Fic: White Rabbits (Star Wars, 29/?)
Aug. 26th, 2005 12:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
butterflyTitle: White Rabbits
Part: 29/?
Author: Diana Michelle (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
butterfly)
Warnings: Spoilers for Revenge of the Sith.
Pairings: Anakin/Obi-Wan; Leia/Han.
Rating: PG-13.
Summary: They were the heroes of the Republic.
Disclaimer: Not Lucas, don't own a thing, not making any money.
Chapter Index
The data on the chip was hastily tossed together, with obvious breaks between each segment, clearly created on a deadline. After the information was compiled, forty-three copies had been made.
One of these copies had been given to Luke Skywalker.
Each of the data slips contained everything that still existed to document the existence of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, the best-known heroes of the Clone Wars.
Looking back, some say that the
For many, that was the day that the last threads of hope died.
“This is one of the few files we recovered from the
The recording showed a child, no more than ten and possibly younger, dressed in simple robes, hair trimmed close to his head except for one tiny braid hanging down behind his left ear. He looked incredibly solemn, especially considering his youth.
“My name is Anakin Skywalker,” he said, as though prompted. He glanced to the left, biting his lip for a moment before continuing. “I was born on the planet Tatooine – do I really need to say all this?”
“Anakin, this is for the
“Why can’t you teach me?” Anakin asked. “You’re my master.”
“Anakin, I simply don’t have time to fill you in on all the necessary background. Please, don’t make me go over this again.”
Anakin nodded, blinking rapidly for a few moments. Even from the tiny image of the holo, it was obvious that the young Anakin was fighting back tears.
“I was born on the planet Tatooine, which is located on the upper eastern edge of the Outer Rim,” Anakin said, looking forward again and talking in a fast monotone, each sentence sounding rehearsed. “I was discovered there by Master Qui-Gon Jinn, who brought me before the Council and asked that I be made his Padawan. The Council refused then, but due to exten-extenuating circumstances, I request now to appeal that decision and to be permitted the rank of Padawan Learner under Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
“There, that wasn’t so bad,” Obi-Wan said, walking into the image from the left side. He was in his twenties, hair short and face beardless. “We’ll just insert that into the file in front of the Council’s acceptance holo and everything will be official.”
“And I’ll be a Jedi,” Anakin said, the hint of a smile at the corners of his lips.
Obi-Wan reached out, clasping Anakin’s shoulder gently. “You’ll be a step closer.”
The image fizzled out.
“General Kenobi is a particularly frustrating subject to study. Everyone over a certain age remembers him, but though it is well-known that he had an extensive circle of underground contacts, none of them have come forward to speak to the
“Yes, the Council did send us reports every so often, and my mother would watch them alone in her room, but the simple truth is that all of those records were destroyed during the Second Clone War. And he never came out to visit us himself, so I don't know what he was like.” It was a woman’s voice, calm but forceful.
“And you didn’t watch the updates?” asked a soft, inquiring male voice.
“It’s not as if I ever actually knew him,” the woman said. “And... I think I was jealous, just a little. He was the special one, after all. She was so proud of him.”
There was a soft and frustrated breath.
“He probably didn’t even know her name,” she said. “They weren’t supposed to remember their past, their family before the Order.”
There was another pause in the recording.
“She destroyed the recordings herself, when she heard he'd had been killed,” she said. “Hearing that… it ruined her. She died two years later, and his name was the last thing she ever said.”
“I’m sorry to bring up bad memories,” he said.
“No, it’s not your fault,” she said. “I just… I try not to think of him, and even now I would prefer to believe that he had died back then.”
“Knowing about his involvement in the Rebellion against the Empire doesn’t change your opinion of him?”
“It makes it worse. Some things are unforgivable, you see,” she said. “He never once tried to contact us, after the Order had fallen. If she had known that he was still alive, that there was even a chance, she wouldn’t have given up.”
There was a thoughtful pause.
“I suppose that I really do feel that he killed her,” she said. “Obi-Wan may be my brother by blood, but he was never a brother of my heart. So, there really is nothing that I can tell you about him. Nothing that you wouldn't already know.”
“The following is a brief security holo copied from the Senate archives before they were purged by the Empire. It is a rare chance to see a slightly more adversarial side of the famed Kenobi and Skywalker partnership.”
The flickering blue light of the hologram showed two figures – an older Kenobi and Skywalker, Master and Knight, walking down the corridor in the middle of a heated discussion.
“-see why it’s a problem,” Anakin said, his cloak casually draped over his arm. “You said yourself that you trust Senator Organa, and he’s in favor of the treaty.”
“Trusting someone does not mean agreeing with all their decisions,” Obi-Wan said, arms folded across his chest. “In this instance, I do disagree with the Senator and I’m not going to pretend that I don’t. You seem to forget that he asked my opinion.”
“I just don’t understand why you think it’s a bad idea,” Anakin said, glancing over at Obi-Wan. “We both want this war to end as quickly as possible.”
“It’s not as simple as that,” Obi-Wan said. He sighed, sounding frustrated. “I just… I have a bad feeling about the entire arrangement.”
“You had a bad feeling about Jailux IV, and that worked out fine,” Anakin pointed out.
“Anakin, we almost died on that rock,” Obi-Wan said, but he was smiling now. “And you may recall that we very nearly failed to accomplish our mission.”
“But we did-“
The image shorted out.
“The following short announcement by the Emperor is, of course, quite well-known, but as it does mention Master Kenobi, we thought it best to include it. Of note is the fact that after this day, the Emperor did not mention the names ‘Skywalker’ or ‘Kenobi’ in public ever again. Additionally, some younger members of our new Senate may not know that this announcement was used as part of the justification for the Empire’s ruling that species-based enslavement was to be considered an acceptable punishment in cases of world-wide treason.”
"Today, I bring you news both joyous and tragic.” The Emperor was sitting down behind his desk, the hood of his robe shading his deformed face from view. “The Jedi Rebellion has finally been fully wiped out. Unfortunately, the few Jedi who had remained loyal to the Republic were also killed in the uprising, by their brothers in arms.”
In the back, the figure of Darth Vader was visible, light gleaming off his black suit.
“As we all know, Anakin Skywalker died protecting me from a fellow Jedi,” the Emperor continued. “A hero to the last. His memory lives close to my heart.”
“Just last night, we learned that his partner, our beloved Master Kenobi, was torn to pieces by a Wookiee, possibly sent by the now-deceased Master Yoda, who we believe was the mastermind of the attempt against my life and who we know was the Jedi Master sent to Kashyyyk, the Wookiee homeworld, just days before the uprising itself occurred.” The Emperor’s words were powerful and sincere, and his voice held the slightest tinge of regret.
“We do not believe this assassin acted without the consent of his government and I can assure you that steps have been taken against the Wookiee people to prevent any more traitorous activities on their part,” he said. “If you see a Wookiee, do not approach it yourself, as they are being considered extremely dangerous. Instead, please alert the nearest Imperial base and we will take care of the problem for you. Thank you, people of the Empire, and remember that we are working together for a more secure future.”
“None of the famous HoloNet reports on Kenobi and Skywalker seem to have survived past the Second Clone War. It is uncertain whether the Empire destroyed the reports, or if this was done by an outside party. None of the well-known holos of the two of them sparring have surfaced, though we are still searching. Sadly, the simple truth is that concrete information on these two men is hard to uncover. I’m sorry, Minister, but this truly is all that we could find.”
Very little is known about what Kenobi and Skywalker were really like. Everyone who knew about the Clone Wars knew about their heroic acts, about their devotion to the Republic and to each other. No one knew what Skywalker’s favorite food had been, or where Kenobi had been born.
What was known was this: they were Kenobi and Skywalker, the last great heroes of the Republic.
In the end, that was all that mattered.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-26 08:33 pm (UTC)You've done a wonderful job in this chapter.
*loves it all over the place*
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-28 04:07 am (UTC)It really is tragic -- so much lost knowledge. It's important for the story but kinda hurt to write.
You've done a wonderful job in this chapter.
*loves it all over the place*
Thank you.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-26 08:40 pm (UTC)Also, the idea that Palpatine put out that Obi-Wan and Anakin were still loyal to him and were killed for it? Brilliant, because Obi-Wan certainly can't step forward without being labelled a pretender, and it traps Anakin further in the persona of Darth Vader.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-28 04:09 am (UTC)Wow... Luke is going to have questions upon questions. And I think he's going to be repelled by some of what he learns about the Temple's organization. Especially the part about Jedi not knowing their families -- Luke was well-raised and well-loved by Owen and Beru, and his family is so important to him. It's what allowed him to ransom Vader's soul, after all.
Right -- family is just a natural part of Luke's life.
Also, the idea that Palpatine put out that Obi-Wan and Anakin were still loyal to him and were killed for it? Brilliant, because Obi-Wan certainly can't step forward without being labelled a pretender, and it traps Anakin further in the persona of Darth Vader.
It really does trap them both into those roles. Palpatine was a pretty clever manipulator.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-26 08:45 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-26 08:47 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-28 04:10 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-28 04:10 am (UTC)I wonder what Obi-Wan and Anakin's reactions will be to the fact that they've almost been erased from history.
Not exactly the most comforting news possible, definitely.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-26 09:45 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-28 04:12 am (UTC)Very nice chapter. I love how believable it all is especially the Wookiee idea which is so fitting. Aw. And poor little Anakin.
Yes, poor Anakin. It's really a lot to ask, trying to have a nine-year-old kid stop being so attached to his old life.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-29 03:50 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-30 07:47 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-27 12:20 am (UTC)the twists and turns to the empire's story of what happened with anakin and obi-wan, paired with the animosity of obi-wan's sister add a wonderful layer of depth to the tale.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-28 04:12 am (UTC)the twists and turns to the empire's story of what happened with anakin and obi-wan, paired with the animosity of obi-wan's sister add a wonderful layer of depth to the tale.
*nods*
I wanted to make sure that I didn't forget about the world outside the little Skywalker circle.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-27 12:49 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-28 04:15 am (UTC)And yeah, I do think that the parents of the Jedi would have a hard time of it -- knowing that, while their child was off to do great things, that life meant that they would likely never know the person that their child would grow up to be.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-27 05:50 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-28 04:15 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-28 01:24 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-28 04:16 am (UTC)Gah. Was this supposed to be so sad? There's a melancholy feel to the whole piece. I loved young Anakin--possibly even more for knowing what he'll become.
Little Anakin breaks my heart (seriously, he does, I cried on my most recent rewatch of TPM). Because he's such a sweet kid.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-28 09:46 am (UTC)On Anakin's side is also very likely that he still remembers Obi-Wan's comment "The boy is dangerous. The Jedi Council can see it. Why can't you?". This would make him very fearful of not being good enough for Obi-Wan.
On a side note:
If you want to read a nice series of stories about the beginning of Anakin's training, check out this page:
http://anakinskywalker1.homestead.com/fanfictionprequel.html
On the right hand side at the end of the page is the "Malastere Series" which has delightful moments like Anakin and Obi-Wan going to see a podrace together.
The argument between Obi-Wan and Anakin serves a great point:
We see that Anakin believes in people whereas Obi-Wan can separate people from their ideas. If Anakin likes someone he'll tend to agree with their mindset, i.e. Padmé or Palpatine. (I just noticed that the big exception to this is his relationship with Obi-Wan who he loves, but whose judgement he questions frequently. :-))
Stover makes a similar point in his ROTS novel when Obi-Wan realizes that Anakin is loyal to people and not to ideas.
Regarding the loss of historical data:
I think there's hope for Mothma and Luke finding out more.
- 3PO has regained his memory. He was the trusted protocoll droid for Senator Amidala for about 4 years which means he must have collected a lot of knowledge.
- There's still C3PO who's memory has never been wiped. He has been in the thick of things since episode I. Anakin spent a lot of time around him and talked to him frequently. (The Star Wars visual dictionary makes the lovely point that Anakin can understand R2's bleeps and beeps without a translation tool.)
- There's Chewie who can fill in on order 66 and Yoda's presence on his planet (which I can't spell :-)). He has also seen Anakin as a hologramm during at least one session of the Council.
- And there most be Kenobi-Skywalker collectors' albums out there, i.e. albums were you can collect cool pictures of your heroes and read about their military/diplomatic accomplishments. :-))) No true fan of Kenobi-Skywalker would toss something like this away; they'd rather bury it somewhere.
As for now, of course, all information seems loss which packs a punch: It shows so clearly how futile everything was. All the suffering in the war, all the hard won victories - and nothing remains to tell the tale.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-28 12:15 pm (UTC)Oh, now ThAT'S a thought. Especially since they were widely broadcast and promoted as 'heroes'. There are probably personal archives scattered around the known worlds on them.
Or heck, there might have been children's toys made out of them, as remember reading somewhere -- the fic had Lando Calrissian and Luke stumble across some toys at an abandoned space station, and Lando reminiscing. People Lando and Han's age *would* remember Obi-Wan and Anakin as the heroes of their childhoods, I think. Sort of disturbing, when you think on it...
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-29 09:51 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-29 09:55 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-29 10:44 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-29 12:40 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-29 06:30 am (UTC)Three stories of the Malastere series are also up on fanfiction.net:
part 1 - The House That Obi-Wan Built by Smitty
part 2 - Sofa, So Good by Smitty
part 3 - House of Cards by Smitty
Anakin's Birthday by Kerry Smith
The last part is only available on the homestead page here. (If the link doesn't work for you, I can send you a file with the story.)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-29 12:30 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-29 10:44 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-29 09:22 pm (UTC)Yes, they're both dealing with such completely new situations.
On Anakin's side is also very likely that he still remembers Obi-Wan's comment "The boy is dangerous. The Jedi Council can see it. Why can't you?". This would make him very fearful of not being good enough for Obi-Wan.
Dude, yes, the fact that Anakin heard Obi-Wan say that (and apparently not care that Anakin was right over there) makes me get all sad for little Anakin. He's got insecurity built into his relationship with Obi-Wan before it even really starts.
The argument between Obi-Wan and Anakin serves a great point:
We see that Anakin believes in people whereas Obi-Wan can separate people from their ideas. If Anakin likes someone he'll tend to agree with their mindset, i.e. Padmé or Palpatine. (I just noticed that the big exception to this is his relationship with Obi-Wan who he loves, but whose judgement he questions frequently. :-))
Stover makes a similar point in his ROTS novel when Obi-Wan realizes that Anakin is loyal to people and not to ideas.
And this is really part of why I think that Anakin's relationship with Obi-Wan is healthier than his other relationships -- he can disagree with Obi-Wan and still love. But yes, I really agreed with Stover on that particular note of Anakin's characterization.
I think there's hope for Mothma and Luke finding out more.
Definitely.
But at this point, no one has the incentive to go randomly tell the New Republic about them.
As for now, of course, all information seems loss which packs a punch: It shows so clearly how futile everything was. All the suffering in the war, all the hard won victories - and nothing remains to tell the tale.
And that's without the main characters knowing that the whole war was a set-up in the first place.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-29 09:38 pm (UTC)Yes, and Anakin would be too scared to address this topic, too. As a child he would just be too afraid to ask: "Obi-Wan, do you still think I'm dangerous?" or "Do you like me better now?", because a big part of him would hear that he's not good enough and Obi-Wan just took him on as a pupil because of Qui-Gon. Later on, Anakin would get more secure in his relationship with Obi-Wan, but I think that this early memory would never quite leave him. That's another thing they maybe should talk about.
I watched bits and pieces of TPM yesterday evening and discovered a new love for the first meeting between Anakin and Obi-Wan. Anakin actually gets a tiny smile out of Obi-Wan here, because he's just so - don't know how to describe it - so Anakin. Giving Obi-Wan this handshake and saying "Please to meet you." and being all excited about seeing yet another Jedi. :-) At this point in life, Anakin still has a lot of self-confidence.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-30 07:53 am (UTC)Oh, yes. Anakin might never think about consciously, but the question has to be there. Because Obi-Wan didn't say 'the boy might be dangerous' he says 'the boy is dangerous' and adds that the entire Jedi Council senses it, too. I mean, eep.
I watched bits and pieces of TPM yesterday evening and discovered a new love for the first meeting between Anakin and Obi-Wan. Anakin actually gets a tiny smile out of Obi-Wan here, because he's just so - don't know how to describe it - so Anakin. Giving Obi-Wan this handshake and saying "Please to meet you." and being all excited about seeing yet another Jedi. :-) At this point in life, Anakin still has a lot of self-confidence.
Aw, I need to rewatch that little bit. Because. Cuteness.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-29 12:16 am (UTC)Luke has a new important name to add to the collection, Qui-Gon, though he may not realize how vital he is the history. Perhaps he'll have also learned that Anakin came from Tattoine, if his family hadn't told him already.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-29 09:26 pm (UTC)And I wanted to bring up Qui-Gon's name.
re: Fic: White Rabbits (Star Wars, 29: Kenobi and Skywalker
Date: 2006-03-16 11:39 pm (UTC)To think that so much info has been lost is beyond tragic. It's heart-breatking. Just little bits and pieces, that's all that's left.
The Emperor knew well the value of propaganda, and how to selectively lie and tell a small portion of the truth at the same time.
The way that you have chosen to present what little material remains is quite interesting. :)
This purge of the Senate's databanks, I take it, happened after the Senate was dissolved in ANH?
Wee Ani, so sad. Having him stutter over a "big" word was just perfect.
The interview with Obi-Wan's sister worked very well. Very, very sad.
And now the big questions: what does Luke think about it all? And is Mon going to fill in more of the history of the past? And will the current generation know the right questions to get the info they need?
Re: Fic: White Rabbits (Star Wars, 29: Kenobi and Skywalker
Date: 2006-04-07 07:59 am (UTC)It hurt to write that part. Lost knowledge just feels like such a horrible tragedy.
The Emperor knew well the value of propaganda, and how to selectively lie and tell a small portion of the truth at the same time.
He really was very good at that.
This purge of the Senate's databanks, I take it, happened after the Senate was dissolved in ANH?
Thereabouts, yeah.
The interview with Obi-Wan's sister worked very well. Very, very sad.
Thank you.