20-What if
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Lilith's POV
"Remember my warnings Lilith." Sidious spat down at me as I laid on the floor of the room that he asserted was mine.
I nodded weakly, "Yes, Master," I whispered low without moving, my body had become completely overwhelmed with exhaustion.
He wasn't entirely confident in my plan, so he thought it was best to give me another.. lesson - is what he calls it. But the only thing I'm actually learning from these lessons is that his torture can always get worse, that the pain can always increase. He was trying to scare me into perfection, knowing my fear over his full potential will push me to be successful.
Without saying another word to me, he left the room. He had said he was leaving the station, claiming he had more important things to take care of than to 'babysit' me.
But I was grateful for his departure; I wasn't sure how much more of his torment I could've endured without my body completely giving out.
Is this really the life I chose? And if so, why?
I guess it really doesn't matter why anymore. I was here, and now I had no choice - not unless I wish to die.
I sighed with relief when I felt his darkened signature slowly drifting away from me. I eventually tried getting up to my feet, but was unsuccessful; I was too weak to move. So I did the next best thing, I fully laid down on the cold metal floor, and patiently waited for the exhaustion to pass. The cold surface was actually soothing, it cooled down my nerves that had felt as if they were burning.
I stayed on my back and closed my eyes, using this time to mediate so it wasn't entirely wasted. Plus I had some time to kill before that Senator does what I asked.
Sidious may not have any confidence, but I do. I'm on a station that disintegrates planets. She would be unwise to test me, not unless she wishes to see Naboo turn into nothing but ash.
After a few silent moments while I meditated; images of an event I faintly recognized began to slowly come to me, but they appeared disoriented and unclear. All I could make out was lava, smoke, and as strange as it sounds; I even felt pain. Internal pain, as if someone was suffering a great loss.
Curious about what I was experiencing; I placed my hands on my stomach, took a deep breath, and fully focused on what I believed to be one of my lost memories.
I used the force to control a platform that was floating above molten lava and came near the edge of a hill, my gaze was stuck on that man with the scar - Anakin, "It's over (y/n), I have the high ground."
"You underestimate me Anakin." I seethed while tightening my hold on the weapon in my hand. I bent my knees with a plan in place, to jump over, and cut through his neck while I landed.
I was in this memory, but I had no control over what was happening or what I was saying or thinking. It was as if I was experiencing it a second time; if what I'm seeing truly is something that came to pass.
Anakin shook his head slowly, pain flashed through his eyes, "Please don't try it." He begged, already knowing what I planned to do.
It was him, his pain is what I was feeling. But what did he lose? Did I kill someone dear to him?
Ignoring his warning; I jumped towards him, but before I was able to go through with my own plan - I felt a horrible burning pain, and saw the flash of a blue light glide across my face.
I screamed as I fell onto the gravel and rolled down the hill towards the lave, but my body stopped as if it rolled into an object before I could reach my sudden death.
I clutched my face and cried - the scorching of my flesh was agonizing, and I feared him coming closer to me to finish the job.
I heard him bend down next to me, and I felt him as he gripped my head with both his palms.
Believing that he was going to kill me, I fought.
I screamed louder as I thrashed to get away from him, but soon, I could feel my body growing incredibly weak as I heard him mumbling something that I couldn't understand in my dazed state.
Then everything faded into black, and the last thing I saw - were his glassy blue eyes.
I snapped my eyes open and brought my hand up. I gently rubbed my fingertips along the parts of the scar that wasn't hidden behind the mask.
So that's how I got this scar; it was him.
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Anakin's POV
"Gone, she is not." Yoda uttered sternly with the slamming of his cane onto the dirt floor as I came up behind him.
I exhaled heavily to keep my composure, "I don't want to believe it either," I slowly trudge forward and stopped when we were side by side, "But I can't even feel her anymore Master. No matter how hard I try to, her presence is no longer in this galaxy." I dropped my gaze down to the floor, and fiddled with the fabric of shirt as I bit my bottom lip to keep from crying again. I feel like I've been expressing too much weakness lately. But it's hard, I've known her almost my entire life and I've loved her just as long. I feel like a part of me died too, "Can you?" I side-eyed him.
He slowly closed his eyes and remained silent for what felt like minutes, but had only been seconds before he opened them again, "No." He mumbled quietly, "Failed so many I have, a terrible Jedi I have been."He placed his small hand into his cloak and pulled out his lightsaber. He held it in his palm, and allowed it to roll from his claws and onto the floor, "Terrible Jedi, terrible father," He turned his head to look at me, "Terrible friend."
"Stop being so hard on yourself, you did everything you could." I tried to comfort him, even though I knew it would be no use. He's doing what we all did, blamed ourselves for how quickly everything fell apart.
"And not enough it was," He kicked his lightsaber and it began to roll forward, nearly falling into the lake, but I caught it with the force and lifted it from the floor.
"She wouldn't want this Master," I brought his weapon to my grip and held it out towards him, "She wouldn't want you blaming yourself, she loved you too much." He's the last person to be at fault, he did his best, and raised her and cared for her better than most would.
He sighed quietly as he reached forward to take the weapon, but paused at the sound of running footsteps. Both of us snapped our head towards the noise - noticing Hunter rushing towards us with a small device in his hand.
"Sorry to disturb you both," He spoke out of breath, "But I just got a transmission from Senator Amidala."
I sighed with relief, glad to hear that she made it out. (y/n) had told me that Padme was on the complete further end of the station, and so she ordered her clones to release her on an escape pod that would be programmed to take her somewhere safe, while we escaped on the ship.
But I hadn't heard anything recently about her, so I wasn't sure if she was successful or if Palpatine somehow intercepted it. So although Padme and I may not be on the best of terms because of what happened in our past, that doesn't mean I wish bad things upon her; so it's good to hear that she's alright.
"What does she need?" I questioned as I placed Yoda's lightsaber into his grasp for him, and folded my arms over my chest.
"You," Hunter informed me, causing my brows to furrow, "She's asking for our location, she said she has something of dire importance to tell you about (y/n)."
My interest was immediately peaked, as was Master Yoda's whose head snapped up from looking at his weapon, "Where is she right now?"
"Coruscant, I believe," He pressed a small button the decide in his hand, and the silhouette of Padme popped up along with a few of her surroundings. She spoke elegantly and slowly, it was exactly as Hunter said; she was asking for me specifically, along with mentioning that (y/n) had told her something prior to her release. Meaning that she physically saw her.
I nodded in agreement to Hunters guess, I know exactly where she is, "I recognize that suite, it's in the Senate District of Coruscant." I walked past him towards the small house, "Send one back, tell her I'm coming."
"Woah there," Hunter rushed and stopped in front of me, holding his hands out, "Coruscant is crawling with clones, and not the fun kind like us. You still have a target on your so that's one of the most dangerous planets for you specifically to be in right now."
I used the force to push him aside, "Thanks for the warning Hunter, but I'm going. If it's about (y/n) then I need to know." It could be last words, or a note, or hell - I'd be lying to myself if I didn't say that I also had hope that she was somehow alive. That one is definitely a long shot, but I'll take any shot I can get. I lost her so suddenly, so this closure is something that I need if she really is gone, at least then I'll know a hundred percent that she's dead and I won't have that lingering 'what if'.
He groaned in annoyance, "Well I'm not taking you, the second my ship is recognized it'll be shot down." He shook his head, probably thinking that this was a wall that I couldn't get over.
I shrugged, "I'll ask Mando," I used the force to open the door to the safe house. Both Ahsoka and Cal were fast asleep in each other's arms on the couch. While the rest of the clones placed bets and played cards at the large dining table.
I paused with a sigh, I was coming in here to ask Cal if he wanted to go, but this is the first time I've seen him sleep in days, so I decided to leave him be.
"Coming with you, I am." Yoda stated from behind me, and I nodded without taking my eyes off of the teenagers who have gone through too much at such a young age.
"I remember the day you brought them to us, both of them were so full of joy and excitement over the future," I waved my hand and the blanket near their feet covered their bodies, "Now look at their future; Cal barely sleeps because of his nightmares over order 66, as well as the rest of his regretful acts he's committed over this past year. And Ahsoka barely takes her eyes off of him or me; fearing to lose one or the either. They deserved better than this."
Yoda nodded with a sigh, "That they did."
I looked away from them, "Let's go, I don't want to wake them or alarm Obi-"
"Too late, where are you going?" Obi-Wans voice echoed down the hall as he slowly walked towards us with Master Ti helping him. He's gotten better, and can somewhat walk on his own, but he still needs a bit more time to fully recover. And yes, surprisingly, he forgave Cal. Although Cal made it hard not to be forgiven after crying to him about how sorry he was for over an hour.
"Just for a late night stroll," I smiled as I lied through my teeth. But he'd have the worst fit if he knew where I was planning to go.
My old Master narrowed his eyes at me, then he glanced to Yoda, "Where are you two going Master Yoda?"
"Late night stroll, we are." He lied with me, and I did my best to suppress a laugh.
Obi-Wan scowled, and opened his mouth to speak, but to my annoyance, someone beat him, "They're going to Coruscant." Hunter informed him from behind me as he strutted inside the house, and walked to take a seat with the clones that now had their attention on us.
"You're going where?" Rex snapped.
"Do you have a death wish?" Obi-Wan snapped as well, but everyone still kept a low volume so they didn't wake Cal or Ahsoka.
I rolled my eyes with an irritated sigh, they're acting like I have no idea what I'm walking into, "It'll be fine. I won't be there long, Master Yoda will be with me, and Mando will take us in his ship that isn't well known to the Empire. So stop all of your worrying, we can handle ourselves."
Obi-Wan slowly came closer, "Why even go? Why take the risk?"
"Padmè sent a transmission to Hunter and said she has information about (y/n-"
"(Y/n) is dead," He cut me off sternly, prompting my chest to tighten at his blunt words, "I'm sorry Anakin, I'm sorry Master Yoda; it hurts me too, believe me, but she's dead."
I balled my hands into fists, vexed with his constant bitter attitude, "We don't know that for sure, this is our way of finally knowing. She could be alive Obi-wan, do you not want that?"
"Of course I do, but I'm also being realistic here, and you both are just being stupid," He shook his head as he glanced between us, "You're risking your lives by following false hope. If anything, this could be a trap by Palpatine. Because last time I checked, Padme was a prisoner, and if what she needed to tell you was so important, she could've said it on the transmission."
I took one step back and stubbornly shook my head, "You're always so fucking negative Obi-Wan. You're the one who wanted to kill both her and Cal while we were out in the run," I pointed accusingly at him, "You said there was hardly any hope for them, now look," I gestured to Cal whose eyes were now open but Ahsoka's remained blissfully closed as she lightly snored into his chest, "Cal is here trying to make up for his wrongs, and (y/n) may have died trying to save us. So you could be wrong now, just as you were then!"
I lost my temper on him. But I felt that I was right, he's always been so cynical; constantly thinking the worst.
"But Anakin you could be walking to your deat-"
"No," I cut him off, "You destroyed my hope once before and I'm not letting you do it again." I turned around so I could no longer look at him, "We're going, and if it turns out that she really is dead, then at least I'll know for a hundred percent sure and I can try to move on. And if it is a trap and I happen to die," I paused, having the next harsh words linger on my tongue, "Then fine, at least I won't have to deal with you anymore." I stormed out of the room as I felt a wave of sadness overcome my body, but it wasn't my sadness I was feeling - it was his.
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Hope you liked it!
And sorry it took over a week, I've been so busy I'm sorry 🥺
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