasteel viewports to see the crystal-shaped structure that was Mortis appear before them.
The shuttle shuddered as if caught in a tractor beam and the lights began to flicker rapidly. The crystal-shaped structure opened and white light poured out of it.
"It's pulling us towards it. What do we do?" Jenica asked.
"I don't think there's anything we can do," Obi-Wan said. "Strap yourselves in and prepare yourself for a rather bumpy ride."
The shuttle continued its journey passed the opening into the blinding white light. Obi-Wan shielded his eyes as the shuttle was dragged deeper into the structure before everything went dark.
When he opened his eyes, he had his head resting on the back of his seat. He lifted his head before gazing around as Anakin sat up rubbing his neck. "I must have blacked out," he murmured.
"Uh, then who landed the shuttle?" Ahsoka asked curiously as she opened her eyes and sat up before she glanced at Jenica.
"I didn't land it," Jenica said rubbing her neck as she sat up and gazed around eyes bright with confusion.
"Where are we?" Anakin asked gazing around at the trees, expanse of grass and brown, stone formations rising up around them.
"Some kind of organic mass," Jenica said looking at the navicomputer on her side of the shuttle.
Ahsoka was also looking at the navicomputer on her side of the shuttle. "It looks like it's bigger than an asteroid," she added. "But at least the air's breathable."
"But this is strange," Jenica said frowning. "I can't even lock down where we are in the galaxy."
Anakin was attempting to start up the ship's systems but, as Obi-Wan expected, nothing was working. "The ship's systems seem fine," Anakin said, "but, for some reason, nothing's working."
Ahsoka stood up before walking to the door leading out of the cockpit and opening it. Jenica got to her feet as well. "Where are you going, Ahsoka?" she asked.
"To see if maybe we can find something on this rock that'll help us find out where we are," Ahsoka replied before leaving the cockpit.
"Sounds like a plan," Anakin said also getting to his feet and Obi-Wan followed suit before the three remaining people on the shuttle followed Ahsoka out of the ship.
Ahsoka paused once she reached the grass beyond the boarding ramp. Jenica walked over to join her while Anakin began scanning the area with macrobinoculars while Obi-Wan briefly wondered when Daughter would make an appearance and if it would occur at the same time as last time. It seemed really likely.
"Hey, I think I saw something," Jenica said suddenly pointing toward a nearby hill. "A reflection, I think, on that hill."
"I don't see anything," Anakin said frowning lowering the binoculars before handing them to Obi-Wan.
"Neither do I," Obi-Wan said briefly glancing through the binoculars more to see if he could spot Daughter before she hid. Naturally, she was quick at hiding herself.
Obi-Wan sighed inwardly as he lowered the macrobinoculars. Well, time to see if these events go as they did last time, he thought. He sincerely hoped that some of the events that occurred on Mortis did not occur as they did the first time around.
Anakin was scanning the area trying to see what Jenica saw but all he saw were rocks floating in midair and mountains rising up in the distance.
'Are you the one?'
Anakin glanced up sharply at the voice. "What? Did you hear that?" he asked glancing at Obi-Wan, Ahsoka and Jenica who were scanning the landscape as well.
"I didn't hear anything, master," Ahsoka said frowning.
'Are you the one?' the voice asked again.
Anakin turned around to find a glowing woman with long, waves of green hair cascading down her back and eyes that seemed to peer into Anakin's soul. "Who are you?" he asked narrowing his eyes.
"I am Daughter," the woman replied, her voice seemed overlaid with that of another voice but it didn't invoke a sinister sensation like the overlay of Mother Talzin's voice did. "Are you the one?"
"Uh, the one what?" Anakin asked.
"I will take you to him," Daughter said.
"Him who?" Jenica asked.
"Were you the one that brought us here?" Obi-Wan asked sounding genuinely curious.
"Only he can help you," Daughter said. "There is little time. Follow me. We must have shelter by nightfall."
Anakin briefly noticed that Daughter's eyes were fixed on his former master for a while before she turned around and began to walk away. He watched her go before glancing at his companions. "And we thought the planet was strange," he said. "How about this one?"
"We shall be fine so long as we stick together," Obi-Wan said calmly.
"Are you sure we can trust her, master?" Jenica asked.
"We really don't have any other choice, Jeni," Ahsoka said.
Jenica sighed. "You've got a good point, 'Soka," she said.
The four of them began following Daughter as she led the way away from where the Jedi shuttle had landed and around the edge of the stone formations. It wasn't long before they were walking along a trail covered in green foliage gradually climbing upward with rocks floating in the air beside it.
"Master, I've noticed that the seasons seem to change with the time of day," Jenica said frowning.
"That is strange," Obi-Wan agreed.
"And there are no animals," Ahsoka said frowning.
"Can you sense it, Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked.
Anakin nodded. "Since we arrived. The Force is very strong," he said.
"It is unlike anything I've ever felt before," Obi-Wan murmured almost distractedly as he pushed aside a couple of leaves that hung in his way.
"Excuse me," Anakin said to Daughter. "Who are you taking us to?"
"The Father, of course," Daughter replied.
"Of course," Ahsoka and Jenica said at the same time before they glanced at each other looking surprised.
"What are you exactly?" Obi-Wan asked.
"We are the ones who guard the power," Daughter said glancing back briefly at them. "We are the middle, the beginning, and the end."
Anakin resisted the urge to snort at the cryptic answer. "Glad she cleared that up for us," he said.
The seasons changed again as they continued their journey along the stony trail. It was then that Anakin felt the disturbance and he glanced up sharply as did Jenica who was walking beside Ahsoka just behind Anakin.
"Hey, look out," Jenica shouted as Anakin pushed Daughter out of the way of the falling rocks before he and Jenica leapt after her. The falling rocks forced Ahsoka and Obi-Wan to leap backwards to avoid being crushed by the rocks.
Anakin got to his feet before stretching out a hand to help Daughter up but she got to her feet without his help and avoided his outstretched hand. "It is forbidden for you to touch me," she said.
"He just saved your life, you know," Jenica said before Anakin could speak. He glanced briefly at his former master's apprentice.
"Are you all right, Jenica?" he asked.
Jenica nodded. "I'm fine, Master Skywalker," she said.
"That was my brother's work," Daughter said gazing at the fallen rocks before turning her gaze back to Anakin. "You are in great danger. Wait for me. Do not leave this place."
Without waiting for a response, she turned around and began walking again.
"Hey, wait," Anakin protested.
"Anakin, are you there?" Obi-Wan's voice came over the comlink and Anakin activated it. "Are you and Jenica all right?"
"Yeah, we're here and we're fine but our friend has run off," Anakin replied. "Go back to the shuttle and try to place another distress call. Jenica and I will follow her and find a way off this rock."
"I do not think that is wise, Anakin. It could be a trap."
"Then I'm not going to wait around to find out," Anakin replied.
A loud sigh sounded over the comlink. "Just be careful, Anakin since I doubt I can talk you out of this," Obi-Wan said.
"I will master," Anakin replied although he was unsure if Obi-Wan heard those last words since static was all he could hear over the link.
"So we just follow Daughter?" Jenica asked.
"Might be our best bet," Anakin said glancing at Jenica who was gazing at the path that Daughter had taken before looking back at him.
"I hope this isn't a trap," she said.
Anakin smiled faintly. "We'll know soon enough. Come on, Jenica. Let's go see where our friend went off to," he said.
"Yes Master Skywalker." Jenica followed Anakin as he began to walk down the path Daughter had taken.
"He'll find her," Ahsoka said as Obi-Wan lowered his arm and gazed out at the land.
"Yes but I fear what else he and Jenica will run into," he replied.
Ahsoka examined her master's master before turning her gaze to the sky when she heard a loud thunderclap. She spotted storm clouds gathering on the horizon. "Storm's coming," she said.
"Let's head back," Obi-Wan said before he took the lead and led the way back down the trail toward where they had landed the shuttle.
However, when they arrived at the clearing where they had landed the shuttle, Ahsoka noticed that it was gone. "The ship's gone," she said gesturing even though she really didn't have to since Obi-Wan had eyes and could see that the ship was, indeed, no longer there.
"Yes," Obi-Wan murmured; he sounded distracted again.
"Are you all right, Master Kenobi?" Ahsoka asked.
"I'm fine, Ahsoka," Obi-Wan replied although Ahsoka wasn't convinced but she decided to let it go.
"It was here though. No doubt about that. And look at that," she said pointing to where the plants were starting to wither and die right in front of them, "everything's dying."
"Did you lose something?" a voice sounded suddenly causing Ahsoka to whirl around and ignite her lightsaber. A man dressed in black with pale skin, red eyes and red markings beneath his eyes and down his cheeks stood behind them. "You didn't do as you were asked."
Ahsoka's blade was held in a guard position in front of her while Obi-Wan stood at her side still observing the man with narrowed eyes.
"And what was that?" Ahsoka asked.
"My sister said to wait," the man replied.
"Unfortunately, we were separated," said Obi-Wan calmly. "I would appreciate it if we got our ship back though."
"Not yet," the man replied moving forward a few steps. "Is it true that he is the Chosen One?"
Obi-Wan dropped back and ignited his lightsaber immediately as Ahsoka ignited her second lightsaber as well. "What do you know about these things?" he asked holding his lightsaber in front of him.
"What is about to happen shall occur whether you like it or not," the man said waving his hand and Ahsoka's lightsabers as well as Obi-Wan's were suddenly deactivated.
Ahsoka's eyes filled with surprise. "You're a Sith," she exclaimed.
"A Sith? Yes and no," the man said before he turned around and added. "The storms here are quite lethal. I suggest you find shelter." Without waiting for them to respond, he dashed away, changed form and flew into the stormy sky.
"What, in the universe, was that?" Ahsoka asked.
Obi-Wan shook his head. "I don't know," he said. "We should probably find shelter though. Quick, there's a cave over there." He pointed to where a cave could be seen in the stone wall behind them.
Anakin and Jenica ran through the rain as lightning bolts struck the ground nearby and thunderclaps shook the night sky. Jenica fell a little behind but was still only a meter or so behind the Jedi knight. Anakin seemed to have noticed she was falling behind for he suddenly dropped back to join her as they continued their journey through the thick rain.
They ended up near a cave and dived into it just before a lightning strike hit the entrance to the cave. Anakin gazed out through the rain while Jenica shivered and attempted to squeeze the water out of her cloak.
"Well, whatever we're looking for is in that monastery," he said glancing at Jenica before pointing to the monastery in the distance.
"How can you be so sure?" Jenica asked. They had lost Daughter almost as soon as the storm began and Jenica really didn't know where she could be. How Anakin knew Daughter was at the monastery who knew how many kilometers from their current location, she did not know.
Anakin shrugged. "Call it a hunch," he said.
Jenica sighed. "I would much rather have more solid proof than a hunch especially on this planet," she said.
Anakin smiled faintly. "Most of my hunches are right," he said. "Besides, that's the only actual building I've seen on this planet since we arrived. It might be our best bet at finding help to get off this rock."
"You do have a point."
Anakin smirked. "I always do," he said.
Jenica rolled her eyes. She only met Anakin almost a year earlier when she first became Obi-Wan's apprentice but, in that short time, she did learn that he tended to be a bit arrogant. However, she also learned when to tell when Anakin was being serious or not. At that moment, he wasn't being serious at least not too serious.
"Not all the time, Master Skywalker," she said.
Anakin smiled before turning his gaze back to the monastery. "When the storm blows over, we'll head over to that monastery and hopefully find some answers," he said.
Jenica nodded before gazing out at the landscape as it was struck with powerful bolts of lightning and beat upon by torrents of rain.
When the storm blew over, Jenica followed Anakin as he led the way across the landscape toward the monastery. When they reached it, they climbed up the steps before entering the building. Jenica made her way into the monastery behind Anakin examining the glowing aquamarine sigils that were edged into the sides of the walkway before she turned her gaze to the old man seated cross-legged at the other end of the room in front of a triangular-shaped stone beneath the large windows.
Anakin came to a stop in front of the man and Jenica walked to his side observing the old man. She glanced at Anakin as he sat down and she followed suit deciding that she would follow the older Jedi's example since she had no idea of what to do anyway.
The old man's eyes opened and they were green-blue irises surrounded by black. "Welcome, my friends," the man said; his voice was overlaid in the same way Daughter's was.
"What is it that you want from me?" Anakin asked.
"To learn the truth about who you really are," the old man replied. "One that maybe you have known all along." He stood up and Anakin and Jenica followed suit.
"One you must believe in order to fulfill your destiny," the old man added stepping forward to stand in front of Anakin.
Anakin's eyes narrowed and Jenica could feel his frustration but he released it almost as soon as he felt it, most of it anyway. "Enough with the riddles. Tell me what's going on here," he said.
A thunderclap sounded outside. The old man kept his eyes fixed on Anakin ignoring the storm that brewed outside. "As you can see, there is nowhere else to go," he said. "It is late. You and your young companion will be my guests tonight." He started walking away and Anakin followed him. Jenica, seeing no other choice, followed him.
Obi-Wan examined Ahsoka who was fast asleep nearby before turning his gaze to the burning flames deep in thought.
'Obi-Wan?'
Obi-Wan glanced up as Qui-Gon Jinn's spirit appeared before him. For a long moment, he simply observed the spirit before he inclined his head in greeting. "Master Qui-Gon, it's been a while," he said.
Qui-Gon's lips curved into a smile. 'Yes it has, Obi-Wan. You have done well. The Force and I are very proud of the changes you have made so far," he said.
Obi-Wan sighed. "There have been some things I was unable to change, master," he said.
'Yes, as I told you before, Obi-Wan, you were not sent back to change everything.'
"I know master. I was sent back to make the necessary changes to change the future I come from into a better one. I just don't know if I am doing enough."
'I have been watching you and Anakin as well as young Jenica and Ahsoka since you went back. You are making progress, Obi-Wan, more progress than you seem to think especially with Anakin.'
"I am not so sure about that," Obi-Wan admitted. "He is still arrogant and very willful. I've tried my best to help him, doing what I can to help him understand that he can trust me and that I am there to help him whenever he needs it."
'You have done more for him than you think, Obi-Wan. You have shown him your heart; you have shown him that you love him like the brother he is to you. You trusted him with your relationship with Siri just as he trusted you with his relationship with Padmé. He looks up to you, Obi-Wan, and he respects, admires, trusts and loves you. It is the last one, the brotherly love shall we say, that will be his greatest weapon. However, you must be made aware that the Dark Lord of the Sith is getting suspicious. He has felt the disturbance centered on your return to the past but he cannot pinpoint it yet, which is to your advantage.'
Obi-Wan sighed. "Anakin is still close friends with Palpatine, master," he said. "I have done what I can to subtly hint that Palpatine is not who Anakin thinks him to be but I can't do more without revealing more than I am allowed."
'Nevertheless, you are doing a magnificent job, Obi-Wan,' Qui-Gon's spirit said gently. 'I will continue to keep watch and aid you whenever you need help as I have done since your return. I will also warn you now, Obi-Wan, Darth Sidious will not remain ignorant for long. It will not be long before he discovers that the events he had so carefully crafted and put into motion are being altered dramatically. So far, your changes have been subtle. Some were big but others weren't. It won't be until you do a drastic change that Sidious will be made aware that someone is meddling with his plans. I cannot say when that will happen, Obi-Wan, but I can assure you that it will happen. When that happens, Obi-Wan, it will not be long before you are put into life-threatening danger. Keep your friends and your loved ones close to you, Obi-Wan, and never forget that love can ignite the stars.'
With those final words said, and naturally leaving Obi-Wan with more questions than answers, Qui-Gon was gone and the cave was plunged into silence.
Anakin felt a gentle touch to his forehead and his eyes snapped open to find the ghost of Qui-Gon Jinn floating in front of him. He sat up sharply eyes wide. "Master Qui-Gon?" he blurted out.
Qui-Gon smiled. 'Hello Ani,' he greeted the young Jedi Knight. 'It is good to see you again.'
"How is this possible?"
'This place is a conduit through which the Force flows, Ani, and thus its power enables me to speak with you. I just came to warn you that this place isn't what it seems to be.'
"No doubt," Anakin said crossing his legs.
'I also came by to tell you that your mother is still all right,' Qui-Gon added.
Anakin's eyes flickered with surprise. "My mother?" he echoed.
'Yes. I checked in on her recently. She is doing well; her husband is being very protective of her since she was nearly taken by those Tusken Raiders. I can sense that she misses you a great deal though but she seems to have accepted your decision. Like she told you the day you left her when you were nine and visited her recently the last time you were on Tatooine, she knew that your destiny was far greater than anything Tatooine could provide. And it is true, Ani, as you shall discover here.'
"I just don't understand, Master Qui-Gon," Anakin said frowning. "Why are the Father and the Daughter so interested in me? Daughter asked me if I was the one when we first met but I don't know what she meant."
'But you do, Anakin, just as Father said, you do. You know, deep down, you know the truth and tomorrow, it shall be proved to you. However, I will also warn you. When the truth comes out, Father shall tell you that you must do something. It is your choice of what you will do but know that neither choice you make will be selfish. It is not the choice that is selfish; it is the reason behind the choice.'
"I don't understand."
Qui-Gon smiled. 'All choices have different outcomes, Ani,' he said, 'and some outcomes are better than others. The light and the darkness have made their choice as you shall see tomorrow. So now it is your turn. Whatever you choose does not matter, Ani, the reason behind your choice does so think wisely, considering everything, before you make your choice.'
And then Qui-Gon was gone leaving Anakin confused and filled with questions.
Ahsoka was fast asleep when, suddenly, a voice broke her out of her seemingly dreamless sleep.
"Are you happy, child?"
Ahsoka sat up sharply before gazing around but she couldn't see anything.
"Your master. Does he treat you well?" the voice asked again.
Ahsoka gazed around again until she spotted an older Togruta standing behind the flames watching her. She stood up before her hands went to one of the lightsaber's that hung on her belt. "What concern of it is yours?" she asked.
"I am your future, your potential," the older Togruta said.
"This is a trick," Ahsoka retorted igniting her lightsabers.
The older Togruta held out her hands. "There is a wildness to you, young one. Seeds of the dark side planted by your master," she said.
"No. My master is passionate and impulsive but I trust him with my life," Ahsoka retorted.
"There are many contradictions in you and in him despite all that others have done," the older Togruta said. "Be forewarned. You may never reach your full potential and see your future if you remain his student. Leave this planet!" In a burst of flames, the older Togruta was gone.
"Ahsoka?" Obi-Wan's voice jolted Ahsoka out of her sleep and she opened her eyes to find Obi-Wan gazing at her with concern in his gray-blue eyes.
"I had a vision," Ahsoka said softly. "I think Anakin might be in trouble."
Jenica was fast asleep but her dream wasn't dreamless the entire time. It seemed to her that her dreams were filled with nothing but the shadows of the room the Father had given her. At least until she heard a voice; a gentle, mature voice that jolted her from her sleep and caused her to sit up sharply.
In front of her, standing in the shadows of the room, was a young woman, a woman that looked like an older version of herself. The woman drifted forward. "Hello young one," she greeted Jenica.
"Who are you?" Jenica demanded getting to her feet and calling her lightsaber to her hand.
"Be at peace, young one, I am you, I am your future."
Jenica narrowed her eyes. "I don't understand," she said.
"I came here to speak with you, young one," the woman said. "Answer me this, young one. Do you trust your master?"
"Of course," Jenica said automatically.
"Do you trust him even though he is keeping secrets from you?"
"I trust him with my life."
"Perhaps so but his secrets may prevent you from achieving your full potential."
"I don't believe you. Master Obi-Wan is a great Jedi, one of the best in the Order."
"I am not denying that, young one. However, he is unlike the other Jedi in the Order. He may exhibit the traits the Jedi hold dear but there is a side to him that you will never know, a side that he has kept secret from all but a few. He is not the perfect Jedi you think him to be."
Jenica swallowed; she didn't realize her thoughts had been so open to where the woman was able to pick up on that particular thought. She did believe her master to be a perfect Jedi. "I don't believe you," she retorted.
"Believe me or not, what I speak is the truth. Your master is not the perfect Jedi you believe him to be. He harbors secrets close to his heart, secrets that he will never reveal to you. How can you trust someone who is currently deceiving the entire Jedi Order?"
"My master would never do that," Jenica shouted igniting her lightsaber. "You're lying.
"I speak the truth, young one," the woman said drifting backwards. "Believe me or not, what I say is the truth."
And then she was gone and the dream shattered as Jenica sat up sharply in the room the Father had given her eyes wide as she struggled to push her dream to the back of her mind even as the words of her older self continued to cling to her subconscious refusing to let go.
Anakin walked into the room where he first met the Father the following morning with Jenica, yawning, just behind him. Jenica looked tired as if she hadn't gotten much sleep the night before. Anakin couldn't really blame her; his mind was so focused on Qui-Gon's words that he couldn't get back to sleep either.
He was also very confused by Qui-Gon's words. What did he mean by the truth will be revealed to me today? And why did he say that I knew it to be true deep down?
'The light and the darkness have made their choice as you shall see tomorrow. So now it is your turn. Whatever you choose does not matter, Ani, the reason behind your choice does so think wisely, considering everything, before you make your choice.' Qui-Gon's words repeated themselves in Anakin's mind and he paused on the walkway leading to where the Father was meditating.
What did he mean by that? Anakin thought.
"Did you have a good night's sleep?" Father asked not opening his eyes.
Anakin's eyes narrowed. "Not so much. I was visited by someone I thought died more than eleven years ago," he said.
"Ah. This place is certainly a powerful place if someone who is dead can visit those of the living. And might I ask what this person wanted?"
"You could but that doesn't mean I'm going to answer you. I still don't trust you and you never did answer my question from yesterday. What is going on here? And why are you and Daughter so interested in me?" Anakin asked.
The Father's eyes opened as he stood up and walked down to join Anakin. "I suppose it is time that you knew the truth," he said. "I shall begin by telling you of what we are. Some call my family Force wielders because my children and I can manipulate the Force like no other. Therefore, it was necessary to withdraw from the temporal world and live here. Here, we are anchorites."
"This is a sanctuary, in other words?" Jenica asked.
"And a prison," the Father said looking down. "You do not understand how it feels to have such love for your children and realize that they can tear the very fabric of the universe."
"I don't understand," Anakin said. He could see that Jenica was just as confused as he was.
"It is only here that I can control them," the Father replied. "A family in balance. The light and the dark. Day with night. Destruction embraced by creation."
"Then why reveal yourselves to us?" Anakin asked.
"There are some who would like to exploit our power," the Father said. "The Sith are but one. Too much dark or light would be the undoing of life as you understand it. When news reached me that the chosen one had been found, I needed to see for myself."
The light and the darkness have made their choice as you shall see tomorrow.
Qui-Gon's words chose that moment to repeat themselves in Anakin's mind as he narrowed his eyes and thought about the Father's words and the mention of something that Anakin only ever thought of as a myth. "The Chosen One is a myth," he said although, deep down, he wasn't entirely sure about that and he didn't know why he felt that way.
"Is it?" the Father echoed. "I should very much like to know. Why don't we find out together? Pass one test and I shall know the truth. Then you and your friends may leave."
Obi-Wan and Ahsoka walked side by side down the path as the seasons changed yet again with the rising of the sun. Obi-Wan's eyes were scanning the horizon as he searched for any signs of Daughter and Son as he knew it wouldn't be long before they came. They would take him and Ahsoka to the monastery, Anakin would prove he was the Chosen One and then tell Anakin that he had to stay on the planet to maintain balance.
Obi-Wan didn't believe that was what was supposed to happen; Anakin's destiny was far greater than being the one to keep Daughter and Son under control. The main reason he knew this was because why else would the Force send him to the past if the Force only wanted Anakin to stay on Mortis for the rest of his life? No, Anakin's destiny was not on Mortis.
"The longer we stay here, the weirder it gets," Ahsoka admitted.
Obi-Wan nodded in quiet agreement.
"What about Master Skywalker and Jenica?"
"Anakin is not deceived easily," Obi-Wan assured the young Togruta. "And Jenica's with him. He'll make sure she's safe."
He glanced up sharply as he spotted Daughter and Son, in their griffin and gargoyle forms respectively, fly downward before stretching out their talons to grab them.
I really didn't expect this to change, Obi-Wan thought.
In the courtyard of the monastery, Anakin walked to the center of it at the Father's side. The circle in which he stood was a circle in which one half was light and the other was dark and there seemed to be a drop of darkness in the light side and a drop of light in the darkness; the drops looked identical in size. Jenica was at Anakin's other side gazing at the area with narrowed eyes.
"I've got a bad feeling about this," she murmured.
"It is time to know the truth," the Father said glancing at Anakin before looking upward.
Anakin also looked upward not noticing it as the Father drifted around him to stand beside Jenica. A griffin and a gargoyle suddenly flew into the clearing carrying Obi-Wan and Ahsoka in their talons respectively. They circled the courtyard before landing; the griffin on the light drop in the dark half of the circle and the gargoyle in the dark drop in the light half of the circle.
"Whatever it wants, don't give it to him, master," Ahsoka shouted struggling to free herself from the gargoyle's grip.
"Let them go," Anakin said. "I will not play your games."
"Oh but I think you will," the Father said still standing next to Jenica while keeping his eyes fixed on Anakin. "I have ordered my children to kill your friends. The question is…" He gently but firmly grabbed Jenica's arms and, suddenly, he and Jenica were on the balcony overlooking the courtyard.
Jenica tried to pull herself free but the Father's grip was apparently too tight for her to break free from.
"…which one will you choose to save? Your master or your apprentice? You must free yourself by choosing," the Father shouted.
Anakin shook his head. "No," he shouted back at the Father.
"Their powers are too strong," Obi-Wan called.
"Let them go," Anakin shouted again.
"Only you can make my children release them," the Father shouted back.
"Anakin," Obi-Wan called as Anakin closed his eyes. "The planet is the Force. Use it."
Anakin stretched out with the Force, gathering it from the planet that lay around him. He gathered the power toward him, the light, the darkness; it didn't matter which it was. It all became intermingled, mixed into what seemed like a shade of gray.
"You will let them go," Anakin said lashing out with the power he was holding and the griffin and gargoyle were sent stumbling backwards. Anakin then grabbed them with the Force, lifting them upwards unaware that the sky was changing above his head and the circle on which he stood was glowing with starry light.
He gazed at both the griffin and the gargoyle as he held them in the air with the Force, the light holding the darkness, the darkness holding the light. There was no distinguishing feature between them now; they were so intermingled, so mixed, so balanced that they were just the Force.
He lifted them higher before forcing them to release Ahsoka and Obi-Wan. They both landed on their feet and Anakin briefly saw a gleam of pride in Obi-Wan's eyes when he glanced at the griffin before he turned his gaze to the gargoyle as he drew them closer to him utilizing the full power of the planet to help him. He Force pushed them into the wall of the courtyard and they got to their feet, shaking their heads before advancing on Ahsoka and Obi-Wan. Both of them moved out of the way facing the gargoyle and griffin respectively.
Anakin used the power of the planet to draw the gargoyle and the griffin away from Ahsoka and Obi-Wan before forcing them onto their knees. They resisted, struggling against the power but Anakin was not letting that get to him. He was using both sides of the Force equally and thus Daughter and Son were forced to coincide and listen to him.
They were on their knees as they reverted back to their human forms hands resting on the ground as the sky above returned to day.
Anakin lowered his arms feeling exhausted to the bone as the Father's voice sounded behind him.
"And now you see who you truly are," the Father said approaching him. He released Jenica who immediately moved away from the Father.
"Only the Chosen One could tame both my children," the Father added as Daughter and Son both glanced up.
"I've taken your test," Anakin said as Obi-Wan and Ahsoka walked over to join them and Jenica moved to Obi-Wan's side asking quietly if he was all right.
Obi-Wan assured her that he was fine.
"Now fulfill your promise and let us all go," Anakin added.
"Ah but first you must understand the truth," the Father said. "Now, all of you leave us."
Obi-Wan's eyes narrowed.
"Do not trust him," Ahsoka whispered.
"You think?" Anakin whispered back.
"I said leave us," the Father said again.
Obi-Wan was examining the Father before he turned around and left alongside Jenica and Ahsoka. Daughter and Son also followed them.
"Do you feel your destiny?" the Father asked. "You must see it now. I am dying and you must replace me."
"Replace you? I can't stay here," Anakin protested.
"But it is yours. It was foretold. The Chosen One would remain to keep my children in balance."
Anakin let out a long sigh. "Chosen One or not, I cannot stay here," he said as he remembered Qui-Gon's words; this was the choice he was warning Anakin about. The choice didn't matter; the reasons behind the choice did.
What were Anakin's reasons for refusing to remain on the planet in the Father's stead?
Anakin thought about it. In truth, there were a lot of reasons why Anakin couldn't' stay on the planet. It wasn't that he didn't want to stay on the planet, although he was unsure if he did or not, it was that he had too many obligations to fulfill. He couldn't abandon his wife; he couldn't leave his Jedi family to fight against the Separatists when they needed all the help they can get; he couldn't break the promise he made to both his mother and his brother. So many people were counting on him and he couldn't abandon them to their fate.
"I have too many obligations to fulfill," Anakin said finally.
"I cannot force you to do this," the Father said softly. "The choice must be yours. But leave and your selfishness will haunt you…"
"Wait a minute," Anakin interrupted the Father; he couldn't believe the Father was accusing him of being selfish. "This is my choice, just as you said, but how am I being selfish? I am only refusing to remain on this planet in your stead because the galaxy needs me. I can't just abandon the rest of the Jedi Order when they need all the help they can get in their fight against the Separatists; I can't break the promise I made to my master and my mother."
Anakin broke off, took a deep breath before going on. "I do not feel remaining on this planet is my destiny," he said softly. "Someone told me that the choice that is made does not matter; the reasons behind the choice do. These are my reasons. If I must leave this planet to help the rest of the Jedi Order bring peace to the galaxy, to end the war we are currently fighting, to save as many lives as I possibly can, then I will."
The Father looked surprised as if he hadn't expected Anakin to respond in such a way or to interrupt him. "I take back my earlier assertion," he said. "You are not selfish in your decision to leave. In fact, your reasons for leaving are selfless and I was wrong to accuse you of being selfish in your decision without first listening to your reasons. That someone who spoke to you was correct; the choice does not matter, the reasons behind the choice do."
The Father was silent again. "The galaxy could not be in better hands with you as the Chosen One destined to bring balance to the Force," he said. "Now then, there is someone else I must speak with before you go on your way. Please ask your master to join me. I wish to speak with him alone."
Anakin looked surprised but he slowly nodded, turned around and left the courtyard.
"Master?"
Obi-Wan glanced over his shoulder as Jenica walked over to join him. "Yes Jenica?" he asked.
Jenica hesitated. "Would you ever lie to me, Master?" she asked.
"Why do you ask?"
"It's just…" Jenica broke off before looking down. "I had a dream. I was talking to an older version of myself. She told me…she said that I shouldn't trust someone who is deceiving the entire Jedi Order. I didn't believe her."
"But a part of you does," Obi-Wan said.
Jenica nodded slowly.
Obi-Wan turned his gaze to the monastery as he waited for Anakin to join them. "Someday you will understand everything, Jenica, but today is not that day," he said. "In answer to your question, I would never lie to you and I know that you can sense I am telling you the truth." He was telling the truth; he was beginning to trust his apprentice. At the moment, he didn't trust her enough to tell her about Siri but someday he would when he trusted her well enough to know she would not tell the council until he was ready to tell them himself.
Jenica nodded. "Yes, I can sense that you're telling the truth," she said softly.
Anakin walked across the platform to join Obi-Wan at that moment. "The Father wants to talk with you, master," he said.
Obi-Wan was expecting that; he was surprised the Father didn't confront him sooner but figured he was too busy trying to see if Anakin truly was the Chosen One. "Go get the ship ready for takeoff, Anakin, I'll be there shortly," he said.
"Yes master," Anakin said before he made his way into the ship.
Jenica gazed at Obi-Wan again before she turned around and followed Anakin up the boarding ramp into the shuttle.
Obi-Wan watched them go before he turned around and head back into the monastery to find the Father. He found the Father meditating in the center room and, as he walked across the floor to meet him, the Father stood up.
"It is a pleasure, and a surprise, to meet you again, Obi-Wan Kenobi," the Father said walking down the steps to join Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan merely inclined his head once in response.
"You do not seem surprised," the Father noted.
"I am not," Obi-Wan said. "If there was anyone in this entire galaxy who knew the truth then I figured it would be you."
The Father nodded. "I knew it the first instant I saw you. When I saw you, I realized that you were not from this time. How far?"
Obi-Wan knew the Father was asking how far into the future he was from. The Force wasn't saying anything so Obi-Wan figured he could tell the Father the truth. "Nineteen years from the end of the Clone Wars," he said.
"Ah. The Force sent you to this time for a reason, did it not?"
"Yes it did."
"I do not need to know the reason although I can hazard a guess. It has to deal with the Chosen One yes?"
"Yes."
"I see. Well, I will tell you this, Obi-Wan Kenobi, if you continue to guide young Skywalker on the path he is currently walking then the galaxy shall be in safe hands and the future shall no longer be shrouded in shadows. Now then, I bid you a goodbye even though I feel this will not be the last time we see each other."
"I find it highly unlikely as well," Obi-Wan agreed knowing that that wouldn't be the last time he saw the Father if things went as they did the first time around. "Goodbye."
Without another word, he turned around and left the monastery before heading toward the Jedi shuttle deep in thought as he considered what he could change about what was coming next.
Mortis was not through with Obi-Wan and his companions just yet and Obi-Wan knew it.
A/n what do you think?
Blaze: and that was the, wow, 14 page chapter that covered "Overlords". I did not expect it to be that long
Darth: well, you did add Jenica's point of view
Blaze: I hope that I brought Jenica's character more into light in this chapter but there is more of her to come in the next two chapters
Darth: that's cool. Loved the conversation between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon and Anakin and Qui-Gon
Blaze: yup. I had fun writing those parts.
Severus: so the next chapter is covering "Altar of Mortis"
Blaze: yes with a twist. It will still go based on the episode, naturally, but there is going to be a twist
Harry: oh? What's the twist? What's the twist?
Severus: she wouldn't tell you, Potter, since you'd just blab it to the entire world
Anakin: ain't that the truth
Harry: hey!
Blaze: (chuckles) please review and I shall post the next chapter, which will cover "Altar of Mortis", part two of the Mortis trilogy, as soon as I finish typing it and I hope that shall happen Saturday but, as usual, I make no promises.