Chapter Title: I Reach Up For the Skies

Disclaimer: This was written for entertainment purposes only. I claim no ownership of anything you might recognize.


Obi-Wan felt almost ridiculed. How in the Universe they had missed that massive ship during their sweeps of the planet he would never know.

It held several floors, almost reaching the size of one of their destroyers. He and Ahsoka had perched atop a stone ridge not far from the large ship. He handed the binoculars to her after he had surveyed the cruiser in the distance.

"Tell me what you see."

Ahsoka put the binoculars up to her blue eyes. "Looks deserted," she reported. "Doesn't look like there is anyone on the command bridge. Not much cover from here to the ship."

She handed the binoculars back to the Jedi Master. "And you're sure Anakin is down there?"

"What does the Force tell you?" Obi-Wan guided.

"That he's in there," Ahsoka said confidently without missing a beat. "And he's alive."

Obi-Wan nodded approvingly. He had detected the same things and he was glad she was becoming so attuned with the Force. Anakin should be proud. No doubt he was. Even if he didn't voice it much.

"The question is how we're getting in. As much as I want to get my hands on Maul we would be at a disadvantage. Our objective is getting Anakin out of there, preferably with all of us living to tell the tale," he mused out loud.

Ahsoka pulled off her backpack and opened it up, revealing several detonator spheres. She smiled innocently at the Jedi beside her. "Would these help?"

"Well, you certainly came prepared," Obi-Wan commented. "They would definitely help matters along but they would still see us coming a mile away."

"That's why I brought this along," the Padawan said as she pulled out another device. This one had a bigger spherical shape with a thin-legged body attached. "Anakin taught me to hack this messenger droid. We could attach a few explosives to it, make that their target while we come around on the other side."

"How did - No, I don't even wanna know where he learned to hack that droid, so never mind," Obi-Wan sighed, up-giving. Those two were a perfect fit for each other. Every mischievous thing Anakin could think of, Ahsoka would happily follow up on. They had definitely added a few grey hairs on his head and would no doubt give him more. For now, he was just relieved at the ingenuity. It certainly gave in handy.

"Let's just hope it is enough to keep them occupied," he turned serious again as he stroked his beard in anticipation of what they were about to do. "We are at a disadvantage since they must know we're coming."

"I'll provide the distraction, while you get Skyguy out of there. We'll be in and out before they know it," Ahsoka said. A calm washed over her and Obi-Wan felt it seeping over into him. She was convinced their plan would work and the self-assuredness proved infectious to her surroundings.

They slid down the ridge and he watched in fascination as Ahsoka expertly tinkered with the little droid and less than five minutes later the little spherical droid rolled off towards the cruiser, dropping a trail of detonators every now and then on its path. When the first bomb went off, Ahsoka and Obi-Wan went for it. They headed for the back of ship, hoping the bright explosions would keep the attention of the two Zabrack brothers aimed forward and not at their advance. When they were just below the large vessel Obi-Wan carved a circle in the hull with his lightsaber. Both Jedi Force-jumped easily up and through.

The cool grey color of metal replaced the dusty terrain of Garunga as they found themselves on a lower walkway. Ahsoka was to move to the higher levels of the cruiser to create a whole lot of mayhem to make it seem the two of them were moving together. As she headed for the upper level Obi-Wan called out her name.

As the Padawan turned to look at him questioningly, he cautiously said, "Be careful."

"Don't worry," Ahsoka only smirked, her eyes twinkling with the challenge. "I have a good Master."


Obi-Wan followed his instincts.

Anakin's presence was growing steadily stronger and as it did, so did Obi-Wan's trepidation. He didn't know what he would find and it terrified him greatly. His senses were on high alert and his whole body tense as his feet moved soundlessly down the metal grating. Above him he heard the telltale signs of explosions and commotion and he only hoped Ahsoka would keep her distance.

He stopped short before a metal door, bolted from the outside. He instantly knew this was the right place.

He removed the large lock with the Force rapidly and the door whooshed open delicately. Inside the lighting was dim but still high enough to discern that it was an empty, open hangar. In the middle was a thick metal pole. A figure was kneeling, its back to him. Obi-Wan hesitantly crept nearer and he was halfway there when his boot kicked something on the ground. It clanked loudly as it rolled over a couple times before stopping. He bent down to retrieve it as he recognized it easily. He would know that glove anywhere. It was Anakin's cybernetic arm. He thickly swallowed down the lump that formed in his throat at the sight as he hung it on his belt.

He moved forward.

With slow steps that barely echoed in the hangar he circled around the metal pole to look at the figure.

Oh, Anakin …

It was definitely him. He was forced into a kneeling position and he was leaning forward as much as his bound arms would allow. His head hung limply on his chest. Long burns had been etched into his tunic in several places on his thighs and torso, red angry skin visible underneath the ripped clothing. It looked like a lightsaber beam had been placed there, slowly and for maximum suffering.

His stomach churning with the turmoil of appalled disgust, Obi-Wan knelt down before him. He was almost scared to touch him. Still he placed a hand on Anakin's cheek and tipped his head gently up. His eyes were closed and his pale face slack.

"Anakin?"

A twitch ran across his former Padawan's face. He moaned so weakly Obi-Wan barely caught the sound. A sound the young Jedi rarely uttered voluntarily. He kept an arm snaked around Anakin's chest as he reached behind him. He ignited his lightsaber and easily cut off the thick cuffs keeping the prisoner secured. He tried to ignore the fact that Anakin's lower right arm wasn't there.

Anakin began tipping forward as his restraints disappeared but the Jedi master readily caught him. He gently lowered him to the ground.

"Anakin?" he tried again and carefully tapped his cheek.

This time he received a stronger response. Anakin groaned weakly and his eyebrows knitted together. Much to Obi-Wan's relief, he slowly blinked open his eyes. Confusion and pain seemed to swirl around in the grey orbs as he looked up at his former master.

"Obi-Wan?" he muttered.

"This is certainly a fine mess you've gotten yourself into," Obi-Wan greeted lightly.

"What are you doing here?" Anakin asked incredulously.

"What does it look like? I'm saving you, as per usual," Obi-Wan countered quickly. He had trouble with the disbelieving look on his former Padawan's face. Did he truly believe they wouldn't come for him? Did he really think he cared for him so little? That a simple argument meant enough to forsake him?

"Can you stand?" Obi-Wan didn't really wait for an answer as he gently eased Anakin's arm around his shoulder as his own grabbed hold of his waist. The younger man grimaced as he was assisted into rising from the floor, his eyes shut in concentration and discomfort.

Anakin's fingers tightened around Obi-Wan's white tunic as he got to his feet, a clear testament to the amount of pain he was in. The amount he was desperately trying to hide. His arm remained slung over the older Jedi's shoulder as he leaned heavily against him. Obi-Wan held up most of his weight.

"Let's get you out of here," the Jedi spoke and he turned towards the exit.

Anakin's feet dragged and stumbled clumsily as he tried to walk on his own. They barely got two steps before Obi-Wan stopped them dead in their tracks. Standing in the doorway, blocking their escape, stood Darth Maul, lightsaber already blazing, as he broke into a twisted and dark smile.

"Kenobi."

TBC