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Star Wars AU The Triumph of Darth Plagueis: Episode Sixteen – Revenge of the Sith Part 1 Fear The Future
By
Celgress
"Choices are the hinges of destiny."
Pythagoras (c.570 – c.495 B.C.E)
Coruscant
"Why Anakin why?" Padme cried her face contorted in pain. Turbulent shadows swirled rapidly around the distressed young woman. Anakin could sense she was nearby. Not matter how hard Anakin tried he couldn't reach his beloved. The dark storm surrounding Padme was impenetrable. In spite of this Anakin valiantly struggled against the relentless maelstrom. No matter how hard he fought it always ended the same way. When Padme was almost within Anakin's reach she slipped away consumed completely by the darkness. Anakin knew without knowing how that Padme was now lost to him forever, that she was dead. In place of the tormented visage of his angel two new faces loomed out of the abyss, the faces of two monsters! Anakin could not tell if they were droids or cyborgs. One was totally black with a skull like face, empty eyes and a grill like mouth. The other was gray and black with horn like appendages, a vertical slit for eyes, it also sported a grill like mouth.
"Who are you? What have you done with Padme?" Anakin would scream.
The mechanically regulated breathing of the two creatures would give way to a bout of dreadful laughter. "You are the one responsible" the first creature informed the Chosen One. "You should have saved her."
"It is you're doing" parroted the second creature. "You failed."
"Liars!" Anakin would accuse the creatures. "I would never allow Padme to be harmed! I would die first!" By way of reply the creatures would laugh as Anakin screamed in horror and frustration. The scene would then dissolve into nothingness.
Anakin awoke with a lurch. His side of the spacious bed was soaked by sweat, as was his leanly muscled frame. His breathing was erratic. His gaze darted around the room fitfully before settling on his slowly waking wife.
"Anakin was it the nightmare again?" Padme asked yawning.
"Yes."
"What is it now the third time this week?" Padme asked sitting up. "You can't go on like this Ani. You have to tell somebody about your nightmare."
"First of all it isn't a nightmare Padme. It is a vision. Like the one I had about my mother. We both know that" Anakin said getting up and pacing around the room. "Second who can I tell? Outside of you, Obi-wan, Siri, Ahsoka & the Chancellor no one knows about us. Obi-wan & Siri both have enough issues to deal with."
"Wait" Padme said with some concern. "Supreme Chancellor Damask knows about our marriage? Anakin I can understand telling Ahsoka, she is like your little sister, but why tell the Supreme Chancellor?"
"Because Padme he is one of my oldest and dearest friends. If Ahsoka is like my little sister and Obi-wan is like my big brother than Damask is the like grandfather I never had."
"Anakin does he know about the pregnancy, about the twins?" Padme asked in trepidation. She was well aware Damask, or his cronies, could use the information of her secret marriage to have her expelled from the Senate.
"He knows" Anakin confirmed Padme's greatest fear in an even tone betraying no emotion.
"Anakin how could you? The Supreme Chancellor is…"
"Is what Padme is what 'a bad man'? Is that what you were going to say huh, was it?" Anakin said his stare withering. "I see no evidence which supports your allegations against him."
"Anakin I don't want to have this conversation with you right now" Padme said shaking her head in dismay.
"Why because you know I'm right?"
"No, because my main concern right now is you. This reoccurring nightmare, vision or whatever it is can't go on. It is tearing you apart my love" Padme said her eyes filled with sadness.
"I know" Anakin sighed heavily sitting down besides his wife he placed his arm around her, holding her close.
"Anakin what if it is a vision? What I'm me or the twins are in some type of danger? Padme said leaning into her husband's frame for support. "What are we going to do?"
"Ssssh I'll think of something" Anakin said reassuringly. "I vow no matter what nothing bad will happen to you or our childern, nothing."
The next day Anakin sat in front of Grandmaster Yoda in one of the many private mediation chambers within the Jedi Temple. Anakin was still deeply trouble by his vision. The young Knight had been unable to shake the feeling of impending doom since he left Padme's senatorial apartment early that morning. Dread was now choking out all his other emotions like a vile weed.
"I sense much fear in you Knight Skywalker" Yoda said opening his eyes after a long silence. "What troubles you, hmmm?"
"I've been having visions again" Anakin confessed something about Yoda's placid, seldom blinking, gaze always made the younger Jedi vaguely uncomfortable. Often times Anakin would think Yoda could see into his very soul, laying all Anakin's terrible secrets bare, "like I had several years ago before my mother was kidnapped by the Tusken Raiders."
"What see you in these visions, hmmm?"
"Suffering, darkness the death of one I care about. Master Yoda I must stop these visions from becoming reality. How do I accomplish this? There must be a way" Anakin pleaded to the diminutive elder Jedi.
"Careful one must be when dealing with visions, premonitions of any type. In flux always the future is. The will of the Force your guide it is. What say the Force in your visions Knight Skywalker?"
"I don't know" Anakin confessed his face contorted in confusion. "All I do know is no matter how hard I try in the visions I fail. I cannot save the person I care about. It always ends the same way the person dies in front of me."
"Perhaps the Force is telling you saved this person cannot be?" Yoda postulated, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Their death the will of the Force it could be."
"No, I won't I can't accepted that" Anakin said raising his voice as he unexpectedly jumped to his feet. "This person is a good person who has harmed no one. Why would their death be the will of the Force? Why should this person suffer so unnecessarily?"
"You speak of material death as if the end it were" Yoda said shaking his head in disappointment at the now pacing Anakin. "Nothing have you learned from your teachings Knight Skywalker, hmmm? Those who shade their bodies to join the Force morn them we should not. Miss them we should not. They have completed the cycle, celebrate we should. You must learn to let go Knight Skywalker. Die all things do. Nature of the Universe it is. To terms with this ultimate reality you must reach or suffer eternally I fear you will. All deaths, most deaths, be prevented they cannot nor be prevented should they."
"But Master Yoda I care about this person. They are one of my dearest friends. Should I not try to help them?" Anakin asked incredulously.
"If prevent their death the Force willed show you how in your visions it would" Yoda argued once more shaking his head. "Death is natural fear it not you should. Remember Knight Skywalker fear of loss is the shadow of greed. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. A path to the Dark Side it is. Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose only then conquer fear you will. Now come let us continued our meditation together, yes?"
"I'll try Master Yoda" Anakin said with resignation setting down besides Yoda once more.
Anakin attempted to clear his mind, which was not an easy task. With the help of Yoda's calming influence in the Force slowly Anakin regained his equilibrium. Releasing his anxiety into the Force Anakin contemplated Yoda's words. Though part of him knew the Grand Master was right Anakin still could not bring himself to accept the seemingly inevitable loss of both his wife and unborn children. A galaxy without them was not one in which Anakin wanted to live. The thought of losing all three was almost overwhelming. Anakin knew he must prevent his vision from being fulfilled no matter the cost. He couldn't live without them.
Several days later Anakin found himself along with Ahsoka in the private office of Supreme Chancellor of the Second Galactic Republic Hego Damask. It was a personal visit. Damask having dismissed his guards and attendants, as he always did when the two young Jedi dropped by.
"Anakin, Ahsoka it is wonderful to see you" Damask beamed from behind his desk. "How are you both?"
"It is good to see you Damask" Anakin said, having already received multiple admonishments regarding the use of the terms 'sir' and 'Chancellor'.
"It is good to see you again Damask" Ahsoka said grinning happily.
"Anakin my boy you seem troubled" Damask said noting the frown on the face of the Jedi Knight.
"It is nothing" Anakin attempted to lie.
"Master please tell him" Ahsoka pleaded. "He is a great being and a dear friend. Who knows he might even know something that can help. He is very wise after all." Ahsoka's admiration of Damask was clear by her words and in her expression.
"Please Anakin if there is anything, anything at all I could possibly help you with my boy you need only ask" Damask coaxed.
Anakin slumped into a vacant chair. "I've had a repeating vision for the past several weeks of Padme dying, I think, in child birth. The dreams are the most vivid I've had since those involving my mother when she was abducted, brutalized and nearly killed by the Tusken Raiders. I don't know what to do about them. I consulted Grand Master Yoda seeking advice, but he only told me that her death was the 'will of the Force'." Anakin finished bitterly.
"I see" Damask said getting up from his seat behind the desk and moving over by Anakin's side. "Surely the Jedi are not taught to ignore premonitions? What is the good of Force granted foresight if it cannot be used?"
"Exactly" Ahsoka agreed now standing by Anakin's other side. "Sometimes I can't believe how insensitive the Jedi Code is. What is wrong with helping those you care about?"
"Ahsoka don't" Anakin warned giving his Padawan a stern look.
"Anakin can the Force not save your wife and unborn children? Remember what you told me the Dark Lord of Sith did for your mother on Tatooine" Damask said thoughtfully.
Anakin gave a dry laugh "even if such techniques could work they are of the Dark Side."
"Meaning?" Damask asked curiously.
"Meaning I cannot learn them at least not from another Jedi, all the remaining masters in the Order are far too orthodox for that." Anakin sighed heavily.
"Could you self-teach yourself master?" Ashoka asked.
"I don't know the first time about exactly what Darth Plagueis did, or more importantly how he did it. Only that it involved manipulating the midi-chlorians so they'd pass on their Force imbued, life giving energy from one life form to another." Anakin explained running his hands through his hair.
"Such mastery of the Force" Damask whispered. "Is truly awe inspiring."
"It is" Anakin agreed. "Darth Plagueis is perhaps the most powerful force user I've ever met. I think he may even be more powerful than Yoda." For a sometime no one spoke as the meaning of Anakin's words sunk in.
"Remarkable, truly remarkable" Damask said. "Sadly my young friends our time grows short. Duty calls, I must attend several Senate committee meetings. However before I go I have something special for the both of you" Damask went back around his desk. He produced two sealed envelopes each baring the insignia of the Chancellor's office. Damask handed one to Anakin the other to Ashoka. Their respective envelops each bore their name written across the front in the Damask's own hand.
"What are these?" Ashoka asked turning her envelop over in her hands. Both Jedi appeared puzzled by Damask's gifts.
"Official letters I've personally written for both you Ahsoka my dear and Anakin. The letter I wrote for Anakin recommends he be appointed my personal representative on the Jedi Council" the old Muun explained with a broad smile on his face. "Whereas your letter Ashoka recommends you be appointment to the rank of full Jedi Knight without undergoing the traditional trials in light of your proven prowess on the battlefield."
Ahsoka looked over at her master a goofy grin on her face. "I agree you've earned it Snips." Anakin said with a smile of his own.
Ahsoka squealed in delight practically jumping into Damask's arms. "Thank you so much Damask. You'll never know how much this means to me."
"No need to thank me. I believe it your abilities, you've earned this" Damask said as the two hugged. Once Ashoka extracted herself from Damask Anakin gave Damask a quick embrace of his own thanking Damask for Anakin's own appointment. The two then left the office happier than either had been in some time.
The following day Anakin and Ahsoka presented their letters to the members of the Jedi Council. After the Council members had each been given a chance to read Damask's letters their reaction was one neither Anakin nor Ahsoka predicted. Their close friend, and Anakin's former master, Obi-wan was the first who commented.
"Ahsoka, Anakin did either of you solicit these letters from the Supreme Chancellor?'
"No" both said.
"Appreciate this interference in Jedi affairs by the Supreme Chancellor the Council does not" Yoda said.
"What are you saying Master?" Anakin said stepping forward.
"Under no circumstances will we grant either of the Supreme Chancellor's requests" Shaak Ti announced.
"Why not?" Ahsoka blurted out.
"Because frankly neither of you are ready" Siri said from her position besides Obi-wan.
"This is an outrage" Ahsoka said before she could stop herself. "I have more real world experience than half of the new knights."
"Watch your tongue Padawan" Obi-wan snapped. He, Siri, Shaak Ti & Yoda being the only masters physically present the others attending in holographic form.
Anakin put his arm out in front of Ahsoka motioning for her to stop. "Masters with all due respect Ahsoka is ready to be knighted as I'm ready to sit on the Council as a master. Why do you hold us back? Do you fear our growing power so much?" Anakin immediately regretted his last sentence.
"Your words betray you they do Knight Skywalker" Yoda said pointing his walking stick at Anakin. "Pride consumes both you and your Padawan it does. Leaving the Council with no choice you are. Suspended from the ranks of the Jedi until further notice you are Skywalker. In the meantime Padawan Tano assigned a news master you will be. Poisoned by the influence of the Supreme Chancellor we fear you both are."
Rapidly clenching and unclenching his fists Anakin left the Council chamber the moment he was dismissed, Ahsoka right behind him. Obi-wan excused himself from the gathering followed them. Catching the two by the main gate Obi-wan called out.
"Anakin, Ahsoka please wait!"
"We have nothing to say to you!" Anakin shouted back as he and Ahsoka descended the long stairway in front of the Jedi Temple.
"Please come back!" Obi-wan pleaded.
"Why so you can betray us again?" Ahsoka accused shooting a venomous look at Obi-wan. Soon Anakin and Ahsoka were out of sight.
"Well that went well" Siri said coming up behind Obi-wan.
Having nowhere else to go Anakin and Ahsoka made their way to the private office of the Supreme Chancellor. When they entered the inner room, using the security codes Damask himself had given them, they found the chamber was dark. Reaching for a light switch Anakin was stopped in his tracks by a sinisterly familiar voice, a voice from the past.
"Allow me." The overhead illumination seemingly activated of its' own accord. Ahsoka gasped in shocked. A tall, hooded, black robed figure dominated the middle of the room. The figure stood directly in front of the Supreme Chancellor's desk.
"Darth Plagueis what are you doing here?" Anakin demanded recognizing the intruder at once. Anakin's hand soon was upon the hilt of his lightsaber. "What have you done with Supreme Chancellor Damask? Answer me!"
With a snap-hiss both Jedi activated their lightsabers. In his right hand Anakin's blue blade shimmered while Ahsoka grasped each of her green blades in a reverse grip. The two Jedi slowly circled Plagueis seizing up their prospective opponent."
"There is no need for violence children" Darth Plagueis said calmly. "Please put those away." Passing his black gloved, long fingered, hand in front of himself the blades of Anakin and Ahsoka's lightsabers retreated into their hilts. The hilts were then ripped from their hands, in spite of how much they resisted, the hilts ending up in Plagueis' grip.
"Master what are we going to do?" Ahsoka said in panic.
"Talk my dear" Darth Plagueis said pocketing their lightsabers and then throwing back his hood.
"Supreme Chancellor Damask!" both Jedi proclaimed in utter shock.
"Guilty, I am Darth Plagueis Grandmaster of the Sith Order at your service" Darth Plagueis bowed at his waist. "Anakin, Ahsoka the two of you have shared your deepest, darkest secrets with me I only feel it is fair I honor our friendship by doing the same. Always remember the two of you are very dear to me, no matter what may happen."
"I can't believe this. You, you of all people are Darth Plagueis the head of the Sith Order. You started the war! You are responsible for everything!" Anakin said slumping against the nearest wall.
"Including saving your mother's life" Darth Plagueis reminded.
"Are you also responsible for her murder and that of her husband? Did you order the raid on Tatooine?" Anakin challenged.
"The raid in question was the doing of Lord Tyranus, not me" Darth Plagueis explained. "The Hutts used your family as human shields, along with the other moisture farmers, against the ground forces of the CIS. The Hutts are to blame for what happened, no one else. Join me and you can make them pay for their many crimes."
"I can't join you, you're evil!" Anakin said straightening himself up.
"Am I, or am I merely doing what must be done. The Senate, the Jedi, the Republic itself are all decadent, corrupt, weak. If our Galaxy is to have a brighter tomorrow these elements must be swept away. A new day must dawn under a new order. Please, Ahsoka, Anakin, help me usher in the new order."
"I'll help you" Ahsoka said unexpectedly.
"Ahsoka think of what you are doing. He is the primary Sith Lord" Anakin said his features contoured in abject horror.
"I don't care I trust him" Ahsoka said taking the hand Darth Plagueis offered. "He could have hurt us many times by now if he so desired. Besides he has been nothing but good to us both. I care about him unconditionally, like I do about you master, no matter what he is."
"Thank you Ahsoka" Darth Plagueis said. "I reward your faith. Do with these what you will, strike me down if you must." Ahsoka's lightsabers floated back into her hands reactivating with two sharp snap-hisses. Ahsoka looked at the ignited blades than at the unarmed Darth Plagueis before deactivating the lightsabers and clipping them to her belt, "a wise choice my child."
Anakin couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Out of my way Ahsoka, I'll handle him!"
"No Master don't!" Ahsoka shrieked as Anakin grabbed one of her lightsabers and placed the relit blade against Darth Plagueis' exposed throat.
"Strike me down, if you must Anakin. First know this unlike your Jedi masters I have the power to save your family, Padme and the twins. I will share this knowledge, along with all else I know of the Force, with you freely. Will the Jedi do the same? We both know the Jedi do not trust you or Ahsoka. With good reason, they fear what you may become if your power reaches it's full potential, unhindered by the narrow doctrine of the Jedi Order. As long as I have known you both you have sought lives greater than your average Jedi, through my teachings you can live such lives. You freely, openly love whom you desire hate whom you despise or remain emotionless automatons shackled by the Jedi Code. The choice is yours' to make."
Lowering the emerald blade Anakin peered deep into the eyes of the Sith Lord, "can you really save Padme and my children from death?"
"You need only ask" Darth Plagueis said with comforting smile.
To Be Continued