The darkness was perpetual. Anakin didn't even know where he was or how much time had passed. Had he died? What would happen to Padmé, his children? Had he managed to save the Duchess?
He seemed lost in the universe. "Is anyone there?" he heard himself ask. "Where is Padmé? Is she alright? – It seems that in your anger, you killed her." That was his voice, an almost mechanical voice. Vader, he thought, and the one answering was Sidious. He closed his eyes again. "What does your heart tell you, Ani? Do you think we will see each other again?" Those were his mother's last words when he was a child. "I hope so." "What is this?" he wondered.
"Wake up," said a man's voice. He didn't recognize that voice, yet his presence was similar to Leia's.
"Where am I?" Anakin asked, and suddenly everything became clear. He was in a cave, an unknown, dark place, and before him stood a man with black hair, pale skin, the same height as him, and a scar that ran down the right side of his face.
"This should be Exegol, but I think it's a place lost in time," the man whispered, extending his hand for Anakin to take.
"Exegol?" Anakin asked, confused.
"We don't have much time. You must return," the man said.
"Who are you?" Anakin asked, walking beside him, exploring the place. Everything was silent.
"I spent my whole life wanting to be like you—no, like Vader," the man said with a sad smile. "Only in the last hours of my life did I do things right."
"Who are you?" Anakin asked, stopping. "Why did you want to be like Vader? Are you dead?"
"Why did you want to be like Vader? Are you dead?" "It seems I became one with the Force. No one could have prepared me for what that meant. I wanted to be like Vader, to follow his legacy of darkness. I heard your voice guiding me, but it was only Snoke, not Palpatine, who had corrupted my mind."
"Palpatine? Snoke? Who are you?" Anakin asked again, looking him in the eyes.
"My name is Ben Solo, son of Leia Organa and Han Solo. I am your grandson," Ben Solo smiled.
"My grandson?" Thousands of images flashed through Anakin's mind, some far from pleasant. Killing Han was a good idea, but on the other hand, this was his grandson. What had happened to him?
"Now you must return," Ben smiled. He had finally met his grandfather, not Darth Vader, but the real Anakin Skywalker.
" "Wait, what happened to you, Ben?" Anakin asked, grabbing his arm to stop him from moving forward.
"I was corrupted by one of Palpatine's decoys, Snoke. You have to be careful; he could return when you manage to defeat him," Ben said.
"Return? How?"
"Cloning," Ben said.
"Ben," Anakin said, a brotherly feeling in his voice, "what happened to you? How did you die?" he asked, almost whispering the last word.
"It was the best decision I ever made. She'll live on. She didn't deserve to die. She brought balance to the Force, just like you once did," Ben smiled, a smile similar to Leia's.
"I was the best decision I ever made. She'll live on. She didn't deserve to die. She brought balance to the Force, just like you did once." "I won't let you die, Ben," Anakin said. "Everything will change."
"Maybe there's still hope," Ben smiled, and then everything began to blur. "Tell Mom I love her, and tell Dad I'm sorry."
"You'll be okay, Ben. I won't let you fall," Anakin said, and everything went black again.
Anakin woke up connected to the ship's breathing apparatus. He quickly removed it, looking around in disorientation. He saw Ahsoka looking at him with tears in her eyes, caressing his face, and Mara piloting the ship, sighing with joy. He looked to his side and saw the Duchess. She was weak but alive, and the life inside her, though still alive, existed. He then remembered looking at his master. He was still chained up, and it was clear he had been knocked unconscious at least a couple of times.
"Was he at least gentle with him?" Anakin asked.
"Do you take me for a monster?" Mara asked indignantly.
"He wasn't gentle at all," Ahsoka whispered.
All the way back to Dantooine, Anakin thought about the vision he'd had. Was it really his grandson? What had happened to him? He'd warned him about Exegol and cloning. What should they do?
When they arrived on Dantooine, Padmé escorted the Duchess to the medical wing they had set up. Anakin carried an unconscious Obi-Wan to a place away from the camp.
"Master," Anakin whispered. "Master, wake up," he pleaded, looking at Obi-Wan until he suddenly felt the air escape his throat and Obi-Wan's yellow eyes locked onto him. "Master, please, react," Obi-Wan begged.
"Obi-Wan!" Luke cried, using the Force to help his father.
"To the dark side, he has fallen," Master Yoda said, observing Obi-Wan. "All is not lost."
"What will we do, Master Yoda?" Anakin asked, almost pleading. He couldn't lose Obi-Wan.
"All we can do is wait," Yoda said, using the Force to put Obi-Wan back to sleep.
Padmé was with Satine in the medical ward. The duchess was stable, as was her baby, but they needed complete rest.
"She'll be alright," Padmé said, hugging Anakin. "You saved her, Ani. They saved her," she said, looking at Mara and Ahsoka.
"Obi-Wan has fallen to the dark side. I'm afraid only she will be able to bring him back," Anakin sighed, kissing Padmé's forehead.
Several days passed, and they still hadn't found a way to control Obi-Wan. Duchess Satine remained unconscious, and Anakin was beginning to lose hope.
"Angel," he said, looking at Padmé as they slept together.
"What's wrong, Ani?" Padmé asked.
"I had a vision after giving my energy to the Duchess," Anakin said. "A vision of the distant future."
"What was happening in that vision?" Padmé asked, intrigued.
"I saw a boy, Ben Solo. He said he was our grandson," he said, and Padmé sat up immediately.
"Leia's son?" she asked, and Anakin smiled.
"I doubt Luke could have children with Han Solo," Anakin joked.
"Oh, you're an idiot," Padmé said, playfully hitting him as she laughed.
"Padmé," he said, a little more serious and worried again, "The boy said Palpatine would survive through cloning."
"Is that possible? Can a clone of Palpatine be made?" Padmé asked, frightened.
"I don't know, Angel," Anakin said, hugging her. "It's not the worst thing."
"What about him? How did you see him?"
"I don't know, Angel." "He said he fell to the dark side, seduced by someone named Snoke, who turned out to be Palpatine," Anakin said.
"Darling, our grandson is falling to the dark side?" she asked, hugging Anakin. "We can't allow that."
"Angel, I need your help with something."
"Anything."
"Remember when Leia delved into my memories? She's been helping me with this. I have a strong connection with her, but I think it will be even stronger if we do it together," Anakin said.
"Of course, of course," Padmé said, sitting cross-legged on the bed. Anakin followed a few minutes later, doing the same. "Uh, aren't you going to put on a shirt?" Padmé asked, blushing.
"Why?" Anakin asked, confused.
"It's hard to concentrate like this," Padmé said, blushing.
"Good to know," Anakin said, winking at her, making her curse under her breath.
"I'm sorry to hear that." They finally managed to concentrate and began trying to delve into Leia's future memories as she slept a few rooms away.
After a great effort, Anakin used the Force to lean on Padmé. She was pregnant, pregnant with his daughter. He would use that connection to access Leia's future memories, and he also had to transmit them to Padmé. It was something you didn't learn in the Jedi Temple or from stories; it was something a Jedi had to learn on their own.
Then they both saw him: a young man with black hair and a sad look in his eyes. No, this wasn't Ben Solo. It was something darker, it was who the young man had become when he fell to darkness.
"Kylo Ren," Anakin murmured.
"Ani," Padmé whispered. "I feel pain, betrayal, but from whom?"
"I feel pain, betrayal, but from whom?" "Luke," Anakin replied. "Leia didn't know, she only suspected."
"I feel death, terror," Padmé said.
"Our children are dying," Anakin said, taking Padmé's hands. "Luke is dying alone, using the Force to fight Ben."
"Leia, Leia," Padmé whispered, tears streaming down her face. "She's trying to save him."
"Ben," Anakin said, trying his best to use the Force to communicate with that Force ghost.
"Ben," Padmé said, helping Anakin.
"Is there anything we can do to save you?" Anakin asked, sweat dripping from his forehead. The effort was too much.
"Tell him my decision is not yet made," Ben smiled and then vanished.
"Tell him my decision is not yet made." "Ani, are you alright?" Padmé asked, helping him lie down.
"We won't let him fall to the dark side," Anakin said, and Padmé rested her head on his chest.
"We'll save him, Ani," Padmé said. "Hey," she added, smiling.
"What's wrong?" Anakin asked.
"They're moving, come here," Padmé said, placing a hand on her belly. "Do you see?"
"They're our children," Anakin smiled. He had already seen what they would look like in the future, but the feeling of them moving inside Padmé was something a father would always cherish. "Our children, Luke and Leia."
They stayed awake until late into the night, until Anakin sensed a familiar presence—Dooku—and Obi-Wan's strength shifted.
"Dooku is here," Anakin said, jumping up and rushing to get dressed.
"Ani, we must warn the others. You're weak; you've used up so much of your energy," Padmé said.
"There's no time. Go get help," he said, kissing Padmé before running toward Obi-Wan.
"Ani," Padmé sobbed fearfully, hoping nothing bad would happen to him.
Obi-Wan remained tied up, being cared for by the Jedi who took turns tending to him.
"I must save her!" he shouted, his usual patience gone.
"You will, my apprentice," Dooku said, appearing undetected. "But does she really need saving?" Dooku asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Haven't you seen the way she's looking at your apprentice?"
"Isn't that what you mean?" "She loves me," Obi-Wan said. "We will marry. She will be my wife. I will save her and my son."
"Your son? Or your apprentice's son? Why would she choose you instead of the Chosen One?"
"You're lying!" Obi-Wan shouted, the dark side clouding his judgment.
"We don't get younger with time, my friend," Dooku smiled. "However, the Chosen One is. He's young, strong, and women find him attractive."
"Anakin would never do that," Obi-Wan said, his eyes flashing between yellow and their natural color.
"Wouldn't he? Who risked his life to save her?" "Why are Senator Amidala and the Duchess so close?" Dooku asked. "My friend, you've been deceived," Dooku said, sensing Obi-Wan's emotions spiraling out of control.
"You're lying."
"Your apprentice hid his relationship with his wife from you, lied to you, deceived you for years. Why wouldn't he do it now? Why would he risk his life to save her unless the creature in her womb is his child?" Dooku asked.
"No," Obi-Wan said.
"Do you think she would choose you over the Chosen One? You were strong by Qui-Gon's side, but you aren't anymore. You're nothing more than a weak, idealistic master," Dooku smiled.
"Satine," Obi-Wan whispered.
Dooku approached the Duchess, transferring some of his energy to her. The power of the dark side was far superior to the light side. The Duchess's eyes opened.
"Dooku was so strong." "Perhaps you yourself will seal your fall to the dark side, my apprentice," he whispered, disappearing as suddenly as he had appeared.
"Obi," Satine said wearily, her voice weak. "Obi," she whispered in horror at the sight of him bound like an animal. But there was something strange about him; his eyes, his expression—it wasn't the same peaceful expression she loved so much.
"Why are you here, Satine?" Obi-Wan asked, not looking at her.
"What? For the rebellion, for defeating the empire, for us, Obi," Satine said, puzzled, struggling to her feet. "Obi, Dooku wanted you to become his ally, he wanted to send you to the dark side," Satine said, almost trembling. "Has Obi succeeded?"
"Obi, has he succeeded?" "I came for you, I did it to save you," Obi-Wan said, his yellow eyes fixed on her. "I've become more powerful than the Jedi can imagine, and I did it to save you," he said, rising to his feet and easily breaking the handcuffs that bound him. Satine, horrified, approached him.
"Come back to the light, Obi," Satine said, caressing his face. "Come back to me, Obi. Now that we can be together, don't fall into Dooku's trap. Let's raise our child together," Satine pleaded, caressing his face again.
"Don't you understand?" "We don't have to fight anymore. Together with Dooku, we will bring peace to the galaxy. I am more powerful than the Chancellor. Together with Dooku, we will overthrow him. Qui-Gon would have done the same. If you stay with me, we will rule the galaxy. There will be no more Sith, no more corruption," Obi-Wan said with an unnatural smile on his face.
"I can't believe what you're telling me," Satine said, backing away in fear. "Anakin, I know he saved me. What they said was true. You've changed," Satine said.
"Don't ever mention Anakin again. I saved you, not him," Obi-Wan said, pointing his finger at her. "The Jedi turned against me. They tied me up, they left me unconscious. He turned against me. Don't do the same."
"What have you become, Obi?" Satine said, tears streaming down her face. "You're taking a path I can't follow."
"Is it because of Anakin?" he asked, looking at her seriously, anger growing within him.
"It's because I don't recognize you. What did Dooku do to you? What do you plan to do?"
Obi-Wan glared angrily at the door as Anakin and the two Jedi guarding the place appeared. He quickly used his newfound powers to knock out the other two Jedi, but Anakin, who was watching him in awe, knew this would be personal.
"Stop," Satine said, oblivious to what had happened. "Stop and come back. I love you, Obi," she sobbed.
"Traitor!" Obi-Wan shouted angrily as he glared at Anakin, who was cautiously approaching.
"No!" Satine cried, stepping between them. "Obi, stop!"
"You're with him because he's the Chosen One, because everyone prefers him," Obi-Wan said, looking away, the dark side consuming him more and more. "You brought him here to kill me!" Obi-Wan shouted.
"No!" Satine said, and everything stopped as Obi-Wan moved toward her and used force to choke her. "No, Obi," she whispered in fear, tears streaming down her face.
"Isn't he your son, Anakin? Dooku was right. I've been deceived all this time," he said, continuing to choke the terrified woman. "Wasn't Padmé enough for you?" "—" he asked as Satine begged him to let her go.
"—"Let her go!" Anakin shouted, sickened by what he saw. His master, his role model, hurting a defenseless woman. His master had let Dooku poison his mind.
"Obi, please," Satine cried, feeling the air leave her lungs.
"Leave her alone, Obi-Wan!" Anakin shouted, advancing angrily. "Leave her alone!" he shouted again.
Obi-Wan glared at him. He couldn't bring himself to kill the woman he loved, the woman he believed had betrayed him, but he would make Anakin suffer. He tightened his grip, suffocating her until she fell heavily to the floor, her face pale.
Anakin watched the cruel scene in shock. What had Dooku done to his master? What had he done to corrupt the almost incorruptible Obi-Wan?
"You've taken her from me," Obi-Wan said, pacing around his former apprentice. "You deceived me with her. Dooku was right. That child is yours."
"You don't know what you're saying," Anakin said, confused. "Dooku has poisoned you, Master," Anakin said.
Obi-Wan glared at him angrily as he removed the heavy robe that covered him.
"You won't keep her, you won't take her from me, you won't thwart my plans, Anakin!" Obi-Wan shouted.
"You already took her from yourself," Anakin said, surprised by what had happened to his master. "Your fear of losing her consumed you, just as Vader would have consumed me. I can help you, Master. You allowed that dark lord to manipulate you, until you became what you swore to destroy, Master," Anakin said, almost horrified by what he saw.
"You allowed that dark lord to manipulate you, until you became what you swore to destroy, Master." "Stop lecturing, Anakin," Obi-Wan said, smiling angrily. "I see through your lies and Satine's. I don't fear the dark side like you do. I won't be weak like you. I won't become Darth Vader. I will be more powerful." He turned his back on Anakin. "Together with Dooku, we will restore peace, justice, and tranquility to our new empire."
"Your new empire?" Anakin asked, crouching down to check on the Duchess. Fortunately, she was fine, but he wasn't sure if Obi-Wan's son was.
"Even though you have betrayed me, my young Padawan," Obi-Wan said with almost feigned affection, "do not force me to destroy you." Anakin stared at him in disbelief.
"Obi-Wan," Anakin said, "my loyalty now lies with the Rebellion, with democracy, with Padmé and Duchess Satine, with my children." He tried to reason with him.
"If you are not with us," Obi-Wan said, anger rising again, "you are my enemy."
"Only a Sith would be so radical in his decisions," Anakin said, a tear almost escaping his eye. "I will do what I must." He drew his lightsaber. He didn't want to confront his master, nor did he know if he had the strength, but he couldn't allow his master to complete his path to the dark side, not when he himself had fought to prevent him from falling to the dark side.
"I am not with us," Obi-Wan said. "It will be in vain, you can no longer defeat me," Obi-Wan smiled. "Not even as the powerful Chosen One," Obi-Wan mocked.
Then suddenly, Obi-Wan drew his lightsaber, his eyes losing all their natural color, and leaped back to begin a fierce battle against his former apprentice.
Padmé, Mara, Ahsoka, Luke, and Leia ran alongside other Jedi toward the source of the enormous disturbance in the Force, but they feared they would arrive too late.