Kaschey died on the throne of Ursus. Kaschey lay there dying, rammed through the surface of glass by Anakin, leaving him broken and bleeding, and pierced through by the blade of Talulah, but the former did not feel relief or joy at his death. It took everything within him, if just for Talulah, to not snap his neck or his soldiers with the Force at the first instance he took them away from quaint Lungmen of their beloved home. All he saw was Palpatine, the megalomaniac, in the man known as Kaschey and a world of crimson filled the former Chosen One's view. All he saw was someone who ruined lives, including the one he never could have, because the man stood as exactly as the Emperor was. Anakin instead, took his rage out on his soldiers when training, and his clapping when Anakin decimated and tore through them at the age of fifteen during intense training sessions, surpassing the finest of Ursus soldiers in just a few years time thanks to his memories of Jedi and Sith. The man wasn't Palpatine, but he was, and Anakin hated him. But he could do nothing but hold his rage and bide his time with Talulah. She became Infected with the life sapping Oripathy, refusing him that time, and Anakin was glad she was not as foolish as he was with Palpatine, aware of his schemes, but he could only feel hopeless and lost as she now would have her life stripped away by her Infection.
That moment he swore that he would kill Kaschey and she begged him not to, at the very least not yet. It was only to her that they awaited the day to be free of his clutches. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed.
Which was ironic given her Arts. Or perhaps Talulah was better than him at hiding her own rage, even despite the years Anakin had refined it under Darth Vader.
Regardless, he was not their father. That was Edward Artorious, who passed away some time before leaving only them. Anakin did not mourn his death, he had only felt a level of the same pain when Qui Gon had passed, watching the funeral with sadness as held Talulah and Ch'en's hands that very day at his new father.
They escaped after Kaschey's slaughter. Subtlety was one of Anakin's weakest points, and even as a Sith in his prior life, cloaking his Force signature was difficult as even moderately low level Knights were able to detect his presence, even if it took a while. Though the Emperor had trained him as a Sith, Anakin was no Darth Maul, who followed the line of Sith Assassins like Ventress and Dooku. As Vader, he followed the Sith Warrior mold in the path of Malgus and Bane.
That was something both of them, Anakin especially, would have to work on. Neither of them had that skill at all. He was not going to train them enough for them to carry out the work of an assassin, but moving quickly about, slipping and exiting, and knowing when to avoid engagements, and, at the very least in Anakin's case, hiding them within the shroud of the Force, or Talulah had put it, his Arts, would be enough.
Yet they managed to escape for now and that would come later. Kaschey's forces would never find them, at least for the time being.
They continued their escape from Ursus. Both knew returning back was death for them, and so they kept moving and moving. Immediately from the outskirts of Ursus in their travels, a family took them in, and alongside them, a young woman by the name of Alina. Her kindness reminded Anakin of Shmi of the past life, and both would have gotten along well if they had ever met. But kindness went only a long way, and though the former Dark Lord respected her and the elderly family that took them in a great deal, they were also foolish and naive. They didn't know who they were or where they came from, or what their intentions were. They barely had enough to feed themselves, before taking in complete strangers. Anakin, through his myriad of experiences, learned that not everyone was altruistic. There was no such thing. Everyone was selfish. Kindness can be used simply for manipulation, deceit, and it gains nothing.
Regardless now, If Ursus forces found them, there was no guarantee any of them would be safe. He presented that scenario to Talulah, who was unsure herself. If they were to stay, then at best it would only be a day before they left. No more than that.
Talulah didn't obviously like that, and then and there had been their first argument as siblings, and Anakin wondered when was the last time he had been in an argument with either Obi Wan or Ahsoka. Was this how they felt when they argued with him?
"If they are in danger, then it's up to us. We can't let them or anyone else die for our mistakes!"
"We'll put them in direct harm's way if we stay!"
"So you're just saying we let them die for us to abandon them?! That if they find them that we should just let them be killed and for us to use as meat shields?!"
Why couldn't she understand that he was trying to protect her and that staying would only cause more problems? He sometimes found his sister, even as much as he cared for her, just as ignorant and foolish as he had been as his past self. They just wanted to help everyone, ignorant of manipulation and treachery. Why couldn't she understand that not everyone could be saved or even had good intentions?
After all, he had thought Palpatine was the epitome of such, and look how that turned out.
"No, you know I'm not saying that! I'm saying that if our 'father'-" The former Jedi spat scornfully of the man that took them away. "Forces find us, we'll put them even in more danger! Have you considered that we might actually be putting others in danger?! We'll be leading them exactly to where we are! Talulah, we can't help everyone we come across!"
It was cruel and harsh, but it had to be said. If the safety of them was placed on the scale between them and Alina and the couple, then Anakin knew what his choice would be. He didn't care if it was selfish. He was not willingly sacrificing others just for her, but Anakin had lost everyone in his past life, the worst part being told by others to simply accept and let them go. He was being "selfish" and all those what they wanted to call him, and Anakin was tired of it, tired of being told to accept loss as it was. He was tired of it all, his prior life being filled with nothing but sacrifices for the "greater good". Throughout it all, he rarely had happiness in his life and the little he had was taken away.
He had once been like Talulah, and even after growing up alongside him, she still naively believed she could save everyone, only to realize that the true nature of the world bent survival towards those who had strength to fight against the harsh nature of it, while those who were weaker and had nothing were disposed of unless they could receive that strength and power to defy their assured deaths. The Clone Wars had also been living proof of that. Shmi Skywalker of his past life once told him that there were not enough people who helped each other.
In a way, she had been right. There were people who didn't care enough to help others because every being was selfish. It was an inherent trait that every being had their own self interests and self centered. Help didn't come freely as long as it benefited others. Even the Jedi's "compassion" extended only to a select few while the rest were left to fend for themselves. Compassionate his ass. At least the Sith had been brutally honest about themselves with their self serving interests.
Sorry mother, but it doesn't work that way. Not anymore. That was just a dream, because you knew it too.
He swore that he would protect his new family and if that meant clearing any obstacles that would remotely pose a threat or even a danger to it, then he would remove it entirely, beyond caring of what others thought of him or his acts. He would ignore anyone who would say that everyone he had left in this world now would need to be left behind just for the merits of strangers he had no connection to and for the "greater good".
This was where his idealism got him in his past life.
Why should he have to sacrifice the few he considered family for a group of strangers he perhaps would never cast a second glance at in his life again?
The idea of killing at this point never bothered him. He saw so much death that all it did was make him further desensitized to the carnage surrounding him. Kaschey, beloved "father", had also introduced them to death.
Their argument had been the first Talulah had also been furious with him, singing the air with her Arts in her fury at him and melting the snow underneath her footsteps.
A moment later, he felt the presence of Alina and the elderly couple. The former Dark Lord sighed as Alina went after her. He knew that Talulah would undoubtedly remain pissed with him.
If she hated him, so be it. He was already one of the most hated and despised beings in another galaxy beyond this planet. He was looking out for the only family he had left. And if the world took that away as well…
Anakin departed himself to meditate. He felt no guilt for his words. Talulah had to wake up and see reality for what it was. The world would inevitably teach her that harsh lesson. He loved his sister, but if she chose to remain ignorant, then the world would teach her what the reality of it was. What he was doing was simply an act of kindness.
Talulah cursed her brother, her eyes aflame as she felt nothing but fury at him. She wanted to scream at him!
How could he so stupid, arrogant, selfish, inconsiderate of others?! How could he justify his acts of them leaving to fend for themselves?! How could he think of nothing but himself?!
Talulah left, afraid she would snap at Anakin, he honestly deserved such, and exploded with anger. She did not want to be in front of the couple that took them in, nor in front of Alina, the girl that was with them either.
The moment she was as far as possible from the home, she cursed Anakin. Cursing their situation, cursing her brother, but above all, cursing their father and cursing Ursus.
Her anger, though directed at her brother, she knew, was not entirely at him. She understood that she was furious at his nature to simply abandon others, and that it was in part in overprotective nature that she, at first, was a child… embarrassed, but now, it was as if he couldn't even let her decide the course of action. It was as if she couldn't decide for herself once in her life without him.
Her thoughts brewed darkly as she wanted to hit her brother for the first time. But then her anger vanished, replaced with concern.
"Father" was dead. Both escaped, but she could not discern the look on her brother's face as he gazed into the corpse, his eyes for a moment flaring with a bitter rage and anger. Yet it was only brief and nothing more she could see after they had killed him.
"Very well, since I am on my last legs, may you grant me an inquiry to you?"
"We have nothing we want to say to you."
"Well, that's not fair. I do believe if you both are to take my life that I am at least allowed a chance to speak, at the very least." The gaze fell back on him. "And I do not mean Talulah, but you, Anakin. Only you, my son."
"Are you deaf or do I need to repeat myself? I have nothing I want to say to you. I am not your son."
The man hummed. "Very well, let me ask you this? Does your sister know? Does she even know who you truly are?"
Anakin doesn't give a response, his hand still gripping him out of his throne tightly.
"Oh? I do believe that is a no then. I guess that secret is well kept hidden even from her." The same chuckle that Anakin found… it was the same as Palpatine. "I know who you are as much as you know yourself, Anakin."
"You know nothing about me. You took myself and Talulah away from Lungmen. You only 'raised' us to follow your footsteps. You know nothing about either of us."
"Oh? Despite all you have hidden well from me, not even 'the Force' will hide your true identity. "Your true identity of your prior life… Lord Vader."
Talulah was gone that moment, departing briefly to watch and make sure that the man in front of them died today with no help whatsoever, while Anakin kept his eye on him. Both would make sure he died here and now. His blade wavered. She did not hear him proclaim his name in his prior life, leaving that instance. He was glad for the moment, for she would find out who he once had been.
"Or Skywalker, perhaps? The Chosen One of the Force."
Anakin met solid walls through the Force in trying to probe him, as if he was a trained Force wielder himself. All he could hear was his own rage and confusion flooding him, melding into one, and he slammed up his mental shields, as if he was being probed himself. His grip tightened, eyes blazing as he intensified the pressure on his neck.
"How?"
The pale man chuckled, coughing. Anakin relaxed his grip the slightest bit, and he spoke. "A man can never reveal his secrets so readily. Surely Chancellor Palpatine has taught you that of your prior life, Anakin? It shouldn't be a lesson so easily forgotten. But do not fret, I did not tell your sister after all the years you two have grown. Even now, as you two point your blade at me and ready to claim my life, I won't reveal who you are. It's your secret after all. She wouldn't believe me even if I made such an attempt to inform her."
The names only fueled the burning inferno in him. He quelled his belly's flames, not because of his fake comfort of his past identity as Skywalker and Vader. He needed answers, answers before she returned back. Talulah could not know. She would learn and then… she would leave him. She would leave him because he would be exactly like the scourge of Ursus. She would be sickened for being related to the harbinger of deaths of millions across the stars. She and Ch'en… they would disown him and condemn him, and he wouldn't even be able to blame them for that. They deserved better than him.
So he would wipe anyone from existence who dared to threaten or harm them. Another death on his hands would just be another drop of blood and body in the ocean of millions he claimed.
Yet, not anybody in this world knew of him, and somehow, he, out of all those he had met, knew. How much did he know, how did he discover them, and who else knew?
A deep growl escaped his lips. It shouldn't have mattered, because he would soon die, but it did, because it meant connections; connections that they discerned his past, even if this world had no connection to the galaxy of his prior life, and Anakin's heart raced, rage and anger and desire to know how and why, all directed at the source before him.
"Whatever poison you tried to feed my sister for the past years ends here. She will never be what you wanted. You die without either of us becoming what you desire. You fail knowing well that we escaped you and your legacy, you decrepit old fool." He wants him to know. Kaschey...Palpatine. They were just the same and he wanted to savor the moment of his death.
Kaschey tilts his head in response, then sighs, like a disappointed father to a son. Except this man was never his father or never was a figure in his life. Of his prior life, that had been Qui Gon Jinn and Obi Wan Kenobi and now, that was Edward Artorious.
But not this man and never him. "It's such a shame, Anakin. And upon learning of your tales of Darth Vader of your prior life, you would have made such a fine Blade for Ursus. The might of the Galactic Empire would have undoubtedly fit Ursus. But alas, our paths take us into destinations we have yet to discover. Such a shame indeed. It perhaps is my only regret in my life." His eyes fluttered open, as he was on his feet. Anakin didn't realize he released his grip on the man until he was walking as if nothing had occurred. He sat back on his throne, dusting his hands. "But I do believe you want to move onto another topic? How about your sister?"
Anakin no longer feels terror, but something burning within him that could not be extinguished melds together into something else that he had no control over. Dark power shakes the majestic building in tremors, and all Anakin could see was the splitting image of Palpatine reborn.
Suddenly, before he could even speak any further, he was lifted up once more. Dark palpable waves of rage and fury and Kaschey felt his airways restricted, his throat being crushed by an invisible pressure that threatened to snap it as a twig entirely.
Before him, Anakin Artorious gripped him once more, fury and rage emanating off him as his eyes bled crimson red on what used to be shimmering blue.
"Oh? Perhaps I did strike a nerve then." He could barely release a hacking cough. "Oh, Anakin. I know your feelings towards Talulah and yet, you forget one important lesson: Revenge inflicted on the source doesn't reverse any form of injury or pain. There are dangers beyond what you know, beyond this world of great turmoil… I know what you desire, and yet, you will eventually have to let her go. That is, will you? Remember your lesson from the Jedi."
It wasn't a threat, Anakin knew. Yet even despite it, he slammed the man across with the Force, nearly shattering the throne he sat upon.
Talulah arrived after, and then, their deed was done. Kaschey was dead.
But Anakin would never get the answers of the past he sought to rip with the Force out of the man that had taken him and Talulah. He wondered now if it had been a mistake.
The former Chosen One cursed, glancing across the Ursus lands, away from the home they arrived at. How long had it passed? He calculated only a few minutes from his brief meditation period since he slipped into a trance.
He felt a presence approaching long before the footsteps, and he turned to see the old couple. They invited him once more, informing if he and Talulah could not stay, then at the very least, for the day until they would depart for the following morning.
Anakin, cursing himself, cursing their kindness, because they were foolish and idiotic. If he had been Darth Vader in the past, he would have butchered them and the girl Alina without a second thought. If the Emperor's Blades of Ursus had been here, they would have done the same.
Yet he decided to accept staying. Oh, Talulah was still pissed at him, if the look on her face said everything when both entered the home, but he hoped Talulah knew what she was doing would have the possibility of consequences.
After all, he didn't need to be told of his actions having consequences. He damned the entire galaxy in his past life and ended millions because of them.
Anakin's an asshole in this chapter. But that's the point. He's still pretty much Anakin and Vader but has the flaws of every living being. People really are selfish at times in regards to how they prioritize things. Anakin is just open and honest, brutally so, about being self centered. He doesn't sugarcoat his words at all. Anakin does care about people beyond his family, but he's more selfish in mind.
So if anyone didn't like him this chapter because of how he saw Alina, it's kind of the point. He's still very much Vader.