Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars, it belongs to the creative genius of George Lucas. However, anything that you do not recognize does belong to me.
Author's Note: I should make one thing clear. Anakin did not lose his hand in the prologue.
Chapter One: The Clone Wars
The skies over Coruscant were ablaze with war. The Battle for Coruscant had begun; the Grand Republican Army versus the Separatist Droid Army but it would seem that the Droid Army had the upper hand at the moment for a few short days ago, General Grievous, supreme commander of the Droid Army, had kidnapped the Supreme Chancellor and was now holding him hostage. It was a battle to regain their kidnapped Chancellor and the Republic wasn't about to lose.
A Jedi Star Fighter streaked across the stars, it wove its way around the ferocious battle that was ensuing. It had lost its companion in the fighting and was streaking toward its mission, alone; the pilot was phenomenal, ducking and twirling around its enemies as though it was some elaborate dance. But War is never a dance; it was hard and cold and gripped the pilot's very heart, tearing it in two. How could his young son, a baby only three-year-old, grow up in this kind of environment?
Suddenly another Jedi Star Fighter pulled up to its companion's side. The pilot didn't give the new arrival so much as a glance, knowing that if he did so he could end up as space dust. "Glad to see that you found me" the pilot commented, dryly.
"Sorry, I got held up back there" came a youthful voice but without a shed of any youth. "I know we're not supposed to help the clones but I was helping them protect the Medical Frigate, it was under fire".
"No need to explain, Anakin" the pilot retorted, "you wouldn't be you if you didn't follow orders".
"I resent --- Break!" The two fighters pulled apart as they were fired upon. This was why he didn't like flying; he hated flying. This was for the droids.
"There isn't a droid that could out fly you".
"Reading my thoughts, Love?"
"No, I just know you. Obi-Wan, Watch out!" That was the pilot, Obi-Wan Kenobi-Skywalker, General in the Grand Republican Army and Jedi Master in the Jedi Order. He was one of the Republic's leading Negotiators and one of its most respected Senators. But right now, Obi-Wan wished he was none of these things; right now, he wished he was back on Coruscant in his Senatorial apartments with his little boy right now. Obi-Wan swore colorfully under his breath as he was hit.
"Blast it all" Obi-Wan hissed, "Arfour, lock down all non-essentially systems and used that power for the more essential systems".
UNDERSTOOD.
Obi-Wan looked around for his companion but couldn't find him. "Arfour, can you find Anakin and Artoo?"
NEGATIVE. TOO MUCH INTERFERENCE.
"Wonderful" Obi-Wan muttered, darkly. "Remind me when we get out of this that I have to severely harm Anakin".
WILL DO.
Obi-Wan found it hard to regain control of his fighter and swore healthy in his native tongue. "Damnaigh!" Obi-Wan cursed, "Come on Ani, where are you when I really need you! Arfour, try and scan for Anakin!"
SEARCHING. QUADRANT FOUR. UH-OH, BUZZ DROIDS.
Obi-Wan swore as Buzz Droids latched onto his damaged fighter; his astromech droid, R4-P17, dealt with any Buzz Droids that came to close to him. "No wonder we're losing" Obi-Wan muttered, "they're getting smarter". Obi-Wan jolted in surprisement as the Buzz Droids suddenly shot from his fighter; he turned in his seat and saw Anakin's fighter not that far from his.
"Hold Still, Obi, or I'll hit you".
"How? I've lost steering" Obi-Wan replied, "Arfour! Look out!" The Astromech droid whirled in his socket and zapped the nearest Buzz droid. "Hit the eye, Arfour --- Anakin! What in an Spiorad Naomh are you doing!" The wing of Anakin's Star Fighter had brushed against Obi-Wan's Star Fighter, sweeping off the Buzz Droid. "Anakin, stop! You're liable to get us both killed!"
"Okay, so that wasn't one of my smartest ideas" Anakin replied.
DOES HE KNOW THAT THE SHIP WE'RE HEADING TO STILL HAS ITS SHIELDS OPERATIONAL?
Obi-Wan looked up at the ship, The Invisible Hand, looming in the foreground. "Anakin, this all nice and everything but did it slip your mind that the shields on that blasted thing are still up!"
"Ah, right . . . sorry". The Star Fighter shot forward and destoryed the shield emitters on the ship, near the cargo hold. Obi-Wan fought to steady the craft as it came crashing into the bay. He sat up, noticing the Battle Droids that had encircled his Fighter; wonderful, he was in the mood to destory something. Obi-Wan vaulted from his craft, lightsaber blazing. Within a matter of minutes, all the droids had been destroyed; Obi-Wan looked up as Anakin's Star Fighter landed in the bay. Anakin Skywalker came vaulting out and looked around at the destroyed battle droids then noticed the crossed look at his Life-Mate's face and cowered.
There was only one person that could make the Hero without Fear shake in his boots and that was his seven-month pregnant Eireannach Jedi Life-Mate. Anakin was ready to let Obi-Wan lecture him; he could here Obi-Wan's faithful little Astromech droid egging him on. What in the name of the Force was Anakin thinking when he built an exact replica of Artoo and then gave it to Obi-Wan. Anakin's faithful Astromech, R2-D2, sounded as if he was snickering. Anakin was rewarded with a cuff upside of his head, messing the golden locks up.
"Hands up!" ordered a new squadron of Battle Droids. Obi-Wan turned and looked at them with a strange gleam in his eyes. He gained a sinister smirk on his face.
"Give me four minutes" Obi-Wan said, heading toward the squadron. His blue lightsaber snapped and fizzled as it was ignited; Anakin turned on his own blue one and followed behind his Life-Mate, not really wanting the pregnant Jedi to fight on his own; Anakin barely had time to register when Obi-Wan lashed out, slicing through two droids. Anakin leap to his Mate's defense; the two worked back to back destorying the droids.
"I hate it when you do this" Anakin said, annoyed; he really hated when Obi-Wan got into his moods, especially when he felt the need to destory something. He glared at the smaller man at his side as they finished off the last of the battle droids; the two had come to save the kidnapped Chancellor from the clutches of General Grievous under the orders from the Jedi Council and the acting Chancellor, Bail Organa. Obi-Wan looked up at the taller, yet younger, Jedi with an innocent look.
"Do what?" Obi-Wan asked, innocently; far to innocently for Anakin's tastes. "I haven't the faintest idea of what you're talking about, Ani". Anakin growled but Obi-Wan had turned and was headed to where Artoo and Arfour were located on the other side of the hangar deck; Artoo was plugged into the Ship's mainframe while Arfour was covering the blue astromech's back. Their astromech droids worked well together just like he and Anakin. "Have you found the Chancellor, Artoo?" The older Astromech droid gave a series of beeps and whistles, indicating that he had found the Chancellor and that he was located in observation deck of the Command Spire. "Of course, he has to be all the way up in that bloody tower. Where else would he be?" Arfour gave a sound that seriously sounded like a snicker.
Anakin fought a snicker. Obi-Wan had gained a real sarcastic temper since becoming pregnant with their second child; much to everyone's amusement, since Obi-Wan always polite and mild-tempered. "You're starting to act as I use to, Obi" Anakin noted. Said Jedi gave his Life-Mate a dirty glare; "even got my 'death glare' down, too".
"Plaic do teanga, Anakin". Obi-Wan turned and headed off to the eleveator leaving Anakin with Artoo and Arfour; man and the two droids shared a look that clearly started, 'hormones'. After ordering Artoo and Arfour to stay in the hangar, he ran after Obi-Wan, catching up to him at the elevators. "It's about time".
"I really love to continue this lovely banter but we'll never rescue Chancellor Palpatine at this rate if we keep it up" Anakin said. The elevator dinged and the doors opened, both Jedi entered; "why do I have a bad feeling about this?"
"Because we're walking into a trap, of course" Obi-Wan stated, calmly and as if this was the most obivious thing in the world. Anakin groaned, he hated when Obi-Wan didn't tell him anything; Anakin gave a sigh and looked at the smaller and delicate-looking Jedi.
"So, we spring the trap?"
"Oh yes, Ani, we most definitely spring the trap". Obi-Wan looked positively gleeful; only pregnant Jedi could look so happy about killing someone and still remain on the side of the Light. Anakin stepped away from his smaller Life-Mate. Obi-Wan looked at him; "What?"
Anakin raised his hands in surrender and shook his head. "Nothing, nothing" he said, smiling; Obi-Wan gave his a strange look but turned around; the elevator suddenly jerked to a halt nearly causing Obi-Wan to fall over if Anakin had grabbed his around his expanding waist line. "Looks as though we're stuck" Anakin commented, looking up at the ceiling; "I'll get us out of this". Anakin ignited his blue lightsaber and cut a hole in the ceiling despite Obi-Wan's protestations. He climbed out leaving Obi-Wan huffing in the elevator.
Obi-Wan shook his head and pulled out his comm unit. "Arfour, are you there?" Obi-Wan asked. His faithful little Astromech droid chirped back; "I need you to activate elevator 31124, copy?" Arfour chirped and suddenly the elevator plummeted; Obi-Wan grabbed the wall to keep from falling. "Up! Arfour, Up!" The elevator jerked to a halt, causing Obi-Wan to tumble backwards and land on his back; Arfour gave an apologetic beep and the Elevator resumed it's course upwards. Obi-Wan managed to get to his feet; "thank you, Arfour". Now, what was Anakin up to?
Anakin at the moment was facing a number of blasters and muttering 'why me' and 'some cosmic joke. Force is killing herself laughing'; Anakin noticed the elevator and lashed out, slicing through the droids and hopping into the hole he created. Obi-Wan whirled around, his lightsaber ignited; blue-green eyes blinked in surprisement.
"Oh, it's you" Obi-Wan said, turning his lightsaber off and clipping back to his belt. Anakin felt a little affronted; this wasn't just anyone, Obi-Wan was talking to, this was his Life-Mate, he could do with a little manners. "I'll give you manners when I have this baby" Obi-Wan replied, glaring at Anakin. The rest of the ride was done in silence.
The Chancellor was sitting before them as they entered the observation deck. The Chancellor looked pale and frightened; Anakin's eyes darted around the observation deck. He could feel the Dark Side tingling in the air and knew that Dooku was around some where. By the looks of Obi-Wan, he knew that as well; quickly, Obi-Wan and Anakin decended to where the Chancellor was. "Your Excellency" Anakin greeted, the elder man.
"It's a trap" Palpatine said to the two Jedi.
"We know, Your Excellency" Obi-Wan replied; Palpatine looked at the other Jedi,
his blue eyes widening in surprise.
"Senator Kenobi, what are you doing here?" Palpatine questioned, "especially in your condition". He had nothing but concern on his face for the Jedi Senator.
"I am perfectedly alright, Your Excellency" Obi-Wan replied, "but we must get you out of here". Obi-Wan turned to Anakin, who was the more mechanic then he; Anakin made to move in but froze as did Obi-Wan. They turned and looked up at the top of the double stair case that they had come from. Atop stood Dooku, his red blade glowing in the darkness; two blue blades ignited with the familiar snap-hiss.
"No, get out of here!" Palpatine cried, horrified; "he's a Sith Lord!" Obi-Wan turned to look at the aging Politican with a smile and a gleam in his eye.
"Not to worry, Your Excellency" Obi-Wan said, grinning, "Sith Lords are mine and Anakin's speciality". Anakin couldn't help but smirk; the two Jedi moved cautiously toward Dooku, their movement in perfect sync. With their Soulbond, they had become the ultimate Jedi pair, no one could beat them; all their missions had been a success, even if they came back a little battered and bruised.
Obi-Wan and Anakin moved up the double stair case, each had their own set of stairs; their lightsabers glowed in their eerie darkness. They felt Palpatine's already high fear go up two more notches, but some of it was clearly not for his own safety but for theirs. Dooku attacked, heading for Obi-Wan in his already pregnant state; the Sith Lord assumed that since Obi-Wan pregnant then he wouldn't be able to protect himself as well as a non-pregnant Jedi would. But he was clearly mistaken; Eireannach Jedi gain unparallel abilities when they are pregnant, ensuring the safe deliver of their babies. Obi-Wan met Dooku's attack with a parry while Anakin attacked from behind. The fighting move swiftly down to the main level where Palpatine was; Dooku threw out his palm and caught an unexpected Obi-Wan in the chest and sent him flying with the Force. Obi-Wan skidded along the floor and came to a stop on his side. Before Obi-Wan to act, Dooku was before him and with a vicious backhand, Obi-Wan was rendered unconcious. Anakin gave a growl and leapt to his fallen Mate's defense; Obi-Wan's lightsaber flew into his hand and Anakin proceeded to fight with dual sabers. A feat not accomplished by many; Anakin managed to defeat Dooku but the Jedi Knight was not moving to kill him. It wasn't until Dooku made to harm Palpatine that Anakin beheaded him; Palpatine mumbled and whimpered. Anakin moved hurriedly, freeing Palpatine from his restraints before loping over to his Mate.
"Come, Anakin" Palpatine said, "we must move. Gather Senator Kenobi up, quickly, quickly". Anakin hoisted his mate into his arms and followed the Chancellor out of the observation deck. "I do hope that you had a plan in getting out, Anakin".
"Obi-Wan is the brains of this operation, Chancellor" Anakin admitted, "there should be a shuttle in the loading bay". Obi-Wan moaned in Anakin's arms and the duo stopped as Anakin rested Obi-Wan on his feet; the Eireannach rubbed his face and looked, dazed, at the Chancellor and Anakin.
"What happened?" Obi-Wan inquired, holding his head with a wince.
"You took a pretty bad hit from Dooku, Obi" Anakin replied, softly, "come on, we've got to get out of here". They took two steps when a force-field encircled around them. "Why does this keep happening! Aren't we smarter then this?"
"Calm down, Anakin, getting mad will do no good" Obi-Wan said, soothingly. He reached out through their soul bond and calmed his partner's thoughts. Anakin nodded, almost like he was reassuring himself.
"You're right, Obi, I shouldn't be getting mad" Anakin said, "we need patience". That caused both Obi-Wan and the Chancellor to look at him as if he had just grown another head. "Artoo and Arfour are sure to come along, they can simply deactive the---"; before Anakin could finish, Artoo and Arfour came rolling into view, only to crash into a nearby wall. "See, Artoo and Arfour".
"Look again, Anakin" Obi-Wan said. There was a contingent of Battle Droids were there; Obi-Wan sighed and rubbed at his temple and Anakin backed away from. Obi-Wan was getting into another one of his moods; Anakin carefully tugged the Chancellor to follow him as he backed away.
"Raise your hands, your under arrest" ordered one of the battle droid. Much to Anakin's surprise, Obi-Wan raised his hands, calmly; Anakin and the Chancellor followed.
Obi-Wan, Anakin and Chancellor Palpatine entered the command deck with the Battle Droids and Artoo and Arfour. Anakin stood at Obi-Wan's side, ready to leap to his mate's defense; the Chancellor stood behind them but in front of Artoo and Arfour, who were glaring at the Battle Droids, as best as Astromechs' could do. "Ah, General Grievous, what a very pleasant surprise" Obi-Wan said, smiling.
"Ah, General Kenobi-Skywalker, what an Honor to have the famous Negotiator of the Republic here before me" Grievous said in his metallic voice. His yellow eyes flicked up and down Obi-Wan's form, eliciting a growl from Anakin; yellow eyes turned to the younger Jedi. "And Anakin Skywalker, the Hero without Fear, you seem taller then I expected".
"Really? You're shorter then I had expected" Anakin said. A Battle Droid handed over his and Obi-Wan's Lightsabers and Anakin caught sight of at least six Lightsabers in Grievous' cloak and there were some that he recognized. He glared hatefully up at Grievous who just smirked back. Obi-Wan could feel the crackle of Anakin's Force abilities against his skin; he decided to intervene.
"We will pleased to except your surrender" Obi-Wan said, pleasantly, smiling up at the Cyborg. Anakin and Palpatine shot the Jedi Senator a look that clearly stated that they thought that Obi-Wan was clear out of his mind. Grevious merely chuckled and shook his head.
"Such an optimist" he said, oily. Well, if you could get oily in that metallic voice but Anakin thought it sounded oily. "The Master will not be long destroying that in you". Anakin did not like that statement and placed himself in front of his smaller mate, who looked undoubtly troubled by that comment. "Kill Skywalker and the Chancellor. We are no longer needing their services". Obi-Wan looked at Anakin, panicked for a moment; an abruptly terminated Soulbond could have dire consquences upon the other member of the bond. Should Anakin be killed, Obi-Wan could suffer a number of ways and he being Eireannach did not help matters.
Obi-Wan looked at Anakin who nodded, immediately, knowing what his mate had planned. Suddenly Anakin pushed forward, grabbing his and Obi-Wan's identical Lightsabers, severing his own shackles and then Obi-Wan's then handed the other Lightsaber to Obi-Wan, who vaulted off. Palpatine was pushed back to a wall where Arto and Arfour hovered around, protecting him from Battle Droids.
Obi-Wan stood face to face with Grievous. "Give it up, Grievous!" Obi-Wan said, "I'm sure the Republic will be lenient upon you if you surrended".
The Cyborg laughed and shook his head. "Such naivety, that is what I like about you, General Kenobi-Skywalker" Grievous said. He lashed out and caught the Jedi Master off guard knocking him against some consoles before crashing through the window. Anakin had dispelled any remaining Battle droids while the command crew had fled in terror.
"Ani, you can fly this thing, right?" Obi-Wan asked. Anakin looked at the consoles and took the pilot's seat.
"There's a first time for everything" Anakin replied. Behind them they heard the Chancellor offer up a prayer to whatever gods he worship. "Obi take communications . . . Artoo, co-pilot . . . Arfour, tactical". Each went to their assigned position; Obi-Wan opened the Republic hailing frequencies.
"This General Obi-Wan Kenobi" Obi-Wan said into the headset; "we are aboard the Invisible Hand. All troops cease firing, we have managed to rescue the Chancellor". There came a crash from behind the; Obi-Wan turned and gave a muttered, 'oh dear'.
"We read you, Rogue leader, Coruscant has cleared Landing Strip seven-delta-nine for your use".
"Wonderful, thank you ever so kindly, Commander Cody". The ship gave a sickening lurch; "Anakin, this really isn't doing anything for my stomach".
"You try flying half a ship".
"I flew a disable ship, Anakin" Obi-Wan retorted, "and I flew half a ship". Despite their predicament, Palpatine couldn't help but laugh at the couple's bickering; it made him feel better. Obi-Wan could hear snickering over the headset from his clone troopers. "I heard that Rogue Squadron!"
"We aren't laughing are you, General" came a charming voice, "We're laughing at Commander Skywalker's position". The other Rogues chimed their responses as well, even adding a few flattering remarks to Obi-Wan.
"Flattery isn't getting you anywhere" Obi-Wan retorted, rolling his eyes. Rogue Squadron was his and Anakin's Squadron; Obi-Wan was Rogue Leader while Anakin was Rogue Two. Obi-Wan looked at Anakin, "this is all your fault" Obi-Wan accused.
Shocked, Anakin looked up from the helm; "my fault? How's this my fault?" Anakin demanded. Obi-Wan just glared at him.
"Boys, maybe we should concentrate on trying to land this behemoth and worry about who's fault it is later?" Palpatine suggested. The two Jedi nodded and turned back to the matter at hand. They were coming through the planet's atmosphere; Obi-Wan gripped the console.
"Come on you stupid piece of-----" Anakin gritted out as he tried to level the ship out.
"Commander, your approach vector is too steep" one of the clones said, anxiously. Anakin could see two Fighters on either side and one he recognized as Commander Cody's fighter, the other was Cody's wingman, Lieutenant Kasey. "Pull up! Pull up! Commander!" It was no use, the ship was skyrocketing toward the designated landing strip.
"Damnaigh!" Anakin swore, he abandoned the controls grabbed Obi-Wan and the Chancellor and hide them behind the console, he then placed himself over the two with an added backing of Force Shielding around them. Artoo and Arfour had managed to get themselves strapped into the alcoves designated for astromech droids for crash landings. The Invisible Hand crashed and everything went dark.
Blue eyes opened and came in contact with a white ceiling that he knew all to well. Once again, he found himself in the Infirmary of the Temple; he remember the crash and . . . Obi-Wan! Where was Obi-Wan! He pushed himself shakely up.
"Trouble you are, yes, trouble" came an ancient voice to his side. "Much lose of my hair I have you to thank. You and your Husband".
"Obi-Wan, where is Obi-Wan?" Anakin asked.
"Right here, you silly thing" came Obi-Wan's gentle voice. Anakin's head snapped up and he saw his Life-Mate standing in the doorway; his hands were resting on his swollen stomach and a pregnant Padme Naberrie-Organa. Obi-Wan looked happy that he was awake, Padme was a totally different story.
"Anakin Skywalker! Of all the idiotic things you've gone and done!" Padme roared. Yoda and Obi-Wan backed away from the pregnant Senator; "What were you thinking? You could have killed yourself! And where that have left Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon! Do you ever think!"
"Padme, I think Ani gets the idea" Obi-Wan said, gently. He touched the young woman's shoulder; "I'm sure, Ani was just doing what he thought best . . .weren't you, Ani?"
"Yup . . . what Obi said" Anakin said, he was cowering under his blanket. He hated dealing with pregnant people; why do they always blame him for everything.
"I heard that" Obi-Wan said, glaring at him. Anakin sighed and flopped backwards. Healer Bant Eerin peeked in; blinking her bulbous eyes.
"Everything okay? I heard shouting" Bant said.
"Receiving lectures Young Skywalker is" Yoda answered, "Thought he was past this stage when a father he became, wrong I apparently was". Anakin threw Yoda a dirty look but quelled as Obi-Wan gave Anakin one of his own.
"Right, I'll just be leaving" Bant said. She stopped and looked back at Obi-Wan, "oh, don't forget, you have an appointment in the morning". Obi-Wan growled and scowled. "I pity your healer".
Padme and Anakin laughed. Obi-Wan was not a model patient even when he was normal; Obi-Wan loathed the Infirmary and all Healers save Bant. Obi-Wan sat heavily on the bed, glaring at the round stomach then looked at Anakin. "I'm having you neutered" Obi-Wan said, glaring. Anakin just sighed.
TBC
Translations
Plaic do teanga, Anakin – Bit your tongue, Anakin
An Spiorad Naomh – The Holy Spirit
Damnaigh – Damn
