CHAPTER FOUR

Ok. Don't kill me. Please? Pretty please with sugar on top? I know I said that I would post Monday but things have been really hectic for me lately. Not only that, but for two days, I had writers block. It's like I had it and than I lost it. Weird huh? Ok. This is the story. Read and Review. Thanks guys.

Her body was so limp as I carried it on board. It more or less flopped like a dead fish as I cradled her in my arms. I laid her on a bed to let her rest in peace. And walked back into the cockpit. I was not prepared for what awaited me.

Normally, when someone you love dies, you would be surrounded with fake and real well wishers and sympathizers. You'd even be surrounded by empathizers. But you were never surrounded by this.

They were sitting ramrod straight. All twelve of them. Their backs perfectly aligned in a tense like form. And though I felt unrefined within a group of class citizens, I couldn't help but slouch. I had no choice but to slump over. Otherwise, I would have fallen over. I had no energy left it my body. And that was when I heard it.

"So...Skywalker."

I sat there waiting for them to say something else. But they said nothing. I had no energy to talk or acknowledge what they were saying to me. I was lucky I even recognized my own name at this point.

"You tortured a citizen of Tatooine, you lied to us, you walked away from the council, and you could have nearly gotten us killed. You are lucky we are not revoking your rights as a Jedi and you-"

"What?"

I looked up and my hood had fallen back. They could see my swollen eyes, my tear streaked face, the redness, the pain. And it stung with the brutality of being as fragile as a child. I was a Jedi. I was a man. It was not my place to cry. I closed my eyes and leaned back, trying to ignore the suddenly shocked atmosphere. But it wasn't easy.

The room went quiet. The council said nothing. They just looked at me. Shock radiated from their midi-chlorians. And it angered me, but...but I had no energy left to stand much less talk. Suddenly, a soft voice sounded from the dark in front of my eyelids. But I couldn't summon the strength to open them.

"Anakin? Anakin, are you ok?"

I didn't respond.

"Anakin."

Nothing.

"Anakin!"

Still nothing.

I didn't want to open my eyes. I was tired. And right now, I was going to sleep. They'd seen people in grief before. Why couldn't they just leave me alone like they left them alone?

"Anakin! Damnit! You owe us this much! Open your eyes and talk to us! Don't just sit there and completely ignore us! We don't deserve it."

My eyes popped open in the form of a scowl. And now, I was angry. And I had every right to be. My rage turned the room around me red. And inside me I could feel something so black that it went beyond dark, beyond even my worst nightmares.

It fed my power. It stroked my bruised ego. It took away my grief. It bandaged my wounds and suddenly my battle scars were metals.

"I owe you what? What exactly do I owe you? I'd really like to know because if anything, you owe me. You owe me everything. You destroyed my life but I saved yours. Every single one of yours. If it weren't for me, your precious Sith would still be traipsing around destroying lives. I took out the multioperational star. By. My. Self. Because you thought it didn't exist. I killed of Sidious by my self because you said it was my responsibility alone. I wasted my life away. And I wasted it for you. For ever single one of you. And what is the thanks I get?"

"Anakin-"

"When I was nine, you fought against me coming into the order. Whenever I was right, you always found an excuse to tell me I was wrong. Even with simple text book answers. You put me down and wrung me out from the first moment I got here. You put me on schedules that no child would have been able to do. I noticed it was different and it was specifically designed to make me fail. But I didn't. I made it a point to trace lies that you spread about me to other masters that spread to their apprentices. I never had a single friend in the Order and it was all your fault. You denied me the rank of knight when I knew beyond knowing that I could have passed the trials. I stayed on four years later than the regular time it takes to pass. And I know you did that to humiliate me. I have won all battles and I've won the war. I've done all this for you and I never even get so much as a thank you."

"Listen,-"

"No! I'm done with listening to you! Now it's your turn to listen to me because I've been listening to you for twenty five years. I'm done with listening. I'm through! It's my turn. So, a while back I told you Ahsoka had been captured. You said she would turn up. A week went by. A month. She hadn't turned up yet you still didn't do anything. You literally knocked me out with a knock out dart to drag me back from trying to save my own apprentice. Than, a couple of weeks later, you have the gall to tell me that it was my fault she was captured. It was not my fault! I fought bravely. I know I did and if Ahsoka were alive than she would tell you that as well. I was knocked out. That was the only reason I wasn't able to save her. They knocked me out cold! So no, it was not my fault and I didn't really appreciate you telling me that it was."

"Ana-"

"So tell me, what in the galaxy could I ever possibly owe you? You who put me down, hated me, despised me, and completely destroyed my life! Why in the name of the force should I ever listen to the likes of you?"

"Anakin, we are in the right. And you did make some mistakes on Tatooine."

"I don't see how you could even think you are in the right. And what mistakes do you think I made?"

"You tortured a citizen."

"There's no such thing as a citizen on Tatooine. It's every man for himself. They don't even have records of who is on Tatooine unless the person is a slave. So I didn't torture a "citizen". Besides, on Tatooine, that is the way everyone gets information. So if your fear is of getting reported, than don't worry about it. We won't. Also, it would be impossible anyway. You do realize and remember that we were under disguises the whole time. And we didn't give our real names. So no ones knows we were Jedi and no one knows who we were. So we can't be given a bad name if that is what you are worried about."

"Why did you specifically try to lose us in the crowd?"

"Because you would have hindered me if anything had happened. I need to be unhinged to get myself under control again. I lied to you for the same reason. Control. Also, you tried to follow me because you knew that I knew where Ahsoka actually was and you wanted to be there with me when she died. I'm more or less a fucking science experiment to you and I am sick of it. So yes I lost you in the crowd. I admit to it and I admit I did it on purpose. Anything else?"

"You could have nearly gotten us killed!"

"Actually, no. I knew that you would come to the conclusion that you could talk rights for the Jedi-Jabba treaty. So you were never in any danger what so ever. You guys are running out of reasons to hate me and try me and judge me. Anything else?"

"You know what Skywalker?"

"No, not personally."

"You are lucky we are not revoking your rights as a Jedi."

"Actually, you can't do that. Thanks to section 7.52 of the code, you cannot revoke my rights as a Jedi unless I turn to the dark side. Because once an apprentice reaches the level of knight, the only one who can revoke a knights rights is the knight himself which in this case is me. And I must admit it's a tempting offer." I smirked. This was more like it. I loved being on the winning side.

Mace looked like he'd been drowning and had taken in too much water. He was now spluttering and confused. Coughing up and trying to get back on higher ground."How did you know that section of the code?"

"Do you honestly think that I am stupid? I studied every section of the code till I had it memorized. It was one of the smarter things that Obi-wan made me do as his apprentice. Ya know, I'm honestly shocked. I would have thought you would have remembered the number one rule of combat."

"Which is?"

"Never underestimate your opponent."

For the first time I heard a sigh and incredulously, I looked in Obi-wan's direction. He hadn't said one word to me in weeks. He hadn't said one word throughout this entire trip. But now, he sighs. What is with him anyway?

"And do you have something to say about all this?"

"Anakin..." he sighed and tried again. "Anakin, I know you are not stupid. I know that you know what is going on. And I know that you have the ability to read peoples minds. But Anakin, you do realize that I came on this trip as well. Not just to save Ahsoka but for your benefit. I did not come here to spy upon you. I came here so that when you became unhinged, I could let you go and than reel you back in."

I was stunned speechless. This was not what I had expected him to say. I actually had expected him to give me the dressing down of my life. That he would strip me bare and leave me naked in the freezing cold of harsh bitter reality. And suddenly, my head cleared. It wasn't about the council at all. Not really. It was that I was concerned for Obi-wan. I just didn't realize it.

"Skywalker."

I turned around and raised an eyebrow, my mind still on my master.

"You will do as we say."

That got my mind off it.

"Why?"

"Because we are the council and we know what it best."

"You think you can dictate and control my actions?"

"No. We don't-"

"Oh. I get it. So basically, what you are saying, is that you just want me to get better and you think that forcing me to see a psychiatrist is the way to do it?"

"Yes. That is exactly what we mean."

"So really, behind that lie, you are trying to know my secrets. Dictate and control my actions. Because you know that if I give into this, you will make me give into everything else. And you know that I won't do that. That is why you are filling my brain with lies."

"If you will not comply than we will force you to."

"Than to hell with you. I will take Ahsoka and bury her myself you will never have to see the likes of me again."

"Anakin! Stop overreacting!"

"No, I mean it. I will leave right now and never come back."

"Really?"

"Are you so eager? No wait. I can answer that. The answer is yes because you've been wanting me out since you first saw me. But I promise you, a day will come where you will need me. And even if the entire galaxy were at stake, I would not help you. You will regret this day."

I was about to grab Ahsoka's dead body and walk out of the ship when I heard the one voice that could always stop me in my tracks.

"Anakin."

I froze. But I didn't turn.

"Don't abandon me."

This time I did turn. I felt so cold, a feeling I was getting a lot lately. I didn't recognize my voice when I spoke.

"Follow me."

A/N Duhn dun duh! Time for the talk. Let me know how you like this story so far and what you thought of the chapter. I can't wait to hear what you think. And remember, I won't post another chapter until I get a review. My rules, ya know, some ol' same ol'. Ya gotta love em'. Lol! Read and review. The fifth chapter is already written and is waiting to be posted.