Chapter 3 – You Are The Silence In Between

Author's Note: There is only one way for Ahsoka to leave Mortis. ;)

To Guest: Thanks!

~ Amina Gila

The Son is in the main chamber with the Father when they get there, and Ahsoka has to fight against her rising snarl to keep it at bay. The Son hates her, but she hates him, too, so it's mutual. He thinks she's trying to replace his sister, and he seems determined to make her life as miserable as possible. Unfortunately for him, Anakin is now here, and he's not going to let him get anywhere near her. A spiteful part of Ahsoka sort of wants him to try something so she can enjoy watching Anakin rip him to pieces.

But that's not a Jedi thought, and nor is it a thought she should be having as the Daughter.

… Not that she ever agreed to become the Daughter, but still, it's the principle of the thing.

"You should not have come," the Father says from atop his throne as the three of them stop in front of him.

"You should not have made me leave," Anakin counters, his voice icy.

The Son shifts, leaning forward, red eyes glinting with amusement as he watches, and enjoys no doubt, the coming conflict.

"You agreed," the Father argues, and Anakin steps away from Ahsoka for the first time, his hands fisting as he half-steps in front of her as if to shield her.

"I did not," he replies. "Your son ended her life, and you brought her back. I never agreed to leave, much less without speaking to her again."

"But you knew she would have to remain here and take my Daughter's place to restore balance," the Father reminds.

Ahsoka looks between them, surprised. She… doesn't remember that. Any of that. She didn't know that. She… died? The Son killed her? And the Father… brought her back to life? It doesn't quite seem real, and she throws a questioning look at Obi-Wan, who nods silently, expression pained. It's true, then. What happened after the Son took her? She'll have to ask Anakin about that later. Or Obi-Wan. Surely, one of them can fill her in. It's unnerving to know that there are gaps missing from her memory.

Shouldn't she remember dying?

Ahsoka can feel the turmoil in Anakin, and instinctively, she reaches out, pressing a hand to his shoulder to help him calm it. He leans into her touch, and the tension in his body drains away, his emotions quieting. It's almost fascinating to see, and she wonders what else she can do. What else can she affect? She still doesn't understand her powers or abilities. She knows that the Daughter was able to shapeshift her form, but Ahsoka hasn't yet figured out how she can do likewise. She's still learning, experimenting. It's not as though the Father has given her a crash course on what she can – or can't – do.

"Anything is possible," Anakin states, "And I refuse to believe that Ahsoka has to remain here. She does not belong here. This is not her world. She is not one of you. You know that."

"You want to take my sister?" the Son demands, prowling forward. "That is cruel of you who claims to be a Jedi."

Ahsoka stomps forward, glaring furiously at him. "I'm not your sister!" she yells. "I don't get to be your sister when it's convenient for you!"

"Calm, both of you," chides the Father, turning back to Anakin. "You are right that she is not one of us, but this is the only way for balance to remain."

"Is it though?" Obi-Wan queries mildly.

He and Anakin exchange a look. "Is there anything that can be done for Ahsoka to leave?" Anakin asks. "I ask not if it safe, only if it is possible."

The Father is silent for a long moment. "There is balance so long as the three of us exist in one form or another," he answers. "I asked you once, if you would remain to control my children. I ask you that again. If you take my power, my role, you will understand why I have chosen to keep us here, away from the galaxy."

"Master," Ahsoka says quietly, "We can't let the Son leave Mortis. You know it'll bring disaster and ruin on the galaxy." She wants to leave, more than anything, but she's not so selfish that she would risk everything just for her own desires, not if leaving necessities freeing the Son.

He turns to her, and there's sorrow in his eyes. "I know." He looks back at the Father. "And can the Son's powers be given to another?"

"It is possible," he replies.

Possible. That doesn't mean safe, but then, none of what they do is safe, is it?

**w**

There are three of them here, and there are three Ones. It seems so simple, but Anakin still doesn't know if he likes it, or the implications. It's – it feels like an impossible situation. What is he supposed to do? What is the right choice? Is there even a right choice? He knows little of the extent of the Ones' powers, but they're called the Mortis Gods for a reason, and he is cautious, admittedly, about unleashing all of them onto the galaxy.

If he agrees to take on the Father's power, what then? Will he have the strength and power to leave? Would that even be a good idea? On one hand, there is so much good he could do with that level of power at his disposal. He could save so many lives. But on the other hand, he will need to have absolute control, never faltering for a moment, and he is afraid, if he's being honest, because he knows what he's capable of. If he slips, for even a second, what he did on Tatooine could be a footnote in the scale of damage he could unleash.

With that power will come a great responsibility, one far, far greater than any Anakin has ever carried in the past. He doesn't know if he's ready. But he can't leave Ahsoka here, either.

The quiet is heavy, smothering, expectant, and Anakin slowly turns toward Obi-Wan. "Master, what do I do?" It's been a long time since he's asked Obi-Wan for help in this manner, usually preferring to go to Yoda who is far less likely to scold or castigate him. Anakin has always, always wanted Obi-Wan to be proud of him. Admitting he's struggling has never seemed the best way of doing that, but now, he needs help. Advice. Something. He needs to know what to do. This isn't the kind of decision he can make alone.

"The Son cannot leave Mortis," he states with certainty, and of that, there was never any doubt.

"That should be my decision," the Son hisses, fury simmering around him. Anakin gives him a withering look, remembering the way he'd possessed Ahsoka, made her fight him, killed her, killed the Daughter. The Son does not deserve to be a part of this conversation. They are in this situation because he could not control himself.

"No, it should not," Ahsoka replies sweetly with a much too bright smile.

He snarls, making to lunge at her, but the Father holds out a hand, forcing him back, which is good, because if he gets anywhere near Ahsoka, Anakin will rip him apart without mercy. He touched her once, hurt her once, and Anakin will not make the mistake of hesitation where the Son is concerned ever again.

"Must it be Anakin who takes your power?" Obi-Wan queries, and it finally sinks in what it will mean for them to be able to take Ahsoka.

For them to take her, they must be the ones in charge, which means Anakin and Obi-Wan will have to take on the powers of the Father and Son. That sends dread curling deep within him. He can't ask Obi-Wan to do that, to become the Son, and he doesn't want to take on that power, either. But the Dark is a part of the Force. It's – in and of itself, it is not evil.

"You mean to take it yourself?" the Father clarifies and shakes his head. "Your body does not have the strength to withstand the strain. Only the Chosen One is able to tame both my children and maintain the balance."

Obi-Wan looks at Anakin again. "I can't ask you to do that, Master," Anakin says quietly, "I can't ask you to become the Son."

"It would be poetic, wouldn't it, though?" sneers the Son, red eyes glinting with malice.

"Zip it," Ahsoka snaps, the echo of her voice more pronounced, slipping her hand into Anakin's and squeezing.

"You won't leave Ahsoka here alone," Obi-Wan answers, visibly reluctant, "You would sooner stay with her than leave her."

Anakin wants to say no. He wants to say that he won't abandon the galaxy just for Ahsoka, to keep her safe, but he can feel the warmth and Light of her hand in his, and he knows he can't do it. He can't leave, knowing he'll never see her again. It might be the Jedi thing to do, but he is Anakin Skywalker, and Anakin Skywalker does not leave his family behind.

He finds a way. He always finds a way. And he'll find a way here, too.

**w**

Obi-Wan has faced his fair share of difficult decisions in his life, most of which have revolved around Anakin in some shape or form, but this is by far the hardest. He is under no illusions about what it will mean if he agrees to take on the Son's power. It will mean turning his back on the Jedi, on the way of life in which he's been raised. What will the Council think? Will they expel him for this? He doesn't know, and most of all, he's afraid to know.

But this is for Anakin.

If he does not do this, become one of the Ones, Anakin will stay with his padawan. Maybe not forever, but it could be a long time before Obi-Wan finds him again, before Anakin finds a way to leave on his own. Obi-Wan can't… imagine that, and he can't do that to Anakin, either. He's always tried to deny the depth of his attachment to his former padawan, but he – he can't do that, not right now when he's making the most important decision in his life, one which could literally make or break the galaxy.

He has struggled with the Dark in the past, that is no secret, and he – he is afraid that he does not have the strength he'll need to withstand the lure of the Dark when he has become its living embodiment. If he falters, millions or even billions could suffer. Die.

But he is a Jedi Master. He has learned to master himself and his emotions, and he has always known that for Anakin, he would do anything. He shouldn't. It's not the Jedi way, but when it comes to Anakin, Obi-Wan is… weak. Attached. He cares about the boy, his boy, far more than he should.

And this might not be all bad. He might become Dark, but that may help the Jedi in the long run. Maybe it will enable him to uncover the Sith and even bring an end to the war. It doesn't have to be bad. And, he knows that Anakin has the strength to control him and Ahsoka if they get too out of hand.

"I will do it," Obi-Wan agrees, holding Anakin's eyes, seeing and sensing his flare of surprise and gratitude, "But you must promise me that if we get too out of control, you will take us somewhere far away from civilization, so we don't hurt anyone."

Anakin nods firmly. "I promise."

"Then come," says the Father to Obi-Wan, gesturing, "Kneel in front of me." He glances briefly at Anakin and Ahsoka before he does, watching with more than a little wariness as the Son is bidden to do likewise, though from the look on his face, he would much rather be committing mass murder of every living being on a random planet instead of obeying.

The Father rises, and in a blink, he's in front of Obi-Wan and the Son, a hand on each of them. Obi-Wan closes his eyes, resisting the violent urge to shudder and pull away as the first tendrils of darkness enter him. It's strong, so strong, too strong for him to fight it. He grits his teeth, as the power builds up more and more and more –

There's a shockwave of darkness, and he fades back to consciousness, feeling overwhelmingly wrong in his skin. The Dark is there, just under his skin, and no matter what he does, he can't get rid of it, can't make it go away. He wants to claw it out, scrub it away, but he can't. He can't. This is what he's become, for Anakin's and Ahsoka's sakes.

He tries to remind himself of that, even as he pushes himself to his feet, not looking at the Son's lifeless body, trying not to look at himself, at the way he sucks in the light around him. His eyes must be red like Ahsoka's are greenish, and he doesn't want to think about that either. He wants this to just – end. He wants it to be a nightmare.

"Obi-Wan."

Anakin is there, calling his name, and he flinches from the hand that touches his shoulder, though he still reluctantly turns to look at his former padawan. "I'm fine," he says brusquely, hating the way that his voice echoes now, like Ahsoka's, like the Son's. The hate comes easy, and he fights it, but it feels like he'll drown in it. There is so much darkness in the galaxy, so much, and he doesn't – he can't –

Anakin's expression is worried. "Master –"

"I'm fine," he bites out, more sharply than he means to.

Anakin steps back from him, and the look in his eyes isn't fear, but a dark part of Obi-Wan's mind tells him that it is. It only makes him angry.

Ahsoka comes closer, and the darkness in him snarls at her light, but she's Anakin's padawan, and he would never hurt her. She reaches out, taking his hand, expression focused, and he nearly gasps as the steady flow of Light he can feel from her. He grasps at it instinctively, feeling the way she shudders at his Dark, but she only tightens her grip and doesn't let go, smiling. "This is balance, Master Obi-Wan."

He feels more like himself now, and he shakes his head with a rueful chuckle. "Indeed, it is, young one," he agrees. Maybe this won't be so bad after all.

**w**

Seeing Obi-Wan as the Son is a bit disconcerting, if Anakin's being honest. He still feels like rain in the Force, but it's sharper now, more icy and jagged than Anakin has ever felt it. But he, like Ahsoka, is still unmistakably him. It'll just take some getting used to, to see him with reddish eyes, and to feel the Dark around him.

"Are you ready?" the Father says, drawing Anakin's attention to him.

He straightens instinctively, mentally preparing himself for what he knows is coming. "I am." He stands still as the Father approaches, touching his forehead. Raw power floods through him, stronger and more potent than what he felt even when taming the Son and Daughter before at the Father's behest. This is – this is the Force itself, Light and Dark united as one. It nearly brings him to his knees, but somehow, he manages to stay on his feet.

The light enveloping the Father's body fades, disappearing, his body turning into mist as it vanishes entirely, but Anakin can feel the burden pressing down on his shoulders. He can feel everything. Everything. Everything there is to feel, everything there ever has been and ever will be. He can feel it as distant stars die out. He can feel the birth of life elsewhere. It's all over, everywhere, and it's too much. He drops to his knees, pressing his hands to his head as he desperately tries to channel it, to contain it.

Distantly, he can hear Obi-Wan and Ahsoka calling his name, their voices echoing in a strange chorus, but he can't answer, panting weakly as he tries to contain the power of the Force in body that is too mortal for it. It was different for Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, but the burden he has is more. He has what they both do, and it is –

Overwhelming.

Slowly, he manages to bring his shields up, pressing his hands against the ground and letting the power he can't contain flow into it. This is why the Father created Mortis, he realizes. If he did this on an actual planet not built of the Force, he could accidentally rip it apart from the inside out. No normal planet can withstand such power, but Mortis is different.

When he looks down at himself, he can see the ethereal glow of his body. It takes far longer than Anakin means it to before he draws the power coursing through his veins into his core, locking it in place as he looks up to meet two pairs of equally concerned eyes. "I'm okay," he rasps out, shakily, "It was… a lot, but I am okay now."

"Can you control it?" Obi-Wan questions.

Anakin grimaces, flexing his fingers, feeling it as the Force responds to him in a way it never has before. Right now, he's even afraid to think too hard lest he cause something unnatural. "Yeah, I have to, right?" he asks with a huff.

Ahsoka reaches out, touching his wrist with a thoughtful look on her face. Anakin shivers at the Light that washes over him, but he sags a bit as she eases the burden of power on him. He realizes then that she can take his power. Obi-Wan can too. If – when they leave, when they're away from Mortis, he can channel the power he can't contain to them, and together, they can dissipate it harmlessly. He lays a hand on Obi-Wan's arm, so he can feel it, too.

His former master's eyes widen, and he seems more intrigued than anything. "We can balance it," he realizes, "Together."

"We are the beginning, the middle, and the end," Anakin offers with a weak smile. "There is no one who can stand up to us now."

"I don't know if that's more reassuring or terrifying," Ahsoka comments dryly.

They stay there a moment longer before, as if by unspoken agreement, they rise. "Let's go home," Anakin says, rolling his shoulders, the power within him shifting with the movement. It's terrifying, but he's the Chosen One according to the Father and Qui-Gon, and for the first time, Anakin believes.

He is the only one who is capable of harboring this kind of power. Anyone else would have been vaporized by it, but not him. He doesn't know, yet, if it's a blessing or a curse or something in between. He doesn't know how to wield this power, either, but then, Ahsoka and Obi-Wan don't know how to control their abilities either. They'll have to learn together, and if it proves to be too dangerous, Anakin can bring them back here, where they can't hurt anyone.

"Let's hope the ship is still where we left it," Obi-Wan adds.

Anakin reaches out with the Force, the planet responding to him. It's easy for him to locate it, though it's not something he's ever been able to do in the past, but it feels like the planet itself is speaking to him, feeding him information. He blinks, and suddenly, he's standing next to the Twilight. He yelps in startled shock, desperately reaching for Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, trying to find them and go back to them. Apparently, he can teleport now?

Ahsoka shrieks when he appears in front of them, jolting backward, staring at him wide-eyed. "Don't do that, Master! You scared me."

"Sorry," he answers sheepishly, "I didn't know I could even do that. I'm not sure how I did that."

"Be careful," Obi-Wan practically orders, worriedly, "The last thing you need is to accidentally materialize in front of one of the Sith. They cannot know about our abilities, or it will be bad for everyone."

Isn't that the truth.

"I'll be careful," Anakin promises. All of them will be. Their lives, and the galaxy, depend on it.

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