Revenge

What if things at the end of the Revenge of the Sith had taken a very different turn?

Notes: Written from Anakin's POV. I decided to write an Anakin/Obi-Wan story, to open MicroWord and discover I already 'had' written one. Damn my memory.
Disclaimer: Belongs to Lucas


"I loved you!" Liar.. Liar! I would have screamed it at him, too.. Would have, but I slid down the slope a few more inches. Just a few too many. In moments, I was engulfed in flames. And it was agony, beyond agony. I could feel myself dying. And my life flashed before my eyes. All of my mistakes.. The younglings.. Padme.. Obi-Wan. In my summary of regrets, Obi-Wan came last, and the last thing I saw before I passed on to the Force was him. Alive, while I died. At his hands, and the last thing I felt was hatred.

I wasn't ready to die.. Too young.. Too powerful.. Too angry. The Force surrounded me.. More so than I had ever felt it, while alive. But it burned against my skin.. As the flames had. It burned because I wouldn't give in. I was not going to let myself die. But, I already had. No! NO! It would not take me. And I struggled against it. I screamed at the midichlorians, wordlessly. Not yet! I wasn't ready. Attempted to order them to bring me back to life. It was possible.. It had to be. 'I' could save myself! Pain tore at my very soul. I hadn't known it was possible for your spirit to hurt. It was. And there was no comparing it to any mortal pain. But I held on.. until there was light. And I was whole, lying on solid ground, screaming. When the pain subsided, I could feel the Force swirling around me, almost visible. There was a great disturbance, and I covered my head, as though that would shield me from the sensation. But, eventually, that subsided, as well, and darkness took me.

When I finally awoke, I took a deep breath, coughing as I inhaled a large amount of ash. Was I alive then? I took in my surroundings.. Mustafar. I was in the same spot I'd been when- But..

Reluctantly I looked down and flexed the fingers on my left hand. There.. Still attached and no worse for wear. I could feel my legs and feet, too. With growing hope, I looked at my right arm, frowning at the metal. Having taken into account my physical health, I recalled my betrayer. But Obi-Wan Kenobi wasn't there. How like the backstabbing bastard I knew he'd become. He left my corpse. Only... I wasn't a corpse. I'd cheated death. And now I could have my revenge. Standing with surprising lack of pain, and mindful of the river of destruction behind me, I climbed the ashy hill.. Everything looked vaguely different, and for a moment I thought maybe I had died.. This alternate reality could very well be hell.

It was around that time that I was approached by a number of droids, with blasters. A hand to my side, felt my saber for reassurance. Not taken by Kenobi, after all. I ignited my sword, ready to take on any that dared to fire, when another approached. "Who are you?" He had to have been a Mustafarian. With rough jet black skin, and indiscernible eyes there was no mistaking him. "Anakin Skywalker. I was sent here by the Emperor."

"What emperor of do you speak, Jedi? We are a free people here. Or do you bring war with you?" That was annoying.

"Is Mustafar not a system within the Republic? The Empire," I corrected myself. "Under Palpatine."

"We are of the Republic, but I know of no empire." I lowered my saber, disarming it. It was not within a Mustafarian's nature to lie. So what in the name of the Force was going on.. Even with Jedi senses, I could not tell what this being was thinking, but clearly he reached a decision about me, and ordered the droids to back down. "Come with me." So I followed. I was led to a landing pad, and beyond, into a familiar control room.

"I am T'Yiru... Prime minister of Mustafar." he said to me, inviting me to sit at the long table. There should have been the bodies of the separatists from the Trade Federation littering the floor. In fact, half of the station aught to have been destroyed. "Where is General Kenobi?" I demanded, perhaps rudely. T'Yiru grunted, insulted by my tone.
"I know of no General Kenobi. We are a peaceful people.. War leaders have no place here." And even without being able to identify the features on his face, there was no mistaking the disdain in his voice for me. "He is not a war leader.." I began hotly, until it occurred to me that I was defending him. "He is a Jedi master." The prime minister paused, no doubt wondering at the vehemence in my voice as I spat out the word 'Jedi'. I'm sure he assumed me one.

"There has not been a Jedi, to my knowledge, on this planet for many years." I frowned. The Mustafarians did not lie. But apparently, stupidity was well within acceptance. "Just months ago, Master Windu was here, negotiating trade routes between yourselves and the Caurbre system.
"There has never been dealings between Mustafar and Caurbre before. You are mistaken, Jedi Skywalker." Anger passed swiftly through me, and I gripped my saber, tighter. Obi-Wan must have- done.. something. Anything, to cover his tracks. Well I had been ordered to eliminate the Jedi, and if he was the last, there was no place in the universe he could hide. "T'Yiru.. Is there a transport I might borrow?"

He looked at me, seeming very close to saying no. But after several glances to my saber and my face (which showed that I would have one, one way or another) he reluctantly agreed. It was a second rate pile of junk. Compact, even for someone short, and highly uncomfortable. Clearly he didn't expect it should be returned, and wanted to cut his losses. I decided that if that was his suspicion, I would oblige. As I left the planet behind, with my knees nearly crushed to my chest, I finally thought about my destination. Where would I go first? Where would Obi-Wan have gone. I was so consumed in my thirst for his blood, that it took me many minutes to remember Padme. Padme.... Naboo first. She was alive when I left her. I would win her back from Obi-Wan's spell. I would foil his designs.. and then I would kill him.

Less than a day after I set out, I stopped in on a small, filthy, planet to refuel, and take what rest and food my wits could afford me. A Jedi mind trick here.. A nicked piece of fruit there.. And I was able to sleep in a field.. Until I was chased off in the morning, by a band of angry farmers. I was obliged to stop, again, the next evening on another planet. This one was large and.. cold. As my transport had no useful navigation system, I had to use my instincts to find my way to one of the cities, through the constant blizzard. The people there were friendly, and obliging, but soured in the middle of the night, when they realized I had nothing of value to steal. Except my lightsaber. And three lost their hands, trying to take it.

At the end of my third day of traveling, I reached Naboo, and managed to crash the exhausted ship into one of the many lakes, surrounding the capital. The first thing I noticed was the distinct feeling of unease I had. Deja vous, almost. Slightly bedraggled, and tense from my growing sense that something wasn't right, I made my way to the palace. There was some sort of event taking place. A parade that was remarkably similar to.. That was just like..

But it couldn't be. I fought my way through the throng of bodies until I could see those standing before the palace... And there I stood. Or.. There I stood as I was when I was nine. Padme was there, as well. Smiling.. Beautiful. To my side.. Obi-Wan. For a long moment, I felt none of the anger that had been passing through me for him. How could I? This Obi-Wan was so young.. Younger than I am now. But I reminded myself that he would grow to betray me, and I nearly drew my lightsaber. It surprised me, mildly, when he looked up suddenly, skimming the crowds. I strengthened my shields, hiding my thoughts of anger for him. I would kill him, later... When the timing was right. After my revenge I would ponder how this came to be. I had never heard of such a thing happening.. How was it possible to exist separately in your own past? I drew my gaze away from my master, and to the nine-year-old boy. Perhaps I was meant to take myself on as a padawan?

Strange thoughts. Finally, I turned back to my wife. Or future wife? Vague stirrings of longing overtook me as I watched Padme, at my leisure. 'This' Padme had not yet betrayed me. But my eyes wandered again to that of my would-be master. I was surprised at the dark arousal his very presence evoked. Kenobi was supposed to be the enemy.

I suppressed the years of memories I had of him. At first, a child-like idolization.. which had changed to pre-teen admiration, teenage resentment.. and then the mutual affection we'd shared... right up until the Jedi's betrayal. His betrayal. We had been physically intimate for years.. It was only lingering lust for him, I finally decided. It would end when I killed him.

Obi-Wan continued scanning the street, only now he was studying each face closely. Slowly, I faded back into the throng, before disappearing around a building. There were preparations to be made. Obi-Wan Kenobi’s fate was about to be re-written. And I, the author.

end of Chapter 1.


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pre-warning: Chapter two will contain hot, and dirty man-sex.. If anyone's interested? (to be posted June 19th)