Chapter 2 - Master

DISCLAIMER: We (unfortunately) do not own Star Wars. :P

Author's Note: In which Obi-Wan confronts Anakin and Vader, and the latter continue to bond... ;)

As a reminder, this will be updated monthly. :)

Thank you all so, so much for the favorites, follows, and reviews! I really hope that you'll continue to enjoy this tale as it unfolds! :D

To the guest who reviewed, I know what you mean about the title making the story sound dark, and that's the point. It's supposed to sound dark, because this fic will have some very dark moments... but there will be a happy ending. :P

~ Amina Gila

The Dark Side is like nothing Anakin has ever felt in the past. He's willing to admit that he's touched it – drawn from it – on more than one occasion, but here, on Mortis, it's different. They are in the Well of the Dark Side, and he's never before felt such power. It's almost heady. He doesn't let it distract him, though, and not only because he can feel Obi-Wan coming. Perhaps he could have had doubts, would have had doubts in another lifetime, but not anymore. He's not alone. He'll never be alone again, as long as Vader remains with him.

Is it strange, he wonders, to be so fiercely drawn to a future version of himself? To care for him so deeply and want to protect him, especially when that same consideration doesn't apply to himself? Maybe this is an opportunity for both of them; they can learn and grow together. Anakin refuses to believe that the Dark Side is the only answer. It isn't meant to be their future forever, he knows that much. Vader's opinion probably isn't the most trustworthy. They – they need to do what Anakin – and Vader – did here on Mortis when they controlled the Son and Daughter. They have to somehow balance both sides of the Force.

The realization strikes him harder than any blast of Force lightning ever could. Is this, then, what it means to bring balance to the Force? Or is the fact that they're together already begun to bring true balance, given that he is Light and Vader is Dark?

His thoughts are brought to a halt when a speeder descends, landing only feet away from them. Obi-Wan. Vader stiffens and Anakin can feel his emotions rolling just beneath the surface, practically burying his own uncertainty – and dare he say fear? – underneath. Force, is this really what it feels like to be bonded to him, or is this simply a result of them being the same person. He's inclined to think the latter, because if Obi-Wan has any idea how Anakin has felt all these years, he would have scolded him for being so emotional.

"Anakin?" Obi-Wan climbs off the speeder, but remains in place, frowning, as he looks between Anakin and Vader. Anakin shifts, subconsciously putting himself slightly in front of Vader, almost as if he's acting as a shield between them. He knows what it must look like a moment later. It must look as if he's protecting Vader. "Are you alright? What happened?"

Anakin twitches, reaching out to Vader through the Force. He can feel the elder's emotions so powerfully that his own are practically nonexistent, but they both share the same uncertainty, fearing that Obi-Wan might reject them here and now. Vader says nothing, only crossing his arms as he looks at his – Anakin's? – former master. "There… has been a change of plans," Anakin replies finally, conviction settling over him. He straightens, glancing briefly at Vader.

Obi-Wan's dismay is obvious. "And who is he?" he queries, gesturing to Vader. "He feels like a Sith. How did he get here?" He shakes his head, presumably probing with the Force as his gaze sweep around them, resting briefly on the Son's decapitated body before he refocuses on Anakin. His worry is tangible.

"You," Vader states coldly, "Are in no position to be asking any questions, but since you ask, my name is Darth Vader." As he speaks, Anakin relinquishes his hold on the Dark Side, letting it flow away, though he can feel the taint within him. He'll never be the same again, but perhaps that's for the better.

Obi-Wan involuntarily takes a step back. "What do you want with Anakin?" he challenges.

Vader makes a derisive sound, and Anakin forces himself to pretend that he doesn't feel the Sith's twisted humor at the situation, an amusement which he himself feels, if he's being honest. "You will not understand what I have to do to end the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan," Anakin states with surety. "You will try to stop me."

"Whatever Vader told you, it's a lie," Obi-Wan cautions. "You cannot believe him. Come with me. You don't have to do this."

Anakin is shaking his head long before Obi-Wan finishes speaking. "No," he replies firmly, "I cannot. I'm sorry. I have seen it is the Jedi who will stand in the way of peace." He might not remember entirely what he saw, but there are still some vague bits and pieces in his mind; it's enough for him to speak with authority.

He wonders, detachedly, how he'll feel about this decision later when he's not being engulfed by the black hole that is his counterpart, by the raw darkness that he exudes simply by standing there. Anakin might not be able to trust the Jedi – trust Obi-Wan, not with what he knows about Mustafar – but he can trust Vader. If he can't trust himself to be true to his – their? – end goal, then there's no one either of them can trust.

But still, that knowledge doesn't make the disbelief and disappointment in his former master's eyes any easier to see. From Obi-Wan's perspective, Anakin is betraying the Jedi for the Sith, their arch nemesis. Maybe he will understand the truth in time, and maybe he will forgive Anakin for it. He can only hope.

Through his bond with Vader, he can feel a myriad of emotions, one dark thought, in particular, sticking out. Vader is currently wondering what would happen if he killed Obi-Wan. Anakin grimaces, turning partially to meet his eyes through the mask. "Please don't kill him," he says quietly. "There's no reason he can't come with us."

Vader scoffs audibly. "He will betray us," he seethes. "He will stop us from doing what we must to achieve our goals."

Anakin suddenly finds himself resisting the urge to rub his temple. Now he knows how Obi-Wan often feels when dealing with him. "I didn't mean permanently." He gives Vader a flat look. "I meant that he can leave the planet with us before we part ways."

"That is… acceptable," the Sith agrees grudgingly after a long moment, "But keep him out of my way." Anakin can feel what he isn't saying. He can feel the sudden wave of pain and longing and betrayal. He can feel how much it hurts Vader to see and feel Obi-Wan, any version of him. He can feel the fear that Vader seeks to hide, from Anakin and himself. He doesn't want to admit any weaknesses, and Anakin can respect that. Still, he finds himself touching Vader's arm in a comforting manner.

Vader doesn't pull away.

"I will," Anakin promises, looking back at Obi-Wan. "There's no reason to be uncivilized about this. If we can hold the peace until we leave, that would be for the best."

Obi-Wan's gaze is conflicted as he struggles with what to do, how he should react. Anakin can emphasize, and if it wasn't for the fact that Vader would lash out at the suggestion of telling their former master the truth, he would have asked. "I – I can't agree to let you go somewhere with a Sith, Anakin." His voice is quiet, stricken. Anakin tries not to let it affect him.

Anakin gives him something that's more a grimace than a smile. "I'm not giving you a choice. I'm simply asking you not to fight me."

"I –" Obi-Wan bows his head, silently nodding his acquiescence.

Anakin gives him a lingering look, feeling guiltier than he can ever express as he and Vader move towards Anakin's speeder in sync. He pauses when he realizes that it will be a bit of a challenge to fly out, especially given that Vader's armor likely makes him extremely heavy. Besides, Anakin can sense a faint, lurking, physical pain from the cyborg, and he's not sure where it's coming from.

Vader seems to realize their dilemma at the same time as Anakin, because he gestures towards the speeder. "I can fly. You can sit on the back."

They both ignore the fact that there is only one seat; these speeders are not meant for two passengers. Since when would they care about something like that? Vader swings onto it, and Anakin climbs onto the back, clenching his right prosthetic in Vader's cape, so he doesn't fall off as they fly from the Well of the Dark Side, and towards the ship. A part of him wonders how Vader knows where the shuttle is located, but then he realizes that his counterpart is likely using Ahsoka's Force signature as a beacon.

They fly in silence, Anakin becoming increasingly wound up as he realizes that there will likely by another confrontation before they leave the planet. Or maybe it's just that he's reflecting Vader. He's not entirely sure. It doesn't really matter anyways.

They reach the shuttle not long later, at least it doesn't seem like very long. Vader swings off the speeder, leaving it near the ramp. "Skywalker, go make sure that your Padawan does not try to run away with one of the important components of the ship," Vader instructs. Anakin nods, trying not to think about the oddness of Vader calling him by his last name. He understands in a vague sort of way that it helps Vader mentally distance himself from his own past, and given how traumatic the coming events could have been, Anakin can't blame him. "I will wait here. You must ensure that the shuttle is fully operational so we can leave."

Anakin climbs the ramp, reaching out with the Force to locate Ahsoka as he makes his way inside. He soon realizes that she is… right above him. Sighing, he looks up. "You can come down now, Snips," he states, a tinge of fond amusement flaring. His eyes zero in on the shuttle part which is in her hand like Vader had said. "And you should probably give me that part also," he adds, nearly smirking.

Ahsoka glares at him. "Absolutely not," she practically snaps. "What are you doing working with a Sith? I'm not going to let him leave this planet. It's far too dangerous for the galaxy, Master, you, of all people, should know that."

Anakin sardonically wonders how Ahsoka would react if she knew who Vader really was, but he's not exactly surprised by her reaction. She's always been more prone to being emotional than Obi-Wan. "Why does it matter if we can end the war?" Anakin counters. "The Jedi shouldn't have gotten involved in the first place, but we did, and now, we have to find a way of ending the conflict. Maybe we need a Sith to help us find a resolution."

"I can't believe you're really saying that," Ahsoka scoffs, still keeping herself pressed against the ceiling. "What will happen when he inevitably betrays you? Or tries to kill you? How much will his words mean then?"

"I don't need you to trust him," Anakin replies patiently, holding out his hand. "I just need you to trust me, and no one will be going anywhere if this shuttle isn't operational."

Ahsoka seems to waver before leaping down from the ceiling and landing lightly on the floor in front of him. His fingers are clenched tightly around whatever part she removed – she's hiding it so Anakin can't really tell – and her expression is filled with uncertainty. "This is a terrible idea, Skyguy," she notes. "The Sith started the war, so it's unlikely they'd want to end it."

Anakin's lips quirk up into a small, mirthless smile. "You're generalizing," he tells her. "Just because the two main Sith are trying to destroy the galaxy, that doesn't mean that a different Sith will agree with them." He has a millisecond of warning as a calculating look flashes through Ahsoka's eyes before she Force throws him backwards, leaping over his head and racing for the boarding ramp.

He rises, following leisurely, knowing that Vader will stop her. He has. Ahsoka is struggling to pull her arm from Vader's grip, and Anakin can feel the Sith's wry amusement. "Give the part to me, young one," he orders.

"Never!" Ahsoka yells at him, twisting her arm behind her back to hide it.

Vader doesn't move, but the piece is ripped from her fingers with the Force. Anakin catches it, nodding his thanks. Vader releases Ahsoka immediately, stepping away from her, moving so that he's right next to the speeder. She won't be able to go anywhere. "Skywalker, please finish the shuttle's repairs," he requests, helmet tilted in such a way so that he's not looking at Ahsoka. Anakin can feel the pain and longing coiling within him, and he realizes that it has to do with Ahsoka's presence. What happened to her? Did something happen?

"Vader, what happened to – to your Ahsoka?"

Their eyes meet, and Anakin can feel the aching loss, the deep resignation as Vader reaches out to him, answering him not in words, but in images. He sees the lightsaber hilt lying abandoned in the snow where it fell when it's owner, no doubt, perished. He can feel Vader's pain as he picks it up, as he remembers when he gave it to Ahsoka, realizing that she's lost to him, that she's dead along with the Jedi. Vader had thought that she might be excused from Order 66 since she wasn't a Jedi, but she had died. It hurt him. It hurt him so much to realize that he had been responsible, even indirectly, for the death of his younger sister. And now, he can't bring himself to look at her, because the pain is too sharp, too grating.

Anakin holds his gaze for another moment, wishing he could offer a comfort more substantial than understanding. "I'm sorry," he whispers, though he knows it won't be enough. But there's nothing else he can say. He nods once before going back into the shuttle. He has to repair it so they can leave the planet as quickly as possible.

**w**

Vader isn't really surprised when Tano follows Skywalker onto the shuttle, though he doubts that she'll stay with him. Her agitation is readily obvious, so she'll likely go brood on the other side of the ship, as far from her master as possible, and maybe contact Kenobi while she's at it. She's still a Jedi. She doesn't yet see the war in gray, only in black and white. He doesn't care if she refuses to accept him. He only needs Skywalker. To add another would be a risk he's unwilling to take.

The Force ripples, and Vader turns, unsurprised to see the Father standing only feet away, watching him disapprovingly. "You should not be here," he states with finality. "This time is not your time."

"I am aware," Vader replies, "But this was the Force's will."

"Your actions here will cause massive disturbances throughout the galaxy," the Father warns. "You must be ready to face the consequences when you leave."

Vader's lips twist into a mirthless smile. "I know my path, and I know what I must do to end the suffering throughout the galaxy," he intones. He pauses for a moment, studying the One in front of him. "You allowed me to come here, did you not? You broke the laws of time before your son ever could."

The Father remains silent, and Vader refuses to feel guilty for his presumptuousness. "I had hoped that you might see what you had, that you might realize that all is not as simple as you believe it to be. Light and dark. You divide them as if you might be one without the other."

Vader clenches his jaw, unwilling to be cowed. He is no longer a pathetic child who fears his own shadow. He is no longer blinded by the Jedi dogma. He has seen the Force in its entirety. "I know the Force," he argues, "I know that I will never be able to defeat Sidious without the Dark Side. The Light Side will make me weak."

"You will understand in time," the Father responds cryptically. He turns, looking away at the distance as if seeing something which Vader cannot. "It is time for you and your friends to leave this planet," he adds, before vanishing as if he was never there. Vader isn't exactly fazed; he remembers how bizarre Mortis was.

Only minutes later, Kenobi flies up. His expression is guarded, even more so when he sees Vader standing at the bottom of the ramp like a statue, staring out over the planet. He's loath to speak to him but getting him to join the others is far more preferable than standing here together in an awkward silence. "Skywalker is making the necessary repairs inside," Vader says after a few seconds of quiet. He doesn't miss how the Jedi is studying him almost suspiciously, but his shielding is good, so no one will learn the truth, much less be able to recognize his Force signature. "You should join him."

"I think I'd rather wait," Kenobi replies amiably, stroking his beard. Vader pointedly turns away so that he's nearly facing his back to the Jedi. Normally, he would never dare, but the Force is strong here. If the Jedi so much as thinks about hurting him, he'll know. "How did you get here?" Oh yes, there is definitely suspicion in his voice, and he's probably wondering if Vader is the one who lured them here. If only.

"The Force brought me here just as it did you," Vader informs him coolly. He tries to keep his emotions under control, tries not to let the pain and fear swamp him. If he could, if Skywalker wouldn't kill him for it – he would deserve it – he might run the other through with his lightsaber. Talking with Kenobi is the last thing he wants right now.

"What do you want with Anakin?" Kenobi demands, and Vader can almost feel the protectiveness in his tone. It makes jealousy and resentment burn hot within him. If only his own master had acted in such a manner. Perhaps his memories are distorted because of Mustafar – but no, his old master wasn't so protective over him. He should have been. If he was, Vader wouldn't have suffered the way he has. His choices were his own, of course, but he still finds that he's resentful Kenobi was never there when he needed him.

"He is powerful," Vader answers truthfully, "And with our combined strength we can defeat the Sith and restore peace to the galaxy." It's the truth. He will rule, only because he must, because the Republic has fallen too far to be repaired without first being destroyed.

"You will take the Sith's place, both of you," Kenobi accuses. Vader can almost feel his eyes narrowing, see the gears turning in his mind as he tries to figure out what Vader might be planning. "You want Anakin to be your apprentice. I will not let you do that. I will not let you make him into a Sith."

Vader laughs mockingly, turning suddenly to face the Jedi. He towers over him, but Kenobi doesn't even flinch as he steps closer, the Dark Side swirling around him lazily. "You are far too late for that, Kenobi," he spits. "Skywalker has chosen to ally with me. He has chosen to work with me. You will only be a roadblock in our assent to victory."

Kenobi has the gall to shake his head. "You're wrong, Vader," he states with self-assurance and hypocrisy all the Jedi possess. "He is meant to destroy the Sith, not join them."

Vader sneers. "You wish."

Thankfully, their argument – which would likely have turned violent in mere minutes – is broken up when Anakin steps out onto the top of the ramp. "The shuttle has been repaired." he calls. "We should leave before the Father changes his mind."

Kenobi's expression almost immediately becomes stubborn, and Vader knows that this won't be easy. He seems intent on ensuring that Vader not leave with them – or at all preferably – so it will mean a fight. And it's going to get messy very fast.