thefinaljedi | Appointments

[Which is probably good thing as Anakin turns sharply at Luke's approach. He does not move from where he is standing though, he is unsure if could stop himself after making so much as a single step.]

I want the full truth. Tell me everything.

[It's quick and to the point and he just stares at Luke. Hurting his son is the last thing he wants, but his conflict over the thought of possibly being lied to also created a shadow over him.]

[Luke nods and spreads his hands wide, pausing a moment before he speaks.]

I'll start at the beginning then. The real beginning, and I will be as thorough as I can. This may take some time.

[He begins with the simplest truths]

Before you were taken off Tatooine by Master Qui-Gon Jinn. The conflict between the Naboo and the Trade Federation had been all a manipulation by the Sith. I'm sure you know that. What you don't know is that there was Sith within the Senate, manipulating it from the inside, right under the Council's nose.

[Luke's voice suddenly turns very hard, his jaw setting.]

The Sith, the one you call Darth Sidious? Is Chancellor Palpatine. I'm aware of the fact that he's been very kind to you, perhaps even overly so, but I'm afraid he was trying to manipulate you as well. A few days before I was born, he revealed himself as a Sith to you. He presented himself in a benevolent way, claiming to have a way to save Padme from some dark future, a future you'd seen in visions. You became his apprentice, and took on a new name.

[Reaching onto his belt, Luke unclipped a lightsaber and tossed it on the ground at Anakin's feet. The crystal inside would clearly resonate with him, though...perhaps like a dark mirror.]

He named you Darth Vader.

Edited (damn typos) 2014-03-10 05:22 (UTC)

No ... no ... it can't.

[Anakin's first reaction was the same as with Rei: denial. But this lined up with the visions he saw. The death, the destruction, all the pain and hate.

Palpatine ... he betrayed him?

His emotions swell up into a boiling anger -- at Palpatine, at the Jedi, ... at himself. At everyone.

The lightsaber at his feet made it worse. He didn't know when he had stopped looking at Luke.

Slowly his legs give out on him and he slides to the ground, still staring at the lightsaber.]

I killed them all. I slaughtered them. I ... your mother ... Padme she ...

[Luke stood there impassively, letting Anakin's anger swell up around him and break on the wall of his own calm confidence. When Anakin hit the ground, he took a seat not far away, legs folded in front of him in a relaxed posture. Looking right at his father, he held out a hand.]

You were betrayed. Palpatine used your fear of loss against you. But he'd been orchestrating things from behind the scenes for a long time. The Clone Troopers used during the Clone Wars had a hidden command hardcoded into their DNA. A switch, as it were. When Palpatine flipped it, the clones turned on their Jedi allies and murdered them. There were few survivors.

[He nods at the lightsaber.]

You dueled with Obi-Wan, and he defeated you. Palpatine recovered your body and replaced much of it with a cybernetic life-support system that kept you alive. And for twenty years you were his apprentice and enforcer.

[He closes his eyes a moment, still a model of perfect calm, despite the emotions surging in Anakin and in himself.]

Padme. Mother. She died in childbirth. Obi-Wan, Master Yoda, and Senator Bail Organa decided that Leia and I should be hidden away so that Palpatine could not find us. I was given to Owen and Beru Lars, and Obi-Wan stayed close by to keep an eye on them. Senator Organa raised Leia as his own daughter. While this happened, Palpatine consolidated his power, declared himself Emperor, outlawed the Jedi, and steeped the Galaxy in darkness.

Then, roughly fifteen years later, a rebellion began. Small at first, but it grew. Leia and I joined, and I was trained by both Obi-Wan and Master Yoda.

[Luke smiles grimly and holds up his right hand, peeling back the glove to reveal the synthskin beneath. He's being as thorough as possible, not holding back any details, because Anakin does deserve to know.]

We fought, and you defeated me. I managed to escape, though you took my hand. That was when I learned you were my father. And a year later, things changed again. I completed my training to be a Jedi, and confronted both you and Palpatine on a battle station above the forest moon of Endor. We fought again, and I...managed to break the hold Palpatine had over you. He lashed out at me with the Force, nearly killed me, but you intervened and threw him down a reactor shaft.

You died shortly after that, wounds from Palpatine's power having damaged your life support system. But you died a hero, you saved my life, you put an end to Palpatine's power and put the Galaxy on a path of peace and recovery.

[Anakin doesn't interrupt as Luke continues. It's a hard topic to listen to, even after having seen visions for himself. He almost wishes he could shut himself off and not listen anymore.

But that wasn't possible.]

A hero wouldn't have done the things I did. A hero would have saved the galaxy and not hurt everyone. A hero wouldn't have let Padme die!

[He spoke the last part with a strike of his mechno-fist into the ground.]

I am not a hero. I failed.

[Luke gave his father a level look, his eyes somewhat downcast.]

Anakin, you saved my life. You killed the man responsible for all of the things the Empire did. You did not fail.

[He closes his own synthflesh fist.]

The person you became was not you. It was...something twisted by the Dark Side. But when you passed into the Force, I saw you for the first time as you are now. A young man, and a hero who saved countless trillions.

That does not change what I did. The monster I become. I ... I need to stop it from happening.

[Anakin's gaze finally drifts up to meet Luke's, his emotions now a mix of anger and desperation. He does not want this future. He does not need it. And if he has his way, it will never happen.]

I can't just sit back and do nothing!

[He stands back up at that.]

There has to be a way to change the future ... even from here.

[Luke's eyes meet Anakin's steadily, unblinking. He knows the feeling, truly. And he's been there himself.]

I believe there is. But, you must realize that it's a long way off.

[He rises as well.]

Nothing is written in stone, Anakin. Perhaps that's why the Force sent the two of us here, together. When we manage to break this world's hold over us and go home of our own will, I believe our memories should stay intact. That means we can alter the future, change it so that Palpatine never finds power. I know it might sound crazy, and it will take time, but I think it can happen.

[Skywalkers don't do things by half measures. Stop the cycles, defeat the Malnosso and the Third Party, and find a way home to fix things. Doable, right?]

But you have to control your temper here, or risk losing yourself before we even have the chance at that.

Edited 2014-03-15 04:31 (UTC)

[Luke's words uplift Anakin's emotion to a sense of determination. He's right. They could do this. They could change it all.

He takes a step forward and nods at Luke.]

I promise you, I will not let that future happen. I'll prevent it all ... no matter what.

[And perhaps no matter the cost. He had a much larger goal now that went way behind simply finding a way home and helping to win the war.]

Thank you. I ... almost forgot myself for a moment ... forgot who I am and what I stand for.

[Luke closes the space between them and pulls his father into a hug. Hearing that from Anakin is all he could really have hoped for. Now the man knew the stakes and there weren't any more secrets between them, and that meant volumes to him. He spoke softly now, a lot of tension gone in his voice.]

Of course, Anakin. That's why I'm here to remind you. The Force will guide us, as it always does. And I'll guide you how I can, and I expect the same from you.

[He pulled back and grinned.]

Trust me. If there's a way, we'll find it.

Appointments

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