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Darth Sidious thought it a glorious plan. A sinister smile stretched across his face as he gazed into the wide shallow basin filled with the blood from the corpse laying haphazardly at his feet.
He could still see his glorious Empire rising from the blood soaked hands of the Chosen One. His vision had still been clear.
The Dark side of the force was a pathway to many abilities, some considered to be unnatural-and he was going to force those pathetic Jedi to see just a hint-a delightfully agonizing and bloody hint- of what the Dark side held. What their future held.
The Jedi Council would not possibly be able to trust in their precious Chosen One after seeing the glimpses of what he would show them. They would probably even expel him from the Order. Their fear would drive their prophesied Chosen One right to him.
It was perfect. He drew the dark side to himself as he prepared to give the masters of the Jedi Council his dark vision.
~~**~~
They had been meditating together within the mid morning light in the Council chamber when it had begun.
Darkness clouded the Force before-
“Henceforth you shall be known as Darth…Vader.”
Anakin Skywalker's face- older, darker lifted to gaze up at the speaker of the deep voice as he knelt before the dark figure. Anakin's face blurred with a dark ominous mask; death given form. Slow heavy breathing was all they could hear before-
A blue blade sliced the hand holding a purple lightsaber. Master Windu cried out in pain. Then-
Screaming!
Fear and terror suffocated them as flashes of the hooded Anakin Vader marched on the temple with a legion of soldiers at his back. Death, so much death! Anakin Vader showed no mercy. Striking down all in his path. None could stand against him. Masters, knights and padawans fell in a desperate attempt to protect their home. But Anakin Vader’s skill and power could not be matched.
“Master Skywalker! There are to many of them-what are we going to do?”
The snap hiss of a blue blade igniting before…Shock. Screaming. Crying. Fear. Betrayal shone out of dimming eyes in small, confused faces. Younglings with tear-stained cheeks lay motionless-
Waves of lava crashed against towering columns. A violent backdrop to the vicious battle between light and dark. Blue blades clashing together in a flurry of deadly light as Obi wan fought to stop his fallen pupil. Despair. Sorrow. Horror.
“You were the Chosen One! It was said you would destroy the Sith not join them!”
“You were my brother Anakin-I loved you!”
“I HATE YOU!”
Anakin Vader screamed. The smell of burning flesh filled their nostrils-chocking them.
The mask descended. Slow, heavy breathing. The even mechanical breath became a constant, ever-present noise.
A red blade slicing through the dark. Screaming. Cries of mercy falling on deaf ears. Scores of innocents falling to the rage of the dark lord.
Jedi hunted down and slaughtered.
And still the constant, even breathing of the life support suit fill their ears.
The Council gasped as they were released from the joint vision.
“Grave, this is.” Yoda’s voice was pained, his ears drooped low.
~~**~~
Obi-Wan didn't know why he was being called to see the Council in the late afternoon. Perhaps they had a new mission for he and Anakin… except they had sent for him alone. He had offered to fetch his padawan who was off in the training Dojo with the other padawans practicing their katas; though in Anakin's case more than likely showing off- but the Council had been adamant that he come to them alone.
When he entered the Council chamber, all the Masters wore varying expressions of forced neutrality as they made every effort to hid the strife behind steel walls.
When they spoke it was carefully controlled. They spoke of a fallen Jedi. One that would bring about the end of the Jedi, that would destroy all of them, then turn his burning gaze upon the galaxy and bestow unimaginable suffering. The vision that they spoke of with each new detail grew more and more horrifying. Obi-Wan felt the Force churn with the emotions they released to the Force. Sorrow. Grief. Anger.
When they finally told Obi-Wan that it was Anakin who would do this. That he would become a Sith. Obi-Wan couldn't believe it, “No, surely, it’s a mistake! Anakin he-he could never do that!” Anakin was the most kind and loving person Obi-Wan had ever known. His precious padawan cared so much for those around him…. Obi-Wan knew that Anakin was prone to attachment, but he always felt so deeply…perhaps too deeply…. he just wanted to help. By no means was he perfect-he had a temper but Anakin wasn't cruel, he had a good heart and he was loyal to a fault.
Master Yoda shook his head sadly, “Speak truly, we do.”
Unshed tears burned in Obi-Wan's eyes, “but we can change it, right? Can't we? We can stop what ever happens to Anakin to turn him into…into…”
"Much deliberation was done," Yoda hummed solemnly, "Many hours..."
Master Windu's face was hard, his voice terse, “The council has come to a decision.”
The look on all the Council's faces made Obi-Wan stiffen, “You’re expelling him?”
“No.” Windu replied in a clipped tone, giving nothing away.
Obi-Wan relaxed-maybe they've thought of a way to help Anakin here in the temple.
Eeth Koth shook his head at Obi-Wan, “expelling him could possibly be the very thing that sets him on his dark path.”
Saesee Tiin tilted his head with thinned eyes, “we cannot know that for sure. It could be that he would always end up falling.”
“I don't trust him…” Mace Windu grunted out.
With sad eyes, Shaak Ti spoke with a soft imploring voice-willing the knight to understand, “There is only one way to make sure he can never fall-can never become a Sith and bring such destruction down upon us all and the galaxy.”
All the Council members nodded. Mace's face could have been carved from stone when he spoke, “His too dangerous to be left alive.”
Obi-Wan felt as if the ground had dropped out from underneath him, “No! No! He hasn't done anything yet! It was one vision! One possible future! Surely there's some other way! Any other way!”
They shook their heads, Adi Gallia speaking for them, “We cannot afford to miss the only chance of protecting the galaxy. "
“Please don't do this!” the knight begged.
“We must think of what is best for the galaxy. We cannot hold one individual above the many…” Plo Koon said solemnly, "I am sorry Obi-wan. I wish there was another way."
Ki-Adi-Mundi shook his head at Obi-Wan. “Your attachment is clouding your judgment-you must let go…”
A commotion outside the doors erupted and a moment later Anakin was led into the chamber by two temple guards. Anakin look startled and confused. He glanced between Obi-Wan and the Council members, “Master?” Anakin shifted uneasily, “Is this because I snuck out of the temple to go watch a pod race in the lower levels the other week?” he glanced around at hard faces in the room, “okay, so maybe I participated too-"
Obi-Wan beseeched the Council again, “Please, don't do this-I’ll take him away! Far away and I'll make sure he doesn't hurt anyone!”
Yoda shook his head sadly, “Decided, it has been. No other course to take, we can.” Yoda held out his hands. The light sabers on both Anakin's and Obi-Wan's belts flew to be clutched in the small Grandmaster’s hands.
In the same moment Master Windu placed Force dampening cuffs around Anakin's wrists.
Obi-Wan felt hands grasp his arms as he tried to struggle to get to his padawan. “Pleas don't do this!” He cried.
“Master?!” Anakin was sacred. He didn't know what was going on. He hadn't done anything to warrant this reaction from the Council! Anakin stared down at his Master's face -his padawan had grown so much and grew more distressed. “I-I'm sorry for whatever it is-I won't do it again!” the guards held him fast as Anakin glanced at each of the Council Masters, he found no reprieve there. Turning back to his struggling Master, Anakin pleaded, “Master what's happening? What did I do?” Anakin felt panic rise up in his chest as he fruitlessly struggled against the cuffs baring him access to the wellspring of the Force, “Help me!”
More Masters intervened to hold the struggling pair fast as their attempts became more desperate. Obi-Wan's please fell on deaf ears, “surely there's another way! Don't do this! Please! Don't do this!”
Master Windu ignited his purple blade, “As I said before-his too dangerous to be left alive.”
“Mast-" Anakin gasped, mouth gaping open in surprise.
Obi-Wan watched as Anakin's blue eyes widened in shock and confusion then betrayal before the purple blade was withdrawn back through his chest. Anakin teetered for a moment, his long padawan braid swaying with his movements, before collapsing with a thud. Blank blue eyes gazed out at the nothingness, void of all life.
“NO!” Obi-Wan’s knees buckled as he screamed. It felt like Mace’s blade had burned through his heart too.
In the same moment that the light died from the Chosen One's eyes the Force shrieked. It howled out Its agony at the loss of Its son.
The Jedi collapsed under the weight of the agony in the Force. The Force buckled at the loss of Its child. The son whom It had created to bring balance to Itself. The mortal that was of the very Force Itself. It turned Its furry to those that took what was not theirs to take. As they had forsaken apart of Itself, It would forsake them in return. The dark half of Its being roared as It grasped hold of Its own essence that had bonded within each of them and ripped.
In all the centuries Yoda had lived he had never felt such pain…and then suddenly there was an all consuming silence. It was as if he had become blind, deaf and dumb in but an instant as the void engulf the space were the Force once was. His connection to all of the life that surrounded him vanished in an agonizing blaze.
The grand master looked around with eyes that saw so much less, to see that all the other Masters were as lost and empty as himself.
What had they done?
The Force turned Its focus to the being laying on the ground opposite Its son. Tears streamed down his pale splotchy cheeks and fell into his beard. Obi-Wan couldn't take his eyes off the blank gaze of his padawan, his brother…his best friend. Eyes that used to be so full of emotion, from turbulent oceans in a storm to crystal clear seas that their depths knew no bounds…. now the very oceans had dried up, the crystal seas poisoned by death. All because he failed him. He reached helplessly out to try and find Anakin's presence in the Force but he was met with a void. A cold dark emptiness where once there was a bright star that shone brighter than a supernova. He tried to grasp at anything within the cold emptiness but there was nothing there. He was gone. Anakin was gone. He couldn't protect him, he wasn't strong enough to shield him from the world. He wasn't wise enough to guide him on a path that would not have led to destruction. He should have been better.
…He should have taken Anakin far away, a long time ago. Should have left the Order. An Order that was so opposite to Anakin. The boy who felt too much, loved too much- with everything his being had to offer. Chastised for his heart. A heart that saw the individual and found the one just as worthy as the many.
He couldn't look away from those blank blue eyes… couldn't help but still grasp for something-anything in the emptiness.
The Force’s Light stretched Itself out, wrapping Its comfort and peace around the mortal, beloved companion of Its son. The Darkness cocoon him, It shielded with Its vicious rage, armored plating of furry and suffering, like a beast guarding that which was theirs, biting and snarling at any who came too close… It’s two sides were in agreement; It had claimed Obi-Wan. The Light tucked close to the precious mortal; a buffer between the delicate human and his ferocious eldritch protector.
The Force knew what needed to be done. It would trust this one. This one, It would make certain that he would be able to keep It’s son safe until the time comes to fulfill his destiny, his purpose, to bring balance. It would open his eyes, the Light and the Dark would show him-guide him, make him stronger, give him power- strong enough, powerful enough to bear the burden of Itself.
The Force flared, dragging Obi-Wan safely, softly, hush little one back to the before. Before Its child’s life was taken away. Before the Jedi plotted the execution of their Chosen One. Before the Council saw visions of darkness and death. Before Sidious' twisted manipulations ruined everything. The Darkness hissed-willfully ignoring the dark sider’s demands. The Light cooed, bringing back the Darkness’s focus, back to the delicate life It held within Itself.
Obi-Wan had been staring into cold dead blue eyes. You're fault. He blinked and then he wasn't.
He wasn't lying on the cold hard ground of the Council chamber. He was standing in his and Anakin's his dead your fault quarters staring down at his cup of tea in his hands, the steam wafting off the heated liquid. He frowned down at the cup. He didn't remember coming back to his and Anakin's no his dead. DEAD quarters. Why did he make tea? Doesn't matter. Anakin is dead. Your fault.
There was a sound of foot steps and shuffling. Obi-Wan forced himself to look up, gazing blankly across the space of the kitchen - maybe whoever it was could tell him why they brought him here. Not that it matters. They should have killed him too. Anakin is dead. His brother is DEAD. Obi-Wan returned to staring at his cup.
“Morning Master!” the happy yet sleep tinged voice shook Obi-Wan. Had he descended into madness so quickly that he would forever hear the sound of his dead padawan’s voice? Obi-Wan looked up.
The sound of porcelain shattering echoed throughout the room. Obi-Wan stared, mouth gaping, at the being before him, “An…Anakin?” Obi-Wan shot forward enveloping his padawan within his arms. “Your real! Your alive! By the Force-Your alive!”
Anakin chuckled; the sound made Obi-Wan's heart sing. He never thought that he would ever hear the boy's happiness again. “Of course I am Master,” Anakin's smiling face turned worried, “Master? Are you all right?”
Obi-Wan reached up and cupped his face, “as of right now-I’m perfectly alright.” Tears glittered in Obi-Wan's eyes. “Anakin-Dear One-know that I love you and I won't let anyone hurt you.” Why had he not said these words before? Why had he been so adamant at keeping his brother at arm’s length? Because of the Code? Kriff the Code-he knew now what if felt like to lose Anakin and it was as if he had lost half of his soul. Obi-Wan gently brushed the bond that they shared, overjoyed to feel Anakin’s golden burning light interwoven within his own.
The Force whispered in his mind, Protect him…keep him safe…protect him…leave…LEAVE…GO!
“Pack your bags. Take everything you need…we're leaving and…we're not coming back.” Obi-Wan regretfully let go.
Anakin’s confused expression deepened, “what do you mean we're leaving? Why?”
“It's not safe for you here.” Obi-Wan stressed. Hard faces set in stone, staring as a purple blade ignited.
“I don't understand. The temple is one of the safest places in the galaxy.” Anakin frowned.
Dead blue eyes staring unseeingly off into the distance, as the Force screamed in agony, “not anymore-not for you.”
“What's that supposed to mean?”
“They kill you!” Obi-Wan didn’t mean to shout.
Anakin jerked back, “what?”
“The council had a vision-a…terrible vision of you,” Obi wan could feel tears blur his vision, he blinked them away, unwilling to cloud the sight of Anakin alive in front of him. “You've done nothing and they killed you for what might happen-“ ocean eyes devoid of life No! He couldn't let that happen-to hell with the Code! He knew he was attached but he didn't care. The Force sung its whispered praise; protect, love, MINE.
“Did you have a nightmare?” Anakin asked concerned.
“No, no it was no dream, it was real-" Obi-Wan looked at the chronometer; it was the same day…but the time read early morning, “its happening today! The Force-it was…angry…so, so angry…it sent me back! You can't die! You're not allowed to die-it won't allow you to die! I wont allow you to die!” Leave. Protect. Son. Love. Purpose. Balance. Mine. GO!
Anakin felt the Force swirl protectively around him and his Master. His connection to his parent was stronger than ever, as It whispered the truth in Obi-Wan's words. He had never seen nor felt his Master precious Master in such distress. He trusted Obi Wan more than anyone. “Okay, I'll gather my things.” Anakin turned to return to his room.
“Anakin…” the boy man, his so tall, when did get so tall turned back to face his Master best friend, brother , “I'm sorry you won't become a Jedi knight…I-I have to protect you." Yes, Protect. Love. Mine.
“It's Okay, Master. I understand.” The boy man smiled, broad and full of light. His essence in the Force burned bright and warm a void, he wasn't there any more, so cold without his light “As long as your with me, it doesn't matter.” Mine.
The pair quickly gathered their things. Obi-Wan took one last look at their apartment. So many happy memories made here. You will make many more now. Go. Empty eyes. Cold, so cold. With renewed determination Obi-Wan closed the door for the last time.
The pair had snuck onto a ship in the temple hanger and as Anakin sat in the pilot’s chair preparing the launch sequence, his hand hovered over the controls for a moment, “Obi-Wan?” His Master hummed in acknowledgment, “Do you think…could we…” the boy man bit his lip for a moment, glancing up at his Master brother, Obi-Wan's open expression eased the words from his mouth, “Can we save my mother? Free my mom?”
Obi-Wan nodded. He would do anything for this man boy, his still so young. Protect him. Teach him. Love him.
“Of course, Dear Heart.”
Anakin's smile was blinding a face devoid of life, empty, so cold. Obi-Wan would protect him, none shall harm him. The Force wills it so. It whispers he will bring balance. He has purpose-Destiny. Protect. MINE.
OURS!
The End