Chapter 67 - Resolve

Author's Note: We've been going over the rest of our plans for this fic, and I think it's only fair to tell the readers that we've really lost a lot of the interest we had in it at the beginning. We're not going to cut out anything major that we had in mind, but we're going to majorly condense the rest of our plans so we can wind down the fic quickly, and move on to other projects. But don't worry, it's still going to have a cohesive ending that I think addresses all the points in the fic thus far. :D So if there's anything you really want to see, now would be the time to mention it. XD

~ Tirana Sorki

Anakin keeps the hood pulled low over his head as he stands amidst the thongs of people at the funeral on Naboo. Coming here was risky, but he couldn't not. Maybe Anakin didn't know Kitster well, but he was still a distant friend. He... did so much, helped free so many people, helped Anakin's movement to do the same, and now he's gone.

Anakin doesn't know how it happened. He was considering going to Padme, but with the commotion involving Kitster's death, he figured it would be safer to keep a distance. Maybe he can go to find Senator Organa once this is over.

He slips away from the crowd before the ceremony is entirely finished so he'll have time to disappear. He's making his way silently through the halls of the Nubian palace, to get off the balcony as the fastest escape route, when he's certain he feels eyes on him. Someone's watching him, following him.

And it feels... suspiciously familiar, but he doesn't dare reach out with the Force. He's been carefully shielding his Force presence since everything fell in the first place, so no one will sense him.

"Anakin?" a voice asks from behind him, right when he's stepping out onto the balcony, and he freezes.

It's –

He spins around, staring at the hooded Togruta.

"Ahsoka?" he asks, incredulously.

Of course, she's here. He really shouldn't be so surprised about it. Kitster was her friend, and they were close. Of course, she came to his funeral, though he thought... he should have known she wasn't dead, but he still never thought he'd see her again so soon. But her being alive comes with a long series of... other implications which Anakin is not ready to think about yet.

But at least she's alive. She's here and alive, and that's what matters most to him right now. He'd been so afraid that she wouldn't be, that –

"Anakin?" she replies. She seems relieved, but also... something else. Now that he's actually looking at her, she feels dark. He doesn't know what it means. No one couldn't feel dark after everything that's happened, but there's something... "I'm glad you're okay. I didn't expect to see you here."

"I didn't know what happened to you, what happened to anyone. I – "

"Come with me," Ahsoka requests, but there's something in her eyes that he can't trust. A chill snakes down his spine. "I can take you somewhere you'll be safe."

"Where've you been?" he asks, "I've been... hiding. I don't know what to do."

"You don't need to hide, Anakin," she replies, "I know you. You've always been loyal to the Republic. And we finally have the chance to bring order like we were trying to throughout the entire war."

And then he just knows. He feels cold. Force. This can't be happening. Mortis... He remembers that too well. "You're with the Empire, aren't you?" he breathes, voice shaking.

"I did what I had to do, Anakin. You weren't there. The Jedi were going to forcibly take control of the Republic. I gave them the chance to stand down, everyone at the Temple, and very few chose to take it. If they wanted justice, if they wanted to live instead of a senseless fight to the death, they could've taken it."

She was the one who fought the Jedi at the Temple? He's going to be sick. He's going to – He knew Ahsoka was getting darker, especially when he saw her again for the first time in months, but this? "Ahsoka..." he breathes out, taking a step back, "I know the Jedi aren't perfect, but that doesn't mean that – that they deserve to die. Why would you do this?"

She takes another step closer to him. "Sidious' plan was too good. The Jedi didn't have a real chance to stop this once the war started. But at least I can make things less terrible by staying."

"Sidious is just one person," Anakin protests, desperately. "If he's stopped, then this will be over." He knows it's not that easy, but that doesn't mean siding with him is the answer.

"Oh, Anakin," Ahsoka sighs, "If only things were so simple... Sidious managed to get the entire Senate on his side because he convinced those who are part of the Republic's corruption, those who own the Republic as the source of money and power, that they would get even more if he was in control behind the scenes. If the Jedi killed Sidious, the Jedi would still have been destroyed for it. The ones in control after would continue controlling the Republic for their own power plays and money gains. It would be like the Hutts. Would you like the galaxy under the same power system that rules the Hutts?"

She's not wrong, not entirely, but that doesn't make this right. It doesn't mean that it doesn't feel like she's using his past again to get him to agree with her. "You are not making sense," he argues, "How does them being in control change anything as opposed to what it's like when Sidious is in control?"

"Palpatine is not the kind of person who would have others above him, at least not indefinitely."

"And letting all that power be in the hands of someone like Sidious is alright with you?" he asks. He feels like he can't breathe. He needs a moment to actually think before he can even begin talking about this senselessly, but his heart is pounding too hard, and he doesn't have the time to recollect himself.

"Yes," Ahsoka replies, firmly, "Because as you said, Palpatine is just one man, who is not immortal."

She's planning to double-cross him, then? Is that what this is about? But at what cost is this going to come? Anakin can understand that just killing Sidious isn't going to end everything, but going this far is still – "And you're confident that you can take that power from him?" he asks, desperately, "You? What is this going to do to you, Ahsoka?" He already's seen how much her determination to save the galaxy is destroying her, and he doesn't even know if it's something that she can... come back from anymore. Not according to the Jedi, anyway, and he doesn't want to think about it. "How do you know Palpatine or his heir won't kill you first?"

"That's the part where you're wrong," she responds, "There will be no heir. Palpatine just uses the Order of the Sith to get himself power, but he would never risk the possibility of sharing it – even after his death. Once he dies, then regardless of if I'm alive to see it or not, the slate will be wiped clean and a new generation will be free to build anew, free from the previous ones."

Is that what she's going for? To destroy this entirely? "But when does doing things for the greater good end?" Anakin objects. That's what he's always been taught, too, but not this far. "What about everyone who's hurt to reach that point?"

"I didn't want things to go this far. There wasn't any other choice. As a Jedi, you know sacrifices sometimes have to be made."

"But not like this." Force, he can't believe they're talking about this. He can't even – think of what to say right now, to persuade her of everything.

"If we aren't willing to do whatever it takes to win, we'll lose everything we're trying to protect."

"We already did," he argues, blinking back the tears stubbornly threatening to fall. The Republic is gone – and no, he never believed it was working well the way it was, but still – and the entire Order is gone, too. And of course they were fighting for the people, but there's no one left to help them and with a Sith Empire, he has little hope the people themselves will be safe for long.

O'mer's dead body swims in front of his eyes again.

Alongside the clones who evidently fell during their fight to get out. And all the clones are nothing but a mind controlled slave army now. Maybe what they were fighting to protect was lost a long time ago.

Before Ahsoka has the chance to reply, Anakin suddenly hears heavy footsteps approaching. Ahsoka turns at the sound, and Anakin sees the flash of armor with red markings.

Clones are coming – the Coruscanti Guard.

Panic flares up inside of him and he spins around, jumping over the balcony's edge. He's not going to risk having to fight them, or worse if... Ahsoka tries to capture him. He catches himself in the grass below the palace, pausing for just a moment to look back.

He catches a brief glimpse of Ahsoka standing at the railing again, looking down, but it's too dark to see her expression.

He – he just left her. But there was nothing else he could've done, and he can't stay around to try and keep talking. He has to get out of here while he still can – especially since Shmi is waiting down in the valley with their shuttle. He won't risk the clones searching the area for him and finding her instead.

Anakin breaks into a run away from the palace, still unable to stop feeling like he's just abandoning her, when he's... probably the only one who can still help her.

Who still refuses to believe that she's truly gone.

**w**

Ahsoka's emotions are raging too wildly to keep under control, as she finally turns away from the balcony railing, heading back into the palace. Anakin was here. And now he's gone. He left her, and she doesn't quite know how to feel about that, even if she can understand why he ran.

Because he's choosing to side against her. But he's not... not acting like Obi-Wan or Padme about it. Not that she thought he would. He's never been like that. And that means something, at least. Maybe not now, but she can still find the chance to capture him later, and convince him of her decision.

She could order an all-out search for him now, but she doesn't really want Sidious to catch wind of that. She doesn't trust his intentions at all, and she doesn't want to risk Sidious trying to have Anakin killed if he doesn't Fall immediately. Or trying to turn him against her.

She doesn't know that the Sith is planning to betray her right off, but she's not going to take the chance.

"The master can replace the apprentice if they are showing weakness, and the apprentices can betray the master if they are not showing strength," Sidious had said, in the very brief Sith lesson he's had time to give her. So yes, he'll definitely replace her if he finds any reason to.

Ahsoka is too lost in her thoughts to spare more than a glance at Padme when she passes right beside her in the hall. She does not want to talk to her right now, so she doesn't know why she's lingering only a few paces behind her.

There's something –

Something's wrong.

Ahsoka doesn't see anyone suspicious, though, so she doesn't know why –

Padme moves towards her suddenly, and Ahsoka senses the suddenness of the movement, about to jerk around, but she doesn't move fast enough. A sharp, cutting pain suddenly blooms across her back, and she jerks forwards, right before the knife could've gone right into her.

Ahsoka stumbles forwards, shock and confusion rapidly morphing into an overwhelming stinging betrayal and fury.

Padme just tried to kill her.

The knife in her hand is a vibroblade, and she already hit her with it. She's –

Osira lashes out, flinging Padme down the hall with the Force, wrapping it around her neck. She's not really thinking, not really anything, but she can't believe –

A blaster shot rings out, and Osira drops her, dodging the shot from one of the handmaids who just appeared at the end of the hall.

The pain in her back is growing and she needs to get it treated before it gets worse. Gets fatal. Even if she just wants to give chase as Padme takes off down the hall.

Osira gives chase, until she finds the nearest clone. "Senator Amidala is a traitor," she says, breathlessly, "Lock down the palace and find her." If she's willing to go this far, there's no question she'd do other things just as extreme against the Empire, as well.

And now, she just needs to get this treated before it... gets worse. It already is. She can feel the burn starting to spread, the agonizing stinging pain of it.

The nearest clone medic available treats her. They don't sedate her for it, but Osira almost wishes they did.

Her mind is whirling too fast to calm down or focus on anything, when she can do nothing but lay here as they work on treating her. On treating the injury that Padme gave her.

She remembers the day they first met, all the years they were friends, and maybe that changed later, but she doesn't see how it could mean nothing to her. Osira might be willing to go to extreme lengths to achieve her goals, but not this.

She can't believe – well, yes she can – that Obi-Wan did what he did either.

Kitster is gone. He's never coming back. Never. He was the one person who actually made her feel worth something, and now...

Anakin is... gone, too. She doesn't know when she'll find him again.

All that matters is dealing with the galaxy now that she finally has the power to do something about it, without the Council constantly breathing down her neck, but for a desperate moment, she wishes she wasn't... entirely alone. That there was at least someone still here, but there isn't.

There only will be if she can get to Anakin again and convince him to see reason. She's not overly hopeful of that happening any time soon.

Maybe, it's just that right now everything feels so hopeless. The bitterness and desperate anger that's drowning Osira is overwhelming, and there's nothing she can do but let it drown her, fueling her.

She just wishes that there was still someone here, even if it shouldn't really matter, because she has a duty. There's no use thinking about it when that isn't something she can do anything about.

**w**

Obi-Wan and Yoda both failed. The Sith are still on the loose, and there's no one to stop them.

"Until the time is right, disappear we shall," Yoda had said.

Sidious is still out there, to rule the galaxy from the shadows.

And Ahsoka...

Obi-Wan failed to teach her and failed to stop her when she destroyed everything. He doesn't know where he went wrong in his promise to Qui-Gon, but he failed unspeakably. She Fell. She destroyed the Jedi. The betrayal is still burning hot in his heart, and he doesn't know how that could ever fade. She destroyed everything. Not that he has anymore of an idea what... even happened, that led to this point between them.

It's been a day, and Obi-Wan still hadn't decided for certain where he was going to go into hiding. He doesn't want to put Bail in danger any longer than he needs to, but he also wants to know if there's anyone else who's left.

The last thing he's expecting is for Bail to call him with the word that they've picked up another survivor.

But he wasn't expecting to see... Anakin?

"Anakin?" Obi-Wan breathes, relief crashing through him. He was so afraid of what happened to Anakin. He hadn't even wanted to dwell on it. The most he could do was cling to the slim hope that the fact that Anakin wasn't officially a Jedi would protect him, because if he was in the middle of a battle on Mandalore, the chance of him surviving was –

"Obi-Wan?" Anakin asks, faintly.

Obi-Wan only has a second of warning before Anakin is in his arms, hugging him tightly. Obi-Wan returns it fiercely; he's never been so grateful to have Anakin here with him. He's also mind-blown at how tall the boy is compared to him now, but that's hardly important right now.

He's not expecting it when Anakin breaks down, crying silently against his shoulder, but he's not really surprised either.

This has been the hardest point of – of everything, and Obi-Wan still has no idea how they're even supposed to keep moving on from here. He just waits out Anakin's breakdown, not really knowing what to say.

Which is usually true when Anakin's being extremely emotional, but right now there's probably nothing he can say.

"Are you alright?" Obi-Wan asks him, finally.

"I – I didn't know what happened to you. If you were..." Anakin steps back, though he's still staying close.

"I know. What happened? Did anyone else...?"

"O'mer didn't make it," Anakin says, voice barely above a whisper, "I told Jinx and Barriss to leave so we didn't attract attention by staying together."

"That's probably for the best," Obi-Wan agrees, grimly, "Have you thought of where you will go?"

"I don't know what to do," Anakin replies, "I just... I want to help the clones, but I –"

"The clones?" Obi-Wan repeats, nearly incredulous. They're the ones who turned on the Jedi. The reason all the Jedi are dead.

"It's not their fault, Master. They have inhibitor chips that – it controls their actions. They can't help it. Rex nearly killed me, but when I got his out, he was back to himself again. He helped me get away."

That... catches him entirely by surprise. He doesn't know how to feel about the fact that it wasn't Cody's choice to shoot him down in the middle of the battle and nearly kill him. They were never close, but that didn't mean the betrayal didn't sting and make him angry. "You're certain of this?"

"Yes. I know it, Master, and I can't leave the clones like that."

"Then we can help them," he agrees, "It should also go a long way in helping us against the Empire." Because they'll need support, if they're going to do anything. Yoda said that they need to disappear until the time is right, but Obi-Wan isn't ready to just sit back and do nothing, after everything he's ever believed in has been destroyed. He doesn't think Anakin would ever dream of doing that, either.

"I'm going to be working with Rex, and seeing... how many others I can free."

"I'll stay with you," Obi-Wan decides before they can even begin to discuss anything else. He's been away from Anakin for long enough. He's not going to willingly separate them again, not in the middle of a situation like this, and after how long they've been separated.

Not after he permanently lost Ahsoka, because Osira is all that's left. Maybe, she's all that's been left for a long time already. He doesn't know, and doesn't really want to think about it right now.

Anakin's expression lights up just a bit. "I've missed you," he murmurs, "I don't know if it's safe for us to stay together, but I – I don't want us to be apart anymore."

Obi-Wan touches his shoulder, a steady reminder that Anakin is here. "We'll be fine, as long as we stay together." He wishes he could believe that with certainty, because he can't stop remembering Ahsoka.

Anakin catches his gaze for a brief moment. "Master, I – Are you alright? I mean, I know no one is, but you're – "

It's probably better to warn him about this now. There's no real way to tell him this diplomatically. Nothing can make it easier that Ahsoka turned against them. "Anakin... Ahsoka Fell."

The boy twitches, expression tightening. "I know."

"You... know?" he repeats, surprised. He would've expected Anakin to have said something about it by now himself, though it wouldn't be any easier for him to talk about than it is for Obi-Wan.

"I saw her," he replies, looking away, "She – I think I was getting somewhere, but then we were interrupted and I had to run. I –"

He... what? "You just talked to her?" Obi-Wan repeats, "She's a Sith, Anakin. She... can't be reasoned with. I tried. It didn't go anywhere." And yes, Anakin's always been more able to reach her than Obi-Wan has, but that doesn't change what she's done. This time, it's too far for reasoning to matter. She helped kill all the Jedi. They're all gone.

It's the only life he's ever known, the only people he's ever known, enough to consider a... family. Even if it was more personal for Anakin and Qui-Gon, and once for Ahsoka. And she killed them, as though they weren't her family, too.

Anakin takes a step back, shaking his head. "I can't believe that. I can't. She's still in there, Master. I know it. All she's ever wanted to do is help. And I know what she's done, but that doesn't mean she hasn't been... misled into it."

"She's been making this choice for herself for a long time, Anakin," Obi-Wan replies, "I know you've seen that, even if it's difficult to accept." This is exactly what the Council feared so long, but no one expected it to become reality.

"That doesn't mean there isn't any hope left. I can't believe that."

Anakin's always been stubborn in that way, but this time, Obi-Wan's afraid it's only going to get more people hurt. "We have to stop her," he says, "Whatever it takes, even if now isn't the right time for that."

He stills, something like horror flickering across his face. "You can't mean –"

"Master Yoda gave me the mission and I failed. He told me that Osira destroyed the person Ahsoka used to be. I saw what she did at the Temple, how many she killed. He... is not wrong."

"No," Anakin objects, desperately, "I'm not going to hurt her. I won't. There is another way."

"You know Sith can't return from the Dark Side." He doesn't want to accept this either, but it's the bitter truth.

"No," he repeats again, shaking his head. He takes a step away, before turning and taking off.

Not that there's far he can go, but he probably needs a moment to think.

Obi-Wan takes a few minutes to cool off himself before he goes after Anakin. He's just a few hallways down, leaning against the wall. And he's crying again.

It always hurts so much to see him hurting, and this time there's not really a way he can make it better. Obi-Wan approaches him in silence, unsure really what to say to him. He doesn't want him to keep entertaining false hopes that will only hurt more in the end, but addressing the topic again right now won't help.

Anakin finally looks up at him. "If – if you run into her again, I want you to call me. I want to be there."

To stop him, Obi-Wan presumes. "Anakin –"

"I have to talk to her, Master. At least I have to try."

He huffs out a breath. Maybe if that does happen, it'll be the only way Anakin will come to see that she's really lost. "Very well. But I must warn you to be ready to fight when you have to."

"I will be." He just looks worn out now, exhausted.

He's only seventeen. Obi-Wan had barely become a padawan at that age. Anakin has... been a padawan to two masters and done so much even beyond that. And now, they'll be leading a rebellion, lost in the galaxy on their own. Obi-Wan's never had much of an idea how to help him, but he wishes now more than anything that he did.

He reaches out, lightly laying a hand on his shoulder and Anakin leans into it. It's about the most either of them can offer at each other now.

At least they're together again.

**w**

Sidious has been awaiting this day for so long, and he is... pleased with the results, though not as much as he would be if he were the Emperor. Perhaps Osira isn't wrong that allowing Mina to rule would unite the galaxy, but it won't truly be a Sith Empire until after Sidious himself resumes leadership.

He has... plans in the work, though, plans which may work even better than what he had in mind before.

"Master," Osira intones, kneeling on the ground in front of him.

He doesn't tell her to get up immediately – she already knows little respect and it's time that she remembers her place. "I heard Senator Amidala nearly succeeded in an attempt on your life." Something she should've seen coming long ago, but he knows it's a mistake she'll learn from. Sidious himself had known it was imminent for years. Osira frequently spoke to him of how she argued with Senator Amidala, and how angry she was about it.

"I didn't expect her treachery would go that deep," Osira replies. The Dark Side ripples around her, her eyes burning yellow. She's furious, pain and betrayal and grief giving her power.

She would make a powerful apprentice if he could truly expect to tame her power. But that's not something he truly believes he'll be able to do for long. She's too arrogant and self-willed for him to control forever. That's why he already has a contingency planned... but it will take time. Osira will have to suffice for now.

"Your friends have all betrayed you," Sidious says, "But in doing so, they have given you a gift."

She looks up at him, uncertainly. "Which is?"

"Pain. Let it fuel you. Pain and fear lead to anger which leads to hate which leads to power."

Osira ducks her head, the Dark Side coiling around her. "I understand, Master."

"Good," he purrs, "Good."

For now, she will suffice as an apprentice.

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