Chapter 7: Endgame

Anakin moaned when someone gently turned him over and lifted his shoulders. "Anakin, wake up!"

The voice was Obi-Wan's. The young Jedi's eyes fluttered open to see his friend's blue orbs hovering over him. The rest of the Jedi Master's face slowly came into focus with an expression of deep concern. Cain was kneeling on the other side of him with a pensive expression that made his youthful face look old. The yellow ball was under the boy's arm.

"Kill me," Anakin whispered hoarsely.

The man stared at him with incredulity. "What?"

"Kill me before I turn into that monster," he begged in a stronger voice as he sat up and rubbed his head.

"Anakin, no one is going to kill you! What's going on? What happened to you?"

"He looked into the future," Cain said. "I guess I should have warned you. I never had anyone react that way before, though." The boy looked as though he were about to cry. "I'm really sorry!"

"That's alright, kid." Anakin waved off Obi-Wan's help as he stood up. "I'm fine... it was just a... shock."

"Master!" Ahsoka came running to them as the older Jedi also rose. "What's wrong?" She looked from Obi-Wan to Anakin, confused. "I sensed you were in pain."

The young Knight put a hand on his padawan's shoulder. "I'm okay. I... just found out how evil I am... or can become." He placed his other hand on her other shoulder as he looked into her eyes. "I need to talk to Obi-Wan alone for awhile."

"O-ok," she stammered. The look of concern not leaving her face.

Anakin smiled down at her as he lightly squeezed her shoulders before removing his hands. "Don't worry about me, Snips. I'll be fine."

"Go to the ship, Ahsoka," Obi-Wan instructed her. "Tell Jinx we'll be there in an hour."

"Yes, sir." The Togruta walked slowly at first, peering back over her shoulder every few steps before she straightened her back and proceeded at a regular pace.

"Sirs," the young boy informed the two Jedi in a subdued voice, "my grandfather wishes you to meet him, grandmother and father at the temple when you're ready."

"We'll be there," Obi-Wan said dryly, "in time."

The youth nodded, then began to walk away.

"Cain..." Anakin waited for the lad to look back, then bowed his head to him. "Thank you for the lesson. It is what I needed."

The boy's shoulders straightened then, and he turned and bowed before turning away once more. He shifted the ball from under his arm and started dribbling it as he ran down the street.

Obi-Wan looked up at Anakin with his head tilted in curiosity. "So, what did the boy show you that has you so rattled?"

Taking a deep breath then slowly releasing it, the young knight shook his head. "First, I must confess something." At the raised eyebrow of his former Master, Anakin put a hand on the older man's shoulder. "Come, let's walk while we talk."

The two Jedi walked side by side down the lane as the taller one divulged, "Padme and I are married." When Obi-Wan looked up at him with his cerulean eyes widened in obvious surprise, he elaborated, "It was at the beginning of the war. I had taken her back to Naboo after the first battle on Geonosis. We kept it secret because we both have duties... me to the Jedi, and she's needed in the Senate. I wanted to tell you... after the 'walk' I had with Sava... but I wanted to consult with Padme first."

When the older man remained silent after a time, Anakin looked over at him. "I'm sorry I failed you, Master."

"No, Anakin," he replied as he stopped and faced the Knight, "it is I who failed you." When the younger man started to protest, he put up a hand and shook his head. "When I took you as my Padawan, I wasn't prepared to take on that responsibility. I was arrogant, and I failed to listen to you. I tried so hard to teach you, that I forgot one of the most important lessons Master Jinn taught me - to be heard, you must be willing to listen. When I was captured on Geonosis, I felt your pain when your mother passed... I meant to talk to you about it, but I never took the time."

"To be fair, the war didn't give much time for talk," Anakin put a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder.

"Still, you needed me, and I wasn't there for you. But Padme was."

"You're here now."

Their eyes met, then they both smiled in understanding and mutual forgiveness.

"I knew you and Padme were close, but, I never guessed you were married. What is it that makes you confess now, before first consulting her?"

Unable to look the Jedi Master in the eyes as he spoke, he looked down at the ground. "The vision the boy gave me... of the future... I do some terrible things to get the power to save her because of a dream I have that she'll die in childbirth." He closed his eyes tight to keep the tears he felt about to come from flowing. "I betray you and the Jedi... kill younglings..." He looked up at Obi-Wan, and as the tears begin to make their way down his cheeks, he continued, "I turn on Padme, thinking she led you to me, and she dies after giving birth to our babies." He began to pace back and forth in agitation. "She dies because of what I did to save her! I become a Sith, and destroy everything I love."

Anakin stopped his frantic pacing as he ran his fingers through his hair. He looked over at Obi-Wan who appeared calm within the storm that was the young Knight's emotions. "I don't want to become that monster," he declared, hoarsely. "Please help me, Master."

"You won't become that monster, Anakin," the older Jedi spoke softly. "You have the knowledge that the actions you take to become that person will take you in the opposite direction of the goals you wished to gain by doing so."

"It doesn't bother you that I have the potential to betray you?"

"Anakin. Please. For once, listen to me." The ginger-haired Master smiled slightly. Their eyes met once more, and when the younger man's lips curled up in an answering grin, Obi-Wan added as he placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, "You are my brother. I love you. I have faith in you."

The young Knight winced at his former Master's profession of confidence in his integrity. Lowering his eyes, he shook his head. "I don't deserve your trust. I've done so many evil things already..." he looked once more as he continued his confession, "... marrying Padme wasn't the only secret I kept from you. Before then, just before we joined you on Geonosis, I slaughtered a whole tribe of Tusken Raiders right after my mom died in my arms... all of them, including the women and children."

"Anakin..." The shock in the older Jedi's voice was unmistakable.

"That's not all! I tortured Poggle, strangling him with the Force, while I interrogated him to get the information to save Ahsoka from the brain worms." He shook his head. "I've been walking a dark path for quite awhile, Master. I... I'm not fit to be a Knight, let alone take on the responsibility of training a Padawan." Taking a deep breath, Anakin turned away from Obi-Wan as he concluded with, "I hereby resign." He removed his lightsaber from his belt and dropped it. Walking away, he said, "Take care of Ahsoka."

"Anakin, wait!" Master Kenobi picked up the abandoned hilt and rushed to the younger man's side. "You're being rash, as usual." He held out his friend's lightsaber as he grabbed Anakin's arm and stopped walking. "I refuse to accept your resignation. If you wish to quit the Jedi Order, you'll have to do so in front of the whole counsel."

General Skywalker turned to face Obi-Wan. "And you're being pedantic, as usual!" He heard the

"Perhaps I am, Anakin, but can't you see, your actions will not help the situation. You're running away, and that's not like you. You've had a shock. Think this over. If you still wish to leave the Jedi Order in a week's time, fine. I'll accept it." He shoved the lightsaber hilt in the taller Jedi's chest.

With a heavy sigh, Anakin took the hilt. As he returned it to his belt, he said, "Fine, I'll give it a week. I doubt I'll change my mind though."

"We shall see."

With a shaky smile, the younger Jedi put a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, my brother."

"Your walk with us is complete," Myrlen announced. "We hope your time here was enlightening, if not altogether pleasant."

Anakin sat on the floor opposite the wizened man in a circle with Obi-Wan and Ahsoka on either side of him, and Cain, Tam, and Sava completing the circumference. "There was much I learned," the young Knight answered. "I'm not sure I've absorbed it all just yet, but what you showed me will not be forgotten."

Tam smiled gently as he said, "Though the Jedi frown upon attachments, don't turn your back on the support of those who care for you."

The young Knight looked first at Obi-Wan, and then Ahsoka. He nodded in silent agreement before looking at the four Guardians. "Thank you all for what you showed me."

"You are welcome, young Skywalker," Sava said in her gentle voice which reminded Anakin of the shimmering curtains which lead to each of the points on his walk with her.

"It is time to say farewell now," the grace which Myrlen rose from his seated position belied his advanced years. "May the Force forever be your ally, and vice versa."

"Thank you, and may the Force be with you, always," Obi-Wan replied before the three Jedi made their way back to the shuttle.

Five hours later, their shuttle came out of hyperspace at Nexus Ortai.

"Well, that was quick," Admiral Yularen commented once they were onboard the Resolute. "You were only an hour behind us."

"But... we spent two full days on the planet," Ahsoka exclaimed.

"Which planet was that?"

"We'll make out our full report shortly," Obi-Wan interjected as he pointed at the viewscreen. Three Separatist battle cruisers were converging on the Resolute.

"Yes,"Anakin agreed as alarm klaxons sounded, "it appears we're just in time for some fun."

The End