AN - Thank you so much for the reviews, always lovely to read them. This chapter is based upon the episode 'overlords' from the clone wars series.
The Force Planet
In the two months since Anakin had been back on active duty he (and he'd never admit this within his family's hearing) had remembered how much he loved being a Jedi.
Parts of it. The part where he got to help people, got to run and dodge and duck and do something. Where he could look back at a day's work and think, yeah, I've changed something.
That he'd missed. More than having two flesh hands!
But it was different now. Now, he missed Luke and Padme and more Luke, bad as that sounded. His son changed could change so much in a matter of days, especially now that he was at school. He'd be full of ideas and stories one minute and the next he'd be onto something else.
In the year that Luke had been with them, his son had accepted a lot. He at least now seemed to trust that Anakin would eventually return and could actually talk to him over the holo. And he boasted about Anakin, according to Padme and Captain Typho. That was ace.
It had been less fun when he'd had to pretend to lecture Luke when his son had argued fiercely with someone who had claimed all Jedi were boring. And Luke argued the way children on Tatooine were trained to argue – all curses and shoves. Luke had seemed genuinely surprised that the other child had crumpled to the floor and had spent the next week looking quite baffled by the new reasonable and calm way to deal with things.
That, Anakin could relate to. When Padme had commented in shock that she'd thought Beru would have raised Luke better, Anakin had pointed out that Tatooine was too harsh a world to teach a child to use nice words in a fight, even if Luke had been small when he'd left. And Anakin doubted that anyone had bothered to train Luke in the niceties of a disagreement afterwards.
Well… he glanced at Obi-Wan in the co-pilot's seat. One person could have. The only problem was that Obi-Wan genuinely seemed to think that sarcasm was a universal language.
"Of course I have full trust in your ability to get us to the correct rendezvous at the correct time. It must be the clones who can understand and follow orders to the letter that must be at fault," the man was saying, smiling sweetly.
"You raised me," Anakin muttered as he punched in to make contact with the cruiser and Captain Rex. "Your fault if you don't like the product."
"If you had ever listened to a word I said, then I would agree with you," Obi-Wan replied evenly.
Anakin was spared having to think of a retort as Rex appeared in front of him, the image jumping and fragile. This far out, communication could be sketchy.
"We're at the rendezvous point, awaiting your arrival," Anakin said calmly. Then, because part of him couldn't let it go, he added, "Where are you?"
"Sir," Captain Rex replied, the clone's face looking almost amused, "We're at the rendezvous point and there's no sign of you on our scanners."
"Imagine that," Obi-Wan murmured.
"Oh, come on." Anakin glared at his former master and didn't spare a glance at Ahsoka who was probably quietly sniggering in the corner. If she made one more joke about him getting rusty, he'd eject her. "Something's gotta be wrong," he said quietly. "We're at the exact co-ordinates where the distress signal originated and there's nothing here. Rex is at the exact same co-ordinates and he's not here."
Obi-Wan pointedly leaned to check the co-ordinates and Anakin put up with that as best he could. Still, he could see the moment when amusement slipped off of Obi-Wan's face.
"This is getting interesting," Obi-Wan said.
Interesting? Really? Anakin bit his tongue as Rex's signal broke up into crackled snippets that could barely be understood.
Great. And he'd promised he'd talk to Luke tonight to encourage him with this mediation kick that Master Windu was determined to shove down Luke's throat.
As if Luke would sit still for that long.
"Something's blocking the-" Ahsoka began, as if that was news. She stopped as the lights suddenly faded with an electronic wooshing sound as if a dial was being turned down really quickly. And then every light on the control panel went out.
"Not good," Obi-Wan decided, and Anakin could just about make out the man tapping at the controls, as if that would somehow bring the ship back to life.
"Everything's dead," Ahsoka declared and she stood up so that he could see her from the light coming from the viewer. "Even the life support."
No sooner had she said it then a fizzling noise broke out and the lights and engines came back on.
"What is-" Anakin glanced out and then blinked at the thing that had appeared in front of them. It looked like a giant diamond but one made out of coal or steel. It hovered in space without light or explanation.
"Master," Ahsoka said slowly. "What is that?"
"I don't know, but it's pulling is towards it," Anakin replied, thumbing at the propulsion. He glanced over at Obi-Wan who raised an eyebrow. "Would you have answered that any differently?" he asked, slightly annoyed at the reminder that Ahsoka possibly hadn't meant for him to be the one to answer that question. "And do you think that's important right now?"
"I hardly see how that," Obi-Wan said, nodding to Anakin's hands, "will make a difference. Oh, it's opening," he added in some surprise as the diamond thing started to open. The light that came from it was terrifyingly bright after the darkness they'd just experienced and as it took up the whole of the viewer, Anakin winced, almost unable to cope…
The next thing he knew, he was waking up. The transaition from one event to the other was so abrupt that he tensed instantly, baffled by what had happened. When had he ever just passed out because it was too bright?!
Next to him, Obi-Wan was starting to stir. He seemed to be having the same baffled feeling as he looked around, his eyes landing on what was outside before he turned questioningly to Anakin.
"I must have passed out," Anakin murmured, rubbing his neck.
"Then who landed the shuttle?"
That…was a good question. And thankfully not followed by Ahsoka and Obi-Wan's usual claims that Anakin could only ever manage a crash landing.
Liars.
Xxx
Outside looked almost like a planet which was baffling considering they'd flown into something that looked nothing like a planet. It was lush and green but there were great rocks almost suspended in the air, like jagged clouds against the cool blue sky.
"Are you the one?"
Anakin jumped, turning.
A woman, all green and gold stood staring at him. She looked almost…unreal and her voice echoed as if he was hearing it in his mind as well as with his ears.
"Well hello," Obi-Wan said and Anakin nearly rolled his eyes because this was not Ventress and Obi-Wan really had to stop trying to flirt with everything just to annoy them into making mistakes.
"Who are you?" Anakin asked, trying to cut Obi-Wan off.
"I am daughter," the woman said. "Are you the one?"
"The one what?" Anakin demanded, stepping forward. "Did you bring us here?"
"Only he can do that," she replied mysteriously. "I will take you to him." With that, the woman turned away, her green hair reaching almost to her knees and it had a volume his wife might actually kill for.
Force, he was never ever going to ask about the bottles in the 'fresher again.
Anakin turned to look disbelievingly at Ahsoka and Obi-Wan who was stroking his beard in the way that Anakin was sue meant he had no idea what to do, but wanted to seem as if he was planning something.
"I guess we follow," Ahsoka suggested, sounding not at all sure about it. But, brave as she was, she flashed a hopeful smile and started to stride after the woman.
"If she mentions the phrase 'chosen one'," Anakin began.
"Ah yes. I can see the catastrophic consequences you might threaten her with, given that she might have made us all pass out and land on this planet which none of our maps have ever hinted exist and where no-one can seem to spot us." Obi-Wan smiled as if he lived for moments like this.
He probably did.
"I can threaten her with leaving you and your wit here, with her," Anakin muttered as he started to hike after Ahsoka and this 'daughter'.
Xxx
The walk to 'him' wasn't short. As the light faded from the sky, the plant life seemed to shrink back on itself, as if going through the seasons with the fading day. They were getting higher and higher, following a narrow, curving path up the cliff edge which gave them a clear view of the changes going on far below. And, despite the rapid change, not one creature stirred from within the plants. It was as if the planet's ever changing atmosphere couldn't sustain anything living.
Yet…yet the force felt strong. Pure and calm. The planet nearly sung with it and Anakin couldn't remember the last time it had felt so…so much. Luke, when he occasionally opened up to Anakin could feel like this, but their emotions always made the connection jump and jangle, like a string being plucked. This had no such limits.
"Who are you taking us too?" Anakin asked. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka had fallen behind a little and he could hear Obi-Wan's calming tones as he talked to the Padawan, either offering advice or words of comfort.
"To the father," the daughter replied, as if it was obvious.
"And what exactly are you?" Obi-Wan asked, apparently over-hearing the conversation.
"We are the ones who guard the power," the daughter replied. "We are the middle, the beginning and the end."
Right. He turned back to exchange a look with Obi-Wan when a rumbling overhead caused him to look up. The cliff edge was shaking and rocks were starting to fall with a loud shudder, like debris from a falling space craft.
Almost right onto the daughter.
He didn't think. Using the force, he pushed himself forward quicker than the eye could follow and shoved at her too. Behind him, he could feel the waft of air and dirt as the stones crashed into the path they had been on and blocked the way for Ahsoka and Obi-Wan.
Great. Made even better by the daughter huffing about him touching her to move her out of the way and then rambling on about her brother's plans.
She topped it off by walking away after telling him to stay put.
"Anakin, are you there?" the comm at his arm cackled.
"Yeah," he said with a sigh. "But our friend here has run off," he yelled, directing it at the daughter's retreating back. "Go back to the ship and try sending another distress call," he said, annoyed. "I'll follow her and see if we can find a way off this rock."
"And it it's a trap?"
What did the man want? "Then I don't wanna wait around to find out."
Xxx
By nightfall, the daughter's warning about how hostile the planet could be was fully deserved. The storm that started was vicious, cascading down lightning and rolling thunder through the skies. The plants faded away to dust, as if accelerated through their life cycle and the trees became skeletal, aglow whenever they were hit by lightning and casting eerie shadows across the landscape.
A monastery stood out amongst it all. The only building that could be seen that wasn't ruins or at the mercy of the storm. Something about it reminded him of the Jedi temple, but he couldn't exactly say what given how different the shapes of the building were. Perhaps it was the scale of them both, far larger than they needed to be, as if built for an army even though that was clearly not the purpose.
Inside, a walkway lead up to a man meditating. On either side was water and the same almost lightning glow illuminated the carvings that ran along the edges of the walkway. Out from the storm, Anakin stared across the grand room and then walked forward, steeling himself for what was to come.
When he got to the other side, he did the only thing that seemed correct.
He sat down, crossed legged at the bottom of the three steps up to the mysterious man, and waited.
It took some time. Yet Anakin felt no annoyance or frustration, simply curiosity. And when the man opened his eyes, they were as dark as space but the iris' were that same lightning blue that illuminated the monastery.
"Welcome, my friend," the man said, his voice echoing like daughters.
"What do you want from me?" Anakin asked slowly.
"To learn the truth about who you really are." The man stood up, watching him carefully. "One that you may have known all along. One that you must believe in order to fulfil your destiny.
He'd heard so many versions of that speech since leaving Tattooine. So many versions of the destiny of the chosen one. The prophecy. The balance. His destiny.
"Think you're gonna be disappointed," Anakin muttered. "I am no longer a Jedi."
The old man smiled. "And why does that matter?" he asked, sounding genuinely curious. "We are both so much more than the petty labels given to such beings these days." He gestured with an imperious wave and, to Anakin's surprise, his lightsabre left its position at his belt and floated over.
Surprised, Anakin stood and then watched, unsure as the blade was ignited.
"Jedi and Sith," the man said, his hand hovering around the blade. Then with a smile, he reached out for the blade. Anakin opened his mouth to cry out, to stop him and then the cry died in his throat.
The man was touching the blade. Touching and examining it and doing it all unharmed.
How?
"I…how are you…"
"I imagine that most have forgotten about us now," the old man said thoughtfully. "My children and I can manipulate the force like no other. Therefore, it was necessary for us to withdraw from the temporal world and live here as anchorites."
It struck somewhere within him. How many had looked surprised or wary of what he would do? And Anakin knew that he wasn't yet at the stage where his knowledge matched his power.
Look at what he had done to Luke a few years into the future.
"As a sanctuary?" he asked.
"And a prison," the old man said sadly. "You cannot imagine what pain it is to have such love for your children and realise they could tear the very fabric of our universe."
"More than you think," Anakin said slowly.
"Ah," the old man looked at him and smiled weakly. "Yes. Your boy. The time traveller. The one who has changed it all."
A cold thrill ran through Anakin. As far away as Luke was, Anakin stiffened in defence, suddenly painfully alert.
"The son of the chosen one-"
"The chosen one is a myth," Anakin snapped.
"Is it? I should very much like to know the answer to that."
Xxx
As morning broke, Anakin found himself outside in the middle of what looked like an arena, dug into the side of the mountain and looking out across the valley below. Above, the stars were still in the cold blue sky, as if the two states of being had merged together, just for this moment.
The man hadn't mentioned Luke again and Anakin wasn't about to bring it up. Instead, the old man seemed determined to discover exactly whether Anakin was the chosen one.
A test.
"It is changing," the old man said. "Rapidly, everything changes. The dark side plots and plans and the light…" the old man turned to look. "The light had chosen its last hope already."
Anakin stared out at the landscape, spotting two specks in the distance. "What do you know of it?" he asked. "The time travel?"
"That balance is needed," the old man said with a strange smile. "I believe things will be much clearer to you after you sleep."
Sleep? Anakin blinked confused. He had slept, briefly.
And then his attention snapped back to the two winged creatures that flew towards them and the familiar people that they carried in their claws.
Ahsoka was carried by a dark beast that let out a hoarse roar that sounded like nails on the chalkboards they'd used to calculate payments back on Tattooine. Obi-Wan, landing on the platform on the opposite side of Anakin was carried by a four-legged creature that was white and green and Anakin glanced at the old man.
What was this? The colours were suspiciously the same colour as the daughter that had been absent for the night.
Both creatures held their captives by their arms, like chains, keeping Ahsoka and Obi-Wan captured.
"Why…why are you doing this?" Anakin demanded, looking between them.
"I told you. A test."
A test. Anakin glanced between his friends again, a sinking feeling threatening. "I will not-"
"You will," the old man promised. "I have ordered my children to kill you friends. The question is, which will you save. Your former master or your former padawan?"
Kill?
Anakin stared in disbelief and then twisted to stare first at Obi-Wan and then at Ahsoka. "No."
How could he choose?
He wouldn't choose.
"Your guilt," the old man said in a calm voice. "It holds you back. Release it. Only the chosen one can control my children."
Release his guilt?
The guilt that he'd once been a slave and had done nothing but watch, even if he had been a child? The guilt that he'd been freed and had left his mother behind knowing that she'd be less valuable without him? The guilt that he'd not done something to help Qui-Gon Jinn? The guilt that he'd not been perfect? The guilt that he'd been too old, too set in his ways for the council to accept him?
Padme?
Luke?
His future?
Something within him trembled. Even as Obi-Wan and Ahsoka called out, each pleading for the life of the other, for Anakin to protect himself, he felt something start to shift within him.
He was no longer a Jedi. He no longer had to feel ashamed of his love for his wife, for his difficulties with the code. And Luke…Luke had changed his perspective on so much of his past. He'd been a child. The same age as Luke and if someone had taken Luke away from such a life he'd have been on his knees every day in thanks. And his son…he was doing right by him. Showing him the kind of man he wanted Luke to become.
Avoiding that future as best he could.
It wasn't complete. He didn't lose every ounce of doubt or self-hate, but for the first time he thought he might see it all from a different point of view.
And that was powerful.
He was only half aware of his arms spreading out. The power felt almost visible, almost tangible as he let it loose. The creatures squawked and screamed as he raised his hands and they too rose.
He felt connection.
As he opened his eyes, the day had turned to night and the stars lit everything up. Without effort, he opened his eyes and gently released the creatures' grips on his friends, lowering the pair down safely.
Then he pulled.
He felt no anger. No love. No hatred. No sorrow or guilt or glee. Nothing human. Only mild curiosity as to what he could do. He pushed suddenly, sending the creatures crashing against the stone walls of the arena, sending blocks tumbling to the ground from the force of it.
And when the creatures went once more for Ahsoka and Obi-Wan he forced the creatures to their knees in front of him. The beings writhed and fought until, in the end, the daughter in her original form knelt with a man who was as dark as she was light beside her. Both panting as if exhausted while the sky lightened.
He stared down at the beings in disbelief, his mind returning as the light did.
How had he done that?
Yet…it hadn't felt like mastering some old wisdom. It had felt like…opening up and trusting himself. Of just knowing, the way he did with repairing an engine or wielding a lightsabre.
"And now," the old man said. "We know who you are. Chosen one."
Xxx
"How are you?" Obi-Wan asked as Anakin sat on the boarding ramp to their ship.
"I'm not sure," he answered honestly. "That was…that wasn't me doing that," he said looking up at his old master. "Or I didn't feel like me while I did it."
Obi-Wan hummed as he sat down next to Anakin, and stared out at the landscape. "You are powerful," he said eventually. "It's all in the mind."
Yeah. "Easier said than done."
They sat comfortably, watching the warming sun and the way that the plants blossomed and sprouted. Within a few hours all would be killed off again and the stormy night would reign once more.
It seemed…like a prison. A doomed cycle that no-one could escape.
"He mentioned Luke."
Anakin could feel Obi-Wan's wary gaze. "Did he?" the man asked evenly.
There was a thought forming in his mind. Dangerous, yes, but one he wasn't sure he could ignore. "You should get ready," Anakin said, standing. "I'll be back."
"Is this wise?" Obi-Wan asked, not moving. When Anakin looked back, Obi-Wan was studying the ramp carefully.
"That's all you're gonna say?"
That half smile that Anakin so hated finally made an appearance. "I am no longer your master and you are no longer a Jedi. Our codes are not yours."
Ouch.
"But I cannot see that this will end well. Some answers…some answers do not need to be found."
Anakin stared down at him then nodded. "Get the ship ready," he repeated. "I'll return shortly."
Xxx
The monastery was silent when he stepped back in. But all the same, the father was waiting for him. This time, he stood. His eyes tracking Anakin every step of the way.
"I know you can do it," Anakin said.
The father watched him and Anakin braced himself for more of what he had heard from Obi-Wan. But the old man sighed and nodded down at the water that surrounded them.
"Father to father," the old man said softly.
The pool rippled as shadows started to form within. Then the water bubbled with effort and it was overwhelming and the sensation was like when they'd first flown into the planet and-
He was on Tattooine. A young boy, his hair bleached white from the sun was running through the sand, letting out a shrieking giggle. In the distance, a robed figure watched, his head dipped but somehow Anakin knew it was Obi-Wan that watched over his son, radiating sorrow.
The world tilted. The sand became green and lush. Trees and sculptured buildings that spoke of thought and beauty. And, on the balcony, another little child ran too. Her brown braids catching in the wind and a fierce grin on her face as she ran towards a woman that Anakin wasn't sure he recognised. Bail Organa stood to the side, happier than Obi-Wan, but troubled. In the same position, but different.
The scene jumped again. The palace in darkness now and screams could be heard. A hooded figure stalked through, rebounding blasts and killing. The woman earlier shielded the small girl with her body as Bail opened fire and screamed for them all to run.
Nothing survived.
His son screamed into the sand, great heaving sobs as Obi-Wan faltered and crashed down too, shock clear on his face. Owen and Beru scrambled to get both of them off the ground.
A ship. Faceless crew stomping around, ignoring the tiny boy who sat in one of the crevices of the ship, curled up tight and face streaked with tears.
Bounty. Discussions of wealth and rewards. Different ships, same discussions. A few precious smiles and Obi-Wan always there at the start and at the end, but never in the middle. Quiet and haggard. Exhausted.
Then a terrible figure. A mask. Heavy breathing and Luke screaming.
Running. Running and for a split second there was an echo of the planet he was on. Diminished somehow, a ghost, but real enough. Another planet. A temple. An army behind them.
Obi-Wan, desperate and kneeling and afraid as he looked into Luke's eyes. Beyond his eyes.
He crashed out of the vision, on his knees and gasping for breath and for hope and to avoid the crushing sorrow in his chest.
A girl. A daughter. She'd been killed, shot and he hadn't stopped it. Hadn't stopped any of it.
He shook as she stared down at the now still water, his mind unwilling to accept what he has just seen and yet the force screamed the truth at him.
Luke's future.
"Where was I?" he demanded.
"It is not-"
But he was powerful. The father had shown him that. Clawing with his hand, he reached at the water and forced it, demanded to see not Luke's future but his own.
Water exploded into fire. Padme screaming in childbirth. Chancellor Palpatine whispering, his words inaudible but the seductive tone clear.
He marched up the steps to the temple, lightsabre in hand.
He brought his weapons down upon younglings.
He raised his hand to his pregnant wife, clenching into a fist as she grabbed at her throat in shocked horror.
He screamed at Obi-Wan before attacking, going in for the kill.
He burned at the side of the lava lake as Obi-Wan stared down in anguish, tears streaming.
He ached and hated and hunted.
He stood over the body of his dead daughter, hours gone and screamed.
He tore the galaxy apart looking for the traitor.
He dragged Luke towards him, a screaming boy of six and ripped through his mind.
Then horror. And hate. And love. And anguishandguilt and regret andanythinganythingandstopand protect. Toolatenottoolate. Heal and kill and destroy the threat and help and hate and guard and end-
This time was too much. Shaking, he couldn't contain his reaction at what he'd seen and the force in the planet was so strong. As he shook, so did the planet. So did the son and daughter and father and in the distance Obi-Wan and Ahsoka cried out and hit the floor like when Anakin's daughter had been killed and why did others live when she had died?
He could do it. Destroy them all. Destroy the son and daughter and father and the idea twisted in his head and he had to protect the son and daughter and where was the mother and he couldn't separate what was happening and what he was thinking and they'd died, should die, should be dead, would-
It was like hitting a wall, full speed and being knocked back. The air wooshed from his lungs and so did the knowledge.
Anakin collapsed to the ground panting and confused. The water was still and he felt like he'd ran for a thousand years even though nothing had happened.
Baffled, he looked at the father who stood with his children.
"Not gonna show me, huh?"
The father sighed. "Some things are simply too much. It is a delicate matter, the future. One that I do not think you are ready for yet. Certainly not all at once."
He'd have fought it a minute ago. But somehow, part of him agreed. Yet something had happened, he could feel the dying flickers of an event that had rocked the universe and yet he couldn't get a hold of it. Couldn't mould it into something that he understood.
"One day though."
The father nodded. And, on either side, the son and daughter stared at him as he if he had just revealed the secrets of the universe. "Further away than you think," he said sadly.
Slowly, Anakin stood, unsure. The water seemed like a threat now and he backed away from it, a wariness building inside of him.
"The future always changes," the father said suddenly. "The past cannot. You are aware of what is inside your son's mind."
It wasn't a question. And it made Anakin reach for his lightsabre, suddenly on edge.
"You will return here," the father said slowly. "When your son's past becomes your past. And then, when you are truly chosen, then we will see." He shook his head. "Go home to your family, chosen one. You will need moments like that for what is to come."
"What does-"
But he was by the ship and the light was losing strength in the sky. Anakin blinked and then swore up a storm, furious once more.
What was this sithing place doing to him? What had he actually seen because (clearly) he'd seen something. And by the force if they ever came for Luke-
"Changed your mind?" Obi-Wan asked conversationally, looking down at him from the top of the landing ramp.
"Not getting a choice in the matter," Anakin snapped as he stomped up the landing ramp and threw himself into the pilot's seat making Ahsoka squeak in surprise.
He wasn't too proud to admit that he sulked as they made it off planet and ignored Obi-Wan's amazement that the planet disappeared much the same was as it had appeared. He stonily ignored the clones and Captain Rex and Ahsoka and the conversation with the council.
His son he did not ignore. Especially as Luke proudly showed off some lumpy creation through the holonet.
"What is it?" Anakin managed to ask, failing to guess what it should be.
Luke shrugged. "Dunno," he said honestly, looking around as if they were sharing a secret. "The art teacher liked it. She said it was representative." He looked frankly baffled by the word and stared down with some disgust at the misshapen thing. "I asked if I could build something useful."
"How did that go?"
"Not well," his son sighed. "Mom's sick. She didn't really look at it."
Morning sickness. Except for Padme it seemed to be evening sickness. "She will," Anakin promised his son. "Growing a baby is hard work."
Luke nodded as if he'd heard more of that than he would like. "I have to paint this," he whined suddenly. "And I have to paint it like it's what it's meant to be," he added, clearly quoting someone in a mocking way.
"Luke," Padme's voice echoed. "Do not mock your teacher."
Luke grinned and turned to call back to her and, for a second, Anakin swore he saw a flash of brown braids and a smile that made his heart swell.
