Gates of Hell

Chapter 6 - Ashes

By mutual agreement, Anakin and Vader decide to give Dooku a funeral. For one, it will give them – Anakin especially – a sense of closure. For two, it will allow them to take a short break before moving ahead with their next series of actions. They stand side-by-side as they watch Dooku's body burn. They'll scatter the ashes on his property somewhere. It seems oddly fitting that his final resting place be here instead of as space dust over Coruscant, at least based on what Vader told him about the Count's death in his reality.

Anakin feels only relief, because their first step towards destroying the Sith – Vader excluded, of course – is complete. Dooku has long been a source of endless trouble for Anakin personally, especially given that he lost his arm to the man. It was the first – and hopefully last – limb he lost, and he'll never be able to forget the endless hours of pain and difficulties which he dealt with in the aftermath. Even now, many months later, it still hurts sometimes. It may never stop; it probably won't. For the rest of his life, he'll deal with this. He might not take pleasure in Dooku's death, but it was necessary, and he certainly won't feel bad about killing him. Dooku deserved that much and more.

"We should fix your arm," Anakin says absently, eyes never turning away from the flames, the air filled with a sense of solemnity.

Vader flexes his left arm, the one that was damaged by Dooku during the duel. "It is fine," Vader insists, as if the mere movement didn't send a wave of agony through the limb. The pain was acute enough that Anakin was able to feel it through their bond.

"It most certainly is not fine," Anakin argues.

"Perhaps not," the elder concedes, "But it can wait." The helmet turns for the first time since the fire was ignited. "We have other, far more pressing, matters to which we must attend. I will contact the Separatist Senate and inform them of Dooku's death. With the Force as our ally, I will be able to convince them to appoint me as their new leader. With the Separatists at our back, we will proceed with the next step of our plans."

It is... exceedingly ambitious, and Anakin is pleased to see that Vader has thought so far ahead. While they both are good at strategizing, Vader has had far more experience. It makes sense that he's planned so much. More than likely, he had a detailed plan of their next steps all the way until they defeat Sidious and beyond. "We'll have to discuss our plans in detail, won't we?" Anakin questions. They haven't actually talked about it yet, but Anakin is assuming that Vader doesn't trust himself enough – and that hurts – to give Anakin orders on their next course of action. It probably says something about his own mental wellbeing that he even wants orders.

"Of course," Vader replies instantly, turning to face him fully, arms crossed over his chest. "Whatever we do from here, we will do it together." You're not alone. Never again. Those words don't need to be said; they're an echo of Vader's thoughts that enter Anakin's mind, and it's something that is true for both of them. Anakin only nods, looking back at the flames as he watches them burn.

***

The moment the recording finishes playing, the Council chambers erupt into chaos. Obi-Wan pinches his eyes closed for a moment, massaging his temple as he tries to wrap his mind around the most recent development. Darth Vader has just declared himself the new head of the Separatist Alliance, given the recent death of Count Dooku. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what happened. Vader – with Anakin's help, undoubtedly – killed Dooku, thereby usurping control of the Separatist movement.

A part of Obi-Wan can't even believe that the Separatist Senate went along with him, but apparently, Vader is an excellent orator, and he knows how to be convincing when he wants to be. It's not as if Obi-Wan didn't already know that; he persuaded Anakin to turn to the Dark Side and join him after all. Obi-Wan won't deny the resentment burning hot and sharp within him as he sees the way Anakin follows Vader with such devotion. Who else could the hooded figure standing loyally at Vader's side have been? Besides, Obi-Wan would recognize the way Anakin stands anywhere.