Disclaimer:
Stargate does not belong to me, nor do any of the images shown. This fic was created by me for entertainment purposes.
NA 1: This is a translation from Spanish, made with a text editor, so spelling and grammatical errors are possible. My apologies to all.
NA 2: If anyone wants to help with corrections or translations, and serve as an editor, please send me a private message. Again, my apologies to all.
Anakin 11
Anakin looked down at his Padawan passed out on the floor and blinked at the sight of her exposed navel. "Who the hell dressed her like that? She's walking around half naked," Anakin chided in his mind. "Don't those brainless people know there are sick people out there on the loose," he sighed. Of course, he wasn't one of those sick people, he cared about his Padawan's welfare, and she herself had said she didn't mind his attachment to her.
Some memories of Xion's life came to his mind, specifically of an episode where Ahsoka was part of a band of women and they seemed to be close friends. Anakin stood in shock, trying to force his brain to give him a negative answer, but he couldn't deny the memories he had. Could it be that Ahsoka was a lesbian? Anakin shook his head, dismissing all such follies. If she was, then she was, and it was none of his business. Besides, he was her master and such absurd feelings had to be dismissed.
Anakin decided to settle the matter of his padawan's clothing as soon as he awoke. When Ahsoka regained consciousness, he helped her up.
After she was recovered and he saw her in the normal state of mind, Anakin spoke properly.
-Ahsoka, let's go buy some clothes for you," said Anakin. Those clothes are not nice, you need something more striking, the bracelets are fine, but you need something more imposing…" Anakin received an elbow that sank into his stomach with force, and left him breathless.
As he promised before, he didn't defend himself at all, but he didn't think she would hit him so viciously. Ahsoka grabbed his arm, and pushed him out of her room.
-"Master, your clothes don't look the prettiest to me either," Ahsoka said before throwing the door in his face. Anakin massaged his nose. She had taken it as a personal criticism of his taste in fashion.
-Ahsoka, this is not what it looks like. I really like your clothes," said Anakin trying to explain himself, but Ahsoka opened the door and looked at him coldly.
-I'm leaving now," said Anakin hurriedly and ran out of there.
Anakin ran to his room and looked at himself in the mirror. He looked at his smooth face and long hair, his sturdy, body-tight clothes fit for war. Unlike his memories of Xion, he had no wounds on his face thanks to his control over the Force and his emotions.
-Nonsense, my appearance is great," he said to himself before heading straight to his lab to create more spheres and death stars for his padawan.
Anakin had collected data over the past two months and applied it to his creations, improving their speed of response. He created five more spheres for Ahsoka and continued working on the death stars. Anakin called upon the Force to help him create his tools of destruction and it came to his aid.
…
-Knight Skiwallker, I see you have obtained more Kyber crystals," said Windu approaching.
Anakin turned and saw Windu, Yoda, Adi Gallia and Sheak Ty approaching him. He was stunned and did not understand the purpose of this raid, as they had promised amnesty for anything he had said or done.
Anakin thought he was safe, but now he was in the middle of a raid, which meant there was a double raid. Perhaps these elders simply liked to harass people. As Anakin dismissed any startle or excitement that might get him in trouble, Master Yoda walked over with his staff to poke his head behind his back.
-New crystals you have obtained," Yoda confirmed with a nod. Asajj Ventress, you have lost again," said Yoda.
Ventress had thrown his sabers over a cliff while escaping the other way, and Anakin had promised his pretty padawan that he would get those crystals. So the decision was obvious, and he jumped down the cliff in search of the crystals.
-Master, I have been careless," Anakin admitted humbly.
However, this was also the fault of the Jedi, who would not give him crystals and forced him to chase after those of the Sith.
-Again, they have been purified," said Yoda.
-Strange, they were already like that when I found them," Anakin lied blatantly.
Mace Windu gritted his teeth, but Anakin would not admit for any reason that he could purify Sith objects. That could end up with him in disturbing and dangerous situations.
Things possessed by Sith emotions were usually part of some very unpleasant and frightening horror story. He would not commit the temerity to approach the dark side willingly and make things easy for Palpatine.
Anakin stood firm in the face of Windu's pressure. This brown beast could no longer even intimidate him with the lightsaber, so he could get away with his wrath. Adi Gallia hurried to stand in front of Windu.
-The firing mechanism you have changed. A Force user you must be if you want to activate these weapons," said Yoda and looked at his lightsaber.
-You have modified your lightsaber," said Windu. That was definitely heresy to him, for in fact, there was a ritual for arming these things.
-I added some safety enhancements," said Anakin, and all the Masters looked at his stylized lightsaber with a polished design. I also added some skins, doesn't it look cool? -asked Anakin, although these elders should never have used the word "cool" in their lives.
-Cool," said Yoda, and Anakin almost gasped, thinking he was reading his mind, but the green dwarf just repeated his words, apparently they seemed strange to him.
-Explain security you must," said Yoda.
-Master Yoda, dozens of Jedi have died because a common person has taken their own sabers and cut off their heads with them. My enhancement needs no more explanation than that," said Anakin. Even a Sith who steals my lightsaber will have trouble using it the right way, assuming he knows to use the Force to activate it and doesn't waste time wondering where the power button is," Anakin added.
-That could be useful," said Master Sheak Ty.
-Interesting," said Master Yoda.
-Knight Anakin, do you have any other projects in the works? -asked Master Adi Gallia.
From her question, Anakin understood that this was not a raid, but a peace visit. It was his first peace visit, as before they had only done raids where they ended up fighting and he was punished. But now, the raid had been suffered by his padawan and they were coming in peace. This method was not all bad and confirmed his plan to use Ahsoka as an ambassador to these elders. He was too stubborn and they were too tradition-bound to get along, they needed an intermediary.
-I am working on several projects, the most important of which is this one," he said pointing to a black sphere 20 centimeters in diameter with the surface appearance of polished metal.
Anakin touched it and the sphere changed color, its surface turned white and a pair of blinking blue electronic eyes appeared.
-Massacre 2.0 activated, searching for targets," the robot said in a robotic voice. The jedi masters tensed, but Anakin laughed.
Massacre 2.0 flew up and examined each of them, causing the jedi masters to blink due to the speed at which it was moving.
-Massacre 2.0 is a prototype created by my greatest invention yet: nanotechnology. It is artificial cells with thousands of times the computing power of the most advanced droids, giving it superior movement control and unmatched tactical deployment," Anakin presented sincerely.
Sheak Ty interjected before Windu spoke:
-What do you plan to do with this project?
-I designed the artificial cell technology for the Jedi Temple. The security of this place is disastrous and with this technology it would improve on several levels. As for Massacre 2.0, it is a prototype peacekeeper to replace the clone troopers if this war ever ends. I'm planning to gift this prototype to Padmé as a starter test. She's always getting into trouble," said Anakin.
-Padmé, downloading files. Senator Padmé Amidala of the Galactic Council, downloading records, user approved, awaiting biometric confirmation," said Massacre 2.0.
-Records? -Windu asked.
-It's an algorithm for public records. If the senator does not meet certain standards in terms of transparency, he will not be approved by the system, as it also has among its programming to ensure compliance with the laws of the Republic," explained Anakin.
-What are these standards based on? -asked Adi Gallia. Anakin turned around and began to show them the programming of Massacre 2.0 as to their assignments.
-We must test this. The senator, a good candidate she is," said Yoda. Anakin raised an eyebrow.
-Some hours ago, the senator broke into the lair of a known crime boss upon learning he was involved in the kidnapping of a child in the Hutt clan," Sheak Ty explained.
Anakin grimaced, remembering some of that. Padmé was not like other senators. Other senators would go and report crimes, and if the police told them they were busy, some would insist, but that was as far as they got. Padmé was different. She would go and report, and if they told her they were busy, she would pull out her blaster and change her profession from senator to Terminator, swooping in and leaving a trail of very surprised and wounded criminals behind.
On the rare occasions when she couldn't handle it herself, Anakin already knew she had to arrive with an army behind her, because things were really serious. Thus, Padmé was the only pacifist with weapons taken he knew, so he designed Massacre 2.0 with her and, of course, his mother in mind, because Palpatine might get the insane idea of wanting to harm her.
-The temple's security needs no improvement," Windu said, changing the subject and getting his attention. Anakin could only blink at that statement.
-We could use one or two robot guards to test," Adi Gallia said. Sheak Ty nodded. They severely underestimated the capabilities of the Massacre robots, but Anakin nodded and ordered the computers to create two more prototypes.
Windu's eyes widened as the computer made the estimate.
-Where's all that money coming from? -And why are these robots so expensive? -he added.
-From Chancellor Palpatine. He inherited his family's entire fortune. He's a very good sponsor. As for the cost, the artificial cells of these droids are not easy to produce, and superconducting materials are needed to manufacture them," Anakin explained.
The jedi masters blinked at his chutzpah in taking advantage of Palpatine. He had given him a blank check and Anakin guessed he thought he wouldn't take advantage, but he had already spent millions and millions on his personal projects.
Master Yoda was the only one to frown, finding such generosity odd, for Palpatine was no philanthropist.
-"Great consideration the Supreme Chancellor has for you," said Yoda, asking a veiled question that sounded like a compliment. Anakin pretended not to pay attention and replied:
-I am a hero to Naboo, the Chancellor always tells me so-. This time even Adi Gallia, who was the most distracted of the masters, as she checked the programming of the security system Anakin had designed, turned to look at him. Senator Amidala has my back too, but she doesn't have that much money, and she's always breathing down my neck to see what I do with it…" Anakin said no more, just looked at them and sighed. Master Sheak Ty cleared his throat.
-We should call the Senator to let her know about the Skywalker Knight project," Anakin nodded, as he hadn't originally planned to ask their permission and it would have been another fight for sure.
…
Senator Amidala arrived an hour later and was called to the council, where she gave him a subtle "What the hell did you do this time?" look.
-I didn't do anything, this time I'm part of the panel of judges, because the Council wants to offer you something," Anakin said as an introduction, and Padmé was shocked, because whenever she went there, she always ended up taking responsibility for Anakin's actions.
The Council spoke and Padmé agreed to try out the Massacre 2.0 robot, because anything that was in favor of decommissioning the army was to her liking. After bidding her farewell, Anakin did not forget to stop by Palpatine's office to brag about his accomplishments and subtly accuse the Council of harassing his Padawan. He also bragged about beating up Count Dooku, and finally, he went back to his lab, but in the middle of the night he grimaced and headed for a meditation room.
…
-Pain and unease, sadness and melancholy," said an elderly, soft voice in front of him. Anakin opened his eyes to see Master Jaddle in front of him. It was already noon the next day.
-These are not my feelings," said Anakin as Master Jaddle sat down across from him. Another war, another separatist invasion, or Jedi whose lives are being snuffed out," Anakin said. Betrayal… no, simple desperation," he added with a grimace. Master Jaddle nodded.
-It is regrettable, and it is the burden of a sensor Jedi, especially one as powerful as you," Jaddle said. Anakin nodded, "Even if you repress your own power and feel fear of it," he added, and Anakin stopped a nod midway through, then frowned, looking at Jaddle.
-Old woman, I don't know what you're talking about," Anakin said.
-Anger is always your reaction when reality doesn't suit your plans," said Master Jaddle, and Anakin was quick to dismiss his emotions out of hand. Jaddle grimaced.
-What? -Anakin asked blankly. "Do you want me to keep these emotions? -Anakin asked. Jaddle shook his head.
-What you are doing now is precisely the opposite, you are repressing your emotions and creating a barrier between your feelings and your reason, without giving yourself time to reflect. And you are doing it consciously," Jadle accused, making Anakin tense up. Knight Anakin, what is it that scares you so much, what causes you so much fear? -Jadle asked, and Anakin stopped feeling his heart beat. He was rushing to dismiss it all out of hand, when Jadle spoke again.
-The Council is aware of your feelings for Ahsoka, so I had to use my influence to get her assigned to you," said Jadle, and Anakin was shocked.
-What!" Anakin scolded angrily. Jadle nodded.
-"Based on the feelings you expressed the first time you met her, I assumed she could help you destroy the barrier you've imposed between your emotions and your reason, but I was wrong, and only got you to try harder, so now I must use a more direct method," said Jadle.
Anakin gritted his teeth, for all his recent misfortunes were the fault of this old woman.
-Master Jadle, you have no idea what nonsense you are talking," Anakin snarled, trying to control his fury, but to have someone tell him to his face that he had deliberately caused her trouble made it extremely difficult for him to keep his cool.
-"Feelings are not nonsense, Knight Skywalker, least of all those of a Jedi with such an affinity for the Force, as you are," Master Jadle said calmly, a calmness that contrasted with Anakin's rising fury.
-Old woman, you have no idea what kind of nonsense you're talking…..
-But you do, Knight Skywalker, because you have knowledge of them, as you knew of this war before. The Council listened to you, and as you warned them on many occasions, the time when you could tell us the future you know has passed, and now you try to save everyone on your own, having a battle where all the guns are pointed against us," Jadle said with a sigh. Anakin froze. He really couldn't say anything. Master Jadle nodded gravely.
-"Being removed from the Council to be at your side has given me some perspective, and I could also imagine who my executioner would be when Dooku turned out to be a Sith," Jadle said, and Anakin went pale. She was a Jedi, and with that alone, the Force should have already guided her. Jadle nodded with a regretful sigh.
-Palpatine and the clone troopers," Jadle said, and Anakin looked around. Knight Anakin, when your feelings are released, you lose your affinity with the Force. I have long since put up shields in this place. If I hadn't, this whole planet would feel your emotions out of control, as a result of repressing them for years without facing the reasons behind them. You've just been accumulating them, not getting rid of them," Jadle chided in a soft tone. Knight Skywalker, what are you so afraid of? -Jadle asked seriously. Anakin could not stop memories of black armor, images of Padmé and an offspring they would never have from flashing through his mind.
-I'm not avoiding my feelings, Padmé doesn't really love me, she would turn away from me without really getting to know me," Anakin said through gritted teeth. To his surprise, Jadle nodded.
-She's young, she only knows people who hide their thoughts day by day. She admires your rebelliousness," said Jadle, shaking his head with a half smile, "But she doesn't see beyond it," he returned to seriousness. She ignores your pain, and she doesn't see your frustration, even though it would be obvious to anyone who really knows you, so you're right. She doesn't know you, and I don't think she understands what it would mean if you decided to be with her while being a Jedi. She would not understand the weight of such a decision," he concluded regretfully.
Anakin closed his eyes. Those words, he already knew them, he knew them better than this old woman, for he had seen with his own eyes how Padmé saw him in the darkness and turned away, giving up and abandoning everything, leaving him in darkness forever. A darkness he would unhesitatingly throw himself into for her, guided by his selfishness and his own pride, which needed only a little push, and he would lose his mind.
-Anakin, do you know the reason the Jedi Council has such a poor opinion of visions of the future? -Jadle asked.
Why are you old fucks so thick-headed? -Anakin asked with a grimace.
-Because Jedi who see the future live in fear of it, just as you do right now," said Jadle. In the past, many have fallen to the dark side because of this, and it is what Palpatine will no doubt use against you, for you yourself are allowing him to do so, giving him all the emotional charge to cloud your reason.
"Anakin, your fear of becoming a Sith is driving you into his hands, it is the emotion you suppress that will bring you down, for these are the dark side's greatest force against a sentient. You are not fighting Palpatine by refusing to feel, you are doing what he wants, that is why he is playing your game and giving you everything you want so you think you are winning," said Jadle regretfully.
-No, you don't understand. I know his plans," Anakin mumbled, "He wants to use Padmé and push me into despair…..
-Anakin, you are already in despair, you have no hope. You don't trust yourself. You dare not feel, dream or cry," Jadle concluded, his words plunging him into despair.
-If I fail, the Jedi simply die. I fall to the dark side. I become a tool in perpetual suffering. Before, there was a small light at the end of this, a hope for a future, for my death would bring the longed-for balance.
"But that's all bullshit! -Anakin scolded, "There is no peace. My son dies like any trash, so does my daughter, his offspring is such trash that for him alone I would decide not to have children, and nothing I am supposed to die for is worth anything. It's all garbage, there is no hope, I can't accept that shitty future," said Anakin, but not with anger, just pain and a growing sense of defeat, because everything Master Jadle said was true.
He was walking the same path as that Anakin in Xion's memories… no, he was even worse, that Anakin at least allowed himself to feel, he didn't, he just dismissed everything, even though he himself thought the Jedi were idiots for doing so, but he had told himself that he was different.
Anakin bent at the waist and his tears spilled over.
-I don't want to be a Sith, I already know what it is and what it will make me. But I can't be a Jedi," Anakin said.
-There is still a way, and you refuse to take it, I can feel it," said Jadle.
-Master Jadle, stop talking nonsense, I'm having a crisis here," Anakin scolded, making a great effort not to burst into tears.
Of course, there were more feelings in him, and they were the feelings of a fucking geek who thought he was a god. To him, Anakin was a character he liked, and this world, at most, a tourist site. Whatever happened he didn't care, because in the end, he was a god, and his power was beyond mere reason.
Of course, that fucking freak forgot that if he died before his shitty ascension to godhood, there would be nothing to do, and he also forgot that his power might be sealed forever in this world, so he would no longer be a god. They were gambling with their lives and everything that was precious to Anakin….
Master Jadle had risen at some point and placed her hand on his head.
-"Chosen One, you still have a path, but only you can choose to walk it," Jadle said and turned to leave.
-You're just a fucking geek," Anakin scolded.
-I'm not afraid of myself," he told himself with absolute calm. There was no fear, no despair or ounce of frustration there.
-It is painful," said Anakin.
-Pain and happiness are part of life. If you don't want to suffer, just die," he said to himself.
-Your advice is bullshit," said Anakin.
-You're shittier than my advice. Just stop complaining. If you're going to cry, cry and move on. It's so stupid to be afraid of yourself," said Anakin and his tears turned to sobs.
…
The next day, Anakin watched the sunrise. Master Jadle, who was approaching his meditation room, came through the door.
-Knight Skywalker," Jadle greeted and Anakin nodded, though he did not feel like speaking, and they both watched the sunrise.
…
-Are you all right? -Jadle asked as Anakin sighed.
-No, it's too painful. I can't see her right now, I can't hide the bond I've created," Anakin said. Jadle nodded.
-I'm not repressing it, I just don't want to upset her," Anakin said.
-With nonsense? -Jadle asked and Anakin nodded with a half smile.
-I'm not holding anything back, I just don't want to set a bad example," said Anakin.
-I'm not holding anything back, I just don't want to set a bad example for him," said Anakin.
-Master Jadle, I have told you before where my path will end. What I follow now are…" Anakin was too ashamed of himself to say that he was now following the advice of Xion, that geeky piece of shit who paid more attention to a flashy spider than to a life and death battle, even though for him it was only entertainment. Still, Anakin would pay attention to the battle. He and Xion were too much of opposites, and Anakin would just go along for the ride because he really had no choice.
-I can get you two days," Jadle said before leaving the room. Anakin took a deep breath. In truth, he couldn't face Ahsoka in that state. And thinking about her, he realized that she was indeed a bad influence.
Anakin sighed. His wager with the Anakin in Xion's memories was going very badly as far as Ahsoka was concerned. Their meeting had been a disaster.
-I can still fix it," Anakin sighed and went back to gazing at the sunrise.
…
The next sunrise was the same as the first, and also the third.
Anakin came out of his meditation room, where he had not meditated at all. It had been more than ten years since he had taken a day off from his meditation.
Anakin took a deep breath and left the room.
-Goodbye Padmé! -he said with just a hint of pain in his tone of voice.
…
-Master," Ahsoka called behind him as Anakin walked down one of the wide corridors of the Jedi Temple to see the Council. Anakin motioned for her to walk beside him.
-Master, you look different," Ahsoka said, squinting her eyes and fixing her senses on him.
-I left something behind that I considered very valuable," Anakin said sincerely. Ahsoka blinked not knowing what he meant.
-Ahsoka, because of my feelings of attachment to you, I have been somewhat lax as a teacher, and I think I have not adjusted your discipline," Anakin said seriously, for she was indeed too wild and he only encouraged that behavior because of his own personality. They were too much alike for him to see things, but if he didn't reprimand her, it would only increase.
Anakin would have to act like Obi-Wan to keep Ahsoka calm and create some boundaries in her discipline. Although it would be difficult to see her mistakes because they were the same as his, he had to at least try.
-Master, your clothes were a joke! -Ahsoka cried.
-Ahsoka, first lesson, your master is a sensor Jedi and your feelings are always on display," said Anakin, and Ahsoka tensed.
Earlier, on the cargo ship when they were on their way to Tatooine, he had warned her in a subtle way, but she only thought about it for a second and then dismissed it, as he himself would do with such things.
Anakin sighed as Ahsoka walked as stiff as a board. For them to understand, they had to use a club and hit them over the head directly, sneaky tactics would just be ignored.
-We'll work on it. The skills I'm teaching you will work, as they will increase your control of the Force, and with that you can improve your mental shields. This way, even if your emotions run wild, others won't be able to use them against you," Anakin explained. Ahsoka sighed.
-Is that what you do? -she asked with a certain accusing tone, because Anakin always hid his feelings from her, and it was impossible for her not to notice. Anakin nodded, and Ahsoka blinked in surprise.
-In the face of anger, the calm of nonchalance, and in the face of frustration, the calm of amusement. Still, it's not enough. You must always face your problems face to face," Anakin said with a sigh.
-Then you will lower your shields," Ahsoka accused.
-Ahsoka, I said your problems, not mine," said Anakin.
Ahsoka rolled her eyes. She suspected he was the one who created this bond with her, but that wouldn't help her. If anything, it would create more trust between them, and this Padawan needed discipline, because just like him, she had confidence by the ton.
NA 1: Well, it was about time Anakin realized that he wasn't dismissing his feelings, he was just repressing them behind a bunch of half-baked excuses. He was a typical case of a person not heeding his own advice, criticizing the Council for denying feelings, but he was going a step further and directly refusing to feel, as he believed, it would lead to him becoming Lord Vader, which would lead to Luke, Leia, their miserable deaths, Kylo, and generally everything seen in the sequels. For someone who was supposed to have died to create a better future, such a future would be a nightmare and a complete waste of his life.
Anakin has reached the same point as in the movies, with no options and a constant fear of losing himself and, as he knows the future, losing the ones he loves. I also wanted to mention why the Jedi fear seeing the future and make so many excuses to get rid of such possibilities, because no matter how much you know the future, in cases like Anakin's, it's impossible not to be overcome with fear and take extreme measures to avoid reaching that future. Instead of saving yourself, you only succeed in sinking faster.
Now, Anakin has understood that he cannot go on alone and has decided to follow the advice of Xion, someone who is very similar to him but they differ in an important point, and that is that Xion does trust in himself and does not fear the future, because he has always been sure of achieving his goals. Something that Anakin constantly doubts, as his greatest fear is to become Darth Vader, which makes him unable to trust himself.
NA 2: In the next episode, we'll be back with Ahsoka, and the war will begin, with space battles and blaster fire unleashed, as it's time to focus a bit more on the politics, which was the central plot of the Clone Wars and the Federation invasions of Republic and neutral worlds, to add them to their ranks. So Ryloth is coming.
For those of you who saw The Clone Wars, see if you can guess how Anakin will break this blockade, as it is part of his plan against Palpatine, so that Palpatine will not succeed in increasing the numbers of the clone army, and where he will play his first card to turn the tide of the war. If you knew the future and were this Anakin, what could you use against Palpatine?
Remember the rules: Palpatine will take over any fleet, army, and advanced technology Anakin creates. The only thing he can keep safe from Palpatine are the things in his own hands that Palpatine can't take from him. The artificial cells are part of this plan, but they are not a direct part, just an add-on. What Anakin is going to use is in canon and was shown in The Clone Wars (the series). In the previous chapter, I already showed you one ability he will use in this plan, of the many he has created.
Also remember his limitations: Anakin has no factories, shipyards or anything like that, just the Force and a small lab funded by Palpatine.
Post edit note: My head hurts! God, how hard it was to edit this chapter. Every time I gave a page to the GPT chat to correct it, he censored it making a very bad summary, or refused to correct it at all. I had to explain to him about a thousand times that the crystals mentioned were not an unmentionable substance, and that there was nothing wrong with the word clothing. Depression was also another serious issue… My head hurts!
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