I don't own Star Wars: The Clone Wars or its characters
I only own Nadia Aomori and my other OCs
Enjoy:)
Threads of Destiny
Chapter 29: Ghosts of Mortis
Stranded!
Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker with their Padawans Ahsoka Tano and Nadia Aomori are caught in the middle of a treacherous battle between good and evil.
The scales now tipped toward the Dark Side.
Our four warriors must guard against attack as they plan their escape.
A great weight has been placed on Anakin's shoulders for it is now that he must face who he really is.
At Mortis...
Ahsoka and Nadia were working together to fix the shuttle while Obi-Wan and Anakin were waiting outside.
"I'm getting a little tired of how unreliable the weather is here now that the Daughter's gone."Obi-Wan said.
"Some might say that's part of the appeal."Anakin commented.
"You and Nadia did well in saving Ahsoka, Anakin."Obi-Wan declared."How do you feel?"
"I'm not sure we're doing the right thing by leaving."Anakin admitted."The Son is consumed by the Dark Side."
"And if we stay, we may be used to the Dark Side's advantage."Obi-Wan warned.
Ahsoka and Nadia looked at their Masters.
"Well, you want the bad news or the really bad news?"Ahsoka asked.
"Well, let's try the bad news, laced with a little optimism."Obi-Wan suggested.
"We've got two cracked shilo pins. Even a busted power converter."Ahsoka informed."The engines should be fired twice to dump debris and the backup vents need charging."
"Sounds terribly downbeat."Obi-Wan complemented."Can it be fixed?"
"We can reroute the primary initiator, Master."Nadia suggested."Also, weld the dampening vents and that might give us enough power to leave the atmosphere."
After that, we have no guarantees she'll hold together."Ahsoka clarified.
"We'll take our chances."Obi-Wan insisted."Better than staying here."
Obi-Wan then notice Anakin taking his speeder out of the shuttle.
"Where are you going?"Obi-Wan asked.
"To see the Father."Anakin declared."I'm not convinced that the Son will be contained here without our help. Perhaps, we should make a stand."
"Anakin..."Obi-Wan started.
"If I don't get the Father's, it'll haunt me forever."Anakin stated.
The Chosen One then took off in his speeder as his former Master watched him go.
Meanwhile...
At the crypt, the Father had buried the Daughter with the Dagger of Mortis laid upon her chest.
"Forgive me, Daughter."the Father pleaded in shame."I'm an old fool who believed he could control the future. Now you are gone and all is lost. Sleep well, my child. Sleep free."
The Father then closed his Daughter's grave and then went out, only to feel Anakin's presence.
"You should have left by now."the Father reminded.
"Our ship needs repairs."Anakin informed.
"Do not underestimate my son."the Father warned."He will seek your ship to escape our isolation and sow terror through the universe. And while you are here, he will use you to do it."
"What will you do now that he's given himself over to the Dark Side?"Anakin asked.
"It is my actions that have unleashed great danger on the universe."the Father admitted."I must kill him."
"But he's too powerful for you alone."Anakin warned.
"Hmm. Perhaps. Perhaps not."the Father replied."The Force will decide."
"I can help you."Anakin suggested.
"The choice is no longer yours to make."the Father stated."Both our destinies are clouded. This place is strong with the Force. Darkness has no hold here, go ask and you will know what to do."
Anakin nodded and walked to the direction, where the Father pointed to.
When Anakin leaves the crypt, the Jedi Knight encountered the ghost of Qui-Gon.
"You have grown strong and powerful, just as I imagined."Qui-Gon remarked.
"Master Qui-Gon."Anakin responded.
"Do you believe you are the Chosen One?"Qui-Gon questioned.
"How can I know?"Anakin asked.
"I can tell you what I believe."Qui-Gon replied."I believe you'll bring balance back to the Force, face your demons and stop Darth Sidious and the Sith for good."
"And this creature of the Dark Side?"Anakin responded."Do I leave or do I stay and kill him?"
"Neither."Qui-Gon answered."Look deeper. You will find another way."
"I don't understand."Anakin replied with an unsure look.
"Not far from here, there is a place which is strong in the Dark Side of the Force."Qui-Gon explained."You must go there."
"And destroy the Son?"Anakin asked.
"Remember your training, Anakin."Qui-Gon reminded."Trust your instincts."
Then the ghost of Qui-Gon disappeared from Anakin's sight.
"Master Qui-Gon!"Anakin called out."Master Qui-Gon!"
In the Shuttle...
Nadia was sleeping a little bit in a chair while Ahsoka continued fixing the ship.
The raven haired girl woke up when she felt Obi-Wan tap her shoulder.
"Might I suggest less sleeping and a little more work?"Obi-Wan asked.
"Sorry, Master."Nadia apologized, stretching a little bit."I'm just a little exhausted."
"Here, these should help."Obi-Wan commented.
Obi-Wan handed two energy drinks to Ahsoka and Nadia.
Ahsoka and Nadia started drinking their beverages.
"We need to change plans."Obi-Wan stated."You both must focus on the firing drives. Disengage them."
"But we're almost finished putting this junk heap back together and now..."Ahsoka started.
"Just do as I say."Obi-Wan instructed sternly while taking his speeder outside."We don't have much time."
Nadia chuckled as she put on her engineering goggles to go back to work and helping her best friend out.
"Well, you're the boss, Master."Nadia sneered.
Ahsoka simply shrugged in respond.
While Ahsoka and Nadia worked on the shuttle, Obi-Wan saw the Father outside.
"Where's Anakin?"Obi-Wan asked.
"He came to me for guidance. But at the crossroad, only he can choose."the Father replied. "The Force will be his guide now."
"I don't like this."Obi-Wan said with an unsure expression."What have you done?"
"I have done nothing."the Father stated."I am merely letting the will of the Force take shape."
"Where has he gone?"Obi-Wan asked.
"To the Well of the Dark Side."the Father admitted.
Meanwhile...
Anakin drove on his speeder as he descended into the Well of the Dark Side which was a deep, magma-filled chasm located in the realm of Mortis.
The Jedi Knight parked his speeder and went off it.
Then the Son appeared not far from where he stood.
"Welcome."the Son greeted."I believe there has been a misunderstanding, we really don't have to be enemies."
"You murdered your sister."Anakin retorted with a glare."The Force is out of balance. I have to stop you."
"Must you?"the Son asked.
Anakin activated his lightsaber, ready to fight the Son.
Outside the Shuttle...
Ahsoka and Nadia walked up to Obi-Wan and the Father.
"Anakin has gone to confront your Son, hasn't he?"Obi-Wan questioned.
"Deep within this planet all that is dark is channeled."the Father warned.
"And how do I get there?"Obi-Wan asked.
"You cannot interfere."the Father stated.
Obi-Wan frowned at the Father's reply.
"The way I see it, if we're not supposed to interfere, Ahsoka, Nadia and I wouldn't be here in the first place."Obi-Wan responded before glancing at the two Padawans."Look after the ship, I'm going to find Anakin."
Obi-Wan took off in his speeder as the two girls went back in the shuttle.
In the Well of the Dark Side...
The Son took Anakin's lightsaber with ease, not interested in fighting him.
"There is no use for such crude implements here."the Son remarked smugly."I have a gift for you."
Anakin glared at the Son.
"I've had enough of your trickery."Anakin replied coldly.
"Oh, but you'll like this one, I promise."the Son assured as he circled Anakin."What if I could show you the future?"
Anakin started to see things causing to put his hand on his head.
"No! No!"Anakin shouted in shock as he held his head."Stop it!"
"Know yourself."the Son insisted deeply."Know what you will become."
Anakin scowled as he struggled to fight back the disturbing things he was forced to see.
The Son then surrounded Anakin with red smoke, showing him visions of the future.
"I will not look!"Anakin shouted.
Anakin eyes were shut, but he still saw the horrible visions of the future.
The visions were a future of suffering including a duel against Darth Sidious, the death of the Jedi and betrayal on Mustafar.
Things that he never expected and were too shocked to see.
"The Force is strong with you."Darth Sidious declared.
Darth Sidious then used his Force Lightning, making someone scream in the background.
The next scene showed Anakin activate his own lightsaber to kill a youngling.
Then it showed Padme crying out as she was strangled and…appeared to be pregnant?!
"Anakin, please!"Padme cried out as she held her strangled throat.
It later showed Obi-Wan swinging his own lightsaber to cut him in half.
"You were my brother, Anakin!"Obi-Wan shouted angrily.
Then Anakin saw the future adult versions of Ferus, Nadia and Ahsoka.
"Face me, you traitor!"Ferus demanded in rage.
"You're a monster!"Nadia shouted coldly."That is what you really are now!"
"There are no more Jedi except for my friends and family!"Ahsoka snapped."You and your Inquisitors have seen to that!"
Anakin became horrified at what he saw.
His own brother-in-law and friends would end up hating him?
"A powerful Sith Lord you will become."Darth Sidious sneered.
"...and destroys everything he ever loved."A 12 year old girl's voice declared grimly.
Anakin was confused at the voice he heard since he didn't recognise it.
Was this the voice that belonged to Nadia's little sister?
"I HATE YOU!"Anakin's voice roared out.
Anakin felt pain in his body for a moment at the rage he felt from his own voice.
Then Alderaan got destroyed by a powerful laser beam.
Anakin dropped on his knees since he now couldn't take it anymore.
This was too much.
He wanted to stop seeing these horrible visions.
"No! No!"Anakin shouted in agony."NO!"
Then a vision of a dark mask appeared behind Anakin which let out a mechanical breathing before it vanished with the rest of the smoke.
The Son walked up to Anakin as he held his head in despair of the actions he was going to do in the future.
"I will do such terrible things."Anakin said sadly.
"Yes."the Son replied."But it doesn't have to be that way. The choice is still yours to make."
Anakin stood up from the ground.
"How?"Anakin asked.
"The future by its nature can be changed."the Son declared."Join me, and together we'll stop Darth Sidious and the Sith forever. Then we shall end the Clone Wars, corruption and suffering throughout the galaxy."
"Will we bring peace?"Anakin questioned.
"Of course."the Son replied.
Anakin didn't say anything as he quietly took back his lightsaber from the Son.
This was not to supposed to happen.
He was supposed to stop the Son.
Not join forces with him.
But after seeing the terrifying visions of the future, he didn't see any other way to prevent himself from becoming a monster and losing those he cared about.
Back in the shuttle, Ahsoka and Nadia were trying to make contact and managed to get a signal.
"Finally!"Ahsoka remarked in relief."This is Jedi shuttle 634! Calling on all secure channels for help!"
"Hello? Do you read?"Nadia asked hopefully."We are stranded and need immediate evacuation!"
There was no respond causing Nadia to frown while Ahsoka groaned in frustration.
Obi-Wan drove his speeder to the Well of the Dark Side to check on Anakin.
Upon arriving, the Jedi Master finds his former apprentice poisoned by the dark side and in Son's company.
"Anakin, are you all right?"Obi-Wan asked with a hint of concern.
"There has been a change of plans."Anakin declared darkly.
Anakin then used the Force to push Obi-Wan's speeder into the dangerous magma.
"Sorry."Anakin apologised."You will not understand what I have to do to end the Clone Wars."
Obi-Wan's eyes widen in slight shock upon realising that Anakin was corrupted by the Dark Side.
"You won't try and stop me."Anakin scowled.
Just before Obi-Wan could say anything, the Son zapped him with his red lightning and he cried out in pain before landing on the ground.
The Jedi Master looked up to his fallen apprentice.
"Anakin, why?"Obi-Wan demanded.
"I'm sorry."Anakin apologised with a sad frown and frowned."I have seen that it is the Jedi who will stand in the way of peace."
Anakin then depart on his speeder as the Son smirked evilly at Obi-Wan.
"He's mine now."the Son declared.
The Son changed into his gargoyle form as he cackled maniacally and flew out of the Well of the Dark Side.
Obi-Wan was now stuck in the Well and unable to escape.
Meanwhile…
Both Ahsoka and Nadia went back on fixing the shuttle.
"Do you think they got the message, Dia?"Ahsoka questioned.
"Maybe."Nadia replied simply."But as soon as they contact us, the sooner we can leave this planet."
The raven haired girl then got a contact from Obi-Wan in her comlink.
"Nadia, come in, please!"Obi-Wan demanded."Can you hear me? Nadia!"
"Loud and clear, Master."Nadia declared."Any success with Anakin?"
"No."Obi-Wan answered."Quite the opposite."
This caused both Ahsoka and Nadia to become concerned.
"Master, what are you saying?"Ahsoka questioned.
"Anakin has joined with the Son."Obi-Wan stated.
Both Ahsoka and Nadia's eyes widen in shock.
"Wait, you mean-"Nadia started.
"Do not engage him."Obi-Wan warned."But just do as I say. Listen to me, you two have to disable the ship."
"But we just finished putting it back together."Ahsoka reminded.
"Ahsoka, Nadia, please listen."Obi-Wan stated."We have to prevent Anakin and the son from leaving."
"Yes, Master."Nadia replied.
Obi-Wan ended the call as Ahsoka glanced at her best friend.
"Do you have a quicker way?"Ahsoka asked.
Nadia smirked as she used her Force Judgement to disable the shuttle and devour its energy.
"Yes."Nadia answered confidently."Yes, I do."
"I forgot you know how to do that."Ahsoka chuckled.
The two best friends suddenly felt a dark presence coming towards them and they realised it was their fallen friend.
Ahsoka and Nadia quickly jumped up to the ceiling, pressing themselves as tightly against the small rafters as Anakin came inside the shuttle.
When Anakin headed into the shuttle's cockpit, Ahsoka and Nadia sneaked out.
"Soka, you go ahead and rescue my master while I hold off Anakin."Nadia instructed.
"What?"Ahsoka asked worriedly."I won't leave you."
"I'll be fine!"Nadia assured with a firm look."Go!"
Ahsoka looked at her best friend for a moment before she nodded and took off in the speeder.
"Ahsoka!"Anakin yelled in anger.
Anakin ran down the ramp of the shuttle and notice Nadia by herself.
"Where did she go?!"Anakin demanded.
Instead of responding, Nadia turned around and activated her lightsabers.
"Looks you'll have to challenge me first, if you want to know, pretty boy."Nadia challenged bluntly.
"Let's find out together, shall we?"Anakin asked, activating his lightsaber.
"No problem!"Nadia said with a glare.
The two Jedi rushed to each other and started doing their lightsaber duel.
Nadia was disturbed to see Anakin's face completely corrupted by the Dark Side.
"Anakin, why are you doing this?!"Nadia demanded."What did the Son show you?!"
"Like someone like you would understand!"Anakin growled.
Anakin tried to slash Nadia, but the teenage girl jumped back to dodge his attack.
"Are you saying I would never understand the pain of others?"Nadia questioned as she blocked his blade."Of course, I do!"
The raven haired girl leapt back to place her lightsabers away and then used her Force Judgement to send Anakin back.
However, Nadia screamed in pain as red lightning hit her body causing her to fell on the ground and drop her lightsabers.
"Weakling."the Son snarled coldly.
Nadia groaned as she glared at the Son.
"Your going to lose, you know that."Nadia muttered bitterly.
"I can't make contact with anybody."Anakin said, ignoring Nadia."I don't think anyone will hear my signal."
"My father still has hold over this realm, but I will be able to draw any ship here soon."the Son replied.
"If I know my old master, he, too, will try to stop us."Anakin complemented. "Together with your father, they would be a formidable opponent."
"I can turn the tide stay here."the Son announced.
The Son turned back into a Gargoyle and flew off.
Nadia glanced at Anakin, demanding answers from him.
"Anakin! Tell me! Why are you doing this?!"Nadia protested."You said you wanted a life where you and Padme can happy together! Not become another pawn to the Dark Side!"
Anger started to rise within Anakin at Nadia's protest.
"The future that all of us want will never happen!"Anakin snarled."And the Jedi destroyed it from happening!"
Nadia paled in shock at Anakin's outburst.
"You're lying."Nadia denied in disbelief."The Jedi are fighting for peace. That's all what we're fighting for."
"We are not. It was all a lie."Anakin retorted."The Jedi care about nothing, but themselves."
Nadia didn't say anything and then looked down in sadness, seeing it was pointless to try to put sense into her fallen friend.
The Father then appeared behind Anakin much to Nadia's relief.
"What did he show you?"the Father questioned.
"I've seen what I become and I cannot let that happen."Anakin stated.
"And for this, you join him?"the Father asked with a glare."Your destiny can change. Just as quickly as the love in one's heart can fade nothing is set in stone."
"But I will cause so much pain."Anakin admitted sadly.
"If there is to be balance, what you have seen must be forgotten."the Father declared.
The Father then touched Anakin's forehead, making him collapse on the ground.
"Thank you."Nadia said kindly as she stood up and putting her lightsabers back in her belt."What did your son show him?"
"Something he should have never seen."the Father replied.
A moment after, Nadia and the Father went back to the monastery, where Anakin was resting.
But there was something in the raven haired girl's mind which sprung her curiosity and it caused her to look at the Father, who was busy meditating.
"Sir, there's something I've been wondering to ask you."Nadia said softly."Who am I?"
There was a bit of silence for a moment before the Father spoke up.
"You've been given the greatest strength of both the Light Side and the Dark Side, young one."the Father answered."You're a child of both good and evil, but your choices will determine the fates of them all. You're blessed and…cursed."
Nadia fell silent at the Father's statement and nodded slowly.
"I should've expected this since I'm a person with both Jedi and Sith blood running through my veins."Nadia commented."What can I do for myself to control my power since it continues to grow while fear is my enemy?"
"Take care the remaining people that love you."the Father informed."For they're the only ones that will protect you from a life of solitude."
Nadia carefully took in the Father's words, quietly thanking him for his advice.
Then Anakin woke up after Nadia was done speaking with the Father.
"Where am I?"Anakin asked.
"I have brought you back to my monastery."the Father replied.
"What happened?"Anakin questioned.
"My Son broke the laws of time and showed you what you should never have seen."the Father explained.
"I don't remember."Anakin commented.
"I have erased that time."the Father stated."We shall never know."
Nadia looked at the Father with a hint of worry as Ahsoka and Obi-Wan showed up on a speeder.
"Master!"Ahsoka called out."Dia!"
Nadia smiled to see her master and best friend safe.
"Are you two all right?"Obi-Wan asked.
"Yes, Master."Nadia assured with a light smile."Luckily none of us got hurt."
Ahsoka hugged Nadia as Anakin stood up from where he laid down.
"But we must stop the Son once and for all."Anakin responded.
"We have little time, and you'll get only one chance."the Father informed and looked at Anakin."You know what you must do."
Then the Son arrived at the monastery and landed on the ground.
"How quaint, my own personal send-off."the Son scoffed.
"I ask you one last time."the Father said."Do not leave, my son."
"You have no power to keep me, old man."the Son retorted cruelly."You must understand by now. This planet is not my destiny."
"What you will do will destroy all that is good."the Father demanded."I beg you, restrain yourself and stay."
"I cannot."the Son replied.
"And then it shall be."the Father said, hiding his grief."I love you, my son."
"Do you?"the Son scoffed.
Anakin activated his lightsaber and attempted to slash the Son.
The Son blocked the three slashes with his arms before picking up Anakin by the throat and choking him.
Obi-Wan, Ahsoka and Nadia then activated their lightsabers while the Son threw Anakin far away to the side.
The Son then used the Force to grab the three Jedi's lightsabers before pushing them away.
However, the Father used the Force to grab the Dagger of Mortis that was on his son's belt while he was still distracted.
"What?"the Son chuckled and throwing the lightsabers away."You're going to kill me now?"
"I held hope that you could resist the Dark Side."the Father responded in sadness and disappointment."But I see now, there is no going back."
The Father pointed the dagger at his own chest.
"Father."the Son murmued worriedly.
Then the Father stabbed himself with the Dagger of Mortis.
"No! What have you done?!"the Son growled angrily as he threw the dagger away from his father and grabbed him."It did not have to be this way!"
"Yes, my child. It did."the Father answered as he went on his knees."You and I are tied together. Your strength runs through me. This way, I take your power."
"Please, don't die."the Son begged in heartbreak.
"I always knew there was good in you."the Father replied.
Shaken by remorse, the Son recovered and makes peace with his father, just before he was run through by Anakin's lightsaber from behind.
The Father caught his Son in his arms.
"And so you have betrayed me, father."the Son said quietly.
The Son then took his last breath and died before the Father placed his lifeless body gently on the floor.
Anakin deactivated his lightsaber and placed it on his belt before he knelt down to the Father to speak to him.
"It is done."Anakin informed.
"And now I die."the Father stated slowly."My heart broken. The role…you will play."
"And what is that?"Anakin asked.
"You are…the Chosen One."the Father admitted."You have brought balance to this world. Stay on this path and you will do it again for the galaxy. But beware your...heart."
The Father then slowly fell to the ground and died.
A moment later, his body disappeared, leaving only his clothes behind.
Anakin stood up as Obi-Wan, Ahsoka and Nadia walked up to him in silence.
Then the rocks hovering outside the monastery started to fall and the crystal hovering above it shattered at the top, releasing a large white light at the four Jedi which blinded their view.
Then there was black out.
Afterwards...
Anakin, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka and Nadia woke up, only for the four of them to become surprised upon finding themselves back on the shuttle in the Unknown Regions.
Then a hologram of Captain Rex appeared.
"General Skywalker, come in!"Rex called out.
"We read you, Rex."Anakin replied."Can you hear me?"
"Yes, sir. Standing by."Rex reported."We were worried. You were off the scopes there for a moment."
The group became surprised at Rex's declaration.
At seeing the events that occurred in Mortis, they were gone more longer than Rex actually thought.
"A moment?"Anakin asked in surprise."We've been gone more than a moment, Rex."
Rex looked at Anakin in confusion.
"Sir, I don't understand."Rex answered."You'll need to explain."
Anakn glanced at Obi-Wan, Ahsoka and Nadia, sharing a smile with them.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."Anakin admitted with a small smile."We're coming onboard the Galactic Savior now."
Then the Jedi's shuttle flew into the Galactic Savior's hangar.
The Mortis Chronicles is now completed!
See you all in the next one:)