Chapter 1 - Day One: The Empire Strikes Back
Plot: Vader time travels to Anakin's body on the Invisible Hand, while Anakin time travels to Vader's body after the assault on Hoth, in his search for Luke. Both of them only have a week in the future and past respectively, a week for them to see what could have been and what they can do to change it before they're out of time.
Author's Note: Soooo usually I don't post fics until I'm done writing them but this is still a work in progress so I can't promise I'll be able to update weekly but I'll try. :)
Also, this fic is a bit of a different style. All the odd numbered chapters are with Anakin and all the even ones will be with Vader.
I did have a bit of a hard time writing this fic and I'm admittedly not very satisfied with it but I can't actually pinpoint anything wrong with it. Lol. But still, hopefully you'll still enjoy. :D The fic is primarily emotion and angst centric, so there's not going to be a lot of action, just so everyone is clear on that from the start. :)
This is also a gift for IceyGemini on Ao3. :)
~ Tirana Sorki
The disturbance in the Force is growing. It has been ever since Anakin got on board the Invisible Hand, but he hasn't been able to give it much thought during the fight. Until Dooku kicks him, and he goes flying, head slamming into the durasteel... something behind him, sending a sharp stab of pain through his head. He feels it as the Force shifts, a wave exploding outwards.
Anakin can't say what it is suddenly, but everything feels different. He opens his eyes slowly, freezing at what's in front of him. Because he's... somewhere else entirely?
He's sitting inside a spherical machine of some kind, with bright white walls and a mechanism of some kind over his head, that looks like it's holding a... helmet? But what stands out most of all is that everything hurts. His entire body is aching. And he can't breathe properly. Not – not normally at least. He can hear the monotonous drone of a respirator echoing through the small chamber and most of all, he can feel the way it's pumping air into him rhythmically.
Anakin looks down at himself, stilling at what he's wearing. It's not the Jedi robes it was moments before. It's an entirely black suit of some kind, with lights on the chest plate. He's – he's in a... life support suit? That must be it and it explains the mechanism, the way the air feels strangely pressurized around him.
And the Force feels wrong. It's so dark, like all the light in it was just destroyed, left with nothing but destruction and death. The darkness in the Force has been growing steadily stronger throughout the war, but never like this. Anakin can always feel so much, the sheer brilliance of the Force sometimes nearly enough to overwhelm him, and now it's practically suffocating because of how dark it feels.
What's happening? What happened?
The Force was in turmoil moments ago before Dooku threw him, and he can guess quickly enough that he must have been needed elsewhere, but he doesn't know what that means. This doesn't feel like his body. It feels wrong. Like someone else's, but he doesn't doubt that it's his.
This – this isn't the future, is it? Because he doesn't know how else to explain how he'd end up here? Unless he's dreaming, but he doesn't really think so.
He doesn't want to end up like this in the future. The lack of sensations is slowly starting to sink in, and he can't... feel anything in any of his limbs. Anything at all. Before it was just his right arm, and he knows that nothingness sensation far too well. Is he – did he lose all of them somehow?
Panic flares up, cold and tight in his chest. How can this be the future? Not that he's really surprised about that, because he's fought in so many battles and he knows how easily something could go wrong, something that could injure him this badly.
The loss of his arm was never something he could get out of his head, even if he got used to eventually, like he does everything. He still had another hand so losing the ability to feel sensations in one limb wasn't the end of the world, but it was still enough to bother him sometimes, when he let himself think about it.
What really stood out the most about it was the whispers, the stares. That he was less human than the rest of the Jedi, maybe more than he already was. Most of all, it meant that he failed. Failed to stop Dooku when he should have – and he's supposed to be the Chosen One. He can't fail. That's not allowed for him, and it never has been, but he did and his missing arm was a constant reminder that everyone could see.
But now he doesn't have any limbs. He was afraid sometimes, of losing more of himself. He never mentioned it to anyone because it wasn't important, but it was still there and now it happened, and he has no idea what to do with any of that.
But what's most important is that he figures out what's going on here, and why the Force feels so dark. The sensation of someone approaching the pod Anakin's inside jars him back to reality. He can think about what happened to himself later.
The Force signature is unfamiliar. It doesn't feel like a clone, either.
He'll have to figure out how to get this thing open first of all.
Which... doesn't take long, but it's still unsettling was the mechanism whirs to life, lowering the helmet down over his head. Pricks of pain spark through his head as it settles in place – it goes through his head. He can feel it going through the skin and the pain is hardly significant, but it still makes something roll in his stomach. He has no idea what happened to him. Or why the helmet was designed to go right through his head.
The Force doesn't feel the same around him anymore. It feels – there's too much metal inside of him. He doesn't know where, but he can sense it somewhat. He noticed the distance, the wrongness of the way the Force flowed around him after he lost his arm. It's worse now. And he hates it. Doesn't have time to focus on himself right now, though, no matter how much it's obsessively bothering him. If something's happening to the galaxy, that's what he needs to worry about. He has no idea where he is or what's wrong but if the Force sent him here, it must be for a reason. It must want him to do something.
The helmet seals over his head, instantly restricting his vision. There's only holes for his eyes in his helmet, which are tinted red for some reason. It's... maddening. He's only worn this thing for two seconds and he already hates it. Why did he ever choose to wear this thing?
The machine finally opens, and Anakin stands, trying to pull himself to his feet.
The weight distribution is all wrong. He feels heavy in all the wrong ways, and it nearly throws his balance off enough to fall. He can't feel the floor beneath him, and it feels like he's falling, even if he's definitely standing straight. How in the world is he supposed to walk in this thing?
Anakin opts for not taking a step further away from the pod; at least he can rest his hand on it if he starts losing his balance again.
There's a military officer standing in front of him. Not someone he recognizes but it's pretty safe to assume that however far this is in the future, he must still be the general of a military, which... isn't using clones anymore?
Or is this after all the clones are gone? How many years in the future is he?
Breathe.
Don't panic.
His respirator is so annoying. He'd be able to stop the panic building in his chest a whole lot easier if he could control his breathing on his own.
But he doesn't even know how far in the future he is and until he does, there's no reason to start panicking about what happened to everyone he knows. He doesn't even know that being stuck in the future is permanent. The Force is still flowing strangely around him, and he thinks it would have settled out more if this was permanent. Maybe. He just needs to figure out why he was taken here and what he's supposed to do.
The man shifts almost uncomfortably. He's radiating a rather high level of anxiety, though what he's so wary about, Anakin isn't fully sure.
"Our ships have sighted the Millenium Falcon," he says finally, "But it has entered an asteroid field, and we cannot risk pursuit."
Whatever he's talking about must be important, but Anakin has no idea what's happening. He doesn't think he should explain what happened to this person either when he doesn't know that he can trust him. He's not a clone, so the instinctive trust Anakin might otherwise have is definitely lacking.
Just play along. "Keep watch for it," Anakin says, nearly freezing at how deep his voice is. It doesn't sound like him. He doesn't feel like himself. "Send ships to the far side of the asteroid field to intercept. They won't be able to jump to hyperspace until they clear the asteroids." Maybe. Probably. No idea what he's talking about. He's just rolling with it.
"We are also receiving a transmission from the Emperor," he adds.
"Emperor?" Anakin blurts out, before he can think it through. At least the vocoder writes out all confusion in his voice. What Emperor? What's happened to the galaxy?
"Yes, my lord."
Wait, what?
Why is he calling him that?
Best not to ask. "I will come at once," Anakin replies. If everything would stop hurting for one moment, maybe he'd able to think straight. He'll have to play along with whatever this Emperor wants. Did the Republic become an Empire and the Jedi are serving it, just like before? But why's there still a war?
The man nods. He seems relieved to finally get out of the room.
Anakin's not really sure why. And he realizes a moment later that he has no idea where he's supposed to be going. He doesn't know anything about this ship. But it can't possibly be as different as any of the other ships he's been on.
Just... start walking.
Easier said than done when he nearly falls a couple steps across the room. He just grits his teeth and keeps moving, in a slow deliberate way that feels like it's taking forever. He pretty much always runs everywhere he needs to go. He certainly never walks as slow as possible. But he has no idea how he'd be getting back up in armor this heavy if he faceplanted. Why did his older-self think this was a good idea? It's stupid.
The only cool thing about his new attire is the long black cape that he catches swirling behind him, out of the corner of his eye.
It looks... cool. Sort of. He kind of likes it. Even if it's silly.
Obi-Wan would probably hate it. Ahsoka and the boys would love it. Both reasons make it worth wearing.
Speaking of Ahsoka, he still can't believe he just saw her again for the first time in so long. He wanted to go with her to Mandalore, to fight alongside her for the first time in so long, but then he was called away. Which... he understands but he's still overwhelmingly disappointed by that. Not that it matters until he's back in the past. He'll be able to go back to the past, right?
The technology on the ship seems more advanced than anything he remembers. He must be fairly far in the future.
It takes forever, but Anakin's finally able to maneuver his way all the way up to the briefing room. There's no clones anywhere.
Everyone seems wary of him too. It's like none of them know him – or even his older-self – and he doesn't know any of them. It's driving in the point even further how maddeningly alone he is. He doesn't know anyone here. Or even where he is.
All the clones could be dead, for all he knows. Or too old to fight.
What happened to Rex? Or Jesse? Or any of them?
What about Ahsoka?
And Obi-Wan? He's probably back on Coruscant with the rest of the Jedi if he's not a mission.
Or Padme?
Doesn't help when Anakin doesn't know where any of them are. He can only guess, and they won't even be the ones he knows. It's more terrifying than he wants to think about it, but it's starting to feel more and more real with each passing moment.
He knows far too well what it's like to feel all alone. It was ceaselessly true at the Temple for years, until the war. All he had was Obi-Wan and that made them close – very close – but sometimes... He was so empty back then. Doesn't want to feel like that all over again, trapped in a future he doesn't understand.
Everyone has already cleared the bridge. The officer from earlier is lingering nearby to tell Anakin that the Emperor is already waiting.
Why does he feel the Dark Side so strongly suddenly?
Anakin cautiously enters the room, stopping cold near the doorway at the sight of who's in the hologram.
It's – the hood is pulled over the person's head, but not enough to entirely conceal the person's scarred, contorted features. Anakin's Force bond with him is pulsing brightly with life, and it's –
He feels so dark and twisted, but it's definitely – "Chancellor?" Anakin asks, faintly.
Palpatine.
This is Palpatine? How did he become Emperor? What happened to him? Who hurt him like this? And why does he feel like a Sith? Anakin's never felt the Dark Side this strongly around anyone other than Dooku before and somehow, it's even more intense for Palpatine. What's going on?
But most of all what hits him is a staggering level of relief, that this is someone familiar. Someone he knows.
Or...thought he knew?
But Palpatine is still leading the galaxy, and at least one thing in this messed up future actually makes a small amount of sense. At least one thing isn't entirely different.
"I don't know what happened," Anakin blurts out, the words tumbling out in a desperate rush, "I was on board the Invisible Hand and then I sensed a disturbance in the Force, and now I'm here and – and I do not know what here is. Or what's happening."
There's a long pause of silence. Probably, Palpatine's just as mind blown by what he's saying as Anakin presently feels.
"You're saying you have forgotten years of time?" he asks, slowly. His voice is strangely raspy and just different. He doesn't exactly sound like the Palpatine who Anakin knows, but it's definitely him.
His heart rate picks up at the words. How long has it been? "I never lived this at all. I just woke up here. I think this is the future?" He sounds stupid but he could care less about that right now.
"I couldn't answer how it happened," Palpatine replies. "What specifically was happening when you... awakened here?"
"I was fighting Dooku."
"It has been... over twenty years since then."
Anakin's blood runs cold.
Twenty years? He's over two decades into the future?
No wonder none of the clones are around anymore. But what about Ahsoka and Obi-Wan and Padme? At least Palpatine is here, but –
He still feels so lost and alone, desperate for answers. Even more now than he's aware of how displaced from his own time he is. "What's happening?" Anakin inquires, "My... officers? said you were Emperor."
"The galaxy has changed completely from what you knew, my boy," he replies, "From the time the Force pulled you from, you were only days from the end of the Republic."
"The... end?" he repeats, faintly. They couldn't have lost if Palpatine's in control, right?
"Yes," he agrees, "This may be difficult for you to hear. You killed Dooku abord the ship, but instead of allowing the war to come to an end, the Jedi plotted treason. They wanted control of the Republic."
What? "They – they wouldn't do that," he protests. His voice sounds strangled, even through the vocoder.
"And yet, they did. My duel with Windu left me scarred and deformed." Anakin's gaze flicks up to study Palpatine's face. Windu did that to him? It doesn't feel like a lie. Not that he knows of any reason Palpatine would be lying to him, but – "They forced you to spy on me, intending to have you take the fall for it if something went wrong, but I was well aware you were the only Jedi unaware of the full extents of their plot. It was similar to what they were intending to do to your padawan. As soon as the war was over, they attempted to assassinate me. You chose to stand with the Republic, as did the clones."
He feels numb, like the world is coming in through a haze. To be fair, the constant pain isn't helping with that.
But what he's saying doesn't make sense. The Jedi wouldn't do that, would they? But... he knows how high the tensions are between Palpatine and the Council, even if he doesn't really understand why.
And he can never, ever forget the moment the Jedi threw out Ahsoka. Anakin had been so terrified that she was going to end up dead, that the Senate wouldn't listen anymore than the Council did. It's not as if the Jedi even gave her a proper trial. Those moments have haunted him ceaselessly. He can't even think about the Chamber of Judgement without feeling sick.
That the Jedi would be willing to do something like that to him isn't exactly far-fetched. Sometimes he can't help wondering if the reason they were so willing to distrust Ahsoka was because she was his padawan, and it's always felt like the masters look at him with an underlying level of suspicion constantly.
Still, what Palpatine is saying is so extreme, he has no idea what to even do with that.
But if the Jedi and clones were fighting each other, then that would mean –
"What happened to the Jedi?" Anakin asks, heart hammering. Doesn't think he wants to know the answer.
"The same as for everyone who commits treason."
No.
That can't –
"They were going to kill you, Anakin. As it was, nearly all your men were killed by the Jedi, at the Temple."
What?!
That can't be right. It can't be. He should say something, anything, but he can't find any words, any anything.
His men were killed? But –
He doesn't doubt that if the clones were forced to attack the Jedi, the Jedi would kill them without a second thought. Maybe it's self-defense, but...
And what happened to Ahsoka or Obi-Wan? Ahsoka should've been fine, but Obi-Wan... If the Jedi were committing treason, he would've known about it, and –
"I reformed the Republic into an Empire, for stability," Palpatine goes on, "You have served it as you always did with the Republic, stopping the rebel forces that threaten to destroy all order."
That would make sense. Maybe. Except that none of this makes sense whatsoever. How could any of this be the future?
Something touches him in the Force. It's cold and dark and slippery, and it's – it's Palpatine? Anakin reaches out abruptly with the Force, easily sensing the way the Dark Side is coiling around him.
"You – you're using the Force," Anakin blurts out, confused. That doesn't make any sense.
"Yes," Palpatine agrees, unperturbed.
"How do you know the ways of the Force?" he demands, heart rate spiking. About as much as it can, at least. Feels like something's controlling that too. He can't really say how he knows that, but it makes the confusion and fear consuming him even harder to handle.
He can feel Palpatine studying him. He doesn't know why it sends a chill through him. It doesn't feel like quite the same gentle way Palpatine used to look at him with. He doesn't know why. Unless it's because he was... was actually a Sith this whole time? But that can't be right, can it? It might explain why the Jedi would've gone after him, but trying to take control of the Republic is totally different than stopping a Sith, and it's not as if being a Sith is illegal.
Anakin never understood the constant fight between the Jedi and Sith. It never made sense when he was young, why someone would have to be killed because of what they believe in. People had all sorts of beliefs on Tatooine and that was always something to be respected. He didn't really understand the change at the Temple. After the war, after seeing how much destruction Dooku and Ventress were causing, it had made far more sense to him, but...
"My mentor taught me everything about the Force, even the nature of the Dark Side."
Dooku had a master.
A master no one knew about it.
"You're the Sith," he realizes, denial and horror warring with a sudden anger. Palpatine was a Sith, this entire time. His friend, the person he always went to when he needed help, and he's the Sith. The one the Jedi were searching for, isn't he? They never knew anything about this Sith, nothing about his location that Anakin knew, but it – it makes too much sense. It would explain why Windu would have attacked him.
"Anakin," Palpatine interrupts. It's not sharp exactly, but it's not really not either and nor is it how he's ever spoken to him in the past. But it's still enough to make Anakin instantly still because he's authority and Anakin's always respected him. Palpatine's never snapped at him. He's always the patient one and it makes him feel instantly like he screwed up badly. But Palpatine's a Sith, and... "The Jedi have always told you the Sith are evil, but the Sith are not all like the ones you've interacted with. The Jedi's point of view is not the only valid one. The Dark Lords of the Sith believe in security and justice also."
"The Sith are the ones who started the war." And Maul killed Qui-Gon. Anakin can never forget that.
"Dooku and those corrupt in the Republic started the war." Palpatine corrects, "If the Jedi were always right, why would they have attempted to seize control of the Republic?"
He doesn't know. Doesn't know any of this. "I never saw what happened." All he knows is that the Sith have an Empire and the Jedi are gone, and – That would explain the darkness in the Force. But... his older-self trusted Palpatine enough to stay with him. Anakin can't forget that either. Even if he doesn't understand why or what happened, or –
"Who stood by you when the Jedi Council threw your padawan into the streets?" Palpatine demands. He sounds almost angry. It's making Anakin's gut roll. Palpatine doesn't get angry at him. That's why Anakin always liked being around him. But he is now, and it – it's making it hard to think about anything. Of course he is if he's a Sith, but – but. "Who was there for you for years when you struggled with what the Jedi wanted of you? When you wanted a life more than what they would offer you? When your master hurt you ceaselessly and refused to give you any of what you needed? I saw you needed help Anakin, and I gave it to you without question."
Guilt swells up tight inside of him, at the words. He knows that. All of that.
Palpatine was the only one who was ever always there for him. But he's a Sith, and Anakin doesn't know how much of that was ever about him at all, but he doesn't know that it wasn't either and hearing it spelled out like that makes him feel awful for even questioning it. "I – "
"The conflict in the galaxy was not a conflict between the Jedi and Sith. The Jedi sided against the Republic, and I held it together. We would have had peace, had not the survivors started a never-ending civil war, that you have been struggling to put down all this time."
He's been fighting the Jedi? He guessed but hearing it spelled out is different and he doesn't know what to do with the implications. He's so lost. He can't imagine ever doing something like that. But if it came down to a fight between the Jedi and the Republic, when the Jedi were in the wrong...
He doesn't want to think about it.
"I understand this is a lot for you to process, my boy," Palpatine says, tone shifting to something gentler again, "But you must remember that once, you believed a stronger system of government would hold the galaxy together and it has. Except for the destruction caused by those who still seek their own power over that of the Empire. But we have little time right now. I must know where your loyalties lie."
He swallows hard. His throat feels raw and dry. Still doesn't know anything about his own health condition or if he even can drink. Or eat.
Not like that's important right now.
"With the Empire," Anakin replies, finally.
At least until he understands more of what's happening. Once, he believed that if Palpatine had more power, he'd be able to do something. He doesn't know that he hasn't kept that promise. Doesn't know that he has either, but – Everything is so confusing.
But if his older-self made the choice to be here, there must be a reason. If nothing else, he can understand best what happened if he's with the Empire.
If not for the pain, maybe it would be a shred easier to process all of this.
"Good," Palpatine murmurs. "Then there is more to the... situation we are in now that you must understand."
Of course there's more. Especially when he hardly feels like he can process anything anymore.
The Jedi have always told him it was his destiny to destroy the Sith. Does this mean he failed? If the Jedi are gone? Did they really commit treason? What happened to his family?
"What?" he inquires cautiously.
"Your wife was lost at the beginning of the Empire's formation." He didn't know the chill flooding him could get any stronger. Padme's gone? "You were going to leave the Order to live with her. She was about to give birth to your child. But the Jedi would not allow it. They took her from you. I could not say what led to her death while you were separate, but they stole your child from you, raising him as a Jedi."
Because apparently, these revelations can become even more overwhelming?
He has a child.
And Padme's dead. Force. How can she be dead? Just gone? Of everyone in his family, she's the one person he never had to fear would die constantly. Danger from assassination attempts ,yes, but her duty doesn't demand constant danger like the rest. How could she be dead?
He can't even imagine that, or – a world where he was about to go live with her, only for that to be ripped away.
But the Jedi... they... they wouldn't do that, would they? But they would, if his child was strong in the Force. The child would have taken to the Order and raised as one, regardless of what Anakin or Padme wanted. And Anakin can understand the duty behind that, but –
He doesn't want to believe that everything Palpatine's saying about the Jedi is true. Anakin's always had problems with the Jedi, never been able to fit in, never been able to be what they demand of him, but for all that his bitterness grows and grows, he squashes it because it's not their fault he's defective or something, unable to be what they're demanding. No matter how much he wants a different life sometimes. But that's selfish. And the Jedi freed him. He has to be grateful for that.
"I'm not sure I understand," he offers uselessly.
Just wants time to think. But the galaxy never gives him time for that.
And he's a father. No idea how that could have happened here. It feels as unreal as everything else he's trying to process.
"The Jedi fell from what they once were. You told me before that you'd seen that, how they were no longer what you thought they were. How the war was changing them. You simply have not lived through the worst of it yet. I understand you desire to trust them, as you always have, but in this situation, you cannot afford to be naïve."
The words sting more than he wants to think about. "How do I know you are telling me everything?" Anakin forces himself to ask, even if it feels disrespectful. He is talking a Sith. Has to remember that, even if the Sith also took care of him. He can't imagine Palpatine lying to him, but he doesn't know that he's not. He doesn't know anything.
The Force fluxes violently around Palpatine, anger coloring his Force presence. "I am the only one who has been loyal to you. Even though you were a Jedi, and I was well aware that you could turn against me when you realized I did not believe in what the Jedi taught you. I thought far more highly of your loyalty than this, Anakin. Or have the teachings of the Jedi blinded you this much? Like they did when it came to your mother, to the point that you allowed her to die instead of going against what they demanded of you? Do you intend to the same thing now with me?"
Anakin jerks back, eyes welling with tears. "I don't – "
He doesn't – that's not – not what he was –
Nothing ever guts him more sometimes than the knowledge that his mother died when he was supposed to save her. That he failed her, and yes it was because he waited too long out of fear of how the Jedi would react. He's supposed to be the Chosen One, supposed to be strong enough to save everyone and he still wasn't able to save her.
He didn't mean to give Palpatine that same impression. Didn't mean to give him a reason to be this angry because there must be a reason, or he wouldn't be. Maybe he's a Sith, but he – He doesn't get like this. Wouldn't if there wasn't a reason.
"I'm sorry," Anakin offers finally, even if he's hardly sure for what. Just – something. Whatever it is he's messing up on so much.
"The Empire is no different than the Republic, except it is now less corrupt," Palpatine presses. His expression is still as sharp as before, "Slavery is no longer as rampant. The clones were freed from duty unlike in the Republic. The Jedi were the ones who changed, and you need to understand that."
The Empire helped the clones? That always felt like more than a dream than reality. The Jedi didn't do anything to help them – even if Anakin gets it because it was during the war. Doesn't mean it's something he could fully get out of his head, that it ever stopped bothering him. Especially not after Umbara.
It feels wrong to be doubting the Jedi like this, but Palpatine couldn't be flat out lying. And even if he was, what would Anakin do? He's always served the Republic, and that's what the Empire is now. The rebels aren't any different than the Separatists. He doesn't know what he believes, but he knows that much. All he can do beyond that is... watch with caution.
And the only person he once knew who he even knows is alive anymore is Palpatine. "What do you want me to do?" Anakin queries, blinking away the tears still burning his eyes.
The words are still burning deep in his heart, and they won't stop replaying in his head, either.
He's cried in front of Palpatine plenty of times before, when he was a padawan and struggling with something. And he'd always lay a hand on his shoulder and promise him that problem wasn't him, it was the other Jedi. It was the only thing that helped him survive as a padawan. He has to be honest about that.
But Palpatine has certainly never been the one to make him cry before. Ever.
Palpatine is right that he's being so ungrateful. He wouldn't have snapped at him if he didn't deserve it because he doesn't do that. Obi-Wan... does. Palpatine never has.
Still doesn't change that he's a Sith and Anakin has no idea what to do with that knowledge, but...
"Your son, Luke Skywalker, is with the Rebellion. He was raised to believe in it. You must capture him and bring him here to Coruscant. Together, we can show him the truth."
That makes sense.
If everything Palpatine said is true.
Anakin can't imagine his child siding with a bunch of rebels. Doesn't want to think about how it could be the Jedi who are fighting senselessly. He doesn't want to believe that, but he doesn't know what else to do. If nothing else, this should give him some answers and clarity on something. Maybe.
When he has time later, he's definitely doing some research on the holonet. When something other than the pain in his body can stop flooding his mind.
Either way, if he has a child, he needs to find him.
"I will find him," Anakin promises. He doesn't want his son causing senseless destruction simply because that's what he was trained to believe. And if Luke isn't fully wrong in whatever's happening, he needs to know that too. He wishes he knew what to believe.
Palpatine studies him in silence for a long moment. He can feel the way his Force presence is nudging his, and it's weird. He's never done that before. But he's also never openly used the Force before. "Skywalker and any surviving Jedi will attempt to sway you to their side," he presses, "You must remember that the very future of the galaxy is at stake. They are the ones destroying order. What you have been fighting for all these years, even if you do not remember it. You must bring Skywalker here. This is not a mission you can fail. Is that understood?"
It's a direct order. Not something he can say no to either. Not something he knows how to say no too.
"Yes."
Doesn't know how he's supposed to address him. All he does know is that he still wants to cry.
He doesn't doubt the seriousness of this situation, but he's so confused on how any of it makes sense. But he does need to find Luke.
Somehow.
Once he's able to even begin processing everything he just heard.
**w**
Palpatine's words are still replaying on repeat through Anakin's mind on repeat.
He still doesn't know what to think about the Republic or the Jedi or Palpatine or – or any of it. But he has direct instructions from Palpatine, and he can't just ignore that. Not when he doesn't have a reason to, because the truth is, a conflict between the Jedi and Sith isn't the same as something going on between the Jedi and the Empire.
First things first, Anakin looks up on the ship records the names of everyone important. Apparently, his Admiral – the person who was talking to him earlier – is Piett.
He makes a mental note of all the important names,
The Millenium Falcon must be the ship they're looking for.
Anakin looks over the recent records of what they've been doing, next. There are details of a battle on Hoth that he doesn't look at closely, before he heads up to the bridge.
He's still getting used to walking and it's beyond frustrating. The pain and inability to even move properly make it hard to think of anything.
Best to just do as he's told, like he always has. Doesn't know what else he'd do anyway.
"What's the status on the Falcon?" Anakin inquires. He hates how his voice sounds. Hates how he can hardly see anything, either. Hates how everything is shaded in red. Everything about this is exhausting.
He doesn't know why everyone seems so stiff around him, but it's frustrating him too.
"It's still in the asteroid field," Piett replies.
"Follow them," Anakin instructs, "Our ship will be able to withstand far more than theirs." They have shields, and if he's up here on the bridge, he can move aside any asteroids that come too close, with the Force.
The Admiral looks wary, but he orders the ship moved forward, into the field in pursuit. The Falcon also has a far greater chance of maneuverability, but there's only so long they can hide out there. They just need to catch up with them.
Anakin stays on board to watch for a while. Now that he's not moving anymore, he doesn't want to start again. Moving hurts. Hurts too much to let him think about anything, but at least the pain is distracting for all the things he has to think about. His head is practically pounding from the overload of information he's struggling to process.
How could the Jedi be gone? He – he's working with the people who destroyed them. It makes the guilt inside of him grow even deeper, and he doesn't know what to do.
"Or have the teachings of the Jedi blinded you this much? Like they did when it came to your mother, to the point that you allowed her to die?"
Doesn't want to think about that a moment longer, but it's haunting him because of how true it is. Because Palpatine isn't wrong about that, but that doesn't mean it was all the Jedi's fault. Doesn't mean...
Ugh.
He wishes Obi-Wan was here, so he could ask him what to do. So he could go to someone else to ask. (He doesn't even know if Obi-Wan is still alive.)
The Admiral approaches him again, some minutes later. "The bounty hunters has arrived," he tells him.
...Bounty hunters?
Did his older-self call them in for help? It must be serious, if he got in contact with people like that. "Where are they?" Anakin queries.
"In the hanger."
He nods slightly, suppressing the reluctance he has to start walking again when he hates even having to move right now. One wrong step and he'll fall. But this isn't about him. It's not like he hasn't fought a battle with a pounding headache and broken ribs before. This isn't anything worse.
None of the bounty hunters waiting in the hanger are familiar, except... is that Boba Fett? Anakin would recognize him anywhere. He remembers him far too well – he destroyed an entire cruiser full of his own brothers, just to get to Windu.
Anakin can understand his anger, knows it far too personally. Boba did watch Windu kill his father, like how Anakin dealt with the Tuskens killing his mother. But Boba killed his own brothers, who had nothing to do with what happened. And that is something Anakin cannot begin to make sense of.
He explains the situation to the bounty hunters. "I want everyone on board the ship alive," Anakin adds, "Do not harm them." He doesn't want Luke's friends being hurt, either. Still doesn't understand the full extents of the situation.
Now, all Anakin can do is wait.
It'd be best to get back up to the bridge and see what's happening.
One of the captains approaches him as soon as he gets back on the deck. Needa, Anakin thinks his name was. "We lost the ship, my lord," he says, radiating that insane level of anxiety again.
Why are they calling him that again?
Wait is that –
No, that can't be right.
They can't be addressing him the title people would Sith, would they? That doesn't – He would never become a Sith. He would never Fall. That doesn't make sense. Palpatine never mentioned anything about that. Right? But he – anxiety tightens in his gut at the mere thought of calling back to talk to him.
Anakin turns his attention back to what Needa said, instead. "Lost it?" he repeats, "It jumped to hyperspace from the asteroid field?" That couldn't possibly be right.
"The ship moved into attack position in front of us, but then it flew past us, and... disappeared. I cannot explain what happened."
Anakin closes his eyes, reaching out with the Force. He can't find a shred of calm right now. All he can feel is his growing frustration and hopelessness and desperation. No, he can't let himself start drowning in that. He's supposed to be a Jedi. Supposed to be better than this.
But he's also fighting against the Jedi. Isn't he? What's wrong with him? But if this is for the galaxy, then what's the right choice? Maybe he's already becoming exactly what he was supposed to destroy.
But is he? He has no idea.
It's so exhausting and frustrating that he genuinely just wants to cry. Because he does believe in the Empire. Doesn't see a reason he shouldn't. Not if was reformed from the Republic. And yet...
"Pull us out of the asteroid field," he orders, turning away.
He's certain he still senses the ship close by, but he can't pinpoint where. For now, he'll have to wait for the bounty hunters to find something.
Final Notes: Reviews are always appreciated! ^-^
Come hang out on Discord (delete spaces), discord . gg / nqSxuz2 or find us on tumblr at fanfictasia (our more serious blog which does have controversial posts on it; I won't be offended if you choose to block it, promise), and disastertriowriting (which is our fun blog with crack posts or incorrect SW quotes)
We've got a YT channel for tributes! (delete the spaces) youtube channel / UC_g1M5rSCxJUzQCRS29B6pA
ALSO: We have SW gift request forms for General, Anakin-Clones-centric, and Bad Batch fics. :D (delete spaces) bit . ly / CourtesyTrefflinFicRequests