All characters, locations, and events labeled within this story are not my property - no direct financial profit has been made through this work or the intellectual properties, nor do I claim as my own or any third party. LucasArts, LucasFilms, and Disney are the sole owners of said intellectual properties. All content herein may be seen as a fiction work of fan admiration and should not be considered canonical to any project officially promoted by the rightful owners of said IP.
With that said and done, I hope I never run into legal issue with this story - one can never be too careful.
I'm planning on being a bit more social with the introduction to this chapter, and opening myself up to feedback.
Please enjoy the writing, and should you wish to divulge any constructive criticism, I am always happy to listen.
There was a peace that could be found on the planet - a peace that he had not felt in quite some times, not since he first felt the redemption of his soul at the hands of his own son. Voices gently bounced off the gray walls and carried on down the numerous corridors, where they then gradually dissipated. No matter how close one was to their source, however, they never rose about the soft volume of a tender ambience - the kind of tranquil sound that would have placed even the chaotic of souls at ease.
It was peaceful, harmonious even.
"It's a beautiful place," spoke Anakin, his head tilting up as he took his time to observe and admire the large tree that grew atop the large platform in front of his. It rested at the very center of the Enclave's intersection; the sides of that same platform offering four sets of benches where the resident Jedi could sit down for a moment to rest or study, even meditate. From the open skylight far above himself and the tree, the warm rays of the Dantooine sun caressed his skin, almost as if it were tempting him to float off into its loving embrace. "A very beautiful place," he repeated, a small smile gracing his lips.
"Dantooine is known for its temperate climate, which is lovely just about all year, though I can't imagine that it's so wonderful as to marvel at it as you have been," interjected Bastila, her eyes scanning his taller frame. There was a momentary delay in which he failed to response, yet as she began to form new words to gain his attention, Anakin shook his head.
"You could say that I spent the majority of the past few years with very little sunlight, and hardly a gentle breeze - now that I'm here, I can honestly say that I forgot how wonderful it felt. You can't really blame me for enjoying it the way I have been," he chuckled, a light smirk almost forming before he allowed his body to relax a bit further. "But maybe you're right, I lost track of time standing here…did you manage to speak to the council about our mysterious arrival?" he added, turning the subject onto one that carried a much more significant weight on his mind. Bringing his hands - both organic and mechanical - to his chest, he corrected his vestments and once more clasped them behind his back.
As if it were on cue, though, he could feel the warmth of the sun dissipate ever so slightly. It was as if the very Force had decided to let the world around him reflect the seriousness of the situation.
"I have, they will be calling you into the chambers any moment now," she responded, a very subtle hint of frustration lacing her final words. "However, they sent me back to inform you while they discussed what to do with the loss of Revan and his disappearance. It seems that a few days had already passed since the battle had been concluded - the Order was informed that neither Revan or I had returned, and it was presumed we had perished in the wake of his flagship's destruction," she continued, murmuring a few words under her breath at times.
That struck Anakin as odd, however, for a few reasons - chief among them was the fact that Bastila was the one informing him of this.
"That's strange," he commented, earning the younger woman's attention.
"What is?" she asked.
"Well, the fact that you're the one telling me this - I would have thought that somebody on the strike team sent to take him out would have been present while they discussed what to do. I would've expected you to be involved in that conversation - not only myself," he pointed out, catching the shift in Bastila's expression and body language.
She may have been trying to hide the undertone them in how she spoke, but it was clear that something was off, he mentally hummed, before cocking his head and shrugging inwardly.
"You didn't seem too enthused with their decision to not include you in the loop," he pointed out, clearly earning the younger woman's attention. He didn't need to see her completely to know that her reaction was to shift her body and feet sheepishly, as if she had been caught doing something wrong. Taking the time to turn his head slowly, he met her eyes and arched an eyebrow - that small smirk returning to his lips. "You feel left out, don't you? Maybe you even feel that you deserve to know - that you have earned the right to know?" he asked, probing little by little at his own suspicions.
He could sense Bastila's pride and confidence just as much as he could sense her presence in the Force - while he had been working to mask his own, she didn't seem to know how to hold in her thoughts. Or if she did, she was allowing faint traces of them to bubble up to the surface - not too unlike the Anakin of old, the Anakin that struggled with his own place in the galaxy and the Force itself. Feelings of inadequacy would mix with a superiority complex that had formed during his years as a Padawan, which culminated in a tragic result that plagued his insecurities all throughout his adulthood.
It was difficult to imagine that there had once been a time when he wasn't even sure of who he was and what he was meant for. Yet, it now seemed like Bastila shared some of those very same struggles.
"I do not know what you mean by that," bit back Bastila, her responded snapping off a bit far too quickly and defensive for it to have been authentic. She appeared to have immediately realized her mistake, however, because she made an overreaching gesture to try and steady herself - clearing her throat, Anakin could see how she attempted to fix her posture and adopt a much more stoic expression. "I mean, I may not fully understand it, but I am willing to trust the council's wisdom - I am sure that if they did not wish for me to listen in on their discussions, than it was with a specific purpose in mind," she corrected herself, though it only brought forth another chuckle from Skywalker.
"You don't need to convince me, Bastila - I can sense it in your voice and I can see it in your actions," he pointed out, causing the younger woman to gape at him. Before she could grow defensive once more, however, he held up his right hand, showing her the covered metallic limb. "You know, there was a time when I questioned the decisions of others - I felt like I deserved to know more, that I had earned my place among the masters and was being robbed of my chances to showcase the reason for why I felt as I did. There is nothing wrong with having the confidence to not be afraid of furthering your horizons - the time an issue will arise is when you try to ignore the frustration or allow it to dominate your thoughts," he added, before bringing back his hand to clasp behind his back with the other.
Glancing at the brunette, Anakin had begun to half-expect a witty retort to defend her stance, yet as he turned to fully face the younger Jedi, he found her bowing her head.
"I'm sorry, master, I jumped too quickly to my own defense out of pride," she apologized almost as quickly as she had tried to deny her own earlier reaction. "However, that isn't what I was taught - the Jedi Code says that there is no emotion, there is only peace. Any well-trained Jedi should not be wallowing in their own egoistic needs, I am a Jedi, and if I hope to become a Jedi Master one day, I must learn to overcome these emotions," she offered in rebuttal. With a purse of his lips, Anakin shrugged in faint dismay - she was only repeating what she had heard, but it was also clear that she hadn't quite understood what the words themselves meant for her.
What other young Jedi did that remind him of, who would hear but not quite listen?
All the same, Anakin felt that the change in pace was a positive - if only for her to open up a little bit.
"And just what does the Jedi Code mean to you?" he questioned her, this time letting her form her own answer.
Bastila gave him a quizzical expression, before she crossed her arms in thought.
"The Jedi Code is the written text by which all Jedi strive to live by, it is the set of rules that we abide under as we seek to bring light into the galaxy," she finally responded, giving Anakin a look that clearly told him she was confident in her answer.
Anakin, though, merely shrugged at her words.
"That's a fair answer for the lessons they teach younglings, but it doesn't answer my question - what does the Jedi Code mean for you? Not the Order, but just you," he repeated, this time emphasizing the key words she had brushed over.
Bastila, for better or for worse, failed to give him a single reply. Even as the seconds turned into minutes, she visibly struggled to give him a proper answer - leaving Anakin to snort softly in amusement.
"One of the most difficult things to do not just as a Jedi, but as a person, is to self-analyze our own beliefs and openly criticize their flaws. We need to realize that not everything we do is perfect and that sometimes we may be wrong; the Jedi Code isn't perfect," The words themselves were nothing special - it was the kind of simplistic wisdom that one could stumble upon with a quick search through the holonet, but it was the very same kind of simple wisdom that would never ceases to be true.
"I…that sounds like like something Revan once said," murmured Bastila, her thoughts clearly lost on what the two had just spoken about. "But he also led many Jedi astray, led them to war and their own corruption through the dark side. Everything I know is through the teachings of the Jedi Council - I find it hard to believe that they would welcome just wandering teachings, rather than the well defined adherence to the code that we have followed since before the Republic even kept track of its own records. That kind of thinking is not too different from the teachings that led Revan down the dark side and caused him to fall to the Sith," she added, causing Anakin to hold back a quiet sigh.
It was almost like talking to Ki-Adi-Mundi again, though much easier on the eyes.
Space was cold, it was desolate - a deep sea on infinite blackness.
A void that swallowed all matter whole, and while the light of its trillions upon quadrillions upon quintillion of stars peppered its vastness, they would one day all die out. Even if it took eons, even the smallest dwarf star would one day breath its last and nothing would be left to roam the universe other than the desolate corpses of its dead remnants.
It was a terrifying truth.
It was a horrible truth.
It was a beautiful truth.
One that he would not get to see, unfortunately.
Stepping back, he kept both hands clasped behind his back, his towering frame standing a solid head above the closest troop and officer. With feet shoulder width apart, he observed the sight before him - the flagship eerily hovering through the expanse of space as it was being repaired from its fight a few days earlier, when he finally found the opportune time to rid himself of Revan's weakness.
The bridge had long since grown quiet, ever since he first arrived, its silence only prevented by the gentle clicking of keyboards and the soft hum of the ship's systems. Regardless of that, however, Malak enjoyed being here - the tension that his presence caused sent him on a power trip, the fear that he sensed in each of his subordinates fed his power and rendered him only stronger.
So much stronger.
Raising a single hand, Malak clenched it into a tight fist, letting his eyes shut for a moment as he breathed in the very wretched emotions that each and every one of his officers felt sharing the bridge with him. He could almost feel the way they were staring at him, their minds growing confused by his prolonged silence - every thought forming its own assumption as to what was going through his mind, every thought slowly forming their worst possible guess.
Every thou-
The sharp hiss of a lightsaber igniting tore him from his thought, as he turned his head to see the green glow of a blade inches from shoulder - hovering against its wielder's will. Stepping away, Malak lifted his hand even higher as he guided the blade at a steep angle to allow himself safe movement - until he let go with a weak push, sending both the weapon and its wielder sprawling onto the ground several meters away.
Stepping forward, he kept one hand to his back, only lifting the other to lift the figure to their feet as he watched them reach for the deactivated hilt once more. As they wrapped their fingers around it, however, Malak pressed his boot to their hand and leaned all of his weight on it. When the Jedi, evident by his brown robes, cried out in pain, Malak turned the heel along their wrist, wrenching it again and again until he heard the satisfying crunch of a broken bone.
Just as the Jedi let out a groan of agony, however, Malak brought a fist down - connecting with the man's temple, leaving them unconscious and broken on the floor of the bridge. Straightening up, he stared at their limp form, taking in the frame of their body and the make of their weapon's double-bladed hilt.
Glancing up, his cold and empty eyes scanned the ceiling of the bridge, before quickly locating the large hole that the Jedi had likely snuck through - it was a ventilation system, but a large one. From the size of it, it would not have been too difficult to have navigated their way in…which was how they had managed to make their way as far as the command hull. He would need to kill engineer that designed these ships before having sent them into production at the Star Forge.
"S-Sir?" asked a quivering voice, causing Malak to face the sniveling lieutenant. "What should we do with the intruder?" they followed up, unable to make eye contact with the newly crowned Sith Lord. Without bothering to waste his time staring at the fool, Malak turned back to face the view of space - its inky darkness gracing his sight once more.
"Send him down to the interrogation chamber and dismantle his lightsaber, but keep the crystal and melt the rest of the hilt," he answered. "He managed to avoid my senses until the very last second. He could make for a useful pawn."
Space was cold, it was desolate - a deep sea on infinite blackness.
Vitiate.
Furrowing his brow, he…felt something, no, he heard something that sounded like Revan. Stepping forward, Malak placed his hand against the glass that separate him and the outside space; the cool surface vibrating to his senses. Reaching out into the Force, he closed his eyes once more in an attempt to hear that voice once again.
Yet he got nothing, more than nothing, he…could no longer feel him, he couldn't even feel a single trace of Revan. However, rather than savor an overwhelming sense of triumph with the confirmation of Revan's passing, Malak only found himself at the edge of a ravine - a ravine where a torrent ran without hope of stopping, an endless maelstrom of the Force, as if it had sprung from a well and begun to flood everything around it.
He hadn't noticed it initially, as powerful as it was, it was so…natural, it fit perfectly into the Force that he didn't notice until he'd actively searched for something - anything. Once found, however, it was impossible to ignore, it was there, and he felt small in contrast.
And he loathed that feeling, that sense of weakness and helplessness. He hated it, he absolutely hated it.
He needed to grow stronger, whatever this presence was, he would never cower behind it like he had Revan for so long.
"Lieutenant," he ordered, halting the officer. "Contact Admiral Karath, inform him that he will be in command for the foreseeable future…and set course for Korriban, immediately."
Dantooine
"Anakin Skywalker, is it?" asked the diminutive figure of a Jedi Master who reminded him all too well of Yoda. "I am Master Vandar, young Bastila has mentioned that you were found next to her, that you were leaving Alderaan to return to Coruscant?" he continued, earning a nod from Anakin.
His small frame stood at the end of a short hallway which connected to circular chamber off to its left, where he could see three other figures in the distance, and a small room off to its right, which shut its doors shortly after. Turning to face the Jedi Master, however, Anakin nodded in response - the calming air of the enclave returning as he felt the warmth and welcoming presence of the Jedi.
Maybe it was a natural aura that came as a result of their species' connection to the Force? It wasn't quite the same as either Yoda or Yaddle's, but it was there.
"That may not have been entirely true, Master," he responded. "However, that was the most believable story I could give her until I met with the council here," he added.
There was a moment of silence that followed his statement, before the Jedi Master furrowed his brow.
"How so?" he questioned. "What could you need to tell us that would require you to hide it from Bastila?" he continued, prodding for the information as he turned to guide Anakin into the adjacent chamber, where the three Jedi broke off from their conversation in order to look over at both Master Vandar and Anakin, their brows furrowing at the much taller of the two.
"Master Vandar, is this the Jedi Knight that Bastila spoke of?" asked one of the Jedi, his lean figure standing out even through the thick robes he wore - his short and neat hair connecting to well defined facial features. He stood only a few inches shorter than himself, yet something about his presence reminded him of Obi-Wan, though he stood with the same confident posture of Master Windu.
"Indeed, he is the same Anakin Skywalker that Bastila spoke of, though he claims to wish to speak of something that he did not wish to bring up in front of the young Jedi," answered Vandar, drawing the attention of present crowd. "Though introductions may be needed before we continue? Anakin, these are Jedi Masters Kavar, Dorak and Zhar - normally we would have Master Vrook here, however, he was needed at the High Council in Coruscant. As such, another member of the High Council, Kavar, has come to serve in his place for the time he is gone," explained Vandar, pointing to a dark-skinned human Jedi and a male Twilek.
Anakin nodded in greeting, but quickly cut to the point - his old personality creeping up as he felt the Force shift ever so subtly.
"Then it seems I was right," he began, earning an arched eyebrow from Master Kavar.
"What do you mean when you say you were right, Anakin?" asked the Jedi Master, his eyes locked on the younger man's.
"I do not recognize you from the High Council of my Order, nor do I recognize you from the historic archives I have read," answered Anakin, as he crossed his arms in the same manner that was signature to Obi-Wan, his fingers curling along either forearm. "I don't believe that I am from this period in time," he added.
"I…apologize, but maybe we should start with something much more simple to understand?" apologized Master Kavar, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. Anakin didn't need to spend much time to know when somebody was sensing his intentions through the Force, but as he felt a soft wave brush over him, Kavar took a step back and widened his eyes - his gaze never leaving Anakin's. "Who are you and where did you train? I know the Jedi of Coruscant, I trained many of the children that were brought in and there was never a single Padawan or Knight as powerful in the Force as you," he asked quickly, his voice drenched in shock and confusion.
"Master Kavar? I can hardly sense his presence, how could he be so powerful?" asked Dorak, as he stepped forward. Vandar's green brow was furrowed, but as the three remaining Jedi reached into the Force, they all stumbled back - their gazes falling on Anakin. "Who…who are you? Nobody in the Order was ever confirmed to be so powerful - we all would have heard of such a potent presence with the Force," snapped Dorak, before he cleared his throat and reigned his emotions in.
It was evident that he was shaken by what he had sensed, yet as the other Jedi Mastered straightened themselves out, Kavar was the first to speak once more.
"Let's trace back to what you said moments ago...what did you mean that you did not recognize me from your High Council and that you may not be from this time?" he asked, his tone blending a mixture of bemusement, surprise and steadfast wariness. "There is quite a lot to take in if you're truly trying to press the notion of having come from a different period in time - I don't need to explain that such an act is considered unfeasible, even in an era when hyperdrive technology is thousands of years old, tens of thousands. I cannot explain the sciences behind it, but time travel is not something many would even think to take seriously," spoke the Jedi Master, scratching his chin in a manner that somewhat reminded Anakin of Obi-Wan.
"Indeed, I have to agree with Master Kavar, Anakin. I don't mean to sound dismissive of your claim, but I would honestly consider it to be laughable if not bordering on insulting given that you not only reserved time with the council, but you even requested that Bastila herself to speak on your behalf initially. Were Master Vrook here, I imagine that he would sooner have had you escorted out of this chamber than allowed to continue any further," commented Master Zhar, the Twilek Jedi that stood on the far right of the quatrain.
"Perhaps, but the timing of this claim is strangely accurate in coinciding with many unusual circumstances."
Turning to face Master Vandar, the group gave him surprised yet expectant looks. The small Jedi Master didn't hesitate to expand on his words, however, and he offered a nod at Anakin, their eyes meeting for a brief moment.
"Bastila herself vanished after the defeat of Revan - no sooner did her presence vanish within the Force, when Revan's did as well. Many of us assumed it meant they had passed on and become one with the Force. Revan's flagship was destroyed and no survivors were found," he began. Walking forward, he circled Anakin as if observing and analyzing every bit of him. "Than right around the time Bastila claims she awoke next to you far south of the planet, we sensed the two of you reappear from seemingly nothing - one moment you were not there, the next you were," he added.
Rather than immediately dismiss the Master's words, Kavar let out a hum of agreement - however, before Anakin could get another word out, the Masters began to speak to one another in rapid succession.
"Even so, I would not dare imagine time travel, Master Vandar - I would sooner try to find another reason for all of this," he countered, before shaking his head. "I am not trying to argue for the sake of argument, but I still can't picture the concept of a Jedi travelling from the past or future," he explained.
"Master Vandar has a point, however," spoke up Master Zhar. "Bastila was gone for almost three days, then she suddenly appeared. And we all know that less than a fraction of a second, the Force exploded like a dam bursting and flooding the valley it overlooked."
"And need I add that the Force flowing through Anakin feels like it were the tide of an ocean, crashing against everything around it as if it were the small stones of a shoreline? Both he and Bastila appeared together simultaneously, it seems," added Master Dorak, turning his attention to the youngest Jedi of the group. "Do you happen to have an explanation for that particular event, Anakin?"
"The World Between Worlds," he spoke up, finally able to give some input he'd intended to bring up for a minute now. Spotting the look on each of the Masters, though, he carried on in an effort to explain. "It is a realm in the Force or maybe outside of it - I don't know exactly - but it connects various gates in time and space. It has only been used a handful of times, but it's able to pull in items and people from time and even allow them to reenter in a different time and location."
Anakin didn't need to know that his explanation was little better than his initial claim, but as Master Kavar let out a long and deep sigh, he finally nodded.
"An alternate realm that exists within the Force...as much as the logical side of my being wishes to say that this is nothing but a fool's whimsical dream, perhaps Masters Vandar, Dorak and Zhar are right," he spoke, finally unfolding his arms as he began to walk away from the group and towards the main hallway that led back to the sunlit atrium that rested at the very center of the enclave. As he reached the entrance, Kavar halted abruptly and called out to the younger Jedi. "I will go and inform Bastila that we will be speaking with her tomorrow about the results of her mission. As for you, Anakin, I suggest you get what rest you can. Tomorrow, I want to meditate on the Force and this…World Between Worlds with you, I want to see if we can shed more light on what you claim is the truth. I believe if we spend a few days truly looking into this, we can bring something to High Council on Coruscant," he directed at him, before walking away.
Anakin frowned softly, however, as he threw the three remaining Jedi Masters a questionable expression.
"A few days? Given all the strange things that happened in a single moment, would it not be prudent to bring it to the High Council's attention as soon as possible?" he asked, receiving a head shake from the Vandar. Why did this feel so familiar?
"Quick action is not always the path to be taken - Revan, a former Jedi, showed the Order the dangers in making decisions without heeding patience and caution.
"Bastila mentioned a Revan; she said she was part of a strike team meant to eliminate him. What exactly is the story behind them?" questioned Anakin.
It was Master Dorak who answered him.
"Him, Revan was one of our most promising Jedi Knights, and he had the potential to be one of the greatest among us. Decades ago, the Order found a child with a strong connection to the Force - as the child grew, he showed incredible potential, not just with his command of the Force, but his skills as a duelist and his ability and ambition to learn what he could. If that were not enough, Revan even had a charismatic nature about him that simply drew you in; he was an inspiration to many of his peers and the younger Jedi beneath him," began Dorak, his eyes growing distant as he nodded to his own tale. "Several years ago, however, Revan began wishing to intercede on behalf of the Jedi and fight off the Mandalorian War that was plaguing the Republic," he continued, catching Anakin's attention.
"The Mandalorian Civil War was affecting the Republic?" he asked, causing the Jedi Masters to shoot him quizzical looks.
"There…has never been a Mandalorian Civil War?" replied Master Vandar, causing Anakin to hold back an internal groan. "We are speaking of the Mandalorian War which occurred only a few years ago; their forces had begun attacking the Outer Rim, before they eventually made their way into the Core Worlds. We tried to push for patience from the Order, but Revan, already an outstanding if not reckless Jedi Knight, demanded for immediate action. In his foolishness, he ended up leading nearly half the Order into a military campaign and later on brought about his own downfall," he added, Masters Dorak and Zhar each nodding in confirmation and agreement.
Anakin, however, hid his frown as best he could.
That sounded like somewhat similar to the Jedi Order in his early days - in spite of the blockade placed on Naboo and the clear hostile actions of the Separatists, they never did choose to take action. It wasn't until the Grand Army of the Republic was formed and they were all dragged in as a result that the council chose to act.
Then again, he had come to understand that perhaps there was more that he didn't know - even if he had found balance within himself, that didn't mean it was there forever. He was still brash by nature, as he himself had come to see; he was humble enough to now see that he didn't possess the quick wit and ability to dial himself back that Obi-Wan had. With a deep breath, he shook those thoughts from his head and gave the Jedi Masters an understanding look.
"I have to remind myself that this is not the galaxy I know," he commented.
Master Zhar nodded.
"The Force is strange in itself, and even with thousands of years of knowledge, the Jed Order itself only understands a fraction of it. I will not deny that your tale seems incredulous at first glance," he began, before pausing as if to find the right words. "…however, I am also not so blind as to say that it is impossible. There are stories of rituals by both Jedi and Sith that transcend the imagination of most, so perhaps you are not lying," he continued.
"Master Zhar has a point, there are thousands of holocrons in the great Jedi Temple's archives that have yet to be read - a Jedi could spend their entire lifetime studying and meditating on those holocrons and never come close to understanding a fraction of their meanings," agreed Master Dorak, before looking to the hallway that led outside. "But that is enough of that, you should get some rest, Anakin - or perhaps speak to Bastila and have her guide you around the enclave. You don't seem to be hostile or pose any danger, so we can agree to grant you certain liberties, though we would prefer you not leave the grounds," he finished.
Anakin nodded, though he felt the familiar pang of ire at being held under lockdown. It was little different than when Master Windu had held him back from joining Obi-Wan on Utapau, though perhaps that in itself was reason enough to practice that aforementioned patience.
"Yes, Maser," he bowed, before giving Vandar and Zhar the same respect and leaving the chamber.
If he had to be honest, though, that could have gone much worse - maybe he was getting better at navigating conversations.