Chapter 34 – The Awakening

Author's Note: The next arc is also a direct continuation of this one. :)

~ Amina Gila

Anakin wakes up to pain throbbing through every inch of his body. His connection to the Force feels strained, aching like a fresh bruise, when he draws on it. He's never suffered from overuse of the Force, but this is how it's been described, so he can guess that's the cause.

Memories filter back in rapidly, and he swallows back a groan as he forces himself upright. The room spins wildly around him, and behind it, he can feel the blur of what must be hyperspace. Almost no life is nearby, and that means he must be safe. He doesn't know how he got here, but as he reaches out, he can sense Obi-Wan and Reva, and relief sweeps through him.

He tries to retract his nanosuit, but it only sparks, so he reaches up to pry off his helmet. He'll have to repair it whenever they return to Tatooine. The mechanisms are badly damaged from his fight with the Predator.

The Predator.

Only now does Anakin fully understand and appreciate the moniker. Whoever is behind that helmet, the name suits him. Anakin is not ready to encounter him again anytime soon. The thought alone fills him with dread. He cannot forget the way that the Predator tracked him with ease through the streets of Daiyu, tugging at his presence, and it makes him afraid to close his eyes lest it happen again. He's never seen or heard of such a power before, and if the Predator can do that, what else can he do?

Is Anakin safe from him anywhere?

It's not a question he wants to dwell on, and he draws on the Force a little more to keep himself upright and conscious. It'll take him time to recover from the fight, time in which to figure out his next moves, but that's something he'll get to once he finds out where they are and once he's returned home.

Strange, that Tatooine has become home to him. Stranger still, that he feels comfortable there in a way that he never has in the past. When he returns, he'll undoubtedly need to go into a bacta tank for a while. He's injured, and it could be worse. He suspects the only reason it isn't is that he can vaguely sense Reva's presence, as though she was trying to heal him. Fondness rises and then worry comes with it. Granted, his memory of what happened after the Predator's lightning consumed him is blurred, but he thinks he might have hurt Reva.

Another thing he'll have to check on her about.

He tries to stand, but he doesn't get far before his legs give out from under him, dropping him back to the floor with a strangled gasp. No standing then. His body is too drained to agree with any movement now that the worst of the danger is passed.

Footsteps draw his attention, and he looks up to see Reva approaching, Obi-Wan following her. The girl lets out a cry of relief when she sees him sitting there, running the last few feet and dropping to her knees next to him. "Dad, you're awake! We were worried."

"I'm okay," Anakin promises her instinctively and then winces at her disbelieving expression. "I will be," he amends. "I've been hurt before."

She studies him, not quite accepting it, and his chest tightens with regret. Reva should never have been dragged into the middle, and if not for Obi-Wan, she might have died. But then, if not for both of them, he might have died. It's not something he wants to examine too closely, so instead, he reaches out, hand on her shoulder as he pulls her a little closer.

"Thank you for protecting her," he says, eyes flickering to Obi-Wan, and the knot of emotion tightens further. He feels so much on seeing his former master again, more than he knows how to express aloud – or at all. They've been apart for so long, and now that Obi-Wan is really, truly here, Anakin suddenly doesn't know what to say. He doesn't know how to speak to him, and he'd feel worse about it than he does if not for the fact that he can see Obi-Wan feels the same way.

"Of course," Obi-Wan answers, nodding, taking a few steps toward them and crouching down so they're at eye-level. "I would not allow a child to come to harm."

"Are you alright?" Anakin questions, turning his focus to Reva.

"Yes," she replies, "Master Kenobi protected me." She fumbles in her pocket before pulling out the severed pieces of Dooku's lightsaber. "Here, I picked this up for you."

Anakin takes them, feeling the kyber's mournful song, the way it tugs at him. It's grown used to him, and it seeks him out now that Dooku is gone. Or perhaps, it is somehow able to sense that Dooku passed it on to Anakin and has therefore moved on as well. When he returns home, he'll repair it. Or rather, he'll try to, at least. Perhaps it might be best to redesign a lightsaber, different from the ones he's had in the past, one that contains both kybers. That way, he can switch the color if needed. It will be useful if he intends to continue to fill the role of the Shadow away from Tatooine.

With the Predator on his trail, being able to assume a different persona entirely might be beneficial, though he has no doubt that the Predator will find him even if as Anakin. For whatever reason, the Predator believes that Anakin is responsible for the destruction of the Jedi Order and only now does he wonder if the Predator thinks that Anakin helped with it.

"Thank you," he tells his daughter, laying a hand on her arm.

Her smile is a little shaky, but it's still genuine, and it relieves him to see it.

"Did I hurt you?" he inquires hesitantly. "I think– I think I remember shocking you."

"You didn't mean to," she replies instantly. "You would never hurt me. You weren't coherent."

Anakin doesn't know that he's able to let it go so easily, but at least she's not upset about it. That matters more.

He lets out another breath, and then looks back at Obi-Wan, who is watching. "C'mere, old man," he mutters, smirking tiredly at Obi-Wan's almost offended huff, but his former master still comes to his other side. Anakin doesn't hesitate to tug him closer, pulling him into a hug and burying his face against Obi-Wan's shoulder. He's missed him. So much. It's been a long time since he's had the comforting warmth of Obi-Wan's hand on his shoulder, since he's heard his voice, since he's felt his Force presence brushing up against his own.

"I missed you," Anakin says softly, relaxing further when Obi-Wan hugs him back.

"I did as well," Obi-Wan admits, a rare show of emotion. "I've been searching for you, but you're hard to find."

Anakin laughs, pulling back to look at Obi-Wan's face. He seems a little older, his hair a little grayer than when Anakin last saw him, but he's still Obi-Wan. "I've been on Tatooine," he tells him, "though it's not a well-known enough planet for you to have heard about the change in power, I imagine."

Obi-Wan gapes at him. "Tatooine? You once swore that nothing in the galaxy could take you back."

He makes a face at the reminder. "Yes. That was then. I needed to hide. Reva and I…" He trails off, glancing at the girl, who is sitting next to him, almost leaning against his side. "We laid low for a while, but eventually, I had to act. I killed Jabba and took control under the name of Jacen Starkiller. I freed the slaves," he adds softly.

Obi-Wan huffs. "Of course, you did." His voice is fond, and Anakin ducks his head, looking away. This is what he's missed. He's missed having a parent. "That led you to… exploring the Dark?" The question is hesitant, as though he's unsure how it will be received.

"Yeah," Anakin replies. He has nothing to hide. Though a part of him will always crave Obi-Wan's approval, he also has learned how to forge his own path. After so much time in exile, he had no other choice, especially with Reva depending on him.

He straightens a bit, clearing his throat. "I had to learn," he explains. "After I touched it at the Temple, I had no choice but to learn to control it or it would control me. I– I had help. You remember Aayla?" He continues when Obi-Wan nods. "She's there. She survived, got picked up by slavers, and I rescued her when I killed Jabba. She's been helping me."

There's a painfully long pause. "Do I need to worry about another little Skywalker running around?" Obi-Wan asks finally.

Anakin gapes at him, flushing when he realizes what Obi-Wan means. "No," he says roughly. "Just– just the one. Padme–" And then he can't say anymore, emotion rising to choke him as he looks away. Reva's small hand slips into his and squeezes.

"I touched the Dark." Her voice is small. "I was scared that he would– and I– I'm sorry, Dad."

Reva gives him the perfect distraction from thoughts of Padme and their child, so he turns to her. "It's okay," he promises her. "Every Force user has brushes with the Dark Side. Mom and I will help you, okay. We'll train you. I'll train you so that you don't lose control."

"Okay," she whispers with a small smile, though this one is less certain and less real.

"Mom?" Obi-Wan questions, bemused.

"Aayla," Anakin elaborates. "She and I are just friends, but– but Reva needed stability. She's our kid now. A lot has changed since we last saw one another."

"Clearly."

From Obi-Wan's tone, it's clear he's not sure how to process all of it, and Anakin can relate. It's… a lot to take in all at once, but now that Obi-Wan is here, Anakin doesn't want him to leave. The Predator is after him, and with Obi-Wan at his side, he probably stands a better chance at… handling it.

"You're still using your lightning," Obi-Wan notes after a momentary pause.

Anakin shrugs. "It only comes if I'm… desperate. I can't control it." That's probably part of what led to him accidentally shocking Reva.

"Do you think your old master has one more lesson for you?" Obi-Wan asks dryly. "I'm not a Sith, and I don't know much about the Dark or lightning, but the one thing I can teach you is how to stay controlled. You always struggled with that lesson as a padawan."

Anakin gives him an uncertain look, unsure if he's teasing or criticizing until he sees the slight quirk of Obi-Wan's mouth. "I know," he answers, looking away with a frown. "I feel… deeply. I don't always know how to find a center. I– I don't know if it'll help, but I– at this point, I'm willing to try anything."

If he'd known known how to harness that power, he thinks he could have diffused the blast that the Predator threw at him. He might not have won the fight, but he wouldn't have lost. He wouldn't have ended up so close to death that Obi-Wan and Reva had to step in and save him.

Obi-Wan touches his shoulder fleetingly. "Alright," he says, "I'll try."

"Do or do not, there is no try," Anakin deadpans, and the three of them laugh. It's a relief after the tension and fear of the last many hours. "Where are we going, anyway?"

He should have asked sooner, and he probably would have if his mind wasn't so scrambled and if his body wasn't so worn. He should know better than to let down his guard, especially so soon after such a resounding defeat.

"To another world, I don't know the name," Obi-Wan answers. "I had a contact who got us off Daiyu on a cargo ship. Someone will meet us upon our destination and get us somewhere safe from where we should be able to procure a ship to go anywhere we want."

Anakin nods slowly. "You trust this contact?"

"Bail did."

And well, Anakin can't really ask for more of a guarantee than that. If Bail trusted the man, then Anakin has no choice but to trust him, too. He's not really in a fighting condition. Actually, he's not in a condition to do much of anything at all. If Kix was here, he'd be scolding Anakin for even daring to sit. He ought to lie down and rest, but he can't, not yet.

"Okay," he says, swallowing. His throat is dry. "We need to get back to Tatooine as quickly as possible. And we need to figure out what we plan to do next."

Already, his mind is beginning to race. He needs to find out who the Predator is. He cannot fight the Empire if the Predator is hunting for him. He also lost the only trail he has for Maul, and Maul is something else he needs to deal with. He doesn't know what they'll do now. They have two threats that need to be faced – and quickly, at that.

The Predator and Maul.

He doesn't know where to begin. Maybe –

"Not now," Obi-Wan tells him firmly, interrupting his train of thought. He reaches out, hand settling on Anakin's shoulder. He can't feel it clearly with his armor, but it's there, and it still warms his chest. "You should lay back down and get some rest. Reva and I can keep watch. You should probably drink something, too. Maybe eat a few bites as well."

It's been so long since he's had Obi-Wan to fuss over him, and Anakin chokes on the gratitude that rises in his throat. He doesn't have to do this alone, and since Obi-Wan is here, he can let himself fall into the feeling of being taken care of by the only true father figure he has ever had – and Qui-Gon doesn't count since he was there, but he never raised Anakin like Obi-Wan.

"Alright," Anakin answers, and he can see a flicker of surprise on Obi-Wan's face. He must have expected that Anakin wouldn't give in so easily. "Wake me if something happens?"

Obi-Wan nods. "Of course."

Maybe he's not safe from the Predator, and maybe he never will be again, but he's probably as safe as he can get for now.

**w**

When the call came in, requesting reinforcements at the Imperial outpost on Daiyu, Inquiere hadn't especially wanted to go, not when the report also contained a mention of the person who did it. He has not seen the Predator since his attack on the Inquisitor's command center on Coruscant months ago. He has seen the aftermath, but the Empire has never been contacted when an attack is actively occurring.

Until now.

Inquiere doesn't want to go, but he does it anyway, because it's his duty as a servant of the Empire. As a servant of the Emperor. The galaxy will not see peace until the Predator is dealt with. Inquiere does not, of course, go alone. The Ninth Sister comes with him – she has unfinished business with the Predator, and the hatred she feels for him, having left her delimbed and almost dead, only rivals the hatred that Inquiere knows the Emperor himself feels.

The Fourth and Seventh Sisters come, too, and Inquiere hopes that between the four of them, they can neutralize the Predator this time. He knows from past experience that they cannot split up. They must force him into the open to kill him once and for all.

They lock down the port, but it doesn't seem to matter, because a sweep of the city turns up with nothing. If the Predator is still here, he's hiding, presumably so deep underground that they cannot locate him.

Inquiere saw the destruction overhead when they were coming in to land, and it's only worse on the ground. The four of them go out on foot, searching for the Predator and anyone who might be able to tell them what happened. The air is still filled with ash and smoke in this part of the city, and bodies are still on the ground. He can feel the death and pain in the Force. Whatever happened here, it was… intense.

They don't find the Predator, but they do find a new type of weapon that Inquiere has only heard rumors about until now.

Kyber weapons.

They are mainly blasters, but there is a rifle, and he orders the stormtroopers to round up and confiscate every single one they can find. The Emperor must be informed, and he will probably not be pleased. Even if there is a limited number of kyber crystals that can be made into weapons, even one is dangerous, and this looks to be more than just a small handful.

And while they can't find the Predator, there are many eyewitnesses who saw the Predator on the planet. Apparently, he was fighting someone, something that Inquiere had begun to question from the vivid lightsaber marks in some places.

The Fourth Sister brings in a man who is altogether too happy to tell them everything he knows.

"He was fighting someone," the man confirms. "Guy had a sword just like your Predator. Only thing is that it was red, and he was wearing some real funny armor. The Predator set a building on fire," he continues. "Weirdest thing I ever saw. The flames are purple, and they ain't dying out. Last person who got too close turned into ash."

Of course, that begs investigation, and Inquiere had expected something, anything other than the reality. The man wasn't lying. One of the buildings is burning yet not, purple flames hungrily licking at its surface but not destroying it entirely. The fire should die out, but it's not, and it feels wrong in the Force. It feels unnatural, and even the Dark shies away.

He gives the building a final, calculating look before turning away. "We must report this to the Emperor at once."

**w**

The moment Sidious hears the news, he feels a chill go down his spine.

Fear.

He wastes no time in going to Daiyu himself, instructing his apprentice to remain at the site of the undying flames and ensure that they do not spread. The Predator is dabbling with powers he does not understand, and all that remains between Her and the galaxy is Sidious himself. He does not delude himself into believing that he is the galaxy's savior. He knows exactly what and who he is, but he also knows that for him to have the power he seeks, he must protect the galaxy in his own way.

A pity, really, that he didn't succeed in killing every last Jedi. They are so desperate, so unwilling to concede defeat, that they will turn to Her for help… and that will be their undoing. Theirs and the entire galaxy's with them. How arrogant is the Predator to think that he can wield Her power without consequences?

But there is someone who stood up to the Predator, someone who did not die easily – if at all – and Sidious is intrigued. The moment he steps onto Daiyu, he can feel the echoes, echoes that only grow stronger as the speeder takes him through the streets. It's been over a year, yet he still knows his chosen apprentice's Force presence.

Anakin Skywalker was here.

He stood up to the Predator and lived to tell the tale.

Though when Sidious climbs from the speeder and regards the undying purple flames, he realizes that whatever pride he might feel at Skywalker's strength was perhaps felt too soon. The fight was not just a fight between Skywalker and the Predator. It was also a fight between Her and the Force. Two opposites that cannot exist in the same galaxy. Either the Force's order or Her chaos must prevail. The galaxy is not big enough for both.

The fight was violent enough that Sidious can feel the cracks in reality. Cracks that have not broken open to the other side but cracks nevertheless. The flames are only a symptom of what's coming. They are a herald of Her.

He reaches out, gritting his teeth against the unnatural wrongness that crawls over his skin when the Force he is wielding brushes the tendrils of Her power. He knows how to bear it, and he knows how to close rifts.

He's done it before.

This, though, is not even a rift, and he clenches his hand into a fist, letting the Force wash over the flames to smother them, pushing away the bits of Her power and cleansing it. The building stops burning, and he can feel the startled eyes of his apprentice and the Inquisitors on him, but he does not look back.

Better that they do not know about Her or Her powers. It is a knowledge that they may wish to misuse, not understanding what it is that they will bring onto the galaxy should they play with things they cannot comprehend. They did not see what Sidious saw. They do not know what he does.

Whatever it takes and no matter the costs, Sidious will destroy those who seek to unleash Her.

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