Star Wars: Malignant Metamorphosis, Page 4

- Turning of a Jedi -

  “Hello Ben,” Luke said to the phantom figure of Ben Kenobi standing at the foot of his bed. “It’s been such a long time since we last spoke together. It was so long ago that I learned the truth about my father, so long ago that I faced him in battle. He was once your friend Ben. He was once a Jedi like you. He was your student as I was. He fought by your side against the evil that would some day claim him.”

  I’ve come full circle, thought Luke. I’ve come home. Tatooine is where it all began. This is where I first met Ben Kenobi and learned that he and my father were Jedi Knights. This is where my father first met him. It’s fitting that it should end where it all started. It’s fitting that I should be laid to rest next to my father.

  I honored Anakin Skywalker with a traditional Jedi cremation after escaping with his body just before the second Death Star exploded. When Anakin’s soul was released, he stood in phantom form and bid me farewell. I buried his remains next to his mother on Tatooine. I believe my father would’ve approved of my decision. I know Anakin would’ve preferred his ashes to be interred next to his wife on Naboo, but that would’ve caused a scandal. No one knew of their marriage. Not even Obi-Wan Kenobi knew that Anakin Skywalker secretly wed Padme Amidala after they’d faced death on Geonosis.

  Jedi were not allowed to fall in love. It was forbidden by the Council. It would be too useful a weapon for the Sith to use against them. Such attachment holds the fear of loss. Any fear we hold leads down the path to the Dark Side of the Force. My father proved that to be all too true. After losing his mother, he feared losing Padme too. His apprehension was well founded. Their love affair ended tragically.

  These thoughts dominated Luke’s mind when he said, “Soon now Ben. Soon I’ll join you,

  my Master, my friend. I shall join you and Master Yoda in the Force. I’ll be joining my father as well.”

  “Yes Luke. Soon we’ll all be together in the Netherworld. It’ll be a very joyous reunion,” Obi-Wan assured him.

  Luke gasped for air as pain stabbed inside his chest again. The Force had taught him how to control such pain, but in his weakened state, he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to hold on much longer.

  Obi-Wan Kenobi had come to Luke in phantom form many times after he’d entered the Netherworld. He’d explained how his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, learned how to become immortal though the Force. Qui-Gon taught Obi-Wan this ability during his years of solitude on Tatooine while watching over Luke.

  Obi-Wan had taught him this ability as well, but Luke wasn’t prepared to surrender his body as yet. One had to be ready to release their soul into the Force, willingly giving up their outer shell in order to achieve immortality. That was something Luke could not do at this time. He hadn’t finished training his nephew in the ways of the Jedi. There was so much more the boy had to learn. Luke hoped he had enough time left to train his padawan properly. If he had to give up immortality to accomplish this task, so be it.

  As Luke thought about his own death, his mind wandered back to his father. Ben Kenobi told him that Anakin Skywalker was a great warrior against the Sith. He was headstrong and hard to keep under control as Obi-Wan once was, but through the years, the subdued Jedi Master grew to trust Anakin implicitly. Luke wished he’d known the good man Obi-Wan loved like a brother. Luke only knew the Dark Side his father turned to through the treachery of Darth Sidious.

  Luke remembered how he’d been able to sense the inner turmoil his father endured while watching his only son dying at the hands of Darth Sidious. The good hidden deep inside Anakin’s soul finally flooded to the surface, allowing Darth Vader to overcome his hate. He’d killed Darth Sidious and sacrificed himself. By doing so, Anakin fulfilled the prophecy that said the “Chosen One” would destroy the Sith and bring balance back to the Force.

  Luke sensed that his father’s own death didn’t matter as long as Luke survived. He’d failed to save Padme from her fate. Anakin was determined not forfeit the only good thing that survived of their love, their children.

  Luke couldn’t help but shiver as he recalled the tremendous amount of pain inflicted upon his father as the energy from Force lightning issued from Darth Sidious’ hands engulfed his body. He could still feel the incredible amount of heat from the electrical current that fused the mechanisms that controlled Vader’s life sustaining suit. Luke struggled for air just as Anakin had when the suit failed to function. He felt his father’s fear, and then his relief as Anakin realized death was imminent, his imprisonment finally over.

  As Anakin Skywalker exhaled his last breaths, he’d used the Force to transfer every stage of his life to his son. He’d not only wanted, but needed Luke to understand all the events that transpired, leading him down the path to such evil. Anakin wanted his son to understand that he’d been manipulated by a master at deceit.

  Luke Skywalker finally learned of the struggle Anakin and his mother suffered while slaves. The brutal beatings Anakin received from Watto for constantly defying his taskmaster. He’d learned of Anakin’s pain and complete heartbreak when the Sandpeople killed his mother, Shmi. The all-consuming rage Anakin let take hold as he took revenge for her death. He’d slaughtered the whole tribe, including the women and children. The guilt he’d felt tearing at his soul when he confessed this horrendous deed to Padme Amidala. The oath Anakin made at his mother’s graveside never to fail again. His shame of defeat when he’d lost his arm to Count Dooku when he was still a padawan learner. Anakin’s feelings of mistrust from the Jedi Council, as well as distrust from Obi-Wan. His suppressed rage when the Council wouldn’t promote his rank to Jedi Master. And most importantly to Luke, the main reason why his father turned to the Dark Side.

  Anakin Skywalker’s extraordinary love for Padme Amidala was the main reason he’d turned to the Dark Side of the Force. Luke’s father had been extremely happy about his marriage to Padme, but was weary of their deception. The Order had mandated that no Jedi was to allow themselves to fall in love. He was aware that the reasoning behind this mandate was a sound one, but Anakin loved Padme more than life itself. He could not live without her. He’d ignored this strict rule and secretly wed Padme after they’d escaped death on Geonosis.

  Luke was keenly aware that Anakin’s wedding day had been the happiest experience of his life. It was as if Luke stood in his father’s shoes as the event took place. He could even recite his parent’s wedding vows to each other, word for word.

  Padme had said to Anakin, “You were but a boy when we first met, but you remained within my heart through the years. We were destined to be together. My love for you encompasses my entire soul. Life is too bleak without you. I take you as my husband for all of my days.”

  This had been Anakin’s pledge to Padme, “When I first saw you I was completely stricken by your beauty. When you looked my way, my heart started pounding wildly within my chest. When you smiled at me, my heart leapt into my throat. I couldn’t catch my breath. When you kissed me for the first time my soul soared above the heavens. You finally admitted your love for me when you thought death was near. I knew from that moment on that we’d never be parted. I take you as my wife Padme, in life, in death, and beyond the end of time. Our souls shall be united throughout eternity.”

  Having both been pure of body, when the newlyweds made love for the first time it was a unique experience for both of them. They explored each other’s bodies like younglings opening sweets. When Padme caressed Anakin, his body quivered in uncontrolled desire. They joined together and their passion peaked as one. It had almost been too much for Anakin to endure. He’d never known such ecstasy could be achieved.

  How arrogant the Jedi were to forbid such feelings, Anakin thought. Being in love with Padme Amidala made him feel so alive. It was said that one’s eyes were the mirrors to one’s soul, but when Padme smiled at him, it opened the doorway to his heart. The ability she had to crumble the wall he’d constructed around his emotions had strengthened Anakin in ways he’d never dreamed possible. Lovi
ng her had allowed him to forget all the torment he’d endured. She’d even filled the void left by his mother’s death. Padme completed him.

  Anakin’s joy had been beyond all limits when Padme finally pledged herself to him. He’d wanted to share his happiness with his best friend, but knew Obi-Wan would feel duty bound to tell the Council. This thought disturbed Anakin greatly. He’d always imagined himself a fearless warrior as a child. His dream became a reality when Qui-Gon Jinn found him on Tatooine and brought him before the Council to be trained as a Jedi. After Qui-Gon was killed he became a padawan learner under Obi-Wan’s tutelage, eventually achieving the rank of Jedi Knight. The Order provided Anakin with many opportunities to prove his worthiness to serve them.

  Anakin had wondered if could he relinquish his childhood dream. How could he give up what was still so important to him? How could he forfeit becoming a Jedi Master? He’d sacrificed so much already to achieve this seemingly, unreachable goal. He wondered if he should reveal his secret and risk being expelled from the Order. No, that was something he dared not tell anyone. His marriage had to be kept a secret.

  When Anakin returned to Coruscant from his short honeymoon on Naboo, he and Obi-Wan had been ordered to the fridge of the galaxy in order to lead the offensive in the ongoing Clone War. During this time, Sidious continued with his devious plot to turn Anakin to the Dark Side. He’d told Count Dooku to order General Grievous to Coruscant and attack the capital in order to “kidnap” him.

  The Sith Lord hid the real reason for his abduction from Count Dooku. He’d foreseen one outcome. The Sith Lord knew that the Council would send for their best warriors, Obi-Wan Kenobi and his trainee, Anakin Skywalker. The young man’s loyalty had to be tested while rescuing the Supreme Chancellor before any attempt could be made to sway him. If Anakin defeated Dooku, Sidious would then order him to kill Dooku. If Anakin did as commanded, Darth Sidious would know his foresight about turning the young Jedi Knight would indeed prove true. He’d soon have Anakin as an apprentice.

  When abducted, the Jedi Council sent for Obi-Wan and Anakin just as Sidious had planned. When the pair confronted Dooku, he’d overcome Obi-Wan and he lay unconscious. Since Anakin’s Master was incapacitated, the young man had to face Dooku alone. Anakin defeated his nemesis and Dooku went to his knees in submission. Though Anakin knew it wasn’t befitting a Jedi warrior to slay an unarmed prisoner, he’d obeyed Palpatine’s order to end Count Dooku’s life. Sidious couldn’t have been happier. Anakin had proven his loyalty. The Sith Lord knew he could proceed with his plot to turn Anakin to the Dark Side.

  Anakin saw Padme standing alone on the sidelines when they landed on Coruscant. Being separated for so long he took advantage of the opportunity and hurried over. Once reunited, he learned that she was pregnant. He was stunned and didn’t know how to react. Though extremely happy about becoming a father, he was also upset. If word of her pregnancy got out he’d have to tell the Council. Having a bastard was intolerable in their society and he’d never let Padme be shunned. He wondered how he could tell his Masters that he’d gone against their strict rule not to fall in love. How could he explain that he had married and was going to sire a child? It was cause for expulsion from the Order.

  *

  Time passed and Anakin’s anxiety only increased over their deception, but being cast out from the Order meant little to him by then. His nights were filled with horrible nightmares. They were just like his premonitions about his mother’s death. Anakin dreamed of Padme dying in childbirth. Anakin loved Padme beyond all reason and couldn’t bear the thought of living without her. He’d felt torn in two, feeling extremely guilty about the thoughts that swirled inside his head. Though he’d already started to love his unborn child, Anakin unwillingly began to hate it at the same time, knowing his child would cause Padme’s death. He had to find some way to save her.

  Darth Sidious sensed Anakin’s confusion and overwhelming fear. He used it to continue his efforts to seduce him. He told Anakin that he knew how to cheat death. He convinced the lovesick young man that he could save his wife, but without his help, Padme would surely die.

  Once Palpatine revealed this, Anakin realized that his friend and mentor was really a Sith Lord. He’d gone to the Council, exposing Palpatine’s true identity. Master Windu went to arrest the Chancellor, but wouldn’t allow Anakin to assist. He’d ordered him to wait in the Council Chamber for his return. The young man knew any chance of saving Padme would be completely lost if Palpatine was tried as a traitor. He felt he had to intervene. Anakin disobeyed his orders to wait at the Temple and hurried after Windu.

  When Master Windu accused Palpatine the Chancellor attacked him. They’d fought each other, seemingly equal in their fighting skills. The Sith Lord knew he could defeat this unworthy opponent easily, but it hadn’t been quite the time for the Jedi Master’s demise.

  As soon as Palpatine sensed Anakin entering the Senate Building he let Windu corner him. He knew the lad’s nerves were strained to their very limits and his judgment would be seriously affected. He needed Anakin to see him as a feeble, defenseless, old man pleading for his life, while Windu cast the image of a merciless, brutal assassin.

  When Anakin rushed into the room, Sidious let Windu subdue him. The young man saw the precarious position his mentor was in and knew he had to do something. When Windu placed his lightsaber to Palpatine’s throat, Anakin allowed himself to fall into the Sith Lord’s sinister trap. The man faked weakness and begged Anakin to save his life. The Supreme Chancellor reminded Anakin that only “he” could save Padme.

  Each of them swore the other was the traitor and waited for the young Jedi Knight to come to their aid. Anakin knew he had to choose between his loyalty to the Order, or saving Palpatine. The answer was simple. He’d sacrifice anything for Padme. Windu was going to take away her only means of survival. Anakin couldn’t allow that.

  It all happened fast. Windu raised his lightsaber and slashed down to take Palpatine’s life. Anakin drew his weapon by pure instinct, severing Mace’s hand. Palpatine then used his unlimited power. Force lightning surged from the Sith Lord’s twisted hands. He used the Force to fling Windu out the window, falling thousands of feet to his death.

  Anakin was horrified. It was his fault Windu died. The realization of that, along with the awesome power he’d just witnessed, made Anakin believe that he had no choice but to join with this Dark Lord. Besides, it was the only way to save Padme. The young Jedi Knight knelt down before Darth Sidious and pledged his alliance to him. Sidious then dubbed the new Sith Lord, Darth Vader.

  Palpatine gloated when the young man pledged himself to the Sith. With the tremendous powers Anakin Skywalker held within the Force, Darth Sidious would now be able to declare himself Emperor over the entire galaxy. Not one soul would dare interfere with his destiny.

  Anakin had been filled with complete despair as he carried out his new Master’s orders and led thousands of Clone Troopers to the Temple in order to kill all the Jedi, including the younglings. The newly named Darth Vader was surprised how easy it was for him to murder his friends. He knew deep inside what he was doing was terribly wrong, but at the same time, Anakin felt justified. He convinced himself that what he was doing was right for the Republic. Darth Sidious soothed his guilt by telling Anakin that the eradication of all the Jedi would prevent a civil war from occurring. By taking these traitorous lives, he’d be saving millions of innocent people. Anakin Sky..., No. Darth Vader would finally bring peace and order to the galaxy.

  After the slaughter at the Temple Palpatine ordered Vader to the volcanic planet of Mustafar in order to kill Nute Gunray and the other Separatist leaders. Once their deaths were achieved there would be no more enemies to deal with. The Sith would rule the galaxy once again.

  With each death he’d caused by the slash of his lightsaber, Anakin Skywalker’s soul was being savagely ripped apart as it was devoured by the Dark Side. He allowed himself to disregard everything he’d once stood against as
whispered to himself, “I’m doing this for you Padme.”

  As the Dark Side took complete possession of him, the absolute power Anakin felt amplifying throughout his body was completely intoxicating. He was now more powerful than any Jedi. He was even more powerful than the Emperor. None alive held such power. By the time Anakin’s mission on Mustafar was accomplished, the young man’s journey to the Dark Side was nearing its conclusion.

  *

  One of the final steps in Anakin’s turning was when Padme rejected him. Obi-Wan told Padme that her husband had turned to the Dark Side. Not wanting to believe him, she’d followed Anakin to Mustafar. When there, Anakin told her that he was powerful enough to overthrow Palpatine, telling her they could rule the galaxy together. When he asked Padme to join him in this act to free mankind from the Sith Lord’s tyranny, she’d turned away from him in horror refusing to stand by his side. Anakin felt that his wife betrayed him. It tore his heart to shreds. After all, Padme was the main reason he’d surrendered his soul to Darth Sidious.

  When Anakin saw his former Master standing on the threshold of Padme’s cruiser he’d been consumed by fury. He’d assumed Padme had brought Obi-Wan along in order to kill him. Anakin blamed him for her devastating betrayal. His best friend had turned Padme against him. He believed Obi-Wan had stolen her heart.

  Extreme jealousy raged within Anakin. He wanted to crush Kenobi with his bare hands. He’d be following his new Master’s orders when he killed this traitor who’d taken away his only reason for living. He’d stolen Anakin’s love, his life, his Padme. Darth Vader took revenge on his former Jedi Master.

  *

  There was a great lightsaber duel fought between the warriors. Even though Vader’s fighting style was more aggressive, Obi-Wan had trained Anakin. They knew each other’s moves by heart. When Anakin advanced, Obi-Wan retreated. When Anakin lunged, Obi-Wan parried. On and on their battle went, neither one besting the other.

  As the opponents advanced through the chambers of Mustafar’s control center, Anakin used the Force to toss heavy equipment at Obi-Wan as if they were mere toys. Obi-Wan deflected them. As the adversaries continued to slash at each other, they destroyed the delicate equipment that regulated the planet’s volatile forces. The power plant failed to confine the volcanic might of Mustafar. The orb seemed to retaliate. Lava raged and boiled around the combatants.