Anakin but also not?!

The galaxy was aflame, a battlefield lit by the fiery rivers of Mustafar. The oppressive heat warped the air as Anakin Skywalker, consumed by the Dark Side, stood at the edge of an ignited walkway. Across from him, Obi-Wan Kenobi, his former master, stood resolute, lightsaber ignited, voice heavy with sorrow.

"It's over, Anakin!" Obi-Wan cried out. "I have the high ground!"

Anakin, corrupted by his newfound Sith identity, roared with unbridled arrogance. "You underestimate my power!"

As Anakin prepared to leap, defiance in his every move, time slowed to a crawl. The roar of the lava faded, replaced by an endless void of light. In this liminal space, James Reeve, a decidedly ordinary man from Earth, found himself facing an ethereal presence.

The voice was both gentle and commanding, carrying the weight of the cosmos. "James Reeve, you have been chosen by the Force. The Chosen One cannot fulfill his destiny as he is. You will take his place."

"Wait, what?!" James stammered. "You want me, a regular guy who can barely parallel park, to replace Anakin Skywalker? The Anakin? The guy who becomes Darth Vader?"

"Yes," the voice intoned, with what sounded suspiciously like a chuckle.

James threw up his hands. "I mean, sure, I've seen Star Wars—who hasn't? But come on, I don't even know how to swing a lightsaber! And isn't he about to, you know… get flambéed and limb-free?"

"That is why you are here now, James," the Force replied, its light enveloping him. "You will retain your memories, your wit, and a connection to me. Your path will diverge, but it will not be easy. Gifts will come to you as you grow into your role. Now go forth."

James tried to protest, but the light surged, and he felt himself hurtling toward the heat, toward pain. "Wait, wait! At least let me practice! Or give me a—aaaaahhhh!"

The fiery rivers roared back into James's awareness as he gasped for breath. He wasn't James anymore. He was Anakin Skywalker—his memories a wild swirl of starships, duels, and betrayal merging with James's mundane Earth life. He blinked rapidly, staring down at the molten lava below.

Obi-Wan's voice cut through the haze. "Anakin, don't try it!"

James—no, Anakin—froze. His hand flexed around the lightsaber. His body screamed for action, but his Earth-born mind rebelled. Oh my god, I was actually going to do it. What kind of idiot jumps when the other guy has the high ground?!

He exhaled deeply and lowered his weapon. His once-yellow Sith eyes faded back to their natural blue. He looked up at Obi-Wan and called out, "Uh… so… funny story, Master. I'm not actually Anakin."

Obi-Wan stared, baffled. "What?"

"Yeah, it's a bit of a long one. The Force did a body swap. Lucky for me—if not, I'd be three limbs lighter and extra crispy by now!"

Obi-Wan's mouth opened, then closed. He finally managed, "You're serious?"

"As a heart attack," Anakin said, chuckling nervously. "But hey, I've got a plan! Sidious is on his way, so let's use this mess to our advantage. Hide over there—take this blaster. When I give the signal, you shoot him, and I'll handle the rest. Deal?"

Moments later, the charred landing platform groaned under the weight of Darth Sidious's arrival. The Sith Lord, pale and cloaked, stepped forward, his golden eyes gleaming with malice.

"Lord Vader," Sidious hissed. "I trust you have handled the Jedi."

Anakin turned, tapping into the Dark Side to mimic the arrogance Sidious expected. "Oh, I handled him, alright. Obi-Wan's dead. He underestimated my power." He smirked, stepping back slightly. "But before I bleed my crystal red, let's discuss my future."

Sidious's lip curled. "You have much to learn, my apprentice."

Anakin made a theatrical gesture as if preparing to kneel—and that was when the shot rang out.

Obi-Wan's aim was true. The blaster bolt seared through Sidious's chest, staggering the Sith Lord. Anakin wasted no time, igniting his lightsaber and slicing upward, cutting Sidious cleanly in half. The Sith's scream echoed across the fiery chasm as his body crumbled into the molten rivers below.

Anakin turned to Obi-Wan, grinning. "Teamwork makes the dream work, eh, Master?"

Obi-Wan emerged, stunned. "I… I cannot believe that worked."

"It's called a plan, Obi-Wan. You should try it sometime," Anakin quipped, motioning to the clones. "Alright, boys. Get Padmé, Obi-Wan, and me back to Coruscant. We've got a galaxy to save."