Dark Legacy

Chapter 27 - Mustafar

Author's Note: Aaaand... the climax begins! :') 

In which Anakin and Dooku talk, and the Sith confront Sidious... and Obi-Wan gets his time to shine. ^-^

~ Amina Gila

Dooku doesn't say much while they're in hyperspace enroute to Mustafar, lost in a thoughtful contemplation. He doesn't want to share any of his suspicions or theories with Anakin until he meditates on it. Revealing something of this nature to the younger man could be more harmful than helpful, especially if he's wrong. He can't imagine how he would have felt, many years ago as a young Jedi Knight, if he had known where his future would lead, if he had known that he would become a Sith – not that he minds the title, of course, but his younger self would have undoubtedly been horrified.

And it's worse for Anakin, because he has seen himself hurting, or even killing, the people he cares for most. He shouldn't have to deal with it. In retrospect, the reason is laughably simple, probably the exact reason why all of them overlooked the obvious. If not for the fact that Dooku saw the last vision, saw the surreal clarity earmarking it as more of a memory than a true vision or possibility, he might never have figured it out.

Weeks ago, when Anakin was staying with him on Sereno, long before Kenobi or the others had joined them, they had spoken about the strange happenings on this planet called Mortis. Dooku still remembers what Anakin had said about it.

"I – the Son convinced me to join him – I don't know what he did – but the Father wiped my memories."

"The Son told me – showed me? – something, I think, but I don't know what."

For some reason, Dooku suspects that the "Father" didn't wipe Anakin's mind so much as he... overwrote it, burying the events deep in the boy's subconscious where he would never consciously remember them. And he wouldn't have, either, if not for Sidious' meddling. It was shortly after the fight against Sidious in Anakin's mind when the visions started.

And if Dooku is right – he hopes he's not, but it makes so much sense – then he doesn't want to tell Anakin until he's certain. The knowledge that it could have happened, would have happened, if not for an unexpected, unforeseen series of events... it will hurt and hurt badly. The knowledge that he was walking down that path, that he nearly lived through what is his worst nightmare? It will shake him to the core.

But Dooku has faith in Anakin. He has faith that the younger man is strong enough to overcome and work through those feelings. He isn't alone. He'll never be alone. He has people who will support and stand by him now. That doesn't mean Dooku's first instinct isn't to protect the boy whenever possible, much to his chagrin. He cares about him, loves him, even, and he doesn't want to hurt him.

No, this is a truth best kept secret for now, until he can ascertain whether or not it's real.

***

They're both shielding themselves when they come out of hyperspace above Mustafar. Dooku had thought it would be prudent for some reason, and Anakin saw no reason not to. They'll be safer if they shield. If no one can sense them, they'll have more of an element of surprise.

Mustafar looks much the same way it did the last time he was here and flying down towards the planet sends shivers through him as he's abruptly reminded of what he saw on Malachor. But if Dooku isn't worried about it – and he's not; Anakin asked – then he'll try not to be either. What he doesn't really know is what they hope to find here.

When he'd meditated while in hyperspace, he had sensed, in the Force, that this ought to be their destination. But why?

He doesn't wonder for long, because as they fly into the atmosphere, close enough now that the various lava rivers are visible to the naked eye, he senses a familiar presence. Sidious. His hands tighten on the controls, and he instinctively tries to shield himself further, as if that might protect him from the dead-Sith's senses.