Inescapable

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Summary: AU, post RotJ, set AotC. There is no death; there is the Force. Anakin never really understood what Yoda had meant by that…not until he died. Not until he died, only to be given another chance at life. And this time, maybe he's changed enough to avoid his descent to darkness completely…but then again, maybe not.

A/N: Thankyou for all the interest last chapter! I didn't expect nearly that much. Thankyou also to everyone who kindly pointed out that Obi-wan has blue eyes not brown; I've gone back and changed that. Hope you don't think they're OOC, I did explain slight personality changes of you read carefully.

Chapter Two: A New Reality

The first thing he became aware of once he felt himself drifting into consciousness was the fact that he could feel all of his limbs. And not just the phantom pains he had become accustomed to with so many prosthetic limbs, but he could actually genuinely feel his arms and legs. His left ankle was slightly itchy; he amazed himself when he automatically reached down to scratch it. He felt his short nails impacting upon the skin on his ankle, and felt the itchiness subside. To anyone else it would have been odd, how such a simple action could mean so much to someone…but to Anakin, it did.

Once he had gotten over the shock of his renewed limbs, Anakin opened his eyes, blinking in the bright light that met his eyes. He shut them again quickly, blocking out the light that seemed to burn his sensitive eyes. He started slightly as he heard movement beside him, and opened his eyes once again.

His confused gaze fell upon the sight of a man in a brown cloak who yawned widely, opening his eyes and meeting Anakin's gaze. Anakin's eyes widened as the memories came flooding back to him; he remembered his death on the Death Star…His prolonged lingering between life and death…his awakening in an elevator beside this very same man. This man who was supposed to be dead, killed by Anakin's own lightsaber on the original Death Star.

The man's slight smile at seeing Anakin awake faded into a look of concern as Anakin shrank away from him, finally rolling out the other side of the bed and onto the floor. Anakin jumped to his feet, glaring at the man who so resembled his former master. "Who are you!" He snapped, his eyes narrowing in hatred for the man who dared pretend to be Obi-wan Kenobi.
Obi-wan frowned, standing up and peering curiously at Anakin. "Easy Anakin, it's me, Obi-wan. Do you not remember?" His eyes held deep concern for the young man in front of him who seemed to have forgotten who he was.

"You are not Obi-wan Kenobi." Anakin stated coldly, sneering at the startled older man. "I'll admit, the disguise is good, but you can not fool me. Who are you!"

"I don't understand Padawan! What has gotten into you?" Obi-wan asked, concern for his Padawan radiating in the Force energy around him.

"Do not call me that!" Anakin hissed, his eyes glaring daggers at the impostor. "You are severely uninformed if you think that this petty disguise would fool me. Obi-wan Kenobi has been dead for years! I would know, I killed him myself."

"What?" Obi-wan asked, shaking his head. "No, I am quite alive thankyou. If you do not believe me, then look at me through the Force. Use the Master to Padawan bond and see that I am indeed Obi-wan Kenobi and not some impostor as you are crazily suggesting!"

Anakin glared at the man for a few moments, before closing his eyes and tentatively reaching out with the Force. His mind connected with Obi-wan's mind, which was layed out open for Anakin to read. He probed at it slightly, before drawing back a little. Finally he extended the tendrils of his consciousness fully into Obi-wan's, merging his mind momentarily with Obi-wan's. Memories flashed by him as Obi-wan's force signature pooled around him, and a thin tendril of the Force connected his own mind to Obi-wan's, proving Obi-wan's identity beyond question. It was the Master to Padawan bond, fully intact and active.

Anakin pulled back sharply, opening his eyes and staring with a widened gaze into Obi-wan's own worried one. "M-master?" He whispered, hardly daring to believe what was obviously true. But…how can it be? I watched him die. Hell, I killed him! How can he be alive now, and looking like he did when I was a Padawan? How can I even be alive...is this death?

…

"M-master?" Obi-wan nodded, stepping forward hesitantly.

"Yes Anakin, it is me. Obi-wan." Blue eyes stared back at him blankly for a moment, before Anakin took a tentative step forward. When Obi-wan made no move to discourage him, he stepped closer still to his master, peering up at him, confusion evident in his voice as he spoke.

"B-but…how? You're dead." He whispered, shaking his head slightly.

Obi-wan grasped Anakin's shoulder, as if to assure him that he was real. "I don't know why you think me dead, Padawan, but I am truly alive." Blue eyes widened slightly, and the next moment Anakin grabbed onto his master, burying his face in Obi-wan's robes. Momentarily shocked by his Padawan's strange show of affection, Obi-wan hesitated slightly, before gently circling his arms around Anakin. He heard a soft noise and was shocked even more when he realised that Anakin was crying. Anakin had not cried since he was a little boy; what could possibly upset him so that he cried now?

…
Anakin felt like he had lost control of both his body, and his emotions. He also found, surprisingly, that he didn't really care. Figuring out what was going on could wait until later…right now he cared about nothing but the man whom he was desperately clinging to, the man he had once killed, and yet was now alive. He felt hot tears run down his face and realised with slight shock that they were tears of happiness. Happiness at seeing his old master alive. He knew it was strange for him to be so happy at the simple fact that his master lived, when he had been the one who killed him in the first place. It had not been an accident, it had been an intentional, purposeful killing. He had felt satisfaction in ending this man's life; this man who he had felt had held him back, resenting him for his power, jealous of his strength.

Why then, was he overcome with emotion to learn of his master's survival? Anakin didn't know, and nor did he particularly care. In all honesty he felt like a young Padawan again, seeking comfort from his master when things got difficult. Except…it hadn't been that way. Not when he had been Obi-wan's Padawan. There had always been a rift between them – like he was being held at arm's length. Anakin had always suspected that Obi-wan had resented him for Qui-Gon's death…

But right now, none of that mattered. Obi-wan was not rejecting his seeking of comfort, rather he seemed to be happy, if not a little surprised by it. Or at least, those were the feelings he was getting from the Force. He didn't understand it, and he didn't care right now. Caring would come later. Figuring out what the hell was going on would come later. Right now he would enjoy what comfort he could, before he was brutally slammed back into reality.

…

Obi-wan tightened his arms around his Padawan's body as Anakin leaned into the embrace, patting his back somewhat awkwardly as Anakin's tears dampened his robe. He was still confused, shocked and largely concerned by his Padawan's actions, but he decided to wait until Anakin calmed himself to try and figure out what had happened. After a few more moments, Anakin pulled away from him, quickly wiping the tears from his eyes and standing up straight.

"I apologise Master," he began, his voice wavering a little. "For my lack of decorum. It will not happen again." He stated stiffly, no emotions leaking through the newly erected shield that had sprang up around his Padawan.

"What happened Anakin?" Obi-wan asked, the deep concern he felt leaking into his words and into the Force surrounding him. Anakin flinched slightly at his words, before turning away.

"I need to meditate upon it before I tell you anything, Master. I'm afraid I don't really understand myself." With that, Anakin sat on the bed and withdrew into himself, beginning a deep meditation. Obi-wan sighed and settled into the chair beside the bed he had occupied earlier, preparing himself for the wait to come.

…

A good three hours later, Anakin withdrew from his meditation, feeling calm and at peace for the first time in a long time. He had forgotten the serenity of the light side of the Force in the time since he had begun using the dark side; and comparing them now without the addicting pull of the dark side to sway his decision, he thought he quite preferred the light side of the Force. He had not gotten far in terms of what had happened to him, all he had managed to figure out was that he was somehow around twenty-five years in the past. He didn't know how and he didn't know why, but he was. There was no other explanation, and a slight push of the Force told him that he was right. It didn't take him long after that initial realisation to figure out that he had been given a second chance. A second chance to make things right.

Left with that hopeful yet slightly disturbing though, Anakin opened his eyes, this time unsurprised to meet the eyes of his master. He felt a slight jolt of happiness as his gaze rested on Obi-wan, and it took him a moment to figure out that it was because he was actually genuinely happy to see the man he had killed, alive.

"Do you feel better now my Padawan?" Obi-wan asked, concern still evident on his face. Anakin nodded slightly, continuing to stare at Obi-wan. "Will you tell me what happened?"

Anakin thought for a moment, knowing he couldn't possibly tell him the truth. As much as he wanted to just leap into his comforting arm and tell him everything and have him make everything okay, he knew it wouldn't happen like that. So he quickly considered his options, finally deciding on an abridged version of the truth. "I had a vision," he began slowly, averting his gaze from his master's inquiring blue eyes.

…

"I had a vision." Anakin said softly, before glancing away from him. Obi-wan frowned slightly, wondering what kind of a vision could upset his Padawan so badly. He waited for Anakin to continue, but after a few moments it didn't seem like he was going to.

"A vision?" he prompted gently, gaining a slight nod in reply. "Will you tell me what you saw?" Anakin hesitated, before shaking his head. "Why not?" He asked, his concern for his Padawan radiating in the Force around him.

"It's not important." Anakin muttered, picking at the threads in the blanket beside him.

"I believe it is," Obi-wan probed, locking eyes with Anakin for a brief moment, before his Padawan looked away again. When he glanced back at his master, his gaze had taken on such a hollow, haunted look that Obi-wan had to restrain himself from stepping backwards.

"You died. I killed you. And then I died." His voice was emotionless, but Obi-wan could hear the slight tremble as he spoke and could feel the conflicting emotions bubbling just beneath the surface of Anakin's mind. The most prominent among them were anger, grief, and above all…fear. The amount of fear his Padawan harboured was staggering.

"You saw your own death?" Obi-wan asked, his voice much, much calmer then he truly was. No wonder Anakin had been distraught; to see one's own death…it was hard to even comprehend how Anakin must feel.

"Yes…but my death was not the worst of it." The haunted look returned to his eyes as he stared off into the distance, pondering whatever horrible things he had seen.

"You…you said that you killed me?" Obi-wan could not help himself asking. It was just unthinkable that Anakin would ever, could ever, kill his master.

Anakin nodded, a tear sliding down his face. "I killed you. You and so many others…" His voice trailed off, cracking slightly at the end with suppressed emotion.

In one stride Obi-wan was beside his Padawan, and he sat beside him, tentatively offering what comfort he could.

"Anakin, I am so sorry…" Obi-wan's voice trailed off as Anakin levelled him with a piercing look, before shaking his head.

"No, it wasn't your fault. I know that now…" He whispered quietly, almost too quietly for Obi-wan to hear.

"It was just a vision Anakin," He said gently, placing a hand on the young man's trembling shoulder. "It will most likely never come to pass. To quote Master Yoda, the future is always in motion. You must not let these visions cloud your judgement, or it may lead to your visions proving true after all. Do not discard them, but do not dwell on them either."

Anakin nodded slightly at his master's words, sighing to himself. If only he knew what these 'visions' truly are…if only he knew.

…

Obi-wan strode down the corridor, after leaving his Padawan to get some rest. He would be the first to admit that Anakin's visions disturbed him, although he knew Anakin felt the impact of these visions much, much more deeply then Obi-wan did. He had decided to seek out Yoda, thinking that maybe the wise old troll would know something about these visions of Anakin's. He did not have to look for very long, he soon found the old master hobbling towards him from the opposite corridor.

"Obi-wan, changed your Padawan's condition has?" He asked in his strange way of talking, stopping in front of Obi-wan.

"Yes, Master Yoda, Anakin has awoken." He said softly, sighing as he remembered his dilemma.

"Said something to disturb you, he has?"

Obi-wan nodded. "Yes indeed."

"Tell me you will what your young Padawan has said or done to upset you so."

"He woke up about three and a half hours ago. At first there was no change, he was shocked and angry to see me. He then accused me of being an impostor, repeating that I was dead. That he had killed me. After a while I convinced him to view me through the Force, to find our Master to Padawan bond. He did so, and finally accepted that I was who I said I was. He was very upset for some reason, he was crying as I tried to comfort him. Once he regained his composure, I asked him what had happened. He told me that he would first meditate upon it. Three hours later he came out of meditation. I asked him again what had happened; he told me he had visions of the future. He went on to explain that in these visions he had killed me, a lot of other people, and then he had suffered through his own death."

"Hmm…" The green master muttered, thinking carefully over Obi-wan's words. "Strange it is for a Jedi to have visions of his own death. Always in motion the future is, let this cloud his judgement he must not. Think on this I will, tell me you will if changes he does."

Obi-wan nodded and watched the Jedi leave, before turning and wandering back to the medical bay. He peered inside and smiled slightly to see his Padawan sleeping peacefully, before quietly closing the door and walking out. He milled around the hallway for a few minutes, before deciding to go to his favourite thinking place – The room of a thousand fountains.

Ten minutes later he found himself sitting on the edge of a large fountain, idly dangling his right hand in the cool, refreshing water. He was calm and peaceful as the serene Force shimmered around him, relaxing him completely so he was able to think more clearly.

He and Anakin had never been quite as close as he and Qui-gon had been. This was perhaps primarily his own fault, he could see that now. He supposed he had been unfair to the young boy after Qui-gon had died, providing none of the comfort that Qui-gon had for him. Thus he had been surprised when Anakin had latched on to him, seeking physical comfort from him for the first time since he had turned him away as a child. He wondered whether it was too late now to fix the rift that had been growing between them, or of he could somehow remedy his neglect of the lost little boy who had lost his mother by leaving Tatooine, and then someone who had been somewhat of a father figure when Qui-gon had died.

Obi-wan understood now that he had been afraid; afraid to let Anakin close to him after the tragedy of Qui-gon's death. It was, after all, the reason that the Jedi code forbade attachments to people. Jedi were supposed to accept death and move on. In a way, Jedi were expected to be inhuman. They were expected to ignore the emotions they felt, for according to the code, there is no emotion; there is peace.

For perhaps the first time, obi-wan was realising just how flawed the code really was. To ask a human to not feel emotion, was to ask a human to be inhuman. To say that there is no ignorance, there is knowledge, is a contradiction in itself. For there is no knowledge without ignorance; after all, you must first be ignorant to be knowledgeable. You are not born with knowledge, you are born with ignorance. Knowledge follows only after ignorance, for without ignorance, there would be no need for knowledge.

Obi-wan frowned slightly as he thought, standing up and stretching slightly. He did not know what to think anymore. He didn't know what had happened to Anakin, and he certainly didn't know why the code was as it was. One conclusion that he had reached, however, was that his distancing of Anakin had to stop. With this resolve in mind, Obi-wan headed quickly back to the medical bay, feeling an unexplainable urge to check on his Padawan.

…

Anakin sighed; he was very, very, incredibly bored. He hated the medical bay, especially when he wasn't actually sick or injured, and for once, he was neither. He waited impatiently for his master to return, feeling a shiver of excitement at the very thought of his master. He was still having trouble coming to terms with the fact that his master was actually alive, and that he was in the past of all places.

Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by the opening of the door. A wide grin spread across his face as he saw his master walking in the door. "Master! Finally! Now let's go, I'm sick of being here." Anakin didn't give Obi-wan a chance to respond before he leapt out of bed and strode over to where Obi-wan stood, an eyebrow raised slightly.

"And just where are we going my very young Padawan?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

A smile of pure joy lit up Anakin's face as he answered happily, "Flying of course!" It has been so long since I flew with my real arms in control! Anakin thought, feeling the excitement building up within him. He briefly wondered when an esteemed dark sith lord such as himself had become so childish, before shaking it off and deciding to act his physical age.

Obi-wan merely groaned as he was dragged out of the medical bay by his exuberant apprentice.