Delusions of Grandeur

I held the holodisk in my hand. “Okay, I’ll play along with your sick joke.” I crossed the room to the nearest console and slipped the disk in.

The Jedi Temple interior flashed before me. It seemed to be a typical night. Knights were going about their business, doing what we normally do. Then suddenly there were alarms blaring and Jedi started running around, lightsabers drawn and ready.

I watched in horror as an ocean of clone troopers invaded, blasters firing. Knights were falling everywhere I looked. I was watching a slaughter!

From the middle of a cluster of clones a single Jedi emerge, blue lightsaber in his hands. He cut down a small group of Padawans like they were nothing but tree branches. I could faintly hear him shouting orders to the clones as he stormed the main hall.

The Jedi just so happened to turn so I could see his face.

I covered my mouth in shock, my breath sucking in.

It WAS Anakin!

Anakin looked up at the camera. It felt as if he was looking right at me. His eyes were dark, cold. I winced as he flung his saber into the camera and the holo switched to different location. I could barely tell where it was I was so stunned.

Then I saw myself standing with my saber in my hand. I was standing… across from Anakin.

“Have you gone mad, Anakin?” I shouted.

His eyes! Force his eyes! “Anakin is dead,” he said.

“Why are you doing this?”

“It has to be done,” he told me. “You have two options, D.J. You can stand by me or die.”

“You’d kill me? Just like that?”

“Don’t make me kill you.”

My face was a mask of sadness. His was a mask of coldness.

I shook my head. “I won’t stand by you. I can’t do that!”

“Then I suggest you defend yourself,” he said flatly.

I watched myself lower my lightsaber. “I won’t raise my blade against a brother. Will you strike me down anyway? Or does that not matter anymore?” I saw the hesitation his face. “Please, Anakin don’t do this. I know you. This isn’t you,” I begged.

“Anakin is dead!” he shouted again, lifting his saber. “My name is Darth Vader!”

He swung the lightsaber and I slammed my hand on console to shut it off. I couldn’t watch it anymore. I couldn’t watch what was coming.

Anakin was Vader… Vader was Anakin. And Anakin had killed me…

The shock turned into rage.

I turned very slowly and faced Vader, who was still standing by the desk with his arms crossed.

I lost it.

“YOU BASTARD!” I screamed and leapt.