"Senator Amidala. Captain Rex. Padawan Tano", Yoda quickly turned to them, seeing the possibility that they could talk him out of this.
While he knew that Anakin had broken the code, he wasn't going to give him any penalties for that, as Anakin managed to fulfill his duties as a Jedi while hiding his marriage for s long. "Go after him, you will. Discuss matters in the Council, we shall"
...
Without a second thought, the three of them left the chambers to go after Anakin, desperately hoping he wouldn't do anything reckless. Obi-Wan wanted to go with them, but he had to be present at the meeting to provide a good defense for his former padawan as the Council gathered around for a meeting.
"A dark truth, it has been kept", Yoda began in a saddened tone. "Failed as Jedi we have. Failed to stop the Sith, we have"
"Apart from that, Skywalker has broken the code", Saesee Tiin pointed out but Depa glared at him.
"If it wasn't for him breaking the code, then perhaps Luke wouldn't be able to accomplish to where we had failed to provide. Hope."
She reasoned out, seeing that his choice to disobey the order's code had worked out in the very end to which she wondered whatever happened to her Padawan Caleb, who sat down in silence, still shaken to the revelation of seeing his hero and role model became a mass murdering tyrant.
"We have the knowledge that Chancellor Palpatine is the Sith Lord we are looking for. And Anakin is close to him, from what we heard" Mundi informed them.
"Remember what Master Yoda said, Master Mundi", Kit Fisto quickly intervened. "We cannot act until we know what we could about Palpatine or whatever tricks in his sleeve"
"Patience...", Yoda quickly said, tapping his cane.
"Master Yoda, it is said that the future of the end of the Jedi and the Republic is within a short time's notice. We cannot simply sit around and wait for an answer", Mace argued to the Grand Master, who simply pointed the holovids with his cane.
"Patience...and provide the answers they will...", Yoda ordered them, who all nodded in obedience.
"Regarding to Anakin breaking the code, I am certain that had given much to keep it from the Jedi Council", Plo Koon spoke up. "And yet he still fulfilled his duties regardless"
Luminara held her chin, before giving out her own opinion. "It had garnered him much conflict due to the Order's code of attachment restrictions. I cannot see this on how this draws a connection between his marriage and of the Chancellor"
Her eyes widened in realization. "Unless...Palpatine took advantage of this once he got wind of it"
Obi-Wan looked at the Mirialian Master with widened eyes. It makes sense since Anakin trusted the Chancellor that he may even told him about his marriage. He loved Padmé just as he loved the Order despite their flaws, and he may even have manipulated Anakin's distrust on the council.
And all of a sudden, the holographic forms of the two mysterious individuals activated, causing everyone to look at the two and intently listen to what message they had left for them to interpret.
"Hopefully no rash action has been taken by everyone once the truth is presented", the hooded man mused before them, causing them to look at Master Windu, who seemed to be unbothered by the looks they gave him. "If so, then we still have time. Do not let your hastiness be your undoing"
"Noted", Kit Fisto eagerly said with caution, a feeling shared by everyone present.
"Remember, the future is not set in stone", the hooded woman firmly told them, giving them solace of what is to come. "If you tread carefully, you may yet save all those who fell prey to the Empire"
The man then spoke up once more, with another holovid activating on queue. "The answers provided here will show where it all started to fall apart, starting here..."
...
Anakin kept running.
He didn't know where he was going.
He wasn't even thinking at all of what he was going to do but he just kept running, running past the Knights and Masters who looked at him oddly, asking to why was he acting like this to begin with, since it wasn't in character to say the least but he ignored the looks he received until he reached his quarters.
All this time, Anakin watched himself. His future. Committing acts that made him no better than Dooku, ranging from killing helpless rebels to murdering the people he saw as his second family and scarring Luke and all of his friends in the process.
And for now, one thing hardly mattered to him. The Jedi were right, he was dangerous to begin with, and he became the very answer to why the galaxy had been plunged into an era of darkness and tyranny, his mind clouded by the memory of the mechanical breathing that came from a monster.
The memories of him acting like a some sort of rabid beast towards Obi-Wan, to the point where the man he saw as a brother, died by his very hand to protect Luke, from his own father no less to what he had become.
And later when he fought Ahsoka, something that shattered his within him. He had made a promise to her, a promise that he ultimately broke a crimson lightsaber was ignited at her.
I won't let anyone hurt you, Ahsoka. Never!
Without a thought about the world, he punched the wall aggresively that left a large dent, he wailed as he overturned a table before sliding away numerous objects at nearby shelves, his anger and frustration to himself apparently increasing threshhold, and yelling above the ceiling.
As the deeds of his future came flashing before him, he heard the door open and found three figures standing there, all where taken back at the mess that he had made.
Indeed, it Padmé, Rex and Ahsoka, all of whom he figured went after him as he exited the Council Chamber. But before any of the three could say a word, they were slightly pushed back when Anakin outstretched his hand, indicating he was using the Force.
He had ruined countless lives as the Sith Lord in the future, and he didn't want anyone to be near him at that matter, especially when three people who were close to him try to help him.
"No...", Anakin quickly told the trio, backing away, pointing his index finger at them. "You stay over there!"
Ahsoka felt the conflict within Anakin, his mind already running in circles at the cruel revelation that took a toll at him. His usually kind and bright outlook was replaced by horror, anger, fear, and of grief not pointed at anyone, but himself.
"Anakin...", Padmé called out to him, her voice pained as she tried to approach him. "I know what you felt about this, but you have to know that isn't you!"
"That was me!", the Jedi Knight shouted, backing away from the three. "They were right about me. They have been right this whole time..."
"General, with due respect", Rex spoke next, trying to help in any way he can. "I agree with Senator Amidala, that man is not the man I had served under with for all these years. If that is the future, then we can still change it!"
Anakin paused for a moment, before he shook his head. "You don't get it..., none of you do..."
"Anakin, please!", Padmé persisted, with tears beginning to form from her eyes. "We'll do what we can to stop this. But please! Let us help you!", she begged, now getting desperate.
Anakin looked incredulous, "Why are you trying to help me!? I turned into a Sith! A monster!"
"You're neither of those!" Ahsoka shouted back. "Not yet, nor you'll ever will!"
"I killed you! And Obi-Wan!", he reasoned out before Ahsoka approached and gave him a hard slap on his cheek.
"Shut up!" she angrily interjected, mustering both anger and anguish as she tried to bring him to senses, her eyes beoming wattery at every second. "What makes you think you'll become him? You are not him!"
"Ahsoka...I murdered you...and everyone in the Order", Anakin choked, his voice pained and refusing to even look at her. "I know what the future can do and it holds...I tried to save my mother...", he paused, biting his lip. "And she still died..."
Now that statement caused Ahsoka to be stunned, realizing what he was trying to say. She looked at Padmé, who reluctantly nodded at Anakin's statement, giving more questions to Ahsoka and Rex in their minds.
"It's true...", Padmé said in confirmation, taking a seat beside Anakin and rubbed his shoulder. "A few years ago, he had told me of nightmares that foreshadowed his mother's death, where..."
She paused then bit her lip, not wanting her husband to remember that terrible memory further. She caressed his face, his eyes red ever since it was shown before them. She wiped his tears with her fingers, trying what she could to console him.
The Clone Captain the the Togruta looked at him in pity. They just couldn't picture Anakin and Darth Vader being one person, a person who slaughtered helpless rebels, wiped out the Jedi Order, murdered Obi-Wan, tortured Leia and Han, and harmed his son mentally and physically.
And they wanted to find their answers. To stop his fall no matter the cost. "I don't mean to pry, Senator...", Rex suddenly spoke up. "But how long have you been married to General Skywalker?"
Seeing there is no point of not telling anymore, she answered. "Three years at best...just after the Battle of Geonosis"
"Why didn't you tell us?", Ahsoka inquired in a soft and sincere tone.
"I...I just can't...", Anakin replied, not looking at her. "If I did, you won't understand why..."
"Anakin, we do understand", Ahsoka firmly said, the Togruta teen placing a hand on his shoulder. "If you did tell us, we'd vouch for you at any moment. Even Master Kenobi seems to know what is going on between you and Senator Amidala"
Anakin's eyes brightened. "He does? But why wouldn't he turn in me to the Council if that was the case"
No one had an answer for that, and Rex spoke up. "Sir, if you had been honest with us, troopers within the 501st. We'd vouch for it too. Heck, Appo and the boys had been placing bets wether or not you and Senator Amidala are married or were at least more than friends"
The statement caused Anakin to chuckle lightly, to Ahsoka and Padmé's delight. "They did?"
The Clone Captain (And future Commander) smirked. "They sure did, sir"
"Anakin, we promise you...", Ahsoka said, looking at him while holding his robotic right hand in assurance. "We can work this out. We still have time to save the future. But please? Can you let us help you?"
"I...", Anakin was unsure what to say about this, but Padmé added.
"We can do this Anakin. For Luke", she told him, placing a hand onto her belly where Anakin placed his, widening his eyes as he began to shed tears. Not of sadness, but of joy, a similar feeling Padmé showed when she saw his realization. "He can still meet his father"
"And his cool aunt and uncle!", Ahsoka added, wanting to bond with their newborn baby.
"You said it, commander!", Rex stated in support for the two. The Jedi Knight looked at the three of them, thankful for all their support despite the dark future he was shown.
All anger and anguish to himself had faded, all replaced by his newfound determination to change the future and to stop Palpatine.
"Rex, Ahsoka, Padmé", Anakin called out, looking at all three of them, where they knew that they had finally got to him. "Thank you..."
...
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